[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 187 (Thursday, September 27, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54962-54967]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-19104]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 5945]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: EducationUSA Advising Services in Eurasia and Central 
Asia

    Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/S/A-08-06.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000.
    Key Dates: January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2008.
    Application Deadline: Tuesday, November 13, 2007.
    Executive Summary: The Office of Global Educational Programs, 
Educational Information and Resources Branch, of the Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces an open competition 
for EducationUSA Advising Services in Eurasia (Armenia, Azerbaijan, 
Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia, and Ukraine) and Central Asia 
(Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan). The amount 
anticipated to support these services in Eurasia in FY 2008 is 
$530,000; the amount anticipated for Central Asia is $120,000.
    Public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions 
described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) may 
submit proposals to operate EducationUSA advising centers in Bureau-
specified locations. These advising centers would

[[Page 54963]]

be a part of the network of approximately 470 Department of State-
affiliated advising centers worldwide. Advising centers provide 
comprehensive and unbiased information to students, scholars, and other 
individuals about study opportunities in the U.S.

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: EducationUSA advising centers provide accurate and 
impartial information and guidance about academic study in the U.S., 
including the following topics: All accredited U.S. colleges, 
universities, and other higher education institutions; accreditation of 
institutions of higher learning; the application process for U.S. 
institutions of higher learning; majors and fields of study; 
standardized tests required by institutions of higher learning; life on 
a U.S. campus; financial aid; and visa regulations. In addition, 
advising centers should offer pre-departure orientation programs for 
students preparing to start study programs in the U.S. Centers should 
also provide information on funded study opportunities sponsored by the 
U.S. Government and other institutions and organizations. Centers 
should maintain regular communication with the relevant Regional 
Educational Advising Coordinator (REAC) and local Public Affairs 
Section (PAS), in addition to the relevant Bureau Program Officer. 
Advisers will be eligible to apply for Bureau-sponsored professional 
development opportunities and training events. The Bureau will provide 
reference materials and equipment, and support adviser training 
opportunities, based on need as assessed by the relevant REAC.
    Advising centers should operate according to the following basic 
principles:
    (1) Services provided at no charge should include, at minimum, 
access to educational reference materials as appropriate and to an 
introductory group advising session;
    (2) Centers must be open to all persons, regardless of academic 
affiliation, and without bias based on age, gender, socio-economic 
level, race, religion, or physical disability.
    Educational advisers working in the centers should possess the 
following qualifications:
    (1) A university degree in a relevant field;
    (2) Advanced written and spoken English language skills;
    (3) A strong knowledge of the U.S. higher education system.
    Advising centers should conduct the following advising activities 
and services:
    (1) Opportunity Scholarships: This program provides assistance to 
highly qualified, economically disadvantaged students with the initial 
costs of testing, application, travel, and other up front costs, to 
participate in degree programs in the United States. Proposals should 
explain how advising centers in countries that currently participate in 
this program--Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine in Eurasia; and Kazakhstan, 
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan in Central Asia--will provide 
administrative support to the Bureau for implementation of the program. 
Advising centers should provide the following services:
    (a) Provide nomination forms to students and appropriate assistance 
about how to complete the forms, if needed;
    (b) Where appropriate, and in consultation with REAC and PAS, 
conduct outreach and advertisement about the program;
    (c) Submit completed nomination forms to relevant REAC and PAS;
    (d) As needed, assist PAS with notification of students about 
acceptance into the program;
    (e) Help participating students to complete the next steps of 
seeking financial aid, registration for taking tests and other 
preparatory work;
    (f) Complete and submit monthly reports summarizing the results of 
program implementation.

    Note: Funding for individual scholarships is provided from a 
different Bureau source and not from funding for this award. The 
funding for individual scholarships is disbursed by Fulbright 
offices in Ukraine and Russia and by U.S. embassies in other 
countries. As a part of the total dollar request, applicant 
organizations may request up to $40,000 for the administration of 
this program in Eurasia and up to $10,000 for the administration of 
opportunity scholarships in Central Asia. The number of students to 
be supported in each country will be based on the review of 
applications received and on the effectiveness of program 
implementation at specific advising centers. However, for planning 
purposes, applicant organizations may assume that the number of 
students to be identified for support during the grant period will 
be approximately 90 in Eurasia (60 in Russia, 25 in Ukraine, and 5 
in Belarus) and 18 in Central Asia (9 in Kyrgyzstan, 3 in 
Kazakhstan, 3 in Tajikistan, and 3 in Turkmenistan).

    (2) Outreach: Proposals should include outreach activities and a 
detailed description of those activities. Examples of outreach may 
include organization and hosting of education fairs, presentations at 
local high schools and colleges, or projects that include cooperative 
work with American Corners, which are resource centers about the United 
States in locations throughout both regions. The Bureau's emphasis on 
diversity should be considered when making plans for outreach 
activities, with a focus on non-elite and economically disadvantaged 
groups and with reference, if appropriate, to the opportunity 
scholarships.
    (3) Statistics Maintenance: Proposals should explain how applicant 
organizations will ensure that center staff will record advising center 
user statistics and enter them on a monthly basis into the EducationUSA 
database on the EducationUSA Web site. Advisers should also be 
responsive to requests for information from the relevant REAC, PAS, and 
the Bureau.
    (4) Coordination and Communication: Proposals should explain how 
centers will coordinate with the relevant REAC, PAS, and one another 
when planning workshops, advising fairs, and other public events to 
ensure that visiting representatives of U.S. institutions can include 
participation in several events in their travel schedule.

II. Award Information

    The Bureau plans to award one grant to support advising centers in 
the following countries of Eurasia: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, 
Georgia, Russia, and Ukraine. The Bureau also plans to one award to 
support advising centers in the following countries of Central Asia: 
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. Within these 
countries, proposals should indicate the locations where the applicant 
organization has the institutional capacity to host and support 
advising centers. For each

[[Page 54964]]

proposed location, proposals should include a rationale that reflects 
the potential demand for advising services in these locations as well 
as the Bureau's priority of including non-elite, under-served 
populations among the international students who study in the U.S. If 
an applicant requests funding to support centers in both regions, it 
must do so in two separate proposals. Proposals to support a larger 
number of advising centers are especially encouraged.
    Type of Awards: cooperative agreement (ECA's level of involvement 
in this program is listed under number I above.)
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2008, pending the availability of funds.
    Approximate Total Funding: $650,000 (NTE $530,000 for Eurasia and 
$120,000 for Central Asia).
    Approximate Number of Awards: Two.
    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, January 1, 
2008.
    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 
the Bureau's intent to renew this grant for two additional fiscal 
years, before opening it to competition 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 encourages applicants to provide as 
much cost sharing as possible 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, grant recipients must maintain written records to 
support all costs which are claimed as a cost shared 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, the Bureau'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.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    Note: Please read the complete Federal Register announcement 
before sending inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP 
deadline has passed, Bureau staff may not discuss this competition 
with applicants until the proposal review process has been 
completed.

IV.1. Contact Information To Request an Application Package

    Educational Information and Resources Branch, U.S. Department of 
State, 301 4th Street, SW., Room 349, Washington, DC 20547, telephone: 
202-453-8883, fax: 202-453-8890, e-mail: [email protected].
    Please refer to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/S/A-08-06 when 
making the request.
    The Solicitation Package contains the Proposal Submission 
Instruction (PSI) document that consists of required application forms, 
and standard guidelines for proposal preparation.
    Please specify Bureau Program Officer Henry Scott and refer to the 
Funding Opportunity Number, ECA/A/S/A-08-06, on all 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. 
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. ``Submission Dates and Times 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 
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
    For applicants' information only, the Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs is placing a higher 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, recordkeeping, 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, 301 4th Street, SW., Room 734, Washington, DC 20547, 
Telephone: (202) 203-5029, FAX: (202) 453-8640.
    Please refer to Solicitation Package for further information.

[[Page 54965]]

IV.3d.2. Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines

    Pursuant to the Bureau's authorizing legislation, programs must 
maintain a non-political character and should be balanced and 
representative of the diversity of American political, social, and 
cultural life. ``Diversity'' should be interpreted in the broadest 
sense and encompass differences including, but not limited to 
ethnicity, race, gender, religion, geographic location, socio-economic 
status, and disabilities. Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere 
to the advancement of this principle both in program administration and 
in program content. Please refer to the review criteria under the 
`Support for Diversity' section for specific suggestions on 
incorporating diversity into your proposal. Public Law 104-319 provides 
that ``in carrying out programs of educational and cultural exchange in 
countries whose people do not fully enjoy freedom and democracy,'' the 
Bureau ``shall take appropriate steps to provide opportunities for 
participation in such programs to human rights and democracy leaders of 
such countries.'' Public Law 106-113 requires that the governments of 
the countries described above do not have inappropriate influence in 
the selection process. Proposals should reflect advancement of these 
goals in their program contents, to the full extent deemed feasible.
IV.3d.3. Program Monitoring and Evaluation
    Proposals must include a plan to monitor and evaluate the project's 
success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of the program. 
The Bureau recommends that your proposal include a draft survey 
questionnaire or other technique plus a description of a methodology to 
use to link outcomes to original project objectives. The Bureau expects 
that the 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 you to assess the following four levels of outcomes, 
as they relate to the program goals set out in the RFGP (listed here in 
increasing order of importance):
    1. Participant satisfaction with the program and exchange 
experience.
    2. Participant learning, such as increased knowledge, aptitude, 
skills, and changed understanding and attitude. Learning includes both 
substantive (subject-specific) learning and mutual understanding.
    3. Participant behavior, concrete actions to apply knowledge in 
work or community; greater participation and responsibility in civic 
organizations; interpretation and explanation of experiences and new 
knowledge gained; continued contacts between participants, community 
members, and others.
    4. Institutional changes, such as increased collaboration and 
partnerships, policy reforms, new programming, and organizational 
improvements.

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

    Overall, the quality of your monitoring and evaluation plan will be 
judged on how well it: (1) Specifies intended outcomes; (2) gives clear 
descriptions of how each outcome will be measured; (3) identifies when 
particular outcomes will be measured; and (4) provides a clear 
description of the data collection strategies for each outcome (i.e., 
surveys, interviews, or focus groups). (Please note that evaluation 
plans that deal only with the first level of outcomes [satisfaction] 
will be deemed less competitive under the present evaluation criteria.)
    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.
    Describe your plans for: Sustainability, overall program 
management, staffing, coordination with ECA and PAS.
    IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the 
entire program. There must be a summary budget as well as breakdowns 
reflecting both administrative and program budgets. Applicants should 
also provide complete sub-budgets for each advising center, including 
costs associated with implementation of Opportunity Initiative, where 
applicable.
    IV.3e.2. Allowable costs include the following:
    (1) Advising center staff salaries and benefits;
    (2) Office supplies and expenses, including rent, communications, 
postage and shipping;
    (3) Outreach, publicity, and special projects costs;
    (4) Indirect costs.

    Note: In the Budget Narrative, applicants should describe 
mechanisms for ensuring accountability and transparency in financial 
transactions.

    Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget 
guidelines and formatting instructions.
IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission
    Application Deadline Date: Tuesday, November 13, 2007.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/S/A-08-06.
    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, or U.S. Postal Service 
Express Overnight Mail), or
    (2) Electronically through http://www.grants.gov.
IV.3f.1. Submitting Printed Applications (Hard-Copy)
    Applications must be shipped no later than the above deadline. 
Delivery

[[Page 54966]]

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 seven copies of the application should be sent to:
    U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, Ref.: ECA/A/S/A-08-06, Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, Room 
534, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
    Along with the Project Title, all applicants must enter the Funding 
Opportunity Number ECA/A/S/A-08-06 on the SF-424 contained in the 
mandatory Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) of the solicitation 
document.
IV.3f.2. Submitting Electronic Applications
    Applicants have the option of submitting proposals electronically 
through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov). Complete solicitation 
packages are available at Grants.gov in the ``Find'' portion of the 
system. Please follow the instructions available in the `Get Started' 
portion of the site (http://www.grants.gov/GetStarted).
    Applicants have until midnight (12 a.m.) of the closing date to 
ensure that their entire applications have been uploaded to the 
grants.gov site. Applications uploaded to the site after midnight of 
the application deadline date will be automatically rejected by the 
grants.gov system, and will be technically ineligible.
    Applicants will receive a confirmation e-mail from grants.gov upon 
the successful submission of an application. ECA will not notify you 
upon receipt of electronic applications.
IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of Applications
    Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.

V. Application Review Information

V.1. Review Process

    The Bureau will review all proposals for technical eligibility. 
Proposals will be deemed ineligible if they do not fully adhere to the 
guidelines stated herein and in the Solicitation Package. Eligible 
proposals will be subject to compliance with Federal and Bureau 
regulations and guidelines and forwarded to Bureau grant panels for 
advisory review. Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of the 
Legal Adviser or by other Department elements. Final funding decisions 
are at the discretion of the Department of State's Assistant Secretary 
for Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final technical authority for 
assistance awards and 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. Please 
see POGI for a description of each criterion.
    1. Program planning/Ability to achieve program objectives.
    2. Institution's capacity/record.
    3. Cost effectiveness/cost sharing.
    4. Multiplier effect/impact.
    5. Support of diversity.
    6. Project evaluation.

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:
    (1) http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants.
    (2) http://exchanges.state.gov/education/grantsdiv/terms.htm--article I.

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;
    Grantees will be required to provide reports analyzing their 
evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program reports. 
(Please refer to IV. Application and Submission Instructions (IV.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.
    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:

[[Page 54967]]

    (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: Henry Scott, ECA/A/
S/A, Room 349, U.S. Department of State, 301 4th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20547, telephone: 202-453-8883, fax: 202-453-8890, e-
mail: [email protected]. Include a reference to Funding Opportunity 
Number ECA/A/S/A-08-06.
    Please read the complete Federal Register announcement before 
sending inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has 
passed, Bureau staff may not discuss this competition with applicants 
until the proposal review process has been completed.

VIII. Other Information

Notice

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

    Dated: September 19, 2007.
C. Miller Crouch,
Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. E7-19104 Filed 9-26-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P