[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 115 (Thursday, June 16, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-14690]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: June 16, 1994]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
Regional Scholar Exchange Program
ACTION: Notice--Request for Proposals (RFP).
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SUMMARY: The United States Information Agency (USIA) invites
applications from U.S. not-for-profit organizations engaged in
international exchange programs to conduct research exchanges in the
humanities and social sciences of pre- and/or post-doctoral students
and scholars with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, the Russian
Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Exchange
programs must recruit nationally and select participants through an
open merit-based competitive process. Only organizations with at least
four years of experience in international exchange activities are
eligible to apply. Both existing and new projects are eligible. These
exchanges are subject to the availability of funding for Fiscal Year
1995.
Support is offered for two categories: Category A, Short-term
(defined as being less than six months or the equivalent of one
academic year), and/or Long-term (the equivalent of at least six months
or one academic year) Research Exchanges with Armenia, Azerbaijan*,
Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzia, Moldova, the Russian
Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan; and
Category B, Short-term (defined as being less than six months or the
equivalent of one academic year), and/or Long-term (the equivalent of
at least six months or one academic year) Research Exchanges with
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Each category has separate conditions and requirements which are
stated in this announcement. Institutions may address one or both
categories, but must submit a separate proposal for each category.
Proposals for Category A may include all 12 countries, a regional
grouping of countries, or one country. Proposals for Category B may
include one, two or three of the listed countries. The goal of the
program is to ensure the broadest geographic distribution in the New
Independent States, the Baltics, and the U.S. Programs should be for
two-way exchanges, although they do not need to be evenly reciprocal.
Organizations may request funding for one or both sides of the
exchange. Proposals for programs that do not fit into either Category A
or B will be considered technically ineligible.
*Please note: Programs with Azerbaijan are subject to the
restrictions of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act of 1992:
Employees of the Government of Azerbaijan or any of its
instrumentalities are excluded from participation and no U.S.
participant overseas may work for the Government of Azerbaijan or
any of its instrumentalities.
In addition, the Government of Azerbaijan and/or its
instrumentalities will have no control in the actual selection of
participants.
DATES: Deadline for proposals: One original and 9 copies must be
received at the U.S. Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time
on Monday, August 1, 1994. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor
will documents postmarked on August 1, 1994, but received at a later
date. It is the responsibility of each grant applicant to ensure that
its proposals are received by the above deadline.
Grants awarded to organizations through this competition should
begin no earlier than October 1, 1994 and may extend through September
30, 1996, but must be completed by December 31, 1996. Proposals for
exchanges ending after December 31, 1996 will be considered technically
ineligible.
DURATION: Proposals for both categories must provide for at least
three-month programs for participants, but should not exceed one year.
ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: E/AEE-95-02. Applications submitted under this RFP
must indicate the appropriate program name, category, and the above-
referenced number. This announcement number must also appear in any
correspondence concerning this application.
ADDRESSES: The original and 9 copies of the completed application,
including required forms, should be submitted by the deadline to: U.S.
Information Agency, Reference: Regional Scholar Exchange Program, E/
AEE-95-02, Grants Management Division, E/XE, room 336, 301 4th Street,
SW., Washington, DC 20547.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Ted Kniker at the U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th Street, SW.,
Academic Exchanges Division, European Branch, E/AEE, room 246,
Washington, DC 20547; telephone (202) 619-5341, to request detailed
application packages, which include award criteria additional to this
announcement, all necessary forms, and guidelines for preparing
proposals, including specific budget preparation information.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Overall authority for these exchanges is
contained in the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961,
as amended, Public Law 87-256 (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 people
of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchange; 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 other countries of the world.''
Programs shall also ``maintain their scholarly integrity and shall meet
the highest standards of academic excellence or artistic achievement.''
Pursuant to the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs' 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, gender, religion, geographic location, socio-economic
status, and physical challenges. Applicants are strongly encouraged to
adhere to the advancement of this principle throughout the proposed
program and within their own operations.
Overview
The Regional Scholar Exchange Program is intended to promote
scholarly research by funding U.S. academic exchanges of pre- and
postdoctoral students and scholars (including graduate students, junior
faculty, and senior scholars) with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus,
Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, the
Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.
Participants must be citizens of the United States, Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzia, Moldova, the
Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, or Uzbekistan
(Category A) or citizens of the United States, Estonia, Latvia, or
Lithuania (Category B). Within the spirit of the Mutual Education and
Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, the purposes of the Regional Scholar
Exchange Program are (1) to provide access by U.S. scholars to research
sources in the countries listed above, (2) to provide access by
scholars from these countries to research sources in the United States,
and (3) to encourage scholarly cooperation in the humanities and social
sciences.
Guidelines
Language Qualifications
For both categories, foreign participants must have sufficient
fluency in English and U.S. participants must have sufficient fluency
in the language of the host country to be able to conduct research.
Escort-interpreters will not be provided, nor funded by USIA.
Institutional Commitment
Proposals must include documentation of institutional support for
the proposed program in the form of signed letters of endorsement from
the U.S. and foreign partners' directors, or in the form of a signed
agreement by the same persons. Letters of endorsement must describe
each institution's or organization's commitment and make specific
reference to the proposed program, each institution's activities in
support of that program, and each institution's ability to provide
access to archival or manuscript repositories. Documentation of support
from governmental ministries or academies will be acceptable when
appropriate, replacing individual documentation from each foreign
educational institution involved. Applicants must submit this
documentation as part of the completed application; letters and
agreements will not be accepted if sent separately to USIA. Applying
institutions are expected to make their own arrangements with the
appropriate foreign institutions. National ministries of educational
and culture and academies of science are included as eligible foreign
partner institutions.
Authorization to work in archives, manuscript repositories, and to
use research materials is critical for U.S. scholars. Proposals should
include evidence of such authorization.
Proposal Narrative
The proposal narrative describing the program must conform to the
Guidelines dated April 1993 and must include any subgrants to be
issued. All narratives must describe in detail the abilities of the
participating organizations to adapt to the changing exchanges
environments in the countries eligible for participation in this
program.
Participant Selection
The proposal must include detailed descriptions of the selection
processes of participants, both foreign and American. This must include
procedures by which selecting officials are named. A goal for this
program is to select students and scholars from geographically diverse
backgrounds in the home country and place them in wide geographic
distribution in the host country.
Categories A and B (Short and Long-term Research Exchange): All
scholars, at a minimum, must be Ph.D. candidates and currently enrolled
at or affiliated with a university. Applicants should not have
travelled on a similar grant in the last five years, or should have
little opportunity to travel unless as a participant of this program.
Applying organizations must demonstrate the ability to conduct
competitive award programs that are national in scope. Programs must be
based on an open, nationwide competition, incorporating peer group
review mechanisms.
The selection process for U.S. participants must be merit based.
Selection criteria for the U.S. participants must be based on: (1)
Academic rigor of the participant's proposed project, including a
demonstration of the need to study abroad; (2) feasibility of the
participant's proposed project, including time-frame and methodology;
(3) language proficiency in the language of the host country by the
participant; and (4) a solid foundation of background knowledge and
research through general literature available in Western repositories.
The selection process for foreign researchers should be merit based
and the result of a country-wide or multi-country wide competition.
Selection criteria for the foreign participants should be based on: (1)
Academic rigor of the participant's proposed project, including a
demonstration of the need to study abroad; (2) feasibility of the
participant's proposed project, including time-frame and methodology;
(3) English language proficiency by the participant; and (4) a solid
foundation of background knowledge and research through general
literature available in the repositories of the foreign region.
Although not a requirement, preference should be given to junior
faculty holding lecturing positions.
Orientation Programs
Participants should be provided with a substantive and
comprehensive orientation to the countries of their visits, and
proposals should describe these orientation programs, including costs,
in detail.
Alumni Activities
USIA recognizes the contributions of alumni to the goals of the
program and the goals of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchanges
Act. Priority will be given to proposals which include detailed and
comprehensive alumni tracking and networking plans. Electronic mail
access and training may be included in any such plans.
Proposed Budget
Funding anticipated for Category A is estimated at $1,300,000,
which includes all program and administrative costs. Funding
anticipated for Category B is estimated at $240,000, which includes all
program and administrative costs.
The following budgetary guidance applies to both Categories A and
B: Project awards to U.S. organizations will be made in a wide range of
amounts. The Agency reserves the right to reduce, revise or increase
proposal budgets in accordance with the needs of the program. All
organizations must submit a comprehensive line-item budget, the details
and format of which are contained in the application packet. The budget
should list all sources of support for the program fiscal year 1995
including both cash and in-kind contributions.
Allowance Costs
Grant-funded items of expenditure may include, but are not limited
to, the following categories:
Categories A and B:
--International Travel (via American flag carrier);
--Domestic travel;
--Maintenance (lodging, meals, incidental expenses, etc.);
--Stipend (not to exceed $250 per month);
--Academic program costs (e.g. book allowance);
--Orientation costs (speaker honoraria are not to exceed $150 per day
per speaker);
--Cultural enrichment expenses (admissions, tickets, etc.; limited to
$150 per participant);
--Conference and/or other travel and lodging for cultural enrichment
(not to exceed $400.00 per participant);
--Administration (salaries, benefits, communications, other direct
costs and indirect costs), including administration of tax withholding
and reporting as required by federal, state and local authorities and
in accordance with relevant tax treaties.*;
--Taxes and visa fees;
--Application should demonstrate substantial cost-sharing (dollar and
in-kind) in both program and administrative expenses, including tuition
waivers and overseas partner contributions.
*Please Note: It is required that requested administrative funds,
including indirect costs and administrative expenses for
orientation, not exceed 20 percent of the total amount requested
from USIA; administrative expenses should be cost-shared. (See the
accompanying guidelines for complete cost-sharing and auditing
requirements.)
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 package, including the Guidelines for Preparing Proposals.
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 assistance resides with USIA's grants
officer.
Review Criteria
Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed
according to the following criteria:
a. Quality of Program Plan
Including academic rigor and excellence, thorough conception of
project, demonstration of meeting participants' needs, contributions to
understand the partner country, proposed follow-up, and qualifications
of program staff and participants.
b. Reasonable, Feasible, and Flexible Objectives
The capacity of the organization to conduct the program. Proposals
should clearly demonstrate how the institution will meet the program
objectives and plan.
c. Track Record
Relevant Agency and outside assessments of the organization's
experience with international programs; for organizations that have not
worked with USIA, the demonstrated potential to achieve program goals
will be evaluated.
d. Multiplier Effect/Impact
The positive effect of the program on long-term mutual
understanding, the inclusion of maximum sharing of information, and the
establishment of long-term institutional and individual linkages.
e. Value of U.S.-Partner Country Relations
The assessment by USIA's geographic area office of the need,
potential impact, and significance of the project with the partner
country.
f. Cost Effectiveness
Greatest return on each grant dollar, degree of cost-sharing
exhibitied.
g. Diversity and Pluralism
Preference will be given to proposals that demonstrate efforts to
include participants from diverse regions, and of different socio-
economic and ethnic backgrounds, to the extent feasible for the
applicant institutions.
h. Adherence
Of proposed activities to the criteria and conditions described
above.
i. Institutional Commitment
As demonstrated by financial and other support to the program.
j. 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.
k. Evaluation Plan
Proposals should provide a plan for evaluation by the grantee
institution.
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 this request for proposals 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 in writing of the results of the
review process on or about September 23, 1994. All funded proposals
will be subject to periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.
Options for Renewal (All Categories)
Subject to the availability of funding for FY 1996 and the
satisfactory performance of grant programs, USIA may invite grantee
organizations to submit proposals for renewals of awards.
Dated: June 11, 1994.
Barry Fulton,
Deputy Associate Director, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-14690 Filed 6-15-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M
