[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: 94-22872]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: September 15, 1994]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
U.S.-NIS Summer Language Teacher Exchange Program
ACTION: Notice--Request for Proposals.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Academic Programs, Academic Exchanges Division,
European Branch of the United States Information Agency's Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for an
assistance award program. Public and non-profit organizations meeting
the provisions described in IRS regulation 501(c)(3) may apply to
develop a summer 1995 language teacher exchange program for in-service
professionals from the United States and selected countries in the New
Independent States (NIS). The goal of the U.S.-NIS Summer Language
Teacher Exchange Program is to improve and promote the teaching of
American English and culture in the NIS, and the teaching of the
diverse languages and cultures of the NIS countries in the United
States. USIA expects to award grants to one or two organizations to
conduct an intensive summer language enhancement program of five to
twelve weeks in duration through academic course work, seminars,
workshops, and practica, for up to 40 language teachers in each
direction. USIA will give preference to proposals that exchange
participants, to the extent feasible, from all twelve eligible
countries in the NIS. Combined project awards to U.S. organizations
will not exceed $240,000. These exchanges are subject to the
availability of funding for Fiscal Year 1995.
Overall grant making authority for this program is contained in the
Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended,
Public Law 87-256, 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.''
ANNOUNCEMENT NAME AND NUMBER: All communications with USIA concerning
this announcement should refer to the above title (U.S.-NIS Summer
Language Teacher Exchange Program) and reference number E/AEE-95-06.
DATES: Deadline for proposals: One original and nine copies must be
received at the U.S. Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time
on Friday, October 21, 1994. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor
will documents postmarked on October 21, 1994 but received at a later
date. It is the responsibility of each applicant to ensure that
proposals are received by the above deadline.
DURATION: The exchange of participants for the U.S.-NIS Summer Language
Teacher Exchange Program should be a minimum of five weeks in duration,
but should not exceed a maximum of twelve weeks. It is expected that
the program will occur during the summer of 1995.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Office of Academic Programs, Academic
Exchanges Division, European Branch, E/AEE, Room 246, U.S. Information
Agency, 301 4th Street SW., Washington, DC 20547, telephone (202) 619-
5341, fax (202) 260-7985, internet treed@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 Rhonda E. Boris on all inquiries and
correspondence. Interested applicants should read the complete Federal
Register announcement before addressing inquiries to the Office of
Academic Programs, Academic Exchanges Division, European Branch or
submitting their proposals. Once the RFP deadline has passed, USIA
officers may not discuss this competition in any way with applicants
until after the Bureau proposal review process has been completed.
ADDRESSES: Applicants must follow all instructions given in the
Application Package and send the original and nine copies of the
completed application to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/AEE-95-06
Summer Language Teacher Exchange Program, Office of Grants Management,
E/XE, Room 336, 301 4th Street SW., Washington, DC 20547.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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 race,
gender, religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, and
physical challenges. Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere to
the advancement of this principle.
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.
Overview
The U.S. Information Agency offers support for programs which bring
citizens from the NIS who are English language instructors to the U.S.,
and bring U.S. citizens who are language instructors in one or more of
the languages and cultures of the following eligible countries:
Armenia, Azerbaijan,* Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Moldova, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and
Uzbekistan, to the NIS for advanced language study and teaching
enhancement. Grantees should demonstrate an effort to recruit from all
eligible countries as feasible. Programs must be two-way. While it is
desirable to place American teachers of NIS languages in as many NIS
countries as possible, USIA does not require strict reciprocity of
placements. However, USIA does expect participants to be placed as a
group or in subgroups at one or more locations. Participants are
expected to study and travel as a group or in subgroups.
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*Please note: Programs with Azerbaijan are subject to
restrictions of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act: Employees of
the Government of Azerbaijan or any of its instrumentalities are
excluded from participation and no U.S. participant overseas may
work for the Government of Azerbaijan or any of its
instrumentalities. In addition, the Government of Azerbaijan and/or
its instrumentalities will have no control in the actual selection
of the participants.
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For NIS participants, the study program must focus on American
English. For U.S. participants, the study program must focus on NIS
languages such as Armenian, Azeri, Byelorussian, Georgian, Kazakh,
Kyrgyz, Russian, Ukrainian, Uzbek, or other related Altaic, Slavic, and
Uralic languages, and integrate area studies into course work where
feasible. Programs must provide a professional development component
for American and NIS language instructors. Programs in the U.S. are
expected to be conducted in English. Programs in the NIS are expected
to be conducted in the native or instructional language of the specific
host country.
Applications should provide a detailed description of the type of
language and teaching instruction, citing academic course work that
enhances the knowledge and skills of the NIS and U.S. participants.
Courses offered may include, but are not limited to, foreign language
teaching methodologies, techniques, and principles, skills building,
materials review and development, creative uses of technology in the
foreign language classroom, American English and NIS languages for
specific purposes (e.g., business, law, social sciences), techniques in
testing and evaluation, and training teacher trainers. Applications
should also provide a detailed description of area studies and cultural
components, and cite opportunities for professional development for the
American and NIS language instructors. All participants, when they
return home, are expected to share with colleagues and students the
knowledge, teaching techniques, and professional resources gained
during the U.S.-NIS Summer Language Teacher Exchange Program.
Guidelines
Language Qualifications
Participants should have sufficient fluency in the native or
instructional language of the host country to be able to pursue
university-level study. Participants should be able to converse in the
language of the host country without the aid of interpreters.
Institutional Commitment
Proposals must include documentation of institutional support for
the proposed program in the form of signed letters of endorsement from
the U.S. and NIS partner institutions' directors, or in the form of a
signed agreement between by the same persons. Letters of endorsement
must describe each institution's or organization's commitment and make
specific reference to the proposed program and each institution's
activities in support of that program. Documentation of support from
government ministries or academies will be acceptable when appropriate,
replacing individual documentation from each foreign educational
institution involved. Applicants must submit this documentation as part
of the complete application; letters and agreements will not be
accepted if sent separately to USIA. Applying institutions are expected
to make their own arrangements with appropriate foreign institutions.
Proposal Narrative
The proposal narrative describing the program must conform to the
Guidelines dated June 1994 and must include any subgrants to be issued.
The narrative must also describe in detail the abilities of the
participating organizations to adapt to the changing exchanges
environments in the countries eligible for participation in this
program. The proposal should also detail the program activities in each
country, including the courses offered, course syllabi, proposed
reading/materials list, curriculum vitae of instructors, and how the
courses related to the enhancement of participants' language and
teaching skills. Proposals should describe host sites and provide a
thorough justification for the selection of the host sites.
Participant Selection
The proposal must include detailed descriptions of the selection
processes for both American and NIS participants. Participants must be
citizens of the U.S. or one of the countries of the NIS and must be
high school teachers or college-level faculty currently involved in the
instruction of the language to be studied. U.S. and NIS participants
must be recruited nationally. Priority will be given to proposals that
demonstrate the widest geographic representation of participant
recruitment. Preference will be given to projects in which participants
are recruited through open, merit-based competition.
Orientation/Debriefing Programs
Participants should be provided with a substantive and
comprehensive orientation to the country of their visit. Proposals
should describe these orientation programs, including costs, in detail.
The Office of Academic Programs, Academic Exchanges Division, European
Branch strongly encourages applicants to develop orientation materials
which include, but are not limited to, an outline of the exchange
program with suggested goals and objectives, relevant background
information, and information about U.S. institutions and individuals
involved in the exchange. At the conclusion of the program, applicants
are encouraged to organize an activity in which the participants meet
to consider how they can best apply, upon return to their home
countries, the knowledge and skills gained during the exchange program.
Logistics
Applicants will be responsible for most arrangements associated
with this exchange program. These include organizing a coherent
progression of activities, providing international and domestic travel
arrangements for all participants, making lodging and local
transportation arrangements for visitors, orienting and debriefing
participants, preparing any necessary support material, and working
with host institutions and individuals to achieve maximum program
effectiveness.
Visa/Insurance/Tax Requirements
Programs must comply with J visa regulations and should reference
this adherence in the proposal narrative. Program participants must
carry the requisite level of health and accident insurance. Applicants
may budget for insurance expenses and are responsible for ensuring that
participants have adequate insurance coverage. Please refer to program
specific guidelines in the Application Package for further details.
Proposals must comply with reporting and withholding regulations for
federal, state, and local taxes as applicable. Applicants should
demonstrate tax regulation adherence in the proposal narrative and
budget notes.
Proposed Budget
USIA will make one or two project awards to U.S. organizations in a
wide range of amounts, but combined awards will not exceed $240,000,
which includes program and administrative costs.
USIA reserves the right to reduce, revise or increase proposal
budgets in accordance with the needs of the program. For organizations
with less than four years of experience in international exchange
activities, grants will be limited to a maximum of $60,000, and
proposed budgets should not exceed this amount.
All organizations must submit a comprehensive, all-inclusive line
item budget, the details and format of which are contained in the
application packet. The budget should list separate sub-budgets for
each program component, phase, location, or activity in order to
facilitate USIA decisions on funding. The budget must also list all
sources of support for the program in fiscal year 1995, including both
cash and in-kind contributions.
Allowable Costs
Allowable costs for the program may include, but are not limited
to, the following categories:
Program Costs
--International travel (via American flag carrier);
--Domestic travel;
--Excursionary travel and lodging for cultural enrichment (not to
exceed $200 per participant);
--Maintenance and per diem;
--Academic program costs (tuition, book allowance);
--Travel and partial maintenance costs for supervisors or resident
directors, for no more than one program supervisor per twenty
participants;
--Orientation costs (speaker honoraria are not to exceed $150 per day
per speaker);
--Cultural enrichment expenses (admissions, tickets, etc.; limited to
$150 per participant);
--Medical insurance for participants (participants are covered by the
Agency's self-insurance policy when USIA is funding over fifty per cent
of the total cost of the project); and
--Taxes and visa fees.
Administrative Costs
(Not to exceed 20% of the requested budget.)
--Salaries and benefits;
--Communications (e.g., fax, telephone, e-mail, postage);
--Office supplies;
--Administration of tax withholding and reporting as required by
Federal, State and local authorities and in accordance with relevant
tax treaties;
--Other direct costs; and
--Indirect costs.
*Please Note: It is required that requested administrative funds,
including indirect costs, not exceed 20 percent of the total amount
requested from USIA; administrative expenses should be cost-shared.
(See the accompanying guidelines for complete cost-sharing and
auditing requirements.)
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 application package, including the Guidelines for Preparing
Proposals. Eligible proposals will be forwarded to panels of USIA
officers for advisory review. All eligible proposals will also be
reviewed by the budget and contracts offices, as well as the USIA
Office of NIS and East European Affairs. Proposals may also be reviewed
by the Agency's Office of 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
grant assistance resides with USIA's grants officer.
REVIEW CRITERIA: Technically eligible applications will be
competitively reviewed according to the following criteria:
1. Quality of the program idea: Proposals should exhibit academic
rigor and excellence, thorough conception of project, demonstration of
meeting participants' needs, contributions to understanding the partner
country, proposed follow-up, and qualifications of program staff and
participants.
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 the establishment of long-term institutional and
individual linkages.
5. Value of U.S.-partner country relations: Proposed program should
receive positive assessments by USIA's geographic area desk and
overseas officers of program need, potential impact, and significance
of the project with the partner country (ies).
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
requirement 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 insures that
USIA supported programs are not isolated events.
9. Program evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate
the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of
the program. USIA recommends that the proposal include a draft survey
questionnaire or other technique plus description of a methodology to
use to link outcomes to original project objectives. Award-receiving
organizations/institutions will be expected to submit intermediate
reports after each project component is concluded or quarterly, which
ever 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. Support of diversity: Proposals should demonstrate the
applicant's commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding of
diversity throughout the program. This can be accomplished through
documentation (such as a written statement or account) summarizing past
and/or on-going activities and efforts that further the principle of
diversity within both their organization and their organization and
their activities. Preference will be given to proposals that
demonstrate efforts to include participants from diverse regions, and
of different socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds, to the extent
feasible for the applicant institutions.
Preference Factor
Preference will be given to proposals that:
1. Demonstrate the widest geographic representation through
participant recruitment;
2. Include an area studies component;
3. Include a thorough orientation component for all participants;
4. Provide for an approximately equal number of American and NIS
participants; and
5. Recruit participants through open, merit-based competition.
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 this request for proposals 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 awards cannot be made until funds have been fully appropriated by
Congress, allocated and committed through internal USIA procedures.
Notification
All applicants will be notified in writing of the results of the
review process on or about December 1, 1994. Awards made will be
subject to periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.
Dated: September 12, 1994.
John P. Loiello,
Associate Director, Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-22872 Filed 9-14-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M
