[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 4, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-10634]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: May 4, 1994]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
North-South Center External Research Grant Program
ACTION: Notice-request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: The United States Information Agency (USIA) invites
applications from eligible institutions under the auspices of the
North-South Center's 1994 Research Grant Programs. The North-South
Center is located at the University of Miami and is funded through a
Congressional appropriation managed through the Bureau of Educational
and Cultural Affairs of the United States Information Agency. The
Center's External Research Grant Program and Short-Term Field Research
Program support selected research activities which are of importance to
the people and governments of the Western Hemisphere. Through grant
awards, the Center brings together human and technical resources to
address major themes relevant to policy making in North, South, and
Central America and the Caribbean. The Grant Programs provide funding
for research projects with innovative approaches to contemporary
concerns throughout the region. There are currently two grant
competitions for which solicitation of research proposals is being
sought:
External Research Grant Program: The Program supports research,
analysis, and the exchange of information important to the economic,
social, political, and cultural development of the countries of the
Western Hemisphere. The general aim of the grant program is to promote
scholarly research of contemporary regional issues including:
Democratization, social change and equity, trade, debt, investment,
environment, and drug policy. Since 1991, approximately 100 External
Research Grants have been awarded involving over 250 institutions
throughout the hemisphere.
Short-term Field Research Grant Program on Poverty and Urban
Violence: Designed to coincide with the upcoming United Nations World
Summit for Social Development (March 1995) these awards are to be
specifically focused around the theme of poverty. Research proposals
will be accepted from various disciplines for research projects or
field research to investigate issues of poverty and its relationship to
migration pressures and illegal immigration, youth and violence,
distributional equity, and the impact of stabilization and adjustment
measures on the overall well-being of the population. The one-time
competition for the Short-Term Field Research Grants on Poverty and
Urban Violence will be held in Spring of 1994.
Dates/Deadlines: It is the responsibility of each grant applicant
to ensure that proposals are received by the stated deadlines for
selected program.
External Research Grant Program: For information purposes the
External Research Grant Program requires one original and nineteen (19)
copies of the final proposal, written in English, and have been
received at the Office of Grant Programs, North-South Center by 5 p.m.
Miami time on Monday, May 2, 1994. Please conserve paper by making
copies double-sided. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will
documents postmarked on May 2, 1994 but received at a later date.
Project activities should begin no earlier than July 1, 1994 and should
run no longer than September 30, 1995. An additional External Research
Grant Program will be announced in July of 1994, with projects to begin
no earlier than September 1994.
Short-term Field Research Grant Program on Poverty and Urban
Violence: The deadline for submission of the original and nineteen (19)
copies of the final proposal and required attachments, written in
English, must be received at the Office of Grant Programs, North-South
Center by 5 p.m. Miami time on Wednesday, May 25, 1994. Please conserve
paper by making copies double-sided. Faxed documents will not be
accepted, nor will documents postmarked on May 25, 1994 but received at
a later date. Project activities should begin no earlier than July 1,
1994 and should run no longer than October 31, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Twenty complete proposals should be submitted by their
respective deadlines to: Mary Uebersax, Director of Grant Programs,
North-South Center, 1500 Monza Avenue, Coral Gables, FL 33146-3027, Fax
(305) 284-6370.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Interested organizations/institutions should
contact the Office of Grant Programs at the address listed above or by
telephone at (305) 284-8951, facsimile (305) 284-6370. The Director of
Grant Programs can also be reached by electronic mail at:
[email protected] to request detailed application packets,
which include award criteria not mentioned in this announcement, all
necessary forms, and guidelines for preparing proposals, including
specific budget preparation information.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Proposals from all parts of the world,
except where prohibited by U.S. law that are consistent with the
mission of the North-South Center and are of sound intellectual
justification will be considered. Funding will not be authorized for
any private for-profit institutions, profit-oriented individuals'
initiatives, projects of a proprietary nature, or for projects of a
partisan political nature. Principal investigators should have
completed advanced degrees and must demonstrate an institutional
affiliation. Pre and post doctoral scholars are eligible to complete
for the Short-term Field Research Grants on Poverty and Urban Violence,
however the investigators must demonstrate an institutional
affiliation. The Center and its Grant Review Panel will not use
political tests or political qualifications and will not discriminate
in any manner whatsoever in selecting grantees.
Funding Limitations: The grant awards should not be used in lieu of
salary or to support projects which could be funded by private
foundations or government. In addition, applicants are encouraged to
seek supplemental funding for projects.
Successful projects will be funded by means of a cost reimbursement
subcontract agreement between the North-South Center, the University of
Miami, and the applicant's institution. All current policies and
requirements that govern federal research grants will be applied to the
grant award.
Pursuant to the USIA's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
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.
External Research Grant Program: North-South Center External
Research Grant Awards will be capped at $50,000. Multi-year proposals
will be funded on a yearly basis upon recommendation of the Grant
Review Panel, contingent upon Congressional funding of the North-South
Center.
Short-term Field Research Grant Program on Poverty and Urban
Violence: The maximum award for this program will be $20,000. Support
will include international travel expenses, domestic transportation,
limited living expenses, and research and pre-publication expenses.
Overview--The general aim of the North-South Center's grant
programs is to promote scholarly research that will increase knowledge
and broaden understanding of contemporary regional issues. The long-
term aims of the programs are to support scholarship in inter-American
affairs, encourage collaboration in various fields of research among
institutions throughout the hemisphere, stimulate discussion of policy-
relevant issues, and promote scholarship from which policy solutions
may derive.
Guidelines--The Center gives priority to projects involving the
collaboration of institutions in more than one country and to projects
addressing issues encompassing several countries. The Programs provide
funding for projects that demonstrate a clear analytical focus, a solid
method to achieve research goals in a timely manner, and relevance to
contemporary policy. Research activities should generate a product of
enduring value such as a publication or a series of publications.
Proposed Budget--Applicants must submit a comprehensive line item
budget for which specific details are available in the application
packet. The Center does not pay for costs that are not directly related
to the specific project being funded (e.g., indirect costs). No support
will be given for the purchase or lease of capital equipment (e.g., fax
machines, computers), or other related infrastructural costs. Some
degree of institutional support should be reflected in the proposed
project budget. Salary support must be fully justified by the specific
requirements of the projects and should not represent a major portion
of total project expense. Salary support should be calculated as a
percentage of time spent on research for the duration of the project.
It is not permissible to request support in lieu of responsibilities
for university course instruction.
Review Process: Grants made through the North-South Center External
Research Grant Program are awarded through a competitive review
process. The Grant Programs Office will acknowledge receipt of all
proposals, and the Center's Executive Staff will review every proposal
for eligibility, completeness, and competitiveness. Outside reviewers
with expertise in a particular subject area may be called upon to
provide critique on proposals. Proposals will be deemed ineligible if
they do not fully adhere to the guidelines established herein and in
the application packet. All eligible and complete proposals will be
submitted to the Center's Grant Review Panel, comprised of a
multidisciplinary group of distinguished experts from major university
centers for Latin American and Caribbean Studies throughout the United
States and two international business members.
Review Criteria: Applications which meet the aforementioned
technical requirements will be competitively reviewed according to the
following criteria:
1. Contribution to the field of study: Proposals should demonstrate
a distinct theoretical, political, or applied academic significance to
the stated subject area. The outcome of the research endeavor should be
useful and applicable to the academic, government, and/or the policy-
making community.
2. Research cohesiveness and quality: Clearly defined research
hypotheses, including the specific questions which will be asked
through this investigation, and an explanation of the means of testing
and evaluating the research objectives should be provided. A detailed
agenda and relevant work plan should demonstrate substantive rigor and
logistical capacity. Proposed personnel and institutional resources
should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program or project's
goals.
3. Clarity and focus: Proposals should illustrate that the research
has been sufficiently developed prior to the request for funding, to
ensure that its aims are clear and specific. Proposals should clearly
demonstrate how the applicant will meet the program's objectives and
research plan.
4. Concrete and lasting impact of the investigations: Proposed
programs should strengthen long-term mutual understanding, including
maximum sharing of information and establishment of long-term
institutional and individual linkages. Proposals should provide a plan
for continued follow-up activity which insures that the Center's
supported programs are not isolated events. Effective dissemination of
the project's results should be planned to reach the widest possible
and most relevant audience.
5. Potential: Proposals should demonstrate the potential for
fostering cooperation and understanding among peoples of the region.
6. Applicant's ``track record''/evaluation plans: Applicants should
demonstrate a history of successful programs, including responsible
fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting requirements
for past research grants, where applicable. The Center will consider
the past performance of prior grantees and the demonstrated potential
of new applicants. Grantees must be willing to comply with evaluation
requirements of the granting institution.
7. Cost-effectiveness: The overhead and administrative components
of grants, as well as salaries and honoraria, should be kept as low as
possible. All other research costs should be necessary, appropriate,
and justified in the budget narrative.
8. Cost-sharing: Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through
other private support as well as direct funding contributions (such as
full-time salaries) from their institution.
Notice: The terms and conditions published in this RFP are binding
and may not be modified by any North-South Center or USIA
representative. Explanatory information provided by the North-South
Center that contradicts published language will not be binding.
Issuance of the RFP does not constitute an award commitment on the part
of the Center. Final awards cannot be made until funds have been fully
appropriated by the U.S. Congress, allocated and committed through
internal North-South Center and University of Miami procedures.
Notification
All applicants will be notified in writing of the results of the
review process. Awarded grants will be subject to periodic reporting
and evaluation requirements.
Dated: April 28, 1994.
Barry Fulton,
Acting Associate Director, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-10634 Filed 5-3-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M