[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 224 (Thursday, November 20, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62113-62115]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-30522]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY


Edmund S. Muskie and Freedom Support Act Graduate Fellowship 
Programs

ACTION: Request for proposals.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Subject to the availability of funds, the Office of Academic 
Programs, Academic Exchange Programs Division, European Programs Branch 
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 administer the 
recruitment, selection, placement, monitoring, evaluation, and follow-
on activities for the FY 1999 Edmund S. Muskie and Freedom Support Act 
Graduate Fellowship Programs. Organizations with less than four years 
of experience in conducting international exchange programs are not 
eligible for this competition.
    The Edmund S. Muskie and Freedom Support Act Graduate Fellowship 
Programs (herein to be referred to as the Muskie/FSA Programs) select 
outstanding citizens of the New Independent States (NIS) and the 
Baltics to receive scholarships for Master's level study and 
professional development in the United States in the fields of business 
administration, economics, education administration, law with a new 
subfocus in law pedagogy, library and information science, mass 
communication/journalism, public administration with specialized 
programs in public health and environmental management, and public 
policy. Fellowships are awarded to qualified young and mid-career 
individuals who are citizens of Armenia, Azerbaijan,* Belarus, Estonia, 
Georgia, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, the Russian 
Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, or Uzbekistan. Edmund S. 
Muskie fellows enroll in graduate degree, certificate, and non-degree 
programs lasting one-to-two academic years. It is estimated that 
approximately 245-255 Fellows will participate in the 1999 program. 
Interested organizations should read the complete Federal Register 
announcement and request a Solicitation Package from the USIA prior to 
preparing a proposal.

    * Please note: Programs with Azerbaijan are subject to 
restrictions of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act: Employees of 
the Government of Azerbaijan or any of its instrumentalities are 
excluded from participation, and no U.S. participant overseas may 
work for the Government of Azerbaijan or any of its 
instrumentalities. In addition, the Government of Azerbaijan or any 
of its instrumentalities will have no control in the actual 
selection of participants.

    Overall grant making authority for this program is contained in the 
Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, Pub. L. 87-256, 
as amended, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act. The purpose of the 
Act is ``to enable the

[[Page 62114]]

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.''
    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-99-02.
    Deadline For Proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S. 
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, D.C. time on Thursday, March 
26, 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.

For Further Information Contact: The Office of Academic Programs, 
European Programs Branch of the U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th 
Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20547, (P) 202-205-0525 (F) 202-260-7985 
(E-Mail) [email protected] to request a Solicitation Package containing 
more detailed. 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 Ted Kniker on all 
inquiries and correspondence. 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 14 copies of the application 
should be sent to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/AEE-99-01, 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. Pub. L. 104-319 provides that ``in carrying out programs of 
education 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 Muskie/FSA Fellowship Programs are designed to foster 
democratization and the transition to market economies in the former 
soviet Union and Baltic States through intensive academic and 
professional training. Since the programs' inceptions in fiscal years 
1992 and 1993, over 900 Fellowships have been awarded. The academic 
component of the program begins in the fall semester of the year of the 
award and follows the normal one- to two-year academic cycle in which 
Fellows may take a nine, twelve, eighteen, or twenty-four month 
academic program. Fellows take part in a eight- to twelve-week 
internship during the summer following the first academic year. While 
fellows are closely assisted in their internship search by host 
institutions, sponsoring organizations, and USIA, the primary 
responsibility for securing appropriate internships remains with the 
Fellows. Fellows placed in one-year graduate programs return home at 
the conclusion of their internship. Fellows placed in two year graduate 
programs return to their academic placement following the internship. 
The Muskie/FSA Programs are not intended as a precursor to doctoral 
studies, extended professional training, or employment in the United 
States. At the end of their designated academic and internship 
programs, Fellows are required to immediately return to their home 
countries.
    In the past, the Muskie/FSA Programs have been administered by up 
to four organizations working in close partnership for all phases of 
the program. In order to maintain efficient administration of the 
program the number of organizations administering the Muskie/FSA 
Programs may remain at two or three. Should an applicant organization 
prefer to work with other organizations in the implementation of this 
program, USIA prefers that a subcontract arrangement be developed. USIA 
will entertain separately submitted proposals from two or more 
organizations for joint program management, but the proposals must 
demonstrate a value-added relationship, and must clearly delineate 
responsibilities so as not to duplicate efforts.
    Proposing organizations must demonstrate the ability to administer 
all aspects of the Muskie/FSA Programs--advertisement, recruitment, 
selection, placement, orientation, Fellow monitoring and support, 
financial management, evaluation, follow-on, and alumni tracking and 
programing. Applicant organizations must demonstrate the ability to 
recruit and select a diverse pool of candidates from various geographic 
regions in the NIS and Baltics. Additionally, organizations will be 
asked to assist in the recruitment and selection of appropriate host 
institutions from throughout the United States for pre-academic, ESL, 
and academic programs. Administering organizations will act as the 
principle liaison with Muskie/FSA host

[[Page 62115]]

institutions. Additionally, organizations should demonstrate the 
ability to work with private sector organizations in the United States, 
NIS and Baltics to facilitate Fellows' professional development and 
post-program re-entry. Further details on specific program 
responsibilities can be found in the Project Objectives, Goals, and 
Implementation (POGI) Statement which is part of the formal 
Solicitation Package available from the USIA.
    Awards will begin on or about October 1, 1998 and will be 
approximately three years in duration. Initial recruitment and 
selection activities may be performed in conjunction with the current 
administering organizations.

Guidelines

    Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations. Please refer to 
program specific guidelines (POGI) in the Solicitation Package for 
further details.
    The level of funding for fiscal year 1999 is uncertain, but is 
anticipated to be a total of $13 million.

Proposed Budget

    Organizations must submit a comprehensive line item budget based on 
the specific guidance in the Solicitation Package. There must be a 
summary budget as well as a break-down reflecting both the 
administrative budget and the program budget. Organizations whose 
proposals include an administrative budget that is less than 20% of the 
grant amount requested from the USIA will be given preference. Detailed 
guidance on budget preparation is included in the Project Objectives, 
Goals and Implementation (POGI) and PSI. Please refer to the complete 
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, as well as the USIA Office of Eastern 
Europe 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 officers.

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 plan: Proposed programs should include 
academic rigor, thorough conception of project, demonstration of 
meeting participants needs, contributions to understanding the partner 
country, proposed alumni activities, specific details of recruitment, 
selection and monitoring processes, a thorough evaluation plan, 
proposed follow-on, and relevance to USIA's mission.
    2. Program planning and institutional capacity: A detailed agenda 
and relevant work plan should demonstrate substantive undertakings and 
logistical capacity. Proposals should clearly demonstrate how the 
institution and its staff will meet the program objectives and plan.
    3. Track record: Relevant USIA and outside assessments of the 
organization's experience with international exchanges.
    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. Value of U.S.-Partner Country relations: The assessment by 
USIA's geographic area office of the need, potential impact, and 
significance of the project with the partner countries.
    6. Cost-effectiveness: A key measure of cost effectiveness is the 
unit cost to the Agency. This is the total request of USIA monies 
divided by the number of Fellow months (number of Fellows multiplied by 
the number of program months). The overhead and administration 
components of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be 
kept as low as possible. All other items should be necessary and 
appropriate.
    7. Cost-sharing: Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through 
other private sector support as well as institutional direct funding 
contributions.
    8. Support of diversity: Preference will be given to proposals that 
demonstrate efforts to provide for the participation of students with a 
variety of major disciplines, from diverse regions, and of different 
socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds, to the extent feasible for the 
applicant institutions. The Agency will seek to achieve maximum 
geographic diversity in recruitment, selection, and placement of 
participants through its award of grants.
    9. Follow-on activities: Proposals should provide a plan for 
continued follow-on activity (without USIA support) which ensures that 
USIA supported programs are not isolated events. Proposals should 
include a plan for alumni tracking and coordination that demonstrates 
the willingness to provide data to and coordinate tracking with USIA 
and USIS Posts overseas. Due to the reduction in available funds, 
preference will be given to applicant organizations who can fund alumni 
activities, with minimal grant funded contributions from the USIA.
    10. Project evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate 
the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of 
the program. A draft survey questionnaire or other technique plus 
description of a methodology to use to link outcomes to original 
project objectives is recommended. Successful applicants will be 
expected to submit intermediate reports after each project component is 
concluded or quarterly, whichever is less frequent.

Notice

    The terms and conditions published in the 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 2000 and the 
satisfactory performance of grant programs, USIA may invite grantee 
organizations to submit proposals for renewals of awards for two fiscal 
year cycles.

Notification

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

    Dated: November 14, 1997.
Robert L. Earle,
Deputy Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 97-30522 Filed 11-19-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M