[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 222 (Thursday, November 18, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70764-70770]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-29122]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice: 7230]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for
Grant Proposals: Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student Leaders on
New Media in Journalism
Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreements.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/E/USS-11-11.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.009.
Key Dates: May to August, 2011.
Application Deadline: January 10, 2011.
Executive Summary: The Branch for the Study of the United States,
Office of Academic Exchange Programs, Bureau of Educational and
Cultural Affairs, invites proposal submissions for the design and
implementation of two (2) Study of the United States Institutes for
Student Leaders on New Media in Journalism. Each taking place over the
course of five weeks, the Institutes will be scheduled in summer 2011.
Both Institutes should take place at U.S. academic institutions and
provide groups of highly motivated undergraduate students from the
countries and regions noted below with in-depth seminars on New Media
and Journalism. Each Institute should include four weeks of academic
residency followed by a one-week integrated educational travel tour
that will expose participants to a different region of the United
States. The one-week educational study tour should conclude with a
three day session in Washington, DC.
Each Institute will host up to 20 participants, for a total of
approximately 40 students. ECA plans to provide one to two awards for
the administration of the two Study of the U.S. Institutes and welcomes
applications from accredited post-secondary education institutions in
the United States and public and private non-profit organizations (see
Eligibility Information, section III). The awarding of Cooperative
Agreements for this program is contingent upon the availability of FY
2011 funds.
[[Page 70765]]
I. Funding Opportunity Description
I. 1. Authority
Overall grant making authority for this program is contained in the
Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, Public Law 87-
256, as amended, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act. The purpose of
the Act is to ``enable the Government of the United States to increase
mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the
people of other countries * * *; to strengthen the ties which unite us
with other nations by demonstrating the educational and cultural
interests, developments, and achievements of the people of the United
States and other nations * * * and thus to assist in the development of
friendly, sympathetic and peaceful relations between the United States
and the other countries of the world.'' The funding authority for the
program above is provided through legislation.
I. 2. Purpose
The Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student Leaders on New Media
in Journalism are intensive academic programs whose purpose is to
provide groups of foreign undergraduate students with a deeper
understanding of the United States while also exposing Americans to the
diverse cultures and traditions of the exchange participants.
The principal objective of the Institutes is to provide
undergraduate leaders an introduction to new media in journalism, while
also heightening their awareness of the history and evolution of U.S.
society, culture, values, and institutions, broadly defined. In this
context, the Institutes should incorporate a focus on contemporary
American life, as it is shaped by historical and/or current political,
social, and economic issues and debates. The role and influence of
principles and values such as democracy, the rule of law, individual
rights, freedom of expression, equality, and diversity and tolerance
should be addressed.
I. 3. Overview
The Study of the U.S. Institute on New Media in Journalism should
examine major topics in journalism, including the changing landscape of
traditional and new forms of media. The program should underscore the
impact of digital journalism, and give participants new skills such as
uploading original audio/visual content; utilizing twitter; publishing
blogs; operating social networking Web sites; and other new media
platforms. The Institute should also explore the concept of a free
press, First Amendment rights, journalistic ethics, the media's
relationship to the public interest, and media business models. The
Institute should include a field placement component, providing
participants with hands-on experience covering various aspects of
journalism: Researching, writing, editing, and reporting with
particular emphasis on new forms of digital media. In addition to
journalism and new media, the Institutes should explore American
history, government, society, and culture.
The Institutes should also develop the participants' leadership
skill, specifically as they relate to journalism. In this context, the
academic program should include group discussions, trainings, and
exercises that focus on topics such as leadership, teambuilding,
collective problem-solving skills, effective communication, and
management skills for diverse organizational settings. Institutes
should include a community service component in which the students
experience firsthand how not-for-profit organizations and volunteerism
play a key role in American civil society.
Local site visits and educational travel should provide
opportunities to observe varied aspects of American life and to discuss
topics addressed in the academic program. The program should also
include opportunities for participants to meet American citizens from a
variety of backgrounds, to interact with their American peers, and to
speak to appropriate student and civic groups about their experiences
and life in their home countries.
I. 4. Recipient Organizations
ECA is seeking detailed proposals from U.S. colleges, universities,
and other not-for-profit organizations that have an established
reputation in one or more of the following fields: Journalism, media
studies, communication studies, and/or other disciplines or sub-
disciplines related to the study of the United States.
I. 5. Participants
Participants will be identified and nominated by the U.S. Embassies
and Consulates and/or Fulbright Commissions with final selection made
by ECA. ECA will make the final decisions regarding participating
countries and reserves the right to adjust the countries or regions
participating in this activity based upon Department priorities.
Participants in the Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student
Leaders will be highly motivated undergraduate students from colleges,
universities, and other institutions of higher education in selected
countries overseas who demonstrate achievement and leadership through
academic work, community involvement, and extracurricular activities.
Their academic fields of study will be varied, and may include
journalism, sciences, social sciences, humanities, education, and
business. All participants will have a good knowledge of English and
will have demonstrated interest in new media and journalism.
Every effort will be made to select a balanced mix of male and
female participants, and to recruit participants who are from non-elite
or underprivileged backgrounds, from both rural and urban areas, and
have had little or no prior experience in the United States or
elsewhere outside of their home country.
It is anticipated that participants in the two Institutes will come
from the following regions and countries:
(1) South Asia: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka. This Institute
should take place in May and June, 2011.
(2) Middle East: Iraq, Lebanon, Oman, West Bank. This Institute
should take place in July and August, 2011.
I. 6. Program Guidelines
It is essential that proposals provide a detailed and comprehensive
narrative describing the objectives of the Institute; the title, scope,
and content of each session; planned site visits; and how each session
relates to the overall Institute theme. Proposals must include a
syllabus that indicates the subject matter for each lecture, panel
discussion, group presentation, or other activity. The syllabus also
should confirm or provisionally identify proposed speakers, trainers,
and session leaders, and clearly show how assigned readings will
advance the goals of each session. Overall, proposals will be reviewed
on the basis of their responsiveness to RFGP criteria, coherence,
clarity, and attention to detail. The accompanying Project Objectives,
Goals, and Implementation (POGI) document provides program-specific
guidelines that all proposals must address fully.
Please note: In a Cooperative Agreement, the Branch for the
Study of the United States is substantially involved in program
activities above and beyond routine grant monitoring. The Branch
will assume the following responsibilities for the Institute:
Participate in the final selection of participants; debrief
participants in Washington, DC at the conclusion of the Institute;
and engage in follow-on communication with the participants after
[[Page 70766]]
they return to their home countries. 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: $480,000.
Approximate Number of Awards: Up to two.
Floor of Award Range: $240,000.
Ceiling of Award Range: $480,000.
Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, April 1,
2011.
Anticipated Project Completion Date: April, 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 cooperative agreement for one additional
fiscal year, 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).
An applicant organization is defined by the DUNS number of the
organization and by the signature of the authorized representative
contained on the ``Application for Federal Assistance Form'' (SF-424)
submitted under this competition.
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, the recipient institution must maintain written records
to support all costs which are claimed as a 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 the recipient
institution does 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.) Grants awarded to eligible organizations with less than four
years of experience in conducting international exchange programs will
be limited to $60,000. ECA anticipates that the minimum award under
this competition will be approximately $240,000. 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: It is ECA's intent to fund a total of
two (2) institutes as a result of this solicitation.
All applicants are strongly encouraged to read this RFGP
thoroughly, prior to developing and submitting a proposal, to ensure
that proposed activities are appropriate and responsive to the goals,
objectives and criteria outlined in the solicitations.
Total available funding is up to $240,000 (one institute) or up to
$480,000 (two institutes). Applicant organizations (colleges,
universities, or NGOs) are invited to submit one application to host
one or both Institutes.
If proposing to host one institute, the proposals should clearly
indicate the desired country group from Section I.5 above if
appropriate and any regional expertise, if applicable. ECA reserves the
right to alter or reassign the final country groupings.
IV. Application and Submission Information
Note: Please read the complete announcement before sending
inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has
passed, 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; SA-5, Fourth Floor; U.S. Department of State; Washington, DC
20037, (202) 632-3339 to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer
to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/E/USS-11-11 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 Kevin Orchison and refer to the Funding Opportunity
Number ECA/A/E/USS-11-11 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
section IV.6 Application Deadline and Methods of Submission, indicated
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,
[[Page 70767]]
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.4 Program Regulations
IV.4.1 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, recordkeeping, reporting, and other
requirements.
ECA will issue participant DS 2019 forms for organizations with
direct agreements with ECA.
A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of
Exchange Visitor (J) programs is available at http://exchanges.state.gov or from: United States Department of State, Office
Designation, Private Sector Programs Divison, ECA/EC/D/PS, SA-5, 5th
Floor, Department of State, Washington, DC 20037.
Please refer to Solicitation Package for further information.
IV.4.2 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.4.3 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 proposals include a draft survey
questionnaire or other technique plus a description of a methodology
used 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. An evaluation plan
should include a description of project's objectives, anticipated
project outcomes, and how and when outcomes will be measured
(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. Applicants should also show how project objectives link to
the goals of the program described in this RFGP.
Monitoring and evaluation plans 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 applicants 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.
[[Page 70768]]
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 a 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.5 Budget
IV.5.1 Applicants must submit SF-424A--``Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs'' along with a comprehensive budget for the
entire program. There must be a summary budget as well as breakdowns
reflecting both administrative and program budgets. Applicants may
provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase,
location, or activity to provide clarification.
IV.5.2 Allowable costs for the program include the following:
(1) Institute staff salary and benefits.
(2) Participant housing and meals.
(3) Participant U.S. travel and per diem.
(4) Textbooks, educational materials, and admissions fees.
(5) Honoraria for guest speakers.
(6) 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. 6 Application Deadline and Methods of Submission
Application Deadline Date: January 10, 2011.
Reference Number: ECA/A/E/USS-11-11.
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.6.1 Submitting Printed Applications
Applications must be shipped no later than the above deadline.
Delivery services used by applicants must have in-place, centralized
shipping identification and tracking systems that may be accessed via
the Internet and delivery people who are identifiable by commonly
recognized uniforms and delivery vehicles. Proposals shipped on or
before the above deadline but received at ECA more than seven days
after the deadline will be ineligible for further consideration under
this competition. Proposals shipped after the established deadlines are
ineligible for consideration under this competition. ECA will not
notify you upon receipt of application. It is each applicant's
responsibility to ensure that each package is marked with a legible
tracking number and to monitor/confirm delivery to ECA via the
Internet. Delivery of proposal packages may not be made via local
courier service or in person for this competition. Faxed documents will
not be accepted at any time. Only proposals submitted as stated above
will be considered.
Important note: When preparing your submission please make sure to
include one extra copy of the completed SF-424 form and place it in an
envelope addressed to ``ECA/EX/PM''.
The original and six (6) copies of the application should be sent
to: Program Management Division, ECA-IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/A/E/USS-11-
11, SA-5, Floor 4, Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington,
DC 20037.
Applicants submitting hard-copy applications must also submit the
``Executive Summary'' and ``Proposal Narrative'' sections of the
proposal in text (.txt) or Microsoft Word format on a CD-ROM. The
Bureau will provide these files electronically to the appropriate
Public Affairs Section(s) at the U.S. embassy(ies) for its (their)
review.
IV.6.2 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: Due to Recovery Act related opportunities, there
has been a higher than usual volume of grant proposals submitted
through Grants.gov. Potential applicants are advised that the
increased volume may affect the grants.gov proposal submission
process. As stated in this RFGP, 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
[[Page 70769]]
to the above deadline. Applications uploaded to the site after midnight
of the application deadline date will be automatically rejected by the
grants.gov system, and will be technically ineligible.
Please refer to the Grants.gov Web site, for definitions of various
``application statuses'' and the difference between a submission
receipt and a submission validation. Applicants will receive a
validation e-mail from grants.gov upon the successful submission of an
application. Again, validation of an electronic submission via
Grants.gov can take up to two business days. Therefore, we strongly
recommend that you not wait until the application deadline to begin the
submission process through Grants.gov. ECA will not notify you upon
receipt of electronic applications.
It is the responsibility of all applicants submitting proposals via
the Grants.gov Web portal to ensure that proposals have been received
by Grants.gov in their entirety, and ECA bears no responsibility for
data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.
IV.6.3 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.
V.2. Review Criteria
Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed
according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are not rank
ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation:
1. Quality of Program Plan and Ability to Achieve Program
Objectives: Proposals should exhibit originality, substance, precision,
and relevance to 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. The Bureau recommends that the proposal include a draft survey
questionnaire or other technique plus a description of a methodology to
use to link outcomes to original project objectives.
4. Cost-effectiveness/Cost-sharing: The overhead and administrative
components of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be
kept as low as possible. All other items should be necessary and
appropriate. Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through other
private sector support, as well as institutional direct funding
contributions.
5. Institutional Track Record/Ability: Proposals should demonstrate
an institutional record of successful exchange programs, including
responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting
requirements for past 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 institutional resources should be fully qualified to
achieve the project's goals.
6. Follow-Up and Follow-on Activities: Proposals should discuss
provisions made for follow-up with returned participants as a means of
establishing longer-term individual and institutional linkages.
Proposals should also provide a plan for continued follow-on activity
(without Bureau support) ensuring that Bureau supported programs are
not isolated events.
VI. Award Administration Information
VI.1 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:
(1) An interim program report no more than 90 days after the
completion of the Institute;
(2) A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after
the expiration of the award;
(3) 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
[[Page 70770]]
part of ECA's Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act
(FFATA) reporting requirements.
(4) 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: Kevin Orchison,
Study of the U.S. Branch, ECA/A/E/USS, U.S. Department of State, Fourth
Floor, SA-5, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20522-0504, phone:
(202) 632-3339, e-mail: [email protected].
All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should
reference the above title and number ECA/A/E/USS-11-11.
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. In addition, it reserves the
right to accept proposals in whole or in part and to make an award or
awards in the best interest of the program. Awards made will be subject
to periodic reporting and evaluation requirements per section VI.3
above.
Dated: November 10, 2010.
Ann Stock,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S.
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2010-29122 Filed 11-17-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P