NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Federal Agency Name: AmeriCorps

Funding Opportunity Title: FY 2021 AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program 

Q4 Continuation and Renewal

Announcement Type: Initial Announcement

Assistance Listing Number: 94.011

Disclosure: This Notice is for current grantees going into a renewal application (Year 1) or 

continuations applications (Years two or three).

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.

Important Dates - For all AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program renewals and 

continuations. 

• Applications are due Wednesday, March 10, 2021 by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. 

• Successful applications will be issued awards by June 2021.

FULL TEXT OF THE NOTICE

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION- For all AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program renewals 

and continuations. 

A.1. Purpose of Foster Grandparent Program Funding

AmeriCorps brings people together to tackle the country’s most pressing challenges through 

national service and volunteering. AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers 

serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities. AmeriCorps helps make 

service a cornerstone of our national culture.

Established in 1965, the AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program engages adults age 

55 and over to provide loving and experienced tutors and mentors to children and youth with 

special or exceptional needs, or who would benefit from the one-one-one attention a 

AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer in the Foster Grandparent Program can provide. AmeriCorps 

Seniors volunteers in the Foster Grandparent Program serve an average of 20 hours per week in 

schools, hospitals, drug treatment centers, correctional institutions, and childcare centers. 

Among other activities, they review schoolwork, reinforce values, teach parenting skills to 

young parents, and care for premature infants and children with disabilities. AmeriCorps 

Seniors volunteers in the Foster Grandparent Program often maintain an ongoing, intensive 

relationship with the children and youth served for a year or longer.

A.2. Funding Priorities 

Incumbent projects that currently receive an AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program

grant are invited to submit applications for the AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent 

Program grant sponsored by their organization. Incumbent are invited to apply for grant 
renewal or continuation based on the determination that your project is continuing to meet the 

eligibility criteria as detailed in this document. AmeriCorps Seniors priorities for this grant cycle

include:

• The AmeriCorps Seniors program is committed, in this grant cycle, to focus on 

programs that actively engage in removing structural racial inequities, advancing racial 

equality, and increasing opportunity in order to achieve sustainable change in 

communities. AmeriCorps Seniors encourages grant applications to include work plans 

that advance justice and equality in areas such as education. 

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

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

propose programming in the education focus area to aid communities as they recover 

from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• AmeriCorps Seniors prioritizes grant making in the education 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 provide and/or facilitate access to services and 

resources that contribute to improved educational outcomes for economically 

disadvantaged people, especially children and for children with special and/or 

exceptional need. Activities may include providing support and/or facilitating access to 

services and resources that contribute to school readiness, providing support that 

improves academic performance, and providing support that improves academic 

engagement.

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. 

*In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, flexibilities have been made to facilitate safe volunteer 

practices. Please note these program flexibilities are temporary and can be rescinded at any 

time. For more information on AmeriCorps Seniors response to COVID-19, please visit the COVID 

-19 section on our Manage AmeriCorps Seniors page at : 

https://nationalservice.gov/programs/senior-corps/manage-senior-corps-grants

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 make tactical and 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 at 

https://www.nationalservice.gov/resources/performance-measurement. Program-specific 

evaluation requirements can be found at https://nationalservice.gov/documents/2015/fgpappendix-b-performance-measure-instructions
Applicants must identify education as the 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 applicant aims to make the most impact.

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 $6,500 in annual base federal funding, at least one Volunteer Service Year’s (VSY’s) worth 

of service must be incorporated in work plans, and must produce: 

1. National Performance Measure outcomes in the Education focus area; or

2. National Performance Measure outcomes in “Inclusion of people with disabilities” (H15A) 

work plans for applicants that have historically supported programming in this area (see 

Appendix B). 

*Volunteer Service Year (VSY): VSY is a budget term which equals l044 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 (l044 hours x $3.00 per hour).

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.) and the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, as 

amended (42 U.S.C. 5011 ).

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION - For all AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program 

renewals and continuations. 

B.1. Estimated Available Funds

AmeriCorps Seniors anticipates it will be able to award approximately $87,000,000.00 for FY 

2021 AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program grant 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 to $1.8 million.

B.3. Period of Performance

Successful applicants will be issued awards by June 2021.

AmeriCorps Seniors anticipates making three-year grant awards. AmeriCorps Seniors generally 

makes an initial award for the first year of the period of performance, based on a one-year 

budget. 
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-federal share; and/or;

• Availability of Congressional appropriations.

AmeriCorps Seniors reserves the right to adjust the amount of an award or elect not to 

continue funding.

B.4. Type of Award 

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

for reviewing recipient performance, providing training and technical assistance, and serving as 

the primary point of contact for the AmeriCorps Seniors grant.

The FY 2021 AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program grants will be awarded on a cost 

reimbursement basis.

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION - For all AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program 

renewals and continuations. 

C.1. Eligible Applicants

Through this Notice, only AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program incumbent 

applicants who currently receive federal funds for an AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent 

Program grant may apply for funding in the currently awarded geographic service area. 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 

• states 

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

sanctioned, 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, the organization must provide copies of, 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 sanctioned by a federally recognized tribe, or 

multiple specific federally recognized tribes, it must submit a sanctioning resolution, adopted 

by the Tribal Council (or comparable tribal governing body) of each Indian tribe. The 

resolution(s) must identify the entity applying for an AmeriCorps Seniors award by name as a 
tribal organization that is sanctioned by the Indian tribe(s) for the purpose of applying for 

AmeriCorps Seniors funding (or federal grant funds generally). 

Entities must have a valid SAM registration and DUNS and/or Unique Entity Identifier to receive 

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

for more information.

C.2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Applicants are required to match funds equal to ten percent of their requested program 

budget. The applicant’s match can be non- AmeriCorps Seniors cash and/or in-kind 

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

must demonstrate the ability to meet the ten percent match requirement at the time of 

application submission. See Section D.6. Funding Restrictions for more information. Please note, 

all grant match for AmeriCorps grants have been waived for the fiscal year 2021, however, you 

should still include match in your budget

C.3. Other Eligibility Requirements

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

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

AmeriCorps Seniors funding.

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

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 

• 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 which a federal agency has considered for suspension or debarment and 

has made a determination 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 CNCS funding.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

This Notice should be read together with the AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program

regulations, 45 CFR §§ Part – 2552, AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program Grant 

Application Instructions, Appendix A: List of Funding Opportunities, and the AmeriCorps Seniors 

Foster Grandparent Program Performance Measures. These documents are available online at

https://nationalservice.gov/build-your-capacity/grants/funding-opportunities/2019/2020-

foster-grandparent-program-and-senior.
D.1. Address to Request an Application Package

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

Seniors Funding Opportunities webpages. Applicants should refer to Manage AmeriCorps 

Seniors for more information and instructions on how to fully respond to this Notice. 

Applicants can also send an email to the current grants assigned AmeriCorps Portfolio Manager 

for a printed copy of the Notice and Guidance. AmeriCorps Seniors also offers live text chat at

https://www.NationalService.gov/contact-us. 

D.2. Content and Form of Application Submission

D.2.a. Application Content 

Complete applications must include the following elements: 

• 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. 

o Program Design

o Organizational Capability

o Cost-Effectiveness & Budget Adequacy

• Standard Form 424A Budget

• Performance Measures

• Authorization, Assurances, and Certifications

(https://egrants.cns.gov/cnsmisc/ECERTS.HTM, and 

https://egrants.cns.gov/cnsmisc/EASSUR.HTM)

D.2.b. Page Limits

Applications may not exceed 15 double-spaced pages as the pages print out from eGrants. The 

application sections that count towards the page limit are the:

• SF-424 Face Sheet 

• Executive Summary 

• Program Design, Organizational Capability, and Cost-Effectiveness & Budget Adequacy 

narratives.

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

https://www.sam.gov/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 at:

https://sam.gov/SAM/transcript/Quick_Guide_for_Grants_Registrations.pdf.

SAM registration must be renewed annually. AmeriCorps Seniors 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 address on all grant applications to AmeriCorps Seniors.

AmeriCorps Seniors will not make awards to entities that do not have a valid SAM registration

and DUNS. If an applicant has not fully complied with these requirements by the time

AmeriCorps Seniors is ready to make a Federal award, AmeriCorps Seniors 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.

Applications must include an Employer Identification Number.

Applications must include a DUNS number. Applicants can obtain a DUNS number at no cost by 

calling the DUNS number request line at (866) 705-5711 or by applying online at the DUNS 

Request Service. AmeriCorps Seniors recommends registering at least 30 days before the 

application due date. 

The Federal government is implementing Unique Entity Identifiers (UEI) as part of the SAM 

registration process to eventually replace DUNS numbers. AmeriCorps Seniors may ask 

applicants to add the UEI to their application as part of the clarification or pre-award 

process. AmeriCorps Seniors is adding a field to capture the UEI in eGrants. If you already have 

a UEI and the UEI field is available in eGrants, you can enter it at the time you submit your 

application. 

D.4. Submission Dates and Times

D.4.a. Application Submission Deadline

Applications are due Wednesday, March 10, 2021 by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

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

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

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

deadline on the Manage AmeriCorps Seniors 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 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 National 

Service Hotline

o any information provided to the applicant by the National Service Hotline

o any other documentation or evidence that supports the justification

• ensure that AmeriCorps Seniors 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 stated 

in the Notice.

Communication with AmeriCorps Seniors 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 in eGrants, 

AmeriCorps web-based application system and with the National Service Hotline to submit the 

application. 

Please note: AmeriCorps Seniors 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 

AmeriCorps Seniors funding provided will be limited to 90 percent of the total allowable costs 

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

There are also limitations on the use of federal funds to recover indirect costs. As provided in 2 

CFR 200.306(c), unrecovered indirect costs may be included as part of an applicant’s cost 

sharing or matching requirements. 
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, 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 are not authorized for this funding opportunity.

D.6.d. Budget Guidance

All applicants must include a line item in the budget for training of the Project Director, which 

may include any training events approved by AmeriCorps Seniors. Applicants may budget for an 

additional staff member to attend the training events, if funds permit. The recommended 

amount, for budgeting purposes is $1,000. Long distance travel funds may be re-budgeted later 

in the year, depending on actual training activities.

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 Seniors recommends that applicants create an eGrants account 

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 National Service Hotline at (800) 942-2677 or via eGrants 

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

application. National Service Hotline hours are posted at 
https://questions.americorps.gov/app/ask.

Be prepared to provide the application ID, organization’s name, and the grant cycle to which 

the organization is applying. If the issue cannot be resolved by the deadline, applicants must 

continue working with the National Service Hotline to submit via eGrants.

If circumstances make it impossible for an applicant to submit their application in eGrants, 

applicants may send a paper copy of the application via overnight carrier to the address 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 2021 AmeriCorps Seniors FGP Q4

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 Seniors 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:

• All renewal applicants requesting over $75,000 are required to submit an Operational 

and Financial Management Survey (OFMS) located at: 

https://www.nationalservice.gov/resources/financial-management/financial-andgrants-management - select Applicant Operational and Financial Management Survey 

under the Pre-Award/Application Certification Forms Section. Please submit the OFMS

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

be accepted.

Failure to submit the required additional documents by the deadline will have a negative effect 

on the assessment of your application.

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

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

• the legal applicant name and its point of contact information

• the application ID number

• a list of documents that are attached to the email

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

name and application ID number within the heading of each document. To ensure that 

all required additional documents are received, please provide each document as an

individual file. Please do not send all documents as one scanned file.
• If the size of an applicant’s files requires multiple emails, please also include an ordering 

system in the subject line, such as “(1 of 3).”

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

Instructions, AmeriCorps Seniors will not review or return them.

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION - For all continuation and renewal applications. 

E.1. Review Criteria

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. They will also consider the 

weights assigned to each criterion.

Categories/Subcategories

Program Design 

• Strengthening Communities

• Recruitment and Development

Organizational Capability 

• Program Management

• Organizational Capability

Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy 

• Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy

E.1.a. Program Design: 

Reviewers will assess the extent to which the proposed project addresses:

Strengthening Communities

Reviewers will assess the extent to which the proposed project addresses:

• Q1. Workplans describe and demonstrate the community need.

• Q2. Workplans articulate a theory of change- meaning how service activities will address 

the community needs, and how the service activity described provides a significant 

contribution to the outcomes listed in the work plan. This question will focus on work plans 

that lead to National Performance Measure outcomes (for more information see Appendix 

B).

• Q3. Work plans logically connect four major elements to each other:

o The community need(s) identified;

o The service activities that will be carried out by AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers;

o The instrument description and data collection plans; and

o Work plans that include target numbers that lead to outcomes or outputs, and 

are appropriate for the total number of volunteers assigned to the work plan

• Q4. Work plan outputs and outcomes are aligned with national performance 

measure instructions.

• Q5. Work plans have outputs and outcomes that are achievable, based on resources, 

program design and the number of volunteers engaged.
• Q6. Work plans have performance measure outputs and outcomes that were reported 

in alignment with National Performance Measure requirements and data collection plans as 

stated in approved prior application as submitted in the most recent required Project 

Progress Reports and Project Progress Report Lite.

• Q7. The program is achieving its AmeriCorps Seniors’ volunteer recruitment goals in the 

current grant cycle.

Recruitment and Development of Volunteers

Reviewers will assess the extent to which the proposed project addresses:

• Q8. Narrative demonstrates a plan and infrastructure to ensure AmeriCorps Seniors 

volunteers receive training needed to succeed in the service activities described in the work 

plan.

• Q9. Narrative describes the demographics of the community served and plans to recruit 

a volunteer pool reflective of the community served. This could possibly include:

o Individuals from diverse races, ethnicities, sexual orientations or degrees of 

English language proficiency

o Veterans and military family members as AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers

o AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers with disabilities

o AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers between the ages of 55 and 70 years old

• Q10. Narrative demonstrates a plan and infrastructure to retain and recognize 

AmeriCorps Seniors’ volunteers.

E.1.b. Organizational Capability:

Reviewers will consider the extent to which the applicant demonstrates:

Program Management

• Q11. Plans and infrastructure to ensure management of volunteer stations in 

compliance with AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program regulations.

• Q12. Plans and infrastructure to develop and/or oversee volunteer stations to ensure 

that volunteers are performing their assigned service activities.

• Q13. Demonstrated an organizational track record in work plans the lead to National 

Performance Measure outcomes (for more information see Appendix B).

• Q14. Met Applicable reporting deadlines. 

• Q15. Demonstrated a pattern of consistent communication and receptiveness to 

instructions from AmeriCorps Seniors over the life of the grant. 

Organizational Capability

• Q16. 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:

o Compliance with AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program requirements 

(statues, regulations, and applicable OMB circulars)

o Accountability;

o Efficient and effective use of available resources.
• Q17. Demonstrated clearly defined 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.

• Q18. Demonstrated organizational capacity to develop and implement internal policies 

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

personnel management, and purchasing.

E.1.c. Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy:

Reviewers will consider the completeness and reasonableness of the budget:

o Q19. Have a reasonable cost per volunteer in proposed work plans that lead to National 

Performance Measure requirements (for more information, see Appendix B).

o Q20. Have plans and infrastructure to secure the non-federal share, including dedicated 

staff, grant proposal process, and other plans.

E.2. Review and Selection Process

AmeriCorps Seniors will engage Staff Reviewers with relevant knowledge and expertise to 

assess and provide input on the eligible applications. The review and selection process is 

intended to produce a diversified set of high-quality programs that represent the priorities and 

strategic considerations described in this Notice. The determinations made by CNCS 

AmeriCorps Seniors reviewers may be different from what the applicant self-determined upon 

submission of its application. The stages of the review and selection process follow:

E.2.a. Initial Application Compliance and Eligibility Review

AmeriCorps Seniors 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

• submitted an application that complies with the following program-specific 

requirements: 

o submitted required additional documents by the submission deadline:

o submitted an application for geographic service areas in Appendix A; as only the 

areas listed in Appendix A are eligible for funding.

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.2.b. Application Review 

Internal Review
AmeriCorps Seniors Staff Reviewers will assess the applications based on the Program Design, 

Organizational Capability, and Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy Selection Criteria. Staff 

Reviewers will also consider the priorities and strategic considerations detailed in this Notice. 

AmeriCorps Seniors will recruit and select Staff Reviewers on the basis of demonstrated 

expertise in AmeriCorps Seniors programming and/or the Focus Areas, as well as experience 

assessing applications. All Staff Reviewers will be screened for conflicts of interest. 

Post-Review Quality Control

After the initial review process is complete, AmeriCorps Seniors staff will review the initial 

results for fairness and consistency. Some applications may be selected for a Post-Review 

Quality Control assessment. This additional level of review will be used to ensure fairness and 

provide assurances that an application was not disadvantaged in the original review.

 

E.2.c. Applicant Clarification

AmeriCorps Seniors may ask an applicant for clarifying information. AmeriCorps Seniors staff will 

use this information to make funding recommendations. A request for clarification does not 

guarantee an award. Applicants may be recommended for funding even if they are not asked for 

clarifying information. An applicant’s failure to respond to a request for clarification adequately 

and in a timely manner may result in the removal of its application from consideration. 

AmeriCorps Seniors staff may conduct a site visit inspection as part of the clarification process, 

as appropriate.

E.2.d. Pre-Award Risk Assessment

AmeriCorps Seniors staff will evaluate the risks to the program posed by each applicant to 

assess an applicant’s ability to manage federal funds. This evaluation is in addition to 

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

Selection Criteria. Results from this evaluation will inform funding decisions. If AmeriCorps 

Seniors 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 Seniors 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 evaluating risks, AmeriCorps Seniors may consider the following criteria: 

Due Diligence:

• federal debt delinquency

• suspension and debarment

• information available through 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)

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

Operational and Financial Management:

• financial stability

• Operational and Financial Management Survey

Past Performance: 

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

agreements, or procurement awards, including: 

• timeliness of compliance with applicable reporting requirements

• accuracy of data reported

• validity of performance measure data reported

• conformance to the terms and conditions of previous federal awards

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

imposed on award recipients

• meeting matching requirements

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

awards

• criminal history check compliance. Note that AmeriCorps Seniors is best able to 

determine compliance with criminal history check requirements for grant recipients 

using the AmeriCorps Seniors -approved contracted vendors

Other Programmatic Risks:

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

website

• amount of funding requested by the organization 

E.2.e. Consideration of Integrity and Performance System Information

Prior to making any award that exceeds the $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 completing its 

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

Notice. 

E.2.f. Selection for Funding

The review and selection process is designed to: 

• identify how well eligible applications are aligned with the application review criteria

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

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

o meaningful representation of 

 geographic diversity 

 rural communities

 small and medium programs 

 single and multi-state programs

 faith-based organizations

 Focus Area

Based on the evaluation of these strategic considerations, applications may be selected for 

funding over applications with a greater degree of alignment with the review criteria. In 

selecting applicants to receive awards under this Notice, the Program Director will endeavor to 

include a diverse portfolio of applications based on staff recommendations and strategic 

considerations.

AmeriCorps Seniors 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 Seniors 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 that will be used to assess applications.

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION - For all AmeriCorps Seniors Foster 

Grandparent Program renewals and continuations. 

F.1. Federal Award Notices

AmeriCorps Seniors will make awards following the selection announcement. AmeriCorps 

Seniors anticipates announcing the results of this funding opportunity by mid- June 2021 

contingent on the 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 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 Improper Payment Information

AmeriCorps may request documentation from recipients in order to monitor the award or to 

comply with other legal requirements, such as the Improper Payments Information Act of 2002, 

as amended. Failure to make timely responses to these requests may result in award funds 

being placed on manual hold, reimbursement only status, or other remedies may be applied as 

appropriate. 

F.2.c. AmeriCorps Seniors Terms and Conditions 

All awards made under this Notice will be subject to the FY 2021 AmeriCorps General Terms 

and Conditions, and the FY 2021 AmeriCorps Seniors Program-Specific Terms and Conditions for 

the particular program. These Terms and Conditions contain detailed, mandatory compliance 

and reporting requirements. Current versions of the AmeriCorps Seniors General and ProgramSpecific Terms and Conditions for each of its programs is available at 

https://www.nationalservice.gov/resources/terms-and-conditions-cncs-grants. 

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. The law requires grantees to 

conduct and document NSCHCs on persons (including award-funded staff, national service 

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

through a program receiving AmeriCorps funds. This includes staff that receive part of their 

salary through a subgrant. An individual is ineligible to serve in a position that receives such 

AmeriCorps 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.

Grantees should utilize the two vendors AmeriCorps has engaged to conduct the required 

NSCHCs. Information regarding use of these two vendors can be found at 

https://www.nationalservice.gov/documents/2018/nschc-using-fieldprint-and-truescreenmanual.

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

Unless AmeriCorps has provided a grant recipient with a written exemption or written approval 

of an alternative search procedure, recipients must perform the following checks:
All award-funded staff and volunteers must undergo NSCHCs that include:

• A nationwide name-based search of the National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW); 

and

• Either

o A name- or finger-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

o 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:

• A nationwide name-based check of the NSOPW; and 

• Both 

o 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

o A fingerprint-based FBI criminal history check.

See 45 CFR 2540.200– 2540.207 and CNCS Criminal History Check Resources for complete 

information and FAQs.

F.2e. Official Guidance

All AmeriCorps Seniors active Guidance is available on the agency’s Guidance webpage: 

https://www.nationalservice.gov/resources/official-guidance. 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 Seniors funding are available to the public 

and readily accessible to recipients and non-recipients, AmeriCorps Seniors reserves a royaltyfree, 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 

Recipients are required to submit a variety of reports which are due at specific times during the 

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

Recipients are required to provide annual progress reports and semi-annual financial and 

narrative progress reports through eGrants, AmeriCorps’ web-based grants management 
system. All 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, 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 project period. 

Award recipients will be required to report at https://www.FSRS.gov on all subawards over 

$30,000, and may be required to report on executive compensation for the recipient 

organization and its subrecipients. 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, recipients will be expected to have data collection and data 

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

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

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

themselves and for subrecipients (if applicable):

• the data measures what it intends to measure

• the data reported is complete

• the recipient collects data in a consistent manner

• the recipient takes steps to correct data errors

• the recipient actively reviews data for accuracy prior to submission. 

Failure to submit accurate, complete, and timely required reports may affect the recipient’s 

ability to secure future AmeriCorps Seniors funding.

For further guidance and training resources see: Resources: Data Collection and Instruments.

F.5. Continuation Funding Information and Requirements 

Organizations that have current AmeriCorps Seniors’ Foster Grandparent award that continue 

beyond FY 2021 must submit an application in order to be eligible to receive funding for the 

following year. Please see the Application Instructions.

The review will also be based on progress reports, the federal financial report, evaluation plans, 

additional requirements, and AmeriCorps Seniors 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 Seniors 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.
G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS - For all AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent 

Program renewals and continuations. 

For more information, email or call the grant’s assigned Portfolio Manager. AmeriCorps Seniors

also offers live text chat at www.NationalService.gov/contact-us. 

For technical questions and problems with the eGrants system, call the National Service Hotline 

at (800) 942-2677. National Service Hotline hours are posted at 

https://questions.americorps.gov/app/ask. Potential applicants can also use this link: eGrants 

Questions. 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 - For all AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program renewals 

and continuations. 

H.1. Technical Assistance

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

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

in these sessions. Call-in information for the technical assistance calls is on the AmeriCorps 

Seniors Training Calendar from the Managing AmeriCorps Seniors page.

H.2. Re-Focusing of Funding

AmeriCorps Seniors reserves the right to re-focus program dollars estimated for this grant cycle 

in the event of disaster or other compelling needs. 

I. IMPORTANT NOTICES - For all AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program renewals and 

continuations. 

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 Seniors 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).) The OMB Control Number for the information 

collection is 3045-0035. It expires on 12/31/2021.

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 the funding 

purposes set forth at 42 U.S.C. 5011(a) 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.