[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 5 (Thursday, January 8, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1145-1148]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-473]


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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY


Foreign Language and Area Studies--U.S. Students and Scholars; 
Request for Proposals

ACTION: Notice; 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 and administer 
programs in cooperation with USIA that will assist U.S. citizens who 
are graduate students and postdoctoral scholars and who have a new or 
established interest in North African, Middle Eastern and South Asian 
studies. Activities permitted under this program include foreign 
language training, foreign area studies and foreign area research for 
periods ranging from two to twenty-four months abroad.
    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 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,

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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 Near and Middle East Research and Training Act (Pub. L. 
102-138, Section 228 as amended by Pub. L. 103-236, Section 233).
    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.
    For the purpose of this program, the geographic area refers to the 
region consisting of countries and peoples covered by the Bureau of 
Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs of the U.S. Department of State as 
of October, 1991, and Turkey.
    Current eligible locales for overseas research are: Mauritania, 
Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Syria, 
Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, 
Oatar, Yemen, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal.
    Individual NMERTA grantees are required to provide proof of 
insurance to the grant-making organizations before fellowship funds can 
be released. Health and accident, MEDEVAC and repatriation insurance is 
strongly recommended.

Announcement Title and Number

    All communications with USIA concerning this announcement should 
refer to the annual NMERTA open competition. The announcement number E/
AEN-98-01. Please refer to title and number in all correspondence or 
telephone calls to USIA.

Deadline for Proposals

    All copies must be received at the U.S. Information Agency by 5 
p.m. Washington, D.C. time on Friday, March 6, 1998. Faxed documents 
will not be accepted, nor will documents postmarked March 6, 1998 but 
received at a later date. It is the responsibility of each applicant to 
ensure that proposals are received by the above deadline. Grants should 
begin no earlier than September 1, 1998 and no later than September 30, 
1998 and end no later than 24 months thereafter.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia Spann or John Sedlins in the 
Academic Exchange Program Division, North Africa, Middle East and South 
Asia branch, E/AEN, Room 212, U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th Street, 
S.W., Washington, D.C. 20547, telephone number (202) 619-5368, fax 
number (202) 205-2466, Internet address [email protected] or 
[email protected] to request a Solicitation Package containing more 
detailed award criteria, 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 
beginning to download.
    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 ``Table of Contents'' of available documents 
when first entering the system. This will provide order numbers for 
items pertaining to this request for proposals.
    Please specify USIA Program Assistant Patricia Spann 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 7 copies of the application 
should be sent to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/AEN-98-01--Annual 
NMERTA Open Competition, 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

    Pursuant to the Agency's authorizing legislation (the Fulbright-
Hays Act, Public Law 87-256), programs must maintain a non-political 
character and should be balanced and representative of the diversity of 
American political, social and cultural life.
    Support is offered in two categories. Organizations may address one 
or both categories, but must submit a separate proposal for each 
category. Special emphasis will be given to the social sciences and 
humanities.

Category A; Pre-doctoral Students

    Organizations that are awarded funding shall solicit and receive 
applications from U.S.-citizen, graduate students nationwide who seek 
to conduct overseas study and research in the eligible locales listed 
above. Eligible fields of study and research shall be open to students 
of all disciplines with a new or established interest in topics 
requiring study or research in the geographic area(s). Eligibility 
shall be restricted to applicants who have a baccalaureate degree and 
who are already enrolled in graduate-level academic programs.

Category B; Postdoctoral Scholars

    Organizations that are awarded funding shall solicit and receive 
applications from U.S.-citizen, postdoctoral scholars nationwide who 
seek to conduct overseas study and research in the eligible locales 
listed above. Eligible fields of study and research shall be open to 
scholars of all

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disciplines with a new or established interest in topics requiring 
study or research in the geographic area(s). Eligibility shall be 
restricted to applicants who have a Ph.D. and who have college or 
university teaching experience.
    In preparing a proposal, organizations should address the subjects 
of program design and scheduling, as well as program administration. At 
a minimum, a successful proposal should clearly cover publicity, 
selection process, orientation for participants, and logistical and 
scheduling measures. A basic plan for post-program follow-up and 
evaluation should also be included. In keeping with the Government 
Performance and Results Act of 1993, proposals should emphasize how 
grantee organizations will evaluate the effectiveness, economy and 
efficiency of their programs. Cost-sharing will be used in the review 
process as one measure. The proposal must be typewritten, double-spaced 
and may not exceed twenty (20) pages including budget attachments.
    The Office of Academic Exchanges strongly recommends that 
applicants consult with host country USIS posts prior to submitting 
proposals.
    Proposed budget: Awards will not exceed $200,000. Awards to 
eligible organizations with less than four years of experience in 
conducting international exchange programs will be limited to $60,000.
    Applicants must submit a comprehensive, line-item budget based on 
the specific guidance in the Solicitation Package for the entire 
program. There must be a summary budget as well as break-down 
reflecting both the administrative budget and the program budget. For 
better understanding or further clarification, applicants may provide 
separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase, location, or 
activity in order to facilitate USIA decisions on funding.
    Budget guidelines apply to proposals submitted in both Category A 
and B described above.
    Allowable costs for the program include the following:
    (1) round-trip international travel via an American flag carrier;
    (2) domestic travel;
    (3) maintenance and per diem;
    (4) academic program costs (e.g. book allowance);
    (5) orientation costs;
    (6) cultural enrichment costs (e.g. admissions, tickets, etc.);
    (7) U.S.-based administration costs (e.g. advertisement, 
recruitment and selection costs).
    Please refer to the Solicitation Package (the Proposal Submission 
Instructions or PSI) for complete budget guidelines and formatting 
instructions.
    Administrative costs are not to exceed 20 percent of the requested 
budget.
    Competition for USIA funding support is keen. Cost-sharing at a 
minimum of 25 percent of the total project cost is strongly encouraged.

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 USIA Office of Academic Programs, as well as by the 
USIA Office of North African, Near Eastern, and South Asian Affairs and 
the USIA post(s) 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 the program idea: Proposals should exhibit 
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to Agency mission.
    2. Program planning/Ability to achieve program objectives: Detailed 
agenda and relevant work plan should demonstrate substantive 
undertakings and logistical capacity. Agenda and plan should adhere to 
the program overview and guidelines described above. Objectives should 
be reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly 
demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's objectives and 
plan.
    3. Multiplier effective/impact: Proposed programs should strengthen 
mutual understanding, including maximum sharing of information and 
establishment of long-term institutional and individual linkages.
    4. 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-on activities).
    5. Institutional Capacity/Reputation/Ability: Proposed personnel 
and institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to 
achieve the program or project's goals. 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.
    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. 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.
    8. 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.
    9. Value to U.S.-Partner Country Relations: Proposed projects 
should receive positive assessments by USIA's geographic area desk and 
overseas officers of program need, potential impact, and significance 
in partner country(ies).

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

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needs of the program and the availability of funds. Organizations will 
be expected to cooperate with USIA in evaluating their programs under 
the principles of the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993, 
which requires federal agencies to measure and report on the results of 
their programs and activities.

Notification

    Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by 
Congress, allocated and committed through internal USIA procedures. 
Awards made will be subject to periodic reporting and evaluation 
requirements.

    Dated: January 5, 1998.
Robert L. Earle,
Deputy Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 98-473 Filed 1-7-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M