[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]
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