Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 12 / Thursday, January 19, 1995 / Notices 3935

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

Proposal 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

Proposals (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. 95–1180 Filed 1–18–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8230–01–M

Citizen Networking

ACTION: Notice—Request for proposals.

SUMMARY: The Office of Citizen

Exchanges (E/P) announces a

competitive grants program for nonprofit organizations in support of

projects on the theme of Citizen

Networking for audiences in the

following geographical areas: Subsaharan Africa; American Republics;

East Asia (Japan, Burma, Regional); and

Middle East and South Asia. USIA

particularly is seeking projects which

link American institutions and

specialists with partners overseas. New

and creative approaches to the issue of

citizen networking will be especially

welcome. Proposals which request USIA

funding of less than $135,000 and

which include significant cost sharing

will be deemed more competitive.

Interested applicants are urged to read

the complete Federal Register

announcement before addressing

inquiries to the Office or submitting

their proposals.

After the deadline for submitting

proposals, USIA officers may not

discuss this competition in any way

with applicants until final decisions are

made.

Announcement name and number:

All communications concerning this

announcement should refer to the

Citizen Networking Grant Program,

announcement number E/P–95–40.

Please refer to title and number in all

correspondence or telephone calls to

USIA.

DATES: Deadline for Proposals: All

copies must be received at the U.S.

Information Agency by 5 p.m.

Washington, DC time on March 3, 1995.

Faxed documents will not be accepted,

nor will documents postmarked on

March 3, 1995, but received at a later

date. It is the responsibility of each

grant applicant to ensure that proposals

are received by the above deadline.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Interested organizations/institutions

must contact the Office of Citizen

Exchanges, E/P, Room 216, United

States Information Agency, 301 4th

Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547,

telephone (202) 619–5326, fax (202)

260–0437, to request detailed

application packets, which include

award criteria, all application forms,

and guidelines for preparing proposals,

including specific criteria for

preparation of the proposal budget.

Please direct inquiries on programmatic

matters to the USIA Officer identified

under each geographic heading.

ADDRESSES: Applicants must follow all

instructions given in the Proposal

Submission Instructions (PSI) and send

only complete applications to: U.S.

Information Agency, REF: E/P–95–40

Citizen Networking Grant Competition,

Grants Management Division (E/XE),

301 Fourth Street, SW., Room 336,

Washington, DC 20547.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant

to the legislation authorizing the Bureau

of Education and Cultural Affairs,

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, socio-economic status, and

physical challenges. Applicants are

strongly encouraged to adhere to the

advancement of this principle.

Overview

The Office of Citizen Exchanges

works with U.S. private sector nonprofit organizations on cooperative

international group projects that

introduce American and foreign

participants to each others’ social,

economic, and political structures; and

international interests.

Guidelines

Applicants should carefully note the

following restrictions and

recommendations for proposals in

specific geographical areas:

Africa, Sub-Saharan

Building Grassroots Citizen

Organizations in Africa

Proposals are invited to conduct a

program for selected African countries

which would contribute to the creation

and management of non-governmental

citizen organizations which address

community needs, encourage

community participation in problem

solving, quality of life enhancement and

professional development. The program

should give particular attention to the

development of grassroots organizations

which contribute to democracy, and it

should address such organizational

needs as fundraising, budgeting,

publicity, setting goals and objectives,
3936 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 12 / Thursday, January 19, 1995 / Notices

and management structure and

techniques. The program should include

at least two phases, one of which would

bring African organizational and

community leaders to the U.S., and the

other would send qualified Americans

to Africa. Inquiries should be directed to

Program Specialist Charlotte Peterson,

(202) 619–5319, Internet

CPETERSO@USIA.GOV

American Republics

Building Grassroots Citizen

Organizations in the American

Republics

USIA seeks to assist in the

development of indigenous, nongovernmental, professional, civic,

youth, philanthropic, and issue-oriented

institutions and citizen exchanges

organizations in the American

Republics region. These projects should

link the U.S. organization’s exchange

interests with counterpart institutions

and groups within the region. Proposals

should serve as an important avenue for

community participation in problem

solving, quality of life enhancement and

professional development. Priority will

be given to proposals from U.S.

organizations which have regional

partner organizations, which will assist

in the realization of program goals and

objectives and will themselves be

enhanced by the program. Examples

could include private and nongovernmental organizations that work

geographically with a broad range of

interest groups, such as Partners of the

Americas or Sister Cities International,

or those seeking to work across a broad

geographic area with very specialized

interest groups, such as Mothers Against

Drunk Driving, the League of Women

Voters, or any of the various

organizations that promote rights for

minorities, the indigenous, the

handicapped, and so forth. In all cases,

preference will be given to projects

promising the highest possible impact at

the lowest possible cost. Inquiries

should be directed to Program Specialist

Laverne Johnson, (202) 619–5326,

Internet LJOHNSON@USIA.GOV

East Asia

Japanese Non-Governmental

Organization Leaders

—Proposals are invited to conduct a

project for Japanese NGO leaders

concerned with commenters’ rights,

the environment and political reform

which bring the participants together

with American counterparts to

discuss fundraising, recruitment,

government relations, tax benefits and

other areas of mutual interest, with

the overall goal of building bridges

between Japanese NGOs and NGOs

with similar objectives in the U.S.

Burmese Non-Governmental

Organization Leaders

—Proposals are invited to conduct a

project to assist emerging Burmese

NGOs and associations in

development effective organization,

operations, and management,

including questions of fundraising

and financial management,

membership, project development

and management, training, publicity,

domestic and international

networking. An effective project

would consist of both in-country

workshops and U.S.-based tours and

short internships.

Regional Non-Governmental

Organization Leaders

—Proposals are invited to conduct a

regional or subregional project in

which NGO grassroots leaders are

introduced to effective strategies for

management and impact, including

fundraising, community building,

lobbying for public support and

dealing with the media. Projects

might focus on consumer advocacy

groups or women’s organizations.

Inquiries should be directed to

Program Specialist Elroy Carlson,

(202) 619–5326, Internet

ECARLSON@USIA.GOV

Middle East and South Asia

Development of Women’s Resource

Centers in the Middle East

Proposals are invited to conduct a

multi-phased program which would

help develop resource centers for

women in selected Middle Eastern

countries. Such centers, staffed by

professionals on a voluntary or paid

basis, would provide information,

advice, and services to any woman

requesting them on such topics as legal

rights, educational and professional

opportunities, financial management,

and health care for women and

children. The program should bring

women political/governmental leaders,

NGO executives, and social service

providers from Egypt, Syria, and Jordan

together with their American

counterparts to lay the groundwork for

establishing, funding, staffing, and

operating women’s resource centers in

their home countries. The program

should bring an approximately equal

number of women from each of the

Middle Eastern Countries to the United

States for three or more weeks of

consultation and experiential learning,

and a return trip for American women

engaged in the development and

operation of resource centers for

conducting workshops, advising, etc.

Inquiries should be directed to Program

Specialist Thomas Johnston, (202) 619–

5319, Internet TJOHNSTON@USIA.GOV

Women’s Organizations and Conflict

Management in South Asia

Proposals are invited to conduct an

exchange program between women

educators, NGO representatives, and

social activists from India, Pakistan, and

other South Asian countries and their

American counterparts to share

information and to develop a regional

and international network of

organizations involved in social and

legal issues affecting women. The

primary agenda of the project would be

to increase the participants’ awareness

of the commonality of issues confronted

by women and to stimulate the

development of mutually supportive

organizations focussed on managing and

resolving conflict and the achievement

of women’s goals through women’s

empowerment. More broadly, the

program would encourage participants

to expand their consideration from

purely women’s issues to international

issues and the role of women in

international conflict resolution. The

project would entail at least two phases,

one bringing women from South Asia to

the United States for two-to-three weeks

to experience organizations which work

for the empowerment of women such as

the League of Women Voters, the

Women’s International League for Peace

and Freedom, the National Council of

Women, the American Civil Liberties

Union, and to visit one or more

creditable women’s studies programs at

major universities. The second phase

would involve American women

activists traveling to the region to work

with participants in the first phase in

developing workshops and study

groups, establishing organizations

focussed on women’s issues, etc.

Inquiries should be directed to Program

Specialist Charlotte Peterson, (202) 619–

5319, Internet CPETERSO@USIA.GOV

Program Parameters

The Office of Citizen Exchanges

strongly encourages the coordination of

activities with respected universities,

professional associations, and major

cultural institutions in the U.S. and

abroad, but particularly in the U.S.

Projects should be intellectual and

cultural, not technical. Vocational

training (an occupation other than one

requiring a baccalaureate or higher

academic degree; i.e., clerical work, auto

maintenance, etc. and other occupations

requiring less than two years of higher

education) and technical training
Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 12 / Thursday, January 19, 1995 / Notices 3937

(special and practical knowledge of a

mechanical or a scientific subject which

enhances mechanical, narrowly

scientific, or semi-skilled capabilities)

are ineligible for support. In addition,

scholarship programs are ineligible for

support.

The Office does not support proposals

limited to conferences or seminars (i.e.,

one to fourteen-day programs with

plenary sessions, main speakers, panels,

and a passive audience).

It will support conferences only

insofar as they are part of a larger

project in duration and scope which is

receiving USIA funding from this

competition. USIA-supported projects

may include internships; study tours;

short-term, non-technical training; and

extended, intensive workshops taking

place in the United States or overseas.

The themes addressed in exchange

programs must be of long-term

importance rather than focused

exclusively on current events or shortterm issues. In every case, a substantial

rationale must be presented as part of

the proposal, one that clearly indicates

the distinctive and important

contribution of the overall project,

including where applicable the

expected yield of any associated

conference. No funding is available

exclusively to send U.S. citizens to

conferences or conference-type seminars

overseas; neither is funding available for

bringing foreign nationals to

conferences or to routine professional

association meetings in the United

States. Projects that duplicate what is

routinely carried out by private sector

and/or public sector operations will not

be considered. The Office of Citizen

Exchanges strongly recommends that

applicants consult with host country

USIS posts, prior to submitting

proposals.

Selection of Participants

All grant proposals should clearly

describe the types of persons who will

participate in the program as well as the

process by which participants will be

selected. It is recommended that

programs in support of U.S. internships

include letters tentatively committing

host institutions to support the

internships. In the selection of foreign

participants, USIA and USIS posts

retain the right to nominate all

participants and to accept or deny

participants recommended by grantee

institutions. However, grantee

institutions are often asked by USIA to

suggest names of potential participants.

The grantee institution will also provide

the names of American participants and

brief (two pages) biographical data on

each American participant to the Office

of Citizen Exchanges for information

purposes. Priority will be given to

foreign participants who have not

previously travelled to the United

States.

Additional Guidance

The Office of Citizen Exchanges offers

the following additional guidance to

prospective applicants:

1. Except where noted in the text, the

Office of Citizen Exchanges encourages

project proposals involving more than

one country. Pertinent rationale which

links countries in multi-county projects

should be included in the submission.

Single-country projects that are clearly

defined and posses the potential for

creating and strengthening continuing

linkages between foreign and U.S.

institutions are also welcome.

2. Proposals for bilateral programs are

subject to review and comment by the

USIS post in the relevant country, and

pre-selected participants will also be

subject to USIS post review.

3. Bilateral programs should clearly

identify the counterpart organization

and provide evidence of the

organization’s participation.

4. The Office of Citizen Exchanges

will consider proposals for activities

which take place exclusively in other

countries when USIS posts are

consulted in the design of the proposed

program and in the choice of the most

suitable venues for such programs.

5. Office of Citizen Exchanges grants

are not given to support projects whose

focus is limited to technical or

vocational subjects, or for research

projects, for publications funding, for

student and/or teacher/faculty

exchanges, for sports and/or sports

related programs. Nor does this office

provide scholarships or support for

long-term (a semester or more) academic

studies.

Funding

Proposals which request USIA

funding of less than $135,000 and

which include significant cost sharing

will be deemed more competitive.

Organizations with less than four years

of successful experience in managing

international exchange programs are

limited to $60,000. Applicants are

invited to provide both an all-inclusive

budget as well as separate sub-budgets

for each program component, phase,

location, or activity in order to facilitate

USIA decisions on funding. While an

all-inclusive budget must be provided

with each proposal, separate component

budgets are optional. Since USIA grant

assistance constitutes only a portion of

total project funding, proposals should

list and provide evidence of other

anticipated sources of financial and inkind support. Cost sharing may be in the

form of allowable direct or indirect

costs.

The Recipient must maintain written

records to support all allowable costs

which are claimed as being its

contribution to cost participation, 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, Attachment E-Cost

Sharing and Matching and should be

described in the proposal.

Eligible Costs

The following project costs are

eligible for consideration for funding:

1. International and domestic air

fares; visas; transit costs; ground

transportation costs.

2. Per Diem. For the U.S. program,

organizations have the option of using a

flat $140/day for program participants

or the published U.S. Federal per diem

rates for individual American cities. For

activities outside the U.S., the published

Federal per diem rates must be used.

Note: U.S. escorting staff must use the

published Federal per diem rates, not the flat

rate.

3. Interpreters. If needed, interpreters

for the U.S. program are provided by the

U.S. State Department Language

Services Division. Typically, a pair of

simultaneous interpreters is provided

for every four visitors who need

interpretation. USIA grants do not pay

for foreign interpreters to accompany

delegations from their home country.

Grant proposal budgets should contain

a flat $140/day per diem for each

Department of State interpreter, as well

as home-program-home air

transportation of $400 per interpreter

plus any U.S. travel expenses during the

program. Salary expenses are covered

centrally and should not be part of an

applicant’s proposed budget.

4. Book and cultural allowance.

Participants are entitled to and escorts

are reimbursed a one-time cultural

allowance of $150 per person, plus a

participant book allowance of $50. U.S.

staff do not get these benefits.

5. Consultants. May be used to

provide specialized expertise or to make

presentations. Daily honoraria generally

do not exceed $250 per day.

Subcontracting organizations may also

be used, in which case the written

agreement between the prospective

grantee and subcontractor should be

included in the proposal.

6. Room rental, which generally

should not exceed $250 per day.
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,