Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Request for Grant Proposals: Professional Development Program for Indian and Pakistani Teachers, 24891-24895 [E6-6359]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 5395]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs Request for Grant Proposals:
Professional Development Program for
Indian and Pakistani Teachers
Announcement Type: New
Cooperative Agreement.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Number: 00.00.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/
A/S/X–06–09.
Application Deadline: June 13, 2006.
Executive Summary: The Fulbright
Teacher Exchange Branch in the Office
of Global Educational Programs of the
Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs (ECA) announces an open
competition for a $500,000 grant to
support the Professional Development
Program for Indian and Pakistani
Teachers. Accredited U.S. postsecondary educational institutions
described in Internal Revenue Code
section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) with
expertise in teaching English as a
Foreign Language (EFL) may submit
proposals which combine EFL teaching
methodology, curriculum development,
and development of leadership and
communication skills for up to 30
Indian and Pakistani secondary school
teachers. The program will begin with a
six-week U.S.-based professional
development program for the Indian and
Pakistani educators and conclude with
joint workshops in India and Pakistan
for these teachers. The program should
expose the educators to U.S. teaching
methodologies, including educational
tools designed to increase students’
ability to deal with conflict and to
cooperate effectively with people of
diverse backgrounds. The program
proposal should demonstrate the
applicant’s understanding of issues that
are important in English language
education in India and Pakistan and the
applicant’s experience developing
educational programs and material for
EFL teachers. Proposals should also
demonstrate a sensitivity to challenges
of educational cooperation between
India and Pakistan.
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I. Funding Opportunity Description
I.1. Authority
Overall grant making authority for
this program is contained in the Mutual
Educational and Cultural Exchange Act
of 1961, Public Law 87–256, as
amended, also known as the FulbrightHays Act. The purpose of the Act is ‘‘to
enable the Government of the United
States to increase mutual understanding
between the people of the United States
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and the people of other countries * * *;
to strengthen the ties which unite us
with other nations by demonstrating the
educational and cultural interests,
developments, and achievements of the
people of the United States and other
nations * * * and thus to assist in the
development of friendly, sympathetic
and peaceful relations between the
United States and the other countries of
the world.’’ The funding authority for
the program above is provided through
legislation.
1.2. Program Goals
1.2a. To strengthen EFL pedagogy and
the leadership skills of teachers in India
and Pakistan by giving secondary school
teachers the opportunity to share best
practices and methodology from their
own countries with each other and to
learn about EFL innovations in the
United States.
1.2b. To introduce the teachers to
conflict resolution concepts and tools
for implementation in the classroom.
1.2c. To strengthen mutual
understanding between India, Pakistan,
and the U.S. by encouraging the
teachers to develop meaningful working
relationships with one another and their
U.S. colleagues.
1.3. Planning
The cooperating institution will be
responsible for conducting an initial
planning visit to India, and, if feasible,
Pakistan, to consult with representatives
from the respective United States
Educational Foundations (Fulbright
Commissions) in India and Pakistan,
Ministries of Education, and local
educators. The cooperating institution
should also consult with the
Department of State’s Regional English
Language Officer (RELO) based at the
U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. RELOs are
credentialed, experienced foreign
service and English as a Foreign
Language officers based at U.S.
embassies who work with host-country
Ministries of Education, universities
and teacher-training officials on targeted
English language programs. Based on
assessments made during this planning
visit, the cooperating institution will
develop a recruitment plan, a detailed
schedule, and curriculum for the U.S.based program.
The Fulbright Commissions in India
and Pakistan will recruit and select
participants for the program with
support from the cooperating
institution. The cooperating institution
will be responsible for preparing
publicity, recruitment and selection
materials, including an application
form. Special efforts will be made to
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recruit teachers working in non-elite
institutions.
Prior to participants’ departure for the
United States, the Fulbright
Commissions in India and Pakistan will
conduct pre-departure orientations for
participants from their respective
countries based on information
provided by the cooperating institution.
The orientations will provide
information about the program, goals,
and our expectations of participants, as
well as address issues about the
participants’ stay in the U.S. The
cooperating institution will work
closely with both Fulbright
Commissions to organize the
orientations and will develop
orientation packets for each participant
that cover the aforementioned material.
Packets will be sent to the Fulbright
Commissions in advance of the
scheduled pre-departure orientations.
The cooperating institution also should
develop a Web site on the program for
use during the pre-departure orientation
sessions and during subsequent program
stages.
1.4. Program Components
The applicant should design and
implement a two-phased program: a U.S
professional development program for
Indian and Pakistani secondary school
teachers and subsequent workshops in
India and Pakistan for these program
participants.
(a) Pending the availability of funds,
the U.S.-based six-week professional
development program will begin in
Spring 2007. The program must comply
with J–1 visa regulations. Please refer to
the Solicitation Package for further
information.
The U.S. program should meet the
needs of the Indian and Pakistani
participants through EFL instruction as
well as curriculum and professional
development programs. The program
should update the secondary school
teachers on best practices in EFL
instruction and should also present
skills for interacting harmoniously with
people of different backgrounds. EFL
methodologies focusing on studentcentered learning; teaching tolerance,
mutual respect, and trust building;
strengthening of students’ problemsolving, cross-cultural communication,
and leadership skills; and computer
literacy for EFL instruction should all be
included in the program. Time should
be allotted to activities outside of the
classroom such as visits to schools,
team-teaching with U.S. teachers, and
attendance at professional meetings.
The six-week program should conclude
with a visit of three days to Washington,
DC. This visit should include meetings
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with representatives of the Department
of State, other government agencies,
schools, and private-sector educational
associations as well as trips to local
educational and cultural sites.
(b) The workshops abroad, the second
program component, should begin
approximately six months after the
conclusion of the U.S. training program.
There will be one in India and one in
Pakistan. The fifteen Pakistani
participants will travel to India to join
their Indian counterparts and help
facilitate a workshop for 100 additional
Indian teachers. Subsequently, the
fifteen Indian participants will travel to
Pakistan for a similar joint workshop for
100 additional Pakistani teachers. Each
of these workshops should be
approximately two days in length and at
least one month should elapse between
them.
The cooperating institution will
coordinate program plans and schedules
with ECA’s Fulbright Teacher Exchange
Branch (ECA/A/S/X) as well as with the
Fulbright Commissions in India and
Pakistan and the Regional English
Language Officer (RELO) based at the
U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. The
Fulbright Teacher Exchange Branch will
approve final program schedules before
program implementation.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Cooperative
Agreement.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2006.
Approximate Total Funding:
$500,000.
Approximate Number of Awards: 1.
Approximate Average Award:
$500,000.
Anticipated Award Date: September
1, 2006.
Anticipated Project Completion Date:
March 31, 2008.
Additional Information: Pending
successful implementation of this
program and the availability of funds in
subsequent fiscal years, ECA retains the
option to renew this grant for two
additional years, before openly
competing it again.
Eligibility Information
III.1. Eligible Applicants
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Applications may be submitted by
accredited U.S. post-secondary
institutions meeting the provisions
described in Internal Revenue Code
section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3).
III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds
There is no minimum or maximum
percentage required for this
competition; however, the Bureau
encourages applicants to provide
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maximum levels of cost sharing and
funding in support of its programs.
When cost sharing is offered, it is
understood and agreed that the
applicant must provide the amount of
cost sharing as stipulated in its proposal
and later included in an approved grant
agreement. Cost sharing may be in the
form of allowable direct or indirect
costs. For accountability, you must
maintain written records to support all
costs that are claimed as your
contribution, as well as costs to be paid
by the Federal government. Such
records are subject to audit. The basis
for determining the value of cash and
in-kind contributions must be in
accordance with OMB Circular A–110,
(Revised), Subpart C.23—Cost Sharing
and Matching. In the event you do not
provide the minimum amount of cost
sharing as stipulated in the approved
budget, ECA’s contribution will be
reduced in like proportion.
III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements
Bureau grant guidelines require that
organizations with less than four years
experience in conducting international
exchanges are limited to $60,000 in
Bureau funding. ECA anticipates
awarding one grant, in an amount up to
$500,000 to support program and
administrative costs required to
implement this exchange program.
Therefore, organizations with less than
four years experience in conducting
international exchanges are ineligible to
apply under this competition. The
Bureau encourages applicants to
provide maximum levels of cost sharing
and funding in support of its programs.
IV. Application and Submission
Information
Note: Please read the complete
announcement before sending inquiries or
submitting proposals. Once the RFGP
deadline has passed, Bureau staff may not
discuss this competition with applicants
until the proposal review process has been
completed.
IV.1. Contact Information to Request an
Application Package
Please contact the Office of Global
Educational Programs, ECA/A/S/X,
Room 349, U.S. Department of State,
SA–44, 301 4th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20547, tel. (202) 453–
8897, fax (202) 453–8890, or e-mail
Mosleypj@state.gov to request a
Solicitation Package. Please refer to the
Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/
S/X 06–09 located at the top of this
announcement when making your
request. Alternatively, an electronic
application package may be obtained
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from grants.gov. Please see section IV.3f
for further information.
The Solicitation Package contains the
Proposal Submission Instruction (PSI)
document, which consists of required
application forms, and standard
guidelines for proposal preparation.
It also contains the Project Objectives,
Goals and Implementation (POGI)
document, which provides specific
information, award criteria and budget
instructions tailored to this competition.
Please specify Program Officer Joan
Zaffarano and refer to the Funding
Opportunity Number ECA/A/S/X 06–09
located at the top of this announcement
on all other inquiries and
correspondence.
IV.2. To Download a Solicitation
Package Via Internet
The entire Solicitation Package may
be downloaded from the Bureau’s Web
site at https://exchanges.state.gov/
education/rfgps/menu.htm. or from the
Grants.gov Web site at https://
www.grants.gov. Please read all
information before downloading.
IV.3. Content and Form of Submission
Applicants must follow all
instructions in the Solicitation Package.
The original and seven copies of the
application should be sent per the
instructions under IV.3f. ‘‘Application
Deadline and Methods of Submission’’
section below.
IV.3a. You are required to have a Dun
and Bradstreet Data Universal
Numbering System (DUNS) number to
apply for a grant or cooperative
agreement from the U.S. Government.
This number is a nine-digit
identification number, which uniquely
identifies business entities. Obtaining a
DUNS number is easy and there is no
charge. To obtain a DUNS number,
access https://
www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1–
866–705–5711. Please ensure that your
DUNS number is included in the
appropriate box of the SF–424 which is
part of the formal application package.
IV.3b. All proposals must contain an
executive summary, proposal narrative
and budget.
Please Refer to the Solicitation
Package. It contains the mandatory
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI)
document and the Project Objectives,
Goals and Implementation (POGI)
document for additional formatting and
technical requirements.
IV.3c. You must have nonprofit status
with the IRS at the time of application.
If your organization is a private
nonprofit which has not received a grant
or cooperative agreement from ECA in
the past three years, or if your
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organization received nonprofit status
from the IRS within the past four years,
you must submit the necessary
documentation to verify nonprofit status
as directed in the PSI document. Failure
to do so will cause your proposal to be
declared technically ineligible.
IV.3d. Please take into consideration
the following information when
preparing your proposal narrative:
IV.3d.1. Adherence to All Regulations
Governing the J Visa. The Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs is
placing renewed emphasis on the secure
and proper administration of Exchange
Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence
by grantees and sponsors to all
regulations governing the J visa.
Therefore, proposals should
demonstrate the applicant’s capacity to
meet all requirements governing the
administration of the Exchange Visitor
Programs as set forth in 22 CFR 62,
including the oversight of Responsible
Officers and Alternate Responsible
Officers, screening and selection of
program participants, provision of prearrival information and orientation to
participants, monitoring of participants,
proper maintenance and security of
forms, record-keeping, reporting and
other requirements. The cooperating
institution will be responsible for
issuing DS–2019 forms to participants
in this program.
A copy of the complete regulations
governing the administration of
Exchange Visitor (J) programs is
available at https://exchanges.state.gov
or from: United States Department of
State, Office of Exchange Coordination
and Designation, ECA/EC/ECD—SA–44,
Room 734, 301 4th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20547. Telephone:
(202) 203–5029. FAX: (202) 453–8640.
Please refer to Solicitation Package for
further information.
IV.3d.2. Diversity, Freedom and
Democracy Guidelines. Pursuant to the
Bureau’s authorizing legislation,
programs must maintain a non-political
character and should be balanced and
representative of the diversity of
American political, social, and cultural
life. ‘‘Diversity’’ should be interpreted
in the broadest sense and encompass
differences including, but not limited to
ethnicity, race, gender, religion,
geographic location, socio-economic
status, and disabilities. Applicants are
strongly encouraged to adhere to the
advancement of this principle both in
program administration and in program
content. Please refer to the review
criteria under the ‘Support for Diversity’
section for specific suggestions on
incorporating diversity into your
proposal. Public Law 104–319 provides
that ‘‘in carrying out programs of
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educational and cultural exchange in
countries whose people do not fully
enjoy freedom and democracy,’’ the
Bureau ‘‘shall take appropriate steps to
provide opportunities for participation
in such programs to human rights and
democracy leaders of such countries.’’
Public Law 106–113 requires that the
governments of the countries described
above do not have inappropriate
influence in the selection process.
Proposals should reflect advancement of
these goals in their program contents, to
the full extent deemed feasible.
IV.3d.3. Program Monitoring and
Evaluation. Proposals must include a
plan to monitor and evaluate the
project’s success, both as the activities
unfold and at the end of the program.
The Bureau recommends that your
proposal include a draft survey
questionnaire or other technique plus a
description of a methodology to use to
link outcomes to original project
objectives. The Bureau expects that the
cooperating institution will track
participants or partners and be able to
respond to key evaluation questions,
including satisfaction with the program,
learning as a result of the program,
changes in behavior as a result of the
program, and effects of the program on
institutions (institutions in which
participants work or partner
institutions). The evaluation plan
should include indicators that measure
gains in mutual understanding as well
as substantive knowledge.
Successful monitoring and evaluation
depend heavily on setting clear goals
and outcomes at the outset of a program.
Your evaluation plan should include a
description of your project’s objectives,
your anticipated project outcomes, and
how and when you intend to measure
these outcomes (performance
indicators). The more that outcomes are
‘‘smart’’ (specific, measurable,
attainable, results-oriented, and placed
in a reasonable time frame), the easier
it will be to conduct the evaluation. You
should also show how your project
objectives link to the goals of the
program described in this RFGP.
Your monitoring and evaluation plan
should clearly distinguish between
program outputs and outcomes. Outputs
are products and services delivered,
often stated as an amount. Output
information is important to show the
scope or size of project activities, but it
cannot substitute for information about
progress towards outcomes or the
results achieved. Examples of outputs
include the number of people trained or
the number of seminars conducted.
Outcomes, in contrast, represent
specific results a project is intended to
achieve and is usually measured as an
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extent of change. Findings on outputs
and outcomes should both be reported,
but the focus should be on outcomes.
We encourage you to assess the
following four levels of outcomes, as
they relate to the program goals set out
in the RFGP (listed here in increasing
order of importance):
1. Participant satisfaction with the
program and exchange experience.
2. Participant learning, such as
increased knowledge, aptitude, skills,
and changed understanding and
attitude. Learning includes both
substantive (subject-specific) learning
and mutual understanding.
3. Participant behavior, concrete
actions to apply knowledge in work or
community; greater participation and
responsibility in civic organizations;
interpretation and explanation of
experiences and new knowledge gained;
continued contacts between
participants, community members, and
others.
4. Institutional changes, such as
increased collaboration and
partnerships, policy reforms, new
programming, and organizational
improvements.
Please note: Consideration should be given
to the appropriate timing of data collection
for each level of outcome. For example,
satisfaction is usually captured as a shortterm outcome, whereas behavior and
institutional changes are normally
considered longer-term outcomes.
Overall, the quality of your
monitoring and evaluation plan will be
judged on how well it (1) Specifies
intended outcomes; (2) gives clear
descriptions of how each outcome will
be measured; (3) identifies when
particular outcomes will be measured;
and (4) provides a clear description of
the data collection strategies for each
outcome (i.e., surveys, interviews, or
focus groups). (Please note that
evaluation plans that deal only with the
first level of outcomes [satisfaction] will
be deemed less competitive under the
present evaluation criteria.)
Cooperating institutions will be
required to provide reports analyzing
their evaluation findings to the Bureau
in their regular program reports. All
data collected, including survey
responses and contact information, must
be maintained for a minimum of three
years and provided to the Bureau upon
request.
IV.3d.4. Describe your plans for:
sustainability, overall program
management, staffing, and coordination
with ECA/A/S/X, the RELO at the U.S.
Embassy in New Delhi and the Fulbright
Commissions of India and Pakistan.
ECA/A/S/X considers program
management, staffing and coordination
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with the Department of State essential
elements of the program. Please be sure
to give sufficient attention to these
elements in your proposal by providing
a staffing plan that outlines the
responsibilities of each staff person and
explains which staff member will be
accountable for each program
responsibility. Wherever possible please
streamline administrative processes.
Please refer to the POGI in the
Solicitation Package for specific
guidelines.
IV.3e. Please take the following
information into consideration when
preparing your budget:
IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit a
comprehensive budget for the entire
program. The budget should not exceed
$500,000 for program and
administrative costs. There must be a
summary budget as well as breakdowns
reflecting both administrative and
program budgets. Applicants may
provide separate sub-budgets for each
program component, phase, location, or
activity to provide clarification.
IV.3f. Application Deadline and
Methods of Submission: Application
Deadline Date: June 13, 2006. Reference
Number: ECA/A/S/X–06–09.
IV.3f.1. Applications may be
submitted in one of two ways:
1. In hard-copy, via a nationally
recognized overnight delivery service
(i.e., DHL, Federal Express, UPS,
Airborne Express, or U.S. Postal Service
Express Overnight Mail, etc.), or
2. Electronically through https://
www.grants.gov.
Along with the Project Title, all
applicants must enter the above
Reference Number in Box 11 on the SF–
424 contained in the mandatory
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI)
of the solicitation document.
IV.3f.2. Submitting Printed
Applications. Applications must be
shipped no later than the above
deadline. Delivery services used by
applicants must have in-place,
centralized shipping identification and
tracking systems that may be accessed
via the Internet and delivery people
who are identifiable by commonly
recognized uniforms and delivery
vehicles. Proposals shipped on or before
the above deadline but received at ECA
more than seven days after the deadline
will be ineligible for further
consideration under this competition.
Proposals shipped after the established
deadlines are ineligible for
consideration under this competition.
ECA will not notify you upon receipt of
application. It is each applicant’s
responsibility to ensure that each
package is marked with a legible
tracking number and to monitor/confirm
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delivery to ECA via the Internet.
Delivery of proposal packages may not
be made via local courier service or in
person for this competition. Faxed
documents will not be accepted at any
time. Only proposals submitted as
stated above will be considered.
Important note: When preparing your
submission please make sure to include one
extra copy of the completed SF–424 form and
place it in an envelope addressed to ‘‘ECA/
EX/PM’’.
The original and eight copies of the
application should be sent to: U.S.
Department of State, SA–44, Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs, Ref.:
ECA/A/S/X–06–09, Program
Management, ECA/EX/PM, Room 534,
301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC
20547.
Applicants submitting hard-copy
applications must also submit the
‘‘Executive Summary’’ and ‘‘Proposal
Narrative’’ sections of the proposal in
text (.txt) format on a PC-formatted disk.
The Bureau will provide these files
electronically to the appropriate Public
Affairs Sections at the U.S. embassies
for their review.
IV.3f.2. Submitting Electronic
Applications. Applicants have the
option of submitting proposals
electronically through Grants.gov
(https://www.grants.gov). Complete
solicitation packages are available at
Grants.gov in the ‘‘Find’’ portion of the
system. Please follow the instructions
available in the ‘‘Get Started’’ portion of
the site (https://www.grants.gov/
GetStarted).
Applicants have until midnight (12
a.m.) of the closing date to ensure that
their entire application has been
uploaded to the grants.gov site.
Applications uploaded to the site after
midnight of the application deadline
date will be automatically rejected by
the grants.gov system, and will be
technically ineligible.
Applicants will receive confirmation
e-mail from grants.gov upon the
successful submission of an application.
ECA will not notify you upon receipt of
electronic applications.
IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of
Applications: Executive Order 12372
does not apply to this program.
V. Application Review Information
V.1. Review Process
The Bureau will review all proposals
for technical eligibility. Proposals will
be deemed ineligible if they do not fully
adhere to the guidelines stated herein
and in the Solicitation Package. The
program office, as well as the Public
Diplomacy section overseas, where
appropriate will review all eligible
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proposals. Eligible proposals will be
subject to compliance with Federal and
Bureau regulations and guidelines and
forwarded to Bureau grant panels for
advisory review. Proposals may also be
reviewed by the Office of the Legal
Adviser or by other Department
elements. Final funding decisions are at
the discretion of the Department of
State’s Assistant Secretary for
Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final
technical authority for assistance
awards (cooperative agreements) resides
with the Bureau’s Grants Officer.
Review Criteria
Technically eligible applications will
be competitively reviewed according to
the criteria stated below. These criteria
are not rank ordered and all carry equal
weight in the proposal evaluation:
1. Program Development and
Management: The proposal narrative
should exhibit originality, substance,
precision, and relevance to the Bureau’s
mission as well as the objectives of the
program. The proposal should
demonstrate substantive expertise in the
development of English as a Foreign
language and conflict resolution
programs for educators. Proposals
should illustrate effective use of
community and regional resources to
enhance the educational and cultural
expertise of the participants. The
program plan should be well conceived.
Administrative resources should be
adequate to support effective project
administration.
2. Ability to achieve program
objectives: Objectives should be
reasonable, feasible, and flexible.
Proposals should clearly demonstrate
how the institution will meet the
program objectives.
3. Support of Diversity: Proposals
should demonstrate substantive support
of the Bureau’s policy on diversity.
Achievable and relevant features should
be cited in both program administration
(staffing, program venue and program
evaluation) and program content
(orientation and workshop sessions,
program meetings, resource materials
and follow-up activities).
4. Institutional Capacity and Record:
Proposals should demonstrate an
institutional record of successful
exchange programs, including
responsible fiscal management and full
compliance with all reporting
requirements for past Bureau grants as
determined by Bureau Grants Staff.
Proposed personnel and institutional
resources should be adequate and
appropriate to achieve the program’s
goals.
5. Project Evaluation: Proposals
should include a plan to evaluate the
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project’s success, both as the activities
unfold and at the end of the program.
Draft survey questionnaires or other
techniques plus description of
methodologies to use to link outcomes
to original project objectives are
recommended. Successful applicants
will be expected to submit intermediate
reports after the U.S.-based training
program, and other project components
are concluded, or quarterly, whichever
is less frequent.
6. Cost-effectiveness and Cost
Sharing: The overhead and
administrative components of the
proposal, including salaries and
honoraria, should be kept as low as
possible. All other items should be
necessary and appropriate. Proposals
should maximize cost sharing through
other private sector support as well as
institutional direct funding
contributions.
7. Follow-on and Alumni Activities:
Proposals should provide a plan for
continued follow-on activity (both with
and without Bureau support) ensuring
that the Professional Development
Program for Indian and Pakistani
Teachers is not an isolated event.
VI. Award Administration Information
VI.1a. Award Notices. Final awards
cannot be made until funds have been
appropriated by Congress, allocated and
committed through internal Bureau
procedures. Successful applicants will
receive an Assistance Award Document
(AAD) from the Bureau’s Grants Office.
The AAD and the original grant
proposal with subsequent modifications
(if applicable) shall be the only binding
authorizing document between the
recipient and the U.S. Government. The
AAD will be signed by an authorized
Grants Officer, and mailed to the
recipient’s responsible officer identified
in the application.
Unsuccessful applicants will receive
notification of the results of the
application review from the ECA
program office coordinating this
competition.
rmajette on PROD1PC67 with NOTICES
VI.2. Administrative and National
Policy Requirements
Terms and Conditions for the
Administration of ECA agreements
include the following:
Office of Management and Budget
Circular A–122, ‘‘Cost Principles for
Nonprofit Organizations.’’
Office of Management and Budget
Circular A–21, ‘‘Cost Principles for
Educational Institutions.’’
OMB Circular A–87, ‘‘Cost Principles
for State, Local and Indian
Governments’’.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:13 Apr 26, 2006
Jkt 208001
24895
OMB Circular No. A–110 (Revised),
Uniform Administrative
Requirements for Grants and
Agreements with Institutions of
Higher Education, Hospitals, and
other Nonprofit Organizations.
OMB Circular No. A–102, Uniform
Administrative Requirements for
Grants-in-Aid to State and Local
Governments.
OMB Circular No. A–133, Audits of
States, Local Government, and Nonprofit Organizations.
Please reference the following Web
sites for additional information: https://
www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants.
https://exchanges.state.gov/education/
grantsdiv/terms.htm#articleI.
VIII. Other Information
VI.3. Reporting Requirements
Dated: April 21, 2006.
C. Miller Crouch,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau
of Educational and Cultural Affairs,
Department of State.
[FR Doc. E6–6359 Filed 4–26–06; 8:45 am]
You must provide ECA with a hard
copy original plus one copy of the
following reports: Intermediate reports
after each project component (i.e., U.S.based program and then workshops in
India and Pakistan) or quarterly reports,
whichever is less frequent and final
program and financial report no more
than 90 days after the expiration of the
award.
Cooperating institutions will be
required to provide reports analyzing
their evaluation findings to the Bureau
in their regular program reports. (Please
refer to Application and Submission
Instructions (IV.3.d.3) above for Program
Monitoring and Evaluation
information.)
All data collected, including survey
responses and contact information, must
be maintained for a minimum of three
years and provided to the Bureau upon
request.
All reports must be sent to the ECA
Grants Officer and ECA Program Officer
listed in the final assistance award
document.
VII. Agency Contacts
For questions about this
announcement, contact Program Officer
Joan Zaffarano, Office of Global
Educational Programs, Room 349, ECA/
A/S/X–06–09, U.S. Department of State,
SA–44, 301 4th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20547; telephone (202)
453–8863; fax number (202) 453–8890,
and e-mail: ZaffaranoJG@state.gov.
All correspondence with the Bureau
concerning this RFGP should reference
the above title and number ECA/A/S/X–
06–09. Please read the complete
announcement before sending inquiries
or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP
deadline has passed, Bureau staff may
not discuss this competition with
applicants until the proposal review
process has been completed.
PO 00000
Frm 00057
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Notice
The terms and conditions published
in this RFGP are binding and may not
be modified by any Bureau
representative. Explanatory information
provided by the Bureau that contradicts
published language will not be binding.
Issuance of the RFGP does not
constitute an award commitment on the
part of the Government. The Bureau
reserves the right to reduce, revise, or
increase proposal budgets in accordance
with the needs of the program and the
availability of funds. Awards made will
be subject to periodic reporting and
evaluation requirements per section VI.3
above.
BILLING CODE 4710–05–P
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 5396]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs (ECA)
Request for Grant Proposals: U.SFrench Teachers-in-Training Program
Announcement Type: Cooperative
Agreement.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/
A/S/X–06–12.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Number: 00.000
Application Deadline: May 31, 2006.
Executive Summary: The Fulbright
Teacher Exchange Branch in the Office
of Global Educational Programs of the
U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA/
A/S/X) announces an open competition
for the U.S.-French Teachers-inTraining Program. Accredited, U.S.
post-secondary educational institutions
meeting the provisions described in
Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C.
501(c)(3) may submit proposals to
administer a three-month teacher
exchange program for U.S. and French
pre-service teachers. Post-secondary
educational institutions may apply
independently or in a consortium with
other post-secondary institutions. The
program will provide approximately 30–
35 French pre-service teachers, who are
expected to serve socio-economically
disadvantaged students in France, with
a three-to-four week orientation to
American history, culture and society,
provided through professional
E:\FR\FM\27APN1.SGM
27APN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 81 (Thursday, April 27, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24891-24895]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-6359]
[[Page 24891]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 5395]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Request for Grant
Proposals: Professional Development Program for Indian and Pakistani
Teachers
Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.00.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/S/X-06-09.
Application Deadline: June 13, 2006.
Executive Summary: The Fulbright Teacher Exchange Branch in the
Office of Global Educational Programs of the Bureau of Educational and
Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces an open competition for a $500,000
grant to support the Professional Development Program for Indian and
Pakistani Teachers. Accredited U.S. post-secondary educational
institutions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C.
501(c)(3) with expertise in teaching English as a Foreign Language
(EFL) may submit proposals which combine EFL teaching methodology,
curriculum development, and development of leadership and communication
skills for up to 30 Indian and Pakistani secondary school teachers. The
program will begin with a six-week U.S.-based professional development
program for the Indian and Pakistani educators and conclude with joint
workshops in India and Pakistan for these teachers. The program should
expose the educators to U.S. teaching methodologies, including
educational tools designed to increase students' ability to deal with
conflict and to cooperate effectively with people of diverse
backgrounds. The program proposal should demonstrate the applicant's
understanding of issues that are important in English language
education in India and Pakistan and the applicant's experience
developing educational programs and material for EFL teachers.
Proposals should also demonstrate a sensitivity to challenges of
educational cooperation between India and Pakistan.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
I.1. Authority
Overall grant making authority for this program is contained in the
Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, Public Law 87-
256, as amended, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act. The purpose of
the Act is ``to enable the Government of the United States to increase
mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the
people of other countries * * *; to strengthen the ties which unite us
with other nations by demonstrating the educational and cultural
interests, developments, and achievements of the people of the United
States and other nations * * * and thus to assist in the development of
friendly, sympathetic and peaceful relations between the United States
and the other countries of the world.'' The funding authority for the
program above is provided through legislation.
1.2. Program Goals
1.2a. To strengthen EFL pedagogy and the leadership skills of
teachers in India and Pakistan by giving secondary school teachers the
opportunity to share best practices and methodology from their own
countries with each other and to learn about EFL innovations in the
United States.
1.2b. To introduce the teachers to conflict resolution concepts and
tools for implementation in the classroom.
1.2c. To strengthen mutual understanding between India, Pakistan,
and the U.S. by encouraging the teachers to develop meaningful working
relationships with one another and their U.S. colleagues.
1.3. Planning
The cooperating institution will be responsible for conducting an
initial planning visit to India, and, if feasible, Pakistan, to consult
with representatives from the respective United States Educational
Foundations (Fulbright Commissions) in India and Pakistan, Ministries
of Education, and local educators. The cooperating institution should
also consult with the Department of State's Regional English Language
Officer (RELO) based at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. RELOs are
credentialed, experienced foreign service and English as a Foreign
Language officers based at U.S. embassies who work with host-country
Ministries of Education, universities and teacher-training officials on
targeted English language programs. Based on assessments made during
this planning visit, the cooperating institution will develop a
recruitment plan, a detailed schedule, and curriculum for the U.S.-
based program.
The Fulbright Commissions in India and Pakistan will recruit and
select participants for the program with support from the cooperating
institution. The cooperating institution will be responsible for
preparing publicity, recruitment and selection materials, including an
application form. Special efforts will be made to recruit teachers
working in non-elite institutions.
Prior to participants' departure for the United States, the
Fulbright Commissions in India and Pakistan will conduct pre-departure
orientations for participants from their respective countries based on
information provided by the cooperating institution. The orientations
will provide information about the program, goals, and our expectations
of participants, as well as address issues about the participants' stay
in the U.S. The cooperating institution will work closely with both
Fulbright Commissions to organize the orientations and will develop
orientation packets for each participant that cover the aforementioned
material. Packets will be sent to the Fulbright Commissions in advance
of the scheduled pre-departure orientations. The cooperating
institution also should develop a Web site on the program for use
during the pre-departure orientation sessions and during subsequent
program stages.
1.4. Program Components
The applicant should design and implement a two-phased program: a
U.S professional development program for Indian and Pakistani secondary
school teachers and subsequent workshops in India and Pakistan for
these program participants.
(a) Pending the availability of funds, the U.S.-based six-week
professional development program will begin in Spring 2007. The program
must comply with J-1 visa regulations. Please refer to the Solicitation
Package for further information.
The U.S. program should meet the needs of the Indian and Pakistani
participants through EFL instruction as well as curriculum and
professional development programs. The program should update the
secondary school teachers on best practices in EFL instruction and
should also present skills for interacting harmoniously with people of
different backgrounds. EFL methodologies focusing on student-centered
learning; teaching tolerance, mutual respect, and trust building;
strengthening of students' problem-solving, cross-cultural
communication, and leadership skills; and computer literacy for EFL
instruction should all be included in the program. Time should be
allotted to activities outside of the classroom such as visits to
schools, team-teaching with U.S. teachers, and attendance at
professional meetings. The six-week program should conclude with a
visit of three days to Washington, DC. This visit should include
meetings
[[Page 24892]]
with representatives of the Department of State, other government
agencies, schools, and private-sector educational associations as well
as trips to local educational and cultural sites.
(b) The workshops abroad, the second program component, should
begin approximately six months after the conclusion of the U.S.
training program. There will be one in India and one in Pakistan. The
fifteen Pakistani participants will travel to India to join their
Indian counterparts and help facilitate a workshop for 100 additional
Indian teachers. Subsequently, the fifteen Indian participants will
travel to Pakistan for a similar joint workshop for 100 additional
Pakistani teachers. Each of these workshops should be approximately two
days in length and at least one month should elapse between them.
The cooperating institution will coordinate program plans and
schedules with ECA's Fulbright Teacher Exchange Branch (ECA/A/S/X) as
well as with the Fulbright Commissions in India and Pakistan and the
Regional English Language Officer (RELO) based at the U.S. Embassy in
New Delhi. The Fulbright Teacher Exchange Branch will approve final
program schedules before program implementation.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2006.
Approximate Total Funding: $500,000.
Approximate Number of Awards: 1.
Approximate Average Award: $500,000.
Anticipated Award Date: September 1, 2006.
Anticipated Project Completion Date: March 31, 2008.
Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of this
program and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, ECA
retains the option to renew this grant for two additional years, before
openly competing it again.
Eligibility Information
III.1. Eligible Applicants
Applications may be submitted by accredited U.S. post-secondary
institutions meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code
section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3).
III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds
There is no minimum or maximum percentage required for this
competition; however, the Bureau encourages applicants to provide
maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in support of its programs.
When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the
applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its
proposal and later included in an approved grant agreement. Cost
sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For
accountability, you must maintain written records to support all costs
that are claimed as your contribution, as well as costs to be paid by
the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. The basis
for determining the value of cash and in-kind contributions must be in
accordance with OMB Circular A-110, (Revised), Subpart C.23--Cost
Sharing and Matching. In the event you do not provide the minimum
amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget, ECA's
contribution will be reduced in like proportion.
III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements
Bureau grant guidelines require that organizations with less than
four years experience in conducting international exchanges are limited
to $60,000 in Bureau funding. ECA anticipates awarding one grant, in an
amount up to $500,000 to support program and administrative costs
required to implement this exchange program. Therefore, organizations
with less than four years experience in conducting international
exchanges are ineligible to apply under this competition. The Bureau
encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and
funding in support of its programs.
IV. Application and Submission Information
Note: Please read the complete announcement before sending
inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has
passed, Bureau staff may not discuss this competition with
applicants until the proposal review process has been completed.
IV.1. Contact Information to Request an Application Package
Please contact the Office of Global Educational Programs, ECA/A/S/
X, Room 349, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20547, tel. (202) 453-8897, fax (202) 453-8890, or e-
mail Mosleypj@state.gov to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer
to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/S/X 06-09 located at the top of
this announcement when making your request. Alternatively, an
electronic application package may be obtained from grants.gov. Please
see section IV.3f for further information.
The Solicitation Package contains the Proposal Submission
Instruction (PSI) document, which consists of required application
forms, and standard guidelines for proposal preparation.
It also contains the Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation
(POGI) document, which provides specific information, award criteria
and budget instructions tailored to this competition.
Please specify Program Officer Joan Zaffarano and refer to the
Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/S/X 06-09 located at the top of this
announcement on all other inquiries and correspondence.
IV.2. To Download a Solicitation Package Via Internet
The entire Solicitation Package may be downloaded from the Bureau's
Web site at https://exchanges.state.gov/education/rfgps/menu.htm. or
from the Grants.gov Web site at https://www.grants.gov. Please read all
information before downloading.
IV.3. Content and Form of Submission
Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation
Package. The original and seven copies of the application should be
sent per the instructions under IV.3f. ``Application Deadline and
Methods of Submission'' section below.
IV.3a. You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal
Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative
agreement from the U.S. Government. This number is a nine-digit
identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities.
Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a
DUNS number, access https://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-
5711. Please ensure that your DUNS number is included in the
appropriate box of the SF-424 which is part of the formal application
package.
IV.3b. All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal
narrative and budget.
Please Refer to the Solicitation Package. It contains the mandatory
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document and the Project
Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) document for additional
formatting and technical requirements.
IV.3c. You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of
application. If your organization is a private nonprofit which has not
received a grant or cooperative agreement from ECA in the past three
years, or if your
[[Page 24893]]
organization received nonprofit status from the IRS within the past
four years, you must submit the necessary documentation to verify
nonprofit status as directed in the PSI document. Failure to do so will
cause your proposal to be declared technically ineligible.
IV.3d. Please take into consideration the following information
when preparing your proposal narrative:
IV.3d.1. Adherence to All Regulations Governing the J Visa. The
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is placing renewed emphasis
on the secure and proper administration of Exchange Visitor (J visa)
Programs and adherence by grantees and sponsors to all regulations
governing the J visa. Therefore, proposals should demonstrate the
applicant's capacity to meet all requirements governing the
administration of the Exchange Visitor Programs as set forth in 22 CFR
62, including the oversight of Responsible Officers and Alternate
Responsible Officers, screening and selection of program participants,
provision of pre-arrival information and orientation to participants,
monitoring of participants, proper maintenance and security of forms,
record-keeping, reporting and other requirements. The cooperating
institution will be responsible for issuing DS-2019 forms to
participants in this program.
A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of
Exchange Visitor (J) programs is available at https://
exchanges.state.gov or from: United States Department of State, Office
of Exchange Coordination and Designation, ECA/EC/ECD--SA-44, Room 734,
301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547. Telephone: (202) 203-5029.
FAX: (202) 453-8640.
Please refer to Solicitation Package for further information.
IV.3d.2. Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines. Pursuant to
the Bureau's authorizing legislation, programs must maintain a non-
political character and should be balanced and representative of the
diversity of American political, social, and cultural life.
``Diversity'' should be interpreted in the broadest sense and encompass
differences including, but not limited to ethnicity, race, gender,
religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, and disabilities.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere to the advancement of this
principle both in program administration and in program content. Please
refer to the review criteria under the `Support for Diversity' section
for specific suggestions on incorporating diversity into your proposal.
Public Law 104-319 provides that ``in carrying out programs of
educational and cultural exchange in countries whose people do not
fully enjoy freedom and democracy,'' the Bureau ``shall take
appropriate steps to provide opportunities for participation in such
programs to human rights and democracy leaders of such countries.''
Public Law 106-113 requires that the governments of the countries
described above do not have inappropriate influence in the selection
process. Proposals should reflect advancement of these goals in their
program contents, to the full extent deemed feasible.
IV.3d.3. Program Monitoring and Evaluation. Proposals must include
a plan to monitor and evaluate the project's success, both as the
activities unfold and at the end of the program. The Bureau recommends
that your proposal include a draft survey questionnaire or other
technique plus a description of a methodology to use to link outcomes
to original project objectives. The Bureau expects that the cooperating
institution will track participants or partners and be able to respond
to key evaluation questions, including satisfaction with the program,
learning as a result of the program, changes in behavior as a result of
the program, and effects of the program on institutions (institutions
in which participants work or partner institutions). The evaluation
plan should include indicators that measure gains in mutual
understanding as well as substantive knowledge.
Successful monitoring and evaluation depend heavily on setting
clear goals and outcomes at the outset of a program. Your evaluation
plan should include a description of your project's objectives, your
anticipated project outcomes, and how and when you intend to measure
these outcomes (performance indicators). The more that outcomes are
``smart'' (specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and
placed in a reasonable time frame), the easier it will be to conduct
the evaluation. You should also show how your project objectives link
to the goals of the program described in this RFGP.
Your monitoring and evaluation plan should clearly distinguish
between program outputs and outcomes. Outputs are products and services
delivered, often stated as an amount. Output information is important
to show the scope or size of project activities, but it cannot
substitute for information about progress towards outcomes or the
results achieved. Examples of outputs include the number of people
trained or the number of seminars conducted. Outcomes, in contrast,
represent specific results a project is intended to achieve and is
usually measured as an extent of change. Findings on outputs and
outcomes should both be reported, but the focus should be on outcomes.
We encourage you to assess the following four levels of outcomes,
as they relate to the program goals set out in the RFGP (listed here in
increasing order of importance):
1. Participant satisfaction with the program and exchange
experience.
2. Participant learning, such as increased knowledge, aptitude,
skills, and changed understanding and attitude. Learning includes both
substantive (subject-specific) learning and mutual understanding.
3. Participant behavior, concrete actions to apply knowledge in
work or community; greater participation and responsibility in civic
organizations; interpretation and explanation of experiences and new
knowledge gained; continued contacts between participants, community
members, and others.
4. Institutional changes, such as increased collaboration and
partnerships, policy reforms, new programming, and organizational
improvements.
Please note: Consideration should be given to the appropriate
timing of data collection for each level of outcome. For example,
satisfaction is usually captured as a short-term outcome, whereas
behavior and institutional changes are normally considered longer-
term outcomes.
Overall, the quality of your monitoring and evaluation plan will be
judged on how well it (1) Specifies intended outcomes; (2) gives clear
descriptions of how each outcome will be measured; (3) identifies when
particular outcomes will be measured; and (4) provides a clear
description of the data collection strategies for each outcome (i.e.,
surveys, interviews, or focus groups). (Please note that evaluation
plans that deal only with the first level of outcomes [satisfaction]
will be deemed less competitive under the present evaluation criteria.)
Cooperating institutions will be required to provide reports
analyzing their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular
program reports. All data collected, including survey responses and
contact information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years
and provided to the Bureau upon request.
IV.3d.4. Describe your plans for: sustainability, overall program
management, staffing, and coordination with ECA/A/S/X, the RELO at the
U.S. Embassy in New Delhi and the Fulbright Commissions of India and
Pakistan.
ECA/A/S/X considers program management, staffing and coordination
[[Page 24894]]
with the Department of State essential elements of the program. Please
be sure to give sufficient attention to these elements in your proposal
by providing a staffing plan that outlines the responsibilities of each
staff person and explains which staff member will be accountable for
each program responsibility. Wherever possible please streamline
administrative processes. Please refer to the POGI in the Solicitation
Package for specific guidelines.
IV.3e. Please take the following information into consideration
when preparing your budget:
IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the
entire program. The budget should not exceed $500,000 for program and
administrative costs. There must be a summary budget as well as
breakdowns reflecting both administrative and program budgets.
Applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for each program component,
phase, location, or activity to provide clarification.
IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission: Application
Deadline Date: June 13, 2006. Reference Number: ECA/A/S/X-06-09.
IV.3f.1. Applications may be submitted in one of two ways:
1. In hard-copy, via a nationally recognized overnight delivery
service (i.e., DHL, Federal Express, UPS, Airborne Express, or U.S.
Postal Service Express Overnight Mail, etc.), or
2. Electronically through https://www.grants.gov.
Along with the Project Title, all applicants must enter the above
Reference Number in Box 11 on the SF-424 contained in the mandatory
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) of the solicitation document.
IV.3f.2. Submitting Printed Applications. Applications must be
shipped no later than the above deadline. Delivery services used by
applicants must have in-place, centralized shipping identification and
tracking systems that may be accessed via the Internet and delivery
people who are identifiable by commonly recognized uniforms and
delivery vehicles. Proposals shipped on or before the above deadline
but received at ECA more than seven days after the deadline will be
ineligible for further consideration under this competition. Proposals
shipped after the established deadlines are ineligible for
consideration under this competition. ECA will not notify you upon
receipt of application. It is each applicant's responsibility to ensure
that each package is marked with a legible tracking number and to
monitor/confirm delivery to ECA via the Internet. Delivery of proposal
packages may not be made via local courier service or in person for
this competition. Faxed documents will not be accepted at any time.
Only proposals submitted as stated above will be considered.
Important note: When preparing your submission please make sure
to include one extra copy of the completed SF-424 form and place it
in an envelope addressed to ``ECA/EX/PM''.
The original and eight copies of the application should be sent to:
U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs, Ref.: ECA/A/S/X-06-09, Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, Room
534, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
Applicants submitting hard-copy applications must also submit the
``Executive Summary'' and ``Proposal Narrative'' sections of the
proposal in text (.txt) format on a PC-formatted disk. The Bureau will
provide these files electronically to the appropriate Public Affairs
Sections at the U.S. embassies for their review.
IV.3f.2. Submitting Electronic Applications. Applicants have the
option of submitting proposals electronically through Grants.gov
(https://www.grants.gov). Complete solicitation packages are available
at Grants.gov in the ``Find'' portion of the system. Please follow the
instructions available in the ``Get Started'' portion of the site
(https://www.grants.gov/GetStarted).
Applicants have until midnight (12 a.m.) of the closing date to
ensure that their entire application has been uploaded to the
grants.gov site. Applications uploaded to the site after midnight of
the application deadline date will be automatically rejected by the
grants.gov system, and will be technically ineligible.
Applicants will receive confirmation e-mail from grants.gov upon
the successful submission of an application. ECA will not notify you
upon receipt of electronic applications.
IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of Applications: Executive Order
12372 does not apply to this program.
V. Application Review Information
V.1. Review Process
The Bureau will review all proposals for technical eligibility.
Proposals will be deemed ineligible if they do not fully adhere to the
guidelines stated herein and in the Solicitation Package. The program
office, as well as the Public Diplomacy section overseas, where
appropriate will review all eligible proposals. Eligible proposals will
be subject to compliance with Federal and Bureau regulations and
guidelines and forwarded to Bureau grant panels for advisory review.
Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of the Legal Adviser or by
other Department elements. Final funding decisions are at the
discretion of the Department of State's Assistant Secretary for
Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final technical authority for
assistance awards (cooperative agreements) resides with the Bureau's
Grants Officer.
Review Criteria
Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed
according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are not rank
ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation:
1. Program Development and Management: The proposal narrative
should exhibit originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the
Bureau's mission as well as the objectives of the program. The proposal
should demonstrate substantive expertise in the development of English
as a Foreign language and conflict resolution programs for educators.
Proposals should illustrate effective use of community and regional
resources to enhance the educational and cultural expertise of the
participants. The program plan should be well conceived. Administrative
resources should be adequate to support effective project
administration.
2. Ability to achieve program objectives: Objectives should be
reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly
demonstrate how the institution will meet the program objectives.
3. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Achievable and relevant
features should be cited in both program administration (staffing,
program venue and program evaluation) and program content (orientation
and workshop sessions, program meetings, resource materials and follow-
up activities).
4. Institutional Capacity and Record: Proposals should demonstrate
an institutional record of successful exchange programs, including
responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting
requirements for past Bureau grants as determined by Bureau Grants
Staff. Proposed personnel and institutional resources should be
adequate and appropriate to achieve the program's goals.
5. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate
the
[[Page 24895]]
project's success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of the
program. Draft survey questionnaires or other techniques plus
description of methodologies to use to link outcomes to original
project objectives are recommended. Successful applicants will be
expected to submit intermediate reports after the U.S.-based training
program, and other project components are concluded, or quarterly,
whichever is less frequent.
6. Cost-effectiveness and Cost Sharing: The overhead and
administrative components of the proposal, including salaries and
honoraria, should be kept as low as possible. All other items should be
necessary and appropriate. Proposals should maximize cost sharing
through other private sector support as well as institutional direct
funding contributions.
7. Follow-on and Alumni Activities: Proposals should provide a plan
for continued follow-on activity (both with and without Bureau support)
ensuring that the Professional Development Program for Indian and
Pakistani Teachers is not an isolated event.
VI. Award Administration Information
VI.1a. Award Notices. Final awards cannot be made until funds have
been appropriated by Congress, allocated and committed through internal
Bureau procedures. Successful applicants will receive an Assistance
Award Document (AAD) from the Bureau's Grants Office. The AAD and the
original grant proposal with subsequent modifications (if applicable)
shall be the only binding authorizing document between the recipient
and the U.S. Government. The AAD will be signed by an authorized Grants
Officer, and mailed to the recipient's responsible officer identified
in the application.
Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of
the application review from the ECA program office coordinating this
competition.
VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
Terms and Conditions for the Administration of ECA agreements
include the following:
Office of Management and Budget Circular A-122, ``Cost Principles for
Nonprofit Organizations.''
Office of Management and Budget Circular A-21, ``Cost Principles for
Educational Institutions.''
OMB Circular A-87, ``Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian
Governments''.
OMB Circular No. A-110 (Revised), Uniform Administrative Requirements
for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education,
Hospitals, and other Nonprofit Organizations.
OMB Circular No. A-102, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants-
in-Aid to State and Local Governments.
OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of States, Local Government, and Non-
profit Organizations.
Please reference the following Web sites for additional
information: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants. https://
exchanges.state.gov/education/grantsdiv/terms.htm#articleI.
VI.3. Reporting Requirements
You must provide ECA with a hard copy original plus one copy of the
following reports: Intermediate reports after each project component
(i.e., U.S.-based program and then workshops in India and Pakistan) or
quarterly reports, whichever is less frequent and final program and
financial report no more than 90 days after the expiration of the
award.
Cooperating institutions will be required to provide reports
analyzing their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular
program reports. (Please refer to Application and Submission
Instructions (IV.3.d.3) above for Program Monitoring and Evaluation
information.)
All data collected, including survey responses and contact
information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years and
provided to the Bureau upon request.
All reports must be sent to the ECA Grants Officer and ECA Program
Officer listed in the final assistance award document.
VII. Agency Contacts
For questions about this announcement, contact Program Officer Joan
Zaffarano, Office of Global Educational Programs, Room 349, ECA/A/S/X-
06-09, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20547; telephone (202) 453-8863; fax number (202) 453-
8890, and e-mail: ZaffaranoJG@state.gov.
All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should
reference the above title and number ECA/A/S/X-06-09. Please read the
complete announcement before sending inquiries or submitting proposals.
Once the RFGP deadline has passed, Bureau staff may not discuss this
competition with applicants until the proposal review process has been
completed.
VIII. Other Information
Notice
The terms and conditions published in this RFGP are binding and may
not be modified by any Bureau representative. Explanatory information
provided by the Bureau that contradicts published language will not be
binding. Issuance of the RFGP does not constitute an award commitment
on the part of the Government. The Bureau reserves the right to reduce,
revise, or increase proposal budgets in accordance with the needs of
the program and the availability of funds. Awards made will be subject
to periodic reporting and evaluation requirements per section VI.3
above.
Dated: April 21, 2006.
C. Miller Crouch,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and
Cultural Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. E6-6359 Filed 4-26-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P