FY 22 ASN-NOFO-09-14-2021.508.pdf

Table of Contents

IMPORTANT DATES

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A.1. Purpose of AmeriCorps Funding A.2. Funding Priorities A.3. Performance Goals or Expected Outcomes A.4. Program Authority

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

B.1. Estimated Available Funds B.2. Estimated Award Amoun B.3. Period of Performance B.4. Type of Award

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

C.1. Eligible Applicant Types of Applicants Threshold Issues

C.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Fixed Amount Grants Cost Reimbursement Grants Match Waiver Alternative Match

C.3. Other Eligibility Requirements

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.7. Other Submission Requirements D.7.a. Electronic Application Submission in eGrants D.7.b. Submission of Additional Documents D.7.c. Coordination among State Commissions and National Direct Applicants

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

E.1. Review Criteria E.1.a. Executive Summary (Required - 0 percent) E.1.b. Program Design (50 percent) E.1.c. Organizational Capability (25 percent) E.1.d. Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy (25 percent) E.1.e. Evaluation Plan (Required for recompeting grantees - 0 percent) E.1.f. Amendment Justification (0 percent) E.1.g. Clarification Information (0 percent) E.1.h. Continuation Changes (0 percent)

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

E.3. Feedback to Applicants E.4. Transparency in Grant-making

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.2.e. Official Guidance

F.3. Use of Material F.4. Reporting F.5. Continuation Funding Information and Requirements

G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

H. OTHER INFORMATION

H.1. Technical Assistance H.2. Re-Focusing of Funding

I. IMPORTANT NOTICES

ATTACHMENT A: ECONOMIC MOBILITY CORPS

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Federal Agency Name: AmeriCorps Funding Opportunity Title: Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 AmeriCorps State and National

Grants Announcement Type: Initial Announcement Assistance Listing Number: 94.006

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. The actual level, timing, and process of grant funding will be subject to the availability of annual appropriations.

Important Dates

• Applications are due Wednesday, January 5, 2022 by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Single-state applicant deadlines to Commissions may be significantly before the AmeriCorps deadlines, so prospective state applicants should contact the Commission in the state or territory where they intend to apply as early as possible. The list of Commissions can be found on the AmeriCorps State Service Commissions webpage.1

• Successful applicants will be notified by mid May 2022.

FULL TEXT OF THE NOTICE

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A.1. Purpose of AmeriCorps Funding AmeriCorps brings people together to tackle some of the country’s most pressing challenges through national service and volunteering. AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities. AmeriCorps helps make service a cornerstone of our national culture. AmeriCorps grants are awarded to eligible organizations (See Section C.1 Eligible Applicants) proposing to engage AmeriCorps members in evidence-based or evidence-informed interventions/practices 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 earn a Segal

1 AmeriCorps State Service Commission webpage: https://americorps.gov/contact/state-service-commissions https://americorps.gov/contact/state-service-commissions

AmeriCorps Education Award that they can use to pay for higher education expenses or apply to qualified student loans.2

AmeriCorps Focus Areas The National and Community Service Act of 1990, as amended by the Serve America Act, emphasizes measuring the impact of service and focusing on a core set of issue areas. In order to maximize the impact of investment in national service, AmeriCorps has the following focus areas:

Disaster Services Grants will support increased and improved disaster services for individuals and communities to prepare and adapt to disasters, including but not limited to climate change events. Activities will provide support to increase preparedness for disasters, improve readiness to respond to disasters, support recovery efforts from disasters, and/or assist in the implementation of pre-disaster mitigation and adaptation measures. Grants will support communities and individuals in planning for disasters, in particular engaging disadvantaged communities in the planning process.

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; help economically disadvantaged people, to have improved access to services that enhance financial literacy; transition into or remain in safe, healthy, affordable housing; and/or 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 children; improved school readiness for economically disadvantaged young children; improved educational and behavioral outcomes of students in low-achieving elementary, middle, and high schools; and/or support economically disadvantaged students’ preparation for success in post-secondary educational institutions.

Environmental Stewardship Grants will support responsible stewardship of the environment, while preparing communities for challenging climate and environmental circumstances and helping Americans respond to and recover from disruptive events: programs that conserve natural habitats; protect clean air and water; maintain public lands; support wildland fire mitigation and sustainable forest management; cultivate individual and community resilience; and provide reforestation services after floods or fires, such as nature based solutions.

2 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award: https://americorps.gov/members-volunteers/segal-americorps-education-award https://americorps.gov/members-volunteers/segal-americorps-education-award https://americorps.gov/members-volunteers/segal-americorps-education-award

Healthy Futures Grants will provide support for activities that will address the opioid crisis; increase seniors’ ability to remain in their own homes with the same or improved quality of life for as long as possible; and/or increase physical activity and improve nutrition with the purpose of reducing obesity.

Veterans and Military Families Grants will improve the quality of life of veterans and improve military family well-being;

increase the number of veterans, wounded warriors, military service members, and their caregivers, families, and survivors served by AmeriCorps programs; and/or increase the number of veterans and military family members engaged in service through AmeriCorps programs.

A.2. Funding Priorities AmeriCorps’ priorities for this grant competition are:

• Efforts to help local communities respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Applicants may propose programming to aid communities in their efforts to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, including outcomes of COVID-19 on student subgroups described in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

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

• Programs that prioritize civic engagement and social cohesion.

• Evidence-based interventions on the AmeriCorps Evidence Exchange that are assessed as having Moderate or Strong evidence. Please note that many of these interventions have demonstrated effectiveness in improving outcomes for individuals living in underserved communities and that the agency has committed resources to supporting grantees seeking to replicate and evaluate these interventions in similar communities. 3

• 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.

• Rural intermediaries - organizations that demonstrate measurable impact and primarily serve rural communities with limited resources and organizational infrastructure.

• Environmental stewardship and climate change including renewable energy and energy efficiency, building community resilience, sustainable food systems and agriculture, and conservation and habitat preservation.

• Faith-based organizations.

• Economic Mobility Corps (See Attachment A).

To receive priority consideration, applicants must show that the priority area is a significant part of the program focus and intended outcomes. Proposing programs that receive priority consideration does not guarantee funding.

3 AmeriCorps Evidence Exchange: https://americorps.gov/about/our-impact/evidence-exchange https://americorps.gov/about/our-impact/evidence-exchange

A.3. Performance Goals or Expected Outcomes Performance Measures All applications must include at least one aligned performance measure (output and outcome) that corresponds to the proposed primary intervention. This may be a National Performance Measure or an applicant-determined measure. See the Performance Measure Instructions for details about performance measure requirements and selection rules.4

A.4. Program Authority Awards under this Notice are authorized by the National and Community Service Act of 1990, as amended, (42 U.S.C. 12501 et seq.)

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

B.1. Estimated Available Funds AmeriCorps expects a highly competitive AmeriCorps grant competition. AmeriCorps reserves the right to prioritize providing funding to existing awards over making new awards. The actual level of funding is subject to the availability of annual appropriations.

B.2. Estimated Award Amount Award amounts will vary as determined by the scope of the projects.

B.3. Period of Performance AmeriCorps anticipates making three-year grants. The agency generally makes an initial award for the first year of the period of performance, based on a one-year budget. Continuation awards for subsequent years are not guaranteed; they depend upon availability of appropriations and satisfactory performance.

The project start date may not occur prior to the date AmeriCorps awards the grant. AmeriCorps applicants may not enroll prior to the start date of the award. AmeriCorps applicants may not begin service prior to the beginning of the member enrollment period as designated in the grant award. A program may not certify any hours an applicant performs prior to the applicant becoming a member in the system of record and the beginning of the member enrollment period.

B.4. Type of Award AmeriCorps Operating Grants: AmeriCorps may award a Cost Reimbursement or a Fixed Amount grant to any successful applicant, but the availability of a Full-Cost Fixed-Amount grant is limited to certain applicants.

Professional Corps applicants are ineligible to apply for Cost Reimbursement grants. See the C.1.Eligible Applicants section and the Mandatory Supplemental Information for more

4 Performance Measure Instructions: https://www.americorps.gov/funding-opportunity/fy-2021-americorps-state-national-grants#performance-measure https://americorps.gov/about/agency-overview/statutes-regulations https://www.congress.gov/111/plaws/publ13/PLAW-111publ13.pdf information. AmeriCorps will not provide both types of grants for the same project in one fiscal year.

Grant Types Cost Reimbursement Fixed Amount

Available Subtypes Traditional Full-Cost

Education Award

Program

(EAP)

Professional Corps See Sec. D.6.a.2 for further requirements

No Cost Slots

Maximum Cost per MSY $21,600 $21,600 $800 or

$1,000* $1,000 $0

Type of Slots in the National Service Trust

FT, TQT, HT,

RHT, QT, MT,

AT

FT, TQT,

HT, RHT,

QT, MT,

AT

FT, TQT,

HT, RHT,

QT, MT, AT

FT Only

FT, TQT,

HT, RHT,

QT, MT, AT

Budget Submission Required

Yes No Yes, if requesting operating funds No

Availability of Funds linked to enrollment and retention of awarded MSYs

No Yes No

Grant Types Cost Reimbursement Fixed Amount

Special Requirements N/A N/A

Must place qualified professionals in communities with an inadequate number of such professionals.

Member salaries and benefits must be paid entirely by organization where member serves and not included in budget.

N/A

Financial Reporting Requirements

Yes No

Available to new Applicants Yes No Yes

*$18,000 adjusted for inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers.

** Per 42 U.S.C. § 12581a, the Corporation may provide the operational support under this section for a program in an amount that is not more than $800 per individual enrolled in an approved national service position, or not more than $1,000 per such individual if at least 50 percent of the persons enrolled in the program are disadvantaged youth.

FT = Full time, TQT = Three Quarter Time, HT= Half Time, RHT = Reduced Half Time, QT = Quarter Time, MT = Minimum Time, AT = Abbreviated Time

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:

• Indian Tribes

• Institutions of higher education

• Local governments

• Nonprofit organizations

• States

Applicants 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.

New Applicants AmeriCorps encourages organizations that have not received prior funding from AmeriCorps to apply.

New applicants are eligible to apply for Cost Reimbursement and Education Award Program (EAP) grant but are not eligible to apply for Full Cost Fixed Amount grants.

Types of Applicants

1. State and Territory Service Commissions (for Single-State Applicants) Organizations that propose to operate in only one state must apply through the Governor-appointed State or Territory Commissions. Each commission administers its own selection process and submits the applications it selects to compete for funding directly to AmeriCorps.

Single-State applicants must contact their Commissions to learn about their state or territory processes and deadlines. State deadlines may be significantly earlier than the AmeriCorps deadlines and may have additional requirements. The list of Commissions can be found on the AmeriCorps website. A Single-State application from a State or Territory with a Commission that is submitted directly to AmeriCorps by the applicant rather than the Commission will be considered noncompliant and will not be reviewed. See the Mandatory Supplemental Information for descriptions of National Direct and Single-State applicants.

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=7122962885b48d729142e857315838fe&mc=true&node=se2.1.200_11&rgn=div8

2. National Direct Applicants 5 Multi-State: Organizations that propose to operate AmeriCorps programs in more than one State or Territory apply directly to AmeriCorps.

States and Territories without Commissions: Applicants in South Dakota, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands apply directly to AmeriCorps because this State and these Territories do not have an established Commission.

Federally recognized Indian Tribes: Applicants that are Indian Tribes apply directly to AmeriCorps.

In addition to Indian Tribes 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 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).

In addition to being eligible to apply under this Notice, Federally recognized Indian Tribes will also be eligible to apply for operating or planning grants under a separate Notice of Federal Funding Opportunity for Indian Tribes to be released later in the fall with an application deadline in the spring. AmeriCorps may request applicants apply under the Tribal competition, rather than under this Notice.

Threshold Issues Applications should reflect that they meet the following threshold requirements for the grant type for which they are applying.

• Professional Corps applicants and/or applicants determined to be a Professional Corps by the agency, AmeriCorps, must demonstrate that the community in which it will place AmeriCorps members serving as professionals has an inadequate number of said professionals.

• If the proposed service activities require specialized member qualifications and/or training (for example, tutoring programs: 45 CFR 2522.910-.940), the applicant must describe how the program will meet these requirements.

• All applicants must propose program designs that are either evidence-based or evidence-informed. Applicants assessed as lower than the Preliminary evidence tier (i.e., Pre-

5 Although National Direct applicants do not have to apply to Commissions, there are substantial requirements to coordinate with the Commissions for states in which national service programs will operate. See the Coordination among State Commission & National Direct Applicants section for information on these important requirements.

Preliminary) must provide adequate responses to the Evidence Quality review criteria in order to be considered for funding.

C.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Fixed Amount Grants There is no match requirement for Fixed Amount grants. AmeriCorps does not provide all the funds necessary to operate the program, therefore organizations should raise the additional revenue required to operate the program.

New applicants are eligible to apply for Cost Reimbursement and Education Award Program (EAP) grant but are not eligible to apply for Full Cost Fixed Amount grants.

Cost Reimbursement Grants Applicants are required to match funds based on the chart below. The applicant’s match can be non-AmeriCorps cash and/or in-kind contributions. Applicants must indicate whether the match is proposed or secured. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to meet the match requirement at the time of application submission. See Section D.6. Funding Restrictions for more information.

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 and below.

AmeriCorps Funding Year

1, 2, 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10+

Grantee Share Requirements

24% 26% 30% 34% 38% 42% 46% 50%

Law requires that grantees that use other Federal funds as matching funds for an AmeriCorps grant to report those amounts and sources to AmeriCorps on a Federal Financial Report.6 Grantees must track and be prepared to report on that match separately each year and at closeout.

Match Waiver Please see the Match Waiver information.

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.7 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 who plan to request an alternative match schedule must submit a request at the time the application is submitted. Programs applying through State Service Commissions must submit requests for alternative match to the Commission, who will submit it to AmeriCorps

6 Section 121(e)(5) of NCSA (42 U.S.C. §12571(e)).

7 45 Code of Federal Regulations CFR 2521.60(b) on their behalf. Commissions and National Directs will submit requests to directly to ACAlternateMatchRequests@cns.gov.

C.3. Other Eligibility Requirements Under Section 132A(b) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990, as amended, organizations that have been convicted of a Federal crime may not receive assistance described in this Notice.

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 determined 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 funding.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

This Notice should be read together with the AmeriCorps Regulations, 45 CFR 2520–2550, the Mandatory Supplemental Information, Application Instructions, and Performance Measure Instructions which are incorporated by reference. These documents can be found on https://www.americorps.gov/partner/funding-opportunities. The full Regulations are available online at www.ecfr.gov.

D.1. Address to Request an Application Package All information associated with this funding opportunity is available through the AmeriCorps Funding Opportunities webpages. Applicants should refer to AmeriCorps Funding Opportunities for more information and instructions on how to fully respond to this Notice. Applicants can also send an email to americorpsgrants@cns.gov or call (202) 606-7508 for a printed copy of the Notice and Application Instructions. AmeriCorps also offers live text chat at https://www.americorps.gov/contact.

mailto:ACAlternateMatchRequests@cns.gov https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-tege/eotopici03.pdf https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-tege/eotopici03.pdf https://www.americorps.gov/partner/funding-opportunities http://www.ecfr.gov/ http://www.americorps.gov/partner/funding-opportunities mailto:americorpsgrants@cns.gov https://www.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) Face 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.

o Program Design o Organizational Capability o Cost-Effectiveness & Budget Adequacy o Evaluation Summary/Plan

• Logic Model

• Performance Measures

• Standard Form 424A Budget

• Continuation Changes

• Clarification

• Authorization, Assurances, and Certifications 8

D.2.b. Page Limits There are page limits for the Narratives and Logic Model:

• Narratives o Applications must not exceed 10 double-spaced pages for the Narratives or 12 pages for Rural Intermediaries and Multi-State applications with more than five operating sites as the pages print out from eGrants. AmeriCorps will use the number of locations in the “multi-state operating sites” field in AmeriCorps’ web-based management system to determine whether a multi-state application has more than five operating sites. The “multi-state operating sites” field can be found by clicking on the “operating sites” link in the system. Multi-state applicants that list five or fewer operating sites cannot exceed 10 pages for the Narrative.

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

SF-424 Face Sheet Executive Summary Program Design, Organizational Capability, and Cost-Effectiveness &

Budget Adequacy narratives.

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

• Logic Model o The Logic Model may not exceed three pages when printed with the application from the “Review” tab in AmeriCorps’ web-based management system.

8 https://egrants.cns.gov/cnsmisc/ECERTS.HTM and https://egrants.cns.gov/cnsmisc/EASSUR.HTM https://egrants.cns.gov/cnsmisc/ECERTS.HTM https://egrants.cns.gov/cnsmisc/EASSUR.HTM

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 strongly encourages applicants to print out the application from the “Review and Submit” tab in eGrants prior to submission in order to confirm that the application does not exceed the page limit.

AmeriCorps 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 at:

https://sam.gov/SAM/transcript/Quick_Guide_for_Grants_Registrations.pdf.

SAM registration must be renewed annually. AmeriCorps 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.

AmeriCorps will not make awards to entities that do not have a valid SAM registration and DUNS or Unique Entity Identifier. If an applicant has not fully complied with these requirements by the time AmeriCorps is ready to make a Federal award, AmeriCorps 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. AmeriCorps 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 may ask applicants to add the UEI to their application as part of the clarification or pre-award process. AmeriCorps 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.

D.4. Submission Dates and Times

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

https://www.sam.gov/SAM/ https://www.sam.gov/SAM/ https://sam.gov/SAM/transcript/Quick_Guide_for_Grants_Registrations.pdf https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform

Commissions’ deadlines may be significantly before the AmeriCorps deadline, so prospective Single-State applicants should contact their respective Commission as soon as possible.

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

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 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 AmeriCorps

Hotline, if available o any information provided to the applicant by the AmeriCorps Hotline o any other documentation or evidence that supports the justification

• ensure that AmeriCorps receives the written explanation or justification and any other evidence that substantiates the claimed extenuating circumstance(s), via email to LateApplications@cns.gov no later than 24 hours after the application deadline stated in the Notice.

Communication with AmeriCorps 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 AmeriCorps Hotline to submit the application. AmeriCorps will determine whether or not to accept a late application on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants that do not meet the application submission deadline and do not submit a written explanation or justification or any other evidence to overcome the presumption of non-compliance within the published timeframe will be deemed noncompliant. If AmeriCorps sustains a noncompliant determination, the application will not be reviewed or selected for award.

Please note: AmeriCorps 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.

mailto:LateApplications@cns.gov 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

1. Member Living Allowance 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 AmeriCorps or grantee share. Exceptions are noted below.

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

Table: Minimum and Maximum Living Allowance

Service Term Minimum # of

Hours

Minimum Living

Allowance

Maximum Total Living Allowance

Full-time 1,700 $16,502 $33,004 Three Quarter-time 1,200 n/a $23,103 Half-time 900 n/a $16,502 Reduced Half-time 675 n/a $12,542 Quarter-time 450 n/a $8,581 Minimum-time 300 n/a $6,931 Abbreviated-time 100 n/a $1,980

Exceptions to the Living Allowance Requirements

a. Programs existing prior to September 21, 1993 are not required to offer a living allowance. If an applicant chooses to offer a living allowance, it is exempt from the minimum requirement, but not the maximum requirement.

b. EAP Grantees are not required to provide a living allowance, but if a living allowance is provided, it must comply with the maximum requirements set forth in the Living Allowance Table above.

c. Professional Corps Grantees must provide members 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 and benefits including childcare are paid entirely by the organizations with which the members serve; and are not included in the budget request to AmeriCorps (Federal share).

2. Maximum Cost per Member Service Year (MSY) The AmeriCorps cost per MSY is determined by dividing the AmeriCorps share of budgeted grant costs by the number of MSYs requested. It does not include childcare or the value of the education award a member may earn. The maximum amount an applicant may request from AmeriCorps per MSY is determined on an annual basis.

New and recompeting Commission subgrantees/applicants will be held to the maximum cost per MSY for their grant type.

Table: Maximum Cost per MSY Grant Program Maximum

Individual Competitive State/Territory Program (cost reimbursement)

$21,600

Multi-state competitive (cost reimbursement) $21,600 Professional Corps competitive Fixed Amount Applicants/Grantees

$1,000*

Full-cost competitive Fixed Amount Grant $21,600

Education Award Program (EAP) Fixed Amount Grant (competitive and formula)

$800 or $1,000**

All non EAP formula grants*** $28,800****

*AmeriCorps requires Professional Corps programs to cover the operating expenses associated with the AmeriCorps program through non AmeriCorps resources. AmeriCorps will only consider operating funds of up to $1,000 per MSY if an applicant is able to demonstrate significant organizational financial need.

** Per 42 U.S.C. 12581a, the Corporation may provide the operational support under this section for a program in an amount that is not more than $800 per individual enrolled in an approved national service position, or not more than $1,000 per such individual if at least 50 percent of the persons enrolled in the program are disadvantaged youth.

*** Except planning grants

****$18,000 adjusted for inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers.

AmeriCorps reserves the right to 1) treat an applicant that meets the statutory requirements of a Professional Corps as such, whether or not they submitted their application as a professional corps program; and 2) determine whether an applicant has demonstrated inability to effectively operate in the absence of AmeriCorps operating funds.

3. Segal AmeriCorps Education Award AmeriCorps members who successfully complete a term of service will be eligible for an Education Award from the National Service Trust. The amount of the Education Award is linked to the value of the Pell Grant. A member has up to seven years after his or her term of service to use the Education Award. AmeriCorps will provide the updated Education Award amounts at the time of grant award.

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 Indian Tribes 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. However, under section 121(d) of the NCSA and AmeriCorps’ regulations at 45 CFR 2521.95 and 2540.110, no more than five percent of award funds may be used to recover indirect costs on AmeriCorps State and National grants.

The instructions for how to enter the organization’s indirect cost rate9. 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.7. Other Submission Requirements

D.7.a. Electronic Application Submission in eGrants Applicants must submit applications electronically via eGrants, AmeriCorps' web-based application system. 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.

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.

9https://americorps.gov/sites/default/files/document/eGrants%20Indirect%20Cost%20Rate%20In structions%20FINAL_20210519%20Update.pdf http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=74a79d9a3a38ee2ca26d377daeacebb7&mc=true&node=se2.1.200_1413&rgn=div8 mailto:IndirectCostRate@cns.gov https://egrants.cns.gov/espan/main/login.jsp https://egrants.cns.gov/espan/main/login.jsp 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

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.

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 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 ASN 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 does not accept applications submitted via fax or email.

D.7.b. Submission of Additional Documents Applicants are required to submit the additional documents below by the application submission deadline. All documents must be submitted by the Prime Grantee (State Service Commissions or National Directs). Prime sub applicants cannot submit documentation on behalf of the commission in the Notice.

All applicants

1. Evaluation briefs, reports, studies. Please refer to the Evidence Base section and Mandatory Supplemental Information for detailed instructions by evidence tier. If multiple evaluation briefs/reports/studies are submitted by the applicant, the most recent (as measured by the date of completion or publication) will be reviewed first, and any documents submitted beyond the allowable number will not be reviewed.

2. Diversity Questionnaire

3. Labor union concurrence (if applicable)

Recompete applicants who have previously received three or more years of competitive funding for the same project being proposed:

4. Evaluation plan. Please use the evaluation plan template available on the Notice webpage. Evaluation plans are not scored and will not be reviewed until after funding decisions are made.

Recompete applicants who have previously received six or more years of competitive funding for the same project being proposed:

https://questions.americorps.gov/app/ask https://questions.americorps.gov/app/ask

5. Evaluation report. Please submit in Word. The evaluation report should include a title page with the AmeriCorps grant ID for the project that was evaluated, the name of the project, and the date of completion of the report. If any of this required information is missing, the applicant may not receive credit for meeting their evaluation requirements.

Rural Intermediaries (New and recompeting)

6. Letters of support from the consortium members

Entities applying on behalf of a Federally Recognized Tribe (New and recompeting)

7. Tribal organization eligibility documentation. (See Section C.1. Eligible Applicants section.)

New and Recompeting applications

8. All new and recompeting applicants regardless of funding level are required to submit an Operational and Financial Management Survey10 (OFMS). Please submit the OFMS as a Word document. Forms submitted as a PDF or any other document format may not be accepted.

Additional documents must be emailed to AdditionalDocuments@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 by file name, labeling each document type according to the above numbered list

• individually attached files that are clearly labeled, and that include the legal applicant name and application ID number within the file name and heading of each document. To ensure that all required additional documents are considered, please provide each document as a separate single file, labeled appropriately. Please do not send multiple documents in one combined file, and do not send a single document in multiple files.

• 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).”

• Prime applicants should send separate emails with each subapplicant’s materials, referencing the subapplicant’s Application ID

Failure to submit the required additional documents, following the email instructions in this section, by the deadline and in the format requested above may have a negative effect on the assessment of your application and/or on the determination of the application’s eligibility to advance for review.

Please do not submit any items that are not requested in this Notice and Guidance. AmeriCorps will not review or return them.

10 https://americorps.gov/sites/default/files/document/OFMS-Control-Number- 3045_0102_FY20%20%282%29.docx mailto:AdditionalDocuments@cns.gov https://americorps.gov/sites/default/files/document/OFMS-Control-Number-3045_0102_FY20%20%282%29.docx https://americorps.gov/sites/default/files/document/OFMS-Control-Number-3045_0102_FY20%20%282%29.docx

D.7.c. Coordination among State Commissions and National Direct Applicants AmeriCorps expects Commissions and National Direct applicants to consult and coordinate activities at the local level, as specified in Section 131 of the 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. The list of Commissions can be found here:

https://americorps.gov/contact/state-service-commissions.

To ensure coordination:

National Direct applicants, except Federally-recognized Indian Tribes, must:

Before application submission:

• Consult with the Commission of each state and/or territory in which the organization plans to operate and describe this consultation in their applications. Contact the Commissions for details about the consultation process. Provide information that connects the proposed activities to the current State/Territory Service plan and/or State logic model.

After Award:

• Provide the Commission with contact information for National Direct programs in the state and/or territory and update the information on an annual basis.

• Participate in the Commissions’ annual needs assessment and training plan development activities, and in the development of its state/territory service plan, as well as appropriate training and other events.

• Include the Commission on the National Direct’s mailing/email distribution lists and invite it to appropriate training and other events.

State/Territory Commissions must:

Before application submission:

• Consult in a timely manner with the National Direct applicants, except Indian Tribes, that contact them prior to application submission.

After Award:

• Consider the schedules and needs of National Direct applicants, including Indian Tribes, operating in their states when planning annual events and technical assistance activities.

• Include National Direct programs, including Indian Tribes, in their annual needs assessment and training plan development activities, and in the development of their state/territory service plan.

• Add staff of multi-state programs in their state/territory to their mailing/email distribution lists and invite them to appropriate training and other events.

AmeriCorps will solicit Commission input on National Direct applicants, except Indian Tribes, proposing to operate in their state/territory. Via the AmeriCorps’ web-based management system, Commissions have the opportunity to select “support,” “do not support,” or “neutral,” and provide comments. Participation by Commissions in providing this input is strongly encouraged. AmeriCorps reviews and considers Commission input on multi-state applicants proposing to operate in their state.

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

E.1. Review Criteria Each applicant must describe a project that will deploy AmeriCorps members effectively to solve a significant community problem. AmeriCorps urges applicants to submit high quality applications that carefully follow the guidance in this Notice and in the Application Instructions.

The quality of an application will be an important factor in determining whether an organization will receive funding.

Categories/Subcategories Percentage Executive Summary 0 Program Design 50 Theory of Change and Logic Model 24 Evidence Tier 12 Evidence Quality 8 Notice Priority 0 Member Experience 6 Organizational Capability 25 Organizational Background and Staffing 9 Compliance and Accountability 8 Culture That Values Learning 4 Member Supervision 4 Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy 25

E.1.a. Executive Summary (Required - 0 percent) 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 members who will [service activities the members will be doing] in [the locations the AmeriCorps members will serve]. At the end of the first program year, the AmeriCorps members will be responsible for [anticipated outcome of project]. In addition, the AmeriCorps members will leverage [number of leveraged volunteers, if applicable] who will be engaged in [what the leveraged volunteers will be doing.]

This program will focus on the AmeriCorps focus area(s) of [Focus Area(s)].* The AmeriCorps investment of $[amount of request] will be matched with $[amount of projected match], $[amount of local, state, and Federal funds] in public funding and $[amount of non-governmental funds] in private funding.

*If the program is not operating in an AmeriCorps focus area, omit this sentence.

Fixed-Amount grant applicants (EAP, Full-Cost Fixed, No Cost Slots) should list their Other Revenue (see Mandatory Supplemental Information) because they are not required to provide a specific amount of match, but still raise significant additional resources to operate the program.

E.1.b. Program Design (50 percent) Reviewers will consider the quality of the application’s response to the…