[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 161 (Thursday, August 20, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44681-44683]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22298]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
US Based Training Program (USBT); Request for Proposals
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. Public and
private nonprofit organizations meeting the provisions described in IRS
regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c)(3)-1 may apply to develop one training
program for USIA-affiliated overseas educational advisers to take place
in spring 1999. The basic function of an overseas educational adviser
is to provide accurate, objective information to foreign audiences on
U.S. study opportunities at accredited academic institutions, and to
guide students and professionals in selecting a program appropriate to
their needs. Participants will be drawn from educational advisers
working at USIA-affiliated overseas educational advising centers. The
training program is intended for approximately fifteen to eighteen
participants. The program must be at least two and one half weeks in
duration and must include workshops on advising issues of concern, an
internship or other form of substantive professional stayover at a U.S.
academic institution(s), and attendance at the national NAFSA:
Association of International Educators Conference. USIA anticipates
awarding up to $150,000 to one organization to administer this program.
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 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 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-99-05.
Deadline for Proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S.
Information Agency by 5:00 p.m. Washington, D.C. time on Thursday,
October 1, 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Office of Academic Programs,
Advising and Student Services Branch, E/ASA, U.S. Information Agency,
301 4th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20547, telephone: (202) 619-
5434, fax: (202) 401-1433, E-mail: dmora@usia.gov, to request a
Solicitation Package containing more detailed criteria. 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 Dorothy Mora 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 eight copies of the application
should be sent to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/ASA-99-05, Office
of Grants Management, E/XE, Room 326, 301 4th Street, S.W., Washington,
D.C. 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 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.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
The training program's objectives are twofold: to strengthen and
develop the skills of overseas educational advisers; and to build a
corps of knowledgeable advisers who are skilled as trainers and can
advance the field of educational advising in their home countries with
new and current expertise, techniques and knowledge of applicable
technology. Each component of the training program should be designed
to provide detailed, hands-on learning in areas such as facilitating
access to U.S. higher education, communicating cross-culturally, and
managing an advising center. Special attention should be given to the
use of technology, both as a necessary advising skill, and as a
potential tool to develop new and creative advising approaches.
Similarly, a significant emphasis should be placed on outreach,
partnership and cost-sharing strategies and skills development.
[[Page 44682]]
Guidelines
1. Participants
For the purposes of this RFP, eligible advisers are defined as
those who have demonstrated the skills associated with the four major
components of overseas educational advising: (1) basic knowledge of the
U.S. and home country educational systems; (2) basic knowledge of the
U.S. higher education application process; (3) demonstrated educational
advising and cross-cultural communication skills; and (4) demonstrated
office management skills as they relate to an overseas advising center.
In addition, each participant must demonstrate leadership and a
commitment to the profession. Approximately 15-18 participants are
expected for this training program. Participants will be selected by
USIA based on nominations from overseas posts. To be eligible, an
adviser must have at least two to five years of experience and a
demonstrated commitment to the field of overseas advising.
2. Program Design
USIA invites organizations to submit creative and flexible program
plans which can be tailored, in close consultation with E/ASA, to the
selected advisers' individual needs. However, the proposal should still
include an overall project framework which identifies objectives, an
implementation plan and measurable, expected outcomes.
Possible topics to incorporate in the program include: degree
equivalency and accreditation; international student admissions;
financial aid; standardized testing; ESL programs; immigration and visa
issues; fields of study; cultural adjustment/U.S. societal diversity;
specialized Internet usage; distance learning; proposal writing;
fundraising; public relations and marketing; determining appropriate
fees for students and others, given each host country's environment;
trends in advising center cost sharing and training and management of
volunteer staff.
3. Timing/Program Phases
The program should include attendance at, and active participation
in, the spring national NAFSA conference where workshops and seminars
address various issues of current interest to international educators
and overseas advisers and where the opportunity to brainstorm and to
share information plays an important part. Advisers should have
opportunities to present and/or participate in panels and pre-
conference/conference workshops. In 1999, the national conference is
scheduled for May 23-28 in Denver, Colorado. In addition, the program
should include an internship experience at a U.S. college or
university. Ideally, advisers should be on campus while classes are in
session to optimize their experience through interaction with students.
4. Logistics
The recipient organization will be responsible for arrangements
associated with this program. These include organizing a coherent
progression of activities, providing international and domestic travel
arrangements for all advisers, making lodging and local transportation
arrangements, orienting and debriefing advisers, preparing any
necessary support material, locating host campuses and working with
host institutions and experts in the field of higher education and
overseas advising to achieve maximum program effectiveness through
hands-on applications and training and direct involvement in the
administration of practices and policies in institutions of higher
education.
5. Evaluation/Follow-Up
The proposal must include a detailed evaluation and follow-up plan.
Special emphasis should be given to designing a program which
incorporates outcome measurement strategies that assess its ultimate
effectiveness.
6. Visa/Insurance/Tax Requirements
The program must comply with B-1 tourist visa regulations.
Participant health and accident insurance will be provided to the
overseas advisers by USIA; the recipient organization will be
responsible for enrolling participants in USIA's insurance program and
providing any necessary assistance should medical care be needed.
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.
7. Printed Materials
Drafts of all printed materials developed for this program should
be submitted to E/ASA for review and approval. All official documents
should highlight the U.S. government's role as program sponsor and
funding source. USIA requests that it receive the copyright use and be
allowed to distribute any of this material if it sees fit to do so.
Proposed budget
Applicants must submit a comprehensive line item budget based on
the budget guidelines in the PSI for the entire program. USIA's grant
assistance, up to $150,000 in total, 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.
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:
(1) Salaries and fringe benefits; travel and per diem;
(2) Other direct costs, inclusive of rent, utilities, etc.;
(3) Indirect expenses, auditing costs;
(4) Participant program costs; i.e., international/domestic travel,
per diem, conference attendance, resource materials. 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 Area Offices.
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:
[[Page 44683]]
1. Quality of the program idea
Proposals should exhibit originality, substance, precision, and
relevance to Agency mission.
2. Program planning
A 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 (program venue and program evaluation)
and program content (orientation and wrap-up sessions, program
meetings, resource materials and follow-up activities).
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. 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.
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: August 13, 1998.
James D. Whitten,
Acting Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 98-22298 Filed 8-19-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M
