[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 165 (Friday, August 26, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-21124]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 26, 1994]


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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY

 

College and University Development Program in Business Management 
for Croatia and Macedonia

ACTION: Notice--Request for Proposals.

SUMMARY: The Office of Academic Programs of the United States 
Information Agency's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs 
announces an open competition for an assistance award program. 
Accredited post-secondary U.S. educational institutions and U.S. 
scholarly/professional organizations are invited to submit proposals to 
conduct exchange programs with post-secondary educational institutions 
in Croatia and Macedonia. The purpose of the exchange programs is to 
develop curricula and teaching methodologies for foreign faculties in 
the field of business management. USIA anticipates awarding one grant 
not to exceed $300,000 for a project in Macedonia, and one grant not to 
exceed $200,000 for a project in Croatia. Public or private non-profit 
organizations applying under this program must meet the provisions 
described in IRS regulation 501(c)(3).

Grant Activities

    Grant activities should begin no later than February 1, 1995. 
Programs must be a minimum of 18 months and a maximum of two years in 
duration. Activities must include placement of U.S. faculty at Croatian 
or Macedonian institutions for in-country training of foreign faculty 
and for development of sustainable programs to educate future foreign 
business management teachers and business people. Targeted program 
activities may include: Faculty development and enrichment; curriculum 
design; modernization of the administrative structures within the 
foreign institution; outreach to the private sector; and direct 
teaching. U.S. and foreign participants may include post-graduate 
students on a ``faculty track'' who are currently involved in teaching 
at participating institutions (not to exceed 25% of all participants). 
Development of linkages with the private sector and development of 
appropriate materials are encouraged. Orientation, seminar, workshop 
and semester-long course formats will be acceptable. Visits to partner 
institutions by staff or consultants to plan joint projects may be 
funded under this program but should be a relatively small part of the 
overall exchange. Applicants are strongly encouraged to maintain an in-
country presence at the foreign partner institution(s) for the duration 
of the program. This presence should include project director(s) at the 
partner institution(s) for periods of at least one continuous academic 
semester.
    Courses developed may include, but are not limited to: Marketing, 
production management, economics, industrial relations, finance, 
accounting, international business and business communications. 
Proposals must provide for a two-way exchange. Exchange activities 
should include establishment of electronic communications between 
partner institutions and other organizations.

Funding Authority

    Funding for this program is provided under the Support for East 
European Democracies (SEED) Act. Under the auspices of the SEED Act, 
USIA is offering this program to help foster greater expertise in 
business management in selected countries of the region. Projects must 
conform with Agency requirements and guidelines outlined in this 
announcement and the Application Package. USIA projects and programs 
are subject to the availability of funds.

ANNOUNCEMENT NAME AND NUMBER: All communications with USIA concerning 
this announcement should refer to the above title and reference number 
E/ASU-95-03.

DATES: Deadline for proposals: The original and 14 complete copies of 
the proposal must be received at the U.S. Information Agency by 5 p.m. 
Washington, D.C. time on Tuesday, October 11, 1994. Faxed documents 
will not be accepted, nor will documents postmarked on October 11 but 
received at a later date. It is the responsibility of each applicant to 
ensure that proposals are received by the above deadline.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Office of Academic Programs, 
Specialized Programs Unit--E/ASU, Room 349, U.S. Information Agency, 
301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, (202) 619-5289 (phone), 
(202) 401-1433 (fax), to request an Application Package, which includes 
detailed award criteria; all application forms; and guidelines for 
preparing proposals, including specific criteria for preparation of the 
proposal budget. Please specify USIA Program Officer Robin Kline or 
Mary Ann Garlic on all inquiries and correspondence. Interested 
applicants should read the complete Federal Register announcement 
before addressing inquiries to the Specialized Programs Unit or 
submitting proposals. Once the RFP deadline has passed, Specialized 
Programs Unit program officers may not discuss this competition in any 
way with applicants until the Bureau proposal review process has been 
completed.

ADDRESSES: Applicants must follow all instructions given in this 
announcement and the Application Package and send only complete 
applications to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/ASU-95-03, Office of 
Grants Management, E/XE, Room 336, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20547.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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. Programs must also maintain their 
scholarly integrity and meet the highest standard of academic 
excellence or artistic achievement. ``Diversity'' should be interpreted 
in the broadest sense and encompass differences including but not 
limited to race, gender, religion, geographic location, socio-economic 
status, and physical challenges. Applicants are strongly encouraged to 
adhere to the advancement of this principle.

Overview

    The specific purpose of this program is to assist Central and East 
European countries in their transformation to free market economies 
through the development of business management training capabilities in 
academic institutions. An important goal of the program is to create 
enduring linkages between designated foreign and U.S. institutions. 
Proposals that are extensions or enhancements of past or current 
relationships with a partner institution will be accepted.

Guidelines

    A. Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations; program 
participants must carry the requisite level of health and accident 
insurance. U.S. project directors must ensure that all participants are 
covered by a comprehensive health insurance plan, and the proposal must 
reflect insurance coverage.
    B. Institutional Eligibility: In the U.S., participation in the 
program is open to accredited two- and four-year colleges and 
universities, graduate schools, and non-profit scholarly/professional 
organizations. Consortia of institutions are also eligible. Proposals 
from consortia must be submitted by a single member institution with 
authority to represent the consortium. Overseas, participation is 
limited to recognized degree-granting institutions of higher education 
and internationally recognized and highly regarded independent research 
institutes. Special note: USIA encourages proposals from eligible 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities, community colleges, and 
other institutions in the U.S. with significant minority student 
enrollment.
    C. Participant Eligibility: Each participant representing a U.S. 
institution, whose travel costs are covered under this program's 
funding, must be a U.S. citizen. Each participant representing a 
foreign institution must be a citizen, national, or permanent resident 
of the eligible foreign country in which the foreign partner 
institution is located.
    D. Ineligibility: A proposal will be deemed technically ineligible 
if:
    (1) It does not fully adhere to the guidelines established herein 
and in the Application Package, including budgetary requirements.
    (2) The applicant is not an accredited two- or four-year 
institution, or a non-profit organization.
    (3) The project does not constitute a direct partnership with a 
post-secondary business management program in Croatia or Macedonia.
    (4) The project involves partnerships in more than one country.
    (5) The project does not seek to address the faculty, curriculum, 
and administrative aspects entailed in developing the business 
management program identified.
    (6) The project does not provide for in-country presence of U.S. 
faculty.
    (7) The proposal requests USIA support for indirect costs.
    (8) The project includes profits or fees.
    E. Institutional Commitment: In making award decisions, USIA will 
focus especially on evidence of an ongoing commitment by the U.S. 
partner to internationalizing its educational programs as well as a 
commitment by both partner institutions to the success of the 
particular exchange program. Each proposal must include documentation 
of institutional support for the proposed program in the form of signed 
letters of endorsement from the president, chancellor, or director of 
the U.S. and foreign institution(s) involved. The documentation may 
also be submitted in the form of a signed agreement by the same 
persons. Each agreement or letter of endorsement must describe the 
institution's commitment to an on-going partnership and make specific 
reference to the proposed program and how it will fit into and be 
supported by the institution's current activities in internationalizing 
its educational programs. Proposals must discuss on how the partnership 
will be continued beyond the period of the grant award. If not 
submitted with original proposal, documentation of support from foreign 
institutions must be received by 5 p.m. Washington, D.C. time on 
October 24, 1994, addressed to Robin Kline or Mary Ann Garlic, E/ASU, 
Room 349, U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th Street SW., Washington, DC 
20547. Applicant institutions are required to make their own 
arrangements with the appropriate foreign institutions regarding 
institutional commitment and visas, and the proposal must make 
reference to this requirement.
    Proposed Budget: USIA anticipates awarding one grant not to exceed 
$300,000 for a project in Macedonia, and one grant not to exceed 
$200,000 for a project in Croatia. Institutions must submit a 
comprehensive line item budget, including a budget summary page, based 
on the specific guidance in the Application Package. USIA will not pay 
for indirect costs under this program; however, indirect costs may be 
included as part of an institution's cost sharing. Requesting USIA 
support for indirect costs will result in technical ineligibility. 
Proposals must demonstrate substantial cost-sharing (dollar and in-
kind) in both program and administrative categories, including overseas 
partner contributions. 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 as being its 
contribution to cost participation, as well as cost 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 A110, Attachment E. Cost-sharing and 
matching should be described in the proposal. In the event the 
recipient does not provide the minimum amount of cost sharing as 
stipulated in the recipient's budget, the USIA contribution will be 
reduced in proportion to the recipient's contribution.
    The recipient's proposal shall include the cost of an audit that:
    1. Complies with the requirements of OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits 
of Institutions of Higher Education and Other Nonprofit Institutions;
    2. Complies with the requirements of American Institute of 
Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Statement of Position (SOP) No. 
92-9; and
    3. Includes review by the recipient's independent auditor of a 
recipient-prepared supplemental schedule of indirect cost rate 
computation, if such a rate is being proposed.
    The audit costs shall be identified separately for:
    1. Preparation of basic financial statements and other accounting 
services; and
    2. Preparation of the supplemental reports and schedules required 
by OMB Circular A-133, AICPA SOP 92-9, and the review of the 
supplemental schedule of indirect cost rate computation.
    USIA reserves the right to reduce, increase or otherwise modify 
proposal budgets in accordance with the needs of the program. For 
organizations with less than four years of experience in international 
exchange activities, grants will be limited to a maximum of $60,000. 
Administrative costs cannot exceed 20 percent of the requested budget, 
including administrative expenses for orientation.
    Allowable costs for the program include the following (see 
Application Package for further details):

A. Program Costs

    (1) International travel (via U.S. flag carriers);
    (2) Domestic travel;
    (3) Maintenance (lodging/meals/incidental expenses);
    (4) Educational materials, not to exceed 35 percent of total 
budget;
    (5) Honoraria or compensation for in-country work, not to exceed 
$100/day per person;
    (6) Visa fees for foreign participants;
    (7) Medical insurance for foreign participants during U.S. visits;
    (8) Salaries/benefits of U.S. participant(s) in residence at 
foreign partner institution for one academic year or more. Total costs 
for the participant(s) in residence must not exceed 30 percent of the 
total budget.

B. Administrative Costs (Not to exceed 20% of Total Budget)

    (1) Salaries and benefits;
    (2) Communications (fax, phone, postage, etc.);
    (3) Office supplies;
    (4) Other direct costs.
    Please refer to the Application Package for complete budget 
guidelines.

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 stated herein and 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 budget and contracts offices, as well as the USIA 
Office of East European and NIS Affairs and USIA posts overseas. 
Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of the General Counsel or 
by other Agency elements. Funding decisions are at the discretion of 
the USIA Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final 
technical authority for grant awards resides with the USIA contracts 
officer.

Review Criteria

    Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed 
according to the following criteria:
    (A) Quality of program plan--including academic rigor, thorough 
conception of project (including a timeline of activities and 
identification of participants), understanding of the needs of the 
partner institution, potential to address partner needs, and proposed 
follow-up.
    (B) Feasibility of the program plan and the capacity of the 
organization to conduct the exchange; e.g., qualifications of program 
staff and participants, commitment of the institution's administration 
to internationalize its faculty outlook and curricula. Each proposal 
should clearly demonstrate how the institution will meet the program 
objectives and execute the program plan.
    (C) Track record--relevant Agency and outside assessments of the 
organization's experience with international exchanges; for 
organizations that have not worked with USIA, the demonstrated 
potential to achieve program goals will be evaluated.
    (D) Multiplier effect/impact--the impact of the exchange activity 
on the wider community and on the establishment of continuing ties, as 
well as the contribution of the proposed activity in promoting mutual 
understanding.
    (E) Value to U.S.-partner country relations--the assessment by 
USIA's geographic area office and posts of the potential impact and 
significance of the project with the partner country.
    (F) Cost effectiveness--greatest return on each grant dollar; 
degree of cost-sharing exhibited.
    (G) Adherence of proposed activities to the criteria and conditions 
described above.
    (H) Institutional commitment as demonstrated by financial and in-
kind support of the program.
    (I) Follow-on Activities--each proposal must provide a plan for 
follow-on activity (without USIA support) which ensures that the USIA-
supported program is not an isolated event. Each proposal must clearly 
demonstrate long-term commitment from all partners.
    (J) Support of Diversity--proposals should demonstrate the 
recipient's commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding of 
diversity throughout the program. This can be accomplished through 
documentation (such as a written statement or account) summarizing past 
and/or on-going activities and efforts that further the principle of 
diversity within both the organization and the program activities.
    (K) Evaluation plan--proposals must 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.

Notification

    All applicants will be notified of the results of the review 
process on or about Monday, January 2, 1994. Awards made will be 
subject to periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.

    Dated: August 23, 1994.
Dell Pendergrast,
Deputy Associate Director, Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-21124 Filed 8-25-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M