[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 50 (Thursday, March 13, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13603-13608]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5040]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6131]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: English Language Teaching (ELT) Materials Development 
Project and English Language Educators Summer Institute

    Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/L-08-02.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000.
    Key Dates: Application Deadline: May 13, 2008.
    Executive Summary: The Office of English Language Programs of the 
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open 
competition for the English Language Teaching (ELT) Materials 
Development Project and English Language Educators Summer Institute in 
July 2009. U.S. public and private universities, colleges, community 
colleges and other organizations meeting the provisions described in 
Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) may submit proposals 
to provide the following: (1) The development of English language 
materials suitable to Office of English Language Programs' goals and 
(2) the design and administration of a three-week professional 
development program for assessing English language teaching materials 
for possible adoption into English language teaching programs overseas. 
For the ELT Materials Development Project, the recipient will develop 
English Language Teaching materials (print, audio, and online) to 
become part of the collection of the Office of English Language 
Programs for use overseas. These should reflect current academic best 
practices and educational priorities. More detailed information about 
the ELT materials to be developed under this cooperative agreement is 
detailed in the Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI).
    For the English Language Educators Summer Institute to take place 
in 2009, the recipient will design and administer a three-week 
professional development program for experienced secondary school and 
university English language teachers drawn from countries served by 
U.S. Department of State Regional English Language Officers based 
overseas.
    The focus of the English Language Educators Summer Institute is to 
familiarize participants with the newly authored materials (created as 
part of this cooperative agreement), selected

[[Page 13604]]

Office of English Language Program publications, U.S. student-centered 
teaching methods, various materials illustrating U.S. society, culture 
and diversity, and the role of materials in the language classroom. The 
exchange experience should also give participants an in-depth 
experience of American life and culture and contribute to mutual 
understanding between participants' countries and the United States. 
The program should include both a theoretical component, provided 
through professional development seminars in an academic setting, and a 
practical component, provided through hands on experience assessing and 
working with selected titles from the Office of English Language 
Programs. Participants should also create or adapt English language 
teaching materials suitable for their local context. Applicant 
organizations should have a demonstrated ability to conduct a 
substantive academic program, develop English language materials, and 
manage logistical and administrative aspects of the program.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Authority

    Overall grant making authority for this program is contained in the 
Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended, 
Public Law 87-256, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act. The purpose of 
the Act is ``to enable the Government of the United States to increase 
mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the 
people of other countries * * *; to strengthen the ties which unite us 
with other nations by demonstrating the educational and cultural 
interests, developments, and achievements of the people of the United 
States and other nations * * * and thus to assist in the development of 
friendly, sympathetic, and peaceful relations between the United States 
and the other countries of the world.'' The funding authority for the 
program above is provided through legislation.

Purpose

    The purpose of this cooperative agreement is two-fold: 1) 
development of English language materials appropriate to the Office of 
English Language Programs' goals and 2) design and administration of a 
three-week English Language Educators Summer Institute with a focus on 
materials assessment and techniques for participants on how to 
incorporate Office of English Language Programs' materials into English 
language teaching programs in their home countries.
    The English Language Teaching Materials Development Project for the 
Office of English Language Programs will allow U.S. missions and 
programs overseas to provide low-cost, high-quality English language 
teaching (ELT) materials that demonstrate current best practices in the 
field appropriate for global audiences.
    The follow-on English Language Educators Summer Institute in 2009 
will bring approximately twenty-six in-service teachers of English from 
public institutions (secondary schools and universities) from regions 
overseas to the U.S. to learn about the role of materials in the 
language learning classroom--specifically: selecting, assessing, using, 
and supplementing materials with available resources (internet, realia, 
articles etc.), as well as incorporating these materials into U.S.-
style student-centered teaching methods. Following their program, the 
participants will return to their home institutions.
    This program is designed to assist educators in their classroom 
pedagogy and to provide these educators with an in-depth exchange 
experience in the United States. It is intended that this experience 
will provide a basis for participants' continuing contact with American 
counterparts in order to promote mutual understanding.

Guidelines

    The English Language Teaching Materials Development Project 
component of the cooperative agreement will focus on publications 
relevant and appropriate to ECA/A/L's ongoing English language 
programming efforts around the world. The effort should focus on 
updating existing materials and creating supplemental materials (print, 
audio, and online use) for our current titles. Selection of titles to 
expand will be made by the Office of English Language Programs in 
consultation with the recipient.
    The Department of State will retain full foreign ownership to the 
text that is prepared including the right to print, publish, repurpose, 
and distribute the text in all media including electronic media, and in 
all languages and editions.
    The follow-on English Language Educators Summer Institute should 
provide participants with thorough exposure to the new materials, their 
use in the classroom, and student-centered teaching approaches as well 
as a substantive cultural/educational exchange experience in the United 
States. The participants will be selected by the Office of English 
Language Programs in consultation with Regional English Language Offers 
(RELOs) and Public Affairs Officers (PAOs) at U.S. embassies.
    The recipient should provide substantive information for the pre-
departure briefing materials about the program, the program's goals, 
and expectations of participants. This information should be conveyed 
electronically via email or fax for optimum efficiency. The recipient 
should also design a framework for integrating the professional 
development component and its objectives to reflect the participants' 
previous education and experience, and promote strategies for 
participants to share their knowledge with professional counterparts 
and with students in their classrooms. To help in the design of this 
framework, organizers should seek participants' input about the needs 
of local educators in pre- and in-service positions with regards to 
materials, curricula, and teaching practices.
    It is anticipated that the cooperative agreement will begin on or 
about July 1, 2008, and the recipient should complete all exchange 
activities by December 31, 2009. The exchange program will take place 
in July 2009. Please refer to additional program specific guidelines in 
the Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI) document.

II. Award Information:

    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement.
    ECA's level of involvement in this program is listed under number I 
above.
    Fiscal Year Funds: 2008.
    Approximate Total Funding: $500,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 1.
    Approximate Average Award: $500,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: July 1, 2008.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: December 31, 2009.
    Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of this 
program and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, it is 
ECA's intent to renew this cooperative agreement for two additional 
fiscal years, before openly competing it again. Pending availability of 
funds in future fiscal years, the size of the award may increase.

III. Eligibility Information

    III.1. Eligible applicants: Applications may be submitted by U.S. 
public and private universities, colleges, community colleges and other 
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

[[Page 13605]]

percentage required for this competition. However, the Bureau 
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 cooperative agreement. Cost 
sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For 
accountability, you must maintain written records to support all costs 
which are claimed as your contribution, as well as costs to be paid by 
the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. The basis 
for determining the value of cash and in-kind contributions must be in 
accordance with OMB Circular A-110, (Revised), Subpart C.23--Cost 
Sharing and Matching. In the event you do not provide the minimum 
amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget, ECA's 
contribution will be reduced in like proportion.
    III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements: Bureau grant guidelines 
require that organizations with less than four years experience in 
conducting international exchanges be limited to $60,000 in Bureau 
funding. ECA anticipates awarding one cooperative agreement, in an 
amount up to $500,000 to support program and administrative costs 
required to implement the ELT Materials Development Project and English 
Language Educators Summer Institute. Amount available for program and 
administration of English Language Educators Summer Institute estimated 
at $200,000. Therefore, organizations with less than four years 
experience in conducting international exchanges are ineligible to 
apply under this competition. The Bureau encourages applicants to 
provide maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in support of its 
programs.

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: Please 
contact Maria Snarski of the Office of English Language Programs, ECA/
A/L, Room 304, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20547, telephone: (202) 453-8841, fax: (202) 453-8858, 
e-mail: [email protected] to request a Solicitation Package. Please 
refer to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/L-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 Maria Snarski, telephone: (202) 453-8841, and refer 
to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/l-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 original and seven copies 
of the application should be submitted per the instructions under 
IV.3f. ``Application Deadline and Methods of Submission'' section 
below.
    IV.3a. You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal 
Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative 
agreement from the U.S. Government. This number is a nine-digit 
identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities. 
Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a 
DUNS number, access http://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-
5711. Please ensure that your DUNS number is included in the 
appropriate box of the SF-424 which is part of the formal application 
package.
    IV.3b. All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal 
narrative and budget.
    Please Refer to the Solicitation Package. It contains the mandatory 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document and the Project 
Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) document for additional 
formatting and technical requirements.
    IV.3c. You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of 
application. If your organization is a private nonprofit which has not 
received a grant or cooperative agreement from ECA in the past three 
years, or if your organization received nonprofit status from the IRS 
within the past four years, you must submit the necessary documentation 
to verify nonprofit status as directed in the PSI document. Failure to 
do so will cause your proposal to be declared technically ineligible.
    IV.3d. Please take into consideration the following information 
when preparing your proposal narrative:
    IV.3d.1 Adherence to All Regulations Governing the J Visa. The 
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is placing renewed emphasis 
on the secure and proper administration of Exchange Visitor (J visa) 
Programs and adherence by grantees and sponsors to all regulations 
governing the J visa. Therefore, proposals should demonstrate the 
applicant's capacity to meet all requirements governing the 
administration of the Exchange Visitor Programs as set forth in 22 CFR 
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 recipient 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 the 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

[[Page 13606]]

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 recipient 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.)
    The cooperative agreement recipient 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.3.d.4. Describe your plans for staffing: Please provide a 
staffing plan which outlines the responsibilities of each staff person 
and explains which staff member will be accountable for each program 
responsibility. The Office of English Programs requests that at least 
one member of the staff should be well versed in current methodology of 
teaching English as a foreign language preferably holding an advanced 
degree in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), applied 
linguistics or a related field. In depth knowledge of best practices in 
the English language teaching (ELT) field is preferable. Wherever 
possible please streamline administrative processes.
    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. The budget should not exceed $300,000 for both the ELT 
Materials Development Project and $200,000 for the English Language 
Educators Summer Institute program and administrative costs. There must 
be a summary budget as well as breakdowns reflecting both 
administrative and program budgets for host campus and foreign teacher 
involvement in the program. Applicants may provide separate sub-budgets 
for each program component, phase, location, or activity to provide 
clarification.
    The summary and detailed administrative and program budgets should 
be accompanied by a narrative which provides a brief rationale for each 
line item including a methodology for estimating appropriate average 
maintenance allowance levels and tuition costs (as applicable) for the 
participants, and the number that can be accommodated at the levels 
proposed. The total administrative costs funded by the Bureau must be 
reasonable and appropriate.
    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: May 13, 2008.
    Reference Number: ECA/A/L-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,

[[Page 13607]]

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 seven 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/X-07-02, 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 the appropriate Public Affairs 
Section(s) at the U.S. embassy(ies) for its(their) review.
IV.3f.2 Submitting Electronic Applications
    Applicants have the option of submitting proposals electronically 
through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov). Complete solicitation 
packages are available at Grants.gov in the ``Find'' portion of the 
system. Please follow the instructions available in the ``Get Started'' 
portion of the site (http://www.grants.gov/GetStarted).
    Several of the steps in the Grants.gov registration process could 
take several weeks. Therefore, applicants should check with appropriate 
staff within their organizations immediately after reviewing this RFGP 
to confirm or determine their registration status with Grants.gov. Once 
registered, the amount of time it can take to upload an application 
will vary depending on a variety of factors including the size of the 
application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we 
strongly recommend that you not wait until the application deadline to 
begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
    Direct all questions regarding Grants.gov registration and 
submission to:
    Grants.gov Customer Support.
    Contact Center Phone: 800-518-4726.
    Business Hours: Monday-Friday, 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 and Fulbright Commission overseas. 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 (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. Program Development and Management: The proposal narrative 
should exhibit originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the 
Bureau's mission as well as the objectives of the ELT Materials 
Development Project and English Language Educators Summer Institute. It 
should include an effective, feasible plan and clearly demonstrate how 
the institution will meet the program's objectives.
    2. Multiplier effect/impact: The proposed program should strengthen 
long-term mutual understanding, including maximum sharing of 
information and establishment of long-term institutional and individual 
linkages.
    3. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive 
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Achievable and relevant 
features should be cited in both program administration (selection of 
participants, program venue and program evaluation) and program content 
(orientation and wrap-up sessions, program meetings, resource materials 
and follow-up activities).
    4. Institutional Capacity and Record: Proposals should demonstrate 
an institutional record of successful exchange programs, including 
responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting 
requirements for past Bureau grants as determined by Bureau Grants 
Staff. The successful proposal will demonstrate the organization's 
experience in international educational exchange and intensive 
programs, and an understanding of international differences of culture, 
religion, and system of education. The Bureau will consider the past 
performance of prior recipients and the demonstrated potential of new 
applicants.

[[Page 13608]]

    5. Follow-on and Alumni Activities: ECA's office of Alumni Affairs 
is the leading agency for alumni activities and as such, all suggested 
alumni activity for participants should dovetail with Alumni Affairs' 
initiatives. Proposals should provide a plan for continued follow-on 
activity ensuring that the English Language Educators Summer Institute 
is not an isolated event. Activities should include tracking and 
maintaining updated lists of all alumni. These lists should be 
available for the Office of Alumni Affairs.
    6. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate 
the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of 
the program. A draft survey questionnaire or other technique plus 
description of a methodology to use to link outcomes to original 
project objectives is recommended.
    7. Cost-effectiveness and 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.

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

VI.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    Terms and Conditions for the Administration of ECA agreements 
include the following:

Office of Management and Budget Circular A-122, ``Cost Principles for 
Nonprofit Organizations.''
Office of Management and Budget Circular A-21, ``Cost Principles for 
Educational Institutions.''
OMB Circular A-87, ``Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian 
Governments''.
OMB Circular No. A-110 (Revised), Uniform Administrative Requirements 
for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, 
Hospitals, and other Nonprofit Organizations.
OMB Circular No. A-102, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants-
in-Aid to State and Local Governments.
OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of States, Local Government, and Non-
profit Organizations

    Please reference the following Web sites for additional 
information: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants. http://exchanges.state.gov/education/grantsdiv/terms.htm#articleI.
    VI.3. Reporting Requirements: You must provide ECA with a hard copy 
original plus one copy of the following reports:
    (1) A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after 
the expiration of the award; and
    (2) Quarterly program and financial reports.
    The recipient 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 Federal Assistance Award.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: Maria Snarski, 
Office of English Language Programs, ECA/A/L, Room 304, ECA/A/L-08-02, 
U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20547, telephone: 202-453-8841, fax 202-453-8858, [email protected].
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number ECA/A/L-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: March 4, 2008.
C. Miller Crouch,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Bureau 
of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. E8-5040 Filed 3-12-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P