[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 240 (Thursday, December 15, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74417-74422]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-7391]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 5245]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Religion and Society: A Dialogue

    Announcement Type: New Grant.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/NEA-AF-06-26.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000.
    Application Deadline: February 16, 2006.

Executive Summary

    The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State, announces a special 
competition for two to three grants to support international exchange 
projects under the rubric ``Religion and Society: A Dialogue.'' 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 develop and implement a multi-phased exchange to engage 
influential clerics, religious scholars and community leaders from 
countries with significant Muslim populations in dialogue designed to 
educate participants about the scholarship and practice of Islam in the 
United States and the world and the compatibility of religious practice 
and democratic social and political values and structures.

Authority

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

Overview

    The Office of Citizen Exchanges consults with and supports American 
public and private nonprofit organizations in developing and 
implementing multi-phased, often multi-year, exchanges of 
professionals, community leaders, scholars and academics, public policy 
advocates, non-governmental organization activists, etc. These 
exchanges address issues of vital importance to the United States and 
to other countries; they promote focused, substantive, and cooperative 
interaction among counterparts; and they entail both theoretical and 
experiential learning for all participants. A primary goal is the 
development of sustained, international, institutional and individual 
linkages. In addition to providing a context for professional 
development and collaborative problem-solving, these projects are 
intended to introduce foreign participants and their American 
counterparts to one another's political, social, and economic 
structures, facilitating improved communication and enhancing mutual 
understanding. Desirable components of an exchange may be local citizen 
involvement and activities that orient foreign participants to American 
society and culture.
    The initiative ``Religion and Society: A Dialogue'' will support 
two to three grants facilitating the international exchange of American 
and non-American clerics, religious scholars, and community leaders--
influential opinion leaders recognized for their ability to communicate 
in scholarly writing, through sermons, or by virtue of a position of 
community leadership. The objectives of the exchange are (1) to enhance 
the non-American participants' understanding of the place of religion 
and serious religious study, particularly Islam, in American life; (2) 
to provide a forum for examination and discussion of the compatibility 
of religious practice and democratic social and political values and 
structures, the benefits produced by coexistence among religious 
communities, and the practice of Islam in a multi-cultural, multi-
religious context; and (3) to broaden the understanding of American 
scholars, clerics, and laypersons of the place of Islam in non-American 
societies.
    Competitive program models would outline activities for a two-year 
exchange, including: Consultations and participant selection in 
participating countries by American professionals (selection 
coordinated with U.S. Embassies); study trips of up to 28 non-American 
scholars, clerics, and community leaders to the United States for 
several weeks (approximately 14 participants in two separate tours, one 
each year); and final consultations and workshops in the countries of 
origin of non-American participants by up to 14 American scholars, 
etc., Muslim and non-Muslim (approximately 7 American participants in 
each of two separate tours). Study tours in the United States would 
include: Meetings at Islamic centers, discussions with American Muslim 
and non-Muslim counterparts, familiarization with major religious 
libraries and archives, particularly those holding significant Islamic 
collections, discussions with leaders and members of religious and 
secular institutions that represent America's guarantee of human 
dignity and freedom of worship, and participation in scholarly (and 
possibly public) workshops and seminars. Abroad, Americans would 
participate in workshops and seminars, consult with local clerics, 
scholars, and community leaders, etc.
    Participants may be drawn from any relevant country, worldwide. 
Proposals should provide a persuasive rationale for the country or 
countries included in the exchange. The Office of Citizen Exchanges 
encourages applicants to be creative in planning project 
implementation. Activities may include both theoretical orientation and 
experiential, community-based initiatives designed to achieve 
objectives. Applicants should, in their proposals, identify any partner 
organizations and/or individuals inside or outside the U.S. with which/
whom

[[Page 74418]]

they are proposing to collaborate and justify the collaboration on the 
basis of experience, accomplishments, etc.

Selection of Participants

    Applications should include a description of a merit-based, focused 
participant selection process. Applicants should anticipate consulting 
with the Public Affairs Sections of U.S. Embassies in selecting 
participants, with the Embassy retaining the right to nominate 
participants, to advise the grantee regarding participants recommended 
by other entities, and to have final approval of the list of 
participants identified.

Public Affairs Section Involvement

    The Public Affairs Sections (PAS) of the U.S. Embassies often play 
an important role in project implementation. PAS will initially 
evaluate project proposals and may, in consultation with the grantee 
organization, coordinate planning with the grantee organization and in-
country partners, facilitate in-country activities, nominate 
participants and vet grantee nominations, observe in-country 
activities, and debrief participants. PAS will also evaluate project 
impact.
    Though project administration and implementation are the 
responsibility of the grantee, the grantee is expected to inform the 
PAS in participating countries of its operations and procedures and to 
coordinate with PAS officers in the development of project activities. 
The PAS should be consulted regarding country priorities, political and 
cultural sensitivities, security issues, and logistic and programmatic 
issues.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Grant Agreement.
    Fiscal Year Funds: 2006.
    Approximate Total Funding: $1,000,000, to be allocated among two to 
three grant awards.
    Approximate Number of Awards: Two to three.
    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, August 31, 
2006.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: July 31, 2008 to May 31, 2009.
    Projects under this competition may range in length from two 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. Required 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 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 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 two to three grants, in an amount up 
to $500,000 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.
    (b.) Technical Eligibility: Proposals must comply with the 
requirements outlined in this Request for Grant Proposals and 
accompanying Proposal Submission Instructions in order to be considered 
technically eligible for consideration in the review process.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    Note: Please read the complete Federal Register announcement 
before sending inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP 
deadline has passed, Bureau staff may not discuss this competition 
with applicants until the proposal review process has been 
completed.


    IV.1 Contact Information to Request an Application Package: The 
Application Package comprises the Proposal Submission Instruction (PSI) 
document, consisting of required application forms and standard 
guidelines for proposal preparation. The Solicitation Package may be 
downloaded from: http://exchanges.state.gov/education/rfgps/menu.htm. 
Please read all information before downloading.
    IV.2 To receive a hard copy of the Application Package via U.S. 
Postal Service, contact Thomas Johnston, Office of Citizen Exchanges, 
ECA/PE/C/NEA-AF, Room 216, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, Telephone (202) 453-8162; Fax (202) 
453-8168; E-mail [email protected]. Please refer to Funding 
Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/NEA-AF-06-26 on all inquiries and 
correspondence.
    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. Applicants 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 the 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

[[Page 74419]]

and budget. Please refer to the Application Package, containing the 
mandatory Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document, for 
additional formatting and technical requirements.
    IV.3c. Applicants 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 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 fullest extent feasible.
    IV.3d.3. Program Monitoring and Evaluation. Proposals must include 
a plan to monitor and evaluate the project's success, both as the 
activities unfold and at the end of the program. The Bureau recommends 
that your proposal include a draft survey questionnaire or other 
technique plus a description of a methodology to use to link outcomes 
to original project objectives. The Bureau expects that the grantee 
will track participants or partners and be able to respond to key 
evaluation questions, including satisfaction with the program, learning 
as a result of the program, changes in behavior as a result of the 
program, and effects of the program on institutions (institutions in 
which participants work or partner institutions). The evaluation plan 
should include indicators that measure gains in mutual understanding as 
well as substantive knowledge.
    Successful monitoring and evaluation depend heavily on setting 
clear goals and outcomes at the outset of a program. Your evaluation 
plan should include a description of your project's objectives, your 
anticipated project outcomes, and how and when you intend to measure 
these outcomes (performance indicators). The more that outcomes are 
``smart'' (specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and 
placed in a reasonable time frame), the easier it will be to conduct 
the evaluation. You should also show how your project objectives link 
to the goals of the program described in this RFGP.
    Your monitoring and evaluation plan should clearly distinguish 
between program outputs and outcomes. Outputs are products and services 
delivered, often stated as an amount. Output information is important 
to show the scope or size of project activities, but it cannot 
substitute for information about progress towards outcomes or the 
results achieved. Examples of outputs include the number of people 
trained or the number of seminars conducted. Outcomes represent 
specific results a project is intended to achieve and are 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

[[Page 74420]]

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 
criterion.)
    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 project. 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. Budgets that limit 
administrative costs to approximately 25% of the funding sought from 
ECA will be given priority consideration.
    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 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 16, 2006.

[[Page 74421]]

    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/NEA-AF-06-26, Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, 
Room 534, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
    Along with the Project Title, all applicants must enter the above 
Reference Number in Box 11 on the SF-424 contained in the mandatory 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) of the solicitation document.
    IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of Applications: Executive Order 
12372 does not apply to this program.
    IV.3h. Applicants must also submit the ``Executive Summary'' and 
``Proposal Narrative'' sections of the proposal in 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 grant awards resides with the Bureau's Grants 
Officer.

Review Criteria

    Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed 
according to the criteria stated below. All criteria carry equal weight 
in the proposal evaluation:
    1. Quality of the Program Idea: Proposals should be substantive, 
well thought out, focused on issues of demonstrable relevance to all 
proposed participants, and responsive to the exchange suggestions and 
guidelines provided above.
    2. Implementation Plan and Ability to Achieve Objectives: A 
detailed project implementation plan should establish a clear and 
logical connection between the interest, the expertise, and the 
logistic capacity of the applicant and the objectives to be achieved. 
The plan should discuss in concrete terms how the institution proposes 
to achieve the objectives. Institutional resources--including 
personnel--assigned to the project should be adequate and appropriate 
to achieve project objectives. The substance of workshops and site 
visits should be included as an attachment, and the responsibilities of 
U.S. participants and in-country partners should be clearly delineated.
    3. Institutional Capacity: Proposals should include an 
institutional record of successful exchange programs, with reference to 
responsible fiscal management and full compliance with reporting 
requirements. The Bureau will consider the demonstrated potential of 
new applicants and will evaluate the performance record of prior 
recipients of Bureau grants as reported by the Bureau grant staff.
    4. Post-Grant Activities: Applicants should provide a plan for 
sustained follow-on activity (building on the linkages developed under 
the grant and the activities initially funded by the grant) after grant 
funds have been expended. This will ensure that Bureau-supported 
projects are not isolated events. Funds for all post-grant activities 
must be in the form of contributions from the applicant or sources 
outside the Bureau. Costs for these activities must not appear in the 
proposal budget but should be outlined in the narrative.
    5. Project Evaluation/Monitoring: Proposals should include a 
detailed plan to monitor and evaluate the project. Competitive 
evaluation plans will describe how the applicant organization will 
measure results, defined in both qualitative and quantitative terms and 
will 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.
    6. 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 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.
    7. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate support for 
the Bureau's policy on diversity. Features relevant to this policy 
should be cited in program implementation (selection of participants, 
program venue, and program evaluation), program content, (orientation 
and wrap-up session, program meetings, resource materials

[[Page 74422]]

and follow-up activities), and program administration. 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.

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. Semi-annual program and financial reports, which include a 
description of program activities implemented in the course of the six-
month period and an accounting of expenditures.
    2. A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after 
the expiration date of the award.
    3. 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.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.
    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.
    (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 work days prior to 
the official opening of the activity.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: Thomas Johnston, 
Office of Citizen Exchanges, ECA/PE/C/NEA-AF, Room 216, ECA/PE/C/NEA-
AF-06-26, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20547, Telephone: (202) 453-8162; Fax: (202)453-8168; E-
mail: [email protected]. Correspondence with the Bureau concerning 
this RFGP should reference the above title and number ECA/PE/C/NEA-AF-
06-26.
    Please read the complete Federal Register announcement before 
sending inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has 
passed, Bureau staff may not discuss this competition with applicants 
until the proposal review process has been completed.

VIII. Other Information

    Notice: The terms and conditions published in this RFGP are binding 
and may not be modified by any Bureau representative. Explanatory 
information provided by the Bureau that contradicts published language 
will not be binding. Issuance of the RFGP does not constitute an award 
commitment on the part of the Government. The Bureau reserves the right 
to reduce, revise, or increase proposal budgets in accordance with the 
needs of the program and the availability of funds. Awards made will be 
subject to periodic reporting and evaluation requirements per section 
VI.3 above.

    Dated: December 7, 2005.
Dina Habib Powell,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. E5-7391 Filed 12-14-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P