[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 41 (Thursday, March 2, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10742-10748]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-2977]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 5334]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Youth Leadership Program: Linking Individuals, 
Knowledge and Culture (LINC)

    Announcement Type: New Grant.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-06-25.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000.
    Key Dates: Application Deadline: April 27, 2006.
    Executive Summary: The Youth Programs Division, Office of Citizen 
Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, announces 
an open competition for LINC projects under the Youth Leadership 
Program. Public and private non-profit organizations meeting the 
provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 
501(c)(3) may submit proposals to implement projects for youth in the 
United States and specified countries around the world. These projects 
will involve an educational and cultural exploration of one of three 
themes and will promote mutual understanding through reciprocal 
exchanges of three- to six-weeks each.

[[Page 10743]]

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose: The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and 
the Public Affairs Sections (PAS) of U.S. missions overseas are 
supporting the participation of youth in intensive, substantive 
exchanges through the LINC (Linking Individuals, Knowledge, and 
Culture) Program. This program is designed to foster mutual 
understanding between youth participants (ages 15-17) from the United 
States and from countries around the world through three to six week 
reciprocal exchange projects that enhance the participants' knowledge 
of their host country's history, culture, and system of government. 
Through these people-to-people exchanges, the Bureau seeks to break 
down stereotypes that divide peoples, promote good governance, 
contribute to conflict prevention and management, and build respect for 
cultural expression and identity in a world that is experiencing rapid 
globalization.
    The overarching goals of the LINC Program are:
    (1) To develop a sense of civic responsibility and commitment to 
community development among youth;
    (2) To foster relationships among youth from different ethnic, 
religious, and national groups;
    (3) To engage youth in building bridges of understanding and 
respect between the people of the United States and the people of other 
countries; and
    (4) To develop a cadre of alumni with the skills and knowledge to 
transform their communities and countries.
    Projects will also be designed to foster dialogue and joint 
activities around one of three themes: (1) Responsible Governance and 
Citizen Activism in Civil Society; (2) Using Arts and Culture for 
Inter-community Leadership Dialogue; and (3) Science and Technology. 
Proposals that target themes not listed below will be deemed 
technically ineligible. ECA will accept proposals for either multiple-
country or single-country projects.
    Applicants should present a rationale for a multiple-country 
application, and describe how participants from the various countries 
will interact with one another. In general ECA will be looking to fund 
a geographically and thematically diverse group of projects, but makes 
no guarantee that grants will be awarded for specific countries or in 
all themes.
    The Department requests proposals only with the partner countries 
identified in the list below. Since the exchanges under this program 
are reciprocal, programs for these countries will be subject to U.S. 
Department of State travel advisories.
    Sub-Saharan Africa: Mozambique, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, 
Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon
    East Asia and Pacific: China, Malaysia, Thailand
    North Africa and Middle East: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, 
Oman, Tunisia, West Bank/Gaza
    South Asia: Bangladesh, India
    Each theme has specific aims, as outlined below. Applicants should 
identify their own specific objectives and measurable outcomes based on 
these program goals and the project specifications provided in this 
solicitation. Participants will be engaged in a variety of activities 
such as workshops, community and/or school-based programs, cultural 
activities, seminars and other activities designed to achieve the 
projects' stated goals and objectives. Opportunities for participants 
to interact with American youth and adult educators will be included as 
much as possible.
    Grants will support the travel of foreign students to the United 
States and Americans to the overseas partner countries. The minimum 
duration of stay is three weeks, but longer stays (up to six weeks) are 
possible under these grants. During the exchanges, the students will 
participate in activities designed to teach them about community life, 
citizen participation, and the culture of the host country in addition 
to the thematic program activities. The program will introduce the 
visitors to the community--its leaders and institutions and the ways 
citizens participate in local government and the resolution of societal 
problems--and will include educational excursions that serve to enhance 
the visitors' understanding of the history, culture, political 
institutions, ethnic diversity, and environment of the region. ECA 
requires participation in a community service project. Participants 
should also have opportunities to give presentations on their countries 
and cultures in community forums. After the exchanges, well-organized 
follow-on activities for alumni are an essential program component. 
Homestays will be the norm, although participants may spend a modest 
portion of their time as a group in a hotel or dormitory setting. Note: 
Delegations should have adults travel with them. These adults may be 
project staff, teachers, or chaperones. All should be considered 
exchange participants for program planning and budgetary purposes.
    Applicants must demonstrate their capacity for conducting projects 
of this nature, focusing on three areas of competency: (1) Provision of 
programs aimed at achieving the goals and themes outlined in this 
document; (2) age-appropriate programming for the target audience; and 
(3) experience in working with the proposed partner country or 
countries. U.S. applicant organizations need to have the necessary 
capacity in the partner country, with either its own offices or a 
partner institution. The requisite capacity of both the U.S. 
organization and its overseas partner includes the ability to recruit 
and select participants, organize substantive exchange activities, 
provide follow-on activities, and handle the logistical and financial 
arrangements.
    For the purposes of this solicitation, reciprocity means a two-way 
exchange: A delegation traveling from the partner country (or 
countries) to the United States and a delegation traveling from the 
United States to the partner country (or countries). The delegations do 
not have to be exactly equal in size or in their duration of stay (as 
long as the stay is between three and six weeks), though significant 
deviations from full reciprocity must be justified. Of key importance 
is the reciprocity of the learning experience for the American and 
foreign participants. Applicants are instructed to treat the exchange 
and follow-on activities in each country with equal importance, with 
active learning on both sides, and challenging, interesting, goal-
oriented educational activities for both delegations.
    Themes: Applicants should select one of these three themes for its 
program offering and clearly indicate how program activities will 
support the theme as described below. They are not in any order of 
priority. Woven throughout the program activities should be guidance 
and training that help the youth participants develop leadership skills 
including, for example, influential public speaking, team-building, 
critical thinking, and goal-setting, so that they are prepared to take 
action with what they have learned.
    The program delivery should be primarily interactive activities, 
practical experiences, and other hands-on opportunities to learn about 
the fundamentals of a civil society, community service, tolerance and 
respect for diversity, and building leadership skills. The activities 
could include a mix of workshops, simulations and role-playing, team-
building exercises, a volunteer service project, leadership training 
exercises, meetings, classroom visits, site visits, training, and 
social time among peers. Many of these should be planned in conjunction 
with participation in school and community activities in a way that

[[Page 10744]]

is mutually educational for the exchange participants and their 
American hosts/peers. All programming should include American 
participants wherever possible. Cultural and recreational activities 
will balance the schedule.
    Programs may consist of components that are part of an already 
existing activity, such as participation of exchange participants in a 
pre-established camp or workshop. If this is proposed, however, it 
needs to fulfill all of the stated objectives or do so in conjunction 
with other activities scheduled just for these delegations.

(1) Responsible Governance and Citizen Activism in Civil Society

    ECA welcomes projects that provide an intensive experience in 
educating participants on the rights and responsibilities of a citizen 
in a civil society. Activities will provide participants with a 
theoretical review of civic education that is then followed up with 
practical, hands-on experiences to apply lessons learned to real-life 
situations. Project activities may include case studies, training in 
project planning, reviewing how to identify community issues and 
exploring ways that they can be addressed through public policy and 
through citizen action.
    Projects should demonstrate for youth the principles of fair and 
transparent governance responsive to its citizenry and should promote 
dialogue among youth on this theme. Projects must be culturally 
sensitive and address specific needs of the partner country or 
countries. Individual projects might have the young participants 
explore ways that a country's government, academic institutions, media, 
and non-governmental organizations can encourage and support the 
involvement of its citizenry, increase citizen trust, and expand the 
democratic process.
    All activities should relate to demonstrating citizen participation 
in governance and in addressing societal concerns, such as rule of law, 
ecological awareness, small business entrepreneurship, and tolerance. 
Participants should have a chance to see leaders in action.

(2) Using Arts and Culture for Inter-community Leadership Dialogue

    The nature and quality of relationships between communities are 
critical determinants of sustainable democratic and civil societies 
throughout the world. Moving from relationships based on mistrust to 
those rooted in mutual recognition and trust is a key factor in 
bridging social differences, strengthening communication, and 
mitigating conflict. The arts and humanities have always served as an 
effective venue through which the quality of relationships can be 
better understood and improved by facilitating and increasing 
interactions between communities in numerous situations and settings--
communal, economic, personal, political, and social.
    Projects for this theme should provide artistic and cultural 
forums, rooted in the humanities, for youth to communicate and work 
with one another, as well as explore what makes the arts unique in each 
of the project's participating countries. Teenagers representing 
diverse communities will participate in arts and humanities programs, 
through both in-school and out-of-school enrichment projects, designed 
to bridge cultural and social differences, to foster creative 
interaction among youth, and to develop skills necessary for personal, 
academic and future professional leadership in their communities. 
Examples of projects must be collaborative in nature and may include 
dance, music, theater, and visual art projects that creatively bring 
participants of diverse backgrounds together in the goal of fostering 
mutual understanding, developing leadership skills, and modeling 
positive behavior for their peers through the arts. In the process, 
participants will have the chance to share experiences and views while 
acquiring listening, communication, and negotiation skills that allow 
them to explore differences and commonalities, build trust, address 
divisive issues, develop empathy and understanding for one another, and 
create long-term bonds.
    In addition to creative arts and humanities collaborative 
activities, the program will include meetings with community members 
and government officials. Topics such as the essential attributes of 
leadership, teambuilding, and effective communication and problem-
solving skills should be interlinked with other activities.
    Proposals must demonstrate strong expertise in the target country 
and local community(ies) to address effectively the sensitive and 
competing interests of target populations. Applicants should 
demonstrate their knowledge of the diversity of the community and 
explain how the population is in need of and will benefit from this 
program promoting inter-community dialogue. Proposals to send or 
receive touring performance groups (bands, choirs, drama troupes, etc.) 
are not eligible for this competition.

(3) Science and Technology

    Projects on the theme of science and technology will promote 
international cooperation in the areas of scientific research while 
introducing exchange participants to their peers in other countries. 
This theme encompasses science, technology, engineering, and 
mathematics, and specifically includes the conduct of science, that is, 
the development of critical inquiry skills, innovation, scientific 
method, and experimentation.
    Participants should be advanced students with a demonstrated 
interest in science and technology and a desire to pursue a career in 
an associated field. The exchange activities will enable them to 
explore these fields in depth and to develop their skills of scientific 
investigation, including critical thinking, problem solving, and 
complex communication.
    In addition to encouraging individual development, program 
activities will also involve participants in discussions on the role of 
science and technology in promoting democratic values, economic and 
social development, and the education necessary to provide adequate 
workforce development.
    Activities may include participation in science competitions and 
fairs, as well as visits to museums and meetings with representatives 
of the scientific community. Applicants may wish to include e-learning 
components in their proposed projects.
    Guidelines: Grant periods should begin on or about August 15, 2006. 
The grant period may be between 12 and 18 months in duration.
    The program responsibilities of the grant recipient for each 
project include recruitment and selection of exchange participants, 
preparation for the exchanges, the program activities during the 
exchanges, and follow-on activities after the exchanges. These 
responsibilities are detailed in the Project Objectives, Goals, and 
Implementation (POGI) document.
    Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations. Please refer to the 
Solicitation Package for further information.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Grant Agreement.
    Fiscal Year Funds: 2006.
    Approximate Total Funding: $900,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 4 to 8.
    Floor of Award Range: $50,000.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $250,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: August 15, 2006.

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    Anticipated Project Completion Date: 12-18 months after start date, 
to be specified by applicant based on project plan.
    Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of the 
projects and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, ECA 
reserves the right to renew grants for up to two additional fiscal 
years before openly competing grants under this program again.

III. Eligibility Information

    III.1. Eligible applicants: Applications may be submitted by public 
and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described 
in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3).
    III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds: There is no minimum or 
maximum percentage required for this competition. However, the Bureau 
encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and 
funding in support of its programs.
    When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the 
applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its 
proposal and later included in an approved grant agreement. Cost 
sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For 
accountability, you must maintain written records to support all costs 
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: Grants awarded to eligible 
organizations with less than four years of experience in conducting 
international exchange programs will be limited to $60,000.

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 Youth Programs Division, ECA/PE/C/PY, U.S. Department of 
State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Room 568, Washington, DC 20547, 
(202) 453-8148, Fax (202) 203-7529, E-mail: [email protected] to 
request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to the Program Title and 
the Funding Opportunity Number (ECA/PE/C/PY-05-25) located at the top 
of this announcement when making your request.
    The Solicitation Package contains the Project Objectives, Goals and 
Implementation (POGI) document and Proposal Submission Instruction 
(PSI) document, which consists of required application forms, and 
standard guidelines for proposal preparation.
    Please specify Bureau Program Officer David Shubair and refer to 
the Funding Opportunity Number 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 website at 
http://exchanges.state.gov/education/rfgps/menu.htm. Please read all 
information before downloading.
    IV.3. Content and Form of Submission: Applicants must follow all 
instructions in the Solicitation Package. The original and eight copies 
of the application should be sent per the instructions under IV.3e. 
``Submission Dates and Times section'' below.
    IV.3a. You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal 
Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative 
agreement from the U.S. Government. This number is a nine-digit 
identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities. 
Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a 
DUNS number, access http://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-
5711. Please ensure that your DUNS number is included in the 
appropriate box of the SF-424 form that is part of the formal 
application package.
    IV.3b. All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal 
narrative and budget.
    Please Refer to the Solicitation Package. It contains the mandatory 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document and the Project 
Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) document for additional 
formatting and technical requirements.
    IV.3c. You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of 
application. If your organization is a private nonprofit which has not 
received a grant or cooperative agreement from ECA in the past three 
years, or if your organization received nonprofit status from the IRS 
within the past four years, you must submit the necessary documentation 
to verify nonprofit status as directed in the PSI document. Failure to 
do so will cause your proposal to be declared technically ineligible.
    IV.3d. Please take into consideration the following information 
when preparing your proposal narrative:
    IV.3d.1 Adherence To All Regulations Governing The J Visa. The 
Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs is the official program sponsor of the exchange program covered 
by this RFGP, and an employee of the Bureau will be the ``Responsible 
Officer'' for the program under the terms of 22 CFR part 62, which 
covers the administration of the Exchange Visitor Program (J visa 
program). Under the terms of 22 CFR part 62, organizations receiving 
grants under this RFGP will be third parties ``cooperating with or 
assisting the sponsor in the conduct of the sponsor's program.'' The 
actions of grantee program organizations shall be ``imputed to the 
sponsor in evaluating the sponsor's compliance with'' 22 CFR part 62. 
Therefore, the Bureau expects that any organization receiving a grant 
under this competition will render all assistance necessary to enable 
the Bureau to fully comply with 22 CFR part 62 et seq.
    The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs places great 
emphasis on the secure and proper administration of Exchange Visitor (J 
visa) Programs and adherence by grantee program organizations and 
program participants to all regulations governing the J visa program 
status. Therefore, proposals should explicitly state in writing that 
the applicant is prepared to assist the Bureau in meeting all 
requirements governing the administration of Exchange Visitor Programs 
as set forth in 22 CFR part 62. If your organization has experience as 
a designated Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor, the applicant should 
discuss their record of compliance with 22 CFR 62 et seq., including 
the oversight of their Responsible Officers and Alternate Responsible 
Officers, screening and selection of program participants, provision of 
pre-arrival information and orientation to participants, monitoring of 
participants, proper maintenance and security of forms, record-keeping, 
reporting and other requirements.
    The Office of Citizen Exchanges of ECA will be responsible for 
issuing DS-2019 forms to participants in this program.
    A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of

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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, 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. Budget Guidelines. Please take the following information 
into consideration when preparing your budget:
    IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the 
entire program. Grant requests must not be less than $50,000 nor 
greater than $250,000. There are no specific country allocations. The 
Bureau anticipates awarding multiple grants; the exact number of grants 
will be based on the number, quality, and regional diversity of the 
submitted proposals. 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. Proposal budgets must include 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.
    Please refer to the Solicitation Package (both the POGI and the 
PSI) for complete budget guidelines and formatting instructions.
    IV.3f. Submission Dates and Times: Application Deadline Date: 
Thursday, April 27, 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

[[Page 10747]]

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, one fully-tabbed copy, and seven copies of the 
application with Tabs A-E (for a total of 9 copies, bound with large 
binder clips and a title page with your organization name clearly 
marked) should be sent to: U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs, Ref.: ECA/PE/C/PY-06-25, 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.
    Applicants must also submit the executive summary, proposal 
narrative, budget section, and any important appendices as e-mail 
attachments in Microsoft Word and Excel to the following e-mail 
address: [email protected]. In the e-mail message subject line, 
include the name of the applicant organization and the partner 
country(ies). The Bureau will transmit these files electronically to 
the Public Affairs Sections of the relevant U.S. embassies for 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

    The proposal review criteria are outlined in the accompanying 
Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI) document.

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 websites for additional information: 
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants. http://exchanges.state.gov /
education/grantsdiv/terms .htm#articleI.
    VI.3. Reporting Requirements: You must provide ECA with a hard copy 
original plus one copy of the following reports:
    (1) A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after 
the expiration of the award;
    (2) Interim reports, as required in the Bureau grant agreement.
    Grantees will be required to provide reports analyzing their 
evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program reports. 
(Please refer to IV. Application and Submission Instructions (IV.3.d.3) 
above for Program Monitoring and Evaluation information.
    All data collected, including survey responses and contact 
information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years and 
provided to the Bureau upon request.
    All reports must be sent to the ECA Grants Officer and ECA Program 
Officer listed in the final assistance award document.
    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. The ECA Program Officer must receive final schedules for in-
country and U.S. activities at least three working days prior to the 
official opening of the activity.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: David Shubair, 
Program Officer, Youth Programs Division, ECA/PE/C/PY, Room 220, U.S. 
Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 
20547, (202) 453-8148, fax (202) 203-7529, e-mail: [email protected].

[[Page 10748]]

    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number ECA/PE/C/PY-06-25.
    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: February 24, 2006.
C. Miller Crouch,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs, Department of State.
 [FR Doc. E6-2977 Filed 3-1-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05[dash]P