[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 224 (Thursday, November 20, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62113-62115]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-30522]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
Edmund S. Muskie and Freedom Support Act Graduate Fellowship
Programs
ACTION: Request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: Subject to the availability of funds, the Office of Academic
Programs, Academic Exchange Programs Division, European Programs 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 administer the
recruitment, selection, placement, monitoring, evaluation, and follow-
on activities for the FY 1999 Edmund S. Muskie and Freedom Support Act
Graduate Fellowship Programs. Organizations with less than four years
of experience in conducting international exchange programs are not
eligible for this competition.
The Edmund S. Muskie and Freedom Support Act Graduate Fellowship
Programs (herein to be referred to as the Muskie/FSA Programs) select
outstanding citizens of the New Independent States (NIS) and the
Baltics to receive scholarships for Master's level study and
professional development in the United States in the fields of business
administration, economics, education administration, law with a new
subfocus in law pedagogy, library and information science, mass
communication/journalism, public administration with specialized
programs in public health and environmental management, and public
policy. Fellowships are awarded to qualified young and mid-career
individuals who are citizens of Armenia, Azerbaijan,* Belarus, Estonia,
Georgia, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, the Russian
Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, or Uzbekistan. Edmund S.
Muskie fellows enroll in graduate degree, certificate, and non-degree
programs lasting one-to-two academic years. It is estimated that
approximately 245-255 Fellows will participate in the 1999 program.
Interested organizations should read the complete Federal Register
announcement and request a Solicitation Package from the USIA prior to
preparing a proposal.
* Please note: Programs with Azerbaijan are subject to
restrictions of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act: Employees of
the Government of Azerbaijan or any of its instrumentalities are
excluded from participation, and no U.S. participant overseas may
work for the Government of Azerbaijan or any of its
instrumentalities. In addition, the Government of Azerbaijan or any
of its instrumentalities will have no control in the actual
selection of participants.
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
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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.''
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-99-02.
Deadline For Proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S.
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, D.C. time on Thursday, March
26, 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.
For Further Information Contact: The Office of Academic Programs,
European Programs Branch of the U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th
Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20547, (P) 202-205-0525 (F) 202-260-7985
(E-Mail) treed@usia.gov to request a Solicitation Package containing
more detailed. 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 Ted Kniker 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, 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 14 copies of the application
should be sent to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/AEE-99-01, 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. Pub. L. 104-319 provides that ``in carrying out programs of
education 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 Muskie/FSA Fellowship Programs are designed to foster
democratization and the transition to market economies in the former
soviet Union and Baltic States through intensive academic and
professional training. Since the programs' inceptions in fiscal years
1992 and 1993, over 900 Fellowships have been awarded. The academic
component of the program begins in the fall semester of the year of the
award and follows the normal one- to two-year academic cycle in which
Fellows may take a nine, twelve, eighteen, or twenty-four month
academic program. Fellows take part in a eight- to twelve-week
internship during the summer following the first academic year. While
fellows are closely assisted in their internship search by host
institutions, sponsoring organizations, and USIA, the primary
responsibility for securing appropriate internships remains with the
Fellows. Fellows placed in one-year graduate programs return home at
the conclusion of their internship. Fellows placed in two year graduate
programs return to their academic placement following the internship.
The Muskie/FSA Programs are not intended as a precursor to doctoral
studies, extended professional training, or employment in the United
States. At the end of their designated academic and internship
programs, Fellows are required to immediately return to their home
countries.
In the past, the Muskie/FSA Programs have been administered by up
to four organizations working in close partnership for all phases of
the program. In order to maintain efficient administration of the
program the number of organizations administering the Muskie/FSA
Programs may remain at two or three. 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 from two or more
organizations for joint program management, but the proposals must
demonstrate a value-added relationship, and must clearly delineate
responsibilities so as not to duplicate efforts.
Proposing organizations must demonstrate the ability to administer
all aspects of the Muskie/FSA Programs--advertisement, recruitment,
selection, placement, orientation, Fellow monitoring and support,
financial management, evaluation, follow-on, and alumni tracking and
programing. Applicant organizations must demonstrate the ability to
recruit and select a diverse pool of candidates from various geographic
regions in the NIS and Baltics. Additionally, organizations will be
asked to assist in the recruitment and selection of appropriate host
institutions from throughout the United States for pre-academic, ESL,
and academic programs. Administering organizations will act as the
principle liaison with Muskie/FSA host
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institutions. Additionally, organizations should demonstrate the
ability to work with private sector organizations in the United States,
NIS and Baltics to facilitate Fellows' professional development and
post-program re-entry. Further details on specific program
responsibilities can be found in the Project Objectives, Goals, and
Implementation (POGI) Statement which is part of the formal
Solicitation Package available from the USIA.
Awards will begin on or about October 1, 1998 and will be
approximately three years in duration. Initial recruitment and
selection activities may be performed in conjunction with the current
administering organizations.
Guidelines
Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations. Please refer to
program specific guidelines (POGI) in the Solicitation Package for
further details.
The level of funding for fiscal year 1999 is uncertain, but is
anticipated to be a total of $13 million.
Proposed Budget
Organizations must submit a comprehensive line item budget based on
the specific guidance in the Solicitation Package. There must be a
summary budget as well as a break-down reflecting both the
administrative budget and the program budget. Organizations whose
proposals include an administrative budget that is less than 20% of the
grant amount requested from the USIA will be given preference. Detailed
guidance on budget preparation is included in the Project Objectives,
Goals and Implementation (POGI) and PSI. Please refer to the complete
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 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 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 officers.
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 plan: Proposed programs should include
academic rigor, thorough conception of project, demonstration of
meeting participants needs, contributions to understanding the partner
country, proposed alumni activities, specific details of recruitment,
selection and monitoring processes, a thorough evaluation plan,
proposed follow-on, and relevance to USIA's mission.
2. Program planning and institutional capacity: A detailed agenda
and relevant work plan should demonstrate substantive undertakings and
logistical capacity. Proposals should clearly demonstrate how the
institution and its staff will meet the program objectives and plan.
3. Track record: Relevant USIA and outside assessments of the
organization's experience with international exchanges.
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. Value of U.S.-Partner Country relations: The assessment by
USIA's geographic area office of the need, potential impact, and
significance of the project with the partner countries.
6. Cost-effectiveness: A key measure of cost effectiveness is the
unit cost to the Agency. This is the total request of USIA monies
divided by the number of Fellow months (number of Fellows multiplied by
the number of program months). The overhead and administration
components of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be
kept as low as possible. All other items should be necessary and
appropriate.
7. Cost-sharing: Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through
other private sector support as well as institutional direct funding
contributions.
8. Support of diversity: Preference will be given to proposals that
demonstrate efforts to provide for the participation of students with a
variety of major disciplines, from diverse regions, and of different
socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds, to the extent feasible for the
applicant institutions. The Agency will seek to achieve maximum
geographic diversity in recruitment, selection, and placement of
participants through its award of grants.
9. Follow-on activities: Proposals should provide a plan for
continued follow-on activity (without USIA support) which ensures that
USIA supported programs are not isolated events. Proposals should
include a plan for alumni tracking and coordination that demonstrates
the willingness to provide data to and coordinate tracking with USIA
and USIS Posts overseas. Due to the reduction in available funds,
preference will be given to applicant organizations who can fund alumni
activities, with minimal grant funded contributions from the USIA.
10. 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. A draft survey questionnaire or other technique plus
description of a methodology to use to link outcomes to original
project objectives is recommended. Successful applicants will be
expected to submit intermediate reports after each project component is
concluded or quarterly, whichever is less frequent.
Notice
The terms and conditions published in the 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.
Options for Renewals
Subject to the availability of funding for FY 2000 and the
satisfactory performance of grant programs, USIA may invite grantee
organizations to submit proposals for renewals of awards for two fiscal
year cycles.
Notification
Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by
Congress, allocated and committed through internal USIA procedures.
Dated: November 14, 1997.
Robert L. Earle,
Deputy Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 97-30522 Filed 11-19-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M
