Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 9 / Thursday, January 14, 2010 / Notices 2181 

9The text of the proposed rule change is available 

on the Commission’s Web site at http:// 

www.sec.gov. 

10 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). 

only one method. The Commission will 

post all comments on the Commission’s 

Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/ 

rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the 

submission,9 all subsequent 

amendments, all written statements 

with respect to the proposed rule 

change that are filed with the 

Commission, and all written 

communications relating to the 

proposed rule change between the 

Commission and any person, other than 

those that may be withheld from the 

public in accordance with the 

provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be 

available for inspection and copying in 

the Commission’s Public Reference 

Room, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, 

DC 20549, on official business days 

between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. 

Copies of such filing also will be 

available for inspection and copying at 

the principal office of NYSE Amex. All 

comments received will be posted 

without change; the Commission does 

not edit personal identifying 

information from submissions. You 

should submit only information that 

you wish to make available publicly. All 

submissions should refer to File No. 

SR–NYSEAmex–2009–102 and should 

be submitted on or before February 4, 

2010. 

For the Commission, by the Division of 

Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated 

authority.10

Florence E. Harmon, 

Deputy Secretary. 

[FR Doc. 2010–542 Filed 1–13–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8011–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF STATE 

[Public Notice: 6821] 

60-Day Notice of Proposed Information 

Collection: DS–4100, Iran Program 

Grants Vetting, Information Collection 

1405–0176 

ACTION: Notice of request for public 

comments. 

SUMMARY: The Department of State is 

seeking Office of Management and 

Budget (OMB) approval for the 

information collection described below. 

The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 

days for public comment in the Federal 

Register preceding submission to OMB. 

We are conducting this process in 

accordance with the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995. 

• Title of Information Collection: Iran 

Program Grants 

• OMB Control Number: 1405–0176 

• Type of Request: Extension of a 

Currently Approved Collection 

• Originating Office: Office of Iranian 

Affairs, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs 

(NEA/IR) 

• Form Number: DS–4100 

• Respondents: Potential grantees and 

participants for Iran programs 

• Estimated Number of Respondents: 

100 

• Estimated Number of Responses: 

200 

• Average Hours Per Response: 1 

• Total Estimated Burden: 200 

• Frequency: On occasion 

• Obligation to Respond: Required to 

Obtain 

DATE(S): The Department will accept 

comments from the public up to 60 days 

from January 14, 2010. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Direct requests for additional 

information regarding the collection 

listed in this notice, including requests 

for copies of the proposed information 

collection and supporting documents, to 

Danika Walters, Bureau of Near Eastern 

Affairs, U.S. Department of State, 

Washington, DC 20520, who may be 

reached on 202–647–1347, or via e-mail 

at WaltersDL@state.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are 

soliciting public comments to permit 

the Department to: 

• Evaluate whether the proposed 

information collection is necessary for 

the proper performance of our 

functions. 

• Evaluate the accuracy of our 

estimate of the burden of the proposed 

collection, including the validity of the 

methodology and assumptions used. 

• Enhance the quality, utility, and 

clarity of the information to be 

collected. 

• Minimize the reporting burden on 

those who are to respond, including the 

use of automated collection techniques 

or other forms of technology. 

Abstract of Proposed Collection 

The State Department has made the 

awarding of grants a key component of 

its Iran policy. As a condition of 

licensing these activities, the Office of 

Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) 

mandates that the Department conduct 

a vetting of potential Iran programs 

grantees and sub-grantees for counterterrorism purposes. To conduct this 

vetting the Department envisions 

collecting information from grantees 

and sub-grantees regarding the identity 

and background of their key employees, 

board of directors, and program 

participants. 

Methodology 

We will collect this information either 

through fax or electronic submission. 

Additional Information 

Provide background or other 

information as applicable or useful. This 

is optional. 

Dated: January 5, 2010. 

Sara Horner, 

Office Director, Office of Iranian Affairs, 

Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Department 

of State. 

[FR Doc. 2010–599 Filed 1–13–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4710–31–P 

DEPARTMENT OF STATE 

[Public Notice 6865] 

Bureau of Educational and Cultural 

Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant 

Proposals: Global Undergraduate 

Exchange Program for Pakistan 

Announcement Type: New 

Cooperative Agreement. 

Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/ 

A/E/SCA–10–01. 

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 

Number: 19.009. 

Key Dates: Application Deadline: 

February 15, 2010. 

Executive Summary: The Office of 

Academic Exchange Programs of the 

Bureau of Educational and Cultural 

Affairs announces an open competition 

to administer the FY2010 Global 

Undergraduate Exchange Program for 

Pakistan. Public and private non-profit 

organizations meeting the provisions 

described in Internal Revenue Code 

section 26 USC 501(c)(3) in the United 

States may submit proposals to organize 

and carry out academic exchange 

activities for students from 

underrepresented sectors in Pakistan. 

The recipient organization will be 

responsible for the following aspects of 

the program: Placement of no less than 

100 foreign students at accredited U.S. 

institutions (50 for fall semester 2010, 

50 spring semester 2011) student travel 

to the U.S., orientation, enrichment 

programming, advising, monitoring and 

support, pre-return activities, 

evaluation, and follow-up with program 

alumni. Support for this program is 

being provided from special FY2009/ 

FY2010 supplemental funds that have 

been appropriated to the Department. It 

is anticipated that the total amount of 

funding for FY2010 administrative and 

program costs will be $2,000,000 

pending availability of funds. 


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2182 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 9 / Thursday, January 14, 2010 / Notices 

I. Funding Opportunity Description 

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. 

Purpose: The principal objective of 

the Global Undergraduate Exchange 

Program for Pakistan (herein referred to 

as the ‘‘Global UGRAD—Pakistan’’) is to 

provide a substantive exchange 

experience at a U.S. college or 

university to a diverse group of 

emerging student leaders from 

underrepresented sectors in Pakistan. In 

this context, the recipient organization 

should ensure that participants are able 

to enroll full-time in courses at U.S. 

institutions alongside U.S. peers, and 

provide the participants with 

opportunities and enrichment activities 

designed to help them understand the 

U.S. and U.S. citizens inside and 

outside the classroom. 

Participants will return to their home 

countries at the conclusion of the 

exchange program to re-enter colleges 

and universities there, and re-integrate 

with their home societies. 

An objective of the program is to 

provide participants with tailored 

instruction in the academic skills and 

study habits required to be successful at 

the undergraduate level as well as be 

better prepared for higher level studies 

in the U.S. in the future. 

The Global UGRAD—Pakistan will 

provide no less than 100 scholarships— 

50 for fall semester, 50 for spring 

semester—at U.S. institutions of higher 

education to outstanding students from 

non-elite sectors in Pakistan. 

Scholarships will be granted primarily 

to students who are currently enrolled 

in an undergraduate degree program in 

their home country, although students 

just completing their final year of high 

school will also be eligible. The 

recipient organization will place 

participants in non-degree programs at 

both two- and four-year U.S. colleges 

and universities. 

The recipient organization should 

develop enrichment activities to 

enhance the participants’ academic 

education, including having students 

participate in community service and 

make local presentations about their 

countries. All participants are required 

to return to their home countries 

immediately upon the conclusion of the 

program. Transfers of academic program 

or visa sponsorship of participants to 

another U.S. institution will not be 

considered. 

ECA will award one cooperative 

agreement for this program. Programs 

and projects must conform to Bureau 

requirements and guidelines outlined in 

the Solicitation Package. ECA programs 

are subject to the availability of funds. 

Programs must comply with J–1 Visa 

regulations. Please refer to the 

Solicitation Package for further 

information. 

In a cooperative agreement, the South 

and Central Asia Programs Branch of the 

Office of Academic Exchange Programs 

in the Bureau of Educational and 

Cultural Affairs (ECA/A/E/SCA) is 

substantially involved in program 

activities above and beyond routine 

grant monitoring. ECA/A/E/SCA 

activities and responsibilities for this 

program are, but not limited to, the 

following: 

1. Participating in the design and 

direction of program activities; 

2. Approval of key personnel; 

3. Final selection of program 

participants; 

4. Approval and input for all program 

agendas and timelines; 

5. Final approval of all student 

placements; 

6. Final approval of internship 

placements; 

7. Guidance in execution of all project 

components; 

8. Arrangement for State Department 

speakers during workshops; 

9. Assistance with participant 

emergencies; 

10. Providing background information 

related to participants’ home countries 

and cultures; and 

11. Liaison with Public Affairs 

Sections of the U.S. Embassies and 

country desk officers at the State 

Department. 

Note: All materials, publicity, and 

correspondence related to the program must 

acknowledge this as a program of the Bureau 

of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. 

Department of State. The Bureau will retain 

copyright use of and distribute materials 

related to this program as it sees fit. 

II. Award Information 

Type of Award: Cooperative 

Agreement. ECA’s level of involvement 

in this program is listed under number 

I above. 

Fiscal Year Funds: FY2010. 

Approximate Total Funding: 

$2,000,000. 

Approximate Number of Awards: 1. 

Anticipated Award Date: Pending 

availability of funds, the anticipated 

program start date will be May 1, 2010. 

Anticipated Project Completion Date: 

December 31, 2011. 

Additional Information: At this time, 

support for this program is being 

provided from special one-time FY2009/ 

FY2010 supplemental funds that have 

been appropriated to the Department. In 

the event that additional funds become 

available in fiscal years 2011 and 2012, 

and pending successful implementation 

of the FY2010 funded program, ECA 

reserves the right to renew this grant for 

two additional fiscal years before openly 

competing it again. 

III. Eligibility Information 

III.1. Eligible Applicants: Applications 

may be submitted by public and private 

non-profit organizations meeting the 

provisions described in Internal 

Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3). 

III.2. Cost-Sharing or Matching Funds: 

There is no minimum or maximum 

percentage required for this 

competition. However, the Bureau 

encourages applicants to provide 

maximum levels of cost sharing and 

funding in support of its programs. 

When cost sharing is offered, it is 

understood and agreed that the 

applicant must provide the amount of 

cost sharing as stipulated in its proposal 

and later included in an approved grant 

agreement. Cost sharing may be in the 

form of allowable direct or indirect 

costs. For accountability, you must 

maintain written records to support all 

costs which are claimed as your 

contribution, as well as costs to be paid 

by the Federal Government. Such 

records are subject to audit. The basis 

for determining the value of cash and 

in-kind contributions must be in 

accordance with OMB Circular A–110, 

(Revised), Subpart C.23—Cost Sharing 

and Matching. In the event you do not 

provide the minimum amount of cost 

sharing as stipulated in the approved 

budget, ECA’s contribution will be 

reduced in like proportion. 

III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements: 

(a) Bureau grant guidelines require that 

organizations with less than four years 

of experience in conducting 

international exchange programs will be 

limited to $60,000. ECA anticipates 


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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 9 / Thursday, January 14, 2010 / Notices 2183 

awarding one grant, in the amount of up 

to $2,000,000 to support the program 

and administrative costs required to 

implement the program. Therefore, 

applicant organizations with less than 

four years experience in conducting 

international exchange programs are 

ineligible to apply under this 

competition. The Bureau encourages 

applications to provide the maximum 

levels of cost sharing and funding to in 

support of its program. 

IV. Application and Submission 

Information 

Note: Please read the complete 

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. 

IV.1 Contact Information To Request an 

Application Package: 

Please contact the South and Central 

Asia Programs Branch, Office of 

Academic Exchange Programs, ECA/A/ 

E/SCA, SA–5 Floor 4, U.S. Department 

of State, Washington, DC 20522–0504, 

202–632–3270, Fax: 202–632–9411 or 

AlamiLT@state.gov to request a 

Solicitation Package. Please refer to the 

Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/ 

E/SCA–10–01 located at the top of this 

announcement when making your 

request. 

Alternatively, an electronic 

application package may be obtained 

from grants.gov. Please see section IV.3f 

for further information. 

The Solicitation Package contains the 

Proposal Submission Instruction (PSI) 

document which consists of required 

application forms, and standard 

guidelines for proposal preparation. 

It also contains the Project Objectives, 

Goals and Implementation (POGI) 

document, which provides specific 

information, award criteria and budget 

instructions tailored to this competition. 

Please specify Program Officer, 

Theresa Drake, and refer to the Funding 

Opportunity Number ECA/A/E/SCA– 

10–01 on all other inquiries and 

correspondence. 

IV.2. To Download a Solicitation 

Package Via Internet: 

The entire Solicitation Package may 

be downloaded from the Bureau’s Web 

site at http://exchanges.state.gov/grants/ 

open2.html, or from the Grants.gov Web 

site at http://www.grants.gov. Please 

read all information before 

downloading. 

IV.3. Content and Form of 

Submission: Applicants must follow all 

instructions in the Solicitation Package. 

The application should be submitted 

per the instructions under IV.3f., 

Application Deadline and Methods of 

Submission section below. 

IV.3a. You are required to have a Dun 

and Bradstreet Data Universal 

Numbering System (DUNS) number to 

apply for a grant or cooperative 

agreement from the U.S. Government. 

This number is a nine-digit 

identification number, which uniquely 

identifies business entities. Obtaining a 

DUNS number is easy and there is no 

charge. To obtain a DUNS number, 

access http:// 

www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1– 

866–705–5711. Please ensure that your 

DUNS number is included in the 

appropriate box of the SF–424 which is 

part of the formal application package. 

IV.3b. All proposals must contain an 

executive summary, proposal narrative 

and budget. 

Please Refer to the Solicitation 

Package. It contains the mandatory 

Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) 

document and the Project Objectives, 

Goals and Implementation (POGI) 

document for additional formatting and 

technical requirements. 

IV.3c. You must have nonprofit status 

with the IRS at the time of application. 

Please note: Effective January 7, 2009, 

all applicants for ECA federal assistance 

awards must include in their 

application the names of directors and/ 

or senior executives (current officers, 

trustees, and key employees, regardless 

of amount of compensation). In 

fulfilling this requirement, applicants 

must submit information in one of the 

following ways: 

(1) Those who file Internal Revenue 

Service Form 990, ‘‘Return of 

Organization Exempt From Income 

Tax,’’ must include a copy of relevant 

portions of this form. 

(2) Those who do not file IRS Form 

990 must submit information above in 

the format of their choice. 

In addition to final program reporting 

requirements, award recipients will also 

be required to submit a one-page 

document, derived from their program 

reports, listing and describing their 

grant activities. For award recipients, 

the names of directors and/or senior 

executives (current officers, trustees, 

and key employees), as well as the onepage description of grant activities, will 

be transmitted by the State Department 

to OMB, along with other information 

required by the Federal Funding 

Accountability and Transparency Act 

(FFATA), and will be made available to 

the public by the Office of Management 

and Budget on its USASpending.gov 

Web site as part of ECA’s FFATA 

reporting requirements. 

If your organization is a private 

nonprofit which has not received a grant 

or cooperative agreement from ECA in 

the past three years, or if your 

organization received nonprofit status 

from the IRS within the past four years, 

you must submit the necessary 

documentation to verify nonprofit status 

as directed in the PSI document. Failure 

to do so will cause your proposal to be 

declared technically ineligible. 

IV.3d. Please take into consideration 

the following information when 

preparing your proposal narrative: 

IV.3d.1 Adherence to all Regulations 

Governing the J Visa: The Bureau of 

Educational and Cultural Affairs is 

placing renewed emphasis on the secure 

and proper administration of Exchange 

Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence 

by grantees and sponsors to all 

regulations governing the J visa. 

Therefore, proposals should 

demonstrate the applicant’s capacity to 

meet all requirements governing the 

administration of the Exchange Visitor 

Programs as set forth in 22 CFR 62, 

including the oversight of Responsible 

Officers and Alternate Responsible 

Officers, screening and selection of 

program participants, provision of prearrival information and orientation to 

participants, monitoring of participants, 

proper maintenance and security of 

forms, recordkeeping, reporting and 

other requirements. 

The award recipient will be 

responsible for issuing DS–2019 forms 

to participants in this program. 

A copy of the complete regulations 

governing the administration of 

Exchange Visitor (J) programs is 

available at http://exchanges.state.gov 

or from: Office of Designation, ECA/EC/ 

D, SA–5, Floor C2, Department of State, 

Washington, DC 20522–0582. 

Please refer to Solicitation Package for 

further information. 

IV.3d.2 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 your proposal. Public Law 


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2184 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 9 / Thursday, January 14, 2010 / Notices 

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. 

IV.3d.3. Program Monitoring and 

Evaluation: Proposals must include a 

plan to monitor and evaluate the 

project’s success, both as the activities 

unfold and at the end of the program. 

The Bureau recommends that your 

proposal include a draft survey 

questionnaire or other technique plus a 

description of a methodology to use to 

link outcomes to original project 

objectives. The Bureau expects that the 

award recipient will track participants 

or partners and be able to respond to 

key evaluation questions, including 

satisfaction with the program, learning 

as a result of the program, changes in 

behavior as a result of the program, and 

effects of the program on institutions 

(institutions in which participants work 

or partner institutions). The evaluation 

plan should include indicators that 

measure gains in mutual understanding 

as well as substantive knowledge. 

Successful monitoring and evaluation 

depend heavily on setting clear goals 

and outcomes at the outset of a program. 

Your evaluation plan should include a 

description of your project’s objectives, 

your anticipated project outcomes, and 

how and when you intend to measure 

these outcomes (performance 

indicators). The more that outcomes are 

‘‘smart’’ (specific, measurable, attainable, 

results-oriented, and placed in a 

reasonable time frame), the easier it will 

be to conduct the evaluation. You 

should also show how your project 

objectives link to the goals of the 

program described in this RFGP. 

Your monitoring and evaluation plan 

should clearly distinguish between 

program outputs and outcomes. Outputs 

are products and services delivered, 

often stated as an amount. Output 

information is important to show the 

scope or size of project activities, but it 

cannot substitute for information about 

progress towards outcomes or the 

results achieved. Examples of outputs 

include the number of people trained or 

the number of seminars conducted. 

Outcomes, in contrast, represent 

specific results a project is intended to 

achieve and is usually measured as an 

extent of change. Findings on outputs 

and outcomes should both be reported, 

but the focus should be on outcomes. 

We encourage you to assess the 

following four levels of outcomes, as 

they relate to the program goals set out 

in the RFGP (listed here in increasing 

order of importance): 

1. Participant satisfaction with the 

program and exchange experience. 

2. Participant learning, such as 

increased knowledge, aptitude, skills, 

and changed understanding and 

attitude. Learning includes both 

substantive (subject-specific) learning 

and mutual understanding. 

3. Participant behavior, concrete 

actions to apply knowledge in work or 

community; greater participation and 

responsibility in civic organizations; 

interpretation and explanation of 

experiences and new knowledge gained; 

continued contacts between 

participants, community members, and 

others. 

4. Institutional changes, such as 

increased collaboration and 

partnerships, policy reforms, new 

programming, and organizational 

improvements. 

Please note: Consideration should be given 

to the appropriate timing of data collection 

for each level of outcome. For example, 

satisfaction is usually captured as a shortterm outcome, whereas behavior and 

institutional changes are normally 

considered longer-term outcomes. 

Overall, the quality of your 

monitoring and evaluation plan will be 

judged on how well it (1) specifies 

intended outcomes; (2) gives clear 

descriptions of how each outcome will 

be measured; (3) identifies when 

particular outcomes will be measured; 

and (4) provides a clear description of 

the data collection strategies for each 

outcome (i.e., surveys, interviews, or 

focus groups). (Please note that 

evaluation plans that deal only with the 

first level of outcomes [satisfaction] will 

be deemed less competitive under the 

present evaluation criteria.) 

The recipient organization will be 

required to provide reports analyzing 

their evaluation findings to the Bureau 

in their regular program reports. All 

data collected, including survey 

responses and contact information, must 

be maintained for a minimum of three 

years and provided to the Bureau upon 

request. 

IV.3d.4. Describe your plans for: i.e. 

sustainability, overall program 

management, staffing, coordination with 

ECA and PAS or any other 

requirements. 

IV.3e. Please take the following 

information into consideration when 

preparing your budget: 

IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit SF– 

424A—‘‘Budget Information—NonConstruction Programs’’ along with 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. 

IV.3e.2. Allowable costs for the 

program include the following: 

1. Participant expenses. 

2. Administrative costs. 

Please refer to the Solicitation 

Package for complete budget guidelines 

and formatting instructions. 

IV.3f. Application Deadline and 

Methods of Submission: 

Application Deadline Date: February 

15, 2010. 

Reference Number: ECA/A/E/SCA– 

10–01. 

Methods of Submission: Applications 

may be submitted in one of two ways: 

(1.) In hard-copy, via a nationally 

recognized overnight delivery service 

(i.e., Federal Express, UPS, Airborne 

Express, or U.S. Postal Service Express 

Overnight Mail, etc.), or 

(2.) Electronically through http:// 

www.grants.gov. 

Please Note: ECA strongly encourages 

organizations interested in applying for this 

competition to submit printed, hard copy 

applications as outlined in section IV.3f.1., 

below rather than submitting electronically 

through Grants.gov. This recommendation is 

being made as a result of the anticipated high 

volume of grant proposals that will be 

submitted via the Grants.gov webportal as 

part of the Recovery Act stimulus package. 

As stated in this RFGP, ECA bears no 

responsibility for data errors resulting from 

transmission or conversion processes for 

proposals submitted via Grants.gov. 

Along with the Project Title, all 

applicants must enter the above 

Reference Number in Box 11 on the SF– 

424 contained in the mandatory 

Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) 

of the solicitation document. 

IV.3f.1 Submitting Printed 

Applications: Applications must be 

shipped no later than the above 

deadline. Delivery services used by 

applicants must have in-place, 

centralized shipping identification and 

tracking systems that may be accessed 

via the Internet and delivery people 

who are identifiable by commonly 

recognized uniforms and delivery 

vehicles. Proposals shipped on or before 

the above deadline but received at ECA 

more than seven days after the deadline 


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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 9 / Thursday, January 14, 2010 / Notices 2185 

will be ineligible for further 

consideration under this competition. 

Proposals shipped after the established 

deadlines are ineligible for 

consideration under this competition. 

ECA will not notify you upon receipt of 

application. It is each applicant’s 

responsibility to ensure that each 

package is marked with a legible 

tracking number and to monitor/confirm 

delivery to ECA via the Internet. 

Delivery of proposal packages may not 

be made via local courier service or in 

person for this competition. Faxed 

documents will not be accepted at any 

time. Only proposals submitted as 

stated above will be considered. 

Important note: When preparing your 

submission please make sure to include one 

extra copy of the completed SF–424 form and 

place it in an envelope addressed to ‘‘ECA/ 

EX/PM’’. 

The original and eight (8) copies of 

the application should be sent to: Office 

of Academic Exchange Programs, ECA/ 

A/E/SCA, SA–5, 4th Floor, 2200 C 

Street, NW., Washington, DC 20037. 

Applicants submitting hard-copy 

applications must also submit the 

‘‘Executive Summary’’ and ‘‘Proposal 

Narrative’’ sections of the proposal in 

text (.txt) format on a PC-formatted disk. 

The Bureau will provide these files 

electronically to the appropriate Public 

Affairs Section(s) at the U.S. embassies 

for their review. 

IV.3f.2—Submitting Electronic 

Applications: Applicants have the 

option of submitting proposals 

electronically through Grants.gov 

(http://www.grants.gov). Complete 

solicitation packages are available at 

Grants.gov in the ‘‘Find’’ portion of the 

system. 

Please Note: ECA strongly encourages 

organizations interested in applying for this 

competition to submit printed, hard copy 

applications as outlined in section IV.3f.1. 

above, rather than submitting electronically 

through Grants.gov. This recommendation is 

being made as a result of the anticipated high 

volume of grant proposals that will be 

submitted via the Grants.gov webportal as 

part of the Recovery Act stimulus package. 

As stated in this RFGP, ECA bears no 

responsibility for data errors resulting from 

transmission or conversion processes for 

proposals submitted via Grants.gov. 

Please follow the instructions 

available in the ‘Get Started’ portion of 

the site (http://www.grants.gov/ 

GetStarted). 

Several of the steps in the Grants.gov 

registration process could take several 

weeks. Therefore, applicants should 

check with appropriate staff within their 

organizations immediately after 

reviewing this RFGP to confirm or 

determine their registration status with 

Grants.gov. Once registered, the amount 

of time it can take to upload an 

application will vary depending on a 

variety of factors including the size of 

the application and the speed of your 

Internet connection. In addition, 

validation of an electronic submission 

via Grants.gov can take up to two 

business days. 

Therefore, we strongly recommend 

that you not wait until the application 

deadline to begin the submission 

process through Grants.gov. 

The Grants.gov Web site includes 

extensive information on all phases/ 

aspects of the Grants.gov process, 

including an extensive section on 

frequently asked questions, located 

under the ‘‘For Applicants’’ section of 

the Web site. ECA strongly recommends 

that all potential applicants review 

thoroughly the Grants.gov Web site, 

well in advance of submitting a 

proposal through the Grants.gov system. 

ECA bears no responsibility for data 

errors resulting from transmission or 

conversion processes. 

Direct all questions regarding 

Grants.gov registration and submission 

to: 

Grants.gov Customer Support 

Contact Center Phone: 800–518–4726. 

Business Hours: Monday–Friday, 7 

a.m.–9 p.m. Eastern Time. 

E-mail: support@grants.gov. 

Applicants have until midnight (12 

a.m.), Washington, DC time of the 

closing date to ensure that their entire 

application has been uploaded to the 

Grants.gov site. There are no exceptions 

to the above deadline. Applications 

uploaded to the site after midnight of 

the application deadline date will be 

automatically rejected by the grants.gov 

system, and will be technically 

ineligible. 

Please refer to the Grants.gov Web 

site, for definitions of various 

‘‘application statuses’’ and the difference 

between a submission receipt and a 

submission validation. Applicants will 

receive a validation e-mail from 

grants.gov upon the successful 

submission of an application. Again, 

validation of an electronic submission 

via Grants.gov can take up to two 

business days. Therefore, we strongly 

recommend that you not wait until the 

application deadline to begin the 

submission process through Grants.gov. 

ECA will not notify you upon receipt of 

electronic applications. 

It is the responsibility of all 

applicants submitting proposals via the 

Grants.gov web portal to ensure that 

proposals have been received by 

Grants.gov in their entirety, and ECA 

bears no responsibility for data errors 

resulting from transmission or 

conversion processes. 

IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of 

Applications: Executive Order 12372 

does not apply to this program. 

V. Application Review Information 

V.1. Review Process: The Bureau will 

review all proposals 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 

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 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. Ability to achieve program 

objectives: 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. 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 wrapup sessions, program meetings, resource 

materials and follow-up activities). 


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2186 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 9 / Thursday, January 14, 2010 / Notices 

5. Institution’s Record/Capacity: 

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 Grants Staff. The 

Bureau will consider the past 

performance of prior recipients and the 

demonstrated potential of new 

applicants. 

6. Project Evaluation and Follow-on: 

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. Proposals 

should also provide a plan for 

continued follow-on activity (with 

minimal Bureau support) ensuring that 

Bureau supported programs are not 

isolated events. 

7. 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. 

8. 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 countries. 

VI. Award Administration Information 

VI.1a. Award Notices: Final awards 

cannot be made until funds have been 

appropriated by Congress, allocated and 

committed through internal Bureau 

procedures. Successful applicants will 

receive an Federal Assistance Award 

(FAA) from the Bureau’s Grants Office. 

The FAA and the original proposal with 

subsequent modifications (if applicable) 

shall be the only binding authorizing 

document between the recipient and the 

U.S. Government. The FAA will be 

signed by an authorized Grants Officer, 

and mailed to the recipient’s 

responsible officer identified in the 

application. 

Unsuccessful applicants will receive 

notification of the results of the 

application review from the ECA 

program office coordinating this 

competition. 

VI.2 Administrative and National 

Policy Requirements: Terms and 

Conditions for the Administration of 

ECA agreements include the following: 

Office of Management and Budget 

Circular A–122, ‘‘Cost Principles for 

Nonprofit Organizations.’’ 

Office of Management and Budget 

Circular A–21, ‘‘Cost Principles for 

Educational Institutions.’’ 

Office of Management and Budget 

Circular A–87, ‘‘Cost Principles for 

State, Local and Indian Governments.’’ 

OMB Circular No. A–110 (Revised), 

Uniform Administrative Requirements 

for Grants and Agreements with 

Institutions of Higher Education, 

Hospitals, and other Nonprofit 

Organizations. 

OMB Circular No. A–102, Uniform 

Administrative Requirements for 

Grants-in-Aid to State and Local 

Governments. 

OMB Circular No. A–133, Audits of 

States, Local Government, and Nonprofit Organizations 

Please reference the following Web 

sites for additional information: http:// 

www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants; 

http://fa.statebuy.state.gov. 

VI.3. Reporting Requirements: You 

must provide ECA with a hard copy 

original plus one copy of the following 

reports: 

(1) A final program and financial 

report no more than 90 days after the 

expiration of the award; 

(2) A concise, one-page final program 

report summarizing program outcomes 

no more than 90 days after the 

expiration of the award. This one-page 

report will be transmitted to OMB, and 

be made available to the public via 

OMB’s USAspending.gov Web site—as 

part of ECA’s Federal Funding 

Accountability and Transparency Act 

(FFATA) reporting requirements. 

(3) A SF–PPR, ‘‘Performance Progress 

Report’’ Cover Sheet with all program 

reports. 

Award recipients will be required to 

provide reports analyzing their 

evaluation findings to the Bureau in 

their regular program reports. (Please 

refer to IV. Application and Submission 

Instructions (IV.3.d.3) above for Program 

Monitoring and Evaluation information. 

All data collected, including survey 

responses and contact information, must 

be maintained for a minimum of three 

years and provided to the Bureau upon 

request. 

All reports must be sent to the ECA 

Grants Officer and ECA Program Officer 

listed in the final assistance award 

document. 

Optional Program Data Requirements: 

Organizations awarded grants will be 

required to maintain specific data on 

program participants and activities in an 

electronically accessible database format 

that can be shared with the Bureau as 

required. As a minimum, the data must 

include the following: 

(1) Name, address, contact 

information and biographic sketch of all 

persons who travel internationally on 

funds provided by the grant or who 

benefit from the grant funding but do 

not travel. 

(2) Itineraries of international and 

domestic travel, providing dates of 

travel and cities in which any exchange 

experiences take place. Final schedules 

for in-country and U.S. activities must 

be received by the ECA Program Officer 

at least three work days prior to the 

official opening of the activity. 

VII. Agency Contacts 

For questions about this 

announcement, contact: Theresa Drake, 

South and Central Asia Programs 

Branch, Office of Academic Exchange 

Programs, ECA/A/E/SCA, SA–5 Floor 4, 

U.S. Department of State, Washington, 

DC 20522–0504, (202) 632–3277 and 

Fax: 202–632–9411, http:// 

www.exchanges.state.gov. 

All correspondence with the Bureau 

concerning this RFGP should reference 

the above title and number ECA/A/E/ 

SCA–10–01. Please read the complete 

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. 

VIII. Other Information 

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 per section VI.3 

above. 

Dated: January 5, 2010. 

Maura M. Pally, 

Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational 

and Cultural Affairs, Department of State. 

[FR Doc. 2010–610 Filed 1–13–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4710–05–P 


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