[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 222 (Thursday, November 17, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71418-71425]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-29643]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 7688]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for
Grant Proposals: Youth Leadership Program with Algeria
Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-12-09.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.415.
Application Deadline: January 4, 2012.
Executive Summary: The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs
Division, of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces
an open competition for the Youth Leadership Program with Algeria.
Public and private nonprofit 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 from Algeria
with an approximately four-week U.S.-based exchange program in summer
2012 focused on civic education, youth leadership development, respect
for diversity, and community engagement, and to support follow-on
community service projects in their home communities. The U.S. Embassy
in Algiers will recruit, screen, and select Algerian participants. The
award recipient will be required to recruit, screen, and select
American
[[Page 71419]]
participants, and collaborate with an in-country partner on logistical
arrangements and follow-on activities.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Authority: Overall grant making authority for this program is
contained in the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961,
Public Law 87-256, as amended, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act.
The purpose of the Act is ``to enable the Government of the United
States to increase mutual understanding between the people of the
United States and the people of other countries* * *; to strengthen the
ties which unite us with other nations by demonstrating the educational
and cultural interests, developments, and achievements of the people of
the United States and other nations * * * and thus to assist in the
development of friendly, sympathetic and peaceful relations between the
United States and the other countries of the world.'' The funding
authority for the program above is provided through legislation.
Purpose: The Youth Leadership Program with Algeria provides
approximately 24 secondary school students and three adult participants
from Algeria the opportunity to engage in an intensive, thematic
exchange in the United States focusing broadly on the primary themes of
civic education, youth leadership development, respect for diversity,
and community engagement. One of the following two subthemes, to be
selected by the applicant, will be used as tools to illustrate these
concepts: Business/entrepreneurship or applied communications.
Approximately six to twelve competitively selected American high
school students will join the Algerian participants in U.S.-based
exchange activities. Participants will engage in a variety of
activities, such as workshops on leadership and service, community site
visits related to the program themes and selected subtheme, interactive
training and discussion groups, small group work, presentations, visits
to high schools, local cultural activities, homestays, and other
activities designed to achieve the program's stated goals. Follow-on
activities with the Algerian and American 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. Activities should therefore be geared toward preparing
participants to conduct projects at home that serve a community need.
The goals of the programs are to:
(1) Promote mutual understanding between the people of the United
States and the people of Algeria;
(2) Inspire a sense of civic responsibility and commitment to
community development among youth;
(3) Develop a cadre of community leaders who will share their
knowledge and skills with their peers through positive action; and
(4) Foster relationships among youth from different ethnic,
religious, and national groups.
The objectives of the 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 skill at developing project ideas and planning a
course of action to bring the projects to fruition.
The primary themes of the programs are:
(1) Civic Education (citizen participation, grassroots democracy,
and rule of law);
(2) Youth Leadership Development (team building, public speaking,
negotiation, goal setting and project planning);
(3) Respect for Diversity (ethnicity, race, gender, religion,
geographic location, socio-economic status, and disabilities); and
(4) Community Engagement (volunteerism, philanthropy, and social/
corporate responsibility).
The exchange format will be intensive and interactive. Applicants
must present an exchange that allows the participants to thoroughly
explore the primary themes and selected subtheme in a creative,
memorable, and practical way. All activities should be designed to be
replicable and provide practical knowledge and skills that the
participants can apply to school and civic activities at home.
Opportunities for the youth and adult participants to interact with
their American peers in a sustained, substantive, and in-depth manner
must be prominently integrated into the exchange.
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.
Participants
The participants will be secondary school students between the ages
of 15 and 17 who have demonstrated leadership abilities in their
schools and/or communities, and have at least one semester of high
school remaining. Adult participants will be community leaders or
educators who work with youth and who have demonstrated support of
youth and community activities and have an interest in youth
leadership. The adult participants will have the role of exchange
participant, chaperone, and post-exchange mentor. Participants must be
proficient in the English language.
The exchange will be composed of approximately 24 secondary school
students and three adult participants from Algeria and approximately 6-
12 competitively selected American secondary school students who will
participate in the U.S.-based activities with the Algerian students.
Organizational Capacity
Applicants must demonstrate their capacity for doing programs of
this nature, focusing on three areas of competency: (1) Provision of
projects that address the goals, objectives, and themes outlined in
this document; (2) age-appropriate programming for youth; and (3)
previous experience in working with individuals from Algeria or other
countries in North Africa.
The program will be implemented by a team consisting of the U.S.
Embassy, the U.S. award recipient, and an in-country partner
organization. The award recipient will collaborate with the partner
organization in Algeria in arranging logistics, developing content for
and implementing a pre-departure orientation in Algiers, and organizing
and managing follow-on activities. The applicant may elect to work with
an organization of the embassy's choosing (to be identified after the
cooperative agreement has been awarded), or may propose to collaborate
with an organization with which it already has an established, long-
standing partnership. If the latter, applicants must provide a detailed
description of the partnership, including information on activities
that have been conducted jointly to date, as well a description of the
partner's role and responsibilities. The proposed partner must be based
in Algiers, have the demonstrated ability to conduct the specified
project activities in Algeria, and must either have its own secure
facilities (i.e. conference space), or access to such facilities for
program activities in Algiers.
[[Page 71420]]
U.S. Embassy Involvement
The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Algiers will
recruit, screen, and select the Algerian participants, as well as
provide advice and assistance in the execution of program components.
If applicable, the embassy will identify a partner organization in
Algiers that will collaborate closely with the award recipient on
program components.
Guidelines
The total amount of funding is $250,000, pending the availability
of funds. The Bureau intends to award one cooperative agreement. It is
anticipated that the period of the cooperative agreement will begin in
spring 2012. The award period will be 12 to 18 months in duration and
will cover all aspects of project planning, exchange activities in
Algeria and the United States, and follow-on activities in Algeria.
The total length of the exchange program should be approximately
four weeks and be inclusive of a three- to five-day pre-departure
orientation in Algiers, and all of the U.S.-based exchange activities.
The U.S.-based exchange should take place between the first week of
June and the third week of July 2012 to allow participants to complete
the exchange and return home before the start of Ramadan, which is
estimated to begin on July 20, 2012. Applicants should propose specific
exchange dates in their proposals, but the exact timing may be altered
through the mutual agreement of the Department of State and the award
recipient.
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.
In pursuit of the goals outlined above, the award recipient will be
responsible for the following:
(1) Conducting open recruitment and competitive selection of a
diverse group of American youth to join Algerian participants in U.S.-
based exchange activities.
(2) Planning and implementing a pre-departure orientation in
Algiers for Algerian participants, in collaboration with the in-country
partner.
(3) Conducting an orientation(s) for staff, American participants
and their families, and those individuals participating from the U.S.
host communities, including host families, prior to the start of the
program.
(4) Designing and planning exchange activities with American peers
that provide a creative and substantive program on the specified
themes. Opportunities for the adult participants to work with their
peers must also be included to help them foster youth leadership, civic
education, and community service programs at home.
(5) Conducting a welcome orientation for participants upon their
arrival in the United States to review program goals, objectives, and
expectations with American peers.
(6) Managing logistical arrangements, including international and
domestic travel, ground transportation, accommodations, group meals,
and disbursement of pocket money.
(7) Arranging homestays with properly screened and briefed host
families for a significant portion of the exchange period. Criminal
background checks must be conducted for members of host families and
others living in the home who are 18 years or older.
(8) Developing and implementing 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 a
safe and pedagogically rich program. Staff, along with mentors, will
assist the youth with cultural adjustments, provide societal context to
enhance learning, and counsel students as needed. Criminal background
checks must be conducted for all program staff.
(9) Making proper arrangements for participants' religious
observances.
(10) Providing a closing session to summarize the delegation's
activities, prepare participants for their return home, and to further
prepare for follow-on activities and projects.
(11) Arranging a short, substantive visit to Washington, DC for
Algerian and American participants at the beginning or conclusion of
the exchange that will include a meeting at the U.S. Department of
State, cultural field trips, and additional skill building exercises.
(12) Planning and organizing follow-on activities for American and
Algerian alumni in their home communities designed to reinforce the
ideas and skills imparted during the exchange program.
(13) Arranging international travel to Algeria for program staff,
trainers, or educators to provide further training for alumni and their
peers.
(14) Designing and implementing an evaluation plan that assesses
the short- and medium-term impact of the project on the participants as
well as on U.S. host and home communities.
Please Note: The ECA award for this program will take the form
of a cooperative agreement with the award recipient. In a
cooperative agreement, the Department of State is substantially
involved in program activities above and beyond routine award
monitoring. The Department's activities and responsibilities for the
Youth Leadership Program with Algeria are as follows:
(1) Manage the recruitment and selection of Algerian participants.
(2) Provide advice and collaboration in the execution of all
program components.
(3) Approve the final candidate selection of American participants
and alternates.
(4) 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.
(5) Facilitate interaction within the Department of State, to
include ECA, the regional bureaus, and overseas posts.
(6) Arrange meetings with Department of State officials in
Washington, DC.
(7) Approve publicity materials and calendar of exchange
activities.
Additional Information
The award recipient will retain the name ``Youth Leadership Program
with Algeria'' (or Algeria Youth Leadership Program) to identify its
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 the U.S.
Embassy in Algiers of its 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 categories. Please
be sure to refer to the complete Solicitation Package--this RFGP, the
Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI), and the Proposal
Submission Instructions (PSI)--for further information.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. ECA's level of involvement
[[Page 71421]]
in this program is listed under number I above.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY2012, pending availability of funds.
Approximate Total Funding: $250,000.
Approximate Number of Awards: One.
Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, March 15,
2012.
Anticipated Project Completion Date: 12 to 18 months after the
onset of the award, to be determined by the applicant according to its
program design.
Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of this
program and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, it is
ECA's intent to renew this grant or cooperative agreement for two
additional fiscal years, before openly competing it again.
III. Eligibility Information
III.1. Eligible applicants: Applications may be submitted by public
and private nonprofit 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
(1) 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.
(2) 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.
(3) The Bureau encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of
cost sharing and funding in support of its programs.
(4) Organizations may submit only one proposal (total) under this
competition. If more than one proposal is received from the same
applicant, all submissions will be declared technically ineligible and
will receive no further consideration in the review process.
Please note: Applicant organizations are defined by their legal
name, and EIN number as stated on their completed SF-424 and
additional supporting documentation outlined in the Proposal
Submission Instructions (PSI) document.
IV. Application and Submission Information
Note: Please read the complete announcement before sending
inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has
passed, Bureau staff may not discuss this competition with
applicants until the proposal review process has been completed.
IV.1. Contact Information To Request an Application Package
Please contact the Youth Programs Division, ECA/PE/C/PY, SA-5, 3rd
Floor, U.S. Department of State, 2200 C Street NW., Washington, DC
20037, by telephone (202) 632-9261 or Email: ShieldsSD@State.gov to
request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to the Funding Opportunity
Number ECA/PE/C/PY-12-09 located at the top of this announcement when
making your request.
Alternatively, an electronic application package may be obtained
from grants.gov. Please see section IV.3f for further information.
The Solicitation Package contains the Proposal Submission
Instruction (PSI) document which consists of required application
forms, and standard guidelines for proposal preparation. It also
contains the Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI)
document, which provides specific information, award criteria and
budget instructions tailored to this competition.
Please specify Program Officer Sarah Shields and refer to the
Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/PY-12-09 located at the top of this
announcement on all other inquiries and correspondence.
IV.2. To Download a Solicitation Package Via Internet
The entire Solicitation Package may be downloaded from the Bureau's
Web site at http://exchanges.state.gov/grants/open2.html, or from the
Grants.gov Web site at http://www.grants.gov.
Please read all information before downloading.
IV.3. Content and Form of Submission
Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation
Package. The application should be submitted per the instructions under
IV.3f. ``Application Deadline and Methods of Submission'' section
below.
IV.3a. You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal
Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative
agreement from the U.S. Government. This number is a nine-digit
identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities.
Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a
DUNS number, access http://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-(866)
705-5711. Please ensure that your DUNS number is included in the
appropriate box of the SF-424 which is part of the formal application
package.
IV.3b. All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal
narrative and budget.
Please Refer to the Solicitation Package. It contains the mandatory
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document and the Project
Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) document for additional
formatting and technical requirements.
IV.3c. All federal award recipients must maintain current
registrations in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database.
Recipients must maintain accurate and up-to-date information in the CCR
until all program and financial activity and reporting have been
completed. Recipients 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.
Failure to register in the CCR will render applicants ineligible to
receive funding.
[[Page 71422]]
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 62,
which covers the administration of the Exchange Visitor Program (J visa
program). Under the terms of 22 CFR 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 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 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 62. If your organization has experience as a
designated Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor, the applicant should
discuss their record of compliance with 22 CFR 62 et. seq., including
the oversight of their Responsible Officers and Alternate Responsible
Officers, screening and selection of program participants, provision of
pre-arrival information and orientation to participants, monitoring of
participants, proper maintenance and security of forms, record-keeping,
reporting and other requirements.
The Office of Citizen Exchanges of ECA will be responsible for
issuing DS-2019 forms to participants in this program.
A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of
Exchange Visitor (J) programs is available at http://exchanges.state.gov or from: Office of Designation, Private Sector
Programs Division, U.S. Department of State, ECA/EC/D/PS, SA-5, 5th
Floor, 2200 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20037.
IV.3d.2. Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines
Pursuant to the Bureau's authorizing legislation, programs must
maintain a non-political character and should be balanced and
representative of the diversity of American political, social, and
cultural life. ``Diversity'' should be interpreted in the broadest
sense and encompass differences including, but not limited to
ethnicity, race, gender, religion, geographic location, socio-economic
status, and disabilities. Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere
to the advancement of this principle both in program administration and
in program content. Please refer to the review criteria under the
'Support for Diversity' section for specific suggestions on
incorporating diversity into your proposal. Public Law 104-319 provides
that ``in carrying out programs of educational and cultural exchange in
countries whose people do not fully enjoy freedom and democracy,'' the
Bureau ``shall take appropriate steps to provide opportunities for
participation in such programs to human rights and democracy leaders of
such countries.'' Public Law 106-113 requires that the governments of
the countries described above do not have inappropriate influence in
the selection process. Proposals should reflect advancement of these
goals in their program contents, to the full extent deemed feasible.
IV.3d.3. Program Monitoring and Evaluation
Proposals must include a plan to monitor and evaluate the project's
success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of the program.
The Bureau recommends that your proposal include a draft survey
questionnaire or other technique plus a description of a methodology to
use to link outcomes to original project objectives. The Bureau expects
that the recipient organization will track participants or partners and
be able to respond to key evaluation questions, including satisfaction
with the program, learning as a result of the program, changes in
behavior as a result of the program, and effects of the program on
institutions (institutions in which participants work or partner
institutions). The evaluation plan should include indicators that
measure gains in mutual understanding as well as substantive knowledge.
Successful monitoring and evaluation depend heavily on setting
clear goals and outcomes at the outset of a program. Your evaluation
plan should include a 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
[[Page 71423]]
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.
Outcomes
We encourage you to assess the following four levels of outcomes,
as they relate to the program goals set out in the RFGP (listed here in
increasing order of importance):
(1) Participant satisfaction with the program and exchange
experience.
(2) Participant learning, such as increased knowledge, aptitude,
skills, and changed understanding and attitude. Learning includes both
substantive (subject-specific) learning and mutual understanding.
(3) Participant behavior, concrete actions to apply knowledge in
work or community; greater participation and responsibility in civic
organizations; interpretation and explanation of experiences and new
knowledge gained; continued contacts between participants, community
members, and others.
(4) Institutional changes, such as increased collaboration and
partnerships, policy reforms, new programming, and organizational
improvements.
Please note: Consideration should be given to the appropriate
timing of data collection for each level of outcome. For example,
satisfaction is usually captured as a short-term outcome, whereas
behavior and institutional changes are normally considered longer-
term outcomes.
Overall, the quality of your monitoring and evaluation plan will be
judged on how well it (1) Specifies intended outcomes; (2) gives clear
descriptions of how each outcome will be measured; (3) identifies when
particular outcomes will be measured; and (4) provides a clear
description of the data collection strategies for each outcome (i.e.,
surveys, interviews, or focus groups). (Please note that evaluation
plans that deal only with the first level of outcomes [satisfaction]
will be deemed less competitive under the present evaluation criteria.)
Recipient organizations will be required to provide reports
analyzing their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular
program reports. All data collected, including survey responses and
contact information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years
and provided to the Bureau upon request.
IV.3e. Please take the following information into consideration
when preparing your budget:
IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit SF-424A--``Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs'' along with a comprehensive budget for the
entire program. Budget requests may not exceed $250,000. There must be
a summary budget as well as breakdowns reflecting both administrative
and program budgets. Applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for
each program component, phase, location, or activity to provide
clarification. Please refer to the Solicitation Package (POGI and PSI)
for complete budget guidelines and formatting instructions.
IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission
Application Deadline Date: Wednesday, January 4, 2012.
Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-12-09.
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., FedEx, 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-12-
09, SA-5, Floor 4, Department of State, 2200 C Street NW., Washington,
DC 20037.
With the submission of the proposal package, please also email 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 YLP@state.gov. The
Bureau will provide these files electronically to the Public Affairs
Section at the U.S. Embassy in Algiers for its review.
IV.3f.2. Submitting Electronic Applications
Applicants have the option of submitting proposals electronically
through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov). Complete solicitation
packages are available at Grants.gov in the ``Find'' portion of the
system.
Please note: ECA bears no responsibility for applicant
timeliness of submission or data errors resulting from transmission
or conversion processes for proposals submitted via Grants.gov.
Please follow the instructions available in the `Get Started'
portion of the site (http://www.grants.gov/GetStarted).
Several of the steps in the Grants.gov registration process could
take several weeks. Therefore, applicants should check with appropriate
staff within their organizations immediately after reviewing this RFGP
to confirm or determine their registration status with Grants.gov.
Once registered, the amount of time it can take to upload an
application will vary depending on a variety of factors including the
size of the application and the speed of your Internet connection. In
addition, validation of an electronic submission via Grants.gov can
take up to two business days.
Therefore, we strongly recommend that you not wait until the
application deadline to begin the submission process through
Grants.gov.
The Grants.gov Web site includes extensive information on all
phases/aspects of the Grants.gov process, including an extensive
section on frequently asked questions, located under the ``For
Applicants'' section of
[[Page 71424]]
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.
Email: 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 email 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. These criteria are not rank
ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation:
(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 and ability to achieve program objectives: A
detailed agenda and work plan should clearly demonstrate how project
objectives will be achieved. The agenda and plan should adhere 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
applicant'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 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 (grants or cooperative agreements) as determined by
Bureau Grants Staff. The Bureau will consider the past performance of
prior recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants.
(5) 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.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 an 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
[[Page 71425]]
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
Nonprofit 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. Application and Submission Instructions
(IV.3.d.3) above for Program Monitoring and Evaluation information.
All data collected, including survey responses and contact
information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years and
provided to the Bureau upon request.
All reports must be sent to the ECA Grants Officer and ECA Program
Officer listed in the final assistance award document.
VII. Agency Contacts
For questions about this announcement, contact: Sarah Shields,
Youth Programs Division, ECA/PE/C/PY/T, SA-5, 3rd Floor, U.S.
Department of State, 2200 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20522-0503, by
telephone (202) 632-9261 or email ShieldsSD@state.gov.
All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should
reference the above title and number ECA/PE/C/PY-12-09.
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: November 9, 2011.
J. Adam Ereli,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and
Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2011-29643 Filed 11-16-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P