[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 203 (Thursday, October 21, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61893-61899]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-23591]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 4876]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Study of the United States Institute for Foreign 
Secondary Educators

    Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/E/USS-05-02-SE2.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.418.
    Dates: Application Deadline: December 13, 2004.
    Executive Summary: The Branch for the Study of the U.S., Office of 
Academic Exchange Programs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, 
announces an open competition for public and private non-profit 
organizations to develop and implement the Study of the United States 
Institute for Foreign Secondary Educators. This Institute, for a 
multinational group of 30 experienced foreign secondary educators 
(including teacher trainers, curriculum developers and education 
ministry officials), is intended to provide participants with a deeper 
understanding of American life and institutions, past and present, in 
order to strengthen curricula and to improve the quality of teaching 
about the United States at secondary schools and teacher trainer 
institutions abroad. The institute should be organized around a central 
theme or themes in U.S. civilization and should have a strong 
contemporary component.
    The program, which should be six weeks in length, will be conducted 
during the Summer of 2005 and must include an academic residency 
segment of at least four weeks duration at a U.S. college or university 
campus (or other appropriate location) and a study tour segment of not 
more than two weeks that should not only directly complement but also 
extend the learning process undertaken during the academic residency 
segment.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    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.
    Purpose: The Bureau is seeking detailed proposals for a Study of 
the

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United States (U.S.) Institute for Foreign Secondary Educators from 
colleges, universities, consortia of colleges and universities, and 
other not-for-profit academic organizations that have an established 
reputation in one or more of the following fields: political science, 
international relations, law, history, sociology, literature, American 
studies, and/or other disciplines or sub-disciplines related to the 
program themes.
    This Study of the U.S. Institute should provide a multinational 
group of up to 30 experienced foreign secondary school educators 
(including teacher trainers, curriculum developers and education 
ministry officials) with a deeper understanding of U.S. society and 
culture, past and present. The institute should be organized around a 
central theme or themes in U.S. civilization and should have a strong 
contemporary component. Through a combination of traditional, multi-
disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches, program content should 
be imaginatively integrated in order to elucidate the history and 
evolution of U.S. institutions and values, broadly defined. The program 
should also serve to illuminate contemporary political, social, and 
economic debates in American society.
    Institutes are intended to offer foreign scholars, ministry 
officials, curricula designers and teachers whose professional work 
focuses in whole or in substantial part on the United States the 
opportunity to deepen their understanding of American society, culture 
and institutions. Their ultimate goal is to strengthen curricula and to 
improve the quality of teaching about the U.S. in institutions of 
higher learning and secondary school systems abroad.
    Programs should be six weeks in length and must include an academic 
residency segment of at least four weeks duration at a U.S. college or 
university campus (or other appropriate location). A study tour segment 
of not more than two weeks should also be planned and should not only 
directly complement but should also extend the learning gained during 
the academic residency segment; the study tour should include visits to 
one or two additional regions of the United States.
    The project director or one of the key program staff responsible 
for the academic program must have an advanced degree in one of the 
fields listed above. Staff escorts traveling under the cooperative 
agreement must have demonstrated qualifications for this service. 
Programs must conform with Bureau requirements and guidelines outlined 
in the Solicitation Package. Bureau programs are subject to the 
availability of funds.
    All institutes should be designed as intensive, academically 
rigorous seminars intended for an experienced group of fellow scholars 
from outside the United States. The institutes should be organized 
through an integrated series of lectures, readings, seminar 
discussions, regional travel and site visits, and they should also 
include some opportunity for limited but well-directed independent 
research. Applicants are encouraged to design thematically coherent 
programs in ways that draw upon the particular strengths, faculty and 
resources of their institutions as well as upon the nationally 
recognized expertise of scholars and other experts throughout the 
United States. All Study of the United States Institute programs, 
regardless of their particular thematic focus, should seek to:
    1. Bring an interdisciplinary or multi-disciplinary focus to bear 
on the program content;
    2. Provide participants with a variety of scholarly viewpoints on 
any given topic or focus. This includes providing participants with an 
understanding of how prevailing academic practice in the various 
disciplines used in the institute represent both a continuation of and 
a departure from past scholarly trends and practices. It is expected 
that presenters from other institutions will be brought in, as 
appropriate. Please note that the ways these alternative schools of 
thought will be presented should be clearly described in the proposal;
    3. Give participants a multi-dimensional examination of U.S. 
society and institutions that reflects a broad and balanced range of 
perspectives and responsible views. Programs should include the views 
not only of scholars, cultural critics and public intellectuals, but 
also those of other professionals such as government officials, 
journalists and others who can substantively contribute to the topics 
at issue; and,
    4. Ensure access to library and material resources that will enable 
grantees to continue their research, study and curriculum development 
upon returning to their home institutions.
    Participants: As specified in the Project Objectives, Goals and 
Implementation (POGI) guidelines in the solicitation package, programs 
should be designed for highly-motivated and experienced multinational 
groups of 30 secondary educators, including teachers, teacher trainers, 
curriculum developers and education ministry officials. Participants 
will be interested in taking part in an intensive seminar on aspects of 
U.S. civilization as a means to develop or improve courses and teaching 
about the United States at their home institutions and school systems.
    Participants will be diverse in terms of age, professional 
position, and travel experience abroad. Participants can be expected to 
come from educational institutions where the study of the U.S. is 
relatively well-developed as well as from institutions that are just 
beginning to introduce courses and programs focusing on the United 
States. While participants may not have in-depth knowledge of the 
particular institute program theme, they will likely have had exposure 
to the relevant discipline and some experience teaching about the 
United States.
    Participants will be drawn from all regions of the world and will 
be fluent in the English language.
    Participants will be nominated by Fulbright Commissions and by U.S. 
Embassies abroad. A final list of participants will be sent to the host 
institution. Host institutions do not participate in the selection of 
participants.
    Program Dates: Ideally, the program should be approximately 44 days 
in length (including participant arrival and departure days) and should 
begin in late June or early July, 2004.
    Program Guidelines: It is critically important that proposals 
provide a full, detailed and comprehensive narrative describing the 
objectives of the institute; the title, scope and content of each 
session; and, how each session relates to the overall institute theme. 
A detailed syllabus must be provided that indicates the subject matter 
for each lecture or panel discussion, confirm or provisionally identify 
proposed lecturers and discussants, and clearly show how assigned 
readings will support each session. A calendar of all activities for 
the program must also be included. Overall, proposals will be reviewed 
on the basis of their fullness, coherence, clarity, and attention to 
detail.

    Note: In a cooperative agreement, ECA/A/E/USS is substantially 
involved in program activities above and beyond routine grant 
monitoring. ECA/A/E/USS activities and responsibilities for this 
program are as follows: ECA/A/E/USS will participate in the 
selection of participants, will exercise oversight through one or 
more site visits and will debrief participants. ECA/A/E/USS may also 
require changes in the content of the program as well as the 
activities proposed either before or after the grant is awarded.


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II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. ECA's level of involvement in 
this program is listed under number I above.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY-2005.
    Approximate Total Funding: $325,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 1.
    Approximate Average Award: $300,000.
    Floor of Award Range: $275,000.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $325,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, March 1, 
2005.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: (September 30, 2005).
    Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of this 
program and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, it is 
ECA's intent to renew this grant for two additional fiscal years, 
before openly competing it again.

III. Eligibility Information

III.1. Eligible Applicants

    Applications may be submitted by public and private non-profit 
organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code 
section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3).

III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds

    There is no minimum or maximum percentage required for this 
competition. However, the Bureau encourages applicants to provide 
maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in support of its programs.
    When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the 
applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its 
proposal and later included in an approved grant agreement. Cost 
sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For 
accountability, you must maintain written records to support all costs 
which are claimed as your contribution, as well as costs to be paid by 
the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. The basis 
for determining the value of cash and in-kind contributions must be in 
accordance with OMB Circular A-110, (Revised), Subpart C.23--Cost 
Sharing and Matching. In the event you do not provide the minimum 
amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget, ECA's 
contribution will be reduced in like proportion.

III.3 Other Eligibility Requirements

    (a) Bureau grant guidelines require that organizations with less 
than four years experience in conducting international exchanges be 
limited to $60,000 in Bureau funding. ECA anticipates awarding one 
grant, in an amount up to $325,000 to support program and 
administrative costs required to implement this exchange program. 
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.
    (b) Technical Eligibility: All proposals must comply with the 
following: The project director or one of the key program staff 
responsible for the academic program must have an advanced degree in 
one of the following fields: political science, international 
relations, law, history, sociology, literature, American studies, and/
or other disciplines or sub-disciplines related to the program themes.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    Note: 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.

IV.1 Contact Information To Request an Application Package

    Please contact the Branch for the Study of the U.S., ECA/A/E/USS, 
Room Number 252, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20547, telephone number (202) 619-4557 and fax number 
(202) 619-6790, e-mail [email protected] to request a Solicitation 
Package. Please refer to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/E/USS-05-
02-SE2 located at the top of this announcement when making your 
request.
    The Solicitation Package contains the Proposal Submission 
Instruction (PSI) document which consists of required application 
forms, and standard guidelines for proposal preparation.
    It also contains the Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation 
(POGI) document, which provides specific information, award criteria 
and budget instructions tailored to this competition.
    Please specify Program Officer Nancy L. Meyers and refer to the 
Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/E/USS-05-02-SE2 located at the top of 
this announcement on all other inquiries and correspondence.

IV.2. 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/menu.htm. Please 
read all information before downloading.

IV.3. Content and Form of Submission

    Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation 
Package. The original and thirteen (13) copies of the application 
should be sent per the instructions under IV.3e. ``Submission Dates and 
Times section'' below.
IV.3a.
    You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal 
Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative 
agreement from the U.S. Government. This number is a nine-digit 
identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities. 
Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a 
DUNS number, access http://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-
5711. Please ensure that your DUNS number is included in the 
appropriate box of the SF-424 which is part of the formal application 
package.
IV.3b.
    All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal narrative 
and budget.
    Please Refer to the Solicitation Package. It contains the mandatory 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document and the Project 
Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) document for additional 
formatting and technical requirements.
IV.3c.
    You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of 
application. If your organization is a private nonprofit which has not 
received a grant or cooperative agreement from ECA in the past three 
years, or if your organization received nonprofit status from the IRS 
within the past four years, you must submit the necessary documentation 
to verify nonprofit status as directed in the PSI document. Failure to 
do so will cause your proposal to be declared technically ineligible.
IV.3d.
    Please take into consideration the following information when 
preparing your proposal narrative:
IV.3d.1. Adherence to all Regulations Governing the J Visa
    The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is placing renewed

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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 the 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 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.
    Please refer to Solicitation Package for further information.
IV.3d.2 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 your 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.
IV.3d.3. Program Monitoring and Evaluation
    Proposals must include a plan to monitor and evaluate the project's 
success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of the program. 
The Bureau recommends that your proposal include a draft survey 
questionnaire or other technique plus a description of a methodology to 
use to link outcomes to original project objectives. The Bureau expects 
that the grantee will track participants or partners and be able to 
respond to key evaluation questions, including satisfaction with the 
program, learning as a result of the program, changes in behavior as a 
result of the program, and effects of the program on institutions 
(institutions in which participants work or partner institutions). The 
evaluation plan should include indicators that measure gains in mutual 
understanding as well as substantive knowledge.
    Successful monitoring and evaluation depend heavily on setting 
clear goals and outcomes at the outset of a program. Your evaluation 
plan should include a description of your project's objectives, your 
anticipated project outcomes, and how and when you intend to measure 
these outcomes (performance indicators). The more that outcomes are 
``smart'' (specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and 
placed in a reasonable time frame), the easier it will be to conduct 
the evaluation. You should also show how your project objectives link 
to the goals of the program described in this RFGP.
    Your monitoring and evaluation plan should clearly distinguish 
between program outputs and outcomes. Outputs are products and services 
delivered, often stated as an amount. Output information is important 
to show the scope or size of project activities, but it cannot 
substitute for information about progress towards outcomes or the 
results achieved. Examples of outputs include the number of people 
trained or the number of seminars conducted. Outcomes, in contrast, 
represent specific results a project is intended to achieve and is 
usually measured as an extent of change. Findings on outputs and 
outcomes should both be reported, but the focus should be on outcomes.
    We encourage you to assess the following four levels of outcomes, 
as they relate to the program goals set out in the RFGP (listed here in 
increasing order of importance):
    1. Participant satisfaction with the program and exchange 
experience.
    2. Participant learning, such as increased knowledge, aptitude, 
skills, and changed understanding and attitude. Learning includes both 
substantive (subject-specific) learning and mutual understanding.
    3. Participant behavior, concrete actions to apply knowledge in 
work or community; greater participation and responsibility in civic 
organizations; interpretation and explanation of experiences and new 
knowledge gained; continued contacts between participants, community 
members, and others.
    4. Institutional changes, such as increased collaboration and 
partnerships, policy reforms, new programming, and organizational 
improvements.

    Please note: Consideration should be given to the appropriate 
timing of data collection for each level of outcome. For example, 
satisfaction is usually captured as a short-term outcome, whereas 
behavior and institutional changes are normally considered longer-
term outcomes.

    Overall, the quality of your monitoring and evaluation plan will be 
judged on how well it (1) specifies intended outcomes; (2) gives clear 
descriptions of how each outcome will be measured; (3) identifies when 
particular outcomes will be measured; and (4) provides a clear 
description of the data collection strategies for each outcome (i.e., 
surveys, interviews, or focus groups).

    Please note: Because the cooperative agreement prospectively to 
be awarded under the terms of the present RFGP is likely to be of 
less than one year's duration, host institutions will not be 
expected to be able to demonstrate significant specific results in 
terms of participant behavior or institutional changes during the 
agreement period. Applicant institutions' monitoring and evaluation 
plans should, therefore, focus primarily on the first and more 
particularly the second level of outcomes (learning). ECA/A/E/USS 
will assume principal responsibility for developing performance 
indicators and conducting post-institute evaluations to measure 
changes in participant behavior as a result of the program(s), and 
effect of the program(s) on institutions, over time.
    Grantees will be required to provide reports analyzing their 
evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program reports. 
All data collected, including survey responses and contact 
information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years and 
provided to the Bureau upon request.

IV.3d.4. Describe Your Plans for Overall Program Management, Staffing, 
and Coordination With ECA/A/E/USS
    ECA/A/E/USS considers program management, staffing and coordination

[[Page 61897]]

with the Department of State essential elements of your program. Please 
be sure to give sufficient attention to these elements in your 
proposal. Please refer to the Technical Eligibility Requirements and 
the POGI in the Solicitation package for specific guidelines.
IV.3e. Please Take the Following Information Into Consideration When 
Preparing your Budget
    IV.3e.1.
    Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the entire 
program. Awards may not exceed $325,000. 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.
    Based on a group of 30 participants, the total Bureau-funded budget 
(program and administrative) for this program should be up to 
approximately $325,000, and Bureau-funded administrative costs as 
defined in the budget details section of the solicitation package 
should be up to approximately $100,000.
    Justifications for any costs above these amounts must be clearly 
indicated in the proposal submission. Proposals should try to maximize 
cost-sharing in all facets of the program and to stimulate U.S. private 
sector, including foundation and corporate, support. Applicants must 
submit a comprehensive budget for the entire program. The Bureau 
reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase proposal budgets in 
accordance with the needs of the program, and availability of U.S. 
government funding.
    Please refer to the ``POGI'' in the Solicitation Package for 
complete institute budget guidelines and formatting instructions.
IV.3e.2. Allowable Costs for the Program Include the Following
    (1) Institute staff salary and benefits.
    (2) Honoraria for Guest speakers.
    (3) Participant per diem.
    Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget 
guidelines and formatting instructions.
IV.3f. Submission Dates and Times
    Application Deadline Date: Monday, December 13, 2004.
    Explanation of Deadlines: 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. ECA will not notify you upon receipt of application. 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. 
Applications may not be submitted electronically at this time.
    Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation 
Package.

    Important note: When preparing your submission please make sure 
to include one extra copy of the completed SF-424 form and place it 
in an envelope addressed to ``ECA/EX/PM''.

    The original and thirteen(13) copies of the application should be 
sent to: U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs, Ref.: ECA/A/E/USS-05-02-SE2, Program Management, ECA/
EX/PM, Room 534, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
    Along with the Project Title, all applicants must enter the above 
Reference Number in Box 11 on the SF-424 contained in the mandatory 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) of the solicitation document.

IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of Applications

    Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.
    Applicants are also requested to submit the ``Executive Summary'' 
and ``Proposal Narrative'' sections of the proposal in text (.txt) 
format on a PC-formatted disk.

V. Application Review Information

V.1. Review Process

    The Bureau will review all proposals 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 (cooperative agreements) resides with the Bureau's 
Grants Officer.
1. Quality of Program Idea/Plan
    The proposal narrative and appendices should demonstrate the 
complete integration of the two program modules (academic and 
experiential) into a single program. Applicants should clearly explain 
how/why site visits, consultations, reading lists etc. were chosen and 
how they compliment the academic module and the program as a whole. The 
program should offer a balanced presentation of the subjects/issues 
covered, reflecting both the continuity of the American experience as 
well its diversity and dynamism inherent in it.
2. Academic Residency Program Planning and Administration
    As a general proposition, proposals should demonstrate careful 
planning. The organization and structure of the academic residency 
component should be clearly delineated. A program syllabus, noting 
specific sessions and topical readings supporting each academic unit, 
should be included. The expectation is that these institutes be 
conducted as intensive graduate-level seminars. Plans for the academic 
residency segment should, therefore, avoid undue reliance on the 
``lecture followed by question-and-answer session'' format, and 
incorporate panel presentations, working group assignments, group 
debates and other modalities designed to foster and encourage active 
learning and participation by all institute participants.
3. Study Tour Planning and Administration
    The study tour travel component should not simply be a tour, but 
rather an integral and substantive part of the program, reinforcing and 
complementing the academic component. The proposal should explain how 
the site visits and

[[Page 61898]]

presentations included in the study tour program relate to the 
Institute's learning objectives. Consideration should be given to 
assigning lighter readings during the study tour (e.g., short articles, 
newspaper selections, etc.) related to planned study tour travel 
sessions. While visits to cultural institutions may certainly be 
included, the emphasis should be on meetings with scholars and other 
relevant professionals such as (e.g.) government officials, 
journalists, and literary critics who can substantively contribute to 
deepening the participants' understanding of issues and topics 
pertinent to the Institute's theme(s).
4. Ability To Achieve Overall Program Objectives
    Due to the academic nature of this program, overall objectives can 
only be met if proposals exhibit originality and substance consonant 
with the highest standards of American teaching and scholarship. 
Program design should reflect the main currents as well as the debates 
within the subject disciplines of each institute. A variety of 
presenters reflecting diverse backgrounds and viewpoints should be 
invited to discuss their specific areas of expertise with the 
participants. Assigned readings likewise should provide opportunities 
for participants to be exposed to diverse responsible perspectives on 
the topics and issues to be explored.
5. Support for Diversity
    Proposals should demonstrate substantive support of the Bureau's 
policy on diversity. ``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. Applicant should highlight instances of diversity 
in their proposal.
6. Evaluation and Follow-Up
    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. Proposals should discuss provisions made for follow-up 
with returned grantees as a means of establishing longer-term 
individual and institutional linkages.
7. Cost-Effectiveness/Cost Sharing
    The overhead and administrative components of the proposal, 
including salaries and honoraria, should be kept as low as possible. 
All other items should be necessary and appropriate.
8. Institutional Capacity
    Proposals should provide evidence of continuous administrative and 
managerial capacity as well as the means by which program activities 
and logistical matters will be implemented. Proposed personnel, 
including faculty and administrative staff as well as outside 
presenters, should be fully qualified to achieve the project's goals. 
Library and meeting facilities, housing, meals, transportation and 
other logistical arrangements should fully meet the needs of 
participants.
9. Institutional Track Record/Ability
    Proposals should demonstrate an institutional record of successful 
exchange program activities, indicating the experience that the 
organization and its professional staff have had working with foreign 
educators. The Bureau will consider the past performance of prior 
recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants.

VI. Award Administration Information

VI.1. Award Notices

    Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by 
Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures. 
Successful applicants will receive an Assistance Award Document (AAD) 
from the Bureau's Grants Office. The AAD and the original grant 
proposal with subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall be the 
only binding authorizing document between the recipient and the U.S. 
Government. The AAD will be signed by an authorized Grants Officer, and 
mailed to the recipient's responsible officer identified in the 
application.
    Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of 
the application review from the ECA program office coordinating this 
competition.

VI.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    Terms and Conditions for the Administration of ECA agreements 
include the following:
    Office of Management and Budget Circular A-122, ``Cost Principles 
for Nonprofit Organizations.''
    Office of Management and Budget Circular A-21, ``Cost Principles 
for Educational Institutions.''
    OMB Circular A-87, ``Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian 
Governments.''
    OMB Circular No. A-110 (Revised), Uniform Administrative 
Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher 
Education, Hospitals, and other Nonprofit Organizations.
    OMB Circular No. A-102, Uniform Administrative Requirements for 
Grants-in-Aid to State and Local Governments.
    OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of States, Local Government, and 
Non-profit Organizations
    Please reference the following Web sites for additional 
information: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants and http://exchanges.state.gov/education/grantsdiv/terms.htm#articleI.

VI.3. Reporting Requirements

    You must provide ECA with a hard copy original plus two copies of 
the following reports:
    Mandatory:
    (1) A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after 
the expiration of the award.
    Grantees will be required to provide reports analyzing their 
evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program reports. 
(Please refer to IV. Application and Submission Instructions (IV.3.d.3) 
above for Program Monitoring and Evaluation information.)
    All data collected, including survey responses and contact 
information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years and 
provided to the Bureau upon request.
    All reports must be sent to the ECA Grants Officer and ECA Program 
Officer listed in the final assistance award document.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: Branch for the 
Study of the U.S., ECA/A/E/USS, Room Number 252, ECA/A/E/USS-05-02-SE2, 
U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20547, telephone number (202) 619-4557 and fax number (202) 619-6790, 
[email protected].
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number ECA/A/E/USS-05-02-SE2.
    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.

[[Page 61899]]

VIII. Other Information

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 per section VI.3 
above.

    Dated: October 13, 2004.
C. Miller Crouch,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 04-23591 Filed 10-20-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P