[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 98 (Monday, May 23, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-12470]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: May 23, 1994]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
Social Science Curriculum Fellowships for Russian University
Teachers
ACTION: Notice--request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: Prospective recipient will provide no fewer than ten research
fellowships for Russian university teachers to pursue individual
programs in social science fields in U.S. universities and research
institutions in the academic year 1995-1996 in support of strengthened
social science curricula in Russian higher education institutions.
Participants should be teaching at the university level in social
science fields, including but not limited to, political science,
sociology, economics, law, and demography. Programs will include
subject matter exposure, materials acquisition, scholarly networking,
and orientation to current American approaches in these fields,
especially empirical methods. Recipient organization is responsible for
publicizing the program abroad, selecting the participants, placing
participants in appropriate U.S. institutions, and for assuring
appropriate supervision. Recipient is also responsible for all
administrative arrangements, for program evaluation, and for
establishing procedures for follow-up after participants return to
their Russian universities.
Overall grant making authority for this program is contained in the
Freedom Support Act. The funding authority for the program is
appropriated under the Foreign Assistance Act 1994.
Programs and projects must conform with Agency requirements and
guidelines outlined in the Application Package. It is expected that
recipient will provide cash and/or in-kind cost sharing.
DATES: Deadline for proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S.
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time, on Wednesday, June
29, 1994. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents
postmarked on June 29, 1994, but received at a later date. It is the
responsibility of each assistance award applicant to ensure that the
proposals are received by the above deadline. Grants should begin in
the Fall of 1994.
ADDRESSES: The original and 8 copies of the completed application,
including required forms, should be submitted by the deadline to: U.S.
Information Agency, Reference: (E/AAS-94-02), Office of Grants
Management, E/XE, room 336, 301 4th Street SW., Washington, DC 20547.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Interested organizations/institutions should contact Gretchen
Christison at the U.S. Information Agency, Study of the U.S. Branch, E/
AAS room 256, 301 4th Street SW., Washington, DC 20547 tel: (202) 619-
4557 fax: (202) 619-6790 to request a detailed Application Package,
which includes award criteria additional to this announcement, all
necessary forms, and guidelines for preparing proposals, including
specific criteria for preparation of the proposal budget. Interested
applicants should read the complete Federal Register announcement
before addressing inquiries to the Study of the U.S. Branch or
submitting their proposals. Once the RFP deadline has passed, USIA
staff may not discuss this competition in any way with applicants until
after the Bureau proposal review process has been completed.
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. Academic programs under the
authority of the Bureau must maintain their scholarly integrity and
should meet the highest standards of academic achievement.
``Diversity'' should be interpreted in the broadest sense and encompass
differences including but not limited to ethnicity, gender, religion,
geographic location, socio-economic status, and physical challenges.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere to the advancement of
this principle.
Overview
The program seeks to increase and improve the quality of social
science teaching in Russia. The program's immediate goal is to provide
an opportunity for approximately ten qualified Russian university
teachers to update and enhance their knowledge of their social science
fields in support of revised and strengthened curricula.
Guidelines
The program is designed for Russian scholars who are teaching at
the university level in social science fields including but not limited
to, political science, sociology, economics, law, and demography. In
the early stages of the program, the award recipient is responsible for
publicizing the program, recruiting strong applicants and selecting the
most qualified candidates. Participants should be chosen through a
public, open competition which includes U.S. professional peer review
for the final selection of participants. Selections should be made and
announced in reasonable time for applicants to make plans for absence
from their countries and to undertake departure formalities. USIA, the
Study of U.S. Branch (E/AAS), and USIS Moscow should be informed of the
final selection. Proposals should demonstrate extensive contacts with
and knowledge of Russian universities to ensure that the best possible
candidates are recruited and selected.
Award recipient will arrange appropriate placement in U.S.
universities and research institutions for participants. To the extent
possible, waivers of tuition fees should be procured.
Fellowships should be six to twelve months in duration. Family
members may accompany recipients for part of the grant period, but
grant monies must not be used to support the maintenance of or travel
for dependents. The fellowships will provide for all the costs of the
recipients. The dollar amount of the fellowship should be reduced in
situations where Russian university salaries, transferable into U.S.
dollars, continue to be received by the fellow while in the United
States.
Award recipient will make all administrative arrangements,
including travel, visa, disbursement of grant funds, insurance and
related matters. The recipient should maintain contact with the
participants and liaison with university hosts during the course of the
grant to offer assistance with participant academic interests and
administrative concerns such as housing, travel within the U.S., or
emergency matters. It is expected that recipient organization will have
substantive contact with university hosts to ensure that participants
are able to make maximum use of institutional resources and facilities.
To this end, it may prove useful for the recipient organization to
encourage host institutions to designate specific faculty members to
serve as mentors for the Russian participants.
Recipient will develop evaluation instruments and procedures to
determine the participants' scholarly activity during the course of the
grant, the adequacy of the stipend, and the adequacy of recipient and
university administrative arrangements. Participants should also report
on their general impressions of the U.S. and how they intend to apply
the materials or new information gained during the research in their
professional work in their own countries. The recipient will establish
procedures for follow-up communication with grantees to ascertain the
application of their fellowship activity to their professional
responsibilities, such as new publications, workshop leadership, new
positions, or new course offerings stemming from their fellowship
experience.
Proposed Budget
Applicants must submit a comprehensive line item budget for which
specific details are available in the Application Package. A USIA-
funded budget will not exceed $250,000. The recipient organization is
expected to provide significant cash and/or in-kind cost-sharing.
Grants awarded to eligible organizations with less than four years
experience in conducting international exchange programs will be
limited to $60,000.
The line-item budget is divided into administrative and program
sections. The line-item budget should include the categories listed in
the Budget Guidelines found in the Application Package. An addendum
should provide details about the budget.
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 grants
officer.
Review Criteria
Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed
according to the following criteria:
1. Quality: Proposals should exhibit originality, substance, rigor,
and relevance to Agency mission and program goals.
2. Program Planning: Detailed agenda and relevant work plan should
demonstrate appropriate content 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. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program or
project's goals.
6. 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 (M/KG). The Agency will consider past performance of prior
grantees and the demonstrated potential of new applicants.
7. Follow-on Activities: Proposals should provide a plan for
continued cost-effective follow-on activity which insures that USIA-
supported programs are not isolated venues.
8. Evaluation Plan: Proposals should provide a plan for evaluation
by the recipient institution.
9. 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.
10. Cost-sharing: Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through
other private sector support as well as institutional direct funding
contributions.
11. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate the
recipient's commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding of
diversity throughout the program. This can be accomplished through
documentation (such as a written statement or account) summarizing past
and/or on-going activities and efforts that further the principle of
diversity within both the organization and the program activities.
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. 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 15, 1994. Awarded grants will be subject to
periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.
Dated: May 16, 1994.
Barry Fulton,
Deputy Associate Director, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-12470 Filed 5-20-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M
