[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 115 (Thursday, June 16, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-14690]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 16, 1994]


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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY

 

Regional Scholar Exchange Program

ACTION: Notice--Request for Proposals (RFP).

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SUMMARY: The United States Information Agency (USIA) invites 
applications from U.S. not-for-profit organizations engaged in 
international exchange programs to conduct research exchanges in the 
humanities and social sciences of pre- and/or post-doctoral students 
and scholars with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, 
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, the Russian 
Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Exchange 
programs must recruit nationally and select participants through an 
open merit-based competitive process. Only organizations with at least 
four years of experience in international exchange activities are 
eligible to apply. Both existing and new projects are eligible. These 
exchanges are subject to the availability of funding for Fiscal Year 
1995.
    Support is offered for two categories: Category A, Short-term 
(defined as being less than six months or the equivalent of one 
academic year), and/or Long-term (the equivalent of at least six months 
or one academic year) Research Exchanges with Armenia, Azerbaijan*, 
Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzia, Moldova, the Russian 
Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan; and 
Category B, Short-term (defined as being less than six months or the 
equivalent of one academic year), and/or Long-term (the equivalent of 
at least six months or one academic year) Research Exchanges with 
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
    Each category has separate conditions and requirements which are 
stated in this announcement. Institutions may address one or both 
categories, but must submit a separate proposal for each category. 
Proposals for Category A may include all 12 countries, a regional 
grouping of countries, or one country. Proposals for Category B may 
include one, two or three of the listed countries. The goal of the 
program is to ensure the broadest geographic distribution in the New 
Independent States, the Baltics, and the U.S. Programs should be for 
two-way exchanges, although they do not need to be evenly reciprocal. 
Organizations may request funding for one or both sides of the 
exchange. Proposals for programs that do not fit into either Category A 
or B will be considered technically ineligible.

    *Please note: Programs with Azerbaijan are subject to the 
restrictions of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act of 1992: 
Employees of the Government of Azerbaijan or any of its 
instrumentalities are excluded from participation and no U.S. 
participant overseas may work for the Government of Azerbaijan or 
any of its instrumentalities.
    In addition, the Government of Azerbaijan and/or its 
instrumentalities will have no control in the actual selection of 
participants.

DATES: Deadline for proposals: One original and 9 copies must be 
received at the U.S. Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time 
on Monday, August 1, 1994. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor 
will documents postmarked on August 1, 1994, but received at a later 
date. It is the responsibility of each grant applicant to ensure that 
its proposals are received by the above deadline.
    Grants awarded to organizations through this competition should 
begin no earlier than October 1, 1994 and may extend through September 
30, 1996, but must be completed by December 31, 1996. Proposals for 
exchanges ending after December 31, 1996 will be considered technically 
ineligible.

DURATION: Proposals for both categories must provide for at least 
three-month programs for participants, but should not exceed one year.

ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: E/AEE-95-02. Applications submitted under this RFP 
must indicate the appropriate program name, category, and the above-
referenced number. This announcement number must also appear in any 
correspondence concerning this application.

ADDRESSES: The original and 9 copies of the completed application, 
including required forms, should be submitted by the deadline to: U.S. 
Information Agency, Reference: Regional Scholar Exchange Program, E/
AEE-95-02, Grants Management Division, E/XE, room 336, 301 4th Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20547.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Ted Kniker at the U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th Street, SW., 
Academic Exchanges Division, European Branch, E/AEE, room 246, 
Washington, DC 20547; telephone (202) 619-5341, to request detailed 
application packages, which include award criteria additional to this 
announcement, all necessary forms, and guidelines for preparing 
proposals, including specific budget preparation information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Overall authority for these exchanges is 
contained in the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, 
as amended, Public Law 87-256 (Fulbright-Hays Act). The purpose of the 
Act is ``to enable the Government of the United States to increase 
mutual understanding between the people of the United States and people 
of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchange; to 
strengthen the ties which unite us with other nations by demonstrating 
the educational and cultural interests, developments, and achievements 
of the people of the United States and other nations * * * and thus to 
assist in the development of friendly, sympathetic, and peaceful 
relations between the United States and other countries of the world.'' 
Programs shall also ``maintain their scholarly integrity and shall meet 
the highest standards of academic excellence or artistic achievement.'' 
Pursuant to the 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. Diversity should be interpreted in 
the broadest sense and encompass differences including but not limited 
to ethnicity, gender, religion, geographic location, socio-economic 
status, and physical challenges. Applicants are strongly encouraged to 
adhere to the advancement of this principle throughout the proposed 
program and within their own operations.

Overview

    The Regional Scholar Exchange Program is intended to promote 
scholarly research by funding U.S. academic exchanges of pre- and 
postdoctoral students and scholars (including graduate students, junior 
faculty, and senior scholars) with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, 
Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, the 
Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. 
Participants must be citizens of the United States, Armenia, 
Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzia, Moldova, the 
Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, or Uzbekistan 
(Category A) or citizens of the United States, Estonia, Latvia, or 
Lithuania (Category B). Within the spirit of the Mutual Education and 
Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, the purposes of the Regional Scholar 
Exchange Program are (1) to provide access by U.S. scholars to research 
sources in the countries listed above, (2) to provide access by 
scholars from these countries to research sources in the United States, 
and (3) to encourage scholarly cooperation in the humanities and social 
sciences.

Guidelines

Language Qualifications

    For both categories, foreign participants must have sufficient 
fluency in English and U.S. participants must have sufficient fluency 
in the language of the host country to be able to conduct research. 
Escort-interpreters will not be provided, nor funded by USIA.

Institutional Commitment

    Proposals must include documentation of institutional support for 
the proposed program in the form of signed letters of endorsement from 
the U.S. and foreign partners' directors, or in the form of a signed 
agreement by the same persons. Letters of endorsement must describe 
each institution's or organization's commitment and make specific 
reference to the proposed program, each institution's activities in 
support of that program, and each institution's ability to provide 
access to archival or manuscript repositories. Documentation of support 
from governmental ministries or academies will be acceptable when 
appropriate, replacing individual documentation from each foreign 
educational institution involved. Applicants must submit this 
documentation as part of the completed application; letters and 
agreements will not be accepted if sent separately to USIA. Applying 
institutions are expected to make their own arrangements with the 
appropriate foreign institutions. National ministries of educational 
and culture and academies of science are included as eligible foreign 
partner institutions.
    Authorization to work in archives, manuscript repositories, and to 
use research materials is critical for U.S. scholars. Proposals should 
include evidence of such authorization.

Proposal Narrative

    The proposal narrative describing the program must conform to the 
Guidelines dated April 1993 and must include any subgrants to be 
issued. All narratives must describe in detail the abilities of the 
participating organizations to adapt to the changing exchanges 
environments in the countries eligible for participation in this 
program.

Participant Selection

    The proposal must include detailed descriptions of the selection 
processes of participants, both foreign and American. This must include 
procedures by which selecting officials are named. A goal for this 
program is to select students and scholars from geographically diverse 
backgrounds in the home country and place them in wide geographic 
distribution in the host country.
    Categories A and B (Short and Long-term Research Exchange): All 
scholars, at a minimum, must be Ph.D. candidates and currently enrolled 
at or affiliated with a university. Applicants should not have 
travelled on a similar grant in the last five years, or should have 
little opportunity to travel unless as a participant of this program. 
Applying organizations must demonstrate the ability to conduct 
competitive award programs that are national in scope. Programs must be 
based on an open, nationwide competition, incorporating peer group 
review mechanisms.
    The selection process for U.S. participants must be merit based. 
Selection criteria for the U.S. participants must be based on: (1) 
Academic rigor of the participant's proposed project, including a 
demonstration of the need to study abroad; (2) feasibility of the 
participant's proposed project, including time-frame and methodology; 
(3) language proficiency in the language of the host country by the 
participant; and (4) a solid foundation of background knowledge and 
research through general literature available in Western repositories.
    The selection process for foreign researchers should be merit based 
and the result of a country-wide or multi-country wide competition. 
Selection criteria for the foreign participants should be based on: (1) 
Academic rigor of the participant's proposed project, including a 
demonstration of the need to study abroad; (2) feasibility of the 
participant's proposed project, including time-frame and methodology; 
(3) English language proficiency by the participant; and (4) a solid 
foundation of background knowledge and research through general 
literature available in the repositories of the foreign region. 
Although not a requirement, preference should be given to junior 
faculty holding lecturing positions.

Orientation Programs

    Participants should be provided with a substantive and 
comprehensive orientation to the countries of their visits, and 
proposals should describe these orientation programs, including costs, 
in detail.

Alumni Activities

    USIA recognizes the contributions of alumni to the goals of the 
program and the goals of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchanges 
Act. Priority will be given to proposals which include detailed and 
comprehensive alumni tracking and networking plans. Electronic mail 
access and training may be included in any such plans.

Proposed Budget

    Funding anticipated for Category A is estimated at $1,300,000, 
which includes all program and administrative costs. Funding 
anticipated for Category B is estimated at $240,000, which includes all 
program and administrative costs.
    The following budgetary guidance applies to both Categories A and 
B: Project awards to U.S. organizations will be made in a wide range of 
amounts. The Agency reserves the right to reduce, revise or increase 
proposal budgets in accordance with the needs of the program. All 
organizations must submit a comprehensive line-item budget, the details 
and format of which are contained in the application packet. The budget 
should list all sources of support for the program fiscal year 1995 
including both cash and in-kind contributions.

Allowance Costs

    Grant-funded items of expenditure may include, but are not limited 
to, the following categories:
    Categories A and B:

--International Travel (via American flag carrier);
--Domestic travel;
--Maintenance (lodging, meals, incidental expenses, etc.);
--Stipend (not to exceed $250 per month);
--Academic program costs (e.g. book allowance);
--Orientation costs (speaker honoraria are not to exceed $150 per day 
per speaker);
--Cultural enrichment expenses (admissions, tickets, etc.; limited to 
$150 per participant);
--Conference and/or other travel and lodging for cultural enrichment 
(not to exceed $400.00 per participant);
--Administration (salaries, benefits, communications, other direct 
costs and indirect costs), including administration of tax withholding 
and reporting as required by federal, state and local authorities and 
in accordance with relevant tax treaties.*;
--Taxes and visa fees;
--Application should demonstrate substantial cost-sharing (dollar and 
in-kind) in both program and administrative expenses, including tuition 
waivers and overseas partner contributions.

*Please Note: It is required that requested administrative funds, 
including indirect costs and administrative expenses for 
orientation, not exceed 20 percent of the total amount requested 
from USIA; administrative expenses should be cost-shared. (See the 
accompanying guidelines for complete cost-sharing and auditing 
requirements.)

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, including the Guidelines for Preparing Proposals. 
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 assistance resides with USIA's grants 
officer.

Review Criteria

    Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed 
according to the following criteria:

a. Quality of Program Plan

    Including academic rigor and excellence, thorough conception of 
project, demonstration of meeting participants' needs, contributions to 
understand the partner country, proposed follow-up, and qualifications 
of program staff and participants.

b. Reasonable, Feasible, and Flexible Objectives

    The capacity of the organization to conduct the program. Proposals 
should clearly demonstrate how the institution will meet the program 
objectives and plan.

c. Track Record

    Relevant Agency and outside assessments of the organization's 
experience with international programs; for organizations that have not 
worked with USIA, the demonstrated potential to achieve program goals 
will be evaluated.

d. Multiplier Effect/Impact

    The positive effect of the program on long-term mutual 
understanding, the inclusion of maximum sharing of information, and the 
establishment of long-term institutional and individual linkages.

e. Value of U.S.-Partner Country Relations

    The assessment by USIA's geographic area office of the need, 
potential impact, and significance of the project with the partner 
country.

f. Cost Effectiveness

    Greatest return on each grant dollar, degree of cost-sharing 
exhibitied.

g. Diversity and Pluralism

    Preference will be given to proposals that demonstrate efforts to 
include participants from diverse regions, and of different socio-
economic and ethnic backgrounds, to the extent feasible for the 
applicant institutions.

h. Adherence

    Of proposed activities to the criteria and conditions described 
above.

i. Institutional Commitment

    As demonstrated by financial and other support to the program.

j. Follow-On Activities

    Proposals should provide a plan for continued follow-on activity 
(without USIA support) which insures that USIA supported programs are 
not isolated events.

k. Evaluation Plan

    Proposals should provide a plan for evaluation by the grantee 
institution.

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 this request for proposals 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 in writing of the results of the 
review process on or about September 23, 1994. All funded proposals 
will be subject to periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.

Options for Renewal (All Categories)

    Subject to the availability of funding for FY 1996 and the 
satisfactory performance of grant programs, USIA may invite grantee 
organizations to submit proposals for renewals of awards.

    Dated: June 11, 1994.
Barry Fulton,
Deputy Associate Director, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-14690 Filed 6-15-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M