[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 33 (Thursday, February 17, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8228-8231]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-3683]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 3226]


Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program, Request for Proposals; 
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

SUMMARY: The Office of Global Educational Programs of the U.S. 
Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs 
announces an open competition for the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship 
Program. Public and private non-profit organizations meeting the 
provisions described in IRS regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c) may submit 
proposals to cooperate with the Bureau in the administration and 
implementation of the FY 2001 Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program. It 
is anticipated that the total grant award for all FY2001 program and 
administrative expenses will be approximately $6,980,000.

Program Information

Overview

    The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program was initiated in 1978. 
The goal of the Humphrey Program is to strengthen U.S. interaction with 
outstanding mid-career professionals from a wide range of countries 
with developmental needs while providing the Humphrey Fellows with 
opportunities to develop professional expertise and leadership skills 
for

[[Page 8229]]

public service. Each year this Program brings accomplished 
professionals from designated countries in Africa, the Americas, Asia, 
Europe, Eurasia and the Middle East to the U.S. for a ten-month stay 
combining non-degree graduate study, leadership training and 
professional development. Candidates for the Program are nominated by 
U.S. Embassies or Fulbright Commissions based on the candidates' 
professional backgrounds, academic qualifications and leadership 
potential. By providing these emerging leaders with opportunities to 
understand U.S. society and culture and to participate with U.S. 
colleagues in current U.S. approaches to the fields in which they work, 
the Program provides a basis for the on-going cooperation of U.S. 
citizens with their professional counterparts in other countries.
    Fellowships are granted competitively to candidates who have a 
public service orientation, a commitment to their country's 
development, and clear leadership potential. Candidates are recruited 
from both the public and the private sectors, including non-
governmental organizations, in the following areas: agricultural 
development/agricultural economics; communications/journalism; economic 
development; educational planning; finance and banking; human resource 
management/personnel; law/human rights; natural resources and 
environmental management; public health policy and management; public 
policy analysis and public administration; drug abuse epidemiology, 
education, treatment, and prevention; technology policy and management, 
and urban and regional planning. The Fellows typically range in age 
from late 20s to mid-50s; are mid-career professionals in leadership 
positions who have the required experience/skills, commitment to public 
service and potential for advancement in their professions; have a 
minimum of five years professional experience; and have interests which 
relate to policy issues rather than research or technical skills. 
Fluency in English is required.
    Twelve universities (American University; Boston University; 
Cornell University; Emory University; Johns Hopkins University; 
University of Maryland, College Park; University of Minnesota, 
University of Missouri-Columbia; Pennsylvania State University, Rutgers 
University; Tulane University; and University of Washington) are 
currently serving as Humphrey host institutions, and are selected 
through a competitive process coordinated by the grantee organization 
in consultation with the Bureau. Fellows are placed at one of these 
Humphrey host institutions in groupings by profession of approximately 
ten to fifteen Fellows (e.g., thirteen Fellows in public health policy 
and management from thirteen different countries might be placed at the 
same host institution). The grantee organization will initially be 
expected to establish sub-contractual arrangements with the current 
host campuses identified above for one year. However, proposals should 
include a strategy for evaluating host campus performance over the 
course of the first year and include a strategy for recruiting and 
reviewing applications from the same and/or new institutions to serve 
as host campuses in appropriate fields of study for the remaining two 
years.
    Should an applicant organization wish to work with other 
organizations in the implementation of this program, the Bureau prefers 
that a subcontract arrangement be developed.
    Programs and projects must conform with the Bureau requirements and 
guidelines outlined in the Solicitation Package, which includes the 
Request for Proposals (RFP), the Project Objectives, Goals and 
Implementation (POGI) and the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI).
    The Bureau will work cooperatively and closely with the recipient 
of this cooperative agreement award and will maintain a regular 
dialogue on administrative and program issues and questions as they 
arise over the duration of the award. Contingent upon satisfactory 
performance based on annual reviews, the Bureau intends to renew this 
award each year for a period of not less than four additional years. 
The Bureau reserves the right to renew the award beyond that period.

Guidelines

Program Planning and Implementation
    Applicants are requested to submit a narrative outlining their 
overall strategy for the administration and program implementation of 
all components of the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program (the 
selection and placement of the grantees, a fall Washington seminar, 
professional enhancement workshops, an end-of-the-year workshop, and 
professional affiliations). In developing this strategy, applicants 
should provide a vision for the Program as a whole, interpreting the 
goals of the Humphrey Program with creativity, as well as providing 
innovative ideas and recommendations for any part of the Program. This 
overall strategy should include a description of how the various 
components of the Program will be integrated to anticipate or reinforce 
one another. For example, the workshops and seminar should build on the 
campus-based academic and professional program in support of the 
Humphrey Program's goal of enabling its grantees to develop leadership 
skills in public service.
    This grant should begin on October 1, 2000 and will run through 
September 30, 2003 (the administrative portion of the grant will only 
cover October 1, 2000 through September 30, 2001). This grant would 
include both the administrative and program portions of the Hubert H. 
Humphrey Fellowship Program such as: the selection and placement of the 
2001-2002 class of approximately 140-160 grantees and the monitoring of 
their programs; the administration of follow-up support and 
coordination with Humphrey Fellowship Program alumni from all classes 
including a program of small follow-up grants to alumni; and the 
administration and implementation of the fall Washington seminar, 
professional enhancement workshops and an end-of-the-year workshop for 
the 2001-2002 class of grantees.
    The FY2000 administrative agreement with the current administering 
organization will be amended (with approximately $120,000 in FY 2001 
funds) to cover monitoring the programs of FY2000-2001 Fellows until 
their departure in the spring of 2001. The FY2001 cooperative 
agreement, which this announcement covers, will be a transition year 
during which the successful organization will have responsibility for 
selection, placement, and program implementation for the 2001-2002 
Fellows and for alumni programming. In FY2002 and subsequent years, if 
the grant is renewed, the successful organization would additionally be 
responsible for monitoring the programs of current year Fellows who 
would be in the U.S (for example, the programs of 2001-2002 Fellows in 
FY2002). Please refer to the POGI for specific program and budget 
guidelines.
Visa/Insurance/Tax Requirements
    Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations. Please refer to 
Program Specific Guidelines (POGI) in the Solicitation Package for 
further information. Administration of the program must be in 
compliance with reporting and withholding regulations for federal, 
state, and local taxes as applicable. Recipient organizations should 
demonstrate tax regulation adherence in the proposal narrative and 
budget.

[[Page 8230]]

Budget Guidelines

    Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the 
administration and program implementation of the Program. There must be 
a summary budget as well as a breakdown of the administrative budget. 
Applicants should provide separate sub-budgets for each program 
component, phase, location, or activity to provide clarification. The 
summary and detailed administrative and program budgets should be 
accompanied by a narrative which provides a brief rationale for each 
line item including a methodology for estimating an appropriate average 
stipend level and tuition costs for the 2001-2002 class of Fellows, and 
the number that can be accommodated at that stipend level. In past 
years' programs, administrative costs have averaged approximately 11% 
of the overall budget. The total administrative costs funded by the 
Bureau must be reasonable and appropriate.
    Please refer to the POGI for complete budget guidelines and 
formatting instructions.

Announcement Title and Number

    All correspondence with the U.S. Department of State concerning 
this RFP should reference the above title and number ECA/ASU-2001-01.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: The Humphrey Fellowships and 
Institutional Linkages Branch of the Department of State's Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA/A/S/U), SA-44, 301 4th Street, 
SW, Washington, DC 20547, telephone (202) 619-5289 and fax number (202) 
401-1433, 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 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 the 
Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs' 
website at http://e.usia.gov/education/rfps. Please read all 
information before downloading.

Deadline for Proposals

    All proposal copies must be received at the Bureau of Educational 
and Cultural Affairs by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on Friday, May 12, 
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.
    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, Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, SA-44, Ref.: ECA/A/S/U-2001-01, Program Management Staff, ECA/
EX/PM, Room 336 301 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.

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, `the Bureau' 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 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.
    The Bureau therefore requires all organizations to 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

    The Bureau 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. Eligible proposals will be forwarded to 
panels of Bureau officers for advisory review. Proposals may also be 
reviewed by the Department of State's Legal Adviser or by other Bureau 
elements. Final funding decisions are at the discretion of the 
Department of State's Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and 
Public Affairs. Final technical authority for assistance awards (grants 
or cooperative agreements) resides with the Bureau'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. Program Development and Management: Proposals should exhibit 
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's 
mission as well as the objectives of the Hubert H. Humphrey Program. 
Proposals should demonstrate how the distribution of administrative 
staff and time will ensure adequate attention to the program 
implementation. The plan should also demonstrate the feasibility of 
achieving the objectives of the Humphrey Program by interpreting the 
goals for the Humphrey Program as well as providing innovative ideas 
and recommendations for Program segments. In addition, a detailed 
agenda and relevant work plan should demonstrate substantive 
undertakings and logistical capacity and should adhere to the program 
overview and guidelines stated in this solicitation and in the POGI.

[[Page 8231]]

    2. Multiplier effect/impact: The proposed administrative strategy 
should maximize the Humphrey Program's potential to encourage the 
establishment of long-term institutional and individual linkages.
    3. Support for Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate the 
recipient's commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding of 
diversity, and should include a strategy for achieving a diverse 
applicant pool for host institutions. In addition, diversity should be 
addressed in any program plans such as the fall seminar and, end-of-
year workshop and professional enhancement workshops.
    4. Institutional Capacity and Record: Proposals should demonstrate 
an institutional record of successful exchange programs, including 
responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting 
requirements for past Bureau grants as determined by grants staff. The 
Bureau will consider the past performance of prior recipients and the 
demonstrated potential of new applicants. Proposed personnel and 
institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve 
the Program's goals.
    5. Follow-on and Alumni Activities: Proposals should provide a plan 
for continued follow-on activity (both with and without Bureau support) 
ensuring that the Humphrey Fellowship year is not an isolated event. 
Activities should include tracking and maintaining updated lists of all 
alumni and facilitating follow-up activities for alumni.
    6. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan and 
methodology to evaluate the Humphrey Program's degree of success in 
meeting program goals, both as the activities unfold and at their 
conclusion. Draft survey questionnaires or other techniques plus a 
description of methodologies to use to link outcomes to original 
project objectives are recommended. Successful applicants will be 
expected to submit intermediate reports after each project component is 
concluded or quarterly.
    7. Cost-effectiveness and Cost Sharing: 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. Proposals should maximize cost-sharing 
through other private sector support as well as institutional direct 
funding contributions.

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.'' The funding authority for the 
program above is provided through legislation.

Notice

    The terms and conditions published in this RFP are binding and may 
not be modified by any Bureau 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 Bureau 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 Bureau procedures.

    Dated: February 7, 2000.
Evelyn S. Lieberman,
Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, U.S. 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 00-3683 Filed 2-16-00; 8:45 am]
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