FY 22 ASN PHA-NOFO-09-03-2021.508.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 Amount B.3. Period of Performance B.4. Type of Award

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

C.1. Eligible Applicants Types of Applicants

C.2. Cost Sharing or Matching 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 between a Commission and National Direct Applicant

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 (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

I. IMPORTANT NOTICES

ATTACHMENT A: PUBLIC HEALTH AMERICORPS

ATTACHMENT B: PUBLIC HEALTH AMERICORPS PERFORMANCE MEASURES

NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY

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

Public Health AmeriCorps 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.

Important Dates

• Applications are due Monday, November 8, 2021 by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

• Successful applicants will be notified by early March 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 AmeriCorps Education Award they can use to pay for higher education expenses or apply to qualified student loans.1

A.2. Funding Priorities Public Health AmeriCorps will include a $400 million investment, over five years, from the American Rescue Plan Act workforce funding that will enable the recruitment, training, and development of a new generation of public health leaders who are ready to respond to the public

1 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 health needs of the nation by providing public health service in communities. Please see Attachment A on page 28 for more information.

Public Health AmeriCorps has two main goals:

• Help meet public health needs of local communities by providing needed capacity and support in state and local public health settings and advancing more equitable health outcomes for communities who are currently or historically underserved.

• Provide pathways to good quality public health-related careers by providing exposure through onsite experience, training, and more, with a focus on recruiting AmeriCorps members who reflect the communities in which they will serve.

AmeriCorps members will serve primarily in state, local, Tribal, and territorial public health departments or in service to public health departments. It is strongly recommended that AmeriCorps members serve in at least teams of two. AmeriCorps has found that placing at least two members at a service site location provides economies of scale and aids in retention of members.

In addition, the agency’s priorities also include:

• 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.

A.3. Performance Goals or Expected Outcomes National Performance Measures All applications must include at least one aligned performance measure (output and outcome) that corresponds to the proposed primary intervention. All applications must include Public Health AmeriCorps determined performance measures. Please see Appendix B for the performance measures.

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 FY 2022 Public Health grant competition.

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 satisfactory performance.

https://americorps.gov/about/agency-overview/statutes-regulations https://www.congress.gov/111/plaws/publ13/PLAW-111publ13.pdf

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 to any successful applicant. See the C.1.Eligible Applicants section and the Mandatory Supplemental Information for more information.

Grant Types Cost Reimbursement

Available Subtypes Traditional

Maximum Cost per MSY $28,800*

Type of Slots in the National Service Trust

FT, TQT, HT, RHT

Budget Submission Required

Yes

Availability of Funds linked to enrollment and retention of awarded MSYs

No

Financial Reporting Requirements

Yes

Available to new Applicants Yes

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

FT = Full time, TQT = Three Quarter Time, HT= Half Time, RHT = Reduced Half 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 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=7122962885b48d729142e857315838fe&mc=true&node=se2.1.200_11&rgn=div8

• Local governments

• Nonprofit organizations

• States and US Territories

Applicants must have a valid SAM registration and DUNS and/or Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) 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.

Types of Applicants 1.Single-State Applicants Organizations that propose to operate in only one state will apply as National Directs and then if funded, be administered by the Governor-appointed State or Territory Service Commission. The State Service Commission (Commission) will be consulted during the grant making process related to single state applicants from their states.

2. National Direct Applicants 2 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 established Commissions.

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).

2 A National Direct applicant does not have to apply to a Commission; however, there are established requirements to coordinate with the Commission for the state that the national service program will operate. See the Coordination among State Commission & National Direct Applicants section for information on these important requirements.

C.2. Cost Sharing or Matching There is not a cost sharing or match requirement per the Interagency Agreement with the CDC.

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 that 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.

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 3

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 Multi-State applications with more than five operating sites (as according to the pages printed 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 toward the page limit are the:

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

Budget Adequacy narratives.

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.

3 (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 Monday, November 8, 2021 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

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.

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.

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

mailto:LateApplications@cns.gov https://egrants.cns.gov/espan/main/login.jsp https://egrants.cns.gov/espan/main/login.jsp

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. The amount must be included in the proposed budget as either AmeriCorps or grantee share. Exceptions are noted below.

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

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.

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.

Table: Maximum Cost per MSY Grant Program Maximum

Individual Competitive State/Territory Program/Tribes $28,800 Multi-state competitive $28,800

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 service term concludes 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 rate are located here: eGrants Indirect Cost Rate User Instructions. 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.

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.

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 mailto:IndirectCostRate@cns.gov https://egrants.cns.gov/espan/main/login.jsp https://egrants.cns.gov/espan/main/login.jsp https://questions.americorps.gov/app/ask https://questions.americorps.gov/app/ask

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 Public Health AmeriCorps 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 applicants

1. Evaluation briefs, reports, and/or studies. Please refer to the Evidence Base section and Mandatory Supplemental Information for detailed instructions by evidence tier. If multiple evaluation briefs, reports, and/or 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 web page. Evaluation plans are not scored and will not be reviewed until after funding decisions are made.

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

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

New and Recompeting applications

6. All new and recompeting applicants regardless of funding level are required to submit an Operational and Financial Management Survey (OFMS) located at:

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

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 mailto:AdditionalDocuments@cns.gov

• 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).”

Failure to submit the required additional documents, following the email instructions in this section, by the deadline 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.

D.7.c. Coordination between a Commission and National Direct Applicant AmeriCorps expects a National Direct applicant and Commission 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, a National Direct applicant, 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 Commission 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.

A State/Territory Commission must:

Before application submission:

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

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

After Award:

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

• Include all National Direct program, 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 a National Direct applicant, except Indian Tribes, proposing to operate in their state/territory. A Commission has the opportunity to select one of three options (support, do not support, or neutral) and provide comments via the AmeriCorps’ web-based management system. Participation by all Commission in providing this input is strongly encouraged. AmeriCorps reviews and considers Commission input on multi-state applicants proposing to operate in their state.

AmeriCorps will assess an applicant’s strategic considerations. Applicants must check the relevant boxes in the Program Information tab in AmeriCorps’ web-based management system in order to be considered for AmeriCorps’ assessment of the strategic considerations (see Selection for Funding section.) Applicants should only check the boxes if the strategic consideration is a significant and intentional part of their program design and if implementation strategies are described in the application.

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.] After their year of service, [Number of] AmeriCorps members will pursue future engagement in the public health sector.

E.1.b. Program Design (50 percent) Reviewers will consider the quality of the application’s response to the criteria below. Do not assume all sub-criteria are of equal value. Please ensure the Theory of Change and Logic Model incorporates the funding priorities listed above, for example supporting communities historically excluded and/or underserved from government services, addressing structural and institutional inequities, or increasing opportunity in order to achieve sustainable change in communities.

1. Theory of Change and Logic Model (24 points) The Theory of Change shall address the:

• problem is prevalent and severe in communities where the program plans to serve and has been documented with relevant data, including the role current or historical inequities faced by underserved communities may play in contributing to the problem;

• proposed intervention is responsive to the identified community problem;

• applicant’s proposed intervention is clearly articulated including the design, dosage, target population, and roles of AmeriCorps members and (if applicable) leveraged volunteers;

• applicant’s intervention is likely to lead to the outcomes identified in the applicant’s Theory of Change;

• expected outcomes articulated in the application narrative and logic model represent meaningful progress in addressing the community problem identified by the applicant;

• rationale for utilizing AmeriCorps members to deliver the intervention(s) is reasonable;

and

• service role of AmeriCorps members will produce significant contributions to existing efforts to address the stated problem.

The Logic Model shall depict:

• a summary of the community problem, including the role current or historical inequities faced by underserved communities may play in contributing to the problem;

• the inputs or resources that are necessary to deliver the intervention, including but not limited to the:

o locations or sites in which members will provide services, and o number of AmeriCorps members who will deliver the intervention.

• the core activities that define the intervention or program model that members 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 youth, third graders at a certain reading proficiency level)

• the measurable outputs that result from delivering the intervention (i.e. number of beneficiaries served, types and number of activities conducted, equity gaps closed).

Identify which National Performance Measures will be used as the output indicators

• the measurable outcomes that demonstrate changes in knowledge/skill, attitude, behavior, or condition that occur as a result of the intervention. Identify which National Performance Measures will be used as the outcome indicators.

Note: The logic model is a visual representation of the applicant’s Theory of Change. Programs should include short, medium or long-term outcomes in the logic model. Applicants are not required to measure all components of their Theory of Change. The applicant’s performance measures should be consistent with the program’s Theory of Change and should represent significant program activities.

Applicants should discuss in the application narrative the community need as it relates to the CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index: https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/placeandhealth/svi/index.html. An applicant should also discuss in its application the rationale for setting output and outcome targets for their performance measures, as well as the state of the current public health workforce is in the community.

Rationales and justifications should be informed by the organization’s performance data (e.g., program data observed over time that suggests targets are reasonable), relevant research (e.g.

targets documented by organizations running similar programs with similar populations), or prior program evaluation findings.

Applicants with multiple interventions should complete one Logic Model chart that incorporates each intervention. Logic model content that exceeds three pages will not be reviewed.

2. Evidence Base (20 points) The assessment of an applicant’s evidence base has two parts. First, the applicant will be assigned to an evidence tier (see the Mandatory Supplemental Information.) Second, the quality of the applicant’s evidence and the degree to which it supports the proposed program design, including program aligned with the priority areas identified above, will be assessed and scored.

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Evidence Tier (12 points):

An evidence tier will be assessed for each applicant for the purpose of understanding the relative strength of each applicant’s evidence base for their proposed public health service and public health workforce development intervention(s), and the likelihood that the proposed intervention

(s) will lead to outcomes identified in the logic model.4

Applicants who have outcome or impact evaluation reports of the same intervention described in the application (see Mandatory Supplemental Intervention for a definition of “same intervention”) may submit up to 2 of those reports, plus (if applicable) the evaluation report from their last three-year grant cycle, to qualify for the Preliminary, Moderate, or Strong evidence tier.

In order to qualify for consideration, the intervention evaluated in the submitted report(s) must match the intervention proposed by the applicant in the following areas, all of which must be clearly described in the Program Design and Logic Model sections of the application:

• Characteristics of the beneficiary population, including evidence of current or historic inequities facing the population;

• Characteristics of the population delivering the intervention;

• Dosage (frequency, duration) and design of the intervention, including all key components and activities;

• The context in which the intervention is delivered; and the

• Outcomes of the intervention.

Submitted reports that do not sufficiently match the intervention proposed by the applicant in all of these areas will not be considered applicable and will not be reviewed, nor receive any points.

Submission of additional documents that are inconsistent with the guidance and requirements described in the Notice (e.g., advocacy pieces, policy briefs, other narratives that are not research studies or program evaluations) will not be reviewed.

In the Evidence Tier section of the application narrative, applicants must:

• summarize the study design and key findings of any outcome or impact evaluation report(s) submitted, and

• describe any other evidence that supports their program, including past performance measure data and/or other research studies that inform their program design.

Applicants who submit evaluation reports for consideration must also describe in the Evidence Base section of the application narrative how the intervention described in the submitted reports is the same as the intervention described in the application (see Mandatory Supplemental Information).

4 In 2021, the evidence tiers of successful AmeriCorps State and National applicants that were competing were as follows: Strong 38%, Moderate 19%, Preliminary 16%, and Pre-Preliminary 26%. As these figures indicate, AmeriCorps values and funds programs at all points along the evidence continuum and expects programs to progress along the evidence continuum over time. Thus, do not be deterred from applying for funding due to your current evidence level.

Applicants should provide citations for the studies they describe, if applicable; however, reviewers will not review any documents external to the application other than evaluation report(s) submitted in accordance with the Notice instructions.

Applicants must meet all requirements of an evidence tier in order to be considered for that tier.

If the evaluation reports submitted by the applicant do not meet the definitions in the Mandatory Supplemental Information, the applicant may be considered for a lower evidence tier.

Evidence Quality (8 points) After the applicant’s evidence tier has been assessed, the quality of the applicant’s evidence and the extent to which it supports the proposed program design will be assessed and scored.

Applicants who are assessed as being in the Preliminary, Moderate, or Strong evidence tiers, reviewers will score the submitted evaluation reports using the following standards: The submitted reports:

• are of satisfactory methodological quality and rigor for the type of evaluation conducted (e.g., adequate sample size and statistical power, internal and/or external validity, appropriate use of control or comparison groups, etc.);

• describe evaluations that were conducted relatively recently, preferably within the last six years; and

• show a meaningful and significant positive effect on program beneficiaries in at least one key outcome of interest.

Applicants that are assessed as being in the Pre-Preliminary evidence tier, reviewers will score the narrative provided in the Evidence Base section of the application using the following standards:

• The applicant uses relevant evidence, including past performance measure data and/or cited research studies, to inform their proposed program design;

• The described evidence is relatively recent, preferably from the last six years;

• The evidence described by the applicant indicates a meaningful positive effect on program beneficiaries in at least one key outcome of interest.5

3. Member Experience (6 points)

• AmeriCorps members as a result of their service will have opportunities to develop as leaders.

• AmeriCorps members will gain skills as a result of their training and service that can be utilized and will be valued by future public health employers after their service term is completed.

• The program has a well-defined plan to recruit AmeriCorps members from the geographic or demographic communities in which the program operates.

5 Applicants assessed in the Pre-Preliminary evidence tier that do not provide adequate responses to the Evidence Quality standards will not meet the threshold requirements for this Notice and will not be considered for funding.

• The applicant will foster an inclusive service culture where different backgrounds, talents, and capabilities are welcomed and leveraged for learning and effective service delivery.

• The applicant’s organization and/or program has a diversity, equity, and inclusion council that seeks to diversity its staff and board and create a supportive and safe environment as well ensure that its programming is culturally and community appropriate.

• The program will encourage and enable AmeriCorps members to continue in the public health sector after their term of service.

E.1.c. Organizational Capability (25 percent) Reviewers will consider the quality of the application’s response to the following criteria below.

Do not assume all sub-criteria are of equal value.

1. Organizational Background and Staffing (8 points)

• The organization details the roles, responsibilities, and structure of the staff that will be implementing the AmeriCorps program as well as providing oversight and monitoring for the program.

• The organization has facilitated or participated in workforce pipelines or programs (i.e.

labor unions, worker centers, etc.)

• The organization has experience working with public health organizations.

• The organization has a stated commitment and plan to advance diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) throughout its mission, for example by using a DEI council or strategic plan.

2. Compliance and Accountability (9 points)

• The organization has a monitoring and oversight plan to prevent and detect non-compliance and enforce compliance with AmeriCorps rules and regulations including those related to prohibited and unallowable activities and criminal history checks at the grantee, subgrantee (if applicable), and service site locations.

• 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.

• The AmeriCorps-required evaluation report meets AmeriCorps requirements (if applicable).

• The AmeriCorps-required evaluation report is of satisfactory quality (if applicable).

3. Culture that Values Learning (4 points)

• The applicant's board, management, and staff collect and use information, including performance data, for learning and decision making.

• The applicant’s board, management, and staff collect and use information to determine its programmatic effectiveness in serving in a community with members that are diverse.

4. Member Supervision (4 points)

• AmeriCorps members will receive sufficient guidance and support from their supervisor to provide effective service.

• AmeriCorps supervisors will be adequately trained/prepared to follow AmeriCorps and program regulations, priorities, and expectations.

E.1.d. Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy (25 percent) Reviewers will assess the quality of the application’s budget to the following criteria below. Do not assume all sub-criteria are of equal value.

These criteria will be assessed based on the budget submitted. No narrative should be entered in the narrative box except for “See budget”

1. Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy (25 points)

• Budget is submitted without mathematical errors

• Proposed costs are…