[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 47 (Thursday, March 11, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11612-11619]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-5272]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 6916]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for
Grant Proposals: The U.S./Pakistan Professional Partnership Program
Announcement Type: New Grant.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/EUR-SCA-10-32.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.415.
Key Dates:
Application Deadline: April 9, 2010.
Executive Summary: In his December 1, 2009, speech in West Point,
New York, President Obama said that a new diplomatic initiative in
Pakistan would be part of the U.S. strategy to bring peace and
stability in the Afghanistan/Pakistan region. As part of this
initiative, ECA is seeking proposals for a new two-part program, called
``The U.S./Pakistan Professional Partnership Program.'' This program
will bring young professionals (ages 20-35) from the two countries
together to develop cross cultural relationships and develop
professional skills that will positively impact people's lives and will
result in stronger ties between the two nations.
ECA is seeking proposals from qualified applicants for two separate
programs. The Bureau expects funding in the amount of approximately
$3,700,000 to be available for these programs and expects to award a
total of two grants in this competition, one for each topic.
The first project--``Professional Partnerships: Journalism''--will
involve Pakistani and American journalists in a program designed to
demonstrate journalism skills, offer professional development
opportunities, and offer internships at U.S-based media outlets for
Pakistani journalists.
The second project--``Professional Partnerships: Public
Administration''--will examine the skills employed by American and
Pakistani public administration professionals at the national,
regional, and local levels. This program will include internships for
Pakistani professionals with U.S.-based professionals.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Authority:
Overall grant making authority for this program is contained in the
Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, Public Law 87-
256, as amended, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act. The purpose of
the Act is ``to enable the Government of the United States to increase
mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the
people of other countries * * *; to strengthen the ties which unite us
with other nations by demonstrating the educational and cultural
interests, developments, and achievements of the people of the United
States and other nations * * * and thus to assist in the development of
friendly, sympathetic and peaceful relations between the United States
and the other countries of the world.'' Funding for this competition is
provided through special FY 2009/FY 2010 supplemental funds that have
been appropriated to the Department of State.
General Program Outlines
The Following applies to both the Journalism and Public
Administration Programs:
Language: This program is for English and non-English speaking
Pakistani participants. English language ability will not be a
requirement to participate. The various groups should be grouped by
language (English, Urdu, and Pashto.) For Urdu and Pashto, State
Department
[[Page 11613]]
Language Services interpreters will be assigned through the Office of
Citizen Exchanges. There will be approximately three interpreters
assigned for the group orientation portion of the program and about one
interpreter to three Pakistani participants for the internship portion
of the program. Proposals should budget for the appropriate amount of
interpreters. See IV.3e.2c. for specifics on budgeting for
interpreters.
Visas: Applicants must demonstrate that they can work with ECA and
PAS Islamabad for the U.S. visas and directly with the Pakistani
Embassy for its visas. ECA will issue the DS-2019 forms required for J
visas; see Section IV.3d.1 for additional information related to the
administration of J visa programs.
Travel: The grantee will arrange all round-trip international
travel, complying with the Fly America Act, and domestic travel
arrangements for the participants. All Pakistani and American
participants must depart and arrive in Pakistan through Islamabad.
Proposals should include plans to house the Pakistani participants in
Islamabad for at least one day to coordinate pre-departure and post
program briefings with the Public Affairs Staff of the U.S. Embassy.
U.S. Based Programs: The recipients of grant awards will be
responsible for implementing programs from four to six weeks in the
United States for the Pakistani participants. It is envisioned that the
Pakistani participants will be grouped in delegations of ten who will
travel together to the United States. Groups of ten Pakistani
participants will travel at different times throughout the grant
period. Pakistani participants will be placed within relevant,
reputable, legally-recognized U.S. organizations where they will gain
hands-on experiences with the journalism and public administration
professions in the United States, and provide the opportunity to
establish relationships with U.S. professional counterparts for on-
going collaboration. The grantee may want to engage with a partner or
sub-grantee to arrange for the internship placement. The grantee should
also include cultural enrichment activities as an integral part of the
fellowship experience. Such activities could include outings to
museums, historic sites, sporting events, cultural exhibits, local
schools or community events, volunteering and other opportunities to
experience American culture and diversity. Short-term homestays to give
participants a personal experience of how typical Americans live are
highly desirable.
Pakistan-Based Programs: Concurrent with the U.S.-based program for
the Pakistani participants, proposals should also describe a selection
process and logistics for a one to two-week Pakistan-based program for
a smaller number of U.S. participants. The U.S. participants will be
selected from among the internship host organizations for the Pakistani
participants and will travel several months after the Pakistanis return
home. The Pakistan-based program may include public presentations, on-
site visits at Pakistani media outlets, and media interviews, if
possible. All details and specifics on Pakistan-based programs will be
arranged in close coordination with the Public Affairs Section of the
U.S. Embassy in Islamabad. Proposals must show a convincing plan to
work with ECA and the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad on this project, and to
adhere to U.S. government security restrictions on travel within
Pakistan.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting: The Bureau places high
importance on monitoring and evaluation as a means of ensuring and
measuring a project's success. Proposals must include a detailed
monitoring and evaluation plan that assesses the impact of the project.
Please refer to section. IV.3d.3. Project Monitoring and Evaluation
below.
Follow-up activities: The grant recipients will develop enhancement
activities that reinforce program goals after the participants' return
to Pakistan. This includes informing participants of the Bureau's
Alumni program, facilitating their enrollment, and encouraging their
on-going participation. Please refer to the PSI for additional
information on Alumni, Outreach, and Engagement.
Fiscal Management: Applicants must demonstrate competency to manage
all financial aspects of the project, including participant costs and
transparent arrangements of sub-grant relationships with partner
organizations, if applicable.
Contact ECA: All interested organizations should contact ECA
Program Officers Brent Beemer or Adam Meier before the submission of
proposals. ECA will also put the organizations in contact with
appropriate colleagues at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad.
Brent Beemer: 202-632-6067, BeemerBT@state.gov
Adam Meier: 202-632-6071, MeierAW2@state.gov
Specific Program Details:
Project One: Professional Partnerships: Journalism
This program will provide approximately 100-140 participants from
Pakistan the opportunity to study and take an active part in journalism
as practiced in the United States. Successful programs will achieve the
following:
Show journalists the professional approaches to journalism
as practiced in the United States and Pakistan, how journalists in both
countries try to carry out their profession in an ethical and effective
way, and how journalists can become leaders within the journalism
field.
Establish structured interaction among American and
Pakistani participants designed to develop enduring professional ties
and lasting partnerships.
Provide an opportunity for all participants in the program
to do reporting on the exchange itself, as well as on the countries and
individuals involved.
Proposals should include a comprehensive three to four-week U.S.-
based group educational and internship program for media professionals.
One grant will be awarded for this project for a period of two to three
years.
Competitive proposals will demonstrate experience and contacts with
relevant media and organizations that specialize in journalism to
program the U.S. components of this program. If a subcontractor is
proposed for the internship placement, its experience and relevance
with media/journalism needs to be demonstrated. Competitive proposals
will also demonstrate an understanding of the current state of
broadcast and print media in Pakistan in major cities as well as in
more remote areas.
Each U.S.-based component should begin with a group orientation
(preferably in Washington, DC) with trainings, lectures, and site
visits to introduce participants to the basic craft of journalism, as
practiced in the United States. Investigative reporting, ethics, and
the business of journalism in the United States should be included.
Additionally, an overview of U.S. government structures, the political
process, and the ``third wheel of government'' role that the media
plays in the United States should be offered. This should be followed
by hands-on internship components at appropriate host U.S. media
outlets to see these practices at work. Internships should be developed
for small groups consisting of not more than three persons. The program
will also encourage Pakistani journalists to use the program to do on-
site reporting from the United States that can be of benefit to their
home media outlets. A final de-briefing session in Washington, DC, for
each
[[Page 11614]]
group should also be included in the proposal. ECA will facilitate on-
the-record interviews with prominent U.S. officials in Washington, DC,
as well.
Audience: Participants may be reporters, editors, and/or media
managers, and may be from print, television, radio, or online media
outlets. Participants should have at least five years of active
journalistic experience. NOTE: Groups should not be made up of mixed
media types. Print journalists should be in groups that are separate
from those with broadcast journalists. In this way, the U.S. program
can be based on specific issues pertaining to the various media types,
and internships will be easier to arrange.
Pakistan Recruitment and Selection: Recruitment and selection for
this program in Pakistan is to be closely coordinated with the Public
Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, starting with
obtaining official permission to recruit within Pakistan. Proposals can
include information on a proposed in-country partner organization that
would recruit program participants, and include a proposed plan and
budget for this recruitment and selection. However, applicants may
ultimately be asked to work with an alternate organization recommended
by the Public Affairs Section in Islamabad on the recruitment of
program participants. In either case, final selections (including
possibly interviews of program finalists) should be done in conjunction
with the Public Affairs Section.
All participants must be approved by ECA and the Public Affairs
Section.
Project Two: Professional Partnerships: Public Administration
This program will provide approximately 80-100 participants from
Pakistan and the United States the opportunity to study public
administration techniques and processes in both countries and for
Pakistani professionals to do internships with public administration
professionals in the U.S. Successful programs will achieve the
following:
Demonstrate Pakistani and American public administration
systems and approaches each country uses at the federal, regional, and
local levels.
Share strategies employed by American and Pakistani
professionals to counter corruption and bureaucratic entanglements in
public administration.
Establish structured interaction among American and
Pakistani participants designed to develop enduring professional ties.
Proposals should include a comprehensive three- to four-week U.S.-
based group educational and internship program for public
administrative professionals. One grant will be awarded for this
project for a period of two to three years.
Competitive proposals will demonstrate experience and contacts with
relevant public administration professionals, organizations, and
educational institutes to program the U.S. components of this program.
If a subcontractor is proposed for the internship placement, its
experience and relevance with public administration needs to be
explained. Competitive proposals should also demonstrate an
understanding of the structure of the Pakistani government and civil
service.
Each U.S.-based component will begin with a group orientation
(preferably in Washington, DC) with workshops, lectures, and site
visits to introduce participants to the basics of public administration
in the United States. This should be followed by hands-on internship
components at appropriate host U.S. work sites to see these practices
at work. Internships should be developed for small groups consisting of
not more than three persons. A final de-briefing session in Washington,
DC, for each group should also be included in the proposal.
Audience: Participants should be public administration
professionals, who currently hold positions within administrative
bodies, and have at least five years of active experience in the field.
Note: Pakistani groups should be arranged according to the level of
public administration in which they work. Proposals should demonstrate
an ability to implement programs based on all three levels of public
administration--federal, provincial, and local.
Pakistan Recruitment and Selection: Recruitment and selection for
this program in Pakistan is to be closely coordinated with the Public
Affairs Section in Islamabad, starting with obtaining official
permission to recruit within Pakistan. Proposals can include
information on a proposed in-country partner organization that would
recruit program participants, and include a proposed plan and budget
for this recruitment and selection. However, applicants may ultimately
be asked to work with an alternate organization recommended by the
Public Affairs Section in Islamabad to recruit program participants. In
either case, final selections (including possible interviews of program
finalists) should be done in conjunction with the Public Affairs
Section. All participants must be approved by ECA and the Public
Affairs Section.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Grant Agreement
Fiscal Year Funds: 2010
Approximate Total Funding: $3,700,000
Approximate Number of Awards: Two
Approximate Average Award:
Journalism Program: $2,200,000
Public Administration Program: $1,500,000
Anticipated Award Date: August 1, 2010
Anticipated Project Completion Date: September 1, 2013
Additional Information: At this time, support for this program is
being provided from special one-time FY 2009/FY 2010 supplemental funds
that have been appropriated to the Department. In the event that
additional funds become available in fiscal years 2011 and 2012, and
pending successful implementation of the FY 2010 funded program, ECA
reserves the right to renew this grant for two additional fiscal years
before openly competing it again.
III. Eligibility Information
III.1. Eligible Applicants
Applications may be submitted by public and private non-profit
organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code
section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3).
III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds
There is no minimum or maximum percentage required for this
competition. However, the Bureau encourages applicants to provide
maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in support of its programs.
When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the
applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its
proposal and later included in an approved agreement. Cost sharing may
be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For
accountability, you must maintain written records to support all costs
which are claimed as your contribution, as well as costs to be paid by
the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. The basis
for determining the value of cash and in-kind contributions must be in
accordance with OMB Circular A-110, (Revised), Subpart C.23--Cost
Sharing and Matching. In the event you do not provide the minimum
amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget, ECA's
contribution will be reduced in like proportion.
[[Page 11615]]
III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements
(a.) Bureau grant guidelines require that organizations with less
than four years experience in conducting international exchanges be
limited to $60,000 in Bureau funding. ECA anticipates making two awards
(Journalism Program: $2,200,000 and Public Administration Program:
$1,500,000) to support program and administrative costs required to
implement this exchange program. Therefore, organizations with less
than four years experience in conducting international exchanges are
ineligible to apply under this competition. The Bureau encourages
applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in
support of its programs.
(b.) Technical Eligibility: Applicants may not submit more than one
proposal in this entire competition. Applicants that do so will be
declared technically ineligible and will receive no further
consideration in the review process.
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 Office of Citizen Exchanges, ECA/PE/C, SA-5,
Third Floor, U.S. Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington,
DC 20522-0504, (202) 632-6067, BeemerBT@state.gov to request a
Solicitation Package. Please refer to the Funding Opportunity Number
ECA/PE/C/EUR-SCA-10-32 located at the top of this announcement when
making your request.
Alternatively, an electronic application package may be obtained
from grants.gov. Please see section IV.3f for further information.
The Solicitation Package contains the Proposal Submission
Instruction (PSI) document which consists of required application
forms, and standard guidelines for proposal preparation.
Please specify Brent Beemer or Adam Meier and refer to the Funding
Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/EUR-SCA-10-32 located at the top of this
announcement on all other inquiries and correspondence.
IV.2. To Download a Solicitation Package Via Internet
The entire Solicitation Package may be downloaded from the Bureau's
Web site at http://exchanges.state.gov/grants/open2.html, or from the
Grants.gov Web site at http://www.grants.gov.
Please read all information before downloading.
IV.3. Content and Form of Submission
Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation
Package. The application should be submitted per the instructions under
IV.3f. ``Application Deadline and Methods of Submission'' section
below.
IV.3a. You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal
Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative
agreement from the U.S. Government. This number is a nine-digit
identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities.
Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a
DUNS number, access http://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-
5711. Please ensure that your DUNS number is included in the
appropriate box of the SF-424 which is part of the formal application
package.
IV.3b. All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal
narrative and budget.
Please Refer to the Solicitation Package. It contains the mandatory
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document for additional
formatting and technical requirements.
IV.3c. You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of
application. Please note: Effective January 7, 2009, all applicants for
ECA federal assistance awards must include in their application the
names of directors and/or senior executives (current officers,
trustees, and key employees, regardless of amount of compensation). In
fulfilling this requirement, applicants must submit information in one
of the following ways:
(1) Those who file Internal Revenue Service Form 990, ``Return of
Organization Exempt From Income Tax,'' must include a copy of relevant
portions of this form.
(2) Those who do not file IRS Form 990 must submit information
above in the format of their choice.
In addition to final program reporting requirements, award
recipients will also be required to submit a one-page document, derived
from their program reports, listing and describing their grant
activities. For award recipients, the names of directors and/or senior
executives (current officers, trustees, and key employees), as well as
the one-page description of grant activities, will be transmitted by
the State Department to OMB, along with other information required by
the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), and
will be made available to the public by the Office of Management and
Budget on its USASpending.gov Web site as part of ECA's FFATA reporting
requirements.
If your organization is a private nonprofit which has not received
a grant or cooperative agreement from ECA in the past three years, or
if your organization received nonprofit status from the IRS within the
past four years, you must submit the necessary documentation to verify
nonprofit status as directed in the PSI document. Failure to do so will
cause your proposal to be declared technically ineligible.
IV.3d. Please take into consideration the following information
when preparing your proposal narrative:
IV.3d.1 Adherence To All Regulations Governing The J Visa
The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and
Cultural Affairs is the official program sponsor of the exchange
program covered by this RFGP, and an employee of the Bureau will be the
``Responsible Officer'' for the program under the terms of 22 CFR part
62, which covers the administration of the Exchange Visitor Program (J
visa program). Under the terms of 22 CFR part 62, organizations
receiving awards (either a grant or cooperative agreement) under this
RFGP will be third parties ``cooperating with or assisting the sponsor
in the conduct of the sponsor's program.'' The actions of recipient
organizations shall be ``imputed to the sponsor in evaluating the
sponsor's compliance with'' 22 CFR part 62. Therefore, the Bureau
expects that any organization receiving an award under this competition
will render all assistance necessary to enable the Bureau to fully
comply with 22 CFR part 62 et seq.
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs places critically
important emphases on the secure and proper administration of Exchange
Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence by recipient organizations and
program participants to all regulations governing the J visa program
status. Therefore, proposals should explicitly state in writing that
the applicant is prepared to assist the Bureau in meeting all
requirements governing the administration of Exchange Visitor Programs
as set forth in 22 CFR part 62. If your organization has experience as
a designated Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor, the applicant should
discuss their record of compliance with 22 CFR part 62 et seq.,
including the oversight of their Responsible Officers and
[[Page 11616]]
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, ECA/EC/D, SA-5,
Floor C2, Department of State, Washington, DC 20522-0582.
IV.3d.2 Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines
Pursuant to the Bureau's authorizing legislation, programs must
maintain a non-political character and should be balanced and
representative of the diversity of American political, social, and
cultural life. ``Diversity'' should be interpreted in the broadest
sense and encompass differences including, but not limited to
ethnicity, race, gender, religion, geographic location, socio-economic
status, and disabilities. Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere
to the advancement of this principle both in program administration and
in program content. Please refer to the review criteria under the
`Support for Diversity' section for specific suggestions on
incorporating diversity into your proposal. Public Law 104-319 provides
that ``in carrying out programs of educational and cultural exchange in
countries whose people do not fully enjoy freedom and democracy,'' the
Bureau ``shall take appropriate steps to provide opportunities for
participation in such programs to human rights and democracy leaders of
such countries.'' Public Law 106-113 requires that the governments of
the countries described above do not have inappropriate influence in
the selection process. Proposals should reflect advancement of these
goals in their program contents, to the full extent deemed feasible.
IV.3d.3. Program Monitoring and Evaluation
Proposals must include a plan to monitor and evaluate the project's
success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of the program.
The Bureau recommends that your proposal include a draft survey
questionnaire or other technique plus a description of a methodology to
use to link outcomes to original project objectives. The Bureau expects
that the recipient organization will track participants or partners and
be able to respond to key evaluation questions, including satisfaction
with the program, learning as a result of the program, changes in
behavior as a result of the program, and effects of the program on
institutions (institutions in which participants work or partner
institutions). The evaluation plan should include indicators that
measure gains in mutual understanding as well as substantive knowledge.
Successful monitoring and evaluation depend heavily on setting
clear goals and outcomes at the outset of a program. Your evaluation
plan should include a description of your project's objectives, your
anticipated project outcomes, and how and when you intend to measure
these outcomes (performance indicators). The more that outcomes are
``smart'' (specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and
placed in a reasonable time frame), the easier it will be to conduct
the evaluation. You should also show how your project objectives link
to the goals of the program described in this RFGP.
Your monitoring and evaluation plan should clearly distinguish
between program outputs and outcomes. Outputs are products and services
delivered, often stated as an amount. Output information is important
to show the scope or size of project activities, but it cannot
substitute for information about progress towards outcomes or the
results achieved. Examples of outputs include the number of people
trained or the number of seminars conducted. Outcomes, in contrast,
represent specific results a project is intended to achieve and is
usually measured as an extent of change. Findings on outputs and
outcomes should both be reported, but the focus should be on outcomes.
We encourage you to assess the following four levels of outcomes,
as they relate to the program goals set out in the RFGP (listed here in
increasing order of importance):
1. Participant satisfaction with the program and exchange
experience.
2. Participant learning, such as increased knowledge, aptitude,
skills, and changed understanding and attitude. Learning includes both
substantive (subject-specific) learning and mutual understanding.
3. Participant behavior, demonstrating concrete actions to apply
knowledge in work or community; greater participation and
responsibility in civic organizations; interpretation and explanation
of experiences and new knowledge gained; continued contacts between
participants, community members, and others.
4. Institutional changes, such as increased collaboration and
partnerships, policy reforms, new programming, and organizational
improvements.
Please note: Consideration should be given to the appropriate
timing of data collection for each level of outcome. For example,
satisfaction is usually captured as a short-term outcome, whereas
behavior and institutional changes are normally considered longer-
term outcomes.
Overall, the quality of your monitoring and evaluation plan will be
judged on how well it (1) specifies intended outcomes; (2) gives clear
descriptions of how each outcome will be measured; (3) identifies when
particular outcomes will be measured; and (4) provides a clear
description of the data collection strategies for each outcome (i.e.,
surveys, interviews, or focus groups). (Please note that evaluation
plans that deal only with the first level of outcomes [satisfaction]
will be deemed less competitive under the present evaluation criteria.)
Recipient organizations will be required to provide reports
analyzing their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular
program reports. All data collected, including survey responses and
contact information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years
and provided Bureau upon request.
IV.3e. Please take the following information into consideration
when preparing your budget:
IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit SF-424A--``Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs'' along with a comprehensive budget for the
entire program. There must be a summary budget as well as breakdowns
reflecting both administrative and program budgets. Applicants may
provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase,
location, or activity to provide clarification.
IV.3e.2. Allowable costs for the program include the following:
IV.3e.2a. Travel. International and domestic airfare; airline
baggage and seat fees; visas; transit costs; ground transportation
costs. Please note that all air travel must be in compliance with the
Fly America Act. There is no charge for J-1 visas for participants in
Bureau sponsored programs.
IV.3e.2b. Per Diem. For U.S.-based programming, organizations
should use the published Federal per diem rates for individual U.S.
cities. Domestic per diem rates may be accessed at:
http:[sol][sol]www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/
contentView.do?contentType=GSA--BASIC&contentId=17943. ECA requests
applicants to budget realistic costs that
[[Page 11617]]
reflect the local economy and do not exceed Federal per diem rates.
Foreign per diem rates can be accessed at:
http:[sol][sol]aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content--id=184&menu--
id=78.
IV.3e.2c. Interpreters. As stated previously, ECA anticipates that
most participants coming to the U.S. on this program will not have
command of English. ECA is requiring that eventual award recipients ask
ECA to assign State Department interpreters for this project. One
interpreter is typically needed for every four participants who require
interpretation. When an applicant proposes to use State Department
interpreters, the following expenses should be included in the budget:
Published Federal per diem rates (both ``lodging'' and ``M&IE'') and
``home-program-home'' transportation in the amount of $400 per
interpreter. Salary expenses for State Department interpreters will be
covered by the Bureau and should not be part of an applicant's proposed
budget. Bureau funds cannot support interpreters who accompany
delegations from their home country or travel internationally.
IV.3e.2d. Book and Cultural Allowances. Foreign participants are
entitled to a one-time cultural allowance of $150 per person, plus a
book allowance of $50. Interpreters should be reimbursed up to $150 for
expenses when they escort participants to cultural events. U.S. program
staff, trainers or participants are not eligible to receive these
benefits.
IV.3e.2e. Consultants. Consultants may be used to provide
specialized expertise or to make presentations. Honoraria rates should
not exceed $250 per day. Organizations are encouraged to cost-share
rates that would exceed that figure. Subcontracting organizations may
also be employed, in which case the written agreement between the
prospective grantee and sub-grantee should be included in the proposal.
Such sub-grants should detail the division of responsibilities and
proposed costs, and subcontracts should be itemized in the budget.
IV.3e.2f. Room rental. The rental of meeting space should not
exceed $250 per day. Any rates that exceed this amount should be cost
shared.
IV.3e.2g. Materials. Proposals may contain costs to purchase,
develop and translate materials for participants. Costs for high
quality translation of materials should be anticipated and included in
the budget. Grantee organizations should expect to submit a copy of all
program materials to ECA, and ECA support should be acknowledged on all
materials developed with its funding.
IV.3e.2h. Equipment. Applicants may propose to use grant funds to
purchase equipment, such as computers and printers; these costs should
be justified in the budget narrative. Costs for furniture are not
allowed.
IV.3e.2i. Working meal. Normally, no more than one working meal may
be provided during the program. Per capita costs may not exceed $15-$25
for lunch and $20-$35 for dinner, excluding room rental. The number of
invited guests may not exceed participants by more than a factor of
two-to-one. When setting up a budget, interpreters should be considered
``participants.''
IV.3e.2j. Return travel allowance. A return travel allowance of $70
for each foreign participant may be included in the budget. This
allowance would cover incidental expenses incurred during international
travel.
IV.3e.2k. Health Insurance. Foreign participants will be covered
during their participation in the program by the ECA-sponsored Accident
and Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE), for which the grantee must
enroll them. Details of that policy can be provided by the contact
officers identified in this solicitation. The premium is paid by ECA
and should not be included in the grant proposal budget. However,
applicants are permitted to include costs for travel insurance for U.S.
participants in the budget.
IV.3e.2l. Wire transfer fees. When necessary, applicants may
include costs to transfer funds to partner organizations overseas.
Grantees are urged to research applicable taxes that may be imposed on
these transfers by host governments.
IV.3e.2m. In-country travel costs for visa processing purposes.
Given the requirements associated with obtaining J-1 visas for ECA-
supported participants, applicants should include costs for any travel
associated with visa interviews or DS-2019 pick-up.
IV.3e.2n. Administrative Costs. Costs necessary for the effective
administration of the program may include salaries for grantee
organization employees, benefits, and other direct and indirect costs
per detailed instructions in the Application Package. While there is no
rigid ratio of administrative to program costs, proposals in which the
administrative costs do not exceed 25% of the total requested ECA grant
funds will be more competitive under the cost effectiveness and cost
sharing criterion, per item V.1 below. Proposals should show strong
administrative cost sharing contributions from the applicant, the in-
country partner and other sources. Please also include in the
administrative portion of your budget plans to travel to Washington,
DC, to meet with your program officer within the first 45 days after
the grant has been awarded. Please refer to the Solicitation Package
for complete budget guidelines and formatting instructions.
IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission
Application Deadline Date: April 9, 2010.
Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/EUR-SCA-10-32.
Methods of Submission: Applications may be submitted in one of two
ways:
(1) In hard-copy, via a nationally recognized overnight delivery
service (i.e., Federal Express, UPS, Airborne Express, or U.S. Postal
Service Express Overnight Mail, etc.), or
(2) Electronically through http://www.grants.gov.
Along with the Project Title, all applicants must enter the above
Reference Number in Box 11 on the SF-424 contained in the mandatory
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) of the solicitation document.
IV.3f.1 Submitting Printed Applications
Applications must be shipped no later than the above deadline.
Delivery services used by applicants must have in-place, centralized
shipping identification and tracking systems that may be accessed via
the Internet and delivery people who are identifiable by commonly
recognized uniforms and delivery vehicles. Proposals shipped on or
before the above deadline but received at ECA more than seven days
after the deadline will be ineligible for further consideration under
this competition. Proposals shipped after the established deadlines are
ineligible for consideration under this competition. ECA will not
notify you upon receipt of application. It is each applicant's
responsibility to ensure that each package is marked with a legible
tracking number and to monitor/confirm delivery to ECA via the
Internet. Delivery of proposal packages may not be made via local
courier service or in person for this competition. Faxed documents will
not be accepted at any time. Only proposals submitted as stated above
will be considered.
Important note: When preparing your submission please make sure
to include one extra copy of the completed SF-424 form and place it
in an envelope addressed to ``ECA/EX/PM''.
The original and 10 copies of the application should be sent to:
Program Management Division, ECA-IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/PE/C/EUR-SCA-10-
32,
[[Page 11618]]
Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20522-0504.
Applicants submitting hard-copy applications must also submit the
``Executive Summary'' and ``Proposal Narrative'' sections of the
proposal in text (.txt) or Microsoft Word format on CD-ROM. As
appropriate, the Bureau will provide these files electronically to
Public Affairs Section(s) at the U.S. embassy(ies) for its (their)
review.
IV.3f.2 Submitting Electronic Applications
Applicants have the option of submitting proposals electronically
through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov). Complete solicitation
packages are available at Grants.gov in the ``Find'' portion of the
system.
Please Note: ECA bears no responsibility for applicant
timeliness of submission or data errors resulting from transmission
or conversion processes for proposals submitted via Grants.gov.
Please follow the instructions available in the ``Get Started''
portion of the site (http://www.grants.gov/GetStarted).
Several of the steps in the Grants.gov registration process could
take several weeks. Therefore, applicants should check with appropriate
staff within their organizations immediately after reviewing this RFGP
to confirm or determine their registration status with Grants.gov.
Once registered, the amount of time it can take to upload an
application will vary depending on a variety of factors including the
size of the application and the speed of your internet connection. In
addition, validation of an electronic submission via Grants.gov can
take up to two business days.
Therefore, we strongly recommend that you not wait until the
application deadline to begin the submission process through
Grants.gov.
The Grants.gov Web site includes extensive information on all
phases/aspects of the Grants.gov process, including an extensive
section on frequently asked questions, located under the ``For
Applicants'' section of the Web site. ECA strongly recommends that all
potential applicants review thoroughly the Grants.gov Web site, well in
advance of submitting a proposal through the Grants.gov system. ECA
bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or
conversion processes.
Direct all questions regarding Grants.gov registration and
submission to: Grants.gov Customer Support, Contact Center Phone: 800-
518-4726, Business Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Eastern Time, E-
mail: grants.gov">support@grants.gov.
Applicants have until midnight (12 a.m.), Washington, DC time of
the closing date to ensure that their entire application has been
uploaded to the Grants.gov site. There are no exceptions to the above
deadline. Applications uploaded to the site after midnight of the
application deadline date will be automatically rejected by the
grants.gov system, and will be technically ineligible.
Please refer to the Grants.gov Web site, for definitions of various
``application statuses'' and the difference between a submission
receipt and a submission validation. Applicants will receive a
validation e-mail from grants.gov upon the successful submission of an
application. Again, validation of an electronic submission via
Grants.gov can take up to two business days. Therefore, we strongly
recommend that you not wait until the application deadline to begin the
submission process through Grants.gov. ECA will not notify you upon
receipt of electronic applications.
It is the responsibility of all applicants submitting proposals via
the Grants.gov Web portal to ensure that proposals have been received
by Grants.gov in their entirety, and ECA bears no responsibility for
data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.
IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of Applications: Executive Order
12372 does not apply to this program.
V. Application Review Information
V.1. Review Process
The Bureau will review all proposals for technical eligibility.
Proposals will be deemed ineligible if they do not fully adhere to the
guidelines stated herein and in the Solicitation Package. All eligible
proposals will be reviewed by the program office, as well as the Public
Diplomacy section overseas, where appropriate. Eligible proposals will
be subject to compliance with Federal and Bureau regulations and
guidelines and forwarded to Bureau grant panels for advisory review.
Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of the Legal Adviser or by
other Department elements. Final funding decisions are at the
discretion of the Department of State's Assistant Secretary for
Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final technical authority for
assistance award grants resides with the Bureau's Grants Officer.
Review Criteria
Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed
according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are not rank
ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation:
1. Quality of the Program Idea: Proposals should exhibit
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's
mission.
2. Program planning and Ability to Achieve Objectives: Detailed
agenda and relevant work plan should demonstrate substantive
undertakings and logistical capacity. Agenda and plan should adhere to
the program overview and guidelines described above. Objectives should
be reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly
demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's objectives and
plan.
3. Institutional Capacity and Record: Proposed personnel and
institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve
the program or project's goals. Proposals should demonstrate an
institutional record of successful exchange programs, including
responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting
requirements for past Bureau awards (grants or cooperative agreements)
as determined by Bureau Grants Staff. The Bureau will consider the past
performance of prior recipients and the demonstrated potential of new
applicants.
4. Cost-effectiveness and Cost-sharing: The overhead and
administrative components of the proposal, including salaries and
honoraria, should be kept as low as possible. All other items should be
necessary and appropriate. Proposals should maximize cost-sharing
through other private sector support as well as institutional direct
funding contributions.
5. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Achievable and relevant
features should be cited in both program administration (selection of
participants, program venue and program evaluation) and program content
(orientation and wrap-up sessions, program meetings, resource materials
and follow-up activities).
6. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate
the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of
the program. A draft survey questionnaire or other technique plus
description of a methodology to use to link outcomes to original
project objectives is recommended.
[[Page 11619]]
VI. Award Administration Information
VI.1a. Award Notices
Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by
Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures.
Successful applicants will receive a Federal Assistance Award (FAA)
from the Bureau's Grants Office. The FAA and the original proposal with
subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall be the only binding
authorizing document between the recipient and the U.S. Government. The
FAA will be signed by an authorized Grants Officer, and mailed to the
recipient's responsible officer identified in the application.
Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of
the application review from the ECA program office coordinating this
competition.
VI.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements
Terms and Conditions for the Administration of ECA agreements
include the following:
Office of Management and Budget Circular A-122, ``Cost Principles
for Nonprofit Organizations.''
Office of Management and Budget Circular A-21, ``Cost Principles
for Educational Institutions.''
OMB Circular A-87, ``Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian
Governments''.
OMB Circular No. A-110 (Revised), Uniform Administrative
Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher
Education, Hospitals, and other Nonprofit Organizations.
OMB Circular No. A-102, Uniform Administrative Requirements for
Grants-in-Aid to State and Local Governments.
OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of States, Local Government, and
Non-profit Organizations
Please reference the following Web sites for additional
information: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants, http://fa.statebuy.state.gov.
VI.3. Reporting Requirements
You must provide ECA with a hard copy original plus one electronic
copy of the following reports:
(1) A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after
the expiration of the award;
(2) A concise, one-page final program report summarizing program
outcomes no more than 90 days after the expiration of the award. This
one-page report will will be transmitted to OMB, and be made available
to the public via OMB's USAspending.gov Web site--as part of ECA's
Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reporting
requirements.
(3) A SF-PPR, ``Performance Progress Report'' Cover Sheet with all
program reports.
Award recipients will be required to provide reports analyzing
their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program
reports. (Please refer to IV. Application and Submission Instructions
(IV.3.d.3) above for Program Monitoring and Evaluation information.
All data collected, including survey responses and contact
information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years and
provided to the Bureau upon request.
All reports must be sent to the ECA Grants Officer and ECA Program
Officer listed in the final assistance award document.
VI.4. Optional Program Data Requirements
Award recipients will be required to maintain specific data on
program participants and activities in an electronically accessible
database format that can be shared with the Bureau as required. As a
minimum, the data must include the following:
(1) Name, address, contact information and biographic sketch of all
persons who travel internationally on funds provided by the agreement
or who benefit from the award funding but do not travel.
(2) Itineraries of international and domestic travel, providing
dates of travel and cities in which any exchange experiences take
place. Final schedules for in-country and U.S. activities must be
received by the ECA Program Officer at least three work days prior to
the official opening of the activity.
VII. Agency Contacts
For questions about this announcement, contact: Brent Beemer or
Adam Meier, Office of Citizen Exchanges, ECA/PE/C, Third Floor SA-5,
Third Floor, U.S. Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington,
DC 20522-0504.
Brent Beemer: 202-632-6067, BeemerBT@state.gov.
Adam Meier: 202-632-6071, MeierAW2@state.gov.
All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should
reference the above title and number ECA/PE/C/EUR-SCA-10-32.
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 2, 2010.
Maura M. Pally,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S.
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2010-5272 Filed 3-10-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P