[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 227 (Friday, November 26, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69014-69019]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-26172]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 4905]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: The Future Leaders Exchange Program: Host Family and 
School Placement

    Announcement Type: New Grant.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-05-12.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000.
    Key Dates:
    Application Deadline: January 28, 2005.
    Executive:
    Summary: The Youth Programs Division of the Bureau of Educational 
and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for the placement 
component of the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program. Public and 
private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in 
Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) may submit proposals 
to recruit and select host families and schools for high school 
students between the ages of 15 and 17 from countries of the former 
Soviet Union, thereafter referred to as Eurasia. In addition to 
identifying schools and screening, selecting, and orienting families, 
organizations will be responsible for: providing English language 
enhancement activities for a small percentage of students who are 
specially identified; orienting all students at the local level; 
providing support services for students; arranging enhancement 
activities and leadership opportunities that reinforce program goals; 
monitoring students during their stay in the U.S.; providing mid-year 
programming and re-entry training; and assessing student performance 
and progress. Preference will be given to those organizations that 
offer participants opportunities to develop leadership skills and raise 
their awareness of tolerance and social justice through community 
activities and networks. The award of grants and the number of students 
who will participate is subject to the availability of funding in 
fiscal year 2005.

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.

Overview

    Background: Academic year 2005/2006 will be the thirteenth year of 
the FLEX program, which now includes over 13,000 alumni. The goals of 
the program are to promote mutual understanding and foster a 
relationship between the people of Eurasia and the U.S.; to assist the 
successor generation of Eurasian countries in developing the qualities 
it will need to lead in their aspirations for transformation in the 
21st century; and to promote democratic values and civic responsibility 
by giving Eurasian youth the opportunity to live in American society 
and participate in focused activities for an academic year.
    Objectives:
     To place approximately 1,200 pre-selected high school 
students from Eurasian countries in qualified, well-motivated host 
families.
     To place students in schools that have been accredited by 
the respective state departments of education.
     To expose program participants to American culture and 
democracy through homestay experiences and enhancement activities that 
will enable them to attain a broad view of the society and culture of 
the U.S.
     To encourage FLEX program participants to share their 
culture, lifestyle and traditions with U.S. citizens.
     To provide Eurasian students with leadership opportunities 
that will foster skills they can take back with them and use in their 
home countries.
     To provide activities that will increase and enhance 
students' understanding of the importance of tolerance and respect for 
the views and beliefs of others in a civil society.
    Through participation in the FLEX program, students should:
    1. Acquire an understanding of important elements of a civil 
society. This includes concepts such as volunteerism, the idea that 
American citizens can and do act at the grassroots level to deal with 
societal problems, and an awareness of and respect for the rule of law.
    2. Acquire an understanding of a free market economy and private 
enterprise. This includes awareness of privatization and an 
appreciation of the role of the entrepreneur in economic growth.
    3. Develop an appreciation for American culture, an understanding 
of the diversity of American society and increased tolerance and 
respect for others with differing views and beliefs.
    4. Interact with Americans and generate enduring ties.
    5. Teach Americans about the cultures of their home countries.
    6. Gain leadership capacity that will enable them to initiate and 
support activities in their home countries that focus on development 
and community service in their role as FLEX alumni.
    Other Components: One organization has been awarded a grant to 
perform the following functions: recruitment and selection of students; 
targeting recruitment for students with disabilities; assistance in 
documentation and preparation of DS-2019 visa forms; preparation of 
cross-cultural materials; pre-departure orientation; international 
travel from home to host community and return; facilitation of ongoing 
communication between the natural parents and placement organization, 
as needed; maintenance of a student database and provision of data to 
the U.S. Department of State; and ongoing follow-up with alumni after 
their return to Eurasia. Other organizations have

[[Page 69015]]

received grants to conduct Civic Education Week and the Technology 
Ambassadors Program. A grant has also been awarded to another 
organization to conduct a post-arrival orientation and reentry training 
and to provide ongoing support for physically challenged students in 
order to help them cope with challenges specific to their 
circumstances. Placement organizations will be responsible for 
providing appropriate tutoring for students who have been identified as 
needing English language enhancement. Organizations may also be 
responsible for providing supplementary independence skills training 
for students with disabilities.

Guidelines

    Organizations chosen under this competition will be responsible for 
the following:
    (1) Recruitment, screening, selection, and Eurasia/FLEX-specific 
orientation of host families;
    (2) Providing language enhancement activities for a small number of 
identified students who will arrive early for this purpose;
    (3) Enrollment in an accredited school;
    (4) Local orientation for participants;
    (5) Placement of a small number of students with disabilities;
    (6) Specialized training of local staff and volunteers to work with 
FLEX students from Eurasia;
    (7) Preparation and dissemination of materials to students 
pertaining to the respective placement organization;
    (8) Specialized English language tutoring for pre-selected students 
who require focused preparation for their academic year;
    (9) Dispersal of program-specific information, such as alumni 
activity reports and Host Family and School Administrator handbooks, to 
respective persons involved with the program (e.g., host families, 
school administrators, local coordinators);
    (10) Program-related enhancement and leadership training 
activities;
    (11) Troubleshooting;
    (12) Communication with the organizations conducting other program 
components, when appropriate;
    (13) Evaluation of the students' performance;
    (14) Quarterly evaluation of the organization's success in 
achieving program goals;
    (15) Post-arrival and mid-year orientations;
    (16) Eurasia-specific re-entry training to prepare students for 
readjustment to their home environments.
    Applicants must request a grant for the placement of at least 40 
students. There is no ceiling on the number of students who may be 
placed by one organization. It is anticipated that approximately 10-15 
grants will be awarded for this component of the FLEX program. 
Placements may be in any region in the U.S. Strong preference will be 
given to organizations that choose to place participants in clusters of 
at least three students. Applicants must demonstrate that training of 
local staff ensures their competence in providing Eurasia-specific 
orientation programs, appropriate enhancement activities, and quality 
supervision and counseling of students from Eurasian countries. Please 
refer to the Solicitation Package, available on request from the 
address listed below, for details on essential program elements, 
permissible costs, and criteria used to select students.
    We anticipate grants beginning no later than April, 2005, subject 
to the availability of funds.
    Most participants arrive in their host communities during the month 
of August and remain for 10 or 11 months until their departure during 
the period mid-May to late June 2006. Students with disabilities and 
students requiring additional language instruction may arrive at the 
end of July.
    Administration of the program must be in compliance with reporting 
and withholding regulations for federal, state, and local taxes as 
applicable. Recipient organizations should demonstrate tax regulation 
adherence in the proposal narrative and budget.
    Applicants should submit the health and accident insurance plans 
they intend to use for students on this program. If use of a private 
plan is proposed, the State Department will compare that plan with the 
Bureau plan and make a determination of which will be applicable.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Grant Agreement.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2005.
    Approximate Total Funding: $6,600,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: Approximately 10-15 grants will be 
awarded.
    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, April 2005.

Additional Information

    Budget Guidelines: Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget 
for the entire program. Per capita costs are not to exceed $5,500 per 
participant. The budget must reflect costs for a minimum of 40 
participants.
    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. Allowable costs for the program 
include the following:
    (1) A monthly stipend and a one-time incidentals allowance for 
participants, as established by the Department of State;
    (2) Costs associated with program-related student enhancement 
activities and orientations;
    (3) Health and accident insurance.
    Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget 
guidelines and formatting instructions.

III. Eligibility Information

III. 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 
that 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 multiple 
grants all in excess of $60,000 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

[[Page 69016]]

apply under this competition. The Bureau encourages applicants to 
provide maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in support of its 
programs.

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 Office of Youth Programs, ECA/PE/C/PY, Room 568, 
U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20547, telephone (202) 203-7527, and fax (202) 203-7529, e-mail Linda 
Beach at [email protected] to request a Solicitation Package. Please 
refer to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/PY-05-12 located at 
the top of this announcement when making your request. The Solicitation 
Package contains detailed award criteria, required application forms, 
specific budget instructions, and standard guidelines for proposal 
presentation. Please specify Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs 
Program Officer Anna Mussman on all other inquiries and correspondence.
    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.

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 8 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) 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 
Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs is the official program sponsor of the exchange program covered 
by this RFGP, and an employee of the Bureau will be the ``Responsible 
Officer'' for the program under the terms of 22 CFR 62, which covers 
the administration of the Exchange Visitor Program (J visa program). 
Under the terms of 22 CFR 62, organizations receiving grants under this 
RFGP will be third parties ``cooperating with or assisting the sponsor 
in the conduct of the sponsor's program.'' The actions of grantee 
program organizations shall be ``imputed to the sponsor in evaluating 
the sponsor's compliance with'' 22 CFR 62. Therefore, the Bureau 
expects that any organization receiving a grant under this competition 
will render all assistance necessary to enable the Bureau to fully 
comply with 22 CFR 62 et seq.
    The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs places great 
emphasis on the secure and proper administration of Exchange Visitor (J 
visa) Programs and adherence by grantee program organizations and 
program participants to all regulations governing the J visa program 
status. Therefore, proposals should explicitly state in writing that 
the applicant is prepared to assist the Bureau in meeting all 
requirements governing the administration of Exchange Visitor Programs 
as set forth in 22 CFR 62. If your organization has experience as a 
designated Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor, the applicant should 
discuss their record of compliance with 22 CFR 62 et. seq., including 
the oversight of their 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 Office of Citizen Exchanges of 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.
    IV.3.d.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

[[Page 69017]]

these goals in their program contents, to the full extent deemed 
feasible.
    IV.3d.3. Program Monitoring and Evaluation: The Bureau places 
significant emphasis on monitoring and evaluation of its initiatives. 
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 that evaluation 
plans that deal only with the first level of outcomes [satisfaction] 
will be deemed less competitive under the present evaluation criteria.)
    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.3e. Please take the following information into consideration 
when preparing your budget: Applicants must submit a comprehensive 
budget for the entire program. There must be a summary budget as well 
as breakdowns reflecting both administrative and program budgets. 
Applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, 
phase, location, or activity to provide clarification.
    IV.3f. Submission Dates and Times:
    Application Deadline Date: January 28, 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 eight (8) copies of the application should be sent 
to: U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, Ref.: ECA/PE/C/PY-05-12, 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.

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

[[Page 69018]]

Bureau regulations and guidelines and forwarded to Bureau grant panels 
for advisory review. Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of 
the Legal Adviser or by other Department elements. Final funding 
decisions are at the discretion of the Department of State's Assistant 
Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final technical 
authority for assistance awards grants resides with the Bureau's Grants 
Officer.
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 State Department's 
Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Office of Press and Public 
Diplomacy (EUR/PPD) and Public Diplomacy section at the U.S. embassy 
overseas, where appropriate. Eligible proposals will be forwarded to 
panels of Bureau officers for advisory review. Proposals may also be 
reviewed by the Office of the Legal Adviser or by other Department 
elements. Final funding decisions are at the discretion of the 
Department of State's Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural 
Affairs. Final technical authority for assistance awards (grants 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. Proposals should demonstrate how students will be monitored, 
trained and prepared for their role as FLEX alumni. The level of 
creativity, resources, and effectiveness will be primary factors for 
review. Proposals should be clearly and accurately written, with 
sufficient, relevant detail. The Narrative should address all of the 
items in the Statement of Work and Guidelines described above.
    2. Program Planning/Ability to Achieve Program Objectives: Detailed 
agenda and relevant work plan should demonstrate substantive 
undertakings and logistical capacity. Agenda and plan should adhere to 
the program overview and guidelines described above. The pre-program 
language enhancement activities should be clearly described. Reviewers 
will assess how proposals involve participants in community activities, 
including leadership training, increasing awareness of tolerance and 
social justice, and other relevant endeavors. Objectives should be 
reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly 
demonstrate how the organization will meet the program's objectives and 
plan. With respect to anticipated program outcomes, reviewers will 
assess the degree to which the proposed outcomes of the project are 
realistic and measurable. Strategies should creatively utilize and 
reinforce activities to ensure an efficient use of program resources.
    3. Multiplier Effect/Impact: Proposed programs should strengthen 
long-term mutual understanding, including maximum sharing of 
information and establishment of long-term institutional and individual 
linkages. Proposals should include innovative ways to involve students 
in their U.S. communities and substantive plans to prepare them for 
their role as active, effective FLEX alumni.
    4. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive 
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Achievable and relevant 
features should be cited in both program administration (selection of 
participants, host families, schools, program venue and program 
evaluation) and program content (orientations, program meetings, 
resource materials and follow-up activities).
    5. Organization's Record/ Institutional Capacity: Proposed 
personnel and institutional resources should be adequate and 
appropriate to achieve the program or project's goals. In assessing 
institutional capacity, reviewers will assess the applicant and its 
partners to determine if they offer adequate resources, expertise, and 
experience to fulfill program objectives. Partner activities should be 
clearly defined. Proposals should demonstrate an institutional record 
of successful exchange programs, including responsible fiscal 
management and full compliance with all reporting and J-1 Visa 
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.
    6. 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. Reviewers will assess a sample FLEX-specific draft survey 
questionnaire, or other technique, attached to each proposal, plus a 
description of a methodology used to link outcomes to original project 
objectives. The final project evaluation should provide qualitative and 
quantitative data about the project's influence on the participants as 
well as their surrounding communities. Successful applicants will be 
expected to submit quarterly reports, which should be included as an 
inherent component of the work plan.
    7. Cost-effectiveness/Cost Sharing: Reviewers will analyze the 
budget for clarity and cost-effectiveness. They will also assess the 
rationale of the proposed budget and whether the allocation of funds is 
appropriate to complete tasks outlined in the project narrative. 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. Proposals should maximize 
cost-sharing through other private sector support as well as 
institutional direct funding contributions. Preference will be given to 
organizations whose proposals demonstrate a quality, cost-effective 
program.

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.''

[[Page 69019]]

    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.
    http://exchanges.state.gov/education/ grantsdiv/
terms.htmarticleI.

VI.3. Reporting Requirements

    You must provide ECA with a hard copy original plus one copy of the 
following reports:
    (1) A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after 
the expiration of the award;
    (2) Quarterly program and financial reports which should include 
both quantitative and qualitative data you have available.
    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.

VI.4. Program Data Requirements

    Organizations awarded grants will be required to maintain specific 
data on program participants and activities in an electronically 
accessible database format that can be shared with the Bureau as 
required.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: Anna Mussman, 
Office of Citizen Exchanges, ECA/PE/C/PY, Room 568, U.S. Department of 
State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547. Telephone: 
(202) 203-7506, Fax number: (202) 203-7529, Internet address: 
[email protected]. All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this 
RFGP should reference the above title and number ECA/PE/C/PY-05-12.
    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.
    Notification: Final awards cannot be made until funds have been 
appropriated by Congress, allocated and committed through internal 
Bureau procedures.

    Dated: November 18, 2004.
C. Miller Crouch,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affair, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 04-26172 Filed 11-24-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P