[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 159 (Thursday, August 17, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42943-42945]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-20421]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
Office of Citizens Exchange; NIS Secondary School Initiative;
Secondary School Linkage Program
ACTION: Notice; Request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Division of the NIS Secondary
School Initiative, of the United States Information Agency's Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for an
assistance award to conduct exchanges through the multiple secondary
school linkage program with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan,
Ukraine, Uzbekistan. Public or private non-profit organizations meeting
the provisions described in IRS regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c) (3)-1 apply
either to enhance/expand existing linkages or to develop new school
linkage programs. All submissions must contain a Student exchange
component AND an Educator (teacher and/or administrator) exchange
component. For previous school link grant recipients, a minimum of
twenty-five percent of the proposed linkages must not have been
previously supported by USIA. USIA grant funds may not be used for
student or teacher exchanges located in the cities of Moscow or St.
Petersburg, Russia. The maximum grant award will be $800,000.
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 was originally
provided through the FREEDOM Support Act of 1992. Grants awarded by the
solicitation are subject to the availability of funding for the Fiscal
Year 1996 program. Programs and projects must conform with Agency
requirements and guidelines outlined in the Solicitation Package.
ANNOUNCEMENT TITLE AND NUMBER: All communications with USIA concerning
this announcement should refer to the above title and reference number
E/P-96-14.
DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: All copies must be received at the U.S.
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, D.C. time on Friday, November
17, 1995. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents
postmarked November 17 but received at a later date. It is the
responsibility of each applicant to ensure that proposals are received
by the above deadline. Subject to the availability of funding grants
will be awarded February 1, 1996 for programs to begin after June 1,
1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
NIS Secondary School Division, E/PY, Room 320, U.S. Information Agency,
301 4th Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 20547, telephone: (202) 619-6299;
Fax: (202) 619-5311; e-mail [email protected] to request a Solicitation
Package, which includes more detailed award criteria, all application
forms, and guidelines for preparing proposals, including specific
questions or concerns regarding the solicitation, contact USIA Program
Officer Naomi Feigenbaum. Interested applicants should read the
complete Federal Register announcement before addressing inquiries to
the USIA or submitting their proposals. Once the RFP deadline has
passed, representatives of USIA and the Division of NIS Secondary
School Initiative may not discuss this competition in any way with
applicants until after the Bureau proposal review process has been
completed.
SUBMISSIONS: Applicants must follow all instructions given in the
Solicitation Package. The original and 10 copies of the complete
application should be sent to: U.S. Information Agency Ref.: E/P-96-14
Office of Grants Management, E/XE, Room 326, 301 4th Street, S.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20547.
Applicants must also submit the ``Executive Summary'' and
``Proposal Narrative'' sections of the proposal on a 3.5'' diskette,
formatted for DOS. This material must be provided in ASCII text (DOS)
format with a maximum line length of 65 characters. USIA will transmit
these files electronically to USIA posts overseas for their review,
with the goal of reducing the time it takes to get posts' comments for
the Agency's grants review process.
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.
Overview: (Background, Objectives)
The short-term goal of the school linkage program is to provide
partial funding for linkages between U.S. and NIS schools featuring
student and educator exchanges for the purpose of collaborative
substantive projects. Grant funded exchanges must have a thematic focus
and have tangible outcomes (e.g. educational materials). The long term
goals are to:
(1) to advance mutual understanding between the U.S. and the NIS;
(2) develop lasting institutional ties between U.S. and NIS schools
and communities;
(3) promote U.S. government/private sector cooperation by
supporting linkages which hold promise for sustainability beyond the
grant term and serve the needs and interests of the schools.
The linkages between networks of secondary schools in the U.S. with
networks of schools in the NIS must establish ties between the schools
in the network through two sets of exchange programs (1) the exchange
of secondary school educators between the U.S. and NIS countries; (2)
the exchange of secondary school students, from 14 to 18 years of age,
between the U.S. and participating NIS countries.
Guidelines
USIA funding may not be used to supplant existing private sector
funding. Applicants must indicate how activities have been funded in
the past and how the activities will be expanded with assistance from
USIA. The U.S. recipient of the grant is responsible for recruiting/
selecting/organizing a minimum of three U.S. secondary schools to form
the U.S. network, strengthening an existing working
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relationship with an organization or agency of government in the NIS
responsible for a network of schools there, and linking the two
networks through substantive exchange activities.
Partnerships should have an existence beyond the scope of this
initiative; that is, there should be an inherent reason for their
linkage apart from the availability of grant funds. Competitive
proposals will demonstrate the linkage and the types of activities
(follow-on) to continue after the grant has expired. An ideal project
builds upon previous contacts and interaction between the proposed
networks to help ensure a solid foundation for the linkage. The U.S.
school should collaborate with the NIS school in planning and
preparation.
Proposals should support a working relationship that will produce
something tangible, necessary and of lasting value to both sides,
beyond the confines of the exchange. The proposal should specify up
front what the measurable results of the program will be. Proposal must
include a statement of goals and objectives prepared by school
representatives for each separate school linkage.
When planning the project, U.S. and NIS schools are strongly
encouraged to consult with the Cultural Affairs Officer (CAO) or Public
Affairs Officer (PAO) at the appropriate U.S. Information Service
(USIS) office at the U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate in the appropriate
country.
The U.S. recipient of the grant will: design the overall plan that
integrates the two components of the linkage, ensure quality control
for all program elements, manage all travel arrangements, logistics,
passports, visas, etc., provide competent and informed escorts for
student groups, and disburse and account for grant funds.
Recipients of the assistance award are responsible for ensuring the
selection of exchange participants who are most suited for the program.
Participants (both Educators and Students) from the U.S. and NIS
countries should represent a diversity of backgrounds to give greater
understanding to the culture and society as a whole. Selection of
individual participants from the U.S. and NIS in the exchange
components of the program must be merit-based; the proposal should
describe the mechanisms used for participant selection.
Applicants should be familiar with the ``General Provisions'' of J-
1 visa regulations. The Agency will process the IAP-66 forms for travel
to the U.S. Basic health and accident insurance coverage of exchange
participants while they are on exchange will be covered by USIA. Those
organizations wishing to use other types of insurance coverage must
provide a satisfactory justification as to why their coverage is more
effective. Please refer to the Program Objectives, Goals, and
Implementation section of the Solicitation Package for greater detail
regarding the design of the component parts as well as other program
information.
Proposed Budget
Awards may not exceed $800,000. Applicants must submit a
comprehensive budget for the entire program. There must be a summary
budget as well as a break-down reflecting both the administrative
budget and the program budget. All program costs should clearly
indicate whether they cover U.S. and NIS participants. The cost per NIS
student, NIS educator, U.S. student, U.S. educator should be listed
separately. Cost-sharing is strongly encouraged and will be viewed
favorably in weighing the merits of the proposal.
Grants awarded to eligible organizations with fewer than four years
of experience in conducting international exchange programs will be
limited to $60,000.
Please refer to the POGI and Proposal Submission Instructions
sections of the Solicitation Package for complete budget guidelines and
format 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 also will be
reviewed by the Agency contracts office, as well as the pertinent USIA
area office and the USIA post overseas, where appropriate. Proposals
may 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 grant awards 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 (particularly in academic/educational aspects),
precision, and relevance to the stated goals of the program.
2. Program planning: Detailed agenda and relevant work plan should
demonstrate substantive 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. 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 individual and institutional
linkages.
5. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate the
recipient's commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding of
diversity.
6. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program or
project's goals.
7. Institution's Record/Ability: Proposals 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. Track
record will be evaluated by achievement of stated goals and impact on
schools in the U.S. and NIS.
8. Follow-on Activities: Proposals should provide a plan for
continued follow-on activity (without USIA support) that ensures that
USIA-supported programs are not isolated events. Proposal should
demonstrate how activity will contribute to institution-building in the
NIS.
9. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate
the program, both as the activities unfold and at the end. THEY SHOULD
INCLUDE GOALS FOR EACH SCHOOL LINKAGE AND HOW THEIR ATTAINMENT WILL BE
MEASURED. USIA recommends that the proposal include a draft survey
questionnaire or other technique plus description of a methodology for
use in linking outcomes to original project objectives for each school
linkage. Award-receiving organizations/institutions will be expected to
submit reports on each separate linkage.
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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
participant contributions, other private sector support as well as
institutional direct funding contributions.
12. Value to U.S.-Partner Country Relations: Proposed projects will
be reviewed by USIA's geographic area desk officer and overseas
officers to assess the relevance to program need, potential impact, and
significance in the partner country(ies).
13. Selection Process: Proposals should provide a specific plan to
ensure a selection based on merit and should include detailed criteria
for selection of U.S. and NIS teacher and administrator as well as U.S.
and NIS student participants.
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 April 1, 1996. Awards made will be subject to
periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.
Dated: August 14, 1995.
Dell Pendergrast,
Deputy Associate Director, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 95-20421 Filed 8-16-95; 8:45 am]
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