51726 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 191 / Thursday, October 2, 1997 / Notices

availability of funds. Awards made will

be subject to periodic reporting and

evaluation requirements.

Notification

Final awards cannot be made until

funds have been appropriated by

Congress, allocated and committed

through internal USIA procedures.

Dated: September 19, 1977.

John P. Loiello,

Associate Director for Educational and

Cultural Affairs.

[FR Doc. 97–26152 Filed 10–1–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8230–01–M

UNITED STATES INFORMATION

AGENCY

International Visitor Program

ACTION: Notice—Request for Proposals.

SUMMARY: The Office of International

Visitors (E/V) of the United States

Information Agency’s Bureau of

Educational and Cultural Affairs

announces a competition for an

assistance award. Public and Private

nonprofit organizations not currently

receiving Office of International Visitors

assistance awards and meeting the

provisions described in IRS regulation

26 CFR 1.501(c) may apply to develop

programming for projects of one to

twenty-five International Visitors

nominated by U.S. Embassies abroad.

The intent of this announcement is to

attract new organizations to the

International Visitor (IV) programming

process. USIA is seeking new

organizations to provide diversity and

an infusion of program experience to the

IV program. The winning applicant will

function as a national programming

agency and will work closely with USIA

staff members who will guide and

mentor the applicant through

procedural, budgetary or programmatic

issues as they arise in a variety of

International Visitor projects. This

experience is expected to build the

selected organization’s capacity to

compete for a continuing grant in IV

project administration.

USIA is seeking a qualified applicant

to develop over the course of fiscal year

1998 (October 1, 1997–September 30,

1998) the following series of projects: 25

Individual Visitor projects, 6 Single

Country Projects (SCPs), 2 Regional

Projects (RPs) and 1 Multi-Regional

Project (MRP).

The objective of the International

Visitor Program is to increase mutual

understanding through communication

and collaboration with professional

counterparts in the U.S. Participants are

current or potential foreign leaders in

government, politics, media, education,

science, labor relations, and other key

fields. They are selected by American

embassies abroad and approved by

USIA in Washington, DC. Since the

program’s earliest inception in 1941,

more than 120,000 distinguished

visitors have participated in the

program, and over 155 program alumni

have subsequently become heads of

state or government in their home

countries.

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 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,

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.’’

Programs and projects must conform

with Agency requirements and

guidelines outlined in the Solicitation

Package. USIA projects and programs

are subject to the availability of funds.

Announcement Title and Number

All communications with USIA

concerning this RFP should refer to the

announcement’s title and reference

number E/V–98–01.

To Download a Solicitation Package

Via Internet

The entire Solicitation Package may

be downloaded from USIA’s website at

http://www.usia.gov/education/rfps.

Please read all information before

downloading.

To Receive a Solicitation Package Via

Fax on Demand

The entire Solicitation Package may

be received via the Bureau’s ‘‘Grants

Information Fax on Demand System’’,

which is accessed by calling (202) 401–

7616. Please request a ‘‘Catalog’’ of

available documents and order numbers

when first entering the system.

Interested applicants should read the

complete Federal Register

announcement before sending inquiries

or submitting proposals.

Bidders Conference

USIA will host a Bidder’s Conference

for this assistance award on November

5, 1997 at a USIA location in

Washington, DC. Substantive questions

about this RFP will be addressed at the

conference. Interested applicants are

asked to submit questions by mail, fax,

or e-mail to the E/VC address given

above. Questions must be received by

COB Friday, October 31, 1997. Details of

the Bidders Conference will be sent to

responding applicants at a later date.

Submissions

Applicants must follow all

instructions given in the Solicitation

Package. The original and 10 copies of

the application should be sent to: U.S.

Information Agency, Ref.: E/V–98–01,

Office of Grants Management, E/XE,

Room 326, 301 4th Street, SW.,

Washington, DC 20547.

Applicants must also submit the

proposal on a 3.5′′ diskette, formatted

for WordPerfect.

Deadline for Proposals

All copies must be received at the

U.S. Information Agency by 5 p.m.

Washington, D.C. time on Monday,

December 1, 1997. Faxed or e-mailed

documents will not be accepted at any

time.

Documents postmarked by the due

date but received at a later date will not

be accepted.

Grants should begin by mid-January

1998.

To Request a Solicitation Package,

Contact

The Office of International Visitors,

Community relations Division, E/VC,

Room 266, U.S. Information Agency,

301 4th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C.

20547, Tel: (202) 619–5234, 1–800–827–

0804; Fax: (202) 619–4655, E-Mail

address: rfp@usia.gov (available October

14, 1997).

Please request required application

forms, and standard guidelines for

preparing proposals, including specific

criteria for preparation of the proposal

budget.

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 physical
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 191 / Thursday, October 2, 1997 / Notices 51727

challenges. 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 the total proposal. Pub. L. 104–319

provides that ‘‘in carrying out programs

of educational and cultural exchange in

countries whose people do not fully

enjoy freedom and democracy,’’ USIA

‘‘shall take appropriate steps to provide

opportunities for participation in such

programs to human rights and

democracy leaders of such countries.’’

Proposals should account for

advancement of this goal in their

program contents, to the full extent

deemed feasible.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Overview: Programs must maintain a

non-partisan character. Programs and

awards must conform to all Agency

requirements and guidelines.

Guidelines: USIA seeks proposals

from non-profit organizations for

development and implementation of

professional projects for approximately

100 USIA-sponsored International

Visitors to the U.S. Once the award is

made, separate proposals will be

required for each group project [MRP,

RP, and SCP], as well as less-formal

proposals for Individual Visitor projects.

Each project will be focussed on a

substantive theme. Further information

giving examples of some of these

program themes is included below and

in the Solicitation Package.

Goals and objectives for all projects

will be shared with the winning

applicant organization following the

announcement of the assistance award.

Most projects will be 21 to 30 days in

length. Most projects will begin in

Washington, DC, with an orientation

and overview of the issues and a central

examination of Federal policies

regarding these issues. Well-paced

project itineraries include programs in

four or five communities. Group and

individual project itineraries will

ideally include urban and rural small

communities in diverse geographical

and cultural regions of the U.S., as

appropriate to the project theme.

Projects should provide opportunities

for participants to experience the

diversity of American society and

culture. Depending on the size and

theme of the project, the participants in

Multi-Regional or Regional group

projects can be divided into smaller subgroups for simultaneous visits to

different communities, with subsequent

opportunities to share their experiences

with the full group once it is reunited.

Project may provide opportunities for

the visitors to share a meal or similar

experience (home hospitality) in the

home of Americans of diverse

occupational, age, gender and ethnic

groups. Some individual and group

projects might include an opportunity

for an overnight stay (home stay) in an

American home. The visitors should be

provided opportunities to address

student, civic and professional groups

in relaxed and informal settings. For

some projects, ‘‘shadowing’’ experiences

with American professional colleagues

may be proposed. Visitors should have

appropriate opportunities for site visits

and hands-on experiences that are

relevant to project themes. Projects

should also allow time for participants

to reflect on their experiences, and in

group projects, share observations with

project colleagues. Visitors should have

opportunities to visit cultural and

tourist sites. Arrangements for

community visits must be made through

affiliates of the National Council for

International Visitors [NCIV]. [The NCIV

is a national network of private citizen

organizations located in more than one

hundred U.S. communities, which

arrange local programs for international

visitors.] In cities where there is no such

council, the applicant organization will

arrange for coordination of local

programs.

The applicant should demonstrate the

potential to develop projects, as

described above, on a variety of program

themes. The applicant is expected to

have e-mail capability to consult with

USIA program officers, and access to

internet resources. USIA will provide

close coordination and guidance

throughout the duration of the award.

For informational purposes only, the

following outlines are examples of

project themes for multi-regional and

regional projects. Do not prepare

proposals to administer these sample

project themes as part of your

submission package.

1. Multi-Regional Project (World-wide

participants; English-speaking):

Globalization of Business and

Markets. Project design would examine

the impact of ‘‘globalization’’ in

business, markets, and communities.

The project will examine costs and

benefits of the interconnected global

market, and its effect on international

and domestic policies.

2. Regional Projects (from one

continent or region; may include

interpretation):

Grassroots Democracy [American

Republics]

Project design would provide

participants with a greater

understanding of the U.S. political

system and American social culture in

a democratic society. It would

demonstrate how grassroots

organizations interact and communicate

with federal, state and local

governments and explore the role and

influence of grassroots organizations on

public policy decision-making at the

local and national levels.

Civic Education: Fostering Informed and

Responsible Citizen Participation in a

Democracy [Africa]

Project would demonstrate how a

public that is well-educated about its

civic rights and responsibilities, and

which plays an active role in public life,

is the best guarantor of its own selfgovernment. Participants would

encounter some of the key organizations

involved in educating U.S. citizens and

in mobilizing effective citizen

participation in various aspects of the

social and political process.

Visa Requirements

Particpants in individuals or group

projects will travel on J–1 visas arranged

by USIA. Projects must comply with J–

1 visa regulations. Please refer to

program specific guidelines in the

Solicitation Package for further details.

Tax Requirements

Administration of the projects must

be in compliance with reporting and

withholding regulations for federal,

state, and local taxes as applicable.

Applicant organizations should

demonstrate tax regulation adherence in

the proposal narrative and budget.

Budget

Applicant organizations are required

to submit a comprehensive line-item

administrative budget in accordance

with the instructions in the Solicitation

Package. A summary budget as well as

a detailed budget showing all

administrative costs is required.

Proposed staffing and costs associated

with staffing must be appropriate to the

requirements outline in the RFP and the

remaining portion of the Solicitation

Package. The selected applicant will

enter into close consultation on

budgetary matters with the responsible

USIA program officer throughout the

implementation of projects, each one of

which will have separate budgets.

Combined administrative and indirect

costs proposed should be reasonable.

Cost sharing is encouraged.
51728 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 191 / Thursday, October 2, 1997 / Notices

The Agency is seeking proposals from

organizations that are not currently

receiving administrative E/V project

grants. Grants awarded to eligible

organizations with less than four years

of experience in conducting

international exchange programs will be

limited to $60,000. Since this RFP is for

an award greater than $60,000 all

applicants must have four years of

experience as stated. It is therefore

incumbent on organizations to

demonstrate: a capacity for

programming visitors from all

geographical regions of the world;

proven fiscal management integrity; and

an ability to have close consultation

with USIA staff throughout project

administration.

Review Process

USIA will acknowledge receipt of all

proposals and will review them for

technical eligibility. Proposals will be

deemed ineligible if they do not fully

adhere to the guidelines stated herein

and in the Solicitation Package. Eligible

proposals will be forwarded to panels of

USIA officers for advisory review. All

eligible proposals will also be reviewed

by the E/V program officer, as well as

one or more of USIA’s geographic area

offices. Proposals may be reviewed by

the Office of the General Counsel or by

other Agency elements. Funding

decisions are at the discretion of the

USIA Associate Director for Educational

and Cultural Affairs. Final technical

authority for assistance awards (grants

or cooperative agreements) resides with

the USIA 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 program design:

Proposals should exhibit originality,

substance, precision, and be responsive

to requirements stated in the RFP and

the 1998 Solicitation Package.

2. Program planning: A detailed and

relevant work plan should demonstrate

substantive intent and logistical

capacity. Agenda and plan should

adhere to the program overview and

guidelines.

3. Ability to achieve program

objectives: Proosals should clearly

demonstrate how the institution will

meet the goals of the International

Visitor Program.

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 resources, program venue

and program evaluation) and program

content (orientation and wrap-up

sessions, program meetings, resource

materials and follow-up activities).

5. Institutional Capacity: Proposed

personnel and institutional resources

should be adequate and appropriate to

achieve the program or project’s goals.

6. 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 any past Agency grants

as determined by USIA’s Office of

Contracts. The Agency will consider the

past performance of prior recipients and

the potential of new applicants for

effective program administration. All

applicants must demonstrate: a

minimum of four years in existence,

with proven project management ability

and demonstrated fiscal soundness and

accountability; a potential for

programming visitors from all

geographic regions of the world; a

Washington, DC presence or ability to

have consultations with USIA staff on a

regular basis (including face-to-face)

throughout the development of each

group or Individual project.

7. Cost-effectiveness: The

administrative and indirect cost

components of the proposal, including

salaries, should be kept as low as

possible.

8. Cost-sharing: Consideration will be

given to proposed cost-sharing through

other private sector support as well as

institutional direct funding

contributions.

Notice

The terms and conditions published

in this RFP are binding and may not be

modified by any USIA representative.

Explanatory information provided by

the Agency that contradicts published

language will not be binding. Issuance

of the RFP does not constitute an award

commitment on the part of the

Government. The Agency 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.

Notification

Final awards cannot be made until

funds have been appropriated by

Congress, allocated and committed

through internal USIA procedures.

Dated: September 27, 1997.

John P. Loiello,

Associate Director for Bureau of Educational

and Cultural Affairs.

[FR Doc. 97–26153 Filed 10–1–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8230–01–M

UNITED STATES INFORMATION

AGENCY

Program Title NIS Training Program:

Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova

ACTION: Request for proposals.

SUMMARY: The Russia/Eurasia Division

of the Office of Citizen Exchanges of the

United States Information Agency’s

Bureau of Educational and Cultural

Affairs announces an open competition

for an assistance award. Public and

private non-profit organizations meeting

the provisions described in IRS

regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c) may apply to

develop training programs. Grants are

subject to the availability of funds.

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 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, 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 cited

above is provided through the FulbrightHayes Act and the Freedom Support

Act.

Programs and projects must conform

with Agency requirements and

guidelines outlined in the Solicitation

Package.

Announcement Title and Number: All

communications with USIA concerning

this RFP should refer to the

announcement’s title and reference

number E/PN–98–5.

Deadline for Proposals: All copies

must be received at the U.S. Information

Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time

on Friday, December 12, 1997. Faxed

documents will not be accepted at any

time. Documents postmarked by

December 12, 1997, but received at a

later date, will not be accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: The

Russia/Eurasia Division, Office of