[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 52 (Thursday, March 17, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14705-14712]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6271]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 7364]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for
Grant Proposals: Youth Leadership Program With South Asia (Nepal, Sri
Lanka, and the Maldives) and the Youth Leadership Program With
Azerbaijan
Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-11-30.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.415.
Application Deadline: May 11, 2011.
Executive Summary: The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs
Division, of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces
an open competition for two Youth Leadership Programs: the Youth
Leadership Program with South Asia (Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives)
and the Youth Leadership Program with Azerbaijan. Public and private
non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal
Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3) may submit proposals for
reciprocal exchange programs for high school students and adult
participants. For the Youth Leadership Program with South Asia,
hereinafter referred to as Program A, applicants should plan to recruit
and select approximately 30 youth and adult participants in the
Maldives, Nepal, Sri
[[Page 14706]]
Lanka, and the United States. For the Youth Leadership Program with
Azerbaijan, hereinafter referred to as Program B, applicants should
plan to recruit and select approximately 105-125 youth and adult
participants in Azerbaijan and in the United States. In both programs,
applicants will provide the participants with substantive three-week
exchanges in the partner countries that focus broadly on the themes of
civic rights and responsibilities, youth leadership development,
respect for diversity, and community activism. Activities will be
geared toward preparing participants to conduct projects at home that
serve a community need.
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. The funding authority for the program with
Azerbaijan is provided through a transfer from Assistance to Europe,
Eurasia, and Central Asia (AEECA) funding.
Purpose: The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs' (ECA)
Youth Leadership Programs enable teenagers (ages 15-17) and adult
educators to participate in intensive, thematic exchanges. Exchange
activities must focus broadly on civic rights and responsibilities,
youth leadership development, respect for diversity, and community
activism. Specific topics, such as the environment, media literacy,
health, or entrepreneurial initiatives, will be used as tools to
illustrate those concepts. Participants will be engaged in a variety of
activities such as workshops, community and/or school-based programs,
cultural activities, seminars and other activities designed to achieve
the program's stated goals and objectives. Ample opportunities for the
exchange participants to interact with their peers in the host country
will be included. The program will prepare the participants to apply
and share their exchange experiences upon their return home.
The goals of the programs are to:
(1) Promote mutual understanding between the United States and the
people of other countries;
(2) Inspire a sense of civic responsibility and commitment to
community development among youth;
(3) Develop a cadre of community activists who will share their
knowledge and skills with their peers through positive action; and
(4) Foster relationships among youth from different ethnic,
religious, and national groups.
The objectives of the programs are for participants to:
(1) Demonstrate a better understanding of the elements of a
participatory democracy;
(2) Demonstrate critical thinking and leadership skills; and
(3) Demonstrate skill at developing project ideas and planning a
course of action to bring the projects to fruition.
The primary themes of the programs are:
(1) Civic Rights and Responsibilities (including citizen
participation, grassroots democracy and rule of law);
(2) Youth Leadership Development (such as team building, public
speaking, negotiation, goal setting and project planning);
(3) Respect for Diversity (including ethnicity, race, gender,
religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, and
disabilities); and
(4) Community Activism (social/corporate responsibility,
volunteerism, and philanthropy).
For each program, applicant organizations must focus on these
primary themes. In addition, applicants should identify specific
topics, such as the environment, media literacy, health, or
entrepreneurial initiatives, and describe how these topics will serve
to illustrate the more abstract concepts of the primary themes. For
example, the specific topic of the environment could be used to examine
community activism and civic responsibility by demonstrating how a
group of individuals with an idea can start a recycling campaign in
their community.
Applicants should identify their own specific objectives and
measurable outputs and outcomes based on these program goals and the
specifications provided in this solicitation.
Applicants must demonstrate their capacity for implementing
programs of this nature, focusing on three areas of competency: (1)
Provision of programs that address the goals and themes outlined in
this document; (2) age-appropriate programming for youth; and (3)
previous experience working with the relevant geographic region, either
Eurasia or South Asia. In addition to their U.S. presence, applicants,
or their partner organizations, need to have the necessary capacity in
South Asia or Azerbaijan to recruit, select, and provide follow-on
activities for local participants, and to provide a content-rich
exchange program for the American participants. Applicants or their
partner organizations must have a functioning office and an established
track record of working with youth or on issues in local education in
the participating countries of Azerbaijan or Nepal and Sri Lanka. The
partner organization is not required to have an office in the Maldives,
but should demonstrate their ability to recruit, select, and provide
follow-on activities for the Maldivian participants. The
representative(s) in the host countries should have an active role in
the preparation of the proposal submitted in response to this RFGP. The
Bureau recommends that Program A applicants consult with the U.S.
Embassies in Kathmandu and Colombo prior to submitting their proposal
for help in identifying or vetting in-country partners. [Note that the
U.S. Embassy in Colombo oversees activities in both Sri Lanka and the
Maldives.] Program B applicants should consult with the U.S. Embassy in
Baku to learn about existing educational programs. Please consult with
the ECA Program Officer for contact information.
ECA intends to award one cooperative agreement for each program.
Organizations may submit only one proposal, for either Program A or
Program B. Proposals for the two programs will be judged independently
and will be compared only to proposals for the same region.
Program A Guidelines: Youth Leadership Program With South Asia
The cooperative agreement will begin on or about September 1, 2011,
pending the availability of funds. The award period will be
approximately 14 to 18 months in duration, according to the applicant's
program design. Applicants should propose the timing of the exchange
delegations: one South Asian delegation traveling to the United States
and one or two American delegations traveling to South Asia. Each
delegation will travel for three weeks. The exchanges will take place
in 2012. Applicants should propose the period of the exchanges based on
the timeframes noted above. Dates may be shifted by the mutual
agreement of the Department and the award recipient.
[[Page 14707]]
The amount of ECA funding available is projected to be $300,000.
The program will be offered for approximately 30 participants: 18-
24 students and educators from South Asia and 8-12 students and
educators from the United States. The ratio of students to adult
participants should be approximately 7:1.
The South Asian participants will travel as a regional delegation
with equal representation of the three participating countries: The
Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Exchange activities should take place
in English; therefore, proficiency in English should be a requirement
for selection, particularly as it will enhance interaction with
American peers.
The American participants will be 8-12 high school students and
educators that represent the diversity of the United States and who
demonstrate an interest in South Asia and the project themes.
Applicants must present a well-justified plan for how they will arrange
the Americans' travel to the region. The Bureau does not anticipate
that all of the U.S. participants will travel to all three countries;
for instance, some Americans may travel to only one country while
others travel to the other countries.
Program B Guidelines: Youth Leadership Program With Azerbaijan
The cooperative agreement will begin on or about September 1, 2011.
The cooperative agreement period will be approximately 20 to 30 months
in duration, according to the applicant's program design. Applicants
should propose the timing of multiple exchange delegations to be sent
to the United States or Azerbaijan in manageable group sizes throughout
the award period. Each delegation will travel for three weeks.
Proposals should account for four to six delegations: three to five
Azerbaijani delegations traveling to the United States and one or two
American delegations traveling to Azerbaijan. Each delegation should
focus on the program goals and objectives, but all delegations do not
need to focus on the same programmatic themes or topics. The exchanges
will take place in 2012 and 2013. Dates may be shifted by the mutual
agreement of the Department and the award recipient.
The amount of ECA funding available is projected to be $1,011,500.
An applicant should present the number of participants within the
range of 105-125 it expects to be able to accommodate based on its
program design and budget. The ratio of students to adult participants
should be approximately 7:1.
The Azerbaijani participants will travel in three to five
delegations of 15 to 30 students and educators each. Programs should
take place in English; therefore, fluency in English should be a
requirement for selection, particularly as it will enhance interaction
with American peers.
An applicant should describe a robust participant recruitment
strategy for selection of Azerbaijani participants. The overall
strategy should address ways to successfully recruit both Azerbaijani
educators and students from all across the country, including
representatives from the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, geographical
exclave of Azerbaijan. Likewise, the applicant should demonstrate a
recruitment plan that adds synergy to existing U.S. Government-funded
education programs in Azerbaijan that target at underserved
populations.
The American participants will travel in one or two delegations of
15 to 30 high school students and educators each that represent the
diversity of the United States and who demonstrate an interest in
Azerbaijan and the project themes.
Guidelines for Both Programs
In pursuit of the goals outlined above, the program will include
the following:
The open recruitment and competitive selection of a
diverse group of youth and adult participants in the participating
countries.
Pre-departure and arrival orientations.
Design and planning of exchange activities that provide a
creative and substantive program on the specified themes and offer a
thorough introduction to the host country's culture. Opportunities for
the exchange participants to engage with their peers in the host
country must be included whenever possible.
Opportunities for the educators to work with their peers
to help them foster youth leadership, civic education, and community
service programs at home.
Logistical arrangements, including accommodations,
disbursement of stipends, local travel, and travel between sites.
Homestay arrangements with properly screened and briefed
host families for a significant portion of the exchange period.
Criminal background checks must be conducted for members of host
families and others living in the home who are 18 years or older.
Monitoring of the participants' safety and well-being
while on the exchange, including proper staff supervision and
opportunities for participants to share potential issues and have them
resolved promptly.
Follow-on activities in the participants' home countries
designed to reinforce the ideas and skills imparted during the exchange
program.
Please see the Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation
document for more details.
Criteria for selection of all participants will be leadership
skills, an interest in service to the community, strong academic and
social skills, overall composure, and openness and flexibility. In
addition, all participants must be citizens of the country from which
they are applying and must legally reside in that country.
As noted below, the support of diversity is an important feature of
Bureau programs. The delegation of participants selected for the
program should adequately reflect the rich cultural, geographic, and
ethnic diversity of the participating countries. Applicants should
ensure that special efforts are made to recruit students from
underserved populations and locales. Selection should reflect a
preference for candidates who have not already spent a significant
period of time overseas and who might not otherwise travel abroad were
it not for this program opportunity.
Given the youth of the participants, the award recipient will be
required to provide proper staff supervision and facilitation to ensure
that the Azerbaijani, South Asian, and American teenagers have safe and
pedagogically robust programs while visiting the other country. Staff,
along with the adult participants, will need to assist youth with
cultural adjustments, to provide societal context to enhance learning,
and to counsel students as needed. Applicants should describe their
plans to meet these requirements in their proposals.
Proposals must demonstrate how the stated objectives will be met.
The proposal narrative should provide detailed information on the major
program activities, and applicants should explain and justify their
programmatic choices. Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations
for the International Visitor and Government Visitor categories. Please
be sure to refer to the complete Solicitation Package--this RFGP, the
Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI), and the Proposal
Submission Instructions (PSI)--for further information.
In a cooperative agreement the Department of State is substantially
involved in program activities above and beyond routine monitoring. The
Department of State's activities and
[[Page 14708]]
responsibilities for this program are as follows:
(1) Facilitate interaction within the Department of State, to
include ECA, the regional bureaus, and overseas posts.
(2) Provide advice and assistance in the execution of all program
components.
(3) Approve the selection of final candidates and alternates.
(4) Issue DS-2019 forms and J-1 visas for the foreign participants.
All foreign participants will travel on a U.S. Government designation
for the J Exchange Visitor Program.
(5) Approve applications, publicity materials, and final calendar
of exchange activities.
(6) Represent the U.S. Government as the program sponsor at
exchange events.
(7) Monitor and evaluate the program and assist with participant
monitoring through regular communication with the award recipient and
possibly one or more site visits.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement.
Fiscal Year Funds: 2011.
Approximate Total Funding: $1,311,500.
Approximate Number of Awards: Two.
Anticipated Award Date: Pending the availability of funds,
September 1, 2011.
Anticipated Project Completion Date: 14-30 months after the start
date, to be specified by the applicant based on the program design.
Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of the
Youth Leadership Program with South Asia 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. Please note that this statement does not apply to
the Youth Leadership Program with Azerbaijan.
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 cooperative agreement 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 two awards in amounts that exceed $60,000 to support
the program and administrative costs required to implement these
exchange programs. Therefore, organizations with less than four years
experience in conducting international exchanges are ineligible to
apply under this competition. The Bureau encourages applicants to
provide maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in support of its
programs.
(b) Proposed sub-award recipients are also limited to grant funding
of $60,000 or less if they do not have four years of experience in
conducting international exchanges.
(c) The Bureau encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of
cost sharing and funding in support of its programs.
(d) Organizations may submit only one proposal (total) under this
competition. If multiple proposals are received from the same
applicant, all submissions will be declared technically ineligible and
will be given no further consideration in the review process. Please
note: Applicant organizations are defined by their legal name, and EIN
number as stated on their completed SF-424 and additional supporting
documentation outlined in the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI)
document.
IV. Application and Submission Information
Note: Please read the complete announcement before sending
inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has
passed, Bureau staff may not discuss this competition with
applicants until the proposal review process has been completed.
IV.1. Contact Information to Request an Application Package: Please
contact the Youth Programs Division, ECA/PE/C/PY, SA-5, 3rd Floor, U.S.
Department of State, Washington, DC 20522-0503, Tel (202) 632-6421, E-
mail [email protected] to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer
to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/PY-11-30 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 Bureau Branch Chief Carolyn Lantz and refer to the
Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/PY-11-30 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
[[Page 14709]]
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document and the Project
Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) document for additional
formatting and technical requirements.
IV.3c. 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 cooperative
agreement activities. For award recipients, the names of directors and/
or senior executives (current officers, trustees, and key employees),
as well as the one-p age description of cooperative agreement
activities, will be transmitted by the State Department to OMB, along
with other information required by the Federal Funding Accountability
and Transparency Act (FFATA), and will be made available to the public
by the Office of Management and Budget on its USASpending.gov Web site
as part of ECA's FFATA reporting requirements.
If your organization is a private nonprofit which has not received
a grant or cooperative agreement from ECA in the past three years, or
if your organization received nonprofit status from the IRS within the
past four years, you must submit the necessary documentation to verify
nonprofit status as directed in the PSI document. Failure to do so will
cause your proposal to be declared technically ineligible.
IV.3d. Please take into consideration the following information
when preparing your proposal narrative:
IV.3d.1 Adherence To All Regulations Governing The J Visa:
The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and
Cultural Affairs is the official program sponsor of the exchange
program covered by this RFGP, and an employee of the Bureau will be the
``Responsible Officer'' for the program under the terms of 22 CFR part
62, which covers the administration of the Exchange Visitor Program (J
visa program). Under the terms of 22 CFR part 62, organizations
receiving awards (either a grant or cooperative agreement) under this
RFGP will be third parties ``cooperating with or assisting the sponsor
in the conduct of the sponsor's program.'' The actions of recipient
organizations shall be ``imputed to the sponsor in evaluating the
sponsor's compliance with'' 22 CFR part 62. Therefore, the Bureau
expects that any organization receiving an award under this competition
will render all assistance necessary to enable the Bureau to fully
comply with 22 CFR part 62 et seq.
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs places critically
important emphases on the secure and proper administration of Exchange
Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence by recipient organizations and
program participants to all regulations governing the J visa program
status. Therefore, proposals should explicitly state in writing that
the applicant is prepared to assist the Bureau in meeting all
requirements governing the administration of Exchange Visitor Programs
as set forth in 22 CFR part 62. If your organization has experience as
a designated Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor, the applicant should
discuss their record of compliance with 22 CFR part 62 et seq.,
including the oversight of their Responsible Officers and Alternate
Responsible Officers, screening and selection of program participants,
provision of pre-arrival information and orientation to participants,
monitoring of participants, proper maintenance and security of forms,
record-keeping, reporting and other requirements.
The Office of Citizen Exchanges of ECA will be responsible for
issuing DS-2019 forms to participants in this program.
A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of
Exchange Visitor (J) programs is available at http://exchanges.state.gov or from: Office of Designation, Private Sector
Programs Division, U.S. Department of State, ECA/EC/D/PS, SA-5, 5th
Floor, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20037.
IV.3d.2 Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines: Pursuant to
the Bureau's authorizing legislation, programs must maintain a non-
political character and should be balanced and representative of the
diversity of American political, social, and cultural life.
``Diversity'' should be interpreted in the broadest sense and encompass
differences including, but not limited to ethnicity, race, gender,
religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, and disabilities.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere to the advancement of this
principle both in program administration and in program content. Please
refer to the review criteria under the ``Support for Diversity''
section for specific suggestions on incorporating diversity into your
proposal. Public Law 104-319 provides that ``in carrying out programs
of educational and cultural exchange in countries whose people do not
fully enjoy freedom and democracy,'' the Bureau ``shall take
appropriate steps to provide opportunities for participation in such
programs to human rights and democracy leaders of such countries.''
Public Law 106-113 requires that the governments of the countries
described above do not have inappropriate influence in the selection
process. Proposals should reflect advancement of these goals in their
program contents, to the full extent deemed feasible.
IV.3d.3. Program Monitoring and Evaluation:
Proposals must include a plan to monitor and evaluate the project's
success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of the program.
The Bureau recommends that your proposal include a draft survey
questionnaire or other technique plus a description of a methodology to
use to link outcomes to original project objectives. The Bureau expects
that the recipient organization will track participants or partners and
be able to respond to key evaluation questions, including satisfaction
with the program, learning as a result of the program, changes in
behavior as a result of the program, and effects of the program on
institutions (institutions in which participants work or partner
institutions). The evaluation plan should include indicators that
measure gains in mutual understanding as well as substantive knowledge.
Successful monitoring and evaluation depend heavily on setting
clear goals and outcomes at the outset of a program. Your evaluation
plan should include a
[[Page 14710]]
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 timeframe), the easier it will be to conduct the evaluation.
You should also show how your project objectives link to the goals of
the program described in this RFGP.
Your monitoring and evaluation plan should clearly distinguish
between program outputs and outcomes. Outputs are products and services
delivered, often stated as an amount. Output information is important
to show the scope or size of project activities, but it cannot
substitute for information about progress towards outcomes or the
results achieved. Examples of outputs include the number of people
trained or the number of seminars conducted. Outcomes, in contrast,
represent specific results a project is intended to achieve and is
usually measured as an extent of change. Findings on outputs and
outcomes should both be reported, but the focus should be on outcomes.
We encourage you to assess the following four levels of outcomes,
as they relate to the program goals set out in the RFGP (listed here in
increasing order of importance):
1. Participant satisfaction with the program and exchange
experience.
2. Participant learning, such as increased knowledge, aptitude,
skills, and changed understanding and attitude. Learning includes both
substantive (subject-specific) learning and mutual understanding.
3. Participant behavior, concrete actions to apply knowledge in
work or community; greater participation and responsibility in civic
organizations; interpretation and explanation of experiences and new
knowledge gained; continued contacts between participants, community
members, and others.
4. Institutional changes, such as increased collaboration and
partnerships, policy reforms, new programming, and organizational
improvements.
Please note: Consideration should be given to the appropriate
timing of data collection for each level of outcome. For example,
satisfaction is usually captured as a short-term outcome, whereas
behavior and institutional changes are normally considered longer-
term outcomes.
Overall, the quality of your monitoring and evaluation plan will be
judged on how well it (1) Specifies intended outcomes; (2) gives clear
descriptions of how each outcome will be measured; (3) identifies when
particular outcomes will be measured; and (4) provides a clear
description of the data collection strategies for each outcome (i.e.,
surveys, interviews, or focus groups). (Please note that evaluation
plans that deal only with the first level of outcomes [satisfaction]
will be deemed less competitive under the present evaluation criteria.)
Recipient organizations will be required to provide reports
analyzing their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular
program reports. All data collected, including survey responses and
contact information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years
and provided to the Bureau upon request.
IV.3e. Please take the following information into consideration
when preparing your budget:
IV.3e.1 Applicants must submit SF-424A--``Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs'' along with a comprehensive budget for the
entire program. Budget requests may not exceed $275,000. 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: Wednesday, May 11, 2011.
Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-11-30.
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 copies of the application should be sent to:
Program Management Division, ECA-IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/PE/C/PY-11-30,
SA-5, Floor 4, Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC
20037.
With the submission of the proposal package, please also e-mail the
Executive Summary, Proposal Narrative, and Budget sections of the
proposal, as well as any attachments essential to understanding the
program, in Microsoft Word, Excel, and/or PDF, to [email protected].
The Bureau will provide these files electronically to the Public
Affairs Sections at the relevant U.S. Embassies for their review.
IV.3f.2 Submitting Electronic Applications: Applicants have the
option of submitting proposals electronically through Grants.gov
(http://www.grants.gov). Complete solicitation packages are available
at Grants.gov in the ``Find'' portion of the system.
Please Note: ECA bears no responsibility for applicant
timeliness of submission or data errors resulting from transmission
or conversion processes for proposals submitted via Grants.gov
Please follow the instructions available in the `Get Started'
portion of the site (http://www.grants.gov/GetStarted).
Several of the steps in the Grants.gov registration process could
take several weeks. Therefore, applicants should check with appropriate
staff within their organizations immediately after reviewing this RFGP
to confirm or determine their registration status with Grants.gov.
[[Page 14711]]
Once registered, the amount of time it can take to upload an
application will vary depending on a variety of factors including the
size of the application and the speed of your internet connection. In
addition, validation of an electronic submission via Grants.gov can
take up to two business days.
Therefore, we strongly recommend that you not wait until the
application deadline to begin the submission process through
Grants.gov.
The Grants.gov Web site includes extensive information on all
phases/aspects of the Grants.gov process, including an extensive
section on frequently asked questions, located under the ``For
Applicants'' section of the Web site. ECA strongly recommends that all
potential applicants review thoroughly the Grants.gov Web site, well in
advance of submitting a proposal through the Grants.gov system. ECA
bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or
conversion processes.
Direct all questions regarding Grants.gov registration and
submission to: Grants.gov Customer Support, Contact Center Phone: 800
518-4726, Business Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Eastern Time, E-
mail: grants.gov">support@grants.gov.
Applicants have until midnight (12 a.m.), Washington, DC time of
the closing date to ensure that their entire application has been
uploaded to the Grants.gov site. There are no exceptions to the above
deadline. Applications uploaded to the site after midnight of the
application deadline date will be automatically rejected by the
grants.gov system, and will be technically ineligible.
Please refer to the Grants.gov Web site, for definitions of various
``application statuses'' and the difference between a submission
receipt and a submission validation. Applicants will receive a
validation e-mail from grants.gov upon the successful submission of an
application. Again, validation of an electronic submission via
Grants.gov can take up to two business days. Therefore, we strongly
recommend that you not wait until the application deadline to begin the
submission process through Grants.gov. ECA will not notify you upon
receipt of electronic applications.
It is the responsibility of all applicants submitting proposals via
the Grants.gov web portal to ensure that proposals have been received
by Grants.gov in their entirety, and ECA bears no responsibility for
data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.
IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of Applications: Executive Order
12372 does not apply to this program.
V. Application Review Information
V.1. Review Process
The Bureau will review all proposals for technical eligibility.
Proposals will be deemed ineligible if they do not fully adhere to the
guidelines stated herein and in the Solicitation Package. All eligible
proposals will be reviewed by the program office, as well as the Public
Diplomacy section overseas, where appropriate. Eligible proposals will
be subject to compliance with Federal and Bureau regulations and
guidelines and forwarded to Bureau cooperative agreement panels for
advisory review. Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of the
Legal Adviser or by other Department elements. Final funding decisions
are at the discretion of the Department of State's Assistant Secretary
for Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final technical authority for
assistance awards (cooperative agreements) resides with the Bureau's
Grants Officer.
Review Criteria
Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed
according to the criteria stated below.
1. Quality of the program idea: The proposed program should be well
developed, respond to design outlined in the solicitation, and
demonstrate originality. It should be clearly and accurately written,
substantive, and with sufficient detail. Proposals should exhibit
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's
mission.
2. Program planning: Objectives should be reasonable, feasible, and
flexible. A detailed agenda and work plan should clearly demonstrate
how project objectives would be achieved, addressing the three main
components, i.e., participant selection and preparation, exchange
activities, and follow-on activities. The agenda and plan should adhere
to the program overview and guidelines described above. Participant
recruitment and selection should be thoroughly explained. The substance
of workshops, seminars, presentations, school-based activities, and/or
site visits should be described in detail. Proposals should also
provide a plan for Bureau-supported follow-on activities to help the
participants apply what they have learned.
3. Support of diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Achievable and relevant
features should be cited in both program administration (selection of
participants, program venue and program evaluation) and program content
(orientation and wrap-up sessions, program meetings, resource materials
and follow-up activities).
4. Institutional capacity and track record: Proposed personnel and
institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve
the program goals. The proposal should demonstrate an institutional
record, including responsible fiscal management and full compliance
with all reporting requirements for past Bureau grants or cooperative
agreements as determined by the Bureau's Office of Contracts. The
Bureau will consider the past performance.
5. Program evaluation: The proposal should include a plan to
evaluate the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at
the end of the program. The proposal should include a draft survey
questionnaire or other technique plus description of a methodology to
use to link outcomes to original project objectives. The award
recipient will be expected to submit intermediate reports after each
project component is concluded.
6. Cost-effectiveness and cost sharing: The applicant should
demonstrate efficient use of Bureau funds. The overhead and
administrative components of the proposal, including salaries and
honoraria, should be kept as low as possible. All other items should be
necessary and appropriate. The proposal should maximize cost-sharing
through other private sector support as well as institutional direct
funding contributions, which demonstrates institutional and community
commitment.
VI. Award Administration Information
VI.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
[[Page 14712]]
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) Interim program and financial reports, as required in the
cooperative agreement;
(2) A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after
the expiration of the award;
(3) 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.
(4) A SF-PPR, ``Performance Progress Report'' Cover Sheet with all
program reports.
Award recipients will be required to provide reports analyzing
their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program
reports. (Please refer to IV. Application and Submission Instructions
(IV.3.d.3) above for Program Monitoring and Evaluation information.
All data collected, including survey responses and contact
information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years and
provided to the Bureau upon request.
All reports must be sent to the ECA Grants Officer and ECA Program
Officer listed in the final assistance award document.
VI.4. 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. Draft schedules for in-country and U.S. activities must be
received by the ECA Program Officer at least three weeks prior to the
beginning of the activity.
VII. Agency Contacts
For questions about this announcement, contact: Carolyn Lantz,
Youth Programs Division, ECA/PE/C/PY/T, U.S. Department of State,
Washington, DC 20522-0503, Tel (202) 632-6421, Fax (202) 632-9355,
[email protected]. All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this
RFGP should reference the above title and number ECA/PE/C/PY-11-30.
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: March 9, 2011.
Ann Stock,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S.
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2011-6271 Filed 3-16-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P