[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: 94-11596]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 13, 1994]


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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
 

University Democratization in South Africa Program

AGENCY: United States Information Agency.

ACTION: Notice--request for proposals.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Academic Programs (E/A) requests proposals from 
post-secondary institutions to develop a program to assist educational 
reform in South African post-secondary institutions as the country 
moves towards a nonracial democracy. The purpose of the project is to 
enable university student leaders and university student affairs 
officials to undertake a program in management skills and conflict 
resolution at a U.S. academic institution. The American institution 
should also plan to coordinate post training follow-up activities in 
South Africa. The institutional agreement will be for a period of two 
years. Interested applicants are urged to read the complete Federal 
Register announcement before requesting application packets from the 
Office of Academic Programs.

DATES: Deadline for proposals: All copies must be received at the 
United States Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on June 
10, 1994. Proposals received after this deadline will not be eligible 
for consideration.
    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 proposals are received by the 
above deadline.

ADDRESSES: The original and 9 copies of the completed proposal 
application, including required forms, should be submitted by the 
deadline to: U.S. Information Agency, REF: University Democratization 
in South Africa Program/RFP, Office of Grants Management (E/XE), room 
336, 301 4th Street SW., Washington, DC 20547.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For general information and requests for application packets which 
include all necessary forms and guidelines for preparing proposals, 
including specific budget preparation information, contact Nancy 
Searles, Branch Chief at (202) 619-5370, or Ellen Berelson, Deputy 
Branch Chief, Africa Branch at (202) 619-5376, Fax: (202) 619-6137 or 
write to the following address: Office of Academic Programs, rm. 232, 
U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Overview

    The University Democratization in South Africa Program focuses on 
education reform to enable students, faculty and administrators of 
selected South African universities to shift from the confrontation of 
an apartheid culture to the cooperation implicit in a democratic 
society. This project will provide university student leaders and 
university facility and administrative staff tasked with student 
affairs management with training in conflict resolution and in 
university administration. The South African institutions which will 
participate are the University of Fort Hare, the University of 
Zululand, the University of the North and the University of the Western 
Cape.

Eligibility

    In the U.S., participation in the program is open to accredited 
two-year and four-year colleges and universities, including graduate 
schools. Consortia of universities and/or community colleges, 
individually or as systems, are also eligible. In South Africa, 
participation is limited to the University of the Western Cape, the 
University of Fort Hare, the University of the North, and the 
University of Zululand. Proposals from a consortium may be submitted by 
a member institution with authority to represent the consortium.
    Participants representing the U.S. institution traveling under USIA 
grant support must be U.S. citizens. Participants representing South 
African institutions must be citizens, nationals, or permanent 
residents of South Africa.
    The Agency invites proposals from eligible Historically Black 
Colleges and Universities (HBCU's) and other institutions in the U.S. 
with significant minority student enrollment. Consortia of universities 
including such institutions are also encouraged to apply.

Project Design

    The project should begin with a conference in South Africa bringing 
together American experts and South Africans students, instructors, and 
staff to provide initial training in student affairs/educational 
administration and conflict resolution and to develop subsequent 
programming. Incorporating South African citizens' aspirations and 
objectives into the overall training plan is crucial to the success of 
the project.
    The second phase of the project would focus on formal training at 
the U.S. host institution. The administering U.S. institution, in 
consultation with the United States Information Service offices (USIS) 
in Pretoria, and the project participants would select a group of South 
Africans to come to the U.S. institution for courses, workshops, and 
guided research on student politics in democratic societies, managing 
change in educational institutions, conflict resolution, and general 
management skills. Research might focus upon creating a history of the 
South African student movement, outlining its role in democratizing 
educational institutions, and devising models for exercising student 
power in a democratic South Africa. The U.S. academic experience should 
be from six weeks to one semester in length. Longer stays for the 
purpose of pursuing an advanced degree will not be sponsored. 
Participants may enroll in established courses at the administering 
institution. However, the institution should also be able to organize 
customized training sessions for the group participants. The final 
format of the academic program will depend upon consultation among the 
U.S. and South African participants at the initial conference in South 
Africa.
    The final segment of the grant would be follow-up workshops 
organized by the South African participants at their home institutions 
with facilitation and consultation from the U.S. instructors in the 
program. The U.S. institution may also propose to assist with 
publication and dissemination of findings developed during the U.S. 
training program and the final South African workshops.
    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.

Budget

    Competition for USIA funding is keen. The selection of a grantee 
institution will depend on program substance, cross-cultural 
sensitivity and ability to carry out the program successfully. Since 
USIA cooperative assistance constitutes only a portion of total project 
funding, proposals should list and provide evidence of other 
anticipated sources of financial and in-kind support.
    A proposal's cost-effectiveness, including in-kind contributions 
and ability to keep administrative costs low, is a major consideration 
in the review process.
    Funding for this grant is limited to $250,000. Preference will be 
given to the most competitive budget proposals. Qualified organizations 
with less than four years of successful experience in managing 
international exchange programs are limited to grants of $60,000.
    A comprehensive line item budget should be submitted with the 
proposal by the application deadline. Specific guidelines for budget 
preparation are available in the application packet.

Application Requirements

    Proposals must be submitted within the deadline and conform to the 
program design. The proposal package should include one original and 14 
complete copies and all required documentation. Proposal should be 
presented as follows:
    1. An executive summary (abstract), not to exceed two double-spaced 
pages.
    2. A narrative, not to exceed 20 double-spaced pages, showing the 
intellectual rationale and goal of the program, how the program will 
accomplish its goals and how it relates to USIA's mission to increase 
mutual understanding between people of the United States and of other 
societies. This section should include a concise description of the 
project's work plan, spelling out program schedules, thematic agenda 
and proposed itineraries. Participant selection should be discussed in 
detail. This section should conclude with a discussion of any follow-up 
activities planned; how the organization intends to evaluate the 
project; and what groups, beyond the direct participants, will benefit 
from the project.
    3. A comprehensive line item budget. See application package.
    4. Resumes (not to exceed two pages each) for key personnel.
    5. Confirmation letters from foreign co-sponsors noting their 
intention to participate in the program.
    6. USIA compliance forms, furnished with the application package.

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 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 of Program: Quality of program plan, including quality 
and rigor of the training, workshops and other activities as called for 
in this request, thorough conception of project, and demonstration of 
how participants' needs will be met.
    2. Institutional Capability: Institutions should demonstrate their 
potential for program excellence and/or provide documentation of 
successful programs. If an organization 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.
    3. Project Personnel: Personnel's professional and logistical 
expertise should be relevant to the proposed program. Resumes should be 
relevant to the specific proposal.
    4. Thematic Expertise: Proposal should demonstrate the 
organization's expertise in the subject area.
    5. Program Planning: Detailed agenda and work plan should 
demonstrate substance and logistical capacity. Agenda and plan should 
adhere to the program overview described above.
    6. Ability to Achieve Program Objectives: Objectives should be 
realistic and attainable. Proposals should clearly demonstrate how the 
grantee institution will meet the program's objectives.
    7. Cross-Cultural Sensitivity/Area Expertise: Proposal should 
demonstrate sensitivity to historical, linguistic and other cross-
cultural factors, and relevant knowledge of South Africa.
    8. Multiplier Effect: Proposed programs should strengthen long-term 
mutual understanding and include maximum sharing of information.
    9. Cost-Effectiveness: The overhead and administrative components 
should be as low as possible. All other items proposed for USIA funding 
should be necessary and appropriate to achieve the program's 
objectives.
    10. Cost-Sharing: Proposals should show cost-sharing through direct 
funding contributions and in-kind support from the prospective grantee 
institution.
    11. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate 
the activity's success.
    12. Evidence of program sustainability after the expiration of USIA 
funded grant.

Notice

    The terms and conditions published in the RFP are binding any 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 5, 1994. Awarded grants will be subject to 
periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.


    Dated: May 6, 1994.
Barry Fulton,
Acting Associate Director, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-11596 Filed 5-12-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M