Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant Proposals: Study of the United States Institutes on U.S. Foreign Policy for East Asian Student Leaders, 62372-62378 [E9-28280]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 227 (Friday, November 27, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62372-62378]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-28280]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6819]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Study of the United States Institutes on U.S. Foreign 
Policy for East Asian Student Leaders

    Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/E/USS-10-26.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.009.
    Key Dates: July--August 2010.
    Application Deadline: Thursday, January 14, 2010.
    Executive Summary: The Branch for the Study of the United States, 
Office of Academic Exchange Programs, Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs, invites proposal submissions for the design and 
implementation of ``The Study of the U.S. Institute on U.S. Foreign 
Policy for East Asian Student Leaders'' to take place over the course 
of five weeks beginning in July, 2010, pending availability of funds. 
The Institute will take place at an accredited post-secondary education 
institution, and will provide a group of up to 20 East Asian 
undergraduates with an academic program examining U.S. Foreign Policy. 
The program should also give the students a deeper understanding of 
U.S. society and culture, while enhancing their leadership skills.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Authority

    Overall grant making authority for this program is contained in the 
Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, Public Law 87-
256, as amended, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act. The purpose of 
the Act is ``to enable the Government of the United States to increase 
mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the 
people of other countries * * *; to strengthen the ties which unite us 
with other nations by demonstrating the educational and cultural 
interests, developments, and achievements of the people of the United 
States and other nations * * * and thus to assist in the development of 
friendly, sympathetic and peaceful relations between the United States 
and the other countries of the world.'' The funding authority for the 
program above is provided through legislation.

Purpose

    The Study of the U.S. Institute for East Asian Student Leaders aims 
to foster mutual understanding between the people of the United States 
and the people of East Asia. The Study of the U.S. Institutes for 
undergraduates are intensive academic programs whose purpose is to 
provide a group of foreign students an introduction to a specific field 
of study, while also heightening the participants' general knowledge of 
U.S. society, culture, and values.
    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 leadership 
component should be experiential in nature and include group 
discussions, training, and exercises that focus on leadership theories, 
teambuilding, collective problem-solving skills, effective 
communication, and management skills for diverse organizational 
settings. Additionally, there should be a community service component, 
in which the students experience firsthand how not-for-profit 
organizations and volunteerism play a role in U.S. civil society.
    The program should also include cultural activities, local site 
visits, and an educational travel component within the United States to 
illustrate the various topics explored in class and to gain an 
understanding of the regional differences within the country. Finally, 
the program should include opportunities for participants to meet U.S. 
citizens from a variety of backgrounds, to interact with U.S. peers, 
and to speak to appropriate student and

[[Page 62373]]

civic groups about life in their home countries.

Overview

    The Study of the U.S. Institute on U.S. Foreign Policy for East 
Asian Student Leaders should introduce participants to U.S. foreign 
policy, briefly covering the history of U.S. foreign policy and 
theories of foreign policy, and focusing primarily on current foreign 
policy issues for the United States in different regions of the world. 
The program will also explore current U.S. foreign policy issues with 
East Asia. The program should explain how foreign policy is formulated 
in the United States, the role played by the President and Congress in 
creating policy, and the influence of the media, think tanks, and 
public opinion. Specific topics of discussion could include worldwide 
and regional counterterrorism efforts; energy issues; food security; 
public health initiatives; economic cooperation and trade agreements; 
foreign assistance and humanitarian aid; environmental and climate 
change; and women's issues. Issues specific to the East Asian region 
such as the U.S. military presence in East Asian countries; the role of 
ASEAN and APEC in international foreign relations; the Six-Party Talks 
on non-proliferation; and bilateral relationships can also be explored.

Recipient Organization

    ECA is seeking detailed proposals from U.S. colleges, universities, 
and other not-for-profit organizations that have an established 
reputation in one or more of the following fields: political science, 
international relations, law, history, sociology, American studies, 
and/or other disciplines or sub-disciplines related to the study of the 
United States.

Program Design

    The Study of the U.S. Institute on U.S. Foreign Policy for East 
Asian Student Leaders should provide a group of up to 20 students with 
a uniquely designed program that provides a broad, historical overview 
of U.S. foreign policy with a particular focus towards East Asia 
including recent developments and issues in the region. The Institute 
must not replicate existing or previous lectures, workshops, or group 
activities designed for American students but should be tailored for 
the particular group of students. The recipient institution should take 
into account that the participants may have little or no prior 
knowledge of the United States and varying degrees of experience in 
expressing their opinions in a classroom setting and should tailor the 
curriculum and classroom activities accordingly. Every effort should be 
made to encourage active student participation in all aspects of the 
Institute. The program should provide ample time and opportunity for 
discussion and interaction among students, lecturers, and guest 
speakers. The program should incorporate a variety of classroom 
approaches such as panel presentations, seminar discussions, debates, 
individual and group activities, lectures, and reading assignments for 
the academic sessions.
    The program should be five weeks in length; participants will spend 
four weeks at the host institution for the academic program, and 
approximately one week on a related educational study tour, including 
three or four days in Washington, DC at the conclusion of the 
Institute.

Program Administration

    The recipient organization 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. In addition to the 
academic director, an administrative director should be assigned to 
oversee all student support services, including supervision of the 
program participants and budgetary, logistical, and other 
administrative arrangements. It is important that the recipient 
organization also retain qualified mentors or escorts who exhibit 
cultural sensitivity, an understanding of the program's objectives, and 
a willingness to accompany the students throughout the program.

Participants

    Up to 20 participants will be selected from China, Japan, and South 
Korea. The students will be identified and nominated by the U.S. 
Embassies, Consulates and/or Fulbright Commissions in the participating 
countries, with final selection made by ECA.
    Participants in the Study of the U.S. Institutes on U.S. Foreign 
Policy for East Asian Student Leaders will be highly motivated 
undergraduate students from colleges, universities, and other 
institutions of higher education in selected countries who have 
demonstrated 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.
    Every effort will be made to select a balanced mix of male and 
female participants and to recruit participants from a variety of 
backgrounds who have had little or no prior experience in the United 
States or elsewhere outside of their home country.

Program Dates

    The Institute should be five weeks in length beginning in July, 
2010.

Program Guidelines

    It is essential that the proposal provide a detailed and 
comprehensive narrative describing how the host institution will 
achieve the objectives of the Institute; the title, scope and content 
of each session; planned site visits, including educational travel; and 
how each session relates to the overall Institute theme.
    Overall, the proposal will be reviewed on the basis of its 
responsiveness to RFGP criteria, coherence, clarity, and attention to 
detail.

    Please note:  In a cooperative agreement, ECA is substantially 
involved in program activities above and beyond routine grant 
monitoring. ECA will assume the following responsibilities for the 
Institute: Participate in the selection of participants; review and 
confirm syllabi and proposed speakers for the Institute; monitor the 
Institute through one or more site visits; meet with participants in 
Washington, DC at the conclusion of the Institute; work with the 
recipient organization to publicize the program through various 
media outlets; and engage in follow-on communication with the 
participants after they return to their home countries.

    ECA may request that the recipient institution make modifications 
to the academic residency and/or educational travel components of the 
program. The recipient institution will be required to obtain approval 
from ECA of any significant program changes in advance of their 
implementation.

    Note:  All materials, publicity, and correspondence related to 
the program must acknowledge this as a program of the Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State. ECA will 
retain copyright use of and distribute materials related to this 
program as it sees fit.

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: 2010.
    Approximate Total Funding: $240,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 1.
    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, March 1, 
2010.

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    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 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 USC 501(c)(3).
    III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds: There is no minimum or 
maximum percentage required for this competition. However, ECA 
encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and 
funding in support of its programs.
    When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the 
applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its 
proposal and later included in an approved agreement. Cost sharing may 
be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For 
accountability, you must maintain written records to support all costs 
which are claimed as your contribution, as well as costs to be paid by 
the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. The basis 
for determining the value of cash and in-kind contributions must be in 
accordance with OMB Circular A-110, (Revised), Subpart C.23--Cost 
Sharing and Matching. In the event you do not provide the minimum 
amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget, ECA's 
contribution will be reduced in like proportion.
    III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements: (a) Bureau grant guidelines 
require that organizations with less than four years experience in 
conducting international exchanges be limited to $60,000 in Bureau 
funding. ECA anticipates making one award, in an amount up to $240,000 
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. ECA encourages applicants to provide 
maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in support of its programs.

IV. Application and Submission Information

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

    IV.1. Contact Information to Request an Application Package: Please 
contact the Sanda Chao, Branch for the Study of the U.S., ECA/A/E/USS, 
SA-5, 4th Floor, U.S. Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20522-0504, Telephone: (202) 632-3339, Fax: (202) 632-
9411, E-mail: ChaoSL@state.gov to request a Solicitation Package. 
Please refer to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/E/USS-10-26 
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 Sanda L. Chao and refer to the Funding Opportunity 
Number ECA/A/E/USS-10-26 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 ECA's Web site at: https://exchanges.state.gov/grants/open2.html, or from the Grants.gov Web site 
at https://www.grants.gov.
    Please read all information before downloading.
    IV.3. Content and Form of Submission: Applicants must follow all 
instructions in the Solicitation Package. The application should be 
submitted per the instructions under IV.3f. ``Application Deadline and 
Methods of Submission'' section below.
    IV.3a. You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal 
Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative 
agreement from the U.S. Government. This number is a nine-digit 
identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities. 
Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a 
DUNS number, access https://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-
5711. Please ensure that your DUNS number is included in the 
appropriate box of the SF-424 which is part of the formal application 
package.
    IV.3b. All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal 
narrative and budget.
    Please Refer to the Solicitation Package. It contains the mandatory 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document and the Project 
Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI) document for additional 
formatting and technical requirements.
    IV.3c. You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of 
application. Please note: Effective January 7, 2009, all applicants for 
ECA federal assistance awards must include in their application the 
names of directors and/or senior executives (current officers, 
trustees, and key employees, regardless of amount of compensation). In 
fulfilling this requirement, applicants must submit information in one 
of the following ways:
    (1) Those who file Internal Revenue Service Form 990, ``Return of 
Organization Exempt From Income Tax,'' must include a copy of relevant 
portions of this form.
    (2) Those who do not file IRS Form 990 must submit information 
above in the format of their choice.
    In addition to final program reporting requirements, award 
recipients will also be required to submit a one-page document, derived 
from their program reports, listing and describing their grant 
activities. For award recipients, the names of directors and/or senior 
executives (current officers, trustees, and key employees), as well as 
the one- page description of grant activities, will be transmitted by 
the State Department to OMB, along with other information required by 
the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), and 
will be made available to the public by the Office of Management and 
Budget on its USASpending.gov Web site as part of ECA's FFATA reporting 
requirements.
    If your organization is a private nonprofit which has not received 
a grant or cooperative agreement from ECA in the past three years, or 
if your organization received nonprofit status from the IRS within the 
past four years, you must submit the necessary documentation to verify 
nonprofit status as directed in the PSI document. Failure to do so will 
cause your proposal to be declared technically ineligible.
    IV.3d. Please take into consideration the following information 
when preparing your proposal narrative:

IV.3d.1 Adherence To All Regulations Governing the J Visa

    The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs places critically 
important emphases on the security and

[[Page 62375]]

proper administration of the Exchange Visitor (J visa) Programs and 
adherence by award recipients and sponsors to all regulations governing 
the J visa. Therefore, proposals should demonstrate the applicant's 
capacity to meet all requirements governing the administration of the 
Exchange Visitor Programs as set forth in 22 CFR 62, including the 
oversight of Responsible Officers and Alternate Responsible Officers, 
screening and selection of program participants, provision of pre-
arrival information and orientation to participants, monitoring of 
participants, proper maintenance and security of forms, record-keeping, 
reporting, and other requirements.
    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 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.3d.2 Diversity, Freedom, and Democracy Guidelines

    Pursuant to ECA'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,'' ECA ``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. 
ECA 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. ECA expects that the recipient 
organization will track participants and be able to respond to key 
evaluation questions, including satisfaction with the program, learning 
as a result of the program, changes in behavior as a result of the 
program, and effects of the program on institutions (institutions in 
which participants work or partner institutions). The evaluation plan 
should include indicators that measure gains in mutual understanding as 
well as substantive knowledge.
    Successful monitoring and evaluation depend heavily on setting 
clear goals and outcomes at the outset of a program. Your evaluation 
plan should include a description of your project's objectives, your 
anticipated project outcomes, and how and when you intend to measure 
these outcomes (performance indicators). The more that outcomes are 
``smart'' (specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and 
placed in a reasonable time frame), the easier it will be to conduct 
the evaluation. You should also show how your project objectives link 
to the goals of the program described in this RFGP.
    Your monitoring and evaluation plan should clearly distinguish 
between program outputs and outcomes. Outputs are products and services 
delivered, often stated as an amount. Output information is important 
to show the scope or size of project activities, but it cannot 
substitute for information about progress towards outcomes or the 
results achieved. Examples of outputs include the number of people 
trained or the number of seminars conducted. Outcomes, in contrast, 
represent specific results a project is intended to achieve and is 
usually measured as an extent of change. Findings on outputs and 
outcomes should both be reported, but the focus should be on outcomes.
    We encourage you to assess the following four levels of outcomes, 
as they relate to the program goals set out in the RFGP (listed here in 
increasing order of importance):
    1. Participant satisfaction with the program and exchange 
experience.
    2. Participant learning, such as increased knowledge, aptitude, 
skills, and changed understanding and attitude. Learning includes both 
substantive (subject-specific) learning and mutual understanding.
    3. Participant behavior, concrete actions to apply knowledge in 
work or community; greater participation and responsibility in civic 
organizations; interpretation and explanation of experiences and new 
knowledge gained; continued contacts between participants, community 
members, and others.
    4. Institutional changes, such as increased collaboration and 
partnerships, policy reforms, new programming, and organizational 
improvements.

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

    Overall, the quality of your monitoring and evaluation plan will be 
judged on how well it (1) specifies intended outcomes; (2) gives clear 
descriptions of how each outcome will be measured; (3) identifies when 
particular outcomes will be measured; and (4) provides a clear 
description of the data collection strategies for each outcome (i.e., 
surveys, interviews, or focus groups). (Please note that evaluation 
plans that deal only with the first level of outcomes [satisfaction] 
will be deemed less competitive under the present evaluation criteria.)
    Recipient organizations will be required to provide reports 
analyzing their evaluation findings to ECA 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 ECA upon request.
    IV.3e. Please take the following information into consideration 
when preparing your budget:
    IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit SF-424A--``Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs'' along with a comprehensive budget for the 
entire program. There must be a summary budget as well as breakdowns 
reflecting both administrative and program budgets. Applicants may 
provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase, 
location, or activity to provide clarification. Please refer to the 
Solicitation Package for complete budget guidelines and formatting 
instructions.
    IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission:

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    Application Deadline Date: Thursday, January 14, 2010.
    Reference Number: ECA/A/E/USS-10-26.
    Methods of Submission: Applications may be submitted in one of two 
ways:
    (1) In hard-copy, via a nationally recognized overnight delivery 
service (i.e., Federal Express, UPS, Airborne Express, or U.S. Postal 
Service Express Overnight Mail, etc.), or
    (2) Electronically through https://www.grants.gov.

    Please Note: ECA strongly encourages organizations interested in 
applying for this competition to submit printed, hard copy 
applications as outlined in section IV.3f.1., below rather than 
submitting electronically through Grants.gov. This recommendation is 
being made as a result of the anticipated high volume of grant 
proposals that will be submitted via the Grants.gov webportal as 
part of the Recovery Act stimulus package. As stated in this RFGP, 
ECA bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from 
transmission or conversion processes for proposals submitted via 
Grants.gov.

    Along with the Project Title, all applicants must enter the above 
Reference Number in Box 11 on the SF-424 contained in the mandatory 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) of the solicitation document.
    IV.3f.1--Submitting Printed Applications: Applications must be 
shipped no later than the above deadline. Delivery services used by 
applicants must have in-place, centralized shipping identification and 
tracking systems that may be accessed via the Internet and delivery 
people who are identifiable by commonly recognized uniforms and 
delivery vehicles. Proposals shipped on or before the above deadline 
but received at ECA more than seven days after the deadline will be 
ineligible for further consideration under this competition. Proposals 
shipped after the established deadlines are ineligible for 
consideration under this competition. ECA will not notify you upon 
receipt of application. It is each applicant's responsibility to ensure 
that each package is marked with a legible tracking number and to 
monitor/confirm delivery to ECA via the Internet. Delivery of proposal 
packages may not be made via local courier service or in person for 
this competition. Faxed documents will not be accepted at any time. 
Only proposals submitted as stated above will be considered.

    Important note:  When preparing your submission please make sure 
to include one extra copy of the completed SF-424 form and place it 
in an envelope addressed to ``ECA/EX/PM''.

    The original and 7 copies of the application should be sent to: 
Program Management Division, ECA-IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/A/E/USS-10-26, 
SA-5, Floor 4, Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 
20522-0504.
    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. ECA will 
provide these files electronically to the appropriate Public Affairs 
Section(s) at the U.S. embassies for their review.
    IV.3f.2--Submitting Electronic Applications: Applicants have the 
option of submitting proposals electronically through Grants.gov 
(https://www.grants.gov). Complete solicitation packages are available 
at Grants.gov in the ``Find'' portion of the system.

    Please 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.
    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

    ECA 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

[[Page 62377]]

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 cooperative agreements resides with ECA's Grants 
Officer.

Review Criteria

    Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed 
according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are not rank 
ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation:
    1. Quality of Program Plan and Ability to Achieve Program 
Objectives: Proposals should exhibit originality, substance, precision, 
and relevance to the ECA'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 
responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting 
requirements for past ECA grants as determined by ECA Grants Staff. The 
ECA 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 ECA support) ensuring that ECA 
supported programs are not isolated events.

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 ECA'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 two copies of the following reports:
    (1) A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after 
the expiration of the award;
    (2) A concise, one-page final program report summarizing program 
outcomes no more than 90 days after the expiration of the award. This 
one-page report will be transmitted to OMB, and be made available to 
the public via OMB's USAspending.gov Web site--as part of ECA's Federal 
Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reporting 
requirements.
    (3) A SF-PPR, ``Performance Progress Report'' Cover Sheet with all 
program reports.
    Award recipients will be required to provide reports analyzing 
their evaluation findings to ECA 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 ECA 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: Sanda L. Chao, 
Study of the U.S. Branch, ECA/A/E/USS, SA-5, 4th Floor, Department of 
State, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20522-0504. Telephone: (202) 
632-3339, Fax: (202) 632-9411, E-mail: ChaoSL@state.gov.
    All correspondence with ECA concerning this RFGP should reference 
the above title and number ECA/E/USS-10-26.
    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 ECA representative. Explanatory 
information provided by ECA that contradicts published language will 
not be binding. Issuance of the RFGP does not constitute an award 
commitment on the part of the Government. ECA 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

[[Page 62378]]

evaluation requirements per section VI.3 above.

     Dated: November 18, 2009.
Maura M. Pally,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. E9-28280 Filed 11-25-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P