Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program (19.013)

Program

19.013 Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program

Federal Agency

Agency: U.S. Department of State
Office: Bureau Of Personnel

Authorization

Section 150 - 1990-1991 Department of State Authorization Bill, Public Law 101-246, 42 Stat. 47; State Dept Basic Authorities Act of 1956 , Title 22, Part 2719, Section 47.

Program Number

19.013

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

As authorized by authorizations stated above-the The Pickering Program has an undergraduate and graduate component. Both programs have a common purpose - to attract outstanding students who represent all ethnic and social backgrounds, who have an interest in pursuing a Foreign Service career in the U.S. Department of State. These programs develop a source of trained men and women, from academic fields representing the skill needs of the Department who are dedicated to representing America's interests abroad.

Types of Assistance

Cooperative Agreements; Cooperative Agreements (Discretionary Grants); Project Grants (Fellowships)

Uses and Use Restrictions

Funding is used to support program administration as well as coordinating program logistics. Funding supports activities and finaincal obligations such as tuition costs for undergraduate and graduate study; room and board; student travel; books, fees and costs associated with student summer internship programs including stipends, travel, passport fees, inoculation and visa fees. Additionally, a designated amount of funds may be used for administrative costs associated with the program administration. Funding is to used to support program administration as well as coordinating program logistics. Funding supports activities and financial obligations such as tuition costs for undergraduate and graduate study; room and board; student travel; books, fees and costs associated with student summer internship programs including stipends, travel, passport fees, inoculation and visa fees. Additionally, a designated amount of funds may be used for administrative costs associated with the program administration.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

None

Beneficiary Eligibility

None

Credentials/Documentation

Applications may be submitted by public and private non-profit organizations. Please refer to Grants.gov for further eligibility criteria. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. This program is excluded form coverage under OMB Circular A-102. OMB CircularA-110 applies to this program. Formal applications should be prepared in response to announcements of mandatory program requirements and closing dates in the Federal Register.

Award Procedure

The Recipient must submit all requests, in writing to the Grants , before the project period end date indicated on form DS-1909. Final approval is subject to review and acceptance by the GO.
Unless otherwise specified in the award, provisions of the applicable Federal cost principles and other Federal administrative requirements for prior approval apply only to the activities and expenditures specified in the award.
� Written prior approval, by way of amendment, from the Department of State�s Grants Officer is required for:
o Change in the scope or the objective of the project or program (even if there is no associated budget revision requiring prior written approval.
o Change in a key personnel specified in the application or award document.
o The absence for more than three months, or a 25 percent reduction in time devoted to the project, by the approved project director or principal investigator.
o The need for additional Federal funding.
o The transfer of amounts budgeted for indirect costs to absorb increases in direct costs.
o Extension of the period of performance.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

See Grants.gov.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Please see Grants.gov for information on how assistance is awarded/released.

The recipient may charge to the award only allowable costs resulting from obligations incurred during the funding period. Expenditures only for staff costs that are obligated during the award project period, may be charged to the award up to 90 days following the expiration date. These funds shall be available for closeout activities limited to the preparation of final reports. No other staff costs should be obligated and expended. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Payments are made through the DHHS payment system PMS. The Payment Management System instructions will be available upon award of the grant. The instructions will be under the PMS website and can be accessed at a web address provided by grants management. Recipients should request funds based on immediate disbursement requirements and disburse funds as soon as possible to minimize the Federal case on hand in accordance with the policies established by the U.S. Treasury Department and mandated by OMB Circulars.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. The Recipient must comply with the OMB audit requirements.

For all DOS awards, regardless of business type, the Recipients are subject to the audit requirements found in OMB audit requirements. In addition, the Recipients are subject to the audit requirements found in the Single Audit Act of 1984, 31 U.S.C. 7501-7507.
Non-Federal entities that expend $500,000 or more in a year in Federal awards must have a single or program-specific audit conducted for that year in accordance with the revised circular.
Non-Federal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirement for that year, except as noted in OMB Requirements, but records must be available for review or audit by appropriate DOS officials, pass through entity, and Government Accountability Office. The cost of auditing a non-Federal entity which has Federal awards expended of less than $500,000 for fiscal years ending after December 31, 2003) per year and is thereby exempted under OMB Audit requirements.

Records

Recipients must maintain finanical records, supporting documents, statistical records, and alll other records pertinent to the award period.

The recipient is required to submit a quarterly program and financial reports 30 days after the calendar year quarter (March 31st, June 30th, September 30th, and December 31st). A final certified financial report and program report must be submitted to the Grants or Principal Officer within 90 days after the award period end date.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: Their have been over 300 fellows selected since 1992. The Pickering Fellowship attracts outstanding students who represent all ethnic and social backgrounds, and who have an interest in pursuing a Foreign Service Career in the U.S. Department of State. This program develops a source of trained men and women who are dedicated to representing America's interests abroad. Fiscal Year 2009: No current data available. Fiscal Year 2010: No current data available.

Financial Information

Account Identification

01-0258-4-1-010 - HR Document Number - Accounting/Appropriation Data.

Obligations

(Salaries) FY 08 $6,042,544; FY 09 est $6,242,654; FY 10 est $6,555,091

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Please see obligations...

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

As stated in the Grants.gov announcement.

(Please see the following websites for further info and literature :
1) Dept of State ---- http://www.careers.state.gov/students/programs.html#TRP
(2) Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation --www.woodrow.org/fellowships/foreign_affairs/pickering_undergrad/index.php

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Ebony K. Smith, Dept of State SA-1,Student Programs, Rm H-518, 2401 E Street NW
, Washington, District of Columbia 20522 Email: Smithek2@State.gov Phone: (202) 261-8958 Fax: (202) 261-8842

Web Site Address

http://www.careers.state.gov/students/programs.html#TRP

Examples of Funded Projects

Not Applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Quality of program idea; Program planning ability; Ability to achieve objectives; Multiplier effect/impact i.e. can the program support an increased load; Support diversity; International capacity; institution's record/ability; Cost-effectiveness/savings. Please refer to Grants.gov for further information.