Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant Proposals: Youth Leadership Program With Algeria, the Philippines, or Serbia, 67557-67564 [E8-26948]
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 221 / Friday, November 14, 2008 / Notices
and security is not impacted by this
exemption.
Special circumstances, in accordance
with 10 CFR 50.12, are present
whenever application of the regulation
in the particular circumstances is not
necessary to achieve the underlying
purpose of the rule. The underlying
purpose of 10 CFR 50.46 and Appendix
K to 10 CFR part 50 is to establish
acceptance criteria for emergency core
cooling system performance. The
wording of the regulations in 10 CFR
50.46 and Appendix K is not directly
applicable to these advanced cladding
alloys, even though the evaluations
discussed above show that the intent of
the regulations is met. Therefore, since
the underlying purpose of 10 CFR 50. 46
and Appendix K is achieved with the
use of these advanced cladding alloys,
the special circumstances required by
10 CFR 50.12 for the granting of an
exemption from 10 CFR 50.46 and
Appendix K exist.
4.0
Conclusion
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Accordingly, the Commission has
determined that, pursuant to 10 CFR
50.12(a), the exemption is authorized by
law, will not present an undue risk to
the public health and safety, and is
consistent with the common defense
and security. Also, special
circumstances are present. Therefore,
the Commission hereby grants SNC
exemptions from the requirements of 10
CFR 50.46, and 10 CFR Part 50,
Appendix K, to allow the limited use of
two LTAs with selected rods clad with
GNF–Ziron cladding during fuel cycles
21 through 23 for the HNP–2 plant.
Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.32, the
Commission has determined that the
granting of this exemption will not have
a significant effect on the quality of the
human environment (73 FR 65415;
November 3, 2008).
This exemption is effective upon
issuance.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 7th day
of November 2008.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Joseph G. Giitter,
Director, Division of Operating Reactor
Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor
Regulation.
[FR Doc. E8–27102 Filed 11–13–08; 8:45 am]
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Neva R. Watson,
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[FR Doc. E8–27148 Filed 11–13–08; 8:45 am]
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POSTAL SERVICE
Sunshine Act Meeting
Board Votes To Close October 31, 2008,
Meeting
By telephone vote on October 31,
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1. Pricing.
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Julie S. Moore,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8–27146 Filed 11–12–08; 11:15
am]
BILLING CODE 7710–12–P
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 6424]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant
Proposals: Youth Leadership Program
With Algeria, the Philippines, or Serbia
Announcement Type: New Grant.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/
PE/C/PY–09–10.
Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance Number: 00.000.
Application Deadline: January 9,
2009.
Executive Summary: The Office of
Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs
Division, of the Bureau of Educational
and Cultural Affairs announces an open
competition for Youth Leadership
Programs supporting exchanges with
Algeria, the Philippines, or Serbia.
Public and private non-profit
organizations meeting the provisions
described in Internal Revenue Code
section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) may submit
separate proposals for grants that will
support youth and adult participants
from one of these three countries in a
U.S.-based exchange program that
explores civic education, leadership
development, respect for diversity, and
community activism. The program will
conclude with follow-on activities in
the participants’ home countries in
which they apply the knowledge and
skills acquired during the exchange
experience.
I. Funding Opportunity Description:
Authority: Overall grant making
authority for this program is contained
in the Mutual Educational and Cultural
Exchange Act of 1961, Public Law 87–
256, as amended, also known as the
Fulbright-Hays Act. The purpose of the
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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 Algeria and
Philippines programs is provided
through legislation. The funding
authority for the program with Serbia is
provided through the Support for East
European Democracy (SEED) Act (1989).
Purpose: Through these grants, the
Youth Leadership Program provides an
opportunity for teenagers (ages 15–17)
and adult educators in Algeria, the
Philippines, and Serbia to participate in
intensive, thematic, four- to six-weeklong exchanges in the United States that
complement a more formal education in
the principles of a civil society. The
Serbia Program also includes an
exchange component for American
teenagers. The overarching goal is for
the exchange participants and their
American counterparts to develop a
broad worldview that incorporates
diverse perspectives and for the alumni
to apply their skills toward productive
and positive outlets in their home
communities.
The program will enable participants
to:
(1) To develop their sense of civic
responsibility and commitment to
community development;
(2) To become part of a cadre of
community activists who will share
their knowledge and skills with their
peers through positive action and
collaboration;
(3) To foster understanding and build
relationships with youth from different
ethnic, religious, and national groups;
(4) To promote mutual understanding
between the people of their country and
the United States.
Applicant organizations should
identify their own specific objectives
and measurable outcomes based on
these program goals and the
specifications provided in this
solicitation.
The exchange format will be intensive
and interactive, weaving together both
formal and informal sessions to achieve
the stated goals and objectives.
Applicants must present a program plan
that allows the participants to
thoroughly explore the themes in a
creative, memorable, and practical way.
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All activities should be designed to be
replicable and provide practical
knowledge and skills that the
participants can apply to school and
civic activities at home.
Applicants must demonstrate their
capacity for doing programs of this
nature, focusing on three areas of
competency: (1) Provision of programs
that address the goals and themes
outlined in this document; (2) ageappropriate programming for youth; and
(3) previous experience in working with
the selected country or its region.
Applicant organizations need to have
the necessary capacity in the partner
country through a branch office, a
partner organization, or other affiliates
that have the demonstrated ability to
conduct the specified activities in the
partner country.
Should organizations wish to apply
for a grant with more than one country,
they must submit a separate proposal for
each. Each of the three country
programs will be judged independently
and proposals for a particular country
will be compared only to proposals for
the same country.
Please see information specific to the
program with each country below.
Algeria
Objective: To promote interaction
among youth from Algeria and the
United States and assist the participants
in jointly developing their leadership
skills.
Program focus: The applicant should
present a program plan that focuses on
leadership development, respect for
diversity, and civic education. The
applicant should also choose one of
these two themes as an additional focus:
(1) Media Literacy: How to analyze,
access, evaluate and produce media; the
impact of mass media on individuals
and societies; and journalism
techniques for sharing the voices of
youth for positive action in their
communities. (2) Business/
Entrepreneurship: The study of applied
economics, practical business skills,
entrepreneurship, and related ethics and
leadership education, including creating
an effective business plan and
establishing good business practices.
Note: The program will be implemented by
a partnership of the Public Affairs Section in
the U.S. Embassy in Algiers and the U.S.
grantee organization. The Embassy will be
responsible for recruiting, screening, and
selecting the Algerian participants, while the
U.S. grantee organization will be responsible
for selecting the U.S. participants, travel
logistics, an English language workshop in
Algeria, the U.S.-based exchange activity,
and follow-on activities with alumni.
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Participants: 25 high school students
and 2–3 adults from Algeria, plus 10
American high school students who will
participate in the U.S.-based activities
with the Algerian students.
Timeframe: The U.S.-based exchange
program should take place between
mid-July and mid-August, 2009. The
U.S. program should be no less than
four weeks in duration, preceded by up
to two weeks of intensive English
training that takes place in Algeria.
Amount of grant funds available:
$275,000. The Bureau intends to award
one grant.
Philippines
Objective: To advance dialogue and
mutual understanding between
Americans and Filipinos and between
Muslim and non-Muslim youth from the
Autonomous Region of Muslim
Mindanao and surrounding provinces,
leading to the cooperative
implementation of service projects in
Mindanao.
Program focus: The U.S. program
should focus primarily on ways that
youth can work collaboratively across
ethnic and religious lines. All activities
should be related to developing open
dialogues among the participants
through which they can develop
strategies to work together to help solve
some of the common challenges they
face as teenagers in Mindanao.
Participants will also gain a more
thorough understanding of how
democracy is practiced in the United
States, particularly at the grassroots
level, including community activism,
minority rights, and the responsibilities
of citizens.
Participants: 21–27 teenagers and 4–
5 adults from the Autonomous Region of
Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and
surrounding areas. Both the youth and
adult contingents should represent the
diversity of the region.
Time frame: The four- to six-week
U.S.-based exchange program should
take place between January and June
2010.
Amount of grant funds available:
$275,000. The Bureau intends to award
one grant.
Serbia
Objective: To promote interaction
among youth from Serbia and the
United States through reciprocal
exchanges while introducing the two
groups to how democracy is practiced in
each country, the rights and
responsibilities of citizens, and how
community service allows youth to be
proactive participants in their
communities.
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Program focus: There will be six
exchange delegations from Serbia to the
United States, and two to four exchange
delegations of Americans to Serbia.
Each exchange will focus on a specific
theme related to participatory
governance, such as grassroots activism,
the rule of law, religious freedom, the
role of local and municipal
governments, ethnic tolerance and
living in a multi-ethnic society, and
student activism/student government.
Participants: Approximately 130
teenagers and educators (teachers or
community leaders who work with
youth) from Serbia who will travel to
the U.S. for four weeks in six exchange
delegations of 20–25 each.
Approximately 30 U.S. teenagers and
educators will travel to Serbia in groups
of 7 to 15.
Time frame: The four-week Serbia-toU.S. exchanges may take place between
late 2009 and the end of 2010. The U.Sto-Serbia exchanges, which may be two
to four weeks in duration, may take
place between or after the Serbia-to-U.S.
exchanges. The grant(s) may span up to
two years.
Amount of grant funds available:
$1,355,000. The Bureau intends to
award one or two grants. Applicants
may apply to conduct the entire
program, utilizing all of the grant funds.
Alternatively, organizations may apply
for a grant of roughly half the amount
of funding available, in which case ECA
may award grants to two organizations.
These two organizations will be
required to work in cooperation with
each other in order to avoid public
confusion between the two projects.
Guidelines for All Three Countries
Grants will begin in spring 2009. The
grant period will be 12 to 24 months in
duration, as appropriate to the program
design.
In pursuit of the goals outlined above,
the programs will include the following:
• Recruitment, screening, and
selection of the youth participants and
adult educators (exception with
Algerian participants—the U.S. Embassy
will complete this step).
• A pre-departure orientation
program.
• Designing and planning of
substantive and well-organized
activities in the United States (and in
Serbia) on leadership development,
civic education, and community service.
Some activities should be school and/or
community-based, as feasible, and the
programs will involve extensive
interaction with American peers.
• Logistical arrangements, homestay
arrangements and other
accommodation, provisions for religious
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observance, disbursement of stipends/
per diem, and international and local
travel.
• Follow-on activities in the
participants’ home countries designed
to reinforce the ideas, values, and skills
imparted during the U.S. program.
Recruitment and Selection: With the
exception of proposals for Algeria,
applicants should present a recruitment
plan for the foreign participants in their
proposals. Upon receipt of a grant, the
recipients must consult with the Public
Affairs Sections at the U.S. Embassies to
review the recruitment and participant
selection plan. Organizers must strive
for regional and ethnic diversity within
the partner country. For the Algeria and
Serbia programs, the applicant must
present a plan for a competitive, meritbased selection process for the
American participants. The Department
of State and/or its overseas
representatives must approve all
selected delegations.
Participants: The student participants
will be teenagers aged 15 to 17. Selected
participants will demonstrate leadership
potential and an interest in serving their
communities, as well as strong social
and academic skills, overall composure,
openness and flexibility. The adult
participants will be secondary school
teachers or administrators and/or
community leaders who work with
youth. The adult participants will be
exchange participants first and
foremost, but will also serve as
chaperones and advisors. Participants
will be proficient in English.
U.S. Exchange Activities: Each
program may take place in one to three
communities and should offer the
participants exposure to the variety of
American life. The exchange programs
should consist primarily of interactive
activities, practical experiences, and
other hands-on opportunities that
enable participants to learn about the
fundamentals of a civil society, as well
as the underlying concepts of
leadership, volunteerism, and positive
participation in civic life. These topics
must be thoughtfully addressed through
focused community and/or school-based
program activities. Format suggestions
include simulations, case studies,
workshops, site visits, discussion
groups, mock trials, facilitated role
plays, volunteer service projects, and
leadership training exercises.
Programming must include regular and
substantive involvement by American
peers as much as possible in order to
give participants from both countries
insight into working with members of
the other culture. The participants will
have homestays with properly selected
local families for most of the exchange
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period. Cultural, social, and recreational
activities will balance the schedule.
Please see the POGI for more details.
The exchange activities of the
American students and teachers in
Serbia should follow up on the same
themes and topics as the U.S. activity.
These participants must have
substantive educational activities during
the exchange, which will also introduce
them to home, school, and community
life in Serbia.
Follow-on Activities and In-Country
Programming: Follow-on activities for
alumni are an essential component of
the program. Applicants should present
creative and effective ways to continue
dialogue on the program themes, for
both participants and their peers, as a
means to amplify the program impact,
which may include blogs, Web sites,
newsletters, or listservs. One or two U.S.
project staff, trainers, or educators
should arrange a trip to the partner
country three to six months after the
U.S. exchange to help reinforce the U.S.
experience.
Grant recipients will use the name
‘‘[Country] Youth Leadership Program’’
to identify their program. All
participants and alumni should identify
themselves with the Youth Leadership
Program (YLP). Materials produced for
grant activities need to acknowledge the
State Department as the sponsor and
reflect the State Department’s goals for
the program.
The Bureau reserves the right to
reduce, revise, or increase proposal
budgets and participant numbers in
accordance with the needs of the
program and the availability of funds.
Proposals must demonstrate how the
stated objectives will be met. The
proposal narrative should provide
detailed information on the major
program activities, and applicants
should explain and justify their
programmatic choices. Programs must
comply with J–1 visa regulations. Please
refer to the complete Solicitation
Package—this RFGP, the Project
Objectives, Goals, and Implementation
(POGI), and the Proposal Submission
Instructions (PSI)—for further
information.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Grant Agreement.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY–2009, pending
availability of funds.
Approximate Total Funding:
$1,905,000.
Approximate Number of Awards: 3–4.
Floor of Award Range: $275,000.
Ceiling of Award Range: $1,355,000.
Anticipated Award Date: Pending
availability of funds, April 15, 2009.
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Anticipated Project Completion Date:
12 to 24 months after the onset of the
award, to be determined by the
applicant according to its program
design.
Additional Information: Pending
successful implementation of these
programs and the availability of funds
in subsequent fiscal years, it is ECA’s
intent to renew these grants for two
additional fiscal years, before openly
competing them again.
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III. Eligibility Information
III.1. Eligible applicants: Applications
may be submitted by public and private
non-profit organizations meeting the
provisions described in Internal
Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C.
501(c)(3).
III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds:
There is no minimum or maximum
percentage required for this
competition. However, the Bureau
encourages applicants to provide
maximum levels of cost sharing and
funding in support of its programs.
When cost sharing is offered, it is
understood and agreed that the
applicant must provide the amount of
cost sharing as stipulated in its proposal
and later included in an approved
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) 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
making awards in amounts exceeding
$60,000 to support program and
administrative costs required to
implement these exchange programs.
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.
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IV. Application and Submission
Information
Note: Please read the complete
announcement before sending inquiries or
submitting proposals. Once the RFGP
deadline has passed, Bureau staff may not
discuss this competition with applicants
until the proposal review process has been
completed.
IV.1 Contact Information To Request
an Application Package: Please contact
the Youth Programs Division, ECA/PE/
C/PY, U.S. Department of State, SA–44,
301 4th Street, SW., Room 568,
Washington, DC 20547, telephone: (202)
453–8171, fax: (202) 453–8169, E-mail:
PiersonCompeauHM@state.gov to
request a Solicitation Package. Please
refer to the Funding Opportunity
Number ECA/PE/C/PY–09–10 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 Program Officer
Carolyn Lantz and refer to the Funding
Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/PY–09–
10 located at the top of this
announcement on all other inquiries
and correspondence.
IV.2. To Download a Solicitation
Package Via Internet: The entire
Solicitation Package may be
downloaded from the Bureau’s Web site
at https://exchanges.state.gov/education/
rfgps/menu.htm, or from the Grants.gov
Web site at https://www.grants.gov.
Please read all information before
downloading.
IV.3. Content and Form of
Submission: Applicants must follow all
instructions in the Solicitation Package.
The application should be submitted
per the instructions under IV.3f.
‘‘Application Deadline and Methods of
Submission’’ section below.
IV.3a. You are required to have a Dun
and Bradstreet Data Universal
Numbering System (DUNS) number to
apply for a grant or cooperative
agreement from the U.S. Government.
This number is a nine-digit
identification number, which uniquely
identifies business entities. Obtaining a
DUNS number is easy and there is no
charge. To obtain a DUNS number,
access https://
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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 Office of Citizen Exchanges of the
Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs is the official program sponsor of
the exchange program covered by this
RFGP, and an employee of the Bureau
will be the ‘‘Responsible Officer’’ for the
program under the terms of 22 CFR part
62, which covers the administration of
the Exchange Visitor Program (J visa
program). Under the terms of 22 CFR
part 62, organizations receiving awards
(either a grant or cooperative agreement)
under this RFGP will be third parties
‘‘cooperating with or assisting the
sponsor in the conduct of the sponsor’s
program.’’ The actions of recipient
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organizations shall be ‘‘imputed to the
sponsor in evaluating the sponsor’s
compliance with’’ 22 CFR part 62.
Therefore, the Bureau expects that any
organization receiving an award under
this competition will render all
assistance necessary to enable the
Bureau to fully comply with 22 CFR
part 62 et seq.
The Bureau of Educational and
Cultural Affairs places critically
important emphases on the secure and
proper administration of Exchange
Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence
by recipient organizations and program
participants to all regulations governing
the J visa program status. Therefore,
proposals should explicitly state in
writing that the applicant is prepared to
assist the Bureau in meeting all
requirements governing the
administration of Exchange Visitor
Programs as set forth in 22 CFR part 62.
If your organization has experience as a
designated Exchange Visitor Program
Sponsor, the applicant should discuss
their record of compliance with 22 CFR
part 62 et seq., including the oversight
of their Responsible Officers and
Alternate Responsible Officers,
screening and selection of program
participants, provision of pre-arrival
information and orientation to
participants, monitoring of participants,
proper maintenance and security of
forms, record-keeping, reporting and
other requirements.
The Office of Citizen Exchanges of
ECA will be responsible for issuing DS–
2019 forms to participants in this
program.
A copy of the complete regulations
governing the administration of
Exchange Visitor (J) programs is
available at https://exchanges.state.gov
or from:
United States Department of State,
Office of Exchange Coordination and
Designation, ECA/EC/ECD—SA–44,
Room 734, 301 4th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20547, Telephone:
(202) 203–5029, FAX: (202) 453–8640.
IV.3d.2 Diversity, Freedom and
Democracy Guidelines
Pursuant to the Bureau’s authorizing
legislation, programs must maintain a
non-political character and should be
balanced and representative of the
diversity of American political, social,
and cultural life. ‘‘Diversity’’ should be
interpreted in the broadest sense and
encompass differences including, but
not limited to ethnicity, race, gender,
religion, geographic location, socioeconomic status, and disabilities.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to
adhere to the advancement of this
principle both in program
administration and in program content.
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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 recipient organization
will track participants or partners and
be able to respond to key evaluation
questions, including satisfaction with
the program, learning as a result of the
program, changes in behavior as a result
of the program, and effects of the
program on institutions (institutions in
which participants work or partner
institutions). The evaluation plan
should include indicators that measure
gains in mutual understanding as well
as substantive knowledge.
Successful monitoring and evaluation
depend heavily on setting clear goals
and outcomes at the outset of a program.
Your evaluation plan should include a
description of your project’s objectives,
your anticipated project outcomes, and
how and when you intend to measure
these outcomes (performance
indicators). The more that outcomes are
‘‘smart’’ (specific, measurable,
attainable, results-oriented, and placed
in a reasonable timeframe), the easier it
will be to conduct the evaluation. You
should also show how your project
objectives link to the goals of the
program described in this RFGP.
Your monitoring and evaluation plan
should clearly distinguish between
program outputs and outcomes. Outputs
are products and services delivered,
often stated as an amount. Output
information is important to show the
scope or size of project activities, but it
cannot substitute for information about
progress towards outcomes or the
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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 shortterm 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.)
Recipient organizations 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.
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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. Award recipients
are strongly encouraged to use the
Department seal on all promotional and
related materials for ECA funded
programs which support the
commemoration of special occasions or
events, but only after first obtaining
written permission from the ECA
program office(r) assigned to the project.
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. There must be a summary
budget as well as breakdowns reflecting
both administrative and program
budgets. Applicants may provide
separate sub-budgets for each program
component, phase, location, or activity
to provide clarification.
Funding levels for each country are as
follows:
Algeria: One grant. Grant request
$275,000 maximum.
Philippines: One grant. Grant request
$275,000 maximum.
Serbia: One or two grants. Grant
request $650,000 minimum, $1,355,000
maximum.
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,
January 9, 2009.
Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/PY–
09–10.
Methods of Submission:
Applications may be submitted in one
of two ways:
(1) In hard-copy, via a nationally
recognized overnight delivery service
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(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 six copies of the
application should be sent to: U.S.
Department of State, SA–44, Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs, Ref.:
ECA/PE/C/PY–09–10, Program
Management, ECA/EX/PM, Room 534,
301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC
20547.
With the submission of the proposal
package, please also e-mail the
Executive Summary, Proposal Narrative,
and Budget sections of the proposal, as
well as any essential attachments, in
Microsoft Word and/or Excel to the
program office at ORourkeMM@state.gov
(Algeria),
PiersonCompeauHM@state.gov
(Philippines and Serbia), and
LantzCS@state.gov (all). The Bureau
will provide these files electronically to
the relevant U.S. Embassies for their
review.
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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 Web site 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 Web site. ECA strongly recommends
that all potential applicants review
thoroughly the Grants.gov Web site,
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
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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 assistance
awards (grants) resides with the
Bureau’s Grants Officer.
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Review Criteria
Technically eligible applications will
be competitively reviewed according to
the criteria stated below:
1. Quality of the program idea: The
proposed program should be well
developed, respond to design outlined
in the solicitation, and demonstrate
originality. It should be clearly and
accurately written, substantive, and
with sufficient detail. Proposals should
exhibit originality, substance, precision,
and relevance to the Bureau’s mission.
2. Program planning and ability to
achieve program objectives: A detailed
agenda and work plan should clearly
demonstrate how project objectives will
be achieved. The agenda and plan
should adhere to the program overview
and guidelines described above. The
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substance of workshops, seminars,
presentations, school-based activities,
and/or site visits should be described in
detail. Objectives should be reasonable,
feasible, and flexible. The proposal
should clearly demonstrate how the
institution will meet the program’s
objectives and plan.
3. Support of diversity: The proposal
should demonstrate the recipient’s
commitment to promoting the
awareness and understanding of
diversity in program content.
Applicants should demonstrate
readiness to accommodate participants
with physical disabilities.
4. Institutional capacity and track
record: Proposed personnel and
institutional resources should be
adequate and appropriate to achieve the
program goals. The proposal should
demonstrate an institutional record,
including responsible fiscal
management and full compliance with
all reporting requirements for past
Bureau awards (grants or cooperative
agreements) as determined by the
Bureau’s Office of Contracts. The
Bureau will consider the past
performance.
5. Program evaluation: The proposal
should include a plan to evaluate the
activity’s success, both as the activities
unfold and at the end of the program.
The proposal should include a draft
survey questionnaire or other technique
plus description of a methodology to
use to link outcomes to original project
objectives. The grant recipient will be
expected to submit intermediate reports
after each project component is
concluded.
6. Cost-effectiveness and cost sharing:
The applicant should demonstrate
efficient use of Bureau funds. 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.
The proposal should maximize costsharing through other private sector
support as well as institutional direct
funding contributions, which
demonstrates institutional and
community commitment.
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 a
Federal Assistance Award (FAA) from
the Bureau’s Grants Office. The FAA
and the original proposal with
subsequent modifications (if applicable)
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67563
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 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 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) Interim reports, as required in the
Bureau grant agreement.
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
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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: Carolyn Lantz,
Program Officer, Youth Programs
Division, Office of Citizen Exchanges,
ECA/PE/C/PY, Room 568, U.S.
Department of State, SA–44, 301 4th
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547,
Telephone: (202) 203–7505, Fax: (202)
203–7529, E-mail: LantzCS@state.gov.
All correspondence with the Bureau
concerning this RFGP should reference
the above title and number ECA/PE/C/
PY–09–10.
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.
Goli Ameri,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and
Cultural Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. E8–26948 Filed 11–13–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710–05–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
Office of the Secretary
Aviation Proceedings, Agreements
Filed the Week Ending October 17,
2008
The following Agreements were filed
with the Department of Transportation
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under the Sections 412 and 414 of the
Federal Aviation Act, as amended (49
U.S.C. 1382 and 1384) and procedures
governing proceedings to enforce these
provisions. Answers may be filed within
21 days after the filing of the
application.
Docket Number: DOT–OST–2008–
0304.
Date Filed: October 15, 2008.
Parties: Members of the International
Air Transport Association.
Subject: PTC COMP Expedited
Composite Resolutions (Memo 1490).
Intended effective date: 1 December
2008.
Renee V. Wright,
Program Manager, Docket Operations,
Federal Register Liaison.
[FR Doc. E8–27050 Filed 11–13–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–9X–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
[Docket No: FAA–2008–1208]
Helicopter Emergency Medical
Services Operations
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This notice announces the
availability of and requests comments
on revisions to Operations Specification
A021, pertaining to Helicopter
Emergency Medical Services (HEMS)
operations, and Operation Specification
A050, pertaining to Helicopter Night
Vision Goggle Operations (HNVGO).
DATES: We must receive your comments
by December 15, 2008.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments
identified by Docket Number FAA–
2008–1208 using the following method:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov and follow
the on-line instructions for sending your
comments electronically.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
technical questions regarding the A021
and A050 Operations Specifications
revisions, contact: Larry Buehler, 135
Air Carrier Operations Branch, AFS–
250, Federal Aviation Administration,
800 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202)
267–8166; e-mail larry.buehler@faa.gov.
For legal questions concerning this
notice, contact: Dean Griffith, FAA
Office of the Chief Counsel, AGC–220,
800 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202)
267–3073; e-mail dean.griffith@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Comments Invited
We invite interested people to
comment on the revised Operations
Specification A021, pertaining to HEMS
operations, and Operation Specification
A050, pertaining to HNVGO by sending
written data, views, or arguments. You
should include the Federal docket
number FAA–2008–1208 in your
comments. We will consider all
communications received by the closing
date for comments.
Availability of Document
The revised Operations Specifications
A021 (HEMS) and A050 (HNVGO) can
be found and downloaded from the
Internet at the following sites:
• FAA Web site: https://www.faa.gov/
about/office_org/headquarters_offices/
avs/offices/afs/afs200/branches/afs250/
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov and search
for the documents using the Federal
docket number FAA–2008–1208.
Discussion
The FAA has determined that safety
in air commerce and the public interest
requires additional hazard mitigation for
HEMS operations, and therefore has
revised Operations Specifications A021
and A050 pursuant to 14 CFR 119.51.
The A021 revisions specify that if a
flight, or sequence of flights, includes a
part 135 segment then all visual flight
rules (VFR) segments of the flight must
be conducted within the weather
minimums and minimum safe cruise
altitude determined in pre-flight
planning. Specifically, A021 requires
pilots to identify a minimum safe cruise
altitude during pre-flight planning by
identifying and documenting
obstructions and terrain along the
planned flight path. HEMS pilots must
also determine the minimum required
ceiling and visibility to conduct the
flight using the revised weather
minimums contained in A021.
Revised Operations Specification
A021 also permits HEMS instrument
flight rules (IFR) operations at landing
areas without weather reporting if an
approved weather reporting source is
located within 15 nautical miles of the
landing area or if an area forecast is
available.
Revised Operations Specification
A050 changes weather minimums for
HNVGO conducted in Class G Airspace
to be consistent with changes made to
the Class G Airspace minimums in
A021.
The full text of the changes to
Operations Specifications A021 and
A050 are available on the FAA Web site
and on https://www.regulations.gov as
discussed above.
E:\FR\FM\14NON1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 221 (Friday, November 14, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67557-67564]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-26948]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 6424]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for
Grant Proposals: Youth Leadership Program With Algeria, the
Philippines, or Serbia
Announcement Type: New Grant.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-09-10.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000.
Application Deadline: January 9, 2009.
Executive Summary: The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs
Division, of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces
an open competition for Youth Leadership Programs supporting exchanges
with Algeria, the Philippines, or Serbia. Public and private non-profit
organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code
section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) may submit separate proposals for grants
that will support youth and adult participants from one of these three
countries in a U.S.-based exchange program that explores civic
education, leadership development, respect for diversity, and community
activism. The program will conclude with follow-on activities in the
participants' home countries in which they apply the knowledge and
skills acquired during the exchange experience.
I. Funding Opportunity Description:
Authority: Overall grant making authority for this program is
contained in the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961,
Public Law 87-256, as amended, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act.
The purpose of the
[[Page 67558]]
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
Algeria and Philippines programs is provided through legislation. The
funding authority for the program with Serbia is provided through the
Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act (1989).
Purpose: Through these grants, the Youth Leadership Program
provides an opportunity for teenagers (ages 15-17) and adult educators
in Algeria, the Philippines, and Serbia to participate in intensive,
thematic, four- to six-week-long exchanges in the United States that
complement a more formal education in the principles of a civil
society. The Serbia Program also includes an exchange component for
American teenagers. The overarching goal is for the exchange
participants and their American counterparts to develop a broad
worldview that incorporates diverse perspectives and for the alumni to
apply their skills toward productive and positive outlets in their home
communities.
The program will enable participants to:
(1) To develop their sense of civic responsibility and commitment
to community development;
(2) To become part of a cadre of community activists who will share
their knowledge and skills with their peers through positive action and
collaboration;
(3) To foster understanding and build relationships with youth from
different ethnic, religious, and national groups;
(4) To promote mutual understanding between the people of their
country and the United States.
Applicant organizations should identify their own specific
objectives and measurable outcomes based on these program goals and the
specifications provided in this solicitation.
The exchange format will be intensive and interactive, weaving
together both formal and informal sessions to achieve the stated goals
and objectives. Applicants must present a program plan that allows the
participants to thoroughly explore the themes in a creative, memorable,
and practical way. All activities should be designed to be replicable
and provide practical knowledge and skills that the participants can
apply to school and civic activities at home.
Applicants must demonstrate their capacity for doing programs of
this nature, focusing on three areas of competency: (1) Provision of
programs that address the goals and themes outlined in this document;
(2) age-appropriate programming for youth; and (3) previous experience
in working with the selected country or its region.
Applicant organizations need to have the necessary capacity in the
partner country through a branch office, a partner organization, or
other affiliates that have the demonstrated ability to conduct the
specified activities in the partner country.
Should organizations wish to apply for a grant with more than one
country, they must submit a separate proposal for each. Each of the
three country programs will be judged independently and proposals for a
particular country will be compared only to proposals for the same
country.
Please see information specific to the program with each country
below.
Algeria
Objective: To promote interaction among youth from Algeria and the
United States and assist the participants in jointly developing their
leadership skills.
Program focus: The applicant should present a program plan that
focuses on leadership development, respect for diversity, and civic
education. The applicant should also choose one of these two themes as
an additional focus: (1) Media Literacy: How to analyze, access,
evaluate and produce media; the impact of mass media on individuals and
societies; and journalism techniques for sharing the voices of youth
for positive action in their communities. (2) Business/
Entrepreneurship: The study of applied economics, practical business
skills, entrepreneurship, and related ethics and leadership education,
including creating an effective business plan and establishing good
business practices.
Note: The program will be implemented by a partnership of the
Public Affairs Section in the U.S. Embassy in Algiers and the U.S.
grantee organization. The Embassy will be responsible for
recruiting, screening, and selecting the Algerian participants,
while the U.S. grantee organization will be responsible for
selecting the U.S. participants, travel logistics, an English
language workshop in Algeria, the U.S.-based exchange activity, and
follow-on activities with alumni.
Participants: 25 high school students and 2-3 adults from Algeria,
plus 10 American high school students who will participate in the U.S.-
based activities with the Algerian students.
Timeframe: The U.S.-based exchange program should take place
between mid-July and mid-August, 2009. The U.S. program should be no
less than four weeks in duration, preceded by up to two weeks of
intensive English training that takes place in Algeria.
Amount of grant funds available: $275,000. The Bureau intends to
award one grant.
Philippines
Objective: To advance dialogue and mutual understanding between
Americans and Filipinos and between Muslim and non-Muslim youth from
the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and surrounding provinces,
leading to the cooperative implementation of service projects in
Mindanao.
Program focus: The U.S. program should focus primarily on ways that
youth can work collaboratively across ethnic and religious lines. All
activities should be related to developing open dialogues among the
participants through which they can develop strategies to work together
to help solve some of the common challenges they face as teenagers in
Mindanao. Participants will also gain a more thorough understanding of
how democracy is practiced in the United States, particularly at the
grassroots level, including community activism, minority rights, and
the responsibilities of citizens.
Participants: 21-27 teenagers and 4-5 adults from the Autonomous
Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and surrounding areas. Both the youth
and adult contingents should represent the diversity of the region.
Time frame: The four- to six-week U.S.-based exchange program
should take place between January and June 2010.
Amount of grant funds available: $275,000. The Bureau intends to
award one grant.
Serbia
Objective: To promote interaction among youth from Serbia and the
United States through reciprocal exchanges while introducing the two
groups to how democracy is practiced in each country, the rights and
responsibilities of citizens, and how community service allows youth to
be proactive participants in their communities.
[[Page 67559]]
Program focus: There will be six exchange delegations from Serbia
to the United States, and two to four exchange delegations of Americans
to Serbia. Each exchange will focus on a specific theme related to
participatory governance, such as grassroots activism, the rule of law,
religious freedom, the role of local and municipal governments, ethnic
tolerance and living in a multi-ethnic society, and student activism/
student government.
Participants: Approximately 130 teenagers and educators (teachers
or community leaders who work with youth) from Serbia who will travel
to the U.S. for four weeks in six exchange delegations of 20-25 each.
Approximately 30 U.S. teenagers and educators will travel to Serbia in
groups of 7 to 15.
Time frame: The four-week Serbia-to-U.S. exchanges may take place
between late 2009 and the end of 2010. The U.S-to-Serbia exchanges,
which may be two to four weeks in duration, may take place between or
after the Serbia-to-U.S. exchanges. The grant(s) may span up to two
years.
Amount of grant funds available: $1,355,000. The Bureau intends to
award one or two grants. Applicants may apply to conduct the entire
program, utilizing all of the grant funds. Alternatively, organizations
may apply for a grant of roughly half the amount of funding available,
in which case ECA may award grants to two organizations. These two
organizations will be required to work in cooperation with each other
in order to avoid public confusion between the two projects.
Guidelines for All Three Countries
Grants will begin in spring 2009. The grant period will be 12 to 24
months in duration, as appropriate to the program design.
In pursuit of the goals outlined above, the programs will include
the following:
Recruitment, screening, and selection of the youth
participants and adult educators (exception with Algerian
participants--the U.S. Embassy will complete this step).
A pre-departure orientation program.
Designing and planning of substantive and well-organized
activities in the United States (and in Serbia) on leadership
development, civic education, and community service. Some activities
should be school and/or community-based, as feasible, and the programs
will involve extensive interaction with American peers.
Logistical arrangements, homestay arrangements and other
accommodation, provisions for religious observance, disbursement of
stipends/per diem, and international and local travel.
Follow-on activities in the participants' home countries
designed to reinforce the ideas, values, and skills imparted during the
U.S. program.
Recruitment and Selection: With the exception of proposals for
Algeria, applicants should present a recruitment plan for the foreign
participants in their proposals. Upon receipt of a grant, the
recipients must consult with the Public Affairs Sections at the U.S.
Embassies to review the recruitment and participant selection plan.
Organizers must strive for regional and ethnic diversity within the
partner country. For the Algeria and Serbia programs, the applicant
must present a plan for a competitive, merit-based selection process
for the American participants. The Department of State and/or its
overseas representatives must approve all selected delegations.
Participants: The student participants will be teenagers aged 15 to
17. Selected participants will demonstrate leadership potential and an
interest in serving their communities, as well as strong social and
academic skills, overall composure, openness and flexibility. The adult
participants will be secondary school teachers or administrators and/or
community leaders who work with youth. The adult participants will be
exchange participants first and foremost, but will also serve as
chaperones and advisors. Participants will be proficient in English.
U.S. Exchange Activities: Each program may take place in one to
three communities and should offer the participants exposure to the
variety of American life. The exchange programs should consist
primarily of interactive activities, practical experiences, and other
hands-on opportunities that enable participants to learn about the
fundamentals of a civil society, as well as the underlying concepts of
leadership, volunteerism, and positive participation in civic life.
These topics must be thoughtfully addressed through focused community
and/or school-based program activities. Format suggestions include
simulations, case studies, workshops, site visits, discussion groups,
mock trials, facilitated role plays, volunteer service projects, and
leadership training exercises. Programming must include regular and
substantive involvement by American peers as much as possible in order
to give participants from both countries insight into working with
members of the other culture. The participants will have homestays with
properly selected local families for most of the exchange period.
Cultural, social, and recreational activities will balance the
schedule. Please see the POGI for more details.
The exchange activities of the American students and teachers in
Serbia should follow up on the same themes and topics as the U.S.
activity. These participants must have substantive educational
activities during the exchange, which will also introduce them to home,
school, and community life in Serbia.
Follow-on Activities and In-Country Programming: Follow-on
activities for alumni are an essential component of the program.
Applicants should present creative and effective ways to continue
dialogue on the program themes, for both participants and their peers,
as a means to amplify the program impact, which may include blogs, Web
sites, newsletters, or listservs. One or two U.S. project staff,
trainers, or educators should arrange a trip to the partner country
three to six months after the U.S. exchange to help reinforce the U.S.
experience.
Grant recipients will use the name ``[Country] Youth Leadership
Program'' to identify their program. All participants and alumni should
identify themselves with the Youth Leadership Program (YLP). Materials
produced for grant activities need to acknowledge the State Department
as the sponsor and reflect the State Department's goals for the
program.
The Bureau reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase
proposal budgets and participant numbers in accordance with the needs
of the program and the availability of funds.
Proposals must demonstrate how the stated objectives will be met.
The proposal narrative should provide detailed information on the major
program activities, and applicants should explain and justify their
programmatic choices. Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations.
Please refer to the complete Solicitation Package--this RFGP, the
Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI), and the Proposal
Submission Instructions (PSI)--for further information.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Grant Agreement.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY-2009, pending availability of funds.
Approximate Total Funding: $1,905,000.
Approximate Number of Awards: 3-4.
Floor of Award Range: $275,000.
Ceiling of Award Range: $1,355,000.
Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, April 15,
2009.
[[Page 67560]]
Anticipated Project Completion Date: 12 to 24 months after the
onset of the award, to be determined by the applicant according to its
program design.
Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of these
programs and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, it
is ECA's intent to renew these grants for two additional fiscal years,
before openly competing them again.
III. Eligibility Information
III.1. Eligible applicants: Applications may be submitted by public
and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described
in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3).
III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds: There is no minimum or
maximum percentage required for this competition. However, the Bureau
encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and
funding in support of its programs.
When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the
applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its
proposal and later included in an approved 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) 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 making awards in amounts exceeding $60,000 to
support program and administrative costs required to implement these
exchange programs. 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 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 the Youth Programs Division, ECA/PE/C/PY, U.S. Department of
State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Room 568, Washington, DC 20547,
telephone: (202) 453-8171, fax: (202) 453-8169, E-mail:
PiersonCompeauHM@state.gov to request a Solicitation Package. Please
refer to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/PY-09-10 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 Program Officer Carolyn Lantz and refer to the
Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/PY-09-10 located at the top of this
announcement on all other inquiries and correspondence.
IV.2. To Download a Solicitation Package Via Internet: The entire
Solicitation Package may be downloaded from the Bureau's Web site at
https://exchanges.state.gov/education/rfgps/menu.htm, or from the
Grants.gov Web site at https://www.grants.gov.
Please read all information before downloading.
IV.3. Content and Form of Submission: Applicants must follow all
instructions in the Solicitation Package. The application should be
submitted per the instructions under IV.3f. ``Application Deadline and
Methods of Submission'' section below.
IV.3a. You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal
Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative
agreement from the U.S. Government. This number is a nine-digit
identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities.
Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a
DUNS number, access https://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-
5711. Please ensure that your DUNS number is included in the
appropriate box of the SF--424 which is part of the formal application
package.
IV.3b. All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal
narrative and budget.
Please Refer to the Solicitation Package. It contains the mandatory
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document 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 Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and
Cultural Affairs is the official program sponsor of the exchange
program covered by this RFGP, and an employee of the Bureau will be the
``Responsible Officer'' for the program under the terms of 22 CFR part
62, which covers the administration of the Exchange Visitor Program (J
visa program). Under the terms of 22 CFR part 62, organizations
receiving awards (either a grant or cooperative agreement) under this
RFGP will be third parties ``cooperating with or assisting the sponsor
in the conduct of the sponsor's program.'' The actions of recipient
[[Page 67561]]
organizations shall be ``imputed to the sponsor in evaluating the
sponsor's compliance with'' 22 CFR part 62. Therefore, the Bureau
expects that any organization receiving an award under this competition
will render all assistance necessary to enable the Bureau to fully
comply with 22 CFR part 62 et seq.
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs places critically
important emphases on the secure and proper administration of Exchange
Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence by recipient organizations and
program participants to all regulations governing the J visa program
status. Therefore, proposals should explicitly state in writing that
the applicant is prepared to assist the Bureau in meeting all
requirements governing the administration of Exchange Visitor Programs
as set forth in 22 CFR part 62. If your organization has experience as
a designated Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor, the applicant should
discuss their record of compliance with 22 CFR part 62 et seq.,
including the oversight of their Responsible Officers and Alternate
Responsible Officers, screening and selection of program participants,
provision of pre-arrival information and orientation to participants,
monitoring of participants, proper maintenance and security of forms,
record-keeping, reporting and other requirements.
The Office of Citizen Exchanges of ECA will be responsible for
issuing DS-2019 forms to participants in this program.
A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of
Exchange Visitor (J) programs is available at https://
exchanges.state.gov or from:
United States Department of State, Office of Exchange Coordination
and Designation, ECA/EC/ECD--SA-44, Room 734, 301 4th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20547, Telephone: (202) 203-5029, FAX: (202) 453-8640.
IV.3d.2 Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines
Pursuant to the Bureau's authorizing legislation, programs must
maintain a non-political character and should be balanced and
representative of the diversity of American political, social, and
cultural life. ``Diversity'' should be interpreted in the broadest
sense and encompass differences including, but not limited to
ethnicity, race, gender, religion, geographic location, socio-economic
status, and disabilities. Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere
to the advancement of this principle both in program administration and
in program content. Please refer to the review criteria under the
``Support for Diversity'' section for specific suggestions on
incorporating diversity into your proposal. Public Law 104-319 provides
that ``in carrying out programs of educational and cultural exchange in
countries whose people do not fully enjoy freedom and democracy,'' the
Bureau ``shall take appropriate steps to provide opportunities for
participation in such programs to human rights and democracy leaders of
such countries.'' Public Law 106--113 requires that the governments of
the countries described above do not have inappropriate influence in
the selection process. Proposals should reflect advancement of these
goals in their program contents, to the full extent deemed feasible.
IV.3d.3.--Program Monitoring and Evaluation
Proposals must include a plan to monitor and evaluate the project's
success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of the program.
The 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 recipient organization will track participants or partners and
be able to respond to key evaluation questions, including satisfaction
with the program, learning as a result of the program, changes in
behavior as a result of the program, and effects of the program on
institutions (institutions in which participants work or partner
institutions). The evaluation plan should include indicators that
measure gains in mutual understanding as well as substantive knowledge.
Successful monitoring and evaluation depend heavily on setting
clear goals and outcomes at the outset of a program. Your evaluation
plan should include a description of your project's objectives, your
anticipated project outcomes, and how and when you intend to measure
these outcomes (performance indicators). The more that outcomes are
``smart'' (specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and
placed in a reasonable timeframe), the easier it will be to conduct the
evaluation. You should also show how your project objectives link to
the goals of the program described in this RFGP.
Your monitoring and evaluation plan should clearly distinguish
between program outputs and outcomes. Outputs are products and services
delivered, often stated as an amount. Output information is important
to show the scope or size of project activities, but it cannot
substitute for information about progress towards outcomes or the
results achieved. Examples of outputs include the number of people
trained or the number of seminars conducted. Outcomes, in contrast,
represent specific results a project is intended to achieve and is
usually measured as an extent of change.
Findings on outputs and outcomes should both be reported, but the
focus should be on outcomes.
We encourage you to assess the following four levels of outcomes,
as they relate to the program goals set out in the RFGP (listed here in
increasing order of importance):
1. Participant satisfaction with the program and exchange
experience.
2. Participant learning, such as increased knowledge, aptitude,
skills, and changed understanding and attitude. Learning includes both
substantive (subject-specific) learning and mutual understanding.
3. Participant behavior, concrete actions to apply knowledge in
work or community; greater participation and responsibility in civic
organizations; interpretation and explanation of experiences and new
knowledge gained; continued contacts between participants, community
members, and others.
4. Institutional changes, such as increased collaboration and
partnerships, policy reforms, new programming, and organizational
improvements.
Please note: Consideration should be given to the appropriate
timing of data collection for each level of outcome. For example,
satisfaction is usually captured as a short-term outcome, whereas
behavior and institutional changes are normally considered longer-
term outcomes.
Overall, the quality of your monitoring and evaluation plan will be
judged on how well it (1) specifies intended outcomes; (2) gives clear
descriptions of how each outcome will be measured; (3) identifies when
particular outcomes will be measured; and (4) provides a clear
description of the data collection strategies for each outcome (i.e.,
surveys, interviews, or focus groups). (Please note that evaluation
plans that deal only with the first level of outcomes [satisfaction]
will be deemed less competitive under the present evaluation criteria.)
Recipient organizations 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.
[[Page 67562]]
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. Award recipients are strongly encouraged to use the
Department seal on all promotional and related materials for ECA funded
programs which support the commemoration of special occasions or
events, but only after first obtaining written permission from the ECA
program office(r) assigned to the project.
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. There must be a summary budget as well as breakdowns
reflecting both administrative and program budgets. Applicants may
provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase,
location, or activity to provide clarification.
Funding levels for each country are as follows:
Algeria: One grant. Grant request $275,000 maximum.
Philippines: One grant. Grant request $275,000 maximum.
Serbia: One or two grants. Grant request $650,000 minimum,
$1,355,000 maximum.
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, January 9, 2009.
Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-09-10.
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 six copies of the application should be sent to:
U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs, Ref.: ECA/PE/C/PY-09-10, Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, Room
534, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
With the submission of the proposal package, please also e-mail the
Executive Summary, Proposal Narrative, and Budget sections of the
proposal, as well as any essential attachments, in Microsoft Word and/
or Excel to the program office at ORourkeMM@state.gov (Algeria),
PiersonCompeauHM@state.gov (Philippines and Serbia), and
LantzCS@state.gov (all). The Bureau will provide these files
electronically to the relevant U.S. Embassies for their review.
IV.3f.2--Submitting Electronic Applications
Applicants have the option of submitting proposals electronically
through Grants.gov (https://www.grants.gov). Complete solicitation
packages are available at Grants.gov in the ``Find'' portion of the
system. Please follow the instructions available in the ``Get Started''
portion of the site (https://www.grants.gov/GetStarted).
Several of the steps in the Grants.gov registration process could
take several weeks. Therefore, applicants should check with appropriate
staff within their organizations immediately after reviewing this RFGP
to confirm or determine their registration status with Grants.gov.
Once registered, the amount of time it can take to upload an
application will vary depending on a variety of factors including the
size of the application and the speed of your internet connection. 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 Web site 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 Web site. ECA strongly recommends that all
potential applicants review thoroughly the Grants.gov Web site, 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
[[Page 67563]]
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
assistance awards (grants) resides with the Bureau's Grants Officer.
Review Criteria
Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed
according to the criteria stated below:
1. Quality of the program idea: The proposed program should be well
developed, respond to design outlined in the solicitation, and
demonstrate originality. It should be clearly and accurately written,
substantive, and with sufficient detail. Proposals should exhibit
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's
mission.
2. Program planning and ability to achieve program objectives: A
detailed agenda and work plan should clearly demonstrate how project
objectives will be achieved. The agenda and plan should adhere to the
program overview and guidelines described above. The substance of
workshops, seminars, presentations, school-based activities, and/or
site visits should be described in detail. Objectives should be
reasonable, feasible, and flexible. The proposal should clearly
demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's objectives and
plan.
3. Support of diversity: The proposal should demonstrate the
recipient's commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding of
diversity in program content. Applicants should demonstrate readiness
to accommodate participants with physical disabilities.
4. Institutional capacity and track record: Proposed personnel and
institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve
the program goals. The proposal should demonstrate an institutional
record, including responsible fiscal management and full compliance
with all reporting requirements for past Bureau awards (grants or
cooperative agreements) as determined by the Bureau's Office of
Contracts. The Bureau will consider the past performance.
5. Program evaluation: The proposal should include a plan to
evaluate the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at
the end of the program. The proposal should include a draft survey
questionnaire or other technique plus description of a methodology to
use to link outcomes to original project objectives. The grant
recipient will be expected to submit intermediate reports after each
project component is concluded.
6. Cost-effectiveness and cost sharing: The applicant should
demonstrate efficient use of Bureau funds. 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. The proposal should maximize cost-sharing
through other private sector support as well as institutional direct
funding contributions, which demonstrates institutional and community
commitment.
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 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 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) Interim reports, as required in the Bureau grant agreement.
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
[[Page 67564]]
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: Carolyn Lantz,
Program Officer, Youth Programs Division, Office of Citizen Exchanges,
ECA/PE/C/PY, Room 568, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street,
SW., Washington, DC 20547, Telephone: (202) 203-7505, Fax: (202) 203-
7529, E-mail: LantzCS@state.gov.
All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should
reference the above title and number ECA/PE/C/PY-09-10.
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.
Goli Ameri,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of
State.
[FR Doc. E8-26948 Filed 11-13-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P