Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant Proposals: Gilman International Scholarship Program, 67192-67197 [E6-19595]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 223 / Monday, November 20, 2006 / Notices
(1) Victor Moscoso, July 26, 2002, U.S.
District Court, Southern District of
Florida (Miami), Case #: 01–966–CR–
SEITZ/001.
(2) Romolo Martinez, February 5,
2004, U.S. District Court, Southern
District of Florida (Miami), Case #: 1:02–
20923–001–CR–MOORE.
(3) Stephen Jorgensen, January 15,
2001, U.S. District Court, Southern
District of Florida (Miami), Case #:
1:00CR00998–001.
(4) Gerald Morey, August 11, 2003,
U.S. District Court, Southern District of
Florida (Miami), Case #: 1:02–20923–
001–CR–MOORE.
(5) Ziad Jamil Gammoh (a.k.a. Al
Gammoh; a.k.a. Jamil Gammoh; a.k.a.
Ziad Al Gammoh; a.k.a. Ziad Al J
Gammoh; a.k.a. Ziad Jamil Salem,
Gammoh; a.k.a. Ziad Al J Gammon;
a.k.a. Ziad Al Jamil; a.k.a, Al Jamil
Ziad), November 7, 2005, U.S. District
Court, Central District of California,
Case #: SA CR04–97 DOC.
(6) Naji Antoine Abi Khalil, February
2, 2006, U.S. District Court, Eastern
District of Arkansas, Case #
4:05CR00200–01,
(7) Martin Armando Arredondo-Meza,
January 25, 2006, U.S. District Court
Southern District of Texas, Case #:
7:05CR00754–001.
(8) Tomer Grinberg, April 24, 2006,
U.S. District Court, Southern District of
New York (Foley Square), Case #
04cr573–02,
(9) Kwan Chun Chan (a.k.a. Jenny
Chan), May 4, 2006, U.S. District Court
District of New Jersey, Case # 05–660–
01.
(10) Xiu Ling Chen (a.k.a. Linda
Chen), May 4, 2006, U.S. District Court
District of New Jersey, Case # 05–659–
01.
(11) Hao Li Chen (a.k.a. Ali Chan),
May 4, 2006, U.S. District Court, District
of New Jersey, Case # 05–658–01.
(12) Xu Weibo (a.k.a. Kevin Xu), May
4, 2006, U.S. District Court, District of
New Jersey, Case # 05–657–01.
(13) George Charles Budenz, II, July
17, 2006, U.S. District Court, Southern
District of California, Case #
05CR01863–LAB.
(14) Richard Tobey, June 26, 2006,
U.S. District Court, Southern District of
California, Case # 05CR1462–LAB.
(15) Kellen Lamon Johnson, June 1,
2006, U.S. District Court, District of
Montana, Case # CR 05–170–GF–SHE–
03.
(16) Dwain Rouse, June 12, 2006, U.S.
District Court, District of Montana, Case
# CR 05–170–GF–SHE–01.
(17) Erika Jardine (a.k.a. Eriklynn
Pattie Jardine; a.k.a. Erika Pattie
Jardine), February 22, 2006, U.S. District
Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania,
Case # CR–2005–446.
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(18) Kal Nelson Aviation, Inc., August
9, 2006, U.S. District Court, Central,
District of California, Case # CR05–1158.
(19) Ko-Suen Moo, July 24, 2006, U.S.
District Court, Southern District of,
Florida, Case # 06–200006–CR–
GRAHAM.
(20) Michael P. Murphy Surplus
Materials Inc., May 16, 2006, U.S.
District, Court, Southern District of
California, Case # 06CR0209–BTM.
As noted above, at the end of the
three-year period following the date of
conviction, the above named persons/
entities remain debarred unless export
privileges are reinstated.
Debarred persons are generally
ineligible to participate in activity
regulated under the ITAR (see e.g.,
sections 120.1(c) and (d), 127.1(c) and
127.11(a)). Also, under Section 127.1(c)
of the ITAR, any person who has
knowledge that an other persons is
subject to debarment or is otherwise
ineligible may not, without disclosure to
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participate, directly or indirectly, in any
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This notice is provided for purposes
of making the public aware that the
persons listed above are prohibited from
participating directly or indirectly in
activities regulated by the ITAR,
including any brokering activities and
in any export from or temporary import
into the United States of defense
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defense services in all situations
covered by the ITAR. Specific case
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Office of the Clerk for the U.S. District
Courts mentioned above and by citing
the court case number where provided.
Dated: November 2, 2006.
Stephen D. Mull,
Acting Assistant Secretary for PoliticalMilitary Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. E6–19609 Filed 11–17–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710–25–P
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 5616]
Key Dates
Application Deadline: February 2,
2007.
Executive Summary: The Office of
Global Educational Programs of the
Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs announces an open competition
to administer the Benjamin A. Gilman
International Scholarship Program.
Public and private non-profit
organizations meeting the provisions
described in Internal Revenue Code
section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) may submit
proposals for the purpose of
administering a scholarship program for
academic study by Americans outside
the United States.
Funding Opportunity Description
Authority
Overall grant making authority for
this program is contained in the Mutual
Educational and Cultural Exchange Act
of 1961, as amended, Public Law 87–
256, 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.
Purpose
This program provides grants to
enable U.S. citizen undergraduate
students of limited financial means to
pursue academic studies abroad. Such
foreign study is intended to expand
understanding of other countries and
cultures among U.S. students, expose
citizens of other countries to Americans
from diverse backgrounds, and better
prepare U.S. students to assume
significant roles in an increasingly
global economy.
Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant
Proposals: Gilman International
Scholarship Program
Announcement Type: New Grant.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/
A/S/A–07–10.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Number: 19.425.
History
Since the program’s inception in
2001, nearly 2,000 Gilman scholars from
more than 500 U.S. colleges and
universities have studied in 94
countries around the world.
Overview
It is anticipated that, pending
appropriation of funds, this grant will
provide an assistance award of
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approximately $3,918,000 for the
purpose of recruiting, selecting, and
issuing grants of up to $5,000 to
individuals who meet the eligibility
requirements listed below toward the
cost of up to one academic year of
undergraduate study abroad.
Supplements for study of critical need
languages will also be provided.
The intent of the authorizing
legislation for the Benjamin A. Gilman
International Scholarship Program is to
broaden the U.S. student population
that participates in study abroad by
focusing on those students who might
not otherwise study outside the U.S.
due to financial constraints.
The Bureau also seeks to encourage
participating students and their
institutions to choose non-traditional
study-abroad locations, to study
languages, and to help underrepresented U.S. institutions offer and
promote study-abroad opportunities for
their students. These objectives should
be addressed in grant proposals.
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Guidelines
Upon receipt of grant notification, the
administering organization should be
prepared to announce the program,
solicit applications, and award
scholarships to U.S. students to begin
overseas study as soon as possible.
Student Eligibility
To apply for a scholarship, an
applicant must:
• Be a citizen of the United States.
Permanent residents of the United
States are not eligible.
• Be an undergraduate student in
good standing at an institution of higher
education in the United States
(including both two-year and four-year
institutions).
• Be a recipient of Federal Pell Grant
funding during the academic term of
his/her application.
• Be applying to, or accepted for, a
study abroad program eligible for credit
from the student’s home institution.
Proof of program acceptance is required
for final award disbursement.
• Not be proposing to study in a
country currently under a Travel
Warning issued by the United States
Department of State or in Cuba. Travel
Warnings are issued when the State
Department recommends that
Americans avoid a certain country. To
find a list of these countries, please see
https://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/
tw/tw_1764.html.
Recruitment, Application, and Selection
1. The grantee organization shall
publicize the scholarship competition to
accredited institutions of higher
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education in the United States. This can
be achieved through direct contacts
with institutions and through
participation in major education
conferences and events. Emphasis shall
be on reaching out to a diverse range of
institutions and programs within those
institutions.
2. The selection process shall be
carried out through a committee that
includes representatives of a diverse
mix of accredited institutions of higher
education in the United States.
3. In ranking eligible applicants for
scholarships, consideration should be
given to academic excellence, financial
need, diversity of the applicant pool,
fields of study, proposed destination,
plans for language study, and type and
location of home institution. Preference
should be given to applicants with no
previous study abroad experience.
Reporting
After fall and spring selection panels,
the grantee organization will submit
reports on the number of applicants, the
number of participants selected, the
names of the institutions of higher
education in the United States that
applicants and awardees were attending
at the time of application, the names of
institutions sponsoring the study
programs abroad, the names and
locations of the institutions of higher
education outside the United States that
participants attend during their study
program abroad, and the fields of study
of the participants. Because diversity is
an important program goal, the grantee
should attempt to collect age, ethnic,
gender, and disability data from
scholarship applicants and recipients,
while respecting Federal guidelines on
the solicitation of such information. The
grantee shall also provide program
information and data to be included in
the program’s annual end-of-year report
to Congress. Additionally, the Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs may
request other periodic and ad hoc
reports. This may include separate
breakdowns for students studying in
regions or countries of strategic interest
and students studying critical need
languages.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Grant.
Fiscal Year Funds: 2007.
Approximate Total Funding:
$3,918,000.
Approximate Number of Awards: 1.
Approximate Average Award:
$3,918,000.
Anticipated Award Date: Pending
availability of funds, April 1, 2007.
Anticipated Project Completion Date:
September 30, 2008.
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Additional Information: Pending
successful implementation of this
program and the availability of funds in
subsequent fiscal years, it is ECA’s
intent to renew this grant for two
additional fiscal years before openly
competing it again.
III. Eligibility Information
III.1. Eligible applicants
Applications may be submitted by
public and private non-profit
organizations 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, the grantee
must maintain written records to
support all costs which are claimed as
a 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 the grantee
does 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
a. Bureau grant guidelines require that
organizations with less than four years
experience in conducting international
exchanges be limited to $60,000 in
Bureau funding. ECA anticipates
awarding one grant, in an amount of
approximately $3,918,000, 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.
IV. Application and Submission
Information
Note: Please read the complete Federal
Register announcement before sending
inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the
RFGP deadline has passed, Bureau staff may
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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 Coleen Gatehouse,
Office of Global Educational Programs,
ECA/A/S/A, Room 349, U.S.
Department of State, SA–44, 301 4th
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, tel
202–453–8887, fax 202–453–8890, to
request a Solicitation Package. Please
refer to the Funding Opportunity
Number ECA/A/S/A–07–10 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 Coleen Gatehouse and
refer to the Funding Opportunity
Number ECA/A/S/A–07–10 located at
the top of this announcement on all
other inquiries and correspondence.
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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 7 copies of the
application should be sent per the
instructions under IV.3f. ‘‘Submission
Dates and Times 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
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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
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
Please note: The following is being
communicated for informational purposes
only and does not directly apply to this
solicitation or program. 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 part 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, recordkeeping, reporting, and other requirements.
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.
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
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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, socioeconomic 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 grantee 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
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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.
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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
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be deemed less competitive under the
present evaluation criteria.)
Grantees 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.3e. Please take the following
information into consideration when
preparing your budget:
IV.3e.1. Budget Guidelines
Applicants must submit a
comprehensive budget for the entire
program. 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. Applicants
should budget the maximum possible
amount for scholarships and keep
administrative and overhead costs to a
minimum.
IV.3e.2. Allowable costs for the
program include the following:
1. Administrative: Salaries and
benefits and other direct administrative
expenses such as postage, phone,
printing and office supplies.
2. Program: Participant expenses,
which may include institutional fees,
travel expenses, tuition; expenses
related to review panels, including
travel and per-diem.
Please refer to the Solicitation
Package for complete budget guidelines
and formatting instructions.
IV.3.f. Application Deadline and
Methods of Submission:
Application Deadline Date: February
2, 2007.
Reference Number: ECA/A/S/A–07–
10.
Methods of Submission: 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.1 Submitting Printed
Applications
Applications must be shipped no later
than the above deadline. Delivery
services used by applicants must have
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67195
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 7 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/A–07–10, Program
Management, ECA/EX/PM, Room 534,
301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC
20547.
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).
Several of the steps in the Grants.gov
registration process could take several
weeks. Therefore, applicants should
check with appropriate staff within their
organizations immediately after
reviewing this RFGP to confirm or
determine their registration status with
Grants.gov. Once registered, the amount
of time it can take to upload an
application will vary depending on a
variety of factors including the size of
the application and the speed of your
internet connection. Therefore, we
strongly recommend that you not wait
until the application deadline to begin
the submission process through
Grants.gov.
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Direct all questions regarding
Grants.gov registration and submission
to: Grants.gov Customer Support,
Contact Center Phone: 800–518–4726,
Business Hours: Monday—Friday, 7
a.m.–9 p.m. Eastern Time, E-mail:
support@grants.gov.
Applicants have until midnight (12
a.m.), Washington, DC time of the
closing date to ensure that their entire
application has been uploaded to the
Grants.gov site. There are no exceptions
to the above deadline. 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 a
confirmation e-mail from grants.gov
upon the successful submission of an
application. ECA will not notify you
upon receipt of electronic applications.
It is the responsibility of all
applicants submitting proposals via the
Grants.gov Web portal to ensure that
proposals have been received by
Grants.gov in their entirety, and ECA
bears no responsibility for data errors
resulting from transmission or
conversion processes.
IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of
Applications: Executive Order 12372
does not apply to this program.
V. Application Review Information
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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. All
eligible proposals will be reviewed by
the program office, as well as the Public
Diplomacy section overseas, where
appropriate. 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 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. Quality of the program idea:
Proposals should exhibit originality,
substance, precision, and relevance to
the Bureau’s mission.
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2. Program planning: Detailed agenda
and relevant work plan should
demonstrate substantive undertakings
and logistical capacity. Agenda and plan
should adhere to the program overview
and guidelines described above.
3. Ability to achieve program
objectives: Objectives should be
reasonable, feasible, and flexible.
Proposals should clearly demonstrate
how the institution will meet the
program’s objectives and plan.
4. Multiplier effect/impact: Proposed
programs should strengthen long-term
mutual understanding, including
maximum sharing of information and
establishment of long-term institutional
and individual linkages.
5. 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
(selection of participants, program
venue and program evaluation) and
program content (orientation and wrapup sessions, program meetings, resource
materials and follow-up activities).
6. Institutional Capacity: Proposed
personnel and institutional resources
should be adequate and appropriate to
achieve the program’s goals.
7. Institution’s Record/Ability:
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. The
Bureau will consider the past
performance of prior recipients and the
demonstrated potential of new
applicants.
8. Follow-on Activities: Proposals
should provide a plan for continued
follow-on activity (without Bureau
support) ensuring that Bureau
supported programs are not isolated
events.
9. Project Evaluation: Proposals
should include a plan to evaluate the
activity’s success, both as the activities
unfold and at the end of the program. A
draft survey questionnaire or other
technique plus description of a
methodology for linking outcomes to
original project objectives is
recommended.
10. Cost-effectiveness: 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.
11. Cost-sharing: Proposals should
maximize cost-sharing through other
private sector support as well as
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institutional direct funding
contributions.
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 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.
VI.3. Reporting Requirements
You must provide ECA with a hard
copy original plus two copies of the
following reports:
1. A final program and financial
report no more than 90 days after the
expiration of the award;
2. Quarterly program and financial
reports which describe activities
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 223 / Monday, November 20, 2006 / Notices
undertaken during the reporting period
and explain costs incurred under each
item presented in the Grant Agreement.
Grantees will be required to provide
reports analyzing their evaluation
findings to the Bureau in their regular
program reports. (Please refer to IV.
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: Coleen
Gatehouse, Educational Information and
Resources Branch, ECA/A/S/A, Room
349, ECA/A/S/A–07–10, U.S.
Department of State, SA–44, 301 4th
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, tel:
202–453–8887, fax: 202–453–8890,
gatehousecn@state.gov.
All correspondence with the Bureau
concerning this RFGP should reference
the above title and number ECA/A/S/A–
07–10.
Please read the complete Federal
Register 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
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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: November 13, 2006.
C. Miller Crouch,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau
of Educational and Cultural Affairs,
Department of State.
[FR Doc. E6–19595 Filed 11–17–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710–05–P
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 5615]
No FEAR Act Notice
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the requirements
of 5 CFR 724.202, (‘‘Notice
obligations’’), the U.S. Department of
State hereby publishes this No FEAR
Act Notice. The purpose of the Notice
is to inform Department employees,
former employees, and applicants for
employment of the rights and
protections available under Federal
antidiscrimination and whistleblower
protection laws. This Notice follows the
model language provided by the Office
of Personnel Management in the Final
Rule, Implementation of Title II of the
Notification and Federal Employee
Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act
of 2002—Notification & Training (71 FR
41095). Any questions regarding this
notice should be directed to Janice F.
Caramanica, Senior Attorney-Advisor,
U.S. Department of State, Office of Civil
Rights (S/OCR), 2201 C Street, NW.,
Room 7428, Washington, DC 20520–
7428, phone (202) 647–9295, fax (202)
647–4969, e-mail
caramanicajf@state.gov.
On May 15, 2002, Congress enacted
the ‘‘Notification and Federal Employee
Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act
of 2002,’’ which is now known as the
No FEAR Act. One purpose of the Act
is to ‘‘require that Federal agencies be
accountable for violations of
antidiscrimination and whistleblower
protection laws.’’ Public Law 107–174,
Summary. In support of this purpose,
Congress found that ‘‘agencies cannot be
run effectively if those agencies practice
or tolerate discrimination.’’ Public Law
107–174, Title I, General Provisions,
section 101(1).
The Act also requires this agency to
provide this notice to Federal
employees, former Federal employees
and applicants for Federal employment
to inform you of the rights and
protections available to you under
Federal antidiscrimination and
whistleblower protection laws.
Antidiscrimination Laws
A Federal agency cannot discriminate
against an employee or applicant with
respect to the terms, conditions or
privileges of employment on the basis of
race, color, religion, sex, national origin,
age, disability, marital status or political
affiliation. Discrimination on these
bases is prohibited by one or more of the
following statutes: 5 U.S.C. 2302(b)(1),
29 U.S.C. 206(d), 29 U.S.C. 631, 29
U.S.C. 633a, 29 U.S.C. 791 and 42 U.S.C.
2000e-16.
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67197
If you believe that you have been the
victim of unlawful discrimination on
the basis of race, color, religion, sex,
national origin or disability, you must
contact an Equal Employment
Opportunity (EEO) counselor within 45
calendar days of the alleged
discriminatory action, or, in the case of
a personnel action, within 45 calendar
days of the effective date of the action,
before you can file a formal complaint
of discrimination with your agency. See,
e.g., 29 CFR part 1614 and the Office of
Civil Rights Web site at https://
www.state.gov/s/ocr.
If you believe that you have been the
victim of unlawful discrimination on
the basis of age, you must either contact
an EEO counselor as noted above or give
notice of intent to sue to the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission
(EEOC) within 180 calendar days of the
alleged discriminatory action. If you are
alleging discrimination based on marital
status or political affiliation, you may
file a written complaint with the U.S.
Office of Special Counsel (OSC) (see
contact information below). In the
alternative (or in some cases, in
addition), you may pursue a
discrimination complaint by filing a
grievance through your agency’s
administrative or negotiated grievance
procedures, if such procedures apply
and are available.
Whistleblower Protection Laws
A Federal employee with authority to
take, direct others to take, recommend
or approve any personnel action must
not use that authority to take or fail to
take, or threaten to take or fail to take,
a personnel action against an employee
or applicant because of disclosure of
information by that individual that is
reasonably believed to evidence
violations of law, rule or regulation;
gross mismanagement; gross waste of
funds; an abuse of authority; or a
substantial and specific danger to public
health or safety, unless disclosure of
such information is specifically required
by Executive Order to be kept secret in
the interest of national defense or the
conduct of foreign affairs.
Retaliation against an employee or
applicant for making a protected
disclosure is prohibited by 5 U.S.C.
2302(b)(8). If you believe that you have
been the victim of whistleblower
retaliation, you may file a written
complaint (Form OSC–11) with the U.S.
Office of Special Counsel at 1730 M
Street, NW., Suite 218, Washington, DC
20036–4505 or online through the OSC
Web site—https://www.osc.gov.
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 223 (Monday, November 20, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67192-67197]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-19595]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 5616]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for
Grant Proposals: Gilman International Scholarship Program
Announcement Type: New Grant.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/S/A-07-10.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.425.
Key Dates
Application Deadline: February 2, 2007.
Executive Summary: The Office of Global Educational Programs of the
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open
competition to administer the Benjamin A. Gilman International
Scholarship Program. Public and private non-profit organizations
meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26
U.S.C. 501(c)(3) may submit proposals for the purpose of administering
a scholarship program for academic study by Americans outside the
United States.
Funding Opportunity Description
Authority
Overall grant making authority for this program is contained in the
Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended,
Public Law 87-256, 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.
Purpose
This program provides grants to enable U.S. citizen undergraduate
students of limited financial means to pursue academic studies abroad.
Such foreign study is intended to expand understanding of other
countries and cultures among U.S. students, expose citizens of other
countries to Americans from diverse backgrounds, and better prepare
U.S. students to assume significant roles in an increasingly global
economy.
History
Since the program's inception in 2001, nearly 2,000 Gilman scholars
from more than 500 U.S. colleges and universities have studied in 94
countries around the world.
Overview
It is anticipated that, pending appropriation of funds, this grant
will provide an assistance award of
[[Page 67193]]
approximately $3,918,000 for the purpose of recruiting, selecting, and
issuing grants of up to $5,000 to individuals who meet the eligibility
requirements listed below toward the cost of up to one academic year of
undergraduate study abroad. Supplements for study of critical need
languages will also be provided.
The intent of the authorizing legislation for the Benjamin A.
Gilman International Scholarship Program is to broaden the U.S. student
population that participates in study abroad by focusing on those
students who might not otherwise study outside the U.S. due to
financial constraints.
The Bureau also seeks to encourage participating students and their
institutions to choose non-traditional study-abroad locations, to study
languages, and to help under-represented U.S. institutions offer and
promote study-abroad opportunities for their students. These objectives
should be addressed in grant proposals.
Guidelines
Upon receipt of grant notification, the administering organization
should be prepared to announce the program, solicit applications, and
award scholarships to U.S. students to begin overseas study as soon as
possible.
Student Eligibility
To apply for a scholarship, an applicant must:
Be a citizen of the United States. Permanent residents of
the United States are not eligible.
Be an undergraduate student in good standing at an
institution of higher education in the United States (including both
two-year and four-year institutions).
Be a recipient of Federal Pell Grant funding during the
academic term of his/her application.
Be applying to, or accepted for, a study abroad program
eligible for credit from the student's home institution. Proof of
program acceptance is required for final award disbursement.
Not be proposing to study in a country currently under a
Travel Warning issued by the United States Department of State or in
Cuba. Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department recommends
that Americans avoid a certain country. To find a list of these
countries, please see https://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/
tw_1764.html.
Recruitment, Application, and Selection
1. The grantee organization shall publicize the scholarship
competition to accredited institutions of higher education in the
United States. This can be achieved through direct contacts with
institutions and through participation in major education conferences
and events. Emphasis shall be on reaching out to a diverse range of
institutions and programs within those institutions.
2. The selection process shall be carried out through a committee
that includes representatives of a diverse mix of accredited
institutions of higher education in the United States.
3. In ranking eligible applicants for scholarships, consideration
should be given to academic excellence, financial need, diversity of
the applicant pool, fields of study, proposed destination, plans for
language study, and type and location of home institution. Preference
should be given to applicants with no previous study abroad experience.
Reporting
After fall and spring selection panels, the grantee organization
will submit reports on the number of applicants, the number of
participants selected, the names of the institutions of higher
education in the United States that applicants and awardees were
attending at the time of application, the names of institutions
sponsoring the study programs abroad, the names and locations of the
institutions of higher education outside the United States that
participants attend during their study program abroad, and the fields
of study of the participants. Because diversity is an important program
goal, the grantee should attempt to collect age, ethnic, gender, and
disability data from scholarship applicants and recipients, while
respecting Federal guidelines on the solicitation of such information.
The grantee shall also provide program information and data to be
included in the program's annual end-of-year report to Congress.
Additionally, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs may
request other periodic and ad hoc reports. This may include separate
breakdowns for students studying in regions or countries of strategic
interest and students studying critical need languages.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Grant.
Fiscal Year Funds: 2007.
Approximate Total Funding: $3,918,000.
Approximate Number of Awards: 1.
Approximate Average Award: $3,918,000.
Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, April 1,
2007.
Anticipated Project Completion Date: September 30, 2008.
Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of this
program and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, it is
ECA's intent to renew this grant for two additional fiscal years before
openly competing it again.
III. Eligibility Information
III.1. Eligible applicants
Applications may be submitted by public and private non-profit
organizations 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, the grantee must maintain written records to support
all costs which are claimed as a 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 the grantee does 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
a. Bureau grant guidelines require that organizations with less
than four years experience in conducting international exchanges be
limited to $60,000 in Bureau funding. ECA anticipates awarding one
grant, in an amount of approximately $3,918,000, 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.
IV. Application and Submission Information
Note: Please read the complete Federal Register announcement
before sending inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP
deadline has passed, Bureau staff may
[[Page 67194]]
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 Coleen Gatehouse, Office of Global Educational
Programs, ECA/A/S/A, Room 349, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, tel 202-453-8887, fax 202-453-8890,
to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to the Funding
Opportunity Number ECA/A/S/A-07-10 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 Coleen Gatehouse and refer to the Funding
Opportunity Number ECA/A/S/A-07-10 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 7 copies of the application should be sent
per the instructions under IV.3f. ``Submission Dates and Times
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 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
Please note: The following is being communicated for
informational purposes only and does not directly apply to this
solicitation or program. 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 part 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.
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.
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 grantee 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
[[Page 67195]]
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.)
Grantees 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.3e. Please take the following information into consideration
when preparing your budget:
IV.3e.1. Budget Guidelines
Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the entire
program. 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. Applicants should
budget the maximum possible amount for scholarships and keep
administrative and overhead costs to a minimum.
IV.3e.2. Allowable costs for the program include the following:
1. Administrative: Salaries and benefits and other direct
administrative expenses such as postage, phone, printing and office
supplies.
2. Program: Participant expenses, which may include institutional
fees, travel expenses, tuition; expenses related to review panels,
including travel and per-diem.
Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget
guidelines and formatting instructions.
IV.3.f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission:
Application Deadline Date: February 2, 2007.
Reference Number: ECA/A/S/A-07-10.
Methods of Submission: 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.1 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 7 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/A-07-10, Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, Room
534, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
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).
Several of the steps in the Grants.gov registration process could
take several weeks. Therefore, applicants should check with appropriate
staff within their organizations immediately after reviewing this RFGP
to confirm or determine their registration status with Grants.gov. Once
registered, the amount of time it can take to upload an application
will vary depending on a variety of factors including the size of the
application and the speed of your internet connection. Therefore, we
strongly recommend that you not wait until the application deadline to
begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
[[Page 67196]]
Direct all questions regarding Grants.gov registration and
submission to: Grants.gov Customer Support, Contact Center Phone: 800-
518-4726, Business Hours: Monday--Friday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Eastern Time,
E-mail: support@grants.gov.
Applicants have until midnight (12 a.m.), Washington, DC time of
the closing date to ensure that their entire application has been
uploaded to the Grants.gov site. There are no exceptions to the above
deadline. 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 a confirmation e-mail from grants.gov upon the successful
submission of an application. ECA will not notify you upon receipt of
electronic applications.
It is the responsibility of all applicants submitting proposals via
the Grants.gov Web portal to ensure that proposals have been received
by Grants.gov in their entirety, and ECA bears no responsibility for
data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.
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. All eligible
proposals will be reviewed by the program office, as well as the Public
Diplomacy section overseas, where appropriate. 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
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. Quality of the program idea: Proposals should exhibit
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's
mission.
2. Program planning: Detailed agenda and relevant work plan should
demonstrate substantive undertakings and logistical capacity. Agenda
and plan should adhere to the program overview and guidelines described
above.
3. Ability to achieve program objectives: Objectives should be
reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly
demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's objectives and
plan.
4. Multiplier effect/impact: Proposed programs should strengthen
long-term mutual understanding, including maximum sharing of
information and establishment of long-term institutional and individual
linkages.
5. 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 (selection of
participants, program venue and program evaluation) and program content
(orientation and wrap-up sessions, program meetings, resource materials
and follow-up activities).
6. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program's
goals.
7. Institution's Record/Ability: 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. The Bureau will consider the past performance of prior
recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants.
8. Follow-on Activities: Proposals should provide a plan for
continued follow-on activity (without Bureau support) ensuring that
Bureau supported programs are not isolated events.
9. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate
the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of
the program. A draft survey questionnaire or other technique plus
description of a methodology for linking outcomes to original project
objectives is recommended.
10. Cost-effectiveness: 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.
11. Cost-sharing: Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through
other private sector support as well as institutional direct funding
contributions.
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 two copies of
the following reports:
1. A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after
the expiration of the award;
2. Quarterly program and financial reports which describe
activities
[[Page 67197]]
undertaken during the reporting period and explain costs incurred under
each item presented in the Grant Agreement.
Grantees will be required to provide reports analyzing their
evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program reports.
(Please refer to IV. 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: Coleen Gatehouse,
Educational Information and Resources Branch, ECA/A/S/A, Room 349, ECA/
A/S/A-07-10, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20547, tel: 202-453-8887, fax: 202-453-8890,
gatehousecn@state.gov.
All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should
reference the above title and number ECA/A/S/A-07-10.
Please read the complete Federal Register 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: November 13, 2006.
C. Miller Crouch,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and
Cultural Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. E6-19595 Filed 11-17-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P