Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 191 / Thursday, October 2, 1997 / Notices 51723

public interest groups, and major

players such as public and private

schools, government, religious

institutions, public libraries, private

organizations, and parents. A civic

education linkage might also address

political practices such as the balance of

individual rights and group rights;

reconciliation and compromise within

the democratic process; the philosophy

and practice of majority rule and

minority rights.

Projects promoting civil society and

civic education may combine one or

more of the academic disciplines listed

below in order to pursue an affiliation

whose activities are those of the overall

College and University Affiliations

Program—namely teaching, lecturing,

faculty development, curriculum

development (e.g., for teacher training),

collaborative research, and community

outreach.

Eligible Academic Disciplines

(1) For Law Projects

Law (may include Constitutional,

Comparative, Administrative,

Regulatory, and Civil Law, Conflict

Resolution, and Intellectual Property

Rights)

Political Science/Government/Public

Policy/Public Administration

Area Studies (in combination with one

or more of the academic fields listed

here)

(2) For Media Projects

Journalism (Broadcast, Print, Electronic)

Communications Law

Area Studies (in combination with one

or more of the academic fields listed

here)

(3) For Projects in Civic Education

Secondary-Level Curriculum

Development and Teacher Training

Sociology

Government

History

Social Studies Education

Area Studies (in combination with one

or more of the academic fields listed

here)

Eligible Countries/Localities

Africa: Ethiopia, Ghana, Senegal,

South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda;

American Republics: Brazil, Bolivia,

Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican

Republic (All projects for the preceding

countries are limited to Civic Education

and Law); Ecuador, El Salvador,

Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico,

Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, and

Uruguay.

Priority will be given to proposals that

focus on civic education, ethics in

government, grassroots democracy and

citizen participation, women and

leadership, the administration of justice,

judicial reform, and alternative dispute

resolution.

East Asia and Pacific: China, Hong

Kong, Indonesia, South Korea (all

projects for the preceding countries are

limited to Civic Education and Law);

Taiwan (Media projects only); Vietnam

(Civic Education only);

East Europe, Central Europe, and the

New Independent States: Armenia

(Civic Education and Media projects

only), Bosnia (Media projects only),

Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Moldova (Law

only), and Slovakia;

North Africa, Near East, and South

Asia: The following are eligible for

bilateral or trilateral affiliations:

Bahrain, Bangladesh, Gaza, Israel,

Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Nepal, Oman,

Pakistan, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Tunisia,

United Arab Emirates, West Bank,

Yemen;

Lebanon: USIA welcomes proposals

for bilateral linkages in Lebanon which

include the use of distance education

and/or Internet to facilitate two-way

communication since, at this writing,

only one-way travel (from Lebanon to

the United States) is currently advisable.

Notice

The terms and conditions published

in this RFP are binding and may not be

modified by an 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 Educational and

Cultural Affairs.

[FR Doc. 97–26151 Filed 10–1–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8230–01–M

UNITED STATES INFORMATION

AGENCY

College and University Affiliations

Program (CUAP)

ACTION: Notice—requests for proposals.

SUMMARY: The Office of Academic

Programs of the United States

Information Agency’s Bureau of

Educational and Cultural Affairs

announces an open competition for an

assistance award program. Accredited,

post-secondary educational institutions

meeting the provisions described in IRS

regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c) may apply to

develop a partnership with (a) foreign

institution(s) of higher education in

specified fields and themes within the

humanities, social sciences, business,

and environmental studies.

Subject to the availability of funding,

awards will be made to support free

trade and market economies, and/or the

environment and sustainable

development.

A second Request for Proposals in this

issue of the Federal Register solicits

proposals in support of democratic

institution-building and/or civic

education.

Grants are subject to the availability of

funds for Fiscal Year 1998.

Proposed projects must be eligible in

terms of country(ies)/localities and

themes as described in the section

entitled ‘‘Eligibility’’ below.

Participating institutions exchange

faculty and administrators for a

combination of teaching, lecturing,

faculty and curriculum development,

collaborative research, and outreach, for

periods ranging from one week (for

planning visits) to an academic year.

The FY 98 program will also support the

establishment and maintenance of

Internet and/or e-mail communication

facilities as well as interactive distance

learning programs at foreign partner

institutions. Applicants may propose

other project activities not listed above

that are in keeping with the goals and

activities of the College and University

Affiliations Program.

The program awards up to $120,000

for a three-year period to defray the cost

of travel and per diem with an

allowance for educational materials and

some aspects of project administration.

Grants awarded to organizations with

less than four years of experience in

conducting international exchange

programs will be limited to $60,000.

Overall grant-making authority for

this program is contained in the Mutual

Education 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,
51724 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 191 / Thursday, October 2, 1997 / Notices

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 Fulbright-Hays Act.

Projects must conform with Agency

requirements and guidelines outlined in

the Solicitation Package. The POGI, a

document describing College and

University Affiliation Project Objectives,

Goals, and Implementation, is included

in the Solicitation Package.

Announcement Title and Number: All

communications with USIA concerning

this announcement should refer to the

College and University Affiliations

Program and reference number E/ASU–

98–03.

Deadline for Proposals: All copies

must be received at the U.S. Information

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

on Friday January, 16, 1998. Faxed

documents will not be accepted, nor

will documents postmarked on January

16, 1998, but received on a later date.

It is the responsibility of each applicant

to ensure compliance with the deadline.

Approximate program dates: Grants

should begin on or about September 1,

1998.

Duration: September 1, 1998–August

31, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Office of Academic Programs; Advising,

Teaching, and Specialized Programs

Division; College and University

Affiliations Program (CUAP), (E/ASU),

Room 349, U.S. Information Agency,

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

20547, phone: (202) 619–5289, fax: (202)

401–1433. Send a message via Internet

to: affiliat@usia.gov to request a

Solicitation Package. The Solicitation

Package includes more detailed award

criteria; all application forms; and

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 202/402–7616. Please request a

‘‘Catalog’’ of available documents and

order numbers when first entering the

system.

Please specify ‘‘College and

University Affiliations Program Officer’’

on all inquiries and correspondence.

Prospective applicants should read the

complete Federal Register

announcement before addressing

inquiries to the College and University

Affiliations Program staff or submitting

their 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 10 copies of

the complete application, including the

documents specified under Tabs A

through I in the ‘‘Project Objectives,

Goals, and Implementation’’ (POGI)

section of the Solicitation Package,

should be sent to: U.S. Information

Agency, Ref: E/ASU–98–03, Office of

Grants Management, E/XE, Room 326,

301 4th St., SW., Washington, DC

20547.

Applicants must also submit the

‘‘Executive Summary’’ and ‘‘Proposal

Narrative’’ and budget sections of the

proposal on a 3.5′′ diskette, formatted

for DOS. This material must be provided

in ASCII text (DOS) format with a

maximum line length of 65 characters.

USIA will transmit these files

electronically to U.S. Information

Service (USIS) posts overseas for their

review, with the goal of reducing the

time it takes to get posts’ comments for

the Agency’s grant review process.

Diversity, Freedom and Democracy

Guidelines

Pursuant to the Bureau’s authorizing

legislation, projects 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.

Eligibility

U.S. Partner and Participant Eligibility

In the U.S., participation in the

program is open to accredited two- and

four-year colleges and universities,

including graduate schools.

Applications from consortia of U.S.

colleges and universities are eligible.

Secondary U.S. partners may include

relevant non-governmental

organizations, non-profit service or

professional organizations. The lead

U.S. institution in the consortium is

responsible for submitting the

application and each application from a

consortium must document the lead

school’s stated authority to represent the

consortium. Participants representing

the U.S. institution who are traveling

under USIA grant funds must be faculty,

graduate teaching assistants, or staff

from the participating institution(s) and

must be U.S. citizens. Please note that

graduate teaching assistants are eligible

for USIA-funded participation only if

working as part of a team directed by a

faculty member.

Foreign Partner and Participant

Eligibility

Overseas, participation is open to

recognized, degree-granting institutions

of post-secondary education, which may

include internationally recognized and

established independent research

institutes. Secondary foreign partners

may include relevant governmental and

non-governmental organizations, nonprofit service or professional

organizations. Participants representing

the foreign institutions must be faculty,

graduate teaching assistants, or staff

who are citizens nationals, or

permanent residents of the country of

the foreign partner and be qualified to

hold a valid passport and U.S. J–1 visa.

Please note that graduate teaching

assistants are eligible for USIA-funded

participation only if working as part of

a team directed by a faculty member.

Ineligibility

A proposal will be deemed

technically ineligible if:

(1) It does not fully adhere to the

guidelines established herein and in the

solicitation Package;

(2) It is not received by the deadline;

(3) The length of the proposed project

is less than three years;

(4) It is not submitted by the U.S.

partner;
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 191 / Thursday, October 2, 1997 / Notices 51725

(5) One of the partner institutions is

ineligible;

(6) The foreign geographic location is

ineligible;

(7) It involves a request to fund

exchanges between the United States

and more than one country, with the

exception of trilateral Asian Pacific

Economic Cooperation (APEC) and

trilateral North Africa, Near East, and

South Asia (NEA) projects. Please see

the section on eligible countries/

localities for complete details;

(8) The theme or academic discipline

is not listed as eligible in the RFP,

herein;

(9) The amount requested of USIA

exceeds $120,000 for the three-year

project.

Eligible Theme, Academic Disciplines,

and Countries/Localities

This request for proposals is limited

to support for free trade and market

economies and/or environment and

sustainable development.

Please note the following explanatory

details:

A. Eligible Academic Disciplines and

Countries/Localities

Eligible academic disciplines and

countries and localities are listed under

each theme. Only those countries or

localities and partnership configurations

identified under each theme qualify.

Specifics should be examined carefully

before proposal preparation.

B. Inclusion of Area Studies

Area Studies are included as

academic disciplines to engender a

broader cultural understanding and

context in which to pursue a linkage

project within the stated theme. Area

Studies may be incorporated into a

given project but only in conjunction

with one or more of the other academic

disciplines listed under the theme. Area

Studies includes U.S. and partner

country history, literature, and social

sciences.

C. Bilateral Projects—Except for NEA

and APEC Trilateral Linkages

In most instances, the program invites

proposals for bilateral projects only,

involving the U.S. and one foreign

country (as specified) only. The only

exceptions are North Africa, Near East,

and South Asia (NEA) and Asia Pacific

Economic Cooperation member nation

trilateral linkages.

Eligible Theme

Support of free trade and market

economies and/or the environment and

sustainable development.

Under this theme, projects are

solicited which promote higher

education’s role in economic

development and the development of

market economies, trade, investment

overseas, through faculty and

curriculum development, teaching and

lecturing, and outreach. Projects which

also focus on the environment should

address the public policy aspects of

sustainable development.

Affiliation projects in trade and

economics are expected to establish or

expand mutually beneficial academic

programs in business and economics,

and to promote international investment

by strengthening institutional links to

the private sector. Where possible, such

affiliations should contribute to the

formulation of more open and

responsible trade policy. Where

appropriate and relevant, plans and

anticipated outcomes of these affiliation

projects should reflect responsible

stewardship of the environment.

Business/economics/trade projects with

the potential for having an adverse

impact on the environment will have a

low priority.

Environment/sustainable

development projects should address

environmental issues having an impact

on U.S. and global interests. Such

affiliation projects should help establish

or expand environmental policy studies

programs through faculty and

curriculum development, teaching and

lecturing, and outreach. For the

designated countries listed below,

projects are encouraged which link the

study of free trade and market

economies with the environment and

sustainable development.

Whenever feasible, participants

involved in either trade/economics

policy projects or international

environmental policy studies projects

should make their training and

personnel resources, as well as results of

their collaborative research, available to

government, NGOs, and business.

Eligible Academic Disciplines

Economics (Comparative and

International)

Business/Business Administration/

Business Management

International Marketing/International

Trade

Commercial Law (including

Comparative Law, International

Treaties, Intellectual Property Rights)

Environmental Law and Regulation

Environmental Policy and Resource

Management

Environmental Sciences/Natural

Resource Sciences

Area Studies (in combination with one

or more of the academic fields above)

Eligible Countries/Localities

Africa: Burkina Faso, Ghana, Namibia,

Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania,

Uganda, and Zambia;

American Republics: Brazil, Chile,

Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Paraguay,

Uruguay. Priority will be given to

proposals that focus on economic

development and free trade;

East Asia and Pacific: The following

Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation

(APEC) member economies are eligible

within a trilateral, NOT bilateral,

affiliation between the U.S. and two

APEC member economies: Australia,

Canada (see the section on ‘‘Western

Europe’’ below), China, Chile, Hong

Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea,

Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand,

Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and

Thailand;

In addition, Malaysia, Thailand, and

Vietnam; are eligible for bilateral

projects only in the Environment and

Sustainable Development category;

East Europe, Central Europe, and the

Commonwealth of Independent States:

Moldova (projects focusing on Free

Trade and Market Economies only);

North Africa, Near East, and South

Asia (NEA): The following are eligible

for a bilateral or trilateral affiliation:

Bahrain, Bangladesh, Gaza, Jordan,

Kuwait, Morocco, Nepal, Oman,

Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, SRI

Lanka, Syria (Environment and

Sustainable Development only),

Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, West

Bank, Yemen;

Lebanon: USIA welcomes proposals

for bilateral linkages in Lebanon which

include the use of distance education

and Internet to facilitate two-way

communication since, at this writing,

only one-way travel (from Lebanon to

the United States) is advisable.

Western Europe: Canada, eligible only

in an APEC trilateral partnership.

Proposals involving Canada and East

Asian APEC nations are encouraged in

recognition of the array of trade interests

and environment/sustainable

development issues that Canada and the

United States share with Asian nations.

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
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