Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 111 / Friday, June 8, 2001 / Notices 30973

Small Business Investment Act of 1958,

as amended (‘‘the Act’’), in connection

with the financing of a small concern,

has sought an exemption under section

312 of the Act and section 107.730,

Financings which Constitute Conflicts

of Interest of the Small Business

Administration (‘‘SBA’’) rules and

regulations (13 CFR 107.730 (2000). Elk

Associates Funding Corporation

proposes to provide loans to Concorde

Cab Corp. and Queens Star Cab Corp.

The financings are contemplated for the

purchase of taxicab medallions, New

York City transfer taxes and taxicab

vehicles.

The financings are brought within the

purview of sec. 107.730(a)(1) of the

regulations because Meryl Sara and

Lauren Abate, Associates of Elk

Associates Funding Corporation, will

own greater than 10 percent of Concorde

Cab Corp. and Queens Star Cab Corp.,

and therefore, Concorde Cab Corp. and

Queens Star Cab Corp. are considered

Associates of Elk Associates Funding

Corporation as defined in section 107.50

of the regulations.

Notice is hereby given that any

interested person may submit written

comments on the transaction to the

Acting Associate Administrator for

Investment, U.S. Small Business

Administration, 409 Third Street, SW,

Washington, DC 20416.

Dated: May 29, 2001.

Harry Haskins,

Acting Associate Administrator for

Investment.

[FR Doc. 01–14511 Filed 6–7–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8025–01–P

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

President’s Commission To

Strengthen Social Security

AGENCY: Social Security Administration

(SSA).

ACTION: Announcement of meeting

location and time change.

DATES: June 11, 2001, 10 a.m.– 4 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Willard Inter-Continental

Hotel, 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,

Washington, DC 20004, (202) 628–9100.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The May

29, 2001 Federal Register notice (FR

Doc. 01–13486, 66 FR 29200)

announcing the June 11 meeting of the

President’s Commission to Strengthen

Social Security did not include a

meeting location. The purpose of this

announcement is to provide the meeting

location and to note that the meeting

will end at 4 p.m. instead of 6 p.m., as

previously reported.

The meeting will be open to the

public at 11 a.m. The Commission will

break for lunch at Noon, and the public

meeting will reconvene at 1 p.m. and

continue through 4 p.m. In accordance

with the Government in the Sunshine

Act, 5 U.S.C. 552b(c), the meeting will

be closed to the public from 10 a.m. to

11 a.m. to conduct housekeeping

business relating solely to Federal

personnel rules and practices and other

administrative matters.

Dated: June 4, 2001.

Larry G. Massanari,

Acting Commissioner of Social Security.

[FR Doc. 01–14527 Filed 6–5–01; 4:08 pm]

BILLING CODE 4191–02–U

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 3691]

Bureau of Educational and Cultural

Affairs Request for Grant Proposals:

Ukrainian Media Partnership Program

SUMMARY: The Europe/Eurasia Division

in the Office of Citizen Exchanges of the

Bureau of Educational and Cultural

Affairs announces an open competition

for the Ukrainian Media Partnership

Program. Public and private non-profit

organizations meeting the provisions

described in IRS regulation 26 CFR

1.501(c) may submit proposals to

conduct this program. Grants are subject

to availability of funds. 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.’’ The funding authority for

the program cited above is provided

through the Fulbright-Hays Act and the

FREEDOM Support Act.

Programs and projects must comply

with Bureau requirements and

guidelines outlined in the Solicitation

Package: the Request for Grant Proposals

(RFGP) and the Proposal Submission

Guidelines (PSI).

Announcement Title and Number

All communications with the Bureau

concerning this Request for Grant

Proposals (RFGP) should refer to the

announcement title ‘‘The Ukrainian

Media Partnership Program’’ and

reference number ECA/PE/C/EUR–01–

77.

Program Information

Overview

The Bureau of Educational and

Cultural Affairs (the Bureau) invites

applicants to submit proposals for a

project to create and foster long-term

relationships between selected

American media outlets and Ukrainian

media outlets of similar size and

between the individual professionals

that work at both outlets. Within the

framework of these partnerships,

Ukrainian professionals in print and

broadcast media will have the

opportunity to interact with US

counterparts and to take part in

practical training experiences organized

by their US partner. This project seeks

to promote the development of free and

independent Ukrainian media outlets on

the assumption that independent media

is critical for the further democratic

development of Ukraine.

The Bureau would like to see five

partnerships developed under this

program. Each Ukrainian media outlet

should be matched with an appropriate

U.S. media outlet for partnership

activities. Proposals should demonstrate

geographic diversity by including media

outlets from throughout Ukraine. While

partnerships should primarily include

media outlets in regional capitals or

larger regional cities, a Kiev media

outlet may be included in one of the

proposed partnerships. Applicants

should propose at least three

partnerships in their submission, but are

encouraged to propose all five. When

only three or four partnerships are

proposed by the applicant, the Public

Affairs Section in at the American

Embassy in Kiev (PAS) will identify the

remaining Ukrainian media outlets who

will then be partnered with American

media outlets already selected by the

applicant. Applicants should explain

how proposed matches support the

program’s objectives and why they

expect that the partnerships they are

proposing will be sustained beyond the

life of the grant. The grantee should

work closely with the Bureau and PAS

throughout the grant period; specific

partnerships will be approved by the

Bureau and PAS.

Applicants should explain how

partnerships will be structured and

what activities they will include. The

30974 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 111 / Friday, June 8, 2001 / Notices

Bureau would like to see each

partnership include a combination of

trips to the U.S. for Ukrainian

participants, trips to Ukraine for

American participants, and on-going

activities and electronic interactions

throughout the grant period. Exchanges

in both directions, while meeting the

program’s objectives, should be tailored

to meet the specific needs of the

Ukrainian partners. U.S.-based visits for

Ukrainian participants should expose

Ukrainian media professionals to the

American media industry, including

business practices, work style, and

culture. These visits should also

demonstrate the important role

journalism plays in an open and

democratic society by providing

accurate and unbiased news to the

public.

U.S. visits for Ukrainian participants

should consist primarily of substantive

internships and/or job shadowing

experiences at U.S. partner media

outlets. In addition, visits may include

consultations; workshops and/or

intensive training on specific topics;

and other appropriate activities. The

program should emphasize hands-on

experience that will build professional

expertise and strengthen links between

the two partners. The program may

include such topics as use of the

Internet as a news tool, web design for

media outlets, business practices,

management, journalistic ethics, the

relationship of journalists and editors,

and licensing and other legal issues as

they pertain to media. The proposal

should identify the individuals who

will be responsible for the partnership

at each U.S. media outlet, and should,

wherever possible, identify personnel

that will participate from both the U.S.

and Ukrainian sides. Roundtable

discussions should not be a component

of the training activities, but grantees

are encouraged, time allowing, to

arrange activities that will enable

Ukrainian participants to speak to

community/business and other groups

that are interested in contemporary

Ukraine and the Ukrainian media.

For the visits to Ukraine, activities

should focus on complementing those

activities conducted in the U.S. and

increasing the professional capacity of

the Ukrainian participants and their

colleagues who may not travel to the

U.S. This aspect of the program should

also strengthen the sustainable

relationship between the two outlets.

The Bureau encourages applicants to

submit proposals for programs that

provide for a minimum of two visits to

both the U.S. and Ukraine within each

institutional partnership. Applicants are

encouraged to propose visits with two

or more participants in each direction.

A detailed program timeline for the

entire grant period that outlines how

components will unfold and

complement each other must be

included in the proposal.

Applicants should explain the

rationale for proposed partnerships as

well as for individual participants with

particular emphasis on explaining how

proposed partnerships will contribute to

the sustainability of both the Ukrainian

media outlet, and to the partnership.

The names of proposed Ukrainian

participants must be reviewed and

approved in advance of U.S. travel by

PAS. The Bureau anticipates that the

majority of Ukrainian participants will

not have a working-level competency in

English language. Applicants should

describe the provisions that will be

made for these non-English speaking

participants.

Guidelines

Programs should begin in January

2002 and last from one to two years. The

Executive Summary and Narrative of the

proposal should be no more than 20

pages in length, double-spaced, singlesided, and unbound. Programs must

comply with J–1 visa regulations. Please

refer to the Solicitation Package for

further information.

In the Solicitation Package, you will

also find forms required by Federal

regulations and Bureau policy. Please

follow the guidelines; complete and

return the necessary forms with the

submission. Please refer to the

Technical Format and Instructions page

in the PSI.

Budget Guidelines

The Bureau anticipates awarding one

grant in the amount of $427,000 to

support program and administrative

costs required to implement this

program. Bureau grant guidelines state

that organizations that are unable to

demonstrate at least four years of

experience in conducting international

exchange programs are limited to

$60,000 in Bureau support. Therefore,

organizations with less than four years

of experience in conducting

international exchanges would not be

eligible to apply under this competition.

The Bureau encourages applicants to

provide maximum levels of cost-sharing

and funding from private sources in

support of its programs.

Applicants must submit a

comprehensive budget for the entire

program. There must be a summary

budget as well as breakdowns reflecting

both administrative and program

budgets. Applicants may provide

separate sub-budgets for each program

component, phase, location, or activity

to provide clarification. Allowable costs

for the program include the following:

1. International and domestic air fares

(per the ‘‘Fly America Act’’). Including

visas, transit costs, and ground

transportation costs.

2. Per Diem. Current USG per diem

rates may be accessed at: http://

www.state.gov/m/a/als/prdm/ (foreign),

and http://policyworks.gov/org/main/

mt/homepage/mtt/perdiem/travel.shtml

(domestic). For activities in Ukraine,

however, the Bureau strongly

encourages the applicant to budget

realistic costs that reflect the local

economy.

3. Interpreters. Locally-based

interpreters should be hired to assist

with training when necessary.

Interpreters’ salaries should reflect the

local economy. Per diem and

transportation costs for interpreters

should be included in the budget when

needed.

4. Consultants. Consultants may be

used to provide specialized expertise or

to make presentations. Daily honoraria

cannot 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. Subcontracts

should be itemized in the budget.

5. Room rental. Room rental may not

exceed $250 per day. The Bureau

encourages the applicant to cost share

room rental and meeting space with

local partners, when possible.

6. Materials development. The

proposal may contain costs to purchase,

develop, and translate materials for

participants.

7. Equipment. The proposal may

contain costs to purchase equipment for

Ukraine-based programming such as

computers and fax machines. Costs to

purchase furniture are not allowed.

Equipment costs must be kept to a

minimum.

8. Working meal. Only one working

meal may be provided during the

program. 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. Interpreters must

be included as participants.

9. Administrative costs. Costs

necessary for the effective

administration of the program may

include salaries for grant organization

employees, benefits, and other direct

and indirect costs per detailed

instructions in the Application Package.

While this solicitation does not

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 111 / Friday, June 8, 2001 / Notices 30975

proscribe a rigid ratio of administrative

to program costs, the Bureau encourages

the applicant to spend no more than

twenty-five (25) per cent of the total

funds requested from The Bureau on

administrative expenses. The proposal

should show cost-sharing contributions

from the applicant, partners, and other

sources.

The Bureau will provide health

insurance for Ukrainian participants

during U.S.-based program activities.

Therefore, applicants do not need to

include costs of insurance coverage for

these individuals.

Please refer to the Solicitation

Package for complete budget guidelines

and formatting instructions.

Announcement Title and Number

All correspondence with the Bureau

concerning this RFGP should reference

the program title and grant reference

number ECA/PE/C/EUR–01–77.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The

Office of Citizen Exchanges, ECA/PE/C/

EUR, Room 224, U.S. Department of

State, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington,

DC 20547, telephone 1–202–619–5327,

e-mail hscott@pd.state.gov to request a

Solicitation Package. The Solicitation

Package contains detailed award

criteria, required application forms,

specific budget instructions, and

standard guidelines for proposal

preparation. Please specify Bureau

program officer Henry Scott on all other

inquiries and correspondence.

Please read the complete Federal

Register announcement before sending

inquiries or submitting proposals. Once

the RFGP deadline has passed, Bureau

staff may not discuss this competition

with applicants until the proposal

review process has been completed.

To Download a Solicitation Package

Via Internet

The entire Solicitation Package may

be downloaded from the Bureau’s

website at http://exchanges.state.gov/

education/RFGPs. Please read all

information before downloading.

Deadline for Proposals

All proposal copies must be received

at the Bureau of Educational and

Cultural Affairs by 5 p.m. Washington,

DC time (Eastern Daylight Time) on July

26, 2001. Faxed documents will not be

accepted at any time. Documents

postmarked the due date but received

on a later date will not be accepted.

Each applicant must ensure that the

proposals are received by the above

deadline.

Applicants must follow all

instructions in the Solicitation Package.

The original and eight (8) copies of the

application should be sent to: U.S.

Department of State, SA–44, Bureau of

Educational and Cultural Affairs, Ref.:

ECA/PE/C/EUR–01–77, Program

Management, ECA/EX/PM, Room 534,

301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC

20547.

Diversity, Freedom, and Democracy

Guidelines

Pursuant to the Bureau’s authorizing

legislation, programs must maintain a

non-political character and should be

balanced and representative of the

diversity of American political, social,

and cultural life. ‘‘Diversity’’ should be

interpreted in the broadest sense and

encompass differences including, but

not limited to ethnicity, race, gender,

religion, geographic location, socioeconomic status, and physical

challenges. Applicants are strongly

encouraged to adhere to the

advancement of this principle both in

program administration and in program

content. Please refer to the review

criteria under the ‘Support for Diversity’

section for specific suggestions on

incorporating diversity into the total

proposal. Public Law 104–319 provides

that ‘‘in carrying out programs of

educational and cultural exchange in

countries whose people do not fully

enjoy freedom and democracy,’’ the

Bureau ‘‘shall take appropriate steps to

provide opportunities for participation

in such programs to human rights and

democracy leaders of such countries.’’

Public Law 106–113 requires that the

governments of the countries described

above do not have inappropriate

influence in the selection process.

Proposals should reflect advancement of

these goals in their program contents, to

the full extent deemed feasible.

Review Process

The Bureau 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. All

eligible proposals will be reviewed by

the program office, as well as the Public

Affairs Section in Kiev. Eligible

proposals will be subject to compliance

with Federal and Bureau regulations

and guidelines and forwarded to grant

panels for advisory review. Proposals

may also be reviewed by the Office of

the Legal Adviser or by other

Department elements. Final funding

decisions are at the discretion of the

Department of State’s Acting Assistant

Secretary for Educational and Cultural

Affairs. Final technical authority for

assistance awards resides with the

Bureau’s Grants Officer.

Review Criteria

Technically eligible applications will

be competitively reviewed according to

the criteria stated below. These criteria

are not rank ordered and all carry equal

weight in the proposal evaluation:

1. Program planning and ability to

achieve objectives: A detailed agenda

and relevant work plan should

demonstrate substantive undertakings

and logistical capacity. Agenda and plan

should adhere to the program overview

and guidelines described above.

Objectives should be reasonable,

feasible, and flexible. Proposals should

clearly demonstrate how the institution

will meet the program’s objectives and

plan.

2. Impact: Proposed programs should

strengthen long-term mutual

understanding, including maximum

sharing of information, and the

establishment of long-term institutional

and individual linkages.

3. Support of diversity: Proposals

should demonstrate substantive support

of the Bureau’s policy on diversity.

Achievable and relevant features should

be cited in both program administration

(selection of participants, program

venue, and program evaluation) and

program content (orientation and wrapup sessions, program meetings, resource

materials and follow-up activities).

4. Institutional capacity: Proposals

should demonstrate an institutional

record of successful exchange programs,

including responsible fiscal

management and full compliance with

all reporting requirements for past

Bureau-supported grants as determined

by staff of the Grants Office. The Bureau

will consider the past performance of

prior recipients and the demonstrated

potential of new applicants.

5. Follow-on activities: Proposals

should provide a plan for continued

follow-on activity (without Bureau

support) ensuring that supported

programs are not isolated events.

6. 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. A

draft survey questionnaire or other

technique plus description of a

methodology to use to link outcomes to

original project objectives is

recommended. Successful applicants

will be expected to submit intermediate

reports after each project component is

concluded or quarterly, whichever is

less frequent.

7. 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

30976 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 111 / Friday, June 8, 2001 / Notices

necessary and appropriate. The Bureau

encourages the applicant to spend no

more than twenty-five (25) per cent of

the total funds requested from The

Bureau on administrative expenses. The

proposal should show cost-sharing

contributions from the applicant,

partners, and other sources.

Authority

Overall grant making authority for

this program is contained in the Mutual

Educational and Cultural Exchange Act

of 1961, Public Law 87–256, as

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

enable the Government of the United

States to increase mutual understanding

between the people of the United States

and the people of other countries * * *;

to strengthen the ties which unite us

with other nations by demonstrating the

educational and cultural interests,

developments, and achievements of the

people of the United States and other

nations * * * and thus to assist in the

development of friendly, sympathetic

and peaceful relations between the

United States and the other countries of

the world.’’ The funding authority for

the program above is provided through

The funding authority for the program

cited above is provided through the

Fulbright-Hays Act and the FREEDOM

Support Act.

Notice

The terms and conditions published

in this RFGP are binding and may not

be modified by any Bureau

representative. Explanatory information

provided by the Bureau that contradicts

published language will not be binding.

Issuance of the RFGP does not

constitute an award commitment on the

part of the Government. The Bureau

reserves the right to reduce, revise, or

increase proposal budgets in accordance

with the needs of the program and the

availability of funds. Awards made will

be subject to periodic reporting and

evaluation requirements.

Notification

Final awards cannot be made until

funds have been appropriated by

Congress, allocated and committed

through internal Bureau procedures.

Dated: June 1, 2001.

Helena Kane Finn,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational

and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of

State.

[FR Doc. 01–14508 Filed 6–7–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4710–05–U

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice No. 3678]

Advisory Committee on International

Economic Policy; Open Meeting Notice

The Advisory Committee on

International Economic Policy (ACIEP)

will meet from 9 am to 12 pm on

Tuesday, June 12, 2001, in Room 1107,

U.S. Department of State, 2201 C Street,

NW., Washington, DC 20520. The

meeting will be hosted by Committee

Chairman R. Michael Gadbaw and

Assistant Secretary of State for

Economic and Business Affairs E.

Anthony Wayne.

The ACIEP serves the U.S.

Government in a solely advisory

capacity concerning issues and

problems in international economic

policy. The objective of the ACIEP is to

provide expertise and insight on these

issues that are not available within the

U.S. Government.

Topics for the June 12 meeting will

be:

• A New WTO Round

• Responding to the HIV/AIDS Crisis

• The International Implications of

U.S. Energy Policy

The public may attend these meetings

as seating capacity allows. The media is

welcome but discussions are off the

record. Admittance to the Department of

State building is by means of a prearranged clearance list. In order to be

placed on this list, please provide your

name, title, company or other affiliation

if appropriate, social security number,

date of birth, and citizenship to the

ACIEP Executive Secretariat by fax (202)

647–5936 (Attention: Cecilia Walker) or

email: (walkercr@state.gov) by October

27th. On the date of the meeting,

persons who have registered should

come to the 23rd Street entrance. One of

the following valid means of

identification will be required for

admittance: a U.S. driver’s license with

photo, a passport, or a U.S. Government

ID.

For further information about the

meeting, contact Deborah Grout, ACIEP

Secretariat, U.S. Department of State,

Bureau of Economic and Business

Affairs, Room 3526, Main State,

Washington, DC 20520. Tel: 202–647-

1826; or Carol Thompson, Email:

thompsonce@state.gov.

Dated: June 5, 2001.

Carol E. Thompson,

Executive Secretary, Advisory Committee on

International, Economic Policy, U.S.

Department of State.

[FR Doc. 01–14622 Filed 6–6–01; 3:01 pm]

BILLING CODE 4710–07–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping

Requirements; Agency Information

Collection Activity Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: In compliance with the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44

U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice

announces that the Information

Collection Request (ICR) abstracted

below has been forwarded to the Office

of Management and Budget (OMB) for

renewal and comment. The ICR

describes the nature of the information

collection and its expected cost and

burden. The Federal Register Notice

with a 60-day comment period soliciting

comments on the following collection of

information was published on March

23, 2001 [66 FR 16309]. No comments

were received.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on

or before (insert: date 30 days after

publishing in the Federal Register) to:

Attention DOT/OST Desk Officer, Office

of Information and Regulatory Affairs,

Office of Management and Budget,

Docket Library, Room 10102, 725 17th

Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jack

Schmidt, Competition and Policy

Analysis Division, Office of Aviation

Analysis; Office of the Secretary, U.S.

Department of Transportation, 400 7th

Street, SW., Washington DC 20590–

0002. Telephone (202) 366–5420.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Office of the Secretary (OST).

Title: Passenger Manifest Information.

OMB Control Number: 2105–0534.

Affected Public: US and foreign direct

air carriers

Annual Estimated Burden: 1.05

million hours.

Comments are invited on: whether the

proposed collection of information is

necessary for the proper performance of

the functions of the Department,

including whether the information will

have practical utility; the accuracy of

the Department’s estimate of the burden

of the proposed information collection;

ways to enhance the quality, utility, and

clarity of the information to be

collected; and ways to minimize the

burden of the collection of information

on respondents, including the use of

automated collection techniques or

other forms of information technology.