Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), 13299-13305 [E9-6788]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 57 (Thursday, March 26, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13299-13305]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-6788]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6560]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA)

    Request for Grant Proposals: Youth Leadership Programs: South Asia 
and Southeast Asia.
    Announcement Type: New Grants.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-09-39.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.415.
    Application Deadline: May 14, 2009.
    Executive Summary: The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs 
Division, of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces 
an open competition for two Youth Leadership Programs, one for 21 
exchange participants from three countries in South Asia (Nepal, Sri 
Lanka, and the Maldives) and one for 50-60 participants from countries 
in Southeast Asia that are members of the Association of South East 
Asian Nations (Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the 
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam). 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 
conduct 25-day U.S.-based exchanges program for high school students 
and teachers from one of these regions. The activities will focus on 
civic education, leadership, diversity, and community activism, which 
will prepare participants to conduct projects at home that serve a 
community need.

I. Funding Opportunity Description:

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

    Purpose: The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) is 
supporting two new Youth Leadership Programs, one with three countries 
in South Asia (Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives) and one with up to 
ten countries in Southeast Asia, member states of the Association of 
South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). Each program will feature exchanges 
to the United States that are 25-days-long for teenagers (ages 15-17) 
and adult educators. The grant recipients will design and implement the 
U.S. exchange activities. U.S. Embassies in the participating countries 
will recruit, screen, and select the participants; arrange 
international travel to the United States; and work with alumni.
    These programs are designed to promote high-quality leadership, 
civic responsibility, and civic activism among our countries' future 
leaders. They will offer a practical examination of the principles of 
democracy and civil society as practiced in the United States and 
provide participants with training that allows them to develop their 
leadership skills. The applicant should present a program plan that 
allows the participants to thoroughly explore civic education in the 
United States in a creative, memorable, and practical way. 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. The English-speaking participants will live with American 
families for the majority of the exchange period. Multiple 
opportunities for participants to interact with American youth and 
educators must be included.
    The goals of the program are:
    (1) To promote mutual understanding between the people of the 
United States and the people of the partner countries;
    (2) To develop a sense of civic responsibility and commitment to 
community development among youth;
    (3) To develop leadership skills among secondary school students 
appropriate to their needs; and
    (4) To foster relationships among youth from different ethnic, 
religious, and national groups.
    A successful program will be one that nurtures a cadre of students 
and teachers to be actively engaged in addressing issues of concern in 
their schools and communities upon their return home and that equips 
them with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to become citizen 
activists.
    The Bureau anticipates providing two grants to support two discrete 
Youth Leadership Programs, one for each region. Note that the grant 
funds available through this solicitation are not intended to cover the 
international airfare for the exchange participants. Organizations may 
submit only one proposal, for either the South Asia program or the 
Southeast Asia program. The two programs will be judged independently 
and proposals will be compared only to proposals for the same region. 
ECA intends to award only one grant for each program.

Project A: South Asia Youth Leadership Program

    One grant. Funding for this grant is approximately $95,000.
    The program will be offered for 21 participants--six students and 
one

[[Page 13300]]

educator from each of the three participating countries: Nepal, Sri 
Lanka, and the Maldives.
    Applicants should propose 25-day exchange program in the United 
States that will take place between late November 2009 and late March 
2010. Applicants should propose the period of the exchange based on 
this timeframe, but the exact timing of the project may be altered 
through the mutual agreement of the Department of State and the grant 
recipients.
    In addition to the themes of civic education, community service, 
and leadership, applicants are invited to include sub-themes on care 
for the environment, media literacy, and/or drug abuse prevention, 
particularly as a mechanism for seeing what their peers in the United 
States are doing in these areas and as a tool for exploring the primary 
themes of the program.

Project B: Southeast Asia Youth Leadership Program

    One grant. Funding for this grant is approximately $275,000.
    All ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations 
(ASEAN) are eligible though not all may send participants: Brunei, 
Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, 
Thailand, and Vietnam.
    The program will be offered for a total of approximately 50 to 60 
participants. Participant numbers may be increased slightly; therefore, 
applicants should indicate the extent of their flexibility in 
accommodating additional participants, both programmatically and 
financially. The ratio of students to educators will be approximately 
5:1 or 6:1.
    Applicants should propose to implement two 25-day U.S. exchanges, 
one in late November/December 2009 and one in April 2010. Each exchange 
delegation will have between 20-35 participants, together totaling the 
anticipated 50-60 participants. The size of the two delegations might 
or might not be equal.
    In addition to the themes of civic education, community service, 
and leadership, applicants should include the sub-themes of 
environmentalism and entrepreneurship, particularly as a way to 
illustrate the primary themes.
    For Both Programs:
    Applicant organizations should outline their capacity for doing 
projects of this nature, focusing on three areas of competency of the 
staff directly associated with the program: (1) Provision of leadership 
and civic education programming, (2) age-appropriate programming for 
youth, and (3) demonstrated understanding of and experience in programs 
with the specified geographic region. Applicants need not have a 
partner in the participating countries, as the staff of the Public 
Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Embassies will recruit and select the 
participants and provide a pre-departure orientation.
    Guidelines:
    The grants will begin on or about August 15, 2009, pending the 
availability of funds. The grant period will be 12 to 18 months in 
duration, as appropriate for the applicant's program design. Applicants 
should propose the period of the exchange(s) based on the timeframes 
noted above, but the exact timing of the project may be altered through 
the mutual agreement of the Department of State and the grant 
recipients. The exchange period should be no less than 25 days, 
including international travel time.
    The participants will be students between the ages of 15 and 17 who 
have demonstrated leadership potential in their schools and/or 
communities. The educators will be high school teachers, or possibly 
community leaders who work with youth, who have demonstrated an 
interest in promoting youth leadership. Participants will be proficient 
in the English language.
    In pursuit of the goals outlined above, the grant recipients will 
provide the following:
     Information about the U.S. program and pre-departure 
materials to help the U.S. Embassies, participants, and their families 
in preparation for the exchange.
     A welcome orientation.
     Activities in one or two communities in the United States 
that provide a substantive program on civic education, community 
activism, and leadership through both academic and extracurricular 
components. A portion of the program, from two to six days, should be 
in Washington, DC (required for South Asia program; strongly encouraged 
for Southeast Asia program). Activities should take place in schools 
and in community settings. Community service must be included. It is 
crucial that programming involve American students whenever possible.
     Opportunities for the educators to work with their 
American peers to help them foster youth leadership, civic education, 
and community service programs at home.
     Homestay arrangements with properly screened and briefed 
American families for the majority of the exchange period.
     Logistical arrangements, disbursement of stipends, local 
travel, travel between U.S. sites, lodging and meals when not in the 
homestay.
     A closing session to summarize the project activities and 
prepare participants for their return home.
     Guidance on follow-on activities, in coordination with the 
U.S. Embassies, in order to advise the participants who have returned 
home on how to apply what they have learned during the exchange to 
address a community need.
    The proposal narrative must provide detailed information on the 
program activities outlined above, and applicants should explain and 
justify their programmatic choices. Proposals must demonstrate how the 
stated objectives will be met. Programs must comply with J-1 visa 
regulations for the International Visitor and Government Visitor 
categories.
    It is essential that all applicants refer to the three documents in 
the complete Solicitation Package--this Request for Grant Proposals 
(RFGP), the Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI), and 
the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI)--for further information.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Grant Agreements.
    Fiscal Year Funds: 2009.
    Approximate Total Funding:
South Asia Youth Leadership Program: $95,000.
Southeast Asia Youth Leadership Program: $275,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: Two.
    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, August 15, 
2009.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: 12 to 18 months after the 
onset of the award, to be determined by the applicant according to its 
program design.
    Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of this 
program and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, it is 
ECA's intent to renew this 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. Please note that cost sharing is 
one of the criteria by which proposals will be judged.

[[Page 13301]]

    When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the 
applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its 
proposal and later included in an approved grant agreement. Cost 
sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For 
accountability, you must maintain written records to support all costs 
which are claimed as your contribution, as well as costs to be paid by 
the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. The basis 
for determining the value of cash and in-kind contributions must be in 
accordance with OMB Circular A-110, (Revised), Subpart C.23--Cost 
Sharing and Matching. In the event you do not provide the minimum 
amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget, ECA's 
contribution will be reduced in like proportion.
    III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements:
    III.3.a. Bureau grant guidelines require that applicant 
organizations and sub-award organizations with less than four years 
experience in conducting international exchanges be limited to $60,000 
in Bureau funding. ECA anticipates awarding two grants, each exceeding 
$60,000, to support program and administrative costs required to 
implement this exchange program. Therefore, organizations with less 
than four years experience in conducting international exchanges at the 
time of application are not eligible to apply under this competition.
    III.3.b. 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, 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) 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-
39 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-09-39 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 website 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 
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 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:
    (1) 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.
    (2) Those who do not file IRS Form 990 must submit information 
above in the format of their choice.
    In addition to final program reporting requirements, award 
recipients will also be required to submit a one-page document, derived 
from their program reports, listing and describing their grant 
activities. For award recipients, the names of directors and/or senior 
executives (current officers, trustees, and key employees), as well as 
the one-page description of grant activities, will be transmitted by 
the State Department to OMB, along with other information required by 
the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), and 
will be made available to the public by the Office of Management and 
Budget on its USASpending.gov Web site as part of ECA's FFATA reporting 
requirements.
    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 
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.

[[Page 13302]]

    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 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.)

    Please Note: ECA strongly encourages organizations interested in 
applying for this competition to submit printed, hard copy 
applications as outlined in section IV.3f.1. above, rather than 
submitting electronically through Grants.gov. This recommendation is 
being made as a result of the anticipated high volume of grant 
proposals that will be submitted via the Grants.gov webportal as 
part of the Recovery Act stimulus package. As stated in these RFGPs, 
ECA bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from 
transmission or conversion processes for proposals submitted via 
Grants.gov.

    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

[[Page 13303]]

be maintained for a minimum of three years and provided to the Bureau 
upon request.
    IV.3e. Please take the following information into consideration 
when preparing your budget:
    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.
    Please refer to the POGI and PSI for complete budget guidelines and 
formatting instructions.
    IV.3.f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission:
    Application Deadline Date: Thursday, May 14, 2009.
    Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-09-39.
    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., Federal Express, UPS, Airborne Express, or U.S. Postal 
Service Express Overnight Mail, etc.), or
    (2.) electronically through https://www.grants.gov.

    Please Note: ECA strongly encourages organizations interested in 
applying for this competition to submit printed, hard copy 
applications as outlined in section IV.3f.1., below rather than 
submitting electronically through Grants.gov. This recommendation is 
being made as a result of the anticipated high volume of grant 
proposals that will be submitted via the Grants.gov webportal as 
part of the Recovery Act stimulus package. As stated in these RFGPs, 
ECA bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from 
transmission or conversion processes for proposals submitted via 
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, one fully-tabbed copy, and five (5) copies with Tabs 
A-E and appendices (no Tab F) should be sent to:
    U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, Ref.: ECA/PE/C/PY-09-39, 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 attachments essential to understanding the 
program, in Microsoft Word and/or Excel to the program officer at 
LantzCS@state.gov. The Bureau will provide these files electronically 
to the Public Affairs Section 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 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: grants.gov">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

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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: Objectives should be reasonable, 
feasible, and flexible. The proposal should clearly demonstrate how the 
institution will meet the program's objectives and plan. The proposed 
program should be well developed, respond to the design outlined in the 
solicitation, and demonstrate originality. It should be clearly and 
accurately written, substantive, and with sufficient detail. Proposals 
should also include a plan to provide guidance for participants' 
community activities upon their return home.
    2. Program planning: A detailed agenda and work plan should clearly 
demonstrate how project objectives would 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.
    3. Support of diversity: The proposal should demonstrate the 
recipient's commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding of 
diversity in program content.
    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 any past Bureau grants 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 program's success in meeting its goals, both as the 
activities unfold and after they have been completed. The proposal 
should include a draft survey questionnaire or other technique, plus a 
description of a methodology to link outcomes to original project 
objectives.
    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.

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. Interim reports, as required in the Bureau grant agreement.
    2. A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after 
the expiration of the award.
    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.
    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.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: Carolyn Lantz, 
Program Officer, Youth Programs Division, 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 the reference number ECA/PE/C/PY-09-39.
    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.

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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: March 19, 2009.
C. Miller Crouch,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. E9-6788 Filed 3-25-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P