[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: 94-25393]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: October 13, 1994]


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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
 

Management of English Teaching Fellow Program

ACTION: Notice--Request for proposals.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Academic Programs, English Language Programs 
Division, Programs Branch of the United States Information Agency's 
Bureau of Education 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 conduct the recruitment, placement and management of 30-40 English 
teaching Fellows (ETFs). The exact number of ETFs will be contingent 
upon the amount of cost sharing by overseas posts who wish to host a 
fellow and by the availability of funds. The fellows will serve as 
full-time teachers of English as a Foreign Language, as materials or 
test developers or as teacher trainers in countries around the world.
    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-Hayes 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 Fulbright-Hayes Act.
    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/ALP-95-01.

DATES: Deadline for proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S. 
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, D.C. time on Monday, November 
21, 1994. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents 
postmarked on November 21, 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 Office of Academic Programs, 
English Language Programs Division, E/ALP-Room 304, U.S. Information 
Agency, 301 4th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20547, telephone number 
202-619-5869, fax number 202-401-1250, 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 Specialist Cathy Siemonh on all inquiries and 
correspondences. Interested applicants should read the complete Federal 
Register announcement before addressing inquiries to the Office of 
Academic Programs, English Language Programs Division, Programs Branch 
or submitting their proposals. Once the RFP deadline has passed, the 
Office of Academic Programs, English Language Programs Division, 
Programs Branch 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/ALP-95-01, Office of Grants Management, E/
XE, Room 336, 301 4th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 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 U.S. Information Agency (USIA) is soliciting proposals from 
U.S. professional, not-for-profit institutions/organizations to 
recruit, place and manage 30-40 English Teaching Fellows who will serve 
as full-time teachers of English as a Foreign Language, as materials or 
test developers or as teacher trainers in countries around the world. 
The English Teaching Program is designed to increase the American 
presence, enhance the American cultural component, and improve academic 
standards at universities, teacher-training colleges, binational 
centers, and other post-selected institutions with English teaching 
programs. The program enables recent recipients of M.A.'s in teaching 
English as a foreign/second language (TEFL/TESL) to acquire overseas 
teaching experience, while providing host institutions with up-to-date 
professional expertise in the methods and theory of English teaching.
    Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations. Please refer to 
program specific guidelines in the Application Package for further 
details.

Proposed Budget

    The proposal must contain a specific and detailed line-item budget. 
The budget should be constructed in such a way as to reflect the task 
of recruiting and placing 30-35-40 fellows, and carrying out follow-up 
activities. At this time the Agency has not determined the full funding 
level for FY'95.
    Grants awarded to eligible organizations with less than four years 
of experience in conducting international exchange programs will be 
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.
    Allowable costs for the program include the following: The salary 
and remuneration for the English Teaching Fellows are broken down 
below. The living allowance is variable and is to be negotiated in 
relation to the city/country of assignment.
    Basic Stipend  $12,000
    Living allowance  $6,000 average
    Travel  $3,400 average
    Excess Baggage/Shipping  $400
    Pre-departure Allowance  $500
    Educational Materials  $300
    Per Diem for Orientation  $144 per day average
    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. 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.
    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 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. 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. 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.
    9. 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.
    10. 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.
    11. Cost-sharing: Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through 
other private sector support as well as institutional direct funding 
contributions.
    12. 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).
    13. TEFL/TESL Background: Must possess a proven ability to network 
that provides and allows for the greatest dissemination of information 
to and among the profession of Teachers of English as a Second or 
Foreign Language; must be able to provide knowledgeable, TEFL-
qualified, experienced staff capable of interviewing candidates and 
evaluating their qualifications for teaching, and/or for developing 
materials, or for conducting teacher-training in the context of English 
as a foreign language, in accord with criteria established by USIA.

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 January 23, 1995. Awards made will be subject to 
periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.

    Dated: October 7, 1994.
Dell Pendergrast,
Deputy Associate Director Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-25393 Filed 10-12-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M