[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 12 (Thursday, January 19, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3942-3945]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-1182]



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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY

Regulation of Broadcast Radio Frequencies (South Africa)

ACTION: Notice--Request for proposals.

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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 non-
profit organizations meeting the provisions described in IRS regulation 
501(c)(3) may apply to develop a two-way 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 Fulbright-Hays Act. The purpose of 
the Act is ``to enable the Government of the United States to increase 
mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the 
people of other countries * * *; to strengthen the ties which unite us 
with other nations by demonstrating the educational and cultural 
interests, developments, and achievements of the people of the United 
States and other nations * * * and thus to assist in the development of 
friendly, sympathetic and peaceful relations between the United States 
and the other countries of the world.''
    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 <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cf9c9b8e9683809d8f9a9c868ee1888099">[email protected]</a>, 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 

[[Page 3943]]
Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), a state-owned national broadcaster 
with both commercial and public service responsibilities. Rather than 
provide a forum for the free and open discussion of national issues, 
the SABC came to serve as an advocate of government Apartheid policy.
    Until recently, SABC was managing some 23 national, regional and 
local radio services and three television services. The SABC budget was 
approved by Parliament and supervised by the Ministry of Home Affairs, 
which, together with the Postmaster General, managed the airwaves.
    Legislation adopted in 1993 created the Independent Broadcasting 
Authority (IBA), loosely modeled on the U.S. Federal Communications 
Commission (FCC), to publicly manage the radio frequency spectrum and 
institutionalize freedom of speech protections by shielding the 
broadcast media from direct political controls. The IBA consists of six 
commissioners and two co-chairpersons appointed in April 1994.

Program Overview

    The Office of Citizen Exchanges (E/P) proposes development of a 
two-way exchange project designed to enhance the institutional 
capabilities of South Africa's Independent Broadcasting Authority. The 
project should assist the Authority to develop a plan to assure 
citizens' access to the airwaves in a manner consistent with democratic 
practices in public resource management. The project should bring South 
African participants to the United States to study U.S. regulation of 
the broadcast media, and send U.S. specialists to South Africa to 
provide on-site consultancies. While the program should cover 
regulations of all broadcast media, activities should focus on radio, 
which is South Africa's predominant broadcast medium. The program 
should begin in summer/fall 1995.

Project Objectives

    The project should be designed to:

--Provide participants with a broad understanding of U.S. laws, 
regulations and policies relevant to the administration of 
broadcasting;
--Introduce participants to the operation of the Federal Communications 
Commission (FCC), including its administrative, technical and legal 
branches, and examine its relations with the three branches of the 
federal government and other public and private organizations;
--Study FCC policies affecting local control, ownership and management 
of broadcasting operations; guidelines promoting diversity of station 
ownership; policies affecting freedom of speech and programming; 
historic and contemporary public service requirements; the history of 
regulations promoting political fairness in broadcasting; free speech 
limits on broadcasters; ownership requirements; and licensing 
procedures;
--Examine major trends and developments in broadcasting technologies 
and related policy issues such as the implications of direct 
broadcasting from satellites; competition for limited broadcasting 
frequencies; the sale and leasing of frequencies; the funding of public 
broadcasting, including university and community-based operations; and 
management of cable television systems;
--Introduce participants to U.S. commercial and public broadcasting 
organizations, professional associations and public interest groups to 
study the impact of regulatory policies;
--Assist participants to identify specific objectives for enhancing the 
IBA's institutional capacity;
--Provide consultancies in South Africa aimed at assisting the IBA to 
enhance organizational structure, administrative practices and policy 
formulation which ensure public participation, transparency in decision 
making, and respect for the business integrity and free speech of 
broadcasters;
--Develop appropriate support materials to assist participant achieve 
their objectives relative to the IBA's instutitional capacity;
--Lay the groundwork for linkages between institutions in the United 
States and South Africa aimed at promoting regulatory policies 
consistent with constitutional free speech protections in South Africa 
and evolving technological trends.

Participants

    The project should be designed for commissioners and senior staff 
members of South Africa's Independent Broadcasting Authority. The 
delegation during the U.S. phase of the project probably would total 6-
8 participants. The delegation possibly who play role in formulating 
regulatory policy governing South Africa's airwaves. USIS personnel 
will select the South African participants, although recommendations 
from the grantee institution are welcome. For program phases in South 
Africa, the grantee institution will select the American presenters in 
consultation with USIA.
    USIS offices will facilitate the issuance of visas for the South 
African participants and can help with the distribution of program-
related materials in South Africa.

Programmatic Considerations

    USIA will give careful consideration to proposals which 
demonstrate:
    (1) In-depth, substantive knowledge of the historic evolution of 
U.S. policy relative to the regulation of radio and television 
broadcasting, as well as contemporary issues in the broadcasting field;
    (2) First-hand connections with appropriate U.S. public and private 
sector organizations and institutions involved in the management of 
broadcast frequencies;
    (3) The capacity to organize and manage international exchange 
programs, including the handling of pre-departure arrangements, 
orientation activities, oversight and problem-solving involved in such 
programs.
    USIA is especially interested in multi-phase programs in which the 
phases build on one another and lay the groundwork for new and long-
term relationships between American and South 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 or 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 phases for South 
African participants in the U.S. and at least one phase for American 
specialists in South Africa. Programming elements might include in-
country workshops or seminars led by American experts, specialized 
American consultancies conducted in South Africa, a study tour in the 
U.S. for selected South African participants and U.S.-based 
professional attachments. A planning visit overseas by the American 
organizer can also be considered if crucial to successful 

[[Page 3944]]
development and implementation of the program.
    The project should include formats which maximize interaction 
between the South African participants and the program presenters. 
Participants should observe interaction between public and private 
sector officials involved in the formulation, implementation and 
evaluation of regulatory policy, such as legislators, regulators, 
stations managers, technicians, advertisers, interest group leaders 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 broadcasting in South Africa 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 South African participants and U.S. presenters who travel to South 
Africa; 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, participating 
USIS posts, and any South African collaborating institutions.
    At the start of each phase, the grantee institution will conduct an 
orientation session for the participants and, at the conclusion, 
conduct participant evaluations. The institution will submit a report 
at the completion 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, the 
principles underlying U.S. regulation of broadcasting, the practices of 
U.S. broadcasters and other background information about the project. 
E/P will ask the South African participants to prepare brief outlines 
describing their own particular interests in these areas. The grantee 
institution should brief the American presenters on the South African 
participants' backgrounds, interests and concerns.

Other Program Considerations

    Consutation with USIS posts in South Africa in the development of 
the project proposal is encouraged. Letters of commitment from 
participating U.S. 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 for USIA funding support is keen. Selection of a 
grantee institution is based on the substantive 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 comparative 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.
    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. Material 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 participant 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 

[[Page 3945]]
employees, benefits, and other direct and indirect costs per detailed 
instructions in the application package.
    E/P encourages cost-sharing, which may be 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

    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. 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 contribute to maximum sharing of information and establishment of 
long-term 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 cost-sharing 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 an 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. 95-1182 Filed 1-18-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M

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