[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 26 (Thursday, February 8, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6028-6035]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-2107]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 5686]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Fulbright Student Program

    Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/E-08-01.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.400.
    Key Dates:
    Application Deadline: May 3, 2007.
    Executive Summary: The Office of Academic Exchange Programs (ECA/A/
E) of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department 
of State announces an open competition for one or more assistance 
awards to provide administrative services for the Fulbright Student 
Program in Fiscal Year 2008. Public and private non-profit 
organizations or consortia of eligible organizations meeting the 
provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) may 
submit proposals to cooperate with the Bureau in the administration and 
implementation of one or more of the following program components:
     For U.S. students: the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.
     For foreign students administered by world geographic 
region: the Fulbright Foreign Student Program.
     For foreign students administered globally: the 
International Fulbright Science and Technology Award, the Fulbright 
Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program, pre-academic training, 
orientation programs, and enrichment activities.
    It is anticipated that the total amount of funding available for 
all FY 2008 administrative costs to support the program components 
listed above will be $10,000,000 and will involve management of 4,090 
new 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, Public Law 87-
256, as amended, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act. The purpose of 
the Act is ``to enable the Government of the United States to increase 
mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the 
people of other countries . . .; to strengthen the ties which unite us 
with other nations by demonstrating the educational and cultural 
interests, developments, and achievements of the people of the United 
States and other nations . . . and thus to assist in the development of 
friendly, sympathetic and peaceful relations between the United States 
and the other countries of the world.'' The funding authority for the 
program above is provided through legislation.

Purpose

    The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government's premier program for 
international academic exchange and one of our nation's most important 
investments in improving international relations between the U.S. and 
other countries through the development of future leaders in virtually 
every area of endeavor. It was created by the U.S. Congress after World 
War II to exchange U.S. and foreign students, scholars and teachers to 
provide them opportunities to experience firsthand the political, 
economic and cultural institutions in each other's countries and thus 
help establish a basis for international mutual understanding and 
peaceful interaction. It now extends to over 150 countries worldwide 
and awards approximately 7,000 new and renewal grants to American and 
foreign participants each year. The Fulbright Program focuses on 
leadership development and counts among its 270,000 alumni world 
leaders in every profession and field of endeavor.
    A hallmark of the Fulbright Program is binationalism. The United 
States and foreign governments, U.S. and foreign educational and other 
public and private institutions are all partners in this exchange. 
Program priorities are developed between the U.S. and foreign partners 
and in many countries of the world, financial contributions from 
governments or public/private sources match or exceed those of the 
United States.
    Administration of the Fulbright Program is programmatically and 
administratively complex. It must accommodate a variety of 
circumstances in every geographic region of the world and be responsive 
to and supportive of many different constituencies in the United States 
and abroad, each with its own sets of goals and concerns. The integrity 
of the Program requires maintenance of the highest and most consistent 
standards of academic and professional quality in the selection of 
candidates and the implementation of projects. While the Program is 
active in many countries, it is important that it maintain a single 
world-wide identity. Overall policy guidelines and selection criteria 
for all Fulbright programs are determined by the Presidentially 
appointed J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, while 
responsibility for conducting the program is assigned to the Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs of the Department of State.

Description of the Fulbright Student Program

    The Fulbright Student Program offers scholarships to recent U.S. 
and foreign college and university graduates, advanced graduate 
students including those pursuing doctoral degrees, and creative 
artists to study and conduct research abroad and in the United States. 
A basic premise of the Fulbright program remains the selection of all 
participants through an open and transparent merit-based competition.
U.S. Student Program
    Only one cooperative agreement will be awarded for all 
administrative services for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Under 
the U.S. Fulbright program, graduating college seniors or

[[Page 6029]]

developing artists and professionals or graduate students who are U.S. 
citizens are awarded scholarships each year through a competitive 
process to study and undertake research at institutions in countries 
overseas. Students must hold a bachelor's degree, or its equivalent, 
before the start of the grant. Award opportunities for U.S. students 
are determined overseas by binational Fulbright commissions and U.S. 
embassies, in coordination with the Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs in Washington. In FY 2008, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program 
expects to send abroad approximately 1,400 U.S. students, developing 
professionals and artists to study and conduct research.
    In addition to ``traditional'' research awards, candidates for 
awards under the U.S. student program may apply for Fulbright English 
Teaching Assistantships. Fulbright English Teaching Assistants (ETA) 
teach English language and conversation classes in secondary schools 
and universities abroad while simultaneously pursuing individual study 
and research plans.
    Candidates may also apply for Fulbright Islamic Civilization 
Initiative awards. These awards are intended to enhance Americans' 
knowledge of Islam and Islamic culture through the Fulbright students' 
sharing of their overseas experience.
    U.S. students applying for a Fulbright grant to a country targeted 
under the National Security Language Initiative may request an 
enhancement of their award to provide up to six months in-country 
language training prior to beginning their research project. This 
initiative includes Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Korean, and the Turkic, 
Indic and Persian languages.
Foreign Student Program
    One or more grants will be awarded for administration of the 
Fulbright Foreign Student Program. Section II below contains detailed 
information on applying to administer all or parts of the Foreign 
Student Program.
    Fulbright foreign student candidates are nominated through open, 
merit-based competitions in each participating country, conducted by a 
binational Fulbright commission or, in the absence of a commission, by 
the Public Affairs Section (PAS) of U.S. embassies. Scholarship 
opportunities for foreign students are determined through consultations 
between commissions or embassies and the Bureau similar to the process 
for the U.S. Student Program nominees. The Fulbright Scholarship Board 
makes the final selection of all Fulbright nominees.
    The Fulbright Foreign Student Program expects to bring to this 
country approximately 2,685 new foreign students for study and research 
in the United States for FY 2008. This total includes new foreign 
students in the two activities listed immediately below. Applicants for 
this administrative award(s) should submit program proposals and budget 
projections for new FY 2008 students only. Awards to foreign students 
from prior years will be administered by the organizations currently 
administering the program.
    In addition to the traditional foreign student program operating 
binationally in more than 150 countries, the Fulbright Foreign Student 
Program also includes two special activities that are competed and 
funded on a worldwide basis: the International Fulbright Science and 
Technology Award and the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant 
Program.
    The International Fulbright Science and Technology award (S&T) for 
outstanding foreign students is designed to be among the most 
prestigious international scholarships in science and technology. 
Approximately 40 awards will be funded in FY 2008 for Ph.D. study at a 
top U.S. academic institution in science, technology or engineering. 
Applicants will apply through Fulbright commissions or U.S. embassies 
in their country of citizenship. Awards will be made to candidates who 
demonstrate unique aptitude and innovation in scientific fields.
    The Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program (FLTA) 
aims to strengthen foreign language instruction at U.S. educational 
institutions while providing young teachers or teacher trainees of 
English as a Foreign Language the opportunity to refine their teaching 
skills, increase their English language proficiency, and broaden their 
knowledge of American society and culture. The FLTA is another key 
component of the National Security Language Initiative. Fellows are 
placed for an academic year at a U.S. university where they teach their 
native language and enroll in at least two courses in U.S. studies or 
teaching methodology. Languages taught by FLTA participants may include 
Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, French, Dari, Gaelic, German, Hausa, Hindi, 
Indonesian, Italian, Korean, Malay, Mongolian, Pashto, Russian, 
Spanish, Swahili, Tagalog, Tajik, Thai, Turkish, Urdu, and Wolof. In FY 
2008, the Bureau intends to fund 400 FLTAs of whom 300 will be in the 
strategic languages identified under the NSLI program.
Orientation and Enrichment Programs
    The Bureau funds centrally a range of activities designed to deepen 
the mutual understanding foundation of the Fulbright Program. These 
activities are primarily related to orientation and enrichment. The 
activities include pre-academic English language and field of study 
programs in law and economics; three-day entry orientation programs 
designed to introduce Fulbright students to American academic life; and 
enrichment seminars for first year Fulbright foreign students.
    Management of the Fulbright Student Program is shared among the 
Office of Academic Exchange Programs (ECA/A/E) of the U.S. Department 
of State in Washington, bilateral Fulbright commissions in 50 
countries, Public Affairs Sections (PAS) of more than 100 U.S. 
embassies abroad, and cooperating private sector organizations in the 
United States. Grantee cooperating agencies must ensure full and proper 
identification of the Fulbright program with the U.S. government and 
the Department of State.
    The Bureau will work cooperatively and closely with the 
recipient(s) of cooperative agreement award(s), provide guidance and 
maintain a regular dialogue on administrative and program issues and 
questions as they arise over the duration of the award.
    Bureau activities and responsibilities for this program include:
    (1) Participation in the design and direction of program 
activities;
    (2) Approval of key personnel;
    (3) Approval and input on program timelines, agendas and 
administrative procedures;
    (4) Guidance in execution of all program components;
    (5) Review and approval of all program publicity and recruitment 
materials;
    (6) Approval of participating students, in cooperation with 
Fulbright commissions and U.S. embassies, subject to final selection by 
the Fulbright Board;
    (7) Approval of changes to students' proposed academic field, 
academic program, or institution;
    (8) Approval of decisions related to special circumstances or 
problems throughout the duration of program;
    (9) Assistance with non-immigration status and other SEVIS-related 
issues;
    (10) Assistance with participant emergencies;
    (11) Liaison with relevant U.S. embassies, Fulbright commissions 
and country desk officers at the State Department.
    Programs must conform with Bureau requirements and guidelines 
outlined in

[[Page 6030]]

the Solicitation Package which includes the Request for Grant Proposals 
(RFGP), the Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) and the 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI).

Guidelines

    Applicant organizations are requested to submit a narrative 
outlining a comprehensive strategy for the administration and 
implementation of the Fulbright Student Programs for which they are 
applying. The comprehensive program strategy should reflect a vision 
for the Program as a whole, interpreting the goals of the Fulbright 
Student Program with creativity, as well as providing innovative ideas 
and recommendations for the Program. The Bureau places a priority on 
insuring that the positive impact of the Fulbright Student Program is 
visible to the public in U.S. and campus communities and applicants 
should outline a plan to work with the media and other organizations to 
insure that the program and its scholarship awards receive appropriate 
publicity.
Program For U.S. Students
    Services under this cooperative agreement will begin with the 
organization of nominating merit review panels for candidates for 
scholarships beginning in academic year 2008-2009 and include the 
recruitment of students for academic year 2009-2010.
    Screening and Selection Process: Applicant organizations should 
present a plan to pre-screen for eligibility all electronic 
applications previously received from U.S. program applicants for 
academic year 2008-09 and convene national review panels composed of 
area and subject experts to determine which applicants will be 
nominated based upon proven merit, project proposal feasibility and 
factors that help present a truly national character in the pool, who 
will be recommended to PAS and Fulbright commissions overseas and to 
the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.
    Program Management: Applicants should outline in their proposals 
plans for tracking and monitoring participants; development and 
maintenance of an electronic database on participants; and the 
preparation of statistical reports on the distribution of awards.
    Post-Nomination Services: The narrative should include a 
description of how the cooperative agreement recipient(s) will inform 
successful candidates of their selection, and non-selected candidates 
and alternates of their status; provide award packages for students as 
required; respond to queries from participants; assist with pre-
departure orientation as requested; electronically maintain data on 
participants; evaluate participants' health status and provide Bureau 
health insurance; monitor participants and provide participants' 
reports and analyses of these reports to the Bureau; and assist with 
emergencies.
    Fiscal Management: Applicants should describe how the cooperating 
agency will manage electronic disbursement of payments to participants; 
provide quarterly reports on actual and projected expenditures; provide 
statistical, insurance and other reports; and monitor and audit 
internal functions and systems in accordance with U.S. government and 
Bureau guidelines.
    Recruitment: Provide a comprehensive plan for the recruitment of 
U.S. students for all programs for academic year 2009-2010. Proposals 
should offer imaginative strategies for the recruitment of U.S. 
students and plans to enhance the visibility of the program, with 
particular focus on the recruitment of groups currently under-
represented in the Fulbright program.
    Publicity and Applications: The recipient of the cooperative 
agreement award will be responsible for establishing and maintaining a 
Web site for the U.S. student program which should include provision 
for electronically submitted applications. Please outline in detail 
your plans for the announcement of scholarship opportunities for 
academic year 2009-2010, application packets, an annual directory of 
student participants, and publicity for the program in the U.S. 
Proposals should delineate an outreach and recruitment strategy, with a 
strong focus on diversity, which might include written and electronic 
publications, professional networking, media relations, outreach to 
potential applicants, universities and others.
Programs for Foreign Students
    Provide a plan for administration and implementation of the Foreign 
Student Program(s), indicating precisely the programs for which you are 
applying. Describe your capacities for administering the programs and 
provide detailed information on how you will perform the following 
duties:
    Program Planning and Management: The award recipient(s) will be 
responsible for placement of foreign students for academic year 2008-09 
at U.S. institutions, as needed; the development of significant U.S. 
institutional and private sector funding and cost sharing for grants; 
developing recommendations on participants' living allowances; 
producing an electronic participants database and special reports. 
Proposals should offer strategies for placement and plans to enhance 
the visibility of the foreign student program and may include other 
innovative activities. Organizations or consortia of organizations 
should describe overseas capacities to assist U.S. embassies and 
Fulbright commissions with publicity, and recruitment as specified in 
the attached Project, Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI), for 
academic year 2009-2010. Also detail any regional, exchange or other 
kinds of expertise that your organization would contribute to the 
effective administration of the program.
    Selection: Discuss your plans for the development of a 
comprehensive Web site for foreign student applicants and participants; 
preparation and distribution of electronic application materials and 
selection guidelines to Fulbright commissions and PAS for academic year 
2009-2010; receipt and review of recommended applications for academic 
year 2008-2009; making arrangements for required English language and 
other assessments; and preparation of participants' handbooks and 
orientation material. Your organization should demonstrate the capacity 
to both receive applications electronically from overseas and to 
transmit the applications electronically to the ECA/A/E regional 
branches and the Fulbright Scholarship Board.
    Placement: Describe your organization's resources and capabilities 
for insuring the best and most appropriate placement of students at a 
full range of U.S. public and private institutions representing 
geographic and institutional diversity. Discuss in detail your 
organization's potential for securing co-funding from U.S. institutions 
to leverage U.S. and other sources of Fulbright funding. Detail your 
past success securing cost-sharing.
    Supervision and Support: Describe how you will supervise and 
monitor foreign students including oversight of the following: 
enrollment in approved academic programs and academic performance; 
medical care and health insurance; Federal tax compliance; J visa 
status; renewal and extension of awards; and emergencies.
    Fiscal Management: Outline your capacity to manage electronic 
stipend payments to participants; handle tax withholding, as required; 
provide reports on expenditures, and insurance; and monitor and audit 
internal functions and systems in accordance with U.S. government and 
Bureau guidelines.

[[Page 6031]]

    English Language and Pre-Academic Training: One organization or 
consortium of organizations will organize and administer worldwide 
English language and pre-academic training programs and short-term 
entry orientation programs for selected Fulbright students enrolling 
for academic year 2008-2009, including designing criteria and 
estimating costs for these programs, placement and supervision of 
participating students, and evaluating and monitoring the programs.
    Enrichment Activities: The organization or consortium of 
organizations administering the pre-academic and orientation programs 
will also administer up to eight enrichment seminars at locations 
around the nation for foreign students in all programs in academic year 
2007-2008. The goal of these workshops is to provide students an in-
depth understanding of American institutions, society and culture.

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: 2008.
    Approximate Total Funding: $10,000,000 pending availability of 
funds.
    Approximate Number of Awards: One or more awards, in accordance 
with the following options:
    Organizations or consortia of organizations may compete to 
administer the entire worldwide Fulbright Student program, comprising 
both the U.S. and foreign student components. Alternatively, single 
organizations or consortia of organizations may compete to administer 
the U.S. student program and/or the foreign student program based on 
the following guidelines:
    For the U.S. Student Program, the Competition is open to:

--Single organizations or consortia of organizations wishing to 
administer the program worldwide.

    For the Foreign Student Fulbright Program, the competition is open 
to:

--Single organizations or consortia of organizations wishing to 
administer the program worldwide or;
--Single organizations or consortia of organizations wishing to 
administer the foreign student program for one or more regions of the 
world. For the purposes of this competition, regions are defined as 
follows:

     Sub-Saharan Africa.
     Europe and Eurasia.
     East Asia and the Pacific.
     North Africa and the Middle East.
     South and Central Asia.
     Western Hemisphere.
    Proposals must include plans to administer the Fulbright Foreign 
Student Program in all of the countries within a region where there 
currently is a program. A complete list of country programs in each 
region is provided in the Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation 
(POGI) package. Any proposal that includes countries not listed in the 
POGI may be declared technically ineligible.
    Organizations or consortia of organizations bidding to administer 
the Foreign Student Fulbright Program in two or more regions must 
demonstrate the capacity to administer the centrally funded global 
foreign student programs and enrichment activities including the 
Fulbright Foreign Language Assistant Program, the Fulbright 
International Science and Technology Awards, English language and pre-
academic programs, short-term orientation programs, and at least eight 
3-4 day enrichment programs.
    Consortia wishing to administer the worldwide U.S. Fulbright 
Student Program or the worldwide foreign student program should 
designate one organization to be the recipient of the cooperative 
agreement award. Applications proposing administration of the Program 
by a consortium should provide a detailed description of arrangements 
for cooperative work among the partners and between the partners and 
the U.S. and overseas academic communities, bilateral commissions and 
other entities.
    The Bureau reserves the right to reduce, revise or increase 
proposal budgets in accordance with the needs of the program and 
availability of funds. In addition, it reserves the right to accept 
proposals in whole or in part and make an award or awards in accordance 
with the best interests of the Fulbright Student Program.
    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, October 1, 
2007.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: September 30, 2008.
    Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of this 
program and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, it is 
ECA's intent to renew the grant(s) for a period of not less than four 
additional fiscal years, before openly competing the program again. The 
Bureau reserves the right to renew the award(s) beyond that period.

III. Eligibility Information

    III.1. Eligible applicants: Applications may be submitted by public 
and private non-profit organizations or consortia of institutions 
meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 
U.S.C. 501(c)(3).
    Consortia of eligible organizations applying for grants should 
designate one organization to be the recipient of the cooperative 
agreement award. Applications proposing a consortium should provide a 
detailed description of the responsibilities of each partner 
organization and arrangements for cooperative work among the partners 
and between the partners and overseas academic communities, binational 
commissions, PAS and other entities responsible for the Fulbright 
program.
    III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds: The Bureau anticipates that 
proposals will include significant amounts of cost-sharing in support 
of the Fulbright Student Program, and encourages applicants to provide 
maximum levels of funding in support of this initiative.
    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 
which 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 Bureau 
funding. ECA anticipates awarding one or more cooperative agreement 
awards in an amount over $60,000 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.

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

[[Page 6032]]

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, e-mail: [email protected], telephone: 202-453-
8135 and fax number: 202-453-8125, to request a Solicitation Package. 
Please refer to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/E-08-01 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.
    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 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. The mandatory Proposal 
Submission Instructions (PSI) document and the Project Objectives, 
Goals and Implementation (POGI) document contain 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 Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs places the highest 
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 part 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 Grantee 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 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 
instrument plus a description of a methodology to use to link outcomes 
to original project objectives. The Bureau expects that the grantee 
will be able to respond to key evaluation questions, including 
participant satisfaction with the program, learning as a result of the 
program, and anticipated changes in behavior as a result of the 
program. 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.
    We encourage you to assess the following three 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,

[[Page 6033]]

and changed understanding and attitude. Learning includes both 
substantive (subject-specific) learning and mutual understanding.
    3. Anticipated Participant behavior, anticipated 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.
    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.3d.4. Describe your plans for: overall program management, 
staffing, coordination with ECA and with U.S. and foreign universities, 
Fulbright commissions and PAS of U.S. embassies. Provide a staffing 
plan which outlines the responsibilities of each staff person and 
explains which staff members will be accountable for each program 
responsibility. Whenever possible, streamline administrative processes.
    IV.3e. Please take the following information into consideration 
when preparing your budget:
    IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit a comprehensive line item 
administrative budget for the entire program or the specific portion of 
the program they are applying to administer. It is anticipated that 
funding for the cooperative agreement award(s) for program 
administration for all new Fulbright students will be approximately 
$10,000,000. Pending availability of FY 2008 funds, it is anticipated 
that most of the resources will come from the FY 2008 Educational and 
Cultural Exchange Programs Appropriation. However, it is anticipated 
that a total of $750,000 will be transferred to the Bureau from 
Economic Support Funds and other resources to administer programs for 
approximately 200 Pakistani students and approximately 25 Indonesian 
students.
    IV.3e.2. Allowable costs and additional budget guidance are 
outlined in detail in the POGI document. Please refer to the 
Solicitation Package for complete budget guidelines and formatting 
instructions.
    IV.3F. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission:
    Application Deadline Date: May 3, 2007.
    Reference Number: ECA/A/E-08-01.
    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 and 10 copies of the application should be sent to: 
U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, Ref.: ECA/A/E-08-01. Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, Room 534. 
301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
    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 Public 
Affairs Sections 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

[[Page 6034]]

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 
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. Quality of the program idea: Proposals should display an 
understanding of and respect for the goals and distinguished traditions 
of the Fulbright program, as reflected in the requirements and 
priorities of this RFGP. Proposals should demonstrate a commitment to 
excellence and creativity in the implementation and management of this 
program, including the recruitment of U.S. students, quality of 
preacademic and enrichment workshops, and placement of foreign 
students.
    2. Program planning: Proposals should respond precisely to the 
planning requirements outlined in the RFGP. Planning should demonstrate 
substantive rigor. A detailed agenda and relevant work plan, including 
a timeline, should demonstrate feasibility and the applicant's 
logistical capacity to implement the program.
    3. Ability to achieve program objectives: Proposals should 
demonstrate clearly how the applicant will fulfill the program's 
objectives and implement plans, while demonstrating innovation and a 
commitment to academic excellence. Proposals should demonstrate a 
capacity for flexibility in the management of the program.
    4. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional 
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve program goals. 
Applicants should demonstrate established links to institutions of 
higher education in the U.S and knowledge of the overseas educational 
environment, particularly an awareness of conditions in societies and 
educational institutions outside the United States as they apply to 
academic exchange programs. Applicants should demonstrate prior 
experience or the capacity to negotiate significant cost savings for 
foreign students from American institutions of higher education. 
Applicants should also demonstrate their capacity to provide an 
information management/database system that meets program requirements, 
is compatible with the Bureau's systems, and provides for electronic 
applications, electronic data storage, and electronic payment of 
stipends.
    5. Institution's Record/Ability: Proposals should demonstrate an 
institutional record of managing successful exchange programs, 
including significant experience in developing and administering 
international academic exchange programs, sound fiscal management and 
full compliance with all reporting requirements for past Bureau 
cooperative agreements as determined by Bureau Grants Staff. In its 
review of proposals, the Bureau will consider the past performance of 
prior recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants.
    6. 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 (recruitment 
and selection of participants, academic placements and program 
evaluation) and program content (orientation and enrichment programs, 
program meetings, resource materials). Proposals should articulate a 
diversity plan, not just a statement of compliance.
    7. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate 
the program's success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of 
the program. The Bureau recommends that proposals include a draft 
survey questionnaire or other instrument plus description of a 
methodology to use to link outcomes to original objectives.
    8. Cost-effectiveness: The overhead and administrative components 
of the proposal, including salaries, should be kept as low as possible 
while adequate and appropriate to provide the required services. 
Proposals should document plans to realize cost-savings and other 
efficiencies through use of technology, administrative streamlining, 
and other management techniques.
    9. Cost-sharing: Proposals should demonstrate maximum cost-sharing. 
Preference will be given to proposals which demonstrate innovative 
approaches to leveraging of funds, and other sharing of costs.

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:
    A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after the 
expiration of the award; quarterly financial reports, annual program 
reports and ad hoc program reports as requested by ECA/A/E.
    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: Mr. Matthew

[[Page 6035]]

McMahon, Office of Academic Exchange Programs, ECA/A/E, Room 234, ECA/
A/E-08-01, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20547, e-mail: [email protected], phone: (202) 453-
8135, and fax: (202) 453-8126.
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number ECA/A/E-08-01.
    Please read the complete announcement before sending inquiries or 
submitting proposals. All inquiries about the RFGP or any aspect of the 
Fulbright Student Program should be submitted in writing via e-mail to 
Mr. McMahon. Any questions or requests for information from overseas 
Fulbright commissions or Public Affairs Sections of U.S. embassies 
should be submitted in writing via e-mail to Mr. McMahon for 
transmission to those overseas offices. 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: January 31, 2007.
Dina Habib Powell,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of 
State.
 [FR Doc. E7-2107 Filed 2-7-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P