[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 238 (Tuesday, December 13, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-30526]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: December 13, 1994]


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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY

 

Binational Teacher Training Project

ACTION: Notice--request for proposals.

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SUMMARY: The Executive Office of the United States Information Service 
(USIS) at the American Embassy in Brasilia 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 plan and conduct a three-week seminar in 
English-language teaching and American culture for approximately 30 
Brazilian Binational Center teachers selected by USIS.
    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 Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 
March 1978, E.O. 12048 dated March 27, 1978 and the Federal Grants and 
Cooperative Agreements Act of 1977 (P.L. 95-224).
    Programs and projects must conform with Agency requirements and 
guidelines outlined herein. USIS projects and programs are subject to 
the availability of funds.

ANNOUNCEMENT NAME AND NUMBER: All communications with USIS concerning 
this announcement should refer to the above title and reference number 
USIS/BSB-94-001.

DATES: Deadline for proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S. 
Information Service, American Embassy (Bsb), Unit 3500, APO AA 34030, 
by 5 p.m. Washington, D.C. time on 3rd day February, 1995. Faxed 
documents will not be accepted, nor will documents postmarked on 3rd 
day of February but received at a later date. U.S. Postal Service can 
take up to ten days for mail to be delivered. Proposals received after 
February 3, 1995 will not be accepted. Is the responsibility of each 
grant applicant that proposals are received by the above deadline.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Executive Officer, USIS, American 
Embassy, Brasilia, Brazil at fax number 55-61-321-2833 or telephone 55-
61-321-7272, Ext. 324 to request a Solicitation 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 Binational Teacher Training Project 
on all inquiries and correspondence. Interested applicants should read 
the complete Federal Register announcement before addressing inquiries 
to the Executive Officer or submitting their proposals. Once the RFP 
deadline has passed, the Executive Office 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 Service, American Embassy (Bsb), Unit 3500, APO AA 34030 
Attn: Executive Officer Ref.: USIS/BSB-94-001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the 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

    Participants should receive advanced training in EFL: course and 
curriculum design, teacher training and management skills, evalution 
and testing, with an intensive American Studies component. Special 
emphasis should be placed on incorporating American Studies materials 
into an intercultural curriculum. Since this will be the first U.S. 
experience for many of the participants, the program should introduce 
the participants to U.S. life, institutions, values, and culture 
through classes, field trips, contacts with Americans, and community 
activities. The program should maintain a relative balance among 
discussion sessions, workshops, and practical experience and promote 
interaction among the participants. The project should also include an 
individual research project for each participant.
    Approximately 30 Brazilian nationals who are full time employees at 
a Binational Center in Brazil will participate in this program. Each 
participant is nominated by his/her institution for final selection by 
United States Information Service (USIS). Participants either teach 
English as a Foreign Language, administer English or American Studies 
programs, or provide teacher training in either English or American 
Studies. Participants will come on ``B1-B2'' visas issued by U.S. 
Consular Officers at American Embassy or Consulates in Brazil. USIS 
Brasilia will provide the university with biographical and professional 
data on each candidate.
    The proposal should specifically address the following technical 
requirements:

U.S. Pre-Program Activities

    After receiving the final participant list, the university is 
expected to do the following: send USIS a pre-departure information 
packet containing welcome and general information with practical 
suggestions for preparing the participants for their stay at the 
university. The participants will arrive directly at the program site 
from their home cities. The university program staff will be expected 
to make arrangements to have participants met upon arrival at the 
airport nearest the university campus. A substantive orientation should 
be provided shortly after all the participants' arrival at the 
university. The purpose of the orientation is to provide detailed 
information concerning the program, university, community, etc. It 
should also acquaint participants with one another, the university 
program, and the administrative staff. During this orientation a brief 
needs assessment is to be conducted to determine individual learning 
needs and to identify the topic of the individual research project. The 
Institute Director should be prepared to adjust program content, 
emphasis, and schedule as necessary to respond to participants' 
concerns.

The Educational Development

    The educational development program should be a non-credit, 
intensive program of approximately 40 hours a week designed to meet the 
stated program objectives through interactive lectures and discussions, 
workshops, and hands-on learning experiences using university and 
community resources and opportunities. This course should not only 
emphasize EFL teaching skills, teacher training and management skills, 
but also American culture and most importantly, how to integrate the 
teaching of American culture in EFL classrooms. The curriculum should 
be designed to challenge the participants to grow professionally. In 
addition, it should provide them with practical, hands-on learn-by-
doing experiences. The students should receive materials that they can 
immediately adapt to their BNC classes in Brazil. Time should be 
allowed for students informally to pursue topics of personal interest.
    The Brazilian teaches participating in this program are among the 
best English teachers in Brazil. Most already have a highly developed 
background in EFL based on years of teaching experience and exposure to 
materials and specialists from the U.S. Thus, the entire program should 
reflect the high academic level, sophistication and professional 
development of the participants.
    Proposal should contain evidence of on-going evaluation and ability 
to make program adjustments, as well as evaluation of the entire 
program.

The Cultural Enrichment Program

    The two goals of the Cultural Enrichment Program are to: 1) 
strengthen the participants' knowledge of U.S. life and culture through 
carefully designed interactive classes and community cultural 
activities and 2) provide an insight into the use of ``cultural 
material'' in the classroom. The relationship between language and 
culture should be explored. The cultural component of the program 
should allow students to explore the variety of American culture in 
both small towns and larger cities, experience the richness of the 
visual and performing arts in the U.S., and interact with local 
citizens.

Program Administration

    All Institute programming and administrative logistics, the 
management of the Educational Development Program and the Cultural 
Enrichment Program, local transportation, on-site university 
arrangements (including housing, host-families, ordering and shipping 
of educational materials, general program support, etc.) and 
maintaining current information regarding Internal Revenue Service 
regulations will be the responsibility of the Institute grantee.
    Participants should be housed in the same facility, preferably a 
modern dormitory with no more than two persons to a room, adequately 
climate-controlled for the area and sufficient bathroom facilities. 
Three hot meals a day must be provided. Extra-curricular activities 
such as field trips, Fourth of July celebrations, brief homestays and 
other social and recreational activities should be provided. Each 
participant will arrive with valid U.S. health insurance. Describe the 
available health and/or local health care system and plan to provide 
health care access. Transportation to and from the airport and local 
transportation between the cultural activities must be provided.

Timing

    Grant will begin May 15, 1995. Note: the participants will arrive 
in July, 1995. The grant start date allows for time to prepare for the 
students' arrival. No funds may be expended until the grant agreement 
is signed.

Goals

    The goals of the program include providing an overview of the state 
of the art of American EFL, identifying sources of information for 
materials and curriculum development, and designing a challenging 
individualized academic program for each participant which will promote 
an increased understanding of U.S. culture and society.

Funding

    This project is a cost-share program with USIS paying for the 
course curriculum, tuition, faculty costs and course materials. 
Participants pay their international travel and Binational Centers 
cover their meals and lodging.

Proposed Budget

    A comprehensive line-item budget to include academic program and 
administrative fees, transportation, course fees, materials, fees for 
meals and lodging and cultural activities must be submitted with the 
proposal by the application deadline.
    Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the entire 
program. There must be a summary budget as well as a break-down 
reflecting both the administrative budget and the program budget. For 
better understanding or further clarification, applicants may provide 
separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase, location, or 
activity in order to facilitate USIS decisions on funding. Allowable 
costs for the program include the following:

(1) Academic Fees
(2) Administrative Costs
(3) Materials
(4) Course Fees
(5) Transportation
(6) Meals for Participants
(7) Lodging for Participants
(8) Cultural Activities

    USIS 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. Eligible proposals 
will be forwarded to a review panel consisting of the Deputy Public 
Affairs Officer, the Country Cultural Affairs Officer, the Regional 
English Teaching Officer and the Executive Officer. Funding decisions 
are at the discretion of the USIS Country Public Affairs Officer. Final 
technical authority for grant awards resides with the USIS Contracting 
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:
    Overall Quality--Proposals should exhibit originality, creativity, 
substance and relevance to stated goals. This includes a high level of 
institutional commitment and flexibility, the quality of the program 
plan, adherence of the activity to the criteria and conditions 
described previously, and creative design in all program areas.
    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 
herein.
    TEFL Programs--Demonstrated experience with TEFL programs and 
teacher training; familiarity with Brazil and its network of binational 
centers is desirable.
    American Studies--A well-planned proposal for an American cultural 
content of the program to include field trips, cultural experiences 
such as festivals, holiday celebrations and/or tourism.
    Ability to Achieve Program Objectives--Appropriateness of proposed 
syllabus to goals and objectives stated herein; proposals should 
clearly demonstrate how the institution will meet the stated goals and 
objectives.
    Administrative and Managerial Capabilities--Evidence of strong on-
site administrative and managerial capabilities for hosting 
international visitors with specific discussion of how managerial and 
logistical arrangements will be undertaken.
    Institutional Capacity--Proposed institutional resources should be 
adequate and appropriate to achieve the program's goals. Proposals 
should demonstrate potential for program excellence and/or track record 
of applicant institution. USIS will consider the past performance of 
prior grantees and the demonstrated potential of new applicants. Brief 
resumes of key personnel should be included.
    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 USIA/USIS grants.
    Project Evaluation--Proposals should include a plan to evaluate the 
success of the program from beginning to end. USIS recommends that the 
proposal include a draft survey questionnaire or other technique plus 
description of a methodology to use to link outcome to original project 
objectives. Award-receiving organizations/institutions will be expected 
to submit a detailed evaluation at the conclusion of the program.
    Cost Effectiveness--The overhead and administrative components, as 
well as salaries and honoraria, should be kept as low as possible. All 
other items should be necessary and appropriate.

Notice

    This RFP incorporates one or more clauses from the Federal 
Acquisition Regulations by reference with the same force and effect as 
if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer 
will make their full text available.

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  Clause                                                                
   No.                       Clause title                       Date    
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52.222-21  Certification of Nonsegregated Facilities......  Apr 84.     
52.222-26  Equal Opportunity..............................  Sept 78.    
52.223-5.  Certification Regarding a Drug Free Work Place.  Jul 90.     
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    Further, successful Grantee must certify that granted funds will be 
not used for lobbying or propaganda which is directed at influencing 
public policy decisions of the Government of the United States or any 
State or locality thereof.
    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 and 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 February 22, 1995. Awards made will be subject to 
periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.


    Dated: November 25, 1994.
Carl D. Howard,
Country Public Affairs Officer, USIS Brazil.
[FR Doc. 94-30526 Filed 12-12-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M