[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 108 (Thursday, June 5, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30928-30930]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14713]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
Census of Foreign Students in the United States
ACTION: Request for proposal.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Advising and Student Services Branch of the United States
Information Agency's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
announces an open competition for an assistance award. U.S.
educational, cultural, public, and private for-profit and not-for
profit-organizations with significant substantive experience in
international education may apply to conduct a statistical survey
(census) of foreign nationals affiliated with institutions of higher
learning in the United States. The census should identify in the most
economical way possible the number of foreign students and scholars
studying, conducting research, or teaching at all accredited
universities and colleges in the United States starting in the 1997-
1998 academic year; it must provide detailed individual student profile
data which should include which students are first-time entrants to the
U.S higher educational system, country-specific aggregate data in the
form of Country Locator Reports, and survey the number of American
students studying abroad. Proposals should describe the methodology
which will be used to collect the data and how the material will be
analyzed and presented to the public. The proposals must also include
plans to establish an advisory board to provide assistance in
identifying and framing policy issues to be addressed.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
As the Federal agency tasked with promoting international
educational exchange, USIA considers it essential to have an accurate
picture of foreign study and scholarship in the United States, such as
that provided by the statistical survey. This survey should provide a
detailed and comprehensive picture of the number and characteristics of
foreign nationals (excluding permanent residents and refugees)
affiliated with American institutions of higher learning and the number
of U.S. students studying abroad. Topics of interest include the number
of students and scholars, their gender, countries of origin, and fields
of study. Information about students' academic level (undergraduate,
graduate, post-doctorate), primary source of financial support,
financial contributions they make while in the United States, and
location of study should be included. A survey of students in intensive
English language programs would be of interest but is not required.
The Agency will consider funding a publication, database,
newsletter, or any other medium presented as a viable vehicle for
making census data about the U.S. and foreign student population widely
available in a timely manner and in a clear and concise format.
Continued support, assuming availability of funding, will be contingent
upon accurate data collection, quality of presentation of that data,
and prompt publication of the census. The Agency reserves the right to
reproduce, publish or otherwise use any work developed under this grant
for Government purposes.
Guidelines
Proposals should include a description of the methodology to be
used to canvass colleges and universities for information about their
statistics. Provision should be made for securing the highest possible
response rate. Data collected from the surveys of foreign students
enrolled in regionally accredited U.S. institutions of higher learning
should be collected annually with 650 copies of the first edition being
published in hard-copy and shipped to USIA in the fall of 1998. For a
more detailed analysis and cross tabulation of the characteristics of
the foreign student population, individual student profile data should
be collected annually with the first data appearing biennially in
computerized diskette format along with the hard copy in the fall of
1999. This individual student profile data should also be provided to
USIA in a format that is country-specific on diskette in the summer of
1998 and should specify detailed information showing the number of
students from a specific country attending institutions of higher
education in each state of the U.S.
The Agency is interested in a clear presentation of the data
collected as well as a rigorous analysis of the data which will draw
conclusions about the trends in international study in the U.S. and
make data recommendations for policy for both government and academia.
An advisory board must be established to provide assistance in
identifying and framing policy issues to be addressed and should meet
at least once a year. Board members would likely be drawn from a broad
range of disciplines and organizations such as NAFSA: Association of
International Educators and the American Association of Collegiate
Registrars and Admissions Officers, and would be expected to provide
fresh perspectives on topics that are related to the
internationalization of higher education.
Scholarly analyses of census data addressing pertinent policy
issues should be included, taking into consideration a wide range of
prospective readers and policymakers in government, academia, and
business. The publication should include a section on the mechanics and
uses of data analysis, highlighting how conclusions can be drawn from
the data collected, what some of the limitations of that analysis can
be, and how the data can benefit those supplying it, i.e. as a campus
advocacy or recruiting tool.
Please include with the proposal a complete list of proposed
chapter headings and sample analyses. We welcome innovative approaches
to the presentation of material. Topics we would like to see addressed
might include:
(1) Relationship to immigration flows
(2) Global competitiveness: How changing patterns in preferred
fields of study among international students reflect sociological and
economic trends in other countries;
(3) The impact on the U.S. economy and labor market;
(4) Global trade;
(5) A comparative analysis of readily available statistics on
foreign student enrollment in countries with significant international
student presence;
(6) How demographics of the international student population in the
U.S. is affected by visa control;
(7) U.S. faculty and students lecturing and researching abroad: The
countries/regions they are going to, the fields of study, and who pays
for it.
Grant should begin on or about October 1, 1997 and run through
September 30, 1999.
Proposed budget: Budget may not exceed $175,000. Applicants must
submit a comprehensive budget for the entire program. There must be a
summary budget as well as a break-down reflecting both the
administrative budget and the program budget. For
[[Page 30929]]
further clarification, applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for
each program component, phase, location, or activity in order to
facilitate USIA decisions on funding. The $175,000 is expected to
constitute only a portion of the total project funding. Cost sharing is
required and the proposal should list other anticipated sources of
support. Grant applications should demonstrate financial and in-kind
support.
Allowable costs for the program include the following:
(1) Salaries and fringe benefits; travel and per diem;
(2) Other direct costs, inclusive of rent, utilities, etc.;
(3) Overhead expenses, auditing costs, subject to limits outlined
above.
Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget
guidelines and formatting instructions. Grants awarded to eligible
organizations with less than four years of experience in conducting
international exchange programs will be limited to $60,000.
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. Eligible proposals will be forwarded to panels of
USIA officers for advisory review. All eligible proposals will be
reviewed by the program office, as well as the USIA Area Offices and
the USIA post overseas, where appropriate. 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) Cost-Sharing
Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through host institutions
and other private sector support as well as institutional direct
funding contributions and may include marketing the data.
(2) Overall Quality
The content, definition, and organization of all aspects of the
project, appropriateness of project plan and content to program
objectives; extensive academic and professional involvement of the
staff assigned to the project in the U.S. educational community;
evidence of understanding of the dynamics of trends in international
education.
(3) Institutional Capacity
Adequacy of proposed resources, including professional staff and
available educational network(s), to administer the census
successfully, based on achieving a high response rate from those
institutions surveyed, in the most economical way possible. Development
of an appropriate method and format for presentation and analysis of
the data.
(4) Institution's Track Record/Ability
Clear evidence of applicant institution's track record of
successful projects and experience with international education.
Demonstrated expertise of the project director to assume the
administration of this undertaking.
(5) Cost-Effectiveness
The indirect costs and administrative components of the program, as
well as salaries, should be kept as low as possible. All other items
should be necessary and appropriate. In-kind contributions should also
be included.
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 use
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 cited above is provided through the legislation.
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 RFP should refer to the announcement's title and reference number
E/ASA-98-01.
DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: All copies must be received at the U.S.
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, D.C. time on July 25, 1997.
Faxed documents will not be accepted at any time. Documents postmarked
by July 25, 1997 but received at a later date will not be accepted.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Advising and Student Services, E/ASA,
Room 349, U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC
20547, Tel: (202) 619-5434, Fax: (202) 401-1433, e-mail:
advise@usia.gov. to request a Solicitation Package containing more
details. Please request 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 entire
Solicitation Package may be downloaded from USIA's website a hittp://
www.usia.gov/education/rfps. Please read all information before
downloading.
TO RECEIVE A SOLICITATION PACKAGE VIA FAX ON DEMAND: The entire
Solicitation Package may be received via the Bureau's ``Grants
Information Fax on Demand System'', which is accessed by calling 202/
401/7616. Please request a ``Catalog'' of available documents and order
numbers when first entering the system.
Please specify USIA Program Officer Ann Prince 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 twelve copies of the proposal
plus one extra copy of the cover sheet should be sent to: U.S.
Information Agency, Ref.: E/ASA-98-01, Office of Grants Management, E/
XE, Room 326, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
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
[[Page 30930]]
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. Public Law 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 account for advancement of this goal in their program contents,
to the full extent deemed feasible.
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.
Notification
Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by
Congress, allocated and committed through internal USIA procedures.
Dated: May 30, 1997.
Dell Pendergrast,
Deputy Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 97-14713 Filed 6-4-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M
