[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 82 (Thursday, April 27, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24723-24726]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-10507]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 3301]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs; Fulbright Teacher 
Exchange Program

ACTION: Request for Proposals.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Global Educational Programs/Fulbright Teacher 
and Administrator Program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs announces an open competition. Public and private non-profit 
organizations meeting the provisions described in IRS regulation 26 CFR 
1.501(c) may submit proposals to provide administrative and program 
services for the Fulbright Teacher and Administrator Exchange Program. 
The total FY2001 grant award for program and administrative expenses 
may not exceed $1,322,000. Examples of services provided by the 
cooperating agency include: creating and updating handbooks and 
publicity materials; conducting recruitment campaigns and mailings; 
processing of all U.S. applications; pre-matching U.S. participants 
with foreign counterparts; monitoring program activities; paying 
stipends to and withholding taxes for selected foreign grantees; 
supporting special projects; administering alumni activities; and 
providing logistical support for Fall regional meetings and pre-
orientation May workshops.

Program Information

    Overview: The Fulbright Teacher and Administrator Program provides 
opportunities for teachers, administrators, and other school or college 
faculty to participate in direct exchanges of positions with colleagues 
from other countries for six weeks, a semester, or a full academic 
year.
    The program provides a rich professional growth opportunity while 
enhancing mutual understanding among foreign and U.S. teachers, 
administrators, and their students. The major program components 
include alumni relations, recruitment and outreach, participant 
matching, the administration of training and professional meeting 
programs, and monitoring and evaluation protocols. The cooperating 
agency must maintain a flexible approach in response to changing 
program needs and priorities. Effective and direct communications 
between the cooperating agency and the Fulbright Teacher Exchange 
Branch will be necessary at all times. Bi-monthly meetings, and other 
meetings pertaining to the grant's core program components will be held 
on a regular basis. The cooperating agency will also be responsible for 
maintaining telephone, e-mail, and fax communications with appropriate 
Branch and ECA staff.

Alumni Program

    A new alumni program initiative emphasizes the development of 
alumni groups throughout the United States. The cooperating agency will 
provide support to individual American alumni and assist them in 
developing their respective alumni groups. Alumni groups may develop 
small projects funded through this grant to enhance the program.

Recruitment and Outreach

    U.S. program participants are recruited through a nation-wide 
recruitment campaign conducted by the cooperating agency, based on 
teachers' and administrators' professional background and leadership 
potential. Foreign exchange participants are recruited and nominated by 
U.S. embassies or overseas Fulbright Commissions. To qualify for the 
program, participants must have a minimum of three years professional 
experience, hold an equivalent full-time teaching position and a 
Bachelor's degree, and be fluent in English.
    The cooperating agency will submit a yearly recruitment and 
outreach plan to the Branch and will be responsible for all recruitment 
activities including attendance at conferences, mass mailings of 
promotional materials, web site development, and responses to general 
inquires.

Matching

    All U.S. candidates are interviewed by volunteer peer review 
committees and are matched with foreign partners whose professional and 
personal backgrounds are congruent with the backgrounds of their 
American partner. The cooperating agency forwards candidate dossiers to 
over 30 countries for consideration. The dossiers are evaluated and 
matched by either the Fulbright Commission, the public affairs section 
of the U.S. Embassy, or an in-country hosting organization depending 
upon which organization implements the program in country. All final

[[Page 24724]]

matches must be mutually agreed upon by the U.S. and foreign program 
representatives.

Professional Meeting Program

    Regional meetings for U.S.-based foreign teachers are held at seven 
locations in the U.S. in the Fall of each academic year and are 
designed to broach the challenges of adjusting to teaching and living 
in the U.S. In addition, Spring meetings are held at about 20 to 25 
regional sites in the U.S., and represent the first step in preparing 
U.S. teachers for their overseas exchanges. Spring meetings also assist 
the foreign teachers in preparing for re-entry in their own countries. 
The cooperating agency will be responsible for obtaining local 
administrative and program support for both Fall and Spring meetings 
and will assist in staffing a portion of the meetings.

Monitoring

    During the academic year, the cooperating agency monitors the 
professional and personal well-being of the foreign teachers. Staff 
members from the cooperating organization evaluate and counsel foreign 
participants at approximately seven Fall and 20 to 25 May meetings. In 
addition, the cooperating agency will staff a full-time position solely 
for monitoring and supporting program participants. The cooperating 
agency consults with Branch staff and provides written reports on any 
issue that may adversely affect an exchange or the program in general.

Evaluation

    The cooperating agency will also be responsible for developing a 
summative program evaluation at the end of each academic year. The 
evaluation will include, but not be limited to, an assessment of the 
effectiveness of each of the program components and may include 
suggestions for program improvement and innovation.

Guidelines

    Approximately 200 exchanges (400 participants) are conducted 
yearly. The grant will begin on October 1, 2000 and will run through 
September 30, 2003. The administrative portion of the grant will only 
cover October 1, 2000 to September 30, 2001. The grant may be renewed 
annually for up to three years. Program participants will be recruited 
nationwide and from the full range of the teaching profession from 
primary to university level. The cooperating agency will also provide 
support for approximately 200 foreign teachers and administrators from 
approximately 30 countries.
    Applicants are requested to submit a narrative outlining their 
overall strategy for the administration and implementation of the 
Fulbright Teacher and Administrator Exchange Program as outlined in the 
RFP. In developing this strategy, applicants should provide a vision of 
the Program as a whole, interpreting the goals of the Program with 
creativity, as well as providing innovative ideas and recommendations. 
All administrative costs submitted for this competition must be 
reasonable and appropriate.
    This grant will include both the administrative and program 
portions of the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program as noted in this RFP 
and in the POGI. The FY 2001 cooperative agreement, which this 
announcement covers, will be a transition year during which the 
successful organization will have responsibility for all aspects of the 
program with the exception of the monitoring of program participants 
through December 30, 2001, and implementation of Fall meetings which 
will be funded out of the FY 2000 cooperative agreement budget.
    The FY 2000 administrative agreement with the current administering 
organization will be amended (with approximately $67,000 in FY 2001 
funds allocated to the amended FY 2000 cooperative agreement). The 
amendment would cover personnel and facility costs for supporting Fall 
meetings (budgeted in the FY 2000 cooperative agreement) and the 
monitoring of all U.S.-based program participants from October 1, 2000 
to December 30, 2000. The new contract agency will take over 
responsibility for program monitoring and all meetings beginning 
January 1, 2001. In FY 2002 and subsequent years, if the grant is 
renewed, the successful organization would additionally be responsible 
for monitoring the program of current year participants for the full 
year and implementation of Fall meetings.
    Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations. Please refer to 
Solicitation Package for further information.

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 $1,322,000. Applicants who submit a 
budget exceeding $1,322,000 will be deemed technically ineligible. 
There must be a summary budget as well as breakdowns reflecting both 
administrative and program budgets. The administrative budget should 
not exceed $791,000, which includes the $67,000 that would be allocated 
to the previous cooperating agency for monitoring and Fall meeting 
activities for the first quarter of the fiscal year. The program budget 
should include costs for stipends and tax payments, and transportation 
and per diem cost for Fall meeting participants and the cost of 
compensation provide to hosting organizations. Applicants may provide 
separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase, location, or 
activity to provide clarification. Personnel Overhead and G & A costs 
must not exceed the rate negotiated between the grantee organizations 
and their cognizant agency. Allowable costs for the program include 
salaries and benefits of grantee organization, and administrative and 
program costs for the program as outlined in the POGI.
    Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget 
guidelines and formatting instructions.
    Announcement Title and Number: All correspondence with the Bureau 
concerning this RFP should reference the above title and number ECA/A/
S/X-01-01.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: The Fulbright Teacher Exchange Branch 
of the Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, (ECA/A/S/X) SA-44, 301 4th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 
20547, telephone (202) 619-4569 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 
specify Bureau Program Officer John Cox 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, Bureau 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 ECA's website at http://exchanges.state.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

[[Page 24725]]

(ECA) by 5 p.m., Washington, DC time on Friday, June 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.
    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/X-01-01, Office of Program Management, 
ECA/EX/PM, Room 336, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
    Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines: Pursuant to the ECA'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,'' ECA ``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 ECA. 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.
    ECA 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

    ECA 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 Affairs section of U.S. 
Embassies, where appropriate. Eligible proposals will be forwarded to 
panels of Bureau 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 Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public 
Affairs. Final technical authority for assistance awards (grants or 
cooperative agreements) resides with the ECA'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 and Clarity of the Program planning: Proposals should 
exhibit originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the 
Bureau's mission. 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.
    2. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive 
support of the Bureau'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).
    3. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional 
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program or 
project's goals. Proposals should demonstrate an institutional record 
of successful program planning and implementation, including 
responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting 
requirements. The Bureau will consider the past performance of prior 
recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants.
    4. 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 are recommended. Successful applicants will be 
expected to submit intermediate reports after each project component is 
concluded or quarterly, whichever is less frequent.
    5. 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 ECA that contradicts published language will not be 
binding. Issuance of the RFP does not constitute an award commitment on 
the part of the Government. ECA 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.

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Notification

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

    Dated: April 20, 2000.
Evelyn S. Liebermann,
Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. 00-10507 Filed 4-26-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-11-P