[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: 94-6466]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 17, 1994]


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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
 

Enrichment Programs for International Students in the New York 
City Metropolitan Area

AGENCY: United States Information Agency.

ACTION: Notice--request for proposals.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United 
States Information Agency seeks applications from non-profit 
organizations in the New York metropolitan area to coordinate and 
implement programs which enhance the experience of self-sponsored 
international students attending colleges and universities in the New 
York City area. The organization will develop programs that serve to 
familiarize international students with New York City's complex 
cultural, political, and ethnic structures, and provide a bridge 
between the campus environment and American communities.
    USIA anticipates awarding up to $35,000 for the implementation and 
coordination of these programs. This amount may augment functions 
currently provided to international students by educational and other 
institutions.

DATES: Deadline for proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S. 
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on 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 proposals are 
received by the above deadlines.
    The duration of the grant will be July 1, 1994 through June 30, 
1995. No funds may be expended until the grant agreement is signed.

ADDRESSES: The original and 15 copies of the completed application, 
including required forms, should be submitted by the deadline to: U.S. 
Information Agency, Ref.: E/ASA-92-02, Office of Grants Management, E/
XE, 301 4th Street SW., room 336, Washington, DC 20547.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Interested organizations should contact Shirley Graham at the U.S. 
Information Agency, Advising and Student Services Branch (E/ASA), Room 
349, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547; telephone: (202) 619-
5435 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 nonpolitical character and should 
be balanced and representative of the diversity of American political, 
social and cultural life. Overall authority for these programs 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

    Through a grant to a non-profit organization in the New York city 
metropolitan area, USIA seeks programs that would enable self-sponsored 
international students to experience the United States: Its history, 
culture, values, policies and lifestyles. Self-sponsored international 
students should be provided an opportunity to utilize the city's 
resources productively; and to take an active role in city life. To 
understand more fully American life and culture, students must be 
provided the opportunity to become personally involved with and 
understand ``typical'' American activities such as volunteerism, 
observance of national and religious holidays, and cultural and sports 
events. In addition, self-sponsored international students should be 
encouraged to share their culture and knowledge with American students 
at all levels. Also important are programs which introduce foreign 
students to the U.S. government structure, the electoral process, the 
U.S. economy, business culture and trade issues, environmental 
protection, the arts and American cultural heritage. A variety of 
approaches such as workshops, home hospitability, and community 
outreach programs may be utilized.
    Enrichment programs should be designed not only to enhance 
international students' understanding of America's cultural and ethnic 
diversity, but they should also enable the students to teach Americans 
their own cultural, ethnic, political, and social diversity, thereby 
promoting mutual understanding and long-term friendships. This 
multicultural component can be met by emphasizing interaction--
interpersonal, intercultural communication--between students and 
American citizens.
    Another focus of this program could be to identify international 
students having leadership potential whose experience in this program 
could make a substantial contribution to mutual understanding and 
communication between the U.S. and their home countries in the future. 
In this regard, workshops to develop such leadership skills as public 
speaking and conflict resolution for future international leaders 
should be included in the program. Organizations must provide a program 
outline demonstrating their ability to enlist the participation of 
informed lecturers, keynote speakers, and/or recognized experts whose 
credentials and experience are evidence of in-depth knowledge of 
workshop topics.

Guidelines

    Proposals should include a listing of names and titles, of the 
executive officer(s) of the organization and of the person(s) directly 
responsible for the project. Resumes or curriculum vitae of key 
personnel should be provided.
    Organizations should demonstrate the ability to recruit and 
maintain the necessary cadre of volunteers required to participate in 
program events.

Proposed Budget

    Organizations must submit a comprehensive line-item budget for 
which specific details are available in the application packet. Budget 
will not exceed $35,000.
    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 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 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 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 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 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 thorough 
knowledge and understanding of the needs of self-sponsored students 
living in the New York metropolitan area, as well as the Agency's 
mission to promote mutual social, cultural, and political understanding 
between the people of the United States and the people of other 
countries.
    b. Program planning: Proposal must include a detailed agenda of 
program activities and demonstrate their potential effectiveness in 
promoting mutual understanding. Agenda should adhere to the program 
overview and guidelines described above. Program activities should 
emphasize cross-cultural sensitivity, i.e. demonstrate knowledge of 
specific cultures and customs, and include workshops/seminars on 
interpersonal/intercultural communication.
    c. Institutional capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional 
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program 
goals and adhere to the guidelines described above.
    d. Multiplier effect/impact: Program activities should be designed 
to foster long-term mutual understanding between citizens of the United 
States and other countries, as well as the establishment of long-term 
individual and consequentially institutional linkages--for example, by 
identifying international students having leadership potential as 
described in the program overview above.
    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 past 
Agency grants, if any, as determined by USIA's Office of Contracts (M/
KG). 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, and 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. Details 
on budget preparation are included with application package.
    h. Cost-sharing: The Agency encourages cost-sharing through other 
private sector support as well as institutional direct-funding 
contributions. Evidence of such cost sharing should be detailed in 
proposal.

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 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, allocated and committed 
through internal USIA procedures.

Notification

    All applicants will be notified of the results of the review 
process on or about May 15, 1994. Funded proposals will be subject to 
periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.

    Dated: March 10, 1994.
Barry Fulton,
Associate Director, Acting Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-6038 Filed 3-16-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M


                     Sunshine Act Meetings




FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION

DATE AND TIME: Tuesday, March 22, 1994 at 10:00 a.m.

PLACE: 999 E Street, NW., Washington, DC.

STATUS: This meeting will be closed to the public.

ITEMS TO BE DISCUSSED:

Compliance matters pursuant to 2 U.S.C. Sec. 437g.
Audits conducted pursuant to 2 U.S.C. Sec. 437g, Sec. 438(b), and 
    Title 26, U.S.C.
Matters concerning participation in civil actions or proceedings or 
    arbrtration
Internal personnel rules and procedures or matters affecting a 
    particular employee

DATE AND TIME: Wednesday, March 23, 1994 at 10:00 a.m.

PLACE: 999 E Street, NW., Washington, DC.

STATUS: This meeting will be closed to the public.

ITEMS TO BE DISCUSSED:

Internal Personnel Rules and Procedures or matters affecting a 
    particular employee
Audits conducted pursuant to Title 26, U.S.C.

DATE AND TIME: Thursday, March 24, 1994 at 10:00 a.m.

PLACE: 999 E Street, NW., Washington, DC (Ninth Floor).

STATUS: This meeting will be open to the public.

ITEMS TO BE DISCUSSED:

Correction and Approval of Minutes
Petition for Rulemaking Filed by the Center for Responsive Politics
Legislative Recommendations, 1994 (continued from meeting of March 
    10, 1994)
Administrative Matters

PERSON TO CONTACT FOR INFORMATION: Press Officer, Telephone: (202) 219-
4155.
Delores Hardy,

Administrative Assistant.

[FR Doc. 94-6466 Filed 3-15-94; 3:08 am]

BILLING CODE 6715-01-M