[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 13 (Friday, January 20, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4227-4230]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-1411]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
Rule of Law
ACTION: Notice--request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Citizen Exchanges (E/P) announces a competitive
grants program for nonprofit organizations in support of projects on
the theme of RULE OF LAW for audiences in the following geographical
areas: American Republics; East Asia (Peoples Republic of China, Hong
Kong, Indonesia, Regional GATT); Eastern Europe and the NIS (excluding
Russia); Middle East (Egypt, Jordan, and Morocco); and Western Europe
(Greece). USIA particularly is seeking projects which link American
institutions and specialists with partners overseas. New and creative
approaches to the issue of rule of law will be especially welcome.
Proposals which request USIA funding of less than $135,000 and which
include significant cost sharing will be deemed more competitive.
Interested applicants are urged to read the complete Federal
Register announcement before addressing inquiries to the Office or
submitting their proposals.
After the deadline for submitting proposals, USIA officers may not
discuss this competition in any way with applicants until final
decisions are made.
ANNOUNCEMENT NAME AND NUMBER: All communications concerning this
announcement should refer to the Rule of Law Grant Program,
announcement number E/P-95-42. Please refer to title and number in all
correspondence or telephone calls to USIA.
DATES: Deadline for Proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S.
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, D.C. time on March 3, 1995.
Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents postmarked on
March 3, 1995, but received at a later date. It is the responsibility
of each grant applicant to ensure that proposals are received by the
above deadline.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Interested organizations/institutions must contact the Office of
Citizen Exchanges, E/PL, Room 216, United States Information Agency,
301 Fourth Street SW., Washington, D.C. 20547, telephone (202) 619-
5326, fax (202) 260-0437, to request detailed application packets,
which include award criteria, all application forms, and guidelines for
preparing proposals, including specific criteria for preparation of the
proposal budget. Please direct inquiries on programmatic matters to the
USIA Officer identified under each geographic heading.
ADDRESSES: Applicants must follow all instructions given in the
Proposal Submission Instructions and send only complete applications
to: U.S. Information Agency, REF: E/P-95-42 Rule of Law Grant
Competition, Grants Management Division (E/XE), 301 Fourth Street SW.,
Room 336, Washington, D.C. 20547.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the legislation authorizing the
Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs, 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 Office of Citizen Exchanges works with U.S. private sector non-
profit organizations on cooperative international group projects that
introduce American and foreign participants to each others' social,
economic, and political structures; and international interests.
Guidelines
Applicants should carefully note the following restrictions and
recommendations for proposals in specific geographical areas:
American Republics
Enhancing Good Governance Through Rule of Law
USIA seeks to promote the strengthening of the rule of law in the
American Republics region through engaging American legal institutions,
particularly law schools and bar associations, in working with their
hemispheric counterparts to strengthen the legal structures essential
to an enduring democratic society. The continuance of the region's
peaceful transition to democratic rule depends upon the continued
growth of strong legal systems and legal institutions firmly committed
to the rule of law. Preference will be given to projects in countries
or logical groups of countries that have recently made significant
changes in their legal systems, or that are contemplating doing so.
Inquiries should be directed to Program Specialist Laverne Johnson,
(202) 619-5326, Internet [email protected]
East Asia
Chinese Private Attorneys Project
Proposals are invited to conduct a project that would bring
attorneys from Chinese state and private law firms to the U.S. for
short-term professional programs to enhance understanding of the
private practice of law in an open society and to familiarize them with
the [[Page 4228]] role of arbitration and the court system in resolving
disputes.
Hong Kong Journalists
Proposals are invited to conduct a project for journalists in Hong
Kong that would focus on press freedom, the press-government
relationship, and the role of a free press in society. Projects may
consist of but are not limited to workshops, site tours, seminars and
internships.
Judicial Programs for Indonesia
Proposals are invited to conduct a project for Indonesia that would
focus on either the development of a responsible judiciary or the
development of free and independent labor organizations.
Impact of GATT
Proposals are invited to conduct a regional or subregional project
on the importance of implementing GATT rules, such as rules protecting
intellectual property rights, to the continuing stability of the
multilateral trading system. Inquiries should be directed to Program
Specialist Elroy Carlson, (202) 619-5326, Internet [email protected]
Eastern Europe and the NIS (Excluding Russia)
Rule of Law in the Emerging Central and Eastern European Democracies
USIA will accept proposals related to the rule of law in Central
and Eastern Europe and the NIS excluding Russia. The focus of the
proposals should be on the development of an independent judiciary.
Activities may include workshops in-country or in the U.S.; in-country
consultation by judicial experts; and the development of materials in
local languages useful in training of legal scholars. Projects must
focus on a single country. Inquiries should be directed to Program
Specialist Steve Sutton, (202) 619-5326, Internet [email protected]
Middle East
The Legal Environment for Market Economies in the Middle East
Proposals are invited for a professional exchange program to
address issues faced by Middle Eastern countries attempting to move
from centralized, command economies to more open systems driven by
private sector initiative and market mechanisms. Crucial to the success
of these efforts will be the development of a legal environment which
is conducive to reform and respectful of due process. Issues to be
addressed might include: the nature and extent of government regulation
appropriate to a market economy, the constructive role of labor
movements and business associations, the regulation and monitoring of
stock trading and financial reporting, the development and
standardization of rules and procedures for the adjudication of private
enterprise-public sector conflicts, the development of equitable and
enforceable taxation codes, codification of property rights, and
methods of detecting corruption and implementing reform. Proposals
focussing on Egypt, Jordan, and Morocco are particularly encouraged.
The proposed program should include at least two phases, one of which
would bring Middle East specialists to the United States for two or
more weeks and one of which would send U.S. specialists to the Middle
East. Participants should include representatives of business and of
government (executive and legislative). Inquiries should be directed to
Program Specialist Thomas Johnston, (202) 619-5319, Internet
[email protected]
Western Europe
Greek Legal Development
USIA proposes a legal exchange program which would provide for
American jurists to visit Athens and demonstrate the basic procedures
in American commercial law (early neutral evaluation, case management,
mediation, judicial settlement, arbitration) to their Greek
counterparts. In return, a delegation of Greek judges would visit the
United States to attend the annual conference of U.S. judges and visit
the Americans who had participated in the Athens program, in their
courts and law offices. Inquiries should be directed to Program
Specialist Christina Miner, (202) 619-5319, Internet [email protected]
Program Parameters
The Office of Citizen Exchanges strongly encourages the
coordination of activities with respected universities, professional
associations, and major cultural institutions in the U.S. and abroad,
but particularly in the U.S. Projects should be intellectual and
cultural, not technical. Vocational training (an occupation other than
one requiring a baccalaureate or higher academic degree; i.e., clerical
work, auto maintenance, etc. and other occupations requiring less than
two years of higher education) and technical training (special and
practical knowledge of a mechanical or a scientific subject which
enhances mechanical, narrowly scientific, or semi-skilled capabilities)
are ineligible for support. In addition, scholarship programs are
ineligible for support.
The Office does not support proposals limited to conferences or
seminars (i.e., one to fourteen-day programs with plenary sessions,
main speakers, panels, and a passive audience). It will support
conferences only insofar as they are part of a larger project in
duration and scope which is receiving USIA funding from this
competition. USIA-supported projects may include internships; study
tours; short-term, non-technical training; and extended, intensive
workshops taking place in the United States or overseas. The themes
addressed in exchange programs must be of long-term importance rather
than focused exclusively on current events or short-term issues. In
every case, a substantial rationale must be presented as part of the
proposal, one that clearly indicates the distinctive and important
contribution of the overall project, including where applicable the
expected yield of any associated conference. No funding is available
exclusively to send U.S. citizens to conferences or conference-type
seminars overseas; neither is funding available for bringing foreign
nationals to conferences or to routine professional association meeting
in the United States. Projects that duplicate what is routinely carried
out by private sector and/or public sector operations will not be
considered. The Office of Citizen Exchanges strongly recommends that
applicants consult with host country USIS posts, prior to submitting
proposals.
Selection of Participants
All grant proposals should clearly describe the types of persons
who will participate in the program as well as the process by which
participants will be selected. It is recommended that programs in
support of U.S. internships include letters tentatively committing host
institutions to support the internships. In the selection of foreign
participants, USIA and USIS posts retain the right to nominate all
participants and to accept or deny participants recommended by grantee
institutions. However, grantee institutions are often asked by USIA to
suggest names of potential participants. The grantee institution will
also provide the names of American participants and brief (two pages)
biographical data on each American participant to the Office of Citizen
Exchanges for information purposes. Priority will be given to foreign
participants who have not previously travelled to the United
States. [[Page 4229]]
Additional Guidance
The Office of Citizen Exchanges offers the following additional
guidance to prospective applicants:
1. Except where noted in the text, the Office of Citizen Exchanges
encourages project proposals involving more than one country. Pertinent
rationale which links countries in multi-country projects should be
included in the submission. Single-country projects that are clearly
defined and possess the potential for creating and strengthening
continuing linkages between foreign and U.S. institutions are also
welcome.
2. Proposals for bilateral programs are subject to review and
comment by the USIS post in the relevant country, and pre-selected
participants will also be subject to USIS post review.
3. Bilateral programs should clearly identify the counterpart
organization and provide evidence of the organization's participation.
4. The Office of Citizen Exchanges will consider proposals for
activities which take place exclusively in other countries when USIS
posts are consulted in the design of the proposed program and in the
choice of the most suitable venues for such programs.
5. The Office of Citizen Exchanges grants are not given to support
projects whose focus is limited to technical or vocational subjects, or
for research projects, for publications funding, for student and/or
teacher/faculty exchanges, for sports and/or sports related programs.
Nor does this office provide scholarships or support for long-term (a
semester or more) academic studies.
Funding
Proposals which request USIA funding of less than $135,000 and
which include significant cost sharing will be deemed more competitive.
organizations with less than four years of successful experience in
managing international exchange programs are limited to $60,000.
Applicants are invited to provide both an all-inclusive budget as well
as separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase, location, or
activity in order to facilitate USIA decisions on funding. While an
all-inclusive budget must be provided with each proposal, separate
component budgets are optional. Since USIA grant assistance constitutes
only a portion of total project funding, proposals should list and
provide evidence of other anticipated sources of financial and in-kind
support. Cost sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or
indirect costs.
The Recipient must maintain written records to support all
allowable costs which are claimed as being its contribution to cost
participation, 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, Attachment E-Cost Sharing and Matching and should be
described in the proposal.
Eligible Costs
The following project costs are eligible for consideration for
funding:
1. International and domestic air fares; visas; transit costs;
ground transportation costs.
2. Per diem. For the U.S. program, organizations have the option of
using a flat $140/day for program participants or the published U.S.
Federal per diem rates for individual American cities. For activities
outside the U.S., the published Federal per diem rates must be used.
Note: U.S. escorting staff must use the published Federal per
diem rates, not the flat rate.
3. Interpreters: If needed, interpreters for the U.S. program are
provided by the U.S. State Department Language Service Division.
Typically, a pair of simultaneous interpreters is provided for every
four visitors who need interpretation. USIA grants do not pay for
foreign interpreters to accompany delegations from their home country.
Grant proposal budgets should contain a flat $140/day per diem for each
Department of State interpreter, as well as home-program-home air
transportation of $400 per interpreter plus any U.S. travel expenses
during the program. Salary expenses are covered centrally and should
not be part of an applicant's proposed budget.
4. Book and cultural allowance: Participants are entitled to and
escorts are reimbursed a one-time cultural allowance of $150 per
person, plus a participant book allowance of $50. U.S. staff do not get
these benefits.
5. Consultants. May be used to provide specialized expertise or to
make presentations. Daily honoraria generally do not 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.
6. Room rental, which generally should not exceed $250 per day.
7. Materials development. Proposals may contain costs to purchase,
develop, and translate materials for participants.
8. One working meal per project. Per capital 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.
9. A return travel allowance of $70 for each participant which is
to be used for incidental expenditures incurred during international
travel.
10. In most cases, USIA-funded delegates will be covered under the
terms of a USIA-sponsored health insurance policy with the premium is
paid by USIA directly to the insurance company. For additional
information on insurance coverage, contact the E/P program officer.
11. Other costs necessary for the effective administration of the
program, including salaries for grant organization employees, benefits,
and other direct and indirect costs per detailed instructions in the
application package.
Note: the 20 percent limitation of ``administrative costs''
included in previous announcements does not apply to this RFP.
Please refer to the Proposal Submission Instructions for complete
budget guidelines.
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 established herein and in the
Proposal Submission Instructions. Eligible proposals will be forwarded
to panels of USIA officers for advisory review. All eligible proposals
will also be reviewed by the budget and contract offices, as well the
USIA geographic regional office and the USIS post overseas, where
appropriate. Proposals may also be reviewed by the USIA's Office of
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 grant awards resides
with USIA's contracting officer.
Review Criteria
USIA will consider proposals based on their conformance with the
objectives and considerations already stated in this RFP, as well as
the following criteria:
1. Quality of Program Idea: Proposals should exhibit originality,
substance, precision, and relevance to the Agency mission.
2. Program Planning: Detailed agenda and relevant work plan should
demonstrate substance undertakings and logistical capacity. Agenda and
plan should adhere to the program overview and guidelines described
above. [[Page 4230]]
3. Ability to Achieve Program Objectives: Objectives should be
reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposal should clearly demonstrate
how the institution will meet the program objectives and plan.
4. Multiplier Effect: Proposed programs should strengthen long-term
mutual understanding, including maximum sharing of information and
establishment of long-term institutional and individual linkages.
5. 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.
6. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program or
project's goal.
7. Institution Reputation/Ability: Proposal 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 ensures that
USIA supported programs are not isolated events.
9. Evaluation Plan: Proposals should provide a plan for a thorough
and objective evaluation of the program/project by the grantee
institution.
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. Support of Diversity: Proposal should demonstrate the
recipients' commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding of
diversity throughout the program. This can be accomplished through
documentation (such as a written statement or account) summarizing past
and/or on-going activities and efforts that further the principle of
diversity within both their organization and their activities.
Notice
The Office of Citizen Exchanges reserves the right to reduce,
revise, or increase the grant award. The terms and conditions published
in the Request for Proposal (RFP) are binding and may not be modified
by any USIA representative. Explanatory information provided by USIA
that contradicts published language will not be binding. Issuance of
the RFP does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the
Government. Final awards cannot be made until funds have been fully
appropriated by the Congress, allocated and committed through internal
USIA procedures
Notification
All applicants will be notified of the results of the review
process on or about April 28, 1995. Awarded grants will be subject to
periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.
Dated: January 12, 1995.
Dell Pendergrast,
Deputy Associate Director, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 95-1411 Filed 1-19-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M
