Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), 5199-5204 [E9-1926]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 18 / Thursday, January 29, 2009 / Notices or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. IV. Solicitation of Comments Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods: For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.18 Florence E. Harmon, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. E9–1943 Filed 1–28–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 5199 Montenegro and Serbia, place them with host families and schools for an academic year of study in the United States, provide activities that will enable the students to learn about leadership, civic responsibility, community activism, democracy, and American society, as well as to educate Americans about their countries and cultures, and to support alumni in projects at home. [Release No. 34–59185; File No. SR–NYSE–2008–141] I. Funding Opportunity Description • Use the Commission’s Internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/ rules/sro.shtml); or • Send an e-mail to rulecomments@sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–NASDAQ–2009–002 on the subject line. Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Change To Extend the Pilot Period for the NYSE Realtime Reference Prices Pilot Program Paper Comments Correction • Send paper comments in triplicate to Elizabeth M. Murphy, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090. rmajette on PRODPC74 with NOTICES Electronic Comments In notice document E9–9 beginning on page 749 in the issue of Wednesday, January 7, 2009 make the following correction: On page 750, in the third column, in the last line of the first paragraph, ‘‘January 27, 2009’’ should read ‘‘January 28, 2009’’. 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 FulbrightHays Act. The purpose of the Act is ‘‘to enable the Government of the United States to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries * * *; to strengthen the ties which unite us with other nations by demonstrating the educational and cultural interests, developments, and achievements of the people of the United States and other nations * * * and thus to assist in the development of friendly, sympathetic and peaceful relations between the United States and the other countries of the world.’’ The funding authority for program is provided through Support for East European Democracy (SEED) legislation. All submissions should refer to File Number SR–NASDAQ–2009–002. This file number should be included on the subject line if e-mail is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission’s Internet Web site (https://www.sec.gov/ rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for inspection and copying in the Commission’s Public Reference Room, on official business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR– NASDAQ–2009–002 and should be submitted on or before February 19, 2009. VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:25 Jan 28, 2009 Jkt 217001 Authority [FR Doc. Z9–9 Filed 1–28–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 1505–01–D DEPARTMENT of STATE [Public Notice 6499] Purpose Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant Proposals: American Serbia & Montenegro Youth Leadership Exchange (A–SMYLE) Program. Announcement Type: New Grant. Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/ PE/C/PY–09–19. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000. Key Dates: Application Deadline: March 27, 2009. Executive Summary: The Office of Citizen Exchanges’ Youth Programs Division announces an open competition for the American Serbia & Montenegro Youth Leadership Exchange (A–SMYLE) Program, for high school students from Montenegro and 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 proposals to recruit and select high school students aged 15–17 from 18 17 PO 00000 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). Frm 00058 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 The goals of the program are to develop a sense of civic responsibility and commitment to community development among youth; to foster relationships among youth from different ethnic, religious, and national groups; to assist the successor generation of Montenegro and Serbia in developing the qualities it will need to lead their countries in the 21st century; and to promote mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of Montenegro and Serbia. With these goals in mind, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) is sponsoring this program to provide scholarships for secondary school students from Montenegro and Serbia to spend one academic year in the United States, living with U.S. host families and attending high school. Programmatic activities will introduce students to the principles of youth leadership, civic education, civil society, and community service, as they are practiced in the United States. Upon the students’ return to Montenegro and Serbia, the program will continue to E:\FR\FM\29JAN1.SGM 29JAN1 5200 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 18 / Thursday, January 29, 2009 / Notices support the students with follow-on and alumni activities as they apply their experiences in the United States to their lives at home. Applicants should identify specific objectives that will demonstrate progress toward the goals stated above through the program. These will be the basis of an evaluation designed to measure the program’s success. Please see Section IV.3d.3. on program monitoring and evaluation. rmajette on PRODPC74 with NOTICES Guidelines Applicants must be able to implement the program components both in the United States and in Montenegro and Serbia. The organization must have an established office in Montenegro and/or Serbia, and must be able to dedicate key staff to this program who possesses a thorough understanding of the secondary school student J Exchange Visitor Program regulations. Student participants will arrive in their host communities during the month of August, and remain for 10 or 11 months until their departure between mid-May and June. Proposed funding would support approximately 85 participants for an academic year program in 2010–11. Approximately 21% of the total number should be recruited from Montenegro; the rest should be recruited from all regions of Serbia. Applicants should include a recruitment planning schedule. The students will enroll in a U.S. high school and live with an American family, developing an understanding of U.S. life and culture. In addition to these firsthand experiences, students will participate in activities specifically designed to teach them about community life, citizen participation in a democracy, and U.S. culture during the exchange period. While in the United States, the focus of many of the students’ enhancement activities will include principles of civil society, community service, and leadership through focused training and facilitation. Participants will have the opportunity to give presentations on their country and culture in community forums. Upon the students’ return to Montenegro and Serbia, the program will continue to support them as they apply their experiences in the United States to their lives at home. The ability of the grant recipient to track and engage alumni is a critical factor in the success of the program. Appropriate financial and organizational support for the follow-on component for alumni is as important as the U.S. exchange. VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:25 Jan 28, 2009 Jkt 217001 II. Award Information Type of Award: Grant Agreement. Fiscal Year Funds: 2009. Approximate Total Funding: $1,360,000. Approximate Number of Awards: One. Approximate Average Award: $1,360,000. Anticipated Award Date: Proposed start date is July 2009. Anticipated Project Completion Date: July 2012. Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of this program in subsequent fiscal years, it is ECA’s intent to renew this grant for two additional fiscal years, before openly competing it 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: 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 one award, in an amount up to $1,360,000 to support program and administrative costs required to implement this exchange program. Therefore, organizations with less than four years experience in conducting PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 international exchanges are ineligible to apply under this competition. The Bureau encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in support of its programs. IV. Application and Submission Information Note: Please read the complete Federal Register announcement before sending inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has passed, Bureau staff may not discuss this competition with applicants until the proposal review process has been completed. IV.1. Contact Information To Request an Application Package: Please contact the Youth Programs Division, Office of Citizen Exchanges (ECA/PE/C/PY), U.S. Department of State, SA–44, 301 4th Street, SW., Room 220, Washington, DC 20547, telephone: (202) 453–8158, fax: (202) 453–8169; e-mail: SchulzAJ@state.gov to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/ C/PY–09–19 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 Amy Schulz and refer to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/PY–09– 19 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/grants/ open2.html, 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 E:\FR\FM\29JAN1.SGM 29JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 18 / Thursday, January 29, 2009 / Notices 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. IV.3c. You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of application. Please note: Effective January 7, 2009, all applicants for ECA federal assistance awards must include in their application the names of directors and/ or senior executives (current officers, trustees, and key employees, regardless of amount of compensation). In fulfilling this requirement, applicants must submit information in one of the following ways: rmajette on PRODPC74 with NOTICES Those who file Internal Revenue Service Form 990, ‘‘Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax,’’ must include a copy of relevant portions of this form. Those who do not file IRS Form 990 must submit information above in the format of their choice. 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 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 organizations shall be ‘‘imputed to the sponsor in evaluating the sponsor’s compliance with’’ 22 CFR part 62. VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:25 Jan 28, 2009 Jkt 217001 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 PO 00000 Frm 00060 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 5201 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 time frame), the easier it will be to conduct the evaluation. You should also show how your project objectives link to the goals of the program described in this RFGP. Your monitoring and evaluation plan should clearly distinguish between program outputs and outcomes. Outputs are products and services delivered, often stated as an amount. Output information is important to show the scope or size of project activities, but it cannot substitute for information about progress towards outcomes or the results achieved. Examples of outputs include the number of people trained or the number of seminars conducted. Outcomes, in contrast, represent specific results a project is intended to E:\FR\FM\29JAN1.SGM 29JAN1 5202 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 18 / Thursday, January 29, 2009 / Notices 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. a. Institutional changes, such as increased collaboration and partnerships, policy reforms, new programming, and organizational improvements. rmajette on PRODPC74 with NOTICES 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. Alumni Outreach/Follow-on Programming and Engagement: Please refer to the Proposal Submissions Instruction (PSI) document for additional guidance. IV.3d.4 Describe your plans for: i.e. sustainability, overall program VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:25 Jan 28, 2009 Jkt 217001 management, staffing, coordination with ECA and PAS or any other requirements etc. IV.3e. Please take the following information into consideration when preparing your budget: IV.3e.1 Applicants must submit SF– 424A—‘‘Budget Information—NonConstruction Programs’’ along with a comprehensive budget for the entire program. Budget requests may not exceed $1,360,000. There must be a summary budget as well as breakdowns reflecting both administrative and program budgets. Applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase, location, or activity to provide clarification. IV.3e.2 Allowable costs for the program and additional budget guidance are outlined in detail in the POGI document. Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget guidelines and formatting instructions. IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission: Application Deadline Date: March 27, 2009. Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/PY– 09–19. 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 PO 00000 Frm 00061 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 delivery to ECA via the Internet. Delivery of proposal packages may not be made via local courier service or in person for this competition. Faxed documents will not be accepted at any time. Only proposals submitted as stated above will be considered. Important note: When preparing your submission please make sure to include one extra copy of the completed SF–424 form and place it in an envelope addressed to ‘‘ECA/ EX/PM’’. The original and seven copies of the application should be sent to: U.S. Department of State, SA–44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Ref.: ECA/PE/C/PY–09–19, Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, Room 534, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547. Applicants submitting hard-copy applications must also submit the ‘‘Executive Summary’’ and ‘‘Proposal Narrative’’ sections of the proposal in text (.txt) or Microsoft Word format on a PC-formatted disk. The Bureau will provide these files electronically to the appropriate Public Affairs Sections at the 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 E:\FR\FM\29JAN1.SGM 29JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 18 / Thursday, January 29, 2009 / Notices rmajette on PRODPC74 with NOTICES 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 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 at the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade and Podgorica. 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 VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:25 Jan 28, 2009 Jkt 217001 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. These criteria are not rank ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation: 1. Quality of the Program Idea: Proposals should exhibit originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau’s mission. 2. Program Planning and Ability To Achieve Program Objectives: Detailed agenda and relevant work plan should demonstrate substantive undertakings and logistical capacity. Agenda and plan should adhere to the program overview and guidelines described above. Objectives should be reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly demonstrate how the institution will meet the program’s objectives and plan. Reviewers will assess the degree to which proposals engage participants in community activities that involve skills development and leadership training. 3. Multiplier Effect/Impact: Proposed programs should strengthen long-term mutual understanding, including maximum sharing of information and establishment of long-term institutional and individual linkages. 4. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive support of the Bureau’s policy on diversity. Achievable and relevant features should be cited in both program administration (selection of participants, host families, schools, program venues and program evaluation) and program content (orientations, program meetings, resource materials and follow-up activities). 5. Institutional Capacity and Institution’s Record: Proposed personnel and institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program or project’s goals. Reviewers will assess the applicant and its partners to determine if they offer adequate resources, expertise, and experience to fulfill program objectives. Partner activities should be clearly defined. Proposals should demonstrate an institutional record of successful exchange programs, including responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting requirements for past Bureau awards (grants or cooperative agreements) as determined by Bureau Grants Staff. The PO 00000 Frm 00062 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 5203 Bureau will consider the past performance of prior recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants. 6. Follow-on Activities: Proposals should provide a plan for continued follow-on activity ensuring that Bureau supported programs are not isolated events. 7. Program Monitoring and Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to monitor and evaluate the program’s success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of the program. Reviewers will assess your plans to monitor student progress and program activities, particularly in regard to intended outcomes indicated in your proposal. The successful applicant will be expected to submit quarterly reports, which should be included as an inherent component of the work plan. A draft survey questionnaire or other technique, plus description of a methodology to use to link outcomes to original project objectives, is recommended. 8. Cost-effectiveness and Cost-sharing: The overhead and administrative components of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be kept as low as possible. All other items should be necessary and appropriate. Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through other private sector support as well as institutional direct funding contributions. Preference will be given to organizations whose proposals demonstrate a quality, cost-effective program. 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: E:\FR\FM\29JAN1.SGM 29JAN1 rmajette on PRODPC74 with NOTICES 5204 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 18 / Thursday, January 29, 2009 / Notices 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 websites 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.) Quarterly program and financial reports which should include both quantitative and qualitative data you have available. (3.) 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. This report does not replace the last quarterly report. (4.) A SF–PPR, ‘‘Performance Progress Report’’ Cover Sheet with all program reports. Award recipients will be required to provide reports analyzing their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program reports. (Please refer to IV. Application and Submission Instructions (IV.3.d.3) above for Program Monitoring and Evaluation information. All data collected, including survey responses and contact information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years and provided to the Bureau upon request. All reports must be sent to the ECA Grants Officer and ECA Program Officer listed in the final assistance award document. Program Data Requirements: Award recipients will be required to maintain VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:25 Jan 28, 2009 Jkt 217001 specific data on program participants and activities in an electronically accessible database format that can be shared with the Bureau as required. As a minimum, the data must include the following: (1) Name, address, contact information and biographic sketch of all persons who travel internationally on funds provided by the agreement or who benefit from the award funding but do not travel. (2) Itineraries of international and domestic travel, providing dates of travel and cities in which any exchange experiences take place. Final schedules for in-country and U.S. activities must be received by the ECA Program Officer at least three work days prior to the official opening of the activity. VII. Agency Contacts For questions about this announcement, contact: Amy Schulz, Office of Citizen Exchanges, ECA/PE/C/ PY, Room 220, U.S. Department of State, SA–44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547. Telephone: (202) 453–8158 Fax number: (202) 453– 8169, E-mail address: SchulzAJ@state.gov. All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should reference the above title and number ECA/PE/C/ PY–09–19. Please read the complete announcement before sending inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has passed, Bureau staff may not discuss this competition with applicants until the proposal review process has been completed. VIII. Other Information Notice: The terms and conditions published in this RFGP are binding and may not be modified by any Bureau representative. Explanatory information provided by the Bureau that contradicts published language will not be binding. Issuance of the RFGP does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the Government. The Bureau reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase proposal budgets in accordance with the needs of the program and the availability of funds. Awards made will be subject to periodic reporting and evaluation requirements per section VI.3 above. Dated: January 22, 2009. C. Miller Crouch, Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of State. [FR Doc. E9–1926 Filed 1–28–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710–05–P PO 00000 Frm 00063 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice 6497] Culturally Significant Objects Imported for Exhibition Determinations: ‘‘Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese: Rivals in Renaissance Venice’’ SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the following determinations: Pursuant to the authority vested in me by the Act of October 19, 1965 (79 Stat. 985; 22 U.S.C. 2459), Executive Order 12047 of March 27, 1978, the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 (112 Stat. 2681, et. seq.; 22 U.S.C. 6501 note, et. seq.), Delegation of Authority No. 234 of October 1, 1999, Delegation of Authority No. 236 of October 19, 1999, as amended, and Delegation of Authority No. 257 of April 15, 2003 [68 FR 19875], I hereby determine that the objects in the exhibition: ‘‘Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese: Rivals in Renaissance Venice,’’ imported from abroad for temporary exhibition within the United States, are of cultural significance. The objects are imported pursuant to loan agreements with the foreign owners or custodians. I also determine that the exhibition or display of the exhibit objects at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA, from on or about March 15, 2009, until on or about July 19, 2009, and at possible additional exhibitions or venues yet to be determined, is in the national interest. Public Notice of these Determinations is ordered to be published in the Federal Register. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, including a list of the exhibit objects, contact Julie Simpson, Attorney-Adviser, Office of the Legal Adviser, U.S. Department of State (telephone: (202–453–8050). The address is U.S. Department of State, SA– 44, 301 4th Street, SW., Room 700, Washington, DC 20547–0001. Dated: January 22, 2009. C. Miller Crouch, Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of State. [FR Doc. E9–1929 Filed 1–28–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710–05–P DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice 6498] Culturally Significant Objects Imported for Exhibition Determinations: ‘‘Art of the Korean Renaissance, 1400–1600’’ SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the following determinations: Pursuant to the authority vested in me by the Act of October 19, 1965 (79 Stat. 985; 22 U.S.C. 2459), Executive Order 12047 of March E:\FR\FM\29JAN1.SGM 29JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 18 (Thursday, January 29, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5199-5204]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-1926]


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DEPARTMENT of STATE

[Public Notice 6499]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA)

    Request for Grant Proposals: American Serbia & Montenegro Youth 
Leadership Exchange (A-SMYLE) Program.
    Announcement Type: New Grant.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-09-19.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000.
    Key Dates:
    Application Deadline: March 27, 2009.
    Executive Summary: The Office of Citizen Exchanges' Youth Programs 
Division announces an open competition for the American Serbia & 
Montenegro Youth Leadership Exchange (A-SMYLE) Program, for high school 
students from Montenegro and 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 proposals to recruit and select 
high school students aged 15-17 from Montenegro and Serbia, place them 
with host families and schools for an academic year of study in the 
United States, provide activities that will enable the students to 
learn about leadership, civic responsibility, community activism, 
democracy, and American society, as well as to educate Americans about 
their countries and cultures, and to support alumni in projects at 
home.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Authority

    Overall grant making authority for this program is contained in the 
Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, Public Law 87-
256, as amended, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act. The purpose of 
the Act is ``to enable the Government of the United States to increase 
mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the 
people of other countries * * *; to strengthen the ties which unite us 
with other nations by demonstrating the educational and cultural 
interests, developments, and achievements of the people of the United 
States and other nations * * * and thus to assist in the development of 
friendly, sympathetic and peaceful relations between the United States 
and the other countries of the world.'' The funding authority for 
program is provided through Support for East European Democracy (SEED) 
legislation.

Purpose

    The goals of the program are to develop a sense of civic 
responsibility and commitment to community development among youth; to 
foster relationships among youth from different ethnic, religious, and 
national groups; to assist the successor generation of Montenegro and 
Serbia in developing the qualities it will need to lead their countries 
in the 21st century; and to promote mutual understanding between the 
people of the United States and the people of Montenegro and Serbia.
    With these goals in mind, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs (ECA) is sponsoring this program to provide scholarships for 
secondary school students from Montenegro and Serbia to spend one 
academic year in the United States, living with U.S. host families and 
attending high school. Programmatic activities will introduce students 
to the principles of youth leadership, civic education, civil society, 
and community service, as they are practiced in the United States. Upon 
the students' return to Montenegro and Serbia, the program will 
continue to

[[Page 5200]]

support the students with follow-on and alumni activities as they apply 
their experiences in the United States to their lives at home.
    Applicants should identify specific objectives that will 
demonstrate progress toward the goals stated above through the program. 
These will be the basis of an evaluation designed to measure the 
program's success. Please see Section IV.3d.3. on program monitoring 
and evaluation.

Guidelines

    Applicants must be able to implement the program components both in 
the United States and in Montenegro and Serbia. The organization must 
have an established office in Montenegro and/or Serbia, and must be 
able to dedicate key staff to this program who possesses a thorough 
understanding of the secondary school student J Exchange Visitor 
Program regulations.
    Student participants will arrive in their host communities during 
the month of August, and remain for 10 or 11 months until their 
departure between mid-May and June.
    Proposed funding would support approximately 85 participants for an 
academic year program in 2010-11. Approximately 21% of the total number 
should be recruited from Montenegro; the rest should be recruited from 
all regions of Serbia.
    Applicants should include a recruitment planning schedule.
    The students will enroll in a U.S. high school and live with an 
American family, developing an understanding of U.S. life and culture. 
In addition to these firsthand experiences, students will participate 
in activities specifically designed to teach them about community life, 
citizen participation in a democracy, and U.S. culture during the 
exchange period. While in the United States, the focus of many of the 
students' enhancement activities will include principles of civil 
society, community service, and leadership through focused training and 
facilitation. Participants will have the opportunity to give 
presentations on their country and culture in community forums.
    Upon the students' return to Montenegro and Serbia, the program 
will continue to support them as they apply their experiences in the 
United States to their lives at home. The ability of the grant 
recipient to track and engage alumni is a critical factor in the 
success of the program. Appropriate financial and organizational 
support for the follow-on component for alumni is as important as the 
U.S. exchange.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Grant Agreement.
    Fiscal Year Funds: 2009.
    Approximate Total Funding: $1,360,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: One.
    Approximate Average Award: $1,360,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: Proposed start date is July 2009.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: July 2012.
    Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of this 
program in subsequent fiscal years, it is ECA's intent to renew this 
grant for two additional fiscal years, before openly competing it 
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: 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 one award, in an amount up to 
$1,360,000 to support program and administrative costs required to 
implement this exchange program. Therefore, organizations with less 
than four years experience in conducting international exchanges are 
ineligible to apply under this competition. The Bureau encourages 
applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in 
support of its programs.

IV. Application and Submission Information

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

    IV.1. Contact Information To Request an Application Package: Please 
contact the Youth Programs Division, Office of Citizen Exchanges (ECA/
PE/C/PY), U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Room 
220, Washington, DC 20547, telephone: (202) 453-8158, fax: (202) 453-
8169; e-mail: SchulzAJ@state.gov to request a Solicitation Package. 
Please refer to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/PY-09-19 
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 Amy Schulz and refer to the Funding 
Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/PY-09-19 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/grants/open2.html, 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

[[Page 5201]]

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.
    IV.3c. You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of 
application. Please note: Effective January 7, 2009, all applicants for 
ECA federal assistance awards must include in their application the 
names of directors and/or senior executives (current officers, 
trustees, and key employees, regardless of amount of compensation). In 
fulfilling this requirement, applicants must submit information in one 
of the following ways:

    Those who file Internal Revenue Service Form 990, ``Return of 
Organization Exempt From Income Tax,'' must include a copy of 
relevant portions of this form.
    Those who do not file IRS Form 990 must submit information above 
in the format of their choice.

    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 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 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 time frame), the easier it will be to conduct 
the evaluation. You should also show how your project objectives link 
to the goals of the program described in this RFGP.
    Your monitoring and evaluation plan should clearly distinguish 
between program outputs and outcomes. Outputs are products and services 
delivered, often stated as an amount. Output information is important 
to show the scope or size of project activities, but it cannot 
substitute for information about progress towards outcomes or the 
results achieved. Examples of outputs include the number of people 
trained or the number of seminars conducted. Outcomes, in contrast, 
represent specific results a project is intended to

[[Page 5202]]

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.
    a. 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.
    Alumni Outreach/Follow-on Programming and Engagement: Please refer 
to the Proposal Submissions Instruction (PSI) document for additional 
guidance.
    IV.3d.4 Describe your plans for: i.e. sustainability, overall 
program management, staffing, coordination with ECA and PAS or any 
other requirements etc.
    IV.3e. Please take the following information into consideration 
when preparing your budget:
    IV.3e.1 Applicants must submit SF-424A--``Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs'' along with a comprehensive budget for the 
entire program. Budget requests may not exceed $1,360,000. There must 
be a summary budget as well as breakdowns reflecting both 
administrative and program budgets. Applicants may provide separate 
sub-budgets for each program component, phase, location, or activity to 
provide clarification.
    IV.3e.2 Allowable costs for the program and additional budget 
guidance are outlined in detail in the POGI document.
    Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget 
guidelines and formatting instructions.
    IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission:
    Application Deadline Date: March 27, 2009.
    Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-09-19.
    Methods of Submission: Applications may be submitted in one of two 
ways: (1.) In hard-copy, via a nationally recognized overnight delivery 
service (i.e., DHL, Federal Express, UPS, Airborne Express, or U.S. 
Postal Service Express Overnight Mail, etc.), or (2.) electronically 
through https://www.grants.gov.
    Along with the Project Title, all applicants must enter the above 
Reference Number in Box 11 on the SF-424 contained in the mandatory 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) of the solicitation document.
    IV.3f.1 Submitting Printed Applications. Applications must be 
shipped no later than the above deadline. Delivery services used by 
applicants must have in-place, centralized shipping identification and 
tracking systems that may be accessed via the Internet and delivery 
people who are identifiable by commonly recognized uniforms and 
delivery vehicles. Proposals shipped on or before the above deadline 
but received at ECA more than seven days after the deadline will be 
ineligible for further consideration under this competition.
    Proposals shipped after the established deadlines are ineligible 
for consideration under this competition. ECA will not notify you upon 
receipt of application. It is each applicant's responsibility to ensure 
that each package is marked with a legible tracking number and to 
monitor/confirm delivery to ECA via the Internet. Delivery of proposal 
packages may not be made via local courier service or in person for 
this competition. Faxed documents will not be accepted at any time. 
Only proposals submitted as stated above will be considered.

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

    The original and seven copies of the application should be sent to: 
U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, Ref.: ECA/PE/C/PY-09-19, Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, Room 
534, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
    Applicants submitting hard-copy applications must also submit the 
``Executive Summary'' and ``Proposal Narrative'' sections of the 
proposal in text (.txt) or Microsoft Word format on a PC-formatted 
disk. The Bureau will provide these files electronically to the 
appropriate Public Affairs Sections at the 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

[[Page 5203]]

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 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 at the 
U.S. Embassy in Belgrade and Podgorica. 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. These criteria are not rank 
ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation:
    1. Quality of the Program Idea: Proposals should exhibit 
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's 
mission.
    2. Program Planning and Ability To Achieve Program Objectives: 
Detailed agenda and relevant work plan should demonstrate substantive 
undertakings and logistical capacity. Agenda and plan should adhere to 
the program overview and guidelines described above. Objectives should 
be reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly 
demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's objectives and 
plan. Reviewers will assess the degree to which proposals engage 
participants in community activities that involve skills development 
and leadership training.
    3. Multiplier Effect/Impact: Proposed programs should strengthen 
long-term mutual understanding, including maximum sharing of 
information and establishment of long-term institutional and individual 
linkages.
    4. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive 
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Achievable and relevant 
features should be cited in both program administration (selection of 
participants, host families, schools, program venues and program 
evaluation) and program content (orientations, program meetings, 
resource materials and follow-up activities).
    5. Institutional Capacity and Institution's Record: Proposed 
personnel and institutional resources should be adequate and 
appropriate to achieve the program or project's goals. Reviewers will 
assess the applicant and its partners to determine if they offer 
adequate resources, expertise, and experience to fulfill program 
objectives. Partner activities should be clearly defined. Proposals 
should demonstrate an institutional record of successful exchange 
programs, including responsible fiscal management and full compliance 
with all reporting requirements for past Bureau awards (grants or 
cooperative agreements) as determined by Bureau Grants Staff. The 
Bureau will consider the past performance of prior recipients and the 
demonstrated potential of new applicants.
    6. Follow-on Activities: Proposals should provide a plan for 
continued follow-on activity ensuring that Bureau supported programs 
are not isolated events.
    7. Program Monitoring and Evaluation: Proposals should include a 
plan to monitor and evaluate the program's success, both as the 
activities unfold and at the end of the program. Reviewers will assess 
your plans to monitor student progress and program activities, 
particularly in regard to intended outcomes indicated in your proposal. 
The successful applicant will be expected to submit quarterly reports, 
which should be included as an inherent component of the work plan. A 
draft survey questionnaire or other technique, plus description of a 
methodology to use to link outcomes to original project objectives, is 
recommended.
    8. Cost-effectiveness and Cost-sharing: The overhead and 
administrative components of the proposal, including salaries and 
honoraria, should be kept as low as possible. All other items should be 
necessary and appropriate. Proposals should maximize cost-sharing 
through other private sector support as well as institutional direct 
funding contributions. Preference will be given to organizations whose 
proposals demonstrate a quality, cost-effective program.

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:

[[Page 5204]]

    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 websites 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.) Quarterly program and financial reports which should include 
both quantitative and qualitative data you have available.
    (3.) 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. This report does not replace the last quarterly report.
    (4.) A SF-PPR, ``Performance Progress Report'' Cover Sheet with all 
program reports.
    Award recipients will be required to provide reports analyzing 
their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program 
reports. (Please refer to IV. Application and Submission Instructions 
(IV.3.d.3) above for Program Monitoring and Evaluation information.
    All data collected, including survey responses and contact 
information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years and 
provided to the Bureau upon request.
    All reports must be sent to the ECA Grants Officer and ECA Program 
Officer listed in the final assistance award document.
    Program Data Requirements: Award recipients will be required to 
maintain specific data on program participants and activities in an 
electronically accessible database format that can be shared with the 
Bureau as required. As a minimum, the data must include the following:
    (1) Name, address, contact information and biographic sketch of all 
persons who travel internationally on funds provided by the agreement 
or who benefit from the award funding but do not travel.
    (2) Itineraries of international and domestic travel, providing 
dates of travel and cities in which any exchange experiences take 
place. Final schedules for in-country and U.S. activities must be 
received by the ECA Program Officer at least three work days prior to 
the official opening of the activity.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: Amy Schulz, Office 
of Citizen Exchanges, ECA/PE/C/PY, Room 220, U.S. Department of State, 
SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547. Telephone: (202) 453-
8158 Fax number: (202) 453-8169, E-mail address: SchulzAJ@state.gov.
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number ECA/PE/C/PY-09-19.
    Please read the complete announcement before sending inquiries or 
submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has passed, Bureau staff 
may not discuss this competition with applicants until the proposal 
review process has been completed.

VIII. Other Information

    Notice: The terms and conditions published in this RFGP are binding 
and may not be modified by any Bureau representative. Explanatory 
information provided by the Bureau that contradicts published language 
will not be binding. Issuance of the RFGP does not constitute an award 
commitment on the part of the Government. The Bureau reserves the right 
to reduce, revise, or increase proposal budgets in accordance with the 
needs of the program and the availability of funds. Awards made will be 
subject to periodic reporting and evaluation requirements per section 
VI.3 above.

    Dated: January 22, 2009.
C. Miller Crouch,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. E9-1926 Filed 1-28-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P
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