[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 183 (Thursday, September 19, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49376-49378]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-23985]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
NIS Secondary School Initiative: DC Civics Education Program;
Notice--Request for Proposals
SUMMARY: The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Division of the NIS Secondary
School Initiative 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)(3)-1 may
apply to develop a program in Washington, DC on the American political
system for approximately 150 high school students from the New
Independent States (NIS) of the former Soviet Union attending school in
the United States during academic year 1996-97. These students will be
equitably selected from a group of 1,200 students who are participating
in the Division's NIS Academic Year Exchange Program. The Washington
program should enable the students to learn about the federal system,
observe institutions of the government, hear about and discuss issues
on the federal agenda, and interact with government officials. The
program should also address the principles of the Constitution and the
history of
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federalism. USIA will award one or more grant in this competition.
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-Hayes 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, development, 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 this program is contained in the Freedom
Support Act (Pub. L. 102-391). These exchanges represent part of the
activities for the NIS Secondary School Initiative and are subject to
the availability of funding for the Fiscal Year 1997 program. Programs
and projects must conform with Agency requirements and guidelines
outlined in the Solicitation Package.
ANNOUNCEMENT TITLE AND NUMBER: All communications with USIA concerning
this announcement should refer to the above title and reference number
E/P-97-9.
DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: All copies must be received at the U.S.
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, D.C. time on Friday, October
18, 1996. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents
postmarked October 18, 1996 but received at a later date. It is the
responsibility of each applicant to ensure that proposals are received
by the above deadline.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact the Office of Citizen
Exchanges, NIS Secondary School Division--Academic Year Program, Room
320, U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C.
20547, Telephone: 202-619-6299, Fax: 202-619-5311, e-mail:
nfearhei@usia.gov 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. Please specify USIA Program Officer Nancy Fearheiley
on all inquiries and correspondences. Interested applicants should read
the complete Federal Register announcement before addressing inquiries
to the Office of Citizens Exchanges NIS Secondary School Initiative--or
submitting their proposals. Once the RFP deadline has passed, the NIS
Secondary School Division may not discuss this competition in any way
with applicants until the Bureau proposal review process has been
completed.
TO DOWNLOAD A SOLICITATION PACKAGE VIA INTERNET: The entire
Solicitation Package may be downloaded from USIA's website at http://
www.usia.gov/ or from the Internet Gopher at gopher://gopher.usia.gov.
Under the heading ``International Exchanges/Training,'' select
``Request for Proposals (RFPs).'' Please read ``About the Following
RFPs'' before downloading.
SUBMISSIONS: Applicants must follow all instructions given in the
Solicitation Package. The original and six copies of the complete
application should be sent to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/P-97-9,
Office of Grants Management, E/XE, Room 336, 301 4th Street, S.W.,
Washington, D.C. 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 USIA 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 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 in program administration and in
program content. Organizations are encouraged to seek diverse
communities and host families in which to place students. Orientation
programming should include information on diversity issues as part of
American culture and should touch on current laws that mandate equal
treatment of all people regardless of race, gender, national origin, or
disabling condition. 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
Grant funding is intended to provide a program in Washington, DC on
the American political approximately 150 high school students from the
New Independent States (NIS) of the former Soviet Union attending
school in the United States during academic year 1996-97. The
Washington program should enable the students to learn about the
federal system, observe institutions of the government, hear about and
discuss issues on the federal agenda, and interact with government
officials. The program should address the principles of the
Constitution and the history of federalism, along with key developments
of the American political history. Special attention should be paid to
those issues that will be especially significant to people from the
former Soviet Union. The program may also examine the role of the
United States in the world. The program should be arranged for 5 to 7
days, including arrival and departure.
The grantee organization will be provided with the names of the
students who have been chosen at random by independent, objective
selectors. Every effort will be made to ensure that this group is
diverse regarding country of origin, ethnicity, age, gender, and
physical disability. The Division would welcome suggestions from
prospective grantees on creative methods of random selection.
Guidelines
Proposals must effectively describe the organization's ability to
accomplish the following essential components of the program:
1. Provide a Washington, DC civics education program as described
above during the time period indicated.
2. Provide training for organization staff on NIS society and
culture.
3. Provide housing and meals for the students throughout the
program.
4. Arrange travel to and from Washington, DC in coordination with
Academic Year Program placement organizations. Provide ground
transportation for students in the DC area, including to and from
airports.
5. Provide opportunities to attend cultural events and visit
museums and monuments.
6. Coordinate with USIA's Division for the NIS Secondary School
Initiative (E/PY) and Congressional Liaison Office (CL) in arranging
Congressional meetings.
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7. Provide staff to assist in case of medical emergencies.
8. Incorporate a program component which is designed to facilitate
students' transition from the DC program to their host communities.
9. Provide a mechanism for evaluation of the program in terms of
its impact on the students and its success in fulfilling the
objectives.
Proposed Budget
Organizations must bid on arranging a program for a minimum of 150
students but may increase the number of participants through cost
sharing the additional expenses incurred. One grant will be awarded for
this activity. It is anticipated that the total costs of the
Washington, DC Enhancement program will average $800 per NIS
participant for a five day program, including domestic travel. The
organization must submit a comprehensive line item budget. Details are
available in the Solicitation Packet.
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 USIA East European NIS area office, and the budget and
contract offices. 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 grant awards resides
with the USIA's Office of Contracts.
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. Quality of the Program Idea: Proposals should exhibit
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to Agency mission and
adherence to the conditions above.
2. Program Planning: Detailed agenda and relevant work plan should
adhere to the program objectives, timing, and guidelines described
above.
3. Ability to Achieve Program Objectives: Proposals should clearly
demonstrate an understanding of the program's objectives stated above
and how the organization will achieve them.
4. 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).
5. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve and program or
project's goals.
6. Institution's Track Record/Ability: Proposals should demonstrate
a record of successful programs, including responsible fiscal
management and full compliance with all reporting requirements for past
Agency grants as determined by USIA's Office of Contracts (M/KG). The
Agency will consider the past performance of prior grantees and the
demonstrated potential of new applicants.
7. Project Evaluation: The proposal should include a plan to
evaluate the success of the grantee organization in achieving the
stated objectives. The grantee will also be expected to cooperate with
USIA in evaluating the program under the requirements of the Government
Performance and Results Act (GPRA). Proposals should reflect an
understanding and grasp of these responsibilities.
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.
9. Cost Sharing: Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through
other private sector support as well as institutional direct funding
contributions. Organizations that choose to enhance the program by
using private funds to increase the number of participants will be
viewed more favorably than those without cost sharing.
Notice
Organizations with less than four years of experience conducting
similar programs for foreign visitors in Washington, DC, will be
eligible for a grant of less than $60,000.
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. The award made will be
subject to periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.
Notification
All applicants will be notified of the results of the review
process on or after December 6, 1996. Awards made will be subject to
periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.
Dated: September 13, 1996.
John P. Loiello,
Associate Director, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 96-23985 Filed 9-18-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M
