[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 70 (Thursday, April 10, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19556-19565]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-7624]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6172]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Arts Exchanges on International Issues Announcement 
Type: New Grants

    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/CU-08-43.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000

    Key Dates:
    Application Deadline: May 22, 2008.
    Executive Summary: The Cultural Programs Division of the Office of 
Citizen Exchanges, in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs 
announces an open competition for grants to implement programs that 
utilize the arts to engage civil society--particularly youth and 
diverse and underserved populations--and that foster linkages and build 
partnerships between U.S. and overseas non-profit arts and cultural 
organizations, and local communities. These international arts exchange 
projects will encourage democracy building by demonstrating 
opportunities for freedom of thought and expression and by underscoring 
the importance of empowerment in an open society. The Bureau 
anticipates that approximately 1,250,000 will be available to support 
this competition. ECA/PE/C/CU expects to fund approximately two to four 
projects under this competition in FY-2008. Public and non-profit arts 
and cultural organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal 
Revenue code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) may submit proposals that 
support the goals of the Arts Exchanges on International Issues 
Program. As applicable, programs should include two-way exchanges of 
participants from the U.S. and foreign countries.
    Proposed projects should transform institutional and individual 
understanding of key international, arts and/or cultural issues, foster 
dialogue, develop professional expertise and develop leadership 
capacity. Through these people-to-people exchanges, the Bureau seeks to 
reach out to young people, counter negative perceptions, promote good 
governance, contribute to conflict prevention and management, and build 
respect for cultural expression and identity in the world. Projects 
should be structured to encourage American professionals and their 
international counterparts in eligible countries to develop a common 
dialogue for dealing with shared challenges and concerns. The Bureau is 
especially interested in engaging socially and economically diverse 
groups that may not have had extensive contact with counterpart 
institutions in the United States.
    Applicants may only submit one proposal under this open 
competition. An applicant may not include in its project proposal 
countries not eligible under each specific theme as designated in the 
RFGP. Proposals that contain countries that are not listed under each 
theme in the RFGP will be considered technically ineligible, and will 
not receive further consideration in the review process.
    For this competition, all eligible organizations must demonstrate a 
minimum of five years' experience successfully conducting international 
arts exchange programs that involved the exchange of participants.
    The Bureau is interested in receiving proposals from organizations 
with a strong interest, thematic expertise, institutional commitment 
and a successful track-record in conducting international exchanges. We 
welcome proposals from organizations that have not previously received 
ECA funding. Organizations that have the expertise, interest and 
institutional commitment but lack the required experience of conducting 
exchanges may wish to consider developing proposals based on consortia-
type relationships with more experienced, eligible organizations. 
Please note that for these proposals, the role of each organization 
must be clearly defined and any sub-granting agreements must be 
included in the proposal submission.

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: This grant competition is based on the premise that 
people-to-people exchanges encourage and strengthen understanding of 
democratic values and nurture the cultural and social growth of 
societies. Under this premise, the Bureau seeks proposals for projects 
in which U.S. visual artists and arts educators work with their 
counterparts overseas to create mutually beneficial and self-sustaining 
partnerships between cultural

[[Page 19557]]

organizations and/or professional communities. Proposals that show 
strong prospects for enhancing existing long-term collaborations or 
establishing new collaborative efforts among participating 
organizations. Proposals with a finished product will be deemed more 
competitive under the program planning criterion listed below.
    The two project themes for which the Bureau will accept proposals 
under this competition are as follows: (1) Mixed Visual Artistic 
Mediums: Cultural Exchange Between American Indigenous and Minority 
Artists and Indigenous and Afro-Latino Artists from Latin and Central 
America; and (2) Mixed Visual Artistic Mediums: Cultural Exchange 
Between American Women Artists and Women Artists from Africa and/or the 
Middle East.
    Under this grant program, U.S. non-profit organizations will 
conduct projects in cooperation with the Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs, Cultural Programs Division on the themes listed 
above, with their counterparts in the world regions described under 
each project theme. Interested applicants will need to read each of the 
following theme descriptions below in order to determine the eligible 
counties of exchange for each theme. No guarantee is made or implied 
that grants will be awarded in both themes and in all targeted 
countries.
    In addition to describing extensive expertise in the specific 
thematic area, proposals should reflect a practical understanding of 
global issues, and demonstrate sensitivity to cultural, political, 
economic and social differences in the specific world regions in which 
the exchange project will occur. Special attention should be given to 
describing the applicant organization's experience with planning and 
implementing people-to-people international cultural exchange projects. 
Applicants should outline their project team's capacity for 
successfully implementing projects of this nature and provide a 
detailed sample program and time line to illustrate planning capacity 
and ability to achieve program objectives. Applicants must identify all 
U.S. and foreign partner organizations and/or venues with whom they are 
proposing to collaborate, and describe previous cooperative projects in 
the section on ``Institutional Capacity.'' For this competition, 
applicants must include in their proposal supporting materials or 
documentation that demonstrates a minimum of five years' experience in 
conducting international arts exchange programs. Proposals must include 
references with name and contact information for other assistance 
awards the applicant has received in the event the Bureau chooses to be 
in touch directly.
    U.S. Embassy Involvement: Before submitting a proposal, applicants 
are strongly encouraged to consult with the Bureau's Cultural Programs 
Division in Washington, DC--for the themes/regions listed in this 
solicitation. It is important that the proposal narrative clearly state 
the applicant's commitment to consult closely with the Public Affairs 
Section of the U.S. Embassy in the relevant country(ies) to develop 
plans for project implementation and to select project participants. 
Proposals should also acknowledge U.S. Embassy involvement in the final 
selection of all participants. Applicants should state their 
willingness to invite representatives of the Embassy(ies) and/or 
consulate(s) to participate in program sessions or site visits.
    For the 2008 Arts Exchanges on International Issues Program, U.S. 
non-profit organizations may submit grant proposals for either one of 
the two project themes and countries of exchange that are listed below. 
Please note that for additional information about this grant 
competition, a contact program officer is listed under each of the 
following two themes:
1. Mixed Visual Artistic Mediums
    Two-way cultural exchange between American indigenous and minority 
artists and indigenous and Afro-Latino artists from countries in Latin 
and Central America.
    Program Contact: E.J. Montgomery, tel: (202) 203-7520, e-mail: 
[email protected] with copy to: [email protected].
    Project Goals:
    ECA seeks programs that will bring together emerging foreign and 
U.S. indigenous and Afro-Latino professional artists to address common 
issues facing them and express their reactions to these issues through 
multiple, mixed artistic media. The program should focus on the 
challenges faced by minorities in the modern world and how minority 
artists can use art for self-expression and as a way to engage others 
in the community to address challenges facing minorities. The program 
should also help the artists develop a deeper understanding of 
themselves as artists and as opinion shapers and community leaders. 
Issues to be examined/explored include: identity, diversity, 
educational opportunities, role of indigenous and Afro-Latino 
minorities within a multi-ethnic society, minorities as artists, 
censorship, and artistic/professional development. The program should 
explore similarities and unique qualities of members of minority 
populations and focus on how art can be used to promote tolerance and 
respect for diversity.
    Participants:
    Participants (foreign and U.S.) should be emerging indigenous and 
Afro-Latino artists from the U.S. and selected countries in Latin and 
Central America whose artistic disciplines include photography, 
painting, mural art, textile & fiber art, or small sculpture. They 
should have demonstrated a commitment to their profession as well as to 
positively influencing their communities, particularly other minorities 
and youth. A diverse mix of participants from a variety of countries in 
Latin and Central America is desired.
    Participant Selection:
    Foreign participants will be nominated in two ways: By the 
Department of State through a call for nominations from U.S. Embassies 
and posts, and; by the grantee organization, which will utilize its own 
network of contacts overseas (including museums, minority organizations 
and artistic associations) and its own resources (such as visiting U.S. 
artists) to make a concurrent call for nominations. The American 
participants will be selected via a competitive process that will 
include an open call for applications in the U.S. All participant 
applications will be reviewed by a panel organized and convoked by the 
grantee organization and consisting of artists and art professionals, 
and an ECA representative as an observer. Procedures for the nomination 
and for selection of participants and panel members must be detailed in 
the proposal. ECA will review and approve nominees (foreign and U.S.) 
prior to and following panel consideration, in consultation with posts.
    Eligible Countries:
    ECA is particularly interested in projects in the following 
countries: Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guatemala, Peru and 
Nicaragua.
    Successful programs will achieve the following:

--Provide participants with a deeper understanding of issues facing 
minorities in Latin and Central America and in the U.S. This may 
include the role and identity of minorities in their particular 
cultures and how this affects their ability to reach the desired level 
of professional and personal development. The program should also 
develop and explore tools that will permit participants to address 
these issues.
--Provide participants an understanding of how international cultural

[[Page 19558]]

exchange and networking can positively influence their lives and those 
of others and provide them the tools to accomplish successful 
networking.
--Provide participants with an appreciation and a greater understanding 
and respect for diverse cultures--focusing specifically on U.S. society 
and culture. Provide them a greater understanding of the similarities, 
including shared values between the U.S. and the foreign country(ies).
--Enhance participant leadership capacity and their ability to initiate 
and support follow-on activities in their home countries intended to 
empower other minorities.
--Provide a platform for cross-cultural dialogue and develop enduring 
professional ties between U.S. and foreign artists.
    Successful applicants must fully demonstrate a capacity to achieve 
the following:
    (1) Work jointly with foreign and U.S. partners and/or contacts to 
design, develop, and execute a multi-lingual, multi-regional, 
international program of exchanges, professional development, artistic 
enrichment and cross-cultural dialogue that achieves the goals 
described above.
    (2) Identify, screen, recruit and select approximately 10 to 16 
indigenous and Afro-Latino artists from specified countries in Latin 
and Central America (at least 2 participants from each country) and 
between 5-8 artists from the U.S. fitting the above description.
    (3) Provide a sound infrastructure for coordination and 
implementation of the entire program. This refers to both substantive 
and administrative components of the program, including but not limited 
to: fellowship and workshops content and organization, travel, housing, 
orientation, visa applications, and language interpretation. Successful 
applicants will also have U.S. and/or Latin and Central America 
partners able and willing to provide cost-sharing (including in-kind) 
in order to cover program costs.
    (4) Design, build and implement intensive one- to two-week visual 
arts programs in the foreign countries and three- to four-week visual 
arts programs in the U.S. that will achieve program objectives.
    (5) Develop enhancement activities and opportunities that reinforce 
program goals after the participants return to their home countries. 
Follow-on components could be public presentations by program 
participants.
    Possible Program Model:
    1. In the first phase of the program selected American visual 
artists will travel to Latin and Central America for a one- to two-week 
program to meet with counterparts and to conduct workshops with young 
emerging artists in the selected countries. The program should include 
visits to local universities and visual arts or other cultural partner 
institutions as well as events that engage broader audiences of 
minorities and youth from diverse and underserved populations. Through 
this interaction, the U.S. grantee will identify artists from the 
region as possible candidates for the U.S.-based program. Concurrently, 
overseas posts will also be making nominations. Final selection of 
foreign participants will then be made as described above.
    2. In phase two of the program, the selected foreign artists will 
travel to the U.S. to participate in a three- to- four week 
collaborative visual arts program with their American counterparts. The 
program should provide an overview of the role of minorities in the 
selected participant countries and the U.S. and the visual art 
techniques and traditions used by them to express identity. It should 
provide an opportunity for analysis, exploration and dialogue. It 
should include workshops and master classes that explore the role of 
art in self-expression and identity, underscore the importance of 
education for minorities, and inform about the resources available to 
artists. Participants should also have the opportunity to visit places 
of cultural interest in the visual arts field where they can interact 
with other artists. Through visits to community centers and other 
social venues, they should also have been provided an opportunity to 
engage broader audiences from diverse and underserved populations.
    3. In phase three of the program, grantee organizes a public 
exhibition of the collaborative work or individual pieces produced by 
the participants during their fellowship that reflect themes about 
minorities and identity explored through the fellowship.
    4. In phase four, the foreign participants return to their 
countries. Follow-on components to the program could be a virtual 
exhibit on the website of the work done by the artists during their 
fellowship and the opportunity to continue to network with other artist 
participants and engage the local communities.
    5. This model cycle would be repeated, with the expectation that 
the grantee will seek to involve first cycle participants in some 
elements of the second year's program.
2. Mixed Visual Artistic Mediums
    Two-way cultural exchange between American Women artists and Women 
artists from countries in the Middle East and/or Africa.
    Program Contact: E.J. Montgomery, tel: (202) 203-7520, e-mail: 
[email protected] with copy to [email protected].
    Project Goals:
    ECA seeks programs that will bring together emerging foreign and 
U.S. professional women artists to address common issues facing women 
as expressed through multiple, mixed artistic media. The program should 
focus on the challenges faced by women in the modern world and how 
female artists can use art for self-expression and as a way to engage 
others in the community to address challenges facing them. The program 
should also help the artists develop a deeper understanding of 
themselves as artists and as opinion shapers and community leaders. 
Issues to be examined/ explored include: identity, censorship, equal 
rights, educational opportunities, violence against women, the roles of 
women in society, women as artists, and artistic/professional 
development. The program should focus on how art can promote tolerance 
and respect for women.
    Participants:
    Participants should be emerging women artists from the U.S. and 
selected countries in the Middle East and/or Africa whose artistic 
disciplines include photography, painting, mural art, textile and fiber 
art, or small sculpture. They should have demonstrated a commitment to 
their profession as well as to positively influencing their 
communities, particularly other women and youth. A diverse mix of 
participants from a variety of countries in the Middle East and/or 
Africa regions is suggested.
    Participant Selection:
    Foreign participants will be nominated in two ways: By ECA through 
a call for nominations from U.S. Embassies and posts, and; by the 
grantee organization, which will utilize its own network of contacts 
overseas (including museums, minority organizations and artistic 
associations) and its own resources (such as visiting U.S. artists) to 
make a concurrent call for nominations. The American participants will 
be selected via a competitive process that includes an open call for 
applications in the U.S. All participant applications will be reviewed 
by a panel organized and convoked by the grantee organization and 
consisting of artists and art professionals, and an ECA representative 
as an observer.

[[Page 19559]]

Procedures for the nomination and for selection of participants and 
panel members must be detailed in the proposal. ECA will review and 
approve nominees (foreign and U.S.) prior to and following panel 
consideration in consultation with posts.

Eligible Countries

    ECA seeks projects in the Middle East and/or Africa.
    Successful programs will achieve the following:

--Provide participants a deeper understanding of issues facing women in 
the Middle East and/or Africa and in the U.S. This may include the role 
and identity of women in their particular cultures and how this affects 
their ability to reach the desired level of professional and personal 
development. The program should also develop and explore tools that 
will permit participants to address these issues.
--Provide participants an understanding of how international cultural 
exchange and networking can positively influence their lives and those 
of others and provide them the tools to accomplish successful 
networking.
--Provide participants with an appreciation and a greater understanding 
and respect for diverse cultures--focusing specifically on U.S. society 
and culture. Provide them a greater understanding of the similarities, 
including shared values between the U.S. and the foreign country(ies).
--Enhance participant leadership capacity and their ability to initiate 
and support follow-on activities in their home countries intended to 
empower other women.
--Provide a platform for cross cultural dialogue and for developing 
enduring professional ties between U.S. and foreign artists.

    Successful applicants must fully demonstrate a capacity to achieve 
the following:
    (1) Work jointly with foreign and U.S. partners and contacts to 
design, develop, and execute a multi-lingual, multi-regional, 
international program of exchanges, professional development, artistic 
enrichment and cross-cultural dialogue that achieves the goals 
described above.
    (2) Identify, screen, recruit and select approximately 10 to 16 
women throughout countries in the Middle East and/or Africa (at least 2 
participants from each country) and between 5-8 artists from the U.S. 
fitting the above description.
    (3) Provide a sound infrastructure for coordination and 
implementation of the entire program. This refers to both substantive 
and administrative components of the program, including but not limited 
to: Fellowship and workshop content and organization, travel, housing, 
orientation, visa applications, and language interpretation. Successful 
applicants will also have partners in the U.S. and/or Middle East and 
Africa that are able and willing to provide cost-sharing (including in-
kind) in order to cover program costs.
    (4) Design, build and implement intensive one- to two-week visual 
arts programs in the foreign countries and three- to four-week visual 
arts programs in the U.S. that will achieve program objectives.
    (5) Develop enhancement activities and opportunities that reinforce 
program goals after the participants return to their home countries. 
Follow-on components could be public presentations by program 
participants.
    Possible Program Model:
    1. In the first phase of the program selected American visual 
artists will travel to the Middle East and/or Africa for a one- to two-
week program to meet with counterparts and to conduct workshops with 
young emerging artists in the selected countries. The program should 
include visits to local universities and visual arts partner 
institutions as well as events that engage broader audiences of women 
and youth from diverse and underserved populations. At this time the 
U.S. grantee and the Middle Eastern and African partners will identify 
women from the region to participate in the U.S. based program. 
Concurrently, overseas posts will also be making nominations. Final 
selection of foreign participants will then be made as described above.
    2. In phase two of the program, the selected foreign artists will 
travel to the U.S. for a three- to four-week program to participate in 
collaborative visual arts projects with their American counterparts. 
The program should provide an overview of the role of women in the 
selected participant countries and the U.S. and the visual art 
techniques and traditions used by them to express identity. It should 
provide an opportunity for analysis, exploration and dialogue. It 
should include workshops and master classes that explore the role of 
art in self-expression and identity, underscore the importance of 
education for women and inform about the resources available to 
artists. Participants should also have the opportunity to visit places 
of cultural interest in the visual arts field where they can interact 
with other artists. Through visits to community centers and other 
social venues, they should also have been provided an opportunity to 
engage broader audiences from diverse and underserved populations.
    3. In phase three of the program, the grantee organizes a public 
program to include an exhibition of the collaborative work or 
individual pieces produced by the participants during their fellowship 
that reflect themes about women and their identity explored through the 
fellowship.
    4. In phase four the foreign participants return to their 
countries. Follow-on components to the program could be a virtual 
exhibit on the website of the work done by the women during their 
fellowship and the opportunity to continue to network with other artist 
participants and engage the local communities.
    5. This model cycle would be repeated, with the expectation that 
the grantee will seek to involve first cycle participants in some 
elements of the second year's program.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Grant Agreement.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY-2008.
    Approximate Total Funding: $1,250,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 2-4 awards.
    Approximate Average Award: $450,000.
    Floor of Award Range: $200,000.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $600,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: August 15, 2008.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: August 30, 2010.
    Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of this 
program and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, it is 
ECA's intent to renew this grant for two additional fiscal years, 
before openly competing it again.

III. Eligibility Information

    III.1. Eligible applicants: Applications may be submitted by public 
and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described 
in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3).
    III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds: There is no minimum or 
maximum percentage required for this competition. However, the Bureau 
strongly encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost 
sharing and funding in support of its programs.
    When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the 
applicant must provide the amount of

[[Page 19560]]

cost sharing as stipulated in its proposal and later included in an 
approved grant agreement. Cost sharing may be in the form of allowable 
direct or indirect costs. For accountability, you must maintain written 
records to support all costs that are claimed as your contribution, as 
well as costs to be paid by the Federal government. Such records are 
subject to audit. The basis for determining the value of cash and in-
kind contributions must be in accordance with OMB Circular A-110, 
(Revised), Subpart C.23--Cost Sharing and Matching. In the event you do 
not provide the minimum amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the 
approved budget, ECA's contribution will be reduced in like proportion. 
Organizations that provide no cost-sharing will be deemed not 
competitive under the Cost Effectiveness and Cost-Sharing Review 
criterion.
    III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements:
    (a.) Bureau grant guidelines require that organizations with less 
than four years experience in conducting international exchanges be 
limited to $60,000 in Bureau funding. Under this competition, ECA 
anticipates awarding grants in the range of $200,000-$600,000. 
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 the maximum 
levels of cost sharing and funding in support of its programs.
    (b.) Technical Eligibility: In addition to the requirements 
outlined in the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) technical format 
instructions document, all proposals must comply with the following or 
they will result in your proposal being declared technically ineligible 
and given no further consideration in the review process.
    1. The Office does not support proposals limited to conferences or 
seminars (i.e., one- to fourteen-day programs with plenary sessions, 
main speakers, panels and passive audiences). It will support 
conferences only when they are a small part of a larger project in 
duration that is receiving Bureau funding from this competition.
    2. No funding is available exclusively to send U.S. citizens to 
conferences or conference-type seminars overseas; nor is funding 
available for bringing foreign nationals to conferences or to routine 
professional association meetings in the United States.
    3. The Office of Citizen Exchanges does not support academic 
research or faculty or student fellowships.
    4. Proposals for projects involving countries/regions, themes and/
or artistic disciplines not listed in the RFGP will be deemed 
technically ineligible. Please carefully read the eligible countries 
listed under each theme.
    5. No funding is available to send individual artists, arts 
educators, filmmakers and/or amateur arts groups to perform or study 
overseas.
    The Arts Exchanges on International Issues Program is solely 
intended to support the international exchange work of non-profit 
organizations. Our grant program is not open to amateur or community-
based visual artists. Individuals are not eligible to apply for funding 
of their own work. While our program emphasizes outreach to youth, all 
exchange participants must be at least 21 years of age.

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 LaFaye Proctor, Cultural Programs Division, ECA/
PE/C/CU, Room 568, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20547, phone number: (202) 203-7488; e-mail: 
[email protected] to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to 
the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/CU-08-43 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.
    Please specify the program theme and program officer listed under 
each theme and refer to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/CU-08-
43 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 for additional 
formatting and technical requirements.
    IV.3c. You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of 
application.

    Please note: Effective March 14, 2008, all applicants for ECA 
federal assistance awards must include with their application, a 
copy of page 5, Part V-A, ``Current Officers, Directors, Trustees, 
and Key Employees'' of their most recent Internal Revenue Service 
(IRS) Form 990, ``Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax.'' 
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 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

[[Page 19561]]

forms, record-keeping, reporting and other requirements.
    ECA 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.1. Adherence To All Regulations Governing the J Visa

    The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs is the official program sponsor of the exchange 
program covered by this RFGP, and an employee of the Bureau will be the 
``Responsible Officer'' for the program under the terms of 22 CFR part 
62, which covers the administration of the Exchange Visitor Program (J 
visa program). Under the terms of 22 CFR part 62, organizations 
receiving grants under this RFGP will be third parties ``cooperating 
with or assisting the sponsor in the conduct of the sponsor's 
program.'' The actions of grantee program organizations shall be 
``imputed to the sponsor in evaluating the sponsor's compliance with'' 
22 CFR part 62. Therefore, the Bureau expects that any organization 
receiving a grant under this competition will render all assistance 
necessary to enable the Bureau to fully comply with 22 CFR part 62 et 
seq.
    The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs places critically 
important emphases on the secure and proper administration of Exchange 
Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence by grantee program 
organizations and program participants to all regulations governing the 
J visa program status. Therefore, proposals should explicitly state in 
writing that the applicant is prepared to assist the Bureau in meeting 
all requirements governing the administration of Exchange Visitor 
Programs as set forth in 22 CFR 62. If your organization has experience 
as a designated Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor, the applicant should 
discuss their record of compliance with 22 CFR part 62 et seq., 
including the oversight of their 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 Office of Citizen Exchanges of ECA 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.

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

[[Page 19562]]

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.
    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. Budget requests may not be less than $200,000 and may 
not exceed $625,000. There must be a summary budget as well as 
breakdowns reflecting both administrative and program budgets. 
Applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, 
phase, location, or activity to provide clarification.
    IV.3e.2. Allowable costs for the program include the following:
    1. Travel. International and domestic airfare; visas; transit 
costs; ground transportation costs. Please note that all air travel 
must be in compliance with the Fly America Act. There is no charge for 
J-1 visas for participants in Bureau sponsored programs.
    2. Per Diem. For U.S.-based programming, organizations should use 
the published Federal per diem rates for individual U.S. cities. 
Domestic per diem rates may be accessed at: http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?programId=9704&channelId=-15943&ooid=16365&contentId=17943&pageTypeId=8203&contentType=GSA_BASIC&programPage=%2Fep%2Fprogram%2FgsaBasic.jsp&P=MTT.
    ECA requests applicants to budget realistic costs that reflect the 
local economy and do not exceed Federal per diem rates. Foreign per 
diem rates can be accessed at: http://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=184&menu&_id=78.
    3. Interpreters. For U.S.-based activities, ECA strongly encourages 
applicants to hire their own locally based interpreters. However, 
applicants may ask ECA to assign State Department interpreters. One 
interpreter is typically needed for every four participants who require 
interpretation. When an applicant proposes to use State Department 
interpreters, the following expenses should be included in the budget: 
Published Federal per diem rates (both ``lodging'' and ``M&IE'') and 
``home-program-home'' transportation in the amount of $400 per 
interpreter. Salary expenses for State Department interpreters will be 
covered by the Bureau and should not be part of an applicant's proposed 
budget. Bureau funds cannot support interpreters who accompany 
delegations from their home country or travel internationally.
    4. Book and Cultural Allowances. Foreign participants are entitled 
to a one-time cultural allowance of $150 per person, plus a book 
allowance of $50. Interpreters should be reimbursed up to $150 for 
expenses when they escort participants to cultural events. U.S. program 
staff, trainers or participants are not eligible to receive these 
benefits.
    5. Consultants. Consultants may be used to provide specialized 
expertise or to make presentations. Honoraria rates should not exceed 
$250 per day. Organizations are encouraged to cost-share rates that 
would exceed that figure. Subcontracting organizations may also be 
employed, in which case the written agreement between the prospective 
grantee and sub-grantee should be included in the proposal. Such sub-
grants should detail the division of responsibilities and proposed 
costs, and subcontracts should be itemized in the budget.
    6. Room rental. The rental of meeting space should not exceed $250 
per day. Any rates that exceed this amount should be cost shared.
    7. Materials. Proposals may contain costs to purchase, develop and 
translate materials for participants. Costs for high quality 
translation of materials should be anticipated and included in the 
budget. Grantee organizations should expect to submit a copy of all 
program materials to ECA, and ECA support should be acknowledged on all 
materials developed with its funding.
    8. Equipment. Applicants may propose to use grant funds to purchase 
equipment, such as computers and printers; these costs should be 
justified in the budget narrative. Costs for furniture are not allowed.
    9. Working meal. Normally, no more than one working meal may be 
provided during the program. Per capita costs may not exceed $15-$25 
for lunch and $20-$35 for dinner, excluding room rental. The number of 
invited guests may not exceed participants by more than a factor of 
two-to-one. When setting up a budget, interpreters should be considered 
``participants.''
    10. Return travel allowance. A return travel allowance of $70 for 
each foreign participant may be included in the budget. This allowance 
would cover incidental expenses incurred during international travel.
    11. Health Insurance. Foreign participants will be covered during 
their participation in the program by the ECA-sponsored Accident and 
Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE), for which the grantee must 
enroll them. Details of that policy can be provided by the contact 
officers identified in this solicitation. The premium is paid by ECA 
and should not be included in the grant proposal budget. However, 
applicants are permitted to include costs for travel insurance for U.S. 
participants in the budget.
    12. Wire transfer fees. When necessary, applicants may include 
costs to transfer funds to partner organizations overseas. Grantees are 
urged to research applicable taxes that may be imposed on these 
transfers by host governments.
    13. In-country travel costs for visa processing purposes. Given the 
requirements associated with obtaining J-1 visas for ECA-supported 
participants, applicants should include costs for any travel associated 
with visa interviews or DS-2019 pick-up.
    14. Administrative Costs. Costs necessary for the effective 
administration of the program may include salaries for grantee 
organization employees, benefits, and other direct and indirect costs 
per detailed instructions in the Application Package. While there is no 
rigid ratio of administrative to program costs, proposals in which the 
administrative costs do not exceed 25% of the total requested ECA grant 
funds will be more competitive under the cost effectiveness and cost 
sharing criterion, per item V.1 below. Proposals should show strong 
administrative cost sharing contributions from the applicant, the in-
country partner and other sources.
    Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget 
guidelines and formatting instructions.

[[Page 19563]]

    IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission:
    Application Deadline Date: Thursday, May 22, 2008.
    Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/CU-08-43.
    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 9 copies of the application should be sent to: 
U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, Ref.: ECA/PE/C/CU-08-43, 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'', ``Proposal Narrative'' and ``Budget'' 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(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.
    Optional--IV.3f.3. You may also state here any limitations on the 
number of applications that an applicant may submit and make it clear 
whether the limitation is on the submitting organization, individual 
program director or both.
    IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of Applications: Executive Order 
12372 does not apply to this program.

V. Application Review Information

V.1. Review Process

    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 grant 
assistance awards 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 Planning and Ability to Achieve Objectives: Detailed 
agenda and relevant work plan must explain how objectives will be 
achieved and must include a timetable for completion of major tasks. 
Program objectives should be clearly described and should reflect the 
applicant's expertise in the artistic discipline and geographic world 
region featured in your project. The proposal should include 
documentation of artistic merit and quality through sources such as 
published reviews and letters of recommendation from experts in the 
artistic discipline featured in your project. However, work samples are 
not requested and cannot be evaluated by the Bureau.
    2. Multiplier Effect/Impact: Proposed programs should strengthen 
long-term mutual understanding, including maximum sharing of 
information and establishment of long-term institutional and individual 
linkages. Proposals must describe your plans for project 
sustainability, and for furthering the programs and partnerships beyond 
the conclusion of a possible ECA grant.

[[Page 19564]]

    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: Proposed personnel and institutional 
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program or 
project's goals. Proposal should reflect the institution's expertise in 
the thematic area the proposal addresses, as well as knowledge of the 
conditions in the specific regions abroad. Proposals should include (1) 
the institution's mission and date of establishment; (2) an outline of 
prior awards--U.S. government and/or private support received for tours 
abroad; (3) resumes of experienced staff members who will be part of 
the team implementing the program, and; (4) all other documentation 
requested herein.
    5. Institution's Record/Ability: Proposals should demonstrate an 
institutional record of at least five years of international planning 
and implementation in the thematic area the proposal addresses. This 
includes demonstrating responsible fiscal management and full 
compliance with all reporting requirements for past Bureau grants as 
determined by Bureau Grants Staff. The Bureau will consider the past 
performance of prior recipients and the demonstrated potential of new 
applicants. Proposals must include references with name and contact 
information for other assistance awards the applicant has received in 
the event the Bureau chooses to be in touch directly.
    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 used to link outcomes to original project 
objectives is requested.
    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 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.1b. The following additional requirements apply to this project:
    A critical component of the Administration's Iran policy is the 
support for indigenous Iranian voices. President Bush himself has 
pledged this support and the State Department has made the awarding of 
grants for this purpose a key component of its Iran policy. As a 
condition of licensing these activities, the Office of Foreign Assets 
Control (OFAC) has requested the Department of State to follow certain 
procedures to effectuate the goals of Sections 481(b), 531(a), 571, 
582, and 635(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (as amended); 18 
U.S.C. 2339A and 2339B; Executive Order 13224; and Homeland Security 
Presidential Directive 6. These licensing conditions mandate that the 
Department conduct a vetting of potential Iran grantees and sub-
grantees for counter-terrorism purposes. To conduct this vetting the 
Department will collect information from grantees and sub-grantees 
regarding the identity and background of their key employees and Boards 
of Directors.

    Note: To assure that planning for the inclusion of Iran complies 
with requirements, please contact the Office's Iran Policy 
Coordinator, Lea Perez at (202) 453-8181 for additional information.

    All awards made under this competition must be executed according 
to all relevant U.S. laws and policies regarding assistance to the 
Palestinian Authority, and to the West Bank and Gaza. Organizations 
must consult with relevant Public Affairs Offices before entering into 
any formal arrangements or agreements with Palestinian organizations or 
institutions.

    Note: To assure that planning for the inclusion of the 
Palestinian Authority complies with requirements, please contact 
program officer Jill Staggs, (202) 203-7500, e-mail: 
[email protected] for additional information.

    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 NonprofitOrganizations.''
    Office of Management and Budget Circular A-21, ``Cost Principles 
for Educational Institutions.''
    OMB Circular A-87, ``Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian 
Governments''.
    OMB Circular No. A-110 (Revised), Uniform Administrative 
Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher 
Education, Hospitals, and other Nonprofit Organizations.
    OMB Circular No. A-102, Uniform Administrative Requirements for 
Grants-in-Aid to State and Local Governments.
    OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of States, Local Government, and 
Non-profit Organizations
    Please reference the following Web sites for additional 
information: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants. http://exchanges.state.gov/education/grantsdiv/terms.htm#articleI.

VI.3. Reporting Requirements:

    You must provide ECA with a hard copy original plus one copy of the 
following reports:
    (1) A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after 
the expiration of the award;
    (2) A concise, one-page final program report summarizing program 
outcomes no more than 90 days after the expiration of the award. This 
one-page report will be transmitted to OMB, and be made available to 
the public via OMB's USAspending.gov Web site--as part of ECA's Federal 
Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reporting 
requirements;
    (3) Quarterly program and financial reports showing activities 
carried out, expenses incurred the calendar quarter and any changes to 
the project time line.
    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.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

[[Page 19565]]

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:
    (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 general questions about this announcement, contact: Program 
Officer Evangeline Montgomery, Cultural Programs Division, ECA/PE/C/CU, 
Room 568, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20547, (202) 203-7520, e-mail: [email protected], 
copy to [email protected].
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the Arts Exchanges on International Issues Program and ECA/
PE/C/CU-08-43.
    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: April 3, 2008.
C. Miller Crouch,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. E8-7624 Filed 4-9-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P