Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant Proposals: Intensive Summer Language Institutes for Teachers Program, 23920-23925 [E9-11949]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 97 (Thursday, May 21, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23920-23925]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-11949]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6623]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Intensive Summer Language Institutes for Teachers 
Program

    Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
    Funding Opportunity Number:
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000.
    Key Dates:
    Application Deadline: July 7, 2009.
    Executive Summary: The Teacher Exchange Branch in the Office of 
Global Educational Programs at the Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs (ECA), U.S. Department of State, announces an open competition 
for a program that will enable U.S. language teachers to study Arabic, 
Chinese (Mandarin) and Russian in an Arabic-speaking country, the 
People's Republic of China, and Russia respectively during the summer 
of 2010. Public and private non-profit organizations meeting the 
provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) may 
submit proposals to cooperate with the Bureau in the administration of 
the program. Applicant organizations should design and implement three 
summer institutes for a minimum total of 25 teachers--fifteen to study 
Chinese (Mandarin), and five each to study Arabic and Russian. These 
summer institutes should offer intensive, structured classroom 
instruction as well as less formal interactive learning opportunities 
through a comprehensive exchange experience that primarily emphasizes 
language learning.

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: To strengthen the instruction of Arabic, Chinese 
(Mandarin), and Russian at U.S. K-12 schools and community colleges 
through intensive, substantive overseas language study for teachers, 
community college instructors, and students in the advanced stages of 
preparation to become teachers or instructors in these languages.
    Foreign language skills are essential tools for engaging foreign 
governments and peoples, especially in critical world regions, for 
promoting mutual understanding, and for conveying respect for other 
cultures. These skills equip Americans to support the nation's foreign 
affairs priorities, its economic competitiveness, and its educational 
institutions in efforts to prepare future citizens for full engagement 
in the global environment.
    ECA plans to award a single Cooperative Agreement for the 
administration and implementation of all three Intensive Summer 
Language Institutes for Teachers under this program. Organizations 
without expertise in the teaching of all three of the indicated 
languages are encouraged to seek partners with expertise in teaching 
the other language(s) in preparing their proposals. Consortia and other 
combinations of institutions must designate a lead institution to 
receive the award and administer the program.
    Applicant organizations may submit a proposal requesting funds not 
exceeding $500,000 to implement all three overseas language institutes 
between June and August 2010.
    Proposals should outline four distinct program components: (1) 
Publicity, recruitment, and selection; (2) orientation; (3) the 
language institutes; and (4) follow-on activities.
    (1) Publicity, Recruitment, and Selection: The cooperating agency 
will publicize the three language institutes as well as recruit, 
screen, and select U.S. elementary and secondary school teachers, 
community college instructors, and eligible students for the program. 
Applicant organizations should propose a comprehensive outreach plan to 
publicize and recruit for the program within the K-12, community 
college, and foreign language educational community in the U.S. This 
plan should include separate strategies for reaching teachers of 
Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), and Russian. Information about the program, 
along with all accompanying application materials, should be posted 
online by the cooperating agency. All application materials should be 
available in a sortable, searchable, electronically accessible database 
format that can be shared easily with the Bureau's program office upon 
request. The cooperating agency will be responsible for convening 
independent committees to select candidates for the program. The Bureau 
should be consulted regarding the selection of candidates and will 
approve the principal and alternate candidates for participation in the 
program.
    The Bureau intends to include participants who represent the 
diversity of the U.S. in all components of the program. Selection 
should be based on the teachers' professional backgrounds as language 
teachers, dedication to language teaching, and leadership potential. 
Applicants must be U.S. citizens and language teachers at elementary or 
secondary schools, community college instructors, or students in an 
advanced stage of preparation to teach Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), or 
Russian.
    (2) Orientation: The cooperating organization will organize a 
substantive, in-person, pre-departure orientation in the U.S. for all 
participants. The orientation should include thorough discussions of 
the goals and objectives of the program and should be developed and 
administered in consultation with the ECA program office. Comprehensive 
information packets should be provided to all participants prior to the 
orientation.
    Standardized pre-institute testing should be done to determine 
participants' initial language proficiency and subsequent progress. 
Applicant organizations should include in their proposals their plans 
to develop and implement an instrument to measure participants' 
increased language proficiency resulting from their participation in 
the program.
    The cooperating agency should provide the participants with an in-
country orientation upon arrival to familiarize them with the language 
institute and surrounding community.
    (3) Language Institutes: Each six-week institute will provide 
intensive language instruction in a classroom setting for approximately 
twenty hours per week, in addition to language-learning opportunities 
through immersion in the cultural, social, and educational life of the 
host country. Classes should provide formal instruction in grammar, 
vocabulary, and pronunciation in addition to covering the four main

[[Page 23921]]

language skills: Speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The 
institutes should also provide access to tutors for individualized 
language learning. Visits to schools or interactions with local 
teachers should be included, where possible. The exchange program 
should enhance the participants' knowledge of the host country's 
history, culture, and political system as these support language 
learning. Language study must be the primary focus of the program and 
should be a specific element of all cultural enrichment activities as 
well.
    Staff should be physically present and available to support the 
participants throughout the institutes.
    Applicant organizations should explain in their proposal how they 
will ensure the quality of programs overseas.
    Applicant organizations should arrange for participants to earn 
academic credit from a U.S. institution for successful completion of 
the program.
    The Bureau reserves the right to make changes in placement 
countries based on safety and security concerns.
    A. Arabic Language Summer Institute: Applicant organizations should 
present a plan for not fewer than five participants in the Arabic 
language institute. Classroom instruction should emphasize Modern 
Standard Arabic with class time devoted also to colloquial Arabic. 
Participants should also gain knowledge of colloquial Arabic through 
informal study and through interaction with their host community. 
Applicant organizations should propose a study location in a country/
region in North Africa, the Middle East, or the Gulf region with the 
exception of Algeria, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Libya, Saudi Arabia, and 
West Bank and Gaza.
    B. Chinese Language Summer Institute: Applicant organizations 
should present a plan for not fewer than fifteen participants in the 
Chinese language institute. The cooperating agency should be prepared 
to provide multiple levels of language instruction--from advanced 
beginner through superior. Applicant organizations should propose a 
study location in the People's Republic of China.
    C. Russian Language Summer Institute: Applicant organizations 
should present a plan for not fewer than five participants in the 
Russian language institute. Applicant organizations should propose a 
study location in Russia other than St. Petersburg and Moscow.
    (4) Follow-on Activities: Proposals should outline strategies for 
providing small grants to increase further the participants' language 
skills after the study program; to purchase educational resources to 
enhance their home institution's foreign language curriculum; to 
develop their understanding of foreign language teaching methodology; 
to attend conferences, seminars, or workshops; and to conduct other 
activities that will contribute to the goals of the program. The 
development and approval of follow-on grants must be coordinated by the 
cooperating agency in conjunction with the Teacher Exchange Branch.
    Please refer to the PSI for additional guidance on alumni outreach 
and follow-on engagement.
    The Intensive Summer Language Institutes for Teachers Program will 
be funded through a Cooperative Agreement. Please note that in a 
Cooperative Agreement, the Teacher Exchange Branch (ECA/A/S/X) is 
substantially involved in program activities above and beyond routine 
monitoring. Bureau activities and responsibilities include:
     Participation in the design and direction of program 
activities;
     Approval of key personnel;
     Approval and input on program timelines, agendas and 
administrative procedures;
     Guidance in execution of all program components;
     Review and approval of all program publicity and 
recruitment materials;
     Approval of participants;
     Approval of decisions related to special circumstances or 
problems throughout the duration of the program;
     Assistance with participant emergencies;
     Approval of follow-on projects; and
     Liaison with relevant U.S. embassies.
    Programs must conform with Bureau requirements and guidelines 
outlined in the Solicitation Package, which includes the Request for 
Grant Proposals (RFGP), the Project Objectives, Goals, and 
Implementation (POGI) and the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI).

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement.
    Fiscal Year Funds: 2010.
    Approximate Total Funding: $500,000 pending availability of funds.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 1.
    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, October 1, 
2009.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: September 30, 2012.
    Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of this 
program and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, it is 
ECA's intent to renew this grant or cooperative agreement for two 
additional fiscal years, before openly competing it again.

III. Eligibility Information

    III.1. Eligible applicants:
    Applications may be submitted by public and private non-profit 
organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code 
section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3).
    III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds: There is no minimum or 
maximum percentage required for this competition. However, the Bureau 
encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and 
funding in support of its programs.
    When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the 
applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its 
proposal and later included in an approved agreement. Cost sharing may 
be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For 
accountability, you must maintain written records to support all costs 
which are claimed as your contribution, as well as costs to be paid by 
the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. The basis 
for determining the value of cash and in-kind contributions must be in 
accordance with OMB Circular A-110, (Revised), Subpart C.23--Cost 
Sharing and Matching. In the event you do not provide the minimum 
amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget, ECA's 
contribution will be reduced in like proportion.
    III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements: (a) Bureau grant guidelines 
require that organizations with less than four years experience in 
conducting international exchanges be limited to $60,000 in Bureau 
funding. ECA anticipates making one award, in an amount up to $500,000 
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 until the proposal review process has been completed.

    IV.1 Contact Information to Request an Application Package: Please 
contact

[[Page 23922]]

Mr. William Heaton in the Teacher Exchange Branch, ECA/A/S/X, U.S. 
Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, 
telephone: (202) 453-8888, fax: (202) 453-8890, e-mail: 
heatonwe@state.gov, to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to 
the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/S/X-10-04 located at the top of 
this announcement when making your request. Alternatively, an 
electronic application package may be obtained from grants.gov. Please 
see section IV.3f for further information.
    The Solicitation Package contains the Proposal Submission 
Instruction (PSI) document which consists of required application 
forms, and standard guidelines for proposal preparation.
    It also contains the Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation 
(POGI) document, which provides specific information, award criteria 
and budget instructions tailored to this competition.
    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, 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 Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs places critically 
important emphases on the security and proper administration of the 
Exchange Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence by award recipients 
and sponsors to all regulations governing the J visa. Therefore, 
proposals should demonstrate the applicant's capacity to meet all 
requirements governing the administration of the Exchange Visitor 
Programs as set forth in 22 CFR 62, including the oversight of 
Responsible Officers and Alternate Responsible Officers, screening and 
selection of program participants, provision of pre-arrival information 
and orientation to participants, monitoring of participants, proper 
maintenance and security of forms, record-keeping, reporting and other 
requirements.
    The award recipient 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.
    Please refer to Solicitation Package for further information.

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

[[Page 23923]]

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. 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. It is anticipated that 
funding for the cooperative agreement for program administration will 
be approximately $500,000.
    IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission:
    Application Deadline Date: July 7, 2009.
    Reference Number: ECA/A/S/X-10-04.
    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 this RFGP, 
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 5 copies of the application should be sent to: 
U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, Ref.: ECA/A/S/X-10-04, Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, Room 
534, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.

[[Page 23924]]

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., 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 this RFGP, 
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.
    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 relevant Embassy 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 cooperative agreements 
resides with the Bureau's Grants Officer.

Review Criteria

    Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed 
according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are not rank 
ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation:
    1. Quality of the program idea: Proposals should exhibit 
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's 
mission.
    2. Program planning: Detailed agenda and relevant work plan should 
demonstrate substantive undertakings and logistical capacity. Agenda 
and plan should adhere to the program overview and guidelines described 
above.
    3. Ability to achieve program objectives: Objectives should be 
reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly 
demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's objectives and 
plan.
    4. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional 
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program or 
project's goals.
    5. 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).
    6. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate 
the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of 
the program. A draft survey questionnaire or other technique plus 
description of a methodology to use to link outcomes to original 
project objectives is recommended.
    7. Cost-effectiveness/Cost-sharing: The overhead and administrative 
components of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be 
kept as low as possible. Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through 
other private sector support as well as institutional direct funding 
contributions.

VI. Award Administration Information

    VI.1a. Award Notices: Final awards cannot be made until funds have 
been appropriated by Congress, allocated and committed through internal 
Bureau procedures. Successful applicants will receive a Federal 
Assistance Award (FAA) from the Bureau's Grants Office. The FAA and the 
original proposal with subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall 
be the only binding authorizing document between the recipient and the 
U.S. Government. The FAA will be signed by an authorized Grants 
Officer, and mailed to the recipient's responsible officer identified 
in the application.
    Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of 
the application review from the ECA

[[Page 23925]]

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 two copies of the following reports:
    (1) A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after 
the expiration of the award;
    (2) A concise, one-page final program report summarizing program 
outcomes no more than 90 days after the expiration of the award. This 
one-page report will be transmitted to OMB, and be made available to 
the public via OMB's USAspending.gov Web site--as part of ECA's Federal 
Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reporting 
requirements.
    (3) A SF-PPR, ``Performance Progress Report'' Cover Sheet with all 
program reports.
    (4) Quarterly program and financial reports.
    Award recipients will be required to provide reports analyzing 
their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program 
reports. (Please refer to IV. Application and Submission Instructions 
(IV.3.d.3) above for Program Monitoring and Evaluation information.
    All data collected, including survey responses and contact 
information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years and 
provided to the Bureau upon request.
    All reports must be sent to the ECA Grants Officer and ECA Program 
Officer listed in the final assistance award document.
    Program Data Requirements: Award recipients will be required to 
maintain specific data on program participants and activities in an 
electronically accessible database format that can be shared with the 
Bureau as required. As a minimum, the data must include the following:
    (1) Name, address, contact information and biographic sketch of all 
persons who travel internationally on funds provided by the agreement 
or who benefit from the award funding but do not travel.
    (2) Itineraries of international and domestic travel, providing 
dates of travel and cities in which any exchange experiences take 
place. Final schedules for in-country and U.S. activities must be 
received by the ECA Program Officer at least three work days prior to 
the official opening of the activity.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: William Heaton, 
Teacher Exchange Branch, ECA/A/S/X, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 
301 4th Street, SW., Room 349, Washington, DC 20547, phone: (202) 453-
8888, fax: (202) 453-8890, e-mail: heatonwe@state.gov.
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number ECA/A/S/X-10-04.
    Please read the complete announcement before sending inquiries or 
submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has passed, Bureau staff 
may not discuss this competition with applicants until the proposal 
review process has been completed.

VIII. Other Information

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


    Dated: May 13, 2009.
C. Miller Crouch,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. E9-11949 Filed 5-20-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P