[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 71 (Monday, April 14, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17983-17984]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-9055]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 4336]


Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Request for Grant 
Proposals: Human Rights and Democratization Initiatives in the Middle 
East and North Africa

SUMMARY: The Office for the Promotion of Human Rights and Democracy of 
the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) announces an open 
competition for one or more assistance awards. Organizations may submit 
grant proposals that address programs and activities that foster 
democracy, human rights, press freedoms, women's political development 
and the rule of law in countries with a significant Muslim population 
in the Middle East and North Africa, and where such programs and 
activities would be important to United States efforts to respond to, 
deter, or prevent acts of international terrorism.
    Awards are contingent upon the availability of funds. Funding may 
be available at a level of up to $4,000,000 under the Economic Support 
Funds through the Bureau's Human Rights and Democracy Fund (HRDF) for 
projects that address Bureau objectives in predominantly Muslim 
countries in this region. The Bureau anticipates awarding between 4-10 
grants in amounts of $250,000-$1,000,000.
    Background: The Human Rights and Democracy Fund (HRDF) supports 
innovative, cutting-edge programs which uphold democratic principles, 
support and strengthen democratic institutions, promote human rights, 
and build civil society in countries and regions of the world that are 
geo-strategically important to the U.S. HRDF funds projects that have 
an immediate impact but that have potential for continued funding 
beyond HRDF resources. HRDF projects must not duplicate or simply add 
to efforts by other entities.

Additional Information

    Proposed programs must address at least one of the following 
specific themes and priority countries. Regional programs that include 
priority countries are also welcome:
    (1) Support to civil society, with emphasis on political actors and 
advocacy groups that involve women: Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, Algeria, 
Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran.
    (2) Access to information through freedom of the press, freedom of 
speech, and enhanced public awareness of human rights and democracy 
issues: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia.
    (3) Elections: strengthening institutional capacity, training 
political parties, NGOs and newly elected officials, raising civic 
awareness: Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Jordan, Morocco.
    (4) Rule of law with emphasis on civil liberties, governmental 
accountability, and administration of justice: Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, 
Tunisia.

Project Criteria

    [sbull] Project implementation should begin no earlier than late 
summer 2003.
    [sbull] Projects should not exceed two years in duration. Shorter 
projects with more immediate outcomes may receive preference.
    [sbull] Projects must take place in-country or in a third country. 
U.S.-based or exchange projects are discouraged.
    [sbull] Projects that have a strong academic or research focus will 
not be highly considered. DRL will not fund health, technology, 
environmental, or scientific projects unless they have an explicit 
democracy, human rights, or rule of law component. Conferences likewise 
will not be highly considered.
    [sbull] Projects should include a follow-on plan that extends 
beyond the grant period ensuring that Bureau-supported programs are not 
isolated events.
    In order to avoid the duplication of activities and programs, 
proposals should also indicate knowledge of similar projects being 
conducted in the region and how the submitted proposal will complement 
them.

Applicant/Organization Criteria

    Organizations applying for a grant should meet the following 
criteria:
    [sbull] Be a U.S. public or private non-profit organization meeting 
the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 
501(c)(3).
    [sbull] Have demonstrated experience administering successful 
projects in the region in which it is proposing to administer a 
project.
    [sbull] Have existing, or the capacity to develop, active 
partnerships with in-country organization(s).

    Note: Organizations are welcome to submit more than one 
proposal, but should know that DRL wishes to reach out to as many 
different organizations as possible with its limited funds.

Budget Guidelines

    Please refer to the Proposal Submission Instructions for complete 
budget guidelines and formatting instructions.

Deadline for Proposals

    All proposals must be received at the Bureau of Democracy, Human 
Rights and Labor by 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on Wednesday, 
May 14, 2003. Please refer to the PSI for specific delivery 
instructions.

Review Process

    The Bureau will acknowledge receipt of all proposals and will 
review them for eligibility. Proposals will be deemed ineligible if 
they do not fully adhere to the guidelines stated herein and in the 
PSI. Eligible proposals will be subject to compliance with Federal and 
Bureau regulations and guidelines and forwarded to Bureau grant panels 
for

[[Page 17984]]

advisory review. Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of the 
Legal Adviser or by other Department elements.
    Final technical authority for assistance awards resides with the 
Office of Acquisition Management's Grants Officer.

Review Criteria

    Eligible applications will be competitively reviewed according to 
the criteria stated below. Fuller explanation of these criteria are 
included in the PSI. These criteria are not rank ordered and all carry 
equal weight in the proposal evaluation: quality of the program idea; 
program planning and ability to achieve program objectives; multiplier 
effect/impact; institution's record/ability/capacity; cost-
effectiveness.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: The Office for the Promotion of Human 
Rights and Democracy of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and 
Labor, DRL/PHD. Please specify Sondra Govatski (202)-647-9734 on all 
inquiries and correspondence.
    Please read the complete Federal Register announcement before 
sending inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the RFP 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 Solicitation Package includes this RFP plus the Proposal 
Submission Instructions (PSI) which contains detailed award criteria, 
specific budget instructions, and standard guidelines for proposal 
preparation. The entire RFP and PSI may be downloaded from the Bureau's 
Web site at http://www.state.gov/g/drl/.

Notice

    The terms and conditions published in this RFP 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 RFP 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: April 7, 2003.
Lorne W. Craner,
Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Department 
of State.
[FR Doc. 03-9055 Filed 4-11-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-18-P