Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant Proposals: Youth Leadership Program With Central America, 15033-15039 [E9-7215]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 62 (Thursday, April 2, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15033-15039]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-7215]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6564]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Youth Leadership Program With Central America

    Announcement Type: New Grant.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-09-40.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000.
    Application Deadline: May 28, 2009.
    Executive Summary: The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs 
Division, of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) 
announces an open competition for the Youth Leadership Program with 
Central America. 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 youth and adult 
participants in the seven countries of Central America and to provide 
the participants with three-week, U.S.-based exchanges focused on 
entrepreneurship and business skills, community engagement, and 
leadership. The program will conclude with follow-on activities in the 
participants' home communities in which they apply the knowledge and 
skills acquired during the exchange experience. ECA plans to award a 
single grant for the management of the program and encourages 
organizations to work together as partners for effective administration 
in all seven countries and in the United States.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Authority

    Overall grant making authority for this program is contained in the 
Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended, 
Public Law 87-256, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act. The purpose of 
the Act is ``to enable the Government of the United States to increase 
mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the 
people of other countries * * *; to strengthen the ties which unite us 
with other nations by demonstrating the educational and cultural 
interests, developments, and achievements of the people of the United 
States and other nations * * * and thus to assist in the development of 
friendly, sympathetic, and peaceful relations between the United States 
and the other countries of the world.'' The funding authority for the 
program above is provided through legislation.
    Overview: This Youth Leadership Program will bring secondary 
school-aged youth (ages 16-18) and adult educators from seven countries 
in Central America to the United States for three-week exchanges 
focused on entrepreneurship and business skills, community engagement, 
and leadership. The youth participants will be recruited from 
underserved or disadvantaged populations in these countries.
    The participating countries are Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, 
Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.
    The goals of the programs are to (1) promote mutual understanding 
between the United States and the people of Central America; (2) 
provide young adults with transferable skills appropriate to their 
needs; (3) develop a sense of civic responsibility to community and 
business development among youth; and (4) foster relationships among 
youth from different ethnic, religious, and national groups.
    Applicant organizations should identify their own specific 
objectives and measurable outcomes based on these program goals and the 
project specifications provided in this solicitation.
    ECA plans to award a single grant for the management of the program 
in all seven countries. The Bureau encourages organizations with 
expertise in a few of the participating countries to partner with other 
organizations with experience in the remaining countries in order to 
submit a single comprehensive proposal. Consortia must designate a lead 
institution for the grant award.
    Through this program, five exchange projects in the United States 
will be offered for a total of approximately 110-120 youth and 
educators.
    One project for Belize will be conducted in English, and will be 
designed for approximately 14 participants.
    Four other projects will be conducted in Spanish, with interpreters 
accompanying the students. As proposed by applicant organizations, the 
Spanish-language projects will be single-country or regional projects, 
i.e., a group of students may be drawn from multiple participating 
countries in order to promote regional cooperation. Each of these 
exchange projects should be designed for 20 to 30 participants.
    Examples of possible Spanish-language projects include:
     One delegation of 24 participants from Guatemala travels 
to the United States in April.
     Two delegations of 27 participants each, with 9 
participants each from El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua, travel to 
the United States in April and September.
     One delegation of 24 participants from Panama and Costa 
Rica, with 12 participants from each country, travels to the United 
States in May.
    The preceding are only examples of possible projects, and should 
not be construed as Bureau preferences. Organizations are encouraged to 
be creative and flexible in their arrangements and to be responsive to 
Embassy preferences.
    Planning will start in 2009, and after a careful recruitment and 
selection process, the exchanges will take place at various points 
throughout 2010, including during the U.S. school year.
    The organization that receives the grant will recruit and select 
the exchange participants, provide a U.S.-based exchange experience, 
and lead the alumni in implementing projects in their home communities, 
enabling them to apply their newfound skills. A portion of the funding 
will be used to support in-country activities with all alumni and their 
peers in order to promote integration among youth in each country.
    The exchange activities will focus on school-to-work transition, 
allowing the participants to develop practical business and job skills, 
such as communication, technology, marketing, and financial management 
skills. They will also explore the effective and sustainable use of 
resources, learn about civic engagement, life skills, and ethics, and 
identify the appropriate conditions for entrepreneurial projects. 
Activities will include workshops, school visits, community service/
volunteer work, and site visits with community organizations and local 
businesses. Participants will live with American host families for a 
portion of the exchange period and have opportunities to interact with 
their American peers, including students of Spanish.
    The applicant should present a program plan that allows the 
participants to thoroughly explore the themes in a creative, memorable, 
and practical way. Activities should be designed to provide practical 
knowledge and skills that the participants can

[[Page 15034]]

apply to school, work, and civic activities at home in a positive and 
productive way.
    U.S. Embassy Involvement: Before submitting a proposal, applicants 
should consult with the Public Affairs Officers at U.S. Embassies in 
the participating countries as they develop proposals responding to 
this RFGP, particularly to review recruitment and the audience for the 
exchange and the timing of the exchange. Please e-mail ECA Program 
Officer Carolyn Lantz (LantzCS@state.gov) for contact information. 
Also, it is important that the proposal narrative clearly state the 
applicant's commitment to consult closely with the Public Affairs 
Section of the U.S. Embassy in the relevant countries to develop plans 
for project implementation and to select project participants.
    Organizational Capacity: Applicant organizations must demonstrate 
their capacity for doing projects of this nature, focusing on three 
areas of competency: (1) Provision of programs that address the goals 
and themes outlined in this document; (2) age-appropriate programming 
for youth; and (3) previous experience working on programs with Latin 
America. Applicants must have the organizational capacity in the 
participating countries necessary to implement the in-country 
activities, or they must partner with an organization or institution 
with the requisite capacity to recruit and select participants for the 
program and to provide follow-on activities. The importance of a 
viable, experienced in-country partner cannot be over-emphasized.
    Organizations must convincingly demonstrate their capacity to 
manage a complex, multi-phase program with several separate exchange 
projects.
    Guidelines: The grant will begin on or about September 1, 2009. The 
grant period will be approximately 18 months in duration, as 
appropriate for the applicant's program design. Applicants should 
propose the period of the exchange(s) in their proposals, but the exact 
timing of the project may be altered through the mutual agreement of 
the Department of State and the grant recipient.
    The grant recipient will be responsible for the following:
     Recruitment and selection of youth and adult educators 
from diverse geographic regions in the partner countries. The Public 
Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in the partner country will have a 
key role in developing a recruitment strategy and deciding how 
finalists are chosen.
     Provision of orientations for exchange participants and 
for those participating from the host communities.
     Designing and planning of activities that provide a 
substantive project on the specified themes. Some activities should be 
school and/or community-based, as feasible, and the projects will 
involve as much sustained interaction with American peers as possible.
     Homestay arrangements with properly screened and briefed 
American families for the majority of the exchange period.
     Provision of effective interpretation and translation for 
the Spanish-language projects.
     Logistical arrangements, including visa applications, 
international and domestic travel, accommodations, and disbursement of 
stipends.
     Follow-on activities in the partner country that reinforce 
the ideas, values and skills imparted during the U.S. program through 
community projects.
    Recruitment and Selection: The grant recipient will manage the 
recruitment and merit-based selection of participants in cooperation 
with the Public Affairs Sections of the U.S. Embassies in the seven 
participating countries. The grant recipient must consult with the 
Public Affairs Section at the U.S. Embassy to review a recruitment and 
participant selection plan and to determine the degree of Embassy 
involvement in the process.
    Organizers must strive for regional, socio-economic, and ethnic 
diversity, as well as gender balance. The Department of State and/or 
its overseas representatives will have final approval of all selected 
delegations.
    Participants: The youth participants will be teenagers, 16 to 18 
years old, recruited from underserved or disadvantaged populations of 
youth in these countries, including public school students, high school 
dropouts, and those at risk for involvement with drugs and/or gang 
activities. The exchange participants will also include adults who are 
teachers, school administrators, and/or community leaders who work with 
youth; they will have the dual role of both exchange participant and 
chaperone. The ratio of teenagers to adults will be approximately 6:1. 
Participants from Hispanophone countries will not need to speak 
English; the grantee organization will provide interpretation for the 
program and will place them with suitable host families.
    U.S. Program: High school students and educators will spend 
approximately 21 days in the United States--in Washington, DC, and in 
one or two other communities--on an intensive program that is designed 
to develop the participants' knowledge and skill base in 
entrepreneurship and business skills, community engagement, and 
leadership.
    The U.S. program should focus primarily on interactive activities, 
practical experiences, and other hands-on opportunities related to the 
program themes. All programming should include American teenagers 
wherever possible. The program will also provide opportunities for the 
adult educators to work with their American peers. Cultural, social, 
and recreational activities will balance the schedule. Participants 
will live with American families in homestays for at least half of the 
exchange period.
    Follow-on Activities and In-Country Programming: In-country 
activities that help to support alumni in their post-exchange 
activities are required, and should enable the alumni to share their 
experiences and apply their skills. Applicant organizations should 
present creative and effective ways to address the project themes, for 
both program participants and their peers, as a means to amplify the 
program impact. U.S. project staff or trainers should travel to the 
partner countries several months after the exchange to conduct 
trainings that reinforce the themes of the exchange.
    All participants and alumni should identify themselves with the 
Youth Leadership Program with Central America. Materials produced for 
grant activities need to acknowledge the U.S. Department of State as 
the sponsor and reflect the State Department's goals for the program.
    The Bureau reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase 
proposal budgets and participant numbers in accordance with the needs 
of the program and the availability of funds.
    Proposals must demonstrate how the stated objectives will be met. 
The proposal narrative should provide detailed information on the major 
program activities, and applicants should explain and justify their 
programmatic choices. Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations 
for the International Visitor category.
    Please be sure to refer to the complete Solicitation Package--this 
RFGP, the Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI), and the 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI)--for further information.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Grant Agreement.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY-2008 Economic Support Funds transferred to 
ECA in FY-2009 for obligation.

[[Page 15035]]

    Approximate Total Funding: $994,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: One.
    Floor of Award Range: $994,000.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $994,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: September 1, 2009.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: Approximately 18 months after 
start date, to be specified by the applicant based on project plan.

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 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 
that 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 with less than four 
years experience in conducting international exchanges be limited to 
$60,000 in Bureau funding. ECA anticipates making an award in an amount 
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. Proposed sub-award recipients are also limited to grant 
funding of $60,000 or less if they do not have four years of experience 
in conducting international exchanges.
    III.3.c. 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-
40 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-09-40 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 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, the award 
recipient will also be required to submit a one-page document, derived 
from program reports, listing and describing grant activities. For the 
award recipient, 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.

[[Page 15036]]

    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.
    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, 
recordkeeping, 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

[[Page 15037]]

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.)

    The Recipient organization will be required to provide reports 
analyzing evaluation findings to the Bureau in 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.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 28, 2009.
    Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-09-40.
    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-09-40, 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 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, 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.

[[Page 15038]]

    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 
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 support 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 participant recruitment and selection and in program 
content. Applicants should demonstrate readiness to accommodate 
participants with physical disabilities.
    4. Institutional capacity and track record: Proposed personnel and 
institutional resources in both the United States and the partner 
country(ies) 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. The grant recipient will be expected to submit intermediate 
reports after each project component is concluded.
    6. Cost-effectiveness and cost sharing: The applicant should 
demonstrate efficient use of Bureau funds. The overhead and 
administrative components of the proposal, including salaries and 
honoraria, should be kept as low as possible. All other items should be 
necessary and appropriate. The proposal should maximize cost-sharing 
through other private sector support as well as institutional direct 
funding contributions, which demonstrates institutional and community 
commitment.

VI. Award Administration Information

    VI.1a. Award Notices: Final awards cannot be made until funds have 
been appropriated by Congress, allocated and committed through internal 
Bureau procedures. Successful applicants will receive a Federal 
Assistance Award (FAA) from the Bureau's Grants Office. The FAA and the 
original proposal with subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall 
be the only binding authorizing document between the recipient and the 
U.S. Government. The FAA will be signed by an authorized Grants Officer 
and mailed to the recipient's responsible officer identified in the 
application.
    Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of 
the application review from the ECA program office coordinating this 
competition.
    VI.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements: Terms and 
Conditions for the Administration of ECA agreements include the 
following:
    Office of Management and Budget Circular A-122, ``Cost Principles 
for Nonprofit Organizations.''
    Office of Management and Budget Circular A-21, ``Cost Principles 
for Educational Institutions.''
    OMB Circular A-87, ``Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian 
Governments''.
    OMB Circular No. A-110 (Revised), Uniform Administrative 
Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher 
Education, Hospitals, and Other Nonprofit Organizations.
    OMB Circular No. A-102, Uniform Administrative Requirements for 
Grants-in-Aid to State and Local Governments.
    OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of States, Local Government, and 
Non-profit Organizations.
    Please reference the following Web sites for additional 
information:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants
https://fa.statebuy.state.gov

    VI.3. Reporting Requirements: You must provide ECA with a hard copy 
original plus one copy of the following reports:
    1. 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.

[[Page 15039]]

    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-09-40.
    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.

    March 24, 2009.
C. Miller Crouch,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. E9-7215 Filed 4-1-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P