[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 226 (Friday, November 25, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-28724]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: November 25, 1994]


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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY

 

Social Science Curriculum Development at Selected Central 
European Universities

ACTION: Notice; Request for Proposals.

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SUMMARY: The Advising, Teaching, and Specialized Programs Division of 
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. Public or private non-profit 
organizations meeting the provisions described in IRS regulation 
501(c)(3) may apply to cooperate with USIA in the administration of 
Year One of a three to five-year project to support the development of 
instruction in the social sciences, especially political science and 
public policy analysis, at universities in Hungary, Poland, and 
Romania. The primary departments participating in the project are the 
Center for Public Affairs Studies at the Budapest University of 
Economic Sciences, Hungary; the Institute of Sociology at Warsaw 
University, Poland; and the Department of Political Science at Babes-
Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. In addition to supporting 
the development of programs at these core departments, the project will 
also enable scholars and students from other institutions in the region 
to participate in the programs to be based primarily in Warsaw, 
Budapest, and Cluj-Napoca. The project to be funded in Year One of this 
program may be implemented over a two-year period and will assist in 
the development and teaching of up-to-date Western university-level 
social science curricula.
    The rationale for the project is based on the expectation that 
after the students and faculty involved with this project are equipped 
to analyze social, political, and public policy issues in an 
empirically grounded manner, empirical research methods and analytical 
tools will increasingly inform public debate about these issues, and 
will encourage cooperation among scholars and public servants.
    The USIA solicits detailed proposals from U.S. educational 
institutions and public and private non-profit organizations to develop 
and administer a comprehensive range of exchange mechanisms and related 
activities, including assistance with curriculum and materials 
development and acquisition, and to identify and cooperate with 
appropriate U.S. departments and scholars in support of the project. 
The award to cooperate with the USIA on Year One of the project will be 
renewable for up to two additional fiscal years that may comprise up to 
four additional program years upon successful completion of Year One 
activity. Applicants should propose detailed, creative programs for all 
three countries for Year One of the project and should outline a 
strategy for the on-going assessment of Year One programs to determine 
program effectiveness and to facilitate the definition of programs for 
two additional fiscal years. The cooperation with USIA will include 
regular consultation with USIA and USIS field posts with regard to 
program implementation, direction, and assessment. Proposals should 
demonstrate both an understanding of the issues confronting central 
European universities and expertise in the teaching and practice of the 
social sciences in U.S. higher education, including graduate education.
    The funding authority for the program cited above is provided 
through the Support for East European Democracies Act (SEED). 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/AS-95-01.

DATES: Deadline for proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S. 
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC, time on Friday, January 
20, 1995. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents 
postmarked by January 20 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, Advising, 
Teaching, and Specialized Programs Division, E/AS (room 256), U.S. 
Information Agency, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, 
telephone number: 202-619-6038, telefax number: 202-619-6790, e-mail: 
[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 USIA Academic Exchange Specialist Paul 
Hiemstra on all inquiries and correspondences. Interested applicants 
should read the complete Federal Register announcement before 
addressing inquiries to the Advising, Teaching, and Specialized 
Programs Division (Dr. Hiemstra) or submitting their proposals.

ADDRESSES: Applicants must follow all instructions given in the 
Application Package and send only complete applications to: U.S. 
Information Agency, Ref.: E/AS-95-01, 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 nonpolitical 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, socioeconomic status, and 
physical challenges. Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere to 
the advancement of this principle. Academic programs under the 
authority of the Bureau must maintain their scholarly integrity.

Overview

    The goal of the project is to assist the Center for Public Affairs 
Studies at the Budapest University of Economic Sciences, the Institute 
of Sociology at Warsaw University, the Department of Political Science 
at Babes-Bolyai University, and social science departments at other 
universities in the region to develop up-to-date curricula, revise 
existing curricula, establish new courses, and develop and utilize new 
teaching methodologies and materials in local languages. In addition to 
a common emphasis on public policy analysis, the program at Warsaw 
University will also include empirically based approaches to the study 
of industrial relations, while at Babes-Bolyai University the program 
will also include the study of comparative politics and other aspects 
of political science.
    The curricular development at all three departments will emphasize 
empirical methods and will enable faculty and students to gain 
experience with the tools for analyzing social, political, and public 
policy issues empirically. At the conclusion of the project, the 
faculty at participating departments should be capable of teaching the 
newly introduced or revised courses with appropriate teaching materials 
and should be able to participate more fully in international scholarly 
dialogue in their respective disciplines. Students graduating from the 
participating departments should be prepared to assume responsibilities 
in public service, education, and the private sector with the expertise 
required to plan and evaluate programs responsibly.

Participants

    The project is designed for the following participants: faculty and 
students associated with the departments identified for primary 
support; faculty and students from other institutions in the region; 
and postdoctoral specialists from the U.S. who are qualified to train 
the central European faculty and students (applicant organizations do 
not need to obtain letters of commitment from the primary foreign 
institutions, which have indicated their interest and commitment 
directly to USIA). The primary departments are:
    (a) Budapest University of Economics, Center for Public Affairs 
Studies, to assist in developing the Center's program for students 
specializing in empirically based public policy analysis;
    (b) Warsaw University, Institute of Sociology, to develop programs 
of instruction in empirically based approaches to industrial relations 
and public policy analysis;
    (c) Babes-Bolyai University, Faculty of History and Philosophy, to 
develop a department of political science emphasizing empirical 
methods, public policy analysis, and comparative politics.
    (d) In addition, funds are available to enable the participation of 
faculty and students from other institutions in Poland, Hungary, and 
Romania in programs offered in cooperation with the three core 
universities.

Logistics

    The recipient organization will be responsible for most 
arrangements associated with this program. These include providing 
international and domestic travel arrangements for all participants, 
making lodging and local transportation arrangements for visitors, 
orienting and debriefing participants, preparing any necessary support 
material, and working with the foreign participating universities, U.S. 
host institutions and individual grantees to achieve maximum program 
effectiveness.

Visa/Insurance/Tax Requirements

    U.S. lecturers and consultants participating in the project must be 
U.S. citizens. Programs must comply with PJ-1 visa regulations. Please 
refer to program specific guidelines in Application Package for further 
details. Administration of the program must be in compliance with 
reporting and withholding regulations for federal, state, and local 
taxes as applicable. Recipient organizations should demonstrate tax 
regulation adherence in the proposal narrative and budget.

Program Description

    Exchange and non-exchange activities should complement and 
reinforce one another within and among the primary supported 
departments and at other institutions in Hungary, Poland, and Romania. 
The ability to coordinate and evaluate exchange mechanisms and other 
activities to support the goal of faculty and curriculum development in 
the primary departments and at other institutions will be critical to 
the success of the project.
    The program description detailed in this Request for Proposals is 
for Year One of the project. The grantee organization will cooperate 
with USIA, U.S. Information Service (ISIS) field posts, and 
participating departments in defining the program mixture for two 
additional fiscal years' funding on the basis of formative program 
evaluations and assessments. The following mechanisms will be utilized 
in Year One:
    (a) Approximately twelve junior faculty development grants, to 
bring faculty to the U.S. for programs of six weeks to one semester to 
develop new courses under the supervision of faculty members at leading 
U.S. departments in appropriate fields;
    (b) Approximately three senior lectureships, to send senior U.S. 
specialists for programs of approximately one semester to teach 
courses, advise faculty, and assess program developments;
    (c) Approximately four junior lectureships, to send recent 
graduates of leading U.S. doctoral programs for programs of 
approximately two semesters to teach courses and participate with local 
faculty and students in research projects;
    (d) Approximately eight distinguished consultancies, to send senior 
U.S. specialists (possibly including but not limited to the faculty 
mentors of the foreign faculty development grantees) for programs of 
approximately two weeks in length to teach short courses, advises 
faculty, and assess program developments;
    (e) Approximately $160,000 total for all three countries for 
equipment, books, and journal subscriptions selected to support 
instruction in the developing curricula;
    (f) Translation of approximately twelve textbooks or collections of 
articles relevant to the program at each participating institution;
    (g) A program of locally based collaborative student/faculty 
research at each primary department to enable local faculty and 
visiting U.S. lecturers jointly to train advanced students in empirical 
research skills by collaborating on projects designed to study and 
analyze local social and political problems, particularly those related 
to democratization;
    (h) Approximately four graduate student research awards 
(approximately one semester in length) for consultation and study in 
the U.S. with scholars whose expertise is critical to the subject or 
methodology of the student's thesis or other research interest;
    (i) Intensive seminars to be held in cooperation with the 
participating departments for the purpose of developing locally based 
scholarly networks and to include faculty members and advanced students 
from other institutions in the region in discussions of the newly 
taught methodologies, subjects, and approaches.

Proposed Budget

    Applicants are invited to submit a detailed budget for a total 
grant not to exceed $1,242,247 for Year One of the project, with the 
possibility of renewal at a level not to exceed this amount for each of 
two additional fiscal years contingent upon availability of funds. 
Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for Year One of the 
project. The project to be funded in Year One may be implemented over a 
two-year period. There must be a summary budget as well as a break-down 
reflecting both the administrative budget and the program budget. 
Within the program budget, at least $305,593 should be designated for 
Poland; at least $305,593 should be designated for Hungary; at least 
$382,612 should be designated for Romania. For better understanding or 
further clarification, applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for 
each program component, location, or activity in order to facilitate 
USIA decisions on funding. The total institutional administrative costs 
funded by USIA in Year One may not exceed $248,449 or 20% (twenty 
percent) of the total request, whichever is less. Please refer to the 
Application Package for complete formatting instructions.

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 relevant 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 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 the project and the 
Agency mission. Proposals should reflect an advanced, current 
understanding of relevant scholarly fields and disciplines.
    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 scholarly 
linkages, including professional associations.
    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 project's 
goals. The applicant organization should demonstrate a capacity to work 
cooperatively with U.S. scholars and graduate departments of political 
science and public administration, with U.S. scholarly organizations, 
and with all three participating central European institutions as well 
as relevant foreign scholarly organizations.
    7. Institution's Record/Ability: Proposals should demonstrate an 
institutional record of successful, high quality 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 both a plan for 
continuing activity (with USIA support) based on project evaluation and 
a strategy for encouraging coordinated concurrent and subsequent 
supplementary activities (without USIA support) to ensure that the 
USIA-supported project will not be an isolated event.
    9. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a comprehensive 
plan to evaluate the project's success both as the activities unfold 
and at the end of the project. USIA recommends that the proposal 
include a draft survey questionnaire and/or outline of other techniques 
including a methodology for completing baseline assessments and 
defining program needs for later years of the project through the 
evaluation of program outcomes with relation to project objectives. 
Demonstration of a carefully considered and feasible plan for 
evaluating the project will be critical to the proposal review process. 
Award-receiving organizations/institutions will be expected to submit 
quarterly reports.
    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 will 
be assessed by USIA's geographic area desk and overseas officers with 
regard to program need, potential impact, and significance in the 
partner countries.

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 March 6, 1995. Awards made will be subject to 
periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.

    Dated: November 15, 1994.
Dell Pendergrast,
Deputy Associate Director, Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-28724 Filed 11-23-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M