Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant Proposals: One Beat, 14737-14744 [2011-6272]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 52 (Thursday, March 17, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14737-14744]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6272]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 7367]


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

    Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/CU-11-45.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.415.
    Key Dates: September 1, 2011 to September 30, 2013.
    Application Deadline: May 16, 2011.
    Executive Summary: The Cultural Programs Division of the Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces an open competition 
for a series of 2-4 week group programs for approximately 55-65 young 
(average age 19-35) foreign musicians and music professionals from 
selected countries that will highlight artistic collaboration, 
improvisation, mentoring, and professional training opportunities. One 
Beat is a programmatic refinement of the existing Fiscal Year 2010 
Cultural Visitors program. The original Cultural Visitors Program was 
initiated in Fiscal Year 2005 and targeted key countries in the Muslim 
world and on priority youth audiences in those countries. Vital to the 
innovative use of the arts in foreign policy are the elements of 
artistic collaboration, audience engagement, professional enrichment, 
and artistic production. By concentrating on music, One Beat seeks to 
combine these elements into cohesive group programs which enhance 
cross-cultural understanding and demonstrate democratic values such as 
collaboration, cohesion, and innovation to strengthen the leadership 
and professional potential of the participants as well as enrich their 
American counterparts. The program should seek innovative ways to 
incorporate new media to enhance the program offerings and extend the 
impact of the program.
    The goals of the program are to:
     Energize the work of international musicians in their own 
countries;
     Provide unique opportunities for musical collaboration, 
engagement, and performance among the international participants and 
with their American peers and American music professionals;
     Provide participants with instructive and informative 
experiences in their art form;
     Provide exposure to the creation and performance of world-
class American music;
     Create opportunities for sustaining relationships with 
U.S. arts professionals; and
     Provide opportunities for educational outreach to American 
audiences and students.
    Pending the availability of funds, ECA will provide approximately 
$1,000,000 to the award recipient to implement this program through a 
cooperative agreement. The agreement will cover project activities from 
September 1, 2011 to September 30, 2013.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Authority

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

Purpose

    Cultural diplomacy, an essential facet of America's foreign policy, 
strives to enhance cross-cultural understanding and open new avenues of 
dialogue between individuals and nations. It builds on Secretary 
Clinton's concept of ``smart power,'' which utilizes a variety of means 
to achieve our 21st Century foreign policy goals. This program ventures 
to create a dialogue through musical collaboration and professional 
development that will enrich both the international participants and 
the Americans with whom they meet.

Program Description

    ECA welcomes innovative and creative approaches to programming, 
which:
     Offers coherent approaches to developing the artistic 
talents and skills of the participants (activities include, but are not 
limited to master classes, professional conferences, festivals, 
workshops, lectures, demonstrations, group work, impromptu play, jam 
sessions, and attendance at performances);
     Uses new media to enhance and extend the impact and 
richness of the program through online collaborations and educational 
programming among other activities;
     Provides mentoring by and exposure to well-respected 
American artists, diverse cultural organizations and productions;
     Fosters creative musical collaborations, cohesion and open 
dialogue between the participants and their professional American 
peers;
     Engages with the diversity of the American public through 
non fee-based public performance and/or presentation. (Please note that 
the production and presentation costs of performances in the United 
States cannot be funded by ECA, but can be included in the 
organization's cost share.);
     Visits multiple U.S. arts organizations and cities to 
present a diverse view of American music, musicians, music 
professionals, and;

[[Page 14738]]

     Establishes a foundation for sustaining professional 
networks and relationships.

Participants

    ECA envisions that approximately 55-65 young foreign musicians in 
contemporary genres (including but not limited to urban, hip-hop, 
roots, rock, electronic, and world music) and music professionals 
(including but not limited to composers, producers, arrangers, 
songwriters, and DJs) from selected countries will visit the United 
States in a series of specially designed group programs organized by 
the award recipient in consultation with ECA. Participant composition 
should reflect an emphasis on musicians.
    Foreign participants must be between 19-35 years of age, 
demonstrate high artistic abilities and professional performance 
experience, a predisposition to engage with their community through 
their art, promise in solo and ensemble performance (as appropriate), 
commitment to teaching and to their craft, and be conversant with 
broader aspects of society, their home culture and artistic patrimony. 
Participants should be prepared to conduct or participate in master 
classes, lecture demonstrations, workshops, impromptu sessions, media 
outreach, and educational activities with peers, students, and general 
audiences. They should also be adaptable to performance in situations 
of varying infrastructure and sophistication.

ECA's Responsibilities

    In a cooperative agreement, ECA is substantially involved in 
program activities above and beyond routine monitoring. Specifically, 
ECA will:
     Identify countries from which the participants will be 
selected and provide contact information at posts to award recipient;
     Advise selected countries for recruitment of participants;
     Provide final approval on the award recipient's 
participant recommendations;
     Review and approve daily schedules and program materials;
     Review and approve media and outreach plans;
     Issue DS-2019 forms to participants; and
     Participate in briefing and debriefing sessions as 
possible.

Award Funding and Award recipient Responsibilities

    In consultation with ECA, the award recipient will:
Participant Selection
     Develop participant selection criteria;
     Develop an application process and timeline (efforts 
should be made to make it web-based);
     Work with Embassy staff to coordinate the recruitment and 
solicitation of foreign participants and alternates for U.S. based 
programs;
     Based on qualifications, recommend participants to ECA for 
review and approval;
     Inform posts of final selections.
Program Development and Management
     Devise innovative and multi-faceted plans for the program 
components with detailed timelines for accomplishing each project 
activity in consultation with ECA program staff;
     Within 3-6 months of the beginning of the award period, 
submit to ECA for approval proposed outlines and schedules for the 
music programs, and then advise posts on the application, recruitment 
and participant selection process. Outlines should include goals and 
objectives for the programs and suggested participant profiles.
     Recruit American participants and institutions to be 
engaged in activities with the exchange participants. American site 
locations are to be determined by the award recipient's organization in 
consultation with ECA. The award recipient will consult with ECA, but 
ultimately be responsible for the design and implementation of program 
development and composition such as performances, workshops, master 
classes and outreach programs at each site. The programs must strive to 
represent a diversity of American organizations, regions and cities.
     Orient host institutions and staff to the goals of the 
program, and to the cultures and sensitivities of the participants;
     Coordinate and identify group coordinator/escort and/or 
interpreter travel, lodging and other arrangements needed for their 
participation, including airport meet and greet;
     Maintain liaison with ECA and program participants to 
ensure the program schedule is compatible with needs and objectives. 
Provide ECA and program participants with a final program schedule no 
later than 2 weeks prior to their arrival in the U.S.;
     Provide day-to-day monitoring of the program to prevent 
and/or manage any issues or complications that may arise;
     Work in consultation with ECA on the implementation of the 
program, provide timely reporting of progress to ECA, and comply with 
financial and program reporting requirements.
     Create and encourage solid follow-on projects (not 
supported by funding from this award) in order to continue and deepen 
the relationships created by these projects between the award recipient 
and foreign participants;
     Design and implement an evaluation plan that assesses the 
impact of the program.
     Contact participants before the program to provide program 
information, pre-departure materials, and to gather information 
necessary for visa issuance and specific requirements (dietary, 
medical, etc.);
     Enroll participants in a health insurance plan for the 
period of the exchange. Participants can be enrolled in the Bureau's 
Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE) with no charge to 
the cooperative agreement. Alternatively, you may use your own plan as 
long as it offers the same or better coverage and costs no more than 
$50 per person per month; premiums may be included in the agreement 
request;
     Facilitate the J-1 visa application process, working with 
ECA and the Public Affairs Sections (PAS) at the relevant U.S. 
Embassies and/or Consulates;
     Cover the cost of and arrange all international and 
domestic travel and lodging for U.S. and foreign participants; 
including travel for visa interviews when necessary;
     Arrange for an orientation session upon arrival to provide 
programmatic and logistical information;
     Provide a de-briefing session at the end of the program 
for evaluation, to summarize the project activities, prepare 
participants for their return home, and plan for possible follow on 
activities. Whenever possible, de-briefing sessions should take place 
in Washington and should include an introduction to the nation's 
capital and the U.S. form of government;
     Manage all financial aspects of the program, including 
stipend disbursements to the participants and management of sub-award 
relationships with partner organizations, if applicable. The proposal 
should clearly outline all duties and responsibilities of U.S. 
organizations with which you plan to partner; describe work 
requirements and provide representative budgets. The applicant 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. The applicant may provide separate sub-budgets for 
each program

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component, phase, location, or activity to provide clarification.
     Work in consultation with ECA to develop and implement a 
media and marketing plan that includes but is not limited to program 
branding, press strategy, press/media packets, program Web site and 
social media plan. The award recipient will prepare educational and 
promotional materials that support the program.
    The proposal submitted must demonstrate how these activities/
objectives will be met. The proposal narrative should be substantive 
and provide detailed information on major program activities to be 
undertaken. In particular, the proposal should include a thorough 
outline of the program with a list of arts organizations and musicians/
artists that the participants will visit in the United States, and 
potential musicians/artists and/or host arts organizations across the 
country with which the applicant plans to place the participants for 
mentoring/collaboration opportunities.
    Applicants should submit a complete and thorough proposal 
describing the program in a convincing and comprehensive manner, with 
an eye towards artistic collaboration, professional development, 
innovation, and new media. Since there is no opportunity for applicants 
to meet with reviewing officials, the proposal should respond to the 
criteria set forth in the solicitation and other guidelines as clearly 
as possible.
    The Executive Summary should contain an overview of the goals and 
activities of the program. The Narrative should deal with program 
facts, rather than the history of the organization which should be 
addressed in the section ``Institutional Capacity.'' In the narrative, 
applicants should not only describe major program activities but also 
explain and justify their programmatic choices. Applicants should 
outline their project team's capacity for doing projects of this nature 
and provide a detailed sample program to illustrate planning capacity 
and ability to achieve program objectives. Applicants should describe 
previous cooperative projects in the section on ``Institutional 
Capacity.'' For this competition, applicants should include in their 
proposal supporting materials or documentation that demonstrates a 
minimum of four years experience in conducting global exchanges in the 
performing arts.
    The recipient organization is responsible for all components of the 
program outlined in this document. The organization must also inform 
the ECA program officer of its progress at each stage of the project's 
implementation in a timely fashion. All materials and correspondence 
related to the program will acknowledge this as a program of the Bureau 
of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State. 
The Bureau will retain copyright use of and be allowed to distribute 
materials related to this program as it sees fit.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. ECA's level of involvement in 
this program is listed under number I above.
    Fiscal Year Funds: 2011.
    Approximate Total Funding: $1,000,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 1.
    Approximate Average Award: $1,000,000.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $1,000,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, September 1, 
2011.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: September 30, 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 USC 501(c)(3).
    III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds: There is no minimum or 
maximum percentage required for this competition. However, the Bureau 
encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and 
funding in support of its programs.
    When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the 
applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its 
proposal and later included in an approved agreement. Cost sharing may 
be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For 
accountability, you must maintain written records to support all costs 
which are claimed as your contribution, as well as costs to be paid by 
the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. The basis 
for determining the value of cash and in-kind contributions must be in 
accordance with OMB Circular A-110, (Revised), Subpart C.23--Cost 
Sharing and Matching. In the event you do not provide the minimum 
amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget, ECA's 
contribution will be reduced in like proportion.
    III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements:
    (a) Grants awarded to eligible organizations with less than four 
years of experience in conducting international exchange programs will 
be limited to $60,000.
    (b) Technical Eligibility: All proposals must comply with the 
following:
     Full adherence to the guidelines stated herein and in the 
Solicitation Package;
     Proposal submission deadline date;
     Non-profit organization status, and
     For purposes of this competition, at least four years of 
demonstrated experience in programming in the performing arts, or your 
proposal will be declared technically ineligible and given no further 
consideration in the review process.

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 Julia G[oacute]mez-Nelson in the Cultural 
Programs Division, ECA/PE/C/CU, SA-5, 3rd Floor, U.S. Department of 
State, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20037, (T) 202-632-6409, (F) 
202-632-9355, nelsonjg2@state.gov to request a Solicitation Package. 
Please refer to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/CU-11-45 
located at the top of this announcement when making your request.
    Alternatively, an electronic application package may be obtained 
from grants.gov. Please see section IV.3f for further information.
    The Solicitation Package contains the Proposal Submission
    Instruction (PSI) document which consists of required application 
forms, and standard guidelines for proposal preparation.
    Please specify Julia G[oacute]mez-Nelson and refer to the Funding 
Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/CU-11-45 located at the top of this 
announcement on all other inquiries and correspondence.

IV.2. To Download a Solicitation Package Via Internet

    The entire Solicitation Package may be downloaded from the Bureau's 
Web site at https://exchanges.state.gov/grants/open2.html, or from the 
Grants.gov Web site at https://www.grants.gov.

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    Please read all information before downloading.

IV.3. Content and Form of Submission

    Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation 
Package. The application should be submitted per the instructions under 
IV.3f. ``Application Deadline and Methods of Submission'' section 
below.
    IV.3a. You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal 
Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative 
agreement from the U.S. Government. This number is a nine-digit 
identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities. 
Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a 
DUNS number, access https://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-
5711. Please ensure that your DUNS number is included in the 
appropriate box of the SF-424 which is part of the formal application 
package.
    IV.3b. All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal 
narrative and budget.
    Please Refer to the Solicitation Package. It contains the mandatory 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document for additional 
formatting and technical requirements.
    IV.3c. 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 website as part of ECA's FFATA reporting 
requirements.
    If your organization is a private nonprofit which has not received 
a grant or cooperative agreement from ECA in the past three years, or 
if your organization received nonprofit status from the IRS within the 
past four years, you must submit the necessary documentation to verify 
nonprofit status as directed in the PSI document. Failure to do so will 
cause your proposal to be declared technically ineligible.
    IV.3d. Please take into consideration the following information 
when preparing your proposal narrative:
    IV.3d.1 Adherence to All Regulations Governing the J Visa. The 
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs places critically important 
emphases on the security and proper administration of the Exchange 
Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence by award recipients and 
sponsors to all regulations governing the J visa. Therefore, proposals 
should demonstrate the applicant's capacity to meet all requirements 
governing the administration of the Exchange Visitor Programs as set 
forth in 22 CFR 62, including the oversight of Responsible Officers and 
Alternate Responsible Officers, screening and selection of program 
participants, provision of pre-arrival information and orientation to 
participants, monitoring of participants, proper maintenance and 
security of forms, record-keeping, reporting and other requirements.
    ECA will be responsible for issuing DS-2019 forms to participants 
in this program.
    A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of 
Exchange Visitor (J) programs is available at https://exchanges.state.gov or from: 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.
    Please refer to Solicitation Package for further information.
    IV.3d.2. Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines. Pursuant to 
the Bureau's authorizing legislation, programs must maintain a non-
political character and should be balanced and representative of the 
diversity of American political, social, and cultural life. 
``Diversity'' should be interpreted in the broadest sense and encompass 
differences including, but not limited to ethnicity, race, gender, 
religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, and disabilities. 
Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere to the advancement of this 
principle both in program administration and in program content. Please 
refer to the review criteria under the `Support for Diversity' section 
for specific suggestions on incorporating diversity into your proposal. 
Public Law 104-319 provides that ``in carrying out programs of 
educational and cultural exchange in countries whose people do not 
fully enjoy freedom and democracy,'' the Bureau ``shall take 
appropriate steps to provide opportunities for participation in such 
programs to human rights and democracy leaders of such countries.'' 
Public Law 106--113 requires that the governments of the countries 
described above do not have inappropriate influence in the selection 
process. Proposals should reflect advancement of these goals in their 
program contents, to the full extent deemed feasible.
    IV.3d.3. Program Monitoring and Evaluation. Proposals must include 
a plan to monitor and evaluate the project's success, both as the 
activities unfold and at the end of the program. The Bureau recommends 
that your proposal include a draft survey questionnaire or other 
technique plus a description of a methodology to use to link outcomes 
to original project objectives. The Bureau expects that the recipient 
organization will track participants or partners and be able to respond 
to key evaluation questions, including satisfaction with the program, 
learning as a result of the program, changes in behavior as a result of 
the program, and effects of the program on institutions (institutions 
in which participants work or partner institutions). The evaluation 
plan should include indicators that measure gains in mutual 
understanding as well as substantive knowledge.
    Successful monitoring and evaluation depend heavily on setting 
clear goals and outcomes at the outset of a program. Your evaluation 
plan should include a description of your project's objectives,

[[Page 14741]]

your anticipated project outcomes, and how and when you intend to 
measure these outcomes (performance indicators). The more that outcomes 
are ``smart'' (specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and 
placed in a reasonable time frame), the easier it will be to conduct 
the evaluation. You should also show how your project objectives link 
to the goals of the program described in this RFGP.
    Your monitoring and evaluation plan should clearly distinguish 
between program outputs and outcomes. Outputs are products and services 
delivered, often stated as an amount. Output information is important 
to show the scope or size of project activities, but it cannot 
substitute for information about progress towards outcomes or the 
results achieved. Examples of outputs include the number of people 
trained or the number of seminars conducted. Outcomes, in contrast, 
represent specific results a project is intended to achieve and is 
usually measured as an extent of change. Findings on outputs and 
outcomes should both be reported, but the focus should be on outcomes.
    We encourage you to assess the following four levels of outcomes, 
as they relate to the program goals set out in the RFGP (listed here in 
increasing order of importance):
    1. Participant satisfaction with the program and exchange 
experience.
    2. Participant learning, such as increased knowledge, aptitude, 
skills, and changed understanding and attitude. Learning includes both 
substantive (subject-specific) learning and mutual understanding.
    3. Participant behavior, concrete actions to apply knowledge in 
work or community; greater participation and responsibility in civic 
organizations; interpretation and explanation of experiences and new 
knowledge gained; continued contacts between participants, community 
members, and others.
    4. Institutional changes, such as increased collaboration and 
partnerships, policy reforms, new programming, and organizational 
improvements.

    Please note:  Consideration should be given to the appropriate 
timing of data collection for each level of outcome. For example, 
satisfaction is usually captured as a short-term outcome, whereas 
behavior and institutional changes are normally considered longer-
term outcomes.
    Overall, the quality of your monitoring and evaluation plan will 
be judged on how well it (1) specifies intended outcomes; (2) gives 
clear descriptions of how each outcome will be measured; (3) 
identifies when particular outcomes will be measured; and (4) 
provides a clear description of the data collection strategies for 
each outcome (i.e., surveys, interviews, or focus groups). (Please 
note that evaluation plans that deal only with the first level of 
outcomes [satisfaction] will be deemed less competitive under the 
present evaluation criteria.)

    Recipient organizations will be required to provide reports 
analyzing their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular 
program reports. All data collected, including survey responses and 
contact information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years 
and provided to the Bureau upon request.
    IV.3d.4. Describe your plans for: Sustainability, overall program 
management, staffing, coordination with ECA and PAS or any other 
requirements.
    IV.3e. Please take the following information into consideration 
when preparing your budget:
    IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit SF-424A--``Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs'' along with a comprehensive budget for the 
entire program. There must be a summary budget as well as breakdowns 
reflecting both administrative and program budgets. Applicants may 
provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase, 
location, or activity to provide clarification.
    IV.3e.2. Allowable costs for the program include but are not 
limited to the following:
    (1) Program Expenses, including but not limited to: Domestic and 
international travel for the selected participants (per The Fly America 
Act); visas and immunizations; airport taxes and country entrance fees; 
honoraria; educational materials and presentation items; excess and 
overweight baggage fees; trip itinerary booklets; press kits and 
promotional materials; follow-on activities; monitoring and evaluation; 
and other justifiable expenses related to program activities.
    The following guidelines may be helpful in developing a proposed 
budget:
     Travel Costs. International and domestic airfares. (per 
The Fly America Act), transit costs, ground transportation, and visas 
participants to travel to program destinations. Travel costs should 
also include airfare for selected participants to travel for visa 
interviews.
     Per Diem: Domestic per diem rates may be accessed at: 
https://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?contentId=17943&contentType=GSA_BASIC%20
     Sub-recipient and Consultants. Sub-recipient organizations 
may be used, in which case the written agreement between the 
prospective recipient and sub-recipient should be included in the 
proposal. Sub-grants must be itemized in the budget under General 
Program Expenses. Consultants/interpreters/group coordinators/escorts 
may be used to provide specialized expertise. Daily honoraria cannot 
exceed $250 per day, and applicants are strongly encouraged to use 
organizational resources, and to cost share heavily in this area.
     Health Insurance. Participants can be enrolled in the 
Bureau's Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE) with no 
charge to the cooperative agreement. Alternatively, you may use your 
own plan as long as it offers the same or better coverage and costs no 
more than $50 per person per month; premiums may be included in the 
agreement request. Please see https://exchanges.state.gov/aspe for more 
information on coverage. Please refer to the PSI for allowable costs 
and complete budget guidelines and formatting instructions.
     Your proposal should show strong administrative cost 
sharing contributions. Maximum limits on cooperative agreement funding 
are as follows: Books and educational materials allowance-$100 per 
participant; Conference room rental costs-$250 per day per room; 
Consultant fees and honoraria-$200/day; Cultural allowance-$150 per 
participant; honoraria for foreign participants-$200/day; per diem-
standard government rates; Evaluation costs-5% of the cooperative 
agreement. Organizations are encouraged to cost-share any rates that 
exceed these amounts.
     Excess Baggage. Excess baggage costs are based on the size 
and weight of the instrument. Excess baggage estimates may be subject 
to change once actual programs are scheduled.
     Immunizations/Visas. For purposes of a proposed budget, 
line items for immunizations should be estimated at $400 per musician, 
and visas/visa photos should be estimated at $600 per musician.
     Translation of outreach and/or educational materials.
     Staff Travel. Allowable costs include domestic staff 
travel for one staff member to attend pre and post program briefings if 
held in cities different that awardee's headquarters.
     For purposes of this proposal's budget please use the 
following program as a model: A three week program in music for 8 
participants from 7 countries accompanied by one group coordinator and 
two interpreters to travel to 3 cities in the United States to conduct 
intensive professional development programs consisting of

[[Page 14742]]

workshops, master classes, attendance at relevant festivals or 
professional conferences, artist-to-artist engagement, outreach 
activities and performances. Participants will participate in a two-day 
orientation in Washington, DC, before travelling to Chicago, IL for a 5 
to 7 day residency to include multiple master classes with professional 
and student artists, attendance at a professional music festival to 
attend performances, meet fellow artists, participate in impromptu play 
or jam sessions, and participate in a performance. The group will then 
travel to Nashville, TN for a residency of the same length and 
composition, after which they will depart Tennessee and travel to 
Washington, DC for a final debrief and performance.
    2. Administrative Costs. Costs necessary for the effective 
administration of the program may include salaries for grantee 
organization employees, benefits, and other direct and indirect costs 
per detailed instructions in the Solicitation Package. While there is 
no rigid ratio of administrative to program costs, proposals in which 
the administrative costs do not exceed 25% of the total requested from 
ECA grant funds will be more competitive on cost effectiveness. Please 
refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget guidelines and 
formatting instructions.
    Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget 
guidelines and formatting instructions.
    IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission:
    Application Deadline Date: May 16, 2011
    Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/CU-11-45
    Methods of Submission:
    Applications may be submitted in one of two ways:
    (1.) In hard-copy, via a nationally recognized overnight delivery 
service (i.e., Federal Express, UPS, Airborne Express, or U.S. Postal 
Service Express Overnight Mail, etc.), or
    (2.) electronically through https://www.grants.gov.
    Along with the Project Title, all applicants must enter the above 
Reference Number in Box 11 on the SF-424 contained in the mandatory 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) of the solicitation document.
    IV.3f.1 Submitting Printed Applications.
    Applications must be shipped no later than the above deadline. 
Delivery services used by applicants must have in-place, centralized 
shipping identification and tracking systems that may be accessed via 
the Internet and delivery people who are identifiable by commonly 
recognized uniforms and delivery vehicles. Proposals shipped on or 
before the above deadline but received at ECA more than seven days 
after the deadline will be ineligible for further consideration under 
this competition. Proposals shipped after the established deadlines are 
ineligible for consideration under this competition. ECA will not 
notify you upon receipt of application. It is each applicant's 
responsibility to ensure that each package is marked with a legible 
tracking number and to monitor/confirm delivery to ECA via the 
Internet. Delivery of proposal packages may not be made via local 
courier service or in person for this competition. Faxed documents will 
not be accepted at any time. Only proposals submitted as stated above 
will be considered.

    Important note:  When preparing your submission please make sure 
to include one extra copy of the completed SF-424 form and place it 
in an envelope addressed to ``ECA/EX/PM''.

    The original and 10 copies of the application should be sent to: 
Program Management Division, ECA-IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/A/S/U-10-01 (each 
program office assigns a unique number) SA-5, Floor 4, Department of 
State, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20037.
    (Include following language re: CD-ROM submission only if proposals 
will be forwarded to embassies. If post input is not necessary, delete 
language.)
    Applicants submitting hard-copy applications must also submit the 
``Executive Summary'' and ``Proposal Narrative'' sections of the 
proposal in text (.txt) or Microsoft Word format on CD-ROM. As 
appropriate, the Bureau will provide these files electronically to 
Public Affairs Section(s) at the U.S. embassy(ies) for its(their) 
review.
    IV.3f.2--Submitting Electronic Applications.
    Applicants have the option of submitting proposals electronically 
through Grants.gov (https://www.grants.gov). Complete solicitation 
packages are available at Grants.gov in the ``Find'' portion of the 
system.

    Please Note:  ECA bears no responsibility for applicant 
timeliness of submission or data errors resulting from transmission 
or conversion processes for proposals submitted via Grants.gov.

    Please follow the instructions available in the `Get Started' 
portion of the site (https://www.grants.gov/GetStarted).
    Several of the steps in the Grants.gov registration process could 
take several weeks. Therefore, applicants should check with appropriate 
staff within their organizations immediately after reviewing this RFGP 
to confirm or determine their registration status with Grants.gov.
    Once registered, the amount of time it can take to upload an 
application will vary depending on a variety of factors including the 
size of the application and the speed of your internet connection. In 
addition, validation of an electronic submission via Grants.gov can 
take up to two business days.
    Therefore, we strongly recommend that you not wait until the 
application deadline to begin the submission process through 
Grants.gov.
    The Grants.gov website 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 website. ECA strongly recommends that all 
potential applicants review thoroughly the Grants.gov website, 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.
    Email: 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 website, 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

[[Page 14743]]

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 cooperative agreements resides with the Bureau's 
Grants Officer.
Review Criteria
    Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed 
according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are not rank 
ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation:
    1. Quality of the program idea: Proposals should exhibit 
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's 
mission.
    2. Program planning and Ability to achieve program objectives: 
Detailed agenda and relevant work plan should demonstrate substantive 
undertakings and logistical capacity. Agenda and plan should adhere to 
the program overview and guidelines described above. Objectives should 
be reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly 
demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's objectives and 
plan.
    3. Multiplier effect/impact and Follow on Activities: Proposed 
programs should strengthen long-term mutual understanding, including 
maximum sharing of information and establishment of long-term 
institutional and individual linkages. Proposals should provide a plan 
for continued follow-on activity (without Bureau support) ensuring that 
Bureau supported programs are not isolated events.
    4. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive 
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Achievable and relevant 
features should be cited in both program administration (selection of 
participants, program venue and program evaluation) and program content 
(orientation and wrap-up sessions, program meetings, resource materials 
and follow-up activities).
    5. Institutional Capacity and Ability: Proposed personnel and 
institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve 
the program or project's goals. Proposals should demonstrate an 
institutional record of successful exchange programs, including 
responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting 
requirements for past Bureau awards (grants or cooperative agreements) 
as determined by Bureau Grants Staff. The Bureau will consider the past 
performance of prior recipients and the demonstrated potential of new 
applicants.
    6. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate 
the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of 
the program. A draft survey questionnaire or other technique plus 
description of a methodology to use to link outcomes to original 
project objectives is recommended.
    7. Cost-effectiveness and Cost Sharing: The overhead and 
administrative components of the proposal, including salaries and 
honoraria, should be kept as low as possible. All other items should be 
necessary and appropriate. Proposals should maximize cost-sharing 
through other private sector support as well as institutional direct 
funding contributions.

VI. Award Administration Information

VI.1a. Award Notices

    Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by 
Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures. 
Successful applicants will receive a Federal Assistance Award (FAA) 
from the Bureau's Grants Office. The FAA and the original proposal with 
subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall be the only binding 
authorizing document between the recipient and the U.S. Government. The 
FAA will be signed by an authorized Grants Officer, and mailed to the 
recipient's responsible officer identified in the application.
    Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of 
the application review from the ECA program office coordinating this 
competition.
    VI.1b The following additional requirements apply to this project:
    For assistance awards involving Iran:
    A critical component of current U.S. government Iran policy is the 
support for indigenous Iranian voices. The State Department has made 
the awarding of grants for this purpose a key component of its Iran 
policy. As a condition of licensing these activities, the Office of 
Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has requested the Department of State to 
follow certain procedures to effectuate the goals of Sections 481(b), 
531(a), 571, 582, and 635(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (as 
amended); 18 U.S.C. Sec. Sec.  2339A and 2339B; Executive Order 13224; 
and Homeland Security Presidential Directive 6. These licensing 
conditions mandate that the Department conduct a vetting of potential 
Iran award recipients and sub-grantees for counter-terrorism purposes. 
To conduct this vetting the Department will collect information from 
grantees and sub-grantees regarding the identity and background of 
their key employees and Boards of Directors.

    Note: To assure that planning for the inclusion of Iran complies 
with requirements, please contact (Julia G[oacute]mez-Nelson, ECA/
PE/C/CU at 202-487-8266 or nelsonjg2@state.gov.) for additional 
information.

    For assistance awards involving the Palestinian Authority, West 
Bank, and Gaza:
    All awards made under this competition must be executed according 
to all relevant U.S. laws and policies regarding assistance to the 
Palestinian Authority, and to the West Bank and Gaza. Organizations 
must consult with relevant Public Affairs Offices before entering into 
any formal arrangements or agreements with Palestinian organizations or 
institutions.

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

VI.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements

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

Office of Management and Budget Circular A-122, ``Cost Principles for 
Nonprofit Organizations.''
Office of Management and Budget Circular A-21, ``Cost Principles for 
Educational Institutions.''
OMB Circular A-87, ``Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian 
Governments''.
OMB Circular No. A-110 (Revised), Uniform Administrative

[[Page 14744]]

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 websites for additional information:

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

VI.3. Reporting Requirements

    You must provide ECA with a hard copy original plus one copy of the 
following reports:
    (1.) A final program and financial report no more than 90 days 
after the expiration of the award;
    (2.) A concise, one-page final program report summarizing program 
outcomes no more than 90 days after the expiration of the award. This 
one-page report will be transmitted to OMB, and be made available to 
the public via OMB's USAspending.gov Web site--as part of ECA's Federal 
Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reporting 
requirements.
    (3.) A SF-PPR, ``Performance Progress Report'' Cover Sheet with all 
program reports.
    (4.) Quarterly program and financial reports which should include, 
but are not limited to: Audience numbers for the public performances as 
well as participant numbers for the workshop/outreach activities; press 
clippings (print and web); proactive media outreach; photographs of 
activities; marketing/collateral materials produced for the program; 
program calendar; tour agendas and itineraries and relevant contact 
information; participant bio data and contact information; and program 
and administrative updates/recaps.
    Award recipients will be required to provide reports analyzing 
their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program 
reports. (Please refer to IV. Application and Submission Instructions 
(IV.3.d.3) above for Program Monitoring and Evaluation information.
    All data collected, including survey responses and contact 
information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years and 
provided to the Bureau upon request.
    All reports must be sent to the ECA Grants Officer and ECA Program 
Officer listed in the final assistance award document.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: Julia G[oacute]mez-
Nelson, U.S. Department of State, Cultural Programs Division, ECA/PE/C/
CU, SA-5, 3rd Floor, ECA/PE/C/CU-11-45, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, 
DC 20037,telephone 202-632-6409 and fax 202-632-9355, 
nelsonjg2@state.gov.
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number ECA/PE/C/CU-11-45.
    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: March 9, 2011.
Ann Stock,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. 2011-6272 Filed 3-16-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P