[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