[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 235 (Thursday, December 8, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73047-73056]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-7073]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 5242]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Open Competition Seeking Professional Exchanges 
Programs in Africa, East Asia, Eurasia, Europe, the Near East, North 
Africa, South Asia and the Western Hemisphere

    Announcement Type: New Grant.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C-06-01.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.415.
    Key Dates:
    Application Deadline: February 9, 2006.

    Executive Summary: The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for 
grants that support exchanges and build relationships between U.S. non-
profit organizations and civil society groups in Africa, East Asia, 
Eurasia, Europe, the Near East, North Africa, South Asia and the 
Western Hemisphere. U.S. public and non-profit organizations meeting 
the provisions described in Internal Revenue code section 26 U.S.C. 
501(c)(3) may submit proposals that support the goals of The 
Professional Exchanges Program. Projects should promote mutual 
understanding and partnerships between key professional groups in the 
United States and counterpart groups in other countries through multi-
phased exchanges taking place over one to three years. Proposals should 
further transformational democracy which seeks to encourage and support 
the development of more democratic societies and institutions, with a 
view toward creating a more stable world. To the fullest extent 
possible, programs should be two-way exchanges supporting roughly equal 
numbers of participants from the U.S. and foreign countries.
    Proposed projects should promote the transformation of 
institutional and individual understanding, foster dialogue, share 
expertise and develop capacity in one of five thematic areas: (1) 
Responsible Governance; (2) Developing Professional Standards in Media; 
(3) Creating Economic Growth to Fight Poverty and Strengthen Democracy; 
(4) Dialogue on Intellectual Property or Municipal Governance as a 
Device for Bridging Conflict; and (5) Integration of Marginalized 
Populations, Particularly Youth, in Western Europe. Through these 
people-to-people exchanges, the Bureau seeks to break down stereotypes 
that divide peoples, to promote good governance, to contribute to 
conflict prevention and management, and to build respect for cultural 
expression and identity in a world that is experiencing rapid 
globalization. Projects should be structured to allow American 
professionals and their international counterparts in target countries 
to develop a common dialogue for dealing with shared challenges and 
concerns. Projects should include current or potential leaders who will 
effect positive change in their communities. Exchange participants

[[Page 73048]]

might include community leaders, elected and professional government 
officials, religious leaders, educators, and proponents of democratic 
ideals and institutions, including for example, the media and 
judiciary, or others who influence the way in which different 
communities approach these issues. The Bureau is especially interested 
in engaging socially and economically diverse groups that may not have 
had extensive contact with counterpart institutions in the United 
States. The Bureau encourages the submission of proposals that engage 
these audiences in countries with significant Muslim populations, or 
that engage educators or groups that influence youth in innovative 
ways.
    Applicants may not submit proposals that address more than one 
region or for countries that are not designated in the RFGP.
    For the purposes of this competition, eligible regions are Africa, 
East Asia, Eurasia, Europe, the Near East, North Africa, South Asia, 
and the Western Hemisphere. No guarantee is made or implied that grants 
will be awarded in all themes and for all countries listed.
    Requests for grant proposals on the creation, performance, or 
presentation of artistic work will be announced in a separate 
competition.
    Please refer to section III.3 for information on eligibility 
requirements.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Authority

    Overall grant-making authority for this program is contained in the 
Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, Public Law 87-
256, as amended, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act. The purpose of 
the Act is ``to enable the Government of the United States to increase 
mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the 
people of other countries * * *; to strengthen the ties which unite us 
with other nations by demonstrating the educational and cultural 
interests, developments, and achievements of the people of the United 
States and other nations * * * and thus to assist in the development of 
friendly, sympathetic and peaceful relations between the United States 
and the other countries of the world.'' The funding authority for the 
program above is provided through legislation.

Purpose

    The Bureau seeks proposals that will address the following priority 
themes: (1) Responsible Governance; (2) Developing Professional 
Standards in Media; (3) Creating Economic Growth to Fight Poverty and 
Strengthen Democracy; (4) Dialogue on Intellectual Property or 
Municipal Governance as a Device for Bridging Conflict; and (5) 
Integration of Marginalized Populations, Particularly Youth, in Western 
Europe.
    The competition is based on the premise that people-to-people 
exchanges encourage and strengthen understanding of democratic values 
and nurture the social, political, and economic development of 
societies. Exchanges supported by institutional grants from the Bureau 
should operate at two levels: they should enhance partnerships between 
U.S. and foreign institutions, and they should establish a common 
dialogue to develop practical solutions for shared problems and 
concerns. The Bureau is particularly interested in projects that will 
create mutually beneficial and self-sustaining linkages between 
professional communities in the U.S. and their counterpart communities 
in other countries. Applicants must identify the U.S. and foreign 
organizations and individuals with whom they are proposing to 
collaborate and describe previous cooperative activities, if any. 
Information about the mission, activities, and accomplishments of 
partner organizations should be included in the submission. Proposals 
should contain letters of commitment or support from partner 
organizations for the proposed project. Applicants should clearly 
outline and describe the role and responsibilities of all partner 
organizations in terms of project logistics, management and oversight. 
Proposals that show strong prospects for enhancing existing long-term 
collaboration or establishing new collaborative efforts among 
participating organizations will be deemed more competitive under the 
Program Planning and Ability to Achieve Objectives review criterion, 
per item V.1 below.
    Competitive proposals will include the following:
     A brief description of the problem as it relates to the 
target country or region. (Proposals that request resources for an 
initial needs assessment will be deemed less competitive under the 
review criterion Program Planning and Ability to Achieve Objectives, 
per item V.1 below.);
     A clear statement of program objectives and projected 
outcomes that respond to Bureau goals for each theme in this 
competition. Desired outcomes should be described in qualitative and 
quantitative terms. (See the Program Monitoring and Evaluation section 
per item V.1 below, for more information on project objectives and 
outcomes.);
     A proposed timeline, listing the optimal schedule for each 
program activity;
     A description of participant recruitment and selection 
processes;
     Letters of support from foreign and U.S. partners. 
(Letters from prospective partner institutions should demonstrate an 
ability to arrange and conduct U.S. and overseas activities.);
     An outline of the applicant organization's relevant 
expertise in the project theme and country(ies);
     An outline of relevant experience managing previous 
exchange programs;
     Resumes of experienced staff who have demonstrated a 
commitment to monitor projects and ensure implementation;
     A comprehensive plan to evaluate whether program outcomes 
achieved met the specific objectives described in the narrative. (See 
the Program Monitoring and Evaluation section [IV.3d.d below] for 
further guidance on evaluation.);
     A post-grant plan that demonstrates how the grantee plans 
to maintain contacts initiated through the program. Applicants should 
discuss ways that U.S. and foreign participants or host institutions 
could collaborate and communicate after the ECA-funded grant has 
concluded. (See Review Criterion 5, per item V.1 below for 
more information on post-grant activities.)
     Successful projects will demonstrate the importance 
Americans place on community service as an element of a strong civil 
society and may include ideas and projects to strengthen civil society 
through community service either during participants' stay in the U.S. 
or upon their return to their countries.
     In addition to addressing the themes described below, 
proposals should develop partner organizations' capacity in such areas 
as strategic planning, performance management, fund raising, financial 
management, human resources management, and decision-making.
    It is important that the proposal narrative clearly state the 
applicant's commitment to consult closely with the Public Affairs 
Section of the U.S. embassy in the relevant country(ies) to develop 
plans for project implementation and to select project participants. 
Proposals should also acknowledge U.S. embassy involvement in the final 
selection of all participants. Applicants should state their 
willingness to invite representatives of the embassy(ies) and/or 
consulate(s) to participate in program sessions or site visits. 
Applicants are also strongly

[[Page 73049]]

encouraged to consult with Public Affairs Officers at U.S. embassies in 
relevant countries as they develop proposals responding to this RFGP. 
Narratives should state that all material developed for the project 
will prominently acknowledge Department of State ECA Bureau funding for 
the program. In addition, before submitting a proposal, applicants are 
strongly encouraged to be in touch with the Washington, DC-based State 
Department contact for the themes/regions listed after each program 
description below.

Themes

I. Responsible Governance

     Educate citizens and youth influencers, including teachers 
and leaders of youth organizations, on rights and responsibilities in a 
democracy and empower them to participate in the development of public 
policy, public discussions and debates by developing their individual 
skills and organizations. Projects should engage government and NGO 
leaders in dialogue.
     Engage government leaders--national and local--in the 
importance of citizen participation in governmental decision-making and 
develop/examine specific practices that promote an effective, 
accountable, transparent and responsive government and public 
administration that is crucial to the development of democracy. 
Projects should engage government and NGO leaders in dialogue.
    Audience: Representatives from government and non-governmental 
organizations, teachers, community leaders.

Ideal Program Model

     U.S. grantee identifies U.S. citizens to conduct in-
country seminar for citizen activists, teachers, NGO representatives, 
responsible media, elected local government officials, and legal 
professionals to discuss transparency and accountability. In-country 
partner (a local university or other appropriate professional group) 
would co-host the event with the U.S. grantee institution; selection of 
participants for U.S. program.
     U.S. program that would include a seminar on the role of 
government/citizen in the U.S.; internships in local elected officials' 
offices, NGO organizations, and citizen organizations; and a one-day 
debriefing and evaluation.
     In-country program conducted by U.S. experts that served 
as internship hosts or seminar leaders. Participants in U.S. program 
design the seminar and serve as co-presenters. Project would also 
support materials translated into target language, small grants for 
projects designed to expand the exchange experience and support for the 
development of alumni association.

Eligible Countries

Africa (single-country and multiple-country projects accepted)
    Angola, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Swaziland
    Contact: Curtis Huff, tel: (202) 453-8159, e-mail: [email protected]
East Asia Pacific (single-country projects only)
    China, Indonesia, Vietnam
    Contact: Clint Wright, tel: (202) 453-8164, e-mail: 
[email protected]
Europe and Eurasia (single-country projects only)
    Turkey, Ukraine, Kosovo
Europe and Eurasia (multiple-country projects only)
    Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan
    Contact: Brent Beemer, tel: (202) 453-8147, e-mail: 
[email protected]
Near East/North Africa (single-country and multiple-country projects 
accepted for themes listed above)
    Syria, Algeria, Oman, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Yemen
Near East/North Africa (multiple-country project only for theme listed 
below)
    Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestinian Authority Proposals 
will be only accepted for:

     Engage young political leaders and activists--those active 
in political parties, university student politics and NGOs--in order to 
strengthen the participation of youth in the political field.

    Contact: Thomas Johnston, tel: (202) 453-8162, e-mail: 
[email protected]
South Asia (single-country and multiple-country projects accepted)
    Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
    Contact: Thomas Johnston, tel: (202) 453-8162, e-mail: 
[email protected]

II. Developing Professional Standards in Media

     Educate media professionals, both journalists, editors and 
media managers, in professional standards, including accountability, 
objective reporting, and investigative journalism in order to ensure 
widespread, accurate media coverage on one of the following issues: 
HIV/AIDS, anti-corruption, business development or cultural/ethnic 
diversity. Projects should also raise media professionals' awareness of 
the issue. Applicants should propose meetings with advocacy groups and 
assistance organizations that work to address the target issue.
     Empower professionals to develop internal media that is 
independent and accountable to the public. Separate programs for 
broadcast (radio/television) and print media are envisioned.
     Support journalism teachers in designing curricula that 
promote the development of a responsible and financially sound media.
    Audience: Broadcast, print and Web-based journalists and media 
managers; teachers

Ideal Program Model

     In-country workshop on topics to be determined depending 
on audience (teachers of journalism, editors, reporters, publishers); 
selection of participants for U.S. program. In-country workshops should 
include NGO representatives working on the target issue.
     Four- to five-week U.S. program that includes a week-long 
academic seminar through a journalism educational institution on the 
role of the media in the U.S., practices and professional skills 
development and a three- to four-week internship program in U.S. media 
outlets that match the size and type of participant's home outlet.
     U.S. media experts travel to country to conduct a follow-
on academic seminar for program participants and their colleagues on 
best practices and lessons learned and to do on-site consultancies in 
local media outlets.

Eligible Countries

Africa (single-country and multiple-country projects accepted)
    Cameroon, Ethiopia, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda
    Contact: Curtis Huff, tel: (202) 453-8159, e-mail: [email protected]
East Asia and Pacific (single-country projects only)
    Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Laos, Malaysia, 
Philippines, Vietnam
    Contact: Clint Wright, tel: (202) 453-8164, e-mail: 
[email protected]
Europe and Eurasia (single-country projects only)
    Armenia, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan
    Contact: Brent Beemer, tel: (202) 453-8147, e-mail: 
[email protected]
Near East/North Africa (single-country and multiple-country projects 
accepted)
    Iraq, the Palestinian Authority, Syria, Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, 
Saudi

[[Page 73050]]

Arabia
    Contact: Thomas Johnston, tel: (202) 453-8162, e-mail: 
[email protected]
South Asia (single-country and multiple-country projects accepted)
    Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan
    Contact: Thomas Johnston, tel: (202) 453-8162, e-mail: 
[email protected]
Western Hemisphere (single-country and multiple-country projects 
accepted)
    Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Nicaragua, Peru, 
Venezuela
    Contact: Laverne Johnson, tel: (202) 453-8160, e-mail: 
[email protected]

III. Creating Economic Growth to Fight Poverty and Strengthen Democracy

     Engage community and business leaders, including those 
involved in science and technology, to promote economic growth and 
prosperity among youth by sharing practical methods and developing 
leadership skills in business, including the importance of corporate 
social responsibility.
     Educate youth and women in entrepreneurial thinking and 
business leadership skills to empower them to engage in business 
creation.
    Audience: Young entrepreneurs, teachers, community leaders, 
including representatives from governmental and non-governmental 
organizations

Ideal Program Model

     Successful businessmen conduct workshops for audiences on 
effective, practical methods of stimulating entrepreneurial skills in 
target countries.
     Key members of in-country workshops invited to U.S. for 
business facilitation or mentoring to promote innovation and networking 
skills. Develop action plans for business implementation upon return 
home.
     Upon return participants implement business action plans 
with guidance from U.S. mentors utilizing e-mail and other direct 
communication.
     Business mentors travel to country to evaluate 
implementation of action plan and offer assistance.

Eligible Countries

Africa (single-country and multiple-country projects accepted)
    Benin, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Liberia, 
Mauritania, Niger, Sierra Leone, Tanzania
    Contact: Curtis Huff, tel: (202) 453-8159, e-mail: [email protected]
East Asia Pacific (multiple-country projects only)
    Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam
East Asia Pacific (single-country projects only)
    Mongolia
    Contact: Clint Wright, tel: (202) 453-8164, e-mail: 
[email protected]
Near East/North Africa (single-country projects only)
    Algeria, Palestinian Authority, Syria, Yemen
    Contact: Thomas Johnston, tel: (202) 453-8162, e-mail: 
[email protected]
Western Hemisphere (single-country and multiple-country projects 
accepted)
    Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, 
Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Venezuela. Particular focus on indigenous and 
Afro-Latino communities.
    Contact: Laverne Johnson, tel: (202) 453-8160, e-mail: 
[email protected]
South Asia (single-country and multiple-country projects accepted)
    Afghanistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
    Contact: Thomas Johnston, tel: (202) 453-8162, e-mail: 
[email protected]

IV. Dialogue on Intellectual Property or Municipal Governance as a 
Device for Bridging Conflict

     Engage citizens from China and Taiwan in a dialogue on 
intellectual property or municipal governance in order to foster 
increased understanding.
    Audience: Local government representatives, lawyers, 
representatives from the NGO sector, community leaders

Ideal Program Model

     In-country program that includes workshops and outreach to 
wide audience. Recruitment and selection of participants for U.S. 
program from those that have attended workshops.
     U.S. program that includes site visits, meetings and 
internships
     In-country program that includes workshops, led by 
American experts and participants in the U.S. program. The development 
of handbooks, educational materials and long-term institutional 
relationships.

Eligible Countries

East Asia and Pacific--China and Taiwan Only
    Contact: Clint Wright, tel: (202) 453-8164, e-mail: 
[email protected]

V. Integration of Marginalized Populations, Particularly Youth, in 
Western Europe

     Engage community leaders, educators, youth influencers, 
journalists, representatives of community organizations and government 
departments in examination of programs and practices to facilitate 
integration, assimilation and empowerment of minority populations, 
particularly youth.
    Audience: Community leaders, educators, youth influencers, 
journalists, NGO and government representatives.

Ideal Program Model

     In-country workshops for 20-40 foreign and U.S. 
participants to examine the process of integration/assimilation of 
marginalized populations in Europe and to evaluate the programs, both 
governmental and non-governmental, to support immigrants.
     U.S. program for 10-15 foreign participants to examine the 
history of and current U.S. practices of integrating immigrant 
populations into society. Examine and compare immigrant groups in 
European and U.S. societies, looking at access to education, employment 
opportunities, political involvement, community leadership, and 
government and private sector roles in outreach to marginalized youth.

Eligible Countries

Europe (single-country projects only)
    United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Germany
    Contact: Brent Beemer, tel: (202) 453-8147, e-mail: 
[email protected]
Suggested Program Designs
    Bureau-supported exchanges may include internships; study tours; 
short-term, non-technical experiential learning; extended and intensive 
workshops; and seminars taking place in the United States or overseas 
as long as these seminars promote intensive exchange of ideas among 
participants in the project. Examples of program activities include:
    1. A U.S.-based program that includes an orientation to program 
purposes and to U.S. society; study tour/site visits; professional 
internships/placements; interaction and dialogue; hands-on training; 
professional development; and action plan development.
    2. Capacity-building/training-of-trainer (TOT) workshops to help 
participants to identify priorities, create work plans, strengthen 
professional and volunteer skills, share their experience with 
committed people within each

[[Page 73051]]

country, and become active in a practical and valuable way.
    3. Site visits by U.S. facilitators/experts to monitor projects in 
the region and to encourage further development, as appropriate.
Participant Selection
    Proposals should clearly describe the types of persons that will 
participate in the program as well as the participant recruitment and 
selection processes. For programs that include U.S. internships, 
applicants should submit letters of support from host institutions. In 
the selection of foreign participants, the Bureau and U.S. embassies 
retain the right to review all participant nominations and to accept or 
refuse participants recommended by grantee institutions. When U.S. 
participants are selected, grantee institutions must provide their 
names and brief biographical data to the Office of Citizen Exchanges. 
Priority in two-way exchange proposals will be given to foreign 
participants who have not previously traveled to the United States.
Security Considerations
    With regard to projects focusing on Afghanistan, Pakistan, and 
Iraq, applicants should be aware of security concerns that will affect 
the ability of the grantee organization to arrange for the travel of 
U.S. citizens to these countries or to conduct site visits, participant 
interviews, seminars, workshops, or training sessions there. All travel 
to, and activities conducted in, these countries will be subject to 
consultation with and approval of official U.S. security personnel in 
country. The applicant organization should be prepared to modify timing 
or to reconfigure project implementation plans as required by security 
considerations.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Grant.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY-2006.
    Approximate Total Funding: Pending availability of funding, $5.8 
million.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 25-30.
    Approximate Average Award: $150,000-$250,000.
    Floor of Award Range: $30,000.
    Ceiling of Award Range: Approximately $250,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, August 31, 
2006.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: July 31, 2007-May 31, 2009. 
Projects under this competition may range in length from one to three 
years depending on the number of project components, the country/region 
targeted and the extent of the evaluation plan proposed by the 
applicant.
    The Office of Citizen Exchanges strongly encourages applicant 
organizations to plan enough time after project activities to measure 
project outcomes. Please refer to the Program Monitoring and Evaluation 
section, item IV.3d.3 below, for further guidance on evaluation.

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. Cost sharing is an important 
element of the ECA-grantee institution relationship, and it 
demonstrates the implementing organization's commitment to the program. 
Cost sharing is included as one criterion for grant proposal 
evaluation. Applicants are strongly encouraged to cost share a portion 
of overhead and administrative expenses. Cost-sharing, including 
contributions from the applicant, proposed in-country partner(s), and 
other sources should be included in the budget request. Proposal 
budgets that do not reflect cost sharing will be deemed not competitive 
under the Cost Effectiveness and Cost Sharing criterion (item V.1 
below). 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) 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: In addition to the requirements outlined 
in the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) technical format and 
instructions document, all proposals must comply with the following or 
they will result in your proposal being declared technically ineligible 
and given no further consideration in the review process.
    1. The Office does not support proposals limited to conferences or 
seminars (i.e., one- to fourteen-day programs with plenary sessions, 
main speakers, panels, and a passive audience). It will support 
conferences only when they are a small part of a larger project in 
duration that is receiving Bureau funding from this competition.
    2. No funding is available exclusively to send U.S. citizens to 
conferences or conference-type seminars overseas; nor is funding 
available for bringing foreign nationals to conferences or to routine 
professional association meetings in the United States.
    3. The Office of Citizen Exchanges does not support academic 
research or faculty or student fellowships.
    4. Applicants may not submit more than four (4) proposals total for 
this competition. Organizations that submit proposals that exceed these 
limits will result in having all of their proposals declared 
technically ineligible, and none of the submissions will be reviewed by 
a State Department panel.
    5. Proposals that target countries/regions or themes not listed in 
the RFGP will be deemed technically ineligible.
    6. Proposals involving the production or interpretation of artistic 
work WILL NOT be accepted under this competition, and if received, will 
be declared technically ineligible.

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 Citizen Exchanges, ECA/PE/C, Room 220, U.S. 
Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC, 20547, 
tel.: 202-453-8181; fax: 202-453-8168; or e-mail [email protected] 
or [email protected] to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer 
to the Funding Opportunity Number (ECA/PE/C-06-01) located at the top 
of this

[[Page 73052]]

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 the Bureau Program Officer listed for each region 
and theme above and refer to the Funding Opportunity Number (ECA/PE/C-
06-01) 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 ten copies 
of the application should be sent per the instructions under IV.3f. 
``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 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 its 
record of compliance with 22 CFR 62 et seq., including the oversight of 
its 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) 203-5029, 
Fax: (202) 453-8640.
    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 physical challenges. Applicants are strongly encouraged to 
adhere to the advancement of this principle both in program 
administration and in program content. Please refer to the review 
criteria under the `Support for Diversity' section for specific 
suggestions on incorporating diversity into your proposal. Public Law 
104-319 provides that ``in carrying out programs of educational and 
cultural exchange in countries whose people do not fully enjoy freedom 
and democracy,'' the Bureau ``shall take appropriate steps to provide 
opportunities for participation in such programs to human rights and 
democracy leaders of such countries.'' Public Law 106-113 requires that 
the governments of the countries described above do not have 
inappropriate influence in the selection process. Proposals should 
reflect advancement of these goals in their program contents, to the 
full extent deemed feasible.
    IV.3d.3. Program Monitoring and Evaluation.
    Proposals must include a plan to monitor and evaluate the project's 
success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of the program. 
The Bureau recommends that your proposal include a draft survey 
questionnaire or other technique plus a description of a methodology to 
use to link outcomes to original project objectives. The Bureau expects 
that the grantee will track participants or partners and be able to 
respond to key evaluation questions, including satisfaction with the 
program, learning as a result of the program, changes in behavior as a 
result of the program, and effects of the program on institutions 
(institutions in which participants work or partner institutions). The 
evaluation plan should include indicators that measure gains in mutual 
understanding as well as substantive knowledge.
    Successful monitoring and evaluation depend heavily on setting 
clear goals and outcomes at the outset of a program. Your evaluation 
plan should include a description of your project's objectives, your 
anticipated project outcomes, and how and when you intend to measure 
these outcomes (performance indicators). The more that outcomes are 
``smart'' (specific, measurable,

[[Page 73053]]

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:
    IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the 
entire program. For this competition, requests should not exceed 
approximately $250,000. There must be a summary budget as well as 
breakdowns reflecting both administrative and program budgets. 
Applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, 
phase, location, or activity to provide clarification.
    IV.3e.2. Allowable costs for the program include the following:
    1. Travel. International and domestic airfare; visas; transit 
costs; ground transportation costs. Please note that all air travel 
must be in compliance with the Fly America Act. There is no charge for 
J-1 visas for participants in Bureau sponsored programs.
    2. Per Diem. For U.S.-based programming, organizations should use 
the published Federal per diem rates for individual U.S. cities. 
Domestic per diem rates may be accessed at: http://policyworks.gov/org/main/mt/homepage/mtt/perdiem/perd03d.html. ECA requests applicants to 
budget realistic costs that reflect the local economy and do not exceed 
Federal per diem rates. Foreign per diem rates can be accessed at: 
http://www.state.gov/m/a/als/prdm/html.
    3. Interpreters. For U.S.-based activities, ECA strongly encourages 
applicants to hire their own locally based interpreters. However, 
applicants may ask ECA to assign State Department interpreters. One 
interpreter is typically needed for every four participants who require 
interpretation. When an applicant proposes to use State Department 
interpreters, the following expenses should be included in the budget: 
Published Federal per diem rates (both ``lodging'' and ``M&IE'') and 
``home-program-home'' transportation in the amount of $400 per 
interpreter. Salary expenses for State Department interpreters will be 
covered by the Bureau and should not be part of an applicant's proposed 
budget. Bureau funds cannot support interpreters who accompany 
delegations from their home country or travel internationally.
    4. Book and Cultural Allowances. Foreign participants are entitled 
to a one-time cultural allowance of $150 per person, plus a book 
allowance of $50. Interpreters should be reimbursed up to $150 for 
expenses when they escort participants to cultural events. U.S. program 
staff, trainers or participants are not eligible to receive these 
benefits.
    5. Consultants. Consultants may be used to provide specialized 
expertise or to make presentations. Honoraria rates should not exceed 
$250 per day. Organizations are encouraged to cost-share rates that 
would exceed that figure. Subcontracting organizations may also be 
employed, in which case the written agreement between the prospective 
grantee and sub-grantee should be included in the proposal. Such sub-
grants should detail the division of responsibilities and proposed 
costs, and subcontracts should be itemized in the budget.
    6. Room rental. The rental of meeting space should not exceed $250 
per day. Any rates that exceed this amount should be cost shared.
    7. Materials. Proposals may contain costs to purchase, develop and 
translate materials for participants. Costs for high quality 
translation of materials should be anticipated and included in the 
budget. Grantee organizations should expect to submit a copy of all 
program materials to ECA, and ECA support should be acknowledged on all 
materials developed with its funding.
    8. Equipment. Applicants may propose to use grant funds to purchase 
equipment, such as computers and printers; these costs should be 
justified in the budget narrative. Costs for furniture are not allowed.
    9. Working meal. Normally, no more than one working meal may be 
provided during the program. Per capita costs may not exceed $15-$25 
for lunch and $20-$35 for dinner, excluding room rental. The number of 
invited guests may not exceed participants by more than a factor of 
two-to-one. When setting up a budget, interpreters should be considered 
``participants.''
    10. Return travel allowance. A return travel allowance of $70 for 
each foreign participant may be included in the budget. This allowance 
would cover incidental expenses incurred during international travel.
    11. Health insurance. Foreign participants will be covered during 
their participation in the program by the ECA-sponsored Accident and 
Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE), for which the grantee must 
enroll them. Details of that policy can be provided by

[[Page 73054]]

the contact officers identified in this solicitation. The premium is 
paid by ECA and should not be included in the grant proposal budget. 
However, applicants are permitted to include costs for travel insurance 
for U.S. participants in the budget.
    12. Wire transfer fees. When necessary, applicants may include 
costs to transfer funds to partner organizations overseas. Grantees are 
urged to research applicable taxes that may be imposed on these 
transfers by host governments.
    13. In-country travel costs for visa processing purposes. Given the 
requirements associated with obtaining J-1 visas for ECA-supported 
participants, applicants should include costs for any travel associated 
with visa interviews or DS-2019 pick-up.
    14. Administrative Costs. Costs necessary for the effective 
administration of the program may include salaries for grantee 
organization employees, benefits, and other direct and indirect costs 
per detailed instructions in the Application Package. While there is no 
rigid ratio of administrative to program costs, proposals in which the 
administrative costs do not exceed 25% of the total requested ECA grant 
funds will be more competitive under the cost effectiveness and cost 
sharing criterion, per item V.1 below. Proposals should show strong 
administrative cost sharing contributions from the applicant, the in-
country partner and other sources.
    Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget 
guidelines and formatting instructions.
    IV.3f. Submission Dates and Times:
    Application Deadline Date: Thursday, February 9, 2006.
    Explanation of Deadlines: Due to 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 ten 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-06-01 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 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. Program Planning and Ability to Achieve Objectives: Program 
objectives should be stated clearly and should reflect the applicant's 
expertise in the subject area and region. Objectives should respond to 
the topics in this announcement and should relate to the current 
conditions in the target country/countries. A detailed agenda and 
relevant work plan should explain how objectives will be achieved and 
should include a timetable for completion of major tasks. The substance 
of workshops, internships, seminars and/or consulting should be 
described in detail. Sample training schedules should be outlined. 
Responsibilities of proposed in-country partners should be clearly 
described. A discussion of how the applicant intends to address 
language issues should be included, if needed.
    2. Institutional Capacity: Proposals should include (1) the 
institution's mission and date of establishment; (2) detailed 
information about proposed in-country partner(s) and the history of the 
partnership; (3) an outline of prior awards-U.S. Government and/or 
private support received for the target theme/country/region; and (4) 
descriptions of experienced staff members who will implement the 
program. The proposal should reflect the institution's expertise in the 
subject area and knowledge of the conditions in the target country/
countries. 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. Proposed personnel and institutional resources 
should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program's goals. The 
Bureau strongly encourages applicants to submit letters of support from 
proposed in-country partners.
    3. Cost Effectiveness and Cost Sharing: Overhead and administrative 
costs in the proposal budget, including salaries, honoraria and 
subcontracts for services, should be kept to a minimum. Proposals whose 
administrative costs are less than twenty-five (25) per cent of the 
total funds requested from the Bureau will be deemed more

[[Page 73055]]

competitive under this criterion. Applicants are strongly encouraged to 
cost share a portion of overhead and administrative expenses. Cost-
sharing, including contributions from the applicant, proposed in-
country partner(s), and other sources should be included in the budget 
request. Proposal budgets that do not reflect cost sharing will be 
deemed not competitive in this category.
    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). Applicants should refer to the Bureau's 
Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines in the Proposal Submission 
Instructions (PSI) and the Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines 
section, Item IV.3d.2, above for additional guidance.
    5. Post-Grant Activities: Applicants should provide a plan to 
conduct activities after the Bureau-funded project has concluded in 
order to ensure that Bureau-supported programs are not isolated events. 
Funds for all post-grant activities must be in the form of 
contributions from the applicant or sources outside of the Bureau. 
Costs for these activities must not appear in the proposal budget, but 
should be outlined in the narrative.
    6. Program Monitoring and Evaluation: Proposals should include a 
detailed plan to monitor and evaluate the program. Program objectives 
should target clearly defined results in quantitative terms. 
Competitive evaluation plans will describe how applicant organizations 
would measure these results, and proposals should include draft data 
collection instruments (surveys, questionnaires, etc.) in Tab E. See 
the ``Program Management/Evaluation'' section, item IV.3d.3 above for 
more information on the components of a competitive evaluation plan. 
Successful applicants (grantee institutions) will be expected to submit 
a report after each program component concludes or on a quarterly 
basis, whichever is less frequent. The Bureau also requires that 
grantee institutions submit a final narrative and financial report no 
more than 90 days after the expiration of a grant. Please refer to the 
``Program Management/Evaluation'' section, item IV.3d.3 above for more 
guidance.

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. Any interim report(s) required in the Bureau grant agreement 
document.
    Grantees will be required to provide reports analyzing their 
evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program reports. 
(Please refer to Application and Submission Instructions [IV.3d.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. As a minimum, the data must include 
the following:
    (1) Name, address, contact information and biographic sketch of all 
persons who travel internationally on funds provided by the grant or 
who benefit from the grant funding but do not travel.
    (2) Itineraries of international and domestic travel, providing 
dates of travel and cities in which any exchange experiences take 
place. Final schedules for in-country and U.S. activities must be 
received by the ECA Program Officer at least three workdays prior to 
the official opening of the activity.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: The Office of 
Citizen Exchanges, ECA/PE/C, Room 220, ECA/PE/C-06-01, Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 
4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547; tel.: 202-453-8181; fax: 202-
453-8168; [email protected] or [email protected].
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number ECA/PE/C-06-01.
    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

[[Page 73056]]

and the availability of funds. Awards made will be subject to 
periodic reporting and evaluation requirements per section VI.3 
above.


    Dated: November 29, 2005.
Dina Habib Powell,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of 
State.
 [FR Doc. E5-7073 Filed 12-7-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P