[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 77 (Thursday, April 22, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21102-21113]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-9334]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6962]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program: 
``Overseas YES Inbound Recruitment, YES Abroad Placement, and Alumni 
Components'' for the 2011-12 Academic Year

    Announcement Type: New Grant.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-10-06.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.415.

[[Page 21103]]

    Key Dates: September 1, 2010--September 30, 2013.
    Application Deadline: June 3, 2010.
    Executive Summary: The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces an open competition 
for a grant to support exchanges and relationship building between high 
school students from countries with significant Muslim populations and 
the people of the United States. Public and private non-profit 
organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code 
section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) and public institutions may submit a 
proposal for the Overseas YES Inbound Recruitment, YES Abroad 
Placement, and Alumni Components to: Recruit and select approximately 
1,077 students from designated countries (referred to herein as 
``inbound'' participants), provide orientations, coordinate logistics, 
and provide follow-on alumni programs in support of an academic year or 
semester of study in the United States, incorporating themes promoting 
civil society, leadership, and mutual understanding; and select 
approximately 50 American participants and identify host families and 
schools for their placement and support in ten countries overseas.
    To implement the entirety of the YES program, two Requests for 
Grant Proposals are being announced at this time (the Disabilities 
Components will be handled through a separate grant process.): one 
(this announcement) covers Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study 
Program (YES) Overseas Recruitment, YES Abroad Placement, and Alumni 
Components. A separate announcement will solicit organizations to 
arrange placement of Inbound Kennedy-Lugar YES students with U.S. host 
families and schools and monitor their health, safety and welfare, and 
identify and nominate U.S. students for consideration for the YES 
Abroad program.
    This Overseas YES Inbound Recruitment, YES Abroad Placement, and 
Alumni Components announcement requires:
     Development of all program materials for marketing to U.S. 
and non-U.S. students, a host family and school handbooks, web 
presence, student application forms, and other standardized program 
forms and publications.
     Recruitment and selection of approximately 1,077 YES 
Inbound participants in designated countries overseas.
     Final selection of approximately 50 American participants 
from among those recruited and proposed by U.S. Placement 
Organizations.
     Placement and support of YES Abroad American participants 
with host families and schools in ten eligible countries overseas.
     All overseas orientations for all YES Abroad and YES 
Inbound participants.
     Alumni programs for YES Abroad and YES Inbound 
participants.
    Organizations are invited to submit proposals to recruit, screen 
and select approximately 1,077 qualified high school students from over 
35 designated countries; conduct local student and natural family 
orientations; provide cross-cultural training; collaborate with U.S. 
placement organizations for on-program counseling; coordinate 
programmatic and on-program participant monitoring activities; and 
evaluate program implementation for students participating in the YES 
Inbound program during the 2011-12 academic year.
    In addition, the organization selected under this announcement will 
select from among American students proposed by U.S. Placement 
Organizations 50 American students and place them in ten eligible 
countries overseas for the YES Abroad Program. For YES Abroad, the 
eligible hosting countries at the time of publication of this RFGP are: 
Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Oman, 
Thailand, and Turkey.
    The Bureau reserves the right to amend these lists at any time as 
conditions change.
    Under the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program 
Overseas Inbound Recruitment, YES Abroad Placement, and Alumni 
Components grant, applicants are encouraged to consider the formation 
of a consortium of partners to implement activities in all countries 
listed below. (Partial lists of country programs will not be accepted.) 
It is ECA's expectation that it will not be likely that one 
organization will have the desired experience and expertise in all 
countries, therefore the strongest proposals may be from organizations 
that propose oversight to a number of organizations with the necessary 
capacity to carry out activities in each country. Nonetheless, the 
applicant must accept full responsibility for coordination, 
standardization, and delivery of high-quality performance within each 
country.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Authority

    Overall grant making authority for this program is contained in the 
Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended, 
Public Law 87-256, 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 Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program is 
designed to foster a global community of shared interests and values 
developed through better mutual understanding via first-hand 
participation of high school students, preferably aged 15-18.5, from 
countries with significant Muslim populations in academic year or 
semester exchanges to the United States. The program seeks to select up 
to 1,077 inbound students with leadership potential, to develop their 
leadership skills while in the U.S., and to support them in alumni 
activities after they return home. The YES Abroad program would include 
approximately 50 high school students from the United States.
    The overarching goals of the program are to:
    1. Promote better understanding by youth from selected countries 
about local society, people, institutions, values and culture;
    2. Foster lasting personal ties;
    3. Engage the exchange participants in activities that advance 
mutual understanding, respect for diversity, leadership skills, and 
understanding of civil society during their exchange experience;
    4. Enhance Americans' understanding of other countries and 
cultures;
    5. Increase the capacity of organizations in participating 
countries to engage youth in activities that enhance mutual 
understanding, respect for diversity, leadership skills, and 
understanding of civil society through alumni activities.

Eligible Countries

    The partner countries for this program have been selected based on 
several factors: (1) Foreign policy considerations, (2) a favorable 
climate for exchange, and (3) anticipated

[[Page 21104]]

recruitment and placement capacity for students from each listed 
country. The list below includes the countries that are currently 
participating in the YES Inbound program. An approximate target number 
of students is indicated for each country based on the experience of 
previous years and/or anticipated capacities for successful recruitment 
and placement. Proposals should budget for up to the targeted number of 
inbound students:

 
 
 
Afghanistan (50)                  Gaza (10)
Albania (15)                      Ghana (35)
Bahrain (10)                      India (45)
Bangladesh (35)                   Indonesia (103)
Bosnia and Herzegovina (15)       Israel (Arab Communities) (22)
Bulgaria (7)                      Jordan (28)
Cameroon (6)                      Kenya (25)
Egypt (50)                        Kosovo (7)
Lebanon (45)                      Kuwait (18)
Liberia (6)                       Saudi Arabia (20)
Macedonia (15)                    Senegal (17)
Malaysia (50)                     Sierra Leone (7)
Mali (17)                         South Africa (6)
Morocco (25)                      Suriname (5)
Mozambique (10)                   Tanzania (30)
Nigeria (30)                      Thailand (20)
Oman (9)                          Tunisia (20)
Pakistan (108)                    Turkey (50)
Philippines (40)                  West Bank (25)
Qatar (6)                         Yemen (35)
 

    For YES Abroad, the eligible countries at the time of publication 
of this RFGP are: Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mali, 
Morocco, Oman, Thailand, and Turkey.
    The Bureau reserves the right to amend these lists at any time as 
conditions change. Should an applicant have questions in regards to 
countries on this list, please contact the Bureau. (See Section IV.1 
for contact information.)
    For Overseas YES Inbound Recruitment, an applicant must propose no 
fewer than the number of students per country shown above. Applicants 
must submit proposals that include all the countries. YES Inbound 
participants are governed by the protections of the J-1 visa 
regulations governing exchange students coming to the U.S.; applicants 
must coordinate with Placement Organizations to insure and uphold all 
U.S. J-1 visa regulations.
    In their proposals applicants must describe in detail their plans 
for YES Overseas Inbound student recruitment, selection, placement, 
orientation, and monitoring procedures that will ensure this 
requirement's implementation. You will coordinate with the YES Inbound 
Placement Organizations to provide inbound student information and 
logistics. Proposals should provide implementation plans by country for 
student orientations pre- and post-exchange, and follow-on activities 
for returning alumni of the program.
    For YES Abroad, an applicant must propose placing no fewer than 
three (3) students per country. It is acknowledged that outbound 
American participants are not governed by the same protections of the 
J-1 visa regulations governing exchange students coming to the U.S; 
therefore for the safety and security of the American participants, it 
is a requirement that an applicant must provide similar protections and 
oversight traditionally afforded to inbound students under the U.S. J-1 
visa regulations. One potential exception may be the J-1 visa 
regulation of requiring criminal background checks of host families, 
which the Program Office recognizes may not be possible. However, the 
applicant must propose an appropriate means of verifying the integrity 
and suitability of each host family.
    In their proposals applicants must describe in detail their plans 
for YES Abroad host family screening, selection, placement, 
orientation, initial and on-going language training, and monitoring 
procedures that will ensure this requirement's implementation. YES 
Abroad student recruitment will be handled through another grant. 
Successful applicants must coordinate with these grantees for 
recruitment information and logistics, and make the final selection of 
YES Abroad students based on the students' interests and backgrounds 
and the numbers needed for placement per country. The applicant must 
develop and coordinate selection criteria and a process whereby each 
U.S. YES Inbound Placement and YES Abroad Recruitment grantee will 
market the YES Program, receive applications and have the opportunity 
to nominate qualified student candidates for the YES Abroad program. In 
a transparent, merit-based process, the applicant will then select and 
submit to ECA and the respective embassies the names and information on 
the finalists for review and concurrence.
    Proposals should provide implementation plans by country for YES 
Abroad school enrollment, host family screening and placement, cultural 
enrichment activities, and student support that includes post-arrival, 
mid-year, and re-entry orientations for American participants. 
Organizations may propose sub-grantee or partner organizations to 
implement overseas portions of the grant.

Execution of the YES Program: Other Components

    The Bureau will be awarding other grants to administer the 
``Placement Components'' of the YES Inbound program, to perform the 
following functions for inbound students: to recruit and screen U.S. 
host families; secure school placements; conduct local student and host 
family orientations; provide cultural and educational enrichment 
activities; handle all counseling and programmatic issues; and evaluate 
program implementation. These grants will also support identification 
and recruitment of U.S. students for YES Abroad among the placement 
organization's network of American high schools.
    Another organization is currently responsible for supporting 
students with disabilities. This involves a preparatory program 
orientation and a year-end reentry training, as well as supplementary 
ongoing support throughout the year in order to help students with 
disabilities cope with challenges specific to their circumstances.

Grant Funding History

    The first competition for the YES program was conducted in 2002 and 
grants were awarded in FY 2002 to bring students to the U.S. in the 
fall of 2003. Grants were subsequently renewed in FY 2003 and FY 2004. 
The second competition for grants to assist ECA in expanding the reach 
of the program was conducted in FY 2005, and the grants awarded were 
subsequently renewed in FY 2006 and FY 2007. In FY 2008, grants were 
awarded on a competitive basis, with a renewal in FY 2009. This RFGP 
reflects a new grant structure and includes YES Abroad. The YES program 
has grown incrementally each year from approximately 165 students from 
11 countries in academic year 2003-04 to nearly 1,000 students from 
over 35 countries in 2010-11.
    Through this open competition ECA seeks to provide an award to fund 
approximately 50 students from the United States to participate in the 
YES Abroad program during the 2011-2012 academic year. Applicants that 
have not participated in the YES program previously are encouraged to 
view the program's Web site at: http://exchanges.state.gov/education/citizens/students/programs/yes.htm and to contact the Youth Division 
Program Office representatives listed in this solicitation.

[[Page 21105]]

Scope of Program, Timeline, and Applicant Infrastructure

    Funding for the YES Inbound program will support academic year-long 
exchanges (between August 2011 and June 2012) with students enrolled in 
accredited U.S. schools and living with host families. Proposals for 
single semester exchanges for inbound students (spring 2012) may be 
proposed only for Malaysia where the academic calendar will not allow a 
full-year U.S. program.
    It is anticipated that awards will commence in September 2010 with 
marketing, recruitment, selection of inbound students and exchange 
program planning taking place throughout the remainder of 2010-2011 
period.
    Given current U.S. visa processing timelines in some countries, 
inbound students must be selected early enough to allow up to six 
months between the visa interview date and the date of departure for 
students to obtain visas in time for an August 2011 arrival. The 
grantee must work with the U.S. Embassy in each country to ensure 
timely processing of U.S. visas for all inbound participants.
    The grantee will distribute YES Inbound finalists to U.S. placement 
organizations, selected and funded through a separate grant 
competition, through a fair, equitable and transparent process, which 
applicants should explain in their proposal narrative. The applicant 
will be in direct communication with all placement organizations 
working with YES students and will be the primary liaison with ECA 
program officers.
    For countries where the standard of English instruction does not 
provide an adequate qualified applicant pool, selected inbound students 
requiring additional language instruction may receive pre-program 
English language enhancement activities. This will help to ensure that 
the weaker language qualifications of students from more remote areas 
are not an excluding factor in their selection.
    For YES Abroad, the grantee will develop marketing materials for 
recruitment of American students to be carried out by placement 
organizations (funded under another grant) and recruit host families, 
hold a competitive selection process, and develop and implement all 
aspects of its proposed program in consultation with ECA and each host 
country's U.S. Embassy. YES placement organizations will provide 
nominations of YES Abroad applicants for consideration in selection.
    YES Abroad participants will depart the United States during the 
summer of 2011 and remain in their host countries for 10 or 11 months 
until their departure during the period of mid-May to early July 2012. 
Schedules will depend on the academic calendar in each host country. In 
addition to attending school, YES Abroad students from the United 
States must receive intensive language and cross-cultural training for 
two to four weeks upon arrival and on-going formal tutoring at least 
during the first (fall) semester. The students will be exposed to local 
culture through enhancement activities that will enable them to attain 
a broad view of the host country's society. Students will explore 
opportunities for volunteerism and community service and be encouraged 
to share their culture, lifestyle and traditions with local citizens 
throughout their stay.
    All YES Inbound participants will have opportunities to give 
presentations on the U.S. in community forums. Therefore, students must 
be prepared beforehand on how to present information on their home 
countries.
    ECA will accept proposals from individual organizations with 
adequate infrastructure in both the U.S. and the partner countries to 
conduct all aspects of the program as described in the POGI, or from 
organizations that have formed consortia with qualified organizations 
or representatives to implement specified tasks to complete the 
project. In the latter case, the applicant must have a significant role 
in implementing a significant portion of the programs and meet all 
eligibility criteria discussed in this solicitation.
    Applicants may propose value-added programming for students as long 
as it directly supports YES program objectives, themes, and goals, and 
enhancement activities related to the YES program mission. Examples 
could include special workshops or student projects focused on issues 
particularly relevant in the Inbound students' home country or region.
    Applicants may not propose names other than ``Kennedy-Lugar Youth 
Exchange and Study (YES) Program'' for their program, so that all 
student participants and alumni will identify themselves first and 
foremost with the YES program. All materials produced for grant 
activities should bear the YES logo, acknowledge the Department of 
State as the funding source and reflect the State Department's 
objectives for the program. An exception to this requirement can only 
be made upon agreement from ECA and the U.S. Embassy in the respective 
countries.
    The YES Inbound program is for all students from countries with 
significant Muslim populations. However, participation in the YES 
program is not limited to Muslim students. It is ECA's expectation that 
the participants from any country will collectively reflect the 
religious, ethnic, socio-economic, and geographic diversity of their 
country, to the extent possible. In order to support cross-cultural 
communication and understanding, ECA encourages applicants to request 
funding for consultants specially skilled in Islamic cultures. These 
consultants will provide training for grantee staff and volunteers to 
develop printed and online resource materials that support the unique 
cultural needs of their YES students, and should offer services such as 
an on-call resource for staff, volunteers, host and natural families, 
and to provide students with support.

General Responsibilities

    The grantee organization will be responsible for all aspects of the 
YES Program's organizational and administrative implementation, 
including marketing, recruitment, and selection of inbound and outbound 
students, procurement of U.S. visas and transit visas for inbound 
students as required, transportation to and from the U.S., pre-
departure orientation for YES Abroad and YES inbound, and re-entry 
orientations of inbound students as well as their natural and host 
families, support of students throughout the year, and follow-on alumni 
activities for returning Inbound students. The responsibilities of the 
grantee are described in further detail in the accompanying Program 
Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI) document.
    YES Inbound program responsibilities include:
     Recruitment and selection of 1,077 high school students 
from countries with significant Muslim populations.
     Provision of extensive orientation of the selected 
students to the program prior to their coming to the U.S. English 
language training may also be provided to encourage diversity in the 
selection pool and as needed, to meet projected recruitment levels.
     Provision of pre-departure and re-entry orientations for 
students to address program rules and goals and to provide support to 
students while in the U.S. and following their return home.
     Preparation of YES program participants to share their 
culture, lifestyle, and traditions with U.S. citizens throughout their 
stay and during special international events that highlight exchanges 
such as

[[Page 21106]]

International Education Week and Global Youth Service Day.
     Provision of YES students with leadership training and 
opportunities that will foster skills they can take back with them and 
use in their home countries.
     Provision of activities that will increase and enhance 
students' understanding of the importance of tolerance and respect for 
the views, beliefs, and practices of others in a diverse society.
     Development of an alumni database and creation of alumni 
programs--both in coordination with the U.S. Embassies--giving 
opportunities for returning students to incorporate their knowledge and 
skills into service in their home countries.
     Holding an alumni conference for which all interested YES 
alumni can apply to attend. The conference may be one global event, or 
multiple events held in various regions.
    YES Abroad responsibilities include:
     Substantially involving U.S. Embassies in the program 
activities outlined herein and beyond routine grant monitoring.
     Developing and implementing all aspects of the proposed 
program in consultation with ECA and the host country's U.S. Embassy.
     Developing a standardized screening process in the 
selection of host families for YES Abroad students and obtaining the 
Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Embassy's concurrence on 
proposed placement locations (neighborhoods, regions) prior to sharing 
placement information with YES Abroad participants.
     Enrolling American YES Abroad participants in accredited 
public or private schools with other host country national with a 
general academic curriculum.
     Providing intensive program, cultural, and language 
training and continued language training throughout the program.
     Monitoring the welfare, health and safety of YES Abroad 
participants while overseas and documenting their progress throughout 
the program, providing counseling, feedback, and support. Reporting 
significant adjustment issues to the U.S. Embassy and ECA.
    General YES Program Overseas Component Responsibilities Include:
     In consultation with U.S. Embassies and ECA, developing a 
comprehensive operational guideline manual setting procedures for 
communication, documentation, and logistics throughout the program.
     Developing and distributing marketing materials 
(brochures, posters, advertisements, press releases, etc.) for the YES 
Program in each country.
     Developing and monitoring a broad-scope interactive YES 
program Web site to market and present the YES program with foci on 
both the YES Abroad and Inbound components. The Web site must have 
features that target and instruct both prospective students and host 
families and alumni of both programs.
     Developing and publishing handbooks for schools, host 
families and students for both the YES Abroad and Inbound components.
     Developing standardized templates for participant 
applications for both the YES Abroad and Inbound components.
     Developing and maintaining a database for all participant 
and host family information for both the YES Abroad and Inbound 
components.
    The ECA program office and U.S. Embassy activities and 
responsibilities for this program are as follows:
     Determining in-country the priorities for recruitment of 
YES Inbound participants, and to participate in the final interview and 
selection process of inbound participants.
     Reviewing and approving all in-country YES program 
materials for the public.
     Reviewing proposed school and host family placement or 
alternative housing arrangement plans per criteria set forward in the 
POGI for each YES Abroad participant before final arrangements are 
made.
    Through participation in the YES program, Inbound students should:
    1. Acquire an understanding of important elements of a civil 
society. This includes concepts such as volunteerism, the idea that 
American citizens can and do act at the grassroots level to deal with 
societal problems, and an awareness of and respect for the rule of law.
    2. Develop an appreciation for American culture, an understanding 
of the diversity of American society and increased respect for 
diversity, and appreciation for others with differing views, beliefs 
and practices.
    3. Interact with Americans and generate enduring ties.
    4. Teach Americans about the cultures of their home countries.
    5. Gain leadership capacity that will enable them to initiate and 
support activities in their home countries that focus on development 
and community service in their role as YES alumni.
    The overall goals of the YES Abroad program are to:
    1. Promote better understanding by American youth about selected 
countries and their society, people, institutions, values and culture;
    2. Foster lasting personal ties;
    3. Enhance foreign audiences' understanding of American culture;
    4. Expose program participants to leadership development 
opportunities and enhancement activities;
    5. Increase the capacity of the exchange infrastructure in 
participating countries to engage youth in activities that advance 
mutual understanding, respect for diversity, and civil society.

Further Considerations

    1. It is anticipated that one grant will be awarded for the 
Overseas YES Inbound Recruitment, YES Abroad Placement, and Alumni 
Components for the 2011-12 Academic Year. Applicants must demonstrate 
that training of local staff ensures their competence in providing 
culture and YES-specific orientation programs. Please refer to the 
Solicitation Package for details on essential program elements, 
permissible costs, and criteria used to select students.
    2. ECA anticipates the grant beginning no later than September 
2010.
    3. Administration of the YES program must be in compliance with 
reporting and withholding regulations for Federal, state, and local 
taxes as applicable.
    4. The grantee is required to make an effort to recruit and include 
students with disabilities in the exchange. As previously noted, the 
ECA Program Office intends to award a grant to a separate organization 
to provide a special arrival orientation (in August 2011) and a pre-
departure orientation in the spring of 2012, as well as on-going 
support throughout the year for the students with disabilities. These 
orientations are in addition to general orientations to be conducted by 
the recipient of this grant. The recipient will also be expected to 
assist in accommodating for the timing of these special orientations.
    5. All YES Inbound exchange participants must travel on J-1 visas 
using DS-2019s issued by the ECA program office under its program 
designation.
    6. Applicants should reflect an understanding of the related youth 
work of various international agencies in the proposed countries, such 
as the U.S. Agency for International Development, World Bank, non-
governmental organizations (NGOs) working with youth, and development 
foundations as a way to enhance alumni programming and provide 
participants with resources and support when they return home.
    7. Projects should promote youth awareness of and involvement in 
civic

[[Page 21107]]

and democratic processes, including respect for diversity, 
accountability of government, human rights, and inclusiveness of women, 
people with disabilities, and minorities. Proposals may include small 
grants to encourage alumni to utilize what they have learned while on 
the exchange upon their return to their home countries to promote civic 
education projects and community development and community service 
initiatives.
    8. Proposals must contain letters of commitment from any foreign or 
domestic partners to be involved in the program, and these letters 
should be tailored to the activities being proposed.
    Please refer to the Solicitation Package for further information, 
especially the Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) and 
the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI).

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Grant Agreement.
    Fiscal Year Funds: 2010.
    Approximate Total Funding: $17,500,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 1.
    Approximate Average Award: $17,500,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: September 2010.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: September 30, 2013.
    Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of this 
program, awardees' ability to comply with Federal Regulations and ECA 
guidelines, and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, 
it is ECA's intent to renew this grant or 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

    There is no minimum or maximum percentage required for this 
competition. However, the Bureau encourages applicants to provide 
maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in support of its programs.
    When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the 
applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its 
proposal and later included in an approved grant agreement. Cost 
sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For 
accountability, you must maintain written records to support all costs 
which are claimed as your contribution, as well as costs to be paid by 
the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. The basis 
for determining the value of cash and in-kind contributions must be in 
accordance with OMB Circular A-110, (Revised), Subpart C.23--Cost 
Sharing and Matching. In the event you do not provide the minimum 
amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget, ECA's 
contribution will be reduced in like proportion.

III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements

    a. Grants awarded to eligible organizations with less than four 
years of experience in conducting international exchange programs will 
be limited to $60,000. ECA anticipates awarding one grant, in an amount 
over $60,000 to support program and administrative costs required to 
implement this exchange program. Therefore, organizations with less 
than four years of experience in conducting international exchange 
programs 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.
    b. Sub-Awards: Due to the scope and geographic breadth of this 
grant, it is highly anticipated that applicants may propose multiple 
organizations as sub-award partners. This is encouraged to strengthen 
the awardee's capacity in each country. Each partner must have 
significant previous history in youth exchange within the respective 
country(ies) where they will implement the program. The applicant will 
however be fully responsible for the oversight of its sub-awardees. 
Further information on sub-agreements is provided in the OMB Circulars 
referenced in Section VI.2.
    c. Technical Eligibility: All proposals must comply with the 
following, or they will result in your proposal being declared 
technically ineligible and given no further consideration in the review 
process:
     Proposed programs may not involve multiple academic year 
exchanges or exchanges to take place other than within the dates of 
August 2011 and June 2012;
     Proposals must identify essential partners and include 
letters of commitment from partners critical to the implementation of 
the program.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    Note: Please read the complete Federal Register announcement before 
sending inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has 
passed, Bureau staff may not discuss this competition with applicants 
until the proposal review process has been completed.

IV.1 Contact Information To Request an Application Package

    Please contact Matt O'Rourke at ECA/PE/C/PY, U.S. Department of 
State, SA-5, 3-I17, 2200 C St. NW., Washington, DC 20522, telephone: 
202-632-6065 or [email protected] to request a Solicitation Package. 
Please refer to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/PY-10-06 
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 Package, 
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 Kevin Baker, Program Officer, and refer to the 
Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/PY-10-06 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 original and ten copies of 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://

[[Page 21108]]

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 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 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, you should discuss your record of compliance 
with 22 CFR 62 et seq., 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, record-keeping, reporting and other requirements. 
ECA will review the record of compliance with 22 CFR 62 et Seq. of 
applicant organizations designated as Exchange Visitor Program Sponsors 
by ECA's Office of Private Sector Exchange as one factor in evaluating 
the record/ability of organizations to carry out successful exchange 
programs.
    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: 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.
    Funds provided through this award may not be used to promote 
participation in, or to purchase equipment or supplies intended for, 
activities related to religious worship or proselytization. Host 
families, school officials, and grantee organizations shall not require 
program participants to attend religious services. However, as part of 
their exchange experience, participants may be offered the opportunity 
to take part voluntarily in this facet of their host culture, at their 
own discretion. Host families are encouraged to enable participants 
living with them to attend services of the participant's religion, if 
the participant so desires and the services are available within a 
reasonable distance of the host family's residence.
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

[[Page 21109]]

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.
    Program Monitoring includes Participant Monitoring, which focuses 
specifically on ensuring students' health, safety and welfare 
throughout the year; see below for details and instructions. This 
section focuses on other aspects of Program Monitoring.
    Program Monitoring: Proposals must include a plan to monitor and 
report on the YES Abroad students' successes, both as the activities 
unfold and at the end of the program. (YES inbound students will be 
monitored by the Placement Organization grants.) For YES Abroad 
students, the Bureau recommends that your proposal include a draft 
survey questionnaire or other technique, plus a description of a 
methodology that will be used to link outcomes to original project 
objectives. The Bureau expects that the grantee will track YES Abroad 
participants and be able to respond to key monitoring questions 
throughout the year, particularly on effects of the program on program 
participants, their host families and communities.
    Successful monitoring depends heavily on setting clear goals and 
outcomes at the outset of a program. Your monitoring plan should 
include a description of your objectives for YES Abroad and how and 
when you intend to measure these outcomes. You should also show how 
your project objectives link to the goals of the program described in 
this RFGP.
    Overall, the quality of your monitoring plan will be judged on how 
well it specifies successes and challenges. Grantees will be required 
to provide reports analyzing their YES Abroad monitoring findings to 
the Bureau in their quarterly 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. Awards may not exceed $17,500,000. Please indicate 
clearly the number of students funded, by country. There must be a 
summary budget as well as breakdowns reflecting both administrative and 
program budgets. Applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for each 
program component, phase, location, or activity to provide 
clarification.
    IV.3e.2. Any/all sub-awards/agreements including accompanying 
budgets required to accomplish overall program objectives described 
herein, shall be submitted with the proposal package and must be 
approved by the Grants Officer, prior to commencement.
    Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget 
guidelines and formatting instructions.
IV.3f. Submission Dates and Times
    Application Deadline Date: June 3, 2010.
    Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-10-06.
    Methods of Submission--Applications may be submitted in one of two 
ways:
    (1) In hard-copy, via a nationally recognized overnight delivery 
service (i.e., DHL, Federal Express, UPS, Airborne Express, or U.S. 
Postal Service Express Overnight Mail, etc.), or
    (2) Electronically through http://www.grants.gov.
    Along with the Project Title, all applicants must enter the above

[[Page 21110]]

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 ten (10) copies of the application should be sent 
to: Program Management Division, ECA-IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/PE/C/PY-10-
06, SA-5, Floor 4, Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, 
DC 20522-0504.
    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 CD-ROM to the 
program officer at [email protected]. As appropriate, the Bureau will 
provide these files electronically to Public Affairs Section(s) 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 bears no responsibility for applicant timeliness 
of submission or 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. EST.
    E-mail: grants.gov">support@grants.gov.
    Applicants have until midnight (12 a.m.), Washington, DC time of 
the closing date to ensure that their entire application has been 
uploaded to the Grants.gov site. There are no exceptions to the above 
deadline. Applications uploaded to the site after midnight of the 
application deadline date will be automatically rejected by the 
Grants.gov system, and will be technically ineligible.
    Applicants will receive a confirmation e-mail from Grants.gov upon 
the successful submission of an application. ECA will not notify you 
upon receipt of electronic applications. It is the responsibility of 
all applicants submitting proposals via the Grants.gov web portal to 
ensure that proposals have been received by Grants.gov in their 
entirety. ECA bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from 
transmission or conversion processes.
IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of Applications
    Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.
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: Due to Recovery Act related opportunities, there has 
been a higher than usual volume of grant proposals submitted through 
Grants.gov. Potential applicants are advised that the increased volume 
may affect the grants.gov proposal submission process. As stated in 
this RFGP, ECA bears no responsibility for applicant timeliness of 
submission or 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.

[[Page 21111]]

    Contact Center Phone: 800-518-4726.
    Business Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m. EST.
    E-mail: grants.gov">support@grants.gov.
    Applicants have until midnight (12:00 a.m.), Washington, D.C. time 
of the closing date to ensure that their entire application has been 
uploaded to the Grants.gov site. There are no exceptions to the above 
deadline. Applications uploaded to the site after midnight of the 
application deadline date will be automatically rejected by the 
Grants.gov system, and will be technically ineligible.
    Applicants will receive a confirmation e-mail from Grants.gov upon 
the successful submission of an application. ECA will not notify you 
upon receipt of electronic applications.
    It is the responsibility of all applicants submitting proposals via 
the Grants.gov Web portal to ensure that proposals have been received 
by Grants.gov in their entirety. ECA bears no responsibility for data 
errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.
    IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of Applications: Executive Order 
12372 does not apply to this program.

V. Application Review Information

V.1. Review Process

    The Bureau will review all proposals for technical eligibility. 
Proposals will be deemed ineligible if they do not fully adhere to the 
guidelines stated herein and in the Solicitation Package. In addition, 
ECA will review the record of compliance with 22 CFR 62 et seq. of 
applicant organizations designated as Exchange Visitor Program Sponsors 
by ECA's Office of Private Sector Exchange. If it is determined that an 
applicant organization submitting a proposal has a record of not being 
in compliance, their proposal will be deemed technically ineligible and 
receive no further consideration in the review process. If in 
compliance, the applicant organization's record of compliance will be 
used as one factor in evaluating the record/ability of organizations to 
carry out successful exchange programs.
    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. These criteria are not rank 
ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation:
    1. Quality of the program idea and planning: Proposals should 
exhibit originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the 
Bureau's mission and the purposes outlined in the solicitation. 
Detailed agenda and relevant work plan should demonstrate the ability 
to ensure that the proposed project accomplishes the stated objectives 
in the desired time frame. Proposals should demonstrate how students 
will be recruited, selected, monitored, trained and prepared for their 
role as YES alumni. The level of creativity, resources, and 
effectiveness will be primary factors for review. Proposals should be 
clearly and accurately written, with sufficient, relevant detail. The 
Narrative should address all of the items in the Statement of Work and 
Guidelines described above.
    2. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive 
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity in all program aspects 
including participants (exchange students and hosts), sending and 
hosting communities, as well as content of orientation, program 
activities, resource materials, and follow-up activities. Proposals 
should articulate a diversity plan, not just a statement of compliance.
    3. Organization's Record/Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel 
and institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to 
achieve the program's goals. Reviewers will assess the applicant and 
its partners to determine if they offer adequate resources, expertise, 
and experience to fulfill program objectives. Partner activities should 
be clearly defined. Proposals should demonstrate an institutional 
record of successful exchange programs, including responsible fiscal 
management and full compliance with all reporting and J-1 Visa 
requirements for past Bureau grants as determined by Bureau Grant 
Staff. ECA will consider the past performance of prior recipients and 
the demonstrated potential of new applicants. In addition, 
organizations designated as Exchange Visitor Program Sponsors must 
include a discussion of 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. 
Proposals that fail to include the above information in their narrative 
will be deemed less or not competitive under this review criterion. ECA 
will review the record of compliance with 22 CFR 62 et seq. of 
organizations designated as Exchange Visitor Program Sponsors as one 
factor in evaluating the record/ability of organizations to carry out 
successful exchange programs.
    4. Multiplier effect/Follow-on activities: Proposed programs should 
strengthen long-term mutual understanding, including maximum sharing of 
information and establishment of long-term institutional and individual 
ties both during the exchange and after the participants return home. 
Proposals should provide a plan for continued contact with alumni to 
ensure that they are tracked over time, utilized and/or organized as 
alumni, and provided opportunities to reinforce the knowledge and 
skills they acquired on the exchange and share them with others.
    5. Participant Monitoring: Proposals must include a detailed 
monitoring plan for YES Abroad students. Given the importance the 
Department places on this criterion, you should dedicate a significant 
percentage of the narrative to explaining how you will achieve the 
Department's goals in regard to monitoring. You may use the appendices 
to house additional details and supporting documentation.
    6. Project Evaluation: The proposal narrative must demonstrate how 
the applicant plans to assess the program's success in achieving 
program objectives and efficient operations, and what instruments will 
be employed to evaluate the program, including pre-departure 
orientations. Applicants may describe any experience conducting 
results-oriented evaluations. Successful applicants will demonstrate 
clear program goals and objectives as well as strategies for monitoring 
YES Abroad student and alumni progress, for both YES Abroad and YES 
inbound students. The grantee is also expected to submit quarterly 
reports that include YES Abroad student and alumni activities and 
progress.
    7. Cost-effectiveness/Cost-Sharing: Reviewers will analyze the 
budget for clarity and cost-effectiveness. They will also assess the 
rationale of the proposed budget and whether the allocation of

[[Page 21112]]

funds is appropriate to complete tasks outlined in the project 
narrative. 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. Preference will be given to 
organizations whose proposals demonstrate a quality, cost-effective 
program.
    8. Value to U.S.-Partner Country Relations: Proposals should 
indicate how the program is of value to US and partner countries' 
interests, and receive positive assessments by the U.S. Department of 
State's geographic area desks and overseas officers of program need, 
potential impact, and significance in the partner countries.

VI. Award Administration Information

VI.1a. Award Notices

    Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by 
Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures. 
Successful applicants will receive 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 
Kevin Baker, Program Officer, telephone (202) 632-6073 or 
[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 Institution''
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) 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 which should include 
both quantitative and qualitative data you have available;
    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.
    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.
    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

[[Page 21113]]

at least three work days prior to the official opening of the activity.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: Kevin Baker, 
Program Officer, ECA/PE/C/PY, 3E14 Ref. Nr. ECA/PE/C/PY-10-06, U.S. 
Department of State, SA-5, 2200 C St., NW., Washington, DC 20522, tel. 
202-632-6073 or e-mail: [email protected].
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number ECA/PE/C/PY-10-06. Please read the 
complete Federal Register 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 15, 2010.
Maura M. Pally,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2010-9334 Filed 4-21-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P