[Federal Register: October 25, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 207)]
[Notices]
[Page 65626-65628]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25oc02-131]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 4177]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Request for Grant
Proposals: Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Disability Reentry Workshop;
Notice: Request for Grant Proposals
Summary: The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs Division,
of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open
competition for the FLEX Disability Reentry Workshop. Public and
private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in
Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) may submit proposals
for the conduct of a special reentry workshop to be held in April 2003
for students with disabilities participating in the 2002/03 Future
Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program. Approximately 16-18 students will
participate in this workshop. All programs must comply with J-1 visa
regulations. Please refer to the Solicitation Package for further
information.
Budget Guidelines: Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget
for the entire program. Awards may not exceed $35,000. There must be a
summary budget as well as breakdowns reflecting both administrative and
program budgets. Applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for each
program component, phase, location, or activity to provide
clarification. Administrative costs should be kept as low as possible.
Cost sharing is encouraged. Allowable costs for the program include the
following:
(1) Round-trip transportation for participants from their host
communities to/from the workshop site.
(2) Daily travel at workshop site location as necessary.
(3) Accommodations and meals for participants during the time of
the workshop.
(4) Rental of facilities and equipment.
(5) Fees for relevant excursions and cultural activities.
(6) Honoraria for speakers/trainers, as appropriate.
(7) Necessary reasonable accommodations.
(8) Materials development.
Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget
guidelines and formatting instructions.
The Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program brings secondary school
students from Eurasia to the U.S. for an academic year. During their
time in the U.S., FLEX students live with American host families and
attend U.S. high schools.
Note: For more information on the FLEX program, you may refer to
the Youth Programs Division Web site: [http://exchanges.state.gov/
education/citizens/students.]
Since 1995, the FLEX program has included a component for students
with disabilities. This has been challenging since individuals with
disabilities are treated very differently in Eurasia than they are in
the U.S. In Eurasia, most disabled young people attend special schools,
largely institutions, and being disabled carries a major stigma. Most
young, disabled individuals either are ignored by parents who are
ashamed of them or are overprotected by parents who are concerned that
they cannot function independently.
Generally, FLEX participants with disabilities adjust well to
American life and culture and realize the same positive effects as non-
disabled participants. However, after having enjoyed the accessibility
and other disability supports that exist in the U.S., they frequently
are not well-prepared to return to the less disability-friendly
environments of their Eurasian home countries. The major purpose of
this special reentry workshop is to help prepare them to readjust to
their home cultures. It is Bureau policy that recruitment of people
with disabilities at every level should be a priority in all sponsored
programming. If this is to be done effectively, it becomes equally
important to adequately prepare
[[Page 65627]]
disabled program participants for the reverse culture shock that is
sure to occur when they return home.
Therefore, this workshop should focus on the reentry and transition
to home country of each student as a person with a disability, as the
students will also be attending other reentry workshops conducted for
all FLEX students by their respective placement organizations at the
end of the program year. These other workshops will provide more
general training for readjustment to their Eurasian home culture. Goals
of the disability workshop are: (1) Facilitating readjustment as a
person with a disability to a less disability-friendly environment; (2)
conducting activities to further develop leadership skills and foster
empowerment; (3) providing students with tools that will enable them to
do outreach and work in support of disability rights in their home
countries.
Announcement Title and Number: All correspondence with the Bureau
concerning this RFGP should reference the above title and number ECA/
PE/C/PY-03-21.
For Further Information Contact: The Youth Programs Division,
Office of Citizen Exchanges, ECA/PE/C/PY, Room 568, U.S. Department of
State, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, telephone: 202/619-
6299, fax: 202/619-5311, e-mail: lbeach@pd.state.gov to request a
Solicitation Package. The Solicitation Package contains detailed award
criteria, required application forms, specific budget instructions, and
standard guidelines for proposal preparation. Please specify Bureau
Program Officer Linda Beach on all other inquiries and correspondence.
Please read the complete Federal Register announcement before
sending inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has
passed, Bureau staff may not discuss this competition with applicants
until the proposal review process has been completed.
To Download a Solicitation Package Via Internet: The entire
Solicitation Package may be downloaded from the Bureau's Web site at
http://exchanges.state.gov/education/RFGPs. Please read all information
before downloading.
Deadline for Proposals: All proposal copies must be received at the
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs by 5 p.m. Washington, DC
time on Monday, December 16, 2002. Faxed documents will not be accepted
at any time. Documents postmarked the due date but received on a later
date will not be accepted. Each applicant must ensure that the
proposals are received by the above deadline.
Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation
Package. The original and seven copies of the application should be
sent to: U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and
Cultural Affairs, Ref.: ECA/PE/C/PY-03-21, Program Management, ECA/EX/
PM, Room 534, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
Applicants must also submit the ``Executive Summary'' and
``Proposal Narrative'' sections of the proposal on a 3.5'' diskette,
formatted for DOS. These documents must be provided in ASCII text (DOS)
format with a maximum line length of 65 characters. Applicants are also
encouraged to submit proposals as Microsoft Word or Excel documents as
well.
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,'' the Bureau ``shall take appropriate steps to provide
opportunities for participation in such programs to human rights and
democracy leaders of such countries.'' Public Law 106--113 requires
that the governments of the countries described above do not have
inappropriate influence in the selection process. Proposals should
reflect advancement of these goals in their program contents, to the
full extent deemed feasible.
Adherence to all Regulations Governing the J Visa
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is placing renewed
emphasis on the secure and proper administration of Exchange Visitor (J
visa) Programs and adherence by grantees and sponsors to all
regulations governing the J visa. Therefore, proposals should
demonstrate the applicant's capacity to meet all requirements governing
the administration of Exchange Visitor Programs as set forth in 22 CFR
6Z, including the oversight of Responsible Officers and Alternate
Responsible Officers, screening and selection of program participants,
provision of pre-arrival information and orientation to participants,
monitoring of participants, proper maintenance and security of forms,
record-keeping, reporting and other requirements. ECA will be
responsible for issuing DS-2019 forms to participants in this program.
A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of
Exchange Visitor (J) programs is available at http://
exchanges.state.gov or from: United States Department of State, Office
of Exchange Coordination and Designation, ECA/EC/ECD-SA-44, Room 734,
301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, Telephone: (202) 401-9810,
FAX: (202) 401-9809.
Review Process
The Bureau 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. All eligible proposals will be
reviewed by the program office, as well as the Public Diplomacy section
overseas, where appropriate. Eligible proposals will be subject to
compliance with Federal and Bureau regulations and guidelines and
forwarded to Bureau grant panels for advisory review. Proposals may
also be reviewed by the Office of the Legal Adviser or by other
Department elements. Final funding decisions are at the discretion of
the Department of State's Assistant Secretary for Educational and
Cultural Affairs. Final technical authority for assistance awards
(grants or cooperative agreements) resides with the Bureau's 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. Quality of the program idea: Proposals should exhibit
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's
mission.
2. Program planning and ability to achieve program objectives:
Detailed agenda and relevant work plan should demonstrate substantive
undertakings
[[Page 65628]]
and logistical capacity. Agenda and plan should adhere to the program
overview and guidelines described above. Objectives should be
reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly
demonstrate how the organization will meet the program's objectives and
plan.
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 and program
content (orientation and wrap-up sessions, program meetings, resource
materials and follow-up activities).
4. Institutional capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program or
project's goals. Proposing organization should demonstrate it has
experience with disability programming and international youth
exchange, as well as familiarity with Eurasian culture.
5. 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 Bureau grants as determined by Bureau Grant
Staff. The Bureau will consider the past performance of prior
recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants.
6. Multiplier effect/Impact: Proposed programs should describe how
workshop participants will be motivated and enabled to reach out to
other individuals with disabilities in their home countries.
7. Follow-on activities: Proposals should describe how workshop
participants would be provided with knowledge and tools that will
prepare them to work in support of disability rights in their home
countries.
8. Project evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate
the activity's success. A draft survey questionnaire or other technique
plus description of a methodology to use to link outcomes to original
project objectives are recommended. Successful applicants will be
expected to submit a final report after the project has been completed.
9. 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.
Authority
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.'' The funding authority for the
program above is provided through legislation of the FREEDOM Support
Act.
Notice
The terms and conditions published in this RFGP are binding and may
not be modified by any Bureau representative. Explanatory information
provided by the Bureau that contradicts published language will not be
binding. Issuance of the RFGP does not constitute an award commitment
on the part of the Government. The Bureau 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 Bureau procedures.
Dated: October 21, 2002.
C. Miller Crouch,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Educational and Cultural Affairs,
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 02-27231 Filed 10-24-02; 8:45 am]
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