[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 79 (Thursday, April 24, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20063-20065]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10612]


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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY


East Timor Education Exchange Program

ACTION: Notice; request for proposals.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the United States 
Information Agency's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs 
announces an open competition for an assistance award. Public and 
private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in 
IRS regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c) may apply to develop proposals for an 
East Timor Education Exchange Program.
    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 * * *;

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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 Title and Number: All communications with USIA 
concerning this announcement should refer to the East Timor Education 
Exchange Program and reference number E/P-97-34.
    Deadline for Proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S. 
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on Friday, June 6, 
1997. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents 
postmarked June 6, 1997 but received at a later date. It is the 
responsibility of each applicant to ensure that proposals are received 
by the above deadline. Grants should begin July 1, 1997 with initial 
program activity taking place before September 30, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
The Office of Citizen Exchanges, E/PL, Room 219, U.S. Information 
Agency, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547. Telephone number: 
202/619-5326, Fax number: 202/619-4350, E-mail: [email protected] to 
request a Solicitation Package containing more detailed award criteria, 
required application forms, and standard guidelines for preparing 
proposals, including specific criteria for preparation of the proposal 
budget. Please direct inquiries and correspondence to USIA Program 
Officer Steve Koenig.
    To Download a Solicitation Package via Internet: The entire 
Solicitation Package may be downloaded from USIA's website at http://
www.usia.gov/education/rfps. Please read all information before 
downloading.
    To Receive a Solicitation by FAX on Demand: The entire Solicitation 
Package may be receive via the Bureau's ``Grants Information Fax on 
Demand System'', which is accessed by calling 202/401-7616. Please 
request a ``Catalogue'' of available documents and order numbers when 
first entering the system. Please specify USIA Program Officer/
Specialist Steve Koenig on all inquiries and correspondences. 
Interested applicants should read the complete Federal Register 
announcement before sending inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the 
RFP deadline has passed, Agency 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 12 copies of the application 
should be sent to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/P-97-34, Office of 
Grants Management, E/XE, Room 326, 301 4th Street, S.W., Washington, 
D.C. 20547.
    Applicants must also submit the ``Executive Summary'' and 
``Proposal Narrative'' 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 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, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines: 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 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. Public Law 104-319 
provides that ``in carrying out programs of educational and cultural 
exchange in countries whose people do not fully enjoy freedom and 
democracy'', USIA ``shall take appropriate steps to provide 
opportunities for participation in such programs to human rights and 
democracy leaders of such countries.'' Proposals should reflect 
advancement of this goal in their program contents, to the full extent 
deemed feasible.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Overview

    Among East Timor's primary obstacles to increased contact with the 
outside world and greater development are limited educational 
opportunity, especially at the university level; minimal information 
resources; and lack of English-language fluency. The East Timor 
Education Exchange Program is intended to bridge that gap by increasing 
the flow of information about the United States to institutions in East 
Timor, and by providing the resources needed to enhance the capacity of 
those institutions to meet the educational needs of East Timoresse.

Guidelines

    Projects designed to address these problems could include: training 
in administration of--or curriculum development for--educational 
institutions in East Timor; exchanges of professionals to explore 
issues in newspaper and radio management, public administration and 
Non-Governmental Organization management; enhancement of English-
language teaching efforts; U.S. study tours for leaders of East 
Timormese institutions; programs to provide communications equipment, 
teaching materials and follow-on training to libraries, media outlets, 
or other public institutions in East Timor; or cooperative linkages 
with local publishers to translate books about the U.S.
    Other program activities that effectively address the thematic 
goals of this assistance award will also be accepted. In the design and 
development of this project, you should work closely with the U.S. 
Information Service in Jakarta, Indonesia. Programs must comply with J-
1 visa regulations. The funding request submitted to USIA should not 
exceed $150,000. 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 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 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 stated herein

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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 program office, as well as the USIA Office of 
East Asian and Pacific Affairs and the USIA post overseas, where 
appropriate. Proposals may 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 of the program idea: Proposals should exhibit 
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to Agency mission.
    2. Program planning/ability to achieve program objectives: 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. Proposals should 
clearly demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's 
objectives and plan.
    3. Multiplier effect/impact: Proposed programs should strengthen 
long-term mutual understanding, including maximum sharing of 
information and establishment of long-term institutional and individual 
linkages.
    4. Support of diversity: Proposals should demonstrate 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).
    5. Institutional capacity/record: Proposed personnel and 
institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve 
the program or project's goals. 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.
    6. 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.
    7. Project evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate 
the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of 
the program. A draft survey questionnaire or other technique plus 
description of a methodology to use to link outcomes to original 
project objectives is recommended. Successful applicants will be 
expected to submit intermediate reports after each project component is 
concluded or quarterly, whichever is less frequent.
    8. Cost-effectiveness/Cost-sharing: 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. Proposals should maximize cost-sharing.
    9. 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.

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: April 21, 1997.
Dell Pendergrast,
Deputy Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 97-10612 Filed 4-23-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M