[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 115 (Thursday, June 15, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31536-31538]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-14248]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
International Creative Arts Exchanges for Public and Private Non-
Profit Organizations
ACTION: Notice request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Arts America Creative Arts Exchanges Division of
the U.S. Information Agency's [USIA] Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs announces an open competition for an assistance award. Public
and non-profit organizations that demonstrate disciplinary expertise in
the arts and meet the provisions described in IRS regulation 26 CFR
1.501(c)(3)-(1) may apply to develop projects for artists and arts
administrators. These will consist of residences and/or exchange
programs in which artists from the United States and other countries
work and learn together. Interested applicants are invited to request
and read the complete Solicitation Package before submitting their
proposals.
Overall grant making and funding 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 requirements and guidelines
outlined in the Solicitation Package. A Solicitation Package consists
of the Federal Register Request For Proposals (RFP); a Project
Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI) statement; and Proposal
Submission Instructions (PSI). USIA projects and programs are subject
to the availability of funds. Individuals interested in other USIA
programs can access information via the USIA Internet gopher site:
Gopher. USIA.GOV
ANNOUNCEMENT NAME & NUMBER: All communications concerning this
announcement should refer to the title and reference number--E/DE-96-
06.
DATES: All proposal materials must be received at USIA by 5:00 p.m.
Washington, DC time on Thursday, September 7, 1995. Faxed documents
will not be accepted, nor will documents postmarked on September 7,
1995, but received at a later date. It is the responsibility of each
applicant to ensure that proposals are received by the above deadline.
Projects should begin between February 1, 1996 and July 31, 1996. For
projects that begin after July 31, 1996, proposals should be submitted
under the next award competition. The next competition will be
announced in the Federal Register on or about December 7, 1995.
FOR FURTHER APPLICATION INFORMATION: Please contact the Office of Arts
America, Creative Arts Exchanges Division, Room 568, U.S. Information
Agency, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547 (Phone: 202-619-5338,
Fax: 202-619-6315, Internet: JDorsey@USIA.gov) to request a
Solicitation Package, which includes more detailed award criteria; all
application forms; and guidelines for preparing proposals, including
specific criteria for preparation of the proposal budget. Please
specify Christopher Paddack on all inquiries and correspondences.
Interested applicants should read the complete Federal Register
announcement before submitting their proposals. Creative Arts staff are
available to answer any programmatic or technical questions applicants
may have prior to submission of applications. Once the RFP deadline has
passed, staff may not discuss this competition with applicants until
after the proposal review process has been completed.
Proposal Submission Instructions
Applicants must follow all instructions given in the Solicitation
Package and send an original and two (2) copies of the full package
plus nine (9) additional copies of Tabs A-E to: U.S. Information
Agency, REF: E/DE-96-01, Office of Grants Management, E/XE, Room 326,
301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
Applicants must also submit to E/EX the ``Executive Summary,''
``Proposal Narrative,'' and ``Budget'' sections of each proposal on a
3.5'' diskette, formatted for DOS. This material must be provided in
ASCII text (DOS) format with a maximum line length of 65 characters.
USIA will transmit these files electronically to USIS posts overseas
for their review, with the goal of reducing the time it takes to get
posts' comments for the Agency's grants review process.
Guidelines
The Creative Arts Exchanges Division works with U.S. non-profit
organizations to develop cooperative international group projects that
introduce American and foreign participants to each other's cultural
and artistic life and traditions. The Division seeks projects with
organizations that have disciplinary expertise in the arts as well as
broad outreach and networking capabilities into American arts
activities nationwide. International projects in the United States or
overseas may involve composers, choreographers, playwrights, theater
designers, writers and poets, filmmakers, visual artists, and arts
administrators. Arts administration programs can include topics such as
arts management, institutional development, community outreach,
fundraising, tour management, and organizational structure.
Organizations interested in museum/curatorial projects should
contact the American Association of Museums (AAM) International
Partnerships Among Museums (IPAM) program: Office of International
Programs, American Association of Museums, 1225 Eye Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20005; telephone: (202) 289-1818; FAX: (202) 289-6578.
We will not accept direct applicants from museums for international
projects.
Projects should involve the following components:
1. An international exchange of professionals in the fields listed
above;
2. The development of institutional linkages between American
organizations and their counterparts in other countries;
3. Travel to or from the United States, preferably in both
directions; [[Page 31537]]
4. Assurances of quality, fairness, balance and openness in the
selection of project participants.
Proposed projects should involve U.S. Information Service (USIS)
posts worldwide to carry out activities supportive of the USIA mission
to increase mutual understanding between the United States and other
countries and to promote international cooperation in educational and
cultural fields. USIS' role in such projects should be substantive and
integral and not purely facilitative.
Proposals including performances and/or exhibitions will be
considered only if the performance or exhibition is integral to the
creative process. Projects in which exhibitions and/or performances are
the main focus will not be supported.
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 race,
gender, religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, and
physical challenges. Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere to
the advancement of this principle.
Drafts of all printed materials developed for this program using
USIA funds should be submitted to the Agency for review and approval.
USIA must receive a royalty-free, non-exclusive and irrevocable right
to reproduce, publish, or otherwise use the work for Federal purposes,
and to authorize others to do so. Funded projects must acknowledge USIA
sponsorship in all printed project materials and official project
documents.
Special conditions and exclusions:
1. USIS Posts should be given the option of nominating foreign
program participants, while the U.S. grantee organization will make
final selection decisions.
2. Proposals involving more than one country are preferred.
However, single-country projects that have strong USIS Post support and
clearly demonstrate the potential for creating and strengthening
linkages between foreign and U.S. institutions are also welcome.
3. Proposals involving foreign organizations should identify them
and clearly define their role in the project. Letters of commitment
from these organizations should be included in the proposal package.
Prospective applicants should consult with USIS Posts regarding such
organizations prior to submitting their proposals.
4. Proposals centering on films or videos must deal with the
creative aspects of film or video making. Projects may include story
development, other aspects of the creative processes, or management
issues like funding and distribution. They should not include
installations, screenings, competitions, full scale film production or
distribution, or any other type of project prohibited in this
announcement.
The following types of projects are ineligible for support:
1. Vocational and technical training projects;
2. Scholarly programs, long-term academic study or training
programs, and student and/or faculty exchanges (Organizations
interested in programs of this nature should contact USIA's Office of
Academic Programs--202-619-6409);
3. Speaking tours, conferences, research projects, research for
project development purposes, publications;
4. Youth or youth-related activities (participants' age under 25)
or projects for the exchange of amateurs or semi-professionals;
5. International arts competitions, community-level arts
presentations or festivals for general audiences;
6. Study tours and observerships;
7. Projects in the fields of historical and cultural conservation
and preservation.
USIA is a major supporter of Sister Cities International and
Partners of the Americas. It has agreed to fund administrative expenses
of these organizations' national offices, but will not fund projects
arising from sister city and partner state relationships once they are
established.
Geographic guidelines:
Proposals which address themselves to various geographic regions of
the world, and allow across-the-board participation from all areas are
preferred. In addition, preferences for specific geographic areas are:
1. Africa, East Asia and the Pacific, the Near/Middle East, and
South Asia: Proposals are especially encouraged for projects in these
regions. There are no specific preferences in terms of thematic fields.
2. American Republics (South America, Central America and the
Caribbean): Proposals are invited in all appropriate areas. Preference
will be given to proposals that focus on ethnic and indigenous arts.
3. Eastern Europe and the Newly Independent States of the former
Soviet Union: Proposals should clearly demonstrate knowledge of the
host country environment and the institutional partner in that country
and provide evidence of long-term commitment to project goals.
4. Western Europe and Canada: Only proposals that are multi-
country, address arts financing in the U.S., and invite arts
administrators as participants will be considered.
Visa/Insurance/Tax Requirements
Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations. Please refer to
program specific guidelines in Solicitation Package for further
details. Administration of the program must be in compliance with
reporting and withholding regulations for federal, state, and local
taxes as applicable. Recipient organizations should demonstrate tax
regulation adherence in the proposal narrative and budget.
Budgetary Requirements
Detailed budgetary requirements and guidelines are included in the
Solicitation Package. Creative Arts discretionary awards are on average
approximately $58,000 with many successful proposals coming in at well
below this level. Organizations may request up to $100,000 for single-
country projects. In exceptional cases awards of up to $200,000 dollars
are available for multi-country projects. Organizations with less than
four years of experience in conducting international exchange programs
are eligible for awards up to $60,000. Please note that proposal
budgets must include a minimum of 33% cost sharing of the total project
cost. Administrative costs must be no more than 20% of the total amount
requested from USIA.
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 in the Solicitation Package.
Eligible proposals will be reviewed by the Office of Arts America, USIA
geographic area policy offices, and USIA Posts overseas. Panels of USIA
officers will make funding recommendations. Proposals may also be
reviewed by the Office of the General Counsel or by other USIA
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 Office of Contracts.
Review Criteria
Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed
according to [[Page 31538]] the criteria stated below. These criteria
are not rank ordered:
1. Quality of the program idea: Proposals should exhibit
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to USIA's mission and
the goals of the Creative Arts Exchanges Program as stated under the
Summary and Guidelines sections of this document.
2. Program planning: Detailed agenda and relevant work plan should
demonstrate substantive artistic/organizational undertakings 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. Institutional capacity/ability: Proposed personnel and
institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve
the program or project's goals. Proposals should demonstrate an
institutional record of successful exchange programs, including
responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting
requirements for past USIA grants ad determined by USIA's Office of
Contracts. USIA will consider the past performance of prior recipients
and the demonstrated potential of new applicants.
5. 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.
6. Follow-on activities: Proposals should provide a plan for
continued follow-on activity (without USIA support) which insures that
USIA supported programs are not isolated events.
7. Support diversity: Proposals should demonstrate the recipient's
commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding of diversity as
defined under the Guidelines section of this document.
8. Project evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate
the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of
the program. USIA recommends that the proposal include a draft survey
questionnaire or other technique plus description of a methodology to
use to link outcomes to original project objectives. Award-receiving
organizations/institutions will be expected to submit intermediate
reports after each project component is concluded or quarterly,
whichever is less frequent.
9. Cost-effectiveness: The overhead and administrative components
of the proposals, including 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. Value to U.S.-partner country relations: Proposed programs
should receive positive assessments by USIA's geographic area desk and
overseas USIS officers of program need, potential impact, and
significance in the partner country(ies).
Notice
The terms and conditions published in this RFP are binding and may
not be modified by any USIA representative. Explanatory information
provided by USIA that contradicts published language will not be
binding. Issuance of the RFP does not constitute an award commitment on
the part of the Government. USIA reserves the right to reduce, revise,
or increase proposed budgets in accordance with the needs of the
program. Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriate
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 January 1, 1996. Awards made will be subject to
periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.
Dated: June 5, 1995.
Dell Pendergrast,
Deputy Associate Director, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 95-14248 Filed 6-14-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M
