Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant Proposals: Study of the U.S. Institutes for Women Student Leaders on Women's Leadership, 68250-68256 [2011-28426]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 213 (Thursday, November 3, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68250-68256]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-28426]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 7672]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Study of the U.S. Institutes for Women Student Leaders 
on Women's Leadership

    Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreements.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/E/USS-12-22-23.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.009.
    Key Dates: May to August, 2012.
    Application Deadline: December 30, 2011.

Executive Summary

    The Branch for the Study of the United States, Office of Academic 
Exchange Programs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, invites 
proposal submissions from accredited U.S. colleges and universities for 
the design and implementation of two (2) Study of the United States 
Institutes for Women Student Leaders on Women's Leadership. Applicants 
may submit a proposal to administer one institute. The five week 
Institutes should take place in June and July, 2012.
    Both Institutes should take place at U.S. academic institutions and 
provide groups of highly motivated female undergraduate students from 
the countries and regions noted below with in-depth seminars on Women's 
Leadership. Each Institute should include four weeks of academic 
residency followed by a one-week integrated educational travel tour 
that will expose participants to a different region of the United 
States. The one-week educational study tour should continue to examine 
the theme of women's leadership and should conclude with a three day 
session in Washington, DC. In order to take part in a joint closing 
conference, the participants should travel to Washington, DC no later 
than the evening of July 18, 2012.
    Each Institute will host up to 20 participants, for a total of 
approximately 40 students. ECA plans to provide two awards (a maximum 
of one per applicant) for the administration of two Study of the U.S. 
Institutes and welcomes applications from accredited post-secondary 
education institutions in the United States (see Eligibility 
Information, section III). Women's colleges are especially encouraged 
to apply. The awarding of Cooperative Agreements for this program is 
contingent upon the availability of FY 2012 funds.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

I.1. Authority

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

I.2. Purpose

    The Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student Leaders are intensive 
academic programs whose purpose is to provide groups of foreign 
undergraduate students with a deeper understanding of the United States 
while also enhancing their leadership skills. The Institutes also 
expose Americans to the diverse cultures and traditions of the exchange 
participants.
    The Institutes on Women's Leadership aim to provide undergraduate 
women leaders an introduction to women's leadership in the United 
States, while strengthening their leadership skills and heightening 
their awareness of U.S. and global women's issues. The Institutes 
should examine the history and evolution of U.S. society, culture, 
values, and institutions, with particular emphasis on women's roles 
throughout U.S. history. The Institutes should also incorporate a focus 
on contemporary American life and contemporary women, including the 
role of women in political, social, and economic issues and debates. 
The Institutes should address the influence of principles and values 
such as democracy, the rule of law, individual rights, freedom of 
expression, equality, diversity, and

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tolerance on the empowerment of women in the United States.

I.3. Overview

    These two Study of the U.S. Institutes for Women Student Leaders on 
Women's Leadership will be implemented in the context of the ``Women in 
Public Service Project'' announced by Secretary of State Hillary 
Clinton in March, 2011. Secretary of State Clinton stated that this 
project would ``promote the next generation of women leaders who will 
invest in their countries and communities, provide leadership for their 
governments and societies, and help change the way global solutions are 
developed.'' The Women in Public Policy initiative aims to identify and 
empower a new generation of women to seek and attain leadership roles 
in democratic governments and civil society around the world. The Study 
of the U.S. Institutes for Women Student Leaders on Women's Leadership 
will support this initiative.
    The Study of the U.S. Institute for Women Student Leaders on 
Women's Leadership should examine the history and participation of 
women in public life in the United States. The Institute should focus 
on two major areas: (1) Developing participants' leadership skills in 
areas such as critical thinking, communication, decision-making, and 
managerial abilities; and (2) placing these abilities in the context of 
the history and participation of women in U.S. politics, economics, 
culture, and society. The Institute should examine the historical 
domestic progress towards women's equality in the United States, the 
current domestic successes and challenges to women in a variety of 
fields, and current challenges in global women's issues.
    In addition to promoting a better understanding of women's 
leadership in the United States, an important objective of the 
Institutes is to develop the participants' own leadership skills. In 
this context, the academic program should include group discussions, 
trainings, and exercises that focus on topics such as leadership, team 
and consensus building, networking, collective problem solving skills, 
effective communication and public speaking, and management skills. 
Institutes should include a community service component in which the 
participants experience firsthand how not-for-profit organizations and 
volunteerism play a key role in American civil society and offer unique 
opportunities for women's empowerment.
    Local site visits and educational travel should provide 
opportunities to observe varied aspects of American life and to further 
explore the evolving roles of women in American society, especially the 
roles they play in local, state, and national government. The program 
should also include opportunities for participants to meet U.S. 
citizens from a variety of backgrounds, to interact with their American 
peers, and to meet with appropriate women student and civic groups to 
share information about their experiences and the role of women in 
their home countries.
    The Institutes should begin on or around June 16, 2012 and conclude 
in Washington, DC with participants arriving in Washington, DC no later 
than the evening of July 18, 2012. Recipients should agree to 
collaborate with the Department of State and any other recipients to 
plan and implement a concluding conference in Washington, DC

I.4. Recipient(s)

    ECA is seeking detailed proposals from U.S. colleges and 
universities. Applicants may apply to host one Institute. Women's 
colleges are especially encouraged to apply. See III.1 for eligibility 
requirements.

I.5. Participants

    Participants will be identified and nominated by the U.S. Embassies 
and Consulates and/or Fulbright Commissions with final selection made 
by ECA. ECA will make the final decisions regarding participating 
countries. All of the participants in these programs will be female.
    Participants in the Study of the U.S. Institutes for Women Student 
Leaders will be highly motivated undergraduate students from colleges, 
universities, and other institutions of higher education in selected 
countries overseas who demonstrate achievement and leadership through 
academic study, community involvement, and extracurricular activities. 
Their academic fields of study will be varied, and may include 
sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities, education, and 
business. All participants will have a good knowledge of English and 
will have demonstrated interest in leadership and women's empowerment.
    Every effort will be made to recruit participants who are from non-
elite or underprivileged backgrounds, are from both rural and urban 
areas, and have had little or no prior experience in the United States 
or elsewhere outside of their home country.
    We anticipate that participants will be drawn from the following 
regions and countries:
    (1) Sub-Saharan Africa (countries include Angola, Liberia, 
Mozambique, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan).
    (2) North Africa/Middle East and East Asia (countries include 
Burma, Egypt, Libya, Mongolia, and Tunisia).
    ECA reserves the right to adjust the regions and countries 
participating in these institutes based on Department priorities.

I.6. Program Guidelines

    It is essential that proposals provide a detailed and comprehensive 
narrative describing the objectives of the Institute; the title, scope, 
and content of each session; planned site visits; and how each session 
relates to the overall Institute theme. Proposals must include a 
syllabus that indicates the subject matter for each lecture, panel 
discussion, group presentation, or other activity. The syllabus also 
should confirm or provisionally identify proposed speakers, trainers, 
and session leaders, and clearly show how assigned readings will 
advance the goals of each session. Overall, proposals will be reviewed 
on the basis of their responsiveness to RFGP criteria, coherence, 
clarity, and attention to detail. The accompanying Project Objectives, 
Goals, and Implementation (POGI) document provides program-specific 
guidelines that all proposals must address fully.
    Please note: In a Cooperative Agreement, the Branch for the Study 
of the United States is substantially involved in program activities 
above and beyond routine grant monitoring. The Branch will assume 
responsibilities for the Institute as indicated in the Program 
Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI) document. The Branch may 
request that the recipient(s) make modifications to the academic 
residency and/or educational travel components of the program. The 
recipient(s) will be required to obtain approval of significant program 
changes in advance of their implementation.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. ECA's level of involvement in 
this program is listed under number I above.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2012.
    Approximate Total Funding: $480,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: Two.
    Approximate Average Award: $240,000.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $240,000.

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    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, April 1, 
2012.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: September 30, 2013.
    Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of this 
program and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, ECA 
may choose to renew this Cooperative Agreement for up to 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, ECA 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.) ECA grant guidelines require that organizations with less than 
four years experience in conducting international exchanges be limited 
to $60,000 in ECA funding. ECA anticipates making awards up to $240,000 
per institute to support program and administrative costs required to 
implement this exchange program. Therefore, organizations with less 
than four years experience in conducting international exchanges are 
ineligible to apply under this competition. ECA encourages applicants 
to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in support of its 
programs.
    (b.) Technical Eligibility: It is ECA's intent to fund a total of 
two (2) Institutes as a result of this solicitation.
    All applicants are strongly encouraged to read this RFGP 
thoroughly, prior to developing and submitting a proposal, to ensure 
that proposed activities are appropriate and responsive to the goals, 
objectives, and criteria outlined in the solicitation.
    Total available funding is up to $240,000 per Institute for a total 
of $480,000. Applicant organizations are invited to submit one proposal 
to host only one Institute. Eligible applicants may not submit more 
than one proposal in this competition.
    The proposal should clearly indicate the desired country group from 
Section I.5 above if appropriate and any regional expertise, if 
applicable. ECA reserves the right to alter or reassign the final 
country groupings.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    Note:  Please read the complete announcement before sending 
inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has 
passed, ECA staff may not discuss this competition with applicants 
until the proposal review process has been completed. If you have 
questions prior to the RFGP deadline, please address your questions 
to Elizabeth J. Latham, Program Officer in the Branch of the Study 
of the United States, at LathamEJ@state.gov or (202) 632-3338.

IV.1. Contact Information To Request an Application Package

    Please contact the Branch for the Study of the United States, ECA/
A/E/USS; SA-5, Fourth Floor; U.S. Department of State; Washington, DC 
20037, (202) 632-3338 to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer 
to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/E/USS-12-22-23 located at the 
top of this announcement when making your request.
    Alternatively, an electronic application package may be obtained 
from grants.gov. Please see section IV.3f for further information.
    The Solicitation Package contains the Proposal Submission 
Instruction (PSI) document which consists of required application 
forms, and standard guidelines for proposal preparation.
    It also contains the Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation 
(POGI) document, which provides specific information, award criteria, 
and budget instructions tailored to this competition.
    Please specify Elizabeth J. Latham and refer to the Funding 
Opportunity Number (ECA/A/E/USS-12-22-23) 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 ECA's Web 
site at https://exchanges.state.gov/grants/open2.html, or from the 
Grants.gov Web site at https://www.grants.gov.
    Please read all information before downloading.

IV.3. Content and Form of Submission

    Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation 
Package. The application should be submitted per the instructions under 
IV.3f. ``Application Deadline and Methods of Submission'' section 
below.
    IV.3a. You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal 
Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative 
agreement from the U.S. Government. This number is a nine-digit 
identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities. 
Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a 
DUNS number, access https://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-(866) 
705-5711. Please ensure that your DUNS number is included in the 
appropriate box of the SF-424 which is part of the formal application 
package.
    IV.3b. All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal 
narrative and budget.
    Please Refer to the Solicitation Package. It contains the mandatory 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document and the Project 
Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) document for additional 
formatting and technical requirements.
    IV.3c. 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,

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trustees, and key employees, regardless of amount of compensation). In 
fulfilling this requirement, applicants must submit information in one 
of the following ways:
    (1) Those who file Internal Revenue Service Form 990, ``Return of 
Organization Exempt From Income Tax,'' must include a copy of relevant 
portions of this form.
    (2) Those who do not file IRS Form 990 must submit information 
above in the format of their choice.
    In addition to final program reporting requirements, award 
recipients will also be required to submit a one-page document, derived 
from their program reports, listing and describing their grant 
activities. For award recipients, the names of directors and/or senior 
executives (current officers, trustees, and key employees), as well as 
the one-page description of grant activities, will be transmitted by 
the State Department to OMB, along with other information required by 
the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), and 
will be made available to the public by the Office of Management and 
Budget on its USASpending.gov Web site as part of ECA's FFATA reporting 
requirements.
    If your organization is a private nonprofit which has not received 
a grant or cooperative agreement from ECA in the past three years, or 
if your organization received nonprofit status from the IRS within the 
past four years, you must submit the necessary documentation to verify 
nonprofit status as directed in the PSI document. Failure to do so will 
cause your proposal to be declared technically ineligible.
    IV.3d. Please take into consideration the following information 
when preparing your proposal narrative:
IV.3d.1 Adherence to All Regulations Governing the J Visa
    The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs places emphases on 
the security and proper administration of the Exchange Visitor (J visa) 
Programs and adherence by award recipients and sponsors to all 
regulations governing the J visa. Therefore, proposals should 
demonstrate the applicant's capacity to meet all requirements governing 
the administration of the Exchange Visitor Programs as set forth in 22 
CFR part 62, including 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 the oversight of Responsible Officers 
and Alternate Responsible Officers, screening and selection of program 
participants, and 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 ECA'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,'' ECA ``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. 
ECA 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. ECA expects that recipients 
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.


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    Please note:  Consideration should be given to the appropriate 
timing of data collection for each level of outcome. For example, 
satisfaction is usually captured as a short-term outcome, whereas 
behavior and institutional changes are normally considered longer-
term outcomes.

    Overall, the quality of your monitoring and evaluation plan will be 
judged on how well it (1) Specifies intended outcomes; (2) gives clear 
descriptions of how each outcome will be measured; (3) identifies when 
particular outcomes will be measured; and (4) provides a clear 
description of the data collection strategies for each outcome (i.e., 
surveys, interviews, or focus groups). (Please note that evaluation 
plans that deal only with the first level of outcomes [satisfaction] 
will be deemed less competitive under the present evaluation criteria.)
    Recipients will be required to provide reports analyzing their 
evaluation findings to ECA 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 ECA upon 
request.

IV.3e. 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. Budget requests for the 
institutes may not exceed $240,000 per institute, and administrative 
costs should be no more than $80,000 per institute.
    IV.3e.2. Allowable costs for the program include the following:
    (1) Institute staff salary and benefits;
    (2) Participant housing and meals;
    (3) Participant U.S. travel and per diem;
    (4) Textbooks, educational materials, and admissions fees;
    (5) Honoraria for guest speakers;
    (6) Washington, DC closing conference expenses;
    (7) Follow-on programming for alumni of Study of the United States 
programs.
    Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget 
guidelines and formatting instructions.

IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission

    Application Deadline Date: December 30, 2011
    Reference Number: ECA/A/E/USS-12-22-23
    Methods of Submission: Applications may be submitted in one of two 
ways:
    (1.) In hard-copy, via a nationally recognized overnight delivery 
service (i.e., Federal Express, UPS, Airborne Express, or U.S. Postal 
Service Express Overnight Mail, etc.), or
    (2.) electronically through https://www.grants.gov.
    Along with the Project Title, all applicants must enter the above 
Reference Number in Box 11 on the SF-424 contained in the mandatory 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) of the solicitation document.
IV.3f.1 Submitting Printed Applications
    Applications must be shipped no later than the above deadline. 
Delivery services used by applicants must have in-place, centralized 
shipping identification and tracking systems that may be accessed via 
the Internet and delivery people who are identifiable by commonly 
recognized uniforms and delivery vehicles. Proposals shipped on or 
before the above deadline but received at ECA more than seven days 
after the deadline will be ineligible for further consideration under 
this competition. Proposals shipped after the established deadlines are 
ineligible for consideration under this competition. ECA will not 
notify you upon receipt of application. It is each applicant's 
responsibility to ensure that each package is marked with a legible 
tracking number and to monitor/confirm delivery to ECA via the 
Internet. Delivery of proposal packages may not be made via local 
courier service or in person for this competition. Faxed documents will 
not be accepted at any time. Only proposals submitted as stated above 
will be considered.

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

    The original and six (6) copies of the application should be sent 
to: Program Management Division, ECA-IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/A/E/USS-12-
22-23, SA-5, Floor 4, Department of State, 2200 C Street NW., 
Washington, DC 20037.
    Applicants submitting hard-copy applications must also submit the 
``Executive Summary'' and ``Proposal Narrative'' sections of the 
proposal in text (.txt) or Microsoft Word format on CD-ROM.
IV.3f.2 Submitting Electronic Applications
    Applicants have the option of submitting proposals electronically 
through Grants.gov (https://www.grants.gov). Complete solicitation 
packages are available at Grants.gov in the ``Find'' portion of the 
system.
    Please Note: ECA bears no responsibility for applicant timeliness 
of submission or data errors resulting from transmission or conversion 
processes for proposals submitted via Grants.gov.
    Please follow the instructions available in the `Get Started' 
portion of the site (https://www.grants.gov/GetStarted).
    Several of the steps in the Grants.gov registration process could 
take several weeks. Therefore, applicants should check with appropriate 
staff within their organizations immediately after reviewing this RFGP 
to confirm or determine their registration status with Grants.gov.
    Once registered, the amount of time it can take to upload an 
application will vary depending on a variety of factors including the 
size of the application and the speed of your Internet connection. In 
addition, validation of an electronic submission via Grants.gov can 
take up to two business days.
    Therefore, we strongly recommend that you not wait until the 
application deadline to begin the submission process through 
Grants.gov.
    The Grants.gov Web site includes extensive information on all 
phases/aspects of the Grants.gov process, including an extensive 
section on frequently asked questions, located under the ``For 
Applicants'' section of the Web site. ECA strongly recommends that all 
potential applicants review thoroughly the Grants.gov Web site, well in 
advance of submitting a proposal through the Grants.gov system. ECA 
bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or 
conversion processes.
    Direct all questions regarding Grants.gov registration and 
submission to: Grants.gov Customer Support, Contact Center Phone: (800) 
518-4726, Business Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Eastern Time, 
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.

[[Page 68255]]

    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 email 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

    ECA 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 ECA regulations and guidelines and 
forwarded to ECA grant panels for advisory review. Proposals may also 
be reviewed by the Office of the Legal Adviser or by other Department 
of State elements. Final funding decisions are at the discretion of the 
Department of State's Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural 
Affairs. Final technical authority for cooperative agreements resides 
with ECA's Grants Officer.
Review Criteria
    Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed 
according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are not rank 
ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation:
    1. Quality of Program Plan and Ability to Achieve Program 
Objectives: Proposals should exhibit originality, substance, precision, 
and relevance to ECA's mission. A detailed agenda and relevant work 
plan should demonstrate substantive undertakings and logistical 
capacity. Objectives should be reasonable, feasible, and flexible. 
Proposals should demonstrate clearly how the institution will meet the 
program's objectives and plan.
    2. Support for Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive 
support of ECA's policy on diversity. Achievable and relevant features 
should be cited in both program administration (program venue and 
program evaluation) and program content (orientation and wrap-up 
sessions, program meetings, presenters, and resource materials).
    3. Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate the 
activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of the 
program. ECA recommends that the proposal include a draft survey 
questionnaire or other technique plus a description of a methodology to 
use to link outcomes to original project objectives.
    4. Cost-effectiveness/Cost-sharing: The overhead and administrative 
components of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be 
kept as low as possible. All other items should be necessary and 
appropriate. Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through other 
private sector support, as well as institutional direct funding 
contributions.
    5. Institutional Track Record/Ability: Proposals should demonstrate 
an institutional record of successful exchange programs, including 
responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting 
requirements for past ECA grants as determined by ECA Grants Staff. ECA 
will consider the past performance of prior recipients and the 
demonstrated potential of new applicants. Proposed personnel and 
institutional resources should be fully qualified to achieve the 
project's goals.
    6. Follow Up and Follow-on Activities: Proposals should discuss 
provisions made for follow-up with returned participants as a means of 
establishing longer-term individual and institutional linkages. 
Proposals should also provide a plan for continued follow-on activity 
(without ECA support) ensuring that ECA supported programs are not 
isolated events.

VI. Award Administration Information

VI.1a. Award Notices

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

VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

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

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

    Please reference the following Web sites for additional 
information:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants
https://fa.statebuy.state.gov

VI.3. Reporting Requirements

    You must provide ECA with the following mandatory reports:
    (1) Interim program reports no more than 30 days after the 
conclusion of each institute;
    (2) Quarterly financial reports;
    (3) A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after 
the expiration of the award;
    (4) 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;
    (5) A SF-PPR, ``Performance Progress Report'' Cover Sheet with all 
program reports.

[[Page 68256]]

    Award recipients will be required to provide reports analyzing 
their evaluation findings to ECA 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 ECA 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: Elizabeth J. 
Latham, U.S. Department of State, Study of the U.S. Branch, ECA/A/E/
USS, SA-5, 4th floor, 2200 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20037, 
LathamEJ@state.gov, (202) 632-3338.
    All correspondence with ECA concerning this RFGP should reference 
the above title and number ECA/A/E/USS-12-22-23.
    Please read the complete announcement before sending inquiries or 
submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has passed, ECA 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 ECA representative. Explanatory information 
provided by ECA that contradicts published language will not be 
binding. Issuance of the RFGP does not constitute an award commitment 
on the part of the Government. ECA 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: October 27, 2011.
J. Adam Ereli,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Educational and Cultural Affairs, 
U.S. Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2011-28426 Filed 11-2-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P