[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