[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 236 (Thursday, December 7, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76700-76703]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-31077]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 3492]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs; Project in Curriculum 
Development and Faculty Training at the University of Pristina, Kosovo; 
Request for Grant Proposals

SUMMARY:  The Office of Global Educational Programs of the Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs in the Department of State announces 
an open competition for an assistance award to support the development 
of programs of instruction and faculty training at the University of 
Pristina in one or both of the following two fields: (1) Business 
management and entrepreneurship; and (2) public administration. 
Organizations meeting the provisions described in IRS regulation 26 CFR 
1.501(c) may submit proposals that address one or both of these 
objectives. The means for achieving these objectives may include 
mentoring, teaching, consultation, research, distance education, 
internship training, and professional outreach to public and private 
sector managers, entrepreneurs, and local government administrators in 
Kosovo.
    Overview and Project Objectives: The project is designed to assist 
the University of Pristina to develop a modern program in business 
management education to facilitate the development of entrepreneurial 
and business activity in Kosovo. The project is also designed to enable 
the University of Pristina to develop a program of instruction in 
public administration to increase efficiency and accountability in the 
administration of the public sector in Kosovo. Applicants may submit 
proposals focusing on either, or both of the two disciplines.
    In business management, proposals should emphasize practical 
strategies to assist the faculty to develop a new curriculum in 
business management focusing on accounting, finance, banking, 
entrepreneurship, and the role of women in business. In public 
administration, proposed activities should assist with curriculum 
design and faculty training in local government administration, 
taxation, financial management, land registry/ownership and property 
rights. The inclusion of organizational development and personnel 
management among proposed activities is also encouraged. Proposals 
should include an emphasis on providing practical training and hands-on 
experience in local government administration as well as techniques for 
drafting legislation. Proposals should explain how the public 
administration program will equip the University to

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promote concepts of accountability and transparency in the 
administration of the public sector in Kosovo.
    Bureau policy stipulates that awards to organizations with less 
than four years experience in conducting international exchanges are 
limited to $60,000. The Bureau anticipates awarding either two grants 
not to exceed $221,300 (one grant for each one of the two designated 
disciplines), or one grant not to exceed $442,600 to work in both 
disciplines. Funds will be awarded for a period up to two years to 
defray the costs of exchanges, to provide educational materials, and to 
increase library holdings and improve Internet connections. Up to 30% 
of the grant total may be used to defray the costs of project 
administration.
    The project should pursue these objectives through a strategy that 
coordinates the participation of junior and senior level faculty, 
administrators, or graduate students for any appropriate combination of 
teaching, mentoring, internships, in-service training and outreach, for 
exchange visits ranging from one week to an academic year. Visits of 
one semester or longer for participants from Kosovo are strongly 
encouraged and program activities must be tied to the goals and 
objectives of the program. The strategy may include intensive English 
language training for selected participants, whose prior knowledge of 
English may need to be refreshed.
    If the proposed project would occur within the context of a 
previous or ongoing project, the proposal should explain how the 
request for Bureau funding would build upon the pre-existing 
relationship or complement previous and concurrent projects, which must 
be listed and described with details about the amounts and sources of 
external support. Previous projects should be described in the 
proposal, and the results of the evaluation of previous cooperative 
efforts should be summarized.
    U.S. Institution and Participant Eligibility: In the United States, 
participation in the program is open to accredited two and four-year 
colleges and universities, including graduate schools, as well as to 
other organizations meeting the provisions described in IRS regulation 
26 CFR 1.501(c). Applications from consortia or other combinations of 
U.S. colleges and universities are eligible. The lead U.S. organization 
in the consortium or other combination of cooperating institutions is 
responsible for submitting the application. Each application must 
document the lead organization's authority to represent all U.S. 
cooperating partners.
    With the exception of an outside consultant reporting on the degree 
to which project objectives have been achieved, participants who are 
traveling under the Bureau's grant funds must be teachers, advanced 
graduate students, who are teaching or research assistants, or 
administrators from the participating institution(s). Advanced graduate 
students are eligible for Bureau-funded participation in this program 
only if they are working under the direction of an accompanying faculty 
participant.
    Kosovo Institutional and Participant Eligibility: In Kosovo, the 
partner is the University of Pristina. Secondary foreign partners may 
include relevant governmental and non-governmental organizations, as 
well as non-profit service and professional organizations concerned 
with issues in business development and/or public administration 
training in Kosovo. Foreign participants will be selected in 
consultation with the U.S. Office in Pristina and must be instructors 
at the University of Pristina, or persons preparing to become 
instructors at the University of Pristina, who are eligible to receive 
a J-1 visa.
    Budget Guidelines: Applicants may submit a budget up to $221,300 
for projects focusing on one discipline, or a budget up to $442,600 for 
projects focusing on both of them. Requests for amounts smaller than 
the maximum are eligible. Budget notes should carefully justify the 
amounts needed. There must be a summary budget as well as a breakdown 
reflecting the program and administrative budgets including unit costs. 
Applicants submitting a budget for the combined program must separate 
budgets for each sub-project. Cost-sharing will be considered an 
important indicator of institutional commitment. Please refer to the 
Solicitation Package for complete guidelines and formatting 
instructions.
    Announcement Title and Number: All correspondence with the Bureau 
of Educational and Cultural Affairs concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title ``Project in Curriculum Development and 
Faculty Training at the University of Pristina'' and reference number 
ECA/A/S/U-01-04.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Contact the Humphrey Fellowships and 
Institutional Linkages Branch, Office of Global Educational Programs, 
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs; ECA/A/S/U, Room 349, SA-44; 
U.S. Department of State, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, 
phone (202) 619-5289, fax: (202) 401-1433, e-mail: 
[email protected] to request a Solicitation Package.
    The Solicitation Package contains detailed award criteria, required 
application forms, and guidelines for preparing proposals, including 
specific criteria for preparation of the proposal budget. Please 
specify the above reference number on all inquiries and correspondence.
    Please read the complete Federal Register announcement before 
sending inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP 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 Bureau's website at 
http://exchanges.state.gov/education/rfgps. Please read all information 
before downloading.
    Deadline of Proposals: All proposal copies must be received at the 
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs by 5 p.m. Washington DC time 
on Wednesday, March 14, 2001. Faxed documents will not be accepted at 
any time. Documents postmarked by the due date but received on a later 
date will not be accepted. It is the responsibility of each applicant 
to ensure compliance with the deadline.
    Approximate Program Dates: Grants should begin on or about August 
1, 2001.
    Duration: August 1, 2001-August 30, 2003.
    Submissions: 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, SA-44, Ref.: ECA/A/S/U-01-
04, Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, Room 534, 301 4th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20547.
    All copies should include the documents specified under Tabs A 
through E in the ``Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation'' 
(POGI) section of the Solicitation Package. The documents under Tab F 
of the POGI should be submitted with the original application and with 
one of the ten copies.
    Proposals that do not follow RFGP requirements and the guidelines 
appearing in the POGI and PSI may be excluded from consideration due to 
technical ineligibility.
    Applicants must also submit the ``Executive Summary'' and 
``Proposal Narrative'' Sections of the proposal on a 3.5" diskette, 
formatted for DOS. This material must be provided in ASCII text (DOS) 
format with a maximum line length of 65 characters. The Bureau will

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transmit these files electronically to the U.S. Office in Pristina for 
its review, with the goal of reducing time it takes to get the post's 
comments for the Bureau'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, 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.'' Public Law 106-113 requires that the governments of 
the countries described above do not have inappropriate influence in 
the selection process. Proposals should reflect advancement of these 
goals in their program contents, to the full extent deemed feasible.
    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, as well as the U.S. Office in 
Pristina. Eligible proposals will be subject to compliance with Federal 
and Bureau regulations and guidelines and forwarded to Bureau grant 
panels 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 
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final 
technical authority for assistance awards (grants or cooperative 
agreements) resides with the Bureau's Grants Officer.
    Review Criteria: State Department officers in Washington, DC and 
overseas will use the criteria below to reach funding recommendations 
and decisions. Technically eligible applications will be competitively 
reviewed according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are not 
rank-ordered or weighted.
    1. Quality of the Program Idea: Proposals should exhibit 
originality, substance, precision, and resourcefulness. Proposals 
should exhibit sensitivity to the region, and have reasonable and 
feasible project objectives that are relevant to the needs of the 
University of Pristina. Proposals should describe projected benefits to 
the institutions involved as well as to wider communities of educators 
and practitioners in Kosovo.
    2. Program Planning: Proposals should include creative, realistic 
and feasible program plans to achieve project objectives and a detailed 
schedule, which should include a well-reasoned combination of useful 
and appropriate mentoring, teaching training and methodology workshops, 
and outreach activities supporting the project objectives.
    3. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive 
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity by explaining how issues of 
diversity relate to project objectives and how these issues will be 
addressed during project implementation. Proposals should also outline 
the institutional profile of each participating institution with regard 
to issues of diversity.
    4. Institutional Capacity and Commitment: Proposals should 
demonstrate significant understanding of the institutional needs and 
capacities at the University of Pristina as well as the U.S. 
institution's capacities, and should demonstrate a strong commitment, 
during and after the period of the grant activity, to on-going 
cooperation. Relevant factors include: The match between participating 
organizations or departments, and availability of sufficient number of 
faculty and/or administrators willing and able to participate in 
project activities. Proposals should demonstrate the promise of 
sustainability and long-term impact, as reflected in a plan for follow-
on activities.
    5. Institutional Record/Ability: Proposals should demonstrate an 
institutional record of administering successful exchange programs, 
including responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all 
reporting requirements for past Bureau grants as determined by the 
State Department's contracts officers. The Bureau will consider the 
past performance of prior award recipients and the demonstrated 
potential of new applicants. Reviewers will also consider the quality 
of exchange participants' academic credentials, skills, commitment and 
experience relative to the goals and activities of the project plan.
    6. Project Evaluation: The proposal should outline a methodology to 
assess progress toward the achievement of project goals. The final 
evaluation should include an external component and observations about 
anticipated long-term impact on business conditions and/or public 
sector administration in Kosovo.
    7. Cost-Effectiveness: Administrative and program costs should be 
reasonable and appropriate with cost sharing provided as a reflection 
of the applicant's commitment to the pursuit of project objectives.

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 cited above is provided through the Support for East European 
Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989.

Notice

    The terms and conditions published in this RFGP are binding and may 
not be modified by any Bureau representative. Explanatory information 
provided by the Bureau that contradicts published language will not be 
binding. Issuance of the RFGP 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.
    Projects must conform with Bureau requirements and guidelines 
outlined in the solicitation package. The POGI, a document describing 
this project's objectives, goals, and implementation, is included in 
the solicitation package.

[[Page 76703]]

Notification

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

    Dated: November 29, 2000.
William B. Bader,
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 00-31077 Filed 12-6-00; 8:45 am]
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