[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 197 (Friday, October 10, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58739-58741]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-25783]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 4509]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Request for Grant 
Proposals: Partnerships for Learning Undergraduate Studies Program

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Academic Exchange Programs of the Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for 
Partnerships for Learning Undergraduate Studies (PLUS) Program. Public 
and private non-profit organizations with at least four years of 
experience in conducting international exchange programs and meeting 
the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 
501(c)(3) may submit proposals to provide administrative and program 
support services for the PLUS Scholarship Program.

Program Information

    Overview: Under the Partnerships for Learning Initiative, the 
Bureau created the Partnerships for Learning Undergraduate Studies 
(PLUS) Program in order to reach a broader sector of college-age youth 
(generally, 17-22 years of age) from diverse backgrounds and provide 
them with a greater understanding of U.S. institutions, society and 
culture. The goal of the PLUS 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 
undergraduate students from the Middle East and North Africa who 
exhibit leadership potential in contributing to the economic, political 
and social development of the region. PLUS scholarships are offered for 
the final two years of undergraduate level study in the social sciences 
and humanities, with the provision of pre-academic training to develop 
participant academic readiness and English-language abilities. (The 
pre-academic training program is detailed under a separate Request for 
Grant Proposals solicitation.) The program participants should be 
placed in clusters. In general five to ten participants may be placed 
in a single institution. In negotiation with the host institution, the 
cooperating agency needs to develop opportunities for students to 
receive a U.S. degree upon successful completion of the course of work 
and other requirements.
    The Bureau's Office of Academic Exchange Programs administers the 
PLUS Program and is responsible for allocation of funding, policy 
guidance and administrative oversight. Program participants are 
recruited, screened and nominated by America-Mideast Educational and 
Training Services (Amideast) and/or Public Affairs Sections of the U.S. 
Embassies or Fulbright Commissions in the region. Final selection of 
grantees is determined by an independent review panel in Washington, 
DC.
    The successful applicant will have responsibility for program 
administration, which involves performance of services in the following 
broad categories: Program Planning and Management; Placement; 
Supervision and Support Services; Special Programs Management; Fiscal 
Management; and Program Projection, Reporting, Alumni Follow-on and 
Evaluation Services.
    Guidelines: Program administration activities should cover the time 
period January 15, 2004 through August 30, 2006. The expected grantee 
caseload is projected to be 75-100 principal candidates for academic 
years 2004-2005 and 2005-2006. Programs must comply with J-1 visa 
regulations. Please refer to Solicitation Package for further 
information.

Budget Guidelines

    The Bureau anticipates awarding one grant in the amount up to 
$3,650,000 to support program and administrative costs required to 
implement this phase of the PLUS Program. Bureau grant guidelines 
require that organizations with less than four years experience in 
conducting international exchanges be limited to $60,000 in Bureau 
funding. Therefore, organizations with less than four years experience 
in conducting international exchanges are ineligible to apply under 
this competition. The Bureau encourages applicants to provide maximum 
levels of cost-sharing and funding in support of its programs.

[[Page 58740]]

    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 above title and number ECA/A/
E/NEA-SA-04-PLUS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Office of Academic Exchanges, ECA/
A/E/NEA-SA, Room 212, U.S. Department of State, 301 4th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20547, telephone (202) 619-6863, fax (202) 205-2466, or 
Internet address [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 
Officer Alice Armitage 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.

New OMB Requirement

    An OMB policy directive published in the Federal Register on 
Friday, June 27, 2003, requires that all organizations applying for 
Federal grants or cooperative agreements must provide a Dun and 
Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number when 
applying for all Federal grants or cooperative agreements on or after 
October 1, 2003. The complete OMB policy directive can be referenced at 
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/fedreg/062703_grant_identifier.pdf. 
Please also visit the ECA Web site at http://exchanges.state.gov/education/rfgps/menu.htm for additional information on how to comply 
with this new directive.

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, November 
14, 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 Solicitation 
Package. The original and seven copies of the application should be 
sent to: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, Ref.: ECA/A/E/NEA-SA-04-PLUS, Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, 
SA-44, Room 534, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
    Please note that proposals must be sent by U.S. mail or other 
recognized national delivery services that utilize a shipping 
identification and tracking process and whose delivery people are 
identifiable by commonly recognized uniforms and delivery vehicles. If 
applicants wish to send staff to hand-carry proposals, they must 
contact the ECA program officer, Alice Armitage at 202-619-6863 to set 
up an appointment for delivery prior to 5 p.m. November 14.
    Applicants must also submit the ``Executive Summary'' and 
``Proposal Narrative'' sections of the proposal in text (.txt) format 
on a PC-formatted disk. The Bureau will transmit these files 
electronically to the Public Affairs section at the U.S. 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.

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 
part 62, 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. The Grantee 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.

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

[[Page 58741]]

the discretion of the Department of State's Assistant Secretary for 
Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final technical authority for 
cooperative agreements 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 Development and Management: Proposals should exhibit 
originality, substance, precision, innovation, 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. 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 and program 
content.
    5. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional 
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program or 
project's goals.
    6. 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.
    7. 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 use 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.
    8. 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.
    9. Cost-sharing: Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through 
other private sector support as well as institutional direct funding 
contributions.
    10. 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, 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 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: October 6, 2003.
C. Miller Crouch,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 03-25783 Filed 10-9-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P