[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 211 (Thursday, October 31, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66441-66448]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-27712]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 4182]


The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs Request for Grant Proposals (RFGPs): Eurasia 
Professional Exchanges and Training Program for Armenia, Azerbaijan, 
Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Russia, 
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan

SUMMARY: The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational 
and Cultural Affairs (the Bureau) invites applicants to submit 
proposals that encourage the growth of democratic institutions in 
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, 
Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. 
U.S.-based public and private non-profit organizations meeting the 
provisions described in Internal Revenue code section 26 U.S.C. 
501(c)(3) may submit proposals that support international projects in 
the United States and overseas involving current or potential leaders.
    Interested applicants should read the complete Federal Register 
announcement before addressing inquiries to the Office of Citizen 
Exchanges or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has passed, 
Office of Citizen Exchanges staff may not discuss this competition with 
applicants until after the Bureau program and project review process 
has been completed.
    Announcement Name and Number: All correspondence with the Bureau 
concerning this RFGP should reference the ``Eurasia Professional 
Exchanges and Training Program'' and reference number: ECA/PE/C/EUR-03-
22. Please refer to title and number in all correspondence or telephone 
calls to the Office of Citizen Exchanges.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Interested organizations/institutions 
may contact the Office of Citizen Exchanges, Room 220, SA-44, U.S. 
Department of State, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, 
Attention: Eurasia Professional Exchanges and Training Program, 
telephone number 202/205-3003, fax number 202/619-4350, or 
[email protected] to request a Solicitation Package. The 
Solicitation Package contains detailed award criteria, required 
application

[[Page 66442]]

forms, specific budget instructions, and standard guidelines for 
proposal preparation.
    For specific inquiries, please contact Bureau program officers by 
phone: Henry Scott (202) 619-5327 ([email protected]); Michael George 
(202) 619-5330 ([email protected]); Brent Beemer (202) 401-6887 
([email protected]). Please specify Henry Scott, Michael George or 
Brent Beemer on all other inquiries and correspondence.

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 the package.

General Program Guidelines

    Applicants should identify the local organizations and 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. Proposals should contain letters of support 
tailored to the project being proposed from foreign-country partner 
organizations.
    Exchanges and training programs supported by institutional grants 
from the Bureau should operate at two levels: They should enhance 
institutional partnerships, and they should offer practical information 
and experience to individuals and groups to assist them with their 
professional responsibilities. Strong proposals usually have the 
following characteristics:
    [sbull] A proven track record of working in the proposed issue area 
and country;
    [sbull] Experienced staff with language facility and a commitment 
by the staff to monitor projects locally to ensure implementation;
    [sbull] A clear, convincing plan showing how permanent results will 
be accomplished as a result of the activity funded by the grant; and
    [sbull] A follow-on plan that includes activities beyond the 
conclusion and scope of the Bureau grant.
    Proposal narratives should clearly demonstrate an organization's 
commitment to consult closely with the Public Affairs Section and when 
required other officers at the U.S. Embassy. Proposal narratives must 
confirm that all materials developed for the project will acknowledge 
Bureau funding for the program as well as a commitment to invite 
representatives of the Embassy and/or Consulate to participate in 
various program sessions/site visits. Please note that this will be a 
formal requirement in all final grant awards.

Suggested Program Designs

    Bureau-supported exchanges may include internships; study tours; 
short-term, non-technical experiential learning, extended and intensive 
workshops and seminars taking place in the United States or overseas. 
Examples of program activities include:
    1. A U.S.-based program that includes: orientation to program 
purposes and to U.S. society; study tour/site visits; professional 
internships/placements; interaction and dialogue; hands-on training; 
professional development; and action plan development. Proposals that 
include U.S.-based training will receive the highest priority.
    2. Capacity-building/training-of-trainer (TOT) workshops to help 
participants to identify priorities, create work plans, strengthen 
professional and volunteer skills, share their experience with 
committed people within each country, and become active in a practical 
and valuable way.
    3. Site visits by U.S. facilitators/experts to monitor projects in 
the region and to provide additional training and consultations as 
needed.
    Activities ineligible for support: The Office does not support 
proposals limited to conferences or seminars (i.e.), one to fourteen-
day programs with plenary sessions, main speakers, panels, and a 
passive audience). It will support conferences only when they are a 
small part of a larger project in duration that is receiving Bureau 
funding from this competition. The Office will only support workshops, 
seminars and training sessions that are an integral part of a larger 
project. No funding is available exclusively to send U.S. citizens to 
conferences or conference-type seminars overseas; nor is funding 
available for bringing foreign nationals to conferences or to routine 
professional association meetings in the United States.

Selection of Participants

    All grant proposals should clearly describe the type of persons who 
will participate in the program as well as the participant selection 
process. For programs that include U.S. internships, applicants should 
submit letters of support from host institutions. In the selection of 
foreign participants, the Bureau and U.S. Embassies retain the right to 
review all participant nominations and to accept or refuse participants 
recommended by grantee institutions. When American participants are 
selected, grantee institutions must provide their names and brief 
biographical data to the Office of Citizen Exchanges. Priority in two-
way exchange proposals will be given to foreign participants who have 
not previously traveled to the United States. (See section below on 
requirements for maintenance of and provision to the Bureau of data on 
participants and program activities.)
    Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations. Please refer to 
Solicitation Package for further information.

Evaluation

    In general, evaluation should occur throughout the project. The 
evaluation should incorporate an assessment of the program from a 
variety of perspectives. Specifically, project assessment efforts will 
focus on: (a) Determining if objectives are being met or have been met, 
(b) identifying any unmet needs, and (c) assessing if the project has 
effectively identified resources, advocates, and financial support for 
the sustainability of future projects. Informal evaluation through 
discussions and other sources of feedback will be carried out 
throughout the duration of the project. Formal evaluation must be 
conducted at the end of each component, should measure the impact of 
the activities and should obtain participants' feedback on the program 
content and administration. A detailed evaluation will be conducted at 
the conclusion of the project and a report will be submitted to the 
Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. When 
possible, the evaluation should be conducted by an independent 
evaluator.

Program Data Requirements

    Organizations awarded grants will be required to maintain specific 
data on program participants and activities in an electronically 
accessible database format that can be shared with the Bureau as 
required. As a minimum, the data must include the following:
    (1) Name, address, contact information and biographic sketch of all 
persons who travel internationally on funds provided by the grant or 
who benefit from the grant funding but do not travel.
    (2) Itineraries of international and domestic travel, providing 
dates of travel and cities in which any exchange experiences take 
place.

[[Page 66443]]

Adherence to All Regulations Governing the J Visa

    The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is placing renewed 
emphasis on the secure and proper administration of Exchange Visitor (J 
visa) Programs and adherence by grantees and sponsors to all 
regulations governing the J visa. Therefore, proposals should 
demonstrate the applicant's capacity to meet all requirements governing 
the administration of Exchange Visitor Programs as set forth in 22 CFR 
6Z, including the oversight of Responsible Officers and Alternate 
Responsible Officers, screening and selection of program participants, 
provision of pre-arrival information and orientation to participants, 
monitoring of participants, proper maintenance and security of forms, 
record-keeping, reporting and other requirements. ECA will be 
responsible for issuing DS-2019 forms to participants in this program.
    A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of 
Exchange Visitor (J) programs is available at http://exchanges.state.gov or from:
    United States Department of State, Office of Exchange Coordination 
and Designation, ECA/EC/ECD--SA-44, Room 734, 301 4th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20547, Telephone: (202) 401-9810, FAX: (202) 401-9809.

Program Information

Overview

    The Bureau welcomes proposals that respond directly to the themes 
and countries listed below. Given budgetary considerations, projects in 
countries and for themes other than those listed will not be eligible 
for consideration and will be ruled technically ineligible. The themes 
listed below are important to the Office of Citizen Exchanges, but no 
guarantee is made or implied that grants will be awarded in all 
categories.
    For this competition, single country projects only are eligible for 
support. In order to prevent duplication of effort, proposals should 
reflect an understanding of the work of international agencies so that 
projects complement--not duplicate--other assistance programs.
    Two-way exchanges will be given the highest priority. Applicants 
should carefully review the following recommendations for proposals in 
Eurasian countries.
    To be eligible for a grant award under this competition, the 
proposed professional training and exchange projects must address one 
of the following specific themes for single country projects. Multi-
country projects are not eligible for this competition.

Media Training (Armenia or Kazakhstan or Russia or Uzbekistan)
Prevention of Trafficking in Persons (Armenia or Azerbaijan or Belarus 
or Georgia or Kyrgyz Republic or Tajikistan)
Tolerance (Georgia or Russia)
Intellectual Property Rights (Russia)
Professional Association Building for Political Scientists and 
Economists (Ukraine)
Tourism and Economic Development (Moldova)
Religion in a Democracy (Kazakhstan)
Business Development (Turkmenistan)
Community and Local Government Relations (Armenia)
Public Health Awareness (Armenia)
Training in NGO Law Making (Turkmenistan)
Library Exchange (Kyrgyz Republic)

Professional Training for Media Professionals

Single Country Projects for Armenia or Kazakhstan or Russia or 
Uzbekistan

    The Bureau is interested in proposals from applicants who possess a 
thorough understanding of the current state and needs of the media in 
Armenia, Kazakhstan, Russia or Uzbekistan. Proposals should include in-
country and U.S.-based training activities for journalists and/or media 
outlet managers. When proposing U.S.-based training, the program should 
include relevant meetings with media experts and a hands-on internship 
training component at an appropriate media outlet. For internships, 
letters of support from media outlets willing to host participants 
should be provided, and the applicant should describe why these media 
establishments have been chosen. Internships may be developed for 
individuals or small groups consisting of not more than three persons. 
If the small group format is used, the internships must have a 
practical program component with hands-on experience. If participants 
who do not speak English are nominated for the U.S.-based program, the 
applicant must explain how the interpreting needs of those participants 
would be met. In-country activities may include workshops and seminars. 
These may be led by the participants themselves, or by U.S. trainers, 
or a combination of both. In addition to group events, training 
activities should take place throughout the grant period. Applicants 
should describe in detail these activities and how they will create and 
sustain long-term relationships between international participants and 
their home media outlets and their U.S. hosts. Such activities may 
include virtual mentoring and e-mail consultations between U.S.-based 
trainers/hosts and participants. Training should not duplicate the work 
done under recent or existing USG-sponsored programs, but should 
complement those efforts. Applicants should expect to work closely with 
the Public Affairs Sections of the U.S. embassies to coordinate all 
activities, including participant selection.
    Preference will be given to projects that do not exceed $150,000.

For Armenia

    Media training for Armenia should include a two-way exchange and 
offer hands-on internships in the U.S. that emphasize a commitment to 
objective reporting. Applicants should propose to include the 
Association of Investigative Journalists of Armenia (AIJA) (http://www.hetq.am/en/index.html), in program activities.
    AIJA is a non-governmental organization whose goal is to provide 
assistance in the development of investigative journalism and freedom 
of speech in Armenia. Applicants should explain in detail activities 
and components that will create and sustain long-term relationships 
between Armenian participants and their home media outlets and their 
U.S. hosts.

For Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan

    Note: Requirements for proposals for Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan 
are the same, but applicants must submit single-country proposals 
only.

    Media training projects for Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan should include 
a two-way exchange and should offer hands-on internships in the U.S. 
that emphasize methods of income generation, better fiscal management 
practices, and a commitment to objective reporting. Programs designed 
for Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan should also emphasize the role of media in 
reporting on minority and conflict issues. Applicants should explain in 
detail activities and components that will create and sustain long-term 
relationships between Kazakh or Uzbek participants and their home media 
outlets and their U.S. hosts.

For Russia

    The program should address one or more of the four issues 
identified by the Russian-American Media Entrepreneurship Dialogue. 
(For more information about this, please visit the site <http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/05/20020524-14.html).

[[Page 66444]]

Participants on the U.S.-based training program should be outlet 
owners. Recruitment efforts should be focused on the cities outside of 
Moscow and St. Petersburg. Programs should complement media training 
projects that are or were supported by USAID and other USG funders. 
Applicants should explain in detail activities and components that will 
create and sustain long-term relationships between participating 
Russian and American media outlets.

Prevention of Trafficking in Persons

Single Country Projects for Armenia or Azerbaijan or Belarus or Georgia 
or Kyrgyz Republic or Tajikistan

    Human trafficking is a significant problem in many countries in 
Eurasia. In June 2002 the State Department released its second annual 
Trafficking in Persons Report to Congress, on the status of severe 
forms of trafficking in persons worldwide. Through the annual report, 
the United States seeks to bring international attention to the 
practice of trafficking in persons worldwide. (Please see http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2002/.)
    Many governments in Eurasia are currently included in the two 
lowest tiers of the State Department report. The need to educate and 
inform communities, lawmakers and media representatives has become 
imperative to prevent more women and girls from falling victim to 
trafficking in Eurasia.
    The Bureau seeks proposals that provide training and capacity 
building to individuals and communities in Armenia, Azerbaijan, 
Belarus, Georgia, the Kyrgyz Republic or Tajikistan to help combat 
trafficking in persons. Programs should be single county projects and 
should not duplicate the efforts of other U.S. or European 
organizations working on the issue. Priority will be given to programs 
that propose to reach risk groups where anti-trafficking initiatives 
have been limited or nonexistent. Applicants should expect to work 
closely with the Public Affairs Sections of the U.S. Embassies in the 
target countries to coordinate all activities, including participant 
selection and proposed training modules.
    Areas of focus:
    1. Training and exchanges of media representatives Armenia or 
Azerbaijan or Belarus or Georgia or Tajikistan
    The Bureau seeks proposals that will provide hands-on training to 
journalists to ensure widespread, accurate media coverage on the issue 
of trafficking, to raise media professionals' awareness of the issue, 
and to train journalists to cover the issue of trafficking without 
stigmatizing victims. Workshops and on-site consultations at media 
outlets in the target country are encouraged. U.S.-based training 
should also be proposed when appropriate. Participants may include 
media managers, editors and journalists. Successful proposals will 
include plans for interactive training, as well as the development of 
action plans, publications, web-based information and/or other results-
oriented products that media representatives may access. In-country 
workshops should include NGO representatives working on trafficking 
issues.
    2. Training and exchanges of parliamentarians and other government 
officials Armenia or Azerbaijan or Georgia or Kyrgyz Republic or 
Tajikistan
    The Bureau welcomes proposals that will encourage members of 
parliament and other government officials to take an active stand 
against trafficking in their countries. Proposals should focus on how 
government should enforce and/or improve laws against trafficking. 
Proposals should also address how training will encourage cooperative 
and complementary efforts to prevent and combat trafficking among 
government, NGO and media communities. Government officials should be 
exposed to successful public awareness campaigns in other Eurasian 
countries and should be encouraged to work with NGOs on adaptable 
models. Two-way exchanges and follow-up, in-country workshops are 
strongly encouraged. Participants in U.S.-based programs may include 
NGO leaders, though the majority of participants should be government 
officials. NGO leaders and media representatives should be included in 
all in-country workshops, however. The Bureau is interested in results-
oriented proposals that include action plans, publications and other 
work products that will serve to educate government officials regarding 
trafficking.
    Funding for the above initiatives should not be used to establish 
job training centers and shelters or to provide victim assistance, but 
should focus on training and education.
    The Bureau anticipates awarding one proposal for each country. 
Preference will be given to projects that do not exceed $150,000.

Tolerance

Single Country Projects for Georgia or Russia

    Note: Requirements for proposals for Georgia and Russia are the 
same, but applicants must submit a single-country proposal.

    The Bureau welcomes proposals that will focus on promoting 
constructive dialogue and the reduction of stereotyping, violence and 
hatred among diverse groups. Projects may be designed and implemented 
through media outlets, educational institutions, NGOs or other 
partners. Projects should build a valued working relationship between 
U.S. and overseas professionals and should develop, test, and result in 
a training program that can continue after grant support concludes. 
Proposals should focus on redefining inter-communal conflict in 
specific situations and facilitating dialogue--among teachers, 
professionals, businesspersons, journalists, community activists--in 
order to promote better understanding among parties in conflict. 
Programming should also introduce the evolution of U.S. laws designed 
to protect minority rights and promote tolerance. Travel in both 
directions, including a hands-on, U.S.-based program with a train the 
trainer component, should be proposed. Continuous communication, 
mentoring, and consultations between overseas participants and 
trainers/mentors, should be described in detail and conducted 
throughout the life of the grant.
    Preference will be given to projects that do not exceed $150,000.

Intellectual Property Rights

Single Country Projects for Russia

    Proposals for this project should focus on intellectual property 
rights (IPR), with a special concentration on copyright protection for 
films/videos, music recordings, computer software and similar products 
subject to piracy. Participants should include: (1) Government 
officials responsible both for drafting and enforcing laws and 
regulations; (2) lawyers, judges and distributors or licensing 
organizations involved with presenting and deciding infringement cases; 
and (3) press and media, to engage them in raising public consciousness 
about IPR protection. The first phase of the project would bring U.S. 
project staff to Russia in order to become familiar with the particular 
legal regime and market environment in Russia and to meet with the 
principal players in the copyright enforcement arena. The second phase 
of the project would bring 10-12 copyright lawyers and lawmakers to the 
U.S. so that they could meet with their colleagues, copyright 
protection agencies, video and music producers, and other 
professionals. A third phase should include workshops in Russia that 
would reach out to a wider audience.

[[Page 66445]]

    Preference will be given to projects that do not exceed $150,000.

Professional Association Building for Political Scientists and 
Economists

Single Country Projects for Ukraine

    In Ukraine, there are few cohesive efforts to link political 
scientists--practitioners, educators, and students--into a network that 
can improve communication and interaction both within Ukraine and with 
the outside world. The situation is the same in the field of economics.
    The Bureau is seeking proposals that will provide for the creation 
of two professional associations: one for political scientists and one 
for economists. By cooperating together within the framework of a 
professional association, political scientists and economists will be 
better able to coordinate research and analysis activities in Ukraine. 
Professional associations would also be able to positively impact 
public policy creation in Ukraine. Further, these professional 
associations will provide their members with the opportunity to make a 
positive impact on how these subjects are taught and how research is 
conducted at Ukrainian institutions of higher learning.
    Proposals should provide for the establishment of a professional 
association for Ukrainian political scientists and a professional 
association for Ukrainian economists. Activities should provide access 
to and linkages between similar professional associations in the United 
States and Europe, and with departments of political science and 
economics at American institutions of higher learning. Ukrainian 
participants should be shown how similar American professional 
associations conduct research and analysis, and how they foster 
discussion that affect public policy formation in the United States. 
Applicants should provide for the establishment and maintenance of a 
website for each association. The websites will facilitate 
communication among and serve the needs of faculty, students, 
researchers, and practitioners.
    Both in-country and U.S.-based training activities should be 
proposed. Continuous communication, mentoring, and consultations 
between overseas participants and trainers/mentors, should be described 
in detail and conducted throughout the life of the grant.
    Preference will be given to projects that do not exceed $200,000.

Tourism and Economic Development

Single Country Projects for Moldova

    The Bureau is seeking proposals that will allow U.S. communities to 
share tourism and economic development strategies with Moldovan local 
governments, NGOs and business leaders from small cities. Proposals 
should provide an opportunity for local government and business leaders 
from Moldova to examine the experience of U.S. towns and cities, where 
preservation of cultural heritage and historic sites has been combined 
with tourism infrastructure development. Strategies that have led to 
reversing economic decline (i.e. aggressive marketing and the 
incorporation of heritage tourism into local economic development 
plans) should be examined. Multiple trips in both directions, including 
a hands-on, U.S.-based internship or study tour, should be proposed. 
Continuous communication, mentoring, and consultations between Moldovan 
participants and trainers/mentors, should be described in detail and 
conducted throughout the life of the grant.
    Preference will be given to projects that do not exceed $150,000.

Religion In a Democracy

Single Country Projects for Kazakhstan

    The Bureau welcomes proposals that will build a better 
understanding of the role religion plays in Kazakhstan and the United 
States, with emphasis on how Islamic groups and institutions 
participate in a democratic, secular society in which the separation of 
church and state and tolerance are the guiding principles. Participants 
may be religious as well as lay leaders. Activities should illustrate 
how American religious institutions and individuals (including Islamic) 
interact with governmental bodies and other public and private 
institutions, contribute to society at large, and provide spiritual and 
ethical guidance. Balanced, two-way exchanges will be given priority.
    Preference will be given to projects that do not exceed $150,000.

Business Development

Single Country Projects for Turkmenistan

    The Bureau welcomes proposals that will foster the development of 
small and medium-sized businesses in Turkmenistan. Topics to be 
addressed may cover management, marketing, employee relations, 
advertising, public relations, business ethics, negotiation skills, 
customer service, and dealing with a diverse workplace. Programs may 
include a variety of training opportunities such as U.S.-based 
internships, hands-on workshops and case studies. Turkmen participants 
should be linked with U.S. counterparts with similar work 
responsibilities, in order to ensure ongoing professional interaction.
    Preference will be given to projects that do not exceed $150,000.

Community and Local Government Relations

Single Country Projects for Armenia

    The Bureau seeks projects that will facilitate collaboration 
between NGOs and local government bodies. Proposals should include 
partnerships between U.S. and Armenian NGOs and government officials in 
order to share experiences on how to improve government responsiveness 
and effectiveness at the local level. Project activities should focus 
on how municipal teams, including government officials, educational 
leaders, NGOs, business leaders, etc. join forces to address major 
problems (environment, crime, drug use, etc). Proposals should provide 
practical, hands-on training on how NGOs influence political processes, 
collaborate with other organizations to achieve common goals, and 
develop collaborative relationships with government bodies for 
community action. Programs should consist of a two-way exchange that 
may include shadowing opportunities, internships, interactive 
workshops, and case studies. Ideally, participants will be local 
leaders who will share ideas, successes, and challenges from their 
communities. Preference will be given to projects that do not exceed 
$150,000.

Public Health Awareness

Single Country Projects for Armenia

    Armenia's difficult transition to a market economy has weakened the 
government's ability to raise awareness of serious public health 
issues, such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, alcoholism, and sexually 
transmitted diseases. The Bureau is seeking projects that are designed 
to improve public health awareness throughout Armenia. Specifically, 
the Bureau is interested in training and exchange programs that will 
improve the capacity of political, community, and other leaders 
responsible for developing public health policy and disease control and 
prevention. Proposals should focus on creative, community-based 
initiatives that will promote greater awareness of health problems. 
Proposals should

[[Page 66446]]

provide practical, hands-on training on how to promote disease 
prevention strategies, overcome social attitudes that limit public 
discussion of health issues, and manage grassroots mobilization and 
advocacy. Programs may consist of a two-way exchange that includes 
shadowing opportunities, internships, interactive workshops, and 
exposure to appropriate U.S. public health education models. Formal 
medical education and the provision of healthcare services or 
medication are outside the purview of this theme and will not be 
accepted activities for funding.
    Preference will be given to projects that do not exceed $150,000.

Training in NGO Law Making

Single Country Projects for Turkmenistan

    The Bureau is seeking proposals that provide Turkmen NGO leaders 
training in drafting a comprehensive, effective NGO law for their 
country. Applicants should be familiar with USAID's current work with 
Turkmen legislators on this topic and should clearly demonstrate 
expertise in the subject area. Projects should offer opportunities for 
participants to learn how laws are made in the U.S. and how community 
engagement can lead to the development of new laws. Training should 
include a visit to the U.S. by Turkmen participants, as well as follow-
up workshops in-country. U.S.-based training should focus on law making 
at the state level with some focus on the federal level. Training 
should provide participants hands-on exposure to laws governing NGO 
taxation, licensing and incorporation and should include a combination 
of case studies, action planning and site visits. Close consultation 
with the U.S. Embassy's Public Affairs Section in Ashgabat is critical 
during all project components.
    Preference will be given to projects that do not exceed $150,000.

Library Exchanges

Single Country Projects for the Kyrgyz Republic

    Libraries serve as resources for scholarship, proving grounds for 
new technologies, and gateways for community access to information. In 
the Kyrgyz Republic, where libraries face severe financial limits, 
greater collaboration and resource sharing could enhance these 
institutions' capacity to serve their communities. The Bureau is 
interested in proposals that will nurture cooperative relationships 
among Kyrgyz library professionals, government officials, and community 
leaders and assist participants to manage resources cooperatively and 
engage their communities in library activities. Proposals should 
include practical, hands-on in-country training for approximately 100 
Kyrgyz participants nationwide given that one of the primary goals of 
this component should be to initiate a nationwide network of library 
professionals. Projects should match Kyrgyz library professionals with 
U.S. colleagues and include appropriate U.S. models for library 
collaboration and professional development. Continuous activities, 
including mentoring and consultations between partnered libraries, 
should be conducted throughout the life of the grant. Proposals for 
this theme may not exceed $170,000.

Central and Eastern Europe

    Requests for grant proposals for the following countries will be 
announced in separate competitions: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, 
Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, 
Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia-Montenegro/Kosovo, Slovak Republic 
and Slovenia. Proposals involving Central and Eastern Europe WILL NOT 
be accepted under this competition, and if received, will be 
technically ineligible.

Western Europe

    Proposals involving Western Europe will not be accepted under this 
competition, and if received, will be technically ineligible.

Budget Guidelines and Cost-Sharing Requirements

    Grants awarded to eligible organizations with less than four years 
of experience in conducting international development or exchange 
programs will be limited to $60,000. Applicants must submit a 
comprehensive budget for the entire program. Applicants must provide 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 Proposal Submission Instructions 
(PSI) for complete budget guidelines and formatting instructions.
    Since Bureau grant assistance constitutes only a portion of total 
project funding, proposals should list and provide evidence of other 
anticipated sources of financial and in-kind support. While there is no 
minimum requirement, applicants are encouraged to provide cost sharing 
to the fullest extent possible. State Department Review Panels will 
consider cost sharing seriously when evaluating all proposals.
    The following program costs are eligible for funding consideration:
    1. Travel Costs. International and domestic airfares (per the Fly 
America Act), transit costs, ground transportation costs, and visas for 
U.S. participants (J-1 visas for Bureau-supported participants from 
Eurasia to travel to the U.S. are issued at no charge).
    2. Per Diem. For U.S.-based programming, organizations should use 
the published Federal per diem rates for individual U.S. cities. For 
activities in Eurasia, the Bureau strongly encourages applicants to 
budget realistic costs that reflect the local economy. Domestic per 
diem rates may be accessed at: http://www.policyworks.gov/ and foreign 
per diem rates can be accessed at: http://www.state.gov/www/perdiems/index.html.
    3. Interpreters. Local interpreters with adequate skills and 
experience may be used for program activities. The Bureau strongly 
encourages applicants to use local interpreters, if possible. Salary 
costs for local interpreters must be included in the budget. Costs 
associated with using their services may not exceed rates for U.S. 
Department of State interpreters. Typically, one interpreter is 
provided for every four visitors who require interpreting, with a 
minimum of two interpreters. Bureau grants do not pay for foreign 
interpreters to accompany delegations from their home country. U.S. 
Department of State Interpreters may be used for highly technical 
programs with the approval of the Office of Citizen Exchanges. Proposal 
budgets should contain a flat $170/day per diem for each U.S. 
Department of State interpreter, as well as home-program-home air 
transportation of $400 per interpreter, reimbursements for taxi fares, 
plus any other transportation expenses during the program. Salary 
expenses are covered centrally and should not be part of an applicant's 
proposed budget.
    4. Book and cultural allowance. Foreign participants are entitled 
to a one-time cultural allowance of $150 per person, plus a book 
allowance of $50. Interpreters should be reimbursed up to $150 for 
expenses when they escort participants to cultural events. U.S. program 
staff, trainers or participants are not eligible to receive these 
benefits.
    5. Consultants. Consultants may be used to provide specialized 
expertise or to make presentations. Daily honoraria cannot exceed $250 
per day. Subcontracting organizations may also be used, in which case 
the written

[[Page 66447]]

agreement between the prospective grantee and subcontractor should be 
included in the proposal. Subcontracts should be itemized in the 
budget.
    6. Room rental. Room rental may not exceed $250 per day.
    7. Materials development. Proposals may contain costs to purchase, 
develop and translate materials for participants. The Bureau strongly 
discourages the use of automatic translation software for the 
preparation of training materials or any information distributed to the 
group of participants or network of organizations. Costs for high-
quality translation of materials should be anticipated and included in 
the budget. Grantee organizations should expect to submit a copy of all 
program materials to the Bureau.
    8. Equipment. Proposals may contain costs to purchase equipment for 
Eurasia-based programming such as computers, fax machines and copy 
machines. Costs for furniture are not allowed. Equipment costs must be 
kept to a minimum.
    9. Working meal. Only one working meal may be provided during the 
program. Per capita costs may not exceed $5-8 for a lunch and $14-20 
for a dinner, excluding room rental. The number of invited guests may 
not exceed participants by more than a factor of two-to-one. 
Interpreters must be included as participants.
    10. Return travel allowance. A return travel allowance of $70 for 
each foreign participant may be included in the budget. The allowance 
may be used for incidental expenses incurred during international 
travel.
    11. Health Insurance. Foreign participants will be covered under 
the terms of a Bureau-sponsored health insurance policy. The premium is 
paid by the Bureau directly to the insurance company. Applicants are 
permitted to include costs for travel insurance for U.S. participants 
in the budget.
    12. Wire transfer fees. When necessary, applicants may include 
costs to transfer funds to partner organizations overseas.
    13. Administrative Costs. Costs necessary for the effective 
administration of the program may include salaries for grantee 
organization employees, benefits, and other direct and indirect costs 
per detailed instructions in the Application Package. While there is no 
rigid ratio of administrative to program costs, priority will be given 
to proposals whose administrative costs are less than twenty-five (25) 
per cent of the total requested from the Bureau. Proposals should show 
strong administrative cost-sharing contributions from the applicant, 
the in-country partner and other sources.
    Announcement Title and Number: All correspondence with the Bureau 
concerning this RFGP should reference the above title and number ECA/
PE/C/EUR-03-22.

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 January 10, 
2003. 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 RFGP and the 
Proposal Submission Instructions. Please remember that proposals must 
be double-spaced. The original and ten (10) unbound copies (secured 
with a binder clip) of the proposal should be sent to: U.S. Department 
of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Ref.: ECA/
PE/C/EUR-03-22, Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, Room 534, 301 4th 
Street, SW, Washington, DC 20547.

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 Assistant Secretary for Educational and 
Cultural Affairs. Final technical authority for assistance award grants 
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. Program Planning and Ability to Achieve Program Objectives: 
Program objectives should be stated clearly and should reflect the 
applicant's expertise in the subject area and region. Objectives should 
respond to the priority topics in this announcement and should relate 
to the current conditions in the target countries. A detailed agenda 
and relevant work plan should explain how objectives will be achieved 
and should include a timetable for completion of major tasks. The 
substance of workshops, internships, seminars and/or consulting should 
be described in detail. Sample training schedules should be outlined. 
Responsibilities of in-country partners should be clearly described.
    2. Institutional Capacity: The proposal should include (1) the U.S. 
institution's mission and date of establishment (2) detailed 
information about the in-country partner institution's capacity and the 
history of the U.S. and in-country partnership (3) an outline of prior 
awards--U.S. government and private support received for the target 
theme/region (4) descriptions of experienced staff members who will 
implement the program. Proposed personnel and institutional resources 
should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program's goals. The 
proposal should

[[Page 66448]]

reflect the institution's 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.
    3. Cost Effectiveness and Cost Sharing: Overhead and administrative 
costs for the proposal, including salaries, honoraria and subcontracts 
for services, should be kept to a minimum. Priority will be given to 
proposals whose administrative costs are less than twenty-five (25) per 
cent of the total funds requested from the Bureau. Applicants are 
encouraged to cost share a portion of overhead and administrative 
expenses. Cost-sharing, including contributions from the applicant, the 
in-country partner, and other sources should be included in the budget 
request.
    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 venues and program evaluation) and program 
content (orientation and wrap-up sessions, program meetings, resource 
materials and follow-up activities). Applicants should refer to the 
Bureau's Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines in the Proposal 
Submission Instructions (PSI).
    5. Follow-on Activities: Proposals should provide a plan for 
continued follow-on activity (without Bureau financial support) 
ensuring that Bureau supported programs are not isolated events.
    6. Evaluation: Proposals should include a detailed plan to monitor 
and evaluate the program. A draft survey questionnaire plus a 
description of a methodology to use to link outcomes to original 
project objectives should be included. Successful applicants will be 
expected to submit intermediate reports after each project component 
concludes or on a quarterly basis, whichever is less frequent.

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 United States 
and the other countries of the world.'' The funding authorities for 
this program are provided through the Fulbright-Hays Act and the 
FREEDOM Support Act (FSA).

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: October 24, 2002.
Patricia S. Harrison,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. 02-27712 Filed 10-30-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-U