[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 178 (Thursday, September 15, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-22630]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: September 15, 1994]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
College and University Affiliations Program (CUAP):
Administrative Services
ACTION: Notice--Request for Proposals.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Office of Academic Programs of the United States
Information Agency announces an open competition to assist in the
administration of the FY 1995 College and University Affiliations
Program (CUAP) competition. Public and non-profit organizations meeting
the provisions described in IRS regulation 501(c)(3) may apply.
The purpose of this grant is to assist in the administration of
Step II of the FY 1995 CUAP competition which includes technical review
of approximately 45-50 proposals, coordination of academic review
panels, provisions of panel appraisal reports on each proposal, and
related correspondence.
The CUAP supports partnerships between U.S. and foreign
institutions of higher education in the arts, humanities, and social
sciences which include faculty and staff exchange, curriculum
development, and collaborative research.
Overall grant making and funding authority for this program is
contained in the Fulbright-Hays Act also known as the Mutual
Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended, Public Law
87-256. 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 peoples 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 Application 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/ASU-95-06.
DATES: Deadline for proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S.
Information Agency by 5:00 p.m. Washington, DC time on Friday, October
28, 1994. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents
postmarked on October 28, 1994 but received at a later date. It is the
responsibility of each grant applicant to ensure that proposals are
received by the above deadline.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Office of Academic Programs; Advising, Teaching, and Specialized
Programs Division; Specialized Programs Unit; U.S. Information Agency,
301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, phone: (202) 619-5289, fax:
(202) 401-1433, Internet address: sborja@usia.gov, to request an
Application Package, which includes more detailed award criteria; all
application forms; and guidelines for preparing proposals, including
specific criteria for preparation of the proposal budget. Please
specify the USIA Program Officer/Specialist Ms. Deborah Trent or Ms.
Sue Borja on all inquiries and correspondence.
Interested applicants should read the complete Federal Register
announcement before addressing inquiries to the Office of Academic
Programs; Advising, Teaching, and Specialized Programs Division;
Specialized Programs Unit or submitting their proposals. Once the RFP
deadline has passed, the Specialized Programs Unit staff may not
discuss this competition in any way with applicants until after the
proposal review process has been completed.
ADDRESSES: Applicants must follow all instructions given in the
Application Package and send only complete applications to: U.S.
Information Agency, Ref.: E/ASU-95-02, Office of Grants Management, E/
XE, Room 336, 301 4th St., SW., Washington, DC 20547.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Bureau's authorized
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 race, gender, religion, geographic location, socio-
economic status, and physical challenges. Applicants are strongly
encouraged to adhere to the advancement of this principle.
Overview
The recipient of this award will administer the technical and
academic reviews for Step II of the FY 1995 College and University
Affiliations Program (CUAP). CUAP is designed to support partnerships
between U.S. and foreign institutions of higher education in the arts,
humanities, and social sciences with the goal of strengthening mutual
understanding. The CUAP supports curriculum development, faculty and
staff development, and collaborative research through three-year grants
up to a total of $120,000.
Guidelines
Project Description
The applicant shall review proposals for compliance with the
technical requirements published in the Request for Proposals (RFP) for
the FY 1995 CUAP competition (RFP to be provided in the application
packet). The applicant shall coordinate the academic review of
technically eligible, comprehensive proposals and provide the Agency
with a panel appraisal report on each proposal based upon academic
review criteria published in the FY 1995 CUAP RFP.
The applicant shall designate a coordinator, subject to Agency
approval, to implement and chair all technical and academic reviews.
The applicant shall produce correspondence to the applicants in
response to inquiries regarding the technical and academic review of
their proposals and notify applicants of their funding status.
All official documents should highlight the U.S. government's role
as program sponsor and funding source.
Eligibility
Non-profit organizations based in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan
area, with experience in international education with an emphasis on
educational exchanges, are invited to submit proposals for a
cooperative agreement award from the Agency.
Proposed Budget
Budget award will not exceed $60,000. A comprehensive, line-item
budget based on the specific guidance in the Application Package, must
be submitted with the proposal.
Allowable costs for the program include the following:
1. Salaries and benefits;
2. Local ground transportation for staff travel;
3. Office Expenses: Equipment rental/repair, office supplies,
postage and delivery, telephone/telefax, photocopying/printing, meeting
and conference expenses;
4. Consultant Fees and Honoraria for panelists;
5. Panelists' expenses:
a. Airfare;
b. Ground transportation;
c. Per diem, not to exceed current rates authorized in the Federal
Travel Regulations.
6. Indirect costs.
Please refer to the Application Package for complete budget
guidelines.
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 adhere to the guidelines stated herein and in the Application
Package. Eligible proposals will be forwarded to panels of USIA
officers for advisory review. All eligible proposals will also be
reviewed by the Agency's Office of Contracts, as well as the USIA
geographic area offices and the USIA posts 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 resides with the USIA grants
officer.
Review Criteria
Technical eligible applications will be competitively reviewed
according to the following criteria:
1. Quality of Program Plan/Ability to Achieve Program Objectives:
Agenda and plan should adhere to the program overview and guidelines
described above and in the Application Package. Objectives should be
reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly
demonstrate how the organization will meet the program's objectives and
plan.
2. Institution's Record/Ability/Capacity: Proposed personnel and
institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve
the program's goals. Proposals should demonstrate 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.
3. Cost-Effectiveness/Cost-Sharing: 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. Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through other
private sector support as well as institutional direct funding
contributions.
4. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate
the program's success.
5. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate the
recipient's commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding of
diversity as stated above (see ``Supplementary Information'').
Proposals should describe the process of selecting academic review
panelists who are diverse.
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 needs of the program may require the
award to be reduced, revised, or increased. Final award cannot be made
until funds have been fully appropriated by Congress and allocated and
committed through internal USIA procedures.
Notification
All applicants will be notified of the results of the review
process on or about January 20, 1994. Awards made will be subject to
periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.
Dated: September 6, 1994.
John P. Loiello,
Associate Director, Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-22630 Filed 9-14-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-06-M
