[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 238 (Thursday, December 11, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69105-69109]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-30616]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 4551]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Request for Grant 
Proposals: Women's Political, Educational, and Economic Development for 
Afghanistan

SUMMARY: The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational 
and Cultural Affairs, United States Department of State, on behalf of 
the U.S.-Afghan Women's Council and in cooperation with the Office of 
International Women's Issues of the U.S. Department of State, announces 
an open competition for grants to support a series of exchanges and 
training programs promoting ``Women's Political, Educational, and 
Economic Development in Afghanistan.'' U.S. 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 
develop and implement exchanges and training programs involving 
participants from Afghanistan, including training conducted in 
Afghanistan. These U.S. organizations should have a current presence in 
Afghanistan, or experience working in Afghanistan, and work in 
conjunction with Afghan NGO partners. This competition is in direct 
support of the work plan developed by the U.S.-Afghan Women's Council, 
which seeks to carry out training programs in partnership with 
provincial Women's Resource Centers. Up to five grants, not exceeding 
$150,000 each, may be awarded. Depending on the types and number of 
proposals received, more than one award may be made in some areas of 
focus and no awards may be made in others. Proposals that clearly 
demonstrate significant cost-sharing--with 50% of the amount requested 
from ECA as the preferred target--will be judged more competitive. For 
example, an organization requesting $150,000 would be more competitive 
if the proposal presents at least $75,000 in allowable cost sharing. A 
maximum of 10 Afghans traveling to the U.S. will be permitted for each 
grant awarded under this competition, and all individuals traveling to 
the U.S. should use their U.S. experience directly for carrying out 
programs in Afghanistan after their return home. Deadline for 
submissions is Friday, February 6, 2004.
    Important Note: This Request for Grant Proposals contains language 
in the ``Shipment and Deadline for Proposals'' section that is 
significantly different from that used in the past. Please pay special 
attention to procedural changes as outlined.

Program Information

    Overview: On January 28, 2002, Presidents Bush and Karzai announced 
the creation of the U.S.-Afghan Women's Council to promote private/
public partnerships between U.S. and Afghan institutions and to 
mobilize private resources to ensure that Afghan women are provided 
access to the education and skills to which they had no access during 
the years of Taliban misrule. The Council is co-chaired by the Under 
Secretary of State for Global Affairs, the Afghan Minister of Women's 
Affairs and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Council is staffed in 
the United States by the State Department's Office of International 
Women's Issues. The U.S.-Afghan Women's Council seeks to help integrate 
women into Afghan society and to prepare them for positions of 
leadership and management. The priority themes listed below reflect the 
goals and work plan of the Council, and the exchange and training 
programs being funded will be carried out as programs of the U.S.-
Afghan Women's Council. Please refer to the following Web site for more 
information on the Council: http://usawc.state.gov.
    The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs (ECA) consults with and supports American public and 
private nonprofit organizations in developing and implementing multi-
phased, often multi-year, exchanges of professionals, community 
leaders, scholars and academics, public policy advocates, etc. These 
exchanges address issues of critical importance to both the United 
States and to the countries with which the exchanges will be conducted. 
They encourage substantive and cooperative interaction among 
counterparts, and they entail both theoretical and experiential 
learning for all participants. A primary goal is the development of 
sustained, international institutional and individual linkages. In 
addition to providing a context for professional development and 
collaborative problem-solving, these projects are intended to introduce 
participants to one another's political, social, and economic 
structures, facilitating improved communication and enhancing mutual 
understanding.
    Special Note: The Afghan Ministry of Women's Affairs is 
establishing Women's Resource Centers throughout Afghanistan. The US-
Afghan Women's Council and the Department of State are dedicated to 
supporting the work of these centers. All proposals submitted in 
response to this RFGP must feature activities organized in close 
cooperation with and promoting the work of these centers, including 
training activities taking place inside these centers in provinces 
outside of Kabul. All proposals must display an understanding of the 
work of the Afghan Ministry of Women's Affairs and the Women's Resource 
Centers and discuss how proposed exchange activities will further the 
work of these centers. To the extent possible, exchange and training 
activities in Afghanistan will take place at or center around the 
Resource Centers in provinces where such Centers have been established. 
Proposals should also reflect a clear understanding of the work of 
USAID in support of the Centers and demonstrate how exchanges will 
complement and further that support.

[[Page 69106]]

    The Office of Citizen Exchanges solicits proposals for exchange 
projects that involve the following priority themes:

1. Women's Leadership

    Proposals should focus on promoting women's political leadership by 
strengthening the capacity of grassroots women's organizations to 
develop the skills of current and future women political leaders and by 
compiling a repertoire of practical material in the local language(s) 
for use in workshops, mock campaigns and elections, educational 
sessions, or other activities. Proposals must reflect a practical 
knowledge of the political and legislative environment in the partner 
country. Projects may include components listed in ``Guidelines'' below 
and may focus on the following:
    [sbull] Workshops for Political Leaders might include such topics 
as public speaking, message development, leadership, campaign 
management, accountability and constituencies, consensus building, 
surveying, polling, advocacy, voter outreach, networking, working with 
the media, and fundraising, with the goal of increasing the 
effectiveness of women's participation in the political process.
    [sbull] Women's Political Awareness Campaigns should educate women 
on the political process with the goal of increasing their 
participation in government and politics. Awareness campaigns should be 
jointly developed and grass-roots, get-out-the-vote campaigns conducted 
with partner organizations. These should reach the widest possible 
audience in various regions of the country, in large and small cities, 
and in towns and villages, with the goal of increasing women's 
participation in the political process.
    [sbull] Women's Human Rights Education should improve women's 
understanding of human rights issues and the rule of law. Exchanges and 
training should be jointly conducted by U.S. and Afghan partner 
organizations and should reach the widest possible audience.

2. Educational Development and Literacy for Women and Girls

    Proposals should focus on exchanges and training for educational 
administrators and community leaders who are actively involved in 
managing, delivering or promoting education in formal, informal, and 
non-traditional settings, including accelerated learning programs for 
out-of-school and hard-to-reach populations, self-study and distance 
education, and life skill-based, job skill-related, or functional 
literacy training. Emphasis should be on providing assistance and 
support to administrators and others promoting education and literacy. 
Potential topics for activities include, but are not limited to, 
promoting professional competence in educational methodology and 
practice, especially in the area of promoting literacy; strengthening 
local capacity to support education; increasing understanding of the 
importance of women's and girls' education for the family and for 
society and public life; developing leadership and enhancing values of 
civic responsibility; and developing mentoring programs. Only adult 
professionals or grassroots practitioners who are not being trained as 
teachers may be selected to travel internationally for exchange 
activities. Girls and women may take part as students in pilot sessions 
and other in-country educational activities.

3. Women-Led Small Business Development

    Projects should foster the development of local women-led 
businesses in Afghanistan and create ongoing international 
partnerships. Project components in the U.S. or in Afghanistan, with 
examples of possible topics, include: seminars for women considering 
micro-enterprise activities (e.g. entrepreneurship, management, finance 
and registration issues); workshops (developing business plans, loan 
packages, marketing, staff training, appropriate technology); site 
visits (to chambers of commerce, local governments, women's business 
associations, small business resource centers); establishment of 
women's business associations or business resource centers; mentoring; 
consultancies; internships; job-shadowing; or other activities.
    Grant funds may be used to develop or enhance exchanges and 
training focused on women's business resources and the development of 
services in Women's Resource Centers, or to further the activities of 
such a center, but may not be used to furnish new centers. ECA funds 
may also be used to support women's business associations and regularly 
published not-for-profit women's business newsletters in the local 
language and may be used on resources and development of services. No 
more than $10,000 may be used to purchase computer and/or office 
equipment. No funds may be used for micro-credit or re-lending 
activities, though funds may be used for training women considering 
micro-enterprise activities.
    In certain types of program activities, Afghan participants could 
be linked with U.S. mentors or counterparts with similar work 
responsibilities in order to ensure ongoing professional interaction. 
In addition to activities for businesswomen, proposals may include 
components targeting female heads of households, such as widows, 
training them to start businesses.

4. Job Skills Training

    Job skills training should focus on providing women with practical 
skills that will have market value and that will better enable them to 
support their families.

5. NGO Management

    NGO management may be addressed as part of the program design, 
including workshops on NGO management and capacity building for NGOs 
whose work advances women's political and economic development in civil 
society. Topics might include strategic planning, volunteer recruitment 
and management, coalition building, public relations, facilitation 
training, peer education and outreach, public-private partnerships, 
information management, and Web site development.

Project Guidelines

    Applicants should state expected goals and objectives in the 
proposal narrative and describe a clear and convincing plan for 
carrying out project components to fulfill them. Travel costs for a 
maximum of 10 Afghans per grant will be permitted under this 
competition.
    Suggested activities might include:
    1. (If necessary) Initial needs assessment/orientation or training 
travel by American organizers to develop contacts and relationships 
with both American Mission officers and counterpart organizations/
individuals in the Women's Development Centers in which the exchange 
activities will be conducted, and to provide initial training for 
Afghan participants.
    2. First training session in Afghanistan (may coincide with needs 
assessment). American professionals carry out group ``train-the-
trainer'' sessions on the subject of their exchange project, and select 
no more than 10 outstanding Afghan women participants for further 
training in the U.S.
    3. A U.S.-based program, including orientation for Afghan 
participants to program purposes and to U.S. society, discussions, site 
visits, additional training of trainers, or limited internships or job 
shadowing opportunities.
    4. A return visit by American specialists to collaborate with 
Afghan participants from the U.S.-based

[[Page 69107]]

program in conducting additional workshops, seminars, or on-site 
training.
    5. Training programs carried out in Afghanistan in Women's Resource 
Centers led by the Afghans who have received training in the U.S.
    6. Distance learning techniques using appropriate technology and 
activities meant to bridge the digital divide are also encouraged to 
the extent possible.
    This program is not academic in nature. The Office of Citizen 
Exchanges encourages applicants to be creative and innovative in 
planning projects. Activities may combine elements of skill enrichment, 
theoretical orientation, and experiential, community-based initiatives 
designed to achieve objectives. Activities should provide participants 
an opportunity to experience each other's culture. Cultural programming 
may include activities or events hosted by local institutions and home 
stays with community members.
    Projects funded under this competition should enhance partnerships 
among American and foreign organizations, provide hands-on activities 
and training sessions with practical materials in the local language, 
and achieve lasting and sustainable results.
    Afghan partner organizations should be identified in the proposal, 
with project plans developed collaboratively by both the American and 
Afghan partners. Applicants who have not yet identified local partners 
but whose proposals reflect significant regional and thematic expertise 
are also eligible to apply, but priority will be given to organizations 
that have already developed these links and identified Afghan partner 
organizations.
    Eligibility: U.S. public and private non-profit organizations 
meeting the provisions described in IRS regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c)(3) 
are eligible to apply. All proposals will receive equal consideration. 
U.S. organizations should have an Afghan partner, with the U.S. partner 
as the principal applicant.
    Selection of Participants: Proposals should include a description 
of an open, merit-based participant selection process for all program 
components requiring participant selection. A draft application and a 
sample announcement used for recruitment advertising should be 
included. For exchange travel to the U.S., priority should be given to 
participants who have not previously traveled to the United States.
    Public Affairs Section Involvement: The Public Affairs Section of 
the U.S. Embassy (PAS) in Kabul will play an important role in project 
implementation. PAS Kabul will evaluate project proposals, coordinate 
planning with the grantee organization and in-country partners, 
facilitate in-country activities, nominate participants and vet grantee 
nominations, observe in-country activities when feasible, debrief 
participants, and evaluate project impact. Applicants should expect to 
work closely with Embassy PAS in Kabul in selecting participants, and 
all Afghan exchange participants traveling to the U.S. must be approved 
by the U.S. Embassy Kabul PAS. PAS Kabul retains the right to nominate 
participants and to advise the grantee regarding participants 
recommended by other entities.
    PAS Kabul will work with grantee organizations to assist Afghans 
selected for international travel in obtaining the necessary J-1 visas 
for entry into the United States. Although project administration and 
implementation are the responsibility of the grantee, the grantee is 
expected to inform the PAS in Kabul of its operations and procedures 
and to coordinate with and involve PAS officers in the development of 
project activities. The PAS should be consulted regarding country 
priorities, political and cultural sensitivities, current security 
concerns, and related logistic and programmatic issues.

Adherence to All Regulations Governing the J Visa

    The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs is the official program sponsor of exchange programs 
resulting from this solicitation, and an employee of the Bureau will be 
the ``Responsible Officer'' for the program under the terms of 22 CFR 
part 62, which covers the administration of the Exchange Visitor 
Program (J visa program). Under the terms of 22 CFR part 62, 
organizations receiving grants under this RFGP will be third parties 
``cooperating with or assisting the sponsor in the conduct of the 
sponsor's program.'' The actions of grantee program organizations shall 
be ``imputed to the sponsor in evaluating the sponsor's compliance 
with'' 22 CFR part 62. Therefore, the Bureau expects that any 
organization receiving a grant under this competition will render all 
assistance necessary to enable the Bureau to fully comply with 22 CFR 
part 62 et seq. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs places 
great emphasis on the secure and proper administration of Exchange 
Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence by grantee program 
organizations and program participants to all regulations governing J 
visa program participant status. Therefore, proposals should explicitly 
state in writing that the applicant is prepared to assist the Bureau in 
meeting all requirements governing the administration of Exchange 
Visitor Programs as set forth in 22 CFR part 62. If the applicant has 
experience as a designated Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor, the 
applicant should discuss their record of compliance with 22 CFR part 62 
et seq., including the oversight of their 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 Office of Citizen Exchanges of ECA will be responsible for issuing 
the 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 Fourth Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20547, Telephone: (202) 401-9810, FAX: (202) 401-9809.

Budget Guidelines

    The Bureau expects to award up to five grants, not exceeding 
$150,000 each, to support program and administrative costs required to 
implement exchange programs under this competition. Applicants must 
submit a comprehensive line-item budget based on guidance provided in 
the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) of the Solicitation Package. 
Grants awarded to organizations with less than four years of experience 
in conducting international exchange programs will be limited to 
$60,000. A maximum of 10 Afghans traveling to the U.S. will be 
permitted for each grant awarded under this competition. Proposals 
which clearly demonstrate a significant cost-sharing--with 50% of the 
amount requested from ECA as the preferred target--will be judged more 
competitive. For example, an organization requesting $150,000 will be 
more competitive if the proposal contains at least $75,000 in allowable 
cost sharing.
    Allowable costs include the following:
    1. Direct Program Expenses (including general program expenses, 
such as orientation and program-related supplies, educational 
materials, traveling campaigns, consultants, interpreters, and room 
rental; and participant program expenses, such as domestic and 
international travel and per diem)

[[Page 69108]]

    2. Administrative Expenses, including indirect costs (i.e. 
salaries, telephone/fax, and other direct administrative costs)
    3. Travel costs for visa processing purposes: All foreign 
participants funded by any grant agreement resulting from this 
competition must travel on J-1 visas. Failure to secure a J-1 visa for 
the foreign participant will preclude charging the participant's cost 
to the grant agreement. Participants will apply for J-1 visas only 
after the Office of Citizen Exchanges and the mission Public Affairs 
Section or consulate have approved their participation in this program. 
The Office of Citizen Exchanges will issue DS-2019 forms and deliver to 
foreign program visitors through the mission Public Affairs Section. 
All J visas for Afghan program visitors must be issued by the U.S. 
Consulate in Islamabad or Peshawar, so proposals should include costs 
for potential participants to travel to Kabul to pick up DS-2019 forms 
and to Pakistan for visa interviews and processing.
    Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget 
guidelines and formatting instructions. Instructions for downloading 
the Solicitation Package are provided below.

Announcement Title and Number

    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number: ECA/PE/C/NEA-AF-04-41.

To Download a Solicitation Package Via Internet

    The entire Solicitation Package (Request for Grant Proposal and 
Proposal Submission Instructions), may be downloaded from the Bureau's 
Web site: <http://exchanges.state.gov/education/rfgps.
    Please read all information before downloading. If you are unable 
to download the Solicitation Package from the Department of State ECA 
Web site, you may request a copy, which contains required application 
forms, specific budget instructions, and standard guidelines for 
proposal preparation, from the Office of Citizen Exchanges.

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 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.hum for additional information 
on how to comply with this new directive.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Office of Citizen Exchanges, ECA/
PE/C/NEA--AF, U.S. Department of State, 301 Fourth St., SW., Room 216, 
Washington, DC 20547, Attention: Katherine Van de Vate or Thomas 
Johnston; Telephone number: 202/619-5320; fax number: 202/619-4350; 
Internet e-mail address: [email protected] or 
[email protected].
    Organizations planning to submit proposals are encouraged to 
contact the program office for consultation. Before doing so, 
applicants should read the complete Federal Register announcement and 
be prepared to discuss a concrete concept specific to the guidelines 
set forth in this request for grant proposals (RFGP). Once the RFGP 
deadline has passed, Bureau staff may not discuss this competition with 
applicants until the proposal review process has been completed.

Shipment and Deadline for Proposals

    Important Note: The deadline for this competition is Friday, 
February 6, 2004. In light of recent events and heightened security 
measures, proposal submissions must be made 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. Proposals shipped on or before the above deadline 
but received at ECA more than seven days after the deadline will be 
ineligible for further consideration under this competition. Proposals 
shipped after the established deadline are ineligible for consideration 
under this competition. It is each applicant's responsibility to ensure 
that each package is marked with a legible tracking number and to 
monitor/confirm delivery to ECA via the Internet. Delivery of proposal 
packages may not be made via local courier service or in person for 
this competition. Faxed documents will not be accepted at any time. 
Only proposals submitted as stated above will be considered.
    Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation 
Package. The original and 10 copies of the proposal should be sent to: 
U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, Ref.: ECA/PE/C/NEA-AF-04-41, Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, 
Room 534, 301 Fourth St., SW., Washington, DC 20547.
    Applicants must also submit the ``Executive Summary,'' ``Proposal 
Narrative,'' and ``Budget'' sections of the proposal in text (.txt) 
format on a PC-formatted disk. ECA will transmit these files 
electronically to the Public Affairs Sections of the relevant U.S. 
Embassies for review. Once the deadline for submission has passed, 
Bureau staff may not discuss this competition in any way with 
applicants until the proposal review process has been completed.

Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines

    Pursuant to ECA'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

[[Page 69109]]

the Program Office, as well as by Public Affairs Section Kabul, and the 
Global Issues Bureau Office of International Women's Issues on behalf 
of the US-Afghan Women's Council. Eligible proposals will be forwarded 
to panels of State Department officers for advisory review. Proposals 
may also be reviewed by the Office of the Legal Advisor 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 proposal evaluation.
    1. Quality of Program Idea: Proposals should be substantive, well 
thought-out, focused on issues of demonstrable relevance to all 
proposed participants, and responsive, in general, to the exchange 
suggestions and guidelines described above.
    2. Implementation Plan and Ability to Achieve Objectives: A 
detailed project implementation plan should establish a clear and 
logical connection between the interest, the expertise, and the 
logistic capacity of the applicant and the objectives to be achieved. 
The proposal should discuss, in concrete terms, how the institution 
plans to achieve the objectives. Institutional resources--including 
personnel--assigned to the project should be adequate and appropriate. 
The substance of workshops and site visits should be included as an 
attachment, and the responsibilities of U.S. participants and in-
country partners should be clearly described.
    3. Institution's Record/Ability: Proposals should include an 
institutional record of successful exchange programs, with reference to 
responsible fiscal management and full compliance with reporting 
requirements.
    4. Cost Effectiveness and Cost Sharing: Administrative costs should 
be kept to a minimum. Proposals should maximize cost sharing through 
in-cash and in-kind contributions from the U.S. and partner 
organization(s). Proposals which clearly demonstrate significant cost-
sharing--with 50% of the amount requested from ECA as the preferred 
target--will be judged more competitive.
    5. Program Evaluation: Proposals must include a plan and 
methodology to evaluate the program's successes and challenges. The 
evaluation plan should show a clear link between program objectives and 
expected outcomes, and should include a brief description of 
performance indicators and measurement tools. A draft questionnaire for 
evaluation purposes may be attached to support the proposal.
    6. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive 
support of ECA's policy on diversity. Program content (orientation, 
evaluation, program sessions, resource materials, follow-on activities) 
and program administration (selection process, orientation, evaluation) 
should address diversity in a comprehensive and relevant manner. 
Applicants should refer to ECA's Diversity, Freedom and Democracy 
Guidelines on page four of the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI).

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 other 
countries of the world.''

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 or program officers that contradicts published 
language will not be binding. Issuance of the RFGP does not constitute 
an award commitment on the part of the U.S. 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. Organizations will be expected to cooperate with the 
Bureau in evaluating their programs under the principles of the 
Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) of 1993, which requires 
federal agencies to measure and report on the results of their programs 
and activities.

Notification

    Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by 
Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures.

    Dated: December 2, 2003.
C. Miller Crouch,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 03-30616 Filed 12-10-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P