[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: 94-4829]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 3, 1994]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY

 

Exchange Program To Enhance the Quality of Public Administration 
in the Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria (Public and Private Nonprofit 
Organizations in Support of International Educational and Cultural 
Activities)

AGENCY: United States Information Agency.

ACTION: Notice; request for proposals.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Office of Citizen Exchanges (E/P) of the United States 
Information Agency's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs 
announces a competitive grants program for nonprofit organizations to 
develop a multi-phased exchange program intended to enhance the quality 
of public administration in Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
    Twelve to 15 public administrators from Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria, 
engaged in municipal management, the provision of social services, or 
educational administration, will travel to the United States for a six-
week program in administration and management, combining a short but 
intensive introduction to management theory and practice and a month-
long, hands-on internship in an appropriate American institutional 
structure.
    Subsequently, two or three American public administrators will 
travel to each of the target countries to conduct workshops and follow-
on training activities with the original participants and their 
colleagues.
    Interested applicants are urged to read the complete Federal 
Register announcement before addressing inquiries to the Office or 
submitting their proposals. After the RFP deadline, the Office of 
Citizen Exchanges may not discuss this competition in any way with 
applicants until the final decisions are made.

ANNOUNCEMENT NAME AND NUMBER: All communications with USIA concerning 
this announcement should refer to the above title and reference number 
E/P-94-21.

DATES: Deadline for Proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S. 
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on May 13, 1994. Faxed 
documents will not be accepted, nor will documents postmarked May 13, 
1994, but received at a later date. It is the responsibility of each 
grant applicant to ensure that proposals are received by this deadline.

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: E/P-94-21, Office of Grants Management (E/XE), 301 Fourth 
Street SW.-room 336, Washington, DC 20547

contact for information: Interested organizations/institutions should 
contact the Office of Citizen Exchanges (E/P), USIA, 301 Fourth Street 
SW., room 224, Washington DC 20547, fax (202) 619-4350, tel. (202) 619-
5319, to request detailed application packages which include all 
necessary forms and guidelines for RFP proposals, including specific 
budget preparation. Please specify the name of USIA Program Specialist 
Thomas Johnston on all inquiries and correspondence.

Background/Objectives of This Program

    Within the past two years, political and social evolution in the 
Middle East has produced democratic elections in Jordan and Yemen, the 
re-emergence of civil government in Lebanon, an agreement intended to 
bring about Palestinian self government and the responsibility for 
providing and administering social services that entails in Gaza and 
the West Bank, and the gradual emergence, in a number of heretofore 
closed political systems, of more responsive and accessible 
governmental institutions.
    Essential to the success and fruition of these political 
experiments is the development, in each society affected, of 
responsible and responsive administration in public institutions and 
the perception, often absent in developing societies, of a public 
office as a public trust. The primary objective of this program is, 
initially, to instill in a group of public administrators, with 
responsibility for a variety of civil administrative and management 
functions, a sense of civil administration as a crucial element in the 
emergence of a viable civil culture, and secondly, to broaden and 
refine their ability to fulfill their duties and to contribute to the 
development of a cadre of enlightened, self-conscious, and responsible 
public administrators in their home countries.

Participants

    Participants for the U.S. component of this exchange will include 
mid-level public administrators from various sectors health, education, 
housing, security, and general social welfare--from Jordan, Syria, and 
Lebanon, whose English-language skills are sufficient to enable them to 
function successfully during the U.S. internship phase of the program. 
Participants will be nominated through coordination among USIA, U.S. 
Information Service personnel in the region, and overseas partner 
institutions. USIA and the participating USIS posts retain the right to 
nominate all participants and to accept or reject participants 
recommended by grantee institutions.
    American participants in the program, both those institutions which 
will host foreign public administrators in the United States and those 
individuals who will subsequently travel overseas as resource persons 
in the second component of the exchange, will be selected by the 
American grantee organization in consultation with the Office of 
Citizen Exchanges. The consultants travelling overseas should be fluent 
in the language of the country in which the seminar is presented or the 
American grantee organization should undertake to provide simultaneous 
interpretation.
    USIS officers in participating countries will facilitate the 
issuance of visas and other program-related material.

Programmatic Considerations

    Thematically, the program should: Analyze the current status of 
public administration in the participants' countries of origin and 
determine, in conjunction with USIS posts in these countries and with 
the administrators selected as participants, the needs to be addressed 
by the exchange; provide the participants both a general and a specific 
overview of the administration and management of public service-
providing organizations in the United States, beginning with an 
historic perspective and a survey of the evolution of the civil service 
system in the context of a socially diverse and politically democratic 
country; conduct for the participants a short, intensive course, 
combining lectures with discussion, site visits, and interviews, in 
public administration theory and practice. This course should also 
offer an intensive orientation to the concept of public service as an 
indispensable building block in the structure of democratic society and 
to the perception of a public office as a public trust; and place the 
administrators in month-long internships appropriate to their fields of 
specialization and responsibility in their home countries.
    Pursuant to the legislation authorizing the Bureau of Education and 
Cultural Affairs, programs must maintain a nonpolitical character and 
should be balanced and representative of the diversity of American 
political, social, and cultural life.
    Beyond the immediate goals of this exchange, USIA is also 
interested in supporting programs which will lay the groundwork for new 
and continuing links between American and Middle Eastern educational 
institutions and professional organizations and which will encourage 
the further growth and development of democratic institutions.
    The grantee organization will be responsible for most arrangements 
associated with this program. These include organizing a coherent 
progression of activities, providing international and domestic travel 
arrangements for all participants, making lodging and local 
transportation arrangements for visitors, orienting and debriefing 
participants, preparing any necessary support material, and working 
with host institutions and individuals to achieve maximum program 
effectiveness.
    To prepare foreign public administrators for this project prior to 
their arrival in the United States, E/P encourages the grantee 
organization to develop material to be sent to USIS offices overseas 
for distribution to participants. This material might include a 
tentative project outline with suggested goals and objectives, relevant 
background information, and information about American institutions and 
individuals involved in the exchange.
    At the beginning of the U.S. portion of the program, the grantee 
should conduct an orientation session for the visiting participants 
which addresses administrative details of the program and provides 
general information about American society and culture which will 
facilitate the participants' understanding of and adjustment to daily 
life in the United States.
    At the conclusion of the program, the group should meet in a 
symposium to review what has been presented to and experienced by the 
participants and to consider how that which has been learned can most 
effectively be applied upon the participants' return to their home 
countries. Plans for the second component of the exchange should also 
be discussed at this time, and nominations should be accepted from the 
participants of American specialists who will be invited to conduct 
follow-up activities overseas.

Additional Guidelines

    Program monitoring and oversight will be provided by appropriate 
USIA elements.
    Per Diem support from host institutions during an internship 
component is strongly encouraged. However, for all programs which 
include internships, a nonprofit grantee institution which receives 
funds from corporate or other cosponsors should then use those monies 
to provide food, lodging, and pocket money for the participants. In no 
case could the intern receive a wage or ``be hired'' by the sponsoring 
institution. Internships should also have an American Studies/values 
orientation component at the beginning of the exchange.
    The U.S. grantee institution should try to maximize cost-sharing in 
all facets of their program and to stimulate U.S. private sector 
(foundation and corporate) support.
    Proposals incorporating internships will be more competitive if 
letters committing prospective host institutions to supporting these 
efforts are provided.

Funding

    Competition for USIA funding support is keen. The final selection 
of a grantee institution will depend on assessment of proposals 
according to the review criteria delineated below.
    The amount requested from USIA for this program should not exceed 
$180,000. However, 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 are also encouraged to include separate sub-budgets for 
each program component, phase, location or activity.
    The recipient's proposal shall include the cost of an 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 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: (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.
    USIA will consider funding the following project costs: 1. 
International and domestic air fares; visas; transit costs (e.g., 
airport taxes); ground transportation costs.
    2. Per diem: For the U.S. program, organizations have the option of 
using a flat $140/day for international participants or the published 
Federal Travel Regulations per diem rates for individual American 
cities. Note: U.S. escorting staff must use the published federal per 
diem rates, not the flat rate. For activities in the Middle East, the 
Standard Government Travel Regulations per diem rates must be used.
    3. 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.
    4. Consultants: May be used to provide specialized expertise or to 
make presentations. Honoraria should not exceed $250 per day. 
Subcontracting organizations may also be used, in which case the 
written contract(s) must be included in the proposal.
    5. Room rental: Generally should not exceed $250 per day.
    6. Materials Development: Proposals may contain costs to purchase, 
develop and translate material for participants. USIA reserves the 
rights to these materials for future use.
    7. One working meal per project: Per capita cost may not exceed $5-
8 per lunch and $14-20 per dinner, excluding room rental. The number of 
invited guests may not exceed the number of participants by a factor of 
more than two to one.
    8. Return travel allowance: $70 for each participant which is to be 
used for incidental expenditures incurred during international travel.
    9. Other costs necessary for the effective administration of the 
program, including salaries for grant organization employees, benefits, 
and other direct and indirect costs per detailed instructions in the 
application package.
    E/P encourages cost-sharing, which 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 meet 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.

Please Note

    All delegates will be covered under the terms of a USIA-sponsored 
health insurance policy. The premium is paid by USIA directly to the 
insurance company.

Application Requirements

    Proposals must be structured in accordance with the instructions 
contained in the application package. Confirmation letters from U.S. 
and foreign co-sponsors noting their intention to participate in the 
program will enhance a proposal.

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 package.
    Eligible proposals will be forwarded to panels of USIA officers for 
advisory review. Proposals will be reviewed by USIS posts and by USIA's 
Office of Near Eastern, North African, and South Asian Affairs. 
Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of General Counsel or 
other Agency elements. Funding decisions are at the discretion of the 
Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final 
technical authority for granting awards resides with USIA's contracting 
officer. The awarding 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 the awarding 
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 following criteria:

1. Quality of Program Idea

    Proposals should exhibit substance, originality, rigor, and 
relevance to the Agency mission. They should demonstrate the matching 
of U.S. resources to a clearly defined need.

2. Institutional Reputation/Ability

    Institutions should demonstrate their potential for effective 
program design and implementation and provide, if available, evidence 
of having conducted successful programs. If an applicant has previously 
received a USIA grant, responsible fiscal management and full 
compliance with all reporting requirements for past Agency grants, as 
determined by USIA's Office of Contracts (M/KG), will be considered. 
Evaluations of previous projects may also be considered in this 
assessment.

3. Project Personnel

    Information provided regarding the thematic and logistical 
expertise of project personnel should be relevant to the proposal at 
hand. Resumes or C.V.s. should be summaries appropriate to the specific 
proposal and no longer than two pages each.

4. Program Planning

    A detailed agenda and relevant work plan should demonstrate 
substantive rigor and logistical capacity.

5. Thematic Expertise

    Proposal should demonstrate the organization's expertise in the 
subject area and its ability effectively to share information.

6. Cross-Cultural Sensitivity and Area Expertise

    Evidence should be provided of sensitivity to historical, 
linguistic, religious, and other cross-cultural factors, as well as 
relevant knowledge of the target geographic area/country.

7. Ability To Achieve Program Objectives

    Objectives should be realistic and feasible. The proposal should 
clearly demonstrate how the grantee institution will meet program 
objectives.

8. Multiplier Effect

    Proposed programs should strengthen mutual understanding and should 
contribute to maximum sharing of information and establishment of long-
term institutional and individual ties.

9. Cost-Effectiveness

    Costs to USIA per exchange participant (American and foreign) 
should be kept to a minimum, and all items proposed for USIA funding 
should be necessary and appropriate to achieve the program's 
objectives.

10. Cost-Sharing

    Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through private sector 
support as well as through direct funding contributions and/or in-kind 
support from the prospective grantee organization and its partners.

11. Follow-on Activities

    Proposals should provide a plan for continued exchange activity 
(without USIA support) which ensures that USIA-supported programs are 
not isolated events.

12. Project Evaluation

    Proposals should include a plan to evaluate the project. USIA 
recommends that the applicant discuss the evaluation methodology chosen 
and the techniques which will be employed to assess the effectiveness 
of the project and the correspondence between observable outcomes and 
original project objectives. Grantees 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 the Agency which contradicts published language will not be 
binding. Issuance of the RFP does not constitute an award commitment on 
the part of the American Government. Awards cannot be made until funds 
have been fully appropriated by 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 August 1, 1994. Awarded grants will be subject to 
periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.

    Dated: February 25, 1994.
David Michael Wilson,
Acting Associate Director, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-4829 Filed 3-2-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M