[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 120 (Thursday, June 21, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33292-33294]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-15543]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 3704]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Request for Grant 
Proposals: Israeli-Arab Scholarship Program

SUMMARY: The Office of Academic Exchange Programs of the Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for an 
assistance award for the Israeli-Arab Scholarship Program. Public and 
private non-profit organizations with at least four years of experience 
in conducting international exchange programs and meeting the 
provisions described in IRS regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c) may submit 
proposals to provide administrative and program support services for 
the Israeli-Arab Scholarship Program.

Program Information

Overview

    The Israeli-Arab Scholarship Program (IASP) is a congressionally 
mandated and endowed program. The Israeli-Arab Scholarship Program 
provides an opportunity for highly qualified Israeli-Arab graduate 
students to attend institutions of higher education in the U.S., 
providing them both a quality graduate education and an opportunity to 
experience American democracy and society.
    The Bureau's Office of Academic Exchange Programs and the Public

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Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel, jointly 
administer the Israeli-Arab Scholarship Program. Applicants are 
recruited, screened, and selected by PAS Tel Aviv with the assistance 
of a panel of host-country academics. The Office of Academic Exchange 
Programs is responsible for allocation of funding and policy 
administration. The successful applicant will have responsibility for 
program administration, which involves performance of services in the 
following broad categories: Program Planning and Management; 
Recruitment/Selection Support Services; Placement and Budgeting 
Services; Supervision and Support Services; Special Programs 
Management; Fiscal Management; and Program Projection, Reporting and 
Evaluation Services.

Guidelines

    Program administration activities should cover the time period 
October 1, 2001 through December 31, 2003. The expected grantee 
caseload for fiscal year 2002 (FY 2002) is projected to be up to four 
(4) new students for academic year 2002-2003. Applicants for this award 
should submit a program proposal with budget projections for the first 
program year only. Prior year renewal grants will be administered by 
the organization currently administering the program. Programs must 
comply with J-1 visa regulations. Please refer to Solicitation Package 
for further information.

Budget Guidelines

    The Bureau anticipates awarding one grant up to the amount of 
$150,000 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. Proposals that contain administrative expenses 
to 20% of the overall budget will be deemed more competitive.
    Applicants must submit a comprehensive 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 to provide clarification.
    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/NEA-IASP02.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alice A. Armitage, Office of Academic 
Exchange Programs, ECA/A/E/NEA-SA, Room 212, U.S. Department of State, 
301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, phone: (202) 619-6863, fax: 
(202) 205-2466, email: [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 Alice A. Armitage 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, DC time on Thursday, July 
19, 2001. 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 seven 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/NEA-IASP02, 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 U.S. 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.
    The program office, as well as the Public Diplomacy section 
overseas, where appropriate, will review all eligible proposals. 
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. These criteria

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are not rank ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal 
evaluation:
    1. Quality of the program idea: Proposals should exhibit 
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's 
mission.
    2. Program planning: 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.
    3. Ability to achieve program objectives: Objectives should be 
reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly 
demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's objectives and 
plan.
    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. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional 
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program or 
project's goals.
    7. 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.
    8. Institutional Network: Proposals should include proof of an 
existing network with U.S. academic and international exchange 
community or demonstrated potential to develop such a network.
    9. 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 is recommended. Successful applicants will be 
expected to submit intermediate reports after each project component is 
concluded or quarterly, whichever is less frequent.
    10. 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.
    11. 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 
Public Law 102-138, the ``Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal 
Years 1992 and 1993.'' The purpose of the legislation is to establish 
``a program of scholarships for Israeli-Arabs to attend institutions of 
higher education in the United States.'' 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: June 13, 2001.
Helena Kane Finn,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural, Affairs, U.S. 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 01-15543 Filed 6-20-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P