[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 241 (Thursday, December 16, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70312-70314]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-32663]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 3177]


Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs; Book Donation/Information 
Technology Services Program

NOTICE: Request for proposals.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Geographic Liaison (IIP/G) announces an open 
competition for a book donation/information technology services 
program. Private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions 
described in IRS regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c)(3) may submit proposals to: 
implement a book donation program in Eastern Europe and the NIS; build 
upon programs outside the former Communist bloc in transition around 
the world, particularly in Africa; provide educational materials for 
the victims of civil strife as requested by the Department; and make 
available Internet and Information Technology training in conjunction 
with the provision of books.
    Program Information: Overview: The grant requires the successful 
applicant to match federal with support from non-governmental sources 
such as: Foundations; professional, ethnic, and fraternal organizations 
and individuals; provide primarily new books, CD-ROMS, educational 
videocassettes and other educational materials (with no medical titles 
to be sent under the grant and no more than 15% of the total volumes 
shipped having been used); have in place ongoing, sustainable 
relationships with NGO partners in the countries covered under the 
grant to ensure effective distribution and tracking of donated 
materials; send booklists in advance to the overseas partners for 
selection to ensure that only requested materials are shipped under the 
grant; employ electronic mail and the Internet in the provision of 
booklists and the dissemination of information about the program; and 
(if necessary) train partners in the use of same; respond to the 
differing and changing needs of partners by making available materials 
in wide ranges of subjects and educational levels; plan and host 
Partner meetings in the U.S. and abroad as requested. The grantee must 
have demonstrable experience assessing book donation and information 
technology training programs abroad.
    Guidelines: The grant is expected to commence January 1, 2000 and 
end December 31, 2000.
    Budget Guidelines: 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. Awards may not exceed $200,000. There must be a summary budget 
as well as breakdowns reflecting both administrative and program 
budgets. Applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for each program 
component, phase, location, or activity to provide clarification. 
Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget guidelines 
and formatting instructions.
    Announcement Title and Number: All correspondence with the IIP/
G3434 concerning this RFP should reference the above title and number 
IIP/G-1.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Office of Geographical Liaison, 
IIP/G, 4th Floor U.S. Department of State, 301 4th Street, S.W., 
Washington, D.C. 20547.The solicitation package may be obtained by 
calling: 202 619 5876, requesting by fax at 202 619 4879 or by 
contacting the program officer Ron Ungaro at [email protected]. The 
Solicitation Package contains detailed award criteria, required 
application forms, specific budget instructions, and standard 
guidelines for proposal preparation. Please specify Program Officer Ron 
Ungaro 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, Department 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 the following website at 
http://e.usia.gov/education/rfps. Please read all information before 
downloading.
    Deadline for Proposals: All proposal copies must be received at 
IIP/G Office of Geographic Liaison by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on 
January 9, 2000. 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.

[[Page 70313]]

    Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation 
Package. The original and 10 copies of the application should be sent 
to: U.S. Department of State, Office of Geographic Liaison, Attention: 
Patricia Tyson, Ref.: IIP/G-1, 4th Floor South, 301 4th Street, SW, 
Washington, DC 20547.

Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines

    ``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.

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 IIP/G. 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.
    IIP/G 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

    IIP/G 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 Public Diplomacy section overseas, where 
appropriate. Eligible proposals will be forwarded to panels Department 
officers for advisory review. Proposals may also be reviewed by the 
Office of the Legal Adviser or by other Department elements. Final 
funding decisions are at the discretion of the Department of State's 
Coordinator for International Information Programs. Final technical 
authority for assistance awards (grants or cooperative agreements) 
resides with the Department's 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, substance, precision, and relevance to the Office's 
mission.
    2. Program planning: 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 Department's policy on diversity. Achievable and 
relevant features should be cited in both program administration 
(selection of participants, 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 grants as determined by Department Grant Staff. 
The Department will consider the past performance of prior recipients 
and the demonstrated potential of new applicants.
    8. Follow-on Activities: Proposals should provide a plan for 
continued follow-on activity (without Department support) ensuring that 
Department supported programs are not isolated events.
    9. 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.
    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 
other private sector support as well as institutional direct funding 
contributions. Proposals must include documented sources of matching 
funds prescribed in the announcement.
    12. Value to U.S.-Partner Country Relations: Proposed projects 
should receive positive assessments by the U.S. Department of State's 
geographic area desk and overseas officers of program need, potential 
impact, and significance in the partner country(ies).

    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 Department representative. Explanatory 
information provided by the Department 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 Department 
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.

[[Page 70314]]

Notification

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

    Dated: December 7, 1999.
Evelyn S. Lieberman,
Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, U.S. 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 99-32663 Filed 12-15-99; 8:45 am]
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