[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 80 (Monday, April 26, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22580-22583]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-9440]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 4696]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs; Request for Grant 
Proposals for the Partnerships for Learning (P4L) Thematic Youth 
Projects Initiative

SUMMARY: The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs Division of 
the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open 
competition for projects under the P4L Thematic Youth Projects 
Initiative. 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 recruit and select youth participants 
in countries with significant Muslim populations and provide the 
participants with (1) a reciprocal exchange project focused on cultural 
and civic enhancement, (2) a reciprocal internship project for 
undergraduate students with academic backgrounds in business 
management, information systems, economics, and education, or (3) a 
university-based project promoting free enterprise principles through 
entrepreneurship projects and exchange visits from U.S. universities. 
The three programs are described below.

Program Information

    Overview: The P4L Thematic Youth Projects Initiative encompasses 
the three program areas of cultural and civic exchanges, business 
internships, and free enterprise initiatives as vehicles through which 
the successor generation can re-engage in a dialogue for greater 
understanding.
    The Linking Individuals, Knowledge, and Culture (LINC) program is 
designed to foster mutual understanding between participants (ages 15-
17) and Americans as well as a respect for democratic practices and the 
rule of law through a three to six week reciprocal exchange program 
that will enhance the participants' knowledge of their host country's 
history, culture, and system of government.
    The Business Internship Initiative (BII) creates reciprocal 
internship placements where undergraduate university students (ages 17-
22) can gain international business and management experience in their 
area of interest.
    Through the Free Enterprise Initiative (FEI), undergraduate 
students (ages 17-22) in foreign countries develop and implement ideas 
of free enterprise, business leadership and civil society within their 
universities and local communities. Through international student 
exchanges, participants learn

[[Page 22581]]

about best practices within the entrepreneurship arena and build upon 
the foundation of mutual understanding and respect.
    The goals of the P4L Thematic Youth Projects Initiative are:
    (1) To develop a sense of civic responsibility and commitment to 
enhancing cultural bridges among youth.
    (2) To promote mutual understanding between the United States and 
the people of other countries.
    (3) To foster personal and institutional ties between participants 
and partner countries.
    Please refer to the Project Objectives Goals and Implementation 
(POGI) guidelines for specific project goals.
    Applicants should identify their own specific objectives and 
measurable outcomes based on these program goals and the project 
specifications provided in this solicitation.
    Should organizations wish to apply for more than one project, they 
must submit a separate proposal for each. Each of the three projects 
will be judged independently and proposals for a particular country or 
region will be compared only to proposals for the same country or 
region.

Project A: Linking Individuals, Knowledge, and Culture (LINC)

    Total funding: $780,000. ECA will award three to four grants, each 
totaling no more than $250,000. The Bureau reserves the right to adjust 
the number of awards and grant amounts.

Project B: Business Internship Initiative (BII)

    Total funding: $250,000. 50-55 participants total. Applicants 
should propose a project implementation timeline beginning no earlier 
than September 2004. One grant will be awarded.

Project C: Free Enterprise Initiative (FEI)

    Total funding: $200,000. 25-30 participants total. Applicants 
should propose a project implementation timeline beginning no earlier 
than September 2004. One grant will be awarded.
    To qualify for these grants, a partner country must have a 
significant Muslim population, though the beneficiaries of the grant 
are in no way limited to the Muslim population, and must be in the 
following regions: the Middle East/North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, 
South Asia, and Southeast Asia; the only country in Europe/Eurasia that 
is eligible is Turkey. Afghanistan is not eligible. Programs with 
Pakistan are restricted to one-way exchange visits to the U.S. 
Organizations should consider U.S. Department of State travel 
advisories when selecting countries with which they would like to work.
    For the three projects, applicants must demonstrate their capacity 
for conducting projects of this nature, focusing on three areas of 
competency: (1) Provision of programs aimed at achieving the goals and 
themes outlined in this document; (2) age-appropriate programming for 
the target audience; and (3) work in the countries outlined above. 
Applicants need to have the necessary capacity in the geographic areas 
from which participants will be recruited or a partnered institution 
with the requisite capacity to recruit and select participants for the 
program and to provide follow-on activities.
    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. Pending successful implementation of this 
program and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, the 
Bureau reserves the right to renew this grant for two additional fiscal 
years before competing it again.
    Guidelines: Grants should begin on or about September 1, 2004, 
subject to the availability of funds. The grant period may be between 
12 and 18 months in duration.
    In pursuit of the goals outlined above, the programs will include 
the following:
     Recruitment and selection of participants 
appropriate to the project.
     A pre-departure orientation program.
     Activities that promote program goals. 
Activities may be school-or community-based, as appropriate to the 
project.
     Logistical arrangements, home stay arrangements 
(as appropriate) and/or other accommodation, provisions for religious 
observance, disbursement of stipends/per diem, local travel, and travel 
between sites (per program design).
     Follow-on activities in the participants' home 
geographic regions designed to reinforce the ideas, values and skills 
imparted during the program.
    Recruitment and Selection: The grant recipients will manage the 
recruitment and merit-based selection of participants in cooperation 
with the Public Affairs offices at the U.S. Embassies or other USG 
representative offices overseas. Organizers must strive for the 
broadest geographic, ethnic, and socio-economic diversity as it is the 
purpose of P4L to engage disadvantaged youth. The Department of State 
and/or its overseas representatives reserve final approval of all 
selected delegations.
    Participants: The participants will be students aged 15 to 17 for 
the LINC program. Candidates must have demonstrated leadership aptitude 
and an interest in community service and development. For the BII and 
FEI programs, participants will be undergraduates aged 17 to 22. 
Qualified candidates must have a declared major in a branch of 
management or business, be interested in the ideas of free enterprise 
or entrepreneurship and have demonstrated leadership aptitude.
    Criteria for selection of participants will be leadership skills, 
an interest in service to the community, strong academic and social 
skills, overall composure, openness and flexibility and language 
proficiency (based on country placements).
    Follow-on Activities and In-Country Programming: Follow-on 
programming for program alumni is essential, and additional in-country 
programming is strongly recommended. Applicants may present creative 
and effective ways to address the project themes, for both program 
participants and their peers, as a means to amplify the program impact.
    Applicants are invited to submit proposals for one or more of the 
three projects announced here (a separate proposal for each project). 
Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations. Please refer to 
Solicitation Package for further information.

Budget Guidelines

    The Bureau anticipates awarding three or more grants exceeding 
$60,000 each under this competition. Bureau grant guidelines require 
that organizations with less than four years experience in conducting 
international exchanges be limited to $60,000 in Bureau funding. 
Therefore, organizations with less than four years of experience in 
conducting international exchange programs are not eligible to apply 
under this competition.
    Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the entire 
program. There must be a summary budget as well as breakdowns 
reflecting both administrative and program budgets. Applicants may 
provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase, 
location, or activity to provide clarification. Please refer to the 
Solicitation Package for complete budget guidelines and formatting 
instructions.
    Announcement Title and Number: All correspondence with the Bureau 
concerning this RFGP should reference the following title and number: 
ECA/PE/C/PY-04-70.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Office of Youth Programs, ECA/PE/
C/

[[Page 22582]]

PY, Room 664, U.S. Department of State, 301 4th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20547, tel. (202) 260-6520, and fax (202) 203-7529, e-
mail [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 Matt O'Rourke 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 Tuesday June 
1, 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 complete proposal package (the original proposal, one 
fully-tabbed copy, 8 copies with Tabs A-E, and one extra application 
cover sheet) should be sent to: U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau 
of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Ref.: ECA/PE/C/PY-04-70, 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. The Bureau will provide these files 
electronically to the Public Affairs Section at the U.S. embassy for 
its review.

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 disabilities. 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. Pub. L. 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. ECA or the Grantee 
(program office: please specify which) will be responsible for issuing 
DS-2019 forms to participants in this program.
    A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of 
Exchange Visitor (J) programs is available at http://exchanges.state.gov or from: United States Department of State, Office 
of Exchange Coordination and Designation, ECA/EC/ECD--SA-44, Room 734, 
301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, Telephone: (202) 401-9810, 
FAX: (202) 401-9809.

Review Process

    The Bureau will acknowledge receipt of all proposals and will 
review them for technical eligibility. Proposals will be deemed 
ineligible if they do not fully adhere to the guidelines stated herein 
and in the Solicitation Package. All eligible proposals will be 
reviewed by the program office, as well as the Public Diplomacy section 
overseas, where appropriate. Eligible proposals will be subject to 
compliance with Federal and Bureau regulations and guidelines and 
forwarded to Bureau grant panels for advisory review. Proposals may 
also be reviewed by the Office of the Legal Adviser or by other 
Department elements. Final funding decisions are at the discretion of 
the Department of State's Assistant Secretary for Educational and 
Cultural Affairs. Final technical authority for assistance awards 
(grants) resides with the Bureau's Grants Officer.

[[Page 22583]]

Review Criteria

    Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed 
according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are not rank 
ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation:
    1. Quality of the program idea: Proposals should exhibit 
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's 
mission. Proposals should display an understanding of the goals of the 
program, as reflected in the priorities of this RFGP. Exchange 
activities should ensure efficient use of program resources. Proposals 
should demonstrate a commitment to excellence and creativity in the 
implementation and management of the program.
    2. Program planning: A detailed agenda and relevant work plan 
should explain how objectives will be achieved and should include a 
timetable for completion of major tasks. Responsibilities of partnering 
organizations should be clearly described.
    3. Ability to achieve program objectives: Objectives should be 
reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly 
demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's goals and plan. 
The substance of workshops and exchange activities should be described 
in detail and included as an attachment.
    4. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive 
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Achievable and relevant 
features should be cited in both program administration (selection of 
schools and participants, program venue and program evaluation) and 
program content. Applicants should refer to the Bureau's Diversity, 
Freedom and Democracy Guidelines in the Proposal Submission 
Instructions (PSI).
    5. Institutional Capacity/Record/Ability: Applicants should 
demonstrate knowledge of each country's educational environment and the 
capacity to recruit U.S. and foreign students. Proposals should present 
significant experience in developing exchange or intern programs and 
exhibit an institutional record of successful exchange programs, 
including responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all 
reporting requirements as determined by the Bureau's Grants Division. 
Proposed personnel and institutional resources should be adequate and 
appropriate to achieve the program goals and objectives.
    6. Multiplier Effect/Impact: The program should strengthen long-
term mutual understanding and facilitate leadership development. 
Applicants should detail how participants will share newly-acquired 
knowledge and skills with others.
    7. Program Monitoring and Evaluation: Proposals must include a plan 
and methodology to evaluate the program's successes and challenges, 
both as the activities unfold and at the end of the program. The 
evaluation plan should show a clear link between program objectives and 
expected outcomes, and should include a description of performance 
indicators and measurement tools. Applicants should provide draft 
questionnaires or other techniques for use in surveying participants to 
facilitate the demonstration of results. The grantee organization will 
indicate its willingness to submit periodic progress reports in 
accordance with the program office's expectations.
    8. Follow-on and Sustainability: Proposals should provide a 
strategy for the use of alumni to work together to further the impact 
of the program without the Bureau's financial support.
    9. Cost-effectiveness/Cost sharing: The overhead and administrative 
components of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be 
kept as low as possible. While lower ``per participant'' figures will 
be more competitive, the Bureau expects all figures to be realistic. 
All other items should be necessary and appropriate. Proposals should 
maximize cost-sharing through other private sector support as well as 
institutional direct funding contributions.

Authority

    Overall grant making authority for this program is contained in the 
Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, Pub. L. 87-256, 
as amended, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act. The purpose of the 
Act is ``to enable the Government of the United States to increase 
mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the 
people of other countries * * * ; to strengthen the ties which unite us 
with other nations by demonstrating the educational and cultural 
interests, developments, and achievements of the people of the United 
States and other nations * * * and thus to assist in the development of 
friendly, sympathetic and peaceful relations between the United States 
and the other countries of the world.'' The funding authority for the 
program above is provided through the FY04 Exchanges budget.

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: April 20, 2004.
C. Miller Crouch,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 04-9440 Filed 4-23-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P