Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant Proposals (RFGP): Congressionally Mandated-One-Time Grants Program for Academic Programs, 16426-16434 [E8-6286]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 60 (Thursday, March 27, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16426-16434]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-6286]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6159]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals (RFGP): Congressionally Mandated--One-Time Grants 
Program for Academic Programs

    Announcement Type: New Grant.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A-08-One-time-Comp. A.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000.
    Key Dates:
    Application Deadline: April 24, 2008.
    Executive Summary: This competition is one of two competitions that 
the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is conducting as 
directed in the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related 
Programs Appropriations Act, 2008 (Div.J, Pub. L. 100-161) under 
``Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs'' in support of a $10 
million competitive one-time grants program. Applications must 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). Total funding for this ``one-time grants program'' is $10 
million. Of this amount, $5 million will be dedicated to this 
competition for Academic Programs. (A separate RFGP has been announced 
in the Federal Register for the remaining $5 million dedicated to 
Professional and Cultural Programs, reference number ECA/PE/C-08 One-
time Comp. B.) Please note: The Bureau reserves the right to reallocate 
funds it has initially allocated to each of these two competitions, 
based on submissions received under each competition.
    Applicants may only submit ONE PROPOSAL (TOTAL) TO ONE of the two 
competitions referenced above. In addition, applicants under this 
competition (ECA/A-08-One-time-Comp. A) may only apply to administer 
one of the listed activities (total). If multiple proposals are 
received from the same applicant, all submissions will be declared 
technically ineligible and will be given no further consideration in 
the review process.
    Eligible applicants are strongly encouraged to read both RFGPs 
thoroughly, prior to developing and submitting proposals, to ensure 
that proposed activities are appropriate and responsive to the goals, 
objectives and criteria outlined in each of the solicitations.
    As further directed by the Congress, ``The program shall be only 
for the actual exchange of people and should benefit a population that 
is not being addressed through existing authorized exchanges.''
    The Office of Academic Programs of the Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs announces a competition for grants to support 
exchanges and build relationships between America and people of other 
countries. These projects are designed to engage non-traditional 
participants and underserved groups, including the economically 
disadvantaged in the U.S. and overseas. The activities are designed to 
complement on-going ECA exchange programs, and to focus on exchanges 
with the developing world, serving audiences who do not have access to 
other exchange programs. The concepts involve community college 
students, undergraduates, teachers and junior faculty.
    The Bureau is interested in receiving proposals from organizations 
with a strong interest, thematic expertise, institutional commitment 
and a successful track-record in conducting international exchanges. We 
welcome proposals from organizations that have not previously received 
ECA funding. Organizations that have the expertise, interest and 
institutional commitment but lack experience of conducting exchanges, 
or, where relevant, lack overseas infrastructure, may wish to consider 
developing proposals based on consortia type relationships with more 
experienced, eligible organizations. Specifically, as stated in Section 
III.3. below, grants to organizations with less than four years of 
experience in conducting international exchange programs will be 
limited to $60,000.

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.

[[Page 16427]]

    Background: The Department of State, Foreign Operations, and 
Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008 (Div. J, Pub. L. 100-161) 
under ``Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs'' includes $10 
million ``for a competitive one-time grants program similar to 
proposals by both the House and Senate. In developing this competitive 
grants program, the Department of State is to be guided by criteria 
outlined in both the House Report 110-197 and Senate Report 110-128, 
including the directive to consult with the Appropriations Committees, 
prior to submission of a program plan.''

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Grant Agreement.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY08.
    Approximate Total Funding: $5 million.
    Approximate Number of Awards: Please refer to the individual 
entries below for anticipated numbers of awards and funding levels.
    Anticipated Award Date: August 1, 2008.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: September 30, 2009.
    Additional Information: As stipulated in legislation, this is a 
competitive one-time-grants program.
    The Office of Academic Programs will accept proposals for the 
following one-time special initiatives. For each of the activities 
listed below, Bureau emphasis is given to engaging participants from 
select geographic regions; however, ECA will consider well justified 
proposals which engage participants from other world regions. Further 
details on specific program responsibilities are included in the 
Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI) document for each 
initiative. Interested organizations should read the entire Federal 
Register announcement for all information prior to preparing proposals. 
Please refer to the solicitation package for further instructions.
    1. Study of the United States Thematic Institutes for Foreign 
Undergraduate Students.
    The U.S. Department of State is dedicated to increasing its 
engagement with undergraduate students worldwide who demonstrate the 
potential to become leaders and who represent indigenous, 
disadvantaged, or underrepresented communities. ECA offers exchange 
programs for undergraduate students from underserved sectors of society 
that increase participants' knowledge and understanding of the United 
States. The Bureau is seeking detailed proposals for three different 
Study of the U.S. Thematic Institutes for Foreign Undergraduate Student 
Leaders under the themes of: (1) The Environment; (2) Entrepreneurship 
and; (3) New Media in Society. For each program, applicants must select 
one region and demonstrate the expertise to provide participants with a 
program that provides them with knowledge and experiences they can 
apply in their region when they return home.
    Purpose: The purpose of the Study of the United States Thematic 
Institutes for Undergraduate Student Leaders is to provide outstanding 
first, second, and third-year undergraduate students with intensive and 
collaborative five-week academic programs on current developments in 
their respective fields of study, as well as broad exposure to U.S. 
society, and leadership development. Each program will include 20-23 
undergraduate students whose major course of study or demonstrated 
interests are appropriate for the thematic focus of the institute.
    Program Design: Each five-week institute should be a specially 
designed intensive academic program that creatively combines seminars, 
discussions, readings, debates, local site visits, and educational 
travel into a coherent whole. The institutes must not simply replicate 
existing or previous lectures, workshops, or group activities designed 
for American students.
    Within this context, the institutes should provide practical skills 
development while also improving the participants' leadership skills. 
The academic program should include group discussions, training and 
exercises that focus on the essential attributes of leadership, 
teambuilding, collective problem-solving skills, effective 
communication, and management skills for diverse organizational 
settings.
    In addition to providing academic study in a specific discipline 
and practical skills development, these institutes are intended to 
promote a better understanding of the United States. Participants will 
gain a deeper understanding of the history and evolution of U.S. 
society, culture, values and institutions.
    During each program, participants will spend approximately five 
weeks at the host institution for the academic residency component, and 
approximately one week on an 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 allow participants to observe varied 
aspects of American life in cities and other sites of interest in the 
region around the host institution(s).
    The program also should provide 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. This 
should include a community service component, in which the students 
experience firsthand how not-for-profit organizations and volunteerism 
play key roles in American civil society.
    Undergraduate student participants will be recruited and selected 
on the basis of academic merit and leadership potential by U.S. Embassy 
Public Affairs Sections or Fulbright Commissions in the students' home 
countries. Participants will come from non-elite backgrounds, from both 
rural and urban sectors, and with little or no prior experience in the 
U.S. or elsewhere outside their home country. It is anticipated that 
the selection of participants will reflect each region's geographic, 
institutional, ethnic, and gender diversity.

Institute Themes

    (1) Study of the United States Institute on the Environment should 
provide participants insight into the history and evolution up to 
present time on the U.S. environmental movement, from local grassroots 
activism to federal government policies and regulation. The institute 
should address current issues in the field including, but not limited 
to, ecotourism, natural resource management, sustainable development/
sustainable agricultural practices, and public-private partnerships for 
environmental action. Regions of emphasis: Central America and the 
Caribbean; or, Southeast Asia; or, Sub-Saharan Africa.
    (2) Study of the United States Institute on Entrepreneurship should 
provide participants with an overview of U.S. economic and social 
development, especially as it relates to entrepreneurship, and current 
U.S. trends in small/local business development, and youth employment. 
Topics may include, but are not limited to, the importance of 
experimentation and innovation in entrepreneurship, strategic business 
planning, business leadership and decision making, and women and 
minorities in business and entrepreneurship. Regions of emphasis: 
Central America and the Caribbean; or, the Middle East.
    (3) Study of the United States Institute on New Media in Society 
should provide participants with an overview

[[Page 16428]]

of the foundations of the free press in the United States, and the 
impact of new trends and technologies in journalism on U.S. society. 
Topics may include, but are not limited to, professional journalism and 
traditional media, new media and online journalism, and the role of 
``citizen journalists,'' non-profit organizations, and think tanks in 
the mainstream press. Regions of emphasis: Central America and the 
Caribbean; or, the Middle East; or, Sub-Saharan Africa.
    A total of one to three grants will be awarded to administer 
Thematic Institutes for Undergraduate Student Leaders. Applicant 
organizations may submit a proposal to administer one, two, or three 
institutes working with separate host institutions for each institute 
through sub-grant agreements. Note that individual institutions may not 
host more than one undergraduate student leader institute under the 
Thematic Institutes Program. Participating countries within regions 
will be determined by ECA, in consultation with Public Affairs Sections 
at U.S. embassies abroad. Proposals should demonstrate regional 
expertise. It is anticipated that the total amount of funding for 
administrative and program costs under the undergraduate student 
leaders category will be $1,050,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 1-3.
    Floor of Award Range: $350,000.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $1,050,000.
    Contact: Brendan Walsh WalshBM@state.gov; 202-453-8532.
    2. Undergraduate Intensive English Language Study Program: The U.S. 
Department of State is dedicated to increasing its engagement with 
undergraduate students worldwide who demonstrate the potential to 
become student leaders and who represent indigenous, disadvantaged or 
underrepresented communities. ECA offers exchange programs for 
undergraduates from underserved sectors of society that increase 
participants' knowledge and understanding of the United States. This 
program will enroll foreign undergraduate students in eight-week 
intensive English language courses at colleges and universities in the 
United States, and provide them with an introduction to American 
institutions, society and culture. ECA expects to fund up to ten 
cohorts of 20 students each for a total of 200 students. Regions of 
emphasis: the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Central America.
    Purpose: The Undergraduate Intensive English Language Study Program 
will provide promising, first, second, and third-year undergraduate 
students from underserved disadvantaged sectors, who would not 
otherwise qualify for U.S. exchange opportunities based on English 
language ability, an opportunity to increase their English language 
skills through a substantive U.S. exchange experience, and thereby make 
them more competitive to participate in other U.S. government-sponsored 
exchanges and for later graduate admission to U.S. institutions.
    Program Design: The program will consist of up to ten (10) separate 
programs lasting eight weeks. Each of these programs should provide 
participants with intensive English language training, including 
English for Academic Purposes, as well as the development of general 
reading, writing, speaking and listening skills, and the testing of 
those skills.
    Student participants will be undergraduates and will be recruited 
and selected by U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Sections or Fulbright 
Commissions in the students' home countries. Participants will come 
from non-elite backgrounds, from both rural and urban sectors, and with 
little or no prior experience in the United States or elsewhere outside 
their home country. It is anticipated that the selection of 
participants will reflect each region's geographic, institutional, 
ethnic, and gender diversity. Most of the students selected will have a 
basic knowledge of the English language through formal study.
    The grant recipient(s) will be expected to identify the 
participating U.S. colleges and universities that will host students in 
groups of no more than 20 each. In identifying the participating host 
institutions, the proposal should make clear why these institutions 
have been recommended, and how those institutions will specifically 
meet the purposes as outlined above.
    It is anticipated that all program activities will take place 
between September 2008 and September 2009. At each campus program, it 
is essential that participants be placed in classes with students of 
various nationalities who are also attending these intensive English 
language programs. Students cannot be placed in study programs only 
with other speakers of their native language. Applicants should 
therefore design a program that will offer an academic residency 
component of eight weeks, the central element of which is an intensive 
English language training course (English for Academic Purposes), 
together with other instructional elements that will develop the 
participants' general reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. 
Provision should also be made for the testing of those skills.
    The program also should provide 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. This 
should include a community service component, in which the students 
experience firsthand how not-for-profit organizations and volunteerism 
play key roles in American civil society.
    A total of one to five grants will be awarded for the 
administration of up to ten intensive English language study programs. 
Applicant organizations must propose to administer at minimum two 
cohorts of 20 students each and may propose to administer up to ten 
cohorts of 20 students each. Applicant organizations may propose to 
administer single-region or multi-region student cohorts but should 
provide a pedagogical rationale. ECA reserves the right to adjust the 
regional composition of student cohorts according to Bureau or program 
priorities. Participating countries within regions will be determined 
by ECA, in consultation with Public Affairs Sections at U.S. embassies 
abroad. Proposals should demonstrate regional expertise. It is 
anticipated that the total amount of funding for administrative and 
program costs will be $2,200,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 1-5.
    Floor of Award Range: $440,000.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $2,200,000.
    Contact: Victoria Augustine AugustineVR@state.gov; 202-453-8120.
    3. Study Project for Secondary School Teachers.
    The project will bring teachers to a U.S. university school of 
education for a semester to develop their teaching skills, increase 
their subject-matter expertise, learn U.S. methodologies such as 
student-centered and project-based learning for six to eight weeks in 
the summer of 2009.
    Regions of emphasis: An applicant organization may submit a 
proposal to administer and implement a program for one or both of the 
following two groups of participants: (a) 35 teachers of English as a 
Foreign Language (EFL) or social studies from the Caribbean and Central 
America, or (b) 35 teachers of math or science from Sub-Saharan Africa.
    Purpose: Program goals are (1) to contribute to the improvement of 
teaching in the participating countries; (2) to provide professional 
development opportunities in the U.S. for under-served populations, 
especially women,

[[Page 16429]]

to enhance their ability to contribute to national development; (3) to 
provide key professionals and social influencers with a deeper 
understanding of the U.S. as a basis for sharing their experiences of 
living in a diverse democratic society with students and teachers in 
their home communities; and (4) to develop productive and ongoing 
relationships encouraging mutual understanding between Americans and 
international teachers.
    Program Design: Participants will be younger teaching professionals 
with five or more years of classroom experience and a TOEFL Paper Based 
Test score of at least 400 or the equivalent of approximately 97 on the 
Computer Based Test score. Countries within the regions will be 
determined by ECA, in consultation with Public Affairs Sections at U.S. 
embassies abroad. Proposals should demonstrate regional expertise. 
Applicant organizations will coordinate the recruitment and nomination 
of candidates in collaboration with the Public Affairs Sections of U.S. 
Embassies and the Bureau's program office. While in the U.S., 
participants will attend professional development seminars, workshops, 
and conferences on education-related and pedagogical topics, and be 
exposed to U.S. classrooms and schools. U.S. host universities will 
also provide opportunities for participants to share information about 
their home countries with U.S. audiences. The Bureau anticipates 
funding up to two grants for a total not to exceed $700,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: Up to 2.
    Approximate Average Award: $350,000.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $700,000.
    Contact: Mary Ellen Sariti saritime@state.gov; 202-453-8877.
    4. Junior Foreign Faculty Enhancement Program: This program, aimed 
at junior faculty in mathematics and science, will bring a minimum of 
12 participants to the U.S. for a 6-8 week comprehensive academic 
exchange experience. Region of emphasis: Central America and the 
Caribbean.
    Purpose: The purpose of the Faculty Enhancement Program is to 
provide young faculty who might not otherwise have the chance to come 
to the U.S. on an exchange program, the opportunity to upgrade their 
knowledge in their professional/academic fields and to enhance their 
pedagogical skills, as well as to gain exposure to U.S. society and 
culture.
    Program Design: The faculty participants will come from the fields 
of mathematics and the natural and physical sciences. Grant applicants 
may propose a program that would be of broad interest and benefit to 
faculty from all these fields, or a program tailored to faculty from a 
specific field in mathematics or the sciences, such as environmental 
science, chemistry, biology, etc. In either case, the primary goals of 
the program are to provide junior, university-level instructors the 
opportunity to develop their knowledge of their specific fields, to 
become better teachers, to initiate or further academic research, and 
to promote contacts between their home and host institutions.
    Participants will be junior faculty at public and private 
universities. The U.S. Embassy Public Affairs sections in the 
participants' home countries will conduct recruitment and selection. 
Participants in most cases will have a bachelor's degree or its 
equivalent in the field they teach; in some cases they may have a 
master's degree or other additional education beyond the bachelor's 
degree. Participants will likely teach at more than one institution in 
their home countries, and may hold other professional employment in 
addition to their teaching responsibilities. Participants will 
typically have little experience in the United States but will have a 
good command of the English language. All program activities should be 
conducted in English.
    The program should provide a range of activities including: short-
course instruction in pedagogy and subject area issues customized for 
the participants, auditing undergraduate or graduate courses offered 
during the summer term of 2009, attendance at academic and professional 
conferences or workshops, and/or working with a U.S. faculty mentor on 
individual research projects, and/or on improving their teaching 
skills.
    The program also should provide 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. This 
should include a community service component, in which the students 
experience firsthand how not-for-profit organizations and volunteerism 
play key roles in American civil society.
    One grant of $300,000 will be awarded to administer this program. 
Estimated funding available is based on participation of 12 junior 
faculty in a 12-week U.S. university-based academic program. Applicant 
organizations proposing programs of less than 12 weeks should 
accommodate a larger number of participants. Because some countries 
operate on a different academic calendar, the 6-12 week program may 
take place during one of two periods: (1) between December 2008 and 
February 2009, or (2) between June 2009 and August 2009.
    Number of Awards: 1.
    Award Amount: $300,000.
    Contact: Thomas Ingalls ingallstd@state.gov; (202) 453-8632.
    5. U.S. Undergraduate Study and U.S. Faculty Development Abroad
    The following three programs to support U.S. undergraduate study 
abroad will reach beyond the traditional participation in such programs 
to include non-traditional study abroad destinations and underserved 
populations both in the United States and overseas. Countries within 
the regions will be determined by ECA, in consultation with Public 
Affairs Sections at U.S. embassies abroad. Proposals should demonstrate 
regional expertise.

A. Capacity Building for Undergraduate Study Abroad

    Purpose: The project will encourage the development of new 
undergraduate study abroad programs.
    Program Design: Awards will support exploratory visits of U.S. 
faculty and/or study abroad administrators from accredited U.S. higher 
education institutions. Programs should focus on increasing the 
capacity of foreign institutions to host U.S. undergraduate students 
interested in pursuing quality academic programs in non-traditional 
study abroad destinations.
    Regions of Emphasis: Sub-Saharan Africa, South America, Central 
America, Southeast Asia. The Bureau anticipates funding approximately 
three projects at levels not to exceed $75,000 with total Bureau 
funding not to exceed $225,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 3.
    Approximate Average Award: $75,000.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $225,000.
    Contact: Amy Forest forestal@state.gov; 202-453-8866.

B. Junior Faculty Development

    Purpose: Awards will support efforts of accredited U.S. higher 
education institutions to develop exchanges for U.S. junior faculty, 
including faculty teaching foreign languages, to build their 
international skills, and through substantive travel visits become on-
campus resources for students about study abroad programs.
    Program Design: Awards will support visits by U.S. junior faculty, 
especially in foreign language teaching, from

[[Page 16430]]

accredited U.S. higher education institutions. Programs should focus on 
increasing the skills and ability of American junior faculty to teach 
foreign language and subject areas with an international component, to 
collaborate with foreign faculty and institutions, and upon return to 
the U.S. to counsel U.S. students about study abroad opportunities. 
Regions of emphasis: the Middle East and East Asia. The Bureau 
anticipates funding approximately up to four projects with total Bureau 
funding not to exceed $240,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 4.
    Approximate Average Award: $60,000.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $240,000.
    Contact: Amy Forest forestal@state.gov; 202-453-8866.

C. Community College Study Abroad

    Purpose: This project aims to encourage greater participation of 
U.S. undergraduate community college students in study abroad programs.
    Program Design: Awards will support the development of projects for 
U.S. students to study and to participate in practical training and/or 
service learning projects. Proposals in the fields of public health, 
agriculture, and tourism/hospitality are encouraged. Proposed student 
programs should complement participants' U.S. courses of study and 
contribute to their educational and degree goals. Programs should be 
designed to address the particular needs of community college students 
desiring to study abroad with reference both to cost and program 
duration, to ensure that programs are feasible and attractive to 
community college students. Regions of emphasis: Central and South 
America. The Bureau anticipates supporting one project, with Bureau 
costs not to exceed $350,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 1.
    Approximate Average Award: $350,000.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $350,000.
    Contact: Coleen Gatehouse gatehousecn@state.gov; 202-453-8887.

III. Eligibility Information

    III.1. Eligible applicants: Applications must 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).
    Organizations listed in the Department of State, Foreign 
Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008 (Div. J, PUB. 
L. 100-161) under ``Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs--a 
competitive one-time grants program'' are encouraged to apply.
    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 to that 
the applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in 
its proposal and later included in an approved grant agreement. Cost 
sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For 
accountability, you must maintain written records to support all costs 
which are claimed as your contribution, as well as costs to be paid by 
the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. The basis 
for determining the value of cash and in-kind contributions must be in 
accordance with OMB Circular A-110, (Revised), Subpart C.23--Cost 
Sharing and Matching. In the event you do not provide the minimum 
amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget, ECA's 
contribution will be reduced in like proportion.
    III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements: (a) Grants awarded to 
eligible organizations with less than four years of experience in 
conducting international exchange programs will be limited to $60,000.
    As directed by the Congress, ``The program shall be only for the 
actual exchange of people and should benefit a population that is not 
being addressed through existing authorized exchanges.''
    (b) Technical Eligibility: All proposals must comply with the 
following:

--Eligible applicants may only submit ONE proposal (TOTAL) for ONE of 
the two competitions referenced in the Executive Summary Section of 
this document. In addition, applicants under this competition (ECA/A-
08-One-time-Comp. A) may only apply to administer one of the listed 
activities (total). If multiple proposals are received from the same 
applicant, all submissions will be declared technically ineligible and 
will be given no further consideration in the review process.
--Proposals requesting funding for infrastructure development 
activities, sometimes referred to as ``bricks and mortar support'' are 
not eligible for consideration under this competition and will be 
declared technically ineligible and will receive no further 
consideration in the review process.
--The Bureau does not support proposals limited to conferences or 
seminars (i.e., one- to fourteen-day programs with plenary sessions, 
main speakers, panels, and a passive audience). It will support 
conferences only when they are a small part of a larger project in 
duration that is receiving Bureau funding from this competition.
--No funding is available exclusively to send U.S. citizens to 
conferences or conference type seminars overseas; nor is funding 
available for bringing foreign nationals to conferences or to routine 
professional association meetings in the United States.
--Please refer to the Proposal Submission Instruction (PSI) document 
for additional requirements.

    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: Please refer to the contact information 
following each initiative description in this RFGP, and refer to 
Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A-08-One-time-Comp. A 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. The package 
also contains the Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) 
document, which provides specific information, award criteria, and 
budget instructions tailored to this competition.
    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.

[[Page 16431]]

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 containing the mandatory 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document and POGI guidelines 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 places critically important 
emphases on the security and proper administration of the 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.
    Please refer to the POGI guidelines for further information on 
issuance of DS-2019 forms to participants in these programs.
    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. The Bureau recommends 
that your proposal include a draft survey questionnaire or other 
technique plus a description of a methodology to use to link outcomes 
to original project objectives. The Bureau expects that the grantee 
will track participants or partners and be able to respond to key 
evaluation questions, including satisfaction with the program, learning 
as a result of the program, changes in behavior as a result of the 
program, and effects of the program on institutions (institutions in 
which participants work or partner institutions). The evaluation plan 
should include indicators that measure gains in mutual understanding as 
well as substantive knowledge.
    Successful monitoring and evaluation depend heavily on setting 
clear goals and outcomes at the outset of a program. Your evaluation 
plan should include a description of your project's objectives, your 
anticipated project outcomes, and how and when you intend to measure 
these outcomes (performance indicators). The more that outcomes are 
``smart'' (specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and 
placed in a reasonable time frame), the easier it will be to conduct 
the evaluation. You should also show how your project objectives link 
to the goals of the program described in this RFGP.
    Your monitoring and evaluation plan should clearly distinguish 
between program outputs and outcomes. Outputs are products and services 
delivered, often stated as an amount. Output information is important 
to show the scope or size of project activities, but it cannot 
substitute for information about progress towards outcomes or the 
results achieved. Examples of outputs include the number of people 
trained or the number of seminars conducted. Outcomes, in contrast, 
represent specific results a project is intended to achieve and is 
usually measured as an extent of change. Findings on outputs and 
outcomes should both be reported, but the focus should be on outcomes.
    We encourage you to assess the following four levels of outcomes, 
as they relate to the program goals set out in the RFGP (listed here in 
increasing order of importance):
    1. Participant satisfaction with the program and exchange 
experience.
    2. Participant learning, such as increased knowledge, aptitude, 
skills, and changed understanding and attitude. Learning includes both 
substantive (subject-specific) learning and mutual understanding.
    3. Participant behavior, concrete actions to apply knowledge in 
work or community; greater participation and responsibility in civic 
organizations; interpretation and explanation of experiences and new 
knowledge gained; continued contacts between participants, community 
members, and others.
    4. Institutional changes, such as increased collaboration and 
partnerships, policy reforms, new programming, and organizational 
improvements.

    Please note: Consideration should be given to the appropriate 
timing of data collection for each level of outcome. For example, 
satisfaction is usually captured as a short-term outcome, whereas 
behavior and institutional changes are normally considered longer-
term outcomes.

    Overall, the quality of your monitoring and evaluation plan will be 
judged on how well it (1) specifies intended outcomes; (2) gives clear 
descriptions of how each outcome will be measured; (3) identifies when

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particular outcomes will be measured; and (4) provides a clear 
description of the data collection strategies for each outcome (i.e., 
surveys, interviews, or focus groups). (Please note that evaluation 
plans that deal only with the first level of outcomes [satisfaction] 
will be deemed less competitive under the present evaluation criteria.)
    Grantees will be required to provide reports analyzing their 
evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program reports. All 
data collected, including survey responses and contact information, 
must be maintained for a minimum of three years and provided to the 
Bureau upon request.
    IV.3d.4. Describe your plans for: i.e. sustainability, overall 
program management, staffing, coordination with ECA and PAS or any 
other requirements etc.
    IV.3e. The following should be taken into consideration when 
preparing your budget:
    IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the 
entire program. There must be a summary budget as well as breakdowns 
reflecting both administrative and program budgets. Applicants may 
provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase, 
location, or activity to provide clarification.
    IV.3e.2. Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete 
budget guidelines and formatting instructions.
    IV.3F. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission:
    Application Deadline Date: April 24, 2008.
    Reference Number: ECA/A-08-One-time-Comp. A.
    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/A-08-One-time-Comp. A, Program Management, ECA/EX/
PM, Room 534, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
    IV.3f.2.--Submitting Electronic Applications: Applicants have the 
option of submitting proposals electronically through Grants.gov 
(https://www.grants.gov). Complete solicitation packages are available 
at Grants.gov in the ``Find'' portion of the system. Please follow the 
instructions available in the `Get Started' portion of the site (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.3f.3.
    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 U.S. 
Embassy Public Diplomacy section overseas, where appropriate. Eligible 
proposals will be subject to compliance with Federal and Bureau 
regulations and guidelines and forwarded to Bureau grant panels for 
advisory review. Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of the 
Legal Adviser or by other Department elements. Final funding decisions 
are at the discretion of the Department of State's Assistant Secretary 
for Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final technical authority for 
assistance awards 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 Plan and Ability to Achieve Program 
Objectives: 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. Objectives should be reasonable, feasible, and

[[Page 16433]]

flexible. Proposals should clearly demonstrate how the institution will 
meet the program's objectives and plan.
    2. 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, and 
resource materials).
    3. Evaluation and Follow-Up: Proposals should include a plan to 
evaluate the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at 
the conclusion of the program. A draft survey questionnaire or other 
technique, plus a description of a methodology used to link outcomes to 
original project objectives, are strongly recommended. Proposals should 
also discuss provisions for follow-up with returned grantees as a means 
of establishing longer-term individual and institutional linkages.
    4. 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.
    5. Institutional Capacity and Track 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. 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 project's goals.

VI. Award Administration Information

    VI.1a. Award Notices: Final awards cannot be made until funds have 
been appropriated by Congress, allocated and committed through internal 
Bureau procedures. Successful applicants will receive an Assistance 
Award Document (AAD) from the Bureau's Grants Office. The AAD and the 
original grant proposal with subsequent modifications (if applicable) 
shall be the only binding authorizing document between the recipient 
and the U.S. Government. The AAD will be signed by an authorized Grants 
Officer, and mailed to the recipient's responsible officer identified 
in the application.
    Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of 
the application review from the ECA program office coordinating this 
competition.
    VI.1b. The following additional requirements apply: For exchanges 
involving the Palestinian Authority, West Bank, and Gaza.
    All awards made under this competition must be executed according 
to all relevant U.S. laws and policies regarding assistance to the 
Palestinian Authority, and to the West Bank and Gaza. Organizations 
must consult with relevant Public Affairs Offices before entering into 
any formal arrangements or agreements with Palestinian organizations or 
institutions.

    Note: To assure that planning for the inclusion of the 
Palestinian Authority complies with requirements, please contact 
Donna Ives at (202) 453-8097 or IvesDA@state.gov for additional 
information.

    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: The grantee organization must provide 
ECA with a hard copy original plus one copy of the final program and 
financial report no more than 90 days after the expiration of the 
award. Other reporting requirements are outlined in the accompanying 
POGI.
    Grantees will be required to provide reports analyzing their 
evaluation findings to the Bureau in their 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.
    VI.4. 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 the program officer 
designated at the end of each program description.
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference, ``Congressionally Mandated--One-time Grants Program--for 
Academic Programs (ECA/A-08-One-time-Comp. A).
    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

[[Page 16434]]

availability of funds. Awards made will be subject to periodic 
reporting and evaluation requirements per section VI.3 above.

    Dated: March 19, 2008.
C. Miller Crouch,
Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. E8-6286 Filed 3-26-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P