USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Institutions eligible for discretionary grant funding must enter into an
agreement with a business enterprise, trade organization or association
engaged in international economic activity, or a combination or consortium of
the named entities. This program is subject to non-supplanting requirements
and must use a restricted indirect cost rate which is referenced under 34 CFR
76.564-76.569. For assistance call the Office of the Chief Financial
Officer/Indirect Cost Group on (202) 708-7770.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility: Accredited institutions of
higher education may apply. Institutions must enhance their own international
academic programs and provide appropriate services to the business community
to expand U.S. exports abroad.
Beneficiary Eligibility: Students and faculty at
accredited institutions will benefit.
Credentials/Documentation: This program is
excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:
Pre-application Coordination: This program is
excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded
from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure: Eligible institutions may
submit proposals for funding of projects when the announcement of a new
competition appears in the Federal Register. Application forms and guidelines
are available from the International Education Graduate Program Service. This
program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110.
Award Procedure: Final recommendations are made
to the Secretary of Education following advice from a panel of consultants,
developed according to procedures in regulations.
Deadlines: Deadline for transmittal of proposals
is announced in the Federal Register.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: Approximately
120 days.
Appeals: None.
Renewals: Project period may last up to 24
months. Applicants submit performance reports for continuation funding
according to instructions established by the Department. Renewals are subject
to the availability of appropriations.
ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula and Matching Requirements: The Federal share
for each fiscal year shall not exceed 50 percent of the cost of each project.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: Grants are
awarded for a 12 or 24 month period. Renewals are subject to the availability
of appropriations.
POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports: Institutions must provide final reports
upon completion of the program. Financial reports are also required.
Audits: None.
Records: All records supporting claims under
grants or relating to accountability for awarded funds must be available upon
request: (1) For three years after close of the fiscal year in which the grant
was closed out; or (2) until the grantee is notified of the completion of a
Federal financial audit, whichever is later.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
Account Identification: 91-0201-0-1-502.
Obligations: (Grants) FY 01 $4,305,000; FY 02 est
$4,600,000; and FY 03 est $4,720,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance: In
2001, the average new award was $75,000; the average continuation award was
$79,000.
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
In fiscal year 2001, 56 awards were made to eligible institutions.
REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
34 CFR 74, 75, 77, and 78 available from Superintendent of Documents,
Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402.
INFORMATION CONTACTS:
Regional or Local Office: Not applicable.
Headquarters Office: International Studies Team,
International Education and Graduate Programs Service, Office of Postsecondary
Education, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20202-5332. Contact: Tanyelle Richardson. Telephone: (202) 502-7626. email:
tanyelle.richardson@ed.gov.
Web Site Address: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/OHEP.
EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
Projects to improve the teaching of international business and support
linkages between institutions of higher education and the business community
engaged in international commerce. Howard Community College's International
Business and Education Center developed a one-stop shopping International
Trade Assistance Center (ITAC) which promotes economic development in Howard
County and the State of Maryland with Title VI funding. ITAC provides services
to businesses in all phases of exporting. Furthermore, ITAC has partnered with
several public entities, including Maryland's International Division, World
Trade Center Institute and Howard County's Economic Development Authority and
others. These partnerships enable ITAC to serve businesses and promote their
capacity to sell its goods and services outside the United States. Moreover,
the International Business and Educational Center (IBEC) has launched major
initiatives to internationalize both credit and non-credit courses at Howard
Community College. These initiatives include international faculty exchanges.
The first-hand experience enables faculty to enrich both the curriculum and
the student awareness of international business issues. Purdue University's
School of Agriculture trained twenty undergraduate students in agribusiness,
Russian language and area studies. The students studied Russian language, area
studies, agriculture and business practices in both Indiana and Novgorod,
Russia. Each student collected and compiled market research for Indiana
businesses and were involved in several trade workshops in Indiana to increase
the capacity of Indiana agribusiness to conduct trade activities in Russia.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
Applications for awards will be evaluated competitively under the selection
criteria which includes: (1) Plan of operation (30 points); (2) qualifications
of key personal (10 points); (3) budget and cost-effectiveness (15 points);
(4) evaluation plan (15 points); (5) adequacy of resources (10 points); and
(6) need for the project (20 points).
