[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 3, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-10586]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: May 3, 1994]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
American Studies Fellowships for Scholars From Eastern Europe and
the Newly Independent States
AGENCY: United States Information Agency.
ACTION: Notice--request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: Prospective grantee will provide approximately twelve research
fellowships for scholars from Eastern Europe and the Newly Independent
States (NIS) to pursue research in American studies in U.S.
universities and research institutions in the academic year 1995-1996.
Participants should be teaching at the university level in humanities
and social science fields of American studies, broadly defined, such as
American history, law, demography, literature, sociology, or political
science. Grantee is responsible for publicizing the program abroad,
selecting the participants, and placing them in appropriate U.S.
institutions. Grantee is also responsible for all administrative
arrangements, for program evaluation, and for establishing procedures
for follow-up after participants return to their home institutions.
DATES: Deadline for proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S.
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time, on Friday, June 10,
1994. 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 the proposals are
received by the above deadline. Grants should begin on or about August
15, 1994.
ADDRESSES: The original and 14 copies of the completed application,
including required forms, should be submitted by the deadline to: U.S.
Information Agency, Reference: E/AA-94-3, Grants Management Staff, E/
XE, room 336, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Interested organizations/institutions should contact Gretchen
Christison at U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th St. SW., Study of the
U.S. Branch, E/AAS room 256, (202) 619-4557 to request detailed
application packets, which include award criteria additional to this
announcement, all necessary forms, and guidelines for preparing
proposals, including specific budget preparation information.
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.
Overview
The program seeks to increase the quality and amount of teaching in
Eastern European and NIS countries about the United States through
guided curricular research. The program will provide fellowships for
approximately twelve qualified Eastern European and NIS scholars to
update and enhance their knowledge of their American studies fields.
Guidelines
The program is designed for Eastern European and NIS scholars who
are teaching at the university level in humanities and social science
fields of American studies, broadly defined, such as American history,
law, demography, literature, sociology, or political science.
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 (E/AAS) and all posts in
countries from which scholars are selected should be informed of the
final selection. Proposals should demonstrate extensive contacts with
and knowledge of Eastern European and NIS universities to ensure that
the best possible candidates are recruited and selected.
Fellowships should be six to twelve months in duration. Family
members may accompany recipients for part of the grant period, but not
for a period exceeding six months. The fellowships provide for all
costs of the recipients and accompanying dependents, with due account
being taken of any continuing university salary transferable into U.S.
dollars that recipients might be receiving.
Grantee will arrange appropriate placement in U.S. universities and
research institutions for participants. To the extent possible, waivers
of tuition fees should be procured.
Grantee will make all administrative arrangements, including
travel, visa, disbursement of grant funds, insurance and related
matters. The grantee should maintain contact with the participants and
liaison with university hosts during the course of the grant to offer
assistance with participant administrative concerns such as housing,
travel within the U.S., or emergency matters. Grantee 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 grantee 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 fellowship in their professional work
in their own countries. The grantee 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 packet. A USIA-funded
budget will not exceed $150,000. Grantee organization is expected to
provide significant cost sharing.
Grants awarded to eligible organizations with less than four years
experience in conducting international exchange programs will be
limited to $60,000.
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 contracting
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 track record/ability: Proposals should demonstrate
a track record of successful 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 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 grantee 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.
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: April 27, 1994.
Barry Fulton,
Acting Associate Director, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-10586 Filed 5-2-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-M
