[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 241 (Thursday, December 16, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70312-70314]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-32663]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 3177]
Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs; Book Donation/Information
Technology Services Program
NOTICE: Request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Geographic Liaison (IIP/G) announces an open
competition for a book donation/information technology services
program. Private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions
described in IRS regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c)(3) may submit proposals to:
implement a book donation program in Eastern Europe and the NIS; build
upon programs outside the former Communist bloc in transition around
the world, particularly in Africa; provide educational materials for
the victims of civil strife as requested by the Department; and make
available Internet and Information Technology training in conjunction
with the provision of books.
Program Information: Overview: The grant requires the successful
applicant to match federal with support from non-governmental sources
such as: Foundations; professional, ethnic, and fraternal organizations
and individuals; provide primarily new books, CD-ROMS, educational
videocassettes and other educational materials (with no medical titles
to be sent under the grant and no more than 15% of the total volumes
shipped having been used); have in place ongoing, sustainable
relationships with NGO partners in the countries covered under the
grant to ensure effective distribution and tracking of donated
materials; send booklists in advance to the overseas partners for
selection to ensure that only requested materials are shipped under the
grant; employ electronic mail and the Internet in the provision of
booklists and the dissemination of information about the program; and
(if necessary) train partners in the use of same; respond to the
differing and changing needs of partners by making available materials
in wide ranges of subjects and educational levels; plan and host
Partner meetings in the U.S. and abroad as requested. The grantee must
have demonstrable experience assessing book donation and information
technology training programs abroad.
Guidelines: The grant is expected to commence January 1, 2000 and
end December 31, 2000.
Budget Guidelines: Grants awarded to eligible organizations with
less than four years of experience in conducting international exchange
programs will be limited to $60,000.
Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the entire
program. Awards may not exceed $200,000. There must be a summary budget
as well as breakdowns reflecting both administrative and program
budgets. Applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for each program
component, phase, location, or activity to provide clarification.
Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget guidelines
and formatting instructions.
Announcement Title and Number: All correspondence with the IIP/
G3434 concerning this RFP should reference the above title and number
IIP/G-1.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Office of Geographical Liaison,
IIP/G, 4th Floor U.S. Department of State, 301 4th Street, S.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20547.The solicitation package may be obtained by
calling: 202 619 5876, requesting by fax at 202 619 4879 or by
contacting the program officer Ron Ungaro at rungaro@usia.gov. The
Solicitation Package contains detailed award criteria, required
application forms, specific budget instructions, and standard
guidelines for proposal preparation. Please specify Program Officer Ron
Ungaro on all other inquiries and correspondence.
Please read the complete Federal Register announcement before
sending inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the RFP deadline has
passed, Department staff may not discuss this competition with
applicants until the proposal review process has been completed.
To Download a Solicitation Package Via Internet: The entire
Solicitation Package may be downloaded from the following website at
http://e.usia.gov/education/rfps. Please read all information before
downloading.
Deadline for Proposals: All proposal copies must be received at
IIP/G Office of Geographic Liaison by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on
January 9, 2000. Faxed documents will not be accepted at any time.
Documents postmarked the due date but received on a later date will not
be accepted. Each applicant must ensure that the proposals are received
by the above deadline.
[[Page 70313]]
Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation
Package. The original and 10 copies of the application should be sent
to: U.S. Department of State, Office of Geographic Liaison, Attention:
Patricia Tyson, Ref.: IIP/G-1, 4th Floor South, 301 4th Street, SW,
Washington, DC 20547.
Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines
``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.
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 IIP/G. 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.
IIP/G 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
IIP/G 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 Public Diplomacy section overseas, where
appropriate. Eligible proposals will be forwarded to panels Department
officers for advisory review. Proposals may also be reviewed by the
Office of the Legal Adviser or by other Department elements. Final
funding decisions are at the discretion of the Department of State's
Coordinator for International Information Programs. Final technical
authority for assistance awards (grants or cooperative agreements)
resides with the Department's 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. Quality of the program idea: Proposals should exhibit
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Office's
mission.
2. Program planning: Detailed agenda and relevant work plan should
demonstrate substantive undertakings and logistical capacity. Agenda
and plan should adhere to the program overview and guidelines described
above.
3. Ability to achieve program objectives: Objectives should be
reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly
demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's objectives and
plan.
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. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive
support of the Department's policy on diversity. Achievable and
relevant features should be cited in both program administration
(selection of participants, program venue and program evaluation) and
program content (orientation and wrap-up sessions, program meetings,
resource materials and follow-up activities).
6. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program or
project's goals.
7. Institution's Record/Ability: Proposals should demonstrate an
institutional record of successful exchange programs, including
responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting
requirements for past grants as determined by Department Grant Staff.
The Department will consider the past performance of prior recipients
and the demonstrated potential of new applicants.
8. Follow-on Activities: Proposals should provide a plan for
continued follow-on activity (without Department support) ensuring that
Department supported programs are not isolated events.
9. 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.
10. Cost-effectiveness: The overhead and administrative components
of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be kept as
low as possible. All other items should be necessary and appropriate.
11. Cost-sharing: Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through
other private sector support as well as institutional direct funding
contributions. Proposals must include documented sources of matching
funds prescribed in the announcement.
12. Value to U.S.-Partner Country Relations: Proposed projects
should receive positive assessments by the U.S. Department of State's
geographic area desk and overseas officers of program need, potential
impact, and significance in the partner country(ies).
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 Department representative. Explanatory
information provided by the Department 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 Department
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.
[[Page 70314]]
Notification
Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by
Congress, allocated and committed through internal department
procedures.
Dated: December 7, 1999.
Evelyn S. Lieberman,
Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, U.S.
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 99-32663 Filed 12-15-99; 8:45 am]
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