[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 27 (Thursday, February 9, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7818-7819]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-2934]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------


UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY

Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program

ACTION: Notice--request for proposals.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: 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. Washington-based 
public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions 
described in IRS regulation 501(c)(3) may apply to assist USIA in the 
administration of the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program Washington 
Workshop. The organization shall plan and implement a seven-day 
conference for approximately 180 mid-career professionals from 
developing countries, Central/Eastern Europe, and the NIS during 
November 11-17, 1995.
    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.'' Programs and projects must 
conform with Agency requirements and guidelines outlined in the 
Solicitation 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/ASU-95-04.

DATES: Deadline for proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S. 
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, D.C. time on Thursday, March 
23, 1995. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents 
postmarked on March 23 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:
Ms. Leigh Rieder or Ms. Carolyn Gabrielson, Specialized Programs Unit, 
E/ASU, U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 
20547, telephone: (202) 619-5289, fax: (202) 401-1433, internet 
address: [email protected], 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 USIA Program 
Officer, Leigh Rieder, on all inquiries and correspondence. Interested 
applicants should read the complete Federal Register announcement 
before addressing inquiries to the Specialized Programs Unit or 
submitting their proposals. Once the RFP deadline has passed, the 
Specialized Programs Unit may not discuss this competition in any way 
with applicants until the Bureau proposal review process has been 
completed.

ADDRESSES: Applicants must follow all instructions given in the 
Solicitation Package. The original and six copies of the application 
should be sent to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/ASU-95-04, 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 Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program provides a year of non-
degree, graduate level study and related professional experiences to 
mid-level professionals from developing countries, Central/Eastern 
Europe, and the NIS. Fellowships are granted competitively to public- 
and private-sector candidates with a commitment to public service in 
the fields of natural resources/environmental management, public policy 
analysis/administration, economic development, agricultural 
development/economics, finance/banking, human resource management/
personnel, urban and regional planning, public health policy/
management, technology policy/management, educational planning, and 
communications/journalism. Fellows are placed by professional field in 
groups of 10-12 at one of 15 participating host universities around 
[[Page 7819]] the country. The Agency is assisted in the administration 
of the program by the Institute of International Education (IIE) under 
a cooperative agreement with the Agency. Fellows are nominated for the 
program by USIA overseas posts or Fulbright Commissions based on their 
potential for national leadership, commitment to public service, and 
professional and academic qualifications. By providing these future 
leaders with exposure to U.S. society, and to current U.S. approaches 
to the fields in which they work, the program provides a basis for 
establishing lasting ties among U.S. citizens and their professional 
counterparts in other countries.
    The objectives of the Washington Workshop are to:
    * Enhance fellows' understanding of U.S. social, cultural, and 
political processes and institutions to provide a framework for 
interpreting the events of their fellowship year;
    * Provide opportunities for professional networking among fellows 
and with Washington area peers;
    * Introduce fellows to the unique resources available in 
Washington, D.C.

Guidelines

    Non-profit organizations with key program staff based in the 
Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and available for frequent meetings 
with USIA staff are invited to submit proposals. Organizations also 
must have experience in conference management, professional exchanges, 
and international exchanges. Only organizations with at least four 
years of experience in international exchange activities are eligible 
to apply for this award.
    The Agency encourages proposals from eligible organizations whose 
staffs reflect a broad variety of ethnic backgrounds, whose programs 
encompass a range of diversity interests, and/or whose mission includes 
furthering the interests of traditionally under-represented groups.
    The recipient organization will be responsible for most 
arrangements associated with this workshop. These include organizing a 
coherent schedule of activities, making lodging and local 
transportation arrangements for participants, preparing all necessary 
support materials, working with Humphrey Coordinators from host 
universities and IIE staff to achieve maximum workshop effectiveness, 
conducting a final evaluation, and other details which are outlined in 
the Solicitation Package. Drafts of all printed materials developed for 
the workshop should be submitted to the Agency for review and approval. 
All official documents should highlight the U.S. government's role as 
program sponsor and funding source.

Proposed Budget

    The award for this project may not exceed $235,000, and cost 
sharing is strongly encouraged. Applicants must submit a comprehensive, 
line-item budget for the entire workshop. Specific guidance is 
contained in the Solicitation Package. There must be a summary budget 
as well as a break-down reflecting both the administrative budget and 
the program budget. Please refer to the Solicitation Package for 
complete budget guidelines and 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 started herein and in the 
Solicitation Package. Eligible proposals will be forwarded to panels of 
USIA officers for advisory review. All eligible proposals will 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 
assistance awards (grants or cooperative agreements) 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/responsiveness of the program idea. Proposals should 
exhibit originality, substance, precision, cultural sensitivity, and 
responsiveness to the material set forth herein and in the Solicitation 
Package. Proposals should clearly demonstrate how the institution will 
meet the workshop's objectives and plan.
    2. Multiplier effect/impact. Proposed programs should strengthen 
long-term mutual understanding and encourage collaboration among 
fellows and with U.S. counterparts after the fellowship year.
    3. Support of Diversity. Proposals should demonstrate the 
recipient's commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding of 
diversity.
    4. Institutional Capacity. Proposed personnel and institutional 
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the workshop's 
goals.
    5. 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. Successful experience with organizing workshops for 
international participants is also very desirable. The Agency will 
consider the past performance of prior recipients and the demonstrated 
potential of new applicants.
    6. Project Evaluation. Proposals should include a plan to evaluate 
the workshop'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 workshop objectives.
    7. 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.
    8. Cost-sharing. Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through 
other private sector support as well as institutional direct funding 
contributions.

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 8, 1995. Awards made will be subject to 
periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.

    Dated: January 31, 1995.
John P. Loiello,
Associate Director, Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 95-2934 Filed 2-8-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M