FY18 Western Hemisphere NOFO.pdf

Department of State

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Notice of Funding Opportunity

(NOFO): FY 2018 Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student Leaders from the Western

Hemisphere

Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement

Funding Opportunity Number: ECA-ECAAE-18-011

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.009

Application Deadline: January 11, 2018

Executive Summary: The Study of the U. S. Branch (ECA/A/E/USS), Office of

Academic Exchange Programs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), invites proposal submissions from accredited U.S. post-secondary education institutions

(community colleges, liberal arts colleges, public and private universities) and other U.S.

public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal

Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3) (see section C. Eligibility Information) for the design and implementation of five (5) Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSIs) for Student

Leaders from the Western Hemisphere to take place over the course of five weeks beginning in June 2018, pending the availability of FY 2018 funds. Each Institute should focus on one of the following three themes: Public Policymaking (1 Institute); Social

Entrepreneurship (2 Institutes); or Women’s Leadership (2 Institutes). More information on the themes can be found in A.2. Institute Themes. Four Institutes will be conducted entirely in Spanish, and one Institute will be conducted in English. See details in section

A.3. Program Administration.

Each academic Institute will be five weeks in duration, which will include an approximately four-week academic residency at an academic institution and approximately one week on an integrated educational study tour, and should be organized for a group of 20 undergraduate students from the Western Hemisphere, primarily from indigenous, Afro-Latino, and underserved communities. The academic residency on a

U.S. university or college campus should also include community service activities, leadership development sessions, and opportunities for interaction with American peers.

The one-week study tour to another region of the United States should complement the academic residency. All programs will conclude in Washington D.C. with a stay of two to four days, including a one-day event (one in summer and one in winter), that will bring together participants in the concurrent Institutes. Three programs will take place in summer 2018 and two in winter 2019. See details in A.4. Participants.

The award recipient will be responsible for planning and implementing the program including the oversight and coordination of all five Institutes and the oversight and management of performance of all subaward recipients under the award. Applicants may submit only one proposal under this competition. If multiple proposals are received from the same applicant, all submissions will be declared ineligible and receive no further consideration in the review process. The awarding of cooperative agreements for these programs is contingent upon the availability of FY 2018 funds. The awarding of the non-competitive continuations in FY 2019 and FY 2020 is contingent on the availability of funding and successful performance.

It is ECA’s intent to award one (1) cooperative agreement (one base year plus two non-competitive continuations) for an estimated total amount of $4,500,000, pending availability of funds and successful performance. Please see section B. Federal Award

Information below for additional details. ECA reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase proposal budgets, participant numbers, and the number of Institutes based on program needs and the availability of U.S. government funding.

A. Program Description:

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.” The funding authority for the program above is provided through legislation.

A.1. Purpose: Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student Leaders are intensive academic programs that provide groups of foreign undergraduate students with a deeper understanding of U.S. society, culture, and institutions. Institutes include academic sessions, an integrated study tour, leadership training, community service activities, and opportunities to interact with a wide range of Americans.

The principal objective of the Institutes is to provide foreign student leaders an in-depth examination of a specific field of study, while also heightening their awareness of the history and evolution of U.S. society, culture, values, and institutions, broadly defined.

The Institutes should address the influence of principles and values such as democracy, the rule of law, individual rights, freedom of expression, equality, diversity, and tolerance, and should also incorporate a focus on contemporary American life.

Each program should be five weeks in length; participants should spend approximately four weeks at an academic institution and approximately seven days on an integrated educational study tour, including two to four days in Washington, D.C. The program should include a one-day event that will bring together up to 60 participants in summer and up to 40 participants in winter from the concurrent Study of the U.S. Institutes for

Student Leaders from the Western Hemisphere. The event will be planned in conjunction with the ECA program officer for this grant. It will consist of speakers from the

Department of State, participants’ final presentations and debriefings with participants.

The academic program should include group discussions, experiential learning activities, and exercises that focus on the theme and include aspects of leadership, teambuilding, collective problem-solving skills, effective communication, and management skills.

Therefore, participants should gain both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

Institutes should also include a community service component in which the students participate in volunteer service and experience firsthand how not-for-profit organizations and volunteerism play a key role in U.S. civil society.

All programs should foster ECA’s mission to promote mutual understanding between citizens of other countries and citizens of the United States. Thus, the programs should include robust opportunities for participants to meet Americans from a variety of backgrounds, to interact with their U.S. peers, and to speak to appropriate student and civic groups about their experiences and life in their home countries. Please see the

Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI) document for more information.

A.2. Institute Themes:

All Institutes should aim to enhance participants’ knowledge of U.S. history, government, institutions, society, and culture. In this context, the Institutes should incorporate a focus on American historical events as well as contemporary American life including current political, social, and economic debates in a pluralistic society.

a) The Study of the U.S. Institute for Student Leaders on Public Policymaking will provide participants with an overview of the U.S. Federalist system of government as well as the role of non-governmental institutions such as civic organizations, the media, and the private sector in the creation of U.S. public policy and supporting effective democracies. Discussions will explore the responsibilities of local and state government, as well as the three branches of the U.S. government, the system of checks and balances, and the role of local and state governments in leading and innovating in various policy areas. Topics such as public finance, rule of law and democratic governance, education, public health, citizen security, and foreign policy will be included. One Institute on this theme is planned for summer 2018; see Section A. 4 for more details.

b) The Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student Leaders on Social Entrepreneurship will provide participants with an overview of how entrepreneurial skills can address social issues. The Institute should review the development, history, challenges, and successes of social enterprises and community leaders, in the United States and globally.

The Institute should give participants a foundation in how to employ entrepreneurial skills to address social issues and will provide unique opportunities to meet with diverse community leaders and social entrepreneurs. The Institute will address topics such as:

organizational development and management, business ethics, negotiations, emerging markets and risk analysis, microfinance, corporate social responsibility, strategic business planning and innovation, and women and minorities in entrepreneurship. Two Institutes are planned on this theme, one in summer 2018 and one in winter 2019. See Section A. 4 for more details.

c) Study of the U.S. Institutes on Women’s Leadership for Indigenous and Afro-

Latina Women will provide participants with an overview of the history and contributions of diverse women in public life in the United States to promote effective democracies. The Institute will focus on two major areas: (1) Developing participants’ leadership skills in areas such as critical thinking, communication, decision-making, and political advocacy; and, (2) Placing these abilities in the context of the history and participation of diverse women in U.S. politics, economics, culture, and society. The

Institutes should examine the historical domestic progress towards women’s equality in the United States, the current domestic successes and challenges to women in a variety of fields, and current challenges in global women’s issues, especially issues related to indigenous and Afro-Latina women. Participants in these programs will all be female.

Two Institutes are planned on this theme, one in summer 2018 and one in winter 2019.

See Section A. 4 for more details.

Each Institute will host approximately 20 participants, for a total of approximately 60 foreign undergraduate students in summer and 40 foreign undergraduate students in winter. One cooperative agreement of up to $1,500,000 will support the program in the

FY 2018 base year.

A.3. Program Administration: ECA is seeking detailed proposals from accredited post-secondary U.S. higher education institutions (community colleges, liberal arts colleges, public and private universities) and other U.S. public and private non-profit organizations with established reputations in a field or discipline related to the specific program theme and meeting the eligibility requirements outlined under section C. below.

ECA intends to issue one cooperative agreement for the administration and implementation of five Institutes. The recipient may propose to administer all five

Institutes through sub-awards or may propose to implement up to two of the five

Institutes and administer sub-awards to two host institutions to conduct the remaining three Institutes. No institution will be permitted to host more than two programs in one fiscal year.

All proposals should demonstrate thematic expertise, as well as any regional expertise, if applicable. Participating countries and regions will be determined by ECA, in coordination with Fulbright Commissions, the Public Affairs Sections at U.S. embassies abroad and Regional Bureau.

ECA reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase proposal budgets, participant numbers, and the number of Institutes based on program needs and the availability of U.S. government funding.

A.4. Participants: ECA anticipates that participation in the five Institutes will be organized as follows:

Summer Institutes in 2018

1) Public Policymaking: Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador -conducted in Spanish

2) Social Entrepreneurship: Colombia, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Haiti

(Spanish Speakers), Panama and Venezuela - conducted in Spanish

3) Women’s Leadership: Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia, Nicaragua, Costa Rica - conducted in Spanish

Winter Institutes in 2019

1) Social Entrepreneurship: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay - conducted in

English

2) Women’s Leadership: Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Uruguay - conducted in

Spanish

Please note: ECA reserves the right to amend or modify the list of participating countries should conditions change in the nominating country or if other countries are identified as U.S. priorities or for other reasons.

Please see the Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI) document for more information on participants.

A.5. Program dates: Pending the availability of FY 2018 funds, the anticipated award date for this Cooperative Agreement will be on or about April 15, 2018. All Institutes should last approximately 36 days (including arrival and departure days). Three

Institutes for twenty participants each will take place in summer 2018 while an additional two programs for twenty participants each will be conducted in winter 2019. Summer

Institutes should begin on the same date and no sooner than June 1, 2018, and should conclude no later than August 15, 2018. Winter Institutes should begin on the same date and no sooner than January 2, 2019 and should conclude no later than March 31, 2019.

A.6. Program Guidelines: The award recipient is responsible for the conception, structure, and monitoring of all five Institutes. Proposals must provide a detailed and comprehensive narrative describing objectives of the Institute; the title, scope, and content of each session; planned site visits, and how each session relates to the overall

Institute theme. Proposals must include syllabi for each program indicating the subject matter for each lecture, panel, discussion, group presentation, or other activity. Syllabi should also confirm or provisionally identify proposed speakers, panelists, and session leaders, and clearly show how assigned readings will advance the goals of each Institute.

For the one-day conference, applicants should propose a unifying theme and agenda for all participants.

Please see section D. Application and Submission Information for application submission requirements. Proposals will be reviewed on the basis of their responsiveness to the six review criteria listed in this NOFO. The accompanying POGI provides program-specific guidelines that all proposals must address fully.

Please note: In a Cooperative Agreement, the Study of the U.S. Branch (ECA/A/E/USS) is substantially involved in program activities above and beyond routine monitoring. The

Branch may request that the award recipient make modifications to the academic residency and/or educational travel components of the program. The award recipient will be required to obtain approval of significant program changes in advance of their implementation. These activities and the roles and responsibilities of the Department and the recipient are outlined in the attached POGI.

Proposal narratives should include a brief commitment to implement the program for the base year, plus two additional non-competitive continuations, pending successful performance and the availability of funds. The narrative should focus on details specific to the implementation of the base year program, with the understanding that the program design, duration, and participant numbers would be similar when/if the subsequent two non-competitive continuation years are exercised. ECA will perform an annual performance evaluation/review to determine if a non-competitive continuation will be exercised. Satisfactory performance and the availability of funds is a condition of continued administration of the program and execution of all non-competitive continuation years.

B. Federal Award Information:

Award Information:

Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement: ECA’s level of involvement in this program is listed under section A. Program Description above.

Fiscal Year Funds: 2018-base year, up to $1,500,000, pending the availability of funds;

2019-non-competitive continuation year one, up to $1,500,000, pending successful performance and the availability of funds; 2020-non-competitive continuation year two, up to $1,500,000, pending successful performance and the availability of funds.

Approximate Total Funding: $4,500,000 - This figure represents base year plus two non-competitive continuation years, pending successful performance and the availability of funds.

Approximate Number of Awards: One

Floor of Award Range: None

Ceiling of Award Range: $1,500,000 for FY 2018 base year (or $4,500,000 for the base year plus two non-competitive continuation years)

Approximate Average Award: $1,500,000 for FY 2018 base year (or $4,500,000 for the base year plus two non-competitive continuation years)

Anticipated Award Date: April 15, 2018, pending the availability of FY2018 funds

Anticipated Project Completion Date: September 30, 2021. This date reflects the anticipated duration of the award – one base year plus two non-competitive continuation years.

Additional Information: Cooperative Agreements will be awarded for a period of 12 months (base year) with non-competitive continuations for a second and third period of

12 and 18 months, respectively, to ensure adequate time for post-Institute follow-on activities. ECA will notify the recipient of its intention to exercise or not to exercise a non-competitive continuation at least 90 days in advance of expiration of the current year after an internal evaluation of the recipient’s performance. The decision to exercise a non-competitive continuation will depend both on the satisfactory performance of the recipient and the availability of funds.

C. Eligibility Information:

C. 1. Eligible applicants: Applications may be submitted by U.S. post-secondary education institutions (community colleges, liberal arts colleges, public and private universities) and other U.S. public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3).

C. 2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds: There is no minimum or maximum percentage required for this competition. However, ECA encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in support of its programs.

When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its proposal and later included in an approved 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 which 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 in-kind contributions must be in accordance with the Office of Management and Budget’s Guidance 2 CFR

Parts 200 and 600, entitled the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. In the event you do not provide the minimum amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget, ECA's contribution will be reduced in like proportion.

C. 3. Other Eligibility Requirements:

1. Experience in Conducting International Exchange: ECA grant guidelines require that organizations with less than four years of experience in conducting international exchanges be limited to $130,000 in ECA funding. ECA anticipates making one award, in an amount up to $1,500,000 per year to support program and administrative costs required to implement this exchange programs. Therefore, organizations with less than four years of experience in conducting international exchanges are ineligible to apply under this competition.

2. Technical Eligibility: All proposals must comply with the following or they will result in your proposal being declared technically ineligible and given no further consideration in the review process. It is ECA’s intent to award one (1) cooperative agreement to one applicant organization to administer a total of five (5) Institutes under this competition. ECA reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase proposal budgets, participant numbers, and the number of institutes based on program needs and the availability of U.S. government funding

Eligible applicants may not submit more than one proposal in this competition. If more than one proposal is received from the same applicant, all submissions will be declared technically ineligible and will receive no further consideration in the review process.

Please note: Applicant organizations are defined by their legal name, and EIN number as stated on their completed SF-424 and additional supporting documentation outlined in the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document.

D. Application and Submission Information:

Note: Please read the complete announcement before sending inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the NOFO deadline has passed, ECA staff may not discuss this competition with applicants until the proposal review process has been completed.

D. 1. Contact Information to Request an Application Package: In the event an applicant cannot obtain an electronic application package from Grants.gov, please contact

José Marrero, Program Officer, Study of the U.S. Branch, ECA/A/E/USS, SA-5, Fourth

Floor, U.S. Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037, MarreroJA@state.gov, 202-632-3337 to request a Solicitation Package.

The Solicitation Package contains the Proposal Submission Instruction (PSI) document which consists of required application forms, and standard guidelines for proposal preparation.

It also contains the Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI) document, which provides specific information, award criteria, and budget instructions tailored to this competition. ECA/A/E/USS also provides a sample budget in Microsoft Excel format. You may request that template in editable format by contacting Program Officer

José Marrero at MarreroJA@state.gov.

Please specify José Marrero and refer to the Funding Opportunity Number located at the top of this announcement on all other inquiries and correspondence.

D. 2. To Download a Solicitation Package Via Internet:

The entire Solicitation Package may be downloaded from the ECA's website at http://eca.state.gov/organizational-funding or from the Grants.gov website at http://www.grants.gov.

Please read all information before downloading.

D.2a. Content and Form of Submission: Applicants must follow all instructions in the

Solicitation Package. The application should be submitted per the instructions under section D.3p. “Application Deadline and Method of Submission” below.

D.3a. UEI Number: You are required to have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) 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 UEI number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a UEI number, access http://www.dnb.com or call 1-866-705-5711. Please ensure that your UEI (DUNS) number is included in the appropriate box of the SF – 424 which is part of the formal application package. For more detailed instructions for obtaining a UEI (DUNS) number, http://eca.state.gov/organizational-funding http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.dnb.com/ refer to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html.

D.3b. Required Proposal Elements: All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal narrative and budget. Please Refer to the Solicitation Package. It contains the mandatory Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document and the Project

Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI) for additional formatting and technical requirements.

D.3c. Required Registrations with the System for Award Management (SAM): All federal award applicants must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database in order to submit a proposal in response to an open competition on Grants.gov.

All federal award recipients must maintain current registrations in the SAM database.

Recipients must maintain accurate and up-to-date information in www.SAM.gov until all program and financial activity and reporting have been completed. Recipients must review and update the information at least annually after the initial registration and more frequently if required information changes or another award is granted. Failure to register in SAM will render applicants ineligible to receive funding. For more detailed instructions for registering with SAM, refer to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html.

D.3d. Non-Profit Status: You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of application. Please note: All applicants for ECA federal assistance awards must include in their application the names of directors and/or senior executives (current officers, trustees, and key employees, regardless of amount of compensation). In fulfilling this requirement, applicants must submit information in one of the following ways:

1) Those who file Internal Revenue Service Form 990, "Return of Organization

Exempt From Income Tax," must include a copy of relevant portions of this form.

2) Those who do not file IRS Form 990 must submit information above in the format of their choice.

D.3e. FFATA Report: In addition to final program reporting requirements, award recipients will also be required to submit a one-page document, derived from their program reports, listing and describing their grant activities. For award recipients, the names of directors and/or senior executives (current officers, trustees, and key employees), as well as the one- page description of grant activities, will be transmitted by the State Department to OMB, along with other information required by the Federal

Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), and will be made available to the public by the Office of Management and Budget on its USASpending.gov website as part of ECA’s FFATA reporting requirements.

D.3f. Verifying Non-Profit Status: 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 https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html http://www.sam.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html 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.

D.3g. GrantSolutions: All ECA awards recipient organizations must be registered with

GrantSolutions by accessing www.GrantSolutions.gov. To register as a first time user of

GrantSolutions, please scroll to the bottom of the home page and click “Getting Started-

Request a User Account” at http://home.grantsolutions.gov/home/home/customer-support/getting-started/. Organizations that have previously used GrantSolutions do not need to register again. If the organization is not able to access the system, please contact

GrantSolutions.gov Help Desk for help in gaining access.

Support for Grantee Organizations is available from 8 AM – 6 PM Washington, DC time, Monday – Friday and can be reached at help@grantsolutions.gov or 1-866-577-0771.

Please take into consideration the following information when preparing your proposal narrative:

D.3h. Adherence to All Regulations Governing the J Visa: The Bureau of

Educational and Cultural Affairs places critically important emphases on the security and proper administration of the Exchange Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence by award recipients and sponsors to all regulations governing the J visa. Therefore, proposals should demonstrate the applicant's capacity to meet all requirements governing the administration of the Exchange Visitor Programs as set forth in 22 CFR 62, including the oversight of Alternate Responsible Officers, provision of pre-arrival information and orientation to participants, monitoring of participants, proper maintenance and security of forms, record-keeping, reporting and other requirements.

The award recipient will be responsible for issuing DS-2019 forms to participants in this program. A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of Exchange

Visitor (J) programs is available at http://j1visa.state.gov or from:

Office of Designation, Private Sector Programs Division

U.S. Department of State

SA-44, Suite 668

301 4 th

Street, SW

Washington, DC 20547

Please refer to Solicitation Package for further information.

D.3i. Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines: Pursuant to ECA’s authorizing legislation, programs must maintain a non-political character and should be balanced and representative of the diversity of political, social and cultural life in the United States and abroad. ‘Diversity’ should be interpreted in the broadest sense and encompass differences including race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. Proposals should http://www.grantsolutions.gov/ http://home.grantsolutions.gov/home/home/customer-support/getting-started/ http://home.grantsolutions.gov/home/home/customer-support/getting-started/ mailto:help@grantsolutions.gov demonstrate how diversity will enhance the program’s goals and objectives and the participants’ exchange experience. Please refer to the review criteria under the ‘Support of Diversity’ section of this document as well as the DIVERSITY, FREEDOM AND

DEMOCRACY section in the “Proposal Submission Instructions” document 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,” ECA

“shall take appropriate steps to provide opportunities for participation in such programs to human rights and democracy leaders of such countries.” Public Law 106 - 113 requires that the governments of the countries described above do not have inappropriate influence in the selection process. Proposals should reflect advancement of these goals in their program contents, to the full extent deemed feasible.

D.3j. Program Monitoring and Evaluation: Proposals must include a plan to monitor and evaluate the project’s success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of the program. ECA recommends that your proposal include a draft survey questionnaire or other technique plus a description of a methodology to use to link outcomes to original project objectives. ECA expects that the recipient organization will track participants or partners and be able to respond to key evaluation questions, including satisfaction with the program, learning as a result of the program, changes in behavior as a result of the program, and effects of the program on institutions (institutions in which participants work or partner institutions). The evaluation plan should include indicators that measure gains in mutual understanding as well as substantive knowledge.

Successful monitoring and evaluation depend heavily on setting clear goals and outcomes at the outset of a program. Your evaluation plan should include a description of your project’s objectives, your anticipated project outcomes, and how and when you intend to measure these outcomes (performance indicators). The more that outcomes are “smart”

(specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and placed in a reasonable time frame), the easier it will be to conduct the evaluation. You should also show how your project objectives link to the goals of the program described in this NOFO.

Your monitoring and evaluation plan should clearly distinguish between program outputs and outcomes. Outputs are products and services delivered, often stated as an amount.

Output information is important to show the scope or size of project activities, but it cannot substitute for information about progress towards outcomes or the results achieved. Examples of outputs include the number of people trained or the number of seminars conducted. Outcomes, in contrast, represent specific results a project is intended to achieve and is usually measured as an extent of change. Findings on outputs and outcomes should both be reported, but the focus should be on outcomes.

We encourage you to assess the following four levels of outcomes, as they relate to the program goals set out in the NOFO (listed here in increasing order of importance):

1. Participant satisfaction with the program and exchange experience.

2. Participant learning, such as increased knowledge, aptitude, skills, and changed understanding and attitude. Learning includes both substantive (subject-specific) learning and mutual understanding.

3. Participant behavior, such as concrete actions to apply knowledge in work or community; greater participation and responsibility in civic organizations;

interpretation and explanation of experiences and new knowledge gained;

continued contacts between participants, community members, and others.

4. Institutional changes, such as increased collaboration and partnerships, policy reforms, new programming, and organizational improvements.

Please note: Consideration should be given to the appropriate timing of data collection for each level of outcome. For example, satisfaction is usually captured as a short-term outcome, whereas behavior and institutional changes are normally considered longer-term outcomes.

Overall, the quality of your monitoring and evaluation plan will be judged on how well it

1) specifies intended outcomes; 2) gives clear descriptions of how each outcome will be measured; 3) identifies when particular outcomes will be measured; and 4) provides a clear description of the data collection strategies for each outcome (i.e., surveys, interviews, or focus groups). (Please note that evaluation plans that deal only with the first level of outcomes [satisfaction] will be deemed less competitive under the present evaluation criteria.)

Recipient organizations will be required to provide reports analyzing their evaluation findings to ECA in their regular program reports. All data collected, including survey responses and contact information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years and provided to ECA upon request.

D.3k. Virtual Exchange Component: ECA welcomes innovative ideas on how organizations can leverage appropriate mobile and/or online technologies to maintain engagement among exchange participants, encourage project collaboration and widen participation in the overall project to a broader audience. ECA strongly encourages organizations submitting proposals in response to this solicitation to suggest one or more virtual exchange components to complement the in-person exchange. The virtual exchange component(s) could come before, during and/or after the physical exchange.

The objective for the virtual exchange component(s), defined as technology-enabled, sustainable, people-to-people, cross-cultural exchanges, is to augment the impact of the in-person exchange described in this solicitation. ECA encourages organizations to propose virtual exchange ideas that take advantage of ECA’s existing web and social networking platforms, including our International Exchange Alumni space. Virtual exchange components would be coordinated with and approved by the ECA program office and U.S. missions abroad on a project by project basis.

D.3l. Communications Guidance for ECA Grant Recipients: All ECA Grant

Recipients must adhere to the requirements in ECA’s Communications Guidance on the creation of program branding and attribution, websites, social media, and press.

https://alumni.state.gov/ https://eca.state.gov/comms-guidance

D.3m. Please take the following information into consideration when preparing your budget:

D.3n. Applicants must submit SF-424A – “Budget Information – Non-Construction

Programs” along with a comprehensive budget for the entire program. There must be a summary budget as well as breakdowns reflecting both administrative and program budgets. Applicants must provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase, location, or activity to provide clarification.

For competitions that will be renewed through a Non-Competitive Continuation applicants must submit:

1. the SF-424A which must include the budget request amount for the base-year of the program;

2. a detailed proposal narrative and budget for the base year of funding (Please refer to the Proposal Submission Instruction Document (PSI) for general budget guidance.). The narrative should also include a brief commitment to implement the program for the base year, plus two additional non-competitive continuation years, pending successful program performance and availability of funds; and

3. an abbreviated/estimated summary budget presenting the total projected administrative and program costs for the anticipated total duration of programming (base year, plus two non-competitive continuation years).

To exercise the Non-Competitive Continuation mechanism the recipient will be required to submit:

1. timely quarterly performance and financial reports;

2. a request in writing to ECA at least 90 days in advance of the expiration of the current program year;

3. a summary budget that projects program expenses through the end of the current year;

4. a detailed budget outlining both administrative and program expenses for the requested non-competitive continuation year; and

5. a brief narrative to support the continuation of the award.

The ECA Grants Officer and Program Officer will:

1. closely monitor the recipient’s performance through site visits, desk audits, mandatory quarterly performance and financial reports, consultations, and other forms of communication and dialogue before exercising additional non-competitive continuations. (Additional details regarding monitoring and oversight of the program by ECA representatives will be provided at the time the base-year award is made.)

2. review and evaluate all mandatory quarterly program and financial reports;

i. All program and financial reporting requirements must be current and up-to-date before ECA will exercise additional non-competitive continuations.

ii. Any/all concerns, issues, or modifications requested by the Grants Officer or Program Officer to the original program design or method of implementation must be responded to in writing.

iii. The ECA Grants Officer and Program Officer will review and advise of

ECA’s approval or disapproval of the response before issuing subsequent non-competitive continuations.

3. Prior Grants Officer approval is required to carry forward an unobligated balance from a prior funding period to the subsequent funding period. If the Grants

Officer determines that some or all of the unobligated funds are not necessary to perform the program activity, the Grants Officer may decline the Recipient’s request to carry forward the unobligated balance.

The Grants Officer may, at their discretion, use the unobligated balance to reduce or offset future funding for a subsequent funding period. An unobligated balance at the end of a funding period is not sufficient justification to carry forward funds.

A final determination and approval to carry forward any funds will be communicated via a cost amendment with adjustment, if any, to new obligation amounts.

i. The request to carry forward an unobligated balance must include:

a. A brief narrative why funds remain unobligated and how the unobligated funds will be used to complete the previously approved goals and objectives of the program; and,

b. A detailed budget that reflects the amount of unobligated funds to date, and anticipated expenditures in the subsequent period of performance for all cost categories under the authorized budget.

D.3o. Allowable Costs: Please refer to section F.2. of this document for information on allowable costs. Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget guidelines and formatting instructions.

D.3p. Application Deadline and Method of Submission:

Application Deadline Date: Thursday, January 11, 2018

Method of Submission:

Applications may only be submitted electronically through Grants.gov

(http://www.grants.gov). Complete solicitation packages are available at Grants.gov in the “Search Grants” portion of the system.

D.3q. Grants.gov Registration, Application Submission, and Receipt Procedures:

Eligible organizations should follow the instructions available in the ‘Get Started’ portion of the site (http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html).

D.3r. How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov: Applicants should read instructions carefully and prepare the information requested before beginning the http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html registration process. Reviewing and assembling the required information before beginning the registration process will alleviate last-minute searches for required information.

The registration process can take up to four weeks to complete. Therefore, registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact your ability to meet required application submission deadlines. Applicants should check with appropriate staff within their organizations immediately after reviewing this NOFO to confirm or determine their registration status with Grants.gov. Organization applicants can find complete instructions here: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html

D.3s. How to Submit an Application to ECA via Grants.gov: For access to complete instruction on how to apply for Notice of Funding Opportunities on Grants.gov, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html

D.3t. Grants.gov Support and Submission Issues: Direct all questions regarding

Grants.gov registration and submission issues to:

Grants.gov Customer Support

Contact Center Phone: 800 -518-4726

Business Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; closed on federal holidays

Email: support@grants.gov

D.3u. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission: Applicants have until midnight (12:00 a.m.), Washington, DC time of the closing date to ensure that their entire application has been uploaded to the Grants.gov site. There are no exceptions to the above deadline. Applications uploaded to the site after midnight of the application deadline date will be automatically rejected by the Grants.gov system, and will be technically ineligible.

Therefore, we strongly recommend that you not wait until the application deadline to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.

Proof of timely submission is automatically recorded by Grants.gov. An electronic date/time stamp is generated within the system when the application is successfully received by Grants.gov. The applicant AOR will receive an acknowledgement of receipt and a tracking number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) from Grants.gov with the successful transmission of their application. Applicant AORs will also receive the official date/time stamp and Grants.gov Tracking number in an email serving as proof of their timely submission.

When ECA successfully retrieves the application from Grants.gov and acknowledges the download of submissions, Grants.gov will provide an electronic acknowledgement of receipt of the application to the email address of the applicant with the AOR role. Again, https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html mailto:support@grants.gov proof of timely submission shall be the official date and time that Grants.gov receives your application.

Applicants using slow internet, such as dial-up connections, should be aware that transmission can take some time before Grants.gov receives your application. Grants.gov will provide either an error or a successfully received transmission in the form of an email sent to the applicant with the AOR role. The Grants.gov Support Center reports that some applicants end the transmission because they think that nothing is occurring during the transmission process. Please be patient and give the system time to process the application.

The Grants.gov website includes extensive information on all phases/aspects of the

Grants.gov process, including an extensive section on frequently asked questions, located under the "Applicant FAQs" section of the website. ECA strongly recommends that all potential applicants review thoroughly the Grants.gov website, well in advance of submitting a proposal through the Grants.gov system. ECA will not notify you upon receipt of electronic applications.

PLEASE NOTE: ECA bears no responsibility for applicant timeliness of submission or data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes for proposals submitted via Grants.gov.

It is the responsibility of all applicants submitting proposals via the Grants.gov web portal to ensure that proposals have been received by Grants.gov in their entirety, and ECA bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.

D.3v. Intergovernmental Review of Applications: Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.

E. Application Review Information:

ECA will review all proposals for technical eligibility. Proposals will be deemed ineligible if they do not fully adhere to the guidelines stated herein and in the Solicitation

Package. All eligible proposals will be reviewed by the program office, as well as the

Public Diplomacy section overseas and State Department regional bureaus, where appropriate. Eligible proposals will be subject to compliance with Federal and ECA regulations and guidelines and forwarded to the ECA grant panels for advisory review.

Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of the Legal Adviser or by other

Department elements. All awards will be assessed for risk prior to their issuance. Final funding decisions are at the discretion of the Department of State’s Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final technical authority for assistance awards resides with the ECA Grants Officer.

E.1. Review Criteria: Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are not rank ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation:

1. Quality of Program Plan and Ability to Achieve Program Objectives:

Proposals should exhibit originality and clearly demonstrate how the Institute will meet the objectives laid out in this solicitation. A detailed itinerary and staff work plan should demonstrate substantive undertakings and logistical capacity. Activities should be reasonable, feasible, and form a coherent program for participant exploration of the topic. Competitive proposals will clearly promote ECA’s mission: to foster mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries to promote friendly and peaceful relations.

2. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive support of

ECA’s diversity policy. Proposals should demonstrate how diversity will be achieved in the different aspects of program design and implementation, and how diversity will enhance the program’s goals and objectives. It is important that proposals have a clearly articulated diversity plan and not simply express general support for the concept of diversity. Proposals should also indicate how reasonable accommodations for participant needs, including disability accommodations, will be implemented.

3. Project Evaluation: As explained in section D.3j. Program Monitoring and

Evaluation, proposals should include a plan to evaluate the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of the program. A draft survey questionnaire or other technique plus description of a methodology to use to link outcomes to original project objectives are recommended.

4. Cost-effectiveness/Cost-sharing: The overhead and administrative components of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be kept as low as possible. All other items should be necessary and appropriate.

Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through other private sector support, as well as institutional direct funding contributions.

5. Institutional Track Record/Ability: Proposals should demonstrate an institutional record of successful exchange programs (past exchange programs need not have been ECA funded). ECA will consider the past performance of prior recipients including responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting requirements for past ECA awards (grants or cooperative agreements) as determined by ECA Grants Staff. ECA will consider the demonstrated potential of new applicants. Proposed personnel and institutional resources should be fully qualified to achieve the project’s goals.

6. Follow-on Activities: Proposals should discuss provisions made for follow-up with returned participants as a means of establishing longer-term individual and…