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[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 61 (Thursday, March 30, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16529-16531]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-7863]

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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY

Management of the Summer Institute for EFL Teacher Trainers in 
Eastern/Central Europe and the NIS

ACTION: Notice--request for proposals.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Academic Programs, English Language programs 
Division, Programs Branch, of the United States Information Agency's 
Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition 
for an assistance award. Public and private non-profit organizations 
meeting the provisions described in IRS regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c)(3)-1 
may apply to conduct a five- to six-week Summer Institute for up to 20 
EFL teacher trainers from Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech 
Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, 
Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine. The exact 
number of participants will be contingent on available funding.
    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 Hayes Act.
    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/ALP-95-02.
    Deadline for Proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S. 
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on Friday, April 21, 
1995. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents 
postmarked on April 21 but received at a later date. It is the 
responsibility of each applicant to ensure that proposals are received 
by the above deadline. Grants should begin by July 5; the program 
should not run over 6 weeks: it should begin the weekend of July 15 and 
conclude the week of August 20, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Office of Academic Programs, 
English Language Programs Division, E/ELP--Room 304, U.S. Information 
Agency, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 220547, telephone number 
202-619-5869, fax number 202-401-1250 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/Specialist Marguerite Hess on all industries and 
correspondences. Interested applicants should read the complete Federal 
Register announcement before addressing inquiries to the Office of 
Academic Programs, English Language Programs Division, Programs Branch, 
or submitting their proposals. Once the RFP deadline has passed, the 
Office of Academic Programs, English Language [[Page 16530]] Program 
Division, Programs Branch, 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 10 copies of the complete 
application should be sent to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/ALP-95-
02, Office of Grants Management, E/XE, Room 336, 301 4th Street, S.W., 
Washington, D.C. 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.

Overview

    The U.S. Information Agency (USIA) is soliciting proposals from 
U.S. professional or educational not-for-profit institutions/
organizations to hold a 5-6 week Summer Institute, whose purpose will 
be to prepare the participants to coordinate EFL teacher training 
activities in their respective countries upon their return. The 
Institute will therefore encompass curriculum design and program 
management as well as training in methodology. Upon completion of the 
program, graduates of the institution will work together with USIA EFL 
Fellows who are already working in each country as part of the Eastern/
Central European and NIS EFL Fellow Program.

Guidelines

    Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations. Please refer to 
program specific guidelines (POGI) in the Solicitation Package for 
further details.

Proposed Budget

    The proposal must contain a comprehensive line item budget, based 
on the specific guidance in the Solicitation Package. At this time, the 
Agency has not determined the full funding level for FY'95.
    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 comprehensive budget for the entire 
program. There must be a summary budget as well as a break-down 
reflecting both the administrative budget and the program budget. For 
better understanding or further clarification, applicants may provide 
separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase, location, or 
activity in order to facilitate USIA decisions on funding.
    Allowable costs for the program include the following:

Domestic Ground Travel
Book Allowance (not to exceed $400 per participant)
Weekly Stipend for participants
Meals and Lodging for participants and Washington, D.C. escort
Cultural Activities Fee
TESOL Membership Fee
Course/Accreditation Fees
Tax Guidance/Preparation
Educational/Course Materials
Administrative Expenses and Honoraria

    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 guidlines 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 
Eastern European and NIS Affairs. 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 exhibit 
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to Agency mission.
    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: Proposed programs should strengthen 
long-term mutual understanding, including maximum sharing of 
information and establishment of long-term institutional and individual 
linkages.
    5. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate the 
recipient's commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding of 
diversity.
    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 Agency grants as determined by USIA's Office of 
Contracts. The Agency will consider the past performance of prior 
recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants.
    8. Follow-on Activities: Proposals should provide a plan for 
continued follow-on activity (without USIA support) which insures that 
USIA supported programs are not isolated events.
    9. 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. Award-receiving 
organizations/institutions will be expected to submit intermediate 
reports after each project component is concluded or quarterly, 
whichever is frequent.
    10. Cost-effectiveness; The overhead and administrative components 
of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be kept as 
low as possible. All other items should be necessary and appropriate.
    11. Cost-sharing: Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through 
other private sector support as well as institutional direct funding 
contributions.
    12. Value to U.S.-Partner Country Relations: Proposed projects 
should receive positive assessments by USIA's geographic area desk and 
overseas officers of program need, potential impact, and significance 
in the partner country(ies). [[Page 16531]] 

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 June 30, 1995. Awards made will be subject to 
periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.

    Dated: March 22, 1995.
Dell Pendergrast,
Deputy Associate Director, Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 95-7863 Filed 3-29-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M
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