[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 77 (Thursday, April 22, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21113-21119]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-9323]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 6968]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for
Grant Proposals: Community College Faculty and Administrator Program
With Indonesia
Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/S/U-10-03.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.408.
Application Deadline: June 1, 2010.
Executive Summary: The Office of Global Educational Programs of the
U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
(ECA) announces an open competition to administer the Community College
Faculty and Administrator Program with Indonesia. Community college
consortia and other associations of accredited U.S. community colleges
meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section
501(c)3 may submit proposals to cooperate with the Bureau to administer
and implement a four-month exchange program for participants from post-
secondary vocational and technical institutions in Indonesia. Key
components of the Program will include professional development,
leadership training, and the experience of U.S. society and culture.
The four-month academic exchange program will take place from
January 2011 onward. In addition, if needed, English instruction will
be offered in the U.S. to selected participants during the fall prior
to the start of the academic program. The total award for all program
and administrative expenses covered under the agreement will be up to
approximately $500,000. In order to maximize the number of participants
under this program, it is the Bureau's expectation that significant
institutional and private sector funding and cost-sharing will be made
available by cooperating organizations. We anticipate that
approximately 18 to 20 faculty and administrators will participate in
the program with one faculty and one administrator participating from
each one of nine or ten vocational or technical institutions in
Indonesia.
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.
Purpose
The Community College Faculty and Administrator Program with
Indonesia will provide professional development opportunities for
educators from post-secondary vocational and technical institutions in
Indonesia that serve economically disadvantaged and historically
underserved populations, including women and ethnic minorities.
Participants will share information about their own institutions with
their host colleges; further develop administrative or pedagogical
skills; and learn first-hand about U.S. society and culture. A key
objective of the Program is to introduce participants to the U.S.
higher education system and provide them with a better understanding of
U.S. community colleges, their mission, their administration, and their
role in the U.S. economy, especially in linking education to
employment. The Program will include vocational skills acquisition,
leadership skills development, and English language training. The
Program will prepare participants to make enhanced contributions to
Indonesia's development by encouraging a more dynamic relationship
between their institutions and key sectors in Indonesia's economy and
by improving administrative and instructional practices in vocational
and technical education.
The Program also will provide participants and their U.S.
colleagues with the opportunity to develop lasting ties as a basis for
on-going cooperation. Participants will discuss and experience, in
consultation with U.S. counterparts, strategies for increasing access
to higher education among underserved sectors; for teaching in mixed-
age, mixed-ability classrooms; for developing partnerships with
business and industry; and other educational approaches with which U.S.
community colleges have relevant expertise.
Guidelines
Applicants are requested to submit a narrative of no more than 20
double-spaced, single-sided pages outlining a comprehensive strategy
for the administration and implementation of the Community College
Faculty and Administrator Program with Indonesia.
Participants
The Fulbright Commission in Jakarta, Indonesia will recruit
participants.
Faculty participants are expected to have a minimum of five years
of teaching experience as well as hands-on work experience in their
fields of teaching expertise; show a strong
[[Page 21114]]
commitment to teaching; and demonstrate an interest in innovative
approaches to education. They will propose specific projects related to
curriculum development or professional development. It is anticipated
that faculty will be selected in the fields of business management and
tourism and hospitality management. Faculty participants will be
required to have English proficiency equivalent to that represented by
a TOEFL score of 500.
Administrator participants are expected to have a minimum of three
years of administrative experience, a record of leadership, and a
commitment to educational reform. They will explore specific topics
related to administrative practices, community relations, professional
development or curriculum development. Preference will be given to
administrators with previous teaching experience and/or some ongoing
teaching responsibility. Because some administrator participants also
have some teaching responsibilities at their institutions in Indonesia,
administrator participants may have projects related to curriculum
development as well as issues in educational reform. International
administrator participants will be required to have English proficiency
equivalent to that represented by a TOEFL score of 450.
Program Design
U.S. Host Colleges
Proposals should designate two primary U.S. host colleges--one for
administrators and the other for faculty participants. Each primary
host college should cooperate with additional colleges within a
community college district, State system, consortium, to provide
participants with a broad exposure to institutional missions and
practices in the community college sector.
Host College Coordinators
Each primary host college should designate a coordinator with
responsibility for providing guidance to participants on their projects
and for working with each participant to develop a program of
consultation, networking, and study that is relevant to the
participant's interests. The coordinator should have knowledge of
cross-cultural communication, group dynamics and organizational
development and be able to assist the group in developing decision-
making and problem-solving skills.
The coordinator at the primary host college for faculty
participants should make arrangements for them to attend relevant
courses in their fields of specialization to enable them both to
acquire new vocational skills and to observe classroom practices. U.S.
faculty should meet with program participants to share information
about teaching approaches and may invite program participants to co-
teach or assist in classes as appropriate.
The coordinator at the primary host college for administrator
participants should arrange for each participant to have a U.S. mentor
counterpart with responsibilities relevant to the interests of the
administrator participant. The U.S. mentor administrators should
provide participants with opportunities to ``job shadow'' or other
appropriate opportunities to experience and understand relevant
administrative practices firsthand. Administrator participants with
curriculum development projects should also be assigned a faculty
mentor. All administrator participants should be able to attend courses
to enable them both to acquire new technical skills and to observe
classroom practices.
The coordinator at each primary host college should also organize a
program of seminars and workshops to enable participants to exchange
ideas, experiences, and teaching and administrative best practices with
U.S. community college faculty and administrators on a regular basis.
The program of seminars and workshops should also introduce
participants to the U.S. higher education system and provide them with
a better understanding of U.S. community colleges, their mission, their
administration, and their economic role. In addition, the seminars and
workshops should provide opportunities for participants to discuss
their observations, share their experiences, and identify possible
lessons for adaptation in Indonesia. Sessions should encourage
participants to reflect on their projects and to provide one another
with feedback.
Program-Wide Mid-Semester Seminar
Proposals should also describe a three- to four-day, mid-semester
seminar at a common location, bringing together administrator and
faculty participants to consult with one another and develop plans for
adaptation and implementation in Indonesia. The program-wide mid-
semester seminar should emphasize leadership skills and feature key
speakers with insights into the role and achievements of community
colleges and best practices in teaching and administration.
English Language Study
Proposals should describe both a fall program of intensive English
language study and the availability of on-going English language study
during the semester-long academic program.
To enable the Program to accommodate qualified mid-career
instructors from non-traditional and less privileged populations,
proposals should designate a host college to offer four weeks of
intensive English instruction in the U.S. to approximately half the
participants during the fall prior to the academic program. The host
college offering the intensive English program may be one of the
primary host colleges or it may be another college.
Proposals should also describe on-going English as a Second
Language programs and services at the primary host colleges, and
include a plan to make additional, on-going language study available to
all participants who need it at their host colleges as part of their
academic program.
Involvement in Community Life
Proposals should describe activities that would enable participants
to become involved in the social and cultural life of their local U.S.
communities: For example, making presentations to local schools,
businesses and civic groups or other community organizations;
involvement with families; and attendance at educational and cultural
events that demonstrate key features of U.S. society and culture.
Program Administration
Proposals also explain how pre-departure orientation materials will
be developed and disseminated, participants registered in SEVIS under a
program number to be provided by the Bureau, and post-arrival
orientation programming sessions organized.
Proposals should outline procedures for supporting participants;
for monitoring and evaluating their programs; and for follow-up with
program alumni.
The budget should request funding for round-trip international
travel from Indonesia to U.S. host institutions for all participants;
round-trip domestic travel for the mid-program seminar if necessary;
pre-academic intensive English language training; tuition if necessary;
books; maintenance allowance; housing and costs for program
administration. Applicant organizations should explain processes for
providing maintenance, book, and other allowances to program
participants and for paying tuition fees
[[Page 21115]]
directly to host colleges if necessary. If possible, to streamline
administrative procedures and to maintain the flexibility to respond to
program developments as they occur, organizations should propose
processes to provide payments to participants and colleges directly
without requiring formal sub-agreements with each participating
college.
Cost-sharing is expected from organizations applying to cooperate
with the Bureau on this program. Applicant organizations are encouraged
to include third-party contributions in their proposals.
Proposals should demonstrate depth of experience in conducting and
administering complex and multi-faceted international education and
cultural exchange programs. Proposals should provide a plan for
continued follow-on activity (without Bureau support), such as tracking
and maintaining updated lists of all alumni and facilitating follow-up
activities with alumni, including ongoing communication between alumni
and U.S. community college faculty.
Programs and projects must conform with the requirements and
guidelines outlined in the Solicitation Package, which includes the
Request for Grant Proposals (RFGP), the Project Objectives, Goals and
Implementation (POGI) and the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI).
In a Cooperative Agreement, the Bureau is substantially involved in
program activities above and beyond routine grant monitoring. Bureau
activities and responsibilities for this program include:
(1) Participation in the design and direction of program
activities;
(2) Approval of key personnel;
(3) Approval and input on program timelines and agendas;
(4) Guidance in execution of all program components;
(5) Review and approval of all program publicity and other
materials;
(6) Approval of host colleges;
(7) Final selection of participants;
(8) Approval of changes to a participant's proposed host college;
(9) Approval of decisions related to special circumstances or
problems throughout duration of program;
(10) Assistance with SEVIS-related issues;
(11) Assistance with participant emergencies;
(12) Liaison with the U.S. Embassy and Fulbright Commission in
Jakarta and country desk officers at the State Department.
This Cooperative Agreement should begin on or about September 15,
2010 and will run through December 31, 2011. Cooperative Agreements
will include both the administrative and program portions of the
program.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. ECA's level of involvement in
this program is listed under number I above.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY2010.
Approximate Total Funding: $500,000.
Approximate Number of Awards: One.
Approximate Average Award: $500,000.
Anticipated Award Date: September 15, 2010.
Anticipated Project Completion Date: December 31, 2011.
Additional Information
Pending successful implementation of this program and the
availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, it is ECA's intent to
renew this Cooperative Agreement for two additional fiscal years,
before openly competing it again. In subsequent years, other fields may
be added such as: Agriculture; Allied Health Fields, including Nursing;
Applied Engineering; Information Technology; and Media. In addition,
participating countries may be adjusted.
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) that are consortia of accredited U.S.
community colleges or other combinations of community colleges.
Applications must designate a lead institution to receive and
administer the award.
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
that 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,
in an amount up to $500,000 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.
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 Program Officer, Mary Lou Johnson-Pizarro, in
the Office of Global Educational Programs, ECA/A/S/U, SA-05, Floor 4,
Department of State, Washington, DC 20522-0504, (202) 632-9483,
[email protected], to request a Solicitation Package. Please
refer to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/S/U-10-03 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.
[[Page 21116]]
IV.2. To Download a Solicitation Package via Internet
The entire Solicitation Package may be downloaded from the Bureau's
Web site at http://exchanges.state.gov/grants/open2.html, or from the
Grants.gov Web site at http://www.grants.gov.
Please read all information before downloading.
IV.3. Content and Form of Submission
Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation
Package. The application should be submitted per the instructions under
IV.3f. ``Application Deadline and Methods of Submission'' section
below.
IV.3a. You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal
Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or Cooperative
Agreement from the U.S. Government. This number is a nine-digit
identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities.
Obtaining a DUNS number is easy, and there is no charge. To obtain a
DUNS number, access http://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-
5711. Please ensure that your DUNS number is included in the
appropriate box of the SF-424 which is part of the formal application
package.
IV.3b. All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal
narrative and budget.
Please refer to the Solicitation Package. It contains the mandatory
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document and the Project
Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) document for additional
formatting and technical requirements.
IV.3c. You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of
application. Please Note: Effective January 7, 2009, all applicants for
ECA Federal assistance awards must include in their application the
names of directors and/or senior executives (current officers,
trustees, and key employees, regardless of amount of compensation). In
fulfilling this requirement, applicants must submit information in one
of the following ways:
(1) Those who file Internal Revenue Service Form 990, ``Return of
Organization Exempt From Income Tax,'' must include a copy of relevant
portions of this form.
(2) Those who do not file IRS Form 990 must submit information
above in the format of their choice.
In addition to final program reporting requirements, award
recipients will also be required to submit a one-page document, derived
from their program reports, listing and describing their grant
activities. For award recipients, the names of directors and/or senior
executives (current officers, trustees, and key employees), as well as
the one- page description of grant activities, will be transmitted by
the State Department to OMB, along with other information required by
the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), and
will be made available to the public by the Office of Management and
Budget on its USASpending.gov Web site as part of ECA's FFATA reporting
requirements.
If your organization is a private nonprofit which has not received
a grant or Cooperative Agreement from ECA in the past three years, or
if your organization received nonprofit status from the IRS within the
past four years, you must submit the necessary documentation to verify
nonprofit status as directed in the PSI document. Failure to do so will
cause your proposal to be declared technically ineligible.
IV.3d. Please take into consideration the following information
when preparing your proposal narrative:
IV.3d.1 Adherence to All Regulations Governing the J Visa
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs places critically
important emphases on the security and proper administration of the
Exchange Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence by award recipients
and sponsors to all regulations governing the J visa. Therefore,
proposals should demonstrate the applicant's capacity to meet all
requirements governing the administration of the Exchange Visitor
Programs as set forth in 22 CFR 62, including the oversight of
Responsible Officers and Alternate Responsible Officers, screening and
selection of program participants, provision of pre-arrival information
and orientation to participants, monitoring of participants, proper
maintenance and security of forms, record-keeping, reporting and other
requirements. The award recipient will be responsible for issuing DS-
2019 forms to participants in this program.
A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of
Exchange Visitor (J) programs is available at http://exchanges.state.gov or from: United States Department of State, Office
of Exchange Coordination and Designation, Office of Designation, ECA/
EC/D, SA-5, Floor C2, Department of State, Washington, DC 20522-0582.
Please refer to Solicitation Package for further information.
IV.3d.2 Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines
Pursuant to the Bureau's authorizing legislation, programs must
maintain a non-political character and should be balanced and
representative of the diversity of American political, social, and
cultural life. ``Diversity'' should be interpreted in the broadest
sense and encompass differences including, but not limited to
ethnicity, race, gender, religion, geographic location, socio-economic
status, and disabilities. Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere
to the advancement of this principle both in program administration and
in program content. Please refer to the review criteria under the
``Support for Diversity'' section for specific suggestions on
incorporating diversity into your proposal. Public Law 104-319 provides
that ``in carrying out programs of educational and cultural exchange in
countries whose people do not fully enjoy freedom and democracy,'' the
Bureau ``shall take appropriate steps to provide opportunities for
participation in such programs to human rights and democracy leaders of
such countries.'' Public Law 106--113 requires that the governments of
the countries described above do not have inappropriate influence in
the selection process. Proposals should reflect advancement of these
goals in their program contents, to the full extent deemed feasible.
IV.3d.3. Program Monitoring and Evaluation
Proposals must include a plan to monitor and evaluate the project's
success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of the program.
The Bureau recommends that your proposal include a draft survey
questionnaire or other technique plus a description of a methodology to
use to link outcomes to original project objectives. The Bureau expects
that the recipient organization will track participants or partners and
be able to respond to key evaluation questions, including satisfaction
with the program, learning as a result of the program, 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
[[Page 21117]]
how and when you intend to measure these outcomes (performance
indicators). The more that outcomes are ``smart'' (specific,
measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and placed in a reasonable
time frame), the easier it will be to conduct the evaluation. You
should also show how your project objectives link to the goals of the
program described in this RFGP.
Your monitoring and evaluation plan should clearly distinguish
between program outputs and outcomes. Outputs are products and services
delivered, often stated as an amount. Output information is important
to show the scope or size of project activities, but it cannot
substitute for information about progress towards outcomes or the
results achieved. Examples of outputs include the number of people
trained or the number of seminars conducted. Outcomes, in contrast,
represent specific results a project is intended to achieve and is
usually measured as an extent of change. Findings on outputs and
outcomes should both be reported, but the focus should be on outcomes.
We encourage you to assess the following four levels of outcomes,
as they relate to the program goals set out in the RFGP (listed here in
increasing order of importance):
1. Participant satisfaction with the program and exchange
experience.
2. Participant learning, such as increased knowledge, aptitude,
skills, and changed understanding and attitude. Learning includes both
substantive (subject-specific) learning and mutual understanding.
3. Participant behavior, concrete actions to apply knowledge in
work or community; greater participation and responsibility in civic
organizations; interpretation and explanation of experiences and new
knowledge gained; continued contacts between participants, community
members, and others.
4. Institutional changes, such as increased collaboration and
partnerships, policy reforms, new programming, and organizational
improvements.
Please note: Consideration should be given to the appropriate
timing of data collection for each level of outcome. For example,
satisfaction is usually captured as a short-term outcome, whereas
behavior and institutional changes are normally considered longer-term
outcomes.
Overall, the quality of your monitoring and evaluation plan will be
judged on how well it: (1) Specifies intended outcomes; (2) gives clear
descriptions of how each outcome will be measured; (3) identifies when
particular outcomes will be measured; and (4) provides a clear
description of the data collection strategies for each outcome (i.e.,
surveys, interviews, or focus groups). (Please note that evaluation
plans that deal only with the first level of outcomes [satisfaction]
will be deemed less competitive under the present evaluation criteria.)
Recipient organizations will be required to provide reports
analyzing their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular
program reports. All data collected, including survey responses and
contact information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years
and provided to the Bureau upon request.
IV.3e. Please take the following information into consideration
when preparing your budget:
IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit SF-424A--``Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs'' along with a comprehensive budget for the
entire program. Budget requests may not exceed $500,000. There must be
a summary budget as well as breakdowns reflecting both administrative
and program budgets. Applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for
each program component, phase, location, or activity to provide
clarification.
IV.3e.2. Allowable costs for the program and additional budget
guidance are outlined in detail in the POGI document.
Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget
guidelines and formatting instructions.
IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission
Application Deadline Date: June 1, 2010.
Reference Number: ECA/A/S/U-10-03.
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.
Please note: ECA strongly encourages organizations interested in
applying for this competition to submit printed, hard copy applications
as outlined in section IV.3f.1., below rather than submitting
electronically through Grants.gov. This recommendation is being made as
a result of the anticipated high volume of grant proposals that will be
submitted via the Grants.gov Web portal as part of the Recovery Act
stimulus package. As stated in this RFGP, ECA bears no responsibility
for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes for
proposals submitted via 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 7 copies of the application should be sent to:
Program Management Division, ECA-IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/A/S/U-10-03, SA-
5, Floor 4, 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 a PC-formatted
disk. The Bureau will provide these files electronically to the
appropriate 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
[[Page 21118]]
packages are available at Grants.gov in the ``Find'' portion of the
system.
Please note: ECA strongly encourages organizations interested in
applying for this competition to submit printed, hard copy applications
as outlined in section IV.3f.1. above, rather than submitting
electronically through Grants.gov. This recommendation is being made as
a result of the anticipated high volume of grant proposals that will be
submitted via the Grants.gov Web portal as part of the Recovery Act
stimulus package. As stated in this RFGP, ECA bears no responsibility
for 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.
IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of Applications
Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.
V. Application Review Information
V.1. Review Process
The Bureau will review all proposals for technical eligibility.
Proposals will be deemed ineligible if they do not fully adhere to the
guidelines stated herein and in the Solicitation Package. All eligible
proposals will be reviewed by the program office, as well as the Public
Diplomacy section overseas, where appropriate. Eligible proposals will
be subject to compliance with Federal and Bureau regulations and
guidelines and forwarded to Bureau grant panels for advisory review.
Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of the Legal Adviser or by
other Department elements. Final funding decisions are at the
discretion of the Department of State's Assistant Secretary for
Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final technical authority for
cooperative agreements resides with the Bureau's Grants Officer.
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: 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.
3. Ability to achieve program objectives: Objectives should be
reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly
demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's objectives and
plan.
4. Multiplier effect/impact: Proposed programs should strengthen
long-term mutual understanding, including maximum sharing of
information and establishment of long-term institutional and individual
linkages.
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. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program or
project's goals.
7. Institution's Record/Ability: Proposals should demonstrate an
institutional record of successful exchange programs, including
responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting
requirements for past Bureau awards (grants or cooperative agreements)
as determined by Bureau Grants Staff. The Bureau will consider the past
performance of prior recipients and the demonstrated potential of new
applicants.
8. Follow-on Activities: Proposals should provide a plan for
continued follow-on activity (without Bureau support) ensuring that
Bureau supported programs are not isolated events.
9. 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.
10. Cost-effectiveness: 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.
[[Page 21119]]
11. Cost-sharing: Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through
other private sector support as well as institutional direct funding
contributions.
VI. Award Administration Information
VI.1a. Award Notices
Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by
Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures.
Successful applicants will receive a Federal Assistance Award (FAA)
from the Bureau's Grants Office. The FAA and the original proposal with
subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall be the only binding
authorizing document between the recipient and the U.S. Government. The
FAA will be signed by an authorized Grants Officer, and mailed to the
recipient's responsible officer identified in the application.
Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of
the application review from the ECA program office coordinating this
competition.
VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
Terms and Conditions for the Administration of ECA agreements
include the following:
Office of Management and Budget Circular A-122, ``Cost Principles for
Nonprofit Organizations.''
Office of Management and Budget Circular A-21, ``Cost Principles for
Educational Institutions.''
OMB Circular A-87, ``Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian
Governments''.
OMB Circular No. A-110 (Revised), Uniform Administrative Requirements
for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education,
Hospitals, and other Nonprofit Organizations.
OMB Circular No. A-102, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants-
in-Aid to State and Local Governments.
OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of States, Local Government, and Non-
profit Organizations.
Please reference the following Web sites for additional
information:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants.
http://fa.statebuy.state.gov.
VI.3. Reporting Requirements
You must provide ECA with a hard copy original plus two copies 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.
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: Mary Lou Johnson-
Pizarro, in the Office of Global Educational Programs, ECA/A/S/U, SA-
05, Floor 4, Department of State, Washington, DC 20522-0504, (202) 632-
9483 [email protected].
All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should
reference the above title and number ECA/A/S/U-10-03.
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 15, 2010.
Maura M. Pally,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs,
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2010-9323 Filed 4-21-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P