[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 94 (Monday, May 17, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26817-26819]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-12374]


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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY


Azores and Cape Verde School Partnership Program

ACTION: Request for proposals.

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SUMMARY: The Youth Programs Division, Office of Citizen Exchanges, of 
the United States Information Agency's Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for the Azores and Cape 
Verde School Partnership Program. Public and private non-profit 
organizations meeting the provisions described in IRS regulation 26 CFR 
1.501(c) may submit proposals for a project in which three American 
high schools will be paired with two schools in the Azores and one in 
Cape Verde for the purpose of exchanges of students and teachers and to 
develop joint projects on themes relating to areas of common interest 
between the United States and the Azores/Cape Verde.

Program Information

Overview

    One grant of up to $100,000 will be awarded to sponsor a one-year 
secondary school partnership program involving activities during 
academic year 1999-2000. If successful, one or two follow-on grants may 
be possible, subject to the availability of funding. The basic model 
for the program is the information of a one-to-one partnership in which 
the participating student bodies and faculties in the partner schools 
engage in joint thematic projects throughout the academic year. During 
the year, there will be a non-simultaneous exchange, each school 
sending and hosting ten students and one or two teachers for a minimum 
three-week period. Once the linkages are established, the partner 
schools could decide on any variations, involving longer stays for 
individuals or small groups.

Guidelines

    Although the project seeks to target communities in the U.S. that 
have concentrations of immigrants from the Azores and Cape Verde, the 
goal is to include a broad spectrum of the population of those 
communities. The areas of greatest interest are eastern Rhode Island 
and east central and southeastern Massachusetts. The American Consulate 
in Ponta Delgada will choose the communities and schools in the Azores, 
and the American Embassy in Praia will do the same for Cape Verde. The 
American administering organization, chosen through this competition, 
will select the American partner schools. Once the linkage is 
established, each school pair will choose a project on a theme of 
interest to the participating countries and U.S. regions. Possible 
themes include civic education and comparative political systems, the 
environment (with special focus on the oceans), agriculture and 
aquaculture, health education, preparation for careers or vocations, 
and international security issues. In each school, students and 
teachers would work on aspects of these projects throughout the 
academic year, corresponding with their counterparts in the partner 
schools, exchanging materials, and working toward a culmination when 
the exchange participants get together. This ensures that the program 
has a didactic purpose and that it involves the general populace in the 
schools. Each side will also introduce its school communities to the 
language, culture, and geography of the partner country. A merit-based 
selection process would be worked out by the partner schools to ensure 
that the participants in the exchange phase are well qualified, 
prepared and motivated and will represent their communities well. 
Exchanges should take place while schools are in session so that the 
participants can attend classes and experience scholastic activities. 
All participants would live with host families and would have 
excursions to important historic and cultural sites in the host 
communities. Ideally, the schools on both sides would have Internet 
access so that they can maintain regular communication via E mail and 
use the Internet to develop their joint projects. If they lack this, 
funding for the program might include some support to bring the schools 
online. Please refer to Solicitation Package for further information.

Eligibility

    USIA will award a grant to one organization, which will coordinate 
the whole program. Eligible applicants include: non-profit, community-
based organizations with exchange experience, a school system or 
network of schools, and universities with established ties to secondary 
schools. Criteria for selection include: (1) experience conducting high 
school exchanges; (2) some familiarity with the Azores and Cape Verde; 
(3) ability and commitment to supplement the grant funds with private 
sector contributions; and (4) low administrative overhead costs. 
Applicant organizations with less than four years of experience in 
conducting international exchange programs will be ineligible for this 
competition. For complete judging criteria, see below. 
J-1 visa regulations and USIA policy require that the students 
participating in the exchange component be between the ages of 14 and 
18.5 years of age and that those who represent US schools be American 
citizens.

Budget Guidelines

    The grant is intended to subsidize international and in-country 
airfare, program enhancements, and participant stipends. Host 
communities are expected to cover many local expenses and participants 
should be lodged with volunteer host families (compensation for host 
families is not allowable). Participants are expected to contribute to 
their travel and living expenses. Administrative (indirect) expenses 
over 20% will be judged less competitive. Applicants must submit a 
comprehensive budget for the entire program. There must be a summary 
budget as well as breakdowns reflecting both administrative and program 
budgets. Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget 
guidelines and formatting instructions. The grant award will not likely 
be available before September 1. For the successful applicant 
organization, grant-funded activity may not begin until after that date 
and should conclude by December 31, 2000.

[[Page 26818]]

    Announcement Title and Number: All correspondence with USIA 
concerning this RFP should reference the above title and number E/PY-
99-58.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: The Youth Programs Division, E/PY, 
Room 568, U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th Street, SW, Washington, DC 
20547, 202-619-6299; fax 619-5311; Internet address RP[email protected] 
to request a Solicitation Package. The Solicitation Package contains 
detailed award criteria, required application forms, specific budget 
instructions, and standard guidelines for proposal preparation. Please 
specify USIA Program Officer, Robert Persiko on all other inquiries and 
correspondence.
    Please 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 with applicants 
until the proposal review process has been completed.
    To Download A Solicitation Package via Internet: The entire 
Solicitation Package may be downloaded from USIA's website at http://
e.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 proposal copies must be received at the 
U.S. Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on Monday, June 
28, 1999. Faxed documents will not be accepted at any time. Documents 
postmarked the due date but received on a later date will not be 
accepted. Each applicant must ensure that the proposals are received by 
the above deadline.
    Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation 
Package. The original and eight (8) copies of the application should be 
sent to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/PY-99-58, Office of Grants 
Management, E/XE, Room 568, 301 4th Street, 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. 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 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, socio-economic status, and physical challenges, 
as well as location of activities. 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.

Year 2000 Compliance Requirement (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 complaint 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 area offices and the relevant USIA 
posts overseas. 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. Quality of the program idea: Proposals should exhibit 
originality, and substance, relevance to the Agency's goals as outlined 
above, accuracy and clarity.
    2. Program planning: Detailed agenda and work plan should 
demonstrate organizational competency 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 
expressed in terms that are quantifiable, measurable, and achievable. 
Proposals should clearly demonstrate how the institution will meet the 
program's stated objectives.
    4. Multiplier effect/impact: The proposed program 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 indicate how the projects 
will serve to demonstrate the diversity of American society. Applicants 
should focus both on program administration (selection of participants, 
program venue and program evaluation) and program content (orientation 
and wrap-up sessions, program activities, resource materials and 
follow-up activities).
    6. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional 
resources should be adequate and appropriate to implement the program 
efficiently and effectively.
    7. Institution's Record/Ability: Proposals should demonstrate an 
institutional record of relevant successful exchange activities, as 
well as 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 review the past performance of 
prior recipients or consider the demonstrated potential of new 
applicants.
    8. Follow-on Activities: Proposals should provide a plan for 
maintaining

[[Page 26819]]

the linkages without US Government support and facilitating ongoing 
communication between the partners.
    9. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate 
the activity's success in terms of achieving the stated objectives, 
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 one 
interim and a final program and financial report.
    10. 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.
    11. Cost-sharing: Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through 
participant contributions and other private sector support, as well as 
institutional direct funding contributions.
    12. Value to U.S.-Partner Country Relations: Proposals will be 
assessed by USIA's geographic areas offices and officers in USIS 
missions/American embassies in the two countries in terms of the 
adequacy of program plan.

Authority

    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 above is provided through legislation.

Notice

    Term 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: May 11, 1999.
Judith S. Siegel,
Acting Deputy Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 99-12374 Filed 5-14-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-M