[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 224 (Thursday, November 20, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65484-65487]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-29014]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 4540]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Request for Grant 
Proposal: Elementary School Curriculum Development and Teacher 
Education Project for Azerbaijan

    Summary: The Office of Global Educational Programs of the Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs in the Department of State announces 
an open competition for an assistance award to support planning, 
implementing and evaluating a project to improve elementary education 
in Azerbaijan through subject-related curriculum development and 
teacher training. Public and private non-profit organizations meeting 
the provisions described in IRS regulation 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) may 
submit proposals to cooperate with the Bureau in the administration of 
a three-year project to develop elementary school curricula in a 
limited range of subjects together with a related teaching methodology 
manual for elementary school teachers, and to pilot-test and 
disseminate the subject-related curricula and the teachers' manual in 
schools and at teacher training sites in Azerbaijan.

    Important Note: This Request for Grant Proposals contains 
language in the ``Shipment and Deadline for Proposals'' that is 
significantly different from that used in the past. Please pay 
special attention to procedural changes as outlined.

Project Overview

    The project is intended to assist Azerbaijan educators to improve 
elementary education in their country. The project will train a team of 
educators from Azerbaijan to develop curriculum in a limited range of 
elementary subjects. The same team will develop a handbook on teaching 
methodology for elementary school teachers that will relate to the 
subject-specific curricular materials. The materials and the teachers' 
handbook will be tested and disseminated in classrooms and at teacher 
training sites in Azerbaijan.
    The rationale for this project is that by introducing more 
interactive, student-centered teaching practices tied to relevant 
elementary-level studies in Azerbaijan, educators in that country will 
be better equipped to prepare students to participate as citizens in a 
democratic society. As part of the effort to promote cooperative 
relationships within a democratic society, the project will also 
prepare teachers to relate effectively with other members of the 
educational community including administrators, parents, students, and 
officials responsible for educational oversight.

Project Design

    The process for developing, testing, publishing, and disseminating 
the materials and the handbook should include a carefully designed 
series of exchange visits and related activities within a three-year 
period. Proposals should describe a strategy for administering the 
project effectively and for evaluating the results of project 
implementation. Proposals should also demonstrate that the project's 
objectives are feasible within the budget proposed and take into 
account local conditions that may affect recruitment, implementation, 
teacher training or pilot testing activities in Azerbaijan.
    The project design should be outlined within the general framework 
of three project phases. (Full details for each project phase are 
contained in the POGI).

Phase One: Recruitment of Participants, Selection of Subjects, and 
Arrangement of Administrative Details

    Although some of the activities in Phase I may be initiated and 
implemented through correspondence or other kinds of distance 
communication, the U.S. grantee organization should include within 
Phase I a planning trip of approximately two to four weeks to Baku.
    (1) Recruitment of participants: Within the first six months of the 
project, the U.S. grantee organization will communicate with the Public 
Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Baku and with representatives of 
a local NGO active in the education sector or with other local 
educators to coordinate the recruitment and selection of approximately 
six Azerbaijan participants for the curriculum development team. The 
U.S. applicant should identify in the proposal an NGO or a network of 
elementary educators in Azerbaijan with which they propose to work in 
the recruitment effort. The curriculum development team should include 
participants with previous training and professional experience with 
elementary education, curriculum development and in-service teacher 
training.
    (2) After the curriculum development team has been selected, the 
grantee organization should consult with the team members and with 
other elementary educators in Azerbaijan to assess the elementary 
educational curricula and related teaching materials that are currently 
in use in that country, as well as the U.S. materials that may be 
relevant to the needs of elementary teachers in Azerbaijan. Based on 
that analysis, the curriculum development team will select the 
elementary subjects in which the curricular materials will be developed 
and the methodologies which the teachers' manual will target.
    (3) The grantee organization should consult with the Azerbaijan 
Ministry of Education regarding the following key features of the 
project (See POGI for contact information): (a) Approval of paid leave 
for the Azerbaijan participants during their stays in the U.S. and 
during subsequent periods of training in Azerbaijan; (b) facilitation 
of the logistics for the training sessions to be conducted in 
Azerbaijan through signed agreements with the Ministry of Education or 
other education authorities; (c) if the project includes activities 
that will ultimately require government approval, the proposal will 
include a plan for securing the approval of the Ministry or other 
relevant educational authorities.
Phase Two: U.S. Workshop
    In Phase II of this project, members of the curriculum development 
team from Azerbaijan will spend approximately 12 weeks in the U.S. 
attending an intensive curriculum development workshop. The

[[Page 65485]]

U.S. grantee organization will conduct the workshop at which the team 
will draft the curricular materials and the teachers' manual in 
consultation with U.S. specialists with expertise on the targeted 
subjects and methodologies. The U.S. workshop should include 
opportunities for the direct observation of U.S. classroom teaching, 
school administration, and community involvement as appropriate. 
Consultations with U.S. teachers and professional counterparts, 
including mentored attendance at professional meetings, may also be 
appropriate. Proposals should incorporate sufficient time for writing 
the curricular materials and teachers' manual so that working drafts 
will have been completed by the time the curriculum development team 
returns to Azerbaijan.
Phase Three: Pilot-Testing, Teacher Training, Publication, and 
Dissemination
    In Phase III of the project, the grantee organization will 
implement a program for testing, revising and publishing the curricular 
materials and teachers' manual drafted in Phase II. Proposals should 
describe a strategy for collaborating with local elementary schools, 
other appropriate educational organizations and teacher training 
networks in Azerbaijan, including pedagogical institutes, to facilitate 
pilot testing of the curricular materials and the teachers' manual as 
well as training teachers to use the materials and the manual. (For a 
list of in-service teacher training centers and contact information, 
please see the POGI.) Targeted elementary schools should include those 
involved with the Azerbaijan ``Connectivity Project'' sponsored by the 
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. (Information on the 
Azerbaijan Connectivity Project can be found at http://www.projectharmony.az/ az/.)
    Proposals should demonstrate an ability to coordinate and to 
monitor Phase III activities. Proposals should describe the composition 
and size of the teacher and student populations that will benefit from 
the innovations to be introduced through the curriculum development and 
teacher training effort. In addition, proposals should describe (or 
outline a strategy for ascertaining) feasible options for publishing 
the materials and the manual for dissemination.
Project Duration
    Pending the availability of funds, grant activities should begin on 
or around February 1, 2004 and should last for a three-year period. 
Grant activities are expected to be completed within the three-year 
timeframe.
Project Evaluation
    Proposals should describe and budget for project evaluation. 
Organizations that are awarded Bureau grants must formally submit 
periodic reports to the Bureau on the project's activities in relation 
to its objectives. The formal evaluation reports should include an 
assessment of the status of elementary education at the time of program 
inception with specific reference to project objectives; formative 
evaluation to allow for mid-course revisions in the implementation 
strategy; and, at the conclusion of the project, summative evaluation 
of the degree to which the project's objectives have been achieved. The 
proposal should discuss how the issues raised throughout the formative 
evaluation process will be assessed and addressed. The summative 
evaluation should describe the project's influence on the participating 
institutions and participants, as well as the educational community in 
Azerbaijan. The summative evaluation should also include 
recommendations about how to build upon project achievements without 
additional Bureau support. The use of external consultants with 
appropriate subject, cultural, and regional expertise is encouraged. 
Copies of evaluation reports must be provided to the Department of 
State.
    The grantee organization will be expected to submit intermediate 
program and financial reports after each project component is 
concluded. In addition to the formally scheduled reports, the 
evaluation strategy should include a mechanism for promptly providing 
the Bureau with information that will equip the Department of State to 
summarize and illustrate project activities and achievements as they 
occur.
Project Administration
    Proposals should explain how project activities will be 
administered both in the U.S. and overseas in ways that will ensure 
that the project maintains a focus on its objectives while adjusting to 
changing conditions, assessments, and opportunities.

Budget Guidelines

    The Bureau anticipates awarding one grant not to exceed $245,000 to 
support program and administrative costs required to conduct this 
project. The Bureau encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of 
cost sharing and funding from private sources in support of its 
programs. These contributions may include estimated in-kind 
contributions. Bureau guidelines require that grants to organizations 
with less than four years of experience in conducting international 
exchanges be limited to $60,000. Therefore, organizations with less 
than four years' experience in conducting international exchanges are 
ineligible to apply under this competition.
    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. The summary and the 
detailed project and administrative budget should be accompanied by a 
narrative which explains and justifies the amounts requested.
    Allowable costs for the program include the following:
    (1) Administrative costs, including salaries and benefits.
    (2) Program costs, including general program costs and program 
costs for individual participants in project activities. Please refer 
to the POGI for complete budget and formatting guidelines.
    Announcement Title and Number: All correspondence with the Bureau 
concerning this RFGP should reference the above title and number ECA/A/
S/U-04-05.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Humphrey Fellowships and 
Institutional Linkages Branch, Office of Global Educational Programs, 
U.S. Department of State, 301 4th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20547, 
telephone: 202-619-5289; Fax: 202-401-1433; or [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 Jonathan Cebra 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.

[[Page 65486]]

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.

Shipment and Deadline for Proposals

    IMPORTANT NOTE: The deadline for this competition is Friday, 
January 16, 2004. In light of recent events and heightened security 
measures, proposal submissions must be sent via a nationally 
recognized overnight delivery service (i.e., DHL, Federal Express, 
UPS, Airborne Express, or U.S. Postal Service Express Overnight 
Mail, etc.) and be shipped no later than the above deadline. The 
delivery services used by applicants must have in-place, centralized 
shipping identification and tracking systems that may be accessed 
via the Internet and delivery people who are identifiable by 
commonly recognized uniforms and delivery vehicles. It is each 
applicant's responsibility to ensure that each package is marked 
with a legible tracking number and to monitor/confirm delivery via 
the Internet. Faxed documents will not be accepted at any time.

    Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation 
Package. The original and eight copies of the application should be 
sent to:
    U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs,
    Ref.: ECA/A/S/U-04-05,
    Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, Room 534, 301 4th Street, SW, 
Washington, DC 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. 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 
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. The program office, as well as the 
Public Affairs Section overseas, where appropriate will review all 
eligible proposals. Eligible proposals will be forwarded to panels of 
Bureau officers 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 (grants or 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. Quality of the program idea: Proposals should exhibit 
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's 
mission and responsiveness to the objectives and guidelines stated in 
this solicitation. Proposals should demonstrate substantive expertise 
in curriculum development, elementary education and teacher training.
    2. Creativity and feasibility of program plan: A detailed agenda 
and a relevant work plan should demonstrate substantive undertaking, 
logistical capacity, and a creative utilization of resources and of 
relevant professional development opportunities. The agenda and work 
plan should be consistent with the program overview and project design 
that are outlined in this solicitation.
    3. Ability to achieve project objectives: Objectives should be 
reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly 
demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's objectives and 
plan. Proposals should demonstrate an understanding of educational 
issues in Azerbaijan.
    4. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive 
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity by explaining how issues of 
diversity are included in program design and implementation. Achievable 
and relevant features should be cited in both program administration 
(selection of participants, program venue and

[[Page 65487]]

program evaluation) and program content (orientation and wrap-up 
sessions, program meetings, resource materials and follow-up 
activities). The proposal should demonstrate an understanding of the 
specific diversity needs in Azerbaijan and strategies for addressing 
these needs in terms of the project goals.
    5. Institutional capacity and record: Proposed personnel and 
institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve 
the goals of the project. Proposals should demonstrate an institutional 
record of successful exchange activities, including responsible fiscal 
management and full compliance with all reporting requirements for past 
Bureau grants as determined by the Bureau's grants staff. The Bureau 
will consider the past performance of prior grant recipients as well as 
the demonstrated potential of new applicants.
    6. 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 evaluation technique 
should be included together with the description of how project 
outcomes will be compared with project objectives.
    7. Follow-on Activities: Proposals should provide a plan for 
continued follow-on activity (without Bureau support) that ensures that 
the project activities are not isolated events but are part of a 
coherent and on-going plan to improve education in Azerbaijan.
    8. Cost-effectiveness: The overhead and administrative components 
of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be reasonable 
and appropriate and should reflect a commitment to pursuing project 
objectives. The Bureau views cost sharing as a reflection of 
institutional commitment to the project. Contributions should not be 
limited to indirect costs.

Authority

    Overall grant making authority for this program is contained in the 
Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, Pub. L. 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 the Freedom for Russia and Emerging 
Eurasian Democracies and Open Markets Support Act of 1993 (FREEDOM 
Support Act). Programs and projects must conform to Bureau requirements 
and guidelines outlined in the Solicitation Package. Bureau projects 
and programs are subject to the availability of funds.

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: November 10, 2003.
C. Miller Crouch,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 03-29014 Filed 11-19-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P