[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 18 (Thursday, January 27, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4978-4986]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-1786]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice:7308]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for
Grant Proposals: National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-
Y)
Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-11-03.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.415.
Key Dates
Application Deadline: March 24, 2011.
Executive Summary: The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces an open competition
for one cooperative agreement for the National Security Language
Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y), which provides overseas foreign language
instruction for American high school students and those recently
graduated. Public and private non-profit organizations, meeting the
provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C.
501(c)(3), may submit proposals to cooperate with ECA in the overall
administration of NSLI-Y organizational responsibilities and the
implementation of overseas language programs of two different durations
for approximately 610 total individual participant scholarships
according to the duration and language distribution detailed in the
Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI). NSLI-Y programs
funded by this award will take place between June 2012 and June 2013.
NSLI-Y is an important component of a multi-agency USG initiative to
increase American citizens' ability to engage with people throughout
the world who speak Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Indic (Hindi), Korean,
Persian (Tajiki or Farsi), Russian and Turkish. Please note: ECA
reserves the right to add or subtract languages and countries based on
the needs of the Department, security considerations at the time of
implementation and the overall objectives of the program. The Bureau
anticipates that the single award recipient will manage the
comprehensive organizational and administrative responsibilities of
this program as well as the identification of qualified sub-award
recipients known as ``implementing organizations'' to implement the
overseas language programs. Under this award, the award recipient may
also serve as an implementing organization.
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: ECA is supporting the participation of American high
school students and those who have recently graduated (who are U.S.
citizens and between the ages of 15 and 18 at the start of the
program), in intensive, substantive overseas foreign language study to
dramatically increase the number of Americans learning, speaking and
using critical need foreign languages throughout their academic and
professional lives. For additional information about NSLI-Y, please
visit http://exchanges.state.gov/youth/programs/nsli.html.
It is anticipated that the total amount of funding available to
support the overall administration and overseas language program
implementation in the seven current NSLI-Y languages is $9,000,000,
pending the availability of funds. This amount is intended to support
approximately 610 scholarships, including comprehensive administrative
and program costs.
Overseas language programs, in countries where the seven NSLI-Y
languages are widely spoken, will provide a minimum of two articulated
and integrated language learning environments: (1) Structured classroom
target language instruction and (2) less formal, interactive and/or
applied learning opportunities. These opportunities are offered through
a comprehensive exchange experience that primarily emphasizes language
acquisition.
Applicants may submit only one proposal under this competition. If
multiple proposals are received from the same applicant, all
submissions will be declared ineligible and receive no further
consideration in the review process.
ECA is seeking one organization that will (1) administer and
organize the diverse and comprehensive NSLI-Y overseas intensive
language programs and (2) engage additional sub-award implementing
organizations with relevant expertise in one or more of the target
languages to implement the overseas language programs for high school
students across the current seven NSLI-Y languages. Organizations
applying for this award must demonstrate their capacity for
[[Page 4979]]
conducting projects of this nature, focusing on four areas of
competency:
(1) Administrative and Organizational Experience: Administrative
and organizational experience and expertise that includes applicant
recruitment and selection, planning and execution, management,
monitoring of participants' safety and welfare, evaluation of language
acquisition and program effectiveness, and follow-on/alumni activities;
(2) Language Instruction and Related Activities: Provision of
foreign language instruction programs and related language-focused
educational/cultural activities as outlined in this document;
(3) Assessment: Language level and age appropriate programming for
the target audience; and
(4) Overseas Program Experience: Experience in conducting programs
in the proposed partner country/countries or locations.
The goals of the NSLI-Y program are:
(1) Language Learning: Improve the ability of Americans to engage
with the people of Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Indic (Hindi), Korean,
Persian (Tajiki or Farsi), Russian and Turkish-speaking countries in
the language of the country by promoting language learning to advanced
levels;
(2) Cultural Understanding: Assist in developing a cadre of
Americans whose foreign language skills enhance related cultural
understanding and who use these language and cultural skills to advance
international dialogue and compete effectively in the global economy;
(3) Scholarship: Provide a tangible incentive for the learning and
use of foreign languages by creating and optimizing overseas language
study opportunities for American high school students; and
(4) Commitment: Spark a lifetime interest in foreign languages and
cultures among American youth.
NSLI-Y project learning objectives include:
(1) Acquisition: Participants will demonstrate a substantive,
measurable increase in language proficiency (oral comprehension,
speaking, reading and writing), as verified through pre- and post-
program assessment with a standardized language assessment tool;
(2) Cultural Understanding: Participants will demonstrate a deeper
understanding of the host country's society, institutions and culture;
and
(3) Multiplier Effect: Participants will share experiences as young
Americans with their overseas peers through the use of common language.
While the NSLI-Y overseas language programs are active in multiple
countries/locations, it is important that a single worldwide program
identity be established and maintained. Accordingly, ECA anticipates
making one single award to an organization/institution with the
capacity and experience to manage the administrative and organizational
responsibilities, and which would be responsible for engaging
additional sub-award implementing organizations, where necessary, to
meet the goals and objectives of the NSLI-Y program. Language study
must be the primary focus of the program.
Overseas language programs may be implemented by the award
recipient, where the experience and overseas institutional capacity
exists or can be satisfactorily developed, and by sub-award
implementing organizations identified and proposed by the award
recipient. Through sub-award agreements with the award recipient and
under the administration of, and in coordination with, the award
recipient, ECA anticipates that overseas language programs will be
implemented and administered for participants in countries/locations
where Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Indic (Hindi), Korean, Persian
(Tajiki or Farsi), Russian and Turkish are widely spoken. Like the
award recipient, should it choose to implement overseas programs, sub-
award implementing organizations must have the necessary capacity in
the partner country/countries or location to implement the program
through either their own offices or partner institutions. In their
capacity as an implementing organization, the award recipient and the
sub-award implementing organizations may demonstrate their direct
expertise or they may partner with other organizations/institutions to
best respond to the requirements outlined in this RFGP. In the
proposal, the applicant must clearly demonstrate how it will accomplish
overseas language program implementation. ECA reserves the right of
final approval for all proposed sub-award implementing organizations.
Overseas language programs will be of two durations: six- to eight-
week ``short'' duration, and eight- to nine-month ``long'' duration.
The applicant is advised to consider both the traditional U.S. academic
schedule and that of the proposed overseas language institution when
envisioning and detailing NSLI-Y overseas programs. ``Short'' duration
programs must provide a minimum of 120 contact/classroom hours.
``Long'' duration programs must be structured in a way that meets a
minimum standard of ten classroom contact hours established by the
award recipient in consultation with ECA and includes daily language
instruction (with the exception of weekends), unless an alternative
language delivery model receives prior concurrence from ECA. NSLI-Y
participants must be in language institutions/academic environments
where the target language is the language of instruction, unless an
alternative language environment receives prior concurrence from ECA.
The award recipient and its sub-award implementing organizations may
propose either short or long duration programs or both, according to
the guidelines provided in the POGI, and may propose overseas programs
in one or as many languages as they have the capacity and institutional
relationships to support. The applicant must ensure that plans are
submitted to implement programs in all seven languages across all
program durations, as outlined in the POGI. The Bureau anticipates that
there will be no more than one long duration implementing organization
per language per country/location and that the minimum number of
participants is five; there may be multiple short duration implementing
organizations per language per country/location. The period of time
within which short and long duration programs must be implemented and
concluded is June 2012 through June 2013.
Role of ECA
In a cooperative agreement, ECA is substantially involved in
program activities above and beyond routine monitoring. ECA activities
and responsibilities for this program include but are not limited to:
(1) Program Components: Guidance in the execution of all program
components, providing concurrence as necessary.
(2) Program Documents: Materials review of all print and online
documents prior to publication and dissemination, including application
forms, the Web site and brochure. This includes individual implementing
organizations' instructional materials for the classroom portion of the
language learning and the ideas/plans for the out-of-classroom, applied
language-learning opportunities, including volunteer projects, guided
internships, excursions, etc. These materials must be provided to ECA
at least two months in advance of the start of the overseas program.
The award recipient must seek and obtain written ECA concurrence on
substantive and logistical changes in the program, if changes occur
after this material has been provided.
(3) Promotion: Collaboration to publicize the program.
[[Page 4980]]
(4) Recruitment: Review and approval of the participant recruitment
strategy.
(5) Selection: Concurrence on participant finalists and alternates.
(6) Notification: Review and approval of participant award
documentation, including the NSLI-Y Terms and Conditions.
(7) Assessment: Support of the award recipient's standardized pre-
and post-program testing of participants' language proficiency and
progress.
(8) Program Coordination: Assist in liaison with appropriate
Department of State offices, including the regional bureaus and
overseas posts. Implementing organizations are required to directly
liaise early and often with overseas posts (the relevant embassy and/or
consulate Public Affairs Section or PAS) in order to obtain concurrence
on general program location, concurrence on host family or
accommodation location, participation in a post-arrival briefing for
the NSLI-Y participants and assistance in the event of a grave
emergency. The award recipient is responsible for ensuring that these
contacts are established in a timely fashion and maintained throughout
the implementation of the program.
(9) Host Government Liaison: Cooperation with the award recipient
and post, as necessary, in the event that coordination with host
government officials is needed.
(10) Security Considerations: Modifications to program locations
and/or logistics based on security considerations and overall
objectives of the program.
(11) Inter-Agency NSLI Programs: Assistance with promoting
continuity among inter-agency NSLI programs, i.e., Startalk, The
Language Flagship, the Critical Language Scholarships (CLS), Teachers
of Critical Languages Program (TCLP) and Intensive Summer Language
Institutes for Teachers (ISLI).
(12) Pre-Departure Orientations: Collaboration on participant pre-
departure orientations (PDOs) and participating in them, when possible.
(13) Changes to Implementing Organizations: Concurrence on any
possible additional implementing organizations that the award recipient
might suggest to more effectively meet scholarship demand in a
particular language or languages for a particular duration or
durations.
(14) Planning Meetings: Collaboration on and participation in
organizational/planning meeting(s).
(15) Bureau Evaluation Surveys: Access to Bureau-approved
evaluation surveys (E-Goals) links for participant completion and
results for program management.
(16) Alumni Activities: Input on alumni activities and follow-up
events.
(17) Travel Registration and Health Benefits: Facilitation of the
award recipients' access to the Department of State's international
travel registration system (Smart Travel Enrollment Program or STEP),
ASPE health benefits program and to relevant consular forms.
Role of Public Affairs Section/Embassy/Consulate
ECA seeks to minimize the burden on posts (embassies and
consulates) in whose consular districts the NSLI-Y programs are
implemented. Therefore, the proposal must demonstrate the applicant's
ability to perform the requirements independent of post but also its
commitment to working with posts as described in the RFGP and POGI.
Applicants are advised to provide examples of past successful programs
and the ways in which collaboration with posts strengthened the
management and monitoring of the program and its participants. In order
to promote this important overseas relationship, ECA anticipates that
the award recipient and its implementing organizations have the
experience, knowledge and staffing to carry out the daily operations,
including on-program support, in the host locations. ECA expects that
the overseas implementing organizations and relevant Public Affairs
Sections (PAS) will establish the level of cooperation about the
program that suits both parties. Implementing organizations are
required to request and obtain post's concurrence on general program
location, host family or other accommodation location and involvement
in a post-arrival orientation in order to apprise NSLI-Y participants
of security and other relevant issues. ECA expects that implementing
organizations, under the guidance of the award recipient, will handle
urgent medical crises, natural disasters or other unforeseen problems,
but that they will communicate with and turn to post, as necessary and
appropriate, given that NSLI-Y participants are American high school
students whose welfare and safety are paramount. Post must always be
informed in the event that a NSLI-Y participant is involved in civil or
criminal police matters.
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: 2011 (pending availability of funds).
Approximate Total Funding: $9,000,000.
Approximate Number of Awards: 1.
Approximate Average Award: $9,000,000.
Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, July 2011.
Anticipated Project Completion Date: December 31, 2013.
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.
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
III.3a. Guidelines: Bureau cooperative agreement/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
$9,000,000, to support administrative and program costs required to
implement this exchange program. Therefore, organizations with less
than four years experience in conducting international exchanges are
ineligible to
[[Page 4981]]
apply to ECA under this competition. Applicants should demonstrate
extensive experience in administering exchange programs for secondary
school students in compliance with Federal regulations. The Bureau
encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and
funding in support of its programs.
III.3a.1. Sub-Awards: In proposing sub-award implementing
organizations, the applicant must demonstrate the capacity, experience
and expertise of the proposed sub-award implementing organizations in
the particular language and country/location where the language program
is proposed. ECA anticipates that applicants will propose multiple
organizations as sub-award implementing organizations to implement
overseas language programs because of the scope, language acquisition
focus and geographic breadth of the programs to be implemented under
this cooperative agreement. This is encouraged to strengthen the award
recipient's capacity for each of the seven languages across the various
countries/locations in which NSLI-Y programs are to be implemented.
Each U.S.-based implementing organization must exhibit an established
effective relationship with the overseas implementing organization to
guide, direct, influence, manage and monitor each overseas language
program (and the overseas institutional partner implementing it, where
relevant) so that it meets the NSLI-Y goals. It is the award recipient,
however, that must be fully responsible for the oversight, monitoring
and management of sub-award implementing organizations. Further
information on sub-agreements is provided in the OMB Circulars
referenced in Section VI.2.
III.3b. Technical Eligibility: All proposals must comply with the
following or they will result in the proposal being declared
technically ineligible and given no further consideration in the review
process:
III.3b.1. Commitment: Proposal narratives must demonstrate a
commitment to short and long duration overseas language programs which
must begin no earlier than June 2012 and end no later than June 2013.
III.3b.2. Monitoring Plan: Proposals must detail methods for
monitoring NSLI-Y participant safety and welfare while on program, as
well as plans to provide on-program support to NSLI-Y participants.
III.3b.3. Per Capita Costs: Proposals must cap per participant
costs for short duration programs at $11,000 and for long duration
programs at $21,500. This approximate cap may change over the life of
the cooperative agreement, contingent upon ECA concurrence.
III.3b.4. Assessment: Proposals must identify the use of a
standardized and recognized language assessment tool, subject to ECA
approval, to assist with participant placement into the appropriate
level of language classes in overseas programs and to evaluate the
language gain by individual scholarship recipients.
III.3b.5. Letters of Commitment: Proposals must identify and
include letters of commitment for all implementing organizations for
all seven languages with proposed overseas language institutions
identified and the proposed language levels to be taught at each. A
letter of commitment from the proposed overseas language institution(s)
should be included. The sole exception exists in the event that the
award recipient determines that it unexpectedly cannot meet overseas
program capacity outlined in this RFGP with the sub-award implementing
organizations identified in its proposal. The award recipient may
propose the addition of implementing organization(s), subject to ECA's
approval.
III.3b.6. Letter of Acknowledgment: Proposals should include a
letter of acknowledgment from the relevant overseas post Public Affairs
Section (U.S. embassy/consulate, also known as ``post,'' in whose
district the proposed program will take place.) When requesting a
letter of acknowledgment from post, the award recipient must:
(1) Language Program Location: Identify the location (city) in
which the language program is proposed to take place;
(2) Language Provider(s)/Institution(s): Identify the proposed
language provider(s)/institution(s);
(3) Participant Numbers: Specify the proposed number of
participants to be programmed in a particular location;
(4) Program Duration: Specify the proposed duration; and
(5) Accommodations: Describe the proposed accommodations.
III.3b.7. Proposal Submissions: Eligible applicants may not submit
more than one proposal in this competition.
Please note: Applicant organizations are defined by their legal
name, DUNS and EIN number as stated on their completed SF-424 and
additional supporting documentation outlined in the Proposal
Submission Instructions (PSI) document.
III.3b.8. Sub-Award Proposal Submissions: Eligible sub-award
implementing organizations may not be included in more than one
proposal in this competition. Please note: Applicant organizations are
defined by their legal name, DUNS number and EIN number as stated on
their completed SF-424 and additional supporting documentation outlined
in the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document.
IV. Application and Submission Information
Note: Please read the complete announcement before sending
inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has
passed, Bureau staff may not discuss this competition with
applicants until the proposal review process has been completed.
IV.1. Contact Information To Request an Application Package
Please contact the NSLI-Y Program Specialist, Linda Beach, at ECA/
PE/C/PY, U.S. Department of State, SA-5, 3-H11, 2200 C St., NW.,
Washington, DC 20037, telephone: 202-632-6414 or [email protected] to
request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to the Funding Opportunity
Number ECA/PE/C/PY-11-03 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 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 Linda Beach, NSLI-Y Program Specialist, and refer to
the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/PY-11-03 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 original and ten copies
of the application should be submitted per the instructions under
IV.3f. ``Application Deadline and Methods of Submission'' section
below.
[[Page 4982]]
IV.3a. DUNS Number: 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. Proposal Contents: All proposals must contain an executive
summary, proposal narrative and budget.
Please Refer to the Solicitation Package. It contains the mandatory
PSI document and the POGI document for additional formatting and
technical requirements.
IV.3c. CCR Registration, DUNS Number, Non-Profit Status and Other
Documentation: All Federal award recipients and sub-recipients must
maintain current registrations in the Central Contractor Registration
(CCR) database and have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering
System (DUNS) number. Recipients and sub-recipients must maintain
accurate and up-to-date information in the CCR until all program and
financial activity and reporting have been completed. All entities must
review and update the information at least annually after the initial
registration and more frequently if required information changes or
another award is granted.
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. Proposal Narrative: 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. While outbound
American program participants do not receive J visas and are,
therefore, not governed by J visa regulations, ECA monitors the award
recipient's compliance with established standards that parallel J visa
regulations for inbound academic year participants. These regulations
are found in 22 CFR 62.25. Therefore, proposals should demonstrate and
explicitly state in writing the applicant's capacity and willingness to
meet all relevant requirements that parallel the administration of the
Exchange Visitor Programs as set forth in 22 CFR part 62, including the
screening and selection of program participants; provision of pre-
arrival information and orientation to participants; regular monthly
monitoring of participants; identification of, reference checking for,
orientation of and regular contact with host families; proper
maintenance and security of forms, record-keeping, reporting; and other
requirements.
A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of
Exchange Visitor (J) programs is available at http://exchanges.state.gov or from: Office of Designation, Private Sector
Programs Division, U.S. Department of State, ECA/EC/D/PS, SA-5, 5th
Floor, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20037.
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. Proposals that address and encourage the
participation of traditionally underserved audiences in all
institutional and individual award programs and other program
activities will be favorably reviewed. These audiences include, but are
not limited to, women, racial and ethnic minorities, people living in
underserved geographic locations, religious minorities, people of lower
socio-economic status and people with 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
fullest extent deemed feasible.
Special Note on Diversity: It is a goal of the Department to ensure
that all funded programs reflect the diversity of American Society.
Proposals must describe plans to promote this goal across all program
components and describe the way in which the applicant will encourage
diversity in participant selection. Proposals should ensure that
special efforts are made to recruit participants from underserved
populations and locales. Selection should reflect a preference for
qualified candidates who have not already studied overseas and who
might not
[[Page 4983]]
otherwise be able to study abroad were it not for the scholarship
opportunity.
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 the proposal include a draft survey
questionnaire or other instrument plus a description of a methodology
used to link outcomes to original project objectives. The Bureau
expects that the recipient organization will monitor participants and
be able to respond to key evaluation questions, including satisfaction
with the program, language acquisition and cultural 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 language acquisition and
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. The evaluation
plan should include a description of the project's objectives,
anticipated project outcomes, and how and when these outcomes
(performance indicators) will be measured. 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. Please also show how the project objectives link to the
goals and objectives of the program, as described in this RFGP.
The 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 and objectives 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
language acquisition, 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 the monitoring and evaluation plan will be
judged on how well it:
(1) Outcomes: Specifies intended outcomes;
(2) How Outcomes are Measured: Gives clear descriptions of how each
outcome will be measured;
(3) When Outcomes are Measured: Identifies when particular outcomes
will be measured; and
(4) Strategy: 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,
quarterly 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.
The NSLI-Y program uses the Bureau's E-Goals system for evaluation
and additional guidance on its use is located in the POGI.
Program monitoring includes participant monitoring, which focuses
specifically on ensuring participants' health, safety and welfare
throughout the duration of the overseas program. Proposals must include
a plan to monitor the participants' safety and welfare that parallels
the standards for J1 visa regulations for inbound academic year
participants found in 22 CFR 62.25. They must also include a plan to
monitor and report on the NSLI-Y participants' successes, including
language acquisition, 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 and a description of the
methodology that will be used to monitor participants' health, safety
and welfare. The Bureau expects that the award recipient will monitor
NSLI-Y participants and be able to respond to key participant
monitoring questions throughout the period of the cooperative
agreement.
IV.3e. Proposal Budget: Please take the following information into
consideration when preparing your budget:
IV.3e.1. Comprehensive Budget: Applicants must submit SF-424A--
``Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs'' along with a
comprehensive budget for the entire program. The budget request may not
exceed $9,000,000 and must clearly indicate the proposed number of
participants for each of the seven languages and proposed countries/
locations, in accordance with the guidelines in the POGI, for the first
year of this potentially three year cooperative agreement. There must
be a summary budget that reflects a breakdown of both administrative
and program budgets. Applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for
each program component, phase, location, or activity to provide
clarification. Detailed budgets of proposed sub-award recipients should
also be included.
Please refer to the Solicitation Package (POGI and/or PSI) for
complete budget guidelines and formatting instructions.
IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission
Application Deadline Date: March 24, 2011.
Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-11-03.
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.
Along with the Project Title, all applicants must enter the above
Reference Number in Box 11 on the SF-
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424 contained in the mandatory 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 ten (10) copies of the application should be sent
to: Program Management Division, ECA-IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/PE/C/PY-11-
03, SA-5, Floor 4, Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington,
DC 20037.
Applicants submitting hard-copy applications must also submit the
``Executive Summary,'' ``Proposal Narrative,'' ``Budget,'' and ``Budget
Narrative'' sections of the proposal in Microsoft Word and Excel format
on CD-ROM to the program officer Lisa Wishman at [email protected].
As appropriate, the Bureau will provide these files electronically to
Public Affairs Section(s) at the U.S. embassy(ies)/consulate(s) 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 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.3f.3. Proposal Submission: Applicants may not submit more than
one proposal in this competition. Sub-award implementing organizations
may not be included in more than one proposal in this competition.
Please note: Applicant organizations are defined by their legal name,
and EIN number as stated on their completed SF-424 and additional
supporting documentation outlined in the Proposal Submission
Instructions (PSI) document.
IV.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, regional bureaus and
Public Affairs/Diplomacy sections 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 and planning: Proposals should
exhibit originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the
Bureau's mission and the purposes outlined in this solicitation. A
detailed agenda and
[[Page 4985]]
relevant work plan should demonstrate the ability to ensure that the
proposed project accomplishes the stated goals and objectives in the
desired time frame. Proposals should demonstrate how participants will
be recruited, selected, monitored, tested (before and after their
overseas program) and presented with continuing language learning
opportunities. Proposals should address the ways in which the award
recipient and its implementing organizations will prepare and orient
overseas language instructors for the unique challenges of teaching
their native language to American high school students. Proposals
should identify proposed language learning institutions and locations,
address both in-class formal and out-of-class applied language learning
and ensure that all enhancement activities (cultural excursions, guest
lectures, guided internships, extra-curricular activities and volunteer
projects) reinforce participant's language skills through authentic
language practice and use.
(2) Ability to achieve program goals and project objectives:
Proposals should clearly demonstrate an understanding of the program
goals and project objectives and how the institution will achieve them
through objectives that are reasonable, feasible and flexible (as
stated in the ``Purpose'' section of this document under the four NSLI-
Y goals and the three project objectives.) A detailed agenda and
relevant work plan should demonstrate organizational competency and
logistical capacity. The agenda and plan should adhere to the program
overview, timetable and guidelines described in this solicitation. The
substance of the language instruction and the exchange activities
should be described in detail and included as an attachment. The
responsibilities, capacity and expertise of implementing organizations
should be clearly delineated.
(3) Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity in all program aspects
including but not limited to participants, host families, resident
directors/group leaders, overseas peers, language instructors and
overseas program venues. Achievable and relevant features should be
cited in both program administration (selection of participants,
program venue and program evaluation) and program content
(orientations, program meetings, resource materials and alumni
activities). Please note that special effort should be made to recruit
qualified candidates from underserved populations and locales.
Selection should reflect a preference for qualified candidates who have
not already studied overseas and who might not otherwise be able to
study abroad were it not for this scholarship opportunity. Proposals
that articulate a diversity plan--not just a statement of compliance--
will be more favorably reviewed.
(4) Institution's Record/Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel
and institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to
achieve the program or project's goals and objectives in a timely,
professional and transparent fashion. Reviewers will assess the
applicant and its implementing organizations to determine whether they
offer adequate resources, expertise, experience and management of
overseas relationships to fulfill program goals and objectives. The
roles of the award recipient and implementing organizations should be
clearly defined. Proposals should demonstrate an institutional record
of successful language-focused 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.
(5) Participant Monitoring: Proposals must include a detailed
monitoring plan for NSLI-Y participants. Given the importance the
Bureau places on this criterion, the narrative should include
sufficient explanation about how it will achieve the Bureau's goals in
regard to monitoring. Appendices may be used to house additional
details and supporting documentation.
(6) Follow-on Activities: Proposals should provide a plan for
continued contact with alumni to ensure that they are tracked over
time, utilized and/or organized as alumni, and provided opportunities
to reinforce the knowledge and skills acquired on the NSLI-Y program.
Proposals should provide a strategy for maximizing the opportunities
for alumni to further their study of the target language and culture of
the host country, presenting plans that are within the context of the
cooperative agreement (with the Bureau financial support) and after its
completion (without the Bureau's financial support). Creative, age-
appropriate plans for NSLI-Y alumni who do not have access to their
target language through their high school to continue their language
acquisition will be favorably reviewed as will those proposals that
encourage NSLI-Y alumni to continue language acquisition,
particularly--although not exclusively--through other U.S.G. supported
programs.
(7) Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate
the program's successes and challenges, both as the activities unfold
and at the end of the program. The evaluation plan should also address
the methodology to assess individual participants' language acquisition
and show clear linkages between program goals/objectives and expected
outcomes.
(8) Cost-effectiveness/Cost-sharing: Reviewers will analyze the
budget for clarity and cost-effectiveness. They will also assess the
rationale of the proposed budget and whether the allocation of funds is
appropriate to complete tasks outlined in the project narrative. The
overhead and administrative components of the proposal, including
salaries and honoraria, should be kept as low as possible. While lower
``per participant'' figures will be favorably viewed, the Bureau
expects all figures to be realistic. Proposals should maximize cost-
sharing through other private sector support as well as institutional
direct funding contributions.
VI. Award Administration Information
VI.1. Award Notices
Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by
Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures.
Successful applicants will receive a Federal Assistance Award (FAA)
from the Bureau's Grants Office. The FAA and the original proposal with
subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall be the only binding
authorizing document between the recipient and the U.S. Government. The
FAA will be signed by an authorized Grants Officer, and mailed to the
recipient's responsible officer identified in the application.
Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of
the application review from the ECA program office coordinating this
competition.
VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
Terms and Conditions for the Administration of ECA agreements
include the following:
Office of Management and Budget Circular A-122, ``Cost Principles for
Nonprofit Organizations.''
Office of Management and Budget Circular A-21, ``Cost Principles for
Educational Institutions.''
OMB Circular A-87, ``Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian
Governments''.
[[Page 4986]]
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 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. The Program Office requests that the award recipient
submit Attachment B on program indicators, Attachment E on activities
based on expenditures and Attachment F on program/project management;
(4) Quarterly program and financial reports which should include
information on the program plan and program results to date, an
analysis of evaluation findings and the quantitative and qualitative
data you have available. The financial report must be submitted on the
FFR form; and
(5) The award recipient must also be prepared to respond to
additional Bureau requests for information and documents in a timely
and effective manner.
Award recipients will be required to provide reports analyzing
their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program
reports. (Please refer to Section IV, Application and Submission
Instruction (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. 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: Lisa Bess Wishman,
NSLI-Y Program Officer, Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs,
Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs Division, ECA/PE/C/PY, ECA/
PE/C/PY-11-03, U.S. Department of State, SA-5, 3-F16, 2200 C Street,
NW., Washington, DC 20037, Telephone: 202-632-6082; Fax: 202-632-9355;
e-mail: [email protected].
All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should
reference the above title and number ECA/PE/C/PY-11-03.
Please read the complete Federal Register 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. ECA 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: January 21, 2011.
Ann Stock,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S.
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2011-1786 Filed 1-26-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P