[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 57 (Thursday, March 25, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14503-14505]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-7001]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
Legislature Development Program for Nigeria
ACTION: Request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: The Africa/Near East/South Asia Division of the Office of
Citizen Exchanges of the United States Information Agency's Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for an
assistance award. U.S. public and private non-profit organizations
meeting the provisions described in IRS regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c) may
submit proposals to develop training programs. Grants are subject to
the availability of funds.
Overall grant making 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.'' The funding authority for the
program above is provided through the Fulbright-Hays Act.
Programs and projects must conform with Agency requirements and
guidelines outlined in the Solicitation Package.
Announcement Title and Number: All correspondence with USIA
concerning this RFP should reference the above title and number E/P-99-
42.
Deadline for Proposals: All proposal copies must be received at the
U.S. Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on April 26,
1999. Faxed documents will not be accepted at any time. Documents
postmarked the due date but received on a later date will not be
accepted.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Africa/Near East/South Asia
Division, Office of Citizen Exchanges, (E/PS), Room 216, U.S.
Information Agency, 301 Fourth Street, SW, Washington, DC 20547, attn:
Carol Jean Locke, tel: 202-205-0535; fax 202-619-4350 or Internet
address: clocke@usia.gov, to request a Solicitation Package. The
Solicitation Package contains detailed award criteria, required
application forms, specific budget instructions and standard guidelines
for proposal preparation.
To Download a Solicitation Package via Internet: The entire
Solicitation Package may be downloaded from USIA's website at http://e/
usia.gov/education/rfps. Please read all information before
downloading.
To Receive a Solicitation Package via Fax on Demand: The entire
Solicitation Package may be requested from the Bureau's ``Grants
Information Fax on Demand System,'' which is accessed by calling 202/
401-7616. The ``Table of Contents'' listing available documents and
order numbers should be the first order when entering the system.
Please specify USIA Program Officer Carol Jean Locke on all
inquiries and correspondence. Please 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
with applicants until the proposal review process has been completed.
Submissions: Applicants must follow all instructions in the
Solicitation Package. The original and ten (10) copies of the
application should be sent to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.:
T3E/P-99-42, Office of Grants Management, E/XE, Room 326, 301 Fourth
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
Diversity, Freedom and Democracy 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 of Diversity'' section for specific
suggestions on incorporating diversity into the total proposal. Pub. L.
104-319 provides that ``in carrying out programs of educational and
cultural exchange in countries whose people do not fully enjoy freedom
and democracy,'' USIA ``shall take appropriate steps to provide
opportunities for participation in such programs to human rights and
democracy leaders of such countries.'' Proposals should reflect
advancement of this goal in their program contents, to the full extent
deemed feasible.
Program Information
Overview: USIA is interested in proposals which will assist in the
development of staff and their services in the National Legislature of
Nigeria. Exchanges and training programs supported by Office of Citizen
Exchanges institutional grants should operate at two levels: they
should promote institutional relationships; and they should offer
practical information to individuals to assist them with their
professional responsibilities. Strong proposals usually have the
following characteristics: an existing or likely partner relationship
between an American organization and a counterpart institution
overseas; a proven track record of conducting program activity; cost-
sharing from American and/or in-country sources, including donations of
air fares, hotel and/or housing costs, experienced staff with language
facility, or other resources valuable to the program; and a clear,
convincing plan showing how permanent results and continuing activity
will be implemented as a result of the activity funded by the grant.
USIA wants to see tangible forms of time and money contributed to the
project by the prospective American and grantee institutions, as well
as funding from third-party sources.
Unless otherwise specified below, project activity may include:
Study tours; short-term training; consultations; and extended,
intensive workshops taking place as elements in a two-way exchange in
the United States and in Nigeria. Proposals should reflect the
applicant's understanding of the political, economic, and social
[[Page 14504]]
environment in which the program activity will take place.
Applicants should design programs for English speakers. Programs
can take place in the United States and in Nigeria. USIA is interested
in proposals whose designs take into account the need for ongoing
sharing of information, training and concrete plans for self-
sustainability. Examples include: Support for course syllabi and
training venues in Nigeria; plans to create professional networks or
professional associations to share information; establishing ongoing
Internet communication; and/or train-the-trainers models.
USIA will consider proposals that respond to the following specific
objectives.
Nigerian Legislature Staff Development
Nigeria's recent open national elections have signaled a change in
the political climate. The time has come to assist democratic
institutions in the development of their capabilities and with
attention to the following influences on transparent and effective
government: checks and balances through the separation of powers;
development of effective executive-legislative relations as well as a
clear and fair legislative process; respect for cultural and ethnic
diversity; ethics; the role of staff; constituent services; and media
relations.
USIA is looking for proposals for a progressive set of activities
in legislative staff development that will follow a separate USIA-
sponsored International Visitor program, scheduled for June 1999, for
elected leaders in the new Nigerian national legislature. The proposal
should lay out a multi-phase program that would establish links between
U.S. and Nigerian legislative staffs and that would build expertise and
momentum in a network that would take on a life of its own. USIA
recommends that major program phases include Americans travelling to
Nigeria in July-August 1999 and Nigerians travelling to the U.S. in the
fall of 1999.
After initial get-acquainted activities, each follow-on phase would
focus on one or more distinct elements of staff responsibility, such as
fiscal analysis, legislative drafting, staff administration,
constituent relations, research methods, and information resources and
technology. These purposes would be achieved through exposure to and
work with U.S. Congressional and state legislative staffers to see how
their offices are organized, how staff supports the member, how staff
keeps members informed of constituent views, and how all this
facilities the work of Congress or state legislatures. It is important
that the cooperation of staffers, who work together in a spirit of
compromise to create meaningful legislation, be demonstrated. The U.S.
phase might include 2-3 weeks in Congress and 1-2 weeks in State
Legislatures, for a maximum total of 4 weeks, made up of briefings,
shadowing and collaborative activities which stimulate learning and
sharing.
Participants are envisioned to be ten or twelve newly appointed
staff who will be responsible for the establishment and administration
of the new National Assembly of Nigeria. The participants must be
emerging leaders in staff development, be influential, have assignment
authority, and be able to hire and fire subordinate staff. It is
anticipated that relationships would be established that would lead to
continued contact. Selection of Nigerian participants in the program
should be made in consultation with USIS-Lagos, which retains the right
to accept or deny nominations from other sources. First phase
implementation should begin in the summer of 1999.
Visa Regulations
Foreign participants on programs sponsored by the Office of Citizen
Exchanges are granted J-1 Exchange Visitor visas by the U.S. Embassy in
the sending country. All programs must comply with J-1 visa
regulations. Please refer to Solicitation Package for further
information.
Project Funding
Since USIA grant assistance constitutes only a portion of total
project funding, proposals should list and provide evidence of other
sources of financial and in-kind support. Proposals with substantial
private sector support from foundations, corporations and other
institutions will be considered highly competitive.
Applicants Are Requested To Submit Proposals Not To Exceed $130,000 in
Funding From USIA
Applicants are invited to provide both an all-inclusive budget as
well as separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase,
location or activity in order to facilitate USIA decisions on funding.
While a comprehensive line item budget based on the model in the
Solicitation Package must be submitted, separate component budgets are
optional.
The following project costs are eligible for consideration for
funding:
1. International and domestic air fares; visas; transit costs;
ground transportation costs.
2. Per Diem. For the US program, organizations have the option of
using a flat $160/day for program participants or the published US
Federal per diem rates for individual US cities. For activities outside
of the US, the published Federal per diem rates must be used. NOTE: US
escorting staff must use the published Federal per diem rates, not the
flat rate. Per diem rates may be accessed at http://
www.policyworks.gov/.
3. Book and cultural allowance. Participants are entitled to and
escorts are reimbursed a one-time cultural allowance of $150 per
person, plus a participant book allowance of $50. U.S. staff do not
receive these benefits.
4. Consultants. Consultants may be used to provide specialized
expertise or to make presentations. Daily honoraria generally do 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 in the proposal.
6. Room rental. Room rental 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, excluding room rental. 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 may be provided to each
participant to be used for incidental expenditures during international
travel.
10. All USIA-funded delegates will be covered under the terms of
USIA-sponsored health insurance policy. The premium is paid by USIA
directly to the insurance company.
11. Administrative Costs. Other costs necessary for the effective
administration of the program including salaries for grant organization
employees, benefits and other direct and indirect costs are described
in the detailed instructions in application package. While this
announcement does not prescribe a rigid ratio of administrative to
program costs, in general priority will be given to proposals whose
administrative costs are less than twenty-five (25) percent of the
total requested from USIA. Proposals should show cost-sharing,
including both contributions from the applicant and from other sources.
Please refer to the Application Package for complete budget
guidelines.
[[Page 14505]]
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. All eligible proposals will be reviewed by the
program office, as well as the USIA Office of African Affairs and the
USIA/USIS posts in Nigeria. Eligible proposals will be forwarded to
panels of USIA officers for advisory review. Proposals may also be
reviewed by the Office of the General Counsel or by other Agency
elements. Final funding decisions are at the discretion of USIA's
Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final
technical authority for assistance awards (grants or cooperative
agreements) resides with the USIA Grants Officer.
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 USIA. 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. USIA 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 Criteria
Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed
according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are not rank
ordered.
1. Program Planning and Ability to Achieve Objectives. Program
objectives should be stated clearly and precisely and should reflect
the applicant's expertise in the subject area and the region.
Objectives should respond to the priority topics in this announcement
and should relate to the current conditions in the included countries.
Objectives should be reasonable and attainable. A detailed work plan
should explain step by step how objectives will be achieved, including
a timetable for completion of major tasks and activities and an outline
of the selection process. The substance of the seminars, presentations,
workshops, consulting, internships and itineraries should be spelled
out in detail. Responsibilities of in-country partners should be
clearly described.
2. 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.
3. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive
support for the Bureau'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).
4. Institutional Capability: Proposed personnel and institutional
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program's
goals. The narrative should demonstrate proven ability to handle
logistics. Proposals should reflect the institution's expertise in the
subject area and knowledge of the conditions in the targeted region(s).
5. Follow-on Activities: Proposals should provide a plan for
continued follow-on activity (without USIA support) ensuring that USIA-
supported programs are not isolated events.
6. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan and
methodology to evaluate the program's successes, both as activities
unfold and at the end of the program. USIA recommends that the proposal
include a draft survey questionnaire or other technique plus
description and/or plan for use of another measurement technique (such
as a focus group) to link outcomes to original project objectives.
7. Cost-effectiveness and Cost Sharing: Overhead and administrative
costs in the proposal, including salaries, subcontracts for services
and honoraria, should be kept low. 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. Organizations will be
expected to cooperate with USIA in evaluating their programs under the
principles of the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993, which
requires federal agencies to measure and report on the results of their
programs and activities.
Notification
Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by
Congress, allocated and committed through internal USIA procedures.
Dated: March 16, 1999.
Judith S. Siegel,
Deputy Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 99-7001 Filed 3-24-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M
