[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 52 (Thursday, March 17, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-6263]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: March 17, 1994]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
Enrichment Programs for Self-Sponsored International Students and
U.S. Government-Sponsored International Grantees in the Washington, DC,
Metropolitan Area
ACTION: Notice; request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United
States Information Agency (USIA) seeks applications from non-profit
organizations in the Washington, DC metropolitan area to coordinate and
implement programs which enhance the experience of international
students attending colleges and universities in the Washington, DC
area. The recipient will develop programs which serve to familiarize
international students with Washington's complex cultural, political,
and ethnic structures and provide a bridge between the campus
environment and the community. It will also provide off-campus services
to international students visiting Washington, DC.
The recipient will also provide support for Fulbright enrichment
programs for foreign grantees in the Washington, DC area. Enrichment
programs should be designed primarily for Fulbright students, but may
include teachers, senior scholars, and other participants in programs
supported by USIA. USIA anticipates awarding up to $70,000 for the
implementation and coordination of both these programs. This support is
not intended to replace private efforts in this field but rather to
supplement such efforts with financial assistance.
ANNOUNCEMENT NAME AND NUMBER: All communications with USIA concerning
this announcement should refer to the above title and reference number
E/ASA-94-01.
DATES: Deadline for proposals: All proposals must be received at the
U.S. Information Agency by close of business (5 p.m., Eastern Standard
Time) Friday, April 22, 1994. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor
will documents postmarked on April 22, 1994, but received at a later
date.
DURATION: The duration of the grant should be from July 1, 1994 through
June 30, 1995. Programs may begin no earlier than July 1, 1994. No
funds may be expended until the grant agreement is signed.
ADDRESSES: A total of fifteen copies of the application should be
submitted to the office below. Three copies (one a signed original)
should include the completed application, including tabs A-U; the other
12 copies should include tabs A-D. U.S. Information Agency, Reference
number: E/ASA-94-01, Grants Management Division, E/XE, 301 4th Street
SW., room 336, Washington, DC 20547.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Interested U.S. organizations should
contact Suzanne Dawkins at the U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th Street
SW., Advising and Student Services Branch (E/ASA), room 349,
Washington, DC 20547, 202-619-5594 or 202-619-5434 to request detailed
application packets, which include award criteria additional to this
announcement, all necessary forms, and guidelines for preparing
proposals, including specific budget preparation information.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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.
Overall authority for this program is contained in the Mutual
Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended, Public Law
87-256 (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 all Agency
requirements and guidelines and are subject to final review by the USIA
contracting officer.
Overview
An ideal program would include the following elements: Direct
services, community outreach programs, and workshops that provide
international students with an opportunity to experience the United
States--its history, culture, values, policies, and life-styles.
Programs should support self-sponsored international students as well
as Fulbright students, teachers, senior scholars, and other
participants in programs supported by USIA.
Guidelines
General/Organizational
The recipient will provide programs which enhance the experiences
of self-sponsored and U.S. Government-sponsored international students
either attending colleges and universities in the Washington, D.C. area
or visiting the area. Government-sponsored grantees include Fulbright
students, teachers, seniors scholars, and other participants in
programs supported by USIA.
Proposals should include a listing of names and titles of the
executive officer(s) of the applicant and of the person(s) directly
responsible for the project. Resumes or vitae of key personnel should
be provided. USIA recommends the inclusion of brochures and general
information concerning the applicant and evidence of previous
experience with international students in the proposal package.
Applicants should demonstrate the ability to recruit and maintain
the necessary cadre of volunteers required to participate in program
events.
Direct Services
Proposals should demonstrate the applicant's ability to provide a
variety of direct services to international students which may include:
The operation and maintenance of a housing referral service; the
publication of a newsletter; student orientation and re-entry programs;
and the organization of social and cultural events. Applicants should
also demonstrate a willingness to provide services to traveling foreign
students from outside the metropolitan area and show flexibility in
accommodating their requests.
Community Outreach
USIA seeks to enhance the experiences of international students
through contact with the greater community and to provide the residents
of Washington at-large an opportunity to participate in a mutually
enriching experience. The Agency encourages the inclusion of home
hospitality and community education programs in proposals.
Workshops
Another goal of this project is the identification of international
graduate students who have leadership potential and whose participation
in specially tailored programs may make a substantial contribution to
mutual understanding and communication between the U.S. and their home
country in the future. International leadership workshops are
considered integral to the accomplishment of this goal.
Therefore, proposals should include specifics concerning the design
and implementation of workshops capable of accommodating at least
twenty (20) international student participants each. Workshops should
address such topics as: foreign policy, international trade and
business, mass media, and other issues relevant to potential
international leaders.
An outline of proposed workshop activities should be included in
proposals. The outline should demonstrate the recipient's ability to
enlist the participation of informed lecturers, keynote speakers, and/
or presenters whose credentials and experience are evidence of in-depth
knowledge of workshop topics. Invited speakers should provide
international students with access to expertise and insights not
otherwise available to them.
The recipient will also be responsible for soliciting nominations
of workshop participants from colleges and universities in the
Washington, DC metropolitan area.
Proposed Budget
Applicants must submit a comprehensive line-item budget for which
specific details are available in the application packet. The budget
award should not exceed $70,000: $20,000 for Fulbright enrichment
programs and $50,000 for the activities of self-sponsored students. The
applicant should submit separate line-item budges for (1) Fulbright
enrichment (not to exceed $20,000); and (2) self-sponsored foreign
grantees (not to exceed $50,000). Grants awarded to eligible
organizations with less than four years of experience in conducting
international exchange programs will be limited to $60,000.
Cost-sharing is encouraged. 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 as being its
contribution to cost participation, as well as cost 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 A110, Attachment E--Cost sharing and
matching 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.
The recipient's proposal shall include the cost of an audit that:
(1) Complies with the requirements of OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of
Institutions of Higher Education and Other Nonprofit institutions; (2)
complies with the requirements of American Institute of Certified
Public Accountants (AICPA) Statement of Position (SOP) No. 92-9; and
(3) 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: (1) Preparation
of basic financial statements and other accounting services; and (2)
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.
Applicants should refer to the application package for a list of
allowable costs.
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 established herein and in the
application packet. Eligible proposals will be forwarded to panels of
USIA officers for advisory review. All eligible proposals will also be
reviewed by the appropriate geographic area office, and the budget and
contracts offices. Proposals may also be reviewed by the Agency's
Office of General Counsel. 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.
Review Criteria
Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed
according to the following criteria:
a. Quality of Program Plan
Proposals should exhibit a through knowledge and understanding of
the needs of students living in the Washington metropolitan area, and
exhibit originality, substance, and rigor.
b. Program Planning
Proposals must include a detailed agenda and relevant workplan of
program activities. The agenda should adhere to the program overview
and guidelines described above.
c. Ability To Achieve Program Objectives/Institutional Capacity
Proposed personnel and institutional resources should be adequate
and appropriate to achieve the program goals and adhere to the
guidelines described above. The applicant should demonstrate an ability
to recruit and maintain a volunteer cadre and a relationship with
colleges and universities in the Washington metropolitan area to
successfully accomplish the goals of the program.
d. Multiplier Effect/Impact
Program activities should be designed to foster long-term mutual
understanding between citizens of the United States and other
countries.
e. Institution's Track Record/Ability
Proposals should demonstrate a track record of successful programs,
including responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all
reporting requirements for Agency grants. The Agency will consider the
past performance of prior grantees and the demonstrated potential of
new applicants.
f. Evaluation Plan:
Proposals should provide a plan for evaluation by the grantee
institution, including periodic progress reports.
g. Cost-Effectiveness
The overhead and administrative components of grants, as well as
salaries and honoraria, should be kept as low as possible. All other
items should be necessary and appropriate.
h. Cost-Sharing
Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through other private
secteor support as well as instiutional direct-funding contributions.
Evidence of such cost sharing should be detailed in the proposal.
Notice
The terms and conditions published in the 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. Final awards cannot be made until funds
have been fully appropriated by Congress, and 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, 1994. Funded proposals will be subject to
periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.
Dated: March 12, 1994.
Barry Fulton,
Associate Director, Acting Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-6263 Filed 3-16-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M
