[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 39 (Thursday, February 27, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9018-9020]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4846]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
Summer Institute for EFL Educators From Francophone and Lusophone
Sub-Saharan Africa
ACTION: Notice; Request for Proposals.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Academic Programs, Academic Exchanges Division,
Africa Branch of the United States Information Agency's Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for an
assistance award. Accredited, post-secondary educational institutions
meeting the provisions described in IRS regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c)(3)-1
may apply to develop a Summer Institute for English-as-a-Foreign-
Language (EFL) Educators from Francophone and Lusophone Sub-Saharan
Africa. The Summer Institute will provide a six-week academic training/
development program in English-as-a-Foreign-Language for 16 teacher
trainers/educators and supervisors/inspectors of secondary schools
selected from sixteen French and Portuguese-speaking countries of Sub-
Saharan Africa.
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.'' The funding authority for the
program cited above is provided through the Fulbright-Hays Act.
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 TITLE AND NUMBER: All communications with USIA concerning
this announcement should refer to the above title and reference number
E/ AEA-97-02.
DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: All copies must be received at the U.S.
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on Thursday, April 3,
1997. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents
postmarked April 3, 1997, but received at a later date. It is the
responsibility of each applicant to ensure that proposals are received
by the above deadline.
The Summer Institute for EFL Educators should be programmed to
encompass about 45 days and should begin between June 15, 1997, and
July 13, 1997, depending on the host institution's academic calendar.
No funds may be expended until a grant agreement is signed with USIA's
Office of Contracts.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Office of Academic Programs,
Academic Exchanges Division, Africa Branch (E/ AEA), Ann J. Martin,
Program Officer, Room 232, U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th Street,
SW., Washington, DC 20547, phone: 202- 619-5371, fax: 202-619-6137, or
e-mail: amartin@usia.gov to request a Solicitation Package containing
more detailed award criteria, required application forms, and standard
guidelines for preparing proposals, including specific criteria for
preparation of the proposal budget.
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 the information provided
before downloading.
TO RECEIVE A SOLICITATION PACKAGE BY FAX: The entire solicitation
package may be requested via the Bureau's Grants Information ``Fax on
Demand'' System which is accessed by calling 202/401- 7616. The `Table
of Contents' containing document order numbers should be the first
document requested.
Please specify USIA Program Officer Ann J. Martin on all inquiries
and correspondence. Interested applicants should read the complete
Federal Register announcement before sending inquiries or submitting
proposals. Once the RFP deadline has passed, Agency staff may not
discuss this competition in any way with applicants until the Bureau
proposal review process has been completed.
SUBMISSIONS: Applicants must follow all instructions given in the
Solicitation Package. The original and 7 copies of the application
should be sent to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/AEA-97- 02, Office
of Grants Management, E/XE,
[[Page 9019]]
Room 326, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 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 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.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Program Overview
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States
Information Agency (USIA) solicits proposals for a Summer Institute for
English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) Educators from Francophone and
Lusophone Sub-Saharan Africa. The Summer Institute will provide a six-
week academic training/development program in English-as-a-Foreign-
Language, incorporating a U.S. cultural and educational experience, for
16 teacher trainers/educators and supervisors/inspectors of secondary
schools selected from sixteen French and Portuguese-speaking countries
of Sub-Saharan Africa. Subject to availability of funds, one grant will
be awarded to conduct the 1997 Institute.
USIA asks for detailed proposals from U.S. institutions of higher
education which have an acknowledged reputation in the field of
training teachers of English-as-a-foreign-language, special expertise
in handling cross-cultural programs, and experience with educational
systems in Sub-Saharan Africa and African educators.
Note: Applicant organizations should demonstrate a proven record
(at least four years) of experience in international exchange.
The general objective in the Institute is to support and encourage
the upgrading of the teaching of English at secondary school level in
French and Portuguese-speaking African countries. The specific
objectives of the 1997 Institute are to develop skills of training,
supervising, and evaluating teachers of EFL; to explore ways to
introduce and/or adapt current EFL teaching methods and materials to
local conditions in African countries, and to foster leadership
capabilities.
Guidelines
The proposal should be designed to support the following specific
activities:
(a) A five-week academic program with emphasis on developing the
capacities of teacher trainers/educators and supervisors/inspectors to
train, supervise, and evaluate teachers of EFL; to introduce and/or
adapt current EFL teaching methods and materials to local conditions in
African countries; and to assume leadership roles in their national EFL
education systems. Detailed academic objectives are set forth in the
Solicitation Package.
(b) Cultural activities facilitating interaction among the African
participants, American students, faculty, and administrators and the
local community to promote mutual understanding between the people of
the United States and the people of African countries, planned with the
five-week academic program.
(c) A one-week, escorted, cultural and educational tour of
Washington, D.C., complementing and reinforcing the academic material.
(d) Follow-on communication among participants and the U.S.
institution to continue exchanges of ideas developed during the
Institute.
(e) Assistance to participants to select, purchase and ship EFL
materials, to use in follow-on activities and training projects in
their home countries.
Participants will be selected by USIA, based on nominations from
USIA offices overseas. Minimum qualifications for all participants will
be the equivalent of BA/BS degrees from their national education
systems. Participants will enter the United States on J-visas, using
IAP-66 forms issued by USIA offices in the home country.
The U.S. institution should plan to conduct an initial needs
assessment of participants and should be prepared to adjust program
emphasis as necessary to respond to participants' concerns for EFL
education. Specific areas to address in the five-week academic program
follow:
1. New/current EFL teaching methodologies and approaches (theory
and practice).
2. Comprehensive coverage of classroom pedagogical issues and
classroom management skills (including special focus on large classes).
3. Teacher observation and evaluation practices.
4. Designing and conducting in-service training programs and
workshops for teachers.
5. Leadership training.
6. The introduction and/or adaptation of existing EFL materials to
local conditions in African countries and general materials development
procedures.
7. Development of local/regional professional EFL associations.
8. Introduction to Internet (WWW and e-mail) for professional
networking and development.
Few participants will have visited the United States previously. In
view of this, an initial orientation to the host institution community
and an introduction to U.S. society and system of education should be
considered an integral part of the Institute.
Management of the academic program, the cultural tour and on-site
arrangements will be the responsibility of the Institute grantee. The
host institution is responsible for arrangements for lodging, food,
maintenance and local travel for participants while at the host
institution and in Washington. USIA will arrange participants'
international travel. USIA will provide the host institution with
participants' curricula vitae and travel itineraries and will be
available to offer guidance throughout the Institute.
Proposed Budget
Applicants must submit a comprehensive line-item 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. The cost to
USIA for the Summer Institute for EFL Educators from Francophone and
Lusophone Africa should not exceed $95,000. Grants awarded to eligible
organizations with less than four years of experience in conducting
international exchange programs will be limited to $60,000.
Allowable costs for the program include the following:
(1) Instructional costs (for example: instructors' salaries,
honoraria for outside speakers, educational course materials);
(2) Lodging, meals, and incidentals for participants;
(3) Expenses associated with cultural activities planned for the
group of participants (for example: tickets, transportation);
(4) Administrative costs as necessary. Proposals should maximize
cost-sharing through private sector support as well as institutional
direct funding contributions.
[[Page 9020]]
Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget
guidelines and formatting instructions.
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. Eligible proposals will be forwarded to panels of
USIA officers for advisory review. All eligible proposals will be
reviewed by the program office, as well as the USIA Office of African
Affairs and the USIA post overseas, where appropriate. Proposals may 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 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. Quality of the program idea: Proposal should exhibit quality,
rigor, and appropriateness of proposed syllabus to the academic
objectives of the Institute. Proposal should demonstrate effective use
of community and regional resources to enhance the cultural and
educational experiences of participants.
2. Program planning: Relevant work plan and detailed calendar
should demonstrate substantive undertakings and logistical capacity.
Plan and calendar should adhere to the program overview and guidelines
described above.
3. Institutional capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve a substantive
academic EFL program and effective cross-cultural communication with
African participants. Proposals should show evidence of strong on-site
administrative capabilities with specific discussion of how logistical
arrangements will be undertaken.
4. Multiplier effect/impact: Proposed program should contribute to
long-term, mutual understanding and sharing of information about Africa
among Americans, as well as to the understanding and knowledge of the
U.S. among the African participants.
5. Support of diversity: Proposals should demonstrate the
recipient's commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding of
diversity. Program administrators should strive for diversity among
Institute staff, university students, and the host community who
interact with participants.
6. Ability to achieve program objectives: Teaching objectives
should be reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly
demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's objectives and
plan.
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. The Agency 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 ensures that
USIA supported programs are not isolated events.
9. Project evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate
the Summer Institute's success, both as the activities unfold and at
the end of the program.
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.
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, allocated and committed through internal USIA procedures.
Dated: February 24, 1997.
Dell Pendergrast,
Deputy Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 97-4846 Filed 2-26-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M
