Youth Leadership Program for Bosnia and Herzegovina; Request for Concept Papers

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 84 (Monday, May 3, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23730-23732]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-10981]


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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY


Youth Leadership Program for Bosnia and Herzegovina; Request for 
Concept Papers

SUMMARY: The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs Division, of 
the United States Information Agency's Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for a Youth Leadership 
Program for Bosnia and Herzegovnia. Public and private non-profit 
organizations meeting the provisions described in IRS regulation 26 CFR 
1.501(c) may submit concept papers to conduct a minimum three-week 
program for B-H secondary school students in the United States in 
August/September 1999. The maximum amount of the grant is $33,000.

Program Information

    USIA is implementing a new project for youth from Bosnia-
Herzegovina on the theme of leadership. As this project is being 
initiated on a small scale and with short lead time, USIA is seeking 
concept papers from organizations that can provide a substantive, U.S.-
based program on leadership and civic education.
    Concept papers should propose a project idea for the Youth 
Leadership Program. From the concept papers received, a USIA review 
panel will select the most highly qualified concept papers to be 
expanded into full proposals for an award that will contribute to the 
implementation of the proposed project. Please see the guidelines for 
preparing the concept paper later in this document.
    The goals of this project are: (1) To provide a civic education 
program that helps the students understand civic participation and the 
rights and responsibilities of citizens in a democracy; (2) to develop 
leadership skills among B-H secondary school students appropriate to 
their needs; and (3) to build personal relationships among high school 
students and teachers from Bosnia-Herzegovina and the United States.
    Applicants: USIA invites concept papers from any eligible private 
or public non-profit organization or institution. The primary objective 
is to identify an organization that has the capability to provide a 
high-quality leadership and civic education program and that has 
experience conducting such programs for international participants. 
Secondarily, USIA seeks an organization with experience working 
specifically with the people of Bosnia and Herzegovnia. Applicants need 
not have a partner in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as the USIA post in 
Sarajevo will assume that role for this project; i.e., select and 
orient students and make international travel arrangements.

Guidelines

    Participants: The participants will be (1) ten high school students 
between the ages of 14 and 18 who have demonstrated leadership in their 
schools and/or communities and who are high academic achievers, and (2) 
two teachers who have demonstrated leadership and are expected to 
remain in positions where they can continue to do so. Participants will 
be proficient in the English language.
    Selection and orientation: USIS Sarajevo will select the 
participants. The CIVITAS network in Bosnia and Herzegovina will help 
publicize the program and help USIS identify current and potential 
civic leaders. USIS will also be responsible for providing a pre-
departure orientation for the participants and arranging international 
air travel from Bosnia and Herzegovina to the specific destination in 
the United States.
    Program dates: The grant should begin in July 1999 and conclude 
after the exchange program. The preferred time period for the program 
is August//September 1999. Alternatively, the participants would be 
able to travel in January of 2000, provided substantive programming can 
be arranged. The program should be no less than three weeks in 
duration.
    Program: The program should focus primarily on interactive 
activities, practical experiences, and other hands-on opportunities to 
learn about the fundamentals of a civil society and building leadership 
skills. Suggestions include simulations, a community service project, 
and leadership training exercises. Secondarily, the program may include 
some briefings, discussions, and classroom visits (if local schools are 
in session). Programming should include American participants wherever 
possible. Cultural and recreational activities may be used to balance 
the schedule. The program need not be specifically arranged for the B-H 
participants; that is, arranging for them to participate in pre-
established camp or workshop is acceptable. If this is proposed, 
however, it needs to fulfill all of the stated objectives or do so in 
conjunction with other activities scheduled just for this delegation.
    Applicant organizations may propose a program along the lines 
described above. Additional suggestions for the student program include 
youth leadership workshops; exercises or simulations related to rule of 
law and citizen participation in government and in addressing societal 
problems (e.g., the environment, development, drug addiction 
prevention); meetings with government, community, and business leaders 
to see real-life examples of leadership in action; exposure to student 
government and peer mediation groups; team-building exercises; computer 
training for access to Internet resources and for follow-on 
communication; and cultural and historical tours.
    Although some of their activities may overlap with the students, 
the educators should have some opportunities to work with their 
American peers and other professionals and volunteers to discuss civic 
education curricula, extracurricular youth leadership activities, 
volunteerism, civic participation activities for youth, and the 
organization and management of youth activities.
    The recipient organization should conduct a welcome orientation for 
the participants upon arrival in the United States and host a closing 
meeting for them just prior to departure.
    Sites of program: The delegation should spend its time in the 
United States in no more than two locations so that the participants 
have time to familiarize themselves with a community. Desirable 
locations are those with schools or community organizations that have a 
demonstrated interest in Bosnia and Herzegovina or those with 
universities involved in the USIA undergraduate program for B-H 
students. We will also consider proximity to state capitals and other 
sites of interest, access to organizations that can conduct appropriate

[[Page 23731]]

workshops, and representation of the geographic and ethnic diversity of 
the United States.
    Housing: Homestays with local families are desirable for some or 
all of the exchange period. A dormitory or other inexpensive group 
housing is also an acceptable arrangement.
    Overall responsibilities of the assistance award recipient include:

1. Design and planning of activities that provide a substantive program 
on civic education and leadership through both academic and 
extracurricular components;
2. Domestic travel and logistical arrangements
    a. Homestay or group housing
    b. Disbursement of per diem
    c. Local travel
    d. Travel between sites
    e. Enrollment of the participants in USIA's accident and sickness 
insurance program
    f. Confirmation of and changes in return international travel
3. timely reporting of progress to USIA
4. Monitoring, evaluation, and follow-on activities
5. Fiscal management of all accounting and contractual relations
6. Financial and program reporting

    The grant recipient will not need to purchase international airline 
tickets for the participants nor will it need to arrange for visas for 
entry to the United States. USIA will issue IAP-66 forms so that 
participants may obtain J-1 visas.
    Application process: USIA invites organizations to submit a concept 
paper, no less than three and no more than five pages, single-sided, 
single-spaced, that outlines a plan to conduct the above program.
    Concept Paper Format: After clearly marking the title and number of 
this solicitation, please include all of the following information in 
your concept paper:

1. U.S. organization, department, and project director, with complete 
contact information including address, telephone, fax, and e-mail
2. Project summary
3. Dates of project
4. Project objectives and desired outcomes, based on the goals stated 
in this solicitation
5. Outline of proposed activities and sites
6. Details on proposed activities, including workshops, excursions, 
community service, welcome and closing sessions, opportunities to 
interact with Americans, etc.
7. Housing, transportation, and logistical arrangements
8. Project evaluation
9. Organization's capacity to implement proposed project

Budget Guidelines

    The award may not exceed $33,000. The budget must cover all 
participant expenses once they have arrived at the U.S. airport closest 
to the site of the activities. Administrative expenses should not 
exceed $10,000. Significant cost-sharing will be expected; homestays 
are not allowed as a cost-share item. A detailed budget will be 
requested with the full proposal.

Announcement Title and Number

    All correspondence with USIA concerning this RFP should reference 
the above title and number E/PY-99-52.

For Further Information, Contact

    The Youth Programs Division, E/PY, Room 568, U.S. Information 
Agency, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, Telephone: (202) 
619-6299, Fax: (202) 619-5311, E-mail: clantz@usia.gov. Please specify 
USIA Program Officer Carolyn Lantz on all other inquiries and 
correspondence.
    Please read the complete Federal Register announcement before 
making inquiries or submitting concept papers. Once the deadline has 
passed, Agency staff may not discuss this competition with applicants 
until the review process has been completed.

Deadline for Concept Papers

    All copies of the concept papers must be received at the U.S. 
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on Friday, May 21, 
1999. 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 concept papers are 
received by the above deadline.
    The original and 7 copies of the application should be sent to: 
U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/PY-99-52, Office of Grants Management, 
Room 568, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
    Applicants must also submit the concept paper 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. USIA will transmit 
these files electronically to the USIS post overseas for their review, 
with the goal of reducing the time it takes to gets posts' comments for 
the Agency'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. Pub. L. 
104-319 provides that ``in carrying out programs of educational and 
cultural exchange in countries whose people do not fully enjoy freedom 
and democracy,'' USIA ``shall take appropriate steps to provide 
opportunities for participation in such programs to human rights and 
democracy leaders of such countries.'' Proposals should reflect 
advancement of this goal in their program contents, to the full extent 
deemed feasible.

Review Process

    All eligible concept papers will be reviewed by the program office, 
as well as the USIA Office of East European and NIS Affairs and the 
USIA post overseas. Eligible concept papers will be forwarded to panels 
of USIA officers for advisory review. USIA will notify respondents 
about the status of the concept papers by June 7, 1999.

Review Criteria

    Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed 
according to the criteria stated below.
    1. Quality of the program idea: Concept papers should exhibit 
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Agency's 
mission.
    2. Program planning: An agenda and relevant work plan should 
demonstrate substantive undertakings and logistical capacity. Agenda 
and plan should adhere to the program overview and guidelines described 
above.
    3. Institutional capacity/Ability to achieve program objectives: 
Objectives should be reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Concept papers 
should clearly demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's 
objectives and plan. The Agency will consider the past performance of 
prior recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants.

[[Page 23732]]

    4. Support of Diversity: Concept papers should demonstrate 
substantive support of the Bureau's policy on diversity.
    5. Project Evaluation: Concept papers should describe a plan to 
evaluate the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at 
the end of the program.

Authority

    Overall grant making authority for this program is contained in the 
Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, Pub. L. 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 Support for Eastern European 
Democracies (SEED) legislation.

Notice

    The terms and conditions published in this Request for Concept 
Papers are binding and may not be modified by any USIA representative. 
Explanatory information provided by the Agency that contradicts 
published language will not be binding. Issuance of the RFCP does not 
constitute an award commitment on the part of the Government. 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 USIA procedures.

    Dated: April 26, 1999.
Judith S. Siegel,
Deputy Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 99-10981 Filed 4-30-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M