FY22 SUSI for Scholars_NOFO.pdf

Department of State

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

(NOFO): FY 2022 Study of the U.S. Institutes for Scholars

Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement

Funding Opportunity Number: SFOP0008498 Assistance Listing (formerly CFDA) Number: 19.401

Key Date/Application Deadline: February 22, 2022

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 (see section C. Eligibility Information) for the design and implementation of the

Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSIs) for Scholars to take place over the course of six weeks beginning no sooner than June 1, 2023, pending the availability of FY 2022 funds. See details in section A.4. Program Administration.

The Study of the U.S. Institutes for Scholars are graduate-level seminars held at U.S. academic institutions for groups of 18 foreign faculty, scholars, and practitioners. Each of the six Institutes focuses on a theme or topic in U.S. studies and will be six weeks in duration, including an approximately four-week academic residency at an academic institution and up to two weeks of an integrated educational study tour. The academic residency should take place on a U.S.

university or college campus and should include academic coursework, speakers from diverse backgrounds, time for independent research, and opportunities for interaction with American peers. The study tour should take scholars to another region of the United States and should complement the academic residency. All programs should include at least two days in

Washington D.C. The program should include opportunities for continued follow-on engagement once participants return home. Each of the six Institutes should be designed on one of the following themes: American Politics and Political Thought; Contemporary American

Literature; Journalism and Media; U.S. Culture, Identity, and Society; U.S. Economics and

Sustainable Development; and U.S. Foreign Policy. See details in section A.3. Institute Themes.

The award recipient will be responsible for planning and implementing the programs including the administration of all six Institutes and the oversight and management of subaward recipients under the award. Applicants may submit only one proposal under this competition. Only one proposal will be considered by ECA from each applicant organization. In cases where more than one submission from an applicant appears in grants.gov, ECA will only consider the submission made closest in time to the NOFO deadline; that submission would constitute the one and only proposal ECA would review from that applicant. The awarding of the non-competitive continuations in FY 2023 and FY 2024 is contingent on the availability of funding and successful performance.

It is the Bureau’s intent to award one (1) cooperative agreement (one base year plus two non-competitive continuation years) for an estimated total amount of $7,500,000, pending the 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 countries, the number of Institutes, Institute themes and sub-topics, and Institute formats 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 (SUSIs) for Scholars are intensive academic programs whose purpose is to provide foreign university faculty and other professionals the opportunity to deepen their understanding of U.S. society, culture, values, and institutions, broadly defined. The ultimate goal is to strengthen curricula and to improve the quality of teaching about the United States in academic institutions abroad.

A.2 Overview: The six Institutes – one each on American Politics and Political Thought;

Contemporary American Literature; Journalism and Media; U.S. Culture, Identity, and Society;

U.S. Economics and Sustainable Development; and U.S. Foreign Policy – should be six weeks in length; participants should spend a minimum of four weeks at the host institution and up to two weeks on an educational study tour, including at least two days in Washington, D.C. The educational travel component for all programs should directly complement the academic programs and should include visits to cities and other sites of interest in the region surrounding the host institution, as well as to another geographic region of the United States.

The academic program should include lectures, panels, seminar discussions, scholarly research presentations, site visits, opportunities to interact with American scholars and peers, academic and experiential learning activities that focus on the theme and include debates and, if possible, a scholar symposium. Institutes should encourage open and collaborative discussions and foster an inclusive environment by incorporating speakers and hosts from diverse backgrounds. Once participants return home, the program should include opportunities for continued follow-on engagement with their fellow SUSI scholar alumni. Activities could include, but are not limited to, small grants, webinars, workshops, collaborative publications, or other ways to continue building on the six-week SUSI experience.

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.

ECA’s goal is to conduct the SUSIs for Scholars in person in summer 2023. However, due to the

COVID-19 pandemic and its current impact on travel and university operations, it is unclear when existing travel restrictions and health advisories will allow for in-person program activities to take place. As such, proposals should include language that demonstrates maximum flexibility, creativity, and rapid response capability for program planning and administration.

Applicants should also ensure continuity of services should the current situation continue for an extended period of time. The applicant should present innovative options for virtual activities to augment, and/or substitute for, in-person engagement with all program stakeholders, if travel is not possible.

A.3. Institute Themes: All Institutes should aim to increase participants’ knowledge of the

United States in order to enhance their professional knowledge and scholarship and to improve courses they may teach on the United States in universities and other educational, training, and research institutions abroad. All Institutes should include a balance of speakers and perspectives with diverse viewpoints as well as other aspects of diversity. All Institutes will take place in the summer of 2023 and should start no earlier than June 1, 2023 and should conclude no later than

August 16, 2023.

a) The Study of the U.S. Institute on American Politics and Political Thought should provide a multinational group of 18 experienced foreign university faculty and practitioners insight into how intellectual and political movements have influenced modern American political institutions and American democracy. The Institute should also provide a deeper understanding of major currents in U.S. political thought from the colonial period to the present. It should explore the shaping of American identity and the intersection and interplay between that identity and U.S.

history, politics, and the democratic process. It should cover a broad range of American experiences that have influenced and been influenced by American national identity including, but not limited to, the colonial period, the constitutional founding, the Civil War, industrialization, the Great Depression, the Cold War, Civil Rights movements, immigration, media and technology, and elections and voting rights. Additional Institute sub-themes may include advancing anti-corruption, upholding the rule of law, and the protection of human rights.

The Institute should also use this lens to explore contemporary U.S. political and social debates and public policy, relating them back to the formation and development of U.S. political thought and American identity.

b) The Study of the U.S. Institute on Contemporary American Literature should provide a multinational group of up to 18 experienced foreign university faculty and practitioners with a deeper understanding of U.S. society and culture, past and present, through an examination of contemporary American (U.S.) literature. The Institute should explore contemporary American writers and writing in a variety of genres and suggest how the themes explored in those works reflect larger currents within contemporary U.S. society and culture. The program should explore the diverse communities and voices that constitute the American literary landscape, examining how major contemporary writers, schools and movements reflect the U.S. literary canon. The Institute should also expose participants to writers who are establishing new directions for American literature.

c) The Study of the U.S. Institute on Journalism and Media should provide a multinational group of 18 experienced and highly motivated foreign journalism instructors and other related specialists with a deeper understanding of the roles that journalism and the media play in U.S.

society. The Institute should also highlight the impact of technology in journalism, including the influence of the digital economy, globalization of the news media, and other changes that have transformed the profession. As such, the Institute should examine the role of journalists in recognizing and preventing disinformation and explore strategies for media and information literacy to counter disinformation. Additionally, the Institute should explore best practices in journalism by discussing the rights and responsibilities of the media in a democratic society, including editorial independence, journalistic ethics, legal constraints, and international journalism. Also, the Institute should examine pedagogical strategies for teaching students of journalism the basics of tradecraft: researching, critical thinking, reporting, interviewing, writing, and editing.

d) The Study of the U.S. Institute on U.S. Culture, Identity, and Society should provide a multinational group of 18 experienced and highly motivated foreign university faculty and other specialists with a deeper understanding of U.S. society, culture, values, identities, and institutions through the lens of diversity and national unity. The Institute should examine the ethnic, racial, social, economic, political, and religious contexts in which various groups have manifested themselves in U.S. society while focusing on the ways in which these groups’ cultures and heritage have influenced social movements and American identity throughout U.S. history.

Topics such as pluralism in the United States, individual liberties, the American Creed, the bill of rights, social inclusion, diversity and social justice should be included. The program should draw from a broad disciplinary base and should itself provide a model of how a foreign university might approach the study of U.S. culture, identity, and society.

e) The Study of the Institute on U.S. Economics and Sustainable Development should provide a multinational group of 18 experienced foreign university faculty, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers with a deeper understanding of the U.S. economic system and emerging trends in business. Using a multidisciplinary approach, the program should explore how financial institutions, investors, businesses, workers, and individual consumers interact to support growth, economic prosperity, innovation, and opportunity. The Institute should discuss areas such as building sustainable and inclusive economies, inequities in economies, women and minorities in business, and financial access. The program should also examine how global events such as climate change, public health and the pandemic, and the burgeoning role of technology and the digital economy are shaping the U.S. economy. Other topics may include, but are not limited to, behavioral economics, monetary policy, legal and regulatory systems, labor and employment, trade policy, supply chains, entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial ecosystems, corporate social responsibility, and responsible business conduct.

f) The Study of the U.S. Institute on U.S. Foreign Policy should provide a multinational group of 18 experienced foreign university faculty and practitioners with a deeper understanding of new approaches to U.S. foreign policy and how U.S. foreign policy is formulated and implemented. The Institute should include a historical review of significant events, individuals, and philosophies that have shaped U.S. foreign policy. The Institute should explain the role of key players in U.S. foreign policy including the executive and legislative branches of government, the media, the U.S. public, think-tanks, non-governmental organizations, and multilateral institutions. The program should also examine current U.S. foreign policymaking and the new trends that are shaping policy. In order to ensure significant interaction with foreign policy practitioners, proposals are encouraged to maximize or extend the length of the

Washington, D.C. program.

A.4. Program Administration: ECA is seeking detailed proposals from U.S. public and private non-profit organizations and accredited post-secondary U.S. higher education institutions

(community colleges, liberal arts colleges, public and private universities) meeting the eligibility requirements outlined under section C. ECA intends to issue one cooperative agreement for the administration and implementation of six Institutes. The recipient may propose to administer all six Institutes through sub-awards or may propose to implement one of the six Institutes and administer sub-awards to five host institutions to conduct the remaining five Institutes. Each host institution should only implement one Institute. The recipient may not implement more than one Institute.

Each Study of the U.S. Institute should be designed as an intensive, academically rigorous seminar for an experienced group of scholars and professionals from abroad. Institutes should be organized through an integrated series of lectures, readings, seminar discussions, regional travel, and site visits, and should also include sessions that expose participants to U.S. pedagogical philosophy and practice for teaching the respective discipline, as well as opportunities for limited independent research. 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 and to interact with their U.S. peers. ECA reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase proposal budgets, participant numbers and countries, the number of Institutes, Institute themes and sub-topics, and Institute formats based on program needs and the availability of U.S. government funding.

A.5. Participants: Participants will be diverse in age, professional position, and travel experience abroad. Participants may or may not have in-depth knowledge of the particular

Institute program theme, but all will likely have had exposure to the relevant discipline and some experience teaching about the United States.

Participants will represent all regions of the world and will be fluent or have advanced proficiency in English. Recipients will NOT participate in the selection of participants. U.S.

embassies, consulates, and Fulbright commissions will nominate candidates. ECA will make the final participant selections. Every effort will be made to select a gender balanced group of participants. A final list of participants will be sent to the award recipient prior to the start of the

Institute. The recipient should provide participants with pre-departure orientation materials at least six weeks prior to the start of the Institutes.

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

A.6. Program Guidelines: The award recipient is responsible for the conception, structure, and monitoring of all six Institutes. Proposals must provide a detailed and comprehensive narrative describing objectives of the Institutes; the title, scope, and content of each session; planned site visits, and how each session relates to the overall Institute theme. Applicants must propose academic syllabi and program calendars for each Institute indicating the subject matter for each lecture, panel, discussion, group presentation, or other activity. In addition, the proposal should include a summary of the applicant’s experience with pre-departure preparation and logistics;

plans for monitoring and communicating with sub-recipients; incorporation of a diversity and inclusion framework into all aspects of the program; a media and outreach strategy; and follow-on activities. For the Institutes, the proposal should demonstrate the applicant’s ability to recruit host colleges, universities, or non-profit organizations that reflect regional and other forms of diversity, including public, private, urban, rural, minority-serving institutions, and community colleges. All six Institutes must take place at a U.S. college or university campus.

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 Section E. Review Information in this NOFO. The accompanying POGI provides program-specific guidelines that all proposals must address fully.

A.7. Substantial Involvement: 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 your organization are outlined in the included Project, Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI) document.

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 continuations.

B. Federal Award Information:

Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. ECA’s level of involvement in this program is listed under Statement of Work in the POGI.

Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2022 base year, up to $2,500,000, pending the availability of funds; FY

2023 Non-Competitive Continuation year one, up to $2,500,000, pending successful performance and the availability of funds; FY 2024 Non-Competitive Continuation year two, up to $2,500,000, pending successful performance and the availability of funds.

Approximate Total Funding: $7,500,000. These figures represent base year plus two non-competitive continuation years, pending successful performance and the availability of funds.

Approximate Number of Awards: One.

Approximate Average Award: $2,500,000, pending successful performance and the availability of funds.

Floor of Award Range: None.

Ceiling of Award Range: $2,500,000 for FY 2022 base year (or $7,500,000 for the base year plus two non-competitive continuation years), pending the availability of funds.

Anticipated Award Date: June 1, 2022, pending the availability of FY 2022 funds.

Anticipated Project Completion Date: May 31, 2026. This date reflects the anticipated duration of the award – one base year plus two Non-Competitive Continuation years.

Additional Information: ECA reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase proposal budgets in accordance with the needs of the program and the availability of funds.

A cooperative agreement will be awarded for a period of 12 months (base year) with Non-

Competitive Continuations for a second and third period of 12 and 24 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: U.S. public and private academic and cultural institutions, exchange-of-persons, and other not-for-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal

Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3) may submit applications for this competition.

Applicants must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of application. Please see the

Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) for additional information.

All applicants must also have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number and be registered in

SAM.gov (see additional information about this requirement in D.3. and D.5. below).

C.2. Other Eligibility Requirements: The following additional eligibility requirements apply to this NOFO announcement:

a.) Bureau 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 cooperative agreement, in an amount of $2,500,000 to support all costs required to implement these exchange programs. Therefore, organizations with less than four years of experience in conducting international exchanges are ineligible to apply under this competition.

b.) All proposals must comply with the requirements stated in the NOFO, POGI (if applicable), and the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI); non-compliance 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 six (6) Institutes under this competition.

c.) Only one proposal will be considered by ECA from each applicant organization. In cases where more than one submission from an applicant appears in grants.gov, ECA will only consider the submission made closest in time to the NOFO deadline; that submission would constitute the one and only proposal ECA would review from that applicant.

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.

C.3. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds: There is no minimum or maximum percentage of cost sharing 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 may be reduced in like proportion.

D. Application and Submission Information:

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

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

Solicitation Package, including the Proposal Submission Instruction (PSI) document, which consists of required application forms and standard guidelines for proposal preparation. The application should be submitted per the instructions under D.16. “Application Deadline and

Method of Submission” section below.

D.3. Unique Entity Identifier 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 (Data Universal

Numbering System or 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, refer to: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html

D.4. Required Proposal Elements: All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal narrative, budget, and budget narrative.

D.5. Required Registration 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 a current registration 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 is completed on any issued award. 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. There is no cost associated with registering or updating SAM.gov accounts. Failure to register in SAM.gov 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 https://eca.state.gov/organizational-funding https://www.grants.gov/ http://www.dnb.com/ 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

D.6. Federal Awardee Performance & Integrity Information System (FAPIIS): Prior to making a Federal Assistance award over $250,000, the Federal agency is required to review and consider any information about the applicant that is in FAPIIS (see 41 U.S.C. 2313) and accessible through SAM.gov. If an Applicant is currently in FAPIIS, they can comment on any information about its organization that a Federal awarding agency previously entered. The

Federal awarding agency will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in FAPIIS, in making a judgment about the applicant’s integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in 2 CFR §200.205 Federal awarding agency review of risk posed by applicants.

D.7. Required Registration with SAMS Domestic: All ECA award recipient organizations and recipient contacts and signatories must be registered with the U.S. Department of State’s

SAMS Domestic by accessing https://mygrants.servicenowservices.com and clicking the “create an account” link. SAMS Domestic is the U.S. Department of State’s grants management system and is supported by the Department’s Integrated Logistics Management System (ILMS).

Recipient organizations and recipient contacts and signatories that have previously used SAMS

Domestic as a U.S. Department of State award recipient do not need to register again. If the organization is not able to access the system, please contact the ILMS Help Desk for help in gaining access.

Support for Recipient Organizations and recipient contacts and signatories is available 24 hours, 7 days a week (except federal holidays), and can be reached at 1-888-313-ILMS (4567) or through the ILMS Self Service Portal at https://afsitsm.servicenowservices.com/ilms/.

In the event the ILMS Help Desk is unable to provide you with assistance in a timely manner, please contact ECA_SAMSDomestic@state.gov and copy the program officer associated with the solicitation.

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

D.8. 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 Responsible Officers and Alternate

Responsible Officers, screening and selection of program participants, 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.

https://mygrants.servicenowservices.com/ https://afsitsm.servicenowservices.com/ilms/ mailto:ECA_SAMSDomestic@state.gov

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-4E (Bldg. 3)

2430 E Street, NW

Washington, D.C. 20037

Please refer to Solicitation Package for further information.

D.9. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and Freedom and Democracy Guidelines:

Pursuant to the Bureau's authorizing legislation, “Diversity” should be interpreted in the broadest sense and encompass differences including race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, geographic origin, socio-economic status, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity.

Proposals should demonstrate how diversity, equity, and inclusion will enhance the program’s goals and objectives and the participants’ exchange experience. Proposals should demonstrate how the program will further engage diverse and underserved communities. 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. Please refer to the “Support of

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” review criterion of this document for more information on how this will be reviewed as a part of any application. Please also refer to the “Diversity, Equity, and

Inclusion” section in the “Proposal Submission Instructions” document for specific suggestions on incorporating DEI into the 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," the Bureau

"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.10. Program Monitoring and Evaluation: Please Note: The Bureau plans to add standardized indicators and corresponding data collection questions for performance monitoring during the period of performance of this award. Therefore, proposed performance monitoring plans and data collection instruments should be flexible enough to incorporate those once established. 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. The Bureau 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. The Bureau 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 http://j1visa.state.gov/ 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]

When changing political, health, environmental, or other similar circumstances require a suspension or halt of in-person activities and where ECA determines that a virtual alternative is appropriate and viable, award recipients should demonstrate the organization’s capacity to provide innovative options for virtual activities to substitute for in-person engagement for program participants. Organizations should consider how they will implement virtual exchange activities, given the potential limits to internet access from participants in some locations and while continuing to advance foreign policy objectives and achieve lasting benefits for U.S.

citizens and international participants. will be deemed less competitive under the present evaluation criteria.)

Recipient organizations will be required to provide reports analyzing their evaluation findings to the 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.11. Virtual Exchange Component: When changing political, health, environmental, or other similar circumstances require a suspension or halt of in-person activities and where ECA determines that a virtual alternative is appropriate and viable, award recipients should demonstrate the ability and capacity to transition from in-person to virtual exchanges. Proposals should demonstrate the organization’s capacity to provide innovative options for virtual activities to substitute for in-person engagement for program participants. Organizations should consider how they will implement virtual exchange activities, given the potential limits to internet access from participants in some locations and while continuing to advance foreign policy objectives and achieve lasting benefits for U.S. citizens and international participants.

In addition to planning for virtual exchange activities if in-person programming is not feasible, ECA welcomes innovative ideas on how organizations can leverage virtual programming technologies during or in addition to in-person programming. ECA 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) 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. 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.12. Communications Guidance for ECA Recipients: All ECA Recipients must adhere to the requirements in ECA’s Communications Guidance on the creation of program branding and attribution, websites, social media, and press.

D.13. Budget Format: 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, a detailed budget, and a budget narrative. Applicants may provide https://eca.state.gov/comms-guidance separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase, location, or activity to provide clarification.

D.14. Key Personnel: ECA recommends that the applicant identify intended key personnel positions via an asterisk (*) or other marking in the proposal budget, budget narrative, or a separate appendix. If not provided in the application, recipients must submit the names, titles, and brief biographical sketches of key personnel to the Grants Officer and GOR within 30 days of an award being issued. Additional information regarding key personnel requirements can be found in the State Department’s Standard Terms and Conditions, VI. Recipient Responsibility and Compliance with Federal Requirements (link to: https://www.state.gov/about-us-office-of-the-procurement-executive/).

D.15. Non-Competitive Continuations: Pending successful performance and the availability of funds this award will utilize Non-Competitive Continuations as discussed above.

D.15.a. For competitions that will exercise a Non-Competitive Continuation applicants must submit:

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

• 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 the availability of funds.

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

D.15.b. To exercise the Non-Competitive Continuation mechanism the recipient will be required to submit:

• Performance and financial reports on time.

• A request in writing to ECA at least 30 days in receipt of the NCC invitation.

• A summary budget that projects expenses through the end of the current year.

• A detailed budget outlining expenses for the requested non-competitive continuation year.

• A brief narrative to support the continuation of the award.

D.15.c. For awards using Non-Competitive Continuations, in addition to the Substantial

Involvement for the Cooperative Agreement, the ECA Grants Officer and Program Officer will:

1. Closely monitor the recipient’s performance through site visits, desk audits, mandatory performance and financial reports, consultations, and other forms of communication and https://www.state.gov/about-us-office-of-the-procurement-executive/ https://www.state.gov/about-us-office-of-the-procurement-executive/ 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 and/or semi-annual program and financial reports;

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

• 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.

• 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 utilize the remainder from 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 utilize the remainder from 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 utilize the remainder of funds. A final determination and approval to utilize the remainder of any funds will be communicated via a cost amendment with adjustment, if any, to new obligation amounts.

The request to utilize the remainder from an unobligated balance must include:

• 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,

• 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.15.d. Allowable costs for the program include the following:

• Staff salaries and benefits. Each staff person must be listed separately. Provide the percentage of time spent on the program;

• Other direct expenses;

• Indirect expenses;

• Institute costs including, but not limited to, honoraria for speakers, educational materials, lodging, room rental(s), welcome and farewell events, and participant admissions;

• Sub-award(s);

• Travel costs including, but not limited to, round trip international airfare, visa travel, ground transportation, domestic travel, and other transit costs;

• Per participant allowances including baggage allowance, travel allowance, book and cultural allowance, and meals and incidentals;

• Follow-on activities;

• Tax withholding;

• Wire transfer fees;

• Consultant fees;

• Web hosting;

• Communications (e.g. participant cell phones or SIM cards);

• Medical contingency;

• Health benefits, as necessary;

• Medical costs related to the pandemic including, but not limited to, medically required quarantine (outside of medical facilities covered under health benefits program);

• Reasonable accommodations; and

• Other cost categories as necessary.

Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget guidelines and formatting instructions.

D.16. Application Deadline and Method of Submission:

Application Deadline Date: Tuesday, February 22, 2022.

Method of Submission: Applications may only be submitted electronically throughGrants.gov

(https://www.grants.gov). Complete solicitation packages are available at Grants.gov in the

“Search Grants” portion of the system.

D.17. 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.17.a How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov

Applicants should read instructions carefully and prepare the information requested before beginning the 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 https://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html

D.17.b. 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.17.c Grants.gov Support and Submission Issues

Direct all questions regarding Grants.gov registration and submission issues to:

Gran…