Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant Proposals: The Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellows Summer Institute (Europe and Eurasia) and the Benjamin Franklin Summer Institute With Asia (Central and South Asia), 57372-57379 [E9-26425]
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 213 / Thursday, November 5, 2009 / Notices
change simply seeks to clarify that the
generic listing and trading standards
would cover an index that otherwise
qualifies as a ‘‘narrow-based index,’’
with the exception that the component
securities of the index are all
headquartered within a single country.
The Exchange represents that its
existing surveillance procedures
applicable to trading in options will be
adequate to properly monitor the
trading in options on these narrowbased indexes.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes the proposed
rule change is consistent with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
‘‘Act’’) 11 and the rules and regulations
thereunder and, in particular, the
requirements of Section 6(b) of the
Act.12 Specifically, the Exchange
believes the proposed rule change is
consistent with the Section 6(b)(5) 13
requirements that the rules of an
exchange be designed to promote just
and equitable principles of trade, to
prevent fraudulent and manipulative
acts, to remove impediments to and to
perfect the mechanism for a free and
open market and a national market
system, and in general, to protect
investors and the public interest by
clarifying the term ‘‘narrow-based
index’’ also accommodates an index
having component securities that are all
headquartered within a single country.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
The proposed rule change does not
impose any burden on competition that
is not necessary or appropriate in
furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants, or Others
The Exchange has not solicited, and
does not intend to solicit, comments on
this proposed rule change. The
Exchange has not received any
unsolicited written comments from
members or other interested parties.
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III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
Because the foregoing proposed rule
change does not significantly affect the
protection of investors or the public
interest, does not impose any significant
burden on competition, and, by its
terms, does not become operative for 30
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). [sic]
78(f)(b). [sic]
13 15 U.S.C. 78(f)(b)(5).
days from the date on which it was
filed, or such shorter time as the
Commission may designate, it has
become effective pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A) 14 of the Act and Rule 19b–
4(f)(6) 15 thereunder. The Exchange
provided the Commission with written
notice of its intent to file the proposed
rule change, along with a brief
description and text of the proposed
rule change, at least five business days
prior to the date of filing the proposed
rule change.
At any time within 60 days of the
filing of the proposed rule change, the
Commission may summarily abrogate
such rule change if it appears to the
Commission that such action is
necessary or appropriate in the public
interest, for the protection of investors,
or otherwise in furtherance of the
purposes of the Act.
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to
submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning the foregoing,
including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act.
Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
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BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 6799]
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Elizabeth M. Murphy, Secretary,
Securities and Exchange Commission,
100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC
20549–1090.
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–ISE–2009–83. This file
number should be included on the
subject line if e-mail is used. To help the
Commission process and review your
comments more efficiently, please use
only one method. The Commission will
post all comments on the Commission’s
Internet Web site (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
submission, all subsequent
amendments, all written statements
with respect to the proposed rule
change that are filed with the
Commission, and all written
communications relating to the
proposed rule change between the
Commission and any person, other than
those that may be withheld from the
Announcement Type: New Grant.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/
PE/C/PY–10–03.
Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance Number: 19.415.
Application Deadline: January 6,
2010.
Executive Summary: The Office of
Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs
Division, of the Bureau of Educational
and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces
an open competition for two grants for
summer institutes for youth. Public and
private non-profit organizations meeting
the provisions described in Internal
Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C.
501(c)(3), including accredited, postsecondary U.S. educational institutions,
may submit proposals to provide a
three- to four-week U.S.-based institute
for one of the two institute options in
the summer of 2010 for up to 45
teenagers aged 16–18. One institute—
the Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic
Fellows Summer Institute—is for
participants from Europe, the European
14 15
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For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.16
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9–26588 Filed 11–4–09; 8:45 am]
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission’s Internet
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an e-mail to rulecomments@sec.gov. Please include File
Number SR–ISE–2009–83 on the subject
line.
11 15
12 15U.S.C.
public in accordance with the
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
available for inspection and copying in
the Commission’s Public Reference
Room, 100 F Street, NE., Washington,
DC 20549, on official business days
between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Copies of such filing also will be
available for inspection and copying at
the principal office of the Exchange. All
comments received will be posted
without change; the Commission does
not edit personal identifying
information from submissions. You
should submit only information that
you wish to make available publicly. All
submissions should refer to File
Number SR–ISE–2009–83 and should be
submitted on or before November 27,
2009.
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U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6).
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Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant
Proposals: The Benjamin Franklin
Transatlantic Fellows Summer Institute
(Europe and Eurasia) and the Benjamin
Franklin Summer Institute With Asia
(Central and South Asia)
16 17
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CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
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countries of Eurasia, and the United
States. The other institute—the
Benjamin Franklin Summer Institute
with Asia—is for participants from
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and the
United States. U.S. Embassies in all the
participating countries will select the
foreign participants, and the U.S. grant
recipients will select the American
participants. Both institutes will focus
on leadership development, critical
thinking, diplomacy, community
activism, and the media as ways that
young adults can unite around their
common goals. Support for individual
or small group follow-on projects in the
home communities of the exchange
alumni will complete the 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: These institutes aim to foster
relationships among the younger
generation to build strong linkages and
an awareness of shared values and to
enable youth to face together the global
challenges of the 21st Century. Through
these institutes, diverse but
intellectually curious students aged 16
to 18 will participate in an intensive,
three- to four-week exchange program in
the United States. Participants will be
engaged in a variety of activities such as
training sessions, workshops,
community and/or school-based
programs, and cultural events.
Participants will work together to
prepare joint projects that present and
promote the Institutes’ stated goals and
objectives.
Goals: The goals of the Benjamin
Franklin Institutes are (1) to develop a
sense of civic responsibility and a
commitment to cooperation among
youth; (2) to foster relationships among
youth from different ethnic, religious,
and national groups; (3) to promote
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mutual understanding between the
people of the United States and other
countries; and (4) to develop a cadre of
young leaders who will share their
knowledge and skills with their peers
through positive action.
With the specific focus of these
institutes, the following outcomes will
indicate a successful project:
• Participants from abroad will
demonstrate an improved
understanding of the United States and
its people, and the American students
will better understand the interests of
the people of the participating
countries.
• Participants will work together to
identify and overcome
misunderstanding or lack of
understanding among nations both
during the institute and after they return
to their homes.
• Participants will develop critical
thinking skills that will enable them to
judge how effectively and accurately
information is conveyed.
• Participants will demonstrate a
better understanding of international
relations and issues.
• Participants will gain an
understanding of the roles of the media
and public perceptions in diplomacy
and global issues.
The Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic
Fellows Summer Institute began in 2006
to honor the 300th anniversary of the
birth of Benjamin Franklin, the
legendary American statesman and
diplomat, whose career, interests, and
studies took him across the Atlantic
Ocean, bringing about greater
understanding between Americans and
Europeans. His life offers inspiration to
young citizens of today. As a diplomat
and a printer, he used the power of
diplomacy and the media to increase the
exchange of information between
Americans and the people of other
countries. In this light, the earlier
Summer Institutes guided participants
to examine what we need to know about
each other to communicate better and to
face the many challenges of the 21st
Century together. The Institutes also
explored how young people interact
with media, both as consumers and
producers of information, and how
freedom of expression both provides
rights to, and imposes responsibilities
on citizens.
The Bureau is now offering the
opportunity to explore these themes to
new delegations of youth by continuing
its Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic
Fellows Institute for European,
Eurasians, and Americans, and by
creating a new Institute for Fellows from
Central Asia, South Asia, and the
United States. The structure and themes
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will be similar; specific differences are
outlined below.
Each Institute will take place on a
U.S. university or college campus, or at
a similar venue. Ideally, the venue
selected will be on or near a campus
with a European or Asian Studies
center, as appropriate. For a portion of
the Institute, the Fellows will be housed
together at a dormitory on campus,
because living together will facilitate
greater cooperation on the project and
training. For at least ten days of the
Institute, all Fellows will have
homestays with local families.
Organizations or institutions may
apply to implement only one of the two
Institutes. If more than one proposal is
received from an applicant, all of its
proposals will be disqualified. Please
clearly identify the Institute for which
you are applying and outline the
specific reasons why the application
institution is qualified to work with
participants from the selected region
(Europe/Eurasia or Central/South Asia).
Institute A: Benjamin Franklin
Transatlantic Fellows Summer Institute
(Europe and the European Countries of
Eurasia)
The Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic
Fellows Summer Institute will be
designed for up to 45 students ages 16–
18 from Europe, the European countries
of Eurasia, and the United States. One
or two students will come from each
participating country, except for the
United States, which will have ten
representatives. U.S. Embassies that
wish to participate will screen and
select the overseas participants from a
pool of students with whom they have
contact. All countries of Europe and the
European countries of Eurasia will be
eligible to nominate participants; the
State Department will be responsible for
the final selection of participants and
the countries they will represent. U.S.
Embassies will arrange and pay for the
Europeans’ international travel to and
from the United States. The grant
recipient will be responsible for
recruiting and selecting the American
participants from across the United
States. All students will be able to
participate fully in English.
The grant recipient should arrange for
highly qualified mentors for the Fellows
during the course of the Institute, and
for follow-on activities; the mentors may
also serve as trainers or instructors, as
appropriate. The grantee organization
will arrange for adult chaperones for
select transatlantic flights (e.g.,
Frankfurt to the institute site), and adult
staff should be available to support the
participants during the course of the
Institute.
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A study trip to Washington, DC must
be included either during the Institute
or at the end. The State Department will
organize one day of activities and the
grant recipient will arrange other
activities in Washington that offer
insight into leadership, diplomacy, and
the media. A side trip to Philadelphia to
visit key sites connected to Benjamin
Franklin’s legacy is recommended. The
Institute may take place in one or two
communities (including, or in addition
to the study trip) and should offer the
participants exposure to the variety of
American life.
Institute B: Benjamin Franklin Summer
Institute With Asia (Central and South
Asia)
The Benjamin Franklin Summer
Institute With Asia will be designed for
up to 45 students ages 16–18 from five
countries in South and Central Asia and
from the United States. Seven students
will come from each participating
country: Afghanistan, Pakistan,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and
Uzbekistan. They will be joined by ten
students from the United States. U.S.
Embassies will screen and select the
overseas participants, and will arrange
and pay for the Asian participants’
international travel to and from the
United States. The grant recipient will
be responsible for recruiting and
selecting the American participants
from across the United States, and for
their travel to the Institute. All students
will be able to participate fully in
English.
The grant recipient should arrange for
highly qualified mentors for the Fellows
during the course of the Institute and for
follow-on activities; the mentors may
also serve as trainers or instructors as
appropriate. Adult staff should be
available to support the participants
during the course of the Institute. The
U.S. embassies will arrange for adult
chaperones for the international travel.
For both Institutes:
Program content: The Institute should
focus primarily on the exploration of
global issues through interactive
activities, practical experiences, and
other hands-on opportunities, through
which the participants will learn more
about democratic practices, volunteer
service, conflict resolution, critical
thinking, tolerance and respect for
diversity, youth leadership, and the
media. In addition to the American
Fellows, program activities should
engage American teenagers wherever
possible. Cultural and recreational
activities will balance the schedule.
Before and during the Institute,
students will gather information on
young adults’ views about one or two
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areas of common or global interest, such
as sustainable development, inter-ethnic
cooperation, or human rights. They will
also identify and address stereotypes
they hold of others. The students will
gather information via the Internet and
various forms of the media, through
interviews with their contemporaries
and with experts—including academics
and diplomats—and by other methods,
such as designing and conducting a
survey. The grant recipient should be
prepared to guide some of these preprogram and on-program activities.
Increasingly young people have come
to rely upon mass communication—the
use of words, sounds, and images by a
few to inform, educate, entertain and
persuade the many—to learn about the
world they inhabit. Mass media not only
supplies factual information, it also
expresses cultural preferences, promotes
value systems, and fuels commerce
through advertising and product
placement. The program should provide
the participants with a new perspective
on their learning, networking,
perceptions of each other, the
communities they live in, and the
broader media culture.
Training will focus on developing a
critical reading of printed, broadcast,
and electronic media. The students
should increase their awareness of the
levels of communication in news and
popular media, to be able to judge the
content and accuracy for themselves.
Training will cover communication
skills, problem solving, and team
building.
Finally, students will design simple
educational materials, an outreach
campaign, a newsletter, or another type
of project that enables the Fellows to
share the content of their discussions
with their peers.
The participants will take part in at
least one community service activity
during the U.S. program to demonstrate
American volunteerism. The program
should provide context for the
participants to undertake the service
activity—identifying community needs,
the nature of volunteerism, charitable
giving, etc.—and a debriefing so that the
service activity is not an isolated event
and to help participants see how they
can apply the experience at home.
In addition to this community service,
the participants will present and test the
educational materials or outreach
described above. Upon their return
home, participants will develop, test,
and present the materials with
audiences in their home countries.
Guidelines:
Pending the availability of funds, the
grants will begin on or about April 15,
2010. Applicants should propose a
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three- to four-week U.S. institute that
will take place between late June and
late August 2010. The grant period will
be approximately 12 months in
duration, as appropriate to the program
design.
The grant recipient will be
responsible for the following:
• Recruitment, screening, and
selection of American participants, ages
16–18, representing the diversity of the
United States.
• The designing and planning of a
substantive program in the United
States that promotes international
dialogue on key global issues, critical
thinking, democracy and tolerance,
media analysis, leadership
development, civic education, and
community service. Some activities
should be school and/or communitybased, as feasible, and the projects will
involve as much interaction with
American peers, even beyond those
directly participating in the Institute, as
possible.
• Logistical arrangements, properly
screened host family arrangements,
other accommodations, disbursement of
stipends/per diem, local travel, and
travel between sites.
• Monitoring of the participants’
safety and well-being while at the
institute.
• Follow-on activities in the
participants’ home countries designed
to reinforce the ideas, values, and skills
imparted during the U.S. program.
Applicant organizations must
demonstrate their capacity for doing
projects of this nature, focusing on three
areas of competency: (1) Provision of
programs that address the goals and
themes outlined in this document; (2)
age-appropriate programming for youth;
and (3) previous experience in working
in Europe/Eurasia or Central/South
Asia, as appropriate. Applicant
organizations should be able to help
U.S. embassies support follow-on
activities for the alumni of the U.S.based Institutes.
Proposals must demonstrate how the
stated objectives will be met. The
proposal narrative should provide
detailed information on how the major
program activities will be implemented,
and applicants should explain and
justify their programmatic choices.
Programs must comply with J–1 visa
regulations for the International Visitor
category. Please be sure to refer to the
complete Solicitation Package—this
RFGP, the Project Objectives, Goals, and
Implementation (POGI), and the
Proposal Submission Instructions
(PSI)—for further information.
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II. Award Information
Type of Award: Grant Agreement.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY–2010.
Approximate Total Funding:
$424,000.
Number of Awards: Two.
Approximate Average Award:
$212,000.
Anticipated Award Date: Pending
availability of funds, April 15, 2010.
Anticipated Project Completion Date:
March 31, 2011.
Additional Information: Pending
successful implementation of this
program and the availability of funds in
subsequent fiscal years, it is ECA’s
intent to renew these grants for two
additional fiscal years, before openly
competing it again.
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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 two awards in
amounts exceeding $60,000 to support
program and administrative costs
required to implement this exchange
program. Therefore, organizations with
less than four years experience in
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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.
(b) Organizations or institutions may
apply for only one of the two institutes.
If more than one proposal is received
from an applicant, all proposals will be
disqualified.
IV. Application and Submission
Information
Note: Please read the complete
announcement before sending inquiries or
submitting proposals. Once the RFGP
deadline has passed, Bureau staff may not
discuss this competition with applicants
until the proposal review process has been
completed.
IV.1 Contact Information To Request
an Application Package: Please contact
the Youth Programs Division (ECA/PE/
C/PY), U.S. Department of State, SA–5,
3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20522–0503,
Telephone (202) 632–6079, Fax (202)
632–9355, E-mail:
PiersonCompeauHM@state.gov to
request a Solicitation Package. Please
refer to the Funding Opportunity
Number (ECA/PE/C/PY–10–03) when
making your request. Alternatively, an
electronic application package may be
obtained from grants.gov. Please see
section IV.3f for further information.
The Solicitation Package contains the
Proposal Submission Instruction (PSI)
document which consists of required
application forms, and standard
guidelines for proposal preparation. It
also contains the Project Objectives,
Goals and Implementation (POGI)
document, which provides specific
information, award criteria and budget
instructions tailored to this competition.
Please specify Program Officer
Carolyn Lantz and refer to the Funding
Opportunity Name and Number 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
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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
Project Objectives, Goals and
Implementation (POGI) document and
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 onepage 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
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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.
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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.
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, socioeconomic 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
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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 shortterm outcome, whereas behavior and
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institutional changes are normally
considered longer-term outcomes.
Overall, the quality of your
monitoring and evaluation plan will be
judged on how well it (1) specifies
intended outcomes; (2) gives clear
descriptions of how each outcome will
be measured; (3) identifies when
particular outcomes will be measured;
and (4) provides a clear description of
the data collection strategies for each
outcome (i.e., surveys, interviews, or
focus groups). (Please note that
evaluation plans that deal only with the
first level of outcomes [satisfaction] will
be deemed less competitive under the
present evaluation criteria.)
Recipient organizations will be
required to provide reports analyzing
their evaluation findings to the Bureau
in their regular program reports. All
data collected, including survey
responses and contact information, must
be maintained for a minimum of three
years and provided to the Bureau upon
request.
IV.3e. Please take the following
information into consideration when
preparing your budget:
IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit SF–
424A—‘‘Budget Information—NonConstruction Programs’’ along with a
comprehensive budget for the entire
program. Grant requests, which will be
for one of the two Institutes announced,
may not exceed $212,000. This amount
will not include the international travel
costs for the exchange participants.
There must be a summary budget as
well as breakdowns reflecting both
administrative and program budgets.
Applicants may provide separate subbudgets for each program component,
phase, location, or activity to provide
clarification.
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.
Please refer to the Solicitation
Package for complete budget guidelines
and formatting instructions.
IV.3f. Application Deadline and
Methods of Submission:
Application Deadline Date:
Wednesday, January 6, 2010.
Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/PY–
10–03.
Methods of Submission:
Applications may be submitted in one
of two ways:
(1) In hard-copy, via a nationally
recognized overnight delivery service
(i.e., Federal Express, UPS, Airborne
Express, or U.S. Postal Service Express
Overnight Mail, etc.), or
(2) Electronically through https://
www.grants.gov.
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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 six copies of the
application should be sent to: Program
Management Division, ECA–IIP/EX/PM,
Ref.: ECA/PE/C/PY–10–03, SA–5, Floor
4, Department of State, Washington, DC
20522–0504.
With the submission of the proposal
package, please also e-mail the
Executive Summary, Proposal Narrative,
and Budget sections of the proposal, as
well as any attachments essential to
understanding the program, in Microsoft
Word and/or Excel to the program
officer at LantzCS@state.gov. The
Bureau will provide these files
electronically to the Public Affairs
Section at the U.S. Embassies for their
review.
IV.3f.2 Submitting Electronic
Applications
Applicants have the option of
submitting proposals electronically
through Grants.gov (https://
www.grants.gov). Complete solicitation
packages are available at Grants.gov in
the ‘‘Find’’ portion of the system.
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57377
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.
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:
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.
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Please refer to the Grants.gov Web
site, for definitions of various
‘‘application statuses’’ and the
difference between a submission receipt
and a submission validation. Applicants
will receive a validation e-mail from
grants.gov upon the successful
submission of an application. Again,
validation of an electronic submission
via Grants.gov can take up to two
business days. Therefore, we strongly
recommend that you not wait until the
application deadline to begin the
submission process through Grants.gov.
ECA will not notify you upon receipt of
electronic applications.
It is the responsibility of all
applicants submitting proposals via the
Grants.gov Web portal to ensure that
proposals have been received by
Grants.gov in their entirety, and ECA
bears no responsibility for data errors
resulting from transmission or
conversion processes.
IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of
Applications: Executive Order 12372
does not apply to this program.
V. Application Review Information
V.1. Review Process
The Bureau will review all proposals
for technical eligibility. Proposals will
be deemed ineligible if they do not fully
adhere to the guidelines stated herein
and in the Solicitation Package. All
eligible proposals will be reviewed by
the program office, as well as the Public
Diplomacy section overseas, where
appropriate. Eligible proposals will be
subject to compliance with Federal and
Bureau regulations and guidelines and
forwarded to Bureau grant panels for
advisory review. Proposals may also be
reviewed by the Office of the Legal
Adviser or by other Department
elements. Final funding decisions are at
the discretion of the Department of
State’s Assistant Secretary for
Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final
technical authority for assistance
awards (grants) resides with the
Bureau’s Grants Officer.
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Review Criteria
Technically eligible applications will
be competitively reviewed according to
the criteria stated below:
1. Quality of the program idea: The
proposed program should be well
developed, respond to design outlined
in the solicitation, and demonstrate
originality. It should be clearly and
accurately written, substantive, and
with sufficient detail. Proposals should
exhibit originality, substance, precision,
and relevance to the Bureau’s mission.
2. Program planning and ability to
achieve program objectives: A detailed
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agenda and work plan should clearly
demonstrate how project objectives
would be achieved. The agenda and
plan should adhere to the program
overview and guidelines described
above. The substance of workshops,
seminars, presentations, school-based
activities, and/or site visits should be
described in detail. Objectives should be
reasonable, feasible, and flexible. The
proposal should clearly demonstrate
how the institution will meet the
program’s objectives and plan.
3. Support of diversity: The proposal
should demonstrate the recipient’s
commitment to promoting the
awareness and understanding of
diversity in program content.
Applicants should demonstrate
readiness to accommodate participants
with physical disabilities.
4. Institutional capacity and track
record: Proposed personnel and
institutional resources should be
adequate and appropriate to achieve the
program goals. The proposal should
demonstrate an institutional record,
including responsible fiscal
management and full compliance with
all reporting requirements for past
Bureau grants as determined by the
Bureau’s Office of Contracts. The
Bureau will consider the past
performance.
5. Cross-cultural sensitivity and area
expertise: Applicants must demonstrate
their understanding of the area in which
they propose to work and should
demonstrate sensitivity to participants’
values, customs, and life experiences in
the programming.
6. Follow-on activities: Proposals
should provide a plan for a Bureausupported follow-on visit by project
staff to the relevant country or region,
plus a plan for continued follow-on
activity, not necessarily with Bureau
support, that insures that this program
is not an isolated event.
7. Project evaluation: The proposal
should include a plan to evaluate the
activity’s success, both as the activities
unfold and at the end of the program.
The proposal should include a draft
survey questionnaire or other technique
plus description of a methodology to
use to link outcomes to original project
objectives. The grant recipient will be
expected to submit intermediate reports
after each project component is
concluded.
8. Cost-effectiveness and cost sharing:
The applicant should demonstrate
efficient use of Bureau funds. The
overhead and administrative
components of the proposal, including
salaries and honoraria, should be kept
as low as possible. All other items
should be necessary and appropriate.
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The proposal should maximize costsharing through other private sector
support as well as institutional direct
funding contributions, which
demonstrates institutional and
community commitment.
VI. Award Administration Information
VI.1a. Award Notices
Final awards cannot be made until
funds have been appropriated by
Congress, allocated and committed
through internal Bureau procedures.
Successful applicants will receive a
Federal Assistance Award (FAA) from
the Bureau’s Grants Office. The FAA
and the original proposal with
subsequent modifications (if applicable)
shall be the only binding authorizing
document between the recipient and the
U.S. Government. The FAA will be
signed by an authorized Grants Officer,
and mailed to the recipient’s
responsible officer identified in the
application.
Unsuccessful applicants will receive
notification of the results of the
application review from the ECA
program office coordinating this
competition.
VI.1b. The Following Additional
Requirements Apply to This Project:
Special Provision for Performance in a
Designated Combat Area (Currently Iraq
and Afghanistan) (December 2008)
All Recipient personnel deploying to
areas of combat operations, as
designated by the Secretary of Defense
(currently Iraq and Afghanistan), under
assistance awards over $100,000 or
performance over 14 days must register
in the Department of Defense
maintained Synchronized Predeployment and Operational Tracker
(SPOT) system. Recipients of Federal
assistance awards shall register in SPOT
before deployment, or if already in the
designated operational area, register
upon becoming an employee under the
assistance award, and maintain current
data in SPOT. Information on how to
register in SPOT will be available from
your Grants Officer or Grants Officer
Representative during the final
negotiation and approval stages in the
Federal assistance awards process.
Recipients of Federal assistance awards
are advised that adherence to this policy
and procedure will be a requirement of
all final Federal assistance awards
issued by ECA.
Recipient performance may require
the use of armed private security
personnel. To the extent that such
private security contractors (PSCs) are
required, grantees are required to ensure
they adhere to Chief of Mission (COM)
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policies and procedures regarding the
operation, oversight, and accountability
of PSCs.
VI.2 Administrative and National
Policy Requirements:
Terms and Conditions for the
Administration of ECA agreements
include the following:
Office of Management and Budget
Circular A–122, ‘‘Cost Principles for
Nonprofit Organizations.’’
Office of Management and Budget
Circular A–21, ‘‘Cost Principles for
Educational Institutions.’’
OMB Circular A–87, ‘‘Cost Principles
for State, Local and Indian
Governments’’.
OMB Circular No. A–110 (Revised),
Uniform Administrative Requirements
for Grants and Agreements With
Institutions of Higher Education,
Hospitals, and Other Nonprofit
Organizations.
OMB Circular No. A–102, Uniform
Administrative Requirements for
Grants-in-Aid to State and Local
Governments.
OMB Circular No. A–133, Audits of
States, Local Government, and Nonprofit Organizations.
Please reference the following Web
sites for additional information:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/
grants.
https://fa.statebuy.state.gov.
VI.3. Reporting Requirements: You
must provide ECA with a hard copy
original plus one copy of the following
reports:
1. Interim reports, as required in the
Bureau grant agreement.
2. A final program and financial
report no more than 90 days after the
expiration of the award.
3. A concise, one-page final program
report summarizing program outcomes
no more than 90 days after the
expiration of the award. This one-page
report will be transmitted to OMB, and
be made available to the public via
OMB’s USAspending.gov Web site—as
part of ECA’s Federal Funding
Accountability and Transparency Act
(FFATA) reporting requirements.
4. A SF–PPR, ‘‘Performance Progress
Report’’ Cover Sheet with all program
reports.
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.
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All reports must be sent to the ECA
Grants Officer and ECA Program Officer
listed in the final assistance award
document.
VII. Agency Contacts
For questions about this
announcement, contact: Carolyn Lantz,
Program Officer, Youth Programs
Division (ECA/PE/C/PY), U.S.
Department of State, SA–5, 3rd Floor,
Washington, DC 20522–0503,
Telephone (202) 632–6421, Fax (202)
632–9355, E-mail: LantzCS@state.gov.
All correspondence with the Bureau
concerning this RFGP should reference
the title, Benjamin Franklin Institute,
and number, ECA/PE/C/PY–10–03.
Please read the complete
announcement before sending inquiries
or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP
deadline has passed, Bureau staff may
not discuss this competition with
applicants until the proposal review
process has been completed.
VIII. Other Information
Notice
The terms and conditions published
in this RFGP are binding and may not
be modified by any Bureau
representative. Explanatory information
provided by the Bureau that contradicts
published language will not be binding.
Issuance of the RFGP does not
constitute an award commitment on the
part of the Government. The Bureau
reserves the right to reduce, revise, or
increase proposal budgets in accordance
with the 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: October 26, 2009.
Maura M. Pally,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational
and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of
State.
[FR Doc. E9–26425 Filed 11–4–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710–05–P
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 6801]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant
Proposals: Near East and South Asia
Undergraduate Exchange Program
Announcement Type: New
Cooperative Agreement.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/
A/E/NEA–10–02.
Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance Number: 19.009.
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57379
Key Dates
Application Deadline: January 15,
2010.
Executive Summary: The Office of
Academic Exchange Programs of the
Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs announces an open competition
to administer the FY2010 Near East and
South Asia Undergraduate Exchange
Program. Public and private non-profit
organizations meeting the provisions
described in Internal Revenue Code
section 26 USC 501(c)(3) in the United
States may submit proposals to organize
and carry out academic exchange
activities for students from
underrepresented sectors in the Middle
East, North Africa and South Asia
(eligible countries and locales are listed
below in the Purpose section). The
recipient organization will be
responsible for the following aspects of
the program: Placement of no less than
115 foreign students at accredited U.S.
institutions (90 for one academic year,
25 for one semester), student travel to
the U.S., orientation, enrichment
programming, advising, monitoring and
support, pre-return activities,
evaluation, and follow-up with program
alumni. It is anticipated that the total
amount of funding for FY2010
administrative and program costs will
be $3,500,000 pending availability of
funds.
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 FulbrightHays 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 principal objective of the Near
East and South Asia Undergraduate
Exchange Program (herein referred to as
the ‘‘NESA UGRAD’’) is to provide a
substantive exchange experience at a
U.S. college or university to a diverse
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 213 (Thursday, November 5, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57372-57379]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-26425]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 6799]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for
Grant Proposals: The Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellows Summer
Institute (Europe and Eurasia) and the Benjamin Franklin Summer
Institute With Asia (Central and South Asia)
Announcement Type: New Grant.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-10-03.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.415.
Application Deadline: January 6, 2010.
Executive Summary: The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs
Division, of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA)
announces an open competition for two grants for summer institutes for
youth. Public and private non-profit organizations meeting the
provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C.
501(c)(3), including accredited, post-secondary U.S. educational
institutions, may submit proposals to provide a three- to four-week
U.S.-based institute for one of the two institute options in the summer
of 2010 for up to 45 teenagers aged 16-18. One institute--the Benjamin
Franklin Transatlantic Fellows Summer Institute--is for participants
from Europe, the European
[[Page 57373]]
countries of Eurasia, and the United States. The other institute--the
Benjamin Franklin Summer Institute with Asia--is for participants from
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and the
United States. U.S. Embassies in all the participating countries will
select the foreign participants, and the U.S. grant recipients will
select the American participants. Both institutes will focus on
leadership development, critical thinking, diplomacy, community
activism, and the media as ways that young adults can unite around
their common goals. Support for individual or small group follow-on
projects in the home communities of the exchange alumni will complete
the 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: These institutes aim to foster relationships among the
younger generation to build strong linkages and an awareness of shared
values and to enable youth to face together the global challenges of
the 21st Century. Through these institutes, diverse but intellectually
curious students aged 16 to 18 will participate in an intensive, three-
to four-week exchange program in the United States. Participants will
be engaged in a variety of activities such as training sessions,
workshops, community and/or school-based programs, and cultural events.
Participants will work together to prepare joint projects that present
and promote the Institutes' stated goals and objectives.
Goals: The goals of the Benjamin Franklin Institutes are (1) to
develop a sense of civic responsibility and a commitment to cooperation
among youth; (2) to foster relationships among youth from different
ethnic, religious, and national groups; (3) to promote mutual
understanding between the people of the United States and other
countries; and (4) to develop a cadre of young leaders who will share
their knowledge and skills with their peers through positive action.
With the specific focus of these institutes, the following outcomes
will indicate a successful project:
Participants from abroad will demonstrate an improved
understanding of the United States and its people, and the American
students will better understand the interests of the people of the
participating countries.
Participants will work together to identify and overcome
misunderstanding or lack of understanding among nations both during the
institute and after they return to their homes.
Participants will develop critical thinking skills that
will enable them to judge how effectively and accurately information is
conveyed.
Participants will demonstrate a better understanding of
international relations and issues.
Participants will gain an understanding of the roles of
the media and public perceptions in diplomacy and global issues.
The Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellows Summer Institute began
in 2006 to honor the 300th anniversary of the birth of Benjamin
Franklin, the legendary American statesman and diplomat, whose career,
interests, and studies took him across the Atlantic Ocean, bringing
about greater understanding between Americans and Europeans. His life
offers inspiration to young citizens of today. As a diplomat and a
printer, he used the power of diplomacy and the media to increase the
exchange of information between Americans and the people of other
countries. In this light, the earlier Summer Institutes guided
participants to examine what we need to know about each other to
communicate better and to face the many challenges of the 21st Century
together. The Institutes also explored how young people interact with
media, both as consumers and producers of information, and how freedom
of expression both provides rights to, and imposes responsibilities on
citizens.
The Bureau is now offering the opportunity to explore these themes
to new delegations of youth by continuing its Benjamin Franklin
Transatlantic Fellows Institute for European, Eurasians, and Americans,
and by creating a new Institute for Fellows from Central Asia, South
Asia, and the United States. The structure and themes will be similar;
specific differences are outlined below.
Each Institute will take place on a U.S. university or college
campus, or at a similar venue. Ideally, the venue selected will be on
or near a campus with a European or Asian Studies center, as
appropriate. For a portion of the Institute, the Fellows will be housed
together at a dormitory on campus, because living together will
facilitate greater cooperation on the project and training. For at
least ten days of the Institute, all Fellows will have homestays with
local families.
Organizations or institutions may apply to implement only one of
the two Institutes. If more than one proposal is received from an
applicant, all of its proposals will be disqualified. Please clearly
identify the Institute for which you are applying and outline the
specific reasons why the application institution is qualified to work
with participants from the selected region (Europe/Eurasia or Central/
South Asia).
Institute A: Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellows Summer Institute
(Europe and the European Countries of Eurasia)
The Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellows Summer Institute will
be designed for up to 45 students ages 16-18 from Europe, the European
countries of Eurasia, and the United States. One or two students will
come from each participating country, except for the United States,
which will have ten representatives. U.S. Embassies that wish to
participate will screen and select the overseas participants from a
pool of students with whom they have contact. All countries of Europe
and the European countries of Eurasia will be eligible to nominate
participants; the State Department will be responsible for the final
selection of participants and the countries they will represent. U.S.
Embassies will arrange and pay for the Europeans' international travel
to and from the United States. The grant recipient will be responsible
for recruiting and selecting the American participants from across the
United States. All students will be able to participate fully in
English.
The grant recipient should arrange for highly qualified mentors for
the Fellows during the course of the Institute, and for follow-on
activities; the mentors may also serve as trainers or instructors, as
appropriate. The grantee organization will arrange for adult chaperones
for select transatlantic flights (e.g., Frankfurt to the institute
site), and adult staff should be available to support the participants
during the course of the Institute.
[[Page 57374]]
A study trip to Washington, DC must be included either during the
Institute or at the end. The State Department will organize one day of
activities and the grant recipient will arrange other activities in
Washington that offer insight into leadership, diplomacy, and the
media. A side trip to Philadelphia to visit key sites connected to
Benjamin Franklin's legacy is recommended. The Institute may take place
in one or two communities (including, or in addition to the study trip)
and should offer the participants exposure to the variety of American
life.
Institute B: Benjamin Franklin Summer Institute With Asia (Central and
South Asia)
The Benjamin Franklin Summer Institute With Asia will be designed
for up to 45 students ages 16-18 from five countries in South and
Central Asia and from the United States. Seven students will come from
each participating country: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. They will be joined by ten students from
the United States. U.S. Embassies will screen and select the overseas
participants, and will arrange and pay for the Asian participants'
international travel to and from the United States. The grant recipient
will be responsible for recruiting and selecting the American
participants from across the United States, and for their travel to the
Institute. All students will be able to participate fully in English.
The grant recipient should arrange for highly qualified mentors for
the Fellows during the course of the Institute and for follow-on
activities; the mentors may also serve as trainers or instructors as
appropriate. Adult staff should be available to support the
participants during the course of the Institute. The U.S. embassies
will arrange for adult chaperones for the international travel.
For both Institutes:
Program content: The Institute should focus primarily on the
exploration of global issues through interactive activities, practical
experiences, and other hands-on opportunities, through which the
participants will learn more about democratic practices, volunteer
service, conflict resolution, critical thinking, tolerance and respect
for diversity, youth leadership, and the media. In addition to the
American Fellows, program activities should engage American teenagers
wherever possible. Cultural and recreational activities will balance
the schedule.
Before and during the Institute, students will gather information
on young adults' views about one or two areas of common or global
interest, such as sustainable development, inter-ethnic cooperation, or
human rights. They will also identify and address stereotypes they hold
of others. The students will gather information via the Internet and
various forms of the media, through interviews with their
contemporaries and with experts--including academics and diplomats--and
by other methods, such as designing and conducting a survey. The grant
recipient should be prepared to guide some of these pre-program and on-
program activities.
Increasingly young people have come to rely upon mass
communication--the use of words, sounds, and images by a few to inform,
educate, entertain and persuade the many--to learn about the world they
inhabit. Mass media not only supplies factual information, it also
expresses cultural preferences, promotes value systems, and fuels
commerce through advertising and product placement. The program should
provide the participants with a new perspective on their learning,
networking, perceptions of each other, the communities they live in,
and the broader media culture.
Training will focus on developing a critical reading of printed,
broadcast, and electronic media. The students should increase their
awareness of the levels of communication in news and popular media, to
be able to judge the content and accuracy for themselves. Training will
cover communication skills, problem solving, and team building.
Finally, students will design simple educational materials, an
outreach campaign, a newsletter, or another type of project that
enables the Fellows to share the content of their discussions with
their peers.
The participants will take part in at least one community service
activity during the U.S. program to demonstrate American volunteerism.
The program should provide context for the participants to undertake
the service activity--identifying community needs, the nature of
volunteerism, charitable giving, etc.--and a debriefing so that the
service activity is not an isolated event and to help participants see
how they can apply the experience at home.
In addition to this community service, the participants will
present and test the educational materials or outreach described above.
Upon their return home, participants will develop, test, and present
the materials with audiences in their home countries.
Guidelines:
Pending the availability of funds, the grants will begin on or
about April 15, 2010. Applicants should propose a three- to four-week
U.S. institute that will take place between late June and late August
2010. The grant period will be approximately 12 months in duration, as
appropriate to the program design.
The grant recipient will be responsible for the following:
Recruitment, screening, and selection of American
participants, ages 16-18, representing the diversity of the United
States.
The designing and planning of a substantive program in the
United States that promotes international dialogue on key global
issues, critical thinking, democracy and tolerance, media analysis,
leadership development, civic education, and community service. Some
activities should be school and/or community-based, as feasible, and
the projects will involve as much interaction with American peers, even
beyond those directly participating in the Institute, as possible.
Logistical arrangements, properly screened host family
arrangements, other accommodations, disbursement of stipends/per diem,
local travel, and travel between sites.
Monitoring of the participants' safety and well-being
while at the institute.
Follow-on activities in the participants' home countries
designed to reinforce the ideas, values, and skills imparted during the
U.S. program.
Applicant organizations must demonstrate their capacity for doing
projects of this nature, focusing on three areas of competency: (1)
Provision of programs that address the goals and themes outlined in
this document; (2) age-appropriate programming for youth; and (3)
previous experience in working in Europe/Eurasia or Central/South Asia,
as appropriate. Applicant organizations should be able to help U.S.
embassies support follow-on activities for the alumni of the U.S.-based
Institutes.
Proposals must demonstrate how the stated objectives will be met.
The proposal narrative should provide detailed information on how the
major program activities will be implemented, and applicants should
explain and justify their programmatic choices. Programs must comply
with J-1 visa regulations for the International Visitor category.
Please be sure to refer to the complete Solicitation Package--this
RFGP, the Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI), and the
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI)--for further information.
[[Page 57375]]
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Grant Agreement.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY-2010.
Approximate Total Funding: $424,000.
Number of Awards: Two.
Approximate Average Award: $212,000.
Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, April 15,
2010.
Anticipated Project Completion Date: March 31, 2011.
Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of this
program and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, it is
ECA's intent to renew these grants 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 two awards
in amounts exceeding $60,000 to support program and administrative
costs required to implement this exchange program. Therefore,
organizations with less than four years experience in conducting
international exchanges 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.
(b) Organizations or institutions may apply for only one of the two
institutes. If more than one proposal is received from an applicant,
all proposals will be disqualified.
IV. Application and Submission Information
Note: Please read the complete announcement before sending
inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has
passed, Bureau staff may not discuss this competition with
applicants until the proposal review process has been completed.
IV.1 Contact Information To Request an Application Package: Please
contact the Youth Programs Division (ECA/PE/C/PY), U.S. Department of
State, SA-5, 3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20522-0503, Telephone (202) 632-
6079, Fax (202) 632-9355, E-mail: PiersonCompeauHM@state.gov to request
a Solicitation Package. Please refer to the Funding Opportunity Number
(ECA/PE/C/PY-10-03) when making your request. Alternatively, an
electronic application package may be obtained from grants.gov. Please
see section IV.3f for further information.
The Solicitation Package contains the Proposal Submission
Instruction (PSI) document which consists of required application
forms, and standard guidelines for proposal preparation. It also
contains the Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI)
document, which provides specific information, award criteria and
budget instructions tailored to this competition.
Please specify Program Officer Carolyn Lantz and refer to the
Funding Opportunity Name and Number 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
Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) document and 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
[[Page 57376]]
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: Office of Designation, ECA/EC/D, SA-5,
Floor C2, Department of State, Washington, DC 20522-0582.
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
[[Page 57377]]
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. Grant requests, which will be for one of the two
Institutes announced, may not exceed $212,000. This amount will not
include the international travel costs for the exchange participants.
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.
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.
Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget
guidelines and formatting instructions.
IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission:
Application Deadline Date: Wednesday, January 6, 2010.
Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-10-03.
Methods of Submission:
Applications may be submitted in one of two ways:
(1) In hard-copy, via a nationally recognized overnight delivery
service (i.e., Federal Express, UPS, Airborne Express, or U.S. Postal
Service Express Overnight Mail, etc.), or
(2) Electronically through https://www.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 six copies of the application should be sent to:
Program Management Division, ECA-IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/PE/C/PY-10-03,
SA-5, Floor 4, Department of State, Washington, DC 20522-0504.
With the submission of the proposal package, please also e-mail the
Executive Summary, Proposal Narrative, and Budget sections of the
proposal, as well as any attachments essential to understanding the
program, in Microsoft Word and/or Excel to the program officer at
LantzCS@state.gov. The Bureau will provide these files electronically
to the Public Affairs Section at the U.S. Embassies for their review.
IV.3f.2 Submitting Electronic Applications
Applicants have the option of submitting proposals electronically
through Grants.gov (https://www.grants.gov). Complete solicitation
packages are available at Grants.gov in the ``Find'' portion of the
system.
Please Note: ECA strongly encourages organizations interested in
applying for this competition to submit printed, hard copy
applications as outlined in section IV.3f.1. above, rather than
submitting electronically through Grants.gov. This recommendation is
being made as a result of the anticipated high volume of grant
proposals that will be submitted via the Grants.gov 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.
Please follow the instructions available in the `Get Started'
portion of the site (https://www.grants.gov/GetStarted).
Several of the steps in the Grants.gov registration process could
take several weeks. Therefore, applicants should check with appropriate
staff within their organizations immediately after reviewing this RFGP
to confirm or determine their registration status with Grants.gov.
Once registered, the amount of time it can take to upload an
application will vary depending on a variety of factors including the
size of the application and the speed of your Internet connection. In
addition, validation of an electronic submission via Grants.gov can
take up to two business days.
Therefore, we strongly recommend that you not wait until the
application deadline to begin the submission process through
Grants.gov.
The Grants.gov Web site includes extensive information on all
phases/aspects of the Grants.gov process, including an extensive
section on frequently asked questions, located under the ``For
Applicants'' section of the Web site. ECA strongly recommends that all
potential applicants review thoroughly the Grants.gov Web site, well in
advance of submitting a proposal through the Grants.gov system. ECA
bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or
conversion processes.
Direct all questions regarding Grants.gov registration and
submission to: Grants.gov Customer Support. Contact Center Phone: 800-
518-4726. Business Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Eastern Time. E-
mail: grants.gov">support@grants.gov.
Applicants have until midnight (12 a.m.), Washington, DC time of
the closing date to ensure that their entire application has been
uploaded to the Grants.gov site. There are no exceptions to the above
deadline. Applications uploaded to the site after midnight of the
application deadline date will be automatically rejected by the
grants.gov system, and will be technically ineligible.
[[Page 57378]]
Please refer to the Grants.gov Web site, for definitions of various
``application statuses'' and the difference between a submission
receipt and a submission validation. Applicants will receive a
validation e-mail from grants.gov upon the successful submission of an
application. Again, validation of an electronic submission via
Grants.gov can take up to two business days. Therefore, we strongly
recommend that you not wait until the application deadline to begin the
submission process through Grants.gov. ECA will not notify you upon
receipt of electronic applications.
It is the responsibility of all applicants submitting proposals via
the Grants.gov Web portal to ensure that proposals have been received
by Grants.gov in their entirety, and ECA bears no responsibility for
data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.
IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of Applications: Executive Order
12372 does not apply to this program.
V. Application Review Information
V.1. Review Process
The Bureau will review all proposals for technical eligibility.
Proposals will be deemed ineligible if they do not fully adhere to the
guidelines stated herein and in the Solicitation Package. All eligible
proposals will be reviewed by the program office, as well as the Public
Diplomacy section overseas, where appropriate. Eligible proposals will
be subject to compliance with Federal and Bureau regulations and
guidelines and forwarded to Bureau grant panels for advisory review.
Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of the Legal Adviser or by
other Department elements. Final funding decisions are at the
discretion of the Department of State's Assistant Secretary for
Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final technical authority for
assistance awards (grants) resides with the Bureau's Grants Officer.
Review Criteria
Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed
according to the criteria stated below:
1. Quality of the program idea: The proposed program should be well
developed, respond to design outlined in the solicitation, and
demonstrate originality. It should be clearly and accurately written,
substantive, and with sufficient detail. Proposals should exhibit
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's
mission.
2. Program planning and ability to achieve program objectives: A
detailed agenda and work plan should clearly demonstrate how project
objectives would be achieved. The agenda and plan should adhere to the
program overview and guidelines described above. The substance of
workshops, seminars, presentations, school-based activities, and/or
site visits should be described in detail. Objectives should be
reasonable, feasible, and flexible. The proposal should clearly
demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's objectives and
plan.
3. Support of diversity: The proposal should demonstrate the
recipient's commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding of
diversity in program content. Applicants should demonstrate readiness
to accommodate participants with physical disabilities.
4. Institutional capacity and track record: Proposed personnel and
institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve
the program goals. The proposal should demonstrate an institutional
record, including responsible fiscal management and full compliance
with all reporting requirements for past Bureau grants as determined by
the Bureau's Office of Contracts. The Bureau will consider the past
performance.
5. Cross-cultural sensitivity and area expertise: Applicants must
demonstrate their understanding of the area in which they propose to
work and should demonstrate sensitivity to participants' values,
customs, and life experiences in the programming.
6. Follow-on activities: Proposals should provide a plan for a
Bureau-supported follow-on visit by project staff to the relevant
country or region, plus a plan for continued follow-on activity, not
necessarily with Bureau support, that insures that this program is not
an isolated event.
7. Project evaluation: The proposal should include a plan to
evaluate the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at
the end of the program. The proposal should include a draft survey
questionnaire or other technique plus description of a methodology to
use to link outcomes to original project objectives. The grant
recipient will be expected to submit intermediate reports after each
project component is concluded.
8. Cost-effectiveness and cost sharing: The applicant should
demonstrate efficient use of Bureau funds. The overhead and
administrative components of the proposal, including salaries and
honoraria, should be kept as low as possible. All other items should be
necessary and appropriate. The proposal should maximize cost-sharing
through other private sector support as well as institutional direct
funding contributions, which demonstrates institutional and community
commitment.
VI. Award Administration Information
VI.1a. Award Notices
Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by
Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures.
Successful applicants will receive a Federal Assistance Award (FAA)
from the Bureau's Grants Office. The FAA and the original proposal with
subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall be the only binding
authorizing document between the recipient and the U.S. Government. The
FAA will be signed by an authorized Grants Officer, and mailed to the
recipient's responsible officer identified in the application.
Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of
the application review from the ECA program office coordinating this
competition.
VI.1b. The Following Additional Requirements Apply to This Project:
Special Provision for Performance in a Designated Combat Area
(Currently Iraq and Afghanistan) (December 2008)
All Recipient personnel deploying to areas of combat operations, as
designated by the Secretary of Defense (currently Iraq and
Afghanistan), under assistance awards over $100,000 or performance over
14 days must register in the Department of Defense maintained
Synchronized Pre-deployment and Operational Tracker (SPOT) system.
Recipients of Federal assistance awards shall register in SPOT before
deployment, or if already in the designated operational area, register
upon becoming an employee under the assistance award, and maintain
current data in SPOT. Information on how to register in SPOT will be
available from your Grants Officer or Grants Officer Representative
during the final negotiation and approval stages in the Federal
assistance awards process. Recipients of Federal assistance awards are
advised that adherence to this policy and procedure will be a
requirement of all final Federal assistance awards issued by ECA.
Recipient performance may require the use of armed private security
personnel. To the extent that such private security contractors (PSCs)
are required, grantees are required to ensure they adhere to Chief of
Mission (COM)
[[Page 57379]]
policies and procedures regarding the operation, oversight, and
accountability of PSCs.
VI.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements:
Terms and Conditions for the Administration of ECA agreements
include the following:
Office of Management and Budget Circular A-122, ``Cost Principles
for Nonprofit Organizations.''
Office of Management and Budget Circular A-21, ``Cost Principles
for Educational Institutions.''
OMB Circular A-87, ``Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian
Governments''.
OMB Circular No. A-110 (Revised), Uniform Administrative
Requirements for Grants and Agreements With Institutions of Higher
Education, Hospitals, and Other Nonprofit Organizations.
OMB Circular No. A-102, Uniform Administrative Requirements for
Grants-in-Aid to State and Local Governments.
OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of States, Local Government, and
Non-profit Organizations.
Please reference the following Web sites for additional
information:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants.
https://fa.statebuy.state.gov.
VI.3. Reporting Requirements: You must provide ECA with a hard copy
original plus one copy of the following reports:
1. Interim reports, as required in the Bureau grant agreement.
2. A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after
the expiration of the award.
3. A concise, one-page final program report summarizing program
outcomes no more than 90 days after the expiration of the award. This
one-page report will be transmitted to OMB, and be made available to
the public via OMB's USAspending.gov Web site--as part of ECA's Federal
Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reporting
requirements.
4. A SF-PPR, ``Performance Progress Report'' Cover Sheet with all
program reports.
Award recipients will be required to provide reports analyzing
their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program
reports. Please refer to IV. Application and Submission Instructions
(IV.3.d.3) above for Program Monitoring and Evaluation information.
All data collected, including survey responses and contact
information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years and
provided to the Bureau upon request.
All reports must be sent to the ECA Grants Officer and ECA Program
Officer listed in the final assistance award document.
VII. Agency Contacts
For questions about this announcement, contact: Carolyn Lantz,
Program Officer, Youth Programs Division (ECA/PE/C/PY), U.S. Department
of State, SA-5, 3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20522-0503, Telephone (202)
632-6421, Fax (202) 632-9355, E-mail: LantzCS@state.gov.
All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should
reference the title, Benjamin Franklin Institute, and number, ECA/PE/C/
PY-10-03.
Please read the complete announcement before sending inquiries or
submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has passed, Bureau staff
may not discuss this competition with applicants until the proposal
review process has been completed.
VIII. Other Information
Notice
The terms and conditions published in this RFGP are binding and may
not be modified by any Bureau representative. Explanatory information
provided by the Bureau that contradicts published language will not be
binding. Issuance of the RFGP does not constitute an award commitment
on the part of the Government. The Bureau reserves the right to reduce,
revise, or increase proposal budgets in accordance with the 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: October 26, 2009.
Maura M. Pally,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S.
Department of State.
[FR Doc. E9-26425 Filed 11-4-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P
