[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 222 (Thursday, November 17, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71418-71425]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-29643]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 7688]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Youth Leadership Program with Algeria

    Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-12-09.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.415.

    Application Deadline: January 4, 2012.
    Executive Summary: The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs 
Division, of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces 
an open competition for the Youth Leadership Program with Algeria. 
Public and private nonprofit organizations meeting the provisions 
described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) may 
submit proposals to provide youth and adult participants from Algeria 
with an approximately four-week U.S.-based exchange program in summer 
2012 focused on civic education, youth leadership development, respect 
for diversity, and community engagement, and to support follow-on 
community service projects in their home communities. The U.S. Embassy 
in Algiers will recruit, screen, and select Algerian participants. The 
award recipient will be required to recruit, screen, and select 
American

[[Page 71419]]

participants, and collaborate with an in-country partner on logistical 
arrangements and follow-on activities.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Authority: Overall grant making authority for this program is 
contained in the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, 
Public Law 87-256, as amended, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act. 
The purpose of the Act is ``to enable the Government of the United 
States to increase mutual understanding between the people of the 
United States and the people of other countries* * *; to strengthen the 
ties which unite us with other nations by demonstrating the educational 
and cultural interests, developments, and achievements of the people of 
the United States and other nations * * * and thus to assist in the 
development of friendly, sympathetic and peaceful relations between the 
United States and the other countries of the world.'' The funding 
authority for the program above is provided through legislation.
    Purpose: The Youth Leadership Program with Algeria provides 
approximately 24 secondary school students and three adult participants 
from Algeria the opportunity to engage in an intensive, thematic 
exchange in the United States focusing broadly on the primary themes of 
civic education, youth leadership development, respect for diversity, 
and community engagement. One of the following two subthemes, to be 
selected by the applicant, will be used as tools to illustrate these 
concepts: Business/entrepreneurship or applied communications.
    Approximately six to twelve competitively selected American high 
school students will join the Algerian participants in U.S.-based 
exchange activities. Participants will engage in a variety of 
activities, such as workshops on leadership and service, community site 
visits related to the program themes and selected subtheme, interactive 
training and discussion groups, small group work, presentations, visits 
to high schools, local cultural activities, homestays, and other 
activities designed to achieve the program's stated goals. Follow-on 
activities with the Algerian and American participants are an integral 
part of the program, as the students apply the knowledge and skills 
they have acquired by planning service projects in their home 
communities. Activities should therefore be geared toward preparing 
participants to conduct projects at home that serve a community need.

    The goals of the programs are to:
    (1) Promote mutual understanding between the people of the United 
States and the people of Algeria;
    (2) Inspire a sense of civic responsibility and commitment to 
community development among youth;
    (3) Develop a cadre of community leaders who will share their 
knowledge and skills with their peers through positive action; and
    (4) Foster relationships among youth from different ethnic, 
religious, and national groups.

    The objectives of the program are for participants to:
    (1) Demonstrate a better understanding of the elements of a 
participatory democracy as practiced in the United States;
    (2) Demonstrate critical thinking and leadership skills; and
    (3) Demonstrate skill at developing project ideas and planning a 
course of action to bring the projects to fruition.

    The primary themes of the programs are:
    (1) Civic Education (citizen participation, grassroots democracy, 
and rule of law);
    (2) Youth Leadership Development (team building, public speaking, 
negotiation, goal setting and project planning);
    (3) Respect for Diversity (ethnicity, race, gender, religion, 
geographic location, socio-economic status, and disabilities); and
    (4) Community Engagement (volunteerism, philanthropy, and social/
corporate responsibility).

    The exchange format will be intensive and interactive. Applicants 
must present an exchange that allows the participants to thoroughly 
explore the primary themes and selected subtheme in a creative, 
memorable, and practical way. All activities should be designed to be 
replicable and provide practical knowledge and skills that the 
participants can apply to school and civic activities at home. 
Opportunities for the youth and adult participants to interact with 
their American peers in a sustained, substantive, and in-depth manner 
must be prominently integrated into the exchange.
    Using these goals, objectives, and themes, applicant organizations 
should identify their own specific and measurable outputs and outcomes 
based on the project specifications provided in this solicitation. 
Proposals should indicate how recipients will achieve the short-term 
program objectives, and how these objectives will contribute to the 
achievement of the stated long-term goals.

Participants

    The participants will be secondary school students between the ages 
of 15 and 17 who have demonstrated leadership abilities in their 
schools and/or communities, and have at least one semester of high 
school remaining. Adult participants will be community leaders or 
educators who work with youth and who have demonstrated support of 
youth and community activities and have an interest in youth 
leadership. The adult participants will have the role of exchange 
participant, chaperone, and post-exchange mentor. Participants must be 
proficient in the English language.
    The exchange will be composed of approximately 24 secondary school 
students and three adult participants from Algeria and approximately 6-
12 competitively selected American secondary school students who will 
participate in the U.S.-based activities with the Algerian students.

Organizational Capacity

    Applicants must demonstrate their capacity for doing programs of 
this nature, focusing on three areas of competency: (1) Provision of 
projects that address the goals, objectives, and themes outlined in 
this document; (2) age-appropriate programming for youth; and (3) 
previous experience in working with individuals from Algeria or other 
countries in North Africa.
    The program will be implemented by a team consisting of the U.S. 
Embassy, the U.S. award recipient, and an in-country partner 
organization. The award recipient will collaborate with the partner 
organization in Algeria in arranging logistics, developing content for 
and implementing a pre-departure orientation in Algiers, and organizing 
and managing follow-on activities. The applicant may elect to work with 
an organization of the embassy's choosing (to be identified after the 
cooperative agreement has been awarded), or may propose to collaborate 
with an organization with which it already has an established, long-
standing partnership. If the latter, applicants must provide a detailed 
description of the partnership, including information on activities 
that have been conducted jointly to date, as well a description of the 
partner's role and responsibilities. The proposed partner must be based 
in Algiers, have the demonstrated ability to conduct the specified 
project activities in Algeria, and must either have its own secure 
facilities (i.e. conference space), or access to such facilities for 
program activities in Algiers.

[[Page 71420]]

U.S. Embassy Involvement

    The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Algiers will 
recruit, screen, and select the Algerian participants, as well as 
provide advice and assistance in the execution of program components. 
If applicable, the embassy will identify a partner organization in 
Algiers that will collaborate closely with the award recipient on 
program components.

Guidelines

    The total amount of funding is $250,000, pending the availability 
of funds. The Bureau intends to award one cooperative agreement. It is 
anticipated that the period of the cooperative agreement will begin in 
spring 2012. The award period will be 12 to 18 months in duration and 
will cover all aspects of project planning, exchange activities in 
Algeria and the United States, and follow-on activities in Algeria.
    The total length of the exchange program should be approximately 
four weeks and be inclusive of a three- to five-day pre-departure 
orientation in Algiers, and all of the U.S.-based exchange activities. 
The U.S.-based exchange should take place between the first week of 
June and the third week of July 2012 to allow participants to complete 
the exchange and return home before the start of Ramadan, which is 
estimated to begin on July 20, 2012. Applicants should propose specific 
exchange dates in their proposals, but the exact timing may be altered 
through the mutual agreement of the Department of State and the award 
recipient.
    The Bureau reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase 
proposal project configurations, budgets, and participant numbers in 
accordance with the needs of the program and the availability of funds.
    In pursuit of the goals outlined above, the award recipient will be 
responsible for the following:
    (1) Conducting open recruitment and competitive selection of a 
diverse group of American youth to join Algerian participants in U.S.-
based exchange activities.
    (2) Planning and implementing a pre-departure orientation in 
Algiers for Algerian participants, in collaboration with the in-country 
partner.
    (3) Conducting an orientation(s) for staff, American participants 
and their families, and those individuals participating from the U.S. 
host communities, including host families, prior to the start of the 
program.
    (4) Designing and planning exchange activities with American peers 
that provide a creative and substantive program on the specified 
themes. Opportunities for the adult participants to work with their 
peers must also be included to help them foster youth leadership, civic 
education, and community service programs at home.
    (5) Conducting a welcome orientation for participants upon their 
arrival in the United States to review program goals, objectives, and 
expectations with American peers.
    (6) Managing logistical arrangements, including international and 
domestic travel, ground transportation, accommodations, group meals, 
and disbursement of pocket money.
    (7) Arranging homestays with properly screened and briefed host 
families for a significant portion of the exchange period. Criminal 
background checks must be conducted for members of host families and 
others living in the home who are 18 years or older.
    (8) Developing and implementing a plan to monitor the participants' 
safety and well-being while on the exchange, and to create 
opportunities for participants to share potential issues and resolve 
them promptly. The award recipient will be required to provide proper 
staff supervision and facilitation to ensure that the teenagers have a 
safe and pedagogically rich program. Staff, along with mentors, will 
assist the youth with cultural adjustments, provide societal context to 
enhance learning, and counsel students as needed. Criminal background 
checks must be conducted for all program staff.
    (9) Making proper arrangements for participants' religious 
observances.
    (10) Providing a closing session to summarize the delegation's 
activities, prepare participants for their return home, and to further 
prepare for follow-on activities and projects.
    (11) Arranging a short, substantive visit to Washington, DC for 
Algerian and American participants at the beginning or conclusion of 
the exchange that will include a meeting at the U.S. Department of 
State, cultural field trips, and additional skill building exercises.
    (12) Planning and organizing follow-on activities for American and 
Algerian alumni in their home communities designed to reinforce the 
ideas and skills imparted during the exchange program.
    (13) Arranging international travel to Algeria for program staff, 
trainers, or educators to provide further training for alumni and their 
peers.
    (14) Designing and implementing an evaluation plan that assesses 
the short- and medium-term impact of the project on the participants as 
well as on U.S. host and home communities.

    Please Note: The ECA award for this program will take the form 
of a cooperative agreement with the award recipient. In a 
cooperative agreement, the Department of State is substantially 
involved in program activities above and beyond routine award 
monitoring. The Department's activities and responsibilities for the 
Youth Leadership Program with Algeria are as follows:

    (1) Manage the recruitment and selection of Algerian participants.
    (2) Provide advice and collaboration in the execution of all 
program components.
    (3) Approve the final candidate selection of American participants 
and alternates.
    (4) Issue DS-2019 forms and J-1 visas. All foreign participants 
will travel on a U.S. Government designation for the J Exchange Visitor 
Program.
    (5) Facilitate interaction within the Department of State, to 
include ECA, the regional bureaus, and overseas posts.
    (6) Arrange meetings with Department of State officials in 
Washington, DC.
    (7) Approve publicity materials and calendar of exchange 
activities.

Additional Information

    The award recipient will retain the name ``Youth Leadership Program 
with Algeria'' (or Algeria Youth Leadership Program) to identify its 
project. All materials, publicity, and correspondence related to the 
program will acknowledge this as a program of the Bureau of Educational 
and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State. The Bureau will 
retain copyright use of and be allowed to distribute materials related 
to this program as it sees fit.
    The organization must inform the ECA Program Officer and the U.S. 
Embassy in Algiers of its progress at each stage of the project's 
implementation in a timely fashion, and will be required to obtain 
approval of any significant program changes in advance of their 
implementation.
    Proposals must demonstrate how the stated objectives will be met. 
The proposal narrative should provide detailed information on the major 
project activities, and applicants should explain and justify their 
programmatic choices. Projects must comply with J-1 visa regulations 
for the International Visitor and Government Visitor categories. Please 
be sure to refer to the complete Solicitation Package--this RFGP, the 
Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI), and the Proposal 
Submission Instructions (PSI)--for further information.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. ECA's level of involvement

[[Page 71421]]

in this program is listed under number I above.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY2012, pending availability of funds.
    Approximate Total Funding: $250,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: One.
    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, March 15, 
2012.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: 12 to 18 months after the 
onset of the award, to be determined by the applicant according to its 
program design.
    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 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 nonprofit organizations meeting the provisions described in 
Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3).
    III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds: There is no minimum or 
maximum percentage required for this competition. However, the Bureau 
encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and 
funding in support of its programs.
    When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the 
applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its 
proposal and later included in an approved agreement. Cost sharing may 
be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For 
accountability, you must maintain written records to support all costs 
which are claimed as your contribution, as well as costs to be paid by 
the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. The basis 
for determining the value of cash and in-kind contributions must be in 
accordance with OMB Circular A-110, (Revised), subpart C.23--Cost 
Sharing and Matching. In the event you do not provide the minimum 
amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget, ECA's 
contribution will be reduced in like proportion.

III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements

    (1) 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 an award 
in an amount exceeding $60,000 to support program and administrative 
costs required to implement this exchange program. Therefore, 
organizations with less than four years experience in conducting 
international exchanges are ineligible to apply under this competition. 
The Bureau encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost 
sharing and funding in support of its programs.
    (2) Proposed sub-award recipients are also limited to grant funding 
of $60,000 or less if they do not have four years of experience in 
conducting international exchanges.
    (3) The Bureau encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of 
cost sharing and funding in support of its programs.
    (4) Organizations may submit only one proposal (total) under this 
competition. If more than one proposal is received from the same 
applicant, all submissions will be declared technically ineligible and 
will receive no further consideration in the review process.

    Please note: Applicant organizations are defined by their legal 
name, and EIN number as stated on their completed SF-424 and 
additional supporting documentation outlined in the Proposal 
Submission Instructions (PSI) document.

IV. Application and Submission Information

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

IV.1. Contact Information To Request an Application Package

    Please contact the Youth Programs Division, ECA/PE/C/PY, SA-5, 3rd 
Floor, U.S. Department of State, 2200 C Street NW., Washington, DC 
20037, by telephone (202) 632-9261 or Email: [email protected] to 
request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to the Funding Opportunity 
Number ECA/PE/C/PY-12-09 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 Program Officer Sarah Shields and refer to the 
Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/PY-12-09 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. All federal award recipients must maintain current 
registrations in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database. 
Recipients must maintain accurate and up-to-date information in the CCR 
until all program and financial activity and reporting have been 
completed. Recipients must review and update the information at least 
annually after the initial registration and more frequently if required 
information changes or another award is granted.
    Failure to register in the CCR will render applicants ineligible to 
receive funding.

[[Page 71422]]

    You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of 
application.

    Please note:  Effective January 7, 2009, all applicants for ECA 
federal assistance awards must include in their application the 
names of directors and/or senior executives (current officers, 
trustees, and key employees, regardless of amount of compensation). 
In fulfilling this requirement, applicants must submit information 
in one of the following ways:
    (1) Those who file Internal Revenue Service Form 990, ``Return 
of Organization Exempt From Income Tax,'' must include a copy of 
relevant portions of this form.
    (2) Those who do not file IRS Form 990 must submit information 
above in the format of their choice.

    In addition to final program reporting requirements, award 
recipients will also be required to submit a one-page document, derived 
from their program reports, listing and describing their grant 
activities. For award recipients, the names of directors and/or senior 
executives (current officers, trustees, and key employees), as well as 
the one- page description of grant activities, will be transmitted by 
the State Department to OMB, along with other information required by 
the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), and 
will be made available to the public by the Office of Management and 
Budget on its USASpending.gov Web site as part of ECA's FFATA reporting 
requirements.
    If your organization is a private nonprofit which has not received 
a grant or cooperative agreement from ECA in the past three years, or 
if your organization received nonprofit status from the IRS within the 
past four years, you must submit the necessary documentation to verify 
nonprofit status as directed in the PSI document. Failure to do so will 
cause your proposal to be declared technically ineligible.

IV.3d. Please Take Into Consideration the Following Information When 
Preparing Your Proposal Narrative

IV.3d.1. Adherence to All Regulations Governing the J Visa

    The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs is the official program sponsor of the exchange 
program covered by this RFGP, and an employee of the Bureau will be the 
``Responsible Officer'' for the program under the terms of 22 CFR 62, 
which covers the administration of the Exchange Visitor Program (J visa 
program). Under the terms of 22 CFR 62, organizations receiving awards 
(either a grant or cooperative agreement) under this RFGP will be third 
parties ``cooperating with or assisting the sponsor in the conduct of 
the sponsor's program.'' The actions of recipient organizations shall 
be ``imputed to the sponsor in evaluating the sponsor's compliance 
with'' 22 CFR 62. Therefore, the Bureau expects that any organization 
receiving an award under this competition will render all assistance 
necessary to enable the Bureau to fully comply with 22 CFR 62 et seq.
    The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs places critically 
important emphases on the secure and proper administration of Exchange 
Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence by recipient organizations and 
program participants to all regulations governing the J visa program 
status. Therefore, proposals should explicitly state in writing that 
the applicant is prepared to assist the Bureau in meeting all 
requirements governing the administration of Exchange Visitor Programs 
as set forth in 22 CFR 62. If your organization has experience as a 
designated Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor, the applicant should 
discuss their record of compliance with 22 CFR 62 et. seq., including 
the oversight of their Responsible Officers and Alternate Responsible 
Officers, screening and selection of program participants, provision of 
pre-arrival information and orientation to participants, monitoring of 
participants, proper maintenance and security of forms, record-keeping, 
reporting and other requirements.
    The Office of Citizen Exchanges of ECA will be responsible for 
issuing DS-2019 forms to participants in this program.
    A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of 
Exchange Visitor (J) programs is available at http://exchanges.state.gov or from: Office of Designation, Private Sector 
Programs Division, U.S. Department of State, ECA/EC/D/PS, SA-5, 5th 
Floor, 2200 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20037.

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

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

IV.3d.3. Program Monitoring and Evaluation

    Proposals must include a plan to monitor and evaluate the project's 
success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of the program. 
The Bureau recommends that your proposal include a draft survey 
questionnaire or other technique plus a description of a methodology to 
use to link outcomes to original project objectives. The Bureau expects 
that the recipient organization will track participants or partners and 
be able to respond to key evaluation questions, including satisfaction 
with the program, learning as a result of the program, changes in 
behavior as a result of the program, and effects of the program on 
institutions (institutions in which participants work or partner 
institutions). The evaluation plan should include indicators that 
measure gains in mutual understanding as well as substantive knowledge.
    Successful monitoring and evaluation depend heavily on setting 
clear goals and outcomes at the outset of a program. Your evaluation 
plan should include a description of your project's objectives, your 
anticipated project outcomes, and how and when you intend to measure 
these outcomes (performance indicators). The more that outcomes are 
``smart'' (specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and 
placed in a reasonable time frame), the easier it will be to conduct 
the evaluation. You should also show how your project objectives link 
to the goals of the program described in this RFGP.
    Your monitoring and evaluation plan should clearly distinguish 
between program outputs and outcomes. Outputs are products and services 
delivered, often stated as an amount. Output information is important 
to show the scope or size of project activities, but it cannot 
substitute for information about progress towards outcomes or the

[[Page 71423]]

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.

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. Budget requests may not exceed $250,000. There must be 
a summary budget as well as breakdowns reflecting both administrative 
and program budgets. Applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for 
each program component, phase, location, or activity to provide 
clarification. Please refer to the Solicitation Package (POGI and PSI) 
for complete budget guidelines and formatting instructions.

IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission

    Application Deadline Date: Wednesday, January 4, 2012.
    Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-12-09.
    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., FedEx, UPS, Airborne Express, or U.S. Postal Service 
Express Overnight Mail, etc.), or
    (2) Electronically through http://www.grants.gov.
    Along with the Project Title, all applicants must enter the above 
Reference Number in Box 11 on the SF-424 contained in the mandatory 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) of the solicitation document.

IV.3f.1. Submitting Printed Applications

    Applications must be shipped no later than the above deadline. 
Delivery services used by applicants must have in-place, centralized 
shipping identification and tracking systems that may be accessed via 
the Internet and delivery people who are identifiable by commonly 
recognized uniforms and delivery vehicles. Proposals shipped on or 
before the above deadline but received at ECA more than seven days 
after the deadline will be ineligible for further consideration under 
this competition. Proposals shipped after the established deadlines are 
ineligible for consideration under this competition. ECA will not 
notify you upon receipt of application. It is each applicant's 
responsibility to ensure that each package is marked with a legible 
tracking number and to monitor/confirm delivery to ECA via the 
Internet. Delivery of proposal packages may not be made via local 
courier service or in person for this competition. Faxed documents will 
not be accepted at any time. Only proposals submitted as stated above 
will be considered.

    Important note: When preparing your submission please make sure 
to include one extra copy of the completed SF-424 form and place it 
in an envelope addressed to ``ECA/EX/PM''.

    The original and six (6) copies of the application should be sent 
to: Program Management Division, ECA-IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/PE/C/PY-12-
09, SA-5, Floor 4, Department of State, 2200 C Street NW., Washington, 
DC 20037.
    With the submission of the proposal package, please also email the 
Executive Summary, Proposal Narrative, and Budget sections of the 
proposal, as well as any attachments essential to understanding the 
program, in Microsoft Word, Excel, and/or PDF, to [email protected]. The 
Bureau will provide these files electronically to the Public Affairs 
Section at the U.S. Embassy in Algiers for its 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

[[Page 71424]]

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.
    Email: grants.gov">support@grants.gov.
    Applicants have until midnight (12 a.m.), Washington, DC time of 
the closing date to ensure that their entire application has been 
uploaded to the Grants.gov site. There are no exceptions to the above 
deadline. Applications uploaded to the site after midnight of the 
application deadline date will be automatically rejected by the 
grants.gov system, and will be technically ineligible.
    Please refer to the Grants.gov Web site, for definitions of various 
``application statuses'' and the difference between a submission 
receipt and a submission validation.
    Applicants will receive a validation email from grants.gov upon the 
successful submission of an application. Again, validation of an 
electronic submission via Grants.gov can take up to two business days. 
Therefore, we strongly recommend that you not wait until the 
application deadline to begin the submission process through 
Grants.gov. ECA will not notify you upon receipt of electronic 
applications.
    It is the responsibility of all applicants submitting proposals via 
the Grants.gov web portal to ensure that proposals have been received 
by Grants.gov in their entirety, and ECA bears no responsibility for 
data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.
    IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of Applications: Executive Order 
12372 does not apply to this program.

V. Application Review Information

V.1. Review Process

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

Review Criteria

    Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed 
according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are not rank 
ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation:
    (1) Quality of the program idea: Objectives should be reasonable, 
feasible, and flexible. The proposal should clearly demonstrate how the 
institution will meet the program's objectives and plan. The proposed 
program should be creative, age-appropriate, respond to the design 
outlined in the solicitation, and demonstrate originality. It should be 
clearly and accurately written, substantive, and with sufficient 
detail. Proposals should also include a plan to support participants' 
community activities upon their return home.
    (2) Program planning and ability to achieve program objectives: A 
detailed agenda and work plan should clearly demonstrate how project 
objectives will be achieved. The agenda and plan should adhere to the 
program overview and guidelines described above. The substance of 
workshops, seminars, presentations, school-based activities, and/or 
site visits should be described in detail.
    (3) Support of diversity: The proposal should demonstrate the 
applicant's commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding of 
diversity in participant recruitment and selection and in program 
content. Applicants should demonstrate readiness to accommodate 
participants with physical disabilities.
    (4) Institutional capacity and track record: Proposed personnel and 
institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve 
the program goals. The proposal should demonstrate an institutional 
record of successful exchange programs, including responsible fiscal 
management and full compliance with all reporting requirements for past 
Bureau awards (grants or cooperative agreements) as determined by 
Bureau Grants Staff. The Bureau will consider the past performance of 
prior recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants.
    (5) Program evaluation: The proposal should include a plan to 
evaluate the program's success in meeting its goals, both as the 
activities unfold and after they have been completed. The proposal 
should include a draft survey questionnaire or other technique, plus a 
description of a methodology to link outcomes to original project 
objectives. The award recipient will be expected to submit intermediate 
reports after each project component is concluded.
    (6) Cost-effectiveness and cost sharing: The applicant should 
demonstrate efficient use of Bureau funds. The overhead and 
administrative components of the proposal, including salaries and 
honoraria, should be kept as low as possible. All other items should be 
necessary and appropriate. The proposal should maximize cost-sharing 
through other private sector support as well as institutional direct 
funding contributions, which demonstrates institutional and community 
commitment.

VI. Award Administration Information

VI.1a. Award Notices

    Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by 
Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures. 
Successful applicants will receive an Federal Assistance Award (FAA) 
from the Bureau's Grants Office. The FAA and the original proposal with 
subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall be the only binding 
authorizing document between the recipient and the U.S. Government. The 
FAA will be signed by an authorized Grants Officer, and mailed to the 
recipient's responsible officer identified in the application.
    Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of 
the application review from the ECA program office coordinating this 
competition.

VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    Terms and Conditions for the Administration of ECA agreements 
include the following:
    Office of Management and Budget Circular A-122, ``Cost Principles 
for Nonprofit Organizations.''
    Office of Management and Budget Circular A-21, ``Cost Principles 
for Educational Institutions.''
    OMB Circular A-87, ``Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian 
Governments.''
    OMB Circular No. A-110 (Revised), Uniform Administrative 
Requirements for Grants and Agreements with

[[Page 71425]]

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 
Nonprofit 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, including the SF-PPR-E and SF-PPR-F.
    (4) Quarterly or interim reports, as required in the Bureau 
cooperative agreement.
    Award recipients will be required to provide reports analyzing 
their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program 
reports. (Please refer to IV. Application and Submission Instructions 
(IV.3.d.3) above for Program Monitoring and Evaluation information.
    All data collected, including survey responses and contact 
information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years and 
provided to the Bureau upon request.
    All reports must be sent to the ECA Grants Officer and ECA Program 
Officer listed in the final assistance award document.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: Sarah Shields, 
Youth Programs Division, ECA/PE/C/PY/T, SA-5, 3rd Floor, U.S. 
Department of State, 2200 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20522-0503, by 
telephone (202) 632-9261 or email [email protected].
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number ECA/PE/C/PY-12-09.
    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: November 9, 2011.
J. Adam Ereli,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2011-29643 Filed 11-16-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P