NOTICE OF FEDERAL FUNDING AVAILABILITY 

Federal Agency Name: Corporation for National and Community Service 

Funding Opportunity Title: 2016 Senior Companion Program (SCP) Indian Tribes,

Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders Competition

Announcement Type: Amended Announcement 

CFDA Number: 94.016

Important Dates

• Applications are now due Wednesday, June 29, 2016 by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. 

• Successful applicants will be notified by mid-August 2016. 

• Disclosure: Publication of this Notice of Federal Funding Availability (Notice) does not 

obligate the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to award any 

specific number of grants or to obligate any particular amount of funding. 

FULL TEXT OF THE NOTICE

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. Purpose of SCP Indian Tribal, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Funding

The mission of CNCS is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement 

through service and volunteering. Through AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, the Social Innovation 

Fund, and the Volunteer Generation Fund, CNCS has helped to engage millions of citizens in 

meeting community and national challenges through service and volunteer action. 

Established in 1974, the Senior Companion Program (SCP) engages adults age 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. Senior Companions serve an average of 20 hours per 

week, with the majority of the volunteer service taking 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.

On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Elder Justice Act, which provides 

federal resources to prevent, detect, treat, understand, intervene in, and, where appropriate, 

prosecute elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. This legislation, and other actions highlight the 

increasing risk realized by older adults for financial exploitation, abuse (physical, psychological, 

sexual), and neglect. In addition to activities that provide assistance to adults and their caregivers 

in need of extra support to remain independent for as long as possible, this SCP Competition 

requires applicants to include activities supporting the goals of the Elder Justice Act in the grant 

application. 

CNCS intends to fund successful SCP applicants to increase support for adults in need of extra 

assistance in Indian Country by offering funding opportunities for grants to Indian Tribal, Native 

Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander applicants in geographic areas not currently served by SCP

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grantees. 

2. Funding Priorities 

SCP applicants must meet both of the funding priorities listed below: (a) SCP National 

Performance Measures; and (b) Elder Justice interventions to mitigate the potential that clients 

and caregivers served by Senior Companion volunteers will be victims of financial fraud, abuse, 

and/or neglect. 

(a) SCP applicants must meet the requirements of the SCP National Performance 

Measures, which prioritizes the Healthy Futures Focus Area, and the Independent 

Living Objective(s). 

Grants within this Focus Area will address health needs within communities by 

focusing specifically on independent living (aging in place) and access to health care. 

Independent Living Objectives: 

Grants will assist with meeting health needs within communities including aging in 

place. Activities may include: 

• Supporting the ability of homebound, older adults and individuals with 

disabilities to live independently. 

(b) SCP applicants must address how the service of Senior Companion volunteers will 

address Elder Justice Act priorities by placing volunteers in assignments that help to 

mitigate the potential that clients and caregivers served by the Senior Companions 

will be victims of financial fraud, abuse, and/or neglect. 

3. National Performance Measures 

The National and Community Service Act of 1990, as amended by the Edward M. Kennedy 

Serve America Act, emphasizes measuring the impact of service and focusing on a core set of 

issue areas. CNCS’s five-year Strategic Plan establishes an ambitious set of objectives that

guided the development of 16 agency-wide National Performance Measures. CNCS expects 

applicants, including SCP, to use National Performance Measures as part of a comprehensive 

performance management strategy that relies on both performance and evaluation data to learn 

from its work, as well as make strategic adjustments to achieve its goals. For more information, 

please refer to Appendix B for the SCP National Performance Measure Instructions

at www.nationalservice.gov/resources/performance-measurement/scp-senior-corps. 

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

performance goals through the service described in the proposed work plans. Applications must 

include work plans that meet the following minimum guidelines:

 For every $6,000 in annual base federal funding, at least one Volunteer Service Year 

worth of service must be placed in work plans that result in National Performance 

Measure outcomes in the Healthy Futures focus area

*Volunteer Service Year (VSY) VSY: is a budget term that equals 1,044 hours. The standardized 

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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 $2.65 per hour). 

VSYs, Federal Costs, Unduplicated Volunteers, and National Performance Measures

a. Calculating the number of VSYs/unduplicated volunteers required to be placed in 

outcome-based assignments to meet the FY 2016 National Performance Measures 

CNCS has a standard calculation for all SCP grantees to use to determine the number of 

VSYs/unduplicated volunteers needed to meet the 2016 National Performance requirements. 

• Calculation: Total Federal Funding divided by $6,000 (used as the per VSY rate) = the 

number of VSYs needed in national performance measures. 

• The number of VSYs and number of unduplicated volunteers will be the same. This 

calculation assumes that one VSY equals one unduplicated volunteer. 

• The number you calculate will be used to place your outcome-based unduplicated 

volunteers in work plans. 

Applicants should also review and understand the following parameters: 

• Per Federal VSY costs: Applicants may request up to $6,000 per VSY. The $6,000 per 

VSY is the ceiling, and may not be exceeded. Applicants may request a rate per VSY that 

is less than $6,000. There is no established floor. 

• Applicability of the Direct Benefits Ratio (80/20 Rule): Applicants should be aware that 

they must meet the required split of 80 percent of funds directly supporting volunteers 

and 20 percent of funds in volunteer support (grant administration). 

4. Program Authority

CNCS’s legal authority to award SCP grants is found in the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 

1973, as amended, (42 U.S.C. § 4950 et seq.). The SCP regulations may be found at 45 CFR Part 

2551. See section F. Federal Award Administration Information, for specifics on the full range of 

administrative and national policy requirements.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. Estimated Available Funds 

CNCS anticipates awarding an amount not to exceed approximately $2 million for the 2016 SCP 

Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders Competition. 

2. Estimated Award Amount

Award amounts will vary as determined by the scope of the projects. The maximum award 

amount is dependent on the number of Volunteer Service Years (VSYs) requested. 

Applicants proposing the use of evidence based programs may be eligible for a higher level of 

federal funding of up to $500,000. Applicants must provide documentation of how a higher level 

of funding supports the implementation of evidence based programs. (Evidence Based, See 

Appendix C) 

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3. Project Period

The grants award covers a 3-year project period. CNCS generally makes an initial award for the 

first year of operation of the grant. Continuation funding for subsequent years is not guaranteed 

and may be dependent upon availability of appropriations, 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, and compliance with grant requirements, including 

terms and conditions, reporting, and securing the required non-federal share. CNCS reserves the 

right to adjust the amount of an award or elect not to continue funding. 

4. Type of Award 

SCP Indian Tribal, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander grants will be awarded on a cost 

reimbursement basis.

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

This 2016 SCP Competition Notice limits grant-making to Indian Tribal, Native Hawaiian, and 

Pacific Islander applicants. 

Indian Tribes, organizations serving Native Hawaiians, and organizations serving Pacific 

Islanders, are eligible to apply. 

An Indian Tribe is defined as a federally recognized Indian Tribe, band, nation, or other 

organized group or community, including any Native village, Regional Corporation, or Village 

Corporation, as defined under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. §1602), that 

the United States Government determines is eligible for special programs and services provided 

under federal law to Indians because of their status as Indians. Indian Tribes also include tribal 

organizations controlled, sanctioned, or chartered by one of the entities described above. 

Also eligible to apply are: incorporated nonprofit multipurpose community-based Indian 

organizations, national or regional incorporated nonprofit Native American organizations with 

Native American community-specific objectives, incorporated nonprofit Alaska Native 

multipurpose community based organizations, public and nonprofit private agencies serving 

Native Hawaiians with at least 51 percent of governing board representative of Native 

Hawaiians, public and nonprofit private agencies serving native peoples from Guam, American 

Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (the populations served may be 

located on these islands or in the continental United States) with at least 51 percent of the 

governing board representative of Native Pacific Islanders.

An entity that is not defined as Indian Tribes can apply as a tribal organization on behalf of a 

federally recognized Tribe. A letter of support from each Tribe, that the entity is intended to 

serve, must be submitted by the application deadline 

A public or nonprofit private agency serving Native Hawaiians and/or Pacific Islanders that 

desires to apply for a grant must submit a form of verification stating the representation of each 

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board member. The verification form must identify a list of the full governing board and specify 

which members are representing Native Hawaiians and/or Pacific Islanders. This verification 

form must be submitted by the application deadline in order to be considered for eligibility 

requirements for compliance. Failure to submit this document will result in an application noncompliant to participate in the competition. See section D., Application and Submission 

Information, for specific instructions on how to submit this document. 

Organizations that have been convicted of a federal crime may not receive assistance described 

in this Notice. Pursuant to the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, an organization described in 

Section 501 (c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. 501 (c)(4) that engages in 

lobbying activities, is not eligible to apply.

2. Cost-Share or Matching Requirements 

All applicants applying to establish an SCP project for the purpose of this competition are 

required to fund their projects in part through local, non-federal contributions. The required 

local contribution is at least 10 percent of the total project budget. The local contribution portion 

should be reflected in the Budget Section of the application. The non-federal share can be cash 

or in-kind matching funds. 

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

This Notice should be read together with the SCP regulations, 45 CFR Part 2551, the Grant 

Application Instructions, and the National Performance Measures. These documents are 

available online at www.nationalservice.gov/SCPTribalGrants. 

1. Address to Request Application Package 

Applicants should refer to the CNCS’s Funding Opportunity webpage 

(www.nationalservice.gov/SCPTribalGrants) to obtain the necessary information to apply. 

Applicants can also send an email to FGPSCP@cns.gov for a printed copy of the application 

materials. The TTY number is (800) 833-3722. 

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Please choose the following NOFA when starting your application in eGrants: FY 2016 SCP 

Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders Competition. 

a. Application Content

Complete applications must have the following components: 

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

complete the data elements in the eGrants system. When applicants complete the 

application in eGrants, many of the fields will automatically be filled with information 

entered during the registration process 

• Narrative

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

executive summary should not be longer than 1 page. Executive Summaries of all 

compliant applications are published on the CNCS website following grant 

awards. 

o Strengthening Communities

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o Recruitment and Development

o Program Management

o Organizational Capability

o Other (Evidence Based, see Appendix C) 

• Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy (Budget and Budget Narrative)

• Performance Measures

• Authorization, Assurances, and Certifications 

b. Page Limits 

Applications may not exceed 15 double-spaced pages for Narratives, including the SF-424 

Facesheet, Executive Summary, and Program Narrative as the pages print out from eGrants. The 

page limit does not include the Budget section and Performance Measures.

Reviewers will not consider material past the page limit, even if eGrants allows applicants to 

enter and submit text over the limit. CNCS strongly encourages applicants to print out the 

application from the “Review and Submit” page before submitting it, in order to make sure it is 

within the page limit. 

3. Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) and System for Award 

Management (SAM) 

Applications must include a DUNS number and an Employer Identification Number. The DUNS 

number does not replace an Employer Identification 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 http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. CNCS recommends registering at least 30 days before 

the application due date. 

After obtaining a DUNS number, all applicants must register with the System for Award 

Management (SAM, www.sam.gov) and maintain an active SAM registration until the 

application process is complete and, if a grant is awarded, throughout the life of the award. SAM 

registration must be renewed annually. CNCS suggests finalizing a new registration or renewing 

an existing one at least two weeks before the application deadline to allow time to resolve any 

issues that may arise. 

You must use your SAM-registered legal name and address on all grant applications to 

CNCS.

Applicants that do not comply with these requirements may become ineligible to receive an 

award. See the SAM Quick Guide for Grantees 

at: https://www.sam.gov/sam/transcript/SAM_Quick_Guide_Grants_Registrations-v1.6.pdf.

4. Submission Dates and Times

a. Notification of Intent to Apply

In the Initial Announcement, CNCS strongly encouraged applicants to submit a Notification of 

Intent to Apply by Friday, May 13, 2016. Notifications of Intent to Apply were sent 

to FGPSCP@cns.gov with the following subject line: SCP Tribal, Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander 

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Competition Notification of Intent to Apply.

All Notices of Intent to Apply received an email response from CNCS acknowledging receipt.

b. Application Submission Deadline

Applications are now due Wednesday, June 29, 2016 by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. CNCS will not 

consider applications received after the deadline, except as noted below. CNCS reserves the right 

to extend the submission deadline and any notice of such extended deadline will be posted in 

CNCS website. 

c. Late Applications

CNCS may consider an application submitted after the deadline, but only if the applicant submits 

a letter to LateApplications@cns.gov explaining the extenuating technical circumstances that 

caused the delay. CNCS must receive the letter within a business day after the deadline. If 

technical issues prevent an applicant from submitting an application on time, the letter should 

include the eGrants ticket number provided by the National Service Hotline. Communication 

with CNCS staff, including an applicant’s program officer, is not a substitute for sending the 

letter. CNCS will determine whether or not to accept a late application on a case-by-case basis. 

Please be advised that CNCS will not consider an advance request to submit a late application.

5. Funding Restrictions 

The Administrative and National Policy Requirements section (F.2) of this Notice contains the 

regulations that outline the funding restrictions. 

Indirect Cost

CNCS allows applicants to include indirect costs in application budgets. Based on qualifying 

factors, applicants have the option of using a federally approved indirect cost rate, a 10% de 

minimis rate of modified total direct costs, or may claim certain costs directly as outlines 2 CFR 

§ 200.414. “Direct costs”. Indian tribes may use approved cost allocation plans. All methods 

must be applied consistently across all federal awards. Applicants who hold a federal negotiated 

indirect cost rate or will be using the 10% de minimis rate must enter that information in the 

Organization section in eGrants. 

6. Other Submission Requirements

a. Electronic Application Submission in eGrants

Applicants must submit applications electronically via eGrants, CNCS’s web-based system 

(https://egrants.cns.gov/espan/main/login.jsp). CNCS 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 document into the 

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

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

authorized representative must be using eGrants under his or her own account in order 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.

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

(https://questions.nationalservice.gov/app/ask_eg) if a problem arises when creating an account 

or preparing or submitting the application. National Service Hotline hours are Monday through 

Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Be prepared to provide the application ID 

number, organization’s name, and the Notice 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 extenuating circumstances make it impossible for an applicant to submit in eGrants, applicants 

may send a paper copy of the application via overnight carrier to the following address: 

Corporation for National and Community Service 

ATT: Office of Grants Policy and Operations/SCP Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiians, and 

Pacific Islanders Application 

250 E Street, SW 

Washington, DC 20525 

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

requirements in this Notice also apply to paper applications. Paper applications must include 

a cover letter detailing the circumstances that make it impossible to submit via eGrants. CNCS 

does not accept applications submitted via fax or email. 

b. Submission of Additional Documents

Applicants are required to submit additional documents by the application submission deadline. 

Refer to the Grant Application Instructions for a full list of required documents. 

All required additional documents must be emailed to FGPSCP@cns.gov with the following 

subject line: SCP Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders Competition Additional 

Documents - Application ID number. Within the email, please include the following information:

• the legal applicant name and its point of contact information

• the application ID number

• a list of documents that should be attached to the email

• individually saved files that are clearly labeled 

• files that include the legal applicant name and application ID number within the body of 

each document. 

The verification form for public and nonprofit private agencies serving Native Hawaiians and/or 

Pacific Islanders with at least 51 percent of governing board representation of Native Hawaiians 

and/or Pacific Islanders must be submitted by the application deadline in order to be considered 

for eligibility requirements for compliance. The verification form must be emailed 

to FGPSCP@cns.gov with the following subject line: SCP Verification Form.

Do not submit supplementary material such as videos, brochures, or any items not requested 

in this Notice. CNCS will not review or return them.

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

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1. Criteria

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

receiving the requested funds. Reviewers will assess the applications against the following 

selection criteria and rate them accordingly considering the weights assigned to each criterion

detailed in the following chart.

Selection criteria within each application are assessed as Excellent, Good, Fair, and Does Not 

Meet. To achieve a Good assessment, incumbents must address everything requested in the 

selection criteria. To achieve an “Excellent” assessment, incumbents must go beyond what is 

requested by the selection criteria. 

Basic Selection Criteria: Categories and Respective Weights

Category Percentage Sub-Category Percentage Relevant Part of the 

Application

Program Design 50% Strengthening 

Communities

35% Work Plan

Recruitment and 

Development

15% Narrative

Organizational 

Capacity

30% Program Management 15% Narrative

Organizational 

Capability

15% Narrative

CostEffectiveness and 

Budget 

Adequacy

20% Cost Effectiveness 

and Budget Adequacy

20% Work Plan, 

Narrative, and 

Budget sections

a. Program Design (50%): 

Strengthening Communities (35%)

Reviewers will assess the extent of the work plan proposed in the application through the 

following criteria:

Q1. (7%) 

Work plans describe and demonstrate the community need. 

Q2. (7%)

Work plans 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. (7%)

Work plans logically connect four major elements to each other:

1. The community need(s) identified; 

2. The service activities that will be carried out by SCP volunteers; 

3. The instrument description and data collection plans; and

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4. 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. (7%) 

Work plan outputs and outcomes are aligned with National Performance Measure 

instructions. 

Q5. (7%) Work plans have outputs and outcomes that are achievable, based on resources, 

program design and the number of volunteers engaged.

Recruitment and Development of Volunteers (15%)

Reviewers will assess the extent to which the narrative demonstrates a plan and infrastructure for 

effective SCP volunteer recruitment and management through the presence of the following: 

Q6. (5%) 

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

to succeed in the service activities described in the work plan. 

Q7. (5%) 

Describes the demographics of the community served and plans to recruit a volunteer 

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

1. Individuals from diverse races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, or degrees of 

English language proficiency 

2. Veterans and military family members as SCP volunteers 

3. SCP volunteers with disabilities

4. SCP volunteers between the ages of 55 and 70 years old 

Q8. (5%) 

Demonstrates a plan and infrastructure to retain and recognize SCP volunteers. 

b. Organizational Capability (30%): 

Program Management (15%)

Reviewers will assess the extent to which the incumbent demonstrates that it has:

Q9. (5%) 

Plans and infrastructure to ensure management of volunteer stations in compliance with 

SCP program regulations. 

Q10. (5%) 

Plans and infrastructure to develop and/or oversee volunteer stations to ensure that 

volunteers are performing their assigned service activities. 

Q11. (5%) 

Demonstrated an organizational track record in work plans that lead to National Performance 

Measure outcomes (For more information see Appendix B). 

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Organizational Capability (15%)

Reviewers will assess the extent to which the incumbent demonstrates that it has: 

Q12. (5%) 

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: 1) 

compliance with SCP program requirements (statutes, regulations, and applicable OMB 

circulars); 2) accountability, and 3) efficient and effective use of available resources. 

Q13. (5%) 

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. 

Q14. (5%) 

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. 

a. Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy (20%)*: 

Reviewers will assess the extent to which the incumbent has demonstrated to: 

Q15. (10%) 

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

Performance Measure requirements. (For more information see Appendix B) 

Q16. (10%) 

Have plans and infrastructure to secure the non-federal share, including dedicated staff, 

grant proposal processes and other plans 

*Selection Criteria will only be assessed if the applicable line items are included in the budget.

2. Review and Selection Process

The assessment of applications involves a wide range of considerations. CNCS will engage Staff 

Reviewers with relevant knowledge and expertise in aging issues and volunteering to provide 

input on the eligible applications. CNCS may also use geographic characteristics of rural and 

non-rural communities to achieve balance in the final portfolio. In the end, the review and 

selection process will produce a balanced set of high-quality programs that represent the 

priorities and other considerations described in this Notice. 

a. Stages in the Review and Selection Process 

Compliance and Eligibility Review

CNCS staff will review all applications to determine compliance with the eligibility, deadline 

and completeness requirements. The compliance review does not include reading the entire 

application. Applications determined non-compliant will not be considered. An application is 

compliant if the applicant: 

• is an eligible organization

• proposed to serve a Tribal area not currently served by SCP (see Appendix A for a list of 

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geographic service areas currently served by SCP)

• submitted an application and all required documentation by the submission deadline 

• submitted an application that is complete, in that it contains all required elements and 

additional documents, and follows the instructions provided in this Notice

• has not been denied CNCS Senior Corps funding in the past three years

CNCS will screen applications in accordance with the requirements in this Notice to determine if 

the applicant has met all eligibility and submission requirements. The screening may occur at 

various stages of the grant-making process. Applicants determined to be ineligible will not 

receive an award. 

Internal Review

CNCS Staff Reviewers will assess the applications based on the Program Design, Organization 

Capacity, and Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy Selection Criteria. CNCS will recruit 

and select Staff Reviewers on the basis of demonstrated expertise in Tribal programming and the 

Healthy Futures Focus Area, as well as experience assessing applications. All reviewers will be 

screened for conflicts of interest. 

Post Review Quality Control 

After the initial review process is complete, CNCS staff will review the results for fairness and 

consistency. Some applications may be selected for a Post Review Quality Control assessment. 

This additional level of application review will used to assess the applications for significant 

irregularities in the review panel.

Clarification Process

CNCS may ask some applicants to provide clarifying information to resolve questions and issues. 

This information is used by CNCS staff 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 clarification. Failure to respond to requests for information in a timely 

fashion will result in the removal of applications from consideration. CNCS staff may conduct a 

site visit inspection, as appropriate. 

Risk Assessment Evaluation

CNCS staff will evaluate the risks to the program posed by each applicant, including conducting 

due diligence to ensure an applicant’s ability to manage federal funds. This evaluation is in 

addition to the assessment of the applicant’s eligibility and the quality of its application on the 

basis of the Selection Criteria, and results from this evaluation will inform funding decisions. If 

CNCS determines that an award will be made, special conditions that correspond to the degree of 

risk assessed may be applied to the award. 

In evaluating risks, CNCS may consider the following: 

• financial stability

• quality of management systems and ability to meet the management standards prescribed 

in applicable OMB Guidance

• applicant’s record in managing previous CNCS awards, cooperative agreements, or 

procurement awards, including: 

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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 if applicable, the extent to which any previously awarded amounts will be 

expended prior to future awards 

• 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 Dun and Bradstreet 

o “Do Not Pay”

• reports and findings from single audits performed under Subpart F – Audit Requirements, 

2 CFR Part 200 and findings and reports of any other available audits 

• IRS Tax Form 990 

• applicant organization’s annual report 

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

website

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

imposed on award recipients. 

 

Program Staff Recommendation 

CNCS staff will recommend applications for selection based on the results of the Staff Review, 

Quality Control, Clarification, and Risk Assessment Evaluation. In the event of tie scores, the 

higher score for the Strengthening Communities selection criteria will be prioritized.

Selection for Funding

The review and selection process is designed to: 

• identify applications that demonstrate:

o high alignment with selection criteria

o high alignment with the priorities outlines in the Notice 

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

o demonstrates that the priority area 

o demonstrates that the priority area is a significant part of the program focus and 

intended outcomes, and must include high quality program design 

o meets the National Performance Measures requirements and other criteria established 

in this Notice 

o representation of organizations that embrace evidence based programs 

The Chief Executive Officer or designee will select the final portfolio based on the results of the 

review and selection process. 

CNCS reserves the right to adjust or make changes to the review process, in the event that 

unforeseen challenges or exigent circumstances make it impossible, impractical or inefficient to 

execute the review process as planned. Any of such adjustments or changes will not affect the 

selection criteria that will be used to assess applications submitted to CNCS in response to this 

Notice. 

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3. Feedback to Applicants

Following grant awards, compliant applicants will receive summary comments from the Review. 

This feedback will be based on the review of the original application and will not reflect 

information that may have been provided in response to clarification.

4. Transparency in Grant-making

CNCS is committed to transparency in grant-making. The following information for new 

applications will be published on the CNCS website (http://nationalservice.gov/about/opengovernment-initiative/transparency/results-grants-competition) within 90 business days after all 

grants are awarded: 

• a list of all compliant applications submitted

• Executive Summaries of all compliant applications submitted by the applicants 

• data extracted from the SF-424 Face Sheet and the submitted program narratives for 

successful applications 

• a blank template of the review worksheet 

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1. Federal Award Notices

CNCS will make awards following the grant selection announcement. CNCS anticipates 

announcing the results of this competition by mid-August 2016. Applicants will be notified via 

email as to funding decisions. This notification is not an authorization to begin grant activities. 

The Notice of Grant Award (NGA) signed by the grant officer is the authorizing document for 

grant activities. Unsuccessful applicants will also receive a notification that their application was 

not approved for funding.

An awardee may not expend federal grant funds until the start of the Project Period identified on 

the NGA. 

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements 

The NGA incorporated the approved application as part of the binding commitments under any 

award, the approved application, budget, and a special condition requiring all SCP grantees to 

adopt the CNCS National Performance Measures. Awards will be subject to the specific terms 

and conditions established for discretionary grants or defined in the Terms and Conditions of 

Special Conditions attached to the award. If necessary, applicants will have the opportunity to 

negotiate conditions before they accept an award.

Grants under this program are subject to the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost 

Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance, now consolidated 

in 2 CFR Parts 200). This final guidance superseded and streamlines requirements from OMB 

Circulars A-21, A-87, and A-122 (the former Cost Principles), A-110 and A-102 (the former 

Administrative Requirements), A-133 and A-50 (the former Audits and Audit Follow up), and A89 (the former Federal Domestic Assistance Program Information).

• 45 CFR Part 2551_—SCP Federal Regulations

• 2 CFR Part 175—Award Term for Trafficking in Persons

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• 2 CFR Parts 180 and 2200—Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension 

• 45 CFR Part 2545—Government-wide Requirements For Drug-Free Workplace 

(Financial Assistance)

• 45 CFR Part 2555—Nondiscrimination On The Basis Of Sex In Education Programs Or 

Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance

• The Single Audit Act (31 U.S.C. Chapter 75) 

• 45 CFR Part 2551—Legal limitations including prohibited activities

3. National Service Criminal History Check Requirements

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

alternative search procedure, recipients must perform the following checks– 

All award-funded staff, national service participants, and volunteers must undergo NSCHCs that 

include: 

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

and

2. Either 

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

person’s state of residence and in the state where the person will serve/work or

• A fingerprint-based FBI criminal history check.

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

participants, and volunteers with recurring access to vulnerable populations (i.e., children age 17 

or younger, individuals age 60 or older, or individuals with disabilities) must undergo NSCHCs 

that include: 

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

2. Both

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

person’s state of residence and in the state where the person will serve/work; and

• A fingerprint-based FBI criminal history check.

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

4. Use of Materials

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

accessible to grantees and non-grantees, CNCS reserves a royalty-free, nonexclusive, and 

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

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materials produced under the award, including data, and to authorize others to do so (45 CFR §§ 

2543.36; 2541.30). 

5. 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.

Grantees are required to provide bi-annual progress reports and bi-annual financial reports 

through eGrants, CNCS’s web-based grants management system. All grantees must provide 

quarterly expense reports through the Payment Management System (PMS) at the U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services.

In addition, at the end of the grant period, grantees must submit final financial and progress 

reports that are cumulative over the entire award period and consistent with the close-out 

requirements of CNCS’s Office of Grants Management and Field Financial Management Center. 

The final reports are due 90 days after the end of the agreement. 

Once the grant is awarded, grantees will be expected to have data collection and data 

management policies and practices that provide reasonable assurance that they are giving CNCS 

high quality performance measure data. At a minimum, grantees should have policies and 

practices that address the following five aspects of data quality for themselves: 

• the data measures what it intends to measure

• the data reported is complete

• the grantee collects data in a consistent manner

• the grantee takes steps to correct data errors

• the grantee actively reviews data before it submits it. 

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

to secure future CNCS funding. 

For further guidance and training resources see – Resources: Data Collection and 

Instruments: https://www.nationalserviceresources.gov/npm/home#.U9qVL_ldW3o

G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

The SCP Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders Competition Notice and Grant

Application Instructions can be found online at www.nationalservice.gov/SCPTribalGrants. The 

TTY number is (800) 833-3722. 

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

at (800) 942-2677. National Service Hotline hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 

7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Applicants can also use this 

link: https://questions.nationalservice.gov/app/ask_eg. 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 

1. Technical Assistance

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CNCS will host technical assistance calls to answer questions about the funding opportunity and 

about eGrants and strongly encourages all applicants to participate in these sessions. Call-in 

information for the technical assistance calls can be found on the Competition

website: www.nationalservice.gov/SCPTribalGrants. 

2. Re-Focusing of Funding

CNCS reserves the right to re-focus program dollars in the event of disaster or other compelling 

needs for service. 

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