[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 27 (Thursday, February 10, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7133-7139]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-2621]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 4988]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Partnerships for Learning Youth Exchange and Study 
(P4L-YES) Program

    Announcement Type: New Grant.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-05-26.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000.
    Key Dates:
    Application Deadline: April 4, 2005.
    Executive Summary: The Youth Programs Division, Office of Citizen 
Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces 
an open competition for grants to support exchanges and relationship 
building between high school students from countries with significant 
Muslim populations and people of the United States. Public and private 
non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal 
Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) and public institutions may 
submit proposals to recruit and select students and to carry out 
projects for an academic year or semester of study in the United 
States, incorporating themes promoting civil society and mutual 
understanding.

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:
    Overview: The Partnerships for Learning (P4L) initiative 
encompasses cultural and civic exchanges as vehicles through which the 
successor generation can engage in a dialogue for greater 
understanding.
    The P4L-YES program is designed to foster a community of shared 
interests and values developed through better mutual understanding via 
first-hand participation of high school students, aged 15-17, from 
countries with significant Muslim populations, in academic semester and 
year exchanges to the United States. The program seeks to select 
students with leadership potential and to develop their leadership 
skills while in the U.S. and when they return home.
    The overarching goals are to:
    1. Promote better understanding by youth from selected countries 
about American society, people, institutions, values and culture;
    2. Foster lasting personal ties;
    3. Enhance Americans' understanding of the foreign students' 
countries and cultures;
    4. Promote awareness of and involvement in civic and democratic 
processes among participants and their peers;
    5. Increase the capacity of organizations in participating 
countries to engage youth in activities that advance mutual 
understanding and civil society through alumni activities.
    This initiative is intended to build on a solid foundation of 
exchanges laid in past years by grantees selected in a competition 
conducted in 2002 and subsequently renewed in 2003 and 2004, while 
encouraging new applicants with the ability to assist ECA in expanding 
the breadth of the program. Funding will support academic year 
exchanges and continue to incorporate lessons learned and best 
practices into perfecting the model for conducting future programs. 
Proposals for single semester exchanges may be accepted for partner 
countries where the academic year is not compatible with the U.S. 
academic calendar. Bureau seeks to award grants to further efforts in 
participant countries where exchange programs have existed previously 
but also to encourage the establishment of academic year exchanges with 
countries where minimal or inadequate capability has existed 
previously. Grants will be awarded both to organizations that have the 
necessary infrastructure and experience conducting academic high school 
exchange programs with the partner countries, as well as to those that 
seek to collaborate with the Bureau in building the necessary 
infrastructure for exchanges with the partner countries where this does 
not currently exist. It is anticipated that initial funding for 
``start-up costs'' for recruitment and selection associated with this 
program will be provided in FY-2005. The balance will be provided in 
FY-2006, pending availability of funds.
    ECA will accept proposals for either multiple-country or single-
country projects. It will also accept grants from single applicants or 
from those that have formed partnerships with qualified partners to 
implement specified tasks to complete the project. YES is a program for 
all students from countries with significant Muslim populations, not 
just for Muslim students. It is ECA's expectation that, overall, across 
all regions, the majority of participants will be Muslim but that we 
will see ample religious, ethnic, socio-economic and geographic 
diversity within any country.
    Most student participants will arrive in their host communities 
during the month of August 2006 and remain for 10 or 11 months until 
their departure during the period mid-May to early July 2007. For 
countries where the standard of English instruction does not provide an 
adequate qualifying applicant pool, selected students requiring 
additional language instruction may arrive in July if additional 
preparation in the U.S. is necessitated; alternatively applicants may 
propose in-country language preparation prior to the students' 
departure from their home countries. As an alternative to the full-
year-program, grant recipients may bring a contingent of students to 
the U.S. for the spring 2007 semester from countries where the academic 
year is not compatible with the U.S. academic year. During the exchange 
period, students will participate in activities designed to teach them 
about community life, citizen participation in a democracy, and U.S. 
culture. Participants will have

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opportunities to give presentations on their countries and cultures in 
community forums.
    Guidelines: The partner countries for this program will be selected 
based on a number of factors: (1) Foreign policy considerations, (2) a 
favorable climate for exchange, and (3) the ability of the private 
sector to administer exchange programs, as demonstrated by the response 
to this RFGP. The tentative list includes but is not limited to the 
following countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei, 
Cambodia, Chad, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Israel (Arab Communities), 
Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, 
Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, 
Senegal, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab 
Emirates, West Bank/Gaza, and Yemen. The Bureau reserves the right to 
amend this list at any time as conditions change. Should an applicant 
have questions in regards to countries on this list or an interest in 
proposing an exchange with additional countries not on this list, 
please contact the Bureau. (See Section IV.1 for contact information.)
    Responsibilities:
     To recruit, select and place approximately 1,000 high 
school students from countries with significant Muslim populations 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 
civil society 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 expose YES program participants to opportunities for 
volunteerism and community service.
     To encourage YES program participants to share their 
culture, lifestyle and traditions with U.S. citizens throughout their 
stay and including International Education Week.
     To provide YES 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.
     To develop alumni databases and create alumni programs 
giving opportunities for returning students to incorporate their 
knowledge and skills into service in their home countries.
    Through participation in the YES 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 entrepreneurs 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 YES alumni.
    Further Considerations:
    1. There is no minimum or maximum number of students who may be 
selected and placed by one organization however cost effectiveness will 
be a review criterion in all applications. It is anticipated that 
approximately 5-7 grants will be awarded for the YES 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 culture and YES-
specific orientation programs, appropriate enhancement activities, and 
quality supervision and counseling of students from participating 
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.
    2. We anticipate grants beginning no later than June 2005.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. All grantees are required to include people with physical 
disabilities in the exchange.
    6. All exchange participants must travel on J-1 visas using DS-
2019s issued by the ECA program office under its program designation.
    7. Applicants should reflect an understanding of the related youth 
work of various international agencies in the proposed country(s), such 
as the U.S. Agency for International Development, World Bank, non-
governmental organizations (NGOs) working with youth, and development 
foundations as a way to enhance alumni programming and provide 
participants with resources and support when they return home.
    8. Projects should promote youth awareness of and involvement in 
civic and democratic processes, including tolerance of diversity, 
accountability of government, human rights, and inclusiveness of women, 
people with disabilities and minorities. Proposals may include small 
grants to encourage alumni to utilize what they have learned in their 
home countries to promote civic education projects and community 
development initiatives.
    9. Applicants should identify local partners (organizations or 
individuals) in the countries with which they are proposing to 
collaborate and provide information regarding their activities and 
accomplishments in the proposal. Proposals must contain letters of 
commitment or support from the foreign country partner(s), and these 
letters should be tailored to the activities being proposed.
    Please refer to the Solicitation Package for further information, 
especially the Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) and 
the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI).
    Proposal Contents:
    In a 20-page, one-sided, double-spaced narrative, please describe 
the proposed project in detail, including the themes, guidelines, 
responsibilities and considerations outlined above. A recommended 
outline to help with the organization of your narrative is found in the 
POGI.
    Please include any attachments in Tab E of your proposal. Limit the 
attachments to those essential for understanding the proposal.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Grant Agreement.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2005 and FY-2006 (pending availability of 
funds).
    Approximate Total Funding: $10,000,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 5-7.

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    Approximate Average Award: $2,000,000.
    Floor of Award Range: There is no minimum award.
    Ceiling of Award Range: There is no maximum award.
    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, June 1, 
2005.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: September 30, 2007
    Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of this 
program and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, it is 
ECA's intent to renew grants awarded in this competition for up to two 
additional fiscal years, before openly competing the program 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) Grants awarded to 
eligible organizations with less than four years of experience in 
conducting international exchange programs will be limited to $60,000.
    (b) Technical Eligibility: Funding will be awarded to organizations 
that:
    1. As a single organization, have in place the existing 
infrastructure in the U.S. and in the participating countries and have 
a recent track record of successfully conducting educational exchanges 
with those countries and can demonstrate their ability to comply with 
all requirements for administering federal grants, including standards 
of the Department of State as a secondary school student exchange 
visitor sponsor with experience in J-1 visa requirements; or
    2. As a lead organization, proposes to form partnerships, 
consortia, and other arrangements with other organizations to pool 
resources that will result in implementing a program with the required 
quality features, as outlined in this RFGP and supplementary documents. 
To be eligible for this latter structure, the grantee organizations 
must be already familiar with the Department of State's standards and 
expectations for secondary school student exchange visitor sponsors and 
have a thorough knowledge of J-1 visa requirements. Though not a 
requirement for all other members of the group, a thorough 
understanding of the secondary school student exchange visitor 
regulations is essential for other organizations involved in the 
selection, travel and placement of students.

    Note: All accepted proposals must demonstrate a sufficient 
infrastructure within each participating country that is 
satisfactory to ECA and the U.S. Embassy and will ensure successful 
implementation of the program.

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 Kevin Baker at the Office of Citizen Exchanges, ECA/PE/C/PY, 
Room 568, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20547, 202-203-7517 (t), 202-203-7529 (f), 
[email protected] to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to 
the Funding Opportunity Number (ECA/PE/C/PY-05-26) 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 Kevin Baker and refer to the Funding Opportunity 
Number (ECA/PE/C/PY-05-26) 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 eight (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) 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 
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 part 62, which 
covers the administration of the

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Exchange Visitor Program (J visa program). Under the terms of 22 CFR 
part 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 part 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 part 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 part 62. If your organization has experience as 
a designated Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor, the applicant should 
discuss their record of compliance with 22 CFR part 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.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. Grantees will be 
required to participate in an independent evaluation being conducted 
through ECA for the first four years of the P4L YES program. The role 
of the grantees includes administering and submitting three surveys for 
each participant. The survey forms will be provided to the grantee's 
recruiting component office along with instructions by the Bureau's 
evaluation consultant, InterMedia. As has happened in the past, the 
grantee will receive a payment per participant from the consultant to 
defray costs incurred in this task. The first survey should be 
administered at the participants' pre-departure orientations, 
preferably as early as possible. (Under no circumstance may it be 
administered after the students have come to the US.) The second survey 
will be completed on-line by students, and the grantees' placement 
offices must ensure that all students complete it near the end of the 
academic year before leaving the US. The final survey will be 
administered and submitted to InterMedia by the grantees' recruitment 
offices in the partner country with the students one year after they 
return home.
    Through these surveys InterMedia will evaluate the project's 
success through key evaluation questions, including students' 
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 will include indicators that 
measure gains in mutual understanding as well as substantive knowledge.
    A successful evaluation depends heavily on grantees setting clear 
goals and outcomes at the outset of a program. Although InterMedia will 
conduct an independent evaluation of the program, your proposal should 
express clearly your project goals, project's objectives, anticipated 
project outcomes, and how you will plan appropriate and focused 
activities and to monitor students' progress throughout the year. Also, 
proposals should explain alumni activities and individual tracking in 
order to monitor results realized post-exchange. You should also show 
how your project objectives link to the goals of the program described 
in this RFGP.
    Your monitoring plan should clearly distinguish between desired 
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. InterMedia's surveys will 
collect information on both outputs and outcomes, but the focus will be 
on outcomes.
    The second and final InterMedia surveys will assess the following 
four levels of outcomes--both during the exchange and in the first year 
after their return home--as they relate to the program goals set out in 
the RFGP (listed here in increasing order of importance). Grantees 
should demonstrate in their proposals their strategy for planning 
appropriate activities and monitoring that will ensure participant 
success in these areas:
    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

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programming, and organizational improvements.
    Overall, the quality of your monitoring and performance evaluation 
plan will be judged on how well it (1) specifies intended outcomes; (2) 
gives clear descriptions of how and when each outcome will be measured 
and reported; (3) clearly explains how progress will be reported to ECA 
through the quarterly and final reports.
    Grantees will be required to provide reports analyzing their 
evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program reports. All 
data collected, including monitoring tools and contact information, 
must be maintained for a minimum of three years and provided to the 
Bureau upon request.
    IV.3d.4. The essential components for all academic study projects 
undertaken with Bureau grant funding include collaboration with 
American embassies overseas in planning and implementing the exchange; 
the applicant should meet with the embassy's Public Affairs Office or 
Cultural Affairs Office to discuss the role and interests of the 
embassy in the implementation of the project and in alumni activities.
    Wherever possible program planning should take into consideration 
and include other U.S. Government funded programs. This is especially 
relevant for countries that receive ECA funding for Global Connections 
and Exchange programs. Collaboration with these Internet-based programs 
should help YES students, families and alumni maintain contact through 
online portals of communication. These programs may also offer YES 
alumni with platforms for practical and meaningful Internet-based 
activities that serve schools and communities.
    IV.3e. Budget Guidelines: Please take the following information 
into consideration when preparing your budget.
    IV.3e.1. 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 should 
provide detailed separate sub-budgets for each program component, 
country, or activity. For multi-country programs, applicants should 
also include a budget summary with an estimate of the total request for 
each country considering all components from recruitment to placement 
to alumni support. This will allow reviewers to consider partial 
funding alternatives if necessary.
    IV.3e.2. Allowable costs for the program include the following: 
Please refer to the Solicitation Package for allowable costs complete 
budget guidelines and formatting instructions.
    IV.3e.3. Grant funding will be available to pay for a percentage of 
the students to participate in a pre-academic English enhancement and 
cultural adjustment program, on an as-needed basis.
    IV.3f. Submission Dates and Times: Application Deadline Date: April 
4, 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 Monday, April 4, 2005. 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-05-26, 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.
    IV.3h. Applicants must also submit the ``Executive Summary'' and 
``Proposal Narrative'' sections of the proposal in Word format and 
budgets in Excel version on a PC-formatted disk. The Bureau will 
provide these files electronically to the appropriate Public Affairs 
Section(s) at the U.S. embassy (ies) for its (their) review.

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 grants 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 and planning: Proposals should 
exhibit originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the 
Bureau's mission and the purposes outlined in the solicitation. 
Detailed agenda and relevant work plan should demonstrate the ability 
to ensure that the proposed project accomplishes the stated objectives 
in the desired time frame. Proposals should demonstrate how students 
will be recruited, selected, monitored, trained and prepared for their 
role as YES 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. Multiplier effect/Follow-on activities: Proposed programs should 
strengthen long-term mutual

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understanding, including maximum sharing of information and 
establishment of long-term institutional and individual ties both 
during the exchange and after the participants return home. Proposals 
should provide a plan for continued contact with returnees to ensure 
that they are tracked over time, utilized and/or organized as alumni, 
and provided opportunities to reinforce the knowledge and skills they 
acquired on the exchange and share them with others.
    3. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive 
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity in all program aspects 
including participants (exchange students and hosts), sending and 
hosting communities, orientation, and program activities. Proposals 
should articulate a diversity plan, not just a statement of compliance.
    4. Institutional Record/Capacity: Proposed personnel and 
institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve 
the program's goals. Proposals for infrastructure building should 
convincingly describe the need and the plan to address that need in 
specific terms (e.g., staffing, staff training, equipping and 
maintaining an office). The plan should demonstrate a thorough 
understanding of local requirements for establishing and registering an 
NGO. Proposals should demonstrate an institutional record of successful 
exchange programs, including responsible fiscal management and full 
compliance with all reporting requirements for past Bureau grants as 
determined by Bureau Grant Staff. The Bureau will consider the past 
performance of prior recipients and the demonstrated potential of new 
applicants.
    5. Project Evaluation: The Bureau will provide baseline data and 
standard questionnaires for use in surveying participants and returnees 
to ensure that data is comparable from one program to another and will 
facilitate the demonstration of results. The proposal should indicate 
concurrence with this plan and explain how it will facilitate the 
completion and submission of participant surveys. Applicants may 
describe any experience conducting results-oriented evaluations. 
Successful applicants will demonstrate clear program goals and 
objectives as well as strategies for monitoring student and alumni 
progress. Grantees are also expected to submit quarterly reports that 
include student and alumni activities and progress.
    6. 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. Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through 
institutional direct funding contributions, as well as other private 
sector support. Preference will be given to organizations whose 
proposals demonstrate a quality, cost-effective program.
    7. Value to U.S.-Partner Country Relations: Proposals should 
indicate how the program is of value to U.S. and partner countries' 
interests and receive positive assessments by the U.S. Department of 
State's geographic area desks and overseas officers of program need, 
potential impact, and significance in the partner countries.

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 http://exchanges.state.gov/education/grantsdiv/terms.htm#articleI.
    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 follow 
guidelines to be distributed after the awarding of the grant. Reports 
should include planned objectives and goals for the period, actual 
accomplishments, and explanations of differences from planned timeline. 
Reports are due on the last day of each March, June, September and 
December throughout the project period.
    Grantees will be required to work with the organization contracted 
by the Bureau to manage the evaluation of the program. (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: Kevin Baker, Office 
of Citizen Exchanges, ECA/PE/C/PY, Room 568, ECA/PE/C/PY-05-26, U.S. 
Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, 
202-203-7517 (t) and 202-203-7529 (f), [email protected].
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number ECA/PE/C/PY-05-26.
    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

[[Page 7139]]

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: February 1, 2005.
C. Miller Crouch,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 05-2621 Filed 2-9-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P