Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant Proposals: Young Turkey/Young America: A New Relationship for a New Age, 15039-15047 [E9-7302]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 62 (Thursday, April 2, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15039-15047]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-7302]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6565]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Young Turkey/Young America: A New Relationship for a 
New Age

    Announcement Type: New Grant.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/EUR-SCA-09-45. Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance Number 00.000.
    Key Dates:
    Application Deadline: June 4, 2009.

Executive Summary

    Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced a new exchange 
program for Turkish and American young people while in Ankara on March 
7, 2009. This two part program, called ``Young Turkey/Young America: A 
New Relationship for a New Age,'' will bring 20 to 30 emerging leaders 
(ages 20-35) from the two countries together to develop grassroots 
initiatives that will positively impact people's lives and will result 
in stronger ties between the two nations.
    ECA is seeking proposals from qualified applicants for two separate 
programs. The Bureau expects total funding in the amount of $500,000 to 
be available. ECA expects to award a total of two grants in this 
competition of up to $250,000, one for each topic.
    The first project, ``Political Challenges for Future Leaders'' will 
enable 10-15 young professionals from Turkey and the United States to 
participate in a structured bi-national dialogue on foreign policy 
issues of importance to both countries, both face-to-face and via the 
full range of communication media.
    The second project, ``Social and Economic Challenges for Future 
Leaders'' will work to expand the capacity of grassroots organizations 
to empower women, to improve job skills for young people in 
economically disadvantaged communities and to raise environmental 
awareness and activism.

    Note: Applicants may not submit more than one proposal in this 
competition. Applicants that do so will be declared technically 
ineligible and will receive no further consideration in the review 
process.

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 initiative ``Young Turkey/Young America: A New Relationship for 
a New Age'' is built around two new exchange programs that will bring 
emerging young leaders (ages 20-35) in Turkey and the United States 
together to develop grassroots initiatives that will positively impact 
people's lives and deepen ties between the future leaders of both 
countries. It will also reach beyond the two new exchanges to network 
with alumni of previous leadership exchange programs in both countries 
to build a solid foundation of mutual understanding.
    Applicants must identify the U.S. and Turkish organizations and 
individuals with whom they are proposing to collaborate and describe 
previous cooperative activities, if any. Information about the mission, 
activities, and accomplishments of partner organizations should be 
included in the submission. Proposals should contain letters of 
commitment or support from partner organizations for the proposed 
project. Applicants should clearly outline and describe the role and 
responsibilities of all partner organizations in terms of project 
logistics, management and oversight.
    Competitive proposals will include the following:
     A brief description of the theme to be addressed and how 
it relates to Turkey and the United States. (Proposals that request 
resources for an initial needs assessment will be deemed less 
competitive under the review criterion Program Planning and Ability to 
Achieve Objectives, per item V.1 below.);
     A clear, succinct statement of program objectives and 
expected outcomes that responds to Bureau goals as listed in this RFGP. 
Desired outcomes should be described in qualitative and quantitative 
terms. (See the Program Monitoring and Evaluation section per item V.1 
below, for more information on project objectives and outcomes.);

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     A proposed timeline;
     A description of participant recruitment and selection 
processes;
     Letters of support from Turkish and U.S. partners. 
(Letters from prospective partner institutions should demonstrate a 
capacity to arrange and conduct U.S. and overseas activities.);
     An outline of the applicant organization's relevant 
expertise in the project theme and working in Turkey;
     An outline of relevant experience managing previous 
exchange programs;
     Resumes of experienced staff who have demonstrated a 
commitment to implement and monitor projects and ensure outcomes;
     A comprehensive plan to evaluate whether program outcomes 
will achieve the specific objectives described in the narrative. (See 
the Program Monitoring and Evaluation section [IV.3d.d below] for 
further guidance on evaluation.);
     A post-grant plan that demonstrates how the grantee plans 
to maintain contacts initiated through the program. Applicants should 
discuss ways that U.S. and Turkish participants or host institutions 
will collaborate and communicate after the ECA-funded grant has 
concluded. (See Review Criterion 5, per item V.1 below for 
more information on post-grant activities.)
     Successful projects will demonstrate the importance 
Americans place on community service as an element of active 
citizenship and may include ideas and projects to strengthen civil 
society through community service either during participants' stay in 
the U.S. or upon their return to Turkey.
     In addition to addressing the specific themes described 
below, proposals should develop partner organizations' capacity in such 
areas as strategic planning, performance management, fund raising, 
financial management, human resources management, and decision-making.
    U.S. Embassy Involvement: Before submitting a proposal, all 
applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with the Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs Washington, DC-based State Department 
contact, Brent Beemer; tel: 202-453-8147; e-mail: BeemerBT@state.gov. 
Applicants are also strongly encouraged to consult with Public Affairs 
Officers at U.S. Embassy in Ankara as they develop proposals responding 
to this. For direct contact information at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, 
please contact the Washington, DC-based State Department officer for 
this competition, Brent Beemer, listed above. 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 
Ankara to develop plans for project implementation and to select 
project participants. Proposals should also acknowledge U.S. Embassy 
involvement in the final selection of all participants. Applicants 
should state their willingness to invite representatives of the Embassy 
to participate in program sessions or site visits.
    Project Details:
Project 1: Political Challenges for Future Leaders: A Foreign Policy 
Dialogue Among Emerging Leaders
    This project is designed to support and to promote the 
participation of young Turkish leaders in the transatlantic dialogue on 
foreign policy issues. This program intends to show how democratic 
nations/governments/citizens can disagree--and very strongly--on 
specific issues with other countries, but still maintain healthy 
bilateral and interpersonal relationships. The program should work to 
bring together an equal number of Turkish and American professionals 
who, for the duration of the project, will work together, for the 
duration of the project, on fostering personal and institutional 
linkages through dialogue. This dialogue should center on major foreign 
policy issues of importance to the United States and Turkey, 
specifically regional cooperation, conflict management and resolution, 
and policy advocacy in a modern democracy. Competitive proposals will 
outline a framework for this dialogue and activities to foster the 
linkages to be developed. ECA envisions a program where U.S. and 
Turkish professionals form a core dialogue group that, with 
facilitation, develops an action plan that will be developed and 
implemented over the course of the exchanges and continued post-program 
to maintain engagement between the organizations. The action plan might 
include policy proposals to be presented to governmental officials in 
both countries, the development of a free-standing continuous dialogue 
association in both countries, the use of ``new media'' outlets such as 
weblogs, online videos, and social networking for joint projects, etc.
    Audience: Emerging leaders selected through merit-based 
competitions (10-15 from the U.S. and 10-15 from Turkey) age 20-35 
involved in international affairs from youth wings of political 
parties, NGOs with youth focus, universities, business organizations, 
active politicians, journalists, business people, think tanks, and 
cultural figures. Participants should include individuals who work at 
the local, state, and federal levels.
    A successful program will provide participants:
     The opportunity to engage in serious, important, and 
productive dialogue on international issues in ways that strengthen 
civil society and the democratic process.
     New links between a core group of emerging leaders in 
Turkey and the United States who will work together on policy 
formulation issues.
     Development of negotiation and advocacy skills among the 
participants.
     A better understanding of the processes involved in 
developing foreign policy including input from academia, think-tanks, 
media, interest groups, as well as government actors.
     A fuller understanding of the U.S. and Turkish political, 
social, and cultural structures that influence and shape foreign policy 
formulation.
    Ideal Program Model:
     An open recruitment and selection of a core group of 
participants from the U.S. and Turkey. In Turkey, recruitment and 
selection should include close consultation with the U.S. Embassy 
Public Affairs Section.
     A two to three week U.S.-based program where the core 
group of American and Turkish participants come together as one group. 
The majority of this program should include ``hands on'' work between 
the core group on skills trainings, leadership development, new 
technology opportunities, and the development of a joint action plan by 
the core group. Outside site visits, job-shadowing opportunities, and 
homestays--ideally with the U.S. participants--that compliment the core 
group work are encouraged. Should also include a one or two-day 
debriefing session at the end of the program in Washington, DC.
     A one to two week Turkey-based program where the core 
group of American and Turkish participants come together as a follow-on 
to what was done during the previous U.S.-based program. The majority 
of this program should continue facilitated work between the core group 
on skills trainings, leadership development, and the completion of the 
joint action plan by the core group. Outside site visits, job-shadowing 
opportunities, and homestays for the U.S. participants with the Turkish 
participants that compliment the core group work are encouraged.
     A follow-on period where the implementation of the joint 
action plan is completed. During this period, travel by select 
participants (one or two) to Turkey and/or the U.S. to further the

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implementation plan could be planned. Use of new information and 
communication technologies to enhance and broaden the dialogue should 
be implemented at this point.
Project 2: Social and Economic Challenges for Future Leaders: 
Grassroots Development in a Modern Democracy
    This project will work to expand the capacity of Turkish grassroots 
organizations (NGOs) to empower women, to improve job skills for young 
people in economically disadvantaged communities and to raise 
environmental awareness and activism. ECA envisions a ``hands on'' 
program where U.S. and Turkish grassroots organizations with similar 
missions will partner on joint projects (addressing women's 
empowerment, job skills for young people, and environmental awareness) 
that will be developed and implemented over a series of exchanges and 
continued post-program engagement between the organizations. ECA seeks 
competitive proposals that will build NGO capacity in practice, giving 
NGO leaders from the two countries opportunities to adopt best 
practices by doing. Joint projects should be developed, implemented, 
monitored and evaluated by both sides. The implementing U.S. grantee 
will be required to partner and involve one or more Turkish grassroots 
organizations in the program that have demonstrated a commitment to 
civil society development and the establishment of a dialogue between 
the government and non-governmental sectors in Turkey. Applicants 
should consult with the U.S. Embassy in Ankara when selecting these 
partners.
    Audience: Emerging grassroots leaders (10-15 from the U.S. and 10-
15 from Turkey selected through merit-based competitions) age 20-35 
involved with grassroots efforts in empowering women, improving job 
skills for young people in economically disadvantaged communities, and 
environmental awareness and activism.
    A successful program will provide participants:
     Developed leadership skills, including how to 
conceptualize and develop community-based projects to reach diverse 
citizenry, using clear objectives, solid management structures and 
evaluation feedback mechanisms at the local level;
     An understanding and review of the impact of public 
interest and government policies on the primary issues, as well as a 
comprehensive discussion of proposed solutions;
     An introduction to volunteerism and the ways in which 
different NGOs and charities give service to their communities. This 
includes knowledge of how the needs of a community are identified, how 
service organizations find their niches, how service projects are 
funded, and how they are organized;
     New links between emerging grassroots leaders and 
organizations in Turkey and the United States;
     A review of new technologies, such as weblogs, online 
videos, and social networking sites, and how these new media can be 
used to effect positive change in their communities.
     A fuller understanding of American and Turkish policies, 
political structures, societies, and cultures.
    Ideal Program Model:
     A two to three week U.S.-based program that would mainly 
focus on the development of a joint community-based project that both 
Turkish and U.S. participants would develop and implement for the rest 
of the program. This program could also include seminars; site visits; 
and individual mentoring for the Turkish participants. Programs should 
also include a one- or two-day debriefing and evaluation session at the 
end of the program in Washington, DC.
     A one to two week program in Turkey for U.S. participants. 
This would mainly focus on the continual implementation of the joint 
community-based project originally started during the U.S.-based 
program. This program could also include seminars; site visits; and on-
site consultancies by U.S. participants to Turkish organizations/
workplaces. It should also include a one- or two-day debriefing and 
evaluation session at the end of the program.
     The project should establish a plan for regular 
communication between participants through electronic and digital image 
communications. Also, the project should reach out to participants in 
other similar ECA exchange programs in Turkey. Programs could also 
support materials translated into Turkish, small grants for projects 
designed to expand the exchange experience and support for the 
development of alumni association.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Grant Agreement ECA's level of involvement in this 
program is listed under number I above.
    Fiscal Year Funds: 2009.
    Approximate Total Funding: $500,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 2.
    Approximate Average Award: $250,000.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $250,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, September 1, 
2009.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: August 31, 2011.

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 USC 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 two one awards, in 
an amount up to $250,000 to support program and administrative costs 
required to implement this exchange program. Therefore, organizations 
with less than four years experience in conducting international 
exchanges are ineligible to apply under this competition. The Bureau 
encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and 
funding in support of its programs.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    Note: Please read the complete announcement before sending 
inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has 
passed, Bureau staff may not discuss this competition with 
applicants

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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, Room 220, 
U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20547, (202) 453-8147, gustafsondp@state.gov to request a Solicitation 
Package. Please refer to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/EUR-
SCA-09-45 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.
    Please specify Program Officer Brent Beemer and refer to the 
Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/EUR-SCA-09-45 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 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.
    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,

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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.)
    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.3e. Please take the following information into consideration 
when preparing your budget:
    IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit SF-424A--``Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs'' along with a comprehensive budget for the 
entire program. Budget requests may not exceed $250,000 per proposal. 
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. Travel. International and domestic airfare; airline baggage and 
seat fees; visas; transit costs; ground transportation costs. Please 
note that all air travel must be in compliance with the Fly America 
Act. There is no charge for J-1 visas for participants in Bureau 
sponsored programs.
    2. Per Diem. For U.S.-based programming, organizations should use 
the published Federal per diem rates for individual U.S. cities. 
Domestic per diem rates may be accessed at: https://www.gsa.gov/Portal/
gsa/ep/contentView.do? programId=9704&channelId=-15943 
&ooid=16365&contentId=17943& pageTypeId=8203&content Type=GSA--
BASIC&program Page=%2Fep%2Fprogram%2FgsaBasic. jsp&P=MTT.
    ECA requests applicants to budget realistic costs that reflect the 
local economy and do not exceed Federal per diem rates. Foreign per 
diem rates can be accessed at: https://aoprals.state.gov/web920/per_diem.asp.
    3. Interpreters. For U.S.-based activities, ECA strongly encourages 
applicants to hire their own locally based interpreters. However, 
applicants may ask ECA to assign State Department interpreters. One 
interpreter is typically needed for every four participants who require 
interpretation. When an applicant proposes to use State Department 
interpreters, the following expenses should be included in the budget: 
Published Federal per diem rates (both ``lodging'' and ``M&IE'') and 
``home-program-home'' transportation in the amount of $400 per 
interpreter. Salary expenses for State Department interpreters will be 
covered by the Bureau and should not be part of an applicant's proposed 
budget. Bureau funds cannot support interpreters who

[[Page 15044]]

accompany delegations from their home country or travel 
internationally.
    4. Book and Cultural Allowances. Foreign participants are entitled 
to a one-time cultural allowance of $150 per person, plus a book 
allowance of $50. Interpreters should be reimbursed up to $150 for 
expenses when they escort participants to cultural events. U.S. program 
staff, trainers or participants are not eligible to receive these 
benefits.
    5. Consultants. Consultants may be used to provide specialized 
expertise or to make presentations. Honoraria rates should not exceed 
$250 per day. Organizations are encouraged to cost-share rates that 
would exceed that figure. Subcontracting organizations may also be 
employed, in which case the written agreement between the prospective 
grantee and sub-grantee should be included in the proposal. Such sub-
grants should detail the division of responsibilities and proposed 
costs, and subcontracts should be itemized in the budget.
    6. Room rental. The rental of meeting space should not exceed $250 
per day. Any rates that exceed this amount should be cost shared.
    7. Materials. Proposals may contain costs to purchase, develop and 
translate materials for participants. Costs for high quality 
translation of materials should be anticipated and included in the 
budget. Grantee organizations should expect to submit a copy of all 
program materials to ECA, and ECA support should be acknowledged on all 
materials developed with its funding.
    8. Equipment. Applicants may propose to use grant funds to purchase 
equipment, such as computers and printers; these costs should be 
justified in the budget narrative. Costs for furniture are not allowed.
    9. Working meal. Normally, no more than one working meal may be 
provided during the program. Per capita costs may not exceed $15-$25 
for lunch and $20-$35 for dinner, excluding room rental. The number of 
invited guests may not exceed participants by more than a factor of 
two-to-one. When setting up a budget, interpreters should be considered 
``participants.''
    10. Return travel allowance. A return travel allowance of $70 for 
each foreign participant may be included in the budget. This allowance 
would cover incidental expenses incurred during international travel.
    11. Health Insurance. Foreign participants will be covered during 
their participation in the program by the ECA-sponsored Accident and 
Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE), for which the grantee must 
enroll them. Details of that policy can be provided by the contact 
officers identified in this solicitation. The premium is paid by ECA 
and should not be included in the grant proposal budget. However, 
applicants are permitted to include costs for travel insurance for U.S. 
participants in the budget.
    12. Wire transfer fees. When necessary, applicants may include 
costs to transfer funds to partner organizations overseas. Grantees are 
urged to research applicable taxes that may be imposed on these 
transfers by host governments.
    13. In-country travel costs for visa processing purposes. Given the 
requirements associated with obtaining J-1 visas for ECA-supported 
participants, applicants should include costs for any travel associated 
with visa interviews or DS-2019 pick-up.
    14. Administrative Costs. Costs necessary for the effective 
administration of the program may include salaries for grantee 
organization employees, benefits, and other direct and indirect costs 
per detailed instructions in the Application Package. While there is no 
rigid ratio of administrative to program costs, proposals in which the 
administrative costs do not exceed 25% of the total requested ECA grant 
funds will be more competitive under the cost effectiveness and cost 
sharing criterion, per item V.1 below. Proposals should show strong 
administrative cost sharing contributions from the applicant, the in-
country. 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 4, 2009.
    Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/EUR-SCA-09-45.
    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 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 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/EUER-SCA-09-45, 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

[[Page 15045]]

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 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.

    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 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 award 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. Program Planning and Ability to Achieve Objectives: Program 
objectives should be stated clearly and should reflect the applicant's 
expertise in the subject area and region. Objectives should respond to 
the topics in this announcement and should relate to the current 
conditions in the target country/countries. A detailed agenda and 
relevant work plan should explain how objectives will be achieved and 
should include a timetable for completion of major tasks. The substance 
of workshops, internships, seminars and/or consulting should be 
described in detail. Sample schedules should be outlined. 
Responsibilities of proposed in-country partners should be clearly 
described. A discussion of how the applicant intends to address 
language issues should be included, if needed.
    2. Institutional Capacity: Proposals should include (1) the 
institution's mission and date of establishment; (2) detailed 
information about proposed in-country partner(s) and the history of the 
partnership; (3) an outline of prior awards--U.S. government and/or 
private support received for the target theme/country/region; and (4) 
descriptions of experienced staff members who will implement the 
program. The proposal should reflect the institution's expertise in the 
subject area and knowledge of the conditions in the target country/
countries. Proposals should demonstrate an institutional record of 
successful exchange programs, including responsible fiscal management 
and full compliance with all reporting requirements for past Bureau 
grants as determined by Bureau Grants Staff. The Bureau will consider 
the past performance of prior recipients and the demonstrated potential 
of new applicants. Proposed personnel and institutional resources 
should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program's goals. The 
Bureau strongly encourages applicants to submit letters of support from 
proposed in-country partners.
    3. Cost Effectiveness and Cost Sharing: Overhead and administrative 
costs in the proposal budget, including salaries, honoraria and 
subcontracts for services, should be kept to a minimum. Proposals in 
which the administrative costs do not exceed 25% of the total requested 
ECA grant funds will be more competitive (see IV.3e.2 14 for 
clarification on this). Applicants are strongly encouraged to cost 
share a portion of overhead and administrative expenses. Cost-sharing, 
including contributions from the applicant, proposed in-country 
partner(s), and other sources should be included in the budget request. 
Proposal budgets that do not reflect cost sharing will be deemed not 
competitive on this criterion.
    4. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive 
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Achievable and relevant 
features should be cited in both program administration (selection of 
participants, program venue and program evaluation) and program content 
(orientation and wrap-up sessions, program meetings, resource materials 
and follow-up activities).

[[Page 15046]]

Applicants should refer to the Bureau's Diversity, Freedom and 
Democracy Guidelines in the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) and 
the Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines section, Item IV.3d.2, 
above for additional guidance.
    5. Post-Grant Activities: Applicants should provide a plan to 
conduct activities after the Bureau-funded project has concluded in 
order to ensure that Bureau-supported programs are not isolated events. 
Funds for all post-grant activities must be in the form of 
contributions from the applicant or sources outside of the Bureau. 
Costs for these activities must not appear in the proposal budget, but 
should be outlined in the narrative.
    6. Program Monitoring and Evaluation: Proposals should include a 
detailed plan to monitor and evaluate the program. Program objectives 
should target clearly defined results in quantitative terms. 
Competitive evaluation plans will describe how applicant organizations 
would measure these results, and proposals should include draft data 
collection instruments (surveys, questionnaires, etc.) in Tab E. 
Successful applicants (grantee institutions) will be expected to submit 
a report after each program component concludes or on a quarterly 
basis, whichever is less frequent. The Bureau also requires that 
grantee institutions submit a final narrative and financial report no 
more than 90 days after the expiration of a grant.

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 electronic 
copy of the following reports:
    (1) A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after 
the expiration of the award;
    (2) A concise, one-page final program report summarizing program 
outcomes no more than 90 days after the expiration of the award. This 
one-page report will 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.
    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. Optional Program Data Requirements

    Award recipients will be required to maintain specific data on 
program participants and activities in an electronically accessible 
database format that can be shared with the Bureau as required. As a 
minimum, the data must include the following:
    (1) Name, address, contact information and biographic sketch of all 
persons who travel internationally on funds provided by the agreement 
or who benefit from the award funding but do not travel.
    (2) Itineraries of international and domestic travel, providing 
dates of travel and cities in which any exchange experiences take 
place. Final schedules for in-country and U.S. activities must be 
received by the ECA Program Officer at least three work days prior to 
the official opening of the activity.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: Brent Beemer, 
Office of Citizen Exchanges, ECA/PE/C, Room 220, U.S. Department of 
State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, (202) 453-
8147, beemerbt@state.gov.
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number ECA/PE/C/EUR-SCA-09-45. 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.


[[Page 15047]]


    Dated: March 25, 2009.
C. Miller Crouch,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. E9-7302 Filed 4-1-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P