International Visitor Program

Notice--Request for proposals.

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The Office of International Visitors (E/V)* of the United States

Information Agency's (USIA) Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces a competition for two assistance awards, Award A (to program between 100 and 250 participants) and Award B (to program between 750 and 1,000 participants). International Visitor (IV) program participants are current or potential foreign leaders. Each award is to develop and implement IV programs over the course of fiscal year 2000 (October 1, 1999--September 30, 2000). USIA is seeking proposals from public and private nonprofit organizations that are not already in communication with USIA regarding an FY-2000 assistance award from E/V. These organizations must meet the provisions described in IRS regulation 26 CFR 1.501 to apply for these awards. *[See Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI) for definitions of program-related terminology]. The intent of this announcement is to provide the opportunity for two organizations to develop and implement a variety of IV program models. The winning applicants will function as national program agencies (NPA)* and work closely with USIA staff, who will guide the applicants through the variety of procedural, budgetary and/or programmatic issues that arise. An organization can only win one award. Applicants should indicate on the proposal cover sheet after the reference number if they are bidding on Award A, Award B, or both. If bidding on both, two separate budgets must be submitted with the proposal. IV program objectives are based on U.S. foreign policy and are designed to: (1) increase mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and the people of other countries; and (2) provide substantive professional exchange between the foreign participants and their U.S. counterparts. Participants are current or potential foreign leaders in government, politics, media, education, science, labor relations, and other key fields. They are selected by officers of U.S. embassies overseas and approved by USIA staff in Washington, DC. Since the program's earliest inception in 1940, there have been more than 140,000 distinguished participants in the program. Almost 200 program alumni have subsequently become heads of state or government in their home countries. 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.'' IV programs must conform with USIA requirements and guidelines outlined in the Solicitation Package. USIA programs are subject to the availability of funds. Announcement Title and Number: All communications with USIA concerning this RFP should refer to the announcement's title and reference number E/V-99-02. To Request a Solicitation Package, Contact: The Office of International Visitors, Community Relations Division, E/VC, Room 266, U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th St., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20547, Tel: (202) 619-5234, 1-800-827-0804; Fax: (202) 619-4655, e-mail address: rfp@usia.gov To Download a Solicitation Package Via Internet: The entire Solicitation Package may be downloaded from USIA's website at https:// e.usia.gov/education/rfps. Please read all information before downloading. To Receive a Solicitation Package via Fax on Demand: The entire Solicitation Package may be received via USIA's ``Grants Information Fax on Demand System'', which is accessed by calling 202/401-7616. Please request a ``Catalog'' of available documents and order numbers when first entering the system. Interested applicants should read the complete Federal Register announcement before sending inquiries or submitting proposals. Bidders' Conference: USIA will host a Bidders' Conference on Thursday, March 4, 1999, at the USIA headquarters building in Washington, D.C., 301 4th St., S.W., from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Substantive questions about this RFP will be addressed at the conference. Interested applicants are asked to RSVP and submit questions by mail, fax, or e-mail to: The Office of International Visitors, Community Relations Division, E/VC, Room 266, U.S. Information Agency, 301 4th St., SW, Washington, D.C. 20547, Tel: (202) 619-5234; 1-800-827-0804; Fax: (202) 619-4655, e-mail address: rfp@usia.gov Questions must be received by close of business Friday, February 19, 1999. To request a copy of written details of the Bidders' Conference, please contact the above address. Submissions: Applicants must follow all instructions given in the Solicitation Package. The original and 10 copies of the proposal submission should be sent to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/V-99-02, Office of Grants Management, E/XE, Room 326, 301 4th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20547. Deadline For Proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S. Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, D.C. time on Thursday, April 1, 1999. Faxed or e-mailed documents will not be accepted at any time. Documents postmarked by the due date but received at a later date will not be accepted. Assistance awards will be effective on or about October 1, 1999. 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 of 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,'' 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.

Year 2000 Issue

The year 2000 (Y2K) issue is a broad operational and accounting problem that could potentially prohibit organizations from processing information in accordance with Federal management and program specific requirements, including data exchange with USIA. The inability to process information in accordance with Federal requirements could result in grantees' being required to return funds that have not been accounted for properly. USIA therefore requires that all organizations use Y2K compliant systems including hardward, software, and firmware. Systems must accurately

process data and dates (calculating, comparing, and sequencing) both before and after the beginning of the year 2000 and correctly adjust for leap years. Additional information addressing the Y2K issue may be found at the General Services Administration's Office of Information Technology website at www.itpolicy.gsa.gov.

Qualification and Guidelines

Qualifications

1. Applicants must demonstrate four years of successful programming experience. 2. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to develop and administer IV programs. 3. Applicants must have a broad knowledge of international relations and U.S. foreign policy issues. 4. Applicants must have a broad knowledge of the United States and U.S. domestic issues. 5. Applicants must have an established resource base of programming contacts and the ability to keep the base continuously updated. This resource base should include speakers, thematic specialists, or practitioners in a wide range of professional fields in both the private and public sectors. 6. Applicants must demonstrate sound financial management. 7. Applicants must have a sound management plan to carry out the volume of work outlined in the POGI. This plan should include an appropriate staffing pattern and a work plan/time frame.

Requirement for Past Performance References

Instead of Letters of Endorsement, USIA will use past performance as an indicator of an applicant's ability to successfully perform the work. Tab E of the proposal must contain between three and five references from recently completed or ongoing work performed for professional exchange programs (may include the IV program). The references must contain the information outlined below. Please note that the requirements for submission of past performance information also apply to all proposed subcontractors when the total estimated cost of the subcontract is over $100,000. At a minimum, the applicant will provide the following information for each reference: • Name of the referenced organization • Project name • Project description • Performance period of the contract/grant • Amount of the contract/grant • Technical contact person and telephone number for referenced organization • Administrative contact person and telephone number for referenced organization USIA may contact representatives from the organizations cited in the examples to obtain information on the applicant's past performance. USIA also may obtain past performance information from sources other than those identified by the applicant.

Personnel

Applicants must include complete and current resumes of the key personnel who will be involved in the program management, design and implementation of IV programs. Each resume is limited to two pages per person.

Guidelines

IV programs must maintain a non-partisan character. Programs and awards must conform to all USIA requirements and guidelines. Once the awards are made, USIA requires separate proposals for each group program [Single Country (SCP)*, Regional (RP)*, and Multi-Regional (MRP)*] as well as less formal proposals for Individual* and Individuals Traveling Together (ITT)* programs. At this time proposals are not required for Voluntary Visitor (VolVis)* programs. *(See POGI for program descriptions). Each program will focus on a substantive theme. Some broad IV program themes include: (1) U.S. government systems; (2) U.S. political system; (3) U.S. foreign policy; (4) economic development; (5) education and training; (6) media; (7) information technology; and (8) U.S. social concerns. Applicants should demonstrate the potential to develop the type of programs described below: • Programs must contain substantive meetings that focus on foreign policy goals and program objectives and are presented by experts. Meetings, site visits, and other program activities should promote dialogue between participants and their U.S. professional counterparts. Programs must be balanced to show different sides of an issue; • Most programs are 21 days in length and begin in Washington, DC, with an orientation and overview of the issues and a central examination of federal policies regarding these issues; • Well-paced program itineraries usually include visits to four or five other communities. Program itineraries ideally include urban and rural communities in diverse geographical and cultural regions of the U.S., as appropriate to the program theme; • Programs should provide opportunities for participants to experience the diversity of American society and culture. Depending on the size and theme of a large group program, the NPA can divide the participants into smaller sub-groups for simultaneous visits to different communities, with subsequent opportunities to share their experiences with the full group once it is reunited; • Programs may provide opportunities for the participants to share a meal or similar experience (home hospitality) in the homes of Americans of diverse occupational, age, gender and ethnic groups. Some individual and group programs might include an opportunity for an overnight stay (home stay) in an American home; • Programs should provide opportunities for participants to address student, civic and professional groups in relaxed and informal settings; • Participants should have appropriate opportunities for site visits and hands-on experiences that are relevant to program themes. The NPA may propose ``shadowing'' experiences with U.S. professional colleagues for some programs; Programs should also allow time for participants to reflect on their experiences and, in group programs, to share observations with program colleagues. Participants should have opportunities to visit cultural and tourist sites; and • The NPA must make arrangements for community visits through affiliates of the NCIV. In cities where there is no such Council, the applicant organizations will arrange for coordination of local programs. The applicants are expected to have a Washington, D.C. presence, e- mail capability, and access to Internet resources. USIA will provide close coordination and guidance throughout the duration of the awards.