### 13198 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 52 / Thursday, March 18, 2010 / Notices

22 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). 23 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). 2. Statutory Basis

The basis under the Exchange Act for this proposed rule change is the requirement under Section 6(b)(5) 22 that an exchange have rules that are designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments to, and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change will facilitate the listing andtrading of an additional type of activelymanaged exchange-traded product that will enhance competition among market participants, to the benefit of investors and the marketplace.

B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement on Burden on Competition

The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants or Others

No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the proposed rule change.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for

Commission Action

Within 35 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register or within such longer period (i) as the Commission may designate up to 90 days of such date if it finds such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which the self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission
will:

(A) By order approve the proposed rule change, or

(B) Institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be disapproved.

The Exchange has requested accelerated approval of this proposed rule change prior to the 30th day after the date of publication of notice in the Federal Register . The Commission is considering granting accelerated approval of the proposed rule change at the end of a 15-day comment period.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Exchange Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:

Electronic Comments

• Use the Commission’s Internet comment form ( http://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or

• Send an e-mail to rulecomments@sec.gov. Please include File
Number SR–NYSEArca–2010–10 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

• Send paper comments in triplicate to Elizabeth M. Murphy, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC

20549–1090.

All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–NYSEArca–2010–10. This
file number should be included on the subject line if e-mail is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission’s Internet Web site ( http://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for Web site viewing and printing in the Commission’s Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions
should refer to File Number SR–
NYSEArca–2010–10 and should be submitted on or before April 2, 2010.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority. 23
Florence E. Harmon,

Deputy Secretary.

[FR Doc. 2010–5908 Filed 3–17–10; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 8011–01–P DEPARTMENT OF STATE** 

**[Public Notice 6923]**

**Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant**  **Proposals: The Indonesia English Language Study Program** 

Announcement Type: New Grant. Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/
A/E/EAP–2010–IELSP.

Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance Number: 19.009.

Key Dates: June 2010–March 2012. Application Deadline: April 29, 2010.

Executive Summary

The Office of Academic Exchange Programs of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition to administer the FY2010 Indonesia English Language Study Program. ECA welcomes applications from public and private non-profit organizations or consortia oforganizations including accredited postsecondary educational institutions in the United States meeting the provisions
described in Internal Revenue Code Section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) in the United States ( see Eligibility Information, section III). The grant recipient will administer and manage this initiative, which over the period of one year will enroll approximately 150 Indonesian undergraduate students in one eight-week intensive English language course each at a U.S. college or university and provide participants with
an introduction to American institutions, society and culture. The grant recipient will be expected to identify the participating colleges and
universities that will host students in groups of no more than 20 at a time. It is anticipated that the total amount of funding for FY2010 administrative and program costs will be $1,443,000. ECA reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase the proposed budget in accordance with funding availability and the needs of the program.

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, asamended, also known as the FulbrightHays 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,


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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. ’’

Purpose

Since the inception of the Indonesia English Language Study Program in FY2007, this program has brought over 350 Indonesian undergraduates to the United States to attend eight-week long, intensive English study courses at colleges and universities across the country. The intent of this program is to increase the English language capability of Indonesian undergraduate students and to provide them with a substantive U.S. exchange experience. Many of the participants may wish to return to the U.S. at a future date for graduate study; will eventually seek careers in Indonesia as teachers of English at the school and university level; or may become entrepreneurs, scientists, government officials, leaders within the Indonesian NGO community, or hold other positions of influence.

Overview

The program will consist of a series of approximately eight eight-week programs. Each of these programs will be limited to 20 participants and should offer intensive English language training, including English for Academic Purposes, as well as the development of general reading, writing, speaking and listening skills, and the testing of those skills.

Applicant organizations should identify a partner organization in Indonesia with the capacity to advertise, recruit, screen and assist in the selection of the program’s participants as part of a nationwide, merit-based, transparent competition. Both the applicant organization and its Indonesia partner will be expected to work closely with the Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta and with other Indonesian organizations identified by PAS Jakarta, including government ministries, on this aspect of the project. It is expected that approximately half the participants will come from institutions of higher education that are administered by the Ministry of National Education, and half from institutions administered by the Ministry of Religious Affairs. In recruiting participants, efforts should be
made to seek students from non-elite backgrounds, from both rural and urban sectors, and with little or no prior experience in the United States or elsewhere outside their home country. It is anticipated that the selection of participants will reflect Indonesia’s geographic, institutional, ethnic, and gender diversity. Most of the students selected will be in their junior year of study and will have completed approximately nine years of formal English study.

One grant will be awarded for the administration of this program and the organization of U.S. based activities. The grant recipient will be expected to identify the participating colleges and
universities that will host students in groups of no more than 20 each. U.S.
host institutions should be identified with an eye toward geographic and institutional diversity and the ability to provide the highest quality English language instruction, which is the primary objective of the program. In identifying the participating host institutions, the proposal should make clear (a) why these institutions have been recommended, (b) what particular strengths they will bring to the program, and (c) how those institutions will specifically meet the program content requirements as outlined above. Plans for participant housing arrangements
should be outlined and should maximize the opportunities for program participants to practice their English speaking and listening skills with native English speakers and with people from
countries other than Indonesia.

Students will be available for these programs in three discrete academic periods: (1) Spring 2011; (2) Summer 2011; and (3) Fall 2011. At each campus program, it is essential that all students not be placed together in the same English courses, but rather that they study with students of other nationalities and language backgrounds who will also be attending these intensive English language programs. Applicants should therefore design a program that will offer an academic residency component of eight weeks,
the central element of which is an intensive English language training course (English for Academic Purposes), together with other instructional elements that will develop the participants’ general reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. Provision should also be made for the testing of those skills before, during and after the

program.

Further guidance can be found in the Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) document, which provides specific information, award criteria and budget instructions tailored to this competition.

II. Award Information

Type of Award: Grant Agreement. Fiscal Year Funds: 2010. Approximate Total Funding:
$1,443,000.

Approximate Number of Awards: 1. Approximate Average Award:
$1,443,000.

Anticipated Award Date: June 1, 2010. Anticipated Project Completion Date:
March 2012.

Additional Information

At this time it is not known whether additional funding will be available in subsequent fiscal years. However, pending successful implementation of this program and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, ECA reserves the right to renew this grant for two additional fiscal years, before openly competing it again.

III. Eligibility Information

III.1. Eligible applicants: Applications may be submitted by public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal
Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3).

III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds:
There is no minimum or maximum percentage required for this competition. However, the Bureau encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in support of its programs.

When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its proposal and later included in an approved agreement. Cost sharing may be in the
form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For accountability, you must maintain written records to support all costs which are claimed as your contribution, as well as costs to be paid by the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. The basis for determining the value of cash and
in-kind contributions must be in accordance with OMB Circular A–110, (Revised), Subpart C.23—Cost Sharing and Matching. In the event you do not provide the minimum amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget, ECA’s contribution will be reduced in like proportion.

III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements

(a) Grants awarded to eligible organizations with less than four years of experience in conducting international exchange programs will be limited to $60,000.

IV. Application and Submission
Information

Note: Please read the complete announcement before sending inquiries or


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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 East Asia and Pacific Programs Branch of the Office of Academic Programs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA/ A/E/EAP), SA–5, 4th Floor, U.S. Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20522–0504. Telephone: (202) 632–3213 and fax: (202) 632–9464, LeenertsSL@state.gov to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to the Funding Opportunity
Number ECA/A/E/EAP–2010–IELSP 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.

Please specify Shana Leenerts and refer to the Funding Opportunity
Number ECA/A/E/EAP–2010–IELSP 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.dunandbrad

street.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 onepage 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 ofprogram participants, provision of prearrival 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, socioeconomic 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


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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 shortterm outcome, whereas behavior and institutional changes are normally considered longer-term outcomes.

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

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.

Describe your plans for: i.e. sustainability, overall program management, staffing, coordination with ECA and PAS or any other requirements

etc.

IV.3e. Please Take the Following
Information Into Consideration When Preparing Your Budget

IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit SF–

424A—‘‘ Budget Information—NonConstruction Programs ’’ along with a comprehensive budget for the entire program. Budget requests may not exceed $1,443,000. The number of participants who will take part should be clearly stated. There must be a summary budget as well as breakdowns reflecting both administrative and program budgets. Applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase, location, or activity to provide clarification.

IV.3e.2. Allowable costs for the program include the following:

(1) Instructional costs ( For example: Language program fees, educational course materials);

(2) Lodging, meals, and incidental expenses for participants;

(3) Expenses associated with cultural activities planned for the group of participants (for example: tickets, transportation);

(4) Administrative costs as necessary;(5) International and necessary incountry airfare and travel expenses;

(6) U.S. ground transportation costs to/from airports and for one regional trip for cultural enhancement.

Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget guidelines and formatting instructions.

IV.3f. Application Deadline and
Methods of Submission

Application Deadline Date: April 29,

2010.

Reference Number: ECA/A/E/EAP–

2010–IELSP.

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


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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 10 copies of the application should be sent to: Program Management Division, ECA–IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/A/E/EAP–2010–IELSP, 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 CD–ROM. As appropriate, the Bureau will provide these files electronically to Public Affairs Section(s) at the U.S. embassy(ies) for its (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 packages are available at Grants.gov in
the ‘‘ Find ’’ portion of the system.

Please Note: ECA bears no responsibility for applicant timeliness of submission or 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 grant 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 and Ability to Achieve Program Objectives: Objectives should be reasonable, feasible, and flexible. A 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. 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) andprogram content (orientation and wrapup sessions, program meetings, resource materials and follow-up activities).

4. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program or project’s goals.

5. 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


### 13203 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 52 / Thursday, March 18, 2010 / Notices

(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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. Cost-effectiveness and Cost-sharing:
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.

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 Nonprofit 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) 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.

(4) Quarterly program and financial reports which should include detailed information about program and participant progress.

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.

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: Shana Leenerts, East Asia and Pacific Fulbright Programs Branch, Office of Academic Programs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA/A/E/EAP), 4th Floor, ECA/A/E/EAP–2010–IELSP, U.S. Department of State, SA–5, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20522– 0504. Telephone: (202) 632–3213 and fax: (202) 632–9464.

All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should reference

the above title and number ECA/A/E/

EAP–2010–IELSP.

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: March 10, 2010.

Maura M. Pally,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of

State.

[FR Doc. 2010–5970 Filed 3–17–10; 8:45 am]

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