[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 108 (Thursday, June 5, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30928-30930]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14713]


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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY


Census of Foreign Students in the United States

ACTION: Request for proposal.

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SUMMARY: The Advising and Student Services Branch of the United States 
Information Agency's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs 
announces an open competition for an assistance award. U.S. 
educational, cultural, public, and private for-profit and not-for 
profit-organizations with significant substantive experience in 
international education may apply to conduct a statistical survey 
(census) of foreign nationals affiliated with institutions of higher 
learning in the United States. The census should identify in the most 
economical way possible the number of foreign students and scholars 
studying, conducting research, or teaching at all accredited 
universities and colleges in the United States starting in the 1997-
1998 academic year; it must provide detailed individual student profile 
data which should include which students are first-time entrants to the 
U.S higher educational system, country-specific aggregate data in the 
form of Country Locator Reports, and survey the number of American 
students studying abroad. Proposals should describe the methodology 
which will be used to collect the data and how the material will be 
analyzed and presented to the public. The proposals must also include 
plans to establish an advisory board to provide assistance in 
identifying and framing policy issues to be addressed.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Overview

    As the Federal agency tasked with promoting international 
educational exchange, USIA considers it essential to have an accurate 
picture of foreign study and scholarship in the United States, such as 
that provided by the statistical survey. This survey should provide a 
detailed and comprehensive picture of the number and characteristics of 
foreign nationals (excluding permanent residents and refugees) 
affiliated with American institutions of higher learning and the number 
of U.S. students studying abroad. Topics of interest include the number 
of students and scholars, their gender, countries of origin, and fields 
of study. Information about students' academic level (undergraduate, 
graduate, post-doctorate), primary source of financial support, 
financial contributions they make while in the United States, and 
location of study should be included. A survey of students in intensive 
English language programs would be of interest but is not required.
    The Agency will consider funding a publication, database, 
newsletter, or any other medium presented as a viable vehicle for 
making census data about the U.S. and foreign student population widely 
available in a timely manner and in a clear and concise format. 
Continued support, assuming availability of funding, will be contingent 
upon accurate data collection, quality of presentation of that data, 
and prompt publication of the census. The Agency reserves the right to 
reproduce, publish or otherwise use any work developed under this grant 
for Government purposes.

Guidelines

    Proposals should include a description of the methodology to be 
used to canvass colleges and universities for information about their 
statistics. Provision should be made for securing the highest possible 
response rate. Data collected from the surveys of foreign students 
enrolled in regionally accredited U.S. institutions of higher learning 
should be collected annually with 650 copies of the first edition being 
published in hard-copy and shipped to USIA in the fall of 1998. For a 
more detailed analysis and cross tabulation of the characteristics of 
the foreign student population, individual student profile data should 
be collected annually with the first data appearing biennially in 
computerized diskette format along with the hard copy in the fall of 
1999. This individual student profile data should also be provided to 
USIA in a format that is country-specific on diskette in the summer of 
1998 and should specify detailed information showing the number of 
students from a specific country attending institutions of higher 
education in each state of the U.S.
    The Agency is interested in a clear presentation of the data 
collected as well as a rigorous analysis of the data which will draw 
conclusions about the trends in international study in the U.S. and 
make data recommendations for policy for both government and academia. 
An advisory board must be established to provide assistance in 
identifying and framing policy issues to be addressed and should meet 
at least once a year. Board members would likely be drawn from a broad 
range of disciplines and organizations such as NAFSA: Association of 
International Educators and the American Association of Collegiate 
Registrars and Admissions Officers, and would be expected to provide 
fresh perspectives on topics that are related to the 
internationalization of higher education.
    Scholarly analyses of census data addressing pertinent policy 
issues should be included, taking into consideration a wide range of 
prospective readers and policymakers in government, academia, and 
business. The publication should include a section on the mechanics and 
uses of data analysis, highlighting how conclusions can be drawn from 
the data collected, what some of the limitations of that analysis can 
be, and how the data can benefit those supplying it, i.e. as a campus 
advocacy or recruiting tool.
    Please include with the proposal a complete list of proposed 
chapter headings and sample analyses. We welcome innovative approaches 
to the presentation of material. Topics we would like to see addressed 
might include:
    (1) Relationship to immigration flows
    (2) Global competitiveness: How changing patterns in preferred 
fields of study among international students reflect sociological and 
economic trends in other countries;
    (3) The impact on the U.S. economy and labor market;
    (4) Global trade;
    (5) A comparative analysis of readily available statistics on 
foreign student enrollment in countries with significant international 
student presence;
    (6) How demographics of the international student population in the 
U.S. is affected by visa control;
    (7) U.S. faculty and students lecturing and researching abroad: The 
countries/regions they are going to, the fields of study, and who pays 
for it.
    Grant should begin on or about October 1, 1997 and run through 
September 30, 1999.
    Proposed budget: Budget may not exceed $175,000. 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

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further clarification, applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for 
each program component, phase, location, or activity in order to 
facilitate USIA decisions on funding. The $175,000 is expected to 
constitute only a portion of the total project funding. Cost sharing is 
required and the proposal should list other anticipated sources of 
support. Grant applications should demonstrate financial and in-kind 
support.
    Allowable costs for the program include the following:
    (1) Salaries and fringe benefits; travel and per diem;
    (2) Other direct costs, inclusive of rent, utilities, etc.;
    (3) Overhead expenses, auditing costs, subject to limits outlined 
above.
    Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget 
guidelines and formatting instructions. Grants awarded to eligible 
organizations with less than four years of experience in conducting 
international exchange programs will be limited to $60,000.

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 the USIA Area Offices 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) Cost-Sharing

    Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through host institutions 
and other private sector support as well as institutional direct 
funding contributions and may include marketing the data.

(2) Overall Quality

    The content, definition, and organization of all aspects of the 
project, appropriateness of project plan and content to program 
objectives; extensive academic and professional involvement of the 
staff assigned to the project in the U.S. educational community; 
evidence of understanding of the dynamics of trends in international 
education.

(3) Institutional Capacity

    Adequacy of proposed resources, including professional staff and 
available educational network(s), to administer the census 
successfully, based on achieving a high response rate from those 
institutions surveyed, in the most economical way possible. Development 
of an appropriate method and format for presentation and analysis of 
the data.

(4) Institution's Track Record/Ability

    Clear evidence of applicant institution's track record of 
successful projects and experience with international education. 
Demonstrated expertise of the project director to assume the 
administration of this undertaking.

(5) Cost-Effectiveness

    The indirect costs and administrative components of the program, as 
well as salaries, should be kept as low as possible. All other items 
should be necessary and appropriate. In-kind contributions should also 
be included.
    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 use 
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 legislation.
    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 RFP should refer to the announcement's title and reference number 
E/ASA-98-01.

DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: All copies must be received at the U.S. 
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, D.C. time on July 25, 1997. 
Faxed documents will not be accepted at any time. Documents postmarked 
by July 25, 1997 but received at a later date will not be accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Advising and Student Services, E/ASA, 
Room 349, U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20547, Tel: (202) 619-5434, Fax: (202) 401-1433, e-mail: 
[email protected]. to request a Solicitation Package containing more 
details. Please request 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 a hittp://
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 received via the Bureau's ``Grants 
Information Fax on Demand System'', which is accessed by calling 202/
401/7616. Please request a ``Catalog'' of available documents and order 
numbers when first entering the system.
    Please specify USIA Program Officer Ann Prince 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 twelve copies of the proposal 
plus one extra copy of the cover sheet should be sent to: U.S. 
Information Agency, Ref.: E/ASA-98-01, Office of Grants Management, E/
XE, Room 326, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 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

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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 account for advancement of this goal in their program contents, 
to the full extent deemed feasible.

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: May 30, 1997.
Dell Pendergrast,
Deputy Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 97-14713 Filed 6-4-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M