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AmeriCorps VISTA Support Grant

FY 2017 GRANT TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Effective October 1, 2016

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 program-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 either grant recipient or subrecipient, as appropriate, 

throughout these Terms and Conditions.

Table of Contents

A. Grant Period ....................................................................................................................................... 2

B. Reporting Requirements..................................................................................................................... 2

C. Federal Financial Reports (FFRs)...................................................................................................... 3

D. Federal Financial Reporting/Disbursements..................................................................................... 3

E. Project Progress Report ...................................................................................................................... 3

F. Recognition of Federal Funding ......................................................................................................... 3

G. Program/Project Manager Authority................................................................................................. 3

H. External and Data Collection ........................................................................................................... 3

I. Allowable Costs................................................................................................................................... 4

J. Subawards Prohibited ......................................................................................................................... 4

K. Budget and Programmatic Changes.................................................................................................. 4

L. Lobby Disclosure................................................................................................................................ 4
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A. Grant Period

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

Corporation 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.

B. Reporting Requirements

This section applies only to the recipient. The recipient is responsible for timely submission of periodic financial, 

progress, and member reports during the project period and a final financial report and for setting submission 

deadlines for its respective subrecipients, if applicable, that ensure the timely submission of recipient reports.

1. Financial Reports (CNCS). The recipient shall complete and submit financial reports in eGrants to 

report the status of all funds. The recipient must submit semi-annual cumulative financial reports in 

accordance with CNCS guidelines.

2. Final Financial Report (CNCS). A recipient must submit, in lieu of the last semi-annual financial 

report, a final financial report. These reports are due no later than 90 days after the end of the project 

period.

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

(HHS/PMS). All recipients must submit the Federal Financial Report (FFR) and Cash Transactions 

Report on a quarterly basis to the HHS/PMS per the Electronic Funds Transfer Agreement.

4. Progress Reports. The recipient shall complete and submit timely progress reports to include a 

summary of accomplishments during the reporting period. This includes reporting on the progress to date 

made by the recipient and subrecipients for that reporting period. The report is submitted through 

eGrants. Individual program guidance determines the due date for the reports.

5. 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.

6. 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, 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.

Extensions of deadlines for financial reports may only be granted by the Field Financial Management 

Center (FFMC), and extensions of deadlines for progress reports may only be granted by the Program 

Office.

7. 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.
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C. 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.

D. 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 Program 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

E. 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.

F. Recognition of Federal Funding

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

G. Program/Project Manager Authority

The 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 management of the technical 

and programmatic performance of the award. 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.

H. External and Data Collection

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

I. Allowable Costs

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

VISTA Program Grant Budget instructions.

J. Subawards Prohibited

VISTA grant recipients may not make subawards.

K. 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.

L. 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 Corporation State Program 

Director.