[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 169 (Thursday, September 1, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-21386]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: September 1, 1994]


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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
 

Airport Arrival Service in New York City

ACTION: Notice--Request for Proposals.

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SUMMARY: The Advising and Student Services Branch of the United States 
Information Agency's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs 
announces an open competition for an assistance award program. Public 
and/or private non-profit applicants meeting the provisions described 
in IRS regulation 501(c)(3) may apply to develop an airport reception 
and assistance service based in New York City. The service would assist 
U.S. Government-sponsored (including Fulbright scholars and students, 
Humphrey Fellows, etc.) and non-sponsored international students, 
scholars, exchange visitors, and participants in USIA's International 
Visitor Program, arriving in New York City.
    The applicant would provide a multilingual, trained staff to assist 
international visitors with complex logistics and unexpected problems 
which occur when arriving in a foreign country.
    USIA anticipates awarding up to $60,000 to an applicant to provide 
these services. Up to $29,000 will be devoted to assisting with up to 
250 USIA International Visitor meets (i.e., flights, including groups 
arriving on a single flight) from January 1-December 31, 1995. Up to 
$31,000 will be devoted to assisting the maximum number of U.S. 
Government-sponsored and non-sponsored international students, 
scholars, and exchange visitors from June 15 to September 30, 1995.
    Overall grant making authority for this program is contained in the 
Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended, 
Public Law 87-256, also known as the 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 the 
people of other countries * * *; 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 the other countries of the world.'' Programs and projects must 
conform with Agency requirements and guidelines outlined in the 
Application Package. USIA projects and programs are subject to the 
availability of funds.

ANNOUNCEMENT NAME AND NUMBER: All communication with USIA concerning 
this announcement should refer to the above title and reference number 
E/ASA-95-02.

DATES: Deadline for proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S. 
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on Friday, October 7, 
1994. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents 
postmarked on October 7, 1994, 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:
The Advising and Student Services Branch (E/ASA); room 349; U.S. 
Information Agency, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547; 
telephone 202/619-5434, fax 202/401-1433, internet address 
[email protected] to request an Application Package. The Application 
Package 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 
Assistant Brandon Grimes on all inquiries and correspondence. 
Interested applicants should read the complete Federal Register 
announcement before addressing inquiries or submitting their proposals 
to USIA. Once the RFP deadline has passed the Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs may not discuss this competition in any way with 
applicants until after the Bureau proposal review process has been 
completed.

ADDRESSES: Applicants must follow all instructions given in the 
Application Package and send only complete applications to: U.S. 
Information Agency, Ref.: E/ASA-95-02, 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. ``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 Agency's long term goals for this program are to strengthen 
ties and develop friendly relations between the people of the U.S. and 
people of other countries. The Agency's short term goals are to enable 
as many international students, scholars, and visitors as possible to 
receive a positive first impression of the U.S. by facilitating a 
smooth and trouble-free entry into this country.

Guidelines

    USIA suggest that the proposal not exceed ten double spaced pages. 
A model proposal would offer a comprehensive and flexible service which 
would provide an accommodating and knowledgeable staff to ensure that 
the arrival of international students, scholars, and visitors is 
without difficulties.
    The reception and assistance service should include, but not 
necessarily be limited to, providing a multilingual, trained staff 
available to meet visitors inside the custom and immigration areas to 
assist them with declaration forms, baggage claims, messages, phone 
calls, currency exchanges, connecting or missed flights, language 
problems, local transportation, and emergency overnight accommodations. 
The applicant should show evidence of ability to recruit and train 
multilingual, professional staff (representing a wide range of 
languages) and demonstrate knowledge of the field of international 
education to be able to contact and communicate with the greatest 
number of international visitors.
    The applicant should demonstrate the ability to obtain access 
inside the customs and immigration areas and provide comprehensive 
services to the maximum number of international students, scholars, and 
visitors. Prospective recipient would publicize service worldwide and 
have the ability to receive arrival requests 365 days a year.

Proposed Budget

    The applicant is required to submit a comprehensive line item 
budget based on the specific guidance in the Application Package. The 
grant award for this program will not exceed $60,000. Applicants are to 
submit separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase, 
location, or activity in order to facilitate USIA decisions on funding. 
While separate component budgets are required, an all-inclusive budget 
may be provided with each proposal.
    Allowable costs for the program include the following:

(1) Partial Salaries and Benefits
(2) Local Staff Transportation
(3) Cost of Rent, Utilities, Expendable Supplies, Postage, 
Communication, Printing and Duplicating
(4) Books and Periodicals
(5) Indirect Expense

    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 the contracts office. 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 grants officer.

Review Criteria

    Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed 
according to the following criteria:
    1. Quality of the program idea: Proposals should exhibit 
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to Agency mission.
    2. Program planning: Detailed agenda and relevant work plan should 
demonstrate substantive undertakings and logistical capacity. Agenda 
and plan should adhere to the program overview and guidelines described 
above.
    3. Ability to achieve program objectives: Objectives should be 
reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly 
demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's objectives and 
plan.
    4. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional 
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program or 
project's goals.
    5. Institution's Record/Ability: Proposals should demonstrate an 
institutional record of successful program administration, including 
responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting 
requirements for past Agency grants as determined by USIA's Office of 
Contracts. The Agency will consider the past performance of prior 
recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants.
    6. Project evaluation: 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 proposals include a draft survey 
questionnaire or other technique plus description of a methodology to 
use to link outcomes to original project objectives. Award-receiving 
applicants/institutions will be expected to submit intermediate reports 
after each project component is concluded or quarterly, whichever is 
less frequent.
    7. Cost-effectiveness: The overhead and administrative components 
of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be kept as 
low as possible. All other items should be necessary and appropriate.
    8. Cost-sharing: Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through 
other private sector support as well as institutional direct funding 
contributions.
    9. Language competency: Proposals should exhibit applicant's access 
to multi-lingual personnel who can provide the greatest range of 
translation assistance to incoming visitors.

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 the RFP does not constitute an award commitment on 
the part of the Government. The needs of the program may require the 
award to be reduced, revised, or increased. Final awards cannot be made 
until funds have been 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 December 1, 1994. Awards made will be subject to 
the availability of funds and periodic reporting and evaluation 
requirements.

    Dated: August 24, 1994.
Dell Pendergrast,
Deputy Associate Director, Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-21386 Filed 8-31-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M