[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 93 (Thursday, May 13, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26631-26634]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-10889]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 4718]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Request for Grant 
Proposals: Iraqi Administrator and Teacher Training Project

SUMMARY: The Teacher Exchange Branch in the Office of Global 
Educational Programs of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs 
(ECA), announces an open competition for the development of a training 
program for Iraqi teachers and administrators. 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 development of a two-part training project to enhance the 
skills of Iraqi secondary school teachers of English and of secondary 
school administrators. Bureau funding up to $400,000 is currently 
available to support one grant for this two-part training project.
    The recipient organization will be responsible for planning, 
implementing, and evaluating programs for two different groups: (1) A 
three-week program for secondary school administrators from Iraq (such 
as, principals and/or vice principals) followed by (2) a six-week 
English language training program, for secondary school teachers of 
English from Iraq. Grantee should plan and allocate funding for follow-
on activities, such as linkages between U.S. secondary schools and 
Iraqi schools, the provision of instructional materials, etc., for the 
administrators and teachers. If funding should become available, the 
Bureau might later amend the grant to allow the grantee to facilitate 
an in-country follow-up ``train-the-trainers'' workshop at which 
program alumni would present what they have learned on the program to 
professional colleagues in Iraq.
    Although the Bureau expects the secondary school teachers of 
English on this project to have sufficient English language skills to 
participate in the program without language interpretation, it is 
likely that the secondary school administrators will require it. 
Therefore, the grantee organization should plan and budget for Arabic 
language interpreters during the program for administrators.
    The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Iraq will recruit 
and select teachers and administrators for the project. The recipient 
organization should expect to work closely with ECA and the Embassy as 
the programs are planned and implemented in order to adapt them to 
changing conditions as necessary.

Program Information

Overview

    The proposal should include four emphases: first, to conduct a 
program focusing on secondary school administration; second, to produce 
a highly focused training program that introduces teachers to best 
practices in EFL at the secondary level; third, to provide both groups 
of participants with ``train-the-trainer'' skills that will enable them 
to conduct workshops on program topics in Iraq in the future; and 
fourth, to provide both groups of participants with opportunities to 
interact with Americans, thereby allowing them to gain an awareness and 
understanding of U.S. culture and society.
    The Bureau seeks detailed proposals from U.S. colleges, 
universities and non-profit organizations that have expertise in the 
field of secondary school curriculum development and management, as 
well as teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL). Proposals should 
demonstrate sensitivity to the local educational situation in Iraq as 
well as the issues confronting English language education there. The 
grantee will design and implement two U.S. based training programs. In 
the first program, secondary school administrators will discuss with 
U.S. counterparts and project administrators the training needs of 
Iraqi teachers for the development of the second program. The Iraqi 
administrators will observe and shadow administrators in U.S. secondary 
schools as well as observe EFL and other classrooms. The administrators 
will also consult with the U.S. project administrators responsible for 
planning and implementing the teacher-training program, to discuss how 
to design a program that will target the needs of Iraqi secondary 
school EFL teachers. The teachers program will follow the administrator 
program and will include specialized training in U.S. methodologies for 
teaching EFL. Applicants are strongly encouraged to include university-
based training in the teacher program. Please read the Project 
Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI) for additional details of 
both programs.
    Proposals should demonstrate experience training teachers and 
administrators and conducting other programs in Iraq or the Middle 
East/North Africa region. Proposals should outline and budget for 
practical and feasible follow-on activities that build on the 
achievements of the training programs while promoting the continued 
exchange of ideas between the participants and counterparts at the U.S. 
grantee organization and in U.S. secondary schools.

Guidelines

Project Planning and Implementation

Grant Inception and Duration
    The planning of the administrator program and the teacher program 
should begin as soon as the grant is awarded. The grantee should 
consult closely with ECA to assess local conditions in Iraq and to 
determine a feasible implementation strategy. Secondary school 
administrators and teachers will probably not be given leave during the 
academic school year. Since the administrator program is shorter in 
length, it might be scheduled for a school break for the 2004-05 
academic year. The teacher program may be more feasible if it is 
scheduled during the summer of 2005 when school will not be in session.
Planning
    In coordination with the Iraqi Ministry of Education, participants 
will be recruited and selected in Iraq by the Public Affairs Section 
(PAS) of the U.S. Embassy. Following the U.S. training activities, 
embassy officials will work with Iraqi educational officials as 
appropriate to facilitate follow-on training activities. Grantee should 
outline a plan for follow-on activities and a budget of at least 
$20,000 to cover these costs.
    After the participants have been selected, they will travel from 
Iraq to Amman, Jordan for U.S. visa issuance and to receive a pre-
departure orientation workshop by the PAS of the U.S. Embassy in Amman. 
Both orientations will be organized in Amman, Jordan, unless conditions 
allow for such activities to be organized in Iraq, in which case the 
pre-departure orientations will be held by the PAS of the U.S. Embassy 
in Iraq. The grantee will work closely with the PAS in

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planning the orientations and should budget for one staff person to 
travel to the orientations in Amman, if requested.
    At the orientations, the PAS will provide information about the 
respective programs and goals, as well as the expectations and 
responsibilities of participants. In addition, relevant issues 
regarding the U.S. education system, culture and society will be 
addressed. The grantee will develop orientation packets for each 
participant that cover these subjects. These packets will be sent to 
the PAS in advance of the scheduled pre-departure orientations.
    Overland travel from Iraq to Amman, Jordan might be the only means 
of transportation available to the participants. At least 4-5 days 
should be allotted for participants to travel to Amman from Iraq and 
await U.S. visa issuance before flying from Amman to the U.S.
U.S. Based Training
    Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations. Please refer to the 
Solicitation Package for further information.
    Participants are unlikely to have visited the United States 
previously. Therefore, the programs should provide orientations for 
both administrators and teachers to the host institution and its 
community and an introduction to U.S. society and our system of 
education shortly after arrival to the U.S. campus. The orientations 
will also offer a framework for integrating the training and its 
objectives into participants' previous training, and to promote 
strategies for them to share their knowledge with professional 
counterparts. Both programs should also include cultural activities 
that facilitate interaction among the participants, American students, 
faculty, and administrators and the local community to promote mutual 
understanding between the people of the United States and the people of 
Iraq.

Administrators

    Participants will spend approximately three weeks in the U.S. in 
the program organized by the U.S. grantee. The program should meet the 
needs of the Iraqi participants through activities designed by U.S. 
education specialists with relevant expertise in secondary school 
administration, curriculum development and training. The program should 
have two components: (1) An approximately two-and-a-half-week program 
focusing on secondary school administration and (2) an approximately 
three-day visit to Washington, DC. The first component should include 
an overview of U.S. education, shadowing administrators in U.S. 
schools, classroom observation, including innovative EFL instruction, 
introduction to information technology as used in classrooms and 
administrative offices, and home stays with American families. 
Administrators should receive a broad view of U.S. teaching 
methodologies, including student-centered learning, in a broad range of 
subjects. Topics addressed during the program should include, but not 
be limited to: school strategic planning, teacher performance 
evaluations, conflict resolution, EFL instruction and computer literacy 
skills.
    In the second component, the grantee will organize and accompany 
participants on a three-day visit to Washington, DC. The Washington 
visit should complement and reinforce the two-and-a-half-week 
administrators' program, and include a meeting at the Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs and other meetings as recommended by 
the Teacher Exchange Branch.
    Administration and management of the academic program and the visit 
to Washington, DC, will be the responsibility of the U.S. grantee 
organization. The U.S. grantee is responsible for arrangements for 
domestic and international travel, lodging, food, and allowances for 
participants throughout the training portion of the project and in 
Washington.

Teachers

    Participants will spend six weeks in the U.S. at the EFL training 
program organized by the U.S. grantee. The project should meet the 
needs of the Iraqi participants through activities designed by U.S. 
education specialists with appropriate expertise in EFL instruction, 
curriculum development and management and ``train-the-trainer'' skills.
    The program should have two components: (1) An approximately five-
week intensive academic program and (2) an approximately three-to-five 
day cultural and educational program in Washington, DC. The first 
component should introduce innovative EFL teaching methodologies and 
approaches and encourage participants to consider their implementation 
in Iraq, as well as classroom observation of other instruction in other 
core subject areas. Significant time should also be allotted for the 
inclusion of related professional activities outside the classroom 
which will introduce participants to U.S. education, such as visits to 
schools, consultations with U.S. teachers, in-school mentoring, and 
attendance at professional meetings. At a minimum, a one-week 
experiential component should be included in the five-week academic 
program in which participants observe best practices in EFL instruction 
and training in a U.S. school. Among the topics to be addressed during 
the program are: computer literacy skills for EFL instruction, critical 
thinking, communication, conflict resolution, analytical and evaluation 
skills, and student development and motivation.
    The final component of the project is the three-to-five day site 
visit to Washington, DC. The site visit should complement and reinforce 
the five-week academic program. Visits will include a meeting at the 
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and other meetings as 
advised by the Teacher Exchange Branch. Administration and management 
of the academic program and the week in Washington, DC, will be the 
responsibility of the U.S. grantee organization. The U.S. grantee is 
responsible for arrangements for domestic and international travel, 
lodging, food, and allowances for participants throughout the training 
portion of the project and in Washington.

Budget Guidelines

    Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the entire 
project. There must be a summary budget as well as breakdowns 
reflecting both administrative and program budgets. Applicants may 
submit separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase, 
location, or activity to provide clarification. The Bureau anticipates 
awarding one grant not to exceed $400,000 to support program and 
administrative costs required to implement all portions of both 
programs. 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 with less than 
four years experience in conducting international exchanges are 
ineligible to apply under this competition. The Bureau encourages 
applicants to provide maximum levels of cost-sharing and funding in 
support of its programs.
    Allowable costs for the program include the following:
    (1) Instructional costs, including salaries and benefits of grantee 
organization, honoraria for outside speakers, educational materials;
    (2) Travel, lodging, meals, and incidentals for participants;
    (3) Expenses associated with cultural activities planned for the 
two groups of participants (for example, tickets, transportation);

[[Page 26633]]

    (4) Administrative costs;
    (5) Interpreter fees for administrator program;
    (6) Follow-on activities to take place in Iraq.
    Proposals should maximize cost sharing through private sector 
support as well as institutional direct funding contributions. Please 
refer to the POGI for complete budget guidelines and formatting 
instructions.
    Announcement Title and Number: All correspondence with the Bureau 
concerning this RFGP should reference the Iraqi Administrator and 
Teacher Training Project ECA/A/S/X-04-05.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Teacher Exchange Branch, Office of 
Global Educational Programs, ECA/A/S/X, Room 349, U.S. Department of 
State, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, Telephone: (202) 619-
6589, fax: (202) 401-1433 or 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 Tracy Morrison 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 June 24, 
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 (8) 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/X-04-05, Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, Room 
534, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
    Applicants must also submit the ``Executive Summary'' and 
``Proposal Narrative'' sections of the proposal in text (.txt) format 
on a PC-formatted disk. If feasible, the Bureau will provide these 
files electronically to the Public Affairs offices in the region for 
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. 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. 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

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reviewed by the Office of the Legal Adviser or by other Department 
elements. Final funding decisions are at the discretion of the 
Department of State's Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural 
Affairs. Final technical authority for assistance awards (grants or 
cooperative agreements) resides with the Bureau's Grants Officer.

Review Criteria

    Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed 
according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are not rank 
ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation:
    1. Quality of the program idea: Proposals should exhibit 
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's 
mission.
    2. Ability to achieve program objectives: Objectives should be 
reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly 
demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's objectives and 
plan.
    3. 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 (program venue 
and program evaluation) and program content (orientation and wrap-up 
sessions, program meetings, resource materials and follow-up 
activities).
    4. Institution's Record/Ability: Proposals should demonstrate an 
institutional record of successful exchange programs, including 
experience in training teachers and administrators and conducting 
programming in Iraq and/or the Middle East, and including 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.
    5. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate 
the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of 
the program. A draft survey questionnaire or other technique plus 
description of a methodology to use to link outcomes to original 
project objectives is recommended. Successful applicants will be 
expected to submit intermediate reports after each project component is 
concluded or quarterly, whichever is less frequent.
    6. Cost-sharing: 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, 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 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 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: May 6, 2004.
C. Miller Crouch,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 04-10889 Filed 5-12-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P