[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 193 (Thursday, October 3, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51746-51750]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25041]


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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY


College and University Affiliations Program

ACTION: Notice--request for proposals.

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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 program. 
Accredited, post-secondary educational institutions meeting the 
provisions described in IRS regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c)(3)-1 may apply 
to develop a partnership with (a) foreign institution(s) of higher 
education in specified fields and themes within the humanities, arts, 
and social sciences.
    Proposed projects must be eligible in terms of country(ies)/regions 
and themes as described in the section entitled ``Guidelines'' below. 
Participating institutions exchange faculty and administrators for a 
combination of teaching, lecturing, faculty and curriculum development, 
collaborative research, and outreach, for periods ranging from one week 
(for planning visits) to an academic year. The FY 97 program will also 
support the establishment and maintenance of internet communication 
facilities at foreign partner institutions.
    The program awards up to $120,000 for a three-year period to defray 
the cost of travel and per diem with an allowance for educational 
materials and some aspects of project administration. At this writing, 
prospects for Congressional appropriations in support of USIA's 
exchange programs are very uncertain and may result in reduced funding. 
Subject to the availability of funding, awards will be made under each 
of the following thematic categories: Democracy and Human

[[Page 51747]]

Rights, International Trade Policy and Economic Security, and the 
Environment and Sustainable Development.
    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 the Fulbright-Hays Act.
    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 Title and Number: All communications with USIA 
concerning this announcement should refer to the College and University 
Affiliations Program and reference number E/ASU-97-01.
    Deadline for Proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S. 
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on Friday, January 17, 
1997. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents 
postmarked on January 17, 1997, but received on a later date. It is the 
responsibility of each applicant to ensure compliance with the 
deadline.
    Approximate program dates: Grants should begin on or about 
September 1, 1997.
    Duration: September 1, 1997-August 31, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Office of Academic Programs; Advising, 
Teaching, and Specialized Programs Division; College and University 
Affiliations Program (CUAP), (E/ASU), Room 349, U.S. Information 
Agency, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, phone: (202) 619-
5289, fax: (202) 401-1433. Send a message via internet to: 
[email protected] to request a Solicitation Package. The Solicitation 
Package includes more detailed award criteria; all application forms; 
and guidelines for preparing proposals, including specific criteria for 
preparation of the proposal budget.
    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 ``Education and Cultural Exchanges,'' select ``Request for 
Proposals (RFPs).'' Please read ``About the Following RFPs'' before 
downloading.
    Please specify ``College and University Affiliations Program 
Officer'' on all inquires and correspondence. Prospective applicants 
should read the complete Federal Register announcement before 
addressing inquiries to the College and University Affiliations Program 
staff or submitting their proposals. Once the RFP deadline has passed, 
the staff may not discuss this competition in any way with applicants 
until the Bureau proposal review process has been completed.
    Submissions: Applicants must follow all instructions given in the 
Solicitation Package. The original and 10 copies of the complete 
application should be sent to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/ASU-97-
01, Office of Grants Management, E/XE, Room 336, 301 4th St., SW., 
Washington, DC 20547.
    Applicants must also submit the ``Executive Summary,'' ``Proposal 
Narrative,'' and budget sections of the 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 U.S. Information Service (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.

Diversity Guidelines

    Pursuant to the Bureau's authorizing legislation, projects 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 
ethnicity, race, gender, religion, geographic location, socio-economic 
status, and physical challenges. Applicants are strongly encouraged to 
adhere to the advancement of this principal 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

Objectives

    The CUAP's short-term goal is to provide partial funding of 
linkages between U.S. and foreign institutions of higher education 
featuring exchanges of faculty and administrators for the purpose of 
teaching, lecturing, faculty and curriculum development, collaborative 
research, administrative reform and modernization, and outreach.
    The program's long-term goals are to:
    (1) Advance mutual understanding between the U.S. and other 
countries or regions by supporting linkages which provide true 
reciprocity and significant mutual benefit.
    (2) Diversify and expand international educational exchanges by:
     Supporting linkages involving academic institutions in 
various locations throughout the U.S. and abroad;
     Targeting academic disciplines and countries/regions which 
are not otherwise significantly represented in privately funded 
exchanges;
     Increasing the participation of two-year/community 
colleges, small four-year schools, and schools with significant (over 
25%) minority student enrollment; and
     Complementing the individual lectureships, research and 
graduate study fellowships, and training programs available under 
Fulbright and other Agency auspices.
    (3) Foster post-secondary institutional academic development by 
supporting linkages which promise to develop appropriate expertise and 
advance scholarship and teaching.
    (4) Further U.S. foreign policy objectives by supporting linkages 
which correspond to the Agency's geographic and thematic programming 
priorities.
    (5) Encourage long-term impact on all partner institutions by 
supporting linkages which promise sustainability beyond the three-year 
grant term.
    (6) Expand U.S. government/private sector cooperation by leveraging 
significant cost sharing from both the U.S. and foreign partner(s).

Guidelines

    The ideal and most competitive proposal is reciprocal, with mutual 
goals and benefits for all partner institutions. While the goals and 
benefits should be mutual, they do not need to be identical for each 
partner institution or precisely balanced among partner institutions. 
One-way, technical assistance projects are not acceptable.

[[Page 51748]]

    The ideal and most competitive proposal includes a series of year-
round, faculty and administrator exchange visits involving a well-
reasoned combination of teaching, lecturing, faculty and curriculum 
development, collaborative research, and outreach. Projects involving 
administrative reform or modernization, such as distance learning, are 
also invited. These activities must address and support stated project 
goals, develop expertise, advance scholarship and teaching, and promote 
reliable, long-term communication between partner campuses. They may 
vary in emphasis within the project. For example, collaborative 
research may play a lesser role than curriculum development. Library 
support and development should be included if deemed critical to the 
success and sustainability of the project. The proposal should 
demonstrate that an internet communication link between partners has 
been planned or already established; grant funds may be requested to 
initiate or enhance that link.
    Exchange visits should be for a minimum of one month with the 
exception of planning visits, which may be for a shorter period. The 
non-planning visits in a competitive proposal range from one month to 
an academic year in length, preferably including one, quarter or 
semester-long visit each year from each of the U.S. and the foreign 
partner(s). Proposals featuring multiple visits of one quarter or 
semester in length will be more competitive. Visits by the U.S. and 
foreign project coordinators as well as other key exchanges should be 
identified and justified in the proposal narrative. An ideal project 
builds upon previous contacts and interaction between the proposed 
partners, such as individual faculty or student exchanges, and has the 
support and the knowledge and encouragement of the relevant USIS post 
and/or Fulbright commission, to help ensure a solid foundation for the 
linkage. Acceptable proposals must either establish new institutional 
affiliations or innovate existing partnerships and must not merely 
extend projects previously funded by the College and University 
Affiliations Program (formerly the ``University Affiliations 
Program''), other USIA or U.S. government linkage programs.
    Proposals of feasibility studies to plan affiliations will not be 
considered.
    The ideal and most competitive proposal provides significant 
institutional support and cost sharing from both the U.S. and foreign 
institution(s) and promises sustainability beyond the grant term. The 
U.S. institution(s) should collaborate with the foreign partner(s) in 
planning and preparation. When planning the project, U.S. and foreign 
institutions are strongly encouraged to consult with the Cultural 
Affairs Officer (CAO) or Public Affairs Officer (PAO) at the 
appropriate U.S. Information Service (USIS) office at the U.S. Embassy 
or U.S. Consulate and with the Fulbright Commission, if one exists, in 
the relevant country.

U.S. Partner and Participant Eligibility

    In the U.S., participation in the program is open to accredited 
two- and four-year colleges and universities, including graduate 
schools. Applications from consortia of U.S. colleges and universities 
are eligible. Secondary U.S. partners may include relevant non-
governmental organizations, non-profit service or professional 
organizations. The lead U.S. institution in the consortium is 
responsible for submitting the application and each application from a 
consortium must document the lead school's stated authority to 
represent the consortium. Participants representing the U.S. 
institution who are traveling under USIA grant funds must be faculty or 
staff from the participating institution(s) and must be U.S. citizens.

Foreign Partner and Participant Eligibility

    Overseas, participation is open to recognized, degree-granting 
institutions of post-secondary education, which may include 
internationally recognized and established independent research 
institutes. Secondary foreign partners may include relevant 
governmental and non-governmental organizations, non-profit service or 
professional organizations. Participants representing the foreign 
institutions must be citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of the 
country of the foreign partner and be qualified to hold a valid 
passport and U.S. J-1 visa.

Ineligibility

    A proposal will be deemed technically ineligible if:
    (1) It does not fully adhere to the guidelines established herein 
and in the Solicitation Package;
    (2) It is not received by the deadline;
    (3) The length of the proposed project is less than three years;
    (4) It is not submitted by the U.S. partner;
    (5) One of the partner institutions is ineligible;
    (6) The foreign geographic location is ineligible;
    (7) The project involves a partnership with more than one country 
with the exception of trilateral APEC (Asia Pacific Economic 
Cooperation) projects under Theme II: International Trade Policy & 
Economic Security;
    (8) The theme or academic discipline is ineligible;
    (9) The amount requested of USIA exceeds $120,000 for the three-
year project.

Eligible Themes, Academic Disciplines, and Countries

    The FY 97 competition is limited to the following three themes 
which reflect USIA's foreign policy priorities:
    (I) Democracy and Human Rights,
    (II) International Trade Policy and Economic Security,
    (III) The Environment and Sustainable Development.
    Eligible academic disciplines and countries are listed under each 
theme.

Inclusion of U.S./Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies

    U.S./Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies are included as eligible 
academic disciplines in order to allow for the development of a broader 
cultural understanding and context in which to pursue a linkage project 
within one of the stated themes. U.S./Area, Ethnic, and Cultural 
Studies may be incorporated into a given project but only in 
conjunction with one or more of the eligible academic disciplines 
listed under a given theme. U.S./Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies 
includes U.S. and partner country history, literature, and social 
sciences.

Bilateral Projects Except for APEC and Canada/Mexico Environment and 
Sustainable Development Projects

    The program invites proposals for bilateral projects only, 
involving the U.S. and one foreign country, with the exception of 
proposals submitted for trilateral projects under Theme II: 
International Trade Policy and Economic Security regarding APEC (Asia 
Pacific Economic Cooperation) member economies and under Theme III: The 
Environment and Sustainable Development with regard to Mexico and 
Canada.

Theme I: Democracy and Human Rights

    Projects are solicited which promote democracy building and human 
rights and reinforce U.S. interests overseas. U.S. interests are most 
secure in a world where accountable governments and rule of law 
strengthen stability and project both political rights and free market 
economies.
    Within this context, Affiliation projects under Theme I should help

[[Page 51749]]

build democratic institutions, promote civic education, and increase 
expertise in the rule of law and the administration of justice through 
faculty and curriculum development, teaching and lecturing, and 
outreach. It is anticipated that college and university faculty, 
administrators, and students involved in cross-cultural democracy-
building partnerships will generate ideas and projects which will 
contribute to modernization and reform in the university community, 
public policy arena, NGO's, and the private sector.

Sub Theme: Civics Education

    USIA has a particular interest in reviewing proposals whose goal is 
to nurture the culture of democracy by focusing on the role of civics 
education in a democratic society.
    A linkage project incorporating a focus on civics education might 
include topics and issues such as the philosophy of democratic 
institutions; the philosophy and goals of public and private education; 
the role of citizen behavior and social responsibility in a democracy; 
the role of volunteerism, public interest groups, and major players 
such as public and private schools, government, religious institutions, 
public libraries, private organizations, and parents. A civics 
education linkage might also address political practices such as the 
balance of individual rights and group rights; reconciliation and 
compromise within the democratic process; and the philosophy of 
majority rule and minority rights.
    Projects in civic education may combine one or more of the academic 
disciplines listed below in order to pursue an affiliation whose 
objectives are those of the overall College and University Affiliations 
Program, namely teaching, lecturing, faculty development, curriculum 
development (e.g. for teacher training), collaborative research, and 
outreach (e.g. community outreach).

Eligible Academic Disciplines

    Law (including Conflict Resolution, Intellectual Property Rights) 
Political Science/Government/Public Policy/Public Administration 
Journalism/Communications
    Higher Education/Higher Education Administration U.S./Area, Ethnic, 
and Cultural Studies (in combination with one or more of the academic 
disciplines above)

Eligible Countries

    Africa: Botswana, Cote D'Ivoire, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda;
    American Republics: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, 
Peru, Venezuela;
    East Asia and Pacific: Cambodia, China (due to limited funding, 
China projects are limited to Law and U.S./Area Ethnic, and Cultural 
Studies in combination with Law), Vietnam, Mongolia;
    East Europe, Central Europe, and the New Independent States: 
Belarus (partnerships are encouraged with private, independent 
universities there), Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Romania, Russia (outside 
Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Nizhniy Novgorod), Slovakia, Ukraine;
    North Africa, Near East, and South Asia: India, Pakistan, Sri 
Lanka, Gaza/West Bank;
    Western Europe: Turkey.

Theme II: International Trade Policy and Economic Security

    Projects are solicited which promote economic reform and the 
development of market economies, trade, and investment overseas in 
support of U.S. interests in a global economy through faculty and 
curriculum development, teaching and lecturing, and outreach.
    Affiliation projects under Theme II are anticipated to establish or 
expand mutually beneficial academic programs in business and economics 
and promote international investment by strengthening institutional 
links to the private sector. Similarly, campuses should engage in 
international business affiliations which make their training, 
personnel, and research available to government and contribute to the 
formulation of more open and responsible trade policy.

Eligible Academic Disciplines

    Economics
    Business/Business Administration/Business Management
    Commercial Law (including Intellectual Property Rights)
    U. S. Studies/Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies (in combination 
with one or more of the academic fields above)

Eligible Countries

    Africa: Botswana, Cote D'Ivoire, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda;
    American Republics: Venezuela, Uruguay;

(Note: Chile and Mexico are eligible under the East Asia and Pacific 
trilateral APEC category (below))

    East Asia and Pacific: The following Asia Pacific Economic 
Cooperation (APEC) member economies are eligible within a trilateral 
affiliation between the U.S. and two APEC member economies: Australia, 
Canada, China, Chile, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, 
Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, 
Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam;
    Western Europe:

(Note: Canada is eligible under the East Asia and Pacific Trilateral 
APEC category above)

Theme III: The Environment and Sustainable Development

    Projects are solicited which address environmental issues having an 
impact on U.S. and global interests. Academic exchanges which support 
responsible management of the Earth's natural resources is a key USIA 
priority.
    Given this priority, the vision for Affiliation projects under 
Theme III is to establish or expand environmental studies programs 
through faculty and curriculum development, teaching and lecturing, and 
outreach. Faculty, administrators, and students involved in 
international environmental studies ventures should make their training 
and personnel resources, as well as results of their collaborative 
research, available to government, NGOs, and business. These kinds of 
environmental linkage activities contribute to sound policy-making and 
long-term, global environmental sustainability.

Eligible Academic Disciplines

Environmental Sciences/Natural Resource Sciences
Environmental Policy and Resource Management
Sustainable Development
U.S. Studies/Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies (in combination with 
one or more of the academic fields above)

Eligible Countries

    Africa: South Africa, Uganda;
    American Republics: Chile, Mexico (only as a trilateral with 
Canada);
    Western Europe: Canada (only as a trilateral with Mexico).

Visa Requirements

    Programs must comply with J-1 exchange visitor visa regulations. 
Please refer to program specific guidelines in the Solicitation Package 
(POGI) for further details.

Travel

    The assistance award recipient must arrange all travel through 
their own travel agent.

Proposed Budget

    No funding award will exceed a total of $120,000 for the three-year 
grant term. Support for direct administrative costs associated with 
grant activities will not exceed 15% of the total grant

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amount. All indirect costs are unallowable. Grants awarded to eligible 
organizations with less than four years of experience in conducting 
international exchange programs will be limited to $60,000.
    Applicants must submit a comprehensive, line-item budget for the 
entire project. There must be a summary budget as well as a breakdown, 
by year, reflecting both the administrative budget and the program 
budget. Please refer to the Solicitation Package (POGI) for complete 
budget format 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 stated herein and in the 
Solicitation Package. Eligible proposals will be forwarded to outside 
academicians and Agency officers for advisory review. Proposals will 
also be reviewed by the appropriate regional office, i.e., the USIA 
Office of African Affairs (AF), Office of American Republics Affairs 
(AR), Office of East Asian and Pacific Affairs (EA), Office of East 
European and NIS Affairs (EEN), Office of West European and Canadian 
Affairs (WEU) and the Office of North African, Near Eastern, and South 
Asian Affairs (NEA) and relevant USIA posts 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 Educational and 
Cultural Affairs. Final technical authority for assistance awards 
(grants or cooperative agreements) resides with the USIA contracts 
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 proposal evaluation:

Academic Review Criteria

    Proposals are reviewed by independent academic peer panels, with 
geographic and disciplinary expertise, which make comments and 
recommendations to the Agency based on the following criteria:
    (1) Reasonable and feasible project objectives which are clearly 
related to the project plan and activities.
    (2) Appropriate and feasible project plans and a detailed schedule 
which must include a well-reasoned combination of useful and 
appropriate teaching, lecturing, faculty development, curriculum 
development, collaborative research, and outreach. The various 
activities should be clearly related to project objectives, but not 
need be equally emphasized within the proposal.
    (3) Inclusion of exchange visits of a length which will further the 
project goals and activities. Except for planning visits, stays of one 
month or more should be balanced with visits of an academic quarter, 
semester, or year.
    (4) Promise of the development of expertise and the advancement of 
scholarship and teaching in the eligible academic disciplines or 
themes.
    (5) Quality of exchange participants' academic credentials, skills, 
and experience relative to the goals and activities of the project plan 
(e.g., language skills).
    (6) Institutional resources adequate and appropriate to achieve the 
project's goals. Relevant factors are: The match between partners; the 
financial and political stability of the institutions; and availability 
of a critical mass of faculty willing and able to participate.
    (7) Evidence of strong institutional commitment by all 
participating institutions, including demonstration of relevant and 
successful prior interactions between institutions and an indication of 
collaborative proposal planning.
    (8) Evidence of a strong commitment to internationalization by 
participating institutions (i.e., developing other international 
projects and/or building upon past international activities).
    (9) An effective evaluation plan which defines and articulates a 
list of anticipated outcomes clearly related to the project goals and 
activities and procedures for on-going monitoring and mid-term 
corrective action.

Agency Review Criteria

    (1) Clear indication that the proposal seeks to establish a truly 
reciprocal and mutually beneficial institutional affiliation overseas 
or to innovate an existing affiliation. The benefits do not have to be 
the same for each partner or precisely balanced, but must be 
essentially mutual.
    (2) Positive assessment of program need, feasibility, and potential 
impact by the relevant USIA post overseas.
    (3) Academic quality, reflected in the academic review panel's 
comments and recommendations.
    (4) Institutional and geographic diversity of the U.S. and overseas 
institutions (i.e., racial, ethnic, and gender composition of student 
enrollments; small underrepresented institutions, two-year/community 
colleges, and institutions in underrepresented geographic locations).
    (5) The promise of sustainability and long-term impact which should 
be reflected in a plan for continued, non-U.S. government support and 
follow-on activities.
    (6) Cost-effectiveness (i.e., competitive cost sharing, sufficient 
number of participant exchanges relative to the project goals and 
plan).
    (7) Institutional track record and ability. The Agency will 
consider the past performance of prior recipients and the demonstrated 
potential of new applicants.

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 funds. Awards made will be subject 
to periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.

Notification

    Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by 
Congress, allocated and committed through internal USIA procedures.

    Dated: September 25, 1996.
Dell Pendergrast,
Deputy Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 96-25041 Filed 10-2-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M