Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant Proposals: Study of the United States Institutes for Student Leaders Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement., 78261-78266 [E6-22320]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 249 (Thursday, December 28, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78261-78266]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-22320]



[[Page 78261]]

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 5657]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Study of the United States Institutes for Student 
Leaders Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.

    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/E/USS-07-SL.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000.
    Key Dates: Summer 2007.
    Application Deadline: February 16, 2007.
    Executive Summary: The Branch for the Study of the United States, 
Office of Academic Exchange Programs, invites proposal submissions for 
the design and implementation of nine Study of the United States 
Institutes for Student Leaders, to take place over the course of five 
weeks. While the majority of Institutes should take place during Summer 
2007, scheduling of each Institute should take into consideration the 
academic calendar of the participants' home country(ies). The 
Institutes should be similar in structure and content, take place at 
U.S. academic institutions, and provide groups of highly motivated 
undergraduate students from the countries and regions noted below with 
an integrated academic and educational travel program that will give 
them a deeper understanding of U.S. society and culture, while at the 
same time enhancing their leadership skills.
    Each Institute will host up to 20 participants, for a total of 
approximately 180 students. ECA plans to award a single grant for the 
administration of nine Study of the U.S. Institutes. The awarding of 
the grant for this program is contingent upon the availability of FY-
2007 funds.

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

    Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student Leaders are intensive 
academic programs whose purpose is to provide groups of undergraduate 
student leaders with a deeper understanding of the United States, while 
simultaneously enhancing their leadership skills.
    The principal objective of the Institutes is to heighten the 
participants' awareness of the history and evolution of U.S. society, 
culture, values and institutions, broadly defined. In this context, the 
Institutes should incorporate a focus on contemporary American life, as 
it is shaped by historical and/or current political, social, and 
economic issues and debates. The role and influence of principles and 
values such as democracy, the rule of law, individual rights, freedom 
of expression, equality, diversity and tolerance should be addressed.
    In addition to promoting a better understanding of the United 
States, an important objective of the Institutes is to develop the 
participants' leadership and collective problem-solving skills. In this 
context, the academic program should include group discussions, 
training and exercises that focus on such topics as the essential 
attributes of leadership, teambuilding, collective problem-solving 
skills, effective communication, and management skills for diverse 
organizational settings. There should also be a community service 
component, in which the students experience firsthand how not-for-
profit organizations and volunteerism play a key role in American civil 
society.
    Local site visits and educational travel should provide 
opportunities to observe varied aspects of American life and to discuss 
lessons learned in the academic program. The program should also 
include opportunities for participants to meet American citizens from a 
variety of backgrounds, to interact with their American peers, and to 
speak to appropriate student and civic groups about their experiences 
and life in their home countries.

Administering Organization

    The Bureau is seeking detailed proposals for the Institutes from 
public and private non-profit organizations, or consortia of such 
organizations with expertise in administering academic exchange 
programs, which will administer the Institute directly or in 
collaboration with partner institutions. Consortia must designate a 
lead institution to receive the grant award. Organizations that opt to 
work in sub-grant arrangements should clearly outline all duties and 
responsibilities of the partner organization, ideally in the form of 
sub-grant agreements and accompanying budgets.
    Each institute should take place on a U.S. college or university 
campus. Host institutions must be selected from among accredited four-
year liberal arts colleges, community colleges, universities, other 
not-for-profit academic organizations or a consortia of these 
institutions that have an established reputation in one or more of the 
following fields: political science, international relations, law, 
history, sociology, American studies, and/or other disciplines or sub-
disciplines related to the study of the United States.
    Organizations or consortia applying for this grant must demonstrate 
their (or their partners') capacity for conducting projects of this 
nature. ECA strongly prefers that each institution host only one 
institute.

Program Design

    Each Study of the U.S. Institute for Student Leaders should provide 
a group of up to 20 students with a uniquely designed program that 
focuses on U.S. society and culture. Each Institute will consist of a 
challenging academic program, as well as educational travel to 
illustrate the various topics explored in class.
    Each program should be five weeks in length; participants will 
spend four weeks at the host institution for the academic program, and 
approximately one week on the related educational study tour, including 
two to three days in Washington, DC, at the conclusion of the 
Institute. The educational travel component should directly complement 
the academic program, and should include visits to cities and other 
sites of interest in the region around the host institution.
    Each Institute should be designed as an intensive academic program 
with an educational travel component that is organized through a 
carefully integrated series of panel presentations, seminar 
discussions, debates, individual and group activities, lectures and 
reading assignments, as well as local site visits, regional educational 
travel, and participation in community service activities.
    The Institute must not simply replicate existing or previous 
lectures, workshops, or group activities designed for American 
students. Rather, it should

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be a specially designed and well-integrated seminar that creatively 
combines lectures, discussions, readings, debates, local site visits 
and educational travel into a coherent whole. The grantee institution 
should take into account that the participants may have little or no 
prior knowledge of the United States and varying degrees of experience 
in expressing their opinions in a classroom setting; it should tailor 
the curriculum and classroom activities accordingly. Every effort 
should be made to encourage active student participation in all aspects 
of the Institute. The program should provide ample time and opportunity 
for discussion and interaction among students, lecturers and guest 
speakers, not simply standard lectures or broad survey reading 
assignments. Reading and writing assignments should be adjusted to the 
participants' familiarity with English.
    Applicants are encouraged to select accredited four-year liberal 
arts colleges, community colleges, universities, academic organizations 
or a consortia of these institutions to design thematically coherent 
programs in ways that draw upon the particular strengths, faculty and 
resources of their institutions, as well as upon the nationally 
recognized expertise of scholars and other experts throughout the 
United States.

Program Administration

    The grantee organization should designate a project director to 
oversee all of the Institutes, coordinate logistical and administrative 
arrangements, ensure an appropriate level of continuity between the 
various host institution programs, and serve as the principal liaison 
between ECA and all the host institutions and thus, ECA's primary point 
of contact.
    The grantee organization should also designate an academic director 
at each host institution who will be present throughout the program to 
ensure the continuity, coherence and integration of all aspects of the 
academic program, including the related educational study tour. In 
addition to the academic director, an administrative coordinator should 
be assigned at each host institution to oversee all student support 
services, including supervision of the program participants and 
budgetary, logistical, and other administrative arrangements. For 
purposes of this program, it is important that the grantee organization 
also retain qualified mentors or escorts at each host institution who 
exhibit cultural sensitivity, an understanding of the program's 
objectives, and a willingness to accompany the students throughout the 
program.

Participants

    Participants will be identified and nominated by the U.S. 
Embassies, Consulates and/or Fulbright Commissions in the participating 
countries, with final selection made by ECA. Each Institute will host 
up to 20 participants, for a total of approximately 180 students. 
Participation in the nine Institutes will be organized by country, or 
region, as follows:
    (1) Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa.
    (2) Argentina, Chile, Uruguay.
    (3) Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela.
    (4) Brazil.
    (5) China.
    (6) Turkey.
    (7) Bangladesh.
    (8) Pakistan.
    (9) Pakistan (second institute).
    Participants in the Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student 
Leaders will be highly motivated undergraduate students from colleges, 
universities and other institutions of higher education in selected 
countries overseas who demonstrate leadership through academic work, 
community involvement, and extracurricular activities. Their major 
fields of study will be varied, and will include the sciences, social 
sciences, humanities, education and business. All participants will 
have a good knowledge of English.
    Every effort will be made to select a balanced mix of male and 
female participants, and to recruit participants who are from non-elite 
or underprivileged backgrounds, from both rural and urban areas, and 
have had little or no prior experience in the United States or 
elsewhere outside of their home country.
    Program Dates: The Institutes should be five weeks in length. While 
the majority of Institutes should take place during Summer 2007, 
scheduling of each Institute should take into consideration the 
academic calendar of the participants' home country(ies). Those 
institutes beginning in Summer 2007 should begin on or around the same 
date.
    Program Guidelines: It is essential that proposals provide a 
detailed and comprehensive narrative describing how the partner 
organizations and/or host institutions will achieve the objectives of 
the Institutes; the title, scope and content of each session; planned 
site visits, including educational travel; and how each session relates 
to the overall institute theme.
    The proposal must list the institutions that will host the various 
programs, and for which group of students.
    A sample template should be provided that lays out the academic 
program, including lectures, panel discussions, group presentations or 
other activities. A description of plans for public and media outreach 
in connection with the Institutes should also be included.
    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 Bureau is 
substantially involved in program activities above and beyond 
routine grant monitoring. The Bureau will assume the following 
responsibilities for the Institutes: participate in the selection of 
participants; review and confirm syllabi and proposed speakers for 
each of the Institutes; oversee the Institutes through one or more 
site visits; debrief participants in Washington, DC at the 
conclusion of the Institute; work with the cooperating agency to 
publicize the program through various media outlets; provide Bureau-
approved evaluation surveys for completion by participants; and 
engage in follow-on communication with the participants after they 
return to their home countries.


    The Bureau may request that the grantee institution make 
modifications to the academic residency and/or educational travel 
components of the program. The recipient will be required to obtain 
approval of any significant program changes in advance of their 
implementation.


    Note: All materials, publicity, and correspondence related to 
the program must acknowledge this as a program of the Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State. The 
Bureau will retain copyright use of and distribute materials related 
to this program is it sees fit.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. ECA's level of involvement in 
this program is detailed in the previous paragraph.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY-2007 (pending availability of funds).
    Approximate Total Funding: $2,250,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 1.
    Approximate Average Award: $2,250,000.
    Floor of Award Range: $2,000,000.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $2,250,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, April 1, 
2007.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: May 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

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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 strongly encourages applicants to 
provide maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in support of its 
programs. When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed 
that the applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as 
stipulated in its proposal and later included in an approved grant 
agreement. Cost sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or 
indirect costs. For accountability, you must maintain written records 
to support all costs that are claimed as your contribution, as well as 
costs to be paid by the Federal Government. Such records are subject to 
audit. The basis for determining the value of cash and in-kind 
contributions must be in accordance with OMB Circular A-110, (Revised), 
Subpart C.23--Cost Sharing and Matching. In the event you do not 
provide the minimum amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the 
approved budget, ECA's contribution will be reduced in like proportion.

III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements

    (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 one grant in an amount 
up to $2,250,000 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 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-SL 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 Bureau Program Officer Jennifer Phillips and refer 
to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/E/USS-07-SL 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 application should be submitted per the instructions under 
IV.3f, ``Application Deadline and Methods of Submission'' 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 PSI and POGI documents 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 
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.
    The Grantee may be responsible for issuing DS-2019 forms to 
participants in this program, as an alternate responsible officer under 
the Bureau's J Designation.
    A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of 
Exchange Visitor (J) programs is available at https://
exchanges.state.gov or from: United States Department of State, Office 
of Exchange Coordination and Designation, ECA/EC/ECD--SA-44, Room 734, 
301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, Telephone: (202) 203-5029, 
FAX: (202) 453-8640.
    Please refer to Solicitation Package for further information.
    IV.3d.2 Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines. Pursuant to 
the Bureau's authorizing legislation, programs must maintain a non-
political character and should be balanced and representative of the 
diversity of American political, social, and cultural

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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 (V.2.) 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. Monitoring: 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 monitoring 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. You should also show how your project objectives link 
to the goals of the program described in this RFGP. Overall, the 
quality of your monitoring plan will be judged on how well it specifies 
successes and challenges.
    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.
    Evaluation: The Bureau's Office of Policy and Evaluation will 
conduct evaluations of the Study of the U.S. Institutes through E-
GOALS, its online system for surveying program participants and 
collecting data about program performance. These evaluations assist ECA 
and its program grantees in meeting the requirements of the Government 
Performance Results Act (GPRA) of 1993. This Act requires Federal 
agencies to measure the results of their programs in meeting pre-
determined performance goals and objectives. All program participants 
will take three online surveys:
    1. Standardized pre-program surveys, at the beginning of the 
program;
    2. Standardized post-program surveys, at the end of the program and 
before their return home; and
    3. Standardized follow-up surveys, approximately six months to a 
year after the conclusion of the program.
    These surveys help ECA assess: Satisfaction with the program; 
student attitudes and views; the extent of learning and skill 
development (including leadership); reliance on new learning and skills 
in their studies, at work, and in their communities; and their efforts 
to share new ideas, knowledge, and insights with citizens in their home 
countries.
    Since organizations play a critical role in facilitating E-GOALS 
evaluations of program participants, it is imperative that applicants 
include a plan to ensure that participants complete the post-program 
surveys while they are still on program and prior to their departure 
from the United States; this includes monitoring the response rate 
through collection of a certificate issued by the system to each 
student upon completion of the survey. The grantee will be working 
directly with an E-GOALS evaluator in the Office of Policy and 
Evaluation. Please see specific responsibilities in the accompanying 
Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) document.
    IV.3d.4. Describe your plans for overall program management, 
staffing, and coordination with the Bureau. The Bureau considers these 
to be essential elements of your program; please be sure to give 
sufficient attention to them in your proposal.
    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 $2,250,000. While there is no 
rigid ratio of administrative to program costs, the Bureau urges 
applicant organizations to keep administrative costs as low and 
reasonable as possible.
    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 also provide 
copies of any sub-grant agreements that would be implemented under 
terms of this award.
    IV.3e.2. Allowable costs for the program and additional budget 
guidance are outlined in detail in the POGI document. 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 16, 2007.
    Reference Number: ECA/A/E/USS-07-SL.
    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

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be made via local courier service or in person for this competition. 
Faxed documents will not be accepted at any time. Only proposals 
submitted as stated above will be considered.


    Important note: When preparing your submission please make sure 
to include one extra copy of the completed SF-424 form and place it 
in an envelope addressed to ``ECA/EX/PM''.


    The original and eight (8) copies of the application should be sent 
to: U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, Reference Number: ECA/A/E/USS-07-SL, Program Management, ECA/
EX/PM, Room 534, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
    Applicants submitting hard-copy applications must also submit the 
``Executive Summary'' and ``Proposal Narrative'' sections of the 
proposal in text (.txt) format on a PC-formatted disk. The Bureau will 
provide these files electronically to regional bureaus and Public 
Affairs Sections at U.S. embassies and for their review, as 
appropriate.
    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.
    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.

V.2. 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-On: Proposals should include a plan to 
evaluate the Institute'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 
institute objectives is strongly recommended. Proposals should provide 
a plan for continued follow-on activity (without Bureau support) 
ensuring that Bureau supported programs are not isolated events.
    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 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 Institute's goals.

VI. Award Administration Information

VI.1. 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

[[Page 78266]]

program office coordinating this competition.

VI.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    Terms and Conditions for the Administration of ECA agreements 
include the following:
    Office of Management and Budget Circular A-122, ``Cost Principles 
for Nonprofit Organizations.''
    Office of Management and Budget Circular A-21, ``Cost Principles 
for Educational Institutions.''
    OMB Circular A-87, ``Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian 
Governments''.
    OMB Circular No. A-110 (Revised), Uniform Administrative 
Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher 
Education, Hospitals, and other Nonprofit Organizations.
    OMB Circular No. A-102, Uniform Administrative Requirements for 
Grants-in-Aid to State and Local Governments.
    OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of States, Local Government, and 
Non-profit Organizations
    Please reference the following Web sites for additional 
information: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants; https://
exchanges.state.gov/education/grantsdiv/terms.htm#articleI.

VI.3. Reporting Requirements

    You must provide ECA with a hard copy original plus one (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: Jennifer Phillips, 
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) 453-8537; fax (202) 453-8533; e-mail, PhillipsJA@state.gov.
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the title ``Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student 
Leaders'' and number ECA/A/E/USS-07-SL. Please read the complete 
announcement before sending inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the 
RFGP deadline has passed, Bureau staff may not discuss this competition 
with applicants until the proposal review process has been completed.

VIII. Other Information

    Notice:
    The terms and conditions published in this RFGP are binding and may 
not be modified by any Bureau representative. Explanatory information 
provided by the Bureau that contradicts published language will not be 
binding. Issuance of the RFGP does not constitute an award commitment 
on the part of the Government. The Bureau reserves the right to reduce, 
revise, or increase proposal budgets in accordance with the needs of 
the program and the availability of funds. Awards made will be subject 
to periodic reporting and evaluation requirements per section VI.3 
above.

    Dated: December 18, 2006.
Dina Habib Powell,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of 
State.
 [FR Doc. E6-22320 Filed 12-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-07-P