[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 27 (Wednesday, February 10, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6784-6790]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-2981]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice: 6896]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for
Grant Proposals: The Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Summer Academy
Announcement Type: New Grant.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-10-27.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.415.
Application Deadline: March 19, 2010.
Executive Summary: The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs
Division, of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA)
announces an open competition for a grant for a summer academy for
youth. Public and private non-profit organizations meeting the
provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C.
501(c)(3), including accredited, post-secondary U.S. educational
institutions, may submit proposals to provide a four-week U.S.-based
Academy in July 2010 for up to 27 teenagers. Seventeen of the
participants will be foreign students from multiple countries who have
already been screened and selected for an exchange program in the
United States. They will be joined at the Academy by 10 American
teenagers selected by the U.S. grant recipient. The Academy's
activities will focus on leadership development, critical thinking,
communication skills, and community activism, in addition to exposure
to U.S. culture and society through site visits and homestays with
American families.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Authority: Overall grant making authority for this program is
contained in the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961,
Public Law 87-256, as amended, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act.
The purpose of the Act is ``to enable the Government of the United
States to increase mutual understanding between the people of the
United States and the people of other countries * * *; to strengthen
the ties which unite us with other nations by demonstrating the
educational and cultural interests, developments, and achievements of
the people of the United States and other nations* * *and thus to
assist in the development of friendly, sympathetic and peaceful
relations between the United States and the other countries of the
world.'' The funding authority for the program above is provided
through legislation.
Purpose: This Academy aims to foster relationships between American
teenagers and teenagers from countries with significant Muslim
populations to build strong linkages and an awareness of shared values,
and to enable youth to face together the global challenges of the 21st
Century. Through this Academy, diverse but intellectually curious
students will participate in an intensive, four-week program in the
United States in the summer of 2010. Participants will
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be engaged in a variety of activities such as training sessions,
workshops, community and/or school-based programs, and cultural events.
Participants will work on projects that promote community engagement to
be implemented in their home communities.
Goals: The goals of the Academy are (1) to develop a sense of civic
responsibility and a commitment to cooperation among youth; (2) to
foster relationships among youth from different ethnic, religious, and
national groups; (3) to promote mutual understanding between the people
of the United States and other countries; and (4) to stimulate the
development of a cadre of young leaders who will share the knowledge
and skills gained through participation in the Academy with their peers
through positive action after they return to their home communities.
With the specific focus of these institutes, the following outcomes
will indicate a successful project:
Participants from abroad will demonstrate an improved
understanding of the United States and its people, and the American
students will better understand the interests of the people of the
participating countries.
Participants will work together to identify and overcome
misunderstanding or lack of understanding among nations both during the
institute and after they return home.
Participants will develop critical thinking skills that
will enable them to assess the reliability of media sources, and to
analyze possible bias in journalism.
Participants will demonstrate a better understanding of
community service and leadership skills to carry out a successful
project that addresses a need in their home communities.
Participants: The 17 participants from abroad were competitively
selected through a rigorous screening process for an academic-year
exchange program. These participants were unable to take part in that
program as planned, and will be attending this Academy instead. The
grant recipient will be required to work with the two organizations
that selected them in order to provide pre-departure orientation
materials, to arrange international travel, and to facilitate community
service project implementation after participants return home. The
international travel costs will be borne by these other two
organizations through a separate funding arrangement.
The Academy: The U.S. program will begin and end in Washington, DC.
At the outset, all participants will be engaged in a three- to four-day
orientation and study tour of Washington. The closing session will
include a meeting with State Department officials plus concluding
workshops to prepare the participants for their return home and
finalization of their action plans for service projects at home.
The intervening weeks of the Academy may take place in one or two
communities and should offer the participants exposure to the variety
of American life.
The Academy will take place on a U.S. university or college campus
or at a similar group-oriented venue. For a portion of the academy, the
participants will be housed together since living together will
facilitate greater cooperation. For at least two weeks of the Academy,
all participants will have homestays with local families.
During the course of the Academy, the grant recipient will arrange
for mentors for the participants; the mentors may also serve as
trainers or instructors, as appropriate. Adult staff should be
available to support and supervise the participants during the course
of the Institute.
Program content: Through an approach of ``Think Globally, Act
Locally,'' the Academy themes will cover issues of common concern to
young adults worldwide. Applicants are encouraged to be creative in
identifying specific issues that are of broad interest to this age
group. To explore these topics, the participants will also look at
volunteer community service, respect for diversity, and youth
leadership through interactive activities, practical experiences, and
other hands-on opportunities. Leadership training will cover
communication skills, critical thinking, problem solving, and team
building. The program should offer exposure to U.S. culture and society
through site visits and homestays with American families. In addition
to the selected American participants, program activities should engage
American teenagers wherever possible. Social, cultural, and
recreational activities will balance the schedule.
Guidelines: Pending the availability of funds, the grant will begin
on or about May 28, 2010. Applicants should propose a U.S. academy that
will take place for four weeks between July 1, 2010, and August 6,
2010. The grant period will be approximately eight months in duration,
as appropriate to the program design.
The grant recipient will be responsible for the following:
Recruitment, screening, and selection of ten American
participants, ages 16-18, representing the diversity of the United
States.
The designing and planning of a substantive program in the
United States that promotes international dialogue on key global
issues, critical thinking, respect for diversity, leadership
development, civic education, and community service. Some activities
should be school and/or community-based, as feasible, and the projects
will involve as much interaction with American peers, even beyond those
directly participating in the Academy, as possible.
Logistical arrangements, properly screened host family
arrangements, other accommodations, disbursement of stipends, local
travel, and travel between sites.
Monitoring of the participants' safety and well-being
while participating in the Academy, including during the homestays.
Support in the planning and implementation of community
service projects that the participants will implement upon their return
home.
Applicant organizations must demonstrate their capacity for doing
projects of this nature, focusing on three areas of competency: (1)
Provision of programs that address the goals and themes outlined in
this document; (2) age-appropriate programming for youth; and (3)
previous experience in working with diverse international groups. The
grant recipient must be able to assist the in-country organizations and
the U.S. embassies in supporting follow-on activities for the foreign
alumni of the Academy. The grant recipient will assume sole
responsibility for supporting the follow-on activities of the American
alumni.
Proposals must demonstrate how the stated objectives will be met.
The proposal narrative should provide detailed information on how the
major program activities will be implemented, and applicants should
explain and justify their programmatic choices. Programs must comply
with J-1 visa regulations for the International Visitor category.
Please be sure to refer to the complete Solicitation Package--this
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: FY-2010.
Approximate Total Funding: $140,000.
Number of Awards: One.
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Approximate Average Award: $140,000.
Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, May 28,
2010.
Anticipated Project Completion Date: December 31, 2010.
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 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 two awards
in amounts 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 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.
IV.1. Contact Information To Request an Application Package
Please contact the Youth Programs Division (ECA/PE/C/PY), U.S.
Department of State, SA-5, 3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20522-0503,
Telephone (202) 632-6065, Fax (202) 632-9355, E-mail:
[email protected] to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to
the Funding Opportunity Number (ECA/PE/C/PY-10-27) 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 Program Officer Carolyn Lantz and refer to the
Funding Opportunity Name and Number 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
Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) document and the
mandatory Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document for
additional formatting and technical requirements.
IV.3c. You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of
application. Please note: Effective 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 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.
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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 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 part 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 part 62 et seq.
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs places critically
important emphases on the secure and proper administration of Exchange
Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence by 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 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 part 62 et seq.,
including the oversight of their Responsible Officers and Alternate
Responsible Officers, screening and selection of program participants,
provision of pre-arrival information and orientation to participants,
monitoring of participants, proper maintenance and security of forms,
record-keeping, reporting and other requirements.
The Office of Citizen Exchanges of ECA will be responsible for
issuing DS-2019 forms to participants in this program.
A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of
Exchange Visitor (J) programs is available at http://exchanges.state.gov/jexchanges/index.html or from: Office of
Designation, ECA/EC/D, SA-5, Floor C2, Department of State, Washington,
DC 20522-0582.
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
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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. Grant requests may not exceed $140,000. This amount
will not include the international travel costs for the foreign
exchange participants. 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.
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.
Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget
guidelines and formatting instructions.
IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission:
Application Deadline Date: Friday, March 19, 2010
Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-10-27
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., 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 six copies of the application should be sent to:
Program Management Division, ECA-IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/PE/C/PY-10-27,
SA-5, Floor 4, Department of State, Washington, DC 20522-0504.
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].
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. 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 website 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 website. ECA strongly recommends that all
potential applicants review thoroughly the Grants.gov website, 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;
Email: 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 website, 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
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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: The proposed program should be well
developed, respond to design outlined in the solicitation, and
demonstrate originality. It should be clearly and accurately written,
substantive, and with sufficient detail. Proposals should exhibit
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's
mission.
2. Program planning and ability to achieve program objectives: 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. Objectives should be
reasonable, feasible, and flexible. The proposal should clearly
demonstrate how the applicant will meet the program's objectives and
plan.
3. Support of diversity: The proposal should demonstrate the
recipient's commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding of
diversity in program content. Applicants should demonstrate readiness
to accommodate participants with physical disabilities.
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 past Bureau grants as determined by
the Bureau's Office of Contracts. The Bureau will consider the past
performance.
5. Project evaluation: The proposal should include a plan to
evaluate the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at
the end of the program. The proposal should include a draft survey
questionnaire or other technique plus description of a methodology to
use to link outcomes to original project objectives. The grant
recipient will be expected to submit intermediate reports after each
project component is concluded.
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, which demonstrates institutional and community
commitment.
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. Quarterly 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. An 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: Carolyn Lantz,
Program Officer, Youth Programs Division (ECA/PE/C/PY), U.S. Department
of State, SA-5, 3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20522-0503, Telephone (202)
632-6421, Fax (202) 632-9355, E-mail: [email protected].
All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should
reference the title, YES Summer Academy, and number, ECA/PE/C/PY-10-27.
Please read the complete announcement before sending inquiries
[[Page 6790]]
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: February 3, 2010.
Maura M. Pally,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S.
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2010-2981 Filed 2-9-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P