Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant Proposals: Open Competition for the Professional Fellows Program, 65819-65829 [E9-29538]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 237 (Friday, December 11, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65819-65829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-29538]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6837]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Open Competition for the Professional Fellows Program

    Announcement Type: New Grant.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C-10-01.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.415.
    Key Dates:
    Application Deadline: February 26, 2010.
    Executive Summary: The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA/PE/C) announces an open 
competition for grants to conduct a Professional Fellows Program in 
Africa, East Asia, Europe, the Near East, North Africa, South Central 
Asia and the Western Hemisphere.
    U.S. public and non-profit organizations meeting the provisions 
described in Internal Revenue code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) may 
submit proposals that support the goals of the Professional Fellows 
Program. The goals of the program, which encompass both bureau and 
programmatic goals, are to: (1) Provide foreign participants from 
eligible countries the opportunity for professional development through 
four- to eight-week internships in the U.S.; (2) provide U.S. 
participants the opportunity to take part in reciprocal fellowships 
and/or to share their professional expertise with counterparts in 
eligible countries; (3) promote mutual understanding and partnerships 
between key professional groups in the United States and counterpart 
groups in eligible countries. Proposed projects should be two-way 
exchanges involving participants from both the U.S. and foreign 
countries.
    Projects should take place over the course of one to two years and 
target current or potential professional leaders who will effect 
positive change in their communities. Specific themes for consideration 
under this competition include: Climate change, education to 
employment, food security, global health, and legislative development. 
Eligible countries and guidance for each theme are provided in Section 
I.7 below. Proposals that target themes and countries not specifically 
authorized in this Request for Grant Proposals will be considered 
technically ineligible.
    Applicants may submit only one proposal under this competition. If 
multiple proposals are received from the same applicant, all 
submissions will be declared technically ineligible and receive no 
further consideration in the review process. No guarantee is made or 
implied that grants will be awarded in all themes or for all countries 
listed.

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 and Program Description

    The Professional Fellows Program is a two-way exchange involving 
current or potential professional leaders from both the U.S. and 
foreign countries who will effect positive change in their communities. 
Professional Fellows will be focused in the following areas: Climate 
Change, Education to Employment, Food Security, Global Health, and 
Legislative Development.

I.3. Participants

    For the purposes of this program, ``participants'' are defined as 
those who travel under grant funding from their country of origin to a 
designated exchange country. It is acceptable for there to be more 
foreign participants than American participants under this program 
model, but applicants are encouraged to include approximately the same 
number of Americans to emphasize that this program is reciprocal in 
nature. Foreign participants should be selected through a merit-based, 
competitive process. They should be up-and-coming and mid-level 
professionals with experience relevant to one of the specific themes. 
They should have good interpersonal and communication skills including 
a command of both oral and written English that will allow them to 
function effectively and independently in a wide variety of private, 
public, and professional settings in the U.S. Participants should also 
have demonstrated leadership abilities and a commitment to or 
participation in a wider program including alumni projects/affairs.
    U.S. participants may include individuals who act as hosts for the 
foreign participants who come to the United States, as well as 
professionals from government and civil society organizations with 
expertise relevant to the project focus. While U.S. participants are 
not required to have foreign language ability or previous country-
specific experience, it is highly recommended.
    Applicants should strive to maximize the number of participants and 
the length of the U.S.-based program given funding levels. Therefore, 
applicants who engage public and private partners for programming 
support, and employ other creative techniques to increase or stretch 
funding dollars will be deemed more competitive than those that do not, 
under the cost effectiveness and cost-sharing review criteria.

[[Page 65820]]

I.4. Partner Organizations

    Applicants must identify the U.S.-based and foreign-based 
organizations and individuals with whom they are proposing to 
collaborate and describe previous cooperative activities, if any. 
Successful proposals will include qualified and established partner 
organizations/offices in each of the regions where participants are 
being recruited. Also, proposals must demonstrate capacity in the U.S. 
to secure relevant placements for foreign participants; proposals that 
include this information--especially with letters of commitment from 
possible U.S.-based host organizations--will be deemed more 
competitive.

I.5. Project Activities

    Successful grant applicants must fully demonstrate a capacity to 
achieve the following key activities:

I.5a. Recruit Foreign Participants

    The recipients of this award will recruit and select qualified 
individuals throughout the target country(ies) for both spring and fall 
Fellowships. The foreign participants should be selected, with the 
knowledge and participation of the Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the 
relevant U.S. Embassy, through a merit-based, competitive process. An 
in-country or regional partner organization(s)/offices is required to 
coordinate screening, selecting, and preparing participants prior to 
departure for the United States including a formal pre-departure 
orientation program.

I.5b. Facilitate the Visa Process

    Working with ECA and PAS for the U.S. visas and directly with the 
embassy of the partner country for its visas. ECA will issue the DS-
2019 forms required for J visas; see Section IV.3d.1 for additional 
information related to the administration of J visa programs.
    I.5c. Arrange all round-trip international travel, complying with 
the Fly America Act, and domestic travel arrangements for the 
participants.

I.5d. Conduct U.S. Fellowships

    The recipients of this award will be responsible for implementing 
fellowships from four to eight weeks in the United States for foreign 
participants. Fellows will be placed within relevant, reputable, 
legally recognized U.S. organizations where they will gain hands-on 
experience that will enhance their knowledge, skills, and abilities in 
their professional field, and provide the opportunity to establish 
relationships with U.S. professional counterparts for on-going 
collaboration. The grantee should also strive to include cultural 
enrichment activities as an integral part of the fellowship experience. 
Such activities could include outings to museums, historic sites, 
sporting events, cultural exhibits, local school or community events, 
volunteering and other opportunities to experience American culture and 
diversity. Short-term homestays to give participants a personal 
experience of how typical Americans live are highly desirable. The 
grantee may want to engage with a partner or sub-grantee to arrange for 
the internship placement.

I.5e. Conduct an Overseas Program for U.S. Participants

    The recipients of this award will conduct an overseas program where 
U.S. participants, selected for their relevant professional expertise, 
will travel for two to three weeks to conduct on-site consultancies and 
joint programming with foreign participants and their colleagues, and, 
if appropriate or feasible, reciprocal fellowships to share their 
professional expertise and learn from their counterparts. The overseas 
program should be designed to engage a broad audience beyond the 
original foreign participants. Proposals must show a convincing plan to 
work with a community-based partner overseas to engage a wide range of 
people and to sustain the program benefits beyond the period of the 
grant.

I.5f. Conduct a Second Round of U.S. Fellowships and Overseas Programs

    Engaging a new group of participants, the recipients of this award 
will conduct a second round of fellowships and overseas programs of a 
similar nature as described above.

I.5g. Conduct Orientation and the Professional Fellows Congress

    The grantee will also be responsible for conducting a thorough 
orientation for foreign participants upon their arrival in the United 
States. At the end of each round of foreign fellowships, a Fellows 
Congress will be held at the U.S. Department of State. Grantees will 
work closely with the Office of Citizen Exchanges and other grantee 
organizations to coordinate this event. Grantees will be responsible 
for providing transportation, lodging, per diem and miscellaneous 
expenses for all program fellows under their aegis for a minimum of 
three days in Washington, DC.

I.5h. Monitor, Evaluate, and Report on Project

    The Bureau places high importance on monitoring and evaluation as a 
means of ensuring and measuring a project's success. Proposals must 
include a detailed monitoring and evaluation plan that assesses the 
impact of the project. Please refer to section IV.3d.3. Project 
Monitoring and Evaluation below.

I.5i. Carry Out Follow-Up Activities

    The recipients of this award will develop enhancement activities 
that reinforce program goals after the participants' return to their 
home country. This includes informing participants of the Bureau's 
Alumni program, facilitating their enrollment, and encouraging their 
on-going participation. Please refer to the PSI for additional 
information on Alumni, Outreach, and Engagement.
    I.5j. Manage all financial aspects of the project, including 
participant costs and transparent arrangements of sub-grant 
relationships with partner organizations, if applicable.
    I.5k. Design and implement an evaluation plan that assesses the 
impact of the project.

I.6. Projected Timeline

    ECA envisions the approximate dates of the Professional Fellows 
program to be as follows:
     September 2010-January 2011: Recruitment and selection of 
foreign participants and securing U.S.-based hosts and host sites.
     March-May 2011: Travel to the United States by [frac12] of 
all the foreign participants to U.S. for orientation and placement at 
internship sites for a four to eight week program.
     May 2011: Travel by the foreign participants to 
Washington, DC at/towards the end of their U.S.-based program for a 
two-day enrichment program.
     June-September 2011: The U.S. participants who were 
involved in the spring 2011 hosting will travel overseas for 
approximately two weeks of programming.
     October-December 2011: Travel to the United States by the 
remaining [frac12] of all the foreign participants to the U.S. for 
orientation and placement at internship sites for a four to eight week 
program.
     November-December 2011: Travel by the remaining foreign 
participants to Washington, DC at/towards the end of their U.S.-based 
program for a two-day program.
     January-May 2012: The U.S. participants who were involved 
in the fall 2010 hosting will travel overseas for approximately two 
week program.

[[Page 65821]]

I.7. Themes

    Specific grant awards will be made for Professional Fellows to be 
carried out in the following themes and countries:

I.7a. Climate Change Fellows

    The Climate Change Fellows program is designed to engage 
professionals actively involved in exploring the science, impact, 
adaptation, and actions related to climate change. Participants could 
include environmental and social scientists, climatologists, 
ecologists, government officials, disaster responders, community 
leaders, activists, educators, and NGO workers. Participants will be 
provided hands-on experience with government agencies, disaster 
response organizations, NGOs, and advocacy groups in the U.S. 
addressing the impact of climate change. The Bureau is particularly 
interested in receiving proposals that promote education and 
communication campaigns to rural and urban communities most vulnerable 
to climate risks. For example, a Climate Change Fellows program could 
foster civic education programs that help students identify 
environmental problems related to climate change and then work with 
local officials and non-governmental organizations to find solutions 
while also providing lessons in free speech, coalition-building and 
democracy.
I.7a.1. East Asia and Pacific (EAP)
    Countries: Proposal with participants from at least four of the 
following six countries: Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea and 
New Zealand.
    Program Contact: Adam Meier, tel: (202) 632-6071, e-mail: 
meieraw2@state.gov.
    Approximate Grant Award: $400,000-$500,000 for a program involving 
approximately 40 to 50 participants.
I.7a.2. Western Hemisphere (WHA)
    Countries: Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, 
Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.
     Belize may also be considered, but only in combination 
with at least one of the following other countries: Costa Rica, El 
Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.
    Program Contact: Carol Herrera, tel: (202) 632-6054, e-mail: 
herreraca1@state.gov.
    Approximate Grant Award: $400,000-$500,000 for a program involving 
approximately 40 to 50 participants.

I.7b. Education to Employment Fellows

    The Education to Employment Fellows program is designed to engage 
professionals who are actively involved, in formal or informal 
settings, in teaching, mentoring, and influencing youth by providing 
them the guidance, education, training, and skills needed to find 
meaningful and gainful employment and to become responsible and 
contributing members of society. Most will be active in the education 
sector, particularly with educational programs and youth programs 
geared towards the development of new jobs and employment-based 
outcomes, such as vocational programs, community colleges, 
universities, and non-governmental organizations that work with youth. 
The Education to Employment Fellows program will provide professionals 
(teachers, youth leaders, community activists who work with youth, 
university administrators, and staff of NGOs who teach/mentor/influence 
youth) from identified countries with hands-on experience with the U.S. 
educational system and aspects of civil society that are geared towards 
job creation and employment outcomes through fellowships in NGOs, 
organizations involved in educational reform efforts, local school 
districts, universities, or educational policy-making bodies across the 
U.S.
I.7b.1. Near East/North Africa (NEA)
    Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the Palestinian 
Authority, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen and the countries of the Arabian Gulf. 
Multi-country project proposals are encouraged; however, single-country 
proposals will also be considered.
    Program Contact: Thomas Johnston, tel: (202) 632-6056, e-mail: 
johnstontj@state.gov.
    Approximate Grant Award: $400,000-$500,000 for a program involving 
approximately 40 to 50 participants.
I.7b.2. East Asia and Pacific (EAP)
    Countries: For East Asia and Pacific, proposals for the Education 
to Employment Fellows program should be specifically focused on 
connections between universities in the U.S. and East Asia, and should 
recruit foreign participants from at least five of the following ASEAN 
countries: Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, 
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
    Program Contact: Adam Meier, tel: (202) 632-6071, e-mail: 
meieraw2@state.gov.
    Approximate Grant Award: $400,000-$500,000 for a program involving 
approximately 40 to 50 participants.
I.7b.3. Ngwang Choephel Fellows Program
    Countries: Ngwang Choephel Fellows Program: Proposals for the 
Tibetan Autonomous Region or Tibetan areas of China should be designed 
to carry out a two-way Professional Fellows program under the Education 
to Employment theme as described. It is expected that there will only 
be one cycle of fellowships under this program, as opposed to the two 
cycles described in the Professional Fellows program overview. The 
employment outcomes on which the proposals focus could, for example, 
include economic activity related to cultural preservation and eco-
tourism. Proposals should incorporate alternate plans into their 
narrative in anticipation of any difficulties of participants traveling 
to or from the Tibetan Autonomous Region or the Tibetan areas of China.
    Program Contact: Linn[eacute]a Allison, tel: (202) 632-6060, e-
mail: AllisonLE@state.gov.
    Approximate Grant Awards for Ngwang Choephel Fellows Program: 
$200,000-$225,000 for a program involving approximately 20-30 
participants.

I.7c. Food Security Fellows

    The Food Security Fellows program will focus on political, social, 
and economic factors affecting food security, but not technical 
factors. The Food Security Fellows program is designed to engage 
professionals who are actively involved with facets of food production, 
delivery, education, and advocacy efforts. Participants should include 
one or more of the following:
     Agricultural experts and officials who develop and 
implement plans to improve food production and equitable distribution, 
without environmental degradation.
     Nutritionists and dietitians who educate people about food 
needs and the worth of different foods.
     Community leaders who promote the development of community 
gardens and farmers' markets.
     Media professionals who educate the public about food 
through writings, radio, television, or the Internet to promote food 
safety and storage, good nutrition, and information on food 
availability.
     National, regional, and local policymakers who are dealing 
with legislative and regulatory aspects of food production and 
distribution, including land management.
I.7c.1. Sub-Saharan Africa (AF)
    Countries: Proposals should involve both Kenya and Uganda.
    Program Contact: Jim Ogul, tel: (202) 632-6055, e-mail: 
ogulje@state.gov.

[[Page 65822]]

    Approximate Grant Award: $400,000-$500,000 for a program involving 
approximately 40 to 50 participants.

I.7d. Global Health Fellows

    The Global Health Fellows program is designed to engage 
professionals who are actively involved in health care for marginalized 
populations at the grassroots level, particularly with a focus on 
maternal and child health. Participants could include nurses, public 
health officials, paramedics, and midwives, as well as health-focused 
community leaders, activists, educators, NGO workers, and media 
specialists. Participants will be provided hands-on experience in 
public health organizations and advocacy groups in the U.S. that serve 
disadvantaged urban and rural communities. The Bureau is particularly 
interested in receiving proposals focused on public health strategies 
and communication that incorporate media and specifically radio, to 
educate women and children in such areas as reproductive health, 
nutrition, hygiene, and sanitation. This program is not designed to 
include medical training.
I.7d.1. Sub-Saharan Africa (AF)
    Countries: Proposals should involve both Malawi and Zambia.
    Program Contact: Curt Huff, tel: (202) 632-6053, e-mail: 
huffce@state.gov.
I.7d.2. Near East/North Africa (NEA)
    Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Oman, the Palestinian 
Authority, Syria, and Yemen. Multi-country project proposals are 
encouraged; however, single-country proposals will also be considered.
    Program Contact: Thomas Johnston, tel: (202) 632-6056, e-mail: 
johnstontj@state.gov.
I.7d.3. Western Hemisphere (WHA)
    Countries: Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, 
El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama, 
and Trinidad and Tobago.
     Belize may also be considered, but only in combination 
with at least one of the following other countries: Costa Rica, El 
Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.
     For proposals involving Haiti or the Dominican Republic, 
projects that combine work in both countries are encouraged.
    Program Contact: Carol Herrera, tel: (202) 632-6054, e-mail: 
herreraca1@state.gov.
    Approximate Grant Award: $400,000-$500,000 for a program involving 
approximately 40 to 50 participants.

I.7e. Legislative Fellows

    The Legislative Fellows Program is designed to strengthen 
understanding of the U.S. legislative process and enhance appreciation 
of the role of civic society and its engagement in the political 
process. The Legislative Fellows Program will provide professionals 
from identified countries with hands-on exposure to the U.S. political 
process through fellowships in U.S. Congressional offices (including 
state/district offices), state legislatures, city councils/local 
government bodies, and advocacy organizations across the U.S. The 
program will also involve U.S. participants who will be selected from 
staff members at the various fellowship sites who will act as primary 
host/mentors to the foreign fellows during their U.S.-based program. 
After the fellowships are completed, these U.S. staff members will 
travel overseas to the fellows' home countries to continue their 
engagement by participating in joint outreach activities, engaging the 
local media, and on-site consultancies and presentations to wider 
audiences. Participants should have demonstrated leadership abilities 
and a commitment to or participation in the political process or 
policy-making through involvement in civic education activities, 
citizen advocacy groups, political campaigns, political parties, or 
election monitoring. U.S. participants will be staff members of the 
U.S. Congress, state legislatures, city councils/local governments, and 
advocacy groups who act as hosts for foreign participants during the 
inbound portion of the program.
I.7e.1. Europe (EUR)
    Countries: Georgia, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine. All four countries 
must be included in the proposal with the following distribution: 40% 
of the foreign participants must be recruited from Russia. 20% of the 
participants must be recruited from Ukraine, 20% must be recruited from 
Georgia, and 20% from Turkey. Placements may be considered at the 
Federal, regional or local level and should be consistent with the 
participant's professional experience. Placements with advocacy 
organizations involved with the legislative process, (particularly 
those dealing with climate change, women's and children's health, and 
food security issues) are also eligible.
    Approximate Grant Award: $800,000 to $1,000,000 for a program 
involving approximately 90 to 100 total participants.
    Program Contact: Linn[eacute]a Allison, tel: (202) 632-6060, e-
mail: AllisonLE@state.gov.
I.7e.2. South and Central Asia (SCA)
    Countries: Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, 
and Tajikistan. All six countries must be included in the proposal with 
roughly the same number of participants coming from each. Placements 
may be considered at the Federal, regional or local level and should be 
consistent with the participant's professional experience. Placements 
with advocacy organizations involved with the legislative process, 
(particularly those dealing with climate change, women's and children's 
health, and food security issues) are also eligible.
    Approximate Grant Award: $800,000 to $1,000,000 for a program 
involving approximately 90 to 100 total participants.
    Program Contact: Brent Beemer, tel: (202) 632-6067, e-mail: 
BeemerBT@state.gov.

I.8. What to Include in Your Proposal

I.8a. Executive Summary

    The Executive Summary should be one-page in length and include the 
project title, the goals of the project, the target countries, the 
names of all partner organizations responsible for program 
implementation, the numbers of participants, both foreign and American, 
and the number of proposed exchanges and approximate dates.

I.8b. Proposal Narrative

    In 20, double-spaced pages the narrative should include:
I.8b.1. Project Goals, Objectives, Anticipated Outcomes
    A clear, succinct statement of project goals, objectives and 
anticipated outcomes that responds to Bureau goals as listed in this 
RFGP. Objectives should be described in specific, measurable, and 
realistic terms that are achievable within the scope of the project, 
both in terms of time and funding. Specify the project's broader 
objectives in terms of bureau and overarching program outcomes. Then 
delineate the project's main objectives (no more than five) and 
outcomes you expect as a result of your project's activities. For each 
outcome, please state the time frame for achievement. They should be 
guided by one or more of the following questions. (Please see section 
III.3d.3. Project Monitoring and Evaluation for assistance in 
identifying and defining outcomes.)

[[Page 65823]]

    1. What specifically will participants, U.S. and foreign, learn as 
a result of this project?
    2. What new attitudes will participants, U.S. and foreign, develop, 
or what new ideas will they encounter as a result of this project?
    3. How will the participants' behavior change as a result of this 
project? What new actions will they take?
    4. Will participants be a catalyst for change in their schools, 
work-places, communities, or institutions? How so?
    Proposals that clearly delineate salient objectives in measurable 
terms and plan activities in a sequence that will progressively lead to 
achieving those objectives, will be considered more competitive.
I.8b.2. Background Information on Implementing Organizations
    Information on all organizations and staff involved in the 
implementation of the project including the mission, relevant expertise 
in the project theme and country(ies), past activities and 
accomplishments, on-going and planned activities not including the 
proposed project. Previous grants received from the Bureau should be 
listed by office (Citizen Exchanges, International Visitors, Academic 
Exchanges, etc.) project name, countries, year, and amount.
I.8b.3. Roles and Responsibilities
    A clear delineation of the roles and responsibilities of all 
partner organizations in terms of project logistics, management, and 
oversight. Letters of agreement and/or sub award agreements with 
accompanying budgets should be included under Tab E of the submission.
I.8b.4. Project Management Plan
    A simple project management plan for the two-year life of the 
project that lists, in table form, dates, items (major events or 
tasks), and the person or group responsible.
I.8b.5. Support of Diversity
    A description on how the Bureau's policy on Support of Diversity 
will be integrated into the project. Please refer to guidance in PSI 
under ``Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines.''
I.8b.6. Post-Grant Plan
    A post-grant plan that demonstrates how the grantee and 
participants will collaborate and communicate after the ECA-funded 
grant has concluded.
I.8b.7. Evaluation Plan
    An evaluation plan that follows the guidance provided in this RFGP. 
Please refer to section III.3d.3. ``Project Evaluation'' below. 
Detailed evaluation plans that put the narrative over the 20-page limit 
and sample surveys or other evaluation tools may be included in TAB E.
I.8b.8. Budget.
    Please refer to section IV.3e. Budget Submission in this document 
and the PSI for guidance on preparing your budget.
I.8b.9. Working with the Public Affairs Section
    An acknowledgement to consult closely with the Public Affairs 
Section of the U.S. Embassy in the relevant country(ies) to develop 
plans for project implementation, to select project participants, and 
to invite representatives of the Embassy(ies) and/or consulate(s) to 
participate in program sessions or site visits.
I.8b.10. Acknowledging ECA's Financial Support
    An acknowledgement to follow guidance in the PSI entitled 
``Acknowledgement of ECA's Financial Support and Use of the Department 
Seal''.
I.8b.11. Alumni Outreach
    An acknowledgement to comply with ``ECA's General Policy Guidance 
on Alumni Outreach/Follow-on and Engagement'' provided in the PSI.

I.8c Attachments

I.8c.1. Resumes
    Resumes of principal staff of all partner organizations involved in 
the implementation of the project should be included in TAB E.
I.8c.2. Letters of Commitment and/or Letters of Support
    Letters of commitment or support from partner organizations partner 
institutions should demonstrate a capacity to arrange and conduct U.S. 
and overseas activities and should also be included in TAB E.
I.8c.3. Program Materials
    Materials that advance program design and implementation should be 
included in TAB E. These could include:
    1. Draft agendas of professional workshops, conferences and 
seminars including pre-departure, orientation and final conference 
activities.
    2. Draft application and recruitment materials
    3. Draft selection and interview materials
    4. Outline of proposed alumni programming
    5. Sample evaluation and survey instruments
    6. Timeline for program implementation
    7. Program promotional materials
I.8c.4. Unsolicited Documents
    Attachments that do not directly address the proposed project or 
explicitly demonstrate relevant past performance (i.e., generic 
organization brochures, pamphlets, unsolicited reports) are 
discouraged.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Grant Agreement.
    Fiscal Year Funds: 2010.
    Approximate Total Funding: $5,200,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 10-15.
    Approximate Average Award: $400,000-$500,000, except Legislative 
Fellows grants which will average $800,000-$1,000,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, September 1, 
2010.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: August 31, 2012.

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, 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.

[[Page 65824]]

III.3. Four Years of Exchange Experience

    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 awards in an 
amount from $300,000 and higher to support program and administrative 
costs required to implement the programs in this RFGP. 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.

III.4. Technical Eligibility

    All proposals must comply with the following or they will result in 
your proposal being declared technically ineligible and given no 
further consideration in the review process.
     Eligible applicants may not submit more than one proposal 
under this competition.
     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.
     Eligible applicants may only propose working with the 
countries and themes listed under each of the themes of this RFGP.
     No funding is available to send U.S. citizens exclusively 
to conferences or conference type seminars overseas; nor is funding 
available for bringing foreign nationals exclusively to conferences or 
to routine professional association meetings in the United States.
     Please refer to the Proposal Submission Instruction (PSI) 
document for additional requirements.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    Note: Please read the complete Solicitation Package before 
sending inquiries or submitting proposals. All applicants are 
strongly encouraged to consult with the Washington, DC-based State 
Department contact for the themes/regions listed in this 
solicitation. Applicants are also strongly encouraged to consult 
with Public Affairs Officers at U.S. Embassies in relevant countries 
as they develop proposals responding to this RFGP. Once the RFGP 
deadline has passed, Bureau and Embassy staff may not discuss this 
competition with applicants until the proposal review process has 
been completed.

IV.1. Contact Information to Request a Solicitation Package

    Please contact David Gustafson in the Office of Citizen Exchanges, 
ECA/PE/C, U.S. Department of State, SA-5, 3rd Floor, 2200 C St., NW., 
Washington, DC 20522-0503, ph: (202) 632-6083, GustafsonDP@state.gov to 
request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to the Funding Opportunity 
Number ECA/PE/C-10-01 located at the top of this announcement when 
making your request. An electronic solicitation package may be obtained 
from https://www.grants.gov. Please see section IV.3f for further 
information.

IV.2. To Download a Solicitation Package Via the Internet

    The entire Solicitation Package may be downloaded from the Bureau's 
Web site at https://exchanges.state.gov/ 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 Solicitation Package includes both the Request for Grant 
Proposals (RFGP) and the Proposal Submission Instruction (PSI) 
document, which consists of required application forms, and standard 
guidelines for proposal preparation. Applicants should assure that 
proposals respond to guidance provided in both documents.

IV.3a. DUNS Number

    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, go to 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. Proposal Components

    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 for 
additional formatting and technical requirements.

IV.3c. Non-Profit Status and Documentation

    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. Additional Information

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 62, 
which covers the administration of the Exchange Visitor Program (J visa 
program). Under the terms of 22 CFR 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

[[Page 65825]]

program.'' The actions of recipient organizations shall be ``imputed to 
the sponsor in evaluating the sponsor's compliance with'' 22 CFR 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 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 62. If your organization has experience as a 
designated Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor, the applicant should 
discuss their record of compliance with 22 CFR 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://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1267.html or from: United 
States Department of State, Office of Exchange Coordination and 
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. Project Monitoring and Evaluation
    This section of the RFGP amplifies the direction given in section I 
above on proposal framework, which calls for the delineation of 
objectives and planning for baseline, short term and long term outcome 
measurement. Proposals must include a plan to monitor and evaluate the 
project's success, both as the activities unfold, at the end of the 
project and beyond. The Bureau recommends that each proposal include a 
draft survey questionnaire or other instruments plus a description of a 
methodology to use to link outcomes to original project objectives. The 
Bureau expects that the grantee will track participants or partners and 
be able to respond to key evaluation questions, including satisfaction 
with the project, learning as a result of the project, changes in 
behavior as a result of the project, and effects of the project 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 intended outcomes at the outset of a project. 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). (Note the 
call for measurements at the baseline and for short term and longer-
term outcomes.) 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 and to the Bureau goals.
    Your monitoring and evaluation plan should clearly distinguish 
between project 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 emphasis 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 impact):
    1. Participant satisfaction with the project 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 each 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 (e.g., surveys, interviews, tests, 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.)

    Grantees will be required to provide reports analyzing their 
evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular project reports. All 
data collected,

[[Page 65826]]

including survey responses and contact information, must be maintained 
for a minimum of three years and provided to the Bureau upon request.
IV.3e. Budget Submission
    Please follow the guidelines in this section and consult the PSI 
when preparing the budget submission.
IV.3e.1. Form SF-424A
    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. The budget submission 
should be accompanied by a budget narrative that explains anything that 
is not readily apparent from the budget.
IV.3e.2. Allowable Costs
    Allowable costs for the program include the following:
    IV.3e.2a. Travel. International and domestic airfare; airline 
baggage and seat fees; visas; transit costs; ground transportation 
costs. Please note that all air travel must be in compliance with the 
Fly America Act. There is no charge for J-1 visas for participants in 
Bureau sponsored programs.
    IV.3e.2b. Per Diem. For U.S.-based programming, organizations 
should use the published Federal per diem rates for individual U.S. 
cities. Domestic per diem rates may be accessed at: https://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?contentType=GSA_BASIC&contentId=17943. 
ECA requests applicants to budget realistic costs that reflect the 
local economy and do not exceed Federal per diem rates. Foreign per 
diem rates can be accessed at: https://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=184&menu_id=78
    IV.3e.2c. Interpreters. We anticipate that all participants coming 
to the U.S. on this program will have command of both oral and written 
English that will allow them to function effectively and independently 
in a wide variety of private, public, and professional settings in the 
U.S. However, if special circumstances warrant the use of 
interpretation, ECA strongly encourages applicants to hire their own 
locally based interpreters but may ask ECA to assign State Department 
interpreters. One interpreter is typically needed for every four 
participants who require interpretation. When an applicant proposes to 
use State Department interpreters, the following expenses should be 
included in the budget: Published Federal per diem rates (both 
``lodging'' and ``M&IE'') and ``home-program-home'' transportation in 
the amount of $400 per interpreter. Salary expenses for State 
Department interpreters will be covered by the Bureau and should not be 
part of an applicant's proposed budget. Bureau funds cannot support 
interpreters who accompany delegations from their home country or 
travel internationally.
    IV.3e.2d. Book and Cultural Allowances. Foreign participants are 
entitled to a one-time cultural allowance of $150 per person, plus a 
book allowance of $50. Interpreters should be reimbursed up to $150 for 
expenses when they escort participants to cultural events. U.S. program 
staff, trainers or participants are not eligible to receive these 
benefits.
    IV.3e.2e. Consultants. Consultants may be used to provide 
specialized expertise or to make presentations. Honoraria rates should 
not exceed $250 per day. Organizations are encouraged to cost-share 
rates that would exceed that figure. Subcontracting organizations may 
also be employed, in which case the written agreement between the 
prospective grantee and sub-grantee should be included in the proposal. 
Such sub-grants should detail the division of responsibilities and 
proposed costs, and subcontracts should be itemized in the budget.
    IV.3e.2f. Room rental. The rental of meeting space should not 
exceed $250 per day. Any rates that exceed this amount should be cost 
shared.
    IV.3e.2g. Materials. Proposals may contain costs to purchase, 
develop and translate materials for participants. Costs for high 
quality translation of materials should be anticipated and included in 
the budget. Grantee organizations should expect to submit a copy of all 
program materials to ECA, and ECA support should be acknowledged on all 
materials developed with its funding.
    IV.3e.2h. Equipment. Applicants may propose to use grant funds to 
purchase equipment, such as computers and printers; these costs should 
be justified in the budget narrative. Costs for furniture are not 
allowed.
    IV.3e.2i. Working meal. Normally, no more than one working meal may 
be provided during the program. Per capita costs may not exceed $15-$25 
for lunch and $20-$35 for dinner, excluding room rental. The number of 
invited guests may not exceed participants by more than a factor of 
two-to-one. When setting up a budget, interpreters should be considered 
``participants.''
    IV.3e.2j. Return travel allowance. A return travel allowance of $70 
for each foreign participant may be included in the budget. This 
allowance would cover incidental expenses incurred during international 
travel.
    IV.3e.2k. Health Insurance. Foreign participants will be covered 
during their participation in the program by the ECA-sponsored Accident 
and Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE), for which the grantee must 
enroll them. Details of that policy can be provided by the contact 
officers identified in this solicitation. The premium is paid by ECA 
and should not be included in the grant proposal budget. However, 
applicants are permitted to include costs for travel insurance for U.S. 
participants in the budget.
    IV.3e.2l. Wire transfer fees. When necessary, applicants may 
include costs to transfer funds to partner organizations overseas. 
Grantees are urged to research applicable taxes that may be imposed on 
these transfers by host governments.
    IV.3e.2m. In-country travel costs for visa processing purposes. 
Given the requirements associated with obtaining J-1 visas for ECA-
supported participants, applicants should include costs for any travel 
associated with visa interviews or DS-2019 pick-up.
    IV.3e.2n. Administrative Costs. Costs necessary for the effective 
administration of the program may include salaries for grantee 
organization employees, benefits, and other direct and indirect costs 
per detailed instructions in the Application Package. While there is no 
rigid ratio of administrative to program costs, proposals in which the 
administrative costs do not exceed 25% of the total requested ECA grant 
funds will be more competitive under the cost effectiveness and cost 
sharing criterion, per item V.1 below. Proposals should show strong 
administrative cost sharing contributions from the applicant, the in-
country partner and other sources. Please also include in the 
administrative portion of your budget plans to travel to Washington, 
DC, to meet with your program officer within the first 45 days after 
the grant has been awarded.

IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods Of Submission

    Application Deadline Date: February 26, 2010.
    Reference Number: ECA/PE/C-10-01.
    Methods of Submission: Applications may be submitted in one of two 
ways:
    (1.) In hard-copy, via a nationally recognized overnight delivery 
service (i.e., Federal Express, UPS, Airborne

[[Page 65827]]

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 eight (8) copies of the application should be sent 
to: Program Management Division, ECA-IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/PE/C-10-01, 
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 CD-ROM. As 
appropriate, the Bureau will provide these files electronically to 
Public Affairs Section(s) at the U.S. embassy(ies) for its(their) 
review.
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 eight (8) copies of the application should be sent 
to: Program Management Division, ECA-IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/PE/C-10-01, 
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 CD-ROM. As 
appropriate, the Bureau will provide these files electronically to U.S. 
Embassy Public Affairs Section(s) for 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:  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: 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.

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

[[Page 65828]]

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 award grants 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:

V.2a. Quality of Program Idea

    Proposals should exhibit originality, substance, precision, and 
relevance to the Bureau's mission.

V.2b. Program Planning and Ability to Achieve Objectives

    Program objectives should be stated clearly and should reflect the 
applicant's expertise in the subject area and region. Objectives should 
respond to the topics in this announcement and should relate to the 
current conditions in the target country/countries. A detailed agenda 
and relevant work plan should explain how objectives will be achieved 
and should include a timetable for completion of major tasks.
    The substance of workshops, internships, seminars and/or consulting 
should be described in detail. Sample schedules should be outlined. 
Responsibilities of proposed in-coun