[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 27 (Wednesday, February 10, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6784-6790]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-2981]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 6896]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: The Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Summer Academy

    Announcement Type: New Grant.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-10-27.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.415.
    Application Deadline: March 19, 2010.
    Executive Summary: The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs 
Division, of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) 
announces an open competition for a grant for a summer academy for 
youth. Public and private non-profit organizations meeting the 
provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 
501(c)(3), including accredited, post-secondary U.S. educational 
institutions, may submit proposals to provide a four-week U.S.-based 
Academy in July 2010 for up to 27 teenagers. Seventeen of the 
participants will be foreign students from multiple countries who have 
already been screened and selected for an exchange program in the 
United States. They will be joined at the Academy by 10 American 
teenagers selected by the U.S. grant recipient. The Academy's 
activities will focus on leadership development, critical thinking, 
communication skills, and community activism, in addition to exposure 
to U.S. culture and society through site visits and homestays with 
American families.

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: This Academy aims to foster relationships between American 
teenagers and teenagers from countries with significant Muslim 
populations to build strong linkages and an awareness of shared values, 
and to enable youth to face together the global challenges of the 21st 
Century. Through this Academy, diverse but intellectually curious 
students will participate in an intensive, four-week program in the 
United States in the summer of 2010. Participants will

[[Page 6785]]

be engaged in a variety of activities such as training sessions, 
workshops, community and/or school-based programs, and cultural events. 
Participants will work on projects that promote community engagement to 
be implemented in their home communities.
    Goals: The goals of the Academy are (1) to develop a sense of civic 
responsibility and a commitment to cooperation among youth; (2) to 
foster relationships among youth from different ethnic, religious, and 
national groups; (3) to promote mutual understanding between the people 
of the United States and other countries; and (4) to stimulate the 
development of a cadre of young leaders who will share the knowledge 
and skills gained through participation in the Academy with their peers 
through positive action after they return to their home communities.
    With the specific focus of these institutes, the following outcomes 
will indicate a successful project:
    <bullet> Participants from abroad will demonstrate an improved 
understanding of the United States and its people, and the American 
students will better understand the interests of the people of the 
participating countries.
    <bullet> Participants will work together to identify and overcome 
misunderstanding or lack of understanding among nations both during the 
institute and after they return home.
    <bullet> Participants will develop critical thinking skills that 
will enable them to assess the reliability of media sources, and to 
analyze possible bias in journalism.
    <bullet> Participants will demonstrate a better understanding of 
community service and leadership skills to carry out a successful 
project that addresses a need in their home communities.
    Participants: The 17 participants from abroad were competitively 
selected through a rigorous screening process for an academic-year 
exchange program. These participants were unable to take part in that 
program as planned, and will be attending this Academy instead. The 
grant recipient will be required to work with the two organizations 
that selected them in order to provide pre-departure orientation 
materials, to arrange international travel, and to facilitate community 
service project implementation after participants return home. The 
international travel costs will be borne by these other two 
organizations through a separate funding arrangement.
    The Academy: The U.S. program will begin and end in Washington, DC. 
At the outset, all participants will be engaged in a three- to four-day 
orientation and study tour of Washington. The closing session will 
include a meeting with State Department officials plus concluding 
workshops to prepare the participants for their return home and 
finalization of their action plans for service projects at home.
    The intervening weeks of the Academy may take place in one or two 
communities and should offer the participants exposure to the variety 
of American life.
    The Academy will take place on a U.S. university or college campus 
or at a similar group-oriented venue. For a portion of the academy, the 
participants will be housed together since living together will 
facilitate greater cooperation. For at least two weeks of the Academy, 
all participants will have homestays with local families.
    During the course of the Academy, the grant recipient will arrange 
for mentors for the participants; the mentors may also serve as 
trainers or instructors, as appropriate. Adult staff should be 
available to support and supervise the participants during the course 
of the Institute.
    Program content: Through an approach of ``Think Globally, Act 
Locally,'' the Academy themes will cover issues of common concern to 
young adults worldwide. Applicants are encouraged to be creative in 
identifying specific issues that are of broad interest to this age 
group. To explore these topics, the participants will also look at 
volunteer community service, respect for diversity, and youth 
leadership through interactive activities, practical experiences, and 
other hands-on opportunities. Leadership training will cover 
communication skills, critical thinking, problem solving, and team 
building. The program should offer exposure to U.S. culture and society 
through site visits and homestays with American families. In addition 
to the selected American participants, program activities should engage 
American teenagers wherever possible. Social, cultural, and 
recreational activities will balance the schedule.
    Guidelines: Pending the availability of funds, the grant will begin 
on or about May 28, 2010. Applicants should propose a U.S. academy that 
will take place for four weeks between July 1, 2010, and August 6, 
2010. The grant period will be approximately eight months in duration, 
as appropriate to the program design.
    The grant recipient will be responsible for the following:
    <bullet> Recruitment, screening, and selection of ten American 
participants, ages 16-18, representing the diversity of the United 
States.
    <bullet> The designing and planning of a substantive program in the 
United States that promotes international dialogue on key global 
issues, critical thinking, respect for diversity, leadership 
development, civic education, and community service. Some activities 
should be school and/or community-based, as feasible, and the projects 
will involve as much interaction with American peers, even beyond those 
directly participating in the Academy, as possible.
    <bullet> Logistical arrangements, properly screened host family 
arrangements, other accommodations, disbursement of stipends, local 
travel, and travel between sites.
    <bullet> Monitoring of the participants' safety and well-being 
while participating in the Academy, including during the homestays.
    <bullet> Support in the planning and implementation of community 
service projects that the participants will implement upon their return 
home.
    Applicant organizations must demonstrate their capacity for doing 
projects of this nature, focusing on three areas of competency: (1) 
Provision of programs that address the goals and themes outlined in 
this document; (2) age-appropriate programming for youth; and (3) 
previous experience in working with diverse international groups. The 
grant recipient must be able to assist the in-country organizations and 
the U.S. embassies in supporting follow-on activities for the foreign 
alumni of the Academy. The grant recipient will assume sole 
responsibility for supporting the follow-on activities of the American 
alumni.
    Proposals must demonstrate how the stated objectives will be met. 
The proposal narrative should provide detailed information on how the 
major program activities will be implemented, and applicants should 
explain and justify their programmatic choices. Programs must comply 
with J-1 visa regulations for the International Visitor category. 
Please be sure to refer to the complete Solicitation Package--this 
RFGP, the Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI), and the 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI)--for further information.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Grant Agreement.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY-2010.
    Approximate Total Funding: $140,000.
    Number of Awards: One.

[[Page 6786]]

    Approximate Average Award: $140,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, May 28, 
2010.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: December 31, 2010.

III. Eligibility Information

III.1. Eligible Applicants

    Applications may be submitted by public and private non-profit 
organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code 
section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3).

III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds

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

III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements

    (a.) Bureau grant guidelines require that organizations with less 
than four years' experience in conducting international exchanges be 
limited to $60,000 in Bureau funding. ECA anticipates making two awards 
in amounts exceeding $60,000 to support program and administrative 
costs required to implement this exchange program. Therefore, 
organizations with less than four years' experience in conducting 
international exchanges are ineligible to apply under this competition. 
The Bureau encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost 
sharing and funding in support of its programs.

IV. Application and Submission Information

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

IV.1. Contact Information To Request an Application Package

    Please contact the Youth Programs Division (ECA/PE/C/PY), U.S. 
Department of State, SA-5, 3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20522-0503, 
Telephone (202) 632-6065, Fax (202) 632-9355, E-mail: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9cd3cef3e9eef7f9d1d1dcefe8fde8f9b2fbf3ea"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="216e734e54534a446c6c6152554055440f464e57">[email protected]</span></a> to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to 
the Funding Opportunity Number (ECA/PE/C/PY-10-27) when making your 
request. Alternatively, an electronic application package may be 
obtained from grants.gov. Please see section IV.3f for further 
information.
    The Solicitation Package contains the Proposal Submission 
Instruction (PSI) document which consists of required application 
forms, and standard guidelines for proposal preparation. It also 
contains the Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) 
document, which provides specific information, award criteria and 
budget instructions tailored to this competition.
    Please specify Program Officer Carolyn Lantz and refer to the 
Funding Opportunity Name and Number located at the top of this 
announcement on all other inquiries and correspondence.

IV.2. To Download a Solicitation Package Via Internet

    The entire Solicitation Package may be downloaded from the Bureau's 
Web site at http://exchanges.state.gov/grants/open2.html, or from the 
Grants.gov Web site at http://www.grants.gov.
    Please read all information before downloading.

IV.3. Content and Form of Submission

    Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation 
Package. The application should be submitted per the instructions under 
IV.3f. ``Application Deadline and Methods of Submission'' section 
below.
    IV.3a. You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal 
Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative 
agreement from the U.S. Government. This number is a nine-digit 
identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities. 
Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a 
DUNS number, access http://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-
5711. Please ensure that your DUNS number is included in the 
appropriate box of the SF-424 which is part of the formal application 
package.
    IV.3b. All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal 
narrative and budget.
    Please Refer to the Solicitation Package. It contains the mandatory 
Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) document and 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. Please note: Effective January 7, 2009, all applicants for 
ECA federal assistance awards must include in their application the 
names of directors and/or senior executives (current officers, 
trustees, and key employees, regardless of amount of compensation). In 
fulfilling this requirement, applicants must submit information in one 
of the following ways:
    (1) Those who file Internal Revenue Service Form 990, ``Return of 
Organization Exempt From Income Tax,'' must include a copy of relevant 
portions of this form.
    (2) Those who do not file IRS Form 990 must submit information 
above in the format of their choice.
    In addition to final program reporting requirements, award 
recipients will also be required to submit a one-page document, derived 
from their program reports, listing and describing their grant 
activities. For award recipients, the names of directors and/or senior 
executives (current officers, trustees, and key employees), as well as 
the one- page description of grant activities, will be transmitted by 
the State Department to OMB, along with other information required by 
the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), and 
will be made available to the public by the Office of Management and 
Budget on its USASpending.gov Web site as part of ECA's FFATA reporting 
requirements.
    If your organization is a private nonprofit which has not received 
a grant or cooperative agreement from ECA in the past three years, or 
if your organization received nonprofit status from the IRS within the 
past four years, you must submit the necessary documentation to verify 
nonprofit status as directed in the PSI document. Failure to do so will 
cause your proposal to be declared technically ineligible.
    IV.3d. Please take into consideration the following information 
when preparing your proposal narrative:
    IV.3d.1 Adherence To All Regulations Governing The J Visa.

[[Page 6787]]

    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 awards (either a grant or cooperative agreement) under this 
RFGP will be third parties ``cooperating with or assisting the sponsor 
in the conduct of the sponsor's program.'' The actions of recipient 
organizations shall be ``imputed to the sponsor in evaluating the 
sponsor's compliance with'' 22 CFR part 62. Therefore, the Bureau 
expects that any organization receiving an award under this competition 
will render all assistance necessary to enable the Bureau to fully 
comply with 22 CFR part 62 et seq.
    The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs places critically 
important emphases on the secure and proper administration of Exchange 
Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence by recipient organizations and 
program participants to all regulations governing the J visa program 
status. Therefore, proposals should explicitly state in writing that 
the applicant is prepared to assist the Bureau in meeting all 
requirements governing the administration of Exchange Visitor Programs 
as set forth in 22 CFR 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/jexchanges/index.html or from: Office of 
Designation, ECA/EC/D, SA-5, Floor C2, Department of State, Washington, 
DC 20522-0582.
    IV.3d.2. Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines.
    Pursuant to the Bureau's authorizing legislation, programs must 
maintain a non-political character and should be balanced and 
representative of the diversity of American political, social, and 
cultural life. ``Diversity'' should be interpreted in the broadest 
sense and encompass differences including, but not limited to 
ethnicity, race, gender, religion, geographic location, socio-economic 
status, and disabilities. Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere 
to the advancement of this principle both in program administration and 
in program content. Please refer to the review criteria under the 
`Support for Diversity' section for specific suggestions on 
incorporating diversity into your proposal. Public Law 104-319 provides 
that ``in carrying out programs of educational and cultural exchange in 
countries whose people do not fully enjoy freedom and democracy,'' the 
Bureau ``shall take appropriate steps to provide opportunities for 
participation in such programs to human rights and democracy leaders of 
such countries.'' Public Law 106-113 requires that the governments of 
the countries described above do not have inappropriate influence in 
the selection process. Proposals should reflect advancement of these 
goals in their program contents, to the full extent deemed feasible.
    IV.3d.3. Program Monitoring and Evaluation.
    Proposals must include a plan to monitor and evaluate the project's 
success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of the program. 
The Bureau recommends that your proposal include a draft survey 
questionnaire or other technique plus a description of a methodology to 
use to link outcomes to original project objectives. The Bureau expects 
that the recipient organization will track participants or partners and 
be able to respond to key evaluation questions, including satisfaction 
with the program, learning as a result of the program, changes in 
behavior as a result of the program, and effects of the program on 
institutions (institutions in which participants work or partner 
institutions). The evaluation plan should include indicators that 
measure gains in mutual understanding as well as substantive knowledge.
    Successful monitoring and evaluation depend heavily on setting 
clear goals and outcomes at the outset of a program. Your evaluation 
plan should include a description of your project's objectives, your 
anticipated project outcomes, and how and when you intend to measure 
these outcomes (performance indicators). The more that outcomes are 
``smart'' (specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and 
placed in a reasonable time frame), the easier it will be to conduct 
the evaluation. You should also show how your project objectives link 
to the goals of the program described in this RFGP.
    Your monitoring and evaluation plan should clearly distinguish 
between program outputs and outcomes. Outputs are products and services 
delivered, often stated as an amount. Output information is important 
to show the scope or size of project activities, but it cannot 
substitute for information about progress towards outcomes or the 
results achieved. Examples of outputs include the number of people 
trained or the number of seminars conducted. Outcomes, in contrast, 
represent specific results a project is intended to achieve and is 
usually measured as an extent of change. Findings on outputs and 
outcomes should both be reported, but the focus should be on outcomes.
    We encourage you to assess the following four levels of outcomes, 
as they relate to the program goals set out in the RFGP (listed here in 
increasing order of importance):
    1. Participant satisfaction with the program and exchange 
experience.
    2. Participant learning, such as increased knowledge, aptitude, 
skills, and changed understanding and attitude. Learning includes both 
substantive (subject-specific) learning and mutual understanding.
    3. Participant behavior, concrete actions to apply knowledge in 
work or community; greater participation and responsibility in civic 
organizations; interpretation and explanation of experiences and new 
knowledge gained; continued contacts between participants, community 
members, and others.
    4. Institutional changes, such as increased collaboration and 
partnerships, policy reforms, new programming, and organizational 
improvements.

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

    Overall, the quality of your monitoring and evaluation plan will be 
judged on how well it (1) specifies intended outcomes; (2) gives clear 
descriptions of how each outcome will be measured; (3) identifies when 
particular outcomes will be measured; and (4) provides a clear 
description of the data collection strategies for each outcome (i.e., 
surveys, interviews, or focus groups). (Please note that evaluation 
plans that deal only with the first level of outcomes [satisfaction] 
will

[[Page 6788]]

be deemed less competitive under the present evaluation criteria.)
    Recipient organizations will be required to provide reports 
analyzing their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular 
program reports. All data collected, including survey responses and 
contact information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years 
and provided to the Bureau upon request.
    IV.3e. Please take the following information into consideration 
when preparing your budget:
    IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit SF-424A--``Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs'' along with a comprehensive budget for the 
entire program. Grant requests may not exceed $140,000. This amount 
will not include the international travel costs for the foreign 
exchange participants. 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.
    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.
    Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget 
guidelines and formatting instructions.
    IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission:
    Application Deadline Date: Friday, March 19, 2010
    Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-10-27

Methods of Submission

    Applications may be submitted in one of two ways:
    (1.) In hard-copy, via a nationally recognized overnight delivery 
service (i.e., Federal Express, UPS, Airborne Express, or U.S. Postal 
Service Express Overnight Mail, etc.), or (2.) electronically through 
http://www.grants.gov.
    Along with the Project Title, all applicants must enter the above 
Reference Number in Box 11 on the SF-424 contained in the mandatory 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) of the solicitation document.
    IV.3f.1 Submitting Printed Applications.
    Applications must be shipped no later than the above deadline. 
Delivery services used by applicants must have in-place, centralized 
shipping identification and tracking systems that may be accessed via 
the Internet and delivery people who are identifiable by commonly 
recognized uniforms and delivery vehicles. Proposals shipped on or 
before the above deadline but received at ECA more than seven days 
after the deadline will be ineligible for further consideration under 
this competition. Proposals shipped after the established deadlines are 
ineligible for consideration under this competition. ECA will not 
notify you upon receipt of application. It is each applicant's 
responsibility to ensure that each package is marked with a legible 
tracking number and to monitor/confirm delivery to ECA via the 
Internet. Delivery of proposal packages may not be made via local 
courier service or in person for this competition. Faxed documents will 
not be accepted at any time. Only proposals submitted as stated above 
will be considered.

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

    The original and six copies of the application should be sent to: 
Program Management Division, ECA-IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/PE/C/PY-10-27, 
SA-5, Floor 4, Department of State, Washington, DC 20522-0504.
    With the submission of the proposal package, please also e-mail the 
Executive Summary, Proposal Narrative, and Budget sections of the 
proposal, as well as any attachments essential to understanding the 
program, in Microsoft Word and/or Excel to the program officer at 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3d715c5349477e6e7d4e495c4958135a524b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="236f424d575960706350574257460d444c55">[email protected]</span></a>.
    IV.3f.2--Submitting Electronic Applications.
    Applicants have the option of submitting proposals electronically 
through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov). Complete solicitation 
packages are available at Grants.gov in the ``Find'' portion of the 
system.
    Please follow the instructions available in the `Get Started' 
portion of the site (http://www.grants.gov/GetStarted).
    Several of the steps in the Grants.gov registration process could 
take several weeks. Therefore, applicants should check with appropriate 
staff within their organizations immediately after reviewing this RFGP 
to confirm or determine their registration status with Grants.gov.
    Once registered, the amount of time it can take to upload an 
application will vary depending on a variety of factors including the 
size of the application and the speed of your internet connection. In 
addition, validation of an electronic submission via Grants.gov can 
take up to two business days.
    Therefore, we strongly recommend that you not wait until the 
application deadline to begin the submission process through 
Grants.gov.
    The Grants.gov website includes extensive information on all 
phases/aspects of the Grants.gov process, including an extensive 
section on frequently asked questions, located under the ``For 
Applicants'' section of the website. ECA strongly recommends that all 
potential applicants review thoroughly the Grants.gov website, well in 
advance of submitting a proposal through the Grants.gov system. ECA 
bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or 
conversion processes.
    Direct all questions regarding Grants.gov registration and 
submission to: Grants.gov Customer Support; Contact Center Phone: 800-
518-4726; Business Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Eastern Time; 
Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cfbcbabfbfa0bdbb8ff3aeefa7bdaaa9f2" http: grants.gov">grants.gov</a>">support@grants.gov</a>.
    Applicants have until midnight (12 a.m.), Washington, DC time of 
the closing date to ensure that their entire application has been 
uploaded to the Grants.gov site. There are no exceptions to the above 
deadline. Applications uploaded to the site after midnight of the 
application deadline date will be automatically rejected by the 
grants.gov system, and will be technically ineligible.
    Please refer to the Grants.gov website, for definitions of various 
``application statuses'' and the difference between a submission 
receipt and a submission validation. Applicants will receive a 
validation e-mail from grants.gov upon the successful submission of an 
application. Again, validation of an electronic submission via 
Grants.gov can take up to two business days. Therefore, we strongly 
recommend that you not wait until the application deadline to begin the 
submission process through Grants.gov. ECA will not notify you upon 
receipt of electronic applications.
    It is the responsibility of all applicants submitting proposals via 
the Grants.gov web portal to ensure that proposals have been received 
by Grants.gov in their entirety, and ECA bears no responsibility for 
data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.
    IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of Applications.
    Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.

V. Application Review Information

V.1. Review Process

    The Bureau will review all proposals for technical eligibility. 
Proposals will

[[Page 6789]]

be deemed ineligible if they do not fully adhere to the guidelines 
stated herein and in the Solicitation Package. All eligible proposals 
will be reviewed by the program office, as well as the Public Diplomacy 
section overseas, where appropriate. Eligible proposals will be subject 
to compliance with Federal and Bureau regulations and guidelines and 
forwarded to Bureau grant panels for advisory review. Proposals may 
also be reviewed by the Office of the Legal Adviser or by other 
Department elements. Final funding decisions are at the discretion of 
the Department of State's Assistant Secretary for Educational and 
Cultural Affairs. Final technical authority for assistance awards 
(grants) resides with the Bureau's Grants Officer.
Review Criteria
    Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed 
according to the criteria stated below:
    1. Quality of the program idea: The proposed program should be well 
developed, respond to design outlined in the solicitation, and 
demonstrate originality. It should be clearly and accurately written, 
substantive, and with sufficient detail. Proposals should exhibit 
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's 
mission.
    2. Program planning and ability to achieve program objectives: A 
detailed agenda and work plan should clearly demonstrate how project 
objectives would be achieved. The agenda and plan should adhere to the 
program overview and guidelines described above. The substance of 
workshops, seminars, presentations, school-based activities, and/or 
site visits should be described in detail. Objectives should be 
reasonable, feasible, and flexible. The proposal should clearly 
demonstrate how the applicant will meet the program's objectives and 
plan.
    3. Support of diversity: The proposal should demonstrate the 
recipient's commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding of 
diversity in program content. Applicants should demonstrate readiness 
to accommodate participants with physical disabilities.
    4. Institutional capacity and track record: Proposed personnel and 
institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve 
the program goals. The proposal should demonstrate an institutional 
record, including responsible fiscal management and full compliance 
with all reporting requirements for past Bureau grants as determined by 
the Bureau's Office of Contracts. The Bureau will consider the past 
performance.
    5. Project evaluation: The proposal should include a plan to 
evaluate the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at 
the end of the program. The proposal should include a draft survey 
questionnaire or other technique plus description of a methodology to 
use to link outcomes to original project objectives. The grant 
recipient will be expected to submit intermediate reports after each 
project component is concluded.
    6. Cost-effectiveness and cost sharing: The applicant should 
demonstrate efficient use of Bureau funds. The overhead and 
administrative components of the proposal, including salaries and 
honoraria, should be kept as low as possible. All other items should be 
necessary and appropriate. The proposal should maximize cost-sharing 
through other private sector support as well as institutional direct 
funding contributions, which demonstrates institutional and community 
commitment.

VI. Award Administration Information

VI.1a. Award Notices

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

VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

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

VI.3. Reporting Requirements

    You must provide ECA with a hard copy original plus one copy of the 
following reports:
    1. Quarterly reports, as required in the Bureau grant agreement.
    2. A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after 
the expiration of the award;
    3. A concise, one-page final program report summarizing program 
outcomes no more than 90 days after the expiration of the award. This 
one-page report will be transmitted to OMB, and be made available to 
the public via OMB's USAspending.gov Web site--as part of ECA's Federal 
Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reporting 
requirements.
    4. An SF-PPR, ``Performance Progress Report'' Cover Sheet with all 
program reports.
    Award recipients will be required to provide reports analyzing 
their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program 
reports. Please refer to IV. Application and Submission Instructions 
(IV.3.d.3) above for Program Monitoring and Evaluation information.
    All data collected, including survey responses and contact 
information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years and 
provided to the Bureau upon request.
    All reports must be sent to the ECA Grants Officer and ECA Program 
Officer listed in the final assistance award document.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: Carolyn Lantz, 
Program Officer, Youth Programs Division (ECA/PE/C/PY), U.S. Department 
of State, SA-5, 3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20522-0503, Telephone (202) 
632-6421, Fax (202) 632-9355, E-mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#581439362c221b0b182b2c392c3d763f372e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="337f525d474970607340475247561d545c45">[email protected]</span></a>.
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the title, YES Summer Academy, and number, ECA/PE/C/PY-10-27.
    Please read the complete announcement before sending inquiries

[[Page 6790]]

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: February 3, 2010.
Maura M. Pally,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2010-2981 Filed 2-9-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P


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