[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 135 (Thursday, July 15, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38236-38238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-17976]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
Educational Advising in Mexico City, Mexico
NOTICE: Request for proposals.
SUMMARY: The Office of Academic Programs/Advising Teaching, and
Specialized Programs Division of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs of the United States Information Agency announces an open
competition to operate an educational advising center in Mexico City,
Mexico. Public and private non-profit organizations meeting the
provisions described in IRS regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c) may submit
proposals for administering an advising center in Mexico City. The
educational advising center would be part of USIA's worldwide network
of 450 affiliated centers. These centers provide comprehensive and
unbiased information to interested students, scholars, and other
individuals about study opportunities in the US.
For applicants' information, on October 1, 1999, the Bureau will
become part of the United States Department of State without affecting
the content of this announcement or the nature of the program
described.
Program information
Overview
The advising center in Mexico City should provide access to
comprehensive and unbiased information about study opportunities in the
US. Services provided by the center must include group and/or
individual advising informational sessions. The advising center should
provide accurate information and advising on the following topics: US
colleges, universities, and other higher education institutions; the
application process to a US university; majors and fields of study;
testing requirements; life in the US; scholarship programs and
financial aid; and predeparture orientation. Advisers will be eligible
for training opportunities sponsored by the Agency, which will also
provide a limited selection of reference books and materials to the
center.
Guidelines
The period of this grant is October 1, 1999 to September 30, 2000.
Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by
Congress, allocated and committed through internal USIA procedures.
Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations. Please refer to
Solicitation Package for further information.
Budget Guidelines
Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the entire
program. Awards may not exceed $70,000. There must be a summary budget
as well as breakdowns reflecting both administrative and program
budgets. Applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for each program
component, phase, location, or activity to provide clarification.
Allowable costs for the program include the following:
(1) Salaries and benefits.
(2) Office supplies and expenses, including rent, communications,
postage and shipping.
(3) Outreach and publicity costs.
(4) Indirect costs.
Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget
guidelines and formatting instructions.
Announcement Title and Number
All correspondence with USIA concerning this RFP should reference
the above title and number E/ASA-00-03.
for further information contact: The Advising and Student Services
Branch, E/ASA, Room 349, U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th Street, SW,
Washington, DC 20547, phone: (202)
[[Page 38237]]
619-4731, email: ssheehan@usia.gov to request a Solicitation Package.
The Solicitation Package contains detailed award criteria, required
application forms, specific budget instructions, and standard
guidelines for proposal preparation. Please specify USIA E/ASA Program
Officer Sharen Sheehan on all other inquiries and correspondence.
Please 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 with applicants
until the proposal review process has been completed.
To Download a Solicitation Package Via Internet
The entire Solicitation Package may be downloaded from USIA's
website at http://e.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 requested from the Bureau's
Grants Information Fax on Demand System, which is accessed by calling
202/401-7616. The Table of Contents listing available documents and
order numbers should be the first order when entering the system.
Deadline for Proposals
All proposals copies must be received at the U.S. Information
Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on Monday, August 2, 1999. Faxed
documents will not be accepted at any time. Documents postmarked the
due date but received on a later date will not be accepted. Each
applicant must ensure that the proposals are received by the above
deadline.
Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation
Package. The original and 6 copies of the application should be sent
to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/ASA-00-03, Office of Grants
Management, E/XE, Room 336, 301 4th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20547.
Applicants must also submit the ``Executive Summary'' and
``Proposal Narrative'' sections of the proposal on a 3.5'' diskette,
formatted for DOS. These documents 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.
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 encouraged to
adhere to the advancement of this principal 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. Pub. L.
104-319 provides that in carrying out programs of educational cultural
exchange in countries whose people do not fully enjoy freedom and
democracy, USIA shall take appropriate step to provide opportunities
for participation in such programs to human rights and democracy
leaders of such countries. Proposals should reflect advancement of this
goal in their program contents, to the full extent deemed feasible.
Year 2000 Compliance Requirement (Y2K Requirement)
The Year 2000 (Y2K) issue is a broad operational and accounting
problem that could potentially prohibit organizations from processing
information in accordance with Federal management and program specific
requirements including data exchange from USIA. The inability to
process information in accordance with Federal requirements could
result in grantees' being required to return funds that have not been
accounted for properly.
USIA therefore requires all organizations use Y2K compliant systems
including hardware software, and firmware. Systems must accurately
process data and dates (calculating, comparing and sequencing) both
before and after the beginning of the year 2000 and correctly adjust
for leap years.
Additional information addressing the Y2K issue may be found at the
General Services Administration's Office of Information Technology
website at http://www.itpolicy.gsa.gov.
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, as well as the USIA Western Hemsphre Area Office and
the USIA posts overseas, where appropriate. Eligible proposals will be
forwarded to panels of USIA officers for advisory review. Proposals may
also be reviewed by the Office of the General Counsel or by other
Agency elements. Final funding decisions are at the discretion of
USIA's 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 of the program idea: Proposals should exhibit
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Agency's
mission.
2. Program planning: Detailed agenda and relevant work plan should
demonstrate substantive 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. 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.
5. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Achievable and relevant
features should be cited in both program administration and program
content.
6. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program or
project's goals.
7. Institution's Record/Ability: Proposals should demonstrate an
institutional record of successful programs in international education,
including responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all
reporting requirements for past Agency grants as determined by USIA's
Office of Contracts. The Agency will consider the past performance of
prior recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants.
[[Page 38238]]
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. A draft survey questionnaire or other technique plus
description of a methodology to use to link outcomes to original
project objectives is recommended. Successful applicants 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 proposal, 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 projects
should receive positive assessments by USIA's geographic area desk and
overseas officers of program need, potential impact, and significance
in the partner countries.
Authority
Overall grant making authority for this program is contained in the
Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, Pub. L. 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.''
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: July 7, 1999.
Judith Siegel,
Deputy Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 99-17976 Filed 7-14-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M
