[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 115 (Thursday, June 13, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30109-30111]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-14728]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program
ACTION: Notice; request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Academic Programs of the United States
Information Agency's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
announces an open competition for an assistance award. Washington-based
public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions
described in IRS regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c)(3)-1 may apply to assist
USIA in the administration of the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program
Washington Workshop. The organization will plan and implement a
conference up to four days for approximately 117 mid-career
professionals from developing countries, Central/Eastern Europe, and
the NIS between the dates of May 3 to May 21, 1997 (final dates to be
determined).
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 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.'' 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 TITLE AND NUMBER: All communications with USIA concerning
this announcement should refer to the above title and reference number
E/ASU-96-05.
DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: All copies must be received at the U.S.
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on Thursday, July 11,
1996. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents
postmarked July 11 but received at a later date. It is the
responsibility of each applicant to ensure that proposals are received
by the above deadline. Grant should begin on or about September 16,
1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Leigh Rieder, Specialized Programs Unit, E/ASU, Room 349, U.S.
Information Agency, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547,
telephone: (202) 619-5289, fax: (202) 401-1433, Internet address:
lrieder@usia.gov, to request a Solicitation Package containing more
detailed award criteria, required application forms, and standard
guidelines for preparing proposals, including specific criteria for
preparation of the proposal budget.
To Download a Solicitation Package via Internet
The Solicitation Package may be downloaded from USIA's website at
http://www.usia.gov/ or from the Internet Gopher at gopher.usia.gov.
Under the heading ``International Exchange/Training,'' select ``Request
for Proposals.'' Please read ``About the Following RFPs'' before
downloading.
Please specify USIA Program Officer Leigh Rieder on all inquiries
and correspondences. Interested applicants should read the complete
Federal Register announcement before sending inquiries or submitting
proposals. Once the RFP deadline has passed, Agency staff may not
discuss this competition in any way with applicants until the Bureau
proposal review process has been completed.
Submissions
Applicants must follow all instructions given in the Solicitation
Package. The original and six copies of the proposal should be sent to:
U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/ASU-96-05, Office of Grants
Management, E/XE, Room 326, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
Diversity 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.
[[Page 30110]]
Overview
The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program provides a year of non-
degree, graduate level study and related professional experiences to
mid-level professionals from developing countries, Central/Eastern
Europe, and the NIS. Fellowships are granted competitively to public
and private sector candidates with a commitment to public service in
the fields of natural resources/environmental management, public policy
analysis/administration, economic development, agricultural
development/economics, finance/banking, human resource management/
personnel, urban and regional planning, public health policy/
management, technology policy/management, educational planning, and
communications/journalism. Fellows are placed by professional field in
groups of seven to 13 at one of 11 participating host universities
around the country. The Agency is assisted in the administration of the
program by the Institute of International Education (IIE) under a
cooperative agreement with the Agency. Fellows are nominated for the
program by USIA overseas posts or Fulbright commissions based on their
potential for national leadership, commitment to public service, and
professional and academic qualifications. By providing these future
leaders with exposure to U.S. society, and to current U.S. approaches
to the fields in which they work, the program provides a basis for
establishing lasting ties among U.S. citizens and their professional
counterparts in other countries.
The objectives of the workshop are to:
Enhance fellows' understanding of U.S. social, cultural,
and political processes and institutions, including the unique
political environment of Washington, D.C.
Emphasize opportunities for regional and professional
networking among fellows.
Highlight fellows' contributions to U.S. communities with
U.S. decision makers.
Guidelines
Non-profit organizations with key program staff based in the
Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and available for frequent meetings
with USIA staff are invited to submit proposals.
Organizations also must have experience in conference management,
professional exchanges, and international exchanges. Only organizations
with at least four years of experience in international exchange
activities are eligible to apply for this award.
The Agency encourages proposals from organizations whose staffs
reflect a broad variety of ethnic backgrounds, whose programs encompass
a range of diversity interests, and/or whose mission includes
furthering the interest of traditionally under-represented groups.
The recipient organization will be responsible for most
arrangements associated with this workshop. These include organizing a
coherent schedule of activities, making lodging and transportation
arrangements for participants, preparing all necessary support
materials, working with Humphrey Coordinators from host universities
and IIE staff to achieve maximum workshop effectiveness, conducting a
final evaluation, and other details which are outlined in the
solicitation package. Drafts of all printed materials developed for the
workshop should be submitted to the Agency for review and approval. All
official documents should highlight the U.S. Government's role as
program director and funding source. Please refer to program guidelines
in the solicitation package for further details.
Proposed Budget
The award for this project may not exceed $158,000, and cost
sharing is strongly encouraged. Applicants must submit a comprehensive,
line-item budget for the entire workshop. There must be a summary
budget as well as separate break downs of administrative and program
costs. 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. All eligible proposals will be reviewed by the
program office and forwarded to a panel of USIA officers for advisory
review. Proposals may 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/responsiveness of the program idea. Proposals should
exhibit originality, substance, precision, cultural sensitivity and
responsiveness to the material set forth herein and in the solicitation
package. Proposals should clearly demonstrate how the institution will
meet the workshop's objectives.
2. Multiplier effect/impact. Proposed program should strengthen
long-term mutual understanding and encourage collaboration among
fellows after the fellowship year.
3. Support of diversity. Proposals should demonstrate the
recipient's commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding of
diversity.
4. Institutional Capacity. Proposed personnel and institutional
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the workshop's
goals.
5. Institution's Record/Ability. Proposals should demonstrate past
success in administering workshops for international professional
participants. The Agency will consider the past performance of prior
recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants.
6. Project Evaluation. Proposals should include a plan to evaluate
the workshop's success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of
the program. A draft survey questionnaire or other technique plus
description of a methodology to link outcomes to original workshop
objectives is recommended.
7. Cost-effectiveness. Staff salaries, levels of staff support, and
overhead should be kept as low as possible. The proposal will be judged
on its responsiveness to achieving effective administration at reduced
funding levels.
8. Cost-sharing. Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through
other private sector support and 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. The Agency reserves the right to reduce,
revise, or increase proposal budgets in accordance with the needs of
the program and the availability of funds. Awards made will be subject
to periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.
[[Page 30111]]
Notification
Final awards cannot be made until funds have been allocated and
committed through internal USIA procedures.
Dated: June 5, 1996.
Dell Pendergrast,
Deputy Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 96-14728 Filed 6-12-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M
