1

AmeriCorps VISTA Support Grant

FY 2020 GRANT TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Effective October 1, 2019

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, these support-specific Grant Terms and Conditions, the CNCS general grant 

terms and conditions, all applicable federal statutes, regulations and guidelines, and any amendments 

thereto. The grantee 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 a grant recipient throughout these

Grant Terms and Conditions.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Changes from the 2019 AmeriCorps VISTA Support Grant 1

II. Notice of Funding Opportunities 2

III. Award Acceptance 2

IV. Grant Period 2

V. Encumbrance of Award Funds 2

VI. Reporting Requirements 2

VII. Federal Financial Reports (FFRs) 3

VIII. Federal Financial Reporting/Disbursements 3

IX. Project Progress Report 4

X. Recognition of Federal Funding 4

XI. Program/Project Manager Authority 4

XII. External and Data Collection 4

XIII. Allowable Costs 4

XIV. Audits and Attestation Agreements 4

XV. Monitoring 4

XVI. Subawards Prohibited 5

XVII. Budget and Programmatic Changes 5

XVIII. Lobby Disclosure 5

I. CHANGES FROM THE 2018 AMERICORPS VISTA SUPPORT GRANT

No changes.

II. NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

The Notice of Funding opportunity (NOFO) and any amendments are hereby incorporated into this

agreement. Recipients are bound by the authorizations, restrictions and requirements contained in 

the NOFO. If there are any inconsistencies between the NOFO and any statute, regulation, guidance 

or cost principle, the statute, regulation, guidance or cost principle take precedence over matters set 

forth in the NOFO.
2

III. AWARD ACCEPTANCE

The signature on the SF‐424, including electronic signature via e‐authentication on e-grants, 

constitutes a binding offer and constitutes agreement to the terms and conditions of award. CNCS 

reserves the right to withdraw the award if activity does not begin upon award and/or as a remedy 

for non‐compliance as described in 2 CFR 200.338‐339.

IV. GRANT PERIOD

Unless otherwise specified, the award covers a one-year project period. If approving a multiyear

project period, CNCS makes an initial award for the first budget period. Additional funding for

subsequent budget periods is contingent upon satisfactory progress and the availability of funds. The

project period and the budget are noted on the award document.

V. ENCUMBRANCE OF AWARD FUNDS

Award funds may not be encumbered or obligated by the recipient prior to or after the award period.

Encumbrances or obligations outstanding as of the end of the award period may be liquidated (paid

out) after the end of the award period. Such encumbrances or obligations shall involve only 

specified commitments for which a need existed during the award period and that are supported by 

approved contracts, purchase orders, requisitions, invoices, bills, or other evidence of liability 

consistent with the recipient's purchasing procedures and incurred within the award period. All 

encumbrances/obligations incurred during the award period shall be liquidated no later than 90 days 

after the end of the award period or prior to the expiration of the awarded funds, whichever is 

sooner.

VI. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

The recipient is responsible for timely submission of periodic financial, progress, and member 

reports during the project period and a final financial report. The recipient is also responsible for 

setting submission deadlines for its respective subrecipients, if applicable, that ensure the timely 

submission of recipient reports.

A. Federal Financial Reports (CNCS). See Part VII.

B. Final Federal Financial Report (CNCS). See Part VII.

C. Reporting at the Dept. of Health and Human Services/Payment Management System

(HHS/PMS). See Part VIII.

D. Progress Reports. See Section V in the Memorandum of Agreement.

E. Member Payments Report. The sponsor shall submit to the CNCS State Program Office at

least monthly, a report of AmeriCorps VISTA member payments disbursed, showing each

member by name, and the amount of living allowances and deductions disbursed to AmeriCorps

VISTA members. A photocopy of a computer printout or accounting ledger is acceptable proof

of payments.

F. Requests for Extensions. Extensions of reporting deadlines will be granted only when 1) the

report cannot be furnished in a timely manner for reasons, in the determination of CNCS,
3

legitimately beyond the control of the grantee, and 2) CNCS receives a written request

explaining the need for an extension before the due date of the report.

G. Other. The recipient shall meet as necessary with the CNCS State Office or with other staff or

consultants designated by the CNCS Program Officer to exchange views, ideas, and information

concerning the project. The recipient shall submit such special reports as may be reasonably

requested by CNCS.

VII. FEDERAL FINANCIAL REPORTS (CNCS)

CNCS Semi-Annual SF-425 Federal Financial Report. Sponsors complete a semi-annual Federal

Financial Report (FFR), twice yearly in six month increments from the budget start date of the grant

to report federal expenditures of funding.

CNCS Final Federal Financial Report. Sponsors completing the final year of their grants must

submit, in lieu of the last semi-annual FFR, a final FFR. The final FFR is cumulative over the

performance period of the grant within 90 days after the close of the grant. Final FFRs must

report expenditure of funds on a cumulative basis over the budget period of the grant, and must be

submitted through the CNCS eGrants system.

VIII. FEDERAL FINANCIAL REPORTING/DISBURSEMENTS (HHS)

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Payment Management System SF-425

Federal Financial Report/Federal Cash Transaction Report (FCTR). CNCS issues VISTA Support

grant funds to sponsors through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service (HHS) Payment

System. Sponsors receiving grant funds through this system must submit a Federal Financial Report

(FFR) to report AmeriCorps VISTA CNCS federal funding disbursements and cash on hand, 30

days after each calendar quarter beginning with the first calendar quarter that contains the start date

of the grant. FFR/FCTRs must report disbursement of funds on a cumulative basis over the

performance period of the grant and be submitted through the HHS Payment Management System

on the following schedule:

Period Covering: Report Due No Later Than:

January 1 to March 31 April 30

April 1 to June 30 July 30

July 1 to September 31 October 30

October 1 to December 31 January 30

IX. PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT

The sponsor shall complete and submit Project Progress Reports via CNCS’ eGrants system to

the CNCS State Program Office. The Project Progress Reports shall report on the progress

toward achievement of project performance targets. Refer to the Project Progress Report

instructions for current due dates.

X. RECOGNITION OF FEDERAL FUNDING

When issuing statements, press releases, requests for proposals, bid solicitations, annual reports and
4

other documents describing projects or programs funded in whole or in part with CNCS money, the

grantee receiving federal funds, including but not limited to state and local governments, shall

clearly state (1) the percentage of the total cost of the program which will be financed with CNCS

money, and (2) the dollar amount of CNCS funds for the project or program.

XI. PROGRAM/PROJECT MANAGER AUTHORITY

The CNCS Program/Project Manager for this award is listed on the first page of the Notice of

Grant Award. The Program/Project Manager has full authority to represent CNCS in connection

with the management of the technical and programmatic performance of the award. However, they

are not authorized to change the terms and conditions, estimated costs, or period of performance,

or to give approvals, written or verbal, specifically reserved for the Grant Officer.

XII. EXTERNAL AND DATA COLLECTION

The grantee must cooperate with CNCS and its evaluators in all monitoring and evaluation efforts. As

part of this effort, the grantee must collect and submit certain project data, as defined in the

AmeriCorps VISTA Progress Report Supplement, and must provide data as requested or needed to

support external evaluations.

XIII. ALLOWABLE COSTS

To be allowable under a VISTA grant award, costs must fit within the allowable cost categories

specified in the VISTA Support Grant Budget instructions.

XIV. AUDITS AND ATTESTATION ENGAGEMENTS

Recipients must comply with the audit requirements set forth in Subpart F – Audit 

Requirements of the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200) and must comply with the 

timeframes established in those regulations for the submission of their audits to the Federal 

Audit Clearinghouse. Recipients must notify their assigned GMS of each audit conducted 

within the timeframe of the CNCS‐funded project at the time it is submitted to the Federal 

Audit Clearinghouse.

XV. MONITORING

CNCS, through its authorized representatives, has the right, at all reasonable times, to make 

site visits to review project accomplishments, financial and performance records, fiscal and 

administrative control systems and to provide such technical assistance as may be required. 

CNCS intends to make every effort to notify the recipient at least two weeks in advance of any 

trip to the CNCS‐funded project site. If CNCS makes any site visit on the premises of a 

recipient or a subrecipient(s), the recipient must provide, and must require its subrecipient(s) 

to provide, all reasonable facilities and assistance for the safety and convenience of 

government officials in the performance of their duties. All site visits and evaluations are 

expected to be performed in a manner designed to not unduly delay or disrupt the 

implementation of the project.
5

XVI. SUBAWARDSPROHIBITED

VISTA grant recipients may not make subawards of grant funds.

XVII. BUDGET AND PROGRAMMATIC CHANGES

Approvals of Programmatic and Budget Changes. CNCS’s Grants Officers are the only officials

who have the authority to alter or change the provisions or requirements of the grant.

Programmatic changes also require final approval of CNCS’s Field Financial Management Center

(FFMC) after written recommendation for approval is received from the CNCS State Office. The

Grants Officers will execute written amendments, and Recipients should not assume approvals have

been granted unless documentation from the Grants Office has been received.

XVIII. LOBBY DISCLOSURE

For grant awards exceeding $100,000, pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 1352, the Grantee is required to file a

disclosure report, Standard Form LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, at the end of any quarter,

when the Grantee has paid or agreed to pay any lobbying entity 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 a covered Federal action.

The report must be submitted to the CNCS State Program Director.