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< Back to current issue of Immigration Daily < Back to current issue of Immigrant's Weekly
[Federal Register: December 7, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 236)]
[Notices]
[Page 76700-76703]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07de00-116]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 3492]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs; Project in Curriculum
Development and Faculty Training at the University of Pristina, Kosovo;
Request for Grant Proposals
SUMMARY: The Office of Global Educational Programs of the Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs in the Department of State announces
an open competition for an assistance award to support the development
of programs of instruction and faculty training at the University of
Pristina in one or both of the following two fields: (1) Business
management and entrepreneurship; and (2) public administration.
Organizations meeting the provisions described in IRS regulation 26 CFR
1.501(c) may submit proposals that address one or both of these
objectives. The means for achieving these objectives may include
mentoring, teaching, consultation, research, distance education,
internship training, and professional outreach to public and private
sector managers, entrepreneurs, and local government administrators in
Kosovo.
Overview and Project Objectives: The project is designed to assist
the University of Pristina to develop a modern program in business
management education to facilitate the development of entrepreneurial
and business activity in Kosovo. The project is also designed to enable
the University of Pristina to develop a program of instruction in
public administration to increase efficiency and accountability in the
administration of the public sector in Kosovo. Applicants may submit
proposals focusing on either, or both of the two disciplines.
In business management, proposals should emphasize practical
strategies to assist the faculty to develop a new curriculum in
business management focusing on accounting, finance, banking,
entrepreneurship, and the role of women in business. In public
administration, proposed activities should assist with curriculum
design and faculty training in local government administration,
taxation, financial management, land registry/ownership and property
rights. The inclusion of organizational development and personnel
management among proposed activities is also encouraged. Proposals
should include an emphasis on providing practical training and hands-on
experience in local government administration as well as techniques for
drafting legislation. Proposals should explain how the public
administration program will equip the University to
[[Page 76701]]
promote concepts of accountability and transparency in the
administration of the public sector in Kosovo.
Bureau policy stipulates that awards to organizations with less
than four years experience in conducting international exchanges are
limited to $60,000. The Bureau anticipates awarding either two grants
not to exceed $221,300 (one grant for each one of the two designated
disciplines), or one grant not to exceed $442,600 to work in both
disciplines. Funds will be awarded for a period up to two years to
defray the costs of exchanges, to provide educational materials, and to
increase library holdings and improve Internet connections. Up to 30%
of the grant total may be used to defray the costs of project
administration.
The project should pursue these objectives through a strategy that
coordinates the participation of junior and senior level faculty,
administrators, or graduate students for any appropriate combination of
teaching, mentoring, internships, in-service training and outreach, for
exchange visits ranging from one week to an academic year. Visits of
one semester or longer for participants from Kosovo are strongly
encouraged and program activities must be tied to the goals and
objectives of the program. The strategy may include intensive English
language training for selected participants, whose prior knowledge of
English may need to be refreshed.
If the proposed project would occur within the context of a
previous or ongoing project, the proposal should explain how the
request for Bureau funding would build upon the pre-existing
relationship or complement previous and concurrent projects, which must
be listed and described with details about the amounts and sources of
external support. Previous projects should be described in the
proposal, and the results of the evaluation of previous cooperative
efforts should be summarized.
U.S. Institution and Participant Eligibility: In the United States,
participation in the program is open to accredited two and four-year
colleges and universities, including graduate schools, as well as to
other organizations meeting the provisions described in IRS regulation
26 CFR 1.501(c). Applications from consortia or other combinations of
U.S. colleges and universities are eligible. The lead U.S. organization
in the consortium or other combination of cooperating institutions is
responsible for submitting the application. Each application must
document the lead organization's authority to represent all U.S.
cooperating partners.
With the exception of an outside consultant reporting on the degree
to which project objectives have been achieved, participants who are
traveling under the Bureau's grant funds must be teachers, advanced
graduate students, who are teaching or research assistants, or
administrators from the participating institution(s). Advanced graduate
students are eligible for Bureau-funded participation in this program
only if they are working under the direction of an accompanying faculty
participant.
Kosovo Institutional and Participant Eligibility: In Kosovo, the
partner is the University of Pristina. Secondary foreign partners may
include relevant governmental and non-governmental organizations, as
well as non-profit service and professional organizations concerned
with issues in business development and/or public administration
training in Kosovo. Foreign participants will be selected in
consultation with the U.S. Office in Pristina and must be instructors
at the University of Pristina, or persons preparing to become
instructors at the University of Pristina, who are eligible to receive
a J-1 visa.
Budget Guidelines: Applicants may submit a budget up to $221,300
for projects focusing on one discipline, or a budget up to $442,600 for
projects focusing on both of them. Requests for amounts smaller than
the maximum are eligible. Budget notes should carefully justify the
amounts needed. There must be a summary budget as well as a breakdown
reflecting the program and administrative budgets including unit costs.
Applicants submitting a budget for the combined program must separate
budgets for each sub-project. Cost-sharing will be considered an
important indicator of institutional commitment. Please refer to the
Solicitation Package for complete guidelines and formatting
instructions.
Announcement Title and Number: All correspondence with the Bureau
of Educational and Cultural Affairs concerning this RFGP should
reference the above title ``Project in Curriculum Development and
Faculty Training at the University of Pristina'' and reference number
ECA/A/S/U-01-04.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact the Humphrey Fellowships and
Institutional Linkages Branch, Office of Global Educational Programs,
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs; ECA/A/S/U, Room 349, SA-44;
U.S. Department of State, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547,
phone (202) 619-5289, fax: (202) 401-1433, e-mail:
affiliation@pd.state.gov to request a Solicitation Package.
The Solicitation Package contains detailed award criteria, required
application forms, and guidelines for preparing proposals, including
specific criteria for preparation of the proposal budget. Please
specify the above reference number on all 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 website at
http://exchanges.state.gov/education/rfgps. Please read all information
before downloading.
Deadline of Proposals: All proposal copies must be received at the
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs by 5 p.m. Washington DC time
on Wednesday, March 14, 2001. Faxed documents will not be accepted at
any time. Documents postmarked by the due date but received on a later
date will not be accepted. It is the responsibility of each applicant
to ensure compliance with the deadline.
Approximate Program Dates: Grants should begin on or about August
1, 2001.
Duration: August 1, 2001-August 30, 2003.
Submissions: Applicants must follow all instructions in the
Solicitation Package. The original and 10 copies of the application
should be sent to: U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Ref.: ECA/A/S/U-01-
04, Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, Room 534, 301 4th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20547.
All copies should include the documents specified under Tabs A
through E in the ``Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation''
(POGI) section of the Solicitation Package. The documents under Tab F
of the POGI should be submitted with the original application and with
one of the ten copies.
Proposals that do not follow RFGP requirements and the guidelines
appearing in the POGI and PSI may be excluded from consideration due to
technical ineligibility.
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. The Bureau will
[[Page 76702]]
transmit these files electronically to the U.S. Office in Pristina for
its review, with the goal of reducing time it takes to get the post's
comments for the Bureau's grants review process.
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.
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 U.S. Office in
Pristina. 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: State Department officers in Washington, DC and
overseas will use the criteria below to reach funding recommendations
and decisions. Technically eligible applications will be competitively
reviewed according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are not
rank-ordered or weighted.
1. Quality of the Program Idea: Proposals should exhibit
originality, substance, precision, and resourcefulness. Proposals
should exhibit sensitivity to the region, and have reasonable and
feasible project objectives that are relevant to the needs of the
University of Pristina. Proposals should describe projected benefits to
the institutions involved as well as to wider communities of educators
and practitioners in Kosovo.
2. Program Planning: Proposals should include creative, realistic
and feasible program plans to achieve project objectives and a detailed
schedule, which should include a well-reasoned combination of useful
and appropriate mentoring, teaching training and methodology workshops,
and outreach activities supporting the project objectives.
3. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity by explaining how issues of
diversity relate to project objectives and how these issues will be
addressed during project implementation. Proposals should also outline
the institutional profile of each participating institution with regard
to issues of diversity.
4. Institutional Capacity and Commitment: Proposals should
demonstrate significant understanding of the institutional needs and
capacities at the University of Pristina as well as the U.S.
institution's capacities, and should demonstrate a strong commitment,
during and after the period of the grant activity, to on-going
cooperation. Relevant factors include: The match between participating
organizations or departments, and availability of sufficient number of
faculty and/or administrators willing and able to participate in
project activities. Proposals should demonstrate the promise of
sustainability and long-term impact, as reflected in a plan for follow-
on activities.
5. Institutional Record/Ability: Proposals should demonstrate an
institutional record of administering successful exchange programs,
including responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all
reporting requirements for past Bureau grants as determined by the
State Department's contracts officers. The Bureau will consider the
past performance of prior award recipients and the demonstrated
potential of new applicants. Reviewers will also consider the quality
of exchange participants' academic credentials, skills, commitment and
experience relative to the goals and activities of the project plan.
6. Project Evaluation: The proposal should outline a methodology to
assess progress toward the achievement of project goals. The final
evaluation should include an external component and observations about
anticipated long-term impact on business conditions and/or public
sector administration in Kosovo.
7. Cost-Effectiveness: Administrative and program costs should be
reasonable and appropriate with cost sharing provided as a reflection
of the applicant's commitment to the pursuit of project objectives.
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 cited above is provided through the Support for East European
Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989.
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.
Projects must conform with Bureau requirements and guidelines
outlined in the solicitation package. The POGI, a document describing
this project's objectives, goals, and implementation, is included in
the solicitation package.
[[Page 76703]]
Notification
Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by
Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures.
Dated: November 29, 2000.
William B. Bader,
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S.
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 00-31077 Filed 12-6-00; 8:45 am]
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