Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 246 / Thursday, December 23, 2004 / Notices 76965

0018—Disaster Home Loan Application 

(SBA Form 5C, SBA Form 739) expires 

09/30/2006; OMB approved SBA 3245–

0084—Home/Business Loan Inquiry 

Record (SBA Form 700) expires 09/30/

2006; OMB approved SBA 3245–0326—

Pre-Disaster Mitigation Application 

(SBA Form 5M) expires 09/30/2006; 

OMB approved SBA 3245–0136—

Disaster Survey Worksheet (SBA Form 

987) expires 03/31/2007; OMB approved 

SBA 3245–0188—Personal Financial 

Statement (SBA Form 413) on 11/30/

2004; OMB approval 3245–0178—

Statement of Personal History (SBA 

Form 912) expires 09/30/2006.

SBA 20 

SYSTEM NAME: 

Disaster Loan Case File—SBA 20. 

SYSTEM LOCATION: 

Office of Disaster Assistance, DCMS 

Operations Center, Herndon, Virginia. 

Data hosting by contractor off site in 

secure locations per SBA Office of Chief 

Information Officer (‘‘OCIO’’) standards. 

SBA Disaster Area Offices and SBA 

Loan Servicing Offices. See Appendix A 

for SBA Disaster Area Office and Loan 

Servicing Office addresses. 

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE

SYSTEM INCLUDES: 

Applicants and recipients of disaster 

home and business loans; registrants for 

disaster assistance who are provided 

disaster home and business loan 

applications. 

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM

INCLUDES: 

Information relating to preapplication registrants, disaster home 

and business loan applicants and 

recipients of disaster home and business 

loans from the time of pre-application 

registration. These records include: 

Loan applications, supporting 

documents, personal history, financial 

statements, credit information 

investigative reports, appraisers’ reports, 

waivers, loan record transfers, 

correspondence, recommendations, 

authorizations, disbursement amount, 

term and rate, payment history, 

collateral, UCC filings and re-filings, 

collection and liquidation activities, 

financial statements, settlements and 

compromises, participating bank 

information, field visit reports, 

borrowers insurance information and 

loan accounting information. 

AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM: 

15 U.S.C. 634(b)(6), 44 U.S.C. 3101. 

ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE

SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES OF USERS AND

THE PURPOSES OF SUCH USES, THESE RECORDS

MAY BE USED, DISCLOSED OR REFERRED: 

f. To provide data to the Government 

Accountability Office (‘‘GAO’’) for 

periodic reviews of SBA. 

g. In response, to a request from a 

State or Federal agency in connection 

with the issuance of a grant, loan or 

other benefit by that agency which is 

relevant to their decision on the matter; 

this may be requested individually or as 

part of a computer match. 

h. To other Federal agencies to 

conduct computer matching programs to 

locate delinquent SBA borrowers who 

are receiving Federal salaries or benefit 

payments and programs to identify 

delinquent SBA borrowers receiving 

federal salaries or benefit payments. 

Disclosure will be made if the records 

indicate the loan is in default, at least 

30 days past due or to update a previous 

disclosure. SBA will make the 

disclosures to obtain repayments of 

debts under the provisions of the Debt 

Collection Act of 1982 by voluntary 

repayment, or by administrative or 

salary offset procedures. 

p. To transmit data to U.S. 

Department of the Treasury to effect 

issuance of loan funds to borrowers.

q. To the Federal Emergency 

Management Agency (‘‘FEMA’’) to 

coordinate the issuance of federal 

disaster assistance to disaster victims 

and monitor for duplication. 

r. To the public under the Freedom of 

Information Act (‘‘FOIA’’), 5 U.S.C. 552. 

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORING, 

RETRIEVING, ACCESSING, RETAINING AND

DISPOSING OF RECORDS: 

RETRIEVAL: 

By applicant/recipient name, crossreferenced loan number or borrower’s 

Social Security Number or Employer 

Identification Number. 

SAFEGUARDS: 

Access and use limited to persons 

with official need to know to know; 

electronic data access is protected by 

password and user identification codes. 

RETENTION AND DISPOSAL: 

In accordance with Standard 

Operating Procedure 00 41 2, Appendix 

18. 

SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS: 

Disaster Area Office Directors. See 

Appendix A. 

Director, DCMS Operations Center, 

1175 Herndon Parkway, Herndon, VA 

20170. 

CONTESTING PROCEDURES: 

Notify the officials listed above, state 

the reason(s) for contesting it and the 

proposed amendment sought. 

SOURCE CATEGORIES: 

Subject, individuals, Agency 

employees, financial institutions, 

commercial credit reporting agencies, 

law enforcement agencies, Internal 

Revenue Service and Federal Emergency 

Management Agency.

Dated: December 15, 2004. 

Delorice P. Ford, 

Sr. Privacy Act Official.

[FR Doc. 04–28109 Filed 12–22–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8025–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 4941] 

Bureau of Educational and Cultural 

Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant 

Proposals: American Music Abroad 

Announcement Type: New Grant. 

Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/

PE/C/CU–05–14. 

Catalog of Federal Domestic 

Assistance Number: 00.000. 

Key Dates: Application Deadline: 

February 15, 2005. 

Executive Summary: The Cultural 

Programs Division in the Office of 

Citizen Exchanges within the Bureau of 

Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) 

announces an open competition for a 

grant to administer the American Music 

Abroad Program (formerly known as 

Jazz Ambassadors). The Program will 

consist of concert tours for a selected 

number of professional American jazz 

and urban music performers in 

countries where there is limited 

exposure to American culture. The 

musicians selected for this program 

must demonstrate high artistic ability 

and be conversant with broader aspects 

of contemporary American society and 

culture. Tours include workshops and 

master classes in addition to concerts. 

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 

American Music Abroad program: to 

promote mutual understanding and 

cross-cultural awareness. The tours 

accomplish this by providing an 

opportunity for international audiences 

to experience American musical life, 

highlighting our country’s cultural 

history as well as the contemporary 

cultural scene, and allowing American 

performers to learn about life and 

culture in the foreign host countries. 

76966 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 246 / Thursday, December 23, 2004 / Notices 

The Bureau is particularly interested 

in proposals for administration of tours 

by jazz and urban music performers to 

countries with significant Muslim 

populations, and that engage educators 

or groups that influence youth. In the 

Western Hemisphere, we are also 

interested in proposals for projects that 

reach indigenous populations. For the 

purpose of this competition, eligible 

regions are Africa, East Asia, Eurasia, 

Central Europe and the Balkans, the 

Near East/North Africa, South Asia and 

the Western Hemisphere. 

No guarantee is made or implied that 

a grant will be awarded for tours to all 

of these regions. 

All organizations must demonstrate a 

minimum of four years experience 

conducting international performing 

arts exchange programs to be eligible for 

this competition. 

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 Bureau seeks proposals 

to engage audiences overseas that rarely 

have opportunities to hear live 

American music and interact with 

American performers, by administering 

six tours by jazz quartets and two by 

presenters of urban music styles. 

American Music Abroad participants 

must be U.S. citizens at least 21 years 

old; demonstrate the highest artistic and 

musical ability; be conversant with 

broader aspects of contemporary 

American society and culture; and 

adaptable to unescorted, rigorous 

touring through regions where travel 

and performance situations may be 

difficult. In addition to performances, 

American Music Abroad musicians will 

conduct or participate in master classes, 

lectures, workshops, impromptu 

musical sessions, radio and TV 

appearances, and other activities with 

local cultural institutions, musicians, 

and students. An opportunity for a 

Washington, DC public performance by 

each ensemble in connection with the 

overseas tour should be included in the 

proposal.

History: Since 1998, the United States 

Department of State, through the Bureau 

of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and 

the John F. Kennedy Center for the 

Performing Arts have collaborated in the 

selection and presentation of jazz 

groups overseas, to present the 

creativity and artistry of America’s 

unique, original form of music to 

audiences which rarely have 

opportunities to hear live American 

music and interact with American 

performing artists. In 1998, selected jazz 

ensembles, designated for the first time 

as ‘‘Jazz Ambassadors,’’ toured Africa, 

the Near East and South Asia. In 1999, 

Jazz Ambassadors performed in Latin 

America, the Middle East, and Africa. In 

recent years, tours have included certain 

countries in Europe and Eurasia, as well 

as East Asia. 

Program goals are to promote mutual 

understanding and cross-cultural 

awareness. The tours accomplish this by 

providing an opportunity for 

international audiences to experience 

American life and traditions through 

music that highlights our country’s 

cultural history along with 

contemporary musical styles, as well as 

by allowing American performing artists 

to learn about life and culture in the 

foreign host countries. 

Additional area of program emphasis: 

To broaden the appeal of this program 

to youthful audiences in disadvantaged 

communities, ECA is initiating the 

presentation in 2005 of two ensembles 

representing urban music styles. 

Guidelines: The grant period will 

begin approximately May 2005 and 

continue through approximately April 

2006. The successful applicant will 

administer the international tour 

program for approximately eight 

ensembles, which already have been 

auditioned and selected for travel to 

begin in 2005. The successful applicant 

will also organize auditions for new 

groups that will travel in 2006. 

Proposals should reflect a practical 

understanding of global, cultural, 

political, economic and social issues. 

Special attention should be given to 

describing the applicant organization’s 

experience with planning and 

implementing complex and 

unpredictable logistical scenarios in the 

regions mentioned above. Applicants 

should identify any U.S. and foreign 

partner organizations and/or venues 

with whom they are proposing to 

collaborate, and describe previous 

cooperative projects in the section on 

‘‘Institutional Capacity.’’

ECA intends to award one grant to a 

qualified institution or organization to 

administer the American Music Abroad 

program globally. The grant may be 

renewed up to two times, subject to the 

grantee organization’s successful 

implementation of the program. Grant 

activities may include, but are not 

limited to, carrying out up to eight (8) 

international tours through advance tour 

planning; programming educational and 

outreach activities in consultation with 

U.S. embassies abroad; scheduling 

Washington, DC public performance 

dates for each ensemble; assisting 

musicians with passport, visa, 

immunizations, and pre-tour 

preparations; arranging and providing 

orientation sessions and pre-travel 

briefings; creating press materials and 

overseas publicity support; evaluating 

program activities; reporting; 

participating in the selection process; 

and assisting ensembles and embassies 

with follow-on program development. 

Applicants should have experience in 

global exchange planning and 

implementation, and should address the 

above elements in the proposal. The 

grantee must be highly responsive and 

able to work in close consultation with 

the participating U.S. embassies’ Public 

Affairs Sections overseas. 

A pre-tour briefing session for each 

ensemble should be held with State 

Department regional experts and ECA 

program officers in attendance. This 

event should be scheduled in 

coordination with the Washington, DC 

public performance. 

The successful applicant of the 

competition would advertise the call for 

applications and auditions to jazz and 

urban music musicians, and manage the 

selection panels for the 2006 program. 

ECA/PE/C/CU activities and 

responsibilities for this program are as 

follows: 

Determination of priority countries on 

tour itineraries.

Arranging for participation of 

Department of State officers in pre-tour 

briefings and any debriefings that might 

take place. 

Approval of all tour arrangements. 

Approval of application and audition 

arrangements for 2006 American Music 

Abroad. 

Participation in selection of 2006 

American Music Abroad. 

II. Award Information 

Type of Award: Cooperative 

Agreement. ECA’s level of involvement 

in this program is listed under number 

I above. 

Fiscal Year Funds: FY–2005. 

Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 246 / Thursday, December 23, 2004 / Notices 76967

Approximate Total Funding: Pending 

availability of funding, $800,000. 

Approximate Number of Awards: 1. 

Approximate Average Award:

$800,000. 

Ceiling of Award Range: $800,000. 

Anticipated Award Date: Pending 

availability of funds, May 1, 2005. 

Anticipated Project Completion Date:

April 30, 2006. 

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 for two 

additional fiscal years, before openly 

competing it again. 

III. Eligibility Information 

III.1 Eligible applicants:

Applications may be submitted by 

public and private non-profit 

organizations meeting the provisions 

described in Internal Revenue Code 

section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3). 

III.2 Cost Sharing or Matching 

Funds: There is no minimum or 

maximum percentage required for this 

competition. However, the Bureau 

encourages applicants to provide 

maximum levels of cost sharing and 

funding in support of its programs. 

When cost sharing is offered, it is 

understood and agreed that the 

applicant must provide the amount of 

cost sharing as stipulated in its proposal 

and later included in an approved grant 

agreement. Cost sharing may be in the 

form of allowable direct or indirect 

costs. For accountability, you must 

maintain written records to support all 

costs, which are claimed as your 

contribution, as well as costs to be paid 

by the Federal government. Such 

records are subject to audit. The basis 

for determining the value of cash and 

in-kind contributions must be in 

accordance with OMB Circular A–110, 

(Revised), Subpart C.23—Cost Sharing 

and Matching. In the event you do not 

provide the minimum amount of cost 

sharing as stipulated in the approved 

budget, ECA’s contribution will be 

reduced in like proportion. 

III.3 Other Eligibility Requirements:

(a) 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 awarding one grant, in an 

amount up to $800,000 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. 

(b) Technical eligibility: All proposals 

must comply with the following: (1) 

Fully adhere to the guidelines stated 

herein and in the Solicitation Package; 

(2) proposal submission deadline date; 

(3) non-profit organization status. 

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 (ECA/

PE/C/CU) in the Office of Citizen 

Exchanges, Room 568, U.S. Department 

of State, SA–44, 301 4th Street, SW., 

Washington, DC 20547, 202/203–7488; 

fax 202/203–7525; e-mail 

ProctorLM@state.gov to request a 

Solicitation Package. Please refer to the 

Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/

C/CU–05–14 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 the Bureau Program 

Officer, Sandra H. Rouse, and refer to 

the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/

PE/C/CU–05–14 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 14 copies (15 proposals 

total) of the application should be sent 

per the instructions under IV.3f 

‘‘Submission Dates and Times’’ section 

below. 

IV.3a Applicant institutions 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 ninedigit 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. It is 

not anticipated that there will be foreign 

participants coming to the U.S. under 

this award. However, if they do, they 

will be governed under the J VISA 

regulations. The Office of Citizen 

Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational 

and Cultural Affairs is the official 

program sponsor of the exchange 

program covered by this RFGP, and an 

employee of the Bureau will be the 

‘‘Responsible Officer’’ for the program 

under the terms of 22 CFR part 62, 

which covers the administration of the 

Exchange Visitor Program (J visa 

program). Under the terms of 22 CFR 

part 62, organizations receiving 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 

part 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 

76968 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 246 / Thursday, December 23, 2004 / Notices 

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. 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 

proposed criteria against which the 

grantee will 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 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 shortterm 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. Award may not exceed 

$800,000. 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 For budgeting purposes, 

applicants should estimate costs based 

on eight quartets traveling for 

approximately four (4) weeks to (8) 

destinations with significant Muslim 

populations in the following regions: 

Africa, East Asia, Eurasia, Central 

Europe and the Balkans, the Near East/

Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 246 / Thursday, December 23, 2004 / Notices 76969

North Africa, South Asia and the 

Western Hemisphere. Final 

determination of participating regions 

and countries will be made in 

collaboration with ECA, U.S. embassies 

and the successful applicant after the 

grant is awarded. 

IV.3e.3 Allowable costs for the 

program include the following: 

(1) Program Expenses, including but 

not limited to: Domestic and 

international travel for the selected 

ensembles; visas and immunizations; 

airport taxes and country entrance fees; 

honoraria; educational materials and 

presentation items; excess and 

overweight baggage fees; trip itinerary 

booklets; press kits and promotional 

materials; follow-on activities; 

monitoring and evaluation; and 

international travel for program 

implementation and/or evaluation 

purposes. 

(2) Administration Expenses. The 

following guidelines may be helpful in 

developing a proposed budget:

A. Travel Costs. International and 

domestic airfares. (per The Fly America 

Act), transit costs, ground 

transportation, and visas for the 

American Music Abroad participants to 

travel to the tour destinations. No travel 

costs for applicants for 2006 tours can 

be charged to this award. 

B. Per Diem: For the Washington, DC 

portion of the tour, organizations should 

use the published Federal per diem 

rates, and estimate per diems based on 

a two-night stay per ensemble member. 

The Public Affairs Sections of the 

participating U.S. embassies and 

consulates are responsible for per diem 

abroad. Domestic per diem rates may be 

accessed at: http://

www.policyworks.gov/. 

C. Subgrantees and Consultants. 

Subgrantee organizations may be used, 

in which case the written agreement 

between the prospective grantee and 

subgrantee should be included in the 

proposal. Subgrants must be itemized in 

the budget under General Program 

Expenses. Consultants may be used to 

provide specialized expertise. Daily 

honoraria cannot exceed $250 per day, 

and applicants are strongly encouraged 

to use organizational resources and to 

cost share heavily in this area. 

D. Health Insurance. Each American 

Music Abroad participant will be 

covered under the terms of the ECAsponsored ASPE health insurance 

policy. The cost for international travel 

insurance for staff travel may be 

included in the proposal budget. 

E. Honoraria for American Music 

Abroad participants. Daily honorarium 

is $200 per day for each performer, 

including rest days. 

F. Educational and Promotional Items. 

Ensemble members may use these funds 

for individual purchases or they may 

pool funds for joint purposes. ECA 

funds for educational and promotional 

items should not exceed $500 per 

ensemble. 

G. Excess Baggage. Excess baggage 

costs are based on size and weight of 

instrument. Excess baggage estimates 

may be subject to change once actual 

tour itineraries are scheduled, however 

for proposal budget purposes, costs 

should be estimated at $3,500 per 

ensemble. 

H. Immunizations/Visas. For purposes 

of a proposed budget, line items for 

immunizations should be estimated at 

$400 per musician, and visas/visa 

photos should be estimated at $600 per 

musician. 

I. Press Kits. Each overseas post 

should receive appropriate contents for 

press kits. Items may be created and 

sent electronically, with the 

understanding that in some cases, posts 

may not be able to access large files or 

attachments. This line item may also 

include funds for shooting and 

duplicating B&W publicity photos and 

duplicating CDS. 

J. Staff Travel. Allowable costs 

include domestic staff travel for one 

staff member to attend selection panels 

in approximately two U.S. cities. 

International staff travel will be 

allowable, especially if associated with 

monitoring and evaluation, as long as 

costs for a full four-week tour for each 

ensemble are completely covered. Costsharing for staff travel is strongly 

encouraged.

K. Administrative Costs. Costs 

necessary for the effective 

administration of the program may 

include salaries for grantee organization 

employees, benefits, and other direct 

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 from ECA grant funds will be 

more competitive on cost effectiveness. 

Please refer to the Solicitation Package 

for complete budget guidelines and 

formatting instructions. 

IV.3f Submission Dates and Times:

Application Deadline Date: February 

15, 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 14 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–05–14, 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. 

V.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 

76970 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 246 / Thursday, December 23, 2004 / Notices 

reviewed by the Office of the Legal 

Adviser or by other Department 

elements. Final funding decisions are at 

the discretion of the Department of 

State’s Assistant Secretary for 

Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final 

technical authority for cooperative 

agreements resides with the Bureau’s 

Grants Officer. 

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: Detailed agenda and 

relevant work plan should demonstrate 

substantive undertakings and logistical 

capacity. Agenda and plan should 

adhere to the program overview and 

guidelines described above. Proposals 

should clearly demonstrate how the 

institution will meet the program’s 

objectives and plan. 

2. Institutional Capacity: Proposals 

should include (1) the institution’s 

mission and date of establishment; (2) 

an outline of prior awards—U.S. 

government and/or private support 

received for tours abroad; and (3) 

descriptions of experienced staff 

members who will implement the 

program. The proposal should reflect 

the institution’s expertise in the subject 

area and knowledge of the conditions in 

the regions abroad. Proposals should 

demonstrate an institutional record of 

successful exchange programs, 

including responsible fiscal 

management and full compliance with 

all reporting requirements for past 

Bureau grants as determined by Bureau 

Grants Staff. Proposed personnel and 

institutional resources should be 

adequate and appropriate to achieve the 

program or project’s goals. The Bureau 

will consider the past performance of 

prior recipients and the demonstrated 

potential of new applicants. 

3. Cost Effectiveness and Cost 

Sharing: Overhead and administrative 

costs in the proposal budget, including 

salaries and honoraria, should be kept 

as low as possible. Priority will be given 

to proposals whose administrative costs 

are less than twenty-five (25) per cent of 

the total funds requested from the 

Bureau. Applicants are strongly 

encouraged to cost share a portion of 

overhead and administrative expenses. 

Proposals should maximize cost sharing 

through other private sector support as 

well as institutional direct funding 

contributions. Proposals that do not 

reflect cost sharing will be deemed not 

competitive in this category.

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 wrapup 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) and the Diversity, 

Freedom and Democracy Guidelines 

section above for additional guidance. 

5. Follow-on Activities: Proposals 

should provide a plan for continued 

follow-on activity (without Bureau 

support) ensuring that Bureau 

supported programs are not isolated 

events. 

6. Monitoring and Evaluation:

Proposals should include a plan to 

monitor and evaluate the program. A 

draft survey questionnaire or other 

technique plus description of a 

methodology to use to link outcomes to 

original project objectives are 

recommended. See the ‘‘Evaluation’’

section (above) for more information on 

the components of a competitive 

evaluation plan. Successful applicants 

(grantee institutions) will be expected to 

submit a report after each program 

component concludes or on a quarterly 

basis, whichever is less frequent. The 

Bureau also requires that grantee 

institutions submit a final narrative and 

financial report no more than 90 days 

after the expiration of a grant. Please 

refer to the ‘‘Evaluation’’ section above 

for more guidance. 

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.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 Nonprofit Organizations. 

Please reference the following 

websites for additional information: 

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/

grants.

http://exchanges.state.gov/education/

grantsdiv/terms.htm#articleI.

VI.3 Reporting Requirements: You 

must provide ECA with a hard copy 

original plus two copies of the following 

reports: 

(1) A final program and financial 

report no more than 90 days after the 

expiration of the award; 

(2) Any interim report(s) required in 

the Bureau’s Cooperative Agreement 

document.

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 (two copies) and ECA 

Program Officer (one copy) listed in the 

final assistance award document. 

VI.4 Optional Program Data 

Requirements: The successful applicant 

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. At 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. 

Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 246 / Thursday, December 23, 2004 / Notices 76971

(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 workdays prior to the 

official opening of the activity. 

VII. Agency Contacts 

For questions about this 

announcement, contact: Sandra Rouse, 

Cultural Programs Division, ECA/PE/C/

CU, Room 568, Reference Number ECA/

PE/C/CU–05–14, U.S. Department of 

State, SA–44, 301 4th Street, SW., 

Washington, DC 20547, telephone: 202–

203–7493; fax: 202–203–7525; 

RouseSH@state.gov.

All correspondence with the Bureau 

concerning this RFGP should reference 

the above title and number ECA/PE/C/

CU–05–14. 

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 17, 2004. 

C. Miller Crouch, 

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau 

of Educational and Cultural Affairs, 

Department of State.

[FR Doc. 04–28106 Filed 12–22–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4710–05–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration 

Environmental Impact Statement: JR 

89/Fanny Bridge Improvements, Tahoe 

City, Placer County, CA

AGENCY: Federal Highway 

Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this 

notice to advise the public that an 

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 

will be prepared for a proposed project 

in Tahoe City, Placer County, California. 

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency 

(TRPA) has determined that an EIS/EIS/

EIR is required to analyze the potential 

impacts pursuant to the TRPA Code of 

Ordinances, the California 

Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and 

the National Environmental Policy Act 

(NEPA) for the proposed transportation 

project associated with SR 89/Fanny 

Bridge traffic congestion.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Leland W. Dong, Senior Project 

Development Engineer, Federal 

Highway Administration, 650 Capitol 

Mall, Suite 4–100, Sacramento, CA 

95814–4708. Telephone: (916) 498–

5860, e-mail: leland.dong@fhwa.dot.gov.

The local agency contact is Jennifer 

Hannum, Associate Transportation 

Planner, Transportation Division, Tahoe 

Regional Planning Agency, P.O. Box 

5310, Stateline, NV 89449. Telephone: 

(775) 588–4547, ext: 297, e-mail: 

jhannum@trpa.org.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Currently, 

there is excessive traffic congestion 

associated with pedestrian movement 

on and across Fanny Bridge. In addition, 

the Fanny Bridge structure is nearing 

the end of its design life and needs to 

be replaced or undergo extensive 

maintenance repairs. The purpose of the 

SR 89/Fanny Bridge project is to (1) 

rectify the traffic congestion near the SR 

89 Wye, and (2) repair or replace Fanny 

Bridge. This proposed project includes 

the following alternatives: 

1. No project. Continue maintenance 

or even heavy maintenance of Fanny 

Bridge (other than replace piers or 

replace deck). This may also include 

near-term modifications to the Wye or 

pedestrian crossing in the vicinity of the 

bridge. 

2. Widen/replace existing bridge.

Includes downstream widening, with a 

possible inclusion of a roundabout vs. 

use of a traffic signal at existing Wye. As 

part of evaluation of potential mitigation 

measures, provisions for a pedestrian 

overpass or underpass will be 

considered. 

3. repair existing bridge, provide 

adjacent pedestrian bridge(s), prohibit 

pedestrians on existing bridge. Include 

a new pedestrian bridge immediately 

upstream from Fanny Bridge, and 

possibly one immediately downstream 

as well. A roundabout vs. traffic signal 

at the existing Wye to also be evaluated. 

4. New alignment, close SR 89.

Provide new alignment for SR 89 to a 

new Wye intersection (either configured 

similar to existing Wye or configured 

with a roundabout) at a location about 

1⁄4 mile south of the existing Wye. 

Provide bicycle trail underpass of new 

alignment on north shore of Truckee 

River. Provide a second roundabout 

where the relocated SR 89 rejoins the 

existing highway with third approach 

serving only recreational parking. Close 

existing SR 89 to through traffic and 

evaluate a roundabout vs. signal at 

existing Wye. 

5. New alignment, keep old 89 open.

Provide new alignment for SR 89 to a 

new Wye intersection (either configured 

similar to existing Wye or configured 

with a roundabout) at a location about 

1⁄4 mile southwest of the existing Wye. 

Provide bicycle trail underpass of new 

alignment on north shore of Truckee 

River. Provide a second roundabout 

where the relocated SR 89 rejoins the 

existing highway with a third approach 

serving only recreational parking. (No 

change in access to existing recreational 

parking area from existing SR 89). 

Roundabout vs. signal at existing Wye to 

be evaluated. Existing SR 89 used as a 

local access only. 

Public scoping meetings as well as 

community advisory committee 

meetings were conducted in August 

2003, March 2004, April 2004, and May 

2004 in the Tahoe City community. No 

additional formal scoping is planned, 

however, there will be continued public 

involvement as the project is developed. 

The alternatives being examined in the 

environmental documentation are the 

direct outcome of those public meetings. 

A copy of the Draft EIS/EIS/EIR will be 

available on the project Web site,

http://www.fannybridge.com, when it 

becomes available. 

To ensure that the full range of issues 

related to this proposed action are 

addressed and all major issues 

identified, comments and suggestions 

are invited from all interested parties. 

Comments or questions concerning this 

proposed action and the EIS should be 

directed to the FHWA address provided 

above.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 

Program Number 20.205, Highway Research, 

Planning, and Construction. The regulations 

implementing Executive Order 12372 

regarding intergovernmental consultation on 

Federal programs and activities apply to this 

program.)

Issued on: December 13, 2004. 

Leland W. Dong, 

Senior Project Development Engineer, Federal 

Highway Administration, Sacramento, 

California.

[FR Doc. 04–28099 Filed 12–22–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–22–M