[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 213 (Thursday, November 2, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65889-65892]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-28185]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 3461]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs; English Language 
Fellow Program

NOTICE: Request for proposals.

SUMMARY: The Office of English Language Programs of the Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for the 
2001 English Language Fellow Program. The program consists of English 
Language Fellows, who are recent TEFL/TESL M.A. graduates (within the 
last five years), and senior English Language Fellows, who are 
experienced English as a foreign language teacher trainers.
    Public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions 
described in IRS regulation 26 CFR 1.501[c] may submit proposals to 
administer and manage the English Language Fellow Program, which is 
designed to provide universities, binational centers, teacher-training 
colleges, ministries of education and other educational language 
institutions worldwide with professionally trained American expertise 
in English as a Foreign Language (EFL).
    The goal of this program is to promote the teaching of English to 
facilitate democratic institution building and to encourage 
participation in the global economy. An introduction to American 
English, methodology and materials opens the door for advanced study in 
the U.S., and to develop and promote mutual understanding.

Program Information

    The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is soliciting 
proposals from U.S. non-profit educational institutions/organizations 
to manage and administer the 2001 English Language Fellow Programs. 
English Language Fellows must be U.S. citizens. The programs are for an 
eleven-month period beginning with academic year 2001-2002. One-year 
extensions will be granted only under exceptional circumstances, and 
require agreement of the Bureau, U.S. Embassy, host institution, and 
the fellow.
    The English Language Fellows are not employees of the Bureau or the 
grantee organization. Selection of countries which will receive English 
Language Fellows will be made by the Bureau. The programs have placed 
over 250 English language professionals worldwide in the past five 
years, promoting English Teaching as a response to the dramatic 
increase in the demand for English caused by political and/or economic 
changes.
    The program is open to English language professionals at two 
different levels:
    A. The English Language Fellows are recent TEFL/TESL M.A. graduates 
(within the last five years) who provide expertise to institutions 
selected by U.S. Embassies abroad while gaining international teaching 
experience. The fellows serve as full-time teachers of English as a 
Foreign Language (EFL). They may teach up to 20 hours of English a week 
in the host program. In addition, they may be asked to work in 
materials and test development or teacher-training activities. They 
should not be assigned administrative duties. The sum of all duties 
should not exceed 40 hours per week.
    B. The senior English Language Fellows are experienced EFL trainers 
who have a M.A. or higher degree in TEFL/TESL or a closely related 
field and have overseas teacher training experience. The senior fellows 
serve as full-time teacher trainers of English as a foreign language as 
well as serving in program-related activities such as: (1) Teaching 
English for Specific Purposes (ESP) in a variety of professional fields 
such as business, law and economics; (2) designing and developing EFL 
curricula and materials; (3) conducting program evaluation and design; 
(4) testing; and (5) organizing and hosting country-wide workshops and 
conferences.
    The grant period should begin on/about January 15, 2001 and extend 
through September 30, 2002.
    The grantee organization is responsible for the management and 
administrative aspects of the program, which include the following:

--Recruitment, selection and placement of approximately 24 English 
Language Fellows and approximately 36 senior English Language 
Fellows in all areas of the world at universities, binational 
centers, teacher-training colleges, ministries of education and 
other educational language institutions;
--Pre-departure orientations;
--Mid-year senior English Language Fellow conference (optional);

[[Page 65890]]

--Fiscal management and logistics;
--Travel management (reservations/itineraries, ticketing);
--Medical insurance enrollment;
--Development of promotional materials in support of programs;
--Monitoring: programs and individuals;
--Extensive monitoring, review and evaluation of English Language 
Fellow reports, including a preliminary report, a mid-year report, 
and a final, year-end report;
--Evaluation of and follow-on activities for programs;
--Establishment and maintenance of an alumni database of English 
Language Fellows.

    The period of the program is from on/about February 15, 2001 
through September 30, 2002. The recruitment and selection process will 
begin at the 2001 TESOL Convention in St. Louis, Missouri, February 
2001; pre-departure orientations, third or fourth week of August 2001; 
and the fellows' departures to overseas assignments, first and second 
week of September 2001.
    The grantee organization should provide a time line for all 
activities. The fellows will receive a basic stipend, living and 
housing allowance, pre-departure orientation travel to Washington, DC, 
pre-departure allowance, international round trip travel from U.S. 
residence to host country; book or materials allowance, miscellaneous 
expense and health/medical coverage up to $50,000 per illness/injury.
    Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations. Please refer to 
Solicitation Package for further information.

Budget Guidelines

    Grants awarded to eligible organizations with less than four years 
of experience in conducting international exchange programs will be 
limited to $60,000. The Bureau anticipates awarding one grant in an 
amount not to exceed $2,725,000. Applicants must submit a comprehensive 
budget for the entire program. 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.

 
A. Allowable costs for the English Language Fellows (approx.
 24 worldwide) include the following:
    (1) Basic stipend........................................    $13,750
    (2) Round trip travel....................................      4,000
    (3) Living allowance.....................................      6,000
    (4) Pre-departure orientation travel.....................      1,800
    (5) Pre-departure allowance..............................        500
    (6) Shipping allowance...................................        400
    (7) Miscellaneous expense................................        200
    (8) Promotional/educational materials....................        100
B. Allowable costs for the senior English Language Fellows
 (approx. 6 worldwide) include the following:
    (1) Basic stipend........................................     21,000
    (2) Round trip travel....................................      4,000
    (3) Living allowance.....................................     10,000
    (4) Pre-departure round trip travel......................      1,800
    (5) Pre-departure allowance..............................        500
    (6) Shipping allowance...................................        400
    (7) Book allowance (up to)...............................        850
    (8) In-country arrival orientation (1-2 days) (if not            700
     based in the host country)..............................
    (9) In-country travel allowance (up to)..................        750
    (10) Miscellaneous expenses..............................        200
    (11) Mid-year senior English Language Fellow conference
     (optional--if conference is held, grant will be amended
     to add additional funds)................................
C. Allowable costs for the senior English Language Fellows
 for Eastern Europe, the Balkans and the NIS (approx. 18)
 include the following: Albania (3), Azerbaijan (2), Croatia
 (2) Kosovo (6), Kazakhstan (1), Kyrgyzstan (1), Moldova (1),
 Ukraine (2)
    (1) Basic stipend........................................     21,000
    (2) Round trip travel....................................      4,000
    (3) Living allowance.....................................     16,000
    (4) Pre-departure round trip travel......................      1,800
    (5) Pre-departure allowance..............................        500
    (6) Shipping allowance...................................        400
    (7) Book allowance (up to)...............................        850
    (8) In-country arrival orientation (1-2 days) (if not            700
     based in capital city)..................................
    (9) In-country travel allowance (up to)..................      1,500
    (10) Miscellaneous expenses..............................        200
    (11) Mid-year senior English Language Fellow conference
     (optional--if conference is held, grant will be amended
     to add additional funds)................................
D. Allowable costs for the senior English Language Fellows
 for Russia (approx. 12) include the following:
    (1) Basic stipend........................................     21,000
    (2) Basic stipend (2) regional coordinators..............     25,000
    (3) Round trip travel....................................      4,000
    (4) Living allowance.....................................     16,500
    (5) Pre-departure round trip travel......................      1,800
    (6) Pre-departure allowance..............................        500
    (7) Shipping allowance...................................        400
    (8) Book allowance (up to)...............................        850
    (9) In-country arrival orientation (1-2 days) (if not            700
     based in capital city)..................................
    (10) In-country travel allowance (up to).................      5,000
    (11) Miscellaneous expenses..............................        255
    (12) Mid-year senior English Language Fellow conference
     (optional--if conference is held, grant will be amended
     to add additional funds)................................
 

    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/A/L-01-01.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Office of English Language 
Programs, ECA/A/L, Room 3<divide><divide>U.S. Department of State, 301 
4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, telephone: 202/619-5869 and fax 
number: 202/401-1250, Internet address: http://exchanges.state.gov/education/rfps 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 Catherine Williamson 
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 Friday, December 
22, 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 ten copies of the application should be sent 
to: U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, Ref.: ECA/A/L-01-01, Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, Room 534, 
301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.

[[Page 65891]]

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 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 fullest 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. 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. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    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 
participants, 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 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. Follow-on Activities: Proposals should provide a plan for 
continued follow-on activity (without Bureau support) ensuring that 
Bureau supported programs are not isolated events.
    8. 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. Successful applicants will be 
expected to submit intermediate reports after each project component is 
concluded or quarterly, whichever is less frequent.
    9. 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.
    10. Value to U.S.-Partner Country Relations: Proposed projects 
should receive positive assessments by the U.S. Department of State's 
geographic area desk and overseas officers of program need, potential 
impact, and significance in the partner country(ies).
    11. TEFL/TESL Background: Proposal should demonstrate a plan to 
network that allows for the greatest dissemination of information to 
the profession of Teachers of English as a Second or Foreign Language; 
moreover, grantee must be able to provide knowledgeable, TEFL/TESL-
qualified, experienced staff capable of interviewing candidates and 
evaluating their qualifications for teaching and/or developing 
materials or for conducting teacher training in the context of English 
as a foreign language in accordance with criteria established by the 
Bureau.

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.''
    The funding authority for the program above is provided through 
legislation. There will be three (3) sources of funding for this 
program: The Bureau's Exchanges Appropriation; and Support for East 
European Democracy (SEED) and Freedom Support Act (FSA) interagency 
transfers.

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 programs and the

[[Page 65892]]

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: October 26, 2000.
Helena Kane Finn,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State.
[FR Doc. 00-28185 Filed 11-1-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-P