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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

19.403:  American Council of Young Political Leaders

Popular Name:  ACYPL

Objectives:  To enable emerging political leaders in the U.S. to experience firsthand the political and cultural dynamics of other countries; to offer politically active young people in other countries a similar experience in the United States.

PROGRAM AND AWARD	FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS	FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS	INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS	ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS	POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

19.403 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  Private nonprofit institution/organization. The ACYPL conducts two-way exchanges of young political leaders with many countries. The programs are generally for 2 weeks.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  Individuals who participate in the program will benefit.

Credentials/Documentation:  American participant nominations are solicited annually from State legislative leaders, governors, political party officials, alumni, ACYPL members/trustees, and co-sponsors. Selection is made by a Delegate Selection Committee with Democratic and Republican co-chairs. Delegates must be under age 41 and generally include State and local elected officials as well as staff and party activists. The objective is political, geographic, ethnic/racial, and gender diversity that reflects the pluralistic nature of American society. Foreign delegates are selected by ACYPL partner organizations in conjunction with American Embassy officers.

19.403 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  Not applicable. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:  The State Department solicits a proposal from ACYPL annually based on the level of appropriated funds available. A portion of the funding may be competed from one year to the next.

Award Procedure:  Funding decisions are at the discretion of the Under Secretary for Public Diplomatic and Public Affairs and are based on the advice of a panel of Bureau reviewers and various State offices. Final technical authority resides with the Grants Division.

Deadlines:  The deadline for submission of a proposal is established in the request for proposals or letter of solicitation.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  Decisions are generally made within three months of the submission of proposals, subject to the availability and timing of funding.

Appeals:  None.

Renewals:  At the Bureau's discretion, in a given year ACYPL may be invited to submit a renewal proposal.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  The criteria for judging proposals include quality of the proposed activities and planning, track record, institutional capacity to take on additional work, cost-effectiveness and cost sharing, attention to diversity goals, value to U.S. foreign policy objectives, and the quality of the evaluation plan.

Examples of Funded Projects:  ACYPL conducts many bilateral delegation projects (e.g., South Africa, Israel, Russia), generally two weeks in length. In the past, it has also organized multinational election study-tours during national election campaigns.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  One grant per year.

19.403 RELATED PROGRAMS:

• 19.415 Professional Exchange: Annual Open Grant.

19.403 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

19.403 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  BUREAU OF EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants.

Obligations:  FY 99 $973,500; FY 00 est $688,000; and FY 01 est $700,000.

Budget Account Number:  19-0201-0-1-154.

Authorization:  Public Law 87-256, as amended, 22 U.S.C. 2451 et seq.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  Guidelines for grants are distributed in conjunction with the request for proposals/letter of solicitation; OMB Circulars.

19.403 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  American Council of Young Political Leaders, 1612 K Street, NW., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20006. Phone: (202) 857-0999.

Headquarters Office:  Youth Programs Division (ECA/PE/C/PY), Office of Citizen Exchanges, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547. Phone: (202) 619-6299. Fax (202) 619-5311.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

19.403 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  ACYPL raises 40 percent of its operating budget from sources other than the government.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  The grant is generally awarded for a 12-month period.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Grant supports partial costs of travel, insurance, program activities, and orientation. Program alumni participate in arranging programming for visiting delegations.

19.403 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Quarterly program and financial reports are required.

Audits:  All USIA grants are subject to OMB Circular No. A-133 audits. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations, nonfederal entities that receive financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records:  As prescribed by grant terms.