[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 34 (Friday, February 18, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-3679]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: February 18, 1994]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
AR Local Government Project
AGENCY: United States Information Agency.
ACTION: Notice--request for proposals.
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TITLE: Public Administration at the Municipal Level: A Program for the
American Republics.
SUMMARY: The Office of Citizen Exchanges (E/P) announces a competitive
grants program for non-profit organizations to develop programs in the
area of local government/public administration. The project should link
the U.S. organization's international exchange interests with
counterpart institutions or groups in the American Republics.
Interested applicants are urged to read the complete Federal
Register announcement before addressing inquiries to the Office or
submitting their proposals. After the deadline for submitting
proposals, USIA officers may not discuss this competition in any way
with applicants until final decisions are made.
ANNOUNCEMENT NAME AND NUMBER: All communications concerning this
announcement should refer to the AR LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROJECT. This
announcement number is E/P-94-24. Please refer to this title and number
in all correspondence or telephone calls to USIA.
DATES: Deadline for Proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S.
Information Agency by 5 p.m., Washington, DC time on March 24, 1994.
Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents postmarked
March 24, 1994, but received at a later date.
It is the responsibility of each grant applicant to ensure that
proposals are received by the above deadline. The grant project
activity should begin after July 1, 1994.
ADDRESSES: The original and 14 copies of the completed application and
required forms should be submitted by the deadline to: U.S. Information
Agency, Ref: AR Local Government Project (E/P-94-24), Grants Management
Division (E/XE), 301 4th Street, SW., room 336, Washington, DC 20547.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Interested organizations, institutions
should contact: Benjamin Cromer, American Republics and East Asia and
Pacific Division, Office of Citizen Exchanges (E/P), room 220, United
States Information Agency, 301 Fourth Street, SW., Washington, DC
20547. Please telephone 202-619-5326 or fax 202-619-4350 to request
detailed application packets, which include award criteria, all
necessary forms, and guidelines for preparing proposals, including
specific budget preparation.
Objectives of the AR Local Government Training Program
The Office of Citizen Exchanges (E/P) of the United States
Information Agency proposes a two-way exchange program for municipal
officials from the American Republics to study U.S. public
administration. This exchange will involve two components: A two-week
U.S. study tour by a delegation from the American Republics with a
follow-on visit to the region by U.S. public administration experts.
The U.S. tour will include stops in Washington and several small and
large cities and towns; in Washington, the delegation would meet with
officials of such organizations such as the U.S. League of Cities and
the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
Program Guidelines: National governments in the American Republics
are increasingly decentralizing government, transferring such essential
services as health care and education from the federal and state level
to the cities. Moreover, these governments are looking toward the U.S.
for successful models to assist them in these efforts.
Reforms currently underway in the region include modernization of
local administrative operations, and improvements in sanitation,
education, and social services. Furthermore, in Argentina, the Interior
Ministry has unveiled new political reforms aimed at cities, such as
granting legal status to municipal political parties and giving voters
the power to recall elected officials. Assisting and influencing these
developments is an invaluable investment in democracy building and
another tool in the fight against official corruption in Latin America.
USIA is interested in proposals for programs that will foster
effective administration of local and regional governments in the
region. Programs might examine and seek to improve relationships among
local executive, legislative, and judicial elements, or they might
address the knowledge and skills necessary to administer one or more of
these branches of local government.
Program topics could include judicial administration, budget
development, financial management, tax policies and mechanisms,
election practices, management of municipal services, privatization of
government property, consumer protection, business regulation (as
opposed to control), licensing, or environmental protection. Programs
might further the development of information and library systems
relevant to local government or improve committee and staff structures
of local governments.
Study tours could examine specific issues such as city-state and
state-federal relations, explaining how local governments implement
state and federal programs, and the workings of city administrations,
exploring how cities can increase efficiency, reduce costs, improve
services, and satisfy local environmental concerns such as sewage
treatment and recycling requirements.
Training in the American Republics should be conducted mostly in
local centers, preferably those outside the capital city. Projects
should lay the groundwork for new and continuing links between
professional organizations in the U.S. and the American Republics.
The political climate facing U.S. cities, including municipal
elections participation by citizens in local elections, and the roles
of city managers, mayors, and city councils, is another aspect that
should be addressed.
Pursuant to the Bureau's authorizing legislation, grant programs
must maintain a non-political character and should be balanced and
representative of the diversity of American political, social and
cultural life.
Selection of Participants: Participants will be selected by USIS
Posts. Delegates should speak Spanish, or if they are from a non-
Spanish speaking country in Latin America, understand Spanish. Elected
and appointed officials from the Southern Cone region will be given
higher priority in the selection process, however, delegates from other
countries in the American Republics such as Colombia and Venezuela can
be included. Moreover, countries such as Honduras and Venezuela that
have recently introduced direct elections of local officials will be
given higher priority.
Delegates will also be selected for their ability to influence
local public administration in their home country. For instance,
Argentinean participants may be members of the National Academy of
Public Administration, which is establishing an Institute of City
Administration in Argentina, or from provinces where reforms are in
place. A byproduct of the program will be the interaction among
delegates who will be able to discuss common problems, and potential
solutions, with their peers.
This project will be executed by a U.S. not-for-profit institution
that, through its proposal, illustrates extensive experience and
success in coordinating international exchange programs. U.S.
organizations with established working relationships with counterpart
institutions in the American Republics will receive priority
consideration under this competition. At the conclusion of this
exchange, the grantee will conduct participant evaluations and submit a
final report to USIA.
Funding: Competition for USIA funding support is intense. Selection
of a grantee institution is based on the substantive nature of the
program proposal; the applicant's professional capability to carry the
program through to successful conclusion; and cost effectiveness such
as in-kind contributions and the ability to keep overhead costs at a
minimum.
USIA can devote up to $175,000 for this project; however,
organizations with fewer than four years of successful experience in
managing international exchange programs are limited to $60,000, and
their budget submission should correspond to this limitation.
All proposals should demonstrate in-depth, substantive knowledge of
the relevant issues, established connections with partner institutions,
and the capacity to organize and conduct the program. Organizational
abilities include: appropriate orientation activities for the
participants; detailed work plan for all phases of the project;
tentative agendas for study tours, workshops, and internships; letters
of commitment from internship hosts; and selection procedures.
Applicants may wish to consult the USIS office at the appropriate
U.S. Embassy before submitting proposals.
USIA will give priority to proposals from U.S. organizations with
partner organizations in the American Republics that can help ensure
the program meets its goals and objectives. Applicants are encouraged
to demonstrate partner relationships by providing copies of
correspondence or other materials as appendices to proposals.
Moreover, these partner institutions are encouraged to provide
cost-sharing or significant in-kind contributions such as local
housing, transportation, interpreting, translating and other local
currency costs and to assist with the organization of projects.
Materials Development: USIA encourages the development, where
needed, of written, audio and video materials in the local language to
enhance the programs. For example, if not already available, glossaries
of specialized terms in local government or public administration might
be developed.
Scope: Proposals should limit their focus to local governance.
Proposals for programs that are broader in scope will be eligible, but
are less likely to receive USIA support. USIA encourages proposals that
feature ``train the trainers'' models; the creation of indigenous
training centers; schemes to create professional networks or
professional associations to disseminate information; and other
enduring aspects.
Participant Selection: All grant proposals must clearly describe
the type of persons who will participate in the program as well as the
process by which participants will be selected.
Programs in support of internships in the U.S. must include letters
tentatively committing host institutions to support the internships. In
the selection of all foreign participants, USIA and USIS Posts retain
the right to nominate participants and to accept or deny participants
recommended by the program institution.
While applicants must provide an all-inclusive budget with the
proposal, they may also include separate sub-budgets for each program
component, phase, location, or activity. Competition for USIA funding
support is keen. Please note: All participants will be covered under
the terms of a USIA-sponsored health insurance policy. The premium is
paid by USIA directly to the insurance company.
The following costs are eligible for funding:
1. Transportation costs. International and domestic air fares,
visas, transit costs, and ground transportation costs are eligible for
funding.
2. Per Diem. For the U.S. program, organizations have the option of
using a flat $140/day for program participants or the published U.S.
Federal per diem rates for individual American cities. For activities
outside the U.S., the published federal per diem rates must be used.
Note: Grantee staff must use the published federal per diem
rates, not the flat rate.
3. Interpreters. Interpreters for the U.S. program are provided by
the U.S. State Department Language Services Division. Generally, two
simultaneous interpreters are provided for every four visitors who need
interpretation. USIA grants do not pay for foreign interpreters to
accompany delegations from their home country. Grant proposal budgets
should contain a flat $140/day per diem for each Department of State
(DOS) interpreter, as well as home-program-home air transportation of
$400 per interpreter plus any U.S. travel expenses during the program.
Salary expenses for interpreters are covered elsewhere and should not
be part of an applicant's proposed budget.
4. Book and cultural allowance. Participants are entitled to a one-
time cultural allowance of $150 per person, in addition to a book
allowance of $50. Escorts are reimbursed for actual cultural expenses
up to $150. U.S. staff do not receive these allowances.
5. Consultants. Consultants may be employed to provide specialized
expertise or to make presentations. Generally, honoraria should not
exceed $250 per day.
Subcontracting organizations may also be used, in which case the
written agreement between the prospective grantee and subcontractor
should be included with the proposal.
6. Room rental. Room rental generally should not exceed $250 per
day.
7. Materials development. Proposals may contain costs to purchase,
develop, and translate materials for participants.
8. One working meal per project. Per capita costs may not exceed
$5-$8 for a lunch and $14-$20 for a dinner; this amount includes room
rental if applicable. The number of invited guests may not exceed
participants by more than a factor of two to one.
9. A return travel allowance of $70 for each participant. This
allowance is for incidental expenditures incurred during international
travel.
10. Costs for an audit. The proposal MUST include the cost of an
audit that:
a. Complies with the requirements of OMB circular No. 1-133, Audits
of Institutions of Higher Education and Other Nonprofit Institutions;
b. Complies with the requirements of the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Statement of Position (SOP) No.
92-9; and
c. 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:
a. Preparation of basic financial statements, and other accounting
services; and
b. 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.
11. Cost-sharing. Cost-sharing in the form of allowable direct or
indirect costs is encouraged. The recipient must maintain written
records to support all allowable costs claimed as being its
contribution to cost participation, as well as costs to be paid by the
U.S. 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 the minimum
amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the recipient's budget, the
Agency's contribution will be reduced in proportion to the recipient's
contribution.
Application Requirements: Proposals must be structured in
accordance with the instructions contained in the application package.
Review Process: USIA 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 established
herein and in the application packet. Eligible proposals will be
forwarded to panels of USIA officers for advisory review. Proposals are
reviewed by USIS posts and by USIA's Office of American Republics.
Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of General Counsel or
other Agency offices. Funding decisions are at the discretion of the
Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final
technical authority for grant awards resides with USIA's contracting
officer.
The award of any grant is subject to availability of funds. The
U.S. Government reserves the right to reject any or all applications
received. USIA will not pay for design and development costs associated
with submitting a proposal. Applications are submitted at the risk of
the applicant; should circumstances prevent award of a grant all
preparation and submission costs are at the applicant's expense.
USIA will not award funds for activities conducted prior to the
actual grant award.
Review Criteria: USIA will consider proposals based on the
objectives stated in this RFP, as well as the following criteria:
1. Quality of Program Idea: Proposals should exhibit originality
and relevance to USIA's mission, and demonstrate a clearly defined
need.
2. Institutional Ability/Capacity/Record: Applicants should
demonstrate the potential for program excellence by documenting
previous successful programs. If an organization is a former USIA grant
recipient, responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all
reporting requirements for past USIA grants is essential.
3. Project Personnel: Thematic and logistical expertise should be
relevant to the proposed program. Resumes included with the proposal
should reflect this relevance.
4. Program Planning: A detailed work plan should provide time-lines
for the accomplishment of each phase of the project and clearly
demonstrate how the grantee institution will meet these deadlines. In
addition, the work plan should indicate how it will accomplish project
goals.
5. Thematic Expertise: Proposals should demonstrate the
organization's expertise in the subject area.
6. Cross-Cultural Expertise and Area Expertise: Proposals should
show evidence of sensitivity to historical, linguistic, and other
cross-cultural factors, as well as relevant knowledge of the target
area/country.
7. Multiplier Effect/Follow-On Activities: Proposed programs should
strengthen long-term mutual understanding, facilitate sharing of
information, and establish long-term institutional and individual
relationships. Proposals should also reflect an institution's
commitment to continued exchange activity beyond the term of the USIA
grant.
8. Cost-Effectiveness: Overhead and administrative costs should be
kept as low as possible. All other items proposed for USIA funding
should be necessary and appropriate to achieve the program's
objectives.
9. Cost-Sharing: Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through
other private sector support as well as direct funding contributions
and/or in-kind support from the prospective grantee institution.
10. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate
the activity's success. The applicant should include a draft of a
questionnaire or other evaluation technique to demonstrate which
evaluation method will be utilized. Applicants will be expected to
submit intermediate reports after each project component is concluded,
or quarterly, whichever is less frequent.
Note: 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 U.S. Government. Awards cannot
be made until funds have been fully appropriated by the U.S.
Congress and allocated and committed through internal USIA
procedures. Applicants will be notified of the results of the review
process on or about June 1, 1994. Awarded grants will be subject to
periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.
Dated: February 10, 1994.
Barry Fulton,
Acting Associate Director, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
FR Doc. 94-3679 Filed 2-17-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M
