[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 89 (Thursday, May 8, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25218-25220]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-11869]


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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY


Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program, Administrative and Program 
Services; Request for Proposals

SUMMARY: The Office of Academic Programs of the United States 
Information Agency's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs 
announces an open competition for an assistance award. Public and 
private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in 
IRS regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c) may apply to provide administrative and 
program services for the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program (E/ASX). 
The Program administers approximately 200 one-on-one exchanges (400 
participants) at the primary, secondary and community college levels 
between U.S. and overseas counterpart teachers from over 25 countries.
    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 throught the Fulbright Hays Act. 
Programs and projects must conform with Agency requirements and

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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 above title and reference number 
E/ASX-98-AD.

DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: All copies must be received at the U.S. 
Information Agency in Washington, D.C. by 5 p.m. on June 18, 1997. 
Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents postmarked 
June 18 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 on or about October 1, 1997 and run through 
September 30, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Ilo-Mai Harding, Teacher Exchange 
Branch, E/ASX, room 349, 301 4th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20547, 
telephone: (202) 619-4556, fax: (202) 401-1433, Internet: 
[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.

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 Package Via Fax on Demand

    The entire Solicitation Package may be requested from the Bureau's 
``Grants Information Fax on Demand System,'' which is accessed by 
calling (202) 401-7616. The ``Table of Contents'' listing available 
documents and order numbers should be the first order when entering the 
system.
    Please specify USIA Senior Program Officer Ilo-Mai Harding 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 Solicition 
Package. The original and 10 copies of the application should be sent 
to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/ASX-98-AD, Office of Grants 
Management, E/XE, Room 326, 301 4th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 
20547.

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 
critiera 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'' the U.S. Information Agency ``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 content, to the full extent deemed feasible.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Program and Policy

In the Administration of the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program, USIA 
Will Have Responsibility for

    A. establishing program policy, and providing instructions and 
guidance, both general and specific, on the functions listed below;
    B. acting as the major agent in establishing new programs; 
monitoring all programs; serving as the liaison with overseas 
cooperating agencies in all program matters; overseeing all program 
activity including recruiting and matching, publicity and outreach, and 
orientation workshops; ensuring that the program is representative of 
the diversity of U.S. political, social, and cultural life by actively 
encouraging minority participation in all aspects of programming; and 
evaluating all aspects of the program;
    C. preparing final paperwork for the J. William Fulbright Foreign 
Scholarship Board approval on U.S. and foreign candidates and projects;
    D. providing funds sufficient to cover staff time and expenses 
incurred in the execution of this grant;
    E. providing liaison and supervision to effectively carry out the 
responsibilities assigned under this grant.

Cooperating Agency Will Be Responsible for

    A. providing administrative and program services for the Fulbright 
Teacher Exchange Program;
    B. observing and complying with the policies of the United States 
Information Agency (USIA) and the J. William Fulbright Foreign 
Scholarship Board (FSB) in the administration of this grant, and 
promoting diversity in programming and staffing;
    C. providing data, as required by USIA, concerning the Fulbright 
Teacher Exchange Program;
    D. submitting quarterly budget and program reports and an annual 
report with recommendations for project improvement.

Proposed Budget

    The contracted organization must submit a comprehensive line-item 
budget based on the specific guidance in the Solicitation Package. 
There must be a summary budget as well as a break-down reflecting both 
the administrative budget and the program budget. For better 
understanding or further clarification, applicants must provide 
separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase, or activity in 
order to facilitate USIA decisions on funding. Administrative costs 
should be kept low; this will be an important factor in grant 
competition.
    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 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 other USIA elements, where 
appropriate. Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of the 
General Counsel. Funding decisions are at the discretion of the USIA 
Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final 
technical authority for assistance awards (grants

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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. 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.
    2. 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 and program 
content (program meetings and resource materials).
    3. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional 
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program or 
project's goals.
    4. Institution's Record/Ability: Proposals should demonstrate an 
institutional record of successful exchange programs, including 
responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting 
requirements for past Agency grants as determined by USIA's Office of 
Contracts.
    5. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate 
the activity's success. Successful applicants will be expected to 
submit quarterly reports.
    6. 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.
    7. Cost-sharing: Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through 
other private sector support as well as institutional direct funding 
contributions.

Notice

    The terms and conditions published in this RFP are binding and may 
not be modified by any USIA representative. Explanatory information 
provided by the Agency that contradicts published language will not be 
binding. Issuance of the RFP does not constitute an award commitment on 
the part of the Government. The 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 25, 1997.
Dell Pendergrast,
Deputy Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 97-11869 Filed 5-7-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M