[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 208 (Thursday, October 28, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66413-66419]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-27301]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 7214]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for
Grant Proposals: FY 2012 Fulbright Scholar Program
Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/E-12-01.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.401.
Key Dates:
Application Deadline: February 18, 2011.
Executive Summary: The Office of Academic Programs, Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), U.S. Department of State
announces an open competition for a cooperative agreement to assist in
the FY 2012 administration of the worldwide Fulbright Scholar Program.
The Fulbright Scholar Program is a major component of the overall
Fulbright Program, which also includes the Fulbright Student Program.
For more than 60 years, the Fulbright Scholar Program has offered
awards for college and university faculty, as well as for non-academic
professionals (such as lawyers, artists, and journalists) and
independent scholars, to lecture and conduct research abroad. Tens of
thousands of U.S. and non-U.S. scholars and professionals have
participated in these exchanges since the Fulbright Program's inception
in 1946.
The Fulbright Scholar Program currently sends approximately 1,300
qualified U.S. scholars and professionals abroad to lecture, conduct
research, and provide academic consulting at overseas institutions for
long- and short-term programs. Conversely, the program brings
approximately 900 visiting (non-U.S.) participants from approximately
150 countries to the United States for similar activities.
Responsibility for the management of the Fulbright Scholar Program
is shared between the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC, fifty
bilateral Fulbright commissions, approximately 100 U.S. embassies
overseas, and a private sector, cooperating agency in the United
States. Overall policy guidelines for the Fulbright Scholar Program are
determined by the Presidentially appointed J. William Fulbright Foreign
Scholarship Board (FSB).
The organization that is awarded the cooperative agreement under
this competition will be responsible for recruitment, selection,
placement, facilitation of enrichment activities for
[[Page 66414]]
participants, program promotion, disbursement of funds, and
recordkeeping for both the U.S. and Visiting Fulbright Scholar
Programs. This work will be supervised by the Bureau of Educational and
Cultural Affairs of the Department of State.
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. The Fulbright Program
also receives significant annual funding and other support from partner
governments and private donors worldwide.
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, as sponsor and
manager of the Fulbright Scholar Program, plays a significant role in
the planning and implementation of all program initiatives, publicity,
promotion, and enrichment activities, as well as liaison with overseas
field partners. The Bureau will work closely with the recipient
organization on participant selection procedures, development of
selection panels, and stipend and benefit issues. Regular ongoing
contacts with Bureau managers will be required throughout the program
year. Through this Request for Grant Proposals (RFGP), the Department
seeks new ideas to develop effective responses to changing recruitment
conditions, to improve the outreach of the program in the U.S. and
overseas, and to introduce new models for scholarly exchange.
Purpose
The Department of State will provide funding to the successful
applicant organization to assist in the administration of both the U.S.
and Visiting Fulbright Scholar Program.
The Fulbright Program was created by the U.S. Congress at the end
of the World War II to provide the opportunity for future leaders to
observe and better comprehend the political, economic, and cultural
institutions and societies of other countries and people. In the
intervening years, the Fulbright Program has evolved into the premier
educational exchange program sponsored by the people of the United
States through their federal government, and an important element in
the conduct of U.S. foreign affairs. The Fulbright Program, which now
extends to more than 150 foreign countries and involves approximately
8,000 participants per year, has helped to form and inform tens of
thousands of the world's leaders in every academic and professional
field.
The Scholar portion of the Fulbright Program will engage
approximately 2,400 scholars and professionals in FY 2012.
The hallmark of the Fulbright Program is binationalism. The United
States Government and foreign governments, educational institutions and
other public and private entities are all partners in this enterprise.
In many countries of the world, financial contributions from
governments or public/private sources match or exceed those of the
United States. Because of its binational nature, the profile of the
Fulbright Program worldwide reflects a range of objectives and
interests.
Under the auspices of the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship
Board, approximately 800 U.S. citizens are awarded one or two semester
Fulbright Scholar grants each year through a merit-based, competitive
process, to teach undergraduate or graduate courses at host
universities overseas, collaborate with foreign colleagues on projects,
pursue individual research, conduct seminars, consult with foreign
government ministries and educational institutions, advise on
curriculum development and guest lecture at foreign universities other
than their host institutions.
All grant opportunities are determined overseas by binational
Fulbright commissions and U.S. embassies in coordination with the
Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in
Washington, DC. The cooperative organization administering the
Fulbright Scholar Program is responsible for advertising and recruiting
applicants in the U.S. and for managing an academic peer review process
to recommend candidates for participation in the program.
Similarly, approximately 900 foreign scholars and professionals
receive grants each year for research, teaching, guest lecturing and
academic consulting in the United States. These participants are chosen
through open, merit-based competitions in each country, which are
conducted by a bilateral Fulbright commission or, in the absence of a
commission, by a U.S. embassy.
Additionally, the Fulbright Scholar Program offers a range of
activities in response to changing conditions and requirements within
the U.S. academic community and varying circumstances and emerging
needs in overseas academic environments. The cooperating organization
should be prepared to offer expertise, intellectual input and creative
thinking on current research, pedagogical, administrative,
institutional, and other academic issues and concerns to promote the
relevance, quality and effectiveness of the Fulbright Scholar Program
in the U.S. and abroad. The cooperating organization should be prepared
to advise the Bureau on international higher education policy issues
that are addressed by the Bureau in Fulbright and other contexts.
While maintaining its core long-term activities, the program now
includes shorter-term grant opportunities for both U.S. and foreign
scholars, new opportunities for collaborative research and support for
follow-on activities to build lasting links between U.S. and foreign
academic institutions. These initiatives have made the Scholar program
more responsive to academic environments and more relevant in
supporting long-term U.S. national interests as well as world-wide
concerns. The Department continues to seek new program models that
respond to changing circumstances in the U.S. and overseas. The
cooperating organization will need to demonstrate flexibility to
respond quickly to changing priorities and global circumstances when
administering and developing programs.
The Fulbright Specialist Program provides short-term (two to six
weeks) opportunities for up to 500 U.S. academic specialists annually
to work with overseas, post-secondary institutions on projects ranging
from lecturing and participation in teaching seminars to collaboration
on curriculum and course design.
Through the Scholar-in-Residence component of the Fulbright
program, the Bureau brings foreign scholars and professionals for an
academic semester or academic year to U.S. campuses that do not often
house foreign scholars. These campuses are selected through a
competition managed by the cooperating agency.
The Bureau sponsors collaborative research through the global New
Century Scholars Program and
[[Page 66415]]
comparable regional research programs, involving approximately 30 U.S.
and foreign scholars working in thematically based cohorts for
approximately one year.
These programs require close collaboration between the Bureau, the
cooperating agency in the U.S., Fulbright commissions and U.S.
embassies overseas. Based on this program's direct relevance to current
world issues, the cooperating organization is expected to provide
expertise on how academic research collaboration can most effectively
address international policy issues and encourage academic and other
private sector involvement and support to supplement government funds.
The cooperating agency will also be responsible for other special
projects as directed by the Office of Academic Exchange Programs,
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of Department of State,
including seminars for Community College and International Education
Administrators, and other professional development opportunities for
groups of scholars from selected countries.
The Bureau welcomes proposals from applicant organizations
proposing additional new scholarly exchange activities consistent with
Fulbright principles that are relevant to changing circumstances in the
global academic community.
In FY 2012, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs will
continue to seek to strengthen exchanges in parts of the world which
have been under-represented in academic exchange programs. The Bureau
seeks innovative recruitment approaches and creative strategies to
attract U.S. Scholars to these regions.
In a cooperative agreement, ECA/A/E is substantially involved in
program activities above and beyond routine monitoring. ECA activities
and responsibilities for this program are as follows:
Participating in the design and direction of program
activities;
Approving of key personnel;
Approving and providing input on program timelines,
agendas and administrative procedures;
Providing guidance in execution of all program components;
Reviewing and approving all program publicity and
recruitment materials;
Providing approval of participating scholars, in
cooperation with Fulbright commissions and U.S. embassies, subject to
final selection by the Fulbright Board;
Providing approval of changes to scholars proposed field,
program, or institution;
Providing approval of decisions related to special
circumstances or problems throughout the duration of program;
Assisting with non-immigration status and other SEVIS-
related issues;
Assisting with participant emergencies;
Providing liaison with relevant U.S. embassies,
Fulbright commissions and country desk officers at the
State Department.
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: 2012.
Approximate Total Funding: $7,800,000.
Approximate Number of Awards: One.
Approximate Average Award: $7,800,000.
Floor of Award Range: $7,800,000.
Ceiling of Award Range: $7,800,000.
Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, October 1,
2011.
Anticipated Project Completion Date: September 30, 2015.
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 at least four
additional fiscal years, before openly competing it again.
III. Eligibility Information
III.1. Eligible applicants
Applications may be submitted by public and private non-profit
organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code
section 26 USC 501(c)(3).
III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds
There is no minimum or maximum percentage required for this
competition.
However, the Bureau encourages applicants to provide maximum levels
of cost sharing and funding in support of its programs.
When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the
applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its
proposal and later included in an approved agreement. Cost sharing may
be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For
accountability, you must maintain written records to support all costs
which are claimed as your contribution, as well as costs to be paid by
the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. The basis
for determining the value of cash and in-kind contributions must be in
accordance with OMB Circular A-110, (Revised), Subpart C.23--Cost
Sharing and Matching. In the event you do not provide the minimum
amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget, ECA's
contribution will be reduced in like proportion. The successful
recipient organization will be expected to continue to provide cost-
sharing in future renewal applications at levels comparable to those
provided in the initial competition.
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 $7,800,000 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.
(b.) Technical Eligibility: All proposals must comply with the
technical eligibility requirements specified in the Proposal Submission
Instructions (PSI) and the Project Objectives, Goals, and
Implementation (POGI) document. Failure to do so will result in your
proposal being declared technically ineligible and given no further
consideration in the review process.
IV. Application and Submission Information
Note: Please read the complete announcement before sending
inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has
passed, Bureau staff may not discuss this competition with
applicants until the proposal review process has been completed.
IV.1 Contact Information To Request an Application Package
Please contact the Office of Academic Exchange Programs, ECA/A/E,
SA-5, 4th Floor, U.S. Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20037, telephone (202) 632-3233, fax (202) 632-6490 to
request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to the Funding
[[Page 66416]]
Opportunity Number ECA/A/E-12-01 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 Ms. Michelle Johnson and refer to the Funding
Opportunity Number ECA/A/E-12-01 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 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.
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 20037.
Please refer to Solicitation Package for further information.
IV.3d.2 Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines. Pursuant to
the Bureau's authorizing legislation, programs must maintain a non-
political character and should be balanced and representative of the
diversity of American political, social, and cultural life.
``Diversity'' should be interpreted in the broadest sense and encompass
differences including, but not limited to ethnicity, race, gender,
religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, and disabilities.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere to the advancement of this
principle both in program administration and in program content.
Please refer to the review criteria under the `Support for
Diversity' section for specific suggestions on incorporating diversity
into your proposal. Public Law 104-319 provides that ``in carrying out
programs of educational and cultural exchange in countries whose people
do not fully enjoy freedom and democracy,'' the Bureau ``shall take
appropriate steps to provide opportunities for participation in such
programs to human rights and democracy leaders of such countries.''
Public Law 106-113 requires that the governments of the countries
described above do not have inappropriate influence in the selection
process. Proposals should reflect advancement of these goals in their
program contents, to the full extent deemed feasible.
IV.3d.3. Program Monitoring and Evaluation. Proposals must include
a plan to monitor and evaluate the project's success, both as the
activities unfold and at the end of the program. The Bureau recommends
that your proposal include a draft survey questionnaire or other
technique plus a description of a methodology to use to link outcomes
to original project objectives. The Bureau expects that the recipient
organization will track participants or partners and be able to respond
to key evaluation questions, including satisfaction with the program,
learning as a result of the program,
[[Page 66417]]
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.3d.4. Describe your plans for: i.e. sustainability, overall
program management, staffing, coordination with ECA and PAS or any
other requirements etc.
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. Depending on the availability of funds, up to
$7,800,000 in U.S. Government funding will be available to support the
administration of the Fulbright Scholar Program worldwide in FY 2012.
In addition, a program budget totaling approximately $45,000,000 for
the global Fulbright Scholar Program will be transferred to the
recipient organization at regular intervals to cover individual
participant costs. There must be a summary budget as well as breakdowns
reflecting administrative budget categories.
IV.3e.2. Allowable costs for the program include the following:
(1) staff salaries and benefits;
(2) rent, furniture, and equipment;
(3) travel;
(4) communications, printing, and publishing;
(5) and other fees associated with the normal administration of
exchange 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: February 18, 2011
Reference Number: ECA/A/E-12-01
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
(2.) Express, or U.S. Postal Service Express Overnight Mail, etc.),
or
(3.) 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 8 copies of the application should be sent to:
Program Management Division ECA-IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/A/E-12-01, SA-5,
Floor 4, Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20037.
IV.3f.2--Submitting Electronic Applications. Applicants have the
option of submitting proposals electronically through Grants.gov
[[Page 66418]]
(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
assistance awards (cooperative agreements) resides with the Bureau's
Grants Officer.
Review Criteria
Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed
according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are not rank
ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation:
1. Program planning: 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.
2. Ability to achieve program objectives: Objectives should be
reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly
demonstrate how the applicant will meet the program's objectives and
plans, while demonstrating innovation and a commitment to academic
excellence. Proposals should demonstrate a capacity for flexibility in
the management of the program.
3. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate the
recipient's commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding of
diversity.
4. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve Fulbright
Scholar Program goals in all respects. Applicants should demonstrate
well-established links to the scholarly and professional community in
the U.S. and knowledge of other educational environments as they apply
to academic and professional exchange programs.
5. Institution's 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 awards (grants or cooperative agreements)
as determined by the Bureau's Office of Contracts. The Bureau will
consider the past performance of prior recipients and the demonstrated
potential of new applicants.
6. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate
the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of
the program. The Bureau recommends that the proposal include a draft
survey questionnaire or other technique plus description of a
methodology to use to link outcomes to original project objectives.
Award-receiving organizations/institutions will be expected to submit
intermediate reports after each project component is concluded or
quarterly, whichever is less frequent.
7. Cost-effectiveness and Cost-sharing: The overhead and
administrative components of the proposal, including salaries and
honoraria, should be kept as low as possible. All other items should be
necessary and appropriate. The proposal should maximize cost-sharing
through other private sector support as well as institutional direct
funding contributions.
[[Page 66419]]
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.
All awards made under this competition must be executed according
to all relevant U.S. laws and policies regarding assistance to the
Palestinian Authority, and to the West Bank and Gaza. Organizations
must consult with relevant Public Affairs Offices before entering into
any formal arrangements or agreements with Palestinian organizations or
institutions.
Note: To assure that planning for the inclusion of the
Palestinian Authority complies with requirements, please contact
Donna Ives, Branch Chief for Middle East Programs, 202-632-6050 for
additional information.
VI.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements
Terms and Conditions for the Administration of ECA agreements
include the following:
Office of Management and Budget Circular A-122, ``Cost Principles for
Nonprofit Organizations.''
Office of Management and Budget Circular A-21, ``Cost Principles for
Educational Institutions.''
OMB Circular A-87, ``Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian
Governments''.
OMB Circular No. A-110 (Revised), Uniform Administrative 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:
A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after the
expiration of the award;
(1.) 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.
(2.) A SF-PPR, ``Performance Progress Report'' Cover Sheet with all
program reports.
(3.) Additional reporting requirements as outlined in the POGI
document.
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: Michelle Johnson,
U.S. Department of State, Office of Academic Exchange Programs, ECA/A/
E, SA-5, 4th Floor, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20037, tel.
(202) 632-3233 and fax (202) 632-6490, [email protected].
All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should
reference the above title and number ECA/A/E-12-01.
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: October 21, 2010.
Ann Stock,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of
State.
[FR Doc. 2010-27301 Filed 10-27-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P