EducationUSA Standardized Test Prep Courses Call for Proposal.pdf

Department of State – Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City

Program Office: Public Affairs Section, HCMC U.S. Consulate General

Funding Opportunity Title: EducationUSA Standardized Test Prep Courses 2017

Announcement Type: Grant or Cooperative Agreement

Funding Opportunity Number: SVM700-17-PAS-003

Deadline for Applications: Sunday, April 2 nd

, 2017 (11:59 p.m.)

CFDA Number: 19.432 - Academic Exchange Programs - Educational

Advising and Student Services

CONTACT INFORMATION

For assistance with the requirements of this solicitation, contact HCMCGrants@state.gov.

SUMMARY

This document contains detailed instructions and information about the grants proposal process.

Please read it carefully.

All applicants must submit proposals via email to HCMCGrants@state.gov. We will respond to complete proposals within 30 days for either a determination of funding or with a request for additional information. The successful proposal will deliver the targeted experience to the participants with a total program budget not to exceed $15,000. Grant projects generally must be completed in one year. Please submit your proposal including Budget details.

If the proposal is approved, all first-time grantees must submit the following:

1. Standard Forms SF424 (for Organizations) OR SF424I (for Individuals) and SF424A, SF424B

2. A DUNS number

All grantees who have previously received a U.S. Government grant must additionally submit:

1. Proof of SAM and NCAGE registration.

Registration for SAM and NGACE can take up to four weeks. Please plan accordingly.

Due to the volume of applicants and inquiries, Public Affairs Section does not accept requests for meetings or phone calls prior to application.

mailto:HCMCGrants@state.gov mailto:HCMCGrants@state.gov

Contents

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

B. ELIGIBILITY ENTITY

C. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

D. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

E. OTHER INFORMATION

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City requests proposals applying for a grant award to manage the EducationUSA Standardized Test Prep

Courses. The courses will be held from June to August 2017.

The EducationUSA Test Prep Course objective is to improve Vietnamese student applications to

U.S. undergraduate and graduate programs by developing the skills and knowledge needed to maximize their standardized test scores.

The program will be comprised of a 10-week prep class in SAT and GRE for Vietnamese learners (age 16-35 years old). The classes will take place twice a week in the evenings at the grantee’s venue. Each class will have 20 students maximum. The Opening Ceremony, Mid-Term

Review and Awards Ceremony will take place at the American Center, U.S. Consulate General, Ho Chi Minh City.

EducationUSA is a U.S. Department of State network of over 400 international student advising centers in more than 170 countries. The network promotes U.S. higher education to students around the world, informing them about opportunities to study at accredited postsecondary institutions in the United States. EducationUSA also provides services to the U.S. higher education community to help institutional leaders meet their recruitment and campus internationalization goals.

B. ELIGIBILITY ENTITY

Submissions are encouraged from U.S. and Vietnam individuals and organizations registered not-for-profit, for-profit, non-governmental organizations, and educational institutions with relevant programming experience. This experience should be documented in the organization’s proposal.

Previous federal award recipients who are not/were not in compliance with the terms of their financial and program reporting requirements are ineligible to apply. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure they are in compliance with all applicable terms, conditions, and Office of Management and Budget guidance and requirements. Those organizations found to be in non-compliance may be found ineligible for funding or designated high risk if selected for funding.

C. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

PAS will review the proposal to determine whether it meets eligibility requirements and analyze the proposal against each of the criteria noted below:

Design and implement a ten-week test prep course in SAT (advance level) and GRE

(intermediate to advance level). The proposal must include a budget, course overview and structure, teachers’ profile, and marketing strategies.

Administer placement tests for all applicants.

Provide course materials for students.

Administer final exams after the courses.

Provide post-course feedback on students’ performance.

Total program budget not to exceed $15,000.

D. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

Federal Award Notices As described in Section E above, the successful applicant will be notified via email that its proposal has been selected to move forward in the review process; this email IS NOT an authorization to begin performance. The notice of Federal award signed by the grants officer (or equivalent) is the authorizing document. It shall be written, signed, awarded, and administered by the Grants Officer. The Grants Officer is the Government Official delegated the authority by the U.S. Department of State Procurement Executive to write, award, and administer grants and cooperative agreements. The assistance award agreement is the authorizing document and it will be provided to the Recipient through email transmission. The recipient may only incur obligations against the award beginning on the start date outlined in the DS-1909 award document that has been signed by the Grants Officer. Organizations whose applications will not be funded will also be notified via email, usually within 30 days.

Issuance of this NOFO does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S.

government, nor does it commit the U.S. government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of proposals. Further, the U.S. government reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received. The U.S. government also reserves the right to make an award in excess of the award ceiling.

Terms and Conditions: Recipients will be held to the applicable terms and conditions found at https://www.statebuy.state.gov/fa/Pages/TermsandConditions.aspx.

It is the Recipient’s responsibility to ensure they are in compliance with all applicable terms, conditions, and OMB guidance and requirements. Those organizations found to be in non-compliance may be found ineligible for funding or designated high risk.

2 CFR 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Costs Principles, and Audit

Requirements for Federal Awards: All applicants must adhere to the regulations found in 2

CFR 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Costs Principles, and Audit Requirements for

Federal Awards.

Branding Requirements: As a condition of receipt of a grant award, all materials produced https://www.statebuy.state.gov/fa/Pages/TermsandConditions.aspx https://www.statebuy.state.gov/fa/Pages/TermsandConditions.aspx http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl pursuant to the award, including training materials, materials for recipients or materials to communicate or promote with foreign audiences a program, event, project, or some other activity under an agreement, including but not limited to invitations to events, press materials, and backdrops, podium signs, etc. must be marked appropriately with the standard, rectangular U.S.

flag in a size and prominence equal to (or greater than) any other logo or identity. Note:

Exceptions to the branding requirement are allowable under certain conditions. If an applicant is notified that their award has been chosen for funding, the Grants Officer will determine, in consultation with the applicant, if an exception is applicable.

Evaluation: In line with the Department of State’s Evaluation Policy, the U.S. Consulate

General, Public Affairs Section may include this award in its program evaluation efforts. When applicable and feasible, the Recipient shall cooperate with the Grants Officer (GO) and Grants

Officer Representative (GOR) requests to contribute data on specific performance measures and indicators; consider GO and GOR input on design and methodology of Recipient-led evaluation efforts; provide any evaluation reports produced under the award to the GO and GOR for review;

incorporate the project into any third-party evaluations that PAS may initiate.

Reporting Requirements

Progress and financial reports are due 30 days upon completion of the program. Final certified programmatic and financial reports are due 60 days after the close of the project period.

All reports are to be submitted electronically. Deviations from this timeline will be considered depending on the timing of the grant’s funding allocation.

Awardees that are deemed to be high risk may be required to submit more extensive and frequent reports until their high risk designation has been removed.

The Awardee must also provide the Consulate on an annual basis an inventory of all the U.S.

government provided equipment using the SF428 form.

Failure to comply with the reporting requirement may result in a loss of funds, and will adversely affect your ability to apply for future grants.

E. OTHER INFORMATION

Disclaimers

The Federal government is not obligated to make any Federal award as a result of the announcement. Issuance of this NOFO does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. government, nor does it commit the U.S. government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of proposals. Further, the U.S. government reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received. The U.S. government also reserves the right to make an award in excess of the award ceiling.

If a proposal is funded, the Department of State has no obligation to provide any additional future funding in connection with the award. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the total discretion of the Department of State.

This NOFO is subject to funds availability. Awards may be granted only if appropriated funds are allocated to the United States Consulate General by Department of State central budget authorities.

The Embassy recommends you review U.S. Department of State security guidance available on http://travel.state.gov.

Copyrights and Proprietary Information

If any of the information contained in your application is proprietary, please note in the footer of the appropriate pages that the information is Confidential – Proprietary. Applicants should also note what parts of the application, program, concept, etc. are covered by copyright(s), trademark(s), or any other intellectual property rights and provide copies of the relevant documentation to support these copyrights.

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