[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 210 (Tuesday, October 31, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63821-63828]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-18280]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 5597]


Intensive Summer Language Institutes

    Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/E-07-01.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000.

    Key Dates:
    Application Deadline: January 5, 2007.
    Executive Summary: The Office of Academic Exchange Programs of the 
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open 
competition for projects to provide foreign language instruction 
overseas for American undergraduate and graduate students in the summer 
of 2007 in support of the National Security Language Initiative (NSLI). 
Public and private non-profit organizations, or consortia of such 
organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code 
section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3), may submit proposals to implement six-to 
ten-week summer institutes overseas for a minimum total of 365 
participants in countries where Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Russian and 
the Indic, Persian, and Turkic language families are widely spoken. 
These summer institutes should offer U.S. undergraduate and graduate 
students structured classroom instruction and less formal interactive 
learning opportunities through a comprehensive exchange experience that 
primarily emphasizes language learning. Proposals from applicant 
organizations should clearly indicate the building of new, additional 
institutional language-teaching capacity overseas for these summer 
institutes--this program is designed to develop additional language 
study opportunities for U.S. students.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

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

    Purpose: The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) is 
supporting the participation of American undergraduate and graduate 
students in intensive, substantive foreign language study to further 
strengthen national security and prosperity in the 21st century as part 
of the National Security Language Initiative (NSLI), launched by 
President Bush in January 2006.
    Foreign language skills are essential to engaging foreign 
governments and peoples, especially in critical world regions, to 
promote understanding and convey respect for other cultures. These 
skills are essential to Americans who will support the nation's foreign 
affairs priorities, its economic competitiveness, and its educational 
institutions as they prepare future citizens for full engagement in the 
global environment. The broad NSLI initiative focuses resources on 
improving language learning for U.S. citizens across the educational 
spectrum and emphasizes the need to achieve mastery of critical 
languages; this activity focuses on the college and university section.
    The goals of the Intensive Summer Language Institutes are:
     To develop a cadre of Americans with advanced linguistic 
skills and related cultural understanding who are able to advance 
international dialogue, promote the security of the United States, 
compete effectively in the global economy, and better serve the needs 
of students and academic institutions; and
     To improve the ability of Americans to engage with the 
people of other countries through the shared language of the partner 
country.
    In order to achieve these goals, the Bureau supports programs for 
American undergraduate and graduate students to gain and improve 
language proficiency in Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Russian and the Indic, 
Persian, and Turkic language families. ECA plans to award a single 
grant for the recruitment and administration of all Intensive Summer 
Language Institutes in all world regions. Organizations with expertise 
in one or more of the indicated languages are encouraged to seek 
partners in the other languages to submit a single proposal. Consortia 
must designate a lead institution to receive the grant award. Applicant 
organizations may submit grant proposals requesting funds not exceeding 
$6,000,000 to implement these overseas language institutes between June 
and August 2007.
    Through these institutes, undergraduate and graduate students from 
the United States will spend six to ten weeks on a program abroad in 
the summer of 2007. Since there is an emphasis on substantial progress 
in foreign language advancement, applicant organizations need to 
concentrate most efforts on language programs and explain clearly the 
utility and advantages of proposing programs closer to six weeks. The 
institutes will provide intensive language instruction in a classroom 
setting, and should also provide language-learning opportunities 
through immersion in the cultural,

[[Page 63822]]

social, and educational life of the partner country. The exchange 
program should enhance the participants' knowledge of the host 
country's history, culture, and political system as these support 
language learning. Language study must be the primary focus of the 
program.

Expected Program Results

     Participants will demonstrate a substantive, measurable 
increase in language proficiency (verified through testing).
     Alumni will continue their foreign language study, apply 
their linguistic skills in their chosen career fields, and/or 
participate in other exchanges to the participating countries.
     Participants will demonstrate a deeper understanding of 
the host country's society, institutions, and culture.
    Capacity of Administering Organization: U.S. applicant 
organizations or consortia must have the necessary capacity in the 
partner country or countries to implement the program through either 
their own offices or partner institutions. Organizations may 
demonstrate their organization's direct expertise, or they may partner 
with other organizations to best respond to the requirements outlined 
in the RFGP. Organizations that opt to work in sub-grant arrangements 
should clearly outline all duties and responsibilities of the partner 
organization, ideally in the form of sub-grant agreements and 
accompanying budgets.
    Organizations or consortia applying for this grant must demonstrate 
their (or their partners') capacity for conducting projects of this 
nature, focusing on three areas of competency: (1) Provision of related 
foreign language instruction programs and provision of educational and 
cultural exchange activities as outlined in this document; (2) language 
level-appropriate programming for the target audience; and (3) 
experience in conducting programs in the proposed partner country or 
countries. Applicant organizations must present a proposal that clearly 
indicates the building of new and increased institutional language 
study capacity overseas for these summer institutes.
    Institute Information: Each six- to ten-week overseas summer 
institute for undergraduate and graduate students should focus on 
language study and should include 4 to 6 hours per day of formal and 
informal language training. The cooperating agency should provide 
multiple levels of language instruction. While teaching conversational 
vocabulary will be necessary to help students cope with their immersion 
setting, classes should also provide formal instruction in grammar, 
vocabulary, and pronunciation, and will cover speaking, listening, 
reading, and writing, including new alphabets.
    The institutes should also include a secondary cultural immersion 
component designed to reinforce language learning with planned 
excursions, which give the students the opportunity to participate in 
activities designed to teach them about community life and the culture 
and history of the host country. The program activities will introduce 
the students to the community as feasible and appropriate and will 
include educational excursions that serve to enhance the visitors' 
understanding of contemporary society, culture, media, political 
institutions, ethnic diversity, history, and environment of the region.
    Staff should be physically present and available to support the 
participants during the course of the institute.
    The Bureau reserves the right to make changes in eligible countries 
for programming based on safety and security concerns.
    Country and Language Information: For Arabic language institutes: 
Applicant organizations should present plans for not less than 150 
participants in the Arabic language institutes. Arabic language 
instruction should be available for three levels of students: 
elementary, intermediate, and advanced. Approximately 100 of the 
participants should receive instruction at the intermediate/advanced 
levels while the rest should receive elementary level instruction. The 
proposed institute should make explicit accommodation for learners of 
varying skill levels.
    Classroom instruction should emphasize Modern Standard Arabic with 
class time devoted also to colloquial Arabic, as appropriate. Students 
should also gain knowledge of colloquial Arabic through informal study 
and through interaction with their host community.
    Some previous study of the language--at least equivalent to a 
university semester--is required for participants in the elementary 
Arabic institutes. Participants in the intermediate/advanced Arabic 
institutes will have already studied the language formally for at least 
2 years by the start of the summer program. The institute should devise 
a plan to test all students prior to placement to determine the 
appropriate level of instruction.
    Applicant organizations should plan to send students to a country 
in North Africa, the Middle East, or the Gulf region, with the 
exception of Algeria, Iraq, Israel, Libya, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and 
West Bank/Gaza. Applicant organizations must include venues in Egypt, 
Jordan, and Morocco.
    For Chinese language institutes: Applicant organizations should 
present plans for not less than 40 participants in the Chinese language 
institutes. Chinese language instruction should be available for two 
levels of students: intermediate and advanced. The proposed institute 
should make explicit accommodation for learners of varying skill 
levels.
    Students should study Mandarin in class and through informal study 
and interaction with their host community. Teaching materials used in 
the program should be available in both simplified and traditional 
character versions. The Hanyu pinyin romanization system should be 
used.
    Participants in the intermediate/advanced Chinese institutes will 
have already studied the language formally for at least 2 years by the 
start of the summer program. The institute should devise a plan to test 
all students prior to placement to determine what level of instruction 
should be received.
    Applicant organizations should plan to send students to the 
People's Republic of China (mainland China) for study.
    For Indic language institutes: Applicant organizations should 
present plans for not less than 72 participants in the Indic language 
institutes. For these language institutes, not less than 18 students 
must learn Bengali/Bangla, not less than 18 must learn Hindi, not less 
than 18 must learn Punjabi, and not less than 18 must learn Urdu. 
Instruction should be available for each of these Indic languages. All 
Indic language instruction should be available for three levels of 
students: elementary, intermediate, and advanced. Overall, 40 of the 
participants should receive instruction at the intermediate/advanced 
level while the rest should receive elementary level instruction. The 
proposed institute should make explicit accommodation for learners of 
varying skill levels.
    Students should learn Indic languages in class and through informal 
study and interaction with their host community.
    Some previous study of the language--at least equivalent to a 
university semester--is required for participants in the elementary 
Indic institutes. Participants in the intermediate/advanced Indic 
institutes will have already studied the relevant language formally for 
at least 2 years by the start of the summer program. The institute 
should devise a plan to test all students prior to placement to 
determine what level of instruction should be received.

[[Page 63823]]

    Applicant organizations should plan to send students to Bangladesh 
and/or India. The Bureau will consider proposals for Pakistan, but 
reserves the right to alter eligible countries based on safety and 
security concerns. Applicants proposing Pakistan should propose an 
alternate site should conditions not permit placement of students in 
Pakistan.
    For Korean language institutes: Applicant organizations should 
present plans for not less than 25 participants in the Korean language 
institutes. Korean language instruction should be available for three 
levels of students: elementary, intermediate, and advanced. Ten of the 
participants should receive instruction at the intermediate/advanced 
level while the rest should receive elementary level instruction. The 
proposed institute should make explicit accommodation for learners of 
varying skill levels.
    Students should learn Korean in class and through informal study 
and interaction with their host community. The Hangeul alphabet system 
should be used. Students should also be introduced to NAKL.
    Some previous study of the language--at least equivalent to a 
university semester--is required for participants in the elementary 
Korean institutes. Participants in the intermediate/advanced Korean 
institutes will have already studied the language formally for at least 
two years by the start of the summer program. The institute should 
devise a plan to test all students prior to placement to determine what 
level of instruction should be received.
    Applicant organizations should plan to send students to South 
Korea.
    For Persian language institutes: Applicant organizations should 
present plans for not less than 15 participants in the Persian language 
institutes. Farsi language instruction should be available for three 
levels of students: beginning or introductory, intermediate, and 
advanced. Seven of the participants should receive instruction at the 
intermediate/advanced level while the rest should receive beginning or 
introductory level instruction. The proposed institute should make 
explicit accommodation for learners of varying skill levels.
    Students should learn Farsi in class and through informal study and 
interaction with their host community.
    No prior study of the language is required for participants in the 
beginning or introductory Farsi institutes. Participants in the 
intermediate/advanced Farsi institutes will have already studied the 
language formally for at least two years by the start of the summer 
program. The institute should devise a plan to test all students prior 
to placement to determine what level of instruction should be received.
    Applicant organizations should plan to send students to Tajikistan 
for study of Farsi.
    For Russian language institutes: Applicant organizations should 
present plans for not less than 30 participants in the Russian language 
institutes. Russian language instruction should be available for two 
levels of students: intermediate and advanced. The proposed institute 
should make explicit accommodation for learners of varying skill 
levels.
    Students should learn Russian in class and through informal study 
and interaction with their host community.
    Participants in the intermediate/advanced Russian institutes will 
have already studied the language formally for at least two years by 
the start of the summer program. The institute should devise a plan to 
test all students prior to placement to determine what level of 
instruction should be received.
    Applicant organizations should plan to send students to Russia. 
Location of the institute(s) should be outside of Moscow and St. 
Petersburg in order to maximize language-learning opportunities.
    For Turkic language institutes: Applicant organizations should 
present plans for not less than 35 participants in the Turkic language 
institutes. Turkish language instruction should be available for three 
levels of students: beginning or introductory, intermediate, and 
advanced. Fifteen of the participants should receive instruction at the 
intermediate/advanced level while the rest should receive beginning or 
introductory level instruction. The proposed institute should make 
explicit accommodation for learners of varying skill levels.
    Students should learn Turkish in class and through informal study 
and interaction with their host community.
    No prior study of the language is required for participants in the 
beginning or introductory Turkish institutes. Participants in the 
intermediate/advanced Turkish institutes will have already studied the 
language formally for at least two years by the start of the summer 
program. The institute should devise a plan to test intermediate/
advanced students prior to placement to determine what level of 
instruction should be received.
    Applicant organizations should plan to send students to Turkey. 
Location of the institute(s) should be outside of Istanbul in order to 
maximize language-learning opportunities.
    Participant Recruitment and Selection: The cooperating agency will 
recruit, screen, and select U.S. citizen undergraduate and graduate 
students for the program. Selected participants should show strong 
evidence of ability to succeed in an intensive, demanding language 
study program and should represent the diversity of the United States. 
Diversity addresses differences of religion, ethnicity, socio-economic 
status, and physical abilities. Selected students should also represent 
diversity of geography, institutional type, and fields of study, a 
balance between genders, and a balance between undergraduate and 
graduate students. Preference should be given to candidates with no 
previous study overseas. Students should have completed at least their 
first year of undergraduate study by the summer of 2007. Selected 
students should demonstrate an intention of continuing their language 
study beyond the scholarship period and applying their critical 
language skills later in their professional careers. The students' 
language skills at the start of the institute should meet the 
requirements for each language outlined above.
    The Bureau should be consulted regarding the selection of 
candidates and will approve the selection of finalists and alternates 
for the program.
    Information about the program, along with all accompanying 
application materials, should be posted online. Applicant organizations 
should propose a comprehensive outreach plan under Tab E to publicize 
and recruit for the program at U.S. colleges and universities 
nationwide.
    The Bureau requests that student applicants apply to the program 
through an online application system. An alternate paper-based 
application should also be provided for those candidates unable to 
apply online. These paper-based applications, however, must be entered 
into the online system by grantee organization program staff. All 
application materials should be available in a sortable, searchable, 
electronically accessible database format that can be easily shared 
with the Bureau upon request.
    Orientations: The grantee organization will organize a substantive, 
in-person, pre-departure orientation for all students. Working in 
consultation with ECA, the orientation should include a security 
briefing on the host country. The grantee organization may also need to 
work in consultation with ECA and the U.S. Embassy in the host country 
to arrange an in-country security briefing to be held by the Embassy's 
Regional Security Officer. The orientations

[[Page 63824]]

should take place in Washington, DC. The applicant organization should 
provide a compelling justification if they propose to host these 
orientations in any other location. Comprehensive information packets 
should be provided to all orientation participants. A sample of the 
contents of these packets should be provided under Tab E.
    At the end of the language study exchange, the cooperating agency 
will organize an in-country closing workshop for the students prior to 
departure from their host country, which will focus on summarizing the 
experience, completing an evaluation, language testing, developing 
plans for activities at home, and preparing for re-entry.
    Project Activities: Describe in sufficient detail the major 
components of the program, including project planning; publicity and 
recruitment, including responding to and management of a significant 
volume of queries and applications; the host venues; selection; 
orientations (U.S. and overseas); assessment and testing; language 
instruction; educational enrichment activities; cultural activities; 
participant monitoring; and logistics.
    Assessment and Testing: Standardized pre- and post-institute 
testing should be done to determine participants' language proficiency 
and progress.
    Pre- and post-testing should measure the student's advancement in 
language learning. The Bureau will work with the cooperating agency to 
develop and implement an instrument to measure students' increased 
language proficiency due to participation in this program. The data 
need to be analyzed and reported by the cooperating agency to ECA for 
the program, disaggregated by institute.
    Alumni Tracking and Follow-On Activities: Alumni activities are an 
important part of ECA's academic exchange programs. Alumni programming 
in the form of newsletters and listservs provides critical program 
follow-on and maximizes and extends the benefit of the participants' 
program. The cooperating agency is strongly urged to outline how it 
will creatively organize and financially support alumni activities at a 
minimal cost to ECA.
    Publicity: The proposal must describe how these intensive summer 
language institutes will be publicized to media outlets, including 
print, online, and broadcast to reach the widest possible audience of 
qualified students. The cooperating agency will also work closely with 
ECA to publicize the successes of the students involved in these 
institutes, as well as the National Security Language Initiative as a 
whole. The applicant organization should provide information on 
successful media outreach campaigns it has conducted in the past under 
Tab E.
    In a cooperative agreement, ECA/A/E is substantially involved in 
program activities above and beyond routine grant monitoring. ECA/A/E 
activities and responsibilities for this program are as follows:
    (1) Review all print and online materials (including, but not 
limited to, those for recruitment and orientation) regarding the 
institutes before publication and dissemination. Review does not 
include instructional materials, though the Bureau does reserve the 
right to request these materials as needed.
    (2) Work with the cooperating agency on a recruitment strategy.
    (3) Work with the cooperating agency to publicize the program, and 
the National Security Language Initiative (NSLI) as a whole, through 
various media outlets.
    (4) Review and approve application forms.
    (5) Participate in selection committees.
    (6) Confirm final selection of principal and alternate candidates.
    (7) Work with cooperating agency to implement participant 
orientations.
    (8) Work with cooperating agency to offer standardized pre- and 
post-institute testing of participants' language proficiency and 
progress.
    (9) Review project activity schedules for all institutes.
    (10) Be kept informed by the cooperating agency of its progress at 
each stage of the project's implementation through timely updates.
    (11) Provide Bureau-approved evaluation surveys for completion by 
participants after completion of program.
    (12) Provide substantive input on alumni activities and follow-up 
events.

    Note: All materials, publicity, and correspondence related to 
the program must acknowledge this as a program of the Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State. 
The Bureau will retain copyright use of and distribute materials 
related to this program as it sees fit.

    Funding: Grant funding will support costs including recruitment and 
selection of participants, testing, orientation, travel, tuition and 
maintenance costs, educational enhancements, cultural and social 
activities, alumni activities, and administrative costs.
    Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations. Please refer to the 
Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI) document and the 
Proposal Submission Instructions for further information.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. ECA's level of involvement in 
this program is listed under number I above.
    Fiscal Year Funds: 2007.
    Approximate Total Funding: $6,000,000, pending availability of 
funds.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 1.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $6,000,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, the proposed 
start date is February 15, 2007.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: Approximately 14 to 18 months 
after the start date, depending on the proposed program plan.
    Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of this 
program and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, ECA 
reserves the right to renew the grant for two additional fiscal years.

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: Bureau grant guidelines 
require that organizations with less than four years experience in 
conducting international exchanges be limited to $60,000 in

[[Page 63825]]

Bureau funding. ECA anticipates awarding a single grant not exceeding 
$6,000,000 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 urges 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 Academic Exchange Programs (ECA/A/E), 
Room 234, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20547, Telephone (202) 453-8135, Fax (202) 453-8125, E-
mail: [email protected] to request a Solicitation Package. Please 
refer to the Funding Opportunity Number (ECA/A/E-07-01) 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 Bureau Special Projects Officer Heidi Manley 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 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 application should be 
submitted 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 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.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: Ideally programs use 
logic models, a system that is designed to link a program's overall 
goals and objectives to inputs, outputs and outcomes. Inputs are 
resources, such as time money, materials, supplies and personnel, which 
are consumed to produce outputs and outcomes. Outputs are the immediate 
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. Expected 
program outcomes, as they relate to the program goals set out in the 
RFGP, include:
    (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 
school or community; greater participation and responsibility in civic 
organizations; interpretation and explanation of experiences and new 
knowledge gained; continued contacts between participants and host 
families, and others.
    Successful monitoring and evaluation depend heavily on setting 
clear program objectives, outcomes, and outputs at the outset of a 
program. A draft monitoring and evaluation plan should include the 
following components:
    (1) A description of the program's goals and objectives and 
anticipated outputs and outcomes.
    (2) A description of how the cooperating agency and host 
institutions intend to monitor and report program activities at the 
output level. This may include the use of participant surveys that 
focus on logistics and

[[Page 63826]]

administration, focus groups and interviews.
    (3) Incorporation of pre- and post-testing for language acquisition 
to measure one of the program's outcomes. The Bureau will work with the 
cooperating agency to develop and implement an instrument to measure 
students' increased language proficiency due to participation in this 
program. The data need to be analyzed and reported by the cooperating 
agency to ECA for the program, disaggregated by institute.
    (4) Incorporation of three surveys using ECA's E-GOALS to measure 
additional program outcomes. Administered by the Bureau's Office of 
Policy and Evaluation (ECA/P), E-GOALS is an online system for 
surveying program participants and collecting data about program 
performance. All program participants will be required to take three 
online surveys:
    (a) Standardized pre-program surveys, at the beginning of the 
program;
    (b) Standardized post-program surveys, at the end of the program; 
and
    (c) Standardized follow-up surveys, approximately six months after 
the conclusion of the program.
    These surveys are designed to help the cooperating agency and ECA 
assess: student satisfaction with the program; student attitudes and 
views; the extent of learning and skill development (including 
leadership); reliance on new learning and skills in their studies, at 
work, and in their communities; and their efforts to share new ideas, 
knowledge, and insights. Included in these surveys are questions 
specific to ECA's internal reporting.
    The cooperating agency will be expected to work with the Program 
Officer and an evaluator from the Office of Policy and Evaluation to 
refine and implement the survey instruments. To ensure proper 
implementation of E-GOALS, the cooperating agency will be required to:
     Provide the Program Officer and E-GOALS evaluator with all 
contact information and bio-data of program participants.
     Provide all participants with information about the E-
GOALS survey. Students must be advised that they are required to take 
all three surveys, assuring them that the surveys are completely 
confidential, anonymous, and used only for evaluative purposes.
     Notify students of the E-GOALS survey link, information 
about E-GOALS and survey instructions.
     Allocate time for E-GOALS surveying prior to the students 
departure from their return to the U.S. and at the end of the program.
     Send reminder notices to students to take the follow-up 
survey.
    (5) A description of any additional methods planned to supplement 
information obtained through language proficiency surveys and E-GOALS 
to measure progress towards achievement of the program's objectives, 
such as the use of focus groups and interviews, and how the data will 
be analyzed and reported.
    Overall, the quality of the applicant organization's monitoring and 
evaluation plan will be judged on how well it (1) specifies intended 
goals and objectives; (2) gives clear descriptions of how each outcome 
and output will be measured; (3) identifies when particular outcomes 
and outputs will be measured; and (4) incorporates and describes data 
collection strategies for each outcome (i.e., surveys, interviews, or 
focus groups).
    The cooperating agency will be required to provide reports 
analyzing evaluation findings to the Bureau in 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 in your proposal your plans for: overall program 
management, staffing, coordination with ECA and with overseas 
institutes enrolling clusters of students, recruitment, testing, 
orientation, and cultural enrichment opportunities for students. Please 
provide a staffing plan that outlines the responsibilities of each 
staff person and explains which staff members will be accountable for 
each program responsibility.
    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. Grant requests should not exceed $6,000,000. There must 
be a summary budget as well as breakdowns reflecting both 
administrative and program budgets. Applicants should provide separate 
sub-budgets for each program component, phase, location, or activity to 
provide clarification. Applicants should also provide copies of any 
sub-grant agreements that would be implemented under terms of this 
award.
    IV.3e.2. Allowable costs for the program and additional budget 
guidance are outlined in detail in the POGI document.
    Please refer to the POGI and the PSI documents in the Solicitation 
Package for complete budget guidelines and formatting instructions.
    IV.3F. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission:
    Application Deadline Date: January 5, 2007.
    Reference Number: ECA/A/E-07-01.
    Methods of Submission
    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.1 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, one fully-tabbed copy, and eight copies of the 
application with Tabs A-E (for a total of ten copies) should be sent 
to: U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, Ref.: ECA/A/E-07-01, Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, Room 534, 
301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
    Along with the Project Title, all applicants must enter the above

[[Page 63827]]

Reference Number in Box 11 on the SF-424 contained in the mandatory 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) of the solicitation document.
    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 
Section(s) at the U.S. embassy(ies) for its(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).
    Several of the steps in the Grants.gov registration process could 
take several weeks. Therefore, applicants should check with appropriate 
staff within their organizations immediately after reviewing this RFGP 
to confirm or determine their registration status with Grants.gov.
    Once registered, the amount of time it can take to upload an 
application will vary depending on a variety of factors including the 
size of the application and the speed of your internet connection. 
Therefore, we strongly recommend that you not wait until the 
application deadline to begin the submission process through 
Grants.gov.
    Direct all questions regarding Grants.gov registration and 
submission to: Grants.gov Customer Support; Contact Center Phone: 800-
518-4726. Business Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Eastern Time. E-
mail: grants.gov">support@grants.gov.
    Applicants have until midnight (12 a.m.), Washington, DC time of 
the closing date to ensure that their entire application has been 
uploaded to the Grants.gov site. There are no exceptions to the above 
deadline. 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 a confirmation e-mail from grants.gov upon 
the successful submission of an application. ECA will not notify you 
upon receipt of electronic applications.
    It is the responsibility of all applicants submitting proposals via 
the Grants.gov web portal to ensure that proposals have been received 
by Grants.gov in their entirety, and ECA bears no responsibility for 
data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.
    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. 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 assistance awards (cooperative agreements) 
resides with the Bureau's Grants Officer.
    Review Criteria: Please see proposal review criteria 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 Web sites for additional 
information: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants. http://exchanges.state.gov/education/grantsdiv/terms.htm#articleI.
    VI.3. Reporting Requirements: You must provide ECA with a hard copy 
original plus two copies of the following reports:
    1. A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after 
the expiration of the award;
    2. Interim program and financial reports that include information 
on the progress made on the program plan and program results to date.
    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.
    VI.4. Program Data Requirements: Organizations awarded grants will 
be required to maintain specific data on program participants and 
activities in an electronically accessible database format that can be 
shared with the Bureau as required. As a minimum, the data must include 
the following:
    1. Name, address, contact information and biographic sketch of all 
persons who travel internationally on funds provided by the grant or 
who benefit from the grant funding but do not travel.
    2. Itineraries of international and domestic travel, providing 
dates of travel and cities in which any exchange experiences take 
place. Final schedules for in-country and U.S. activities must be 
received by the ECA Program Officer at least three work days prior to 
the official opening of the activity.

[[Page 63828]]

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: Heidi Manley, 
Office of Academic Exchange Programs, Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs, ECA/A/E-07-01, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 
4th Street, SW., Room 234, Washington, DC 20547, Telephone (202) 453-
8135, Fax (202) 453-8125, E-mail [email protected].
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number ECA/A/E-07-01.
    Please read the complete Federal Register announcement before 
sending inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has 
passed, Bureau staff may not discuss this competition with applicants 
until the proposal review process has been completed.

VIII. Other Information

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

    Dated: October 25, 2006.
C. Miller Crouch,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs, Department of State.
 [FR Doc. E6-18280 Filed 10-30-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P