[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 209 (Thursday, October 29, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58095-58096]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-28889]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
Educational Advising Program for Students and Scholars From the
Middle East and North Africa
ACTION: Notice--Request for Proposals.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Academic Programs of the United States
Information Agency's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
announces an open competition for an assistance award program. Public
and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described
in IRS regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c) may apply to offer overseas
educational advising, orientation and information services for
international students and scholars in the Middle East and North Africa
concerning opportunities in U.S. higher education. Awards will be made
to support local educational information services in Egypt; Gaza;
Jordan; Kuwait; Lebanon; Morocco; Syria; Tunisia; Yemen; and West Bank/
Jerusalem; and Washington headquarters resource and training support to
educational advisers and/or field office directors. These centers will
facilitate international educational exchange through overseas
educational advising, orientation, and information services for foreign
students and scholars seeking information on opportunities in U.S.
higher education. This program supports international educational
exchange between countries of these regions and the U.S. through
direct, field-based services. The assistance award will also include
the provision of regional educational advising coordination, support,
and training services, to be based in an appropriate location within
the region.
The program awards up to $495,000 for a one-year period. Grants
awarded to organizations with less than four years of experience in
conducting international exchange programs will be limited to $60,000.
Grants are subject to the availability of funds for Fiscal Year 1999.
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.
Projects must conform with Agency requirements and guidelines
outlined in the Solicitation Package. The POGI, a document describing
Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation, is included in the
Solicitation Package. The POGI provides specific details on the scope
of work and budgeting requirements.
ANNOUNCEMENT TITLE AND NUMBER: All communications with USIA concerning
this announcement should refer to the Educational Advising Program for
Students and Scholars from the Middle East and North Africa and
reference number E/ASA-99-10.
DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: All copies must be received at the U.S.
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, D.C. time on Friday, November
20, 1998. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents
postmarked on November 20, 1998, but received on a later date. It is
the responsibility of each applicant to ensure compliance with the
deadline.
Approximate program dates: Program should begin on or about January
1, 1999.
Duration: January 1, 1999-December 31, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Office of Academic Programs; Advising, Teaching, and Specialized
Programs Division; Advising and Student Services Branch (E/ASA), Room
349, U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C.
20547, phone: (202) 619-5434, fax: (202) 401-1433. Send a message via
Internet to: advise@usia.gov to request a Solicitation Package. The
Solicitation Package includes more detailed award criteria; all
application forms; and guidelines for preparing proposals, including
specific
[[Page 58096]]
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 ``Advising and Student Services Branch'' on all
inquiries and correspondence Prospective applicants should read the
complete Federal Register announcement before addressing inquiries to
the Advising and Student Services staff or submitting their 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 10 copies of the complete application,
including the documents specified under Tabs A through I in the
``Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation'' (POGI) section of the
Solicitation Package, should be sent to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref:
E/ASA-99-10, Office of Grants Management, E/XE, Room 326, 301 4th St.,
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 U.S. Information Service (USIS) posts
overseas for their review, with the goal of reducing the time needed to
make the comments of overseas posts available in the Agency's grant
review process.
Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines
Pursuant to the Bureau's authorizing legislation, projects 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.
Year 2000 Compliance Requirements (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 USIA. 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.
USIA 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.
Eligibility
A proposal will be deemed technically eligible if it:
(1) Fully adheres to the guidelines established herein and in the
Solicitation Package;
(2) Is received by the deadline;
(3) Requests an assistance amount not in excess of $495,000.
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. All
applicants will be notified of the results of the review process on or
about December 14, 1998. Awards made will be subject to periodic
reporting and evaluation requirements.
Dated: October 16, 1998.
Judith Siegel,
Deputy Associate Director, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 98-28889 Filed 10-28-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M
