[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 209 (Thursday, October 29, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58096-58099]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-28890]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
Internet Access and Training Program in the New Independent
States for Alumni of USIA Academic and Professional Exchanges; Request
for Proposals
SUMMARY: The Office of Academic Programs, Academic Exchanges Division,
European Programs Branch of the United States Information Agency's
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open
competition for assistance awards. Public and private non-profit
organizations with at least four years experience in conducting
international exchange and training programs, and demonstrated
experience administering non-commercial Internet projects in the New
Independent States, and meeting the provisions described in IRS
regulation 26 CFR 1.501 may apply to develop and
administer the Internet Access and Training Program (IATP) in one or
more of the following four categories: (1) Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Georgia; (2) Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova; (3) Russian Federation; (4)
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan.
The goal of the Internet Access and Training Program (IATP) is to
provide
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alumni of USIA academic and professional exchange programs and other
audiences identified by the United States Information Service (USIS)
with free and open access to and training in the use of the Internet so
that they can: (1) Continue information sharing, network building,
communication, and collaboration with American counterparts, U.S. host
institutions, and each other; (2) Obtain useful online information
resources in their academic and professional fields as well as current
information about the U.S.; (3) Publish information on the World Wide
Web; and (4) Develop Internet-based information resources in local
languages and/or English or other electronic projects that promote
academic and professional exchange in the information age and
strengthen U.S.--NIS cooperation and communication.
USIA program alumni include university and secondary school
students, faculty, administrators, and scholars; government officials;
NGO leaders; journalists; entrepreneurs; and diverse public, private,
and third sector professionals who have participated in a long-term
USIA academic program at a U.S. host institution or a short-term USIA
professional visit or internship in the United States. Academic and
professional fields of USIA program alumni include, but are not limited
to, American Studies, Area Studies (NIS), Business, Civic Education,
Economics, Education, Government, Journalism, Law, Liberty and
Information Science, Political Science, Teaching English as a Foreign
Language (TEFL), and Women's Studies.
For its Internet Access and Training Program, USIA seeks proposals
that would (1) Provide sustainable, high speed access to the Internet
for USIA program alumni and other USIS-identified audiences by
upgrading and/or expanding IATP-supported public access Internet sites
and/or other non-commercial Internet training centers at NIS libraries,
universities, NGOs, government offices, and other venues; and/or by
establishing new non-commercial Internet training centers at NIS
partner institutions; and/or by upgrading or expanding academic or non-
commercial networks, including IATP FreeNets and alumni networks; (2)
Train staff at public access Internet sites and/or Internet training
centers and/or non-commercial networks to meet the technical, training,
and information needs of USIA program alumni, other end-users, and IATP
reporting requirements; (3) Conduct systematic outreach to USIA program
alumni, develop mechanisms to ensure that USIA program alumni receive
free Internet access, training, and services at IATP sites and/or IATP
FreeNets, and site usage reports; (4) Develop curriculum, course
descriptions, materials, requirements, and schedules for Internet
training courses at public access Internet sites or training centers
and topics and schedules for specialized workshops or seminars; (5)
Administer an open competition for grants for USIA program alumni and
their local colleagues to develop Internet-based educational and
professional resources in local languages in fields that support the
building of free markets, democracy, and civil society. The program
activities for each category of countries and individual countries have
separate conditions and requirements which are stated in this
announcement and detailed in the full Solicitation Package.
Proposals should reflect a thorough understanding of the
telecommunications infrastructure in each country, technical
requirements for implementing all aspects of the project, including
procurement of appropriate equipment and services required to connect
USIA program alumni and other USIS-identified audiences and
institutions to the Internet and establish non-commercial Internet
sites and/or enhance non-commercial networks, staff training and team
building, curriculum and methodology for Internet courses, knowledge of
useful Internet resources in fields of USIA program alumni, procedures
for conducting a merit-based open competition for grants, and the
political, economic, and social environment in which the program
activity will take place.
USIA expects the IATP to achieve results on three levels: By
empowering USIA program alumni to obtain and publish useful online
information and enrich the content of the Internet in their local
languages; by building the internal capacity of NIS partner
institutions; and by forging public-private sector partnerships to
promote continued academic and professional exchange in the information
age between USIA program alumni and their American colleagues and
counterparts. Applicant organizations must include a plan with clear
benchmarks that demonstrates how permanent results will be achieved on
each level, monitored, and reported to USIA.
Interested organizations should read the complete Federal Register
Announcement and request a Solicitation Package from USIA prior to
preparing a proposal and should consult with USIA and USIS posts about
a reasonable and appropriate mix of program activities before
submitting a proposal. USIA and USIS posts retain the right to
recommend specific project activities and partner organizations and to
approve or disapprove project activities and organizations recommended
by grantee organizations.
Applicant organizations may apply for an assistance award for one
or more of the four eligible categories of countries, but must submit a
separate proposal and budget for each category. Applicant organizations
may apply individually or join with other organizations in a
consortium, via a subcontract arrangement, as long as one organization
is designated to be the recipient of the grant. All proposals from
consortia must cite the specific responsibilities of each member of the
consortium and budget for each subcontract. USIA anticipates awarding
one or more assistance awards for each category cited in this
announcement. Grants may begin no earlier than January 15, 1999 and
must be completed by July 15, 2001, for a maximum of 30 months.
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 Internet Access and Training Program
is provided through the Freedom Support Act. The legislation was
established to assist the economic and democratic development of the
New Independent States of the former Soviet Union. Programs and
projects must conform with Agency requirements and guidelines outlined
in the Solicitation Package.
Announcement Title and Number: All communications with USIA
concerning this RFP should refer to the announcement's title and
reference number E/AEE-99-05.
Deadline for Proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S.
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, D.C. time on Thursday,
December 18, 1998. Faxed documents will not be accepted at any time.
Documents postmarked by the due
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date but received at a later date will not be accepted. It is the
responsibility of the applicant to ensure that proposals are received
by the above deadline.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Office of Academic Programs,
Academic Exchanges Division, European Programs Branch, E/AEE, Room 246,
U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20547;
telephone number (202) 205-0525; fax: (202) 260-7985 to request a
Solicitation Package containing more detailed award criteria. 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 Senior
Program Manager Ilo Mai Harding 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 10 copies of the appliction
should be sent to:
U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/AEE-99-05 (IATP), 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 our overseas posts for 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: The IATP is intended to be a collaborative
effort between USIA and U.S. and NIS public and private sector
organizations. USIA expects applicant organizations to expand
connectivity and Internet access by building on existing
infrastructure, networks, and equipment, where feasible, and by
demonstrating the ability to collaborate with diverse organizations.
Such collaboration is intended to expand the scope and impact of USIA
funding, avoid duplication of effort, and lay the groundwork for
sustaining projects beyond the USIA grant.
USIA expects applicant organizations and other institutions
participating in the IATP, including commercial and non-commercial
Internet service providers, to provide in-kind contributions and cost-
sharing, such as facilities, equipment, and services for public access
Internet sites, training centers, and/or non-commercial networks and
FreeNets; staff, and training materials, as appropriate. Since USIA
grant assistance constitutes only a portion of total project funding,
proposals should list and provide evidence of other sources of
financial and in-kind support. Letters of support from potential IATP
partners, written to USIA on institutional letterhead, may be attached
to the proposal.
Guidelines
Administration of the program must be in compliance with reporting
and withholding regulations for federal, state, and local taxes as
applicable. Organizations should demonstrate tax regulation adherence
in the proposal. Procurement of required computer and networking
equipment and applications software must be in compliance with ``Year
2000'' requirements (Y2K). Applicant organizations should demonstrate
compliance with Y2K requirements in the proposal.
Proposed Budget
For Category One, Freedom Support Act (FSA) funding is anticipated
at $150,000 for Armenia; $350,000 for Azerbaijan; and $150,000 for
Georgia. For Category Two, FSA funding is anticipated at $400,000 for
Ukraine; $300,000 for Belarus; and $150,000 for Moldova. For Category
Three, FSA funding is anticipated at $1,000,000 for the Russian
Federation. For Category Four, FSA funding is anticipated at $400,000
for Kazakhstan; $200,000 for Kyrgyzstan; $300,000 for Uzbekistan; and
$60,000 for Turkmenistan.
Applicant organizations must submit a comprehensive line item
budget request for program and administrative costs based on the
specific guidance in the Solicitation Package. Subcontracts should be
cited as program expenses. There must be a summary budget as well as a
break-down reflecting both the administrative budget and the program
budget, and a budget narrative demonstrating how costs were derived.
Organizations whose proposals include an administrative budget that is
less than 20% of the grant amount requested will be considered highly
competitive.
Allowable program costs include computer and network equipment,
hardware, software, peripherals, supplies, services, monthly Internet
access fees (if required), training materials, technical consultants,
and salaries or honorarium for project personnel; advertising,
materials, and honorarium for grants review committee. Allowable
administrative costs include salaries and benefits for grantee
organization employees, staff travel, shipping, and other direct and
indirect costs. Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete
budget guidelines and formatting instructions.
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
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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. Program planning and ability to achieve objectives: Program
objectives should be stated clearly and precisely and should reflect
the applicant organization's experience implementing Internet projects,
training programs, developing Internet courses, and administering
grants competitions. A detailed work plan should explain how objectives
will be achieved and include a timetable for completion of all
technical and programmatic components of the project. Responsibilities
of in-country partners should be clearly described.
2. Institutional capacity: Proposed personnel and organizational
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the project's
goals. The narrative must demonstrate proven ability to handle the
technical and programmatic requirements of the project and to
effectively coordinate logistics and project components with diverse
organizations.
3. Organization's track record: Relevant USIA and outside
assessments of the organization's experience with exchange programs and
Internet projects, including responsible fiscal management and full
compliance with all reporting requirements for past grants as
determined by USIA's Office of Contracts.
4. Multiplier effect/impact: Proposed programs must demonstrate an
impact on the wider community through the sharing of information and
the establishment of long-term institutional and individual linkages
and network building.
5. Cost-effectiveness: Overhead and program and administrative
costs should be kept as low as possible. All other items should be
necessary and appropriate. Proposals should show cost-sharing from the
applicant and from other sources.
6. Support of diversity and pluralism: Proposals should demonstrate
substantive support of the Bureau's policy on diversity throughout the
program.
7. Program evaluation: USIA is results oriented. Proposals must
include a plan to evaluate the project's success, both as activities
unfold and at the end of the project. A draft survey questionnaire plus
a description of a methodology to be used link outcomes to original
project objectives is required. USIA recommends that the proposal
include draft questions for focus groups for staff and end--users at
the public access Internet sites. Proposals must thoroughly discuss the
methodology to be used in program evaluation.
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 report and evaluation requirements.
Notification
Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by
Congress, allocated and committed through internal USIA procedures.
Dated: October 19, 1998.
Dr. John P. Loiello,
Associate Director for
Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 98-28890 Filed 10-28-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M
