[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 205 (Thursday, October 23, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55318-55320]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-28065]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
Freedom Support Act Junior Faculty Development Program
ACTION: Request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: The Academic Exchanges Division, European Branch 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) may apply to develop and administer a
comprehensive faculty and curriculum development program for 82 young
faculty from Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan who will be affiliated at
accredited colleges and universities throughout the United States in
the following fields: business administration, economics, educational
administration, environmental studies, journalism, law, library
science, political science, psychology, public policy, public
administration, sociology, architecture and urban planning, cultural
anthropology, history, linguistics, philosophy, literature, and
American studies.
It is the intent of USIA to provide participants with high quality
programs designed to meet their specific academic and professional
needs, within the parameters of the JFDP, and to promote long-term
sustained interaction between and among participants, U.S. faculty and
their home and host institutions.
USIA anticipates awarding one grant for this program. Should an
applicant organization prefer to work with other organizations in the
implementation of this program, USIA prefers that a subcontract
arrangement be developed. USIA will entertain separately submitted
proposals for joint program management, but the proposals must
demonstrate a value-added relationship, and must clearly delineate
responsibilities so as not to duplicate efforts.
Overall grant making authority for this program is contained in the
Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, Pub. L. 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 Freedom Support Act.
[[Page 55319]]
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 RFP should refer to
the announcement's title and reference number E/AEE-98-04.
Deadline for Proposals
All copies must be received at the U.S. Information Agency by 5
p.m. Washington, D.C. time on Thursday, January 8, 1998. Faxed
documents will not be accepted at any time. Documents postmarked by the
due date but received at a later date will not be accepted. Grants
should begin in March 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Academic Exchanges Division,
European Branch, E/AEE, Room 248, U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th
Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20547, Telephone: (202) 205-0525, Fax:
(202) 260-7985, E-mail: treed@usia.gov, to request a Solicitation
Package containing more detailed information. Please request 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/education/rfps. Please read all
information before downloading.
To Receive a Solicitation Package Via Fax on Demand
The entire Solicitation Package may be received via the Bureau's
``Grants Information Fax on Demand System'', which is accessed by
calling 202/401-7616. Please request a ``Catalog'' of available
documents and order numbers when first entering the system.
Please specify USIA Program Officer Jill Jarvi 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 nine copies of the application should be sent
to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/AEE-98-04, 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, 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 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. 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'', USIA ``shall take appropriate steps to provide
opportunities for participation in such programs to human rights and
democracy leaders of such countries.'' Proposals should account for
advancement of this goal in their program contents, to the full extent
deemed feasible.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
The Freedom Support Act Junior Faculty Development Program will
provide a one-year, non-degree program of guided research, curriculum
development, course auditing, course instruction and practical
internships for approximately 47 Russian, 25 Ukrainian and 10 Kazakh
young faculty. All participants are expected to be placed at U.S. host
institutions under the mentorship of American faculty members in their
respective academic disciplines. The Junior Faculty Development Program
(JFDP) is intended to provide opportunities for young faculty with
great potential as scholars and instructors in their disciplines to:
(1) upgrade their knowledge of the subjects they teach; (2) acquire new
teaching skills and methodologies; (3) produce new curricula; and (4)
develop professional contacts and initiate institutional linkages for
their home institutions.
The selected organization will administer the U.S. components of
the Junior Faculty Development Program (JFDP). Overseas components,
such as recruitment and selection of JFDP participants, will be
facilitated in Russia by the Moscow Fulbright Representative Office, in
Ukraine by USIS Kylv's Exchanges Office and in Kazakhstan by USIS
Almaty.
Guidelines
Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations. Please refer to
program specific guidelines (POGI) in the Solicitation Package for
further details. Administration of the program must be in compliance
with reporting and withholding regulations for federal, state, and
local taxes as applicable. Recipient organizations should demonstrate
tax regulation adherence in the proposal narrative and budget.
Drafts of all printed materials developed for this program should
be submitted to the Agency for review and approval. All official
documents should highlight the U.S. government's role as program
sponsor and funding source. The USIA requests that it receive the
copyright use and be allowed to distribute the material as it sees fit.
Proposed Budget
Organizations must submit a comprehensive line item budget based on
the specific guidance in the Solicitation Package. Awards may not
exceed $2,133,000. Administrative and indirect cost should not exceed
20% of the total grant award. 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. For
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:
[[Page 55320]]
(1) General Program Costs.
(2) Participant Costs.
(3) Administrative Costs.
Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget
guidelines and formatting instructions.
Review Process
USIA will acknowledge receipts 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 Eastern
Europe and NIS Affairs and 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. Program Development and Management: Proposals should exhibit,
originality, substance, precision, innovation, and relevance to Agency
mission. Objectives should be reasonable, feasible, and flexible.
Proposals should clearly demonstrate how the organization will meet the
program's objectives. A 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.
2. 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. Proposals should also include creative ways to involve
students in their U.S. communities.
3. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate the
recipient's commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding of
diversity.
4. 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. Proposed
personnel and institutional resources should be adequate and
appropriate to achieve the program or project's goals.
5. Follow-on and Alumni Activities: Proposals should provide a plan
for continued follow-on activity (without USIA support) which insures
that USIA supported programs are not isolated events.
6. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate
the program's success, both during the after the program. USIA
recommends that the proposal include a draft survey questionnaire or
other technique, plus a description of methodologies that can be used
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.
7. Cost-effectiveness and Cost Sharing: 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. 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 an 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.
Option for Renewals
Subject to the availability of funding for FY 1999 and FY 2000, and
the satisfactory performance of grant programs, USIA may invite grantee
organizations to submit proposals for renewals of awards.
Dated: October 15, 1997.
Robert L. Earle,
Deputy Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 97-28065 Filed 10-22-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M
