[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 169 (Thursday, August 31, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45513-45516]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-21291]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
Winter Institute for the Study of the U.S.: Focus on American
Literature
ACTION: Notice--Request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: The Branch of the Study of the U.S. of 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 program for the Winter Institute for the Study of the
U.S.: Focus on American Literature. Public and private non-profit
organizations meeting the provisions described in IRS regulation 26 CFR
1.501(c)(3)-1 may apply to develop a six-week graduate-level program
designed for a group of 18 foreign university educators from around the
world, in order to deepen their understanding of the United States and
to give them further grounding in the field of American literature so
that curricula and courses in foreign universities will benefit.
USIA is seeking detailed proposals from colleges, universities,
consortia of colleges and universities, and other not-for-profit
academic organizations that have an established reputation in the
discipline of American Studies and/or American Literature and the
related
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subdiscipline, and can demonstrate expertise in conducting graduate-
level programs for foreign educators. Applicant institutions must have
a minimum of four years' experience in conducting international
exchange programs. The project director or one of the key program staff
responsible for the academic program must have an advanced degree in
American Studies or American Literature. Staff escorts traveling under
the USIA cooperative agreement support must be U.S. citizens with
demonstrated qualifications for this service.
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.'' 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 NAME AND NUMBER: All communications with USIA concerning
this announcement should refer to the above title and reference number
E/AAS-96-01.
DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: All copies must be received at the U.S.
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington DC time on Tuesday, October 10,
1995. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents
postmarked October 10, 1995 but received at a later date. It is the
responsibility of each applicant to ensure that proposal submissions
arrive by the deadline. The actual program will begin on January 13,
1996 and last until February 24, 1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
To request a Solicitation Package, which includes more detailed award
criteria; all application forms; and guidelines for preparing
proposals, including specific criteria for preparation of the proposal
budget, applicants should contact: U.S. Information Agency, Office of
Academic Programs, Branch of the Study of the United States, E/AAS,
Room 256, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, Attn: Program
Officer Ilaya Rome; telephone number (202) 619-4557; fax number (202)
619-6790; internet address irome@usia.gov. Please specify USIA Program
Officer on all inquiries and correspondence. Interested applicants
should read the complete Federal Register announcement before
addressing inquiries to the office listed above or submitting their
proposals. Once the RFP deadline has passed, USIA staff may not discuss
this competition in any way with applicants until after the Bureau
proposal review process has been completed.
SUBMISSIONS: Applicants must read and follow all instructions given in
the RFP and the complete Solicitation Package. Proposals must be
structured in accordance with these instructions. The original and 12
copies of the complete application should be sent to: U.S. Information
Agency, Ref.: E/AAS-96-01, Office of Grants Management, E/XE, Room 326,
301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
DIVERSITY GUIDELINES: Pursuant to the Bureau's authorizing legislation,
programs must maintain a non-political character, and should be
balanced and representative of the diversity and broad range of
responsible views present in 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.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
The Winter Institute for the Study of the U.S.: Focus on American
Literature is intended to provide foreign university teachers of
American studies and/or American literature with opportunities to
deepen their understanding of the U.S., especially its society and
culture, through an in-depth examination of American literature. This
will be accomplished through a six-week residency at a college or
university campus in the United States (and an optional study tour
segment), where participants are involved in a specially-designed
program of lectures, presentations, discussions, and research
opportunities focusing on American studies and American literature. The
equivalent of one day a week should be available to participants to
pursue individual research interests in American literature, curriculum
development projects, or to do assigned readings. The Winter Institute
should provide access to leading American scholars and research
resources (libraries, archives, databases, etc.). Participants should
be paired with faculty mentors. An essential element of the Institute
is the exposure to and accumulation of scholarly materials, primary
texts and supplementary works, curricular materials and teaching ideas
(including Internet and computer resources training). The Winter
Institute must provide participants with such materials to take back to
their home countries which will be used to contribute to the
development of new courses and programs and the modification of
existing ones that draw from American Studies and American literature.
Institute Objectives
--to conduct an intensive, academically stimulating program that
presents a multi-dimensional view of the United States, using American
literature as the focus;
--to draw from a variety of academic disciplines to enhance the program
design in such a way as to deepen participants' understanding of the
complexity of U.S. society, culture and institutions, in both a
historical and contemporary sense;
--and, to enhance teaching about the U.S., and of American literature
in particular, in foreign universities by making appropriate scholarly
resources, pedagogical materials, and ideas available to participants.
Guidelines
The institute should be specifically designed for experienced
foreign university-level teachers and should not duplicate courses
designed for American graduate-degree candidates. Although it is
important that the topics and readings of the institute be clearly
organized, the institute should not simply replicate a lecture course
or a graduate seminar. Through a combination of lectures, discussions,
and faculty presentations, it should facilitate the development of a
collegial atmosphere in which institute faculty and participants
discuss relevant concepts, issues and texts in American studies and
American literature. Themes and issues prevalent in the U.S. that have
relevance to other societies contribute to the mutual understanding
facilitated through this type of program. Please keep in mind that
pluralism and issues reflecting the diversity of the
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United States are important to the Agency, and their incorporation into
the proposal submission will make it more competitive.
At the outset, the program should review the recent history and
current status of American literature as an academic discipline,
surveying major schools of interpretation and examining the current
debates within American literature and literary studies generally. The
program should also explore how American literature has informed and
been informed by the interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary
approaches to the study of the U.S. represented by the field of
American Studies.
While the structure of the institute is entirely the responsibility
of the organizers, a thematic approach would help to focus the main
body of the program, American Literature, an enormously heterogeneous
field. The best proposals will express a high level of thematic
articulation in addition to demonstrating clearly the means by which
these themes will be concretely communicated to participants for
discussion and reflection. It is extremely important for the institute
organizers to devise a way to integrate all aspects of the program,
from the assigned reading, to lectures, discussions, and field trips.
Throughout the program there should be exposure to the many facets of
the United States, such as history, society, demographics, and
institutions (political, cultural, educational, media). Readings should
serve as examples to illustrate broader themes in American
civilization. There should be a balanced mix of traditional and
contemporary approaches. Please refer to the Solicitation Package for
further elaboration of the thematic approach.
Other Guidelines to Consider
The institute program should ideally bring in outside presenters
(representatives from academia, community organizations, media,
government) in addition to the core faculty of the host institution.
Presenters must be fully briefed about the institute, its goals,
general themes, readings, and especially the background and needs of
the participants themselves. Information about presenters and how they
will be utilized should be included in the proposal submission.
A residential program of a minimum of four weeks on a college/
university campus is mandatory. A minimum of two to three days in
Washington, D.C. should also be included in the program. This should
include a half-day session at the United States Information Agency. If
a study tour is arranged in addition to the residential and Washington,
DC segment, it must be directly supportive of the academic program
content. Day trips to various locations (historical sites, classrooms,
community centers) are also encouraged if such trips will further
enhance understanding and enrich the participants' experience. The
selected grantee organization will be asked to consult closely with
USIA in the planning of the Washington itinerary.
Details of the academic and tour programs may be modified in
consultation with USIA's Branch for the Study of the U.S. following the
grant award.
The selected grant organization will be responsible for most
arrangements associated with this program. This includes the
organization of a coherent progression of activities, arrangement of
all domestic travel, lodging, subsistence, and ground transportation
for participants, orientation and briefing of participants, preparation
of any necessary support materials (including a pre-program mailing to
participants), and working with program presenters to achieve maximum
program effectiveness. Participants will be nominated by U.S.
Information Service posts abroad, and selected by the staff of USIA's
Branch of the Study of the U.S. in Washington, DC. USIA will cover all
international travel costs directly.
Participants
The majority of participants selected will be university teachers,
administrators, department chairs, curriculum developers and textbook
writers who are interested in using American literature as a means to
further the understanding of the U.S. in their countries. Nominees will
demonstrate a willingness and ability to use American literature and
other topics of the institute in their teaching and professional work.
Candidates from the Southern Hemisphere will be given the highest
priority, in order to accommodate their reverse academic calendar.
Additional Information
Confirmation letters from U.S. co-sponsors noting their intention
to participate in the program will enhance a proposal. Proposals
incorporating participant/observer site visits will be more competitive
if letters committing prospective host institutions to support these
efforts are provided.
Visa/Insurance/Tax Requirements
Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations. Visas will be
issued by USIS posts abroad. USIA insurance will be provided to all
participants, unless otherwise indicated in the proposal submission.
Grantee organization will be responsible for enrolling Winter Institute
participants in the chosen insurance plan. Please indicate in the
proposal if host institutions have any special tax withholding
requirements on participant or staff escort stipends or allowances.
Proposed Budget
Budget award may not exceed $160,000. Administrative costs should
be as low as possible and should not exceed $47,000. The U.S. recipient
should try to maximize cost-sharing in all facets of the program and to
stimulate U.S. private sector (foundation and corporate) support.
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 better
understanding or further clarification, applicants may provide separate
sub-budgets for each program component, phase, location, or activity in
order to facilitate USIA decisions on funding. Please refer to the
Solicitation Package for complete budget guidelines and formatting
instructions for the Winter Institute.
Review Process
The 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 also be
reviewed by the Agency contracts office, as well as the USIA Area
Offices and the USIA post overseas, where appropriate. Proposals may
also 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. Overall quality.
A. The content, significance, definition, organization and academic
rigor of the proposed program (including the follow-on tour, if
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selected) and its appropriateness to program objectives.
B. Evidence of careful planning.
C. The program should be representative of current expert knowledge
in the field, and should be consistent with the requirements of the
Bureau's legislative charter, meeting the highest professional
qualitative standards of achievement.
2. Institutional capacity and adequacy of proposed resources.
Faculty, library and other research and scholarly resources,
housing, transportation, meal facilities, access to media resources,
and other institutional support should be adequate, accessible, and
appropriate, and should promote a collegial setting.
3. 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, program evaluation) and
program content (orientation and wrap-up sessions, program meetings,
resource materials and follow-up activities).
4. Experience.
Experience of professionals and staff assigned to the program with
foreign educators; institution's tract record with international
exchange programs.
5. Evaluation and follow-up.
A. Adequacy of plans for evaluation during and after the institute
by the grantee institution.
B. Adequacy of provisions made for ``multiplier effect,'' i.e.,
future follow-up and networking between grantees and the host
institution or other appropriate U.S. scholars or scholarly
organizations.
6. Administration and Management. Evidence of strong on-site
administrative and managerial capabilities (with specific discussion of
how managerial and logistical arrangements will be undertaken).
7. Resources. Availability of local and state resources for the
orientation, academic program segment, and follow-on tour.
8. Cost effectiveness. The overhead and administrative components
of grants, as well as salaries and honoraria, should be kept as low as
possible. All other items should be necessary and appropriate. In-kind
contributions and cost-sharing should be maximized.
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. Final awards cannot be made until funds have been
appropriated by Congress, allocated and committed through internal USIA
procedures.
Notification
All applicants will be notified of the results of the review
process on or about December 1, 1995. Awards made will be subject to
periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.
Dated: August 22, 1995.
Dell Pendergrast,
Deputy Associate Director, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 95-21291 Filed 8-30-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M
