[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 92 (Friday, May 13, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-11497]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 13, 1994]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY

 

The Role of Legislative Staff and Information Resources in the 
Legislative Process (Africa); Public and Private Non-Profit 
Organizations in Support of International Educational and Cultural 
Activities

AGENCY: Notice--Request for proposals.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Office of Citizen Exchanges (E/P) of the United States 
Information Agency (USIA) proposes the development of a multi-phased 
exchange program for legislative staff of four francophone African 
countries. The participating countries are Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali 
and Niger The project should introduce participants to the 
responsibilities of various professional staff in conducting the 
business of a legislature, emphasizing professional non-partisan roles. 
The project may address a wide range of administrative, legal, fiscal, 
and research services or concentrate on a few of notable priority. It 
also should illustrate the role of information resources in conducting 
policy analysis and drafting legislation as well as the role of 
archival materials in establishing the legislature's official legal 
record. The project should facilitate access to resource materials to 
promote the the study of the legislative process and should law the 
foundation for collaboration between U.S. and African legislatures and 
professional support organizations.
    A U.S. not-for-profit institution will design and execute the 
program and select the American presenters. The institution should 
demonstrate success in coordinating international exchange programs for 
senior-level foreign participants. The applicant institution should 
have substantive working relationships with U.S. public and private 
sector organizations involved with legislative affairs and the 
professional development of key staff in Congress or in state 
assemblies. The program will begin in the fall of 1994.
    Interested applicants are urged to read the complete Request for 
Proposals (RFP) announcement before addressing inquires to the Office. 
After the RFP deadline, the Office of Citizen Exchanges may not discuss 
this competition in any way with applicants until the final decisions 
are made.

ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: This Announcement number is E/P-94-30. Please 
refer to this number and the title given above in all correspondence or 
telephone calls to USIA.

DATES: Deadline for Proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S. 
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on July 8, 1994. Faxed 
documents will not be accepted, nor will documents postmarked July 8, 
1994, but received at a later date. It is the responsibility of the 
grant applicant to ensure that proposals are received by this deadline. 
Grant activity should begin after October 1, 1994.

ADDRESSES: You must submit the original and 14 copies of the proposal 
as instructed in the application checklist provided in the Application 
Package. The original and two copies should contain all applicable 
TABS. The rest of the copies should contain TABS A through D only. 
Please submit your proposal and copies by the application deadline to: 
U.S. Information Agency, REF: Citizen Exchanges: Role of Legislative 
Staff and Information Resources in the Legislative Process, (Africa), 
E/P-94-30, Office of Grants Management (E/XE), 301 Fourth Street, SW., 
room 336, Washington, DC 20547.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Interested organizations should 
contact the Office of Citizen Exchanges (E/PS), U.S. Information 
Agency, 301 Fourth Street, SW., room 224, Washington, DC, 20547, 
telephone: 202-619-5319, fax: 202-619-4350, to request a detailed 
application package which includes all necessary forms and guidelines 
for preparing proposals, including specific budget preparation 
instructions. Agency representatives are able to answer only technical 
questions about this competition. For technical information, contact 
Stephen Taylor, Program Specialist, Africa, Near East and South Asia 
Division, Office of Citizen Exchanges.

Project Overview

    Several francophone African countries are strengthening their 
democratic institutions, having recently completed the transition to a 
representative system of government. National legislatures in these 
countries have the opportunity to gain greater independence, develop 
more effective legislation and take steps to serve more forcefully as a 
balance to executive power. The viability and institutional 
independence of these legislative bodies could be enhanced by the 
services of trained staff prepared to play a support role for lawmakers 
and the legislative process. Legislative staff also are well paced to 
provide continuity regardless of the legislature's partisan make-up or 
the political fortunes of elected representatives.
    In the United States, Congress and state legislatures employ 
professional staff to conduct research, draft legislation, analyze 
budgets, maintain records, monitor compliance with legislation and 
perform other duties. In many cases, professional staff provide these 
services on a non-partisan basis. For example, on Capitol Hill, the 
Office of the Legislative Counsel assists committees in drafting and 
amending legislation. The clerk of the House and secretary of the 
Senate, selected by the majority party, assist in processing 
legislation and performing various reporting functions. The House 
Office of the Law Revision Counsel updates and publishes an official 
classification of U.S. laws. In drafting bills, lawmakers rely on non-
partisan support organizations such as the Congressional Research 
Service, which analyzes public policy issues, and the Congressional 
Budget Office, which provides analyses of fiscal issues.
    While not every one of these services is directly applicable to 
needs in Africa, they reflect the evolving demands placed upon the U.S. 
Congress and could help guide efforts to promote professional 
development of legislative staff in Africa. The legislatures in Mali, 
Niger and Benin are drafting landmark legislation aimed at implementing 
political and economic reforms. Legislators and observers have 
identified the need for assistance in bill drafting, improving 
legislative procedures and developing strategies to make better use of 
legislative archives. In most cases specialized training is not 
available, and staff could benefit from a project aimed at enhancing 
their capabilities to assist lawmakers fulfill their mandates. 
Legislators and staff also are seeking reference materials to support 
their legislative initiatives. In Cote d'Ivoire, where the ruling party 
has held power for 30 years, parliamentary elections scheduled for 1995 
could alter the political landscape. Legislative aides in Cote 
d'Ivoire, and all these states, could benefit from a program that 
demonstrates the role of professionalism and nonpartisanship in 
conducting the business of the legislature.

Objectives

    The project should be designed to:

--Provide an overview of the structure and practices of representative 
government in the United States, including the interrelationship 
between the three branches of government;
--Introduce participants to the professional support offices and staff 
employed by the U.S. Congress and appropriate state legislatures;
--Demonstrate the roles and skills of professional staff in the day-to-
day operations of a legislature and the nature of their interaction 
with lawmakers;
--Analyze the relationship between partisan politics and the 
professional responsibilities of legislative staff;
--Develop workshops and appropriate instructional material designed to 
address identified needs and enhance the capabilities of professional 
aides to improve the legislative process;
--Develop strategies for improving management of archives, legislative 
records and other official documentation;
--Develop appropriate training methods to prepare project participants 
to train others involved in the legislative process;
--Devise strategies to facilitate access to reference materials and 
other appropriate information about the structure and functioning of 
the U.S. Congress, state legislatures and other democratic 
institutions; and
--Lay the groundwork for collaboration between the professional support 
services for U.S. legislatures and counterpart services of African 
legislatures.

Programmatic Considerations

    Pursuant to the legislation authorizing the USIA Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs, all programs sponsored by that Bureau 
must be balanced and non-partisan in nature and representative of the 
diversity of American political, social and cultural life.
    USIA will give careful consideration to proposals which 
demonstrate: (1) In-depth, substantive knowledge of management and 
policy development issues relative to the legislative process;
    (2) First-hand connections with appropriate U.S. public and private 
sector organizations and institutions involved in legislative affairs;
    (3) The capacity to organize and manage international exchange 
programs, including appropriate orientation for the participants, 
handling of pre-departure arrangements and monitoring and problem-
solving in such programs.
    USIA is especially interested in multi-phase programs in which the 
phases build on one another and lay the groundwork for new and long-
term relationships between American and African professionals. 
Proposals which are overly ambitious and those which are very general 
will not be competitive. Office of Citizen Exchanges grants are not 
given to support projects whose focus is limited to technical matters, 
or for scholarly research projects, developing publications for 
dissemination in the United States, individual student exchanges, film 
festivals, or exhibits. Neither does the Office of Citizen Exchanges 
provide scholarships or support for long-term (a semester or more) 
academic studies. Competitions sponsored by other Bureau offices are 
also announced in the Federal Register and may have different 
application requirements as well as different objectives.
    Programming elements might include workshops or seminars overseas 
led by American experts, a study tour in the U.S. for selected African 
participants, U.S.-based internships, and specialized American 
consultancies overseas. A planning visit overseas by the American 
organizer can also be considered if crucial to successful development 
and implementation of the program.

Selection of Participants

    The U.S.-based phase of the project should be designed for 
legislative staff from Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali and Niger, probably 
totalling about 12 persons. Participants should have professional 
responsibilities related to the operation of the national legislature. 
USIS personnel overseas will select the African participants, although 
recommendations from the grantee institution are welcome. USIS offices 
will facilitate the issuance of visas and can also help with the 
distribution of program-related materials to African participants. Two 
U.S. State Department interpreters and one escort officer will be 
available for a U.S. study tour. For the program phases in Africa, the 
grantee institution will select the American presenters in consultation 
with USIA. American presenters conducting in-country activities should 
be French-fluent.

Programming Suggestions

    The proposed project should include at least one phase for African 
participants in the U.S. and at least one phase for American 
specialists in Africa. The following ideas should serve not as a 
blueprint, but as a stimulus for development of an original program 
design.
    The project should include formats which maximize interaction 
between the delegates and the speakers/presenters. The program design 
should provide adequate time for delegates to meet individually with 
American professionals who have similar interests and specializations. 
It is preferred, though not essential, that presenters be familiar with 
issues pertaining to the political process in the participating African 
countries.

U.S. Study Tour Phase

    The U.S. study tour (approximately 3-4 weeks) could begin with an 
introduction to the U.S. Congress and its relationship to the other 
branches of the national government. However, the program should focus 
on one or more state legislatures whose scope and structure offer 
comparisons more relevant to African legislative bodies. Participants 
would learn about the professional duties of various legislative aides, 
as well as support staff including legal counsels, researchers, 
analysts, archivists, clerks and administrators.
    Participants might also benefit from observing the activities of 
lawmakers' personal staff who perform functions such as constituent 
services and media relations as well as committee staff who assist in 
setting agendas, organizing hearings and drafting legislation. 
Activities should stress the importance of professionalism in enhancing 
the long-term viability of the legislature and consider the impact of 
partisan politics on the professional staff's pursuit of its 
responsibilities.
    Participants also should study a variety of archival materials and 
their usage in supporting the legislative process and establishing the 
official record. Activities should help guide efforts to formulate 
appropriate strategies for handling archival materials in the 
participants' home countries.

Phase in Africa

    It is recommended that the grantee institution organize a series of 
workshops to be conducted in the participating African countries. The 
workshops would bring together legislators and legislative staff to 
develop strategies aimed at strengthening the institutional 
capabilities of the legislature. This might include creating new 
staffing patterns, improving communication techniques, or revising job 
responsibilities. The U.S. presenters would also examine archives and 
advise participants on developing appropriate archiving systems. The 
U.S. presenters would conduct activities in French.
    The themes, objectives and design of the activities in Africa would 
most likely be based on discussions among the grantee institution, E/P, 
USIS posts and key players in the legislative process in the 
participating countries. This multi-phased exchange program should 
promote development of institutional linkages designed to advance the 
study of the legislative process. E/P encourages applicant institutions 
to consider strategies to facilitate access to information resources 
focusing on democratic institution building. This material might 
include reference books, periodicals, bibliographies, handbooks for 
elected representatives and lists of organizations that could offer 
assistance.

Program Responsibilities

    The grantee institution's responsibilities include: selecting 
speakers, themes and topics for discussion; organizing a coherent 
progression of activities; orienting and debriefing participants; 
providing any support materials; providing all travel arrangements, 
lodging and other logistical arrangements for the African participants, 
escort interpreters and U.S. presenters who travel to Africa; and 
overseeing the project on a daily basis to achieve maximum program 
effectiveness. The grantee institution is responsible for coordinating 
plans and implementation with P/E, participating USIS posts, and any 
African co-host institutions.
    At the start of each phase, the grantee institution will conduct an 
orientation session for the delegation. At the conclusion, the 
institution will conduct participant evaluations and submit to E/P a 
final program report summarizing the entire project and resulting 
organizational links. To prepare the participants for their U.S. 
experience, E/P encourages the grantee organization to forward to 
participants a set of preliminary materials outlining the basic 
principles of representative government, the role of professional 
legislative staff and other appropriate background information about 
the project. E/P will ask African participants to prepare brief 
outlines describing their own particular interests in these areas. The 
grantee institution should brief the American presenters on the African 
delegates' backgrounds, interests and concerns.

Other Program Considerations

    Consultation with the participating USIS posts in the development 
of the project proposal is encouraged. Letters of commitment from 
participating U.S. institutions would enhance a proposal.
    USIA also encourages the development of specialized written 
materials to enhance this professional development program. In 
developing written materials, consideration should be given to their 
wider use in Africa, beyond the immediate training at hand. USIA is 
interested in organizations' ideas on how to ``reuse'' specialized 
materials by providing them to universities and libraries or other 
institutions for use by a larger audience. If not already available, 
glossaries of specialized terms should be developed. However, please 
note that, according to current USIA regulations, materials developed 
with USIA funds may not be distributed in the United States.

Funding

    Competition for USIA funding support is keen. Selection of a 
grantee institution is based on the substantive nature of the program 
proposal; the applicant's professional capability to carry the program 
through to a successful conclusion; and cost effectiveness, including 
in-kind contributions and the ability to keep overhead costs at a 
minimum. USIA will consider providing funding up to approximately 
$160,000, but organizations with less than four years of successful 
experience in managing international exchange programs are limited to 
$60,000, and their budget submissions should correspond to this 
limitation. USIA will consider funding the following costs:
    1. International and domestic air fares; visas; transit costs 
(e.g., airport fees); ground transportation costs;
    2. Per diem: For foreign participants during activities in the 
United States, organizations have the option of using a flat rate of 
$140/day or the published Federal Travel Regulations (FTR) per diem 
rates of individual American cities.

    Note: U.S. institutional staff must use the published FTR per 
diem rates, not the flat rate.

    For activities overseas, standard Federal Travel Regulations per 
diem rates must be used.
    3. Escort-interpreters: Interpretation for U.S.-based programs is 
provided by the State Department's Language Services Division. 
Typically, delegations ranging from 8-12 participants require two 
simultaneous interpreters and one escort officer. Grant proposal 
budgets should contain a flat $140/day per diem rate for each State 
Department escort/interpreter, as well as home-program-home air fare of 
$400 per interpreter and any U.S. travel expenses during the program 
itself. Salary expenses are covered centrally and are not part of the 
applicant's budget proposal. USIA grants do not pay for foreign 
interpreters to accompany delegations during travel to or from their 
home country. Interpreters are not available for U.S.-based internship 
activities.
    4. Book and cultural allowances: Participants are entitled to a 
one-time book allowance of $50 plus a cultural allowance of $150 per 
person during programs taking place in the United States. U.S. staff do 
not receive these benefits. Escort interpreters are reimbursed for 
actual cultural expenses up to $150.00.
    5. Consultants: Consultants may be used to provide specialized 
expertise or to make presentations. Honoraria generally should not 
exceed $250/day. Subcontracting organizations may also be used, in 
which case the written contract(s) should be included in the proposal.
    6. Materials development: Proposals may contain costs to purchase, 
develop and translate materials for participants. USIA reserves the 
rights to these materials for future use.
    7. Room rentals, which generally should not exceed $250/day.
    8. One working meal per project, for which per capita costs may not 
exceed $5-$8 for a lunch or $14-$20 for a dinner. The number of invited 
guests may not exceed the number of participants by more than a factor 
of two to one.
    9. Return travel allowance: $70 for each participant which is to be 
used for incidental expenditures incurred during international travel.
    10. Other costs necessary for the effective administration of the 
program, including salaries for grant organization employees, benefits, 
and other direct and indirect costs per detailed instructions in the 
application package.
    E/P encourages cost-sharing, which may be in the form of allowable 
direct or indirect costs. E/P would be especially interested in 
proposals which demonstrate a program vision which goes well beyond 
that which can be supported by the requested USIA grant and which would 
try to use a USIA grant to leverage additional funding from other 
sources to support elements of the broader program plan.
    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,'' and should 
be described in the proposal. In the event the Recipient does not meet 
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.

    Please note: All delegates will be covered under the terms of a 
USIA-sponsored health insurance policy. The premium is paid by USIA 
directly to the insurance company.

Application Requirements

    Proposals must be structured in accordance with the instructions 
contained in the Application Package. Confirmation letters from U.S. 
and foreign co-sponsors noting their intention to participate in the 
program will enhance a proposal. Because this is a competitive 
solicitation, representatives of the Office of Citizen Exchanges can 
only respond to technical questions.

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 Package.
    Eligible proposals will be forwarded to panels of USIA officers for 
advisory review. Proposals will be reviewed by USIS posts and by USIA's 
Office of African Affairs. Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office 
of the General Counsel or other Agency offices. 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. The award of any grant is subject to 
availability of funds.
    The U.S. Government reserves the right to reject any or all 
applications received. USIA will not pay for design and development 
costs associated with submitting a proposal. Applications are submitted 
at the risk of the applicant; should circumstances prevent award of a 
grant, all preparation and submission costs are at the applicant's 
expense. USIA will not award funds for activities conducted prior to 
the actual grant award.

Review Criteria

    USIA will consider proposals based on the following criteria:

1. Institutional Reputation and Ability

    Applicant institutions should demonstrate their potential for 
excellence in program design and implementation and/or provide 
documentation of successful programs. If an applicant is a previous 
USIA grant recipient, responsible fiscal management and full compliance 
with all reporting requirements for past Agency grants as determined by 
USIA's Office of Contracts will be considered. Relevant substantive 
evaluations of previous projects may also be considered in this 
assessment.

2. Project Personnel

    The thematic and logistical expertise of project personnel should 
be relevant to the proposed program. Resumes or C.V.s should be 
summaries which are relevant to the specific proposal and no longer 
than two pages each.

3. Program Planning

    A detailed agenda and relevant work plan should demonstrate 
substantive rigor and logistical capacity.

4. Thematic Expertise

    Proposal should demonstrate the organization's expertise in the 
subject area which promises an effective sharing of information.

5. Cross-Cultural Sensitivity and Area Expertise

    Evidence should be provided of sensitivity to historical, 
linguistic, religious, and other cross-cultural factors, as well as 
relevant knowledge of the target geographic area/country.

6. Ability to Achieve Program Objectives

    Objectives should be realistic and feasible. The proposal should 
clearly demonstrate how the grantee institution will meet program 
objectives.

7. Multiplier Effect

    Proposed program should strengthen long-term mutual understanding 
and contribute to maximum sharing of information and establishment of 
long-term institutional and individual ties.

8. Cost-Effectiveness

    Overhead and direct administrative costs to USIA should be kept as 
low as possible. All other items proposed for USIA funding should be 
necessary and appropriate to achieve the program's objectives.

9. Cost-Sharing

    Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through other private sector 
support as well as direct funding contributions and/or in-kind support 
from the prospective grantee institution and its partners.

10. Follow-on Activities

    Proposals should provide a plan for continued exchange activity 
(without USIA support) which ensures that USAI-supported programs are 
not isolated events.

11. Project Evaluations

    Proposals should include a plan to evaluate the activity's success, 
both as the activities unfold and at the end of the program. USIA 
recommends that the proposal include a draft survey questionnaire or 
other technique plus description of a methodology to use to link 
outcomes to original project objectives. Grantees will be expected to 
submit intermediate reports after each project component is concluded 
or quarterly, which is less frequent.

Notice

    The terms and conditions published in the RFP are binding and may 
not be mofified by any USIA representative. Explanatory information 
provided by the Agency which contradicts published language will not be 
binding. Issuance of the RFP does not constitute an award commitment on 
the part of the U.S. Government. 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 September 26, 1994. Award grants will be subject to 
periodic reporting and evaluaton requirements.

    Dated: May 9, 1994.
David Michael Wilson,
Acting Associate Director, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-11497 Filed 5-12-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M