[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 119 (Thursday, June 21, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34333-34338]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-12029]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 5840]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Study of the United States Institutes for Student 
Leaders From the Western Hemisphere

    Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/E/USS-08-02.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000.
    Key Dates: January-February, June-August 2008.
    Application Deadline: August 16, 2007.
    Executive Summary: The Branch for the Study of the United States, 
Office of Academic Exchange Programs, announces an open competition for 
six Study of the United States Institutes for Student Leaders from 
selected countries of the Western Hemisphere, a series of five-week 
academic programs, three of which will take place at three distinct 
host institutions during January and February 2008, while the remaining 
three will take place at three distinct host institutions during June, 
July, and August 2008. Each Institute should be similar in structure 
and content, take place at accredited post-secondary education 
institutions, and provide a group of up to 20 highly motivated 
undergraduate students from the Western Hemisphere with an integrated 
academic and educational travel program that will give them a deeper 
understanding of U.S. society and culture, while enhancing their 
leadership skills.
    Three programs will take place in January and February of 2008. The 
first winter program will target undergraduate students of indigenous 
backgrounds from Bolivia and Peru, and will be conducted in Spanish as 
the primary language of instruction. The second winter program will be 
conducted in English for undergraduate students from Argentina, Chile, 
and Uruguay. The third will be a program for undergraduates from Brazil 
and will also be conducted in English.
    Three programs will take place in June, July, and August of 2008. 
The first summer program will target undergraduate students of 
indigenous backgrounds from Guatemala and Mexico, and will be conducted 
in Spanish as the primary language of instruction. The second of these 
summer programs will also be conducted in Spanish for undergraduate 
students from Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, 
Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. The third summer program for 
undergraduates will invite students from Colombia, Ecuador, and 
Venezuela, and will be conducted in English.
    ECA plans to award a single grant for the administration of this 
program. The award will be contingent upon the availability of FY-2008 
funds.

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

    In March 2007, President Bush traveled to Brazil, Uruguay, 
Colombia, Guatemala, and Mexico to highlight the Administration's 
commitment to advance the cause of social justice in the Western 
Hemisphere. This region has made great strides toward freedom and 
prosperity--strengthening democratic institutions and the rule of law 
and bringing stability to their economic structures. Yet despite these 
advances, tens of millions in the Western Hemisphere remain deep in 
poverty. The President has pledged to help these democracies advance 
further economically and politically and has announced a new 
partnership for Latin American youth to help thousands more young 
people improve their English and have the opportunity to study in the 
United States.
    As part of this new initiative, the Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs, Branch for the Study of the U.S., will administer a 
series of Study of the U.S. Institutes for up to 120 undergraduate 
student leaders from the Western Hemisphere during the winter and 
summer of 2008. Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student Leaders are 
intensive academic programs whose purpose is to provide groups of 
undergraduate student leaders with a deeper understanding of the United 
States, while concurrently enhancing their leadership skills.
    The principal objective of the Institutes is to heighten the 
participants' awareness of the history and evolution of U.S. society, 
culture, and values. All campus programs should include cultural 
enrichment activities and should actively engage American undergraduate 
or graduate student peers as mentors or escorts for the participants.
    In addition to promoting a better understanding of the United 
States, an important objective of the Institutes is to develop the 
participants' leadership and collective problem-solving skills. In this 
context, the academic program should include group discussions, 
training, and exercises that focus on such topics as leadership, 
teambuilding, collective problem-solving skills, effective 
communication, and management skills for diverse organizational 
settings. There should also be a community service component, in which 
the students experience firsthand how not-for-profit organizations and 
volunteerism play a key role in American civil society.
    Local site visits and educational travel should provide 
opportunities to observe varied aspects of American life and to discuss 
lessons learned in the academic program. The program should also 
include opportunities for participants to meet American citizens from a 
variety of backgrounds, to interact with their American peers, and to 
speak to appropriate student and civic groups about their experiences 
and life in their home countries.

Administering Organization

    The Bureau is seeking detailed proposals for the Institutes from 
public and private non-profit organizations, or consortia of such 
organizations with expertise in administering academic exchange 
programs, which will administer the Institute directly or in 
collaboration with partner institutions. Consortia must designate a 
lead institution to receive the grant award. Organizations that choose 
to include sub-grant arrangements should clearly outline all duties and 
responsibilities of the sub-grant partner organization,

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ideally in the form of sub-grant agreements and accompanying budgets.
    Each institute should take place on a U.S. college or university 
campus. Host institutions must be selected from among accredited four-
year liberal arts colleges, community colleges, universities, other 
not-for-profit academic organizations or a consortia of these 
institutions with an established reputation in one or more of the 
following fields: political science, international relations, law, 
history, sociology, American studies, and/or other disciplines or sub-
disciplines related to the study of the United States.
    Organizations or consortia applying for this grant must demonstrate 
their (or their partners') capacity for conducting projects of this 
nature. ECA strongly prefers that each institution host only one 
institute per season, meaning that a host institution is discouraged 
from hosting two winter (January-February) programs or two summer 
(June-August) programs. However, a single institution may host both a 
winter and a summer program.

Program Design

    Each Study of the U.S. Institute for Student Leaders should provide 
a group of up to 20 students with a uniquely designed program that 
focuses on U.S. society and culture. Each Institute will consist of a 
challenging academic program, as well as educational travel to 
illustrate the various topics explored in class. Each Institute should 
be tailored for the particular group of students and include a 
discussion of relevant issues facing their countries and region. The 
Bolivia-Peru program and the Mexico-Guatemala program should include a 
component on Native American issues within the broader context of U.S. 
society.
    Each program should be five weeks in length; participants will 
spend four weeks at the host institution for the academic program, and 
approximately one week on the related educational study tour, including 
two to three days in Washington, DC, at the conclusion of the 
Institute. The educational travel component should directly complement 
the academic program, and should include visits to cities and other 
sites of interest in the region around the host institution.
    Each Institute should be designed as an intensive academic program 
with an educational travel component that is organized through a 
carefully integrated series of panel presentations, seminar 
discussions, debates, individual and group activities, lectures and 
reading assignments, as well as local site visits, regional educational 
travel, and participation in community service activities.
    The Institute must not simply replicate existing or previous 
lectures, workshops, or group activities designed for American 
students. Rather, it should be a specially designed and well-integrated 
seminar that creatively combines lectures, discussions, readings, 
debates, local site visits and educational travel into a coherent 
whole. The grantee institution should take into account that the 
participants may have little or no prior knowledge of the United States 
and varying degrees of experience in expressing their opinions in a 
classroom setting; it should tailor the curriculum and classroom 
activities accordingly. Every effort should be made to encourage active 
student participation in all aspects of the Institute. The program 
should provide ample time and opportunity for discussion and 
interaction among students, lecturers and guest speakers, not simply 
standard lectures or broad survey reading assignments.
    Applicants are encouraged to select accredited four-year liberal 
arts colleges, community colleges, universities, academic organizations 
or a consortium of these institutions to design thematically coherent 
programs in ways that draw upon the particular strengths, faculty and 
resources of their institutions, as well as upon the nationally 
recognized expertise of scholars and other experts throughout the 
United States.

Program Administration

    The grantee organization should designate a project director to 
oversee all of the Institutes, coordinate logistical and administrative 
arrangements, ensure an appropriate level of continuity between the 
various host institution programs, and serve as the principal liaison 
between ECA and all the host institutions and thus, as ECA's primary 
point of contact.
    The grantee organization should also designate an academic director 
at each host institution who will be present throughout the program to 
ensure the continuity, coherence and integration of all aspects of the 
academic program, including the related educational study tour. In 
addition to the academic director, an administrative coordinator should 
be assigned at each host institution to oversee all student support 
services, including supervision of the program participants and 
budgetary, logistical, and other administrative arrangements. For 
purposes of this program, it is important that the grantee organization 
also retain qualified mentors or escorts at each host institution who 
exhibit cultural sensitivity, an understanding of the program's 
objectives, and a willingness to accompany the students throughout the 
program.

Participants

    Participants will be identified and nominated by the U.S. 
Embassies, Consulates and/or Fulbright Commissions in the participating 
countries, with final selection made by ECA. Each Institute will host 
up to 20 participants, for a total of approximately 120 students. 
Participation in the six Institutes will be organized by country, or 
region, as follows:
    (1) Bolivia and Peru (Spanish, winter).
    (2) Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay (English, winter).
    (3) Brazil (English, winter).
    (4) Guatemala and Mexico (Spanish, summer).
    (5) Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, 
Nicaragua, and Panama (Spanish, summer).
    (6) Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela (English, summer).
    Participants in the Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student 
Leaders will be highly motivated undergraduate students from colleges, 
universities and other institutions of higher education in selected 
countries overseas who demonstrate leadership through academic work, 
community involvement, and extracurricular activities. Their major 
fields of study will be varied, and will include the sciences, social 
sciences, humanities, education and business.
    Recruitment of participants will be focused on historically 
underserved, indigenous groups and ethnic minority communities. Every 
effort will be made to select a balanced mix of male and female 
participants, and to recruit participants who are from non-elite or 
underprivileged backgrounds, from both rural and urban areas, and have 
had little or no prior experience in the United States or elsewhere 
outside of their home country.

Program Dates

    The Institutes should be five weeks in length. The three winter 
programs should begin on or around the same date in January 2008, while 
the three summer programs should begin on or around the same date in 
late June 2008.

Program Guidelines

    It is essential that proposals provide a detailed and comprehensive 
narrative describing how the partner organizations and/or host 
institutions will achieve the objectives of the

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Institutes; the title, scope and content of each session; planned site 
visits, including educational travel; and how each session relates to 
the overall institute theme.
    The proposal must list the institutions that will host the various 
programs, and for which group of students.
    A sample template should be provided that lays out the academic 
program, including lectures, panel discussions, group presentations or 
other activities. A description of plans for public and media outreach 
in connection with the Institutes should also be included.

    Please Note: Since three of the six programs will be conducted 
in Spanish, it is imperative that the applicant demonstrate their 
(or their partners') capacity to implement an academic program in 
Spanish. All principal staff for these three programs (academic 
director, administrative coordinator, student mentors) must be 
fluent in Spanish. Arrangements for professionally-trained, Spanish-
English interpreters should be made for guest speakers, local site 
visits, and other circumstances when needed.

    Overall, proposals will be reviewed on the basis of their 
responsiveness to RFGP criteria, coherence, clarity, and attention to 
detail.

    Please Note: In a cooperative agreement, the Bureau is 
substantially involved in program activities above and beyond 
routine grant monitoring. The Bureau will assume the following 
responsibilities for the Institutes: participate in the selection of 
participants; review and confirm syllabi and proposed speakers for 
each of the Institutes; monitor the Institutes through one or more 
site visits; meet with participants in Washington, DC at the 
conclusion of the Institute; work with the cooperating agency to 
publicize the program through various media outlets; and engage in 
follow-on communication with the participants after they return to 
their home countries.

    The Bureau may request that the grantee institution make 
modifications to the academic residency and/or educational travel 
components of the program. The recipient will be required to obtain 
approval of any significant program changes in advance of their 
implementation.

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

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. ECA's level of involvement in 
this program is detailed in the previous paragraph.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY-2008 (pending availability of funds).
    Approximate Total Funding: $1,500,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 1.
    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, November 1, 
2007.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: December 31, 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 this grant for two additional fiscal years, 
before openly competing it again.

III. Eligibility Information

    III.1. Eligible Applicants: Applications may be submitted by public 
and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described 
in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3).
    III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds: There is no minimum or 
maximum percentage required for this competition. However, the Bureau 
strongly 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:
    a. Grants awarded to eligible organizations with less than four 
years of experience in conducting international exchange programs will 
be limited to $60,000. ECA anticipates awarding one grant in an amount 
up to $1,500,000 to support program and administrative costs required 
to implement this exchange program. Therefore, organizations with less 
than four years experience in conducting international exchanges are 
ineligible to apply under this competition.

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 Branch for the Study of the United States, ECA/A/E/USS, 
Room 314, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20547; tel. (202) 453-8540; fax (202) 453-8533 to 
request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to the Funding Opportunity 
Number ECA/A/E/USS-08-02 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 Jennifer Phillips and refer 
to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/E/USS-08-02 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'' 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-

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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 PSI and POGI documents 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 
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 may be responsible for issuing DS-2019 forms to 
participants in this program, as an alternate responsible officer under 
the Bureau's J Designation.
    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 
(V.2.) 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 strongly 
recommends that your proposal include a draft survey questionnaire or 
other technique plus a description of a methodology to use to link 
outcomes to original project objectives. The Bureau expects that the 
grantee will track participants or partners and be able to respond to 
key evaluation questions, including satisfaction with the program, 
learning as a result of the program, changes in behavior as a result of 
the program, and effects of the program on institutions (institutions 
in which participants work or partner institutions). The evaluation 
plan should include indicators that measure gains in mutual 
understanding as well as substantive knowledge.
    Successful monitoring and evaluation depend heavily on setting 
clear goals and outcomes at the outset of a program. Your evaluation 
plan should include a description of your project's objectives, your 
anticipated project outcomes, and how and when you intend to measure 
these outcomes (performance indicators). The more that outcomes are 
``smart'' (specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and 
placed in a reasonable time frame), the easier it will be to conduct 
the evaluation. You should also show how your project objectives link 
to the goals of the program described in this RFGP.
    Your monitoring and evaluation plan should clearly distinguish 
between program outputs and outcomes. Outputs are products and services 
delivered, often stated as an amount. Output information is important 
to show the scope or size of project activities, but it cannot 
substitute for information about progress towards outcomes or the 
results achieved. Examples of outputs include the number of people 
trained or the number of seminars conducted. Outcomes, in contrast, 
represent specific results a project is intended to achieve and is 
usually measured as an extent of change. Findings on outputs and 
outcomes should both be reported, but the focus should be on outcomes.
    We encourage applicants to assess the following four levels of 
outcomes, as they relate to the program goals set out in the RFGP 
(listed here in increasing order of importance):
    1. Participant satisfaction with the program and exchange 
experience.
    2. Participant learning, such as increased knowledge, aptitude, 
skills, and changed understanding and attitude. Learning includes both 
substantive (subject-specific) learning and mutual understanding.
    3. Participant behavior, concrete actions to apply knowledge in 
work or community; greater participation and responsibility in civic 
organizations; interpretation and explanation of experiences and new 
knowledge gained; continued contacts between participants, community 
members, and others.
    4. Institutional changes, such as increased collaboration and 
partnerships, policy reforms, new programming, and organizational 
improvements.

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

    Overall, the quality of your monitoring and evaluation plan will be 
judged on how well it (1) specifies intended outcomes; (2) gives clear 
descriptions of how each outcome will be measured; (3) identifies when 
particular outcomes will be measured; and (4) provides a clear 
description of the data collection strategies for each outcome (i.e., 
surveys, interviews, or focus groups). (Please note that evaluation 
plans that deal only with the first level of outcomes [satisfaction] 
will

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be deemed less competitive under the present evaluation criteria.)
    Grantees will be required to provide reports analyzing their 
evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program reports. All 
data collected, including survey responses and contact information, 
must be maintained for a minimum of three years and provided to the 
Bureau upon request.
    IV.3d.4. Describe your plans for overall program management, 
staffing, and coordination with the Bureau. The Bureau considers these 
to be essential elements of your program; please be sure to give 
sufficient attention to them in your proposal.
    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. Awards may not exceed $1,500,000. While there is no 
rigid ratio of administrative to program costs, the Bureau urges 
applicant organizations to keep administrative costs as low and 
reasonable as possible. There must be a summary budget as well as 
breakdowns reflecting both administrative and program budgets. 
Applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, 
phase, location, or activity to provide clarification. 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 Solicitation Package for complete budget guidelines and formatting 
instructions.
    IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission:
    Application Deadline Date: August 16, 2007.
    Reference Number: ECA/A/E/USS-08-02.
    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 eight (8) copies of the application should be sent 
to: U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, Reference Number: ECA/A/E/USS-08-02, Program Management, ECA/
EX/PM, Room 534, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
    Applicants submitting hard-copy applications must also submit the 
``Executive Summary'' and ``Proposal Narrative'' sections of the 
proposal in text (.txt) format on a PC-formatted disk. The Bureau will 
provide these files electronically to regional bureaus and Public 
Affairs Sections at U.S. embassies and for their review, as 
appropriate.
    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 cooperative

[[Page 34338]]

agreements resides with the Bureau's Grants Officer.
    V.2. 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 Program Idea/Plan: Proposals should exhibit 
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's 
mission. Detailed agenda and relevant work plan should demonstrate 
substantive undertakings and logistical capacity.
    2. Ability to Achieve Overall Program Objectives: Objectives should 
be reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly 
demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's objectives and 
plan.
    3. Support for Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive 
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Achievable and relevant 
features should be cited in both program administration (program venue, 
study tour venue, and program evaluation) and program content 
(orientation and wrap-up sessions, site visits, program meetings and 
resource materials).
    4. Evaluation and Follow-On: Proposals should include a plan to 
evaluate the Institute'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 
institute objectives is strongly recommended. Proposals should provide 
a plan for continued follow-on activity (without Bureau support) 
ensuring that Bureau supported programs are not isolated events.
    5. Cost-effectiveness/Cost-sharing: The overhead and administrative 
components of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be 
kept as low as possible. All other items should be necessary and 
appropriate. Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through other 
private sector support as well as institutional direct funding 
contributions.
    6. Institutional Track Record/Ability: 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. The Bureau will consider the past performance of prior 
recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants. Proposed 
personnel and institutional resources should be fully qualified to 
achieve the Institute's goals.

VI. Award Administration Information

    VI.1. Award Notices: Final awards cannot be made until funds have 
been appropriated by Congress, allocated and committed through internal 
Bureau procedures. Successful applicants will receive an Assistance 
Award Document (AAD) from the Bureau's Grants Office. The AAD and the 
original grant proposal with subsequent modifications (if applicable) 
shall be the only binding authorizing document between the recipient 
and the U.S. Government. The AAD will be signed by an authorized Grants 
Officer, and mailed to the recipient's responsible officer identified 
in the application.
    Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of 
the application review from the ECA program office coordinating this 
competition.
    VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: Terms and 
Conditions for the Administration of ECA agreements include the 
following:
    Office of Management and Budget Circular A-122, ``Cost Principles 
for Nonprofit Organizations.''
    Office of Management and Budget Circular A-21, ``Cost Principles 
for Educational Institutions.''
    OMB Circular A-87, ``Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian 
Governments''.
    OMB Circular No. A-110 (Revised), Uniform Administrative 
Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher 
Education, Hospitals, and other Nonprofit Organizations.
    OMB Circular No. A-102, Uniform Administrative Requirements for 
Grants-in-Aid to State and Local Governments.
    OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of States, Local Government, and 
Non-profit Organizations.
    Please reference the following Web sites for additional 
information: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants. http://exchanges.state.gov/education/grantsdiv/terms.htm#articleI.
    VI.3. Reporting Requirements: You must provide ECA with a hard copy 
original plus one (1) copy of the final program and financial report no 
more than 90 days after the expiration of the award.
    Grantees will be required to provide reports analyzing their 
evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program reports. 
Please refer to Application and Submission Instructions (IV.3d.3) above 
for Program Monitoring and Evaluation information.
    All data collected, including survey responses and contact 
information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years and 
provided to the Bureau upon request.
    All reports must be sent to the ECA Grants Officer and ECA Program 
Officer listed in the final assistance award document.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: Jennifer Phillips, 
Branch for the Study of the United States, ECA/A/E/USS, Room 314, U.S. 
Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547; 
tel. (202) 453-8537; fax (202) 453-8533; e-mail, [email protected].
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the title ``Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student 
Leaders'' and number ECA/A/E/USS-08-02.
    Please read the complete announcement before sending inquiries or 
submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has passed, Bureau staff 
may not discuss this competition with applicants until the proposal 
review process has been completed.

VIII. Other Information

Notice

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

    Dated: June 12, 2007.
C. Miller Crouch,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. E7-12029 Filed 6-20-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-08-P