[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 82 (Thursday, April 30, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20007-20014]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-9811]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6593]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA)

    Request for Grant Proposals: English Access Microscholarship 
Program.
    Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/L 09-02.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000.
    Key Dates:
    Application Deadline: June 15, 2009.
    Executive Summary: The Office of English Language Programs 
announces an open competition for the administration of the English 
Access Microscholarship Program (Access Program), which provides a 
foundation of English language skills to bright 14- to 18-year-olds 
from disadvantaged sectors overseas through in-country after school 
classes and intensive summer learning activities. The microscholarships 
fund in-country study for classes close to the students' homes. The 
Cooperative Agreement recipient's role is to disburse funds to in-
country educational service providers selected by U.S. Embassies. These 
funds will support in-country educational service providers' activities 
such as English language programming for Access students and in-service 
teacher training for Access directors and teachers. In addition, the 
recipient will provide at least two U.S. summer

[[Page 20008]]

workshops, one for selected Access Program directors and teachers and 
the other for selected Access students. In addition to providing 
quality instruction in the English language to Access students and the 
latest methodology to Access directors and teachers, workshops must 
include content that gives the participants insights into, and an 
appreciation for, U.S. culture and democratic values.

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 English Access Microscholarship Program provides a 
foundation of English language skills to bright 14- to 18-year-olds 
from disadvantaged sectors through after school classes and intensive 
summer learning activities. The program also gives participants the 
opportunity to gain an appreciation for U.S. culture and democratic 
values, increase their ability to participate successfully in the 
socio-economic development of their countries, and improve their 
ability to compete to participate in U.S. educational and exchange 
programs. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs' Office of 
English Language Programs (ECA/A/L), based on input from U.S. 
Embassies' Public Affairs sections, designates the schools or other 
educational service providers that conduct the classes and in-service 
teacher training. (Note: Throughout this Request for Grant Proposals, 
these schools, NGOs and other partners will be referred to as ``in-
country educational service providers.'') The in-country educational 
service providers, in collaboration with the U.S. Embassies, select the 
students. The microscholarships fund in-country study for classes close 
to the students' homes. English Access Microscholarships do not support 
study in the United States. Because of the Program's worldwide scope, 
the method of instruction, curriculum, textbooks, tests, hours of 
instruction, cost per student, and other program elements may vary 
considerably from country to country, and sometimes within a single 
country.
    Background: In FY2006, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs' Office of English Language Programs assumed overall management 
of the Department's English Access Microscholarship Program. The 
Program was launched in 2004 as a pilot program in countries of the 
Middle East and North Africa. The program has expanded to become a key 
foundation element in the Bureau's continuum of exchanges to reach 
younger and more diverse audiences worldwide. Since its inception in 
2004, approximately 44,000 students in more than 55 countries have 
participated in the Access Program. The Bureau anticipates providing 
English Access Microscholarships to approximately 10,000 students 
worldwide under this award. The current participating countries are: 
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, 
Bangladesh, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burma, 
Cambodia, Chad, Chile, China, C[ocirc]te d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Democratic 
Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Israel, 
Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, 
Malaysia, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, 
Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, 
Senegal, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, 
Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, 
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, West Bank/Gaza, and Yemen.
    Program Goals: In addition to providing quality instruction in the 
English language, all courses in which Access Program students are 
enrolled are required to have adequate and appropriate content to give 
the students insights into, and an appreciation for, U.S. culture and 
democratic values. Another important goal of the English Access 
Microscholarship Program is to provide students with sufficient English 
language skills to apply and compete successfully for ECA exchange 
programs or other study opportunities for young people to the U.S. 
Access students also acquire sufficient language skills to participate 
in ECA and embassy-sponsored alumni activities. U.S. Embassies' Public 
Affairs sections will work closely with Regional English Language 
Officers, English Language Fellows and Specialists to familiarize 
Access directors and teachers with U.S. student-centered teaching 
methods, various materials illustrating U.S. society, culture and 
diversity, and the role of materials in the language classroom.
    Cooperative Agreement Recipient's Responsibilities: The cooperative 
agreement recipient (hereafter referred to as recipient organization) 
that is awarded the English Access Microscholarship Program from the 
Bureau will be responsible for the following activities:
    1. Disbursing funds to in-country educational service providers in 
each of the participating countries. The in-country educational service 
providers are schools, NGOs or other educational providers selected by 
U.S. Embassies to enroll the scholarship students. The providers may 
also provide in-service teacher training. The amounts to be disbursed, 
as well as the in-country educational service providers, are determined 
by ECA/A/L in consultation with U.S. Embassies and the State 
Department's Regional Bureaus.

    Note:  If the recipient organization is also selected by a U.S. 
Embassy to be an in-country educational service provider, strict 
internal financial and management procedures must be established to 
ensure that the two roles are distinct. For example, separate 
accounts must be established to preclude co-mingling of funds, 
separate support staff must be maintained, etc.

    The recipient organization makes numerous disbursements to each in-
country educational service provider per year. ECA/A/L will authorize 
the disbursements as necessary based on program requirements. 
Individual disbursements to in-country educational service providers 
will vary in size depending on the size of the Program in each country, 
ranging from several thousand dollars to several hundred thousand 
dollars per in-country educational service provider.
    Additionally, the recipient organization, under the close 
supervision of ECA/A/L, will:
    2. Plan, conduct, and fund at least one workshop (approximately two 
weeks or more in duration) in the U.S. for approximately 12-25 teachers 
and directors of the Program, chosen by ECA/A/L from nominations by 
U.S. Embassies. The workshop will focus on the latest EFL methodology, 
linguistic enhancement, educational leadership, cultural interchange 
and ``best practices'' in the classroom. In addition participants will 
develop a project to implement with Access students in their countries.

[[Page 20009]]

    3. Plan, conduct, and fund at least one workshop (approximately two 
weeks or more in duration) in the U.S. for approximately 20-25 English 
Access Microscholarship Program students, chosen by ECA/A/L from 
nominations by U.S. Embassies. The workshop will focus on giving the 
students an immersion experience in U.S. culture and the English 
language and will entail travel to several cities in diverse regions of 
the United States.
    4. Issue DS-2019 forms to participants in the workshops.
    5. Ship books and materials to the providers in the field as 
required. ECA/A/L will authorize the shipments as necessary based on 
program requirements.
    6. Draft and clear all public advertisements, newsletters, and Web 
sites with ECA/A/L before development and dissemination to ensure 
proper identification of the U.S. Government and ECA role.
    Cooperative Agreement: In a Cooperative Agreement, ECA/A/L is 
substantially involved in the program activities, above and beyond 
routine grant monitoring. ECA/A/L activities and responsibilities for 
this Program are as follows:
    1. Selects, based on input from U.S. Embassies and the State 
Department's Regional Bureaus, the in-country educational service 
providers (schools, NGOs, etc.) that will provide English language 
instruction to the Access program students and implement in-service 
teacher training;
    2. Selects, based on input from U.S. Embassies, the State 
Department's Regional Bureaus, and the in-country educational service 
providers, the students who receive the microscholarships;
    3. Determines, based on input from U.S. Embassies and the State 
Department's Regional Bureaus, the amount and timing of financial 
disbursements by the recipient organization to the in-country 
educational service providers;
    4. Serves, except for routine disbursements and other transactions 
approved in advance by ECA/A/L, as the recipient organization's primary 
point of contact and intermediary with the in-country educational 
service providers and teachers involved in the Program. Similarly, ECA/
A/L serves as the primary point of contact and intermediary with the 
U.S. Embassies and students involved in the Program.
    In this Cooperative Agreement, U.S. Embassies are also 
substantially involved in the program activities, above and beyond 
routine grant monitoring. U.S. Embassies' activities and 
responsibilities for this Program are as follows:
    1. Collaborates with in-country educational service providers in 
the student selection process;
    2. Selects the in-country educational service providers (schools, 
NGOs, universities, etc.) that will provide English language 
instruction to the Access Program students;
    3. Participates in enhancement activities for Access students, when 
possible;
    4. Proposes participants to ECA/A/L for the U.S. workshops;
    5. Conducts regular review of the in-country educational service 
providers' program and accounts;
    6. Provides certificates signed by the U.S. Ambassador to the 
students at the beginning and end of the Program;
    7. Conducts regular review of the in-country educational service 
providers' program and accounts; and
    8. Proposes in-service training for Access directors and teachers.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. ECA's level of involvement in 
this program is listed under section I above.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY2009.
    Approximate Total Funding: The Cooperative Agreement may be up to 
$19,289,970. Approximately $1.25 million comes from the FY2008/2009 
Economic Support Funds for Central America (Merida Initiative) 
transferred to ECA for obligation in FY2009, an additional $2,202,970 
in recoveries, and $15.837 million comes from the FY2009 ECA Exchange 
Appropriation to implement the English Access Microscholarship Program.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 1.
    Approximate Average Award: The cooperative agreement award may be 
up to $19,289,970.
    Floor of Award Range:
    Ceiling of Award Range:
    Anticipated Award Date: September 1, 2009.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: December 31, 2012.
    Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of this 
program and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, it is 
ECA's intent to renew this cooperative agreement for two additional 
fiscal years, before openly competing it again.

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

    The Bureau's goal is to maximize the number of microscholarships 
being made available and expects that approximately 90 (ninety) percent 
or more of the funds provided through this cooperative agreement will 
be used for funding of microscholarships and for funding of other 
mandatory program elements (workshops, etc.) described under Section 1 
of this RFGP. When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed 
that the applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as 
stipulated in this RFGP and later included in an approved 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) Bureau grant guidelines require that organizations with less 
than four years experience in conducting international exchanges be 
limited to $60,000 in Bureau funding. ECA anticipates making one award 
pending the availability of funds, in an amount up to $19,289,970 to 
support program and administrative costs required to implement this 
exchange program. Therefore, organizations with less than four years 
experience in conducting international exchanges are ineligible to 
apply under this competition. The Bureau encourages applicants to 
provide maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in support of its 
programs.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    Note:  Please read the complete 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.


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IV.1 Contact Information to Request an Application Package

    Please contact the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, 
Office of English Language Programs, ECA/A/L, Room 304, U.S. Department 
of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, Telephone: 
202-453-8855, Fax: 202-453-8858, and [email protected] to request 
a Solicitation Package.
    Please refer to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/L 09-02 
located at the top of this announcement when making your request. 
Alternatively, an electronic application package may be obtained from 
grants.gov. Please see section IV.3f for further information.
    The Solicitation Package contains the Proposal Submission 
Instruction (PSI) document which consists of required application 
forms, and standard guidelines for proposal preparation.
    It also contains the Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation 
(POGI) document, which provides specific information, award criteria 
and budget instructions tailored to this competition.
    Please specify Bureau Program Officer Melissa Fernandez and refer 
to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/L 09-02 located at the top of 
this announcement on all other inquiries and correspondence.

IV.2. To Download a Solicitation Package via Internet

    The entire Solicitation Package may be downloaded from the Bureau's 
Web site at http://exchanges.state.gov/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, recipient 
organizations 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 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 Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs places critically 
important emphases on the security and proper administration of the 
Exchange Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence by award recipients 
and sponsors to all regulations governing the J visa. Therefore, 
proposals should demonstrate the applicant's capacity to meet all 
requirements governing the administration of the Exchange Visitor 
Programs as set forth in 22 CFR 62, including the oversight of 
Responsible Officers and Alternate Responsible Officers, screening and 
selection of program participants, provision of pre-arrival information 
and orientation to participants, monitoring of participants, proper 
maintenance and security of forms, recordkeeping, reporting and other 
requirements. The award recipient will be responsible for issuing DS-
2019 forms to participants in this program. The Office of English 
Language Programs (ECA/A/L) will assist in issuing DS-2019s as 
necessary.
    A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of 
Exchange Visitor (J) programs is available at http://exchanges.state.gov or from:
    United States Department of State, Office of Exchange Coordination 
and Designation, ECA/EC/ECD--SA-44, Room 734, 301 4th Street, SW. 
Washington, DC 20547, Telephone: (202) 203-5029, FAX: (202) 453-8640.
    Please refer to Solicitation Package for further information.

IV.3d.2 Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines

    Pursuant to the Bureau's authorizing legislation, programs must 
maintain a non-political character and should be balanced and 
representative of the diversity of American political, social, and 
cultural life. ``Diversity'' should be interpreted in the broadest 
sense and encompass differences including, but not limited to 
ethnicity, race, gender, religion, geographic location, socio-economic 
status, and disabilities. Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere 
to the advancement of this principle both in program administration and 
in program content. Please refer to the review criteria under the 
`Support for Diversity' section for specific suggestions on 
incorporating diversity into your proposal. Public Law 104-319 provides 
that ``in carrying out programs of educational and cultural exchange in 
countries whose people do not fully enjoy freedom and democracy,'' the 
Bureau ``shall take appropriate steps to provide opportunities for 
participation in such programs to human rights and democracy leaders of 
such countries.'' Public Law 106-113 requires that the governments of 
the countries described

[[Page 20011]]

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:
    IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit SF-424A--``Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs'' along with 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 Solicitation Package for complete budget 
guidelines and formatting instructions.

IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission

    Application Deadline Date: June 15, 2009.
    Reference Number: ECA/A/L 09-02.
    Methods of Submission:
    Applications may be submitted in one of two ways:
    (1) In hard-copy, via a nationally recognized overnight delivery 
service (i.e., 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 webportal 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

    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.


[[Page 20012]]


    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 15 copies of the application should be sent to:
    U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, Ref.: ECA/A/L 09-02, Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, Room 534, 
301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
    Applicants submitting hard-copy applications must also submit the 
``Executive Summary'' and ``Proposal Narrative'' sections of the 
proposal in text (.txt) or Microsoft Word format on a PC-formatted 
disk. The Bureau will provide these files electronically to the 
appropriate Public Affairs Section(s) at the U.S. embassy(ies) for 
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 webportal 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: 
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.
    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 award cooperative agreements resides with the Bureau's 
Grants Officer.

Review Criteria

    Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed 
according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are not rank 
ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation:
    1. Quality of the program idea: Proposals should exhibit 
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's 
mission.
    2. Program planning: Detailed agenda and relevant work plan should 
demonstrate substantive undertakings and logistical capacity. Agenda 
and plan should adhere to the program overview and guidelines described 
above.
    3. Ability to achieve program objectives and institutional 
capacity: Objectives should be reasonable, feasible, and flexible. 
Proposals should clearly demonstrate how the institution will meet the 
program's objectives and plan. Proposed personnel and institutional 
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the Program or 
project's goals
    4. Institution's Record/Ability: Proposals should demonstrate an 
institutional record of successful exchange programs, including 
responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting 
requirements for past Bureau awards (grants or cooperative agreements) 
as determined by Bureau Grants Staff. The Bureau will consider the past 
performance of prior recipients and the demonstrated potential of new 
applicants.
    5. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive 
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Achievable and relevant 
features should be cited in both program administration (selection of 
participants, program venue and program evaluation) and program content 
(orientation and wrap-up sessions, program meetings, resource materials 
and follow-up activities).
    6. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate 
the

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activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of the 
program. A draft survey questionnaire or other technique plus 
description of a methodology to use to link outcomes to original 
project objectives is recommended.
    7. Cost-effectiveness and Cost-Sharing: The overhead and 
administrative components of the proposal, including salaries and 
honoraria, should be kept as low as possible. All other items should be 
necessary and appropriate. Proposals should maximize cost-sharing 
through other private sector support as well as institutional direct 
funding contributions.

VI. Award Administration Information

VI.1a. Award Notices

    Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by 
Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures. 
Successful applicants will receive 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.1b The following additional requirements apply to this project: 
All awards made under this competition must be executed according to 
all relevant U.S. laws and policies regarding assistance to the 
Palestinian Authority, and to the West Bank and Gaza. Organizations 
must consult with relevant Public Affairs Offices before entering into 
any formal arrangements or agreements with Palestinian organizations or 
institutions.

    Note: To assure that planning for the inclusion of the 
Palestinian Authority complies with requirements, please contact 
Program Officer Melissa Fernandez 202-453-8855 and 
[email protected] for additional information.

Special Provision for Performance in a Designated Combat Area 
(Currently Iraq and Afghanistan) (December 2008)

    All Recipient personnel deploying to areas of combat operations, as 
designated by the Secretary of Defense (currently Iraq and 
Afghanistan), under assistance awards over $100,000 or performance over 
14 days must register in the Department of Defense maintained 
Synchronized Pre-deployment and Operational Tracker (SPOT) system. 
Recipients of federal assistance awards shall register in SPOT before 
deployment, or if already in the designated operational area, register 
upon becoming an employee under the assistance award, and maintain 
current data in SPOT. Information on how to register in SPOT will be 
available from your Grants Officer or Grants Officer Representative 
during the final negotiation and approval stages in the federal 
assistance awards process. Recipients of federal assistance awards are 
advised that adherence to this policy and procedure will be a 
requirement of all final federal assistance awards issued by ECA.
    Recipient performance may require the use of armed private security 
personnel. To the extent that such private security contractors (PSCs) 
are required, grantees are required to ensure they adhere to Chief of 
Mission (COM) policies and procedures regarding the operation, 
oversight, and accountability of PSCs.

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 and http://fa.statebuy.state.gov.

VI.3. Reporting Requirements

    You must provide ECA with a hard copy of the original plus 10 
copies of the following reports:
    (1) A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after 
the expiration of the award;
    (2) A concise, one-page final program report summarizing program 
outcomes no more than 90 days after the expiration of the award. This 
one-page report will be transmitted to OMB, and be made available to 
the public via OMB's USAspending.gov Web site--as part of ECA's Federal 
Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reporting 
requirements.
    (3) A SF-PPR, ``Performance Progress Report'' Cover Sheet with all 
program reports.
    (4) Quarterly program and financial 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.

VI.4. Optional Program Data Requirements

    Award recipients will be required to maintain specific data on 
program participants and activities in an electronically accessible 
database format that can be shared with the Bureau as required. As a 
minimum, the data must include the following:
    (1) Name, address, contact information and biographic sketch of all 
persons who travel internationally on funds provided by the agreement 
or who benefit from the award funding but do not travel.
    (2) Itineraries of international and domestic travel, providing 
dates of travel and cities in which any exchange experiences take 
place. Final schedules for in-country and U.S. activities must be 
received by the ECA Program Officer at least one week prior to the 
official opening of the activity.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: Melissa Fernandez, 
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of English Language 
Programs, ECA/A/L, Room 304, ECA/A/L 09-02, U.S. Department of State, 
SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, telephone: 202-

[[Page 20014]]

453-8855, fax: 202-453-8858, and e-mail: [email protected].
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number ECA/A/L 09-02. Please read the 
complete announcement before sending inquiries or submitting proposals. 
Once the RFGP deadline has passed, Bureau staff may not discuss this 
competition with applicants until the proposal review process has been 
completed.

VIII. Other Information

Notice

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

    Dated: April 23, 2009.
C. Miller Crouch,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. E9-9811 Filed 4-29-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P