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[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 241 (Thursday, December 16, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75361-75368]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-27556]

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 4924]

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Arts Exchanges on International Issues Program

    Announcement Type: New Grant.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/CU-05-16.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.409.
    Key Dates:
    Application Deadline: Tuesday, February 15, 2005.
    Executive Summary: The Cultural Programs Division of the Office of 
Citizen Exchanges, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces 
an open competition for grants that support exchanges and build 
relationships between U.S. non-profit arts, educational and cultural 
organizations and their counterparts overseas. U.S. public and non-
profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal 
Revenue code section 26 U.S.C. 501 (c)(3) may submit proposals that 
support the goals of the Arts Exchanges on International Issues 
Program: to promote mutual understanding and partnerships between key 
professionals in the arts and arts management and their organizations 
in the United States and in other countries through multi-phased 
exchange projects taking place over one to three years. An applicant 
may work with other U.S. non-profit partners to combine the strengths 
of their organizations and submit a joint project proposal. Please 
note, that in joint project proposals the role of each organization 
must be clearly defined and any sub-granting agreements must be 
included in the proposal submission.
    To the fullest extent possible programs should be two-way exchanges 
supporting roughly equal numbers of participants from the U.S. and 
foreign countries. Participants may be professional artists, arts 
educators, arts administrators or other arts and cultural experts.
    Through these people-to-people exchanges, the Bureau seeks to break 
down stereotypes that divide peoples, enhance understanding of 
democratic processes, contribute to conflict resolution and build 
respect for cultural expression and identity in a world that is 
experiencing rapid globalization. The Bureau is especially interested 
in engaging socially and economically diverse groups of young people, 
who may not have had extensive contact with their counterparts and 
institutions in the United States. Priority will be given to proposals 
that engage these participants in countries with significant Muslim, 
and where appropriate in the Western Hemisphere, indigenous 
populations. We are especially interested in projects that accomplish 
these goals in part by addressing public audiences, where appropriate 
to the project.
    For the purposes of this competition, eligible regions are Africa, 
East Asia, Eurasia, Central and Southeastern Europe, the Near East/
North Africa, South Asia, and the Western Hemisphere. No guarantee is 
made or implied that grants will be awarded in all themes and for all 
regions. As stated above, in the Western Hemisphere region, the Bureau 
is particularly interested in projects that include indigenous 
populations.
    Applicants proposing projects involving Afghanistan, Pakistan and 
Iraq should demonstrate in their Narrative Sections their awareness of 
security issues that will affect the ability of the grantee 
organization to arrange for travel of U.S. citizens to these countries 
or to conduct site visits, participant interviews, seminars, workshops 
or training sessions there. All travel to, and activities conducted in, 
these countries will be subject to consultation with and approval of 
official U.S. security personnel in country. The applicant should be 
prepared to modify timing or to reconfigure project implementation 
plans as required by security considerations.
    Proposed projects should be designed to foster positive dialogue, 
joint creative activities and co-operative artistic endeavors that 
respond to one of five U.S. foreign policy themes: (1) Conflict 
Resolution; (2) New Opportunities for Youth, especially in Muslim 
countries; (3) Respect for Cultural Identity and Creative Products; (4) 
Governance, Accountability and Transparency in Cultural Management; and 
(5) HIV and AIDS Awareness and Prevention. [Please see the Purpose 
Section below for a further description of these themes]. Projects must 
include one or more of the following disciplines: Performing Arts 
[including, but not limited to Dance, Music, Traditional Arts and 
Theater], Visual Arts, Arts Education, Arts Management, and Film/Video/
Digital Media.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Authority: Overall grant making authority for this program is 
contained in the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, 
Pub. L. 87-256, as amended, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act. The 
purpose of the Act is ``to enable the Government of the

[[Page 75362]]

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 Bureau seeks proposals that will demonstrate the 
effectiveness of arts and cultural programs to address the following 
priority themes: (1) Conflict Resolution; (2) New Opportunities for 
Youth, especially in Muslim countries; (3) Respect for Cultural 
Identity and Creative Products; (4) Governance, Accountability and 
Transparency in Cultural Management; and (5) HIV and AIDS Awareness and 
Prevention. The Bureau is particularly interested in projects that will 
create mutually beneficial and self-sustaining linkages between 
professional communities in the U.S. and their counterpart communities 
in other countries. Proposals that show strong prospects for enhancing 
existing long-term collaboration or establishing new collaborative 
efforts among participating organizations will be deemed more 
competitive under the program planning criteria listed below.
    The Cultural Programs Division seeks proposals for international 
exchange projects that employ various artistic disciplines/subjects as 
vehicles for increasing awareness about our five priority policy 
issues. Projects must concentrate on furthering the participants' and 
the audience members' understanding of the issues associated with the 
foreign policy topics listed below. All proposals submitted in response 
to this RFGP must present strategies for communicating about a policy 
issue through the selected artistic discipline. The foreign policy 
topics included in this RFGP are defined as follows:

1. Conflict Resolution

    Bridging differences between peoples, communities and countries is 
an important aspect of the democratic process. Conflict resolution is 
the implementation of peaceful, non-violent mediation and dispute 
resolution strategies to achieve mutual agreement among community and 
interest groups, political parties and nations. Applicants should 
demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the conflict situation 
in which they propose to work. Proposal narratives should include a 
description of the basis of the conflict and possible reconciliation 
objectives (dialogue, information sharing, etc.)

2. New Opportunities For Youth, Especially in Muslim Countries

    Reaching out to Muslim youth--who are the catalysts for change in 
their societies--is an essential step toward democracy building. ECA 
hopes through collaborative projects, that the United States may 
further the participants' understanding of freedom and democracy. To 
the fullest extent possible, programs should strengthen voices of 
moderation, reinforce the United State's commitment to education and 
opportunity, build on values shared by the United States and Muslim 
societies and create a platform for positive dialogue.

3. Respect for Cultural Identity and Creative Products

    The United States, as a culturally diverse nation, strongly 
supports and promotes cultural diversity both at home and globally. The 
U.S. values each nation's cultural identity and is committed to helping 
all countries preserve and protect their cultural heritage and 
identity. One means of doing so is ensuring the development of 
appropriate systems for protecting intellectual property. Protection of 
intellectual property contributes to a country's economic development 
and trade relationships, and increased trade brings greater consumer 
awareness and support for a country's cultural goods. In addition, 
enhancing local cultural production capacities and distribution 
mechanisms for cultural products can contribute to a stronger cultural 
identity. For the purposes of this RFGP, cultural heritage may also 
include, for example, conserving or developing a specific 
archaeological or culturally important site or maintaining, preserving 
and restoring a country's cultural artifacts or audiovisual records. 
This theme also includes projects to develop cultural tourism for a 
country or region. All proposals related to this theme should include a 
strong exchange component involving U.S. and foreign visual and 
performing artists, writers, filmmakers, and arts managers, rather than 
exchanges principally among legal, economic development, or other 
professionals.

4. Governance, Accountability and Transparency in Cultural Management

    Cultural organizations are an important component of civil society, 
serving to identify, develop and strengthen social values. Cultural 
organizations often have a special role in reaching youth, 
disadvantaged groups within the society, and specific ethnic or social 
communities, both to support their group identity and to help define 
the way in which the group relates to society at large. To fulfill this 
role and to maintain the confidence of their stakeholders, audiences, 
and funders, the managers of cultural organizations have the same 
responsibility for open and effective management in support of their 
goals, as do other non-governmental organizations.

5. HIV and AIDS Awareness and Prevention

    Concern about the growing numbers of people with HIV and AIDS, 
especially in areas with limited access to educational and treatment 
programs, reaches across all geographic regions. Proposals under this 
theme will have the following goals: encourage prevention, further 
education and decrease the stigma of HIV and AIDS through the arts. 
Proposals will target youth, people living with HIV and AIDS, related 
NGOs, schools and community groups. Exchange activities will bring 
together HIV and AIDS professionals and artists from the U.S. and 
overseas to discuss and implement ways to decrease the stigma of HIV 
and AIDS with positive social messages via artistic disciplines. 
Projects should employ the arts as a mechanism for social change and 
for publicizing positive messages about HIV and AIDS prevention and 
treatment.
    The artistic disciplines/subjects included in this Request for 
Proposals are as follows:

Performing Arts Including Dance, Music, Traditional Arts and Theater

    ECA welcomes projects that address one or more of our priority 
foreign policy themes through the exchange of dance, music, traditional 
arts and/or theater professionals working collaboratively to develop 
new and innovative projects. Proposals should focus on the exchange of 
expertise and best practices between U.S. and overseas performing arts 
organizations, including strategies for building relationships between 
the organizations and their communities. The presentation of 
performances overseas, as a part of a larger exchange project, may be 
funded under this topic. Production costs for performances in the U.S. 
cannot be funded by ECA, but can be included in the applicant 
organization's cost share. ECA seeks proposals that support the 
professional

[[Page 75363]]

development of the U.S. and foreign artists, and provide a personal 
connection between U.S. and overseas individuals and institutions. 
Projects that focus only on performance tours and/or a performing arts 
festival will not be eligible under this RFGP. Contact: Kathryn 
Wainscott, tel: (202) 203-7499, [email protected].

Visual Arts

    Proposals are sought for projects that address one or more of the 
priority policy themes through projects in the full range of visual art 
activities. Proposals should include reciprocal exchange components for 
U.S. curators, artists and institutions. Projects should include 
opportunities for American and overseas curators and artists to present 
lectures, workshops, residencies, and master classes. All of these 
activities may be presented to enhance an education component of an 
exhibition. The overseas costs of exhibition presentation are eligible 
for support. Domestic presentation costs should be presented as part of 
the institution's cost share. Proposals that solely focus on the 
development, production and presentation of exhibitions and lack a 
substantive professional exchange component will not be eligible for 
support under this RFGP. Contacts: Leanne Mella, tel: (202) 203-7497, 
[email protected]; or E.J. Montgomery, tel: (202) 203-7498, 
[email protected].

Arts Education

    Proposals submitted under this topic may include collaborative 
activities and two-way exchanges between staff members of education 
departments of non-profit arts and cultural organizations. Project 
components under this theme may encompass the joint creation of film/
digital/ media, visual and/or performing arts education programs to 
further students' abilities to express their ideas through their own 
artistic creations, increase their critical analysis skills and 
discover alternative views of their own and other people's cultural 
identity. Exchanges of primary and secondary teachers and curriculum 
and/or textbook development or publishing will not be eligible for 
support under this RFGP.
    Contact: Jill Staggs, tel.: (202) 203-7500, [email protected].

Arts Management

    Projects may address management issues in a particular arts 
discipline or issues that affect arts organizations generally in a 
given country or region. Areas of possible interest would include board 
development, membership, fundraising, government relations, facilities 
management, audience development and marketing, and volunteer program 
management and the development of public/private partnerships. 
Proposals must demonstrate the applicant's capacity to link the special 
needs of arts and cultural organizations with general principles of 
management and civil society development. Proposals should include 
creative and innovative approaches to sharing experiences and best 
practices in arts management. Stand-alone conferences or lecture series 
will not be eligible for support under this RFGP (Please see Ineligible 
Projects Section below for more information about conferences). 
Contact: Jill Staggs, tel.: (202) 203-7500, [email protected].

Film, Video and Digital Media

    Proposals are sought that use feature films, documentaries, 
animated films, video or digital media in a cross-cultural outreach and 
exchange program designed to support one or more of our foreign policy 
themes. Proposals should focus on the collaborative creative process 
and could involve any of the creative or business aspects of 
filmmaking, i.e. directing, screenwriting, editing, cinematography, 
animation, film scoring, independent filmmaking, marketing, 
distribution, copyright protection, film preservation, etc. Proposals 
should involve American filmmakers and other film professionals and 
provide for workshops, seminars, and master classes in addition to film 
screenings and other presentations. Proposals may be submitted to fund 
the production and presentation of a film or other creative endeavor, 
but only as a natural outgrowth of collaboration and exchange. Such 
proposals should show significant cost-sharing or in-kind 
contributions. Proposals that include film presentations as part of 
outreach efforts are strongly desired. However, proposals that provide 
solely for screenings with no collaboration and exchange component will 
not be eligible for support under this RFGP. Contact: Susan Cohen, tel: 
(202) 203-7509, [email protected].

Proposal Components

    The Narrative Section of the proposal must contain: (1) An 
explanation of why the proposed project is important; (2) a 
description/analysis of the relationship of your project to the policy 
themes described above; and (3) a full and detailed description of the 
project plan.
    Each proposal narrative should include an innovative, informed and 
efficient plan to identify, recruit and/or audition, select and program 
participants. If the project will involve youth, the proposal must 
demonstrate the applicant's experience working with youth and 
implementing substantive and meaningful programs for youth.
    The proposal should clearly distinguish between program 
participants and the program audience. Participants are the relatively 
few individuals, normally visual or performing artists, filmmakers, 
writers, arts educators and arts managers who are selected for the 
exchange components of the program. The audience is the public, which 
may or may not be selected or invited, which attends program activities 
or events, including performances, exhibitions, workshops, and master 
classes. Both participants and audiences are important elements of the 
program. The proposal should clearly define the types of participants 
who will be recruited and the target audience for program activities 
and should clearly explain the importance of each to the overall 
program plan.
    The proposal narrative should explicitly state the applicant's 
commitment to consult closely with the Public Affairs Section of the 
U.S. Embassy in the relevant overseas country(ies) to develop plans for 
project implementation and to select project participants. Applicants 
should state their willingness to invite representatives of the 
embassy(ies) and/or consulate(s) to participate in program sessions or 
site visits. Applicants are also encouraged to consult with Public 
Affairs Officers at U.S. embassies in relevant countries as they 
develop proposals responding to this RFGP. Narratives should state that 
all material developed for the project will prominently acknowledge 
Department of State Educational and Cultural Bureau funding for the 
program. Proposals should acknowledge U.S. embassy involvement in the 
final selection of all participants.
    Competitive proposals will include the following:
     A brief description of the problem as it relates to the 
target country or region. (Proposals that request resources for an 
initial needs assessment will be deemed less competitive.);
     A clear statement of program objectives and projected 
outcomes that respond to Bureau goals for each theme in this 
competition. Desired outcomes should be described in qualitative and 
quantitative terms. (See the Program Monitoring and Evaluation section 
below, for more information on project objectives and outcomes);

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     A description of participant selection processes;
     A project timeline, listing the optimal schedule for each 
program activity;
     An alternative timeline and/or contingency program plan if 
the project will include countries with security issues;
     Demonstrated knowledge of overseas partner 
organization(s), including a description of each organization and an 
explanation of how partner organizations were selected
     Letters of support from foreign and U.S. partners
     An outline of the applicant organization's relevant 
expertise in the project theme and country(ies);
     Documentary evidence, such as published reviews, letters 
of endorsement from known experts, or the like, indicating the 
applicant's ability to organize a program of artistic merit and 
quality. Please note that work samples such as recordings, videotapes, 
catalogs and slides of work are not requested and cannot be reviewed;
     An outline of relevant experience managing previous 
international arts and/or cultural exchange programs;
     Resumes of experienced staff who have demonstrated a 
commitment to monitor grant projects and ensure implementation;
     A comprehensive plan to evaluate whether program outcomes 
achieved met the specific objectives described in the narrative. (See 
the Program Monitoring and Evaluation Section)
     A post-grant plan that demonstrates how the grantee plans 
to maintain contacts initiated through the program. Applicants should 
discuss ways that U.S. and foreign participants or host institutions 
could continue their exchange activities through on-going or future 
projects, once the ECA-funded grant has concluded.

Ineligible Projects

    The Arts Exchanges on International Issues Program is not open to 
amateur or community-based visual or performing artists. Our grant 
program is solely intended to support the international exchange work 
of non-profit organizations. Individuals are not eligible to apply for 
funding of their own work. While our program emphasizes outreach to 
youth, all exchange participants must be at least 18 years of age. 
However, educators, managers, program directors and administrators who 
work with youth and/or youth related non-profit organizations are 
encouraged to apply for grant support under this competition. The 
Office of Citizens Exchanges does not support proposals limited to 
conferences or seminars (i.e. one-to-fourteen day programs with plenary 
sessions, main speakers, panels and a passive audience). It will 
support conferences only when they are a small part of a larger project 
in duration that is receiving Bureau funding from this competition. The 
Office does not support academic research or faculty or student 
fellowships.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Grant Agreement.
    Fiscal Year Funds: 2005.
    Approximate Total Funding: $1,000,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 5-10.
    Approximate Average Award:
    Floor of Award Range: $50,000.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $300,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, June 1, 
2005.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: June 1, 2006-June 30, 2008.

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. 
Cost-sharing is an important element of the ECA-grantee institution 
relationship, and it demonstrates the implementing organization's 
commitment to the program. Cost-sharing is included as one criterion 
for grant proposal evaluation.
    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.
    (b) Technical Eligibility: All proposals must comply with the 
following: (1) Proposal submission deadline date; (2) non-profit 
organization status; (3) focus on one or more of the specified subject 
themes, or they will result in your proposal being declared technically 
ineligible and given no further consideration in the review process.

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 the Cultural Programs Division, Office of Citizen 
Exchanges, ECA/PE/C/CU, Room 568, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 
4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, (202) 203-7488, to request a 
Solicitation Package. Please refer to Funding Opportunity Number ECA/
PE/C/CU-05-16 located at the top of this announcement when making your 
request.
    The Solicitation Package contains the Proposal Submission.
    Instruction (PSI) document that consists of required application 
forms, and standard guidelines for proposal preparation.
    Please specify Bureau Program Officer, Jill Staggs, and refer to 
Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/CU-05-16, 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/education/rfgps/menu.htm. 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 12 copies of the application should be sent 
per the

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instructions under IV.3e. ``Submission Dates and Times 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 for additional 
formatting and technical requirements.
    IV.3c. You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of 
application. 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 grants 
under this RFGP will be third parties ``cooperating with or assisting 
the sponsor in the conduct of the sponsor's program.'' The actions of 
grantee program 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 a grant under this 
competition will render all assistance necessary to enable the Bureau 
to fully comply with 22 CFR part 62 et seq.
    The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs places great 
emphasis on the secure and proper administration of Exchange Visitor (J 
visa) Programs and adherence by grantee program organizations and 
program participants to all regulations governing the J visa program 
status. Therefore, proposals should explicitly state in writing that 
the applicant is prepared to assist the Bureau in meeting all 
requirements governing the administration of Exchange Visitor Programs 
as set forth in 22 CFR part 62. If your organization has experience as 
a designated Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor, the applicant should 
discuss their record of compliance with 22 CFR part 62 et seq., 
including the oversight of their Responsible Officers and Alternate 
Responsible Officers, screening and selection of program participants, 
provision of pre-arrival information and orientation to participants, 
monitoring of participants, proper maintenance and security of forms, 
record-keeping, reporting and other requirements.
    The Office of Citizen Exchanges of ECA will be responsible for 
issuing DS-2019 forms to participants in this program.
    A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of 
Exchange Visitor (J) programs is available at http://exchanges.state.gov or from:
    United States Department of State, Office of Exchange Coordination 
and Designation, ECA/EC/ECD--SA-44, Room 734, 301 4th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20547, Telephone: (202) 401-9810, FAX: (202) 401-9809.
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 grantee 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

[[Page 75366]]

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.)
    Grantees 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 a comprehensive budget for the 
entire program. Awards may not exceed $300,000. 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.
    IV.3e.2. Allowable costs for the program include the following:
    (1) Travel. International and domestic airfare (per the ``Fly 
America Act''), ground transportation and visas. (J-1 visas for ECA-
supported participants from overseas are issued through the Embassies 
at no charge).
    (2) Per Diem. For U.S.-based programming, organizations should use 
the published Federal per diem rates for individual U.S. cities. 
Domestic per diem rates may be accessed at: http://policyworks.gov/org/main/mt/homepage/mtt/perdiem/perd03d.html. ECA urges applicants to 
budget realistic costs, which reflect the local economy and do not 
exceed Federal per diem rates. Foreign per diem rates can be accessed 
at: http://www.state.gov/m/a/als/prdm/html.
    (3) Interpreters. For U.S.-based activities, ECA strongly 
encourages applicants to hire their own locally based interpreters. 
However, applicants may ask ECA to assign State Department 
interpreters. One interpreter is typically needed for every four 
participants who require interpretation. When an applicant proposes to 
use State Department interpreters, the following expenses should be 
included in the budget: Published Federal per diem rates (both lodging 
and M&IE) and ``home-program-home'' transportation in the amount of 
$400 per interpreter. Salary expenses for State Department interpreters 
will be covered by the Bureau and should not be part of an applicant's 
proposed budget. Bureau funds cannot support interpreters who accompany 
delegations from their home country or travel internationally.
    (4) Book and Cultural Allowances. Foreign participants are entitled 
to a one-time cultural allowance of $150 per person, plus a book 
allowance of $50. Interpreters should be reimbursed up to $150 for 
expenses when they escort participants to cultural events. U.S. program 
staff, trainers or participants are not eligible to receive these 
benefits.
    (5) Consultants. Consultants may be used to provide specialized 
expertise or to make presentations. Honoraria rates should not exceed 
$250 per day. Organizations are encouraged to cost-share rates that 
would exceed that figure. Subcontracting organizations may also be 
employed, in which case the written agreement between the prospective 
grantee and subcontractor should be included in the proposal. Such 
subcontractors should detail the division of responsibilities and 
proposed costs, and subcontracts should be itemized in the budget.
    (6) Room rental. The rental of meeting space should not exceed $250 
per day. Any rates that exceed this amount should be cost shared.
    (7) Materials. Proposals may contain costs to purchase, develop and 
translate materials for participants. Costs for high quality 
translation of materials should be anticipated and included in the 
budget. Grantee organizations should expect to submit a copy of all 
program materials to ECA, and ECA support should be acknowledged on all 
materials developed with its funding.
    (8) Costs associated with the presentation of performances, visual 
arts exhibitions or films overseas, as one component of a larger 
exchange project, may be included in the budget. Production costs for 
performances, visual arts exhibitions and film screenings in U.S. 
cannot be funded by ECA. However, modest domestic presentation costs 
may be included in the applicant organization's cost share.
    (9) Working meals. Only one working meal may be provided during the 
program. Per capita costs may not exceed $8 for a lunch and $20 for a 
dinner, excluding room rental. The number of invited guests may not 
exceed participants by more than a factor of two-to-one. When setting 
up a budget, interpreters should be considered ``participants.''
    (10) Return travel of participants. A return travel allowance of 
$70 for each participant may be included in the budget. This allowance 
would cover incidental expenses incurred during international travel.
    (11) Health Insurance. Foreign participants will be covered during 
their participation in the program by the ECA-sponsored Accident and 
Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE), for which the grantee must 
enroll them. Details of that policy can be provided by the contact 
officers identified in this solicitation. The premium is paid by ECA 
and should not be included in the grant proposal budget. However, 
applicants are permitted to include costs for travel insurance for U.S. 
participants in the budget.
    (12) In-country travel costs for visa processing purposes. Given 
the requirements associated with obtaining J-1 visas for ECA-supported 
participants, applicants should include costs for any travel associated 
with visa interviews or DS-2019 pick-up.
    (13) Administrative Costs. Costs necessary for the effective 
administration of the program may include salaries for grantee 
organization employees, benefits, and other direct

[[Page 75367]]

and indirect costs per detailed instructions in the Application 
Package. While there is no rigid ratio of administrative to program 
costs, proposals in which the administrative costs do not exceed 25% of 
the total requested ECA grant funds will be more competitive in terms 
of the cost-effectiveness review criteria. Proposals should show strong 
administrative cost sharing contributions from the applicant, the in-
country partner and other sources.
    Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget 
guidelines and formatting instructions.
IV.3f. Submission Dates and Times
    Application Deadline Date: February 8, 2005.
    Explanation of Deadlines: In light of recent events and heightened 
security measures, proposal submissions must be sent via a nationally 
recognized overnight delivery service (i.e., DHL, Federal Express, UPS, 
Airborne Express, or U.S. Postal Service Express Overnight Mail, etc.) 
and be shipped no later than the above deadline. The 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. 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. ECA will not notify you upon receipt of application. 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. 
Applications may not be submitted electronically at this time.
    Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation 
Package.

    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 12 copies of the application should be sent to:
    U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, Ref.: ECA/PE/C/CU-05-16, Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, Room 
534, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
    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.3g. Intergovernmental Review of Applications
    Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.
    Applicants must also submit the ``Executive Summary'' and 
``Proposal Narrative'' sections of the proposal in text (.txt) format 
on a PC-formatted disk. The Bureau will provide these files 
electronically to the appropriate Public Affairs Section(s) at the U.S. 
embassy(ies) for its(their) review.

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 grant 
assistance awards 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. Program Planning and Ability to Achieve Objectives: The program 
plan must illustrate the relevance of a project to one or more of the 
five U.S. Department of State foreign policy goals listed in the 
eligible themes. Program objectives should be stated clearly and should 
reflect the applicant's expertise in the subject area and geographic 
world region. A detailed agenda and relevant work plan must explain how 
objectives will be achieved and should include a timetable for 
completion of major tasks. The substance of workshops, seminars, 
shadowing experiences and consulting should be described in detail.
    2. Institutional Capacity: Proposals should include the 
institution's mission and date that 501(c) 3 status was approved. 
Proposals should reflect the institution's prior work with the overseas 
partner organization(s), expertise in the subject area and knowledge of 
conditions in the target country/countries, expertise in the artistic 
discipline, and where relevant, ability to engage young Muslim 
participants and/or reach out to young Muslim audience members. 
Descriptions of the experience and qualifications of staff members who 
will implement the program should be included in the proposals. 
Applicants also need to include an outline of prior U.S. government 
and/or private sector grant awards received for the target theme/
country/region. The Bureau will consider the past performance of prior 
recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants. The Bureau 
strongly encourages applicants to submit letters of support and 
commitment from proposed overseas partner organizations.
    3. Cost Effectiveness and Cost Sharing: Overhead and administrative 
costs in the proposal budget, including salaries, honoraria and 
subcontracts for services, should be kept to a minimum. Priority will 
be given to proposals whose administrative costs are less that twenty 
five (25) per cent of the total funds requests from the Bureau. 
Applicants are strongly encouraged to cost share a portion of overhead 
and administrative expenses. Cost sharing, including contributions from 
the applicant, proposed in-country partner (s) and other sources should 
be included in the budget request. Proposals that do not reflect cost 
sharing will be deemed not competitive in this category. Costs for 
domestic performing arts presentations and/or visual arts exhibitions 
and/or film screenings must be cost-shared, as ECA will not fund these 
costs.
    4. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive 
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Achievable and relevant 
features should be cited in both program administration (selection of 
participants, program venue and program evaluation) and program content 
(orientation and wrap-up sessions, program meetings, resource materials 
and follow-up activities). Applicants should refer to the Bureau's 
Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines in the Proposal Submission 
Instructions (PSI) for guidance.
    5. Post-Grant Activities: Applicants should provide a plan to 
conduct

[[Page 75368]]

activities after the Bureau-funded project has concluded in order to 
ensure that Bureau-supported programs are not isolated events. Post-
grant activities must be funded by contributions from the applicants or 
sources outside the Bureau. Costs for these activities should not 
appear in the proposal budget, but should be outlined in the narrative.
    6. Monitoring and Evaluation: Proposals should include a detailed 
plan to monitor and evaluate the program. Competitive evaluation plans 
will describe how applicant organizations will measure the project's 
success at meeting program objectives in quantitative terms, and should 
include draft data collection instruments such as surveys and 
questionnaires. Proposals should include a plan to evaluate the 
activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of the 
program. As stated previously, ECA is especially interested in the 
results of project activities both in terms of the impact on audiences 
as well as on participants. It is the applicant's responsibility to 
inform the Bureau of exchange activity results and changes to the 
program plan and/or project time-line.

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 Assistance 
Award Document (AAD) from the Bureau's Grants Office. The AAD and the 
original grant proposal with subsequent modifications (if applicable) 
shall be the only binding authorizing document between the recipient 
and the U.S. Government. The AAD 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:

VI.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    Terms and Conditions for the Administration of ECA agreements 
include the following:
    Office of Management and Budget Circular A-122, ``Cost Principles 
for Nonprofit Organizations.''
    Office of Management and Budget Circular A-21, ``Cost Principles 
for Educational Institutions.''
    OMB Circular A-87, ``Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian 
Governments''.
    OMB Circular No. A-110 (Revised), Uniform Administrative 
Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher 
Education, Hospitals, and other Nonprofit Organizations.
    OMB Circular No. A-102, Uniform Administrative Requirements for 
Grants-in-Aid to State and Local Governments.
    OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of States, Local Government, and 
Non-profit Organizations
    Please reference the following Web sites for additional 
information: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants; http://exchanges.state.gov/education/grantsdiv/terms.htm#articleI.

VI.3. Reporting Requirements

    Grant award recipients 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) Quarterly program and financial reports which should include a 
summary of program accomplishments and an updated project time line.
    Grantees 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: Organizations awarded grants 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 grant or 
who benefit from the grant 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: Cultural Programs 
Division, Office of Citizens Exchanges, ECA/PE/C/CU, Room 568, ECA/PE/
C/CU-05-16, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20547, 202-203-7488 or 202-203-7500; fax: 202-203-7525; 
[email protected].
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and ECA/PE/C/CU-05-16. 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: December 6, 2004.
C. Miller Crouch,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 04-27556 Filed 12-15-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P
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