[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 4 (Thursday, January 7, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1072-1074]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-189]


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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY


USIA-Bosnia and Herzegovina Undergraduate Development Program

NOTICE: Request for proposals.

SUMMARY: Subject to the availability of funds, the Office of Academic 
Programs, Academic Exchanges Division, European Branch, of the United 
States Information Agency's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs 
announces an open competition for an assistance award. Four-year 
colleges and universities meeting the provisions described in IRS 
regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c) may apply to host between two and five 
Bosnian students in a one-year, non-degree undergraduate program for 
the academic year 1999-2000. Organizations with less than four years of 
experience in hosting international exchange students are not eligible 
for this competition. Recruitment and selection will be conducted by 
USIS Sarajevo.
    The USIA Bosnia and Herzegovina Undergraduate Development Program 
is designed to allow Bosnian students an opportunity to obtain 
knowledge, insight and cultural enrichment through their academic 
studies at American colleges and universities. The USIA strongly 
encourages institutions to guide students to courses in American 
studies, or other courses which emphasize democracy, market economy, 
and civic society per the intent of the Support for Eastern European 
Democracy (SEED) Act funding. The USIA is holding an open competition 
for four-year universities and colleges giving preference to those with 
the following strengths:
     Demonstrated experience in hosting Bosnian students, 
partnerships with Bosnian higher education institutions, or expertise 
and interest in the region;
     Strong international student advising offices with 
experience dealing with cultural, educational and adjustment issues for 
foreign students;
     Accessibility to and opportunities for cultural and social 
activities;
     Diverse, multi-ethnic student populations.
    Increase in program expenses together with reduced overall 
government funding for exchange programs make cost-sharing arrangements 
with host institutions a critical part of the USIA Bosnia and 
Herzegovina Undergraduate Development Program. Preference will be given 
to institutions that can provide cost-sharing toward tuition, fees, 
room and board expenses and/or other direct participant expenses. Cost-
sharing may also be in the form of direct administrative and program 
costs.
    The proposed funding will support one academic year of study in the 
fields of agriculture, business administration, civic education, 
criminal justice, economics, education, environmental resource 
management, journalism/mass communications, political science, and 
public administration. The academic-year program will be followed by a 
four-to-twelve week internship in the students' field of 
specialization. The program will also include culturally enriching 
activities, including but not limited to community outreach and service 
projects, a welcome orientation program at the host institution, a 
USIA-sponsored mid-year workshop in Washington, DC and a USIA-sponsored 
end-of-year workshop in Washington, DC.
    The funding authority for the USIA Bosnia and Herzegovina 
Undergraduate Development Program is provided through the Support for 
East European Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989. The SEED Act targets 
assistance funds to advance the democratic and economic transition of 
Central and Eastern Europe. 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Overview

    The Bosnia and Herzegovina Undergraduate Development Program is a 
one year education exchange that brings Bosnian students to study at 
American universities or colleges in specified disciplines pertaining 
to democracy, market economies, and civil society per the SEED funding 
initiative.

Guidelines

    Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations and the host 
institutions are responsible for ensuring the students' return to 
Bosnia. Please refer to program specific guidelines (POGI) in the 
Solicitation Package for further details.

Proposed Budget

    Institutions desiring to host students from Bosnia must submit a 
comprehensive line item budget based on the specific guidelines listed 
in the Solicitation Package. Applicants must submit a comprehensive 
budget for the entire program. There must be a summary budget as well 
as a break-down 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. Please refer 
to the Solicitation Package for complete budget guidelines and 
formatting instructions.
    Announcement Title And Number: All communications with USIA 
concerning the RFP should refer to the announcement's title and 
reference number E/AEE-99-06.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: The Office of Academic Programs, 
European Branch, E/AEE, Room 246 U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th 
Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20547, (202) 205-0525, fax (202) 206-
7985, E-Mail: [email protected] to request a

[[Page 1073]]

Solicitation Package containing more detailed information. 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 requested from the Bureau's ``Grants 
Information Fax on Demand System'' which is accessed by calling 202/
401-7616. The ``Table of Contents'' listing available documents and 
order numbers should be the first order when entering the system.

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 5, 1999. 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. Grants should begin 
August 1, 1999.
    Please specify USIA Program Officer Ms. Sondra Govatski 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 in the 
Solicitation Package. The original and nine (9) copies of the 
application should be sent to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.
:E/AEE-99-06, 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. These documents must be provided in ASCII text (DOS) 
format with a maximum line length of 65 characters. USIA will transmit 
these files electronically to its USIA post in Sarajevo for its review, 
with the goal of reducing the time it takes to get post's 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 reflect 
advancement of this goal in their program contents, to the full extent 
deemed feasible.

Year 2000 Compliance Requirement (Y2K Requirement)

    The 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.

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. All eligible proposals will be reviewed by the 
program office, as well as the USIA Office of East European and NIS 
Affairs and its post in Sarajevo. Eligible proposals will be forwarded 
to panels of USIA officers for advisory review. Proposals may also be 
reviewed by the Office of the General Counsel or by other Agency 
elements. Final funding decisions are at the discretion of USIA's 
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. Strength of Academic Program

    Proposals should exhibit academic rigor and demonstrated capacity 
to meet participant needs.

2. Cost Effectiveness

    Plans should indicate a high level of cost-sharing and a 
competitive level of cost per individual student for the USIA.

3. Academic Support

    Capacity to assign a faculty advisor and/or other specific campus 
coordinator to provide academic guidance, logistical support, and 
assistance in arranging enrichment activities.

4. International Student Support

    Experience working with and providing a full range of support 
services for international students.

5. Intership Support

    Ability to facilitate professional affiliations and internships 
that will strengthen and reinforce what has been learned in the 
classroom.

6. Ability To Provide Cultural Enrichment and Community Outreach 
Opportunities

    Proposals should demonstrate a commitment to planning, 
implementing, and supporting the Bosnian students in participating in 
cultural, social, and community outreach opportunities.

7. Support of Diversity

    Proposals should demonstrate the recipient's commitment to 
promoting awareness and understanding of diversity.

8. Institution's Record/Ability

    Proposals should demonstrate an institutional record of successful 
exchange programs or a potential to meet this standard. This includes 
responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting 
requirements for past Agency grants as

[[Page 1074]]

determined by USIA's Office of Contracts. The Agency will consider the 
past performance of prior recipients and the demonstrated potential of 
new applicants.

9. Ability for Institutions To Develop or Enhance Linkages With Bosnian 
Institutions

    Proposals should demonstrate how hosting Bosnian students will 
further strengthen existing programs/activities/linkages of the 
applicant institution with Bosnia, and provide a plan for developing or 
enhancing a relationship with Bosnian institutions.

Authority

    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.''

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: December 27, 1998.
William Bader,
Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Notification

    Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by 
Congress, allocated and committed through internal USIA procedures.

    Dated: December 23, 1998.
Judith Siegel,
Deputy Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 99-189 Filed 1-6-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M