Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for Proposals for the Fundraising, Construction, Development, Organization and Management of a U.S. Pavilion/Exhibition at the World Expo 2010 Shanghai, China, 65563-65566 [E6-18877]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 8, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65563-65566]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-18877]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 5610]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Proposals for the Fundraising, Construction, Development, Organization 
and Management of a U.S. Pavilion/Exhibition at the World Expo 2010 
Shanghai, China

    Executive Summary: The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs 
(ECA) of the Department of State requests proposals from private U.S. 
individuals, firms, associations and organizations (for profit and non-
profit) for the fundraising, construction, development, organization 
and management of a U.S. pavilion/exhibition at the World Expo 2010 
Shanghai China. The U.S. pavilion will be situated on a 6,000 square 
meter plot with a building footprint of 60% to 80% of the plot size. It 
could have multiple floors to a height not exceeding 20 meters. The 
Department will issue a ``letter of intent'' to the organization 
submitting the winning proposal authorizing that organization to 
proceed with fundraising to complete the U.S. Pavilion project. The 
letter will include guidelines on fundraising to be followed

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by the winning organization and will establish a deadline for 
completion of all fundraising activities. Note that all prospective 
donors will be vetted with the Department of State for potential 
conflict of interest. Cost for a representative U.S. pavilion/exhibit 
for Expo Shanghai 2010 is estimated to range between $75 million to 
$100 million and will be the sole responsibility of winning 
organization. The Department of State is not now authorized, and does 
not in the future intend to seek authorization from the U.S. Congress, 
to provide funding for any aspect of the U.S. pavilion/exhibition at 
the World Expo 2010 Shanghai China. The successful applicant will be 
responsible for all costs associated with the design, development, 
construction, and management of all aspects of the U.S. Pavilion, as 
well as all support for the U.S. Commissioner General. The U.S. 
Pavilion shall be considered on loan to the U.S. Government, and the 
successful applicant shall be solely responsible for the disposition of 
the U.S. Pavilion at the conclusion of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai 
China. The aforementioned loan shall be treated as a gift to the U.S. 
Government.
    Only after the organization is able to demonstrate that all funding 
required for this project is in hand will the Department of State sign 
a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with that organization, sign a 
Participation Contract with the Expo organizing body, and appoint a 
Commissioner General. Proposals from non-U.S. citizens or non-U.S. 
firms or organizations shall be deemed ineligible for consideration.
    Authority: Overall authority for Department of State support for 
U.S. participation in international expositions is contained in Section 
102(a)(3) of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, 
as amended (22 U.S.C. 2452(a)(3), 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.'' Pursuant to this authority, ECA is the Department bureau 
responsible for coordinating U.S. participation in the World Expo 2010 
Shanghai China. Consequently, ECA will represent the U.S. Government in 
dealings with the organizers of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai China.
    Background: The Government of China has invited the United States 
to participate in the 2010 World Exposition in Shanghai, China and the 
U.S. Government has advised the Chinese Government of its intention to 
participate with an official U.S. Pavilion. The World Expo 2010 
Shanghai China will be held on specially constructed exhibition 
grounds. The Expo opens on May 1, 2010 and closes on October 31, 2010.
    World Expo 2010 Shanghai China is a large-scale international 
exposition or ``world's fair'' sanctioned or ``registered'' by the 
Bureau of International Expositions (BIE), an international treaty 
organization established to sanction and monitor international 
exhibitions of long duration (over three weeks) and significant scale. 
Invitations to world's fairs are extended from the host government to 
other governments. The United States is not a member of the BIE, and 
the U.S. Commissioner General will therefore not be a formal member of 
the Steering Committee of the College of Commissioners General for the 
World Expo 2010 Shanghai China.
    With a projected 70 million visitors, the World Expo 2010 Shanghai 
China offers an excellent opportunity to educate and inform foreign 
audiences about the United States and its people and to promote broad 
U.S. commercial interests around the world. U.S. participation in Expo 
2010 Shanghai China will confirm the strength and importance of U.S.-
China bilateral ties and promote mutual understanding between the 
people of China and the United States.
    The overall theme of the Expo, ``Better City, Better Life'', will 
feature ``harmonious co-existence of diverse cultures, harmonious 
economic development, harmonious living in the age of science and 
technology, harmonious functioning of communities--the cell of the 
city--and harmonious interactions between urban and rural areas.''
    The theme for the U.S. Pavilion Exhibition should be directly 
linked to the overall theme of the Expo. ECA would welcome proposals 
for an exhibition to showcase American expertise and trends in some or 
all of the following areas: sustainable economic development and urban 
planning, the history of urban transportation, the role of historic and 
cultural preservation as well as urban parks in animating urban life 
and promoting cultural tourism; educating for economically sound 
environmental practices; the role played by a city as a platform for 
the construction of social relationships and social space, whether 
formal or informal. Other exhibit themes related to the overall Expo 
theme may also be proposed. The design concept for the U.S. Pavilion 
exhibition should appeal to a general, non-expert audience.
    The U.S. Pavilion at World Expo 2010 Shanghai China will be an 
official representation of the United States; ECA must therefore ensure 
that the U.S. exhibit is nonpolitical in nature, of the highest 
possible quality, and balanced and representative of the diversity of 
American political, social and cultural life. The pavilion/exhibit must 
maintain the highest level of scholarly integrity and meet the highest 
standards of artistic achievement and academic excellence.
    The U.S. Pavilion will be used to promote U.S. commercial interests 
as well as highlight outstanding U.S. cultural and artistic 
achievements. The proposed design for the U.S. Pavilion should include 
functional space for three purposes: an exhibition area, a live 
performance area and an administration/hospitality lounge area.
    Further information on the World Expo 2010 Shanghai China can be 
found at the official expo Web site: https://www.expo2010china.com/
 Funding Limitations: Section 204 of PL 106-113 (22 U.S.C. 2452b) 
limits the support the Department of State may provide for U.S. 
participation in international expositions registered by the Bureau of 
International Expositions (BIE). This includes the World Expo 2010 
Shanghai China. This Request for Proposals is intended to help identify 
a private U.S. individual, firm or organization interested in and 
capable of providing a complete pavilion/exhibit at the World Expo 2010 
Shanghai China as a gift to the United States Government. The 
Department of State is not now authorized, and does not in the future 
intend to seek authorization from the U.S. Congress, to provide funding 
for any aspect of the U.S. exhibition at the World Expo 2010 Shanghai 
China.
    Costs: The U.S. pavilion will be situated on a 6,000 square meter 
plot with a building footprint of 60% to 80% of the plot size. It could 
have multiple floors to a height not exceeding 20 meters. It is 
estimated that a representative US pavilion/exhibit exhibition in that 
space will cost between $75 million and $100 million costs would 
include, but not be limited to:

[[Page 65565]]

     Design and construction of a building to house the exhibit 
and provide and appealing welcome on the exterior fa[ccedil]ade; 
provide exterior landscaping; incorporate appropriate internal and 
external crowd control features;
     Design of the exhibition; development of the story line;
     Raising all necessary funds;
     Production of exhibits, audio-visual materials, films, 
DVDs, videos, posters and other promotional materials needed for the 
exhibit;
     Promote and advertise the U.S. exhibition and Pavilion;
     Manage all administrative, personnel and exhibit costs, 
including salaries, benefits, staff housing expenses, contracting and 
supplier costs and consulting fees as well as funding associated with 
guides, escorts, and gifts;
     Transport, travel, insurance, postage and shipping fees;
     Security, development and implementation of a security 
program for the U.S. Pavilion in consultation with the State Department 
and appropriate Chinese authorities;
     Tear-down, including removal of exhibits and return of the 
pavilion in the condition required by the Expo organizers;
     Cultural and informational programs associated with the 
exhibition, including, but not limited to, production of U.S. National 
Day activities;
     Funding all expenses associated with the U.S. Commissioner 
General; and
     Creation and staffing of facilities devoted to hosting all 
VIPs visiting the U.S. Pavilion.
    Expo Guidelines: Interested parties may obtain copies of the 
General Regulations and Expo Guidelines from the World Expo 2010 
Shanghai China offices in China at: Bureau of Shanghai World Expo 
Coordination, 3588 Pudong (S) Road, Shanghai 200125, China.
    Proposals should be provided in a narrative of no more than twenty 
(20) pages, single-spaced, plus a detailed budget with necessary 
attachments and/or exhibits. The narrative and additional documents 
should outline in as much detail as possible plans for providing a U.S. 
exhibition at the World Expo 2010 Shanghai China. Proposals should 
address the following:
     Willingness to adhere to the General Regulations of the 
World Expo 2010 Shanghai China as stipulated by the Expo organizers, 
including restrictions and limitation related to construction;
     Track record of working with exhibitions and on the 
proposed theme;
     Experienced staff with language facility;
     Clear concept for the exhibit plan and storyline;
     Detailed fundraising plan listing intended individuals and 
institutions to be approached, description of donation and sample 
donation agreement;
     Detailed budget showing breakdown of budget items required 
for each aspect of the project development and implementation;
     Timeline detailing each step in the design, construction, 
and breakdown of the U.S. Pavilion as well as the development of the 
U.S. Pavilion content and;
     Commitment to consult closely with and follow the guidance 
of ECA and U.S. diplomatic officers in China.
    Proposals should state clearly that all materials developed 
specifically for the project will be subject to review and approval by 
ECA.
    Eligible applicants: Applications may be submitted by public and 
private organizations (non-profit and profit). Non-profit organization 
must meet the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 
U.S.C. 501(c)(3).
    Contact Information to Request an Application Package: Please 
contact the Office of Citizen Exchanges, ECA/PE/C, Room 220, U.S. 
Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC, 20547, 
tel.: 202-453-8161; fax: 202-453-8168; or e-mail OgulJE@state.gov (with 
copies to PerezL@state.gov and HarveyRH@state.gov) for assistance. 
Please refer to Citizen Exchanges Shanghai Expo when making your 
request.
    General Information Contact: James Ogul, Program Officer, telephone 
to 202-453-8161, fax to 202-453-8168 or e-mail at OgulJE@state.gov.
    Non-profit organizations 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 organization received nonprofit status 
from the IRS within the past four years, you must submit the necessary 
documentation to verify nonprofit status. Failure to do so will cause 
your proposal to be declared technically ineligible.
    Application Deadline and Methods of Submission:
    Application Deadline Date: Thursday, February 9, 2007.
    Reference: Citizen Exchanges Shanghai Expo.

Submitting Applications

    Due to heightened security measures, proposal submissions must be 
sent via a nationally recognized overnight delivery service (i.e., DHL, 
Federal Express, UPS, Airborne Express, or U.S. Postal Service Express 
Overnight Mail, etc.) and be shipped no later than the above deadline. 
The 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. 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. ECA will not notify you upon receipt of 
application. 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. Applications may not be submitted electronically at 
this time.
    The original and ten copies of the application should be sent to: 
U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, Ref.: Citizen Exchanges Shanghai Expo, Shanghai Program 
Management, ECA/PE, Room 224, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20547.
    Applicants 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 Section at the U.S. 
Embassy in Beijing for its review.

Application Review Information

Review Process

    Proposals will be deemed ineligible if they are not submitted by a 
U.S. citizen, corporation or U.S.-based organization and do not fully 
adhere to the General Regulations of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai China 
and the guidelines stated herein.
    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 relevant

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elements of the U.S. Mission in China will review all eligible 
proposals. Eligible proposals will be subject to compliance with 
Federal and Bureau regulations and guidelines. A panel of senior U.S. 
Government employees and private sector experts will review eligible 
proposals. Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of the Legal 
Adviser or by other Department elements. The final decision on a 
potential U.S. exhibitor will be at the discretion of the Department of 
State's Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Review Criteria

    Technically eligible proposals will be reviewed according to the 
criteria stated below. These criteria are not rank-ordered and all 
carry equal weight in the evaluation.
    1. Program planning to achieve exhibit objectives: Proposals should 
clearly demonstrate how the planned exhibit will educate and inform 
foreign audiences about the United States and its people and promote 
broad U.S. commercial interests around the world, as well as how 
specifically it will address the theme and General Regulations of the 
Expo. Exhibit objectives should be reasonable, feasible, and flexible. 
The general concept for the pavilion structure should include three 
basic areas: an exhibition area, a live performance area and an 
administration/hospitality lounge area. The proposal should contain a 
detailed timeline and budget that demonstrate substantive undertakings 
and fundraising and logistical capacity.
    2. Institutional Capacity/Record/Ability: Proposed personnel and 
institutional resources should be defined and adequate and appropriate 
to achieve the exhibit's goals. Proposals should demonstrate an 
institutional record of successful exhibit activities, including 
responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all BIE-
registered Expo requirements. ECA will give serious weight to past 
performance and demonstrated potential of the staffing proposed for the 
project.
    3. Multiplier effect/impact: Proposals should clearly state how 
exhibit content and related activities will strengthen long-term mutual 
understanding between the United States and China.
    4. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate how plans 
will address ECA's requirement to encourage the involvement of 
participants from all traditionally underrepresented groups including 
women, racial and ethnic minorities and people with disabilities.
    5. Monitoring and Project Evaluation Plan: Proposals that include a 
plan to measure the impact of the proposed U.S. exhibition, cultural 
and information programs are encouraged.
    6. Cost-effectiveness: Proposals must include a proposed action 
plan and timeline for all aspects of the project with associated budget 
estimates. Proposals must also present a credible fundraising plan to 
fund all aspects of the U.S. Pavilion project. Note that prospective 
donors will be vetted with the State Department for potential conflict 
of interest.
    Reporting Requirements: You must provide ECA with a hard copy 
original plus two copies of the following reports:
    1. A program and financial reports no more than 90 days after the 
expiration of the award;
    2. A program and financial reports every 90 days after the 
signature of the Memorandum of Understanding.

Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: The Office of 
Citizen Exchanges, ECA/PE/C, Room 220, Citizen Exchanges Shanghai Expo, 
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State, 
SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC, 20547; Attention: James E. 
Ogul Tel.: 202-453-8161; Fax: 202-453-8168; OgulJE@state.gov.
    For correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFP should 
reference Citizen Exchanges Shanghai Expo.
    Other Information:
    Notice: The terms and conditions published in this Request for 
Proposals are binding and may not be modified by any ECA 
representative. Explanatory information provided by ECA that 
contradicts published language will not be binding. Issuance of this 
RFP does not constitute an intention to agree to work with any private 
sector exhibitor at the World Expo 2010 Shanghai China. ECA reserves 
the right to select the final U.S. exhibitor for the World Expo 2010 
Shanghai China and to approve all elements of the exhibition and 
project. Decisions made based on indications of interest submitted in 
response to this RFP will be made solely by ECA and are final.

Dina Habib Powell,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. E6-18877 Filed 11-7-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P