[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 84 (Monday, May 3, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23730-23732]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-10981]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
Youth Leadership Program for Bosnia and Herzegovina; Request for
Concept Papers
SUMMARY: The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs Division, of
the United States Information Agency's Bureau of Educational and
Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for a Youth Leadership
Program for Bosnia and Herzegovnia. Public and private non-profit
organizations meeting the provisions described in IRS regulation 26 CFR
1.501(c) may submit concept papers to conduct a minimum three-week
program for B-H secondary school students in the United States in
August/September 1999. The maximum amount of the grant is $33,000.
Program Information
USIA is implementing a new project for youth from Bosnia-
Herzegovina on the theme of leadership. As this project is being
initiated on a small scale and with short lead time, USIA is seeking
concept papers from organizations that can provide a substantive, U.S.-
based program on leadership and civic education.
Concept papers should propose a project idea for the Youth
Leadership Program. From the concept papers received, a USIA review
panel will select the most highly qualified concept papers to be
expanded into full proposals for an award that will contribute to the
implementation of the proposed project. Please see the guidelines for
preparing the concept paper later in this document.
The goals of this project are: (1) To provide a civic education
program that helps the students understand civic participation and the
rights and responsibilities of citizens in a democracy; (2) to develop
leadership skills among B-H secondary school students appropriate to
their needs; and (3) to build personal relationships among high school
students and teachers from Bosnia-Herzegovina and the United States.
Applicants: USIA invites concept papers from any eligible private
or public non-profit organization or institution. The primary objective
is to identify an organization that has the capability to provide a
high-quality leadership and civic education program and that has
experience conducting such programs for international participants.
Secondarily, USIA seeks an organization with experience working
specifically with the people of Bosnia and Herzegovnia. Applicants need
not have a partner in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as the USIA post in
Sarajevo will assume that role for this project; i.e., select and
orient students and make international travel arrangements.
Guidelines
Participants: The participants will be (1) ten high school students
between the ages of 14 and 18 who have demonstrated leadership in their
schools and/or communities and who are high academic achievers, and (2)
two teachers who have demonstrated leadership and are expected to
remain in positions where they can continue to do so. Participants will
be proficient in the English language.
Selection and orientation: USIS Sarajevo will select the
participants. The CIVITAS network in Bosnia and Herzegovina will help
publicize the program and help USIS identify current and potential
civic leaders. USIS will also be responsible for providing a pre-
departure orientation for the participants and arranging international
air travel from Bosnia and Herzegovina to the specific destination in
the United States.
Program dates: The grant should begin in July 1999 and conclude
after the exchange program. The preferred time period for the program
is August//September 1999. Alternatively, the participants would be
able to travel in January of 2000, provided substantive programming can
be arranged. The program should be no less than three weeks in
duration.
Program: The program should focus primarily on interactive
activities, practical experiences, and other hands-on opportunities to
learn about the fundamentals of a civil society and building leadership
skills. Suggestions include simulations, a community service project,
and leadership training exercises. Secondarily, the program may include
some briefings, discussions, and classroom visits (if local schools are
in session). Programming should include American participants wherever
possible. Cultural and recreational activities may be used to balance
the schedule. The program need not be specifically arranged for the B-H
participants; that is, arranging for them to participate in pre-
established camp or workshop is acceptable. If this is proposed,
however, it needs to fulfill all of the stated objectives or do so in
conjunction with other activities scheduled just for this delegation.
Applicant organizations may propose a program along the lines
described above. Additional suggestions for the student program include
youth leadership workshops; exercises or simulations related to rule of
law and citizen participation in government and in addressing societal
problems (e.g., the environment, development, drug addiction
prevention); meetings with government, community, and business leaders
to see real-life examples of leadership in action; exposure to student
government and peer mediation groups; team-building exercises; computer
training for access to Internet resources and for follow-on
communication; and cultural and historical tours.
Although some of their activities may overlap with the students,
the educators should have some opportunities to work with their
American peers and other professionals and volunteers to discuss civic
education curricula, extracurricular youth leadership activities,
volunteerism, civic participation activities for youth, and the
organization and management of youth activities.
The recipient organization should conduct a welcome orientation for
the participants upon arrival in the United States and host a closing
meeting for them just prior to departure.
Sites of program: The delegation should spend its time in the
United States in no more than two locations so that the participants
have time to familiarize themselves with a community. Desirable
locations are those with schools or community organizations that have a
demonstrated interest in Bosnia and Herzegovina or those with
universities involved in the USIA undergraduate program for B-H
students. We will also consider proximity to state capitals and other
sites of interest, access to organizations that can conduct appropriate
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workshops, and representation of the geographic and ethnic diversity of
the United States.
Housing: Homestays with local families are desirable for some or
all of the exchange period. A dormitory or other inexpensive group
housing is also an acceptable arrangement.
Overall responsibilities of the assistance award recipient include:
1. Design and planning of activities that provide a substantive program
on civic education and leadership through both academic and
extracurricular components;
2. Domestic travel and logistical arrangements
a. Homestay or group housing
b. Disbursement of per diem
c. Local travel
d. Travel between sites
e. Enrollment of the participants in USIA's accident and sickness
insurance program
f. Confirmation of and changes in return international travel
3. timely reporting of progress to USIA
4. Monitoring, evaluation, and follow-on activities
5. Fiscal management of all accounting and contractual relations
6. Financial and program reporting
The grant recipient will not need to purchase international airline
tickets for the participants nor will it need to arrange for visas for
entry to the United States. USIA will issue IAP-66 forms so that
participants may obtain J-1 visas.
Application process: USIA invites organizations to submit a concept
paper, no less than three and no more than five pages, single-sided,
single-spaced, that outlines a plan to conduct the above program.
Concept Paper Format: After clearly marking the title and number of
this solicitation, please include all of the following information in
your concept paper:
1. U.S. organization, department, and project director, with complete
contact information including address, telephone, fax, and e-mail
2. Project summary
3. Dates of project
4. Project objectives and desired outcomes, based on the goals stated
in this solicitation
5. Outline of proposed activities and sites
6. Details on proposed activities, including workshops, excursions,
community service, welcome and closing sessions, opportunities to
interact with Americans, etc.
7. Housing, transportation, and logistical arrangements
8. Project evaluation
9. Organization's capacity to implement proposed project
Budget Guidelines
The award may not exceed $33,000. The budget must cover all
participant expenses once they have arrived at the U.S. airport closest
to the site of the activities. Administrative expenses should not
exceed $10,000. Significant cost-sharing will be expected; homestays
are not allowed as a cost-share item. A detailed budget will be
requested with the full proposal.
Announcement Title and Number
All correspondence with USIA concerning this RFP should reference
the above title and number E/PY-99-52.
For Further Information, Contact
The Youth Programs Division, E/PY, Room 568, U.S. Information
Agency, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, Telephone: (202)
619-6299, Fax: (202) 619-5311, E-mail: clantz@usia.gov. Please specify
USIA Program Officer Carolyn Lantz on all other inquiries and
correspondence.
Please read the complete Federal Register announcement before
making inquiries or submitting concept papers. Once the deadline has
passed, Agency staff may not discuss this competition with applicants
until the review process has been completed.
Deadline for Concept Papers
All copies of the concept papers must be received at the U.S.
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on Friday, May 21,
1999. Faxed documents will not be accepted at any time. Documents
postmarked the due date but received on a later date will not be
accepted. Each applicant must ensure that the concept papers are
received by the above deadline.
The original and 7 copies of the application should be sent to:
U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/PY-99-52, Office of Grants Management,
Room 568, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
Applicants must also submit the concept paper on a 3.5'' diskette,
formatted for DOS. These documents must be provided in ASCII text (DOS)
format with a maximum line length of 65 characters. USIA will transmit
these files electronically to the USIS post overseas for their review,
with the goal of reducing the time it takes to gets posts' comments for
the Agency's grants review process.
Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines
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
ethnicity, race, gender, religion, geographic location, socio-economic
status, and physical challenges. Applicants are strongly encouraged to
adhere to the advancement of this principle both in program
administration and in program content. Please refer to the review
criteria under the ``Support for Diversity'' section for specific
suggestions on incorporating diversity into the total proposal. Pub. L.
104-319 provides that ``in carrying out programs of educational and
cultural exchange in countries whose people do not fully enjoy freedom
and democracy,'' USIA ``shall take appropriate steps to provide
opportunities for participation in such programs to human rights and
democracy leaders of such countries.'' Proposals should reflect
advancement of this goal in their program contents, to the full extent
deemed feasible.
Review Process
All eligible concept papers will be reviewed by the program office,
as well as the USIA Office of East European and NIS Affairs and the
USIA post overseas. Eligible concept papers will be forwarded to panels
of USIA officers for advisory review. USIA will notify respondents
about the status of the concept papers by June 7, 1999.
Review Criteria
Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed
according to the criteria stated below.
1. Quality of the program idea: Concept papers should exhibit
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Agency's
mission.
2. Program planning: An 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. Institutional capacity/Ability to achieve program objectives:
Objectives should be reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Concept papers
should clearly demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's
objectives and plan. The Agency will consider the past performance of
prior recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants.
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4. Support of Diversity: Concept papers should demonstrate
substantive support of the Bureau's policy on diversity.
5. Project Evaluation: Concept papers should describe a plan to
evaluate the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at
the end of the program.
Authority
Overall grant making authority for this program is contained in the
Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, Pub. L. 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 above is provided through Support for Eastern European
Democracies (SEED) legislation.
Notice
The terms and conditions published in this Request for Concept
Papers 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 RFCP does not
constitute an award commitment on the part of the Government. Awards
made will be subject to periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.
Notification
Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by
Congress, allocated and committed through internal USIA procedures.
Dated: April 26, 1999.
Judith S. Siegel,
Deputy Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 99-10981 Filed 4-30-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M
