Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 194 / Thursday, October 5, 2000 / Notices 59493

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,’’ the Bureau ‘‘shall take

appropriate steps to provide

opportunities for participation in such

programs to human rights and

democracy leaders of such countries.’’

Public Law 106–113 requires that the

governments of the countries described

above do not have inappropriate

influence in the selection process.

Proposals should reflect advancement of

this goal in their program contents, to

the full extent deemed feasible.

Review Process: The Bureau 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. All eligible

proposals will be reviewed by the

program office. Eligible proposals will

then be forwarded to panels of senior

Bureau officers for advisory review.

Proposals may also be reviewed by the

Office of the Legal Advisor or by other

Bureau elements. Final funding

decisions are at the discretion of the

Department of State’s Assistant

Secretary for Educational and Cultural

Affairs. Final technical authority for

assistance awards (grants or cooperative

agreements) resides with the Bureau’s

Grants Officer.

Review Criteria: Technically eligible

applications will be competitively

reviewed according to the criteria stated

below. Particular weight will be given to

items one and two, and all remaining

criteria will be evaluated equally.

1. Overall Quality: Proposals should

exhibit originality and substance,

consonant with the highest standards of

American teaching and scholarship.

Program design should reflect the main

currents as well as the debates within

the subject discipline of each institute.

Program elements should be coherently

and thoughtfully integrated. Lectures,

panels, field visits and readings, taken

as a whole, should offer a balanced

presentation of issues, reflecting both

the continuity of the American

experience as well as the diversity and

dynamism inherent in it.

2. Program Planning and

Administration: Proposals should

demonstrate careful planning. The

organization and structure of the

institute should be clearly delineated

and be fully responsive to all program

objectives. A program syllabus (noting

specific sessions and topical readings

supporting each academic unit) should

be included, as should a calendar of

activities. The travel component should

not simply be a tour, but should be an

integral and substantive part of the

program, reinforcing and

complementing the academic segment.

Proposals should provide evidence of

continuous administrative and

managerial capacity as well as the

means by which program activities and

logistical matters will be implemented.

3. Institutional Capacity: Proposed

personnel, including faculty and

administrative staff as well as outside

presenters, should be fully qualified to

achieve the project’s goals. Library and

meeting facilities, housing, meals,

transportation and other logistical

arrangements should fully meet the

needs of the participants.

4. Support for Diversity: Substantive

support of the bureau’s policy on

diversity should be demonstrated. This

can be accomplished through

documentation, such as a written

statement, summarizing past and/or ongoing activities and efforts that further

the principle of diversity within the

organization and its activities. Program

activities that address this issue should

be highlighted.

5. Experience: Proposals should

demonstrate an institutional record of

successful exchange program activity,

indicating the experience that the

organization and its professional staff

have had in working with foreign

educators.

6. Evaluation and Follow-up: A plan

for evaluating activities during the

Institute and at its conclusion should be

included. Proposals should discuss

provisions made for follow-up with

returned grantees as a means of

establishing longer-term individual and

institutional linkages.

7. Cost Effectiveness: Proposals

should maximize cost-sharing through

direct institutional contributions, inkind support, and other private sector

support. Overhead and administrative

components, including salaries and

honoraria, should be kept as low as

possible.

Authority: 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 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.’’

Notice: The terms and conditions

published in this RFP are binding and

may not be modified by any Bureau

representative. Explanatory information

provided by the Bureau that contradicts

published language will not be binding.

Issuance of this RFP does not constitute

an award commitment on the part of the

Government. The Bureau 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, and allocated

and committed through internal Bureau

procedures.

Dated: September 27, 2000.

Helena Kane Finn,

Prinicpal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau

of Educational and Cultural Affairs,

Department of State.

[FR Doc. 00–25372 Filed 10–4–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4710–11–P

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 3429]

Bureau of Educational and Cultural

Affairs Request for Proposals: Future

Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Disability

Reentry Workshops

ACTION: Request for Proposals.

SUMMARY: The Office of Citizen

Exchanges, Youth Programs Division, of

the Bureau of Educational and Cultural

Affairs announces an open competition

for the FLEX Disability Reentry

Workshops. Public and private nonprofit organizations meeting the

provisions described in IRS regulation

26 CFR 1.501(c) may submit proposals

for the conduct of special year-end

reentry workshops for students with

disabilities participating, respectively,

in the 2000/01 and 2001/02 Future

Leaders Exchange (FLEX) programs.

Approximately 12–15 students will

participate each year (a total of 25–30).

59494 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 194 / Thursday, October 5, 2000 / Notices

All programs must comply with J–1 visa

regulations. Please refer to the

Solicitation Package for further

information.

Budget Guidelines: Applicants must

submit a comprehensive budget for the

entire program. Awards may not exceed

$55,000. There must be a summary

budget as well as breakdowns reflecting

both administrative and program

budgets. Applicants may provide

separate sub-budgets for each program

component, phase, location, or activity

to provide clarification. Administrative

costs should be kept as low as possible.

Cost sharing is encouraged. Allowable

costs for the program include the

following:

(1) Transportation for participants from

their host city/town to workshop site

(2) Daily travel at workshop site location

(3) Room and board during the time of

the workshops

(4) Rental of facilities and equipment

(5) Fees for related activities/excursions

(6) Honoraria for speakers/trainers, as

appropriate

(7) Necessary reasonable

accommodations

Please refer to the Solicitation

Package for complete budget guidelines

and formatting instructions.

Announcement Title and Number: All

correspondence with the Bureau

concerning this RFP should reference

the above title and number ECA/PE/C–

00–75.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The

Youth Programs Division, Office of

Citizen Exchanges, ECA/PE/C/PY, Room

568, U.S. Department of State, 301 4th

Street, SW, Washington, DC 20547,

phone: 202/619–6299, fax: 202/619–

5311, e-mail: <daronson@pd.state.gov>

to request a Solicitation Package. The

Solicitation Package contains detailed

award criteria, required application

forms, specific budget instructions, and

standard guidelines for proposal

preparation. Please specify Bureau

Program Officer Diana Aronson on all

other inquiries and correspondence.

Please read the complete Federal

Register announcement before sending

inquiries or submitting proposals. Once

the RFP deadline has passed, Bureau

staff may not discuss this competition

with applicants until the proposal

review process has been completed.

To Download a Solicitation Package

Via Internet: The entire Solicitation

Package may be downloaded from the

Bureau’s website at

http://exchanges.state.gov/education/

rfps.

Please read all information before

downloading.

Deadline for Proposals: All proposal

copies must be received at the Bureau

of Educational and Cultural Affairs by 5

p.m. Washington, DC time on Monday,

December 4, 2000. Faxed documents

will not be accepted at any time.

Documents postmarked the due date but

received on a later date will not be

accepted. Each applicant must ensure

that the proposals are received by the

above deadline.

Applicants must follow all

instructions in the Solicitation Package.

The original and seven copies of the

application should be sent to: U.S.

Department of State, SA–44, Bureau of

Educational and Cultural Affairs, Ref.:

ECA/PE/C–01–75, Program

Management, ECA/EX/PM, Room 336,

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, 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,’’ the Bureau ‘‘shall take

appropriate steps to provide

opportunities for participation in such

programs to human rights and

democracy leaders of such countries.’’

Public Law 106–113 requires that the

governments of the countries described

above do not have inappropriate

influence in the selection process.

Proposals should reflect advancement of

these goals in their program contents, to

the full extent deemed feasible.

Review Process

The Bureau 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. All

eligible proposals will be reviewed by

the program office, as well as the Public

Diplomacy section overseas, where

appropriate. Eligible proposals will be

forwarded to panels of Bureau officers

for advisory review. Proposals may also

be reviewed by the Office of the Legal

Adviser or by other Department

elements. Final funding decisions are at

the discretion of the Department of

State’s Assistant Secretary for

Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final

technical authority for assistance

awards (grants or cooperative

agreements) resides with the Bureau’s

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 the program idea:

Proposals should exhibit originality,

substance, precision, and relevance to

the Bureau’s 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 organization 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

5. Institutional Capacity: Proposed

personnel and institutional resources

should be adequate and appropriate to

achieve the program or project’s goals.

Proposing organization should

demonstrate it has experience with

disability programming and

international youth exchange, as well as

familiarity with the culture of the New

Independent States (NIS) of the former

Soviet Union.

6. Track Record: Proposals should

demonstrate an institutional record of

successful exchange programs,

including responsible fiscal

management and full compliance with

all reporting requirements for past

Bureau grants as determined by Bureau

Grant Staff. The Bureau will consider

the past performance of prior recipients

and the demonstrated potential of new

applicants.

7. Multiplier effect/impact: Proposed

programs should describe how

workshop participants will be motivated

and enabled to reach out to other

individuals with disabilities in their

home countries.

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 194 / Thursday, October 5, 2000 / Notices 59495

8. Follow-on Activities: Proposals

should describe how workshop

participants will be provided with

knowledge and tools that will prepare

them to work in support of disability

rights in their home countries.

9. Project Evaluation: Proposals

should include a plan to evaluate the

activity’s success. A draft survey

questionnaire or other technique plus

description of a methodology to use to

link outcomes to original project

objectives is recommended. Successful

applicants will be expected to submit a

final report after the project has been

completed.

10. Cost-effectiveness/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.

Authority

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 above is provided through

legislation of the Freedom Support Act.

Notice

The terms and conditions published

in this RFP are binding and may not be

modified by any Bureau representative.

Explanatory information provided by

the Bureau 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 Bureau 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 Bureau procedures.

Dated: September 29, 2000.

Helena Kane Finn,

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for

Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department

of State.

[FR Doc. 00–25650 Filed 10–4–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4710–05–P

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice #: 3413]

U.S. Advisory Commission on Public

Diplomacy; Notice of Meeting

The U.S. Advisory Commission on

Public Diplomacy, reauthorized

pursuant to Public Law 106–113 (H.R.

3194, Consolidated Appropriations Act,

2000), will meet on Friday, October 20,

2000 in Room 600, 301 4th St., SW,

Washington, D.C. from 10:30 a.m. to

12:30 p.m.

The Commission will discuss the

release of its report on the consolidation

of USIA into the State Department and

the effectiveness of U.S. public

diplomacy in the former Soviet Union.

Members of the general public may

attend the meeting, though attendance

of public members will be limited to the

seating available. Access to the building

is controlled, and individual building

passes are required for all attendees.

Persons who plan to attend should

contact David J. Kramer, Executive

Director, at (202) 619–4463.

September 29, 2000.

David J. Kramer,

Executive Director, U.S. Advisory

Commission on Public Diplomacy,

Department of State.

[FR Doc. 00–25781 Filed 10–4–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4710–11–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

Agency Information Collection Activity

Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: In compliance with the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44

U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice

announces that the Information

Collection Request (ICR) abstracted

below has been forwarded to the Office

of Management and Budget (OMB) for

extension of currently approved

collection. The ICR describes the nature

of their information collection and the

expected burden. The Federal Register

Notice with a 60-day comment period

soliciting comments on the following

collection of information was published

on June 30, 2000, (FR 65, page 40716).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on

or before November 6, 2000. A comment

to OMB is most effective if OMB

receives it within 30 days of

publication.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Judy

Street on (202) 267–9895.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

Title: Office of the Associate

Administrator for Commercial Space

Standards Survey.

Type of Request: Extension of a

currently approved collection.

OMB Control Number: 2120–0611.

Forms(s): N/A.

Affected Public: Approximately 300

representatives of the U.S. commercial

launch industry and other industry

representatives from related industries

such as U.S. satellite manufacturers and

users, as well as representatives from

businesses and associations which have

an interest in our business-related

concerns with the U.S. commercial

launch industry.

Abstract: This survey is being

disseminated to collect industry input

on the Customer Service standards

published and disseminated by the

Office of the Associate Administrator for

commercial Space Transportation

(AST).

Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 300

hours annually.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to the

Office of Information and Regulatory

Affairs, Office of Management and

Budget, 725—17th Street, NW.,

Washington, DC 20503, Attention FAA

Desk Officer.

Comments are invited on whether the

proposed collection of information is

necessary for the proper performance of

the functions of the Department,

including whether the information will

have practical utility; the accuracy of

the Department’s estimate of the burden

on the proposed information

collections; ways to enhance the quality,

utility, and clarity of the information to

be collected; and ways to minimize the

burden of the collection of information

on respondents, in including the use of

automated collection techniques of

other forms of information technology.