[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 119 (Tuesday, June 22, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33271-33274]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-15794]
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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
Notice of Availability of Funds To Support AmeriCorps Promise
Fellowships in Selected States, Indian Tribes, and U.S. Territories
AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.
ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.
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SUMMARY: The Corporation for National and Community Service (the
Corporation) will use up to approximately $1.1 million to award grants
to sponsor AmeriCorps Promise Fellowships in Alaska, Delaware, New
Mexico, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia and
Wyoming, and in the District of Columbia. Indian tribes and programs in
U.S. territories are also eligible to apply. AmeriCorps Promise Fellows
will spend up to one year serving with organizations that are committed
to implementing programs in support of the five goals for children and
youth set at the Presidents' Summit for America's Future.
These grants, in the aggregate, will support approximately 80
Fellows. Each Fellow will receive a living allowance of between $13,000
and $17,376 based on twelve months of service. Upon successfully
completing a term of service, a Fellow will receive the $4,725
AmeriCorps education award. The Corporation will issue grants on a
fixed amount per Fellow basis of $13,000 per Fellowship awarded. These
amounts exclude the education award. The grants are fixed-amount awards
that do not require Corporation monitoring of actual costs incurred.
DATES: All sponsor proposals must be submitted to the Corporation by 5
p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, August 12, 1999. The Corporation
anticipates announcing sponsor selections under this announcement no
later than September 23, 1999. The project period is negotiable, but
generally proposals should indicate a proposed project start date
between November 1 and December 31, 1999, and an end date no later than
December 31, 2000.
ADDRESSES: Proposals to sponsor one or more Fellows must be submitted
to the Corporation at the following address: Corporation for National
Service, Attn: Tracy Stone, 1201 New York Avenue NW, Room 9623,
Washington, D.C. 20525.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, or to obtain
a sponsor application, contact Rosa Harrison at the Corporation for
National Service, (202) 606-5000, ext. 433. T.D.D. (202) 565-2799. This
notice may be requested in an alternative format for the visually
impaired.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Corporation is a federal government corporation that encourages
Americans of all ages and backgrounds to engage in community-based
service. This service addresses the nation's educational, public
safety, environmental and other human needs to achieve direct and
demonstrable results. In doing so, the Corporation fosters civic
responsibility, strengthens the ties that bind us together as a people,
and provides educational opportunity for those who make a substantial
commitment to service. For more information about the Corporation and
the activities that it supports, go to http://www.nationalservice.org.
Pursuant to the National and Community Service Act of 1990, as
amended (the Act), the Corporation may support ``innovative and model
programs'' and may award national service fellowships. 42 U.S.C.
12653b. In addition, the Corporation may approve the provision of
education awards to individuals who successfully complete a term of
service in ``national service positions as the Corporation determines
to be appropriate''. 42 U.S.C. 12573(7). The federal regulations
governing the Corporation, published at 45 CFR 2520 et seq., are
available at public libraries or on the Internet at http://
www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/.
At the Presidents' Summit for America's Future, held in April 1997
in Philadelphia, President Clinton, former Presidents Bush, Carter, and
Ford, Mrs. Nancy Reagan, and General Colin Powell, with the endorsement
of many governors, mayors, and leaders of the independent sector,
declared: ``We have a special obligation to America's children to see
that all young Americans have:
1. Caring adults in their lives, as parents, mentors, tutors,
coaches;
2. Safe places with structured activities in which to learn and
grow;
3. A healthy start and healthy future;
4. An effective education that equips them with marketable skills;
and
5. An opportunity to give back to their communities through their
own service.
These five goals are now the five fundamental resources--or
``promises''--sought by America's Promise--The Alliance for Youth, the
national organization leading efforts to follow up on the goals of the
Presidents' Summit. For more information about the five goals of the
Presidents' Summit, go to http://www.americaspromise.org.
As a major partner in this effort, the Corporation devotes a
substantial part of its activities to help meet these goals, including
the work of AmeriCorps, Learn and Serve America, and the National
Senior Service Corps. The AmeriCorps Promise Fellows program provides
States and local communities with support to help carry out their plans
to provide America's children with these five fundamental resources.
Through this notice, the Corporation invites grant proposals from
eligible entities who wish to sponsor one or more AmeriCorps Promise
Fellows.
Eligible Sponsors
The Corporation seeks to place Fellows in states, tribes and
territories that are not represented by a governor-appointed state
commission on national and community service (State Commission) or in
which the State Commission has not previously been awarded AmeriCorps
Promise Fellowships. The following entities are eligible to apply to
become a sponsor:
1. State Commissions in Alaska, Delaware, New Mexico, South
Carolina, Virginia and Wyoming;
2. State Education Agencies in the District of Columbia, North
Dakota, and South Dakota;
3. State Education Agencies in Alaska, Delaware, New Mexico, South
Carolina,
[[Page 33272]]
Virginia and Wyoming, if the State Commission is not applying for
funding under this Notice. A letter signed by the State Commission
Chair or Executive Director verifying that the Commission is not
applying for funding under this Notice must accompany the State
Education Agency's application to the Corporation; and
4. Local government agencies, institutions of higher education, or
public or private nonprofit organizations in the District of Columbia,
North Dakota, or South Dakota, or U.S. territories; and
5. Indian tribes (as defined in the National and Community Service
Act at 42 U.S.C. 12511(11)).
The Corporation encourages State Commissions and State Education
Agencies to collaborate in applying for funding under this Notice and
to use their Unified State Plans as the basis for their application.
Where both agencies are involved in proposing an AmeriCorps Promise
Fellows program for their state, the application should be submitted to
the Corporation by the State Commission.
Substance of the Fellowship Program
The AmeriCorps Promise Fellows program is a national service
leadership initiative. Designed for those who have demonstrated skill
and passion for service to their community, an AmeriCorps Promise
Fellowship provides an opportunity to make a unique contribution to
organizations helping to meet one or more of the five fundamental needs
declared at the Presidents' Summit and being advanced by national,
state, and local nonprofit organizations; and the national service
network.
Although AmeriCorps Promise Fellows may be placed by a sponsor at a
host organization that focuses its resources on only one of the goals
of the Presidents' Summit, the host organization must be part of a
larger effort (e.g., Community of Promise) that supports the delivery
of all of the five fundamental resources to children and young people.
The most important considerations in establishing an AmeriCorps
Promise Fellows program are that the prospective Fellows help meet the
goals of the Presidents' Summit and that they have the ability to play
a leadership role in producing a defined outcome. In this regard,
Fellows' activities should principally be capacity-building in nature,
seeking to help increase substantially a community's ability to deliver
the five fundamental resources. For illustrative purposes, the
following are examples of specific activities or roles Fellows may
pursue:
Coordinating a Community of Promise campaign providing
a targeted number of young people with all or several of the five
fundamental resources.
Initiating a program to provide multiple resources to
targeted young people, for example, adding a service component and
access to dental care to an existing after-school tutoring program.
Planning or promoting State Education Agency efforts to
stimulate service-learning opportunities by K-12 students.
Expanding Volunteer Center activities to promote the
goals of the Presidents' Summit.
Spearheading immunization efforts aimed at young
children and their families.
Establishing new Federal Work-Study service
opportunities and recruiting and placing students in the new
positions.
Recruiting new Communities of Promise.
Although no particular academic credentials or work experience are
required, Fellows will be viewed as leaders in the efforts to implement
the goals of the Presidents' Summit, and as a group will have an
identity tied to this overall effort. Therefore, confidence in the
ability of applicants to produce outcomes in support of the goals of
the Presidents' Summit, such as the implementation of projects like
those described above, is the central criterion for selection. This is
evidenced by: Strong academic credentials; demonstrated leadership
skills; substantial and successful work experience in a field related
to the organization's activities; and experience performing significant
service-related activities, particularly various national service
leaders' programs, including AmeriCorps leaders, AmeriCorps*VISTA
leaders, AmeriCorps*National Civilian Community Corps leaders, and
leadership activities in programs sponsored by Learn and Serve America
and the National Senior Service Corps.
Fellowships may not be used simply to supplement the numbers of
AmeriCorps Members at existing programs already carrying out activities
consistent with the goals of the Presidents' Summit. Rather, the role
of AmeriCorps Promise Fellows should be to provide higher-level support
that will enable an organization to become more involved, or to
substantially increase the amount or quality of activities supporting
achievement of the Presidents' Summit's five goals.
An AmeriCorps Promise Fellow must: (1) Be at least 17 years of age;
(2) be a U.S. citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident alien;
and (3) have a high school diploma or GED. Individuals who have already
served in two approved national service positions (a position for which
an education award is provided) are, by statute, not eligible for a
third education award.
Fellowships must be completed in no less than 10 months and no more
than 12 months. Fellows must serve on a full-time basis. To qualify for
an education award of $4,725, a Fellow must perform at least 1,700
hours of service and successfully complete the Fellowship.
Sponsors must provide Fellows a living allowance between $13,000
and $17,376 based on a twelve-month term of service. If the term of
service is shorter than twelve months, the sponsor must pro-rate the
amount of the living allowance.
Sponsors are not required to provide health insurance and/or child
care to Fellows or their families. However, the sponsor is encouraged
to offer such assistance and may use funds awarded under this Notice
for this purpose.
Sponsor's Role
The Corporation anticipates supporting no more than five AmeriCorps
Promise Fellowships under each grant. If the sponsor identifies
additional non-Corporation resources to support more than five Fellows,
including provision of the required living allowance, the sponsor may
propose to increase the number of Fellows. In such instances, the
Corporation may approve additional education awards subject to their
availability, and the number of Fellowships per sponsor may exceed
five.
Each sponsor determines the process for the recruitment and
selection of AmeriCorps Promise Fellows in its respective area. State
Commissions and State Education Agencies are encouraged to use their
Unified State Plan as the basis for their plans. The sponsor must
certify that the host organization in which the Fellow is being placed
is conducting activities that contribute to one or more of the five
goals of the Presidents' Summit, and that this is part of a larger
effort to provide all five of the fundamental resources to children and
youth.
The Corporation anticipates that host organizations generally will
be local or state nonprofit organizations that are engaged in
activities in support of the goals of the Presidents' Summit. Fellows
may serve at a State Commission only under limited circumstances. In
proposing such an arrangement, a State Commission must describe in its
application how it will comply with (1) The prohibition on State
Commissions operating any national service program receiving financial
assistance from the Corporation and (2) the prohibition on
[[Page 33273]]
a State Commission receiving Corporation assistance to carry out
activities that are already supported by its administrative grant from
the Corporation. A State Commission proposing this arrangement must
also submit a detailed position description for the Fellow
demonstrating that the Fellow's responsibilities are directly tied to
achieving the goals of the Presidents' Summit.
Sponsors are responsible for ensuring compliance with required
elements of the Fellowship program. These requirements, which will be
individually described in the grant agreement between the Corporation
and the sponsor, include, but are not limited to, the following:
Providing office space, supplies, and equipment.
Providing a living allowance.
Paying and withholding FICA taxes.
Withholding income taxes.
Providing unemployment insurance if required by State
law.
Providing workers' compensation if required by State
law or obtaining insurance to cover service-related injuries.
Providing liability insurance to cover claims relating
to Fellows.
Providing adequate training and supervision.
Ensuring that Fellows not engage in prohibited
activities (such as lobbying).
Complying with statutory prohibitions on uses of
assistance (such as displacement, discrimination).
Providing a grievance procedure that meets statutory
standards.
Verifying and submitting timely documentation relating
to each Fellow's eligibility for an education award.
Providing an adequate financial management system.
Complying with other reporting requirements.
Contents of the Sponsor Application
Sponsor applications must contain the following information:
1. Background concerning the applicant's current efforts to achieve
the goals of the Presidents' Summit.
2. The proposed start date for the AmeriCorps Promise Fellows.
Please note that it is strongly encouraged that all Fellows begin
service between November 1 and December 31, 1999 to promote esprit de
corps among the class of Fellows.
3. An explanation of the method for determining the organizations
where Fellows will be assigned that addresses the matters listed below.
If host organizations have already been selected, please list the
designated organizations and indicate how the following were addressed
in making the selection.
(a) The process through which these organizations will be selected,
(b) The criteria used to evaluate their suitability for hosting a
Fellow(s),
(c) The expected number of Fellows who will serve at each
organization,
(d) The supervision, support and member development activities that
will be provided for the Fellow(s) at each organization or by the
sponsor, and
(e) Background concerning the selected organizations and the roles
they are playing in local summit follow-up.
4. A detailed description of the activities that the Fellows will
perform that includes:
(a) An explanation of how the activities will support significant
growth and/or improvements in the quality of efforts to meet the five
goals of the Presidents' Summit;
(b) Clearly defined, outcome-based objectives for:
i. The Fellows' service activities that are linked to the five
fundamental resources or efforts to increase community involvement in
strategies to deliver all five resources; and
ii. The Fellows' development as leaders in delivering the five
fundamental resources; and
(c) A description of how the Fellowship program will complement,
enhance, or offer services distinct from other AmeriCorps programs that
the applicant may sponsor.
If the Fellow serves at a State Commission, a detailed position
description must be provided.
5. A plan for recruiting Fellows that demonstrates an understanding
of the Fellows' leadership role in expanding and enhancing activities
that deliver on the goals of the Presidents' Summit and indicates the
anticipated process for recruiting Fellows, the desired qualifications
of Fellows, how these qualifications relate to the proposed Fellows'
activities, and the potential sources from which applicants will be
recruited.
6. An estimated budget to carry out the program, consistent with
the description below.
The application may not exceed 21 double-spaced pages in length;
additional instructions concerning the contents of the application are
contained in the application package.
Organizations interested in applying for these program funds may
participate in conference calls to be held on Thursday, July 15 and
Friday, July 30 during which Corporation staff will provide technical
assistance to potential applicants. The calls will begin at 1:30 p.m.
and conclude at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. To register for either
call, please contact Rosa Harrison at (202) 606-5000, ext. 433. Upon
registration, you will be apprised of the (800) number needed for
participation.
Budget and Finances
The Corporation will issue grants on a fixed amount per Fellow
basis of $13,000 per Fellowship awarded. These amounts exclude the
education award. The grants are fixed-amount awards that do not require
Corporation monitoring of actual costs incurred. The cost principles
normally applicable to Federal awards do not apply. The sponsor assumes
full financial responsibility for the program. Sponsors must provide
the additional financial support necessary to carry out their proposed
Fellowship program. The sponsor should indicate the amounts and types
of additional financial support required for the Fellowship program in
the budget narrative of the application.
In addition to the approved grant amount, the Corporation will
provide an education award to Fellows who successfully complete their
term of service. The Corporation will sponsor a national training event
to provide Fellows with an opportunity to come together to assess
national progress in meeting the goals of the Presidents' Summit. The
Corporation will also promote the availability of these Fellowships.
The Corporation anticipates that these grants will be renewable for
up to a two-year period, subject to performance and the availability of
appropriations.
Process for Selecting Sponsors
In selecting sponsors, the Corporation will consider: program
design (60%), including (in order of importance) Getting Things Done to
help achieve the five goals of the Presidents' Summit, recruiting a
leadership cadre of Fellows and fostering their continued leadership
development, and strengthening communities; organizational capacity
(25%); and budget/cost effectiveness (15%). The Corporation will make
all final decisions concerning approval of these grants for
Fellowships. Given the Corporation's interest in having the common
elements for the Fellowships that are described above, the Corporation
announces its intent to enter into such negotiations with any sponsor
in a manner that may require revisions to the original grant proposal.
The Corporation anticipates that all awards will be granted no
later than November 1, 1999. All awards are subject to the availability
of federal appropriations.
[[Page 33274]]
Dated: June 16, 1999.
Deborah Jospin,
Director, AmeriCorps, Corporation for National and Community Service.
[FR Doc. 99-15794 Filed 6-21-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6050-28-P
