[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 236 (Friday, December 9, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-30246]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: December 9, 1994]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
International Creative Arts Exchanges for Public and Private Non-
Profit Organizations
AGENCY: United States Information Agency.
ACTION: Notice--Request for Proposals.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Arts America Creative Arts Exchanges Division
(E/DE) of the U.S. Information Agency's (USIA) Bureau of Educational
and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for an assistance
award. Public and non-profit organizations meeting the provisions
described in IRS regulation 501 (c) (3) may apply to develop projects
for artists and arts administrators. These will consist of residencies
and/or study tours in which artists from the United States and other
countries work and learn together. Interested applicants are invited to
request and read the complete Federal Register announcement before
submitting their proposals.
Overall grant making and funding 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 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 requirements and guidelines
outlined in the Solicitation Package. USIA projects and programs are
subject to the availability of funds.
ANNOUNCEMENT NAME & NUMBER: All communications concerning this
announcement should refer to the title and reference number--E/DE-95-
04.
DATES: All copies must be received at the U.S. Information Agency by 5
p.m. Washington, DC time on Tuesday, February 28, 1995. Faxed documents
will not be accepted, nor will documents postmarked on February 28,
1995, but received at a later date. It is the responsibility of each
applicant to ensure that proposals are received by the above deadline.
Projects should begin between August 1, 1995 and December 31, 1995. For
projects that begin after December 31, 1995, proposals should be
submitted under the next award competition. The next competition will
be announced in the Federal Register on or about June 15, 1995.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Please contact the Office of Arts America, Creative Arts Exchanges
Division, Room 320, U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20547, Phone: 202-619-5338, Fax: 202-619-5311, Internet:
[email protected] 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. Please specify Christopher Paddack on all inquiries
and correspondences. Interested applicants should read the complete
Federal Register announcement before submitting their proposals.
Inquiries concerning technical requirements are welcome prior to
submission of applications. Once the RFP deadline has passed, we may
not discuss this competition in any way with applicants until after the
proposal review process has been completed.
ADDRESSES: Applicants must follow all instructions given in the
Solicitation Package and send only complete applications to: U.S.
Information Agency, REF: E/DE-95-04, Office of Grants Management, E/XE,
room 336, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547. Awards are
contingent upon the availability of funds.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
The Creative Arts Exchanges Division works with U.S. non-profit
organizations on cooperative international group projects that
introduce American and foreign participants to each other's cultural
and artistic life and traditions. It also supports international
projects in the United States or overseas involving composers,
choreographers, filmmakers (see guidance below), playwrights, theater
designers, writers and poets, visual artists, museum professionals (see
guidance below), managers and administrators of arts institutions and
organizations (see guidance below).
E/DE particularly seeks projects with organizations with expertise
in the arts as well as broad outreach and networking capabilities into
American arts activities nationwide. These projects should involve U.S.
Information Service (USIS) posts worldwide to carry out activities
supportive of the USIA mission to increase mutual understanding between
the United States and other countries and to promote international
cooperation in educational and cultural fields. USIS' role in such
projects should be substantive and integral and not purely
facilitative.
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 race,
gender, religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, and
physical challenges. Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere to
the advancement of this principle.
Drafts of all printed materials developed for this program using
USIA funds should be submitted to the Agency for review and approval.
USIA requests that we (the Agency) receive the copyright use and be
allowed to distribute the material as it sees fit. All official
documents should highlight the U.S. government's role as program
sponsor and funding source.
Projects supported by these awards share some or all of the
following features:
1. An international exchange of professionals in the fields listed
above.
2. The development of institutional linkages between American
organizations and their counterparts in other countries.
3. Travel to or from the United States, preferably in both
directions.
4. Competition in which USIS posts nominate foreign candidates for
awards, while the American arts organizations select the award winners.
5. Assurances of quality, fairness, balance and openness in the
selection of American project participants.
Special Conditions
1. Proposals should involve more than one country. However, single-
country projects that have strong USIS-post support and clearly
demonstrate the potential for creating and strengthening linkages
between foreign and U.S. institutions are also welcome.
2. Proposals are subject to review and comment by the USIS posts in
the relevant countries.
3. Proposals involving foreign organizations should identify them
and clearly define their role in the project. Prospective applicants
should consult with USIS posts regarding such organizations prior to
submitting their proposals.
4. Proposals centering on films or videos must deal with the
creative aspects of film or video making. Projects should be written
for professional partners, not for amateur or student groups. Projects
may include story development, other aspects of the creative processes,
or management issues like funding and distribution. They should not
include film or video festivals, installations, seminars, competitions,
full scale film production or distribution, or any other type of
project prohibited in this announcement.
5. Proposals centering on arts presenters, administrators, and
managers should feature exchanges involving these professionals
exclusively.
6. Arts America is the major supporter of the American Association
of Museums [AAM] International Partnerships Among Museums [IPAM]
program. Museums interested in international projects should address
queries to the Office of International Programs, American Association
of Museums, 1225 Eye Street, NW., Washington, DC 20005; telephone:
(202) 289-1818; FAX: (202) 289-6578. We will not accept direct
applications from museums for international projects (see Program
Exclusions, below).
Geographical Guidelines
1. The Office of Arts America, Creative Arts Exchanges Division
encourages proposals which address themselves to various geographic
regions of the world, and allow across-the-board participation from all
areas. In addition, preferences for specific geographic areas are:
2. Africa, the Near/Middle East, and South Asia: Proposals are
especially encouraged for projects in these regions. There are no
specific preferences in terms of thematic fields.
3. East Asia and the Pacific: Preference will be given to proposals
that focus on the exchange of arts managers and administrators, with
emphasis on the visual arts, and focus on two-way exchanges between the
United States and Southeast Asia, especially Burma, Indonesia, the
Philippines and Thailand.
4. American Republics (South America, Central America and the
Caribbean): Preference will be given to proposals that focus on ethnic
and indigenous arts.
5. Eastern Europe and the Newly Independent States of the former
Soviet Union: Proposals for projects must focus on the exchange of arts
administrators or professionals dealing in the theatrical arts.
Proposals should clearly demonstrate knowledge of the host country
environment and the institutional partner in that country and provide
evidence of long-term commitment to project goals.
Program Exclusions
1. Projects should be artistic, intellectual, and cultural, not
technical. Vocational and technical training projects are ineligible
for support.
2. Scholarship programs or proposals for long-term academic study
or training are ineligible for support.
3. Speaking tours, conferences or seminars, research projects,
research for project development purposes, youth or youth-related
activities (participants' age under 25), publications, student and/or
faculty exchanges, or projects for the exchange of amateurs or semi-
professionals are all ineligible.
4. The Office of Arts America does not accept proposals to support
performing arts productions or tours, film or video festivals, film/
video installations, full-scale film production or distribution,
international arts competitions, community-level arts presentations or
festivals for general audiences, visual arts exhibits, museum projects
except for those under the AAM/IPAM program (see above), or projects in
the fields of historical and cultural conservation and preservation.
5. USIA is a major supporter of Sister Cities International and
Partners of the Americas. It has agreed to fund administrative expenses
of these organizations' national offices, but will not fund projects
arising from sister city and partner state relationships once they are
established.
Visa Insurance/Tax Requirements
Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations. Please refer to
program specific guidelines in Solicitation Package for further
details. Administration of the program must be in compliance with
reporting and withholding regulations for federal, state, and local
taxes as applicable. Recipient organizations should demonstrate tax
regulation adherence in the proposal narrative and budget.
Budgetary Requirements
1. These awards are limited to $200,000. We will consider requests
for $100,000 or more only for projects that are internationally
regional, multi-regional or worldwide in scope. Grants awarded to
eligible organizations with less than four years of experience in
conducting international exchange programs will be limited to $60,000.
2. 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.
Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete formatting
instructions. 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.
3. There must be minimum of 33% cost sharing of the project cost.
Cost sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs.
The recipient must maintain written records to support all allowable
costs which are claimed to be its contribution to cost participation,
as well as costs to be paid by the Federal Government. Such records are
subject to audit. The basis for determining the value of cash and in-
kind contributions must be in accordance with OMB Circular A-110,
Attachment E--Cost Sharing and Matching--and should be described in the
proposal. In the event the recipient does not provide a minimum of 33%
cost sharing following the award, the Agency's contribution will be
reduced in proportion to the recipient's contribution.
4. Administrative costs must be no more than 20% of the total
amount requested from USIA. Administrative costs are defined as
salaries, benefits and other direct and indirect costs incurred.
Important note for universities: The U.S. Information Agency defines
American faculty salaries as an administrative expense, regardless of
how the faculty time is to be used.
5. Allowable costs are those defined in the application packet,
which is available upon request.
6. The recipient's proposal shall include the cost of an audit
that:
--Complies with the requirements of OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of
Institutions of Higher Education and Other Nonprofit Institutions;
--Complies with the requirements of American Institutes of Certified
Public Accountants (AICPA) Statement of Position (SOP) No. 92-9; and
--Includes review by the recipient's independent auditor of a
recipient-prepared supplemental schedule of indirect cost rate
computation, if such a rate is being proposed.
The audit costs shall be identified separately for:
--Preparation of basic financial statements and other accounting
services;
--Preparation of the supplemental reports and schedules required by OMB
Circular No. A-133, AICPA SOP 92-9, and the review of the supplemental
schedule of indirect cost rate computation.
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 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 Agency
contracts office, as well as the USIA geographic area policy 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 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 Agency's
mission and the goals of the Creative Arts Exchanges Program.
2. Program planning: Detailed agenda and relevant work plan should
demonstrate substantive artistic/organizational 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 the
recipient's commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding of
diversity.
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 Agency grants as determined by USIA's Office of
Contracts. USIA 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 USIA support) which insures that
USIA 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. USIA recommends that the proposal include a draft survey
questionnaire or other technique plus description of a methodology to
use to link outcomes to original project objectives. Award-receiving
organizations/institutions 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.
12. Value to U.S.-Partner Country Relations: Proposed programs
should receive positive assessments by USIA's geographic area desk and
overseas officers of program need, potential impact, and significance
in the partner country(ies).
Notice
The terms and conditions published in this RFP are binding and may
not be modified by any USIA representative. Explanatory information
provided by USIA 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 needs of the program may require the
award to be reduced, revised, or increased. 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 June 15, 1995. Awards made will be subject to
periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.
Dated: December 2, 1994.
Dell Pendergrast,
Deputy Associate Director, Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-30246 Filed 12-8-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M
