[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 119 (Thursday, June 21, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34327-34333]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-12027]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 5841]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Global Undergraduate Exchange Program

    Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/E/USS-08-01.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000.
    Key Dates: Application Deadline: August 16, 2007.
    Executive Summary: The Office of Academic Exchange Programs of the 
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces an open 
competition for one to three assistance awards to provide 
administrative services for the FY 2008 Global Undergraduate Exchange 
Program (Global UGRAD Program). Public and private non-profit 
organizations meeting the provisions described in IRS regulation 26 CFR 
1.501(c)(3) may

[[Page 34328]]

submit proposals to cooperate with the Bureau in the administration and 
implementation of academic exchange activities for promising 
undergraduate students from underrepresented sectors of the population 
in the following regions: East Asia and the Pacific; Eurasia and 
Central Asia; and, the Western Hemisphere. For a list of participating 
countries by region, please see the Project Objectives, Goals, and 
Implementation document (POGI) that accompanies this announcement. 
Organizations may apply to administer the program in one or more 
geographic regions. However, organizations with less than four years 
experience in conducting international exchange programs are not 
eligible for this competition. It is anticipated that the total amount 
of funding available for all FY 2008 activities will be $8,000,000 and 
will involve the management of approximately 330 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 U.S. Department of State is dedicated to increasing its 
engagement with undergraduate student leaders worldwide who represent 
indigenous, disadvantaged or underrepresented communities. ECA's 
outreach includes providing merit-based programs for underserved 
sectors of society that increase participants' knowledge and 
understanding of the United States.
    The principal objective of the Global Undergraduate Exchange 
Program (hereafter referred to as the Global UGRAD Program) is to 
provide a substantive exchange experience at a U.S. college or 
university to a diverse group of emerging student leaders from 
underrepresented sectors of the population in East Asia and the 
Pacific, Eurasia and Central Asia, and the Western Hemisphere. The 
grantee organization(s) will ensure that participants are enrolled 
full-time in a non-degree course of study at U.S. institutions 
alongside American peers, and will provide the participants with 
opportunities to experience American society, institutions, and culture 
in and out of the classroom. Program participants will return to their 
home countries at the conclusion of the exchange program to complete 
their degree in their home colleges and universities there, and to re-
integrate with their home societies.
    The Global UGRAD Program will provide approximately 330 
scholarships for non-degree academic study at institutions of higher 
education to outstanding students from non-elite sectors. This number 
includes 40 full academic-year and 50 one-semester scholarships for 
students from East Asia and the Pacific, 140 full academic-year 
scholarships for students from Eurasia and Central Asia, and 30 full 
academic-year and 70 one-semester scholarships for students from the 
Western Hemisphere. In addition, the grantee organization(s) will be 
responsible for providing pre-academic intensive English language 
instruction as specified in the ``Region Specific Guidelines'' in the 
Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation document (POGI). 
Scholarships will be granted primarily to students currently enrolled 
in an undergraduate program in their home country, and who have 
completed their first, second, or third year of undergraduate study. 
The grantee organization(s) will place one-semester and academic-year 
program participants in non-degree programs at both U.S. four-year 
colleges and universities, and community colleges.
    The grantee organization(s) will enhance the participants' academic 
education by developing enrichment activities that may include having 
students make local presentations about their countries, performing 
community service, and taking part in internships. All participants 
will be required to return to their home countries immediately upon the 
conclusion of their scholarship program. ECA will not consider 
participant transfers from the Global UGRAD Program to any other U.S. 
institution or Exchange Visitor Program.
    The grantee organization(s) will make all university placements and 
serve as the principal liaison(s) among Global UGRAD Program host 
institutions and ECA. Further details on specific program 
responsibilities can be found in the Project Objectives, Goals, and 
Implementation (POGI) document. Interested organizations should read 
the entire Federal Register announcement for all information prior to 
preparing proposals. Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations. 
Please refer to the Solicitation Package for further instructions.
    The Bureau requires sub-grant agreements from all applicant 
organizations that intend to work with other organizations in the 
implementation of this program. All sub-grantees are subject to the 
same requirements as principal grantee organizations.
    In a cooperative agreement, the Office of Academic Exchange 
Programs, Study of the United States Branch (ECA/A/E/USS) is 
substantially involved in program activities beyond routine grant 
monitoring. ECA/A/E/USS activities and responsibilities for this 
program are as follows:
    1. Participating in the design and direction of program activities;
    2. Final selection of all program participants;
    3. Approval of key personnel;
    4. Approval and input for all program agendas and timelines;
    5. Providing guidance in the execution of all project components;
    6. Monitoring the target goal for the number of participants and 
the expenditure of funds toward meeting that goal;
    7. Providing guidance on content and speakers for workshops;
    8. Assisting with SEVIS-related issues;
    9. Assisting with participant emergencies;
    10. Providing background information related to participants' home 
countries and cultures;
    11. Providing liaison with Public Affairs Sections of the U.S. 
Embassies, bi-national Fulbright Commissions, and country desk officers 
at the State Department;
    12. Providing ECA evaluation mechanisms.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement.
    ECA's level of involvement in this program is detailed under number 
I above.
    Fiscal Year Funds: 2008.
    Approximate Total Funding: $8,000,000, pending availability of FY 
2008 funds. ($4,000,000 for Eurasia and Central Asia; $2,000,000 for 
East Asia and the Pacific; $2,000,000 for Western Hemisphere).

[[Page 34329]]

    Approximate Number of Awards: 1 to 3.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $8,000,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, November 1, 
2007.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: September 30, 2009.
    Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of this 
program and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, it is 
ECA's intent to renew these awards 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). The Bureau will give preference to 
organizations proposing to place students at accredited small colleges 
and universities that will provide students with a supportive 
environment and personalized attention, including community colleges, 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Hispanic-
serving institutions.

III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds

    There is no minimum or maximum percentage required for this 
competition. However, ECA encourages applicants to provide maximum 
levels of possible cost sharing and funding in support of its programs.
    If cost sharing is proposed, the cooperating organization must 
provide the amount 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, written records must be 
maintained to support all costs which are claimed as contribution, as 
funding provided 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 that the amount 
of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget is not provided, 
ECA's contribution will be reduced in like proportion.

III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements

    ECA 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 grants, 
in an amount up to $8,000,000 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.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    Note: Please read the complete announcement before sending 
inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has 
passed, ECA 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/
USS, Room 314, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20547, (202) 453-8532, fax: (202) 453-8533, e-mail: 
[email protected] to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to 
the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/E/USS-08-01 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 Program Officer Brendan M. Walsh and refer to 
the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/E/USS-08-01 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 which is part of the formal application 
package.
    IV.3b. All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal 
narrative and budget. Please Refer to the Solicitation Package. It 
contains the mandatory Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document 
and the Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) document 
for additional formatting and technical requirements.
    IV.3c. You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of 
application. If your organization is a private nonprofit which has not 
received a grant or cooperative agreement from ECA in the past three 
years, or if your organization received nonprofit status from the IRS 
within the past four years, you must submit the necessary documentation 
to verify nonprofit status as directed in the PSI document. Failure to 
do so will cause your proposal to be declared technically ineligible.
    IV.3d. Please take into consideration the following information 
when preparing your proposal narrative:
    IV.3d.1 Adherence to all Regulations Governing the J Visa. The 
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is placing renewed emphasis 
on the secure and proper administration of Exchange Visitor (J visa) 
Programs and adherence by grantees and sponsors to all regulations 
governing the J visa. Therefore, proposals should demonstrate the 
applicant's capacity to meet all requirements governing the 
administration of the Exchange Visitor Programs as set forth in 22 CFR 
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.

[[Page 34330]]

    A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of 
Exchange Visitor (J) programs is available at http://exchanges.state.gov or from: United States Department of State, Office 
of Exchange Coordination and Designation, ECA/EC/ECD--SA-44, Room 734, 
301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, Telephone: (202) 203-5029, 
Fax: (202) 453-8640. Please refer to Solicitation Package for further 
information.
    IV.3d.2. Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines. Pursuant to 
the Bureau's authorizing legislation, programs must maintain a non-
political character and should be balanced and representative of the 
diversity of American political, social, and cultural life. 
``Diversity'' should be interpreted in the broadest sense and encompass 
differences including, but not limited to ethnicity, race, gender, 
religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, and disabilities. 
Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere to the advancement of this 
principle both in program administration and in program content. Please 
refer to the review criteria under the ``Support for Diversity'' 
section for specific suggestions on incorporating diversity into your 
proposal. Public Law 104-319 provides that ``in carrying out programs 
of educational and cultural exchange in countries whose people do not 
fully enjoy freedom and democracy,'' the Bureau ``shall take 
appropriate steps to provide opportunities for participation in such 
programs to human rights and democracy leaders of such countries.'' 
Public Law 106-113 requires that the governments of the countries 
described above do not have inappropriate influence in the selection 
process. Proposals should reflect advancement of these goals in their 
program contents, to the full extent deemed feasible.
    IV.3d.3. Program Monitoring and Evaluation. Proposals must include 
a plan to monitor and evaluate the project's success, both as the 
activities unfold and at the end of the program. ECA recommends that 
your proposal include a draft survey questionnaire or other technique 
plus a description of a methodology to use to link outcomes to original 
project objectives. ECA expects that the cooperating organization will 
track participants or partners and be able to respond to key evaluation 
questions, including satisfaction with the program, learning as a 
result of the program, changes in behavior as a result of the program, 
and effects of the program on institutions (institutions in which 
participants work or partner institutions). The evaluation plan should 
include indicators that measure gains in mutual understanding as well 
as substantive knowledge.
    Successful monitoring and evaluation depend heavily on setting 
clear goals and outcomes at the outset of a program. The evaluation 
plan should include a description of the program's objectives, the 
anticipated project outcomes, and how and when these outcomes 
(performance indicators) will be measured. The more that outcomes are 
``smart'' (specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and 
placed in a reasonable timeframe), the easier it will be to conduct the 
evaluation. The evaluation plan should also show how your project 
objectives link to the goals of the program described in this RFGP.
    The monitoring and evaluation plan should clearly distinguish 
between program outputs and outcomes. Outputs are products and services 
delivered, often stated as an amount. Output information is important 
to show the scope or size of project activities, but it cannot 
substitute for information about progress towards outcomes or the 
results achieved. Examples of outputs include the number of people 
trained or the number of seminars conducted. Outcomes, in contrast, 
represent specific results a project is intended to achieve and is 
usually measured as an extent of change. Findings on outputs and 
outcomes should both be reported, but the focus should be on outcomes.
    Assessing the following four levels of outcomes, as they relate to 
the program goals set out in the RFGP (listed here in increasing order 
of importance) is encouraged:
    1. Participant satisfaction with the program and exchange 
experience.
    2. Participant learning, such as increased knowledge, aptitude, 
skills, and changed understanding and attitude. Learning includes both 
substantive (subject-specific) learning and mutual understanding.
    3. Participant behavior, concrete actions to apply knowledge in 
work or community; greater participation and responsibility in civic 
organizations; interpretation and explanation of experiences and new 
knowledge gained; continued contacts between participants, community 
members, and others.
    4. Institutional changes, such as increased collaboration and 
partnerships, policy reforms, new programming, and organizational 
improvements.

    Please note: Consideration should be given to the appropriate 
timing of data collection for each level of outcome. For example, 
satisfaction is usually captured as a short-term outcome, whereas 
behavior and institutional changes are normally considered longer-
term outcomes.

    Overall, the quality of the monitoring and evaluation plan will be 
judged on how well it (1) specifies intended outcomes; (2) gives clear 
descriptions of how each outcome will be measured; (3) identifies when 
particular outcomes will be measured; and (4) provides a clear 
description of the data collection strategies for each outcome (i.e., 
surveys, interviews, or focus groups). (Please note that evaluation 
plans that deal only with the first level of outcomes [satisfaction] 
will be deemed less competitive under the present evaluation criteria.)
    The cooperating organization will be required to provide reports 
analyzing their evaluation findings to ECA 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 ECA 
upon request.
    IV.3e. Please consider the following information when preparing the 
budget:
    IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the 
entire program. The award for overall administration of the Global 
UGRAD Program may not exceed $8,000,000. The award limit for 
administration of the Global UGRAD Program in each of the geographic 
regions is specified in the Project Objectives, Goals, and 
Implementation. All proposals must contain a summary budget as well as 
breakdowns reflecting both administrative and program budgets. 
Applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, 
phase, location, or activity to provide clarification. A comprehensive 
narrative must accompany the budget, clearly explaining all proposed 
costs (staff salaries and time on task must be supported by appropriate 
documentation and certified as true and accurate representations of 
actual costs and percentage of task).
    The Bureau encourages applicant organizations to provide maximum 
levels of cost sharing and funding from private sources in support of 
its programs.
    IV.3e.2. Allowable costs for the program include the following:

(1) Program Expenses
(2) Domestic Administration
(3) Overseas Administration

    Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget 
guidelines and formatting instructions.
    IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission:
    Application Deadline Date: August 16, 2007.

[[Page 34331]]

    Reference Number: ECA/A/E/USS-08-01.
    Methods of Submission: Electronic and Hard Copy.
    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.);
    2. Or, 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 provide notification 
upon receipt of application. It is each applicant's responsibility to 
ensure that each package is marked with a legible tracking number and 
to monitor/confirm delivery to ECA via the Internet. Delivery of 
proposal packages may not be made via local courier service or in 
person for this competition. Faxed documents will not be accepted at 
any time. Only proposals submitted as stated above will be considered.
    Important note: When preparing your submission please make sure to 
include one extra copy of the completed SF-424 form and place it in an 
envelope addressed to ``ECA/EX/PM''.
    The original and eight copies of the application should be sent to: 
U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, Ref.: ECA/A/E/USS-08-01, Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, Room 
534, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
    Applicants submitting hard-copy applications must also submit the 
``Executive Summary'' and ``Proposal Narrative'' sections of the 
proposal in text (.txt) format on a CD-ROM. ECA will provide these 
files electronically to the appropriate Public Affairs Section(s) at 
the U.S. embassies for their review.
    IV.3f.2--Submitting Electronic Applications. Applicants have the 
option of submitting proposals electronically through Grants.gov 
(http://www.grants.gov). Complete solicitation packages are available 
at Grants.gov in the ``Find'' portion of the system. Please follow the 
instructions available in the ``Get Started''' portion of the site 
(http://www.grants.gov/GetStarted). 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, 7a.m.-9p.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.
    Optional--IV.3f.3 You may also state here any limitations on the 
number of applications that an applicant may submit and make it clear 
whether the limitation is on the submitting organization, individual 
program director or both.
    IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of Applications: Executive Order 
12372 does not apply to this program.

V. Application Review Information

V.1. Review Process

    ECA 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 ECA 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 cooperative agreements resides 
with the ECA's Grants Officer.
Review Criteria
    Proposals will be subject to compliance with Federal and ECA 
regulations and guidelines and forwarded to ECA senior 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 (grants or cooperative agreements) resides with an 
ECA Grants Officer. ECA reserves the right to reduce, revise, or 
increase proposal budgets in accordance with the needs of the program 
and availability of funds.
    The submission will be reviewed with the following review criteria 
in mind:
    1. Program Development and Management: Proposals should exhibit 
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's 
mission. Objectives should be reasonable, feasible, and flexible. 
Detailed agenda and relevant work plan should demonstrate substantive 
undertakings and logistical capacity. Agenda and plan should adhere to 
the program overview and guidelines described above. Proposals should 
clearly demonstrate how the program will meet the program's objectives 
and plan.
    2. Multiplier Effect/Impact: Proposed programs should strengthen 
long-term mutual understanding, including maximum sharing of 
information and

[[Page 34332]]

establishment of long-term institutional and individual linkages.
    3. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive 
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Achievable and relevant 
features should be cited in both program administration (selection of 
participants, program venue and program evaluation) and program content 
(orientation and wrap-up sessions, program meetings, resource materials 
and follow-up activities).
    4. Institutional Capacity and Record: Proposals should demonstrate 
an institutional record of successful exchange programs, including 
responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting 
requirements for past Bureau grants as determined by Bureau Grants 
Staff. Proposals also should demonstrate the capacity to place students 
at geographically diverse, accredited small colleges and universities 
that can provide students with personalized attention. The Bureau will 
consider the past performance of prior recipients and the demonstrated 
potential of new applicants. Proposed personnel and institutional 
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program or 
project's goals.
    5. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate 
the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of 
the program. A draft survey questionnaire or other technique plus 
description of a methodology to use to link outcomes to original 
project objectives is recommended.
    6. Cost-effectiveness: The overhead and administrative components 
of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be kept as 
low as possible. All other items should be necessary and appropriate. 
Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through other private sector 
support as well as institutional direct funding contributions.

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 ECA procedures. 
Successful applicants will receive an Assistance Award Document (AAD) 
from the ECA's Grants Office. The AAD and the original grant proposal 
with subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall be the only binding 
authorizing document between the recipient and the U.S. Government. The 
AAD will be signed by an authorized Grants Officer, and mailed to the 
recipient's responsible officer identified in the application.
    Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of 
the application review from the ECA program office coordinating this 
competition.

VI.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    Terms and Conditions for the Administration of ECA agreements 
include the following:
    Office of Management and Budget Circular A-122, ``Cost Principles 
for Nonprofit Organizations.''
    Office of Management and Budget Circular A-21, ``Cost Principles 
for Educational Institutions.''
    OMB Circular A-87, ``Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian 
Governments''.
    OMB Circular No. A-110 (Revised), Uniform Administrative 
Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher 
Education, Hospitals, and other Nonprofit Organizations.
    OMB Circular No. A-102, Uniform Administrative Requirements for 
Grants-in-Aid to State and Local Governments.
    OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of States, Local Government, and 
Non-profit Organizations.
    Please reference the following Web sites for additional 
information: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants. http://exchanges.state.gov/education/grantsdiv/terms.htm#articleI.
    VI.3. Reporting Requirements: You must provide ECA with a hard copy 
original plus one copy of the following reports:
    1. A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after 
the expiration of the award;
    2. Two interim reports that address significant activities of the 
period and new planned activities for the next period.
    Financial reports must adhere to the quarterly reporting 
requirements mandated by Congress and be submitted quarterly. Please 
note that all program and financial reports should be sent to the 
Grants Division.
    The cooperating organization will be required to provide reports 
analyzing their evaluation findings to ECA in its 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 ECA upon request.
    All reports must be sent to the ECA Grants Officer and ECA Program 
Officer listed in the final assistance award document.
    Program Data Requirements: Organizations awarded grants will be 
required to maintain specific data on program participants and 
activities in an electronically accessible database format that can be 
shared with the Bureau as required. As a minimum, the data must include 
the following:
    (1) Name, address, contact information and biographic sketch of all 
persons who travel internationally on funds provided by the grant or 
who benefit from the grant funding but do not travel.
    (2) Itineraries of international and domestic travel, providing 
dates of travel and cities in which any exchange experiences take 
place. Final schedules for in-country and U.S. activities must be 
received by the ECA Program Officer at least three work days prior to 
the official opening of the activity.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: Program Officer 
Brendan M. Walsh, Office of Academic Exchange Programs, ECA/A/E/USS, 
Room 314, Reference Number: ECA/A/E/USS-08-01, U.S. Department of 
State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, (202) 453-
8532, fax: (202) 453-8533, e-mail: [email protected].
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number ECA/A/E/USS-08-01. Please read the 
complete announcement before sending inquiries or submitting proposals. 
Once the RFGP deadline has passed, ECA 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 ECA representative. Explanatory information 
provided by ECA that contradicts published language will not be 
binding. Issuance of the RFGP does not constitute an award commitment 
on the part of the Government. ECA 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.


[[Page 34333]]


    Dated: June 12, 2007.
C. Miller Crouch,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. E7-12027 Filed 6-20-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P