Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant Proposals: Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program, 56818-56824 [E7-19642]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 192 (Thursday, October 4, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56818-56824]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-19642]



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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 5951]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program

    Announcement Type: New Grant.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-08-08.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.410.
    Key Dates:
    Application Deadline: November 8, 2007.
    Executive Summary: The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs 
Division (ECA/PE/C/PY), of the Department of State's Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for the 
Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program (CBYX). Public and private 
non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal 
Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) may submit proposals to 
facilitate educational exchanges between American and German high 
school students and young professionals.

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 CBYX program supports the exchange of American and 
German young people in order to sustain and strengthen German-American 
friendship based on common values of democracy, and to convey lasting 
personal and institutional relationships to the successor generation. 
The primary objective of the program is to encourage American and 
German youth to learn about each other's society and culture through 
educational exchange. Additional goals for this competition include a 
renewed effort to promote the participants' roles as young ambassadors 
and the impact they can have on US-German relations, and to strengthen 
the linkages between U.S. Representatives and their Bundestag 
counterparts. The program provides a full scholarship for an academic 
year experience of living and studying in the host country.
    The Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs 
administers the CBYX program in the United States. The program is known 
in Germany as the Parlamentarisches Patenschafts-Program (PPP), and is 
administered by the German Bundestag Administrative Office (WI4).
    Inaugurated in 1983 through a bilateral agreement between the U.S. 
Congress and the German Bundestag, each government provides funding to 
exchange organizations through assistance awards for the costs of 
participant recruitment and selection, international airfare, 
orientation and debriefing, and hosting support for the respective 
exchange participants.
    The U.S.-German agreement calls for an open grants competition 
every four years, and WI4 is holding a simultaneous open competition to 
select the German counterpart organizations that will manage the 
program in Germany. Up to five German high school exchange 
organizations will be partnered with five American high school exchange 
organizations, and one German vocational and one German young 
professionals exchange organization will be paired with American 
exchange organizations. Within the proposal narrative organizations 
should name their intended German partner organization and provide 
pertinent institutional background and support materials as 
appropriate, and demonstrate your ability to cooperate with foreign 
partners in implementing exchanges.
    Pending the availability of funds, organizations that are 
successful in this competition will be awarded grants in FY2009 for 
academic year 2009-10. Pending successful implementation of this 
program and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, it is 
ECA's intent to renew the grants for three additional fiscal years 
before openly competing them again. All grants will be subject to 
availability of funds.

    Please note: At the time of publication, funds have not been 
appropriated to support this program. As is the case with all Bureau 
assistance awards, final awards cannot be made until funds have been 
appropriated by Congress, allocated and committed through internal 
Bureau procedures.

    According to the agreement between the State Department and the 
Bundestag WI4, the maximum number of participants to be exchanged in 
any given year is 400 Germans and 400 Americans. However, the actual 
number of participants exchanged each year is dependent on the amount 
of funding made available by the U.S. Congress and the German 
Bundestag. Though Congress has not yet determined the budget level for 
FY2009, the competition for program year 2009-10 will be based on up to 
350 American and 360 German participants. Throughout the four-year 
grant cycle, representatives of both governments and the respective 
grantee organizations will hold annual discussions to determine the 
final participant numbers for each academic year.
    Participants are chosen according to procedures and criteria 
established by each government. In the U.S. the CBYX program has three 
components.
    1. High School Component: In FY 2009 this component may provide a 
maximum of 250 (50 per each organization) scholarships for a one-year 
educational and cultural homestay experience in Germany for American 
high school students ages 15-18, and reciprocally, host a maximum of 
285 (57 per each organization) German students in the U.S. High school 
exchange organizations are invited to bid on conducting merit-based 
competitions among American high school students in one or more of five 
designated regions of the United States, as follows:
    Northeast: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode 
Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, 
Washington, DC, Delaware, Maryland.
    Southeast: Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky, 
Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, 
Georgia, Florida, Puerto Rico.
    Central States: Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, 
Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska.
    Southwest: Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, 
Arizona, Southern California* (*the northern border of this region 
includes the counties of Monterey, San Benito, Fresno, and Inyo).
    Pacific/Northwest: Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, 
Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Northern 
California* (*the southern border of this region includes the counties 
of Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Merced, Madera, and Mono).

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    American high school exchange organizations may bid on more than 
one region, indicating the most preferred region(s) in priority order. 
Five organizations will be selected to conduct all aspects of the 
recruitment and selection of 50 American participants in one of the 
five regions. In coordination with its German partner organization, 
high school organizations will program 50 American and 57 German 
students. German students may be placed in host homes and schools 
throughout the U.S.
    Organizations that are awarded a grant will conduct advertising, 
recruitment, processing of applications, screening, selection, pre-
departure, arrival, and re-entry orientations, and management of all 
administrative and logistical matters including domestic and 
international travel.
    In the host country, American and German partner organizations will 
coordinate arrival and re-entry orientation for the respective exchange 
students, placement of the students in host families and schools 
(nationwide), arrange program enrichment activities, conduct the 
recruitment, screening, including criminal background checks, selection 
and orientation of host-families, provide program monitoring, 
supervision and counseling to students and host families, and manage 
all administrative and logistical matters including in-country travel 
and health and accident insurance.
    For the German participants grantee organizations should secure all 
host family and school placements at least two weeks prior to the 
German students' arrival in the United States. Organizations will be 
required to submit to the program office a list of these placements 
(host families, host schools, and corresponding Congressional 
representatives/districts) no later than August 31 and periodically 
update the information throughout the year.
    Grantee organizations will submit to the Department of State 
program office, at least 60 days after departure/arrival data lists of 
all current American participants with U.S. addresses, names of parents 
and corresponding Congressional representatives/districts.
    2. Vocational Component: This component provides scholarships to 
graduating American high-school seniors with a vocational 
specialization for a one-year professional study and training 
experience in their fields of interest in Germany. One organization 
will be selected to conduct all aspects of the nationwide selection 
competition in the U.S. for 25 American students and programming, 
including advertising, recruitment, processing of applications, 
screening, selection, pre-departure orientations, and management of all 
administrative and logistical matters including domestic and 
international travel. (During the selection process the grantee is 
encouraged to work with vocational educational offices at the state 
level, as well as administrators of secondary schools with vocational 
education curriculum.)
    The German partner organization chosen by the Bundestag 
Administrative Office will coordinate arrival and re-entry orientation 
for the students and their placement in host families and schools, 
arrange a practicum in the participants' field of study, arrange 
program enrichment activities, and conduct the recruitment, screening, 
selection and orientation of host families, provide program monitoring, 
supervision and counseling to students and host families, and manage 
all administrative and logistical matters including in-country travel 
and health and accident insurance.
    The vocational grantee organization will submit to the Department 
of State program office, at least 60 days after departure/arrival a 
data list of all current American participants with U.S. addresses, 
names of parents and corresponding Congressional representatives/
districts.
    3. Young Professionals Component: This component provides 
scholarships for a one-year professional study and training experience 
in the host country in business, technical, vocational, and 
agricultural fields to young American and German students ages 18-24. 
One organization will be selected to conduct all aspects of programming 
for 75 American and 75 German Young Professionals, including the 
nationwide competition for the Americans and placement of the German 
students in American homes and schools, advertising, recruitment, 
processing of applications, screening, selection and pre-departure 
orientations and debriefings, and management of all administrative and 
logistical matters including domestic and international travel.
    In the host country, the American and German partner organization 
will coordinate arrival and re-entry orientation for the students, the 
placement of the students in host families (or other suitable living 
quarters) and schools (colleges/universities), arrange a practicum in 
the participants' field of study, arrange program enrichment 
activities, and conduct the recruitment, screening, selection and 
orientation of host families, provide program monitoring, supervision 
and counseling to students and host families, and manage all 
administrative and logistical matters including in-country travel and 
health and accident insurance.
    In the United States, each German young professional participant 
will be placed in a two-or four-year college for one semester of full-
time study or a minimum of 12 credit hours (which may include an 
English class) throughout the academic year. The organization is 
encouraged to seek tuition waivers and cost sharing with cooperating 
colleges. The organization will coordinate with each participant to 
assure that his/her practicum is based on a prospectus of the specific 
skills and functions that will be mastered and that there is a 
structured learning component that enables the participant to gain a 
perspective on the overall operation of the business. The selected 
organization will also coordinate a six-week Congressional internship 
on Capitol Hill or in the state office for up to five German young 
professionals.
    A monthly stipend for some meals, incidentals and reasonable local 
transportation expenses may be included in the budget, but it is 
anticipated that the stipend would be substantially reduced or 
eliminated during the second half of the program when the participants 
receive allowances for living expenses from the firms or agencies 
hosting their practicum. The current stipend range is $250 to $300 per 
the regional cost of living. Where possible, hosting arrangements 
should be found that do not require subsidization.
    The selected young professionals organization will be required to 
submit to the program office a list of the German placements in the 
United States (host homes and host schools and corresponding 
Congressional representatives/districts) no later than August 31, and 
periodically update the information throughout the year.
    The young professionals organization will submit to the Department 
of State program office, at least 60 days after departure/arrival data 
lists of all current American participants with U.S. addresses, names 
of parents and corresponding Congressional representatives/districts.
    4. Administrative Supplementals: The administrative supplemental 
will provide funds to:
    (1) One high school organization to produce and distribute the high 
school scholarship promotional materials and maintain the CBYX High 
School Scholarship application Web site, and
    (2) One organization from either of the three components to 
maintain the

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Congress-Bundestag Alumni Database Web site for all CBYX participants.

High School Scholarship Materials and Web Site

    In addition to the 20-page program narrative, interested high 
school organizations may submit a bid to produce and distribute the 
high school scholarship promotional materials and maintain the High 
School scholarship application Web site. The narrative for the 
supplemental should not exceed three pages and include a separate 
budget projection. For budget/line-item details please see the Project 
Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI). The supplemental funds 
will be included in the final grant agreement and listed as a separate 
item of expenditure. The Bureau anticipates funding this activity at a 
level of approximately $53,200, pending availability of funds.
    The selected high school ``administrative'' organization will 
coordinate with all of the high school grantee organizations data/input 
for production of the promotional materials. Once the input is 
finalized the administrative organization will mass produce and 
distribute the materials to the high school organizations. This 
includes advertisement brochures, posters, and scholarship applications 
for recruiting American high school students, and set up/maintenance of 
the scholarship application Web site. The Web site advertises the same 
printed promotional materials and allows interested students to 
download applications and submit them to the respective high school 
organization responsible for recruiting in the students' home state.
    Once the high school grantee organizations receive the promotional 
materials from the administrative organization they will distribute the 
materials to a wide audience within their appointed region, including 
public and private secondary schools, the media, and key networks such 
as the American Association of Teachers of German. (Innovative methods 
of publicizing the program are welcome, within funding limitations. 
Organizations are encouraged to utilize their volunteer networks and 
alumni to promote the program.)

Alumni Database Web Site

    In addition to the 20-page program narrative, interested 
organizations from either of the three components may submit a bid to 
set up and maintain the CBYX Alumni Database Web site. The narrative 
for the supplemental should not exceed three pages and include a 
separate budget projection. For budget/line-item details please see the 
Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI). The supplemental 
funds will be included in the final grant agreement and listed as a 
separate item of expenditure. The Bureau anticipates funding this 
activity at a level of approximately $10,000, pending availability of 
funds.
    The organization selected to maintain the Congress-Bundestag Alumni 
Database Web site for all CBYX participants will set up and maintain a 
Web-based listing of CBYX participants designed to centrally harness 
alumni and encourage activities beyond their participation in the 
program. The organization select for this supplemental will coordinate 
participant/alumni lists will all CBYX organizations to assure 
students' eligibility and accuracy.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Grant Agreement.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY-2009.
    Approximate Total Funding: Unknown at this time, pending a FY-2009 
Congressional Appropriation. However, for proposal development 
purposes, the total FY-2007 funding level was $3,256,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 7 (5 High School Component, 1 Young 
Professionals Component, 1 Vocational Component).
    Approximate Average Award: Unknown at this time, pending a FY-2009 
Congressional Appropriation.
    Anticipated Award Date: January 2010.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: August 2011.
    Additional Information: Final funding will be pending a FY 2009 
Congressional Appropriation. However, for illustrative purposes, the 
current average per capita costs for each program component are: $4,545 
for the high school component, $5,698 for the young professionals 
component, and $3,900 for the vocational component. Applicants' budget 
submissions should be realistic and reflect anticipated actual costs 
required to implement the program(s) and the varying costs specific to 
the German participants' hosting needs, and the American participants' 
programming needs. Budget submissions under this RFGP may be subject to 
renegotiation. 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.
    Budgets should be prepared according to Tab D of the Proposal 
Submission Instructions (PSI). You may delete or modify line items 
according to program and administrative needs as described in the 
proposal narrative. Please include budget notes, as appropriate.
    High school organizations should prepare a budget to recruit/
program 50 Americans and host 57 Germans; vocational organizations 
should prepare a budget to recruit/program 25 Americans; young 
professionals organizations should prepare a budget to recruit/program 
75 Americans and 75 Germans.

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

    Grants awarded to eligible organizations with less than four years 
of experience in conducting international exchange programs will be 
limited to $60,000.

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.


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IV.1. Contact Information To Request an Application Package

    Please contact the Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs 
Division, ECA/PE/C/PY, Room 568, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 
4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, (202) 203-7527 and (202) 203-
7529, jonessa1@state.gov to request a Solicitation Package. Please 
refer to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/PY-08-08 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 Shalita Jones and refer to 
the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/PY-08-08 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'' 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 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 Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs is the official program sponsor of the exchange 
program covered by this RFGP, and an employee of the Bureau will be the 
``Responsible Officer'' for the program under the terms of 22 CFR part 
62, which covers the administration of the Exchange Visitor Program (J 
visa program). Under the terms of 22 CFR part 62, organizations 
receiving grants under this RFGP will be third parties ``cooperating 
with or assisting the sponsor in the conduct of the sponsor's 
program.'' The actions of grantee program organizations shall be 
``imputed to the sponsor in evaluating the sponsor's compliance with'' 
22 CFR part 62. Therefore, the Bureau expects that any organization 
receiving a grant under this competition will render all assistance 
necessary to enable the Bureau to fully comply with 22 CFR part 62, et 
seq.
    The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs places great 
emphasis on the secure and proper administration of Exchange Visitor (J 
visa) Programs and adherence by grantee program organizations and 
program participants to all regulations governing the J visa program 
status. Therefore, proposals should explicitly state in writing that 
the applicant is prepared to assist the Bureau in meeting all 
requirements governing the administration of Exchange Visitor Programs 
as set forth in 22 CFR part 62. If your organization has experience as 
a designated Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor, the applicant should 
discuss their record of compliance with 22 CFR part 62, et seq., 
including the oversight of their Responsible Officers and Alternate 
Responsible Officers, screening and selection of program participants, 
provision of pre-arrival information and orientation to participants, 
monitoring of participants, proper maintenance and security of forms, 
recordkeeping, reporting and other requirements.
    The Office of Citizen Exchanges of 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, Room 734, 301 4th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20547, Telephone: (202) 203-5029, FAX: (202) 453-8640.
IV.3d.2. Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines
    Pursuant to the Bureau's authorizing legislation, programs must 
maintain a non-political character and should be balanced and 
representative of the diversity of American political, social, and 
cultural life. ``Diversity'' should be interpreted in the broadest 
sense and encompass differences including, but not limited to 
ethnicity, race, gender, religion, geographic location, socio-economic 
status, and disabilities. Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere 
to the advancement of this principle both in program administration and 
in program content. Please refer to the review criteria under the 
'Support for Diversity' section for specific suggestions on 
incorporating diversity into your proposal. Public Law 104-319 provides 
that ``in carrying out programs of educational and cultural exchange in 
countries whose people do not fully enjoy freedom and democracy,'' the 
Bureau ``shall take appropriate steps to provide opportunities for 
participation in such programs to human rights and democracy leaders of 
such countries.'' Public Law 106-113 requires that the governments of 
the countries described above do not have inappropriate influence in 
the selection process. Proposals should reflect advancement of these 
goals in their program contents, to the full extent deemed feasible.
IV.3d.3. Program Monitoring and Evaluation
    Proposals must include a plan to monitor and evaluate the project's 
success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of the program. 
The

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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 timeframe), 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.3e. Please take the following information into consideration 
when preparing your budget:
    IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget projection 
for the entire program. There must be a summary budget as well as 
breakdowns reflecting both administrative and program budgets. 
Applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, 
phase, location, or activity to provide clarification.
    IV.3e.2. Please refer to the Solicitation Package for allowable 
costs, complete budget guidelines and formatting instructions.

     Note: Final budgets will be solicited from the selected 
grantees for FY 2009 (academic year 2009-10) no later than fall 
2009.

IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission

    Application Deadline Date: November 8, 2007.
    Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-08-08.
    Methods of Submission: Applications may be submitted in one of two 
ways:
    (1) In hard-copy, via a nationally recognized overnight delivery 
service (i.e., DHL, Federal Express, UPS, Airborne Express, or U.S. 
Postal Service Express Overnight Mail, etc.), or
    (2) Electronically through https://www.grants.gov.
    Along with the Project Title, all applicants must enter the above 
Reference Number in Box 11 on the SF-424 contained in the mandatory 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) of the solicitation document.
IV.3f.1. Submitting Printed Applications
    Applications must be shipped no later than the above deadline. 
Delivery services used by applicants must have in-place, centralized 
shipping identification and tracking systems that may be accessed via 
the Internet and delivery people who are identifiable by commonly 
recognized uniforms and delivery vehicles. Proposals shipped on or 
before the above deadline but received at ECA more than seven days 
after the deadline will be ineligible for further consideration under 
this competition. Proposals shipped after the established deadlines are 
ineligible for consideration under this competition. ECA will not 
notify you upon receipt of application. It is each applicant's 
responsibility to ensure that each package is marked with a legible 
tracking number and to monitor/confirm delivery to ECA via the 
Internet. Delivery of proposal packages may not be made via local 
courier service or in person for this competition. Faxed documents will 
not be accepted at any time. Only proposals submitted as stated above 
will be considered.

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

    The original and 8 copies of the application should be sent to: 
U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, Ref.: ECA/PE/C/PY-08-08, 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) or Microsoft Word 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 for its 
review.
IV.3f.2. Submitting Electronic Applications
    Applicants have the option of submitting proposals electronically 
through Grants.gov (https://www.grants.gov). Complete solicitation

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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, 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 grants 
resides with the Bureau's Grants Officer.

Review Criteria

    Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed 
according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are not rank 
ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation:
    1. Quality of the Program Idea: Proposals should exhibit 
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's 
mission.
    2. Program Planning: Detailed agenda and relevant work plan should 
demonstrate substantive undertakings and logistical capacity. Agenda 
and plan should adhere to the program overview and guidelines described 
above.
    3. Ability To Achieve Program Objectives: Objectives should be 
reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly 
demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's objectives and 
plan.
    4. Multiplier Effect/Impact: Proposed programs should strengthen 
long-term mutual understanding, including maximum sharing of 
information and establishment of long-term institutional and individual 
linkages.
    5. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive 
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Achievable and relevant 
features should be cited in both program administration (selection of 
participants, program venue and program evaluation) and program content 
(orientation and wrap-up sessions, program meetings, resource materials 
and follow-up activities).
    6. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional 
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program or 
project's goals.
    7. Institution's Record/Ability: Proposals should demonstrate an 
institutional record of successful exchange programs, including 
responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting 
requirements for past Bureau grants as determined by Bureau Grants 
Staff. The Bureau will consider the past performance of prior 
recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants.
    8. Follow-on Activities: Proposals should provide a plan for 
continued follow-on activity (without Bureau support) ensuring that 
Bureau supported programs are not isolated events.
    9. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate 
the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of 
the program. A draft survey questionnaire or other technique plus 
description of a methodology to use to link outcomes to original 
project objectives is recommended.
    10. Cost-effectiveness: The overhead and administrative components 
of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be kept as 
low as possible. All other items should be necessary and appropriate.
    11. Cost-sharing: Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through 
other private sector support as well as institutional direct funding 
contributions.
    12. Value to U.S.-Partner Country Relations: Proposed projects 
should receive positive assessments by the U.S. Department of State's 
geographic area desk and overseas officers of program need, potential 
impact, and significance in the partner country(ies).

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.''

[[Page 56824]]

    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 provided ECA with a hard copy original plus one of the 
following reports:
    Mandatory:
    (1) A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after 
the expiration of the award;
    (2) Quarterly program and financial reports which should include a 
narrative of program activities and financial expenditures according to 
the proposed time line within the specified quarter, as well as issues 
that may have arisen and how they were handled, lessons learned, etc., 
(see POGI for more details).
    Grantees will be required to provide reports analyzing their 
evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program reports. 
(Please refer to IV. Application and Submission Instructions (IV.3.d.3) 
above for Program Monitoring and Evaluation information.
    All data collected, including survey responses and contact 
information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years and 
provided to the Bureau upon request.
    All reports must be sent to the ECA Grants Officer and ECA Program 
Officer listed in the final assistance award document. Reports may also 
be sent electronically to reports@state.gov and copied the program 
officer.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact Shalita Jones, 
Program Officer, Office of Citizen Exchanges, ECA/PE/C/PY, Room 568, 
ECA/PE/C/PY-08-08, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20547, telephone (202) 203-7507 and fax number 
(202) 203-7529, jonessa1@state.gov.
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number ECA/PE/C/PY-08-08.
    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: September 27, 2007.
C. Miller Crouch,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. E7-19642 Filed 10-3-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P