[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 197 (Thursday, October 13, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-25215]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: October 13, 1994]


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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
 

Central and Eastern European Training Program (CEETP-5)

action: Notice--Request for Proposals.

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summary: The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the United States 
Information Agency's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs 
announces an open competition for an assistance award. Public or 
private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in 
IRS regulation 501(c)(3) may apply to develop training programs in the 
areas of (1) local government/public administration, (2) independent 
media development, and (3) business administration. These projects 
should link the U.S. organization's international exchange interests 
with counterpart institutions and groups in Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, 
Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Poland, 
Romania, Slovak Republic and Slovenia.
    Overall grant making authority for this program is contained in the 
Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, Public Law 87-
256, as amended, 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.'' The funding authority for the 
program cited above is provided through the Support for Eastern 
European Democracies (SEED) program.
    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.
    Interested applicants should read the complete Federal Register.
    Announcement Name and Number: All communications with USIA 
concerning this announcement should refer to the above title and 
reference number E/P-95-19.

dates: Deadline for proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S. 
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on 5 p.m., December 9, 
1994. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents 
postmarked on December 9, 1994 but received at a later date. It is the 
responsibility of each applicant to ensure that proposals are received 
by the above deadline. CEETP-5 grant project activity should begin 
after July 1, 1995.

for further information contact: European Division, Office of Citizen 
Exchange (E/P), Room 216, U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20547, telephone 202/619-5319, fax 202/619-4350, 
internet ([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 Chris Miner on all inquiries and correspondence. Interested 
applicants should read the complete Federal Register announcement 
before addressing inquiries to the Office of Citizen Exchanges or 
submitting their proposals. Once the RFP deadline has passed, the 
Office of Citizen Exchanges 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/P-95-19, 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: Proposals must be for projects which encourage the growth 
of democratic institutions and political and economic pluralism. Listed 
in order of priority are the areas in which USIA is interested in 
receiving proposals: (1) local government/public administration, (2) 
independent media development, and (3) business administration. 
Projects should lay the groundwork for new and continuing links between 
American and Central/Eastern European professionals organizations.
    Projects may include: study tours in the U.S. for small groups; 
short-term non-technical workshops conducted in Central/Eastern Europe; 
and four- to ten-week internships in the U.S.; consultations in 
Central/Eastern Europe.
    All proposals should demonstrate:
    (1) In-depth, substantive knowledge of the issues of concern to 
these countries;
    (2) Established connections with the partner institutions;
    (3) The capacity to organize and conduct the program, including 
appropriate orientation activities for the participants; detailed work 
plan for all phases of the project; tentative agendas for study tours, 
workshops, and internships; letters of commitment from internship 
hosts; and selection procedures. Applicants should consult the USIS 
office at the U.S. embassies before submitting proposals.
    USIA will give priority to proposals from U.S. organizations with 
partner organizations in Central/Eastern Europe, which will assist 
logistically and will contribute to the realization of program goals 
and objectives and will themselves to enhanced by the program. 
Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate partner relationships by 
providing copies of correspondence or other materials as appendices to 
the proposals.
    The CEE partner institutions are encouraged to provide cost-sharing 
or significant in-kind contributions such as local housing, 
transportation, interpreting, translating, and other local currency 
costs and to assist with the organization of projects.

Local Government

    USIA is interested in proposals for training programs which will 
foster effective administration of local and regional governments. 
Programs might examine and seek to improve relationships among local 
executive, legislative, and judicial elements, or they might address 
the knowledge and skills necessary to administer one or more of these 
branches of local government.
    Program topics might include one or more of the following: judicial 
administration, budget development, financial management, tax policies 
and mechanisms, election practices, management of municipal services, 
privatization of government property, consumer protection, business 
regulation (as opposed to control), licensing, and environmental 
protection. Programs might further the development of information and 
library systems relevant to local government, improve committee and 
staff structures, research capability, legislation drafting capability, 
structural and procedural needs of local governments. Training should 
be conducted mostly in local centers, preferably situated outside the 
capital cities.

Mass Media Development

    The focus of the proposals should be directed toward the 
development of a free and independent media.
    Programs in this general topic fall under two training 
subcategories: working reporters and media business management. 
Preference will be given to mass media training programs which contain 
a U.S. internship component. For training programs in CEE, preference 
will be given to those of at least two weeks duration; they could focus 
on either basic journalism or business management techniques. Training, 
especially for journalists outside of the CEE capital cities, should 
emphasize skills such as effective writing, investigative reporting, 
objectivity, evaluation of sources, clear labelling of editorials and 
opinion pieces, conformance to copyright laws, and ethics.
    Media management training (both print and broadcast) should focus 
on management of media as a profitable business. Topics to be addressed 
might include management techniques, desk top publishing, advertising, 
marketing, distribution, public relations, staff development, 
accountability, and the pitfalls of journalistic advocacy, among 
others.

Business Administration

    While this topic is broad, proposals should focus primarily on 
management training, small business development (including incubators 
and Small Business Centers), agri-business, banking, credit practices, 
financial management, marketing management, industrial relations, and/
or privatization.
    Program design should clearly differentiate CEE target audiences, 
such as professors and instructors of economics, senior business 
leaders, government officials, or promising practitioners, and 
demonstrate how the proposed agenda addresses the selected audience(s).
    USIA has a strong interest in programs on the development of 
business structures and the creating of jobs in non-urban areas.

Scope

    Proposals should limit their focus to one of the CEE countries and 
to one of the three major topics: local governance, independent media 
development, or business administration. Proposals for programs that 
are broader in scope will be eligible, but are less likely to receive 
USIA support. USIA will consider geographic distribution in selecting 
grantee institutions to ensure a wide distribution of this program.
    USIA encourages proposals which feature ``train-the-trainers'' 
models' the creation of indigenous training centers; schemes to create 
professional networks or professional associations to disseminate 
information; and other enduring aspects.
    Guidelines: Selection of Participants. All grant proposals must 
clearly describe the type of persons who will participate in the 
program as well as the process by which participants will be selected. 
Programs that include internships in the U.S. should provide letters 
tentatively committing host institutions to support the internships. In 
the selection of all foreign participants, USIA and USIS posts retain 
the right to nominate participants and to approve or reject 
participants recommended by the program institution. Programs must also 
comply with J-1 visa regulations. Please refer to program specific 
guidelines in the Application Package for further details.
    USIA does not support proposals limited to conferences or seminars 
(i.e., one- to fourteen-day programs with plenary sessions, major 
speakers, and panels with a passive audience). It will support 
conferences only insofar as they are a minor part of a larger project 
in duration and scope which is receiving USIA funding from this 
competition. Furthermore, USIA will not support research projects or 
projects limited to technical issues. Publications intended for 
dissemination in the United States, individual student exchanges, film 
festivals or exhibits are also not eligible for support. In addition, 
this Office will not provide scholarships or other support for long-
term (i.e. a semester or more) academic studies. Proposals that request 
support for the development of university curriculums or for degree-
based programs will not be eligible under this RFP.
    Proposals to link university departments or to exchange faculty 
and/or students are funded by USIA's Office of Academic Programs (E/A) 
under the University Affiliation Program and should not be submitted 
under this RFP.
    Competitions sponsored by other offices of USIA's Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs are also announced in the Federal 
Register, and may have different guidelines or restrictions.
    Proposed budget: The amount requested from USIA should not exceed 
$200,000. However, exchange organizations with less than four years of 
successful experience in managing international exchange programs are 
limited to $60,000.
    Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the entire 
program. There must be a summary budget as well as a breakdown 
reflecting both the administrative budget and the program budget. 
Please refer to the Application Package for complete formatting 
instructions. For better understanding or further clarification, 
applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, 
phase, location, or activity in order to facilitate USIA decisions on 
funding.

    Please note: All USIA-funded delegates will be covered under the 
terms of a USIA-sponsored health insurance policy. The premium is 
paid by USIA directly to the insurance company.

    Allowable costs for the program include the following:
    (1) International and domestic air fares; visas; transit costs; and 
ground transportation costs.
    (2) Per Diem. For the U.S. program, organizations have the option 
of using a flat $140/day for program participants or the published U.S. 
Federal per diem rates for individual American cities.

    Note: U.S. escorting staff must use the published Federal per 
diem rates, not the flat rate. For activities in Central/Eastern 
Europe, the Federal per diem rates must be used.

    (3) Interpreters. Interpreters for the U.S. program are provided by 
the U.S. State Department Language Services Division. Typically, a pair 
of simultaneous interpreters is provided for every four visitors who 
need interpretation. USIA grants do not pay for foreign interpreters to 
accompany delegations from their home country. Grant proposal budgets 
should contain a flat $140/day per diem for each DOS interpreter, as 
well as home-program-home air transportation of $400 per interpreter 
plus any U.S. travel expenses during the program. Salary expenses are 
covered centrally and should not be part of an applicant's proposed 
budget.
    (4) Book and cultural allowance. Participants and escorts are 
entitled to a one-time cultural allowance of $150 per person, plus a 
book allowance of $50. U.S. staff do not get these benefits.
    (5) Consultants may be used to provide specialized expertise or to 
make presentations. Daily honoraria generally do not exceed $250 per 
day. Subcontracting organizations may also be used, in which case the 
written agreement between the prospective grantee and subcontractor 
should be included in the proposal.
    (6) Room rental should not exceed $250 per day.
    (7) One working meal per project. Per capita costs may not exceed 
$5-8 for a lunch and $14-20 for a dinner; this includes room rental if 
applicable. The number of invited guests may not exceed participants by 
more than a factor of two to one.
    (8) A return travel allowance of $70 for each participant which is 
to be used for incidental expenditures incurred during international 
travel.
    (9) Audit Requirements. The proposal shall include the cost of an 
audit that:
    a. Complies with the requirements of OMB circular No. 1-133, Audits 
of Institutions of Higher Education and Other Nonprofit Institutions;
    b. Complies with the requirements of American Institute of 
Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) statement of Position (SOP) No. 
92-9; and
    c. 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:
    a. Preparation of basic financial statements, and other accounting 
services; and
    b. Preparation of the supplemental reports and schedules required 
by OMB Circular No. A-133, AICPA SOP 92-9, and the review of the 
supplemental schedule of indirect cost rate computation.
    11. Cost-sharing is encouraged. 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 
contributions 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 the minimum amount of cost-sharing as 
stipulated in the Recipient's budget, the Agency's contribution will be 
reduced in proportion to the Recipient's, contribution. 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 Agency contracts office, as well as the USIA Office of 
East European and NIS Affairs and the USIA post 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 grant awards resides 
with the USIA grants officer.

Review Criteria

    Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed 
according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are not rank 
ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation:
    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 undertaking 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. Multiplier effect/impact: Proposed programs should strengthen 
long-term mutual understanding, including maximum sharing of 
information and establishment of long-term institutional and individual 
linkages.
    5. 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.
    6. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional 
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program or 
project's goals.
    7. Institution's Record/Ability: Proposals should demonstrate an 
institutional record of successful exchange programs, 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.
    8. Thematic and Area Expertise: Proposals should demonstrate the 
organization's expertise in the subject area. Evidence of sensitivity 
to historical, linguistic, and other cross-cultural factors, as well as 
relevant knowledge of target area/country, should also be shown.
    9. 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.
    10. 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 proposal include a draft survey 
questionnaire or other technique plus description of a methodology to 
use to link outcomes to original project objectives. Award-receiving 
organizations/institutions will be expected to submit intermediate 
reports after each project component is concluded or quarterly, 
whichever is less frequent.
    11. 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.
    12. Cost-sharing: Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through 
other private sector support as well as institutional direct funding 
contributions.
    13. Value to U.S.-Partner Country Relations: Proposed projects 
should receive positive assessments by USIA's geographic area desk and 
overseas officers of program need, potential impact, and significance 
in the partner country(ies).

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 May 1, 1995. Awards made will be subject to 
periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.

    Dated: October 5, 1994.
Dell Pendergrast,
Deputy Associate Director, Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-25215 Filed 10-12-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M