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[Federal Register: December 26, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 248)]
[Notices]
[Page 78850-78853]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26de02-126]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 4241]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Request for Grant
Proposals: Summer Institute for English Language Administrators From
Francophone and Lusophone Sub-Saharan Africa
Summary:The African Programs Branch, Office of Academic Exchange
Programs of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA)
announces an open competition for an assistance award. Accredited,
post-secondary educational institutions meeting the provisions
described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) may
submit proposals to develop a Summer Institute for English-as-a-Foreign
Language (EFL) Administrators from Francophone and Lusophone Sub-
Saharan Africa. The Summer Institute will provide a six-week program in
education management for 16 secondary school EFL supervisors/inspectors
and school administrators with strong EFL backgrounds selected from
French and Portuguese-speaking countries of Sub-Saharan Africa.
Program Information
Overview
The Bureau asks for detailed proposals from U.S. institutions of
higher education, which have an acknowledged reputation in the fields
of education administration and EFL. Special expertise in handling
cross-cultural programs and experience with educational systems in Sub-
Saharan Africa and African education administrators are highly desired.
Note: Applicant organizations should demonstrate a proven record (at
least four years) of experience in international exchange.
The general objective of the Institute is to support and encourage
the upgrading of English language programs in secondary schools in
French and Portuguese-speaking African countries through enhancing
participants' management and organizational skills and broadening their
understanding of U.S. institutions and culture.
Guidelines
Pending availability of FY 2003 funds, the Institute should begin
on or about June 1, 2003, and end before September 30, 2003. Programs
must comply with J-1 visa regulations. Please refer to Solicitation
Package for further information.
The proposal should be designed to support the following specific
activities:
(a) A five-week academic program with emphasis on developing the
capacities of 16 Sub-Saharan African supervisors/inspectors/
administrators to strengthen EFL programs through more effective
management of teachers, students, and resources. Detailed academic
objectives are set forth in the Solicitation Package.
(b) Cultural activities facilitating interaction among the African
participants, American students, faculty, and administrators and the
local community to promote mutual understanding between the people of
the United States and the people of African countries, planned within
the five-week academic program.
(c) One week of escorted, cultural and educational site visits in
Washington, DC, complementing and reinforcing the academic program.
Site visits include a meeting at the Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs.
(d) Follow-on communication among participants and the U.S.
institution to continue exchanges of ideas developed during the
Institute.
(e) Assistance to participants to select, purchase and ship
professional
[[Page 78851]]
materials to use in follow-on activities and training projects in their
home countries.
Participants will be selected by the Bureau, based on nominations
from U.S. Embassies. Minimum qualifications for all participants will
be (1) adequate proficiency in English to be able to participate in and
benefit from the program, (2) the equivalent of BA/BS degrees from
their national education systems, and (3) job responsibilities related
to school/program administration. Participants will enter the United
States on J-visas, using DS-2019 forms issued by ECA.
The U.S. institution should plan to conduct an initial needs
assessment of participants and should be prepared to adjust program
emphasis as necessary to respond to participants' concerns for EFL
education. Specific areas to address in the five-week academic program
follow:
1. Managing the teaching staff: Evaluating, supporting, motivating
teachers; designing and conducting in-service training programs;
promoting professional ethics; building staff cohesiveness.
2. Student development: Setting behavioral/learning standards,
evaluating student progress, creating a school culture conducive to
learning, fostering parental involvement.
3. Managing resources: conducting resource inventories, allocating/
tracking resources, budgeting, optimizing limited resources, developing
access to outside resources.
4. Education Technology: introduction and/or enrichment of
computer-based word processing and appropriate software for
participants who lack these skills, introduction to computer networks
for EFL professionals, introduction/enrichment of knowledge of e-mail
and the Internet as pedagogic and research tools.
Few participants will have visited the United States previously. In
view of this, an initial orientation to the host institution community
and an introduction to U.S. society and system of education should be
considered an integral part of the Institute.
Management of the academic program, the week in Washington, DC and
on-site arrangements will be the responsibility of the Institute
grantee. The host institution is responsible for arrangements for
lodging, food, maintenance and local travel for participants while at
the host institution and in Washington. The Bureau will arrange
participants' international travel. The Bureau will provide the host
institution with participants' curricula vitae and travel itineraries
and will be available to offer guidance throughout the Institute.
Budget Guidelines
Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the entire
program. 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. The cost to the Bureau
for the Summer Institute should not exceed $125,000 based on 16
participants. Subject to availability of funds, one grant will be
awarded to conduct the 2003 Summer Institute.
Grants awarded to eligible organizations with less than four years
of experience in conducting international exchange programs will be
limited to $60,000.
Allowable costs for the program include the following:
(1) Instructional costs (for example: instructors' salaries,
honoraria for outside speakers, educational course materials);
(2) Lodging, meals, and incidentals for participants;
(3) Expenses associated with cultural activities planned for the
group of participants (for example: tickets, transportation);
(4) Administrative costs as necessary.
Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through private sector
support as well as institutional direct funding contributions.
Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget
guidelines and formatting instructions.
Announcement Title and Number: All correspondence with the Bureau
concerning this RFGP should reference the above title and number ECA/A/
E/AF-03-01.
For Further Information Contact: Office of Academic Exchanges,
African Programs Branch, ECA/A/E/AF, Room 232, U.S. Department of
State, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, Telephone: (202) 260-
2754, fax: (202) 619-6137 or e-mail: wbell@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 Wylita Bell 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
website 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 Friday, February
14, 2003. 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/A/E/AF-03-01, Program Management, ECA/EX/
PM, Room 534, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
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
[[Page 78852]]
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. Proposals should exhibit quality, rigor and appropriateness of
proposed syllabus to the academic objectives the Summer Institute.
Proposals should demonstrate effective use of community and regional
resources to enhance the cultural and educational experiences of
participants. Teaching objectives should be reasonable, feasible, and
flexible.
2. Program planning: Detailed calendar and relevant work plan
should demonstrate substantive undertakings and logistical capacity.
Calendar and plan should adhere to the program overview and guidelines
described above. Proposals should clearly demonstrate how the
institution will meet the program's objectives and plan.
3. Multiplier effect/impact: Proposed program should contribute to
long-term, mutual understanding and sharing of information about Africa
among Americans, as well as to the understanding of and knowledge of
the U.S. among the African participants.
4. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate the
recipient's commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding of
diversity. Program administrators should strive for diversity among
Institute staff, university students, and the host community who
interact with participants.
5. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve a substantive
academic program and effective cross-cultural communication with
African participants. Proposal should show evidence of strong on-site
administrative capabilities with specific discussion of how logistical
arrangements will be undertaken. Proposals should demonstrate
institutional experience in and knowledge of Africa (Francophone and
Lusophone) as well as expertise in education in developing countries.
6. Experience: Proposals should demonstrate an institutional record
of successful implementation of 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.
7. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate
the Summer Institute's success, both as the activities unfold and at
the end of the program. A draft survey questionnaire or other technique
plus description of a methodology to use to link outcomes to original
project objectives is recommended. Successful applicants will be
expected to submit intermediate reports after each project component is
concluded or quarterly, whichever is less frequent.
8. Follow-on Activities: Proposals should provide a plan for
continued follow-on activity (without Bureau support) ensuring that
Bureau supported programs are not isolated events.
9. 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.
10. Cost-sharing: 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 cited above is provided through the Fulbright-Hays 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.
[[Page 78853]]
Notification
Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by
Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures.
Dated: December 18, 2002.
Patricia S. Harrison,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of
State.
[FR Doc. 02-32599 Filed 12-24-02; 8:45 am]
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