Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant Proposals: Youth Leadership and Teacher Professional Development Program With Bosnia and Herzegovina, 11837-11843 [2011-4716]
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 42 / Thursday, March 3, 2011 / Notices
Dated: February 28, 2011.
Faye Lipsky,
Reports Clearance Officer, Center for Reports
Clearance, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2011–4797 Filed 3–2–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191–02–P
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice: 7354]
30-Day Notice of Proposed Information
Collections: DS–4143, Brokering Prior
Approval (License), OMB No. 1405–
0142; DS–4142, Annual Brokering
Report, OMB No. 1405–0141
Notice of request for public
comment and submission to OMB of
proposed collections of information.
ACTION:
The Department of State has
submitted the following information
collection request to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
approval in accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
• Title of Information Collection:
Brokering Prior Approval (License).
• OMB Control Number: 1405–0142.
• Type of Request: Extension of
Currently Approved Collection.
• Originating Office: Bureau of
Political-Military Affairs, Directorate of
Defense Trade Controls, PM/DDTC.
• Form Number: None.
• Respondents: Business and
Nonprofit Organizations.
• Estimated Number of Respondents:
1,515.
• Estimated Number of Responses:
150.
• Average Hours per Response: 2
hours.
• Total Estimated Burden: 300 hours.
• Frequency: On Occasion.
• Obligation to Respond: Required to
Obtain Benefits.
• Title of Information Collection:
Annual Brokering Report.
• OMB Control Number: 1405–0141.
• Type of Request: Extension of
Currently Approved Collection.
• Originating Office: Bureau of
Political-Military Affairs, Directorate of
Defense Trade Controls, PM/DDTC.
• Form Number: None.
• Respondents: Business and
Nonprofit Organizations.
• Estimated Number of Respondents:
1,515.
• Estimated Number of Responses:
1,515.
• Average Hours per Response: 2
hours.
• Total Estimated Burden: 3,030
hours.
• Frequency: On Occasion.
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SUMMARY:
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• Obligation to Respond: Mandatory.
Submit comments to the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) until
30 days from March 3, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Direct comments to the
Department of State Desk Officer in the
Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs at the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB). You may submit
comments by the following methods:
• E-mail:
oira_submission@omb.eop.gov. You
must include the DS form number,
information collection title, and OMB
control number in the subject line of
your message.
• Fax: 202–395–5806. Attention: Desk
Officer for Department of State.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: You
may obtain copies of the proposed
information collections and supporting
documents from Nicholas Memos, PM/
DDTC, SA–1, 12th Floor, Directorate of
Defense Trade Controls, Bureau of
Political-Military Affairs, U.S.
Department of State, Washington, DC
20522–0112, who may be reached via
phone at (202) 663–2804, or via e-mail
at memosni@state.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are
soliciting public comments to permit
the Department to:
• Evaluate whether the proposed
information collection is necessary to
properly perform our functions.
• Evaluate the accuracy of our
estimate of the burden of the proposed
collection, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used.
• Enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected.
• Minimize the reporting burden on
those who are to respond, including the
use of automated collection techniques
or other forms of technology.
Abstract of proposed collection: The
export, temporary import, temporary
export and brokering of defense articles,
defense services and related technical
data are licensed by the Directorate of
Defense Trade Controls in accordance
with the International Traffic in Arms
Regulations (22 CFR parts 120–130) and
Section 38 of the Arms Export Control
Act. Those of the public who
manufacture or export defense articles,
defense services, and related technical
data, or the brokering thereof, must
register with the Department of State.
Persons desiring to engage in brokering
activities must submit an application or
written request to conduct the
transaction to the Department to obtain
a decision whether it is in the interests
of U.S. foreign policy and national
security to approve the transaction.
Also, registered brokers must submit
DATES:
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annual reports regarding all brokering
activity that was transacted, and
registered manufacturers and exporter
must maintain records of defense trade
activities for five years.
Methodology: These forms/
information collections may be sent to
the Directorate of Defense Trade
Controls via the following methods:
Electronically, mail, and/or fax.
Dated: February 24, 2011.
Robert S. Kovac,
Managing Director of Defense Trade Controls,
Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, U.S.
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2011–4793 Filed 3–2–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710–25–P
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice: 7353]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant
Proposals: Youth Leadership and
Teacher Professional Development
Program With Bosnia and Herzegovina
Announcement Type: New
Cooperative Agreement.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/
PE/C/PY–11–29.
Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance Number: 19.415.
Application Deadline: April 22, 2011.
Executive Summary: The Office of
Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs
Division, of the Bureau of Educational
and Cultural Affairs announces an open
competition for the Youth Leadership
and Teacher Professional Development
Program with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Public and private non-profit
organizations meeting the provisions
described in Internal Revenue Code
section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) may submit
proposals to conduct U.S.-based
exchange activities on civic education,
leadership, and community service for
high school students and teachers from
Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Bureau
will be supporting two exchanges for 21
participants each during the course of
2012; each exchange will be three to
four weeks in duration. Applicants
should apply to implement both
exchanges. The Office of Public Affairs
(OPA) of the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo
will recruit, screen, and select the
participating secondary school students
and teachers. OPA and the award
recipient will jointly support follow-on
activities for the alumni.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Authority: Overall grant making
authority for this program is contained
in the Mutual Educational and Cultural
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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.
Overview: The Youth Leadership and
Teacher Professional Development
Program with Bosnia and Herzegovina
has been implemented annually since
1999 through a partnership of the Office
of Public Affairs (OPA) in the U.S.
Embassy in Sarajevo and a U.S.
organization or institution that has
received an award from the Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).
The goals of the program are to:
(1) Promote mutual understanding
between the people of the United States
and the people of Bosnia and
Herzegovina;
(2) Prepare young leaders to become
responsible citizens and contributing
members of their communities and to
develop their leadership skills;
(3) Nurture a cadre of students and
teachers to be actively engaged in
addressing issues of concern in their
schools and communities upon their
return home and are equipped with the
knowledge, skills, and confidence to
become citizen activists.
The objectives of the program are for
participants to be able to:
(1) Demonstrate a better
understanding of the elements of a
participatory democracy as practiced in
the United States;
(2) Demonstrate critical thinking,
problem-solving, and leadership skills;
and
(3) Demonstrate skill at developing
project ideas, planning a course of
action, and bringing the projects to
fruition.
Participants will be engaged in a
variety of activities during the U.S.
exchange such as workshops,
community and/or school-based
programs, seminars, and other activities
that are designed to achieve the
program’s stated goals. Opportunities
for the youth and adult participants to
interact with their American peers in a
sustained, substantive, and in-depth
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manner must be prominently integrated
into the exchange program.
The applicant should present a
program plan that allows the
participants to thoroughly explore civic
participation in the United States in a
creative, memorable, and practical way.
Exchange activities should be designed
to be replicable and provide practical
knowledge and skills that the
participants can apply to school and
civic activities at home. The two
exchanges need not be exactly the same;
the program activities may be modified
to take advantage of different resources,
but should still aim to fulfill the same
objectives.
One of the U.S.-based exchanges will
take place in spring 2012 and the other
in fall 2012. Applicants should propose
the period of the exchange, but the exact
timing of the project may be altered
through the mutual agreement of the
Department of State and the award
recipient. The program should be no
less than three weeks and up to four
weeks in duration. Program
development should begin in the late
summer of 2011.
The participants will be high school
students between the ages of 15 and 18
who have demonstrated leadership
abilities in their schools and/or
communities, and high school teachers
who have demonstrated an interest in
youth leadership and are expected to
remain in positions where they can
continue to work with youth.
Participants will be proficient in the
English language. Each delegation will
be 18 students and three teachers.
Applicants should outline their
team’s capacity for doing projects of this
nature, focusing on three areas of
competency: (1) Provision of leadership
and civic education programming, (2)
age-appropriate programming for youth,
and (3) working with individuals from
Bosnia and Herzegovina or other areas
of Southeast Europe. Applicants need
not have a partner in Bosnia and
Herzegovina, as the U.S. Embassy in
Sarajevo will recruit and select the
participants from selected cities in the
Federation and in Republika Srpska and
will organize a pre-departure
orientation.
In pursuit of the goals outlined above,
each exchange program provided by the
U.S. award recipient organization will
include the following:
• Working with OPA to provide
program materials and preparation
sessions at the pre-departure orientation
in Sarajevo.
• A welcome orientation.
• The planning of three to four weeks
of exchange activities that provide a
creative and substantive program that
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develops both the youth and the adult
participants’ knowledge and skill base
in civic education, community service,
and youth leadership development. The
academic and extracurricular
components will focus primarily on
interactive activities, practical
experiences, and other hands-on
opportunities that explore the program
themes. Some activities should be
school and/or community-based, and
community service must also be
included. It is crucial that programming
involve American peers wherever
possible. Cultural, social, and
recreational activities will balance the
schedule.
• Opportunities for the educators to
work with their American peers and
other professionals and volunteers to
help them foster youth leadership, civic
education, and community service
programs at home.
• The arrangement of homestays for
the participants in the United States
with properly screened and briefed
American families for the majority of
the exchange period. Criminal
background checks must be conducted
for all members of host families (and
others living in the home) who are 18
years of age or older.
• Logistical arrangements, including
lodging and meals not taken at
homestays, disbursement of stipends,
local travel, and travel between sites.
• The development and
implementation of a plan to monitor the
participants’ safety and well-being
while on the exchange, and to create
opportunities for participants to share
potential issues and resolve them
promptly. The award recipient will be
required to provide proper staff
supervision and facilitation to ensure
that the teenagers have safe and
pedagogically rich programs. Staff,
along with the adult participants, will
assist the youth with cultural
adjustments, provide societal context to
enhance learning, and counsel students
as needed.
• A closing session to summarize the
project’s activities and prepare
participants for their return home.
• Assistance in follow-on activities in
Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly by
facilitating continued engagement
among the participants, advising and
supporting them in the implementation
of community service projects, and
offering opportunities to reinforce the
ideas, values and skills imparted during
the exchange. Exchange participants
should return home from the exchange
prepared to conduct projects that serve
a need in their schools or communities,
which will be supported by project staff
through a follow-on visit in the fall.
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• The design and implementation of
an evaluation plan that assesses the
impact of the project.
Please note:
In a cooperative agreement, the
Department of State is substantially
involved in program activities above
and beyond routine grant monitoring.
The Department’s activities and
responsibilities for this program are as
follows:
(1) The U.S. Embassy will serve as the
in-country partner and manage the
recruitment and selection of the
participants, cover their in-country
expenses, arrange and purchase the
international travel, and oversee their
follow-on activities.
(2) Provide advice and assistance in
the execution of all program
components.
(3) Facilitate interaction within the
Department of State, to include ECA, the
regional bureaus, and overseas posts.
(4) Arrange meetings with Department
of State officials in Washington, DC.
(5) Issue DS–2019 forms and J–1 visas
for the participants. All participants will
travel on a U.S. Government designation
for the J Exchange Visitor Program.
(6) Approve final calendar of
exchange activities.
(7) Monitor and evaluate the program,
through regular communication with
the award recipient and possibly one or
more site visits.
Additional Information:
The organization must inform the
ECA Program Officer of their progress at
each stage of the project’s
implementation in a timely fashion, and
will be required to obtain approval of
any significant program changes in
advance of their implementation.
Proposals must clearly demonstrate
how the stated objectives will be met.
The proposal narrative should provide
detailed information on the major
project activities, and applicants should
explain and justify their programmatic
choices. 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. Projects must comply with J–1
visa regulations for the International
Visitor and Government Visitor
category. Please be sure to refer to the
complete Solicitation Package—this
RFGP, the Project Objectives, Goals, and
Implementation (POGI), and the
Proposal Submission Instructions
(PSI)—for further information.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Cooperative
Agreement.
Fiscal Year Funds: 2011.
Approximate Total Funding:
$200,000.
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Approximate Number of Awards:
One.
Approximate Average Award:
$200,000.
Anticipated Award Date: Pending
availability of funds, proposed start date
is summer 2011.
Anticipated Project Completion Date:
February 28, 2013.
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:
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.
Please note that cost sharing is one of
the criteria by which proposals will be
judged.
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 grant
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 Office of Management
and Budget (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 cooperative agreement
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 an award in an
amount that exceeds $60,000 to support
the program and administrative costs
required to implement these exchange
programs. Therefore, organizations with
less than four years experience in
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11839
conducting international exchanges are
ineligible to apply under this
competition. The Bureau encourages
applicants to provide maximum levels
of cost sharing and funding in support
of its programs.
(b.) Proposed sub-award recipients are
also limited to grant funding of $60,000
or less if they do not have four years of
experience in conducting international
exchanges.
IV. Application and Submission
Information
Note: Please read the complete
announcement before sending inquiries
or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP
deadline has passed, Bureau staff may
not discuss this competition with
applicants until the proposal review
process has been completed.
IV.1. Contact Information to Request
an Application Package:
Please contact the Youth Programs
Division, Office of Citizen Exchanges
(ECA/PE/C/PY/T), 3rd floor, U.S.
Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20037, telephone (202)
632–6421, or e-mail LantzCS@state.gov
to request a Solicitation Package. Please
refer to the Funding Opportunity
Number (ECA/PE/C/PY–11–29) when
making your request.
Alternatively, an electronic
application package may be obtained
from grants.gov. Please see section IV.3f
for further information.
The Solicitation Package contains the
Proposal Submission Instruction (PSI)
document which consists of required
application forms, and standard
guidelines for proposal preparation.
It also contains the Project Objectives,
Goals and Implementation (POGI)
document, which provides specific
information, award criteria and budget
instructions tailored to this competition.
Please specify Bureau Program Officer
Carolyn Lantz and refer to the Funding
Opportunity Number (ECA/PE/C/PY–
11–29) 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.
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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. All Federal award recipients
and sub-recipients must maintain
current registrations in the Central
Contractor Registration (CCR) database
and have a Dun and Bradstreet Data
Universal Numbering System (DUNS)
number. Recipients and sub-recipients
must maintain accurate and up-to-date
information in the CCR until all
program and financial activity and
reporting have been completed. All
entities must review and update the
information at least annually after the
initial registration and more frequently
if required information changes or
another award is granted.
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
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executives (current officers, trustees,
and key employees), as well as the onepage 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:
their record of compliance with 22 CFR
62 et. seq., including the oversight of
their Responsible Officers and Alternate
Responsible Officers, screening and
selection of program participants,
provision of pre-arrival information and
orientation to participants, monitoring
of participants, proper maintenance and
security of forms, record-keeping,
reporting and other requirements.
The Office of Citizen Exchanges of
ECA will be responsible for issuing DS–
2019 forms to participants in this
program.
A copy of the complete regulations
governing the administration of
Exchange Visitor (J) programs is
available at https://exchanges.state.gov
or from: Office of Designation, Private
Sector Programs Division, U.S.
Department of State, ECA/EC/D/PS, SA–
5, 5th Floor, 2200 C Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20037.
IV.3d.2. Diversity, Freedom and
Democracy Guidelines
Pursuant to the Bureau’s authorizing
IV.3d.1. Adherence to All Regulations
legislation, programs must maintain a
Governing the J Visa
non-political character and should be
The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the balanced and representative of the
Bureau of Educational and Cultural
diversity of American political, social,
Affairs is the official program sponsor of and cultural life. ‘‘Diversity’’ should be
the exchange program covered by this
interpreted in the broadest sense and
RFGP, and an employee of the Bureau
encompass differences including, but
will be the ‘‘Responsible Officer’’ for the not limited to ethnicity, race, gender,
program under the terms of 22 CFR 62,
religion, geographic location, sociowhich covers the administration of the
economic status, and disabilities.
Exchange Visitor Program (J visa
Applicants are strongly encouraged to
program). Under the terms of 22 CFR 62, adhere to the advancement of this
organizations receiving grants under
principle both in program
this RFGP will be third parties
administration and in program content.
‘‘cooperating with or assisting the
Please refer to the review criteria under
sponsor in the conduct of the sponsor’s
the ’Support for Diversity’ section for
program.’’ The actions of grantee
specific suggestions on incorporating
program organizations shall be ‘‘imputed diversity into your proposal. Public Law
to the sponsor in evaluating the
104–319 provides that ‘‘in carrying out
sponsor’s compliance with’’ 22 CFR 62.
programs of educational and cultural
Therefore, the Bureau expects that any
exchange in countries whose people do
organization receiving a grant under this not fully enjoy freedom and
competition will render all assistance
democracy,’’ the Bureau ‘‘shall take
necessary to enable the Bureau to fully
appropriate steps to provide
comply with 22 CFR 62 et seq.
opportunities for participation in such
The Bureau of Educational and
programs to human rights and
Cultural Affairs places critically
democracy leaders of such countries.’’
important emphases on the secure and
Public Law 106—113 requires that the
proper administration of Exchange
governments of the countries described
Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence
above do not have inappropriate
by recipient organizations and program
influence in the selection process.
participants to all regulations governing Proposals should reflect advancement of
the J visa program status. Therefore,
these goals in their program contents, to
proposals should explicitly state in
the full extent deemed feasible.
writing that the applicant is prepared to
IV.3d.3. Program Monitoring and
assist the Bureau in meeting all
Evaluation
requirements governing the
Proposals must include a plan to
administration of Exchange Visitor
monitor and evaluate the project’s
Programs as set forth in 22 CFR 62. If
success, both as the activities unfold
your organization has experience as a
and at the end of the program. The
designated Exchange Visitor Program
Bureau recommends that your proposal
Sponsor, the applicant should discuss
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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 grantee 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
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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.
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.
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 shortterm outcome, whereas behavior and
institutional changes are normally
considered longer-term outcomes.
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.
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.)
Grantees 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 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.
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,
April 22, 2011.
Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/PY–
11–29.
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., DHL, Federal Express, UPS,
Airborne Express, or U.S. Postal Service
Express Overnight Mail, etc.), or
(2) Electronically through https://
www.grants.gov.
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IV.3f.1. Submitting Printed
Applications
Important note: When preparing your
submission please make sure to include one
extra copy of the completed SF–424 form and
place it in an envelope addressed to ‘‘ECA/
EX/PM’’.
The original and six copies of the
application should be sent to:
U.S. Department of State, Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs,
Program Management Division ECA–
IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/PE/C/PY–11–29,
SA–5, Floor 4, 2200 C Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20037.
With the submission of the proposal
package, please also e-mail the
Executive Summary, Proposal Narrative,
and Budget sections of the proposal, as
well as any essential attachments, in
Microsoft Word and/or Excel to the
program officer at LantzCS@state.gov.
The Bureau will provide these files
electronically to the Office of Public
Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo
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
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packages are available at Grants.gov in
the ‘‘Find’’ portion of the system.
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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:
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
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receive a validation e-mail from
grants.gov upon the successful
submission of an application. Again,
validation of an electronic submission
via Grants.gov can take up to two
business days. Therefore, we strongly
recommend that you not wait until the
application deadline to begin the
submission process through Grants.gov.
ECA will not notify you upon receipt of
electronic applications.
It is the responsibility of all
applicants submitting proposals via the
Grants.gov Web portal to ensure that
proposals have been received by
Grants.gov in their entirety, and ECA
bears no responsibility for data errors
resulting from transmission or
conversion processes.
IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of
Applications: Executive Order 12372
does not apply to this program.
V. Application Review Information
V.1. Review Process
The Bureau will review all proposals
for technical eligibility. Proposals will
be deemed ineligible if they do not fully
adhere to the guidelines stated herein
and in the Solicitation Package. All
eligible proposals will be reviewed by
the program office, as well as the Public
Diplomacy section overseas, where
appropriate. Eligible proposals will be
subject to compliance with Federal and
Bureau regulations and guidelines and
forwarded to Bureau grant panels for
advisory review. Proposals may also be
reviewed by the Office of the Legal
Adviser or by other Department
elements. Final funding decisions are at
the discretion of the Department of
State’s Assistant Secretary for
Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final
technical authority for assistance
awards (grants or 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.
1. Quality of the program idea:
Objectives should be reasonable,
feasible, and flexible. The proposal
should clearly demonstrate how the
institution will meet the program’s
objectives and plan. The proposed
program should be creative and well
developed, respond to the design
outlined in the solicitation, and
demonstrate originality. It should be
clearly and accurately written,
substantive, and with sufficient detail.
2. Program planning: A detailed
agenda and work plan should clearly
demonstrate how objectives would be
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achieved. The agenda and plan should
adhere to the program overview and
guidelines described above. The
substance of workshops, seminars,
presentations, school-based activities,
and/or site visits should be described in
detail. Proposals should also provide a
plan for a Bureau-supported follow-on
visit by project staff to Bosnia and
Herzegovina, plus a plan for continued
follow-on activity, not necessarily with
Bureau support, that ensures that this
program is not an isolated event.
3. Support of diversity: Support of
diversity is an important feature of
Bureau programs. The proposal should
demonstrate the recipient’s commitment
to promoting the awareness and
understanding of diversity in program
content. Applicants should demonstrate
readiness to accommodate participants
with physical disabilities.
4. Institutional capacity and track
record: Proposed personnel and
institutional resources should be
adequate and appropriate to achieve the
program goals. The proposal should
demonstrate an institutional record,
including responsible fiscal
management and full compliance with
all reporting requirements for past
Bureau grants as determined by the
Bureau’s Office of Contracts. The
Bureau will consider the past
performance.
5. Program evaluation: The proposal
should include a plan to evaluate the
program’s success, both as the activities
unfold and at the end of the program.
The proposal should include a draft
survey questionnaire or other technique
plus description of a methodology to
use to link outcomes to original project
objectives. Please see Section IV.3d.3. of
this announcement for more
information.
6. Cost-effectiveness and cost sharing:
The applicant should demonstrate
efficient use of Bureau funds. The
overhead and administrative
components of the proposal, including
salaries and honoraria, should be kept
as low as possible. All other items
should be necessary and appropriate.
The proposal should maximize costsharing through other private sector
support as well as institutional direct
funding contributions.
VI. Award Administration Information
VI.1a. Award Notices:
Final awards cannot be made until
funds have been appropriated by
Congress, allocated and committed
through internal Bureau procedures.
Successful applicants will receive an
Assistance Award Document (AAD)
from the Bureau’s Grants Office. The
AAD and the original grant proposal
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with subsequent modifications (if
applicable) shall be the only binding
authorizing document between the
recipient and the U.S. Government. The
AAD 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 Nonprofit 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 interim
program reports.
(4.) Interim program and financial
reports, as required in the cooperative
agreement.
Grantees will be required to provide
reports analyzing their evaluation
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findings to the Bureau in their regular
program reports. (Please refer to IV.
Application and Submission
Instructions (IV.3.d.3) above for Program
Monitoring and Evaluation information.
All data collected, including survey
responses and contact information, must
be maintained for a minimum of three
years and provided to the Bureau upon
request.
All reports must be sent to the ECA
Grants Officer and ECA Program Officer
listed in the final assistance award
document.
VI.4. Program Data Requirements:
Organizations awarded grants 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 grant or who
benefit from the grant 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: Carolyn Lantz,
Youth Programs Division, ECA/PE/C/
PY/T, 2200 C St., NW., 3rd Floor, U.S.
Department of State, Washington, DC
20037, Telephone: (202) 632–6421, Email: LantzCS@state.gov.
All correspondence with the Bureau
concerning this RFGP should reference
the above title and number ECA/PE/C/
PY–11–29.
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
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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: February 23, 2011.
Ann Stock,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and
Cultural Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2011–4716 Filed 3–2–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710–05–P
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice: 7323]
U.S. National Commission for UNESCO
Notice of Meeting in Closed and Open
Session
The U.S. National Commission for
UNESCO will hold a meeting in closed
session on Thursday March 10, 2011,
from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. EST.
Commission members will convene in
closed session in order to discuss
applications for the U.S. National
Commission for UNESCO Laura W.
Bush Traveling Fellowship, a fellowship
funded through privately donated
funds. This session will be closed
pursuant to Section 10(d) of the Federal
Advisory Committee Act and 5 U.S.C.
552b(c)(6) because it is likely to involve
discussion of information of a personal
nature regarding the relative merits of
individual applicants where disclosure
would constitute a clearly unwarranted
invasion of personal privacy.
From 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday
March 10, 2011, the U.S. National
Commission for UNESCO will meet in
open session, with public participation
by telephone. The open session will
feature a discussion about the
Commission’s upcoming programmatic
schedule, during which the Commission
will accept brief oral comments or
questions from the public or media. The
public comment period will be limited
to approximately 10 minutes in total,
with 2 minutes allowed per speaker.
For more information or to arrange to
participate in the open portion of the
meeting, individuals should contact Eric
Woodard, Executive Director of the U.S.
National Commission for UNESCO,
Washington, DC 20037. Telephone (202)
663–0026; Fax 202–663–0035; E-mail
DCUNESCO@state.gov.
Dated: February 24, 2011.
Eric Woodard,
Executive Director, U.S. National Commission
for UNESCO, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2011–4715 Filed 3–2–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710–19–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 42 (Thursday, March 3, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11837-11843]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-4716]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice: 7353]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for
Grant Proposals: Youth Leadership and Teacher Professional Development
Program With Bosnia and Herzegovina
Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-11-29.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.415.
Application Deadline: April 22, 2011.
Executive Summary: The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs
Division, of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces
an open competition for the Youth Leadership and Teacher Professional
Development Program with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Public and private
non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal
Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) may submit proposals to
conduct U.S.-based exchange activities on civic education, leadership,
and community service for high school students and teachers from Bosnia
and Herzegovina. The Bureau will be supporting two exchanges for 21
participants each during the course of 2012; each exchange will be
three to four weeks in duration. Applicants should apply to implement
both exchanges. The Office of Public Affairs (OPA) of the U.S. Embassy
in Sarajevo will recruit, screen, and select the participating
secondary school students and teachers. OPA and the award recipient
will jointly support follow-on activities for the alumni.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Authority: Overall grant making authority for this program is
contained in the Mutual Educational and Cultural
[[Page 11838]]
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.
Overview: The Youth Leadership and Teacher Professional Development
Program with Bosnia and Herzegovina has been implemented annually since
1999 through a partnership of the Office of Public Affairs (OPA) in the
U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo and a U.S. organization or institution that
has received an award from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs (ECA).
The goals of the program are to:
(1) Promote mutual understanding between the people of the United
States and the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina;
(2) Prepare young leaders to become responsible citizens and
contributing members of their communities and to develop their
leadership skills;
(3) Nurture a cadre of students and teachers to be actively engaged
in addressing issues of concern in their schools and communities upon
their return home and are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and
confidence to become citizen activists.
The objectives of the program are for participants to be able to:
(1) Demonstrate a better understanding of the elements of a
participatory democracy as practiced in the United States;
(2) Demonstrate critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership
skills; and
(3) Demonstrate skill at developing project ideas, planning a
course of action, and bringing the projects to fruition.
Participants will be engaged in a variety of activities during the
U.S. exchange such as workshops, community and/or school-based
programs, seminars, and other activities that are designed to achieve
the program's stated goals. Opportunities for the youth and adult
participants to interact with their American peers in a sustained,
substantive, and in-depth manner must be prominently integrated into
the exchange program.
The applicant should present a program plan that allows the
participants to thoroughly explore civic participation in the United
States in a creative, memorable, and practical way. Exchange activities
should be designed to be replicable and provide practical knowledge and
skills that the participants can apply to school and civic activities
at home. The two exchanges need not be exactly the same; the program
activities may be modified to take advantage of different resources,
but should still aim to fulfill the same objectives.
One of the U.S.-based exchanges will take place in spring 2012 and
the other in fall 2012. Applicants should propose the period of the
exchange, but the exact timing of the project may be altered through
the mutual agreement of the Department of State and the award
recipient. The program should be no less than three weeks and up to
four weeks in duration. Program development should begin in the late
summer of 2011.
The participants will be high school students between the ages of
15 and 18 who have demonstrated leadership abilities in their schools
and/or communities, and high school teachers who have demonstrated an
interest in youth leadership and are expected to remain in positions
where they can continue to work with youth. Participants will be
proficient in the English language. Each delegation will be 18 students
and three teachers.
Applicants should outline their team's capacity for doing projects
of this nature, focusing on three areas of competency: (1) Provision of
leadership and civic education programming, (2) age-appropriate
programming for youth, and (3) working with individuals from Bosnia and
Herzegovina or other areas of Southeast Europe. Applicants need not
have a partner in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as the U.S. Embassy in
Sarajevo will recruit and select the participants from selected cities
in the Federation and in Republika Srpska and will organize a pre-
departure orientation.
In pursuit of the goals outlined above, each exchange program
provided by the U.S. award recipient organization will include the
following:
Working with OPA to provide program materials and
preparation sessions at the pre-departure orientation in Sarajevo.
A welcome orientation.
The planning of three to four weeks of exchange activities
that provide a creative and substantive program that develops both the
youth and the adult participants' knowledge and skill base in civic
education, community service, and youth leadership development. The
academic and extracurricular components will focus primarily on
interactive activities, practical experiences, and other hands-on
opportunities that explore the program themes. Some activities should
be school and/or community-based, and community service must also be
included. It is crucial that programming involve American peers
wherever possible. Cultural, social, and recreational activities will
balance the schedule.
Opportunities for the educators to work with their
American peers and other professionals and volunteers to help them
foster youth leadership, civic education, and community service
programs at home.
The arrangement of homestays for the participants in the
United States with properly screened and briefed American families for
the majority of the exchange period. Criminal background checks must be
conducted for all members of host families (and others living in the
home) who are 18 years of age or older.
Logistical arrangements, including lodging and meals not
taken at homestays, disbursement of stipends, local travel, and travel
between sites.
The development and implementation of a plan to monitor
the participants' safety and well-being while on the exchange, and to
create opportunities for participants to share potential issues and
resolve them promptly. The award recipient will be required to provide
proper staff supervision and facilitation to ensure that the teenagers
have safe and pedagogically rich programs. Staff, along with the adult
participants, will assist the youth with cultural adjustments, provide
societal context to enhance learning, and counsel students as needed.
A closing session to summarize the project's activities
and prepare participants for their return home.
Assistance in follow-on activities in Bosnia and
Herzegovina, particularly by facilitating continued engagement among
the participants, advising and supporting them in the implementation of
community service projects, and offering opportunities to reinforce the
ideas, values and skills imparted during the exchange. Exchange
participants should return home from the exchange prepared to conduct
projects that serve a need in their schools or communities, which will
be supported by project staff through a follow-on visit in the fall.
[[Page 11839]]
The design and implementation of an evaluation plan that
assesses the impact of the project.
Please note:
In a cooperative agreement, the Department of State is
substantially involved in program activities above and beyond routine
grant monitoring. The Department's activities and responsibilities for
this program are as follows:
(1) The U.S. Embassy will serve as the in-country partner and
manage the recruitment and selection of the participants, cover their
in-country expenses, arrange and purchase the international travel, and
oversee their follow-on activities.
(2) Provide advice and assistance in the execution of all program
components.
(3) Facilitate interaction within the Department of State, to
include ECA, the regional bureaus, and overseas posts.
(4) Arrange meetings with Department of State officials in
Washington, DC.
(5) Issue DS-2019 forms and J-1 visas for the participants. All
participants will travel on a U.S. Government designation for the J
Exchange Visitor Program.
(6) Approve final calendar of exchange activities.
(7) Monitor and evaluate the program, through regular communication
with the award recipient and possibly one or more site visits.
Additional Information:
The organization must inform the ECA Program Officer of their
progress at each stage of the project's implementation in a timely
fashion, and will be required to obtain approval of any significant
program changes in advance of their implementation.
Proposals must clearly demonstrate how the stated objectives will
be met. The proposal narrative should provide detailed information on
the major project activities, and applicants should explain and justify
their programmatic choices. 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. Projects must comply with J-
1 visa regulations for the International Visitor and Government Visitor
category. Please be sure to refer to the complete Solicitation
Package--this RFGP, the Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation
(POGI), and the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI)--for further
information.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement.
Fiscal Year Funds: 2011.
Approximate Total Funding: $200,000.
Approximate Number of Awards: One.
Approximate Average Award: $200,000.
Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, proposed
start date is summer 2011.
Anticipated Project Completion Date: February 28, 2013.
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: 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. Please note that cost sharing is
one of the criteria by which proposals will be judged.
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 grant 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 Office of Management and Budget (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 cooperative agreement 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 an award in an amount that exceeds $60,000 to
support the program and administrative costs required to implement
these exchange programs. Therefore, organizations with less than four
years experience in conducting international exchanges are ineligible
to apply under this competition. The Bureau encourages applicants to
provide maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in support of its
programs.
(b.) Proposed sub-award recipients are also limited to grant
funding of $60,000 or less if they do not have four years of experience
in conducting international exchanges.
IV. Application and Submission Information
Note: Please read the complete announcement before sending
inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has passed,
Bureau staff may not discuss this competition with applicants until the
proposal review process has been completed.
IV.1. Contact Information to Request an Application Package:
Please contact the Youth Programs Division, Office of Citizen
Exchanges (ECA/PE/C/PY/T), 3rd floor, U.S. Department of State, 2200 C
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20037, telephone (202) 632-6421, or e-mail
LantzCS@state.gov to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to
the Funding Opportunity Number (ECA/PE/C/PY-11-29) when making your
request.
Alternatively, an electronic application package may be obtained
from grants.gov. Please see section IV.3f for further information.
The Solicitation Package contains the Proposal Submission
Instruction (PSI) document which consists of required application
forms, and standard guidelines for proposal preparation.
It also contains the Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation
(POGI) document, which provides specific information, award criteria
and budget instructions tailored to this competition.
Please specify Bureau Program Officer Carolyn Lantz and refer to
the Funding Opportunity Number (ECA/PE/C/PY-11-29) 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.
[[Page 11840]]
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. All Federal award recipients and sub-recipients must
maintain current registrations in the Central Contractor Registration
(CCR) database and have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering
System (DUNS) number. Recipients and sub-recipients must maintain
accurate and up-to-date information in the CCR until all program and
financial activity and reporting have been completed. All entities must
review and update the information at least annually after the initial
registration and more frequently if required information changes or
another award is granted.
You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of
application. Please note: Effective January 7, 2009, all applicants for
ECA Federal assistance awards must include in their application the
names of directors and/or senior executives (current officers,
trustees, and key employees, regardless of amount of compensation). In
fulfilling this requirement, applicants must submit information in one
of the following ways:
(1) Those who file Internal Revenue Service Form 990, ``Return of
Organization Exempt From Income Tax,'' must include a copy of relevant
portions of this form.
(2) Those who do not file IRS Form 990 must submit information
above in the format of their choice.
In addition to final program reporting requirements, award
recipients will also be required to submit a one-page document, derived
from their program reports, listing and describing their grant
activities. For award recipients, the names of directors and/or senior
executives (current officers, trustees, and key employees), as well as
the one- page description of grant activities, will be transmitted by
the State Department to OMB, along with other information required by
the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), and
will be made available to the public by the Office of Management and
Budget on its USASpending.gov Web site as part of ECA's FFATA reporting
requirements.
If your organization is a private nonprofit which has not received
a grant or cooperative agreement from ECA in the past three years, or
if your organization received nonprofit status from the IRS within the
past four years, you must submit the necessary documentation to verify
nonprofit status as directed in the PSI document. Failure to do so will
cause your proposal to be declared technically ineligible.
IV.3d. Please take into consideration the following information
when preparing your proposal narrative:
IV.3d.1. Adherence to All Regulations Governing the J Visa
The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and
Cultural Affairs is the official program sponsor of the exchange
program covered by this RFGP, and an employee of the Bureau will be the
``Responsible Officer'' for the program under the terms of 22 CFR 62,
which covers the administration of the Exchange Visitor Program (J visa
program). Under the terms of 22 CFR 62, organizations receiving grants
under this RFGP will be third parties ``cooperating with or assisting
the sponsor in the conduct of the sponsor's program.'' The actions of
grantee program 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 a grant 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 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, Private Sector
Programs Division, U.S. Department of State, ECA/EC/D/PS, SA-5, 5th
Floor, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20037.
IV.3d.2. Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines
Pursuant to the Bureau's authorizing legislation, programs must
maintain a non-political character and should be balanced and
representative of the diversity of American political, social, and
cultural life. ``Diversity'' should be interpreted in the broadest
sense and encompass differences including, but not limited to
ethnicity, race, gender, religion, geographic location, socio-economic
status, and disabilities. Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere
to the advancement of this principle both in program administration and
in program content. Please refer to the review criteria under the
'Support for Diversity' section for specific suggestions on
incorporating diversity into your proposal. Public Law 104-319 provides
that ``in carrying out programs of educational and cultural exchange in
countries whose people do not fully enjoy freedom and democracy,'' the
Bureau ``shall take appropriate steps to provide opportunities for
participation in such programs to human rights and democracy leaders of
such countries.'' Public Law 106--113 requires that the governments of
the countries described above do not have inappropriate influence in
the selection process. Proposals should reflect advancement of these
goals in their program contents, to the full extent deemed feasible.
IV.3d.3. Program Monitoring and Evaluation
Proposals must include a plan to monitor and evaluate the project's
success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of the program.
The Bureau recommends that your proposal
[[Page 11841]]
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 grantee 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.)
Grantees 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 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.
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, April 22, 2011.
Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-11-29.
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., DHL, Federal Express, UPS, Airborne Express, or U.S.
Postal Service Express Overnight Mail, etc.), or
(2) Electronically through https://www.grants.gov.
Along with the Project Title, all applicants must enter the above
Reference Number in Box 11 on the SF-424 contained in the mandatory
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) of the solicitation document.
IV.3f.1. Submitting Printed Applications
Applications must be shipped no later than the above deadline.
Delivery services used by applicants must have in-place, centralized
shipping identification and tracking systems that may be accessed via
the Internet and delivery people who are identifiable by commonly
recognized uniforms and delivery vehicles. Proposals shipped on or
before the above deadline but received at ECA more than seven days
after the deadline will be ineligible for further consideration under
this competition. Proposals shipped after the established deadlines are
ineligible for consideration under this competition. ECA will not
notify you upon receipt of application. It is each applicant's
responsibility to ensure that each package is marked with a legible
tracking number and to monitor/confirm delivery to ECA via the
Internet. Delivery of proposal packages may not be made via local
courier service or in person for this competition. Faxed documents will
not be accepted at any time. Only proposals submitted as stated above
will be considered.
Important note: When preparing your submission please make sure
to include one extra copy of the completed SF-424 form and place it
in an envelope addressed to ``ECA/EX/PM''.
The original and six copies of the application should be sent to:
U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs, Program Management Division ECA-IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/PE/C/PY-
11-29, SA-5, Floor 4, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20037.
With the submission of the proposal package, please also e-mail the
Executive Summary, Proposal Narrative, and Budget sections of the
proposal, as well as any essential attachments, in Microsoft Word and/
or Excel to the program officer at LantzCS@state.gov. The Bureau will
provide these files electronically to the Office of Public Affairs at
the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo 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
[[Page 11842]]
packages are available at Grants.gov in the ``Find'' portion of the
system.
Please Note: ECA bears no responsibility for applicant
timeliness of submission or data errors resulting from transmission
or conversion processes for proposals submitted via Grants.gov
Please follow the instructions available in the `Get Started'
portion of the site (https://www.grants.gov/GetStarted).
Several of the steps in the Grants.gov registration process could
take several weeks. Therefore, applicants should check with appropriate
staff within their organizations immediately after reviewing this RFGP
to confirm or determine their registration status with Grants.gov.
Once registered, the amount of time it can take to upload an
application will vary depending on a variety of factors including the
size of the application and the speed of your internet connection. In
addition, validation of an electronic submission via Grants.gov can
take up to two business days.
Therefore, we strongly recommend that you not wait until the
application deadline to begin the submission process through
Grants.gov.
The Grants.gov Web site includes extensive information on all
phases/aspects of the Grants.gov process, including an extensive
section on frequently asked questions, located under the ``For
Applicants'' section of the Web site. ECA strongly recommends that all
potential applicants review thoroughly the Grants.gov Web site, well in
advance of submitting a proposal through the Grants.gov system. ECA
bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or
conversion processes.
Direct all questions regarding Grants.gov registration and
submission to: Grants.gov Customer Support, Contact Center Phone: 800-
518-4726, Business Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Eastern Time, E-
mail: grants.gov">support@grants.gov.
Applicants have until midnight (12 a.m.), Washington, DC time of
the closing date to ensure that their entire application has been
uploaded to the Grants.gov site. There are no exceptions to the above
deadline. Applications uploaded to the site after midnight of the
application deadline date will be automatically rejected by the
grants.gov system, and will be technically ineligible.
Please refer to the Grants.gov Web site, for definitions of various
``application statuses'' and the difference between a submission
receipt and a submission validation. Applicants will receive a
validation e-mail from grants.gov upon the successful submission of an
application. Again, validation of an electronic submission via
Grants.gov can take up to two business days. Therefore, we strongly
recommend that you not wait until the application deadline to begin the
submission process through Grants.gov. ECA will not notify you upon
receipt of electronic applications.
It is the responsibility of all applicants submitting proposals via
the Grants.gov Web portal to ensure that proposals have been received
by Grants.gov in their entirety, and ECA bears no responsibility for
data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.
IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of Applications: Executive Order
12372 does not apply to this program.
V. Application Review Information
V.1. Review Process
The Bureau will review all proposals for technical eligibility.
Proposals will be deemed ineligible if they do not fully adhere to the
guidelines stated herein and in the Solicitation Package. All eligible
proposals will be reviewed by the program office, as well as the Public
Diplomacy section overseas, where appropriate. Eligible proposals will
be subject to compliance with Federal and Bureau regulations and
guidelines and forwarded to Bureau grant panels for advisory review.
Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of the Legal Adviser or by
other Department elements. Final funding decisions are at the
discretion of the Department of State's Assistant Secretary for
Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final technical authority for
assistance awards (grants or 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.
1. Quality of the program idea: Objectives should be reasonable,
feasible, and flexible. The proposal should clearly demonstrate how the
institution will meet the program's objectives and plan. The proposed
program should be creative and well developed, respond to the design
outlined in the solicitation, and demonstrate originality. It should be
clearly and accurately written, substantive, and with sufficient
detail.
2. Program planning: A detailed agenda and work plan should clearly
demonstrate how objectives would be achieved. The agenda and plan
should adhere to the program overview and guidelines described above.
The substance of workshops, seminars, presentations, school-based
activities, and/or site visits should be described in detail. Proposals
should also provide a plan for a Bureau-supported follow-on visit by
project staff to Bosnia and Herzegovina, plus a plan for continued
follow-on activity, not necessarily with Bureau support, that ensures
that this program is not an isolated event.
3. Support of diversity: Support of diversity is an important
feature of Bureau programs. The proposal should demonstrate the
recipient's commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding of
diversity in program content. Applicants should demonstrate readiness
to accommodate participants with physical disabilities.
4. Institutional capacity and track record: Proposed personnel and
institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve
the program goals. The proposal should demonstrate an institutional
record, including responsible fiscal management and full compliance
with all reporting requirements for past Bureau grants as determined by
the Bureau's Office of Contracts. The Bureau will consider the past
performance.
5. Program evaluation: The proposal should include a plan to
evaluate the program's success, both as the activities unfold and at
the end of the program. The proposal should include a draft survey
questionnaire or other technique plus description of a methodology to
use to link outcomes to original project objectives. Please see Section
IV.3d.3. of this announcement for more information.
6. Cost-effectiveness and cost sharing: The applicant should
demonstrate efficient use of Bureau funds. The overhead and
administrative components of the proposal, including salaries and
honoraria, should be kept as low as possible. All other items should be
necessary and appropriate. The proposal should maximize cost-sharing
through other private sector support as well as institutional direct
funding contributions.
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 Assistance Award Document (AAD)
from the Bureau's Grants Office. The AAD and the original grant
proposal
[[Page 11843]]
with subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall be the only binding
authorizing document between the recipient and the U.S. Government. The
AAD 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
interim program reports.
(4.) Interim program and financial reports, as required in the
cooperative agreement.
Grantees will be required to provide reports analyzing their
evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program reports.
(Please refer to IV. Application and Submission Instructions (IV.3.d.3)
above for Program Monitoring and Evaluation information.
All data collected, including survey responses and contact
information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years and
provided to the Bureau upon request.
All reports must be sent to the ECA Grants Officer and ECA Program
Officer listed in the final assistance award document.
VI.4. Program Data Requirements:
Organizations awarded grants 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 grant or
who benefit from the grant 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: Carolyn Lantz,
Youth Programs Division, ECA/PE/C/PY/T, 2200 C St., NW., 3rd Floor,
U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC 20037, Telephone: (202) 632-
6421, E-mail: LantzCS@state.gov.
All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should
reference the above title and number ECA/PE/C/PY-11-29.
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: February 23, 2011.
Ann Stock,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of
State.
[FR Doc. 2011-4716 Filed 3-2-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P
