[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 97 (Friday, May 20, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-12408]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: May 20, 1994]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
Grants and Cooperative Agreements; Availability, Etc.: Russia;
Curriculum Development in Civics Education
TITLE: Curriculum Development in Civics Education for Russia.
ACTION: Notice--request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: Subject to the availability of funds, the United States
Information Agency (USIA) invites applications from U.S. educational
institutions and public and private non-profit organizations meeting
the provisions described in IRS regulation 501(c)(3) to develop a 30-
day group program for approximately 15 professionals involved in
secondary-level education from Russia. Program participants will be
interested in curriculum reform to introduce and strengthen civics
education in Russia.
Overall grantmaking authority for this program is contained in the
Freedom Support Act. The funding for the program cited above is
appropriated through the Foreign Assistance Act of 1994. Programs and
projects outlined in a proposal must conform with Agency requirements
and guidelines contained in the Application Package.
DATES: Deadline for proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S.
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time, on Wednesday, June
29, 1994. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents
postmarked on June 29, 1994, but received at a later date. It is the
responsibility of each grant applicant to ensure that the proposals are
received by the above deadline. The 30-day program should take place in
the Fall of 1994.
ADDRESSES: The original and 8 copies of the completed application,
including required forms, should be submitted by the deadline to:
U.S. Information Agency, Reference: (E/AAS-94-01), Office of Grants
Management, E/XE, room 336, 301 4th Street SW., Washington, DC
20547.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Interested organizations/institutions should contact Gretchen
Christison at U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th Street SW., Study of the
U.S. Branch, E/AAS room 256, (202) 619-4557 or facsimile, (202) 619-
6790 to request a detailed Application Package, which includes award
criteria additional to this announcement, all necessary forms, and
guidelines for preparing proposals, including specific criteria for
preparation of the proposal budget. Interested applicants should read
the complete Federal Register announcement before addressing inquiries
to the Study of the U.S. Branch or submitting their proposals. Once the
RFP deadline has passed, USIA staff may not discuss this competition in
any way with applicants until after the Bureau review process has been
completed.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Bureau's authorizing
legislation, programs should maintain a non-political character, and
should be balanced and representative of the diversity of American
political, social, and cultural life. Programs should maintain their
scholarly integrity and should meet the highest standards of academic
excellence. ``Diversity'' should be interpreted in the broadest sense
and encompass differences including but not limited to ethnicity,
gender, religion, geographic location, socioeconomic status, and
physical challenges. Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere to
the advancement of this principle.
Overview
The long-term goal of this 30-day program is to assist participants
to develop a framework for civic education that comprises democratic
concepts, values and practices, to apply to national, regional, and
local curriculum reform in Russia. The program also should introduce
participants to civic education as it is taught at the secondary school
level in the United States Review of the content of relevant courses
and discussion of teaching methodologies should provide participants
with a foundation on which the development of a new, strengthened
program in civic education could be based. The project should
demonstrate how democratic concepts, values, and practices are
incorporated into curricula.
Participants
The program is designed for a group of fifteen educators and
administrators from Russia. Participants may be employees of the
Ministry of Education or regional entities, secondary school
administrators, teacher-trainers of secondary school level instructors,
textbook writers, or developers of secondary school curricula. All
participants will be concerned with instituting reform of the secondary
school civic education curricula. USIA and the USIA posts overseas will
be responsible for participant selection.
Program Description
Project should include, and proposal should address:
1. An introduction to the U.S. education system. Participants
should receive background information on the U.S. education system to
provide context for the project's major emphasis on the role of civic
education in a democratic society. This introduction should include
information about the federal-state-local system, the philosophy and
goals of public and private education, funding patterns, and the major
players involved in civic education, such as schools, government,
private clubs, religious institutions, public libraries, and parents.
The program might include, but not emphasize, some of the major issues
in American education, such as teacher qualifications, ``back-to-
basics,'' bilingualism, and multiculturalism. Selected school and other
relevant site visits may be included.
2. Information on courses in civics education and traditional
social studies courses, such as U.S. and world history, U.S. Government
and comparative government institutions, media and current events, and
courses that include discussion of community volunteerism, public
interest groups, legal norms and procedures. The institute should
address courses stressing the philosophy of democratic institutions,
citizen behavior, social responsibility, and political practices such
as the balance of individual rights and rights of the group,
reconciliation and compromise within the democratic process, rights of
minorities, etc.
3. Information on methods and issues in civic education such as
textbook and materials development and selection, teaching techniques,
the use of audio-visual and print media, and field trips. The project
should include the provision of a ``short shelf'' of approximately 10-
20 items, including books, sample curricula, visual materials, etc.,
for participants' use when they return home. Relevant subscriptions and
memberships may also be included.
Program Administration
All programming, administrative logistics, and management of the
academic program and cultural tour will be the responsibility of the
project director. A project secretary and/or project assistant should
be assigned to carry out clerical and administrative duties required
for the smooth operation of the institute during the program period,
from the planning period to the completion of mandatory reports to
USIA. Staff escorts traveling under USIA cooperative agreement support
must be U.S. citizens with demonstrated qualifications for this
service.
USIA will be responsible for all communications to and from the
USIA posts overseas which submit participant nominations to the
Division for the Study of the U.S. The participants will travel
directly from Russia to the airport most convenient to the campus site.
International travel costs and arrangements will be the responsibility
of the USIA posts overseas and USIA. The program staff will be expected
to make arrangements to have participants met upon arrival at the local
airport, and also assist with participant departures. The USIA program
officer will be available to provide advice and guidance.
Proposals must clearly demonstrate quality on-site management
capabilities for both residential and travel portions of the program.
The overall effectiveness of the program hinges, in part, on the
leadership skills and the administrative and organizational
capabilities of the project director who is coordinating the academic
program and managing the interactions between the foreign educators and
Americans.
Proposed Budget
Applicants must submit a comprehensive line item budget for which
specific details are available in the Application Package. Total
institute costs funded by USIA may not exceed $150,000 for 15
participants; within the assistance award total institutional
administrative costs funded by USIA may not exceed $45,000. Grants
awarded to eligible organizations with less than four years experience
in conducting international exchange programs will be limited to
$60,000. The assistance award recipient is expected to provide
significant cash and/or in-kind cost-sharing.
Funding Arrangements
A USIA cooperative agreement will be issued to the recipient
institution selected to conduct the institute. The agreement will cover
administrative costs and program costs which are defined in the
Application Package. The recipient will directly disburse participant
living costs and other authorized allowances. Attachment checklist,
additional required forms, instructions, and samples are attached.
Review Process
USIA will acknowledge receipt of all proposals and will review them
for technical eligibility. Proposals will be deemed ineligible if they
do not fully adhere to the guidelines established herein and in the
Application Package. Eligible proposals will be forwarded to panels of
USIA officers for advisory review. The proposals recommended by these
panels will also be reviewed by the Agency's Office of General Counsel,
the appropriate geographic area offices, and the budget and contracts
offices. Funding decisions are at the discretion of the Associate
Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final technical
authority for grant awards resides with USIA's grants officer.
Review Criteria
Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed
according to the following criteria:
1. Quality: Proposals should exhibit originality, substance,
precision, and relevance to Agency mission and specific program goals.
2. Program Planning: Detailed agenda and relevant work plan should
demonstrate appropriate content and logistical capacity. Agenda and
plan should adhere to the program overview and guidelines described
above.
3. Ability to achieve program objectives: Objective should be
reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly
demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's objectives and
plan.
4. Multiplier effect/impact: Proposed programs should strengthen
long-term mutual understanding, including maximum sharing of
information and establishment of long-term institutional and individual
linkages.
5. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program's
goals.
6. Institutional's Record/Ability: Proposals should demonstrate an
institutional record of successful international exchange programs,
including responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all
reporting requirements for past Agency grants as determined by USIA's
Office of Contracts (M/KG). The Agency will consider past performance
of prior grantees and the demonstrated potential of new applicants.
7. Follow-on Activities: Proposals should provide a realistic plan
for possible cost-effective follow-on activities to insure that USIA-
supported programs are not isolated venues.
8. Evaluation Plan: Proposals should provide an outline for
evaluation of the program by the grantee institution.
9. Cost-Effective: The overhead and administrative components of
grants, as well as salaries and honoraria, should be kept as low as
possible. All other items should be necessary and appropriate.
10. Cost-sharing: Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through
other private sector support as well as institutional direct funding
contributions.
11. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate the
recipient's commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding of
diversity throughout the program. This can be accomplished through
documentation (such as a written statement or account) summarizing past
and/or on-going activities and efforts that further the principle of
diversity within both the organization and the program activities.
Notice
The terms and conditions published in this RFP are binding and may
not be modified by an USIA representative. Explanatory information
provided by the Agency that contradicts published language will not be
binding. Issuance of the RFP does not constitute an award commitment on
the part of the Government. Final award cannot be made until funds have
been fully appropriated by Congress, allocated and committed through
internal USIA procedures.
Notification
All applicants will be notified of the results of the review
process on or about August 15, 1994. Awarded grants will be subject to
periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.
Dated: May 16, 1994.
Barry Fulton,
Deputy Associate Director, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-12408 Filed 5-19-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M