[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 5, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 544-547]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-184]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 3194]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs; Summer Institute for
EFL Administrators From Francophone and Lusophone Sub-Saharan Africa
ACTION: Notice--Request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: The African Programs Branch of the Office of Academic Exchange
Programs of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and
Cultural Affairs (hereafter referred to as the Bureau) announces an
open competition for an assistance award. Accredited, post-secondary
educational institutions meeting the provisions described in IRS
regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c) may apply to develop a Summer Institute for
English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) Administrators from Francophone and
Lusophone Sub-Saharan Africa. The Summer Institute will provide a six-
week program in education management for 16 secondary school EFL
supervisors/inspectors and school administrators with strong EFL
backgrounds selected from French and Portuguese-speaking countries of
Sub-Saharan Africa. (Note: The actual number may be slightly higher
with the inclusion of one or two participants from Haiti.)
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 cited above is provided through the Fulbright-Hays Act.
Programs and projects must conform to Bureau requirements and
guidelines outlined in the Solicitation Package. Bureau projects and
programs are subject to the availability of funds.
Announcement Title and Number: All communications with the Bureau
concerning this announcement should refer to the above title and
reference number ECA/A/E/AF-00-01.
Deadline for Proposals: All proposal copies must be received by the
Bureau by 5 p.m. Washington, D.C. time on February 11, 2000. Faxed
documents will not be accepted, nor will documents postmarked February
11, 2000, but received at a later date. It is the responsibility of
each applicant to ensure that proposals are received by the above
deadline.
The Summer Institute for EFL Administrators should be programmed to
encompass about 45 days and should begin and end between June 1, 2000,
and August 31, 2000, depending on the host institution's academic
calendar. No funds may be expended until a grant agreement is signed
with the Bureau's Grants Division.
[[Page 545]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carol Herrera, Program Officer, phone:
202-619-5405, fax: 202-619-6137, or e-mail: cherrera@usia.gov, Office
of Academic Exchange Programs, African Programs Branch, Room 232,
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State
SA-44, 301 4th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20547.
To Download a Solicitation Package via Internet: The entire
Solicitation Package may be downloaded from The Bureau's website at
http://e.usia.gov/education/rfps. Please read the information provided
before downloading. Please specify Program Officer Carol Herrera on all
inquiries and correspondence. Interested applicants should read the
complete Federal Register announcement before sending inquiries or
submitting proposals. Once the RFP deadline has passed, Bureau 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 seven (7) copies of the
application should be sent to: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs, Ref.: ECA/A/E/AF-00-01, Program
Management Staff, ECA/EX/PM, Room 336, 301 4th Street, S.W.,
Washington, D.C. 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.
Year 2000 Compliance Requirement (Y2K Requirement): The Year 2000
(Y2K) issue is a broad operational and accounting problem that could
potentially prohibit organizations from processing information in
accordance with Federal management and program specific requirements
including data exchange with the Bureau. The inability to process
information in accordance with Federal requirements could result in
grantees' being required to return funds that have not been accounted
for properly.
The Bureau therefore requires all organizations use Y2K compliant
systems including hardware, software, and firmware. Systems must
accurately process data and dates (calculating, comparing and
sequencing) both before and after the beginning of the year 2000 and
correctly adjust for leap years.
Additional information addressing the Y2K issue may be found at the
General Services Administration's Office of Information Technology
website at http://www.itpolicy.gsa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Program overview
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States
Department of State solicits proposals for a Summer Institute for
English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) Administrators from Francophone and
Lusophone Sub-Saharan Africa. The Summer Institute will provide a six-
week academic program incorporating a U.S. cultural and educational
experience, for 16 supervisors/inspectors/administrators of secondary
schools from French and Portuguese-speaking countries of Sub-Saharan
Africa. The actual number may be slightly higher with the inclusion of
one or two participants from Haiti. Subject to availability of funds,
one grant will be awarded to conduct the 2000 Institute.
The Bureau asks for detailed proposals from U.S. institutions of
higher education which have an acknowledged reputation in the fields of
education administration and EFL. Special expertise in handling cross-
cultural programs and experience with educational systems in Sub-
Saharan Africa and African education administrators are also required.
Note: Applicant organizations should demonstrate a proven record (at
least four years) of experience in international exchange.
The general objective of the Institute is to support and encourage
the upgrading of English language programs in secondary schools in
French and Portuguese-speaking African countries through enhancing
participants' management and organizational skills and broadening their
understanding of U.S. institutions and culture.
Guidelines
The proposal should be designed to support the following specific
activities:
(a) A five-week academic program with emphasis on developing the
capacities of supervisors/inspectors/administrators to strengthen EFL
programs through more effective management of teachers, students, and
resources. Detailed academic objectives are set forth in the
Solicitation Package.
(b) Cultural activities facilitating interaction among the African
participants, American students, faculty, and administrators and the
local community to promote mutual understanding between the people of
the United States and the people of African countries, planned within
the five-week academic program.
(c) A one-week, escorted, cultural and educational tour of
Washington, D.C., complementing and reinforcing the academic material.
(d) Follow-on communication among participants and the U.S.
institution to continue exchanges of ideas developed during the
Institute.
(e) Assistance to participants to select, purchase and ship
professional materials to use in follow-on activities and training
projects in their home countries.
Participants will be selected by the Bureau, based on nominations
from U.S. Embassies. Minimum qualifications for all participants will
be (1) adequate proficiency in English to be able to participate in and
benefit from the program, (2) the equivalent of BA/BS degrees from
their national education systems, and (3) job responsibilities related
to school/program administration. Participants will enter the United
States on J-visas, using IAP-66 forms issued by U.S. Embassies in the
home country.
The U.S. institution should plan to conduct an initial needs
assessment of participants and should be prepared to adjust program
emphasis as necessary to respond to participants' concerns for EFL
education. Specific areas to address in the five-week academic program
follow:
1. Managing the teaching staff: Evaluating, supporting, motivating
teachers; designing and conducting in-service training programs;
promoting professional ethics; building staff cohesiveness.
2. Student development: Setting behavioral/learning standards,
evaluating student progress, creating a school culture conducive to
learning, fostering parental involvement.
3. Managing resources: Conducting resource inventories, allocating/
tracking resources, budgeting, optimizing limited resources, developing
access to outside resources.
4. Introduction to Internet (WWW and e-mail) for professional
networking and development. Few participants will have visited the
United States previously. In view of this, an initial orientation to
the host institution
[[Page 546]]
community and an introduction to U.S. society and system of education
should be considered an integral part of the Institute.
Management of the academic program, the cultural tour and on-site
arrangements will be the responsibility of the Institute grantee. The
host institution is responsible for arrangements for lodging, food,
maintenance and local travel for participants while at the host
institution and in Washington. The Bureau will arrange participants'
international travel. The Bureau will provide the host institution with
participants' curricula vitae and travel itineraries and will be
available to offer guidance throughout the Institute.
Proposed Budget
Applicants must submit a comprehensive line-item budget for the
entire program. There must be a summary budget as well as a break-down
reflecting both the administrative budget and the program budget. For
better understanding or further clarification, applicants may provide
separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase, location, or
activity in order to facilitate The Bureau decisions on funding. The
cost to the Bureau for the Summer Institute for EFL Administrators from
Francophone and Lusophone Africa should not exceed $100,000 based on 16
participants. Funding level will be adjusted at a later date to
accommodate inclusion of 1-2 additional participants from Haiti. Grants
awarded to eligible organizations with less than four years of
experience in conducting international exchange programs will be
limited to $60,000.
Allowable costs for the program include the following:
(1) Instructional costs (for example: instructors' salaries,
honoraria for outside speakers, educational course materials);
(2) Lodging, meals, and incidentals for participants;
(3) Expenses associated with cultural activities planned for the
group of participants (for example: tickets, transportation);
(4) Administrative costs as necessary.
Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through private sector
support as well as institutional direct funding contributions.
Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget
guidelines and formatting instructions.
Review Process
The Bureau 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 as well as the Public Diplomacy section
overseas, where appropriate. Eligible proposals will be forwarded to
panels of Bureau officers for advisory review. Proposals may also be
reviewed by the Office of the Legal Adviser or by other Bureau
elements. Final funding decisions are at the discretion of the
Department of State's Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public
Affairs. Final technical authority for assistance awards (grants or
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: Proposal should exhibit quality,
rigor, and appropriateness of proposed syllabus to the academic
objectives of the Institute. Proposal should demonstrate effective use
of community and regional resources to enhance the cultural and
educational experiences of participants.
2. Program planning: Relevant work plan and detailed calendar
should demonstrate substantive undertakings and logistical capacity.
Plan and calendar should adhere to the program overview and guidelines
described above.
3. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve a substantive
academic program and effective cross-cultural communication with
African participants. Proposal should show evidence of strong on-site
administrative capabilities with specific discussion of how logistical
arrangements will be undertaken.
4. Area Expertise: Proposals should demonstrate institutional
experience in and knowledge of Africa (Francophone and Lusophone) as
well as expertise in education in developing countries.
5. Multiplier effect/impact: Proposed program should contribute to
long-term, mutual understanding and sharing of information about Africa
among Americans, as well as to the understanding and knowledge of the
U.S. among the African participants.
6. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate the
recipient's commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding of
diversity. Program administrators should strive for diversity among
Institute staff, university students, and the host community who
interact with participants.
7. Ability to achieve program objectives: Teaching objectives
should be reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly
demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's objectives and
plan.
8. Institution's Record/Ability: Proposals should demonstrate an
institutional record of successful exchange programs, including
responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting
requirements for past grants as determined by the Bureau's Grants
Division. The Bureau will consider the past performance of prior
recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants.
9. Follow-on Activities: Proposals should provide a plan for
continued follow-on activity (without Bureau support) which ensures
that Bureau supported programs are not isolated events.
10. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate
the Summer Institute's success, both as the activities unfold and at
the end of the program.
11. 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.
12. Cost-sharing: Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through
other private sector support as well as institutional direct funding
contributions.
Notice
The terms and conditions published in this RFP 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 RFP 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.
Notification
Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by
Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures.
[[Page 547]]
Dated: December 20, 1999.
Evelyn S. Lieberman,
Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, U.S.
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 00-184 Filed 1-4-00; 8:45 am]
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