[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 12 (Thursday, January 19, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3935-3938]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-1179]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
Citizen Networking
action: Notice--Request for proposals.
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summary: The Office of Citizen Exchanges (E/P) announces a competitive
grants program for non-profit organizations in support of projects on
the theme of Citizen Networking for audiences in the following
geographical areas: Sub-saharan Africa; American Republics; East Asia
(Japan, Burma, Regional); and Middle East and South Asia. USIA
particularly is seeking projects which link American institutions and
specialists with partners overseas. New and creative approaches to the
issue of citizen networking will be especially welcome. Proposals which
request USIA funding of less than $135,000 and which include
significant cost sharing will be deemed more competitive.
Interested applicants are urged to read the complete Federal
Register announcement before addressing inquiries to the Office or
submitting their proposals.
After the deadline for submitting proposals, USIA officers may not
discuss this competition in any way with applicants until final
decisions are made.
Announcement name and number: All communications concerning this
announcement should refer to the Citizen Networking Grant Program,
announcement number E/P-95-40. Please refer to title and number in all
correspondence or telephone calls to USIA.
dates: Deadline for Proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S.
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on March 3, 1995.
Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents postmarked on
March 3, 1995, but received at a later date. It is the responsibility
of each grant applicant to ensure that proposals are received by the
above deadline.
for further information contact: Interested organizations/institutions
must contact the Office of Citizen Exchanges, E/P, Room 216, United
States Information Agency, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547,
telephone (202) 619-5326, fax (202) 260-0437, to request detailed
application packets, which include award criteria, all application
forms, and guidelines for preparing proposals, including specific
criteria for preparation of the proposal budget. Please direct
inquiries on programmatic matters to the USIA Officer identified under
each geographic heading.
addresses: Applicants must follow all instructions given in the
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) and send only complete
applications to: U.S. Information Agency, REF: E/P-95-40 Citizen
Networking Grant Competition, Grants Management Division (E/XE), 301
Fourth Street, SW., Room 336, Washington, DC 20547.
supplementary information: Pursuant to the legislation authorizing the
Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs, 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 race, gender, religion,
geographic location, socio-economic status, and physical challenges.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere to the advancement of this
principle.
Overview
The Office of Citizen Exchanges works with U.S. private sector non-
profit organizations on cooperative international group projects that
introduce American and foreign participants to each others' social,
economic, and political structures; and international interests.
Guidelines
Applicants should carefully note the following restrictions and
recommendations for proposals in specific geographical areas:
Africa, Sub-Saharan
Building Grassroots Citizen Organizations in Africa
Proposals are invited to conduct a program for selected African
countries which would contribute to the creation and management of non-
governmental citizen organizations which address community needs,
encourage community participation in problem solving, quality of life
enhancement and professional development. The program should give
particular attention to the development of grassroots organizations
which contribute to democracy, and it should address such
organizational needs as fundraising, budgeting, publicity, setting
goals and objectives,
[[Page 3936]]
and management structure and techniques. The program should include at
least two phases, one of which would bring African organizational and
community leaders to the U.S., and the other would send qualified
Americans to Africa. Inquiries should be directed to Program Specialist
Charlotte Peterson, (202) 619-5319, Internet [email protected]
American Republics
Building Grassroots Citizen Organizations in the American Republics
USIA seeks to assist in the development of indigenous, non-
governmental, professional, civic, youth, philanthropic, and issue-
oriented institutions and citizen exchanges organizations in the
American Republics region. These projects should link the U.S.
organization's exchange interests with counterpart institutions and
groups within the region. Proposals should serve as an important avenue
for community participation in problem solving, quality of life
enhancement and professional development. Priority will be given to
proposals from U.S. organizations which have regional partner
organizations, which will assist in the realization of program goals
and objectives and will themselves be enhanced by the program. Examples
could include private and non-governmental organizations that work
geographically with a broad range of interest groups, such as Partners
of the Americas or Sister Cities International, or those seeking to
work across a broad geographic area with very specialized interest
groups, such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the League of Women
Voters, or any of the various organizations that promote rights for
minorities, the indigenous, the handicapped, and so forth. In all
cases, preference will be given to projects promising the highest
possible impact at the lowest possible cost. Inquiries should be
directed to Program Specialist Laverne Johnson, (202) 619-5326,
Internet [email protected]
East Asia
Japanese Non-Governmental Organization Leaders
--Proposals are invited to conduct a project for Japanese NGO leaders
concerned with commenters' rights, the environment and political reform
which bring the participants together with American counterparts to
discuss fundraising, recruitment, government relations, tax benefits
and other areas of mutual interest, with the overall goal of building
bridges between Japanese NGOs and NGOs with similar objectives in the
U.S.
Burmese Non-Governmental Organization Leaders
--Proposals are invited to conduct a project to assist emerging Burmese
NGOs and associations in development effective organization,
operations, and management, including questions of fundraising and
financial management, membership, project development and management,
training, publicity, domestic and international networking. An
effective project would consist of both in-country workshops and U.S.-
based tours and short internships.
Regional Non-Governmental Organization Leaders
--Proposals are invited to conduct a regional or subregional project in
which NGO grassroots leaders are introduced to effective strategies for
management and impact, including fundraising, community building,
lobbying for public support and dealing with the media. Projects might
focus on consumer advocacy groups or women's organizations. Inquiries
should be directed to Program Specialist Elroy Carlson, (202) 619-5326,
Internet [email protected]
Middle East and South Asia
Development of Women's Resource Centers in the Middle East
Proposals are invited to conduct a multi-phased program which would
help develop resource centers for women in selected Middle Eastern
countries. Such centers, staffed by professionals on a voluntary or
paid basis, would provide information, advice, and services to any
woman requesting them on such topics as legal rights, educational and
professional opportunities, financial management, and health care for
women and children. The program should bring women political/
governmental leaders, NGO executives, and social service providers from
Egypt, Syria, and Jordan together with their American counterparts to
lay the groundwork for establishing, funding, staffing, and operating
women's resource centers in their home countries. The program should
bring an approximately equal number of women from each of the Middle
Eastern Countries to the United States for three or more weeks of
consultation and experiential learning, and a return trip for American
women engaged in the development and operation of resource centers for
conducting workshops, advising, etc. Inquiries should be directed to
Program Specialist Thomas Johnston, (202) 619-5319, Internet
[email protected]
Women's Organizations and Conflict Management in South Asia
Proposals are invited to conduct an exchange program between women
educators, NGO representatives, and social activists from India,
Pakistan, and other South Asian countries and their American
counterparts to share information and to develop a regional and
international network of organizations involved in social and legal
issues affecting women. The primary agenda of the project would be to
increase the participants' awareness of the commonality of issues
confronted by women and to stimulate the development of mutually
supportive organizations focussed on managing and resolving conflict
and the achievement of women's goals through women's empowerment. More
broadly, the program would encourage participants to expand their
consideration from purely women's issues to international issues and
the role of women in international conflict resolution. The project
would entail at least two phases, one bringing women from South Asia to
the United States for two-to-three weeks to experience organizations
which work for the empowerment of women such as the League of Women
Voters, the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, the
National Council of Women, the American Civil Liberties Union, and to
visit one or more creditable women's studies programs at major
universities. The second phase would involve American women activists
traveling to the region to work with participants in the first phase in
developing workshops and study groups, establishing organizations
focussed on women's issues, etc. Inquiries should be directed to
Program Specialist Charlotte Peterson, (202) 619-5319, Internet
[email protected]
Program Parameters
The Office of Citizen Exchanges strongly encourages the
coordination of activities with respected universities, professional
associations, and major cultural institutions in the U.S. and abroad,
but particularly in the U.S. Projects should be intellectual and
cultural, not technical. Vocational training (an occupation other than
one requiring a baccalaureate or higher academic degree; i.e., clerical
work, auto maintenance, etc. and other occupations requiring less than
two years of higher education) and technical training
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(special and practical knowledge of a mechanical or a scientific
subject which enhances mechanical, narrowly scientific, or semi-skilled
capabilities) are ineligible for support. In addition, scholarship
programs are ineligible for support.
The Office does not support proposals limited to conferences or
seminars (i.e., one to fourteen-day programs with plenary sessions,
main speakers, panels, and a passive audience).
It will support conferences only insofar as they are part of a
larger project in duration and scope which is receiving USIA funding
from this competition. USIA-supported projects may include internships;
study tours; short-term, non-technical training; and extended,
intensive workshops taking place in the United States or overseas. The
themes addressed in exchange programs must be of long-term importance
rather than focused exclusively on current events or short-term issues.
In every case, a substantial rationale must be presented as part of the
proposal, one that clearly indicates the distinctive and important
contribution of the overall project, including where applicable the
expected yield of any associated conference. No funding is available
exclusively to send U.S. citizens to conferences or conference-type
seminars overseas; neither is funding available for bringing foreign
nationals to conferences or to routine professional association
meetings in the United States. Projects that duplicate what is
routinely carried out by private sector and/or public sector operations
will not be considered. The Office of Citizen Exchanges strongly
recommends that applicants consult with host country USIS posts, prior
to submitting proposals.
Selection of Participants
All grant proposals should clearly describe the types of persons
who will participate in the program as well as the process by which
participants will be selected. It is recommended that programs in
support of U.S. internships include letters tentatively committing host
institutions to support the internships. In the selection of foreign
participants, USIA and USIS posts retain the right to nominate all
participants and to accept or deny participants recommended by grantee
institutions. However, grantee institutions are often asked by USIA to
suggest names of potential participants. The grantee institution will
also provide the names of American participants and brief (two pages)
biographical data on each American participant to the Office of Citizen
Exchanges for information purposes. Priority will be given to foreign
participants who have not previously travelled to the United States.
Additional Guidance
The Office of Citizen Exchanges offers the following additional
guidance to prospective applicants:
1. Except where noted in the text, the Office of Citizen Exchanges
encourages project proposals involving more than one country. Pertinent
rationale which links countries in multi-county projects should be
included in the submission. Single-country projects that are clearly
defined and posses the potential for creating and strengthening
continuing linkages between foreign and U.S. institutions are also
welcome.
2. Proposals for bilateral programs are subject to review and
comment by the USIS post in the relevant country, and pre-selected
participants will also be subject to USIS post review.
3. Bilateral programs should clearly identify the counterpart
organization and provide evidence of the organization's participation.
4. The Office of Citizen Exchanges will consider proposals for
activities which take place exclusively in other countries when USIS
posts are consulted in the design of the proposed program and in the
choice of the most suitable venues for such programs.
5. Office of Citizen Exchanges grants are not given to support
projects whose focus is limited to technical or vocational subjects, or
for research projects, for publications funding, for student and/or
teacher/faculty exchanges, for sports and/or sports related programs.
Nor does this office provide scholarships or support for long-term (a
semester or more) academic studies.
Funding
Proposals which request USIA funding of less than $135,000 and
which include significant cost sharing will be deemed more competitive.
Organizations with less than four years of successful experience in
managing international exchange programs are limited to $60,000.
Applicants are invited to provide both an all-inclusive budget as well
as separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase, location, or
activity in order to facilitate USIA decisions on funding. While an
all-inclusive budget must be provided with each proposal, separate
component budgets are optional. Since USIA grant assistance constitutes
only a portion of total project funding, proposals should list and
provide evidence of other anticipated sources of financial and in-kind
support. Cost sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or
indirect costs.
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.
Eligible Costs
The following project costs are eligible for consideration for
funding:
1. International and domestic air fares; visas; transit costs;
ground transportation costs.
2. Per Diem. For the U.S. program, organizations have the option of
using a flat $140/day for program participants or the published U.S.
Federal per diem rates for individual American cities. For activities
outside the U.S., the published Federal per diem rates must be used.
Note: U.S. escorting staff must use the published Federal per
diem rates, not the flat rate.
3. Interpreters. If needed, interpreters for the U.S. program are
provided by the U.S. State Department Language Services Division.
Typically, a pair of simultaneous interpreters is provided for every
four visitors who need interpretation. USIA grants do not pay for
foreign interpreters to accompany delegations from their home country.
Grant proposal budgets should contain a flat $140/day per diem for each
Department of State interpreter, as well as home-program-home air
transportation of $400 per interpreter plus any U.S. travel expenses
during the program. Salary expenses are covered centrally and should
not be part of an applicant's proposed budget.
4. Book and cultural allowance. Participants are entitled to and
escorts are reimbursed a one-time cultural allowance of $150 per
person, plus a participant book allowance of $50. U.S. staff do not get
these benefits.
5. Consultants. May be used to provide specialized expertise or to
make presentations. Daily honoraria generally do not exceed $250 per
day. Subcontracting organizations may also be used, in which case the
written agreement between the prospective grantee and subcontractor
should be included in the proposal.
6. Room rental, which generally should not exceed $250 per day.
[[Page 3938]]
7. Materials development. Proposals may contain costs to purchase,
develop, and translate materials for participants.
8. One working meal per project. Per capita costs may not exceed
$5-8 for a lunch and $14-20 for a dinner; excluding room rental. The
number of invited guests may not exceed participants by more than a
factor of two to one.
9. A return travel allowance of $70 for each participant which is
to be used for incidental expenditures incurred during international
travel.
10. In most cases, USIA-funded delegates will be covered under the
terms of a USIA-sponsored health insurance policy with the premium paid
by USIA directly to the insurance company. For additional information
on insurance coverage, contact the E/P program officer.
11. 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 the
application package. Please refer to the Application Package for
complete budget guidelines.
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
Proposal Submission Instructions. Eligible proposals will be forwarded
to panels of USIA officers for advisory review. All eligible proposals
will also be reviewed by the budget and contract offices, as well the
USIA geographic regional office and the USIS post overseas, where
appropriate. Proposals may also be reviewed by the USIA's Office of
General Counsel or by other Agency elements. Funding decisions are at
the discretion of the USIA Associate Director for Educational and
Cultural Affairs. Final technical authority for grant awards resides
with USIA's contracting officer.
Review Criteria
USIA will consider proposals based on their conformance with the
objectives and considerations already stated in this RFP, as well as
the following criteria:
1. Quality of Program Idea
Proposals should exhibit originality, substance, precision, and
relevance to the Agency mission.
2. Program Planning
Detailed agenda and relevant work plan should demonstrate substance
undertakings and logistical capacity. Agenda and plan should adhere to
the program overview and guidelines described above.
3. Ability To Achieve Program Objectives
Objectives should be reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposal
should clearly demonstrate how the institution will meet the program
objectives and plan.
4. Multiplier Effect
Proposed programs should strengthen long-term mutual understanding,
including maximum sharing of information and establishment of long-term
institutional and individual linkages.
5. Value to U.S.--Partner Country Relations
Proposed projects should receive positive assessments by USIA's
geographic area desk and overseas officers of program need, potential
impact, and significance in the partner.
6. Institutional Capacity
Proposed personnel and institutional resources should be adequate
and appropriate to achieve the program or project's goal.
7. Institution Reputation/Ability
Proposal should demonstrate an institutional record of successful
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. The Agency will consider the
past performance of prior recipients and the demonstrated potential of
new applicants.
8. Follow-On Activities
Proposals should provide a plan for continued follow-on activity
(without USIA support) which ensures that USIA supported programs are
not isolated events.
9. Evaluation Plan
Proposals should provide a plan for a thorough and objective
evaluation of the program/project by the grantee institution.
10. Cost-Effectiveness
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.
11. Cost-Sharing
Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through other private sector
support as well as institutional direct funding contributions.
12. Support of Diversity
Proposal should demonstrate the recipients' 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 their
organization and their activities.
Notice
The Office of Citizen Exchanges reserves the right to reduce,
revise, or increase the grant award. The terms and conditions published
in the Request for Proposal (RFP) are binding and may not be modified
by any USIA representative. Explanatory information provided by USIA
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 awards cannot be made until funds have been fully
appropriated by the Congress, allocated and committed through internal
USIA procedures.
Notification
All applicants will be notified of the results of the review
process on or about April 28, 1995. Awarded grants will be subject to
periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.
Dated: January 11, 1995.
Dell Pendergrast,
Deputy Associate Director, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 95-1179 Filed 1-18-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M