Thai Local Government Project

UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY

Thai Local Government Project

AGENCY: United States Information Agency.

ACTION: Notice--request for proposals.

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TITLE: Thai Local Government Project.

SUMMARY: The Office of Citizen Exchanges (E/P) announces a competitive

grants program for non-profit organizations to develop programs in the

area of local government/public administration. The project should link

the U.S. organization's international exchange interests with

counterpart institutions or groups in Thailand.

Interested applicants are urged to read the complete Federal

Register announcement before addressing inquiries to the Office or

submitting their proposals. After the deadline for submitting

proposals, USIA officers may not discuss this competition in any way

with applicants until final decisions are made.

ANNOUNCEMENT NAME AND NUMBER: All communications concerning this

announcement should refer to the Thai Local Government Project. This

announcement number is E/P-94-18. Please refer to this title and number

in all correspondence or telephone calls to USIA.

DATES: Deadline for Proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S.

Information Agency by 5 p.m., Washington, DC time on March 11, 1994.

Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents postmarked

March 11, 1994, but received at a later date.

It is the responsibility of each grant applicant to ensure that

proposals are received by the above deadline. The grant project

activity should begin after June 1, 1994.

ADDRESSES: The original and 14 copies of the completed application and

required forms should be submitted by the deadline to: U.S. Information

Agency, Ref: Thai Local Government Project (E/P-94-18), Grants

Management Division (E/XE), 301 Fourth Street SW--room 336, Washington,

DC 20547.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Interested organizations, institutions

should contact: Elroy Carlson, American Republics and East Asia and

Pacific Division, Office of Citizen Exchanges (E/P), room 216, United

States Information Agency, 301 Fourth Street SW., Washington, DC 20547,

telephone 202/619-5326, fax 202/260-0437, to request detailed

application packets, which include award criteria, all necessary forms,

and guidelines for preparing proposals, including specific budget

preparation.

Objectives of the Thai Local Government Project

Overview

The newly elected government of Thailand has committed itself to

improving the process of government. One aspect of this commitment is

an effort to decentralize aspects of the political process. USIA is

interested in proposals for programs that will foster effective

administration of local and regional governments. Programs might

examine and seek to improve relationships among local executive,

legislative, and judicial elements, or they might address the knowledge

and skills necessary to administer one or more of these branches of

local government.

Program topics might include one or more of the following: judicial

administration, budget development, financial management, tax policies

and mechanisms, election practices, management of municipal services,

privatization of government property, consumer protection, business

regulation (as opposed to control), licensing, or environmental

protection. Programs might further the development of information and

library systems relevant to local government, improve committee and

staff structures, research capability, legislation drafting capability,

or structural and procedural needs of local governments. Programs

should be conducted mostly in local centers, preferably situated

outside the capital city. Projects should lay the groundwork for new

and continuing links between American and Thai professional

organizations.

Projects may include: Study tours in the U.S. for small groups;

short-term non-technical workshops conducted in Thailand; four- to ten-

week internships in the U.S.; planning trips or consultations in

Thailand; and the development of specialized training materials.

Programmatic Considerations

Pursuant to the Bureau's authorizing legislation, grant programs

must maintain a non-political character and should be balanced and

representative of the diversity of American political, social and

cultural life.

All proposals should demonstrate:

(1) In-depth, substantive knowledge of the relevant issues;

(2) Established connections with partner institutions;

(3) The capacity to organize and conduct the program, including

appropriate orientation activities for the participants; detailed work

plan for all phases of the project; tentative agendas for study tours,

workshops, and internships; letters of commitment from internship

hosts; and selection procedures.

USIS post consultation by applicants, prior to submission of

proposals, is recommended. Address inquiries to Assistant Cultural

Affairs Officer, AmEmbassy (USIS) Bangkok, Box 48, APO AP 96546-0001,

Telephone 66-2-286-0900; Fax 66-2-287-2102.

USIA will give priority to proposals from U.S. organizations that

have partner organizations in Thailand or Southeast Asia, which will

assist logistically and will contribute to the realization of program

goals and objectives and will themselves be enhanced by the program.

Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate partner relationships by

providing copies of correspondence or other materials as appendices to

proposals.

The partner institutions are encouraged to provide cost-sharing or

significant in-kind contributions such as local housing,

transportation, interpreting, translating and other local currency

costs and to assist with the organization of projects.

Materials Development

USIA encourages the development, where needed, of written, audio

and video materials in the local language to enhance the programs. For

example, if not already available, glossaries of specialized terms in

local government or public administration might be developed.

Scope

Proposals should limit their focus to local governance. Proposals

for programs that are broader in scope will be eligible, but are less

likely to receive USIA support. USIA encourages proposals that feature

``train the trainers'' models; the creation of indigenous training

centers; schemes to create professional networks or professional

associations to disseminate information; and other enduring aspects.

Participant Selection

All grant proposals must clearly describe the type of persons who

will participate in the program as well as the process by which

participants will be selected. Programs in support of internships in

the U.S. must include letters tentatively committing host institutions

to support the internships. In the selection of all foreign

participants, USIA and USIS posts retain the right to nominate

participants and to accept or deny participants recommended by the

program institution.

Guidelines and Restrictions

USIA does not support proposals limited to conferences or seminars

of only a few days length which are organized as plenary sessions,

major speakers, and panels with a passive audience. It will support

conferences only insofar as they are a minor part of a larger project

in duration and scope which is receiving USIA funding from this

competition. Furthermore, grants are not given to support projects

whose focus is limited to technical issues, or for research projects,

for publications intended for dissemination in the United States, for

individual student exchanges, for film festivals or exhibits. Nor does

this Office provide scholarships or other support for long-term (i.e.,

a semester or more) academic studies. Proposals that request support

for the development of university curriculums or for degree-based

programs will not be eligible under this RFP.

Proposals to link university departments or to exchange faculty

and/or students are funded by USIA's Office of Academic Programs (E/A)

under the University Affiliation Program and should not be submitted

under this RFP.

Competitions sponsored by other offices of USIA's Bureau of

Educational and Cultural Affairs are also announced in the Federal

Register, and may have different guidelines or restrictions.

Funding

The amount requested from USIA should not exceed $125,000. However,

exchange organizations with less than four years of successful

experience in managing international exchange programs are limited to

$60,000.

While applicants must provide an all-inclusive budget with the

proposal, they may also include separate sub-budgets for each program

component, phase, location or activity. Competition for USIA funding

support is keen. Please note: All participants will be covered under

the terms of a USIA-sponsored health insurance policy. The premium is

paid by USIA directly to the insurance company.

The following project costs are eligible for consideration for

funding:

1. International and domestic air fares; visas; transit costs;

ground transportation costs.

2. Per Diem. For the U.S. program, organizations have the option of

using a flat $140/day for program participants or the published U.S.

Federal per diem rates for individual American cities. For activities

outside the U.S., the published federal per diem rates must be used.

Note: Grantee staff must use the published federal per diem

rates, not the flat rate.

3. Interpreters: Interpreters for the U.S. program are provided by

the U.S. State Department Language Services Division. Typically, a pair

of simultaneous interpreters is provided for every four visitors who

need interpretation. USIA grants do not pay for foreign interpreters to

accompany delegations from their home country. Grant proposal budgets

should contain a flat $140/day per diem for each DOS interpreter, as

well as home-program-home air transportation of $400 per interpreter

plus any U.S. travel expenses during the program. Salary expenses are

covered centrally and should not be part of an applicant's proposed

budget.

4. Book and cultural allowance: Participants are entitled to a one-

time cultural allowance of $150 per person, plus a book allowance of

$50. Escorts are reimbursed for actual cultural expenses up to $150.

U.S. staff do not get these benefits.

5. Consultants. May be used to provide specialized expertise or to

make presentations. Daily honoraria generally do not exceed $250 per

day. Subcontracting organizations may also be used, in which case the

written agreement between the prospective grantee and subcontractor

should be included in the proposal.

6. Room rental, which generally should not exceed $250 per day.

7. Materials development. Proposals may contain costs to purchase,

develop, and translate materials for participants.

8. One working meal per project. Per capita costs may not exceed

$5-8 for a lunch and $14-20 for a dinner; this includes room rental if

applicable. The number of invited guests may not exceed participants by

more than a factor of two to one.

9. A return travel allowance of $70 for each participant which is

to be used for incidental expenditures incurred during international

travel.

10. Audit Requirements: The proposal shall include the cost of an

audit that:

a. Complies with the requirements of OMB Circular No. 1-133, Audits

of Institutions of Higher Education and Other Nonprofit Institutions;

b. Complies with the requirements of the American Institute of

Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Statement of Position (SOP) No.

92-9; and

c. Includes review by the recipient's independent auditor of a

recipient-prepared supplemental schedule of indirect cost rate

computation, if such a rate is being proposed.

The audit costs shall be identified separately for:

a. Preparation of basic financial statements, and other accounting

services; and

b. Preparation of the supplemental reports and schedules required

by OMB Circular No. A-133, AICPA SOP 92-9, and the review of the

supplemental schedule of indirect cost rate computation.

11. Cost-sharing is encouraged. Cost-sharing may be in the form of

allowable direct or indirect costs. The Recipient must maintain written

records to support all allowable costs which are claimed as being its

contribution to cost participation, 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 OMB Circular No. A-110, Attachment E, ``Cost-sharing

and Matching'' and should be described in the proposal. In the event

the Recipient does not provide the minimum amount of cost sharing as

stipulated in the Recipient's budget, the Agency's contribution will be

reduced in proportion to the Recipient's contribution.

Application Requirements

Proposals must be structured in accordance with the instructions

contained in the application package.

Review Process

USIA will acknowledge receipt of all proposals and will review them

for technical eligibility. Proposals will be deemed ineligible if they

do not fully adhere to the guidelines established herein and in the

application packet. Eligible proposals will be forwarded to panels of

USIA officers for advisory review. Proposals are reviewed by USIS posts

and by USIA's Office of East Asian and Pacific Affairs.

Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of General Counsel or

other Agency offices. Funding decisions are at the discretion of the

Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final

technical authority for grant awards resides with USIA's contracting

officer. The award of any grant is subject to availability of funds.

The U.S. Government reserves the right to reject any or all

applications received. USIA will not pay for design and development

costs associated with submitting a proposal. Applications are submitted

at the risk of the applicant; should circumstances prevent award of a

grant all preparation and submission costs are at the applicant's

expense.

USIA will not award funds for activities conducted prior to the

actual grant award.

Review Criteria

USIA will consider proposals based on their conformance with the

objectives and considerations already stated in this RFP, as well as

the following criteria:

1. Quality of program idea: Proposals should exhibit relevance,

originality, rigor and substance to USIA's mission. They should

demonstrate the match of U.S. resources to a clearly defined need.

2. Institutional ability/capacity/record: Applicant institutions

should demonstrate their potential for program excellence and/or

provide documentation of successful programs. If an organization is a

previous USIA grant recipient, responsible fiscal management and full

compliance with all reporting requirements for past USIA grants as

determined by the Office of Contracts (M/KG) will be considered.

Relevant program evaluation of previous projects may also be considered

in this assessment.

3. Project personnel: Personnel's thematic and logistical expertise

should be relevant to the proposed program. Resumes should be relevant

to the specific proposal.

4. Program planning: A detailed work plan should provide milestones

for the accomplishment of each phase of the project and clearly

demonstrate how the grantee institution will meet milestones. In

addition, the work plan should indicate how the work plan will

accomplish the overall project goals.

5. Thematic expertise: Proposals should demonstrate the

organization's expertise in the subject area.

6. Cross-cultural expertise and Area Expertise: Proposals should

show evidence of sensitivity to historical, linguistic, and other

cross-cultural factors, as well as relevant knowledge of target area/

country.

7. Multiplier effect/follow-on activities: Proposed programs should

strengthen long-term mutual understanding, to include maximum sharing

of information and establishment of long-term institutional and

individual ties. Proposals should also reflect an institutional

commitment for continued exchange activity beyond the term of the USIA

grant.

8. Cost-effectiveness: Overhead and administrative costs should be

kept as low as possible. All other items proposed for USIA funding

should be necessary and appropriate to achieve the program's

objectives.

9. Cost-sharing: Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through

other private sector support as well as direct funding contributions

and/or in-kind support from the prospective grantee institution.

10. Project evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate

the activity's success. In this respect the applicant should include a

draft survey questionnaire or other technique and a methodology that

will be used to link outcomes to original project objectives.

Applicants will be expected to submit intermediate reports after each

project component is concluded or quarterly, whichever is less

frequent.

Notice: The terms and conditions published in this RFP are binding

and may not be modified by any USIA representative. Explanatory

information provided by USIA that contradicts published language will

not be binding. Issuance of the RFP does not constitute an award

commitment on the part of the U.S. Government. Awards cannot be made

until funds have been fully appropriated by the U.S. Congress and

allocated and committed through internal USIA procedures.

Notification: All applicants will be notified of the results of the

review process on or about June 1, 1994. Awarded grants will be subject

to periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.

Dated: January 14, 1994.

Barry Fulton,

Acting Associate Director, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

[FR Doc. 94-1681 Filed 1-26-94; 8:45 am]

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