[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 231 (Friday, December 1, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61729-61732]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-29286]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
Summer Institute for the Study of the United States: Focus on
American Literature
ACTION: Notice--Request for Proposals.
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SUMMARY: The Branch for the Study of the U.S. of 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 for the Summer Institute for the Study of the
United States: Focus on American Literature. Public and private non-
profit organizations meeting the provisions described in IRS regulation
26 CFR 1.501(c)(3)-1 may apply to develop a six-week graduate-level
program designed for a group of 18 foreign university educators from
around the world, in order to deepen their understanding of U.S.
society, culture, values and institutions, using American literature as
the central vehicle, and to give them further grounding in American
literature and American studies, so that textbooks, curricular
materials, and courses in foreign universities will benefit.
USIA is seeking detailed proposals from colleges, universities,
consortia of colleges and universities, and other not-for-profit
academic organizations that have an established reputation in American
literature and/or American studies and related sub-disciplines, and
that can demonstrate expertise in conducting graduate-level programs
for foreign educators. Applicant institutions must have a minimum of
four years' experience in conducting international exchange programs.
The project director or one of the key program staff responsible for
the academic program must have an advanced degree in American
literature, American studies, or a related discipline. Staff escorts
traveling under the USIA cooperative agreement support must be U.S.
citizens with demonstrated qualifications for this service.
[[Page 61730]]
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 as
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.
Announcements Name and Number: All communications with USIA
concerning this announcement should refer to the above title and
reference number E/AAS-96-02.
Deadline for Proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S.
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on Monday, January 29,
1996. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents
postmarked January 29, 1996 but received at a later date. It is the
responsibility of each applicant to ensure that proposal submissions
arrive by the deadline. Tentative program dates are June 29 to August
9, 1996. Participants will likely be booked to arrive in the U.S. on or
about June 28, and depart on August 10, 1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request a Solicitation Package,
which includes more detailed award criteria; all application forms; and
guidelines for preparing proposals, including specific criteria for
preparation of the proposal budget, applicants should contact: U.S.
Information Agency, Office of Academic Programs, Branch of the Study of
the United States, E/AAS, room 256, 301 4th Street SW., Washington, DC
20547, Attn: Program Officer Richard Taylor; telephone number (202)
619-4557; fax number (202) 619-6790; internet address rtaylor@usia.gov.
Please specify USIA Program Officer Richard Taylor on all inquiries and
correspondence. Interested applicants should read the complete Federal
Register announcement before addressing inquiries to the office listed
above or submitting their proposals. Once the RFP deadline has passed,
USIA staff may not discuss this competition in any way with applicants
until after the Bureau proposal review process has been completed.
To Download a Solicitation Package via Internet: The Solicitation
Package may be downloaded form USIA's website at http://www.usia.gov,
or from the Internet Gopher at gopher.usia.gov, under ``New RFPs on
Educational and Cultural Exchanges.''
Submissions: Applicants must follow all instructions given in the
RFP and the complete Solicitation Package. The original and 14 copies
of the complete application should be sent to: U.S. Information Agency,
Ref.: E/AAS-96-02, Office of Grants Management, E/XE, room 326, 301 4th
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
Diversity Guidelines: Pursuant to the Bureau's authorizing
legislation, programs must maintain a non-political character, and
should be balanced and representative of the diversity and broad range
of responsible views present in 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.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
The Summer Institute for the Study of the U.S.: Focus on American
Literature is intended to provide foreign university teachers of
American literature and/or American studies with opportunities to
deepen their understanding of the U.S., especially its society,
culture, values and institutions, past and present, through an in-depth
examination of American literature. It is intended to encourage and
support their efforts to improve the quality of teaching and curricular
materials about the United States at universities abroad.
The program should be six weeks in length, including a residency
segment at a U.S. college or university campus (a minimum of four weeks
in length), and a study tour segment (a maximum of two weeks in length,
including visits to one or two other regions of the U.S.). If desired,
and if and only if it is supportive of the academic program content,
the program can conclude with a visit to Washington, D.C. (including a
program debriefing at USIA).
The program should offer participants a specially-designed series
of lectures, presentations, discussions, and site visits, each related
to a central program theme in American studies and/or American
literature.
Institute Objectives
--To present an intensive, academically stimulating program that
presents a multi-dimensional view of the United States, using American
literature as the main vehicle, through an integrated series of
lectures, readings, interactive discussions, research and independent
study opportunities, and site visits.
--To deepen participants' understanding U.S. society, culture, values
and institutions, in both a historical and contemporary sense;
--And, to enhance teaching about the U.S., and of American literature
in particular, in foreign universities by making appropriate scholarly
resources, pedagogical materials, and ideas available to participants.
Participants should return home with an ability to communicate a deeper
and more informed view of the U.S. to students and colleagues.
Participants
The program should be designed for a total of 18 highly-motivated
foreign university educators, including teachers, administrators,
department chairs, curriculum developers and textbook writers, who are
interested in using American literature as a means to further the
understanding of the U.S. in their home institutions and countries.
They will have demonstrated a willingness and ability to include
American literature and aspects of American civilization in their
teaching and professional work.
Participants will be drawn from all regions of the world, and will
be fluent in the English language.
Participants will be nominated by U.S. Information Service posts
abroad, and selected by the staff of USIA's Branch of the Study of the
United States in Washington, D.C. USIA will cover all international
travel costs directly.
Guidelines
The conception and structure of the institute program is entirely
the responsibility of the organizers. However, as the possibilities are
quite numerous for the design of a program focusing on aspects of U.S.
society, culture, values and institutions, as seen through literature,
an overarching institute theme should be chosen to
[[Page 61731]]
focus the content and scope of the program. The best proposals will
clearly articulate the overall institute theme, essential topics and
sub-topics being covered, and will discuss the means by which the
program content will be communicated to participants. Proposals should
also provide bibliographies of texts and materials to be used in the
program.
While literature must be the main program vehicle for helping the
participants develop a deeper understanding of U.S. civilization, past
and present, the program may also be enriched by the occasional
engagement of other disciplines and sub-disciplines that make up
American studies (e.g. history, political science, economics,
geography, sociology, demography, etc.). The program should provide
participants with a clearer understanding of the diversity, complexity,
and unity of U.S. life and society.
At the outset, the program should review the recent history and
current status of American literature as an academic discipline,
surveying major schools of interpretation and examining the current
debates within American literature and literary studies generally. The
program should also explore how American literature has informed and
been informed by the interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary
approaches to the study of the U.S. represented by the field of
American Studies. The program itself should include a balanced mix of
traditional and contemporary approaches for examining the institute
theme.
It is extremely important that the institute organizers devise a
way to integrate all aspects of the program. Assigned readings,
lectures, discussions, and field trips should relate to and further
illuminate the central institute theme, and contribute to a better
understanding of the U.S.
The institute should not simply replicate an existing lecture
course or a graduate seminar. Rather, through a combination of
lectures, presentations, discussions, and site visits, it should be
designed to facilitate the development of a collegial atmosphere in
which faculty and participants discuss relevant texts, issues, and
concepts.
The equivalent of one day a week should be available to
participants to pursue individual research interests, curriculum
development projects, or to do assigned readings. Participants should
be paired with faculty mentors to guide them in their research, and
assist them in adjustment to the U.S. academic environment.
The program should also provide access to leading American scholars
and scholarly resources (libraries, archives, databases, etc.). An
essential element of the program is the exposure to an accumulation of
teaching ideas and scholarly resources, including primary texts,
supplementary works, and curricular materials (including Internet
resources and training). The Summer Institute should facilitate
participants' acquisition of the maximum amount of such materials to
take back to their home countries, to be used in the development of new
courses and programs, and the improvement of existing ones.
The program should ideally bring in outside presenters
(representatives from academia, community organizations, media,
government) in addition to the core faculty of the host institution.
Presenters must be fully briefed about the institute, its goals,
general themes and content, readings, and especially the background and
needs of the participants themselves. Information about presenters and
how they will be utilized should be included in the proposal
submission.
A residential program of a minimum of four weeks on a college/
university campus is mandatory. The program should include an
integrated study tour segment to one or two other regions of the
country of up to two weeks in length. If appropriate, and if it
contributes to the academic program content, a visit to Washington,
D.C. at the conclusion of the program can be included. If this visit is
arranged, it should include a half-day session at the United States
Information Agency for a grantee debriefing session. The selected
grantee organization would be asked to consult closely with USIA in the
planning of the Washington itinerary, if included in the proposal. The
study tour segment must be directly supportive of the academic program
content. Day trips to various locations (historical sites, classrooms,
community centers) are also encouraged if such trips will further
enhance understanding of the U.S. and enrich the participants'
experience.
Details of the academic residency and tour programs may be modified
in consultation with USIA's Branch for the Study of the U.S. following
the grant award.
The selected grant organization will be responsible for most
arrangements associated with this program. This includes the
organization and implementation of all presentations and program
activities, arrangement of all domestic travel, lodging, subsistence,
airport reception and ground transportation for participants,
orientation and briefing of participants, preparation of any necessary
support materials (including a pre-program mailing to participants),
and working with program presenters to achieve maximum program
coordination and effectiveness.
Please refer to the Solicitation Package for further details on
program design and implementation.
Additional Information
Confirmation letters from U.S. co-sponsors noting their intention
to participate in the program will enhance a proposal. Proposals
incorporating participant/observer site visits will be more competitive
if letters committing prospective host institutions to support these
efforts are provided.
Visa/Insurance/Tax Requirements
Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations. Visas will be
issued by USIS posts abroad. USIA insurance will be provided to all
participants, unless otherwise indicated in the proposal submission.
Grantee organization will be responsible for enrolling participants in
the chosen insurance plan. Please indicate in the proposal if host
institutions have any special tax withholding requirements on
participant or staff escort stipends or allowances.
Proposed Budget
Total USIA-funded budget award may not exceed $157,000. USIA-funded
administrative costs should be as low as possible and should not exceed
$47,000. The U.S. recipient should try to maximize cost-sharing in all
facets of the program and to stimulate U.S. private sector (foundation
and corporate) support. Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget
for the entire program. There must be a summary budget as well as a
break-down reflecting both the administrative budget and the program
budget. 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.
Please refer to the ``POGI'' in the Solicitation Package for complete
budget guidelines and formatting instructions for the institute
program.
Review Process
The 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
[[Page 61732]]
USIA officers for advisory review. All eligible proposals will also be
reviewed by the Agency contracts office, as well as the USIA Area
Offices and the USIA post overseas, where appropriate. 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 assistance awards (grants or cooperative
agreements) resides with the USIA grant 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. Overall Quality: Proposals should exhibit originality and
substance, consonant with the highest standards of American teaching
and scholarship. Program design should reflect the main currents as
well as the contemporary debates within the discipline.
2. Program Planning: Proposals should demonstrate careful planning.
The organization and structure of the Institute should be clearly
delineated and be fully responsive to all program objectives. The
travel component should be an integral and substantive part of the
program, reinforcing and complementing its academic segment.
3. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel, including faculty
and administrative staff as well as outside presenters, should be fully
qualified to achieve the project's goals. Library and media resources
should be accessible to participants; housing, transportation and other
logistical arrangements should be fully adequate to the needs of
participants and should be conducive to a collegial atmosphere.
4. 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, summarizing past and/or on-going
activities and efforts that further the principle of diversity within
the organization and its activities. Program activities that address
this issue should be highlighted.
5. Experience: The proposal should demonstrate an institutional
record of successful exchange program activity, indicating the
experience that the organization and its professional staff have had in
working with foreign educators.
6. Evaluation and Follow-up: The proposal should include a plan for
evaluating activities during the Institute and at its conclusion.
Proposals should comment on provisions made for follow-up with returned
grantees as a means of establishing longer-term individual and
institutional linkages.
7. Administration and Management: The proposals should indicate
evidence of continuous on-site administrative and managerial capacity
as well as the means by which program activities will be implemented.
8. Cost Effectiveness: The proposals should maximize cost-sharing
through direct institutional contributions, in-kind support, and other
private sector support. Overhead and administrative components of the
proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be kept as low as
possible.
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 funding. 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 April 1, 1996. Awards made will be subject to
periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.
Dated:
John P. Loiello,
Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 95-29286 Filed 11-30-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M
