Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program (IYLEP) for High School Students

The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad invites eligible organizations to submit proposals to develop and implement the 2014-2016 Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program (IYLEP) for High School Students. The goal of IYLEP is to develop future generations of Iraqi leaders by inculcating in Iraqi high school students leadership skills, civic rights and responsibility, respect for diversity, and the values of civic engagement. Proposals should include a U.S.-based exchange component and demonstrate how they promote mutual understanding between American and Iraqi youth. IYLEP advances the goals of the 2008 Strategic Framework Agreement between the United States and the Republic of Iraq. Subject to the availability of funds, the Embassy expects to award one cooperative agreement for up to $1,500,000 to carry out IYLEP for High School Students. Authority: 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 other countries of the world.” Eligibility: Applicants must • Be a U.S. non-profit organization meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c) (3); an internationally based non-profit organization; low-profit limited liability company (L3Cs); an academic institution; or other institution for which profit is not a primary motive; • Have demonstrated experience administering exchange programs focused on youth; and • Have the capacity to operate in Iraq, or have or develop active partnerships with organization(s) operating in Iraq. All Federal assistance recipients must have a Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS) and a CCR (CAGE) number prior to funds disbursement. A DUNS number may be acquired at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS number request line at 1-866-705-5711 or requesting on-line at www.dnb.com. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The goal of IYLEP for High School Students is to develop future generations of Iraqi leaders by inculcating in Iraqi high school students leadership skills, civic rights and responsibility, respect for diversity, and the values of civic engagement. It is designed to promote mutual understanding between citizens of the United States and Iraq through a significant U.S.-based exchange experience. IYLEP for High School Students proposals should describe how they will engage approximately 100 Iraqi secondary school students age 15-17 with at least one academic year of study remaining, as well as ten adult mentors. Participants should be identified through open competition and demonstrate leadership capacity and English proficiency. The centerpiece of the program should be a four-week program in the United States that includes significant interaction with American youth and civic organizations. Program activities could include, but not be limited to: • Visits to U.S. high school summer programs; • Visits, homestays, and activities with U.S. families; • Academic and leadership training on U.S. campuses; • Volunteer work with community organizations; and • Meetings with U.S. youth organizations. The anticipated timeline for the 2014-2016 IYLEP for High School Students is: September 2014: Outreach and recruitment begins. January 2014: Participant selection is finalized. February-May 2015: Visa applications are processed. June 2015: Program orientation is held. July-August 2015: Participants travel to the United States. October-December 2015: De-briefing sessions with returned participants. February 2016: Alumni activities are held. Organizational Capacity: Applicant organizations must demonstrate the capacity to implement youth exchange programs and to work in Iraq, either directly or through a partner organization. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to work in both of Iraq’s national languages, Arabic and Kurdish, and to carry out program activities in all 18 provinces of Iraq. Guidelines: The award will begin on or about September 1, 2014. The award duration will be 15-20 months and will cover all aspects of program planning, participant recruitment, interviews, and selection, in-country pre-departure orientations, U.S.-based exchange activities, and follow-on activities in the participants’ home communities, including through alumni activities focused on leadership development. Applicants should propose a specific program timeline that includes exchange dates in the summer of 2015, but the exact timing may be altered through mutual agreement between the Embassy and the award recipient. In consultation with Embassy staff, the awardee will: • Conduct open and competitive recruitment for the program in each of the 18 provinces of Iraq to ensure a diverse applicant pool; • Arrange interview panels of prospective participants in Iraq in Baghdad, Basrah, Erbil, and elsewhere as needed; panels should include program staff, IYLEP alumni, and U.S. Embassy representatives; • Serve as the primary point of contact and source of information for students and their families in Iraq and the United States throughout the entire program process; • Coordinate with the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs (ECA), Office of Private Sector Programs, regarding issuance of DS-2019 forms; • Manage all logistical elements of the exchange, including facilitating Iraqi students’ travel to the Embassy for U.S. visa interviews, international and U.S. domestic travel, ground transportation, accommodations, group meals, and disbursement of pocket money; • Design and conduct a Program Orientation for Iraqi participants prior to their travel to the United States to review program logistics and agendas; • Design and conduct a Welcome Orientation in the United States for Iraqi participants and U.S.-based program staff and partners; • Organize and carry out the U.S.-based program as described in the award agreement; • Provide a closing session to summarize and evaluate the program, prepare participants for their return home, and further prepare them for follow-on activities and alumni programs; • Plan and organize follow-on activities in Iraq to help participants implement what they learned in their home communities; • Organize one alumni leadership conference for IYLEP for High School Students in Iraq. It is recommended that the U.S.-based program includes visits, activities, and homestays with American families. The awardee will be responsible for arranging these with properly screened and briefed host families for a significant portion of the exchange period. Criminal background checks, including a search of the Department of Justice’s National Sex Offender Public Registry, must be conducted for host families and other members of household who are more than 18 years of age. The U.S.-based component should include a separate program and activities for the adult mentors designed to improve their skills in leadership, youth counseling, cultural understanding, group organization, and other fields. The mentor program should run concurrently with the youth program and be held at the same location. The awardee must demonstrate a plan to monitor the participants’ safety and well-being while in the United States, including proper staff supervision and mechanisms for resolving problems that may arise. Program staff and adult mentors should assist youth participants with cultural adjustments, provide context to enhance learning, and counsel students as needed. Criminal background checks, including a search of the Department of Justice’s National Sex Offender Public Registry, must be conducted for all program staff. The Embassy will be substantially involved in carrying out this project, including by, but not limited to: • Approving all 2014-2015 IYLEP for High School Students recruitment, application, publicity, notification, topics/themes of academic training, and other materials; • Approving final candidate and alternate selection; • Advising about the composition of, and participating in, interview panels; • Monitoring and evaluating the program through regular communication with the award recipient and site visits as necessary. Embassy staff will assist in coordinating with the Embassy Consular Section in arranging visa application appointments. Participation in IYLEP is contingent upon the ability of the visa applicant to receive the J Exchange Visitor Visa. APPLICATION INFORMATION Applications must be prepared and submitted using the Public Diplomacy Grants Program Application form, available on www.grants.gov or by request from [email protected]. Please submit questions and completed applications to [email protected]. Cost-sharing is strongly encouraged. Cost sharing can take the form of both allowable direct and indirect costs. For accountability, the recipient must maintain records to support all costs claimed as part of the cost-share agreement. Such records are subject to audit. Please refer to OMB Circular A-110, (Revised), Subpart C.23 – Cost Sharing and Matching. All sections of the applications must be completed. In addition to information about project personnel as requested on the application form, please provide complete resumes for key personnel, such as Project Director. The deadline for receipt of applications is July 9, 2014. The Embassy reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase proposal project configurations, budgets, and/or participant numbers in accordance with the needs of the program, the availability of funds, and concurrence of the applicant. SELECTION CRITERIA The Embassy Public Diplomacy Grants Committee will use the following criteria to evaluate proposals received in response this RFP: Implementation Plan: Proposals should address the goals of the IYLEP for High School Students program as outlined in this solicitation. Proposals will be evaluated for originality, substance, precision, and relevance to IYLEP goals. They will be evaluated for the potential for long-term impact and sustainability in developing Iraq’s future leaders. Organizational Capacity: The Grants Committee will consider the past performance of prior recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants. Institutions with a proven track record in implementing youth-focused exchange and engagement programs in Iraq will be given special consideration. The appropriateness of the selected personnel and of any U.S.-based partner organizations will be considered as part of organizational capacity. Budget: Costs should be reasonable and realistic in relation to the project activities. Applicants are encouraged to provide as much detail as possible so that the committee may determine the extent to which the request represents an efficient use of USG resources. The budget should be consistent with the program narrative description of the project and should reflect the applicant’s understanding of the allowable cost principles established by OMB Circular A-122. NOTIFICATION Applicants can expect to be notified of the status of their application within thirty (30) days of the submission deadline. Issuance of this RFP does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the United States Government. It does not commit the USG to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of proposals. The USG reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received. If a proposal is selected for funding, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad has no obligation to provide any additional future funding in connection with the award. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the total discretion of the Embassy. CONTACT INFORMATION For more information, please contact the U.S. Embassy Baghdad at [email protected].