[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 92 (Friday, May 13, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-11596]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: May 13, 1994]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
University Democratization in South Africa Program
AGENCY: United States Information Agency.
ACTION: Notice--request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Academic Programs (E/A) requests proposals from
post-secondary institutions to develop a program to assist educational
reform in South African post-secondary institutions as the country
moves towards a nonracial democracy. The purpose of the project is to
enable university student leaders and university student affairs
officials to undertake a program in management skills and conflict
resolution at a U.S. academic institution. The American institution
should also plan to coordinate post training follow-up activities in
South Africa. The institutional agreement will be for a period of two
years. Interested applicants are urged to read the complete Federal
Register announcement before requesting application packets from the
Office of Academic Programs.
DATES: Deadline for proposals: All copies must be received at the
United States Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on June
10, 1994. Proposals received after this deadline will not be eligible
for consideration.
Faxed documents will not be accepted nor will documents postmarked
on June 10, 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.
ADDRESSES: The original and 9 copies of the completed proposal
application, including required forms, should be submitted by the
deadline to: U.S. Information Agency, REF: University Democratization
in South Africa Program/RFP, Office of Grants Management (E/XE), room
336, 301 4th Street SW., Washington, DC 20547.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For general information and requests for application packets which
include all necessary forms and guidelines for preparing proposals,
including specific budget preparation information, contact Nancy
Searles, Branch Chief at (202) 619-5370, or Ellen Berelson, Deputy
Branch Chief, Africa Branch at (202) 619-5376, Fax: (202) 619-6137 or
write to the following address: Office of Academic Programs, rm. 232,
U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
The University Democratization in South Africa Program focuses on
education reform to enable students, faculty and administrators of
selected South African universities to shift from the confrontation of
an apartheid culture to the cooperation implicit in a democratic
society. This project will provide university student leaders and
university facility and administrative staff tasked with student
affairs management with training in conflict resolution and in
university administration. The South African institutions which will
participate are the University of Fort Hare, the University of
Zululand, the University of the North and the University of the Western
Cape.
Eligibility
In the U.S., participation in the program is open to accredited
two-year and four-year colleges and universities, including graduate
schools. Consortia of universities and/or community colleges,
individually or as systems, are also eligible. In South Africa,
participation is limited to the University of the Western Cape, the
University of Fort Hare, the University of the North, and the
University of Zululand. Proposals from a consortium may be submitted by
a member institution with authority to represent the consortium.
Participants representing the U.S. institution traveling under USIA
grant support must be U.S. citizens. Participants representing South
African institutions must be citizens, nationals, or permanent
residents of South Africa.
The Agency invites proposals from eligible Historically Black
Colleges and Universities (HBCU's) and other institutions in the U.S.
with significant minority student enrollment. Consortia of universities
including such institutions are also encouraged to apply.
Project Design
The project should begin with a conference in South Africa bringing
together American experts and South Africans students, instructors, and
staff to provide initial training in student affairs/educational
administration and conflict resolution and to develop subsequent
programming. Incorporating South African citizens' aspirations and
objectives into the overall training plan is crucial to the success of
the project.
The second phase of the project would focus on formal training at
the U.S. host institution. The administering U.S. institution, in
consultation with the United States Information Service offices (USIS)
in Pretoria, and the project participants would select a group of South
Africans to come to the U.S. institution for courses, workshops, and
guided research on student politics in democratic societies, managing
change in educational institutions, conflict resolution, and general
management skills. Research might focus upon creating a history of the
South African student movement, outlining its role in democratizing
educational institutions, and devising models for exercising student
power in a democratic South Africa. The U.S. academic experience should
be from six weeks to one semester in length. Longer stays for the
purpose of pursuing an advanced degree will not be sponsored.
Participants may enroll in established courses at the administering
institution. However, the institution should also be able to organize
customized training sessions for the group participants. The final
format of the academic program will depend upon consultation among the
U.S. and South African participants at the initial conference in South
Africa.
The final segment of the grant would be follow-up workshops
organized by the South African participants at their home institutions
with facilitation and consultation from the U.S. instructors in the
program. The U.S. institution may also propose to assist with
publication and dissemination of findings developed during the U.S.
training program and the final South African workshops.
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.
Budget
Competition for USIA funding is keen. The selection of a grantee
institution will depend on program substance, cross-cultural
sensitivity and ability to carry out the program successfully. Since
USIA cooperative assistance constitutes only a portion of total project
funding, proposals should list and provide evidence of other
anticipated sources of financial and in-kind support.
A proposal's cost-effectiveness, including in-kind contributions
and ability to keep administrative costs low, is a major consideration
in the review process.
Funding for this grant is limited to $250,000. Preference will be
given to the most competitive budget proposals. Qualified organizations
with less than four years of successful experience in managing
international exchange programs are limited to grants of $60,000.
A comprehensive line item budget should be submitted with the
proposal by the application deadline. Specific guidelines for budget
preparation are available in the application packet.
Application Requirements
Proposals must be submitted within the deadline and conform to the
program design. The proposal package should include one original and 14
complete copies and all required documentation. Proposal should be
presented as follows:
1. An executive summary (abstract), not to exceed two double-spaced
pages.
2. A narrative, not to exceed 20 double-spaced pages, showing the
intellectual rationale and goal of the program, how the program will
accomplish its goals and how it relates to USIA's mission to increase
mutual understanding between people of the United States and of other
societies. This section should include a concise description of the
project's work plan, spelling out program schedules, thematic agenda
and proposed itineraries. Participant selection should be discussed in
detail. This section should conclude with a discussion of any follow-up
activities planned; how the organization intends to evaluate the
project; and what groups, beyond the direct participants, will benefit
from the project.
3. A comprehensive line item budget. See application package.
4. Resumes (not to exceed two pages each) for key personnel.
5. Confirmation letters from foreign co-sponsors noting their
intention to participate in the program.
6. USIA compliance forms, furnished with the application package.
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 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:
1. Quality of Program: Quality of program plan, including quality
and rigor of the training, workshops and other activities as called for
in this request, thorough conception of project, and demonstration of
how participants' needs will be met.
2. Institutional Capability: Institutions should demonstrate their
potential for program excellence and/or provide documentation of
successful programs. If an organization is a previous USIA grant
recipient, responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all
reporting requirements for past Agency grants as determined by USIA's
Office of Contracts will be considered.
3. Project Personnel: Personnel's professional and logistical
expertise should be relevant to the proposed program. Resumes should be
relevant to the specific proposal.
4. Thematic Expertise: Proposal should demonstrate the
organization's expertise in the subject area.
5. Program Planning: Detailed agenda and work plan should
demonstrate substance and logistical capacity. Agenda and plan should
adhere to the program overview described above.
6. Ability to Achieve Program Objectives: Objectives should be
realistic and attainable. Proposals should clearly demonstrate how the
grantee institution will meet the program's objectives.
7. Cross-Cultural Sensitivity/Area Expertise: Proposal should
demonstrate sensitivity to historical, linguistic and other cross-
cultural factors, and relevant knowledge of South Africa.
8. Multiplier Effect: Proposed programs should strengthen long-term
mutual understanding and include maximum sharing of information.
9. Cost-Effectiveness: The overhead and administrative components
should be as low as possible. All other items proposed for USIA funding
should be necessary and appropriate to achieve the program's
objectives.
10. Cost-Sharing: Proposals should show cost-sharing through direct
funding contributions and in-kind support from the prospective grantee
institution.
11. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate
the activity's success.
12. Evidence of program sustainability after the expiration of USIA
funded grant.
Notice
The terms and conditions published in the RFP are binding any 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 award cannot be made until funds have
been fully 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 August 5, 1994. Awarded grants will be subject to
periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.
Dated: May 6, 1994.
Barry Fulton,
Acting Associate Director, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-11596 Filed 5-12-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M
