2013 americorps notice final revised.pdf

ANNOUNCEMENT OF FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

OVERVIEW

Federal Agency Name: Corporation for National and Community Service

Funding Opportunity Title: AmeriCorps State and National Grants FY 2013

Announcement Type: Revised Announcement 11/16/2012

CFDA Number: 94.006

Dates: Applications are due Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Successful applicants will be notified no later than June 14, 2013, contingent on full year appropriations.

The mission of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic participation through service and volunteering.

CNCS—through its AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs and the Social Innovation Fund— has helped to engage millions of citizens in meeting community and national challenges through service and volunteer action.

This AmeriCorps State and National (AmeriCorps) Notice of Federal Funding Opportunity

Notice (Notice) will focus grant making for fiscal year 2013 in six focus areas identified by the

Serve America Act (SAA):

Disaster Services.

Economic Opportunity.

Education.

Environmental Stewardship.

Healthy Futures.

Veterans and Military Families.

In order to maximize the impact of the public investment in national service, CNCS will fund programs that can demonstrate community impact and solve community problems using an evidence-based or evidence-informed approach (e.g. performance data, research, theory of change).

In accordance with the Obama Administration’s emphasis on open government, CNCS is committed to greater openness and transparency in grantmaking. Section V of this Notice includes a description of the review and selection process.

The following information pertaining to this competition for new and recompete applications will be published on the CNCS website (http://nationalservice.gov/about/open/grants.asp), within

90 business days after all grants are awarded:

A blank template of external review form.

A list of all compliant applications submitted.

Executive summaries of all compliant applications prepared by the applicants as part of the application.

http://nationalservice.gov/about/open/grants.asp

Copies of the SF424 and Program Narrative submitted by applicants for successful applicants.

Summaries of external reviewer’s comments for successful applications.

Publication of this Notice does not obligate CNCS to award any specific number of grants or to obligate the entire amount of funding available.

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Purpose of AmeriCorps funding

AmeriCorps grants are awarded to eligible organizations engaged in evidence-based or evidence-informed (e.g. performance data, research, theory of change) interventions that use AmeriCorps members to strengthen communities. An AmeriCorps member is an individual who engages in community service through an approved national service position. Members may receive a living allowance and other benefits while serving. Upon successful completion of their service, members receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award from the National Service Trust.

For nearly two decades, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) has invested in community solutions across the nation -- working hand in hand with local partners to improve lives, expand economic opportunity, and engage millions of Americans in solving problems in their communities.

With its unique structure as a public-private partnership and its cost-effective model of engaging citizens and leveraging outside resources, national service offers a quadruple bottom line return on investment: benefiting the recipients of service, those who serve, and local communities and our nation.

Through all its programs, CNCS expands economic opportunity – helping Americans acquire the skills, education, and training they need for productive employment. By helping more

Americans graduate, purse higher education, and find work, national service provides immediate and long term benefits, by expanding individual opportunity, building family stability, and creating more sustainable, resilient communities.

Through AmeriCorps and other programs, CNCS brings vital leadership, resources, and coordination to some of the most pressing challenges facing America: educating students for jobs of the 21st century, supporting individuals, families, and neighborhoods on the road to economic recovery; addressing the needs of military families and a new generation of veterans returning from war; helping communities rebuild after natural disasters; strengthening energy efficiency and improving at-risk ecosystems; and providing healthy futures.

CNCS believes that all Americans should have opportunities to participate in national service, including those communities that have been traditionally underrepresented in national service, such as rural residents, veterans and military families, Native Americans, and “Opportunity

Youth,” the one in six young people (ages 16-24) who are disconnected from school or work. CNCS recognizes that service can create powerful pathways to education and employment for these populations, transforming their communities and creating broad economic benefit for the country.

In order to carry out Congress’ intent and to maximize the impact of investment in national service, CNCS is targeting AmeriCorps funding in the following focus areas:

Disaster Services:

Grant activities will:

Increase the preparedness of individuals.

Improve individuals’ readiness to respond.

Help individuals recover from disasters.

Help individuals mitigate disasters.

Economic Opportunity:

Grants will provide support and/or facilitate access to services and resources that contribute to the improved economic well-being and security of economically disadvantaged people. Grant activities will help economically disadvantaged people to:

Have improved access to services and benefits aimed at contributing to their enhanced financial literacy.

Transition into or remain in safe, healthy, affordable housing.

Have improved employability leading to increased success in becoming employed.

Education:

Grants will provide support and/or facilitate access to services and resources that contribute to improved educational outcomes for economically disadvantaged individuals, especially children.

CNCS is particularly interested in program designs that support youth engagement and service-learning as strategies to achieve improved academic outcomes. Grant activities will improve:

School readiness for economically disadvantaged young children.

Educational and behavioral outcomes of students in low-achieving elementary, middle, and high schools.

The preparation for and prospects of success in post-secondary education institutions for economically disadvantaged students.

Environmental Stewardship:

Grants will provide support for direct services that contribute to increased energy and water efficiency, renewable energy use, or improving at-risk ecosystems. In addition, grants will support increased citizen behavioral change leading to increased efficiency, renewable energy use, and ecosystem improvements particularly for economically disadvantaged households and communities. Grant activities will:

Decrease energy and water consumption.

Improve at-risk ecosystems.

Increase behavioral changes that lead directly to decreased energy and water consumption or improved at-risk ecosystems.

Increase green training opportunities that may lead to decreased energy and water consumption or improved at-risk ecosystems.

In addition, the Administration is exploring ways to provide service, training, education, and employment opportunities for young Americans through protecting, restoring and enhancing public and tribal lands. CNCS is exploring potential programs along the lines of a “21 st century

Civilian Service Corps” that can facilitate conservation service work on public lands and encourage a new generation of natural resource managers and environmental scientists, particularly in low income and disadvantaged communities.

Healthy Futures:

Grants will meet health needs within communities including access to care, aging in place, and childhood obesity. Grant activities will:

Improve access to primary and preventive health care for communities served by CNCS-supported programs.

Increase seniors’ ability to remain in their own homes with the same or improved quality of life for as long as possible.

Increase physical activity and improve nutrition in youth with the purpose of reducing childhood obesity.

Veterans and Military Families:

Grants will positively impact the quality of life of veterans and improve military family strength.

Grant activities will increase:

The number of veterans and military service members and their families served by

CNCS-supported programs.

The number of veterans and military family members engaged in service through CNCS-supported programs.

Capacity Building:

In addition to the six focus areas described above, grants also will provide support for capacity building activities provided by national service participants. As a general rule, CNCS considers capacity building activities to be indirect services that enable CNCS-supported organizations to provide more, better, and sustained direct services in CNCS’ six focus areas. Capacity building activities cannot be solely intended to support the administration or operations of the organization. Examples of capacity building activities include:

Recruiting and/or managing community volunteers.

Implementing effective volunteer management practices.

Completing community assessments that identify goals and recommendations.

Developing new systems and business processes (technology, performance management, training, etc.) or enhancing existing systems and business processes.

Encore Programs:

Congress set a goal that 10 percent of AmeriCorps funding should support encore service programs that engage a significant number of participants age 55 or older. CNCS seeks to meet that 10 percent target in this competition and encourages encore programs to apply.

National Performance Measures:

The SAA emphasizes measuring the impact of service and focusing on a core set of issue areas.

CNCS’ five-year Strategic Plan establishes an ambitious set of objectives that support the mission and goals to implement the SAA. These strategic goals guided the development of sixteen agency-wide Priority Measures. National Performance Measures allow CNCS to demonstrate aggregated impact of all its national service programs, including AmeriCorps State and National. They are divided in two categories: Priority Measures and Complementary

Program Measures. For more information, please refer to the National Performance Measure

Instructions.

B. 2013 AmeriCorps Funding Priorities

In the FY 2013 AmeriCorps competition, CNCS seeks to prioritize the investment of national service resources in economic opportunity, education, veterans and military families, disaster services, and the Governor and Mayor Initiative (described more fully below). CNCS will continue to focus on national service programs that improve academic outcomes for children, youth, and young adults. This focus reflects the extensive experience and past success of national service programs in education, and aligns with the efforts of the Department of Education. In addition, CNCS seeks to increase its investment in programs that serve veterans and military families or engage veterans and military families in service. CNCS will also focus investment in programs that increase community resiliency through disaster preparation, response, recovery, and mitigation.

CNCS will focus investment in programs that increase economic opportunities for community and AmeriCorps members.

Applicants proposing programs that receive priority consideration are not guaranteed funding.

CNCS will seek to build a diversified portfolio across the focus areas, and other considerations outlined below in Section V. B. Furthermore, programs must demonstrate significant program focus, design, and impact to receive priority consideration. CNCS will give priority consideration to applicants in the following Tiers, in descending order of preference:

Tier 1: Programs that select:

Complementary Program Measures in Economic Opportunity (Programs that select O12, O14, O15, O17 must also select an additional Priority or Complementary Program Measure from Tier 1, 2, or 3 that measures community impact), or

Priority Measures in Education and serve in schools that received awards under the School

Improvement Grants (SIG) program and are implementing one of the SIG school intervention models and/or Priority Schools identified by a State educational agency (SEA) that has received approval from the Department of Education of its request for Elementary and

Secondary Education Act (ESEA) flexibility, or

Priority Measures in Veterans and Military Families, or

Priority Measures in Disaster Services, or

Governor and Mayor Initiative.

NOTE: Programs that fit these Priority or Complementary Program Measures are required to use these measures. These measures can be found in Section IX, Tier 1. Applicants whose members will be serving in schools that received awards under the School Improvement Grants

(SIG) program and are implementing one of the SIG school intervention models and/or Priority

Schools identified by a State educational agency (SEA) that has received approval from the

Department of Education of its request for Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) flexibility must check the box on the Performance Measure tab in eGrants “SIG/Priority

Schools” to be considered for Tier 1. The “NCES School ID” will need to be entered in the service location information at the time the members are enrolled.

Tier 2: Programs that select Priority Measures in:

Education that are not serving in schools that received awards under the School Improvement

Grants (SIG) program and are implementing one of the SIG school intervention models and/or Priority Schools identified by a State educational agency (SEA) that has received approval from the Department of Education of its request for Elementary and Secondary

Education Act (ESEA) flexibility, or

Environmental Stewardship, or

Healthy Futures, or

Capacity Building.

NOTE: Programs that fit these Priority Measures are required to use these measures. These measures can be found in Section IX, Tier 2.

Tier 3: Programs that select Complementary Program Measures. These measures can be found in

Section IX. Tier 3.

Tier 4: Programs in the Focus Areas with self-nominated measures.

Tier 5: Programs outside the Focus Areas with self-nominated measures.

Continuation requests for expansion will receive priority consideration and preference in the same manner as described above.

Governor and Mayor Initiative:

CNCS will be piloting the Governor and Mayor Initiative and it will be given priority consideration in Tier 1. CNCS sets as a goal that 10% of the available funds for this year’s grant competition will support this initiative.

CNCS will accept one application per state. The application must address a pressing challenge the Governor wishes to solve in her or his state. A Governor must apply with one Mayor in his or her state and a minimum of two nonprofits. In conjunction with the Mayor, the Governor will be responsible for identifying and selecting those nonprofits that are best able to achieve a demonstrated positive impact on the problem. The application should include letters of commitment from selected partnering nonprofit entities, or describe the process that the

Governor and Mayor will use to select the nonprofit entities. The application, submitted to the

State Commission, will respond to the application criteria and explain how several nonprofits working together, with the Governor’s office serving as a convener, will effectively deploy

AmeriCorps members for a collective impact.

For example, a Governor and a Mayor in her state could conclude the most pressing challenge facing the state is its high school graduation rate. Together, they could decide to focus on the elementary, junior high, and senior high schools in the Mayor’s town. The Governor and/or

Mayor would submit one application describing:

How the partnership will be organized and AmeriCorps resources will be allocated between the partnering entities (State, locality, and nonprofit entities).

The proposed theory of change and program model. If the program model has not yet been fully developed, this should outline the approach that the consortium will take to ensure that implementation can begin within 90 days of grant award.

How they will utilize an identified consortium of four nonprofits that are well positioned to impact outcomes for those three schools using their theory of change. For example, nonprofit A operates an AmeriCorps program whose members are focused on increasing literacy gains. Nonprofit B operates an AmeriCorps program whose members are focused on school readiness. Nonprofit C operates an AmeriCorps program whose members are focused on increased food security. Nonprofit D operates an AmeriCorps program whose members recruit community volunteers.

In geographic locations where other city, state, and place-based initiatives are under way, CNCS encourages Governors and Mayors to partner with these public/private partnerships supported by non-profits, faith-based and community organizations, the private sector, local and state elected leadership, as well as city or neighborhood focused federal initiatives. Programs that operate in the summer and engage middle school youth in building skills would be an appropriate program design for this Initiative.

Applications submitted as part of the Governor and Mayor Initiative must check the “Governor and Mayor Initiative” box in the Performance Measure tab and email a letter of endorsement cosigned by the Governor and Mayor, as well as signed letters of commitment from partnering nonprofits to americorpsgrants@cns.gov in order to be considered for this Initiative. The subject line of the email must include [Your State] Governor and Mayor Initiative.

Note: Only the Governor, Mayor, or their designated government office may apply for grants under the Governor and Mayor initiative. Applications from other entities will be deemed unresponsive.

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. Funding Available

CNCS expects a highly competitive AmeriCorps FY 2013 grant competition. CNCS expects to award new, recompeting, and continuation AmeriCorps grants. The actual level of funding will be subject to the availability of annual appropriations which have not yet been made. In awarding funds, CNCS considers continuation grants first, followed by new and recompeting grants.

mailto:americorpsgrants@cns.gov

B. Award Amount

Awards will be for funds and AmeriCorps member slots. CNCS will review applications and determine the appropriate award amount, if any. Award amounts vary.

C. Award Period

Unless otherwise specified, the grant generally covers a three-year project period. In approving a multi-year project period, CNCS generally makes an initial award for the first year of operation.

In most cases, the application is submitted with a one-year budget. Continuation funding is contingent upon satisfactory performance, demonstrated capacity to manage the grant and comply with grant requirements, and availability of Federal appropriations. CNCS reserves the right to adjust the amount of a grant award for subsequent years, or elect not to continue funding on any or all these bases.

D. Types of Grants

The types of AmeriCorps grants in this competition are described below. CNCS will not provide more than one grant for the same project in one fiscal year. CNCS recommends consulting the

AmeriCorps State and National Fit Finder to decide which type of grant best aligns with your proposed project (http://www.americorps.gov/fitfinder/).

1. AmeriCorps State Grants

These grants are for organizations planning to operate an AmeriCorps program in a single state.

Organizations apply through State Commissions.

2. National Direct Grants

These grants are for organizations planning to operate in more than one state. Organizations apply directly to the CNCS.

3. Education Award Program (EAP) Fixed amount Grants

These grants are awarded to applicants that apply for a small fixed-amount grant and use their own or other resources for the majority of member living allowance and program costs. There is no match requirement for EAP grants. Unlike full-time fixed-amount grants, EAPs may enroll less-than-full-time members in addition to full-time members.

4. Professional Corps Grants

These grants are awarded to organizations that propose to operate a Professional Corps program in a single or multiple states. Professional corps programs recruit and place qualified members in positions as teachers, health care providers, police officers, engineers, or other professionals in communities with an inadequate number of such professionals. Applicants are eligible to apply for funding for a portion of program costs. Professional Corps member salaries are paid entirely by the organizations with which the members serve, and are not included in the budget. These grants can either be fixed amount or reimbursement grants.

5. Indian Tribe Grants

These grants are competitively awarded to Indian Tribes. An Indian Tribe is defined as a federally recognized Indian Tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Native village, Regional Corporation, or Village Corporation, as defined under the http://www.americorps.gov/fitfinder/

Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. § 1602), that the United States Government determines is eligible for special programs and services provided under federal law to Indians because of their status as Indians. Indian Tribes also include tribal organizations controlled, sanctioned, or chartered by one of the entities described above.

A nonprofit that desires to apply for a grant as a “tribal organization” on behalf of a federally-recognized tribe, or multiple specific federally-recognized tribes, must submit a sanctioning resolution adopted by the Tribal Council (or comparable tribal governing body) of each tribe.

The resolution must identify the nonprofit by name as a “tribal organization” and it must authorize the nonprofit organization to act on behalf of and include the tribe in a CNCS grant application for the purpose of conducting the activities and providing the services described in the application.

E. Types of Funding

AmeriCorps grants can be awarded on a cost reimbursement or fixed amount basis.

1. Cost Reimbursement Grants

Cost reimbursement grants fund a portion of program operating costs and member living allowances with flexibility to use all of the funds for allowable costs regardless of whether or not the program recruits and retains all AmeriCorps members. These grants are awarded to organizations operating in a single state or in more than one state.

2. Stipended Full-time Fixed Amount Grants (Non-EAP)

Stipended full-time fixed amount grants are available for programs that enroll full-time members only. The grants provide a fixed amount per MSY. Programs can access all of the funds provided if they recruit and retain the members supported under the grant based on the MSY level awarded. Organizations use their own or other resources to cover the remaining cost of the program. Programs are not required to submit budgets or financial reports and there is no match requirement. However, CNCS provides only a portion of the cost of running the program and organizations must still raise the additional resources needed to run the program.

Stipended fixed-amount grants are only available to recompeting programs. Second and third-year continuation applicants with cost reimbursement grants must submit a new application if they are interested in applying for a fixed amount grant.

Stipended fixed amount applicants in the Education Focus Area will be required to select either a

Priority Education Measure or Complementary Program Measure. Applicants proposing non-

Education programs may select from Tiers 1-5. All performance measures will be negotiated prior to grant selection and award. Approved applicants must agree to participate in any relevant evaluations conducted by CNCS.

3. Education Award Fixed Amount Grants

Programs apply for a small fixed amount per MSY and use their own resources to cover all other costs. Programs are not required to pay a living allowance to less-than-fulltime members and can access funds under the grant based on enrolling the full complement of members supported under the grant. As with stipended fixed amount grants, there are no match or financial reporting requirements. Unlike full-time fixed-amount grants, EAPs may enroll less-than-full-time members in addition to full-time members.

4. Professional Corps Fixed Amount Grants

Programs apply for a fixed amount per MSY and enroll only full-time members. Programs can access all of the funds awarded if they recruit and retain all of their members. Professional Corps member salaries are paid entirely by the organizations with which the members serve and are not included in the budget. As with stipended fixed amount grants, there are no match or financial reporting requirements.

III. ELIGIBILITY

A. Eligible to apply

Public or private nonprofit organizations, including faith-based and other community organizations; institutions of higher education; government entities within states or territories

(e.g., cities, counties); Indian Tribes; labor organizations; partnerships and consortia; and intermediaries planning to subgrant funds awarded are encouraged to apply.

Organizations that have been convicted of a Federal crime are disqualified from receiving the assistance described in this Notice. Pursuant to the Lobbying Disclosure Action of 1995, an organization described in Section 501 (c)(4) of the Internal Revenue code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. 501

(c)(4) that engages in lobbying activities is not eligible to apply.

Current AmeriCorps grantees may apply for assistance. Receiving funding previously from

CNCS or another Federal agency is not a prerequisite to applying under this Notice.

New Applicants

CNCS encourages organizations that have never received funding from CNCS or AmeriCorps to apply for the grants described in this Notice. New organizations should submit applications with the understanding that the general practice is to award no more than 50 member slots for new grantees.

1. States and Territories with Commissions

Organizations that are proposing a project that operates in only one state must apply to this competition through the Governor-appointed State or Territory Commissions. Each state and territory administers its own selection process and puts forward to CNCS the applicants they select to compete for funding. Organizations should contact their State Commissions to learn about their state or territory processes and deadlines. The list of State and Territory Commissions can be found here: http://www.americorps.gov/about/contact/statecommission.asp.

2. Territories without Commissions

Applicants in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and the

U.S. Virgin Islands apply directly to CNCS because these Territories have not established a state commission. Applicants are eligible to apply for funds for member support and program costs.

Government entities of the Territory are not eligible to apply. CNCS will fund successful applicants with the Territory’s allocated formula grant funding.

http://www.americorps.gov/about/contact/statecommission.asp

3. Multi-State Applicants

Organizations that propose to operate AmeriCorps programs in more than one state or territory apply directly to CNCS.

4. Indian Tribes

CNCS sets aside one percent of grant funds to support programs operated by Indian Tribes and selected by CNCS on a competitive basis. Tribes apply directly to CNCS to access this pool of funds.

B. Match Requirements

1. Fixed amount Grants

There is no match requirement for fixed amount grants. However, the fixed amount grant does not cover all costs. Fixed amount grantees provide the additional resources needed to operate the program, but are not required to track or report on them.

2. Cost Reimbursement Grants (non-fixed amount)

A first-time successful applicant is required to match at 24 percent for the first three-year funding period. Starting with year four, the match requirement gradually increases every year to

50 percent by year ten, according to the minimum overall share chart found in 45 CFR §2521.60.

Section 121(e)(5) of the National Community Service Act requires programs that use other federal funds as match for an AmeriCorps grant to report the amount and source of these funds to

CNCS on the Federal Financial Report.

The living allowance or salary provided to Professional Corps AmeriCorps members does not count toward the matching requirement.

3. Indian Tribes

Indian Tribal Government programs are subject to the same matching requirements as other grantees. However, in accordance with Executive Order 13175, “Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments,” CNCS may expedite approving waivers of matching requirements. Tribal governments that require a waiver must submit a request at least 60 days before the AmeriCorps application is due. For full information on applying for a Tribal waiver, send a request for instructions to TribalMatchWaiver@cns.gov.

4. Alternative Match

Under certain circumstances, applicants may qualify to meet alternative matching requirements that increase over the years to 35 percent instead of 50 percent as specified in the regulations at

45 CFR §2521.60(b). To qualify, applicants must demonstrate that the proposed program is either located in a rural county or in a severely economically distressed community as defined in the Application Instructions. Applicants that plan to request an alternative match schedule must submit a request at least 60 days prior to the application deadline. State programs submit your request for alternative match to your State Commission. State Commissions submit on behalf of your state programs and Multi-State Program submit your request to

ACAlternateMatchScheduleRequests@cns.gov.

mailto:ACAlternateMatchScheduleRequests@cns.gov

C. Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) and System for Award

Management (SAM)

Applications must include a DUNS number and an Employer Identification Number. The DUNS number does not replace an Employer Identification Number. All applicants must be registered with the Systems for Award Management (SAM).

DUNS numbers may be obtained at no cost by calling the DUNS number request line at (866)

705-5711 or by applying online: https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/.The website indicates a 24-hour e-mail turnaround time on requests for DUNS numbers; however, registering at least

30 days in advance of the application due date is suggested. Expedited DUNS numbers may be obtained by following instructions found here: http://smallbusiness.dnb.com/establish-your-business/12334338-1.html.

SAM is combining federal procurement system and the catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance into one new system. SAM collects, validates, stores, and disseminates data in support of Federal agency contracts, grant awards, cooperative agreements, and other forms of federal assistance.

All grant recipients are required to maintain a valid registration, which must be renewed annually.

Applicants that are not already registered with SAM are urged to begin the registration process immediately in order to avoid any delays in submitting applications. Applicants must have a

DUNS number in order to register with SAM. To register online go towww.SAM.gov.

D. Other Requirements

1. Member Living Allowance

The proposed budget must include a living allowance for full-time members that is between

$12,100 (minimum) and $24,200 (maximum) per member except as noted below. A living allowance is not considered a salary or a wage.

Programs are not required to provide a living allowance for members serving in less than full-time terms of service. If a program chooses to provide a living allowance to a less than full-time member, it must comply with the maximum limits in the Table below. For cost-reimbursement grants, the amount must be included in the proposed budget as either CNCS or grantee share.

While fixed-amount grant applicants are not required to submit detailed budgets, they are still required to provide a living allowance that complies with the minimum and maximum requirements to members. Fixed-amount grant applicants are not required to indicate that amount in the application.

Table 1: Minimum and Maximum Living Allowance

Service Term Minimum # of Hours

Minimum Living

Allowance

Maximum Total Living

Allowance

Full-time 1700 $12,100 $24,200

One-year Half-time 900 n/a $12,800

Reduced Half-time 675 n/a $9,600

Quarter-time 450 n/a $6,400

Minimum-time 300 n/a $4,260

2. Exceptions to the Living Allowance Requirements

(for programs existing prior to September 21, 1993)

If a program existed prior to September 21, 1993, a living allowance is not required. If an applicant chooses to offer a living allowance, it is exempt from the minimum requirement of

$12,100, but not the maximum requirement of $24,200.

EAP Fixed amount Grantees

EAP grantees are not required to provide a living allowance for less-than-fulltime members, but if a living allowance is provided, it must comply with the maximum requirements set forth in the

Living Allowance Table above.

Professional Corps Grantees

Professional Corps members must receive a living allowance or salary, which must meet the minimum, but may exceed the maximum living allowance set in the Living Allowance Table above. Professional Corps member salaries are paid entirely by the organizations with which the members serve, and are not included in the budget.

3. Maximum Cost per Member Service Year (MSY)

Maximum Costs per MSY are set forth in Table 2 below. CNCS considers comparative costs per

MSY in making funding decisions. New applicants that submit with a low cost per MSY and recompeting applicants that submit with a lower cost per MSY than previously funded may receive higher priority for funding. One MSY is equivalent to at least 1700 service hours, a full-time AmeriCorps position. The CNCS cost per MSY is determined by dividing the CNCS share of budgeted grant costs by the number of MSYs requested. It does not include child care or the value of the education award a member may earn. The maximum amount an applicant may request from CNCS per MSY is determined on an annual basis.

Continuation and recompeting grantees requesting a higher cost per MSY than in the previous year must include a compelling rationale for this increased cost. This applies even if the increased cost per MSY is less than the maximum.

New and recompeting State Commission sub-grantees/applicants will be held to the maximum cost per MSY for their grant type. This does not affect continuation programs currently funded at a higher cost per MSY.

CNCS will consider higher cost per MSY for Indian Tribes programs that include a justification for the higher cost in their application. This explanation should detail the lack of local resources that make a higher cost per MSY necessary. Please include this request as part of the response to the Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy section of the selection criteria.

Table 2: 2013 Maximum Cost per MSY

Grant Program Maximum

Individual Competitive State Program (not EAP) $13,300

Multi-state (not EAP) $13,300

Indian Tribes $13,300

Professional Corps (Cost Reimbursement) $2,500

Professional Corps Fixed-amount Grant $2,000

Education Award Program Fixed-amount Grant $800

Stipended Program Fixed-amount Grant $13,000

State Commission Formula Prime $18,000

Individual State Formula Program $20,000

State Commission Average (of all its subgrants) $13,300

This NOFO is for the competitive process not the state formula process.

4. Member Enrollment Requirements for Existing Grantees

We expect grantees to enroll all the members included in their grant award. Enrollment rates have a direct bearing on the number of slots and the size of awards approved in the continuation and recompete processes. Continuation and recompeting grantees that have not achieved full enrollment in the previous year must provide an explanation and a corrective action plan in their application. Successful applicants that do not fully enroll are likely to receive a decrease in funding in subsequent years.

5. Member Retention Requirements for Existing Grantees

We expect grantees to pursue the highest retention rate possible. Retention rates will have a direct bearing on the number of slots and the size of awards approved in the continuation and re-compete processes. Successful applicants that do not retain their members are likely to receive a decrease in funding in subsequent years. We recognize retention rates may vary among equally effective programs depending on the program model. Continuation or recompeting grantees that have not achieved full retention in the most recently completed program year must provide an explanation and a corrective action plan in their application.

6. Amount of the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award for FY 2013

AmeriCorps members serving in programs funded with FY 2013 dollars who successfully complete a term of service will receive an Education Award from the National Service Trust of

$5,550 for a year of full-time service, with correspondingly smaller awards for less-than-full-time service. The amount of the Education Award is determined on the basis of the Pell Grant award. A member has up to seven years after his or her term of service has ended to use the award.

Table 3: Term of Service and FY13 Education Award

Term of Service Minimum # of Hours FY13 Education Award

Full Time 1700 $5,550

One-Year Half Time 900 $2,775

Two-Year Half Time 900 $2,775

Reduced Half Time 675 $2,114

Quarter Time 450 $1,468

Minimum Time 300 $1,175

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. How to Apply

Organizations that propose to operate in one state apply directly to the State Commission for the state in which they will operate. Single-state applicants must contact their state commissions for state-specific deadlines and application instructions. Organizations that propose to operate in more than one state apply directly to CNCS. Organizations in states and territories without commissions apply directly to CNCS. Indian Tribes may apply through State Commissions, or directly to CNCS.

This Notice should be read together with the AmeriCorps Regulations, 45 CFR §§ 2520–2550, the Application Instructions, and the Performance Measure Instructions which are incorporated by reference. The Notice and Application Instructions can be found at http://www.americorps.gov/for_organizations/funding/nofa.asp. The full regulations are available online at www.gpoaccess.gov/ecfr. The TTY number is 800-833-3722. For a printed copy of related material, call 202-606-7508.

1. Notice of Intent to Apply

State Commissions, multi-state applicants, and Indian Tribes are strongly encouraged to send a

Notice of Intent to Apply by e-mail to americorpsgrants@cns.gov by November 27, 2012. Single state programs applying through a State Commission should not provide this information.

Submitting a Notice of Intent will help CNCS plan more efficiently for external and internal review. Include the name of the applicant organization, address, contact person, e-mail address, and phone number in the Notice of Intent. Applicants should state the type of grant they intend to apply for. State Commissions are encouraged to include an estimate of the number of programs planned for submission. Providing an e-mail address will also allow CNCS to contact applicants directly if application materials are updated.

2. Submission Dates and Times

The deadline for applications is 5:00 pm Eastern Time on Wednesday February 6, 2013. CNCS will not consider applications received after the deadline, except when noted below. CNCS reserves the right to extend the submission deadline and any notice of such extended deadline will be posted in eGrants. This deadline applies to continuation grantees, as well as new and recompeting applicants.

http://www.gpoaccess.gov/ecfr

3. Late Applications

CNCS may, in its discretion, consider an application received after the deadline, but only if the applicant submits a letter to LateApplications@cns.gov explaining the extenuating circumstance which caused the delay. The letter must be received no later than 5:00 pm Eastern time on

February 7, 2013. If the applicant experiences technical difficulties with eGrants that are unresolved, the correspondence must include the eGrants help desk ticket number. CNCS determines whether or not to accept a late application for review on a case-by-case basis.

If extenuating circumstances make the use of eGrants impossible, applicants may send a hard copy of the application to the address provided in Section VII. Agency Contacts, via overnight carrier. Please use a non-U.S. Postal Service because of security-related delays in receiving mail from the U.S. Postal Service. All deadlines and requirements in this Notice apply to hard copy applications. Hard copy applications must include a cover letter detailing the circumstances that make it impossible to submit via e-Grants. CNCS does not accept applications submitted via fax or e-mail.

B. Content and Form of Application Submission

1. Submitting in eGrants

Applicants must submit their applications electronically via the CNCS web-based system, eGrants. It is recommended that applicants create an eGrants account and begin the eGrants application creation process at least three weeks before the deadline. Applicants should draft the application as a word processing document, then copy and paste the document into the appropriate eGrants fields no later than 10 days before the deadline.

Contact the National Service Hotline at 800-942-2677 or https://questions.nationalservice.gov/app/ask if a problem arises while creating an account, preparing, or submitting an application. National Service Hotline hours are Monday through

Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET. Be prepared to provide the application ID, organization’s name, and the Notice to which your organization is applying.

If technical issues will prevent an applicant from submitting an application on time, please contact the National Service Hotline prior to the deadline to explain the technical issue and receive a ticket number. If the issue cannot be resolved by the deadline, the applicant must continue working with the National Service Hotline to submit via eGrants.

Any supporting attachments (e.g letters of commitment for the Governor’s and Mayor’s

Initiative) should be emailed to americorpsgrants@cns.govand reference [Your State] Governor and Mayor Initiative in order to be considered for this Initiative.

2. Page Limits

In eGrants, applicants will enter text in the following fields

Executive Summary: a brief paragraph, maximum of a half-page. Executive Summaries of all compliant applications will be published on the CNCS website following grant award notifications.

Program Design.

mailto:LateApplications@cns.gov https://questions.nationalservice.gov/app/ask

Organizational Capability.

Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy.

Evaluation Plan.

If you are:

Applying for the first time;

Have only received formula funding in the past;

Are a former grantee (non-formula) whose last AmeriCorps grant was received more than five years ago; OR

A current planning grantee applying for a three-year implementation grant.

You may not exceed 26 double-spaced pages for the Narratives, including the Executive

Summary and Cover Page, as the pages print out from eGrants. This limit does not include the budget and performance measures or required supplementary materials (e.g. letters of commitment).

If you are:

Recompeting (in year three of a competitive three-year funding cycle and applying for a new three-year grant);OR

Not a current grantee that has received a competitive AmeriCorps grant in the past five years;

You may not exceed 27 double-spaced pages for the Narratives, including the Executive

Summary and Cover Page, as the pages print out from eGrants. This limit does not include the budget and performance measures.

Reviewers will not consider submitted material that is over the page limit, even if eGrants allows you to enter and submit text over the limit. Therefore, CNCS recommends that applicants print out your application from the Review and Submit page prior to final submission to ensure it is not over the page limit.

Do not submit supplemental materials such as videos, DVDs, brochures, letters of support, or any other item not requested in the Notice or application instructions. CNCS will not review or return them.

C. Coordination among State Commissions and Multi-state Applicants

CNCS expects State Commissions and multi-state applicants to consult and coordinate activities at the local level, as specified in Section 131 of the National Community Service Act, as amended (NCSA) [42 U.S.C. § 12583]. This consultation is designed to ensure the most effective use of national service resources and lead to enhanced coordination among grantees. The list of

State and Territory Commissions can be found here:

http://www.americorps.gov/about/contact/statecommission.asp. Indian Tribes are not required to coordinate with State Commissions. To ensure coordination:

Multi-state applicants and grantees must:

Consult in a timely manner and before submission of their application with the State

Commission of each state in which the organization knows it will operate and describe this consultation in their applications. Contact the State Commission(s) for details about the consultation process.

Provide the State Commission with contact information for multi-state programs in their state after grants are awarded, and update these lists on an annual basis.

Participate in the State Commission’s annual needs assessment and training plan development activities, and in the development of its state service plan, as well as appropriate training and other events.

Include the State Commission on the multi-state grantee’s mailing list and invite it to appropriate training and other events.

State Commissions must:

Consult in a timely manner with the multi-state applicants and grantees that contact them prior to application submission.

Consider the schedules and needs of multi-state programs operating in their states when planning annual events and technical assistance activities.

Include multi-state programs in their annual needs assessment and training plan development activities, and in the development of their state service plan.

Add staff of multi-state programs in their state to their mailing list and invite them to appropriate training and other events.

CNCS will solicit State Commission input on multi-state applicants proposing to operate in their state. Participation by State Commissions is strongly encouraged. This input will be provided via eGrants.

D. Funding Restrictions

Grants under this program, except for fixed-amount and EAP grants, are subject to the applicable

Cost Principles under OMB Circulars A-21 (2 CFR Part 220), A-122 (2 CFR Part 230), or A-87

(2 CFR Part 225) and the Uniform Administrative Requirements for grants under A-102 (45 CFR

Part 2541) or A-110 (45 CFR 2543 or 2 CFR Part 21).

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. Assessment Criteria

Each applicant must clearly describe a project that will deploy AmeriCorps members effectively to solve a significant community problem. We urge your organization to submit a high quality application following the guidance in the NOFO and in the Application Instructions carefully.

The quality of your application will be an important factor in determining whether your organization will receive funding. Your application will be assessed as follows:

1. Program Design (50 percent)

In assessing Program Design, reviewers will examine the degree to which the applicant demonstrates how AmeriCorps members are particularly well-suited to solving the identified community problem.

Reviewers will consider the extent to which:

-Recompeting grantees describe their efforts and impact to date, and provide persuasive evidence they should continue to be funded.

-New applicants already working to meet the community need identified in the application have described how the proposed use of AmeriCorps members will be more effective than what is currently being implemented or enhance existing efforts.

In assessing how you will meet the criteria, reviewers will consider the quality of your response to the following:

a. Need (7 points)

Provide persuasive evidence that the identified needs exist in the targeted community(ies).

Describe the community problem(s) you will be working on. Provide documentation of the extent/severity of the need in the target community. Describe the target community including whether it is economically disadvantaged. Explain why did you selected this population to be served?

b. AmeriCorps Members as Highly Effective Means to Solve Community Problems. (10 points)

What will members do? Give examples of specific proposed member activities. What will the organization accomplish that it would not otherwise accomplish through existing staff and/or volunteers? How many AmeriCorps members are you requesting? What types of slots (service terms) are needed for these members? If you are requesting different slot types, explain how the different slot types align with your program design and activities.

c. Evidence-Based/Evidence-Informed and Measurable Community Impact (10 points)

Describe how the interventions the AmeriCorps members and volunteers are engaged in are both evidence-based or evidence-informed and will have a measurable community impact. Explain the impact of the AmeriCorps investment.