1

CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY 

SERVICE

NATIONAL SERVICE AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT 

RESEARCH COMPETITION

GRANT AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

(CFDA No. 94:026)

Version 1 (effective October 1, 2015)
2015

GRANT AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT 

TERMS AND CONDITONS

Effective July 31, 2015

*For the 2015 National Service and Civic Engagement Research Competition

Recipients, all of the below General and program Specific Terms and Conditions for CNCS 

grants apply. These are more detailed than the General Terms and Conditions found in 

eGrants. This complete set of Terms and Conditions has precedence.* Where there is a 

conflict between the General Terms and Conditions and the Program Specific Terms and 

Conditions below, the Specific Terms and Conditions control.

These Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS) Grant Terms and Conditions

are binding on the recipient. By accepting funds under this award, the recipient agrees to comply 

with, and include in all awards and subawards, these General Grant Terms and Conditions, the 

program-specific grant terms and conditions, all applicable federal statutes, regulations and 

guidelines, and any amendments thereto. The recipient agrees to operate the funded program in 

accordance with the approved grant application and budget, supporting documents, and other 

representations made in support of the approved grant application. The term recipient is used to 

connote either recipient or subrecipient, as appropriate, throughout these Terms and Conditions. 
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TABLE OF CONTENTS 

SECTION ONE: GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

I. Governing Authorities......................................................................................................3

A. Legislative and Regulatory Authority ......................................................................3

B. Other Applicable Terms and Conditions ..................................................................3

C. Order of Precedence..................................................................................................3

II. General Terms and Conditions.........................................................................................4

A. Responsibilities under Award Administration..........................................................4

B. Financial Management Standards.............................................................................4

C. Budget and Programmatic Changes..........................................................................6

D. Prohibited Program Activities ..................................................................................8

E. National Service Criminal History Check Requirements .........................................8

F. The Office of Inspector General................................................................................9

G. Reporting of Fraud, Waste, and Abuse...................................................................10

H. Whistleblower Protection .......................................................................................10

I. Liability and Safety Issues .......................................................................................11

J. Site Visits.................................................................................................................11

K. Non-Discrimination Public Notice and Records Compliance ................................11

L. Award Products.......................................................................................................12

M. Suspension or Termination of Award ....................................................................13

N. Trafficking in Persons ............................................................................................13

O. Central Contractor Registration and Universal Identifier Requirements ...............15

P. Transparency Act Award Term (greater than or equal to $25,000)........................16

Q. Conflict of Interest..................................................................................................18

III. Attachment

Grant Program Civil Rights and Non-Harassment Policy...........................................20
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SECTION TWO: NATIONAL SERVICE AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT RESEARCH 

COMPETITION SPECIFIC TERMS AND CONDITIONS 

I. STATUTORY AUTHORITY 22

II. NATIONAL SERVICE AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT RESEARCH COMPETITION 

SPECIFIC TERMS AND CONDITIONS 22

A. DEFINITIONS 22

B. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE RECIPIENT 23

1. General 23

2. National Service Criminal History Check Requirement 23

3. Affiliation with CNCS and the National Service and 

Civic Engagement Research Competition 23

C. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF CNCS 24

1. Research Plans 24

2. Convening of Awardees 24

3. Access to CNCS Data and Program Staff 24

4. Dissemination of Research Project Results 24

D. NOTIFICATION OF STAFFING AND MANAGEMENT CHANGES 24

E. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS 25

1. Recipient Reports 25

2. Financial Reports 25

3. Requests for Extensions 26

4. Final Financial Reports 26

F. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT PERIOD 

AND INCREMENTAL FUNDING 26

G. SITE VISITS 27

III. APPENDICES 28
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SECTION ONE: GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

I. GOVERNING AUTHORITIES

A. LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY AUTHORITY

This award is authorized by and subject to The National and Community Service Act of 1990, as 

amended, (42 U.S.C. 12501 et seq.) (NCSA) and/or the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, 

as amended, (42 USC 4950 et seq.) (DVSA), the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act 

(FGCAA), 31 USC §§6301-6308, and CNCS’s implementing regulations in 45 CFR Chapter XII 

and/or XXV. Recipients must comply with the requirements of the NCSA and/or DVSA, as 

applicable, and CNCS’s implementing regulations.

B. OTHER APPLICABLE TERMS AND CONDITIONS

This award is subject to the uniform administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit 

requirements for Federal awards located at 2 CFR Part 200 and CNCS’s implementing regulations 

at 2 CFR Part 2205. Awardees must read and understand these requirements because they are 

responsible for implementing all of them.

The recipient must comply with all other applicable statutes, executive orders, regulations, and 

policies governing the award, including, but not limited to, 2 CFR Chapter I, those cited in these 

Grant Terms and Conditions and program specific terms and conditions, and the Grant Assurances 

and Certifications.

In addition to the applicable statutes and regulations referred to above, the recipient must perform 

its grant or cooperative agreement consistent with the requirements stated in:

1. The Notice of Grant Award and Signature Page;

2. These General Grant and Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions;

3. The Program Specific Terms and Conditions;

4. The Notice of Federal Funding Availability;

5. The recipient’s approved application (including the final approved budget, attachments, and 

pre-award negotiations);

6. Grant Certification and Assurances found.

C. ORDER OF PRECEDENCE

Any inconsistency in the authorities governing the Award shall be resolved by giving precedence 

in the following order (a) applicable Federal statutes, (b) applicable Federal regulations, (c) Notice 

of Grant Award and Signature Page; (d) CNCS Program Specific Terms and Conditions, (d) CNCS 

General Terms and Conditions, (e) the Notice of Funding Opportunity, and (f) the approved Grant 

Application including all assurances, certifications, attachments, and pre-award negotiations.
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II. GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

A. RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER AWARD ADMINISTRATION

1. Accountability of the Recipient. The recipient has full fiscal and programmatic 

responsibility for managing all aspects of the award and award-supported activities, subject 

to the oversight of CNCS. The recipient is accountable to CNCS for its operation of the 

program and the use of CNCS award funds. The recipient must expend award funds in a 

judicious and reasonable manner, and it must record accurately the service activities and 

outcomes achieved under the award. Although recipients are encouraged to seek the advice 

and opinion of CNCS on special problems that may arise, such advice does not diminish the 

recipient’s responsibility for making sound judgments and does not shift the responsibility 

for operating decisions to CNCS.

2. Subawards. If authorized by CNCS, a recipient may make subawards in accordance with 

the requirements set forth in 2 CFR Parts 200 and 2205. The recipient must have and 

implement a plan for oversight and monitoring that complies with the requirements 

applicable to pass through entities identified at 2 CFR §200.331 to ensure that each 

subrecipient has agreed to comply, and is complying, with award requirements. 

A recipient of a Federal award that is a pass-through entity has certain obligations to its 

subrecipients. Those requirements are located at 2 CFR § 200.331 and include, but are not 

limited to, the following:

(1) clearly identify the subaward to the subrecipient as a subaward, and provide the 

information identified at 2 CFR §200.331(a)(1)-(6); (2)evaluate subrecipients’ risk of 

noncompliance in order to determine appropriate subrecipient monitoring; (3) impose 

specific conditions on subawards if appropriate in accordance with 2 CFR §200.207; (4) 

monitor subrecipient activities and compliance, which specifically includes those 

monitoring activities identified at 2 CFR §200.331(d)(1)-(3); (5) utilize monitoring tools 

identified at 2 CFR §200.331(e)(1)-(3) if appropriate based on subrecipient risk; (6) ensure 

subrecipients have single or program-specific audits when required under 2 CFR Part 200 

Subpart F; (7) where necessary, adjust its own records and financial statements based on 

audits; and (8) if appropriate, take enforcement action against noncompliant subrecipients 

in accordance with 2 CFR §200.338.

3. Notice to CNCS. The recipient will notify the appropriate CNCS Program or Grants 

Officer immediately of any developments or delays that have a significant impact on 

funded activities, any significant problems relating to the administrative or financial aspects 

of the award, or any suspected misconduct or malfeasance related to the award or recipient. 

The recipient will inform the CNCS program officer about the corrective action taken or 

contemplated by the recipient and any assistance needed to resolve the situation.

B. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT STANDARDS

1. General. The recipient must maintain financial management systems which must comply 

with 2 C.F.R. 200.302(b). The recipient’s financial management systems must be capable 
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of distinguishing expenditures attributable to this award from expenditures not attributable 

to this award. The systems must be able to identify costs by program year and by budget 

category, and to differentiate between direct and indirect costs. For all recipient’s financial 

management requirements and responsibilities, refer to Subparts D and E of 2 CFR Part 200 

and CNCS’s implementing regulation at 2 CFR Part 2205.

2. Allowability of Costs. To be allowable under an award, costs must meet the criteria of 2 

CFR 200.403, which provides that costs must be necessary and reasonable for the 

performance of the award, must conform to limitations in the award or 2 CFR Part 200 as to 

types or amounts of cost items, must be consistent with policies and procedures that apply 

uniformly to both federally financed and other activities of the recipient, must be 

adequately documented, and must not be included as a cost or used to meet cost share or 

matching requirements of any other federally-financed program. Furthermore, the costs 

must be accorded consistent treatment in like circumstances as either direct or indirect costs 

in order to avoid the double-charging of Federal awards (see 2 CFR §200.403(d) and 

§200.412).

3. Audits. Recipient organizations that expend $750,000 or more in total federal awards in a 

fiscal year shall have a single or program-specific audit conducted for that year in 

accordance with the Single Audit Act, as amended, 31 U.S.C. 7501, et seq., and 2 CFR Part 

200, Subpart F. If the recipient expends federal awards under only one federal program, it 

may elect to have a program specific audit, if it is otherwise eligible. A recipient that does 

not expend $750,000 in Federal awards is exempt from the audit requirements for that year. 

However, it must continue to conduct financial management reviews of its subrecipients, 

and its records and its subrecipients’ records must be available for review and audit in 

accordance with 2 CFR §§200.333-200.337 and §200.331(a)(5). Additionally, a recipient 

acting as a pass-through entity must issue management decisions for audit findings 

pertaining to the Federal award provided to the subrecipient as required by 2 C.F.R. § 

200.521 and ensure follow-up on audit findings in a timely manner to ensure that the 

subrecipient corrects any deficiencies identified in the audit.

4. Indirect Cost Rates. Indirect cost rate requirements are located at 2 CFR § 200.414 and 

2 CFR Part 2205. Reimbursement for indirect costs, general and administrative costs, 

overhead, or any similar cost rate type agreement, will be at the rate(s) and on the base(s) 

specified in the approved award budget. These amounts are subject to finalization by the 

cognizant federal agency for indirect costs, which may be CNCS. Any provisional rate(s) is 

subject to downward adjustment only under this award. Accordingly, final approved rate(s) 

charged to this award may not exceed the maximum provisional rate(s). If the cognizant 

federal agency does not approve a final rate, then the maximum provisional rate will be 

considered the final rate.

5. Payments under the Award. Payments under this award are subject to 2 CFR § 200.305. 

Recipients access funds through the Payment Management System and can draw down 

funds as they need them. However, recipients must ensure they are following the 

requirements at 2 CFR § 200.305 which limits funds drawn down to amounts needed to 
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meet immediate cash needs. Pass-through entities must follow 2 CFR § 200.305

requirements for their subrecipients.

For non-Federal entities other than states:

a. Advance Payments. The recipient or subrecipient will receive advance payments of 

award funds provided the recipient meets the financial management standards 

specified in 2 CFR §200.302.

b. Immediate Cash Flow Needs. The amount of advance payments requested by the 

recipient must be based on actual and immediate cash needs in order to minimize 

federal cash on hand, in accordance with policies established by the U.S. 

Department of the Treasury in 31 CFR Part 208.

c. Discontinuing Advance Payments. If a recipient or subrecipient does not minimize 

the time elapsing between the receipt of the cash advance and its disbursement, 

CNCS may, after providing due notice to the recipient, discontinue the advance 

payment method and allow payments by reimbursement.

d. Interest-Bearing Accounts. The recipient or subrecipient must deposit advance 

funds received from CNCS in federally-insured, interest bearing accounts. The 

exceptions to this requirement are:

i. the non-federal entity receives less than $120,000 in federal awards per year;

ii. The best reasonably available account would not be expected to earn interest 

in excess of $500 per year on federal cash balances; or

iii. The required minimum balance is so high that it would not be feasible within 

expected federal and non-federal cash resources; or 

iv. A foreign government or banking system prohibits or precludes interest 

bearing accounts.

Earned interest must be remitted annually to HHS-PMS, Rockville, MD 20852. 

Recipients may keep up to $500 of interest per year to offset administrative 

expenses.

For states:

Payments are governed by Treasury-State CMIA agreements and default procedures 

codified at 31 CFR Part 205 and TFM 4A-2000 Overall Disbursing Rules for All Federal 

Agencies.

C. BUDGET AND PROGRAMMATIC CHANGES

All budget and programmatic changes must comply with 2 CFR §200.308 – Revision of budget 

and program plans. 2 CFR §200.407 Prior written approval (prior approval) – provides an 
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exhaustive list of those other items requiring CNCS’s advance approval. CNCS does not waive 

any of the prior written approvals required under that section. 

1. Programmatic Changes

The recipient must first obtain the prior written approval, as evidenced by a written 

award amendment, of the respective program office before making the following 

changes:

a. Changes in the scope, objectives or goals of the recipient’s program, whether or not 

they involve budgetary changes; 

b. Entering into subawards for activities funded by the grant or cooperative agreement 

which had not been previously identified or included in the approved application, 

budget or plan; 

c. Change in a key person specified in the application or the Federal award; and/or

d. The disengagement from the project for more than three months, or a 25 percent 

reduction in time devoted to the project, by the approved project director.

2. Budgetary Changes

The Recipient must obtain the prior written approval of CNCS’s Office of Grants 

Management before amending the approved budget in any of the following ways:

a. Specific Costs Requiring Prior Approval before Incurrence under the Uniform 

Guidance and CNCS’s implementing regulation (2 CFR Part 200 and Part 2205). 

For certain cost items, the Uniform Guidance requires approval of the awarding 

agency for the cost to be allowable. A list of these can be found at 2 CFR §200.407 

– Prior written approval (prior approval).

b. The transfer of funds budgeted to other categories of expenses from participant 

support costs, which are direct costs for items such as stipends or subsistence 

allowances, travel allowances, and registration fees paid to or on behalf of 

participants or trainees (but not employees) in connection with conferences, or 

training projects.

c. Unless described in the application and funded in the approved Federal awards, the 

subawarding, transferring or contracting out of any work under this award that is not 

for supplies, material, equipment or general support services. This does not include 

the selection of subrecipients as required in these terms and conditions or any 

contracting previously identified in the budget, such as contracting for the required 

evaluation.

d. Changes in the amount of approved cost-sharing or matching provided.

e. For those awards where the Federal share exceeds the Simplified Acquisition 

Threshold (set by 48 C.F.R. Subpart 2.1), cumulative changes to budget line items 

that are expected to or do amount to 10 percent or more of the total budget, as last 

approved by CNCS, must be approved in writing in advance by CNCS. The total 
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budget includes both CNCS and recipient shares. Recipients may transfer funds 

among approved direct cost categories when the cumulative amount of such 

transfers does not exceed 10 percent of the total budget. Currently, the Simplified 

Acquisition Threshold is $150,000, but it is periodically adjusted for inflation. 48 

C.F.R. Subpart 2.1 will have the current amount.

The recipient may also seek prior written approval on the allowability and allocability in 

advance of the incurrence of special or unusual costs under 2 C.F.R. §200.407. This prior 

written approval should include the timeframe or scope of the agreement.

3. NOTIFICATION OF STAFFING AND MANAGEMENT CHANGES 

BEYOND KEY PERSONEL IDENTIFIED IN THE BUDGET

In addition to the required prior approval for changes in key personnel identified in the budget, the 

recipient must also notify CNCS of any changes in any positions which are not included in the 

approved budget, but which involve leadership oversight of the activity under this award. The 

recipient must also notify CNCS of any change in the senior leadership of the recipient.

D. PROHIBITED PROGRAM ACTIVITIES

The recipient must comply with, and require all subrecipients to comply with, the prohibitions on 

use of CNCS funds applicable to their program as identified in section 174 of the NCSA (42 

U.S.C.§12634) and § 403 (Political Activities) of the DVSA (42 U.S.C. §5043). This includes 

providing religious instruction, conducting worship services or engaging in any form of 

proselytization; assisting, promoting, or deterring union organizing; financing, directly or 

indirectly, any activity designed to influence the outcome of an election to Federal office or the 

outcome of an election to State or local office. This also includes financing, directly or indirectly, 

any activity designed to influence the outcome of an election to Federal office or the outcome of an 

election to State or local office, or any voter registration activity, or to pay the salary of any officer 

or employee of CNCS who engages in such an activity in an official capacity.

In addition, the recipient must comply with, and require all subrecipients to comply with, the 

prohibitions on use of CNCS funds in § 403 (Political Activities) of the DVSA (42 U.S.C. §5043). 

E. NATIONAL SERVICE CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECK REQUIREMENTS

The National Service Criminal History Check (NSCHC) is a screening procedure established by 

law to protect the beneficiaries of national service. The law requires recipients to conduct and 

document NSCHCs on any person (including award-funded staff, national service participant, or 

volunteer) receiving a salary, living allowance, stipend or education award through a program 

receiving CNCS funds. An individual is ineligible to serve in a position that receives such CNCS 

funding if the individual is registered, or required to be registered, as a sex offender or has been 

convicted of murder. The cost of conducting NSCHCs is an allowable expense under the award.

Unless CNCS has provided a recipient with a written exemption or written approval of an 

alternative search procedure, recipients must perform the following checks–
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All award-funded staff, national service participants, and volunteers must undergo 

NSCHCs that include:

1. A nationwide name-based search of the National Sex Offender Public Website 

(NSOPW); and

2. Either:

• A name- or fingerprint-based search of the statewide criminal history 

registry in the person’s state of residence and in the state where the person 

will serve/work, or

• A fingerprint-based FBI criminal history check.

Special Rule for Persons Serving Vulnerable Populations. Award-funded staff, national 

service participants, and volunteers with recurring access to vulnerable populations (i.e., 

children age 17 or younger, individuals age 60 or older, or individuals with disabilities) 

must undergo NSCHCs that include:

1. A nationwide name-based check of the NSOPW; and

2. Both:

• A name- or fingerprint-based search of the statewide criminal history 

registry in the person’s state of residence and in the state where the person 

will serve/work; and

• A fingerprint-based FBI criminal history check.

See 45 C.F.R. § 2540.200–§ 2540.207 and http://www.nationalservice.gov/resources/criminalhistory-check for complete information and FAQs.

You must retain adequate documentation that you completed the required NSCHC. Inability to 

demonstrate that you conducted a required criminal history check component, to include the 

NSOPW, as specified in the regulations, may result in sanctions, including disallowance of costs.

F. THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

CNCS’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducts and supervises independent and objective 

audits, evaluations, and investigations of CNCS’s programs and operations. Based on the results of 

these audits, reviews, and investigations, the OIG recommends policies to promote economy and 

efficiency and to prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse in CNCS’s programs and operations.

The OIG conducts and supervises audits of CNCS recipients, as well as legislatively mandated 

audits and reviews. The legislatively mandated audits include the annual financial statement audit, 

and fulfilling the requirements of the Government Information Security Reform Act and its 

successor, the Federal Information Security Management Act. A risk-based approach, along with 

input received from CNCS management, is used to select recipients and awards for audit. The OIG 

hires audit firms to conduct some of its audits. The OIG audit staff is available to discuss its audit 

function, and can be reached at (202) 606-9390.

The OIG is available to offer assistance to CNCS recipients that become aware of suspected criminal 

activity or fraud, waste, and abuse in connection with the CNCS-funded program. The OIG 

investigative staff is available to provide guidance and ensure that the appropriate law enforcement 

agency is notified, if required. The OIG may be reached by email at hotline@cncsig.gov or by 
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telephone at (800) 452-8210. Upon request, OIG will take appropriate measures to protect the 

identity of any individual who reports misconduct, as authorized by the Inspector General Act of 

1978, as amended. Reports to OIG may also be made anonymously.

Recipients must cooperate fully with OIG inquiries by disclosing complete and accurate 

information pertaining to matters under investigation or review, and by not concealing information 

or obstructing audits, inspections, investigations, or other official inquiries.

G. REPORTING OF FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE

Recipients must immediately contact the OIG and their program officer when they first suspect 

that:

1. A criminal violation has occurred (see 18 U.S.C. Part I for more information on criminal 

conduct. http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2012-title18/html/USCODE-2012-

title18-partI.htm), such as:

a. Criminal fraud.

b. Theft or embezzlement.

c. Forgery.

d. Corruption, bribery, kickbacks, or acceptance of illegal gratuities or extortion.

2. Actual or suspected fraud, waste, or abuse has occurred.

a. Fraud occurs when someone uses intentional misrepresentation or misleading 

omission to receive something of value or to deprive someone, including the 

government, of something of value. 

b. Waste occurs when taxpayers do not receive reasonable value for their money in 

connection with a government-funded activity due to an inappropriate act or 

omission by people with control over or access to government resources. 

c. Abuse is behavior that is deficient, objectively unreasonable, or improper under the 

circumstances. Abuse also includes the misuse of authority or position for personal 

financial gain or the gain of an immediate or close family member or business 

associate. 

H. WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION

1. This award and employees working on this award will be subject to the whistleblower 

rights and remedies in the pilot program on Contractor employee whistleblower protections 

established at 41 U.S.C. 4712 by section 828 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 

Fiscal Year 2013 (Pub. L. 112-239).

2. Under this pilot program, an employee of a recipient may not be discharged, demoted, or 

otherwise discriminated against as a reprisal for disclosing information that the employee 

reasonably believes is evidence of gross mismanagement of a Federal contract or award, a 

gross waste of Federal funds, an abuse of authority (an arbitrary and capricious exercise of 

authority that is inconsistent with the mission of CNCS or the successful performance of a 

contract or award of CNCS) relating to a Federal contract or award, a substantial and 
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specific danger to public health or safety, or a violation of law, rule, or regulation related to 

a Federal contract (including the competition for or negotiation of a contract) or award.

3. The recipient shall inform its employees in writing, in the predominant language of the 

workforce or organization, of employee whistleblower rights and protections under 41 

U.S.C. 4712, as described above and at http://www.cncsoig.gov/whistleblower-protection. 

I. LIABILITY AND SAFETY ISSUES

The recipient must institute safeguards as necessary and appropriate to ensure the safety of 

members and volunteers. Members and volunteers may not participate in projects that pose undue 

safety risks.

J. SITE VISITS

CNCS reserves the right to make site visits to review and evaluate recipient records, 

accomplishments, organizational procedures and financial control systems, to conduct interviews, 

and to provide technical assistance as necessary. 

K. NON-DISCRIMINATION PUBLIC NOTICE AND RECORDS COMPLIANCE

1. Public Notice of Non-discrimination. The recipient must notify members, community 

beneficiaries, applicants, program staff, and the public, including those with impaired 

vision or hearing, that it operates its program or activity subject to the non-discrimination 

requirements applicable to their program found at §§175 and 176(f) of the NCSA or §417 

of the DVSA, and relevant program regulations found at 45 CFR Parts 2540 (AmeriCorps 

State and National), 2551 (Senior Companion Program), 2552 (Foster Grandparent 

Program), 2553 (RSVP), and 2556 (AmeriCorps VISTA). The notice must summarize the 

requirements, note the availability of compliance information from the recipient and CNCS, 

and briefly explain procedures for filing discrimination complaints with CNCS. 

Sample language is:

This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, disability, age, 

sex, political affiliation, or, in most instances, religion. It is also unlawful to retaliate against 

any person who, or organization that, files a complaint about such discrimination. In 

addition to filing a complaint with local and state agencies that are responsible for 

resolving discrimination complaints, you may bring a complaint to the attention of the 

Corporation for National and Community Service. If you believe that you or others have 

been discriminated against, or if you want more information, contact:

(Name, address, phone number – both voice and TTY, and preferably toll 

free – FAX number and email address of the recipient) or

Office of Civil Right and Inclusiveness

Corporation for National and Community Service

1201 New York Avenue, NW
12

Washington, DC 20525

(800) 833-3722 (TTY and reasonable accommodation line)

(202) 565-3465 (FAX); eo@cns.gov (email)

The recipient must include information on civil rights requirements, complaint procedures 

and the rights of beneficiaries in member or volunteer service agreements, handbooks, 

manuals, pamphlets, and post in prominent locations, as appropriate. The recipient must 

also notify the public in recruitment material and application forms that it operates its 

program or activity subject to the nondiscrimination requirements. Sample language, in 

bold print, is: This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national 

origin, disability, age, sex, political affiliation, or, in most instances, religion. Where a 

significant portion of the population eligible to be served needs services or information in a 

language other than English, the recipient shall take reasonable steps to provide written 

material of the type ordinarily available to the public in appropriate languages.

2. Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited English 

Proficient (LEP) Persons. Pursuant to Executive Order (EO) 13166 – Improving Access 

to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency, recipients are required to provide 

meaningful access to their programs and activities by LEP persons. For more information, 

please see the policy guidance at 67 FR 64604.

3. Records and Compliance Information. The recipient must keep records and make 

available to CNCS timely, complete and accurate compliance information to allow CNCS

to determine if the recipient is complying with the civil rights statutes and implementing 

regulations. Where a recipient extends federal financial assistance to subrecipients, the 

subrecipients must make available compliance information to the recipient so it can carry 

out its civil rights obligations in accordance with the records requirements at 2 CFR 

§§200.333-200.337 and §200.331(a)(5). . 

4 Obligation to Cooperate. The recipient must cooperate with CNCS so that CNCS can 

ensure compliance with the civil rights statutes and implementing regulations. The 

recipient shall permit access by CNCS during normal business hours to its books, records, 

accounts, staff, members or volunteers, facilities, and other sources of information as may 

be needed to determine compliance.

L. AWARD PRODUCTS

1. Sharing Grant Products. To the extent practicable, the recipient agrees to make final 

products produced under the 2015 award available at the cost of reproduction to others in 

the field.

2. Acknowledgment of Support. Publications created by members, volunteers or awardfunded staff must be consistent with the purposes of the award. The appropriate program 

CNCS logo shall be included on such documents. The recipient is responsible for assuring 

that the following acknowledgment and disclaimer appears in any external report or 

publication of material based upon work supported by this award: 
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“This material is based upon work supported by the Corporation for National and 

Community Service (CNCS) under Grant No. ____. Opinions or points of view expressed 

in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position 

of, or a position that is endorsed by, CNCS or [the relevant CNCS Program].”

M. SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION OF AWARD

CNCS may suspend or terminate this award in accordance with 2 CFR §§ 200.338 and 200.339 and 

applicable CNCS regulations and statutes. In addition, a recipient may suspend or terminate 

assistance to one of its subrecipients in accordance with 2 CFR §§ 200.338 and 200.339, provided 

that such action complies with 2 CFR § 200.341 – Opportunities to object, hearings and appeals.

N. TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

This award is subject to requirements of Section 106(g) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act 

of 2000, as amended (22 U.S.C. § 7104). 

1. Provisions applicable to a recipient that is a private entity. 

a. You as the recipient and your employees may not: 

i. Engage in severe forms of trafficking in persons during the period of time that the 

award is in effect; 

ii. Procure a commercial sex act during the period of time that the award is in effect; or

iii. Use forced labor in the performance of the award. 

b. We as the federal awarding agency may unilaterally terminate this award, without 

penalty, if it, 

i. Is determined you have violated a prohibition in paragraph N. 1. (a.) during this 

award term; or

ii. Has an employee who is determined by the agency official authorized to terminate 

the award to have violated a prohibition in paragraph (a.) of this award term through 

conduct that is either: 

(a.) Associated with performance under this award; or

(b.) Imputed to you using the standards and due process for imputing the conduct 

of an individual to an organization that are provided in 2 CFR Part 180, 

“OMB guidelines to Agencies on Government-wide Debarment and 

Suspension (Non-procurement),” as implemented by our agency at 2 CFR 

Part 2200.

 

 2. Provisions applicable to a recipient other than a private entity. We as the federal awarding 

agency may unilaterally terminate this award, without penalty, if it –

a. Is determined to have violated an applicable prohibition of paragraph (1.)(a.) of this 

award term; or

b. Has an employee who is determined by the agency official authorized to terminate the 

award to have violated an applicable prohibition in paragraph (1)(a.)(i.) of this award

term through conduct that is –
14

i. Associated with performance under this award; or

ii. Imputed to you using the standards and due process for imputing conduct of an individual to an 

organization that are provided in 2 CFR Part 180, “OMB Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement),” as implemented by our agency at 2 CFR Part 

2200.

 3. Provisions applicable to any recipient. 

a. You must inform us immediately of any information you receive from any source 

alleging a violation of a prohibition in paragraph (1.)(a.) of this award term. 

b. Our right to terminate unilaterally that is described in paragraph (1.) and (2.) of this 

section: 

i. Implements section 106(g) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 

(TVPA), as amended (22 U.S.C. 7104(g)), and

ii. Is in addition to all other remedies for noncompliance that are available to us under 

this award. 

c. You must include the requirements of paragraph (1.)(a.) of this award term in any 

subaward you make to a private entity. 

 4. Definitions. For purposes of this award term: 

a. “Employee” means either: 

i. An individual employed by you or a sub recipient who is engaged in the 

performance of the project or program under this award; or

ii. Another person engaged in the performance of the project or program under this 

award and not compensated by you including, but not limited to, a volunteer or

individual whose service are contributed by a third part as an in-kind contribution 

toward cost sharing or matching requirements. 

b. “Forced labor” means labor obtained by any of the following methods: the recruitment, 

harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, 

through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary 

servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery. 

c. “Private entity”: 

i. Means any entity other than a State, local government, Indian tribe, or foreign 

public entity, as those terms are defined in 2 CFR § 175.25. 

ii. Includes: 

(a.) A nonprofit organization, including any non-profit institution of higher 

education, hospital, or tribal organization other than one included in the 

definition of Indian tribe at 2 CFR § 175.25(b). 

(b.) A for-profit organization. 

d. “Severe forms of trafficking in persons,” “commercial sex act,” and “coercion” have the 

meanings given at section 103 of the TVPA, as amended (22 U.S.C. § 7102). 
15

O. CENTRAL CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION (CCR) and UNIVERSAL IDENTIFIER 

REQUIREMENTS

1. Requirement for Central Contractor Registration (CCR): Unless you are exempted from 

this requirement under 2 CFR § 25.110, you as the recipient must maintain the currency of 

your information in the CCR until you submit the final financial report required under this 

award or receive the final payment, whichever is later. This requires that you review and 

update the information at least annually after the initial registration, and more frequently if 

required by changes in your information or another award term.

2. Requirement for Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Numbers. If you are 

authorized to make subawards under this award, you:

a. Must notify potential sub recipients that no entity (see definition in paragraph 3. of this 

award term) may receive a subaward from you unless the entity has provided its DUNS 

number to you.

 b. May not make a subaward to an entity unless the entity has provided its DUNS number 

to you.

3. Definitions. For purposes of this award term:

a. Central Contractor Registration (CCR) means the Federal repository into which an 

entity must provide information required for the conduct of business as a recipient. 

Additional information about registration procedures may be found at the CCR Internet 

site (currently at https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/).

 b. Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number means the nine-digit number 

established and assigned by Dun and Bradstreet, Inc. (D&B) to uniquely identify 

business entities. A DUNS number may be obtained from D&B by telephone (currently 

866-705-5711) or the Internet (currently at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform).

 c. Entity, as it is used in this award term, means all of the following, as defined at 2 CFR 

part 25, subpart C:

 i. A Governmental organization, which is a State, local government, or Indian Tribe;

ii. A foreign public entity;

iii. A domestic or foreign nonprofit organization;

iv. A domestic or foreign for-profit organization; and

v. A Federal agency, but only as a subrecipient under an award or subaward to a nonFederal entity.

 d. Subaward:

 i. This term means a legal instrument to provide support for the performance of any 

portion of the substantive project or program for which you received this award and 

that you as the recipient award to an eligible subrecipient.

 ii. The term does not include your procurement of property and services needed to 

carry out the project or program (for further explanation, see Sec. ----.210 of the 

attachment to OMB Circular A-133, “Audits of States, Local Governments, and 

Non-Profit Organizations'').
16

iii. A subaward may be provided through any legal agreement, including an agreement 

that you consider a contract.

e. Subrecipient means an entity that:

 i. Receives a subaward from you under this award; and

 ii. Is accountable to you for the use of the Federal funds provided by the subaward.

P. TRANSPARENCY ACT REQUIREMENTS (for Grants and Cooperative Agreements of 

$25,000 or More)

Reporting Subawards and Executive Compensation:

 1. Reporting of first-tier subawards.

a. Applicability. Unless you are exempt as provided in paragraph 4, below, you must 

report each action that obligates $25,000 or more in Federal funds for a subaward to an 

entity (see definitions in paragraph 5. of this award term).

 b. Where and when to report.

 i. You must report each obligating action described in paragraph 1.a. of this award 

term to http://www.fsrs.gov.

ii. For subaward information, report no later than the end of the month following the 

month in which the obligation was made. (For example, if the obligation was made 

on November 7, 2010, the obligation must be reported by no later than December 

31, 2010.)

a. What to report. You must report the information about each obligating action that the 

submission instructions posted at http://www.fsrs.gov specify.

 2. Reporting Total Compensation of Recipient Executives.

 a. Applicability and what to report. You must report total compensation for each of your 

five most highly compensated executives for the preceding completed fiscal year, if--

i. the total Federal funding authorized to date under this award is $25,000 or more;

 ii. in the preceding fiscal year, you received--

(a.) 80 percent or more of your annual gross revenues from Federal procurement 

contracts (and subcontracts) and Federal financial assistance subject to the 

Transparency Act, as defined at 2 CFR §170.320 (and subawards); and

(b.) $25,000,000 or more in annual gross revenues from Federal procurement 

contracts (and subcontracts) and Federal financial assistance subject to the 

Transparency Act, as defined at 2 CFR §170.320 (and subawards); and

iii. The public does not have access to information about the compensation of the 

executives through periodic reports filed under section 13(a) or 15(d) of the 

Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. §§ 78m(a), 78o(d)) or section 6104 of 

the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. (To determine if the public has access to the 

compensation information, see the U.S. Security and Exchange Commission total 

compensation filings at http://www.sec.gov/answers/execomp.htm.)

 b. Where and when to report. You must report executive total compensation described in 

paragraph (2.)(a.) of this award term:
17

 i. As part of your registration profile at https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/.

 ii. By the end of the month following the month in which this award is made, and 

annually thereafter.

 

3. Reporting of Total Compensation of Subrecipient Executives.

 a. Applicability and what to report. Unless you are exempt as provided in paragraph 4. of 

this award term, for each first-tier subrecipient under this award, you shall report the 

names and total compensation of each of the subrecipient's five most highly 

compensated executives for the subrecipient's preceding completed fiscal year, if--

 i. in the subrecipient's preceding fiscal year, the subrecipient received--

 (a.) 80 percent or more of its annual gross revenues from Federal procurement 

contracts (and subcontracts) and Federal financial assistance subject to the 

Transparency Act, as defined at 2 CFR § 170.320 (and subawards); and

 (b.) $25,000,000 or more in annual gross revenues from Federal procurement 

contracts (and subcontracts), and Federal financial assistance subject to the 

Transparency Act (and subawards; and

ii. The public does not have access to information about the compensation of the 

executives through periodic reports filed under section 13(a) or 15(d) of the 

Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. §§ 78m(a), 78o(d)) or section 6104 of 

the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. (To determine if the public has access to the 

compensation information, see the U.S. Security and Exchange Commission total 

compensation filings at http://www.sec.gov/answers/execomp.htm.)

b. Where and when to report. You must report subrecipient executive total compensation 

described in paragraph 3.a. of this award term:

 i. To the recipient.

 ii. By the end of the month following the month during which you make the subaward. 

For example, if a subaward is obligated on any date during the month of October of 

a given year (i.e., between October 1 and 31), you must report any required 

compensation information of the subrecipient by November 30 of that year.

 4. Exemptions. If, in the previous tax year, you had gross income, from all sources, under 

$300,000, you are exempt from the requirements to report:

 a. Subawards, and

 b. The total compensation of the five most highly compensated executives of any 

subrecipient.

 5. Definitions. For purposes of this award term:

a. Entity means all of the following, as defined in 2 CFR Part 25:

 i. A Governmental organization, which is a State, local government, or Indian tribe;

 ii. A foreign public entity;

 iii. A domestic or foreign nonprofit organization;

 iv. A domestic or foreign for-profit organization;

 v. A Federal agency, but only as a subrecipient under an award or subaward to a nonFederal entity.
18

 b. Executive means officers, managing partners, or any other employees in management 

positions.

c. Subaward:

 i. This term means a legal instrument to provide support for the performance of any 

portion of the substantive project or program for which you received this award and 

that you as the recipient award to an eligible subrecipient.

ii. The term does not include your procurement of property and services needed to 

carry out the project or program (for further explanation, see Sec. ---- .210 of the 

attachment to OMB Circular A-133, ``Audits of States, Local Governments, and 

Non-Profit Organizations'').

iii. A subaward may be provided through any legal agreement, including an agreement 

that you or a subrecipient considers a contract.

 d. Subrecipient means an entity that:

 i. Receives a subaward from you (the recipient) under this award; and

 ii. Is accountable to you for the use of the Federal funds provided by the subaward.

 e. Total compensation means the cash and noncash dollar value earned by the executive 

during the recipient's or subrecipient's preceding fiscal year and includes the following 

(for more information see 17 CFR § 229.402(c)(2)):

 i. Salary and bonus.

 ii. Awards of stock, stock options, and stock appreciation rights. Use the dollar amount 

recognized for financial statement reporting purposes with respect to the fiscal year 

in accordance with the Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 

(Revised 2004) (FAS 123R), Shared Based Payments.

 iii. Earnings for services under non-equity incentive plans. This does not include group 

life, health, hospitalization or medical reimbursement plans that do not discriminate 

in favor of executives, and are available generally to all salaried employees.

 iv. Change in pension value. This is the change in present value of defined benefit and 

actuarial pension plans.

 v. Above-market earnings on deferred compensation which is not tax-qualified.

 vi. Other compensation, if the aggregate value of all such other 

compensation (e.g. severance, termination payments, value of life insurance paid on 

behalf of the employee, perquisites or property) for the executive exceeds $10,000.

Q. CONFLICT OF INTEREST

You must disclose in writing any potential conflict of interest to your CNCS Program 

Officer, or to the pass-through entity if you are a subrecipient or contractor. This disclosure 

must take place immediately. The CNCS conflict of interest policies apply to subawards as 

well as contracts, and are as follows:

1. As a non-Federal entity, you must maintain written standards of conduct covering 

conflicts of interest and governing the performance of your employees engaged in the 

selection, award, and administration of subawards and contracts.

2. None of your employees may participate in the selection, award, or administration of a 

subaward or contract supported by a Federal award if he or she has a real or apparent 
19

conflict of interest. Such a conflict of interest would arise when the employee, officer, or 

agent, any member of his or her immediate family, his or her partner, or an organization 

which employs or is about to employ any of the parties indicated herein, has a financial or 

other interest in or a tangible personal benefit from an organization considered for a 

subaward or contract. The officers, employees, and agents of the non-Federal entity must 

neither solicit nor accept gratuities, favors, or anything of monetary value from 

subrecipients or contractors or parties to subawards or contracts.

3. If you have a parent, affiliate, or subsidiary organization that is not a State, local 

government, or Indian tribe, you must also maintain written standards of conduct covering 

organizational conflicts of interest. Organizational conflicts of interest means that because 

of relationships with a parent company, affiliate, or subsidiary organization, you are unable 

or appear to be unable to be impartial in conducting a subaward or procurement action 

involving a related organization.
20

III. ATTACHMENT

Grant Program Civil Rights and Non-Harassment Policy

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) has zero tolerance for the

harassment of any individual or group of individuals for any reason. CNCS is committed to treating 

all persons with dignity and respect. CNCS prohibits all forms of discrimination based upon race,

color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, 

political affiliation, marital or parental status, or military service. All programs administered by, or

receiving Federal financial assistance from CNCS, must be free from all forms of harassment. 

Whether in CNCS offices or campuses, in other service-related settings such as training sessions or

service sites, or at service-related social events, such harassment is unacceptable. Any such

harassment, if found, will result in immediate corrective action, up to and including removal or 

termination of any CNCS employee or volunteer. Recipients of Federal financial assistance, be they

individuals, organizations, programs and/or projects are also subject to this zero tolerance policy. 

Where a violation is found, and subject to regulatory procedures, appropriate corrective action will

be taken, up to and including termination of Federal financial assistance from all Federal sources.

Slurs and other verbal or physical conduct relating to an individual’s gender, race, ethnicity,

religion, sexual orientation or any other basis constitute harassment when it has the purpose or effect

of interfering with service performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive service 

environment. Harassment includes, but is not limited to: explicit or implicit demands for sexual 

favors; pressure for dates; deliberate touching, leaning over, or cornering; offensive teasing, jokes, 

remarks, or questions; letters, phone calls, or distribution or display of offensive materials;

offensive looks or gestures; gender, racial, ethnic, or religious baiting; physical assaults or other 

threatening behavior; or demeaning, debasing or abusive comments or actions that intimidate.

CNCS does not tolerate harassment by anyone including persons of the same or different races,

sexes, religions, or ethnic origins; or from a CNCS employee or supervisor; a project, or site

employee or supervisor; a non-employee (e.g., client); a co-worker or service member.

I expect supervisors and managers of CNCS programs and projects, when made aware of alleged 

harassment by employees, service participants, or other individuals, to immediately take swift and 

appropriate action. CNCS will not tolerate retaliation against a person who raises harassment 

concerns in good faith. Any CNCS employee who violates this policy will be subject to discipline,

up to and including termination, and any grantee that permits harassment in violation of this

policy will be subject to a finding of non-compliance and administrative procedures that may result 

in termination of Federal financial assistance from CNCS and all other Federal agencies.

Any person who believes that he or she has been discriminated against in violation of civil rights

laws, regulations, or this policy, or in retaliation for opposition to discrimination or participation in 

discrimination complaint proceedings (e.g., as a complainant or witness) in any CNCS program or 

project, may raise his or her concerns with our Office of Civil Rights and Inclusiveness (OCRI). 

Discrimination claims not brought to the attention of OCRI within 45 days of their occurrence may

not be accepted in a formal complaint of discrimination. No one can be required to use a program,

project or sponsor dispute resolution procedure before contacting OCRI. If another procedure is used,

it does not affect the 45-day time limit. OCRI may be reached at (202) 606-7503 (voice), (202) 606-

3472 (TTY), eo@cns.gov, or through www.nationalservice.gov.

5/1/2014

Date
21

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22

I. STATUTORY AUTHORITY

This award is authorized by and subject to Subtitle H – Investment for Quality and Innovation, 

Part III – National Service and Civic Engagement Research Competitions Pilot Program, 

Section 198K (Funds) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990, as amended by the 

Serve America Act (the “NCSA”), 42 U.S.C. §12653(d) and by the Federal Grant and 

Cooperative Agreement Act (FGCAA), 31 USC §§6301-6308. Other authorities are outlined in 

the General Terms and Conditions.

II. NATIONAL SERVICE AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT RESEARCH 

COMPETITION SPECIFIC TERMS AND CONDITIONS 

A. DEFINITIONS- For this Cooperative Agreement the following definitions 

apply: 

1. Application means all information and materials (including all assurances and 

certifications, the proposed budget as approved by CNCS, or any information 

incorporated by reference) submitted by the Awardee in CNCS’s eGrants system in 

response to the Notice of Federal Funds Availability, including any amendments or 

modifications to the information and materials made in response to any CNCS 

request for clarification. Copies of the assurances and certifications agreed to in the 

eGrants system are included for reference as appendices to these Terms and 

Conditions.

2.Awardee means the direct recipient of this award under section 198k of the NCSA 

(42U.S.C. 12653k).

3.National service means a structured opportunity for individuals to serve their 

communities for an extended period of time through volunteering with or without a 

stipend. CNCS is the largest supporter of national service, though other avenues for 

national service exist and this competition is not exclusive to opportunities funded 

by CNCS.

4.Civic infrastructure means the “invisible structures and processes through which 

the social contract is written and rewritten in communities,” “the formal and 

informal processes and networks through which communities make decisions and 

solve problems” , or “the network that exists among local groups such as community 

development corporations (CDCs), foundations, other nonprofits, local governments, 

public housing authorities, businesses, and voluntary associations” . 

5.Civic engagement means a cluster of individual efforts and activities oriented 

toward making “a difference in the civic life of ... communities and developing the 
23

combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to make that difference. It 

means promoting the quality of life in a community, through both political and nonpolitical processes.” 

B. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE AWARDEE

1. General

The Awardee must perform the activities supported by this Cooperative Agreement in 

compliance with the statutes, regulations and administrative authorities cited or referred to 

in these Terms and Conditions, in conformance with its approved Application (including 

the approved budget), and consistent with any approvals or directions provided by CNCS in 

the course of carrying out the Cooperative Agreement. The Awardee is legally accountable 

to CNCS for the use of award funds and is bound by the provisions of the award. 

2. National Service Criminal History Check Requirements

CNCS has determined that the National Service Criminal History Check Requirements as 

set forth under the General Terms and Conditions, paragraph 3. E. above, are not applicable 

to this Research grant competition and that awardees need not fulfill that requirement to be 

in compliance with the responsibilities under this Cooperative Agreement.

3. Affiliation with CNCS and with the National Service and Civic Engagement 

Research Competition

a. Identification as a CNCS funded research project. The awardee must identify the 

research project as a CNCS-funded research project. All publications, conference 

presentations, or other dissemination activities related to the project funded by the National 

Service and Civic Engagement Research Competition must explicitly state that the project 

is funded by CNCS.

b. To publicize the relationship between the research project and CNCS, the awardee

must use one of the following phrases when describing their project: “a research project 

funded by the Corporation for National and Community through the National Service and 

Civic Engagement grant competition” or “a proud recipient of grant funding from the 

Corporation for National and Community Service as a result of the National Service and 

Civic Engagement grant competition.” 

c. The awardee may not use or display the CNCS name or logo in connection with any 
24

activity prohibited in these provisions, or if the activity is not funded by this grant or is not 

prohibited in these provisions, the awardee may not use or display the CNCS name or logo

unless they have received written permission to do so from the CNCS Office of External 

Affairs.

C. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF CNCS

Performance under this Cooperative Agreement is subject to the general oversight and 

monitoring of CNCS. Additional substantial involvement of CNCS will include:

1. Research Plans

a. Reviewing and approving the Awardee’s work plan and final research plan for 

carrying out the research project.

2. Convening of Awardees

a. Convening awardees to discuss projects and share feedback with one another. The 

convenings may include CNCS staff and external experts identified by CNCS and the 

awardees.

3. Access to CNCS data and Program Staff

a. Facilitating access to CNCS data sources that are publicly available and reasonable 

to obtain.

b. Facilitating access to CNCS program staff relevant to the awardees’ research 

projects, in a manner that is reasonable and not overly-burdensome on CNCS staff.

c. CNCS is under no obligation to provide access to data or staff if such access is not 

feasible or deemed overly costly by CNCS.

4. Dissemination of Research Project Results

a. CNCS may decide to disseminate the results of awardee research projects, either in a 

report produced by awardees, or material produced by CNCS based on the report.

b. CNCS will provide feedback for final product under the 2015 award.

D. NOTIFICATION OF STAFFING AND MANAGEMENT CHANGES

Within 5 business days, the Awardee must notify CNCS of any change in the staffing of 

any key position included (in whole or in part) as a cost in the award budget. This 
25

requirement applies regardless of whether the position is included in the federal or 

matching cost portions of the budget. The Awardee must also notify CNCS of any changes 

in any positions which are not included in the approved budget, but which involve 

leadership oversight of the activity under this award. The Awardee must also notify CNCS 

of any change in the senior leadership of the Awardee.

E. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

1. Recipient Reports

1. Each awardee will deliver to the CNCS Program officer identified an initial workplan by 

October 15, 2015. The workplan will set forth the process to be used to fulfill the grant 

requirements by the date such requirements are called for, to include milestones within the 

process that confirm the workplan is being met.

2. Each awardee shall provide the CNCS Program officer identified a research proposal/plan 

by December 1, 2015 that can be shared with the other grantees at our December 15, 2015, 

grantee meeting. Such proposal/plan should include an updated workplan referred to in 

paragraph E. 1. above. 

3. Each awardee shall submit an initial draft report (no more than 25 pages double spaced) to 

the CNCS Program officer identified. This report shall constitute preliminary findings 

based on the research performed by that date. This draft report will be due for the period 

ending June 30, 2016 by July 30, 2016, and will be reviewed by CNCS within 30 days. The 

final report of the initial research performed in the first year of the grant will be due for the 

period ending September 30, 2016 by October 30, 2016 and will address any comments 

offered by CNCS in the review of the draft submitted before July 30, 2016. 

4. If applicable, Awardees understand and agree that in subsequent continuation years of the 

grant, there will be reporting requirements that will be similar to, but may not match 

exactly, the reporting requirements set forth in paragraphs E. 1 – 3 above. Awardees 

receiving continuation grants in years 2 and 3 agree to comply with the then current 

reporting requirements.

2. Financial Reports

The Awardee must submit semi-annual cumulative Federal Financial Reports (FFR), 

summarizing expenditures during the reporting period. These reports will be submitted 

timely through the appropriate electronic system. At the discretion of CNCS, the FFR 

deadlines are as follows:

Due Date Reporting Period Covered

Year 1 of Cooperative Agreement
26

April 30 Start of Award through March 31

October 31 April 1 through September 30

Years 2-5 of Cooperative Agreement

April 30 October 1 through March 31

October 31 April 1 through September 30

All Awardees must also submit an FFR - Cash Transactions Report on a quarterly basis to 

the Department of Health and Human Services Payment Management System per the 

Electronic Funds Transfer Agreement.

3. Requests for Extensions

Requests for extensions of reporting deadlines will be granted when 1) the report cannot be 

furnished in a timely manner for reasons legitimately beyond the control of the Awardee; 

and 2) CNCS receives a written request explaining the need for an extension before the due 

date of the report. Extensions of deadlines for financial reports may only be granted by the 

Office of Grants Management, and extensions of deadlines for Progress Reports may only 

be granted by the Office of Research & Evaluation or another office deemed appropriate by 

CNCS.

4. Final Financial Report

An Awardee completing the final year of its Cooperative Agreement must submit, in lieu of 

the last semi-annual financial report, a final financial report, this report is due no later than 

90 days after the end of the Cooperative Agreement.

F. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT PERIOD AND INCREMENTAL FUNDING

For the purpose of National Service and Civic Engagement Cooperative Agreements, a 

project period is the complete length of time an Awardee is proposed to be funded to 

complete approved activities under the agreement. A project period may contain one or 

more budget periods. A budget period is a specific interval of time for which Federal funds 

are being provided to fund an Awardee's approved activities and budget.

Unless otherwise specified, the Awardee’s Cooperative Agreement covers a three (3) year 

project period, contingent upon the availability of funding and compliance by the awardee 

with the Cooperative Agreement. Additional funding is contingent upon satisfactory 

performance as determined by CNCS and the availability of funds. The project period and 
27

the budget period are noted on the Notice of Grant Award.

G. SITE VISITS

CNCS reserves the right to make site visits to review and evaluate Awardee and subawardee records, activities, organizational procedures and financial control systems; to 

conduct interviews; to request additional information; and to provide technical assistance as 

necessary.
28

III. Appendices

ASSURANCES

As the duly authorized representative of the applicant, I assure, to the best of my knowledge and belief, that the applicant:

Has the legal authority to apply for federal assistance, and the institutional, managerial, and financial capability 

(including funds sufficient to pay the non-federal share of project costs) to ensure proper planning, management, and 

completion of the project described in this application.

Will give the awarding agency, the Comptroller General of the United States, and if appropriate, the state, through any 

authorized representative, access to and the right to examine all records, books, papers, or documents related to the 

award; and will establish a proper accounting system in accordance with generally accepted accounting standards or 

agency directives.

Will establish safeguards to prohibit employees from using their position for a purpose that constitutes or presents the 

appearance of personal or organizational conflict of interest, or personal gain.

Will initiate and complete the work within the applicable time frame after receipt of approval of the awarding agency.

Will comply with the Intergovernmental Personnel Act of 1970 (42 U.S.C. 4728-4763) relating to prescribed standards 

for merit systems for programs funded under one of the nineteen statutes or regulations specified in Appendix A of 

OPM’s Standards for a Merit System of Personnel Administration (5 CFR 900, Subpart F).

Will comply with all federal statutes relating to nondiscrimination. These include but are not limited to: Title VI of the 

Civil Rights Act of 1964 (P.L. 88-352) which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin; (b) 

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as amended (20 U.S.C. 1681-1683, and 1685-1686). which prohibits 

discrimination on the basis of sex; (c) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. 794), 

which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability (d) The Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended (42

U.S.C. 6101-6107), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of age; (e) The Drug Abuse Office and Treatment Act 

of 1972 (P.L. 92-255), as amended, relating to nondiscrimination on the basis of drug abuse; (f) The Comprehensive 

Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Act of 1970 (P.L. 91-616), as amended, 

relating to nondiscrimination on the basis of alcohol abuse or alcoholism; (g) sections 523 and 527 of the Public Health 

Service Act of 1912 (42 U.S.C. 290dd-3 and 290ee-3), as amended, relating to confidentiality of alcohol and drug

abuse patient records; (h) Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.), as amended, relating to 

nondiscrimination in the sale, rental or financing of housing; (i) any other nondiscrimination provisions in the National 

and Community Service Act of 1990, as amended; and (j) the requirements of any other nondiscrimination statute(s)

which may apply to the application.

Will comply, or has already complied, with the requirements of Titles II and III of the Uniform Relocation Assistance 

and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 (P.L. 91-646) which provide for fair and equitable treatment of 

persons displaced or whose property is acquired as a result of federal or federally assisted programs. These 

requirements apply to all interests in real property acquired for project purposes regardless of federal participation in 

purchases.

Will comply with the provisions of the Hatch Act (5 U.S.C. 1501-1508 and 7324-7328) which limit the political 

activities of employees whose principal employment activities are funded in whole or in part with Federal funds.

Will comply, as applicable, with the provisions of the Davis-Bacon Act (40 U.S.C 276a and 276a-77), the Copeland 

Act (40 U.S.C 276c and 18 U.S.C. 874), and the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (40 U.S.C. 327-333), 

regarding labor standards for Federally assisted construction sub-agreements.

Will comply, if applicable, with flood insurance purchase requirements of Section 102(a) of the Flood Disaster 

Protection Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-234) which requires the recipients in a special flood hazard area to participate in the 

program and to purchase flood insurance if the total cost of insurable construction and acquisition is $10,000 or more.

Will comply with environmental standards which may be prescribed pursuant to the following: (a) institution of 

environmental quality control measures under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (P.L. 91-190) and 

Executive Order (EO) 11514; (b) notification of violating facilities pursuant to EO 11738; (c) protection of wetlands 

pursuant to EO 11990; (d) evaluation of flood hazards in floodplains in accordance with EO 11988; (e) assurance of
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project consistency with the approved state management program developed under the Coastal Zone Management

Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C 1451 et seq.); (f) conformity of federal actions to State (Clean Air) Implementation Plans

under Section 176(c) of the Clean Air Act of 1955, as amended (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.); (g) protection of

underground sources of drinking water under the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, as amended (P.L. 93-523); and

(h) protection of endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (P.L. 93-205).

Will comply with the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 (16 U.S.C 1271 et seq.) related to protecting components

or potential components of the national wild and scenic rivers system.

Will assist the awarding agency in assuring compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of

1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 470), EO 11593 (identification and protection of historic properties), and the

Archaeological and Historic Preservation Act of 1974 (16U.S.C. 469a-l et seq.).

Will comply with P.L. 93-348 regarding the protection of human subjects involved in research, development,

and related activities supported by this award of assistance.

Will comply with the Laboratory Animal Welfare Act of 1966 (P.L. 89-544, as amended, 7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq.) 

pertaining to the care, handling, and treatment of warm blooded animals held for research, teaching, or other

activities supported by this award of assistance.

Will comply with the Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 4801 et seq.) which prohibits the

use of lead based paint in construction or rehabilitation of residence structures.

Will cause to be performed the required financial and compliance audits in accordance with the Single Audit Act of

1984, as amended, and OMB Circular A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations.

Will comply with all applicable requirements of all other Federal laws, executive orders, regulations,

application guidelines, and policies governing this program.
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CERTIFICATIONS

Certification – Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters

This certification is required by the government-wide regulations implementing Executive Order 12549,

Debarment and Suspension, 2 CFR Part 180, Section 180.335, What information must I provide before entering

into a covered transaction with a Federal agency?

As the duly authorized representative of the applicant, I certify, to the best of my knowledge and belief, that 

neither the applicant nor its principals:

Is presently excluded or

disqualified;

Has been convicted within the preceding three years of any of the offenses listed in § 180.800(a)

or had a civil judgment rendered against it for one of those offenses within that time period;

Is presently indicted for or otherwise criminally or civilly charged by a governmental entity

(Federal, State, or local) with commission or any of the offenses listed in § 180.800(a); or

Has had one or more public transactions (Federal, State, or local) terminated within the preceding

three years for cause or default.

Definitions

The terms “debarment”, “suspension”, “excluded”, “disqualified”, “ineligible”, “participant”, “person”, “principal”,

and “voluntarily excluded” as used in this document have the meanings set out in 2 CFR Part 180, subpart I,

“Definitions.” A transaction shall be considered a “covered transaction” if it meets the definition in 2 CFR part 180

subpart B, “Covered Transactions.”

Assurance requirement for subgrant agreements

You agree by submitting this proposal that if we approve your application you shall not knowingly enter into any

lower tier covered transaction with a person who is debarred, suspended, declared ineligible, or voluntarily

excluded from participation in this covered transaction, unless authorized by us.

Assurance inclusion in subgrant agreements

You agree by submitting this proposal that you will obtain an assurance from prospective participants in all lower

tier covered transactions and in all solicitations for lower tier covered transactions that the participants are not

debarred, suspended, ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from the covered transaction.

Assurance of subgrant principals

You may rely upon an assurance of a prospective participant in a lower-tier covered transaction that is not

debarred, suspended, ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from the covered transaction, unless you know that the 

assurance is erroneous. You may decide the method and frequency by which you determine the eligibility of your

principals. You may, but are not required to, check the List of Parties Excluded from Federal Procurement and

Nonprocurement Programs.

Non-assurance in subgrant agreements

If you knowingly enter into a lower tier covered transaction with a person who is suspended, debarred, ineligible,

or voluntarily excluded from participation in this transaction, in addition to other remedies available to the federal

government, we may terminate this transaction for cause or default.

Certification – Drug Free Workplace

This certification is required by CNCS’s regulations implementing sections 5150-5160 of the Drug-Free Workplace Act

of 1988 (P.L. 100-690), 2 CFR Parts 182 and 2245. The regulations require certification by grantees, prior to award, that

they will make a good faith effort, on a continuing basis, to maintain a drug-free workplace. The certification set out 
31

below is a material representation of fact upon which reliance will be placed when the agency determines to award the 

grant. False certification or violation of the certification may be grounds for suspension of payments, suspension or

termination of grants, or government-wide suspension or debarment (see 2 CFR Part 180, Subparts G and H).

As the duly authorized representative of the grantee, I certify, to the best of my knowledge and belief, that the grantee

will provide a drug-free workplace by:

A. Publishing a drug-free workplace statement that:

a. Notifies employees that the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of a 

controlled

substance is prohibited in the grantee’s workplace;

b. Specifies the actions that the grantee will take against employees for violating that prohibition; and

c. Informs employees that, as a condition of employment under any award, each employee will abide by

the terms of the statement and notify the grantee in writing if the employee is convicted for a violation

of a

criminal drug statute occurring in the workplace within five days of the conviction;

B. Requiring that a copy of the statement described in paragraph (A) be given to each employee who will be engaged

in the performance of any Federal award;

C. Establishing a drug-free awareness program to inform employees about:

a. The dangers of drug abuse in the workplace;

b. The grantee’s policy of maintaining a drug-free workplace;

c. Any available drug counseling, rehabilitation, and employee assistance programs; and

d. The penalties that the grantee may impose upon them for drug abuse violations occurring in the workplace;

D. Providing us, as well as any other Federal agency on whose award the convicted employee was working, with

written notification within 10 calendar days of learning that an employee has been convicted of a drug violation in

the workplace;

E. Taking one of the following actions within 30 calendar days of learning that an employee has been convicted of a 

drug violation in the workplace:

a. Taking appropriate personnel action against the employee, up to and including termination; or

b. Requiring that the employee participate satisfactorily in a drug abuse assistance or rehabilitation

program approved for these purposes by a Federal, State, or local health, law enforcement, or other

appropriate agency;

F. Making a good faith effort to continue to maintain a drug-free workplace through implementation of paragraphs 

(A)

through

(E).

Certification - Lobbying Activities

As required by Section 1352, Title 31 of the U.S. Code, as the duly authorized representative of the applicant, I certify, to the 

best

of my knowledge and belief, that:

No funds received from CNCS have been or will be paid, by or on behalf of the applicant, to any person or

agent acting for the applicant, related to activity designed to influence the enactment of legislation,

appropriations, administrative action, proposed or pending before the Congress or any State government, State 

legislature or local legislature or legislative body.

If any funds other than federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid to any person for influencing

or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a member of Congress, an officer or

employee of Congress, or an employee of a member of Congress in connection with this federal contract,

grant, loan, or cooperative agreement, the applicant will submit Standard Form-LLL, "Disclosure Form to

Report Lobbying," in accordance with its instructions;

The applicant will require that the language of this certification be included in the award documents for

all subcontracts at all tiers (including subcontracts, subgrants, and contracts under grants, loans and

cooperative agreements) and that all subrecipients will certify and disclose accordingly.

Erroneous certification or assurance
32

The assurances and certifications are material representations of fact upon which we rely in determining whether to enter into

this

transaction. If we later determine that you knowingly submitted an erroneous certification or assurance, in addition to

other remedies available to the federal government, we may terminate this transaction for cause or default.

Notice of error in certification or assurance

You must provide immediate written notice to us if at any time you learn that a certification or assurance was erroneous when

submitted or has become erroneous because of changed circumstances.

Prudent person standard

Nothing contained in the aforementioned may be construed to require establishment of a system of records in order to render in 

good faith the assurances and certificationsrequired. Your knowledge and information is not required to exceed that which is 

normally possessed by a prudent person in the ordinary course of business dealings.