[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 197 (Thursday, October 13, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-25393]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: October 13, 1994]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
Management of English Teaching Fellow Program
ACTION: Notice--Request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Academic Programs, English Language Programs
Division, Programs Branch of the United States Information Agency's
Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition
for an assistance award. Public or private non-profit organizations
meeting the provisions described in IRS regulation 501(c)(3) may apply
to conduct the recruitment, placement and management of 30-40 English
teaching Fellows (ETFs). The exact number of ETFs will be contingent
upon the amount of cost sharing by overseas posts who wish to host a
fellow and by the availability of funds. The fellows will serve as
full-time teachers of English as a Foreign Language, as materials or
test developers or as teacher trainers in countries around the world.
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-Hayes 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-Hayes Act.
Programs and projects must conform with Agency requirements and
guidelines outlined in the Application Package. USIA projects and
programs are subject to the availability of funds.
ANNOUNCEMENT NAME AND NUMBER: All communications with USIA concerning
this announcement should refer to the above title and reference number
E/ALP-95-01.
DATES: Deadline for proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S.
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, D.C. time on Monday, November
21, 1994. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents
postmarked on November 21, but received at a later date. It is the
responsibility of each applicant to ensure that proposals are received
by the above deadline.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Office of Academic Programs,
English Language Programs Division, E/ALP-Room 304, U.S. Information
Agency, 301 4th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20547, telephone number
202-619-5869, fax number 202-401-1250, to request an Application
Package, which includes more detailed award criteria; all application
forms; and guidelines for preparing proposals, including specific
criteria for preparation of the proposal budget. Please specify the
USIA Program Specialist Cathy Siemonh on all inquiries and
correspondences. Interested applicants should read the complete Federal
Register announcement before addressing inquiries to the Office of
Academic Programs, English Language Programs Division, Programs Branch
or submitting their proposals. Once the RFP deadline has passed, the
Office of Academic Programs, English Language Programs Division,
Programs Branch may not discuss this competition in any way with
applicants until after the Bureau proposal review process has been
completed.
ADDRESSES: Applicants must follow all instructions given in the
Application Package and send only complete applications to: U.S.
Information Agency, Ref.: E/ALP-95-01, Office of Grants Management, E/
XE, Room 336, 301 4th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20547.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 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 U.S. Information Agency (USIA) is soliciting proposals from
U.S. professional, not-for-profit institutions/organizations to
recruit, place and manage 30-40 English Teaching Fellows who will serve
as full-time teachers of English as a Foreign Language, as materials or
test developers or as teacher trainers in countries around the world.
The English Teaching Program is designed to increase the American
presence, enhance the American cultural component, and improve academic
standards at universities, teacher-training colleges, binational
centers, and other post-selected institutions with English teaching
programs. The program enables recent recipients of M.A.'s in teaching
English as a foreign/second language (TEFL/TESL) to acquire overseas
teaching experience, while providing host institutions with up-to-date
professional expertise in the methods and theory of English teaching.
Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations. Please refer to
program specific guidelines in the Application Package for further
details.
Proposed Budget
The proposal must contain a specific and detailed line-item budget.
The budget should be constructed in such a way as to reflect the task
of recruiting and placing 30-35-40 fellows, and carrying out follow-up
activities. At this time the Agency has not determined the full funding
level for FY'95.
Grants awarded to eligible organizations with less than four years
of experience in conducting international exchange programs will be
limited to $60,000.
Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the entire
program. There must be a summary budget as well as a breakdown
reflecting both the administrative budget and the program budget.
Please refer to the Application Package for complete formatting
instructions. For better understanding or further clarification,
applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for each program component,
phase, location, or activity in order to facilitate USIA decisions on
funding.
Allowable costs for the program include the following: The salary
and remuneration for the English Teaching Fellows are broken down
below. The living allowance is variable and is to be negotiated in
relation to the city/country of assignment.
Basic Stipend $12,000
Living allowance $6,000 average
Travel $3,400 average
Excess Baggage/Shipping $400
Pre-departure Allowance $500
Educational Materials $300
Per Diem for Orientation $144 per day average
Please refer to the Application Package 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 stated herein and in the
Application Package. Eligible proposals will be forwarded to panels of
USIA officers for advisory review. All eligible proposals will also be
reviewed by the Agency contracts office. Proposals may also 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
grant awards resides with the USIA grants officer.
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 Agency 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. 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. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate the
recipient's 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 the organization and the program activities.
6. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program or
project's goals.
7. 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 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 insures that
USIA supported programs are not isolated events.
9. 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. USIA recommends that the proposal include a draft survey
questionnaire or other technique plus description of a methodology to
use 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.
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. 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 country(ies).
13. TEFL/TESL Background: Must possess a proven ability to network
that provides and allows for the greatest dissemination of information
to and among the profession of Teachers of English as a Second or
Foreign Language; must be able to provide knowledgeable, TEFL-
qualified, experienced staff capable of interviewing candidates and
evaluating their qualifications for teaching, and/or for developing
materials, or for conducting teacher-training in the context of English
as a foreign language, in accord with criteria established by USIA.
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 needs of the program may require the
award to be reduced, revised or increased. Final awards cannot be made
until funds have been appropriated by Congress, allocated and committed
through internal USIA procedures.
Notification
All applicants will be notified of the results of the review
process on or about January 23, 1995. Awards made will be subject to
periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.
Dated: October 7, 1994.
Dell Pendergrast,
Deputy Associate Director Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-25393 Filed 10-12-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M
