[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 105 (Wednesday, May 31, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34782-34785]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-13538]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 3320]


Discretionary Grant Programs Application Notice Establishing 
Closing Date for Transmittal of Certain Fiscal Year 2000 Applications

AGENCY: The Department of State invites application from domestic 
(U.S.) and international non-profit and educational organizations with 
interest and expertise in providing administrative and operational 
support to United States sponsored programs in Cyprus. The grantee will 
maintain and manage the Bicommunal Support Program (BSP) to be known as 
BSP 2000. The grant will be awarded through an evaluation process among 
the responding organizations.

SUMMARY: The purpose of this application notice is to inform potential 
applicant organizations of fiscal, programmatic information, and 
closing dates for transmittal of applications for Fiscal Year 2000 
award under a program administrated by the Department of State. The 
program seeks to implement, under the direction of the American 
Embassy, Cyprus, a minimum of twelve (12) bicommunal programs for Greek 
Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots over a fourteen-month period starting 
approximately forty-five days from the notification date of grant 
award, but not later than 5 September 2000. The actual number of 
programs will be determined by availability of funds and changes in 
political conditions on the island.
    Organization Notice: This notice contains three parts. Part I list 
the closing date covered by this notice. Part II consist of a statement 
of work (SOW) for the program. Part III provides fiscal information and 
evaluation criteria for the program.

Part I--Closing Date for Transmittal of Applications

    An application for award must be received by mail or hand delivered 
by 4 pm, local time, 30 June 2000.

Applications Delivered by Mail

    An Application sent by mail must be addressed to: Dr. Holly Peirce, 
Bicommunal Coordinator, American Embassy Nicosia, FPO, AE 09836.
    Any applications received by the advisory committee staff by mail 
after the closing time and date, will not be considered and will be 
returned unopened to the applicant.
    It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure any application 
is received on time.

Application Delivered by Hand

    An application that is hand delivered must be to: American Embassy, 
North Gate, Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, Nicosia, Cyprus, 
Attention: Holly Peirce (x2064) or Rita Shipillis (x2605).
    The advisory committee staff will accept hand-delivered 
applications between 9 am and 4 pm, local time, daily, except 
Saturdays, Sundays, and Cypriot and U.S. Federal Holidays.
    An application that is hand delivered will not be accepted after 
4:00 PM on the closing date.

Part II--Program Information

Background

    a. For decades, Cyprus has been an island divided by strife between 
the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. As a result, Cyprus 
is a potential flash point between two NATO allies, Greece and Turkey. 
The U.S. is committed to finding a reasonable and practical federal 
solution to the Cyprus problem. We utilize two main means in our 
efforts. Track I focuses on bringing the leaders of the two communities 
to negotiate a resolution of their difficulties. Track II creates the 
atmosphere for the political leaders to reach a settlement, as well as 
encouraging cooperation after a political solution is reached, by 
bringing together Cypriot opinion and business leaders on projects and 
activities which emphasize a political settlement. The BSP is a key 
part of our Track II efforts.
    b. The BSP was created in January 2000 to provide a funding 
mechanism consistent with the legislative intent of the Economic 
Support Funds (ESF) annual earmark for Cyprus.
    c. The BSP mechanism will carry out U. S. Embassy-designed 
bicommunal programs that involve key people and institutions on 
politically sensitive topics in support of Track I policy goals. These 
programs will be distinct from but complementary to, the UNDP/UNOPS 
Bicommunal Development Program, which funds practical bicommunal 
projects and aims to strengthen institutional development and civil 
society, and with the Fulbright Commission-administered CASP, which 
funds scholarships, technical training and open-competition bicommunal 
programs.
    d. The BSP program agent (the Grantee) will implement BSP programs 
by awarding sub-grants. In support of its base of operations, it will 
maintain a full-time resident representative in Cyprus in a Nicosia 
Field Office to organize bicommunal programs with input from the U. S. 
Embassy's Bicommunal Team, communicated via the Bicommunal Coordinator 
(BC) or other designee. Because of the political and economic 
conditions on the island, the full-time resident representative should 
be a locally hired American. After a grantee is selected, the U. S. 
Embassy BC will assist the grantee to identify qualified candidates on 
the island. Estimated recruitment cost of the Field Office 
Representative (FOR) (including advertising, travel, lodging, and per 
diem either for a grantee representative to come to Cyprus to select 
and train the FOR or for the FOR to go to the US for training) should 
be itemized in the budget submittal. The grantee has the option to send 
and provide a representative to hire and train the FOR in Cyprus, or 
conduct job interviews by phone and train the FOR

[[Page 34783]]

at a location of their choice. After training, the grantee is to 
provide a facility and the FOR will establish and open the field 
office. The Grantee will implement bicommunal programs under the 
Embassy's direction, in furtherance of Track 1 policy goals. The BC or 
other Embassy designee will approve all sub-grants prior to award.
    e. At present there is a Turkish-Cypriot ban on on-island 
bicommunal activities that necessitates that programs be conducted in 
the U.S. and third countries. When the ban is lifted, more programming 
will be done on-island. All programs will be bicommunal in nature; i.e. 
Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots will receive training or attend 
conferences together. Occasionally it may be necessary to conduct 
separate, parallel training for both communities. Most training will be 
of a professional nature and focus on areas where both communities will 
work together in the future (e.g. environment, customs and immigration, 
finance, health, federal law enforcement, and federalism). Most 
training will include an element of conflict resolution skills. Groups 
will likely range from four to twenty participants off-island and more 
on-island. The typical program has lasted between one and three weeks, 
with an occasional smaller program of a longer duration. Potential 
workshop topics include, but are not limited to highway planning, fire 
fighting, emergency rescue techniques, NGO training, a Cyprus 
documentary, and ESOL teachers scholarships. The Bicommunal Coordinator 
will assist the FOR in bundling the selected programs for the purposes 
of RFPs.

Scope of Work

    The Grantee shall implement the BSP program in accordance with the 
following:
    The Grantee will:
    (1) Provide at a minimum one permanent FOR, experienced in human 
resource development, institution strengthening, and technical 
assistance programming.
    In addition:
    (a) Grantee must be a Program Sponsor and be approved to write 
IAP66 forms for travel to the U. S. on J visas.
    (b) Grantee must be aware that acquiring visas for Turkish Cypriots 
to most third-countries can be a lengthy process.
    (c) Grantee must be aware that Turkish Cypriots must fly from Ercan 
airport to Turkey and onward from there. Most travel agents speak only 
Turkish, but are accustomed to working with U.S. Embassy programs.
    (d) Grantee must be aware that Greek Cypriots fly from Larnaca 
airport. Most travel agents speak some English.
    (e) The Joint Travel Regulations and the Fly America Act apply to 
all travel.
    (2) Provide FOR(s) with administrative, logistics and programming 
support in the United States to carry out U.S.-based workshops.
    The FOR(s) will:
    (1) The FOR(s) must be competent in making travel and related 
arrangements, to include assisting Cypriots in acquiring visas to the 
U.S. and other countries, as well as arranging on-island speeches and 
programs.
    (2) The FOR(s) must have excellent written and spoken English 
skills.
    (3) The FOR(s) must seek and obtain policy guidance from the 
Embassy and demonstrate ability to work effectively in a highly charged 
and delicate political atmosphere. Familiarity with the Cyprus problem 
and/or experience working in internal conflict situations would be 
helpful.
    (4) The FOR(s) must have the ability to function unimpeded in both 
communities (i.e., to cross the Green Line between the Greek Cypriot 
and Turkish Cypriot communities). Currently Cypriots are prevented from 
working in each other's communities. Due to the political sensitivity 
of the program, it is necessary that neither Greek Cypriots nor Turkish 
Cypriots be hired for this program. A local hire American citizen(s) 
should be contracted for the position. (See point d in Background 
section) Greek and/or Turkish language skills are desirable, but not 
necessary, as English is widely spoken in the south and among the 
target training audience. A translator may occasionally need to be 
employed for logistical dealings in the north.

    Note: The Embassy will seek approval by the Government of Cyprus 
to grant the FOR administrative and technical (A and T) status, 
thereby enabling the Grantee to obtain a diplomatic pass, which 
facilitates travel to the north. If such status is granted to the 
Grantee, he/she becomes associated with the U.S. Embassy and will be 
asked adhere to U.S. Embassy standards of conduct. Note that spouses 
of diplomatic personnel have generally unimpeded access to the north 
and would not need A&T status.

Work Requirements

    The Grantee will manage the U.S. Embassy Nicosia's BSP funds over a 
fourteen-month period. The Grantee will:
    1. Take direction from the U.S. Embassy's Bicommunal Team via the 
Bicommunal Coordinator or other embassy designated individual.
    2. Implement programs requested by the U.S. Embassy, via the 
Bicommunal Coordinator, to train U.S. Embassy-selected Greek Cypriot 
and Turkish Cypriot participants either in the U.S., Cyprus, or a third 
country.
    3. Implement a minimum of twelve programs with the BSP 2000 funds 
within the fourteen-month period.
    4. Coordinate with the Program Office any reprogramming of unspent 
BSP funds six months prior to the end of the grant.
    5. Implement the program which will include, but is not limited to:
    Cyprus-based:
    (a) Draft Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for approval by the 
Bicommunal Coordinator and the U.S. Embassy's Bicommunal Team.
    (b) Handle pre-departure logistics, including but not limited to: 
invitation letters, international air travel, health insurance for 
third-countries, passports, visas, military-service waivers, U.S. tax 
forms, and orientation in both communities.
    (c) Consult with Bicommunal Coordinator and Public Affairs Officer 
(PAO) regarding favorable publicity opportunities.
    (d) Issue participant reimbursements for miscellaneous expenses.
    (e) Debrief participants in conjunction with Bicommunal 
Coordinator.
    (f) Maintain accounting control over the funds provided by BSP by 
following standard U.S. accounting practices and the requirements of 
OMB Circulars A-122 and A-133.
    (g) Obtain reports from sub-grantees within sixty (60) days of 
program completion for review by the Bicommunal Coordinator and U.S. 
Embassy's Bicommunal Team.
    U.S.-based:
    (h) Issue, receive and evaluate offers from RFPs submitted by 
potential sub-grantee(s). Provide recommendations to FOR and Bicommunal 
Coordinator.
    (i) Negotiate package(s) with Embassy-selected sub-grantee.
    (j) Acquire health insurance for participants in U.S.-based 
programs.
    (k) Issue payments to sub-grantee(s).
    (l) Maintain accounting control over the funds provided by BSP by 
following standard U.S. accounting practices and the requirements of 
OMB Circulars A-122 and A-133.
    (m) Obtain reports from sub-grantees within sixty (60) days of 
program completion for review by the Bicommunal Coordinator and U.S. 
Embassy's Bicommunal Team.
    6. Liaison with main office in United States.
    7. Maintain office supervision of the Nicosia Field Office. The 
person

[[Page 34784]]

responsible for supervising the Nicosia Field Office is required to 
visit Cyprus at least twice during the grant for consultations.
    8. Ensure the Nicosia Field Office is adequately covered, either 
locally or from the U.S. office, during the local Grantee's vacations.
    9. Obtain Embassy Nicosia concurrence for other employment, or 
membership in organizations, organized political or other activity 
which could give the impression of partiality to one side or the other.
    10. Establish the Nicosia Field Office complete with phone, fax, 
email, and computer with Grantee resources and at the Grantee's 
expense.
    11. Have the Nicosia Field Office functioning with the employee(s) 
in place and work space acquired no later than 45 days from the date 
which the Grantee is notified of its bid being accepted, or 5 September 
2000, whichever is sooner. The Grantee will have at least half the RFPs 
announced by 29 September and at least two programs scheduled to begin 
no later than 1 December 2000.

Reporting Requirements

    a. The Grantee shall furnish two short monthly reports (a 
Chronological Individual Program Update and a Financial Report) on the 
status of the programs (including, but not limited to: title, dates, 
location, purpose, numbers of participants, sub-grantee, cost of 
individual programs, remaining budget, and any problems encountered) of 
the requested workshops and activities to the Bicommunal Coordinator on 
or before the first Monday of each month. The Embassy Bicommunal Team, 
via the Bicommunal Coordinator or other designee, has the authority to 
request that additional information be included in the reports if 
deemed necessary by the Embassy.
    b. Provide A/LM/AQM with one administrative copy of each report.
    c. The Grantee shall furnish seven (7) copies of a quarterly report 
and a final report in a format similar to the monthly reports to the 
Embassy (Bicommunal Coordinator, ADMIN, PAO, ECON/USAID, POL, DCM, and 
Ambassador) and one (1) copy to A/LM/AQM and one (1) to the Cyprus Desk 
in Washington, DC. The quarterly reports shall include but are not 
limited to: title, dates, location, purpose, number of participants, 
sub-grantee, cost of individual programs, unspent budget funding, and 
any problems encountered by the requested workshops to the Bicommunal 
Coordinator no later than September 30, 2000, December 30, 2000, March 
30, 2001, June 30, 2001, and September 30, 2001. The Embassy Bicommunal 
Team, via the Bicommunal Coordinator or other designee, may request 
additional information if required by the Embassy.
    d. The Grantee will revise the Administrative Budget during the 
seventh month to accurately reflect the actual costs of the programs 
and assist in the budgeting of future programs. If actual costs have 
exceeded the fifteen (15%) percent of the original budget, a 
supplemental report must be submitted to the Grant Officer explaining 
the cause, with justification if possible, within ten working days of 
the report.
    e. The Grantee will provide reports on each completed sub-grant, 
ensure that best practices are implemented by all participants, and 
make suggestions for programs/economies/efficiencies, as well as 
providing management and accounting reports to improve the operation of 
BSP.
    f. Under no circumstances may the Grantee expend or obligate the 
U.S. government for costs in excess of this cooperative agreement.

Part III--Fiscal Information and Evaluation Criteria

    Awards are contingent upon the availability of funds. Funding may 
be available at a level up to $1.6 million. The precise level of 
funding will not be known until legislative action is complete. In 
Fiscal Year 1999 the Congress appropriated ``Economic Support Fund'' of 
$15,000,000 to be used only for scholarships, administrative support of 
the scholarship program, bicommunal projects, and measures aimed at 
reunification of the island and designed to reduce tensions and promote 
peace and cooperation between the two communities on Cyprus. The 
funding for each area varies each year depending upon events and 
conditions on the island.
    The Department cannot commit funds that may be appropriated in 
subsequent fiscal years. This potential multi-year program cannot 
receive assured funding unless such funding is supplied out of a single 
year's appropriation. Grant agreements may permit the expenditure from 
a particular year's grant to be made for up to three years after the 
grant's effective date.

Applications

    Applications must be prepared and submitted in seven (7) copies in 
the form of a statement, the narrative part should not exceed 15 double 
spaced pages. A one page executive summary, an itemized budget and 
budget summary, and vitae of proposed staff must accompany this, with 
the exception of the FOR who may be hired locally after the award. 
Applicants may append other information they consider essential, 
although bulky submissions are discouraged and run the risk of being 
confusing, conflicting, and unclear. The one-page executive summary and 
budget submission should precede the narrative in the proposal.
    The proposed program should be described fully, including goals and 
benefits for cooperation and reunification of the two communities. All 
applicants should provide detailed information about their plans and 
procedures for advertising, receiving, reviewing, and awarding a 
minimum of twelve programs, preferably in bundled RFPs.
    A description of affirmative action policies and practices must be 
included in the application.
    Applications should include certification of compliance with the 
provisions: (1) The Drug Free Workplace Act (PL 100-690) in accordance 
with Appendix C of 22 CFR 137, Subpart F; and (2) Section 319 of the 
Department of Interior and Related Agencies Appropriate Act (PL 101-
121) in accordance with Appendix A of 22 CFR 138, New Restrictions on 
Lobbying Activities.
    Grants awarded to eligible organizations with less than four years 
experience in conducting international exchange programs will be 
limited to $60,000.

Budget

    Applicants should familiarize themselves with Department of State 
grant regulations contained in 22 CFR 145, ``Grants and Cooperative 
Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and other 
Non-profit Organizations'' OMB Circular A-110, ``Grants and Agreements 
with Institutes of Higher Education * * * Uniform Administrative 
Requirements'', and ``Audits of Institutions of Higher Learning and 
other Non-profit Institutions'' OMB Circular A-133, and indicate or 
provide the following information:
    (1) Whether the organization falls under OMB Circular A-21, ``Cost 
Principles for Educational Institutions'', or OMB Circular A-122, `` 
Cost Principles for Non-profit Organizations'';
    (2) A detailed program budget indicating labor categories, number 
of employees proposed, hourly rates, and number of hours proposed, 
applicable overhead cost, administrative cost including rent, 
utilities, office equipment, travel expenses, supplies,

[[Page 34785]]

etc, and overall indirect rates in cost and by percentage. It is the 
desire of the Department of State to have the maximum utilization of 
the limited funds used for program operation in lieu of administrative 
and indirect cost. A ``Special Note'' to offerors. While the grant may 
not be awarded on the basis of lowest overall cost, the program cost to 
administrative cost and the direct cost to indirect cost ratios will be 
an important issue in the final selection. Applicants requesting funds 
to supplement a program having other sources of support should submit a 
current budget for it showing how specific lines in the budget would be 
affected by the allocation of requested grant funds. Other funding 
sources and amounts, when known, should be identified.
    (3) The applicant's cost sharing proposal, if applicable containing 
appropriate details and cross-references to the requested budget.
    (4) The organization's most recent audit report (the most recent 
U.S. Government audit report if available) and the name, address, and 
point of contact of the audit agency. Notice to Applicants: The 
threshold for grants that trigger an audit requirement under OMB 
Circular A-133 has been raised from $25,000.00 to $300,000.00.
    (5) An indication of the offer's priorities if funding is being 
requested for more than one program or activity.
    All payments will be made to the recipient through the Department 
of State.

Evaluation Factors and Proposal Selection

    A Technical Evaluation Panel (TEP) will perform the technical 
review from the U.S. Embassy's Bicommunal Team in Nicosia.
    A/LM/AQM will make the final selection after reviewing evaluation 
results and recommendations from the TEP. The applicant should describe 
its overall organizational and management structure. Domestic and 
international. It should describe how the capabilities of this 
structure will compliment actual operation and success of the program. 
It should describe all previous experience with similar programs and 
layout tentative operational plans that demonstrate complete 
understanding of the requirements of the Statement of Work. The 
proposal should reflect the institution's expertise in international 
affairs, especially those that pertain to the current political, 
economic, and social environment on the island of Cyprus. Since the BSP 
focuses on bringing together the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot 
communities on Cyprus, a perception of total impartiality in the 
application will also be a tantamount issue. The proposal should also 
demonstrate the applicant's overall management approach is rational and 
within reason. The technical elements of the proposal will be 
significantly more important than the cost proposal in the final 
selection process. The applicant should specifically address each of 
the evaluation criteria elements identified below. The proposal should 
address succinctly, but completely, the elements described below and 
follow the format requirements. Proposals should include the following 
items:

TAB A--Table of Contents and Executive Summary
TAB B--Narrative
    The narrative should demonstrate proven ability to handle logistics 
as well as include the U.S. institution's mission and date of 
establishment.
TAB C--Budget Submission
    The budget included with the proposal should be broken down into 
the administrative direct cost of the program and the indirect cost. 
Direct costs are those costs that are totally attributed to the cost of 
the program. Indirect costs are those costs that are attributed to the 
overall operation of the organization.
TAB D--Past Performance References
    At a minimum, the applicant will provide the following information 
for three references:

 Name of the referenced organization
 Project name
 Project description
 Performance period of the contract/grant
 Amount of the contract/grant
 Technical contact person and telephone number for referenced 
organization
 Administrative contact person and telephone number for 
referenced organization

    A/LM/AQM may contact representatives from the organizations cited 
in the examples to obtain information on the applicant's past 
performance. A/LM/AQM also may obtain past performance information from 
sources other than those identified by the applicant.

Resumes

    Resumes of any key program staff, except the proposed FOR should be 
included in the submission. Proposed personnel and institutional 
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program's 
goals. Resume should not exceed two pages.
    The proposals will be considered on the following criteria in 
priority order:
A. Organizational Capabilities
    1. Organizational experience and/or knowledge of the political, 
economic, and social environment on Cyprus.
    2. Demonstrates sensitivity to political and cultural concerns of a 
divided Cyprus.
    3. Demonstrates an understanding of the program.
    4. Qualifications and experience of corporate staff.
    5. The organizational structure and management capabilities of the 
offeror.
    6. The international structure and experience of the offeror.
B. Program Capabilities
    1. Ability to have Nicosia Field Office open by 21 August 2000.
    2. Demonstrates understanding of program and experience and 
knowledge to provide the development of the Bicommunal programs.
C. Program/Administrative and Direct/Indirect Cost Comparisons and 
Overall Cost

Proposal Deadline

    Seven copies of the proposal should be submitted by 30 June 2000, 4 
pm local time to:
    An Application sent by mail must be addressed to: Dr. Holly Peirce, 
Bicommunal Coordinator, American Embassy Nicosia, FPO, AE 09836.
    An application that is hand delivered must be to: American Embassy, 
North Gate, Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, Nicosia, Cyprus, 
Attention: Holly Peirce (x2064) or Rita Shipillis (x2605).

Scott McDonald,
Post Management Officer, Bureau of European Affairs, Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. 00-13538 Filed 5-30-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-23-P