[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 48 (Friday, March 11, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-5660]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 11, 1994]


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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY

 

Census of Foreign Students in the U.S.

AGENCY: United States Information Agency.

ACTION: Notice--Request for concept papers.

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SUMMARY: The United States Information Agency (USIA) invites U.S. 
educational, cultural, and other not-for-profit organizations to submit 
concept papers outlining the design of a statistical survey (census) of 
foreign nationals affiliated with institutions of higher learning in 
the United States. The census should identify in the most economical 
way possible the number of foreign students and scholars studying, 
conducting research, or teaching at all accredited universities and 
colleges in the United States starting in the 1994-95 academic year; it 
must also survey the number of American students studying abroad. 
Papers should also describe the methodology which will be used to 
collect the data and how the material will be analyzed and presented to 
the public. Following Agency review of concept papers, certain 
organizations may be invited to submit full proposals, leading to the 
award of a FY 1995 cooperative agreement.

DATES: Deadline for proposals: All copies must be received at USIA by 5 
p.m. Washington, DC time, on April 15, 1994. Faxed documents will not 
be accepted, nor will documents postmarked April 15 but received at a 
later date. It is the responsibility of each applicant to ensure that 
proposals are received by the above deadline. Data from the 1994-5 
academic year census must be compiled and published by December 1995.
    Duration: The award will begin on October 1, 1994 and end on 
September 30, 1995. No funds may be expended until the agreement is 
signed.

ADDRESSES: One original and 5 copies of the concept paper, which should 
be 7-10 double-spaced pages and include a summary budget, are to be 
mailed to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: Foreign Student Census, 
Grants Management Office, E/XE, room 336, 301 4th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20547.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Interested U.S. organizations should contact Catherine Sevcenko at the 
U.S. Information Agency, Advising, Teaching, and Specialized Programs 
Division, Advising and Student Services Branch (E/ASA), room 349, 301 
4th St. SW., Washington, DC 20547, telephone: (202) 619-5434, for 
further clarification. There are no official forms which must be 
submitted with the concept papers but all submissions must contain the 
information requested below.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Overview

    As the Federal agency tasked with promoting international 
educational exchange, USIA considers it essential to have an accurate 
picture of foreign study and scholarship in the United States, such as 
that provided by the statistical survey. This survey should provide a 
detailed and comprehensive picture of the number and characteristics of 
foreign nationals (excluding permanent residents and refugees) 
affiliated with American institutions of higher learning and the 
numbers of U.S. students studying abroad. Topics of interest include 
the numbers of students and scholars, their gender, countries of 
origin, and fields of study. Information about students interim of 
academic level (undergraduate, graduate, post-doctorate), primary 
source of financial support, financial contribution they make while in 
the United States, and location of study should be included. A 
compilation of visa status (F, J, M, H) should be included. Papers 
should indicate whether potential applicants will provide information 
on a yearly basis; less frequent collection and compilation of data 
must be justified. A survey of students in intensive English language 
programs would be of interest but is not required.
    The Agency will consider funding a publication, database, 
newsletter, or any other medium presented as a viable vehicle for 
making census data about the U.S. and foreign student population widely 
available in a timely manner and in a clear and concise format. 
Continued support, assuming availability of funding, will be contingent 
upon accurate data collection, quality of presentation of that data, 
and prompt publication of the census. The Agency reserves the right to 
reproduce, publish or otherwise use any work developed under this grant 
for Government purposes.
    Concept papers should include a description of the methodology to 
be used to canvass colleges and universities for information about 
their foreign student and scholar populations as well as study abroad 
statistics. Provision should be made for securing the highest possible 
response rate. The Agency is interested in a clear presentation of the 
data collected as well as a rigorous analysis of the data which will 
draw conclusions about the trends in international study in the U.S. 
and make recommendations for policy for both government and academia 
based on the data collected. Organizations submitting concept papers 
judged most feasible and cost-effective will be invited to submit full 
proposals in accordance with Agency guidelines.
    A final cooperative agreement will be awarded October 1, 1994 
subject to the availability of FY 1995 funding.
    Pursuant to the Bureau's authorizing legislation, funded activities 
must maintain a non-political character.

Guidelines

Eligibility

    U.S. non-profit educational, cultural, and other non-for-profit 
organizations that have a minimum of four years experience in some 
aspect of international education are eligible to apply. The project 
director or key program staff responsible for the administration of the 
census must be demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following: 
statistics, data collection, international exchange, publication 
design, computer technology.

Proposed Budget

    The amount of funding for this project will be determined upon 
evaluation of all concept papers submitted. Papers should include a 
short budget, however, and highlight how the census would be produced 
as cost-effectively as possible. Papers which offer substantial cost-
sharing or alternate sources of funding will be given special 
consideration. Discussion of potential target markets and possible 
sales revenue should also be included. Budgets should include provision 
to the Agency of a minimum of 600 copies of any publication, database 
or other medium of presentation. Organizations should be familiar with 
grant regulations described in OBM circulars A110, A122 and A133. Cost-
sharing of the grantee organization may be in the form of allowable 
direct or indirect costs.

Application Requirements

    Concept papers must be submitted by the deadline and must conform 
to the following requirements:
    1. A Concept Paper Cover Sheet: with name(s) of institution(s), 
project director(s), appropriate addresses, telephone and fax numbers.
    2. Narrative of 7-10 double-spaced pages, including a description 
of the proposed institution(s) which will run the project; a detailed 
description of the type of information to be collected and the 
methodology to be used, a description of the manner in which the data 
will be presented and analyzed, and a description of the qualifications 
of those who will play key roles in the project.
    3. Brief resumes (no more than 2 pages) of the proposed project 
director and others if identified who will be involved in the project.
    4. Brief (one page) budget.

Review Process

    USIA will acknowledge receipt of all concept papers and forward 
them to panels of USIA officers for advisory review. Institutions 
submitting concept papers which meet the review criteria will be 
invited to submit full proposals in accordance with Agency guidelines. 
USIA reserves the right to issue another general announcement for 
proposals or concept papers if none submitted in accordance with this 
announcement pass Agency review. All funding decisions are at the 
discretion of the Associate Director for Educational and Cultural 
Affairs.

Review Criteria

    All concept papers will be competitively reviewed according to the 
following criteria:
1. Overall Quality
    The content, definition, and organization of all aspects of the 
project; appropriateness of project plan and content to program 
objectives; extensive academic and professional involvement of the 
staff assigned to the project in the U.S. educational community; 
evidence of understanding of the dynamics of trends in international 
education.
2. Institutional Capacity
    Adequacy of proposed resources, including professional staff and 
available educational network(s), to administer the census 
successfully, based on achieving a high response rate from those 
institutions surveyed, in the most economical way possible. Development 
of an appropriate method and format for presentation and analysis of 
the data.
3. Institution's Track Record/Ability
    Clear evidence of applicant institution's track record of 
successful projects and experience with international education. 
Demonstrated expertise of the Project Director to assume the 
administration of this undertaking.
4. Cost-Effectiveness
    The overhead and administrative components of the program, as well 
as salaries, should be kept as low as possible. All other items should 
be necessary and appropriate. In-kind contributions should also be 
included.
5. Cost-sharing
    Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through host institutions 
and other private sector support as well as institutional direct 
funding contributions and may include marketing the data.

Notice

    The terms and conditions published in this Request for Concept 
Papers 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 announcement 
does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the Government.

Notification

    All applicants will be notified of the results of the initial 
review process by May 15, 1994.

    Dated: March 7, 1994.
Barry Fulton,
Acting Associate Director, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-5660 Filed 3-10-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M