[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 70 (Thursday, April 10, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19574-19581]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-7631]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6171]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program

    Announcement Type: New Grant.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-08-27.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000

    Key Dates: September 1, 2008-September 30, 2011.
    Application Deadline: May 29, 2008.
    Executive Summary: The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces an open competition 
for grants to support exchanges and relationship building between high 
school students from countries with significant Muslim populations and 
people of the United States. Public and private non-profit 
organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code 
section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) and public institutions may submit 
proposals to recruit and select students and to carry out projects for 
an academic year or semester of study in the United States, 
incorporating themes promoting civil society, leadership, and mutual 
understanding.

[[Page 19575]]

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

    The Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program is designed to foster a 
global community of shared interests and values developed through 
better mutual understanding via first-hand participation of high school 
students, preferably aged 15-17, from countries with significant Muslim 
populations in academic year or semester exchanges to the United 
States. The program seeks to select students with leadership potential, 
to develop their leadership skills while in the U.S., and to support 
them in alumni activities after they return home.
    The overarching goals of the program are to:
    1. Promote better understanding by youth from selected countries 
about American society, people, institutions, values and culture;
    2. Foster lasting personal ties;
    3. Engage the exchange participants in activities that advance 
mutual understanding, respect for diversity, leadership skills, and 
understanding of civil society during their exchange in the U.S.;
    4. Enhance Americans' understanding of the foreign students' 
countries and cultures;
    5. Increase the capacity of organizations in participating 
countries to engage youth in activities that enhance mutual 
understanding, respect for diversity, leadership skills, and 
understanding of civil society through alumni activities.

Grant Funding History

    This initiative is intended to build on a solid foundation of 
exchanges carried out since the program began with grants awarded in FY 
2002 to bring students to the U.S. in the fall of 2003. The first 
competition for the YES program was conducted in 2002 and grants 
awarded were subsequently renewed in FY 2003 and FY 2004. The second 
competition for grants to assist ECA in expanding the reach of the 
program was conducted in FY 2005, and the grants awarded were 
subsequently renewed in FY 2006 and FY 2007. In this third competition, 
ECA encourages applicants to apply as it continues expansion of the 
program both in the number of students and the number of countries 
participating. The YES program has grown incrementally each year from 
approximately 165 students from 11 countries in 2003-04 to 850 students 
from over 30 countries anticipated in 2008-09.
    Through this open competition ECA seeks to provide awards to fund 
approximately 1,000 students from an expanded list of countries to 
participate in the program during the 2009-2010 academic year. 
Applicants that have not participated in the YES program previously are 
encouraged to view the program's Web site at: http://exchanges.state.gov/education/citizens/students/programs/yes.htm and to 
contact the Youth Division Program Office representatives listed in 
this solicitation.

Scope of Program, Timeline, and Applicant Infrastructure

    Funding for the YES program will support academic year-long 
exchanges (between August 2009 and June 2010) with students enrolled in 
accredited U.S. schools and living with host families. Proposals for 
single semester exchanges (fall 2009 or spring 2010) may be proposed 
only for partner countries where the academic year is not compatible 
with the U.S. academic calendar.
    It is anticipated that awards will be concluded in September 2008, 
with marketing, recruitment, selection of students and exchange program 
planning taking place throughout the 2008-2009 period. Grantees will be 
required to incur expenses beginning before September 30, 2008.
    Given current U.S. visa processing timelines in some countries, 
students must be selected early enough to allow up to six months 
between the visa interview date and the date of departure for students 
to obtain visas in time for an August 2009 arrival. Grantees must work 
with the U.S. Embassy in each country to ensure timely processing of 
U.S. visas for all participants.
    Most student participants will arrive in their U.S. host 
communities during the month of August 2009 and remain for 10 or 11 
months until their departure during the period of mid-May to early July 
2010. August post-arrival and June pre-departure orientations for 
students in Washington, DC at the beginning and end of the program are 
encouraged. If such orientations in Washington, DC are proposed, 
applicants must coordinate travel and activity dates with ECA to allow 
opportunity for students to meet with Department of State officials and 
possibly with other groups of YES students. For countries where the 
standard of English instruction does not provide an adequate qualified 
applicant pool, selected students requiring additional language 
instruction may arrive earlier if additional preparation in the U.S. is 
necessary; alternatively, applicants may propose in-country or third-
country language preparation and orientation prior to the students' 
arrival in the U.S. During the exchange period, students will 
participate in activities designed to teach them about American 
community life and values, citizen participation in a democracy, 
respect for diversity, and U.S. culture. Participants will have 
opportunities to give presentations on their countries and cultures in 
community forums. Therefore, students must be prepared beforehand on 
how to present information on their home countries.
    ECA will accept proposals for either multiple-country or single-
country programs. Applicants proposing multiple-country programs should 
include in their appendices additional country specific information 
about staffing, recruitment strategies, and details that may be unique 
to each country.
    ECA will accept proposals from individual organizations with 
adequate infrastructure in both the U.S. and the partner country(ies) 
to conduct all aspects of the program, or from organizations that have 
formed consortia with qualified organizations or representatives to 
implement specified tasks to complete the project. In the latter case, 
the applicant must have a significant role in implementing either the 
U.S. or overseas component of the programs and meet all eligibility 
criteria discussed in this solicitation.
    Applicants may propose value-added programming for students as long 
as it directly supports YES program objectives, themes, and goals, 
including full time school enrollment and enhancement activities 
related to the YES program mission. Examples could include special 
workshops or student projects focused on issues particularly relevant 
in the students' home country or region.

[[Page 19576]]

    Applicants may not propose names other than ``Youth Exchange and 
Study'' (YES) for their program, so that all student participants and 
alumni will identify themselves first and foremost with the YES 
program. All materials produced for grant activities should bear the 
YES logo, acknowledge the Department of State as the funding source and 
reflect the State Department's objectives for the program. An exception 
to this requirement can only be made upon agreement from ECA and the 
U.S. Embassy in the respective countries.
    The YES program is for all students from countries with significant 
Muslim populations. It is not, however, limited to Muslim students. It 
is ECA's expectation that the participants from each country will 
collectively reflect the religious, ethnic, socio-economic, and 
geographic diversity of their country, to the extent possible. In order 
to support cross-cultural communication and understanding, ECA 
encourages applicants to request funding for specially-skilled 
consultants. These consultants will provide training for grantee staff 
and volunteers to develop printed and online resource materials that 
support the unique cultural needs of their YES students, and offers 
services such as an on-call resource for staff, volunteers, host and 
natural families, and to provide students with support.

Eligible Countries

    The partner countries for this program have been selected based on 
several factors: (1) Foreign policy considerations, (2) a favorable 
climate for exchange, and (3) anticipated recruitment and placement 
capacity for students from the listed country. The first list includes 
the countries that are currently participating in the YES program. An 
approximate target number of students is indicated for each country 
based on the experience of previous years and/or anticipated capacities 
for successful recruitment and placement. Proposals should be for at 
least the targeted number:

Afghanistan (50)
Bahrain (10)
Bangladesh (40)
Brunei (10)
Egypt (50)
Ethiopia (10)
Gaza (10)
Ghana (25)
India (45)
Indonesia (100)
Iraq (20)
Israel (Arab Communities) (20)
Jordan (30)
Kenya (20)
Kuwait (18)
Lebanon (50)
Malaysia (40)
Mali (10)
Morocco (25)
Nigeria (30)
Oman (15)
Pakistan (70)
Philippines (40)
Qatar (7)
Saudi Arabia (20)
Senegal (10)
Tanzania (30)
Thailand (20)
Tunisia (20)
Turkey (40)
West Bank (15)
Yemen (35)

    In addition to the these countries currently involved in the YES 
program, ECA is requesting proposals to implement the YES program in 
the following new countries, with students to participate for the first 
time in 2009-10. Again, an approximate target number of students is 
indicated for each country.

Albania (15)
Bosnia and Herzegovina (15)
Bulgaria (7)
Burkina Faso (5)
Cote d'Ivoire (5)
Gambia (10)
Guinea (5)
Guyana (5)
Kosovo (7)
Macedonia (15)
Maldives (2)
Mauritania (5)
Mozambique (5)
Niger (5)
Sierra Leone (5)
Suriname (5)
Togo (5)
Uganda (10)

    The Bureau reserves the right to amend this list at any time as 
conditions change. Should an applicant have questions in regards to 
countries on this list or an interest in proposing an exchange with 
additional countries not on this list, please contact the Bureau. (See 
Section IV.1 for contact information.)
    Only one organization will be awarded a grant to implement the 
program in each country. 

General Responsibilities

    The grantee organization will be responsible for all aspects of the 
YES Program's implementation, including marketing, recruitment, and 
selection of students, procurement of U.S. visas and transit visas as 
required, transportation to and from the U.S., host family and school 
placement of students, orientations of students, natural and host 
families, support of students throughout the year, and follow-on alumni 
activities for returning students. The responsibilities of grantees are 
described in further detail in the accompanying Program Objectives, 
Goals, and Implementation (POGI) document.
     To recruit, select, and place high school students from 
countries with significant Muslim populations in qualified, screened, 
and well-motivated and financially-able host families.
     To provide extensive orientation of students to the 
program prior to their coming to the U.S. English language training may 
also be provided to encourage diversity in the selection pool and as 
needed, to meet projected recruitment levels.
     To provide post-arrival, mid-year, and pre-departure 
orientations to students to address program rules and goals and to 
provide support to students while in the U.S.
     To place students in schools that are accredited by the 
departments of education in the respective state.
     To expose program participants to American culture and 
civil society through homestay experiences and enhancement activities 
that will enable them to attain a broad view of the society and culture 
of the U.S.
     To expose YES program participants to opportunities for 
volunteerism and community service that respond to the needs of the 
host community.
     To prepare YES program participants to share their 
culture, lifestyle, and traditions with U.S. citizens throughout their 
stay and during special international events that highlight exchanges 
such as International Education Week and Global Youth Service Day.
     To provide YES students with leadership training and 
opportunities that will foster skills they can take back with them and 
use in their home countries.
     To provide activities that will increase and enhance 
students' understanding of the importance of tolerance and respect for 
the views, beliefs, and practices of others in a diverse society.
     To develop alumni databases and create alumni programs 
giving opportunities for returning students to incorporate their 
knowledge and skills into service in their home countries.
    Through participation in the YES program, students should:
    1. Acquire an understanding of important elements of a civil 
society. This includes concepts such as volunteerism, the idea that 
American

[[Page 19577]]

citizens can and do act at the grassroots level to deal with societal 
problems, and an awareness of and respect for the rule of law.
    2. Develop an appreciation for American culture, an understanding 
of the diversity of American society and increased respect for 
diversity, and appreciation for others with differing views, beliefs 
and practices.
    3. Interact with Americans and generate enduring ties.
    4. Teach Americans about the cultures of their home countries.
    5. Gain leadership capacity that will enable them to initiate and 
support activities in their home countries that focus on development 
and community service in their role as YES alumni.

Further Considerations

    1. There is no minimum or maximum number of students that may be 
selected and placed by one organization; however cost effectiveness 
will be a review criterion in all applications. It is anticipated that 
approximately 5-7 grants will be awarded for the YES program. 
Placements may be in any region in the U.S. Strong preference will be 
given to organizations that choose to place participants in clusters of 
at least three ECA funded academic year students to facilitate program 
enhancement activities. Applicants must demonstrate that training of 
local staff ensures their competence in providing culture and YES-
specific orientation programs, appropriate enhancement activities, and 
quality supervision and counseling of students from participating 
countries. Please refer to the Solicitation Package for details on 
essential program elements, permissible costs, and criteria used to 
select students.
    2. ECA anticipates grants beginning no later than September 2008.
    3. Administration of the YES program must be in compliance with 
reporting and withholding regulations for federal, state, and local 
taxes as applicable.
    4. Applicants should submit the health and accident insurance plans 
they intend to use for students on this program. Insurance can be 
provided through ECA's Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges 
(ASPE) policy, however, if use of a grantee's private plan is proposed, 
the insurance coverage must be of equal or greater value.
    5. All grantees are required to make an effort to recruit and 
include students with disabilities in the exchange. The ECA Program 
Office intends to award a grant to a separate organization to provide a 
special arrival orientation (in August 2009) and a pre-departure 
orientation in the spring of 2010 as well as on-going support 
throughout the year for the students with disabilities. These 
orientations are in addition to general orientations required to be 
conducted by the recipients of this grant who will also be expected to 
assist in accommodating for the timing of these special orientations.
    6. All exchange participants must travel on J-1 visas using DS-
2019s issued by the ECA program office under its program designation.
    7. Applicants should reflect an understanding of the related youth 
work of various international agencies in the proposed country(ies), 
such as the U.S. Agency for International Development, World Bank, non-
governmental organizations (NGOs) working with youth, and development 
foundations as a way to enhance alumni programming and provide 
participants with resources and support when they return home.
    8. Projects should promote youth awareness of and involvement in 
civic and democratic processes, including respect for diversity, 
accountability of government, human rights, and inclusiveness of women, 
people with disabilities, and minorities. Proposals may include small 
grants to encourage alumni to utilize what they have learned while on 
the exchange upon their return to their home countries to promote civic 
education projects and community development and community service 
initiatives.
    9. Proposals must contain letters of commitment from any foreign or 
domestic partners to be involved in the program, and these letters 
should be tailored to the activities being proposed.
    Please refer to the Solicitation Package for further information, 
especially the Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) and 
the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI).

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Grant Agreement.
    Fiscal Year Funds: 2008.
    Approximate Total Funding: $18,700,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 5-7.
    Approximate Average Award: $4,500,000.
    Floor of Award Range: $150,000.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $9,000,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: Approximately September 1, 2008.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: September 30, 2011.
    Additional Information: The anticipated per participant cost is 
expected to be between $16,000 and $19,000 within each grant depending 
on the number of countries, number of students per country, special 
programs provided (consulting and enhancement activities), and in-
country factors that may impact costs.
    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 
encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and 
funding in support of its programs.
    When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the 
applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its 
proposal and later included in an approved grant agreement. Cost 
sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For 
accountability, you must maintain written records to support all costs 
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:
    (a.) Grants awarded to eligible organizations with less than four 
years of experience in conducting international exchange programs will 
be limited to $60,000. Since the minimum award is set at $150,000, 
proposals from organizations with less than four years of experience in 
conducting international exchange programs are ineligible to apply 
under this competition.
    (b.) Technical Eligibility: All proposals must comply with the 
following, or they may be declared technically ineligible and given no 
further consideration in the review process:
     Proposed programs must include full-time U.S. high school 
enrollment for a semester or full academic year;
     Proposed programs may not involve multiple year exchanges 
or exchanges to

[[Page 19578]]

take place other than within the dates of August 2009 and June 2010;
     Proposals must identify essential partners and include 
letters of commitment from partners critical to the implementation of 
the program.

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 Matt O'Rourke at ECA/PE/C/PY, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 
301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, telephone: 202-453-8170 or 
[email protected] to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to 
the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/PY-08-27 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.
    For other inquiries and correspondence please contact Kevin Baker, 
Program Officer, tel.: 202-453-8153 or email: [email protected] and 
refer to Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/PY-08-27 that is also 
located at the top of this announcement.
    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 free of 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.

    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 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 great 
emphasis 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 part 62. If your organization has experience as 
a designated Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor, the applicant should 
discuss their record of compliance with 22 CFR 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, SA-44, 
Office of Exchange Coordination and Designation, ECA/EC/ECD, 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

[[Page 19579]]

Bureau ``shall take appropriate steps to provide opportunities for 
participation in such programs to human rights and democracy leaders of 
such countries.'' Public Law 106-113 requires that the governments of 
the countries described above do not have inappropriate influence in 
the selection process. Proposals should reflect advancement of these 
goals in their program contents, to the full extent deemed feasible.
    IV.3d.3. Program Monitoring and Evaluation: Proposals must include 
a plan to monitor and evaluate the project's success, both as the 
activities unfold and at the end of the program. The Bureau recommends 
that your proposal include a draft survey questionnaire or other 
technique plus a description of a methodology to use to link outcomes 
to original project objectives. The Bureau expects that the grantee 
will track participants or partners and be able to respond to key 
evaluation questions, including satisfaction with the program, learning 
as a result of the program, changes in behavior as a result of the 
program, and effects of the program on institutions (institutions in 
which participants work or partner institutions). The evaluation plan 
should include indicators that measure gains in mutual understanding as 
well as substantive knowledge.
    Successful monitoring and evaluation depend heavily on setting 
clear goals and outcomes at the outset of a program. Your evaluation 
plan should include a description of your project's objectives, your 
anticipated project outcomes, and how and when you intend to measure 
these outcomes (performance indicators). The more that outcomes are 
``smart'' (specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and 
placed in a reasonable time frame), the easier it will be to conduct 
the evaluation. You should also show how your project objectives link 
to the goals of the program described in this RFGP.
    Your monitoring and evaluation plan should clearly distinguish 
between program outputs and outcomes. Outputs are products and services 
delivered, often stated as an amount. Output information is important 
to show the scope or size of project activities, but it cannot 
substitute for information about progress towards outcomes or the 
results achieved. Examples of outputs include the number of people 
trained or the number of seminars conducted. Outcomes, in contrast, 
represent specific results a project is intended to achieve and is 
usually measured as an extent of change. Findings on outputs and 
outcomes should both be reported, but the focus should be on outcomes.
    We encourage you to assess the following four levels of outcomes, 
as they relate to the program goals set out in the RFGP (listed here in 
increasing order of importance):
    1. Participant satisfaction with the program and exchange 
experience.
    2. Participant learning, such as increased knowledge, aptitude, 
skills, and changed understanding and attitude. Learning includes both 
substantive (subject-specific) learning and mutual understanding.
    3. Participant behavior, concrete actions to apply knowledge in 
work or community; greater participation and responsibility in civic 
organizations; interpretation and explanation of experiences and new 
knowledge gained; continued contacts between participants, community 
members, and others.
    4. Institutional changes, such as increased collaboration and 
partnerships, policy reforms, new programming, and organizational 
improvements.

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

    Overall, the quality of your monitoring and evaluation plan will be 
judged on how well it (1) specifies intended outcomes; (2) gives clear 
descriptions of how each outcome will be measured; (3) identifies when 
particular outcomes will be measured; and (4) provides a clear 
description of the data collection strategies for each outcome (i.e., 
surveys, interviews, or focus groups). (Please note that evaluation 
plans that deal only with the first level of outcomes [satisfaction] 
will be deemed less competitive under the present evaluation criteria.)
    Grantees will be required to provide reports analyzing their 
evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program reports. All 
data collected, including survey responses and contact information, 
must be maintained for a minimum of three years and provided to the 
Bureau upon request.
    Describe your plans for sustainability, overall program management, 
staffing, coordination with ECA and PAS or any other requirements etc.
    IV.3e. Please take the following information into consideration 
when preparing your budget:
    IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the 
entire program. Awards may not exceed $9,000,000. 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. Required and allowable costs are provided in the 
accompanying POGI. Please refer to the Solicitation Package for 
complete budget guidelines and formatting instructions.
    IV.3.f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission: Application 
Deadline Date: May 29, 2008.
    Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-08-27.
    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 seven (7) copies of the application should be sent 
to: U.S.

[[Page 19580]]

Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, 
Ref.: ECA/PE/C/PY-08-27, 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'', ``Budget'' and ``Budget 
Narrative'' sections of the proposal electronically. ECA will provide 
these files to the respective Public Affairs Section at each U.S. 
embassy for 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. EST. 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. 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 to the 
appropriate Public Affairs Section 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 grants resides with the Bureau's Grants Officer.

Review Criteria

    Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed 
according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are not rank 
ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation:
    1. Quality of the program idea and planning: Proposals should 
exhibit originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the 
Bureau's mission and the purposes outlined in the solicitation. 
Detailed agenda and relevant work plan should demonstrate the ability 
to ensure that the proposed project accomplishes the stated objectives 
in the desired time frame. Proposals should demonstrate how students 
will be recruited, selected, monitored, trained and prepared for their 
role as YES alumni. The level of creativity, resources, and 
effectiveness will be primary factors for review. Proposals should be 
clearly and accurately written, with sufficient, relevant detail. The 
Narrative should address all of the items in the Statement of Work and 
Guidelines described above.
    2. Multiplier effect/Follow-on activities: Proposed programs should 
strengthen long-term mutual understanding, including maximum sharing of 
information and establishment of long-term institutional and individual 
ties both during the exchange and after the participants return home. 
Proposals should provide a plan for continued contact with alumni to 
ensure that they are tracked over time, utilized and/or organized as 
alumni, and provided opportunities to reinforce the knowledge and 
skills they acquired on the exchange and share them with others.
    3. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive 
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity in all program aspects 
including participants (exchange students and hosts), sending and 
hosting communities, as well as content of orientation and program 
activities. Proposals should articulate a diversity plan, not just a 
statement of compliance.
    4. Institutional Record/Capacity: Proposed personnel and 
institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve 
the program's goals. Proposals for infrastructure building should 
convincingly describe the need and the plan to address that need in 
specific terms (e.g., staffing, staff training, equipping and 
maintaining an office). The plan should demonstrate a thorough 
understanding of local requirements for establishing and registering an 
NGO, if necessary. Proposals should demonstrate an institutional record 
of successful exchange programs, including responsible fiscal 
management and full compliance with all reporting requirements for past 
ECA grants as determined by ECA Grant Staff. ECA will consider the past 
performance of prior recipients and the demonstrated potential of new 
applicants.
    5. Project Evaluation: The proposal narrative must demonstrate how 
the applicant plans to assess the program's success in achieving 
program objectives and efficient operations, and what instruments will 
be employed to evaluate the program. Applicants may describe any 
experience conducting results-oriented evaluations. Successful 
applicants will demonstrate clear program goals and objectives as well 
as strategies for monitoring student and alumni progress. Grantees are 
also expected to submit quarterly reports that include student and 
alumni activities and progress.
    6. Cost-effectiveness/Cost-Sharing: The overhead and administrative 
components of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be 
kept as low as possible. All other items should be necessary and 
appropriate. Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through 
institutional direct funding contributions, as well as other private 
sector support. Preference will be given to organizations whose 
proposals

[[Page 19581]]

demonstrate a quality, cost-effective program.
    7. Value to U.S.-Partner Country Relations: Proposals should 
indicate how the program is of value to U.S. and partner countries' 
interests, and receive positive assessments by the U.S. Department of 
State's geographic area desks and overseas officers of program need, 
potential impact, and significance in the partner countries.

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.
    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 
submitting proposals for this competition 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 
Kevin Baker, Program Officer, telephone (202) 453-8153 or 
[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 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 one hard 
copy original plus one copy of the following reports:
    Mandatory:
    1. Monthly school and housing placement reports of the students 
should be provided in the Excel spreadsheet format provided by ECA.
    2. A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after 
the expiration of the award;
    3. 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 website--as part of ECA's Federal 
Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reporting 
requirements.
    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 years and 
provided to the Bureau upon request.
    All reports must be sent to the ECA Grants Officer and ECA Program 
Officer listed in the final assistance award document.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: Kevin Baker, 
Program Officer, ECA/PE/C/PY, Room 220, Ref. Nr. ECA/PE/C/PY-08-27, 
U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20547, tel. 202-453-8153 or e-mail: [email protected].
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the program title and the corresponding Reference number.
    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. E8-7631 Filed 4-9-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P