[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 180 (Thursday, September 17, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49727-49729]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24824]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
NIS REAC (Newly Independent States Regional Educational Advising
Coordinator)
ACTION: Request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: The Advising and Student Services Branch of 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 submit proposals for candidates
for the position of regional educational advising coordinator (REAC) in
the NIS region. Ideally based in Moscow, the REAC would work to support
and assist in the professional development of advising centers in
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova,
Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. The REAC is
the primary source of information related to educational advising for
advisers in the field. In addition to responding to individual queries
and supervising the distribution of a regional newsletter, the REAC
would travel to advising centers to assist the organizations and staff
responsible for those centers to operate them efficiently. The REAC
would be responsible for maintain the network of advisers, for the
coordination of training programs for NIS advisers, which may include
an annual conference, and for the facilitation of communication between
and among advising centers, posts, and E/ASA in Washington.
Overall grant making authority for this program is contained in the
Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, Pub. L. 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.''
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 RFP should refer to the announcement's title and
reference number E/ASA-99-06.
Deadline for Proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S.
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on Monday, October 26,
1998. Faxed documents will not be accepted at any time. Documents
postmarked by the due date but received at a later date will not be
accepted.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
The Advising and Student Services Branch, E/ASA, U.S. Information
Agency, 301 4th Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20547, telephone: (202)
619-5434, fax: (202) 401-1433, email: [email protected], to request a
Solicitation Package containing more detailed criteria. Please request
required application forms and standard guidelines for preparing
proposals, including specific criteria for preparation of the proposal
budget.
To Download a Solicitation Package Via Internet: The entire
Solicitation Package may be downloaded from USIA's website at http://
www.usia.gov/education/rfps. Please read all information before
downloading.
To Receive a Solicitation Package Via Fax on Demand: The entire
Solicitation Package may be received via the Bureau's ``Grants
Information Fax on Demand System'', which is accessed by calling 202/
401-7616. Please request a ``Catalog'' of available documents and order
numbers when first entering the system.
Please specify USIA Program Officer Sharen Sheehan on all inquiries
and correspondences. Interested applicants should read the complete
Federal Register announcement before sending inquiries or submitting
proposals. Once the RFP deadline has passed, Agency staff 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 eight copies of the application
should be sent to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/ASA-99-06, Office
of Grants Management, E/XE, Room 336, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington,
DC 20547.
Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines
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
ethnicity, race, gender, religion, geographic location, socio-economic
status, and physical challenges. Applicants are strongly encouraged to
adhere to the advancement of this principle both in program
administration and in program content. Please refer to the review
criteria under the ``Support for Diversity'' section for specific
suggestions on incorporating diversity into the total proposal. Pub. L.
104-319 provides that ``in carrying out programs of educational and
cultural exchange in countries whose people do not fully enjoy freedom
and democracy,'' USIA ``shall take appropriate steps to provide
opportunities for participation in such programs to human rights and
democracy leaders of such countries.'' Proposals should account for
advancement of this goal in their program contents, to the full extent
deemed feasible.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
The overall goal for the NIS Regional Educational Advising
Coordinator (REAC) is to develop and strengthen the network of USIA-
Supported overseas educational advising centers and to provide
leadership and expertise in educational advising issues to advising
centers and USIS posts. The REAC will be responsible for providing on-
site technical assistance and training to
[[Page 49728]]
existing centers in the NIS and for coordinating the establishment of
new advising centers, as directed by individual embassies in
consultation with E/ASA. The REAC should lend support to any center in
the twelve countries comprising the NIS region. The NIS REAC, acting as
educational advising coordinator for the area, should work impartially
with all organizations involved in educational advising in the NIS to
enable them to provide accurate and timely information on U.S. higher
educational opportunities. The REAC must work closely with E/ASA and
NIS USIS posts to help establish priorities for educational advising in
the region. The REAC must be a US citizen. Applicants may request from
E/ASA a more comprehensive listing of expected REAC duties, entitled
``REAC Guidelines.'' Contact the ``For Further Information'' address
given above.
Guidelines
Responsibilities include:
1. Site visits to advising centers
2. Providing information and guidance in response to specific
questions related to educational advising, as requested by centers
3. Supervising production of a newsletter, electronic bulletin
board, email discussion list, or other methods of sharing information
among centers
4. Organization and oversight of an internship program for
approximately five novice advisers at the Moscow American Center; other
internship training programs (ITPs) as necessary
5. In-country workshops: One all-region workshop and two to three
smaller workshops, or as determined in consultation with E/ASA and US
Posts
6. Consultations with posts and E/ASA on the direction and
priorities of educational advising
7. Evaluation and Follow-up
Proposed Budget
Applicants must submit a comprehensive line item budget based on
the budget guidelines in the PSI. USIA's grant assistance, up to
$95,000 in total, is expected to constitute only a portion of the total
funding; cost sharing is required and the proposal should list other
anticipated sources of support.
Grants awarded to eligible organizations with less than four years
of experience in conducting international exchange programs will be
limited to $60,000.
Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget. There must be a
summary budget as well as a breakdown reflecting travel cost details.
Allowable costs for the program include the following:
(1) REAC Salary of not more than $40,000 plus fringe benefits;
(2) Administrative assistant salary
(3) travel throughout region and per diem;
(4) travel for REAC to attend the NAFSA National Conference in
Denver, CO and REAC meetings in Washington, DC in spring 1999.
(5) office and administrative costs
(6) program costs for Internship Training Programs Please refer to
the Solicitation Package for 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 program office, as well as the USIA EEN Area Office.
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 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.
2. Program planning: Detailed agenda and relevant work plan should
demonstrate substantive undertakings and logistical capacity. Agency
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 and be designed to enable advising
centers to reach as large and diverse an audience as possible.
5. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive
support of the Bureau's policy on 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.
8. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate
the REAC activities' impact. A draft survey questionnaire or other
technique plus description of a methodology to use to link outcomes to
original project objectives is recommended. The award-receiving
organization will be expected to submit trip reports after each site
visit and semi-annual reports reviewing the over-all status of
educational advising in the NIS.
9. Cost-effectiveness: The overhead and administrative components
of the proposal, 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. Value to U.S.-Partner Country Relations: Proposed programs
should receive positive assessments by USIA's geographic area desk and
overseas officers of program need, potential impact, and significance
in the partner country(ies).
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 and the availability of funds. Awards made will be subject
to periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.
Notification
Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by
Congress, allocated and committed through internal USIA procedures.
[[Page 49729]]
Dated: September 10, 1998.
John P. Loiello,
Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 98-24824 Filed 9-16-98; 8:45 am]
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