[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 61 (Thursday, March 30, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16529-16531]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-7863]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
Management of the Summer Institute for EFL Teacher Trainers in
Eastern/Central Europe and the NIS
ACTION: Notice--request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Academic Programs, English Language programs
Division, Programs Branch, of the United States Information Agency's
Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition
for an assistance award. Public and private non-profit organizations
meeting the provisions described in IRS regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c)(3)-1
may apply to conduct a five- to six-week Summer Institute for up to 20
EFL teacher trainers from Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech
Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia,
Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine. The exact
number of participants will be contingent on available funding.
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 Hayes 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 Name and Number: All communications with USIA
concerning this announcement should refer to the above title and
reference number E/ALP-95-02.
Deadline for Proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S.
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on Friday, April 21,
1995. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents
postmarked on April 21 but received at a later date. It is the
responsibility of each applicant to ensure that proposals are received
by the above deadline. Grants should begin by July 5; the program
should not run over 6 weeks: it should begin the weekend of July 15 and
conclude the week of August 20, 1995.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Office of Academic Programs,
English Language Programs Division, E/ELP--Room 304, U.S. Information
Agency, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 220547, telephone number
202-619-5869, fax number 202-401-1250 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 USIA
Program Officer/Specialist Marguerite Hess on all industries and
correspondences. Interested applicants should read the complete Federal
Register announcement before addressing inquiries to the Office of
Academic Programs, English Language Programs Division, Programs Branch,
or submitting their proposals. Once the RFP deadline has passed, the
Office of Academic Programs, English Language [[Page 16530]] Program
Division, Programs Branch, may not discuss this competition in any way
with applicants until the Bureau proposal review process has been
completed.
ADDRESSES: Applicants must follow all instructions given in the
Solicitation Package. The original and 10 copies of the complete
application should be sent to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/ALP-95-
02, Office of Grants Management, E/XE, Room 336, 301 4th Street, S.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20547.
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. ``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.
Overview
The U.S. Information Agency (USIA) is soliciting proposals from
U.S. professional or educational not-for-profit institutions/
organizations to hold a 5-6 week Summer Institute, whose purpose will
be to prepare the participants to coordinate EFL teacher training
activities in their respective countries upon their return. The
Institute will therefore encompass curriculum design and program
management as well as training in methodology. Upon completion of the
program, graduates of the institution will work together with USIA EFL
Fellows who are already working in each country as part of the Eastern/
Central European and NIS EFL Fellow Program.
Guidelines
Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations. Please refer to
program specific guidelines (POGI) in the Solicitation Package for
further details.
Proposed Budget
The proposal must contain a comprehensive line item budget, based
on the specific guidance in the Solicitation Package. At this time, the
Agency has not determined the full funding level for FY'95.
Grants awarded to eligible organizations with less than four years
of experience in conducting international exchange programs will be
limited to $60,000.
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. 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.
Allowable costs for the program include the following:
Domestic Ground Travel
Book Allowance (not to exceed $400 per participant)
Weekly Stipend for participants
Meals and Lodging for participants and Washington, D.C. escort
Cultural Activities Fee
TESOL Membership Fee
Course/Accreditation Fees
Tax Guidance/Preparation
Educational/Course Materials
Administrative Expenses and Honoraria
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 guidlines 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 Agency contracts office, as well as the USIA Office of
Eastern European and NIS Affairs. 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
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: Proposals should exhibit
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to Agency mission.
2. Program planning: Detailed agenda and relevant work plan should
demonstrate substantive 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. 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 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 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 projects
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). [[Page 16531]]
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 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 30, 1995. Awards made will be subject to
periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.
Dated: March 22, 1995.
Dell Pendergrast,
Deputy Associate Director, Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 95-7863 Filed 3-29-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M
