[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 125 (Thursday, June 27, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33582-33586]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-16325]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY


International Education and Cultural Activities--Discretionary 
Grant Program

Action: Notice; Request for proposals.

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

Summary: The Office of Citizen Exchanges (E/P) of the United States 
Information Agency's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs 
announces an open competition for an assistance award program. Public 
or private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in 
IRS regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c)(3)-1 may apply to develop projects that 
link their international exchange interests with counterpart 
institutions/groups in ways supportive of the aims of the Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs. Overall grant making authority for 
this program is contained in the Mutual Educational and Cultural 
Exchange Act of 1961, as amended, Public Law 87-256, 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 Application Package. USIA projects and 
programs are subject to the availability of funds.
    Interested applicants should read the complete Federal Register 
announcement before addressing inquiries to the Office of Citizen 
Exchanges or submitting their proposals. Once the RFP deadline has 
passed, the Office of Citizen Exchanges may not discuss this 
competition in any way with applicants until after the Bureau program 
and project review process has been completed.

Announcement Name and Number: All communications concerning this 
announcement should refer to the Annual Discretionary Grant Program. 
The announcement number is E/P-97-1. Please refer to title and number 
in all correspondence or telephone calls to USIA.
    Deadline for Proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S. 
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on Friday, October 11, 
1996. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents 
postmarked on October 11, 1996, but received at a later date. It is the 
responsibility of each grant applicant to ensure that proposals are 
received by the above deadline. This action is effective from the 
publication date of this notice through October 11, 1996, for projects 
where activities will begin between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 
1997.

For Further Information Contact: Interested organizations/institutions 
must contact the Office of Citizen Exchanges, E/PL, Room 216, United 
States Information Agency, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, 
(202) 619-5326, to request detailed application packets which include 
award criteria; all application forms; and guidelines for preparing 
proposals, including specific criteria for preparation of the proposal 
budget. Please direct inquiries and correspondence to USIA Program 
Officer Laverne Johnson, E-Mail {[email protected]}.

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://gopher.usia.gov. Under the 
heading ``International Exchanges/Training'' select ``Request for 
Proposals (RFPs).'' Please read ``About the Following RFPs'' before 
beginning to download.

Addresses: Applicants must follow all instructions given in the 
Application Package and send only complete applications with 15 copies 
to:

U.S. Information Agency, REF: E/P-97-1 Annual Discretionary Grant 
Competition, Grants Management Division (E/XE), 301-4th Street, SW., 
Room 336, Washington, DC 20547.

    Applicants must also submit to E/XE the ``Executive Summary'' and 
``Narrative'' sections of each proposal on a 3.5'' diskette, formatted 
for DOS. This material must be provided in ASCII text (DOS) format with 
a maximum line length of 65 characters. USIA will transmit these files 
electronically to USIS posts overseas for their review, with the goal 
of reducing the time it takes to get posts' comments for the Agency's 
grants review process.

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

[[Page 33583]]

in the broadest sense and encompass differences including but not 
limited to ethnicity, 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.

Overview

    The Office of Citizen Exchanges works with U.S. private sector, 
non-profit organizations on cooperative international group projects 
that introduce American and foreign participants to each others' 
social, economic, and political structures, and international 
interests. The Office supports international projects in the United 
States or overseas involving leaders or potential leaders in the 
following fields and professions: urban planners, jurists, specialized 
journalists (specialists in economics, business, political analysis, 
international affairs), business professionals, NGO leaders, 
environmental specialists, parliamentarians, educators, economists, and 
other government officials.

Guidelines

    Applicants should carefully note the following restrictions/
recommendations for proposals in specific geographical areas:
    Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the Newly Independent States 
(NIS): Requests for proposals involving the following countries will be 
announced in separate competitions: CEE--Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, 
Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, 
Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic, and Slovenia; NIS--
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, 
Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Proposals 
involving these regions WILL NOT be accepted under this competition.
    Western Europe and Canada (WEU): Priority consideration will be 
given to the following themes and target countries/subregions:
(1) Conflict Resolution: Northern Ireland
    Theme: Facilitation of grass-roots conflict resolution relating to 
both Northern Ireland and cross-border issues between communities in 
Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
(2) Conflict Resolution: Cyprus
    Theme: Conflict resolution through increased inter-communal 
communication by means of Internet access and computer-assisted 
negotiations, aimed at journalists, academics, politicians, and 
government officials in both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot 
communities.
    Project: In order to improve their professional skills, increase 
access to research materials and international news sources, and to 
stimulate inter-communal communication via Internet, journalists, 
academics as well as politicians and government officials need to be 
able to access information electronically. The project would include a 
seminar and workshop on each side of the green line as well as 
technical help to set up viable systems of electronic communication.
    Exchange: American experts in Internet access and conflict 
resolution to set up seminars/workshops in the Greek Cypriot and 
Turkish Cypriot communities and to ensure viability in those 
communities and to ensure viability in those communities of electronic 
communication.
(3) Promoting a Civil Society: Italy
    Theme: In helping to develop a new ``civic consciousness'' and to 
form a greater partnership in Italy between the public and private 
sectors, the project would study the American model of volunteerism, 
training, and civic service.
    Project: A two-way exchange program involving Italian 
representatives from the Ministry of Social Services, selected regions 
and municipalities and non-governmental organizations, and American 
representatives from Federal and state organizations involved in civic 
service programs.
    Exchange: Phase I of the program would involve a small group of 
Italians visiting the U.S. to learn about the American model of civic/
volunteer service. Issues to be addressed would include: organizational 
structure/administration of civic service programs; fund-raising, 
including administration of federal funding; evaluation and control 
criteria; training; cultural/social context in which programs thrive.
    Phase II would involve visits to Italy by American representatives 
of selected civic services programs relevant to the Italian experience. 
These representatives would work directly with the Ministry of Social 
Services and regional projects to develop Italian pilot projects based 
on the American model.
(4) Local Government: Turkey
    Theme: To study the issues involved in decentralization in order to 
promote regional development and citizen empowerment.
    Project: An exchange of 10 mayors from Southeastern Turkey, the 
site of a new and massive irrigation project, with U.S. municipal 
leaders involved in regional development issues.
    Exchange: Initial visit to selected American cities, with a focus 
on regional development and provision of local services. Follow-up 
visit by American representatives relevant to the Turkish experience.
(5) Wetlands Management Program: Greece
    Theme: Wetlands management, mapping, and restoration program.
    Project: To assist Aristotle University in Thessaloniki and the 
Greek Wetlands Center in establishing a program of general wetlands 
managements, including the technical aspects of conservation, legal 
issues, and public relations techniques.
    Exchange: Two-way exchange of experts: Americans to help the Center 
and University establish a Wetlands program; Greeks to visit the U.S. 
for first-hand observation of NGO work and university programs.
    E/P contact for WEU programs: Chris Miner, 202/401-7342; E-Mail 
{[email protected]}
    East Asia and the Pacific (EA): Priority consideration will be 
given to the following themes and target countries/subregions:

The Organization of NGOs

    (EA regional project or single country project for Japan)--Projects 
should address the important role that non-governmental organizations, 
citizen's groups and grassroot institutions play in a democracy. 
Priority will be given to projects that study management and fund-
raising strategies of NGOs in the U.S., rather than projects that focus 
exclusively on the objectives or themes of specific organizations.

Economic Development and Intellectual Property Rights

    (EA regional project to include participants from South Korea, 
Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia 
and/or the Philippines)--Projects should underscore the importance of 
IPR protection to economic development. Participants would include 
business reporters, executives in the private and public sector with an 
interest in IPR and/or legal experts.

[[Page 33584]]

Intellectual Property Rights

    (China)--Projects would show members of China's business creative 
community how their U.S. counterparts protect their own intellectual 
property rights.

Rule of Law

    (China) Projects would help Chinese provincial and municipal judges 
understand how U.S. state judiciaries function to understand how 
Federal and state judiciary systems interact.

Market Economics

    (Vietnam, Cambodia, and/or Laos)--Projects would give a better 
understanding of market economics and international trade to executives 
from the state and private sector. Priority will be given to projects 
that reach a wider audience through use of workshops, training seminars 
or follow-up publications for entry-level entrepreneurs.

The Sustainable Urban Environment

    (EA regional project)--Projects should explore the challenge of 
balancing economic growth with environmental health in large cities. 
Participants would include city managers, government officials, NGO 
activists, academics or journalists with an interest in urban planning. 
The project should not only look at the experiences of U.S. cities 
coping with rapid growth, but also address the role of citizen 
participation in identifying creative solutions or finding acceptable 
compromises.
    E/P contact for EA programs: Steve Koenig 202/260-5485; E-Mail 
{[email protected]}
    American Republics (AR): Priority will be given to projects in (1) 
Civic education (which might focus on such issues as curriculum 
development, civic journalism, citizen activism, and volunteerism); (2) 
sustainable development; (3) rule of law/administration of justice; and 
(4) diversity in the Americas experience (African and other ethnic/
racial aspects of culture shared in the Western Hemisphere). Projects 
should involve either Brazil, or one more of the following countries. 
Argentina, Dominican Republic, Panama, Uruguay, Venezuela. Projects 
should include collaborative programming with non-governmental 
organizations (NGOs) in these countries.
    E/P contact for AR programs: Laverne Johnson, 202/619-5337; E-Mail 
{[email protected]}
    Africa (AF): Preference will be given to proposals focusing on 
international trade and privatization issues--including Intellectual 
Property Rights (IPR), World Trade Organization (WTO), and regional 
arrangements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)--
with the Southern African Development Community (SADC); rule of law, 
alternate dispute resolution, or judicial reform in one subregion; and 
civic education/civil society (especially the role of elections, or 
promotion of citizen participation, human rights, or values of 
tolerance, pragmatism, cooperation, and compromise). The Office is also 
interested in proposals for electronic connectivity, but USIA funds may 
not be used for purchase of equipment. These proposals should target 
organizations responsible for promoting either rule of law or trade and 
business development and must demonstrate commitment to use and 
capacity to maintain equipment. All proposals should include 
programming in at least three countries. Other themes may be proposed, 
but those listed above will receive preference.
    E/P contact for AF programs: Stephen Taylor, 202/205-0535; E-Mail 
{[email protected]}
    North Africa, Near East and South Asia (NEA): Priority will be 
given to regional or single-country exchange projects that focus on 
conflict resolution, domestic or international; rule of law, focusing 
on legal system reform or the introduction of alternative dispute 
management into the adjudication process; the promotion of civil 
society/democratic government, which might include the enhancement of 
formal civic education, parliamentary or civil service development, or 
the development of greater competence/professionalism/responsibility 
among journalists; human rights, including the empowerment of women 
and/or the protection of children and ethnic minorities; education 
development, including curricular reform; teacher training; development 
of skills and professionalism among administrators; and natural 
resource (environmental) awareness and management, including water 
resource management, the establishment of formal and informal education 
projects focused on the environment, and increasing public awareness of 
the impact of environmental degradation on the quality of life.
    E/P contact for NEA programs: Tom Johnston, 202/619-5325; E-Mail 
{[email protected]}
    The Office of Citizen Exchanges strongly encourages the 
coordination of activities with respected universities, professional 
associations, and major cultural institutions in the U.S. and abroad, 
but particularly in the U.S. Projects should be intellectual and 
cultural, not technical. Vocational training (an occupation other than 
one requiring a baccalaureate or higher academic degree; i.e., clerical 
work, auto maintenance, etc., and other occupations requiring less than 
two years of higher education) and technical training (special and 
practical knowledge of a mechanical or a scientific subject which 
enhances mechanical, narrowly scientific, or semi-skilled capabilities) 
are ineligible for support. In addition, scholarship programs are 
ineligible for support. The Office does not support proposals limited 
to conferences or seminars (i.e., one to fourteen-day programs with 
plenary sessions, main speakers, panels, and a passive audience). It 
will support conferences only insofar as they are part of a larger 
project in duration and scope which is receiving USIA funding from this 
competition. USIA-supported projects may include internships; study 
tours; short-term, non-technical training; and extended, intensive 
workshops taking place in the United States or overseas. The themes 
addressed in exchange programs must be of long-term importance rather 
than focused exclusively on current events or short-term issues. In 
every case, a substantial rationale must be presented as part of the 
proposal, one that clearly indicates the distinctive and important 
contribution of the overall project, including, where applicable, the 
expected yield of any associated conference. No funding is available 
exclusively to send U.S. citizens to conferences or conference-type 
seminars overseas; nor is funding available for bringing foreign 
nationals to conferences or to routine professional association 
meetings in the United States. Projects that duplicate what is 
routinely carried out by private sector and/or public sector operations 
will not be considered. The Office of Citizen Exchanges strongly 
recommends that applicants consult with host country USIS posts prior 
to submitting proposals.

Selection of Participants

    All grant proposals should clearly describe the type of persons who 
will participate in the program as well as the process by which 
participants will be selected. It is recommended that programs in 
support of U.S. internships include letters tentatively committing host 
institutions to support the internships. In the selection of foreign 
participants, USIA and USIS posts abroad retain the right to nominate 
all participants and to accept or deny participants recommended by 
grantee institutions. However, grantee

[[Page 33585]]

institutions are often asked by USIA to suggest names of potential 
participants. The grantee institution will also provide the names of 
American participants and brief (two pages) biographical data on each 
American participant to the Office of Citizen Exchanges for information 
purposes. Priority will be given to foreign participants who have not 
previously travelled to the United States.

Additional Guidance

    The Office of Citizen Exchanges offers the following additional 
guidance to prospective applicants:
    1. The Office of Citizen Exchanges encourages project proposals 
involving more than one country. Pertinent rationale which links 
countries in multi-country projects should be included in the 
submissions. Single-country projects that are clearly defined and 
possess the potential for creating and strengthening continuing 
linkages between foreign and U.S. institutions are also welcome.
    2. Proposals for bilateral programs are subject to review and 
comment by the USIS post in the relevant country, and pre-selected 
participants will also be subject to USIS post review.
    3. Bilateral programs should clearly identify the counterpart 
organization and provide evidence of the organization's participation.
    4. The Office of Citizen Exchanges will consider proposals for 
activities which take place exclusively in other countries when USIS 
posts are consulted in the design of the proposed program and in the 
choice of the most suitable venues for such programs.
    5. Office of Citizen Exchanges grants are not given to support 
projects whose focus is limited to technical or vocational subjects, or 
for research projects, for publications funding, for student and/or 
teacher/faculty exchanges, for sports and/or sports related programs. 
Nor does this office provide scholarships or support for long-term (a 
semester or more) academic studies. Competitions sponsored by other 
Bureau offices are also announced in the Federal Register.
    For projects that would begin after December 31, 1997, competition 
details will be announced in the Federal Register on or about June 1, 
1997. Inquiries concerning technical requirements are welcome prior to 
submission of applications.

Funding

    Although no set funding limit exists, proposals for less than 
$135,000 will receive preference. Organizations with less than four 
years of successful experience in managing international exchange 
programs are limited to $60,000. Applicants are invited to provide both 
an all-inclusive budget as well as separate sub-budgets for each 
program component, phase, location, or activity in order to facilitate 
USIA decisions on funding. While an all-inclusive budget must be 
provided with each proposal, separate component budgets are optional. 
Competition for USIA funding support is keen.
    The selection of grantee institutions will depend on program 
substance, cross-cultural sensitivity, and ability to carry out the 
program successfully. Since USIA grant assistance constitutes only a 
portion of total project funding, proposals should list and provide 
evidence of other anticipated sources of financial and in-kind support. 
Proposals with substantial private sector support from foundations, 
corporations, other institutions, et al. will be deemed highly 
competitive. The Recipient must provide a minimum of 33 percent cost 
sharing of the total project cost.
    The following project costs are eligible for consideration for 
funding:
    1. International and domestic air fares; visas; transit costs; 
ground transportation costs.
    2. Per Diem: For the U.S. program, organizations have the option of 
using a flat $140/day for program participants or the published U.S. 
Federal per diem rates for individual American cities. For activities 
outside the U.S., the published Federal per diem rates must be used.

    Note. U.S. escorting staff must use the published Federal per 
diem rates, not the flat rate.

    3. Interpreters: If needed, interpreters for the U.S. program are 
provided by the U.S. State Department Language Services Division. 
Typically, a pair of simultaneous interpreters is provided for every 
four visitors who need interpretation. USIA grants do not pay for 
foreign interpreters to accompany delegations from their home country. 
Grant proposal budgets should contain a flat $140/day per diem for each 
Department of State interpreter, as well as home-program-home air 
transportation of $400 per interpreter plus any U.S. travel expenses 
during the program. Salary expenses are covered centrally and should 
not be part of an applicant's proposed budget.
    4. Book and Cultural Allowance: Participants are entitled to and 
escorts are reimbursed a one-time cultural allowance of $150 per 
person, plus a participant book allowance of $50. U.S. staff do not get 
these benefits.
    5. Consultants: May be used to provide specialized expertise or to 
make presentations. Daily honoraria generally do not exceed $250 per 
day. Subcontracting organizations may also be used, in which case the 
written agreement between the prospective grantee and subcontractor 
should be included in the proposal.
    6. Room rental, which generally should not exceed $250 per day.
    7. Materials Development: Proposals may contain costs to purchase, 
develop, and translate materials for participants.
    8. One working meal per project. Per capita costs may not exceed 
$5-8 for a lunch and $14-20 for a dinner, excluding room rental. The 
number of invited guests may not exceed participants by more than a 
factor of two-to-one.
    9. A return travel allowance of $70 for each participant which is 
to be used for incidental expenditures incurred during international 
travel.
    10. All USIA-funded delegates will be covered under the terms of a 
USIA-sponsored health insurance policy. The premium is paid by USIA 
directly to the insurance company.
    11. Other costs necessary for the effective administration of the 
program, including salaries for grant organization employees, benefits, 
and other direct and indirect costs per detailed instructions in the 
application package.

    Note: The 20 percent limitation of ``administrative costs'' 
included in previous announcements does not apply to this RFP. 
Please refer to the Application Package for complete budget 
guidelines.

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 established herein and in the 
Application Packet. Eligible proposals will be forwarded to panels of 
USIA officers for advisory review. All eligible proposals will also be 
reviewed by the program office, as well the USIA geographic regional 
office and the USIS post overseas, where appropriate. Proposals may 
also be reviewed by the USIA's Office of 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 USIA's grants officer.

Review Criteria

    USIA will consider proposals based on their conformance with the 
objectives and considerations already stated in this RFP, as well as 
the following criteria:

[[Page 33586]]

    1. Quality of Program Idea: Proposals should exhibit originality, 
substance, precision, and relevance to the Agency mission.
    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 objectives and 
plan.
    4. Multiplier Effect: Proposed programs should strengthen long-term 
mutual understanding, including maximum sharing of information and 
establishment of long-term institutional individual linkages.
    5. Value to U.S.-Partner Country Relations: Proposed projects 
should receive positive assessments by USIA's geographic area desk and 
overseas officers of program need, potential impact, and significance 
in the partner country(ies).
    6. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional 
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program's 
or project's goal.
    7. Institution Reputation/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. The Agency will consider the past performance of prior 
recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants.
    8. Follow-on Activities: Proposals should provide a plan for 
continued follow-on activity (without USIA support) which ensures that 
USIA-supported programs are not isolated events.
    9. Evaluation Plan: Proposals should provide a plan for a thorough 
and objective evaluation of the program/project by the grantee 
institution.
    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. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate the 
substantive support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Achievable and 
relevant features should be cited in both program administration 
(selection of participants, program venue, and program evaluation) and 
program content (orientation and wrap-up sessions, program meetings, 
resource materials, and follow-up activities).

Notice

    The terms and conditions published in this RFP are binding and may 
not be modified by any USIA representative. Explanatory information 
provided by USIA 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 need of the 
program and the availability of funds.

Notification

    Final awards cannot be made until funds have been fully 
appropriated by the Congress, allocated, and committed through internal 
USIA procedures. Awarded grants will be subject to periodic reporting 
and evaluation requirements.

    Dated: June 20, 1996.
Dell Pendergrast,
Deputy Associated Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 96-16325 Filed 6-26-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M