Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant Proposals: American Youth Leadership Program, 17989-17996 [2010-7971]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 67 (Thursday, April 8, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17989-17996]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7971]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6949]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: American Youth Leadership Program

    Announcement Type: New Grant.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-10-41.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.415.
    Application Deadline: May 28, 2010.
    Executive Summary: The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs 
Division, of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces 
an open competition for the American Youth Leadership Program. Public 
and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described 
in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) may submit 
proposals to implement a short-term exchange program for American high 
school students and educators that will enable the participants to gain 
firsthand knowledge of foreign cultures and to collaborate on solving 
global issues. Applicant organizations will recruit and select youth 
and adult participants from the United States and provide them with a 
three- to four-week exchange program abroad focused on dialogue and 
debate, leadership development, and community service. Upon returning 
home, the students will apply what they have learned to serve their 
schools and communities.

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

[[Page 17990]]

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.

Overview

    The American Youth Leadership Program will provide high school 
students and adult educators from the United States with an opportunity 
to travel abroad on a three- to four-week-long exchange program to gain 
firsthand knowledge of foreign cultures and to collaborate on solving 
global issues. The participants will have an academic and experiential 
education program focused on dialogue and debate, leadership 
development, and community service. The program activities will also 
focus on one of the following four themes that can be examined for both 
local and global impact:
    1. The role of the media.
    2. The environment and climate change.
    3. Food security and nutrition.
    4. Science and technology.
    Applicants should choose from one of these four global themes and 
narrow it down to a more specific topic(s) within the subject area.
    The exchange participants will engage in a variety of activities 
that provide an introduction to the civic, cultural, and educational 
institutions of the host country through workshops on leadership and 
service, community site visits related to the program themes, 
interactive training, simulations, debates, presentations, visits to 
high schools, cultural activities, and other activities designed to 
achieve the program's stated goals. It is essential that applicants 
engage local youth in a substantive and meaningful way in activities 
with the American students. Follow-on activities with the participants 
are an integral part of the program, as the students apply the 
knowledge and skills they have acquired in their home communities. 
Exchange activities will be conducted in English, though participants 
should receive basic language instruction a few hours per week during 
the exchange.

Program Goals

    1. Promote mutual understanding between the people of the United 
States and the people of the partner country(ies).
    2. Prepare youth leaders to become responsible citizens and 
contributing members of their communities.
    3. Spark an interest in learning about foreign cultures among 
American youth.
    4. Develop a cadre of Americans with cultural understanding who are 
able to advance international dialogue and compete effectively in the 
global economy.
    Using these goals and themes above, applicant organizations should 
identify their own specific objectives and measurable outcomes based on 
these program goals and the project specifications provided in this 
solicitation.

Eligible Countries

    The FY 2010 American Youth Leadership Program will focus on 
specific countries according to the guidelines below.
    (1) Single-Country Projects. Applicants may submit one proposal to 
conduct one OR two separate exchange projects, each of which sends 
American participants to one of the following countries:
    1. Bahrain.
    2. Bangladesh.
    3. Cambodia.
    4. Japan.
    5. Kenya.
    6. Mongolia.
    7. Namibia.
    8. Norway.
    (2) Multi-Country Projects. Applicants may propose to conduct one 
exchange project that sends American participants to each country in 
one of the following groupings:
    1. Bulgaria and Romania.
    2. Costa Rica and Panama.
    3. Fiji and Samoa (including Tonga is optional).
    4. Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.
    ECA plans to award multiple grants for the management of the 
American Youth Leadership Program for approximately eight projects; 
applicants should choose from the list of eight single-country projects 
and four multi-country projects above. Each single- or multi-country 
project should cost a total of approximately $250,000 for a group of 30 
to 40 participants.
    Applicants must propose a plan to break a large delegation into 
smaller cohorts for most of the exchange activities to maximize the 
educational experience and ensure individualized attention for each 
participant. For example, in a single-country project, a delegation of 
40 participants could travel to the partner country at the same time, 
but be divided into three or four smaller groups that each visit a 
different city; or two separate delegations of 15 to 20 participants 
could travel to the partner country at different times. For multi-
country projects, each country in the grouping must be visited by at 
least one delegation of students and educators, but the exchange 
activities may take various forms. For example, all 40 participants 
could travel to each of the countries listed during the three- to four-
week period; or they could be broken up into smaller delegations that 
travel separately to just one country. Applicants are encouraged to be 
creative and flexible in their arrangements that will help meet our 
program goals.
    Organizations may apply for one single-country project, two single-
country projects, or one multi-country project, but must submit only 
ONE proposal under this competition. The Bureau strongly urges 
organizations to limit their applications to the country(ies) where 
they have the strongest institutional capacity. The Bureau reserves the 
right to reduce, revise, or increase proposal project configurations, 
budgets, and participant numbers in accordance with the needs of the 
program and the availability of funds.

Participants

    Both the youth and adult participants must meet the following 
eligibility requirements:
    1. Be U.S. citizens;
    2. Be selected through a merit-based competition;
    3. Represent the diversity of the United States; and
    4. Demonstrate an interest in the partner country and the project 
themes.
    Criteria for selection of the participants will include leadership 
skills, an interest in service to the community, strong academic and 
social skills, overall composure, openness and flexibility. It is 
desirable that a few participants live in the same community to 
facilitate future collaboration upon their return to the United States.
    The youth participants must be high school students aged 15 to 17 
years old, with at least one semester of high school remaining. The 
adult participants may be teachers, trainers, school administrators, 
and/or community leaders who work with youth; they will have the dual 
role of both exchange participant and chaperone. The ratio of youth to 
adults should be approximately 10:1, depending on the size of the 
exchange delegation.

Organizational Capacity

    Applicants must demonstrate their capacity for conducting 
international youth exchanges, focusing on three areas of competency: 
(1) Provision of programs that address the goals and themes outlined in 
this document; (2) age-appropriate programming for youth; and (3) 
previous experience working on programs in the partner country. In 
addition to their U.S. presence, applicants must have the 
organizational

[[Page 17991]]

capacity in the relevant country--or they must partner with an 
organization or institution with the requisite capacity--to provide a 
content-rich exchange program for the American participants. The 
importance of a viable, experienced in-country partner cannot be over-
emphasized. The partner organization must have a functioning office in 
the host country and an established track record working with youth. 
Applicants should consult with their in-country partners and involve 
them in the preparation of the proposal. Applicants should consult with 
the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassies in the country 
proposed for the exchange concerning the selection and reliability of 
the in-country partner organization(s). Please e-mail ECA Program 
Officer Jennifer Phillips for contact information.

U.S. Embassy Involvement

    It is important that the proposal narrative clearly state the 
applicant's commitment to consult closely with the Public Affairs 
Section of the U.S. Embassy in the host country, once a grant is 
awarded. Since this program involves U.S. citizen minors, the U.S. 
Embassy will provide oversight and monitoring; concur on housing 
arrangements, including host family locations (regions, neighborhoods); 
represent the U.S. Government while the exchange activities are taking 
place in the host country; and assist program staff and participants in 
the event of an emergency. At the same time, the requirements of the 
grant are that the grantee organization must be able to manage the 
program in the host country in its entirety, with little reliance on 
the embassy staff for support.

Guidelines

    The grant will begin on or about September 1, 2010. The grant 
period will be approximately 16 to 20 months in duration, according to 
the applicant's program plan, and will cover all aspects of the 
programming in the United States and the partner country--the 
recruitment, selection, and orientation of the participants, the three 
to four weeks of exchange activities, and support of follow-on 
activities. Planning and preparation will start in late summer 2010, 
and the exchange activity will take place in 2011. Applicants must 
consult with their overseas partners and propose mutually agreeable 
times for the exchange(s) in their proposals. For instance, while the 
summer months may be a good time for Americans to travel, it may not be 
a suitable time for hosting activities in the partner country. The 
exact timing of the project may be altered through the mutual agreement 
of the Department of State and the grant recipient.
    The grant recipient will be responsible for the following:
    Recruitment and Selection: Manage the recruitment and merit-based 
selection of a diverse group of youth and adult participants from the 
United States. Diversity addresses, but is not limited to, ethnicity, 
race, gender, religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, and 
disabilities. The Bureau will have final approval of all selected 
delegations.
    Orientations: Provide pre-departure and arrival orientations for 
exchange participants and orientations for those participating from the 
host countries, including host families.
    Logistics: Manage all logistical arrangements, including passport 
and visa applications, international and domestic travel, local 
transportation, accommodations, group meals, and disbursement of 
stipends. This includes provision of effective interpretation and 
translation, as needed.
    Exchange Activities: Design and plan three to four weeks of 
exchange activities in the partner country that provide a creative and 
substantive program on the specified themes and offer a thorough 
introduction to the host country's culture and the civic, cultural, and 
educational institutions. In addition to visiting the capital city or 
major city of the host country, the delegations should spend their time 
in no more than one or two locations so that the participants have time 
to familiarize themselves with a community. The program should focus 
primarily on interactive activities, practical experiences, and other 
hands-on opportunities that reveal various aspects of the host country, 
such as group dialogues with peers, volunteer service projects, or 
visits with community and government leaders. Participants will explore 
leadership through activities such as project planning, team building, 
and public speaking. Visits to different types of educational 
institutions should be a component of each exchange. All programming 
will involve as much sustained interaction as possible with peers of 
the host country, for both the youth and adult participants. Cultural, 
social, and recreational activities will balance the schedule. Please 
see the POGI for more details.
    Accommodations: Arrange home stays for the participants with 
properly screened and briefed families for the majority of the exchange 
period. Host families may receive a modest stipend to offset the cost 
of hosting, but not to serve as a financial incentive. Alternate 
housing arrangements will be considered based on the local environment; 
applicants must provide justification if home stays cannot be arranged. 
Once a grant is awarded, organizations must seek and obtain approval 
about host family locations from the U.S. Embassy in the partner 
country.
    Monitoring: Develop and implement a plan to monitor the 
participants' safety and well-being while on the exchange and to 
resolve any issues promptly. The grant recipient will be required to 
provide proper staff supervision and facilitation to ensure that the 
teenagers have safe and pedagogically robust programs. Staff, along 
with the adult participants, will assist the youth with cultural 
adjustments, provide societal context to enhance learning, and counsel 
students as needed. For the safety and security of the American 
participants abroad, applicants must provide similar protections and 
oversight traditionally afforded to foreign students in the United 
States under the J-1 visa regulations.
    Follow-on Activities: Plan and implement activities in the United 
States, particularly in facilitating continued engagement among the 
participants, advising and supporting them in the implementation of 
community service projects, and offering opportunities to reinforce the 
ideas, values and skills imparted during the exchange. Applicants 
should present creative and effective ways to address the project 
themes, for both program participants and their peers, as a means to 
amplify the program impact.
    Evaluation: Design and implement an evaluation plan that assesses 
the impact of the program.

Other Notes

    All materials, publicity, and correspondence related to the program 
will acknowledge this as a program of the Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State. The Bureau will 
retain copyright use of and be allowed to distribute materials related 
to this program as it sees fit.
    Proposals must demonstrate how the stated objectives will be met. 
The proposal narrative should provide detailed information on the major 
program activities, and applicants should explain and justify their 
programmatic choices.
    Please be sure to refer to the complete Solicitation Package--this 
RFGP, the Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI), and the 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI)--for further information.

[[Page 17992]]

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Grant Agreement.
    Fiscal Year Funds: 2010.
    Approximate Total Funding: $2,084,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: Four to eight.
    Approximate Average Award: $500,000.
    Floor of Award Range: $200,000.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $500,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: September 1, 2010.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: 16-20 months after start date, 
to be specified by applicant based on project plan.
    Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of the 
project and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, ECA 
reserves the right to renew grants for up to two additional fiscal 
years before openly competing grants under this program again.

III. Eligibility Information

    III.1. Eligible Applicants: Applications may be submitted by public 
and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described 
in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3).
    III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds: There is no minimum or 
maximum percentage required for this competition. However, the Bureau 
encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and 
funding in support of its programs.
    When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the 
applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its 
proposal and later included in an approved agreement. Cost sharing may 
be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For 
accountability, you must maintain written records to support all costs 
which are claimed as your contribution, as well as costs to be paid by 
the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. The basis 
for determining the value of cash and in-kind contributions must be in 
accordance with OMB Circular A-110, (Revised), Subpart C.23--Cost 
Sharing and Matching. In the event you do not provide the minimum 
amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget, ECA's 
contribution will be reduced in like proportion.
    III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements: All proposals must comply 
with the following or they will result in your submission being 
declared technically ineligible and given no further consideration in 
the review process.
    (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 multiple 
awards in amounts exceeding $60,000 to support the program and 
administrative costs required to implement this exchange program. 
Therefore, organizations with less than four years experience in 
conducting international exchanges are ineligible to apply under this 
competition. The Bureau encourages applicants to provide maximum levels 
of cost sharing and funding in support of its programs.
    (b) Proposed sub-award recipients are also limited to grant funding 
of $60,000 or less if they do not have four years of experience in 
conducting international exchanges.
    (c) Eligible applicants may not submit more than one proposal under 
this competition. Applicant organizations are defined by their legal 
name and EIN number as stated on their completed SF-424 form and 
additional supporting documentation outlined in the Proposal Submission 
Instructions (PSI) document.
    (d) Eligible applicants may only propose working with the countries 
and themes listed under this RFGP.
    (e) Eligible applicants may only propose to conduct one single-
country project, two single-country projects, or one multi-country 
project.
    (f) Eligible applicants must include in their proposal a letter of 
support from their partner organization(s) in the host country(ies) 
stating their agreement to carry out the proposed activities.

IV. Application and Submission Information

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

    IV.1 Contact Information to Request an Application Package: Please 
contact the Youth Programs Division, ECA/PE/C/PY, SA-5, 3rd Floor, U.S. 
Department of State, Washington, DC 20522-0503, Tel (202) 632-9352, E-
mail YLP@state.gov to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to 
the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/PY-10-41 when making your 
request. Alternatively, an electronic application package may be 
obtained from grants.gov. Please see section IV.3f for further 
information.
    The Solicitation Package contains the Proposal Submission 
Instruction (PSI) document which consists of required application 
forms, and standard guidelines for proposal preparation. It also 
contains the Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) 
document, which provides specific information, award criteria and 
budget instructions tailored to this competition.
    Please specify Bureau Program Officer Jennifer Phillips and refer 
to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/PY-10-41 on all other 
inquiries and correspondence.
    IV.2. To Download a Solicitation Package Via Internet: The entire 
Solicitation Package may be downloaded from the Bureau's Web site at 
https://exchanges.state.gov/grants/open2.html, or from the Grants.gov 
Web site at https://www.grants.gov.
    Please read all information before downloading.
    IV.3. Content and Form of Submission: Applicants must follow all 
instructions in the Solicitation Package. The application should be 
submitted per the instructions under IV.3f. ``Application Deadline and 
Methods of Submission'' section below.
    IV.3a. You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal 
Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative 
agreement from the U.S. Government. This number is a nine-digit 
identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities. 
Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a 
DUNS number, access https://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-
5711. Please ensure that your DUNS number is included in the 
appropriate box of the SF-424 which is part of the formal application 
package.
    IV.3b. All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal 
narrative and budget.
    Please refer to the solicitation package. It contains the mandatory 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document and the Project 
Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) document for additional 
formatting and technical requirements.
    IV.3c. You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of 
application. Please note: Effective January 7, 2009, all applicants for 
ECA Federal assistance awards must include in their application the 
names of directors and/or senior executives (current officers, 
trustees, and key employees, regardless of amount of compensation). In 
fulfilling this requirement, applicants must submit information in one 
of the following ways:
    (1) Those who file Internal Revenue Service Form 990, ``Return of

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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 
Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs is the official program sponsor of the exchange program covered 
by this RFGP, and an employee of the Bureau will be the ``Responsible 
Officer'' for the program under the terms of 22 CFR part 62, which 
covers the administration of the Exchange Visitor Program (J visa 
program). Under the terms of 22 CFR part 62, organizations receiving 
awards (either a grant or cooperative agreement) under this RFGP will 
be third parties ``cooperating with or assisting the sponsor in the 
conduct of the sponsor's program.'' The actions of recipient 
organizations shall be ``imputed to the sponsor in evaluating the 
sponsor's compliance with'' 22 CFR part 62. Therefore, the Bureau 
expects that any organization receiving an award under this competition 
will render all assistance necessary to enable the Bureau to fully 
comply with 22 CFR part 62 et seq.
    The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs places critically 
important emphases on the secure and proper administration of Exchange 
Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence by recipient organizations and 
program participants to all regulations governing the J visa program 
status. Therefore, proposals should explicitly state in writing that 
the applicant is prepared to assist the Bureau in meeting all 
requirements governing the administration of Exchange Visitor Programs 
as set forth in 22 CFR part 62. If your organization has experience as 
a designated Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor, the applicant should 
discuss their record of compliance with 22 CFR part 62 et seq., 
including the oversight of their Responsible Officers and Alternate 
Responsible Officers, screening and selection of program participants, 
provision of pre-arrival information and orientation to participants, 
monitoring of participants, proper maintenance and security of forms, 
recordkeeping, reporting and other requirements.
    It is acknowledged that outbound American participants are not 
governed by the same protections of the J-1 visa regulations governing 
exchange students coming to the U.S. For the safety and security of the 
American participants abroad, applicants must provide similar 
protections and oversight traditionally afforded to foreign students in 
the United States under the J-1 visa regulations.
    A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of 
Exchange Visitor (J) programs is available at https://exchanges.state.gov or from: Office of Designation, ECA/EC/D, SA-5, 
Floor C2, Department of State, Washington, DC 20522-0582.
    IV.3d.2. Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines. Pursuant to 
the Bureau's authorizing legislation, programs must maintain a non-
political character and should be balanced and representative of the 
diversity of American political, social, and cultural life. 
``Diversity'' should be interpreted in the broadest sense and encompass 
differences including, but not limited to ethnicity, race, gender, 
religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, and disabilities. 
Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere to the advancement of this 
principle both in program administration and in program content. Please 
refer to the review criteria under the ``Support for Diversity'' 
section for specific suggestions on incorporating diversity into your 
proposal. Public Law 104-319 provides that ``in carrying out programs 
of educational and cultural exchange in countries whose people do not 
fully enjoy freedom and democracy,'' the Bureau ``shall take 
appropriate steps to provide opportunities for participation in such 
programs to human rights and democracy leaders of such countries.'' 
Public Law 106-113 requires that the governments of the countries 
described above do not have inappropriate influence in the selection 
process. Proposals should reflect advancement of these goals in their 
program contents, to the full extent deemed feasible.
    IV.3d.3. Program Monitoring and Evaluation. Proposals must include 
a plan to monitor and evaluate the project's success, both as the 
activities unfold and at the end of the program. The Bureau recommends 
that your proposal include a draft survey questionnaire or other 
technique plus a description of a methodology to use to link outcomes 
to original project objectives. The Bureau expects that the recipient 
organization will track participants or partners and be able to respond 
to key evaluation questions, including satisfaction with the program, 
learning as a result of the program, changes in behavior as a result of 
the program, and effects of the program on institutions (institutions 
in which participants work or partner institutions). The evaluation 
plan should include indicators that measure gains in mutual 
understanding as well as substantive knowledge.
    Successful monitoring and evaluation depend heavily on setting 
clear goals and outcomes at the outset of a program. Your evaluation 
plan should include a description of your project's objectives, your 
anticipated project outcomes, and how and when you intend to measure 
these outcomes (performance indicators). The more that outcomes are 
``smart'' (specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and 
placed in a reasonable timeframe), 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.

[[Page 17994]]

    We encourage you to assess the following four levels of outcomes, 
as they relate to the program goals set out in the RFGP (listed here in 
increasing order of importance):
    1. Participant satisfaction with the program and exchange 
experience.
    2. Participant learning, such as increased knowledge, aptitude, 
skills, and changed understanding and attitude. Learning includes both 
substantive (subject-specific) learning and mutual understanding.
    3. Participant behavior, concrete actions to apply knowledge in 
work or community; greater participation and responsibility in civic 
organizations; interpretation and explanation of experiences and new 
knowledge gained; continued contacts between participants, community 
members, and others.
    4. Institutional changes, such as increased collaboration and 
partnerships, policy reforms, new programming, and organizational 
improvements.

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

    Overall, the quality of your monitoring and evaluation plan will be 
judged on how well it (1) specifies intended outcomes; (2) gives clear 
descriptions of how each outcome will be measured; (3) identifies when 
particular outcomes will be measured; and (4) provides a clear 
description of the data collection strategies for each outcome (i.e., 
surveys, interviews, or focus groups). (Please note that evaluation 
plans that deal only with the first level of outcomes [satisfaction] 
will be deemed less competitive under the present evaluation criteria.)
    Recipient organizations will be required to provide reports 
analyzing their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular 
program reports. All data collected, including survey responses and 
contact information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years 
and provided to the Bureau upon request.
    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. Budget requests may not exceed $500,000. 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:
    Application Deadline Date: Friday, May 28, 2010.
    Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-10-41.
    Methods of Submission: Applications may be submitted in one of two 
ways:
    (1) In hard-copy, via a nationally recognized overnight delivery 
service (i.e., Federal Express, UPS, Airborne Express, or U.S. Postal 
Service Express Overnight Mail, etc.), or
    (2) electronically through https://www.grants.gov.
    Along with the Project Title, all applicants must enter the above 
Reference Number in Box 11 on the SF-424 contained in the mandatory 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) of the solicitation document.
    IV.3f.1 Submitting Printed Applications
    Applications must be shipped no later than the above deadline. 
Delivery services used by applicants must have in-place, centralized 
shipping identification and tracking systems that may be accessed via 
the Internet and delivery people who are identifiable by commonly 
recognized uniforms and delivery vehicles. Proposals shipped on or 
before the above deadline but received at ECA more than seven days 
after the deadline will be ineligible for further consideration under 
this competition. Proposals shipped after the established deadlines are 
ineligible for consideration under this competition. ECA will not 
notify you upon receipt of application. It is each applicant's 
responsibility to ensure that each package is marked with a legible 
tracking number and to monitor/confirm delivery to ECA via the 
Internet. Delivery of proposal packages may not be made via local 
courier service or in person for this competition. Faxed documents will 
not be accepted at any time. Only proposals submitted as stated above 
will be considered.

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

    The original and six copies of the application should be sent to: 
Program Management Division, ECA-IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/PE/C/PY-10-41, 
SA-5, Floor 4, Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 
20522-0504.
    With the submission of the proposal package, please also e-mail the 
Executive Summary, Proposal Narrative, and Budget sections of the 
proposal, as well as any attachments essential to understanding the 
program, in Microsoft Word, Excel, and/or PDF, to the program officer 
at PhillipsJA@state.gov. As appropriate, the Bureau will provide these 
files electronically to 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 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,

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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 website, for definitions of various 
``application statuses'' and the difference between a submission 
receipt and a submission validation. Applicants will receive a 
validation e-mail from grants.gov upon the successful submission of an 
application. Again, validation of an electronic submission via 
Grants.gov can take up to two business days. Therefore, we strongly 
recommend that you not wait until the application deadline to begin the 
submission process through Grants.gov. ECA will not notify you upon 
receipt of electronic applications.
    It is the responsibility of all applicants submitting proposals via 
the Grants.gov Web portal to ensure that proposals have been received 
by Grants.gov in their entirety, and ECA bears no responsibility for 
data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.
    IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of Applications: Executive Order 
12372 does not apply to this program.

V. Application Review Information

V.1. Review Process

    The Bureau will review all proposals for technical eligibility. 
Proposals will be deemed ineligible if they do not fully adhere to the 
guidelines stated herein and in the Solicitation Package. All eligible 
proposals will be reviewed by the program office, as well as the Public 
Affairs Sections overseas, where appropriate. Eligible proposals will 
be subject to compliance with Federal and Bureau regulations and 
guidelines and forwarded to Bureau grant panels for advisory review. 
Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of the Legal Adviser or by 
other Department elements. Final funding decisions are at the 
discretion of the Department of State's Assistant Secretary for 
Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final technical authority for 
assistance awards (grants) resides with the Bureau's Grants Officer.
Review Criteria
    Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed 
according to the criteria stated below.
    1. Quality of the program idea: The proposed program should be well 
developed, respond to design outlined in the solicitation, and 
demonstrate originality. It should be clearly and accurately written, 
substantive, and with sufficient detail. Proposals should exhibit 
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's 
mission.
    2. Program planning: A detailed agenda and work plan should clearly 
demonstrate how project objectives would be achieved. The agenda and 
plan should adhere to the program overview and guidelines described 
above. The substance of workshops, seminars, presentations, school-
based activities, and/or site visits should be described in detail. 
Objectives should be reasonable, feasible, and flexible. The proposal 
should clearly demonstrate how the organization will meet the program's 
objectives and plan.
    3. Support of diversity: The proposal should demonstrate the 
recipient's commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding of 
diversity in program content. Applicants should demonstrate readiness 
to accommodate participants with physical disabilities.
    4. Institutional capacity and track record: Proposed personnel and 
institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve 
the program goals. The proposal should demonstrate an institutional 
record, including responsible fiscal management and full compliance 
with all reporting requirements for past Bureau grants as determined by 
the Bureau's Office of Contracts. The Bureau will consider the past 
performance.
    5. Program evaluation: The proposal should include a plan to 
evaluate the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at 
the end of the program. The proposal should include a draft survey 
questionnaire or other technique plus description of a methodology to 
use to link outcomes to original project objectives. The grant 
recipient will be expected to submit intermediate reports after each 
project component is concluded.
    6. Cost-effectiveness and cost sharing: The applicant should 
demonstrate efficient use of Bureau funds. The overhead and 
administrative components of the proposal, including salaries and 
honoraria, should be kept as low as possible. All other items should be 
necessary and appropriate. The proposal should maximize cost-sharing 
through other private sector support as well as institutional direct 
funding contributions, which demonstrates institutional and community 
commitment.

VI. Award Administration Information

    VI.1a. Award Notices
    Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by 
Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures. 
Successful applicants will receive a Federal Assistance Award (FAA) 
from the Bureau's Grants Office. The FAA and the original proposal with 
subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall be the only binding 
authorizing document between the recipient and the U.S. Government. The 
FAA will be signed by an authorized Grants Officer, and mailed to the 
recipient's responsible officer identified in the application.
    Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of 
the application review from the ECA program office coordinating this 
competition.
    VI.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements: Terms and 
Conditions for the Administration of ECA agreements include the 
following:
    Office of Management and Budget Circular A-122, ``Cost Principles 
for Nonprofit Organizations.''
    Office of Management and Budget Circular A-21, ``Cost Principles 
for Educational Institutions.''
    OMB Circular A-87, ``Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian 
Governments''.
    OMB Circular No. A-110 (Revised), Uniform Administrative 
Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher 
Education, Hospitals, and other Nonprofit Organizations.
    OMB Circular No. A-102, Uniform Administrative Requirements for 
Grants-in-Aid to State and Local Governments.
    OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of States, Local Government, and 
Non-profit Organizations
    Please reference the following Web sites for additional 
information:
    https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants.
    https://fa.statebuy.state.gov.
    VI.3. Reporting Requirements: You must provide ECA with a hard copy 
original plus one copy of the following reports:
    (1.) Interim program and financial reports, as required in the 
grant agreement;

[[Page 17996]]

    (2.) A final program and financial report no more than 90 days 
after the expiration of the award;
    (3.) A concise, one-page final program report summarizing program 
outcomes no more than 90 days after the expiration of the award. This 
one-page report will be transmitted to OMB, and be made available to 
the public via OMB's USAspending.gov Web site--as part of ECA's Federal 
Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reporting 
requirements.
    (4.) A SF-PPR, ``Performance Progress Report'' Cover Sheet with all 
program reports.
    Award recipients will be required to provide reports analyzing 
their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program 
reports. (Please refer to IV. Application and Submission Instructions 
(IV.3.d.3) above for Program Monitoring and Evaluation information.
    All data collected, including survey responses and contact 
information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years and 
provided to the Bureau upon request.
    All reports must be sent to the ECA Grants Officer and ECA Program 
Officer listed in the final assistance award document.
    VI.4. Program Data Requirements: Award recipients will be required 
to maintain specific data on program participants and activities in an 
electronically accessible database format that can be shared with the 
Bureau as required. As a minimum, the data must include the following:
    (1) Name, address, contact information and biographic sketch of all 
persons who travel internationally on funds provided by the agreement 
or who benefit from the award funding but do not travel.
    (2) Itineraries of international and domestic travel, providing 
dates of travel and cities in which any exchange experiences take 
place. Draft schedules for in-country and U.S. activities must be 
received by the ECA Program Officer at least three weeks prior to the 
beginning of the activity.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: Jennifer Phillips, 
Youth Programs Division, ECA/PE/C/PY, U.S. Department of State, 
Washington, DC 20522-0503, Tel (202) 632-9352, Fax (202) 632-9355, 
PhillipsJA@state.gov.
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number ECA/PE/C/PY-10-41.
    Please read the complete announcement before sending inquiries or 
submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has passed, Bureau staff 
may not discuss this competition with applicants until the proposal 
review process has been completed.

VIII. Other Information

Notice

    The terms and conditions published in this RFGP are binding and may 
not be modified by any Bureau representative. Explanatory information 
provided by the Bureau that contradicts published language will not be 
binding. Issuance of the RFGP does not constitute an award commitment 
on the part of the Government. The Bureau reserves the right to reduce, 
revise, or increase proposal budgets in accordance with the needs of 
the program and the availability of funds. Awards made will be subject 
to periodic reporting and evaluation requirements per section VI.3 
above.

    Dated: March 31, 2010.
Maura M. Pally,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2010-7971 Filed 4-7-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P