[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 81 (Thursday, April 27, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24891-24895]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-6359]



[[Page 24891]]

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 5395]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Request for Grant 
Proposals: Professional Development Program for Indian and Pakistani 
Teachers

    Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.00.

    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/S/X-06-09.
    Application Deadline: June 13, 2006.
    Executive Summary: The Fulbright Teacher Exchange Branch in the 
Office of Global Educational Programs of the Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces an open competition for a $500,000 
grant to support the Professional Development Program for Indian and 
Pakistani Teachers. Accredited U.S. post-secondary educational 
institutions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 
501(c)(3) with expertise in teaching English as a Foreign Language 
(EFL) may submit proposals which combine EFL teaching methodology, 
curriculum development, and development of leadership and communication 
skills for up to 30 Indian and Pakistani secondary school teachers. The 
program will begin with a six-week U.S.-based professional development 
program for the Indian and Pakistani educators and conclude with joint 
workshops in India and Pakistan for these teachers. The program should 
expose the educators to U.S. teaching methodologies, including 
educational tools designed to increase students' ability to deal with 
conflict and to cooperate effectively with people of diverse 
backgrounds. The program proposal should demonstrate the applicant's 
understanding of issues that are important in English language 
education in India and Pakistan and the applicant's experience 
developing educational programs and material for EFL teachers. 
Proposals should also demonstrate a sensitivity to challenges of 
educational cooperation between India and Pakistan.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

I.1. 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.

1.2. Program Goals

    1.2a. To strengthen EFL pedagogy and the leadership skills of 
teachers in India and Pakistan by giving secondary school teachers the 
opportunity to share best practices and methodology from their own 
countries with each other and to learn about EFL innovations in the 
United States.
    1.2b. To introduce the teachers to conflict resolution concepts and 
tools for implementation in the classroom.
    1.2c. To strengthen mutual understanding between India, Pakistan, 
and the U.S. by encouraging the teachers to develop meaningful working 
relationships with one another and their U.S. colleagues.

1.3. Planning

    The cooperating institution will be responsible for conducting an 
initial planning visit to India, and, if feasible, Pakistan, to consult 
with representatives from the respective United States Educational 
Foundations (Fulbright Commissions) in India and Pakistan, Ministries 
of Education, and local educators. The cooperating institution should 
also consult with the Department of State's Regional English Language 
Officer (RELO) based at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. RELOs are 
credentialed, experienced foreign service and English as a Foreign 
Language officers based at U.S. embassies who work with host-country 
Ministries of Education, universities and teacher-training officials on 
targeted English language programs. Based on assessments made during 
this planning visit, the cooperating institution will develop a 
recruitment plan, a detailed schedule, and curriculum for the U.S.-
based program.
    The Fulbright Commissions in India and Pakistan will recruit and 
select participants for the program with support from the cooperating 
institution. The cooperating institution will be responsible for 
preparing publicity, recruitment and selection materials, including an 
application form. Special efforts will be made to recruit teachers 
working in non-elite institutions.
    Prior to participants' departure for the United States, the 
Fulbright Commissions in India and Pakistan will conduct pre-departure 
orientations for participants from their respective countries based on 
information provided by the cooperating institution. The orientations 
will provide information about the program, goals, and our expectations 
of participants, as well as address issues about the participants' stay 
in the U.S. The cooperating institution will work closely with both 
Fulbright Commissions to organize the orientations and will develop 
orientation packets for each participant that cover the aforementioned 
material. Packets will be sent to the Fulbright Commissions in advance 
of the scheduled pre-departure orientations. The cooperating 
institution also should develop a Web site on the program for use 
during the pre-departure orientation sessions and during subsequent 
program stages.

1.4. Program Components

    The applicant should design and implement a two-phased program: a 
U.S professional development program for Indian and Pakistani secondary 
school teachers and subsequent workshops in India and Pakistan for 
these program participants.
    (a) Pending the availability of funds, the U.S.-based six-week 
professional development program will begin in Spring 2007. The program 
must comply with J-1 visa regulations. Please refer to the Solicitation 
Package for further information.
    The U.S. program should meet the needs of the Indian and Pakistani 
participants through EFL instruction as well as curriculum and 
professional development programs. The program should update the 
secondary school teachers on best practices in EFL instruction and 
should also present skills for interacting harmoniously with people of 
different backgrounds. EFL methodologies focusing on student-centered 
learning; teaching tolerance, mutual respect, and trust building; 
strengthening of students' problem-solving, cross-cultural 
communication, and leadership skills; and computer literacy for EFL 
instruction should all be included in the program. Time should be 
allotted to activities outside of the classroom such as visits to 
schools, team-teaching with U.S. teachers, and attendance at 
professional meetings. The six-week program should conclude with a 
visit of three days to Washington, DC. This visit should include 
meetings

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with representatives of the Department of State, other government 
agencies, schools, and private-sector educational associations as well 
as trips to local educational and cultural sites.
    (b) The workshops abroad, the second program component, should 
begin approximately six months after the conclusion of the U.S. 
training program. There will be one in India and one in Pakistan. The 
fifteen Pakistani participants will travel to India to join their 
Indian counterparts and help facilitate a workshop for 100 additional 
Indian teachers. Subsequently, the fifteen Indian participants will 
travel to Pakistan for a similar joint workshop for 100 additional 
Pakistani teachers. Each of these workshops should be approximately two 
days in length and at least one month should elapse between them.
    The cooperating institution will coordinate program plans and 
schedules with ECA's Fulbright Teacher Exchange Branch (ECA/A/S/X) as 
well as with the Fulbright Commissions in India and Pakistan and the 
Regional English Language Officer (RELO) based at the U.S. Embassy in 
New Delhi. The Fulbright Teacher Exchange Branch will approve final 
program schedules before program implementation.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2006.
    Approximate Total Funding: $500,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 1.
    Approximate Average Award: $500,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: September 1, 2006.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: March 31, 2008.
    Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of this 
program and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, ECA 
retains the option to renew this grant for two additional years, before 
openly competing it again.

Eligibility Information

III.1. Eligible Applicants
    Applications may be submitted by accredited U.S. post-secondary 
institutions 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
    Bureau grant guidelines require that organizations with less than 
four years experience in conducting international exchanges are limited 
to $60,000 in Bureau funding. ECA anticipates awarding one grant, 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. The Bureau 
encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and 
funding in support of its programs.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    Note: Please read the complete 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 Global Educational Programs, ECA/A/S/
X, Room 349, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20547, tel. (202) 453-8897, fax (202) 453-8890, or e-
mail [email protected] to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer 
to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/S/X 06-09 located at the top of 
this announcement when making your request. Alternatively, an 
electronic application package may be obtained from grants.gov. Please 
see section IV.3f for further information.
    The Solicitation Package contains the Proposal Submission 
Instruction (PSI) document, which consists of required application 
forms, and standard guidelines for proposal preparation.
    It also contains the Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation 
(POGI) document, which provides specific information, award criteria 
and budget instructions tailored to this competition.
    Please specify Program Officer Joan Zaffarano and refer to the 
Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/S/X 06-09 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. or 
from the Grants.gov Web site at http://www.grants.gov. 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 seven copies of the application should be 
sent per the instructions under IV.3f. ``Application Deadline and 
Methods of Submission'' section below.
    IV.3a. You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal 
Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative 
agreement from the U.S. Government. This number is a nine-digit 
identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities. 
Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a 
DUNS number, access http://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-
5711. Please ensure that your DUNS number is included in the 
appropriate box of the SF-424 which is part of the formal application 
package.
    IV.3b. All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal 
narrative and budget.
    Please Refer to the Solicitation Package. It contains the mandatory 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document and the Project 
Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) document for additional 
formatting and technical requirements.
    IV.3c. You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of 
application. If your organization is a private nonprofit which has not 
received a grant or cooperative agreement from ECA in the past three 
years, or if your

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organization received nonprofit status from the IRS within the past 
four years, you must submit the necessary documentation to verify 
nonprofit status as directed in the PSI document. Failure to do so will 
cause your proposal to be declared technically ineligible.
    IV.3d. Please take into consideration the following information 
when preparing your proposal narrative:
    IV.3d.1. Adherence to All Regulations Governing the J Visa. The 
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is placing renewed emphasis 
on the secure and proper administration of Exchange Visitor (J visa) 
Programs and adherence by grantees and sponsors to all regulations 
governing the J visa. Therefore, proposals should demonstrate the 
applicant's capacity to meet all requirements governing the 
administration of the Exchange Visitor Programs as set forth in 22 CFR 
62, including the oversight of Responsible Officers and Alternate 
Responsible Officers, screening and selection of program participants, 
provision of pre-arrival information and orientation to participants, 
monitoring of participants, proper maintenance and security of forms, 
record-keeping, reporting and other requirements. The cooperating 
institution 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.
    Please refer to Solicitation Package for further information.
    IV.3d.2. Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines. Pursuant to 
the Bureau's authorizing legislation, programs must maintain a non-
political character and should be balanced and representative of the 
diversity of American political, social, and cultural life. 
``Diversity'' should be interpreted in the broadest sense and encompass 
differences including, but not limited to ethnicity, race, gender, 
religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, and disabilities. 
Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere to the advancement of this 
principle both in program administration and in program content. Please 
refer to the review criteria under the `Support for Diversity' section 
for specific suggestions on incorporating diversity into your proposal. 
Public Law 104-319 provides that ``in carrying out programs of 
educational and cultural exchange in countries whose people do not 
fully enjoy freedom and democracy,'' the Bureau ``shall take 
appropriate steps to provide opportunities for participation in such 
programs to human rights and democracy leaders of such countries.'' 
Public Law 106-113 requires that the governments of the countries 
described above do not have inappropriate influence in the selection 
process. Proposals should reflect advancement of these goals in their 
program contents, to the full extent deemed feasible.
    IV.3d.3. Program Monitoring and Evaluation. 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 cooperating 
institution 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.)
    Cooperating institutions 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.3d.4. Describe your plans for: sustainability, overall program 
management, staffing, and coordination with ECA/A/S/X, the RELO at the 
U.S. Embassy in New Delhi and the Fulbright Commissions of India and 
Pakistan.
    ECA/A/S/X considers program management, staffing and coordination

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with the Department of State essential elements of the program. Please 
be sure to give sufficient attention to these elements in your proposal 
by providing a staffing plan that outlines the responsibilities of each 
staff person and explains which staff member will be accountable for 
each program responsibility. Wherever possible please streamline 
administrative processes. Please refer to the POGI in the Solicitation 
Package for specific guidelines.
    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. The budget should not exceed $500,000 for program and 
administrative costs. 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.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission: Application 
Deadline Date: June 13, 2006. Reference Number: ECA/A/S/X-06-09.
    IV.3f.1. Applications may be submitted in one of two ways:
    1. In hard-copy, via a nationally recognized overnight delivery 
service (i.e., DHL, Federal Express, UPS, Airborne Express, or U.S. 
Postal Service Express Overnight Mail, etc.), or
    2. Electronically through http://www.grants.gov.
    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.3f.2. Submitting Printed Applications. Applications must be 
shipped no later than the above deadline. 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. ECA will not notify you upon 
receipt of application. 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. 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.


    Important note: When preparing your submission please make sure 
to include one extra copy of the completed SF-424 form and place it 
in an envelope addressed to ``ECA/EX/PM''.


    The original and eight copies of the application should be sent to: 
U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, Ref.: ECA/A/S/X-06-09, Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, Room 
534, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
    Applicants submitting hard-copy applications 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 
Sections at the U.S. embassies for their review.
    IV.3f.2. Submitting Electronic Applications. Applicants have the 
option of submitting proposals electronically through Grants.gov 
(http://www.grants.gov). Complete solicitation packages are available 
at Grants.gov in the ``Find'' portion of the system. Please follow the 
instructions available in the ``Get Started'' portion of the site 
(http://www.grants.gov/GetStarted).
    Applicants have until midnight (12 a.m.) of the closing date to 
ensure that their entire application has been uploaded to the 
grants.gov site. Applications uploaded to the site after midnight of 
the application deadline date will be automatically rejected by the 
grants.gov system, and will be technically ineligible.
    Applicants will receive confirmation e-mail from grants.gov upon 
the successful submission of an application. ECA will not notify you 
upon receipt of electronic applications.
    IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of Applications: Executive Order 
12372 does not apply to this program.

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. The program 
office, as well as the Public Diplomacy section overseas, where 
appropriate will review all eligible proposals. Eligible proposals will 
be subject to compliance with Federal and Bureau regulations and 
guidelines and forwarded to Bureau grant panels for advisory review. 
Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of the Legal Adviser or by 
other Department elements. Final funding decisions are at the 
discretion of the Department of State's Assistant Secretary for 
Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final technical authority for 
assistance awards (cooperative agreements) 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 Development and Management: The proposal narrative 
should exhibit originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the 
Bureau's mission as well as the objectives of the program. The proposal 
should demonstrate substantive expertise in the development of English 
as a Foreign language and conflict resolution programs for educators. 
Proposals should illustrate effective use of community and regional 
resources to enhance the educational and cultural expertise of the 
participants. The program plan should be well conceived. Administrative 
resources should be adequate to support effective project 
administration.
    2. Ability to achieve program objectives: Objectives should be 
reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly 
demonstrate how the institution will meet the program objectives.
    3. 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 (staffing, 
program venue and program evaluation) and program content (orientation 
and workshop sessions, program meetings, resource materials and follow-
up activities).
    4. Institutional Capacity and Record: 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. Proposed personnel and institutional resources should be 
adequate and appropriate to achieve the program's goals.
    5. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate 
the

[[Page 24895]]

project's success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of the 
program. Draft survey questionnaires or other techniques plus 
description of methodologies to use to link outcomes to original 
project objectives are recommended. Successful applicants will be 
expected to submit intermediate reports after the U.S.-based training 
program, and other project components are concluded, or quarterly, 
whichever is less frequent.
    6. Cost-effectiveness and Cost Sharing: The overhead and 
administrative components of the proposal, including salaries and 
honoraria, should be kept as low as possible. All other items should be 
necessary and appropriate. Proposals should maximize cost sharing 
through other private sector support as well as institutional direct 
funding contributions.
    7. Follow-on and Alumni Activities: Proposals should provide a plan 
for continued follow-on activity (both with and without Bureau support) 
ensuring that the Professional Development Program for Indian and 
Pakistani Teachers is not an isolated event.

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 one copy of the 
following reports: Intermediate reports after each project component 
(i.e., U.S.-based program and then workshops in India and Pakistan) or 
quarterly reports, whichever is less frequent and final program and 
financial report no more than 90 days after the expiration of the 
award.
    Cooperating institutions 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.3.d.3) above for Program Monitoring and Evaluation 
information.)
    All data collected, including survey responses and contact 
information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years and 
provided to the Bureau upon request.
    All reports must be sent to the ECA Grants Officer and ECA Program 
Officer listed in the final assistance award document.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact Program Officer Joan 
Zaffarano, Office of Global Educational Programs, Room 349, ECA/A/S/X-
06-09, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20547; telephone (202) 453-8863; fax number (202) 453-
8890, and e-mail: [email protected].
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number ECA/A/S/X-06-09. Please read the 
complete 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: April 21, 2006.
C. Miller Crouch,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs, Department of State.
 [FR Doc. E6-6359 Filed 4-26-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P