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
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 191 / Thursday, October 2, 1997 / Notices 51729

Citizen Exchanges (E–PN), Room 224,

U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th Street,

SW., Washington DC 20547, attn:

Cassandra Barber, tel: (202) 619–5327

and fax: (202) 619–4350, or Internet

address: cbarber@usia.gov, to request a

Solicitation Package which includes:

proposal and budget guidelines and all

application forms.

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 Packager 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 Program Officer

Cassandra Barber on all inquiries and

correspondence. 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 10 copies of

the application should be sent to: U.S.

Information Agency, Ref.: E/PN–5–98,

Office of Grant Management, E/XE,

Room 326, 301 4th Street, SW.,

Washington, DC 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, socio-economic 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

counties 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

USIA is interested in proposals that

encourage the growth of democratic

institutions in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus,

and Moldova. Exchanges and training

programs supported by Office of Citizen

Exchange’s institutional grants should

operate at two levels: they should

enhance institutional relationships; and

they should offer practical information

to individuals to assist them with their

professional responsibilities. Strong

proposals usually have the following

characteristics: an existing partner

relationship between an American

organization and an in-country

institution in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus,

or Moldova; a proven track record of

conducting program activity; costsharing from American or in-country

sources, including donations of air fares,

hotel and/or housing costs; experienced

staff with language facility; and a clear,

convincing plan showing how

permanent results will be accomplished

as a result of the activity funded by the

grant. USIA wants to see tangible forms

of time and money contributed to the

project by the prospective grantee

institution, as well as funding from

third party sources.

Unless otherwise specified below,

project activity may include:

internships; study tours; short-term

training; consultations; and extended,

intensive workshops taking place in the

United States or in Russia, Ukraine,

Belarus, or Moldova. Proposals should

reflect the authors’ understanding of the

political, economic, and social

environment in which the program

activity will take place.

We encourage applicants to design

programs for non-English speakers.

Programs can take place in the United

States or in the four countries. With the

exception of the Women’s Leadership

Training Project described below, we

want single country programs, not

programs that mix NIS participants

together. USIA is interested in proposals

whose designs take into account the

need for ongoing sharing of information

and training. Examples include: ‘‘train

the trainers’’ models; support for

training centers in Russia, Ukraine,

Belarus or Moldova; plans to create

professional networks or professional

associations to share information; and/

or establishing ongoing internet

communication

USIA will give priority to proposals

that respond to the following specific

topics for Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and

Moldova.

For Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and

Moldova

Women’s Leadership Training

Women must take their place in the

political arena if democracy is to take

root in these countries. USIA is

interested in proposals that offer

leadership training skills to women

active in their own communities in

Russia, Ukraine, Belarus or Moldova. In

Russia, the majority of program activity

should not take place in Moscow, but

rather focus on helping women in

Russian regions. The focus of the

training programs should be on how to

identify priorities, organize and form

coalitions, and to influence decision

makers about issues and problems

affecting the well-being of people in

local communities. Proposals are not

limited to a one-country focus, but may

also address how to build networks

among women’s organizations in these

four countries. Prospective grantee

institutions should identify the NIS

local organizations and individuals with

whom they are proposing to collaborate

and describe in detail previous

cooperative programming and contacts.

Program activity may take place either

in the NIS or in the United States. This

activity is intended to follow up on

issues addressed in the Vital Voices

Conference held in Vienna from July 9–

11. For more information on the

conference, please see the Vital Voices

Homepage at http://www.usia.gov/

vitalvoices/ for more information.

For Russia

US-Based Internships for Russian

Journalists and Media Managers

USIA is interested in proposals for

journalistic training and management

for Russia regional media organizations

(Moscow and St. Petersburg are

excluded), and we particularly welcome

proposals for Samara and surrounding

regions and Khabarovsk. Journalistic

training in basic skills and concepts

could include; effective writing,

investigative reporting, objectivity, the

clear labeling of editorials and opinion

pieces, intellectual property issues and

ethics. Media management training

(both print and electronic) should focus

on management of media as a business;

management techniques, desk top

publishing, advertising, marketing,

distribution, personnel, public relations,

and the financial benefits and pitfalls of
51730 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 191 / Thursday, October 2, 1997 / Notices

journalistic advocacy. Radio internships

would be especially welcome. USIS

Moscow will coordinate selection of

journalist with the grantee organization.

Preference will be given to long-term

internships for English speakers. The

US program should be a practical,

hands-on experience in an American

media organization, not an academic

course of study.

Distance Learning in the Field of

Business Management

USIA is interested in proposals that

establish or expand distance learning

programs in business and management

at Russian universities or institutes

outside of Moscow. The beneficiaries of

such a program would be both students

and professionals already working for

enterprises. Specific programs could

include the delivery of management and

business content through e-mail, video

or text-based internet. Travel to the

United States by Russian providers and

trips to Russia by American course

organizers are essential. Proposals

should address in detail: technical

requirements for delivery of business/

management content through distance

learning mechanisms; training

requirements for instructors and faculty

on how to use the media, i.e., train the

trainers; how appropriate print

materials might be integrated with a

distance learning approach, and;

language of instruction issues. Proposals

should show Russian institutional

commitment (written letters of support)

and tangible Russian cost-shares in the

form of space, security, salaries, and

support for visiting Americans such as

local housing and transportation.

Interested American organizations

should plan trips to Russia of at least 2

weeks duration to get programs

underway and to monitor progress.

Short-term visits of a few days duration

are discouraged. Grantee institutions are

expected to consult closely with USIS

Moscow on the development of this

program. USIA is interested in a

maximum utilization of low end

technologies so that the project model

might be replicated in other regions.

Because of the complexity of this

program, USIA will consider funding

proposals in the $150,000–$200,000

range. See Project Funding section

below for additional guidance on

funding levels.

For Moldova

Creation of an Independent

Broadcaster’s Association

USIA is interested in proposals that

strengthen independent journalism in

Moldova, specifically by assisting in the

establishment of an independent

broadcasters’ association. An audiovisual council to govern broadcast

media has recently been established,

and the industry has recognized the

need to establish an association to

interact with the newly-formed industry

regulator. In addition, the association

could work to provide continued

professional training and even attract

advertising money to the industry. This

project would help the association

develop a statute and regulations, train

a Moldovan staff to run the organization

and create ties between Moldovan

broadcasters and American

broadcasters’ associations.

USIA envisions most of the project

activity taking place in Moldova. Project

organizers would assist in helping set

up the association and educating

Moldova broadcasts on what an

association actually does. In-country

training of several months in duration

by American experts could be followed

by a month-long visit to the US by 3–

4 Moldovans (who have demonstrated

the potential to lead the effort) for

further training and contact with

American professional counterparts. A

follow-up visit six months later by

American trainers to ensure the effort

has taken hold would be a natural third

phase of the program.

Selection of Participants

Proposals should describe clearly the

type of persons who will participate in

the program as well as the process by

which participants will be selected. We

recommend that programs with

internships in the US include letters of

commitment from host institutions,

even if tentative. In the selection of

foreign participants, USIA and USIS

posts abroad retain the right to nominate

all participants and to accept or deny

participants recommended by grantee

institutions. However, grantee

institutions are usually asked by USIA

to suggest names of potential

participants. Priority will be given to

foreign participants who have not

previously traveled to the United States.

Visa Regulations

Foreign participants on programs

sponsored by the Office of Citizen

Exchanges are granted J–1 Exchange

Visitor visas by the American Embassy

in the sending country.

Project Funding

Since USIA grant assistance

constitutes only a portion of total

project funding, proposals should list

and provide evidence of other sources of

financial and in-kind support. Proposals

with substantial private sector support

from foundations, corporations, and

other institutions will be considered

highly competitive.

Although no set funding limit exists,

proposals for less than $80,000 will

receive preference. Organizations with

less than four years of successful

experience in managing international

exchange programs are limited to

$60,000. Applicants are invited to

provide both an all-inclusive budget as

well as separate sub-budgets for each

program component, phase, location, or

activity in order to facilitate USIA

decisions on funding. While a

comprehensive line item budget based

on the model in the Solicitation Package

must be submitted, separate component

budgets are optional.

The following project costs are

eligible for consideration for funding:

1. International and domestic air

fares; visas; transit costs; ground

transportation costs.

2. Per Diem. For the U.S. program,

organizations have the option of using a

flat $140/day for program participants

or the published U.S. Federal per diem

rates for individual American cities. For

activities outside the U.S., the published

Federal per diem rates must be used.

NOTE: U.S. escorting staff must use the

published Federal per diem rates, not

the flat rate. Per diem rates may be

accessed at http://

www.policyworks.gov/.

3. Interpreters: If needed, interpreters

for the U.S. program are provided by the

U.S. State Department Language

Services Division. Typically, a pair of

simultaneous interpreters is provided

for every four visitors who need

interpretation. USIA grants do not pay

for foreign interpreters to accompany

delegations from their home country.

Grant proposal budgets should contain

a flat $140/day per diem for each

Department of State interpreter, as well

as home-program-home air

transportation of $400 per interpreter

plus any U.S. travel expenses during the

program. Salary expenses are covered

centrally and should not be part of an

applicant’s proposed budget.

4. Book and cultural allowance:

Participants are entitled to and escorts

are reimbursed a one-time cultural

allowance of $150 per person, plus a

participant book allowance of $50. U.S.

staff do not get these benefits.

5. Consultants. May be used to

provide specialized expertise or to make

presentations. Daily honoraria generally

do not exceed $250 per day.

Subcontracting organizations may also

be used, in which case the written

agreement between the prospective

grantee and subcontractor should be

included in the proposal.
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