[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 21 (Thursday, January 31, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4770-4773]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-2420]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 3901]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Request for Grant 
Proposals: International Sports Programming Initiative

SUMMARY: The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational 
and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for International 
Sports Programming Initiative. Public and private non-profit 
organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code 
26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) may submit proposals to discuss approaches designed 
to enhance and improve the infrastructure of youth sports programs in 
selected countries in Africa, South Asia, Central Asia, South East Asia 
and the Near East.

Program Information:

Overview

    The Office of Citizen Exchanges welcomes proposals that directly 
respond to the following thematic areas. Given budgetary limitations, 
projects for other themes will not be eligible for consideration under 
the FY-2002 Sports Program Initiative.

Training Sports Coaches

    The World Summit on Physical Education (Berlin, 1999) stated that a 
``quality physical education helps children to develop the patterns of 
interest in physical activity, which are essential for healthy 
development and which lay the foundation for healthy, adult 
lifestyles.'' Coaches are critical to the accomplishment of this goal. 
A coach not only needs to be qualified to provide the technical 
assistance required by young athletes to improve, but must also 
understand how to aid a young person to discover how success in 
athletics can be translated into achievement in the development of life 
skills and in the classroom. Projects submitted in response to this 
theme would be aimed at aiding youth, secondary school and university 
coaches in the target countries in the development and implementation 
of appropriate training methodologies,

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through seminars and outreach. The goal is to ensure the optimal 
technical proficiency among the coaches participating in the program 
while also emphasizing the role sports can play in the long-term 
economic well being of youth.

Youth Sports Management Exchange

    Exchanges funded under this theme would help American and foreign 
youth sport coaches, adult sponsors, and sports associations officials 
share their experience in managing and organizing youth sports 
activities, particularly in financially challenging circumstances, and 
would contribute to better understanding of role of sports as an 
significant factor in educational success. Americans are in a good 
position to convey to the foreign counterparts the importance of 
linking success in sports to educational achievement and how these two 
factors can contribute to short-term and long-term economic prospects.

Youth With Disability

    Exchanges supported by this theme are designed to promote and 
sponsor sports, recreation, fitness and leisure events for children and 
adults with physical disabilities. Project goals include improving the 
quality of life for people with disabilities by providing affordable 
inclusive sports and recreational experiences that build self-esteem 
and confidence, enhancing active participation in community life and 
making a significant contribution to the physical and psychological 
health of people with disabilities. Physically and developmentally 
challenged individuals will be fully included in the sports and 
recreation opportunities in our communities.

Sports and Health

    Projects funded under this category will focus on effective and 
practical ways to use sport personalities and sports health 
professionals to increase awareness among young people of the 
importance of following a healthy life style to reduce illness, prevent 
injuries and speed the rehabilitation and recovery. Emphasis will be on 
the responsibility of the broader community to support healthy 
behavior. The project goals are to promote and integrate scientific 
research, education, and practical applications of sports medicine and 
exercise science to maintain and enhance physical performance, fitness, 
health, and quality of life. (Actual medical training and dispensing of 
medications are outside the purview of this theme.)

Guidelines

    The Office seeks proposals that provide professional experience and 
exposure to American life and culture through internships, workshops 
and other learning-sharing experiences hosted by local institutions. 
The experiences also will provide Americans the opportunity to learn 
about culture and the social and economic challenges young athletes 
face today. Travel under these grants should provide for a two-way 
exchange. Projects should not simply focus on athletic training; they 
should be designed to provide practical, hands-on experience in U.S. 
public/private sector settings that may be adapted to an individual's 
institution upon return home. Proposals may combine elements of 
professional enrichment, job shadowing and internships appropriate to 
the language ability and interests of the participants.
    Applicants must identify the local organizations and/or individuals 
in the counterpart country with whom they are proposing to collaborate 
and describe in detail previous cooperative programming and/or 
contacts. Specific information about the counterpart organizations' 
activities and accomplishments should be included in the section on 
Institutional Capacity.
    Exchanges and training programs supported by the institutional 
grants from the Bureau should operate at two levels: they should 
enhance institutional partnerships, and they should offer practical 
information to individuals and groups to assist them with their 
professional responsibilities. Strong proposals usually have the 
following characteristics: A strong existing partnership between a U.S. 
organization and an in-country institution or the potential to develop 
such a linkage; a proven track record of working in the proposed field; 
cost-sharing from U.S. and/or in-country sources; experienced staff 
with language facility; a clear, convincing plan showing how permanent 
results will be accomplished as a result of the activity funded by the 
grant; and a follow-on plan beyond the scope of the Bureau grant. The 
Bureau would like to see tangible forms of time and money contributed 
to the project by the prospective grantee institution, as well as 
funding from third party sources.
    Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations. Please refer to 
Solicitation Package for further information.

Selection of Participants

    All grant proposals should clearly describe the type of persons who 
will participate in the program as well as the process by which 
participants will be selected. It is recommended that programs in 
support of U.S. internships include letters tentatively committing host 
institutions to support the internships. In the selection of foreign 
participants, the Bureau and U.S. Embassies abroad retain the right to 
review all participant nominations and to accept or deny participants 
recommended by grantee institutions. However, grantee institutions 
should describe in detail the recruitment and selection process they 
recommend. The grantee institution will also provide the names of 
American participants and brief (two pages) biographical data on each 
American participant to the Office of Citizen Exchanges for information 
purposes. Priority will be given to foreign participants who have not 
previously traveled to the United States.

Budget Guidelines

    The Bureau has an overall budget of $400,000 for this competition. 
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 has set a ceiling of $135,000 for 
proposals funded under this competition. 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. Grant awards may not exceed $135,000. 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) All Participant Expenses (foreign and American).
    (2) Other Program Expenses as needed and justified.
    (3) Administrative Expenses including indirect costs.
    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 ``Sports Programming Initiative'' and 
reference number ECA/PE/C-02-55.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact the Office of Citizen 
Exchanges, Room 224, U.S. Department of State, 301 4th Street, SW.,

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Washington, DC 20547, telephone number 202/619-5326, fax number 202/
260-0440, or [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 
Raymond H. Harvey 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 
Web site 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 Friday, April 19, 
2002. 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 ten copies of the application should be sent 
to: U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, Ref.: ECA/PE/C-02-55, 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. The Program Office and the Public 
Diplomacy section overseas 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 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 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. 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.
    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 be used to link outcomes to original 
project objectives is recommended. Intermediate reports after each 
project phase or quarterly reports are required.
    10. 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. Proposals should maximize cost sharing 
through other private sector support as well as institutional direct 
funding contributions.

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    11. Value to U.S.-Partner Country Relations: Proposed projects 
should receive positive assessments by the U.S. Department of State's 
geographic area desk and overseas officers of program need, potential 
impact, and significance in the partner country(ies).

    Authority: Overall grant making authority for this program is 
contained in the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 
1961, Pub. L. 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 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: January 25, 2002.
Patricia S. Harrison,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 02-2420 Filed 1-23-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P