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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

19.415:  Professional Exchange: Annual Open Grant

Popular Name:  Office of Citizen Exchanges

Objectives:  To foster, improve, and strengthen international relations of the United States by promoting mutual understanding among the peoples of the world through educational and professional exchanges.

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

19.415 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  To public and private nonprofit organizations meeting the provisions described in IRS regulation 26CFR 1.501(c).

Beneficiary Eligibility:  U.S. citizens and foreign nationals.

Credentials/Documentation:  To public and private nonprofit organizations meeting the provisions described in IRS regulation 26CFR 1.501(c).

19.415 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

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

Application Procedure:  This competition is advertised in the Federal Register annually. Interested applicants should read the complete Federal Register announcement before addressing inquiries to the Office of Citizen Exchanges.

Award Procedure:  Following a thorough review and independent paneling of all technically eligible proposals, and based on recommendations by various State Department offices, funding decisions are made by the Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Deadlines:  Per announcement in Federal Register.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  Four months after closing date.

Appeals:  None.

Renewals:  Extensions considered where appropriate.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  To comply with goals and objectives outlined in Federal Register announcement and compatibility with office objectives stated previously.

Examples of Funded Projects:  None.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  Under $135,000. Organizations with less than 4 years' successful experience in managing international exchange programs are limited to grants of $60,000 or less.

19.415 RELATED PROGRAMS:

19.415 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

19.415 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

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

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants.

Obligations:  (Grants) FY 99 $6,700,000; FY 00 est $2,500,000; and FY 01 est $2,500,000.

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:  Annual announcement published in the Federal Register.

19.415 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  None.

Headquarters Office:  Department of State, Office of Citizen Exchanges, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, 301 4th Street, SW., Room 220, Washington, D.C., 20547. Phone (202) 619-5326. Fax (202) 619-4350. Website: e.usia.gov/education/citizens.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

19.415 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  All proposals should maximize cost sharing through private sector support, as well as institutional direct funding contributions.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Varies.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  The Office of Citizen Exchanges develops international exchange grant projects with nonprofit American institutions including voluntary community organizations, professional associations, and universities. The program involves thousands of American and foreign visitors who take part in exchanges at the grassroots level both in the U.S. and overseas. Professional programs are based on competition, substantive rigor and cross-cultural sensitivity. Primary objectives include development of institutional links which live beyond the duration of State Department funding support; creation of consortia, associations and information networks; transfer of useful information overseas; development of internships and extended learning programs; expansion of international awareness and programming among U.S. nonprofit institutions and the introduction of ideas which may contribute to the solution of long-term international problems among others.

19.415 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Financial and program reports are required at the end of the grant period.

Audits:  All OMB A-133 requirements apply.

Records:  As prescribed by grant terms.