26920 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 97 / Friday, May 19, 1995 / Notices

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NHTSA

will hold this regular, quarterly meeting

to answer questions from the public and

the regulated industries regarding the

agency’s safety performance standards,

safety assurance and other programs.

Since the agency is holding a separate

meeting on its research and

development programs, any questions

on those issues will only be answered

at the afternoon meeting to be held on

June 27, 1995 and should be submitted

to the Research and Development

Office. However, questions on aspects of

the agency’s research and development

activities that relate to ongoing

regulatory actions should be submitted,

as in the past, to the agency’s Safety

Performance Standards Office.

The motor vehicle regulatory reform

meeting is a follow-up to NHTSA’s

March 29, 1995 meeting on regulatory

reform held in conjunction with the

agency’s previous quarterly technical

meeting, and to the agency’s April 4,

1995 meeting in Washington, D.C., at

which NHTSA sought information from

the public on regulatory reform actions

the agency should take related to its

motor vehicle regulations. These were

in conjunction with President Clinton’s

call for a new approach to the way

Government regulates the private sector,

and his request that Executive Branch

agencies report to him by June 1, 1995

on ways to improve the regulatory

process. To follow the President’s

expected announcement of the results of

this initiative, NHTSA will discuss how

the agency has handled the public

comments and the anticipated next

actions to implement its motor vehicle

regulatory reform decisions.

The regular, quarterly, meeting to be

held on June 28th will be at the Ramada

Inn near the Detroit Metro Airport, 8270

Wickham Road, Romulus, MI 48174.

The purpose of this meeting is to focus

on those phases of NHTSA activities

which are technical, interpretative or

procedural in nature. A transcript will

be available for public inspection in the

NHTSA Technical Reference Section in

Washington, DC, within four weeks after

the meeting. Copies of the transcript

will then be available at ten cents a page

(length has varied from 100 to 150

pages) upon request to NHTSA

Technical Reference Section, Room

5108, 400 Seventh Street, SW.,

Washington, DC 20590. The Technical

Reference Section is open to the public

from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

NHTSA will provide auxiliary aids to

participants as necessary, during the

NHTSA Technical Industry Meeting,

NHTSA Regulatory Reform Meeting,

and the NHTSA Industry Research and

Development Meeting. Any person

desiring assistance of ‘‘auxiliary aids’’

(e.g., sign-language interpreter,

telecommunications devices for deaf

persons (TDDs), readers, taped texts,

brailled materials, or large print

materials and/or a magnifying device),

please contact Barbara Carnes on (202)

366–1810, by COB June 19, 1995 for the

June 28, 1995 meetings or Barbara

Coleman (202) 366–1537 by COB June

19, 1995 for the June 27, 1995 meeting.

Issued: May 15, 1995.

Barry Felrice,

Associate Administrator for Safety

Performance Standards.

[FR Doc. 95–12300 Filed 5–18–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–59–M

UNITED STATES INFORMATION

AGENCY

Administration of the 1996 U.S. Based

Training Program for Overseas

Educational Advisers

ACTION: Notice—request for proposals.

SUMMARY: The Advising and Student

Services Branch of the United States

Information Agency’s Bureau of

Educational and Cultural Affairs

announces an open competition for an

assistance award. The proposal, which

can be submitted by public and private

non-profit organizations meeting the

provisions described in IRS regulation

26 CFR 1.501(C)(3)–1, should describe

the design of two training programs for

USIA-affiliated mid-level overseas

educational advisers to be held in late

spring and fall of 1996. The training

programs’ objectives are to strengthen

and develop the skills of more

experienced overseas educational

advisers so that they can train beginning

advisers and advance the field of

educational advising in their home

countries. A successful training program

should provide in-depth exposure to the

mechanics of international study on a

U.S. university campus (admissions and

international office), advances in

technology (internet), and outreach

strategies, (fundraising and management

of volunteers). Each session should last

three weeks, with a beginning week in

Washington, DC or other suitable city

for workshops, research opportunities

and discussions; a one-week to ten-day

internship at a U.S. college or university

campus for an in-depth exposure to

international student admission and

advising; and approximately one week

or less at either the National NAFSA:

Association of International Educators

Conference in late May or one of the

regional NAFSA conferences in the fall.

Further clarification is provided in the

application package. USIA anticipates

awarding up to $205,000 to one

organization to administer this program.

Background and Program Rationale

The presence of international students

and scholars on U.S. campuses

contributes significantly to the academic

quality and financial well-being of

American higher education. In

recognition of this, The United States

Information Agency, maintains a

network of educational advising centers

overseas where objective information

about study options and the application

process to U.S. higher education is

available to all prospective students,

scholars, parents, governments

ministries, and other interested

individuals. These centers are staffed by

educational advisers who must stay up

to date with current trends in U.S.

higher education, as well as remain

knowledgeable about developments in

technology, materials available, and

management skills relevant to running

busy centers.

Program Participants

USIA will select participants for the

training sessions from the corps of

educational advisers who are part of the

network of USIA-affiliated advising

centers overseas and who, based on

seniority and previous job experience,

are considered ‘‘mid-level’’ advisers. For

the purposes of this RFP, mid-level

advisers are defined as those who have

mastered the following skills: (1)

Knowledge of the U.S. and home

country educational systems; (2)

familiarity with the application process

for U.S. higher education and training;

(3) skills in advising and cross-cultural

communication skills; (4) a basic

understanding of the management

theories and practices as they relate to

educational advising.

Training Program Format

The training program is intended for

two separate groups of ten participants

each and should contain sessions in

Washington DC or other suitable city, an

internship or other form of meaningful

professional visit at a U.S. academic

institution(s), and active attendance, to

include at least one presentation, at

either the national NAFSA: Association

of International Educators conference or

one of its regional fall conferences.

The separate training programs

should resemble each other in structure

but have a different focus, thereby

taking advantage of opportunities

available at different times of the year.

For instance, the spring session might

concentrate on cultural adjustment (predeparture/re-entry issues) faced by
Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 97 / Friday, May 19, 1995 / Notices 26921

international students, whereas the fall

session might focus on admissions

issues. These are suggestions; USIA

invites organizations to submit creative

and flexible program plans which can

be tailored to participants’ individual

needs. Nevertheless, the following

components must be covered in each

training course:

Discussion of the current state of U.S.

higher education and how it affects the

work of the educational adviser;

individual consultations with U.S.

exchange organizations depending on

participant’s area of expertise;

accreditation and degree equivalency

issues; internet training; hands-on

campus exposure to admissions and

international student advising issues in

the U.S.; exploration of alternate sources

of support for educational advising,

including fundraising techniques and

managing volunteers. Please refer to

program specific guidelines (POGI) and

the ‘‘Training and Professional

Development’’ report in the Solicitation

Package for further details.

Proposed Budget

Applicants must submit a

comprehensive budget for the entire

program (both sessions). For

clarification, applicants should provide

separate sub-budgets for each training

component. There must be a summary

budget as well as a breakdown reflecting

both the administrative budget and the

program budget based on the guidance

in the Solicitation Package. USIA’s grant

assistance, up to $205,000 in total, is

expected to constitute only a portion of

the total project funding. Cost sharing is

required and the proposal should list

other anticipated sources of support.

Organizations with fewer than four

years of experience in conducting

international exchange programs will

not be eligible.

Allowable costs for the program

include the following:

(1) Salaries and fringe benefits; travel

and per diem;

(2) Other direct costs, inclusive of

rent, utilities, etc.;

(3) Indirect expenses, auditing costs;

(4) Participant program costs; i.e.

international/domestic travel, per diem,

conference attendance, resource

materials. 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 Area Offices and the USIS

posts 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 assistance awards (grants

or cooperative agreements) resides with

the USIA grants officer.

Review Criteria

Technically eligible applications will

be competitively reviewed according to

the criteria stated below. These criteria

are not rank ordered and all carry equal

weight in the proposal evaluation:

1. Quality of the program idea:

Proposals should demonstrate

comprehensive understanding of

current issues in international

educational exchange and show clearly

how the proposed course of study will

give advisers the expertise to run

efficient and effective advising centers.

Training ideas should be innovative,

interesting and engage the participants

actively at all sessions of the program.

2. Program planning: Proposals

should contain a detailed agenda and

syllabus, clearly showing how sessions

will achieve program objectives.

Proposals should demonstrate

convincingly that the organization has

the staff capacity and expertise to plan

this complex set of training sessions.

Agenda and plan should adhere to the

program overview and guidelines

described above.

3. Multiplier effect/impact: The

training program should put

participants in tough with U.S. experts

and international educators so that the

maximum amount of information can be

shared and professional linkages

established.

5. Support of diversity: The proposal

should demonstrate how the

participants will be exposed to the

widest possible range of views and

approaches to U.S. higher education.

Attention should be paid to selecting

the campuses for internships to

represent different kinds of schools from

various regions of the U.S.

6. Institutional capacity: Proposed

personnel and institutional resources

should be adequate and appropriate to

achieve the program or project’s goals.

7. Institution’s record/ability:

Proposals should demonstrate an

institutional record of designing and

running effective training 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. Project evaluation: Proposals

should include a plan to evaluate the

activity’s success, including participant

evaluation forms, both as the activities

unfold and at the end of the program.

Award-receiving organizations/

institutions will be expected to submit

intermediate reports after each project

component is concluded or quarterly,

whichever is less frequent.

9. 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.

10. Cost-sharing: Proposals should

maximize cost-sharing through other

private sector support as well as

institutional direct funding

contributions.

Authorization

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 demonstrting 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 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/ASA–96–01.

Deadline for Proposals

All copies must be received at the

U.S. Information Agency by 5 p.m.

Washington, DC time on Friday, July 28,

1995. Faxed documents will not be

accepted, nor will documents

postmarked July 28, but received at a
26922 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 97 / Friday, May 19, 1995 / Notices

later date. It is the responsibility of each

applicant to ensure that proposals are

received by the above deadline. Grants

should begin November 1, 1995 and run

through December 31, 1996, with a

starting date of May 1996 for the first

training program.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Advising and Student Services, E/ASA,

Room 349, U.S. Information Agency,

301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC

20547, Tel: (202) 619–5434, Fax: (202)

401–1433. E-mail: ahatteme@usia.gov.

Potential applicants are encouraged to

contact the program office and confirm

understanding of the terms of this

Request for Proposals before requesting

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; a report/concept paper on

training for educational advisers. The

report should be used for general

guidance only; in places where the

recommendations of the report conflict

with the RFP, it shall be the definitive

document. (Note: the report/concept

paper is available only upon specific

request to E/ASA). Please specify USIA

Program Officer Alexandra Hattemer on

all inquiries and correspondence.

Interested applicants should read the

complete Federal Register

announcement before addressing

inquiries to E/ASA or submitting their

proposals. Once the RFP deadline has

passed, E/ASA 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 given in the Solicitation

Package. The original and eight copies

of the complete application should be

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

E/ASA–96–01, 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 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.

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

November 1, 1995. Awards made will be

subject to periodic reporting and

evaluation requirements.

Dated: May 12, 1995.

Dell Pendergrast,

Deputy Associate Director, Educational and

Cultural Affairs.

[FR Doc. 95–12351 Filed 5–18–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8230–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS

AFFAIRS

Advisory Committee for Cooperative

Studies, Health Services, and

Rehabilitation Research and

Development Subcommittee on

Scientific Review and Evaluation for

Health Services Research and

Development Service, Notice of

Meeting

The Department of Veteran Affairs,

Veterans Health Administration, gives

notice under Pub. L. 92–463, that a

meeting of the Advisory Committee for

Cooperative Studies, Health Services,

and Rehabilitation Research and

Development Subcommittee on

Scientific Review and Evaluation for

Health Services Research and

Development will be held at The

Madison Hotel, 15th and M Streets,

Northwest, Washington, D.C., June 13

through June 15, 1995. Session One on

June 13, 1995, is scheduled to begin at

11:00 a.m. and end at 12:30 p.m. (EST).

The purpose of the meeting is to review

a cooperative study entitled ‘‘A

Comprehensive System for Quality

Improvement in Ambulatory Care.’’ The

study will be reviewed for scientific and

technical merit and recommendations

regarding its funding are prepared for

the Associate Chief Medical Director for

Research and Development. Session

Two on June 13, 1995, is scheduled to

begin at 5:30 p.m. and end at 7:00 p.m.

(EST). The sessions scheduled for June

14 and 15 are scheduled to begin at 8:00

a.m. and end at 5:00 p.m. (EST). The

purpose of the meeting is to review

research and development applications

concerned with the measurement and

evaluation of health care systems and

with testing new methods of health care

delivery and management. Applications

are reviewed for scientific and technical

merit and recommendations regarding

their funding are prepared for the

Associate Chief Medical Director for

Research and Development.

Session One will be open to the

public (to the seating capacity of the

room) at the start of the June 13

Cooperative Studies in Health Sciences

meeting for approximately one-half hour

to cover administrative matters and to

discuss the general status of the

program. Session Two will be open to

the public (to the seating capacity of the

room) at the start of the June 13

Investigator Initiated Research meeting

for approximately one hour to cover

administrative matters and to discuss

the general status of the program. The

closed portion of the two meetings

involves discussion, examination,

reference to, and oral review of staff and

consultant critiques of research

protocols, and similar documents.

During this portion of the meeting,

discussion and recommendations will

deal with qualifications of personnel

conducting the studies, the disclosure of

which would constitute a clearly

unwarranted invasion of personal

privacy, as well as research information,

the premature disclosure of which

would be likely to frustrate significantly

implementation of proposed agency

action regarding such research projects.

As provided by the subsection 10(d) of

Pub. L. 92–463, as amended by Pub. L.

94–409, closing portions of these

meetings is in accordance with 5 U.S.C.

552b(c)(6) and (9)(B).

Due to the limited seating capacity of

the room, those who plan to attend the

open sessions should contact Mr. Bill

Judy, Review Program Manager (12B3),

Health Services Research and

Development Service, Department of

Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue,

NW, (Techworld), Washington, DC,

20420 (phone: 202–523–7425) at least

five days before the meeting.

Dated: May 11, 1995.

By Direction of the Secretary:

Heyward Bannister,

Committee Management Officer.

[FR Doc. 95–12298 Filed 5–18–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8320–01–M