[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 191 (Thursday, October 2, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51731-51733]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25988]


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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY


USIA-Bosnia Undergraduate Development Program; Request for 
Proposals

SUMMARY: Subject to the availability of funds, the Office of Academic 
Programs, Academic Exchanges Division, European Branch, of the United 
States Information Agency's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs 
announces an open competition for an assistance award. Colleges and 
universities (including community colleges and/or four year 
institutions) meeting the provisions described in IRS regulation 26 CFR 
1.501(c) may apply to host between two and five Bosnian students in a 
one year, non-degree undergraduate program for the academic year 1998-
1999.
    The USIA-Bosnia Undergraduate Development Program is designed to 
allow Bosnian students an opportunity to obtain knowledge, insight and 
cultural enrichment through their academic studies at American colleges 
and universities. The USIA strongly encourages institutions to guide 
students to courses in American studies, or other courses which 
emphasize

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democracy, market economy, and civic society per the intent of the SEED 
funding. The USIA is holding an open solicitation for all universities 
and colleges giving preference to those that have demonstrated 
experience in hosting Bosnian students, partnerships with Bosnian 
higher education institutions, or expertise and interest in the region. 
Increase in program expenses together with reduced overall government 
funding for exchange programs make cost-sharing arrangements with host 
institutions a critical part of the USIA-Bosnia Undergraduate 
Development Program. Preference will be given to institutions that can 
provide cost-sharing toward tuition, fees, room and board expenses and/
or other direct participant expenses. Cost-sharing may also be in the 
form of direct administrative and program costs.
    The proposed funding will support one academic year of study in the 
fields of agriculture, business administration, civic education, 
criminal justice, economics, education, environmental resource 
management, journalism/mass communications, political science, and 
public administration. Similarly, the grant will support international 
round-trip travel of students, the housing of the students on campus or 
with host families, a four to twelve week internship in the students' 
field of specialization, culturally enriching activities, including but 
not limited to community outreach and service projects, and additional 
activities such as an orientation 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 * * *; 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 grant and funding for this program has been allocated by the 
Support for the East European Democracy (SEED) initiative. The SEED 
initiative is special funding targeted to advance the democratic and 
economic transition of Central and Eastern Europe. The funding 
authority for the USIA-Bosnian Undergraduate Development Program is 
provided through the Support for East European Democracy Act of 1989.
    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/AEE-98-02.

DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: All copies must be received at the U.S. 
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, D.C. time on Thursday, 
December 4, 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 April 1, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Office of Academic Programs, 
European Branch, E/AEE Room 246 U.S. Information Agency, 301 Th Street, 
S.W., Washington, D.C. 20547, (202) 205-0525, fax (202) 206-7985, 
E.Mail: [email protected] to request a Solicitation Package containing 
more detailed information. 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 Senior Program Manager Mr. Ted Kniker, and 
Program Associate Ms. Jaime Lofstrand 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 8 copies of the application 
should be sent to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/AEE-98-02, Office 
of Grants Management, E/XE, Room 326, 301 Th 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 
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 Bosnia Undergraduate Development Program is a one year 
educational exchange that aims at bringing Bosnian students to study at 
American universities or colleges in specified disciplines pertaining 
to democracy, market economies, and civil society per the SEED funding 
initiative.

Guidelines

    Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations and the host 
institutions are responsible for ensuring the 10-15 students' return to 
Bosnia. Please refer to program specific guidelines (POGI) in the 
Solicitation Package for further details.

Proposed Budget

    Institutions desiring to host students from Bosnia must submit a 
comprehensive line item budget based on the specific guidelines listed 
in the Solicitation Package. ``Grants awarded to eligible organizations 
with less than four years of experience in conducting

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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 
further clarification, applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for 
each program component, phase, location, or activity in order to 
facilitate USIA decisions on funding.

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 Office of East 
European and NIS 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. Strength of Academic Program: Proposals should exhibit academic 
rigor and a demonstrated capacity to meet the participants needs.
    2. Cost Effectiveness: Plans should indicate a high level of cost-
sharing and a competitive level of cost per individual student for the 
USIA.
    3. Ability to Provide Support Services: Proposals should clearly 
demonstrate how the institution will meet the advisement and support 
needs of the international students.
    4. Ability to Provide Support for Securing Internships: Proposed 
programs should demonstrate that they can strengthen and reinforce what 
has been learned in the classroom by aiding students in obtaining 
internships for the summer session.
    5. Ability to Provide Cultural Enrichment and Community Outreach 
Opportunities: Proposals should demonstrate a commitment to planning, 
implementing, and supporting the Bosnian students in participating in 
cultural and community outreach programs.
    6. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive 
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Achievable and relevant 
features should be cited in program content (orientation and wrap-up 
sessions, program meetings, resource materials and follow-up 
activities).
    7. Institution's Record/Ability: Proposals should demonstrate an 
institutional record of successful exchange programs or a potential to 
meet this standard. This includes 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.
    8. Ability for Institutions to Develop or Enhance Linkages with 
Bosnian Institutions: Proposals should provide a plan for developing or 
enhancing a relationship with Bosnian institutions.

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.

Options for Renewals

    Subject to the availability of funding for FY 1999 and the 
satisfactory performance of grant programs, USIA may invite grantee 
organizations to submit proposals of renewals of awards.

Notification

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

    Dated: September 25, 1997.
Robert Earle,
Deputy Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 97-25988 Filed 10-1-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M