[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 18 (Thursday, January 27, 1994)] [Unknown Section] [Page 0] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 94-1680] [[Page Unknown]] [Federal Register: January 27, 1994] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY Citizen Action Groups Project for Mongolia AGENCY: United States Information Agency. ACTION: Notice--request for proposals. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Office of Citizen Exchanges (E/P) announces a competitive grants program for private, non-profit organizations to develop indigenous, non-governmental, professional, civic, philanthropic, or issue-oriented institutions and citizen exchange organizations. These projects should link the U.S. organization's exchange interests with counterpart organizations and groups in Mongolia. Interested applicants are urged to read the complete Federal Register announcement before addressing inquiries to the Office or submitting their proposals. After the deadline for submitting proposals, USIA officers may not discuss this competition in any way with applicants until final decisions are made. ANNOUNCEMENT NAME AND NUMBER: All communications concerning this announcement should refer to the Mongolian Citizen Action Groups Project. This announcement number is E/P-94-19. Please refer to this title and number in all correspondence or telephone calls to USIA. DATES: Deadline for Proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S. Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on March 11, 1994. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents postmarked March 11, 1994, but received at a later date. It is the responsibility of each grant applicant to ensure that proposals are received by the above deadline. The grant project activity should begin after June 1, 1994. ADDRESSES: The original and 14 copies of the completed application and required forms should be submitted by the deadline to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref: Mongolia Citizen Action Groups (E/P-94-19), Office of Grants Management (E/XE), 301 4th Street, SW., room 336, Washington, DC 20547. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Interested organizations, institutions should contact: Elroy Carlson, American Republics and East Asia and Pacific Division, Office of Citizen Exchanges (E/P), room 216, U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th Street SW., Washington, DC 20547, telephone 202/619-5326, fax 202/260- 0437 to request detailed application packets, which include award criteria, all necessary forms, and guidelines for preparing proposals, including specific budget preparation. Objectives of the Mongolian Citizen Action Groups Project Overview While Mongolia's formal governmental institutions continue their transition to democracy, its private sector is moving at a slower pace. Community action groups and arts councils are in a formative stage, with little understanding of their potential roles and opportunities in a democratic society. Fund-raising and techniques advocating change outside governmental channels are almost unknown. This project focuses on facilitating the development of new citizen groups and associations, providing information to leaders who are eager to create these institutions and consortia. The development of citizen action groups should respond to the needs and interests of the people of Mongolia. U.S. support is designed to provide an array of information or models from which Mongolian citizen activists may wish to choose. USIA encourages proposals that feature ``train and trainers'' models; the creation of indigenous training centers; schemes to create professional networks or professional associations to disseminate information; and other enduring aspects. Projects may include: study tours in the U.S. for small groups; short-term, non-technical workshops conducted in Mongolia; four- to ten-week internships in the U.S.; planning trips or consultations in Mongolia; and the development of specialized training materials. Programmatic Considerations Pursuant to the Bureau's authorizing legislation, grant programs must maintain a non-political character and should be balanced and representative of the diversity of American political, social and cultural life. Proposals must be for projects that enhance the growth of indigenous, non-governmental, professional, civic, philanthropic, or issue-oriented institutions and citizen exchange organizations. They should serve as an important avenue for community participation in problem solving, quality of life enhancement, and professional development. All proposals should demonstrate: (1) In-depth, substantive knowledge of the relevant issues; (2) Established connections with partner institutions; (3) The capacity to organize and conduct the program, including appropriate orientation activities for the participants; detailed work plan for all phases of the project; tentative agendas for study tours, workshops, and internships; letters of commitment from internship hosts; and selection procedures. USIS post consultation by applicants, prior to submission of proposals, is recommended. Address inquiries to the Public Affairs Officer, American Embassy (USIS) Ulaanbaatar, PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002; telephone: 976-1-329-095; fax: 976-1-320-776. USIA will give priority to proposals from U.S. organizations that have partner organizations in Mongolia or neighboring regions, which will assist logistically and will contribute to the realization of program goals and objectives and will themselves be enhanced by the program. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate partner relationship by providing copies of correspondence or other materials as appendices to proposals. The partner institutions are encouraged to provide cost-sharing or significant in-kind contributions such as local housing, transportation, interpreting, translating and other local currency costs and to assist with the organization of projects. Materials Development USIA encourages the development, where needed, of written, audio and video materials in the local language to enhance the training programs. For example, if not already available, glossaries of specialized terms in community action work or development of not-for- profit, citizen-based organizations might be developed. Scope Proposals should limit their focus to citizen-based action groups. Proposals for programs that are broader in scope will be eligible, but are less likely to receive USIA support. USIA encourages proposals that feature ``train the trainers'' models; the creation of indigenous training centers; schemes to create professional networks or professional associations to disseminate information; and other enduring aspects. Participant Selection All grant proposals must clearly describe the type of persons who will participate in the program as well as the process by which participants will be selected. Programs in support of internships in the U.S. must include letters tentatively committing host institutions to support the internships. In the selection of all foreign participants, USIA and USIS posts retain the right to nominate participants and to accept or deny participants recommended by the program institution. Guidelines and Restrictions USIA does not support proposals limited to conferences or seminars of only a few days length which are organized as plenary sessions, major speakers, and panels with a passive audience. It will support conferences only insofar as they are a minor part of a larger project in duration and scope which is receiving USIA funding from this competition. Furthermore, grants are not given to support projects whose focus is limited to technical issues, or for research projects, for publications intended for dissemination in the United States, for individual student exchanges, for film festivals or exhibits. Nor does this Office provide scholarships or other support for long-term (i.e., a semester or more) academic studies. Proposals that request support for the development of university curriculums or for degree-based programs will not be eligible under this RFP. Proposals to link university departments or to exchange faculty and/or students are funded by USIA's Office of Academic Programs (E/A) under the University Affiliation Program and should not be submitted under this RFP. Competitions sponsored by other offices of USIA's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs are also announced in the Federal Register, and may have different guidelines or restrictions. Funding The amount requested from USIA should not exceed $125,000. However, exchange organizations with less than four years of successful experience in managing international exchange programs are limited to $60,000. While applicants must provide an all-inclusive budget with the proposal, they may also include separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase, location or activity. Competition for USIA funding support is keen. Please note: All participants will be covered under the terms of a USIA-sponsored health insurance policy. The premium is paid by USIA directly to the insurance company. The following project costs are eligible for consideration for funding: 1. International and domestic air fares; visas; transit costs; ground transportation costs. 2. Per Diem. For the U.S. program, organizations have the option of using a flat $140/day for program participants or the published U.S. Federal per diem rates for individual American cities. For activities outside the U.S., the published federal per diem rates must be used. Note: Grantee staff must use the published federal per diem rates, not the flat rate. 3. Interpreters: Interpreters for the U.S. program are provided by the U.S. State Department Language Services Division. Typically, a pair of simultaneous interpreters is provided for every four visitors who need interpretation. USIA grants do not pay for foreign interpreters to accompany delegations from their home country. Grant proposal budgets should contain a flat $140/day per diem for each DOS interpreter, as well as home-program-home air transportation of $400 per interpreter plus any U.S. travel expenses during the program. Salary expenses are covered centrally and should not be part of an applicant's proposed budget. 4. Book and cultural allowance: Participants are entitled to a one- time cultural allowance of $150 per person, plus a book allowance of $50. Escorts are reimbursed for actual cultural expenses up to $150. U.S. staff do not get these benefits. 5. Consultants. May be used to provide specialized expertise or to make presentations. Daily honoraria generally do not exceed $250 per day. Subcontracting organizations may also be used, in which case the written agreement between the prospective grantee and subcontractor should be included in the proposal. 6. Room rental, which generally should not exceed $250 per day. 7. Materials development. Proposals may contain costs to purchase, develop, and translate materials for participants. 8. One working meal per project. Per capita costs may not exceed $5-8 for a lunch and $14-20 for a dinner; this includes room rental if applicable. The number of invited guests may not exceed participants by more than a factor of two to one. 9. A return travel allowance of $70 for each participant which is to be used for incidental expenditures incurred during international travel. 10. Audit Requirements: The proposal shall include the cost of an audit that: a. Complies with the requirements of OMB circular No. 1-133, Audits of Institutions of Higher Education and Other Nonprofit Institutions; b. Complies with the requirements of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Statement of Position (SOP) No. 92-9; and c. Includes review by the recipient's independent auditor of a recipient-prepared supplemental schedule of indirect cost rate computation, if such a rate is being proposed. The audit costs shall be identified separately for: a. Preparation of basic financial statements, and other accounting services; and b. Preparation of the supplemental reports and schedules required by OMB Circular No. A-133, AICPA SOP 92-9, and the review of the supplemental schedule of indirect cost rate computation. 11. Cost-sharing is encouraged. Cost-sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. The Recipient must maintain written records to support all allowable costs which are claimed as being its contribution to cost participation, 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, Attachment E, ``Cost-sharing and Matching'' and should be described in the proposal. In the event the Recipient does not provide the minimum amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the Recipient's budget, the Agency's contribution will be reduced in proportion to the Recipient's contribution. Application Requirements Proposals must be structured in accordance with the instructions contained in the application package. 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 established herein and in the application packet. Eligible proposals will be forwarded to panels of USIA officers for advisory review. Proposals are reviewed by USIS posts and by USIA's Office of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of General Counsel or other Agency offices. Funding decisions are at the discretion of the Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final technical authority for grant awards resides with USIA's contracting officer. The award of any grant is subject to availability of funds. The U.S. Government reserves the right to reject any or all applications received. USIA will not pay for design and development costs associated with submitting a proposal. Applications are submitted at the risk of the applicant; should circumstances prevent award of a grant all preparation and submission costs are at the applicant's expense. USIA will not award funds for activities conducted prior to the actual grant award. Review Criteria USIA will consider proposals based on their conformance with the objectives and considerations already stated in this RFP, as well as the following criteria: 1. Quality of program idea: Proposals should exhibit relevance, originality, rigor and substance to USIA's mission. They should demonstrate the match of U.S. resources to a clearly defined need. 2. Institutional ability/capacity/record: Applicant institutions should demonstrate their potential from program excellence and/or provide documentation of successful programs. If an organization is a previous USIA grant recipient, responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting requirements for past USIA grants as determined by the Office of Contracts (M/KG) will be considered. Relevant program evaluation of previous projects may also be considered in this assessment. 3. Project personnel: Personnel's thematic and logistical expertise should be relevant to the proposed program. Resumes should be relevant to the specific proposal. 4. Program planning: A detailed work plan should provide milestones for the accomplishment of each phase of the project and clearly demonstrate how the grantee institution will meet milestones. In addition, the work plan should indicate how the work plan will accomplish the overall project goals. 5. Thematic expertise: Proposal should demonstrate the organization's expertise in the subject area. 6. Cross-cultural expertise and area expertise: Proposals should show evidence of sensitivity to historical, linguistic, and other cross-cultural factors, as well as relevant knowledge of target area/ country. 7. Multiplier effect/follow-on activities: Proposed programs should strengthen long-term mutual understanding, to include maximum sharing of information and establishment of long-term institutional and individual ties. Proposals should also reflect an institutional commitment for continued exchange activity beyond the term of the USIA grant. 8. Cost-effectiveness: Overhead and administrative costs should be kept as low as possible. All other items proposed for USIA funding should be necessary and appropriate to achieve the program's objectives. 9. Cost-sharing: Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through other private sector support as well as direct funding contributions and/or in-kind support from the prospective grantee institution. 10. Project evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate the activity's success. In this respect the applicant should include a draft survey questionnaire or other technique and a methodology that will be used to link outcomes to original project objectives. Applicants will be expected to submit intermediate reports after each project component is concluded or quarterly, whichever is less frequent. Notice: The terms and conditions published in this RFP are binding and may not be modified by any USIA representative. Explanatory information provided by USIA that contradicts published language will not be binding. Issuance of the RFP does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. Government. Awards cannot be made until funds have been fully appropriated by the U.S. Congress and allocated and committed through internal USIA procedures. Notification: All applicants will be notified of the results of the review process on or about June 1, 1994. Awarded grants will be subject to periodic reporting and evaluation requirements. Dated: January 14, 1994. Barry Fulton, Acting Associate Director, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. [FR Doc. 94-1680 Filed 1-26-94; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8230-01-M