Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant Proposals: Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student Leaders on New Media in Journalism, 70764-70770 [2010-29122]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 222 (Thursday, November 18, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70764-70770]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-29122]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 7230]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student Leaders on 
New Media in Journalism

    Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreements.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/E/USS-11-11.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.009.
    Key Dates: May to August, 2011.
    Application Deadline: January 10, 2011.
    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 two (2) Study of the United States Institutes for 
Student Leaders on New Media in Journalism. Each taking place over the 
course of five weeks, the Institutes will be scheduled in summer 2011.
    Both Institutes should take place at U.S. academic institutions and 
provide groups of highly motivated undergraduate students from the 
countries and regions noted below with in-depth seminars on New Media 
and Journalism. Each Institute should include four weeks of academic 
residency followed by a one-week integrated educational travel tour 
that will expose participants to a different region of the United 
States. The one-week educational study tour should conclude with a 
three day session in Washington, DC.
    Each Institute will host up to 20 participants, for a total of 
approximately 40 students. ECA plans to provide one to two awards for 
the administration of the two Study of the U.S. Institutes and welcomes 
applications from accredited post-secondary education institutions in 
the United States and public and private non-profit organizations (see 
Eligibility Information, section III). The awarding of Cooperative 
Agreements for this program is contingent upon the availability of FY 
2011 funds.

[[Page 70765]]

I. Funding Opportunity Description

I. 1. Authority

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

I. 2. Purpose

    The Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student Leaders on New Media 
in Journalism are intensive academic programs whose purpose is to 
provide groups of foreign undergraduate students with a deeper 
understanding of the United States while also exposing Americans to the 
diverse cultures and traditions of the exchange participants.
    The principal objective of the Institutes is to provide 
undergraduate leaders an introduction to new media in journalism, while 
also heightening their awareness of the history and evolution of U.S. 
society, culture, values, and institutions, broadly defined. In this 
context, the Institutes should incorporate a focus on contemporary 
American life, as it is shaped by historical and/or current political, 
social, and economic issues and debates. The role and influence of 
principles and values such as democracy, the rule of law, individual 
rights, freedom of expression, equality, and diversity and tolerance 
should be addressed.

I. 3. Overview

    The Study of the U.S. Institute on New Media in Journalism should 
examine major topics in journalism, including the changing landscape of 
traditional and new forms of media. The program should underscore the 
impact of digital journalism, and give participants new skills such as 
uploading original audio/visual content; utilizing twitter; publishing 
blogs; operating social networking Web sites; and other new media 
platforms. The Institute should also explore the concept of a free 
press, First Amendment rights, journalistic ethics, the media's 
relationship to the public interest, and media business models. The 
Institute should include a field placement component, providing 
participants with hands-on experience covering various aspects of 
journalism: Researching, writing, editing, and reporting with 
particular emphasis on new forms of digital media. In addition to 
journalism and new media, the Institutes should explore American 
history, government, society, and culture.
    The Institutes should also develop the participants' leadership 
skill, specifically as they relate to journalism. In this context, the 
academic program should include group discussions, trainings, and 
exercises that focus on topics such as leadership, teambuilding, 
collective problem-solving skills, effective communication, and 
management skills for diverse organizational settings. Institutes 
should include a community service component in which the students 
experience firsthand how not-for-profit organizations and volunteerism 
play a key role in American civil society.
    Local site visits and educational travel should provide 
opportunities to observe varied aspects of American life and to discuss 
topics addressed in the academic program. The program should also 
include opportunities for participants to meet American citizens from a 
variety of backgrounds, to interact with their American peers, and to 
speak to appropriate student and civic groups about their experiences 
and life in their home countries.

I. 4. Recipient Organizations

    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: Journalism, media 
studies, communication studies, and/or other disciplines or sub-
disciplines related to the study of the United States.

I. 5. Participants

    Participants will be identified and nominated by the U.S. Embassies 
and Consulates and/or Fulbright Commissions with final selection made 
by ECA. ECA will make the final decisions regarding participating 
countries and reserves the right to adjust the countries or regions 
participating in this activity based upon Department priorities.
    Participants in the Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student 
Leaders will be highly motivated undergraduate students from colleges, 
universities, and other institutions of higher education in selected 
countries overseas who demonstrate achievement and leadership through 
academic work, community involvement, and extracurricular activities. 
Their academic fields of study will be varied, and may include 
journalism, sciences, social sciences, humanities, education, and 
business. All participants will have a good knowledge of English and 
will have demonstrated interest in new media and journalism.
    Every effort will be made to select a balanced mix of male and 
female participants, and to recruit participants who are from non-elite 
or underprivileged backgrounds, from both rural and urban areas, and 
have had little or no prior experience in the United States or 
elsewhere outside of their home country.
    It is anticipated that participants in the two Institutes will come 
from the following regions and countries:
    (1) South Asia: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka. This Institute 
should take place in May and June, 2011.
    (2) Middle East: Iraq, Lebanon, Oman, West Bank. This Institute 
should take place in July and August, 2011.

I. 6. Program Guidelines

    It is essential that proposals provide a detailed and comprehensive 
narrative describing the objectives of the Institute; the title, scope, 
and content of each session; planned site visits; and how each session 
relates to the overall Institute theme. Proposals must include a 
syllabus that indicates the subject matter for each lecture, panel 
discussion, group presentation, or other activity. The syllabus also 
should confirm or provisionally identify proposed speakers, trainers, 
and session leaders, and clearly show how assigned readings will 
advance the goals of each session. Overall, proposals will be reviewed 
on the basis of their responsiveness to RFGP criteria, coherence, 
clarity, and attention to detail. The accompanying Project Objectives, 
Goals, and Implementation (POGI) document provides program-specific 
guidelines that all proposals must address fully.

    Please note: In a Cooperative Agreement, the Branch for the 
Study of the United States is substantially involved in program 
activities above and beyond routine grant monitoring. The Branch 
will assume the following responsibilities for the Institute: 
Participate in the final selection of participants; debrief 
participants in Washington, DC at the conclusion of the Institute; 
and engage in follow-on communication with the participants after

[[Page 70766]]

they return to their home countries. The Branch 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 of significant program changes in 
advance of their implementation.

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 2011.
    Approximate Total Funding: $480,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: Up to two.
    Floor of Award Range: $240,000.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $480,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, April 1, 
2011.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: April, 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 one additional 
fiscal year, 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 USC 501(c)(3).
    An applicant organization is defined by the DUNS number of the 
organization and by the signature of the authorized representative 
contained on the ``Application for Federal Assistance Form'' (SF-424) 
submitted under this competition.

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, the recipient institution must maintain written records 
to support all costs which are claimed as a 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 the recipient 
institution does 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.) Grants awarded to eligible organizations with less than four 
years of experience in conducting international exchange programs will 
be limited to $60,000. ECA anticipates that the minimum award under 
this competition will be approximately $240,000. Therefore, 
organizations with less than four years experience in conducting 
international exchanges are ineligible to apply under this competition. 
The Bureau encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost 
sharing and funding in support of its programs.
    (b.) Technical Eligibility: It is ECA's intent to fund a total of 
two (2) institutes as a result of this solicitation.
    All applicants are strongly encouraged to read this RFGP 
thoroughly, prior to developing and submitting a proposal, to ensure 
that proposed activities are appropriate and responsive to the goals, 
objectives and criteria outlined in the solicitations.
    Total available funding is up to $240,000 (one institute) or up to 
$480,000 (two institutes). Applicant organizations (colleges, 
universities, or NGOs) are invited to submit one application to host 
one or both Institutes.
    If proposing to host one institute, the proposals should clearly 
indicate the desired country group from Section I.5 above if 
appropriate and any regional expertise, if applicable. ECA reserves the 
right to alter or reassign the final country groupings.

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 Branch for the Study of the United States, ECA/
A/E/USS; SA-5, Fourth Floor; U.S. Department of State; Washington, DC 
20037, (202) 632-3339 to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer 
to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/E/USS-11-11 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 Kevin Orchison and refer to the Funding Opportunity 
Number ECA/A/E/USS-11-11 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 
section IV.6 Application Deadline and Methods of Submission, indicated 
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,

[[Page 70767]]

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.4 Program Regulations

IV.4.1 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 part 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, recordkeeping, reporting, and other 
requirements.
    ECA will issue participant DS 2019 forms for organizations with 
direct agreements with ECA.
    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 
Designation, Private Sector Programs Divison, ECA/EC/D/PS, SA-5, 5th 
Floor, Department of State, Washington, DC 20037.
    Please refer to Solicitation Package for further information.
IV.4.2 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.4.3 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 proposals include a draft survey 
questionnaire or other technique plus a description of a methodology 
used 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. An evaluation plan 
should include a description of project's objectives, anticipated 
project outcomes, and how and when outcomes will be measured 
(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. Applicants should also show how project objectives link to 
the goals of the program described in this RFGP.
    Monitoring and evaluation plans 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 applicants 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.

[[Page 70768]]

    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 a 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.5 Budget

    IV.5.1 Applicants must submit SF-424A--``Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs'' along with a comprehensive budget for the 
entire program. There must be a summary budget as well as breakdowns 
reflecting both administrative and program budgets. Applicants may 
provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase, 
location, or activity to provide clarification.
    IV.5.2 Allowable costs for the program include the following:
    (1) Institute staff salary and benefits.
    (2) Participant housing and meals.
    (3) Participant U.S. travel and per diem.
    (4) Textbooks, educational materials, and admissions fees.
    (5) Honoraria for guest speakers.
    (6) Follow-on programming for alumni of Study of the United States 
programs.
    Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget 
guidelines and formatting instructions.

IV. 6 Application Deadline and Methods of Submission

    Application Deadline Date: January 10, 2011.
    Reference Number: ECA/A/E/USS-11-11.
    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.6.1 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-11-
11, SA-5, Floor 4, Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, 
DC 20037.
    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 a CD-ROM. The 
Bureau will provide these files electronically to the appropriate 
Public Affairs Section(s) at the U.S. embassy(ies) for its (their) 
review.
IV.6.2 Submitting Electronic Applications
    Applicants have the option of submitting proposals electronically 
through Grants.gov (https://www.grants.gov). Complete solicitation 
packages are available at Grants.gov in the ``Find'' portion of the 
system.

    Please Note: Due to Recovery Act related opportunities, there 
has been a higher than usual volume of grant proposals submitted 
through Grants.gov. Potential applicants are advised that the 
increased volume may affect the grants.gov proposal submission 
process. As stated in this RFGP, ECA bears no responsibility for 
applicant timeliness of submission or data errors resulting from 
transmission or conversion processes for proposals submitted via 
Grants.gov

    Please follow the instructions available in the `Get Started' 
portion of the site (https://www.grants.gov/GetStarted).
    Several of the steps in the Grants.gov registration process could 
take several weeks. Therefore, applicants should check with appropriate 
staff within their organizations immediately after reviewing this RFGP 
to confirm or determine their registration status with Grants.gov.
    Once registered, the amount of time it can take to upload an 
application will vary depending on a variety of factors including the 
size of the application and the speed of your Internet connection. In 
addition, validation of an electronic submission via Grants.gov can 
take up to two business days.
    Therefore, we strongly recommend that you not wait until the 
application deadline to begin the submission process through 
Grants.gov.
    The Grants.gov Web site includes extensive information on all 
phases/aspects of the Grants.gov process, including an extensive 
section on frequently asked questions, located under the ``For 
Applicants'' section of the Web site. ECA strongly recommends that all 
potential applicants review thoroughly the Grants.gov Web site, well in 
advance of submitting a proposal through the Grants.gov system. ECA 
bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or 
conversion processes.
    Direct all questions regarding Grants.gov registration and 
submission to: Grants.gov Customer Support, Contact Center Phone: 800-
518-4726. Business Hours: Monday--Friday, 7 a.m.--9 p.m. Eastern Time. 
E-mail: 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

[[Page 70769]]

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.6.3 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.

V.2. Review Criteria

    Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed 
according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are not rank 
ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation:
    1. Quality of Program Plan and Ability to Achieve Program 
Objectives: Proposals should exhibit originality, substance, precision, 
and relevance to the Bureau'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 Bureau grants as determined by Bureau Grants 
Staff. The Bureau 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-Up and Follow-on Activities: Proposals should discuss 
provisions made for follow-up with returned participants as a means of 
establishing longer-term individual and institutional linkages. 
Proposals should also provide a plan for continued follow-on activity 
(without Bureau support) ensuring that Bureau supported programs are 
not isolated events.

VI. Award Administration Information

VI.1 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) An interim program report no more than 90 days after the 
completion of the Institute;
    (2) A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after 
the expiration of the award;
    (3) A concise, one-page final program report summarizing program 
outcomes no more than 90 days after the expiration of the award. This 
one-page report will be transmitted to OMB, and be made available to 
the public via OMB's USAspending.gov Web site--as

[[Page 70770]]

part of ECA's Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act 
(FFATA) reporting requirements.
    (4) A SF-PPR, ``Performance Progress Report'' Cover Sheet with all 
program reports.
    Award recipients will be required to provide reports analyzing 
their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program 
reports. (Please refer to IV. Application and Submission Instructions 
(IV.3.d.3) above for Program Monitoring and Evaluation information.)
    All data collected, including survey responses and contact 
information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years and 
provided to the Bureau upon request.
    All reports must be sent to the ECA Grants Officer and ECA Program 
Officer listed in the final assistance award document.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: Kevin Orchison, 
Study of the U.S. Branch, ECA/A/E/USS, U.S. Department of State, Fourth 
Floor, SA-5, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20522-0504, phone: 
(202) 632-3339, e-mail: OrchisonKH@state.gov.
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number ECA/A/E/USS-11-11.

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. In addition, it reserves the 
right to accept proposals in whole or in part and to make an award or 
awards in the best interest of the program. Awards made will be subject 
to periodic reporting and evaluation requirements per section VI.3 
above.

    Dated: November 10, 2010.
Ann Stock,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2010-29122 Filed 11-17-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P