[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 178 (Thursday, September 15, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-22630]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: September 15, 1994]


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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
 

College and University Affiliations Program (CUAP): 
Administrative Services

ACTION: Notice--Request for Proposals.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Academic Programs of the United States 
Information Agency announces an open competition to assist in the 
administration of the FY 1995 College and University Affiliations 
Program (CUAP) competition. Public and non-profit organizations meeting 
the provisions described in IRS regulation 501(c)(3) may apply.
    The purpose of this grant is to assist in the administration of 
Step II of the FY 1995 CUAP competition which includes technical review 
of approximately 45-50 proposals, coordination of academic review 
panels, provisions of panel appraisal reports on each proposal, and 
related correspondence.
    The CUAP supports partnerships between U.S. and foreign 
institutions of higher education in the arts, humanities, and social 
sciences which include faculty and staff exchange, curriculum 
development, and collaborative research.
    Overall grant making and funding authority for this program is 
contained in the Fulbright-Hays Act also known as the Mutual 
Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended, Public Law 
87-256. 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 peoples 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 communications with USIA concerning 
this announcement should refer to the above title and reference number 
E/ASU-95-06.

DATES: Deadline for proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S. 
Information Agency by 5:00 p.m. Washington, DC time on Friday, October 
28, 1994. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents 
postmarked on October 28, 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Office of Academic Programs; Advising, Teaching, and Specialized 
Programs Division; Specialized Programs Unit; U.S. Information Agency, 
301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, phone: (202) 619-5289, fax: 
(202) 401-1433, Internet address: [email protected], to request an 
Application Package, which includes more detailed award criteria; all 
application forms; and guidelines for preparing proposals, including 
specific criteria for preparation of the proposal budget. Please 
specify the USIA Program Officer/Specialist Ms. Deborah Trent or Ms. 
Sue Borja on all inquiries and correspondence.

    Interested applicants should read the complete Federal Register 
announcement before addressing inquiries to the Office of Academic 
Programs; Advising, Teaching, and Specialized Programs Division; 
Specialized Programs Unit or submitting their proposals. Once the RFP 
deadline has passed, the Specialized Programs Unit staff may not 
discuss this competition in any way with applicants until after the 
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/ASU-95-02, Office of Grants Management, E/
XE, Room 336, 301 4th St., SW., Washington, DC 20547.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Bureau's authorized 
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 recipient of this award will administer the technical and 
academic reviews for Step II of the FY 1995 College and University 
Affiliations Program (CUAP). CUAP is designed to support partnerships 
between U.S. and foreign institutions of higher education in the arts, 
humanities, and social sciences with the goal of strengthening mutual 
understanding. The CUAP supports curriculum development, faculty and 
staff development, and collaborative research through three-year grants 
up to a total of $120,000.

Guidelines

Project Description

    The applicant shall review proposals for compliance with the 
technical requirements published in the Request for Proposals (RFP) for 
the FY 1995 CUAP competition (RFP to be provided in the application 
packet). The applicant shall coordinate the academic review of 
technically eligible, comprehensive proposals and provide the Agency 
with a panel appraisal report on each proposal based upon academic 
review criteria published in the FY 1995 CUAP RFP.
    The applicant shall designate a coordinator, subject to Agency 
approval, to implement and chair all technical and academic reviews. 
The applicant shall produce correspondence to the applicants in 
response to inquiries regarding the technical and academic review of 
their proposals and notify applicants of their funding status.
    All official documents should highlight the U.S. government's role 
as program sponsor and funding source.

Eligibility

    Non-profit organizations based in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan 
area, with experience in international education with an emphasis on 
educational exchanges, are invited to submit proposals for a 
cooperative agreement award from the Agency.

Proposed Budget

    Budget award will not exceed $60,000. A comprehensive, line-item 
budget based on the specific guidance in the Application Package, must 
be submitted with the proposal.
    Allowable costs for the program include the following:
    1. Salaries and benefits;
    2. Local ground transportation for staff travel;
    3. Office Expenses: Equipment rental/repair, office supplies, 
postage and delivery, telephone/telefax, photocopying/printing, meeting 
and conference expenses;
    4. Consultant Fees and Honoraria for panelists;
    5. Panelists' expenses:
    a. Airfare;
    b. Ground transportation;
    c. Per diem, not to exceed current rates authorized in the Federal 
Travel Regulations.
    6. Indirect 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 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 Agency's Office of Contracts, as well as the USIA 
geographic area offices and the USIA posts overseas, where appropriate. 
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 assistance awards resides with the USIA grants 
officer.

Review Criteria

    Technical eligible applications will be competitively reviewed 
according to the following criteria:
    1. Quality of Program Plan/Ability to Achieve Program Objectives: 
Agenda and plan should adhere to the program overview and guidelines 
described above and in the Application Package. Objectives should be 
reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly 
demonstrate how the organization will meet the program's objectives and 
plan.
    2. Institution's Record/Ability/Capacity: Proposed personnel and 
institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve 
the program's goals. Proposals should demonstrate 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.
    3. Cost-Effectiveness/Cost-Sharing: 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. Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through other 
private sector support as well as institutional direct funding 
contributions.
    4. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate 
the program's success.
    5. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate the 
recipient's commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding of 
diversity as stated above (see ``Supplementary Information''). 
Proposals should describe the process of selecting academic review 
panelists who are diverse.

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 award cannot be made 
until funds have been fully appropriated by Congress and allocated and 
committed through internal USIA procedures.

Notification

    All applicants will be notified of the results of the review 
process on or about January 20, 1994. Awards made will be subject to 
periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.

    Dated: September 6, 1994.
John P. Loiello,
Associate Director, Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-22630 Filed 9-14-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-06-M