[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 87 (Thursday, May 6, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25025-25031]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-10725]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 6985]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for
Grant Proposals: U.S. Professional Development Program for EducationUSA
Advisers
Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/S/A-11-05.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.432.
Key Dates: October 1, 2010 to December 31, 2011.
Application Deadline: Wednesday, July 7, 2010.
Executive Summary: The Educational Information and Resources Branch
of the Office of Global Educational Programs in the Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for the
U.S. Professional Development Program for EducationUSA Advisers in
Fiscal Year 2011. Public and private non-profit organizations meeting
the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code Section 26 USC
501(c)(3) may submit proposals to cooperate with the Bureau in the
administration of this program, which will focus on short-term
professional development in the United States for EducationUSA
advisers.
EducationUSA is the network of advising centers supported by the
U.S. Department of State. These centers operate in a wide variety of
institutional settings around the world, including binational Fulbright
Commissions, Public Affairs Sections of U.S. Embassies, independent
binational centers, foreign universities, and the
[[Page 25026]]
overseas offices of U.S. non-government organizations. The support of
the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs for these centers varies
by center and region, and ranges from support for educational resources
and the professional development of advising staffs, to, in a limited
number of locations, direct support for office operations. In addition,
all EducationUSA centers receive specialized, highly tailored advice
from Bureau-supported regional and country educational advising
coordinators who are based in fourteen locations in every world region.
EducationUSA centers are catalysts for the enrollment in U.S.
colleges and universities of students and scholars sponsored by the
U.S. government and by other sponsors as well as students and scholars
seeking U.S. study opportunities independently. The advising staffs at
EducationUSA centers provide comprehensive, balanced advice about the
complex range of higher educational opportunities in the United States
to international students, parents, scholars, and foreign government
officials. EducationUSA centers also assist U.S. institutions of higher
education in their overseas outreach efforts. In addition, the
EducationUSA network encourages study abroad by Americans and the
development of study abroad opportunities by U.S. universities.
EducationUSA advisers provide comprehensive information to foreign
audiences about opportunities to study at accredited U.S. educational
institutions, enabling prospective students and professionals to select
appropriate U.S. educational programs. More information on the network
and a current EducationUSA center list is located at http://www.educationusa.state.gov.
Professional development for EducationUSA advisers is a critical
component of the Department of State's support for EducationUSA and
includes a range of opportunities designed to deepen the advisers'
understanding of U.S. higher education and of their role in U.S. public
diplomacy. Advisers need to understand the complex offerings of the
various sectors of U.S. higher education system, as well as the public
diplomacy context for their work. The Department provides a continuum
of professional development opportunities that include an on-line
course for newly hired advisers, systematic mentoring by regional and
country educational advising coordinators and regular access to their
guidance, as well as periodic regional workshops that bring together
advisers from each world region for sessions with Regional
Coordinators, Bureau staff, representatives of U.S. colleges,
universities, and educational associations, and other U.S. educational
experts.
The U.S. Professional Development Program for EducationUSA Advisers
will provide a series of professional development opportunities in the
United States, which should complement opportunities that are offered
overseas. Applicant organizations are encouraged to propose creative,
innovative strategies for all components of the Program. More detailed
information is provided under the Funding Opportunity Description,
which follows.
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: To expand the ability of EducationUSA advisers to
facilitate the flow of international students to the United States, as
well as their ability to expand the participation of U.S. students in
academically sound study abroad programs in a widening range of
international locations. The work of EducationUSA centers is critical
to the Bureau's pursuit of these objectives, and the U.S. Professional
Development Program for EducationUSA Advisers should equip advisers
with skills and perspectives that will increase their effectiveness in
their professional employment at EducationUSA centers around the world.
1. Participants
Participants will be nominated by the Public Affairs Sections of
U.S. Embassies overseas, with the approval of the participants'
employing organizations, and will be selected by the Bureau's program
office in consultation with Regional Educational Advising Coordinators.
They will be currently employed at a State Department-supported
EducationUSA advising center and will have demonstrated competency in
analyzing and discussing the U.S. and home country educational systems;
the application processes that lead to individual enrollments in U.S.
higher educational institutions; cross-cultural communication skills;
and office management skills in an EducationUSA center. In addition,
each participant will have demonstrated leadership and a commitment to
the educational advising profession.
2. Program Design
Proposals should outline creative, innovative strategies for
developing and adapting four traditional program models that have been
implemented in the past for EducationUSA advisers, with a sharpened
focus on current issues in higher education and on the role of
educational advising in public diplomacy. For each program component,
proposals should include an overall project framework that identifies
objectives, outlines an implementation plan and that anticipates
measurable, specific outcomes. The amount that will be available for
this program in FY2011 resources cannot be determined until FY2011
funds are appropriated. However, for planning purposes applicant
organizations may submit program budgets, not including administrative
expenses, that do not exceed the approximate amounts noted below.
Component A: For advisers with at least two years' experience in
their positions: Two workshops each lasting approximately ten days to
two weeks. Proposals must include a draft curriculum for each workshop,
including topics of current concern. The curriculum should also include
at least two full days of briefings by representatives of the
Department of State. Final curricula will be subject to approval by the
Bureau's program office. Funding not to exceed approximately $300,000
is anticipated for a total of two sessions of ten days to two weeks
each, with each session accommodating approximately 20 to 25
participants.
Component B: For advisers with at least four years' experience in
their positions: A seminar of approximately ten days to enable senior
advisers to pursue projects that will enable them to serve more
effectively as professional resources with specialized expertise.
Proposals should illustrate how participants will gain access to
specialized advice about a wide range of topics. At the seminar,
participants will
[[Page 25027]]
discuss their interests and approaches with one another in addition to
engaging in specialized research and consultations. Provision should be
made for on-going follow-up consultations with relevant experts after
the seminar participants return to their EducationUSA workplaces and
for enabling participants to share project results throughout the
EducationUSA network and with relevant educational advising
professionals outside the network. This seminar combines features of
the Professional Advising Leadership (PAL) and the Professional
Advising Leadership Expansion (PEP) programs. Funding not to exceed
approximately $150,000 is anticipated for one session accommodating a
total of approximately ten to fifteen participants.
Component C: For advisers who are new in their positions and who
lack previous experience at a U.S. college or university: An
orientation lasting two weeks, in which the advisers attend
international student orientation sessions and experience campus life
as an arriving international student at a specific host institution and
consult with the international student affairs staff. Traditionally,
this program component has been known as the Explore Program.
Anticipated funding for one session for up to ten participants is
$50,000.
Component D: For advisers with special interest in specific
educational topics: Support for participating in relevant U.S.
educational conferences or workshops of approximately ten days. To the
extent possible, support will be provided to advisers who will make
presentations at these events. Proposals should outline strategies for
providing support and mentoring to ensure the active engagement of
EducationUSA adviser participants with professional counterparts at
these events. Anticipated funding for approximately 75 participants is
$300,000.
In addition, the conferences or workshops should provide
opportunities for active participation in sessions addressing issues of
current interest to international educators and overseas advisers with
strong emphasis on networking with other educational advising
professionals.
The Bureau anticipates making one award for the administration of
all components of this program.
3. Logistics
The recipient will be responsible for international and domestic
travel arrangements for all participants, lodging and local
transportation arrangements, orientation and debriefing sessions,
preparing support material, identifying and providing honoraria to
guest presenters and expert consultants, and identifying host
institutions where participants will observe the operations of relevant
educational offices through direct involvement in the administration of
institutional practices and policies.
4. Evaluation/Follow-Up
The proposal must include a detailed evaluation and follow-up plan.
Special emphasis should be given to designing a program which
incorporates outcome measurement strategies that assess ultimate
effectiveness.
5. Visa/Insurance/Tax Requirements
The program must comply with applicable visa regulations.
Participant health and accident insurance will be provided to the
EducationUSA adviser participants in all components except component D,
who will obtain insurance through another mechanisms; the recipient
organization will be responsible for enrolling participants in the
Bureau's insurance program and providing any necessary assistance
should medical care be needed. Administration of the program must be in
compliance with reporting and withholding regulations for federal,
state, and local taxes as applicable. Applicant organizations should
demonstrate tax regulation adherence in the proposal narrative and
budget.
6. Printed Materials
Drafts of all printed materials developed for this program should
be submitted to the Bureau's program office for review and approval.
All official documents should highlight the U.S. government's role as
program sponsor and funding source. The Bureau requires that it receive
the copyright use and reserves the right to distribute the copyrighted
material.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement
In a Cooperative Agreement, the Bureau's program office is
substantially involved in program activities above and beyond routine
grant monitoring. The Bureau's activities and responsibilities for this
program are as follows:
Selection of program participants in coordination with
Regional Educational Advising Coordinators and Public Affairs Sections
at U.S. embassies and consulates overseas;
approval of adviser projects;
active participation in the design and direction of
program activities;
approval of curriculum and program content;
conducting professional development sessions for which
program office staff has appropriate expertise;
organization of meetings with Department of State
representatives;
approval of program plans and agendas;
approval of key personnel;
approval of staffing requirements, travel plans, budgets,
and policy guidance and direction;
guidance in the execution of all program components;
approval of all program publicity;
approval of host institutions and associations;
approval of decisions related to special circumstances and
problems;
assistance with participant emergencies.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY2011.
Approximate Total Funding: $1,100,000 pending availability of
FY2011 resources.
Approximate Number of Awards: 1.
Approximate Average Award: $1,100,000.
Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, October 1,
2010.
Anticipated Project Completion Date: December 30, 2011.
Additional Information:
Pending successful implementation of this program and the
availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, it is ECA's intent to
renew this Cooperative Agreement for two additional fiscal years,
before openly competing it again.
III. Eligibility Information
III.1. Eligible applicants: Applications may be submitted by public
and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described
in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3).
III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds: There is no minimum or
maximum percentage required for this competition. However, the Bureau
encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and
funding in support of its programs.
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
[[Page 25028]]
for determining the value of cash and in-kind contributions must be in
accordance with OMB Circular A-110, (Revised), Subpart C.23--Cost
Sharing and Matching. In the event you do not provide the minimum
amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget, ECA's
contribution will be reduced in like proportion.
III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements:
(a.) Bureau grant guidelines require that organizations with less
than four years experience in conducting international exchanges be
limited to $60,000 in Bureau funding. ECA anticipates making one award
in an amount over $60,000 to support program and administrative costs
required to implement this exchange program. Therefore, organizations
with less than four years experience in conducting international
exchanges are ineligible to apply under this competition. The Bureau
encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and
funding in support of its programs.
IV. Application and Submission Information
Note: Please read the complete announcement before sending
inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has
passed, Bureau staff may not discuss this competition with
applicants until the proposal review process has been completed.
IV.1. Contact Information to Request an Application Package:
Please contact the Educational Information and Resources Branch,
ECA/A/S/A, SA-5, 4th Floor, U.S. Department of State, 2200 C Street,
NW., Washington, DC 20522-0504, telephone (202) 632-6347, Fax: (202)
202-632-9478; e-mail [email protected] or [email protected] to request a
Solicitation Package. Please refer to the Funding Opportunity Number
ECA/A/S/A-11-05 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 Bureau Branch Chief Caryn Danz and Program Officer
Dorothy Mora and refer to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/S/A-11-
05 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
http://exchanges.state.gov/grants/open2.html, or from the Grants.gov
Web site at http://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 http://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-
5711. Please ensure that your DUNS number is included in the
appropriate box of the SF-424 which is part of the formal application
package.
IV.3b. All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal
narrative and budget.
Please Refer to the Solicitation Package. It contains the mandatory
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document and the Project
Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) document for additional
formatting and technical requirements.
IV.3c. You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of
application.
Please note: Effective January 7, 2009, all applicants for ECA
federal assistance awards must include in their application the
names of directors and/or senior executives (current officers,
trustees, and key employees, regardless of amount of compensation).
In fulfilling this requirement, applicants must submit information
in one of the following ways:
(1) Those who file Internal Revenue Service Form 990, ``Return of
Organization Exempt From Income Tax,'' must include a copy of relevant
portions of this form.
(2) Those who do not file IRS Form 990 must submit information
above in the format of their choice.
In addition to final program reporting requirements, award
recipients will also be required to submit a one-page document, derived
from their program reports, listing and describing their grant
activities. For award recipients, the names of directors and/or senior
executives (current officers, trustees, and key employees), as well as
the one- page description of grant activities, will be transmitted by
the State Department to OMB, along with other information required by
the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), and
will be made available to the public by the Office of Management and
Budget on its USASpending.gov Web site as part of ECA's FFATA reporting
requirements.
If your organization is a private nonprofit which has not received
a grant or cooperative agreement from ECA in the past three years, or
if your organization received nonprofit status from the IRS within the
past four years, you must submit the necessary documentation to verify
nonprofit status as directed in the PSI document. Failure to do so will
cause your proposal to be declared technically ineligible.
IV.3d. Please take into consideration the following information
when preparing your proposal narrative: The following is included for
informational purposes only:
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 http://exchanges.state.gov or from: United States Department of State, Office
of Exchange Coordination and Designation, Office of Designation, ECA/
EC/D, SA-5, Floor C2, Department of State, Washington, DC 20522-0582.
Please refer to Solicitation Package for further information.
IV.3d.2 Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines: Pursuant to
the
[[Page 25029]]
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, 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.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.1. Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the
entire program. There must be a summary budget as well as breakdowns
reflecting both administrative and program budgets. Applicants may
provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase,
location, or activity to provide clarification.
IV.3e.2. Allowable costs for the program include the following:
(1) Salaries and fringe benefits; travel and per diem;
(2) Other direct costs, inclusive of rent, utilities, etc.;
(3) Indirect expenses (except against participant program
expenses), auditing costs;
(4) Participant program costs; i.e., international/domestic travel,
visas, per diem, conference attendance.
(5) USBT Adviser Web site and support activities.
(6) Advising coordinator expenses for pre-conference campus visits.
(7) Campus coordinator costs for advising center visits; i.e.,
international/domestic travel, visas, per diem.
Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget
guidelines and formatting instructions.
IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission:
Application Deadline Date: Friday, July 9, 2010.
Reference Number: ECA/A/S/A-11-05.
Methods of Submission:
Applications may be submitted in one of two ways:
(1) In hard-copy, via a nationally recognized overnight delivery
service
[[Page 25030]]
(i.e., Federal Express, UPS, Airborne Express, or U.S. Postal Service
Express Overnight Mail, etc.), or
(2.) electronically through http://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 eight copies of the application should be sent to:
Program Management Division, ECA-IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/A/S/A-11-05 SA-5,
Floor 4, Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20522-
0504.
IV.3f.2 Submitting Electronic Applications:
Applicants have the option of submitting proposals electronically
through Grants.gov (http://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 (http://www.grants.gov/GetStarted).
Several of the steps in the Grants.gov registration process could
take several weeks. Therefore, applicants should check with appropriate
staff within their organizations immediately after reviewing this RFGP
to confirm or determine their registration status with Grants.gov.
Once registered, the amount of time it can take to upload an
application will vary depending on a variety of factors including the
size of the application and the speed of your internet connection. In
addition, validation of an electronic submission via Grants.gov can
take up to two business days.
Therefore, we strongly recommend that you not wait until the
application deadline to begin the submission process through
Grants.gov.
The Grants.gov Web site includes extensive information on all
phases/aspects of the Grants.gov process, including an extensive
section on frequently asked questions, located under the ``For
Applicants'' section of the Web site. ECA strongly recommends that all
potential applicants review thoroughly the Grants.gov Web site, well in
advance of submitting a proposal through the Grants.gov system. ECA
bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or
conversion processes.
Direct all questions regarding Grants.gov registration and
submission to: Grants.gov Customer Support, Contact Center Phone: 800-
518-4726, Business Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Eastern Time, E-
mail: grants.gov">support@grants.gov.
Applicants have until midnight (12 a.m.), Washington, DC time of
the closing date to ensure that their entire application has been
uploaded to the Grants.gov site. There are no exceptions to the above
deadline. Applications uploaded to the site after midnight of the
application deadline date will be automatically rejected by the
grants.gov system, and will be technically ineligible.
Please refer to the Grants.gov Web site, for definitions of various
``application statuses'' and the difference between a submission
receipt and a submission validation. Applicants will receive a
validation e-mail from grants.gov upon the successful submission of an
application. Again, validation of an electronic submission via
Grants.gov can take up to two business days. Therefore, we strongly
recommend that you not wait until the application deadline to begin the
submission process through Grants.gov. ECA will not notify you upon
receipt of electronic applications.
It is the responsibility of all applicants submitting proposals via
the Grants.gov web portal to ensure that proposals have been received
by Grants.gov in their entirety, and ECA bears no responsibility for
data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.
IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of Applications: Executive Order
12372 does not apply to this program.
V. Application Review Information
V.1. Review Process
The Bureau will review all proposals for technical eligibility.
Proposals will be deemed ineligible if they do not fully adhere to the
guidelines stated herein and in the Solicitation Package. All eligible
proposals will be reviewed by the program office, as well as the Public
Diplomacy section overseas, where appropriate. Eligible proposals will
be subject to compliance with Federal and Bureau regulations and
guidelines and forwarded to Bureau grant panels for advisory review.
Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of the Legal Adviser or by
other Department elements. Final funding decisions are at the
discretion of the Department of State's Assistant Secretary for
Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final technical authority for
cooperative agreements resides with the Bureau's Grants Officer.
VI. Award Administration Information
VI.1a. Award Notices
Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by
Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures.
Successful applicants will receive a Federal Assistance Award (FAA)
from the Bureau's Grants Office. The FAA and the original proposal with
subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall be the only binding
authorizing document between the recipient and the U.S. Government. The
FAA will be signed by an authorized Grants Officer, and mailed to the
recipient's responsible officer identified in the application.
Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of
the application review from the ECA program office coordinating this
competition.
VI.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements
Terms and Conditions for the Administration of ECA agreements
include the following:
[[Page 25031]]
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: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants. http://fa.statebuy.state.gov.
VI.3. Reporting Requirements
You must provide ECA with a hard copy original plus two copies of
the following reports:
(1) A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after
the expiration of the award;
(2) A concise, one-page final program report summarizing program
outcomes no more than 90 days after the expiration of the award. This
one-page report will be transmitted to OMB, and be made available to
the public via OMB's USAspending.gov Web site--as part of ECA's Federal
Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reporting
requirements.
(3) A SF-PPR, ``Performance Progress Report'' Cover Sheet with all
program reports.
Award recipients will be required to provide reports analyzing
their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program
reports. (Please refer to IV. Application and Submission Instructions
(IV.3.d.3) above for Program Monitoring and Evaluation information.)
All data collected, including survey responses and contact
information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years and
provided to the Bureau upon request.
All reports must be sent to the ECA Grants Officer and ECA Program
Officer listed in the final assistance award document.
Optional Program Data Requirements:
Award recipients will be required to maintain specific data on
program participants and activities in an electronically accessible
database format that can be shared with the Bureau as required. As a
minimum, the data must include the following:
(1) Name, address, contact information and biographic sketch of all
persons who travel internationally on funds provided by the agreement
or who benefit from the award funding but do not travel.
(2) Itineraries of international and domestic travel, providing
dates of travel and cities in which any exchange experiences take
place. Final schedules for in-country and U.S. activities must be
received by the ECA Program Officer at least three work days prior to
the official opening of the activity.
VII. Agency Contacts
For questions about this announcement, contact: ECA/A/S/A Branch
Chief Caryn Danz or Program Officer Dorothy Mora, U.S. Department of
State, Educational Information and Resources Branch, ECA/A/S/A, SA-5,
4th Floor, ECA/A/S/A-11-05, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20522-
0503. Telephone for Caryn Danz is (202) 632-6353; E-mail address:
[email protected]. Telephone for Dorothy Mora is (202) 632-6347; E-mail
address: [email protected]. Fax: 202-632-9478.
All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should
reference the above title and number ECA/A/S/A-11-05.
Please read the complete announcement before sending inquiries or
submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has passed, Bureau staff
may not discuss this competition with applicants until the proposal
review process has been completed.
VIII. Other Information
Notice
The terms and conditions published in this RFGP are binding and may
not be modified by any Bureau representative. Explanatory information
provided by the Bureau that contradicts published language will not be
binding. Issuance of the RFGP does not constitute an award commitment
on the part of the Government. The Bureau reserves the right to reduce,
revise, or increase proposal budgets in accordance with the needs of
the program and the availability of funds. Awards made will be subject
to periodic reporting and evaluation requirements per section VI.3
above.
Dated: April 27, 2010.
Maura M. Pally,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S.
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2010-10725 Filed 5-5-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P