[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 241 (Thursday, December 14, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78249-78253]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-32003]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 3509]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Request for Grant 
Proposals: 2001 Summer Institute for English Language Educators From 
South Africa

SUMMARY: The African Programs Branch, Office of Academic Exchange 
Programs of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, announces 
an open competition for the 2001 Summer Institute for English Language 
Educators from South Africa. Accredited, post secondary educational 
institutions meeting the provisions described in IRS regulation 26 CFR 
1.501(c) may submit proposals to provide a six-week academic training 
program for approximately 28 English language educators from South 
Africa. Subject to availability of funds, one grant will be awarded to 
conduct the 2001 Institute.

Program Information

Overview

    American institutions of higher education having an acknowledged 
reputation in the field of English-as-a-second language (ESL) and in 
curriculum design may apply to develop and deliver a six-week summer 
program for approximately twenty-eight English language teaching 
educators from South Africa. The Summer Institute should be programmed 
to encompass about 45 days and should begin on or about June 16, 2001. 
A variation in start date, up to one week beyond June 16, 2001, will be 
considered if it is necessitated by the host institution's academic 
calendar. The first five weeks of the program will consist of academic 
coursework specializing in project-based ESL materials development/
delivery focusing on three content-based areas (i.e., HIV-AIDS, civic 
and values education, entrepreneurship, and/or environmental 
education). Support for these ESL content-based projects through 
classroom management and curriculum design at the South African 
secondary and tertiary levels will be developed. A web site will be 
developed for all projects. The sixth week will consist of an escorted 
cultural and educational tour of Washington, D.C.
    The 2001 Summer Institute for English Language Educators from South 
Africa will provide participants with intensive training in the 
fundamentals of content-based ESL materials development/delivery, 
classroom management and curriculum design. These three areas are 
critical in South Africa where educators are attempting

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to create a new English curriculum in a context of educational 
transformation and Outcomes Based Education (OBE). Given the need to 
teach content-based English across the South African curriculum, 
English language educators are key personnel for quality learning. 
Presently, there exists a severe shortage of skilled classroom 
educators. South African teachers will need to produce and deliver 
culturally appropriate and pedagogically sound content-based materials 
in a multi-cultural setting.
    The Summer Institute will also provide structured exposure to U.S. 
culture and the diversity of America. The problems of teaching in a 
multi-cultural society should be a component of the program. The 
program should maintain a relative balance among discussion sessions, 
lectures and collaborative workshops. A web site is recommended for 
participants' projects. Lengthy lectures should be kept at a minimum. 
Participants should be given ample opportunity to work together and 
learn from each other as well as from their American instructors. Given 
the project-based orientation exploring the themes of HIV-AIDS, civic 
and values education, entrepreneurship and/or environmental education, 
selected participants will be able to share not only content but 
relevant ESL materials with their colleagues and home institutions. 
Participants will receive an educational materials allowance.
    Few participants will have visited the United States previously. In 
view of this, an initial orientation to the university community and a 
brief introduction to U.S. society and education should be considered 
an integral part of the Institute and should be held on the first two 
to three days of the program.

Program Guidelines

    The applicant is asked to design a two-part program: (1) A five-
week academic program supporting South Africa's goal of education 
transformation through the delivery of intensive training in content-
based materials development, classroom management and curriculum design 
for Outcomes Based Education (OBE) and ESL learning (English across the 
curriculum) at the secondary and tertiary levels. Division into 3-4 
manageable project teams, each with a selected thematic/content focus 
and each targeting the particular needs of the secondary and tertiary 
levels is essential. Training should be sensitive to any special needs 
of the South African participants.
    (2) A one-week escorted visit to Washington, D.C., planned, 
arranged, and conducted by the Institute Program Director and principal 
Institute staff. The Washington program should be seen as an integral 
part of the Summer Institute, complementing and reinforcing both the 
academic and thematic content. This escorted visit should take place at 
the end of the Institute. Programming in Washington will include a 
half-day briefing session at the Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, United States Department of State. Additionally, visits to 
such organizations as TESOL, a regional university, local school 
systems and teacher resource centers, are encouraged. Proposals may 
include cultural and educational visits en route to Washington, if such 
stops contribute to program quality and are cost effective. The 
participants will return to South Africa at the conclusion of the 
Washington program.
    Specific areas to address in the Institute are:
    1. Materials development/delivery with an emphasis on content-based 
ESL instruction. Thematic issues should include HIV-AIDS, civic and 
values education, entrepreneurship and/or environmental education 
(examples can be found at: http://exchanges.state.gov/forum/journal/).
    2. Classroom management (for secondary levels).
    3. Education Technology:
    (a) Introduction and/or enrichment of computer-based word 
processing and appropriate software for participants who lack these 
skills. Introduction to computer networks for ESL professionals.
    (b) Introduction and/or enrichment of knowledge of e-mail, usenet 
and the World Wide Web as pedagogic and research tools.
    4. Visits to:
    (a) Local institutions and organizations related to thematic areas.
    (b) On-going ESL classes at the host institution, other 
universities, and in local educational or community centers, providing 
participants with opportunities to observe ESL methodology, materials, 
and multi-cultural classrooms featuring content-based language learning 
across the curriculum.
    5. Involvement of participants in American culture through 
community/cultural activities. This should include interaction with 
Americans from a variety of backgrounds.
    6. Formative evaluation and adjustment of program components 
accordingly, as well as summative evaluation of the entire Institute 
upon its completion.
    In accordance with the objectives of the Summer Institute, 
participants will concentrate on their thematic program projects. 
However, the academic program should provide time for interaction with 
American students, faculty, and school administrators, and the local 
community to promote mutual understanding between the people of the 
United States and South Africa. In this regard, the Institute should 
incorporate cultural features such as community and cultural 
activities, field trips to places of local interest; home stays with 
families in the area (with other educators if possible), and events, 
which will bring the participants into contact with Americans from a 
variety of backgrounds.

Participants

    Participants, to be selected by Public Affairs Section of the U.S. 
Embassy in Pretoria, will be South African educators involved with 
English language instruction. Professionally, they can be teacher-
trainers, subject advisors, curriculum developers, and learning 
facilitators/coordinators. The selected participants will be drawn from 
public and private sectors including the national and provincial 
departments of education, teacher resource centers, non-governmental 
organizations, university departments of education and teacher training 
colleges. Minimum qualification for all participants will be a three-
year teacher-training diploma with preference given to candidates with 
university degrees. Recruitment will concentrate on English language 
educators who are actively involved at secondary and tertiary levels, 
some of whom may be relatively inexperienced but are identified as 
having leadership potential. Depending upon availability of funds, 
approximately 28 participants from South Africa will participate in the 
Institute.

Program Elements

    The proposal should be designed to support the following specific 
activities:
    1. Pre-Program communication among participants and the U.S. 
institution to facilitate an exchange of ideas developed for the 
Institute. Communication should be e-mail based.
    2. A web site identifying the program goals/syllabus and on-going 
participant thematic projects. The site should be a dynamic resource, 
with weekly updates during the duration of the program, and regular 
updates in South Africa following program completion. The web site 
should display each of the three completed theme-based projects. The 
participants should develop site content, while site construction and

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Internet hosting should be provided by the selected American 
institution. All Institute participants should receive a CD-ROM of 
their Website creation.
    3. A five-week academic program comprising coursework on:

--Project-based English for content-based instruction,
--Use of the Internet and web resources for educators,
--Leadership training to enable participants to conduct workshops upon 
return to their countries. Training should meet the special needs of 
participants from South Africa.

    4. Cultural activities facilitating interaction among the African 
participants, American students, faculty, and administrators and the 
local community to promote mutual understanding between the people of 
the United States and the people of South Africa, planned within the 
five-week academic program.
    5. A one-week, escorted, cultural and educational tour of 
Washington, D.C., complementing and reinforcing the academic material. 
The visit will be planned, arranged and conducted by the Institute 
Program Director and principal Institute staff.
    6. Follow-on communication among participants and the U.S. 
institution to continue exchanges of ideas developed during the 
Institute.
    7. Assistance to participants to select, purchase and ship 
materials to use in follow-on activities and training projects in South 
Africa.

Orientation

    The host institution should plan to conduct either a pre-program 
needs assessment if time allows, or a needs assessment upon the arrival 
of the participants. The Institute Director should be prepared to 
adjust program emphasis as necessary to respond to participants' 
professional concerns.
    A pre-departure orientation will be held in South Africa by the 
Public Affairs Section (U.S. Embassy, Pretoria) for all participants. 
The Institute host institution will be expected to provide general 
orientation materials for this meeting. This material might include a 
tentative program outline with suggested goals and objectives, relevant 
background information about the U.S. institutions and individuals 
involved in the project, and information about the local housing, 
climate, and available services.

Program Administration

    All Summer Institute programming and administrative logistics, 
management of the academic program and the educational tour, and on-
site arrangements will be the responsibility of the host institution.
    The host institution is responsible for arrangements for lodging, 
food, maintenance and local travel for participants while at the host 
institution and in Washington. The host institution should strive to 
balance cost effectiveness in accommodations and meal plans with 
flexibility for differing diets and personal habits among the 
participants. Single rooms or housing in residential suites, which 
offer privacy, are preferable.
    The Bureau will arrange participants' international travel. The 
Bureau will provide the host institution with participants' curricula 
vitae and travel itineraries and will be available to offer guidance 
throughout the Institute. The participants will arrive directly at the 
Institute site from their home countries. It is expected that the 
Institute program staff will make arrangements to have participants met 
upon arrival at the airport nearest the host campus. Departures will be 
from Washington D.C. Participants will be given international tickets 
which will include the leg from the host institution to Washington 
D.C., if necessary. The Institute staff will plan for ground 
transportation to and from Washington area airports.
    Proposals should describe the available health care system and the 
plan to provide health care access to Institute participants. The 
Department of State will provide limited health insurance coverage to 
all participants. The host institution will be responsible for 
enrolling the participants in the insurance program with materials 
supplied by the Department.
    Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations. Please refer to 
Solicitation Package for further information.

Budget Guidelines

    Applicants must submit a comprehensive line-item budget for the 
entire program. 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 in order to provide clarification.
    Grants awarded to eligible organizations with less than four years 
of experience in conducting international exchange programs will be 
limited to $60,000. The Bureau anticipates awarding one grant in an 
amount not-to-exceed $155,000 to support program and administrative 
costs required to implement this program. The Bureau encourages 
applicants to provide maximum levels of cost-sharing and funding from 
private sources in support of its programs.
    Allowable costs for the program include the following:
    1. Instructional costs (for example: instructors' salaries, 
honoraria for outside speakers, educational course materials);
    2. Lodging, meals, and incidentals for participants;
    3. Expenses associated with cultural activities planned for the 
group of participants (for example: tickets, transportation);
    4. Administrative costs as necessary.
    5. U.S. ground transportation costs to U.S. appointments, meetings 
and to/from airports.
    Proposals should maximize cost sharing through private sector 
support as well as institutional direct funding contributions.
    Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget 
guidelines and formatting instructions.
    Announcement Title and Number: All correspondence with the Bureau 
concerning this RFGP should reference the above title and number ECA/A/
E/AF-01-01.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The African Programs Branch, ECA/A/E/
AF, Room 232, U.S. Department of State, 301 4th Street, S.W., 
Washington, D.C. 20547, Tel: (202) 619-5376 and fax (202) 619-6137, e-
mail: [email protected] 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, Ellen Berelson on all other 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 for Proposals: All proposal copies must be received at the 
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs by 5 p.m. Washington, D.C. 
time on Friday, January 26, 2001. Faxed documents will not be accepted 
at any time. Documents postmarked the due date but received

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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 8 copies of the application should be sent 
to: U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, Ref.: ECA/A/E/-01-01, Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, Room 534, 
301 4th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 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. The Bureau will 
transmit these files electronically to the Public Affairs Section at 
U.S. Embassy Pretoria for review, with the goal of reducing the time it 
takes to get embassy 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 Public Diplomacy section 
overseas, where appropriate. 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

    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: Proposal should exhibit quality, 
rigor, and appropriateness of proposed syllabus to the academic 
objectives of the Institute. Proposal should demonstrate effective use 
of community and regional resources to enhance the cultural and 
educational experiences of participants. The proposal should clearly 
demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's objectives.
    2. Program planning: Relevant work plan and a detailed calendar 
should demonstrate substantive undertakings and logistical capacity. 
Plan and calendar should adhere to the program overview and guidelines 
described above.
    3. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional 
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve a substantive 
academic program and effective cross-cultural communication with South 
African participants. Proposal should show evidence of strong on-site 
administrative capabilities with specific discussion of how logistical 
arrangements will be undertaken.
    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 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).
    6. 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 Bureau grants as determined by Bureau Grant 
Staff. The Bureau will consider the past performance of prior 
recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants.
    7. Follow-on Activities: Proposals should provide a plan for 
continued follow-on activity (without Bureau support) ensuring that 
Bureau supported programs are not isolated events.
    8. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate 
the Summer Institute'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.
    9. 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.
    10. Cost-sharing: 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 RFGP are binding and may 
not be modified by any Bureau representative. Explanatory information 
provided by the Bureau that contradicts

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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.

Notification

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

    Dated: December 8, 2000.
William B. Bader,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 00-32003 Filed 12-13-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P