Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 213 / Thursday, November 3, 2011 / Notices 68243 

formerly traded exclusively in the over-the-counter 

market be cleared. See, e.g., Report of the Senate 

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs 

regarding The Restoring American Financial 

Stability Act of 2010, S. Rep. No. 111–176 at 34 

(stating that ‘‘[s]ome parts of the OTC market may 

not be suitable for clearing and exchange trading 

due to individual business needs of certain users. 

Those users should retain the ability to engage in 

customized, uncleared contracts while bringing in 

as much of the OTC market under the centrally 

cleared and exchange-traded framework as 

possible.’’). The Commission believes that 

expanding CME’s ability to clear CDS contracts 

referencing broad-based securities indices will 

facilitate bringing additional security-based swaps 

into clearing, particularly with respect to the 

individual components of these indices. 

8 15 U.S.C. 78q–1. 

9 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2). 

10 In approving the proposed rule change, the 

Commission considered the proposal’s impact on 

efficiency, competition and capital formation. 15 

U.S.C. 78c(f). 

11 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). 

IV. Conclusion 

On the basis of the foregoing, the 

Commission finds that the proposal is 

consistent with the requirements of the 

Act and in particular with the 

requirements of Section 17A of the Act 8

and the rules and regulations 

thereunder. 

It is therefore ordered, pursuant to 

Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,9 that the 

proposed rule change (File No. SR– 

CME–2011–07) be, and hereby is, 

approved.10

For the Commission, by the Division of 

Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated 

authority.11

Kevin M. O’Neill, 

Deputy Secretary. 

[FR Doc. 2011–28462 Filed 11–2–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8011–01–P 

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION 

[Docket No. SSA–2011–0068] 

Social Security Rulings, SSR 91–1c 

and SSR 66–18c; Rescission of Social 

Security Rulings (SSR) 66–18c and 

SSR 91–1c 

AGENCY: Social Security Administration. 

ACTION: Notice of rescission of Social 

Security Rulings. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with 20 CFR 

402.35(b)(1), the Commissioner of Social 

Security gives notice of the rescission of 

Social Security Rulings (SSR) 66–18c 

and SSR 91–1c. 

DATES: Effective Date: This rescission 

will be effective on November 3, 2011. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Joann S. Anderson, Office of Income 

Security Programs, Social Security 

Administration, 6401 Security 

Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235–6401, 

(410) 965–6716 or TTY (410) 966–5609, 

for information about this notice. For 

information on eligibility or filing for 

benefits, call our national toll-free 

number, 1-(800) 772–1213 or TTY 1– 

(800) 325–0778, or visit our Internet 

site, Social Security Online, at http:// 

www.socialsecurity.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SSRs 

make available to the public 

precedential decisions related to the 

Federal old age, disability, 

Supplemental Security Income, special 

veterans’ benefits, and black lung 

benefits programs. SSRs may be based 

on determinations or decisions made at 

all levels of administrative adjudication, 

Federal court decisions, Commissioner’s 

decisions, opinions of the Office of the 

General Counsel, and other 

interpretations of the law and 

regulations. 

We have historically presumed that 

corporate officers and self-employed 

individuals could report less than their 

actual earnings to avoid deductions 

from retirement benefits under the 

annual earnings test. Accordingly, we 

developed detailed procedures to 

question earnings reported by corporate 

officers and self-employed individuals 

during periods of alleged retirement. 

These procedures sometimes entailed 

extensive interviews regarding the 

nature and extent of the individual’s 

business activities and the distribution 

of income within the company or 

corporation. 

In 1966, we issued SSR 66–18c to 

reflect the district court’s decision in 

Hellberg v. Celebrezze, 245 F.Supp. 390 

(W.D. Mo. 1965), in which the court 

held that we have the authority to 

investigate the validity of a business 

transfer to determine its sufficiency for 

purposes of the annual earnings test. 

The court found that we could declare 

a transfer invalid for earnings test 

purposes, even though it is valid for 

other purposes under State law, if the 

former legal titleholder retains a 

beneficial interest in the business and 

continues to perform substantially 

similar services for the business after 

the transfer. 

On February 5, 1991, we issued SSR 

91–1c to reflect the decision of the 

United States Court of Appeals for the 

Eleventh Circuit in Martin v. Sullivan, 

894 F.2d 1520 (11th Cir. 1990). The 

court determined that we have the 

authority to investigate any business 

arrangements that appear to be for the 

purpose of qualifying for benefits or 

avoiding benefit deductions under the 

annual earnings test. 

We recently decided to eliminate our 

current procedures for questioning 

corporate officers’ and self-employed 

individuals’ allegations of retirement. 

We have found that, over the long term, 

questioning retirement allegations has 

made no significant difference in Trust 

Fund outlays. By eliminating our 

questionable retirement procedures, we 

will reduce the public burden, save our 

scarce administrative resources, and 

increase the efficiency of the retirement 

determination process. 

Since we are eliminating our current 

procedures for questioning corporate 

officers’ and self-employed individuals’ 

retirement allegations, the SSRs that 

relate to those procedures are no longer 

needed. Therefore, we are rescinding 

SSR 66–18c and SSR 91–1c as obsolete. 

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 

Program Nos. 96.002, Social SecurityRetirement Insurance, and 96.004 Social 

Security-Survivors Insurance) 

Dated: October 27, 2011. 

Michael J. Astrue, 

Commissioner of Social Security. 

[FR Doc. 2011–28533 Filed 11–2–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4191–02–P 

DEPARTMENT OF STATE 

[Public Notice: 7671] 

Youth Leadership Program: TechGirls 

Overview Information 

Bureau of Educational and Cultural 

Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant 

Proposals: Youth Leadership Program: 

TechGirls. 

Announcement Type: New 

Cooperative Agreement. 

Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/ 

PE/C/PY–12–10. 

Catalog of Federal Domestic 

Assistance Number: 19.415. 

Application Deadline: December 15, 

2011. 

Executive Summary 

The Office of Citizen Exchanges, 

Youth Programs Division, of the Bureau 

of Educational and Cultural Affairs 

(ECA) announces an open competition 

for the new Youth Leadership Program 

‘‘TechGirls.’’ Public and private nonprofit organizations meeting the 

provisions described in Internal 

Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 

501(c)(3) may submit proposals to 

conduct a three- to five-week exchange 

program in the United States in Summer 

2012 focused on promoting high-level 

study of technology for high school girls 

from the Middle East and North Africa. 

U.S. Embassies in the participating 

countries and territories will recruit, 

screen, and select the teenage girls. The 


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program will provide an exchange of 

academic study of applied technology 

for girls who already have a 

demonstrated aptitude and strong 

interest in the subject, will empower 

girls to pursue higher education and 

careers in technology, and will support 

activities in the participants’ home 

countries that are designed to reinforce 

and support the skills and linkages 

acquired during the U.S. program. 

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 FulbrightHays Act. The purpose of the Act is ‘‘to 

enable the Government of the United 

States to increase mutual understanding 

between the people of the United States 

and the people of other countries * * *; 

to strengthen the ties which unite us 

with other nations by demonstrating the 

educational and cultural interests, 

developments, and achievements of the 

people of the United States and other 

nations * * * and thus to assist in the 

development of friendly, sympathetic 

and peaceful relations between the 

United States and the other countries of 

the world.’’ The funding authority for 

the program above is provided through 

legislation. 

Background 

In July 2011, Secretary Clinton 

announced the launch of a youth 

exchange program called TechGirls ‘‘to 

encourage innovation and promote the 

spread of new technologies to give 

women and girls the support that they 

need to become leaders in this field.’’ 

TechGirls will complement the 

TechWomen program and echo its goals; 

this initiative champions two distinct 

but key themes of President Obama’s 

June 2009 speech in Cairo by supporting 

development in the field of technology 

and enabling young women to reach 

their full potential in the technology 

industry. For additional background, 

visit: http://exchanges.state.gov/

programs/professionals/techwomen.

html. 

The TechGirls program will bring 

approximately 25 teenage girls from 

select countries in the Middle East and 

North Africa to the United States for a 

three- to five-week exchange program in 

Summer 2012 focused on promoting 

high-level study of technology. The 

program should include participation in 

a technology camp, perhaps at a 

university, that will bring together the 

program participants with American 

peers who share similar interests. The 

camp should be academically rigorous 

and provide exposure to advanced tools 

in technology, as well as tools that can 

be readily adopted for use in the 

participants’ home countries, through 

hands-on classes, labs, and individual 

or team-based projects. 

The TechGirls program participants 

may be integrated into an existing camp 

or residential program, or one may be 

designed specifically for them. The 

camp should be complemented by 

additional activities designed 

specifically for the TechGirls to include 

mentoring experiences, job shadowing, 

mini-internships, and/or site visits to 

high tech companies in the United 

States. Participants should be afforded 

ample opportunity throughout the 

course of the program to engage in small 

group work to design and develop 

projects that are relevant to the field and 

will produce tangible, presentable 

outcomes, as well as to plan for followon activities. The program will be 

rounded out by planned social, 

recreational, and cultural activities; 

community service activities; home 

hospitality arrangements such as meals, 

recreational activities, or homestays 

with local families; and other activities 

designed to achieve the program’s stated 

goals. Multiple opportunities for 

participants to interact meaningfully 

with their American peers must be 

included. Follow-on activities that are 

designed to reinforce and support the 

skills and linkages acquired during the 

U.S. program are an integral part of the 

program. 

The Bureau anticipates that the 

TechGirls participants will be selected 

from the same countries that are 

participating in TechWomen so that 

TechWomen participants may assist 

with recruitment and mentoring of the 

girls once they return home. 

TechWomen participants are currently 

expected to be from Algeria, Egypt, 

Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestinian 

territories, Tunisia, and Yemen. 

The goals of the program are to: 

(1) Provide a program of academic 

study of applied technology for girls 

who already have a demonstrated 

aptitude and strong interest in the 

subject; 

(2) Empower girls to pursue higher 

education and careers in technology; 

(3) Link peers who share interests and 

abilities; 

(4) Develop leadership skills of the 

participants; 

(5) Promote mutual understanding 

among the peoples of the United States 

and the countries and territories of the 

Middle East and North Africa. 

Using these goals and the theme of 

technology, applicant organizations 

should identify their own specific and 

measurable outputs and outcomes based 

on the project specifications provided in 

this solicitation. Proposals should 

indicate how recipients will achieve the 

short-term program objectives, and how 

these objectives will contribute to the 

achievement of the stated long-term 

goals. 

Participants 

U.S. Embassies in the participating 

countries will recruit, screen, and select 

the youth participants. Although the 

award recipient is not expected to be 

involved in participant selection, it may 

serve the posts in an advisory role, as 

needed. The youth participants will be 

high school girls, aged 15 to 17 years old 

who already have a demonstrated 

aptitude and strong interest in the field 

of technology. Participants will be 

proficient in the English language. The 

Bureau anticipates selecting two to five 

participants from each participating 

country or territory. 

Participants will be provided with 

opportunities during the exchange 

program to interact with American peers 

who are of the same age and share 

similar interests in the field of 

technology. American peers will either 

be participants of an existing technology 

camp or will be recruited and selected 

by the award recipient if a technology 

camp is designed specifically for the 

TechGirls program. 

Organizational Capacity 

Applicant organizations must 

demonstrate their capacity for providing 

projects that address the goals and 

themes outlined in this document, and 

providing age-appropriate programming 

for youth, particularly from this region. 

Applicants are strongly urged to 

garner private sector support. The 

Bureau encourages the expansion of the 

scope of this program beyond what it is 

able to fund. Private sector monies and 

in-kind offerings may be used, for 

instance, to fund additional visits to 

technology companies in the United 

States, to increase the number of 

American students that participate in 

exchange program activities, or to ramp 

up activities during the technology 

camp. 

U.S. Embassy Involvement 

U.S. Embassies in the participating 

countries will recruit, screen, and select 

the participants; facilitate visas; arrange 

and purchase international travel; 

arrange for adult accompaniment on the 

international flights; collaborate with 

the U.S. recipient organization in 


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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 213 / Thursday, November 3, 2011 / Notices 68245 

providing pre-departure briefings and 

overseeing alumni follow-on activities; 

and engage TechWomen alumni in their 

home countries to serve as mentors to 

the TechGirls alumni. 

Guidelines 

The total amount of funding is 

$175,000, pending availability of funds. 

It is anticipated that the cooperative 

agreement will begin on or around 

March 15, 2012. The award period will 

be approximately 12 months, and will 

cover all aspects of the program 

planning, U.S.-based exchange 

activities, and support of follow-on 

activities in the participants’ home 

countries. 

Applicants should propose to host 

one group of approximately 25 

participants. The U.S.-based exchange 

should take place during a three- to fiveweek period between June 15 and July 

19, 2012, to coincide with the school 

calendars in the participating countries, 

and also to allow participants to 

complete the program and return home 

before Ramadan (estimated to begin on 

July 20, 2012). Applicants should 

propose specific exchange dates in their 

proposals, but the exact timing may be 

altered through the mutual agreement of 

the Department of State and the award 

recipient. 

The Bureau reserves the right to 

reduce, revise, or increase proposal 

project configurations, budgets, and 

participant numbers in accordance with 

the needs of the program and the 

availability of funds. In addition, the 

Bureau reserves the right to adjust the 

participating countries should 

conditions change in a partner country 

or if other countries and/or regions are 

identified as Department priorities. 

In pursuit of the goals outlined above, 

the award recipient will be responsible 

for the following: 

(1) Providing U.S. Embassy Public 

Affairs staff in participating countries 

and territories with program materials 

and logistical information for 

preparation sessions at the predeparture orientations. 

(2) Managing logistical arrangements, 

including any domestic travel, ground 

transportation, accommodations, group 

meals, and disbursement of pocket 

money. 

(3) Conducting an orientation for the 

TechGirls upon their arrival in the 

United States and for those participating 

from the U.S. host communities, 

including American peers and host 

families. 

(4) Arranging housing for the 

participants in a dormitory, hotel, 

homestay, or some combination thereof 

and provide staff monitoring of the 

housing arrangement throughout the 

exchange. American host families must 

be properly screened and briefed, and 

criminal background checks must be 

conducted for all members of host 

families (and others living in the home) 

who are 18 years of age or older. 

(5) Designing and planning three to 

five weeks of exchange activities, 

including a technology camp, that will 

provide a creative and substantive 

program aimed at developing the 

participants’ knowledge and skill base 

in the field of technology. The exchange 

will include a short trip to Washington, 

DC 

(6) Developing and implementing a 

plan to monitor the participants’ safety 

and well-being while on the exchange, 

and to create opportunities for 

participants to share potential issues 

and resolve them promptly. The award 

recipient will be required to provide 

proper staff supervision and facilitation 

to ensure that the teenagers have a safe 

and pedagogically rich program. Staff, 

along with mentors will assist the youth 

with cultural adjustments, provide 

societal context to enhance learning, 

and counsel students as needed. 

(7) Making proper arrangements for 

participants’ religious observances. 

(8) Facilitating, in coordination with 

the U.S. Embassies, continued 

engagement among the participants and 

offering opportunities to reinforce the 

ideas, values, and skills imparted during 

the exchange. 

(9) Collaborating with U.S. Embassies 

to design and implement an evaluation 

plan that assesses the short- and 

medium-term impact of the project on 

the participants as well as on U.S. host 

and home communities. 

Please Note: The ECA award for the 

TechGirls program will take the form of a 

cooperative agreement with the award 

recipient. In a cooperative agreement, the 

Department of State is substantially involved 

in program activities above and beyond 

routine grant monitoring. The Department’s 

activities and responsibilities for the 

TechGirls program are as follows: 

(1) Provide advice and assistance in the 

execution of all program components. 

(2) Manage the recruitment and selection of 

the participants, arrange and purchase 

international travel, arrange for adult 

accompaniment on the international flights, 

and oversee pre- and post-exchange activities 

in each country. 

(3) Issue DS–2019 forms and J–1 visas. All 

foreign participants will travel on a U.S. 

Government designation for the J Exchange 

Visitor Program. 

(4) Provide the Accident and Sickness 

Program for Exchanges (ASPE) health 

benefits plan for foreign participants. 

(5) Facilitate interaction within the 

Department of State, to include ECA, the 

regional bureau, and overseas embassies and 

consulates. 

(6) Arrange meetings with Department of 

State officials in Washington, DC and the 

participating countries. 

(7) Approve publicity materials and final 

calendar of exchange activities. 

(8) Monitor and evaluate the program, 

through regular communication with the 

award recipient and possibly one or more site 

visits. 

Additional Information 

Award recipients will retain the name 

‘‘TechGirls’’ to identify their project. All 

materials, publicity, and 

correspondence related to the program 

will acknowledge this as a program of 

the Bureau of Educational and Cultural 

Affairs of the U.S. Department of State. 

The Bureau will retain copyright use of 

and be allowed to distribute materials 

related to this program as it sees fit. 

The organization must inform the 

ECA Program Officer and participating 

U.S. Embassies of their progress at each 

stage of the project’s implementation in 

a timely fashion, and will be required to 

obtain approval of any significant 

program changes in advance of their 

implementation. 

Proposals must demonstrate how the 

stated objectives will be met. The 

proposal narrative should provide 

detailed information on the major 

project activities, and applicants should 

explain and justify their programmatic 

choices. Projects must comply with J–1 

visa regulations for the International 

Visitor category. Please be sure to refer 

to the complete Solicitation Package— 

this RFGP, the Project Objectives, Goals, 

and Implementation (POGI), and the 

Proposal Submission Instructions 

(PSI)—for further information. 

II. Award Information 

Type of Award: Cooperative 

Agreement. ECA’s level of involvement 

in this program is listed under Section 

I above. 

Fiscal Year Funds: FY–2012. 

Approximate Total Funding: Pending 

availability of funds, $175,000. 

Approximate Number of Awards: 

One. 

Anticipated Award Date: March 15, 

2012. 

Anticipated Project Completion Date: 

Approximately 12 months after start 

date, to be specified by applicant based 

on project plan. 

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 U.S.C. 501(c)(3). 


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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 

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 

(1) Bureau grant guidelines require 

that organizations with less than four 

years experience in conducting 

international exchanges be limited to 

$60,000 in Bureau funding. ECA 

anticipates making an award in an 

amount exceeding $60,000 to support 

program and administrative costs 

required to implement this exchange 

program. Therefore, organizations with 

less than four years experience in 

conducting international exchanges are 

ineligible to apply under this 

competition. The Bureau encourages 

applicants to provide maximum levels 

of cost sharing and funding in support 

of its programs. 

(2) Proposed sub-award recipients are 

also limited to grant funding of $60,000 

or less if they do not have four years of 

experience in conducting international 

exchanges. 

(3) The Bureau encourages applicants 

to provide maximum levels of cost 

sharing and funding in support of its 

programs. 

(4) Organizations may submit only 

one proposal (total) under this 

competition. If more than one proposal 

is received from the same applicant, all 

submissions will be declared 

technically ineligible and will receive 

no further consideration in the review 

process. 

Please Note: Applicant organizations are 

defined by their legal name, and EIN number 

as stated on their completed SF–424 and 

additional supporting documentation 

outlined in the Proposal Submission 

Instructions (PSI) document. 

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 Youth Programs 

Division, ECA/PE/C/PY, SA–5, 3rd 

Floor, U.S. Department of State, 2200 C 

Street NW., Washington, DC 20037, by 

telephone (202) 632–9261 or Email: 

ShieldsSD@state.gov to request a 

Solicitation Package. Please refer to the 

Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/ 

C/PY–12–10 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 Sarah 

Shields and refer to the Funding 

Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/PY–12– 

10 located at the top of this 

announcement 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. All federal award recipients 

must maintain current registrations in 

the Central Contractor Registration 

(CCR) database. Recipients must 

maintain accurate and up-to-date 

information in the CCR until all 

program and financial activity and 

reporting have been completed. 

Recipients must review and update the 

information at least annually after the 

initial registration and more frequently 

if required information changes or 

another award is granted. Failure to 

register in the CCR will render 

applicants ineligible to receive funding. 

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 


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(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 Office of Citizen Exchanges of the 

Bureau of Educational and Cultural 

Affairs is the official program sponsor of 

the exchange program covered by this 

RFGP, and an employee of the Bureau 

will be the ‘‘Responsible Officer’’ for the 

program under the terms of 22 CFR 62, 

which covers the administration of the 

Exchange Visitor Program (J visa 

program). Under the terms of 22 CFR 62, 

organizations receiving awards (either a 

grant or cooperative agreement) under 

this RFGP will be third parties 

‘‘cooperating with or assisting the 

sponsor in the conduct of the sponsor’s 

program.’’ The actions of recipient 

organizations shall be ‘‘imputed to the 

sponsor in evaluating the sponsor’s 

compliance with’’ 22 CFR 62. Therefore, 

the Bureau expects that any 

organization receiving an award under 

this competition will render all 

assistance necessary to enable the 

Bureau to fully comply with 22 CFR 62 

et seq. 

The Bureau of Educational and 

Cultural Affairs places critically 

important emphases on the secure and 

proper administration of Exchange 

Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence 

by recipient organizations and program 

participants to all regulations governing 

the J visa program status. Therefore, 

proposals should explicitly state in 

writing that the applicant is prepared to 

assist the Bureau in meeting all 

requirements governing the 

administration of Exchange Visitor 

Programs as set forth in 22 CFR part 62. 

If your organization has experience as a 

designated Exchange Visitor Program 

Sponsor, the applicant should discuss 

their record of compliance with 22 CFR 

62 et seq., including the oversight of 

their Responsible Officers and Alternate 

Responsible Officers, screening and 

selection of program participants, 

provision of pre-arrival information and 

orientation to participants, monitoring 

of participants, proper maintenance and 

security of forms, recordkeeping, 

reporting and other requirements. 

The Office of Citizen Exchanges of 

ECA 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, Private Sector 

Programs Division, U.S. Department of 

State, ECA/EC/D/PS, SA–5, 5th Floor, 

2200 C Street NW., Washington, DC 

20037. 

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, socioeconomic status, and disabilities. 

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 

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 recipient organization 

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. 


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(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.) 

Recipient organizations 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.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. Budget requests may not 

exceed $175,000. There must be a 

summary budget as well as breakdowns 

reflecting both administrative and 

program budgets. Applicants may 

provide separate sub-budgets for each 

program component, phase, location, or 

activity to provide clarification. Please 

refer to the Solicitation Package (POGI 

and PSI) for complete budget guidelines 

and formatting instructions. 

IV.3f. Application Deadline and 

Methods of Submission 

Application Deadline Date: December 

15, 2011. 

Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/PY– 

12–10. 

Methods of Submission: Applications 

may be submitted in one of two ways: 

(1) In hardcopy, 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. 

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 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 six (6) copies of the 

application should be sent to: 

Program Management Division, ECA– 

IIP/EX/PM, Ref.: ECA/PE/C/PY–12– 

10, SA–5, Floor 4, Department of 

State, 2200 C Street NW., Washington, 

DC 20037. 

With the submission of the proposal 

package, please also email the Executive 

Summary, Proposal Narrative, and 

Budget sections of the proposal, as well 

as any attachments essential to 

understanding the program, in Microsoft 

Word, Excel, and/or PDF, to ShieldsSD@

state.gov. The Bureau may provide these 

files electronically to the Public Affairs 

Sections at the relevant U.S. Embassy 

for its 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 bears no responsibility 

for applicant timeliness of submission or 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. Email: 

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 


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will receive a validation email 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 assistance 

awards (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: 

Objectives should be reasonable, 

feasible, and flexible. The proposal 

should clearly demonstrate how the 

institution will meet the program’s 

objectives and plan. The proposed 

program should be creative, ageappropriate, respond to the design 

outlined in the solicitation, and 

demonstrate originality. It should be 

clearly and accurately written, 

substantive, and with sufficient detail. 

Proposals should also include a plan to 

support participants’ follow-on 

activities upon their return home. 

(2) Program planning and ability to 

achieve program objectives: A detailed 

agenda and work plan should clearly 

demonstrate how project objectives will 

be achieved. The agenda and plan 

should adhere to the program overview 

and guidelines described above. The 

substance of exchange activities, such as 

workshops, presentations, and/or site 

visits, should be described in detail. 

(3) Support of diversity: The proposal 

should demonstrate the applicant’s 

commitment to promoting the 

awareness and understanding of 

diversity in both program 

administration (selection of 

participants, program venue, and 

program evaluation) and program 

content (orientation and debriefing 

sessions, and follow-on activities). 

Applicants should demonstrate 

readiness to accommodate participants 

with physical disabilities. 

(4) Institutional capacity and track 

record: Proposed personnel and 

institutional resources should be 

adequate and appropriate to achieve the 

program goals. The proposal should 

demonstrate an institutional record of 

successful implementation of similar 

programs, including responsible fiscal 

management and full compliance with 

all reporting requirements for past 

Bureau awards (grants or cooperative 

agreements) as determined by Bureau 

Grants Staff. The Bureau will consider 

the past performance of prior recipients 

and the demonstrated potential of new 

applicants. 

(5) Program evaluation: The proposal 

should include a plan to evaluate the 

program’s success in meeting its goals, 

both as the activities unfold and after 

they have been completed. The proposal 

should include a draft survey 

questionnaire or other technique, plus a 

description of a methodology to link 

outcomes to original project objectives. 

(6) Cost-effectiveness and cost 

sharing: The applicant should 

demonstrate efficient use of Bureau 

funds. 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. 

The proposal should maximize costsharing through other private sector 

support as well as institutional direct 

funding contributions, which 

demonstrates institutional and 

community commitment. 

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.’’ 

OMB 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 


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68250 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 213 / Thursday, November 3, 2011 / Notices 

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. 

(4) Quarterly or interim reports, as 

required in the Bureau cooperative 

agreement. 

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. 

VII. Agency Contacts 

For questions about this 

announcement, contact: Sarah Shields, 

Youth Programs Division, ECA/PE/C/ 

PY/T, SA–5, 3rd Floor, U.S. Department 

of State, 2200 C Street NW., 

Washington, DC 20522–0503, by 

telephone (202) 632–9261 or email 

ShieldsSD@state.gov. 

All correspondence with the Bureau 

concerning this RFGP should reference 

the above title and number ECA/PE/C/ 

PY–12–10. 

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: October 27, 2011. 

J. Adam Ereli, 

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau 

of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. 

Department of State. 

[FR Doc. 2011–28420 Filed 11–2–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4710–05–P 

DEPARTMENT OF STATE 

[Public Notice: 7672] 

Bureau of Educational and Cultural 

Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant 

Proposals: Study of the U.S. Institutes 

for Women Student Leaders on 

Women’s Leadership 

Announcement Type: New 

Cooperative Agreements. 

Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/ 

A/E/USS–12–22–23. 

Catalog of Federal Domestic 

Assistance Number: 19.009. 

Key Dates: May to August, 2012. 

Application Deadline: December 30, 

2011. 

Executive Summary 

The Branch for the Study of the 

United States, Office of Academic 

Exchange Programs, Bureau of 

Educational and Cultural Affairs, invites 

proposal submissions from accredited 

U.S. colleges and universities for the 

design and implementation of two (2) 

Study of the United States Institutes for 

Women Student Leaders on Women’s 

Leadership. Applicants may submit a 

proposal to administer one institute. 

The five week Institutes should take 

place in June and July, 2012. 

Both Institutes should take place at 

U.S. academic institutions and provide 

groups of highly motivated female 

undergraduate students from the 

countries and regions noted below with 

in-depth seminars on Women’s 

Leadership. Each Institute should 

include four weeks of academic 

residency followed by a one-week 

integrated educational travel tour that 

will expose participants to a different 

region of the United States. The oneweek educational study tour should 

continue to examine the theme of 

women’s leadership and should 

conclude with a three day session in 

Washington, DC. In order to take part in 

a joint closing conference, the 

participants should travel to 

Washington, DC no later than the 

evening of July 18, 2012. 

Each Institute will host up to 20 

participants, for a total of approximately 

40 students. ECA plans to provide two 

awards (a maximum of one per 

applicant) for the administration of two 

Study of the U.S. Institutes and 

welcomes applications from accredited 

post-secondary education institutions in 

the United States (see Eligibility 

Information, section III). Women’s 

colleges are especially encouraged to 

apply. The awarding of Cooperative 

Agreements for this program is 

contingent upon the availability of FY 

2012 funds. 

I. Funding Opportunity Description 

I.1. Authority 

Overall grant making authority for 

this program is contained in the Mutual 

Educational and Cultural Exchange Act 

of 1961, Public Law 87–256, as 

amended, also known as the FulbrightHays Act. The purpose of the Act is ‘‘to 

enable the Government of the United 

States to increase mutual understanding 

between the people of the United States 

and the people of other countries * * *; 

to strengthen the ties which unite us 

with other nations by demonstrating the 

educational and cultural interests, 

developments, and achievements of the 

people of the United States and other 

nations * * * and thus to assist in the 

development of friendly, sympathetic 

and peaceful relations between the 

United States and the other countries of 

the world.’’ The funding authority for 

the program above is provided through 

legislation. 

I.2. Purpose 

The Study of the U.S. Institutes for 

Student Leaders are intensive academic 

programs whose purpose is to provide 

groups of foreign undergraduate 

students with a deeper understanding of 

the United States while also enhancing 

their leadership skills. The Institutes 

also expose Americans to the diverse 

cultures and traditions of the exchange 

participants. 

The Institutes on Women’s 

Leadership aim to provide 

undergraduate women leaders an 

introduction to women’s leadership in 

the United States, while strengthening 

their leadership skills and heightening 

their awareness of U.S. and global 

women’s issues. The Institutes should 

examine the history and evolution of 

U.S. society, culture, values, and 

institutions, with particular emphasis 

on women’s roles throughout U.S. 

history. The Institutes should also 

incorporate a focus on contemporary 

American life and contemporary 

women, including the role of women in 

political, social, and economic issues 

and debates. The Institutes should 

address the influence of principles and 

values such as democracy, the rule of 

law, individual rights, freedom of 

expression, equality, diversity, and 


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