[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 65 (Tuesday, April 7, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15810-15816]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-7851]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6568]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Youth Leadership Programs: Sub-Saharan Africa

    Announcement Type: New grant.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-09-42.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000.
    Application Deadline: May 21, 2009.
    Executive Summary: The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs 
Division, of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces 
an open competition for two Youth Leadership Program grants for 
countries of Sub-Saharan Africa, one for 40 participants from four 
Anglophone countries (Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa), and 
one for 60 participants from six Francophone countries (Burkina Faso, 
Chad, Cote D'Ivoire, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger). [Note: Target 
countries may be subject to change.] Public and private non-profit 
organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code 
section 26 USC 501(c)(3) may submit proposals to conduct a minimum of 
two U.S.-based three-week exchange projects for combinations of two 
Anglophone countries, or a minimum of three U.S.-based three-week 
exchange projects for combinations of two Francophone countries. The 
project activities will focus on civic education, leadership, 
diversity, and community activism, which will prepare participants to 
conduct follow up activities at home that serve a community need.

[[Page 15811]]

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 Leadership Program for Sub-Saharan Africa will 
support two grants for five projects that will bring teenagers, ages 
15-17, and educators from selected countries to the United States for 
three-week exchanges focused on developing leadership skills and civic 
responsibility. The participants will be recruited from underserved 
populations in these countries where youth are susceptible to adverse 
influences. U.S. Embassies in the participating countries will recruit, 
screen, and select the participants; provide pre-departure briefings; 
facilitate visas; arrange international travel to the United States; 
and provide support to alumni for follow-on projects. The grant 
recipients will design and implement the U.S.-based exchange 
activities.
    The applicant organizations must propose projects that offer a 
practical examination of the principles of democracy and civil society 
as practiced in the United States, and provide skills training in 
leadership, conflict management/resolution, and critical thinking that 
will help students develop a better sense of civic responsibility and 
foster respect for diversity and cross-cultural relationships based on 
mutual understanding and respect.
    Proposals must present a program plan that allows the participants 
to thoroughly explore civic education in the United States in a 
creative, memorable, and practical way. Activities should be designed 
to be replicable and provide practical knowledge and skills that the 
participants can apply to school and civic activities at home. The 
project must include multiple opportunities for participants to 
interact with American youth and educators, and include homestays with 
American families.
    The goals of the program are:
    (1) To promote mutual understanding between the people of the 
United States and the people of the partner countries;
    (2) To develop a sense of civic responsibility and commitment to 
community development among youth;
    (3) To develop leadership skills among secondary school students 
appropriate to their needs; and
    (4) To foster relationships among youth from different ethnic, 
religious, and national groups.
    In addition to the themes of civic education and leadership, 
applicants are invited to include sub-themes on relevant issues 
specific to the project countries (as listed above), particularly as a 
mechanism for seeing what their peers in the United States are doing in 
these areas, and as a tool for exploring the primary themes of the 
program.
    A successful project will be one that nurtures a cadre of students 
and teachers to be actively engaged in addressing issues of concern in 
their schools and communities upon their return home, and that equips 
them with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to become citizen 
activists.
    The Bureau anticipates awarding two grants. One grant will support 
two Youth Leadership projects for four Anglophone countries, and one 
grant will support three Youth Leadership projects for six Francophone 
countries. Organizations may submit one proposal for a minimum of two 
projects for combinations of two Anglophone countries, or, submit one 
proposal for a minimum of three projects for combinations of two 
Francophone countries. Organizations may apply for the Anglophone 
Countries program or for the Francophone Countries program; they may 
not apply for both. The projects will be judged independently and 
proposals will be compared only to proposals for the same area 
(Anglophone or Francophone) of interest. Note that the U.S. Embassies 
will be responsible for international travel; therefore, the grant 
funds available through this solicitation are not to cover the 
international airfare for the exchange participants.

Project A: Sub-Sahara Africa Youth Leadership Program--Anglophone 
Countries

    One Grant: Funding for this grant is approximately $210,000.
    The program will be offered for a total of forty (40) participants: 
eight (8) students and two (2) educators from each of the four 
participating countries: Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Tanzania. 
[Note: Target countries may be subject to change, or, if less than four 
countries participate the target number of 40 participants will be 
spread among participating countries.]
    Applicants must propose a minimum of two, three-week U.S.-based 
exchange projects to take place between the months of November 2009 
through December 2010. One project must take place either in late fall 
2009 or early spring 2010. Each project must include two countries for 
a minimum of 20 participants, eight (8) students and two (2) teachers 
from each country.

    Note: If less than four countries participate, the Bureau will 
re-negotiate for one exchange project to include three countries for 
thirty four (34) students and six (6) educators, or two countries 
for thirty two (32) students and eight (8) educators.

Project B: Sub-Sahara Africa Youth Leadership Program--Francophone 
Countries

    One Grant: Funding for this grant is approximately $375,000.
    The program will be offered for sixty (60) participants, eight (8) 
students and two (2) educators from each of six participating 
countries: Burkina Faso, Chad, Cote D'Ivoire, Mali, Mauritania, Niger. 
[Note: Target countries may be subject to change; or, if less than six 
countries participate the target number of 60 participants will be 
spread among participating countries.]
    Applicants must propose a minimum of three, three-week U.S.-based 
exchange projects to take place between the months of November 2009 
through March 2011. One project must take place either in late fall 
2009 or early spring 2010. Each project must include two countries for 
a minimum of 20 participants, eight (8) students and two (2) educators 
from each country. Each project will be conducted in French and must 
include language interpreters arranged by the grantee organization.

    Note: If less than six countries participate, the Bureau will 
re-negotiate for two exchange projects. For example, one project 
with 40 participants will include thirty-two (32) students and eight 
(8) educators; one project with two countries will include twenty 
(20) students and four (4) educators for a total of 24 participants; 
or one project with three countries will include thirty (30) 
students and six (6) educators for at total of 36 participants.

For Both Programs

    Applicant organizations should outline their capacity for doing 
projects of this nature, focusing on three areas of competency of the 
staff directly associated with the program: (1) Provision of leadership 
and civic education programming, (2) age-appropriate programming for 
youth, and (3) demonstrated understanding of and

[[Page 15812]]

experience in programs with the specified geographic region. Applicants 
need not have a partner in the participating countries, as the staff of 
the Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Embassies will recruit and 
select the participants and provide a pre-departure orientation.

Guidelines

    The grants will begin on or about September 15, 2009. The grant 
period will be 12 to 18 months in duration, as appropriate for the 
applicant's program design. Applicants should propose the period of the 
exchange(s) based on the timeframes noted above, but the exact timing 
of the project may be altered through the mutual agreement of the 
Department of State and the grant recipients. The exchange should be no 
less than 25 days in duration, including international travel time.
    The participants will be students between the ages of 15 and 17 who 
have demonstrated leadership potential in their schools and/or 
communities. The educators will be high school teachers, or possibly 
community leaders who work with youth, who have demonstrated an 
interest in promoting youth leadership. For the Anglophone countries, 
participants will be proficient in the English language. Language 
interpreters must be provided for the participants from the Francophone 
countries. Where possible, U.S. Embassy staff will seek educators with 
some English ability.
    In pursuit of the goals outlined above, the grant recipients will 
provide the following:
     Information about the U.S. program and pre-departure 
materials to help the U.S. Embassies, participants, and their families 
in preparation for the exchange.
     French language interpreters (including fees, domestic 
travel to program sites, and per diem).
     A welcome orientation.
     Approximately two weeks of activities in one or two 
communities in the United States that provide a substantive program on 
civic education, community activism, and leadership through both 
academic and extracurricular components. A portion of the program, from 
two to six days, should be in Washington, DC. Activities should take 
place in schools and in community settings. Community service must be 
included. It is crucial that programming involve American students 
whenever possible.
     Opportunities for the educators to work with their 
American peers to help them foster youth leadership, civic education, 
and community service programs at home.
     Homestay arrangements with properly screened and briefed 
American families for the majority of the exchange period.
     Logistical arrangements, disbursement of stipends, local 
travel, travel between U.S. sites, lodging and meals when not in the 
homestay.
     A closing session to summarize the project activities and 
prepare participants for their return home.
     Guidance on follow-on activities, in coordination with the 
U.S. Embassies, in order to advise the participants who have returned 
home on how to apply what they have learned during the exchange to 
address a community need.
    The proposal narrative must provide detailed information on the 
program activities outlined above, and applicants should explain and 
justify their programmatic choices. Proposals must demonstrate how the 
stated objectives will be met. Programs must comply with J-1 visa 
regulations for the International Visitor and Government Visitor 
categories.
    It is essential that all applicants refer to the three documents in 
the complete Solicitation Package--this Request for Grant Proposals 
(RFGP), the Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI), and 
the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI)--for further information.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Grant agreement.
    Fiscal Year Funds: 2009.
    Approximate Total Funding:
    Approximate Number of Awards: Two.
    Sub-Saharan Africa Youth Leadership Program--Anglophone Countries: 
$210,000.
    Sub-Saharan Africa Youth Leadership Program--Francophone Countries: 
$375,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, September 
15, 2009.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: 12 to 18 months after the 
onset of the award, to be determined by the applicant according to its 
program design.

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 USC 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. 
Please note that cost sharing is one of the criteria by which proposals 
will be judged.
    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

    III.3.a. Bureau grant guidelines require that applicant 
organizations and sub-award organizations with less than four years 
experience in conducting international exchanges be limited to $60,000 
in Bureau funding. ECA anticipates awarding two grants, each exceeding 
$60,000, to support program and administrative costs required to 
implement this exchange program. Therefore, organizations with less 
than four years experience in conducting international exchanges at the 
time of application are not eligible to apply under this competition. 
[Note: Organizations may apply for the Anglophone Countries program or 
for the Francophone Countries program; they may not apply for both.]
    III.3.b. The Bureau encourages applicants to provide maximum levels 
of cost sharing and funding in support of its programs. Payments for 
homestays are not allowed as either a grant-funded or cost-share line 
item. The grant recipient will enroll exchange participants in ECA's 
Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE). Applicants need not 
include these health benefits costs in their budgets.

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

[[Page 15813]]

until the proposal review process has been completed.

IV.1. Contact Information To Request an Application Package

    Please contact the Youth Programs Division, Office of Citizen 
Exchanges, ECA/PE/C/PY, Room 568, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 
4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547. Telephone (202) 453-8171, Fax 
(202) 453-8169; E-mail: [email protected] to request a 
Solicitation Package. Please refer to the Funding Opportunity Number 
ECA/PE/C/PY-09-42 when making your request.
    Alternatively, an electronic application package may be obtained 
from http://grants.gov. Please see section IV.3f for further 
information.
    The Solicitation Package contains the Proposal Submission 
Instruction (PSI) document, which consists of required application 
forms, and standard guidelines for proposal preparation. It also 
contains the Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) 
document, which provides specific information, award criteria, and 
budget instructions tailored to this competition.
    Please specify Program Officer Shalita Jones and refer to the 
Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/PY-09-42 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/grants/open2.html, or from the 
Grants.gov Web site at http://www.grants.gov.
    Please read all information before downloading.

IV.3. Content and Form of Submission

    Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation 
Package. The application should be submitted per the instructions under 
IV.3f. ``Application Deadline and Methods of Submission'' section 
below.
    IV.3a. You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal 
Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative 
agreement from the U.S. Government. This number is a nine-digit 
identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities. 
Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a 
DUNS number, access http://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-
5711. Please ensure that your DUNS number is included in the 
appropriate box of the SF-424 which is part of the formal application 
package.
    IV.3b. All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal 
narrative and budget.
    Please Refer to the Solicitation Package. It contains the mandatory 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document and the Project 
Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) document for additional 
formatting and technical requirements.
    IV.3c. You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of 
application. Please Note: Effective January 7, 2009, all applicants for 
ECA Federal assistance awards must include in their application the 
names of directors and/or senior executives (current officers, 
trustees, and key employees, regardless of amount of compensation). In 
fulfilling this requirement, applicants must submit information in one 
of the following ways:
    (1) Those who file Internal Revenue Service Form 990, ``Return of 
Organization Exempt From Income Tax,'' must include a copy of relevant 
portions of this form.
    (2) Those who do not file IRS Form 990 must submit information 
above in the format of their choice.
    In addition to final program reporting requirements, award 
recipients will also be required to submit a one-page document, derived 
from their program reports, listing and describing their grant 
activities. For award recipients, the names of directors and/or senior 
executives (current officers, trustees, and key employees), as well as 
the one- page description of grant activities, will be transmitted by 
the State Department to OMB, along with other information required by 
the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), and 
will be made available to the public by the Office of Management and 
Budget on its http://USASpending.gov Web site as part of ECA's FFATA 
reporting requirements.
    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 62, 
which covers the administration of the Exchange Visitor Program (J visa 
program). Under the terms of 22 CFR 62, organizations receiving awards 
(either a grant or cooperative agreement) under this RFGP will be third 
parties ``cooperating with or assisting the sponsor in the conduct of 
the sponsor's program.'' The actions of recipient organizations shall 
be ``imputed to the sponsor in evaluating the sponsor's compliance 
with'' 22 CFR 62. Therefore, the Bureau expects that any organization 
receiving an award under this competition will render all assistance 
necessary to enable the Bureau to fully comply with 22 CFR 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 recipient 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 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.

[[Page 15814]]

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 recipient organization 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.)
    Recipient organizations will be required to provide reports 
analyzing their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular 
program reports. All data collected, including survey responses and 
contact information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years 
and provided to the Bureau upon request.
IV.3e. Please Take the Following Information into Consideration When 
Preparing Your Budget
    Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the entire 
program. There must be a summary budget as well as breakdowns 
reflecting both administrative and program budgets. Applicants may 
provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase, 
location, or activity to provide clarification.
    Please refer to the POGI and PSI for complete budget guidelines and 
formatting instructions.
IV.3.f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission
    Application Deadline Date: May 21, 2009.
    Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-09-42.
    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., Federal Express, UPS, Airborne Express, or U.S. Postal 
Service Express Overnight Mail, etc.), or
    (2) Electronically through http://www.grants.gov.
    Please Note: ECA strongly encourages organizations interested in 
applying for this competition to submit printed, hard copy applications 
as outlined in section IV.3f.1., below rather than submitting 
electronically through Grants.gov. This recommendation is being made as 
a result of the anticipated high volume of grant proposals that will be 
submitted via the Grants.gov Web portal as part of the Recovery Act 
stimulus package. As stated in these RFGPs, ECA bears no responsibility 
for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes for 
proposals submitted via Grants.gov
    Along with the Project Title, all applicants must enter the above

[[Page 15815]]

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, one fully-tabbed copy, and five (5) copies with Tabs 
A-E and appendices (no Tab F) should be sent to: U.S. Department of 
State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Ref.: ECA/PE/
C/PY-09-42, Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, Room 534, 301 4th Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20547.
    With the submission of the proposal package, please also e-mail the 
Executive Summary, Proposal Narrative, and Budget sections of the 
proposal, as well as any attachments essential to understanding the 
program, in Microsoft Word and/or Excel to the program officer at 
[email protected]. The Bureau will provide these files electronically 
to the Public Affairs Section at the U.S. Embassies 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 Note: ECA strongly encourages organizations interested 
in applying for this competition to submit printed, hard copy 
applications as outlined in section IV.3f.1., above rather than 
submitting electronically through Grants.gov. This recommendation is 
being made as a result of the anticipated high volume of grant 
proposals that will be submitted via the Grants.gov Web portal as part 
of the Recovery Act stimulus package. As stated in this RFGP, ECA bears 
no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or 
conversion processes for proposals submitted via Grants.gov.
    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. In 
addition, validation of an electronic submission via Grants.gov can 
take up to two business days.
    Therefore, we strongly recommend that you not wait until the 
application deadline to begin the submission process through 
Grants.gov.
    The Grants.gov Web site includes extensive information on all 
phases/aspects of the Grants.gov process, including an extensive 
section on frequently asked questions, located under the ``For 
Applicants'' section of the Web site. ECA strongly recommends that all 
potential applicants review thoroughly the Grants.gov Web site, well in 
advance of submitting a proposal through the Grants.gov system. ECA 
bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or 
conversion processes.
    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: [email protected].
    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.
    Please refer to the Grants.gov Web site, for definitions of various 
``application statuses'' and the difference between a submission 
receipt and a submission validation. Applicants will receive a 
validation e-mail from Grants.gov upon the successful submission of an 
application. Again, validation of an electronic submission via 
Grants.gov can take up to two business days. Therefore, we strongly 
recommend that you not wait until the application deadline to begin the 
submission process through Grants.gov. ECA will not notify you upon 
receipt of electronic applications.
    It is the responsibility of all applicants submitting proposals via 
the Grants.gov Web portal to ensure that proposals have been received 
by Grants.gov in their entirety, and ECA bears no responsibility for 
data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.
IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of Applications
    Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.

V. Application Review Information

V.1. Review Process

    The Bureau will review all proposals for technical eligibility. 
Proposals will be deemed ineligible if they do not fully adhere to the 
guidelines stated herein and in the Solicitation Package. All eligible 
proposals will be reviewed by the program office, as well as the Public 
Diplomacy section overseas, where appropriate. Eligible proposals will 
be subject to compliance with Federal and Bureau regulations and 
guidelines and forwarded to Bureau grant panels for advisory review. 
Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of the Legal Adviser or by 
other Department elements. Final funding decisions are at the 
discretion of the Department of State's Assistant Secretary for 
Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final technical authority for 
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.
    1. Quality of the Program Idea: Objectives should be reasonable, 
feasible, and flexible. The proposal should clearly demonstrate how the 
institution will meet the program's

[[Page 15816]]

objectives and plan. The proposed program should be well developed, 
respond to the design outlined in the solicitation, and demonstrate 
originality. It should be clearly and accurately written, substantive, 
and with sufficient detail. Proposals should also include a plan to 
support participants' community activities upon their return home.
    2. Program Planning: A detailed agenda and work plan should clearly 
demonstrate how project objectives would be achieved. The agenda and 
plan should adhere to the program overview and guidelines described 
above. The substance of workshops, seminars, presentations, school-
based activities, and/or site visits should be described in detail.
    3. Support of Diversity: The proposal should demonstrate the 
recipient's commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding of 
diversity in program content.
    4. Institutional Capacity and Track Record: Proposed personnel and 
institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve 
the program goals. The proposal should demonstrate an institutional 
record, including responsible fiscal management and full compliance 
with all reporting requirements for any past Bureau grants as 
determined by the Bureau's Office of Contracts. The Bureau will 
consider the past performance.
    5. Program Evaluation: The proposal should include a plan to 
evaluate the program's success in meeting its goals, both as the 
activities unfold and after they have been completed. The proposal 
should include a draft survey questionnaire or other technique, plus a 
description of a methodology to link outcomes to original project 
objectives.
    6. Cost-effectiveness and Cost Sharing: The applicant should 
demonstrate efficient use of Bureau funds. 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. The proposal 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 a Federal Assistance Award (FAA) 
from the Bureau's Grants Office. The FAA and the original proposal with 
subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall be the only binding 
authorizing document between the recipient and the U.S. Government. The 
FAA will be signed by an authorized Grants Officer, and mailed to the 
recipient's responsible officer identified in the application.
    Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of 
the application review from the ECA program office coordinating this 
competition.

VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    Terms and Conditions for the Administration of ECA agreements 
include the following:
    Office of Management and Budget Circular A-122, ``Cost Principles 
for Nonprofit Organizations.''
    Office of Management and Budget Circular A-21, ``Cost Principles 
for Educational Institutions.''
    OMB Circular A-87, ``Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian 
Governments.''
    OMB Circular No. A-110 (Revised), Uniform Administrative 
Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher 
Education, Hospitals, and other Nonprofit Organizations.
    OMB Circular No. A-102, Uniform Administrative Requirements for 
Grants-in-Aid to State and Local Governments.
    OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of States, Local Government, and 
Non-profit Organizations.
    Please reference the following Web sites for additional 
information:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants.
http://fa.statebuy.state.gov.

VI.3. Reporting Requirements

    You must provide ECA with a hard copy original plus one copy of the 
following reports:
    1. Interim reports, as required in the Bureau grant agreement.
    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 Web site--as part of ECA's Federal 
Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reporting 
requirements.
    4. A SF-PPR, ``Performance Progress Report'' Cover Sheet with all 
program reports.
    Award recipients 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: Shalita Jones, 
Program Officer, Youth Programs Division, ECA/PE/C/PY, Room 568, U.S. 
Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547. 
Telephone (202) 203-7507. Fax (202) 203-7529. E-mail: 
[email protected].
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and the reference number ECA/PE/C/PY-09-42.
    Please read the complete announcement before sending inquiries or 
submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has passed, Bureau staff 
may not discuss this competition with applicants until the proposal 
review process has been completed.

VIII. Other Information

Notice

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

    Dated: March 31, 2009.
C. Miller Crouch,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, 
Department of State.
 [FR Doc. E9-7851 Filed 4-6-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P