Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant Proposals: Community College Initiative Program, 34619-34625 [E9-16926]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 135 (Thursday, July 16, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34619-34625]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-16926]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6697]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Community College Initiative Program

    Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/S/U-10-01.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.009.
    Key Dates:
    Application Deadline: September 25, 2009.
    Executive Summary:
    The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces an 
open competition for one or more assistance awards to administer the 
Community College Initiative Program, which will support study by 
international undergraduate students at accredited U.S. community 
colleges. The Program provides quality educational programs, 
professional development, employment skills and a first-hand 
understanding of American society to underserved, non-elite 
international students, particularly women, who already have some work 
experience. The Bureau anticipates supporting students from developing 
countries in every world region in this program including (subject to 
change) such countries as Brazil, Indonesia, Pakistan, and South 
Africa, as well as other countries. Community college consortia and 
other associations of community colleges meeting the provisions 
described in Internal Revenue Code section 501(c) may submit proposals 
to cooperate with the Bureau in the administration and implementation 
of the 2010 Community College Initiative Program. For planning 
purposes, the Bureau invites proposals from eligible organizations for 
a program at a total funding level of approximately $8.5 million 
pending availability of FY2010 resources. Applicants may apply to 
administer the entire program or a portion thereof. Applicant 
organizations should indicate the number of participants that can be 
accommodated at the requested funding level based on detailed 
calculations of program and administrative costs. In order to maximize 
the number of participants under this program, it is the Bureau's 
expectation that significant institutional and private sector funding 
and cost sharing will be made available by cooperating institutions. We 
anticipate that approximately 250 to 275 students will participate in 
the FY2010 program.

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 Community College Initiative Program demonstrates abroad the 
U.S. commitment to education for all by providing access to educational 
opportunities to a broad sector of international students. The Bureau 
is engaged with the community college sector in the United States to 
increase the number of international students enrolled at U.S. 
community colleges and to reinforce community college efforts to build 
international ties. U.S. community colleges can make a unique 
contribution to international educational exchange by demonstrating the 
flexibility and relevance of American higher education. By providing 
quality technical and first-level professional education, community 
colleges enable students from developing countries to acquire skills 
and to gain experiences that will equip them to participate 
constructively in their countries' efforts to progress economically and 
politically. Community colleges can also provide a model of lower-cost, 
community-based, higher education that offers wide access to skills 
development for existing jobs.
    International students selected for academic study at accredited 
U.S. community colleges under this program will receive educational 
opportunities, professional development, and an exposure to American 
society that will enable them to return home with unique skills and 
experience with which to contribute to the growth and development of 
their countries. Upon return, these students will be able to enter the 
skilled work force and fill important needs in their home countries.
    Guidelines:
    Applicants are requested to submit a narrative of no more than 20 
double-spaced, single-sided pages outlining a comprehensive strategy 
for the administration and implementation of the Community College 
Initiative Program including the following program components: 
Identification of accredited U.S. community colleges to host 
participants in groups of approximately 12 students, with colleges with 
limited international experience hosting smaller cohorts. Host colleges 
should have expertise in the fields of study of the students accepted 
for placement.
    Proposals should anticipate the placement of students in the 
following fields:
     Agriculture
     Applied Engineering
     Business Management and Administration
     Health Professions including Nursing
     Information Technology
     Media
     Tourism and Hospitality Management
    Programs in agriculture, applied engineering, business management 
and administration, information technology, media, and tourism and 
hospitality management should last one academic year. Programs in the 
health professions, including nursing, may last up to 18 months. All 
programs of study should lead to a certificate or an Associate Degree. 
Programs should include unpaid internships and service learning 
opportunities. Academic programs should begin in Fall 2010.
    Proposals should describe in detail a system for review and 
placement of candidates nominated by U.S. Embassies and Fulbright 
Commissions abroad for the approval of ECA. Proposals should also 
explain processes for developing and disseminating pre-departure 
orientation materials, registering participants in SEVIS under the 
Bureau's sponsorship with a program number to be provided by the 
Bureau, and organizing post-arrival orientation programming.
    Pre-academic intensive English language training should be provided 
in the Spring of 2010 to those participants who lack adequate English 
to function effectively in the U.S. classroom as evidenced by 
standardized test scores.

[[Page 34620]]

Pre-academic English language training should take place at host 
colleges. Pre-arrival distance learning and in-country English training 
options may also be proposed. Proposals should also describe English as 
a Second Language programs and services at the participating colleges 
for students needing additional language work during the academic year.
    Proposals should explain how participants will engage in enrichment 
activities, and should include creative ideas for exposing participants 
broadly to American institutions, society and culture. For example, 
these activities may include presentations to college classes, local 
schools and the community; involvement with local families; and 
attendance at educational and cultural events with a U.S. focus.
    Proposals should also outline procedures for advising, monitoring 
and supporting participants; for evaluating their programs; and for 
follow-up with program alumni.
    An applicant organization may propose to administer the entire 
program or a portion thereof based on the organization's interest and 
capacity in one or more of the specified fields. A proposal should be 
consistent with the applicant organization's institutional capacities 
and the range of fields in which the proposed host colleges have 
expertise.
    The budget should provide funding for round-trip travel for all 
participants, pre-academic intensive English language training for 
seventy-five per cent of the participating students, tuition, books, 
and living costs as well as costs for program administration. An 
applicant organization should explain processes for providing 
maintenance, book, and other allowances to participating students and 
for paying tuition fees directly to host colleges. If possible, to 
streamline administrative procedures and to maintain the flexibility to 
respond to program developments as they occur, organizations should 
propose processes to provide payments to participants and colleges 
directly without requiring formal sub-agreements with the host 
colleges.
    Cost-sharing is expected from organizations applying to cooperate 
with the Bureau on this program. Applicant organizations are encouraged 
to include third-party contributions in their proposals.
    Proposals should demonstrate depth of experience in conducting and 
administering complex and multi-faceted international education 
programs. Proposals should provide a plan for continued follow-on 
activity (without Bureau support), such as tracking and maintaining 
updated lists of all alumni and facilitating follow-up activities with 
alumni, including list serves.
    Programs and projects must conform with the 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).
    In a cooperative agreement, the Bureau is substantially involved in 
program activities above and beyond routine grant monitoring. Bureau 
activities and responsibilities for this program include:
    (1) Participation in the design and direction of program 
activities;
    (2) Approval of key personnel;
    (3) Approval and input on program timelines and agendas;
    (4) Guidance in execution of all program components;
    (5) Review and approval of all program publicity and other 
materials;
    (6) Approval of host campuses;
    (7) Final selection of participating students;
    (8) Approval of changes to students' proposed academic field or 
institution;
    (9) Approval of decisions related to special circumstances or 
problems throughout duration of program;
    (10) Assistance with SEVIS-related issues;
    (11) Assistance with participant emergencies;
    (12) Liaison with relevant U.S. Embassies, Fulbright commissions 
and country desk officers at the State Department.
    Pending availability of funds, grants should begin on or around 
December 1, 2009 and will run through November 30, 2012. Grants will 
include both the administrative and program portions of the program.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement.
    ECA's level of involvement in this program is listed under number I 
above.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2010.
    Approximate Total Funding: $8,500,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: Pending the review and approval of 
successful proposals, the Bureau intends to make approximately one to 
six awards under this competition.
    Approximate Average Award: The size of the awards will depend on 
the number and quality of the proposals submitted, and on the 
distribution of fields on which the recommended proposals focus. The 
maximum award available will be approximately $8,500,000. The Bureau 
anticipates that the minimum award available will be approximately 
$1,000,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, December 1, 
2009.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: November 30, 2012.
    Additional Information:
    For each field of study, participants should be grouped at one or 
more colleges with a strong program of instruction in the field. 
Colleges will place participants in the fields of agriculture, applied 
engineering, business management and administration, information 
technology, media, and tourism and hospitality management in 
certificate programs lasting one academic year. Colleges may also place 
students in health professions, including nursing, in programs lasting 
more than one year but no more than 18 months. Programs in health 
professions, including nursing, should culminate in a certificate or an 
Associate Degree. Those proposals that focus resources on more costly 
programs lasting 18 months should demonstrate significant levels of 
cost-sharing. Subject to the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal 
years, it is ECA's intent to renew the cooperative agreement(s) 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) that are consortia of accredited U.S. 
community colleges, or other combinations of multiple community college 
campuses. Applications must designate a lead institution to receive and 
administer the award.

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

[[Page 34621]]

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 and cooperative agreement guidelines require that 
organizations with less than four years experience in conducting 
international exchanges be limited to $60,000 in Bureau funding. Due to 
the scope and complexity of this program, organizations with less than 
a four-year track record 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 Karene Grad, ECA/A/S/U, SA-5, Floor 4, Department of 
State, Washington, DC 20522-0504; e-mail GradKX@state.gov to request a 
Solicitation Package. Please refer to the Funding Opportunity Number 
ECA/A/S/U-10-01 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.
    Please specify Bureau Program Officer Karene Grad and refer to the 
Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/S/U-10-01 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 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 part 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: Office of Designation, ECA/EC/D, SA-5, 
Floor C2, Department of State, Washington, DC 20522-0582.
    Please refer to Solicitation Package for further information.

[[Page 34622]]

IV.3d.2 Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines
    Pursuant to the Bureau's authorizing legislation, programs must 
maintain a non-political character and should be balanced and 
representative of the diversity of American political, social, and 
cultural life. ``Diversity'' should be interpreted in the broadest 
sense and encompass differences including, but not limited to 
ethnicity, race, gender, religion, geographic location, socio-economic 
status, and disabilities. Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere 
to the advancement of this principle both in program administration and 
in program content. Please refer to the review criteria under the 
``Support for Diversity'' section for specific suggestions on 
incorporating diversity into your proposal. Public Law 104-319 provides 
that ``in carrying out programs of educational and cultural exchange in 
countries whose people do not fully enjoy freedom and democracy,'' the 
Bureau ``shall take appropriate steps to provide opportunities for 
participation in such programs to human rights and democracy leaders of 
such countries.'' Public Law 106-113 requires that the governments of 
the countries described above do not have inappropriate influence in 
the selection process. Proposals should reflect advancement of these 
goals in their program contents, to the full extent deemed feasible.
IV.3d.3 Program Monitoring and Evaluation
    Proposals must include a plan to monitor and evaluate the project's 
success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of the program. 
The Bureau recommends that your proposal include a draft survey 
questionnaire or other technique plus a description of a methodology to 
use to link outcomes to original project objectives. The Bureau expects 
that the recipient organization will track participants or partners and 
be able to respond to key evaluation questions, including satisfaction 
with the program, learning as a result of the program, changes in 
behavior as a result of the program, and effects of the program on 
institutions (institutions in which participants work or partner 
institutions). The evaluation plan should include indicators that 
measure gains in mutual understanding as well as substantive knowledge.
    Successful monitoring and evaluation depend heavily on setting 
clear goals and outcomes at the outset of a program. Your evaluation 
plan should include a description of your project's objectives, your 
anticipated project outcomes, and how and when you intend to measure 
these outcomes (performance indicators). The more that outcomes are 
``smart'' (specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and 
placed in a reasonable time frame), the easier it will be to conduct 
the evaluation. You should also show how your project objectives link 
to the goals of the program described in this RFGP.
    Your monitoring and evaluation plan should clearly distinguish 
between program outputs and outcomes. Outputs are products and services 
delivered, often stated as an amount. Output information is important 
to show the scope or size of project activities, but it cannot 
substitute for information about progress towards outcomes or the 
results achieved. Examples of outputs include the number of people 
trained or the number of seminars conducted. Outcomes, in contrast, 
represent specific results a project is intended to achieve and is 
usually measured as an extent of change. Findings on outputs and 
outcomes should both be reported, but the focus should be on outcomes.
    We encourage you to assess the following four levels of outcomes, 
as they relate to the program goals set out in the RFGP (listed here in 
increasing order of importance):
    1. Participant satisfaction with the program and exchange 
experience.
    2. Participant learning, such as increased knowledge, aptitude, 
skills, and changed understanding and attitude. Learning includes both 
substantive (subject-specific) learning and mutual understanding.
    3. Participant behavior, concrete actions to apply knowledge in 
work or community; greater participation and responsibility in civic 
organizations; interpretation and explanation of experiences and new 
knowledge gained; continued contacts between participants, community 
members, and others.
    4. Institutional changes, such as increased collaboration and 
partnerships, policy reforms, new programming, and organizational 
improvements.

    Please note: Consideration should be given to the appropriate 
timing of data collection for each level of outcome. For example, 
satisfaction is usually captured as a short-term outcome, whereas 
behavior and institutional changes are normally considered longer-
term outcomes.

    Overall, the quality of your monitoring and evaluation plan will be 
judged on how well it (1) specifies intended outcomes; (2) gives clear 
descriptions of how each outcome will be measured; (3) identifies when 
particular outcomes will be measured; and (4) provides a clear 
description of the data collection strategies for each outcome (i.e., 
surveys, interviews, or focus groups). (Please note that evaluation 
plans that deal only with the first level of outcomes [satisfaction] 
will be deemed less competitive under the present evaluation criteria.)
    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.
    Describe in your proposal your plans for: Overall program 
management, staffing, coordination with ECA and with community colleges 
enrolling groups of participants, and learning and service 
opportunities for participants. Please provide a staffing plan which 
outlines the responsibilities of each staff person and explains which 
staff members will be accountable for each program responsibility.
    IV.3e. Please take the following information into consideration 
when preparing your budget:
    IV.3e.1 Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the 
complete program or a portion of the program. The total funding 
available for this program is approximately $8,500,000 for both program 
and administrative costs. Applicants may apply to administer total 
funds of less than $8,500,000, proportionate with the program being 
proposed. Please indicate clearly the number of participants to be 
funded and the budget total for both administrative and program costs. 
Applicant institutions must present a summary budget as well as 
breakdowns including 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 and additional budget 
guidance are outlined in detail in the POGI document.
    Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget 
guidelines and formatting instructions.
    IV.3F Application Deadline and Methods of Submission:
    Application Deadline Date: September 25, 2009.
    Reference Number: ECA/A/S/U-10-01.
    Methods of Submission:
    Applications may be submitted in one of two ways:
    (1) In hard-copy, via a nationally recognized overnight delivery 
service

[[Page 34623]]

(i.e., Federal Express, UPS, Airborne Express, or U.S. Postal Service 
Express Overnight Mail, etc.), or
    (2) Electronically through https://www.grants.gov.

    Please Note: ECA strongly encourages organizations interested in 
applying for this competition to submit printed, hard copy 
applications as outlined in section IV.3f.1., below rather than 
submitting electronically through Grants.gov. This recommendation is 
being made as a result of the anticipated high volume of grant 
proposals that will be submitted via the Grants.gov webportal as 
part of the Recovery Act stimulus package. As stated in 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 seven copies of the application should be sent to:
    Program Management Division, ECA-IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/A/S/U-10-01, 
SA-5, Floor 4, Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW., 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. embassies for their 
review.
IV.3f.2--Submitting Electronic Applications
    Applicants have the option of submitting proposals electronically 
through Grants.gov (https://www.grants.gov). Complete solicitation 
packages are available at Grants.gov in the ``Find'' portion of the 
system. Please follow the instructions available in the `Get Started' 
portion of the site (https://www.grants.gov/GetStarted).

    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 this RFGP, 
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, 7a.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.
    Optional--IV.3f.3 You may also state here any limitations on the 
number of applications that an applicant may submit and make it clear 
whether the limitation is on the submitting organization, individual 
program director or both.
    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

[[Page 34624]]

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 as well as the objectives of the Community College Initiative 
Program. Proposals should demonstrate an understanding of issues faced 
by countries in the developing world as related to the program goals. A 
detailed agenda and relevant work plan should demonstrate substantive 
undertakings and logistical capacity for participants placed in field-
related clusters. The agenda and plan should adhere to the program 
overview and guidelines described above.
    2. Ability to achieve program objectives: Objectives should be 
reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly 
demonstrate how the institution will meet the Community College 
Initiative Program's objectives and plan and should address each 
program component.
    3. Multiplier effect/impact: Proposals should strengthen long-term 
mutual understanding, including maximum sharing of information and 
individual linkages. The proposed strategy should maximize the 
Program's potential to maintain community college links with Program 
alumni.
    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).
    5. Institutional Capacity and Ability: Proposed personnel and 
institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve 
the program's goals. Proposals should describe the applicant's 
knowledge of, or prior experience with, international students and 
visitors, and the applicant's experience in educating students in the 
targeted subject fields. Proposals should demonstrate an institutional 
record of successful exchange programs involving the hosting of 
international students and visitors, including responsible fiscal 
management and full compliance with all reporting requirements for past 
Bureau grants or cooperative agreements. The Bureau will consider the 
past performance of prior recipients and the demonstrated potential of 
new applicants.
    6. Follow-on Activities: Proposals should provide a plan for 
continued follow-on activity (without Bureau support) ensuring that 
Bureau supported programs are not isolated events. Activities should 
include tracking and maintaining updated lists of all alumni and 
facilitating follow-up activities with alumni, including electronic 
list serves.
    7. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan and 
methodology to evaluate the program's degree of success in meeting 
program objectives, 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. Successful applicants will be 
expected to submit intermediate reports after each project component is 
concluded, or quarterly, whichever is less frequent.
    8. Cost-effectiveness: The overhead and administrative components 
of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be kept as 
low as possible. All other items should be necessary and appropriate. 
Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through institutional direct 
funding contributions and private sector support. Budget estimates 
should be as accurate as possible over the full period of the 
cooperative agreement.

VI. Award Administration Information

VI.1a. Award Notices

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

VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    Terms and Conditions for the Administration of ECA agreements 
include the following:
    Office of Management and Budget Circular A-122, ``Cost Principles 
for Nonprofit Organizations.''
    Office of Management and Budget Circular A-21, ``Cost Principles 
for Educational Institutions.''
    OMB Circular A-87, ``Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian 
Governments''.
    OMB Circular No. A-110 (Revised), Uniform Administrative 
Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher 
Education, Hospitals, and other Nonprofit Organizations.
    OMB Circular No. A-102, Uniform Administrative Requirements for 
Grants-in-Aid to State and Local Governments.
    OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of States, Local Government, and 
Non-profit Organizations
    Please reference the following Web sites for additional 
information: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants. https://fa.statebuy.state.gov

VI.3. Reporting Requirements

    You must provide ECA with a hard copy original plus one copy of the 
following reports:
    (1) 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 financial reports;
    (5) Annual program reports for the first and second year of the 
agreement.
    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

[[Page 34625]]

years and provided to the Bureau upon request.
    All reports must be sent to the ECA Grants Officer and ECA Program 
Officer listed in the final assistance award document.

VI.4. Program Data Requirements

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

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: Karene Grad, ECA/A/
S/U, SA-5, Floor 4, Department of State, Washington, DC 20522-0504; e-
mail GradKX@state.gov.
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number ECA/A/S/U-10-01.
    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: July 6, 2009.
C. Miller Crouch,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. E9-16926 Filed 7-15-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P