[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 209 (Thursday, October 29, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58095-58096]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-28889]


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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY


Educational Advising Program for Students and Scholars From the 
Middle East and North Africa

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. Public 
and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described 
in IRS regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c) may apply to offer overseas 
educational advising, orientation and information services for 
international students and scholars in the Middle East and North Africa 
concerning opportunities in U.S. higher education. Awards will be made 
to support local educational information services in Egypt; Gaza; 
Jordan; Kuwait; Lebanon; Morocco; Syria; Tunisia; Yemen; and West Bank/
Jerusalem; and Washington headquarters resource and training support to 
educational advisers and/or field office directors. These centers will 
facilitate international educational exchange through overseas 
educational advising, orientation, and information services for foreign 
students and scholars seeking information on opportunities in U.S. 
higher education. This program supports international educational 
exchange between countries of these regions and the U.S. through 
direct, field-based services. The assistance award will also include 
the provision of regional educational advising coordination, support, 
and training services, to be based in an appropriate location within 
the region.
    The program awards up to $495,000 for a one-year period. 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.
    Overall grant-making authority for this program is contained in the 
Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, Public Law 87-
256, as amended, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act. The purpose of 
the Act is ``to enable the Government of the United States to increase 
mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the 
people of other countries * * *; to strengthen the ties which unite us 
with other nations by demonstrating the educational and cultural 
interests, developments, and achievements of the people of the United 
States and other nations * * * and thus to assist in the development of 
friendly, sympathetic and peaceful relations between the United States 
and the other countries of the world.'' The funding authority for the 
program cited above is provided through the Fulbright-Hays Act.
    Projects must conform with Agency requirements and guidelines 
outlined in the Solicitation Package. The POGI, a document describing 
Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation, is included in the 
Solicitation Package. The POGI provides specific details on the scope 
of work and budgeting requirements.

ANNOUNCEMENT TITLE AND NUMBER: All communications with USIA concerning 
this announcement should refer to the Educational Advising Program for 
Students and Scholars from the Middle East and North Africa and 
reference number E/ASA-99-10.

DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: All copies must be received at the U.S. 
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, D.C. time on Friday, November 
20, 1998. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents 
postmarked on November 20, 1998, but received on a later date. It is 
the responsibility of each applicant to ensure compliance with the 
deadline.
    Approximate program dates: Program should begin on or about January 
1, 1999.
    Duration: January 1, 1999-December 31, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Office of Academic Programs; Advising, Teaching, and Specialized 
Programs Division; Advising and Student Services Branch (E/ASA), Room 
349, U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 
20547, phone: (202) 619-5434, 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

[[Page 58096]]

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 ``Advising and Student Services Branch'' on all 
inquiries and correspondence Prospective applicants should read the 
complete Federal Register announcement before addressing inquiries to 
the Advising and Student Services 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 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/ASA-99-10, Office of Grants Management, E/XE, Room 326, 301 4th St., 
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 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. 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.

Year 2000 Compliance Requirements (Y2K Requirement)

    The Year 2000 (Y2K) issue is a broad operational and accounting 
problem that could potentially prohibit organizations from processing 
information in accordance with Federal management and program specific 
requirements including data exchange with USIA. The inability to 
process information in accordance with Federal requirements could 
result in grantees' being required to return funds that have not been 
accounted for properly.
    USIA therefore requires all organizations use Y2K compliant systems 
including hardware, software, and firmware. Systems must accurately 
process data and dates (calculating, comparing and sequencing) both 
before and after the beginning of the year 2000 and correctly adjust 
for leap years.
    Additional information addressing the Y2K issue may be found at the 
General Services Administration's Office of Information Technology 
website at http://www.itpolicy.gsa.gov.

Eligibility

    A proposal will be deemed technically eligible if it:
    (1) Fully adheres to the guidelines established herein and in the 
Solicitation Package;
    (2) Is received by the deadline;
    (3) Requests an assistance amount not in excess of $495,000.

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. All 
applicants will be notified of the results of the review process on or 
about December 14, 1998. Awards made will be subject to periodic 
reporting and evaluation requirements.

    Dated: October 16, 1998.
Judith Siegel,
Deputy Associate Director, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 98-28889 Filed 10-28-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M