[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 52 (Thursday, March 17, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-6263]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 17, 1994]


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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY

 

Enrichment Programs for Self-Sponsored International Students and 
U.S. Government-Sponsored International Grantees in the Washington, DC, 
Metropolitan Area

ACTION: Notice; request for proposals.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United 
States Information Agency (USIA) seeks applications from non-profit 
organizations in the Washington, DC metropolitan area to coordinate and 
implement programs which enhance the experience of international 
students attending colleges and universities in the Washington, DC 
area. The recipient will develop programs which serve to familiarize 
international students with Washington's complex cultural, political, 
and ethnic structures and provide a bridge between the campus 
environment and the community. It will also provide off-campus services 
to international students visiting Washington, DC.
    The recipient will also provide support for Fulbright enrichment 
programs for foreign grantees in the Washington, DC area. Enrichment 
programs should be designed primarily for Fulbright students, but may 
include teachers, senior scholars, and other participants in programs 
supported by USIA. USIA anticipates awarding up to $70,000 for the 
implementation and coordination of both these programs. This support is 
not intended to replace private efforts in this field but rather to 
supplement such efforts with financial assistance.

ANNOUNCEMENT NAME AND NUMBER: All communications with USIA concerning 
this announcement should refer to the above title and reference number 
E/ASA-94-01.

DATES: Deadline for proposals: All proposals must be received at the 
U.S. Information Agency by close of business (5 p.m., Eastern Standard 
Time) Friday, April 22, 1994. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor 
will documents postmarked on April 22, 1994, but received at a later 
date.

DURATION: The duration of the grant should be from July 1, 1994 through 
June 30, 1995. Programs may begin no earlier than July 1, 1994. No 
funds may be expended until the grant agreement is signed.

ADDRESSES: A total of fifteen copies of the application should be 
submitted to the office below. Three copies (one a signed original) 
should include the completed application, including tabs A-U; the other 
12 copies should include tabs A-D. U.S. Information Agency, Reference 
number: E/ASA-94-01, Grants Management Division, E/XE, 301 4th Street 
SW., room 336, Washington, DC 20547.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Interested U.S. organizations should 
contact Suzanne Dawkins at the U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th Street 
SW., Advising and Student Services Branch (E/ASA), room 349, 
Washington, DC 20547, 202-619-5594 or 202-619-5434 to request detailed 
application packets, which include award criteria additional to this 
announcement, all necessary forms, and guidelines for preparing 
proposals, including specific budget preparation information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Bureau'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.
    Overall authority for this program is contained in the Mutual 
Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended, Public Law 
87-256 (Fulbright Hays Act). The purpose of the Act is to ``enable the 
Government of the United States to increase mutual understanding 
between the people of the United States and the people of other 
countries; to strengthen the ties which unite us with other nations by 
demonstrating the educational and cultural interests, developments, and 
achievements of the people of the United States and other nations and 
thus to assist in the development of friendly, sympathetic and peaceful 
relations between the United States and the other countries of the 
world.'' Programs and projects must conform with all Agency 
requirements and guidelines and are subject to final review by the USIA 
contracting officer.

Overview

    An ideal program would include the following elements: Direct 
services, community outreach programs, and workshops that provide 
international students with an opportunity to experience the United 
States--its history, culture, values, policies, and life-styles. 
Programs should support self-sponsored international students as well 
as Fulbright students, teachers, senior scholars, and other 
participants in programs supported by USIA.

Guidelines

General/Organizational

    The recipient will provide programs which enhance the experiences 
of self-sponsored and U.S. Government-sponsored international students 
either attending colleges and universities in the Washington, D.C. area 
or visiting the area. Government-sponsored grantees include Fulbright 
students, teachers, seniors scholars, and other participants in 
programs supported by USIA.
    Proposals should include a listing of names and titles of the 
executive officer(s) of the applicant and of the person(s) directly 
responsible for the project. Resumes or vitae of key personnel should 
be provided. USIA recommends the inclusion of brochures and general 
information concerning the applicant and evidence of previous 
experience with international students in the proposal package.
    Applicants should demonstrate the ability to recruit and maintain 
the necessary cadre of volunteers required to participate in program 
events.

Direct Services

    Proposals should demonstrate the applicant's ability to provide a 
variety of direct services to international students which may include: 
The operation and maintenance of a housing referral service; the 
publication of a newsletter; student orientation and re-entry programs; 
and the organization of social and cultural events. Applicants should 
also demonstrate a willingness to provide services to traveling foreign 
students from outside the metropolitan area and show flexibility in 
accommodating their requests.

Community Outreach

    USIA seeks to enhance the experiences of international students 
through contact with the greater community and to provide the residents 
of Washington at-large an opportunity to participate in a mutually 
enriching experience. The Agency encourages the inclusion of home 
hospitality and community education programs in proposals.

Workshops

    Another goal of this project is the identification of international 
graduate students who have leadership potential and whose participation 
in specially tailored programs may make a substantial contribution to 
mutual understanding and communication between the U.S. and their home 
country in the future. International leadership workshops are 
considered integral to the accomplishment of this goal.
    Therefore, proposals should include specifics concerning the design 
and implementation of workshops capable of accommodating at least 
twenty (20) international student participants each. Workshops should 
address such topics as: foreign policy, international trade and 
business, mass media, and other issues relevant to potential 
international leaders.
    An outline of proposed workshop activities should be included in 
proposals. The outline should demonstrate the recipient's ability to 
enlist the participation of informed lecturers, keynote speakers, and/
or presenters whose credentials and experience are evidence of in-depth 
knowledge of workshop topics. Invited speakers should provide 
international students with access to expertise and insights not 
otherwise available to them.
    The recipient will also be responsible for soliciting nominations 
of workshop participants from colleges and universities in the 
Washington, DC metropolitan area.

Proposed Budget

    Applicants must submit a comprehensive line-item budget for which 
specific details are available in the application packet. The budget 
award should not exceed $70,000: $20,000 for Fulbright enrichment 
programs and $50,000 for the activities of self-sponsored students. The 
applicant should submit separate line-item budges for (1) Fulbright 
enrichment (not to exceed $20,000); and (2) self-sponsored foreign 
grantees (not to exceed $50,000). Grants awarded to eligible 
organizations with less than four years of experience in conducting 
international exchange programs will be limited to $60,000.
    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 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.
    Applicants should refer to the application package for a list of 
allowable costs.

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. All eligible proposals 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 
officer.

Review Criteria

    Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed 
according to the following criteria:

a. Quality of Program Plan

    Proposals should exhibit a through knowledge and understanding of 
the needs of students living in the Washington metropolitan area, and 
exhibit originality, substance, and rigor.

b. Program Planning

    Proposals must include a detailed agenda and relevant workplan of 
program activities. The agenda should adhere to the program overview 
and guidelines described above.

c. Ability To Achieve Program Objectives/Institutional Capacity

    Proposed personnel and institutional resources should be adequate 
and appropriate to achieve the program goals and adhere to the 
guidelines described above. The applicant should demonstrate an ability 
to recruit and maintain a volunteer cadre and a relationship with 
colleges and universities in the Washington metropolitan area to 
successfully accomplish the goals of the program.

d. Multiplier Effect/Impact

    Program activities should be designed to foster long-term mutual 
understanding between citizens of the United States and other 
countries.

e. Institution's Track Record/Ability

    Proposals should demonstrate a track record of successful programs, 
including responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all 
reporting requirements for Agency grants. The Agency will consider the 
past performance of prior grantees and the demonstrated potential of 
new applicants.

f. Evaluation Plan:

    Proposals should provide a plan for evaluation by the grantee 
institution, including periodic progress reports.

g. Cost-Effectiveness

    The overhead and administrative components of grants, as well as 
salaries and honoraria, should be kept as low as possible. All other 
items should be necessary and appropriate.

h. Cost-Sharing

    Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through other private 
secteor support as well as instiutional direct-funding contributions. 
Evidence of such cost sharing should be detailed in the proposal.

Notice

    The terms and conditions published in the 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 the RFP does not constitute an award commitment on 
the part of the Government. Final 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 June 15, 1994. Funded proposals will be subject to 
periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.

    Dated: March 12, 1994.
Barry Fulton,
Associate Director, Acting Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-6263 Filed 3-16-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M