[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 77 (Thursday, April 22, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21126-21131]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-9326]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 6965]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for
Grant Proposals: Study of the U.S. Institute for Pakistani Student
Leaders on Comparative Public Policy
Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/E/USS-10-28.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.009.
Key Dates: July-August, 2011.
Application Deadline: Friday, May 21, 2010.
Executive Summary: The Branch for the Study of the United States,
Office of Academic Exchange Programs, Bureau of Educational and
Cultural Affairs, invites proposal submissions for the design and
implementation of a six- week academic institute for up to 25 Pakistani
student leaders focused on comparative public policy.
The Study of the U.S. Institute for Pakistani Student Leaders
should include: A summer academic course at a U.S. university or
college campus that includes up to 20 American undergraduate students
at no cost to ECA; volunteer community service activities with peer
mentors or other Americans; leadership development; and a one to two-
week educational study tour to another part of the United States. In
addition, Pakistani participants should have opportunities to make
presentations about their country or university studies on campus or
locally.
Pending availability of funds, support for this program is being
provided from special FY-2009/FY-2010 supplemental funds that have been
appropriated to the Department.
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 Study of the U.S. Institute for Pakistani Student Leaders on
Comparative Public Policy is a new program, created in response to the
interest of the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan to provide opportunities for
Pakistani undergraduates to study at a U.S. campus and to exchange
ideas with their American peers. The Study of the U.S. Institutes for
Student Leaders are intensive academic programs whose purpose is to
provide groups of foreign undergraduate students with an introduction
to a specific field of study, while also heightening the participants'
general knowledge of U.S. society, culture, and values.
In addition to promoting a better understanding of the United
States, an important objective of the Student Leader Institutes is to
develop the participants' leadership skills. In this context, the
leadership component should be experiential in nature and include group
discussions, training, and exercises that focus on leadership theories,
teambuilding, collective problem-solving skills, effective
communication, and management skills for diverse organizational
settings. Additionally, community service activities should allow
participants to experience firsthand how not-for-profit organizations
and volunteerism play a role in U.S. civil society.
The program should also include cultural activities, local site
visits, and an educational travel component within the United States to
illustrate the various topics explored in class and to gain an
understanding of the regional differences within the country. Finally,
the program should include opportunities for participants to meet U.S.
citizens from a variety of backgrounds and to speak to appropriate
student and civic groups about life in their home countries.
Solicitations should allow for pre-departure briefing and post-
program debriefing sessions at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad.
Overview
The Study of the U.S. Institute for Pakistani Student Leaders on
Comparative Public Policy should provide Pakistani participants with an
overview of U.S. history and government; the core of the course should
engage American and Pakistani students in a comparative analysis of
governments and policies in the two countries. Public policy
discussions could include topics such as foreign policy, healthcare,
agriculture, or education and how these policies are formulated and
implemented, examining the role of citizens, media, lobbying groups,
think-tanks, local, state, and federal governments. In addition, the
institute should allow participants to gain practical skills used in
the analysis of public policy. The class should be crafted to maximize
interaction and cross-cultural study between Pakistani and American
students in order to allow them to share experiences and viewpoints.
Recipient
ECA is seeking detailed proposals from U.S. colleges, universities,
and other not-for-profit organizations that have an established
reputation in one or more of the following fields: Political science,
international relations, law, history, sociology, American studies,
and/or other disciplines or sub-disciplines related to the study of the
United States.
Program Design
The Study of the U.S. Institute for Pakistani Student Leaders on
Comparative Public Policy should provide a group of up to 25 Pakistani
students with a uniquely designed program that provides a comparative
analysis of public policy. The academic component of the institute
should include up to 20 U.S. students enrolled in the class work. The
institute must not replicate existing or previous lectures, workshops,
or group activities designed for American students but should be
tailored for the particular group of students. The recipient should
take into account that the Pakistani participants may have little or no
prior knowledge of the United States and varying degrees of experience
in expressing their opinions in a classroom setting and should tailor
the curriculum and classroom activities accordingly. Every effort
should be made to encourage active student participation in all aspects
of the institute. The program should provide ample time and opportunity
for discussion and interaction among students, lecturers, and guest
speakers.
[[Page 21127]]
The program should incorporate a variety of classroom approaches such
as panel presentations, seminar discussions, debates, individual and
group activities, lectures, and reading assignments for the academic
sessions.
The program should be six weeks in length; participants will spend
four weeks at the host institution for the academic program, and
approximately two weeks on a related educational study tour, including
three or four days in Washington, DC at the conclusion of the
Institute.
Program Administration
The recipient should designate an academic director, who will be
present throughout the program to ensure the continuity, coherence, and
integration of all aspects of the academic program, including the
related educational study tour. In addition to the academic director,
an administrative director should be assigned to oversee all student
support services, including supervision of the program participants and
budgetary, logistical, and other administrative arrangements. It is
important that the recipient also retain approximately 5 peer mentors
to work with institute directors to organize leadership, community, and
cultural activities for participants. Peer mentors should be culturally
sensitive, personally committed to the goals of the exchange, and
participate in all aspects of the program.
Participants
Up to 25 participants will be selected from Pakistan. The students
will be identified and nominated by the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan, with
final selection made by ECA.
Participants in the Study of the U.S. Institutes for Pakistani
Student Leaders on Comparative Public Policy will be highly motivated
undergraduate students from colleges, universities, and other
institutions of higher education in Pakistan who have demonstrated
leadership through academic work, community involvement, and
extracurricular activities. Their major fields of study will be varied,
and will include the sciences, social sciences, humanities, education,
and business.
Every effort will be made to select a balanced mix of male and
female participants and to recruit participants from a variety of
backgrounds who have had little or no prior experience in the United
States or elsewhere outside of their home country.
Program Dates
The Institute should be six weeks in length beginning in July,
2011.
Program Guidelines
It is essential that the proposal provide a detailed and
comprehensive narrative describing how the host institution will
achieve the objectives of the institute; the title, scope and content
of each session; planned site visits, the educational travel component;
and how each session relates to the overall institute theme.
Overall, the proposal will be reviewed on the basis of its
responsiveness to RFGP criteria, coherence, clarity, and attention to
detail.
Please note: In a cooperative agreement, ECA is substantially
involved in program activities above and beyond routine grant
monitoring. The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan
may also be involved in planning program activities. ECA will assume
the following responsibilities for the institute: participate in the
selection of participants; review and confirm syllabi and proposed
speakers for the institute; monitor the institute through one or more
site visits; meet with participants in Washington, DC at the conclusion
of the institute; work with the recipient to publicize the program
through various media outlets; and engage in follow-on communication
with the participants after they return to their home countries.
ECA may request that the recipient make modifications to the
academic residency and/or educational travel components of the program.
The recipient will be required to obtain approval from ECA of any
significant program changes in advance of their implementation.
Note: All materials, publicity, and correspondence related to
the program must acknowledge this as a program of the Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State. ECA will
retain copyright use of and distribute materials related to this
program as it sees fit.
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: 2009/2010.
Approximate Total Funding: $475,000 (pending availability of
funds).
Approximate Number of Awards: 1.
Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, September,
2010.
Anticipated Project Completion Date: February, 2012.
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,
in an amount up to $475,000 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.
[[Page 21128]]
IV.1 Contact Information To Request an Application Package
Please contact the Study of the U.S. Branch, ECA/A/E/USS, SA-5, 4th
Floor, U.S. Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW, Washington, DC
20522-0504, Telephone: (202) 632-3342, Fax (202) 632-9411, E-mail:
[email protected] to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer
to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/E/USS-10-28 located at the top
of this announcement when making your request. Alternatively, an
electronic application package may be obtained from grants.gov. Please
see section IV.3f for further information.
The Solicitation Package contains the Proposal Submission
Instruction (PSI) document which consists of required application
forms, and standard guidelines for proposal preparation.
It also contains the Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation
(POGI) document, which provides specific information, award criteria
and budget instructions tailored to this competition.
Please specify Britta S. Bjornlund and refer to the Funding
Opportunity Number ECA/A/E/USS-10-28 located at the top of this
announcement on all other inquiries and correspondence.
IV.2. To Download a Solicitation Package Via Internet
The entire Solicitation Package may be downloaded from the Bureau's
Web site at http://exchanges.state.gov/grants/open2.html, or from the
Grants.gov Web site at http://www.grants.gov.
Please read all information before downloading.
IV.3. Content and Form of Submission
Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation
Package. The application should be submitted per the instructions under
IV.3f. ``Application Deadline and Methods of Submission'' section
below.
IV.3a. You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal
Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative
agreement from the U.S. Government. This number is a nine-digit
identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities.
Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a
DUNS number, access http://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-
5711. Please ensure that your DUNS number is included in the
appropriate box of the SF-424 which is part of the formal application
package.
IV.3b. All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal
narrative, and budget.
Please Refer to the Solicitation Package. It contains the mandatory
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document and the Project
Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI) document for additional
formatting and technical requirements.
IV.3c. You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of
application. Please note: Effective January 7, 2009, all applicants for
ECA federal assistance awards must include in their application the
names of directors and/or senior executives (current officers,
trustees, and key employees, regardless of amount of compensation). In
fulfilling this requirement, applicants must submit information in one
of the following ways:
(1) Those who file Internal Revenue Service Form 990, ``Return of
Organization Exempt From Income Tax,'' must include a copy of relevant
portions of this form.
(2) Those who do not file IRS Form 990 must submit information
above in the format of their choice.
In addition to final program reporting requirements, award recipients
will also be required to submit a one-page document, derived from their
program reports, listing and describing their grant activities. For
award recipients, the names of directors and/or senior executives
(current officers, trustees, and key employees), as well as the one-
page description of grant activities, will be transmitted by the State
Department to OMB, along with other information required by the Federal
Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), and will be made
available to the public by the Office of Management and Budget on its
USASpending.gov Web site as part of ECA's FFATA reporting requirements.
If your organization is a private nonprofit which has not received
a grant or cooperative agreement from ECA in the past three years, or
if your organization received nonprofit status from the IRS within the
past four years, you must submit the necessary documentation to verify
nonprofit status as directed in the PSI document. Failure to do so will
cause your proposal to be declared technically ineligible.
IV.3d. Please take into consideration the following information
when preparing your proposal narrative:
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. 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: 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.
[[Page 21129]]
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 will track participants or partners and be able to
respond to key evaluation questions, including satisfaction with the
program, learning as a result of the program, changes in behavior as a
result of the program, and effects of the program on institutions
(institutions in which participants work or partner institutions). The
evaluation plan should include indicators that measure gains in mutual
understanding as well as substantive knowledge.
Successful monitoring and evaluation depend heavily on setting
clear goals and outcomes at the outset of a program. Your evaluation
plan should include a description of your project's objectives, your
anticipated project outcomes, and how and when you intend to measure
these outcomes (performance indicators). The more that outcomes are
``smart'' (specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and
placed in a reasonable time frame), the easier it will be to conduct
the evaluation. You should also show how your project objectives link
to the goals of the program described in this RFGP.
Your monitoring and evaluation plan should clearly distinguish
between program outputs and outcomes. Outputs are products and services
delivered, often stated as an amount. Output information is important
to show the scope or size of project activities, but it cannot
substitute for information about progress towards outcomes or the
results achieved. Examples of outputs include the number of people
trained or the number of seminars conducted. Outcomes, in contrast,
represent specific results a project is intended to achieve and is
usually measured as an extent of change. Findings on outputs and
outcomes should both be reported, but the focus should be on outcomes.
We encourage you to assess the following four levels of outcomes,
as they relate to the program goals set out in the RFGP (listed here in
increasing order of importance):
1. Participant satisfaction with the program and exchange
experience.
2. Participant learning, such as increased knowledge, aptitude,
skills, and changed understanding and attitude. Learning includes both
substantive (subject-specific) learning and mutual understanding.
3. Participant behavior, concrete actions to apply knowledge in
work or community; greater participation and responsibility in civic
organizations; interpretation and explanation of experiences and new
knowledge gained; continued contacts between participants, community
members, and others.
4. Institutional changes, such as increased collaboration and
partnerships, policy reforms, new programming, and organizational
improvements.
Please note: Consideration should be given to the appropriate
timing of data collection for each level of outcome. For example,
satisfaction is usually captured as a short-term outcome, whereas
behavior and institutional changes are normally considered longer-term
outcomes.
Overall, the quality of your monitoring and evaluation plan will be
judged on how well it (1) Specifies intended outcomes; (2) gives clear
descriptions of how each outcome will be measured; (3) identifies when
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.)
Recipients 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 $475,000. 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.
Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget
guidelines and formatting instructions.
IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission
Application Deadline Date: Friday, May 21, 2010.
Reference Number: ECA/A/E/USS-10-28.
Methods of Submission: Applications may be submitted in one of two
ways:
(1) In hard-copy, via a nationally recognized overnight delivery
service (i.e., Federal Express, UPS, Airborne Express, or U.S. Postal
Service Express Overnight Mail, etc.), or
(2) Electronically through http://www.grants.gov.
Along with the Project Title, all applicants must enter the above
Reference Number in Box 11 on the SF-424 contained in the mandatory
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) of the solicitation document.
IV.3f.1 Submitting Printed Applications
Applications must be shipped no later than the above deadline.
Delivery services used by applicants must have in-place, centralized
shipping identification and tracking systems that may be accessed via
the Internet and delivery people who are identifiable by commonly
recognized uniforms and delivery vehicles. Proposals shipped on or
before the above deadline but received at ECA more than seven days
after the deadline will be ineligible for further consideration under
this competition. Proposals shipped after the established deadlines are
ineligible for consideration under this competition. ECA will not
notify you upon receipt of application. It is each applicant's
responsibility to ensure that each package is marked with a legible
tracking number and to monitor/confirm delivery to ECA via the
Internet. Delivery of proposal packages may not be made via local
courier service or in person for this competition. Faxed documents will
not be accepted at any time. Only proposals submitted as stated above
will be considered.
Important note: When preparing your submission please make sure to
include one extra copy of the completed SF-424 form and place it in an
envelope addressed to ``ECA/EX/PM''.
The original and six (6) copies of the application should be sent
to: Program Management Division, ECA-IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/A/E/USS-10-
28, SA-5, Floor 4, Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington,
DC 20522-0504.
(Include following language re: CD-ROM submission only if proposals
will be forwarded to embassies. If post input is not necessary, delete
language.)
Applicants submitting hard-copy applications must also submit the
[[Page 21130]]
``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 at the U.S. embassy for its review.
IV.3f.2--Submitting Electronic Applications
Applicants have the option of submitting proposals electronically
through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov). Complete solicitation
packages are available at Grants.gov in the ``Find'' portion of the
system.
Please Note: ECA bears no responsibility for applicant timeliness
of submission or data errors resulting from transmission or conversion
processes for proposals submitted via Grants.gov.
Please follow the instructions available in the `Get Started'
portion of the site (http://www.grants.gov/GetStarted).
Several of the steps in the Grants.gov registration process could
take several weeks. Therefore, applicants should check with appropriate
staff within their organizations immediately after reviewing this RFGP
to confirm or determine their registration status with Grants.gov.
Once registered, the amount of time it can take to upload an
application will vary depending on a variety of factors including the
size of the application and the speed of your internet connection. In
addition, validation of an electronic submission via Grants.gov can
take up to two business days.
Therefore, we strongly recommend that you not wait until the
application deadline to begin the submission process through
Grants.gov.
The Grants.gov Web site includes extensive information on all
phases/aspects of the Grants.gov process, including an extensive
section on frequently asked questions, located under the ``For
Applicants'' section of the Web site. ECA strongly recommends that all
potential applicants review thoroughly the Grants.gov Web site, well in
advance of submitting a proposal through the Grants.gov system. ECA
bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or
conversion processes.
Direct all questions regarding Grants.gov registration and
submission to:
Grants.gov Customer Support.
Contact Center Phone: 800-518-4726.
Business Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Eastern Time.
E-mail: grants.gov">support@grants.gov.
Applicants have until midnight (12 a.m.), Washington, DC time of
the closing date to ensure that their entire application has been
uploaded to the Grants.gov site. There are no exceptions to the above
deadline. Applications uploaded to the site after midnight of the
application deadline date will be automatically rejected by the
grants.gov system, and will be technically ineligible.
Please refer to the Grants.gov Web site, for definitions of various
``application statuses'' and the difference between a submission
receipt and a submission validation. Applicants will receive a
validation e-mail from grants.gov upon the successful submission of an
application. Again, validation of an electronic submission via
Grants.gov can take up to two business days. Therefore, we strongly
recommend that you not wait until the application deadline to begin the
submission process through Grants.gov. ECA will not notify you upon
receipt of electronic applications.
It is the responsibility of all applicants submitting proposals via
the Grants.gov web portal to ensure that proposals have been received
by Grants.gov in their entirety, and ECA bears no responsibility for
data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.
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
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 Program Plan and Ability To Achieve Program
Objectives: Proposals should exhibit originality, substance, precision,
and relevance to the ECA's mission. A detailed agenda and relevant work
plan should demonstrate substantive undertakings and logistical
capacity. Objectives should be reasonable, feasible, and flexible.
Proposals should demonstrate clearly how the institution will meet the
program's objectives and plan.
2. Support for Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Achievable and relevant
features should be cited in both program administration (program venue
and program evaluation) and program content (orientation and wrap-up
sessions, program meetings, presenters, and resource materials).
3. Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate the
activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of the
program. The Bureau recommends that the proposal include a draft survey
questionnaire or other technique plus a description of a methodology to
use to link outcomes to original project objectives.
4. Cost-effectiveness/Cost-sharing: The overhead and administrative
components of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be
kept as low as possible. All other items should be necessary and
appropriate. Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through other
private sector support, as well as institutional direct funding
contributions.
5. Institutional Track Record/Ability: Proposals should demonstrate
an institutional record of successful exchange programs, including
responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting
requirements for past ECA grants as determined by ECA Grants Staff. The
ECA will consider the past performance of prior recipients and the
demonstrated potential of new applicants. Proposed personnel and
institutional resources should be fully qualified to achieve the
project's goals.
6. Follow-on Activities: Proposals also should discuss provisions
made for follow-up with returned participants as a means of
establishing longer-term individual and institutional linkages and
should provide a plan for continued follow-on activity (without Bureau
[[Page 21131]]
support) ensuring that Bureau supported programs are not isolated
events.
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 one copy of the
following reports:
(1) A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after
the expiration of the award;
(2) A concise, one-page final program report summarizing program
outcomes no more than 90 days after the expiration of the award. This
one-page report will 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.
VII. Agency Contacts
For questions about this announcement, contact: Britta S.
Bjornlund, U.S. Department of State, Study of the U.S. Branch, ECA/A/E/
USS, SA-5, 4th Floor, ECA/A/E/USS-10-28, 2200 C Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20522-0504, Telephone: (202) 632-3339, Fax: (202) 632-
9411, E-mail: [email protected].
All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should
reference the above title and number ECA/A/E/USS-10-28.
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. 2010-9326 Filed 4-21-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P