[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 231 (Thursday, December 2, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75197-75205]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-30241]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice: 7254]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for
Grant Proposals: Youth Ambassadors Program With South America
Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-11-18.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.415.
Application Deadline: January 27, 2011.
Executive Summary
The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs Division, of the
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces an open
competition for the Youth Ambassadors Program with South America.
Public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions
described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) may
submit proposals to recruit and select youth and adult participants, to
provide the participants with three-week exchanges focused on civic
education, community service, and youth leadership development, and to
support follow-on projects in their home communities. Exchange
delegations will travel from 10 South American countries to the United
States, and U.S. exchange delegations will travel to select countries.
ECA anticipates awarding multiple cooperative agreements that cover the
administration of this program for two years. The awards will be
contingent upon the availability of FY-2011 funds.
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.
Overview
The Youth Ambassadors Program is a three-week exchange for high
school youth (ages 15-18) and adult educators focused on civic
education, community service, and youth leadership development.
Subthemes that explore these overarching themes may be added,
[[Page 75198]]
such as the environment or business and entrepreneurship. Participants
engage in a variety of activities such as workshops on leadership and
service, community site visits related to the program themes and
subthemes, interactive training, presentations, visits to high schools,
local cultural activities, civic education programming in Washington,
DC or the capital city of the partner country, and other activities
designed to achieve the program's stated goals. Multiple opportunities
for participants to interact meaningfully with their peers of the host
country must be included. Follow-on activities with the participants
are an integral part of the program, as the students apply the
knowledge and skills they have acquired by planning service projects in
their home communities.
The FY2011 Youth Ambassadors Program will focus on the following
countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador,
Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, and the United States. It is
anticipated that foreign participants will travel from all of these
countries to the United States, and that American participants will
travel to select countries.
The goals of the program are to:
(1) Promote mutual understanding between the people of the United
States and the people of South America;
(2) Prepare youth leaders to become responsible citizens and
contributing members of their communities;
(3) Influence the attitudes of the leaders of a new generation; and
(4) Foster relationships among youth from different ethnic,
religious, and national groups and create hemispheric networks of youth
leaders, both within the participating countries and internationally.
The objectives of the program are for participants to:
(1) Demonstrate a better understanding of the elements of a
participatory democracy as practiced in the United States;
(2) Demonstrate critical thinking and leadership skills; and
(3) Demonstrate skill at developing project ideas and planning a
course of action to bring the projects to fruition.
The primary themes of the program are:
(1) Civic Education (Citizen Participation, Grassroots Democracy
and Rule of Law);
(2) Community Service; and
(3) Youth Leadership Development.
For each project, applicant organizations must focus on these
primary themes. Secondary themes, such as the environment or business
and entrepreneurship, will serve to illustrate the more abstract
concepts of the primary themes. For example, the secondary theme of the
environment can be used to examine how a group of individuals with an
idea can start a recycling campaign in their community.
Using these goals, objectives, and themes, applicant organizations
should identify their own specific and measurable outputs and outcomes
based on the project specifications provided in this solicitation. ECA
does not anticipate award recipients achieving these overarching goals
throughout one project; however, proposals should indicate how these
objectives will be reached through these themes, and how they will
contribute to the achievement of the stated goals.
Project Options
The total amount of funding available is $3,000,000, pending
availability of funds. ECA anticipates awarding multiple cooperative
agreements for the management of the Youth Ambassadors Program with
South America that together will cover all 10 countries. The Bureau
reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase proposal project
configurations, budgets, and participant numbers in accordance with the
needs of the program and the availability of funds. In addition, the
Bureau reserves the right to adjust the participating countries should
conditions change in the partner country or if other countries are
identified as Department priorities. Organizations may apply for one,
two, or three of the options outlined below, but must submit only one
proposal under this competition. Multiple submissions will be declared
technically ineligible and will not be considered further in the review
process. These options will allow applicants the flexibility to propose
working with the countries in which they have the best infrastructure.
The Bureau strongly urges organizations to focus their applications on
countries where they have the strongest organizational capacity. This
capacity must be thoroughly described in the proposal. Please note the
total approximate funding for each option.
Option 1: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and
Venezuela (Approximately $2,000,000 Total, With One to Four Awards)
A project conducted in English for participants from Argentina,
Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and/or Venezuela.
Approximately 15-20 participants from each country will travel to the
United States each year. Award recipients are encouraged to send
delegations that include participants from several countries; however
not all delegations must travel to the United States at the same time.
It is suitable to break them down into smaller single country or sub-
regional groups. Applicants who plan to send a large delegation to the
United States at one time must propose a plan to break it into smaller
cohorts for most of the exchange activities. In addition to the South
American participants, 10-15 participants from the United States will
travel to Paraguay and/or Uruguay each year. Delegations of American
participants may alternate between specified countries and travel to
Uruguay the first year and Paraguay the following year, or delegations
may travel to both countries each year. The American participants
should have conversational Spanish skills. Applicants are encouraged to
be creative and flexible in making arrangements that will help meet our
program goals.
ECA may award more than one cooperative agreement from this option.
Applicants must include at least two South American countries, and may
include up to all seven countries, in their proposals. Applicants
should apply for those countries where they have a strong
organizational capacity with their in-country partner.
Option 2: Colombia and Ecuador (Approximately $500,000)
A regional project conducted in Spanish for participants from
Colombia and Ecuador. Approximately 15-20 participants from each
country will travel to the United States each year. This regional
project should include activities where participants from both
countries interact to share ideas and work on program themes during the
exchange in the United States. Delegations may be broken up into
smaller sub-groups, but should keep a mix of participants from both
countries. Special emphasis should be placed on recruiting participants
from underserved communities. Spanish language interpreters should be
provided for U.S. programming. In addition to the South American
participants, 10-15 participants from the United States may travel to
Ecuador. The American participants should have conversational Spanish
skills.
Option 3: Brazil (Approximately $500,000)
A single country, reciprocal project conducted in English for
participants from Brazil and the United States. The total number of
participants each year will be 37 Brazilians (35 youth, 2 adults) and
10-15 Americans. For the Brazil project only, the U.S. Embassy in
[[Page 75199]]
Brasilia will serve as the in-country partner. The Embassy will manage
the recruitment and selection of the Brazilian participants, cover
their in-country expenses, arrange and purchase the international
travel, oversee their follow-on activities, and administer the Brazil-
based exchange activities for the U.S. participants. The award
recipient will be responsible for organizing and funding the U.S.-based
exchange activities for the Brazilian participants. The recipient will
also be responsible for recruiting and selecting the American
participants and covering their pre-departure expenses, including
passports and visas fees and international travel, paying for all
program expenses in Brazil, as well as managing their follow-on
activities. The exchanges to the U.S. will take place in January 2012
and January 2013, and the exchanges to Brazil will take place in the
summer of 2012 and 2013.
Participants
Both the youth and adult participants must meet the following
eligibility requirements:
(1) Be citizens of the country from which they are applying;
(2) Be selected through a merit-based competition;
(3) Represent the diversity of their home country; and
(4) Demonstrate an interest in the partner country and the project
themes.
Criteria for selection of the participants will include leadership
skills, an interest in service to the community, strong academic and
social skills, openness and flexibility. To reach beyond the elite,
participants should be recruited from underserved or disadvantaged
populations of youth in these countries, including public high schools.
Geographic, socio-economic, and ethnic diversity is important,
including outreach to indigenous and Afro-descendent populations. It is
desirable that a few participants live in the same community to
facilitate future collaboration upon their return to their home
country.
The youth participants must be high school students aged 15 to 18
years old, with at least one semester of high school remaining. The
adult participants may be teachers, trainers, school administrators,
and/or community leaders who work with youth. They will have the dual
role of both exchange participant and chaperone. The ratio of youth to
adults should be approximately 10:1, depending on the size of the
exchange delegation.
Except for participants from Colombia and Ecuador, all South
American participants must have sufficient English language proficiency
to participate fully in interactions with their host families and their
peers and in educational activities. A similar level of Spanish
language ability is required for the American participants traveling to
Ecuador, Paraguay and Uruguay. Portuguese is not required for the
Americans traveling to Brazil. For the U.S.-based activities that will
be conducted in Spanish, the award recipient must provide
interpretation and place the participants in host families where at
least one member speaks Spanish.
Organizational Capacity
Applicant organizations must demonstrate their capacity for
conducting international youth exchanges, focusing on three areas of
competency: (1) Provision of projects that address the goals,
objectives, and themes outlined in this document; (2) age-appropriate
programming for youth; and (3) previous experience working on programs
in the region. Organizations must demonstrate their capacity to manage
a complex, multi-phase program with several separate exchange projects.
In addition to their U.S. presence, applicants must have the
organizational capacity in the relevant countries through their own
offices or through a partner organization or institution to recruit and
select participants for the project, to provide follow-on activities,
and to organize a content-rich program for the U.S. participants, if
specified. The importance of a viable, experienced in-country partner
cannot be over-emphasized. Applicants should consult with their
partners and involve them in the preparation of the proposal. Before
submitting a proposal, applicants may consult with Public Affairs
Sections in U.S. Embassies for suggested partner organizations or
concerning the selection and reliability of in-country partner
organizations. Please e-mail ECA Program Officer Jennifer Phillips
([email protected]) for Embassy contact information.
U.S. Embassy Involvement
It is important that the proposal narrative clearly state the
applicant's commitment to consult closely with the Public Affairs
Section of the U.S. Embassy in the host country to develop plans for
project implementation, including recruitment, selection and
orientation of participants, publicity events, and follow-on
activities, once a cooperative agreement is awarded. In countries where
there is a reciprocal component involving U.S. citizen minors, the U.S.
Embassy will provide oversight and monitoring; concur on housing
arrangements, including host family locations (regions, neighborhoods);
represent the U.S. Government while the exchange activities are taking
place in the host country; and assist program staff and participants in
the event of an emergency. At the same time, the cooperative agreement
requires that the administering organization must be able to manage the
program in the host country in its entirety, with little reliance on
embassy staff for support. For the Brazil project only, the U.S.
Embassy in Brasilia will serve as the in-country partner.
Guidelines
Pending the availability of funds, it is anticipated that the
cooperative agreement will begin on or about July 1, 2011. The award
period will span approximately two years, and will cover all aspects of
the programming in South America and the United States--recruitment,
selection, and orientation of the participants, three weeks of exchange
activities, and support of follow-on activities. Planning and
preparation will start in 2011, and the exchanges will take place at
various points throughout 2012 and 2013. Applicants should propose the
period of the exchange(s) in their proposals, but the exact timing of
the project may be altered through the mutual agreement of the
Department of State and the recipient. In addition, while the second
year of the award period may build on lessons learned from the first
year, proposals should include a plan for keeping the essential
elements of the exchange, from project themes to regional groupings,
the same in the second year.
The award recipient will be responsible for the following:
Recruitment and Selection: Manage the recruitment and merit-based
selection of youth and adult participants in cooperation with the
Public Affairs Sections of the U.S. Embassies in the participating
countries. Collaboration with Binational Centers (BNCs) is suggested,
if possible. Once a cooperative agreement is awarded, the recipient
must consult with the Public Affairs Section at the U.S. Embassy to
review a participant recruitment and selection plan and to determine
the degree of Embassy involvement in the process. Organizers must
strive for regional, socio-economic, and ethnic diversity, as well as
gender balance. For reciprocal projects sending U.S. participants to
South America, the recipients must manage the recruitment and open,
merit-based selection of U.S. participants. The Department of State
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and/or its overseas representatives will have final approval of all
selected delegations.
Orientations: Provide orientations for exchange participants and
for those participating from the host communities, including host
families.
Logistics: Manage all logistical arrangements, including passport
and visa applications, international and domestic travel, ground
transportation, accommodations, interpretation, group meals, and
disbursement of stipends.
Exchange Activities: Design and plan three weeks of exchange
activities that provide a creative and substantive program that
develops both the youth and the adult participants' knowledge and skill
base in civic education, community service, and youth leadership
development. The exchange will take place in the capital city
(Washington, DC or that of the host country) and in one or two other
communities. The exchanges will focus primarily on interactive
activities, practical experiences, and other hands-on opportunities
that provide a substantive project on the specified program themes.
Some activities should be school and/or community-based, and the
projects will involve as much sustained interaction with peers of the
host country as possible (for both the youth and adult participants).
Cultural, social, and recreational activities will balance the
schedule.
Accommodations: Arrange home stays for the participants in the
United States with properly screened and briefed American families for
the majority of the exchange period. In the partner countries, home
stays are strongly desired whenever feasible in properly screened and
briefed South American families. Criminal background checks must be
conducted for members of host families (and others living in the home)
who are 18 years or older.
Monitoring: Develop and implement a plan to monitor the
participants' safety and well-being while on the exchange and to create
opportunities for participants to share potential issues and resolve
them promptly. The award recipient will be required to provide proper
staff supervision and facilitation to ensure that the teenagers have
safe and pedagogically rich programs. Staff, along with the adult
participants, will assist the youth with cultural adjustments, provide
societal context to enhance learning, and counsel students as needed.
For the safety and security of both foreign and American participants,
applicants must comply with the monitoring and supervision
requirements, as well as the host family screening requirements,
outlined in the POGI.
Follow-on Activities and In-Country Programming: Plan and implement
activities in the participants' home countries, particularly by
facilitating continued engagement among the participants, advising and
supporting them in the implementation of community service projects,
and offering opportunities to reinforce the ideas, values and skills
imparted during the exchange. Exchange participants should return home
from the exchange prepared to conduct projects that serve a need in
their schools or communities. To amplify program impact, proposals
should present creative and effective ways to address the project
themes, for both program participants and their peers.
Evaluation: Design and implement an evaluation plan that assesses
the short- and medium-term impact of the project on the participants as
well as on host and home communities.
Please Note: In a cooperative agreement, the Department of State
is substantially involved in program activities above and beyond
routine grant monitoring. The Department's activities and
responsibilities for the Youth Ambassadors Program are as follows:
(1) Provide advice and assistance in the execution of all
program components.
(2) Facilitate interaction within the Department of State, to
include ECA, the regional bureaus, and overseas posts.
(3) Arrange meetings with Department of State officials in
Washington, DC and the partner countries.
(4) Approve the final candidate selection and alternates.
(5) Issue DS-2019 forms and J-1 visas for the foreign
participants. All foreign participants will travel on a U.S.
Government designation for the J Exchange Visitor Program.
(6) Approve applications, publicity materials, and final
calendar of exchange activities.
(7) Approve housing arrangements, including the host families
location (in South America only).
(8) Monitor and evaluate the program, through regular
communication with the award recipient and possibly one or more site
visits.
(9) In Brazil only, the U.S. Embassy will serve as the in-
country partner and manage the recruitment and selection of the
Brazilian participants, cover their in-country expenses, arrange and
purchase the international travel, oversee their follow-on
activities, and administer the Brazil-based exchange activities for
the U.S. participants.
Additional Information
Award recipients will retain the name ``Youth Ambassadors Program''
to identify their project. All materials, publicity, and correspondence
related to the program will acknowledge this as a program of the Bureau
of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State.
The Bureau will retain copyright use of and be allowed to distribute
materials related to this program as it sees fit.
The organization must inform the ECA Program Officer of their
progress at each stage of the project's implementation in a timely
fashion, and will be required to obtain approval of any significant
program changes in advance of their implementation.
Proposals must demonstrate how the stated objectives will be met.
The proposal narrative should provide detailed information on the major
project activities, and applicants should explain and justify their
programmatic choices. Projects must comply with J-1 visa regulations
for the International Visitor and Government Visitor category. Please
be sure to refer to the complete Solicitation Package--this RFGP, the
Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI), and the Proposal
Submission Instructions (PSI)--for further information.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. ECA's level of involvement in
this program is listed under Section I above.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY-2011.
Approximate Total Funding: $3,000,000.
Approximate Number of Awards: One to six.
Approximate Average Award: $500,000.
Floor of Award Range: $500,000.
Ceiling of Award Range: $3,000,000.
Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, July 1,
2011.
Anticipated Project Completion Date: 24-34 months after start date,
to be specified by applicant based on project plan.
III. Eligibility Information
III.1. Eligible Applicants
Applications may be submitted by public and private non-profit
organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code
section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3).
III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds
There is no minimum or maximum percentage required for this
competition. However, the Bureau encourages applicants to provide
maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in support of its programs.
When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the
[[Page 75201]]
applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its
proposal and later included in an approved agreement. Cost sharing may
be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For
accountability, you must maintain written records to support all costs
which are claimed as your contribution, as well as costs to be paid by
the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. The basis
for determining the value of cash and in-kind contributions must be in
accordance with OMB Circular A-110, (Revised), Subpart C.23--Cost
Sharing and Matching. In the event you do not provide the minimum
amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget, ECA's
contribution will be reduced in like proportion.
III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements
(a.) Bureau grant guidelines require that organizations with less
than four years experience in conducting international exchanges be
limited to $60,000 in Bureau funding. ECA anticipates making multiple
awards in amounts exceeding $60,000 to support program and
administrative costs required to implement this exchange program.
Therefore, organizations with less than four years experience in
conducting international exchanges are ineligible to apply under this
competition. The Bureau encourages applicants to provide maximum levels
of cost sharing and funding in support of its programs.
(b.) Proposed sub-award recipients are also limited to grant
funding of $60,000 or less if they do not have four years of experience
in conducting international exchanges.
(c.) The Bureau encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of
cost sharing and funding in support of its programs.
(d.) Organizations may submit only one proposal (total) under this
competition. If multiple proposals are received from the same
applicant, all submissions will be declared technically ineligible and
will be given no further consideration in the review process. Please
note: Applicant organizations are defined by their legal name, and EIN
number as stated on their completed SF-424 and additional supporting
documentation outlined in the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI)
document.
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 Youth Programs Division, ECA/PE/C/PY, SA-5, 3rd
Floor, U.S. Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC
20037, by telephone (202) 632-9352, fax (202) 632-9355, or e-mail
[email protected] to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to
the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/PY-11-18 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 Program Officer Jennifer Phillips and refer to the
Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/PY-11-18 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:
[[Page 75202]]
IV.3d.1 Adherence to All Regulations Governing The J Visa
The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and
Cultural Affairs is the official program sponsor of the exchange
program covered by this RFGP, and an employee of the Bureau will be the
``Responsible Officer'' for the program under the terms of 22 CFR 62,
which covers the administration of the Exchange Visitor Program (J visa
program). Under the terms of 22 CFR 62, organizations receiving awards
(either a grant or cooperative agreement) under this RFGP will be third
parties ``cooperating with or assisting the sponsor in the conduct of
the sponsor's program.'' The actions of recipient organizations shall
be ``imputed to the sponsor in evaluating the sponsor's compliance
with'' 22 CFR 62. Therefore, the Bureau expects that any organization
receiving an award under this competition will render all assistance
necessary to enable the Bureau to fully comply with 22 CFR 62 et seq.
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs places critically
important emphases on the secure and proper administration of Exchange
Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence by recipient organizations and
program participants to all regulations governing the J visa program
status. Therefore, proposals should explicitly state in writing that
the applicant is prepared to assist the Bureau in meeting all
requirements governing the administration of Exchange Visitor Programs
as set forth in 22 CFR 62. If your organization has experience as a
designated Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor, the applicant should
discuss their record of compliance with 22 CFR 62 et seq., including
the oversight of their 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 Office of Citizen Exchanges of 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 20037.
IV.3d.2 Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines
Pursuant to the Bureau's authorizing legislation, programs must
maintain a non-political character and should be balanced and
representative of the diversity of American political, social, and
cultural life. ``Diversity'' should be interpreted in the broadest
sense and encompass differences including, but not limited to
ethnicity, race, gender, religion, geographic location, socio-economic
status, and disabilities. Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere
to the advancement of this principle both in program administration and
in program content. Please refer to the review criteria under the
`Support for Diversity' section for specific suggestions on
incorporating diversity into your proposal. Public Law 104-319 provides
that ``in carrying out programs of educational and cultural exchange in
countries whose people do not fully enjoy freedom and democracy,'' the
Bureau ``shall take appropriate steps to provide opportunities for
participation in such programs to human rights and democracy leaders of
such countries.'' Public Law 106-113 requires that the governments of
the countries described above do not have inappropriate influence in
the selection process. Proposals should reflect advancement of these
goals in their program contents, to the full extent deemed feasible.
IV.3d.3 Program Monitoring and Evaluation
Proposals must include a plan to monitor and evaluate the project's
success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of the program.
The Bureau recommends that your proposal include a draft survey
questionnaire or other technique plus a description of a methodology to
use to link outcomes to original project objectives. The Bureau expects
that the recipient organization will track participants or partners and
be able to respond to key evaluation questions, including satisfaction
with the program, learning as a result of the program, changes in
behavior as a result of the program, and effects of the program on
institutions (institutions in which participants work or partner
institutions). The evaluation plan should include indicators that
measure gains in mutual understanding as well as substantive knowledge.
Successful monitoring and evaluation depend heavily on setting
clear goals and outcomes at the outset of a program. Your evaluation
plan should include a description of your project's objectives, your
anticipated project outcomes, and how and when you intend to measure
these outcomes (performance indicators). The more that outcomes are
``smart'' (specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and
placed in a reasonable time frame), the easier it will be to conduct
the evaluation. You should also show how your project objectives link
to the goals of the program described in this RFGP.
Your monitoring and evaluation plan should clearly distinguish
between program outputs and outcomes. Outputs are products and services
delivered, often stated as an amount. Output information is important
to show the scope or size of project activities, but it cannot
substitute for information about progress towards outcomes or the
results achieved. Examples of outputs include the number of people
trained or the number of seminars conducted. Outcomes, in contrast,
represent specific results a project is intended to achieve and is
usually measured as an extent of change. Findings on outputs and
outcomes should both be reported, but the focus should be on outcomes.
We encourage you to assess the following four levels of outcomes,
as they relate to the program goals set out in the RFGP (listed here in
increasing order of importance):
1. Participant satisfaction with the program and exchange
experience.
2. Participant learning, such as increased knowledge, aptitude,
skills, and changed understanding and attitude. Learning includes both
substantive (subject-specific) learning and mutual understanding.
3. Participant behavior, concrete actions to apply knowledge in
work or community; greater participation and responsibility in civic
organizations; interpretation and explanation of experiences and new
knowledge gained; continued contacts between participants, community
members, and others.
4. Institutional changes, such as increased collaboration and
partnerships, policy reforms, new programming, and organizational
improvements.
Please note: Consideration should be given to the appropriate
timing of data collection for each level of outcome. For example,
satisfaction is usually captured as a short-term outcome, whereas
behavior and institutional changes are normally considered longer-
term outcomes.
Overall, the quality of your monitoring and evaluation plan will be
judged on how well it (1) specifies intended outcomes; (2) gives clear
descriptions of how each outcome will be measured; (3) identifies when
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particular outcomes will be measured; and (4) provides a clear
description of the data collection strategies for each outcome (i.e.,
surveys, interviews, or focus groups). (Please note that evaluation
plans that deal only with the first level of outcomes [satisfaction]
will be deemed less competitive under the present evaluation criteria.)
Recipient organizations will be required to provide reports
analyzing their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular
program reports. All data collected, including survey responses and
contact information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years
and provided to the Bureau upon request.
IV.3e. Please take the following information into consideration
when preparing your budget:
IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit SF-424A--``Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs'' along with a comprehensive budget for the
entire program. There must be a summary budget as well as breakdowns
reflecting both administrative and program budgets. Applicants may
provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase,
location, or activity to provide clarification. Please refer to the
Solicitation Package (POGI and PSI) for complete budget guidelines and
formatting instructions.
IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission
Application Deadline Date: January 27, 2011.
Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-11-18.
Methods of Submission
Applications may be submitted in one of two ways:
(1.) In hard-copy, via a nationally recognized overnight delivery
service (i.e., Federal Express, UPS, Airborne Express, or U.S. Postal
Service Express Overnight Mail, etc.), or
(2.) electronically through http://www.grants.gov.
Along with the Project Title, all applicants must enter the above
Reference Number in Box 11 on the SF-424 contained in the mandatory
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) of the solicitation document.
IV.3f.1 Submitting Printed Applications
Applications must be shipped no later than the above deadline.
Delivery services used by applicants must have in-place, centralized
shipping identification and tracking systems that may be accessed via
the Internet and delivery people who are identifiable by commonly
recognized uniforms and delivery vehicles. Proposals shipped on or
before the above deadline but received at ECA more than seven days
after the deadline will be ineligible for further consideration under
this competition. Proposals shipped after the established deadlines are
ineligible for consideration under this competition. ECA will not
notify you upon receipt of application. It is each applicant's
responsibility to ensure that each package is marked with a legible
tracking number and to monitor/confirm delivery to ECA via the
Internet. Delivery of proposal packages may not be made via local
courier service or in person for this competition. Faxed documents will
not be accepted at any time. Only proposals submitted as stated above
will be considered.
Important note: When preparing your submission please make sure
to include one extra copy of the completed SF-424 form and place it
in an envelope addressed to ``ECA/EX/PM''.
The original and six (6) copies of the application should be sent
to: Program Management Division, ECA-IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/PE/C/PY-11-
18, SA-5, Floor 4, Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington,
DC 20037.
With the submission of the proposal package, please also e-mail the
Executive Summary, Proposal Narrative, and Budget sections of the
proposal, as well as any attachments essential to understanding the
program, in Microsoft Word, Excel, and/or PDF, to the program officer
at [email protected]. As appropriate, the Bureau will provide these
files electronically to Public Affairs Section(s) at the U.S. embassies
for their review.
IV.3f.2--Submitting Electronic Applications
Applicants have the option of submitting proposals electronically
through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov). Complete solicitation
packages are available at Grants.gov in the ``Find'' portion of the
system.
Please Note: ECA bears no responsibility for applicant
timeliness of submission or data errors resulting from transmission
or conversion processes for proposals submitted via Grants.gov.
Please follow the instructions available in the `Get Started'
portion of the site (http://www.grants.gov/GetStarted).
Several of the steps in the Grants.gov registration process could
take several weeks. Therefore, applicants should check with appropriate
staff within their organizations immediately after reviewing this RFGP
to confirm or determine their registration status with Grants.gov. Once
registered, the amount of time it can take to upload an application
will vary depending on a variety of factors including the size of the
application and the speed of your Internet connection. In addition,
validation of an electronic submission via Grants.gov can take up to
two business days.
Therefore, we strongly recommend that you not wait until the
application deadline to begin the submission process through
Grants.gov.
The Grants.gov Web site includes extensive information on all
phases/aspects of the Grants.gov process, including an extensive
section on frequently asked questions, located under the ``For
Applicants'' section of the Web site. ECA strongly recommends that all
potential applicants review thoroughly the Grants.gov Web site, well in
advance of submitting a proposal through the Grants.gov system. ECA
bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or
conversion processes.
Direct all questions regarding Grants.gov registration and
submission to: Grants.gov Customer Support.
Contact Center Phone: 800-518-4726.
Business Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Eastern Time.
E-mail: grants.gov">support@grants.gov.
Applicants have until midnight (12 a.m.), Washington, DC time of
the closing date to ensure that their entire application has been
uploaded to the Grants.gov site. There are no exceptions to the above
deadline. Applications uploaded to the site after midnight of the
application deadline date will be automatically rejected by the
grants.gov system, and will be technically ineligible. Please refer to
the Grants.gov Web site, for definitions of various ``application
statuses'' and the difference between a submission receipt and a
submission validation.
Applicants will receive a validation e-mail from grants.gov upon
the successful submission of an application. Again, validation of an
electronic submission via Grants.gov can take up to two business days.
Therefore, we strongly recommend that you not wait until the
application deadline to begin the submission process through
Grants.gov. ECA will not notify you upon receipt of electronic
applications.
It is the responsibility of all applicants submitting proposals via
the Grants.gov Web portal to ensure that proposals have been received
by Grants.gov in their entirety, and ECA bears no responsibility for
data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.
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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.
1. Quality of the program idea: Objectives should be reasonable,
feasible, and flexible. The proposal should clearly demonstrate how the
institution will meet the program's objectives and plan. The proposed
program should be creative, age-appropriate, respond to the design
outlined in the solicitation, and demonstrate originality. It should be
clearly and accurately written, substantive, and with sufficient
detail. Proposals should also include a plan to support participants'
community activities upon their return home.
2. Program planning: A detailed agenda and work plan should clearly
demonstrate how project objectives would be achieved. The agenda and
plan should adhere to the program overview and guidelines described
above. The substance of workshops, seminars, presentations, school-
based activities, and/or site visits should be described in detail.
3. Support of diversity: The proposal should demonstrate the
recipient's commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding of
diversity in participant recruitment and selection and in program
content. Applicants should demonstrate readiness to accommodate
participants with physical disabilities.
4. Institutional capacity and track record: Proposed personnel and
institutional resources in both the United States and in the partner
countries should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program
goals. The proposal should demonstrate an institutional record of
successful exchange programs, including responsible fiscal management
and full compliance with all reporting requirements for past Bureau
awards as determined by Bureau Grants Staff. The Bureau will consider
the past performance of prior recipients and the demonstrated potential
of new applicants.
5. Program evaluation: The proposal should include a plan to
evaluate the program's success in meeting its goals, both as the
activities unfold and after they have been completed. The proposal
should include a draft survey questionnaire or other technique, plus a
description of a methodology to link outcomes to original project
objectives. The award recipient will be expected to submit intermediate
reports after each project component is concluded.
6. Cost-effectiveness and cost sharing: The applicant should
demonstrate efficient use of Bureau funds. 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, which demonstrates institutional and community
commitment.
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) A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after
the expiration of the award;
(2) A concise, one-page final program report summarizing program
outcomes no more than 90 days after the expiration of the award. This
one-page report will will be transmitted to OMB, and be made available
to the public via OMB's USAspending.gov Web site--as part of ECA's
Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reporting
requirements.
(3) A SF-PPR, ``Performance Progress Report'' Cover Sheet with all
program reports, including the SF-PPR-E and SF-PPR-F.
(4) Quarterly or interim reports, as required in the Bureau
cooperative agreement.
Award recipients will be required to provide reports analyzing
their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program
reports. (Please refer to IV.3.d.3 Application and Submission
Instructions 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.
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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: Jennifer Phillips,
Youth Programs Division, ECA/PE/C/PY, SA-5, 3rd Floor, U.S. Department
of State, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20522-0503, by telephone
202-632-9352, fax 202-632-9355, or e-mail [email protected].
All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should
reference the above title and reference number ECA/PE/C/PY-11-18.
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: November 23, 2010.
Ann Stock,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of
State.
[FR Doc. 2010-30241 Filed 12-1-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P