[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 67 (Thursday, April 8, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18005-18012]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7979]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 6950]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for
Grant Proposals: The U.S./Afghanistan Professional Partnership Program
Announcement Type: New Grant.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/EUR-SCA-10-52.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.415.
Key Dates:
Application Deadline: May 21, 2010.
Executive Summary: In his December 1, 2009, speech in West Point,
New York, President Obama said that a new
[[Page 18006]]
diplomatic initiative in Afghanistan would be part of the U.S. strategy
to bring peace and stability in the Afghanistan/Pakistan region. As
part of this initiative, ECA is seeking proposals for a new program,
called ``The U.S./Afghanistan Professional Partnership Program.'' This
program will bring young professionals from the two countries together
to develop cross cultural relationships and develop professional skills
that will positively impact people's lives and will result in stronger
ties between the two nations.
Pending availability of funds, the Bureau expects to award one
grant for approximately $1,200,000. The project is focused on
professionals working in the judicial system and public administration
and will be designed to demonstrate best practices, offer professional
development opportunities, and support internships at U.S-based
workplaces for Afghan professionals. The program will involve
provincial and district (state, local) public administration officials,
district attorney offices, legal aid offices, case workers, and judges
where possible.
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.'' Funding for this competition is
provided through special FY 2009/FY 2010 supplemental funds that have
been appropriated to the Department of State.
General Program Outlines
Language: This program is for English and non-English speaking
Afghan participants. English language ability will not be a requirement
to participate. Groups of Afghan professionals should be arranged
according to language ability/preference (English and Dari). For the
Dari-speaking participants, State Department Language Services
interpreters will be assigned through the Office of Citizen Exchanges.
There will be approximately three interpreters assigned for the group
orientation portion of the program and about one interpreter to three
Afghan participants for the internship portion of the program.
Proposals should budget for the appropriate amount of interpreters. See
IV.3e.2c. for specifics on budgeting for interpreters.
Visas: Applicants must demonstrate that they can work with ECA and
the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul for the U.S.
visas and directly with the Afghan Embassy for its visas (if
necessary). ECA will issue the DS-2019 forms required for J visas; see
Section IV.3d.1 for additional information related to the
administration of J visa programs.
Travel: The grantee will arrange all round-trip international
travel, complying with the Fly America Act, and domestic travel
arrangements for the participants. All Afghan and American participants
must depart and arrive in Afghanistan through Kabul. Proposals should
include plans to house the Afghan participants in Kabul for at least
one day to coordinate pre-departure and post program briefings with the
Public Affairs Staff of the U.S. Embassy.
U.S. Based Programs: The recipients of grant awards will be
responsible for implementing programs from four to six weeks in the
United States for the Afghan participants. It is envisioned that the
Afghan participants will be grouped in delegations of ten who will
travel together to the United States. Each delegation of ten Afghan
participants will travel at different times throughout the grant
period. The Afghan participants will be placed within relevant,
reputable, legally-recognized U.S. organizations where they will gain
hands-on experience with legal and public administration professions in
the United States, and will have the opportunity to establish
relationships with U.S. professional counterparts for on-going
collaboration. The grantee may want to engage with a partner or sub-
grantee to arrange for the internship placement. The grantee should
also include cultural enrichment activities as an integral part of the
experience. Such activities could include outings to museums, historic
sites, sporting events, cultural exhibits, local schools or community
events, volunteering and other opportunities to experience American
culture and diversity. Short-term homestays to give participants a
personal experience of how typical Americans live are highly desirable.
Afghanistan-Based Programs: Proposals should also describe a
selection process and logistics for a one to two-week Afghanistan-based
program for a smaller number of U.S. participants. The U.S.
participants will be selected from among the internship host
organizations for the Afghan participants and will travel several
months after the Afghans return home. The Afghanistan-based program may
include public presentations, joint skills development programs, and
media interviews, if possible. All details and specifics on
Afghanistan-based programs will be arranged in close coordination with
the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.
Note: Because of the changing nature of the security situation,
U.S. participants may not be able to travel to Afghanistan.
Therefore, proposals should include a contingency plan to bring U.S.
and Afghan participants together in a third country (preferably
within the South and Central Asia region) for this program
component. See VI.1b for additional information on Assistance Awards
in Afghanistan.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting: The Bureau places high
importance on monitoring and evaluation as a means of ensuring and
measuring a project's success. Proposals must include a detailed
monitoring and evaluation plan that assesses the impact of the project.
Please refer to section IV.3d.3. Project Monitoring and Evaluation
below.
Follow-up Activities: The grant recipients will develop enhancement
activities that reinforce program goals after the participants' return
to Afghanistan. This includes informing participants of the Bureau's
Alumni program, facilitating their enrollment, and encouraging their
on-going participation. Please refer to the PSI for additional
information on Alumni, Outreach, and Engagement.
Fiscal Management: Applicants must demonstrate competency to manage
all financial aspects of the project, including participant costs and
transparent arrangements of sub-grant relationships with partner
organizations, if applicable.
Contact ECA: All interested organizations should contact ECA
Program Officer Brent Beemer before the submission of proposals. ECA
will also put the organizations in contact with appropriate colleagues
at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. Brent Beemer: 202-632-6067,
[email protected].
Specific Program Details
Professional Partnerships: The Judicial System and Public
Administration.
This program will provide approximately 100 participants from
Afghanistan and the United States the
[[Page 18007]]
opportunity to study the legal systems and public administration
techniques and processes in both countries and for Afghan professionals
to take part in internships with legal and public administration
professionals in the U.S. Successful programs will achieve the
following:
Demonstrate Afghan and American legal and public
administration systems and approaches each country uses at the regional
and local levels.
Share strategies employed by American and Afghan
professionals to counter corruption and bureaucratic entanglements in
the legal and public administration systems.
Establish structured interaction among American and Afghan
participants designed to develop enduring professional ties.
Proposals should include a comprehensive U.S.-based group
educational and internship program for legal and public administrative
professionals. One grant will be awarded for this project for a period
of two to three years.
Competitive proposals will demonstrate experience and contacts with
relevant legal and public administration professionals, organizations,
and educational institutes to program the U.S. components of this
program. If a subcontractor is proposed for the internship placement,
its experience and relevance with public administration needs to be
explained. Competitive proposals should also demonstrate an
understanding of the structure of the Afghan government, civil service,
and legal systems.
Each U.S.-based component will begin with a group orientation
(preferably in Washington, DC) with workshops, lectures, and site
visits to introduce participants to the basics of the legal system and
public administration in the United States. This should be followed by
hands-on internship components at appropriate host U.S. work sites to
see these practices at work. Internships should be developed for small
groups consisting of not more than three persons. A final de-briefing
session in Washington, DC, for each group should also be included in
the proposal.
Audience: Participants should be professionals, who currently hold
positions within administrative or legal bodies, and have at least five
years of active experience in the field. Note: Afghan groups should be
arranged according to the professional level in which they work, and by
their language ability. Proposals should demonstrate an ability to
implement programs based in the provincial and local levels. Possible
audiences for recruitment should include provincial and district
(state, local) public administration officials, district attorney
staff, legal aid professionals, case workers, and judges where
possible.
Afghanistan Recruitment and Selection
Recruitment and selection for this program in Afghanistan is to be
closely coordinated with the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy
in Kabul. Proposals can include information on a proposed in-country
partner organization that would recruit program participants, and
include a proposed plan and budget for this recruitment and selection.
However, applicants may ultimately be asked to work with an alternate
organization recommended by the Public Affairs Section of the U.S.
Embassy in Kabul to recruit program participants. In either case, final
selections (including possible interviews of program finalists) should
be done in conjunction with the Public Affairs Section. All
participants must be approved by ECA and the Public Affairs Section in
Kabul.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Grant Agreement.
Fiscal Year Funds: 2010.
Approximate Total Funding: $1,200,000 (pending availability of
funds).
Approximate Number of Awards: One.
Approximate Average Award: $1,200,000.
Anticipated Award Date: August 1, 2010 (pending availability of
funds).
Anticipated Project Completion Date: September 1, 2013.
Additional Information: At this time, support for this program is
being provided from special one-time FY 2009/FY 2010 supplemental funds
that have been appropriated to the Department. In the event that
additional funds become available in fiscal years 2011 and 2012, and
pending successful implementation of the FY 2010 funded program, ECA
reserves the right to renew this grant for two additional fiscal years
before openly competing it again.
III. Eligibility Information
III.1. Eligible applicants: Applications may be submitted by public
and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described
in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3).
III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds: There is no minimum or
maximum percentage required for this competition. However, the Bureau
encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and
funding in support of its programs.
When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the
applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its
proposal and later included in an approved agreement. Cost sharing may
be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For
accountability, you must maintain written records to support all costs
which are claimed as your contribution, as well as costs to be paid by
the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. The basis
for determining the value of cash and in-kind contributions must be in
accordance with OMB Circular A-110, (Revised), Subpart C.23--Cost
Sharing and Matching. In the event you do not provide the minimum
amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget, ECA's
contribution will be reduced in like proportion.
III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements:
(a) Bureau grant guidelines require that organizations with less
than four years experience in conducting international exchanges be
limited to $60,000 in Bureau funding. ECA anticipates making one award
for approximately $1,200,000 to support program and administrative
costs required to implement this exchange program. Therefore,
organizations with less than four years experience in conducting
international exchanges are ineligible to apply under this competition.
The Bureau encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost
sharing and funding in support of its programs.
(b) Technical Eligibility: Applicants may only submit one proposal
under this competition. If more than one proposal is received from the
same applicant, all submissions will be declared technically ineligible
and will receive 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 form 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
[[Page 18008]]
the Office of Citizen Exchanges, ECA/PE/C, SA-5, Third Floor, U.S.
Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20522-0504,
(202) 632-6067, [email protected] to request a Solicitation Package.
Please refer to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/EUR-SCA-10-52
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.
Please specify Brent Beemer and refer to the Funding Opportunity
Number ECA/PE/C/EUR-SCA-10-52 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 for additional
formatting and technical requirements.
IV.3c. You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of
application. Please note: Effective January 7, 2009, all applicants for
ECA Federal assistance awards must include in their application the
names of directors and/or senior executives (current officers,
trustees, and key employees, regardless of amount of compensation). In
fulfilling this requirement, applicants must submit information in one
of the following ways:
(1) Those who file Internal Revenue Service Form 990, ``Return of
Organization Exempt From Income Tax,'' must include a copy of relevant
portions of this form.
(2) Those who do not file IRS Form 990 must submit information
above in the format of their choice.
In addition to final program reporting requirements, award
recipients will also be required to submit a one-page document, derived
from their program reports, listing and describing their grant
activities. For award recipients, the names of directors and/or senior
executives (current officers, trustees, and key employees), as well as
the one-page description of grant activities, will be transmitted by
the State Department to OMB, along with other information required by
the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), and
will be made available to the public by the Office of Management and
Budget on its USASpending.gov Web site as part of ECA's FFATA reporting
requirements.
If your organization is a private nonprofit which has not received
a grant or cooperative agreement from ECA in the past three years, or
if your organization received nonprofit status from the IRS within the
past four years, you must submit the necessary documentation to verify
nonprofit status as directed in the PSI document. Failure to do so will
cause your proposal to be declared technically ineligible.
IV.3d. Please take into consideration the following information
when preparing your proposal narrative:
IV.3d.1. Adherence to All Regulations Governing the J Visa.
The 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 part
62, which covers the administration of the Exchange Visitor Program (J
visa program). Under the terms of 22 CFR part 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 part 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 part 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 part 62. If your organization has experience as
a designated Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor, the applicant should
discuss their record of compliance with 22 CFR part 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,
recordkeeping, 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, ECA/EC/D, SA-5,
Floor C2, Department of State, Washington, DC 20522-0582.
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
[[Page 18009]]
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, demonstrating concrete actions to apply
knowledge in work or community; greater participation and
responsibility in civic organizations; interpretation and explanation
of experiences and new knowledge gained; continued contacts between
participants, community members, and others.
4. Institutional changes, such as increased collaboration and
partnerships, policy reforms, new programming, and organizational
improvements.
Please note: Consideration should be given to the appropriate
timing of data collection for each level of outcome. For example,
satisfaction is usually captured as a short-term outcome, whereas
behavior and institutional changes are normally considered longer-
term outcomes.
Overall, the quality of your monitoring and evaluation plan will be
judged on how well it (1) specifies intended outcomes; (2) gives clear
descriptions of how each outcome will be measured; (3) identifies when
particular outcomes will be measured; and (4) provides a clear
description of the data collection strategies for each outcome (i.e.,
surveys, interviews, or focus groups). (Please note that evaluation
plans that deal only with the first level of outcomes [satisfaction]
will be deemed less competitive under the present evaluation criteria.)
Recipient organizations will be required to provide reports
analyzing their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular
program reports. All data collected, including survey responses and
contact information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years
and provided to the Bureau upon request.
IV.3e. Please take the following information into consideration
when preparing your budget:
IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit SF-424A--``Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs'' along with a comprehensive budget for the
entire program. There must be a summary budget as well as breakdowns
reflecting both administrative and program budgets. Applicants may
provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase,
location, or activity to provide clarification
IV.3e.2. Allowable costs for the program include the following:
IV.3e.2a. Travel. International and domestic airfare; airline
baggage and seat fees; visas; transit costs; ground transportation
costs. Please note that all air travel must be in compliance with the
Fly America Act. There is no charge for J-1 visas for participants in
Bureau sponsored programs.
IV.3e.2b. Per Diem. For U.S.-based programming, organizations
should use the published Federal per diem rates for individual U.S.
cities. Domestic per diem rates may be accessed at: http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?contentType=GSA_BASIC&contentId=17943.
ECA requests applicants to budget realistic costs that reflect the
local economy and do not exceed Federal per diem rates. Foreign per
diem rates can be accessed at: http://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=184&menu_id=78.
IV.3e.2c. Interpreters. As stated previously, ECA anticipates that
most participants coming to the U.S. on this program will not have
command of English. ECA is requiring that eventual award recipients ask
ECA to assign State Department interpreters for this project. One
interpreter is typically needed for every four participants who require
interpretation. When an applicant proposes to use State Department
interpreters, the following expenses should be included in the budget:
Published Federal per diem rates (both ``lodging'' and ``M&IE'') and
``home-program-home'' transportation in the amount of $400 per
interpreter. Salary expenses for State Department interpreters will be
covered by the Bureau and should not be part of an applicant's proposed
budget. Bureau funds cannot support interpreters who accompany
delegations from their home country or travel internationally.
IV.3e.2d. Book and Cultural Allowances. Foreign participants are
entitled to a one-time cultural allowance of $150 per person, plus a
book allowance of $50. Interpreters should be reimbursed up to $150 for
expenses when they escort participants to cultural events. U.S. program
staff, trainers or participants are not eligible to receive these
benefits.
IV.3e.2e. Consultants. Consultants may be used to provide
specialized expertise or to make presentations. Honoraria rates should
not exceed $250 per day. Organizations are encouraged to cost-share
rates that would exceed
[[Page 18010]]
that figure. Subcontracting organizations may also be employed, in
which case the written agreement between the prospective grantee and
sub-grantee should be included in the proposal. Such sub-grants should
detail the division of responsibilities and proposed costs, and
subcontracts should be itemized in the budget.
IV.3e.2f. Room rental. The rental of meeting space should not
exceed $250 per day. Any rates that exceed this amount should be cost
shared.
IV.3e.2g. Materials. Proposals may contain costs to purchase,
develop and translate materials for participants. Costs for high
quality translation of materials should be anticipated and included in
the budget. Grantee organizations should expect to submit a copy of all
program materials to ECA, and ECA support should be acknowledged on all
materials developed with its funding.
IV.3e.2h. Equipment. Applicants may propose to use grant funds to
purchase equipment, such as computers and printers; these costs should
be justified in the budget narrative. Costs for furniture are not
allowed.
IV.3e.2i. Working meal. Normally, no more than one working meal may
be provided during the program. Per capita costs may not exceed $15-$25
for lunch and $20-$35 for dinner, excluding room rental. The number of
invited guests may not exceed participants by more than a factor of
two-to-one. When setting up a budget, interpreters should be considered
``participants.''
IV.3e.2j. Return travel allowance. A return travel allowance of $70
for each foreign participant may be included in the budget. This
allowance would cover incidental expenses incurred during international
travel.
IV.3e.2k. Health Insurance. Foreign participants will be covered
during their participation in the program by the ECA-sponsored Accident
and Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE), for which the grantee must
enroll them. Details of that policy can be provided by the contact
officers identified in this solicitation. The premium is paid by ECA
and should not be included in the grant proposal budget. However,
applicants are permitted to include costs for travel insurance for U.S.
participants in the budget.
IV.3e.2l. Wire transfer fees. When necessary, applicants may
include costs to transfer funds to partner organizations overseas.
Grantees are urged to research applicable taxes that may be imposed on
these transfers by host governments.
IV.3e.2m. In-Country Travel Costs for Visa Processing Purposes.
Given the requirements associated with obtaining J-1 visas for ECA-
supported participants, applicants should include costs for any travel
associated with visa interviews or DS-2019 pick-up.
IV.3e.2n. Administrative Costs. Costs necessary for the effective
administration of the program may include salaries for grantee
organization employees, benefits, and other direct and indirect costs
per detailed instructions in the Application Package. While there is no
rigid ratio of administrative to program costs, proposals in which the
administrative costs do not exceed 25% of the total requested ECA grant
funds will be more competitive under the cost effectiveness and cost
sharing criterion, per item V.1 below. Proposals should show strong
administrative cost sharing contributions from the applicant, the in-
country partner and other sources. Please also include in the
administrative portion of your budget plans to travel to Washington,
DC, to meet with your program officer within the first 45 days after
the grant has been awarded. Please refer to the Solicitation Package
for complete budget guidelines and formatting instructions.
IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission:
Application Deadline Date: May 21, 2010.
Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/EUR-SCA-10-52.
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 10 copies of the application should be sent to:
Program Management Division, ECA-IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/PE/C/EUR-SCA-10-
52, Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20522-0504.
Applicants submitting hard-copy applications must also submit the
``Executive Summary'' and ``Proposal Narrative'' sections of the
proposal in text (.txt) or Microsoft Word format on CD-ROM. As
appropriate, the Bureau will provide these files electronically to
Public Affairs Section(s) at the U.S. embassy(ies) for its (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
[[Page 18011]]
deadline to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
The Grants.gov Web site includes extensive information on all
phases/aspects of the Grants.gov process, including an extensive
section on frequently asked questions, located under the ``For
Applicants'' section of the Web site. ECA strongly recommends that all
potential applicants review thoroughly the Grants.gov Web site, well in
advance of submitting a proposal through the Grants.gov system. ECA
bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or
conversion processes.
Direct all questions regarding Grants.gov registration and
submission to: Grants.gov Customer Support; Contact Center Phone: 800-
518-4726; Business Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Eastern Time; E-
mail: grants.gov">support@grants.gov.
Applicants have until midnight (12 a.m.), Washington, DC time of
the closing date to ensure that their entire application has been
uploaded to the Grants.gov site. There are no exceptions to the above
deadline. Applications uploaded to the site after midnight of the
application deadline date will be automatically rejected by the
grants.gov system, and will be technically ineligible.
Please refer to the Grants.gov Web site, for definitions of various
``application statuses'' and the difference between a submission
receipt and a submission validation. Applicants will receive a
validation e-mail from grants.gov upon the successful submission of an
application. Again, validation of an electronic submission via
Grants.gov can take up to two business days. Therefore, we strongly
recommend that you not wait until the application deadline to begin the
submission process through Grants.gov. ECA will not notify you upon
receipt of electronic applications.
It is the responsibility of all applicants submitting proposals via
the Grants.gov Web portal to ensure that proposals have been received
by Grants.gov in their entirety, and ECA bears no responsibility for
data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.
Optional--IV.3f.3. You may also state here any limitations on the
number of applications that an applicant may submit and make it clear
whether the limitation is on the submitting organization, individual
program director or both.
IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of Applications: Executive Order
12372 does not apply to this program.
V. Application Review Information
V.1. Review Process
The Bureau will review all proposals for technical eligibility.
Proposals will be deemed ineligible if they do not fully adhere to the
guidelines stated herein and in the Solicitation Package. All eligible
proposals will be reviewed by the program office, as well as the Public
Diplomacy section overseas, where appropriate. Eligible proposals will
be subject to compliance with Federal and Bureau regulations and
guidelines and forwarded to Bureau grant panels for advisory review.
Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of the Legal Adviser or by
other Department elements. Final funding decisions are at the
discretion of the Department of State's Assistant Secretary for
Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final technical authority for
assistance award grants resides with the Bureau's Grants Officer.
Review Criteria
Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed
according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are not rank
ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation:
1. Quality of the Program Idea: Proposals should exhibit
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's
mission.
2. Program Planning and Ability to Achieve Objectives: Detailed
agenda and relevant work plan should demonstrate substantive
undertakings and logistical capacity. Agenda and plan should adhere to
the program overview and guidelines described above. Objectives should
be reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly
demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's objectives and
plan.
3. Institutional Capacity and Record: Proposed personnel and
institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve
the program or project's goals. Proposals should demonstrate an
institutional record of successful exchange programs, including
responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting
requirements for past Bureau awards (grants or cooperative agreements)
as determined by Bureau Grants Staff. The Bureau will consider the past
performance of prior recipients and the demonstrated potential of new
applicants.
4. Cost-effectiveness and Cost-sharing: The overhead and
administrative components of the proposal, including salaries and
honoraria, should be kept as low as possible. All other items should be
necessary and appropriate. Proposals should maximize cost-sharing
through other private sector support as well as institutional direct
funding contributions.
5. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Achievable and relevant
features should be cited in both program administration (selection of
participants, program venue and program evaluation) and program content
(orientation and wrap-up sessions, program meetings, resource materials
and follow-up activities).
6. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate
the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of
the program. A draft survey questionnaire or other technique plus
description of a methodology to use to link outcomes to original
project objectives is recommended.
VI. Award Administration Information
VI.1a. Award Notices
Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by
Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures.
Successful applicants will receive a Federal Assistance Award (FAA)
from the Bureau's Grants Office. The FAA and the original proposal with
subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall be the only binding
authorizing document between the recipient and the U.S. Government. The
FAA will be signed by an authorized Grants Officer, and mailed to the
recipient's responsible officer identified in the application.
Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of
the application review from the ECA program office coordinating this
competition.
VI.1b. The following additional requirements apply to this project:
Special Provision for Performance in a Designated Combat Area
(Currently Iraq and Afghanistan).
All Recipient personnel deploying to areas of combat operations, as
designated by the Secretary of Defense (currently Iraq and
Afghanistan), under assistance awards over $100,000 or performance over
14 days must register in the Department of Defense maintained
Synchronized Pre-deployment and Operational Tracker (SPOT) system.
Recipients of federal assistance awards shall register in SPOT before
deployment, or if already in the designated operational area, register
upon becoming an employee under the assistance award, and maintain
current data in SPOT. Information on how to
[[Page 18012]]
register in SPOT will be available from your Grants Officer or Grants
Officer Representative during the final negotiation and approval stages
in the federal assistance awards process. Recipients of federal
assistance awards are advised that adherence to this policy and
procedure will be a requirement of all final federal assistance awards
issued by ECA.
Recipient performance may require the use of armed private security
personnel. To the extent that such private security contractors (PSCs)
are required, grantees are required to ensure they adhere to Chief of
Mission (COM) policies and procedures regarding the operation,
oversight, and accountability of PSCs.
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 electronic 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 be transmitted to OMB, and be made available to
the public via OMB's USAspending.gov Web site--as part of ECA's Federal
Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reporting
requirements.
(3) A SF-PPR, ``Performance Progress Report'' Cover Sheet with all
program reports.
Award recipients will be required to provide reports analyzing
their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program
reports. (Please refer to IV. Application and Submission Instructions
(IV.3.d.3)) above for Program Monitoring and Evaluation information.
All data collected, including survey responses and contact
information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years and
provided to the Bureau upon request.
All reports must be sent to the ECA Grants Officer and ECA Program
Officer listed in the final assistance award document.
VI.4. Optional Program Data Requirements: Award recipients will be
required to maintain specific data on program participants and
activities in an electronically accessible database format that can be
shared with the Bureau as required. As a minimum, the data must include
the following:
(1) Name, address, contact information and biographic sketch of all
persons who travel internationally on funds provided by the agreement
or who benefit from the award funding but do not travel.
(2) Itineraries of international and domestic travel, providing
dates of travel and cities in which any exchange experiences take
place. Final schedules for in-country and U.S. activities must be
received by the ECA Program Officer at least three work days prior to
the official opening of the activity.
VII. Agency Contacts
For questions about this announcement, contact: Brent Beemer,
Office of Citizen Exchanges, ECA/PE/C, Third Floor SA-5, Third Floor,
U.S. Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20522-
0504.
Brent Beemer: 202-632-6067, [email protected]. All correspondence
with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should reference the above title
and number ECA/PE/C/EUR-SCA-10-52.
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: April 2, 2010.
Maura M. Pally,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs,
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2010-7979 Filed 4-7-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P