[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 21 (Thursday, January 31, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5897-5902]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-1752]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6088]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Community College Initiative for Egypt

    Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/S/U-08-03.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000.
    Key Dates:
    Application Deadline: April 7, 2008.
    Executive Summary: The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs 
(ECA) announces an open competition for one or more assistance awards 
to administer the Community College Initiative for Egypt, which will 
support study by Egyptian undergraduate students at accredited U.S. 
community colleges. The multi-year program will bring a total of 1,000 
students to U.S. community colleges from Egypt. The Initiative builds 
on the Community College Initiative announced at the U.S. University 
Presidents Summit on International Education, convened by the Secretary 
of State and the Secretary of Education in January 2006.
    The Initiative will provide quality educational programs, 
professional development, employment skills and a deeper understanding 
of American society to underserved, non-elite Egyptian students, 
particularly women and students in their early and mid-twenties who 
already have some work experience. U.S. consortia of community colleges 
and other combinations of U.S. community college campuses meeting the 
provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) may 
submit proposals to cooperate with the Bureau in the administration and 
implementation of the Fiscal Year 2008 Community College Initiative for 
Egypt. U.S. consortia and other combinations of U.S. community colleges 
must identify a lead institution to receive and administer the award. 
The total amount of funding available for all program and 
administrative costs will be approximately $15.5 million. Applicants 
may apply to administer the entire program or a portion thereof. 
Proposals should indicate the number of participants that can be 
accommodated at the funding level that is proposed, based on detailed 
calculations of program and administrative costs. In order to maximize 
the number of student participants under this program, it is the 
Bureau's expectation that significant institutional and private sector 
funding and cost-sharing will be made available by cooperating 
institutions.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Authority: Overall grantmaking 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 is provided through legislation.
    Purpose: The Community College Initiative for Egypt will 
demonstrate the U.S. commitment to providing access to educational 
opportunities for a broad range of Egyptian undergraduate students. 
Through community college exchange initiatives, the Bureau hopes to 
engage the community college sector in the United States to increase 
the number of international students at U.S. community colleges and to 
reinforce community college efforts to build international ties. U.S. 
community colleges can make a unique contribution to international 
educational exchange by demonstrating the flexibility and relevance of 
American higher education and the manner in which community colleges 
provide quality technical and first-level professional education to 
vital sectors of society that are essential for nations to move forward 
economically and politically. They can also provide a model of lower-
cost community-based higher education that offers wide access to skills 
development for existing jobs.

[[Page 5898]]

    Egyptian students selected for academic study at accredited U.S. 
community colleges under this initiative will receive educational 
opportunities, professional development, and an exposure to American 
society that will enable them to return home with unique skills and 
experiences with which to contribute to the growth and development of 
Egyptian society. Students are expected to return to Egypt promptly 
upon completion of their programs. Upon return, it is anticipated that 
these students will enter the skilled work force and fill important 
needs in Egypt. Funding will not be provided to support the dependents 
of participants in this program.
    Guidelines: Applicant institutions are requested to submit a 
narrative outlining a comprehensive strategy for the administration and 
implementation of the Community College Initiative for Egypt including 
the following program components: Identification of accredited U.S. 
community colleges to host students in clusters based on one or more of 
the fields of study that are listed in the following section; a system 
for acceptance and placement of students based on the nomination of 
candidates by the Fulbright Commission in Egypt for final approval by 
ECA; development and dissemination of pre-departure orientation 
materials; registration of participants in SEVIS on the Bureau's behalf 
for which ECA will provide the principal responsible officer; 
organization of post-arrival orientation programming; placement of 
students in programs lasting, in most cases, one academic year; 
enrichment programming; advising, monitoring and supporting 
participants; evaluation; and follow-up with program alumni. An 
applicant institution may propose to administer the entire program or a 
portion thereof based on the applicant's interest and capacity in 
relevant fields. A proposal should be consistent with the applicant's 
institutional capacities and the range of fields in which the 
institutions have expertise.
    The multi-year program will bring a total of approximately 1,000 
students from Egypt to study at U.S. community colleges. We anticipate 
that approximately 450 to 475 students from Egypt will participate in 
the Fiscal Year 2008 Initiative. The budget should provide funding for 
round-trip travel, tuition, books, and living costs as well as costs 
for program administration. Cost-sharing is expected from institutions 
applying to cooperate with the Bureau on this Initiative. Applicant 
institutions are encouraged to include third-party contributions in 
their proposals.
    For each field of study, students should be clustered at one or 
more colleges with a strong program of instruction in the field. In 
most cases, colleges will place students in certificate programs 
lasting one academic year. Colleges may also offer students two-year 
programs leading either to a certificate or an Associate Degree, where 
two academic years are necessary to prepare students for employment. 
Those proposals that focus resources on more costly two-year programs 
should demonstrate significant levels of cost-sharing. Proposals should 
anticipate the placement of students in the following fields:

 Agriculture
 Applied Engineering
 Business Management and Administration
 Health Professions including Nursing
 Information Technology
 Media
 Tourism and Hospitality Management

    Pre-departure orientation materials and on-campus arrival 
orientation programs should be provided. The Bureau will provide 
support for intensive English language instruction in Egypt to those 
students who lack adequate English to function effectively in the U.S. 
classroom as evidenced by standardized test scores; this instruction in 
Egypt will not be the responsibility of the cooperating organization.
    Applicant organizations should describe English as a Second 
Language programs and services that they are prepared to provide during 
the U.S. exchange to students needing additional language work.
    Beyond the classroom, host campuses should plan to provide 
practical, community-oriented, and service learning opportunities to 
participating students. Proposals should explain how students will 
engage in enrichment activities, and should include creative ideas for 
exposing students broadly to American institutions, society and 
culture. For example, these activities may include volunteer work; 
presentations to college classes, local schools and the community; 
involvement with local families; and attendance at educational and 
cultural events with a U.S. focus.
    Proposals should demonstrate depth of experience in conducting and 
administering complex and multi-faceted international education 
programs. Proposals should exhibit not only programmatic and logistical 
expertise but also a proven track record (four or more years) of 
financial management, including a demonstrated ability to manage U.S. 
government funds. Proposals should provide a plan for continued follow-
on activity (without Bureau support), such as tracking and maintaining 
updated lists of all alumni and facilitating follow-up activities with 
alumni, including list serves. Proposals should also convey an 
understanding of Egypt's culture, economy, and society.
    Proposal programs must conform with the Bureau requirements and 
guidelines outlined in the Solicitation Package, which includes the 
Request for Grant Proposals (RFGP), the Project Objectives, Goals and 
Implementation (POGI) and the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI).
    In a cooperative agreement, the Bureau is substantially involved in 
program activities above and beyond routine grant monitoring. Bureau 
activities and responsibilities for this program include:
    (1) Participation in the design and direction of program 
activities;
    (2) Approval of key personnel;
    (3) Approval and input on program timelines and agendas;
    (4) Guidance in execution of all program components;
    (5) Review and approval of all program publicity and other 
materials;
    (6) Approval of host campuses;
    (7) Final selection of participating students;
    (8) Approval of changes to students' proposed academic field or 
institution;
    (9) Approval of decisions related to special circumstances or 
problems throughout duration of program;
    (10) Oversight of SEVIS-related issues;
    (11) Assistance with participant emergencies;
    (12) Liaison with the Fulbright Commission in Egypt and desk 
officers for Egypt at the State Department.
    A total of $15.5 million in FY 2007/FY 2008 Economic Support Funds 
will support one or more awards under this competition. Programs should 
begin on or about July 1, 2008 and will run through June 30, 2011. 
Awards will include funds for both the administrative and program 
portions of the program such as: Selection, placement and monitoring of 
all students starting academic programs in Fall 2009; the preparation 
of pre-departure orientation materials and the organization of on-
campus orientation programs in the U.S. for students; oversight and 
monitoring of practical and service learning opportunities for 
students; evaluation of all aspects of the program; and the design and 
administration of creative programs of follow-up support and 
coordination with program alumni.

[[Page 5899]]

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement.
    ECA's level of involvement in this program is listed under number I 
above.
    Fiscal Year Funds: $15,500,000 in FY 2007/FY 2008 Economic Support 
Funds (ESF) has been transferred to the Bureau to support this 
competition.
    Approximate Total Funding: $15,500,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: Pending the review and approval of 
successful proposals, the Bureau intends to make approximately one to 
four awards under this competition.
    Approximate Average Award: The size of the awards will depend on 
the number and quality of the proposals submitted, and on the 
distribution of fields on which the recommended proposals focus.
    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, July 1, 
2008.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: June 30, 2011.
    Additional Information:
    Pending successful implementation of this program and the 
availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, it is ECA's intent to 
provide up to two additional awards to successful institutions for 
subsequent cohorts of students in addition to those covered by the 
initial award.

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) including 
consortia of accredited U.S. community colleges, or other combinations 
of multiple community college campuses. Consortia must designate a lead 
institution to receive and administer the award.
    III.2. Cost-Sharing or Matching Funds: There is no minimum or 
maximum percentage required for this competition. However, the Bureau 
encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost-sharing and 
funding in support of its programs. Cost-sharing at a significant level 
will be required for arrangements that include study for more than one 
academic year.
    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 cooperative agreement. Cost-
sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For 
accountability, organizations must maintain written records to support 
all costs which are claimed as contributions, 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 that the minimum 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: Bureau grant and cooperative 
agreement guidelines require that organizations with less than four 
years experience in conducting international exchanges be limited to 
$60,000 in Bureau funding. Due to the scope and complexity of this 
program, organizations with less than a four-year track record 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 Office of Global Educational Programs, ECA/A/S/U, Room 349, 
U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20547; telephone 202-453-8643; fax 202-453-8890; e-mail 
[email protected] to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to the 
Funding Opportunity Number (ECA/A/S/U-08-03) 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 Karene Grad and refer to the 
Funding Opportunity Number (ECA/A/S/U-08-03) 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 places critically important 
emphases on the security and proper administration of the Exchange 
Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence by cooperating organizations 
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

[[Page 5900]]

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 cooperating organizations will be responsible for 
issuing DS-2019 forms to participants in this program.
    A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of 
Exchange Visitor (J) programs is available at http://exchanges.state.gov or from: United States Department of State, Office 
of Exchange Coordination and Designation, ECA/EC/ECD--SA-44, Room 734, 
301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, Telephone: (202) 203-5029, 
FAX: (202) 453-8640.
    Please refer to Solicitation Package for further information.
    IV.3d.2. Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines. Pursuant to 
the Bureau's authorizing legislation, programs must maintain a non-
political character and should be balanced and representative of the 
diversity of American political, social, and cultural life. 
``Diversity'' should be interpreted in the broadest sense and encompass 
differences including, but not limited to ethnicity, race, gender, 
religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, and 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 cooperating 
organizations 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 timeframe), 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.)
    Cooperating organizations 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 in your proposal your plans for: Overall program 
management, staffing, coordination with ECA and with community colleges 
enrolling clusters of students, and learning and service opportunities 
for students. Please provide a staffing plan which outlines the 
responsibilities of each staff person and explains which staff members 
will be accountable for each program responsibility.
    IV.3e. Please take the following information into consideration 
when preparing your budget:
    IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the 
complete program or a portion of the program. The total funding 
available for this program is approximately $15,500,000 for both 
program and administrative costs.
    Applicants may apply to administer total funds of less than 
$15,500,000, proportionate with the program being proposed. Please 
indicate clearly the number of students to be funded and the budget 
total for both administrative and program costs. Applicant institutions 
must present a summary budget as well

[[Page 5901]]

as breakdowns including both administrative and program budgets. 
Applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, 
phase, location, or activity to provide clarification.
    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: April 7, 2008.
    Reference Number: ECA/A/S/U-08-03.
    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 ten copies of the application should be sent to: 
U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, Ref.: ECA/A/S/U-08-03, Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, Room 
534, 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) or Microsoft Word format on a PC-formatted 
disk. The Bureau will provide these files electronically to the 
appropriate Public Affairs Section at the U.S. embassy in Egypt for its 
review.
    IV.3f.2. Submitting Electronic Applications. Applicants have the 
option of submitting proposals electronically through Grants.gov 
(http://www.grants.gov). Complete solicitation packages are available 
at Grants.gov in the ``Find'' portion of the system. Please follow the 
instructions available in the `Get Started' portion of the site (http://www.grants.gov/GetStarted).
    Several of the steps in the Grants.gov registration process could 
take several weeks. Therefore, applicants should check with appropriate 
staff within their organizations immediately after reviewing this RFGP 
to confirm or determine their registration status with Grants.gov.
    Once registered, the amount of time it can take to upload an 
application will vary depending on a variety of factors including the 
size of the application and the speed of your Internet connection. 
Therefore, we strongly recommend that you not wait until the 
application deadline to begin the submission process through 
Grants.gov.
    Direct all questions regarding Grants.gov registration and 
submission to: Grants.gov Customer Support. Contact Center Phone: 800-
518-4726. Business Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Eastern Time. E-
mail: grants.gov">support@grants.gov.
    Applicants have until midnight (12 a.m.), Washington, DC time of 
the closing date to ensure that their entire application has been 
uploaded to the Grants.gov site. There are no exceptions to the above 
deadline. Applications uploaded to the site after midnight of the 
application deadline date will be automatically rejected by the 
grants.gov system, and will be technically ineligible.
    Applicants will receive a confirmation e-mail from grants.gov upon 
the successful submission of an application. ECA will not notify you 
upon receipt of electronic applications.
    It is the responsibility of all applicants submitting proposals via 
the Grants.gov web portal to ensure that proposals have been received 
by Grants.gov in their entirety, and ECA bears no responsibility for 
data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.
    IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of Applications: Executive Order 
12372 does not apply to this program.

V. Application Review Information

    V.1. Review Process. The Bureau will review all proposals for 
technical eligibility. Proposals will be deemed ineligible if they do 
not fully adhere to the guidelines stated herein and in the 
Solicitation Package. All eligible proposals will be reviewed by the 
program office, as well as the Public Diplomacy section overseas, where 
appropriate. Eligible proposals will be subject to compliance with 
Federal and Bureau regulations and guidelines and forwarded to Bureau 
grant panels for advisory review. Proposals may also be reviewed by the 
Office of the Legal Adviser or by other Department elements. Final 
funding decisions are at the discretion of the Department of State's 
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final 
technical authority for cooperative agreements resides with the 
Bureau's Grants Officer.

Review Criteria

    Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed 
according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are not rank 
ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation:
    1. Quality of the program idea: Proposals should exhibit 
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's 
mission as well as the objectives of the Community College Initiative 
for Egypt. Proposals should demonstrate an understanding of Egypt and 
of the needs of Egyptian students as related to the program goals. A 
detailed agenda and relevant work plan should demonstrate substantive 
undertakings and logistical capacity for students placed in field-
related clusters. The agenda and plan should adhere to the program 
overview and guidelines described above.
    2. Ability to achieve program objectives: Objectives should be 
reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly 
demonstrate how the institution will meet the Community College 
Initiative for Egypt's objectives and plan and should address each 
program component.
    3. Multiplier effect/impact: Proposals should strengthen long-term 
mutual understanding, including maximum sharing of information and 
individual

[[Page 5902]]

linkages. The proposed strategy should maximize the Program's potential 
to maintain community college links with Egyptian alumni.
    4. 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).
    5. Institutional Capacity and Ability: Proposed personnel and 
institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve 
the program's goals. Proposals should describe the applicant's 
knowledge of, or prior experience with, students from Egypt, and the 
applicant's experience in educating students in the targeted subject 
fields. Proposals should demonstrate an institutional record of 
successful exchange programs involving the hosting of international 
students, including responsible fiscal management and full compliance 
with all reporting requirements for past Bureau grants or cooperative 
agreements. The Bureau will consider the past performance of prior 
recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants.
    6. Follow-on Activities: Proposals should provide a plan for 
continued follow-on activity (without Bureau support) ensuring that 
Bureau supported programs are not isolated events. Activities should 
include tracking and maintaining updated lists of all alumni and 
facilitating follow-up activities with alumni, including electronic 
list serves.
    7. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan and 
methodology to evaluate the program's degree of success in meeting 
program objectives, 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. Successful applicants will be 
expected to submit intermediate reports after each project component is 
concluded, or quarterly, whichever is less frequent.
    8. 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 institutional direct 
funding contributions and private sector support. Budget estimates 
should be as accurate as possible over the full period of the 
cooperative agreement.

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 or cooperative agreement 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) Quarterly financial reports;
    (2) Annual program reports for the first and second year of the 
agreement;
    (3) And a final program and financial report no more than 90 days 
after the expiration of the award.
    Cooperating organizations will be required to provide reports 
analyzing their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular 
program reports. (Please refer to IV. Application and Submission 
Instructions (IV.3.d.3) above for Program Monitoring and Evaluation 
information).
    All data collected, including survey responses and contact 
information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years and 
provided to the Bureau upon request.
    All reports must be sent to the ECA Grants Officer and ECA Program 
Officer listed in the final assistance award document.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: Karene Grad, Office 
of Global Educational Programs, ECA/A/S/U, Room 349, ECA/A/S/U-08-03, 
U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20547, telephone 202-453-8643, fax 202-453-8891, e-mail 
[email protected].
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number ECA/A/S/U-08-03.
    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: January 23, 2008.
C. Miller Crouch,
Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. E8-1752 Filed 1-30-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P