[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 56 (Thursday, March 22, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16081-16084]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-7159]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 3611]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Request for Grant 
Proposals: U.S.-Israel Youth Exchange

SUMMARY: The Youth Programs Division, Office of Citizen Exchanges of 
the Bureau of Educational and Cultural

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Affairs announces an open competition for U.S.-Israel Youth Exchange. 
Public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions 
described in IRS regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c) may submit proposals to 
conduct an exchange involving American and Israeli high school 
students.

Program Information

    Overview: The United States and Israel are both multi-ethnic 
societies that struggle with issues of diversity. The purpose of the 
youth exchange project is to provide an opportunity for youth in both 
countries to learn about each other, explore how diversity issues 
compare and contrast between the two societies and to learn from each 
other and from experts how to deal with tensions and conflict that 
affect inter-ethnic community relations. The participants will also 
examine the major factors--especially constitutional, political, social 
and religious--that shape how each country manages the rights of 
minorities in the context of a democratic society. Finally, the project 
will provide an opportunity for each side to examine key foreign policy 
issues between the United States and Israel.
    It is anticipated that one grant in an amount not to exceed 
$100,000 will be awarded. Preference will be given to proposals that 
build upon ongoing exchange programs addressing the themes outlined 
above, rather than to proposals that initiate new exchange activities. 
Each side will select a delegation that represents the ethnic diversity 
of its society. Selection should be based on merit with an emphasis on 
youth who demonstrate leadership abilities, knowledge of diversity 
issues, and good communication skills. The Public Affairs Section of 
the American Embassy in Tel Aviv will play a central role in the 
selection of Israeli participants. The applicant U.S. organization must 
demonstrate that its Israeli partner is able and willing to work with 
the American Embassy staff to effect the desired selection, to conduct 
pre-departure orientation, and to provide programming for the American 
delegation in keeping with the themes of this project. The Israeli 
delegation will spend three weeks in the U.S. with an initial 
orientation in Washington, DC in which the project themes are 
developed. Most of the stay will be in one or two host communities, 
living with families, learning about school life, and participating in 
activities in the community that support the themes of the project. The 
delegation may be divided in this phase so that groups spend time in 
diverse communities. A final wrap-up program component will be in New 
York or another major city. The American delegation will have similar 
experience in Israel for a three-week period. The applicant 
organization may propose ways in which the two delegations might meet 
and interact for part of the program. It may also propose ways in which 
each delegation can initiate contact with the other before the exchange 
to begin exploring the themes with each other and lay the foundation 
for their joint activities during the exchange. Follow-up contact 
should be structured so that the dialogue continues after the exchange.
    Guidelines: The grant is intended to support activities during the 
academic year 2001-2002. Grant activity may begin following final 
approval, which is anticipated to be August 1, 2001. Foreign 
participants will travel of J-1 Exchange Visitor visas using IAP66 
forms issued by the ECA program office. The grantee organization is 
responsible for administering all components of the program, including 
any sub-grant to the Israeli partner organization, which must be 
spelled out in the proposal. See accompanying Project Objectives, 
Guidelines and Instructions (POGI) for detailed specifications for the 
proposal.
    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. Since the Bureau anticipates awarding one grant in 
the amount of $100,000, to support program and administrative costs 
required to implement this program, organizations with less than four 
years of experience conducting exchanges will be ineligible. The ECA 
grant is not intended to be a substitute for private funding to support 
the existing program; rather, as noted above, the grant is intended 
primarily to subsidize participant costs and make possible activities 
that support the thematic foci.
    Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the entire 
program, indicating where ECA grant funds will be applied. 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 to 
provide clarification.
    Allowable costs for the program include the following:
    (1) Participant selection, orientation, travel and program 
enhancements.
    (2) Reasonable administrative costs--Proposed funding for 
administrative costs in excess of 15% of the total grant will be less 
competitive. This is an area where cost-sharing is strongly encouraged.
    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/
PE/C/PY-01-40.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Youth Programs Division, Office of 
Citizen Exchanges (ECA/PE/C/PY) Rm. 568, U.S. Department of State, 301 
4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, telephone 202-619-6299, fax 202-
619-5311. Robert Persiko, division chief, can be reached on e mail: 
[email protected]. To request a Solicitation Package, contact the 
Youth Programs Division or download the package online, as instructed 
below. The Solicitation Package contains the above-mentioned POGI with 
detailed proposal submission guidelines and award criteria, and the 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) with required application forms 
and specific budget instructions. Please specify the Youth Programs 
Division 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 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 Monday, April 
30. 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 proposal, one fully-tabbed copy, and seven copies 
including tabs A-E and appendices should be sent to:

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U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, Ref.: ECA/PE/C/PY-01-40, Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, Room 
534, 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. The Bureau will 
transmit these files electronically to the Public Affairs section at 
the US Embassy for its 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 the 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 Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational 
and Cultural Affairs. Final technical authority for assistance awards 
resides with the Bureau's Grants Officer.

Review Criteria

    Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed 
according to the criteria stated below. Proposals should adequately 
address each area of review. These criteria are not rank ordered.
    1. Quality of the program idea: Proposals should exhibit 
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's 
mission.
    2. Program planning and ability to achieve program objectives: 
Program objectives should be stated clearly and precisely and should 
reflect the applicant's understanding of the project. Objectives need 
to be reasonable, attainable, and flexible. Proposals should clearly 
demonstrate how the institution would meet the program's objectives. A 
detailed agenda and work plan should explain how the objectives will be 
achieved and the expected outcomes realized. The agenda and plan should 
adhere to the program overview and guidelines described above.
    3. Multiplier effect/impact: Proposals should show how the program 
would strengthen long-term mutual understanding, including maximum 
sharing of information in the host communities and establishment of 
long-term institutional and individual linkages.
    4. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive 
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. 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) should 
address diversity in a comprehensive and innovative manner.
    5. Institutional Capacity and Record: Proposed personnel and 
institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve 
the program or project's goals. The proposal should reflect 
institutional expertise in the subject area and knowledge of the 
conditions in the target country. 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.
    6. 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. Follow-on activities 
should be clearly outlined.
    7. Program Evaluation: Proposals must include a plan and 
methodology to evaluate the program's successes, both as the activities 
unfold and at the end of the program. The Bureau recommends that the 
proposal include a draft survey questionnaire or other technique. The 
evaluation plan should show a clear link between program objectives and 
expected outcomes in the short- and medium-term, and provide a well-
thought-out description of performance indicators and measurement 
tools.
    8. Cost-effectiveness/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. Administrative costs should account for 15% or less of the 
funding requested from the Bureau. Applicants are encouraged to cost 
share a portion of overhead and administrative expenses. Cost-sharing, 
such as auditable contributions from the applicant, the Israeli 
partner, the participants, and other sources, should be included in the 
budget.
    9. Value to U.S.-Israeli relations The Bureau's review will include 
an assessment by the regional bureau (NIS/PD) and the American Embassy 
in Tel Aviv of the value of the proposed program to mission goals.

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

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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 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: March 14, 2001.
Helena Kane Finn,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 01-7159; Filed 3-21-01; 8:45 am]
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