[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 37 (Friday, February 25, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9425-9431]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-3699]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 5003]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) U.S. 
Business Internship Program for Young Middle Eastern Women

    Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/E 05-01-MEPI.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000.
    Key Dates: Application Deadline: April 1, 2005.
    Executive Summary: The Office of Academic Exchange Programs of the 
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open 
competition for Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) U.S. Business 
Internship Program for Young Middle Eastern Women. 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 
administer the participant recruitment, selection, pre-program 
preparation and alumnae components of the MEPI U.S. Business Internship 
Program for Young Middle Eastern Women.
    Eligible countries/locales are listed under the heading Funding 
Opportunity Description in this RFGP.

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. The funding for this program is provided through a 
transfer to the Bureau from the Middle East Partnership Initiative 
(MEPI).
    Purpose: Subject to the availability of funds, the Bureau invites 
proposals from public and private non-profit

[[Page 9426]]

organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code 
section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) for the administration of the participant 
recruitment, selection, pre-program preparation and alumni components 
of the MEPI U.S. Business Internship Program for Young Middle Eastern 
Women for participants from Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel 
(limited to the Israeli Arab sector), Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, 
Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, West 
Bank/Gaza and Yemen.
    ECA anticipates awarding one grant in the amount of $260,000 to 
fund these activities for 40 participants.
    The goal of the MEPI U.S. Business Internship Program for Young 
Middle Eastern Women is to provide participants unique opportunities to 
learn management and business skills while working in the dynamic and 
productive U.S. business environment. The U.S. portion of the program 
will consist of a four-week MBA-level academic program, including 
coursework in management, finance, business strategy and information 
technology, followed by a three-month internship in a U.S. business. 
Cultural enrichment and monitoring must be provided throughout the 
program. The program will cover international and domestic travel, 
health insurance, housing and a living stipend in the U.S. Following 
the completion of the program, participants will be integrated into an 
alumnae community to support the development of an alumnae network.
    Organizations submitting proposals must demonstrate the ability to 
effectively administer the participant recruitment, selection, pre-
program preparation and alumnae components of the program in the Middle 
East and North Africa as described in the four (4) administrative 
categories below. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and 
the Public Affairs section of U.S. embassies must be consulted in the 
implementation of these responsibilities, especially in the resolution 
of any issues or problems that may arise. The administrative portion of 
the grant should be kept to a minimum, and the Bureau encourages 
applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and funding from 
private sources in support of this project.

A. Publicity, Recruitment and Selection

    The proposal should include a plan for advertisement, recruitment 
and the open, merit-based selection of 40 principal and 10 alternate 
candidates from under-represented and geographically diverse socio-
economic backgrounds in the eligible countries and locales. 
Organizations submitting proposals must be prepared to begin 
advertising and recruitment efforts in May 2005. The internship program 
is expected to begin in November 2005.
    Applicant organizations must demonstrate the ability to conduct 
focused advertising and recruitment efforts in all eligible countries 
and locales to yield quality applications from women who meet the 
following eligibility requirements:
    1. Women who are citizens of and currently residing in the 
following countries and locales: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel 
(limited to the Israeli Arab sector), Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, 
Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, West 
Bank/Gaza and Yemen.
    2. Women between the ages of 22 and 30 at the time of application.
    3. Women who have (a) an undergraduate degree in business or law 
from a recognized academic institution; or (b) an undergraduate degree 
in any field with at least three years of substantive experience in the 
private sector. Applicants who have completed undergraduate degrees 
outside the specified countries are not eligible.
    4. Proficiency in written and spoken English as documented by a 
minimum score of 550 on the Institutional Testing Program (ITP) or 
TOEFL test.
    5. Demonstrated interest in achieving professional growth in the 
business sector of their home countries or locales.
    Individuals who are currently enrolled in an academic program in 
the United States, who are living and/or working in the U.S., and/or 
who have previously participated in a program sponsored or funded by 
the U.S. Government and who have not fulfilled their two-year home 
residency requirement by the time of application are not eligible for 
the program.
    The proposal should describe how project information will be 
disseminated to potential candidates, and how inquiries and 
applications will be screened and selected for the semi-finalist round 
interview process. The proposal should also include a specific strategy 
to conduct targeted outreach to women who are from outside the capital 
cities, live in economically disadvantaged sectors and have not 
previously studied in the United States. The deadline for applications 
is June 27, 2005.
    The proposal should describe how your organization will administer 
in-country semi-finalist interview panels. Interview panels should be 
comprised of representatives from the Public Affairs section of U.S. 
embassies, embassy Economic/Commercial sections, locally qualified 
businessmen/women, NGO officials, and alumni of USG exchange programs. 
Candidates should be evaluated based on academic excellence, leadership 
potential, proficiency in written and spoken English, maturity, and 
flexibility and suitability to operate successfully in an American 
corporate environment. Recommended semi-finalist candidates must also 
possess a sufficient level of information technology knowledge and word 
processing ability to operate in a U.S. business. Interview evaluations 
must be standard in all countries and locales and must use a numeric 
ranking system. Interview panels should be completed no later than July 
11, 2005. The dossiers of recommended semi-finalist candidates are due 
at the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in Washington, DC no 
later than July 20.
    Note that all program materials must emphasize that this is an 
academic and professional training program. No program related 
communications should suggest or imply that the program will provide 
employment opportunities in the United States. Program communications 
should also emphasize that participants will not be able to extend or 
transfer their U.S. visa sponsorship at the completion of their 
internship, as they are expected to return to their home countries to 
fulfill the two-year home residency requirement of the J visa.
    Applicant organizations should ensure that the Department of State, 
through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Middle 
East Partnership Initiative, is acknowledged as the program sponsor in 
all program related communications. All communications and publicity, 
paper or electronic, must include the full program name, the Department 
of State seal and the following text: ``A program of the U.S. 
Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the 
Middle East Partnership Initiative.'' The Bureau and MEPI program 
officers must approve all publicity and advertising materials before 
they are published.

B. Pre-Program Preparation

    The proposal should include a plan to provide a pre-departure 
briefing, including distribution of explanatory materials on the U.S. 
and the program. Given the heightened security issues facing foreign 
visitors and travelers to the U.S., this pre-departure orientation may 
also include the participants' immediate and extended families. The 
pre-departure orientation should take place before September 15, 2005.

[[Page 9427]]

    The proposal should also address how organizations will counsel 
program applicants and family members on the program goals and address 
concerns about living in the U.S.
    Organizations should also be prepared to provide support to 
finalists for visa applications and travel and to the Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Public Affairs Section of the 
U.S. embassies, finalists and their families in matters relating to, 
but not limited to, program communications.

C. Alumnae Network

    The proposal should include a plan to promote communication and 
networking among program participants after they return from the U.S. 
Alumnae activities should include an enrichment workshop. This workshop 
should be held in the region and last 2-3 days. The purpose of the 
workshop is to enable the participants to network and to expand the 
skill sets they acquired during the internship project.
    Additional grantee responsibilities will include the production of 
four issues of a quarterly newsletter for the alumnae network. The 
newsletter content should encompass professional information as well as 
submissions from alumnae. The first newsletter should be published in 
March 2006 to coincide with the participants' return from the U.S. 
Subsequent issues should be published and distributed in June 2006, 
October 2006, and December 2006. The Bureau and MEPI should be closely 
consulted during the development and implementation of the alumnae 
activities.

D. Program Administration and Support Services

    The proposal should include a plan to
    1. Establish and maintain participant statistical database, 
including the following fields: name, address, citizenship, country of 
residence, field-of-study, degree received, business placement, email, 
phone.
    2. Maintain records, including opening, maintaining, sharing and 
closing intern files. Retain records of grants and other pertinent 
documentation.
    3. Review of applicants, including a technical review of 
applications for eligibility and thoroughness, checking for accurate 
bio-data, transcripts, recommendations, TOEFL scores and follow-up, if 
necessary, to secure missing documentation. Provide the Bureau with the 
original and 4 copies of the applications of the principal and 
alternate candidates.
    4. Facilitate travel to an international gateway airport for 
participants before and after the U.S. portion of the program. Please 
note that purchase of international airplane tickets will be arranged 
through a separate grant. The grantee organization under this 
cooperative agreement will only be expected to provide logistical 
assistance, support, and travel funds in the participants' home 
countries/locales.
    The Bureau, in collaboration with MEPI, is substantially involved 
in program activities above and beyond routine grant monitoring. The 
Bureau and MEPI activities and responsibilities related to this 
cooperative agreement are as follows: review and clearance of 
advertising and publicity material, regular communications with grantee 
organization staff, review and clearance of pre-departure orientation 
material, final selection of recommended participants, and management 
of regular communications with program finalists.

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 2004/FY 2005--carried over into FY 2005 for 
obligation.
    Approximate Total Funding: $260,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 1.
    Approximate Average Award: $260,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: May 15, 2005 (pending allocation and 
commitment through internal ECA procedures).
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: December 31, 2006.

III. Eligibility Information

III.1. Eligible applicants

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

III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds

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

III.3 Other Eligibility Requirements

    a. Bureau grant guidelines require that organizations with less 
than four years experience in conducting international exchanges be 
limited to $60,000 in Bureau funding. ECA anticipates awarding one 
grant, in an amount up to $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.

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 Academic Exchange Programs, ECA/A/E, 
Room 234, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20547, 202-619-4360 (phone), 202-401-5914 (fax) or 
[email protected] to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to 
the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/E 05-01-MEPI 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.
    Please specify Bureau Program Officer Rhonda E. Boris and refer to 
the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/E 05-01-MEPI located at the top of 
this announcement on all other inquiries and correspondence.

[[Page 9428]]

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 10 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 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. A cooperating agency 
of the Bureau, which will administer the U.S. portions of this program 
under a separate renewal agreement, will be responsible for issuing DS-
2019 forms to participants.
    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 these goals in their 
program contents, to the full extent deemed feasible.
    IV.3.d.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

[[Page 9429]]

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:
    IV.3.e.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 may 
provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase, 
location, or activity to provide clarification.
    IV.3.e.2. Allowable costs for the program include the following:
    1. Recruitment and advertising costs;
    2. Staff travel and per diem related to recruitment and selection 
activities. Applicant should indicate expenses separately as they 
relate to recruitment and selection, indicating the travel destination.
    3. Cost of standardized TOEFL examination;
    4. Orientation costs;
    5. Alumni newsletter; and
    6. Alumni enrichment seminar.

Domestic Administrative Costs

    1. Staff salaries and benefits. Each person and his/her position 
must be listed separately. In addition, note the percentage of his/her 
total time spent on this project;
    2. Communication costs (e.g. fax, telephone, postage, communication 
equipment);
    3. Office supplies;
    4. Administration of tax withholding and reporting as required by 
Federal, State and local authorities and in accordance with relevant 
tax treaties;
    5. Audit fees;
    6. Other direct expenditures; and
    7. Indirect costs.

Overseas Administrative Costs

    1. Staff salaries and benefits. Each person and his/her position 
must be listed separately. In addition, note the percentage of his/her 
total time spent on this project;
    2. Communication costs (including telephone, fax, postage, 
communication equipment, etc.);
    3. Office supplies;
    4. Administration of tax withholding and reporting as required by 
Federal, State and local authorities and in accordance with relevant 
tax treaties;
    5. Other direct costs; and
    6. Indirect costs.
    The above cost allocations are subject to the availability of 
funds. The Bureau reserves the right to modify any of the above cost 
allocations to achieve project efficiencies and cost-savings.
    Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget 
guidelines and formatting instructions.
    IV.3f. Submission Dates and Times: Application Deadline Date: April 
1, 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 10 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 05-01-MEPI, 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 text (.txt) format 
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 
cooperative agreements resides with the Bureau's Grants Officer.

[[Page 9430]]

Review Criteria
    Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed 
according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are not rank 
ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation:
    1. Quality of the program idea: Proposals should exhibit 
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's 
mission.
    2. Program planning: 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.
    3. Ability to achieve program objectives: Objectives should be 
reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly 
demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's objectives and 
plan.
    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, program venue and program evaluation) and program content 
(orientation and wrap-up sessions, program meetings, resource materials 
and follow-up activities).
    5. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional 
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program or 
project's goals.
    6. Institution's Record/Ability: 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 Grants 
Staff. The Bureau will consider the past performance of prior 
recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants.
    7. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate 
the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of 
the program. A draft survey questionnaire or other technique plus 
description of a methodology to use to link outcomes to original 
project objectives is recommended.
    8. Cost-effectiveness: 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.
    9. Cost-sharing: Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through 
other private sector support as well as institutional direct funding 
contributions.
    10. Value to U.S.-Partner Country Relations: Proposed projects 
should receive positive assessments by the U.S. Department of State's 
geographic area desk and overseas officers of program need, potential 
impact, and significance in the partner country(ies).

VI. Award Administration Information

VI.1a. 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 two copies of 
the following reports:
    1. A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after 
the expiration of the award;
    2. A recruitment and selection report to be submitted by October 1, 
2005, and to include the following information:
    (a) Detailed report of the advertising and recruitment strategy in 
each country. This report should include the names of newspapers, 
journals, radio stations and television stations used to advertise the 
program, as well as a list of cities visited and the universities, 
institutions, advising centers and other organizations at which 
recruitment presentations were made. Include the number of applications 
distributed in each country, and the number of completed applications 
received.
    (b) Description of the selection and notification process of semi-
finalists. Include the dates of selection committee meetings, as well 
as names, titles and affiliation of committee members.
    (c) Detailed report on the selection and notification process of 
finalists.
    (d) A preliminary list of all participants, their countries of 
origin, cities of residence, home institutions/employers, job title, 
job responsibilities and fields of university study. Please include 
participants' ethnic backgrounds and disability information, if 
available.
    (e) Description of pre-departure orientation programs including 
dates, locations and program schedules (i.e. speakers and topics).
    3. An interim report to be submitted by February 1, 2006, and 
containing the following information:
    (a) Report on re-entry support and other alumni activities, 
including dates, locations and program schedules (i.e. speakers and 
topics).
    (b) Detailed report on the use of Web sites or other electronic 
communication to promote the development of the alumnae network.
    (c) Samples of the quarterly alumni newsletters.
    (d) Update on planning for the annual alumni conference.
    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.

[[Page 9431]]

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: Rhonda E. Boris, 
Program Officer, Office of Academic Exchange Programs, ECA/A/E, Room 
234, ECA/A/E 05-01-MEPI, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, 202-619-4360 (phone), 202-401-5914 
(fax) or [email protected].
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number ECA/A/E 05-01-MEPI.
    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: February 18, 2005.
C. Miller Crouch,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 05-3699 Filed 2-24-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P