[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 97 (Friday, May 19, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26920-26922]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-12351]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
Administration of the 1996 U.S. Based Training Program for
Overseas Educational Advisers
ACTION: Notice--request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: The Advising and Student Services Branch of the United States
Information Agency's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
announces an open competition for an assistance award. The proposal,
which can be submitted by public and private non-profit organizations
meeting the provisions described in IRS regulation 26 CFR 1.501(C)(3)-
1, should describe the design of two training programs for USIA-
affiliated mid-level overseas educational advisers to be held in late
spring and fall of 1996. The training programs' objectives are to
strengthen and develop the skills of more experienced overseas
educational advisers so that they can train beginning advisers and
advance the field of educational advising in their home countries. A
successful training program should provide in-depth exposure to the
mechanics of international study on a U.S. university campus
(admissions and international office), advances in technology
(internet), and outreach strategies, (fundraising and management of
volunteers). Each session should last three weeks, with a beginning
week in Washington, DC or other suitable city for workshops, research
opportunities and discussions; a one-week to ten-day internship at a
U.S. college or university campus for an in-depth exposure to
international student admission and advising; and approximately one
week or less at either the National NAFSA: Association of International
Educators Conference in late May or one of the regional NAFSA
conferences in the fall. Further clarification is provided in the
application package. USIA anticipates awarding up to $205,000 to one
organization to administer this program.
Background and Program Rationale
The presence of international students and scholars on U.S.
campuses contributes significantly to the academic quality and
financial well-being of American higher education. In recognition of
this, The United States Information Agency, maintains a network of
educational advising centers overseas where objective information about
study options and the application process to U.S. higher education is
available to all prospective students, scholars, parents, governments
ministries, and other interested individuals. These centers are staffed
by educational advisers who must stay up to date with current trends in
U.S. higher education, as well as remain knowledgeable about
developments in technology, materials available, and management skills
relevant to running busy centers.
Program Participants
USIA will select participants for the training sessions from the
corps of educational advisers who are part of the network of USIA-
affiliated advising centers overseas and who, based on seniority and
previous job experience, are considered ``mid-level'' advisers. For the
purposes of this RFP, mid-level advisers are defined as those who have
mastered the following skills: (1) Knowledge of the U.S. and home
country educational systems; (2) familiarity with the application
process for U.S. higher education and training; (3) skills in advising
and cross-cultural communication skills; (4) a basic understanding of
the management theories and practices as they relate to educational
advising.
Training Program Format
The training program is intended for two separate groups of ten
participants each and should contain sessions in Washington DC or other
suitable city, an internship or other form of meaningful professional
visit at a U.S. academic institution(s), and active attendance, to
include at least one presentation, at either the national NAFSA:
Association of International Educators conference or one of its
regional fall conferences.
The separate training programs should resemble each other in
structure but have a different focus, thereby taking advantage of
opportunities available at different times of the year. For instance,
the spring session might concentrate on cultural adjustment (pre-
departure/re-entry issues) faced by [[Page 26921]] international
students, whereas the fall session might focus on admissions issues.
These are suggestions; USIA invites organizations to submit creative
and flexible program plans which can be tailored to participants'
individual needs. Nevertheless, the following components must be
covered in each training course:
Discussion of the current state of U.S. higher education and how it
affects the work of the educational adviser; individual consultations
with U.S. exchange organizations depending on participant's area of
expertise; accreditation and degree equivalency issues; internet
training; hands-on campus exposure to admissions and international
student advising issues in the U.S.; exploration of alternate sources
of support for educational advising, including fundraising techniques
and managing volunteers. Please refer to program specific guidelines
(POGI) and the ``Training and Professional Development'' report in the
Solicitation Package for further details.
Proposed Budget
Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the entire
program (both sessions). For clarification, applicants should provide
separate sub-budgets for each training component. There must be a
summary budget as well as a breakdown reflecting both the
administrative budget and the program budget based on the guidance in
the Solicitation Package. USIA's grant assistance, up to $205,000 in
total, is expected to constitute only a portion of the total project
funding. Cost sharing is required and the proposal should list other
anticipated sources of support. Organizations with fewer than four
years of experience in conducting international exchange programs will
not be eligible.
Allowable costs for the program include the following:
(1) Salaries and fringe benefits; travel and per diem;
(2) Other direct costs, inclusive of rent, utilities, etc.;
(3) Indirect expenses, auditing costs;
(4) Participant program costs; i.e. international/domestic travel,
per diem, conference attendance, resource materials. 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 Agency contracts office, as well as the USIA Area
Offices and the USIS posts overseas, where appropriate. 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 demonstrate
comprehensive understanding of current issues in international
educational exchange and show clearly how the proposed course of study
will give advisers the expertise to run efficient and effective
advising centers. Training ideas should be innovative, interesting and
engage the participants actively at all sessions of the program.
2. Program planning: Proposals should contain a detailed agenda and
syllabus, clearly showing how sessions will achieve program objectives.
Proposals should demonstrate convincingly that the organization has the
staff capacity and expertise to plan this complex set of training
sessions. Agenda and plan should adhere to the program overview and
guidelines described above.
3. Multiplier effect/impact: The training program should put
participants in tough with U.S. experts and international educators so
that the maximum amount of information can be shared and professional
linkages established.
5. Support of diversity: The proposal should demonstrate how the
participants will be exposed to the widest possible range of views and
approaches to U.S. higher education. Attention should be paid to
selecting the campuses for internships to represent different kinds of
schools from various regions of the U.S.
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 designing and running effective training
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. Project evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate
the activity's success, including participant evaluation forms, both as
the activities unfold and at the end of the program. Award-receiving
organizations/institutions will be expected to submit intermediate
reports after each project component is concluded or quarterly,
whichever is less frequent.
9. 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.
10. Cost-sharing: Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through
other private sector support as well as institutional direct funding
contributions.
Authorization
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 demonstrting 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 other countries of the world.''
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/ASA-96-01.
Deadline for Proposals
All copies must be received at the U.S. Information Agency by 5
p.m. Washington, DC time on Friday, July 28, 1995. Faxed documents will
not be accepted, nor will documents postmarked July 28, but received at
a [[Page 26922]] later date. It is the responsibility of each applicant
to ensure that proposals are received by the above deadline. Grants
should begin November 1, 1995 and run through December 31, 1996, with a
starting date of May 1996 for the first training program.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Advising and Student Services, E/ASA,
Room 349, U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC
20547, Tel: (202) 619-5434, Fax: (202) 401-1433. E-mail:
ahatteme@usia.gov. Potential applicants are encouraged to contact the
program office and confirm understanding of the terms of this Request
for Proposals before requesting 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; a report/concept paper on training for educational
advisers. The report should be used for general guidance only; in
places where the recommendations of the report conflict with the RFP,
it shall be the definitive document. (Note: the report/concept paper is
available only upon specific request to E/ASA). Please specify USIA
Program Officer Alexandra Hattemer on all inquiries and correspondence.
Interested applicants should read the complete Federal Register
announcement before addressing inquiries to E/ASA or submitting their
proposals. Once the RFP deadline has passed, E/ASA 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 eight copies of the complete
application should be sent to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/ASA-96-
01, Office of Grants Management, E/XE, Room 336, 301 4th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 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.
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 November 1, 1995. Awards made will be subject to
periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.
Dated: May 12, 1995.
Dell Pendergrast,
Deputy Associate Director, Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 95-12351 Filed 5-18-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M
