Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA); Request for Grant Proposals: DanceMotion USA, 21138-21145 [2010-9324]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 77 (Thursday, April 22, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21138-21145]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-9324]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6966]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA); Request for 
Grant Proposals: DanceMotion USA

    Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/CU-10-24.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.415.
    Key Dates:
    Application Deadline: May 27, 2010.

Executive Summary

    The Cultural Programs Division, within the Office of Citizen 
Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, announces 
an open competition for a cooperative agreement to administer the 2010-
2012 cycle of the DanceMotion USA Program. The program's goal is to 
showcase the best of American dance and provide an opportunity to 
directly engage priority audiences in foreign countries. The program 
will consist of approximately four to six tours by approximately the 
same number of U.S. dance companies,

[[Page 21139]]

whose repertoires are representative of American culture (e.g. 
contemporary, jazz, hip hop, tap.) In addition to public performances, 
overseas tours will include public workshops, master classes, lecture-
demonstrations, outreach activities and interaction with local youth in 
a wide variety of venues and settings. Priority audiences are those who 
do not have regular access to American culture, including underserved 
and younger populations.

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

    Because many countries around the world have strong and honored 
dance traditions, dance provides an ideal avenue for engagement. The FY 
2008 pilot DanceMotion USA program demonstrated the effectiveness of 
dance in communicating American ideals and values despite language and 
other cultural barriers. Based on the positive results of the pilot 
program, and the enthusiastic demand for DanceMotion USA, the Bureau 
has developed an expanded program for the 2010-2012 cycle that will 
result in greater outreach potential. Of particular interest to the 
Bureau is engaging youth and underserved populations through programs 
in American dance.
    U.S. public and non-profit organizations meeting the provisions 
described in Internal Revenue code section 26 USC 501(c)(3) may submit 
proposals that support the goals of the DanceMotion USA Program. 
Additionally, applicant organizations must provide cost-sharing and 
demonstrate a capacity to work closely with the Bureau and U.S. 
Embassies overseas on the administration of the program.
    Under this cooperative agreement, the award recipient will work 
with the Cultural Programs staff to: Develop a transparent and 
competitive process for selecting U.S. dance companies; plan, implement 
and manage the tour schedules; develop and organize pre-departure 
briefings and a public launch event in Washington, DC; develop 
educational materials to provide historical and artistic context for 
foreign audiences (including the general public); evaluate the tours 
and overall program effectiveness; and plan and coordinate marketing 
and public relations initiatives that will brand and promote the 
program in the U.S. and abroad.

Requirements of the Award Recipient

    The DanceMotion USA program requires the award recipient to oversee 
planning details and facilitate communication among the various 
stakeholders in the program effectively and efficiently. Proposals 
should reflect a practical understanding of global issues, and 
demonstrate sensitivity to cultural, political, economic and social 
differences in regions where tour groups may perform.
    Applicants must identify all partner organizations and/or venues 
with whom they are proposing to collaborate, and describe previous 
cooperative projects in the section on ``Institutional Capacity.'' 
Please note that all sub-grantee considerations and arrangements for 
all aspects of the tours are subject to review and approval by the ECA 
Bureau.
    Under this cooperative agreement, and in consultation with ECA, the 
successful awardee will be required to:
    1. Design, organize, and implement a transparent open competition 
process to select approximately four to six U.S. dance groups. Dance 
genres should be representative of the diversity of U.S. society and 
culture and should include, among others, contemporary, hip-hop, tap, 
and jazz.
    The search, adjudication and selection process for the dance 
companies must consist of an open call to U.S. dance companies with 
clear and transparent selection criteria geared to final competitive 
selection by an independent panel that includes an ECA representative, 
and culminating in a diverse cadre of artists meeting the description 
in the following paragraph. Final approval of the selection process and 
selected dance companies will be given by ECA.
    The selected companies (up to 10 dancers) must be able to work with 
choreography, music and visual artistic expression to convey to 
international audiences and workshop students ideas about American 
culture, history and society.
    Participating dancers must be U.S. citizens who are at least 21 
years old; demonstrate the highest artistic, performance and teaching 
abilities; be conversant with broader aspects of contemporary American 
society and culture; and be adaptable to rigorous touring through 
regions of the world where travel and performance situations may be 
difficult. In addition to performances, DanceMotion USA participants 
will be expected to conduct or participate in master classes, lectures, 
workshops, impromptu choreography sessions, radio and TV appearances, 
and other activities with local cultural institutions, dancers, media 
and students.
    2. Plan and develop, through close collaboration with ECA and our 
American Missions abroad, approximately four to six tours to countries 
in regions that may include the Middle East, East Asia and the Pacific, 
Africa, South and Central Asia, Europe and/or South/Central American 
regions.
    For each overseas location, the award recipient will need to 
actively work with our Embassies and Consulates abroad to find and 
secure appropriate venues for performances and workshops. The award 
recipient may find that a pre-tour trip to one or two overseas 
locations might be a desirable planning aid.
    Special attention should be given to describing the applicant 
organization's experience with planning and implementing complex and 
unpredictable logistical scenarios overseas. Applicants should also 
outline their project team's capacity for successfully coordinating 
projects of this nature and provide a detailed sample program (to 
include itineraries) to illustrate planning capacity and ability to 
achieve program objectives.
    For purposes of this competition, please use the following program 
as a model: One dance company consisting of six dancers and one 
choreographer travels to Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon and Syria for one week 
each.
    3. Manage the full array of tour logistics including:

--Organizing a pre-departure orientation that provides participants 
media training, cultural briefing about the countries on the tour, and 
a general context for their mission as cultural ambassadors;
--Outreach to international and U.S. media as part of a comprehensive

[[Page 21140]]

media and public relations strategy developed by the awardee and 
approved by ECA;
--Making all international travel arrangements and coordinating with 
posts on all in-country overseas travel;
--Making all arrangements for visas, immunizations and health insurance 
for participants;
--Developing educational materials appropriate for foreign audiences 
who may not be familiar with the U.S. and/or dance (including, as 
needed, translation of materials);
--Shipping performance and education materials;
--Making all hotel arrangements for company members;
--Making all financial and administrative arrangements with the 
dancers;
--Providing on-going and detailed information to the Cultural Programs 
Division regarding tour schedules, venues and program activities, 
performance and workshop results, tour highlights and media coverage;
--Arranging a de-briefing session for each dance company/group for 
purposes of evaluation and to summarize the project activities at the 
conclusion of each tour.

    4. Design and implement, in consultation with ECA, a media strategy 
that will highlight the program to both international and U.S. public. 
The awardee will be responsible for developing press kits for each 
company, as well as preparing dancers and company managers for radio, 
television, newspaper and other electronic media interviews and feature 
articles. The award recipient will work closely with U.S. Embassy and 
Consulate public relations staff members to arrange interviews and 
ensure that dancers and company managers are briefed on current 
political and social issues in each overseas country.
    5. Design and implement, in consultation with ECA, a public 
relations strategy that maximizes the `DanceMotion USA' brand, 
including via development of promotional materials such as t-shirts, 
pencils, etc.
    As part of this public relations strategy, the award recipient will 
organize a pre-tour public event in Washington DC to roll-out the 2010-
2012 cycle of the program and present the selected dance companies. 
Event elements will include securing a venue, working with the 
companies to develop a program of demonstrations, selecting key 
audiences such as students and members of the diplomatic community, 
arranging travel to Washington for the dancers, and developing a media 
plan to ensure appropriate coverage.

    Note:  The U.S. Department of State maintains exclusive rights 
in DanceMotion USA \SM\ for and relating to the production, 
sponsorship, advertising, and distribution of musical and 
choreographic performances and similar educational and cultural 
services. For the purpose of performing the terms of the grant 
program the Government will authorize to the award recipient a non-
exclusive license to use the mark to carry out the terms and 
conditions of this grant agreement, and the award recipient will 
need to use the service mark symbol (\SM\) following the mark in all 
literature, promotional materials and other products produced and/or 
distributed under the terms and conditions of this grant agreement.

ECA Bureau Responsibilities

    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:
    (1) Determination of the tour countries. Countries will be those of 
greatest importance to the Department of State's public diplomacy 
mission to build mutual understanding in the following world regions: 
Middle East, East Asia and the Pacific, Africa, South and Central Asia, 
Europe and/or South/Central America.
    (2) Review and final approval of selected dance companies.
    (3) Approval of all tour arrangements, including daily program 
schedules.
    (4) Arrangement of participation by Department of State officers in 
pre-tour briefings, de-briefings, and the Washington DC roll-out event.
    (5) Approval of media and public relations strategies and of 
arrangements for the Washington D.C. showcase event.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. ECA's level of involvement in 
this program is listed under number I above.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY-2010.
    Approximate Total Funding: $1,500,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 1.
    Approximate Average Award: $1,500,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: August 2, 2010.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: August 2012.
    Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of this 
program and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, it is 
ECA's intent to renew this cooperative agreement for two additional 
fiscal years, before openly competing it again.

III. Eligibility Information

III.1. Eligible Applicants

    Applications may be submitted by public and private non-profit 
organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code 
section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3).

III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds

    Applicants must provide cost-sharing. Proposals that contain a 
minimum percentage of 20% cost sharing of the total project budget 
required for this project, will be deemed more competitive under the 
``Cost-Effectiveness and Cost-Sharing'' review criteria (number 6). It 
is understood and agreed that the applicant must provide cost sharing 
as stipulated in its proposal and later included in an approved 
agreement. Proposals providing for private sector cost-sharing will be 
deemed more competitive under this competition.
    Cost sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect 
costs. For accountability, you must maintain written records to support 
all costs which are claimed as your contribution, as well as costs to 
be paid by the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. 
The basis for determining the value of cash and in-kind contributions 
must be in accordance with OMB Circular A-110, (Revised), Subpart 
C.23--Cost Sharing and Matching. In the event you do not provide the 
minimum amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget 
ECA's contribution will be reduced in like proportion.

III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements

    (a) Bureau grant guidelines require that organizations with less 
than four years experience in conducting international exchanges be 
limited to $60,000 in Bureau funding. ECA anticipates making one award, 
in an amount up to $1,500,000 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.
    For this competition applicants must include in their proposals 
supporting materials or documents that demonstrate a minimum of five 
years experience in conducting international performing arts exchanges. 
Proposals must include references with contact names, e-mail addresses 
and phone numbers for organizations from which the applicant has 
received other assistance awards.

[[Page 21141]]

    (b) Technical Eligibility: All proposals must comply with the cost 
sharing requirement listed above or your proposal will be declared 
technically ineligible and given no further consideration in the review 
process.

--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, 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 the Office of Citizens Exchanges, Cultural Programs 
Division, ECA/PE/C/CU, SA-5, Third Floor, U.S. Department of State, 
2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20522-0504, Phone: (202) 632-9367, 
Fax: (202) 632-9355, e-mail: ColeCA@state.gov to request a Solicitation 
Package. Please refer to the Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/CU-
10-24 located at the top of this announcement when making your request. 
Alternatively, an electronic application package may be obtained from 
grants.gov. Please see section IV.3f for further information.
    The Solicitation Package contains the Proposal Submission 
Instruction (PSI) document which consists of required application 
forms, and standard guidelines for proposal preparation.
    Please specify Bureau Program Officer, Jill Staggs and refer to the 
Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/CU-10-24 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 
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
    For informational purposes, grant applicant organizations should be 
aware of the following information:
    The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs is the official program sponsor of the exchange 
program covered by this RFGP, and an employee of the Bureau will be the 
``Responsible Officer'' for the program under the terms of 22 CFR 62, 
which covers the administration of the Exchange Visitor Program (J visa 
program). Under the terms of 22 CFR 62, organizations receiving awards 
(either a grant or cooperative agreement) under this RFGP will be third 
parties ``cooperating with or assisting the sponsor in the conduct of 
the sponsor's program.'' The actions of recipient organizations shall 
be ``imputed to the sponsor in evaluating the sponsor's compliance 
with'' 22 CFR 62. Therefore, the Bureau expects that any organization 
receiving an award under this competition will render all assistance 
necessary to enable the Bureau to fully comply with 22 CFR 62 et seq.
    The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs places critically 
important emphases on the secure and proper administration of Exchange 
Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence by recipient organizations and 
program participants to all regulations governing the J visa program 
status. Therefore, proposals should explicitly state in writing that 
the applicant is prepared to assist the Bureau in meeting all 
requirements governing the administration of Exchange Visitor Programs 
as set forth in 22 CFR 62. If your organization has experience as a 
designated Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor, the applicant should 
discuss their record of compliance with 22 CFR 62 et. seq., including 
the oversight of their Responsible Officers and Alternate Responsible 
Officers, screening and

[[Page 21142]]

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.
V.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 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 $1,500,000. 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.
    IV.3e.2. Allowable costs for the program include the following:
    (1) Participant travel (international and domestic).
    (2) Food and lodging.
    (3) Interpreters, if necessary.
    (4) Cultural and outreach activities.
    (5) Stipends or allowances.
    (6) Orientations.
    (7) Translation of outreach and/or educational materials.
    (8) Evaluation.
    (9) Other justifiable expenses directly related to supporting 
program activities.
    (10) Administrative costs--While there is no rigid ratio of 
administrative to program costs, the Bureau urges applicants to keep 
administrative costs as low and reasonable as possible. Your

[[Page 21143]]

proposal should show strong administrative cost sharing contributions. 
Maximum limits on grant funding are as follows: books and educational 
materials allowance-$100 per participant per tour; conference room 
rental costs--$250 per day per room; consultant fees and participant 
honoraria--$200/day; cultural allowance--$150 per participant per tour; 
per diem--standard government rates; evaluation costs--5% of the grant. 
Organizations are encouraged to cost-share any rates that exceed these 
amounts.
    Dance company members can be enrolled in the Bureau's Accident and 
Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE) with no charge to the cooperative 
agreement. Alternatively, you may use your own plan as long as it 
offers the same or better coverage and costs no more than $50 per 
person per month; premiums may be included in the agreement request. 
Please see https://exchanges.state.gov/aspe for more information on 
coverage.
    Please refer to the PSI for allowable costs and complete budget 
guidelines and formatting instructions.
    Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget 
guidelines and formatting instructions.
IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission
    Application Deadline Date: May 27, 2010.
    Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/CU-10-24.
    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 8 copies of the application should be sent to: 
Program Management Division, ECA-IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/A/S/U-10-24, 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.

[[Page 21144]]

V. Application Review Information

V.1. Review Process

    The Bureau will review all proposals for technical eligibility. 
Proposals will be deemed ineligible if they do not fully adhere to the 
guidelines stated herein and in the Solicitation Package. All eligible 
proposals will be reviewed by the program office, as well as the Public 
Diplomacy section overseas, where appropriate. Eligible proposals will 
be subject to compliance with Federal and Bureau regulations and 
guidelines and forwarded to Bureau grant panels for advisory review. 
Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of the Legal Adviser or by 
other Department elements. Final funding decisions are at the 
discretion of the Department of State's Assistant Secretary for 
Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final technical authority for 
assistance awards/cooperative agreements resides with the Bureau's 
Grants Officer.
    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. Program Planning: A detailed description of each program 
component and a relevant work plan should demonstrate substantive 
organizational and logistical capacity. Your agenda and plan should 
adhere to the program overview of DanceMotion USA and the guidelines 
described above.
    2. Ability to Achieve Program Objectives: Your proposal should 
clearly demonstrate how your organization will meet DanceMotion USA's 
objectives and goals. The program implementation plan should be 
comprehensive and feasible. Your ability to recruit, select and tour 
the highest caliber of American dance groups should be clearly 
reflected in your proposal. Your proposal should describe how your 
previous experience with international dance tours will help you 
achieve the DanceMotion USA program objectives.
    3. Multiplier Effect/Impact: Your proposal should demonstrate your 
understanding of DanceMotion USA's impact on cultural diplomacy. Your 
program plan should include strategies for strengthening long-term 
mutual understanding, including maximum sharing of information and 
establishment of long-term institutional and individual linkages. Your 
proposal should describe your plans for furthering the multiplier 
effect of DanceMotion USA.
    4. Support of Diversity: Your proposal should demonstrate your 
organization's commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding 
of diversity. Achievable and relevant features should be cited in both 
your administration of DanceMotion USA (program venue, study tour 
venue, and program evaluation) and the program content (orientation and 
wrap-up sessions, site visits, program meetings and resource 
materials).
    5. Project Evaluation: Your proposal should include a plan to 
evaluate DanceMotion USA's success, both as the program activities and 
components unfold, and at the end of the program. The Bureau recommends 
that the proposal include a draft survey questionnaire or other 
technique, plus a description of a methodology to use to link outcomes 
to original project objectives.
    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. Proposals containing a minimum cost-sharing of 20% of 
the total project cost will be deemed more competitive under this 
category.
    7. Institution's Record/Ability/Institutional Capacity: Your 
institution's expert knowledge of the American performing arts and 
artistic community should be reflected in your proposal. Your proposal 
should demonstrate an institutional record of successful international 
exchange programs, 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 of prior recipients and the demonstrated 
potential of new applicants. Proposed personnel and institutional 
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the goals of 
DanceMotion USA.

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.
    In the event that the tour companies travel to the West Bank and 
Gaza, please be aware that 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 
Jill Staggs, (202) 632-6408, staggsjj@state.gov, 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

[[Page 21145]]

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, 
updated project calendars, description of any program complications, 
and program accomplishments to date.
    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.
    Additional 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. 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: Jill Staggs, 
Program Officer, U.S. Department of State, Cultural Programs Division, 
Office of Citizen Exchanges, ECA/PE/C/CU, SA-5, Floor 3, Reference 
Number: ECA/PE/C/CU-10-24, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20522-
0503, (202) 632-6408, staggsjj@state.gov.
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number ECA/PE/C/CU-10-24.
    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 15, 2010.
Maura M. Pally,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2010-9324 Filed 4-21-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P