[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 150 (Thursday, August 5, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47339-47344]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-19300]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 7097]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for
Grant Proposals: Global Undergraduate Exchange Program for East Asia
and the Pacific and the Western Hemisphere
Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/E/WHA-11-01.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.009.
Key Dates
Application Deadline: November 1, 2010.
Executive Summary: The Office of Academic Exchange Programs of the
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces an open
competition for an assistance award to provide administrative services
for the FY 2011 Global Undergraduate Exchange Program for East Asia and
the Pacific and the Western Hemisphere (Global UGRAD Program for EAP
and WHA). Public and private non-profit organizations meeting the
provisions described in IRS regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c)(3) may submit
proposals to cooperate with the Bureau in the administration and
implementation of academic exchange activities for promising
undergraduate students from underrepresented sectors of the population
in East Asia and the Pacific and the Western Hemisphere. For a list of
participating countries by region, please see the Project Objectives,
Goals, and Implementation document (POGI) that accompanies this
announcement. Organizations must apply to administer the program in
both geographic regions. Pending the availability of funds it is
anticipated that the total amount of funding available for all FY 2011
activities will be $4,200,000 and will involve the management of
approximately 170 students.
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
The U.S. Department of State is dedicated to increasing its
engagement with undergraduate student leaders worldwide who represent
indigenous, disadvantaged or underrepresented communities. ECA's
outreach includes providing merit-based programs for underserved
sectors of society that increase participants' knowledge and
understanding of the United States.
The principal objective of the Global Undergraduate Exchange
Program (hereafter referred to as the Global UGRAD Program) is to
provide a substantive exchange experience at a U.S. college or
university to a diverse group of emerging student leaders from
underrepresented sectors of the population in East Asia and the Pacific
and the Western Hemisphere. The award recipient will ensure that
participants are enrolled full-time in a non-degree course of study at
U.S. institutions alongside American peers, and will provide the
participants with opportunities to experience American society,
institutions, and culture in and out of the classroom. Program
participants will return to their home countries at the conclusion of
the exchange program to complete their degrees in their home colleges
and universities, and to re-integrate with their home societies.
The Global UGRAD Program will provide no less than 170 scholarships
for non-degree academic study at institutions of higher education to
outstanding students from non-elite sectors. This number includes 40
one academic year and 50 one-semester scholarships for students from
East Asia and the Pacific and 30 one academic year and 50 one-semester
scholarships for students from the Western Hemisphere. In addition, the
award recipient will be responsible for providing pre-academic
intensive English language instruction as specified in the POGI.
Scholarships will be granted to students currently enrolled in an
undergraduate program in their home country, and who will have at least
a semester of coursework to complete before graduating after they
finish their Global UGRAD program and return to their home country. The
award recipient will place one-semester and one-academic year program
participants in non-degree programs at both U.S. four-year colleges and
universities, and community colleges.
The award recipient will enhance the participants' academic
education by developing enrichment activities that include having
students make local presentations about their countries, performing
community service, and taking part in internships. All participants
will be required to return to their home countries immediately upon the
conclusion of their scholarship program. ECA will not consider
participant transfers from the Global UGRAD Program to any other U.S.
institution or Exchange Visitor Program.
The award recipient will make all university placements and serve
as the principal liaison among Global UGRAD Program host institutions
and ECA. Further details on specific program responsibilities can be
found in the POGI. Interested organizations should read the entire
Federal Register announcement for all information prior to preparing
proposals. Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations. Please refer
to the Solicitation Package for further instructions.
In a Cooperative Agreement, the WHA and EAP Program Offices of the
Office of Academic Exchange Programs (ECA/A/E) are substantially
involved in program activities beyond routine monitoring. In this
program ECA/A/E will:
1. Participate in the design and direction of program activities;
2. Make final selections of all program participants;
3. Approve and provide input for all program agendas and timelines;
4. Approve all student placements;
5. Provide guidance in the execution of all project components;
6. Monitor the target goal for the number of participants and the
expenditure of funds toward meeting that goal;
7. Arrange for State Department speakers at workshops;
8. Assist with SEVIS-related issues;
9. Assist with participant emergencies;
10. Provide liaison with Public Affairs Sections of the U.S.
Embassies, bi-national Fulbright Commissions, and
[[Page 47340]]
country desk officers at the State Department;
11. Provide program evaluation and feedback to award recipient.
Note: All materials, publicity, and correspondence related to
the program must acknowledge this as a program of the Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State. The
Bureau will retain copyright use of and distribute materials related
to this program as it sees fit. See the PSI for additional
information.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. ECA's level of involvement in
this program is listed under number I above.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2011.
Approximate Total Funding: $4,200,000, pending availability of
funds.
Approximate Number of Awards: 1.
Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, the
anticipated program start date will be January 1, 2011.
Anticipated Project Completion Date: December 31, 2012.
Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of this
program and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, it is
ECA's intent to renew this 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
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 up to $4,200,000 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 ECA/A/E/WHA, SA-5, 4th Floor, U.S. Department of
State, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20522-0504, (202) 632-6044,
fax: (202) 632-9411, or [email protected] to request a Solicitation
Package. Please refer to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/E/WHA-11-
01 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 Program Officer Thomas Ingalls and refer to the
Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/E/WHA-11-01 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
[[Page 47341]]
award 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 award 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 critically important
emphases on the security and proper administration of the Exchange
Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence by award recipients and
sponsors to all regulations governing the J visa. Therefore, proposals
should demonstrate the applicant's capacity to meet all requirements
governing the administration of the Exchange Visitor Programs as set
forth in 22 CFR part 62, including the oversight of Responsible
Officers and Alternate Responsible Officers, screening and selection of
program participants, provision of pre-arrival information and
orientation to participants, monitoring of participants, proper
maintenance and security of forms, record-keeping, reporting and other
requirements.
The award recipient 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: 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 20522-0505.
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, 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
[[Page 47342]]
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. A comprehensive
narrative must accompany the budget, clearly explaining all proposed
costs (staff salaries and time on task must be supported by appropriate
documentation and certified as true and accurate representations of
actual costs and percentage of task).
IV.3e.2 Allowable costs for the program include the following:
(1) Participant expenses.
(2) Administrative costs.
Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget
guidelines and formatting instructions.
IV.3f. Application Deadline And Methods of Submission
Application Deadline Date: November 1, 2010.
Reference Number: ECA/A/E/WHA-11-01.
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 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 six (6) copies of the application should be sent
to: Program Management Division, ECA-IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/A/E/WHA-11-
01, SA-5, Floor 4, Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington,
DC 20522-0504.
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. embassies) for their review.
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.
[[Page 47343]]
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.
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. 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 award recipient will meet the program's objectives
and plan.
3. Multiplier effect/impact: Proposed programs should strengthen
long-term mutual understanding, including maximum sharing of
information and establishment of long-term institutional and individual
linkages.
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. Institution's Record/Capacity: 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 as determined by Bureau Grants
Staff. Proposals should demonstrate capacity to place students at
geographically diverse, accredited small colleges and universities that
can provide students personalized attention. Proposed personnel and
institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve
the program or project's goals. The Bureau will consider the past
performance of prior recipients and the demonstrated potential of new
applicants.
6. Project Evaluation and Follow-on: 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 are recommended. Proposals should also
provide a plan for continued follow-on activity (with minimal Bureau
support) which insures that Bureau supported programs are not isolated
events.
7. 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.
8. Value to U.S.-Partner Country Relations: Proposed projects
should receive positive assessments by the U.S. Department of State's
geographic area desk and overseas officers of program need, potential
impact, and significance in the partner countries.
VI. Award Administration Information
VI.1a. Award Notices
Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by
Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures.
Successful applicants will receive an Federal Assistance Award (FAA)
from the Bureau's Grants Office. The FAA and the original proposal with
subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall be the only binding
authorizing document between the recipient and the U.S. Government. The
FAA will be signed by an authorized Grants Officer, and mailed to the
recipient's responsible officer identified in the application.
Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of
the application review from the ECA program office coordinating this
competition.
VI.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements
Terms and Conditions for the Administration of ECA agreements
include the following:
Office of Management and Budget Circular A-122, ``Cost Principles for
Nonprofit Organizations.''
Office of Management and Budget Circular A-21, ``Cost Principles for
Educational Institutions.''
OMB Circular A-87, ``Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian
Governments''.
OMB Circular No. A-110 (Revised), Uniform Administrative Requirements
for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education,
Hospitals, and other Nonprofit Organizations.
OMB Circular No. A-102, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants-
in-Aid to State and Local Governments.
OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of States, Local Government, and Non-
profit Organizations
Please reference the following Web sites for additional
information:
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 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 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.
[[Page 47344]]
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: Thomas Ingalls,
Western Hemisphere Programs Branch, Office of Academic Exchange
Programs, ECA/A/E/WHA, SA-5 Floor 4, U.S. Department of State, 2200 C
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20522-0503, 202-632-6044 (phone), 202-632-
9411 (fax), http://exchanges.state.gov/.
All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should
reference the above title and number ECA/A/E/WHA-11-01. 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: July 26, 2010.
Ann Stock,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of
State.
[FR Doc. 2010-19300 Filed 8-4-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P