[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 243 (Thursday, December 18, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66405-66408]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-32815]


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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY


Women's Leadership Training Program for Central and Eastern 
Europe; Request for Proposals

SUMMARY: The Office of Citizen Exchanges 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 training programs 
that offer leadership training skills to women in Albania, Bosnia, 
Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia,

[[Page 66406]]

Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia.
    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 Fulbright-Hays Act.
    Progams 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/P-98-19.
    Deadline for Proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S. 
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, D.C. time on Friday, February 
27, 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. We anticipate that grants will begin on or about June 1, 
1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
The Office of Citizen Exchange (E/PE) Room 224, U.S. Information 
Agency, 301 4th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20547, telephone: 202-
619-5319, fax: 202-619-4350, or Internet address: [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 Program Officer Christina Miner 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 copies of the application 
should be sent to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/P-98-19, 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

    USIA is interested in proposals that encourage the growth of 
democratic institutions in Central and Eastern Europe. Exchanges and 
training programs supported by the Office of Citizen Exchange's 
institutional grants should operate at two levels: they should enhance 
institutional relationships; and they should offer practical 
information to individuals to assist them with their professional 
responsibilities. Strong proposals usually have the following 
characteristics: an existing partner relationship between an American 
organization and an in-country institution in Central and Eastern 
Europe; a proven track record of conducting program activity; cost-
sharing from American or in-country sources, including donations or air 
fares, hotel and/or housing costs; experienced staff with language 
facility; and a clear, convincing plan showing how permanent results 
will be accomplished as a result of the activity funded by the grant. 
USIA wants to see tangible forms of time and money contributed to the 
project by the prospective grantee institution, as well as funding from 
third party sources. We recommend that programs with a U.S. component 
include letters of commitment from host institutions, even if 
tentative. Letters of commitment from any in-country partners should 
also be provided. Applicants are encouraged to consult with USIS 
offices regarding program content and partner institutions before 
submitting proposals. Award-receiving applicants will be expected to 
maintain contact with the USIS post throughout the grant period.
    USIA requests proposals for projects that offer leadership training 
skills to representatives of women's organizations who are active in 
their own communities in Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech 
Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Serbia, 
Slovakia, and Slovenia. The focus of the training program should be on 
how to identify priorities, organize and form coalitions, and influence 
decision makers about issues and problems affecting the well-being of 
people in local communities. Proposals are not limited to a one-country 
focus but may address how to build networks among women's organizations 
in several countries. Project activities may include: internships; 
study tours; short-term training; consultations; and extended, 
intensive workshops taking place in the United States or in Central and 
Eastern

[[Page 66407]]

Europe. Prospective grantee institutions should identify the Central 
and Eastern European local organizations and individuals with whom they 
are proposing to collaborate and describe in detail previous 
cooperative programming and contacts. Program activity may take place 
in Central and Eastern Europe or in the United States. This activity is 
intended to follow-up on issues addressed in the Vital Voices 
conference held in Vienna from July 9-11. For more information on the 
conference, please see the Vital Voices Homepage at http://
www.usia.gov/vitalvoices.

Selection of Participants

    Programs should describe clearly the type of persons who will 
participate in the program as well as the process by which participants 
will be selected. In the selection of foreign participants, USIA and 
USIS posts abroad retain the right to nominate participants and to 
approve or reject participants recommended by the grantee institution. 
Priority will be given to foreign participants who have not previously 
traveled to the United States.

Visa Regulations

    Foreign participants on programs sponsored by the Office of Citizen 
Exchanges are granted J-1 Exchange Visitor visas by the American 
Embassy in the sending country.

Project Funding

    Since USIA grant assistance constitutes only a portion of total 
project funding, proposals should list and provide evidence of other 
sources of financial and in-kind support. Proposals with substantial 
private sector support from foundations, corporations, and other 
institutions will be considered highly competitive.
    Although no set funding limit exists, proposals for less that 
$75,000 will receive preference. Organizations with less that four 
years of successful experience in managing international exchange 
programs are limited to $60,000. Applicants are invited to provide both 
an all-inclusive budget as well as separate sub-budgets for each 
program component, phase, location or activity in order to facilitate 
USIA decisions on funding. While a comprehensive line item budget based 
on the model in the Solicitation Package must be submitted, separate 
component budgets are optional.
    The following project costs are eligible for consideration for 
funding:
    1. International and domestic air fares; transit costs; ground 
transportation costs.
    2. Per Diem. For the U.S. program, organizations have the option of 
using a flat $140/day for program participants or the published U.S. 
Federal per diem rates for individual American cities. For activities 
outside the U.S. the published Federal per diem rates must be used.

    Note: U.S. escorting staff must use the published Federal per 
diem rates, not the flat rate. Per diem rates may be accessed at 
http://www.policyworks.gov/.

    3. Interpreters. If needed, interpreters for the U.S. program are 
provided by the U.S. State Department Language Services Division. 
Typically, a pair of simultaneous interpreters is provided for every 
four visitors. USIA grants do not pay for foreign interpreters to 
accompany delegations from their home country. Grant proposal budgets 
should contain a flat $140/day per diem for each Department of State 
interpreters, as well as home-program-home air transportation of $400 
per interpreter plus any U.S. travel expenses during the program. 
Salary expenses are covered centrally and should not be part of an 
applicant's proposed budget.
    4. Book and cultural allowance. Participants are entitled to and 
escorts are reimbursed a one-time cultural allowance of $150 per 
person, plus a participant book allowance of $50. U.S. staff do not get 
these benefits.
    5. Consultants. May be used to provide specialized expertise or to 
make presentations. Daily honoraria generally do not exceed $250 per 
day. Subcontracting organizations may also be used, in which case the 
written agreement between the prospective grantee and subcontractor 
should be included in the proposal.
    6. Room rental, which generally should not exceed $250 per day.
    7. Materials development. Proposals may contain costs to purchase, 
develop, and translate materials for participants.
    8. One working meal per project. Per capita costs may not exceed 
$5-8 for a lunch and $14-20 for a dinner, excluding room rental. The 
number of invited guests may not exceed participants by more than a 
factor of two-to-one.
    9. A return travel allowance of $70 for each participant which is 
to be used for incidental expenditures incurred during international 
travel.
    10. All USIA-funded delegates will be covered under the terms of a 
USIA-sponsored health insurance policy. The premium is paid by USIA 
directly to the insurance company.
    11. Administrative Costs. Other costs necessary for the effective 
administration of the program, including salaries or grant organization 
employees, benefits, and other direct and indirect costs per detailed 
instructions in the application package.
    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, 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. Quality of Program Idea: Proposals should respond to the program 
requirements of the RFP and exhibit originality, substance, precision, 
and relevance to the Agency mission.
    2. Program planning and ability to achieve objectives: Program 
objectives should be stated clearly and precisely and should reflect 
the applicant's expertise in the subject area and the region. 
Objectives should respond to the topic in this announcement and should 
relate to the current conditions in the target countries. They should 
be reasonable and attainable. A detailed work plan should explain step 
by step how objectives will be achieved. The substance of seminars, 
presentations, consulting, interships, and itineraries should be 
spelled out in detail. A timetable indicating when major program tasks 
will be undertaken should be provided. Responsibilities of in-country 
partners should be clearly described.
    3. 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-

[[Page 66408]]

 up sessions, program meetings, resource materials and follow-up 
activities).
    4. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional 
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program or 
project's goals. The narrative should demonstrate proven ability to 
handle logistics. Proposal should reflect the institution's expertise 
in the subject area and knowledge of the country. Proposals should 
demonstrate the 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.
    5. Project Evaluation: USIA is results-oriented. Proposals should 
include a plan to evaluate the activity's success, both as the 
activities unfold and at the end of the program. USIA recommends that 
the proposal include a draft survey questionnaire and/or plan for use 
of another measurement technique (such as focus group) to link outcomes 
to original project objectives. Award-receiving organizations/
institutions will be expected to submit intermediate reports after each 
project component is concluded or quarterly, whichever is less 
frequent.
    6. 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.
    7. Cost-effectiveness/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 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: December 11, 1997.
Robert L. Earle,
Deputy Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 97-32815 Filed 12-17-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M