[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 20 (Thursday, January 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4572-4575]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-2303]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
Telecommunications Training Program for Slovenia
ACTION: Notice--request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the United States
Information Agency's Bureau of Educational 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 develop training
programs in telecommunications for Slovenia.
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
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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 Support for Eastern European Democracies 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 Title and Number: All communications with USIA
concerning this announcement should refer to the above title and
reference number E/P-97-23.
Deadline for Proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S.
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, D.C. time on Friday, March 14,
1997. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents
postmarked March 14, 1997 but received at a later date. It is the
responsibility of each applicant to ensure that proposals are received
by the above deadline.
Program activities should begin after June 1, 1997.
For Further Information, Contact: The Office of Citizen Exchanges,
E/PE, Room 216, U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th Street, S.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20547, telephone: 202-619-5319, fax: 202-619-4350, e-
mail address: (cminer@usia.gov} 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 entire
Solicitation Package may be downloaded from USIA's website at http://
www.usia.gov/ or from the Internet Gopher at gopher//gopher.usia.gov.
Under the heading ``International Exchanges/Training,'' select
``Request for Proposals (RFPs).'' Please read ``About the Following
RFPs'' before downloading.
Please specify USIA Program Officer Christina Miner 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 eight copies of the application
should be sent to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/P-97-23, Office of
Grants Management, E/XE, Room 326, 301 4th Street, S.W., Washington,
D.C. 20547.
Applicants must also submit the ``Executive Summary'' and
``Proposal Narrative'' sections of the proposal on a 3.5'' diskette,
formatted for DOS. This material must be provided in ASCII text (DOS)
format with a maximum line length of 65 characters. USIA will transmit
these files electronically to USIS posts overseas for their review,
with the goal of reducing the time it takes to get posts' comments for
the Agency's grants review process.
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.
Supplementary Information: Overview: Slovenia is beginning the
process of restructuring its telecommunications sector. Restructuring
involves liberalizing the provision of voice and data telephony
services and providing opportunities for alternative telecom operators
and networks to offer more advanced products and services to a nation
than had been previously available. The first step is the adoption of
legislation authorizing new entrants into the nation's telecom arena.
USIA is interested in proposals that will provide an overview of the
U.S. telecommunications sector with special attention focussing on the
regulatory structure as provided by an independent regulatory authority
such as the U.S. Federal Communications Commission; the effects of
liberalization and privatization on the telecom sector and how this
restructuring can be accomplished; and the introduction of new
telecommunications products and services to consumers and how this can
be accomplished in other markets. Participants should include officials
from the incumbent telecommunications service provider; government
officials from the ministry and parliamentary body that will oversee
the restructuring of the telecom sector; and other participants who may
represent vendors or potential new networks. The primary component of
this project will be a U.S. study tour to give participants an idea of
how the telecommunications sector functions in the U.S. Exchange and
training programs supported by institutional grants should operate at
two levels: they should enhance institutional relationships; and they
should offer practical and comparative information to individuals to
assist them with their professional responsibilities. Strong proposals
usually have the following characteristics: an existing partner
relationship between an American organization and a host-country
institution; a proven track record of conducting program activity; cost
sharing from American or in-country sources, including donations of air
fares, hotel and housing costs; experienced staff with language
facility; and a clear, convincing plan showing how permanent results
will be accomplished as a result of the activity funded by the grant.
USIA wants to see tangible forms of time and money contributed to the
project by the prospective grantee institution, as well as funding from
third party sources.
Note: Research projects or projects limited to technical issues
are not eligible for support nor are film festivals or exhibits.
Exchange programs for students or faculty or proposals that request
support for the development of university curricula or for degree-
based programs are also ineligible under this RFP. Proposals to link
university departments or to exchange faculty and/or students are
funded by USIA's Office of Academic Programs (E/A) under the
University Affiliation Program and should not be submitted in
response to this RFP.
Guidelines
1. All grant proposals must clearly describe the type of persons
who will participate in the program as well as the process by which
participants will be selected. Note that participants should be
professionals working in the field of telecommunications and not
members of university faculties. In the selection of all foreign
participants, USIA and USIS posts retain the right to nominate
participants and to approve or reject participants recommended by the
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program institution. Programs must also comply with J-1 visa
regulations.
2. Programs that include internships in the U.S. should provide
letters tentatively committing host institutions to support the
internships. Letters of commitment from the hosts of study tour site
visits should also be included, if applicable.
3. Applicants are encouraged to consult with USIS offices regarding
program content and partner institutions before submitting proposals.
Award-receiving applicants will be expected to maintain contact with
the USIS post throughout the grant period.
Proposal Budget
Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget
guidelines instructions.
Applicants must submit a detailed line item budget based on
specific instructions in the Program and Budget Submission
Instructions. Proposals for less than $60,000 will receive preference.
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 flat rate.
3. Interpreters. If needed, interpreters for the U.S. program are
provided by the U.S. State Department Language Services Division.
Typically, a pair of simultaneous interpreters is provided for every
four visitors. 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 capita 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. All USIA-funded delegates will be covered under the terms of a
USIA-sponsored health insurance policy. The premium is paid by USIA
directly to the insurance company.
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.
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. Eligible proposals will be forwarded to panels of
USIA officers for advisory review. All eligible proposals will be
reviewed by the program office, as well as the USIA Office of East
European and NIS Affairs and the USIA post overseas, where appropriate.
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 of the program idea: Proposals should respond to the
program requirements of the RFP.
2. Program planning and ability to achieve objectives: Program
objectives should be stated clearly and precisely and should reflect
the applicant's expertise in the subject area and the region. Goals
should be reasonable and attainable. A detailed agenda and relevant
work plan should demonstrate how objectives will be achieved. A
timetable indicating when major program tasks will be undertaken should
be provided. The substance of seminars, presentations, consulting,
internships, and itineraries should be spelled out in detail.
Responsibilities of incountry partners should be clearly described.
3. 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).
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. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program or
project's goals. The narrative should demonstrate proven ability to
handle logistics. Proposals should reflect the institution's expertise
in the subject area and knowledge of Slovenia.
6. 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.
7. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan and
methodology to evaluate the project's success, both as the activities
unfold and at the end of the program. USIA recommends that the proposal
include a draft survey questionnaire and/or plan for use of another
measurement technique (such as a focus group) 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 less frequent.
8. Cost-effectiveness/cost sharing: The overhead and administrative
components of the proposal, including salaries, honoraria, and
subcontracts for services, 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
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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.
Notification
Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by
Congress, allocated and committed through internal USIA procedures.
Dated: January 24, 1997.
Dell Pendergrast,
Deputy Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 97-2303 Filed 1-29-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M
