Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant Proposals: Study of the U.S. Institute for Pakistani Student Leaders on Comparative Public Policy, 21126-21131 [2010-9326]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 77 (Thursday, April 22, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21126-21131]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-9326]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6965]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Study of the U.S. Institute for Pakistani Student 
Leaders on Comparative Public Policy

    Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/E/USS-10-28.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.009.
    Key Dates: July-August, 2011.
    Application Deadline: Friday, May 21, 2010.
    Executive Summary: The Branch for the Study of the United States, 
Office of Academic Exchange Programs, Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs, invites proposal submissions for the design and 
implementation of a six- week academic institute for up to 25 Pakistani 
student leaders focused on comparative public policy.
    The Study of the U.S. Institute for Pakistani Student Leaders 
should include: A summer academic course at a U.S. university or 
college campus that includes up to 20 American undergraduate students 
at no cost to ECA; volunteer community service activities with peer 
mentors or other Americans; leadership development; and a one to two-
week educational study tour to another part of the United States. In 
addition, Pakistani participants should have opportunities to make 
presentations about their country or university studies on campus or 
locally.
    Pending availability of funds, support for this program is being 
provided from special FY-2009/FY-2010 supplemental funds that have been 
appropriated to the Department.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Authority

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

Purpose

    The Study of the U.S. Institute for Pakistani Student Leaders on 
Comparative Public Policy is a new program, created in response to the 
interest of the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan to provide opportunities for 
Pakistani undergraduates to study at a U.S. campus and to exchange 
ideas with their American peers. The Study of the U.S. Institutes for 
Student Leaders are intensive academic programs whose purpose is to 
provide groups of foreign undergraduate students with an introduction 
to a specific field of study, while also heightening the participants' 
general knowledge of U.S. society, culture, and values.
    In addition to promoting a better understanding of the United 
States, an important objective of the Student Leader Institutes is to 
develop the participants' leadership skills. In this context, the 
leadership component should be experiential in nature and include group 
discussions, training, and exercises that focus on leadership theories, 
teambuilding, collective problem-solving skills, effective 
communication, and management skills for diverse organizational 
settings. Additionally, community service activities should allow 
participants to experience firsthand how not-for-profit organizations 
and volunteerism play a role in U.S. civil society.
    The program should also include cultural activities, local site 
visits, and an educational travel component within the United States to 
illustrate the various topics explored in class and to gain an 
understanding of the regional differences within the country. Finally, 
the program should include opportunities for participants to meet U.S. 
citizens from a variety of backgrounds and to speak to appropriate 
student and civic groups about life in their home countries.
    Solicitations should allow for pre-departure briefing and post-
program debriefing sessions at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad.

Overview

    The Study of the U.S. Institute for Pakistani Student Leaders on 
Comparative Public Policy should provide Pakistani participants with an 
overview of U.S. history and government; the core of the course should 
engage American and Pakistani students in a comparative analysis of 
governments and policies in the two countries. Public policy 
discussions could include topics such as foreign policy, healthcare, 
agriculture, or education and how these policies are formulated and 
implemented, examining the role of citizens, media, lobbying groups, 
think-tanks, local, state, and federal governments. In addition, the 
institute should allow participants to gain practical skills used in 
the analysis of public policy. The class should be crafted to maximize 
interaction and cross-cultural study between Pakistani and American 
students in order to allow them to share experiences and viewpoints.

Recipient

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

Program Design

    The Study of the U.S. Institute for Pakistani Student Leaders on 
Comparative Public Policy should provide a group of up to 25 Pakistani 
students with a uniquely designed program that provides a comparative 
analysis of public policy. The academic component of the institute 
should include up to 20 U.S. students enrolled in the class work. The 
institute must not replicate existing or previous lectures, workshops, 
or group activities designed for American students but should be 
tailored for the particular group of students. The recipient should 
take into account that the Pakistani participants may have little or no 
prior knowledge of the United States and varying degrees of experience 
in expressing their opinions in a classroom setting and should tailor 
the curriculum and classroom activities accordingly. Every effort 
should be made to encourage active student participation in all aspects 
of the institute. The program should provide ample time and opportunity 
for discussion and interaction among students, lecturers, and guest 
speakers.

[[Page 21127]]

The program should incorporate a variety of classroom approaches such 
as panel presentations, seminar discussions, debates, individual and 
group activities, lectures, and reading assignments for the academic 
sessions.
    The program should be six weeks in length; participants will spend 
four weeks at the host institution for the academic program, and 
approximately two weeks on a related educational study tour, including 
three or four days in Washington, DC at the conclusion of the 
Institute.

Program Administration

    The recipient should designate an academic director, who will be 
present throughout the program to ensure the continuity, coherence, and 
integration of all aspects of the academic program, including the 
related educational study tour. In addition to the academic director, 
an administrative director should be assigned to oversee all student 
support services, including supervision of the program participants and 
budgetary, logistical, and other administrative arrangements. It is 
important that the recipient also retain approximately 5 peer mentors 
to work with institute directors to organize leadership, community, and 
cultural activities for participants. Peer mentors should be culturally 
sensitive, personally committed to the goals of the exchange, and 
participate in all aspects of the program.

Participants

    Up to 25 participants will be selected from Pakistan. The students 
will be identified and nominated by the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan, with 
final selection made by ECA.
    Participants in the Study of the U.S. Institutes for Pakistani 
Student Leaders on Comparative Public Policy will be highly motivated 
undergraduate students from colleges, universities, and other 
institutions of higher education in Pakistan who have demonstrated 
leadership through academic work, community involvement, and 
extracurricular activities. Their major fields of study will be varied, 
and will include the sciences, social sciences, humanities, education, 
and business.
    Every effort will be made to select a balanced mix of male and 
female participants and to recruit participants from a variety of 
backgrounds who have had little or no prior experience in the United 
States or elsewhere outside of their home country.

Program Dates

    The Institute should be six weeks in length beginning in July, 
2011.

Program Guidelines

    It is essential that the proposal provide a detailed and 
comprehensive narrative describing how the host institution will 
achieve the objectives of the institute; the title, scope and content 
of each session; planned site visits, the educational travel component; 
and how each session relates to the overall institute theme.
    Overall, the proposal will be reviewed on the basis of its 
responsiveness to RFGP criteria, coherence, clarity, and attention to 
detail.
    Please note: In a cooperative agreement, ECA is substantially 
involved in program activities above and beyond routine grant 
monitoring. The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan 
may also be involved in planning program activities. ECA will assume 
the following responsibilities for the institute: participate in the 
selection of participants; review and confirm syllabi and proposed 
speakers for the institute; monitor the institute through one or more 
site visits; meet with participants in Washington, DC at the conclusion 
of the institute; work with the recipient to publicize the program 
through various media outlets; and engage in follow-on communication 
with the participants after they return to their home countries.
    ECA may request that the recipient make modifications to the 
academic residency and/or educational travel components of the program. 
The recipient will be required to obtain approval from ECA of any 
significant program changes in advance of their implementation.

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

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement ECA's level of involvement in 
this program is listed under number I above.
    Fiscal Year Funds: 2009/2010.
    Approximate Total Funding: $475,000 (pending availability of 
funds).
    Approximate Number of Awards: 1.
    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, September, 
2010.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: February, 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 one award, 
in an amount up to $475,000 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. The Bureau 
encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and 
funding in support of its programs.

IV. Application and Submission Information

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


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IV.1 Contact Information To Request an Application Package

    Please contact the Study of the U.S. Branch, ECA/A/E/USS, SA-5, 4th 
Floor, U.S. Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 
20522-0504, Telephone: (202) 632-3342, Fax (202) 632-9411, E-mail: 
BjornlundBS@state.gov to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer 
to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/E/USS-10-28 located at the top 
of this announcement when making your request. Alternatively, an 
electronic application package may be obtained from grants.gov. Please 
see section IV.3f for further information.
    The Solicitation Package contains the Proposal Submission 
Instruction (PSI) document which consists of required application 
forms, and standard guidelines for proposal preparation.
    It also contains the Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation 
(POGI) document, which provides specific information, award criteria 
and budget instructions tailored to this competition.
    Please specify Britta S. Bjornlund and refer to the Funding 
Opportunity Number ECA/A/E/USS-10-28 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 and the Project 
Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI) document for additional 
formatting and technical requirements.
    IV.3c. You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of 
application. Please note: Effective January 7, 2009, all applicants for 
ECA federal assistance awards must include in their application the 
names of directors and/or senior executives (current officers, 
trustees, and key employees, regardless of amount of compensation). In 
fulfilling this requirement, applicants must submit information in one 
of the following ways:
    (1) Those who file Internal Revenue Service Form 990, ``Return of 
Organization Exempt From Income Tax,'' must include a copy of relevant 
portions of this form.
    (2) Those who do not file IRS Form 990 must submit information 
above in the format of their choice.

In addition to final program reporting requirements, award recipients 
will also be required to submit a one-page document, derived from their 
program reports, listing and describing their grant activities. For 
award recipients, the names of directors and/or senior executives 
(current officers, trustees, and key employees), as well as the one- 
page description of grant activities, will be transmitted by the State 
Department to OMB, along with other information required by the Federal 
Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), and will be made 
available to the public by the Office of Management and Budget on its 
USASpending.gov Web site as part of ECA's FFATA reporting requirements.
    If your organization is a private nonprofit which has not received 
a grant or cooperative agreement from ECA in the past three years, or 
if your organization received nonprofit status from the IRS within the 
past four years, you must submit the necessary documentation to verify 
nonprofit status as directed in the PSI document. Failure to do so will 
cause your proposal to be declared technically ineligible.
    IV.3d. Please take into consideration the following information 
when preparing your proposal narrative:
Iv.3d.1 Adherence to All Regulations Governing the J Visa
    The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs places critically 
important emphases on the security and proper administration of the 
Exchange Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence by award recipients 
and sponsors to all regulations governing the J visa. Therefore, 
proposals should demonstrate the applicant's capacity to meet all 
requirements governing the administration of the Exchange Visitor 
Programs as set forth in 22 CFR 62, including the oversight of 
Responsible Officers and Alternate Responsible Officers, screening and 
selection of program participants, provision of pre-arrival information 
and orientation to participants, monitoring of participants, proper 
maintenance and security of forms, record-keeping, reporting and other 
requirements. ECA will be responsible for issuing DS-2019 forms to 
participants in this program.
    A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of 
Exchange Visitor (J) programs is available at https://exchanges.state.gov or from: United States Department of State, Office 
of Exchange Coordination and Designation, Office of Designation, ECA/
EC/D, SA-5, Floor C2, Department of State, Washington, DC 20522-0582.
    Please refer to Solicitation Package for further information.
IV.3d.2 Diversity, Freedom, and Democracy Guidelines
    Pursuant to 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 21129]]

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 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.)
    Recipients 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 $475,000. There must be 
a summary budget as well as breakdowns reflecting both administrative 
and program budgets. Applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for 
each program component, phase, location, or activity to provide 
clarification.
    Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget 
guidelines and formatting instructions.
IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission
    Application Deadline Date: Friday, May 21, 2010.
    Reference Number: ECA/A/E/USS-10-28.
    Methods of Submission: Applications may be submitted in one of two 
ways:
    (1) In hard-copy, via a nationally recognized overnight delivery 
service (i.e., Federal Express, UPS, Airborne Express, or U.S. Postal 
Service Express Overnight Mail, etc.), or
    (2) Electronically through https://www.grants.gov.
    Along with the Project Title, all applicants must enter the above 
Reference Number in Box 11 on the SF-424 contained in the mandatory 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) of the solicitation document.
IV.3f.1 Submitting Printed Applications
    Applications must be shipped no later than the above deadline. 
Delivery services used by applicants must have in-place, centralized 
shipping identification and tracking systems that may be accessed via 
the Internet and delivery people who are identifiable by commonly 
recognized uniforms and delivery vehicles. Proposals shipped on or 
before the above deadline but received at ECA more than seven days 
after the deadline will be ineligible for further consideration under 
this competition. Proposals shipped after the established deadlines are 
ineligible for consideration under this competition. ECA will not 
notify you upon receipt of application. It is each applicant's 
responsibility to ensure that each package is marked with a legible 
tracking number and to monitor/confirm delivery to ECA via the 
Internet. Delivery of proposal packages may not be made via local 
courier service or in person for this competition. Faxed documents will 
not be accepted at any time. Only proposals submitted as stated above 
will be considered.
    Important note: When preparing your submission please make sure to 
include one extra copy of the completed SF-424 form and place it in an 
envelope addressed to ``ECA/EX/PM''.
    The original and six (6) copies of the application should be sent 
to: Program Management Division, ECA-IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/A/E/USS-10-
28, SA-5, Floor 4, Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, 
DC 20522-0504.
    (Include following language re: CD-ROM submission only if proposals 
will be forwarded to embassies. If post input is not necessary, delete 
language.)
    Applicants submitting hard-copy applications must also submit the

[[Page 21130]]

``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 at the U.S. embassy for its 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.
    Optional--IV.3f.3  You may also state here any limitations on the 
number of applications that an applicant may submit and make it clear 
whether the limitation is on the submitting organization, individual 
program director or both.
    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 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 
cooperative agreements 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 Program Plan and Ability To Achieve Program 
Objectives: Proposals should exhibit originality, substance, precision, 
and relevance to the ECA's mission. A detailed agenda and relevant work 
plan should demonstrate substantive undertakings and logistical 
capacity. Objectives should be reasonable, feasible, and flexible. 
Proposals should demonstrate clearly how the institution will meet the 
program's objectives and plan.
    2. Support for Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive 
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Achievable and relevant 
features should be cited in both program administration (program venue 
and program evaluation) and program content (orientation and wrap-up 
sessions, program meetings, presenters, and resource materials).
    3. Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate the 
activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of the 
program. The Bureau recommends that the proposal include a draft survey 
questionnaire or other technique plus a description of a methodology to 
use to link outcomes to original project objectives.
    4. Cost-effectiveness/Cost-sharing: The overhead and administrative 
components of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be 
kept as low as possible. All other items should be necessary and 
appropriate. Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through other 
private sector support, as well as institutional direct funding 
contributions.
    5. Institutional Track Record/Ability: Proposals should demonstrate 
an institutional record of successful exchange programs, including 
responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting 
requirements for past ECA grants as determined by ECA Grants Staff. The 
ECA will consider the past performance of prior recipients and the 
demonstrated potential of new applicants. Proposed personnel and 
institutional resources should be fully qualified to achieve the 
project's goals.
    6. Follow-on Activities: Proposals also should discuss provisions 
made for follow-up with returned participants as a means of 
establishing longer-term individual and institutional linkages and 
should provide a plan for continued follow-on activity (without Bureau

[[Page 21131]]

support) ensuring that Bureau supported programs are not isolated 
events.

VI. Award Administration Information

VI.1a. Award Notices

    Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by 
Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures. 
Successful applicants will receive a Federal Assistance Award (FAA) 
from the Bureau's Grants Office. The FAA and the original proposal with 
subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall be the only binding 
authorizing document between the recipient and the U.S. Government. The 
FAA will be signed by an authorized Grants Officer, and mailed to the 
recipient's responsible officer identified in the application.
    Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of 
the application review from the ECA program office coordinating this 
competition.

VI.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    Terms and Conditions for the Administration of ECA agreements 
include the following:

Office of Management and Budget Circular A-122, ``Cost Principles for 
Nonprofit Organizations''
Office of Management and Budget Circular A-21, ``Cost Principles for 
Educational Institutions''
OMB Circular A-87, ``Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian 
Governments''
OMB Circular No. A-110 (Revised), Uniform Administrative Requirements 
for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, 
Hospitals, and other Nonprofit Organizations
OMB Circular No. A-102, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants-
in-Aid to State and Local Governments
OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of States, Local Government, and Non-
profit Organizations

    Please reference the following Web sites for additional 
information:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants.
https://fa.statebuy.state.gov.

VI.3. Reporting Requirements

    You must provide ECA with a hard copy original plus one copy of the 
following reports:
    (1) A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after 
the expiration of the award;
    (2) A concise, one-page final program report summarizing program 
outcomes no more than 90 days after the expiration of the award. This 
one-page report will be transmitted to OMB, and be made available to 
the public via OMB's USAspending.gov Web site--as part of ECA's Federal 
Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reporting 
requirements.
    (3) A SF-PPR, ``Performance Progress Report'' Cover Sheet with all 
program reports.
    Award recipients will be required to provide reports analyzing 
their evaluation findings to 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.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: Britta S. 
Bjornlund, U.S. Department of State, Study of the U.S. Branch, ECA/A/E/
USS, SA-5, 4th Floor, ECA/A/E/USS-10-28, 2200 C Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20522-0504, Telephone: (202) 632-3339, Fax: (202) 632-
9411, E-mail: BjornlundBS@state.gov.
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number ECA/A/E/USS-10-28.
    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. 2010-9326 Filed 4-21-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P