Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 191 / Thursday, October 2, 1997 / Notices 51731

6. Room rental, which should not

exceed $250 per day.

7. Materials development. Proposals

may contain costs to purchase, develop,

and translate materials for participants.

8. One working meal per project. Per

capita costs may not exceed $5–8 for a

lunch and $14–20 for a dinner,

excluding room rental. The number of

invited guests may not exceed

participants by more than a factor of

two-to-one.

9. A return travel allowance of $70 for

each participant which is to be used for

incidental expenditures incurred during

international travel.

10. All USIA-funded delegates will be

covered under the terms of a USIAsponsored health insurance policy. The

premium is paid by USIA directly to the

insurance company.

11. Administrative Costs. Other costs

necessary for the effective

administration of the program,

including salaries for grant organization

employees, benefits, and other direct

and indirect costs per detailed

instructions in the application package.

While this announcement does not

proscribe a rigid ratio of administrative

to program costs, in general, priority

will be given to proposals whose

administrative costs are less than

twenty-five (25) per cent of the total

requested from USIA. Proposals should

show cost-sharing, both contributions

from the applicant and from other

sources.

Please refer to the Application

Package for complete budget guidelines.

Review Process

USIA will acknowledge receipt of all

proposals and will review them for

technical eligibility. Proposals will be

considered 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 be reviewed by

the program office, as well as the USIA

Office of East European and NIS Affairs

and the USIA post overseas, where

appropriate. 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 (granted

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.

1. Program Planning and Ability to

Achieve Objectives

Program objectives should be stated

clearly and precisely and should reflect

the applicant’s expertise in the subject

area and the region. Objectives should

respond to the priority topics in this

announcement and should relate to the

current conditions in each of the

countries. They should be reasonable

and attainable. A detailed work plan

should explain step by step how

objectives will be achieved, including a

timetable for completion of major tasks.

The substance of seminars,

presentations, consulting, internships,

and itineraries should be spelled out in

detail. Responsibilities of in-country

partners should be clearly described.

2. Institutional Capability

Proposed personnel and institutional

resources should be adequate and

appropriate to achieve the project’s

goals. The narrative should demonstrate

proven ability to handle logistics.

Proposal should reflect the institution’s

expertise in the subject area and

knowledge of the conditions pertaining

to it in Russia or Moldova.

3. Cost Effectiveness

Overhead and administrative costs for

the proposal, including salaries,

honoraria, and subcontracts for services,

should be kept low. While this

announcement does not proscribe a

rigid ratio of administrative to program

costs, in general, priority will be given

to proposals whose administrative costs

are less than twenty-five (25) per cent of

the total requested from USIA.

Proposals should show cost-sharing,

both contributions from the applicant

and from other sources.

4. Support of Diversity

Proposals should demonstrate the

recipient’s commitment to promoting

the awareness and understanding of

diversity throughout the program.

5. Project Evaluation

USIA is results-oriented. Proposals

must include a plan and methodology to

evaluate the activity’s success, both as

the activities unfold and at the and of

the program. USIA recommends that the

proposal include a draft survey

questionnaire and/or plan for use of

another measurement technique (such

as a focus group) to link outcomes to

original project objectives. Awardreceiving organizations/institutions will

be expected to submit intermediate

reports after each component is

concluded or quarterly, whichever is

less frequent.

Notice

The terms and conditions published

in this RFP are binding and may not be

modified by any USIA representative.

Explanatory information 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. Organizations

will be expected to cooperate with USIA

in evaluating their programs under the

principles of the Government

Performance and Results Act of 1993,

which requires federal agencies to

measure and report on the results of

their programs and activities.

Notification

Final awards cannot be made until

funds have been appropriated by

Congress, allocated and committed

through internal USIA procedures.

Dated: September 25, 1997.

Robert L. Earle,

Deputy Associate Director for Educational

and Cultural Affairs.

[FR Doc. 97–25989 Filed 10–1–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8230–01–M

UNITED STATES INFORMATION

AGENCY

USIA–Bosnia Undergraduate

Development Program; Request for

Proposals

SUMMARY: Subject to the availability of

funds, the Office of Academic Programs,

Academic Exchanges Division,

European Branch, of the United States

Information Agency’s Bureau of

Educational and Cultural Affairs

announces an open competition for an

assistance award. Colleges and

universities (including community

colleges and/or four year institutions)

meeting the provisions described in IRS

regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c) may apply to

host between two and five Bosnian

students in a one year, non-degree

undergraduate program for the academic

year 1998–1999.

The USIA–Bosnia Undergraduate

Development Program is designed to

allow Bosnian students an opportunity

to obtain knowledge, insight and

cultural enrichment through their

academic studies at American colleges

and universities. The USIA strongly

encourages institutions to guide

students to courses in American studies,

or other courses which emphasize
51732 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 191 / Thursday, October 2, 1997 / Notices

democracy, market economy, and civic

society per the intent of the SEED

funding. The USIA is holding an open

solicitation for all universities and

colleges giving preference to those that

have demonstrated experience in

hosting Bosnian students, partnerships

with Bosnian higher education

institutions, or expertise and interest in

the region. Increase in program

expenses together with reduced overall

government funding for exchange

programs make cost-sharing

arrangements with host institutions a

critical part of the USIA-Bosnia

Undergraduate Development Program.

Preference will be given to institutions

that can provide cost-sharing toward

tuition, fees, room and board expenses

and/or other direct participant

expenses. Cost-sharing may also be in

the form of direct administrative and

program costs.

The proposed funding will support

one academic year of study in the fields

of agriculture, business administration,

civic education, criminal justice,

economics, education, environmental

resource management, journalism/mass

communications, political science, and

public administration. Similarly, the

grant will support international roundtrip travel of students, the housing of

the students on campus or with host

families, a four to twelve week

internship in the students’ field of

specialization, culturally enriching

activities, including but not limited to

community outreach and service

projects, and additional activities such

as an orientation program.

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 grant and funding for this

program has been allocated by the

Support for the East European

Democracy (SEED) initiative. The SEED

initiative is special funding targeted to

advance the democratic and economic

transition of Central and Eastern

Europe. The funding authority for the

USIA-Bosnian Undergraduate

Development Program is provided

through the Support for East European

Democracy Act of 1989.

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/AEE–98–02.

DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: All copies

must be received at the U.S. Information

Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, D.C. time

on Thursday, December 4, 1997. Faxed

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 April

1, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The

Office of Academic Programs, European

Branch, E/AEE Room 246 U.S.

Information Agency, 301 Th Street,

S.W., Washington, D.C. 20547, (202)

205–0525, fax (202) 206–7985, E.Mail:

treed@usia.gov to request a Solicitation

Package containing more detailed

information. Please request required

application forms, and standard

guidelines for preparing proposals,

including specific criteria for

preparation of the proposal budget.

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.

Please specify USIA Senior Program

Manager Mr. Ted Kniker, and Program

Associate Ms. Jaime Lofstrand on all

inquiries and correspondences.

Interested applicants should read the

complete Federal Register

announcement before sending inquiries

or submitting proposals. Once the RFP

deadline has passed, Agency staff may

not discuss this competition in any way

with applicants until the Bureau

proposal review process has been

completed.

SUBMISSIONS: Applicants must follow all

instructions given in the Solicitation

Package. The original and 8 copies of

the application should be sent to: U.S.

Information Agency, Ref.: E/AEE–98–02,

Office of Grants Management, E/XE,

Room 326, 301 Th Street, S.W.,

Washington, D.C. 20547.

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

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. 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’’, 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

The Bosnia Undergraduate

Development Program is a one year

educational exchange that aims at

bringing Bosnian students to study at

American universities or colleges in

specified disciplines pertaining to

democracy, market economies, and civil

society per the SEED funding initiative.

Guidelines

Programs must comply with J–1 visa

regulations and the host institutions are

responsible for ensuring the 10–15

students’ return to Bosnia. Please refer

to program specific guidelines (POGI) in

the Solicitation Package for further

details.

Proposed Budget

Institutions desiring to host students

from Bosnia must submit a

comprehensive line item budget based

on the specific guidelines listed in the

Solicitation Package. ‘‘Grants awarded

to eligible organizations with less than

four years of experience in conducting
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 191 / Thursday, October 2, 1997 / Notices 51733

international exchange programs will be

limited to $60,000.’’

Applicants must submit a

comprehensive budget for the entire

program. There must be a summary

budget as well as a break-down

reflecting both the administrative

budget and the program budget. For

further clarification, applicants may

provide separate sub-budgets for each

program component, phase, location, or

activity in order to facilitate USIA

decisions on funding.

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 be reviewed by

the program office, as well as the USIA

Office of East European and NIS Affairs

and the USIA post overseas, where

appropriate. 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. Strength of Academic Program:

Proposals should exhibit academic rigor

and a demonstrated capacity to meet the

participants needs.

2. Cost Effectiveness: Plans should

indicate a high level of cost-sharing and

a competitive level of cost per

individual student for the USIA.

3. Ability to Provide Support Services:

Proposals should clearly demonstrate

how the institution will meet the

advisement and support needs of the

international students.

4. Ability to Provide Support for

Securing Internships: Proposed

programs should demonstrate that they

can strengthen and reinforce what has

been learned in the classroom by aiding

students in obtaining internships for the

summer session.

5. Ability to Provide Cultural

Enrichment and Community Outreach

Opportunities: Proposals should

demonstrate a commitment to planning,

implementing, and supporting the

Bosnian students in participating in

cultural and community outreach

programs.

6. Support of Diversity: Proposals

should demonstrate substantive support

of the Bureau’s policy on diversity.

Achievable and relevant features should

be cited in program content (orientation

and wrap-up sessions, program

meetings, resource materials and followup activities).

7. Institution’s Record/Ability:

Proposals should demonstrate an

institutional record of successful

exchange programs or a potential to

meet this standard. This includes

responsible fiscal management and full

compliance with all reporting

requirements for past Agency grants as

determined by USIA’s Office of

Contracts. The Agency will consider the

past performance of prior recipients and

the demonstrated potential of new

applicants.

8. Ability for Institutions to Develop or

Enhance Linkages with Bosnian

Institutions: Proposals should provide a

plan for developing or enhancing a

relationship with Bosnian institutions.

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.

Options for Renewals

Subject to the availability of funding

for FY 1999 and the satisfactory

performance of grant programs, USIA

may invite grantee organizations to

submit proposals of renewals of awards.

Notification

Final awards cannot be made until

funds have been appropriated by

Congress, allocated and committed

through internal USIA procedures.

Dated: September 25, 1997.

Robert Earle,

Deputy Associate Director for Educational

and Cultural Affairs.

[FR Doc. 97–25988 Filed 10–1–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8230–01–M