Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 183 / Thursday, September 21, 2006 / Notices 55259 

4Pursuant to a separate rule change, OCC will 

impose the $1,000 per month surcharge on clearing 

member subscribers to DDS that likewise fail to 

convert to the new format. Implementation of the 

surcharge on clearing members is pending approval 

of this rule filing by the Commission. Securities 

Exchange Act Release No. 54059 (June 28, 2006), 71 

FR 38962 (July 10, 2006) [File No. SR–CC–2006–

06]. 

5The March 30, 2007, termination date was the 

subject of the amendment to the proposed rule 

change filed on July 21, 2006. 

6 15 U.S.C. 78q–1(b)(3)(D). 

7 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2). 

8 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). 

II. Description 

The purpose of the rule change is to 

implement a surcharge to the monthly 

service fee charged to non-clearing 

member subscribers of OCC’s Data 

Distribution Service (‘‘DDS’’) that have 

not converted to the new DDS format by 

the revised mandated conversion date of 

September 29, 2006. 

Both clearing members and nonclearing members may subscribe to 

DDS. A clearing member may subscribe 

to DDS in order to receive in a machine 

readable format data processed by OCC 

that is proprietary to such clearing 

member (e.g., position and post-trade 

entries) as well as non-proprietary data 

(i.e., data not specific to the clearing 

member) produced by OCC (e.g., 

information relating to series and 

prices). Non-clearing members may 

subscribe to DDS in order to receive 

certain non-proprietary data. 

In December, 2004, OCC informed all 

DDS subscribers that OCC was requiring 

them to convert to the new ENCORE 

DDS format by February 28, 2006. 

Although OCC diligently worked with 

subscribers to facilitate their 

implementation of the new DDS format, 

it became apparent that some 

subscribers needed additional time in 

order to complete their systems work. 

Accordingly, in December, 2005, OCC 

announced an extension of the 

mandated conversion date to September 

29, 2006. 

After the mandated conversion date, 

OCC will continue to support the old 

legacy data service distribution system. 

However, for subscribers that do not 

meet the revised conversion date of 

September 29, 2006, OCC will charge a 

monthly surcharge of $1,000 per month 

in order to reasonably allocate the costs 

of continuing to support the old legacy 

data distribution system.4 The surcharge 

will be imposed starting with the 

October 2006 billing cycle and will 

continue until the subscriber converts to 

the new DDS format and ceases to 

receive any legacy data service 

distribution transmissions. OCC will 

terminate all legacy data service 

transmissions after March 30, 2007.5

III. Discussion 

Section 17A(b)(3)(D) of the Act 

requires that the rules of a clearing 

agency provide for the equitable 

allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and 

other charges.6 The Commission finds 

that OCC’s proposed rule change is 

consistent with this requirement 

because by establishing a surcharge for 

continued use of its old legacy data 

distribution system, OCC will be able to 

more equitably allocate its cost of 

providing continued service to those 

DDS subscribers that have failed to 

convert to OCC’s ENCORE DDS format. 

IV. Conclusion 

On the basis of the foregoing, the 

Commission finds that the proposed 

rule change is consistent with the 

requirements of the Act and in 

particular Section 17A of the Act and 

the rules and regulations thereunder. 

It is therefore ordered, pursuant to 

Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,7 that the 

proposed rule change (File No. SR–

OCC–2006–07) be and hereby is 

approved. 

For the Commission by the Division of 

Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated 

authority.8

Jill M. Peterson, 

Assistant Secretary. 

[FR Doc. 06–7839 Filed 9–20–06; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8010–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF STATE 

[Public Notice 5551] 

Bureau of Educational and Cultural 

Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant 

Proposals: The Future Leaders 

Exchange Program: Host Family and 

School Placement 

Announcement Type: New Grant. 

Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/ 

PE/C/PY–07–06. 

Catalog of Federal Domestic 

Assistance Number: 00.000. 

Key Dates: Application Deadline: 

December 4, 2006. 

Executive Summary 

SUMMARY: The Youth Programs Division 

of the Bureau of Educational and 

Cultural Affairs announces an open 

competition for the placement 

component of the Future Leaders 

Exchange (FLEX) program. Public and 

private non-profit organizations meeting 

the provisions described in Internal 

Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 

501(c)(3) may submit proposals to 

recruit and select host families and 

schools for high school students 

between the ages of 15 and 17 from 

countries of the former Soviet Union, 

thereafter referred to as Eurasia. This 

solicitation and the activities to which 

it refers, applies only to FLEX students 

from the following Eurasian countries: 

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, 

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, 

Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, 

Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. 

In addition to identifying schools and 

screening, selecting, and orienting 

families, organizations will be 

responsible for: (1) Providing English 

language enhancement activities for a 

small percentage of students who are 

specially identified; (2) orienting all 

students at the local level; (3) providing 

support services for students; (4) 

arranging enhancement activities and 

skill-building opportunities; (5) 

assessing student performance and 

progress; (6) providing mid-year 

programming and re-entry training; and 

(7) evaluating project success. 

Preference will be given to those 

organizations that offer participants 

opportunities to develop leadership 

skills and raise their awareness of 

tolerance and social justice through 

community activities and networks. The 

award of grants and the number of 

students who will participate is subject 

to the availability of funding in fiscal 

year 2007. 

I. Funding Opportunity Description 

Authority: Overall grant making 

authority for this program is contained 

in the Mutual Educational and Cultural 

Exchange Act of 1961, as amended, 

Public Law 87–256, 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. 

Overview: The Future Leaders 

Exchange Program seeks to provide 

1,200 high school students with an 

opportunity to live in the United States 

for the purpose of promoting democratic 

values and institutions throughout 

Eurasia. Participants will reside with 


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55260 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 183 / Thursday, September 21, 2006 / Notices 

American host families and attend high 

school during the 2007–08 academic 

year. In special situations, students may 

come to the U.S. for a short-term, rather 

than yearlong, program. Further details 

about such modifications are provided 

in the attached Project Objectives, Goals 

and Implementation (POGI) document. 

During the year, FLEX participants 

will be engaged in a variety of activities, 

such as community and school-based 

programs, skill-building workshops, and 

cultural events. Academic year 2007/ 

2008 will be the fifteenth year of the 

FLEX program, with more than 15,000 

students who have been awarded 

scholarships. 

Goals: The goals of the program are (1) 

to promote mutual understanding and 

foster a relationship between the people 

of Eurasia and the U.S.; (2) to assist the 

successor generation of Eurasian 

countries in developing the qualities it 

will need to lead in their aspirations for 

transformation in the 21st century; and 

(3) to promote democratic values and 

civic responsibility. 

Considering the specific focus of the 

FLEX program, the following outcomes 

will indicate a successful project: 

1. Participants will acquire an 

understanding of important elements of 

a civil society. This includes concepts 

such as volunteerism, the idea that 

American citizens can and do act at the 

grassroots level to deal with societal 

problems, and an awareness of and 

respect for the rule of law. 

2. Participants will acquire an 

understanding of a free market economy 

and private enterprise, including an 

awareness of privatization and an 

appreciation of the role of the 

entrepreneur in economic growth. 

3. Participants will develop an 

appreciation for American culture, an 

understanding of the diversity of 

American society and increased 

tolerance and respect for others with 

differing views and beliefs. 

4. Participants will interact with 

Americans and generate enduring ties. 

5. Participants will teach Americans 

about the cultures of their home 

countries. 

6. Participants will gain leadership 

capacity that will enable them, as FLEX 

alumni, to initiate activities in their 

home countries that focus on 

development and community service. 

Objectives: The immediate objectives 

of the FLEX program are: 

• To place approximately 1,200 preselected high school students from 

Eurasian countries in qualified, wellmotivated host families; 

• To place students in schools that 

have been accredited by the respective 

State departments of education; 

• To expose program participants to 

American culture and democracy that 

will enable them to attain a broad view 

of U.S. society and culture; 

• To provide appropriate venues for 

program participants to share their 

culture, lifestyle and traditions with 

U.S. citizens; 

• To provide participants with 

leadership training and opportunities 

that foster skills they can take back with 

them and use in their home countries; 

and 

• To provide activities that will 

increase and enhance students’

understanding of the importance of 

tolerance and respect for the views and 

beliefs of others in a civil society. 

Other Components: One organization 

has been awarded a grant to perform the 

following functions: Recruitment and 

selection of Eurasian students; 

assistance in documentation and 

preparation of DS–2019 visa forms; 

preparation of cross-cultural materials; 

pre-departure orientation; international 

travel from home to host community 

and return; facilitation of ongoing 

communication between the natural 

parents and placement organization, as 

needed; maintenance of a student 

database and provision of data to the 

U.S. Department of State; and ongoing 

follow-up with alumni after their return 

to Eurasia. 

Another organization is responsible 

for supporting students with 

disabilities. This involves a post-arrival 

orientation and reentry training as well 

as ongoing support throughout the year 

in order to help them cope with 

challenges specific to their 

circumstances. Placement organizations 

will be in direct communication with 

this organization, especially since some 

students with disabilities may need 

supplementary independence skills 

training early on in the program. 

Guidelines: Applicants are requested 

to submit a narrative outlining a 

comprehensive strategy for the 

administration and implementation of 

the placement component of the FLEX 

program including the identification of 

host families and schools; organization 

of post-arrival orientation programming; 

placement of students, as needed, in 

pre-academic intensive English 

program; enrichment programming; 

monitoring and supporting participants; 

and evaluation. Specific responsibilities 

are as follows: 

(1) Recruitment, screening, selection, 

and Eurasia/FLEX-specific orientation 

of host families; 

(2) enrollment in an accredited 

school; 

(3) post-arrival orientation for 

participants; 

(4) placement of a small number of 

students with disabilities; 

(5) pre-program specialized English 

language tutoring for pre-selected 

students who require focused 

preparation for their academic year; 

(6) specialized training of local staff 

and volunteers to work with FLEX 

students from Eurasia; 

(7) preparation and dissemination of 

materials to students pertaining to the 

respective placement organization; 

(8) dispersal of program-specific 

information, such as alumni activity 

reports and Host Family and School 

Administrator handbooks, to respective 

persons involved with the program (e.g., 

host families, school administrators, 

local coordinators); 

(9) program-related enhancement and 

leadership training activities; 

(10) troubleshooting; 

(11) communication with the 

organizations conducting other program 

components, when appropriate; 

(12) evaluation of the students’

performance; 

(13) quarterly evaluation of the 

organization’s success in achieving 

program goals; 

(14) mid-year orientations to assess 

progress; and 

(15) Eurasia-specific re-entry training 

to prepare students for readjustment to 

their home environments. 

Applicants must request a grant for 

the placement of at least 30 students. 

There is no ceiling on the number of 

students who may be placed by one 

organization. Placements may be in any 

region of the U.S. Strong preference will 

be given to organizations that choose to 

place participants in clusters of at least 

three students. Please refer to the 

Solicitation Package, available on 

request from the address listed below, 

for details on essential program 

elements, permissible costs, and criteria 

used to select and place students. 

We anticipate grants beginning no 

later than April 2007, subject to the 

availability of funds. 

Most participants arrive in their host 

communities during the month of 

August and remain for 10 or 11 months 

until their departure during the period 

mid-May to late June 2008. Students 

with disabilities and students requiring 

supplementary English language 

instruction may arrive at the end of July. 

Administration of the program must 

be in compliance with reporting and 

withholding regulations for Federal, 

State, and local taxes as applicable. 

Recipient organizations should 

demonstrate tax regulation adherence in 

the proposal narrative and budget. 

Applicants should submit the health 

and accident insurance plans they 


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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 183 / Thursday, September 21, 2006 / Notices 55261 

intend to use for students on this 

program. If use of a private plan is 

proposed, the State Department will 

compare that plan with the Bureau plan 

and make a determination of which will 

be applicable. 

II. Award Information 

Type of Award: New Grant 

Agreement. 

Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2007. 

Approximate Total Funding: 

$6,625,000. 

Approximate Number of Awards: 10–

15 grants. 

Average Grant Award: Dependent on 

the number of proposed students, total 

amount not to exceed $5,500 per 

student; a minimum award is 

approximately $165,000. 

Anticipated Award Date: April 2007, 

pending availability of funds. 

Anticipated Project Completion Date: 

August 2008. 

Additional Information: Pending 

successful implementation of this 

program and the availability of funds in 

subsequent fiscal years, it is ECA’s 

intent to renew grants awarded under 

this competition for at least 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: 

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 will award grants 

in amounts exceeding $60,000,which 

will cover costs to support and monitor 

a minimum of 30 students. 

Consequently, 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 Office of Youth Programs, ECA/PE/ 

C/PY, Room 568, U.S. Department of 

State, SA–44, 301 4th Street, SW., 

Washington, DC 20547, telephone (202) 

203–7527, and fax (202) 203–7529, email Judy Nowlin at NowlinJR@state.gov 

to request a Solicitation Package. Please 

refer to the Funding Opportunity 

Number ECA/PE/C/PY–07–06 located at 

the top of this announcement when 

making your request. 

Alternatively, an electronic 

application package may be obtained 

from http://www.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 Bureau Program Officer 

Anna Mussman 

(MussmanAP@state.gov) and refer to the 

Funding Opportunity Number (ECA/PE/ 

C/PY–07–06) 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 8 copies of the 

application should be sent per the 

instructions under IV.3e. ‘‘Application 

Deadline and Methods of Submissions’’

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) for additional 

formatting and technical requirements. 

IV.3c. You must have nonprofit status 

with the IRS at the time of application. 

If your organization is a private 

nonprofit which has not received a grant 

or cooperative agreement from ECA in 

the past three years, or if your 

organization received nonprofit status 

from the IRS within the past four years, 

you must submit the necessary 

documentation to verify nonprofit status 

as directed in the PSI document. Failure 

to do so will cause your proposal to be 

declared technically ineligible. 

IV.3d. Please take into consideration 

the following information when 

preparing your proposal narrative: 

IV.3d.1 Adherence to all regulations 

governing the J Visa. The Office of 

Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of 

Educational and Cultural Affairs is the 

official program sponsor of the exchange 

program covered by this RFGP, and an 

employee of the Bureau will be the 

‘‘Responsible Officer’’ for the program 

under the terms of 22 CFR 62, which 

covers the administration of the 

Exchange Visitor Program (J visa 

program). Under the terms of 22 CFR 62, 

organizations receiving grants under 

this RFGP will be third parties 

‘‘cooperating with or assisting the 

sponsor in the conduct of the sponsor’s 

program.’’ The actions of grantee 

program organizations shall be 

‘‘imputed to the sponsor in evaluating 

the sponsor’s compliance with’’ 22 CFR 


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55262 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 183 / Thursday, September 21, 2006 / Notices 

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 62 

et seq. 

The Bureau of Educational and 

Cultural Affairs places great emphasis 

on the secure and proper administration 

of Exchange Visitor (J visa) Programs 

and adherence by grantee program 

organizations and program participants 

to all regulations governing the J visa 

program status. Therefore, proposals 

should explicitly state in writing that the 

applicant is prepared to assist the 

Bureau in meeting all requirements 

governing the administration of 

Exchange Visitor Programs as set forth 

in 22 CFR 62. If your organization has 

experience as a designated Exchange 

Visitor Program Sponsor, the applicant 

should discuss their record of 

compliance with 22 CFR 62 et. seq., 

including the oversight of their 

Responsible Officers and Alternate 

Responsible Officers, screening and 

selection of program participants, 

provision of pre-arrival information and 

orientation to participants, monitoring 

of participants, proper maintenance and 

security of forms, recordkeeping, 

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) 

203–5029, fax: (202) 453–8640. 

IV.3.d.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. Monitoring: 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 that will 

be used to link outcomes to original 

project objectives. The Bureau expects 

that the grantee will track participants 

and be able to respond to key 

monitoring questions throughout the 

year, particularly on effects of the 

program on program participants, their 

host families and communities. 

Successful monitoring depends 

heavily on setting clear goals and 

outcomes at the outset of a program. 

Your monitoring plan should include a 

description of your project’s objectives 

and how and when you intend to 

measure these outcomes. You should 

also show how your project objectives 

link to the goals of the program 

described in this RFGP. 

Overall, the quality of your 

monitoring plan will be judged on how 

well it specifies successes and 

challenges. Grantees will be required to 

provide reports analyzing their 

monitoring 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. 

Evaluation: The Bureau’s Office of 

Policy and Evaluation will conduct 

evaluations of the FLEX program 

through E-GOALS, its online system for 

surveying program participants and 

collecting data about program 

performance. These evaluations assist 

ECA and its program grantees in 

meeting the requirements of the 

Government Performance Results Act 

(GPRA) of 1993. This Act requires 

Federal agencies to measure the results 

of their programs in meeting predetermined performance goals and 

objectives. 

All FLEX program participants will 

take three online surveys: 

1. Standardized pre-program surveys, 

at the beginning of the program; 

2. Standardized post-program surveys, 

at the end of the program and before 

their return home; and 

3. Standardized follow-up surveys, 

approximately six months to a year after 

the conclusion of the program. 

These surveys help ECA assess: 

Student satisfaction with the program; 

student attitudes and views; the extent 

of learning and skill development 

(including leadership); reliance on new 

learning and skills in their studies, at 

work, and in their communities; and 

their efforts to share new ideas, 

knowledge, and insights with citizens in 

their home countries. 

Since organizations play a critical role 

in facilitating E-GOALS evaluations of 

FLEX participants, it is imperative that 

applicants include a plan to ensure that 

FLEX students complete the postprogram surveys while they are still on 

program and prior to their departure 

from the United States; this includes 

monitoring the response rate through 

collection of a certificate issued by the 

system to each student upon completion 

of the survey. The grantee will be 

working directly with an E-GOALS 

evaluator in the Office of Policy and 

Evaluation. Please see specific 

responsibilities in the accompanying 

Project Objectives, Goals and 

Implementation (POGI) document. 

IV.3e. Please take the following 

information into consideration when 

preparing your budget: 

1V.3e.1. Applicants must submit a 

comprehensive budget for the entire 

program. Per capita costs are not to 

exceed $5,500 per participant. The 

budget must reflect costs for a minimum 

of 30 participants. Please indicate 

clearly the number of students funded. 

There must be a summary budget as 

well as breakdowns reflecting both 

administrative and program budgets. 

Applicants may provide separate subbudgets 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: December 

4, 2006. 

Reference number: ECA/PE/C/PY–07–

06. 


jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
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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., DHL, Federal Express, UPS, 

Airborne Express, or U.S. Postal 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 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 eight (8) 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/PY–07–06, Program 

Management, ECA/EX/PM, Room 534, 

301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 

20547. 

Along with the Project Title, all 

applicants must enter the above 

Reference Number in Box 11 on the SF–

424 contained in the mandatory 

Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) 

of the solicitation document. 

IV.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). 

Applicants have until midnight (12 

a.m.) of the closing date to ensure that 

their entire application has been 

uploaded to the grants.gov site. 

Applications uploaded to the site after 

midnight of the application deadline 

date will be technically ineligible. 

Applicants will receive a 

confirmation e-mail from grants.gov 

upon the successful submission of an 

application. ECA will not notify you 

upon receipt of electronic applications. 

IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of 

Applications Executive Order 12372 

does not apply to this program. 

V. Application Review Information 

V.1. Review process: The Bureau will 

review all proposals for technical 

eligibility. Proposals will be deemed 

ineligible if they do not fully adhere to 

the guidelines stated herein and in the 

Solicitation Package. All eligible 

proposals will be reviewed by the 

program office, as well as the Public 

Diplomacy section overseas, where 

appropriate. Eligible proposals will be 

subject to compliance with Federal and 

Bureau regulations and guidelines and 

forwarded to Bureau grant panels for 

advisory review. Proposals may also be 

reviewed by the Office of the Legal 

Adviser or by other Department 

elements. Final funding decisions are at 

the discretion of the Department of 

State’s Assistant Secretary for 

Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final 

technical authority for assistance 

awards (grants) 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 Management and 

Planning: Your proposal narrative 

should exhibit originality, substance, 

and relevance to the Bureau’s mission as 

well as to the goals of the FLEX 

program. The level of creativity, 

resources, and effectiveness will be 

primary factors for review. Proposals 

should demonstrate an understanding of 

Eurasian countries and of the needs of 

students from this region, as related to 

the program. Proposals should also 

indicate how students will be 

monitored, trained and prepared for 

their role as FLEX alumni. Reviewers 

will assess the degree in which 

proposals engage participants in 

community activities that involve skills 

development and leadership training. 

They will also assess proposed activities 

that foster tolerance and social justice. 

Proposals should indicate clearly the 

capacity and willingness to provide 

short-term programming for some 

students if this becomes necessary. A 

detailed agenda and work plan should 

adhere to the program overview and 

guidelines described in the solicitation 

package. 

2. Ability to achieve program 

objectives: Objectives should be 

reasonable, feasible, and flexible. With 

respect to anticipated program 

outcomes, reviewers will assess the 

degree to which the proposed outcomes 

of the project are realistic and 

measurable. Strategies should creatively 

utilize and reinforce activities to ensure 

an efficient use of program resources. 

3. 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. Reviewers will 

assess ways in which proposals include 

innovative ways to involve students in 

their U.S. communities and substantive 

plans to prepare them for their role as 

active, effective FLEX alumni. 

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, host families, 

schools, program venue and program 

evaluation) and program content 

(orientations, program meetings, 

resource materials and follow-up 

activities). 

5. Organization’s record/institutional 

capacity: Proposed personnel and 

institutional resources should be 

adequate and appropriate to achieve the 

program or project’s goals. In assessing 

institutional capacity, reviewers will 

assess the applicant and its partners to 

determine if they offer adequate 

resources, expertise, and experience to 

fulfill program objectives. Partner 

activities should be clearly defined. 

Proposals should demonstrate an 

institutional record of successful 

exchange programs, including 

responsible fiscal management and full 

compliance with all reporting and J–1 

Visa requirements for past Bureau grants 

as determined by Bureau Grant Staff. 

The Bureau will consider the past 

performance of prior recipients and the 

demonstrated potential of new 

applicants. 

6. Project monitoring and evaluation: 

Proposals should include a plan to 

monitor the activity’s success, both as 

the activities unfold and at the end of 


jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
55264 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 183 / Thursday, September 21, 2006 / Notices 

the program. Reviewers will assess your 

plans to monitor student progress and 

program activities, particularly in regard 

to intended outcomes indicated in your 

proposal. Successful applicants will be 

expected to submit quarterly reports, 

which should be included as an 

inherent component of the work plan. 

Proposals should also specify ways in 

which students will be encouraged and 

monitored to ensure they complete the 

mandatory end-of-the-year surveys 

administered through the E-GOALS 

system. 

7. Cost-effectiveness/cost sharing: 

Reviewers will analyze the budget for 

clarity and cost-effectiveness. They will 

also assess the rationale of the proposed 

budget and whether the allocation of 

funds is appropriate to complete tasks 

outlined in the project narrative. 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. 

Proposals should maximize cost-sharing 

through other private sector support as 

well as institutional direct funding 

contributions. Preference will be given 

to organizations whose proposals 

demonstrate a quality, cost-effective 

program. 

VI. Award Administration Information 

VI.1a. Award notice: 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, ‘‘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 Web 

sites 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 one copy of the following 

reports: 

(1) A final program and financial 

report no more than 90 days after the 

expiration of the award; 

(2) Quarterly program and financial 

reports which should include both 

quantitative and qualitative data you 

have available. 

Grantees will be required to provide 

reports analyzing their evaluation 

findings to the Bureau in their regular 

program reports. (Please refer to IV. 

Application and submission 

instructions (IV.3.d.3) above for Program 

Monitoring and Evaluation information. 

All data collected, including survey 

responses and contact information, must 

be maintained for a minimum of three 

years and provided to the Bureau upon 

request. 

All reports must be sent to the ECA 

Grants Officer and ECA Program Officer 

listed in the final assistance award 

document. 

VI.4. Program data requirements: 

Organizations awarded grants will be 

required to maintain specific data on 

program participants and activities in an 

electronically accessible database format 

that can be shared with the Bureaus 

required. 

VII. Agency Contacts 

For questions about this 

announcement, contact: Anna 

Mussman, Office of Citizen Exchanges, 

ECA/PE/C/PY, Room 568, U.S. 

Department of State, SA–44, 301 4th 

Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547. 

Telephone: (202) 203–7506, fax number: 

(202) 203–7529, Internet address: 

MussmanAP@state.gov. All 

correspondence with the Bureau 

concerning this RFGP should reference 

the above title and number ECA/PE/C/ 

PY–07–06. 

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: September 13, 2006. 

Dina Habib Powell, 

Assistant Secretary for Educational and 

Cultural Affairs, Department of State. 

[FR Doc. 06–7937 Filed 9–20–06; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4710–05–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

Notice of Submission Deadline for 

International Slots for the Summer 

2007 Scheduling Season 

AGENCY: Department of Transportation, 

FAA. 

ACTION: Notice of submission deadline 

SUMMARY: The FAA announces in this 

notice that the deadline for submitting 

requests for international Arrival 

Authorizations at Chicago O’Hare 

International Airport (ORD) for 

allocation under 14 CFR 93.29 is 

October 12, 2006. This date coincides 

with the deadline established by the 

International Air Transport Association 

(IATA) for the Schedule Coordination 

Conference for the Summer 2007 

season. The FAA will allocate ORD 

international Arrival Authorizations for 

the period covering the U.S. Summer 

Scheduling Season in accordance with 

recent changes to the start and end dates 

of daylight saving time in the United 

States. The applicable period is March 

11 through November 3, 2007. The FAA 

recognizes that these dates differ from 

the March 25 through October 27, 2007 

period used by IATA for the Summer 

2007 schedule. Therefore, for those 

carriers who previously submitted 

schedules to the FAA through March 24, 

2007, as part of the Winter 2006 


jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES