UPDATED AND POSTED 10/14/22 

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY 

Federal Agency Name: AmeriCorps 

Funding Opportunity Title: Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 AmeriCorps Seniors’ Senior 

Companion Program Quarter 3 Continuation and 

Renewal 

Announcement Type: Final Announcement 

Assistance Listing Number: 94.016 

Disclosure: Publication of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (Notice) does not obligate 

AmeriCorps to award any specific number of grants or to commit any particular amount of 

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

availability of annual appropriations. 

Important Dates 

• Applications are due not later than Wednesday, November 16, 2022, by 5:00 p.m. 

Eastern Time. 

• Successful applicants will be notified by March 31, 2023. 

Table of Contents 

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION ....................................................................................................................... 3 

A.1. Purpose of AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion Program Funding......3 

A.2. Funding Priorities ...................................................................................................4 

A.3. Performance Goals or Expected Outcomes......................................................5 

A.4. Program Authority..................................................................................................6 

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION......................................................................................................... 6 

B.1. Estimated Available Funds ...................................................................................6 

B.2. Estimated Award Amount.....................................................................................6 

B.3. Period of Performance...........................................................................................6 

B.4. Type of Award .........................................................................................................7 

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION .................................................................................................................... 7 

C.1. Eligible Applicants..................................................................................................7 

C.2. Cost Sharing or Matching......................................................................................8 

C.3. Other Eligibility Requirements ............................................................................8 

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION ............................................................................. 8 

D.1. Address to Request an Application Package ...................................................9 

D.2. Content and Form of Application Submission .................................................9 

D.2.a. Application Content .........................................................................................................9 

D.3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) ...... 10 

D.4. Submission Dates and Times ............................................................................ 11 

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D.4.a. Application Submission Deadline ..............................................................................11 

D.4.b. Additional Documents Deadline ................................................................................11 

D.4.c. Late Applications .............................................................................................................11 

D.5. Intergovernmental Review................................................................................ 12 

D.6. Funding Restrictions ........................................................................................... 12 

D.6.a. Award Funding Requirements.....................................................................................12 

D.6.b. Indirect Costs ...................................................................................................................12 

D.6.c. Pre-Award Costs ..............................................................................................................12 

D.7. Other Submission Requirements ..................................................................... 13 

D.7.a. Electronic Application Submission in eGrants.........................................................13 

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION................................................................................................14 

E.1. CONTINUATION APPLICATIONS....................................................................................14 

E.1.a. Executive Summary.......................................................................................... 15 

E.1.b. Program Design ................................................................................................ 15 

E.1.c. Work Plan(s)/Performance Measures........................................................... 15 

E.1.d. Budget ................................................................................................................ 15 

E.1d.i. Budget update for 3 month extension:..........................................................................15 

E.1.e. Other Narrative ................................................................................................. 16 

E.1.f Additional VSY Requests .................................................................................. 16 

E.2. RENEWAL APPLICATIONS.................................................................................................17 

E.2.a. Executive Summary.......................................................................................... 17 

E.2.b. Program Design ................................................................................................ 17 

E.2.c. Work Plans.......................................................................................................... 18 

E.2.d. Recruitment and Development ..................................................................... 19 

E.2.e. Organizational Capability............................................................................... 19 

E.2.e.i Program Management ................................................................................... 19 

E.2.e.ii Organizational Capability........................................................................... 20 

E.2.f. Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy .................................................. 20 

E.2 f.i. Budget................................................................................................................ 20 

E.2.f.ii. Budget update for 3 month extension:........................................................... 21 

E.2.g. Evaluation .......................................................................................................... 21 

E.2.h. Additional VSY Requests ............................................................................... 21 

E.3. Initial Application Compliance and Eligibility Review ................................ 22 

E.4. Application Review.............................................................................................. 22 

E.5. Pre-Award Risk Assessment .............................................................................. 22 

E.6. Consideration of Integrity and Performance System Information............ 23 

E.7. Selection for Funding.......................................................................................... 24 

E.8. Feedback to Applicants ...................................................................................... 24 

E.9. Transparency in Grant-making.......................................................................... 24 

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION ......................................................................24 

F.1. Federal Award Notices........................................................................................ 24 

F.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements....................................... 25 

F.2.a. Uniform Guidance............................................................................................................25 

F.2.b. Requests for Monitoring or Payment Integrity Information ................................25 

F.2.c. AmeriCorps Terms and Conditions..............................................................................25 

F.2.d. National Service Criminal History Check Requirements .......................................25 

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F.2.e. Official Guidance .............................................................................................................26 

F.3. Use of Material...................................................................................................... 26 

F.4. Reporting ............................................................................................................... 26 

G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS .......................................................................................27 

H. OTHER INFORMATION...........................................................................................................................27 

H.1. Technical Assistance ........................................................................................... 27 

H.2. Re-Focusing of Funding ..................................................................................... 28 

I. IMPORTANT NOTICES..............................................................................................................................28 

APPENDIX A ..................................................................................................................................................29 

List of Funding Opportunities ................................................................................... 29 

APPENDIX B ..................................................................................................................................................29 

Performance Measures ............................................................................................... 29 

APPENDIX C ..................................................................................................................................................29 

Terms and Definitions ................................................................................................. 29 

APPENDIX D..................................................................................................................................................29 

LITMOS RESOURCES: CONTINUATIONS AND RENEWALS FISCAL YEAR 2023- Q3 (APRIL 1 

START DATE) .................................................................................................................................................29 

APPENDIX E ..................................................................................................................................................29 

Grant Application Instructions .................................................................................. 29 

APPENDIX F...................................................................................................................................................29 

AmeriCorps Focus Areas ............................................................................................ 29 

APPENDIX G..................................................................................................................................................30 

VSY Adjustment and Cost per VSY Calculators ..................................................... 30 

FULL TEXT OF THE NOTICE 

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 

A.1. Purpose of AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion Program Funding 

AmeriCorps improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through 

service and volunteering. AmeriCorps brings people together to tackle some of the country’s 

most pressing challenges through national service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps members 

and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement 

of communities and those serving. AmeriCorps helps make service a cornerstone of our 

national culture. 

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Established in 1974, the AmeriCorps Seniors’ Senior Companion Program (SCP) engages 

adults ages 55 and over to provide companionship and support to other adults in need of 

extra assistance to remain at home or in the community for as long as possible. AmeriCorps 

Seniors volunteers in the Senior Companion Program typically perform volunteer service that 

takes place in the homes of their clients. Among other activities, they provide companionship 

to ease loneliness and social isolation, assist with transportation and light chores, help to 

serve as eyes and ears to professionals who can intervene in the case of medical or other 

deterioration on the part of the clients, and give support to informal caregivers. While 

serving, AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in the Senior Companion Program improve their own 

lives by staying active and civically engaged. (94.016) 

A.2. Funding Priorities 

AmeriCorps recently released its 2022-2026 Strategic Plan that defines the agency’s goals, 

objectives, and strategies to both meet and exceed the agency’s mission to improve lives and 

strengthen communities. Over the next 5 years, AmeriCorps will execute the following goals 

to better position the agency to respond to national and local needs and help the 

communities it serves prosper: partner with communities to alleviate poverty and advance 

racial equity; enhance the experience for AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors 

volunteers; unite Americans by bringing them together in service; effectively steward federal 

resources; and make AmeriCorps one of the best and most equitable places to work in the 

federal government. 

Over the next five years, AmeriCorps will invest in existing and new partnerships with nonprofit, faith-based, and Tribal organizations, and state service commissions, to get things 

done for America. We will prioritize investment in the most critical issues of our time — public 

health, climate and the environment, and education and economic opportunity — within 

AmeriCorps’ Focus Areas (Appendix F) and will increase our efforts to ensure our 

AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Senior volunteers reflect the communities where they 

serve. We will target our investments toward communities where the need is greatest, 

particularly those with populations that face racial inequality and poverty. These steps will 

enable more Americans than ever to strengthen the communities that need it most across the 

nation through their service. 

Incumbent projects that currently receive an AmeriCorps Seniors SCP grant are invited to 

submit applications for the AmeriCorps Seniors SCP grant sponsored by their organization. 

Incumbents are invited to apply for grant continuation or renewal based upon the 

determination that the project is continuing to meet the eligibility criteria as detailed in this 

document. 

AmeriCorps Seniors will prioritize national service investments in the following areas: 

• AmeriCorps Seniors is committed, in this grant cycle, to focus on programs that 

actively engage in removing structural racial inequities, advancing racial equality, and 

increase opportunity to achieve sustainable change in communities. 

• AmeriCorps Seniors encourages grant applications to include work plans 

that advance justice and equality in areas such as healthy futures. 

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• AmeriCorps Seniors encourages applicants to focus on efforts to help local 

communities respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Applicants may 

propose programming in the healthy futures focus area to aid communities as they 

recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

• AmeriCorps Senior prioritizes grant making in the Healthy Futures focus area 

identified by the National and Community Service Act of 1990, as amended by the 

Serve America Act. Under this focus area, grants must address health needs within 

communities by focusing specifically on independent living (aging in place), and 

access to health care. Activities may include supporting the ability of homebound, 

older adults and individuals with disabilities to live independently. 

To receive priority consideration, applicants must show that the priority area is a significant 

part of the program focus and intended outcomes, and must include a high-quality program 

design. Proposing programs that receive priority consideration does not guarantee funding. 

A.3. Performance Goals or Expected Outcomes 

National Performance Measures 

AmeriCorps expects applicants to use National Performance Measures as part of a 

comprehensive performance measurement strategy that relies on both performance and 

evaluation data to learn from their work and to make strategic adjustments to achieve their 

goals. Applicants are required to use the specific performance measures outlined in this 

Notice. For more information, please refer to the National Performance Measures 

Instructions. See the Program-specific evaluation requirements. 

Applicants must identify a Primary Focus Area. Work plans must include at least one service 

activity in the selected Primary Focus Area. The Primary Focus Area should represent the area 

in which the incumbent aims to make the most impact. 

All proposed volunteers and the intended impact of their service must be represented in the 

narratives, in a performance measure and in the budget. 

This funding opportunity requires applicants to demonstrate cost-effective practices in 

achieving performance goals through the services described in the proposed work plans. 

Applications must include work plans that meet the following minimum requirements: for 

every $9,000* in annual base federal funding, at least one Volunteer Service Year (VSY) must 

be incorporated in outcome-based work plans, and must produce National Performance 

Measure outcomes in: 

• the Healthy Futures focus area; or 

• National Performance Measure outcomes in “Inclusion of people with disabilities” 

(H15A) work plans for incumbents that have historically supported programming in 

this area (see Appendix B) 

Volunteer Service Year (VSY): VSY is a budget term which equals 1044 service hours. The 

standardized stipend cost per VSY is calculated by multiplying the number of hours served by 

the current cost per hour for the stipend (1044 hours x $4.00 per hour). 

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A.4. Program Authority 

Awards under this Notice are authorized by the National and Community Service Act of 1990, 

as amended, (42 U.S.C. §12501 et seq.), the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, as 

amended (42 U.S.C. §4950 et seq.). 

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION 

This Notice includes the deadlines, eligibility requirements, submission requirements, review 

criteria and other information applicable to SCP continuation and renewal applications. This 

document in addition to the grant application instructions must be reviewed in order to 

complete your application. This Notice is for current grantees in Year 3 of their current grant 

and seeking to renew their grant with a renewal application (for Year 1) or current grantees in 

Year 1 or 2 of their current grant and seeking to continue their grant with continuation 

applications (for Years 2 or 3). Please pay careful attention to sections that are specific to 

continuation applicants and sections specific to renewal applications. 

AmeriCorps Seniors has increased the hourly stipend rate for volunteers from $3.15 to $4.00 

an hour for FY23. Grantees must ensure their FY23 proposed budgets incorporate this rate 

increase, and cost per VSY does not exceed $9,000. 

B.1. Estimated Available Funds 

AmeriCorps Seniors anticipates approximately $45 million for FY 2023 Senior Companion 

Program awards. The actual level of funding is subject to the availability of annual 

appropriations. 

B.2. Estimated Award Amount 

Award amounts will vary, as determined by the scope of the projects. AmeriCorps Seniors 

expects to make awards in the range of $0.00 to $875,000.00. 

B.3. Period of Performance 

AmeriCorps expects to issue awards by March 31, 2023, to support a period of performance 

that begins on April 1, 2023. 

B.3.a. Continuation Grants: 

Continuation funding for years 2 and 3 is not guaranteed and may be dependent upon: 

• Satisfactory performance that signals the grantee is on track to achieve its proposed 

performance measures at the end of the grant 

• Demonstrated capacity to manage the grant 

• Compliance with grant requirements, including terms and conditions, criminal history 

checks, reporting and securing the required non-AmeriCorps share 

• Availability of Congressional appropriations 

B. 3.b. Renewal Grants: 

AmeriCorps anticipates making three-year grant awards for successful renewal applications. 

However, applications for funding must be based on a one-year period of performance and a 

one-year budget. Actual award periods will vary due to program requirements, the 

availability of appropriations, or specific circumstances of an individual application. 

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AmeriCorps reserves the right to adjust the amount of an award. 

B.4. Type of Award 

FY 2023 Senior Companion Program grants will be awarded on a cost reimbursement basis. 

Award recipients will be assigned to an AmeriCorps Portfolio Manager, who will be 

responsible for assessing recipient performance, providing training and technical assistance, 

and serving as the agency’s primary point of contact. 

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION 

C.1. Eligible Applicants 

Through this Notice, only AmeriCorps Seniors SCP grantees who currently receive federal 

funds for an AmeriCorps Seniors SCP grant or have an approved no-cost grant ($0), may 

apply for funding. 

The following non-Federal entities (all of which are defined in 2 CFR 200.1) are eligible to 

apply: 

• Indian Tribes 

• institutions of higher education 

• local governments 

• nonprofit organizations 

• state service commissions 

• states and US Territories 

In addition to Indian Tribes as defined in 2 CFR 200.1, tribal organizations that are controlled, 

authorized, or chartered by Federally recognized Indian Tribes are also eligible to apply. If an 

entity applies for an award as a tribal organization that is controlled or chartered by one or 

more Indian Tribes, and if it does not meet one of the other eligibility categories, the 

organization must provide copies or links to documentation which demonstrates that the 

organization is controlled or chartered by a federally recognized Indian Tribe. If an entity 

applies as an organization authorized by a federally recognized tribe, or multiple specific 

federally recognized tribes, it must submit a resolution or other authorization, adopted by the 

Tribal Council (or comparable tribal governing body) of each Indian Tribe. The 

authorization(s) must identify the entity applying for an AmeriCorps award by name as a tribal 

organization that is authorized by the Indian Tribe(s) for the purpose of applying for 

AmeriCorps funding (or federal grant funds generally). 

Applicants must have a valid SAM registration and Unique Entity Identifier to receive an 

award. See Section D.3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) 

for more information. 

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C.2. Cost Sharing or Matching 

Applicants are required to match funds equal to 10% percent of their total requested oneyear program budget. The applicant’s match can be non-AmeriCorps cash and/or in-kind 

contributions. Applicants must indicate whether the match is proposed or secured and 

maintain documentation. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to meet the 10% percent 

match requirement at the time of application submission. If needed, a match waiver request 

can be submitted. Please see the Match Waiver information for AmeriCorps Seniors 

Grantees located on the AmeriCorps website’s Manage Your Grant webpage. 

Non-AmeriCorps Federal funds are allowed as match if the Federal agency that is the source 

of the funds approves its use as match. Applicants must maintain documentation of this 

approval. 

See Section D.6. Funding Restrictions for more information. 

C.3. Other Eligibility Requirements 

Applications that propose to engage in activities that are prohibited under AmeriCorps’ 

statutes, regulations, or the terms and conditions of its awards are not eligible to receive 

AmeriCorps funding. 

Note that under appropriations provisions annually enacted by Congress, if AmeriCorps is 

aware that any corporation has any unpaid federal tax liability 

• that has been assessed; 

• for which all judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted or have 

lapsed; and 

• that is not being paid in a timely manner pursuant to an agreement with the authority 

responsible for collecting the tax liability; 

that corporation is not eligible for an award under this Notice. However, this exclusion will not 

apply to a corporation that a federal agency has considered for suspension or debarment 

and determined that suspension or debarment is not necessary to protect the interests of the 

federal government. 

Pursuant to the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, an organization described in the Internal 

Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. §501 (c)(4) that engages in lobbying activities is not eligible 

to apply for AmeriCorps funding. 

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION 

This Notice should be read together with the AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion 

Program regulations, 45 CFR Part 2551, AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion Program 

Grant Application Instructions, Appendix A: List of Funding Opportunities, and Appendix B: 

AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion Program Performance Measure Instructions. These 

documents are available online at https://americorps.gov/grantees-sponsors/scp 

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D.1. Address to Request an Application Package 

All information associated with this funding opportunity is available through the AmeriCorps 

Seniors webpages. Applicants should refer to AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion 

Program Grantees page for more information and instructions on how to fully respond to this 

Notice. Applicants can also send an email to the assigned Regional Office for a printed copy 

of the Notice, Guidance or Application Instructions. AmeriCorps also offers live text chat at 

https://americorps.gov/contact. 

D.2. Content and Form of Application Submission 

D.2.a. Application Content 

Complete applications must include the following sections: 

AmeriCorps Seniors SCP Continuation Grantees: (Also see Section E.1 for more detailed 

information) 

• Standard Form 424 (SF-424) Face Sheet: This is automatically generated when 

applicants complete the data elements in the eGrants system. 

• Narrative Sections: 

o Executive Summary: This is a brief description of the proposed program. 

Executive Summaries must match the language templates as provided in the 

Notice. Executive Summaries of all compliant applications are made available 

to the public following grant awards. 

o Program Management: Inform of any changes or challenges to your program, 

otherwise enter N/A if there are no continuation changes. 

 Respond to questions specific to DEIA and retention 

o Work plan(s)/Performance Measures: update if necessary 

o Cost-Effectiveness & Budget Adequacy: update if necessary 

o Other 

AmeriCorps Seniors SCP Renewal Grantees: 

• Standard Form 424 (SF-424) Face Sheet: This is automatically generated when 

applicants complete the data elements in the eGrants system. 

• Narrative Sections: 

o Executive Summary: This is a brief description of the proposed program. 

Executive Summaries must match the language templates as provided in 

application instructions and the Notice. Executive Summaries of all compliant 

applications are made available to the public following grant awards. 

o Strengthening Communities 

o Recruitment and Development 

o Program Management (Program Design) 

o Organizational Capability 

o Cost-Effectiveness & Budget Adequacy 

o Other 

• Standard Form 424A Budget 

• Performance Measures 

• Authorization, Assurances, and Certifications 

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D.2.b. Page Limits 

Applications may not exceed 17 double-spaced pages as according to the pages printed out 

from eGrants. The application sections that count toward the page limit are the: 

• SF-424 Face Sheet; 

• Executive Summary; and 

• Strengthening Communities, Recruitment and Development, Program Management, 

Organizational Capability, Other, and Cost-Effectiveness & Budget Adequacy 

narratives. 

The application page limit does not include the Budget, Performance Measures, 

Continuation Changes, Clarification, or any required additional documents. 

Please note that the length of the application as a word processing document may differ from 

the length of the document printed out from eGrants. The character limits in eGrants do not 

align with page limits set in the Notice. AmeriCorps strongly encourages applicants to 

print out the application from the “Review and Submit” tab in eGrants prior to 

submission in order to confirm that the application does not exceed the page limit. 

AmeriCorps will not consider the results of any alternative printing methods when 

determining if an application complies with the page limit. Reviewers will also not consider 

material that is over the page limit, even if eGrants allows applicants to enter and submit 

additional text. 

D.3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) 

All applicants must register with the System for Award Management (SAM) and maintain an 

active SAM registration until the application process is complete. If an applicant is awarded a 

grant, it must maintain an active SAM registration throughout the life of the award. See the 

SAM Quick Guide for Grantees. 

SAM registration must be renewed annually. AmeriCorps suggests that applicants finalize a 

new registration or renew an existing one at least three weeks before the application 

deadline, to allow time to resolve any issues that may arise. Applicants must use their SAMregistered legal name and physical address on all grant applications to AmeriCorps. 

The legal applicant’s name and physical address in eGrants must match exactly the 

applicant’s SAM-registered information. 

Applications must include a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), which is generated as part of 

the SAM registration process. AmeriCorps Seniors will not make awards to entities that do 

not have a valid SAM registration and Unique Entity Identifier. Applications must include an 

Employer Identification Number.The UEI and Employer Identification Number must be 

entered by the organization’s Grantee Administrator as an organization attribute, and this will 

apply the information to all applications for the organization. 

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If an applicant has not fully complied with these requirements by the time AmeriCorps is 

ready to make a federal award, AmeriCorps may determine that the applicant is not qualified 

to receive an award and use that determination as a basis for making a federal award to 

another applicant. 

D.4. Submission Dates and Times 

D.4.a. Application Submission Deadline 

Applications are due not later than Wednesday, November 02, 2022, by 5:00 p.m. 

Eastern Time. 

AmeriCorps will not consider applications submitted after the deadline, except as noted in 

Section D.4.c. Late Applications. AmeriCorps reserves the right to extend the submission 

deadline. AmeriCorps will post a notification in the event of an extended deadline on 

AmeriCorps’ website. 

D.4.b. Additional Documents Deadline 

Additional documents are due by the application submission deadline. See Sections D.4.a. 

Application Submission Deadline and D.7.b. Submission of Additional Documents for more 

information. 

D.4.c. Late Applications 

All applications received after the Wednesday, November 16, 2022, at 5:00 pm Eastern 

Time, submission deadline published in this Notice are presumed to be non-compliant. To 

overcome this presumption, the applicant must: 

• submit a written explanation or justification of the extenuating circumstance(s) that 

caused the delay, including: 

o the timing and specific cause(s) of the delay 

o the ticket number if a request for assistance was submitted to the AmeriCorps 

Hotline 

o any information provided to the applicant by the AmeriCorps Hotline 

o any other documentation or evidence that supports the justification 

• ensure that AmeriCorps receives the written explanation or justification and any other 

evidence that substantiates the claimed extenuating circumstance(s), via email to 

AmeriCorpsSeniors@cns.gov no later than 24 hours after the application deadline as 

stated in the Notice. 

Communication with AmeriCorps staff, including an applicant’s Portfolio Manager, is not a 

substitute for a written explanation or justification of the extenuating circumstance that 

caused the delay as outlined above. Applicants are required to continue working in eGrants, 

AmeriCorps' web-based application system, and with the AmeriCorps Hotline to submit the 

application. AmeriCorps will determine whether to accept a late application on a case-bycase basis. 

Applicants that do not meet the application submission deadline and do not submit a written 

explanation or justification or any other evidence to overcome the presumption of noncompliance within the published timeframe will be deemed noncompliant. If AmeriCorps 

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sustains a noncompliant determination, the application will not be reviewed or selected for 

award. 

AmeriCorps will not consider an advance request to submit a late application. Please 

carefully review and follow the guidance in this section and submit your application as soon 

as possible. 

D.5. Intergovernmental Review 

This Notice is not subject to Executive Order 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal 

Programs.” 

D.6. Funding Restrictions 

D.6.a. Award Funding Requirements 

Awards under this Notice are subject to cost share or matching requirements. The amount of 

funding AmeriCorps provides will be limited to 10 percent of the total allowable costs for the 

funded activity, as determined under 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E-Cost Principles. 

D.6.b. Indirect Costs 

Application budgets may include indirect costs. Based on qualifying factors, applicants may 

either use a Federally approved indirect cost rate or a 10 percent de minimis rate of modified 

total direct costs, or may claim certain costs directly, as outlined in 2 CFR 200.413. States, 

local governments, and Indian Tribes may use previously-approved indirect cost allocation 

plans. All methods must be applied consistently across all federal awards. Applicants that 

have a federal negotiated indirect cost rate or that will be using the 10 percent de minimis 

rate must enter that information in the Organization section in eGrants. 

The instructions for how to enter the organization’s indirect cost rate are located 

here: eGrants Indirect Cost Rate User Instructions. Applicants should not submit 

documentation addressing the indirect cost rate agreement via email. 

Please note: To request a federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement, when 

AmeriCorps is the applicable cognizant agency for an organization’s indirect costs, the 

applicant must submit a request to IndirectCostRate@cns.gov. The applicant may also obtain 

instructions and additional information by contacting the email address above. 

D.6.c. Pre-Award Costs 

Pre-award costs, where authorized, are allowed after receiving written approval from 

AmeriCorps. 

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D.7. Other Submission Requirements 

D.7.a. Electronic Application Submission in eGrants 

Applicants must submit applications electronically via eGrants, AmeriCorps' web-based 

application system. AmeriCorps recommends that applicants create an eGrants account if 

necessary and begin the application at least three weeks before the deadline. Applicants 

should draft the application as a Word document, then copy and paste the text into the 

appropriate eGrants field no later than 10 days before the deadline. 

The applicant’s authorized representative must be the person who submits the application. 

The authorized representative must use their own eGrants account to sign and submit the 

application. A copy of the governing body’s authorization for this official representative to 

sign must be on file in the applicant’s office. 

Applicants should contact the AmeriCorps Hotline at (800) 942-2677 or via eGrants 

Questions if they have a problem when they create an account, prepare, or submit the 

application. AmeriCorps Hotline hours are posted on website. 

Be prepared to provide the application ID, organization’s name, and the name of the Notice 

to which the organization is applying. If the issue cannot be resolved by the deadline, 

applicants must continue working with the AmeriCorps Hotline to submit via eGrants. 

If circumstances make it impossible for an applicant to submit in eGrants, applicants may 

send a paper copy of the application via overnight carrier below. Applicants must include a 

written explanation and any other documentation or evidence that support their inability to 

submit their application electronically. 

AmeriCorps 

ATTN: Office of Grant Administration (OGA)/FY 2023 AmeriCorps Seniors’ Senior 

Companion Continuation or Renewal Q3 Application 

250 E Street, SW, Suite 300 

Washington, DC 20525 

Please use a non-U.S. Postal Service carrier to avoid security-related delays. All deadlines 

and requirements in this Notice also apply to paper applications. AmeriCorps does not 

accept applications submitted via fax or email. 

D.7.b. Submission of Additional Documents 

Applicants are required to submit the following additional documents by the application 

submission deadline: 

1. Tribal organization eligibility documentation, if applicable (See Section C.1 Eligible 

Applicants) 

2. Renewal applicants regardless of funding level are required to submit an Operational 

and Financial Management Survey (OFMS). Please submit the OFMS as a Word 

document. Forms submitted as a PDF or any other document format may not be 

accepted. 

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Additional documents must be emailed to AmeriCorpsSeniors@cns.gov with the following 

subject line: “Legal Applicant Name” – “Application ID Number.” Emails should include: 

• the legal applicant’s name and its point of contact information 

• the application ID number 

• individually attached files that are clearly labeled, and that include the legal 

applicant’s name and application ID number within the file name and heading of each 

document. To ensure that all required additional documents are considered, please 

provide each document as a separate single file, labeled appropriately. Please do not 

send multiple documents in one combined file, and do not send a single document in 

multiple files. 

Failure to submit the required additional documents, following the email instructions in this 

section, by the deadline may have a negative effect on the assessment of your application. 

Do not submit any items that are not requested in this Notice and Application 

Instructions. AmeriCorps will not review or return them. 

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION 

AmeriCorps Seniors SCP Continuation Grantees must review section E.1. and provide the 

information as instructed. 

AmeriCorps Seniors SCP Renewal Grantees must review section E.2. and provide the 

information as instructed. 

E.1. CONTINUATION APPLICATIONS 

Continuation Funding Information and Requirements 

Organizations that have current program awards that continue beyond FY 2022 must submit 

an application in order to be eligible to receive funding for the following year. If a 

continuation application is not submitted by the due date, or if approval is not given for an 

extension, this will be an indication that the organization is no longer interested in receiving 

funding. Please see the Application Instructions and other appendices. 

The hourly stipend rate for FY23 is $4.00. Requests by existing continuation applicants for 

increases in the level of funding will be assessed based on review of information provided in 

the continuation application, most recent progress reports, most recent federal financial 

report, and AmeriCorps staff’s knowledge of the grant program. 

To be approved for continuation funding, recipients must demonstrate satisfactory 

performance with respect to key program goals and requirements, as well as compliance 

with the terms and conditions of the grant. AmeriCorps reserves the right to award 

applications in an amount less than the requested level of funding and will document the 

rationale for doing so. Continuation applications must respond to the items noted below 

for executive summary, program design, work plan, DEIA, and budget. 

14 
 

 

See section D.2.a for Continuation Application content. 

E.1.a. Executive Summary 

Please ensure the Executive Summary is in the correct format as noted below. Do not 

deviate from the template below. If the executive summary does not match the template 

below, applicants will be instructed to correct prior to award. 

“The [Name of the organization] proposes to have [Number of unduplicated] 

AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers who will [service activities the volunteers will be doing] 

in [the locations the AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will serve]. The primary focus 

area of this project is [fill in AmeriCorps Focus Area]. At the end of the three-year 

grant, AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will be responsible for [fill in the anticipated 

outcome (s)]. The AmeriCorps investment of $ [fill in the annual AmeriCorps grant 

amount or the requested amount] will be supplemented by $ [fill in the anticipated 

level of non-AmeriCorps resources].” 

E.1.b. Program Design 

If there are changes you are proposing changes for FY23, please update under Continuations 

tab in eGrants. For example, if the information is no longer accurate due to project or 

sponsor organization changes. If proposing changes to the number of VSYs or cost per 

volunteer, you must update your application in the following sections: Strengthening 

Communities and in the Recruitment and Development of volunteers. If there are no 

changes, enter N/A. 

E.1.c. Work Plan(s)/Performance Measures 

Information will copy from your previous awarded application into your continuation 

application. Work plans are designed to align with the three-year performance period. If you 

are making changes to your VSYs, then the work plans need to reflect the current number of 

volunteers and other changes to your service activities. Your performance measures must 

also be aligned with any changes to your number of volunteers and service activities. If there 

are no changes, please make no edits to the workplan. 

E.1.d. Budget 

Update the budget based upon the revised VSY or cost per volunteer for this project period. 

Incorporate any changes such as new sources of non-AmeriCorps funds, adjustments to the 

stipend lines, etc. The non-AmeriCorps share must be a minimum of 10%. If needed, you 

may request a match waiver. 

E.1d.i. Budget update for 3 month extension: 

Update budget to reflect 15 months of planned expenditures to meet budget year extension 

to June 30, 2024. Applicants can choose to use unexpended funds from FY 22 if available up 

15 
 

 

to the approved additional funds listed in appendix A if needed to meet the requirement of 

extending grant 3 months. 

Budget categories to be updated to meet the 3 month extension: 

• Budget Section I. Volunteer Support Expenses 

o Project Personnel Expenses 

o Personnel Fringe Benefits 

o Local Travel 

o Long Distance Travel 

o Supplies 

o Contractual and Consultant Services 

o Other Volunteer Support Cost 

o Indirect Costs 

• Budget Section II. Volunteer Expenses 

o Stipends 

o Other Volunteer Cost 

E.1.e. Other Narrative 

All Continuation Grantees must respond to the following: (Provide responses to the 

following questions on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) and Recruitment in 

the “Other” section of eGrants. Do not revise previous DEIA and recruitment responses in 

other sections of the application. 

• Describe your organization’s DEIA goals and demonstrate what progress has been 

made toward achieving them? 

• In what ways could your organization utilize training, technical assistance, and other 

resources related to DEIA? 

• Describe any challenges your organization is experiencing with recruitment and/or 

retention of volunteers. Include any relevant information with regard to influencing 

factors (e.g., Covid-19, inflation, school protocols), and how AmeriCorps can assist 

your project in meeting those challenges? 

E.1.f Additional VSY Requests 

If after completing your VSY review (use the VSY Adjustment Calculator to determine the 

minimum number of VSYs) and a determination is made that additional funds are required to 

meet your local community and programmatic needs, then complete the following 

statements in the “Other” section in eGrants: 

• Our past performance indicates that we will be able to maintain our current 

number [include number of VSYs]. As a result, we are requesting additional 

VSYs [insert number] in order to maintain the current service activities. 

• With the volunteer stipend increasing to $4, our program will need an 

additional $X,XXX in AmeriCorps funds. 

16 
 

 

 

 

 

E.2. RENEWAL APPLICATIONS 

Applications should include a well-designed plan with clear and compelling justifications for 

receiving the requested funds. Reviewers will assess the quality of applications by using the 

selection criteria described below and will rate them accordingly. 

See section D.2.a for Renewal application content. 

E.2.a. Executive Summary 

Please fill in the blanks of these sentences to complete the Executive Summary. Do not 

deviate from the template below. If applicant does not follow the template below, the 

application will be returned for correction before an award can be made. 

“The [Name of the organization] proposes to have [Number of unduplicated] 

AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers who will [service activities the volunteers will be doing] 

in [the locations the AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will serve]. The primary focus 

area of this project is [fill in AmeriCorps Focus Area]. At the end of the three-year 

grant, AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will be responsible for [fill in the anticipated 

outcome (s)]. The AmeriCorps investment of $ [fill in the annual AmeriCorps grant 

amount or the requested amount] will be supplemented by $ [fill in the anticipated 

level of non-AmeriCorps resources].” 

E.2.b. Program Design 

Reviewers will consider the quality of the application’s response to the criteria below. Do not 

assume all sub-criteria are of equal value. 

The Strengthening Communities narrative addresses: 

• The proposed interventions are responsive to the identified community problem(s). 

• The applicant’s proposed interventions are clearly articulated including the design, 

dosage, target population, and roles of AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers. The 

applicant’s intervention is likely to lead to the outcomes identified in the applicant’s 

work plans. 

• The expected outcomes articulated in the Strengthening Communities narrative and 

Performance Measures represent meaningful progress in addressing the community 

problems identified by the applicant. 

• The rationale for utilizing AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers to deliver the intervention(s), 

addressing the community need is reasonable. 

• How the service of AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will produce significant 

contributions to existing efforts to address the stated problem. 

• For incumbent organizations, if the anticipated outcomes (Performance Measures) 

were not met in the previous three-year grant cycle and those same outcomes are 

included in this application, include what actions will be taken to meet those 

outcomes under this new award. 

• The applicant’s (organization or institution’s) definitions of diversity, equity, inclusion, 

and accessibility are included AND activities the organization is engaged in related to 

diversity, equity, inclusion. And accessibility are clearly identified. 

17 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• The proposed plan to ensure the project engages a diverse and inclusive group of 

volunteers is clearly articulated. 

• The application clearly states how the project will serve members of the community 

through an equity lens. 

• The description of the community to be served includes demographic, income, and 

additional relevant information. 

E.2.c. Work Plans 

Performance Measures should include: 

Description of the community problem being addressed by the individual performance 

measure. 

Description of the service activities that address the community problem. 

Description of the intended outcome of the service activity. 

• Each Performance Measure must logically connect the four major elements to each 

other and be aligned with National Performance Measures. 

1. The community need(s) identified 

2. The service activities that will be carried out by AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers 

3. The instrument description and data collection plans 

4. Target numbers that lead to outcomes or outputs, and are appropriate for the 

total number of volunteers assigned to the Performance Measure 

• The service activities that are defined in each Performance Measure must include the 

intervention the AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will implement or deliver, including: 

o The duration of the intervention (e.g., the total number of weeks, sessions or 

months of the intervention) 

o The dosage of the intervention (e.g., the number of hours per session or 

sessions per week) 

o The target population for the intervention (e.g., disconnected seniors/youth, 

third graders at a certain reading proficiency level) 

o The measurable outputs that result from delivering the intervention (i.e., 

number of beneficiaries served, types and number of activities conducted). If 

applicable, identify which National Performance Measures will be used as 

output indicators 

o Outcomes that demonstrate changes in knowledge/skill, attitude, behavior, or 

condition that occur because of the intervention. If applicable, identify which 

National Performance Measures will be used as outcome indicators. For every 

$9,000 in annual base federal funding, at least one Volunteer Service Year (VSY) 

must be incorporated in outcome-based work plans, and must produce 

National Performance Measure outcomes in: the Healthy Futures focus area; or 

National Performance Measure outcomes in “Inclusion of people with 

disabilities” (H15A) work plans for incumbents that have historically supported 

programming in this area (see Appendix B) 

o All proposed AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers must be included in at least one 

outcome-based Performance Measure. 

18 
 

 

 

 

 

E.2.d. Recruitment and Development 

Reviewers will assess the extent to which the proposed project demonstrates a plan and the 

organization’s infrastructure to provide for effective volunteer recruitment and management 

by assessing the extent to which the application: 

• Describes how the proposed recruitment strategy is a strategic response to the 

demographics in the community served. 

• Demonstrates a plan and infrastructure to ensure volunteers receive training needed 

to succeed in the service activities described in the Performance Measures. 

• Describes the demographics of the community served and plans to recruit 

AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers from geographic or demographic communities in 

which the program operates. This could include but not limited to the following: 

a. Volunteers from BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and Other People of Color) 

communities 

b. Volunteers from LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and 

Questioning) communities 

c. Individuals with varying degrees of English language proficiency 

d. Individuals with disabilities 

e. Veterans and military family members as volunteers 

• Demonstrates a plan and adequate infrastructure to retain and recognize volunteers. 

This includes: 

a. An explanation of how the applicant will foster an inclusive service culture 

where different backgrounds, talents, and capabilities are welcome. 

b. A description of how engaged volunteers will remain active over the course of 

grant funding. 

• Demonstrates a plan for developing and growing a culture of inclusion at volunteer 

stations to ensure volunteer station supervisors who are involved in the recruitment of 

volunteers are invested in addressing community disparities and the root causes of 

biases in recruitment efforts. 

E.2.e. Organizational Capability 

E.2.e.i Program Management 

Reviewers will consider the extent to which the application: 

• Describes the plans and infrastructure to ensure management of volunteer stations 

are in compliance with the program regulations 

• Demonstrates plans to address culture of volunteer stations to be safe inclusive 

spaces for diverse volunteers. 

• Demonstrates plans and infrastructure to develop and/or oversee volunteer stations 

to ensure that volunteers are performing their assigned service activities, including: 

a. Sufficient guidance and support of AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers for provide 

effective service. 

b. Adequate training and preparation of station supervisors to follow AmeriCorps 

Seniors program regulations, priorities, and expectations. 

19 
 

 

 

 

 

E.2.e.ii Organizational Capability 

Reviewers will consider the extent to which the application: 

• Describes the organizations commitment to equity when addressing critical 

community needs reflected in the organizations mission and vision, as well as the 

application’s Performance Measures. 

• Describes the plans and infrastructure to provide sound programmatic and fiscal 

oversight (both financial and in-kind) and day-to-day operational support to ensure 

the following: 

a. Compliance with program requirements (statutes, regulations, and the Uniform 

Guidance/2 CFR 200 and related appendices); 

b. Accountability; 

c. Efficient and effective use of available resources; and 

d. Plans to engage non-federal funding sources for sustainability of 

programming. 

• Clearly defines paid staff positions, including identification of current staff assigned to 

the project (name, title, and brief position description) and how these positions will 

ensure the accomplishment of program objectives. 

• Describes your organization’s experience with, and/or plans for diversity, equity, and 

inclusion within your organization. This can include the inclusion of diversity on the 

Board of Directors, agency staff and leadership, and/or volunteers. 

• Demonstrates organizational capacity to develop and implement internal policies and 

operating procedures to provide governance and manage risk, such as accounting, 

personnel management, and purchasing. 

• Describes the extent to which the organization has an effective mechanism in place to 

report, without delay, any suspected criminal activity, waste, fraud, and/or abuse to 

both the AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General and AmeriCorps and a plan for 

training staff and participants on these reporting protocols. 

• Describes the extent to which the organization has sufficient policies, procedures, and 

controls in place to prevent, detect, and mitigate the risk of fraud, waste, abuse, and 

mismanagement (this can include an assessment of appropriate segregation of duties, 

internal oversight activities, measures to prevent timekeeping fraud, etc.) 

• Describes the extent to which the organization has a monitoring and oversight plan to 

prevent and detect non-compliance and enforce compliance with AmeriCorps rules 

and regulations including those related to prohibited activities and criminal history 

checks at the grantee, and service site locations. 

E.2.f. Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy 

Please describe the extent to which the proposal: 

• Has a reasonable cost per volunteer in proposed work plan that will lead to National 

Performance Measure requirements (See Appendix B and section A.3 of the Notice). 

• Has plans and infrastructure to secure the non-federal support for program 

sustainability-including dedicated staff, grant proposal processes and other plans. 

E.2 f.i. Budget 

Update the budget based upon the revised VSY or cost per volunteer for this project period. 

Incorporate any changes such as new sources of non-AmeriCorps funds, adjustments to the 

20 
 

stipend lines, etc. The non-AmeriCorps share must be a minimum of 10%. If needed, you 

may request a match waiver. 

E.2.f.ii. Budget update for 3 month extension: 

Update budget to reflect 15 months of planned expenditures to meet budget year extension 

to June 30, 2024. Applicants can choose to use the approved additional funds listed in 

appendix A if needed to meet the requirement of extending grant 3 months. 

Budget categories to be updated to meet the 3 month extension: 

• Budget Section I. Volunteer Support Expenses 

o Project Personnel Expenses 

o Personnel Fringe Benefits 

o Local Travel 

o Long Distance Travel 

o Supplies 

o Contractual and Consultant Services 

o Other Volunteer Support Cost 

o Indirect Costs 

• Budget Section II. Volunteer Expenses 

o Stipends 

o Other Volunteer Cost 

E.2.g. Evaluation 

Evaluation is a tool for improving a program and increasing its ability to serve people more 

efficiently and effectively. To ensure the applicant has a quality evaluation plan, describe the 

following: 

The applicant’s data collection system and how it is sufficient to collect high quality 

performance measurement data. If the applicant does not yet have a data collection system, 

describe the plan and timeline for developing a high-quality system during the propose 

planning period. 

How the applicant will use performance data. 

For more information, about evaluation plans and data collection methods, please visit the 

AmeriCorps Evaluation Resources website. 

E.2.h. Additional VSY Requests 

If after completing your VSY review (use the VSY Adjustment Calculator to determine the 

minimum number of VSYs) and a determination is made that additional funds are required to 

meet your local community and programmatic needs, then complete the following 

statements in the “Other” section in eGrants: 

• Our past performance indicates that we will be able to maintain our current 

number [include number of VSYs]. As a result, we are requesting additional 

VSYs [insert number] in order to maintain the current service activities. 

21 
 

 

 

 

• With the volunteer stipend increasing to $4, our program will need an 

additional $X,XXX in AmeriCorps funds. 

E.3. Initial Application Compliance and Eligibility Review 

AmeriCorps will conduct an initial Compliance and Eligibility Review to determine if an 

application meets the eligibility requirements published in this Notice and advances to the 

next stage of the review process. 

An application is compliant if the applicant: 

• is an eligible organization 

• submitted an application by the submission deadline 

Reviewing for eligibility is intended to ensure that only those applications that are eligible for 

award are further reviewed. However, determinations of eligibility can take place at any point 

during the application review and selection process. Applicants that are determined to be 

ineligible will not receive an award. 

E.4. Application Review 

Internal Review 

AmeriCorps Staff Reviewers will assess the applications based on the information provided in 

E.1 or E.2. Staff Reviewers will also consider the priorities and strategic considerations 

detailed in this Notice. All Staff Reviewers will be screened for conflicts of interest. 

E.5. Pre-Award Risk Assessment 

AmeriCorps staff will assess the risks to the program posed by each applicant to determine 

an applicant’s ability to manage Federal Funds. This evaluation is in addition to those about 

the applicant’s eligibility and the quality of its application on the basis of the Selection Criteria 

(E.1 for Continuation, E.2 for Renewal). Results from this assessment will inform funding 

decisions. If AmeriCorps determines that an award will be made to an applicant with 

assessed risks, special conditions that correspond to the degree of assessed risk may be 

applied to the award. Additionally, if AmeriCorps concludes that the reasons for applicants 

having poor risk assessment are not likely to be mitigated, those applications may not be 

selected for funding. 

In assessing risks, AmeriCorps may consider the following criteria: 

1. Due Diligence, including: 

• Federal debt delinquency 

• suspension and debarment 

• information available through Office of Management and Budget (OMB)- designated 

repositories of government-wide eligibility qualification or financial integrity 

information, such as: 

o Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) 

o U.S. Treasury Bureau of Fiscal Services 

o System for Award Management (SAM) 

22 
 

 

 

o “Do Not Pay” 

• reports and findings from single audits performed under Uniform Administrative 

Guidance and findings of any other available audits or investigations 

• IRS Tax Form 990 

• Oversight.gov 

• Public Litigation Records 

2. Operational and Financial Management, including: 

• financial stability 

• Operational and Financial Management Survey (OFMS) 

3. Past Performance, including: 

• an applicant’s record in managing previous AmeriCorps awards, cooperative 

agreements, or procurement awards, including: 

o timeliness of compliance with applicable reporting requirements 

o accuracy of data reported 

o validity of performance measure data reported 

o conformance to the terms and conditions of previous Federal awards 

o applicant’s ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other 

requirements imposed on award recipients 

o timely closeout of other awards 

o meeting matching requirements 

o the extent to which any previously awarded amounts will be expended prior to 

future awards 

o national service criminal history check (NSCHC) compliance. See section F.2.d. 

National Criminal History Check Requirements and the NSCHC webpage for 

more information 

4. Other Programmatic Risks, including: 

• publicly available information, including from the applicant organization's website 

• amount of funding requested by the organization 

E.6. Consideration of Integrity and Performance System Information 

Prior to making any award that exceeds $250,000, AmeriCorps is required to review and 

consider any information about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and 

performance system accessible through SAM (currently FAPIIS) (See 41 U.S.C. §2313). 

Additionally, AmeriCorps may expand upon these requirements and use its discretion to 

review and consider information about any applicant receiving an award, including those 

under $250,000. 

Any applicant, at its option, may review information in the designated integrity and 

performance systems accessible through FAPIIS and comment on any information about itself 

that a Federal awarding agency previously entered and is currently in the designated 

integrity and performance system accessible through FAPIIS. 

AmeriCorps may consider comments by any applicant, in addition to the other information in 

the designated integrity and performance system, in making a judgment about the 

applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under federal awards when 

23 
 

 

 

 

completing its review of risk posed by the applicant under the Risk Assessment section of this 

Notice. 

E.7. Selection for Funding 

The review and selection process are designed to: 

• identify how well eligible applications are aligned with the application selection 

criteria (E.1 for Continuation; E.2 for Renewal) 

• build a diversified portfolio based on the following strategic considerations: 

o AmeriCorps Funding Priorities (See Section A.2. Funding Priorities) 

o meaningful representation of 

 geographic diversity 

 rural communities 

 small and medium programs 

 faith-based organizations 

 focus areas 

In selecting applicants to receive awards under this Notice, the Director of AmeriCorps 

Seniors will endeavor to include a diverse portfolio of applications based on staff 

recommendations, alignment with selection criteria, and strategic considerations. 

AmeriCorps reserves the right to award applications in an amount other than at the 

requested level of funding and will document the rationale for doing so. 

AmeriCorps reserves the right to adjust or make changes to the review process, if 

unforeseen challenges or urgent circumstances make it impossible, impracticable, or 

inefficient to conduct the review process as planned. Any such adjustments or changes 

will not affect the selection criteria (E.1. for Continuation; E.2. for Renewal) that will be 

used to assess applications. 

E.8. Feedback to Applicants 

After review of applications, continuation and renewal applications may receive resolution 

items, which are clarification and/or budget items which must be resolved prior to an award 

being made. Applicants are expected to adhere to all deadlines or may risk receiving a late 

award. 

E.9. Transparency in Grant-making 

Information about funded grants is available in USASpending.gov. 

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION 

F.1. Federal Award Notices 

AmeriCorps will make awards following the selection announcement. AmeriCorps anticipates 

announcing the results of this funding opportunity by late March 2023, contingent on the 

24 
 

 

 

availability of congressional appropriations. All applicants, successful or not, will be notified 

of funding decisions via email. 

Notification of an award is not an authorization to begin activities. The Notice of Grant Award 

signed by the Office of Grant Administration Grant Award Specialist is the authorizing 

document. An awardee may not expend Federal Funds until the start of the Period of 

Performance identified on the Notice of Grant Award. 

F.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements 

F.2.a. Uniform Guidance 

All awards made under this Notice will be subject to the Uniform Administrative 

Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform 

Guidance), in 2 CFR Parts 200 and 2205. 

F.2.b. Requests for Monitoring or Payment Integrity Information 

AmeriCorps will request documentation from award recipients in order to monitor the 

grantee and award to ensure compliance with legal requirements, including the Payment 

Integrity Information Act of 2019. Failure to make timely responses to these requests may 

result in award funds being placed on manual hold, reimbursement only status, or other 

remedies as appropriate. 

F.2.c. AmeriCorps Terms and Conditions 

All awards made under this Notice will be subject to the FY 2023 AmeriCorps General Terms 

and Conditions, and the FY 2023 Program-Specific Terms and Conditions for the particular 

program (when applicable). These Terms and Conditions contain detailed, mandatory 

compliance and reporting requirements. Current versions of the AmeriCorps General and 

Program-Specific Terms and Conditions for each of its programs is available at SCP grantees | 

AmeriCorps. 

F.2.d. National Service Criminal History Check Requirements 

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

established by law to protect the beneficiaries of national service. We encourage grantees to 

minimize barriers to service without putting their program beneficiaries at genuine risk. 

• In general, award recipients and subrecipients must conduct an NSCHC for 

AmeriCorps members, AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers, and all staff funded under, or 

whose salary is reflected as match on, the award. 

• AmeriCorps strongly encourages applicants to review the regulations and additional 

guidance to fully understand how to comply with the requirements (see the National 

Service Criminal History Check webpage). AmeriCorps also strongly encourages 

award recipients to utilize the agency-approved vendors to conduct the required 

NSCHCs. 

• Failure to conduct a compliant NSCHC may result in significant disallowed costs. 

• The cost of conducting NSCHC is an allowable expense under the award and the 

individual subject to the NSCHC may not be required to cover the cost without being 

reimbursed. 

25 
 

 

An NSCHC consists of a check of the: 

1. National Sex Offender Public website (nationwide check); 

2. State criminal history record repository or agency-designated alternative for the 

individual's State of residence and State of service; and 

3. Fingerprint-based check of the FBI criminal history record database through the State 

criminal history record repository or agency-approved vendor. 

All checks must be conducted, reviewed, and an eligibility determination made before the 

individual begins work or service. 

An individual is not eligible to serve or work in a position subject to the NSCHC requirements 

if: 

• the individual refuses to consent to a criminal history check; 

• makes a false statement in connection with a criminal history check; 

• is registered, or is required to be registered, on a state sex offender registry or the 

National Sex Offender Registry; or 

• has been convicted of murder. 

See 45 CFR 2540.200– 2540.207 and National Service Criminal History Check Resources for 

complete information and FAQs. 

F.2.e. Official Guidance 

AmeriCorps active Guidance is available on the agency’s Guidance webpage. The contents 

of these documents do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the 

public in any way unless incorporated into a contract or grant agreement. These documents 

are intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the 

law or agency policies. 

F.3. Use of Material 

To ensure that materials generated with AmeriCorps funding are available to the public and 

readily accessible to recipients and non-recipients, AmeriCorps reserves a royalty-free, 

nonexclusive, and irrevocable right to obtain, use, modify, reproduce, publish, or disseminate 

publications and materials produced under the award, including data, and to authorize 

others to do so (2 CFR §200.315). 

F.4. Reporting 

Award recipients are required to submit a variety of reports that are due at specific times 

during the life cycle of an award. All reports must be accurate, complete, and submitted on 

time. 

Award recipients are required to provide annual progress reports and semi-annual financial 

and narrative progress reports through eGrants, AmeriCorps’ web-based grants 

26 
 

 

management system. All award recipients must submit quarterly financial reports to the U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services Payment Management System. 

In addition, at the end of the award period, award recipients must submit final financial and 

progress reports that are cumulative over the entire award period and consistent with the 

close-out requirements. The final reports are due 120 days after the end of the period of 

performance. 

Award recipients will be required to report at Federal Funding Accountability and 

Transparency Act Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) on all subawards over $30,000 and 

may be required to report on executive compensation for the recipient organization and its 

subrecipients. Award recipients must have the necessary systems in place to collect and 

report this information. See 2 CFR Part 170 for more information and to determine how these 

requirements apply. 

Once the grant is awarded, award recipients will be expected to have in place data collection 

and data management policies, processes, and practices that provide assurance that they are 

reporting high quality performance measure data. At a minimum, award recipients should 

have policies, processes, and practices that address the following five aspects of data quality 

for themselves and for subrecipients (if applicable): 

• data measures what it intends to measure 

• data reported is complete 

• grantee collects data in a consistent manner 

• grantee takes steps to correct data errors 

• grantee actively reviews data for accuracy prior to submission. 

Failure to submit accurate, complete, and timely required reports may affect the award 

recipient’s ability to secure future AmeriCorps funding. 

G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS 

For more information email AmeriCorpsSeniors@cns.gov. AmeriCorps also offers live text 

chat. 

For technical questions and problems with the eGrants system, call the AmeriCorps Hotline at 

(800) 942-2677. AmeriCorps Hotline hours are also posted. Be prepared to provide the 

application ID, organization’s name, and the name of the Notice to which the organization is 

applying. 

H. OTHER INFORMATION 

H.1. Technical Assistance 

AmeriCorps will host technical assistance calls to answer questions about the funding 

opportunity and eGrants. AmeriCorps strongly encourages all applicants to participate in 

27 
 

 

 

 

 

these sessions. Information for these technical assistance calls is available on the AmeriCorps’ 

Funding Opportunities website. 

Review of NOFA Requirement – Tuesday, September 6, 2022, and Tuesday, September 27, 

2022 at 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm ET. 

Submitting your Application in eGrants – Wednesday, September 7, 2022, and Wednesday 

September 28, 2022, at 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm ET. 

Continuations and Renewals Overview – Thursday, September 8, 2022, and Wednesday, 

October 5, 2022 at 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm ET 

Recording will be posted in Litmos, one week from date recorded. 

H.2. Re-Focusing of Funding 

AmeriCorps reserves the right to re-focus program dollars under this Notice in the event of 

disaster or other compelling needs. 

I. IMPORTANT NOTICES 

Public Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for collection of information under this 

Notice of Funding is estimated to average six hours per submission, including reviewing 

instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing the application and 

reporting forms. AmeriCorps informs people who may respond to this Notice of Funding that 

they are not required to respond unless the OMB control number and expiration date are 

current valid. (See 5 C.F.R. 1320.5(b)(2)(i).) This collection is approved under OMB Control #: 

3045-0035, Senior Corps Grant Application, Expiration Date: November 30, 2024. 

Privacy Act Statement: The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C §552a) requires that we notify you 

that the information requested under this Notice of Funding is collected pursuant to 42 

U.S.C. §§12592 and 12615 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 as amended, 

and 42 U.S.C. §4953 of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 as amended. 

Purposes and Uses - The information requested is collected for the purposes of reviewing 

grant applications and granting funding requests. Routine uses may include disclosure of the 

information to Federal, state, or local agencies pursuant to lawfully authorized requests. In 

some programs, the information may also be provided to Federal, state, and local law 

enforcement agencies to determine the existence of any prior criminal convictions. The 

information may also be provided to appropriate Federal agencies and contractors that have 

a need to know the information for the purpose of assisting the government to respond to a 

suspected or confirmed breach of the security or confidentiality or information maintained in 

this system of records, and the information disclosed is relevant and unnecessary for the 

assistance. 

Effects of Nondisclosure - The information requested is voluntary; however, to be a recipient 

of this grant program, disclosure of personal or sensitive information is required to receive 

federal benefits. 

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APPENDIX A 

List of Funding Opportunities 

APPENDIX B 

Performance Measures 

APPENDIX C 

Terms and Definitions 

APPENDIX D 

Litmos Resources: Continuations and Renewals Fiscal Year 2023- Q3 (April 1 start date) 

APPENDIX E 

Grant Application Instructions 

APPENDIX F 

AmeriCorps Focus Areas 

The National and Community Service Act of 1990, as amended by the Serve America Act, 

emphasizes measuring the impact of service and focusing on a core set of issue areas. In 

order to carry out Congress’s intent and to maximize the impact of investment in national 

service, and to achieve the goals laid out in our Strategic Plan (2022-2026), AmeriCorps has 

the following Focus Areas: 

Disaster Services 

Helping individuals and communities prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the 

effects of disasters and increase community resiliency. 

Economic Opportunity 

Improving the economic well-being and security of underserved individuals. 

Education 

Improving educational outcomes for underserved people, especially children. AmeriCorps is 

particularly interested in program designs that support youth engagement and service 

learning as strategies to achieve high educational outcomes. 

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Environmental Stewardship 

Supporting communities to become more resilient through measures that reduce 

greenhouse gas emissions, conserve land and water, increase renewable energy use and 

improve at-risk ecosystems, especially in underserved households and communities. 

Healthy Futures 

Supporting for health needs within communities, including mitigating the impacts of COVID19 and other public health crises, access to care, aging in place, and addressing childhood 

obesity, especially in underserved communities. 

Veterans and Military Families 

Improving the quality of life of veterans and improve military family strength. 

Capacity Building 

Support indirect services that enable AmeriCorps-supported organizations to provide more, 

better, and sustained direct services. Capacity building activities cannot be solely intended to 

support the administration or operations of the organization. 

APPENDIX G 

VSY Adjustment and Cost per VSY Calculators 

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