[Ecommerce] US funded trade association lobbying in foreign countries

[James Love]

This fairly long document is really worth reading.  It discusses a US
government grant program to NGOs to influence a variety of policies in
foreign countries.  Among those highlighted in the email missive, which
was sent to PhRMA (big pharma), the MPAA (Motion Picture Assocation of
America, IIPA (Institute of Photographic Authors), BSA (Business
Software Alliance), RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America),
IACC (International Counterfieting Coalition), IDSA (Industrial
Designers Society of America), and others, are programs advocating
specific policies regarding intellectual property rights.  These are US
taxpayer dollars are work, money that will be given directly to industry
trade associations to pay for their foreign lobbying efforts, all under
the diplomatic umbrella of the US government.  Also interesting are the
specific priorities for each country.  Jamie


Subject:  Citizen Exchange Opportunity
   Date:     Mon, 25 Jun 2001 12:18:02 -0400

   From:   "Messenger, Jane S" <MessengerJS@state.gov>
     To:  Alison Moylan <aplank@pd.state.gov>, "Charles R. Steuart
(E-mail)" <charles.r.steuart@customs.treas.gov>, "Christopher Painter
(E-mail)" <christopher.painter@usdoj.gov>, "Claude BURCKY (E-mail)"
<cburcky@ustr.gov>, "Daniel E. Vargas (E-mail)"
<Daniel.E.Vargas@customs.treas.gov>, "Deborah Lashley (E- mail)"
<Deborah_Lashley@ita.doc.gov>, "Elaine Wu (E-mail)"
<elaine.wu@uspto.gov>, "FBI IPR (E-mail)" <ipr.fcs@fbi.gov>, Jack Felt
<FeltJP@state.gov>, James Gagnon <GagnonJM@state.gov>, Jane Messenger
<MessengerJS@state.gov>, "Jessica Wilson (E-mail)"
<Jessica.Wilson@usdoj.gov>, "Jim Vigil (E-mail)" <j.vigil@state.gov>,
"Joanne R. Stump (E-mail)" <joanne.r.stump@customs.treas.gov>, "-John
Desrocher (E- mail)" <jdesrocher@ustr.gov>, John Finn
<FinnJW@state.gov>, "Kira Alvarez (E-mail)" <kalvarez@ustr.gov>, "Marla
Poor (E-mail)" <mpoor@loc.gov>, "Michael O'Leary (E-mail)"
<Michael.O'Leary@usdoj.gov>, "Michael Smith (E-mail)"
<Michael.Smith@uspto.gov>, "Regina Dobrov (E-mail)"
<RDobrov@osec.doc.gov>, "Sandra Bell (E-mail)"
<Sandra.L.Bell@customs.treas.gov>, "Bonnie Richardson (E- mail)"
<Brichard@mpaa.org>, "Eric H. Smith (E-mail)" <esmith@iipa.com>, "Eric
Schwartz (E-mail)" <schwartz@iipa.com>, "Fritz Kryman (E-mail)"
<fritz@idsa.com>, "Laura J. Lane (E-mail)" <lanelauraj@aol.com>, "Lauren
Choi (E-mail)" <laurenc@bsa.org>, "Maria Strong (E-mail)"
<mstrong@iipa.com>, "Michael Schlesinger (E-mail)" <schlesin@iipa.com>,
"Neil Turkewitz (E-mail)" <nturkewitz@riaa.com>, "Susan Kling FINSTON
(E-mail)" <sfinston@phrma.org>, "Susan Wilson II (E-mail)"
<swilson@iacc.org>, "Tim Trainer (E-mail)" <ttrainer@iacc.org>, "Walt
Clements (E-mail)" <clements.wn@pg.com>, Blair Labarge
<LabargeB@state.gov>, Caryn McClelland <McClellandCR@state.gov>, Chris
Marut <MarutCJ@state.gov>, "Elena Bryan (E-mail)" <ebryan@ustr.gov>,
"Eric Shimp (E-mail)" <eshimp@ustr.gov>, "Jennifer Ness (E-mail)"
<Jennifer.Ness@uspto.gov>, Joyce Wong <WongJ@state.gov>, Kenneth Lyons
<LyonsKJ@state.gov>, "Stevan Mitchell (E-mail)" <stevan@idsa.com>,
"Steve Tepp (E-mail)" <step@loc.gov>


Hello all -- I will be following up this week with the next steps on our
specific IPR training coordination groups.  In the meantime, I wanted to
forward this notice to everyone and encourage you to pass it along to
anyone else who may wish to see it.  It outlines an open competition for
an assistance award sponsored by the State Department's Office of
Citizen Exchanges, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).
U.S. public or private non-profit organizations may apply to develop
projects that will be implemented through an exchange program with
counterpart institutions in a particular country.  The federal register
notice below outlines the entire program -- basically they are
specifically asking for intellectual property projects for China and
Malaysia, although we could probably make a case for an IPR component in
Rule of Law programs.  Note, the grant proposal has to come from an NGO,
but I thought some of the trade associations might have links with
appropriate NGOs.  (IIPI might qualify, for instance.)  Anyway, please
let me know if you need additional information.  You may also wish to
contact the regional ECA person listed at the end of each section to get
additional information.  Jane

 <<ECA Citizen Exchanges.doc>>


Department of State
[Public Notice 3624]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Request for Grant
Proposals:
Open Grants Competition

SUMMARY:

The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, announces an open competition
for an assistance award program.  U.S. public or private non-profit
organizations meeting the provisions described in IRS regulation 26 CFR
1.501 [c] may apply to develop projects that link their international
exchange interests with counterpart institutions/groups in ways
supportive of the aims of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs.

Interested applicants should read the complete Federal Register
announcement before addressing inquiries to the Office of Citizen
Exchanges or submitting their proposals. Once the RFP deadline has
passed, the Office of Citizen Exchanges may not discuss this competition
in any way with applicants until after the Bureau program and project
review process has been completed.

ANNOUNCEMENT NAME AND NUMBER

 All communications concerning this announcement should refer to the
Annual Open Grant Program.  The announcement number is ECA/PE/C-02-1.
Please refer to title and number in all correspondence or telephone
calls to the Office of Citizen Exchanges.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

Interested organizations/institutions must contact the Office of Citizen
Exchanges, ECA/PE/C, Room 216, Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs, U.S. Department of State, 301 4th Street, S.W., Washington,
D.C.  20547, (202) 619- 5348, to request detailed application packets
which include award criteria; all application forms; and guidelines for
preparing proposals, including specific criteria for preparation of the
proposal budget.

PROGRAM INFORMATION:

We welcome proposals that directly respond to the following suggestions
in each of the following countries.  Given budgetary considerations,
projects in other countries and for other themes will not be eligible
for consideration.

Applicants should carefully review the following recommendations for
proposals in specific geographical areas:

AFRICA (AF):

Proposals are requested for projects that would advance sustainable
democracy by building human capital in Sub- Saharan Africa, and
strengthening partnerships between the United States and Africa in the
thematic categories delineated below.  These themes are presented in
order to stimulate thinking and planning in areas important to the
Office of Citizen Exchanges, but no guarantee is made or implied that
grants will be made in all categories.

Proposals for single country, sub-regional and regional projects will be
accepted.  The Bureau encourages applicants to consider carefully the
choice of target countries.  In order to prevent duplication of effort,
applicants should research the work of development agencies on the
target themes, and select countries for which there has been limited
investment on the issue, or for which exchange activities would
complement - not duplicate - current programs.

ECA seeks programs for Sub-Saharan Africa that address the following
themes:

1.   Joining Forces to Combat HIV/AIDS
2.   Education for Democracy
3.   Conflict Management and Resolution
4.   Trade and Investment; AGOA
5.   Strengthening an Independent Media
6.   Environmental Protection; Environmental Education;
Wildlife Conservation

(Please note: A separate Request for Grant Proposals will be published
by the Office of Citizen Exchanges for projects addressing governance
partnerships in Sub-Saharan Africa.)

1. Joining Forces to Combat HIV/AIDS

The Bureau welcomes proposals for creative community-based initiatives
that will promote better health care and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Projects should explore the need to develop and reward leadership in
these efforts, to improve community health education, and to remove
barriers that impede a cooperative multi-sectoral response to HIV/AIDS.
Projects should address some of following topics: prevention and stigma
reduction strategies for people living with HIV/AIDS, especially women
and youth; engagement of political, religious, cultural and other
leaders in public education efforts; grassroots mobilization and
advocacy. Of special interest to the Bureau would be projects addressing
the link between cultural practices, the empowerment of women and girls,
and the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa.

2. Education for Democracy: Education for Democracy The Bureau welcomes
proposals that strengthen civic education in Africa.  Proposals should
include development of curricula (in close cooperation with African
partners), as well as training of teachers in participatory classroom
methodologies.  Curricula should focus on the role that individuals (in
particular, youth) should and can play in a democracy.  Issues to be
addressed would include the meaning of civil society, the separation of
powers, the role of non- governmental organizations, components of
democracy, issues of national identity, democratic and team-centered
approaches to decision-making, etc. The exchange should encompass both
the theoretical and the experiential, with participants working with and
learning from American teachers and young leaders.  Of special interest
to ECA are curricula that focus on leadership development for at-risk
youth.  Another special interest is school-based programs aimed as
inculcating a culture of lawfulness that counters crime and corruption
by educating young people on their civil, moral, and legal obligations
to society.

3. Conflict Management and Resolution:

If peace is to have meaning, citizens of the region must address one
another in constructive ways, overcoming the fears and resentments that
have built up over time.  A project should include stakeholders from
different nations, ethnic groups, or religious communities in an effort
to expand the dialogue for coexistence.  The Bureau is especially
interested in proposals that highlight the role of civil society -
including women and young leaders - in resolving conflicts and
participating in negotiations for implementation of peace accords.

4. Trade and Investment; AGOA:

The African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA), signed into law in May
of 2000, offers qualifying African countries (there are 35 as of this
time) preferential access to U.S. markets for their industries.  We
invite proposals to `jumpstart' the AGOA process by providing medium and
small African business entrepreneurs and members of business
association's exposure to AGOA and to the American market in order to
increase capacity to develop new African-U.S. trade linkages.  Proposed
programs should include activities to enhance participants'
understanding of American business norms and actual practices, provide
them with knowledge of U.S. customs operations, product distribution and
retailing, and, finally, help them develop business linkages and
relationships with manufacturers and businesses in their respective
sectors.

5. Strengthening an Independent Media:

We invite proposals to build professionalism in the media - i.e.,
gaining an appreciation of and skill for objective reporting; developing
subject specialization (e.g. justice/legal issues); giving fair coverage
to positive as well as negative news; separating comment from news
coverage; avoiding inflammatory presentations; maintaining independence
from special interests; etc.  Concomitantly, attention must be given to
laws that constrain freedom of information and to forces that urge
journalists, editors, producers and publishers to censor themselves,
lest governments punish the media for having conveyed the message.
Program activities should emphasize hands-on activities such as
professional internships, small group training and specially tailored
projects, rather than academic seminars.  Of special interest are
programs on political reporting in a multi-party democracy.

6. Environmental Protection; Environmental Education; Wildlife
Conservation:

Environmental degradation undermines the quality of human life.  It is
closely linked, both directly and indirectly, with issues of public
health (air and water pollution; solid waste management) and economic
welfare (preservation of natural sites; eco-tourism; agricultural
productivity; the rational management of natural resources).
Environmental protection and conservation are trans-boundary issues,
faced by all countries/entities.  Projects are sought that enhance
public awareness of the threat posed by environmental deterioration,
that facilitate efforts to combat the threat by mobilizing either
governmental or non-governmental organizations, and that work at
multiple levels to educate and to develop solutions. Of special interest
are projects that would build the capacity of national park systems,
strengthen local economies, and promote regional/cross- border
cooperation in the Great Lakes region (Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic
Republic of Congo), as well as projects to clean up major cities in
other countries.

Contact for AF programs: Curtis Huff, 202/619-5972; e-mail
chuff@pd.state.gov or James Ogul, 202/205-0535; e-mail:
jogul@pd.state.gov.

EAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC (EAP):

FOR CHINA: 1.  Rule of Law: Projects, which include the development of
an independent judiciary, the enforcement of laws concerning
intellectual property rights (IPR), government accountability and
alternative dispute resolution (ADR). The objective is to expose
officials, journalists, lawyers and other relevant professionals to the
concepts and practice of law in the U.S.

2.  WTO Implementation: Projects, which include TRIPS compliance, IPR
enforcement, regulatory transparency, sector reforms and measures that
government and business can take to ease the displacement of workers in
the process of economic liberalization.

3.  Volunteerism: Projects which emphasize the role that volunteer
groups play in giving voice to citizens' concerns and how U.S.
organizations have succeeded in developing effective volunteer networks
in the U.S.

4.  Women in Society:  Projects which foster a dialogue on effectively
addressing the common challenges women face in both countries, including
the combating of family violence, a rapidly growing concern in China.

The need to involve individuals and organizations in the Western region
of China's vast interior should be reflected in successful proposals,
particularly in the Rule of Law and WTO proposals.

FOR INDONESIA: 1.  Conflict resolution: Projects focused on the
promotion of cultural and religious tolerance in an ethnically diverse
society.  Activities located in regions outside of Java, such as Aceh,
Maluku, Irian Jaya/Papua are especially welcomed, as are those
emphasizing the role of the media in promoting tolerance and the
resolution of conflict.

2.  Media: Projects, which emphasize the role that a free and
professional media play in a democracy.  Activities taking place outside
of Jakarta are recommended, as is the involvement of media organizations
such as the Press Council, the Alliance of Indonesian Journalists and
Media Watch.

3.  Rule of Law:  Projects concentrated on the use of the legal system
to improve the protection of human rights. Potential participants
include: members of the Constitution Drafting Committee on the
development of human rights law; lawyers and/or judges on the use of the
court system to protect human rights; a human rights NGO on the
provision of legal services for the indigent.  Also favorably looked
upon would be a project on the issues of reconciliation and justice,
with the need for both.

FOR MALAYSIA: 1.  Intellectual Property Rights (IPR):  Projects to
design courses on recent developments in IPR law and cyber law.
Malaysia, according to the USTR, is a main producer and exporter of
pirated products, partially due to its lack of expertise in IPR law and
low prosecution rates for IPR offenses.  An institutional affiliation
with the University of Malaya Law Faculty, including faculty exchanges
and a possible distance education component, would help confront rampant
IPR piracy and also contribute to a greater understanding of the US
legal system.  Projects that incorporate workshops and training on these
issues for staff of the Attorney General's office and the judiciary are
also welcomed.

2.  Judicial Reform: Projects to aid in the implementation of recent
legal reforms, especially alternative dispute resolution and case
management.  Other high priority projects relate to judicial
accountability, including training on the role of an independent
judiciary, appropriate conduct for judges and institutional mechanisms
for ensuring judicial independence and impartiality.

3.  Mutual Understanding:  Projects designed to strengthen meaningful
exchange between young Malaysians and Americans, especially on issues
pertaining to globalization, human rights and democracy.  Because the
numbers of Malaysians studying in the US have recently and dramatically
decreased, a generation of young professionals will soon have no direct
knowledge or understanding of US society.  However, there is also
growing interest in the Islamic community in the US; thus a project
focused on Islam and interfaith dialogue would help dispel what is
perceived as the USG's "anti-Islamic" agenda.

FOR MONGOLIA: 1.  Media in a New Democracy:  Projects that emphasize the
role of a free and independent press in strengthening a new democracy
and media strategies to accomplish that goal. Upgrade professional
skills of journalists in order to bolster their role in the building of
democracy. Training could emphasize standards of objectivity and media
ethics and issues such as anti-corruption.

2.  Promoting Democratic Government: Projects that demonstrate how a
democratic government functions from the community to the national
level.  Designed for mid to upper level government officials and
Parliamentarians relatively unfamiliar with the democratic process,
these programs should focus on such issues as deregulation, the role of
the media in a democracy, separation of powers and the government's role
in social and economic development.

FOR THE PHILIPPINES: 1.  Projects focused on the Philippines' capacity
to assess and remedy environmental problems and on the formulation and
enforcement of regulations that protect threatened land, coastal and
marine resources.  Since the Philippines has received international
priority for assistance in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, projects
that promote the use of clean fuels and renewable energy to improve
efficiency in energy generation, transmission, distribution and usage
are also welcomed.

2.  Economic Prosperity:  Projects focused on increasing market access
through the liberalization of trade and investment and on expanding
awareness of the potential benefits of globalization and the
interconnectedness of the world economy are welcomed. As the poorest
market economy in the region, the Philippines would benefit from
improved economic access to the American market and US exports and
investments in the Philippines would also benefit.  Projects that assist
in the design and funding of a social welfare net for those at the
bottom of the economic ladder are also solicited.

FOR VIETNAM: 1.  Bilateral Trade:  Proposals in the public
administration of trade regimes, such as training for customs officials,
product promotion of both exports and imports, port administration,
accountability, tracking systems development, etc.

2.  Public Health Administration:  Projects that support low- cost
sanitation efforts and basic health education.

ECA contact for EA programs: Steve Lebens, 202/260-5485; E- Mail
{SLebens@pd.state.gov}

NEAR EAST AND NORTH AFRICA (NEA): SOUTH ASIA (SA):

Proposals that respond to the following suggested themes and
organizational approaches will be considered Near East, North Africa,
and South Asia.  Not all countries listed in parentheses as potential
participants under the theme must be included in the exchange, and
proposals for single- country projects will receive full consideration.
Project proposals that bring together representatives from three or more
countries will receive priority consideration. Additionally, not all
components mentioned in relation to a given theme must be addressed in a
proposal; the paragraphs below are intended as a stimulus to critical
thinking, not as immutable frameworks.

The countries/entities comprising the NEA and SA Areas are listed below.
Currently there is no U.S. mission in Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, or Libya.
Please consider countries listed (specific interest) as potential
exchange partners in projects that address the theme, but recognize that
all themes may be appropriate for region-wide (any country or group of
countries) consideration.

Countries/Entities of the Near East and North Africa -- Algeria;
Bahrain; Egypt; Iran; Iraq; Israel; Jordan; Kuwait; Lebanon; Libya;
Morocco; Oman; Qatar; Saudi Arabia; Syria; Tunisia; the United Arab
Emirates (UAE); the West Bank and Gaza; Yemen

Countries of South Asia --Afghanistan; Bangladesh; Bhutan; India; the
Maldives; Nepal; Pakistan; Sri Lanka

1. Citizen Participation and Advocacy (Building and Strengthening
Non-governmental Organizations)

For India; Bangladesh; Pakistan; Nepal; Egypt; Morocco; Israel, the West
Bank and Gaza; Lebanon; Syria; Saudi Arabia; Kuwait; the UAE: Social and
political activism, encouraged, focused, and channeled through
non-governmental organizations, is a basic underpinning of democratic
society.  Strengthening NGO advocacy skills, management, grassroots
support, recruitment and motivation of volunteers, fundraising and
financial management, media relations, and networking for mutual support
and reinforcement will strengthen democratic/civil society trends in the
region.  Among other emphases, this project should focus on answering
questions about the proper role of NGO's, about facilitating Internet
communication and about developing cooperation between educators and
NGO's and between government agencies and NGO's for community action. It
is essential that organizations submitting proposals in this category
recognize that democratic activism is viewed with distrust by some of
the governments in the area and that foreign involvement with local
NGO's must be carefully thought out and approached with subtlety and
sensitivity, as such involvement may be viewed with suspicion.  Close
consultation with American Embassy/Consulate officers is critical.

2. Women's Activism, Organizational Skills, and Political Leadership.

For Egypt; India; Israel; Lebanon; Saudi Arabia; Kuwait; UAE; Bahrain;
Oman; Qatar; Yemen: This theme is also appropriate for a South Asia
regional exchange or a regional project involving the countries of the
Arabian Gulf.  Throughout the region, women exercise disproportionately
little political and social influence. While some women's groups have
organized themselves and actively campaign for equal rights and a
greater say in local issues, women need to learn how to develop
consensus on issues and build a constituency, mobilize support - both
urban/political and grassroots - raise money at the municipal, state,
and national levels, and how to win elections.  Once elected, at either
the state or the national level, how can they most effectively represent
the interests of their constituents?  What can women activists do to
affect policy as well as practice in the areas of health care,
education, domestic violence, and equal treatment under the law?
Elected women need skills training in budget, human resource management,
policy analysis, legislative drafting, and fighting corruption.

3. Environmental Protection; Environmental Education; Urban Environment.

For Egypt; Israel; the West Bank and Gaza; Lebanon; Bahrain; India;
Nepal: Environmental degradation undermines the quality of human life.
It is closely linked, both directly and indirectly, with issues of
public health (air and water pollution; solid waste management) and
economic welfare (preservation of natural sites; ecotourism;
agricultural productivity; the rational management of natural resources;
the balance between industrial growth and environmental concerns,
especially in urban areas).  Pollutant-laden air and impure groundwater
are trans-boundary issues, faced by all countries/entities.  Projects
are sought that enhance public awareness of the threat posed by
environmental deterioration, that facilitate efforts to combat the
threat by mobilizing either governmental or non-governmental
organizations, that engage municipal officials, planners, and service
providers, and that work at multiple levels to educate and to develop
solutions.  Of special concern to India is the need for increased
awareness and training regarding the treatment and disposal of
hazardous, often medical/bio-medical waste.

4. Professionalism in Media and the Strengthening of Journalistic
Independence.

For Israel; Jordan; the Wet Bank and Gaza; Lebanon; Tunisia; Morocco;
India; Nepal; and Pakistan: The development of professionalism in media
- gaining an appreciation for the importance of objective reporting;
developing subject specialization; applying rational management
techniques to newspaper publishing; etc. - remains an area in which
serious efforts must be expended if the fourth estate is to fulfill its
potential as a pillar of democratic society.  Concomitantly. Laws
throughout the region constrain press freedoms' and journalists'
editors' and publishers are forced to self-censor, lest governments
punish the media for having conveyed the message.  Projects are needed
to address professionalism and to focus on training and advice to
individuals and organizations devoted to the protection of press
freedoms and to the defense of journalists and their right to practice
their profession with integrity.

5. Rule of Law/Administration of Justice

For Nepal and Egypt: A well-trained, independent judiciary is
fundamental to a democratic political and social system.  The integrity
of the judicial process, affecting public confidence in the ability of
the judicial process to deliver justice, must be protected from
political interference.  Public perception of unequal and unfair
treatment before the bench of women, members of ethnic minority
communities and the poor is widespread.  Even well qualified and
well-intentioned judges are obstructed in their efforts to deliver
justice by case backlog, by procedural delay, and by insufficient
authority to exercise judicial discretion in court management.  It is
important that judges of both lower and higher courts be introduced to
the principles and practices of U.S. jurisprudence and that such
fundamental procedures as alternate dispute resolution, early neutral
evaluation, case management, the acceptance of guilty pleas, continuous
trial proceedings, and arbitration/mediation.

For Pakistan or South Asia Regional: In many countries the legal
profession is itself a major impediment to legal reform.  Members of the
bar take to the streets in semi-violent protest when the judiciary
suggests reforms.  Local bar associations function more as clubs than as
professional institutions.  Judges feel vulnerable to the legal
profession and cannot formally relate to its practitioners. Proposals
are sought from American institutions with experience in training
members of the bench and the bar to work together to resolve such issues
as performance standards (efficiency; competence; fairness of
administration), ethical standards (impropriety; corruption;
discrimination against specific groups, such as women or minorities),
and other related concerns.  The goal of such a project would be to
enhance the professionalism of the judiciary, the quality of the
relationship between the judiciary and the bar, and, by extrapolation,
to raise the quality of the administration of justice.

 For Jordan: A project is sought to institute private sector or
university-based programs to train paralegals and court administrators.
Participants might be unemployed or underemployed university graduates.
It would be essential to work with the Ministry of Justice, the
judiciary, and the bar association to assure that the trained graduates
could be integrated into the court system, with the goal of contributing
to the more efficient functioning of the judicial process.

6. Public Health

Issues of public health are central to the social well-being and to the
economic productivity and stability of a country. Some such issues are
directly related to the physical environment; others are more
appropriately addressed through the introduction of programs or the
institution of educational/training designed to modify the behavior of
individual citizens.

For India: Programs are sought that will result in the modification of
current practices having a deleterious impact on public health, such as
inadequate or nonexistent to water treatment and purification,
inadequate exhaust standards, food processing facilities, waste
collection and disposal (including biomedical waste), unsterile
practices at hospitals, the absence of screening at blood banks, the
operation of aging smokestack industries, etc.

For Israel; the West Bank and Gaza:

Statistics in Israel indicate an alarming increase in incidents of
violence in Israeli society, particularly school violence and domestic
violence. Similar patterns appear to exist in the West Bank and Gaza.
Educators posit that the overall violence of the Israeli-Palestinian
confrontation has a spillover effect, with students acting out in the
schools what they witness in the streets and at home.  An exchange both
to investigate the causes of increased in-school violence and to develop
educational programs focused on youth and young adults - the most common
perpetrators and victims of the violence - would be welcomed.

7. Combating Narcotic Abuse and Developing Positive Approaches to
Rehabilitation and Re-integration.

For Israel; Jordan; India: Narcotics trafficking and abuse is an
increasing problem for countries in the Near East and South Asia.
There is a need for a regional project, to include educators, community
leaders, medical practitioners, and drug rehabilitation experts, to work
with American counterparts in building a strategy to contain the spread
of drug use.  Emphasis should be placed on dealing with the issue on a
community level, and there should be a focus on rehabilitation and the
re- integration into society of former addicts through such undertakings
as job skills training programs and family and community support efforts
including initiatives and mechanisms for minimizing the likelihood of
relapse.

For India: NGO's in India dealing with substance abuse have adopted
diverse approaches to treatment, follow-up, aftercare, and
rehabilitation.  The greatest problem they face is the relapse of
recovering addicts.  The three major NGO's in this field in Calcutta are
interested in working with American specialists who can provide updated
strategies of relapse prevention.  Similarly these NGO's need to develop
low-cost but effective "care and support" programs for HIV positive
individuals, including counseling training.

8. Good Governance.

For Morocco and Nepal: Although concepts such as good governance and
ethics, transparency, responsiveness, and the fight against corruption
play an increasing role in public debates, in the media, and in regional
conferences, there is little evidence of reform.  The populace,
experiencing abuses of power and corruption on a daily basis, lacks
confidence in its institutions.  A proposal is sought that would assist
in the development of mechanisms of control to counteract corruption.
The American NGO would work with indigenous NGO's, citizens' rights
groups, journalists, human rights organizations, and government
officials to determine how best to expose and combat corruption.
Success in making government at all levels accountable and transparent
would contribute greatly toward the development of democratic
institutions and civic responsibility and would encourage increased
foreign investment.

For India and Jordan: With the creation of new governmental units in
some countries and the increasing need for more sophisticated knowledge
and skills among legislators and professional parliamentary staff in
others, there is a need for training both elected officials and
professional staff in management and research skills, legislative
drafting, program analysis, and computer skills.

9. Conflict Management/Resolution.

For Jordan: The absence of local or neighborhood dispute resolution
centers staffed by individuals trained in mediation, minor disputes,
often within families or between neighbors, may escalate into formal
conflict, enter the legal system, and evolve into win-lose situations.
A project is sought to establish and provide support - training;
administrative skills development - for local alternative dispute
resolution efforts.

For Israel; the West Bank and Gaza; India; Pakistan; Lebanon; Sri Lanka:
A community that must expend its time, its energy, and its material
resources on offensive or defensive combat is unable to develop or
maintain a civil basis for democratic institutions. Projects are sought
that will focus on redefining inter-communal conflict in specific
situations and, through facilitating dialogue - among teachers,
professionals, businesspersons, journalists, community activists -
promote better understanding among parties in conflict.

10. Human Rights.

For Nepal: Following the establishment of democracy, the government of
Nepal made various commitments to ensure the rights of women and
children.  Diverse organizations are available to work with American
specialists in the areas of child labor and trafficking in women and
children.  A proposal is sought to work with Nepalese counterparts in
combating child labor and in promoting the rights of women and children
in an environment in which trafficking remains a major threat.

ECA/PE/C/NEA contact for NEA and SA programs:  Thomas Johnston,
202/619-5325; {tjohnsto@pd.state.gov}or Susan Krause, 202/619-5332;
{skrause@pd.state.gov}

WESTERN HEMISPHERE AFFAIRS (WHA): The Bureau of Western Hemisphere
Affairs includes the countries of Canada, Mexico, Central and South
America, and the Caribbean.

For all of WHA: We welcome proposals which contribute to strengthening
democratic institution building; administration of justice, including
exchanges of judges and prosecutors and between associations and NGOs
promoting justice; law enforcement, including community-based anti- gang
or anti-drug organizations; and economic reform, free trade and regional
economic integration, sustainable development, environmental education,
public administration, and municipal government for all countries in the
region. In addition, we welcome proposals that improve civil rights for
Afro-Latino minorities in the region, with special attention to the
goals of economic development and full participation in their nation's
democratic institutions and civic life.  For the countries mentioned
below, some preference may be given to proposals that track closely the
following suggestions:

For Mexico: We welcome proposals that would create opportunities for
Mexican and U.S. cities to better understand how effective communities
can and do resolve problems via strategic planning and implementation.
Project activities might focus on how municipal teams, including
government officials, educational leaders, NGOs, business leaders, etc.,
join forces to develop approaches to economic development or solutions
to major problems (environment, crime, drug use, etc.)  Ideally,
participants will be involved in this kind of strategic committee and
will share ideas, successes, and challenges from the two countries.

For Brazil:  We welcome proposals for projects designed to work with the
Brazilian judiciary and legal establishment on implementing alternative
dispute resolution, particularly mediation, in the country.

For El Salvador:  We welcome proposals that involve participants in
development of public environmental education campaigns in which the
private sector, media and NGOs play important roles in the fields of
promoting and implementing programs on resource conservation, recycling
in areas outside the major metropolitan areas and sustainable
development.  Special focus should be devoted towards the strengthening
of local Salvadoran environmental NGOs, many of which do not have the
personnel or resources to support large-scale public environmental
education projects. Competitive proposals should emphasize preventive
maintenance and regular cleaning of water drainage systems during the
rainy season (May - November).

For Costa Rica, Honduras and Panama:  We welcome proposals that involve
participants in developing environmental education programs in schools
and to the public with use of the media and/or with selected
municipalities, capitalizing on the new interest of fledgling NGO
environmental groups. Hurricane Mitch's destruction raised awareness
throughout Central America of the potential for deforestation to
intensify the severity of natural disasters.  A particularly vulnerable
area is the Panama Canal Watershed, whose protection is vital to
ensuring adequate water supply for the functioning of the Canal.  In
Panama there is growing public awareness that the time for action is now
and that education is the key.  Therefore, for Panama we welcome
proposals that focus on environmental education in the public schools as
well as community-based projects on recycling, resource conservation,
and sustainable development.

For Nicaragua and Guatemala: We welcome projects that work to strengthen
institutions of government whose work has a direct impact on the quality
of a country's democracy and to increase their transparency,
accountability, and responsiveness, and effectiveness of operations.
Especially welcome would be proposals that address anti-corruption
methods.  Projects might focus on local government or elements of
executive branches, legislatures, or judicial systems.  One example
might be an exchange for local mayors to see innovations in city
government and citizen participation in municipal affairs, with a return
visit by a group of U.S. mayors and city managers and municipal experts
to hold larger workshops on the same theme.

For Peru:  We welcome proposals on decentralization and resource
management issues for local government. Competitive proposals should
include an exchange for a group of local mayors and other
decentralization specialists who would meet with U.S. local government
representatives, businesses and neighborhood groups in order to gain a
more in-depth understanding of local government in the U.S.

For Jamaica:  We welcome proposals that would create opportunities for
Jamaican communities to better understand how to resolve problems via
citizen participation and multi- sectoral cooperation.  Project
activities might focus on how municipal teams, including NGOs, civic and
educational leaders, government officials, business leaders, media,
etc., join forces to develop approaches to economic development or
solutions to major problems (crime, HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, drug
use, environment, etc.).  Of special interest are programs that
encourage participation and leadership by women and youth at risk.

For Haiti: We welcome proposals for the strengthening of civil society
organizations.

ECA/PE/C/WHA/EAP contact for WHA programs:  Laverne Johnson,
202/619-5337; E-Mail {LJohnson@pd.state.gov}

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE (CEE) AND THE NEWLY INDEPENDENT STATES (NIS):

Requests for proposals involving the following countries will be
announced in separate competitions:  CEE - Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina,
Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania,
Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic, and Slovenia; NIS -
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova,
Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.  Proposals
involving these regions WILL NOT be accepted under this competition.

WESTERN EUROPE (WEU):

Proposals involving this region WILL NOT be accepted under this
competition.

SELECTION OF PARTICIPANTS

All grant proposals should clearly describe the type of persons who will
participate in the program as well as the process by which participants
will be selected.  It is recommended that programs in support of U.S.
internships include letters tentatively committing host institutions to
support the internships.  In the selection of foreign participants, the
Bureau and U.S. Embassies abroad retain the right to review all
participant nominations and to accept or deny participants recommended
by grantee institutions.  However, grantee institutions should describe
in detail the recruitment and selection process they recommend.  The
grantee institution will also provide the names of American participants
and brief (two pages) biographical data on each American participant to
the Office of Citizen Exchanges for information purposes.  Priority will
be given to foreign participants who have not previously traveled to the
United States.

GUIDELINES

The Office of Citizen Exchanges works with U.S. private sector and
governmental, non-profit organizations on cooperative international
group projects that introduce American and foreign participants to each
others' social, economic, and political structures and international
interests.  The Office supports international projects in the United
States or overseas involving leaders or potential leaders in the
following fields and professions: urban planners, jurists, specialized
journalists (specialists in economics, business, environmental,
political analysis, international affairs), business professionals, NGO
and community leaders, environmental specialists, parliamentarians,
educators, economists, and other government officials

The themes addressed in exchange programs must be of long-term
importance rather than focused exclusively on current events or
short-term issues.  In every case, a substantial rationale must be
presented as part of the proposal, one that clearly indicates the
distinctive and important contribution of the overall project,
including, where applicable, the expected yield of any associated
conference. Projects that duplicate what is routinely carried out by
private sector and/or public sector operations will not be considered.
All applicants should contact the Office of Citizen Exchanges to discuss
program concepts prior to proposal submission. In addition, applicants
are encouraged to contact the Public Affairs Sections in U.S. Embassies
to discuss proposed activities and their relevance to mission
priorities.

Bureau-supported projects may include internships; study tours;
short-term, non-technical training; and extended, intensive workshops
taking place in the United States or overseas. Examples of possible
program activities include.

1. A U.S.-based program that includes: orientation to program purposes
and to U.S. society; study tour/site visits; professional
internships/placements; interaction and dialogue; hands-on training;
professional development; and action plan development. 2.
Capacity-building/training-of-trainer (TOT) workshops to help
participants to identify priorities, create work plans, strengthen
professional and volunteer skills, share their experience to committed
people within each country, and become active in a practical and
valuable way. 3. Seed/small grants to indigenous non-profit
organizations to support community-based educational projects that build
upon exchange activities and that address issues of local concern.
Projects may include a component for a Seed/Small Grants Competition
(often referred to as `sub-grants' or `secondary grants'). This requires
a detailed plan for recruitment and advertising; description of the
proposal review and award mechanism; a plan for how the grantee would
monitor and evaluate small grant activity; and a proposed amount for an
average grant. The small grants should be directly linked to exchange
activities. 4. Site visits by U.S. facilitators/experts to monitor
projects in the region and to provide additional training and
consultations as needed. 5. Content-based Internet training/
cyber-training to encourage citizen participation in workshops, fora,
chats, and/or discussions via the Internet that will stimulate
communication and information sharing among key opinion leaders on
priority topics as a form of cost sharing. Proposals that include
Internet utilization must reflect knowledge of the opportunities and
obstacles that exist for use of information technologies in the target
country or countries, and, if needed, provide hardware, software and
servers, preferably as a form of cost sharing.  Federal standards are
under review and their adoption may impact on the implementation of
these programs.

The Office of Citizen Exchanges strongly encourages the coordination of
activities with respected universities, professional associations, and
major cultural institutions in the U.S. and abroad, but particularly in
the U.S. Projects should be intellectual and cultural, not technical.
Vocational training (an occupation other than one requiring a
baccalaureate or higher academic degree; i.e., clerical work, auto
maintenance, etc., and other occupations requiring less than two years
of higher education) and technical training (special and practical
knowledge of a mechanical or a scientific subject which enhances
mechanical, narrowly scientific, or semi-skilled capabilities) are
ineligible for support.  In addition, scholarship programs are
ineligible for support.

The Office does not support proposals limited to conferences or seminars
(i.e., one to fourteen-day programs with plenary sessions, main
speakers, panels, and a passive audience). It will support conferences
only insofar as they are part of a larger project in duration and scope
that is receiving Bureau funding from this competition.  The Office does
support workshops, seminars and training sessions that are an integral
part of a larger project.  No funding is available exclusively to send
U.S. citizens to conferences or conference-type seminars overseas; nor
is funding available for bringing foreign nationals to conferences or to
routine professional association meetings in the United States.

ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE

The Office of Citizen Exchanges offers the following additional guidance
to prospective applicants:

1.  The Office of Citizen Exchanges encourages project proposals
involving more than one country.  Pertinent rationale that links
countries in multi-country projects should be included in the
submission.  Single-country projects that are clearly defined and
possess the potential for creating and strengthening continuing linkages
between foreign and U.S. institutions are also welcome. 2.  Proposals
are subject to review and comment by the U.S. Embassy representative in
the relevant country, and pre-selected participants will also be subject
to Embassy review and approval. 3.  Programs should clearly identify any
counterpart organization(s) mentioned in the proposal and provide
evidence of the organization's participation. 4.  The Office of Citizen
Exchanges will consider proposals for activities that take place
exclusively in other countries when U.S. Embassies are consulted in the
design of the proposed program and in the choice of the most suitable
venues for such programs. 5.  Office of Citizen Exchanges grants are not
given under this RFGP to support projects whose focus is limited to
technical or vocational subjects, or for research projects, for
publications funding, for student and/or teacher/faculty exchanges, for
sports and/or sports related programs.  Nor does this office provide
scholarships or support for long-term (a semester or more) academic
studies. Competitions sponsored by other Bureau offices are also
announced in the Federal Register.

For projects that would begin after December 31, 2002, competition
details will be announced in the Federal Register on or about June 1,
2002.  Inquiries concerning technical requirements are welcome prior to
submission of applications.

 FUNDING AND COST SHARING

Although there are not set funding limits, proposals for less than
$165,000 will receive preference.  Organizations with less than four
years of successful experience in managing international exchange
programs are limited to $60,000.  Applicants are invited to provide both
an all- inclusive budget as well as separate sub-budgets for each
program component, phase, location, or activity in order to facilitate
Bureau decisions on funding.  While an all- inclusive budget must be
provided with each proposal, separate component budgets are optional.
Competition for Bureau funding support is keen.

The selection of grantee institutions will depend on program substance,
cross-cultural sensitivity, and ability to carry out the program
successfully.  Since Bureau grant assistance constitutes only a portion
of total project funding, proposals should list and provide evidence of
other anticipated sources of financial and in-kind support. Proposals
with substantial private sector support from foundations, corporations,
and other institutions, will be deemed highly competitive.  The
Recipient must provide a MINIMUM of 33 percent cost sharing of the total
project cost.

The following project costs are eligible for consideration for funding:

1.  Travel costs.  International and domestic airfares; visas; transit
costs; ground transportation costs. Please note that all air travel must
be in compliance with the Fly America Act.  There is no charge for J-1
visas for participants in Bureau sponsored programs. 2.  Per Diem.  For
the U.S. program, organizations have the option of using a flat $160/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:  U.S. escorting
staff must use the published Federal per diem rates, not the flat rate.
Per diem rates may be accessed at http://www.policyworks.gov/. 3.
Interpreters:  If needed, interpreters for the U.S. program are
available through the U.S. Department of State Language Services
Division.  Typically, a pair of simultaneous interpreters is provided
for every four visitors who need interpretation.  Bureau grants do not
pay for foreign interpreters to accompany delegations from their home
country.  Grant proposal budgets should contain a flat $160/day per diem
for each Department of State 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.  Locally arranged
interpreters with adequate skills and experience may be used by the
grantee in lieu of State Department interpreters, with the same 1:4
interpreter to participant ratio.  Costs associated with using their
services may not exceed rates for U.S. Department of State interpreters.
4.  Book and cultural allowance: Foreign participants are entitled to
and escorts are reimbursed a one-time cultural allowance of $150 per
person, plus a participant book allowance of $50.  U.S. program staff
members are not eligible to receive these benefits. 5.  Consultants.
Consultants may be used to provide specialized expertise or to make
presentations.  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.  Subcontracts should be itemized in the
budget. 6.  Room rental.  Room rental may not exceed $250 per day. 7.
Materials development.  Proposals may contain costs to purchase,
develop, and translate materials for participants. 8.  Equipment.
Proposals may contain limited costs to purchase equipment crucial to the
success of the program, such as computers, fax machines and copy
machines.  However, equipment costs must be kept to a minimum, and costs
for furniture are not allowed. 9.  Working Meal.  The grant budget may
provide for only one working meal during the program.  Per capita costs
may not exceed $5-8 for a lunch and $14-20 for a dinner, excluding room
rental.  The number of invited guests may not exceed participants by
more than a factor of two-to-one. Interpreters must be included as
participants. 10.  Return travel allowance.  A return travel allowance
of $70 for each foreign participant may be included in the budget.
This may be used for incidental expenses incurred during international
travel. 11.  Health Insurance.  Foreign participants will be covered
under the terms of a U.S. Department of State-sponsored health insurance
policy.  The premium is paid by the U.S. Department of State directly to
the insurance company. Applicants are permitted to included costs for
travel insurance for U.S. participants in the budget. 12.
Administrative Costs.  Costs necessary for the effective administration
of the program may include salaries for grant organization employees,
benefits, and other direct or indirect costs per detailed instructions
in the Solicitation Package.  Note:  the 20 percent limitation of
"administrative costs" included in previous announcements does not apply
to this RFP.  Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete
budget guidelines.

 REVIEW PROCESS

All proposals will be forwarded to panels of Bureau officers for
advisory review.  The program office will review each proposal.  U.S.
Embassy officers will also review proposals, where appropriate.
Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of the Legal Advisor or by
other offices in the Department of State.  Final funding decisions are
at the discretion of the Department of State's Acting Assistant
Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs.  Final technical
authority for grants resides with the Bureau's Grants Officer.

REVIEW CRITERIA

 The Bureau 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 originality,
substance, precision, and relevance to the Agency mission. 2.  Program
Planning/Ability to Achieve Program Objectives: Detailed agenda and
relevant work plan should demonstrate substantive undertakings and
logistical capacity.  Agenda and plan should adhere to the program
overview and guidelines described above. Objectives should be
reasonable, feasible, and flexible.  Proposals should clearly
demonstrate how the institution will meet the program objectives and
plan. 3.  Multiplier Effect/Impact:  Proposed programs should strengthen
long-term mutual understanding, including maximum sharing of information
and establishment of long-term institutional and individual linkages. 4.
Support of Diversity:  Proposals should demonstrate the substantive
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Program content (training
sessions, resource materials, follow-on activities) and program
administration (participant selection process, orientation, evaluation,
resource/staff persons) should address diversity in a comprehensive and
innovative manner.  Applicants should refer to the Bureau?s Diversity,
Freedom and Democracy Guidelines on page four of the Proposal Submission
Instructions (PSI). 5.  Institutional Capacity/Reputation/Ability:
Proposed personnel and institutional resources should be adequate and
appropriate to achieve the program's or project's goal. Proposals should
demonstrate an institutional record of successful exchange programs,
including responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all
reporting requirements for past Bureau grants as determined by the
Bureau's Office of Contracts. The Bureau will consider the past
performance of prior recipients and the demonstrated potential of new
applicants. 6.  Follow-on Activities:  Proposals should provide a plan
for continued follow-on activity (without Bureau support) that ensures
that Bureau-supported programs are not isolated events. 7.  Evaluation
Plan:  Proposals should provide a plan for a thorough and objective
evaluation of the program/project by the grantee institution. 8.
Cost-Effectiveness/Cost Sharing:  The overhead and administrative
components of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be
kept as low as possible. All other items should be necessary and
appropriate. Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through other
private sector support as well as institutional direct funding
contributions.

DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs must receive all copies
by 5 p.m. Washington, D.C. time on Friday, October 5, 2001.  Faxed
documents will not be accepted at any time.  Documents postmarked by the
due date but received at a later date will not be accepted.  It is the
responsibility of each grant applicant to ensure that proposals are
received by the above deadline.  This action is effective from the
publication date of this notice through October 5, 2001, for projects
where activities will begin between April 1, 2002 and December 31, 2002.

TO DOWNLOAD A SOLICITATION PACKAGE VIA INTERNET

The Solicitation Package may be downloaded from Department of State's
website at http://exchanges.state.gov/education/rfgps/.  Please read all
information before beginning to download.

ADDRESSES

Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation Package.
The original and 10 copies should be sent to:

                         U.S. Department of State, SA-44
                         Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs
                         REF: ECA/PE/C/-02-1 Annual Open
Grant Competition
                         Program Management, ECA/EX/PM
                    301 4th Street, S.W., Room 534
                    Washington, D.C.  20547

Applicants must also submit to E/XE the "Executive Summary" and
"Proposal Narrative" of each proposal on a 3.5" diskette, formatted for
DOS. This material must be provided in ASCII text (DOS) format with a
maximum line length of 65 characters.  The Bureau will transmit these
files electronically to U.S. embassies overseas for their review, with
the goal of reducing the time it takes to get the respective Embassy's
comments for the Bureau's grants review process.

DIVERSITY, FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY GUIDELINES

Pursuant to the Bureau's authorizing legislation, programs must maintain
a non-political character and should be balanced and representative of
the diversity of American political, social, and cultural life.
"Diversity" should be interpreted in the broadest sense and encompass
differences including, but not limited to ethnicity, race, gender,
religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, and physical
challenges.  Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere to the
advancement of this principle both in program administration and in
program content.  Please refer to the review criteria under the 'Support
for Diversity' section for specific suggestions on incorporating
diversity into the total 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.

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 the
other countries of the world."

NOTICE

The terms and conditions published in this RFP are binding and may not
be modified by any Bureau representative. Explanatory information
provided by the Bureau that contradicts published language will not be
binding. Issuance of the RFP does not constitute an award commitment on
the part of the Government.  The Bureau reserves the right to reduce,
revise, or increase proposal budgets in accordance with the need of the
program and the availability of funds.  Organizations will be expected
to cooperate with the Bureau in evaluating their programs under the
principles of the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993, which
requires federal agencies to measure and report on the results of their
programs and activities.

NOTIFICATION

Final awards cannot be made until funds have been fully appropriated by
the Congress, allocated, and committed through internal Bureau
procedures.  Grant awards will be announced after February 1, 2002.