[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 128 (Thursday, July 3, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36095-36097]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-17417]


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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY


Israeli-Arab Scholarship Program

ACTION: Request for proposals.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Academic Programs of the United States 
Information Agency's (USIA'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 for an assistance award to 
provide administrative and program support services for the Israeli-
Arab Scholarship Program. Organizations having less than four years 
experience in conducting international exchange programs may not 
receive grants in excess of $60,000, and therefore are ineligible to 
apply for this assistance award.
    The Israeli-Arab Scholarship Program (IASP) is a congressionally 
mandated and endowed program. The grant making authority for this 
program is contained in Public Law 102-138, the ``Foreign Relations 
Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1992 and 1993.'' The purpose of the 
legislation is to establish ``a program of scholarships for Israeli-
Arabs to attend institutions of higher education in the United 
States.'' The funding authority for the program is provided through the 
legislation.
    The Israeli-Arab Scholarship Program provides and opportunity for 
highly qualified Israeli-Arab graduate students to attend institutions 
of higher education in the U.S., providing them both a quality graduate 
education and an opportunity to experience American democracy and 
society.
    Program administration involves performance of services in the 
following broad categories: Program Planning and Management; 
Recruitment/Selection Support Services; Placement and Budgeting 
Services; Supervision and Support Services; Special Programs 
Management; and Program Projection and Reporting Services.
    Programs and projects must conform to Agency requirements and 
guidelines

[[Page 36096]]

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/AEN-IASP98-01.
    Deadline for Proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S. 
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, D.C. time on Thursday, July 
31, 1997. Faxed documents will not be accepted at any time. Documents 
postmarked by the due date but received at a later date will not be 
accepted. Grants should begin on or about October 1, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: The Near East/South Asian Programs 
Branch, E/AEN, Room 212, U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th Street, S.W., 
Washington, D.C. 20547, telephone: 202-619-5368; fax: 202-205-2466 
Internet address: [email protected], to request a Solicitation Package 
containing more detail. 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 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 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 Lydia Giles Taylor 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 ten (10) copies of the 
application should be sent to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/AEN-
IASP98-01, 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 account for 
advancement of this goal in their program contents, to the full extent 
deemed feasible.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Overview

    The Israeli-Arab Scholarship Program (IASP), a congressionally 
mandated and endowed program, is jointly administered by USIA's Office 
of Academic Programs and the U.S. Information Service (USIS) in Tel 
Aviv, Israel. Applicants are recruited, screened, and selected by USIS 
Tel Aviv through a panel of host-country academics. USIA's Office of 
Academic Programs is responsible for the allocation of funding and 
policy administration. The award recipient will have responsibility for 
supporting the selection process, placement of applicants at academic 
institutions and day-to-day management of the program.

Guidelines

    Program administration activities should cover the time period 
October 1, 1997 through September 30, 1998. The expected grantee 
caseload for Fiscal year 1998 is projected as follows: 6 second-year 
(renewal) grantees, 4 first-year (new) grantees, 6 new FY 1999 
principals and 2 alternates.

Administrative Services for the Israeli-Arab Scholarship Program Must 
Include

I. Program Planning and Management

    Includes: Development of a Cadre of Cost-Sharing Institutions; 
Development and Maintenance of a Financial Aid and Institutional 
Network; Monitoring and Adjustment of Grantee Allowances; Establishment 
and Maintenance of Grantee Statistical Database; Records Maintenance; 
Review of Grant Agreement; and Recommendation of Program Adjustments or 
Improvements.

II. Recruitment/Selection Support Services

    Include: Materials Disbursement; Forecasting Costs; Preparing and 
Distributing Grant Documents and Related Forms.

III. Placement and Budgeting Services

    Include: Applications Review; Candidate Evaluation/Academic Program 
Matching; Admissions Form Preparation/Submission; Estimation of 
University Expenses; Preparation and Distribution of Individual Cost 
Estimates; Finalization of Placements; Arranging Temporary Housing.

IV. Supervision and Support Services

    Include: Oversight and Management of Grantees' Visa Status; 
Management of Travel Arrangements/Allowances; Accident and Illness 
Insurance Enrollment; Academic Monitoring; Processing of Grant 
Renewals, Extensions and Transfers; Disbursement of Grant Benefits; 
Management of Grantee Emergencies; Monitoring of Departure Plans.

V. Special Programs Management

    Includes: English Language Evaluation: English Language/Orientation 
Enrollment; Management of Professional Enhancement Stipend; Publication 
and Distribution of Israeli-Arab Scholarship Program Newsletter; 
Publication and Distribution of Israeli-Arab Scholarship Program 
Handbook.

VI. Fiscal Management

    Includes: Preparation and Distribution of Payments; Auditing 
Payments and Tuition Bills; Reviewing Accounting System; Auditing 
Internal Functions and Controls; Tax Assistance to Grantees; 
Preparation and Submission of Financial Reports.

[[Page 36097]]

VII. Program Projection and Reporting Services

    Include: Maintenance of Grant Records (computer and paper); 
Preparation of Departure and Status Reports (computer and paper); 
Preparation of Statistical Studies and Semester Reports; Preparation of 
Subsequent Year Program Projections.

Proposed Budget

    Organizations must submit a comprehensive line item budget based on 
the specific guidance in the Solicitation Package. Total award may not 
exceed $400,000.
    Program costs are pre-determined and will be fixed at an amount 
not-to-exceed $345,000. (USIA will provide a budget break-down of 
program costs for inclusion in the proposal.) Administrative costs are 
limited to $55,000.
    Please Note: Organizations having less than four years experience 
in conducting international exchange programs may not receive grants in 
excess of $60,000, and therefore are ineligible to apply for this 
assistance award.
    Appicants 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. 
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, the USIA Office of North African, Near 
Eastern, and South Asian Affairs and the U.S. Information Service Intel 
Aviv, Israel. 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. Proposal Quality: Proposals should address all program 
administration requirements set forth in the request for proposal and 
PSI (POGI).
    2. Plan of Operation: Proposal should clearly demonstrate how the 
institution will manage program operations.
    3. 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. The Agency will consider the past performance of prior 
recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants.
    4. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional 
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve program 
objectives.
    5. Institutional Network: proof of existing network with U.S. 
academic and international exchange community or demonstrated potential 
to develop such a network.
    6. Facilitation of Communications: Proposal should demonstrate the 
organization's ability to maintain communication with grantees and to 
put grantee in touch with each other. Particular emphasis should also 
be placed on program coordination between USIA, USIS Tel Aviv and the 
organization.
    7. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive 
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Achievable and relevant 
features should be cited in the program's administration e.g., 
selection of academic institutions and geographic distribution of 
grantees.
    8. Understanding of Program Impact: Proposal should address how the 
organization views the Israeli-Arab Scholarship Program as 
strengthening long-term mutual understanding.
    9. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate 
the activity's success. A draft survey questionnaire or other technique 
plus description of a methodology to use to link outcomes to original 
project objectives is recommended.
    10. Cost-Effectiveness: The overhead and administrative components 
of the proposal should be kept as low as possible. All other items 
should be necessary and appropriate.
    12. Cost-Sharing: Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through 
private sector support, e.g., from academic institutions. The plan 
should reflect the organization's willingness and/or ability to secure 
tuition and fee waivers, scholarships, and financial aid for IASP 
grantees.
    13. 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: June 27, 1997.
David Whitten,
Acting, Deputy Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 97-17417 Filed 7-2-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M