[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 111 (Friday, June 9, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30678-30681]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-14247]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
Disability Exchanges Clearinghouse
ACTION: Notice--request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: The United States Information Agency's Bureau of Educational
and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for an assistance
award. Public and private non-profit organizations meeting the
provisions described in IRS regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c)(3)-1 may apply
for a single award to establish and manage a disability exchanges
clearinghouse, the overall purpose of which is two-fold: (1) To provide
information for the disability community about international exchange
opportunities available to them; and (2) to assist exchange
organizations in developing skills and understanding about how to
incorporate people with disabilities into their exchange programs.
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 cited above is provided through the Fulbright-Hays Act.
Programs and projects must conform with Agency requirements and
guidelines outlined in the Solicitation Package. USIA projects and
programs are subject to the availability of funds.
ANNOUNCEMENT TITLE AND NUMBER: All communications with USIA concerning
this announcement should refer to the Disability Exchanges
Clearinghouse and reference number E/AE-95-01.
DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: All copies must be received at the U.S.
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on Thursday, July 27,
1995. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents
postmarked July 27, 1995 but received at a later date. It is the
responsibility of each applicant to ensure that proposals are received
by the above deadline.
Award date: The award should begin on September 30, 1995.
Duration: September 30, 1995--September 30, 1997.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of Academic
Programs, Academic Exchanges Divsiion--E/AE, U.S. Information Agency,
301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, telephone number; 201/619-
4360, fax number: 202/401-5914, internet address: DLEVIN@USIAGOV to
request a Solicitation Package, which includes all application forms
and further guidelines for preparing proposals, including specific
criteria for preparation of the proposal budget. Please specify USIA
Program Officer David Levin on all inquiries and correspondence.
Interested applicants should read the complete Federal Register
announcement before addressing inquiries to the Academic Exchanges
Division or submitting their proposals. Once the RFP deadline has
passed, the Academic Exchange Division may not discuss this competition
in any way with applicants until the Bureau proposal review process has
been completed.
SUBMISSIONS: Applicants must follow all instructions given in the
Solicitation Package. The original and 15 copies of the complete
application should be sent to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/AE-95-
01 (Disability Exchanges Clearinghouse), Office of Grants Management,
E/XE, Room 326, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 race, gender, religion, geographic location, socio-
economic status, and physical challenges. Applicants are strongly
encouraged to adhere to the advancement of this principle.
Proposals obviously will relate directly to the disability
community. [[Page 30679]] Proposals should make an effort to
incorporate other types of diversity into various proposal elements and
activities, including program staff, consultants and resource people,
programmatic locations, program participants, materials and resources
developed, collaborative programming, etc.
Overview
Background
For several years USIA's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
has actively promoted the concept of diversity, making a concerted
effort to increase the number of people from underrepresented audiences
participating in its exchanges and other programming. This clearly has
included outreach to the disability community. Simultaneously, the U.S.
Congress has encouraged USIA to focus even more on people with
disabilities and on disability-related matters. In FY 1995 the Congress
appropriated funds to USIA for the purpose of making an award to a
private non-profit organization to establish and manage a disability
exchanges clearinghouse.
Special Note
In making this award and establishing the disability exchanges
clearinghouse, funding priority will be given to entities that are
operated by people with disabilities and knowledgeable about the
operation and development of exchange programs for those with
disabilities, and which have been involved for at least ten years in
integrating persons with disabilities into such programs.
Objectives
The short term objectives in making an award to establish a
disability exchanges clearinghouse are to develop a set of programs,
products, and services that will: (1) provide information for the
disability community at all levels about the various publicly-sponsored
and privately-sponsored exchange opportunities available to them; and
(2) assist exchange organizations, both private and public (including
relevant USIA Offices, Divisions, and Branches) in developing skills
and understanding about how to incorporate persons with disabilities
into their exchange programs through training, technical assistance,
and information-sharing.
The long-term objectives in making an award to establish a
disability exchanges clearinghouse are: (1) To advance mutual
understanding between the United States and other countries by
increasing the number of people with disabilities participating in both
publicly-sponsored and privately-sponsored international educational
exchange programs; (2) to enable exchange organizations, associations
and the broader public to understand and appreciate the importance and
benefits of including people with disabilities in exchange programs;
and (3) to help advance the civil rights of people with disabilities by
their participating in exchange programs, thus benefiting personally
and/or professionally from the exchange experience, while abroad and
after returning home.
Guidelines
Successful Project Components
Proposals to establish and maintain a disability exchanges
clearinghouse, in striving to meet the objectives described above,
should include, but are not limited to the following components:
Developing and disseminating an all-purpose brochure
describing the Clearinghouse an its purposes, as well as its programs,
products, and services.
Developing a portable exhibit for use at conferences and
meetings describing and promoting the Clearinghouse and its purposes,
programs, products, and services.
Developing and maintaining an electronic data base of
exchange opportunities for individuals with disabilities in the
principal types of international exchange programming--academic
exchanges, professional and citizen exchanges, arts exchanges,
international visitor programming, youth exchanges, etc. Selected
information should be accessible by means of an internet gopher or web
page. Selected information also should be available in alternate
formats, including braille. The data base should also include resource
information and references for internal use as well as information and
references/resource material to assist exchange organizations to
incorporate people with disabilities into their exchange programs.
Establishing and strengthening relationships with the
principal international exchange organizations and associations such as
the Alliance for International Educational and Cultural Exchange,
NAFSA: Association of International Educators, IIE, CIEE, and others,
including selected Federal Departments and Agencies, in order to foster
the possibility of collaborative efforts and to ensure that the
Clearinghouse maintains comprehensive up-to-date information about
exchange opportunities and resources.
Establishing a toll-free telephone line, including TDD
capability, with staff able to respond to incoming inquiries concerning
international exchange programs vis-a-vis persons with disabilities.
Developing and distributing a training/technical
assistance manual, perhaps in loose-leaf format for easy update, for
use by practitioners in the international exchanges field on how to
incorporate persons with disabilities into their programs. Topics
addressed would include such items as information about disabilities/
disability awareness, publicity/recruitment, travel, affiliation/
placement, accessibility and special needs accommodations, monitoring,
evaluation, relevant Federal laws and regulations, resources/annotated
organizational references, etc.
Developing and conducting training/technical assistance
workshops for relevant audiences regarding the incorporation of persons
with disabilities into international exchange programs, perhaps in
conjunction with regional/national conferences pertaining to
international education/educational exchange or to the disability
community.
Writing, producing and distributing a quarterly or semi-
annual journal devoted to topics pertaining to exchanges and persons
with disabilities, highlighting success stories, new developments,
collaborative efforts, special activities, etc. Articles written by
people in the exchanges and disabilities communities and elsewhere
should be welcome.
Developing a brochure for individuals with disabilities
and exchange practitioners detailing the rights and responsibilities of
both when people with disabilities participate in international
exchanges, following guidelines of the ADA and other Federal
legislation.
Authoring (or soliciting) and placing articles in selected
local, regional, national and international newspapers and periodicals
regarding the importance of including individuals with disabilities in
international exchange programs, highlighting success stories,
innovative programs, collaborative efforts, etc.
Where relevant, the awardee organization will be encouraged to
conduct needs assessments to determine what information/resources/
technical assistance is already available and what is needed by
particular audiences, e.g., USIA Offices, Divisions, and Branches and
related private organizations that manage or administer USIA-funded
exchanges in addition to exchange associations representing the
exchanges [[Page 30680]] community. Appropriate USIA elements will
provide monitoring and oversight functions vis-a-vis Clearinghouse
efforts. Products and services will be developed in consultation with
the Agency and reviewed and approved by relevant Agency offices. All
official documents should highlight the U.S. Government's role as
sponsor and funding source. USIA requests that it receive the copyright
use and be allowed to distribute written material as it sees fit.
Proposal Preparation
In developing proposals, particular attention should be paid to the
objectives and guidelines stated in this RFP as well as to the stated
proposal review criteria.
Proposals should include an executive summary (Tab B) not to exceed
five double-spaced pages, providing the following information:
(1) Name of organization
(2) Beginning and ending date of the program
(3) Nature of activity
(4) Funding level requested from USIA, total cost-sharing from
applicant and other sources, and total costs
(5) Scope and goals
(6) Brief descriptions of activaties, programs, products and services
to be undertaken
(7) Nticipated results (short and long-term)
Proposals should include a narrative (Tab C) not to exceed forty
double-spaced pages addressing the areas listed below:
(1) Vision (statement of need, objectives, goals, benefits)
(2) Participating organizations
(3) Clearinghouse programs, products and services
(4) Evaluation plan regarding Clearinghouse programs, products, and
services
(5) Follow-on
(6) Clearinghouse management, including any subgrants
(7) Work plan/time frame
Proposed Budget
Organizations must submit a comprehensive line-item budget based on
specific guidance in the Solicitation Package. The award will not
exceed $500,000. The award will not be made to an organization with
less than four years of experience in conducting international exchange
programs, as USIA policy dictates that such organizations will be
limited to $60,000 per assistance award.
Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the entire
program. There must be a three-column summary budget as well as a
break-down of each budget by line-item. For better understanding or
further clarification, applicants should provide separate sub-budgets
for each program component, or activity in order to facilitate USIA
decisions on funding.
Allowable costs for the Clearinghouse include but are not limited
to the following:
(1) Staff salaries and benefits
(2) staff travel and per diem
(3) occupancy
(4) telephone, TDD, fax, E-mail
(5) office furniture and equipment, including computer hardware,
software and telecommunications, as well as equipment to convert
written text into alternate formats, including braille
(6) office supplies
(7) reference materials
(8) accounting and auditing costs
(9) indirect costs, as appropriate
(10) consultant travel, per diem, and honoraria
(11) duplicating and printing
(12) postage and courier service
(13) participant travel and per diem
(14) conference attendance expenses, including exhibit space
(15) meeting expenses
Please refer to the Solicitation Package for further guidance
regarding proposal preparation, complete budget guidelines and
formatting instructions.
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 stated herein and in the
solicitation Package. Eligible proposals will be forwarded to panels of
USIA officers for advisory review. All eligible proposals will be
reviewed by the Agency contracts office. Proposals may also be reviewed
by the Office of the 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
assistance awards (grants or cooperative agreements) resides with the
USIA 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: Proposals should exhibit
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to Agency mission, and
the short-term and long-term objectives and guidelines stated in this
RFP.
2. Program planning: A detailed agenda and relevant work plan
should demonstrate substantive undertakings and logistical capacity.
The 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 organization will meet the program's objectives and
plan.
4. Program comprehensiveness: Proposals should demonstrate how the
various types of exchange programming--academic exchanges, citizen and
professional exchanges, arts exchanges, youth exchanges, international
visitor programming, etc. will be included in Clearinghouse planning
and implementation efforts.
5. Cultural awareness and sensitivity: Proposals should demonstrate
an awareness and sensitivity of issues related to people with
disabilities, particularly in a cross-cultural/international setting.
6. Multiplier effect/impact: Proposed Clearinghouse activities
should strengthen long-term mutual understanding, including maximum
sharing of information and detail potential long-term benefits.
7. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate the
recipient's commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding of
diversity.
8. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the
Clearinghouse's goals.
9. Institution's Record/Ability: Proposals should demonstrate an
institutional record of successful exchange programs, including
previous interactions with other organizations in the exchanges and
disability fields, as well as 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.
10. Follow-on Activities: Proposals should provide a plan for
continued follow-on activity (without USIA support) which insures that
USIA supported programs are not isolated events.
11. Project/Activity Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to
evaluate the Clearinghouse's success, at [[Page 30681]] the macro and
micro levels both as the activities unfold and at the end of the time
period. USIA recommends that the proposal include draft survey
questionnaires or other technique plus description of a methodology to
be used to link outcomes to original project objectives. The award-
receiving organization/institution will be expected to submit
intermediate reports after each project component is concluded or
quarterly, whichever is less frequent.
12. 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.
13. Cost-sharing: Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through
other private sector support as well as institutional direct funding
contributions.
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 that contradicts published language will not be
binding. Issuance of the RFP does not constitute an award commitment on
the part of the Government. The Agency reserves the right to reduce,
revise, or increase proposal budgets in accordance with the needs of
the program. Final awards cannot be made until funds have been
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 September 20, 1995. The award made will be subject
to periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.
Dated: June 2, 1995.
John P. Loiello,
Associate Director, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 95-14247 Filed 6-7-95; 11:36 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M