[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 128 (Monday, July 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36485-36487]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17769]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
Vietnam Fulbright: Foreign Student Exchange Program
ACTION: 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. Public and
private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in
IRS regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c) may apply to manage a student exchange
program. The program would bring 20-25, mid-career Vietnamese each year
to the U.S. in order to pursue a Master's degree, or in some cases a
Ph.D., in fields related to economic development to include--but not
limited to--economics, business, public policy, public administration,
law, and international relations. The proposal must also include
renewal costs for approximately 30-35 Vietnamese Fulbright students
currently studying in the U.S. (mostly second-year, but some third-year
students).
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.'' The funding authority for the
program cited above is provided through the Fulbright-Hays Act.
The program 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/AEF-99-01.
Deadline for Proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S.
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on Friday, July 31,
1998. Faxed documents will not be accepted at any time. Documents
postmarked by the due date but received at a later date will not be
accepted. The grant should begin on or about October 1, 1998.
Duration: October 1, 1998-September 30, 2000.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Office of Academic Programs,
Academic Exchange Programs Divisions/East Asia Fulbright Branch, E/AEF,
Room 208, U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC
20547, phone: (202) 619-6788/5404, fax: (202) 401-1728; email:
sborja@usia.gov to request a Solicitation Package containing more
detailed information. 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 at http://
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 Sue Borja 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 10 copies of the application
should be sent to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/AEF-99-01, Office
of Grants Management, E/XE, Room 326, 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. This material must be provided in ASCII text (DOS)
format with a maximum line length of 65 characters. USIS 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 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. Pub. L.
104-319
[[Page 36486]]
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.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
The United States Information Agency has supported a Vietnamese
student exchange program since 1992 which has enabled over a hundred
and fifty Vietnamese students to pursue two-year Master's degrees (as
well as some Ph.Ds) in economics, business, public policy and
administration, law, and international relations at a wide range of
U.S. colleges and universities.
The goals of the program are to foster mutual understanding and
strengthen ties between the two countries and to support the U.S.
foreign policy goal of promoting the establishment of a modern market
economy in Vietnam.
Guidelines
The program should focus on selection 20-25 mid-career scholars and
managers each year from throughout the country from those Vietnamese
institutions critical to the economic transition. The program must
include the following components: recruitment, selection, pre-academic
and academic placement, pre-departure support and orientation, grantee
administration, and evaluation. The grantee must maintain continuous
liaison with the United States Information Service (USIS) in Vietnam
and with the USIA Fulbright Office in Washington concerning the
management of the program. The Vietnam Fulbright program is a component
of the U.S. government's foreign policy with Vietnam as well as a
member of the overall Fulbright Program which currently operates in
over 140 countries worldwide.
Recruitment
Through continued and regular negotiation and resulting agreement
with the Vietnamese government (including the Vietnamese Ministry of
Education and Training), the recruitment and selection process has
been, and must remain, an open and independent operation. Recruitment
must include continued efforts to stimulate interest in the Fulbright
program and careful interviewing, testing, and application counseling
in order to develop a pool of qualified applicants to submit to a panel
review for final recommendation to USIA. Recruitment should include in-
country workshops and group meetings with potential candidates who have
submitted curricula vita and initial essays, including an impromptu
writing test for English ability. This should be followed by in-depth,
one-on-one interviews from which a pool of applicants is invited to
submit full applications for review by a selection panel.
Recruitment begins in the spring, 18 months prior to the fall
semester in which the students are to begin their academic program
(most, if not all, students will need to enroll in a summer English
and/or pre-academic program). Please note that for the FY99 program,
the current grantee already began recruiting students in the spring of
1998 for academic year 1999-2000. Therefore, if a new grantee is
selected by USIA, then the former grantee and USIA would work out the
transfer of the student information and files to the successor grantee.
Selection
The final pool of applicants is prepared for panel review complete
with TOEFL scores and a written evaluation from each applicant. Panels
are held in the fall one year prior to the academic year in which the
award is due to begin.
The independent selection panel must consist of a group of scholars
experienced in the fields of study and professional education programs
targeted in this program. The panelists should also have some knowledge
of, or experience with, U.S.-Vietnam educational exchanges, the
Vietnamese education system, and other education systems in which the
Vietnamese might have studied as undergraduates--such as those of
Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. USIA reserves the right to
review the panel member selection. The selection panel reviews the
applicants' files, selects awardees for final approval by the J.
William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, and advises on university
placement for the awardees.
Pre-academic and Academic Placement
The grantee will place the selected students at English language
summer programs and pre-academic programs, as necessary, and at
academic programs at a range of appropriate universities and colleges
in the U.S. Placement includes negotiating for cost share (tuition
reduction/waivers, etc.) from the universities and colleges.
Pre-departure Support and Orientation
The grantee will provide pre-departure orientation counseling
(academic, social, and cultural adjustment) and logistical support for
the selected Vietnamese students. The grantee will ensure personal
contact and follow-up contact with the Vietnamese authorities, maintain
contact with the U.S. Embassy Consular Office and the Vietnamese
officials who process the students' visas, make travel arrangements to
the U.S. for the selected Vietnamese students and provide them with any
other assistance needed.
Student Administration/Supervision
During the period of the award, the grantee organization will
maintain regular contact with the students to provide assistance,
monitor academic work, and deal with any problems that might arise. The
grantee will establish a series of mailings to students regarding
taxes, financial payments, reports, exit travel arrangements, and
invitations to meetings/orientations. Students are required to submit
one formal report at mid-point of their award which is to be shared
with USIA.
Evaluation
During the period of their award, the students will report on the
progress of their research and the quality of their reception at their
institutions of affiliation. The grantee will organize an exit
interview before the student departures from the U.S.
Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations. Please refer to the
program's specific guidelines (POGI) in the Solicitation Package for
further details.
Proposed Budget
Organizations must submit a comprehensive line-item budget based on
the specific guidance in the Solicitation Package. The award may not
exceed $1,800,000 for both new and renewal students.
``Grants awarded to eligible organizations with less than four
years of experience in conducting international exchange programs will
be limited to $60,000''.
Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the entire
program. There must be a summary budget as well as a breakdown
reflecting both the administrative budget and the program budget. For
further clarification, applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for
each program component, phase, location, or activity in order to
facilitate USIA decisions on funding.
Allowable costs for the program include the following:
[[Page 36487]]
(1) Program participant costs: travel, test fees, pre-departure
expenses, pre-academic/English training, tuition, stipend, tax
withholding, educational materials, enrichment programs;
(2) Renewal costs for current Vietnamese Fulbright students
(estimate 30-35);
(3) Staff salaries and benefits;
(4) Domestic/International travel and per diem for recruitment,
selection, orientation of students;
(5) Reproduction, communication, supplies; and
(6) Overhead/Indirect 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. 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 Office of East
Asian and Pacific Affairs, 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
Technical 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 Agency 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 hold 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 (selection of
participants, program venue and program evaluation) and program content
(orientation and wrap-up sessions, program meetings, resource materials
and follow-up activities). The Vietnamese Fulbright students should
come from throughout Vietnam, from a variety of institutions, and
represent both genders as equally as possible.
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 exchange programs, 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.
8. Follow-on Activities: Proposals should provide a plan for
continued follow-on activity (without USIA support) which ensures that
USIA-supported programs are not isolated events.
9. 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 evaluation technique
plus description of a methodology that will be used 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.
10. 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.
11. Cost-sharing: Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through
other private sector support as well as institutional direct funding
contributions.
12. 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 country.
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 budget 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, then allocated and committed through internal USIA
procedures.
Dated: June 26, 1998.
John P. Loiello,
Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 98-17769 Filed 7-2-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M
