33290 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 120 / Thursday, June 21, 2001 / Notices

indicating the experience that the

organization and its professional staff

have had in working with foreign

educators.

6. Evaluation and Follow-up: A plan

for evaluating activities during the

Institute and at its conclusion should be

included. Proposals should also discuss

provisions made for possible follow-up

with returned grantees as a means of

establishing longer-term individual and

institutional linkages.

7. Cost Effectiveness: Proposals

should maximize cost sharing through

direct institutional contributions, inkind support, and other private sector

support. Overhead and administrative

components of the proposal, including

salaries and honoraria, should be kept

as low as possible.

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

UnitedStates and the other countries of

the world.’’

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 this 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, and allocated and committed

through internal Bureau procedures.

Dated: June 14, 2001.

Helena K. Finn,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational

and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of

State.

[FR Doc. 01–15541 Filed 6–20–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4710–05–U

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 3703]

Bureau of Educational and Cultural

Affairs Request for Grant Proposals:

Future Leaders Exchange Civic

Education Workshops

SUMMARY: The Office of Citizen

Exchanges, Youth Programs Division of

the Bureau of Educational and Cultural

Affairs announces an open competition

to conduct spring 2002 and spring 2003

Civic Education workshops for the

Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX)

program. Overall goals of the workshops

are: (1) To expose high school students

from the New Independent States (NIS)

of the former Soviet Union to federal

political processes and citizen

participation in government at the

national level; (2) to examine the

concept of effective leadership in

society through looking at positive and

negative examples and role models; and

(3) to provide students with specific

tools they can take home to aid in the

transformation of their home countries

to democratic and civil societies. Public

and private non-profit organizations

meeting the provisions described in IRS

regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c) may submit

proposals to develop and conduct a oneweek workshop in Washington, DC, in

Spring 2002 and Spring 2003 that

focuses on the basic tenets of the

Constitution and the fundamental

elements of a civil society, including the

relationship between the federal

government and state and local

governments, and the rule of law in a

civil society. Each workshop should

include approximately 110 high school

students from the NIS who are attending

school in the United States during 2001/

02 and 2002/03. Workshop participants

will be selected through an essay

contest from among a group of 1,211

students who are participating in the

Division’s FLEX program. Competitive

proposals will demonstrate a method for

substantive and specific measurement of

whether the goals listed above have

been achieved. The maximum grant

award will be $290,000. Only one grant

will be awarded. Provision of cost

sharing to maximize the number of

participants will be looked at very

favorably.

Program Information

The recipient of the grant is

responsible for developing and

conducting the Civic Education

workshop based on guidelines set forth

by the Division. The grantee

organization will also be responsible for

coordinating travel arrangements for

each participant from his/her host

community to Washington, DC and

return, and for providing room and

board for students during their time in

Washington. Proposals must

demonstrate flexibility and a

willingness to work with the

Department of State and the Bureau in

arranging certain briefings and visits, as

the opportunity arises.

Overview: These workshops should

enable participants to learn firsthand

about the federal system of government,

observe government institutions, hear

about and discuss issues on the federal

agenda, and interact with government

officials. Special attention should be

paid to those issues that will be

especially significant to people from the

former Soviet Union. The workshops

should also provide an opportunity for

participants to gain a broader

understanding of democratic concepts

and values that are such an integral part

of American society and culture, such as

citizen empowerment, volunteerism,

community action, and debate. The

program should be arranged for seven

days, including arrival and departure.

The grantee organization will be

provided with the names of the students

who will have been chosen through a

competitive essay contest. The essays

will have been reviewed by

independent, objective selectors.

Winning essays will be sent to the

grantee organization, as well.

Guidelines: The workshops should be

held in late winter or early Spring 2002

and Spring 2003. Proposals must

effectively describe the organization’s

ability to accomplish the following

essential components of the program:

1. Provide a Civic Education

workshop in Washington, DC, as

described above and held at the time

period indicated. Program components

should include sessions on federalism,

U.S. domestic and foreign policy, the

role of the media in the United States,

citizen empowerment, volunteerism and

community activism. Leadership should

be a sub-theme throughout the program

and should include the effective

exercise of leadership in the political

process.

2. Provide pre-program training for

organization staff on NIS society and

culture.

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 120 / Thursday, June 21, 2001 / Notices 33291

3. Provide housing and meals for the

students throughout the program.

4. Arrange travel for students from

their U.S. host communities to

Washington, DC, and return in

coordination with FLEX placement

organizations. (Note: Students will

likely be coming from most of the 50

states.) Provide ground transportation

for students in the DC area, including to

and from airports.

5. Provide opportunities to attend

cultural events and visit museums and

monuments.

6. Coordinate with the Bureau’s Youth

Programs Division (ECA/PE/C/PY) and

the Department’s Office of

Congressional Affairs (H) in making

appropriate arrangements for individual

meetings for all workshop participants

with their respective members of

Congress (either Senator or

Representative).

7. Provide staff to assist in case of

medical emergencies.

8. Incorporate a program component

designed to facilitate students’

transition from the DC program to their

host communities. Include a description

of the ways in which students will be

encouraged to share what they have

learned, both in their U.S. host

communities and when they return to

their home countries.

9. Provide a mechanism for evaluation

of the program in terms of its impact on

the students and its success in fulfilling

the objectives.

A competitive proposal will

incorporate important elements of

American culture in sessions that are

largely interactive and designed to

appeal to high school-age students. The

program must be substantive and

academic while, at the same time, be

paced realistically to meet the needs of

young people.

Significant cost sharing is important

since it will enable a greater number of

students to participate. Therefore, those

proposals that show more generous and

creative cost sharing will be more

favorably viewed. Please refer to the

Program Objectives, Goals, and

Implementation (POGI) section of the

Solicitation Package for greater detail

regarding the design of component parts

as well as other program information.

Budget Guidelines

Organizations must arrange a program

and submit a proposal and budget for a

minimum of 110 students but may

increase the number of participants

through cost sharing the additional

expenses incurred. Proposals that

maximize the number of students will

be favorably viewed. One grant will be

awarded for this activity. It is estimated

that the total costs of the Civic

Education workshop will average $1,300

per NIS participant for a one-week

program, including U.S. domestic travel

costs.

Grants awarded to eligible

organizations with less than four years

of experience in conducting

international exchange programs will be

limited to $60,000. The Bureau

anticipates awarding one grant in the

amount of $290,000 to support program

and administrative costs required to

implement these two workshops.

Awards will not exceed $290,000. 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. Please refer to

the Solicitation Package for further

details, including a list of allowable

costs for the program, complete budget

guidelines, and formatting instructions.

Please note that all workshop

participants will be covered by health

insurance under separate grants to their

placement organizations.

Announcement Title and Number

All correspondence with the Bureau

concerning this RFGP should reference

the above title and number ECA/PE/C/

PY–02–04.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: The

Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth

Programs Division (ECA/PE/C/PY),

Room 568, U.S. Department of State,

301 4th Street, S.W., Washington, DC

20547, telephone (202) 619–6299; fax

(202) 619–5311; e-mail:

lbeach@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 Manager Diana Aronson 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 on Monday, August 6, 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 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/PY–02–04, 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.

33292 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 120 / Thursday, June 21, 2001 / Notices

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. Eligible proposals

will be subject to compliance with

Federal and Bureau regulations and

guidelines and forwarded to Bureau

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, grants, or cooperative

agreements 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. Quality of the program idea:

Proposals should exhibit originality,

substance, precision, and relevance to

the Bureau’s mission, as well as the

objectives of the FLEX program.

Program design must reflect an

understanding of young people and of

cultural traits that would be specific to

this population.

2. Program planning: 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.

3. Ability to achieve program

objectives: Objectives should be

reasonable, feasible, and flexible.

Proposals should clearly demonstrate

how the institution will meet the

program’s objectives and plan.

4. Multiplier effect/impact/follow on:

Proposed programs should describe the

impact that workshop participants will

have on others, both in their U.S. host

communities and in the NIS after they

return home. There should be a plan for

providing students with tools they can

take back to their NIS home countries to

implement concepts and ideas they

have gained from the workshop.

Proposals also should explain how

students will be prepared to transition

back to their host communities.

5. 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).

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 successful

exchange programs, including

responsible fiscal management and full

compliance with all reporting

requirements for past Bureau grants as

determined by Bureau Grant Staff. The

Bureau 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, 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. The successful applicant

will be expected to submit a final report.

9. Cost-effectiveness/cost-sharing: 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.

Proposals should maximize cost-sharing

through other private sector support as

well as institutional direct funding

contributions.

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 Freedom Support Act of 1992.

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 8, 2001.

Helena Kane Finn,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational

and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of

State.

[FR Doc. 01–15542 Filed 6–20–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4710–05–U

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 3704]

Bureau of Educational and Cultural

Affairs Request for Grant Proposals:

Israeli-Arab Scholarship Program

SUMMARY: The Office of Academic

Exchange Programs of the Bureau of

Educational and Cultural Affairs

announces an open competition for an

assistance award for the Israeli-Arab

Scholarship Program. Public and private

non-profit organizations with at least

four years of experience in conducting

international exchange programs and

meeting the provisions described in IRS

regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c) may submit

proposals to provide administrative and

program support services for the IsraeliArab Scholarship Program.

Program Information

Overview

The Israeli-Arab Scholarship Program

(IASP) is a congressionally mandated

and endowed program. The Israeli-Arab

Scholarship Program provides an

opportunity for highly qualified IsraeliArab graduate students to attend

institutions of higher education in the

U.S., providing them both a quality

graduate education and an opportunity

to experience American democracy and

society.

The Bureau’s Office of Academic

Exchange Programs and the Public