[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 129 (Thursday, July 5, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35478-35481]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-16702]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 3712]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Request for Grant 
Proposals: Census of Foreign Students in the United States

SUMMARY: The Educational Information and ResourcesBranch, Office of 
Global Educational Programs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs 
(the Bureau) announces an open competition for a Census of 
ForeignStudents in the United States. Public and private non-profit 
organizations meeting the provisions described in IRS regulation 26 CFR 
1.501(c) may submit proposals to conduct a statistical survey (census) 
of foreign nationals affiliated with institutions of higher learning in 
the United States. The census should identify in the most economical 
way possible the number of foreign students and scholars studying, 
conducting research, or teaching at all accredited universities and 
colleges in the United States starting in the 2000/2001 academic year; 
it must provide detailed individual student profile data, country-
specific aggregate data in the form of Country Locator Reports, and 
data about the number of American students studying abroad. Proposals 
should describe the methodology which will be used to collect the data 
and how the material will be analyzed and presented to the public. The 
proposals must also include plans to establish an advisory board to 
provide assistance in identifying and framing policy issues to be 
addressed.

Program Information

Overview

    As the Federal Department tasked with promoting international 
educational exchange, the Bureau considers it essential to have an

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accurate picture of foreign study and scholarship in the United States, 
such as that provided by the statistical survey. This survey should 
provide a detailed and comprehensive picture of the number and 
characteristics of foreign nationals (excluding permanent residents and 
refugees) affiliated with American institutions of higher learning and 
the number of U.S. students studying abroad. Topics of interest include 
the number of students and scholars, their gender, countries of origin, 
and fields of study. Information about students' academic level 
(undergraduate, graduate, post-doctorate), primary source of financial 
support, financial contributions they make while in the UnitedStates, 
and location of study should be included. A survey of students in 
intensive English language programs is also of interest. The Bureau 
will consider funding a publication, website, database, newsletter, or 
any other medium presented as a viable vehicle for making census data 
about the U.S. and foreign student population widely available in a 
timely manner and in a clear and concise format. Continued support, 
assuming availability of funding, will be contingent upon accurate data 
collection, quality of presentation of that data, and prompt 
publication of the census. The Bureau reserves the right to reproduce, 
publish or otherwise use any work developed under this grant for 
Government purposes.

Guidelines

    Proposals should include a description of the methodology to be 
used to canvass colleges and universities for information about their 
statistics.Provision should be made for securing the highest possible 
response rate.Data collected from the surveys of foreign students 
enrolled in regionally accredited U.S. institutions of higher learning 
should be collected annually with 1,000 copies of the first edition 
being published in hard-copy and shipped to the Bureau in late fall 
2002. For a more detailed analysis and cross tabulation of the 
characteristics of the foreign student population, individual student 
profile data should be collected from selected institutions. This 
individual student profile data should be provided to the Bureau in a 
format that is country-specific and should show the number of students 
from a specific country attending selected institutions of higher 
education in each state of the U.S. Applicants are encouraged to 
explore electronic collection of this data.
    The Bureau is interested in a clear presentation of the data 
collected as well as a rigorous analysis of the data, which will draw 
conclusions about trends in international study in the U.S. that can be 
used to guide policy discussions for both government and academia. An 
advisory board must be established to provide assistance in identifying 
and framing policy issues to be addressed; the board should meet at 
least once a year. Board members would likely be drawn from a broad 
range of disciplines and organizations such as NAFSA: Association of 
International Educators and the American Association of Collegiate 
Registrars and Admissions Officers, and would be expected to provide 
fresh perspectives on topics that are related to the 
internationalization of higher education.
    Scholarly analyses of census data addressing pertinent policy 
issues should be included, taking into consideration a wide range of 
prospective readers and policy makers in government, academia, and 
business. The publication should include a section on the mechanics and 
uses of data analysis, highlighting how conclusions can be drawn from 
the data collected, what some of the limitations of that analysis can 
be, and how the data can benefit those supplying it, i.e. as a campus 
advocacy or recruiting tool. Please include with the proposal a 
complete list of proposed chapter headings and sample analyses.
    We welcome innovative approaches to the presentation of material, 
including possible breakdowns for Historically Black Colleges and 
Universities and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. 
Topics we would be interested in exploring include:
    (1) Demonstrated benefits of study abroad, e.g. as seen by 
employers;
    (2) How sociological and economic trends in other countries are 
reflected in student flows to the U.S.;
    (3) The impact of international students and scholars on U.S. 
academic institutions and departments;
    (4) How the international exchange population is affected by U.S. 
visa policies;
    (5) U.S. academics lecturing and researching abroad: the countries/
regions they are going to, the fields of study, and who pays for it;
    (6) Data on foreign students who participate in U.S. study abroad 
programs;
    (7) International student flows as an element of global trade and 
further study and analysis to enable judgments on the commercial 
significance of foreign markets for education and training;
    (8) Additional information on programs of other countries promoting 
international education on a commercial basis; and
    (9) Information on U.S. institutions' activities to educate foreign 
students in their home countries, to complement the data now collected 
on education of foreign students in the United States;
    (10) A survey of foreign faculty teaching in U.S.
    Grant should begin on or about October 1, 2001 and run through 
September 30, 2002.

Budget Guidelines

    Grants awarded to eligible organizations with less than four years 
experience in conducting international exchange programs will be 
limited to $60,000. The Bureau anticipates awarding one grant amount of 
$190,000 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.Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget 
for the entire program. Awards may not exceed $190,000. There must be a 
summary budget as well as breakdown 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) Salaries and fringe benefits; travel and per diem;
    (2) Other direct costs, inclusive of rent, utilities, etc.;
    (3) Overhead expenses and auditing costs. Please refer to the 
Solicitation Package for complete budget guidelines and formatting 
instructions.

Announcement Title and Number

    All communications with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
refer to the announcement's title and reference number ECA/A/S/A 02-01

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: The Office of GlobalEducational 
Programs, Educational Information and Resource Branch, U.S. of 
Department of State, 301 4th Street, SW., (SA-44), Washington, DC 
20547, Tel: (202) 619-5549, Fax: (202) 401-1433, 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 
OfficerAnne Prince on all other inquiries and correspondence.

[[Page 35480]]

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 August 1, 2001. 
Faxed documents will not be accepted at any time.Documents postmarked 
by August 1, 2001 but received at 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 10 copies of the application should be sent 
to: U.S. Department of State, SA-44 Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, Reference: ECA/A/S/A-02-01, Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, 
Room 534, 301 4th St., 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 
Census of Foreign Students in the United States 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: 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) 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).
    (5) Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional 
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program or 
project's goals.
    (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) 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 are recommended. Successful applicants will be 
expected to submit intermediate reports after each project component is 
concluded or quarterly, whichever is less frequent.
    (8) 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.
    (9) Cost-sharing: Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through 
other private sector support as well as institutional direct funding 
contributions.
    (10) Improved Productivity and Innovation: TheProposal should 
specify and verify the prospect of improved productivity as well as 
proposed program innovations in implementing the activity.

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 UnitedStates 
and the other countries of

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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: June 22, 2001.
Helena Kane Finn,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 01-16702 Filed 7-5-01; 8:45 am]
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