[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 231 (Friday, December 1, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61732-61735]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-29287]



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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY

Summer Institute for the Study of the United States for Foreign 
Secondary School Educators

ACTION: Notice--Request for proposals.

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SUMMARY: The Branch for the Study of the U.S. 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 program for the Summer Institute for the Study of the 
United States for Foreign Secondary School Educators. Public and 
private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in 
IRS regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c)(3)-1 may apply to develop a six-week 
graduate-level program designed for a group of 28 secondary school 
educators from around the world, in order to deepen their understanding 
of the United States so that American studies textbooks, curricula and 
teaching in foreign secondary schools and teacher training institutions 
will be improved.
    USIA is seeking detailed proposals from colleges, universities, 
consortia of colleges and universities, and other not-for-profit 
academic organizations that have an established reputation in the 
disciplines and sub-disciplines that comprise American Studies, and 
that can demonstrate expertise in conducting graduate-level programs 
for foreign educators. Applicant institutions must have a minimum of 
four years' experience in conducting international exchange programs. 
The project director or one of the key program staff responsible for 
the academic program must have an advanced degree in American studies 
or a related discipline. Staff escorts traveling under the USIA 
cooperative agreement support must be U.S. citizens with demonstrated 
qualifications for this service.
    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/AAS-96-03.
    Deadline for Proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S. 
Information Agency by 5:00 p.m. Washington D.C. time on Monday, January 
29, 1996. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents 
postmarked January 29, 1996 but received at a later date. It is the 
responsibility of each applicant to 

[[Page 61733]]
ensure that proposal submissions arrive by the deadline. Tentative 
program dates are June 22 to August 2, 1996. Participants will likely 
be booked to arrive in the U.S. on or about June 21, and depart on 
August 3, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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, applicants should contact: U.S. 
Information Agency, Office of Academic Programs, Branch of the Study of 
the United States, E/AAS, Room 256, 301 4th Street SW., Washington, 
D.C. 20547, Attn: Program Officer Richard Taylor; telephone number 
(202) 619-4557; fax number (202) 619-6790; internet address 
[email protected]. Please specify USIA Program Officer Richard Taylor on 
all inquiries and correspondence. Interested applicants should read the 
complete Federal Register announcement before addressing inquiries to 
the office listed above or submitting their proposals. Once the RFP 
deadline has passed, USIA staff may not discuss this competition in any 
way with applicants until after the Bureau proposal review process has 
been completed.
    To Download a Solicitation Package Via Internet: The Solicitation 
Package may be downloaded from USIA's website at http://www.usia.gov, 
or from the Internet Gopher at gopher.usia.gov, under ``New RFPs on 
Educational and Cultural Exchanges.''
    Submissions: Applicants must follow all instructions given in the 
RFP and the complete Solicitation Package. The original and 14 copies 
of the complete application should be sent to: U.S. Information Agency, 
Ref.: E/AAS-96-03, Office of Grants Management, E/XE, Room 326, 301 4th 
Street SW., Washington, D.C. 20547.
    Diversity Guidelines: Pursuant to the Bureau's authorizing 
legislation, programs must maintain a non-political character, and 
should be balanced and representative of the diversity and broad range 
of responsible views present in American political, social, and 
cultural life. ``Diversity'' should be interpreted in the broadest 
sense and encompass differences including, but not limited to 
ethnicity, race, gender, religion, geographic location, socio-economic 
status, and physical challenges. Applicants are strongly encouraged to 
adhere to the advancement of this principle both in program 
administration and in program content. Please refer to the review 
criteria under the ``Support for Diversity'' section for specific 
suggestions on incorporating diversity into the total proposal.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Overview

    The Summer Institute for the Study of the U.S. for Foreign 
Secondary School Educators aims to provide a deeper understanding of 
U.S. civilization among foreign educators who are concerned 
professionally with teaching about the United States. It is further 
intended to encourage and support their efforts to improve the quality 
of teaching, textbooks, and curricular materials about the United 
States at secondary schools and teacher training institutions abroad.
    The program should offer participants a specially-designed series 
of lectures, presentations, discussions, site visits, and curricular 
research opportunities, each related to a central theme in U.S. 
civilization, which examine various aspects U.S. society, culture, 
values and institutions, past and present. It should provide an 
overview of the United States in the context of American studies and 
its constituents disciplines.
    The program should be six weeks in length, including a residency 
segment at a U.S. college or university campus (a minimum of four weeks 
in length), and a study tour segment (a maximum of two weeks in length) 
to two or three additional regions of the U.S., including a visit to 
Washington, D.C. at the conclusion of the program.

Institute Objectives

--To present an intensive, academically stimulating program that 
presents a multi-dimensional view of the United States through an 
integrated series of lectures, readings, interactive discussions, 
individual research and study opportunities, and site visits.
--To draw from a variety of academic disciplines in order to deepen the 
participants' understanding of the unity, diversity, and complexity of 
U.S. society, culture, and institutions. Major issues, debates, and 
conflicts in U.S. society, past and present, including their origins 
and the role they have played in the development of U.S. civilization, 
should also be examined.
--To enhance teaching about the U.S. in foreign secondary schools and 
teacher training institutions by making appropriate scholarly 
resources, pedagogical materials and ideas available to participants. 
Participants should return home with an ability to communicate a deeper 
and more informed view of the U.S. to students and colleagues.

Participants

    The program should be designed for a total of 28 highly-motivated 
foreign secondary school teacher trainers, textbook writers, curriculum 
developers, education ministry officials and classroom teachers, whose 
professional assignments require significant knowledge of U.S. 
civilization, and who have broad responsibility for curriculum design 
and improvement. All participants will be involved in the teaching of 
English language, American literature, U.S. government, history, 
geography, social studies, or other courses including U.S. studies 
content in their home countries. Participants will be drawn from all 
regions of the world, and will be fluent in the English language.
    Participants will be nominated by U.S. Information Service posts 
abroad, and selected by the staff of USIA's Branch of the Study of the 
United States in Washington, D.C. USIA will cover all international 
travel costs directly.

Guidelines

    The conception and structure of the institute program is entirely 
the responsibility of the organizers. However, as the possibilities for 
the design of a program on U.S. civilization are quite numerous, an 
overarching institute theme, and supporting sub-themes, should be 
chosen to focus the content and scope of the program. The best 
proposals will clearly articulate the institute theme(s), essential 
topics and sub-topics being covered, and will discuss the means by 
which the program content will be communicated to participants.
    The program should engage the constellation of disciplines and sub-
disciplines that make up American studies (e.g. literature, history, 
political science, economics, geography, sociology, etc.) as vehicles 
for helping foreign educators understand the development and current 
status of selected essential aspects of U.S. society, culture, values 
and institutions (governmental, educational, judicial, religious, 
media, etc.), and of broader themes associated with the U.S. experience 
and U.S. civilization. It should provide participants with a clearer 
understanding of the diversity, complexity, and unity of U.S. life and 
society.
    It is extremely important that the institute organizers devise a 
way to integrate all aspects of the program. Assigned readings, 
lectures, discussions, and field trips should relate to and further 
illuminate the institute theme(s).

[[Page 61734]]

    The institute should not simply replicate an existing lecture 
course or a graduate seminar. Rather, through a combination of 
lectures, presentations, discussions, and site visits, it should be 
designed to facilitate the development of a collegial atmosphere in 
which faculty and participants discuss relevant texts, issues, and 
concepts.
    The equivalent of one day a week should be available to 
participants to pursue individual research and study interests, 
curriculum development projects, or to do assigned readings. The 
institute should provide access to leading American scholars and 
research resources (libraries, archives, databases, etc.). Participants 
should be paired with faculty mentors to assist in research and other 
scholarly matters.
    An essential element of the institute is the exposure to and 
accumulation of texts, curricular materials, and teaching ideas 
(including Internet and computer resources training), which can be used 
by participants in the development and improvement of their American 
studies courses abroad.
    The program should ideally bring in outside presenters 
(representatives from academia, community organizations, media, 
government) in addition to the core faculty of the host institution. 
Presenters must be fully briefed about the institute, its goals, 
general themes and content, readings, and especially the background and 
needs of the participants themselves. Information about presenters and 
how they will be utilized should be included in the proposal 
submission.
    A residential program segment of a minimum of four weeks on a 
college/university campus is mandatory. The program should also include 
an integrated study tour segment (up to two weeks in length) to two or 
three other regions of the U.S., including a minimum of two to three 
days in Washington, D.C. at the conclusion of the program. This visit 
should include a half-day session at USIA. The selected grantee 
organization/institution will be asked to consult closely with USIA in 
the planning of the Washington itinerary. The study tour segment must 
be directly supportive of the academic program content. Day trips to 
various locations (historical sites, classrooms, community centers) are 
also encouraged if such trips will further enhance understanding of the 
U.S. and enrich the participants' experience.
    Details of the academic and tour programs may be modified in 
consultation with USIA's Branch for the Study of the U.S. following the 
grant award.
    The selected grant organization will be responsible for most 
arrangements associated with this program. This includes the 
organization and implementation of all presentations and program 
activities, arrangement of all domestic travel, provision of 
appropriate lodging, subsistence, and ground transportation for 
participants, orientation and briefing of participants, preparation of 
any necessary support materials (including a pre-program mailing to 
participants), and working with program presenters to achieve maximum 
program coordination and effectiveness.
    Please refer to the Solicitation Package for further details on 
program design and implementation.

Additional Information

    Confirmation letters from U.S. cosponsors noting their intention to 
participate in the program will enhance a proposal. Proposals 
incorporating participants/observer site visits will be more 
competitive if letters committing prospective host institutions to 
support these efforts are provided.

Visa/Insurance/Tax Requirements

    Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations. Visas will be 
issued by USIS posts abroad. USIA insurance will be provided to all 
participants, unless otherwise indicated in the proposal submission. 
Grantee organization will be responsible for enrolling participants in 
the chosen insurance plan. Please indicate in the proposal if host 
institutions have any special tax withholding requirements on 
participant or staff escort stipends or allowances.

Proposed Budget

    Total USIA-funded budget award may not exceed $211,600. USIA-funded 
administrative costs should be as low as possible and should not exceed 
$49,000. The U.S. recipient should try to maximize cost-sharing in all 
facets of the program and to stimulate U.S. private sector (foundation 
and corporate) support. 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 USIA decisions on funding. 
Please refer to the ``POGI'' in the Solicitation Package for complete 
budget guidelines and formatting instructions for the institute 
program.

Review Process

    The 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 
Solicitation 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 Area 
Offices and the USIA post overseas, where appropriate. 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 Education and Cultural Affairs. Final technical 
authority for assistance awards (grants or cooperative agreements) 
resides with the USIA grant 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 proposed evaluation:
    1. Overall Quality: Proposals should exhibit originality and 
substance, consonant with the highest standards of American teaching 
and scholarship. Program design should reflect the main currents as 
well as the contemporary debates within the discipline.
    2. Program Planning: Proposals should demonstrate careful planning. 
The organization and structure of the Institute should be clearly 
delineated and be fully responsive to all program objectives. The 
travel component should be an integral and substantive part of the 
program, reinforcing and complementing its academic segment.
    3. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel, including faculty 
and administrative staff as well as outside presenters, should be fully 
qualified to achieve the project's goals. Library and media resources 
should be accessible to participants; housing, transportation and other 
logistical arrangements should be fully adequate to the needs of 
participants and should be conductive to a collegial atmosphere.
    4. 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 written statement, summarizing past and/or on-going activities 
and efforts that further the principle of diversity within the 
organization and its activities. Program activities that address this 
issue should be highlighted.

[[Page 61735]]

    5. Experience. The proposal should demonstrate an institutional 
record of successful exchange program activity, indicating the 
experience that the organization and its professional staff have had in 
working with foreign educators.
    6. Evaluation and Follow-up: The proposal should include a plan for 
evaluating activities during the Institute and at its conclusion. 
Proposals should comment on provisions made for follow-up with returned 
grantees as a means of establishing longer-term individual and 
institutional linkages.
    7. Administration and Management: The proposals should indicate 
evidence of continuous on-site administrative and managerial capacity 
as well as the means by which program activities will be implemented.
    8. Cost Effectiveness: The proposals should maximize cost-sharing 
through direct institutional contributions, in-kind support, and other 
private sector support. Overhead and administrative components of the 
proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be kept as low as 
possible.

    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 
Agency reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase proposal 
budgets in accordance with the needs of the program and the 
availability of funding. 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 April 1, 1996. Awards made will be subject to 
periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.

    Dated: November 21, 1995.
John P. Loiello,
Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 95-29287 Filed 11-30-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M