[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 67 (Thursday, April 8, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17989-17996]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7971]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 6949]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for
Grant Proposals: American Youth Leadership Program
Announcement Type: New Grant.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-10-41.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.415.
Application Deadline: May 28, 2010.
Executive Summary: The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs
Division, of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces
an open competition for the American Youth Leadership Program. Public
and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described
in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) may submit
proposals to implement a short-term exchange program for American high
school students and educators that will enable the participants to gain
firsthand knowledge of foreign cultures and to collaborate on solving
global issues. Applicant organizations will recruit and select youth
and adult participants from the United States and provide them with a
three- to four-week exchange program abroad focused on dialogue and
debate, leadership development, and community service. Upon returning
home, the students will apply what they have learned to serve their
schools and communities.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Authority
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
[[Page 17990]]
and peaceful relations between the United States and the other
countries of the world.'' The funding authority for the program above
is provided through legislation.
Overview
The American Youth Leadership Program will provide high school
students and adult educators from the United States with an opportunity
to travel abroad on a three- to four-week-long exchange program to gain
firsthand knowledge of foreign cultures and to collaborate on solving
global issues. The participants will have an academic and experiential
education program focused on dialogue and debate, leadership
development, and community service. The program activities will also
focus on one of the following four themes that can be examined for both
local and global impact:
1. The role of the media.
2. The environment and climate change.
3. Food security and nutrition.
4. Science and technology.
Applicants should choose from one of these four global themes and
narrow it down to a more specific topic(s) within the subject area.
The exchange participants will engage in a variety of activities
that provide an introduction to the civic, cultural, and educational
institutions of the host country through workshops on leadership and
service, community site visits related to the program themes,
interactive training, simulations, debates, presentations, visits to
high schools, cultural activities, and other activities designed to
achieve the program's stated goals. It is essential that applicants
engage local youth in a substantive and meaningful way in activities
with the American students. Follow-on activities with the participants
are an integral part of the program, as the students apply the
knowledge and skills they have acquired in their home communities.
Exchange activities will be conducted in English, though participants
should receive basic language instruction a few hours per week during
the exchange.
Program Goals
1. Promote mutual understanding between the people of the United
States and the people of the partner country(ies).
2. Prepare youth leaders to become responsible citizens and
contributing members of their communities.
3. Spark an interest in learning about foreign cultures among
American youth.
4. Develop a cadre of Americans with cultural understanding who are
able to advance international dialogue and compete effectively in the
global economy.
Using these goals and themes above, applicant organizations should
identify their own specific objectives and measurable outcomes based on
these program goals and the project specifications provided in this
solicitation.
Eligible Countries
The FY 2010 American Youth Leadership Program will focus on
specific countries according to the guidelines below.
(1) Single-Country Projects. Applicants may submit one proposal to
conduct one OR two separate exchange projects, each of which sends
American participants to one of the following countries:
1. Bahrain.
2. Bangladesh.
3. Cambodia.
4. Japan.
5. Kenya.
6. Mongolia.
7. Namibia.
8. Norway.
(2) Multi-Country Projects. Applicants may propose to conduct one
exchange project that sends American participants to each country in
one of the following groupings:
1. Bulgaria and Romania.
2. Costa Rica and Panama.
3. Fiji and Samoa (including Tonga is optional).
4. Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.
ECA plans to award multiple grants for the management of the
American Youth Leadership Program for approximately eight projects;
applicants should choose from the list of eight single-country projects
and four multi-country projects above. Each single- or multi-country
project should cost a total of approximately $250,000 for a group of 30
to 40 participants.
Applicants must propose a plan to break a large delegation into
smaller cohorts for most of the exchange activities to maximize the
educational experience and ensure individualized attention for each
participant. For example, in a single-country project, a delegation of
40 participants could travel to the partner country at the same time,
but be divided into three or four smaller groups that each visit a
different city; or two separate delegations of 15 to 20 participants
could travel to the partner country at different times. For multi-
country projects, each country in the grouping must be visited by at
least one delegation of students and educators, but the exchange
activities may take various forms. For example, all 40 participants
could travel to each of the countries listed during the three- to four-
week period; or they could be broken up into smaller delegations that
travel separately to just one country. Applicants are encouraged to be
creative and flexible in their arrangements that will help meet our
program goals.
Organizations may apply for one single-country project, two single-
country projects, or one multi-country project, but must submit only
ONE proposal under this competition. The Bureau strongly urges
organizations to limit their applications to the country(ies) where
they have the strongest institutional capacity. The Bureau reserves the
right to reduce, revise, or increase proposal project configurations,
budgets, and participant numbers in accordance with the needs of the
program and the availability of funds.
Participants
Both the youth and adult participants must meet the following
eligibility requirements:
1. Be U.S. citizens;
2. Be selected through a merit-based competition;
3. Represent the diversity of the United States; and
4. Demonstrate an interest in the partner country and the project
themes.
Criteria for selection of the participants will include leadership
skills, an interest in service to the community, strong academic and
social skills, overall composure, openness and flexibility. It is
desirable that a few participants live in the same community to
facilitate future collaboration upon their return to the United States.
The youth participants must be high school students aged 15 to 17
years old, with at least one semester of high school remaining. The
adult participants may be teachers, trainers, school administrators,
and/or community leaders who work with youth; they will have the dual
role of both exchange participant and chaperone. The ratio of youth to
adults should be approximately 10:1, depending on the size of the
exchange delegation.
Organizational Capacity
Applicants must demonstrate their capacity for conducting
international youth exchanges, focusing on three areas of competency:
(1) Provision of programs that address the goals and themes outlined in
this document; (2) age-appropriate programming for youth; and (3)
previous experience working on programs in the partner country. In
addition to their U.S. presence, applicants must have the
organizational
[[Page 17991]]
capacity in the relevant country--or they must partner with an
organization or institution with the requisite capacity--to provide a
content-rich exchange program for the American participants. The
importance of a viable, experienced in-country partner cannot be over-
emphasized. The partner organization must have a functioning office in
the host country and an established track record working with youth.
Applicants should consult with their in-country partners and involve
them in the preparation of the proposal. Applicants should consult with
the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassies in the country
proposed for the exchange concerning the selection and reliability of
the in-country partner organization(s). Please e-mail ECA Program
Officer Jennifer Phillips for contact information.
U.S. Embassy Involvement
It is important that the proposal narrative clearly state the
applicant's commitment to consult closely with the Public Affairs
Section of the U.S. Embassy in the host country, once a grant is
awarded. Since this program involves U.S. citizen minors, the U.S.
Embassy will provide oversight and monitoring; concur on housing
arrangements, including host family locations (regions, neighborhoods);
represent the U.S. Government while the exchange activities are taking
place in the host country; and assist program staff and participants in
the event of an emergency. At the same time, the requirements of the
grant are that the grantee organization must be able to manage the
program in the host country in its entirety, with little reliance on
the embassy staff for support.
Guidelines
The grant will begin on or about September 1, 2010. The grant
period will be approximately 16 to 20 months in duration, according to
the applicant's program plan, and will cover all aspects of the
programming in the United States and the partner country--the
recruitment, selection, and orientation of the participants, the three
to four weeks of exchange activities, and support of follow-on
activities. Planning and preparation will start in late summer 2010,
and the exchange activity will take place in 2011. Applicants must
consult with their overseas partners and propose mutually agreeable
times for the exchange(s) in their proposals. For instance, while the
summer months may be a good time for Americans to travel, it may not be
a suitable time for hosting activities in the partner country. The
exact timing of the project may be altered through the mutual agreement
of the Department of State and the grant recipient.
The grant recipient will be responsible for the following:
Recruitment and Selection: Manage the recruitment and merit-based
selection of a diverse group of youth and adult participants from the
United States. Diversity addresses, but is not limited to, ethnicity,
race, gender, religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, and
disabilities. The Bureau will have final approval of all selected
delegations.
Orientations: Provide pre-departure and arrival orientations for
exchange participants and orientations for those participating from the
host countries, including host families.
Logistics: Manage all logistical arrangements, including passport
and visa applications, international and domestic travel, local
transportation, accommodations, group meals, and disbursement of
stipends. This includes provision of effective interpretation and
translation, as needed.
Exchange Activities: Design and plan three to four weeks of
exchange activities in the partner country that provide a creative and
substantive program on the specified themes and offer a thorough
introduction to the host country's culture and the civic, cultural, and
educational institutions. In addition to visiting the capital city or
major city of the host country, the delegations should spend their time
in no more than one or two locations so that the participants have time
to familiarize themselves with a community. The program should focus
primarily on interactive activities, practical experiences, and other
hands-on opportunities that reveal various aspects of the host country,
such as group dialogues with peers, volunteer service projects, or
visits with community and government leaders. Participants will explore
leadership through activities such as project planning, team building,
and public speaking. Visits to different types of educational
institutions should be a component of each exchange. All programming
will involve as much sustained interaction as possible with peers of
the host country, for both the youth and adult participants. Cultural,
social, and recreational activities will balance the schedule. Please
see the POGI for more details.
Accommodations: Arrange home stays for the participants with
properly screened and briefed families for the majority of the exchange
period. Host families may receive a modest stipend to offset the cost
of hosting, but not to serve as a financial incentive. Alternate
housing arrangements will be considered based on the local environment;
applicants must provide justification if home stays cannot be arranged.
Once a grant is awarded, organizations must seek and obtain approval
about host family locations from the U.S. Embassy in the partner
country.
Monitoring: Develop and implement a plan to monitor the
participants' safety and well-being while on the exchange and to
resolve any issues promptly. The grant recipient will be required to
provide proper staff supervision and facilitation to ensure that the
teenagers have safe and pedagogically robust programs. Staff, along
with the adult participants, will assist the youth with cultural
adjustments, provide societal context to enhance learning, and counsel
students as needed. For the safety and security of the American
participants abroad, applicants must provide similar protections and
oversight traditionally afforded to foreign students in the United
States under the J-1 visa regulations.
Follow-on Activities: Plan and implement activities in the United
States, particularly in facilitating continued engagement among the
participants, advising and supporting them in the implementation of
community service projects, and offering opportunities to reinforce the
ideas, values and skills imparted during the exchange. Applicants
should present creative and effective ways to address the project
themes, for both program participants and their peers, as a means to
amplify the program impact.
Evaluation: Design and implement an evaluation plan that assesses
the impact of the program.
Other Notes
All materials, publicity, and correspondence related to the program
will acknowledge this as a program of the Bureau of Educational and
Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State. The Bureau will
retain copyright use of and be allowed to distribute materials related
to this program as it sees fit.
Proposals must demonstrate how the stated objectives will be met.
The proposal narrative should provide detailed information on the major
program activities, and applicants should explain and justify their
programmatic choices.
Please be sure to refer to the complete Solicitation Package--this
RFGP, the Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI), and the
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI)--for further information.
[[Page 17992]]
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Grant Agreement.
Fiscal Year Funds: 2010.
Approximate Total Funding: $2,084,000.
Approximate Number of Awards: Four to eight.
Approximate Average Award: $500,000.
Floor of Award Range: $200,000.
Ceiling of Award Range: $500,000.
Anticipated Award Date: September 1, 2010.
Anticipated Project Completion Date: 16-20 months after start date,
to be specified by applicant based on project plan.
Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of the
project and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, ECA
reserves the right to renew grants for up to two additional fiscal
years before openly competing grants under this program again.
III. Eligibility Information
III.1. Eligible Applicants: Applications may be submitted by public
and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described
in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3).
III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds: There is no minimum or
maximum percentage required for this competition. However, the Bureau
encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and
funding in support of its programs.
When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the
applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its
proposal and later included in an approved agreement. Cost sharing may
be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For
accountability, you must maintain written records to support all costs
which are claimed as your contribution, 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, (Revised), Subpart C.23--Cost
Sharing and Matching. In the event you do not provide the minimum
amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget, ECA's
contribution will be reduced in like proportion.
III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements: All proposals must comply
with the following or they will result in your submission being
declared technically ineligible and given no further consideration in
the review process.
(a) Bureau grant guidelines require that organizations with less
than four years experience in conducting international exchanges be
limited to $60,000 in Bureau funding. ECA anticipates making multiple
awards in amounts exceeding $60,000 to support the program and
administrative costs required to implement this exchange program.
Therefore, organizations with less than four years experience in
conducting international exchanges are ineligible to apply under this
competition. The Bureau encourages applicants to provide maximum levels
of cost sharing and funding in support of its programs.
(b) Proposed sub-award recipients are also limited to grant funding
of $60,000 or less if they do not have four years of experience in
conducting international exchanges.
(c) Eligible applicants may not submit more than one proposal under
this competition. Applicant organizations are defined by their legal
name and EIN number as stated on their completed SF-424 form and
additional supporting documentation outlined in the Proposal Submission
Instructions (PSI) document.
(d) Eligible applicants may only propose working with the countries
and themes listed under this RFGP.
(e) Eligible applicants may only propose to conduct one single-
country project, two single-country projects, or one multi-country
project.
(f) Eligible applicants must include in their proposal a letter of
support from their partner organization(s) in the host country(ies)
stating their agreement to carry out the proposed activities.
IV. Application and Submission Information
Note: Please read the complete announcement before sending
inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has
passed, Bureau staff may not discuss this competition with
applicants until the proposal review process has been completed.
IV.1 Contact Information to Request an Application Package: Please
contact the Youth Programs Division, ECA/PE/C/PY, SA-5, 3rd Floor, U.S.
Department of State, Washington, DC 20522-0503, Tel (202) 632-9352, E-
mail [email protected] to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to
the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/PY-10-41 when making your
request. Alternatively, an electronic application package may be
obtained from grants.gov. Please see section IV.3f for further
information.
The Solicitation Package contains the Proposal Submission
Instruction (PSI) document which consists of required application
forms, and standard guidelines for proposal preparation. It also
contains the Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI)
document, which provides specific information, award criteria and
budget instructions tailored to this competition.
Please specify Bureau Program Officer Jennifer Phillips and refer
to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/PY-10-41 on all other
inquiries and correspondence.
IV.2. To Download a Solicitation Package Via Internet: The entire
Solicitation Package may be downloaded from the Bureau's Web site at
http://exchanges.state.gov/grants/open2.html, or from the Grants.gov
Web site at http://www.grants.gov.
Please read all information before downloading.
IV.3. Content and Form of Submission: Applicants must follow all
instructions in the Solicitation Package. The application should be
submitted per the instructions under IV.3f. ``Application Deadline and
Methods of Submission'' section below.
IV.3a. You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal
Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative
agreement from the U.S. Government. This number is a nine-digit
identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities.
Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a
DUNS number, access http://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-
5711. Please ensure that your DUNS number is included in the
appropriate box of the SF-424 which is part of the formal application
package.
IV.3b. All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal
narrative and budget.
Please refer to the solicitation package. It contains the mandatory
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document and the Project
Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) document for additional
formatting and technical requirements.
IV.3c. You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of
application. Please note: Effective January 7, 2009, all applicants for
ECA Federal assistance awards must include in their application the
names of directors and/or senior executives (current officers,
trustees, and key employees, regardless of amount of compensation). In
fulfilling this requirement, applicants must submit information in one
of the following ways:
(1) Those who file Internal Revenue Service Form 990, ``Return of
[[Page 17993]]
Organization Exempt From Income Tax,'' must include a copy of relevant
portions of this form.
(2) Those who do not file IRS Form 990 must submit information
above in the format of their choice.
In addition to final program reporting requirements, award
recipients will also be required to submit a one-page document, derived
from their program reports, listing and describing their grant
activities. For award recipients, the names of directors and/or senior
executives (current officers, trustees, and key employees), as well as
the one- page description of grant activities, will be transmitted by
the State Department to OMB, along with other information required by
the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), and
will be made available to the public by the Office of Management and
Budget on its USASpending.gov Web site as part of ECA's FFATA reporting
requirements.
If your organization is a private nonprofit which has not received
a grant or cooperative agreement from ECA in the past three years, or
if your organization received nonprofit status from the IRS within the
past four years, you must submit the necessary documentation to verify
nonprofit status as directed in the PSI document. Failure to do so will
cause your proposal to be declared technically ineligible.
IV.3d. Please take into consideration the following information
when preparing your proposal narrative:
IV.3d.1. Adherence To All Regulations Governing The J Visa. The
Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs is the official program sponsor of the exchange program covered
by this RFGP, and an employee of the Bureau will be the ``Responsible
Officer'' for the program under the terms of 22 CFR part 62, which
covers the administration of the Exchange Visitor Program (J visa
program). Under the terms of 22 CFR part 62, organizations receiving
awards (either a grant or cooperative agreement) under this RFGP will
be third parties ``cooperating with or assisting the sponsor in the
conduct of the sponsor's program.'' The actions of recipient
organizations shall be ``imputed to the sponsor in evaluating the
sponsor's compliance with'' 22 CFR part 62. Therefore, the Bureau
expects that any organization receiving an award under this competition
will render all assistance necessary to enable the Bureau to fully
comply with 22 CFR part 62 et seq.
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs places critically
important emphases on the secure and proper administration of Exchange
Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence by recipient organizations and
program participants to all regulations governing the J visa program
status. Therefore, proposals should explicitly state in writing that
the applicant is prepared to assist the Bureau in meeting all
requirements governing the administration of Exchange Visitor Programs
as set forth in 22 CFR part 62. If your organization has experience as
a designated Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor, the applicant should
discuss their record of compliance with 22 CFR part 62 et seq.,
including the oversight of their Responsible Officers and Alternate
Responsible Officers, screening and selection of program participants,
provision of pre-arrival information and orientation to participants,
monitoring of participants, proper maintenance and security of forms,
recordkeeping, reporting and other requirements.
It is acknowledged that outbound American participants are not
governed by the same protections of the J-1 visa regulations governing
exchange students coming to the U.S. For the safety and security of the
American participants abroad, applicants must provide similar
protections and oversight traditionally afforded to foreign students in
the United States under the J-1 visa regulations.
A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of
Exchange Visitor (J) programs is available at http://exchanges.state.gov or from: Office of Designation, ECA/EC/D, SA-5,
Floor C2, Department of State, Washington, DC 20522-0582.
IV.3d.2. 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 disabilities.
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 your
proposal. Public Law 104-319 provides that ``in carrying out programs
of educational and cultural exchange in countries whose people do not
fully enjoy freedom and democracy,'' the Bureau ``shall take
appropriate steps to provide opportunities for participation in such
programs to human rights and democracy leaders of such countries.''
Public Law 106-113 requires that the governments of the countries
described above do not have inappropriate influence in the selection
process. Proposals should reflect advancement of these goals in their
program contents, to the full extent deemed feasible.
IV.3d.3. Program Monitoring and Evaluation. Proposals must include
a plan to monitor and evaluate the project's success, both as the
activities unfold and at the end of the program. The Bureau recommends
that your proposal include a draft survey questionnaire or other
technique plus a description of a methodology to use to link outcomes
to original project objectives. The Bureau expects that the recipient
organization will track participants or partners and be able to respond
to key evaluation questions, including satisfaction with the program,
learning as a result of the program, changes in behavior as a result of
the program, and effects of the program on institutions (institutions
in which participants work or partner institutions). The evaluation
plan should include indicators that measure gains in mutual
understanding as well as substantive knowledge.
Successful monitoring and evaluation depend heavily on setting
clear goals and outcomes at the outset of a program. Your evaluation
plan should include a description of your project's objectives, your
anticipated project outcomes, and how and when you intend to measure
these outcomes (performance indicators). The more that outcomes are
``smart'' (specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and
placed in a reasonable timeframe), the easier it will be to conduct the
evaluation. You should also show how your project objectives link to
the goals of the program described in this RFGP.
Your monitoring and evaluation plan should clearly distinguish
between program outputs and outcomes. Outputs are products and services
delivered, often stated as an amount. Output information is important
to show the scope or size of project activities, but it cannot
substitute for information about progress towards outcomes or the
results achieved. Examples of outputs include the number of people
trained or the number of seminars conducted. Outcomes, in contrast,
represent specific results a project is intended to achieve and is
usually measured as an extent of change. Findings on outputs and
outcomes should both be reported, but the focus should be on outcomes.
[[Page 17994]]
We encourage you to assess the following four levels of outcomes,
as they relate to the program goals set out in the RFGP (listed here in
increasing order of importance):
1. Participant satisfaction with the program and exchange
experience.
2. Participant learning, such as increased knowledge, aptitude,
skills, and changed understanding and attitude. Learning includes both
substantive (subject-specific) learning and mutual understanding.
3. Participant behavior, concrete actions to apply knowledge in
work or community; greater participation and responsibility in civic
organizations; interpretation and explanation of experiences and new
knowledge gained; continued contacts between participants, community
members, and others.
4. Institutional changes, such as increased collaboration and
partnerships, policy reforms, new programming, and organizational
improvements.
Please note: Consideration should be given to the appropriate
timing of data collection for each level of outcome. For example,
satisfaction is usually captured as a short-term outcome, whereas
behavior and institutional changes are normally considered longer-
term outcomes.
Overall, the quality of your monitoring and evaluation plan will be
judged on how well it (1) specifies intended outcomes; (2) gives clear
descriptions of how each outcome will be measured; (3) identifies when
particular outcomes will be measured; and (4) provides a clear
description of the data collection strategies for each outcome (i.e.,
surveys, interviews, or focus groups). (Please note that evaluation
plans that deal only with the first level of outcomes [satisfaction]
will be deemed less competitive under the present evaluation criteria.)
Recipient organizations will be required to provide reports
analyzing their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular
program reports. All data collected, including survey responses and
contact information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years
and provided to the Bureau upon request.
IV.3e. Please take the following information into consideration
when preparing your budget:
IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit SF-424A--``Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs'' along with a comprehensive budget for the
entire program. Budget requests may not exceed $500,000. There must be
a summary budget as well as breakdowns reflecting both administrative
and program budgets. Applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for
each program component, phase, location, or activity to provide
clarification. Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete
budget guidelines and formatting instructions.
IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission:
Application Deadline Date: Friday, May 28, 2010.
Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-10-41.
Methods of Submission: Applications may be submitted in one of two
ways:
(1) In hard-copy, via a nationally recognized overnight delivery
service (i.e., Federal Express, UPS, Airborne Express, or U.S. Postal
Service Express Overnight Mail, etc.), or
(2) electronically through http://www.grants.gov.
Along with the Project Title, all applicants must enter the above
Reference Number in Box 11 on the SF-424 contained in the mandatory
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) of the solicitation document.
IV.3f.1 Submitting Printed Applications
Applications must be shipped no later than the above deadline.
Delivery services used by applicants must have in-place, centralized
shipping identification and tracking systems that may be accessed via
the Internet and delivery people who are identifiable by commonly
recognized uniforms and delivery vehicles. Proposals shipped on or
before the above deadline but received at ECA more than seven days
after the deadline will be ineligible for further consideration under
this competition. Proposals shipped after the established deadlines are
ineligible for consideration under this competition. ECA will not
notify you upon receipt of application. It is each applicant's
responsibility to ensure that each package is marked with a legible
tracking number and to monitor/confirm delivery to ECA via the
Internet. Delivery of proposal packages may not be made via local
courier service or in person for this competition. Faxed documents will
not be accepted at any time. Only proposals submitted as stated above
will be considered.
Important note: When preparing your submission please make sure
to include one extra copy of the completed SF-424 form and place it
in an envelope addressed to ``ECA/EX/PM''.
The original and six copies of the application should be sent to:
Program Management Division, ECA-IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/PE/C/PY-10-41,
SA-5, Floor 4, Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC
20522-0504.
With the submission of the proposal package, please also e-mail the
Executive Summary, Proposal Narrative, and Budget sections of the
proposal, as well as any attachments essential to understanding the
program, in Microsoft Word, Excel, and/or PDF, to the program officer
at [email protected]. As appropriate, the Bureau will provide these
files electronically to Public Affairs Section(s) at the U.S. embassies
for their review.
IV.3f.2--Submitting Electronic Applications
Applicants have the option of submitting proposals electronically
through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov). Complete solicitation
packages are available at Grants.gov in the ``Find'' portion of the
system.
Please Note: ECA bears no responsibility for applicant
timeliness of submission or data errors resulting from transmission
or conversion processes for proposals submitted via Grants.gov.
Please follow the instructions available in the `Get Started'
portion of the site (http://www.grants.gov/GetStarted).
Several of the steps in the Grants.gov registration process could
take several weeks. Therefore, applicants should check with appropriate
staff within their organizations immediately after reviewing this RFGP
to confirm or determine their registration status with Grants.gov.
Once registered, the amount of time it can take to upload an
application will vary depending on a variety of factors including the
size of the application and the speed of your internet connection. In
addition, validation of an electronic submission via Grants.gov can
take up to two business days.
Therefore, we strongly recommend that you not wait until the
application deadline to begin the submission process through
Grants.gov.
The Grants.gov Web site includes extensive information on all
phases/aspects of the Grants.gov process, including an extensive
section on frequently asked questions, located under the ``For
Applicants'' section of the Web site. ECA strongly recommends that all
potential applicants review thoroughly the Grants.gov Web site, well in
advance of submitting a proposal through the Grants.gov system. ECA
bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or
conversion processes.
Direct all questions regarding Grants.gov registration and
submission to: Grants.gov Customer Support, Contact Center Phone: 800-
518-4726, Business Hours: Monday-Friday,
[[Page 17995]]
7 a.m.-9 p.m. Eastern Time. E-mail: grants.gov">support@grants.gov.
Applicants have until midnight (12 a.m.), Washington, DC time of
the closing date to ensure that their entire application has been
uploaded to the Grants.gov site. There are no exceptions to the above
deadline. Applications uploaded to the site after midnight of the
application deadline date will be automatically rejected by the
grants.gov system, and will be technically ineligible.
Please refer to the Grants.gov website, for definitions of various
``application statuses'' and the difference between a submission
receipt and a submission validation. Applicants will receive a
validation e-mail from grants.gov upon the successful submission of an
application. Again, validation of an electronic submission via
Grants.gov can take up to two business days. Therefore, we strongly
recommend that you not wait until the application deadline to begin the
submission process through Grants.gov. ECA will not notify you upon
receipt of electronic applications.
It is the responsibility of all applicants submitting proposals via
the Grants.gov Web portal to ensure that proposals have been received
by Grants.gov in their entirety, and ECA bears no responsibility for
data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.
IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of Applications: Executive Order
12372 does not apply to this program.
V. Application Review Information
V.1. Review Process
The Bureau will review all proposals for technical eligibility.
Proposals will be deemed ineligible if they do not fully adhere to the
guidelines stated herein and in the Solicitation Package. All eligible
proposals will be reviewed by the program office, as well as the Public
Affairs Sections overseas, where appropriate. Eligible proposals will
be subject to compliance with Federal and Bureau regulations and
guidelines and forwarded to Bureau grant panels for advisory review.
Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of the Legal Adviser or by
other Department elements. Final funding decisions are at the
discretion of the Department of State's Assistant Secretary for
Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final technical authority for
assistance awards (grants) resides with the Bureau's Grants Officer.
Review Criteria
Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed
according to the criteria stated below.
1. Quality of the program idea: The proposed program should be well
developed, respond to design outlined in the solicitation, and
demonstrate originality. It should be clearly and accurately written,
substantive, and with sufficient detail. Proposals should exhibit
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's
mission.
2. Program planning: A detailed agenda and work plan should clearly
demonstrate how project objectives would be achieved. The agenda and
plan should adhere to the program overview and guidelines described
above. The substance of workshops, seminars, presentations, school-
based activities, and/or site visits should be described in detail.
Objectives should be reasonable, feasible, and flexible. The proposal
should clearly demonstrate how the organization will meet the program's
objectives and plan.
3. Support of diversity: The proposal should demonstrate the
recipient's commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding of
diversity in program content. Applicants should demonstrate readiness
to accommodate participants with physical disabilities.
4. Institutional capacity and track record: Proposed personnel and
institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve
the program goals. The proposal should demonstrate an institutional
record, including responsible fiscal management and full compliance
with all reporting requirements for past Bureau grants as determined by
the Bureau's Office of Contracts. The Bureau will consider the past
performance.
5. Program evaluation: The proposal should include a plan to
evaluate the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at
the end of the program. The proposal should include a draft survey
questionnaire or other technique plus description of a methodology to
use to link outcomes to original project objectives. The grant
recipient will be expected to submit intermediate reports after each
project component is concluded.
6. Cost-effectiveness and cost sharing: The applicant should
demonstrate efficient use of Bureau funds. 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. The proposal should maximize cost-sharing
through other private sector support as well as institutional direct
funding contributions, which demonstrates institutional and community
commitment.
VI. Award Administration Information
VI.1a. Award Notices
Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by
Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures.
Successful applicants will receive a Federal Assistance Award (FAA)
from the Bureau's Grants Office. The FAA and the original proposal with
subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall be the only binding
authorizing document between the recipient and the U.S. Government. The
FAA will be signed by an authorized Grants Officer, and mailed to the
recipient's responsible officer identified in the application.
Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of
the application review from the ECA program office coordinating this
competition.
VI.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements: Terms and
Conditions for the Administration of ECA agreements include the
following:
Office of Management and Budget Circular A-122, ``Cost Principles
for Nonprofit Organizations.''
Office of Management and Budget Circular A-21, ``Cost Principles
for Educational Institutions.''
OMB Circular A-87, ``Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian
Governments''.
OMB Circular No. A-110 (Revised), Uniform Administrative
Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher
Education, Hospitals, and other Nonprofit Organizations.
OMB Circular No. A-102, Uniform Administrative Requirements for
Grants-in-Aid to State and Local Governments.
OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of States, Local Government, and
Non-profit Organizations
Please reference the following Web sites for additional
information:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants.
http://fa.statebuy.state.gov.
VI.3. Reporting Requirements: You must provide ECA with a hard copy
original plus one copy of the following reports:
(1.) Interim program and financial reports, as required in the
grant agreement;
[[Page 17996]]
(2.) A final program and financial report no more than 90 days
after the expiration of the award;
(3.) A concise, one-page final program report summarizing program
outcomes no more than 90 days after the expiration of the award. This
one-page report will be transmitted to OMB, and be made available to
the public via OMB's USAspending.gov Web site--as part of ECA's Federal
Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reporting
requirements.
(4.) A SF-PPR, ``Performance Progress Report'' Cover Sheet with all
program reports.
Award recipients will be required to provide reports analyzing
their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program
reports. (Please refer to IV. Application and Submission Instructions
(IV.3.d.3) above for Program Monitoring and Evaluation information.
All data collected, including survey responses and contact
information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years and
provided to the Bureau upon request.
All reports must be sent to the ECA Grants Officer and ECA Program
Officer listed in the final assistance award document.
VI.4. Program Data Requirements: Award recipients will be required
to maintain specific data on program participants and activities in an
electronically accessible database format that can be shared with the
Bureau as required. As a minimum, the data must include the following:
(1) Name, address, contact information and biographic sketch of all
persons who travel internationally on funds provided by the agreement
or who benefit from the award funding but do not travel.
(2) Itineraries of international and domestic travel, providing
dates of travel and cities in which any exchange experiences take
place. Draft schedules for in-country and U.S. activities must be
received by the ECA Program Officer at least three weeks prior to the
beginning of the activity.
VII. Agency Contacts
For questions about this announcement, contact: Jennifer Phillips,
Youth Programs Division, ECA/PE/C/PY, U.S. Department of State,
Washington, DC 20522-0503, Tel (202) 632-9352, Fax (202) 632-9355,
[email protected].
All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should
reference the above title and number ECA/PE/C/PY-10-41.
Please read the complete announcement before sending inquiries or
submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has passed, Bureau staff
may not discuss this competition with applicants until the proposal
review process has been completed.
VIII. Other Information
Notice
The terms and conditions published in this RFGP are binding and may
not be modified by any Bureau representative. Explanatory information
provided by the Bureau that contradicts published language will not be
binding. Issuance of the RFGP does not constitute an award commitment
on the part of the Government. The Bureau 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 per section VI.3
above.
Dated: March 31, 2010.
Maura M. Pally,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs,
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2010-7971 Filed 4-7-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P