Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant Proposals: Greek Teacher Professional Development Project, 24107-24113 [E8-9603]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 85 (Thursday, May 1, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24107-24113]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-9603]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6206]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Greek Teacher Professional Development Project

    Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/S/X-08-06.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000.
    Key Dates: Application Deadline: June 6, 2008.
    Executive Summary: The Office of Global Educational Programs of the 
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of 
State announces an open competition for the Greek Teacher Professional 
Development Project. U.S. public and private universities with schools 
of education and that meet the provisions described in Internal Revenue 
Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) may submit proposals to administer an 
eight-week professional development program to start in August 2009, 
for approximately twenty teachers in the humanities from Greece at an 
early point in their careers as educators. The program will focus on 
teaching methodology as well as the use of technology in the classroom 
and should include both an academic component of seminars at a U.S. 
university's school of education and a practical component of practice 
teaching with guidance from experienced mentor teachers in local 
schools. Interested universities should demonstrate strong contacts 
with local U.S. school districts to facilitate the practical internship 
component, as well as the faculty resources to conduct a substantive 
academic program. Host schools for internships may be public, private, 
magnet or charter schools, and should exemplify educational best 
practices.

[[Page 24108]]

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Authority

    Overall grant making authority for this program is contained in the 
Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended, 
Public Law 87-256, 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 program will bring approximately twenty beginning teachers in 
the humanities from Greece to the U.S. to study and practice student-
centered teaching approaches and the uses of technology in the 
classroom. The teachers, who will speak English, will be recruited by 
the U.S. Educational Foundation in Greece (Fulbright Foundation) in 
consultation with the Ministry of Education in Greece for approval by 
the ECA program office. The group will be diverse in terms of their 
home regions in Greece, gender, and socio-economic background. 
Following the program, the teachers will return with enhanced abilities 
as young professionals teaching in secondary schools throughout Greece.
    This program is designed to provide these new teachers with a 
substantive cultural and exchange experience in the United States as 
well as a basis for continuing cooperation with U.S. counterparts in 
the promotion of mutual understanding.

Program Administration

    Activities and responsibilities of the program office in the Bureau 
of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) include:
    (1) Participation in the design and direction of program 
activities;
    (2) Approval of key personnel;
    (3) Approval and input on program timelines, agendas and 
administrative procedures;
    (4) Guidance in execution of all program components;
    (5) Review and approval of all program publicity and recruitment 
materials;
    (6) Approval of participating teachers, in cooperation with the 
U.S. Educational Foundation in Greece;
    (7) Approval of decisions related to special circumstances or 
problems throughout the duration of program;
    (8) Assistance with non-immigration status and other SEVIS-related 
issues;
    (9) Assistance with participant emergencies; and
    (10) Liaison with the U.S. Educational Foundation in Greece.
    Programs must conform with Bureau requirements and guidelines 
outlined in the Solicitation Package which includes the Request for 
Grant Proposals (RFGP), the Project Objectives, Goals and 
Implementation (POGI) and the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI).
Overall Responsibilities of the Recipient
    The recipient is responsible for preparation of form DS-2019 under 
a G Program Number under the Bureau's responsibility on behalf of the 
ECA program office; organizing and implementing pre-orientation and 
debriefing programs; placement; monitoring, supervision, and support of 
participants; administering sub-award competitions as necessary; and 
fiscal management, evaluation, and follow-on and alumni activities for 
the program components described above. Please see the POGI for details 
pertaining to these activities. The recipient should coordinate program 
administration with the Fulbright Foundation in Greece and consult with 
the ECA program office regarding program activities, maintaining 
regular telephone, e-mail, and fax communications. The recipient should 
administer financial aspects of the program and comply with Bureau 
reporting requirements.
    Specific recipient activities and responsibilities are described 
according to program phases as follows:
    Pre-departure Orientation: The recipient should, in cooperation 
with representatives of the Fulbright Foundation, conduct a two-day 
pre-departure orientation workshop for the participants in Greece.
    The recipient should prepare and provide substantive information 
about the program for the pre-departure orientation including 
information about program goals and requirements. At the orientation, 
organizers should address issues about the participants' stay in the 
U.S. and provide a basic introduction to U.S. life and customs, and how 
these customs may differ from those in Greece.
    U.S. Program: In the United States, the recipient should:
    (1) Provide the Greek teachers with an introduction to U.S. 
government as it relates to education, the U.S. educational system and 
U.S. culture through site visits;
    (2) Arrange for the teachers to visit a variety of secondary 
schools (public, private, charter, etc.), including economically and 
ethnically diverse schools;
    (3) Arrange for the teachers to gain direct knowledge of local 
school governance, by attending faculty, board of education, and 
parent-teacher association meetings;
    (4) Select local U.S. secondary schools to serve as internship 
hosts (based on a review of brief proposals solicited by the recipient 
from the schools outlining their interests, understanding of program 
goals, examples of best practices, and commitments to mentoring);
    (5) Place small groups of participants at secondary schools near 
the university for six-week internships. The Greek teachers should be 
paired with experienced U.S. teachers whose academic specializations 
match their own. Internship activities should include observing a 
variety of teaching methods (inquiry, active classroom, group projects, 
etc.) as well as computer-based lessons; integrating technology in the 
classroom; working individually (or in pairs) with a mentor teacher on 
curriculum development; team teaching; and, if possible, teaching 
independently under the guidance of a mentor teacher;
    (6) Organize and deliver seminars on pedagogical topics. These 
seminars should be integrated with the internships and include topics 
such as classroom management, conflict resolution, diversity, and 
curriculum development. The seminars should also help participants 
create a curriculum or portfolio for use after returning to Greece;
    (7) Coordinate cultural experiences that enable participants to 
interact with their local communities through brief home hospitality 
visits and involvement with non-school-based groups in activities 
reflecting the diversity of U.S. society, and that include 
opportunities to speak formally or informally to Americans about 
contemporary Greek society and culture;
    (8) Create a network through which Greek teachers can communicate 
and support one another in using the new methodologies and to 
facilitate the development of follow-on activities in cooperation with 
the Fulbright Foundation; and

[[Page 24109]]

    (9) Arrange an end-of-program debriefing of one or two days in 
Washington, DC to enable the Greek teachers to share with ECA managers 
what they have observed and learned. The debriefing should also suggest 
strategies for Greek teachers to share their knowledge as program 
alumni with professional counterparts and students in their own 
classrooms in Greece after they return home.
    Follow-on Activities in Greece: The recipient university should 
send representatives to make presentations and provide facilitative 
assistance at a follow-on workshop in Greece, to be organized and 
funded by the Fulbright Foundation.
    The agreement will begin on or about September 1, 2008 and the 
recipient should complete all exchange activities by June 30, 2010. The 
exchange program will take place August-September 2009. Please refer to 
additional program specific guidelines in the Project Objectives, 
Goals, and Implementation (POGI) document.
    Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations. Please refer to 
Solicitation Package for further information.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement.
    Fiscal Year Funds: 2008.
    Approximate Total Funding: $200,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 1.
    Approximate Average Award: $200,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, September 1, 
2008.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: June 30, 2010.
    Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of this 
program and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, it is 
ECA's intent to renew this agreement for two additional fiscal years, 
before openly competing it again.

III. Eligibility Information

    III.1. Eligible Applicants: Applications may be submitted by U.S. 
public and private universities meeting the provisions described in 
Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3). Universities 
applying for this program must involve their schools or departments of 
education in program implementation.
    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: Bureau grant guidelines 
require that organizations with less than four years experience in 
conducting international exchanges be limited to $60,000 in Bureau 
funding. ECA anticipates awarding one grant, in an amount up to 
$200,000 to support program and administrative costs required to 
implement this exchange program. Therefore, organizations with less 
than four years experience in conducting international exchanges are 
ineligible to apply under this competition. The Bureau encourages 
applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in 
support of its programs.

IV. Application and Submission Information

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

    IV.1. Contact Information to Request an Application Package: Please 
contact Patricia Mosley of the Teacher Exchange Branch, ECA/A/S/X, Room 
349, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, 
DC 20547, telephone: (202) 453-8897, fax: (202) 453-8890, e-mail: 
MosleyPJ@state.gov to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to 
the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/S/X-08-06 located at the top of 
this announcement when making your request.
    Alternatively, an electronic application package may be obtained 
from grants.gov. Please see section IV.3f for further information.
    The Solicitation Package contains the Proposal Submission 
Instruction (PSI) document which consists of required application 
forms, and standard guidelines for proposal preparation.
    It also contains the Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation 
(POGI) document, which provides specific information, award criteria 
and budget instructions tailored to this competition.
    Please specify Michelle Garren, telephone: (202) 453-8884, e-mail: 
GarrenMW@state.gov and refer to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/S/
X-08-06 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 original and seven copies 
of the application should be submitted per the instructions under 
IV.3f. ``Application Deadline and Methods of Submission'' section 
below.
    IV.3a. You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal 
Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative 
agreement from the U.S. Government. This number is a nine-digit 
identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities. 
Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a 
DUNS number, access https://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-
5711. Please ensure that your DUNS number is included in the 
appropriate box of the SF-424 which is part of the formal application 
package.
    IV.3b. All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal 
narrative and budget.
    Please Refer to the Solicitation Package. It contains the mandatory 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document and the Project 
Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) document for additional 
formatting and technical requirements.
    IV.3c. You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of 
application.

    Please note: Effective March 14, 2008, all applicants for ECA 
federal assistance awards must include with their application, a 
copy of page 5, Part V-A, ``Current Officers, Directors, Trustees, 
and Key Employees'' of their most recent Internal Revenue Service 
(IRS) Form 990, ``Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax.'' 
If your organization is a private nonprofit which has not received a 
grant or cooperative agreement

[[Page 24110]]

from ECA in the past three years, or if your organization received 
nonprofit status from the IRS within the past four years, you must 
submit the necessary documentation to verify nonprofit status as 
directed in the PSI document. Failure to do so will cause your 
proposal to be declared technically ineligible.

    IV.3d. Please take into consideration the following information 
when preparing your proposal narrative:
IV.3d.1 Adherence to All Regulations Governing the J Visa
    The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is placing 
critically important emphasis on the secure and proper administration 
of Exchange Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence by grantees and 
sponsors to all regulations governing the J visa. Therefore, proposals 
should demonstrate the applicant's capacity to meet all requirements 
governing the administration of the Exchange Visitor Programs as set 
forth in 22 CFR part 62, including the oversight of Responsible 
Officers and Alternate Responsible Officers, screening and selection of 
program participants, provision of pre-arrival information and 
orientation to participants, monitoring of participants, proper 
maintenance and security of forms, record-keeping, reporting and other 
requirements.
    The Grantee will be responsible for issuing DS-2019 forms to 
participants in this program on behalf of the Bureau and under the 
Bureau SEVIS number.
    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 the Solicitation Package for further information.
IV.3d.2 Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines
    Pursuant to the Bureau's authorizing legislation, programs must 
maintain a non-political character and should be balanced and 
representative of the diversity of American political, social, and 
cultural life. ``Diversity'' should be interpreted in the broadest 
sense and encompass differences including, but not limited to 
ethnicity, race, gender, religion, geographic location, socio-economic 
status, and disabilities. Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere 
to the advancement of this principle both in program administration and 
in program content. Please refer to the review criteria under the 
'Support for Diversity' section for specific suggestions on 
incorporating diversity into your proposal. Public Law 104-319 provides 
that ``in carrying out programs of educational and cultural exchange in 
countries whose people do not fully enjoy freedom and democracy,'' the 
Bureau ``shall take appropriate steps to provide opportunities for 
participation in such programs to human rights and democracy leaders of 
such countries.'' Public Law 106-113 requires that the governments of 
the countries described above do not have inappropriate influence in 
the selection process. Proposals should reflect advancement of these 
goals in their program contents, to the full extent deemed feasible.
IV.3d.3 Program Monitoring and Evaluation
    Proposals must include a plan to monitor and evaluate the project's 
success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of the program. 
The Bureau recommends that your proposal include a draft survey 
questionnaire or other technique plus a description of a methodology to 
use to link outcomes to original project objectives. The Bureau expects 
that the grantee will track participants or partners and be able to 
respond to key evaluation questions, including satisfaction with the 
program, learning as a result of the program, changes in behavior as a 
result of the program, and effects of the program on institutions 
(institutions in which participants work or partner institutions). The 
evaluation plan should include indicators that measure gains in mutual 
understanding as well as substantive knowledge.
    Successful monitoring and evaluation depend heavily on setting 
clear goals and outcomes at the outset of a program. Your evaluation 
plan should include a description of your project's objectives, your 
anticipated project outcomes, and how and when you intend to measure 
these outcomes (performance indicators). The more that outcomes are 
``smart'' (specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and 
placed in a reasonable time frame), the easier it will be to conduct 
the evaluation. You should also show how your project objectives link 
to the goals of the program described in this RFGP.
    Your monitoring and evaluation plan should clearly distinguish 
between program outputs and outcomes. Outputs are products and services 
delivered, often stated as an amount. Output information is important 
to show the scope or size of project activities, but it cannot 
substitute for information about progress towards outcomes or the 
results achieved. Examples of outputs include the number of people 
trained or the number of seminars conducted. Outcomes, in contrast, 
represent specific results a project is intended to achieve and is 
usually measured as an extent of change. Findings on outputs and 
outcomes should both be reported, but the focus should be on outcomes.
    We encourage you to assess the following four levels of outcomes, 
as they relate to the program goals set out in the RFGP (listed here in 
increasing order of importance):
    1. Participant satisfaction with the program and exchange 
experience.
    2. Participant learning, such as increased knowledge, aptitude, 
skills, and changed understanding and attitude. Learning includes both 
substantive (subject-specific) learning and mutual understanding.
    3. Participant behavior, concrete actions to apply knowledge in 
work or community; greater participation and responsibility in civic 
organizations; interpretation and explanation of experiences and new 
knowledge gained; continued contacts between participants, community 
members, and others.
    4. Institutional changes, such as increased collaboration and 
partnerships, policy reforms, new programming, and organizational 
improvements.

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

    Overall, the quality of your monitoring and evaluation plan will be 
judged on how well it (1) Specifies intended outcomes; (2) gives clear 
descriptions of how each outcome will be measured; (3) identifies when 
particular outcomes will be measured; and (4) provides a clear 
description of the data collection strategies for each outcome (i.e., 
surveys, interviews, or focus groups). (Please note that evaluation 
plans that deal only with the first level of outcomes [satisfaction] 
will be deemed less competitive under the present evaluation criteria.) 
Grantees will be required to provide reports analyzing their evaluation 
findings to the Bureau in their regular program reports. All data 
collected, including survey responses and contact information, must be 
maintained for a minimum of three years and provided to the Bureau upon 
request.
    IV.3.d.4. Describe your plans for staffing: Please provide a 
staffing plan which outlines the responsibilities of each staff person 
and explains which

[[Page 24111]]

staff member will be accountable for each program responsibility. 
Wherever possible please streamline administrative processes.
    IV.3e. Please take the following information into consideration 
when preparing your budget:
    IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the 
entire program. The budget should not exceed $200,000 for program and 
administrative costs. There must be a summary budget as well as 
breakdowns reflecting both administrative and program budgets for host 
campus and foreign teacher involvement in the program. Applicants may 
provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase, 
location, or activity to provide clarification.
    The summary and detailed administrative and program budgets should 
be accompanied by a narrative which provides a brief rationale for each 
line item including a methodology for estimating appropriate average 
maintenance allowance levels and tuition costs (as applicable) for the 
participants, and the number that can be accommodated at the levels 
proposed. The total administrative costs funded by the Bureau must be 
reasonable and appropriate.
    IV.3e.2. Allowable costs for the program and additional budget 
guidance are outlined in detail in the POGI document.
    Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget 
guidelines and formatting instructions.
    IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission:
    Application Deadline Date: Friday, June 6, 2008.
    Reference Number: ECA/A/S/X-08-06.
    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 seven copies of the application should be sent to: 
U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, Ref.: ECA/A/S/X-08-06, Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, Room 
534, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
    Applicants submitting hard-copy applications must also submit the 
``Executive Summary'' and ``Proposal Narrative'' sections of the 
proposal in text (.txt) format on a PC-formatted disk. The Bureau will 
provide these files electronically to the appropriate Public Affairs 
Section 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 
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 and Fulbright Foundation overseas. Eligible proposals 
will be subject to compliance with Federal and Bureau regulations and 
guidelines and forwarded to Bureau grant panels for advisory review. 
Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of the Legal Adviser or by 
other Department elements. Final funding decisions are at the 
discretion of the Department of State's Assistant Secretary for 
Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final technical authority for 
assistance awards (cooperative agreements) resides with the Bureau's 
Grants Officer.

[[Page 24112]]

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. Program Development and Management: The proposal narrative 
should exhibit originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the 
Bureau's mission as well as the objectives of the Greek Teacher 
Professional Development Project. It should include an effective, 
feasible program plan for U.S.-based school internships and host 
university seminars.
    2. Multiplier Effect/Impact: The proposed program should strengthen 
long-term mutual understanding, including maximum sharing of 
information and establishment of long-term institutional and individual 
linkages.
    3. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive 
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Achievable and relevant 
features should be cited in both program administration (selection of 
participants, program venue and program evaluation) and program content 
(orientation and wrap-up sessions, program meetings, resource materials 
and follow-up activities).
    4. Institutional Capacity and Record: Proposals should demonstrate 
an institutional record of successful exchange programs, including 
responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting 
requirements for past Bureau grants as determined by Bureau Grants 
Staff. The successful proposal will demonstrate the organization's 
experience in international educational exchange and internship 
programs, and an understanding of Greece's history, culture, religion, 
and system of education. The Bureau will consider the past performance 
of prior recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants.
    5. Follow-on and Alumni Activities: Proposals should provide a plan 
for continued follow-on activity (both with and without Bureau support) 
ensuring that the Greek Teacher Professional Development Project is not 
an isolated event. Activities should include tracking and maintaining 
updated lists of all alumni and facilitating follow-up activities, 
including facilitating an alumni conference in Greece organized by the 
Fulbright Foundation and the Greek Ministry of Education.
    6. 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.
    7. Cost-effectiveness and 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.

VI. Award Administration Information

VI.1a Award Notices

    Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by 
Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures. 
Successful applicants will receive an Assistance Award Document (AAD) 
from the Bureau's Grants Office. The AAD and the original grant 
proposal with subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall be the 
only binding authorizing document between the recipient and the U.S. 
Government. The AAD will be signed by an authorized Grants Officer, and 
mailed to the recipient's responsible officer identified in the 
application.
    Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of 
the application review from the ECA program office coordinating this 
competition.

VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

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

VI.3. Reporting Requirements

    You must provide ECA with a hard copy original plus one copy of the 
following reports:
    1. A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after 
the expiration of the award;
    2. A concise, one-page final program report summarizing program 
outcomes no more than 90 days after the expiration of the award. This 
one-page report will be transmitted to OMB, and be made available to 
the public via OMB's USAspending.gov Web site--as part of ECA's Federal 
Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reporting 
requirements.
    3. Quarterly program and financial reports.
    The recipient 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.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: Michelle Garren, 
Office of Global Educational Programs, ECA/A/S/X, Room 349, ECA/A/S/X-
08-06, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20547, telephone: 202-453-8884, fax 202-453-8890, 
GarrenMW@state.gov.
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number ECA/A/S/X-08-06.
    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

[[Page 24113]]

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: April 23, 2008.
Goli Ameri,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. E8-9603 Filed 4-30-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P