[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 237 (Thursday, December 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68337-68341]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32830]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
Summer Institute in Social Science Research and Public Policy for
Ukrainian Social Scientists; Notice: Request for Proposals (RFP)
SUMMARY: The Branch for the Study of the United States of the U.S.
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 develop and implement a
post-graduate level academic institute and related programs
[[Page 68338]]
for a group of 18 Ukrainian social scientists.
The U.S. Information Agency proposes to assist Ukraine through a
joint initiative with the European Union (EU) to train young Ukrainian
social scientists through an intensive six-week academic Summer
Institute in the United States and through joint follow-on activities
in Ukraine. Additionally, the EU plans to award a grant to a European
``partner'' organization that will implement a parallel academic
institute in Europe. The program is intended to provide participants
with a deeper understanding of contemporary social science theory and
research methods, together with an understanding of how theoretical and
empirical research informs the development and implementation of public
policy in the United States in the fields of economics, political
science and public administration. USIA-funded activities will include
a U.S.-based academic institute in the Summer of 1999; joint follow-on
workshops in Ukraine during the 1999-2000 academic year; and, a wrap-up
conference in Ukraine in Fall of 2000. The EU-funded academic institute
will be held in the Summer of 2000 at a European site yet to be
determined.
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 one or
more of the following fields: public policy, public administration,
political science, economics, and/or other disciplines or sub-
disciplines related to the program theme. Applicant institutions must
demonstrate expertise in conducting post-graduate programs for foreign
educators, and must have a minimum of four years experience in
conducting international exchange programs. The project director of one
of the key program staff responsible for the academic program must have
an advanced degree in one of the fields listed above. Staff escorts
traveling under the USIA cooperative agreement must have demonstrated
qualifications for this service.
Programs must conform with Agency requirements and guidelines
outlined in the Solicitation Package. USIA programs are subject to the
availability of funds.
Program Information
Overview: The U.S. Information Agency, in cooperation with the
European Union, proposes to assist Ukraine through a joint initiative
aimed at Ukrainian social scientists. Envisioned is a program on social
science research methods and public policy that will offer Ukrainian
faculty in the early stages of their careers the opportunity for an
intensive program on how contemporary social science theory and methods
in the fields of political science, economics and public administration
are brought to bear on public policy issues.
The program will proceed in five separate phases. Proposals for
USIA funding should present a program plan and tentative budget for
each of the activities below:
(1) In the first phase, a representative from the U.S. grantee
institution will travel to Ukraine with a colleague from the European
grantee institution that will be designated as the ``partner''
organization (to be identified by the EU). These individuals will
survey the current status of social science research at Ukrainian
universities and make a preliminary identification of candidates for
the Summer Institute programs in the U.S. and Europe. The proposal for
USIA funding should estimate the travel and subsistence costs of U.S.
staff for this trip.
(2) In the second phase, the U.S. grantee institution will conduct
an intensive U.S.-based academic Summer Institute of six weeks'
duration, the elements of which are outlined in detail below. From the
perspective of the U.S. grantee institution, this second phase will be
the central activity of the grant award, and a detailed program
proposal and comprehensive budget should be submitted.
(3) In the third phase, to be implemented during the 1999-2000
academic year, the U.S. grantee institution and European partner
organization will conduct approximately five days of joint follow-on
workshops in Ukraine. The exact focus of these workshops will be
determined at a later date, based on issues and interests identified
during the U.S.-based Summer Institute, and on consultations with the
European partner organization. The proposal for USIA funding should
estimate all of the costs associated with these workshops, including
local administrative and venue costs, as well as travel and subsistence
for U.S. staff and 18 Ukrainian participants. However, costs for
participation of staff from the European partner organization need not
be included.
(4) In the fourth phase, which will take place in the Summer of
2000, the European partner organization will plan and implement an
academic institute in Europe for a separate group of 18 Ukrainian
social scientists. This Institute will be fully funded by the European
Union, and the U.S. grantee organization will not be directly involved.
However, a representative of the U.S. grantee institution should plan
to travel to Europe to observe at least one week of this activity, and
estimated travel and subsistence costs associated with this trip should
be included in the budget submission.
(5) The fifth phase of the project will take place in the Fall of
2000, and will consist of a joint U.S.-European Union wrap-up
conference in Ukraine, approximately three days in length. The proposal
for USIA funding should estimate all of the costs associated with the
conference, including local administrative costs and venue costs, and
travel and subsistence for U.S. staff and a total of 36 Ukrainian
participants. However, costs for participation of staff from the
European partner organization need not be included.
Objectives: In the United States, public policy issues are debated
within an institutional framework that is informed by the theoretical
and empirical findings of social science scholarship--in economics,
political science and public administration--thus impacting the daily
work of officials in the public policy arena, be they elected
officials, government managers, or public policy professionals, who are
required to make decisions and implement concrete courses of action on
a range of issues.
Public policy issues often resist easy solution--partly because of
the difficulty in bringing scholarly research (whether theoretical or
empirical) to bear on daily institutional practice; partly because of
the complex nature of the issues themselves, which frequently involve
political, economic and management elements that overlap in complex and
often unexpected ways; and, partly by the constraints inherent in
democratic decision-making.
The purpose of the six-week Summer Institute is to offer 18
Ukrainian social scientists the opportunity to explore current theory
in the social sciences and to examine how the available theoretical
models and empirical methodologies can be brought to bear on
contemporary public policy issues. In so doing, the program should
illuminate how social science scholarship influences the way in which
public policy issues are framed, addressed, debated, and resolved.
The program should proceed thematically by examining selected
concrete problems, or case studies, in public policy at various levels
of government. Among the possible areas that might be examined through
the case studies presented are Education, Labor, Banking and Financial
markets,
[[Page 68339]]
Economic Development, Trade, Macroeconomic Policy, the Environment,
Security and Public Safety, Health and Welfare, and Media and
Communications. For each case studied, attention should be given to
current models used by researchers in political science, economics, and
public administration.
The Summer Institute program must be at least six weeks in length,
and must include an academic residency segment of at least five weeks
at a U.S. college or university campus (or other appropriate location).
In addition, a study tour segment of up to one week in length may be
added at the discretion of organizers. If so, the study tour segment
should, directly and substantively complement the academic program and
should, ideally, entail a visit to at least one other region of the
United States. Alternately, the program might include shorter,
occasional site visits throughout the program.
The Summer Institute should be designed as an intensive,
academically rigorous program that is organized through an integrated
series of lectures, readings, seminar discussions, research and
independent study opportunities, faculty consultations, site visits
and, if appropriate, regional travel.
Institutions submitting proposals are encouraged to design
thematically coherent programs in ways that draw upon the particular
strengths and resources of their institutions as well as upon the
nationally recognized expertise of scholars and other experts
throughout the United States. Within the limits of the program's
organizing framework, the grantee institution should:
A. Ensure that the program's introductory sessions, as well as any
pre-departure materials sent to grantees, provide a broad historical
and intellectual context for the program that will follow. In addition,
opening lectures should provide an overview of the program in its
entirety, delineating the Institute's overarching theme as well as the
way in which the program's various topics will be integrated into the
program and explicitly illuminate that theme;
B. Provide participants with a survey of current scholarship and
scholarly trends within the social sciences, with particular attention
to current research methods and models in political science, economics,
and public administration;
C. Bring an interdisciplinary or multi-disciplinary perspectives to
bear on each case study undertaken;
D. Give participants a multi-dimensional view of U.S. social
science and the complexity of public policy issues by reflecting a
broad range of academic perspectives as well as a broad range of views
from experts outside the university, such as government officials,
public intellectuals, think tank representatives, and other
professionals in the public policy arena; and,
E. Ensure access to extensive bibliographic and material resources
that will enable grantees to continue their research and study after
returning to their home institutions. In addition, the bibliography for
the program as a whole must include at least one major survey text for
each of the Summer Institute's governing disciplines as well as a
number of broad interpretive works directly related to the program's
central theme.
Program Dates: The initial trip to Ukraine to survey social science
research at local universities (phase one) should be tentatively
planned to take place during April-May of 1999. Tentative program dates
for the U.S.-based academic Summer Institute program (phase two) are
any six-week period between June 1 and August 15, 1999. USIA is willing
to consider adjustment of these programs dates, based on the needs of
the host institution. However, the Institute must be a minimum of 42
program days in length, and a major portion of the program should take
place within the above period. The follow-on workshops in Ukraine
should be planned to take place during the 1999-2000 academic year, and
the wrap-up conference in Ukraine should take place in the Fall of
2000.
Participants: Program activities should be designed for a total of
18 highly-motivated and experienced Ukrainian social scientists who are
interested in acquiring knowledge about how public policy issues are
studied and addressed in the U.S. Participants will use the knowledge
gained from the Institute to assist them with their own professional
research and development, to improve social science instruction in
universities in the Ukraine, and to advise government officials at
various levels of government on public policy issues.
Most participants can be expected to come from educational
institutions where the social sciences are not well-developed. Most
will be younger faculty members who are eager to participate in an
intensive program on how social science research can be applied to
pressing problems and issues in the public policy arena. Most will have
had limited study or travel experience in the United States.
Participants will be fluent in English.
Participants will be nominated by U.S. Information Service in Kiev.
USIA will cover all international travel costs for Ukrainian
participants directly.
Program Guidelines: The conception, structure and content of the
program is entirely the responsibility of the organizers. However,
given the multiple possibilities for the successful design of such a
program, potential grant recipients are expected to submit proposals
that articulate in concrete and specific detail how they intend to
organize and implement it.
Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations. Please refer to the
Solicitation Package for further details on program design and
implementation, as well as additional information on all other
requirements.
Budget Guidelines: Unless special circumstances warrant, based on a
group of 18 participants, the total USIA-funded budget (program and
administrative) should not exceed $264,000, and USIA-funded
administrative costs as defined in the budget details section of the
solicitation package should not exceed $80,000.
Justifications for any costs above these amounts must be clearly
indicated in the proposal submission. Any grants awarded to eligible
organizations with less than four years of experience in conducting
international exchange programs will be limited to $60,000. Applicant
proposals should try to maximize cost-sharing in all facets of the
program and to stimulate U.S. private sector, including foundation and
corporate, support. Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for
the entire program. The Agency reserves the right to reduce, revise, or
increase proposal budgets in accordance with the needs of the program,
and availability of U.S. government funding.
Please note that these figures do not include costs for
international travel of the Ukrainian grantees in Phase Two of the
program (the U.S.-based Summer Institute). However, they do include
costs for domestic and international travel and subsistence of U.S.
personnel for all phases of the program. They also include all
administrative and program costs associated with the Phase Three
workshops and the Phase Five conference in Ukraine, including the
subsistence and estimated in-country travel costs for Ukrainian
participants.
Please refer to the ``POGI'' in the Solicitation Package for
complete budget guidelines and formatting instructions.
Announcement name and number: All communications with USIA
concerning this announcement should refer to the following title and
reference
[[Page 68340]]
number: Summer Institute in Social Science Research (E/AES-99-13).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
To request a Solicitation Package containing more detailed award
criteria, required application forms, specific budget instructions, and
standard guidelines for proposal preparation, applicants should
contact: U.S. Information Agency, Office of Academic Programs, Branch
of the Study of the United States, E/AES--Room 252, 301 4th Street,
S.W., Washington, D.C. 20547, Attention: William Bate; Telephone
number: (202) 619-4557; Fax number: (202) 619-6790; Internet address:
wbate@usia.gov.
Please specify USIA Program Officer William Bate 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 proposal review process has been completed.
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 requested from the Bureau's ``Grants
Information Fax on Demand System,'' which is accessed by calling 202/
401-7616. The ``Table of Contents'' listing available documents and
order numbers should be the first order when entering the system.
Deadline for Proposals: All proposal copies must be received at the
U.S. Information Agency by 5:00 p.m. Washington, D.C. time on Monday,
February 22, 1999. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will
documents postmarked February 22, 1999 but received at a later date. It
is the responsibility of each applicant to ensure that proposal
submissions arrive by the deadline.
Submissions: Applicants must follow all instructions in the
Solicitation Package. The original and 13 copies of the complete
application should be sent to: U.S. Information Agency, Reference: E/
AES-99-13, Office of Grants Management, E/XE, Room 326, 301 4th Street,
S.W., Washington, D.C. 20547.
Applicants should 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.
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 reflect
advancement of this goal in their program contents, to the full extent
deemed feasible.
Year 2000 Compliance Requirement (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.
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. All eligible proposals will be
reviewed by the program office, as well as the USIA Geographic Area
Offices. Eligible proposals will then be forwarded to panels of senior
USIA officers for advisory review. Proposals may also be reviewed by
the Office of the General Counsel or by other Agency elements. Final
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. 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 debates within the subject discipline of the institute.
Program should reflect an overall design whose various elements are
coherently and thoughtfully integrated. Lectures, panels, field visits
and readings, taken as a whole, should offer a balanced presentation of
issues, reflecting both the continuity of U.S. scholarship as well as
its leading edge.
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. A program
syllabus (noting specific sessions and topical readings supporting each
academic unit) should be included, as should a calendar of activities.
The travel component, if included, should not simply be a tour, but
should be an integral and substantive part of the program, reinforcing
and complementing the 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. Support for Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. This can be accomplished
through
[[Page 68341]]
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. Experience in working in the Ukraine or
conducting Ukrainian exchanges is a positive factor.
6. Evaluation and Follow-up: The proposal should include a plan for
evaluating activities during the Summer 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.
Authority: 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.''
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, and allocated and committed through internal
USIA procedures.
Dated: December 5, 1998.
William Bader,
Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 98-32830 Filed 12-9-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-M
