[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 42 (Thursday, March 3, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-4588]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 3, 1994]


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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
 

Foreign Language and Area Studies--U.S. Students and Scholars; 
Request for Proposals

ACTION: Notice; request for proposals.

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SUMMARY: The United States Information Agency (ASCI) requests proposals 
from non-profit organizations for programs or projects under the rubric 
of the FY 1994 ``Near and Middle East Research and Training'' program. 
Organizations shall conceive, develop and administer programs in 
cooperation with USIA that will assist American graduate students and 
post-doctoral scholars in North African, Middle Eastern and South Asian 
Studies. Activities permitted under this program include foreign 
language training, foreign area studies and foreign area research for 
periods ranging from two months to a full academic year abroad.
    For the purpose of this program, the geographic area refers to the 
region consisting of countries and peoples covered by the Bureau of 
Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs of the U.S. Department of State as 
of October 1991. Current eligible locales for overseas research are: 
Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, 
Syria, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Yemen, 
Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal. Proposals for Turkey 
will be accepted subject to final Congressional approval on pending 
appropriation bills. The funding of proposals for the above countries 
is subject to official security and/or travel restrictions.

DATES: Deadline for proposals: One original and 14 copies must be 
received at the U.S. Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time 
on Friday, April 15, 1994. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor 
will documents postmarked on April 15, 1994, but received at a later 
date. It is the responsibility of each grant applicant to ensure that 
its proposals are received by the above deadline. Grants should begin 
September 1, 1994 and end August 31, 1995.

ADDRESSES: The original and fourteen (14) copies of the completed 
proposal, including required forms and a budget should be submitted by 
the deadline to: U.S. Information Agency, Reference: NMERTA, Office of 
Grants Management (E/XE), room 357, 301 4th St. SW., Wahsington, DC 
20547.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Interested U.S. organizations should 
write or call Ms. Janey Cole or Ms. Nada Gunnoe, North Africa, Near 
East and South Asia Branch (E/AEN room 212), Academic Exchange Programs 
Division, U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th St. SW., Washington, DC 
20547, telephone (202) 619-5368 to request detailed application packets 
which include award criteria, all necessary forms, and guidelines for 
preparing proposals, including specific budget preparation information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Overview

    Authority for this activity is the Mutual Educational and Cultural 
Exchange Act of 1961, Public Law 87-256 Fulbright-Hays Act. Through the 
Fulbright program USIA seeks to increase mutual understanding between 
the people of the United States and people of other countries. Pursuant 
to the Agency'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.
    Support is offered for two categories. Organizations may address 
one or both categories, but must submit a separate proposal for each 
category. Special emphasis will be given to social sciences and 
humanities.
    Category A. Pre-doctoral students. Organizations that are awarded 
funding shall solicit and receive applications from American graduate 
students nationwide who seek to conduct overseas study and research on 
the Near and Middle East and South Asia. Eligible fields of study and 
research shall be open to students of all disciplines with a need or 
established interest in topics requiring study or research in the 
geographic area. Eligibility shall be restricted to applicants who have 
a baccalaureate degree and who are already enrolled in graduate level 
academic programs.
    Category B. Post-doctural scholars. Organizations that are awarded 
funding shall solicit and receive applications from American post-
doctoral scholars nationwide who seek to conduct overseas study and 
research on the Near and Middle East and South Asia area. Eligible 
fields of study and research shall be open to scholars of all 
disciplines with a need or established interest in topics requiring 
study or research abroad. Eligibility shall be restricted to applicants 
who have a Ph.D. and who have post-doctoral college or university 
teaching experience.

Eligibility

    Non-profit organizations with experience in international 
education, such as educational and professional organizations and 
institutions, American overseas research centers, colleges and 
universities, are invited to submit proposals.

Guidelines

    In preparing a proposal, organizations should address the subjects 
of program design and scheduling, as well as program administration. At 
a minimum, a successful proposal should clearly cover publicity, 
selection process, orientation for participants, logistical and 
scheduling measures. A basic plan for post-program follow-up and 
evaluation should also be included. The proposal must be typewritten 
and double-spaced and cannot exceed fifteen pages, including budget 
attachments.

Proposed Budget

    Funding for both Category A and Category B is estimated at 
$1,000,000 each. USIA expects to make up to 10 awards ranging from 
$60,000 to $350,000, each which includes program and administrative 
costs. A comprehensive line-item budget not to exceed $350,000 must be 
submitted with the proposal. (Grants awarded to eligible organizations 
with less than four years experience conducting international exchange 
activities will be limited to $60,000. Budget submissions from such 
organizations may not exceed this amount). The budget should list all 
sources of support for the program including both cash and in-kind 
contributions.
    The budget guidelines apply to both categories above. All 
organizations must submit a comprehensive line item budget, the details 
and format of which are contained in the application packet. Grant 
funded items of expenditure may include, but are not limited to, the 
following:

--International travel (via American flag carrier);
--Domestic travel;
--Maintenance and per diem;
--Academic program costs (e.g. book allowance)
--Orientation costs (speaker honoraria are not to exceed $150 per day 
per speaker;
--Cultural enrichment expenses (admissions, tickets, etc.)
--In-country administration costs (e.g. publicity, recruitment and 
selection costs).

Administrative Costs--Not To Exceed 20% of the Requested Budget

--Administration (salaries, benefits);
--Communications (e.g. fax, telephone, postage);
--Office supplies;
--Other direct costs;
--Indirect costs.

    Organizations should demonstrate substantial cost-sharing (dollar 
and in-kind support) in both program and administrative expenses, 
including overseas partner contributions.
    USIA reserves the right to reduce, revise or increase budget 
proposals in accordance with the needs of the program. No grants funded 
under this program will include profit or fee. Please note: It is 
required that requested administrative funds, including indirect costs 
and administrative expenses for recruitment and orientation, not exceed 
20 percent of the total amount requested from USIA.
    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 cost 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 A110, Attachment E. Cost-sharing and 
matching 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. The recipient's 
proposal shall include the cost of the audit that:
    (1) Complies with the requirements of OMB Circular No A-133, Audits 
of Institutions of Higher Education and other Nonprofit Institutions.
    (2) Complies with the requirements of American Institute of 
Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Statement of Position (SOP) No. 
92-9; and
    (3) Includes review by the recipient's independent auditor of the 
recipient-prepared supplemental schedule of indirect cost rate 
computation, if such a rate is being proposed.
    The audit costs shall be identified separately for:
    (1) Preparation of basic financial statements and other accounting 
services; and
    (2) 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.

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 adhere to the guidelines established herein. Eligible 
submissions will be forwarded to panels of USIA officers for advisory 
review. All eligible submissions will also be reviewed by the 
appropriate geographic area office, and the budget and contracts 
offices. Proposals may also be reviewed by the Agency's Office of 
General Counsel. 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 
office.

Review Criteria

    Technical by eligible proposals for this competition will be 
reviewed according to the following criteria:
    1. Quality/responsiveness--Quality of administrative plan and 
adherence of the proposed activity to the criteria and conditions 
described in the application material available from USIA. Proposals 
should clearly demonstrate how the organization will meet the programs 
objectives and plan.
    2. Institutional capacity--Proposed personnel and institutional 
resources to be applied to the project should be adequate and 
appropriate to achieve all goals and objectives.
    3. Cost-effectiveness--The overhead and administrative components 
of the proposal, including salary/benefits, should be kept to not more 
than 20 percent of the total budget. All budget items should be 
necessary and appropriate. Proposals should demonstrate cost-sharing 
and in-kind support.
    4. Track record/potential--Proposals should demonstrate potential 
for excellence and/or a track record of the organization's involvement 
in international education, particularly academic exchange.
    5. Evaluation plan--Proposals should provide a plan for follow up 
and evaluation by the grantee organization.
    6. Reasonableness, feasibility, flexibility--Proposals should 
demonstrate how the objectives will be met.
    7. Multiplier effect/impact--A particular priority is that the 
project activity strengthen long-term mutual understanding, include 
maximum sharing of information and views among participants, and 
provide opportunities to facilitate the establishment of broader 
institutional and individual scholarly ties for collaborative teaching 
and research in the U.S. and the subject country.
    8. Mutuality of benefits--Proposals should show evidence of strong 
mutual benefits to the U.S. and foreign institutions and individuals 
involved, as well as evidence of strong commitment to the goals of the 
program.

Notice

    The terms and conditions published in this RFP are binding and may 
not be modified by any USIA representative. Explanatory information 
provided by the Agency that contradicts published language will not be 
binding. Issuance of this Request for Proposals does not constitute an 
award commitment on the part of the U.S. Government. Final award cannot 
be made until funds have been fully appropriated by Congress, allocated 
and committed through internal USIA procedures.

Notification

    All applicants will be notified of the results of the review of 
full proposals on or about July 1, 1994. Grant awards will be subject 
to standard periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.

    Dated: February 17, 1994.
Barry Fulton,
Acting Associate Director, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-4588 Filed 3-2-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M