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###### Department of State

          - [Public Notice 6623] 

*Announcement Type:*                     New Cooperative Agreement.                 

*Funding Opportunity Number:*

*Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number:*                     00.000.                 

*Key Dates:*

*Application Deadline:*                     July 7, 2009.                 

*Executive Summary:*                     The Teacher Exchange Branch in the Office of Global Educational Programs at the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), U.S. Department of State, announces an open competition for a program that will enable U.S. language teachers to study Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin) and Russian in an Arabic-speaking country, the People's Republic of China, and Russia respectively during the summer of 2010. Public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) may submit proposals to cooperate with the Bureau in the administration of the program. Applicant organizations should design and implement three summer institutes for a minimum total of 25 teachers—fifteen to study Chinese (Mandarin), and five each to study Arabic and Russian. These summer institutes should offer intensive, structured classroom instruction as well as less formal interactive learning opportunities through a comprehensive exchange experience that primarily emphasizes language learning.                 

## I. Funding Opportunity Description 

*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 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 above is provided through legislation.                 

*Purpose:*                    To strengthen the instruction of Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), and Russian at U.S. K-12 schools and community colleges through intensive, substantive overseas language study for teachers, community college instructors, and students in the advanced stages of preparation to become teachers or instructors in these languages.                 

Foreign language skills are essential tools for engaging foreign governments and peoples, especially in critical world regions, for promoting mutual understanding, and for conveying respect for other cultures. These skills equip Americans to support the nation's foreign affairs priorities, its economic competitiveness, and its educational institutions in efforts to prepare future citizens for full engagement in the global environment. 

ECA plans to award a single Cooperative Agreement for the administration and implementation of all three Intensive Summer Language Institutes for Teachers under this program. Organizations without expertise in the teaching of all three of the indicated languages are encouraged to seek partners with expertise in teaching the other language(s) in preparing their proposals. Consortia and other combinations of institutions must designate a lead institution to receive the award and administer the program. 

Applicant organizations may submit a proposal requesting funds not exceeding $500,000 to implement all three overseas language institutes between June and August 2010. 

Proposals should outline four distinct program components: (1) Publicity, recruitment, and selection; (2) orientation; (3) the language institutes; and (4) follow-on activities. 

                    (1)                     *Publicity, Recruitment, and Selection:*                    The cooperating agency will publicize the three language institutes as well as recruit, screen, and select U.S. elementary and secondary school teachers, community college instructors, and eligible students for the program. Applicant organizations should propose a comprehensive outreach plan to publicize and recruit for the program within the K-12, community college, and foreign language educational community in the U.S. This plan should include separate strategies for reaching teachers of Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), and Russian. Information about the program, along with all accompanying application materials, should be posted online by the cooperating agency. All application materials should be available in a sortable, searchable, electronically accessible database format that can be shared easily with the Bureau's program office upon request. The cooperating agency will be responsible for convening independent committees to select candidates for the program. The Bureau should be consulted regarding the selection of candidates and will approve the principal and alternate candidates for participation in the program.                 

The Bureau intends to include participants who represent the diversity of the U.S. in all components of the program. Selection should be based on the teachers' professional backgrounds as language teachers, dedication to language teaching, and leadership potential. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and language teachers at elementary or secondary schools, community college instructors, or students in an advanced stage of preparation to teach Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), or Russian. 

                    (2)                     *Orientation:*                    The cooperating organization will organize a substantive, in-person, pre-departure orientation in the U.S. for all participants. The orientation should include thorough discussions of the goals and objectives of the program and should be developed and administered in consultation with the ECA program office. Comprehensive information packets should be provided to all participants prior to the orientation.                 

Standardized pre-institute testing should be done to determine participants' initial language proficiency and subsequent progress. Applicant organizations should include in their proposals their plans to develop and implement an instrument to measure participants' increased language proficiency resulting from their participation in the program. 

The cooperating agency should provide the participants with an in-country orientation upon arrival to familiarize them with the language institute and surrounding community. 

                    (3)                     *Language Institutes:*                    Each six-week institute will provide intensive language instruction in a classroom setting for approximately twenty hours per week, in addition to language-learning opportunities through immersion in the cultural, social, and educational life of the host country. Classes should provide formal instruction in grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation in addition to covering the four main                           ( print page 23921)                        language skills: Speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The institutes should also provide access to tutors for individualized language learning. Visits to schools or interactions with local teachers should be included, where possible. The exchange program should enhance the participants' knowledge of the host country's history, culture, and political system as these support language learning. Language study must be the primary focus of the program and should be a specific element of all cultural enrichment activities as well.                 

Staff should be physically present and available to support the participants throughout the institutes. 

Applicant organizations should explain in their proposal how they will ensure the quality of programs overseas. 

Applicant organizations should arrange for participants to earn academic credit from a U.S. institution for successful completion of the program. 

The Bureau reserves the right to make changes in placement countries based on safety and security concerns. 

*A. Arabic Language Summer Institute:*                    Applicant organizations should present a plan for not fewer than five participants in the Arabic language institute. Classroom instruction should emphasize Modern Standard Arabic with class time devoted also to colloquial Arabic. Participants should also gain knowledge of colloquial Arabic through informal study and through interaction with their host community. Applicant organizations should propose a study location in a country/region in North Africa, the Middle East, or the Gulf region with the exception of Algeria, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Libya, Saudi Arabia, and West Bank and Gaza.                 

*B. Chinese Language Summer Institute:*                    Applicant organizations should present a plan for not fewer than fifteen participants in the Chinese language institute. The cooperating agency should be prepared to provide multiple levels of language instruction—from advanced beginner through superior. Applicant organizations should propose a study location in the People's Republic of China.                 

*C. Russian Language Summer Institute:*                    Applicant organizations should present a plan for not fewer than five participants in the Russian language institute. Applicant organizations should propose a study location in Russia other than St. Petersburg and Moscow.                 

                    (4)                     *Follow-on Activities:*                    Proposals should outline strategies for providing small grants to increase further the participants' language skills after the study program; to purchase educational resources to enhance their home institution's foreign language curriculum; to develop their understanding of foreign language teaching methodology; to attend conferences, seminars, or workshops; and to conduct other activities that will contribute to the goals of the program. The development and approval of follow-on grants must be coordinated by the cooperating agency in conjunction with the Teacher Exchange Branch.                 

Please refer to the PSI for additional guidance on alumni outreach and follow-on engagement. 

The Intensive Summer Language Institutes for Teachers Program will be funded through a Cooperative Agreement. Please note that in a Cooperative Agreement, the Teacher Exchange Branch (ECA/A/S/X) is substantially involved in program activities above and beyond routine monitoring. Bureau activities and responsibilities include: 
    - Participation in the design and direction of program activities;
    - Approval of key personnel;
    - Approval and input on program timelines, agendas and administrative procedures;
    - Guidance in execution of all program components;
    - Review and approval of all program publicity and recruitment materials;
    - Approval of participants;
    - Approval of decisions related to special circumstances or problems throughout the duration of the program;
    - Assistance with participant emergencies;
    - Approval of follow-on projects; and
    - Liaison with relevant U.S. embassies.

Programs must conform with Bureau requirements and guidelines outlined in the Solicitation Package, which includes the Request for Grant Proposals (RFGP), the Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI) and the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI). 

## II. Award Information 

*Type of Award:*                     Cooperative Agreement.                 

*Fiscal Year Funds:*                     2010.                 

*Approximate Total Funding:*                     $500,000 pending availability of funds.                 

*Approximate Number of Awards:*                     1.                 

*Anticipated Award Date:*                     Pending availability of funds, October 1, 2009.                 

*Anticipated Project Completion Date:*                     September 30, 2012.                 

*Additional Information:*                    Pending successful implementation of this program and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, it is ECA's intent to renew this grant or cooperative agreement for two additional fiscal years, before openly competing it again.                 

## III. Eligibility Information 

                    III.1.                     *Eligible applicants:*

Applications may be submitted by public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3). 

                    III.2.                     *Cost Sharing or Matching Funds:*                     There is no minimum or maximum percentage required for this competition. However, the Bureau encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in support of its programs.                 

When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its proposal and later included in an approved agreement. Cost sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For accountability, you must maintain written records to support all costs which are claimed as your contribution, as well as costs to be paid by the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. The basis for determining the value of cash and in-kind contributions must be in accordance with OMB Circular A-110, (Revised), Subpart C.23—Cost Sharing and Matching. In the event you do not provide the minimum amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget, ECA's contribution will be reduced in like proportion. 

                    III.3.                     *Other Eligibility Requirements:*                    (a) Bureau grant guidelines require that organizations with less than four years experience in conducting international exchanges be limited to $60,000 in Bureau funding. ECA anticipates making one award, in an amount up to $500,000 to support program and administrative costs required to implement this exchange program. Therefore, organizations with less than four years experience in conducting international exchanges are ineligible to apply under this competition. The Bureau encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in support of its programs.                

## IV. Application and Submission Information

# Note:

Please read the complete 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.

                    IV.1                     *Contact Information to Request an Application Package:*                    Please contact                           ( print page 23922)                        Mr. William Heaton in the Teacher Exchange Branch, ECA/A/S/X, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547,                     *telephone:*                     (202) 453-8888,                     *fax:*                     (202) 453-8890,                     *e-mail: heatonwe@state.gov*, to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/S/X-10-04 located at the top of this announcement when making your request. Alternatively, an electronic application package may be obtained from grants.gov.                     *Please see*                     section IV.3f for further information.                

The Solicitation Package contains the Proposal Submission Instruction (PSI) document which consists of required application forms, and standard guidelines for proposal preparation.

It also contains the Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) document, which provides specific information, award criteria and budget instructions tailored to this competition.

                    IV.2.                     *To Download a Solicitation Package Via Internet:*                    The entire Solicitation Package may be downloaded from the Bureau's Web site at                     *http://exchanges.state.gov/​grants/​open2.html*, or from the Grants.gov Web site at                     *http://www.grants.gov*.                

Please read all information before downloading.

                    IV.3.                     *Content and Form of Submission:*                     Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation Package. The application should be submitted per the instructions under IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission section below.                

                    IV.3a. You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative agreement from the U.S. Government. This number is a nine-digit identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities. Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a DUNS number, access                     *http://www.dunandbradstreet.com*                     or call 1-866-705-5711. Please ensure that your DUNS number is included in the appropriate box of the SF-424 which is part of the formal application package.                

IV.3b. All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal narrative and budget.

Please Refer to the Solicitation Package. It contains the mandatory Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document and the Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) document for additional formatting and technical requirements.

IV.3c. You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of application.

# Please note:

Effective January 7, 2009, all applicants for ECA Federal assistance awards must include in their application the names of directors and/or senior executives (current officers, trustees, and key employees, regardless of amount of compensation). In fulfilling this requirement, applicants must submit information in one of the following ways:

(1) Those who file Internal Revenue Service Form 990, “Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax,” must include a copy of relevant portions of this form.

(2) Those who do not file IRS Form 990 must submit information above in the format of their choice.

                    In addition to final program reporting requirements, award recipients will also be required to submit a one-page document, derived from their program reports, listing and describing their grant activities. For award recipients, the names of directors and/or senior executives (current officers, trustees, and key employees), as well as the one-page description of grant activities, will be transmitted by the State Department to OMB, along with other information required by the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), and will be made available to the public by the Office of Management and Budget on its                     *USASpending.gov*                     Web site as part of ECA's FFATA reporting requirements.                

If your organization is a private nonprofit which has not received a grant or cooperative agreement from ECA in the past three years, or if your organization received nonprofit status from the IRS within the past four years, you must submit the necessary documentation to verify nonprofit status as directed in the PSI document. Failure to do so will cause your proposal to be declared technically ineligible.

IV.3d. Please take into consideration the following information when preparing your proposal narrative:

### IV.3d.1. Adherence to All Regulations Governing the J Visa

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs places critically important emphases on the security and proper administration of the Exchange Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence by award recipients and sponsors to all regulations governing the J visa. Therefore, proposals should demonstrate the applicant's capacity to meet all requirements governing the administration of the Exchange Visitor Programs as set forth in 22 CFR 62, including the oversight of Responsible Officers and Alternate Responsible Officers, screening and selection of program participants, provision of pre-arrival information and orientation to participants, monitoring of participants, proper maintenance and security of forms, record-keeping, reporting and other requirements.

The award recipient will be responsible for issuing DS-2019 forms to participants in this program.

                    A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of Exchange Visitor (J) programs is available at                     *http://exchanges.state.gov*                     or from: United States Department of State Office of Exchange Coordination and Designation, ECA/EC/ECD—SA-44, Room 734, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547,                     *Telephone:*                     (202) 203-5029,                     *Fax:*                     (202) 453-8640.                

Please refer to Solicitation Package for further information.

### IV.3d.2. 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, socio-economic status, and disabilities. 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 your 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.

### IV.3d.3. Program Monitoring and Evaluation

                    Proposals must include a plan to monitor and evaluate the project's success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of the program. The Bureau recommends that your proposal include a draft survey questionnaire or other technique plus a description of a methodology to use to link outcomes to                           ( print page 23923)                        original project objectives. The Bureau expects that the recipient organization will track participants or partners and be able to respond to key evaluation questions, including satisfaction with the program, learning as a result of the program, changes in behavior as a result of the program, and effects of the program on institutions (institutions in which participants work or partner institutions). The evaluation plan should include indicators that measure gains in mutual understanding as well as substantive knowledge.                

Successful monitoring and evaluation depend heavily on setting clear goals and outcomes at the outset of a program. Your evaluation plan should include a description of your project's objectives, your anticipated project outcomes, and how and when you intend to measure these outcomes (performance indicators). The more that outcomes are “smart” (specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and placed in a reasonable time frame), the easier it will be to conduct the evaluation. You should also show how your project objectives link to the goals of the program described in this RFGP.

                    Your monitoring and evaluation plan should clearly distinguish between program                     *outputs*                     and                     *outcomes*.                     *Outputs*                     are products and services delivered, often stated as an amount. Output information is important to show the scope or size of project activities, but it cannot substitute for information about progress towards outcomes or the results achieved. Examples of outputs include the number of people trained or the number of seminars conducted.                     *Outcomes,*                     in contrast, represent specific results a project is intended to achieve and is usually measured as an extent of change. Findings on outputs and outcomes should both be reported, but the focus should be on outcomes.                

We encourage you to assess the following four levels of outcomes, as they relate to the program goals set out in the RFGP (listed here in increasing order of importance):

1. Participant satisfaction with the program and exchange experience.

2. Participant learning, such as increased knowledge, aptitude, skills, and changed understanding and attitude. Learning includes both substantive (subject-specific) learning and mutual understanding.

3. Participant behavior, concrete actions to apply knowledge in work or community; greater participation and responsibility in civic organizations; interpretation and explanation of experiences and new knowledge gained; continued contacts between participants, community members, and others.

4. Institutional changes, such as increased collaboration and partnerships, policy reforms, new programming, and organizational improvements.

# Please note:

Consideration should be given to the appropriate timing of data collection for each level of outcome. For example, satisfaction is usually captured as a short-term outcome, whereas behavior and institutional changes are normally considered longer-term outcomes.

                    Overall, the quality of your monitoring and evaluation plan will be judged on how well it (1) Specifies intended outcomes; (2) gives clear descriptions of how each outcome will be measured; (3) identifies when particular outcomes will be measured; and (4) provides a clear description of the data collection strategies for each outcome (                    *i.e.*, surveys, interviews, or focus groups). (Please note that evaluation plans that deal only with the first level of outcomes [satisfaction] will be deemed less competitive under the present evaluation criteria.)                

Recipient organizations will be required to provide reports analyzing their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program reports. All data collected, including survey responses and contact information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years and provided to the Bureau upon request.

IV.3e. Please take the following information into consideration when preparing your budget:

IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit SF-424A—“Budget Information—Non-Construction Programs” along with 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. It is anticipated that funding for the cooperative agreement for program administration will be approximately $500,000.

IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission:

*Application Deadline Date:*                     July 7, 2009.                

*Reference Number:*                     ECA/A/S/X-10-04.                

*Methods of Submission:*                    Applications may be submitted in one of two ways:                

                    (1) In hard-copy, via a nationally recognized overnight delivery service (                    *i.e.*, Federal Express, UPS, Airborne Express, or U.S. Postal Service Express Overnight Mail,                     *etc.*), or                

                    (2) Electronically through                     *http://www.grants.gov.*

# Please Note:

ECA strongly encourages organizations interested in applying for this competition to submit printed, hard copy applications as outlined in section IV.3f.1., below rather than submitting electronically through Grants.gov. This recommendation is being made as a result of the anticipated high volume of grant proposals that will be submitted via the Grants.gov web portal as part of the Recovery Act stimulus package. As stated in this RFGP, ECA bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes for proposals submitted via Grants.gov

Along with the Project Title, all applicants must enter the above Reference Number in Box 11 on the SF-424 contained in the mandatory Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) of the solicitation document.

### IV.3f.1. Submitting Printed Applications

                    Applications must be shipped no later than the above deadline. Delivery services used by applicants must have in-place, centralized shipping identification and tracking systems that may be accessed via the Internet and delivery people who are identifiable by commonly recognized uniforms and delivery vehicles. Proposals shipped on or before the above deadline but received at ECA more than seven days after the deadline will be ineligible for further consideration under this competition. Proposals shipped after the established deadlines are ineligible for consideration under this competition. ECA will                     *not*                     notify you upon receipt of application. It is each applicant's responsibility to ensure that each package is marked with a legible tracking number and to monitor/confirm delivery to ECA via the Internet. Delivery of proposal packages                     *may not*                     be made via local courier service or in person for this competition. Faxed documents will not be accepted at any time. Only proposals submitted as stated above will be considered.                

# Important note:

When preparing your submission please make sure to include one extra copy of the completed SF-424 form and place it in an envelope addressed to “ECA/EX/PM”. 

                    The original and 5 copies of the application should be sent to: U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs,                     *Ref.:*                     ECA/A/S/X-10-04, Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, Room 534, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.                          ( print page 23924)    

### IV.3f.2. Submitting Electronic Applications

                    Applicants have the option of submitting proposals electronically through Grants.gov (                    *http://www.grants.gov*). Complete solicitation packages are available at Grants.gov in the “Find” portion of the system.                

# Please Note:

ECA strongly encourages organizations interested in applying for this competition to submit printed, hard copy applications as outlined in section IV.3f.1., below rather than submitting electronically through Grants.gov. This recommendation is being made as a result of the anticipated high volume of grant proposals that will be submitted via the Grants.gov Web portal as part of the Recovery Act stimulus package. As stated in this RFGP, ECA bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes for proposals submitted via Grants.gov.

                    Please follow the instructions available in the `Get Started' portion of the site (                    *http://www.grants.gov/​GetStarted*).                

Several of the steps in the Grants.gov registration process could take several weeks. Therefore, applicants should check with appropriate staff within their organizations immediately after reviewing this RFGP to confirm or determine their registration status with Grants.gov.

Once registered, the amount of time it can take to upload an application will vary depending on a variety of factors including the size of the application and the speed of your Internet connection. In addition, validation of an electronic submission via Grants.gov can take up to two business days.

*Therefore, we strongly recommend that you not wait until the application deadline to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.*

The Grants.gov Web site includes extensive information on all phases/aspects of the Grants.gov process, including an extensive section on frequently asked questions, located under the “For Applicants” section of the Web site. ECA strongly recommends that all potential applicants review thoroughly the Grants.gov Web site, well in advance of submitting a proposal through the Grants.gov system. ECA bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.

                    Direct all questions regarding Grants.gov registration and submission to: Grants.gov Customer Support,                     *Contact Center Phone:*                     800-518-4726,                     *Business Hours:*                     Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Eastern Time,                     *E-mail: support@grants.gov.*

                    Applicants have until midnight (12 a.m.), Washington, DC time of the closing date to ensure that their entire application has been uploaded to the Grants.gov site.                     *There are no exceptions to the above deadline. Applications uploaded to the site after midnight of the application deadline date will be automatically rejected by the Grants.gov system, and will be technically ineligible.*

                    Please refer to the Grants.gov Web site, for definitions of various “application statuses” and the difference between a submission receipt and a submission validation. Applicants will receive a validation e-mail from Grants.gov upon the successful submission of an application. Again, validation of an electronic submission via Grants.gov can take up to two business days.                     *Therefore, we strongly recommend that you not wait until the application deadline to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.*                     ECA will                     *not*                     notify you upon receipt of electronic applications.                

It is the responsibility of all applicants submitting proposals via the Grants.gov Web portal to ensure that proposals have been received by Grants.gov in their entirety, and ECA bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.

                    IV.3g.                     *Intergovernmental Review of Applications:*Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.                

## V. Application Review Information

                    V.1.                     *Review Process:*                     The Bureau will review all proposals 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 relevant Embassy Public Diplomacy section overseas, where appropriate. 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 Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final technical authority for 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.                

                    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.                     *Institutional Capacity:*                     Proposed personnel and institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program or project's goals.                

                    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 wrap-up sessions, program meetings, resource materials and follow-up activities).                

                    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.                

                    7.                     *Cost-effectiveness/Cost-sharing:*                     The overhead and administrative components of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be kept as low as possible. Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through other private sector support as well as institutional direct funding contributions.                

## VI. Award Administration Information

                    VI.1a.                     *Award Notices:*                     Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures. Successful applicants will receive a Federal Assistance Award (FAA) from the Bureau's Grants Office. The FAA and the original proposal with subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall be the only binding authorizing document between the recipient and the U.S. Government. The FAA will be signed by an authorized Grants Officer, and mailed to the recipient's responsible officer identified in the application.                

                    Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of the application review from the ECA                           ( print page 23925)                        program office coordinating this competition.                

                    VI.2.                     *Administrative and National Policy Requirements:*                     Terms and Conditions for the Administration of ECA agreements include the following:                

Office of Management and Budget Circular A-122, “Cost Principles for Nonprofit Organizations.”

Office of Management and Budget Circular A-21, “Cost Principles for Educational Institutions.”

OMB Circular A-87, “Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian Governments”.

OMB Circular No. A-110 (Revised), Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and other Nonprofit Organizations.

OMB Circular No. A-102, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants-in-Aid to State and Local Governments.

OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of States, Local Government, and Non-profit Organizations.

                    Please reference the following Web sites for additional information:                     *http://www.whitehouse.gov/​omb/​grants; http://fa.statebuy.state.gov.*

                    VI.3.                     *Reporting Requirements:*                     You must provide ECA with a hard copy original plus two copies of the following reports:                

(1) A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after the expiration of the award;

(2) A concise, one-page final program report summarizing program outcomes no more than 90 days after the expiration of the award. This one-page report will be transmitted to OMB, and be made available to the public via OMB's USAspending.gov Web site—as part of ECA's Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reporting requirements.

(3) A SF-PPR, “Performance Progress Report” Cover Sheet with all program reports.

(4) Quarterly program and financial reports.

                    Award recipients will be required to provide reports analyzing their evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program reports. (                    *Please refer*                     to IV. Application and Submission Instructions (IV.3.d.3) above for Program Monitoring and Evaluation information.                

All data collected, including survey responses and contact information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years and provided to the Bureau upon request.

All reports must be sent to the ECA Grants Officer and ECA Program Officer listed in the final assistance award document.

*Program Data Requirements:*                     Award recipients will be required to maintain specific data on program participants and activities in an electronically accessible database format that can be shared with the Bureau as required. As a minimum, the data must include the following:                

(1) Name, address, contact information and biographic sketch of all persons who travel internationally on funds provided by the agreement or who benefit from the award funding but do not travel.

(2) Itineraries of international and domestic travel, providing dates of travel and cities in which any exchange experiences take place. Final schedules for in-country and U.S. activities must be received by the ECA Program Officer at least three work days prior to the official opening of the activity.

## VII. Agency Contacts

*For questions about this announcement, contact:*                     William Heaton, Teacher Exchange Branch, ECA/A/S/X, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Room 349, Washington, DC 20547,                     *phone:*                     (202) 453-8888,                     *fax:*                     (202) 453-8890,                     *e-mail: heatonwe@state.gov.*

All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should reference the above title and number ECA/A/S/X-10-04.

Please read the complete 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.

## VIII. Other Information

# 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 per section VI.3 above.

Dated: May 13, 2009.

C. Miller Crouch,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of State.

[FR Doc. E9-11949 Filed 5-20-09; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4710-05-P