[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 34 (Friday, February 18, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-3679]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 18, 1994]


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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY

 

AR Local Government Project

AGENCY: United States Information Agency.

ACTION: Notice--request for proposals.

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TITLE: Public Administration at the Municipal Level: A Program for the 
American Republics.

SUMMARY: The Office of Citizen Exchanges (E/P) announces a competitive 
grants program for non-profit organizations to develop programs in the 
area of local government/public administration. The project should link 
the U.S. organization's international exchange interests with 
counterpart institutions or groups in the American Republics.
    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 AR LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROJECT. This 
announcement number is E/P-94-24. 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 24, 1994. 
Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents postmarked 
March 24, 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 July 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: AR Local Government Project (E/P-94-24), Grants Management 
Division (E/XE), 301 4th Street, SW., room 336, Washington, DC 20547.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Interested organizations, institutions 
should contact: Benjamin Cromer, American Republics and East Asia and 
Pacific Division, Office of Citizen Exchanges (E/P), room 220, United 
States Information Agency, 301 Fourth Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20547. Please telephone 202-619-5326 or fax 202-619-4350 to request 
detailed application packets, which include award criteria, all 
necessary forms, and guidelines for preparing proposals, including 
specific budget preparation.

Objectives of the AR Local Government Training Program

    The Office of Citizen Exchanges (E/P) of the United States 
Information Agency proposes a two-way exchange program for municipal 
officials from the American Republics to study U.S. public 
administration. This exchange will involve two components: A two-week 
U.S. study tour by a delegation from the American Republics with a 
follow-on visit to the region by U.S. public administration experts. 
The U.S. tour will include stops in Washington and several small and 
large cities and towns; in Washington, the delegation would meet with 
officials of such organizations such as the U.S. League of Cities and 
the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
    Program Guidelines: National governments in the American Republics 
are increasingly decentralizing government, transferring such essential 
services as health care and education from the federal and state level 
to the cities. Moreover, these governments are looking toward the U.S. 
for successful models to assist them in these efforts.
    Reforms currently underway in the region include modernization of 
local administrative operations, and improvements in sanitation, 
education, and social services. Furthermore, in Argentina, the Interior 
Ministry has unveiled new political reforms aimed at cities, such as 
granting legal status to municipal political parties and giving voters 
the power to recall elected officials. Assisting and influencing these 
developments is an invaluable investment in democracy building and 
another tool in the fight against official corruption in Latin America.
    USIA is interested in proposals for programs that will foster 
effective administration of local and regional governments in the 
region. Programs might examine and seek to improve relationships among 
local executive, legislative, and judicial elements, or they might 
address the knowledge and skills necessary to administer one or more of 
these branches of local government.
    Program topics could include judicial administration, budget 
development, financial management, tax policies and mechanisms, 
election practices, management of municipal services, privatization of 
government property, consumer protection, business regulation (as 
opposed to control), licensing, or environmental protection. Programs 
might further the development of information and library systems 
relevant to local government or improve committee and staff structures 
of local governments.
    Study tours could examine specific issues such as city-state and 
state-federal relations, explaining how local governments implement 
state and federal programs, and the workings of city administrations, 
exploring how cities can increase efficiency, reduce costs, improve 
services, and satisfy local environmental concerns such as sewage 
treatment and recycling requirements.
    Training in the American Republics should be conducted mostly in 
local centers, preferably those outside the capital city. Projects 
should lay the groundwork for new and continuing links between 
professional organizations in the U.S. and the American Republics.
    The political climate facing U.S. cities, including municipal 
elections participation by citizens in local elections, and the roles 
of city managers, mayors, and city councils, is another aspect that 
should be addressed.
    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.
    Selection of Participants: Participants will be selected by USIS 
Posts. Delegates should speak Spanish, or if they are from a non-
Spanish speaking country in Latin America, understand Spanish. Elected 
and appointed officials from the Southern Cone region will be given 
higher priority in the selection process, however, delegates from other 
countries in the American Republics such as Colombia and Venezuela can 
be included. Moreover, countries such as Honduras and Venezuela that 
have recently introduced direct elections of local officials will be 
given higher priority.
    Delegates will also be selected for their ability to influence 
local public administration in their home country. For instance, 
Argentinean participants may be members of the National Academy of 
Public Administration, which is establishing an Institute of City 
Administration in Argentina, or from provinces where reforms are in 
place. A byproduct of the program will be the interaction among 
delegates who will be able to discuss common problems, and potential 
solutions, with their peers.
    This project will be executed by a U.S. not-for-profit institution 
that, through its proposal, illustrates extensive experience and 
success in coordinating international exchange programs. U.S. 
organizations with established working relationships with counterpart 
institutions in the American Republics will receive priority 
consideration under this competition. At the conclusion of this 
exchange, the grantee will conduct participant evaluations and submit a 
final report to USIA.
    Funding: Competition for USIA funding support is intense. Selection 
of a grantee institution is based on the substantive nature of the 
program proposal; the applicant's professional capability to carry the 
program through to successful conclusion; and cost effectiveness such 
as in-kind contributions and the ability to keep overhead costs at a 
minimum.
    USIA can devote up to $175,000 for this project; however, 
organizations with fewer than four years of successful experience in 
managing international exchange programs are limited to $60,000, and 
their budget submission should correspond to this limitation.
    All proposals should demonstrate in-depth, substantive knowledge of 
the relevant issues, established connections with partner institutions, 
and the capacity to organize and conduct the program. Organizational 
abilities include: 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.
    Applicants may wish to consult the USIS office at the appropriate 
U.S. Embassy before submitting proposals.
    USIA will give priority to proposals from U.S. organizations with 
partner organizations in the American Republics that can help ensure 
the program meets its goals and objectives. Applicants are encouraged 
to demonstrate partner relationships by providing copies of 
correspondence or other materials as appendices to proposals.
    Moreover, these 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 programs. For example, if not already available, glossaries 
of specialized terms in local government or public administration might 
be developed.
    Scope: Proposals should limit their focus to local governance. 
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.
    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 costs are eligible for funding:
    1. Transportation costs. International and domestic air fares, 
visas, transit costs, and ground transportation costs are eligible for 
funding.
    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. Generally, two 
simultaneous interpreters are 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 Department of State 
(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 for interpreters are covered elsewhere 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, in addition to a book 
allowance of $50. Escorts are reimbursed for actual cultural expenses 
up to $150. U.S. staff do not receive these allowances.
    5. Consultants. Consultants may be employed to provide specialized 
expertise or to make presentations. Generally, honoraria should 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 with the proposal.
    6. Room rental. Room rental 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 amount 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. This 
allowance is for incidental expenditures incurred during international 
travel.
    10. Costs for an audit. The proposal MUST 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 the 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. Cost-sharing in the form of allowable direct or 
indirect costs is encouraged. The recipient must maintain written 
records to support all allowable costs claimed as being its 
contribution to cost participation, as well as costs to be paid by the 
U.S. 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 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 American Republics. 
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 the 
objectives stated in this RFP, as well as the following criteria:
    1. Quality of Program Idea: Proposals should exhibit originality 
and relevance to USIA's mission, and demonstrate a clearly defined 
need.
    2. Institutional Ability/Capacity/Record: Applicants should 
demonstrate the potential for program excellence by documenting 
previous successful programs. If an organization is a former USIA grant 
recipient, responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all 
reporting requirements for past USIA grants is essential.
    3. Project Personnel: Thematic and logistical expertise should be 
relevant to the proposed program. Resumes included with the proposal 
should reflect this relevance.
    4. Program Planning: A detailed work plan should provide time-lines 
for the accomplishment of each phase of the project and clearly 
demonstrate how the grantee institution will meet these deadlines. In 
addition, the work plan should indicate how it will accomplish project 
goals.
    5. Thematic Expertise: Proposals 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 the target 
area/country.
    7. Multiplier Effect/Follow-On Activities: Proposed programs should 
strengthen long-term mutual understanding, facilitate sharing of 
information, and establish long-term institutional and individual 
relationships. Proposals should also reflect an institution's 
commitment to 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. The applicant should include a draft of a 
questionnaire or other evaluation technique to demonstrate which 
evaluation method will be utilized. Applicants will be expected to 
submit intermediate reports after each project component is concluded, 
or quarterly, whichever is less frequent.

    Note: 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. 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: February 10, 1994.
Barry Fulton,
Acting Associate Director, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
FR Doc. 94-3679 Filed 2-17-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M