[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 54 (Thursday, March 20, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13750-13753]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-6729]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 4317]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs; Request for Grant 
Proposals: English Language Fellow Program for Academic Year 2004-2005

SUMMARY: The Office of English Language Programs of the Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for the 
2004-2005 English Language Fellow Program. 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 to 
administer and manage the 2004-2005 English Language Fellow Program. 
The English Language Fellow Program is a worldwide program designed to 
provide American professional expertise in the field of English as a 
Foreign Language to foreign educational institutions and other relevant 
organizations.

Program Information

Overview

    The English Language Fellow Program is a ten-month program designed 
to permit U.S. English language professional assistance in the 
improvement of English teaching capability around the world. The 
Program has placed over 350 English language professionals worldwide in 
the past five years, enhancing foreign governments' efforts to respond 
to the dramatic increase in the demand for English among their 
populations. The goals of the program are to enhance English teaching 
capacity overseas in order to provide foreign teachers and students 
with communication skills they will need to participate in the global 
economy, to improve their access to diverse perspectives on a broad 
variety of issues, and to give them information that will better enable 
them to understand and convey concepts about American values, 
democratic representative government, free enterprise, and the rule of 
law.
    The program is open to U.S. English language professionals at two 
different levels:

[[Page 13751]]

    A. Senior English Language Fellows are experienced teacher trainers 
who have a M.A. or higher degree in TEFL/TESL or a closely related 
field and who have significant overseas teaching experience. These 
Fellows serve as full-time teacher trainers and participate in the 
following program-related activities: Teaching English for Specific 
Purposes (ESP) in a variety of professional fields, designing English 
as a Foreign Language (EFL) curricula and materials, conducting program 
evaluations, testing, organizing workshops and conferences, etc.
    B. Junior English Language Fellows are recent (within the past five 
years) TEFL/TESL M.A. graduates who may or may not have prior overseas 
teaching experience. These Fellows serve as full-time EFL teachers. 
Normal teaching duties are 20 hours per week, with additional work in 
teacher training, curriculum development, and testing. Taken together, 
these duties should not exceed 40 hours per week and should not include 
administrative work.

Objectives

    1. With the guidance of U.S. Embassies overseas, to place 70 
English Language Fellows (approximately 70% senior, 30% junior) in ten-
month assignments at universities, teacher-training institutions, 
ministries of education, bi-national centers and other related language 
education institutions throughout the world.
    2. To use the presence of the Fellows as a means to encourage 
mutual understanding and to share U.S. culture and values with host 
country nationals.

Guidelines

    The organization selected under this competition will be 
responsible for the following:
    (1) Extensive/comprehensive promotion, publicity, advertisement for 
the program among potential U.S. applicants.
    (2) Selection and placement of up to 70 English Language
    Fellows (approximately 70% senior, 30% junior), including 
recruitment, interviews by experienced TEFL/TESL-qualified staff, and 
matching of Fellows to specific projects.
    (3) Pre-departure conference in the U.S.
    (4) Fiscal management.
    (5) Travel and logistics management.
    (6) Enrollment of Fellows in the Bureau's Health and Accident
    Insurance Program (ASPE), including submission of Fellows' medical/
health records to Bureau for clearance.
    (7) Monitoring of program and participants, including a regional 
site visit.
    (8) Design and implementation of an evaluation strategy designed to 
measure impact and outcome of the program and the individual 
participants.
    (9) Organization and implementation of an overseas, regional Fellow 
mid-year conference.
    (10) Implementation of information-maintenance and sharing 
activities (Web site, listserv, database).
    Pending the availability of funds, the grant period shall begin on/
about October 1, 2004 through September 30, 2005. The English Language 
Fellow Program is for academic year 2004/2005. Fellow assignments are 
for ten months beginning on/about September 1, 2004 through June 30, 
2005.

Budget Guidelines

    The Bureau anticipates awarding one grant of approximately 
$4,000,000 under this grant competition. (Bureau grant guidelines 
require that organizations with fewer than four years experience in 
conducting international exchanges is limited to $60,000 in Bureau 
funding. Therefore, organizations that cannot demonstrate at least four 
years' experience in conducting international exchanges are ineligible 
to apply under this competition.) This amount will support the program 
and administrative costs required to implement the program. Benefits 
for the Fellows include the following: a fixed stipend, living 
allowance supplement, round trip travel, pre-departure conference 
travel, pre-departure conference allowance, fixed allowance for one 
dependent (seniors only), mid-year conference travel, miscellaneous 
allowance, shipping allowance, educational materials allowance, in-
country arrival orientation allowance, and in-country program 
activities allowance (seniors only). The Bureau encourages applicants 
to provide the highest level of cost sharing possible in support of 
this program.
    A comprehensive program budget is required, with a summary budget 
as well as breakdowns reflecting both administrative and program 
budgets. Applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for each program 
component, phase, location, or activity to provide clarification. 
Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget guidelines 
and formatting instructions.
    Announcement Title and Number: All correspondence with the Bureau 
concerning this RFGP should reference the above title and number ECA/A/
L-04-01.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Office of English Language 
Programs, ECA/A/L, Room 304, U.S. Department of State, 301 4th Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20547, Phone: 619-5878; FAX: (202) 401-1250, 
Internet address: http://exchanges.state.gov/education/RFGPs to request 
a Solicitation Package. The Solicitation Package contains detailed 
award criteria, required application forms, specific budget 
instructions, and standard guidelines for proposal preparation. Please 
specify Bureau Program Officer, Catherine Williamson, 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 Web site, 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 May 16, 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. It is 
the responsibility of each applicant to 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, Ref.: ECA/A/L-04-01, 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

[[Page 13752]]

criteria under the `Support for Diversity' section for specific 
suggestions on incorporating diversity into the total proposal. Public 
Law 104-319 provides that ``in carrying out programs of educational and 
cultural exchange in countries whose people do not fully enjoy freedom 
and democracy,'' the Bureau ``shall take appropriate steps to provide 
opportunities for participation in such programs to human rights and 
democracy leaders of such countries.'' Public Law 106-113 requires that 
the governments of the countries described above do not have 
inappropriate influence in the selection process. Proposals should 
reflect advancement of these goals in their program contents, to the 
full extent deemed feasible.

Review Process

    The Bureau will acknowledge receipt of all proposals and will 
review them for technical eligibility. Proposals will be deemed 
ineligible if they do not fully adhere to the guidelines stated herein 
and in the Solicitation Package. The program office, as well as the 
Public Diplomacy section overseas, where appropriate will review all 
eligible proposals. Eligible proposals will be subject to compliance 
with Federal and Bureau regulations and guidelines and forwarded to 
Bureau grant panels for advisory review. Proposals may also be reviewed 
by the Office of the Legal Adviser or by other Department elements. 
Final funding decisions are at the discretion of the Department of 
State's Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final 
technical authority for assistance awards grant 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. Because publicity and recruitment are essential components of the 
Program, an aggressive publicity/recruitment plan is required.
    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 activities' 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 on a quarterly basis, whichever is less frequent.
    10. Cost-effectiveness: The overhead and administrative components 
of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be kept as 
low as possible. All other items should be necessary and appropriate.
    11. Cost-sharing: Proposals should maximize cost sharing through 
other private sector support as well as institutional direct funding 
contributions.
    12. Value to U.S.-Partner Country Relations: Proposals 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).
    13. TEFL/TESL Background: Proposals should demonstrate a networking 
plan that allows for significant dissemination of information to 
English as a Second or Foreign Language Teaching professionals. The 
grantee must be able to provide knowledgeable, TEFL/TESL-qualified, 
experienced staff capable of interviewing candidates and evaluating 
their qualifications in accordance with the criteria established by the 
Bureau.

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.'' Subject to Congressional 
action, funding for this program will be provided from ECA's Exchanges 
Appropriation and interagency transfers to the Bureau authorized by the 
FREEDOM Support Act (FSA) and the Support for East European Democracy 
Act (SEED), among others.

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.

[[Page 13753]]


    Dated: March 13, 2003.
Patricia S. Harrison,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. 03-6729 Filed 3-19-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-11-P