[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 89 (Thursday, May 8, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25220-25223]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-11870]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
Notice; Grants and Cooperative Agreements; Availability
Title: Provision of Overseas Direct English Teaching Programs--
Seeking Partnerships.
Announcement: Call for concept papers.
summary: The English Language Programs Division in the Office of
Academic Programs of the United States Information Agency's (USIA)
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an opportunity to
create a public/private sector partnership with USIA in order to ensure
the long-term viability of one of its direct English teaching programs
(DETP) abroad. Because of the important role of these programs in
achieving the United States' public diplomacy and foreign policy
objectives, USIA is committed to maintaining quality American language
instruction within professional programs that also reflects American
cultural thoughts and concepts as well as democratic and educational
values for important overseas audiences and which facilitates a channel
of communications vital to America's relationships with other countries
and cultures. Recent budget reductions however, have limited the
operational and material support that USIA can offer to the DETPs. USIA
is seeking a partner in a cooperative agreement to manage the well-
established DETP in Sanaa, Yemen in cooperation with the United States
Information Service (USIS) post in Sanaa. Management of the program
must maintain and, if possible, strengthen the DETP's self-sufficiency.
USIA invites public and private, not-for-profit organizations with a
minimum of five years experience in successfully managing a self-
sufficient English teaching program to submit concept papers for
collaborating with USIA and USIS Sanaa. Limited support for any
initiative may be available, depending on the specific current
circumstances of the DETP, the interest and requirements of the post,
and the availability of funds. Any USIA support may be limited to
international airfare and short-term per diem expenses.
Background Information
English Language Programs Division
The English Language Programs Division (E/AL) of the United States
Information Agency's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
provides professional English language programming to promote a world-
wide understanding and awareness of American Language, society, values
and policies and to foster an English-competent world community with
which Americans can engage freely. The Division's English Language
Officers and Program Officers and staff work on many fronts to promote
American public diplomacy and policy issues:
Address national education and language policy issues on a
government to government basis, sharing American educational
policies, management practices and state of the art curricula and
assessment designs.
Develop and facilitate national and regional conferences,
seminars and workshops focusing on state of the art language
instruction, methods, techniques, materials and technologies in
order to develop a professional cadre of trainers and English
teachers who can use American educational products and expertise.
Develop and disseminate instructional materials for use in
language learning courses, self-study programs or distance education
programs as well as teacher and trainer professional development
programs, utilizing the Congressionally legislated authority to
recycle fees from tuition and the sale of USIA produced English
teaching materials.
Increase the audiences' awareness and understanding of American
society, institutions and values through the learning of American
English and use of American commercially produced educational
materials.
Establish a basis for American academia working in English
language teaching to develop long term institutional linkages,
engage in an exchange of scholars, students and research and
programs.
Conduct exchange programs for English language professionals to
enhance country plan objectives and provide support for field
requests for English language programs.
Direct English Teaching Programs (DETP)
USIA's Direct English Teaching programs overseas are important
contributors to the Agency's public diplomacy. The main objective of
the DETP is to provide important audiences with quality English
language instruction within a professional program that also reflects
American cultural thoughts and concepts, as well as democratic and
educational values.
[[Page 25221]]
The programs and activities the DETPs engage in reflect the goals and
priorities of the U.S. Missions overseas.
The activities the DETPs generally engage in include:
American language courses: intensive and semi-intensive general
language courses as well as specially designed courses for specific
clients (from the legal sector, the business sector, various
Ministerial and other offices in the governmental sector, etc.).
Cultural programs: lectures, discussions, literary groups,
plays, movies (commercial or documentary), music/concerts, and
events related to American holidays, civic education, and issues
concerning education, democracy, the environment, health, ethics,
commerce and trade, etc.
Outreach programs: seminars and workshops for national and local
professional education associations, assistance with the national
and local TESOL or IATEFL affiliate, work with the local Ministry of
Education on curriculum development, teacher training, materials
development and selection, and assessment.
Assessment and testing programs: engage in administering
American educational tests and exams (commercial and non-commercial)
such as the TOEFL, the TOEIC, the MTAC, the ECMFG, the USMLE, the
USIA-produced TELP, etc.
Many DETPs are housed on USIS premises, or USIS-leased premises,
but some are located at off-site facilities. Wherever the site, there
should be well-lighted classrooms, an office for the Director of
Courses (DOC), working space for faculty and staff, and a waiting room
area for the students. Often there is a library reading room to which
students have access.
While the programs are open to the public, due to space, equipment,
materials and funding limitations, there may not be space for all
students who wish to attend the DETPs. Because the programs exist to
promote the public diplomacy efforts and goals of the U.S. Missions
abroad, the desired primary enrollment at a DETP includes:
Host country government officials
University professors and secondary school teachers
USIA/USIS grantees for various scholarships and grants to the U.S.
Grantees and contacts for programs sponsored by other USG agencies
Prominent community leaders/opinion makers
The post USIS director, the Public Affairs Officer (PAO), bears the
primary responsibility for ensuring that the DETP provides an effective
representation on behalf of USIS and that it serves as a model American
language education establishment which, concomitantly, serves as a
conveyer of U.S. culture, thought and values. The DETP's administration
is responsible for the management of the program under the auspices of
the PAO and according to the terms of a cooperative agreement signed
with USIS Sanaa. The faculty and staff of the DETP are not employees of
USIA or USIS, but work for the program through an agreement with the
Administrative Institution. The roles and responsibilities of all
personnel associated with the DETP and the regulations for
administering the program are contained in the English Language Program
Administration Manual.
The DETPs should be fiscally self-sufficient based on fees received
for tuition, the sale of USIA produced materials, and fees for other
services related to English language programming (e.g., testing). The
DETPs are not dependent on USIA/USIS for sustained financial support.
Depending on the relationship between the DETP and the local USIS post,
and the availability of funds, USIS may contribute towards some
programming for the DETP.
The authority for USIA/USIS to engage in the DETPs is provided
through legislation. Under the authorizing legislation PL 97-241 and
under Section 801 of the United States Information and Educational
Exchange Act of 1948 (22 U.S.C. 1471), and the Mutual Educational and
Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, USIA is able to receive fees for tuition
and services for English teaching programs conducted by or on behalf of
the Agency.
The authority for USIA/USIS to enter into a cooperative agreement
is found in the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961,
as amended, Sections 102(a)(1)(A), 102(b)(4) and 104(e)(1); Executive
Order 11034, Section 8(a)(3), (5), (8), (9), (10), (11), (12) and (15);
the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977; Reorganization
Plan No. 2 of 1977, Executive Order 10248 and the United States
Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948, as amended, Section
810.
USIS Sanaa Direct English Teaching Program
The program under current consideration is in Sanaa, Yemen. The
DETP has been in existence for about 22 years. The DETP currently has
950 students, of which 565 are returning students. The program employs
a faculty/staff of 36 (In order to maintain the continuity and
consistency of services, the new administrative institution may allow
as many personnel as are qualified and as practicable to remain on the
job.) Class sizes range form 10 to 17, with 16 being the average. The
core program has six levels (basic to advanced) and uses the Spectrum
series as the main text. Advanced classes beyond the core program have
at various times included Advanced Writing, Advanced Grammar, Advanced
Conservation, English for Business, TOEFL Preparation, and Teacher
Training for Yemeni Teachers of English. The DETP is a self-sufficient
program. A complete profile of the program is available to applicants
wishing to submit a concept paper.
Scope of Partnership
USIS Sanaa is looking for an institutional partner to manage the
DETP. Management of the program includes personnel recruitment (DOC,
faculty, staff) and the administration of all aspects and activities of
the program, including English language classes, cultural programs,
outreach programs, and language testing/assessment activities.
Management of the program must assure:
A professionally qualified and experienced Director of Courses;
A trained teaching staff with a minimum of advanced proficiency
in English, and with knowledge of current methodologies, techniques
and technology in teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL);
Well organized curricula that include course achievement goals
and assessment criteria; Primary use of core texts which are high-
quality, American-published materials, and which include a strong
American cultural component which acquaints the students with the
United States;
Continued program financial self-sufficiency and sound financial
planning;
Close cooperation with USIS Sanaa in English for Special
Purposes outreach, targeted client development, and any cultural
content and programming.
Specific guidelines and evaluation criteria for the management of
the DETP are in the English Language Program Administration Manual
which is available upon request to applicants wishing to submit a
concept paper.
Management's Role and Responsibilities
The role and responsibilities of the managing institution as
outlined in the standard cooperative agreement include:
Establishing, with the approval of the Director of USIS (PAO),
the level, hours and duration of courses to be taught.
Recruiting and selecting well-qualified teaching and
administrative personnel; entering into a written work agreement
with each person; training these individuals; inspecting, reviewing,
and coordinating the work of these individuals, and deciding on the
termination, renewal or non-renewal of the work agreement. All
proposed staff and all proposed terminations, renewals/non-renewals
must be approved by the PAO.
[[Page 25222]]
Establishing student prerequisites, conducting placement testing
and TEFL tests, enrolling and scheduling students.
Establishing jointly with the PAO the maximum and minimum number
of students per class.
Establishing jointly with the PAO a fee structure for students,
a salary schedule for teachers and other staff, and fiscal
structures for any other revenue sources.
Collecting fees from all sources; on a quarterly or semi-annual
basis remunerate 10% of the gross receipts to USIS Sanaa.
Making disbursements to staff as well as local or other vendors
for all operating expenses incurred to conduct the DETP.
Maintaining student progress reports and issuing appropriate
certification to students who meet institutional standards at
various levels of proficiency.
Maintaining detailed financial and statistical records in
accordance with the requirements outlined in the cooperative
agreement and in the English Language Program Administration Manual.
Accepting responsibility and accountability for the equipment,
furniture, nonexpendable supplies, textbooks, and other physical
property assigned to the DETP. Preparing an annual inventory of such
property on hand as of August 31 of each year. The managing
organization may be held liable for replacing any such property
which cannot be accounted for during the annual inventory process.
Providing all such reports as may be requested by the PAO or
stated in the English Language Programs Administration Manual.
Preparing a Financial Plan which includes all funds required to
operate the DETP for one academic year, with the projected income to
meet those expenses.
The management and the management's personnel shall not be
considered employees of the Federal Government and shall not be
eligible, by virtue of performance under the cooperative agreement, for
payment by the Government or entitlements and benefits accorded federal
employees unless specifically included in the cooperative agreement or
the English Language Program Administration Manual.
The DETP will be established, organized and operated as described
in the English Language Program Administration Manual. This manual will
be used to address a number of details necessary for a successful DETP.
This handbook is made a part of the cooperative agreement and its order
of precedence is secondary only to the specific written terms of the
cooperative agreement itself.
Benefits: Potential benefits to the applicant for entering into a
cooperative agreement with USIS include, but are not limited to:
Through a sharing of resources, the opportunity to work
overseas, or expand current international work;
Sharing of USIS contacts in the language education profession or
related fields;
Opportunity to establish linkages and expansion beyond the
immediate scope of the partnership;
Opportunity for exchanges of faculty, students, research, and
staff;
On-site recruitment of international scholars and students and
the ability to conduct pre-departure orientation;
Expanded international recognition and an expanded network of
contacts and resources;
Potential revenue from DETP income to support the benefits
mentioned above.
Announcement Title and Number: All communications with USIA
concerning this announcement should refer to the above title and
reference number E/AL-97-03.
Supporting Documents: Applicants should request the following
supporting documents from the English Language Programs Division (E/
AL):
The English Language Program Administrative Manual
The Sanaa DETP program profile
A sample copy of a Cooperative Agreement to Manage a DETP
Submissions: Organizations wishing to pursue collaborating as
described above should prepare a concept paper, not to exceed 10 pages.
This paper should include the following information:
A. Name and address of organization(s).
B. Principal contact information (name, phone/fax numbers, e-mail
address).
C. Outline of organization's history, mission, and scope.
D. Brief description of organization's experience in successfully
managing a self-sufficient English teaching program, preferably an off-
site program.
E. Resources (human, financial, in-kind etc.) which applicant
organization proposes to contribute to the achievement of the goals of
the DETP, including the qualifications of the likely Director of
Courses.
F. Brief description of applicant organization's experience in Yemen
and/or the region; if no experience in the region, organization's
overseas experience.
G. Scope of proposed activity, including applicant organization's
management style and communication style for directing a distance
program under the guidelines in the English Language Program
Administration Manual.
H. Brief discussion of the goals and the benefits the applicant
organization envisions upon entering into such an agreement with USIS
Sanaa.
The original and six copies of the concept paper, along with the
same information on a 3.5'' diskette in ASCII text format, should be
sent to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/AL-97-03, Office of Grants
Management, E/XE, Room 326, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
USIA will use the electronic submissions to transmit concept papers
to USIS Sanaa for its review and comment.
Deadline for Submission: All concept papers must be received at the
U.S. Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, D.C. time on June 6,
1997. Faxed documents will not be accepted. Documents postmarked June
6, but received at a later date will also not be accepted.
Review Process: USIA will review concept papers using as criteria
the degree to which the applicant organization demonstrates:
Experience successfully managing an English teaching program;
Styles of management and communication relating to management of
an overseas program;
Overseas experience of the organization and proposed personnel;
Ability to provide the necessary resources (human and financial)
to assure the quality and self-sufficiency of the program.
The goals and benefits the applicant envisions for itself and
the DETP upon entering into such an agreement with USIS Sanaa.
All accepted concept papers will be reviewed by a panel which may
include the program office, geographic area office, and USIS Sanaa.
Statements may also be reviewed by the Office of the General Counsel or
by other Agency elements. The panel will determine those interested
parties that should be recommended for further consideration by USIS
Sanaa. E/AL will communicate all information regarding the concept
papers and the panel's recommendations to USIS Sanaa. Final decisions
regarding the concept papers will be communicated to the applicants by
E/AL. USIA in cooperation with USIS Sanaa will negotiate a formal
cooperative agreement with the chosen Administrative Institution.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: The English Language Programs
Division, E/AL, Rm. 304, U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20547, telephone 202-619-5869; fax 202-401-1250; e-mail
[email protected] Contact officer is Damon Anderson.
To download this announcement via internet: This announcement may
be downloaded from USIA's web site at http://www.usia.gov/education/
rfps. Please read all information before downloading.
[[Page 25223]]
Dated: April 29, 1997.
Dell Pendergrast,
Deputy Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 97-11870 Filed 5-7-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M
