[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: 94-14692]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 16, 1994]


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


UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
 

International Creative Arts Exchanges for Public and Private Non-
Profit Organizations

ACTION: Request for proposals.

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

SUMMARY: The Creative Arts Exchanges Division of the U.S. Information 
Agency's [USIA] Office of Arts America announces a program of awards to 
private, non-profit organizations to support projects for artists and 
arts administrators. These will consist of residencies and/or study 
tours in which artists from the United States and other countries work 
and learn together. Interested applicants are invited to request and 
read the complete Federal Register announcement before submitting their 
proposals.

DATES: This action is effective from the publication date of this 
notice through September 21, 1994, for projects whose activities will 
begin between February 1, 1995, and June 30, 1995. All applications 
must be received at the U.S. Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington DC 
time on Wednesday, September 21, 1994. Faxed documents will not be 
accepted, nor will documents postmarked on September 21, 1994, but 
received at a later date.
    For projects that begin after June 30, 1995, competition details 
will be announced in the Federal Register on or about December 1, 1994. 
Inquiries concerning technical requirements are welcome prior to 
submission of applications.

ADDRESSES: The original and 14 copies of the completed application, 
including required forms, should be submitted by the deadline to: U.S. 
Information Agency, REF: E/DE Discretionary Grant Competition, Grants 
Management Division (E/XE), E/DE-95-01, room 336, 301 4th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20547. Awards are contingent upon the availability of 
funds.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND APPLICATION PACKAGES, CONTACT: The Creative 
Arts Exchanges Division of the U.S. Information Agency's Office of Arts 
America, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547; telephone (202) 
619-5338.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Creative Arts Exchanges Division works 
with U.S. non-profit organizations on cooperative international group 
projects that introduce American and foreign participants to each 
other's cultural and artistic life and traditions. It supports 
international projects in the United States or overseas involving 
composers, choreographers, filmmakers [see guidance below], 
playwrights, theater designers, writers and poets, visual artists, 
museum professionals [see guidance below], managers and administrators 
of arts institutions and organizations [see guidance below].
    We particularly seek projects with organizations with expertise in 
the arts as well as broad outreach and networking capabilities into 
American arts activities nationwide. On its side USIA offers 
prospective applicants its network of U.S. Information Service [USIS] 
posts located in American embassies, consulates and cultural centers 
around the world. Proposals making imaginative and substantive use of 
this USIS network will have a decided advantage in the competition. 
Proposed projects should support the USIA mission to increase mutual 
understanding between the United States and other countries and to 
promote international cooperation in educational and cultural fields. 
USIS' role in such projects should be integral and not purely 
facilitative.

Common Provisions

    Projects supported by these awards share some or all of the 
following features:
    1. An international exchange of professionals in the fields listed 
above.
    2. The development of institutional linkages between American 
organizations and their counterparts in other countries.
    3. Travel to or from the United States, preferably in both 
directions.
    4. Competition in which USIS posts nominate foreign candidates for 
awards, while the American arts organizations select the award-winners.
    5. Assurances of quality, fairness, balance and openness in the 
selection of American project participants.
    6. A non-political character reflective of the diversity of 
American political, social and cultural life.

Special Conditions

    1. Proposals should involve more than one country. However, single-
country projects that have strong USIS-post support and clearly 
demonstrate the potential for creating and strengthening linkages 
between foreign and U.S. institutions are also welcome.
    2. Proposals are subject to review and comment by the USIS posts in 
the relevant countries.
    3. Proposals involving foreign organizations should identify them 
and clearly define their role in the project. Prospective applicants 
would do well to consult with USIS posts regarding such organizations 
prior to submitting their proposals.
    4. Proposals centering on films or videos must deal with the 
creative aspects of film or video making. Projects should be written 
for professional partners, not for amateur or student groups. Projects 
may include story development, other aspects of the creative processes, 
or management issues like funding and distribution. They should not 
include film or video festivals, installations, seminars, competitions, 
full scale film production or distribution, or any other type of 
project prohibited in this announcement.
    5. Proposals centering on arts presenters, administrators, and 
managers should feature exchanges involving these professionals 
exclusively.
    6. Arts America is the major supporter of the American Association 
of Museums [AAM] International Partnerships Among Museums [IPAM] 
program. Museums interested in international projects should address 
queries to the Office of International Programs, American Association 
of Museums, 1225 Eye Street, NW., Washington, DC 20005; telephone: 
[202] 289-1818; FAX: [202] 289-6578. We will not accept direct 
applications from museums for international projects [see Program 
Exclusions, below].
    7. Proposals for projects in Eastern Europe and/or the Newly 
Independent States of the ex-Soviet Union should focus on the exchange 
of arts administrators or professionals dealing in theatrical arts. 
Proposals should clearly demonstrate knowledge of host country 
environment and its institutional partner in that country and provide 
evidence of long-term commitment to project goals.

Program Exclusions

    1. Projects should be artistic, intellectual, and cultural, not 
technical. Vocational and technical training projects are ineligible 
for support.
    2. Scholarship programs or proposals for long-term academic study 
or training are ineligible for support.
    3. Speaking tours, conferences or seminars, research projects, 
research for project development purposes, youth or youth-related 
activities (participants' age under 25), publications, student and/or 
faculty exchanges, or projects for the exchange of amateurs or semi-
professionals are all ineligible.
    4. Arts America does not accept proposals to support performing 
arts productions or tours, film or video festivals, film/video 
installations, full-scale film production or distribution, 
international arts competitions, community-level arts presentations or 
festivals for general audiences, visual arts exhibits, museum projects 
except for those under the AAM/IPAM program [see above], or projects in 
the fields of historical and cultural conservation and preservation.
    5. USIA is a major supporter of Sister Cities International and 
Partners of the Americas. It has agreed to fund administrative expenses 
of these organizations' national offices, but will not fund projects 
arising from sister city and partner state relationships once they are 
established.

Budgetary Requirements

    1. There must be minimum of 33% cost sharing of the project cost. 
Cost sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. 
The recipient must maintain written records to support all allowable 
costs which are claimed to be 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 provide a minimum of 33% 
cost sharing following the award, the Agency's contribution will be 
reduced in proportion to the recipient's contribution.
    2. Administrative costs must be no more than 20% of the total 
amount requested from USIA.
    3. Awards are limited to $200,000. We will consider requests for 
$100,000 or more only for projects that are internationally regional, 
multi-regional or worldwide in scope. Awards are limited to $60,000 for 
organizations with less than four years' experience in conducting 
international exchange programs.
    4. Allowable costs are those defined in the application package, 
which is available upon request.
    5. To calculate the costs per participant, divide the project total 
by the number of participants who will be funded under the terms of the 
award.

Definition of Administrative Costs

    Administrative costs are defined as salaries, benefits and other 
direct and indirect costs incurred. Important note for universities: 
The U.S. Information Agency defines American faculty salaries as an 
administrative expense, regardless of how the faculty time is to be 
used.

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 in the application package. 
Eligible proposals will be forwarded to panels of USIA officers for 
advisory review. All eligible proposals will also be reviewed by the 
appropriate USIA geographic area officers, and budget and contract 
offices. Proposals may also be reviewed by the Agency's General 
Counsel. Review criteria are listed in the application package, which 
is available upon request. Funding decisions are at the discretion of 
USIA's Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final 
technical authority for awards resides with USIA's contracting officer.

Review Criteria

    Proposals are reviewed for adherence to legal and budgetary 
requirements by USIA offices responsible for these functions and for 
artistic/organizational rigor, program content and cost-effectiveness.
    Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed 
according to the following criteria:

a. Quality of Program Plan

    Which includes how your project would meet the Creative Arts 
Exchanges Program goals, artistic/organizational planning of the 
highest caliber, why the participants would be appropriate for this 
project, how the project would contribute to a higher awareness of 
other countries, a proposed followup, and the qualifications of program 
staff and participants.

b. Feasibility of the Program Plan

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

c. Track Record

    Included are the past successes of the organization in previous 
USIA programs and assessments of the organization's experience with 
international exchanges. For organizations that have not worked with 
USIA, they will be evaluated by their demonstrated potential to achieve 
their program goals.

d. Multiplier Effect/Impact

    The ability of the organization to affect the wider community as 
well as developing continuing ties in the country. The proposal must 
also promote mutual understanding between the two groups.

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

    The Agency assesses the need, the potential impact, and the 
significance of the project with the partner country.

f. Cost-Effectiveness

    The organization should exhibit a wise budgetary policy including 
cost-sharing. A key measure of cost-effectiveness is the cost per 
participant.

g. Diversity and Pluralism

    Preference will be given to proposals that demonstrate efforts to 
provide for the participation of artists from diverse regions, socio-
economic and ethnic backgrounds; but only to the extent feasible for 
the applicant institutions.

h. Institutional Commitment

    As demonstrated through use of personnel, resources and funding.

i. Follow-up Activities

    Proposals should provide a plan for later continuation of contact 
(without USIA support), which ensures that USIA-supported programs are 
not isolated events.

j. Evaluation Plan

    Proposals should provide a plan for your own evaluation of the 
project.

Technical Requirements

    Proposals can only be accepted for review when they are fully in 
accord with the terms of this request for proposals, as well as with 
requirements stipulated in the application package.

Notice

    The terms and conditions published in the request for proposals 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 request for proposals does not 
constitute an award commitment on the part of the Government. Final 
awards 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 January 4, 1995. Awards will be subject to periodic 
reporting and evaluation requirements.

    Dated: June 10, 1994.
John P. Loiello,
Associate Director, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc 94-14692 Filed 6-15-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M