[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 26 (Thursday, February 7, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5879-5881]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-3007]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 3906]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Request for 
GrantProposals: United States--East Timor Scholarship Program

SUMMARY: The Office of Academic Exchange Programs of the Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for the 
United States--East Timor Scholarship Program (formerly the East Timor 
Scholarship Program). Public and private non-profit organizations 
meeting the provisions described in Internal

[[Page 5880]]

Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3) may submit proposals to provide 
administrative and support services for the United States--East 
TimorScholarship Program (USET).

Program Information

    Overview: In response to Public Law 103-236, which directed the 
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) to provide 
scholarships for East Timorese students, ECA created an East Timor 
scholarship program in Fiscal Year (FY) 1999.As East Timor makes the 
transition to independence and democratic government, it is essential 
to develop the human resource capacity of the East Timorese people, 
especially in fields such as agricultural science, business, 
communication, economics, education, environmental science, 
international relations, political science, and psychology.The goal of 
the scholarship program is to identify and support undergraduate level 
study at accredited higher education institutions in the United States 
for a select cadre of academically talented East Timorese who are 
expected to assume future leadership roles in East Timor's development.
    Guidelines: Program administration activities should cover the time 
period June 1, 2002 through December 31, 2005. The projected grantee 
caseload is expected to be up to five (5) new students to begin U.S. 
English language training in January 2003. USET scholarships are 
offered for the final two years of undergraduate level study in 
designated fields, with the provision of pre-academic training 
depending on participant academic readiness and English-language 
abilities. Program design should either assume placement of all 
grantees at a single academic institution or propose an alternative 
structure in order to foster grantee cohesion and build USET program 
identity. The successful applicant will have responsibility for program 
administration, which involves performance of services in the following 
broad categories: Program Planning and Management; Recruitment and 
Selection; Placement; Orientations; Supervision and Support Services; 
Special Programs Management; Fiscal Management and Budgeting Services; 
and Program Projection, Reporting and Evaluation Services. Applicants 
for this award should submit a program proposal with yearly budget 
projections for the full duration of the award. Programs must comply 
with J-1 visa regulations. Please refer to the Solicitation Package for 
further information.

Budget Guidelines

    The Bureau anticipates awarding one grant up to $500,000 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 whose administrative costs are 20% or less of the total 
requested from ECA 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 UnitedStates--East Timor 
Scholarship Program and numberECA/A/E/EAP-02-USET.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt McMahon, Office of Academic 
Exchange Programs,ECA/A/E/EAP, Room 208, United States Department of 
State,301 4th Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20547, phone:(202) 619-4148, 
fax: (202) 401-1728, e-mail: [email protected] to request a 
Solicitation Package. TheSolicitation Package contains detailed award 
criteria, required application forms, specific budget instructions, and 
standard guidelines for proposal preparation. Please specify Program 
Officer Matt McMahon 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 April 4, 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 seven (7) 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/EAP-02-USET,Program Management, ECA/EX/
PM, Room 534,301 4th Street, SW.,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.

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

[[Page 5881]]

and in the Solicitation Package.All eligible proposals will be reviewed 
by the program office, as well as the appropriate Public Diplomacy 
Section overseas. 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 LegalAdviser or by other Department elements. Final 
funding decisions are at the discretion of the Department of 
State'sAssistant 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 used 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. 
Proposals whose administrative costs are 20% or less of the total 
requested from ECA will be deemed more competitive.
    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 103-236. The purpose of the legislation is to make available 
scholarships for qualified East Timorese students to study at U.S. 
colleges and universities. The funding authority for the United 
States--East TimorScholarship Program 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 29, 2002.
Patricia S. Harrison,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 02-3007 Filed 2-6-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P