[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 213 (Thursday, November 4, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64353-64360]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-24652]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 4884]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals for Four (4) Study of the United States (U.S.) 
Institutes

    Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreements.
    Funding Opportunity Numbers:
    (1) Study of the U.S. Institute on Religious Pluralism--ECA/A/E/
USS-05-03-RP.
    (2) Study of the U.S. Institute on U.S. Foreign Policy--ECA/A/E/
USS-05-03-FP.

[[Page 64354]]

    (3) Study of the U.S Institute on Contemporary American 
Literature--ECA/A/E/USS-05-03-AML.
    (4) Study of the U.S. Institute on American Politics and Political 
Thought--ECA/A/E/USS-05-03-AP.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.418.
    Dates:
    Key Dates:
    Application Deadline: January 10, 2005.
    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 
Institutes listed above. These institutes, for a multinational group of 
18 experienced university faculty, are 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 universities abroad. The institutes 
should be designed as intensive, academically rigorous seminars for 
scholars from outside the United States and should have a strong 
central theme and focus. Each should also have a strong contemporary 
component.
    The programs, 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 complement the learning 
gained 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 four Study of 
the United States (U.S.) Institutes (listed at the beginning of this 
RFGP) 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.
    These Study of the U.S. Institutes should provide a multinational 
group of up to 18 experienced foreign university faculty with a deeper 
understanding of U.S. society and culture, past and present. Each 
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 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 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 
following fields: political science, international relations, law, 
history, sociology, literature, American studies, and/or other 
disciplines or sub-disciplines related to the program themes. 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. Provide participants with a survey of contemporary scholarship 
within the institutes governing academic discipline(s), delineating the 
current scholarly debate within the field. In this regard the seminar 
should indicate how prevailing academic practice in the discipline 
represents 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;
    2. Bring an interdisciplinary or multi-disciplinary focus to bear 
on the program content;
    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.

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Program Descriptions

(1) Study of the U.S. Institute on Religious Pluralism in the United 
States
    This Institute should provide a multinational group of 18 
experienced foreign university faculty with an opportunity to increase 
their understanding of American civilization and institutions through 
an examination of the American religious experience and its 
intersection with democracy. Employing a multi-disciplinary approach, 
drawing on fields such as history, political science, sociology, 
anthropology, law and others where appropriate, the program should 
explore both the historical and contemporary relationship between 
church and state in the United States; examine the ways in which 
religious thought and practice have influenced and been influenced by 
the development of American democracy; examine the intersections of 
religion and politics in the United States in such areas as elections, 
public policy, and foreign policy; and explore the sociology and 
demography of religion in the United States today, including a survey 
of the varieties of contemporary religious belief and their impact on 
American politics.
(2) Study of the U.S. Institute on U.S. Foreign Policy
    The ``Study of the United States Institute on American Foreign 
Policy'' should provide a multinational group of 18 experienced foreign 
university faculty with a deeper understanding of how U.S. foreign 
policy is conceptualized and enacted with emphasis on the post cold war 
era. This institute should examine the intersection of ideas and 
structures in the development of U.S. foreign policy. While the program 
should review the domestic institutional foundations for U.S. foreign 
policy, the primary focus should be on the main philosophical 
traditions that have girded U.S. foreign policy; the grand strategies 
and frameworks that have been developed out of these philosophical 
trends; and, what actors--both governmental and non-governmental--shape 
U.S. foreign policy at various stages from its conceptualization to its 
enactment. An overarching goal of the program is to illuminate the 
relationship between U.S. policies and the political, social and 
economic forces in the United States that constitute the domestic 
context in which such policies are debated, formulated and executed. A 
thematic approach that examines how U.S. foreign policy has dealt with 
specific areas of concern over time, for example nuclear proliferation 
and weapons of mass destruction, democratization and humanitarian 
crises would be one way for an applicant to illuminate the continuities 
and changes in U.S. foreign policy. Ideally, the program should be 
structured in such a way as to give attention to U.S. policy both 
globally and in particular geographic areas and to examine the role of 
U.S. foreign policy within the context of international relations and 
international institutions.
(3) Study of the U.S. Institute on Contemporary American Literature
    This program, designed for a multinational group of 18 experienced 
foreign university faculty, should focus on recent American literature 
and criticism. Its purpose is twofold: First, to explore contemporary 
American writers and writing in a variety of genres; second, to suggest 
how the themes explored in those works reflect larger currents within 
contemporary American society and culture. The program should explore 
the diversity of the American literary landscape, examining how major 
contemporary writers, schools and movements reflect the traditions of 
the American literary canon and, at the same time, represent a 
departure from that tradition, establishing new directions for American 
literature.
(4) Study of the U.S. Institute on American Politics and Political 
Thought
    The ``Study of the United States Institute on American Politics and 
Political Thought'' should provide a multinational group of 18 
experienced foreign university faculty with a deeper understanding of 
U.S. political institutions and major currents in American political 
thought by focusing on the interplay between ideas and institutions in 
shaping the contemporary American polity. The institute should provide 
an overview of the origins (constitutional foundations), development 
and current functioning of the American presidency, Congress and the 
federal judiciary, however examination of political institutions might 
be expanded to include for example the two-party system, the civil 
service system, interest groups, or the welfare/regulatory state. The 
institute should also and simultaneously survey important currents in 
the history of American political thought, including but not limited to 
the political thought of the Founding period. In this context, the 
Branch for the Study of the U.S. is particularly interested in 
providing the foreign participants insight into competing strains in 
modern American political thought/culture, such as liberalism, 
republicanism (with a small ``r''), libertarianism, communitarianism, 
conservatism, neo-conservatism, etc. The institute should review the 
provenance and trajectory of these different intellectual strands or 
movements, and highlight how they have intersected with American 
political institutions to shape public discourse and public policy 
formulation in the contemporary United States.
    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 18 post-secondary educators, and, in some cases, government 
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 programs should be 44 days in length 
(including participant arrival and departure days) and should begin in 
late June or early July 2005.
    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 syllabus must therefore indicate 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

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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 with 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.

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-05.
    Approximate Total Funding: $1,040,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 1 award per Institute (topic) for a 
total of four (4) awards.
    Approximate Average Award: $260,000.
    Floor of Award Range: $220,000.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $260,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, March 15, 
2005.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: October 30, 2005.
    Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of these 
programs and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, it 
is ECA's intent to renew each of these grants for two additional fiscal 
years, before openly competing each one 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 per institute, each in an amount up to approximately $260,000 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.
    Failure to meet this criteria will result in your proposal being 
declared technically ineligible and given no further consideration in 
the review process.

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 either [email protected] for funding numbers 
ECA/A/E/USS-05-03-RP, ECA/A/E/USS-05-03-FP, ECA/A/E/USS-05-03AML or 
[email protected] for funding number ECA/A/E/USS-05-03-AP to request a 
Solicitation Package. Please refer to the correct Funding Opportunity 
Numbers located on the first page of this announcement and cited above 
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 at 
[email protected] for Funding Opportunity Numbers ECA/A/E/USS-05-03-
RP, ECA/A/E/USS-05-03-FP, ECA/A/E/USS-05-03AML or specify Program 
Officer Peter Benda at [email protected] for funding number ECA/A/E/
USS-05-03-AP 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)

[[Page 64357]]

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 
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

[[Page 64358]]

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 
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 should be up to approximately $260,000. 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 18 participants, the total Bureau-funded budget 
(program and administrative) for this program should be up to 
approximately $260,000, and Bureau-funded administrative costs as 
defined in the budget details section of the solicitation package may 
be up to approximately $110,000.
    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. 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, January 10, 2005.
    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-05-03-[RP/FP/AML/AP], 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. The Branch for the Study 
of the U.S. may also retain outside independent consultants to review 
proposals in their particular field(s) of expertise. The feedback or 
input of any such consultants will be advisory only. 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.
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 Program Idea/Plan: The proposal narrative and 
appendices should demonstrate the complete integration of the two 
program modules

[[Page 64359]]

(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 
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.

[[Page 64360]]

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, 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] 
or [email protected] based on the funding opportunity number.
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the appropriate Funding Opportunity Number given at the 
beginning of this RFGP and referenced again in section ``IV.1 Contact 
Information to Request an Application Package'' of this announcement.
    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.

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 25, 2004.
C. Miller Crouch,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 04-24652 Filed 11-3-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P