FY 22 ACS ARP-NOFO-11.1.2021.pdf

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Federal Agency Name: AmeriCorps Funding Opportunity Title: FY 2022 AmeriCorps Seniors

American Rescue Plan Senior Demonstration Program Announcement Type: Initial Announcement Assistance Listing Number: 94.017

Disclosure: Publication of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (Notice) does not obligate AmeriCorps to award any specific number of grants or to commit any particular amount of funding.

This funding opportunity is available for new AmeriCorps Seniors grantees.

Important Dates –

• Applications are due Thursday, February 3, 2022 by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

• Successful applicants will be notified by June 30, 2022

• Successful applicants will be issued awards by June 30, 2022

CONTENTS

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

• A.1. Purpose of AmeriCorps Seniors’ American Rescue Senior Demonstration Program Funding

• A.2. Funding Priorities

• A.3. Performance Goals or Expected Outcomes

• A.4. Planning Period

• A.5. Program Authority

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

• B.1. Estimated Available Funds

• B.2. Estimated Award Amount

• B.3. Period of Performance

• B.4. Type of Award

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

• C.1. Eligible Applicants

• C.2. Cost Sharing or Matching

• C.3. Other Eligibility Requirements

• C.4. Other Volunteer Engagement Requirements (for those who receive a stipend)

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

• D.1. Address to Request an Application Package

• D.2. Content and Form of Application Submission

D.2.a. Application Content D.2.b. Page Limits

• D.3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

• D.4. Submission Dates and Times

D.4.a. Application Submission Deadline D.4.b. Additional Documents Deadline D.4.c. Late Applications

• D.5. Intergovernmental Review

• D.6. Funding Restrictions

D.6.a. Award Funding Requirements D.6.b. Indirect Costs D.6.c. Pre-Award Costs D.6.d. Budget Guidance

• D.7. Other Submission Requirements

D.7.a. Electronic Application Submission in eGrants D.7.b. Submission of Additional Documents

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

• E.1. Review Criteria E.1.a. Executive Summary (Required - 0 points) E.1.b. Program Design (50 points) E.1.c. Notice Priority (required 0 points):

E.1.d. Work Plan (series of Performance Measures) (15 Points) are to include:

E.1.e. Recruitment and Development of Volunteers (10 points) E.1.f. Organizational Capability (total 30 points):

E.1.h. Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy (15 points):

E.1.i. Other-Evaluation Plan (Required - 5 points)

• E.2. Review and Selection Process

E.2.a. Initial Application Compliance and Eligibility Review E.2.b. Application Review E.2.c. Applicant Clarification E.2.d. Pre-Award Risk Assessment E.2.e. Consideration of Integrity and Performance System Information E.2.f. Selection for Funding

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

• F.1. Federal Award Notices

• F.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

F.2.a. Uniform Guidance F.2.b. Requests for Monitoring or Payment Integrity Information F.2.c. AmeriCorps Terms and Conditions F.2.d. National Service Criminal History Check Requirements F.2e. Official Guidance

• F.3. Use of Material

• F.4. Reporting

G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

H. OTHER INFORMATION

• H.1. Technical Assistance

I. IMPORTANT NOTICES

FULL TEXT OF THE NOTICE

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A.1. Purpose of AmeriCorps Seniors’ American Rescue Senior Demonstration Program Funding The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) provides additional federal resources to AmeriCorps Seniors in order to assist communities in COVID-19 recovery. This funding will be made available throughout the United States, with a particular interest in programs that will serve communities hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

AmeriCorps Seniors is publishing this funding notice for the purpose of creating the “AmeriCorps Seniors American Rescue Plan Demonstration Program” (herein referred to as American Rescue SDP), projects that will be focused on supporting communities as they reopen after the COVID-19 pandemic. Through American Rescue SDP funding opportunities, applicants must demonstrate how they will engage adults age 55 and over to address one or more of the American Rescue SDP priorities.

A.2. Funding Priorities Applicants are invited to submit applications for the American Rescue SDP funds. Applicants are required to address one or more of the following Focus Areas: Disaster Services, Economic Opportunity, Education, Environmental Stewardship, Healthy Futures, and Veteran and Military Families. Applicants are invited to apply for funding based on the determination that your project proposal meets the criteria as detailed in this document.

To maximize the impact of investment in national service; AmeriCorps Seniors will prioritize national service investments in the following areas:

• Efforts to help local communities recover from the COVID-19 Pandemic. AmeriCorps Seniors is specifically interested in applications that establish or support education, vaccination, and vaccination education efforts; particularly in hard-to-reach communities.

• Applications that actively engage in removing structural racial inequities, advance racial equality, and increase opportunity to achieve sustainable change in communities.

• Applicants may propose programming in any county, city, or town. Applicants are encouraged to propose programming in the priority service areas identified on Appendix A: List of Priority Areas.

AmeriCorps Seniors’ is prioritizing programming in the following areas:

• Access to Care- Healthy Futures: Applications specifically related to increasing access to care and public health education opportunities in hard-to-reach communities and/or historically underserved communities; including, but not limited to, establishing, and supporting contact-tracing, vaccination sites and providing vaccine education, transportation, and registration. Applicants may also propose to develop programming to address mental health support.

• Education – Intergenerational Programming: Applications that engage older adults in supporting students and families for successful transitions in returning to the classrooms and/or strengthen social emotional learning of students to increase school readiness and K-12 success post pandemic.

• Veterans and Military Families: Veterans and Military Families, Caregivers, and Survivors – a program model that improves the quality of life of veterans and improves the well-being of military families, caregivers, and survivors.

• Aging in Place – Independent Living: Applications that specifically support communities historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely impacted by persistent poverty and inequality to increase independent living for older adults and/or individuals with disabilities, to re-engage in their communities post COVID-19 recovery. Activities such as companionship to deal with bereavement of a loved one due to death related to COVID-19 or providing support to seniors adjusting to a loss of a loved one during the pandemic.

• Access to Care - Substance Abuse: Applications that focus AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers on assignments that increase access to care and participation in health education activities designed to prevent or reduce substance abuse.

• Addressing Food Insecurity – Health Futures: Applications that focus AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers on assignments that increases access to healthy food in underserved communities.

• Aging in Place – Elder Justice: Applications that focus AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in assignments addressing elder justice, including activities that mitigate the potential that clients and caregivers will be victims of financial fraud, abuse, and/or neglect and/or that aid and support services to victims of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Economic Opportunity – Workforce Development: Applications that establish and/or support programs designed to increase the number of economically disadvantaged individuals receiving job training and other skill development services, with a goal of connecting individuals and families to resources developed to support post-pandemic life.

• Economic Opportunity – Financial Knowledge: Applications that result in seniors working on financial literacy, improving financial knowledge, and utilization of savings plans.

• Economic Opportunity/Economic Mobility: Educational opportunity and economic mobility for communities experiencing persistent unemployment or underemployment, and students experiencing homelessness or those in foster care.

• Economic Opportunity/Digital and Information Literacy: Educational opportunities that increase the number of underserved or economically disadvantaged individuals having access to and the opportunity to develop skills needed to use online resources.

To receive priority consideration, applicants must show that the priority area:

1. is a significant part of the program focus and intended outcomes, and

2. must include a high-quality program design that addresses all elements outlined in

E.1.b Program Design below.

Proposing programs that receive priority consideration does not guarantee funding.

A.3. Performance Goals or Expected Outcomes National Performance Measures AmeriCorps expects applicants to use National Performance Measures as part of a comprehensive performance measurement strategy that relies on both performance and evaluation data to learn from their work and make tactical and strategic adjustments to achieve their goals.

Applicants are required to use the identified Performance Measures outlined in this Notice.

For more information, please refer to Appendix B. Applicants must identify a Primary Focus Area and the work plan must include service activities in selected Primary Focus Area.

This funding opportunity requires applicants to demonstrate cost-effective practices in achieving performance goals through the services described in the proposed work plan.

Applications must include work plans that meet the following minimum requirements:

• For volunteer assignments that are non-stipend volunteers (i.e. a RSVP project), for every $1,000.00 of federal funding, at least one unduplicated volunteer* must be placed in workplans that result in National Performance Measure outcomes for the selected focus area.

• For volunteer assignments that are for stipend volunteers (i.e. a Foster Grandparent or Senior Companion project), for every $7,500 in federal funding, at least one Volunteer Service Year** must be placed in workplans that result in National Performance Measure outcomes for the selected focus area.

• All proposed volunteers and the intended outcomes of their service must be represented in the narratives, in an outcome-based Performance Measures and budget.

*Unduplicated Volunteers in the AmeriCorps Seniors programs: Each AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer can only be counted once when assigned to a service activity. The volunteer should be counted in the area where he/she will make the most impact – in terms of the Focus, the type of service, or the scope of service, (such as the most number of hours served).

**Volunteer Service Year (VSY) is a budget term which equals 1,044 hours of volunteer service activity. The standardized stipend cost per VSY is calculated by multiplying the number of hours served by the current cost per hour for the stipend (1044 hours x $3.00 per hour).

A.4. Planning Period AmeriCorps Seniors is providing an opportunity for applicants to include up to six-month of a planning period in the proposal for funding. The purpose of the planning time is to support the development of the AmeriCorps Seniors American Rescue SDP community partnerships, creation of reporting tools, as well as the development and implementation of a recruitment plan.

The intended length of time needed for a planning period, stated and measurable outcomes from the planning time, and a strategy for reporting those outcomes from the planning period must be included in the application. The planning period must be a stated component of the proposed project period. For example, if an applicant is proposing a two-year project and is requesting to use six months as a planning period to develop community partnerships and survey instruments, the project period would be six months of planning, https://www.americorps.gov/sites/default/files/document/Appendix%20B.%20Performance%20Measures%20ARP.pdf followed by eighteen months of program implementation. The proposed budget will accurately reflect this planning phase and implementation phase.

Information on a proposed planning period is to be included in the Other Narrative section of the application. The applicant should describe the following in the Other Narrative section:

1. Program design, including community need, key community partnerships, and the role(s) of those community partners;

2. Planned service sites and how sites will be prepared to support and train volunteers;

3. Organizational capacity, including how the program will measure the outputs and outcomes of this grant;

4. Specific strategies to fully involve and engage diverse communities; and

5. Timeline for developing program tools such as operating procedures, financial systems, and other means to ensure proper grant management and oversight.

Applications that include a planning period that are approved will be required to report the outcomes of that planning period in their first Project Progress Report.

A.5. Program Authority The legal authorities for AmeriCorps to administer the American Rescue SDP are found at sections 101(34), 192A(g)(10)(B) and 199N of the National and Community Service Act of 1990, as amended, and section 231 of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

B.1. Estimated Available Funds AmeriCorps Seniors anticipates approximately $10,000,000 for FY 2022 American Rescue SDP awards.

B.2. Estimated Award Amount Award amounts will vary, as determined by the scope of the projects. AmeriCorps Seniors expects to make awards in the range of $100,000 to $500,000.

B.3. Period of Performance Successful applicants will be issued awards no later than June 30, 2022.

AmeriCorps Seniors anticipates making two-year grant awards that will cover a two-year performance period. The project period includes planning and project implementation.

Performance Measures and budgets should reflect a two-year request. All Performance Measure targets are to reflect the applicant’s two-year goals.

Applicants will have a proposed period of performance of July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2024.

AmeriCorps Seniors reserves the right to adjust the amount of an award or elect not to continue funding.

B.4. Type of Award Award recipients will be assigned to an AmeriCorps Portfolio Manager, who will be responsible for reviewing recipient performance, providing training and technical assistance, and serving as the primary point of contact for the AmeriCorps Seniors grant.

The FY 2022 American Rescue SDP grants will be awarded on a cost reimbursement basis.

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

C.1. Eligible Applicants The following non-federal entities (all of which are defined in 2 CFR 200.1 are eligible to apply:

• Tribal communities

• Institutions of higher education

• Local governments

• Nonprofit organizations

• States governments

In addition to Tribal communities as defined in 2 CFR 200.1, Tribal organizations that are controlled, sanctioned, or chartered by federally recognized Indian tribes are also eligible to apply. If an entity applies for an award as a tribal organization that is controlled or chartered by one or more Indian tribes, the organization must provide copies of, or links to, documentation which demonstrates that the organization is controlled or chartered by a federally recognized Indian tribe. If an entity applies as an organization sanctioned by a federally recognized tribe, or multiple specific federally recognized tribes, it must submit a sanctioning resolution, adopted by the Tribal Council (or comparable tribal governing body) of each Indian tribe. The resolution(s) must identify the entity applying for an AmeriCorps Seniors award by name as a tribal organization that is sanctioned by the Indian tribe(s) for the purpose of applying for AmeriCorps funding (or federal grant funds generally).

Entities must have a valid SAM registration and DUNS and/or Unique Entity Identifier to receive an award. See Section D.3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) for more information.

C.2. Cost Sharing or Matching All applications funded under this authority are required to have a 10% match, regardless if the proposed program will recruit and place volunteers who receive a stipend or not.

C.3. Other Eligibility Requirements Applications that propose to engage in activities that are prohibited under AmeriCorps’ statutes, regulations, or the terms and conditions of its awards are not eligible to receive AmeriCorps funding.

Note that under appropriations provisions annually enacted by Congress, if AmeriCorps is aware that any corporation has any unpaid federal tax liability

• that has been assessed

• for which all judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted or have lapsed

• that is not being paid in a timely manner pursuant to an agreement with the authority responsible for collecting the tax liability that corporation is not eligible for an award under this Notice. However, this exclusion will not apply to a corporation which a federal agency has considered for suspension or debarment and has made a determination that suspension or debarment is not necessary to protect the interests of the federal government.

Pursuant to the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, an organization described in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. 501 (c)(4) that engages in lobbying activities is not eligible to apply for AmeriCorps Seniors funding.

C.4. Other Volunteer Engagement Requirements (for those who receive a stipend)

• Recruit, screen, and enroll volunteers 55 and older at or below 400 percent of the poverty line, as required in 42 U.S.C. 9902(2).

• Provide 20 hours of pre-service orientation and at least 24 hours of on-going training to support each volunteer on issues related to their service.

• Manage the scheduling and pairing of volunteers and clients/students.

• Administer stipend payments for each volunteer at a stipend rate of $3.00 per hour.

• Engage volunteers in service for a minimum of 5 hours per week or 260 hours annually and a maximum of 40 hours per week or 2080 hours annually.

• Follow all Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) regulations set forth in 45 CFR Part 2552 if the applicant is proposing to utilize stipended volunteers similar to a traditional FGP program, with the exception of: 45 CFR 2552.43 1

• Follow all RSVP regulations set forth in 45 CFR Part 2553 if the applicant is proposing to utilize for non stipended volunteers similar to a traditional RSVP program.2

• Follow all Senior Companion Program (SCP) regulations set forth in 45 CFR Part 2551 if the applicant is proposing to utilize stipended volunteers similar to a traditional SCP program, with the exception of: 45 CFR 2551.43 3

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

For all AmeriCorps Seniors grantees, this Notice should be read together with the AmeriCorps Seniors SDP regulations, AmeriCorps Seniors American Rescue SDP Grant Application Instructions , Appendix A: List of Priority Areas, and Appendix B: AmeriCorps Seniors American Rescue SDP Performance Measures.

1 The full set of FGP regulations may be found at 45 CFR Part 2552. See section F., Federal Award Administration Information for specifics for the full range of administrative and national policy requirements.

2 The full set of RSVP regulations may be found at 45 CFR Part 2553.

3 The full set of SCP regulations may be found at 45 CFR Part 2551. See section F., Federal Award Administration Information, for specifics on the full range of administrative and national policy requirements.

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-tege/eotopici03.pdf https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-tege/eotopici03.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=50035191a36f71901a870f5fcf143bbf&mc=true&node=se45.5.2532_130&rgn=div8 https://www.americorps.gov/sites/default/files/document/AmeriCorps%20Seniors%20Application%20Instructions%20%281%29.pdf https://www.americorps.gov/sites/default/files/document/AmeriCorps%20Seniors%20Application%20Instructions%20%281%29.pdf https://www.americorps.gov/sites/default/files/document/ACS%20ARP%20Phase%202%20Appendix%20A%20%281%29.pdf https://www.americorps.gov/sites/default/files/document/Appendix%20B.%20Performance%20Measures%20ARP.pdf https://www.americorps.gov/sites/default/files/document/Appendix%20B.%20Performance%20Measures%20ARP.pdf

D.1. Address to Request an Application Package All information associated with this funding opportunity is available through the AmeriCorps Funding Opportunities webpage: https://americorps.gov/partner/funding-opportunities.

Applicants should refer to AmeriCorps Seniors Funding Opportunities for more information.

Applicants can also send an email to AmericanRescueSDP@cns.gov for a printed copy of the Notice and Guidance.

AmeriCorps also offers live text chat at https://americorps.gov/contact.

D.2. Content and Form of Application Submission

D.2.a. Application Content Complete applications must include the following elements:

• Standard Form 424 (SF-424) Cover Sheet: This is automatically generated when applicants complete the data elements in the eGrants system.

• Narrative Sections:

o Executive Summary: This is a brief description of the proposed program. The

Executive Summary must match the language templates as provided below on in Section E.1.A. Executive Summary. The text provided of all compliant applications will be made available to the public following grant awards.

o Program Design: As described in Section E.1.b – E.1.e o Organizational Capability: As described in Section E.1.f o Other: As described below in Section E.1.g o Cost-Effectiveness & Budget Adequacy E.1.h

• Standard Form 424A Budget

• Performance Measures

• Authorization, Assurances, and Certifications 4

D.2.b. Page Limits Applications may not exceed 15 double-spaced pages as the pages print out from eGrants.

The application sections that count towards the page limit are the:

• SF-424 Cover Sheet

• Executive Summary

• Program Design, Organizational Capability, Cost-Effectiveness & Budget Adequacy, and Other narratives.

The application page limit does not include the Budget, Performance Measures, or any required additional documents.

Please note that the length of the application as a word processing document may differ from the length of the document printed out from eGrants. The character limits in eGrants do not align with page limits set in the Notice. AmeriCorps Seniors strongly encourages applicants to print out the application from the “Review and Submit” tab in eGrants

4 https://egrants.cns.gov/cnsmisc/ECERTS.HTM, and https://egrants.cns.gov/cnsmisc/EASSUR.HTM https://americorps.gov/partner/funding-opportunities https://americorps.gov/contact https://egrants.cns.gov/cnsmisc/ECERTS.HTM https://egrants.cns.gov/cnsmisc/EASSUR.HTM prior to submission in order to confirm that the application does not exceed the page limit.

AmeriCorps Seniors will not consider the results of any alternative printing methods when determining if an application complies with the page limit. Reviewers will also not consider material that is over the page limit, even if eGrants allows applicants to enter and submit additional text.

D.3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) All applicants must register with the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov/SAM/ and maintain an active SAM registration until the application process is complete. If an applicant is awarded a grant, it must maintain an active SAM registration throughout the life of the award. See the SAM Quick Guide for Grantees.5

SAM registration must be renewed annually. AmeriCorps Seniors suggests that applicants finalize a new registration or renew an existing one at least three weeks before the application deadline, to allow time to resolve any issues that may arise. Applicants must use their SAM-registered legal name and address on all grant applications to AmeriCorps Seniors.

AmeriCorps Seniors will not make awards to entities that do not have a valid SAM registration and DUNS. If an applicant has not fully complied with these requirements by the time AmeriCorps Seniors is ready to make a Federal award, AmeriCorps Seniors may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive an award and use that determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another applicant.

Applications must include an Employer Identification Number.

Applications must include a DUNS number. Applicants can obtain a DUNS number at no cost by calling the DUNS number request line at (866) 705-5711 or by applying online at the DUNS Request Service.6 AmeriCorps Seniors recommends registering at least 30 days before the application due date.

The Federal government is implementing Unique Entity Identifiers (UEI) as part of the SAM registration process to eventually replace DUNS numbers. AmeriCorps Seniors may ask applicants to add the UEI to their application as part of the clarification or pre-award process. AmeriCorps Seniors is adding a field to capture the UEI in eGrants. If you already have a UEI and the UEI field is available in eGrants, you can enter it at the time you submit your application.

5 SAM Quick Reference Guide for Grantees:

https://sam.gov/SAM/transcript/Quick_Guide_for_Grants_Registrations.pdf 6 DUNS Request Service: https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/ https://www.sam.gov/SAM/ https://www.sam.gov/SAM/ https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform https://sam.gov/SAM/transcript/Quick_Guide_for_Grants_Registrations.pdf https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/

D.4. Submission Dates and Times

D.4.a. Application Submission Deadline Applications are due Thursday, February 3, 2022 by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

AmeriCorps Seniors will not consider applications received after the deadline, except as noted in Section D.4.c. Late Applications. AmeriCorps Seniors reserves the right to extend the submission deadline. AmeriCorps Seniors will post a notification in the event of an extended deadline on AmeriCorps Seniors’ website.

• AmeriCorps’ recommends that applicants create an eGrants account and begin the application at least three weeks before the deadline. Applicants should draft the application as a Word document, then copy and paste the text into the appropriate eGrants field no later than 10 days before the deadline.

D.4.b. Additional Documents Deadline Additional documents are due by the application submission deadline. See Sections D.4.a.

Application Submission Deadline and D.7.b. Submission of Additional Documents for more information.

D.4.c. Late Applications All applications received after the submission deadline of Thursday, February 3, 2022 by 5:00pm ET as published in this Notice are presumed to be non-compliant. To overcome this presumption, the applicant must:

• submit a written explanation or justification of the extenuating circumstance(s) that caused the delay, including:

o the timing and specific cause(s) of the delay o the ticket number if a request for assistance was submitted to the National

Service Hotline o any information provided to the applicant by the National Service Hotline o any other documentation or evidence that supports the justification

• ensure that AmeriCorps Seniors receives the written explanation or justification and any other evidence that substantiates the claimed extenuating circumstance(s), via email to AmericanRescueSDP@cns.gov no later than 24 hours after the application deadline of Thursday, February 3, 2022 by 5:00pm ET as stated in the Notice.

Communication with AmeriCorps Seniors staff, including an applicant’s portfolio manager, is not a substitute for a written explanation or justification of the extenuating circumstance that caused the delay as outlined above. Applicants are required to continue working in eGrants, AmeriCorps web-based application system and with the National Service Hotline to submit the application.

Please note: AmeriCorps Seniors will not consider an advance request to submit a late application. Please carefully review and follow the guidance in this section and submit your application as soon as possible.

https://egrants.cns.gov/espan/main/login.jsp https://egrants.cns.gov/espan/main/login.jsp

D.5. Intergovernmental Review This Notice is not subject to Executive Order 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.”

D.6. Funding Restrictions

D.6.a. Award Funding Requirements Awards under this Notice are subject to cost share or matching requirements.

D.6.b. Indirect Costs Application budgets may include indirect costs. Based on qualifying factors, applicants may either use a federally-approved indirect cost rate, a 10 percent de minimis rate of modified total direct costs, or may claim certain costs directly, as outlined in 2 CFR 200.413. States, local governments, and Tribal communities may use previously approved indirect cost allocation plans. All methods must be applied consistently across all federal awards.

Applicants that have a federal negotiated indirect cost rate or that will be using the 10 percent de minimis rate must enter that information in the Organization section in eGrants.

The instructions for how to enter the organization’s indirect cost rate are located at eGrants Indirect Cost Rate User Instructions.7 Applicants should not submit documentation addressing the indirect cost rate agreement via email.

Please note: To request a Federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement, when AmeriCorps is the applicable cognizant agency for an organization’s indirect costs, the applicant must submit a request to indirectcostrate@cns.gov. The applicant may also obtain instructions and additional information by contacting the email address above.

D.6.c. Pre-Award Costs Pre-award costs, where authorized, are allowed after receiving written approval from AmeriCorps.

D.6.d. Budget Guidance All applicants must include a line item in the budget for training of the Project Director, which may include any training events approved by AmeriCorps Seniors. Applicants may budget for an additional staff member to attend the training events if funds permit. The recommended amount, for budgeting purposes is $1,000 per year. Long distance travel funds may be re-budgeted later if not fully spent depending on actual training activities.

The proposed budget is to include all costs for the two-years of programming as outlined in this Notice.

7 eGrants Indirect Cost Rate User Instructions:

https://americorps.gov/sites/default/files/document/eGrants%20Indirect%20Cost%20Rate% 20Instructions%20FINAL_20210519%20Update.pdf http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=74a79d9a3a38ee2ca26d377daeacebb7&mc=true&node=se2.1.200_1413&rgn=div8 https://americorps.gov/sites/default/files/document/eGrants%20Indirect%20Cost%20Rate%20Instructions%20FINAL_20210519%20Update.pdf https://americorps.gov/sites/default/files/document/eGrants%20Indirect%20Cost%20Rate%20Instructions%20FINAL_20210519%20Update.pdf https://americorps.gov/sites/default/files/document/eGrants%20Indirect%20Cost%20Rate%20Instructions%20FINAL_20210519%20Update.pdf

D.7. Other Submission Requirements

D.7.a. Electronic Application Submission in eGrants

Applicants must submit applications electronically via eGrants, AmeriCorps' web-based application system.8 AmeriCorps Seniors recommends that applicants create an eGrants account and begin the application at least three weeks before the deadline. Applicants should draft the application as a Word document, then copy and paste the text into the appropriate eGrants field no later than 10 days before the deadline.

The applicant’s authorized representative must be the person who submits the application.

The authorized representative must use their own eGrants account to sign and submit the application. A copy of the governing body’s authorization for this official representative to sign must be on file in the applicant’s office.

Applicants should contact the AmeriCorps Hotline at (800) 942-2677 or via eGrants Questions if they have a problem when they create an account, prepare, or submit the application.9 AmeriCorps Hotline hours are posted at https://questions.americorps.gov/app/ask.

Be prepared to provide the application ID, organization’s name, and the competition to which the organization is applying. If the issue cannot be resolved by the deadline, applicants must continue working with the AmeriCorps Hotline to submit via eGrants.

If circumstances make it impossible for an applicant to submit in eGrants, applicants may send a paper copy of the application via overnight carrier to the address below. Applicants must include a written explanation and any other documentation or evidence that support their inability to submit their application electronically.

AmeriCorps ATTN: Office of Grant Administration (OGA)/ FY 2022 AmeriCorps Seniors American Rescue SDP Application 250 E Street, SW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20525

Please use a non-U.S. Postal Service carrier to avoid security-related delays. All deadlines and requirements in this Notice also apply to paper applications. AmeriCorps Seniors does not accept applications submitted via fax or email.

D.7.b. Submission of Additional Documents Applicants are required to submit the following additional documents by the application submission deadline:

• All applicants are required to submit an Operational and Financial Management Survey (OFMS).10 Please submit the OFMS as a Word document. Forms submitted as a PDF or any other document format may not be accepted.

8 eGrants, AmeriCorps' web-based application system:

https://my.americorps.gov/mp/login.do 9 eGrants Questions: https://questions.americorps.gov/app/ask 10 OFMS: https://americorps.gov/sites/default/files/document/OFMS-Control-Number- 3045_0102_FY21.docx https://questions.americorps.gov/app/ask https://my.americorps.gov/mp/login.do https://questions.americorps.gov/app/ask https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Famericorps.gov%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fdocument%2FOFMS-Control-Number-3045_0102_FY21.docx&data=04%7C01%7CRCorindo%40cns.gov%7Cc17f9bf2e424452739d108d9828bf165%7Cd2f850a78dce4fb3a79c6867f9514312%7C0%7C0%7C637684359822351296%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=K00yk950z0RgrPRvG1K2tF0q2%2FCZxj%2FXaBEQlxG5sMo%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Famericorps.gov%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fdocument%2FOFMS-Control-Number-3045_0102_FY21.docx&data=04%7C01%7CRCorindo%40cns.gov%7Cc17f9bf2e424452739d108d9828bf165%7Cd2f850a78dce4fb3a79c6867f9514312%7C0%7C0%7C637684359822351296%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=K00yk950z0RgrPRvG1K2tF0q2%2FCZxj%2FXaBEQlxG5sMo%3D&reserved=0

• All applicant are required to submit the Diversity Questionaire. This questionaire can be found on the AmeriCorps Seniors American Rescue Plan Senior Demonstration Program Funding Opportunity page.

Failure to submit the required additional documents by the deadline may have a negative effect on the assessment of your application.

Additional documents must be emailed to AmericanRescueSDP@cns.gov with the following subject line: “Legal Applicant Name” – “Application ID Number.” Emails should include:

• The legal applicant name and its point of contact information

• The application ID number

• A list of documents that are attached to the email

• Individually attached files that are clearly labeled, and that include the legal applicant name and application ID number within the heading of each document. To ensure that all required additional documents are received, please provide each document as an individual file. Please do not send all documents as one scanned file.

• If the size of an applicant’s files requires multiple emails, please also include an ordering system in the subject line, such as “(1 of 3).”

Do not submit any items that are not requested in this Notice and Application Instructions, AmeriCorps Seniors will not review or return them.

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

E.1. Review Criteria Applications should include a well-designed plan with clear and compelling justifications for receiving the requested funds. Reviewers will assess the quality of applications by using the selection criteria described below and will rate them accordingly.

Categories/Subcategories Executive Summary Required, but not scored Program Design 50 Points

• Strengthening Communities 15 Points

• Description of Diversity, Equity, and

Inclusion 10 Points

• Performance Measures/Workplans 15 Points

• Funding Priority/Focus Area Required, but not scored

• Recruitment and Development 10 Points

Organizational Capability 30 Points

• Program Management 15 Points

• Organizational Capability 15 Points

Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy 15 Points Other- Evaluation Plan 5 Points https://americorps.gov/partner/funding-opportunities mailto:AmericanRescueSDP@cns.gov

E.1.a. Executive Summary (Required - 0 points) Please fill in the blanks of these sentences to complete the Executive Summary. Do not deviate from the template below.

“The [Name of the organization] proposes to have [Number of] AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers who will [service activities the members will be doing] in [the locations the AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will serve]. The primary focus area of this project is [fill in AmeriCorps Focus Area]. At the end of the two-year grant, AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will be responsible for [fill in the anticipated outcome (s)]. The AmeriCorps federal investment of $ [fill in the annual federal grant amount or the requested amount] will be supplemented by $ [fill in the anticipated level of non-federal resources].”

E.1.b. Program Design (50 points) Reviewers will consider the quality of the application’s response to the criteria below. Do not assume all sub-criteria are of equal value.

The Strengthening Communities narrative shall address (15 points):

• The proposed interventions are responsive to the identified community problem(s).

• The applicant’s proposed interventions are clearly articulated including the design, dosage, target population, and roles of AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers. The applicant’s intervention is likely to lead to the outcomes identified in the applicant’s work plans.

• The applicant’s proposal to actively engage in removing structural racial inequities, advance racial equality, and increase opportunities to achieve sustainable change in communities.

• The expected outcomes articulated in the Strengthening Communities narrative and Performance Measures represent meaningful progress in addressing the community problems identified by the applicant.

• The rationale for utilizing AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers to deliver the intervention(s), addressing the community need is reasonable.

• How the service of AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will produce significant contributions to existing efforts to address the stated problem.

The section on description of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) shall address (10 points) (to be included in the Strengthening Communities Narrative):

• Provide the applicant’s (organization’s or institution’s) definitions of diversity, equity and inclusion AND share activities the organization is engaged in related to diversity, equity and inclusion.

• Describe how you will ensure your project engages a diverse and inclusive group of volunteers.

• Describe how you will ensure your project serves members of your community through an equity lens.

• Include demographic, income, and additional relevant information about the communities you’ll be serving related to racial equity.

• Complete and submit the Diversity Questionnaire found on the Funding Opportunity page.

E.1.c. Notice Priority (Required - 0 points):

• The applicant’s proposed program significantly and intentionally addresses one or more of the AmeriCorps Seniors funding priorities as outlined in the Funding Priorities section and Focus Area.

E.1.d. Work Plan (series of Performance Measures) (15 Points) are to include:

• Description of the community problem being addressed by the individual performance measure.

• Description of the service activities that address the community problem.

• Description of the intended outcome of the service activity.

• Each Performance Measure logically connects the five major elements to each other and are aligned with National Performance Measures.

1. The community need(s) identified

2. The service activities that will be carried out by AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers

3. The instrument description and data collection plans

4. Work plans include target numbers that lead to outcomes or outputs, and are appropriate for the total number of volunteers assigned to the Performance Measure

5. A clear connection between the service activities and how those activities will actively engage in removing structural racial inequities, advance racial equality, and increase opportunities to achieve sustainable change in communities.

• The service activities that are defined in each Performance Measure must include the intervention the AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will implement or deliver, including:

o The duration of the intervention (e.g., the total number of weeks, sessions or months of the intervention) o The dosage of the intervention (e.g., the number of hours per session or sessions per week) o The target population for the intervention (e.g., disconnected seniors/youth, third graders at a certain reading proficiency level) o The measurable outputs that result from delivering the intervention (i.e. number of beneficiaries served, types and number of activities conducted). If applicable, identify which National Performance Measures will be used as output indicators o Outcomes that demonstrate changes in knowledge/skill, attitude, behavior, or condition that occur because of the intervention. If applicable, identify which National Performance Measures will be used as outcome indicators.

• All proposed AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers must be included in at least one outcome-based Performance Measure.

E.1.e. Recruitment and Development of Volunteers (10 points) Reviewers will assess the extent to which the proposed project demonstrates a plan and the organization’s infrastructure to provide for effective volunteer recruitment and management through the following criteria:

• Describe how the proposed recruitment strategy is a strategic response to the demographics in the community served.

• Demonstrate a plan and infrastructure to ensure volunteers received training needed to succeed in the service activities described in the Performance Measures.

• Describe the demographics of the community served and plans to recruit AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers from geographic or demographic communities in which the program operates. This could include but not limited to the following:

a. Volunteers from BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and Other People of Color) communities

b. Volunteers from LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning) communities

c. Individuals with varying degrees of English language proficiency

d. Individuals with disabilities

e. Veterans and military family members as volunteers

• Demonstrate a plan and adequate infrastructure to retain and recognize volunteers.

This includes:

a. An explanation of how the applicant will foster an inclusive service culture where different backgrounds, talents, and capabilities are welcome retain and recognize volunteers.

b. A description of how engaged volunteers will remain active over the course of grant funding.

• Demonstrate a plan for developing and growing a culture of inclusion at volunteer stations to ensure volunteer station supervisors who are involved in the recruitment of volunteers are invested in address community disparities and the root causes of biases in recruitment efforts.

E.1.f. Organizational Capability (total 30 points):

Program Management (15 points) Reviewers will consider the extent to which the applicant demonstrates:

• Narratives describe the plans and infrastructure to ensure management of volunteer stations comply with the program regulations.

• Demonstrated plan to address culture of volunteer stations to be safe inclusive spaces for diverse volunteers.

• Narratives demonstrate plans and infrastructure to develop and/or oversee volunteer stations to ensure that volunteers are performing their assigned service activities, including

a. Sufficient guidance and support of AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers to provide effective service.

b. Adequate training and preparation of station supervisors to follow AmeriCorps Seniors program regulations, priorities, and expectations.

Organizational Capability (15 points)

• Describe the organizations commitment to equity when addressing critical communities needs reflected in the organizations mission and vision, as well as the applications Performance Measures.

• Describe the plans and infrastructure to provide sound programmatic and fiscal oversight (both financial and in-kind) and day-to-day operational support to ensure the following:

a. Compliance with program requirements (statutes, regulations, and applicable Office of Management and Budget [OMB] circulars); Accountability, and Efficient and effective use of available resources.

b. Plans to engage non-federal funding sources for sustainability of programming.

• Narratives clearly define paid staff positions, including identification of staff assigned to the project (name, title, and brief position description) and how these positions will ensure the accomplishment of program objectives.

• Describe your agency’s experience with, and/or plans for diversity, equity, and inclusion within your organization. This can include the inclusion of diversity on the Board of Directors, agency staff and leadership, and/or volunteers.

• The organization has sufficient policies, procedures, and controls in place to prevent, detect, and mitigate the risk of fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, such as appropriate segregation of duties, internal oversight activities, measures to prevent timekeeping fraud, etc.

• The organization has an effective mechanism in place to report, without delay, any suspected criminal activity, waste, fraud, and/or abuse to both the AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General and AmeriCorps and a plan for training staff and participants on these reporting protocols.

E.1.h. Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy (15 points):

Reviewers will consider the extent to which the proposal logically connects:

• Have a reasonable cost per volunteer in proposed work plan that lead to National Performance Measure requirements (See Appendix B and section A.3 of the Notice).

• Have plans and infrastructure to secure the non-federal support for program sustainability-including dedicated staff, grant proposal processes and other plans.

E.1.i. Other-Evaluation Plan (Required - 5 points) Evaluation is a tool for improving a program and increasing its ability to serve people more efficiently and effectively. To ensure the applicant has a quality evaluation plan, describe the following:

• A description of the applicant’s data collection system and how it is sufficient to collect high quality performance measurement data. If the applicant does not yet have a data collection system, describe the plan and timeline for developing a high-quality system during the proposed planning period.

• A description of how the applicant will use performance data.

For more information, about evaluation plans and data collection methods, please visit the AmeriCorps Evaluation Resources: https://www.americorps.gov/grantees-sponsors/evaluation-resources.

E.2. Review and Selection Process AmeriCorps Seniors will engage Staff Reviewers with relevant knowledge and expertise to assess and provide input on the eligible applications. The review and selection process are intended to produce a diversified set of high-quality programs that represent the priorities and strategic considerations described in this Notice. The determinations made by https://www.americorps.gov/grantees-sponsors/evaluation-resources https://www.americorps.gov/grantees-sponsors/evaluation-resources

AmeriCorps Seniors reviewers may be different from what the applicant self-determined upon submission of its application. The stages of the review and selection process follow:

E.2.a. Initial Application Compliance and Eligibility Review AmeriCorps Seniors will conduct an initial Compliance and Eligibility Review to determine if an application meets the eligibility requirements published in this Notice and advances to the next stage of the review process.

An application is compliant if the applicant:

• Is an eligible organization

• Applied by the submission deadline

• Submitted an application that complies with the following program-specific requirements:

o Submission of the OFMS o Submission of the Diversity Questionnaire

Reviewing for eligibility is intended to ensure that only those applications that are eligible for award are further reviewed. However, determinations of eligibility can take place at any point during the application review and selection process. Applicants that are determined to be ineligible will not receive an award.

E.2.b. Application Review Internal Review AmeriCorps Seniors Staff Reviewers will assess the applications based on the Program Design, Organizational Capability, and Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy Selection Criteria. Staff Reviewers will also consider the priorities and strategic considerations detailed in this Notice. AmeriCorps Seniors will recruit and select Staff Reviewers based on demonstrated expertise in AmeriCorps Seniors programming and/or the Focus Areas, as well as experience assessing applications.