67436 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 218 / Thursday, November 9, 2000 / Notices

DEPARTMENT OF STATE that will enable them to teach basic communicate with each other upon computer skills. Participants should completion of the workshop. [Public Notice 3463] also gain awareness of how computers 11. Provide tools for evaluation of the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) can enhance societal development program in terms of its impact on the Computer Training of Trainers through communication with students and its success in fulfilling the Workshop; Request for Proposals appropriate organizations, distance objectives. learning projects, local language web A competitive proposal will SUMMARY: The Office of Citizen sites, etc. Particular attention should be incorporate important elements of Exchanges, Division of the NIS paid to those issues that will be American/NIS culture in sessions that Secondary School Initiative of the especially significant to people from the are largely interactive and designed to United States Information Agency’s former Soviet Union. The program appeal to high school-age students. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural should be arranged for seven days, program must be substantive and Affairs, announces an open competition including arrival and departure. academic while, at the same time, be for the Computer Training of Trainers Selection of workshop participants paced realistically to meet the needs of Workshop for the Future Leaders will be completed by the recipient of the young people. A strong proposal will Exchange (FLEX) program. The FLEX grant in collaboration with placement reflect a clear, convincing agenda program brings secondary students from organizations. Currently, there are 16 outlining exactly how the program will the New Independent States (NIS) of the organizations that are responsible for be carried out and how outcomes will former Soviet Union to the U.S. for an placing FLEX students in American be accomplished as a result of the grant. academic year. During their time in the homes and schools throughout the U.S. Knowledge of the current technological U.S., FLEX students live with American They are also responsible for the capacity (Internet connectivity, e-mail, host families and attend U.S. high students’ well-being during their stay in hardware and software) of NIS countries schools. the U.S. For a complete list of these is essential. The primary goal of the Computer organizations, please refer to the Youth Significant cost sharing is important Training of Trainers Workshop is to Programs Division web site: http:// since it will enable a greater number of train the participants to educate others exchanges.state.gov/education/citizens/ students to participate. Therefore, those in basic computer skills and Internet students. proposals that show more generous and access. Public and private non-profit creative cost sharing will be more organizations meeting the provisions Guidelines favorably viewed. described in IRS regulation 26 CFR The workshop should be held in Please refer to the Program Objectives, 1.501(c) may submit proposals to Spring, 2001, preferably in March or Goals, and Implementation (POGI) conduct a one-week workshop in April. Proposals must effectively section of the Solicitation Package for Spring, 2001 to train a minimum of 25 describe the organization’s ability to greater detail regarding the design of FLEX students. Participants will be accomplish the following essential component parts as well as other selected from among a group of 1155 components of the program: program information. students. The maximum grant award 1. Provide a Computer Training of Budget Guidelines will be $60,000. Provision of cost Trainers Workshop, as described above sharing to maximize the number of and, preferably, at the time period Organizations must submit proposals participants will be looked at very indicated. that arrange a program for a minimum favorably. 2. Include a description of the student of 25 students, but may increase the number of participants through cost Program Information selection process. 3. Provide training for organization sharing. Proposals that maximize the The recipient of the grant is staff on NIS society and culture. number of students will be favorably responsible for developing and 4. Provide housing and meals for the viewed. One grant will be awarded for conducting the Computer Training of students throughout the program. this activity. It is estimated that the total Trainers Workshop based on guidelines 5. Arrange travel for students from costs of the Computer Training of set forth by the Division. The grantee their U.S. host communities to the Trainers Workshop will average $2,400 organization will also have training site, and return, in coordination per NIS participant for a one-week responsibility for selecting participants with FLEX placement organizations. program, including U.S. domestic travel. in cooperation with their respective (Note: Students will likely be coming Applicants must submit a placement organizations. Additional from as many as 25 states.) Provide comprehensive budget for the entire responsibilities include coordinating ground transportation for students in program. Awards may not exceed travel arrangements for each participant the training area, including to and from $60,000. There must be a summary from his/her host community to the airports. budget as well as breakdowns reflecting training site and return, and for 6. Provide opportunities to attend both administrative and program providing room and board for students cultural events in the area. budgets. Please refer to the Solicitation during their time at the workshop. 7. Provide staff to assist in case of Package for further details and for medical emergencies. complete budget guidelines and Overview 8. Incorporate a program component formatting instructions. Workshop participants should be designed to facilitate students’ Allowable costs for the program selected according to computer ability transition from the computer workshop include the following: and interest as well as motivation to to their host communities. (1) Transportation for participants from help citizens of their countries. The 9. Include a description of the ways their host U.S. cities/towns to workshop should provide an in which students will be encouraged to workshop site opportunity for participants to improve share what they have learned, both in (2) Daily travel to/from workshop site their computer expertise and learn their U.S. host communities and when location about teaching methodology that will they return to their home countries. (3) Room and board during the time of empower them to instruct others. 10. Provide a mechanism in which the workshop Participants will be provided with tools participants can continue to (4) Rental of facilities and equipment

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(5) Fees for related activities/excursions Diversity, Freedom and Democracy 1. Quality of the program idea: (6) Honoraria for speakers/trainers, as Guidelines Proposals should exhibit originality, appropriate Pursuant to the Bureau’s authorizing substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau’s mission. (7) Supplies legislation, programs must maintain a 2. Program planning: Detailed agenda non-political character and should be (8) Security services and relevant work plan should balanced and representative of the demonstrate substantive undertakings Please refer to the Solicitation diversity of American political, social, and logistical capacity. Agenda and plan Package for complete budget guidelines and cultural life. ‘‘Diversity’’ should be and formatting instructions. should adhere to the program overview interpreted in the broadest sense and and guidelines described above. Announcement Title and Number encompass differences including, but 3. Ability to achieve program not limited to ethnicity, race, gender, objectives: Objectives should be All correspondence with the Bureau religion, geographic location, socio- concerning this RFP should reference reasonable, feasible, and flexible. economic status, and physical Proposals should clearly demonstrate the above title and number ECA/PE/C/ challenges. Applicants are strongly PY–01–20. how the organization will meet the encouraged to adhere to the program’s objectives and plan. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The advancement of this principle both in 4. Support of Diversity: Proposals Youth Programs Division, Office of program administration and in program should demonstrate substantive support Citizen Exchanges, ECA/PE/C/PY, Room content. Please refer to the review of the Bureau’s policy on diversity. 568, U.S. Department of State, 301 4th criteria under the ‘Support for Diversity’ Achievable and relevant features should Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20547, section for specific suggestions on be cited in both program administration. phone: 202/619–6299, fax: 202/619– incorporating diversity into the total 5. Institutional Capacity: Proposed 5311, e-mail: proposal. Public Law 104–319 provides personnel and institutional resources to request a Solicitation Package. The that ‘‘in carrying out programs of should be adequate and appropriate to Solicitation Package contains detailed educational and cultural exchange in achieve the program or project’s goals. award criteria, required application countries whose people do not fully Proposing organization should forms, specific budget instructions, and enjoy freedom and democracy,’’ the demonstrate it has experience with standard guidelines for proposal Bureau ‘‘shall take appropriate steps to computer education, preferably with preparation. Please specify Bureau provide opportunities for participation youth, as well as familiarity with the Program Officer Anna Mussman on all in such programs to human rights and culture of the New Independent States other inquiries and correspondence. democracy leaders of such countries.’’ (NIS) of the former Soviet Union. Please read the complete Federal Public Law 106–113 requires that the 6. Track Record: Proposals should Register announcement before sending governments of the countries described demonstrate an institutional record of inquiries or submitting proposals. Once above do not have inappropriate successful programs, including the RFP deadline has passed, Bureau influence in the selection process. responsible fiscal management and full staff may not discuss this competition Proposals should reflect advancement of compliance with all reporting with applicants until the proposal these goals in their program contents, to requirements for past Bureau grants as review process has been completed. the full extent deemed feasible. determined by Bureau Grant Staff. The Review Process Bureau will consider the past To Download a Solicitation Package via performance of prior recipients and the Internet The Bureau will acknowledge receipt demonstrated potential of new of all proposals and will review them The entire Solicitation Package may applicants. for technical eligibility. Proposals will 7. Multiplier effect/impact: Proposed be downloaded from the Bureau’s be deemed ineligible if they do not fully website at http://exchanges.state.gov/ programs should describe how adhere to the guidelines stated herein workshop participants will be motivated education/rfps. Please read all and in the Solicitation Package. All information before downloading. and enabled to reach out to other eligible proposals will be reviewed by individuals in their home countries. Deadline for Proposals the program office, as well as the Public 8. Follow-on Activities: Proposals Diplomacy section overseas, where should describe how workshop All proposal copies must be received appropriate. Eligible proposals will be participants will be provided with at the Bureau of Educational and forwarded to panels of Bureau officers knowledge and tools that will prepare Cultural Affairs by 5 p.m. Washington, for advisory review. Proposals may also them to share information and ideas D.C. time on December 22, 2000. Faxed be reviewed by the Office of the Legal after their return to their home documents will not be accepted at any Adviser or by other Department countries. time. Documents postmarked the due elements. Final funding decisions are at 9. Project Evaluation: Proposals date but received on a later date will not the discretion of the Department of should include a plan to evaluate the be accepted. Each applicant must ensure State’s Assistant Secretary for activity’s success. A draft survey that the proposals are received by the Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final questionnaire or other technique plus above deadline. technical authority for assistance description of a methodology to use to Applicants must follow all awards (grants or cooperative link outcomes to original project instructions in the Solicitation Package. agreements) resides with the Bureau’s objectives is recommended. Successful The original and seven copies of the Grants Officer. applicants will be expected to submit a application should be sent to: U.S. final report after the project has been Review Criteria Department of State, SA–44, Bureau of completed. Educational and Cultural Affairs, Ref.: Technically eligible applications will 10. Cost-effectiveness/Cost Sharing: ECA/PE/C/PY–01–20, Program be competitively reviewed according to The overhead and administrative Management, ECA/EX/PM, Room 534, the criteria stated below. These criteria components of the proposal, including 301 4th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. are not rank ordered and all carry equal salaries and honoraria, should be kept 20547. weight in the proposal evaluation: as low as possible. All other items

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A Request for Proposals for Overall grant making authority for Associate’s degree and meeting the this project was announced on July 27, this program is contained in the Mutual provisions described in IRS regulation 2000 with a deadline of January 19, Educational and Cultural Exchange Act 26 CFR 1.501(c) may apply to pursue 2001. Community colleges are among of 1961, Public Law 87–256, as institutional or departmental objectives the institutions eligible to apply for that amended, also known as the Fulbright- in international partnerships with competition. The Bureau supports Hays Act. The purpose of the Act is ‘‘to counterpart institutions from Georgia, institutional linkages in higher enable the Government of the United Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine education with partners worldwide States to increase mutual understanding or Uzbekistan. The underlying purposes through the College and University between the people of the United States of these partnerships should be: (1) To Affiliations Program; a Request for and the people of other countries * * *; support through teaching, scholarship, Proposals for this project was to strengthen the ties which unite us and professional outreach from the announced separately on June 19, 2000 with other nations by demonstrating the partner institutions, the transition of the and has a deadline of November 13, educational and cultural interests, New Independent States to democratic 2000. Applicants interested in either of developments, and achievements of the systems based on market economies; these two programs should contact the people of the United States and other and (2) to strengthen mutual Bureau’s Humphrey Fellowships and nations * * * and thus to assist in the understanding and cooperation between Institutional Linkages Branch at (202) development of friendly, sympathetic the United States and the New 619–5289. and peaceful relations between the Independent States. Eligible fields are Applicant Objectives United States and the other countries of education, continuing education or the world.’’ The funding authority for educational administration; the social, In the NIS Community College the program above is provided through political or economic sciences; Partnerships Program, partner legislation of the Freedom Support Act. business/accounting/trade; or institutions may pursue specific institutional goals with support from the Notice journalism/communications. Bureau of Educational and Cultural The terms and conditions published Program Information Affairs through exchanges of teachers in this RFP are binding and may not be The NIS Community College and administrators for any appropriate modified by any Bureau representative. Partnerships Program is designed to combination of teaching, consultation, Explanatory information provided by encourage community colleges to share research, and outreach, for periods the Bureau that contradicts published with their educational partners in the ranging from one week (for planning language will not be binding. Issuance NIS their practical experience in visits) to an academic year. of the RFP does not constitute an award designing and implementing programs While the benefits of the project to commitment on the part of the which provide targeted training in each of the participating institutions Government. The Bureau reserves the professional fields; provide outreach may differ significantly in nature and right to reduce, revise, or increase and services to surrounding scope, proposals should outline well- proposal budgets in accordance with the communities; and provide education to reasoned strategies leading to specific, needs of the program and the underserved populations. demonstrable changes at the department availability of funds. Awards made will In general, underlying the specific or institution in the NIS. be subject to periodic reporting and objectives of projects funded by this For example, proposals may describe evaluation requirements. program should be the goal of fostering the parameters and possible content of Notification freedom and democracy through a new courses, new research or teaching deepened mutual understanding of capacities or methodologies, new or Final awards cannot be made until fundamental issues and practical revised curricula or programs, or other funds have been appropriated by applications in the encouragement of changes anticipated as a result of the Congress, allocated and committed civil society, economic growth and project. Proposals to pursue a limited through internal Bureau procedures. prosperity, or the free flow of number of related thematic objectives at Dated: November 1, 2000. information. Creative, innovative each institution are preferred to Helena Kane Finn, strategies to address these underlying proposals addressing a large number of Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau concerns in the pursuit of clearly unrelated objectives. of Educational and Cultural Affairs, defined institutional goals are Proposals must focus on curriculum, Department of State. encouraged. The extension of faculty, and staff development at the [FR Doc. 00–28674 Filed 11–8–00; 8:45 am] understanding about these issues NIS partner institution(s) in one or more BILLING CODE 4710±05±P through outreach from academic of the eligible disciplines. institutions to larger communities of Administrative reform at the foreign citizens and practitioners is encouraged, partner institution should also be a DEPARTMENT OF STATE particularly by linking educational project component. Projects should involve the development of new [Public Notice 3462] programs in the NIS to the communities that they serve. academic programs or the building and/ Bureau of Educational and Cultural Support from the NIS Community or restructuring of an existing program Affairs; NIS Community College College Partnerships Program is limited or programs, and should promote higher Partnerships Program to partnerships with institutions in education’s role in the transition to Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia, market economies and open democratic NOTICE: Request for Proposals. Ukraine and Uzbekistan. In addition, systems. Whenever feasible, participants

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