Federal Register: December 15, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 240)
DOCID: FR Doc E5-7391
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
State Department
DOCUMENT ID: [Public Notice 5245]
NOTICE: NOTICES
ACTION: Grants and cooperative agreements; availability, etc.:
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant Proposals: Religion and Society: A Dialogue
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
Announcement Type: New Grant.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/NEAAF0626.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000.
Application Deadline: February 16, 2006.
Executive Summary
The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State, announces a special competition for two to three grants to support international exchange projects under the rubric ``Religion and Society: A Dialogue.'' Public and private nonprofit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) may submit proposals to develop and implement a multiphased exchange to engage influential clerics, religious scholars and community leaders from countries with significant Muslim populations in dialogue designed to educate participants about the scholarship and practice of Islam in the United States and the world and the compatibility of religious practice and democratic social and political values and structures.
Authority
Overall grantmaking 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 FulbrightHays 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.
Overview
The Office of Citizen Exchanges consults with and supports American
public and private nonprofit organizations in developing and implementing multiphased, often multiyear, exchanges of
professionals, community leaders, scholars and academics, public policy
advocates, nongovernmental organization activists, etc. These
exchanges address issues of vital importance to the United States and
to other countries; they promote focused, substantive, and cooperative
interaction among counterparts; and they entail both theoretical and
experiential learning for all participants. A primary goal is the
development of sustained, international, institutional and individual
linkages. In addition to providing a context for professional
development and collaborative problemsolving, these projects are
intended to introduce foreign participants and their American
counterparts to one another's political, social, and economic
structures, facilitating improved communication and enhancing mutual
understanding. Desirable components of an exchange may be local citizen
involvement and activities that orient foreign participants to American society and culture.
The initiative ``Religion and Society: A Dialogue'' will support two to three grants facilitating the international exchange of American and nonAmerican clerics, religious scholars, and community leaders influential opinion leaders recognized for their ability to communicate in scholarly writing, through sermons, or by virtue of a position of community leadership. The objectives of the exchange are (1) to enhance the nonAmerican participants' understanding of the place of religion and serious religious study, particularly Islam, in American life; (2) to provide a forum for examination and discussion of the compatibility of religious practice and democratic social and political values and structures, the benefits produced by coexistence among religious communities, and the practice of Islam in a multicultural, multi religious context; and (3) to broaden the understanding of American scholars, clerics, and laypersons of the place of Islam in nonAmerican societies.
Competitive program models would outline activities for a twoyear exchange, including: Consultations and participant selection in participating countries by American professionals (selection coordinated with U.S. Embassies); study trips of up to 28 nonAmerican scholars, clerics, and community leaders to the United States for several weeks (approximately 14 participants in two separate tours, one each year); and final consultations and workshops in the countries of origin of nonAmerican participants by up to 14 American scholars, etc., Muslim and nonMuslim (approximately 7 American participants in each of two separate tours). Study tours in the United States would include: Meetings at Islamic centers, discussions with American Muslim and nonMuslim counterparts, familiarization with major religious libraries and archives, particularly those holding significant Islamic collections, discussions with leaders and members of religious and secular institutions that represent America's guarantee of human dignity and freedom of worship, and participation in scholarly (and possibly public) workshops and seminars. Abroad, Americans would participate in workshops and seminars, consult with local clerics, scholars, and community leaders, etc.
Participants may be drawn from any relevant country, worldwide.
Proposals should provide a persuasive rationale for the country or
countries included in the exchange. The Office of Citizen Exchanges encourages applicants to be creative in planning project
implementation. Activities may include both theoretical orientation and
experiential, communitybased initiatives designed to achieve
objectives. Applicants should, in their proposals, identify any partner
organizations and/or individuals inside or outside the U.S. with which/ whom
[[Page 74418]]
they are proposing to collaborate and justify the collaboration on the basis of experience, accomplishments, etc.
Selection of Participants
Applications should include a description of a meritbased, focused participant selection process. Applicants should anticipate consulting with the Public Affairs Sections of U.S. Embassies in selecting participants, with the Embassy retaining the right to nominate participants, to advise the grantee regarding participants recommended by other entities, and to have final approval of the list of participants identified.
Public Affairs Section Involvement
The Public Affairs Sections (PAS) of the U.S. Embassies often play an important role in project implementation. PAS will initially evaluate project proposals and may, in consultation with the grantee organization, coordinate planning with the grantee organization and in country partners, facilitate incountry activities, nominate participants and vet grantee nominations, observe incountry activities, and debrief participants. PAS will also evaluate project impact.
Though project administration and implementation are the
responsibility of the grantee, the grantee is expected to inform the
PAS in participating countries of its operations and procedures and to
coordinate with PAS officers in the development of project activities.
The PAS should be consulted regarding country priorities, political and
cultural sensitivities, security issues, and logistic and programmatic issues.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Grant Agreement.
Fiscal Year Funds: 2006.
Approximate Total Funding: $1,000,000, to be allocated among two to three grant awards.
Approximate Number of Awards: Two to three.
Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, August 31, 2006.
Anticipated Project Completion Date: July 31, 2008 to May 31, 2009.
Projects under this competition may range in length from two to three years, depending on the number of project components, the country/region targeted, and the extent of the evaluation plan proposed by the applicant. The Office of Citizen Exchanges strongly encourages applicant organizations to plan enough time after project activities to measure project outcomes. Please refer to the Program Monitoring and Evaluation section, item IV.3d.3 below, for further guidance on evaluation.
III. Eligibility Information
III.1. Eligible applicants: Applications may be submitted by public and private nonprofit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3).
III.2. Required Cost Sharing or Matching Funds: There is no minimum or maximum percentage required for this competition. However, the Bureau encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in support of its programs. Cost sharing is an important element of the ECAgrantee institution relationship, and it demonstrates the implementing organization's commitment to the program. Cost sharing is included as one criterion for grant proposal evaluation. Applicants are strongly encouraged to cost share a portion of overhead and administrative expenses. Costsharing, including contributions from the applicant, proposed incountry partner(s), and other sources should be included in the budget request. Proposal budgets that do not reflect cost sharing will be deemed not competitive under the Cost Effectiveness and Cost Sharing criterion (item V.1, below).
When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing stipulated in its proposal and later included in an approved grant agreement. Cost sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For accountability, you must maintain written records to support all costs that are claimed as your contribution as well as costs to be paid by the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. The basis for determining the value of cash and inkind contributions must be in accordance with OMB Circular A110, (Revised), subpart C.23Cost Sharing and Matching. In the event you do not provide the minimum amount of cost sharing stipulated in the approved budget, ECA's contribution will be reduced in like proportion.
III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements: (a.) Bureau grant guidelines
require that organizations with less than four years experience in
conducting international exchanges be limited to $60,000 in Bureau
funding. ECA anticipates awarding two to three grants, in an amount up
to $500,000 to support program and administrative costs required to
implement this exchange program. Therefore, organizations with less
than four years experience in conducting international exchanges are ineligible to apply under this competition.
(b.) Technical Eligibility: Proposals must comply with the
requirements outlined in this Request for Grant Proposals and
accompanying Proposal Submission Instructions in order to be considered
technically eligible for consideration in the review process. IV. Application and Submission Information
Note: 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.
IV.1 Contact Information to Request an Application Package: The Application Package comprises the Proposal Submission Instruction (PSI) document, consisting of required application forms and standard guidelines for proposal preparation. The Solicitation Package may be downloaded from: http://exchanges.state.gov/education/rfgps/menu.htm. Please read all information before downloading.
IV.2 To receive a hard copy of the Application Package via U.S. Postal Service, contact Thomas Johnston, Office of Citizen Exchanges, ECA/PE/C/NEAAF, Room 216, U.S. Department of State, SA44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, Telephone (202) 4538162; Fax (202) 4538168; Email JohnstonTJ@state.gov. Please refer to Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/NEAAF0626 on all inquiries and correspondence.
IV.3. Content and Form of Submission: Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation Package. The original and ten copies of the application should be sent per the instructions under IV.3f. ``Submission Dates and Times section,'' below.
IV.3a. Applicants are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative agreement from the U.S. Government. This number is a nine digit identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities. Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a DUNS number, access http://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1 8667055711. Please ensure that the DUNS number is included in the appropriate box of the SF424 which is part of the formal application package.
IV.3b. All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal narrative
[[Page 74419]]
and budget. Please refer to the Application Package, containing the
mandatory Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document, for additional formatting and technical requirements.
IV.3c. Applicants must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of application. If your organization is a private nonprofit which has not received a grant or cooperative agreement from ECA in the past three years, or if your organization received nonprofit status from the IRS within the past four years, you must submit the necessary documentation to verify nonprofit status as directed in the PSI document. Failure to do so will cause your proposal to be declared technically ineligible.
IV.3d. Please take into consideration the following information when preparing your proposal narrative:
IV.3d.1 Adherence To All Regulations Governing The J Visa. The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is the official program sponsor of the exchange program covered by this RFGP, and an employee of the Bureau will be the ``Responsible Officer'' for the program under the terms of 22 CFR 62, which covers the administration of the Exchange Visitor Program (J visa program). Under the terms of 22 CFR 62, organizations receiving grants under this RFGP will be third parties ``cooperating with or assisting the sponsor in the conduct of the sponsor's program.'' The actions of grantee program organizations shall be ``imputed to the sponsor in evaluating the sponsor's compliance with'' 22 CFR 62. Therefore, the Bureau expects that any organization receiving a grant under this competition will render all assistance necessary to enable the Bureau to fully comply with 22 CFR 62 et seq.
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs places great emphasis on the secure and proper administration of Exchange Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence by grantee program organizations and program participants to all regulations governing the J visa program status. Therefore, proposals should explicitly state in writing that the applicant is prepared to assist the Bureau in meeting all requirements governing the administration of Exchange Visitor Programs as set forth in 22 CFR 62. If your organization has experience as a designated Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor, the applicant should discuss its record of compliance with 22 CFR 62 et. seq., including the oversight of its Responsible Officers and Alternate Responsible Officers, screening and selection of program participants, provision of prearrival information and orientation to participants, monitoring of participants, proper maintenance and security of forms, recordkeeping, reporting and other requirements.
The Office of Citizen Exchanges of ECA will be responsible for issuing DS2019 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/ECDSA44, Room 734,
301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547. Telephone: (202) 2035029.
SUMMARY:
Religion and Society: A Dialogue,
DOCUMENT BODY 2:
Announcement Type: New Grant.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/NEAAF0626.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000.
Application Deadline: February 16, 2006.
Executive Summary
The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State, announces a special competition for two to three grants to support international exchange projects under the rubric ``Religion and Society: A Dialogue.'' Public and private nonprofit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) may submit proposals to develop and implement a multiphased exchange to engage influential clerics, religious scholars and community leaders from countries with significant Muslim populations in dialogue designed to educate participants about the scholarship and practice of Islam in the United States and the world and the compatibility of religious practice and democratic social and political values and structures.
Authority
Overall grantmaking 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 FulbrightHays 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.
Overview
The Office of Citizen Exchanges consults with and supports American
public and private nonprofit organizations in developing and implementing multiphased, often multiyear, exchanges of
professionals, community leaders, scholars and academics, public policy
advocates, nongovernmental organization activists, etc. These
exchanges address issues of vital importance to the United States and
to other countries; they promote focused, substantive, and cooperative
interaction among counterparts; and they entail both theoretical and
experiential learning for all participants. A primary goal is the
development of sustained, international, institutional and individual
linkages. In addition to providing a context for professional
development and collaborative problemsolving, these projects are
intended to introduce foreign participants and their American
counterparts to one another's political, social, and economic
structures, facilitating improved communication and enhancing mutual
understanding. Desirable components of an exchange may be local citizen
involvement and activities that orient foreign participants to American society and culture.
The initiative ``Religion and Society: A Dialogue'' will support two to three grants facilitating the international exchange of American and nonAmerican clerics, religious scholars, and community leaders influential opinion leaders recognized for their ability to communicate in scholarly writing, through sermons, or by virtue of a position of community leadership. The objectives of the exchange are (1) to enhance the nonAmerican participants' understanding of the place of religion and serious religious study, particularly Islam, in American life; (2) to provide a forum for examination and discussion of the compatibility of religious practice and democratic social and political values and structures, the benefits produced by coexistence among religious communities, and the practice of Islam in a multicultural, multi religious context; and (3) to broaden the understanding of American scholars, clerics, and laypersons of the place of Islam in nonAmerican societies.
Competitive program models would outline activities for a twoyear exchange, including: Consultations and participant selection in participating countries by American professionals (selection coordinated with U.S. Embassies); study trips of up to 28 nonAmerican scholars, clerics, and community leaders to the United States for several weeks (approximately 14 participants in two separate tours, one each year); and final consultations and workshops in the countries of origin of nonAmerican participants by up to 14 American scholars, etc., Muslim and nonMuslim (approximately 7 American participants in each of two separate tours). Study tours in the United States would include: Meetings at Islamic centers, discussions with American Muslim and nonMuslim counterparts, familiarization with major religious libraries and archives, particularly those holding significant Islamic collections, discussions with leaders and members of religious and secular institutions that represent America's guarantee of human dignity and freedom of worship, and participation in scholarly (and possibly public) workshops and seminars. Abroad, Americans would participate in workshops and seminars, consult with local clerics, scholars, and community leaders, etc.
Participants may be drawn from any relevant country, worldwide.
Proposals should provide a persuasive rationale for the country or
countries included in the exchange. The Office of Citizen Exchanges encourages applicants to be creative in planning project
implementation. Activities may include both theoretical orientation and
experiential, communitybased initiatives designed to achieve
objectives. Applicants should, in their proposals, identify any partner
organizations and/or individuals inside or outside the U.S. with which/ whom
[[Page 74418]]
they are proposing to collaborate and justify the collaboration on the basis of experience, accomplishments, etc.
Selection of Participants
Applications should include a description of a meritbased, focused participant selection process. Applicants should anticipate consulting with the Public Affairs Sections of U.S. Embassies in selecting participants, with the Embassy retaining the right to nominate participants, to advise the grantee regarding participants recommended by other entities, and to have final approval of the list of participants identified.
Public Affairs Section Involvement
The Public Affairs Sections (PAS) of the U.S. Embassies often play an important role in project implementation. PAS will initially evaluate project proposals and may, in consultation with the grantee organization, coordinate planning with the grantee organization and in country partners, facilitate incountry activities, nominate participants and vet grantee nominations, observe incountry activities, and debrief participants. PAS will also evaluate project impact.
Though project administration and implementation are the
responsibility of the grantee, the grantee is expected to inform the
PAS in participating countries of its operations and procedures and to
coordinate with PAS officers in the development of project activities.
The PAS should be consulted regarding country priorities, political and
cultural sensitivities, security issues, and logistic and programmatic issues.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Grant Agreement.
Fiscal Year Funds: 2006.
Approximate Total Funding: $1,000,000, to be allocated among two to three grant awards.
Approximate Number of Awards: Two to three.
Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, August 31, 2006.
Anticipated Project Completion Date: July 31, 2008 to May 31, 2009.
Projects under this competition may range in length from two to three years, depending on the number of project components, the country/region targeted, and the extent of the evaluation plan proposed by the applicant. The Office of Citizen Exchanges strongly encourages applicant organizations to plan enough time after project activities to measure project outcomes. Please refer to the Program Monitoring and Evaluation section, item IV.3d.3 below, for further guidance on evaluation.
III. Eligibility Information
III.1. Eligible applicants: Applications may be submitted by public and private nonprofit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3).
III.2. Required Cost Sharing or Matching Funds: There is no minimum or maximum percentage required for this competition. However, the Bureau encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in support of its programs. Cost sharing is an important element of the ECAgrantee institution relationship, and it demonstrates the implementing organization's commitment to the program. Cost sharing is included as one criterion for grant proposal evaluation. Applicants are strongly encouraged to cost share a portion of overhead and administrative expenses. Costsharing, including contributions from the applicant, proposed incountry partner(s), and other sources should be included in the budget request. Proposal budgets that do not reflect cost sharing will be deemed not competitive under the Cost Effectiveness and Cost Sharing criterion (item V.1, below).
When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing stipulated in its proposal and later included in an approved grant agreement. Cost sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For accountability, you must maintain written records to support all costs that are claimed as your contribution as well as costs to be paid by the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. The basis for determining the value of cash and inkind contributions must be in accordance with OMB Circular A110, (Revised), subpart C.23Cost Sharing and Matching. In the event you do not provide the minimum amount of cost sharing stipulated in the approved budget, ECA's contribution will be reduced in like proportion.
III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements: (a.) Bureau grant guidelines
require that organizations with less than four years experience in
conducting international exchanges be limited to $60,000 in Bureau
funding. ECA anticipates awarding two to three grants, in an amount up
to $500,000 to support program and administrative costs required to
implement this exchange program. Therefore, organizations with less
than four years experience in conducting international exchanges are ineligible to apply under this competition.
(b.) Technical Eligibility: Proposals must comply with the
requirements outlined in this Request for Grant Proposals and
accompanying Proposal Submission Instructions in order to be considered
technically eligible for consideration in the review process. IV. Application and Submission Information
Note: 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.
IV.1 Contact Information to Request an Application Package: The Application Package comprises the Proposal Submission Instruction (PSI) document, consisting of required application forms and standard guidelines for proposal preparation. The Solicitation Package may be downloaded from: http://exchanges.state.gov/education/rfgps/menu.htm. Please read all information before downloading.
IV.2 To receive a hard copy of the Application Package via U.S. Postal Service, contact Thomas Johnston, Office of Citizen Exchanges, ECA/PE/C/NEAAF, Room 216, U.S. Department of State, SA44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, Telephone (202) 4538162; Fax (202) 4538168; Email JohnstonTJ@state.gov. Please refer to Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/NEAAF0626 on all inquiries and correspondence.
IV.3. Content and Form of Submission: Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation Package. The original and ten copies of the application should be sent per the instructions under IV.3f. ``Submission Dates and Times section,'' below.
IV.3a. Applicants are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative agreement from the U.S. Government. This number is a nine digit identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities. Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a DUNS number, access http://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1 8667055711. Please ensure that the DUNS number is included in the appropriate box of the SF424 which is part of the formal application package.
IV.3b. All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal narrative
[[Page 74419]]
and budget. Please refer to the Application Package, containing the
mandatory Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document, for additional formatting and technical requirements.
IV.3c. Applicants must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of application. If your organization is a private nonprofit which has not received a grant or cooperative agreement from ECA in the past three years, or if your organization received nonprofit status from the IRS within the past four years, you must submit the necessary documentation to verify nonprofit status as directed in the PSI document. Failure to do so will cause your proposal to be declared technically ineligible.
IV.3d. Please take into consideration the following information when preparing your proposal narrative:
IV.3d.1 Adherence To All Regulations Governing The J Visa. The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is the official program sponsor of the exchange program covered by this RFGP, and an employee of the Bureau will be the ``Responsible Officer'' for the program under the terms of 22 CFR 62, which covers the administration of the Exchange Visitor Program (J visa program). Under the terms of 22 CFR 62, organizations receiving grants under this RFGP will be third parties ``cooperating with or assisting the sponsor in the conduct of the sponsor's program.'' The actions of grantee program organizations shall be ``imputed to the sponsor in evaluating the sponsor's compliance with'' 22 CFR 62. Therefore, the Bureau expects that any organization receiving a grant under this competition will render all assistance necessary to enable the Bureau to fully comply with 22 CFR 62 et seq.
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs places great emphasis on the secure and proper administration of Exchange Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence by grantee program organizations and program participants to all regulations governing the J visa program status. Therefore, proposals should explicitly state in writing that the applicant is prepared to assist the Bureau in meeting all requirements governing the administration of Exchange Visitor Programs as set forth in 22 CFR 62. If your organization has experience as a designated Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor, the applicant should discuss its record of compliance with 22 CFR 62 et. seq., including the oversight of its Responsible Officers and Alternate Responsible Officers, screening and selection of program participants, provision of prearrival information and orientation to participants, monitoring of participants, proper maintenance and security of forms, recordkeeping, reporting and other requirements.
The Office of Citizen Exchanges of ECA will be responsible for issuing DS2019 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/ECDSA44, Room 734,
301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547. Telephone: (202) 2035029.