Federal Register, Volume 76 Issue 52 (Thursday, March 17, 2011)

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 52 (Thursday, March 17, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14719-14725]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6279]

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 7366]

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for
Grant Proposals: Professional Exchanges Congress

Announcement Type: New Grant.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C-11-21.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.415.
Key Dates: Spring and Fall 2012.
Application Deadline: May 19, 2011
Executive Summary: The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs invites proposal submissions to
conduct the 2012 spring and fall End-of-Program ``Professional
Exchanges Congresses'' for individuals from Africa, East Asia and the
Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, South and Central
Asia and the Western Hemisphere participating in the Legislative
Fellows Program, the Women's Empowerment Program, and the Young
Entrepreneurs Program. Public and private non-profit organizations
meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26
USC 501(c)(3) may submit proposals to conduct two three-day
Professional Exchanges Congresses in spring and fall 2012. These
professional exchange programs support and encourage young government
and civil society leaders, roughly ages 25-38, from eligible countries
to gain knowledge of U.S. practices and techniques in their field of
expertise, explore governance principles and practices in both public
and civil society institutions in the United States, and gain a deeper
understanding of U.S. society, culture, and people. These professional
exchange programs are also designed to provide U.S. participants the
opportunity to share their professional expertise with counterparts in
eligible countries and gain a deeper understanding of the societies,
cultures, and professional arena of their foreign colleagues.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

I.1. 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 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.

I.2. Purpose

ECA anticipates funding one grant of approximately $576,000 for the
development, management, and implementation of two (2) Professional
Exchanges Congresses that will occur at the end of both the spring and
fall fellowship components for the 2012 Legislative Fellows Program,
Women's Empowerment Program, and Young Entrepreneurs Program.
These professional exchange programs are two-way exchanges
involving current or potential government and civil society leaders
from both the U.S. and foreign countries who will effect positive
change in their workplace and communities and develop long-term
engagement between their home organizations and foreign counterparts.
In addition to the professional focus of the program, foreign
participants will be provided opportunities to explore governance as
practiced in the United States, and in particular the interface between
government and civil society.
Additional information about these professional exchange programs
can be located on the Federal Registry under Bureau of Educational and
Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant Proposals: Open Competition
for the Professional Exchange Programs, Funding Opportunity Number:
ECA/PE/C-11-01.
The three-day Professional Exchanges Congresses should build upon
the thematic focus of the Legislative Fellows Program, the Women's
Empowerment Program, and the Young Entrepreneurs Program; work to
reinforce programmatic goals; allow for engaged interaction between
individuals from different countries; highlight key learning
objectives; outline plans for follow-on projects; and help the
professional exchange participants translate and utilize their U.S.
experiences in their home communities. Special attention should be paid
to integrating these three professional exchange programs, and concepts
such as citizen empowerment, grassroots advocacy, volunteerism,
community action, and leadership into the Congress

[[Page 14720]]

design, content, and programmatic activities.
As the capstone events of the 2012 spring and fall professional
exchange experience, each Professional Exchanges Congress is designed
to provide participating fellows:
a contextual framework for understanding the ``fellowship
experience'' and the interplay of government, governance, and civil
society;
the opportunity to network with colleagues from
participating countries;
a deeper understanding of the ways an individual,
organization, or interest group can generate change for the common
good;
concrete tools to support the role of the individual as a
cultural ambassador; and,
an enhanced appreciation of the importance of public
diplomacy in the global community.
A description of the Legislative Fellows Program, the Women's
Empowerment Program, and the Young Entrepreneurs Program are provided
in Section I.8 below. Additional information about these specific
professional exchange programs can be found in a separate RFGP
published in the Federal Register, and available at www.grants.gov, as
well as on the ECA Web site at http://exchanges.state.gov/grants/open2.html (ECA/PE/C-11-01). Potential applicants may wish to review
the RFGP for these professional exchange programs before developing a
proposal for the Congresses.

I.3. Participants

For the purposes of the Professional Exchanges Congress,
``participants'' are defined as citizens of the eligible countries
selected through a merit-based competition to travel to the United
States to take part in one of the three spring or fall professional
exchange programs. Participants will be young up-and-coming and mid-
level government and civil society professionals with experience and
current employment related to one of the designated areas. Because of
the nature of this program, all selected participants will be highly
proficient in written and oral English, self-directed, able to work
effectively in a cross-cultural setting, and have demonstrated
leadership abilities.

I.4. Project Activities

Projects should including planning, development, and implementation
of two three-day long Professional Exchanges Congress in spring and
fall 2012. Each Congress will include approximately 200-250
participants in addition to staff from approximately 12-18
participating organizations. Strong project designs will ground and
augment the fellowship experience with leadership development
activities that relate to civic engagement. Proposals should clearly
outline the goals and objectives of the Professional Exchanges
Congress, describe possible symposium themes and topics, suggest
speakers, and include innovative informal networking events that allow
ample time for interaction among the program participants. Special
attention should be paid to highlighting the program using social media
and other outreach methods. Proposals should also include a detailed
draft agenda. Projects should provide opportunities for the exchange
participants to begin the transition from program participant to alumni
and discuss how to translate and utilize their U.S. experiences in
their home communities.

I.5. Projected Timeline

ECA envisions the approximate dates of the Professional Exchanges
Congress to be as follows:
September 2011-January 2012:
Develop and implement communication plan and system.
Identify and negotiate contract with appropriate hotel or
meeting site for both spring and fall Congresses. Contracts should
include provisions for meals and lodging for participating fellows and
staff from grantee organizations, as well as space for plenary
meetings, informal networking activities, break-out sessions, etc.
February 2012-April 2012:
In coordination with ECA/PE/C staff and participating grantee
organizations,
develop spring Congress agenda and all corresponding
materials.
arrange all hotel, meals, and travel logistics.
disseminate arrival and hotel information to participating
fellows along with the agenda for the Congress and materials.
develop and implement a public media outreach campaign to
interested stakeholders and the wider community. Special provisions
should be made for internal outreach within the Department of State.
May 2-4, 2012: Conduct Three-Day Spring Professional Exchanges
Congress.
June 2012: Prepare Final Congress Report. Meet with ECA/PE/C staff
for an official programmatic debrief.
June 2012-October 2012:
In coordination with ECA/PE/C staff and participating grantee
organizations,
develop fall Congress agenda and all corresponding
materials.
arrange all hotel, meals, and travel logistics.
disseminate arrival and hotel information to participating
fellows along with the agenda for the Congress and materials.
implement a public media outreach campaign to interested
stakeholders and the wider community. Special provisions should be made
for internal outreach within the Department of State.
November 7-9, 2012: Conduct Three-Day Fall Professional Exchanges
Congress.
December 2012: Prepare Final Congress Report. Meet with ECA/PE/C
staff for an official programmatic debrief.

I.6. Professional Exchange Programs

Programs and Eligible Partner Countries: Congress proposals need to
embrace a global program design that incorporates the professional
exchange programs outlined in announcement ECA/PE/C-11-01:
Legislative Fellows Program
The Legislative Fellows Program will engage professionals who are
actively involved in the legislative process and/or policy-making
through their work in government, civic education organizations,
citizen advocacy groups, political parties, or election monitoring
organizations. During their time in the United States, the participants
will examine the relationship between civil society and government, and
the issue of public corruption and accountability. Participants will
observe the role of their U.S. counterparts in various levels of the
U.S. government, through placements in Congressional offices (including
state/district offices), state legislatures, city councils/local
government bodies, advocacy groups or other relevant organizations
across the United States, engage in dialogue, and develop plans for
projects that support more responsive social and political
institutions.
Women's Empowerment
The Women's Empowerment Program will focus on the unique interests
of women in issues that affect the broader society, including business,
civil society, and journalism. Participants will represent women-owned
businesses, non-governmental organizations, healthcare industries, and
educational institutions. During their 4-6 week fellowships in the
United States, participants will gain firsthand knowledge of how
organizations and institutions advocate on behalf of women and their
critical role in

[[Page 14721]]

community advancement, while also participating in site visits and
specially-designed seminars.
Young Entrepreneurs
The Young Entrepreneurs Program will engage small business owners,
business professionals and business educators, to observe best
practices in business, engage in dialogue with their peers in the U.S.,
and complete individually tailored fellowships in appropriate
organizations. Participants will increase their understanding of the
links between entrepreneurial activity and free markets, as well as the
importance of transparency and accountability in business and
government through the participants' direct involvement in American
businesses.
Participants in these professional exchange programs will come from
at a minimum 30 countries worldwide. For a full list of the eligible
countries under each specific theme, please refer to the RFGP for these
professional exchange programs; announcement ECA/PE/C-11-01.
Additional guidelines and programming responsibilities of the
recipient organization and ECA are located in the Program Objectives,
Goals and Implementation (POGI) document.

II. Award Information

Type of Award: Grant Agreement
Fiscal Year Funds: 2011
Approximate Total Funding: $576,000
Approximate Number of Awards: 1
Approximate Average Award: $576,000
Anticipated Award Date: Pending the availability of funds,
September 1, 2011
Anticipated Project Completion Date: December 31, 2012
Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of this
program and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, it is
ECA's intent to renew this grant for two additional fiscal years before
openly competing it 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 USC 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

(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 one award,
in an amount up to $576,000 to support 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.) Technical Eligibility: All proposals must comply with the
following, or they will result in your proposal being declared
technically ineligible and given no further consideration in the review
process.

--Eligible applicants may not submit more than one proposal in this
competition.
--If more than one proposal is received from the same applicant, all
submissions will be declared technically ineligible and will receive no
further consideration in the review process. Please note: Applicant
organizations are defined by their legal name, and EIN number as stated
on their completed SF-424 and additional supporting documentation
outlined in the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document.
--Eligible applicants may only propose working with the professional
exchange programs and themes listed in this RFGP.

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 David Gustafson in the Office of Citizen Exchanges,
ECA/PE/C, U.S. Department of State, SA-5, 3rd Floor, 2200 C Street,
NW., Washington, DC 20037, (202) 632-6083, [email protected] to
request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to the Funding Opportunity
Number ECA/PE/C-11-21 located at the top of this announcement 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 PSI document, which consists
of required application forms, and standard guidelines for proposal
preparation.
It also contains the POGI document, which provides specific
information, award criteria and budget instructions tailored to this
competition.
Please specify Linn[eacute]a E. Allison and refer to the Funding
Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C-11-21 located at the top of this
announcement 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

[[Page 14722]]

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
PSI document and the POGI for additional formatting and technical
requirements.
IV.3c. All federal award recipients and sub-recipients must
maintain current registrations in the Central Contractor Registration
(CCR) database and have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering
System (DUNS) number. Recipients and sub-recipients must maintain
accurate and up-to-date information in the CCR until all program and
financial activity and reporting have been completed. All entities must
review and update the information at least annually after the initial
registration and more frequently if required information changes or
another award is granted.
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
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.
For informational purposes only, 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, record-keeping,
reporting and other requirements.
The Office of Citizen Exchanges of ECA will be responsible for
issuing DS-2019 forms to participants in this program.
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, Private Sector
Programs Division, U.S. Department of State, ECA/EC/D/PS, SA-5, 5th
Floor, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20037.
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

[[Page 14723]]

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 time frame), 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.
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. 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.
IV.3e.2. Allowable costs for the program include the following:
Eligible costs include:
(1) Symposium programming for approximately 500 Professional
Fellows, participating grantee organizations, and ECA staff
(2) Honoraria for speakers
(3) Lodging and hotel expenses including conference space and
audio-visual support
(4) Food including working meals (reception and final banquet)
(5) Enhancement and cultural programming
(6) Ground transportation in the Washington, DC, area for
participants, staff, and speakers
(7) Educational Materials
(8) Materials including printing and duplication of promotional
pieces, Congress binders, participant bios, name tags, table tents, and
other supporting Congress-related items
(9) Staffing
(10) General administrative expenses

Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget guidelines
and formatting instructions.
IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission:
Application Deadline Date: May 19, 2011.
Reference Number: ECA/PE/C-11-21.
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 8 copies of the application should be sent to:
Program Management Division, ECA-IIP/EX/PM,

[[Page 14724]]

Ref. ECA/PE/C-11-21, SA-5, Floor 4, Department of State, 2200 C Street,
NW., Washington, DC 20037.
Applicants submitting hard-copy applications must also submit the
``Executive Summary'' and ``Proposal Narrative'' sections of the
proposal in text (.txt) or Microsoft Word format on CD-ROM. As
appropriate, the Bureau will provide these files electronically to
Public Affairs Section(s) at the U.S. embassy(ies) for its(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, 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 Web site, 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
Diplomacy section 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. These criteria are not rank
ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation:
The submission will be reviewed with the following review criteria
in mind:
1. Quality of the program idea: Proposals should exhibit
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's
mission.
2. Program planning and ability to achieve objectives: Detailed
agenda, sample materials, and relevant work plan should demonstrate an
institution's or organization's substantive undertakings and logistical
capacity. Agenda and plan should adhere to the stated Professional
Exchange Programs overview and Congress guidelines described above.
Proposals should clearly demonstrate how the institution or
organization will meet the Congress goals and objectives.
3. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate the
institution's or organization's commitment to promoting the awareness
and understanding of diversity in all aspects of the Congress planning,
development and implementation.
4. Institutional Capacity and Track Record: Proposed personnel and
institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to
designing, developing, implementing, and managing a spring and fall
capstone event for these professional exchange programs. Proposals
should demonstrate an institutional record of successful execution of
large scale conference, workshop, or symposium type programming and
related activities, including responsible fiscal management and full
compliance with all reporting requirements for past Bureau awards.
5. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate
the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of
the program. The Bureau recommends that the proposal include a draft
survey questionnaire or other technique plus description of a
methodology to use to link outcomes to original project objectives.
Award-receiving organizations/institutions will be expected to submit
intermediate reports after each project component is concluded or
quarterly, whichever is less frequent.
6. 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.

[[Page 14725]]

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 an 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 an electronic version and one hard copy
of the following reports:
(1.) A final program and financial report no more than 90 days
after the expiration of the award;
(2.) 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 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.
(3.) A SF-PPR, ``Performance Progress Report'' Cover Sheet with all
program reports.
(4.) Quarterly program and financial reports highlighting all major
activities undertaken during the grant period including program
analysis and lessons learned.

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.

VII. Agency Contacts

For questions about this announcement, contact: Linn[eacute]a E.
Allison, U.S. Department of State, Office of Citizen Exchanges,
Professional Exchanges, ECA/PE/C-EAP-ECA-SCA, SA-5, 3rd Floor, ECA/PE/
C-11-21, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20037, (202) 632-6060, Fax:
(202) 632-6492, [email protected].
All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should
reference the above title and number: ECA/PE/C-11-21. 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 9, 2011.
Ann Stock,
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S.
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2011-6279 Filed 3-16-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P