[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 231 (Friday, December 1, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61732-61735]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-29287]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
Summer Institute for the Study of the United States for Foreign
Secondary School Educators
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 for Foreign Secondary School Educators. 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 28 secondary school
educators from around the world, in order to deepen their understanding
of the United States so that American studies textbooks, curricula and
teaching in foreign secondary schools and teacher training institutions
will be improved.
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 the
disciplines and sub-disciplines that comprise American Studies, 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 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.
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.''
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 Name and Number: All communications with USIA
concerning this announcement should refer to the above title and
reference number E/AAS-96-03.
Deadline for Proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S.
Information Agency by 5:00 p.m. Washington D.C. 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
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ensure that proposal submissions arrive by the deadline. Tentative
program dates are June 22 to August 2, 1996. Participants will likely
be booked to arrive in the U.S. on or about June 21, and depart on
August 3, 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,
D.C. 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 from 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-96-03, Office of Grants Management, E/XE, Room 326, 301 4th
Street SW., Washington, D.C. 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. for Foreign
Secondary School Educators aims to provide a deeper understanding of
U.S. civilization among foreign educators who are concerned
professionally with teaching about the United States. It is further
intended to encourage and support their efforts to improve the quality
of teaching, textbooks, and curricular materials about the United
States at secondary schools and teacher training institutions abroad.
The program should offer participants a specially-designed series
of lectures, presentations, discussions, site visits, and curricular
research opportunities, each related to a central theme in U.S.
civilization, which examine various aspects U.S. society, culture,
values and institutions, past and present. It should provide an
overview of the United States in the context of American studies and
its constituents disciplines.
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)
to two or three additional regions of the U.S., including a visit to
Washington, D.C. at the conclusion of the program.
Institute Objectives
--To present an intensive, academically stimulating program that
presents a multi-dimensional view of the United States through an
integrated series of lectures, readings, interactive discussions,
individual research and study opportunities, and site visits.
--To draw from a variety of academic disciplines in order to deepen the
participants' understanding of the unity, diversity, and complexity of
U.S. society, culture, and institutions. Major issues, debates, and
conflicts in U.S. society, past and present, including their origins
and the role they have played in the development of U.S. civilization,
should also be examined.
--To enhance teaching about the U.S. in foreign secondary schools and
teacher training institutions 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 28 highly-motivated
foreign secondary school teacher trainers, textbook writers, curriculum
developers, education ministry officials and classroom teachers, whose
professional assignments require significant knowledge of U.S.
civilization, and who have broad responsibility for curriculum design
and improvement. All participants will be involved in the teaching of
English language, American literature, U.S. government, history,
geography, social studies, or other courses including U.S. studies
content in their home countries. 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 for
the design of a program on U.S. civilization are quite numerous, an
overarching institute theme, and supporting sub-themes, should be
chosen to focus the content and scope of the program. The best
proposals will clearly articulate the institute theme(s), essential
topics and sub-topics being covered, and will discuss the means by
which the program content will be communicated to participants.
The program should engage the constellation of disciplines and sub-
disciplines that make up American studies (e.g. literature, history,
political science, economics, geography, sociology, etc.) as vehicles
for helping foreign educators understand the development and current
status of selected essential aspects of U.S. society, culture, values
and institutions (governmental, educational, judicial, religious,
media, etc.), and of broader themes associated with the U.S. experience
and U.S. civilization. It should provide participants with a clearer
understanding of the diversity, complexity, and unity of U.S. life and
society.
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 institute theme(s).
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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 and study interests,
curriculum development projects, or to do assigned readings. The
institute should provide access to leading American scholars and
research resources (libraries, archives, databases, etc.). Participants
should be paired with faculty mentors to assist in research and other
scholarly matters.
An essential element of the institute is the exposure to and
accumulation of texts, curricular materials, and teaching ideas
(including Internet and computer resources training), which can be used
by participants in the development and improvement of their American
studies courses abroad.
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 segment of a minimum of four weeks on a
college/university campus is mandatory. The program should also include
an integrated study tour segment (up to two weeks in length) to two or
three other regions of the U.S., including a minimum of two to three
days in Washington, D.C. at the conclusion of the program. This visit
should include a half-day session at USIA. The selected grantee
organization/institution will be asked to consult closely with USIA in
the planning of the Washington itinerary. 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 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, provision of
appropriate lodging, subsistence, 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. cosponsors noting their intention to
participate in the program will enhance a proposal. Proposals
incorporating participants/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 $211,600. USIA-funded
administrative costs should be as low as possible and should not exceed
$49,000. 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
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 Education 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 proposed 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 conductive 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 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.
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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: November 21, 1995.
John P. Loiello,
Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 95-29287 Filed 11-30-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M
