[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 220 (Friday, November 14, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61165-61166]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29913]


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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY


Elementary-Level Teacher Education in Armenia

ACTION: Request for proposals.

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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 develop an approximately 
two-year program to train a group of Armenian educators of elementary 
level teachers, to develop a manual for elementary teacher education 
for use in Armenia, and to assist the Armenian educators to pilot-test 
the manual in Armenia.
    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 
through the Freedom Support Act (FSA).
    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/AS-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 Friday, January 
16, 1998. 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. It is anticipated that program activities will begin 
approximately in March, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
The Advising, Teaching, and Specialized Programs Division, Room 349, 
Office of Academic Programs, U.S. Information Agency, 302 4th Street, 
S.W., Washington, D.C. 20547; or 202-619-6038 (telephone), 202-619-6790 
(telefax), or [email protected] (Internet) to request a Solicitation 
Package containing more detailed information and instructions. 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 Sally Kux 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 10 copies of the application 
should be sent to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/AS-98-02, 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 to 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 objective of this project is to work in partnership with the 
Armenian Ministry of Education to update Armenian in-service and pre-
service training for elementary-level teachers (grades 1-4) by training 
a core team of Armenian teacher educators and by assisting them to 
develop a handbook on elementary education. The project will comprise 
three phases which are describe in detail in the Project Objectives, 
Goals, and Implementation (POGI).

Participants

    The Armenian team will consist of approximately 6 educators 
representing the general content areas of elementary education in 
Armenia. These areas are mathematics, language (Armenian, Russian, and 
English) natural science, arts, and physical education. Armenian 
participants will be proficient in English.

Guidelines

    Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations. Please refer to 
program specific guidelines (POGI) in the Solicitation Package for 
further details.

Proposed Budget

    Applicants must submit a comprehensive line item budget based on 
the specific guidance in the Solicitation Package. The award will not 
exceed $300,000. Administrative costs may not exceed 25% of the total 
USIA-funded expenses.
    Grants awarded to eligible organizations with less than four years 
of experience in conducting international exchange programs will be 
limited to $60,000. Please refer to the Solicitation Package for 
complete budget guidelines and formatting instructions.

[[Page 61166]]

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 USIS Erevan. 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, 
relevance to Agency mission, and responsiveness to the objectives and 
guidelines stated in this solicitation. Proposals should demonstrate 
substantive expertise.

2. Program Planning and Evaluation

    Detailed agenda and work plan should demonstrate substantive 
undertakings and logistical capacity and should adhere to the program 
overview and guidelines stated above. Proposals should include a plan 
for continuous and summative evaluations.

3. Ability To Achieve Program Objectives

    Objectives should be reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals 
should clearly demonstrate how the institution will meet the program 
objectives and how continuous evaluation will be used to adjust program 
plans as needed.

4. 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.

5. 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).

6. Institutional Capacity

    Proposed personnel and institutional resources should be adequate 
and appropriate to achieve the program goals.

7. 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.

8. Follow-on Activities

    Proposals should provide a plan for continued follow-on activity 
(without USIA support) to ensure ongoing communication and involvement 
with Armenian teacher education projects.

9. Cost-Effectiveness and 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 through other private sector support as well as 
institutional direct funding contributions.

Notice

    The terms and conditions published in this REP 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: November 6, 1997.
Robert L. Earle,
Deputy Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 97-29913 Filed 11-13-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M