3938 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 12 / Thursday, January 19, 1995 / Notices

7. Materials development. Proposals

may contain costs to purchase, develop,

and translate materials for participants.

8. One working meal per project. Per

capita costs may not exceed $5–8 for a

lunch and $14–20 for a dinner;

excluding room rental. The number of

invited guests may not exceed

participants by more than a factor of two

to one.

9. A return travel allowance of $70 for

each participant which is to be used for

incidental expenditures incurred during

international travel.

10. In most cases, USIA-funded

delegates will be covered under the

terms of a USIA-sponsored health

insurance policy with the premium paid

by USIA directly to the insurance

company. For additional information on

insurance coverage, contact the E/P

program officer.

11. Other costs necessary for the

effective administration of the program,

including salaries for grant organization

employees, benefits, and other direct

and indirect costs per detailed

instructions in the application package.

Please refer to the Application Package

for complete budget guidelines.

Review Process

USIA will acknowledge receipt of all

proposals and will review them for

technical eligibility. Proposals will be

deemed ineligible if they do not fully

adhere to the guidelines established

herein and in the Proposal Submission

Instructions. Eligible proposals will be

forwarded to panels of USIA officers for

advisory review. All eligible proposals

will also be reviewed by the budget and

contract offices, as well the USIA

geographic regional office and the USIS

post overseas, where appropriate.

Proposals may also be reviewed by the

USIA’s Office of General Counsel or by

other Agency elements. Funding

decisions are at the discretion of the

USIA Associate Director for Educational

and Cultural Affairs. Final technical

authority for grant awards resides with

USIA’s contracting officer.

Review Criteria

USIA will consider proposals based

on their conformance with the

objectives and considerations already

stated in this RFP, as well as the

following criteria:

1. Quality of Program Idea

Proposals should exhibit originality,

substance, precision, and relevance to

the Agency mission.

2. Program Planning

Detailed agenda and relevant work

plan should demonstrate substance

undertakings and logistical capacity.

Agenda and plan should adhere to the

program overview and guidelines

described above.

3. Ability To Achieve Program

Objectives

Objectives should be reasonable,

feasible, and flexible. Proposal should

clearly demonstrate how the institution

will meet the program objectives and

plan.

4. Multiplier Effect

Proposed programs should strengthen

long-term mutual understanding,

including maximum sharing of

information and establishment of longterm institutional and individual

linkages.

5. Value to U.S.—Partner Country

Relations

Proposed projects should receive

positive assessments by USIA’s

geographic area desk and overseas

officers of program need, potential

impact, and significance in the partner.

6. Institutional Capacity

Proposed personnel and institutional

resources should be adequate and

appropriate to achieve the program or

project’s goal.

7. Institution Reputation/Ability

Proposal should demonstrate an

institutional record of successful

exchange programs, including

responsible fiscal management and full

compliance with all reporting

requirements for past Agency grants as

determined by USIA’s Office of

Contracts. The Agency will consider the

past performance of prior recipients and

the demonstrated potential of new

applicants.

8. Follow-On Activities

Proposals should provide a plan for

continued follow-on activity (without

USIA support) which ensures that USIA

supported programs are not isolated

events.

9. Evaluation Plan

Proposals should provide a plan for a

thorough and objective evaluation of the

program/project by the grantee

institution.

10. Cost-Effectiveness

The overhead and administrative

components of the proposal, including

salaries and honoraria, should be kept

as low as possible. All other items

should be necessary and appropriate.

11. Cost-Sharing

Proposals should maximize costsharing through other private sector

support as well as institutional direct

funding contributions.

12. Support of Diversity

Proposal should demonstrate the

recipients’ commitment to promoting

the awareness and understanding of

diversity throughout the program. This

can be accomplished through

documentation (such as a written

statement or account) summarizing past

and/or on-going activities and efforts

that further the principle of diversity

within both their organization and their

activities.

Notice

The Office of Citizen Exchanges

reserves the right to reduce, revise, or

increase the grant award. The terms and

conditions published in the Request for

Proposal (RFP) are binding and may not

be modified by any USIA representative.

Explanatory information provided by

USIA that contradicts published

language will not be binding. Issuance

of the RFP does not constitute an award

commitment on the part of the

government. Final awards cannot be

made until funds have been fully

appropriated by the Congress, allocated

and committed through internal USIA

procedures.

Notification

All applicants will be notified of the

results of the review process on or about

April 28, 1995. Awarded grants will be

subject to periodic reporting and

evaluation requirements.

Dated: January 11, 1995.

Dell Pendergrast,

Deputy Associate Director, Bureau of

Educational and Cultural Affairs.

[FR Doc. 95–1179 Filed 1–18–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8230–01–M

Role of Business Associations in a

Democratic Political System

ACTION: Notice—Request for proposals.

SUMMARY: The Office of Citizen

Exchanges of the United States

Information Agency’s Bureau of

Education and Cultural Affairs

announces an open competition for an

assistance award. Public or private nonprofit organizations meeting the

provisions described in IRS regulation

501(c)(3) may apply to develop a twoway exchange project to assist Ghanaian

business and professional associations

enhance their institutional capabilities,
Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 12 / Thursday, January 19, 1995 / Notices 3939

enabling them to more effectively

promote the interests of private

enterprise in Ghana. The project should

provide U.S.-based activities for

approximately 8–10 members of

Ghanaian associations. The project also

should provide in-country workshops or

consultancies to assist the participating

organizations implement strategies to

enhance their organizational structure

and advocacy activities. The project

should establish linkages between

Ghanaian and U.S. business associations

to promote dialogue on issues of

common concern. The program should

begin in summer/fall 1996. Consultation

with the U.S. Information Service

(USIS) post in Accra, Ghana, in the

development of the project proposal is

encouraged.

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.’’

Programs and projects must conform

with Agency requirements and

guidelines outlined in the Solicitation

Package. USIA projects and programs

are subject to the availability of funds.

Announcement name and number:

All communications with USIA

concerning this announcement should

refer to the above title and reference

number E/P–95–45.

DATES: Deadline for proposals: All

copies must be received at the U.S.

Information Agency by 5 p.m.,

Washington, D.C. time on Friday, March

17, 1995. Faxed documents will not be

accepted, nor will documents

postmarked on March 17, 1995, but

received at a later date. It is the

responsibility of each applicant to

ensure that proposals are received by

the above deadline.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

The Africa/Near East/South Asia

Division of the Office of Citizen

Exchanges, U.S. Information Agency,

301 4th Street, SW., Room 220,

Washington, D.C. 20547, tel. 202–619–

5319, fax 202–619–4350, Internet

address STAYLOR@USIA.GOV, to

request a Solicitation Package, which

includes more detailed award criteria;

all application forms; and guidelines for

preparing proposals, including specific

criteria for preparation of the proposal

budget. Please specify USIA Program

Officer Stephen Taylor on all inquiries

and correspondence. Interested

applicants should read the complete

Federal Register announcement before

addressing inquiries to the Office of

Citizen Exchanges or submitting their

proposals. Once the RFP deadline has

passed, the Office of Citizen Exchanges

may not discuss this competition in any

way with applicants until the Bureau

proposal review process has been

completed.

ADDRESSES: Applicants must follow all

instructions provided in the Solicitation

Package and send fully completed

applications. Send the original and 14

copies to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.:

E/P–95–45, Office of Grants

Management, E/XE, Room 336, 301 4th

Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 20547.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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

race, gender, religion, geographic

location, socioeconomic status, and

physical challenges. Applicants are

strongly encouraged to adhere to the

advancement of this principle.

Overview

Background: The government of

Ghana has initiated policies liberalizing

its economy and gradually has produced

a climate more hospitable to the

emergence and development of private

sector associations. Entrepreneurs are

free to form virtually any type of

business association in pursuit of their

interests. Historically, there have been

three dominant associations—the

Association of Ghana Industries (AGI);

the Ghana National Chamber of

Commerce (GNCC); and the Ghana

Employers Association (GEA). These

organizations developed during a period

when Ghana maintained an essentially

protected economy. AGI represented

highly protected manufacturers. GNCC

primarily represented the trading sector

and GEA represented a mix of

entrepreneurs from various sectors.

During the mid-1980s, the

government of Ghana began to liberalize

and open up the economy. New policies

helped spur the formation of several

producer associations representing

exporters. Among about fifteen such

organizations, five are particularly

active: The Ghana Association of

Women Entrepreneurs, the Ghana

Federation of Business and Professional

Women, the Horticultural Association of

Ghana, the Association of Seafood

Exporters and the Association of

Assorted Foodstuffs. In addition to these

groups, two important umbrella

organizations have emerged over the

course of the past two years. The

Federation of Associations of Ghanaian

Exporters lobbies Ghana’s executive and

legislative branches of government. The

Private Enterprise Foundation is an

umbrella group representing all private

sector organizations. It also lobbies

government and has organized forums

for business leaders. Many of these

organizations likely will gain strength

and influence.

Program Overview: The Office of

Citizen Exchanges (E/P) proposes

development of a two-way exchange

project designed to assist Ghanaian

business associations develop strategies

to increase their voice in the

formulation of public policy affecting

business growth and economic

development. Participants would

observe how the American business

community promotes business interests,

contributes to public debates and

interacts with legislative bodies, federal

agencies and community groups. This

two-way exchange also would make

available U.S. specialists to conduct incountry activities for Ghanaian business

associations. The project should be

designed to establish linkages between

U.S. and Ghanaian counterpart

organizations. The program should

begin in summer/fall 1995.

Project Objectives

The project should be designed to:

—Examine the potential role of

professional business associations in

the context of a democratic political

system. Using the U.S. experience as

a model, the program would

demonstrate how such groups

promote their interests while

operating within established social

and legal norms.

—Examine strategies to contribute to

public debate over the direction of

business development.

—Analyze the organizational structure,

financing resources and planning

strategies of U.S. business groups and

relevant political action committees.

—Examine networking and public

relations strategies. Activities would

help identify those areas of public

concern most effectively addressed by

business groups and develop
3940 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 12 / Thursday, January 19, 1995 / Notices

strategies appropriate to Ghanaian

society that would address these

concerns.

—Demonstrate the role of business

associations in promoting ethical

business practices. The program

would analyze the concept of

corporate responsibility and examine

the activities of corporate internal

consumer affairs units in addressing

consumer needs.

—Analyze the role of government in

promoting business ethics and

stimulating business development.

—Establish linkages between Ghanaian

and U.S. institutions to open a

dialogue on key business issues

affected by the evolving economic and

political liberalization underway in

Ghana.

Participants

The project should be designed for 8–

10 leading members of Ghanaian

business and professional organizations.

USIS personnel in Ghana will select the

participants from among the

organizations named in the Background

section above. Recommendations from

the grantee institution are also welcome.

For program activities in Ghana, the

grantee institution will select the

American presenters in consultation

with USIA.

USIS offices will facilitate the

issuance of visas for the Ghanaian

participants and can help with the

distribution of program-related

materials in Ghana.

Programmatic Considerations

USIA will give careful consideration

to proposals which demonstrate:

(1) in-depth, substantive knowledge of

the structure, functions and activities of

American business and professional

organizations;

(2) first-hand connections with a

variety of American organizations that

represent business and professional

interests in the formulation of public

policy and the direction of private

enterprise development;

(3) the capacity to organize and

manage international exchange

programs, including the handling of predeparture arrangements, orientation

activities, monitoring and problemsolving involved in such programs.

USIA is especially interested in multiphase programs in which the phases

build on one another and lay the

groundwork for new and long-term

relationships between American and

African professionals. Proposals which

are overly ambitious and those which

are very general in nature will not be

competitive. The Office of Citizen

Exchanges does not award grants to

support projects whose focus is limited

to technical matters, or to support

scholarly research projects,

development of publications for

dissemination in the United States,

individual student exchanges, film

festivals and exhibits. The Office of

Citizen Exchange does not provide

scholarships or support for long-term

(one semester or more) academic

studies. Competitions sponsored by

other Bureau offices also are announced

in the Federal Register and may have

different application requirements as

well as different objectives.

Program Suggestions

The proposed project should include

at least one phase for Ghanaian

participants in the United States and at

least one phase for American specialists

in Ghana. Programming elements might

include in-country workshops or

seminars led by American experts,

specialized consultancies developed for

Ghanaian organizations, a study tour in

the United States for selected Ghanaian

participants and U.S.-based professional

attachments for Ghanaians. A planning

visit overseas by the American organizer

also could be considered if crucial to

successful development and

implementation of the program.

The project should include formats

which maximize interaction between

the Ghanaian participants and the

program presenters. Participants should

observe the full range of activities on the

part of business and professional

organizations. They should observe the

interaction of such groups with public

and private sector officials involved in

formulating and implementing policies

that affect private enterprise, such as

business owners, trade unionists,

legislators, federal regulators, local

government officials and educators. The

program design should provide

adequate time for participants to meet

individually with American

professionals who have similar interests

and specializations. While not required,

the presenters’ familiarity with private

enterprise development in Ghana is

desirable.

Program Responsibilities

The grantee institution’s

responsibilities include: selecting

presenters, themes and topics for

discussion; organizing a coherent

progression of activities; providing any

support materials; providing all travel

arrangements, lodging and other

logistical arrangements for the visiting

Ghanaian participants and the U.S.

presenters who travel to Ghana; and

overseeing the project on a daily basis

to achieve maximum program

effectiveness. The grantee institution is

responsible for coordinating plans and

project implementation with E/P, USIS

officers in Ghana, and Ghanaian

collaborating institutions.

At the start of each phase, the grantee

institution will conduct an orientation

session and, at the conclusion, conduct

participant evaluations. The institution

will submit a report at the conclusion of

each program phase, including a final

program report summarizing the entire

project and resulting organizational

links. The institution must also submit

a final financial report. To prepare the

participants for their U.S. experience, E/

P encourages the grantee organization to

forward a set of preliminary materials

which might include an introduction to

the U.S. system of government,

American notions of free enterprise, the

practices of U.S. business and

professional organizations and other

background information about the

project. E/P will ask the Ghanaian

participants to prepare brief outlines

describing their own particular interests

in these areas. The grantee institution

should brief the American presenters on

the Ghanaian participants’ backgrounds,

interests and concerns.

Other Program Considerations

Consultation with USIS officers in

Ghana in the development of the project

proposal is encouraged. Letters of

commitment from participating U.S. and

Ghanaian institutions and individuals

would enhance a proposal.

USIA also encourages the

development of specialized written

materials to enhance this professional

development program. USIA is

interested in organizations’ ideas on

how to ‘‘reuse’’ specialized materials by

providing them to universities, libraries

or other institutions for use by a larger

audience. If not already available,

glossaries of specialized terms might be

developed. However, please note that,

according to current USIA regulations,

materials developed with USIA funds

may not be distributed in the United

States.

The grantee institution should

maximize cost-sharing in all elements of

the project and seek to stimulate U.S.

private sector support, including from

foundations and corporations.

All participants will be covered under

the terms of a USIA-sponsored health

insurance policy. The premium is paid

by USIA directly to the insurance

company.

Funding

Competition of USIA funding support

is keen. Selection of a grantee

institution is based on the substantive
Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 12 / Thursday, January 19, 1995 / Notices 3941

nature of the program proposal; the

applicant’s professional capability to

carry the program through to a

successful conclusion; and cost

effectiveness, including in-kind

contributions and the ability to keep

overhead costs at a minimum. USIA will

consider funding up to approximately

$100,000, but grants awarded to eligible

organizations with less than four years

of experience in conducting

international exchange programs will be

limited to $60,000.

Applicants must submit a

comprehensive line item budget for the

entire program based on the specific

guidance in the Solicitation Package.

Applicants must provide a summary

budget as well as a break-down

reflecting both the administrative

budget and the program budget. For

further clarification, applicants may

provide optional, separate sub-budgets

for each program phase or activity in

order to facilitate USIA decisions on

funding. USIA will consider funding the

following costs:

1. International and domestic air

fares; visas; transit costs (e.g., airport

fees); ground transportation costs.

2. Per diem: For foreign participants

during activities in the United States,

organizations have the option of using a

flat rate of $140/day or the published

Federal Travel Regulations (FTR) per

diem rates for individual American

cities.

Note: U.S. institutional staff must use the

published FTR per diem rates, not the flat

rate. For activities overseas, standard Federal

Travel Regulations per diem rates must be

used.

3. Escort-interpreters: Interpretation

for U.S.-based programs is provided by

the State Department’s Language

Services Division. Typically,

delegations ranging from 8–12

participants require two simultaneous

interpreters and one escort officer. Grant

proposal budgets should contain a flat

$140/day per diem rate for each State

Department escort/interpreter, as well as

home-program-home air fare of $400 per

interpreter and any U.S. travel expenses

during the program itself. Salary

expenses are covered centrally and are

not part of the applicant’s budget

proposal. USIA grants do not pay for

foreign interpreters to accompany

delegations during travel to or from

their home country. Interpreters are not

available for U.S.-based internship

activities.

4. Book and cultural allowances:

Participants are entitled to a one-time

book allowance of $50 plus a cultural

allowance of $150 per person during

programs taking place in the United

States. U.S. staff do not receive these

benefits. Escort interpreters are

reimbursed for actual cultural expenses

up to $150.00.

5. Consultants: Consultants may be

used to provide specialized expertise or

to make presentations. Honoraria

generally should not exceed $250/day.

Subcontracting organizations may also

be used, in which case the written

contract(s) should be included in the

proposal.

6. Materials development: Proposals

may contain costs to purchase, develop

and translate materials for participants.

USIA reserves the rights to these

materials for future use.

7. Room rentals, which generally

should not exceed $250/day.

8. One working meal per project, for

which per capita costs may not exceed

$5–$8 for a lunch or $14–$20 for a

dinner. The number of invited guests

may not exceed the number of

participants by more than a factor of two

to one.

9. Return travel allowance: $70 for

each participants which is to be used for

incidental expenditures incurred during

international travel.

10. Other costs necessary for the

effective administration of the program,

including salaries for grant organization

employees, benefits, and other direct

and indirect costs per detailed

instructions in the application package.

E/P encourages cost-sharing, which

maybe in the form of allowable direct or

indirect costs. E/P would be especially

interested in proposals which

demonstrate a program vision which

goes well beyond that which can be

supported by the requested USIA grant

and which would try to use a USIA

grant to leverage additional funding

from other sources to support elements

of the broader program plan.

Please refer to the Solicitation

Package for complete budget guidelines

and formatting instructions.

Review Process

USIA will acknowledge receipt of all

proposals and will review them for

technical eligibility. Proposals will be

deemed ineligible if they do not fully

adhere to the guidelines stated herein

and in the Solicitation Package. Eligible

proposals will be forwarded to panels of

USIA officers for advisory review. All

eligible proposals will be reviewed by

the Agency contracts office, as well as

the USIA Office of African Affairs and

the USIA post overseas, where

appropriate. Proposals may also be

reviewed by the Office of the General

Counsel or by other Agency elements.

Funding decisions are at the discretion

of the USIA Associate Director for

Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final

technical authority for grant awards

resides with the USIA grants officer.

Review Criteria

Technicially 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. Institutional Reputation and Ability

Applicant institutions should

demonstrate their potential for

excellence in program design and

implementation and/or provide

documentation of successful programs.

If an applicant is a previous USIA grant

recipient, responsible fiscal

management and full compliance with

all reporting requirements for past

Agency grants as determined by USIA’s

Office of Contracts will be considered.

Relevant substantive evaluations of

previous projects may also be

considered in this assessment.

2. Project Personnel

The Thematic and logistical expertise

of project personnel should be relevant

to the proposed program. Resumes or

C.V.s should be summaries which are

relevant to the specific proposal and no

longer than two pages each.

3. Program Planning

A detailed agenda and relevant work

plan should demonstrate substantive

rigor and logistical capacity.

4. Thematic Expertise

Proposal should demonstrate the

organization’s expertise in the subject

area which promises an effective

sharing of information.

5. Support of Diversity

Proposals should demonstrate the

recipient’s commitment to promoting

the awareness and understanding of

diversity.

6. Cross-Cultural Sensitivity and Area

Expertise

Evidence should be provided of

sensitivity to historical, linguistic,

religious, and other cross-cultural

factors, as well as relevant knowledge of

the target geographic area/country.

7. Ability To Achieve Program

Objectives

Objectives should be realistic and

feasible. The proposal should clearly

demonstrate how the grantee institution

will meet program objectives.

8. Multiplier Effect

Proposed programs should strengthen

long-term mutual understanding and
3942 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 12 / Thursday, January 19, 1995 / Notices

contribute to maximum sharing of

information and establishment of longterm institutional and individual ties.

9. Cost-Effectiveness

Overhead and direct administrative

costs to USIA should be kept as low as

possible. All other items proposed for

USIA funding should be necessary and

appropriate to achieve the program’s

objectives.

10. Cost-Sharing

Proposals should maximize costsharing through other private sector

support as well as direct funding

contributions and/or in-kind support

from the prospective grantee institution

and its partners.

11. Follow-On Activities

Proposals should provide a plan for

continued exchange activity (without

USIA support) which ensures that

USIA-supported programs are not

isolated events.

12. Project Evaluation

Proposals should include a plan to

evaluate the activity’s success, both as

the activities unfold and at the end of

the program. USIA recommends that the

proposal include a draft survey

questionnaire or other technique plus

description of a methodology to use to

link outcomes to original project

objectives. Grantees will be expected to

submit intermediate reports after each

project component is concluded or

quarterly, whichever is less frequent.

Notice

The terms and conditions published

in this RFP are binding and may not be

modified by any USIA representative.

Explanatory information provided by

the Agency that contradicts published

language will not be binding. Issuance

of the RFP does not constitute an award

commitment on the part of the

Government. The needs of the program

may require the award to be reduced,

revised, or increased. Final awards

cannot be made until funds have been

appropriated by Congress, allocated and

committed through internal USIA

procedures.

Notification

All applicants will be notified of the

results of the review process on or about

June 16, 1995. Awards made will be

subject to periodic reporting and

evaluation requirements.

Dated: January 11, 1995.

Dell Pendergrast,

Deputy Associate Director, Educational and

Cultural Affairs.

[FR Doc. 95–1181 Filed 1–18–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8230–01–M

Regulation of Broadcast Radio

Frequencies (South Africa)

ACTION: Notice—Request for proposals.

SUMMARY: The Office of Citizen

Exchanges of the United States

Information Agency’s Bureau of

Education and Cultural Affairs

announces an open competition for an

assistance award. Public or private nonprofit organizations meeting the

provisions described in IRS regulation

501(c)(3) may apply to develop a twoway exchange project to assist South

Africa’s Independent Broadcasting

Authority (IBA) to enhance its

institutional capacity. The project

should provide U.S.-based activities for

approximately 6–8 IBA commissioners

and senior staff to demonstrate U.S.

policies and practices involved in the

regulation of broadcasting. The project

also should provide in-country

consultancies to assist the IBA

implement strategies aimed at

enhancing its organizational structure

and policy-making procedures. The

program should begin in summer/fall

1995. Consultation with U.S.

Information Service (USIS) posts in

South Africa in the development of the

project proposal is encouraged.

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.’’

Programs and projects must conform

with Agency requirements and

guidelines outlined in the Solicitation

Package. USIA projects and programs

are subject to the availability of funds.

Announcement name and number:

All communications with USIA

concerning this announcement should

refer to the above title and reference

number E/P–95–38.

DATES: Deadline for proposals: All

copies must be received at the U.S.

Information Agency by 5 p.m.

Washington, D.C. time on Friday, March

17, 1995. Faxed documents will not be

accepted, nor will documents

postmarked on March 17, 1995, but

received at a later date. It is the

responsibility of each applicant to

ensure that proposals are received by

the above deadline.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The

Africa/Near East/South Asia Division of

the Office of Citizen Exchanges, U.S.

Information Agency, 301 4th Street,

S.W., Room 220, Washington, D.C.

20547, tel. 202–619–5319, fax 202–619–

4350, Internet address

STAYLOR@USIA.GOV, to request a

Solicitation Package, which includes

more detailed award criteria; all

application forms; and guidelines for

preparing proposals, including specific

criteria for preparation of the proposal

budget. Please specify USIA Program

Officer Stephen Taylor on all inquiries

and correspondences. Interested

applicants should read the complete

Federal Register announcement before

addressing inquiries to the Office of

Citizen Exchanges or submitting their

proposals. Once the RFP deadline has

passed, the Office of Citizen Exchanges

may not discuss this competition in any

way with applicants until the Bureau

proposal review process has been

completed.

ADDRESSES: Applicants must follow all

instructions provided in the Solicitation

Package and send fully completed

applications. Send the original and 14

copies to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.:

E/P–95–38, Office of Grants

Management, E/XE, Room 336, 301 4th

Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant

to the Bureau’s authorizing legislation,

programs must maintain a nonpolitical

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

race, gender, religion, geographic

location, socioeconomic status, and

physical challenges. Applicants are

strongly encouraged to adhere to the

advancement of this principle.

Overview

Background

Prior to 1994, the only legal,

unencoded broadcaster in the Republic

of South Africa was the South African