[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 53 (Thursday, March 18, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12889-12893]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-6120]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 4655]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Request for Grant 
Proposals: Educational Partnerships Program With Bosnia-Herzegovina and 
Montenegro

SUMMARY: The Office of Global Educational Programs of the Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for the 
Educational Partnerships Program with Bosnia-Herzegovina and 
Montenegro. 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 support the program goals of 
encouraging mutual understanding, educational reform, and civil society 
through cooperation in higher education in the eligible countries.

Program Overview

    To encourage mutual understanding, educational reform and civil 
society in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro, the Educational 
Partnerships Program will support the cooperation of U.S. colleges and 
universities and non-profit organizations with designated universities 
in these locations to pursue objectives through exchange visits of 
faculty, administrators, professional experts, advanced foreign 
students and advanced U.S. graduate students. Applicants are strongly 
encouraged to discuss project ideas during the proposal development 
process with the relevant Bureau Program Officer for guidance. (Please 
see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION section for contact details.) Funding for 
this competition is being provided from a FY-2003 Support for Eastern 
European Democracy (SEED) Act transfer as carried over into FY 2004 for 
obligation.

Country Eligibility

    Applicant organizations may submit a proposal to administer one, 
two, or all three of the projects listed below:

Bosnia-Herzegovina

    (1) Comparative religious studies at the University of Sarajevo. 
This project will enable the University to establish a program of 
teaching about various religions, promoting inter-faith dialogue. 
Amount available: $200,000.
    (2) American Studies in the English Department of the University of 
Sarajevo. This project should help increase understanding of the U.S. 
society, its values, and culture through the development of a program 
in American Studies at the University of Sarajevo. Amount available: 
$200,000.

Montenegro

    (1) University Administration. This project will enable the 
University of Montenegro to explore and adapt new approaches to 
organizing its programs of instruction and their administration. Amount 
available: $150,000.

Project Design

    The project should be designed to focus on specific institutional 
objectives that will support the Program's goals of encouraging mutual 
understanding, educational reform, and civil society. The design should 
include a series of exchange visits that will lead to the achievement 
of the project's objectives within a three-year period and should 
describe a process for evaluating the results of project 
implementation. The design should also provide for the effective 
administration of the project.

A. Statement of Need

    Proposals should demonstrate an understanding of the need of the 
foreign university partners for the project. Proposals should explain 
how each participating department and institution will utilize the 
project to address the partner institutions' needs as well as larger 
needs in its country and society. If the proposed partnership would 
occur within the context of a previous or ongoing project, the proposal 
should outline distinct objectives and outcomes for the new project and 
should explain how Bureau funding would build upon the previously 
funded activities. Proposals should describe the amounts and sources of 
support for the earlier projects as well as the results to date.

B. Project Objectives

    Proposals should explain in detail how the project will enable the 
participating institutions to achieve specific institutional or 
departmental changes that will support the goals of the Educational 
Partnerships Program. Proposals should outline a series of activities 
for meeting specific objectives for each participating institution and 
society. The benefits of the project to each of the participating 
institutions may differ significantly in nature and scope based on 
their respective needs

[[Page 12890]]

and resource bases. Proposals may outline the parameters and possible 
content of new courses; new teaching specializations or methodologies; 
new or revised curricula; and new programs for outreach to educators, 
professional groups, or the general public. Proposals may also describe 
strategies to promote administrative reform through faculty or staff 
development.

C. Exchange Activities and Project Implementation

    Proposals should demonstrate that a project's objectives are 
feasible to achieve within a three-year period through a series of 
exchange activities that take into account prevailing conditions in the 
participating countries. For example, projects focusing on curricular 
reform should describe the existing curriculum and the courses targeted 
for revision, and should explain how exchange activities will result in 
the restructuring of the current content to incorporate the new 
academic themes. The proposal should describe the topics and content of 
any new courses or educational materials that will be developed and 
introduced, and should identify those persons who will be responsible 
for developing the new courses and for teaching them. If the project 
proposes to develop a new degree or certificate program, the proposal 
should outline the steps being taken to secure approval for the new 
program from the institution itself and from all relevant educational 
authorities. If the strategy to achieve project objectives requires 
intensive English language training for the proposed participants, the 
proposal should indicate how such training will be required and how it 
will be provided. The proposal should also describe the composition and 
size of the student population and any other group that will benefit 
from the innovations to be introduced through the project. Participants 
in the exchange visits may include teachers, researchers, advanced 
foreign students, advanced U.S. graduate students, and administrators 
from the participating institution(s). Independent consultants and 
other professional experts may also participate if they have the 
appropriate expertise. Advanced U.S. graduate students are eligible to 
participate only as visiting instructors at a foreign partner 
institution. Advanced foreign students are eligible to participate in 
exchange visits if they have teaching or research responsibilities or 
are preparing for such responsibilities. Applicants planning to submit 
proposals with advanced foreign students or advanced U.S. graduate 
students as exchange participants are encouraged to contact the program 
office to discuss the rationale for their participation.
    Foreign participants must be both qualified to receive U.S. J-1 
visas and willing to travel to the U.S. under the provisions of a J-1 
visa during the exchange visits funded by this Program. Participants 
representing the foreign partner institutions may not be U.S. citizens.

D. Material and Technical Support for Exchange Activities

    To increase the feasibility and impact of the project's exchange 
activities, a proposal may include a request for funding for 
educational materials (including books and periodical subscriptions) 
and technical components (including the establishment or maintenance of 
Internet and/or electronic mail facilities and of interactive 
technology-based distance-learning programs). The funding requested for 
educational and technical materials should supplement the project's 
exchange activities by reinforcing their impact on project objectives.
    Proposals with distance learning components should describe 
pertinent course delivery methods, audiences, and technical 
requirements. Proposals that include the introduction of Internet, 
electronic mail, and other interactive technologies for long-term use 
in countries where these technologies are not easily maintained or 
financed should discuss how the foreign partner institution will cover 
their costs after the project ends.
    Applicants may propose other project components not specifically 
mentioned in this solicitation document if the activities will increase 
the impact on project objectives.

E. Project Duration

    Pending availability of funds, grants should begin on or about 
September 1, 2004 for a three-year period. Grant activities are 
expected to be completed within the three-year timeframe.

F. Project Evaluation

    Proposals should describe and budget for a methodology for project 
evaluation. Institutions that are awarded partnership 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 current status of each 
participating department's and institution's needs 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 
has 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 their surrounding 
communities or societies. The summative evaluation should also include 
recommendations about how to build upon project achievements.
    Evaluative observations by external consultants with appropriate 
subject, cultural, and regional expertise are especially encouraged. 
Copies of evaluation reports must be provided to the Department of 
State. 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.

G. 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.

Institutional Commitment

    The U.S. applicant organization must submit the proposal and must 
serve as the grant recipient with responsibility for project 
coordination. Proposals must include letters of commitment from all 
institutional partners including the institution submitting the 
proposal. An official who is authorized to commit institutional 
resources to the project must sign the letter of support. The letters 
of support as well as the proposal as a whole should demonstrate that 
the participating institutions understand one another and are committed 
to mutual support and cooperation in project implementation.

Eligible Institutions

    The lead institution and grant recipient in the project must be an 
accredited U.S. college or university or other organization meeting the 
provisions described in IRS regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c). Applications 
from community colleges, institutions serving significant minority 
populations, undergraduate liberal arts colleges, comprehensive 
universities, research universities, U.S. non-profit

[[Page 12891]]

organizations, and combinations of these institutions are eligible. The 
lead U.S. organization in a consortium or other combination of 
cooperating institutions is responsible for submitting the application. 
Each application must document the lead organization's authority to 
represent all U.S. cooperating partners.

Budget Guidance and Cost-Sharing

    The commitment of all partner institutions to the proposed project 
should be reflected in the cost-sharing and contributions which they 
offer in the context of their respective institutional capacities. 
Although the contributions offered by institutions with relatively few 
resources may be less than those offered by applicants with greater 
resources, all participating U.S. institutions should identify 
appropriate cost-share. These costs may include estimated in-kind 
contributions. U.S. institutions are encouraged to contribute to the 
international travel expenses of U.S. participants as part of their 
institutional cost-share. Proposed cost-sharing will be considered an 
important indicator of the applicant institution's commitment to the 
project.
    The Bureau's support may be used to assist with the costs of the 
exchange visits as well as the costs of the administration of the 
project by the U.S. grantee institution, as explained in additional 
detail in the associated document entitled ``Project Objectives, Goals, 
and Implementation'' (POGI). U.S. administrative costs that may be 
covered by the Bureau, with certain limitations, include administrative 
salaries and stipends for persons employed by the U.S. grantee 
organization, other direct administrative costs, and indirect costs. 
The cost of administering the project at the foreign partner 
organization(s) is also eligible for the Bureau's support. Although 
each grant will be awarded to a single U.S. institutional partner, the 
proposal should make adequate provision for the administrative costs of 
all partner institutions, including the foreign partner(s). See the 
POGI for additional information on the restrictions that apply to 
certain budget categories. Budgets and budget notes should carefully 
justify the amounts requested.
    The Bureau anticipates awarding up to three grants for the three 
projects in (an) amount(s) reflecting the amounts available for them 
($200,000 for each of the two projects with Bosnia and Herzegovina and 
$150,000 for Montenegro). Specifically, proposals for all three 
projects may be for an amount not to exceed $550,000. Proposals for 
both projects in Bosnia-Herzegovina may be for an amount not to exceed 
$400,000. Proposals for one project in Bosnia-Herzegovina and for the 
project in Montenegro may be for an amount not to exceed $350,000. 
Proposals for one project only may be for an amount not to exceed the 
amount available for it ($200,000 for a project with Bosnia-
Herzegovina, $150,000 for the project with Montenegro). Bureau 
guidelines require that organizations with less than four years 
experience in conducting international exchanges be limited to $60,000 
in Bureau funding. Therefore, organizations that cannot demonstrate at 
least four years of experience in conducting international exchanges 
are ineligible to apply under this competition.
    Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget 
guidelines and formatting instructions.

Announcement and Title Number

    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number ECA/A/S/U-04-13.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Humphrey Fellowships and 
Institutional Linkages Branch; Office of Global Educational Programs; 
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs; ECA/A/S/U, Room 349; U.S. 
Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547; 
telephone: (202) 260-6797; fax (202) 401-1433 and 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 Maria A. Urbina 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.

Shipment and Deadline for Proposals

    Important Note: The deadline for this competition is Friday, May 
28, 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. 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 deadlines 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 seven 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-04-13, Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, 
Room 534, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.

Submission of Electronic Copies

    Applicants must also submit the ``Executive Summary'' and 
``Proposal Narrative'' sections of the proposal in Microsoft word or as 
text (.txt) format as e-mail attachments to the following address: 
[email protected]. The Bureau will provide these files electronically 
to the Public Affairs Section at the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo and the 
Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Consulate General in Montenegro for 
its review.

[[Page 12892]]

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. The program office, as well as the 
Public Affairs Sections of the U.S. Embassies in Sarajevo and Belgrade, 
will review all eligible proposals, as 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 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) Broad and Enduring Significance of Institutional Objectives: 
Program objectives should have significant and ongoing results for the 
participating institutions and for their surrounding societies or 
communities by providing a deepened understanding of critical issues in 
one or more of the eligible fields. Program objectives should relate 
clearly to institutional and societal needs, including the transition 
of Bosnia Herzegovina and/or Montenegro to democratic political life 
and civil society.
    (2) Creativity and Feasibility of Strategy to Achieve Objectives: 
Strategies to achieve program objectives should be feasible and 
realistic within the budget and timeframe. These strategies should 
utilize and reinforce exchange activities creatively to ensure an 
efficient use of program resources.
    (3) 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.
    (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 objectives for all institutional partners. 
Issues resulting from differences of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, 
geography, socio-economic status, or physical challenge should be 
addressed during program implementation. In addition, program 
participants and administrators should reflect the diversity within the 
societies which they represent (see the section of this document on 
``Diversity, Freedom, and Democracy Guidelines''). Proposals should 
also discuss how the various institutional partners approach diversity 
issues in their respective communities or societies.
    (5) Institution's Capacity and Record/Ability: Proposed personnel 
and institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to 
achieve the program or project's goals. Proposals should demonstrate an 
institutional record of successful exchange programs, including area 
expertise, 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.
    (6) Evaluation: Proposals should outline a methodology for 
determining the degree to which the project meets its objectives, both 
while it is underway and at its conclusion. The final program 
evaluation should include an external component and should provide 
observations about the program's influence within the participating 
institutions as well as their surrounding communities or societies.
    (7) Cost-effectiveness: Administrative and program costs should be 
reasonable and appropriate with cost-sharing provided by all 
participating institutions within the context of their respective 
capacities. Cost-sharing is viewed as a reflection of institutional 
commitment to the program.

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

[[Page 12893]]

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. The funding authority for the program cited above 
is provided through the Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act.

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: March 8, 2004.
Patricia S. Harrison,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. 04-6120 Filed 3-17-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P