Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA); Request for Grant Proposals: International Arrival and Departure Program, 59701-59705 [E8-24020]
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 197 / Thursday, October 9, 2008 / Notices
for inspection and copying at the
principal office of the Exchange. All
comments received will be posted
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you wish to make available publicly. All
submissions should refer to File
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2008.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.19
Florence E. Harmon,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8–23928 Filed 10–8–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 6388]
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Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs (ECA); Request for Grant
Proposals: International Arrival and
Departure Program
Announcement Type: New
Cooperative Agreement.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/
PE/V/C/R–09–01.
Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance Number: 19.402.
Key Dates: January 1, 2009 through
September 30, 2010.
Application Deadline: November 6,
2008.
Executive Summary: The Community
Relations Branch of the Office of
International Visitors, Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA/
PE/V/C/R) invites proposal submissions
for the design and implementation of an
airport arrival and departure program at
New York’s John F. Kennedy (JFK)
International Airport and New Jersey’s
Newark International Airport.
It is anticipated that a cooperative
agreement for $195,000 will be awarded
on or about January 1, 2009, pending
availability of FY 2009 funds. This 18month award will begin on or about
January 1, 2009 and end September 30,
2010, and will be based on a
combination of 500 incoming and
outgoing flights between the two
international points of entry stated
above.
Proposed funding would support the
following specific activities: Meet
incoming International Visitor
Leadership Program (IVLP) participants
at JFK International Airport, New York,
and assist them to their connecting
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CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
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flights; meet incoming IVLP participants
at Newark International Airport, New
Jersey, and assist participants to their
connecting flights; provide assistance to
outgoing IVLP participants, through
U.S. Customs, at JFK International
Airport, New York, and Newark
International Airport, New Jersey; and
liaise with U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP), Transportation
Security Administration (TSA) officials,
and Port Authority officials at both
points of international entry in order to
carry out scope of work under the
cooperative agreement.
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 Bureau of Educational
and Cultural Affairs (ECA) is seeking
detailed proposals for the airport arrival
and departure program from not-forprofit organizations that have an
established reputation and experience
with:
(1) International airport arrivals and
departures for official participants
under the International Visitor
Leadership Program or other
international exchange and training
programs;
(2) U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP), Department of
Homeland Security;
(3) Transportation Security
Administration (TSA);
(4) National Security Entry and Exit
Registration System (NSEERS) and
requirements;
(5) International airport facilities and
services;
(6) Airport security regulations;
(7) U.S. Department of State
Diplomatic Security to secure
background checks and badges;
(8) Port Authority Officials to secure
background checks and badges;
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(9) Recruiting, interviewing, selecting,
hiring, training, monitoring of
international airport arrivals Reception
Officers;
(10) Accessing the Federal Inspections
areas;
(11) Handling groups and individuals,
especially from the Middle East who are
subject to the NSEERS process.
In a cooperative agreement, ECA is
substantially involved in program
activities above and beyond routine
grant monitoring. ECA activities and
responsibilities for this program are as
follows: Washington Office: Community
Relations Branch, ECA/PE/V/C/R:
A. Provides flight manifests to
Department of Homeland Security
(DHS) and Transportation Security
Administration (TSA), for clearance,
prior to airport reception approval.
B. Clears all reception officers for
entry to restricted zones at JFK
International Airport, New York and at
Newark International Airport, New
Jersey.
New York Office: New York Program
Branch, ECA/PE/V/C/N:
A. Consults with DOS—ECA/PE/V
Staff concerning all flight information,
before requesting reception service from
award recipient.
B. Prioritizes and finalizes all flight
information for reception services and
forwards to award recipient to
implement for JFK International Airport,
New York and Newark International
Airport, New Jersey.
C. Communicates with award
recipient concerning any missed flights,
changed arrival time, no shows,
cancellations, etc.
D. Sets up and secures DOS
background security checks and DOS ID
Badges for all award recipient contract
reception officers.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Cooperative
Agreement.
Fiscal Year Funds: 2009.
Approximate Total Funding:
$195,000.
Approximate Number of Awards: 1.
Approximate Average Award:
$195,000.
Floor of Award Range: $195,000.
Ceiling of Award Range: $195,000.
Anticipated Award Date: On or
around January 1, 2009, pending
availability of FY 2009 funds.
Anticipated Project Completion Date:
September 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 cooperative
agreement for two additional fiscal
years, before openly competing it again.
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III. Eligibility Information
III.1. Eligible Applicants
Applications may be submitted by
public and private not-for-profit
organizations meeting the provisions
described in Internal Revenue Code
section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3).
III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds
There is no minimum or maximum
percentage required for this
competition. However, ECA 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
cooperative 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.) ECA grant guidelines require that
organizations with less than four years
experience in conducting international
exchanges be limited to $60,000 in
Bureau funding. ECA anticipates
making one award, in an amount up to
$195,000 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.
(b.) Technical Eligibility: All
proposals must comply with the
following or they will result in your
proposal being declared technically
ineligible and given no further
consideration in the review process.
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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, ECA staff may not
discuss this competition with applicants
until the proposal review process has been
completed.
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IV.1. Contact Information To Request an
Application Package
Please contact the Community
Relations Branch, Office of International
Visitors, ECA/PE/V/C/R, Room 247, U.S.
Department of State, SA–44, 301 4th
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547,
telephone 202/453–8625, fax number
202/453–8631, or e-mail
yateskf@state.gov to request a
Solicitation Package. Please refer to the
Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/
V/C/R–09–01 located at the top of this
announcement when making your
request. Alternatively, an electronic
application package may be obtained
from grants.gov. Please see section IV.3f
for further information.
The Solicitation Package contains the
Proposal Submission Package, 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 Program Manager
Carmen Marrero, marrerocm@state.gov
and refer to the Funding Opportunity
Number ECA/PE/V/C/R–09–01 located
at the top of this announcement on all
other inquiries and correspondence.
IV.2. To Download a Solicitation
Package Via Internet
The entire Solicitation Package may
be downloaded from the Bureau’s Web
site at https://exchanges.state.gov/
education/rfgps/menu.htm or from the
Grants.gov Web site at https://
www.grants.gov.
Please read all information before
downloading.
IV.3. Content and Form of Submission
Applicants must follow all
instructions in the Solicitation Package.
The original and 10 copies of the
application should be sent per the
instructions under IV.3f. ‘‘Submission
Dates and Times 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.
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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 an
applicant does not file an IRS Form 990,
but instead files Schedule A (Form 990
or 990–EZ)—‘‘Organization Exempt
Under Section 501(c)(3),’’ applicants
must include with their application a
copy of Page 1, Part 1, ‘‘Compensation
of the Five Highest Paid Employees
Other Than Officers, Directors and
Trustees,’’ of their most recent Internal
Revenue Service (IRS) Form—Schedule
A (Form 990 or 990–EZ).
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 award recipients 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 prearrival information and orientation to
participants, monitoring of participants,
proper maintenance and security of
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forms, record-keeping, reporting and
other requirements.
ECA will be responsible for issuing
DS–2019 forms to participants in this
program.
A copy of the complete regulations
governing the administration of
Exchange Visitor (J) programs is
available at https://exchanges.state.gov
or from: United States Department of
State, Office of Exchange Coordination
and Designation, ECA/EC/ECD—SA–44,
Room 734, 301 4th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20547, Telephone:
(202) 203–5029, FAX: (202) 453–8640.
Please refer to Solicitation Package for
further information.
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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, socioeconomic status, and disabilities.
Applicant is 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.
Successful monitoring and evaluation
depend heavily on setting clear goals
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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.
We encourage you to assess the
following two levels of outcomes, as
they relate to the program goals set out
in the RFGP (listed below):
1. Participant satisfaction with the
program.
2. Institutional changes, such as
increased collaboration and
partnerships, new programming/
activities, and organizational
improvements.
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, etc.).
Award recipient will be required to
provide reports of its evaluation
findings to the Bureau in it regular
program reports. Any data collected,
including survey responses and contact
information, if applicable, must be
maintained for a minimum of three
years and provided to the Bureau upon
request.
IV.3d.4. For informational and
planning purposes, we are informing all
potential applicants that ECA is in the
process of developing comprehensive
approaches to alumni programming,
Web portal development supported
through ECA assistance awards (grants/
cooperative agreements) and the
expansion of private/public
partnerships to increase the reach of
ECA’s exchange programs. In the event
your proposal is recommended for
funding, you may receive additional
guidance/information related to these
topics during the negotiation stage of
the approval process.
In addition, all recipients of ECA
grants or cooperative agreements should
be prepared to state in any
announcement or publicity where it is
not inappropriate, that activities are
assisted financially by the Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs of the
United States Department of State under
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the authority of the Fulbright-Hays Act
of 1961, as amended.
IV.3e. Please take the following
information into consideration when
preparing your budget:
Describe your overall program
management, staffing and coordination
with ECA/PE/V/C/R. ECA/PE/V/C/R
considers program management, staffing
and coordination with the Department
of State essential elements of your
program. Please be sure to give
sufficient attention to these elements in
your proposal. Please refer to the
Technical Eligibility Requirements in
section V. Application Review
Information for specific guidelines.
IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit a
comprehensive budget for the entire
program. The award may not exceed
$195,000. While there is no rigid ration
of administrative to program costs, the
Bureau urges applicant organizations to
keep administrative costs as low and
reasonable as possible. There must be a
summary budget as well as breakdown
reflecting both administrative and
program budgets for FY 2009.
Applicants may provide separate subbudgets for each program component,
phase, location, or activity to provide
clarification.
IV.3e.2. Allowable costs for the
program include the following:
(1) Recruitment, selection and
training/orientations of airport reception
officers and coordinator;
(2) Reimbursement of travel to and/or
parking at airport for airport reception
officers assigned to duty;
(3) Part-time seasonal (.5 Full-time
equivalent or FTE) Contractor at the
Federal General Schedule Level 12 (GS–
12) for the New York area, not-to-exceed
1380 hours for the duration of the
cooperative agreement, stationed at the
U.S. Department of State’ New York
Program Branch to coordinate the
airport reception program locally.
Please refer to the Solicitation
Package for complete budget guidelines
and formatting instructions.
IV.3f. Application Deadlines and
Methods of Submission
Application Deadline Date: Monday,
November 6, 2008.
Reference Number: ECA/PE/V/C/R
–09–01.
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.
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Along with the Project Title, all
applicant 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.
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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’’.
Applicant must follow all instructions
in the Solicitation Package.
The original and 10 copies of the
application should be sent to: U.S.
Department of State, SA–44, Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs, Ref.:
ECA/PE/V/C/R–09–01, 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 (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
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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.
In addition, validation of an electronic
submission via Grants.gov can take up
to two business days.
Therefore, we strongly recommend
that you not wait until the application
deadline to begin the submission
process through Grants.gov.
The Grants.gov website includes
extensive information on all phases/
aspects of the Grants.gov process,
including an extensive section on
frequently asked questions, located
under the ‘‘For Applicants’’ section of
the website. ECA strongly recommends
that all potential applicants review
thoroughly the Grants.gov website, well
in advance of submitting a proposal
through the Grants.gov system. ECA
bears no responsibility for data errors
resulting from transmission or
conversion processes.
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.
Please refer to the Grants.gov Web
site, for definitions of various
‘‘application statuses’’ and the
difference between a submission receipt
and a submission validation. Applicants
will receive a validation e-mail from
grants.gov upon the successful
submission of an application. Again,
validation of an electronic submission
via Grants.gov can take up to two
business days. Therefore, we strongly
recommend that you not wait until the
application deadline to begin the
submission process through Grants.gov.
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
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resulting from transmission or
conversion processes.
IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of
Applications: Executive Order 12372
does not apply to this program.
V. Application Review Information
V.1. Review Process
The Bureau will review all proposals
for technical eligibility. Proposals will
be deemed ineligible if they do not fully
adhere to the guidelines stated herein
and in the Solicitation Package. All
eligible proposals will be reviewed by
the program office, as well as the Public
Diplomacy section overseas, where
appropriate. Eligible proposals will be
subject to compliance with Federal and
Bureau regulations and guidelines and
forwarded to Bureau grant panels for
advisory review. Proposals may also be
reviewed by the Office of the Legal
Adviser or by other Department
elements. Final funding decisions are at
the discretion of the Department of
State’s Assistant Secretary for
Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final
technical authority for cooperative
agreements resides with the Bureau’s
Grants Officer.
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. The program
director and key program staff must
have expert knowledge of international
airport arrivals and departure activities
and qualifications to perform these
services. Detailed agenda and relevant
work plan should demonstrate
substantive undertakings and logistics.
Objectives should be reasonable,
feasible, and flexible. Your proposal
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 wrapup sessions, program meetings, resource
materials and follow-up activities).
3. Institutional Track Record/Ability:
Proposals should demonstrate an
institutional record of successful
exchange programs, including
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responsible fiscal management and full
compliance with all reporting
requirements for past Bureau grants
and/or cooperative agreements 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.
4. 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.
5. Cost-effectiveness/Cost Sharing:
The overhead and administrative
components of the proposal, including
salaries and honoraria, should be kept
as low as possible. All other items
should be necessary and appropriate.
Proposals should maximize cost-sharing
through other private sector support, as
well as institutional direct funding
contributions.
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 applicant will receive a
Federal Assistance Award (FAA) from
the Bureau’s Grants Office. The FAA
and the original proposal with
subsequent modifications (if applicable)
shall be the only binding authorizing
document between the recipient and the
U.S. Government. The FAA 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.
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
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’’.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
21:01 Oct 08, 2008
Jkt 217001
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 Nonprofit Organizations
Please reference the following Web
sites for additional information:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants.
https://fa.statebuy.state.gov
VI.3. Reporting Requirements
You must provide ECA with a hard
copy original plus two copies of the
following reports:
Mandatory:
(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
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 website—as part of
ECA’s Federal Funding Accountability
and Transparency Act (FFATA)
reporting requirements.
(3.) Quarterly financial reports are due
within thirty (30) days following the
end of the calendar year quarter for all
services under this agreement. Airport
receptions statistical reports are due
within 15 days after the close of the
previous month’s activities. These
reports (use Microsoft Word only) must
list separately the number of visitors/
flights met at both John F. Kennedy
International Airport, New York, and
Newark International Airport, New
Jersey, date, visitor name, flight, name
of assigned greeter(s) and whether or not
ECA/PE/V is charged and how much is
paid to each reception officer for each
flight met i.e. if more than one visitor is
on a flight, only one charge is made for
airport reception, and any expenses
incurred, such as miscellaneous parking
or other incurred expense covered
under the agreement. The reports must
be submitted to ECA/PE/V/C/R and to
ECA–IIP/EX/G.
Award recipients 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
PO 00000
Frm 00110
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
59705
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: Carmen
Marrero, Chief, Community Relations
Branch, Office of International Visitors,
ECA/PE/V/C/R, Room Number 247,
Reference Number ECA/PE/V/C/R–09–
01, U.S. Department of State, SA–44,
301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC
20547, telephone 202/453–8629, fax
number 202/453–8631,
marrerocm@state.gov.
All correspondence with the Bureau
concerning this RFGP should reference
the above title and number (ECA/PE/V/
C/R–09–01).
Please read the complete
announcement before sending inquiries
or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP
deadline has passed, Bureau staff may
not discuss this competition with
applicants until the proposal review
process has been completed.
VIII. Other Information
Notice
The terms and conditions published
in this RFGP are binding and may not
be modified by any Bureau
representative. Explanatory information
provided by the Bureau that contradicts
published language will not be binding.
Issuance of the RFGP does not
constitute an award commitment on the
part of the Government. The Bureau
reserves the right to reduce, revise, or
increase proposal budgets in accordance
with the needs of the program and the
availability of funds. Awards made will
be subject to periodic reporting and
evaluation requirements per section VI.3
above.
Dated: October 2, 2008.
Goli Ameri,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and
Cultural Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. E8–24020 Filed 10–8–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710–05–P
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice: 6387]
Bureau of Verification, Compliance and
Implementation: Termination of
Measures Against a Foreign Person
Department of State.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
E:\FR\FM\09OCN1.SGM
09OCN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 197 (Thursday, October 9, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59701-59705]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-24020]
=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 6388]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA); Request for
Grant Proposals: International Arrival and Departure Program
Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/V/C/R-09-01.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.402.
Key Dates: January 1, 2009 through September 30, 2010.
Application Deadline: November 6, 2008.
Executive Summary: The Community Relations Branch of the Office of
International Visitors, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
(ECA/PE/V/C/R) invites proposal submissions for the design and
implementation of an airport arrival and departure program at New
York's John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport and New Jersey's
Newark International Airport.
It is anticipated that a cooperative agreement for $195,000 will be
awarded on or about January 1, 2009, pending availability of FY 2009
funds. This 18-month award will begin on or about January 1, 2009 and
end September 30, 2010, and will be based on a combination of 500
incoming and outgoing flights between the two international points of
entry stated above.
Proposed funding would support the following specific activities:
Meet incoming International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP)
participants at JFK International Airport, New York, and assist them to
their connecting flights; meet incoming IVLP participants at Newark
International Airport, New Jersey, and assist participants to their
connecting flights; provide assistance to outgoing IVLP participants,
through U.S. Customs, at JFK International Airport, New York, and
Newark International Airport, New Jersey; and liaise with U.S. Customs
and Border Protection (CBP), Transportation Security Administration
(TSA) officials, and Port Authority officials at both points of
international entry in order to carry out scope of work under the
cooperative agreement.
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 Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) is
seeking detailed proposals for the airport arrival and departure
program from not-for-profit organizations that have an established
reputation and experience with:
(1) International airport arrivals and departures for official
participants under the International Visitor Leadership Program or
other international exchange and training programs;
(2) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Department of
Homeland Security;
(3) Transportation Security Administration (TSA);
(4) National Security Entry and Exit Registration System (NSEERS)
and requirements;
(5) International airport facilities and services;
(6) Airport security regulations;
(7) U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security to secure
background checks and badges;
(8) Port Authority Officials to secure background checks and
badges;
(9) Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, training,
monitoring of international airport arrivals Reception Officers;
(10) Accessing the Federal Inspections areas;
(11) Handling groups and individuals, especially from the Middle
East who are subject to the NSEERS process.
In a cooperative agreement, ECA is substantially involved in
program activities above and beyond routine grant monitoring. ECA
activities and responsibilities for this program are as follows:
Washington Office: Community Relations Branch, ECA/PE/V/C/R:
A. Provides flight manifests to Department of Homeland Security
(DHS) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA), for clearance,
prior to airport reception approval.
B. Clears all reception officers for entry to restricted zones at
JFK International Airport, New York and at Newark International
Airport, New Jersey.
New York Office: New York Program Branch, ECA/PE/V/C/N:
A. Consults with DOS--ECA/PE/V Staff concerning all flight
information, before requesting reception service from award recipient.
B. Prioritizes and finalizes all flight information for reception
services and forwards to award recipient to implement for JFK
International Airport, New York and Newark International Airport, New
Jersey.
C. Communicates with award recipient concerning any missed flights,
changed arrival time, no shows, cancellations, etc.
D. Sets up and secures DOS background security checks and DOS ID
Badges for all award recipient contract reception officers.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement.
Fiscal Year Funds: 2009.
Approximate Total Funding: $195,000.
Approximate Number of Awards: 1.
Approximate Average Award: $195,000.
Floor of Award Range: $195,000.
Ceiling of Award Range: $195,000.
Anticipated Award Date: On or around January 1, 2009, pending
availability of FY 2009 funds.
Anticipated Project Completion Date: September 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 cooperative agreement for two additional
fiscal years, before openly competing it again.
[[Page 59702]]
III. Eligibility Information
III.1. Eligible Applicants
Applications may be submitted by public and private not-for-profit
organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code
section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3).
III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds
There is no minimum or maximum percentage required for this
competition. However, ECA 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 cooperative 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.) ECA grant guidelines require that organizations with less than
four years experience in conducting international exchanges be limited
to $60,000 in Bureau funding. ECA anticipates making one award, in an
amount up to $195,000 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.
(b.) Technical Eligibility: All proposals must comply with the
following or they will result in your proposal being declared
technically ineligible and given no further consideration in the review
process.
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, ECA staff may not discuss this competition with
applicants until the proposal review process has been completed.
IV.1. Contact Information To Request an Application Package
Please contact the Community Relations Branch, Office of
International Visitors, ECA/PE/V/C/R, Room 247, U.S. Department of
State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, telephone 202/
453-8625, fax number 202/453-8631, or e-mail yateskf@state.gov to
request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to the Funding Opportunity
Number ECA/PE/V/C/R-09-01 located at the top of this announcement when
making your request. Alternatively, an electronic application package
may be obtained from grants.gov. Please see section IV.3f for further
information.
The Solicitation Package contains the Proposal Submission Package,
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 Program Manager Carmen Marrero, marrerocm@state.gov
and refer to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/V/C/R-09-01 located
at the top of this announcement on all other inquiries and
correspondence.
IV.2. To Download a Solicitation Package Via Internet
The entire Solicitation Package may be downloaded from the Bureau's
Web site at https://exchanges.state.gov/education/rfgps/menu.htm or from
the Grants.gov Web site at https://www.grants.gov.
Please read all information before downloading.
IV.3. Content and Form of Submission
Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation
Package. The original and 10 copies of the application should be sent
per the instructions under IV.3f. ``Submission Dates and Times
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 an
applicant does not file an IRS Form 990, but instead files Schedule A
(Form 990 or 990-EZ)--``Organization Exempt Under Section 501(c)(3),''
applicants must include with their application a copy of Page 1, Part
1, ``Compensation of the Five Highest Paid Employees Other Than
Officers, Directors and Trustees,'' of their most recent Internal
Revenue Service (IRS) Form--Schedule A (Form 990 or 990-EZ).
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 award recipients
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
[[Page 59703]]
forms, record-keeping, reporting and other requirements.
ECA will be responsible for issuing DS-2019 forms to participants
in this program.
A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of
Exchange Visitor (J) programs is available at https://
exchanges.state.gov or from: United States Department of State, Office
of Exchange Coordination and Designation, ECA/EC/ECD--SA-44, Room 734,
301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, Telephone: (202) 203-5029,
FAX: (202) 453-8640.
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. Applicant is 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.
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.
We encourage you to assess the following two levels of outcomes, as
they relate to the program goals set out in the RFGP (listed below):
1. Participant satisfaction with the program.
2. Institutional changes, such as increased collaboration and
partnerships, new programming/activities, and organizational
improvements.
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, etc.).
Award recipient will be required to provide reports of its
evaluation findings to the Bureau in it regular program reports. Any
data collected, including survey responses and contact information, if
applicable, must be maintained for a minimum of three years and
provided to the Bureau upon request.
IV.3d.4. For informational and planning purposes, we are informing
all potential applicants that ECA is in the process of developing
comprehensive approaches to alumni programming, Web portal development
supported through ECA assistance awards (grants/cooperative agreements)
and the expansion of private/public partnerships to increase the reach
of ECA's exchange programs. In the event your proposal is recommended
for funding, you may receive additional guidance/information related to
these topics during the negotiation stage of the approval process.
In addition, all recipients of ECA grants or cooperative agreements
should be prepared to state in any announcement or publicity where it
is not inappropriate, that activities are assisted financially by the
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States
Department of State under the authority of the Fulbright-Hays Act of
1961, as amended.
IV.3e. Please take the following information into consideration
when preparing your budget:
Describe your overall program management, staffing and coordination
with ECA/PE/V/C/R. ECA/PE/V/C/R considers program management, staffing
and coordination with the Department of State essential elements of
your program. Please be sure to give sufficient attention to these
elements in your proposal. Please refer to the Technical Eligibility
Requirements in section V. Application Review Information for specific
guidelines.
IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the
entire program. The award may not exceed $195,000. While there is no
rigid ration of administrative to program costs, the Bureau urges
applicant organizations to keep administrative costs as low and
reasonable as possible. There must be a summary budget as well as
breakdown reflecting both administrative and program budgets for FY
2009. Applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for each program
component, phase, location, or activity to provide clarification.
IV.3e.2. Allowable costs for the program include the following:
(1) Recruitment, selection and training/orientations of airport
reception officers and coordinator;
(2) Reimbursement of travel to and/or parking at airport for
airport reception officers assigned to duty;
(3) Part-time seasonal (.5 Full-time equivalent or FTE) Contractor
at the Federal General Schedule Level 12 (GS-12) for the New York area,
not-to-exceed 1380 hours for the duration of the cooperative agreement,
stationed at the U.S. Department of State' New York Program Branch to
coordinate the airport reception program locally.
Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget
guidelines and formatting instructions.
IV.3f. Application Deadlines and Methods of Submission
Application Deadline Date: Monday, November 6, 2008.
Reference Number: ECA/PE/V/C/R -09-01.
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.
[[Page 59704]]
Along with the Project Title, all applicant 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''.
Applicant must follow all instructions in the Solicitation Package.
The original and 10 copies of the application should be sent to:
U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs, Ref.: ECA/PE/V/C/R-09-01, 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 (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. In
addition, validation of an electronic submission via Grants.gov can
take up to two business days.
Therefore, we strongly recommend that you not wait until the
application deadline to begin the submission process through
Grants.gov.
The Grants.gov website includes extensive information on all
phases/aspects of the Grants.gov process, including an extensive
section on frequently asked questions, located under the ``For
Applicants'' section of the website. ECA strongly recommends that all
potential applicants review thoroughly the Grants.gov website, well in
advance of submitting a proposal through the Grants.gov system. ECA
bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or
conversion processes.
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.
Please refer to the Grants.gov Web site, for definitions of various
``application statuses'' and the difference between a submission
receipt and a submission validation. Applicants will receive a
validation e-mail from grants.gov upon the successful submission of an
application. Again, validation of an electronic submission via
Grants.gov can take up to two business days. Therefore, we strongly
recommend that you not wait until the application deadline to begin the
submission process through Grants.gov. ECA will not notify you upon
receipt of electronic applications.
It is the responsibility of all applicants submitting proposals via
the Grants.gov web portal to ensure that proposals have been received
by Grants.gov in their entirety, and ECA bears no responsibility for
data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.
IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of Applications: Executive Order
12372 does not apply to this program.
V. Application Review Information
V.1. Review Process
The Bureau will review all proposals for technical eligibility.
Proposals will be deemed ineligible if they do not fully adhere to the
guidelines stated herein and in the Solicitation Package. All eligible
proposals will be reviewed by the program office, as well as the Public
Diplomacy section overseas, where appropriate. Eligible proposals will
be subject to compliance with Federal and Bureau regulations and
guidelines and forwarded to Bureau grant panels for advisory review.
Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of the Legal Adviser or by
other Department elements. Final funding decisions are at the
discretion of the Department of State's Assistant Secretary for
Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final technical authority for
cooperative agreements resides with the Bureau's Grants Officer.
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. The program director and key
program staff must have expert knowledge of international airport
arrivals and departure activities and qualifications to perform these
services. Detailed agenda and relevant work plan should demonstrate
substantive undertakings and logistics.
Objectives should be reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Your
proposal 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, resource materials
and follow-up activities).
3. Institutional Track Record/Ability: Proposals should demonstrate
an institutional record of successful exchange programs, including
[[Page 59705]]
responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting
requirements for past Bureau grants and/or cooperative agreements 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.
4. 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.
5. Cost-effectiveness/Cost Sharing: The overhead and administrative
components of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be
kept as low as possible. All other items should be necessary and
appropriate. Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through other
private sector support, as well as institutional direct funding
contributions.
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 applicant will receive a Federal Assistance Award (FAA) from
the Bureau's Grants Office. The FAA and the original proposal with
subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall be the only binding
authorizing document between the recipient and the U.S. Government. The
FAA 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://fa.statebuy.state.gov
VI.3. Reporting Requirements
You must provide ECA with a hard copy original plus two copies of
the following reports:
Mandatory:
(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 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 website--as part of ECA's Federal Funding
Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reporting requirements.
(3.) Quarterly financial reports are due within thirty (30) days
following the end of the calendar year quarter for all services under
this agreement. Airport receptions statistical reports are due within
15 days after the close of the previous month's activities. These
reports (use Microsoft Word only) must list separately the number of
visitors/flights met at both John F. Kennedy International Airport, New
York, and Newark International Airport, New Jersey, date, visitor name,
flight, name of assigned greeter(s) and whether or not ECA/PE/V is
charged and how much is paid to each reception officer for each flight
met i.e. if more than one visitor is on a flight, only one charge is
made for airport reception, and any expenses incurred, such as
miscellaneous parking or other incurred expense covered under the
agreement. The reports must be submitted to ECA/PE/V/C/R and to ECA-
IIP/EX/G.
Award recipients 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: Carmen Marrero,
Chief, Community Relations Branch, Office of International Visitors,
ECA/PE/V/C/R, Room Number 247, Reference Number ECA/PE/V/C/R-09-01,
U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC
20547, telephone 202/453-8629, fax number 202/453-8631,
marrerocm@state.gov.
All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should
reference the above title and number (ECA/PE/V/C/R-09-01).
Please read the complete announcement before sending inquiries or
submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has passed, Bureau staff
may not discuss this competition with applicants until the proposal
review process has been completed.
VIII. Other Information
Notice
The terms and conditions published in this RFGP are binding and may
not be modified by any Bureau representative. Explanatory information
provided by the Bureau that contradicts published language will not be
binding. Issuance of the RFGP does not constitute an award commitment
on the part of the Government. The Bureau reserves the right to reduce,
revise, or increase proposal budgets in accordance with the needs of
the program and the availability of funds. Awards made will be subject
to periodic reporting and evaluation requirements per section VI.3
above.
Dated: October 2, 2008.
Goli Ameri,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of
State.
[FR Doc. E8-24020 Filed 10-8-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P