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[Federal Register: April 22, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 77)]
[Notices]               
[Page 21113-21119]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22ap10-141]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6968]

 
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Community College Faculty and Administrator Program 
With Indonesia

    Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/S/U-10-03.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.408.
    Application Deadline: June 1, 2010.
    Executive Summary: The Office of Global Educational Programs of the 
U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs 
(ECA) announces an open competition to administer the Community College 
Faculty and Administrator Program with Indonesia. Community college 
consortia and other associations of accredited U.S. community colleges 
meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 
501(c)3 may submit proposals to cooperate with the Bureau to administer 
and implement a four-month exchange program for participants from post-
secondary vocational and technical institutions in Indonesia. Key 
components of the Program will include professional development, 
leadership training, and the experience of U.S. society and culture.
    The four-month academic exchange program will take place from 
January 2011 onward. In addition, if needed, English instruction will 
be offered in the U.S. to selected participants during the fall prior 
to the start of the academic program. The total award for all program 
and administrative expenses covered under the agreement will be up to 
approximately $500,000. In order to maximize the number of participants 
under this program, it is the Bureau's expectation that significant 
institutional and private sector funding and cost-sharing will be made 
available by cooperating organizations. We anticipate that 
approximately 18 to 20 faculty and administrators will participate in 
the program with one faculty and one administrator participating from 
each one of nine or ten vocational or technical institutions in 
Indonesia.

 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 Community College Faculty and Administrator Program with 
Indonesia will provide professional development opportunities for 
educators from post-secondary vocational and technical institutions in 
Indonesia that serve economically disadvantaged and historically 
underserved populations, including women and ethnic minorities. 
Participants will share information about their own institutions with 
their host colleges; further develop administrative or pedagogical 
skills; and learn first-hand about U.S. society and culture. A key 
objective of the Program is to introduce participants to the U.S. 
higher education system and provide them with a better understanding of 
U.S. community colleges, their mission, their administration, and their 
role in the U.S. economy, especially in linking education to 
employment. The Program will include vocational skills acquisition, 
leadership skills development, and English language training. The 
Program will prepare participants to make enhanced contributions to 
Indonesia's development by encouraging a more dynamic relationship 
between their institutions and key sectors in Indonesia's economy and 
by improving administrative and instructional practices in vocational 
and technical education.
    The Program also will provide participants and their U.S. 
colleagues with the opportunity to develop lasting ties as a basis for 
on-going cooperation. Participants will discuss and experience, in 
consultation with U.S. counterparts, strategies for increasing access 
to higher education among underserved sectors; for teaching in mixed-
age, mixed-ability classrooms; for developing partnerships with 
business and industry; and other educational approaches with which U.S. 
community colleges have relevant expertise.

Guidelines

    Applicants are requested to submit a narrative of no more than 20 
double-spaced, single-sided pages outlining a comprehensive strategy 
for the administration and implementation of the Community College 
Faculty and Administrator Program with Indonesia.

Participants

    The Fulbright Commission in Jakarta, Indonesia will recruit 
participants.
    Faculty participants are expected to have a minimum of five years 
of teaching experience as well as hands-on work experience in their 
fields of teaching expertise; show a strong

[[Page 21114]]

commitment to teaching; and demonstrate an interest in innovative 
approaches to education. They will propose specific projects related to 
curriculum development or professional development. It is anticipated 
that faculty will be selected in the fields of business management and 
tourism and hospitality management. Faculty participants will be 
required to have English proficiency equivalent to that represented by 
a TOEFL score of 500.
    Administrator participants are expected to have a minimum of three 
years of administrative experience, a record of leadership, and a 
commitment to educational reform. They will explore specific topics 
related to administrative practices, community relations, professional 
development or curriculum development. Preference will be given to 
administrators with previous teaching experience and/or some ongoing 
teaching responsibility. Because some administrator participants also 
have some teaching responsibilities at their institutions in Indonesia, 
administrator participants may have projects related to curriculum 
development as well as issues in educational reform. International 
administrator participants will be required to have English proficiency 
equivalent to that represented by a TOEFL score of 450.

Program Design

U.S. Host Colleges
    Proposals should designate two primary U.S. host colleges--one for 
administrators and the other for faculty participants. Each primary 
host college should cooperate with additional colleges within a 
community college district, State system, consortium, to provide 
participants with a broad exposure to institutional missions and 
practices in the community college sector.
Host College Coordinators
    Each primary host college should designate a coordinator with 
responsibility for providing guidance to participants on their projects 
and for working with each participant to develop a program of 
consultation, networking, and study that is relevant to the 
participant's interests. The coordinator should have knowledge of 
cross-cultural communication, group dynamics and organizational 
development and be able to assist the group in developing decision-
making and problem-solving skills.
    The coordinator at the primary host college for faculty 
participants should make arrangements for them to attend relevant 
courses in their fields of specialization to enable them both to 
acquire new vocational skills and to observe classroom practices. U.S. 
faculty should meet with program participants to share information 
about teaching approaches and may invite program participants to co-
teach or assist in classes as appropriate.
    The coordinator at the primary host college for administrator 
participants should arrange for each participant to have a U.S. mentor 
counterpart with responsibilities relevant to the interests of the 
administrator participant. The U.S. mentor administrators should 
provide participants with opportunities to ``job shadow'' or other 
appropriate opportunities to experience and understand relevant 
administrative practices firsthand. Administrator participants with 
curriculum development projects should also be assigned a faculty 
mentor. All administrator participants should be able to attend courses 
to enable them both to acquire new technical skills and to observe 
classroom practices.
    The coordinator at each primary host college should also organize a 
program of seminars and workshops to enable participants to exchange 
ideas, experiences, and teaching and administrative best practices with 
U.S. community college faculty and administrators on a regular basis. 
The program of seminars and workshops should also introduce 
participants to the U.S. higher education system and provide them with 
a better understanding of U.S. community colleges, their mission, their 
administration, and their economic role. In addition, the seminars and 
workshops should provide opportunities for participants to discuss 
their observations, share their experiences, and identify possible 
lessons for adaptation in Indonesia. Sessions should encourage 
participants to reflect on their projects and to provide one another 
with feedback.
Program-Wide Mid-Semester Seminar
    Proposals should also describe a three- to four-day, mid-semester 
seminar at a common location, bringing together administrator and 
faculty participants to consult with one another and develop plans for 
adaptation and implementation in Indonesia. The program-wide mid-
semester seminar should emphasize leadership skills and feature key 
speakers with insights into the role and achievements of community 
colleges and best practices in teaching and administration.
English Language Study
    Proposals should describe both a fall program of intensive English 
language study and the availability of on-going English language study 
during the semester-long academic program.
    To enable the Program to accommodate qualified mid-career 
instructors from non-traditional and less privileged populations, 
proposals should designate a host college to offer four weeks of 
intensive English instruction in the U.S. to approximately half the 
participants during the fall prior to the academic program. The host 
college offering the intensive English program may be one of the 
primary host colleges or it may be another college.
    Proposals should also describe on-going English as a Second 
Language programs and services at the primary host colleges, and 
include a plan to make additional, on-going language study available to 
all participants who need it at their host colleges as part of their 
academic program.
Involvement in Community Life
    Proposals should describe activities that would enable participants 
to become involved in the social and cultural life of their local U.S. 
communities: For example, making presentations to local schools, 
businesses and civic groups or other community organizations; 
involvement with families; and attendance at educational and cultural 
events that demonstrate key features of U.S. society and culture.

Program Administration

    Proposals also explain how pre-departure orientation materials will 
be developed and disseminated, participants registered in SEVIS under a 
program number to be provided by the Bureau, and post-arrival 
orientation programming sessions organized.
    Proposals should outline procedures for supporting participants; 
for monitoring and evaluating their programs; and for follow-up with 
program alumni.
    The budget should request funding for round-trip international 
travel from Indonesia to U.S. host institutions for all participants; 
round-trip domestic travel for the mid-program seminar if necessary; 
pre-academic intensive English language training; tuition if necessary; 
books; maintenance allowance; housing and costs for program 
administration. Applicant organizations should explain processes for 
providing maintenance, book, and other allowances to program 
participants and for paying tuition fees

[[Page 21115]]

directly to host colleges if necessary. If possible, to streamline 
administrative procedures and to maintain the flexibility to respond to 
program developments as they occur, organizations should propose 
processes to provide payments to participants and colleges directly 
without requiring formal sub-agreements with each participating 
college.
    Cost-sharing is expected from organizations applying to cooperate 
with the Bureau on this program. Applicant organizations are encouraged 
to include third-party contributions in their proposals.
    Proposals should demonstrate depth of experience in conducting and 
administering complex and multi-faceted international education and 
cultural exchange programs. Proposals should provide a plan for 
continued follow-on activity (without Bureau support), such as tracking 
and maintaining updated lists of all alumni and facilitating follow-up 
activities with alumni, including ongoing communication between alumni 
and U.S. community college faculty.
    Programs and projects must conform with the requirements and 
guidelines outlined in the Solicitation Package, which includes the 
Request for Grant Proposals (RFGP), the Project Objectives, Goals and 
Implementation (POGI) and the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI).
    In a Cooperative Agreement, the Bureau is substantially involved in 
program activities above and beyond routine grant monitoring. Bureau 
activities and responsibilities for this program include:
    (1) Participation in the design and direction of program 
activities;
    (2) Approval of key personnel;
    (3) Approval and input on program timelines and agendas;
    (4) Guidance in execution of all program components;
    (5) Review and approval of all program publicity and other 
materials;
    (6) Approval of host colleges;
    (7) Final selection of participants;
    (8) Approval of changes to a participant's proposed host college;
    (9) Approval of decisions related to special circumstances or 
problems throughout duration of program;
    (10) Assistance with SEVIS-related issues;
    (11) Assistance with participant emergencies;
    (12) Liaison with the U.S. Embassy and Fulbright Commission in 
Jakarta and country desk officers at the State Department.
    This Cooperative Agreement should begin on or about September 15, 
2010 and will run through December 31, 2011. Cooperative Agreements 
will include both the administrative and program portions of the 
program.

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: FY2010.
    Approximate Total Funding: $500,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: One.
    Approximate Average Award: $500,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: September 15, 2010.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: December 31, 2011.

Additional Information

    Pending successful implementation of this program and the 
availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, it is ECA's intent to 
renew this Cooperative Agreement for two additional fiscal years, 
before openly competing it again. In subsequent years, other fields may 
be added such as: Agriculture; Allied Health Fields, including Nursing; 
Applied Engineering; Information Technology; and Media. In addition, 
participating countries may be adjusted.

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) that are consortia of accredited U.S. 
community colleges or other combinations of community colleges. 
Applications must designate a lead institution to receive and 
administer the award.

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 
that 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 one award, 
in an amount up to $500,000 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 Program Officer, Mary Lou Johnson-Pizarro, in 
the Office of Global Educational Programs, ECA/A/S/U, SA-05, Floor 4, 
Department of State, Washington, DC 20522-0504, (202) 632-9483, 
Johnson-PizarroML@state.gov, to request a Solicitation Package. Please 
refer to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/S/U-10-03 located at the 
top of this announcement when making your request. Alternatively, an 
electronic application package may be obtained from grants.gov. Please 
see section IV.3f for further information.
    The Solicitation Package contains the Proposal Submission 
Instruction (PSI) document which consists of required application 
forms, and standard guidelines for proposal preparation.
    It also contains the Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation 
(POGI) document, which provides specific information, award criteria 
and budget instructions tailored to this competition.

[[Page 21116]]

IV.2. To Download a Solicitation Package via Internet

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

IV.3. Content and Form of Submission

    Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation 
Package. The application should be submitted per the instructions under 
IV.3f. ``Application Deadline and Methods of Submission'' section 
below.
    IV.3a. You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal 
Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or Cooperative 
Agreement from the U.S. Government. This number is a nine-digit 
identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities. 
Obtaining a DUNS number is easy, and there is no charge. To obtain a 
DUNS number, access http://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-
5711. Please ensure that your DUNS number is included in the 
appropriate box of the SF-424 which is part of the formal application 
package.
    IV.3b. All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal 
narrative and budget.
    Please refer to the Solicitation Package. It contains the mandatory 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document and the Project 
Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) document for additional 
formatting and technical requirements.
    IV.3c. You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of 
application. Please Note: Effective January 7, 2009, all applicants for 
ECA Federal assistance awards must include in their application the 
names of directors and/or senior executives (current officers, 
trustees, and key employees, regardless of amount of compensation). In 
fulfilling this requirement, applicants must submit information in one 
of the following ways:
    (1) Those who file Internal Revenue Service Form 990, ``Return of 
Organization Exempt From Income Tax,'' must include a copy of relevant 
portions of this form.
    (2) Those who do not file IRS Form 990 must submit information 
above in the format of their choice.
    In addition to final program reporting requirements, award 
recipients will also be required to submit a one-page document, derived 
from their program reports, listing and describing their grant 
activities. For award recipients, the names of directors and/or senior 
executives (current officers, trustees, and key employees), as well as 
the one- page description of grant activities, will be transmitted by 
the State Department to OMB, along with other information required by 
the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), and 
will be made available to the public by the Office of Management and 
Budget on its USASpending.gov Web site as part of ECA's FFATA reporting 
requirements.
    If your organization is a private nonprofit which has not received 
a grant or Cooperative Agreement from ECA in the past three years, or 
if your organization received nonprofit status from the IRS within the 
past four years, you must submit the necessary documentation to verify 
nonprofit status as directed in the PSI document. Failure to do so will 
cause your proposal to be declared technically ineligible.
    IV.3d. Please take into consideration the following information 
when preparing your proposal narrative:
IV.3d.1 Adherence to All Regulations Governing the J Visa
    The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs places critically 
important emphases on the security and proper administration of the 
Exchange Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence by award recipients 
and sponsors to all regulations governing the J visa. Therefore, 
proposals should demonstrate the applicant's capacity to meet all 
requirements governing the administration of the Exchange Visitor 
Programs as set forth in 22 CFR 62, including the oversight of 
Responsible Officers and Alternate Responsible Officers, screening and 
selection of program participants, provision of pre-arrival information 
and orientation to participants, monitoring of participants, proper 
maintenance and security of forms, record-keeping, reporting and other 
requirements. The award recipient will be responsible for issuing DS-
2019 forms to participants in this program.
    A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of 
Exchange Visitor (J) programs is available at http://exchanges.state.gov or from: United States Department of State, Office 
of Exchange Coordination and Designation, Office of Designation, ECA/
EC/D, SA-5, Floor C2, Department of State, Washington, DC 20522-0582.
    Please refer to Solicitation Package for further information.
IV.3d.2 Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines
    Pursuant to the 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

[[Page 21117]]

how and when you intend to measure these outcomes (performance 
indicators). The more that outcomes are ``smart'' (specific, 
measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and placed in a reasonable 
time frame), the easier it will be to conduct the evaluation. You 
should also show how your project objectives link to the goals of the 
program described in this RFGP.
    Your monitoring and evaluation plan should clearly distinguish 
between program outputs and outcomes. Outputs are products and services 
delivered, often stated as an amount. Output information is important 
to show the scope or size of project activities, but it cannot 
substitute for information about progress towards outcomes or the 
results achieved. Examples of outputs include the number of people 
trained or the number of seminars conducted. Outcomes, in contrast, 
represent specific results a project is intended to achieve and is 
usually measured as an extent of change. Findings on outputs and 
outcomes should both be reported, but the focus should be on outcomes.
    We encourage you to assess the following four levels of outcomes, 
as they relate to the program goals set out in the RFGP (listed here in 
increasing order of importance):
    1. Participant satisfaction with the program and exchange 
experience.
    2. Participant learning, such as increased knowledge, aptitude, 
skills, and changed understanding and attitude. Learning includes both 
substantive (subject-specific) learning and mutual understanding.
    3. Participant behavior, concrete actions to apply knowledge in 
work or community; greater participation and responsibility in civic 
organizations; interpretation and explanation of experiences and new 
knowledge gained; continued contacts between participants, community 
members, and others.
    4. Institutional changes, such as increased collaboration and 
partnerships, policy reforms, new programming, and organizational 
improvements.
    Please note: Consideration should be given to the appropriate 
timing of data collection for each level of outcome. For example, 
satisfaction is usually captured as a short-term outcome, whereas 
behavior and institutional changes are normally considered longer-term 
outcomes.
    Overall, the quality of your monitoring and evaluation plan will be 
judged on how well it: (1) Specifies intended outcomes; (2) gives clear 
descriptions of how each outcome will be measured; (3) identifies when 
particular outcomes will be measured; and (4) provides a clear 
description of the data collection strategies for each outcome (i.e., 
surveys, interviews, or focus groups). (Please note that evaluation 
plans that deal only with the first level of outcomes [satisfaction] 
will be deemed less competitive under the present evaluation criteria.)
    Recipient organizations will be required to provide reports 
analyzing their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular 
program reports. All data collected, including survey responses and 
contact information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years 
and provided to the Bureau upon request.
    IV.3e. Please take the following information into consideration 
when preparing your budget:
    IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit SF-424A--``Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs'' along with a comprehensive budget for the 
entire program. Budget requests may not exceed $500,000. There must be 
a summary budget as well as breakdowns reflecting both administrative 
and program budgets. Applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for 
each program component, phase, location, or activity to provide 
clarification.
    IV.3e.2. Allowable costs for the program and additional budget 
guidance are outlined in detail in the POGI document.
    Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget 
guidelines and formatting instructions.
IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission
    Application Deadline Date: June 1, 2010.
    Reference Number: ECA/A/S/U-10-03.
    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.
    Please note: ECA strongly encourages organizations interested in 
applying for this competition to submit printed, hard copy applications 
as outlined in section IV.3f.1., below rather than submitting 
electronically through Grants.gov. This recommendation is being made as 
a result of the anticipated high volume of grant proposals that will be 
submitted via the Grants.gov Web portal as part of the Recovery Act 
stimulus package. As stated in this RFGP, ECA bears no responsibility 
for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes for 
proposals submitted via 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 7 copies of the application should be sent to: 
Program Management Division, ECA-IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/A/S/U-10-03, SA-
5, Floor 4, Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 
20522-0504.
    Applicants submitting hard-copy applications must also submit the 
``Executive Summary'' and ``Proposal Narrative'' sections of the 
proposal in text (.txt) or Microsoft Word format on a PC-formatted 
disk. The Bureau will provide these files electronically to the 
appropriate Public Affairs Section(s) at the U.S. embassies for their 
review.
IV.3f.2--Submitting Electronic Applications
    Applicants have the option of submitting proposals electronically 
through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov). Complete solicitation

[[Page 21118]]

packages are available at Grants.gov in the ``Find'' portion of the 
system.
    Please note: ECA strongly encourages organizations interested in 
applying for this competition to submit printed, hard copy applications 
as outlined in section IV.3f.1. above, rather than submitting 
electronically through Grants.gov. This recommendation is being made as 
a result of the anticipated high volume of grant proposals that will be 
submitted via the Grants.gov Web portal as part of the Recovery Act 
stimulus package. As stated in this RFGP, ECA bears no responsibility 
for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes for 
proposals submitted via Grants.gov.
    Please follow the instructions available in the ``Get Started'' 
portion of the site (http://www.grants.gov/GetStarted).
    Several of the steps in the Grants.gov registration process could 
take several weeks. Therefore, applicants should check with appropriate 
staff within their organizations immediately after reviewing this RFGP 
to confirm or determine their registration status with Grants.gov.
    Once registered, the amount of time it can take to upload an 
application will vary depending on a variety of factors including the 
size of the application and the speed of your Internet connection. In 
addition, validation of an electronic submission via Grants.gov can 
take up to two business days.
    Therefore, we strongly recommend that you not wait until the 
application deadline to begin the submission process through 
Grants.gov.
    The Grants.gov Web site includes extensive information on all 
phases/aspects of the Grants.gov process, including an extensive 
section on frequently asked questions, located under the ``For 
Applicants'' section of the Web site. ECA strongly recommends that all 
potential applicants review thoroughly the Grants.gov Web site, well in 
advance of submitting a proposal through the Grants.gov system. ECA 
bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or 
conversion processes.
    Direct all questions regarding Grants.gov registration and 
submission to:
    Grants.gov Customer Support.
    Contact Center Phone: 800 -518-4726.
    Business Hours: Monday--Friday, 7 a.m.--9 p.m. Eastern Time.
    E-mail: support@grants.gov.
    Applicants have until midnight (12 a.m.), Washington, DC time of 
the closing date to ensure that their entire application has been 
uploaded to the Grants.gov site. There are no exceptions to the above 
deadline. Applications uploaded to the site after midnight of the 
application deadline date will be automatically rejected by the 
grants.gov system, and will be technically ineligible.
    Please refer to the Grants.gov Web site, for definitions of various 
``application statuses'' and the difference between a submission 
receipt and a submission validation.
    Applicants will receive a validation e-mail from grants.gov upon 
the successful submission of an application. Again, validation of an 
electronic submission via Grants.gov can take up to two business days. 
Therefore, we strongly recommend that you not wait until the 
application deadline to begin the submission process through 
Grants.gov. ECA will not notify you upon receipt of electronic 
applications.
    It is the responsibility of all applicants submitting proposals via 
the Grants.gov Web portal to ensure that proposals have been received 
by Grants.gov in their entirety, and ECA bears no responsibility for 
data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.
IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of Applications
    Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.

V. Application Review Information

V.1. Review Process

    The Bureau will review all proposals for technical eligibility. 
Proposals will be deemed ineligible if they do not fully adhere to the 
guidelines stated herein and in the Solicitation Package. All eligible 
proposals will be reviewed by the program office, as well as the Public 
Diplomacy section overseas, where appropriate. Eligible proposals will 
be subject to compliance with Federal and Bureau regulations and 
guidelines and forwarded to Bureau grant panels for advisory review. 
Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of the Legal Adviser or by 
other Department elements. Final funding decisions are at the 
discretion of the Department of State's Assistant Secretary for 
Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final technical authority for 
cooperative agreements resides with the Bureau's Grants Officer.
Review Criteria
    Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed 
according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are not rank 
ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation:
    1. Quality of the program idea: Proposals should exhibit 
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's 
mission.
    2. Program planning: 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.
    3. Ability to achieve program objectives: Objectives should be 
reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly 
demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's objectives and 
plan.
    4. Multiplier effect/impact: Proposed programs should strengthen 
long-term mutual understanding, including maximum sharing of 
information and establishment of long-term institutional and individual 
linkages.
    5. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive 
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Achievable and relevant 
features should be cited in both program administration (selection of 
participants, program venue and program evaluation) and program content 
(orientation and wrap-up sessions, program meetings, resource materials 
and follow-up activities).
    6. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional 
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program or 
project's goals.
    7. Institution's Record/Ability: Proposals should demonstrate an 
institutional record of successful exchange programs, including 
responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting 
requirements for past Bureau awards (grants or cooperative agreements) 
as determined by Bureau Grants Staff. The Bureau will consider the past 
performance of prior recipients and the demonstrated potential of new 
applicants.
    8. 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.
    9. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate 
the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of 
the program. A draft survey questionnaire or other technique plus 
description of a methodology to use to link outcomes to original 
project objectives is recommended.
    10. Cost-effectiveness: 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.

[[Page 21119]]

    11. Cost-sharing: Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through 
other private sector support as well as institutional direct funding 
contributions.

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

VI.4. Optional Program Data Requirements

    Award recipients will be required to maintain specific data on 
program participants and activities in an electronically accessible 
database format that can be shared with the Bureau as required. As a 
minimum, the data must include the following:
    (1) Name, address, contact information and biographic sketch of all 
persons who travel internationally on funds provided by the agreement 
or who benefit from the award funding but do not travel.
    (2) Itineraries of international and domestic travel, providing 
dates of travel and cities in which any exchange experiences take 
place. Final schedules for in-country and U.S. activities must be 
received by the ECA Program Officer at least three work days prior to 
the official opening of the activity.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: Mary Lou Johnson-
Pizarro, in the Office of Global Educational Programs, ECA/A/S/U, SA-
05, Floor 4, Department of State, Washington, DC 20522-0504, (202) 632-
9483 Johnson-PizarroML@state.gov.
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number ECA/A/S/U-10-03.
    Please read the complete announcement before sending inquiries or 
submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has passed, Bureau staff 
may not discuss this competition with applicants until the proposal 
review process has been completed.

VIII. Other Information

Notice

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

    Dated: April 15, 2010.
Maura M. Pally,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2010-9323 Filed 4-21-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P
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