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[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 90 (Thursday, May 10, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26672-26677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-9034]

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 5793]

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Educational Adviser Training and Support Services

    Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/S/A-08-05.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000.
    Key Dates: October 1, 2007 to December 31, 2008.
    Application Deadline: Friday, July 13, 2007.
    Executive Summary: The Educational Information and Resources Branch 
of the Office of Global Educational Programs in the Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for a 
program of Educational Adviser Training and Support Services. 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 develop training programs and provide support services for 
Department of State-affiliated overseas educational advisers.
    Overseas educational advisers are part of the Department of State's 
network of over 450 EducationUSA centers that promote U.S. higher 
education in 170 countries around the world. Centers exist in a variety 
of locations including: U.S. embassies and consulates, Fubright 
Commissions, Binational Centers, Non-governmental organizations, 
universities and libraries. A complete list of centers is located at 
http://www.educationusa.state.gov.
    Overseas educational advisers provide timely and objective 
information to foreign audiences on U.S. study opportunities at 
accredited academic institutions and guide students and professionals 
in selecting programs appropriate to their needs.
    Project proposals should be structured to focus on the following:
    1. Short-term training in the U.S. for mid- and senior-level 
advisers.
    2. Web-based training for beginning level advisers.
    3. Adviser project development.
    4. Logistical support for adviser attendance at international 
education conferences and workshops including the NAFSA: Association of 
International Educators conference to be held in Washington DC in May/
June 2008.
    5. Fiscal Management: sub-contractors
    6. Insurance--Funded programs should normally use Bureau insurance
    The training component of the proposal should include two U.S.-
Based Training program (USBT) sessions for mid-level advisers and one 
Professional Advising Leadership (PAL) program for senior-level 
advisers. The USBT for mid-level educational advisers should be 
approximately three weeks in duration and must include workshops on 
advising issues of concern, visits to a variety of U.S. academic 
institutions outside of the Washington, DC metropolitan area and 
attendance at a national or regional NAFSA: Association of 
International Educators Conference or similar professional development 
opportunity.
    The Professional Advising Leadership (PAL) program should be 
designed for senior-level advisers. Advisers applying for a PAL 
fellowship will have at least four years of advising experience. 
Applicants will formulate a proposal outlining a project that will be 
of benefit to the adviser's center, region and the profession as a 
whole. Proposals may fall into these four broad areas: short-term 
training, conference attendance, specific individualized research, on-
site shadowing/internship, or a combination of two or more (based on 
time and logistics requirements). The Bureau

[[Page 26673]]

anticipates awarding one grant to administer this 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, 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.''
    Purpose: The program's objectives are threefold:
    (1) To strengthen the professional development of overseas 
educational advisers;
    (2) To sustain a corps of knowledgeable advisers that will continue 
to improve the quality and effectiveness of educational advising in 
their home on topics including:
     Standardized testing
     Admissions
     Scholarships and financial aid
     Student mobility/U.S. student visas
     Relevant technology
    (3) To strengthen the cooperation between overseas educational 
advisers and U.S. college and university-based education professionals.

Guidelines

1. Participants
    For the purposes of this RFGP, eligible advisers are defined as 
those who are currently working at a State Department-affiliated 
advising center and who have demonstrated the skills associated with 
the four major components of overseas educational advising: (1) 
Knowledge of the U.S. and home country educational systems; (2) 
knowledge of the application process for individuals to enroll in U.S. 
higher educational institutions; (3) demonstrated educational advising 
and cross-cultural communication skills; and (4) demonstrated office 
management skills as they relate to an overseas advising center. In 
addition, each participant must demonstrate leadership and a commitment 
to the profession.
    Approximately forty participants are expected for two USBT programs 
and eleven for the PAL program. Participants will be selected by ECA/A/
S/A based on nominations from overseas posts.
2. Program Design
    The Bureau invites organizations to submit creative and flexible 
program plans which can be tailored, in close consultation with ECA/A/
S/A, to the selected advisers' individual needs. However, the proposal 
should still include an overall project framework which identifies 
objectives, an implementation plan and measurable, expected outcomes.
    Possible topics to incorporate for the USBT portion of the program 
include: degree equivalency and accreditation; international student 
admissions; financial aid; standardized testing; ESL programs; 
immigration and visa issues; fields of study; cultural adjustment; U.S. 
societal diversity; specialized Internet usage; distance learning; 
proposal writing; fundraising; public relations and marketing; 
determining appropriate fees for advising services for students and 
others, given each host country's environment; trends in advising 
center cost-sharing and training and management of volunteer staff.
    For the PAL component, advisers, in consultation with ECA/A/S/A and 
the grantee organization, will develop a research or training project 
to be carried out in the United States that will have a formative 
impact on advising in their countries and regions. For 2008, PAL 
projects will focus on the following topics: financial aid for 
underprivileged international students; financial aid for international 
graduate applicants; campus internationalization; credit transfer for 
foreign credentials; advising on short-term training; international 
marketing strategies for U.S. higher education; and medical school 
admissions.
3. Timing/Program Phases
    The USBT and PAL components should provide for the possibility of 
attendance at, and active participation in, an appropriate national or 
regional conference where workshops and seminars address issues of 
current interest to international educators and overseas advisers and 
where the opportunity to brainstorm and to share information plays an 
important part. Advisers should have opportunities to present and/or 
participate in panels and pre-conference/conference workshops. In 
addition, the USBT portion of the program should include internship 
experiences and visits to a four-year public university, a private 
college or university, a community college, an Historically Black 
College or University (HBCU) or other minority-serving institution, and 
a graduate or research institution. Ideally, USBT participants should 
visit campuses while classes are in session to optimize their 
experience through interaction with students.
4. Logistics
    The grantee organization will be responsible for all arrangements 
associated with this program. For the USBT and PAL components, these 
include organizing a coherent progression of activities, providing 
international and domestic travel arrangements for all advisers, making 
lodging and local transportation arrangements, orienting and debriefing 
advisers, preparing support material, and recruiting host campuses. The 
organization should work with host campuses and experts in the field of 
higher education and overseas advising to achieve maximum program 
effectiveness, by providing participants with hands-on training and 
direct involvement in the administration of practices and policies of 
higher education institutions.
5. Evaluation/Follow-Up
    The proposal must include a detailed evaluation and follow-up plan. 
Special emphasis should be given to designing a program which 
incorporates outcome measurement strategies that assess ultimate 
effectiveness.
6. Visa/Insurance/Tax Requirements
    The program must comply with applicable visa regulations. 
Participant health and accident insurance will be provided to the 
overseas advisers by the Bureau; the recipient organization will be 
responsible for enrolling participants in the Bureau's insurance 
program and providing any necessary assistance should medical care be 
needed. 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.
7. Printed Materials
    Drafts of all printed materials developed for this program should 
be submitted to ECA/A/S/A for review and approval. All official 
documents should highlight the U.S. government's role as program 
sponsor and funding source. The Bureau requires that it receive the 
copyright use and be allowed to distribute this material as it sees 
fit.

[[Page 26674]]

    In a cooperative agreement, The Educational Information and 
Resources Branch (ECA/A/S/A) is substantially involved in program 
activities above and beyond routine grant monitoring. ECA/A/S/A 
activities and responsibilities for this program are as follows:
     Selection of program participants in coordination with 
Public Affairs Sections at U.S. embassies and consulates overseas
     Participation in the development of program sessions and 
speaking at opening and closing events
     Organization of meetings with Department of State 
representatives
     Review and approval of program plans and agendas
     Selection of alumni projects

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: FY2008.
    Approximate Total Funding: $1,000,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 1.
    Approximate Average Award: $1,000,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, October 1, 
2007.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: December 31, 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 this grant for two additional fiscal years, before openly 
competing it again.

III. Eligibility Information:

    III.1. Eligible applicants: Applications may be submitted by public 
and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described 
in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3).
    III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds: There is no minimum or 
maximum percentage required for this competition. However, the Bureau 
encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and 
funding in support of its programs.
    When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the 
applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its 
proposal and later included in an approved grant agreement. Cost 
sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For 
accountability, you must maintain written records to support all costs 
which are claimed as your contribution, as well as costs to be paid by 
the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. The basis 
for determining the value of cash and in-kind contributions must be in 
accordance with OMB Circular A-110, (Revised), Subpart C.23--Cost 
Sharing and Matching. In the event you do not provide the minimum 
amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget, ECA's 
contribution will be reduced in like proportion.
    III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements: Bureau grant guidelines 
require that organizations with less than four years experience in 
conducting international exchanges be limited to $60,000 in Bureau 
funding. ECA anticipates awarding one grant, in an amount up to 
$1,000,000 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 Educational Information and Resources Branch, ECA/A/S/A, 
Room 349, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20547, telephone: 202-453-8868, fax: 202-453-8890, e-
mail: [email protected] to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer 
to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/S/A-08-05 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 Bureau Program Officer Dorothy Mora and refer to the 
Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/S/A-08-05 located at the top of this 
announcement on all other inquiries and correspondence.
    IV.2. To Download a Solicitation Package Via Internet: The entire 
Solicitation Package may be downloaded from the Bureau's Web site at 
http://exchanges.state.gov/education/rfgps/menu.htm, 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. 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:
    The following is included for informational purposes only: IV.3d.1 
Adherence to All Regulations Governing the J Visa. The following visa 
language is included for informational purposes only: The Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs places critically important emphasis 
on the secure and proper administration of Exchange

[[Page 26675]]

Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence by grantees 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 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. 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.
    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 grantee 
will track participants or partners and be able to respond to key 
evaluation questions, including satisfaction with the program, learning 
as a result of the program, changes in behavior as a result of the 
program, and effects of the program on institutions (institutions in 
which participants work or partner institutions). The evaluation plan 
should include indicators that measure gains in mutual understanding as 
well as substantive knowledge.
    Successful monitoring and evaluation depend heavily on setting 
clear goals and outcomes at the outset of a program. Your evaluation 
plan should include a description of your project's objectives, your 
anticipated project outcomes, and how and when you intend to measure 
these outcomes (performance indicators). The more that outcomes are 
``smart'' (specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and 
placed in a reasonable time frame), the easier it will be to conduct 
the evaluation. You should also show how your project objectives link 
to the goals of the program described in this RFGP.
    Your monitoring and evaluation plan should clearly distinguish 
between program outputs and outcomes. Outputs are products and services 
delivered, often stated as an amount. Output information is important 
to show the scope or size of project activities, but it cannot 
substitute for information about progress towards outcomes or the 
results achieved. Examples of outputs include the number of people 
trained or the number of seminars conducted. Outcomes, in contrast, 
represent specific results a project is intended to achieve and is 
usually measured as an extent of change. Findings on outputs and 
outcomes should both be reported, but the focus should be on outcomes.
    We encourage you to assess the following four levels of outcomes, 
as they relate to the program goals set out in the RFGP (listed here in 
increasing order of importance):
    1. Participant satisfaction with the program and exchange 
experience.
    2. Participant learning, such as increased knowledge, aptitude, 
skills, and changed understanding and attitude. Learning includes both 
substantive (subject-specific) learning and mutual understanding.
    3. Participant behavior, concrete actions to apply knowledge in 
work or community; greater participation and responsibility in civic 
organizations; interpretation and explanation of experiences and new 
knowledge gained; continued contacts between participants, community 
members, and others.
    4. Institutional changes, such as increased collaboration and 
partnerships, policy reforms, new programming, and organizational 
improvements.

    Please note: Consideration should be given to the appropriate 
timing of data collection for each level of outcome. For example, 
satisfaction is usually captured as a 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.)
    Grantees will be required to provide reports analyzing their 
evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program reports. All 
data collected, including survey responses and contact information, 
must be maintained for a minimum of three years and provided to the 
Bureau upon request.
    IV.3d.4. 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 a comprehensive budget for the 
entire program. 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) Salaries and fringe benefits; travel and per diem;
    (2) Other direct costs, inclusive of rent, utilities, etc.;

[[Page 26676]]

    (3) Indirect expenses (except against participant program 
expenses), auditing costs;
    (4) Participant program costs; i.e., international/domestic travel, 
visas, per diem, conference attendance;
    (5) Alumni Web site and alumni support activities;
    (6) Advising coordinator expenses for pre-conference campus visits;
    (7) Campus coordinator costs for advising center visits; i.e., 
international/domestic travel, visas, per diem Please refer to the 
Solicitation Package for complete budget guidelines and formatting 
instructions.
    IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission:
    Application Deadline Date: Friday, July 13, 2007.
    Reference Number: ECA/A/S/A-08-05.
    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 Service Express Overnight Mail, etc.), or
    2. Electronically through http://www.grants.gov. Along with the 
Project Title, all applicants must enter the above Reference Number in 
Box 11 on the SF-424 contained in the mandatory Proposal Submission 
Instructions (PSI) of the solicitation document.
    IV.3f.1 Submitting Printed Applications: Applications must be 
shipped no later than the above deadline. Delivery services used by 
applicants must have in-place, centralized shipping identification and 
tracking systems that may be accessed via the Internet and delivery 
people who are identifiable by commonly recognized uniforms and 
delivery vehicles. Proposals shipped on or before the above deadline 
but received at ECA more than seven days after the deadline will be 
ineligible for further consideration under this competition. Proposals 
shipped after the established deadlines are ineligible for 
consideration under this competition. ECA will not notify you upon 
receipt of application. It is each applicant's responsibility to ensure 
that each package is marked with a legible tracking number and to 
monitor/confirm delivery to ECA via the Internet. Delivery of proposal 
packages may not be made via local courier service or in person for 
this competition. Faxed documents will not be accepted at any time. 
Only proposals submitted as stated above will be considered.

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

    The original and eight copies of the application should be sent to: 
U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, Ref.: ECA/A/S/A-08-05, Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, Room 
534, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
    IV.3f.2--Submitting Electronic Applications
    Applicants have the option of submitting proposals electronically 
through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov). Complete solicitation 
packages are available at Grants.gov in the ``Find'' portion of the 
system. Please follow the instructions available in the ``Get Started'' 
portion of the site (http://www.grants.gov/GetStarted).
    Several of the steps in the Grants.gov registration process could 
take several weeks. Therefore, applicants should check with appropriate 
staff within their organizations immediately after reviewing this RFGP 
to confirm or determine their registration status with Grants.gov. Once 
registered, the amount of time it can take to upload an application 
will vary depending on a variety of factors including the size of the 
application and the speed of your internet connection. Therefore, we 
strongly recommend that you not wait until the application deadline to 
begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
    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: grants.gov">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.
    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.
    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.
    Optional--IV.3f.3 You may also state here any limitations on the 
number of applications that an applicant may submit and make it clear 
whether the limitation is on the submitting organization, individual 
program director or both.
    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

[[Page 26677]]

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 grants 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.
    11. Cost-sharing: Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through 
other private sector support as well as institutional direct funding 
contributions.
    12. Value to U.S.-Partner Country Relations: Proposed projects 
should receive positive assessments by the U.S. Department of State's 
geographic area desk and overseas officers of program need, potential 
impact, and significance in the partner country(ies).

VI. Award Administration Information

    VI.1a. Award Notices:
    Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by 
Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures. 
Successful applicants will receive an Assistance Award Document (AAD) 
from the Bureau's Grants Office. The AAD and the original grant 
proposal with subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall be the 
only binding authorizing document between the recipient and the U.S. 
Government. The AAD will be signed by an authorized Grants Officer, and 
mailed to the recipient's responsible officer identified in the 
application.
    Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of 
the application review from the ECA program office coordinating this 
competition.
    VI.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements: Terms and 
Conditions for the Administration of ECA agreements include the 
following:

Office of Management and Budget Circular A-122, ``Cost Principles for 
Nonprofit Organizations''
Office of Management and Budget Circular A-21, ``Cost Principles for 
Educational Institutions''
OMB Circular A-87, ``Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian 
Governments''
OMB Circular No. A-110 (Revised), Uniform Administrative Requirements 
for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, 
Hospitals, and other Nonprofit Organizations
OMB Circular No. A-102, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants-
in-Aid to State and Local Governments
OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of States, Local Government, and Non-
profit 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 two copies of the following reports:
    1. A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after 
the expiration of the award;
    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.
    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 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 grant or 
who benefit from the grant 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: Dorothy Mora, 
Educational Information and Resources Branch, ECA/A/S/A, Room 349, ECA/
A/S/A-08-05, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20547, phone: 202-453-8868, fax: 202-453-8890, e-mail: 
[email protected].
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number ECA/A/S/A-08-05.
    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: May 1, 2007.
Dina Habib Powell,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of 
State.
 [FR Doc. E7-9034 Filed 5-9-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P
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