[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 3, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-10586]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 3, 1994]


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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY

 

American Studies Fellowships for Scholars From Eastern Europe and 
the Newly Independent States

AGENCY: United States Information Agency.

ACTION: Notice--request for proposals.

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SUMMARY: Prospective grantee will provide approximately twelve research 
fellowships for scholars from Eastern Europe and the Newly Independent 
States (NIS) to pursue research in American studies in U.S. 
universities and research institutions in the academic year 1995-1996. 
Participants should be teaching at the university level in humanities 
and social science fields of American studies, broadly defined, such as 
American history, law, demography, literature, sociology, or political 
science. Grantee is responsible for publicizing the program abroad, 
selecting the participants, and placing them in appropriate U.S. 
institutions. Grantee is also responsible for all administrative 
arrangements, for program evaluation, and for establishing procedures 
for follow-up after participants return to their home institutions.

DATES: Deadline for proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S. 
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time, on Friday, June 10, 
1994. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents 
postmarked on June 10, 1994, but received at a later date. It is the 
responsibility of each grant applicant to ensure that the proposals are 
received by the above deadline. Grants should begin on or about August 
15, 1994.

ADDRESSES: The original and 14 copies of the completed application, 
including required forms, should be submitted by the deadline to: U.S. 
Information Agency, Reference: E/AA-94-3, Grants Management Staff, E/
XE, room 336, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Interested organizations/institutions should contact Gretchen 
Christison at U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th St. SW., Study of the 
U.S. Branch, E/AAS room 256, (202) 619-4557 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.

Overview

    The program seeks to increase the quality and amount of teaching in 
Eastern European and NIS countries about the United States through 
guided curricular research. The program will provide fellowships for 
approximately twelve qualified Eastern European and NIS scholars to 
update and enhance their knowledge of their American studies fields.

Guidelines

    The program is designed for Eastern European and NIS scholars who 
are teaching at the university level in humanities and social science 
fields of American studies, broadly defined, such as American history, 
law, demography, literature, sociology, or political science. 
Participants should be chosen through a public, open competition which 
includes U.S. professional peer review for the final selection of 
participants. Selections should be made and announced in reasonable 
time for applicants to make plans for absence from their countries and 
to undertake departure formalities. USIA (E/AAS) and all posts in 
countries from which scholars are selected should be informed of the 
final selection. Proposals should demonstrate extensive contacts with 
and knowledge of Eastern European and NIS universities to ensure that 
the best possible candidates are recruited and selected.
    Fellowships should be six to twelve months in duration. Family 
members may accompany recipients for part of the grant period, but not 
for a period exceeding six months. The fellowships provide for all 
costs of the recipients and accompanying dependents, with due account 
being taken of any continuing university salary transferable into U.S. 
dollars that recipients might be receiving.
    Grantee will arrange appropriate placement in U.S. universities and 
research institutions for participants. To the extent possible, waivers 
of tuition fees should be procured.
    Grantee will make all administrative arrangements, including 
travel, visa, disbursement of grant funds, insurance and related 
matters. The grantee should maintain contact with the participants and 
liaison with university hosts during the course of the grant to offer 
assistance with participant administrative concerns such as housing, 
travel within the U.S., or emergency matters. Grantee will develop 
evaluation instruments and procedures to determine the participants' 
scholarly activity during the course of the grant, the adequacy of the 
stipend, and the adequacy of grantee and university administrative 
arrangements. Participants should also report on their general 
impressions of the U.S. and how they intend to apply the materials or 
new information gained during the fellowship in their professional work 
in their own countries. The grantee will establish procedures for 
follow-up communication with grantees to ascertain the application of 
their fellowship activity to their professional responsibilities, such 
as new publications, workshop leadership, new positions, or new course 
offerings stemming from their fellowship experience.

Proposed Budget

    Applicants must submit a comprehensive line item budget for which 
specific details are available in the application packet. A USIA-funded 
budget will not exceed $150,000. Grantee organization is expected to 
provide significant cost sharing.
    Grants awarded to eligible organizations with less than four years 
experience in conducting international exchange programs will be 
limited to $60,000.

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:
    1. Quality: Proposals should exhibit originality, substance, rigor, 
and relevance to Agency mission and program goals.
    2. Program planning: Detailed agenda and relevant work plan should 
demonstrate appropriate content and logistical capacity. Agenda and 
plan should adhere to the program overview and guidelines described 
above.
    3. Ability to achieve program objectives: Objectives should be 
reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly 
demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's objectives and 
plan.
    4. Multiplier effect/impact: Proposed programs should strengthen 
long-term mutual understanding, including maximum sharing of 
information and establishment of long-term institutional and individual 
linkages.
    5. Institutional capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional 
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program or 
project's goals.
    6. 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 as determined by USIA's office of Contracts (M/KG). The 
Agency will consider past performance grantees and the demonstrated 
potential of new applicants.
    7. Follow-on activities: Proposals should provide a plan for 
continued cost-effective follow-on activity which insures that USIA 
supported programs are not isolated venues.
    8. Evaluation plan: Proposals should provide a plan for evaluation 
by the grantee institution.
    9. 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.
    10. Cost-sharing: Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through 
other private sector support as well as institutional direct funding 
contributions.

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 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 
process on or about August 15, 1994. Awarded grants will be subject to 
periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.

    Dated: April 27, 1994.
Barry Fulton,
Acting Associate Director, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-10586 Filed 5-2-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-M