[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 87 (Thursday, May 5, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25734-25740]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-10998]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice: 7442]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for
Grant Proposals: Youth Leadership Program
Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-11-69.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.415.
Application Deadline: June 6, 2011.
Executive Summary
The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs Division, of the
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces an open
competition for the Youth Leadership Program. Public and private non-
profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal
Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) may submit proposals to
provide youth and adult participants with three or more separate three-
week exchanges focused on civic education, community service, and youth
leadership development, and to support follow-on projects in their home
communities. U.S. Embassies in the participating countries will
recruit, screen, and select the participants. The successful applicant
will provide flexible programming and work with ECA and U.S. Embassies
as they identify the participating countries in response to emerging
circumstances requiring U.S. engagement.
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.
Overview
The Youth Leadership Program provides three-week exchanges in the
United States for high school youth and adult educators from countries
identified as Department priorities. Exchange activities will focus on
civic education, community service, and youth leadership development.
Secondary themes on issues of global relevance may be added.
Participants will engage in a variety of activities such as workshops
on leadership and service, community site visits related to the program
themes and subthemes, interactive training and discussion groups,
presentations, visits to high schools, local cultural activities,
homestays, and other activities designed to achieve the program's
stated goals.
Multiple opportunities for participants to interact meaningfully
with their American peers must be included. Follow-on activities with
the participants are an integral part of the program, as the students
apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired by planning service
projects in their home communities.
The goals of the program are to:
(1) Promote mutual understanding between the people of the United
States and the people of other countries;
(2) Prepare youth leaders to become responsible citizens and
contributing members of their communities; and
(3) Foster relationships among youth from different ethnic,
religious, and national groups.
The objectives of the program are for participants to:
(1) Demonstrate a better understanding of the elements of a
participatory democracy as practiced in the United States;
(2) Demonstrate critical thinking and leadership skills; and
(3) Demonstrate skills in developing project ideas and planning a
course of action to bring the projects to fruition.
The primary themes of the program are:
(1) Civic Education (Citizen Participation, Grassroots Democracy
and Rule of Law);
(2) Community Service; and
(3) Youth Leadership Development.
For each project, applicant organizations must focus on these
primary themes. Secondary themes such as business and entrepreneurship,
the environment, public health, or other topics of global relevance
will serve to illustrate the more abstract concepts of the primary
themes. For example, the secondary theme of the environment can be used
to examine how a group of individuals with an idea can start a
recycling campaign in their community. These themes may vary in
response to Department priorities connected with the countries that
participate.
Using these goals, objectives, and themes, applicant organizations
should identify their own specific and measurable outputs and outcomes
based on the project specifications provided in this solicitation.
Proposals should indicate how recipients will achieve the short-term
program objectives, and how these objectives will contribute to the
achievement of the stated long-term goals.
Project Outline
The amount of funding available is approximately $600,000. ECA
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anticipates awarding one cooperative agreement for the management of
this Youth Leadership Program. With funding of approximately $7,500 per
participant, the program will involve hosting a total of about 70 to 90
high school students and educators for three-week exchanges in the
United States in 2012. They will travel in several delegations, each
delegation ranging from 14 to 24 participants and each delegation
representing a different country or region from around the world, to be
determined in consultation with Department stakeholders as emerging
events dictate.
Applicants are encouraged to be creative and flexible in making
arrangements that will help meet our program goals. For instance, the
groups may not all be of equal size and may travel at anytime
throughout the year. More exchange participants may be included should
funding allow. The Bureau reserves the right to reduce, revise, or
increase proposal project configurations, budgets, and participant
numbers in accordance with the needs of the program and the
availability of funds.
Participants
U.S. Embassies in the participating countries will recruit, screen,
and select the participants; the award recipient will not be involved
in participant selection. The youth participants will be high school
students aged 15 to 18 years old. The adult participants may be
teachers, trainers, school administrators, and/or community leaders who
work with youth. They will have the dual role of both exchange
participant and chaperone. The ratio of youth to adult participants
will be approximately 7:1. Participants will be proficient in the
English language.
Organizational Capacity
Applicant organizations must demonstrate their capacity for
conducting international youth exchanges, providing projects that
address the goals, objectives, and themes outlined in this document,
and providing age-appropriate programming for youth.
U.S. Embassy Involvement
U.S. Embassies in the participating countries will recruit, screen,
and select the participants; provide pre-departure briefings;
facilitate visas; and collaborate with the U.S. recipient organization
in overseeing alumni follow-on projects. Once a cooperative agreement
is awarded and the participating countries are identified, which may
take place throughout the agreement period, the recipient must consult
regularly with the Public Affairs Section at the U.S. Embassies in the
partner countries to implement the exchanges.
Guidelines
The cooperative agreement will begin on or about September 1, 2011.
The award period will be 18 to 24 months in duration, as appropriate
for the applicant's program design. Planning and preparation will start
in 2011, and the exchanges will take place primarily in calendar year
2012. Applicants should propose the period of the exchanges in their
proposals, but the exact timing may be altered through the mutual
agreement of the Department of State and the award recipient.
The award recipient will be responsible for the following:
Orientations: Provide pre-departure materials and information about
the U.S. program to help the U.S. Embassies, participants, and their
families in preparation for the exchange. Also, provide orientations
for those participating from the host communities, including host
families.
Logistics: Manage all logistical arrangements, including
international and domestic travel, ground transportation,
accommodations, group meals, and disbursement of pocket money.
Exchange Activities: Design and plan three weeks of exchange
activities that provide a creative and substantive program that
develops both the youth and the adult participants' knowledge and skill
base in civic education, community service, and youth leadership
development. The exchange will take place in no more than two or three
locations so that the participants have time to familiarize themselves
with a community. The exchange will focus primarily on interactive
activities, practical experiences, and other hands-on opportunities
that provide a substantive experience on the specified program themes.
Some activities should be school and/or community-based, and the
exchange will involve as much sustained interaction with American peers
as possible (for both the youth and adult participants). Cultural,
social, and recreational activities will balance the schedule.
Applicants may choose to include a visit to Washington, DC.
Accommodations: Arrange home stays for the participants in the
United States with properly screened and briefed American families for
the majority 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 of age or older. Please see the POGI for more details
on host family screening and placement.
Monitoring: Develop and implement a plan to monitor the
participants' safety and well-being while on the exchange and to create
opportunities for participants to share potential issues and resolve
them promptly. The award recipient will be required to provide proper
staff supervision and facilitation to ensure that the teenagers have
safe and pedagogically rich programs. Staff, along with the adult
participants, will assist the youth with cultural adjustments, provide
societal context to enhance learning, and counsel students as needed.
Follow-on Activities: Plan and implement activities in the
participants' home countries, in coordination with the U.S. Embassies,
particularly by facilitating continued engagement among the
participants, advising and supporting them in the implementation of
community service projects, and offering opportunities to reinforce the
ideas, values and skills imparted during the exchange. Exchange
participants should return home from the exchange prepared to conduct
projects that serve a need in their schools or communities. To amplify
program impact, proposals should present creative and effective ways to
address the project themes, for both program participants and their
peers.
Evaluation: Design and implement an evaluation plan that assesses
the short- and medium-term impact of the project on the participants as
well as on host and home communities.
Please note: In a cooperative agreement, the Department of State
is substantially involved in program activities above and beyond
routine grant monitoring. The Department's activities and
responsibilities for the Youth Leadership Program are as follows:
(1) Provide advice and assistance in the execution of all
program components.
(2) Manage the recruitment and selection of the participants,
provide pre-departure briefings, and oversee follow-on activities.
(3) Issue DS-2019 forms and J-1 visas. All foreign participants
will travel on a U.S. Government designation for the J Exchange
Visitor Program.
(4) Facilitate interaction within the Department of State, to
include ECA, the regional bureaus, and overseas posts.
(5) Arrange meetings with Department of State officials in
Washington, D.C. and the participating countries.
(6) Approve publicity materials and final calendar of exchange
activities.
(7) Monitor and evaluate the program, through regular
communication with the award recipient and possibly one or more site
visits.
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Additional Information
Award recipients will retain the name ``Youth Leadership Program''
to identify their project. All materials, publicity, and correspondence
related to the program will acknowledge this as a program of the Bureau
of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State.
The Bureau will retain copyright use of and be allowed to distribute
materials related to this program as it sees fit.
The organization must inform the ECA Program Officer and
participating U.S. Embassies of their progress at each stage of the
project's implementation in a timely fashion, and will be required to
obtain approval of any significant program changes in advance of their
implementation.
Proposals must demonstrate how the stated objectives will be met.
The proposal narrative should provide detailed information on the major
project activities, and applicants should explain and justify their
programmatic choices. Projects must comply with J-1 visa regulations
for the International Visitor and Government Visitor category. 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.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. ECA's level of involvement in
this program is listed under Section I above.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY-2011.
Approximate Total Funding: $600,000.
Approximate Number of Awards: One.
Anticipated Award Date: September 1, 2011.
Anticipated Project Completion Date: 18-24 months after start date,
to be specified by applicant based on project plan.
III. Eligibility Information
III.1. Eligible applicants: Applications may be submitted by public
and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described
in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3).
III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds: There is no minimum or
maximum percentage required for this competition. However, the Bureau
encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and
funding in support of its programs.
When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the
applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its
proposal and later included in an approved agreement. Cost sharing may
be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For
accountability, you must maintain written records to support all costs
which are claimed as your contribution, as well as costs to be paid by
the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. The basis
for determining the value of cash and in-kind contributions must be in
accordance with OMB Circular A-110, (Revised), Subpart C.23--Cost
Sharing and Matching. In the event you do not provide the minimum
amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget, ECA's
contribution will be reduced in like proportion.
III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements
(a) Bureau grant guidelines require that organizations with less
than four years experience in conducting international exchanges be
limited to $60,000 in Bureau funding. ECA anticipates making an award
in an amount exceeding $60,000 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) 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.
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, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC
20037, by telephone (202) 632-9261, fax (202) 632-9355, or e-mail
[email protected] to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to the
Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/PY-11-69 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 Program Officer Sarah Shields and refer to the
Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/PY-11-69 on all other inquiries and
correspondence.
IV.2. To Download a Solicitation Package Via Internet
The entire Solicitation Package may be downloaded from the Bureau's
Web site at http://exchanges.state.gov/grants/open2.html, or from the
Grants.gov Web site at http://www.grants.gov. Please read all
information before downloading.
IV.3. Content and Form of Submission: Applicants must follow all
instructions in the Solicitation Package. The application should be
submitted per the instructions under IV.3f. ``Application Deadline and
Methods of Submission'' section below.
IV.3a. You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal
Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative
agreement from the U.S. Government. This number is a nine-digit
identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities.
Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a
DUNS number, access http://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-
5711. Please ensure that your DUNS number is included in the
appropriate box of the SF-424 which is part of the formal application
package.
IV.3b. All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal
narrative and budget.
Please Refer to the Solicitation Package. It contains the mandatory
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document and the Project
Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) document for additional
formatting and technical requirements.
IV.3c. 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
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Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. Recipients and sub-recipients
must maintain accurate and up-to-date information in the CCR until all
program and financial activity and reporting have been completed. All
entities must review and update the information at least annually after
the initial registration and more frequently if required information
changes or another award is granted.
You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of
application. Please note: Effective January 7, 2009, all applicants for
ECA Federal assistance awards must include in their application the
names of directors and/or senior executives (current officers,
trustees, and key employees, regardless of amount of compensation). In
fulfilling this requirement, applicants must submit information in one
of the following ways:
(1) Those who file Internal Revenue Service Form 990, ``Return of
Organization Exempt From Income Tax,'' must include a copy of relevant
portions of this form.
(2) Those who do not file IRS Form 990 must submit information
above in the format of their choice.
In addition to final program reporting requirements, award
recipients will also be required to submit a one-page document, derived
from their program reports, listing and describing their grant
activities. For award recipients, the names of directors and/or senior
executives (current officers, trustees, and key employees), as well as
the one-page description of grant activities, will be transmitted by
the State Department to OMB, along with other information required by
the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), and
will be made available to the public by the Office of Management and
Budget on its USASpending.gov Web site as part of ECA's FFATA reporting
requirements.
If your organization is a private nonprofit which has not received
a grant or cooperative agreement from ECA in the past three years, or
if your organization received nonprofit status from the IRS within the
past four years, you must submit the necessary documentation to verify
nonprofit status as directed in the PSI document. Failure to do so will
cause your proposal to be declared technically ineligible.
IV.3d. 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,
recordkeeping, 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 description of your project's objectives, your
anticipated project outcomes, and
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how and when you intend to measure these outcomes (performance
indicators). The more that outcomes are ``smart'' (specific,
measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and placed in a reasonable
time frame), the easier it will be to conduct the evaluation. You
should also show how your project objectives link to the goals of the
program described in this RFGP.
Your monitoring and evaluation plan should clearly distinguish
between program outputs and outcomes. Outputs are products and services
delivered, often stated as an amount. Output information is important
to show the scope or size of project activities, but it cannot
substitute for information about progress towards outcomes or the
results achieved. Examples of outputs include the number of people
trained or the number of seminars conducted. Outcomes, in contrast,
represent specific results a project is intended to achieve and is
usually measured as an extent of change. Findings on outputs and
outcomes should both be reported, but the focus should be on outcomes.
We encourage you to assess the following four levels of outcomes,
as they relate to the program goals set out in the RFGP (listed here in
increasing order of importance):
1. Participant satisfaction with the program and exchange
experience.
2. Participant learning, such as increased knowledge, aptitude,
skills, and changed understanding and attitude. Learning includes both
substantive (subject-specific) learning and mutual understanding.
3. Participant behavior, concrete actions to apply knowledge in
work or community; greater participation and responsibility in civic
organizations; interpretation and explanation of experiences and new
knowledge gained; continued contacts between participants, community
members, and others.
4. Institutional changes, such as increased collaboration and
partnerships, policy reforms, new programming, and organizational
improvements.
Please note: Consideration should be given to the appropriate
timing of data collection for each level of outcome. For example,
satisfaction is usually captured as a short-term outcome, whereas
behavior and institutional changes are normally considered longer-
term outcomes.
Overall, the quality of your monitoring and evaluation plan will be
judged on how well it (1) specifies intended outcomes; (2) gives clear
descriptions of how each outcome will be measured; (3) identifies when
particular outcomes will be measured; and (4) provides a clear
description of the data collection strategies for each outcome (i.e.,
surveys, interviews, or focus groups). (Please note that evaluation
plans that deal only with the first level of outcomes [satisfaction]
will be deemed less competitive under the present evaluation criteria.)
Recipient organizations will be required to provide reports
analyzing their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular
program reports. All data collected, including survey responses and
contact information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years
and provided to the Bureau upon request.
IV.3e. Please take the following information into consideration
when preparing your budget:
IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit SF-424A--``Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs'' along with a comprehensive budget for the
entire program. 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 (POGI and PSI) for complete budget guidelines and
formatting instructions.
IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission
Application Deadline Date: Monday, June 6, 2011.
Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-11-69.
Methods of Submission:
Applications may be submitted in one of two ways:
(1) In hard-copy, via a nationally recognized overnight delivery
service (i.e., Federal Express, UPS, Airborne Express, or U.S. Postal
Service Express Overnight Mail, etc.), or
(2) Electronically through http://www.grants.gov.
Along with the Project Title, all applicants must enter the above
Reference Number in Box 11 on the SF-424 contained in the mandatory
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) of the solicitation document.
IV.3f.1. Submitting Printed Applications
Applications must be shipped no later than the above deadline.
Delivery services used by applicants must have in-place, centralized
shipping identification and tracking systems that may be accessed via
the Internet and delivery people who are identifiable by commonly
recognized uniforms and delivery vehicles. Proposals shipped on or
before the above deadline but received at ECA more than seven days
after the deadline will be ineligible for further consideration under
this competition. Proposals shipped after the established deadlines are
ineligible for consideration under this competition. ECA will not
notify you upon receipt of application. It is each applicant's
responsibility to ensure that each package is marked with a legible
tracking number and to monitor/confirm delivery to ECA via the
Internet. Delivery of proposal packages may not be made via local
courier service or in person for this competition. Faxed documents will
not be accepted at any time. Only proposals submitted as stated above
will be considered.
Important note: When preparing your submission please make sure
to include one extra copy of the completed SF-424 form and place it
in an envelope addressed to ``ECA/EX/PM.''
The original and six (6) copies of the application should be sent
to: Program Management Division, ECA-IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/PE/C/PY-11-
69, 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 may 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.
Once registered, the amount of time it can take to upload an
application will
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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 (12:00 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 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: Objectives should be reasonable,
feasible, and flexible. The proposal should clearly demonstrate how the
institution will meet the program's objectives and plan. The proposed
program should be creative, age-appropriate, respond to the design
outlined in the solicitation, and demonstrate originality. It should be
clearly and accurately written, substantive, and with sufficient
detail. Proposals should also include a plan to support participants'
community activities upon their return home.
2. Program planning: A detailed plan should clearly demonstrate how
project objectives would be achieved through the program activities,
adhering to the program overview and guidelines described above. The
substance of workshops, seminars, presentations, school-based
activities, and/or site visits should be described in detail.
3. Support of diversity: The proposal should demonstrate the
recipient's commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding of
diversity in participant recruitment and selection and in program
content. Applicants should demonstrate readiness to accommodate
participants with physical disabilities.
4. Institutional capacity and track record: Proposed personnel and
institutional resources in both the United States and in the partner
countries should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program
goals. The proposal should demonstrate an institutional record of
successful exchange programs, including responsible fiscal management
and full compliance with all reporting requirements for past Bureau
awards as determined by Bureau Grants Staff. The Bureau will consider
the past performance of prior recipients and the demonstrated potential
of new applicants.
5. Program evaluation: The proposal should include a plan to
evaluate the program's success in meeting its goals, both as the
activities unfold and after they have been completed. The proposal
should include a draft survey questionnaire or other technique, plus a
description of a methodology 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.1. Award Notices
Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by
Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures.
Successful applicants will receive a Federal Assistance Award (FAA)
from the Bureau's Grants Office. The FAA and the original proposal with
subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall be the only binding
authorizing document between the recipient and the U.S. Government. The
FAA will be signed by an authorized Grants Officer, and mailed to the
recipient's responsible officer identified in the application.
Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of
the application review from the ECA program office coordinating this
competition.
[[Page 25740]]
VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
Terms and Conditions for the Administration of ECA agreements
include the following:
Office of Management and Budget Circular A 122, ``Cost Principles
for Nonprofit Organizations.''
Office of Management and Budget Circular A-21, ``Cost Principles
for Educational Institutions.''
OMB Circular A-87, ``Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian
Governments''.
OMB Circular No. A 110 (Revised), Uniform Administrative
Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher
Education, Hospitals, and other Nonprofit Organizations.
OMB Circular No. A-102, Uniform Administrative Requirements for
Grants-in-Aid to State and Local Governments.
OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of States, Local Government, and
Non-profit Organizations.
Please reference the following Web sites for additional
information: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants, http://fa.statebuy.state.gov.
VI.3. Reporting Requirements: You must provide ECA with a hard copy
original plus one copy of the following reports:
(1) A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after
the expiration of the award;
(2) A concise, one-page final program report summarizing program
outcomes no more than 90 days after the expiration of the award. This
one-page report will be transmitted to OMB, and be made available to
the public via OMB's USAspending.gov Web site--as part of ECA's Federal
Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reporting
requirements.
(3) A SF-PPR, ``Performance Progress Report'' Cover Sheet with all
program reports, including the SF-PPR-E and SF-PPR-F.
(4) Quarterly or interim reports, as required in the Bureau
cooperative agreement.
Award recipients will be required to provide reports analyzing
their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program
reports. (Please refer to IV.3.d.3 Application and Submission
Instructions 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.
Program reports must be sent to the ECA Grants Officer and ECA
Program Officer listed in the final assistance award document.
Financial reports must be submitted through the Payment Management
System (PMS).
VII. Agency Contacts
For questions about this announcement, contact: Sarah Shields,
Youth Programs Division, ECA/PE/C/PY, SA-5, 3rd Floor, U.S. Department
of State, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20522-0503, by telephone
(202) 632-9261 or e-mail [email protected].
All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should
reference the above title and reference number ECA/PE/C/PY-11-69.
Please read the complete announcement before sending inquiries or
submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has passed, Bureau staff
may not discuss this competition with applicants until the proposal
review process has been completed.
VIII. Other Information
Notice
The terms and conditions published in this RFGP are binding and may
not be modified by any Bureau representative. Explanatory information
provided by the Bureau that contradicts published language will not be
binding. Issuance of the RFGP does not constitute an award commitment
on the part of the Government. The Bureau reserves the right to reduce,
revise, or increase proposal budgets in accordance with the needs of
the program and the availability of funds. Awards made will be subject
to periodic reporting and evaluation requirements per section VI.3
above.
Dated: April 29, 2011.
J. Adam Ereli,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau for Educational and
Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2011-10998 Filed 5-4-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P