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[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 115 (Thursday, June 13, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30109-30111]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-14728]

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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY

Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program

ACTION: Notice; request for proposals.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Academic Programs of the United States 
Information Agency's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs 
announces an open competition for an assistance award. Washington-based 
public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions 
described in IRS regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c)(3)-1 may apply to assist 
USIA in the administration of the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program 
Washington Workshop. The organization will plan and implement a 
conference up to four days for approximately 117 mid-career 
professionals from developing countries, Central/Eastern Europe, and 
the NIS between the dates of May 3 to May 21, 1997 (final dates to be 
determined).
    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 TITLE AND NUMBER: All communications with USIA concerning 
this announcement should refer to the above title and reference number 
E/ASU-96-05.

DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: All copies must be received at the U.S. 
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on Thursday, July 11, 
1996. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents 
postmarked July 11 but received at a later date. It is the 
responsibility of each applicant to ensure that proposals are received 
by the above deadline. Grant should begin on or about September 16, 
1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Leigh Rieder, Specialized Programs Unit, E/ASU, Room 349, U.S. 
Information Agency, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, 
telephone: (202) 619-5289, fax: (202) 401-1433, Internet address: 
[email protected], to request a Solicitation Package containing more 
detailed award criteria, required application forms, and standard 
guidelines for preparing proposals, including specific criteria for 
preparation of the proposal budget.

To Download a Solicitation Package via Internet

    The Solicitation Package may be downloaded from USIA's website at 
http://www.usia.gov/ or from the Internet Gopher at gopher.usia.gov. 
Under the heading ``International Exchange/Training,'' select ``Request 
for Proposals.'' Please read ``About the Following RFPs'' before 
downloading.
    Please specify USIA Program Officer Leigh Rieder on all inquiries 
and correspondences. Interested applicants should read the complete 
Federal Register announcement before sending inquiries or submitting 
proposals. Once the RFP deadline has passed, Agency staff may not 
discuss this competition in any way with applicants until the Bureau 
proposal review process has been completed.

Submissions

    Applicants must follow all instructions given in the Solicitation 
Package. The original and six copies of the proposal should be sent to: 
U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/ASU-96-05, Office of Grants 
Management, E/XE, Room 326, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.

Diversity 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, socio-economic 
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.

[[Page 30110]]

Overview

    The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program provides a year of non-
degree, graduate level study and related professional experiences to 
mid-level professionals from developing countries, Central/Eastern 
Europe, and the NIS. Fellowships are granted competitively to public 
and private sector candidates with a commitment to public service in 
the fields of natural resources/environmental management, public policy 
analysis/administration, economic development, agricultural 
development/economics, finance/banking, human resource management/
personnel, urban and regional planning, public health policy/
management, technology policy/management, educational planning, and 
communications/journalism. Fellows are placed by professional field in 
groups of seven to 13 at one of 11 participating host universities 
around the country. The Agency is assisted in the administration of the 
program by the Institute of International Education (IIE) under a 
cooperative agreement with the Agency. Fellows are nominated for the 
program by USIA overseas posts or Fulbright commissions based on their 
potential for national leadership, commitment to public service, and 
professional and academic qualifications. By providing these future 
leaders with exposure to U.S. society, and to current U.S. approaches 
to the fields in which they work, the program provides a basis for 
establishing lasting ties among U.S. citizens and their professional 
counterparts in other countries.
    The objectives of the workshop are to:
     Enhance fellows' understanding of U.S. social, cultural, 
and political processes and institutions, including the unique 
political environment of Washington, D.C.
     Emphasize opportunities for regional and professional 
networking among fellows.
     Highlight fellows' contributions to U.S. communities with 
U.S. decision makers.

Guidelines

    Non-profit organizations with key program staff based in the 
Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and available for frequent meetings 
with USIA staff are invited to submit proposals.
    Organizations also must have experience in conference management, 
professional exchanges, and international exchanges. Only organizations 
with at least four years of experience in international exchange 
activities are eligible to apply for this award.
    The Agency encourages proposals from organizations whose staffs 
reflect a broad variety of ethnic backgrounds, whose programs encompass 
a range of diversity interests, and/or whose mission includes 
furthering the interest of traditionally under-represented groups.
    The recipient organization will be responsible for most 
arrangements associated with this workshop. These include organizing a 
coherent schedule of activities, making lodging and transportation 
arrangements for participants, preparing all necessary support 
materials, working with Humphrey Coordinators from host universities 
and IIE staff to achieve maximum workshop effectiveness, conducting a 
final evaluation, and other details which are outlined in the 
solicitation package. Drafts of all printed materials developed for the 
workshop should be submitted to the Agency for review and approval. All 
official documents should highlight the U.S. Government's role as 
program director and funding source. Please refer to program guidelines 
in the solicitation package for further details.

Proposed Budget

    The award for this project may not exceed $158,000, and cost 
sharing is strongly encouraged. Applicants must submit a comprehensive, 
line-item budget for the entire workshop. There must be a summary 
budget as well as separate break downs of administrative and program 
costs. 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. All eligible proposals will be reviewed by the 
program office and forwarded to a panel of USIA officers for advisory 
review. Proposals may 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/responsiveness of the program idea. Proposals should 
exhibit originality, substance, precision, cultural sensitivity and 
responsiveness to the material set forth herein and in the solicitation 
package. Proposals should clearly demonstrate how the institution will 
meet the workshop's objectives.
    2. Multiplier effect/impact. Proposed program should strengthen 
long-term mutual understanding and encourage collaboration among 
fellows after the fellowship year.
    3. Support of diversity. Proposals should demonstrate the 
recipient's commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding of 
diversity.
    4. Institutional Capacity. Proposed personnel and institutional 
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the workshop's 
goals.
    5. Institution's Record/Ability. Proposals should demonstrate past 
success in administering workshops for international professional 
participants. The Agency will consider the past performance of prior 
recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants.
    6. Project Evaluation. Proposals should include a plan to evaluate 
the workshop'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 link outcomes to original workshop 
objectives is recommended.
    7. Cost-effectiveness. Staff salaries, levels of staff support, and 
overhead should be kept as low as possible. The proposal will be judged 
on its responsiveness to achieving effective administration at reduced 
funding levels.
    8. Cost-sharing. Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through 
other private sector support and institutional direct funding 
contributions.

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 Agency 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.

[[Page 30111]]

Notification

    Final awards cannot be made until funds have been allocated and 
committed through internal USIA procedures.

    Dated: June 5, 1996.
Dell Pendergrast,
Deputy Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 96-14728 Filed 6-12-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M
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