[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 58 (Thursday, March 25, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15428-15433]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-6715]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 4669]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Request for Grant 
Proposals: U.S.-Russia Volunteer Initiative for Historical and Cultural 
Preservation

SUMMARY: The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational 
and Cultural Affairs (ECA) invites applicants to submit proposals for 
programs that promote volunteerism and cooperation between the United 
States and the Russian Federation. U.S.-based 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 
conduct international volunteer programs for young professionals from 
the United States and the Russian Federation to work on cultural and 
historical preservation projects.

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 below.

    Announcement Title and Number: All correspondence with ECA 
concerning this RFGP should reference the above title and number ECA/
PE/C/EUR-04-50.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Office of Citizen Exchanges, ECA/
PE/C/EUR, Room 224, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20547, Attention: U.S.-Russia Volunteer Initiative-
Historical/Cultural Preservation, telephone number: 202-619-5330, fax 
number 202-619-435, or [email protected] to request a Solicitation 
Package. The Solicitation Package consists of the Request for Grant 
Proposals (RFGP), the Proposal Submission Instructions, and ECA's 
Diversity Statement. Please specify Bureau Program Officer Michael 
George on all 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 ECA's Web site at http://exchanges.state.gov/education/RFGPs. Please read all information before 
downloading.
    General Program Guidelines: In September 2003, President George W. 
Bush and President Vladimir Putin highlighted the need for closer 
cooperation between the U.S. and Russia in social and humanitarian 
fields and for greater contact among young people of both countries. As 
a result, the U.S. and Russian governments developed the U.S.-Russia 
Volunteer Initiative (USRVI) to engage private individuals, 
organizations, and businesses in both countries in cooperative 
volunteer activities. The program seeks to encourage cooperation among 
young professionals from the United States and Russia under the premise 
that people-to-people contacts broaden awareness of shared interests 
and common values between countries.
    The principal objectives of the overall U.S.-Russia Volunteer 
Initiative are:
     To foster volunteerism in Russia and the United 
States by encouraging collaboration on a range of issues of interest to 
both societies;
     To develop substantive and sustainable linkages 
between Russian and U.S. non-governmental organizations, voluntary 
service and professional associations, government entities, and the 
business sector;
     To promote understanding of different approaches 
to problems common to both the United States and Russia; and
     To eventually apply U.S. and Russian expertise 
toward socioeconomic and democratic development in third countries.
    The U.S. government will provide funding for pilot projects in 
three themes of mutual U.S.-Russian interest and expertise: information 
and communication technology, HIV/AIDS prevention, and historical/
cultural preservation. This Request for Grant Proposals (RFGP) covers 
the historical/cultural preservation theme only.
    ECA and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will 
oversee USRVI components. ECA will select the U.S. implementing 
organization for the historical/cultural preservation theme, and USAID 
will issue a separate solicitation for projects in the information and 
communication technology and HIV/AIDS prevention themes (USAID's 
program information and Request for Applications may be found at http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/AID/OM/MOS/postdate_1.html). The Russian 
government has identified the Russian Union of Youth as the primary 
implementing organization for the USRVI in Russia. A bi-national 
Steering Committee will coordinate activities between the Russian Union 
of Youth and U.S. implementing organizations in all thematic areas. 
Proposals should demonstrate a willingness to consult closely with the 
designated program officer at ECA, the Public Affairs Section (PAS) at 
the U.S. embassy in Moscow, and the USRVI Steering Committee. Proposals 
must express a willingness to coordinate activities in Russia with the 
Russian Union of Youth to the extent requested by ECA, PAS, and the 
Steering Committee.

Volunteer Initiative for Historical/Cultural Preservation

    ECA seeks proposals that would foster volunteerism and cooperation 
between young professionals from the United States and Russia in the 
field of historical and cultural preservation. Proposals should include 
a two-way exchange that includes reciprocal volunteer experiences in 
U.S. and Russian communities for mixed teams of U.S. and Russian 
volunteers. Programs should focus on historic structures, districts, or 
sites outside of major cities in the U.S. and Russia.
    ECA funding available for USRVI historical and cultural 
preservation programs is approximately $125,000. ECA anticipates 
awarding one grant for this competition.
    The goals of the U.S.-Russia Volunteer Initiative for Historical 
and Cultural Preservation are:
    (1) To foster volunteerism in Russia and the U.S. through 
collaboration on

[[Page 15429]]

historical and cultural preservation projects in both countries;
    (2) To develop professional and personal linkages between Russian 
and U.S. volunteers, host institutions, and communities that will lead 
to sustained interaction;
    (3) To promote understanding of preservation policies and 
techniques used in the United States and Russia; and
    (4) To eventually contribute U.S. and Russian volunteer expertise 
to historical and cultural preservation efforts in third countries.
    Final grant awards will require formal acknowledgement of ECA 
funding for the program in all materials. ECA will require successful 
applicants to invite representatives of the U.S. embassy in Moscow or 
U.S. consulates to participate in program sessions/site visits.

Selection of Participants

    Volunteers must be young professionals (ages 18-30) who are 
citizens of either the U.S. or Russia. Proposals should clearly 
describe the participant recruitment and merit-based selection process. 
Ideally, participants would have language skills that are sufficient 
and appropriate for their volunteer placements. ECA, PAS/U.S. Embassy 
Moscow, and the USRVP Steering Committee retain the right to review all 
participant nominations and to accept or refuse participants 
recommended by grantee institutions. For Russian participants, priority 
for exchange components will be given to those who have not previously 
traveled to the United States.
    Successful applicants must agree to submit the names of proposed 
Russian participants to ECA and PAS approximately eight weeks in 
advance of the scheduled start of U.S.-based activities. Once 
participants are approved, ECA will issue DS-2019 forms for 
participants traveling to the U.S. and will forward these forms to PAS 
for visa processing. ECA will enter all participant data into the SEVIS 
system. Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations. See the section 
below on requirements for maintenance of and provision to ECA of data 
on participants and program activities.

Suggested Program Designs

    ECA supports exchanges and training programs that enhance linkages 
and partnerships between the U.S. and other countries and that offer 
practical information and experience to assist individuals and groups 
with their professional responsibilities. Strong proposals usually have 
the following characteristics:
     An assessment of project needs that is relevant 
to the target country or region (proposals that request resources for 
an initial needs assessment may be deemed less competitive);
     A clear, convincing plan showing how ECA-funded 
activities will achieve results;
     Schedules for each program activity;
     A description of participant selection 
processes;
     Letters of support from local and U.S. partners 
(proposals that illustrate an ability to arrange volunteer placements 
with letters of support from prospective host institutions will receive 
higher priority);
     A timeline for the entire grant period;
     An outline of relevant expertise in cultural and 
historical preservation and regional knowledge;
     An outline of relevant experience managing 
exchange, internship, or volunteer programs for participants from/in 
Russia or other countries in Eurasia or Eastern Europe;
     Resumes of experienced staff who have 
demonstrated a commitment to monitor projects and ensure 
implementation;
     A comprehensive evaluation plan to determine 
whether program outcomes respond effectively to issues identified in 
the needs assessment; and
     A post-grant plan demonstrating the grantee 
organization's commitment to maintaining contacts initiated through the 
program. Applicants should discuss ways that U.S. and Russian 
volunteers or host institutions could collaborate on projects in third 
countries after the ECA-funded grant has concluded. (See Review 
Criterion 6 below for more information on post-grant 
activities.)
    Proposals must focus on international volunteer exchanges between 
the United States and Russia. ECA anticipates that the first exchanges 
would begin in August 2004. Exchanges must provide an individualized 
volunteer project that each participant can complete with local host 
organizations in the U.S. and Russia. Volunteers may be placed 
individually or in teams. Projects may cover a range of activities, 
including historical documentation, building restoration, 
archaeological site management, conservation and historical 
preservation activities, and the preparation of interpretive materials 
for the public. Programs should enable volunteers to contribute their 
knowledge and skills to benefit their own and other communities. 
Volunteers should also gain a better understanding of the host 
country's architectural or cultural heritage from their experience. 
Examples of appropriate projects include, but are not limited to:
     Community outreach campaigns for conservation of 
endangered sites or structures;
     Information campaigns to increase public 
interest in places of historic/cultural significance;
     Development of interpretive exhibits on local 
areas or monuments;
     Community-based initiatives to harmonize 
economic development with the historic character or cultural 
significance of local districts or sites.
    Participants should have networking and information sharing 
opportunities throughout the grant period. ECA encourages applicants to 
include training-of-trainer (TOT) workshops in their program plan. 
These activities should help participants strengthen their professional 
and volunteer skills, share their experiences with committed people, 
and become active in a practical and valuable way in their home 
countries.
    ECA anticipates that each volunteer exchange will be between one 
and three months in duration. Grantee organizations must describe the 
method of covering meals, lodging, and incidental expenses for 
volunteers in both the U.S. and Russia. ECA encourages applicants to 
arrange homestays for volunteers; applicants who propose to do so 
should describe the recruitment, selection, and volunteer matching 
procedures for host families. Proposals should address language and 
interpreting issues.
    Programs should propose to work with a range of host institutions 
where volunteer efforts are welcome and can make a difference. Such 
institutions may include, but are not limited to, State historic 
preservation offices, local historical organizations, cultural and 
professional associations, government agencies, and volunteer 
organizations. Proposals should include a plan to designate a local 
facilitator or mentor for the duration of each placement. Host 
organizations should include volunteers in as many different aspects of 
the work and activities of the institution as possible. Volunteers 
should be expected to work to the same professional standards as the 
rest of the staff, and they should be afforded opportunities to meet 
with other preservation professionals. Proposals should list the 
responsibilities of the applicant, subcontractors, partner 
organizations, and local host organizations.
    Applicants may propose to work with partner organizations in Russia 
in order to conduct volunteer programs for U.S.

[[Page 15430]]

participants. Such partnerships should assist Russian organizations' 
institutional capacity and stability. Overseas partner organizations 
must agree to work within the USRVI program framework involving ECA, 
PAS, the Russian Union for Youth, and the USRVI Steering Committee 
mentioned above.

Activities Ineligible for Support

    The Office of Citizen Exchanges does not support proposals limited 
to conferences or seminars (i.e., one to fourteen-day programs with 
plenary sessions, main speakers, panels, and a passive audience). It 
will support conferences only when they are a small part of a larger 
project in duration that is receiving Bureau funding from this 
competition. No funding is available exclusively to send U.S. citizens 
to conferences or conference-type seminars overseas, nor is funding 
available for bringing foreign nationals to conferences or to routine 
professional association meetings in the United States. The Office of 
Citizen Exchanges does not support academic research or fund faculty or 
student fellowships.

Program Data Requirements

    Successful applicants will be required to maintain specific data on 
program participants and activities in an electronically accessible 
database format that can be shared with ECA as required. As a minimum, 
the data must include the following:
    (1) Name, address, contact information and biographic sketch of all 
persons who travel internationally on funds provided by the grant or 
who benefit from the grant funding but do not travel.
    (2) Itineraries of international and domestic travel, providing 
dates of travel and cities in which any exchange experiences take 
place. The ECA Program Officer must receive final schedules for Russian 
and U.S. activities at least three work days prior to the official 
opening of the activity.

Evaluation

    In order to assess and demonstrate the impact of this program, ECA 
asks that all proposals include a comprehensive evaluation plan. 
Proposals must clearly state program objectives that directly respond 
to the goals included under ``General Program Guidelines'' above. Each 
program objective should meet the following criteria:
     Focus on a single purpose and a produce a single 
result;
     Be realistic;
     Focus on the result of each activity, rather 
than the activity itself;
     Include some means of measuring success; and
     State a timeframe for achieving results.
    Evaluations must demonstrate whether the project has met its stated 
objectives through comparison to baseline data or control groups 
identified in the proposal's needs assessment. Evaluation plans may 
collect quantitative and qualitative data on program results, and these 
should include at least two means of data collection. Appropriate means 
of data collection might include written evaluations, interviews, 
surveys of persons impacted by participants or their work, audits of 
participants' individual projects, or field observations. Evaluation 
plans must describe how the applicant will tabulate qualitative data, 
where the data will be kept, who will have access to such data, and how 
it will be reported to ECA. If the proposal calls for an outside 
evaluation, the proposal should include the above information as well 
as a description of the evaluator's experience. An evaluation report 
will be due at the end of the program that provides the following 
information:
    (1) A 2-3 page narrative description of the extent to which the 
program met its objectives;
    (2) Summary data in tabular and graphic form that demonstrates 
these conclusions;
    (3) Tabulated raw data for each performance indicator, which may 
include demographic data for cross-referencing, where appropriate; and
    (4) Examples of all data collection instruments used in the 
evaluation.
    Proposals should also include a plan for collecting feedback from 
participants and stakeholders during the course of the program in order 
to make mid-course corrections in program content and administration. 
Proposals should describe how the applicant would apply this 
information in conducting the program. This information will be 
required in program interim reports.

Budget Guidelines

    Bureau grant guidelines require that organizations with less than 
four years experience in conducting international exchanges be limited 
to $60,000 in Bureau funding. Since ECA anticipates awarding one grant 
that exceeds this amount, organizations that cannot demonstrate at 
least four years experience in conducting international exchanges are 
ineligible to apply under this competition.
    Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the entire 
program that includes a summary budget as well as breakdowns reflecting 
both administrative and program budgets in the proposal. Applicants may 
provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase, 
location, or activity to provide clarification. Please refer to the 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) for complete budget guidelines 
and formatting instructions.
    Allowable program costs include the following:
    1. Travel: International and domestic airfare (per the ``Fly 
America Act''), ground transportation, and visas for U.S. participants. 
J-1 visas for ECA-supported participants from Russia to travel to the 
U.S. are issued at no charge.
    2. Per Diem: Organizations should not exceed the published Federal 
per diem rates for individual U.S. cities. ECA strongly encourages 
applicants to budget realistic amounts that reflect local costs. ECA 
encourages applicants to arrange volunteer lodging in homestays rather 
than hotels. Domestic per diem rates may be accessed at: http://policyworks.gov/org/main/mt/homepage/mtt/perdiem/perd04d.html. Foreign 
per diem rates can be accessed at: http://www.state.gov/m/a/als/prdm/.
    3. Interpreters: ECA anticipates that participants will have 
language skills appropriate for their placement. In cases when 
applicants can justify the use of interpretation, ECA strongly 
encourages the use of locally based interpreters. However, applicants 
may ask ECA to assign U.S. Department of State interpreters for U.S. 
components, which will decrease the amount of the award. When an 
applicant proposes to use State Department interpreters, the following 
expenses should be included in the budget: published Federal per diem 
rates (both ``lodging'' and ``M&IE''); ``home-program-home'' 
transportation in the average amount of $400 per interpreter; 
reimbursement for taxi fares; and cell phone usage at $10 per week. If 
the applicant uses State Department interpreters, salary expenses will 
be covered by ECA and should not be part of an applicant's proposed 
budget. ECA funds cannot support interpreters who accompany delegations 
from their home country or travel internationally.
    4. Book and cultural allowance: Foreign participants are entitled 
to a one-time cultural allowance of $150 per person, plus a book 
allowance of $50. Interpreters should be reimbursed up to $150 for 
expenses when they escort participants to cultural events. U.S. program 
staff, trainers, or participants are not eligible to receive these 
allowances.
    5. Consultants: Consultants may provide specialized expertise or to 
make

[[Page 15431]]

presentations. Daily honoraria may not exceed $250 per day.
    6. Subcontractors: Subcontracting organizations may be used, in 
which case the written agreement between the prospective grantee and 
subcontractor should be included in the proposal. Subcontracts should 
detail the division of responsibilities and proposed costs. 
Subcontracts should be itemized in the budget.
    7. Room rental: Room rental may not exceed $250 per day.
    8. Materials development: Proposals may contain costs to purchase, 
develop and translate materials for participants. ECA strongly 
discourages the use of automatic translation software for the 
preparation of training materials or any information distributed to the 
group of participants or network of organizations. Costs for high-
quality translation of materials should be anticipated and included in 
the budget. Grantee organizations should expect to submit a copy of all 
program materials to ECA.
    9. Equipment: Equipment costs must be kept to a minimum and must 
have a clear connection to program activities. Costs for furniture are 
not allowed.
    10. Working meal: Only one working meal may be provided during the 
program. Per capita costs may not exceed $5-8 for a lunch and $14-20 
for a dinner, excluding room rental. The number of invited guests may 
not exceed participants by more than a factor of two. For the purposes 
of working meals, interpreters may be counted as participants.
    11. Return travel allowance: A return travel allowance of $70 for 
each Russian participant may be included in the budget. The allowance 
may be used for incidental expenses incurred during international 
travel.
    12. Health Insurance: Foreign participants will be covered under 
the terms of a Bureau-sponsored health insurance policy. ECA pays the 
premium directly to the insurance company. Applicants are permitted to 
include costs for travel insurance for U.S. participants in the budget.
    13. Wire transfer fees: When necessary, applicants may include 
costs to transfer funds to partner organizations overseas. Grantees are 
urged to research applicable taxes that may be imposed by host 
governments on these transfers.
    14. In-country travel costs for visa processing purposes: Given the 
new requirements associated with obtaining J-1 visas for Bureau-
supported participants, applicants should include costs for participant 
and/or in-country partner travel and shipping to U.S. embassies or 
consulates for visa processing purposes, such as interviews and 
delivery/pick up of DS-2019 forms.
    15. Administrative Costs: Costs necessary for the effective 
administration of the program may include salaries for grantee 
organization employees, benefits, and other direct and indirect costs 
per detailed instructions in the Application Package. While there is no 
rigid ratio of administrative to program costs, priority will be given 
to proposals whose administrative costs are less than twenty-five (25) 
percent of the total requested from ECA.

Cost Sharing Requirements

    Since Bureau grant assistance constitutes only a portion of total 
project funding, proposals should list and provide evidence of other 
anticipated sources of financial and in-kind support. Applicants are 
strongly encouraged to provide cost sharing to the fullest extent 
possible. State Department Review Panels will consider cost sharing 
seriously when evaluating all proposals.

Review Process

    Proposals will be deemed ineligible if they do not fully adhere to 
the guidelines stated herein and in the Solicitation Package. The 
program office and the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. embassy in 
Moscow will review all eligible proposals. Eligible proposals will be 
subject to compliance with Federal and ECA 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 grants resides with 
ECA'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 Planning and Ability to Achieve Program Objectives: 
Program objectives should be stated clearly and should respond to the 
program goals outlined in this announcement. The proposal should 
clearly describe how each activity would achieve the program 
objectives. The narrative should provide details on the substance of 
the program. Detailed, sample agendas should illustrate program content 
and the pace of each component of the program. The proposal should also 
include a timetable for completion of major tasks. The proposal should 
clearly describe the roles and responsibilities of subcontractors and 
proposed partner organizations in Russia and the United States. 
Proposals should demonstrate a willingness to consult closely with the 
designated program officer at ECA, the Public Affairs Section (PAS) at 
the U.S. embassy in Moscow, and the USRVI Steering Committee.
    2. Institutional Capacity: The proposal should reflect the 
institution's expertise in the subject area, knowledge of the 
conditions in the target region, and logistical ability to conduct a 
two-way exchange program. The proposal should provide information about 
the organization's past experience arranging international internships 
or volunteer placements, as well as on prior awards received from the 
U.S. government or the private sector in historical/cultural 
preservation. The proposal should include descriptions of experienced 
staff members who will implement the program and any other 
institutional resources the applicant can offer for use in the proposed 
program. 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. ECA will consider the past 
performance of prior grant recipients and the demonstrated potential of 
new applicants. The proposal should also provide detailed information 
about the capacity of partner institutions and the history of those 
partnerships.
    3. Cost Effectiveness and Cost Sharing: Overhead and administrative 
costs in the proposal budget, including salaries, honoraria and 
subcontracts for services, should be kept to a minimum. Priority will 
be given to proposals whose administrative costs are less than twenty-
five (25) per cent of the total funds requested from ECA. Applicants 
are strongly encouraged to cost share a portion of overhead and 
administrative expenses. Cost-sharing, including contributions from the 
applicant, the in-country partner, and other sources should be included 
in the budget request. Proposal budgets that do not provide cost 
sharing will be deemed less competitive in this category.
    4. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive 
support of ECA's policy on diversity in both program administration 
(selection of participants, program venues and program evaluation) and 
program content (orientation and wrap-up sessions, program meetings, 
resource

[[Page 15432]]

materials and follow-up activities). ECA encourages applicants to 
structure cultural activities as meaningful discussions with Russian 
participants about U.S. diversity rather than visits to landmarks. 
Applicants should refer to ECA's Diversity, Freedom and Democracy 
Guidelines in the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI).
    5. Evaluation: Evaluation plans should focus on links between 
project objectives and results. Proposals should include specific 
information on means of data collection, data storage, how the 
information will be presented to ECA, and draft data collection 
instruments. See the ``Evaluation'' section (above) for more 
information on the components of a competitive evaluation plan. 
Successful applicants must submit interim reports after the conclusion 
of each project component or on a quarterly basis, whichever is less 
frequent. A final evaluation of the program will be required at the end 
of the grant period.
    6. Post-Grant Activities: Applicants should provide a plan to 
conduct activities after the ECA-funded project has concluded in order 
to ensure that Bureau-supported programs are not isolated events. 
Proposals that describe how U.S. and Russian volunteers would 
collaborate on historical preservation efforts in third countries after 
the grant period will receive higher ratings in this criterion. Funds 
for all post-grant activities must be in the form of contributions from 
the applicant or sources outside of ECA. Costs for these activities 
should not appear in the proposal budget, but should be outlined in the 
narrative.

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 April 23, 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 ten (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/EUR-04-50, 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 in text (.txt) format 
on a PC-formatted disk. ECA will provide these files electronically to 
the Public Affairs Section at the U.S. embassy in Moscow for its 
review.

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,'' ECA 
``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. ECA 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.

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

[[Page 15433]]

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 ECA that contradicts published language will not be 
binding. Issuance of the RFGP does not constitute an award commitment 
on the part of the Government. ECA 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 17, 2004.
Patricia S. Harrison,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. 04-6715 Filed 3-24-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P