Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 34 / Thursday, February 20, 1997 / Notices 7829

determine whether an entity is an

eligible participant of a qualified cost

sharing arrangement and whether each

eligible participant is sharing the costs

and benefits of intangible development

on an arm’s length basis. INTL–401–88

relates to the pricing of transfers of

tangible property, intangible property,

or services between related parties to

ensure that taxpayers clearly reflect

income and to prevent the avoidance of

taxes with respect to such transactions.

Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

1,000.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 7

hours, 51 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden

Hours: 7,850.

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: February 13, 1997.

Garrick R. Shear,

IRS Reports Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 97–4189 Filed 2–19–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4830–01–U

UNITED STATES INFORMATION

AGENCY

Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program

Orientation

ACTION: Notice—Request for Proposals.

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. Public and

private non-profit organizations, with a

minimum of four years of experience in

successfully administering orientation

programs, and meeting the provisions

described in IRS regulation 26 CFR

1.501(c) may apply to develop and

administer August 1997 orientation

activities in Washington DC. for

approximately 500 foreign and U.S.

teachers and dependents participating

in the Fulbright Teacher Exchange

Program. The activities prepare

participants in the program to teach in

the educational system of another

country. The programming specifically

strives: (a) To provide the U.S. teachers

with opportunities to meet face to face

with their foreign exchange partners to

discuss the details of their individual

exchange assignments; (b) to provide

participants with an understanding of

the educational systems in which they

will be teaching; and (c) to provide

teachers with practical guidance on

living in their countries of destination,

with particular references to crosscultural differences.

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 other countries of the

world.’’ (The funding authority for the

program cited above is provided

through the Fulbright-Hays Act.)

Programs and projects must conform

with Agency requirements and

guildlines 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 announcement should refer to the

above title and reference number E/

ASX–97–02.

DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: All copies

must be received at the U.S. Information

Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time

on Thursday, April 3, 1997. Faxed

documents will not be accepted, nor

will documents postmarked April 3,

1997, but received at a later date. It is

the responsibility of each applicant to

ensure that proposals are received by

the above deadline. Grants should begin

on or above May 15, 1997 and run

through April 30, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.

Ilo-Mai Harding, Teacher Exchange

Branch, E/ASX, room 349, 301 4th

Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547,

telephone: (202) 619–4556, fax: (202)

401–1433, Internet: IHARDING@USIA.

GOV to request a Solicitation Package

containing more detailed award criteria,

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

or from the Internet Gopher at gopher:/

/gopher.usia.gov. Under the heading

‘‘International Exchanges/Training,’’

select ‘‘Request for Proposals (RFPs).’’

Please read ‘‘About the Following RFPs’’

before downloading.

Please specify USIA Program Officer

Ilo-Mai Harding 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 10 copies of

the application should be sent to: U.S.

Information Agency, Ref.: E/ASX–02,

Office of Grants Management, E/XE,

Room 326, 301 4th Street, SW.,

Washington, DC, 20547.

Diversity 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-
7830 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 34 / Thursday, February 20, 1997 / Notices

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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Overview: August Orientation

Workshop

Approximately 500 U.S. and foreign

exchange teachers and their dependents

from approximately 25 countries will

attend an orientation workshop in

Washington, DC, from August 4 to 8.

Names and numbers of participants will

be provided in May/June after

completion of the educator matching

process. (There will be approximately

135 U.S. teachers, 165 foreign teachers

and 200 family members.)

Participating countries arrange for

non-U.S. teachers to arrive at the U.S.

orientation site. Flights carrying nonU.S. teachers and their families should

arrive on August 4, 1997 in the

Washington, DC area. Arrangements

should be made by the recipient

institution for the U.S. teachers and

their families to arrive at the orientation

on August 5, which is a rest day by

foreign teachers. (The recipient

institution must require U.S. teachers to

make their own travel arrangements to

the orientation site, on a reimbursable

basis). The workshop itself will take

place August 6–7. Departure will be

scheduled for August 8.

Purpose: The purpose of the August

orientation workshop is to provide U.S.

and foreign teachers and their spouses

and dependents with a wide range of

briefings and discussions to assist them

in preparing to function effectively in

host schools and communities here and

abroad. Partners meet face to face and

share important information about their

workplace and other particulars

concerning their individual exchanges.

The workshop should focus on the

teachers’ need to understand education

in the host country, the professional and

personal aspects of the exchange, and

the many aspects of adjustment to living

abroad, including cross-cultural

orientation. The workshop should also

address the anticipated needs and

concerns of spouses and children so that

they are able to optimally benefit from

the exchange year abroad.

Agenda: An equivalent of one day

should be set aside for the U.S. teachers

and their families, as well as exchange

partners and their families, to discuss

their individual exchanges one-on-one.

Sessions for foreign teachers and

spouses should include:

(1) Overview of the U.S. education

system, highlighting contemporary

issues affecting U.S. education;

(2) In-depth briefings on

administrative procedures and

instructional practices of the U.S.

education system, by subject and level;

(3) Briefings, with information and

materials, on techniques of teaching

modern foreign languages and English

as a second language for the foreign

teachers assigned such classes in the

United States;

(4) Information and materials on

living in different regions of the United

States, including educational practices,

local laws, customs and culture;

(5) Discussion about cultural and

ethnic diversity within the U.S. and

cross-cultural issues relative to living

and working here;

(6) Presentations by a wide variety of

individuals who represent diverse

backgrounds and life experiences;

(7) Administrative matters.

Sessions for U.S. teachers and spouses

should include:

(1) In-depth discussions by country,

and in some cases by level, on

education in participating countries, as

appropriate;

(2) Briefing, with information and

materials, on techniques of teaching

English as a foreign language and other

relevant subjects for U.S. teachers

assigned such classes abroad;

(3) Tips on living abroad, by country;

(4) Discussion about cross-cultural

issues relative to living and working

abroad;

(5) Administrative matters.

Additional Activities

In developing the program agenda,

cooperating institution may wish to

provide additional activities designed to

strengthen teachers’ and dependents’

abilities to function in a foreign setting.

Time constraints should be considered.

Sessions must not interfere with the

counterpart (one-on-one) discussions

between partners. Possibilities might

include sessions on cross-cultural

communication and understanding, and

visits to embassies, consulates, and

cultural gatherings. It may also be

possible to schedule sessions on August

6 when all foreign teachers are present

and most U.S. teachers will have arrived

by the afternoon.

Speakers

Cooperating institution is to identity

and invite speakers and panelists to

cover all sessions, but must demonstrate

its ability and willingness to draw on its

own resources to identify such

individuals, as will as other resources

beyond the organization. This includes

universities in the area, consulting

groups, embassy personnel or other

experts. Speakers may include USIA

specialists, staff from foreign

counterpart agencies, university faculty,

international and intercultural

specialists, foreign consular and

embassy officials, recent former

exchange teachers, foreign teachers

currently on exchange in the United

States, and others. USIA must approve

speaker/panelist selections. During the

sessions set aside for administrative

matters, USIA staff will specifically

designate Agency specialists and staff

from foreign counterpart agencies to

serve as resource people and speakers.

The cooperating institution may also be

asked to call on these people to assist

with other orientation sessions.

Services

In addition to developing the agenda

and securing speakers, the cooperating

institution will provide the following

services in consultation with USIA

program officers:

(1) Arrange economical on-site

housing preferably in University

dormitories for teachers and their

dependents; dependents will range from

infants to adults. (USIA program officers

will provide specific information as to

the numbers, sex and age of orientation

participants);

(2) Arrange for on-site housing, as

needed, for U.S. Government personnel,

selected panelists, speakers, and staff of

USIA’s foreign counterpart agencies;

(3) Arrange for three meals per day

on-site for participants;

(4) Arrange on-site day care and

educational and recreational activities

for spouses and children during time

when exchange teachers are in sessions;

arrange supervised care for children six

months to eighteen years to permit

teachers and their spouses to attend

jointly scheduled activities; (in order to

cut costs, child care should not be

provided during optional activities and

all meals);

(5) Reimburse U.S. teachers for oneway transportation, (air/bus/train/car/

airport transfer), on an as-needed basis,

from their homes to the orientation; the

Agency estimates these costs will

average $250 per teacher; (if a round trip

super saver is less expensive than an

economy one-way fare, the teacher may

be reimbursed the former);

(6) Reimburse selected speakers,

panelists and others for travel costs and

pay honoraria, where required, up to

$300;
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 34 / Thursday, February 20, 1997 / Notices 7831

(7) Arrange for transportation for U.S.

and foreign teachers, spouses and

dependents to any activities or

programming off-site;

(8) Arrange for transportation for:

(a) Foreign teachers (and their

baggage) arriving on group or individual

flights to the orientation site on the

designated official arrival day and up to

three days before this date;

(b) All U.S. and foreign teachers and

resources (and their baggage) departing

from the orientation site to major metroarea plane, bus or rail departure points

on the designated official departure day

only;

(9) Prepare name tags for all

orientation participants, using a colorcoded badge system designating

exchange teachers by country as well as

speakers, university personnel, and

USIA staff;

(10) Prepare signs/posters to guide

participants to their on-site destinations.

Reports

The institution will be expected to

design and distribute an evaluation for

the August orientation to be completed

by the teachers. Such a form will cover

program content, including meeting

sessions, as well as logistical

arrangements such as housing, food, and

general meeting facilities. The form will

be cleared by USIA prior to its use.

Participants’ evaluations should be

tabulated and sent to USIA no later than

four weeks after the orientation. The

institution should also provide the

Agency with a substantive written

analysis of the orientation, with

recommendations for improving future

orientations (no later than ten weeks

after the orientation). The Agency

reserves the right to conduct an

independent evaluation of the program.

The institution is also required to

provide a breakdown of actual cost

figures for the orientation no later than

ten weeks after the completion of the

orientation.

Special note: The cooperating

institution will survey the literature of

appropriate subject fields to determine

materials of greatest potential value to

teachers. If approved by USIA, recipient

institution will purchase materials (up

to $30 per teacher). The institution will

also compile other materials as directed

by USIA. These may include materials

on U.S. education, including current

trends and initiatives, materials on

education in selected foreign countries,

materials on cross-cultural adjustment

and understanding, materials that

provide guidance on living abroad, and

other materials which the institution

and USIA staff consider useful. The

institution will provide these materials

to U.S. and foreign exchange teachers at

the orientation.

Note: USIA may also request that

cooperating institution arrange additional

orientation and/or training, or workshop

briefings for program participants and

administrators, resource people, and

organizers during the award period.

Cooperating institution may also be asked to

provide programming and other services to

USIA including, but not limited to, peer

committee chairpersons workshops,

predeparture orientation activities, foreign

and U.S. teacher debriefings, materials

purchase and distribution, and the

development of new program information,

including materials and videos.

Proposed Budget: The contracted

organization must submit a

comprehensive line-item budget based

on the specific guidance in the

Solicitation Package. There must be a

summary budget as well as a breakdown reflecting both the administrative

budget and the program budget. For

better understanding or further

clarification, applicants may provide

separate sub-budgets for each program

component, phase, location, or activity

in order to facilitate USIA decisions on

funding. Administrative costs should be

kept low; this will be an important

factor in grant competition. Also, the

ability to achieve cost-effectiveness

within budget guidelines through costsharing will enhance competitive

proposals.

Please refer to the Solicitation

Package for complete budget guidelines

and formatting instructions.

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 other

USIA Offices, where appropriate.

Proposals may also be reviewed by the

Office of the General Counsel. 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. 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 the program idea:

Proposals should exhibit originality,

substance, precision, and relevance to

Agency mission.

2. Program planning: 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.

3. Ability to achieve program

objectives: Objectives should be

reasonable, feasible, and flexible.

Proposals should clearly demonstrate

how the institution will meet the

program’s objectives and plan.

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

and program content (orientation

sessions, resource materials, and choice

of resources).

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 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.

7. Project Evaluation: Proposals

should include a plan to evaluate the

activity’s success, both as the activities

unfold and at the end of the program. A

draft survey questionnaire or other

technique plus description of a

methodology to use to link outcomes to

original project objectives is

recommended.

8. Cost-effectiveness: 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.

9. Cost-sharing: 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 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
7832 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 34 / Thursday, February 20, 1997 / Notices

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: February 13, 1997.

Dell Pendergrast,

Deputy Associate Director for Educational

and Cultural Affairs.

[FR Doc. 97–4104 Filed 2–19–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8230–01–M