55318 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 205 / Thursday, October 23, 1997 / Notices

The following paragraph applies to all

of the collections of information covered

by this notice:

An agency may not conduct or

sponsor, and a person is not required to

respond to, a collection of information

unless the collection of information

displays a valid OMB control number.

Books or records relating to a collection

of information must be retained as long

as their contents may become material

in the administration of any internal

revenue law. Generally, tax returns and

tax return information are confidential,

as required by 26 U.S.C. 6103.

Request for Comments: Comments

submitted in response to this notice will

be summarized and/or included in the

request for OMB approval. All

comments will become a matter of

public record. Comments are invited on:

(a) whether the collection of information

is necessary for the proper performance

of the functions of the agency, including

whether the information shall have

practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the

agency’s estimate of the burden of the

collection of information; (c) ways to

enhance the quality, utility, and clarity

of the information to be collected; (d)

ways to minimize the burden of the

collection of information on

respondents, including through the use

of automated collection techniques or

other forms of information technology;

and (e) estimates of capital or start-up

costs and costs of operation,

maintenance, and purchase of services

to provide information.

Approved: October 17, 1997.

Garrick R. Shear,

IRS Reports Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 97–28164 Filed 10–22–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4830–01–P

UNITED STATES INFORMATION

AGENCY

College and University Affiliations

Program (CUAP)

NOTICE—Revised Request for Proposals

(RFP). This notice amends the RFP

published on October 2, 1997, providing

for assistance awards by the Office of

Academic Programs of the United States

Information Agency to support free

trade and market economies, and/or the

environment and sustainable

development. The RFP is amended to

include Israel as an eligible country for

proposed bilateral and trilateral

projects. The RFP’s closing date remains

January 16, 1998. Potential applicants

should refer to the RFP published on

October 2, 1997 for full details about

applying for assistance awards under

this RFP.

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 202/401–7616. 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.

Notification

Final awards cannot be made until

funds have been appropriated by

Congress, allocated and committed

through internal USIA procedures.

Dated: October 15, 1997.

Robert L. Earle,

Deputy Associate Director for Educational

and Cultural Affairs.

[FR Doc. 97–28067 Filed 10–22–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8230–01–M

UNITED STATES INFORMATION

AGENCY

Freedom Support Act Junior Faculty

Development Program

ACTION: Request for proposals.

SUMMARY: The 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. Public and

private non-profit organizations meeting

the provisions described in IRS

regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c) may apply to

develop and administer a

comprehensive faculty and curriculum

development program for 82 young

faculty from Russia, Ukraine and

Kazakhstan who will be affiliated at

accredited colleges and universities

throughout the United States in the

following fields: business

administration, economics, educational

administration, environmental studies,

journalism, law, library science,

political science, psychology, public

policy, public administration, sociology,

architecture and urban planning,

cultural anthropology, history,

linguistics, philosophy, literature, and

American studies.

It is the intent of USIA to provide

participants with high quality programs

designed to meet their specific academic

and professional needs, within the

parameters of the JFDP, and to promote

long-term sustained interaction between

and among participants, U.S. faculty

and their home and host institutions.

USIA anticipates awarding one grant

for this program. Should an applicant

organization prefer to work with other

organizations in the implementation of

this program, USIA prefers that a

subcontract arrangement be developed.

USIA will entertain separately

submitted proposals for joint program

management, but the proposals must

demonstrate a value-added relationship,

and must clearly delineate

responsibilities so as not to duplicate

efforts.

Overall grant making authority for

this program is contained in the Mutual

Educational and Cultural Exchange Act

of 1961, Pub. L. 87–256, as amended,

also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act.

The purpose of the Act is ‘‘to enable the

Government of the United States to

increase mutual understanding between

the people of the United States and the

people of other countries * * *; to

strengthen the ties which unite us with

other nations by demonstrating the

educational and cultural interests,

developments, and achievements of the

people of the United States and other

nations * * * and thus to assist in the

development of friendly, sympathetic

and peaceful relations between the

United States and the other countries of

the world.’’ The funding authority for

the program cited above is provided

through the Freedom Support Act.
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 205 / Thursday, October 23, 1997 / Notices 55319

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–98–04.

Deadline for Proposals

All copies must be received at the

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

Washington, D.C. time on Thursday,

January 8, 1998. 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 in March 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The

Academic Exchanges Division,

European Branch, E/AEE, Room 248,

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

S.W., Washington, D.C. 20547,

Telephone: (202) 205–0525, Fax: (202)

260–7985, 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 Program Officer

Jill Jarvi 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 nine copies of

the application should be sent to: U.S.

Information Agency, Ref.: E/AEE–98–04,

Office of Grants Management, E/XE,

Room 326, 301 4th Street, S.W.,

Washington, D.C. 20547.

Applicants must also submit the

‘‘Executive Summary’’ and ‘‘Proposal

Narrative’’ 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

USIS posts overseas for their review,

with the goal of reducing the time it

takes to get posts’ comments for the

Agency’s grants review process.

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 Freedom Support Act Junior

Faculty Development Program will

provide a one-year, non-degree program

of guided research, curriculum

development, course auditing, course

instruction and practical internships for

approximately 47 Russian, 25 Ukrainian

and 10 Kazakh young faculty. All

participants are expected to be placed at

U.S. host institutions under the

mentorship of American faculty

members in their respective academic

disciplines. The Junior Faculty

Development Program (JFDP) is

intended to provide opportunities for

young faculty with great potential as

scholars and instructors in their

disciplines to: (1) upgrade their

knowledge of the subjects they teach; (2)

acquire new teaching skills and

methodologies; (3) produce new

curricula; and (4) develop professional

contacts and initiate institutional

linkages for their home institutions.

The selected organization will

administer the U.S. components of the

Junior Faculty Development Program

(JFDP). Overseas components, such as

recruitment and selection of JFDP

participants, will be facilitated in Russia

by the Moscow Fulbright Representative

Office, in Ukraine by USIS Kylv’s

Exchanges Office and in Kazakhstan by

USIS Almaty.

Guidelines

Programs must comply with J–1 visa

regulations. Please refer to program

specific guidelines (POGI) in the

Solicitation Package for further details.

Administration of the program must be

in compliance with reporting and

withholding regulations for federal,

state, and local taxes as applicable.

Recipient organizations should

demonstrate tax regulation adherence in

the proposal narrative and budget.

Drafts of all printed materials

developed for this program should be

submitted to the Agency for review and

approval. All official documents should

highlight the U.S. government’s role as

program sponsor and funding source.

The USIA requests that it receive the

copyright use and be allowed to

distribute the material as it sees fit.

Proposed Budget

Organizations must submit a

comprehensive line item budget based

on the specific guidance in the

Solicitation Package. Awards may not

exceed $2,133,000. Administrative and

indirect cost should not exceed 20% of

the total grant award. Grants awarded to

eligible organizations with less than

four years of experience in conducting

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 breakdown 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.

Allowable costs for the program

include the following:
55320 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 205 / Thursday, October 23, 1997 / Notices

(1) General Program Costs.

(2) Participant Costs.

(3) Administrative Costs.

Please refer to the Solicitation

Package for complete budget guidelines

and formatting instructions.

Review Process

USIA will acknowledge receipts 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 Eastern Europe and NIS Affairs

and 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. Program Development and

Management: Proposals should exhibit,

originality, substance, precision,

innovation, and relevance to Agency

mission. Objectives should be

reasonable, feasible, and flexible.

Proposals should clearly demonstrate

how the organization will meet the

program’s objectives. A detailed agenda

and relevant work plan should

demonstrate substantive undertakings

and logistical capacity. Agenda and plan

should adhere to the program overview

and guidelines described above.

2. Multiplier Effect/Impact: Proposed

programs should strengthen long-term

mutual understanding, including

maximum sharing of information and

establishment of long-term institutional

and individual linkages. Proposals

should also include creative ways to

involve students in their U.S.

communities.

3. Support of Diversity: Proposals

should demonstrate the recipient’s

commitment to promoting the

awareness and understanding of

diversity.

4. Institution’s Record/Ability:

Proposals should demonstrate an

institutional record of successful

exchange programs, including

responsible fiscal management and full

compliance with all reporting

requirements for past 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. Proposed personnel and

institutional resources should be

adequate and appropriate to achieve the

program or project’s goals.

5. Follow-on and Alumni Activities:

Proposals should provide a plan for

continued follow-on activity (without

USIA support) which insures that USIA

supported programs are not isolated

events.

6. Project Evaluation: Proposals

should include a plan to evaluate the

program’s success, both during the after

the program. USIA recommends that the

proposal include a draft survey

questionnaire or other technique, plus a

description of methodologies that can be

used to link outcomes to original project

objectives. Award-receiving

organizations/institutions will be

expected to submit intermediate reports

after each project component is

concluded or quarterly, whichever is

less frequent.

7. Cost-effectiveness and Cost

Sharing: The overhead and

administrative components of the

proposal, including salaries and

honoraria, should be kept as low as

possible. All other items should be

necessary and appropriate. Proposals

should maximize 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 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.

Option for Renewals

Subject to the availability of funding

for FY 1999 and FY 2000, and the

satisfactory performance of grant

programs, USIA may invite grantee

organizations to submit proposals for

renewals of awards.

Dated: October 15, 1997.

Robert L. Earle,

Deputy Associate Director for Educational

and Cultural Affairs.

[FR Doc. 97–28065 Filed 10–22–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8230–01–M