Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant Proposals: Global Connections and Exchange Program, 15027-15033 [E9-7208]

Agencies

• [public Notice 6563]
• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 62 (Thursday, April 2, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15027-15033]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-7208]



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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6563]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Global Connections and Exchange Program

    Announcement Type: New Grant.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA-PE-C-PY-09-03.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000.
    Key Dates:
    Application Deadline: June 1, 2009.
    Executive Summary: The Youth Programs Division, Office of Citizen 
Exchanges, of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces 
an open competition for the Global Connections and Exchange (GCE) 
program. Public and private non-profit organizations meeting the 
provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3) 
may submit proposals to administer the following GCE programs: Program 
One: GCE Kyrgyzstan; and/or Program Two: GCE in countries in the Middle 
East/North Africa (see https://www.state.gov/p/nea/), South and Central 
Asia (see https://www.state.gov/p/sca/), and Sub-Saharan Africa (see 
https://www.state.gov/p/af). Countries of interest include: Kazakhstan, 
Maldives, South Africa, Tanzania, Algeria and Yemen. GCE programs are 
currently being funded in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Turkmenistan, and 
the West Bank; therefore, they are disqualified from this competition. 
While all other countries in the regions mentioned above qualify, 
proposals focusing on countries of interest will be deemed more 
competitive under the Quality of Program Idea review element (see V.1. 
REVIEW PROCESS). The Bureau will award one grant for the Kyrgyzstan 
program and one grant for the multi-country program. The grantee 
organizations and/or their partners will select overseas schools and 
develop collaborative school partnerships with U.S. schools. Thematic 
online projects will enhance learning, research and cross-border 
communication among participating schools. If feasible, a small number 
of U.S. and/or foreign participants may travel to partner schools for a 
minimum of three weeks in order to enhance mutual understanding and 
strengthen online relationships. All Global Connections and Exchange 
activities will be undertaken in regular and consistent consultation 
with the Youth Programs Division and the Public Affairs Section (PAS) 
of the U.S. Embassy in each participating country.

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 Global Connections and Exchange program is designed to 
introduce youth to a broad range of ideas and resources while enhancing 
the use of information technology in schools. Through this program, 
overseas secondary schools will expand computer literacy skills, 
improve general education, and gain a deeper understanding of U.S. 
society, culture, and values. They will also increase their capacity to 
generate change through programs that foster tolerance and mutual 
respect while promoting grassroots activism among youth. American 
students will, in turn, gain a greater understanding of foreign 
cultures and an interest in learning foreign languages while increasing 
their knowledge of international affairs. The goals of the program are:
     Generate personal and institutional ties between youth and 
educators in the United States and their overseas counterparts;
     Improve educational tools, resources, and learning through 
the application of information technology, online resource development, 
school partnerships, and student collaboration.
     Empower youth through online projects, Internet resources 
and leadership skills development to act as catalysts of change in 
their communities.
    Information about similar programs can be found at: https://exchanges.state.gov/youth/programs/connections.html. Applicants should 
identify specific objectives and measurable outcomes based on program 
goals and project specifications provided in the solicitation. Should 
organizations wish to apply for more than one program, they must submit 
a separate proposal for each. Each of the two programs will be reviewed 
independently. Organizations applying for the programs MUST refer to 
individual Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) 
guidelines for each of the two programs.

Guidelines

    Program 1--Kyrgyzstan: Total funding: $300,000. ECA will award one 
grant. The grant period will be 12 months in duration. The grant is 
intended to include a network of schools that have already been 
equipped with computers and Internet access. Grant funds may be used to 
provide equipment and connectivity to a small number of schools in 
rural areas.
    Program 2--Multiple countries: Total funding: $250,000. ECA will 
award one grant for the whole amount. To enhance diversity and expand 
opportunities, ECA strongly encourages the grant recipient to offer 
sub-awards to individual U.S. schools and school districts, education 
technology professionals and other qualified organizations that have 
substantive experience supporting online interaction between schools in 
the U.S. and schools overseas. Applicants offering sub-awards to 
partner organizations will be deemed more competitive under the Quality 
of Program Idea review element (see V.1. REVIEW PROCESS). The grant 
period will be 12 months in duration. Applicants should select the 
countries with which they plan to work and present a strong 
justification for their choices in their proposals.
    For both programs, applicants must demonstrate their capacity for 
conducting programs of this nature. This includes administrative 
infrastructure in the geographic areas from which schools will be 
selected and resources to link the foreign schools with schools in the 
United States to facilitate substantive online programs.
    Grants to be awarded under this competition will be based upon the 
quality and responsiveness of proposals to the review criteria 
presented later in this RFGP. The grants should begin on or about 
August 1, 2009.
    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.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Grant Agreement.
    Fiscal Year Funds: 2009.

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    Approximate Total Funding: $550,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: Kyrgyzstan--One award.
    Multiple countries--One award.
    Approximate Average Award: Kyrgyzstan--$300,000.
    Multiple countries--$250,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: September 1, 2009.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: September 2010.

Additional Information

    Pending successful implementation of these programs and the 
availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, it is ECA's intent to 
renew these awards 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 awards for each of 
the two programs in amounts exceeding $60,000 to support program and 
administrative costs required to facilitate activities. Therefore, 
organizations with less than four years experience in conducting 
international exchanges are ineligible to apply for either of the two 
grants. However, organizations are strongly encouraged to offer sub-
awards in order to enhance diversity and expand opportunities to 
organizations otherwise ineligible to apply.

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 Office of Citizen Exchanges, ECA-PE-C-PY, Room 
568, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, 
DC 20547, telephone: 202-203-7506, fax number: 202-203-7529, e-mail: 
MussmanAP@state.gov to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to 
the Funding Opportunity Number (ECA-PE-C-PY-09-03) 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 for each of the two programs, which provides specific 
information, award criteria and budget instructions tailored to this 
competition.
    Please specify Anna Mussman and refer to the Funding Opportunity 
Number (ECA-PE-C-PY-09-03) 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 
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 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:
    (2) Include a copy of relevant portions of this form.
    (3) 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

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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 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 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 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 62. If your organization has experience as a 
designated Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor, the applicant should 
discuss their record of compliance with 22 CFR 62 et seq., including 
the oversight of their Responsible Officers and Alternate Responsible 
Officers, screening and selection of program participants, provision of 
pre-arrival information and orientation to participants, monitoring of 
participants, proper maintenance and security of forms, record-keeping, 
reporting and other requirements.
    The Office of Citizen Exchanges of ECA will be responsible for 
issuing DS-2019 forms to participants in this program.
    A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of 
Exchange Visitor (J) programs is available at https://exchanges.state.gov or from: United States Department of State, Office 
of Exchange Coordination and Designation, ECA/EC/ECD--SA-44, Room 734, 
301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, Telephone: (202) 203-5029, 
FAX: (202) 453-8640.
    IV.3d.2 Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines: Pursuant to 
the Bureau's authorizing legislation, programs must maintain a non-
political character and should be balanced and representative of the 
diversity of American political, social, and cultural life. 
``Diversity'' should be interpreted in the broadest sense and encompass 
differences including, but not limited to ethnicity, race, gender, 
religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, and disabilities. 
Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere to the advancement of this 
principle both in program administration and in program content. Please 
refer to the review criteria under the `Support for Diversity' section 
for specific suggestions on incorporating diversity into your proposal. 
Public Law 104-319 provides that ``in carrying out programs of 
educational and cultural exchange in countries whose people do not 
fully enjoy freedom and democracy,'' the Bureau ``shall take 
appropriate steps to provide opportunities for participation in such 
programs to human rights and democracy leaders of such countries.'' 
Public Law 106-113 requires that the governments of the countries 
described above do not have inappropriate influence in the selection 
process. Proposals should reflect advancement of these goals in their 
program contents, to the full extent deemed feasible.
    IV.3d.3. Program Monitoring and Evaluation: Proposals must include 
a plan to monitor and evaluate the project's success, both as the 
activities unfold and at the end of the program. The Bureau recommends 
that your proposal include a draft survey questionnaire or other 
technique plus a description of a methodology to use to link outcomes 
to original project objectives. The Bureau expects that the recipient 
organization will track participants or partners and be able to respond 
to key evaluation questions, including satisfaction with the program, 
learning as a result of the program, changes in behavior as a result of 
the program, and effects of the program on institutions (institutions 
in which participants work or partner institutions). The evaluation 
plan should include indicators that measure gains in mutual 
understanding as well as substantive knowledge.
    Successful monitoring and evaluation depend heavily on setting 
clear goals and outcomes at the outset of a program. Your evaluation 
plan should include a description of your project's objectives, your 
anticipated project outcomes, and how and when you intend to measure 
these outcomes (performance indicators). The more that outcomes are 
``smart'' (specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and 
placed in a reasonable timeframe), the easier it will be to conduct the 
evaluation. You should also show how your project objectives link to 
the goals of the program described in this RFGP.
    Your monitoring and evaluation plan should clearly distinguish 
between program outputs and outcomes. Outputs are products and services 
delivered, often stated as an amount. Output information is important 
to show the scope or size of project activities, but it cannot 
substitute for information about progress towards outcomes or the 
results achieved. Examples of outputs include the number of people 
trained or the number of seminars conducted. Outcomes, in contrast, 
represent specific results a project is intended to achieve and is 
usually measured as an extent of change. Findings on outputs and 
outcomes should both be reported, but the focus should be on outcomes.
    We encourage you to assess the following four levels of outcomes, 
as they relate to the program goals set out in the RFGP (listed here in 
increasing order of importance):
    1. Participant satisfaction with the program and exchange 
experience.
    2. Participant learning, such as increased knowledge, aptitude, 
skills, and changed understanding and attitude. Learning includes both 
substantive (subject-specific) learning and mutual understanding.
    3. Participant behavior, concrete actions to apply knowledge in 
work or community; greater participation and responsibility in civic 
organizations; interpretation and explanation of experiences and new 
knowledge gained; continued contacts between participants, community 
members, and others.
    4. Institutional changes, such as increased collaboration and 
partnerships, policy reforms, new programming, and organizational 
improvements.

    Please note:  Consideration should be given to the appropriate 
timing of ata collection for each level of outcome. For example, 
satisfaction is usually captured as a short-term outcome, whereas 
behavior and

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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.
    IV.3d.4. Describe your plans for: Sustainability, overall program 
management, staffing, coordination with ECA and PAS and the development 
and implementation of online projects that promote mutual understanding 
and youth activism.
    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. 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 include the following:
    (1) Support for U.S. and overseas schools;
    (2) Small grants to encourage active participation;
    (3) Exchanges for a small group of teachers and/or students to/from 
the United States.
    Organizations are required to use free and existing Web sites for 
purposes of social networking and project implementation. Please refer 
to the Solicitation Package for complete budget guidelines and 
formatting instructions.
    IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission:
    Application Deadline Date: June 1, 2009.
    Reference Number: ECA-PE-C-PY-09-03.
    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.

    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 Web portal 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 and eight (8) 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-09-03, 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 Section(s) at the U.S. embassy(ies) for its 
(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 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 Web portal 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.

    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,

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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 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 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. The substance of online activities, including overall themes 
and strategies to build partnerships between American and overseas 
schools, should be described in detail. Reviewers will evaluate the 
applicant's understanding of the goals of the program, specifically as 
they relate to enhancing mutual understanding among participating 
countries and the United States. Please note: Proposals that involve 
schools in countries of interest (Kazakhstan, Maldives, South Africa, 
Tanzania, Algeria and Yemen) and offer sub-awards to qualified 
individuals and/or organizations will be deemed more competitive under 
this review element.
    2. Program Planning/Ability To Achieve Program Objectives: A 
detailed agenda and relevant work plan should explain how objectives 
will be achieved and should include a timetable for completion of major 
tasks. Objectives should be reasonable, feasible and flexible. 
Proposals should clearly demonstrate how the program design will 
fulfill stated objectives.
    3. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive 
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Geographic, gender and 
socio-economic diversity should be reflected in the selection of 
schools and participants. The curriculum content should reinforce 
cultural diversity in the broadest sense of the term. Reviewers will 
examine the extent in which diversity issues are incorporated into the 
curricula. Applicants are encouraged to facilitate activities specific 
to women, young girls and students with disabilities.
    4. Institutional Capacity/Record/Ability: Proposed personnel and 
institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve 
the program or project's goals. Proposals should exhibit significant 
experience in developing school-based Internet programs. Reviewers will 
assess the organization's institutional record of successful programs, 
including responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all 
reporting requirements as determined by the Bureau's Grants Division. 
The Bureau will consider the past performance of prior recipients and 
the demonstrated potential of new applicants.
    5. Follow-on Activities: Proposals should provide a plan for 
continued follow-on activity (without Bureau support) ensuring that 
Bureau supported programs are not isolated events. Reviewers will 
examine ways in which Web sites are managed and their applicability for 
use when funds are no longer available.
    6. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate 
the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of 
the program. A draft survey questionnaire or other technique plus 
description of a methodology to use to link outcomes to original 
project objectives is recommended.
    7. Cost-effectiveness/Cost sharing: The overhead and administrative 
components of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be 
kept as low as possible. All other items should be necessary and 
appropriate. Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through other 
private sector support as well as institutional direct funding 
contributions.

VI. Award Administration Information

VI.1a. Award Notices

    Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by 
Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures. 
Successful applicants will receive 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.1b The Following Additional Requirements Apply to This Project:

    For assistance awards involving Iran: A critical component of 
current U.S. government Iran policy is the support for indigenous 
Iranian voices. The State Department has made the awarding of grants 
for this purpose a key component

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of its Iran policy. As a condition of licensing these activities, the 
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has requested the Department of 
State to follow certain procedures to effectuate the goals of Sections 
481(b), 531(a), 571, 582, and 635(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 
1961 (as amended); 18 U.S.C. 2339A and 2339B; Executive Order 13224; 
and Homeland Security Presidential Directive 6. These licensing 
conditions mandate that the Department conduct a vetting of potential 
Iran grantees and sub-grantees for counter-terrorism purposes. To 
conduct this vetting the Department will collect information from 
grantees and sub-grantees regarding the identity and background of 
their key employees and Boards of Directors.

    Note: To assure that planning for the inclusion of Iran complies 
with requirements, please contact David Benze--Country Affairs 
Officer at 202-776-8985; e-mail_BenzeDK@state.gov for additional 
information.

    For assistance awards involving performance in a designated combat 
area:
Special Provision for Performance in a Designated Combat Area 
(Currently Iraq and Afghanistan) (December 2008)
    All Recipient personnel deploying to areas of combat operations, as 
designated by the Secretary of Defense (currently Iraq and 
Afghanistan), under assistance awards over $100,000 or performance over 
14 days must register in the Department of Defense maintained 
Synchronized Pre-deployment and Operational Tracker (SPOT) system. 
Recipients of federal assistance awards shall register in SPOT before 
deployment, or if already in the designated operational area, register 
upon becoming an employee under the assistance award, and maintain 
current data in SPOT. Information on how to register in SPOT will be 
available from your Grants Officer or Grants Officer Representative 
during the final negotiation and approval stages in the federal 
assistance awards process. Recipients of federal assistance awards are 
advised that adherence to this policy and procedure will be a 
requirement of all final federal assistance awards issued by ECA.
    Recipient performance may require the use of armed private security 
personnel. To the extent that such private security contractors (PSCs) 
are required, grantees are required to ensure they adhere to Chief of 
Mission (COM) policies and procedures regarding the operation, 
oversight, and accountability of PSCs.

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 of the following 
reports plus two copies of the following reports:
    (1) A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after 
the expiration of the award;
    (2) A concise, one-page final program report summarizing program 
outcomes no more than 90 days after the expiration of the award. This 
one-page report will will be transmitted to OMB, and be made available 
to the public via OMB's USAspending.gov Web site--as part of ECA's 
Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reporting 
requirements.
    (3) A SF-PPR, ``Performance Progress Report'' Cover Sheet with all 
program reports.
    (4) One interim report, midway into the program, describing 
activities and progress.
    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.

VI.4. 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.
    (3) Information about schools including, but not limited to, 
location, demography, participating teachers and classes.

    Note:  All travelers must have participated in online projects 
with a partner school.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: Anna Mussman, 
Office of Citizen Exchanges, ECA-PE-C-PY, Room 568, ECA-PE-C-PY-09-03, 
U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20547, telephone: 202-203-7506, fax number: 202-203-7529, E-mail: 
MussmanAP@state.gov.
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number ECA-PE-C-PY-09-03.
    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

[[Page 15033]]

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 23, 2009.
C. Miller Crouch,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. E9-7208 Filed 4-1-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P