Culturally significant objects imported for exhibition: Global Undergraduate Exchange Program, 34327-34333 [E7-12027]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register: June 21, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 119)]
[Notices]
[Page 34327-34333]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21jn07-77]

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 5841]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for
Grant Proposals: Global Undergraduate Exchange Program

    Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/E/USS-08-01.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000.
    Key Dates: Application Deadline: August 16, 2007.
    Executive Summary: The Office of Academic Exchange Programs of the
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces an open
competition for one to three assistance awards to provide
administrative services for the FY 2008 Global Undergraduate Exchange
Program (Global UGRAD Program). Public and private non-profit
organizations meeting the provisions described in IRS regulation 26 CFR
1.501(c)(3) may

[[Page 34328]]

submit proposals to cooperate with the Bureau in the administration and
implementation of academic exchange activities for promising
undergraduate students from underrepresented sectors of the population
in the following regions: East Asia and the Pacific; Eurasia and
Central Asia; and, the Western Hemisphere. For a list of participating
countries by region, please see the Project Objectives, Goals, and
Implementation document (POGI) that accompanies this announcement.
Organizations may apply to administer the program in one or more
geographic regions. However, organizations with less than four years
experience in conducting international exchange programs are not
eligible for this competition. It is anticipated that the total amount
of funding available for all FY 2008 activities will be $8,000,000 and
will involve the management of approximately 330 students.

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 U.S. Department of State is dedicated to increasing its
engagement with undergraduate student leaders worldwide who represent
indigenous, disadvantaged or underrepresented communities. ECA's
outreach includes providing merit-based programs for underserved
sectors of society that increase participants' knowledge and
understanding of the United States.
    The principal objective of the Global Undergraduate Exchange
Program (hereafter referred to as the Global UGRAD Program) is to
provide a substantive exchange experience at a U.S. college or
university to a diverse group of emerging student leaders from
underrepresented sectors of the population in East Asia and the
Pacific, Eurasia and Central Asia, and the Western Hemisphere. The
grantee organization(s) will ensure that participants are enrolled
full-time in a non-degree course of study at U.S. institutions
alongside American peers, and will provide the participants with
opportunities to experience American society, institutions, and culture
in and out of the classroom. Program participants will return to their
home countries at the conclusion of the exchange program to complete
their degree in their home colleges and universities there, and to re-
integrate with their home societies.
    The Global UGRAD Program will provide approximately 330
scholarships for non-degree academic study at institutions of higher
education to outstanding students from non-elite sectors. This number
includes 40 full academic-year and 50 one-semester scholarships for
students from East Asia and the Pacific, 140 full academic-year
scholarships for students from Eurasia and Central Asia, and 30 full
academic-year and 70 one-semester scholarships for students from the
Western Hemisphere. In addition, the grantee organization(s) will be
responsible for providing pre-academic intensive English language
instruction as specified in the ``Region Specific Guidelines'' in the
Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation document (POGI).
Scholarships will be granted primarily to students currently enrolled
in an undergraduate program in their home country, and who have
completed their first, second, or third year of undergraduate study.
The grantee organization(s) will place one-semester and academic-year
program participants in non-degree programs at both U.S. four-year
colleges and universities, and community colleges.
    The grantee organization(s) will enhance the participants' academic
education by developing enrichment activities that may include having
students make local presentations about their countries, performing
community service, and taking part in internships. All participants
will be required to return to their home countries immediately upon the
conclusion of their scholarship program. ECA will not consider
participant transfers from the Global UGRAD Program to any other U.S.
institution or Exchange Visitor Program.
    The grantee organization(s) will make all university placements and
serve as the principal liaison(s) among Global UGRAD Program host
institutions and ECA. Further details on specific program
responsibilities can be found in the Project Objectives, Goals, and
Implementation (POGI) document. Interested organizations should read
the entire Federal Register announcement for all information prior to
preparing proposals. Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations.
Please refer to the Solicitation Package for further instructions.
    The Bureau requires sub-grant agreements from all applicant
organizations that intend to work with other organizations in the
implementation of this program. All sub-grantees are subject to the
same requirements as principal grantee organizations.
    In a cooperative agreement, the Office of Academic Exchange
Programs, Study of the United States Branch (ECA/A/E/USS) is
substantially involved in program activities beyond routine grant
monitoring. ECA/A/E/USS activities and responsibilities for this
program are as follows:
    1. Participating in the design and direction of program activities;
    2. Final selection of all program participants;
    3. Approval of key personnel;
    4. Approval and input for all program agendas and timelines;
    5. Providing guidance in the execution of all project components;
    6. Monitoring the target goal for the number of participants and
the expenditure of funds toward meeting that goal;
    7. Providing guidance on content and speakers for workshops;
    8. Assisting with SEVIS-related issues;
    9. Assisting with participant emergencies;
    10. Providing background information related to participants' home
countries and cultures;
    11. Providing liaison with Public Affairs Sections of the U.S.
Embassies, bi-national Fulbright Commissions, and country desk officers
at the State Department;
    12. Providing ECA evaluation mechanisms.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement.
    ECA's level of involvement in this program is detailed under number
I above.
    Fiscal Year Funds: 2008.
    Approximate Total Funding: $8,000,000, pending availability of FY
2008 funds. ($4,000,000 for Eurasia and Central Asia; $2,000,000 for
East Asia and the Pacific; $2,000,000 for Western Hemisphere).

[[Page 34329]]

    Approximate Number of Awards: 1 to 3.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $8,000,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, November 1,
2007.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: September 30, 2009.
    Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of this
program and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, it is
ECA's intent to renew these awards for two additional fiscal years.

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). The Bureau will give preference to
organizations proposing to place students at accredited small colleges
and universities that will provide students with a supportive
environment and personalized attention, including community colleges,
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Hispanic-
serving institutions.

III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds

    There is no minimum or maximum percentage required for this
competition. However, ECA encourages applicants to provide maximum
levels of possible cost sharing and funding in support of its programs.
    If cost sharing is proposed, the cooperating organization must
provide the amount 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, written records must be
maintained to support all costs which are claimed as contribution, as
funding provided 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 that the amount
of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget is not provided,
ECA's contribution will be reduced in like proportion.

III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements

    ECA 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 or more grants,
in an amount up to $8,000,000 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, ECA staff may not discuss this competition with applicants
until the proposal review process has been completed.

IV.1 Contact Information to Request an Application Package

    Please contact the Office of Academic Exchange Programs, ECA/A/E/
USS, Room 314, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20547, (202) 453-8532, fax: (202) 453-8533, e-mail: 
walshbm@state.gov to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to

the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/E/USS-08-01 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 Brendan M. Walsh and refer to
the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/E/USS-08-01 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
lease 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
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 will be
responsible for issuing DS-2019 forms to participants in this program.

[[Page 34330]]

    A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of
Exchange Visitor (J) programs is available at https://exchanges.state.gov
 or from: United States Department of State, Office

of Exchange Coordination and Designation, ECA/EC/ECD--SA-44, Room 734,
301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, Telephone: (202) 203-5029,
Fax: (202) 453-8640. Please refer to Solicitation Package for further
information.
    IV.3d.2. Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines. Pursuant to
the Bureau's authorizing legislation, programs must maintain a non-
political character and should be balanced and representative of the
diversity of American political, social, and cultural life.
``Diversity'' should be interpreted in the broadest sense and encompass
differences including, but not limited to ethnicity, race, gender,
religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, and disabilities.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere to the advancement of this
principle both in program administration and in program content. Please
refer to the review criteria under the ``Support for Diversity''
section for specific suggestions on incorporating diversity into your
proposal. Public Law 104-319 provides that ``in carrying out programs
of educational and cultural exchange in countries whose people do not
fully enjoy freedom and democracy,'' the Bureau ``shall take
appropriate steps to provide opportunities for participation in such
programs to human rights and democracy leaders of such countries.''
Public Law 106-113 requires that the governments of the countries
described above do not have inappropriate influence in the selection
process. Proposals should reflect advancement of these goals in their
program contents, to the full extent deemed feasible.
    IV.3d.3. Program Monitoring and Evaluation. Proposals must include
a plan to monitor and evaluate the project's success, both as the
activities unfold and at the end of the program. ECA 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. ECA expects that the cooperating organization 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. The evaluation
plan should include a description of the program's objectives, the
anticipated project outcomes, and how and when these outcomes
(performance indicators) will be measured. The more that outcomes are
``smart'' (specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and
placed in a reasonable timeframe), the easier it will be to conduct the
evaluation. The evaluation plan should also show how your project
objectives link to the goals of the program described in this RFGP.
    The 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.
    Assessing 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) is encouraged:
    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 the 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.)
    The cooperating organization will be required to provide reports
analyzing their evaluation findings to ECA in regular program reports.
All data collected, including survey responses and contact information,
must be maintained for a minimum of three years and provided to ECA
upon request.
    IV.3e. Please consider the following information when preparing the
budget:
    IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the
entire program. The award for overall administration of the Global
UGRAD Program may not exceed $8,000,000. The award limit for
administration of the Global UGRAD Program in each of the geographic
regions is specified in the Project Objectives, Goals, and
Implementation. All proposals must contain 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. A comprehensive
narrative must accompany the budget, clearly explaining all proposed
costs (staff salaries and time on task must be supported by appropriate
documentation and certified as true and accurate representations of
actual costs and percentage of task).
    The Bureau encourages applicant organizations to provide maximum
levels of cost sharing and funding from private sources in support of
its programs.
    IV.3e.2. Allowable costs for the program include the following:

(1) Program Expenses
(2) Domestic Administration
(3) Overseas Administration

    Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget
guidelines and formatting instructions.
    IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission:
    Application Deadline Date: August 16, 2007.

[[Page 34331]]

    Reference Number: ECA/A/E/USS-08-01.
    Methods of Submission: Electronic and Hard Copy.
    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.);
    2. Or, 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 provide notification
upon receipt of application. It is each applicant's responsibility to
ensure that each package is marked with a legible tracking number and
to monitor/confirm delivery to ECA via the Internet. Delivery of
proposal packages may not be made via local courier service or in
person for this competition. Faxed documents will not be accepted at
any time. Only proposals submitted as stated above will be considered.
    Important note: When preparing your submission please make sure to
include one extra copy of the completed SF-424 form and place it in an
envelope addressed to ``ECA/EX/PM''.
    The original and eight copies of the application should be sent to:
U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs, Ref.: ECA/A/E/USS-08-01, 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 CD-ROM. ECA will provide these
files electronically to the appropriate Public Affairs Section(s) at
the U.S. embassies for their review.
    IV.3f.2--Submitting Electronic Applications. Applicants have the
option of submitting proposals electronically through Grants.gov
(https://www.grants.gov). Complete solicitation packages are available

at Grants.gov in the ``Find'' portion of the system. Please follow the
instructions available in the ``Get Started''' portion of the site
(https://www.grants.gov/GetStarted). 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, 7a.m.-9p.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

    ECA 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 ECA 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 ECA's Grants Officer.
Review Criteria
    Proposals will be subject to compliance with Federal and ECA
regulations and guidelines and forwarded to ECA senior 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 (grants or cooperative agreements) resides with an
ECA Grants Officer. ECA reserves the right to reduce, revise, or
increase proposal budgets in accordance with the needs of the program
and availability of funds.
    The submission will be reviewed with the following review criteria
in mind:
    1. Program Development and Management: Proposals should exhibit
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's
mission. Objectives should be reasonable, feasible, and flexible.
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. Proposals should
clearly demonstrate how the program will meet the program's objectives
and plan.
    2. Multiplier Effect/Impact: Proposed programs should strengthen
long-term mutual understanding, including maximum sharing of
information and

[[Page 34332]]

establishment of long-term institutional and individual linkages.
    3. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Achievable and relevant
features should be cited in both program administration (selection of
participants, program venue and program evaluation) and program content
(orientation and wrap-up sessions, program meetings, resource materials
and follow-up activities).
    4. Institutional Capacity and Record: Proposals should demonstrate
an institutional record of successful exchange programs, including
responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting
requirements for past Bureau grants as determined by Bureau Grants
Staff. Proposals also should demonstrate the capacity to place students
at geographically diverse, accredited small colleges and universities
that can provide students with personalized attention. The Bureau will
consider the past performance of prior recipients and the demonstrated
potential of new applicants. Proposed personnel and institutional
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program or
project's goals.
    5. 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 to use to link outcomes to original
project objectives is recommended.
    6. 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.
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 ECA procedures.
Successful applicants will receive an Assistance Award Document (AAD)
from the ECA'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
rms.htm#articleI.
    VI.3. Reporting Requirements: You must provide ECA with a hard copy
    1. A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after
the expiration of the award;
    2. Two interim reports that address significant activities of the
period and new planned activities for the next period.
    Financial reports must adhere to the quarterly reporting
requirements mandated by Congress and be submitted quarterly. Please
note that all program and financial reports should be sent to the
Grants Division.
    The cooperating organization will be required to provide reports
analyzing their evaluation findings to ECA in its 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 ECA upon request.
    All reports must be sent to the ECA Grants Officer and ECA Program
Officer listed in the final assistance award document.
    Program Data Requirements: Organizations awarded grants will be
required to maintain specific data on program participants and
activities in an electronically accessible database format that can be
shared with the Bureau as required. As a minimum, the data must include
the following:
    (1) Name, address, contact information and biographic sketch of all
persons who travel internationally on funds provided by the grant or
who benefit from the grant funding but do not travel.
    (2) Itineraries of international and domestic travel, providing
dates of travel and cities in which any exchange experiences take
place. Final schedules for in-country and U.S. activities must be
received by the ECA Program Officer at least three work days prior to
the official opening of the activity.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: Program Officer
Brendan M. Walsh, Office of Academic Exchange Programs, ECA/A/E/USS,
Room 314, Reference Number: ECA/A/E/USS-08-01, U.S. Department of
State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, (202) 453-
8532, fax: (202) 453-8533, e-mail: walshbm@state.gov.
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should
reference the above title and number ECA/A/E/USS-08-01. Please read the
complete announcement before sending inquiries or submitting proposals.
Once the RFGP deadline has passed, ECA 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 ECA representative. Explanatory information
provided by ECA that contradicts published language will not be
binding. Issuance of the RFGP does not constitute an award commitment
on the part of the Government. ECA 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.


[[Page 34333]]


    Dated: June 12, 2007.
C. Miller Crouch,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs,
Department of State.
[FR Doc. E7-12027 Filed 6-20-07; 8:45 am]

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