Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant Proposals: TechWomen, 20663-20670 [2010-9079]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 75 (Tuesday, April 20, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20663-20670]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-9079]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 6958]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: TechWomen

    Announcement Type: Cooperative Agreement.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C-10-55.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.415

Dates: Key Dates:
    Application Deadline: June 2, 2010.
    Executive Summary: The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for 
``TechWomen''. 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 conduct a professional mentorship 
exchange program. This initiative champions two distinct but key themes 
of President Obama's June 2009 speech in Cairo by supporting 
development in the field of technology and enabling women to reach 
their full potential in the technology industry. Applicants should plan 
to recruit and select a total of approximately 20-40 women from 
Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the West Bank and Gaza to 
participate in a four- to six-week peer mentoring program in the United 
States. The mentoring experience will focus on bolstering the status of 
professional women in the field of technology, will provide networking 
opportunities for the participants, and will support activities in the 
participants' home countries that encourage the interest of girls in 
technology-based careers.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Authority

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

Purpose

    The project ``TechWomen'' will link approximately 20-40 emerging 
female leaders from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the West 
Bank and Gaza, who have at least two years of professional experience 
in the field of technology, with female peer mentors in the United 
States for a four- to six-week mentorship program. A smaller number of 
select American experts will then travel to the foreign participants' 
home region to offer skills development sessions and workshops for a 
broader range of local participants. The program is designed to reach 
beyond the exchange by serving as the basis for an international 
professional support network for women working in the field of 
technology both within and outside of each participant's home country. 
Participants will also have access to the community of alumni from 
previous State Department sponsored exchange programs.
    Applicants must identify the U.S. and foreign organizations and 
individuals with whom they are proposing to collaborate both to secure 
mentorships in the United States, to recruit and select participants 
overseas, and to implement follow-on workshops conducted by American 
experts in certain of the participants' home countries. Proposals 
should contain letters of commitment or support from partner 
organizations for the proposed mentorships, and for the follow-on 
workshops overseas. A description of any previous cooperative 
activities with these partner organizations must be included in the 
proposal, along with information about their mission, activities, and 
accomplishments. Applicants should clearly outline and describe the 
roles and responsibilities of all partner organizations in terms of 
project logistics, management and oversight.
    Competitive proposals will include the following:
     A proposed timeline detailing potential activities and 
project goals;
     A description of the recruitment and selection processes 
of participants from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the West 
Bank and Gaza;
     A description of U.S.-based activities, including the 
securing of mentorships and mentors in American companies; monitoring 
and support of participants during the mentorship; a group orientation; 
and a debriefing/evaluation session at the conclusion of the program;
     A description of the workshops, seminars and/or other 
activities conducted by the American experts overseas;
     Letters of commitment from U.S. partners to serve as 
possible host mentoring sites;
     A description of the applicant organization's relevant 
expertise in the project area and working with participants or 
organizations from eligible countries;
     A description of relevant experience managing previous 
exchange and/or mentoring programs;
     Resumes of experienced staff who have demonstrated a 
commitment to implement and monitor projects and ensure outcomes;
     A comprehensive plan to evaluate whether program outcomes 
will achieve the specific objectives described in the narrative;

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     A post-grant plan that demonstrates how the participants 
can maintain contacts initiated during the program. Applicants should 
discuss ways that U.S. and foreign participants will collaborate and 
communicate after the ECA-funded grant has concluded.
    U.S. Embassy Involvement: Award recipients must acknowledge U.S. 
Embassy involvement in the final selection of all participants. Before 
submitting a proposal, all applicants are strongly encouraged to 
consult with the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Washington, 
DC-based State Department contact, Sheila Casey; (202) 632-6070 (tel); 
(202) 632-9355 (fax); e-mail: caseysd@state.gov.

Project Details

Audience
    Participants will be women (aged 25-42) from Algeria, Egypt, 
Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the West Bank and Gaza who are engaged or 
rising in professional careers that require significant expertise/
knowledge of technology and/or innovative application of these skills, 
and who already are, or show promise of being, role models for others 
in their countries, particularly for women. ``Technology'' should be 
interpreted broadly to include--but not be limited to--the fields of 
science, education, and business. Participants must have at least two 
years of previous work experience in a field that explicitly and 
directly involves and applies technology in meeting professional goals. 
All participants must be proficient in English.
    Each participant should be matched with one female U.S. mentor who 
is a mid-level professional. Also, each participant should have a 
personal mentor as well to help ease her adjustment to American culture 
and life.
    A successful program will:
     Provide foreign participants from eligible countries the 
opportunity for professional development through project-based 
mentorships with American peers for up to 6 weeks, and through 
activities conducted in select countries overseas after the conclusion 
of the U.S.-based program.
     Promote mutual understanding and partnerships between key 
professional groups in the United States and counterpart groups in 
eligible countries.
     Create sustainable professional mentoring relationships 
between U.S. and foreign participants.
     Expand the network of technology professionals in eligible 
countries.
Ideal Program Model
     A four- to six-week U.S.-based program that includes a 
group orientation at the beginning of the program; a mentorship with a 
peer mentor; a debrief/evaluation session at the conclusion of the 
U.S.-based mentorship; and additional educational and cultural 
programming, as appropriate. Participants should be placed in small 
groups in one or multiple tech hub areas to provide them with a social 
and support network. Placing participants in the Silicon Valley region 
of California and/or other centers of technology in the United States 
is strongly encouraged. Based on the participant's interests and goals, 
the award recipient will design each mentorship around a specific 
project or effort within a company that is clearly relevant to the 
participant's professional goals.
     Robust engagement with the private sector to expand 
networking opportunities and secure mentorship hosts in small-, medium- 
and large-size companies.
     A four- to seven-day project in one-two of the 
participants' home countries for select U.S. experts in technology 
(either the participants' mentors themselves, or other women that have 
been in close contact with the mentees in the United States) to 
conduct/participate in seminars, workshops, on-site consultancies, and 
other types of activities with the goal of reinforcing the mentorship 
experience and creating a wider network of women who are established in 
these professions, or who aspire to do so. During this overseas 
project, the award recipient should also arrange one-two workshops for 
at least 25 girls (within the age range of 11-15) each to expose them 
to role models and insight into what it means to be a female leader in 
a technological field. At the end of the overseas project, there should 
be a one-day debriefing and evaluation session with the participants.
     A follow-on plan to establish regular communication 
between the participants themselves, as well as with those who were 
engaged during the programming during the overseas project.
    Successful applicants must demonstrate a capacity to achieve the 
following:
     Recruit and select 20-40 qualified individuals from 
Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the West Bank and Gaza. The 
program should be designed for participants to travel to the United 
States at the same time, in order to participate in a group orientation 
upon arrival, even if they will subsequently be engaged in smaller, 
more customized programs. The award recipient will be responsible for 
making all international and domestic travel arrangements.
     Identify U.S.-based organizations and individuals with 
whom collaboration on mentorships and networking opportunities is 
possible, and describe previous cooperative activities, if any.
     Identify qualified and established partner organizations/
offices overseas where participants are being recruited in consultation 
with ECA and the relevant U.S. Embassies and Consulates.
     Implement meaningful and effective four- to six-week 
professional mentoring experiences in the United States. The final 
selection of foreign participants should take into account the types of 
mentorship placements that may be available in the United States.
     Three-six months after the conclusion of the mentorships 
in the United States, design and make all logistical arrangements to 
implement a four- to seven-day seminar, workshop, on-site consultancy 
or other activity conducted by U.S. experts in one-two of the 
participants' home countries that includes one-two age-appropriate 
workshops for girls (within the age range of 11-15), and a one-day 
debriefing and evaluation session with the participants at the 
conclusion of the overseas activities. The award recipient will be 
responsible for making all international and domestic travel 
arrangements.
     Propose specific ideas and approaches to maintaining 
contact and networking opportunities between the participants 
themselves, and between them and their U.S. mentors and host 
institutions/organizations.
     In collaboration with ECA and the respective U.S. 
Embassies, design and arrange for the publication (both in print and 
online) of program materials for TechWomen. Relevant materials include 
those to advertise and promote the program (both in the United States 
and overseas), orientation materials, mentoring guidelines, and 
materials for activities conducted in the participants' home countries. 
Materials and Web site designs must be approved by ECA prior to 
publication and/or distribution; please allow a minimum of three weeks 
for this review process. Printed materials and Web sites must 
prominently display the TechWomen program logo (designed by the award 
recipient in consultation with and subject to the approval of ECA) and 
U.S. Department of State seal. All official documents and materials 
developed for promotional purposes must use the TechWomen logo and 
acknowledge the

[[Page 20665]]

U.S. Department of State's role as program sponsor. Please note: All 
materials and Web site resources paid for by grant funds will become 
the property of the Department of State.
    ECA envisions the approximate dates of TechWomen to be as follows:
     September 2010-January 2011: Recruitment and selection of 
foreign participants. Recruitment campaign for U.S. hosting 
institutions.
     February 2011-April 2011: Securing U.S.-based mentors and 
host sites.
     May 2011-August 2011: Travel to the United States by 
foreign participants to the United States for orientation and placement 
at mentorship sites for a four- to six-week program.
     November 2011-February 2012: U.S. experts travel to select 
countries overseas to conduct seminars, workshops and/or other 
activities.
Additional Information
    All projects proposed for the mentorship should encourage both the 
American mentors and the foreign participants to come together, learn 
from each other and to build relationships.
    The Department has initiated outreach to women in technology in the 
Middle East through previous contract and conferences; once a 
cooperative agreement has been awarded under this competition, the 
organizers of previous projects may be consulted for additional 
contacts and information.
    Based on existing relations, the Department will work with the 
award recipient to finalize potential companies where the participants 
are placed; however, only applicants who can demonstrate a strong 
private sector network through their own resources will be deemed 
competitive.
    In a cooperative agreement, ECA is substantially involved in 
program activities above and beyond routine monitoring. ECA's 
activities and responsibilities for this program are as follows:
     Collaborating with the award recipient on the outreach and 
selection of mentors and host sites.
     Approval of host institutions and organizations;
     Review and approval of all program publicity and other 
materials;
     Final selection of participants;
     Assistance with SEVIS-related issues;
     Assistance with participant emergencies;
     Liaison with relevant U.S. Embassies and country desk 
officers at the Department of State, particularly in terms of 
recruitment and selection efforts.
     Issuance of DS-2019 forms to participants.
     Enrolling participants in the Accident and Sickness 
Program for Exchanges (ASPE) for the duration of the program, issue 
health benefits identification cards, and provide instructions on host 
claim forms;
     Working with the award recipient to publicize the program 
through various media outlets; and
     Monitoring and evaluating the program as necessary, 
through site visits or debriefing sessions.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2010.
    Approximate Total Funding: $1,000,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 1-2.
    Floor of Award Range: $500,000.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $1,000,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: September 1, 2010.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: June 30, 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 U.S.C. 501(c)(3).
    III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds: There is no minimum or 
maximum percentage required for this competition. However, the Bureau 
encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and 
funding in support of its programs.
    When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the 
applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its 
proposal and later included in an approved agreement. Cost sharing may 
be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For 
accountability, you must maintain written records to support all costs 
which are claimed as your contribution, as well as costs to be paid by 
the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. The basis 
for determining the value of cash and in-kind contributions must be in 
accordance with OMB Circular A-110, (Revised), Subpart C.23--Cost 
Sharing and Matching. In the event you do not provide the minimum 
amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget, ECA's 
contribution will be reduced in like proportion.
    III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements:
    a. Bureau grant guidelines require that organizations with less 
than four years experience in conducting international exchanges be 
limited to $60,000 in Bureau funding. ECA anticipates making up to two 
awards for approximately $1,000,000 to support program and 
administrative costs required to implement this exchange program. 
Therefore, organizations with less than four years experience in 
conducting international exchanges are ineligible to apply under this 
competition as the primary award recipient. Organizations and 
institutions that are interested in being part of the administration of 
TechWomen, but that have less than the required four years experience, 
are encouraged to explore the possibility of being a sub-grantee in a 
consortium lead by another entity that is the primary award recipient. 
Applicants may choose to apply for a minimum award of $500,000, or up 
to a maximum award of $1,000,000. The Bureau encourages applicants to 
provide maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in support of its 
programs.
    b. Technical Eligibility: Eligible applicants may not submit more 
than one proposal in this competition. If more than one proposal is 
received from the same applicant, all submissions will be declared 
technically ineligible and will receive no further consideration in the 
review process. Please note: Applicant organizations are defined by 
their legal name, and EIN number as stated on their completed SF-424 
and additional supporting documentation outlined in the Proposal 
Submission Instructions (PSI) document.

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 Veronica Rector in the Office of Citizen Exchanges, ECA/PE/C, 
SA-5, 3rd Floor, U.S. Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20522-0504, (202) 632-6081 (tel); (202) 632-9355 (fax); 
rectorva@state.gov to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to 
the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C-10-55 located at the top of 
this announcement when making your request. Alternatively, an 
electronic application package may be obtained from grants.gov. Please 
see section IV.3f for further information.
    The Solicitation Package contains the Proposal Submission 
Instruction (PSI) document which consists of required

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application forms, and standard guidelines for proposal preparation.
    Please specify Sheila Casey and refer to the Funding Opportunity 
Number ECA/PE/C-10-55 located at the top of this announcement on all 
other inquiries and correspondence.
    IV.2. To Download a Solicitation Package Via Internet: The entire 
Solicitation Package may be downloaded from the Bureau's Web site at 
https://exchanges.state.gov/grants/open2.html, or from the Grants.gov 
Web site at https://www.grants.gov.
    Please read all information before downloading.
    IV.3. Content and Form of Submission: Applicants must follow all 
instructions in the Solicitation Package. The application should be 
submitted per the instructions under IV.3f. ``Application Deadline and 
Methods of Submission'' section below.
    IV.3a. You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal 
Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative 
agreement from the U.S. Government. This number is a nine-digit 
identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities. 
Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a 
DUNS number, access https://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-
5711. Please ensure that your DUNS number is included in the 
appropriate box of the SF-424 which is part of the formal application 
package.
    IV.3b. All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal 
narrative and budget.
    Please Refer to the Solicitation Package. It contains the mandatory 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document for additional 
formatting and technical requirements.
    IV.3c. You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of 
application. Please note: Effective January 7, 2009, all applicants for 
ECA federal assistance awards must include in their application the 
names of directors and/or senior executives (current officers, 
trustees, and key employees, regardless of amount of compensation). In 
fulfilling this requirement, applicants must submit information in one 
of the following ways:
    (1) Those who file Internal Revenue Service Form 990, ``Return of 
Organization Exempt From Income Tax,'' must include a copy of relevant 
portions of this form.
    (2) Those who do not file IRS Form 990 must submit information 
above in the format of their choice.
    In addition to final program reporting requirements, award 
recipients will also be required to submit a one-page document, derived 
from their program reports, listing and describing their grant 
activities. For award recipients, the names of directors and/or senior 
executives (current officers, trustees, and key employees), as well as 
the one- page description of grant activities, will be transmitted by 
the State Department to OMB, along with other information required by 
the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), and 
will be made available to the public by the Office of Management and 
Budget on its USASpending.gov Web site as part of ECA's FFATA reporting 
requirements.
    If your organization is a private nonprofit which has not received 
a grant or cooperative agreement from ECA in the past three years, or 
if your organization received nonprofit status 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, 
record-keeping, reporting and other requirements.
    The Office of Citizen Exchanges of ECA will be responsible for 
issuing DS-2019 forms to participants in this program.
    A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of 
Exchange Visitor (J) programs is available at https://exchanges.state.gov or from: Office of Designation, ECA/EC/D, SA-5, 
Floor C2, Department of State, Washington, DC 20522-0582.

IV.3d.2 Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines

    Pursuant to the Bureau's authorizing legislation, programs must 
maintain a non-political character and should be balanced and 
representative of the diversity of American political, social, and 
cultural life. ``Diversity'' should be interpreted in the broadest 
sense and encompass differences including, but not limited to 
ethnicity, race, gender, religion, geographic location, socio-economic 
status, and disabilities. Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere 
to the advancement of this principle both in program administration and 
in program content. Please refer to the review criteria under the 
``Support for Diversity'' section for specific suggestions on 
incorporating diversity into your proposal. Public Law 104-319 provides 
that ``in carrying out programs of educational and cultural exchange in 
countries whose people do not fully enjoy freedom and democracy,'' the 
Bureau ``shall take appropriate steps to provide opportunities for 
participation in such programs to human rights and democracy leaders of 
such countries.'' Public Law 106-113 requires that the governments of 
the countries described above do not have inappropriate influence in 
the selection process. Proposals should reflect advancement of these 
goals in their program contents, to the full extent deemed feasible.

[[Page 20667]]

IV.3d.3. Program Monitoring and Evaluation

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

    Please note:  Consideration should be given to the appropriate 
timing of data collection for each level of outcome. For example, 
satisfaction is usually captured as a short-term outcome, whereas 
behavior and 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 $1,000,000. 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.
    IV.3e.2. Allowable costs for the program include the following:
     International and domestic air fares; visas; transit 
costs; ground transportation costs and airline baggage and seat fees. 
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.
     Per Diem. For U.S.-based programming, organizations should 
refer to 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 for overseas activities can be accessed at: https://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=184&menu_id=78.
     Return Travel Allowance. A return travel allowance of $70 
for each foreign participant may be included in the budget. The 
allowance may be used for incidental expenses incurred during 
international travel.
     Health Insurance. Foreign participants will be covered 
under the terms of a U.S. Department of State-sponsored health 
insurance policy. The premium is paid by the U.S. Department of State 
directly to the insurance company. Applicants are permitted to include 
costs for travel insurance for U.S. participants in the budget.
     Consultants. Consultants may be used to provide 
specialized expertise or to make presentations. Daily honoraria may not 
exceed $250 per day. Subcontracting organizations may also be used, in 
which case the written agreement between the prospective grantee and 
subcontractor should be included in the proposal. Subcontracts should 
be itemized in the budget.
     Room Rental. Room rental may not exceed $250 per day.
     Materials Development. Your proposal may contain costs to 
purchase, develop and translate materials for participants.
     Wire transfer fees. When necessary, applicants may include 
costs to transfer funds to partner organizations overseas. Award 
recipients are urged to research applicable taxes that may be imposed 
on these transfers by host governments.
     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.
     Administrative Costs. Costs necessary for the effective 
administration of the program may include salaries for recipient 
organization employees, benefits, and

[[Page 20668]]

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.
    Please refer to the PSI for complete budget guidelines and 
formatting instructions.

IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission

    Application Deadline Date: June 2, 2010.
    Reference Number: ECA/PE/C-10-55.
    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 seven (7) copies of the application should be sent 
to: Program Management Division, ECA-IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/PE/C-10-55, 
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.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, 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Eastern Time, 
E-mail: grants.gov">support@grants.gov.
    Applicants have until midnight (12 a.m.), Washington, DC time of 
the closing date to ensure that their entire application has been 
uploaded to the Grants.gov site. There are no exceptions to the above 
deadline. Applications uploaded to the site after midnight of the 
application deadline date will be automatically rejected by the 
Grants.gov system, and will be technically ineligible. Please refer to 
the Grants.gov Web site, for definitions of various ``application 
statuses'' and the difference between a submission receipt and a 
submission validation.
    Applicants will receive a validation e-mail from Grants.gov upon 
the successful submission of an application. Again, validation of an 
electronic submission via Grants.gov can take up to two business days. 
Therefore, we strongly recommend that you not wait until the 
application deadline to begin the submission process through 
Grants.gov. ECA will not notify you upon receipt of electronic 
applications.
    It is the responsibility of all applicants submitting proposals via 
the Grants.gov web portal to ensure that proposals have been received 
by Grants.gov in their entirety, and ECA bears no responsibility for 
data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.
    IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of Applications: Executive Order 
12372 does not apply to this program.

V. Application Review Information

V.1. Review Process

    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

[[Page 20669]]

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 
(cooperative agreement) resides with the Bureau's Grants Officer.
Review Criteria
    Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed 
according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are not rank 
ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation:
    1. Quality of the Program Idea: Proposals should exhibit 
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's 
mission.
    2. Program Planning and Ability to Achieve Objectives: Detailed 
agenda and relevant work plan should demonstrate substantive 
undertakings and logistical capacity. The agenda and plan should adhere 
to the program overview and guidelines described above. Objectives 
should be reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly 
demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's objectives and 
plan.
    3. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive 
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Achievable and relevant 
features should be cited in both program administration (selection of 
participants, program venue and program evaluation) and program content 
(orientation and debriefing sessions, and follow-on activities).
    4. Institutional Capacity/Track Record: Proposed personnel and 
institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve 
the program's goals, particularly in securing meaningful and effective 
mentorships for participants in TechWomen. Proposals should demonstrate 
an institutional record of successful exchange programs, including 
responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting 
requirements for past Bureau awards (grants or cooperative agreements) 
as determined by Bureau Grants Staff. The Bureau will consider the past 
performance of prior recipients and the demonstrated potential of new 
applicants.
    5. Program Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate 
the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of 
the program. A draft survey questionnaire or other technique plus a 
description of a methodology to link outcomes to the original program 
objectives are recommended.
    6. Cost-effectiveness/Cost-sharing: The overhead and administrative 
components of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be 
kept as low as possible. All other items should be necessary and 
appropriate. Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through other 
private sector support as well as institutional direct funding 
contributions.

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 an Federal Assistance Award (FAA) 
from the Bureau's Grants Office. The FAA and the original proposal with 
subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall be the only binding 
authorizing document between the recipient and the U.S. Government. The 
FAA will be signed by an authorized Grants Officer, and mailed to the 
recipient's responsible officer identified in the application.
    Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of 
the application review from the ECA program office coordinating this 
competition.
    VI.1b The following additional requirements apply to this project:
    All awards made under this competition must be executed according 
to all relevant U.S. laws and policies regarding assistance to the 
Palestinian Authority, and to the West Bank and Gaza. Organizations 
must consult with relevant Public Affairs Offices before entering into 
any formal arrangements or agreements with Palestinian organizations or 
institutions.

    Note:  To assure that planning for the inclusion of the 
Palestinian Authority complies with requirements, please contact 
(insert program office contact name, telephone and e-mail) for 
additional information.

    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) A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after 
the expiration of the award;
    (2) A concise, one-page final program report summarizing program 
outcomes no more than 90 days after the expiration of the award. This 
one-page report will be transmitted to OMB, and be made available to 
the public via OMB's USAspending.gov Web site--as part of ECA's Federal 
Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reporting 
requirements.
    (3) A SF-PPR, ``Performance Progress Report'' Cover Sheet with all 
program reports.
    (4) Quarterly program and financial reports which should include 
relevant details on participant recruitment efforts, mentorship hosts, 
and the status of overseas workshops, seminars, and/or other 
activities.
    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.
    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

[[Page 20670]]

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. Final schedules for in-country and U.S. activities must be 
received by the ECA Program Officer at least three work days prior to 
the official opening of the activity.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: Sheila Casey, U.S. 
Department of State, Office of Citizen Exchanges, ECA/PE/C, SA-5, 3rd 
Floor, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20522-0503, (202) 632-6070 
(tel); (202) 632-9355 (fax); caseysd@state.gov.
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference ECA/PE/C-10-55.
    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: April 14, 2010.
Maura M. Pally,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2010-9079 Filed 4-19-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P