[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 161 (Thursday, August 20, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44673-44676]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22300]


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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY


College and University Affiliations Program (CUAP)

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 program. 
Accredited, post-secondary educational institutions meeting the 
provisions described in IRS regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c) may apply to 
pursue objectives in specified fields and themes within the humanities, 
the social or environmental sciences, law, or business administration 
in partnership with overseas institutions of higher education. Awards 
will be made to support educational partnerships with the general goal 
of strengthening civil society through projects on the rule of law, 
journalism and media studies, or civic education; or with the general 
goal of assisting with the development of a foundation for 
international trust through projects on business relations or 
environmental cooperation.
    Partner institutions may pursue these goals through exchanges of 
teachers or administrators for any appropriate combination of teaching, 
lecturing, college or university teacher and curriculum development, 
collaborative research, and outreach, for periods ranging from one week 
(for planning visits) to an academic year. Also eligible as activities 
to support the pursuit of these objectives in the FY99 program are the 
establishment and maintenance of Internet and/or e-mail communication 
facilities as well as interactive distance-learning programs at foreign 
partner institutions in conjunction with eligible projects. Applicants 
may propose other project activities not listed in this paragraph that 
are consistent with the overall goals and activities of the College and 
University Affiliations Program.
    One-way projects that provide technical assistance from one 
institution to another are strongly discouraged. Substantial project 
benefits must accrue to all partner institutions, although the benefits 
may differ significantly for each institution.
    The program awards up to $120,000 for a three-year period to defray 
the costs of travel and per diem, educational materials, and some 
aspects of project administration. Grants awarded to organizations with 
less than four years of experience in conducting international exchange 
programs will be limited to $60,000.
    Grants are subject to the availability of funds for Fiscal Year 
1999.
    Proposed projects must be eligible in terms of country(ies)/
locations and themes as described in the section entitled 
``Eligibility'' below.
    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, 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.
    Projects must conform with Agency requirements and guidelines 
outlined in the Solicitation Package. The POGI, a document describing 
College and University Affiliation Project Objectives, Goals, and 
Implementation, is included in the Solicitation Package.
    Announcement Title and Number: All communications with USIA 
concerning this announcement should refer to the College and University 
Affiliations Program and reference number E/ASU-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 Friday, December 
11, 1998. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents 
postmarked on December 11, 1998, but received on a later date. It is 
the responsibility of each applicant to ensure compliance with the 
deadline.
    Approximate program dates: Grants should begin on or about August 
1, 1999.
    Duration: August 1, 1999--July 31, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Office of Academic Programs; Advising, 
Teaching, and Specialized Programs Division; College and University 
Affiliations Program (CUAP), (E/ASU), Room 349, U.S. Information 
Agency, 301 4th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20547, phone: (202) 619-
5289, fax: (202) 401-1433. Send a message via Internet to: 
[email protected] to request a Solicitation Package. The Solicitation 
Package includes more detailed 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 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 Bureaus' ``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 ``College and University Affiliations Program 
Officer'' on all inquiries and correspondence. Prospective applicants 
should read the complete Federal Register announcement before 
addressing inquiries to the College and University Affiliations Program 
staff or submitting their 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 10 copies of the complete 
application, including the documents specified under Tabs A

[[Page 44674]]

through I in the ``Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation'' 
(POGI) section of the Solicitation Package, should be sent to: U.S. 
Information Agency, Ref: E/ASU-99-02, Office of Grants Management, E/
XE, Room 326, 301 4th St., SW, Washington, DC 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 U.S. Information Service (USIS) posts 
overseas for their review, with the goal of reducing the time needed to 
make the comments of overseas posts available in the Agency's grant 
review process.

Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines

    Pursuant to the Bureau's authorizing legislation, projects 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 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.

Eligibility

    U.S. Partner and Participant Eligibility: In the United States, 
participation in the program is open to accredited two- and four-year 
colleges and universities, including graduate schools. Applications 
from consortia of U.S. colleges and universities are eligible. 
Secondary U.S. partners may include non-governmental organizations as 
well as non-profit service and professional organizations. The lead 
U.S. institution in the consortium is responsible for submitting the 
application. Each application from a consortium must document the lead 
institutions' authority to represent the consortium. With the exception 
of outside evaluators on contract with the U.S. institution, 
participants representing the U.S. institution who are traveling under 
USIA grant funds must be teachers, post-baccalaureate teaching 
assistants, or staff from the participating institution(s) and must be 
U.S. citizens. Post-baccalaureate teaching assistants are eligible for 
USIA-funded participation in this program only if they are working as 
part of a team directed by a college or university teacher.
    Foreign Partner and Participant Eligibility: Overseas, 
participation is open to recognized, degree-granting institutions of 
post-secondary education, which may include established, 
internationally recognized independent research institutes. Secondary 
foreign partners may include relevant governmental and non-governmental 
organizations, as well as non-profit service and professional 
organizations. Participants representing the foreign institutions must 
be teachers, post-baccalaureate teaching assistants, or staff who are 
citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of the country of the 
foreign partner and who are qualified to hold a valid passport and U.S. 
J-1 visa.
    Ineligibility: A proposal will be deemed technically ineligible if:
    (1) It does not fully adhere to the guidelines established herein 
and in the Solicitation Package;
    (2) It is not received by the deadline;
    (3) It is not submitted by the U.S. partner;
    (4) One of the partner institutions is ineligible;
    (5) The foreign country or geographic location is ineligible;
    (6) It involves a request to fund exchanges between the United 
States and more than one country, with the exception of the trilateral 
partnerships between the United States and two foreign institutions 
specified below (see the section on eligible countries/locations for 
complete details);
    (7) The theme or academic discipline is not listed as eligible in 
the RFP, herein;
    (8) the amount requested of USIA exceeds $120,000.

Eligible Themes, Academic Disciplines, and Countries/Locations

Eligible Themes

    Proposals submitted in response to this request should be designed 
to strengthen civil society through projects on the rule of law, 
journalism or media studies, or civic education; or to assist with the 
development of a foundation for international trust through projects to 
encourage business or environmental cooperation. Outreach from academic 
institutions to larger communities of citizens and practitioners is 
especially encouraged.
    The range of projects for which proposals are encouraged within 
these themes is suggested in the following descriptions:
    (1) Rule of Law projects may include as goals the promotion of 
democratic and civic values; the expansion of citizens participation in 
government at all levels; the encouragement of analytical approaches to 
the development and evaluation of public policy or government 
performance; or the education of citizens and legal specialists about 
their civil rights and civic responsibilities. These projects may also 
focus on the balance between individual rights and group rights; 
conflict resolution; reconciliation and compromise within the 
democratic process; the reasonable discussion of social and political 
issues and policy options; and the practice of majority rule in the 
context of minority rights.
    (2) Media Studies and Journalism projects may focus on the 
development of media organizations, journalistic ethics and 
responsibility, investigative journalism, and the development and 
definition of editorial content and priorities. Projects should be 
proposed with sensitivity to the relationships of the media with 
government and the private sector in a democratic society.
    (3) Civic Education projects may include such topics as democratic 
theory and practice; the philosophy and goals of education; the 
development of learner-oriented teaching methodologies and the training 
of teachers in their utilization; the importance to a democracy of 
citizen behavior and social responsibility; and the relationships of 
public interest groups, educational and religious institutions, 
governments, and voluntary associations to one another and to society.
    (4) Business projects may enable institutions of tertiary education 
to contribute to economic development and to the extension of relations 
between and among market economies through trade and investment. 
Projects in trade and economics may establish or expand mutually 
beneficial academic programs in business and economics, especially by 
strengthening educational links to business communities. Projects with 
the potential for having an adverse

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impact on the environment are discouraged.
    (5) Environmental Cooperation projects may address environmental 
issues and public policy approaches to sustainable development in the 
context of U.S. and global interests. Projects may support the 
establishment or expansion of environmental policy studies programs 
through faculty and curriculum development, teaching, or outreach. 
Within this theme, projects that link the study of free trade and 
market economics with the environment and sustainable development are 
encouraged.
    Area Studies (including American Studies) are eligible if they 
address eligible themes in cooperation with one or more of the academic 
disciplines listed below. Area Studies are understood to include 
scholarly approaches to the current affairs, politics, society, or 
culture of the United States or partner country or countries or 
region(s).
    The following two sections list Eligible Academic Disciplines 
(Section A Below) within each eligible theme and Eligible Countries or 
Locations (Section B Below) within six world regions, together with any 
thematic limitation or emphasis applicable within the region or 
country. Only those themes and disciplines, countries or locations, and 
partnership configurations listed are eligible for consideration.
A. Eligible Academic Disciplines
    (1) For Rule of Law projects:
Law (Constitutional, Comparative, Administrative, Commercial, 
Regulatory, and Civil Law; Alternative Dispute Resolution; and 
Intellectual Property Rights)
Political Science/Government/Public Policy/Public Administration
Conflict Resolution
Area Studies (in combination with one or more of the academic fields 
listed here)

    (2) For Media Studies and Journalism projects:

Journalism (Broadcast, Print, Electronic)
Communications Law
 Area Studies (in combination with one or more of the academic fields 
listed here).

    (3) For Civic Education projects:

Higher Education Administration, including Financial Management, 
Community Service and Outreach, University Governance, Private Sector 
Relations, and Curriculum Development and Modernization
Secondary-Level Curriculum Development and Teacher Training
Sociology
History
Political Science/Government/Public Policy/Public Administration
Social Studies (especially Curriculum Development and Teacher Training)
Area Studies (in combination with one or more of the academic fields 
listed here)

    (4) For projects in Business:

Economics (Comparative and International)
Business/Business Administration/Business Management
Financial Management and Markets
International Marketing/International Trade
Commercial Law (including Comparative Law, International Treaties, 
Intellectual Property Rights)
Area Studies (in combination with one of the academic fields listed 
here)
    (5) For projects on Environmental Cooperation:
Environmental Law and Regulation
Environmental Policy and Resource Management
Environmental Sciences/Natural Resource Sciences
Area Studies (in combination with one or more of the academic fields 
above)
B. Eligible Countries/Locations
    Institutions in the following countries are eligible for a 
bilateral exchange with a U.S. institution; in addition, trilateral 
configurations are eligible as noted:
    (1) Africa: In addition to bilateral proposals, trilateral 
configurations involving a college or university in the United States 
and counterpart institutions in any two of the following countries are 
eligible, but not required:
    Benin (Business, especially Economics and Management; and Higher 
Education Administration projects only, especially those related to 
Financial Management, Community Service and Outreach, University 
Governance, Private Sector Relations, and Curriculum Modernization);
    Ghana (Rule of Law only);
    Malawi (Higher Education Administration projects only, especially 
those related to Financial Management, Community Service and Outreach, 
University Governance, Private Sector Relations, and Curriculum 
Modernization);
    Mozambique (Rule of Law, Civic Education, Environment and 
Sustainable Development projects only);
    Rwanda (Rule of Law only):
    Senegal (Higher Education Administration projects only, especially 
those related to Financial Management, Community Service and Outreach, 
University Governance, Private Sector Relations, and Curriculum 
Modernization);
    Uganda (Business and Higher Education Administration projects only, 
especially those related to University Financial Management, Community 
Service and Outreach, University Governance, Private Sector Relations, 
and Curriculum Modernization);
    Zimbabwe (Rule of Law, Business, and Civic Education only).
    (2) American Republics:
    Costa Rica (Rule of Law, Business, and Civic Education projects 
only);
    El Salvador (Rule of Law, Business, and Civic Education projects 
only);
    Guatemala (Rule of Law, Business, and Civic Education projects 
only);
    Honduras (Rule of Law, Business, and Civic Education projects 
only);
    Mexico (bilateral projects in Public Administration only; in 
addition, the program invites proposals for North American Trilateral 
Linkages that include Mexico and Canada in specified disciplines, as 
described below);
    Nicaragua (Rule of Law, Business, and Civic Education projects 
only);
    Panama (Rule of Law, Business, and Civic Education projects only);
    North American Trilateral Exchanges: Projects linking U.S., 
Canadian, and Mexican institutions are eligible for trilateral 
affiliations in Teaching Methodology, Business, Public Administration, 
Trade, Economics, and Environmental Studies.

    [Note: Eligibility of countries among the American Republics is 
expected to rotate within a three-year cycle beginning with this 
solicitation.]

    (3) East Asia and the Pacific:
    China (Civic Education and Rule of Law only);
    Indonesia (Civic Education and Rule of Law only, especially Public 
Policy or Public Administration);
    Laos (Rule of Law, especially Public Administration; Business; and 
Civic Education only, especially Teacher Training);
    Philippines (Rule of Law, especially Administration of Justice; and 
Civic Education only);
    Taiwan (Journalism and Media Studies only, with special interest in 
issues of journalistic ethics and responsibility);
    Thailand (Rule of Law and Civic Education only, with special 
interest in projects framing either of these themes in the context of 
American Studies);
    Vietnam (Rule of Law, with special interest in Public 
Administration or Intellectual Property Rights; Civic Education; and 
Business only).
    (4) Eastern and Central Europe and the Newly Independent States: 
The following countries are eligible for

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bilateral partnerships; in addition, trilateral configurations between 
a college or university in the United States and counterpart 
institutions in two countries within any one of the following three 
subregions are eligible, but not required. (Not every country in every 
subregion is eligible. Cross-subregional trilateral affiliations are 
ineligible.) For all countries listed, eligible themes are limited to 
Business and the Rule of Law, with special interest in Public 
Administration and Public Policy.
    Baltics: Estonia, Lithuania;
    Balkans: Albania, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Macedonia, Serbia/
Montenegro;
    Central Europe: Czech Republic, Slovakia.

    [Note: In addition, institutions interested in partnerships with 
institutions of tertiary education in countries of the Newly 
Independent States should consult a separate request for proposals 
that will be announced by the Office of Academic Programs for the 
N.I.S. College and University Partnerships Program. For information 
about this program, contact the Office of Academic Programs; 
Advising, Teaching, and Specialized Programs Division (NISCUPP), (E/
ASU), Room 349, U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th Street, SW, 
Washington, DC 20547, phone: (202) 619-5289, fax: (202) 401-1433.]

    (5) North Africa, Near East, and South Asia: The following 
countries are eligible for bilateral affiliations; in addition; 
trilateral proposals by U.S. colleges or universities for collaboration 
with counterpart institutions in two countries within any one of the 
following three subregions are eligible but not required. (Not every 
country in every subregion is eligible. Cross-subregional trilateral 
affiliations are ineligible.) Any eligible theme for discipline may be 
proposed for any country. Applicants are invited to contact USIS posts 
in the early stages of proposal development, especially in cases where 
the U.S. institution lacks recent experience in the region.
    Gulf: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab 
Emirates, Yemen;
    Near East/North Africa: Israel, Gaza, West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon 
(proposals for linkages with Lebanese institutions that include 
distance education and/or Internet to facilitate two-way communication 
are encouraged), Syria, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt;
    South Asia: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.
    (6) Western Europe and Canada:
    Turkey is eligible only for projects in the Rule of Law or Civic 
Education that hold potential for developing and strengthening 
democratic institutions;
    United Kingdom (only Northern Ireland is eligible).
    In addition, projects are solicited for the following trilateral 
configurations:
    U.S./Northern Ireland/Republic of Ireland Partnerships: United 
Kingdom (only Northern Ireland) is eligible for trilateral affiliations 
with the United States and the Republic of Ireland for projects in 
Cross-Cultural Communications or Conflict Resolution only.
    North American Trilateral Exchanges. Projects linking U.S., 
Canadian, and Mexican institutions are eligible for trilateral 
affiliations in Teaching Methodology, Business, Public Administration, 
Trade, Economics, and Environmental Studies.

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. 98-22300 Filed 8-19-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M