[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 87 (Thursday, May 6, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25025-25031]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-10725]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6985]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: U.S. Professional Development Program for EducationUSA 
Advisers

    Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/S/A-11-05.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.432.
    Key Dates: October 1, 2010 to December 31, 2011.
    Application Deadline: Wednesday, July 7, 2010.
    Executive Summary: The Educational Information and Resources Branch 
of the Office of Global Educational Programs in the Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for the 
U.S. Professional Development Program for EducationUSA Advisers in 
Fiscal Year 2011. Public and private non-profit organizations meeting 
the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code Section 26 USC 
501(c)(3) may submit proposals to cooperate with the Bureau in the 
administration of this program, which will focus on short-term 
professional development in the United States for EducationUSA 
advisers.
    EducationUSA is the network of advising centers supported by the 
U.S. Department of State. These centers operate in a wide variety of 
institutional settings around the world, including binational Fulbright 
Commissions, Public Affairs Sections of U.S. Embassies, independent 
binational centers, foreign universities, and the

[[Page 25026]]

overseas offices of U.S. non-government organizations. The support of 
the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs for these centers varies 
by center and region, and ranges from support for educational resources 
and the professional development of advising staffs, to, in a limited 
number of locations, direct support for office operations. In addition, 
all EducationUSA centers receive specialized, highly tailored advice 
from Bureau-supported regional and country educational advising 
coordinators who are based in fourteen locations in every world region.
    EducationUSA centers are catalysts for the enrollment in U.S. 
colleges and universities of students and scholars sponsored by the 
U.S. government and by other sponsors as well as students and scholars 
seeking U.S. study opportunities independently. The advising staffs at 
EducationUSA centers provide comprehensive, balanced advice about the 
complex range of higher educational opportunities in the United States 
to international students, parents, scholars, and foreign government 
officials. EducationUSA centers also assist U.S. institutions of higher 
education in their overseas outreach efforts. In addition, the 
EducationUSA network encourages study abroad by Americans and the 
development of study abroad opportunities by U.S. universities. 
EducationUSA advisers provide comprehensive information to foreign 
audiences about opportunities to study at accredited U.S. educational 
institutions, enabling prospective students and professionals to select 
appropriate U.S. educational programs. More information on the network 
and a current EducationUSA center list is located at http://www.educationusa.state.gov.
    Professional development for EducationUSA advisers is a critical 
component of the Department of State's support for EducationUSA and 
includes a range of opportunities designed to deepen the advisers' 
understanding of U.S. higher education and of their role in U.S. public 
diplomacy. Advisers need to understand the complex offerings of the 
various sectors of U.S. higher education system, as well as the public 
diplomacy context for their work. The Department provides a continuum 
of professional development opportunities that include an on-line 
course for newly hired advisers, systematic mentoring by regional and 
country educational advising coordinators and regular access to their 
guidance, as well as periodic regional workshops that bring together 
advisers from each world region for sessions with Regional 
Coordinators, Bureau staff, representatives of U.S. colleges, 
universities, and educational associations, and other U.S. educational 
experts.
    The U.S. Professional Development Program for EducationUSA Advisers 
will provide a series of professional development opportunities in the 
United States, which should complement opportunities that are offered 
overseas. Applicant organizations are encouraged to propose creative, 
innovative strategies for all components of the Program. More detailed 
information is provided under the Funding Opportunity Description, 
which follows.

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: To expand the ability of EducationUSA advisers to 
facilitate the flow of international students to the United States, as 
well as their ability to expand the participation of U.S. students in 
academically sound study abroad programs in a widening range of 
international locations. The work of EducationUSA centers is critical 
to the Bureau's pursuit of these objectives, and the U.S. Professional 
Development Program for EducationUSA Advisers should equip advisers 
with skills and perspectives that will increase their effectiveness in 
their professional employment at EducationUSA centers around the world.

1. Participants

    Participants will be nominated by the Public Affairs Sections of 
U.S. Embassies overseas, with the approval of the participants' 
employing organizations, and will be selected by the Bureau's program 
office in consultation with Regional Educational Advising Coordinators. 
They will be currently employed at a State Department-supported 
EducationUSA advising center and will have demonstrated competency in 
analyzing and discussing the U.S. and home country educational systems; 
the application processes that lead to individual enrollments in U.S. 
higher educational institutions; cross-cultural communication skills; 
and office management skills in an EducationUSA center. In addition, 
each participant will have demonstrated leadership and a commitment to 
the educational advising profession.

2. Program Design

    Proposals should outline creative, innovative strategies for 
developing and adapting four traditional program models that have been 
implemented in the past for EducationUSA advisers, with a sharpened 
focus on current issues in higher education and on the role of 
educational advising in public diplomacy. For each program component, 
proposals should include an overall project framework that identifies 
objectives, outlines an implementation plan and that anticipates 
measurable, specific outcomes. The amount that will be available for 
this program in FY2011 resources cannot be determined until FY2011 
funds are appropriated. However, for planning purposes applicant 
organizations may submit program budgets, not including administrative 
expenses, that do not exceed the approximate amounts noted below.
    Component A: For advisers with at least two years' experience in 
their positions: Two workshops each lasting approximately ten days to 
two weeks. Proposals must include a draft curriculum for each workshop, 
including topics of current concern. The curriculum should also include 
at least two full days of briefings by representatives of the 
Department of State. Final curricula will be subject to approval by the 
Bureau's program office. Funding not to exceed approximately $300,000 
is anticipated for a total of two sessions of ten days to two weeks 
each, with each session accommodating approximately 20 to 25 
participants.
    Component B: For advisers with at least four years' experience in 
their positions: A seminar of approximately ten days to enable senior 
advisers to pursue projects that will enable them to serve more 
effectively as professional resources with specialized expertise. 
Proposals should illustrate how participants will gain access to 
specialized advice about a wide range of topics. At the seminar, 
participants will

[[Page 25027]]

discuss their interests and approaches with one another in addition to 
engaging in specialized research and consultations. Provision should be 
made for on-going follow-up consultations with relevant experts after 
the seminar participants return to their EducationUSA workplaces and 
for enabling participants to share project results throughout the 
EducationUSA network and with relevant educational advising 
professionals outside the network. This seminar combines features of 
the Professional Advising Leadership (PAL) and the Professional 
Advising Leadership Expansion (PEP) programs. Funding not to exceed 
approximately $150,000 is anticipated for one session accommodating a 
total of approximately ten to fifteen participants.
    Component C: For advisers who are new in their positions and who 
lack previous experience at a U.S. college or university: An 
orientation lasting two weeks, in which the advisers attend 
international student orientation sessions and experience campus life 
as an arriving international student at a specific host institution and 
consult with the international student affairs staff. Traditionally, 
this program component has been known as the Explore Program. 
Anticipated funding for one session for up to ten participants is 
$50,000.
    Component D: For advisers with special interest in specific 
educational topics: Support for participating in relevant U.S. 
educational conferences or workshops of approximately ten days. To the 
extent possible, support will be provided to advisers who will make 
presentations at these events. Proposals should outline strategies for 
providing support and mentoring to ensure the active engagement of 
EducationUSA adviser participants with professional counterparts at 
these events. Anticipated funding for approximately 75 participants is 
$300,000.
    In addition, the conferences or workshops should provide 
opportunities for active participation in sessions addressing issues of 
current interest to international educators and overseas advisers with 
strong emphasis on networking with other educational advising 
professionals.
    The Bureau anticipates making one award for the administration of 
all components of this program.

3. Logistics

    The recipient will be responsible for international and domestic 
travel arrangements for all participants, lodging and local 
transportation arrangements, orientation and debriefing sessions, 
preparing support material, identifying and providing honoraria to 
guest presenters and expert consultants, and identifying host 
institutions where participants will observe the operations of relevant 
educational offices through direct involvement in the administration of 
institutional practices and policies.

4. Evaluation/Follow-Up

    The proposal must include a detailed evaluation and follow-up plan. 
Special emphasis should be given to designing a program which 
incorporates outcome measurement strategies that assess ultimate 
effectiveness.

5. Visa/Insurance/Tax Requirements

    The program must comply with applicable visa regulations. 
Participant health and accident insurance will be provided to the 
EducationUSA adviser participants in all components except component D, 
who will obtain insurance through another mechanisms; the recipient 
organization will be responsible for enrolling participants in the 
Bureau's insurance program and providing any necessary assistance 
should medical care be needed. Administration of the program must be in 
compliance with reporting and withholding regulations for federal, 
state, and local taxes as applicable. Applicant organizations should 
demonstrate tax regulation adherence in the proposal narrative and 
budget.

6. Printed Materials

    Drafts of all printed materials developed for this program should 
be submitted to the Bureau's program office for review and approval. 
All official documents should highlight the U.S. government's role as 
program sponsor and funding source. The Bureau requires that it receive 
the copyright use and reserves the right to distribute the copyrighted 
material.

II. Award Information

Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement

    In a Cooperative Agreement, the Bureau's program office is 
substantially involved in program activities above and beyond routine 
grant monitoring. The Bureau's activities and responsibilities for this 
program are as follows:
     Selection of program participants in coordination with 
Regional Educational Advising Coordinators and Public Affairs Sections 
at U.S. embassies and consulates overseas;
     approval of adviser projects;
     active participation in the design and direction of 
program activities;
     approval of curriculum and program content;
     conducting professional development sessions for which 
program office staff has appropriate expertise;
     organization of meetings with Department of State 
representatives;
     approval of program plans and agendas;
     approval of key personnel;
     approval of staffing requirements, travel plans, budgets, 
and policy guidance and direction;
     guidance in the execution of all program components;
     approval of all program publicity;
     approval of host institutions and associations;
     approval of decisions related to special circumstances and 
problems;
     assistance with participant emergencies.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY2011.
    Approximate Total Funding: $1,100,000 pending availability of 
FY2011 resources.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 1.
    Approximate Average Award: $1,100,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, October 1, 
2010.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: December 30, 2011.
    Additional Information:
    Pending successful implementation of this program and the 
availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, it is ECA's intent to 
renew this Cooperative Agreement for two additional fiscal years, 
before openly competing it again.

III. Eligibility Information

    III.1. Eligible applicants: Applications may be submitted by public 
and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described 
in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3).
    III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds: 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

[[Page 25028]]

for determining the value of cash and in-kind contributions must be in 
accordance with OMB Circular A-110, (Revised), Subpart C.23--Cost 
Sharing and Matching. In the event you do not provide the minimum 
amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget, ECA's 
contribution will be reduced in like proportion.
    III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements:
    (a.) Bureau grant guidelines require that organizations with less 
than four years experience in conducting international exchanges be 
limited to $60,000 in Bureau funding. ECA anticipates making one award 
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 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 Educational Information and Resources Branch, 
ECA/A/S/A, SA-5, 4th Floor, U.S. Department of State, 2200 C Street, 
NW., Washington, DC 20522-0504, telephone (202) 632-6347, Fax: (202) 
202-632-9478; e-mail [email protected] or [email protected] to request a 
Solicitation Package. Please refer to the Funding Opportunity Number 
ECA/A/S/A-11-05 located at the top of this announcement when making 
your request. Alternatively, an electronic application package may be 
obtained from grants.gov. Please see section IV.3f for further 
information.
    The Solicitation Package contains the Proposal Submission 
Instruction (PSI) document which consists of required application 
forms, and standard guidelines for proposal preparation.
    It also contains the Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation 
(POGI) document, which provides specific information, award criteria 
and budget instructions tailored to this competition.
    Please specify Bureau Branch Chief Caryn Danz and Program Officer 
Dorothy Mora and refer to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/S/A-11-
05 located at the top of this announcement on all other inquiries and 
correspondence.
    IV.2. To Download a Solicitation Package Via Internet: The entire 
Solicitation Package may be downloaded from the Bureau's Web site at 
http://exchanges.state.gov/grants/open2.html, or from the Grants.gov 
Web site at http://www.grants.gov.
    Please read all information before downloading.
    IV.3. Content and Form of Submission: Applicants must follow all 
instructions in the Solicitation Package. The application should be 
submitted per the instructions under IV.3f. ``Application Deadline and 
Methods of Submission'' section below.
    IV.3a. You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal 
Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative 
agreement from the U.S. Government. This number is a nine-digit 
identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities. 
Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a 
DUNS number, access http://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-
5711. Please ensure that your DUNS number is included in the 
appropriate box of the SF-424 which is part of the formal application 
package.
    IV.3b. All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal 
narrative and budget.
    Please Refer to the Solicitation Package. It contains the mandatory 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document and the Project 
Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) document for additional 
formatting and technical requirements.
    IV.3c. You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of 
application.

Please note: Effective January 7, 2009, all applicants for ECA 
federal assistance awards must include in their application the 
names of directors and/or senior executives (current officers, 
trustees, and key employees, regardless of amount of compensation). 
In fulfilling this requirement, applicants must submit information 
in one of the following ways:

    (1) Those who file Internal Revenue Service Form 990, ``Return of 
Organization Exempt From Income Tax,'' must include a copy of relevant 
portions of this form.
    (2) Those who do not file IRS Form 990 must submit information 
above in the format of their choice.
    In addition to final program reporting requirements, 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: The following is included for 
informational purposes only:
    IV.3d.1 Adherence to All Regulations Governing the J Visa:
    The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs places critically 
important emphases on the security and proper administration of the 
Exchange Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence by award recipients 
and sponsors to all regulations governing the J visa. Therefore, 
proposals should demonstrate the applicant's capacity to meet all 
requirements governing the administration of the Exchange Visitor 
Programs as set forth in 22 CFR 62, including the oversight of 
Responsible Officers and Alternate Responsible Officers, screening and 
selection of program participants, provision of pre-arrival information 
and orientation to participants, monitoring of participants, proper 
maintenance and security of forms, record-keeping, reporting and other 
requirements. ECA will be responsible for issuing DS-2019 forms to 
participants in this program.
    A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of 
Exchange Visitor (J) programs is available at http://exchanges.state.gov or from: United States Department of State, Office 
of Exchange Coordination and Designation, Office of Designation, ECA/
EC/D, SA-5, Floor C2, Department of State, Washington, DC 20522-0582.
    Please refer to Solicitation Package for further information.
    IV.3d.2 Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines: Pursuant to 
the

[[Page 25029]]

Bureau's authorizing legislation, programs must maintain a non-
political character and should be balanced and representative of the 
diversity of American political, social, and cultural life. 
``Diversity'' should be interpreted in the broadest sense and encompass 
differences including, but not limited to ethnicity, race, gender, 
religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, and disabilities. 
Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere to the advancement of this 
principle both in program administration and in program content. Please 
refer to the review criteria under the `Support for Diversity' section 
for specific suggestions on incorporating diversity into your proposal. 
Public Law 104-319 provides that ``in carrying out programs of 
educational and cultural exchange in countries whose people do not 
fully enjoy freedom and democracy,'' the Bureau ``shall take 
appropriate steps to provide opportunities for participation in such 
programs to human rights and democracy leaders of such countries.'' 
Public Law 106-113 requires that the governments of the countries 
described above do not have inappropriate influence in the selection 
process. Proposals should reflect advancement of these goals in their 
program contents, to the full extent deemed feasible.
    IV.3d.3. Program Monitoring and Evaluation:
    Proposals must include a plan to monitor and evaluate the project's 
success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of the program. 
The Bureau recommends that your proposal include a draft survey 
questionnaire or other technique plus a description of a methodology to 
use to link outcomes to original project objectives. The Bureau expects 
that the recipient organization will track participants or partners and 
be able to respond to key evaluation questions, including satisfaction 
with the program, learning as a result of the program, changes in 
behavior as a result of the program, and effects of the program on 
institutions (institutions in which participants work or partner 
institutions). The evaluation plan should include indicators that 
measure gains in mutual understanding as well as substantive knowledge.
    Successful monitoring and evaluation depend heavily on setting 
clear goals and outcomes at the outset of a program. Your evaluation 
plan should include a description of your project's objectives, your 
anticipated project outcomes, and how and when you intend to measure 
these outcomes (performance indicators). The more that outcomes are 
``smart'' (specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and 
placed in a reasonable time frame), the easier it will be to conduct 
the evaluation. You should also show how your project objectives link 
to the goals of the program described in this RFGP.
    Your monitoring and evaluation plan should clearly distinguish 
between program outputs and outcomes. Outputs are products and services 
delivered, often stated as an amount. Output information is important 
to show the scope or size of project activities, but it cannot 
substitute for information about progress towards outcomes or the 
results achieved. Examples of outputs include the number of people 
trained or the number of seminars conducted. Outcomes, in contrast, 
represent specific results a project is intended to achieve and is 
usually measured as an extent of change. Findings on outputs and 
outcomes should both be reported, but the focus should be on outcomes.
    We encourage you to assess the following four levels of outcomes, 
as they relate to the program goals set out in the RFGP (listed here in 
increasing order of importance):
    1. Participant satisfaction with the program and exchange 
experience.
    2. Participant learning, such as increased knowledge, aptitude, 
skills, and changed understanding and attitude. Learning includes both 
substantive (subject-specific) learning and mutual understanding.
    3. Participant behavior, concrete actions to apply knowledge in 
work or community; greater participation and responsibility in civic 
organizations; interpretation and explanation of experiences and new 
knowledge gained; continued contacts between participants, community 
members, and others.
    4. Institutional changes, such as increased collaboration and 
partnerships, policy reforms, new programming, and organizational 
improvements.

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


    Overall, the quality of your monitoring and evaluation plan will be 
judged on how well it (1) specifies intended outcomes; (2) gives clear 
descriptions of how each outcome will be measured; (3) identifies when 
particular outcomes will be measured; and (4) provides a clear 
description of the data collection strategies for each outcome (i.e., 
surveys, interviews, or focus groups). (Please note that evaluation 
plans that deal only with the first level of outcomes [satisfaction] 
will be deemed less competitive under the present evaluation criteria.)
    Recipient organizations will be required to provide reports 
analyzing their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular 
program reports. All data collected, including survey responses and 
contact information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years 
and provided to the Bureau upon request.
    IV.3e. Please take the following information into consideration 
when preparing your budget:
    IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit SF-424A--``Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs'' along with a comprehensive budget for the 
entire program. There must be a summary budget as well as breakdowns 
reflecting both administrative and program budgets. Applicants may 
provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase, 
location, or activity to provide clarification.
    IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the 
entire program. There must be a summary budget as well as breakdowns 
reflecting both administrative and program budgets. Applicants may 
provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase, 
location, or activity to provide clarification.
    IV.3e.2. Allowable costs for the program include the following:
    (1) Salaries and fringe benefits; travel and per diem;
    (2) Other direct costs, inclusive of rent, utilities, etc.;
    (3) Indirect expenses (except against participant program 
expenses), auditing costs;
    (4) Participant program costs; i.e., international/domestic travel, 
visas, per diem, conference attendance.
    (5) USBT Adviser Web site and support activities.
    (6) Advising coordinator expenses for pre-conference campus visits.
    (7) Campus coordinator costs for advising center visits; i.e., 
international/domestic travel, visas, per diem.
    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, July 9, 2010.
    Reference Number: ECA/A/S/A-11-05.
    Methods of Submission:
    Applications may be submitted in one of two ways:
    (1) In hard-copy, via a nationally recognized overnight delivery 
service

[[Page 25030]]

(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 eight copies of the application should be sent to: 
Program Management Division, ECA-IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/A/S/A-11-05 SA-5, 
Floor 4, Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20522-
0504.
    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. Eastern Time, E-
mail: grants.gov">support@grants.gov.
    Applicants have until midnight (12 a.m.), Washington, DC time of 
the closing date to ensure that their entire application has been 
uploaded to the Grants.gov site. There are no exceptions to the above 
deadline. Applications uploaded to the site after midnight of the 
application deadline date will be automatically rejected by the 
grants.gov system, and will be technically ineligible.
    Please refer to the Grants.gov Web site, for definitions of various 
``application statuses'' and the difference between a submission 
receipt and a submission validation. Applicants will receive a 
validation e-mail from grants.gov upon the successful submission of an 
application. Again, validation of an electronic submission via 
Grants.gov can take up to two business days. Therefore, we strongly 
recommend that you not wait until the application deadline to begin the 
submission process through Grants.gov. ECA will not notify you upon 
receipt of electronic applications.
    It is the responsibility of all applicants submitting proposals via 
the Grants.gov web portal to ensure that proposals have been received 
by Grants.gov in their entirety, and ECA bears no responsibility for 
data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.
    IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of Applications: Executive Order 
12372 does not apply to this program.

V. Application Review Information

V.1. Review Process

    The Bureau will review all proposals for technical eligibility. 
Proposals will be deemed ineligible if they do not fully adhere to the 
guidelines stated herein and in the Solicitation Package. All eligible 
proposals will be reviewed by the program office, as well as the Public 
Diplomacy section overseas, where appropriate. Eligible proposals will 
be subject to compliance with Federal and Bureau regulations and 
guidelines and forwarded to Bureau grant panels for advisory review. 
Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of the Legal Adviser or by 
other Department elements. Final funding decisions are at the 
discretion of the Department of State's Assistant Secretary for 
Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final technical authority for 
cooperative agreements resides with the Bureau's Grants Officer.

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:

[[Page 25031]]

    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 two copies of 
the following reports:
    (1) A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after 
the expiration of the award;
    (2) A concise, one-page final program report summarizing program 
outcomes no more than 90 days after the expiration of the award. This 
one-page report will be transmitted to OMB, and be made available to 
the public via OMB's USAspending.gov Web site--as part of ECA's Federal 
Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reporting 
requirements.
    (3) A SF-PPR, ``Performance Progress Report'' Cover Sheet with all 
program reports.
    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.
    Optional Program Data Requirements:
    Award recipients will be required to maintain specific data on 
program participants and activities in an electronically accessible 
database format that can be shared with the Bureau as required. As a 
minimum, the data must include the following:
    (1) Name, address, contact information and biographic sketch of all 
persons who travel internationally on funds provided by the agreement 
or who benefit from the award funding but do not travel.
    (2) Itineraries of international and domestic travel, providing 
dates of travel and cities in which any exchange experiences take 
place. Final schedules for in-country and U.S. activities must be 
received by the ECA Program Officer at least three work days prior to 
the official opening of the activity.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: ECA/A/S/A Branch 
Chief Caryn Danz or Program Officer Dorothy Mora, U.S. Department of 
State, Educational Information and Resources Branch, ECA/A/S/A, SA-5, 
4th Floor, ECA/A/S/A-11-05, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20522-
0503. Telephone for Caryn Danz is (202) 632-6353; E-mail address: 
[email protected]. Telephone for Dorothy Mora is (202) 632-6347; E-mail 
address: [email protected]. Fax: 202-632-9478.
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number ECA/A/S/A-11-05.
    Please read the complete announcement before sending inquiries or 
submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has passed, Bureau staff 
may not discuss this competition with applicants until the proposal 
review process has been completed.

VIII. Other Information

Notice

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

    Dated: April 27, 2010.
Maura M. Pally,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2010-10725 Filed 5-5-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P