[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 127 (Thursday, July 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36289-36293]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17165]



[[Page 36289]]

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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY


International Education and Cultural Activities; Open Grant 
Program

ACTION: Notice--Request for proposals.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Citizen Exchanges (E/P) of the United States 
Information Agency's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs 
announces an open competition for an assistance award program. Public 
or private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in 
IRS regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c) may apply to develop projects that link 
their international exchange interests with counterpart institutions/
groups in ways supportive of the aims of the Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs. Overall grant making authority for this program is 
contained in the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, 
as amended, Public Law 87-256, 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.'' Programs and projects must conform with Agency requirements 
and guidelines outlined in the Application Package. USIA projects and 
programs are subject to the availability of funds.
    Interested applicants should read the complete Federal Register 
announcement before addressing inquiries to the Office of Citizen 
Exchanges or submitting their proposals. Once the RFP deadline has 
passed, the Office of Citizen Exchanges may not discuss this 
competition in any way with applicants until after the Bureau program 
and project review process has been completed.
    Announcement Name and Number: All communications concerning this 
announcement should refer to the Annual Open Grant Program. The 
announcement number is E/P-99-1. 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, DC. time on Friday, October 2, 
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 the responsibility of each grant applicant to ensure 
that proposals are received by the above deadline. This action is 
effective from the publication date of this notice through October 2, 
1998, for projects where activities will begin between January 1, 1999 
and December 31, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Interested organizations/institutions must contact the Office of 
Citizen Exchanges, E/PL, Room 216, United States Information Agency, 
301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, (202) 619-5326, to request 
detailed application packets which include award criteria; all 
application forms; and guidelines for preparing proposals, including 
specific criteria for preparation of the proposal budget.

    To Download a Solicitation Package Via Internet: The Solicitation 
Package may be downloaded from USIA's website at http://www.usia.gov/
education/rfps. Please read all information before beginning to 
download.

ADDRESSES: Applicants must follow all instructions given in the 
Application Package and send only complete applications with 15 copies 
to: U.S. Information Agency, REF: E/P-99-1 Annual Open Grant 
Competition, Grants Management Division (E/XE), 301-4th Street, SW., 
Room 336, Washington, DC 20547.
    Applicants must also submit to E/XE the ``Executive Summary'' and 
``Narrative'' sections of each 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 54 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.

Overview

    The Office of Citizen Exchanges works with U.S. private sector, 
non-profit organizations on cooperative international group projects 
that introduce American and foreign participants to each others' 
social, economic, and political structures, and international 
interests. The Office supports international projects in the United 
States or overseas involving leaders or potential leaders in the 
following fields and professions: urban planners, jurists, specialized 
journalists (specialists in economics, business, political analysis, 
international affairs), business professionals, NGO leaders, 
environmental specialist, parliamentarians, educators, economists, and 
other government officials.

Guidelines

    Applicants should carefully note the following restrictions/
recommendations for proposals in specific geographical areas:
    Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the Newly Independent States 
(NIS): Requests for proposals involving the following countries will be 
announced in separate competitions: CEE--Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, 
Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, 
Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic, and Slovenia; NIS--
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, 
Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Proposals 
involving these regions will not be accepted under this competition.
    Western Europe (WEU): Proposals involving this region will not be 
accepted under this competition.
    East Asia and the Pacific (EA): Priority consideration will be 
given to proposals focused on the following

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countries: China, Korea, and Vietnam and the following themes: Rule of 
Law, especially the enforcement of intellectual property rights, 
judicial reform and court administration; Third Sector Development with 
emphasis on citizens groups, grassroots/community organizations, and 
professional associations; Market Economics/Reform stressing the 
relationship between government regulation and private enterprise; and 
Local Government focusing on practical approaches to streamlining 
government and increasing government's accountability, transparency, 
and responsiveness.
    E/P contact for EA programs: Bill Dawson, 202/260-5485; E-Mail 
{[email protected]}
    American Republics (AR): Only those proposals will be considered 
that evidence the applicant's substantial knowledge of both the 
proposed theme and the country/countries where the project is to take 
place. Preference will be given to proposals on the following themes 
and for the following eligible countries:
    Rule of Law/Administration of Justice: Proposals should focus on 
professional working level exchanges for prosecuting attorneys, 
district attorneys, paralegals, justices of the peace, mediators, 
arbitrators and/or judges. Preferred topics: judicial reform, case 
management, administration of justice, judicial independence and 
alternative dispute resolution. Eligible countries: Venezuela, Brazil, 
the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and Panama; other countries as 
appropriate.
    Rule of Law/Civil Society: Proposals should support ongoing efforts 
in the field of conflict resolution in Argentina which include ongoing 
support for a national conflict resolution center, and developing an 
indigenous trainer capacity, including a training program on how to 
develop courses in conflict resolution for the governmental and non-
governmental sectors. Eligible countries: Argentina.
    Democratic Institution Building: Proposals should focus on ethics 
in government, good governance, transparency, the fight against 
corruption, decentralization, local/municipal government, grassroots 
democracy and citizen participation. Exchanges should target local 
government officials, city managers and administrators, and NGO 
leaders. Eligible countries: Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, 
Mexico; other countries as appropriate.
    Reporting on Democratic Institutions: Proposals should focus on 
professional, working level exchanges for reporters, editors and 
managers in the news business. Exchanges should include workshops that 
would explore how journalists cover and relate to democratic 
institutions such as local government agencies, legislatures, and the 
courts. Workshops could include advanced skills such as investigative 
reporting and business journalism and how those skills can be applied 
to covering government agencies. Eligible countries: Any in the region.
    Education: Proposals should focus on implementation of the Summit 
of the Americas Action Plan for Education, details of which can be 
found on the Summit internet web site, reachable through the USIA site 
at www.usia.gov. Exchanges should be in the fields of technology in 
education (including distance learning), educational administration, 
and professional development for teachers and other educators. Eligible 
countries: Any in the region. E/P contact for AR programs: Laverne 
Johnson, 202/619-5337; E-Mail {[email protected]}
    Africa (AF): Proposals are requested for projects which would 
advance sustainable democracy by building human capital in Africa and 
strengthening partnership between the United States and Africa in the 
thematic categories delineated below. In addition to promoting 
democratic values, projects should enhance policy and operational 
skills and foster networking across political as well as government-
civil society divisions.
    Civic Education--Proposals should encourage the effective 
engagement of citizens in their country's political life. Preference 
will be given to projects that focus on organizations whose aim is to 
educate citizens about their democratic rights and responsibilities, or 
through projects that assist key institutions of civil society (e.g., 
women's groups, grassroots/community organizations, professional 
associations, other NGOs) in contributing to democracy. Related themes 
might include building values of tolerance, pragmatism, cooperation and 
compromise, building skills and institutions for constructive non-
violent change; addressing cultural and other obstacles to civic 
education; inculcating a commitment to rule of law; and teaching and 
encouraging citizens to participate fully in community and national 
development.
    Democratic Governance--Proposals should work to strengthen 
institutions of government whose work has a direct impact on the 
quality of a country's democracy and to increase their transparency, 
accountability, responsiveness, and effectiveness of operations. 
Especially welcome would be proposals dealing with local government and 
decentralization, but projects might also be focused on other elements 
of executive branches, legislatures, or judicial systems. Use of 
alternate dispute resolution methods and protection of human rights are 
welcome themes.
    Trade and Investment--Proposals should foster an understanding of 
and commitment to policies and practices that support economic growth 
in a democratic framework through the private sector and international 
trade. Especially encouraged are proposals that focus on creating an 
``enabling environment'' supportive of these goals. Issues addressed 
might include intellectual property rights, trade liberalization (e.g., 
tax and investment laws, along with other incentives), mechanisms of 
transparency and accountability, the role of business associations, and 
regional economic cooperation/integration.
    Electronic Connectivity--Proposals should promote information 
sharing and network building between Americans and Africans as well as 
among Africans themselves. Preference will be given to projects that 
address one of the thematic categories listed above for Africa. African 
participants might include government institutions (e.g., parliaments 
or trade policy departments within ministries); educational 
institutions; professional associations (e.g., bar, business, or 
journalism associations); and civic organizations (e.g., women's, human 
rights or environmental groups). USIA funds should not be used for the 
purchase of equipment. Proposals must demonstrate a commitment to use 
and a capacity to maintain the necessary equipment. Other themes may be 
proposed, but strong preference will be given to proposals that follow 
the thematic guidelines above and to proposals that include programming 
in at least three countries.
    E/P contact for AF programs: Stephen Taylor, 202/205-0535; E-Mail 
([email protected])
    Near East, North Africa and South Asia (NEA): Proposals which 
respond to the following suggested themes and organizational approaches 
will receive priority consideration in the awarding of grants for 
exchange activity in the Near East, North Africa, and South Asia. While 
not all countries suggested as participants for each project must be 
included in the exchange, projects which bring together representatives 
from three or more countries will be given preference. Proposals for 
exchange projects which address issues of crucial importance to the 
United States and to proposed partner countries

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but which do not respond specifically to the themes included below will 
also be considered.
    The countries/entities comprising the NEA AREA are listed below, 
Currently there is no USIA presence in Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Libya, 
or Mauritania. Under each theme, the countries appearing in parentheses 
are those which have indicated a particular interest in the theme or 
which appear to be appropriate exchange partners in projects addressing 
the theme.
    Countries/Entities of the Near East, North Africa, and South Asia--
Afghanistan; Algeria; Bahrain; Bangladesh; Egypt; India; Iran; Iraq; 
Israel; Jordan; Kuwait; Lebanon; Libya; Mauritania; Morocco; Nepal; 
Oman; Pakistan; the Palestinian Authority; Qatar; Saudi Arabia; Sri 
Lanka; Sudan; Syria; Tunisia; the United Arab Emirates (UAE); Yemen.
    Strengthening Non-governmental Organizations: Political and Social 
Activism in Support of Democracy (India; Nepal; Pakistan; Egypt; 
Morocco; Jordan; the Palestinian Authority; Lebanon).
    Social and political activism, encouraged, focussed, and channeled 
through non-governmental organizations, is a basic underpinning of 
democratic society. Strengthening NGO advocacy skills, management, 
grassroots support, fundraising, networking for mutual support and 
reinforcement, and cultivating media relations will reinforce 
democratic trends in the region. In addition to providing existing and 
newly established NGOs clear guidance and training in the above-listed 
operational skills, issues to be considered in developing an exchange 
are: training people to use dissent and advocacy effectively to produce 
peaceful social change; educating citizens and disseminating 
information on the role of non-governmental organizations in a civil 
society; and emphasizing the role of NGOs can play in ensuring that the 
workings of government are open and transparent, in strengthening the 
rule of law, in supporting human and civil rights, and in improving the 
status of women in both society and government.
    Developing Content-based Teaching English as a Second Language 
(TESL) Programs (Israel; Egypt; Jordan).
    There is a strong desire throughout the Middle East for enhanced 
capacity in the English language. A proposal is sought that will 
combine high-level, substantive professional development for ESL 
curriculum developers and teachers from the Peach Process countries 
with a strong social and cultural content base emphasizing the 
principles of conflict resolution and civic education, with a possible 
additional emphasis on environmental issues.
    Administration of Justice: Strengthening the Independence of the 
Judiciary (Jordan (proposed as a single-country project); Morocco; 
India (proposed with emphasis on the need to address equal treatment of 
women under the law); Nepal; Bangladesh).
    A strong, independent judiciary is a fundamental pillar of 
democracy. The integrity of the judicial process and, by extrapolation, 
public confidence in the ability of the judicial process to deliver 
justice, is threatened in diverse countries by political interference 
and by public perception of the unequal and, by extrapolation, unfair 
treatment before the bench of women and members of ethnic minority 
communities. It is important that judges of both lower and higher 
courts be introduced to the principles and practices of U.S. 
jurisprudence and that such fundamental procedural innovations as 
alternative dispute resolution, early neutral evaluation, case 
management, and arbitration/mediation be familiar to them.
    Combatting Narcotics Abuse and Developing Positive Approaches to 
Rehabilitation and Re-integration (Israel; Jordan; India).
    Narcotics trafficking and abuse is an increasing problem for 
countries in the Near East and South Asia. There is a need for a 
regional project, to include educators, community leaders, medical 
practitioners and drug rehabilitation experts, to work with American 
counterparts in building a strategy to contain the spread of drug use. 
Emphasis should be placed on dealing with the issue on a community 
level, and there should be a focus on rehabilitation and the 
reintegration into society of former addicts through such undertakings 
as job skills training programs and family and community support 
efforts.
    Women in Politics (Israel; Oman, Yemen; the United Arab Emirates; 
the Palestinian Authority).
    While women's groups have organized themselves and actively 
campaign for equal rights and a greater say in local politics, they are 
ready and eager to learn more about advocacy, election campaigning, 
grassroots educational efforts, lobbying, and meeting the challenges 
and responsibilities of leadership once elected. Both women in 
municipal leadership roles and those hoping to expand the franchise and 
strengthen the role of women in politics could benefit from learning 
about the American experience and from establishing linkages with 
American and Middle Eastern women's political groups which share their 
aspirations.
    Federalism: Center-State Relations and the Sharing of Power (India; 
Bangladesh).
    The American experience with federalism is becoming more and more 
relevant to the states of South Asia as the complexity of governing 
requires that power devolve from the center to the regions and states. 
Regional parties have emerged in several states and are demanding 
increasing autonomy. A project to demonstrate how federalism functions 
in the United States, particularly its constitutional, legal and 
practical bases, would be very useful. Potential participants are 
political leaders, NGO leaders, party operatives, and political 
scientists who are studying democratic patterns and whose thinking will 
have a multiplier effect in society.
    Civic Education (Egypt; the Palestinian Authority).
    Promoting the development of civic education, both in terms of 
curriculum development and in terms of teacher training, parent-teacher 
coordination, and other aspects of primary and secondary education 
aimed at increasing citizen awareness and participation, is a high 
priority. Middle Eastern groups are particularly interested in learning 
about American school systems that have incorporated community service, 
environmental campaigns, and other activities that involve students in 
the larger society in their curricula.
    Economic Reform (Egypt; Tunisia).
    A proposal is sought that would link North African business groups 
with American counterparts and would demonstrate the system and the 
efficacy of lobbying, public education campaigns, and media relations 
in support of privatization, competitiveness, decentralization of 
commercial regulation, and regional economic integration.
    Ethnic Tolerance (India; Sri Lanka; Pakistan; Lebanon).
    Communal and ethnic tolerance have been difficult objectives to 
achieve in South Asia, and the problem has worsened with the rise of 
community-based political groupings. There are numerous community 
groups working to bring about resolution to the challenge posed by 
ethnic nationalism, and the American experience of absorbing, 
integrating, and accommodating diverse communities from various parts 
of the world into civil, as opposed to an ethnically defined, polity 
would be useful to these groups. Of particular relevance would

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be the experience of programs that teach tolerance in either a formal 
educational setting or in novel, arts/media-based contexts.
    E/P contact for NEA programs: Tom Johnston, 202/619-5325; E-Mail 
{[email protected]}
    The Office of Citizen Exchanges strongly encourages the 
coordination of activities with respected universities, professional 
associations, and major cultural institutions in the U.S. and abroad, 
but particularly in the U.S. Projects should be intellectual and 
cultural, not technical. Vocational training (an occupation other than 
one requiring a baccalaureate or higher academic degree; i.e., clerical 
work, auto maintenance, etc., and other occupations requiring less than 
two years of higher education) and technical training (special and 
practical knowledge of a mechanical or a scientific subject which 
enhances mechanical, narrowly scientific, or semi-skilled capabilities) 
are ineligible for support. In addition, scholarship programs are 
ineligible for support. The Office does not support proposal limited to 
conference or seminars (i.e, one to fourteen-day programs with plenary 
sessions, main speakers, panels, and a passive audience). It will 
support conference only insofar as they are part of a larger project in 
duration and scope which is receiving USIA funding from this 
competition. USIA-supported projects may include internships; study 
tours; short-term, non-technical training; and extended, intensive 
workshops taking place in the United States or overseas. The themes 
addressed in exchange programs must be of long-term importance rather 
than focused exclusively on current events or short-term issues. In 
every case, a substantial rationale must be presented as part of the 
proposal, one that clearly indicates the distinctive and important 
contribution of the overall project, including, where applicable, the 
expected yield of any associated conference. No funding is available 
exclusively to send U.S. citizens to conferences or conference-type 
seminars overseas; nor is funding available for bringing foreign 
nationals to conferences or to routine professional association 
meetings in the United States. Projects that duplicate what is 
routinely carried out by private sector and/or public sector operations 
will not be considered. The Office of Citizen Exchanges strongly 
recommends that applicants consult with host country USIS posts prior 
to submitting proposals.
    Selection of Participants: All grants proposals should clearly 
describe the type of persons who will participate in the program as 
well as the process by which participants will be selected. It is 
recommended that programs in support of U.S. internships include 
letters tentatively committing host institutions to support the 
internships. In the selection of foreign participants, USIA and USIS 
posts abroad retain the right to nominate all participants and to 
accept or deny participants recommended by grantee institutions. 
However, grantee institutions are often asked by USIA to suggest names 
of potential participants. The grantee institution will also provide 
the names of American participants and brief (two pages) biographical 
data on each American participant to the Office of Citizen Exchanges 
for information purposes. Priority will be given to foreign 
participants who have not previously travelled to the United States.
    Additional Guidance: The Office of Citizen Exchanges offers the 
following additional guidance to prospective applicants:
    1. The Office of Citizen Exchanges encourages project proposal 
involving more than one country. Pertinent rationale which links 
countries in multi-country projects should be include in the 
submission. Single-country projects that are clearly defined and 
possess the potential for creating and strengthening continuing 
linkages between foreign and U.S. institutions are also welcome.
    2. Proposals for bilateral programs are subject to review and 
comment by the USIS post in the relevant country, and pre-selected 
participants will also be subject to USIS post review.
    3. Bilateral programs should clearly identify the counterpart 
organization and provide evidence of the organization's participation.
    4. The Office of Citizen Exchanges will consider proposals for 
activities which take place exclusively in other countries when USIS 
posts are consulted in the design of the proposed program and in the 
choice of the most suitable venues for such programs.
    5. Office of Citizen Exchanges grants are not given to support 
projects whose focus is limited to technical or vocational subjects, or 
for research projects, for publications funding, for student and/or 
teacher/faculty exchanges, for sports and/or sports related programs. 
Nor does this office provide scholarships or support for long-term (a 
semester or more) academic studies. Competitions sponsored by other 
Bureau offices are also announced in the Federal Register.
    For projects that would begin after December 31, 1999, competition 
details will be announced in the Federal Register on or June 1, 1999. 
Inquiries concerning technical requirements are welcome prior to 
submission of applications.
    Funding: Although no set funding limit exists, proposals for less 
than $135,000 will receive preference. Organizations with less than 
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 an all-inclusive budget must be 
provided with each proposal, separate component budgets are optional. 
Competition for USIA funding support is keen.
    The selection of grantee institutions will depend on program 
substance, cross-cultural sensitivity, and ability to carry out the 
program successfully. Since USIA grant assistance constitutes only a 
portion of total project funding, proposals should list and provide 
evidence of other anticipated sources of financial and in-kind support. 
Proposals with substantial private sector support from foundations, 
corporations, other institutions, et al. will be deemed highly 
competitive. The Recipient must provide a minimum of 33 percent cost 
sharing of the total project cost.
    The following project costs are eligible for consideration for 
funding:
    1. International and domestic air fares; visas; transit costs; 
ground transportation costs.
    2. Per Diem. For the U.S. program, organizations have the option of 
using a flat $160/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 
[www.usia.gov/agency/ebur-ref.html].
    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 who need interpretation. USIA grants do not pay for 
foreign interpreters to accompany delegations from their home country. 
Grant proposal budgets should contain a flat $160/day per diem for each 
Department of State interpreter, 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

[[Page 36293]]

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. Other costs necessary for the effective administration of the 
program, including salaries for grant organization employees, benefits, 
and other direct and indirect costs per detailed instructions in the 
application package. Note: the 20 percent limitation of 
``administrative costs'' included in previous announcements does not 
apply to this RFP. Please refer to the Application Package for complete 
budget guidelines.
    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 established 
herein and in the Application Packet. Eligible proposals will be 
forwarded to panels of USIA officers for advisory review. All eligible 
proposals will also be reviewed by the program office, as well the USIA 
geographic regional office and the USIS post overseas, where 
appropriate. Proposals may also be reviewed by the USIA's Office of 
General Counsel by other Agency elements. Funding decisions are at the 
discretion of the USIA Associate Director for Education and Cultural 
Affairs. Final technical authority for assistance awards (grants or 
cooperative agreements) resides with USIA's grants officer.
    Review Criteria: USIA will consider proposals based on their 
conformance with the objectives and considerations already stated in 
the RFP, as well as the following criteria:
    1.  Quality of Program Idea: Proposals should exhibit originality, 
substance, precision, and relevance to the Agency mission.
    2. Progam 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 objectives and 
plan.
    3. Multipler Effect/Impact: Proposed programs should strengthen 
long-term mutual understanding, including maximum sharing of 
information and establishment of long-term institutional and individual 
linkages.
    4. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate the 
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.
    5. Institutional Capacity/Reputation/Ability: Proposed personnel 
and institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to 
achieve the program's or project's goal. 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-up activity (without USIA support) which ensures that 
USIA-supported programs are not isolated events.
    7. Evaluation Plan: Proposals should provide a plan for a thorough 
and objective evaluation of the program/project by the grantee 
institution.
    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.

Notice

    The terms and conditions published in this RFP are binding and may 
not be modified by any USIA representative. Explanatory information 
provided by USIA 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 need 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 fully 
appropriated by the Congress, allocated, and committed through internal 
USIA procedures. Awarded grants will be subject to periodic reporting 
and evaluation requirements.

    Dated: June 23, 1998.
John P. Loiello,
Associate Director for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 98-17165 Filed 7-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M