Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant Proposals:, 71016-71022 [E6-20785]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 235 (Thursday, December 7, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71016-71022]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-20785]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 5634]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals:

    Fusion Arts Exchange programs on: Music Composition and 
Performance; Digital Media and Computer-Assisted Design; Screenwriting 
and Film Production; Sports Management
    Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/E/USS-07-FAX.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000.
    Key Dates: Application Deadline: February 9, 2007.
    Executive Summary: The Branch for the Study of the United States, 
Office of Academic Exchange Programs, Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs, invites proposal submissions for the design and 
implementation of four Fusion Arts Exchange programs. The programs will 
take place over the course of 37 days beginning the second week of July 
2007, focused on the themes of Music Composition and Performance, 
Digital Media and Computer-Assisted Design, Screenwriting and Film 
Production, and Sports Management, respectively. These programs should 
provide a multinational group of outstanding undergraduate students a 
deeper understanding of U.S. society, culture, values and institutions, 
and should develop their knowledge of and abilities in the above-
mentioned professional fields. Each program will host a total of 15 
international participants from five Bureau-designated countries, as 
well as three to five American undergraduate students who will 
participate alongside their international peers. Prospective applicants 
may only apply to host one of the four programs listed under this 
competition; host institutions may not implement more than one Fusion 
Arts Exchange program concurrently.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Authority: Overall grant making authority for this program is 
contained in the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, 
Public Law 87-256, as amended, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act. 
The purpose of the Act is ``to enable the Government of the United 
States to increase mutual understanding between the people of the 
United States and the people of other countries * * *; to strengthen 
the ties which unite us with other nations by demonstrating the 
educational and cultural interests, developments, and achievements of 
the people of the United States and other nations * * * and thus to 
assist in the development of friendly, sympathetic and peaceful 
relations between the United States and the other countries of the 
world.'' The funding authority for the program above is provided 
through legislation.
    Purpose: The Fusion Arts Exchange consists of four multinational 
exchange programs, whose purpose is to provide outstanding 
undergraduate students an intensive, collaborative course on the latest 
developments in their respective fields (music composition and 
performance; digital media and computer-assisted design; screenwriting 
and film production; and sports management), and in the history and 
culture of the U.S. as illuminated through the lens of their fields. 
Participants will also learn about careers and economic development 
opportunities for their communities related to their field, and have 
the chance to develop on-going collaborations with their fellow 
participants.
    The Bureau is seeking detailed proposals for four different Fusion 
Arts Exchange programs from U.S. colleges, universities, consortia of 
colleges and universities, and other not-for-profit academic 
organizations that have an established reputation in a field or 
discipline related to the specific program themes.
    Overview: Each program should be 37 days in length, and should 
include an academic residency component and an educational study tour 
component.
    The academic residency component should run for no less than 25 
days and occur in and around the host institution's facilities. It 
should include

[[Page 71017]]

professional seminars, workshops, roundtable discussions, lectures and 
local site visits. It should also devote time to allow Fusion Arts 
Exchange participants to shadow local professionals in their field.
    The educational study tour should run for no less than nine days 
and should directly complement the academic residency component. It 
should consist of travel to sites of significance to the professional 
fields of Fusion Arts Exchange participants, and offer participants an 
immersive, firsthand experience of professional issues central to their 
specialization. It should include visits to another geographic region 
of the country, and access to leading organizations and individuals in 
the program's field that are not locally available. It should also 
provide for two to three days in Washington, DC, at the conclusion of 
the program. If appropriate, the educational study tour component may 
be interspersed with the residency portion of the program.
    Upon completion of the program, the host institution will also be 
expected to provide participants with guidance and resources for 
further investigation and research on the topics and issues examined 
during the program after they return home.
    The Fusion Arts Exchange Program on Music Composition and 
Performance should provide a multinational group of 18-20 experienced 
and highly-motivated undergraduates with an intensive, collaborative 
course on music composition and performance. The core of the program 
should consist of opportunities for individual and collaborative music 
composition, individual musical coaching, instrument-specific 
instruction, group lessons, and individual and group performance 
opportunities. Participants should have access to the highest quality 
music study and performance facilities at the host institution, and the 
latest developments in music recording and production should be 
addressed. A key component of the program should be an introductory 
course exploring American history, values and culture through the lens 
of American music, which should be integrated into the curriculum for 
its entirety and provide a framework for the exchange experience. 
Participants should learn from leading music academics and 
professionals about careers and current and potential economic 
development opportunities related to music in the participants' home 
countries. They should be given ample opportunity to develop on-going 
collaborations with their fellow participants. Bureau-designated 
participating countries for this program may include: Brazil, India, 
Ireland, Mali, South Africa, and the United States. One award of up to 
$280,000 (not to exceed $14,000 per participant, including American 
participants) will support this program. This award will not include 
funds for participant international travel to and from the United 
States, which will be the separate responsibility of the Department.
    The Fusion Arts Exchange Program on Digital Media and Computer-
Assisted Design should provide a multinational group of 18-20 
experienced and highly-motivated undergraduates with an intensive, 
collaborative course on digital media and computer-assisted design. The 
program should cover the major topics and latest developments in 
interactive digital media, including animation; Web design; print 
layout and production; multimedia-print interfacing; digital 
photography production; game development; digital media research; and 
new forms of computer-related expression. The program should be 
designed to provide immersive, hands-on training. Participants should 
have access to the highest quality digital media facilities at the host 
institution, and the latest developments in digital media should be 
thoroughly addressed. The program should also offer opportunities to 
learn from leading digital media academics and professionals about 
careers and current and potential economic development opportunities 
related to digital media in the participants' home countries. A key 
component of the program should be an introductory course exploring 
American history, values and culture through American historical and 
contemporary visual art and communications, including fine art, visual 
advertising, Web-based media, and political cartoons or other art 
advocating a social movement or cause, which should be integrated into 
the curriculum for its entirety and provide a framework for the 
exchange experience. Participants should be given ample opportunity to 
develop on-going collaborations with their fellow participants. Bureau-
designated participating countries for this program may include: 
Argentina, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, and the United States. One award 
of up to $280,000 (not to exceed $14,000 per participant, including 
American participants) will support this program. This award will not 
include funds for participant international travel to and from the 
United States, which will be the separate responsibility of the 
Department.
    The Fusion Arts Exchange Program on Screenwriting and Film 
Production should provide a multinational group of 18-20 experienced 
and highly-motivated undergraduates with an intensive, collaborative 
course on screenwriting within the context of current film production 
techniques and standards. The core of the program should consist of an 
immersive, hands-on, production-oriented screenwriting workshop. 
Participants should have access to the highest quality film production 
facilities at the host institution, and the latest developments in film 
production as they relate to screenwriting should be thoroughly 
addressed. The program should also cover the major topics in film and 
television, including production, direction, cinematography, sound 
design, and editing, as they relate to screenwriting. Participants 
should have ample opportunity to learn from academics and working 
professionals about careers and current and potential economic 
development opportunities related to the film and television industries 
in the participants' home countries. A key component of the program 
should be an introductory course exploring American history, values and 
culture as seen through American film, which should be integrated into 
the curriculum for its entirety and provide a framework for the 
exchange experience. Participants should be given ample opportunity to 
develop on-going collaborations with their fellow participants. Bureau-
designated participating countries for this program may include 
countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and the United States. One award of 
up to $280,000 (not to exceed $14,000 per participant, including 
American participants) will support this program. This award will not 
include funds for participant international travel to and from the 
United States, which will be the separate responsibility of the 
Department.
    The Fusion Arts Exchange Program on Sports Management should 
provide a multinational group of 18-20 experienced and highly-motivated 
undergraduates with an intensive, collaborative course on the business 
of sports management. The program should cover the major topics in 
sports management, including marketing sports properties; sponsorship 
alliances; athlete, owner and fan relations; contractual negotiations; 
media licensing and other forms of licensing; women's sports 
development; and the economic and legal aspects of sports

[[Page 71018]]

management. Participants should have ample opportunity to learn from 
academics and working professionals about careers and current and 
potential economic development opportunities related to the sports 
management profession in the participants' home countries. A key 
component of the program should be an introductory course exploring 
American history, values and culture through the lens of American 
sports history and culture, including films and literature about 
sports, which should be integrated into the curriculum for its entirety 
and provide a framework for the exchange experience. Participants 
should be given ample opportunity to develop on-going collaborations 
with their fellow participants. Bureau-designated participating 
countries for this program may include: Indonesia, Nigeria, Russia, 
Turkey, Venezuela, and the United States. One award of up to $280,000 
(not to exceed $14,000 per participant, including American 
participants) will support this program. This award will not include 
funds for participant international travel to and from the United 
States, which will be the separate responsibility of the Department.
    Program Design: Each Fusion Arts Exchange program should be 
designed as an intensive, interactive, academically rigorous seminar 
for an experienced group of undergraduate students from abroad and from 
the U.S. Each program should be organized through an integrated series 
of individual and group training workshops, lectures, readings, seminar 
discussions, public presentation opportunities, and regional travel and 
site visits. Applicants are encouraged to design creative, thematically 
coherent programs that draw upon the particular strengths, faculty and 
resources of their institutions as well as upon the nationally 
recognized expertise of scholars, professionals, artists and other 
experts throughout the United States. Academic facilities devoted to 
the program must be of the highest quality and should feature state-of-
the-art technology. Applicants should clearly outline the facilities 
they propose to devote to the program and justify that they meet the 
above criteria.
    Program Administration: Each Fusion Arts Exchange program should 
designate an academic director who will be present throughout the 
program to ensure the continuity, coherence and integration of all 
aspects of the academic program, including the educational study tour. 
In addition to the academic director, an administrative director or 
coordinator should be assigned to oversee all participant support 
services, including close oversight of the program participants, and 
budgetary, logistical, and other administrative arrangements. The 
administrative director or coordinator should be the Bureau's primary 
point of contact.
    International Participants: Fifteen international participants per 
program will be nominated by U.S. Embassies and Fulbright Commissions 
from the five above-mentioned Bureau-designated countries for each 
program. Final selection will be made by the Bureau's Branch for the 
Study of the United States. Every effort will be made to select a 
balanced mix of male and female participants. International 
participants will be diverse in terms of academic and professional 
background. All international participants will have a good knowledge 
of English. Participants may or may not come from educational 
institutions where the study of their specialization is relatively 
well-developed. Preference will be given in the selection process to 
participants with no or limited experience with the United States, 
although some may have visited the United States previously. In all 
cases, participants will be accomplished undergraduate students, who 
will be prepared to participate in an intellectually, professionally 
and/or artistically rigorous academic seminar that offers a collegial 
atmosphere conducive to collaborative work and exchange of ideas.
    American Participants: Three to five American undergraduate 
students, outstanding in their respective fields, should be 
competitively selected by each host institution as participants in its 
program. No more than one American participant per program may be a 
current or past student of that program's host institution. These 
American participants will participate in all aspects of the Fusion 
Arts Exchange program, living and working collaboratively with their 
international peers. Prospective host institutions will be evaluated on 
their ability to recruit appropriate American participants. American 
participants should be both exemplary cultural representatives of the 
United States and experienced in the discipline of the Fusion Arts 
Exchange for which they have been selected. In all cases, participants 
should be accomplished undergraduate students, who will be prepared to 
participate in an intellectually, professionally and/or artistically 
rigorous academic seminar that offers a collegial atmosphere conducive 
to collaborative work and exchange of ideas. Every effort should be 
made to select a balanced mix of male and female participants.
    Program Dates: Proposed programs should be a maximum of 37 days in 
length (including participant arrival and departure days) and should 
begin during the second week of July 2007.
    Program Guidelines: It is essential that proposals provide a 
detailed and comprehensive narrative describing the objectives of the 
program; the title, scope and content of each session; planned site 
visits; and how each session relates to the overall program 
professional focus and themes. A syllabus must be included that 
indicates the subject matter for each lecture, panel discussion, group 
presentation or other activity. The syllabus should also confirm or 
provisionally identify proposed speakers, trainers, and session 
leaders, and clearly show how assigned readings will advance the goals 
of each session. A calendar of all program activities must be included 
in the proposal, as well as a description of plans for public and media 
outreach in connection with the program. Overall, proposals will be 
reviewed on the basis of their responsiveness to RFGP criteria, 
coherence, clarity, and attention to detail.

    Please note: In a cooperative agreement, the Branch for the 
Study of the United States is substantially involved in program 
activities above and beyond routine grant monitoring. The Branch 
will assume the following responsibilities for each Fusion Arts 
Exchange program: participate in the selection of international 
participants; oversee the program through regular contact with the 
administrator(s) and one or more site visits; debrief participants 
in Washington, DC at the conclusion of the program; and engage in 
follow-on communication with the participants after they return to 
their home countries. The Branch may request that the host 
institution make modifications to the academic residency and/or 
educational travel components of the program. The recipient will be 
required to obtain approval of significant program changes in 
advance of their implementation.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. ECA's level of involvement in 
this program is listed under number I above.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY-2007.
    Approximate Total Funding: $1,120,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 4.
    Approximate Average Award: $280,000.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $280,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, March 1, 
2007.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: August 18, 2007.

[[Page 71019]]

    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, you must maintain written records to support all costs 
which are claimed as your contribution, as well as costs to be paid by 
the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. The basis 
for determining the value of cash and in-kind contributions must be in 
accordance with OMB Circular A-110, (Revised), Subpart C.23--Cost 
Sharing and Matching. In the event you do not provide the minimum 
amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget, ECA's 
contribution will be reduced in like proportion.
    III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements:
    a. Grants awarded to eligible organizations with less than four 
years of experience in conducting international exchange programs will 
be limited to $60,000. ECA anticipates awarding four grants, in amount 
over $60,0000 to support program and administrative costs required to 
implement this exchange program. Therefore, organizations with less 
than four years experience in conducting international exchanges are 
ineligible to apply under this competition. The Bureau encourages 
applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in 
support of its programs.
    b. Technical Eligibility: It is the Bureau's intent to award four 
separate cooperative agreements to four different institutions under 
this competition. Therefore prospective applicants may only submit one 
proposal under this competition. All applicants must comply with this 
requirement. Should an applicant submit multiple proposals under this 
competition, all proposals will be declared technically ineligible and 
given no further consideration in the review process.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    Note: Please read the complete announcement before sending 
inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has 
passed, Bureau staff may not discuss this competition with 
applicants until the proposal review process has been completed.

    IV.1 Contact Information to Request an Application Package: Please 
contact the Branch for the Study of the United States, ECA/A/E/USS, 
Room 314, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20547; tel. (202) 453-8540; fax (202) 453-8533 to 
request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to the Funding Opportunity 
Number ECA/A/E/USS-07-FAX 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.
    For specific questions on the Fusion Arts Exchange programs, please 
specify Adam Van Loon, VanLoonAE@state.gov and refer to the Funding 
Opportunity Number ECA/A/E/USS-07-FAX 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 website 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 application should be 
submitted per the instructions under IV.3f. ``Application Deadline and 
Methods of Submission'' section below.
    IV.3a. You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal 
Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative 
agreement from the U.S. Government. This number is a nine-digit 
identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities. 
Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a 
DUNS number, access https://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-
5711. Please ensure that your DUNS number is included in the 
appropriate box of the SF-424 which is part of the formal application 
package.
    IV.3b. All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal 
narrative and budget.
    Please refer to the Solicitation Package. It contains the mandatory 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document and the Project 
Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) document for additional 
formatting and technical requirements.
    IV.3c. You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of 
application. If your organization is a private nonprofit which has not 
received a grant or cooperative agreement from ECA in the past three 
years, or if your organization received nonprofit status from the IRS 
within the past four years, you must submit the necessary documentation 
to verify nonprofit status as directed in the PSI document. Failure to 
do so will cause your proposal to be declared technically ineligible.
    IV.3d. Please take into consideration the following information 
when preparing your proposal narrative:
    IV.3d.1 Adherence to All Regulations Governing the J Visa. The 
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is placing renewed emphasis 
on the secure and proper administration of Exchange Visitor (J visa) 
Programs and adherence by grantees and sponsors to all regulations 
governing the J visa. Therefore, proposals should demonstrate the 
applicant's capacity to meet all requirements governing the 
administration of the Exchange Visitor Programs as set forth in 22 CFR 
62, including the oversight of Responsible Officers and Alternate 
Responsible Officers, screening and selection of program participants, 
provision of pre-arrival information and orientation to participants, 
monitoring of participants, proper maintenance and security of forms, 
record-keeping, reporting and other requirements.
    ECA will be responsible for issuing DS-2019 forms to participants 
in this program.
    A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of 
Exchange Visitor (J) programs is available at https://
exchanges.state.gov or from: United States Department of State, Office 
of Exchange Coordination and Designation, ECA/EC/ECD--SA-44,

[[Page 71020]]

Room 734, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, Telephone: (202) 
203-5029, FAX: (202) 453-8640.
    Please refer to Solicitation Package for further information.
    IV.3d.2 Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines. Pursuant to 
the Bureau's authorizing legislation, programs must maintain a non-
political character and should be balanced and representative of the 
diversity of American political, social, and cultural life. 
``Diversity'' should be interpreted in the broadest sense and encompass 
differences including, but not limited to ethnicity, race, gender, 
religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, and disabilities. 
Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere to the advancement of this 
principle both in program administration and in program content. Please 
refer to the review criteria under the `Support for Diversity' section 
for specific suggestions on incorporating diversity into your proposal. 
Public Law 104-319 provides that ``in carrying out programs of 
educational and cultural exchange in countries whose people do not 
fully enjoy freedom and democracy,'' the Bureau ``shall take 
appropriate steps to provide opportunities for participation in such 
programs to human rights and democracy leaders of such countries.'' 
Public Law 106-113 requires that the governments of the countries 
described above do not have inappropriate influence in the selection 
process. Proposals should reflect advancement of these goals in their 
program contents, to the full extent deemed feasible.
    IV.3d.3. Program Monitoring and Evaluation. Proposals must include 
a plan to monitor and evaluate the project's success, both as the 
activities unfold and at the end of the program. The Bureau recommends 
that your proposal include a draft survey questionnaire or other 
technique plus a description of a methodology to use to link outcomes 
to original project objectives. The Bureau expects that the 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 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.3d.4. Describe your plans for overall program management, 
staffing, and coordination with Branch for the Study of the United 
States. The Branch considers these to be essential elements of your 
program; please be sure to give sufficient attention to them in your 
proposal. Please refer to the Technical Eligibility Requirements and 
the POGI in the Solicitation Package for specific guidelines.
    IV.3e. Please take the following information into consideration 
when preparing your budget:
    IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the 
entire program. Awards may not exceed $280,000 in total and $14,000 per 
participant. There must be a summary budget as well as breakdowns 
reflecting both administrative and program budgets. Applicants may 
provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase, 
location, or activity to provide clarification.
    IV.3e.2. Allowable costs for the program include the following:
    (1) Program staff salary and benefits;
    (2) Participant housing and meals;
    (3) Participant travel and per diem;
    (4) Textbooks, educational materials and admissions fees;
    (5) Honoraria for guest speakers.
    Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget 
guidelines and formatting instructions.
    IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission:
    Application Deadline Date: February 9, 2007.
    Reference Number: ECA/A/E/USS-07-FAX.
    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.

[[Page 71021]]

    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 10 copies of the application should be sent to: 
U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, Ref.: ECA/xx-00-xx (each Program Office assigns a unique 
number), Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, Room 534, 301 4th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20547.
    (Include following language re: disk submission only if proposals 
will be forwarded to embassies. If post input is not necessary, delete 
language.)
    Applicants submitting hard-copy applications must also submit the 
``Executive Summary'' and ``Proposal Narrative'' sections of the 
proposal in text (.txt) format on a PC-formatted disk. The Bureau will 
provide these files electronically to the appropriate Public Affairs 
Section(s) at the U.S. embassy(ies) for its (their) review.
    IV.3f.2. Submitting Electronic Applications. Applicants have the 
option of submitting proposals electronically through Grants.gov 
(https://www.grants.gov). Complete solicitation packages are available 
at Grants.gov in the ``Find'' portion of the system. Please follow the 
instructions available in the `Get Started' portion of the site (http:/
/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.
    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.
    Optional--IV.3f.3 You may also state here any limitations on the 
number of applications that an applicant may submit and make it clear 
whether the limitation is on the submitting organization, individual 
program director or both.
    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 
assistance awards cooperative agreements resides with the Bureau's 
Grants Officer.
Review Criteria
    Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed 
according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are not rank 
ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation:
    1. Quality of Program Idea/Plan: Proposals should exhibit 
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's 
mission. Detailed agenda and relevant work plan should demonstrate 
substantive undertakings and logistical capacity.
    2. Ability to Achieve Overall Program Objectives: Objectives should 
be reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly 
demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's objectives and 
plan.
    3. Support for Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive 
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Achievable and relevant 
features should be cited in both program administration (program venue, 
study tour venue, and program evaluation) and program content 
(orientation and wrap-up sessions, site visits, program meetings and 
resource materials).
    4. Evaluation and Follow-Up: Proposals should include a plan to 
evaluate the Program'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 to use to link outcomes to original 
program objectives is strongly recommended. Proposals should also 
discuss provisions made for follow-up with returned grantees as a means 
of establishing longer-term individual and institutional linkages.
    5. Cost-effectiveness/Cost-sharing: The overhead and administrative 
components of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be 
kept as low as possible. All other items

[[Page 71022]]

should be necessary and appropriate. Proposals should maximize cost-
sharing through other private sector support as well as institutional 
direct funding contributions.
    6. Institutional Track 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. Proposed 
personnel and institutional resources should be fully qualified to 
achieve the Program's goals.

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 websites for additional information: 
https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants. https://exchanges.state.gov/
education/grantsdiv/terms.htm#articleI.
    VI.3. Reporting Requirements: You must provide ECA with a hard copy 
original plus one (1) copy of the final program and financial report no 
more than 90 days after the expiration of the award.
    Grantees will be required to provide reports analyzing their 
evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program reports. 
Please refer to Application and Submission Instructions (IV.3d.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: Branch for the 
Study of the United States, ECA/A/E/USS, Room 314, U.S. Department of 
State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547; tel. (202) 
453-8540; fax (202) 453-8533. For specific questions on the Fusion Arts 
Exchange program, contact Adam Van Loon at VanLoonAE@state.gov.
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the title ``Fusions Arts Exchange'' and number ECA/A/E/USS-
07-FAX.
    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 28, 2006.
Dina Habib Powell,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. E6-20785 Filed 12-6-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P