[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 4, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46631-46632]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-22450]
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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
Availability of Funds for Technical and Administrative Support
for the National Service Scholarship Program
AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.
ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.
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SUMMARY: The Corporation for National Service (the Corporation)
announces the availability of up to $250,000 to provide technical and
administrative support for a new National Service Scholarship Program
to recognize high school juniors and seniors engaged in outstanding
community service. Students selected for recognition will receive
locally-funded scholarships, matched or supplemented with federal funds
provided by the Corporation. Of the National Service Scholars, a small
number selected at the State level will receive special recognition and
larger scholarships, and an even smaller number selected at the
national level will receive special recognition and still larger
scholarships. The Corporation's goal in this effort is to highlight the
outstanding community service performed by high school students across
the country, to recognize the particularly noteworthy service
accomplishments of outstanding young individuals, and to assist those
individuals in pursuing higher education.
As part of this effort, the Corporation is interested in selecting
an organization to provide administrative and technical support related
to this program. The successful applicant will assist in the design of
the program, conduct outreach and promote the program, solicit input
from interested nonprofit organizations with relevant expertise, work
with local nonprofits and other organizations to carry out the program,
and provide the administrative and technical support necessary to
accomplish the objectives described above.
DATES: The deadline for submission of applications is October 15, 1996.
Applications must be received by the Corporation no later than 3:00
p.m. Eastern Standard Time on that date.
ADDRESSES: Applications must be addressed to: Corporation for National
Service, 1201 New York Avenue NW, Ninth Floor, Washington, DC 20525.
Attention: Simon G. Woodard. Applications may not be submitted by
facsimile.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, contact Simon
G. Woodard at (202) 606-5000, ext. 114. This notice may be requested in
an alternative format for the visually impaired by calling (202) 606-
5000, ext. 260. The Corporation's T.D.D. number is (202) 565-2799.
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.
Pursuant to the National and Community Service Act of 1990, as
amended, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 12501, et seq. (the Act), the Corporation may
``support innovative and model programs.'' Under this authority, the
Corporation intends to conduct a National Service Scholarship Program
that will recognize high school juniors/seniors for outstanding service
in their communities and provide modest scholarship support in
recognition of such service.
Through this notice, the Corporation invites proposals from
interested applicants to design and implement the program. An outline
of the program, and the expectations of performance are provided below.
Purpose and Potential Design of the National Service Scholarship
Program
The purpose of this program is to highlight the outstanding
community service performed by high school students across the country,
to recognize the particularly noteworthy service accomplishments of
outstanding young individuals, and to assist those individuals in
pursuing higher education.
The Corporation anticipates that the final design of this program
will come from a collaboration involving the organization selected
under this notice, an independent panel of experts in the field, and
State and local stakeholders. The Corporation expects that the national
service scholarship program will be implemented by local schools and
communities across the country according to guidelines and procedures
they will establish, consistent with the following general guidelines:
(1) The volunteer activities of the high school junior/senior
should demonstrate effort over a sustained period of no less than one
year, and should have a significant impact in meeting the needs of the
local community.
(2) The awarding of the scholarship should be made by a local
organization in recognition of the individual's community service and
in accordance with procedures that are equitable and provide the
opportunity for consideration of all eligible candidates.
(3) It may be connected with service learning programs of the
school district.
(4) The selection process should be strictly non-partisan and non-
political.
[[Page 46632]]
(5) The scholarship recipient should be acknowledged by the
community and school in an appropriate fashion, such as high school
graduation.
(6) The scholarship should be provided by private funding sources,
and should be a minimum of $500.
The following is one potential design of the program to assist
organizations in understanding the scope and magnitude of the effort
required in this project. In this scenario, individuals might be
selected by local high schools or community organizations as National
Service Scholars. They, in turn, might complete a brief application and
submit them to either the State Education Agency, which now administers
service learning programs, or to the State Commission on National and
Community Service, as determined by the governor of the State. That
organization, based on merit criteria and consistent with the local
guidelines, could select a number of individuals who would have their
scholarship matched by the Corporation; and award a number of larger
scholarships to particularly noteworthy individuals. The application
might also include reference to the connection between service and
school studies. Each State agency would forward the applications of the
statewide scholarship recipients to a panel of nationally renowned
individuals who will select several larger scholarship recipients
across the nation.
The scholarships provided by private organizations should be for
the purpose of paying the cost of a student's higher education and will
be granted under the terms and conditions set by those organizations.
The matching amount provided by the Corporation, as well as the larger
scholarships, would be paid directly to an institution of higher
education.
Eligible Applicants
To be eligible, applicants must be a non-profit organization or
educational institution. Pursuant to the Lobbying Disclosure Act of
1995, an organization described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(4), which engages in lobbying
activities is not eligible.
Required Activities of the Successful Applicant
The organization selected will (1) Complete a final program design
and implementation plan for approval by the Corporation; (2) publicize
the program to local school districts, State agencies, and other
affected parties; (3) provide assistance to local nonprofits and seek
input from national nonprofit organization with relevant expertise and
knowledge; (4) respond to inquiries from all parties in timely fashion;
(5) organize the selection process for nationally-selected
scholarships; and (6) provide administrative and technical support to
the Corporation at all phases of the program.
Corporation Involvement
Substantial involvement is expected between the Corporation and the
successful applicant when carrying out the program. The Corporation
anticipates providing sufficient staff to support this effort and to
oversee the provision of Corporation funds. The applicant must keep
relevant Corporation staff informed of its activities; work with
Corporation staff during development, delivery and assessment of
services provided; and attend meetings/conferences at the Corporation's
request.
Project Duration
The Corporation anticipates entering into a cooperative agreement
covering a project period of approximately November, 1996 through
approximately October, 1997, with the possibility of renewal based on
performance, need, and the availability of funds at the discretion of
the Corporation.
Overview of Application Requirements
The application should include a narrative section describing the
organization's background and capacity to provide the technical and
administrative support for this program, an implementation timeline, a
staffing plan, and a certification that it will comply with all
conditions attendant to the receipt of federal funding. The application
may be no longer than 20 single-sided pages double-spaced in 12-point
font.
Initially all applications will be reviewed to confirm that the
applicant is an eligible recipient and to ensure that the application
contains the information required. The Corporation will assess
applications based on the criteria listed below (in descending order of
importance):
(1) Quality
(2) Organizational Capacity
(3) Proposed Costs.
The Corporation reserves the right to request additional written
information from applicants subsequent to the submission of initial
applications.
Dated: August 28, 1996.
Shirley Sagawa,
Managing Director for Planning, Corporation for National Service.
[FR Doc. 96-22450 Filed 9-3-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6050-28-P
