[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 179 (Thursday, September 16, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56645-56651]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-23145]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 7173]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for
Grant Proposals: Study of the United States Institutes for Scholars and
Secondary Educators
Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/E/USS-11-05-09.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.401.
Key Dates:
Application Deadline: October 27, 2010.
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 for the design and
implementation of five different Study of the United States Institutes
to take place over the course of six weeks beginning in June 2011,
pending the availability of funds. These Institutes should provide a
multinational group of experienced educators with a deeper
understanding of U.S. society, culture, values, and institutions.
Four of these Institutes will be for groups of 18 foreign
university level faculty, focusing on American Politics and Political
Thought, Contemporary American Literature, Religious Pluralism in the
United States, and U.S. Foreign Policy. The fifth Institute will be a
general survey course on the study of the United States for a group of
30 foreign secondary educators.
Applicants may propose to submit one proposal to host only one
Institute listed under this competition. Should an applicant submit
multiple proposals under this competition, all proposals will be
declared technically ineligible and given no further consideration in
the review process.
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
[[Page 56646]]
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: Study of the United States Institutes are intensive
academic programs whose purpose is to provide foreign university
faculty, secondary educators, and other scholars the opportunity to
deepen their understanding of American society, culture, and
institutions. The ultimate goal is to strengthen curricula and to
improve the quality of teaching about the United States in academic
institutions abroad.
The Bureau is seeking detailed proposals for five different Study
of the United States Institutes. Applications may be submitted by
public and private U.S. colleges, universities, and other not-for-
profit academic organizations that have an established reputation in a
field or discipline related to the specific program theme, and which
meet the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26
U.S.C. 501(c)(3).
Overview: Each program should be six weeks in length; participants
will spend approximately four weeks at the host institution, and
approximately two weeks on an educational study tour, including four to
five days in Washington, DC, at the conclusion of the Institute. The
educational travel component should directly complement the academic
program, and should include visits to cities and other sites of
interest in the region around the recipient institution, as well as to
another geographic region of the country. The recipient institution
also will be expected to provide participants with guidance and
resources for further investigation and research on the topics and
issues examined during the Institute after they return home.
The Study of the United States Institute on American Politics and
Political Thought should provide a multinational group of 18
experienced foreign university faculty and practitioners with a deeper
understanding of U.S. political institutions and major currents in
American political thought. The Institute should provide the foreign
participants insight into how intellectual and political movements have
influenced modern American political institutions. The Institute should
provide an overview of political thought during the founding period
(constitutional foundations), and the development and current
functioning of the American presidency, Congress, and the federal
judiciary. The examination of political institutions might be expanded
to include the electoral system, political parties and interest groups,
the civil service system, media and think tanks, or the welfare/
regulatory state. The Institute should address modern political and
cultural issues in the United States (including but not limited to
civil rights, women's rights, immigration, etc.), and the significance
of public discourse in the formulation of public policy. One award of
up to $290,000 will support this Institute.
The Study of the United States Institute on Contemporary American
Literature should provide a multinational group of up to 18 experienced
foreign university faculty and practitioners with a deeper
understanding of U.S. society and culture, past and present, through an
examination of contemporary American literature. Its purpose is
twofold: (1) To explore contemporary American writers and writing in a
variety of genres; and (2) to suggest how the themes explored in those
works reflect larger currents within contemporary American society and
culture. The program should explore the diversity of the American
literary landscape, examining how major contemporary writers, schools
and movements reflect the traditions of the American literary canon. At
the same time, the Institute should expose participants to writers who
represent a departure from that tradition, and who are establishing new
directions for American literature. One award of up to $290,000 will
support this Institute.
The Study of the United States Institute on Religious Pluralism in
the United States should provide a multinational group of up to 18
experienced foreign university faculty and practitioners with a deeper
understanding of U.S. society and culture, past and present, through an
examination of religious pluralism in the United States and its
intersection with American democracy. Employing a multi-disciplinary
approach, drawing on fields such as history, political science,
sociology, anthropology, law and others where appropriate, the program
should explore both the historical and contemporary relationship
between church and state in the United States; examine the ways in
which religious thought and practice have influenced, and been
influenced by, the development of American-style democracy; examine the
intersections of religion and politics in the United States in such
areas as elections, public policy, and foreign policy; and explore the
sociology and demography of religion in the United States today,
including a survey of the diversity of contemporary religious beliefs
and its impact on American politics. One award of up to $290,000 will
support this Institute.
The Study of the U.S. Institute on U.S. Foreign Policy should
provide a multinational group of 18 experienced foreign university
faculty and practitioners with a deeper understanding of how U.S.
foreign policy is formulated and implemented with an emphasis on the
post Cold War period. This Institute should begin with a review of the
historical development of U.S. foreign policy and cover significant
events, individuals, and philosophies that have dominated U.S. foreign
policy. In addition, the Institute should explain the role of key
players in the field of foreign policy including the executive and
legislative branches, the media, public opinion, think-tanks, non-
governmental and international organizations and how these players
debate, cooperate, influence policy, and are held accountable. Regional
sessions, for the entire group, highlighting salient topics such as
energy security and environmental policy in Europe; trade and human
rights issues in Asia; foreign aid and humanitarian assistance in
Africa; drug trafficking and immigration issues for the Western
Hemisphere; and combating terrorism in the Near East and South Asia are
among the relevant issues that might be explored. In addition, sessions
focusing on current issues such as nuclear disarmament, the Middle East
peace process, or U.S. military actions would be appropriate. The host
institution should provide a comprehensive and cohesive program,
ensuring that a diversity of views is presented and remain flexible
based on final composition of the participant group. One award of up to
$290,000 will support this Institute.
The Study of the U.S. Institute for Secondary Educators should
provide a multinational group of 30 experienced secondary school
educators (teachers, teacher trainers, curriculum developers, textbook
writers, or education ministry officials) with a deeper understanding
of U.S. society, education, and culture--past and present. The
Institute should be organized around a central theme or themes in U.S.
civilization and should have a strong contemporary component.
[[Page 56647]]
Through a combination of traditional, multi-disciplinary, and
interdisciplinary approaches, program content should be imaginatively
integrated in order to elucidate the history and evolution of U.S.
educational institutions and values, broadly defined. The program
should also serve to illuminate contemporary political, social, and
economic debates in American society. One award of up to $360,000 will
support this Institute.
Program Design: Each Study of the U.S. Institute should be designed
as an intensive, academically rigorous seminar for an experienced group
of educators from abroad. Each Institute should be organized through an
integrated series of lectures, readings, seminar discussions, and
regional travel and site visits, and also should include sessions that
expose participants to U.S. pedagogical philosophy and practice for
teaching the discipline. Each Institute also should include some
opportunity for limited but well-directed independent research. Each
program should draw from a diverse disciplinary base, and should itself
provide a model of how a foreign university might approach the study of
United States.
Applicants are encouraged to design thematically coherent programs
in ways that draw upon the particular strengths, faculty, and resources
of their institutions as well as upon the nationally recognized
expertise of scholars and other experts throughout the United States.
Participants: Participants will be nominated by U.S. Embassies and
Fulbright Commissions from all regions of the world, with final
selection made by the Bureau's Branch for the Study of the United
States. Every effort will be made to select a balanced mix of male and
female participants. Participants will be diverse in terms of age,
professional position, and experience abroad. All participants will
have a good knowledge of English.
Program Dates: The Institutes should be a maximum of 44 days in
length (including participant arrival and departure days) and should
begin by June 2011, pending the availability of funds.
Program Guidelines: While the conception and structure of the
Institute agenda is the responsibility of the recipient, 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 the following responsibilities for the Institute:
Participate in the selection of participants; oversee the Institute
through one or more site visits; debrief participants in Washington,
DC at the conclusion of the Institute; and engage in follow-on
communication with the participants after they return to their home
countries (see POGI document for additional details). The Branch may
request that the recipient make modifications to the academic
residency and/or educational travel components of the program. The
recipient 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 2011.
Approximate Total Funding: $1,520,000 (pending the availability of
funds).
Approximate Number of Awards: Five (5).
Approximate Average Award: Four awards of $290,000 for 18
participants each; one award of $360,000 for 30 participants.
Floor of Award Range: Approximately $290,000.
Ceiling of Award Range: $360,000.
Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, February 1,
2011.
Anticipated Project Completion Date: March 2012.
Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of these
programs and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, it
is ECA's intent to renew these cooperative agreements for two
additional fiscal years before openly competing them again.
III. Eligibility Information
III.1. Eligible Applicants
Applications may be submitted by public and private U.S. colleges,
universities, and other not-for-profit academic organizations that have
an established reputation in a field or discipline related to the
specific program theme, and which meet 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 fewer
than four years experience in conducting international exchanges be
limited to $60,000 in Bureau funding. ECA anticipates making five
awards, four in an amount up to $290,000, and in one in an amount up to
$360,000 to support the program and administrative costs required to
implement this exchange program. Therefore, organizations with fewer
than four years experience in conducting international exchanges are
ineligible to apply under this competition. The Bureau encourages
applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in
support of its programs.
(b) Technical Eligibility: It is the Bureau's intent to award five
separate cooperative agreements to five different institutions under
this competition. Therefore prospective applicants may submit only one
proposal under this competition. All applicants must comply with this
requirement. Should an applicant submit multiple proposals under this
competition, all proposals will be declared technically ineligible
[[Page 56648]]
and given no further consideration in the review process.
IV. Application and Submission Information
Note: Please read the complete announcement before sending
inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has
passed, Bureau staff may not discuss this competition with
applicants until the proposal review process has been completed.
IV.1 Contact Information to Request an Application Package
Please contact the Branch for the Study of the United States, ECA/
A/E/USS, Fourth Floor, U.S. Department of State, SA-5, 2200 C Street,
NW., Washington, DC 20522-0504, (202) 632-3340 to request a
Solicitation Package. Please refer to the Funding Opportunity Number
ECA/A/E/USS-11-05-09 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 Brendan M. Walsh and refer to the Funding
Opportunity Number ECA/A/E/USS-11-05-09 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:
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.
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: 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
[[Page 56649]]
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. Budget requests for either of the two scholar
institutes may not exceed $290,000, and administrative costs should be
no more than approximately $95,000. Budget requests for the Institute
for Secondary Educators may not exceed $360,000, and administrative
costs should be no more than approximately $110,000. 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) Institute staff salary and benefits;
(2) Participant housing and meals;
(3) Participant travel and per diem;
(4) Textbooks, educational materials, and admissions fees;
(5) Honoraria for guest speakers;
(6) 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: October 27, 2010.
Reference Number: ECA/A/E/USS-11-05-09.
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.
[[Page 56650]]
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-11-
05-09, 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.
Optional--IV.3f.3. You may also state here any limitations on the
number of applications that an applicant may submit and make it clear
whether the limitation is on the submitting organization, individual
program director or both.
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.
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 the Bureau'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 the Bureau'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. A draft survey questionnaire or other technique plus a
description of a methodology to use to link outcomes to original
project objectives is strongly recommended.
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 Bureau grants as determined by Bureau Grants
Staff. The Bureau will consider the past performance of prior
recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants. Proposed
personnel and
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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 also should provide a plan for continued follow-on activity
(without Bureau support) ensuring that Bureau 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 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:
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:
Mandatory:
(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.
VII. Agency Contacts
For questions about this announcement, contact: Brendan M. Walsh,
U.S. Department of State, Branch for the Study of the United States,
ECA/A/E/USS, SA-5, Fourth Floor, ECA/A/E/USS-11-05-09, 2200 C Street,
NW., Washington, DC 20522-0503, (202) 632-3340, [email protected].
All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should
reference the above title and number ECA/A/E/USS-11-05-09.
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: September 9, 2010.
Ann Stock,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of
State.
[FR Doc. 2010-23145 Filed 9-15-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P