[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 161 (Thursday, August 20, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44681-44683]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22298]


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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY


US Based Training Program (USBT); Request for Proposals

SUMMARY: The Advising and Student Services 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 nonprofit organizations meeting the provisions described in IRS 
regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c)(3)-1 may apply to develop one training 
program for USIA-affiliated overseas educational advisers to take place 
in spring 1999. The basic function of an overseas educational adviser 
is to provide accurate, objective information to foreign audiences on 
U.S. study opportunities at accredited academic institutions, and to 
guide students and professionals in selecting a program appropriate to 
their needs. Participants will be drawn from educational advisers 
working at USIA-affiliated overseas educational advising centers. The 
training program is intended for approximately fifteen to eighteen 
participants. The program must be at least two and one half weeks in 
duration and must include workshops on advising issues of concern, an 
internship or other form of substantive professional stayover at a U.S. 
academic institution(s), and attendance at the national NAFSA: 
Association of International Educators Conference. USIA anticipates 
awarding up to $150,000 to one organization to administer this program.
    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.''
    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/ASA-99-05.
    Deadline for Proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S. 
Information Agency by 5:00 p.m. Washington, D.C. time on Thursday, 
October 1, 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, 
Advising and Student Services Branch, E/ASA, U.S. Information Agency, 
301 4th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20547, telephone: (202) 619-
5434, fax: (202) 401-1433, E-mail: [email protected], to request a 
Solicitation Package containing more detailed criteria. 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 Dorothy Mora 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 eight copies of the application 
should be sent to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/ASA-99-05, 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 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

    The training program's objectives are twofold: to strengthen and 
develop the skills of overseas educational advisers; and to build a 
corps of knowledgeable advisers who are skilled as trainers and can 
advance the field of educational advising in their home countries with 
new and current expertise, techniques and knowledge of applicable 
technology. Each component of the training program should be designed 
to provide detailed, hands-on learning in areas such as facilitating 
access to U.S. higher education, communicating cross-culturally, and 
managing an advising center. Special attention should be given to the 
use of technology, both as a necessary advising skill, and as a 
potential tool to develop new and creative advising approaches. 
Similarly, a significant emphasis should be placed on outreach, 
partnership and cost-sharing strategies and skills development.

[[Page 44682]]

Guidelines

1. Participants

    For the purposes of this RFP, eligible advisers are defined as 
those who have demonstrated the skills associated with the four major 
components of overseas educational advising: (1) basic knowledge of the 
U.S. and home country educational systems; (2) basic knowledge of the 
U.S. higher education application process; (3) demonstrated educational 
advising and cross-cultural communication skills; and (4) demonstrated 
office management skills as they relate to an overseas advising center. 
In addition, each participant must demonstrate leadership and a 
commitment to the profession. Approximately 15-18 participants are 
expected for this training program. Participants will be selected by 
USIA based on nominations from overseas posts. To be eligible, an 
adviser must have at least two to five years of experience and a 
demonstrated commitment to the field of overseas advising.

2. Program Design

    USIA invites organizations to submit creative and flexible program 
plans which can be tailored, in close consultation with E/ASA, to the 
selected advisers' individual needs. However, the proposal should still 
include an overall project framework which identifies objectives, an 
implementation plan and measurable, expected outcomes.
    Possible topics to incorporate in the program include: degree 
equivalency and accreditation; international student admissions; 
financial aid; standardized testing; ESL programs; immigration and visa 
issues; fields of study; cultural adjustment/U.S. societal diversity; 
specialized Internet usage; distance learning; proposal writing; 
fundraising; public relations and marketing; determining appropriate 
fees for students and others, given each host country's environment; 
trends in advising center cost sharing and training and management of 
volunteer staff.

3. Timing/Program Phases

    The program should include attendance at, and active participation 
in, the spring national NAFSA conference where workshops and seminars 
address various issues of current interest to international educators 
and overseas advisers and where the opportunity to brainstorm and to 
share information plays an important part. Advisers should have 
opportunities to present and/or participate in panels and pre-
conference/conference workshops. In 1999, the national conference is 
scheduled for May 23-28 in Denver, Colorado. In addition, the program 
should include an internship experience at a U.S. college or 
university. Ideally, advisers should be on campus while classes are in 
session to optimize their experience through interaction with students.

4. Logistics

    The recipient organization will be responsible for arrangements 
associated with this program. These include organizing a coherent 
progression of activities, providing international and domestic travel 
arrangements for all advisers, making lodging and local transportation 
arrangements, orienting and debriefing advisers, preparing any 
necessary support material, locating host campuses and working with 
host institutions and experts in the field of higher education and 
overseas advising to achieve maximum program effectiveness through 
hands-on applications and training and direct involvement in the 
administration of practices and policies in institutions of higher 
education.

5. Evaluation/Follow-Up

    The proposal must include a detailed evaluation and follow-up plan. 
Special emphasis should be given to designing a program which 
incorporates outcome measurement strategies that assess its ultimate 
effectiveness.

6. Visa/Insurance/Tax Requirements

    The program must comply with B-1 tourist visa regulations. 
Participant health and accident insurance will be provided to the 
overseas advisers by USIA; the recipient organization will be 
responsible for enrolling participants in USIA's insurance program and 
providing any necessary assistance should medical care be needed. 
Administration of the program must be in compliance with reporting and 
withholding regulations for federal, state, and local taxes as 
applicable. Recipient organizations should demonstrate tax regulation 
adherence in the proposal narrative and budget.

7. Printed Materials

    Drafts of all printed materials developed for this program should 
be submitted to E/ASA for review and approval. All official documents 
should highlight the U.S. government's role as program sponsor and 
funding source. USIA requests that it receive the copyright use and be 
allowed to distribute any of this material if it sees fit to do so.
Proposed budget
    Applicants must submit a comprehensive line item budget based on 
the budget guidelines in the PSI for the entire program. USIA's grant 
assistance, up to $150,000 in total, is expected to constitute only a 
portion of the total project funding. Cost sharing is required and the 
proposal should list other anticipated sources of support.
    Grants awarded 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 budget for the entire 
program. There must be a summary budget as well as a breakdown 
reflecting both the administrative budget and the program budget. For 
further clarification, applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for 
each program component, phase, location, or activity in order to 
facilitate USIA decisions on funding.
    Allowable costs for the program include the following:
    (1) Salaries and fringe benefits; travel and per diem;
    (2) Other direct costs, inclusive of rent, utilities, etc.;
    (3) Indirect expenses, auditing costs;
    (4) Participant program costs; i.e., international/domestic travel, 
per diem, conference attendance, resource materials. 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 Area Offices. 
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:

[[Page 44683]]

1. Quality of the program idea

    Proposals should exhibit originality, substance, precision, and 
relevance to Agency mission.

2. Program planning

    A 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.

3. Ability to achieve program objectives

    Objectives should be reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals 
should clearly demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's 
objectives and plan.

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 (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 or project's 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. 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.

9. Cost-effectiveness

    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.

10. Cost-sharing

    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: August 13, 1998.
James D. Whitten,
Acting Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 98-22298 Filed 8-19-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M