Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant Proposals: Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student Leaders, 58360-58367 [E9-26913]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 217 (Thursday, November 12, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58360-58367]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-26913]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6804]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student Leaders

    Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreements
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/E/USS-10-11-25
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.009
    Key Dates: April, 2010 to April, 2011
    Application Deadline: January 14, 2010
    Executive Summary: The Branch for the Study of the United States, 
Office of

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Academic Exchange Programs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, 
invites proposal submissions for the design and implementation of 
approximately fifteen (15) Study of the United States Institutes for 
Student Leaders under five different themes. Taking place over the 
course of five weeks, the Institutes will be scheduled throughout a one 
year period, starting in April 2010 and ending in March 2011. The 
scheduling of each Institute should coincide with the academic calendar 
of the participants' home country(ies) (see specific themes, dates, and 
country groups below in section I.4).
    The Institutes should take place at U.S. academic institutions and 
provide groups of highly motivated undergraduate students from the 
countries and regions noted below with in-depth seminars on the topics 
detailed in the following section. Each Institute should include four 
weeks of academic residency followed by a one-week integrated 
educational travel tour that will expose participants to a different 
region of the United States. The one-week educational study tour should 
conclude with a two or three day session in Washington, DC.
    Each Institute will host up to 20 participants, for a total of 
approximately 300 students. ECA plans to provide several awards for the 
administration of the 15 Study of the U.S. Institutes and welcomes 
applications from accredited post-secondary education institutions in 
the United States and public and private non-profit organizations or 
consortia of organizations (see Eligibility Information, section III). 
The awarding of Cooperative Agreements for this program is contingent 
upon the availability of FY 2010 funds.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

I.1. 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.

I.2. Purpose

    The Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student Leaders are intensive 
academic programs whose purpose is to provide groups of undergraduate 
students with a deeper understanding of the United States while also 
exposing Americans to the diverse cultures and traditions of the 
exchange participants.
    The principal objective of the Institutes is to provide a group of 
undergraduate leaders an introduction to a specific field of study, 
while also heightening their awareness of the history and evolution of 
U.S. society, culture, values, and institutions, broadly defined. In 
this context, the Institutes should incorporate a focus on contemporary 
American life, as it is shaped by historical and/or current political, 
social, and economic issues and debates. The role and influence of 
principles and values such as democracy, the rule of law, individual 
rights, freedom of expression, equality, and diversity and tolerance 
should be addressed.
    In addition to promoting a better understanding of the United 
States, an important objective of the Institutes is to develop the 
participants' leadership skills. In this context, the academic program 
should include group discussions, trainings, and exercises that focus 
on topics such as leadership, teambuilding, collective problem-solving 
skills, effective communication, and management skills for diverse 
organizational settings. Institutes should include a community service 
component in which the students experience firsthand how not-for-profit 
organizations and volunteerism play a key role in American civil 
society.
    Local site visits and educational travel should provide 
opportunities to observe varied aspects of American life and to discuss 
lessons learned in the academic program. The program should also 
include opportunities for participants to meet American citizens from a 
variety of backgrounds, to interact with their American peers, and to 
speak to appropriate student and civic groups about their experiences 
and life in their home countries.

I.3. Overview

    Institutes will provide an in depth study of one of the themes 
outlined below. Participants should gain both theoretical knowledge and 
practical skills that will allow them to excel in their disciplines. In 
addition to thematic teaching, all institutes should explore American 
history, government, society, and culture through the lens of its 
particular theme. All Institutes should include opportunities for 
leadership development, specifically as it relates to each field. 
Institutes should also expose participants to community organizations 
that provide advocacy or other services relevant to the particular 
theme.

I.4. Institute Themes

    (a.) The Study of the U.S. Institute on Global Environmental Issues 
should explore the role that environmental policy has played in the 
economic and political development of the United States. The Institute 
should use experiential learning techniques to expose participants to 
current themes in the field, including natural resource management, 
sustainable development/sustainable agricultural practices, food 
security, ecotourism, energy generation (new and traditional forms), 
and water management and treatment. The issues should be explored from 
numerous angles: local grassroots activism and civic initiatives, 
market-oriented approaches, and federal government policies and 
regulation. The Institute might also examine the relationship between 
environmental security and national security. Finally, the Institute 
should explore environmental issues in the context of a globalized 
society, and draw comparisons between the United States and the 
participants' home countries. Participants will be drawn from the 
following regions and countries:
    (1) Southeast Asia (possible countries include Burma, Thailand, 
Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia)--May and June 2010
    (2) Southeast Asia (possible countries include Cambodia, Vietnam, 
Laos)--July and August 2010
    (3) Middle East (possible countries include Jordan, Israel)--July 
and August 2010
    (b.) The Study of the U.S. Institute on New Media should examine 
major topics in journalism, including the concept of a free press, 
First Amendment rights, the media's relationship to the public 
interest, and media business models. The Institute should cover all 
elements of journalism: Researching, writing, editing, and reporting 
with particular emphasis on new forms of media. The program should 
underscore the impact of new technologies on journalism, and give 
participants new skills such as working with on-line photos and videos; 
`twittering;' publishing blogs; utilizing social networking and other 
internet sites; and other new technologies. Participants will be drawn 
from the following regions and countries:

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    (1) South Asia (possible countries include India, Nepal, 
Bangladesh, Sri Lanka)--May and June 2010
    (2) Middle East (possible countries include Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, 
Israel)--July and August 2010
    (3) Southeast Asia (possible countries include Indonesia, Malaysia, 
Philippines)--May and June 2010
    (c.) The Study of the U.S. Institute on Religious Pluralism in the 
United States should explore U.S. history, society, and institutions 
within the context of religious pluralism and interfaith dialogue. 
Topics should include, but are not limited to, early religious 
traditions in the U.S.; the separation of church and state; immigration 
and the introduction of new religions in the U.S.; protection and 
representation of minority groups and religions; and interfaith 
dialogue and cooperation in a diverse and rapidly changing world. 
Participants should meet with U.S. community leaders of different 
faiths that advocate for collaboration and tolerance among religious 
groups. Participants should also examine the leadership role that 
religious officials play in their own societies and develop ideas for 
how they can work with leaders, of similar or different faiths, to 
bring about positive social change. Participants will be drawn from the 
following regions and countries:
    (1) Afghanistan--January and February 2011
    (2) Middle East (possible countries include Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, 
Saudi Arabia)--July and August 2010
    (3) Indonesia--January and February 2011
    (d.) The Study of the U.S. Institute on Social Entrepreneurship 
should provide participants with an overview of how to employ 
entrepreneurial skills to address social issues. The Institute should 
review the development, history, challenges, and successes of social 
enterprises and community leaders, in the United States and globally. 
Topics may include, but are not limited to, microfinance; 
organizational development and management; grant writing; innovation; 
emerging markets and risk analysis; strategic business planning; 
corporate social responsibility; and, women and minorities in 
entrepreneurship.
    Participants will be drawn from the following regions and 
countries:
    (1) North Africa (possible countries include Algeria, Tunisia, 
Morocco, Egypt)--July and August 2010
    (2) Turkey--July and August 2010
    (3) Africa (possible countries include Sierra Leone, Cote D'Ivoire, 
Mali, Senegal, Nigeria)--July and August 2010
    (e.) The Study of the U.S. Institute on Women's Leadership should 
examine the history and participation of women in public life in the 
United States. The Institute should focus on two major areas: (1) 
Developing participants' leadership skills in areas such as critical 
thinking, communication, decision-making, and managerial abilities; 
and, (2) Placing these abilities in the context of the history and 
participation of women in U.S. politics, economics, culture, and 
society. The Institute should examine the historical domestic progress 
towards women's equality in the United States, the current domestic 
successes and challenges to women in a variety of fields, and current 
challenges in global women's issues. Participants will be drawn from 
the following regions and countries:
    (1) South Asia (possible countries include Afghanistan, Pakistan, 
India)--July and August 2010
    (2) Middle East (possible countries include Egypt, Morocco, Saudi 
Arabia)--July and August 2010
    (3) Middle East (possible countries include Oman, Bahrain, UAE, 
Yemen)--January and February 2011

I.5. Program Administration

    The Bureau is seeking detailed proposals from accredited post-
secondary U.S. institutions (community colleges, liberal arts colleges, 
public and private universities), consortia of organizations, and/or 
from public and private non-profit organizations meeting the 
eligibility requirements outlined under Section III below. Consortia 
applicants must designate a lead institution to receive the Cooperative 
Agreement. Organizations that opt to work in sub-grant arrangements 
should clearly outline all duties and responsibilities of the partner 
organization(s), ideally in the form of sub-grant agreements that 
include detailed line-item budgets.
    Organizations that propose to administer multiple Institutes under 
sub-grantee agreements should designate a project director to oversee 
all of the Institutes, coordinate logistical and administrative 
arrangements, ensure an appropriate level of continuity between the 
various host institution programs, and serve as the principal liaison 
between ECA and all the host institutions and thus, be ECA's primary 
point of contact.
    Each host institution should designate an administrative director 
to oversee all student support services, including supervision of the 
program participants and budgetary, logistical, and other 
administrative arrangements. Each organization also should designate an 
academic director who will be present throughout the program to ensure 
the continuity, coherence, and integration of all aspects of the 
academic program, including the related educational study tour. It is 
important that the applicant organization also retain qualified 
``cultural ambassadors'' or ``graduate mentors'' (or another 
appropriate name) at each host institution who exhibit cultural 
sensitivity, an understanding of the program's objectives, and a 
willingness to accompany the students throughout the program.

I.6. Participants

    Participants will be identified and nominated by the U.S. Embassies 
and Consulates and/or Fulbright Commissions with final selection made 
by ECA. Each Institute will host up to 20 participants, for a total of 
approximately 300 students.
    Participants will be drawn from among the priority country 
groupings listed after each of the thematic institutes described above. 
Applicants are welcome to indicate their preference for one of the 
country groups listed by theme and if so, should indicate any regional 
expertise. ECA will make the final decisions regarding participating 
countries and reserves the right to adjust the regions and countries 
participating in this activity based upon Department priorities.
    Participants in the Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student 
Leaders will be highly motivated undergraduate students from colleges, 
universities, and other institutions of higher education in selected 
countries overseas who demonstrate leadership through academic work, 
community involvement, and extracurricular activities. Their major 
fields of study will be varied, and will include the sciences, social 
sciences, humanities, education, and business. All participants will 
have a good knowledge of English and will have demonstrated interest in 
the Institute's theme.
    Every effort will be made to select a balanced mix of male and 
female participants, and to recruit participants who are from non-elite 
or underprivileged backgrounds, from both rural and urban areas, and 
have had little or no prior experience in the United States or 
elsewhere outside of their home country.

I.7. Program Dates

    The Institutes should be five weeks in length. The Institutes will 
be scheduled at various times throughout the year, with the first 
Institutes beginning in April 2010, and the last Institutes ending as 
late as March 2011. A

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proposed time line is indicated next to each country group listed 
above.

I.8. Program Guidelines

    While the conception and structure of the Institute agenda is the 
responsibility of the organizers, it is essential that proposals 
provide a detailed and comprehensive narrative describing the 
objectives of the Institute; the title, scope, and content of each 
session; planned site visits; and how each session relates to the 
overall Institute theme. Proposals must include a syllabus that 
indicates the subject matter for each lecture, panel discussion, group 
presentation, or other activity. The syllabus also should confirm or 
provisionally identify proposed speakers, trainers, and session 
leaders, and clearly show how assigned readings will advance the goals 
of each session. Overall, proposals will be reviewed on the basis of 
their responsiveness to RFGP criteria, coherence, clarity, and 
attention to detail. The accompanying Project Objectives, Goals, and 
Implementation (POGI) document provides program-specific guidelines 
that all proposals must address fully.

    Please note: In a Cooperative Agreement, the Branch for the 
Study of the United States is substantially involved in program 
activities above and beyond routine grant monitoring. The Branch 
will assume the following responsibilities for the Institute: 
Participate in the final selection of participants; debrief 
participants in Washington, DC at the conclusion of the Institute; 
and engage in follow-on communication with the participants after 
they return to their home countries. The Branch may request that the 
recipient make modifications to the academic residency and/or 
educational travel components of the program. The recipient will be 
required to obtain approval of significant program changes in 
advance of their implementation.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. ECA's level of involvement in 
this program is listed under number I above.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2010.
    Approximate Total Funding: $3,600,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: Up to five.
    Floor of Award Range: $240,000.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $1,680,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, April 1, 
2010.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: April 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 this cooperative agreement for two additional 
fiscal years, before openly competing it again.

III. Eligibility Information

III.1 Eligible Applicants

    Applications may be submitted by public and private non-profit 
organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code 
section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3).
    An applicant organization is defined by the DUNS number of the 
organization and by the signature of the authorized representative 
contained on the ``Application for Federal Assistance Form'' (SF-424) 
submitted under this competition.

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, the recipient institution must maintain written records 
to support all costs which are claimed as a 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 the recipient 
institution does 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.) Grants awarded to eligible organizations with less than four 
years of experience in conducting international exchange programs will 
be limited to $60,000. ECA anticipates that the minimum award under 
this competition will be approximately $240,000. 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.) Technical Eligibility: It is ECA's intent to fund a total of 
fifteen (15) thematic institutes, three under each theme, as a result 
of this solicitation.
    Applicant organizations may submit no more than one application 
under this competition for Option A or Option B. as outlined below. See 
Section III.1 above, for a definition of an applicant organization.
    If multiple proposals are received from the same applicant 
organization, all submissions will be declared technically ineligible 
and will be given no further consideration in the review process. All 
applicants are strongly encouraged to read this RFGP thoroughly, prior 
to developing and submitting a proposal, to ensure that proposed 
activities are appropriate and responsive to the goals, objectives and 
criteria outlined in the solicitations.
    Applicants should indicate whether they are applying under Option A 
or Option B, as detailed below.
    Option A: Total available funding up to $240,000 (one institute) or 
up to $480,000 (two institutes). Under Option A, applicant 
organizations (colleges, universities, or NGOs) are invited to submit 
one application to host no more than two Institutes under any of the 
themes listed in Section I.4. It is anticipated that between 1 and 5 
awards will be made under Option A.
    Option B: Total available funding up to $1,680,000. Under Option B, 
other public and private non-profit organizations or consortia of 
organizations must propose to administer seven (7) Institutes in one 
application. Organizations, using sub-grantee agreements, must propose 
to administer at least one Institute under each of the five (5) themes 
listed above, and two additional Institutes in the theme(s) of their 
choice. It is anticipated that up to two awards may be made under 
Option B.
    All proposals should clearly indicate the desired theme, country 
group, and time line from Section I.4 above, and should demonstrate 
thematic expertise, as well as any regional expertise, if applicable. 
ECA reserves the right to assign the final country groupings.
    ECA also reserves the right to adjust the total funding amount to 
the applicant organizations based upon the quality of the proposed 
activity and each organization's demonstrated expertise.

IV. Application and Submission Information

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

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until the proposal review process has been completed.

IV.1 Contact Information To Request an Application Package

    Please contact the Branch for the Study of the United States, ECA/
A/E/USS; SA-5, Fourth Floor; U.S. Department of State; Washington, DC 
20522-0504, (202) 632-3337 to request a Solicitation Package. Please 
refer to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/E/USS-10-11-25 located at 
the top of this announcement when making your request.
    Alternatively, an electronic application package may be obtained 
from grants.gov. Please see section IV.3f for further information.
    The Solicitation Package contains the Proposal Submission 
Instruction (PSI) document which consists of required application 
forms, and standard guidelines for proposal preparation.
    It also contains the Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation 
(POGI) document, which provides specific information, award criteria 
and budget instructions tailored to this competition.
    Please specify Amy M. Rustan and refer to the Funding Opportunity 
Number ECA/A/E/USS-10-11-25 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 
section IV.6 Application Deadline and Methods of Submission, indicated 
below.
    IV.3a. You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal 
Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative 
agreement from the U.S. Government. This number is a nine-digit 
identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities. 
Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a 
DUNS number, access https://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-
5711. Please ensure that your DUNS number is included in the 
appropriate box of the SF-424 which is part of the formal application 
package.
    IV.3b. All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal 
narrative, and budget.
    Please Refer to the Solicitation Package. It contains the mandatory 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document and the Project 
Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI) document for additional 
formatting and technical requirements.
    IV.3c. You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of 
application. Please note: Effective January 7, 2009, all applicants for 
ECA federal assistance awards must include in their application the 
names of directors and/or senior executives (current officers, 
trustees, and key employees, regardless of amount of compensation). In 
fulfilling this requirement, applicants must submit information in one 
of the following ways:
    (1) Those who file Internal Revenue Service Form 990, ``Return of 
Organization Exempt From Income Tax,'' must include a copy of relevant 
portions of this form.
    (2) Those who do not file IRS Form 990 must submit information 
above in the format of their choice.
    In addition to final program reporting requirements, award 
recipients will also be required to submit a one-page document, derived 
from their program reports, listing and describing their grant 
activities. For award recipients, the names of directors and/or senior 
executives (current officers, trustees, and key employees), as well as 
the one- page description of grant activities, will be transmitted by 
the State Department to OMB, along with other information required by 
the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), and 
will be made available to the public by the Office of Management and 
Budget on its USASpending.gov Web site as part of ECA's FFATA reporting 
requirements.
    If your organization is a private nonprofit which has not received 
a grant or cooperative agreement from ECA in the past three years, or 
if your organization received nonprofit status from the IRS within the 
past four years, you must submit the necessary documentation to verify 
nonprofit status as directed in the PSI document. Failure to do so will 
cause your proposal to be declared technically ineligible.

IV.4 Program Regulations

IV.4.1 Adherence to All Regulations Governing the J Visa
    The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs places critically 
important emphases on the security and proper administration of the 
Exchange Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence by award recipients 
and sponsors to all regulations governing the J visa. Therefore, 
proposals should demonstrate the applicant's capacity to meet all 
requirements governing the administration of the Exchange Visitor 
Programs as set forth in 22 CFR part 62, including the oversight of 
Responsible Officers and Alternate Responsible Officers, screening and 
selection of program participants, provision of pre-arrival information 
and orientation to participants, monitoring of participants, proper 
maintenance and security of forms, record-keeping, reporting, and other 
requirements.
    Administering organizations will be asked to issue participants 
DS2019 forms and ship them to the Public Affairs Sections at posts.
    ECA will issue participant DS 2019 forms for organizations with 
direct agreements with ECA.
    A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of 
Exchange Visitor (J) programs is available at https://exchanges.state.gov or from: United States Department of State, Office 
of Exchange Coordination and Designation, Office of Designation, ECA/
EC/D, SA-5, Floor C2, Department of State, Washington, DC 20522-0582.
    Please refer to Solicitation Package for further information.
IV.4.2 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

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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.4.3 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 proposals include a draft survey 
questionnaire or other technique plus a description of a methodology 
used 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. An evaluation plan 
should include a description of project's objectives, anticipated 
project outcomes, and how and when outcomes will be measured 
(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. Applicants should also show how project objectives link to 
the goals of the program described in this RFGP.
    Monitoring and evaluation plans 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 applicants to assess the following four levels of 
outcomes, as they relate to the program goals set out in the RFGP 
(listed here in increasing order of importance):
    1. Participant satisfaction with the program and exchange 
experience.
    2. Participant learning, such as increased knowledge, aptitude, 
skills, and changed understanding and attitude. Learning includes both 
substantive (subject-specific) learning and mutual understanding.
    3. Participant behavior, concrete actions to apply knowledge in 
work or community; greater participation and responsibility in civic 
organizations; interpretation and explanation of experiences and new 
knowledge gained; continued contacts between participants, community 
members, and others.
    4. Institutional changes, such as increased collaboration and 
partnerships, policy reforms, new programming, and organizational 
improvements.

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

    Overall, the quality of a 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.5 Budget

    IV.5.1 Applicants must submit SF-424A--``Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs'' along with a comprehensive budget for the 
entire program. There must be a summary budget as well as breakdowns 
reflecting both administrative and program budgets. Applicants may 
provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase, 
location, or activity to provide clarification.
    IV.5.2 Allowable costs for the program include the following:
    (1) Institute staff salary and benefits
    (2) Participant housing and meals
    (3) Participant travel and per diem
    (4) Textbooks, educational materials, and admissions fees
    (5) Honoraria for guest speakers
    (6) Follow-on programming for alumni of Study of the United States 
programs.
    Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget 
guidelines and formatting instructions.

IV.6 Application Deadline and Methods of Submission

    Application Deadline Date: January 14, 2010
    Reference Number: ECA/A/E/USS-10-11-25
    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.6.1 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

[[Page 58366]]

place it in an envelope addressed to ``ECA/EX/PM''.

    The original and six (6) copies of the application should be sent 
to: Program Management Division, ECA-IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/A/E/USS-10-
11-25, SA-5, Floor 4, Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20522-0514.
    Applicants submitting hard-copy applications must also submit the 
``Executive Summary'' and ``Proposal Narrative'' sections of the 
proposal in text (.txt) or Microsoft Word format on a CD-ROM. The 
Bureau will provide these files electronically to the appropriate 
Public Affairs Section(s) at the U.S. embassy(ies) for its(their) 
review.
IV.6.2 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:  Due to Recovery Act related opportunities, there 
has been a higher than usual volume of grant proposals submitted 
through Grants.gov. Potential applicants are advised that the 
increased volume may affect the grants.gov proposal submission 
process. As stated in this RFGP, ECA bears no responsibility for 
applicant timeliness of submission or data errors resulting from 
transmission or conversion processes for proposals submitted via 
Grants.gov.

    Please follow the instructions available in the `Get Started' 
portion of the site (https://www.grants.gov/GetStarted).
    Several of the steps in the Grants.gov registration process could 
take several weeks. Therefore, applicants should check with appropriate 
staff within their organizations immediately after reviewing this RFGP 
to confirm or determine their registration status with Grants.gov.
    Once registered, the amount of time it can take to upload an 
application will vary depending on a variety of factors including the 
size of the application and the speed of your internet connection. In 
addition, validation of an electronic submission via Grants.gov can 
take up to two business days.
    Therefore, we strongly recommend that you not wait until the 
application deadline to begin the submission process through 
Grants.gov.
    The Grants.gov Web site includes extensive information on all 
phases/aspects of the Grants.gov process, including an extensive 
section on frequently asked questions, located under the ``For 
Applicants'' section of the Web site. ECA strongly recommends that all 
potential applicants review thoroughly the Grants.gov Web site, well in 
advance of submitting a proposal through the Grants.gov system. ECA 
bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or 
conversion processes.
    Direct all questions regarding Grants.gov registration and 
submission to: Grants.gov Customer Support; Contact Center Phone: 800-
518-4726; Business Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Eastern Time; E-
mail: grants.gov">support@grants.gov.
    Applicants have until midnight (12 a.m.), Washington, DC time of 
the closing date to ensure that their entire application has been 
uploaded to the Grants.gov site. There are no exceptions to the above 
deadline. Applications uploaded to the site after midnight of the 
application deadline date will be automatically rejected by the 
grants.gov system, and will be technically ineligible.
    Please refer to the Grants.gov Web site, for definitions of various 
``application statuses'' and the difference between a submission 
receipt and a submission validation. Applicants will receive a 
validation e-mail from grants.gov upon the successful submission of an 
application. Again, validation of an electronic submission via 
Grants.gov can take up to two business days. Therefore, we strongly 
recommend that you not wait until the application deadline to begin the 
submission process through Grants.gov. ECA will not notify you upon 
receipt of electronic applications.
    It is the responsibility of all applicants submitting proposals via 
the Grants.gov web portal to ensure that proposals have been received 
by Grants.gov in their entirety, and ECA bears no responsibility for 
data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.
IV.6.3 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 
cooperative agreements resides with the Bureau's Grants Officer.

V.2. Review Criteria

    Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed 
according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are not rank 
ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation:
    1. Quality of Program Plan and Ability to Achieve Program 
Objectives: Proposals should exhibit originality, substance, precision, 
and relevance to the Bureau's mission. A detailed agenda and relevant 
work plan should demonstrate substantive undertakings and logistical 
capacity. Objectives should be reasonable, feasible, and flexible. 
Proposals should demonstrate clearly how the institution will meet the 
program's objectives and plan.
    2. Support for Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive 
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Achievable and relevant 
features should be cited in both program administration (program venue 
and program evaluation) and program content (orientation and wrap-up 
sessions, program meetings, presenters, and resource materials).
    3. Evaluation and Follow-Up: Proposals should include a plan to 
evaluate the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at 
the end of the program. The Bureau recommends that the proposal include 
a draft survey questionnaire or other technique plus a description of a 
methodology to use to link outcomes to original project objectives. 
Proposals also should discuss provisions made for follow-up with 
returned participants as a means of establishing longer-term individual 
and institutional linkages.
    4. Cost-effectiveness/Cost-sharing: The overhead and administrative 
components of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be 
kept as low as possible. All other items should be necessary and 
appropriate. Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through other 
private sector support, as well as institutional direct funding 
contributions.
    5. Institutional Track Record/Ability: Proposals should demonstrate 
an institutional record of successful exchange programs, including

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responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting 
requirements for past Bureau grants as determined by Bureau Grants 
Staff. The Bureau will consider the past performance of prior 
recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants. Proposed 
personnel and institutional resources should be fully qualified to 
achieve the project's goals.
    6. Follow-on Activities: Proposals should provide a plan for 
continued follow-on activity (without Bureau support) ensuring that 
Bureau supported programs are not isolated events.

VI. Award Administration Information

VI.1. Award Notices

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

VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

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

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

VI.3. Reporting Requirements

    You must provide ECA with a hard copy original plus one copy of the 
following reports:
    (1) An interim program report no more than 90 days after the 
completion of the Institute;
    (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.
    (1.) 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: Amy M. Rustan, 
Study of the U.S. Branch, ECA/A/E/USS, U.S. Department of State, Fourth 
Floor, SA-5, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20522-0504, phone: 
(202) 632-3337, e-mail: RustanAM@state.gov.
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number ECA/A/E/USS-10-11-25.

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. In addition, it reserves the 
right to accept proposals in whole or in part and to make an award or 
awards in the best interest of the program. Awards made will be subject 
to periodic reporting and evaluation requirements per section VI.3 
above.

    Dated: November 3, 2009.
Maura M. Pally,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. E9-26913 Filed 11-10-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P