[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 115 (Thursday, June 16, 1994)] [Unknown Section] [Page 0] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 94-14693] [[Page Unknown]] [Federal Register: June 16, 1994] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY Public and Private Nonprofit Organizations in Support of International Educational and Cultural Activities--Professional Development in English Language Teaching: Israel, et al. ACTION: Notice--request for proposals. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Office of Citizen Exchanges (E/P) of the United States Information Agency's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces a competitive grant program for nonprofit organizations to conduct a project for enhancing professional development in English language teaching at the secondary level in Israel (both Arab and Jewish communities), Gaza, and the West Bank. Participants will be professionals responsible for developing effective English language teaching programs; emphasis will be on curriculum development, teaching methodology, production of classroom-appropriate material, and organizing professional associations and networks. A second, underlying, agenda of this project is to convene, on an egalitarian basis and on neutral territory, a group of Israeli Jews, Israeli Arabs, and Palestinians who will work together within a professional discipline--in this case, English language teaching--and who will, upon returning to their own communities, both maintain professional, mutually supportive contact and represent, within those communities, the feasibility of collegial relationships between Jews, Israeli Arabs, and Palestinians. The program will be conducted in English. Interested applicants are urged to read the complete Federal Register announcement before addressing inquiries to the Office of Citizen Exchanges or submitting their proposals. After the RFP deadline, the Office of Citizen Exchanges may not discuss this competition in any way with applicants until the final decisions are made. ANNOUNCEMENT NAME AND NUMBER: All communications with USIA concerning this announcement should refer to the above title and reference number E/P-94-31. DATES: Deadline for Proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S. Information Agency by 5 p.m., Washington, DC time on August 2, 1994. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents postmarked August 2, 1994 but received at a later date. It is the responsibility of each grant applicant to ensure that proposals are received by this deadline. ADDRESSES: The original and 14 copies of the completed application and required forms should be submitted by the deadline to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref: E/P-94-31, Office of Grants Management (E/XE), 301 Fourth Street SW.--room 336, Washington, DC 20547. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Interested organizations/institutions should contact the Office of Citizen Exchanges (E/P), room 224, USIA, 301 Fourth Street SW., Washington, DC 20547, fax (202) 619-4350, tel. (202) 619-5319, to request detailed application packages which include all necessary forms and guidelines for proposals, including specific budget preparation. Please specify the name of USIA Program Specialist Thomas Johnston on all inquiries and correspondence. Background/Objectives of This Program There is a strong need and desire among educational professionals in Gaza, the West Bank, Israeli Arab communities, and selected Israeli Jewish communities for assistance in the development of an effective, comprehensive program of English language teaching at the secondary level. Concomitantly, there is an even greater imperative for members of the diverse communities within Israel and for Palestinians from both Gaza and the West Bank to meet and work together in a professional, non-politically charged context. One goal of this project is to prepare Israeli and Palestinian participants--individuals active in setting the agenda for high school and/or community-based English Language teaching programs--to implement state-of-the-art TESOL curriculum design, teaching methodology, and material/text development in an effort to enhance English teaching and learning in their respective communities. The second goal is to develop a situation in which professionals from the diverse communities may meet and work together in an egalitarian, mutually supportive way. American organizations are invited to submit proposals for a project to bring 12 English teaching professionals to the United States for a period of four or five weeks. Participants should become thoroughly conversant with state-of-the- art theory and practice of teaching English as a second language. They should observe and participate in classroom and language lab instruction, become involved in the complexities of curriculum development, and produce guidelines for and examples of classroom- appropriate teaching material. In addition, they should be introduced to professional associations and networks of teachers, curriculum developers, and education officials, providing them models of professional cooperation and information exchange which will be useful in establishing cross-cultural professional linkages in the region. The second phase of the project should take place over a period of approximately six months and should entail the travel at approximately eight-to-ten-week intervals, of four American specialists/consultants. Each specialist will conduct a series of two-to-three-day workshops on one or more of the key issues addressed in the initial phase of the exchange (e.g., curriculum development; teaching methodology; in- service training), in each of the locations in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank from which participants in the original phase were drawn. Participants Participants' professional titles will vary from community to community, given the independent development of educational supervisory/oversight institutions in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank. They might be drawn from the Ministry of Education, the ranks of consultants to the educational establishment, teachers' unions, professional committees, or teacher training institutions. All will be responsible, in some capacity, for the development of effective English language teaching programs. Participants will be selected by United States Information Service officers (The United States Information Agency's overseas contingent is officially called the United States Information Service) serving in the American Embassy in Tel Aviv and the American Consulate in Jerusalem. Individuals may also be recommended for participation by the grantee institution, but selection will be made only in close consultation with USIS officers. American consultants who will travel abroad during the second phase of this exchange program will be selected by the grantee institution in consultation with USIA. USIA officers in participating countries will facilitate the issuance of visas and other program-related material. Programmatice Considerations Thematically, the project should: --Consider the current status of English Language instruction in the communities represented by the participants and determine, in conjunction with USIS posts in Israel and Jerusalem and with the educators selected as participants, the needs to be addressed by the project; --Provide the participants both a general and specific overview of English Language education--focussing specifically on teaching English as a second language--as it is practiced in the United States, in the context of a socially diverse country; --Be organized, to the extent possible, around open seminar/ discussions, participant observation, and hands-on, experiential learning; --Introduce participants to the organization and workings of professional associations of educators and other means of information exchange, such as internet, which would provide continued access to diverse ideas, publications, etc.; --And include, if feasible, attendance at the TESOL international convention in Long Beach, California, March 28-April 1, 1995. Pursuant to the legislation authorizing the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, programs must maintain a nonpolitical character and should be balanced and representative of the diversity of American political, social, and cultural life. Beyond the immediate goals of this program, USIA is interested in supporting programs which will lay the groundwork for new and continuing links among American, Israeli, and Palestinian institutions and professional organizations and which will encourage the further growth and development of democratic structures. The grantee will be responsible for most arrangements associated with this program. These include organizing a coherent progression of activities, providing international and domestic travel arrangements for all participants, making lodging and local transportation arrangements for visitors, orienting and debriefing participants, preparing any necessary support material, and working with host institutions and individuals to achieve maximum program effectiveness. To prepare the foreign educators for this project prior to their arrival in the United States, E/P encourages the grantee organization to develop material that would be sent to USIS offices overseas for distribution to participants. This material might include a tentative project outline and suggested goals and objectives, relevant background information, and information about American institutions and individuals involved in the project. At the beginning of the program, the grantee organization should conduct an orientation session for the visiting participants which addresses administrative details of the program and provides general information about American society and culture which will facilitate the participants' understanding of and adjustment to daily life in the United States. At the conclusion of the program, the group should meet in a symposium to review what has been presented to and experienced by the participants and to consider how that which has been learned can most effectively be applied upon the participants' return to their home countries. Additional Guidelines Program monitoring and oversight will be provided by appropriate USIA elements. Per Diem support from host institutions during an internship component is strongly encouraged. However, for all programs which include internships, a nonprofit grantee institution which receives funds from corporate or other co-sponsors should then use those funds to provide food, lodging, and pocket money for the participants. In no case could the intern receive a wage or ``be hired'' by the sponsoring institution. Internships should also have an American studies/values orientation component at the beginning of the program. The American grantee institutions should try to maximize cost-sharing in all facets of the program, and to stimulate U.S. private sector (foundation and corporate) support. Proposals incorporating internships will be more competitive if letters committing prospective host institutions to support these efforts are provided. Funding Competition for USIA funding support is keen. The final selection of a grantee institution will depend on assessment of proposals according to the review criteria delineated below. The amount requested from USIA for this program should not exceed $135,000. However, organizations with less than four years of successful experience in managing international exchange programs are limited to $60,000. While applicants must provide an all-inclusive budget with the proposal, they are also encouraged to include separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase, location or activity. The recipient's proposal shall include the cost of an audit that: (1) Complies with the requirements of OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of Institutions of Higher Education and Other Nonprofit Institutions; (2) complies with the requirements of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Statement of Position (SOP) No. 92-9; and (3) includes review by the recipient's independent auditor of a recipient-prepared supplemental schedule of indirect cost rate computation, if such a rate is being proposed. The audit costs shall be identified separately for: (1) Preparation of basic financial statements and other accounting services; and (2) preparation of the supplemental reports and schedules required by OMB Circular No. A-133, AICPA SOP 92-9, and the review of the supplemental schedule of indirect cost rate computation. USIA will consider funding the following project costs: 1. International and domestic air fares; visas; transit costs (e.g., airport taxes); ground transportation costs. 2. Per diem: For the U.S. program, organizations have the option of using a flat $140/day for international participants or the published Federal Travel Regulations per diem rates for individual American cities. Note: U.S. escorting staff must use the published federal per diem rates, not the flat rate. For activities in the Middle East the Standard Government Travel Regulations per diem rates must be used. 3. Book and cultural allowance: Participants are entitled to a one- time cultural allowance of $150 per person, plus a participant book allowance of $50. Escorts are reimbursed for actual expenses up to $150. U.S. staff do not get these benefits. 4. Consultants: May be used to provide specialized expertise or to make presentations. Honoraria should not exceed $250 per day. Subcontracting organizations may also be used, in which case the written contract(s) must be included in the proposal. 5. Room rental (for meeting or conference rooms): Generally should not exceed $250 per day. 6. Material development: Proposals may contain costs to purchase, develop and translate material for participants. USIA reserves the rights to this material for future use. 7. One working meal per project: Per capita cost may not exceed $5- 8 per lunch and $14-20 per dinner, excluding room rental. The number of invited guests may not exceed the number of participants by a factor of more than two to one. 8. Return travel allowance: $70 for each participant which is to be used for incidental expenditures incurred during international travel. 9. Other costs necessary for the effective administration of the program, including salaries for grant organization employees, benefits, and other direct and indirect costs per detailed instructions in application package. Note: the 22% limitation of ``administrative costs'' included in previous announcements does NOT apply to this RFP. E/P encourages cost-sharing, which may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. E/P would be especially interested in proposals which demonstrate a program vision which goes well beyond that which can be supported by the requested USIA grant and which would try to use a USIA grant to leverage additional funding from other sources to support elements of the broader program plan. The Recipient must maintain written records to support all allowable costs which are claimed as being its contribution to cost participation, 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, Attachment E, ``Cost-sharing and Matching,'' and should be described in the proposal. In the event the Recipient does not meet the minimum amount of cost-sharing as stipulated in the Recipient's budget, the Agency's contribution will be reduced in proportion to the Recipient's contribution. Please Note all delegates will be covered under the terms of a USIA-sponsored health insurance policy. The premium is paid by USIA directly to the insurance company. Application Requirements Proposals must be structured in accordance with the instructions contained in the Application Package. Confirmation letters from U.S. and foreign co-sponsors noting their intention to participate in the program will enhance a proposal. 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. Proposals will be reviewed by USIS posts and by USIA's Office of Near Eastern, North African, and South Asian Affairs. Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of the General Counsel or other Agency elements. Funding is at the discretion of the Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final technical authority for granting awards resides with USIA's contracting officer. The awarding of any grant is subject to availability of funds. The U.S. Government reserves the right to reject any or all applications received. USIA will not pay for design and development costs associated with submitting a proposal. Applications are submitted at the risk of the applicant; should circumstances prevent the awarding of a grant, all preparation and submission costs are at the applicant's expense. USIA will not award funds for activities conducted prior to the actual grant award. Review Criteria USIA will consider proposals based on the following criteria: 1. Quality of Program Idea Proposals should exhibit substance, originality, rigor, and relevance to the Agency mission. They should demonstrate the matching of U.S. resources to a clearly defined need. 2. Institutional Reputation/Ability Institutions should demonstrate their potential for effective program design and implementation and provide, if available, evidence of having conducted successful programs. If an applicant has previously received a USIA grant, responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting requirements for past Agency grants, as determined by USIA's Office of Contracts (M/KG), will be considered. Evaluations of previous projects may also be considered in this assessment. 3. Project Personnel Information provided regarding the thematic and logistical expertise of project personnel should be relevant to the proposal at hand. In addition to English teaching specialists, applicants for this grant should have involved, on a consultative basis, individuals with Middle Eastern and conflict resolution expertise. Resumes or C.V.s should be summaries appropriate to the specific proposal and should not exceed two pages each. 4. Program Planning A detailed agenda and relevant work plan should demonstrate substantive rigor and logistical capacity. 5. Thematic Expertise The proposal should demonstrate the organization's expertise in the subject area and its ability to share information effectively. 6. Cross-Cultural Sensitivity/Area Expertise Evidence should be provided of sensitivity to historical, linguistic, religious, and other cross-cultural factors, as well as relevant knowledge of the target geographic area/country. 7. Ability To Achieve Program Objectives Objectives should be realistic and feasible. The proposal should clearly demonstrate how the grantee institution will meet program objectives. 8. Multiplier Effect Proposed programs should strengthen mutual understanding and should contribute to maximum sharing of information and the establishment of long-term institutional and individual ties. 9. Cost-Effectiveness Costs to USIA per exchange participant (American and foreign) should be kept to a minimum, and all items proposed for USIA funding should be necessary and appropriate to achieve the program's objectives. 10. Cost-Sharing Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through private sector support as well as through direct funding contributions and/or in-kind support from the prospective grantee organization and its partners. 11. Follow-On Activities Proposals should provide a plan for continued exchange activity (without USIA support) which ensures that USIA-supported programs are not isolated events. 12. Project Evaluation Proposals should include a plan to evaluate the project. USIA recommends that the applicant discuss the evaluation methodology chosen and the techniques which will be employed to assess the effectiveness of the project and the correspondence between observable outcomes and original project objectives. Grantees will be expected to submit intermediate reports after each project component is concluded or quarterly, whichever is less frequent. Notice The terms and conditions published in this RFP are binding and may not be modified by any USIA representative. Explanatory information provided by the Agency which contradicts published language will not be binding. Issuance of the RFP does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the American Government. Awards cannot be made until funds have been fully appropriated by Congress and allocated and committed through internal USIA procedures. Notification All applicants will be notified of the results of the review process on or about September 16, 1994. Awarded grants will be subject to periodic reporting and evaluation requirements. Dated: June 11, 1994. Barry Fulton, Deputy Associate Director, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. [FR Doc. 94-14693 Filed 6-15-94; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8230-01-M