76700 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 236 / Thursday, December 7, 2000 / Notices

geographic area personnel, also review

proposals for feasibility as well as

potential for short- and long-term

impact. 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 resides with a Bureau 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:

8.1 Quality of Program

Conceptualization and Planning

Proposals should exhibit substance,

precision, and relevance to the Bureau’s

mission as well as adherence to all

guidelines and objectives described in

the RFGP. Proposals should provide a

clear description of the general strategy

and specific approach to implement the

program. Proposals should also

demonstrate effective use of community

and regional resources to enhance both

the educational and cultural

experiences of the participants. Detailed

agenda and relevant work plan should

demonstrate substantive undertakings

and logistical capacity.

8.2 Ability to Achieve Program

Objectives

Proposals should clearly demonstrate

how the institution will meet the

program’s objectives and plan.

8.3 Area Expertise

Proposals should demonstrate

significant institutional and staff

experience in and knowledge of Africa

as well as expertise in education in

developing countries.

8.4 Multiplier Effect/Impact

Proposed program should strengthen

long-term mutual understanding,

including maximum sharing of

information and establishment of longterm institutional and individual

linkages. To ensure that Bureau

supported programs are not isolated

events, a detailed post-institute plan

(that does not require Bureau support)

for follow-on activities that promote

continued communication/involvement

and build upon program achievements

between the host institution and

participants and/or the institutions they

represent, should be incorporated into

the proposal.

8.5 Program Monitoring/Evaluation

Proposals should include a plan to

monitor program and participant

progress through the course of the

program and evaluate the overall

success upon completion of the

program. The Bureau recommends that

the proposal include a participant needs

assessment or other technique plus

description of a methodology to link

outcomes to original project objectives.

8.6 Support of Diversity

Proposals should demonstrate the

recipient’s commitment to promoting

the awareness and understanding of

diversity in both the American and

African context. Program administrators

should strive for diversity among

Institute staff, student assistants, and

host community contacts. Cultural,

ethnic, and religious diversity of the

participants should also be a

consideration in program planning.

8.7 Institutional Capacity

Proposed personnel and institutional

resources should be adequate and

appropriate to achieve a substantive

academic and cultural program.

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 the Bureau’s Office of

Contracts. The Bureau will consider the

past performance of prior recipients and

the demonstrated potential of new

applicants.

8.8 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.

Proposals should maximize cost-sharing

through other private sector support as

well as institutional direct funding

contributions.

Notification

Final awards cannot be made until

funds have been appropriated by

Congress, allocated and committed

through internal Bureau procedures.

Dated: November 30, 2000.

William B. Bader,

Assistant Secretary for Educational and

Cultural Affairs, Department of State.

[FR Doc. 00–31075 Filed 12–6–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4710–05–U

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 3492]

Bureau of Educational and Cultural

Affairs; Project in Curriculum

Development and Faculty Training at

the University of Pristina, Kosovo;

Request for Grant Proposals

SUMMARY: The Office of Global

Educational Programs of the Bureau of

Educational and Cultural Affairs in the

Department of State announces an open

competition for an assistance award to

support the development of programs of

instruction and faculty training at the

University of Pristina in one or both of

the following two fields: (1) Business

management and entrepreneurship; and

(2) public administration. Organizations

meeting the provisions described in IRS

regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c) may submit

proposals that address one or both of

these objectives. The means for

achieving these objectives may include

mentoring, teaching, consultation,

research, distance education, internship

training, and professional outreach to

public and private sector managers,

entrepreneurs, and local government

administrators in Kosovo.

Overview and Project Objectives: The

project is designed to assist the

University of Pristina to develop a

modern program in business

management education to facilitate the

development of entrepreneurial and

business activity in Kosovo. The project

is also designed to enable the University

of Pristina to develop a program of

instruction in public administration to

increase efficiency and accountability in

the administration of the public sector

in Kosovo. Applicants may submit

proposals focusing on either, or both of

the two disciplines.

In business management, proposals

should emphasize practical strategies to

assist the faculty to develop a new

curriculum in business management

focusing on accounting, finance,

banking, entrepreneurship, and the role

of women in business. In public

administration, proposed activities

should assist with curriculum design

and faculty training in local government

administration, taxation, financial

management, land registry/ownership

and property rights. The inclusion of

organizational development and

personnel management among proposed

activities is also encouraged. Proposals

should include an emphasis on

providing practical training and handson experience in local government

administration as well as techniques for

drafting legislation. Proposals should

explain how the public administration

program will equip the University to

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 236 / Thursday, December 7, 2000 / Notices 76701

promote concepts of accountability and

transparency in the administration of

the public sector in Kosovo.

Bureau policy stipulates that awards

to organizations with less than four

years experience in conducting

international exchanges are limited to

$60,000. The Bureau anticipates

awarding either two grants not to exceed

$221,300 (one grant for each one of the

two designated disciplines), or one grant

not to exceed $442,600 to work in both

disciplines. Funds will be awarded for

a period up to two years to defray the

costs of exchanges, to provide

educational materials, and to increase

library holdings and improve Internet

connections. Up to 30% of the grant

total may be used to defray the costs of

project administration.

The project should pursue these

objectives through a strategy that

coordinates the participation of junior

and senior level faculty, administrators,

or graduate students for any appropriate

combination of teaching, mentoring,

internships, in-service training and

outreach, for exchange visits ranging

from one week to an academic year.

Visits of one semester or longer for

participants from Kosovo are strongly

encouraged and program activities must

be tied to the goals and objectives of the

program. The strategy may include

intensive English language training for

selected participants, whose prior

knowledge of English may need to be

refreshed.

If the proposed project would occur

within the context of a previous or

ongoing project, the proposal should

explain how the request for Bureau

funding would build upon the preexisting relationship or complement

previous and concurrent projects, which

must be listed and described with

details about the amounts and sources

of external support. Previous projects

should be described in the proposal,

and the results of the evaluation of

previous cooperative efforts should be

summarized.

U.S. Institution and Participant

Eligibility: In the United States,

participation in the program is open to

accredited two and four-year colleges

and universities, including graduate

schools, as well as to other

organizations meeting the provisions

described in IRS regulation 26 CFR

1.501(c). Applications from consortia or

other combinations of U.S. colleges and

universities are eligible. The lead U.S.

organization in the consortium or other

combination of cooperating institutions

is responsible for submitting the

application. Each application must

document the lead organization’s

authority to represent all U.S.

cooperating partners.

With the exception of an outside

consultant reporting on the degree to

which project objectives have been

achieved, participants who are traveling

under the Bureau’s grant funds must be

teachers, advanced graduate students,

who are teaching or research assistants,

or administrators from the participating

institution(s). Advanced graduate

students are eligible for Bureau-funded

participation in this program only if

they are working under the direction of

an accompanying faculty participant.

Kosovo Institutional and Participant

Eligibility: In Kosovo, the partner is the

University of Pristina. Secondary

foreign partners may include relevant

governmental and non-governmental

organizations, as well as non-profit

service and professional organizations

concerned with issues in business

development and/or public

administration training in Kosovo.

Foreign participants will be selected in

consultation with the U.S. Office in

Pristina and must be instructors at the

University of Pristina, or persons

preparing to become instructors at the

University of Pristina, who are eligible

to receive a J–1 visa.

Budget Guidelines: Applicants may

submit a budget up to $221,300 for

projects focusing on one discipline, or a

budget up to $442,600 for projects

focusing on both of them. Requests for

amounts smaller than the maximum are

eligible. Budget notes should carefully

justify the amounts needed. There must

be a summary budget as well as a

breakdown reflecting the program and

administrative budgets including unit

costs. Applicants submitting a budget

for the combined program must separate

budgets for each sub-project. Costsharing will be considered an important

indicator of institutional commitment.

Please refer to the Solicitation Package

for complete guidelines and formatting

instructions.

Announcement Title and Number: All

correspondence with the Bureau of

Educational and Cultural Affairs

concerning this RFGP should reference

the above title ‘‘Project in Curriculum

Development and Faculty Training at

the University of Pristina’’ and reference

number ECA/A/S/U–01–04.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Contact the Humphrey Fellowships and

Institutional Linkages Branch, Office of

Global Educational Programs, Bureau of

Educational and Cultural Affairs; ECA/

A/S/U, Room 349, SA–44; U.S.

Department of State, 301 4th Street,

SW., Washington, DC 20547, phone

(202) 619–5289, fax: (202) 401–1433, email: affiliation@pd.state.gov to request

a Solicitation Package.

The Solicitation Package contains

detailed award criteria, required

application forms, and guidelines for

preparing proposals, including specific

criteria for preparation of the proposal

budget. Please specify the above

reference number on all inquiries and

correspondence.

Please read the complete Federal

Register announcement before sending

inquiries or submitting proposals. Once

the RFGP 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/rfgps.

Please read all information before

downloading.

Deadline of Proposals: All proposal

copies must be received at the Bureau

of Educational and Cultural Affairs by 5

p.m. Washington DC time on

Wednesday, March 14, 2001. Faxed

documents will not be accepted at any

time. Documents postmarked by the due

date but received on a later date will not

be accepted. It is the responsibility of

each applicant to ensure compliance

with the deadline.

Approximate Program Dates: Grants

should begin on or about August 1,

2001.

Duration: August 1, 2001–August 30,

2003.

Submissions: Applicants must follow

all instructions in the Solicitation

Package. The original and 10 copies of

the application should be sent to: U.S.

Department of State, SA–44, Ref.: ECA/

A/S/U–01–04, Program Management,

ECA/EX/PM, Room 534, 301 4th Street,

SW., Washington, DC 20547.

All copies should include the

documents specified under Tabs A

through E in the ‘‘Project Objectives,

Goals, and Implementation’’ (POGI)

section of the Solicitation Package. The

documents under Tab F of the POGI

should be submitted with the original

application and with one of the ten

copies.

Proposals that do not follow RFGP

requirements and the guidelines

appearing in the POGI and PSI may be

excluded from consideration due to

technical ineligibility.

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. The Bureau will

76702 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 236 / Thursday, December 7, 2000 / Notices

transmit these files electronically to the

U.S. Office in Pristina for its review,

with the goal of reducing time it takes

to get the post’s comments for the

Bureau’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, 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

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 U.S. Office

in Pristina. Eligible proposals will be

subject to compliance with Federal and

Bureau regulations and guidelines and

forwarded to Bureau grant panels 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: State Department

officers in Washington, DC and overseas

will use the criteria below to reach

funding recommendations and

decisions. Technically eligible

applications will be competitively

reviewed according to the criteria stated

below. These criteria are not rankordered or weighted.

1. Quality of the Program Idea:

Proposals should exhibit originality,

substance, precision, and

resourcefulness. Proposals should

exhibit sensitivity to the region, and

have reasonable and feasible project

objectives that are relevant to the needs

of the University of Pristina. Proposals

should describe projected benefits to the

institutions involved as well as to wider

communities of educators and

practitioners in Kosovo.

2. Program Planning: Proposals

should include creative, realistic and

feasible program plans to achieve

project objectives and a detailed

schedule, which should include a wellreasoned combination of useful and

appropriate mentoring, teaching training

and methodology workshops, and

outreach activities supporting the

project objectives.

3. Support of Diversity: Proposals

should demonstrate substantive support

of the Bureau’s policy on diversity by

explaining how issues of diversity relate

to project objectives and how these

issues will be addressed during project

implementation. Proposals should also

outline the institutional profile of each

participating institution with regard to

issues of diversity.

4. Institutional Capacity and

Commitment: Proposals should

demonstrate significant understanding

of the institutional needs and capacities

at the University of Pristina as well as

the U.S. institution’s capacities, and

should demonstrate a strong

commitment, during and after the

period of the grant activity, to on-going

cooperation. Relevant factors include:

The match between participating

organizations or departments, and

availability of sufficient number of

faculty and/or administrators willing

and able to participate in project

activities. Proposals should demonstrate

the promise of sustainability and longterm impact, as reflected in a plan for

follow-on activities.

5. Institutional Record/Ability:

Proposals should demonstrate an

institutional record of administering

successful exchange programs,

including responsible fiscal

management and full compliance with

all reporting requirements for past

Bureau grants as determined by the

State Department’s contracts officers.

The Bureau will consider the past

performance of prior award recipients

and the demonstrated potential of new

applicants. Reviewers will also consider

the quality of exchange participants’

academic credentials, skills,

commitment and experience relative to

the goals and activities of the project

plan.

6. Project Evaluation: The proposal

should outline a methodology to assess

progress toward the achievement of

project goals. The final evaluation

should include an external component

and observations about anticipated longterm impact on business conditions

and/or public sector administration in

Kosovo.

7. Cost-Effectiveness: Administrative

and program costs should be reasonable

and appropriate with cost sharing

provided as a reflection of the

applicant’s commitment to the pursuit

of project objectives.

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 cited above is provided

through the Support for East European

Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989.

Notice

The terms and conditions published

in this RFGP 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 RFGP 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.

Projects must conform with Bureau

requirements and guidelines outlined in

the solicitation package. The POGI, a

document describing this project’s

objectives, goals, and implementation, is

included in the solicitation package.

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 236 / Thursday, December 7, 2000 / Notices 76703

Notification

Final awards cannot be made until

funds have been appropriated by

Congress, allocated and committed

through internal Bureau procedures.

Dated: November 29, 2000.

William B. Bader,

Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational

and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of

State.

[FR Doc. 00–31077 Filed 12–6–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4710–24–P

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES

TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

Notice of Meeting of the Industry

Sector Advisory Committee on

Services (ISAC–13)

AGENCY: Office of the United States

Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

SUMMARY: The Industry Sector Advisory

Committee on Services will hold a

meeting on December 12, 2000, from 9

a.m. to 12 noon. The meeting will be

opened to the public from 9 a.m. to 10

a.m., and closed to the public from 10

a.m. to 12 noon.

DATES: The meeting is scheduled for

December 12, 2000, unless otherwise

notified.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at

the Department of Commerce,

Conference Room 1414, located at 14th

Street between Pennsylvania and

Constitution Avenues, NW.,

Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Karen Holderman, (202) 482–0345,

Department of Commerce, 14th Street

and Constitution Avenue, NW.,

Washington, DC 20230 (principal

contact), or Dominic Bianchi, Office of

the United States Trade Representative,

1724 F Street, NW., Washington, DC

20508, (202) 395–6120.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: During the

opened portion of the meeting the

‘‘Status Report on WTO General

Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)

Work Program and Preparation for

Future GATS Negotiating Meetings’’

will be discussed.

Dominic Bianchi,

Acting Assistant United States Trade

Representative for Intergovernmental Affairs

and Public Liaison.

[FR Doc. 00–31141 Filed 12–6–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3190–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping

Requirements; Agency Information

Collection Activity Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for

comments.

SUMMARY: In compliance with the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44

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

announces that the Information

Collection abstracted below has been

forwarded to the Office of Management

and Budget (OMB) for review and

comment. The nature of the information

collection is described as well as its

expected burden. The Federal Register

notice with a 60-day comment period

soliciting comments on the following

collection of information was published

on September 19, 2000, at 65 FR 56609.

No comments were received.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on

or before January 8, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Thomas M.P. Christensen, Office of

National Security Plans, Maritime

Administration, MAR–620, 400 Seventh

Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590.

Telephone 202–366–5990 or FAX 202–

488–0941. Copies of this collection can

be obtained from that office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Maritime

Administration (MARAD).

Title: Voluntary Tanker Agreement.

OMB Control Number: OMB 2133–

0505.

Type of Request: Extension of

currently approved collection.

Affected Public: The respondents are

tanker companies that operate in

international trade and who have agreed

to participate in this agreement.

Form (S): None.

Abstract: The collection consists of a

request from MARAD that each

participant in the Voluntary Tanker

Agreement submit a list of the names of

ships owned, chartered, or contracted

for by the participant, and their size and

flags of registry. There is no prescribed

format for this information.

Annual Estimated Burden Hours: One

hour per respondent.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to the

Office of Information and Regulatory

Affairs, Office of Management and

Budget, 725 17th Street, NW.,

Washington, D.C. 20503, Attention

MARAD Desk Officer.

Comments Are Invited On

(a) Whether the proposed collection of

information is necessary for the proper

performance of the functions of the

agency, including whether the

information will have practical utility;

(b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate

of the burden of the proposed

information collection; (c) ways to

enhance the quality, utility and clarity

of the information to be collected; and

(d) ways to minimize the burden of the

collection of information on

respondents, including the use of

automated collection techniques or

other forms of information technology.

A comment to OMB is best assured of

having its full effect if OMB receives it

within 30 days of publication.

Issued in Washington, D.C. on December 4,

2000.

Joel C. Richard,

Secretary, Maritime Administration.

[FR Doc. 00–31221 Filed 12–6–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–81–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs

Administration

[Docket 98–4957 Notice 23]

Extension of Existing Information

Collection: Public Comment Request

and OMB Approval

AGENCY: Research and Special Programs

Administration (RSPA), DOT.

ACTION: Request for Public Comment

and OMB Approval.

SUMMARY: This is the second notice of

requests for public participation in the

Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) approval process for extension of

an existing Research and Special

Programs Administration (RSPA)

collection of information. RSPA is

requesting OMB approval of information

collection 2137–0596, National Pipeline

Mapping System (NPMS) under the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 5

CFR Part 1320. RSPA published its first

request in the Federal Register on

September 7, 2000 (65 FR 54336). The

Paperwork Reduction Act gives the

public a second chance to provide

comments on information collection

requests.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be

received by January 8, 2001 to be

assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are

invited to send comments directly to

OMB, Office of Information and

Regulatory Affairs, 726 Jackson Place,

NW., Washington, DC 20503 Attn: Desk

Officer for DOT. Please identify the

docket and notice numbers shown in

the heading of this notice.