1

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Federal Agency Name: Corporation for National and Community Service

Funding Opportunity Title: FY 2020 Volunteer Generation Fund Announcement

Type: Initial Announcement 

CFDA Number: 94.021

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

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

number of grants or to commit any particular amount of funding.

Important Dates

• Applications are due Wednesday, May 6, 2020 by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. 

• Successful applicants will be notified by July 6, 2020.

FULL TEXT OF THE NOTICE

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. Purpose of Volunteer Generation Funding

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

through service and volunteering. Through AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and the Volunteer 

Generation Fund, CNCS has helped to engage millions of citizens in meeting community and 

national challenges through service and volunteer action.

VGF grants will be used to develop and/or support community-based entities to recruit, manage, 

and support volunteers. CNCS seeks to fund effective approaches that expand volunteering, 

strengthen the capacity of volunteer connector organizations to recruit and retain skill-based 

volunteers, and develop strategies to use volunteers effectively to solve problems. Specifically, 

the VGF grants will support efforts that expand the capacity of volunteer connector 

organizations to recruit, manage, support and retain individuals to serve in high quality

volunteer assignments.

Applicants that receive funding under this Notice may directly carry out the activities supported 

under the award or may carry out the activities by making subgrants to community-based 

entities, supporting volunteer generation at these entities.

Subgrants to community-based entities must include one or more of the following:

• Address activities consistent with the priorities set by the state’s national service plan

• Recruit, manage, or support volunteers to a community-based entity such as a 

volunteer coordinating agency, a nonprofit resource center, a volunteer training 

clearinghouse, an institution of higher education, or a collaborative partnership of

faith-based and community-based organizations
2

• Provide technical assistance and support to strengthen the capacity of local infrastructure 

organizations, address areas of national need, and expand the number of volunteers 

nationally. 

2. Funding Priorities 

CNCS’s priorities for this grant competition are:

• Programs that are likely to generate significant, measurable improvements in the number 

of volunteers generated and retained from specific demographic groups such as youth 

service, generational/family volunteering, skill-based volunteering or senior 

volunteering

• Initiatives that specifically recruit, train and deploy volunteers as a strategy to address

a clearly identified pressing community need or to address education

• Activities that specifically recruit skill-based and pro-bono volunteers.

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. 

3. National Performance Measures

CNCS 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. 

All applicants are required to use the following National Performance Measures:

• G3-3.4 (output): Number of organizations that received capacity building services

AND

• G3-3.10A (outcome): Number of organizations that increased their effectiveness, 

efficiency, and/or program scale/reach.*

*In the Described Instrument section of measure G3-3.10A, applicants must specifically 

describe how they will measure organizational effectiveness, efficiency, or program scale/reach 

with respect to volunteer recruitment or management.

Applicants may optionally select additional performance measure(s), either National 

Performance Measures or applicant determined performance measures, to describe the type and 

amount of activities carried out by volunteers managed and/or generated through their program. 

All performance measures must align with the 2020 VGF Performance Measure Instructions 

posted on the CNCS website. Note: the number of volunteers recruited/coordinated/supported 

by your grant, and the number of hours served by these volunteers, will be reported via 

standard Performance Data Elements and should not be included as performance measures.

4. Program Authority

CNCS’s legal authority to award these grants is the National and Community Service Act of 
3

1990, as amended (42 U.S.C. § 12653p).

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. Estimated Available Funds

CNCS anticipates approximately $6.4 million for VGF 2020 awards.

2. Estimated Award Amount

Award amounts will vary, as determined by the scope of the projects. CNCS expects to

make awards of a minimum of $100,000.

3. Project Period

CNCS anticipates making three-year grant awards. CNCS generally makes an initial award for 

the first year of operation, based on a one-year project period. Continuation awards for 

subsequent years are not guaranteed; they depend upon availability of appropriations and 

satisfactory performance. 

4. Type of Award 

VGF grants will be awarded on a cost reimbursement basis.

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

The following non-federal entities are eligible to apply:

• state commissions (as defined in 42 U.S.C. §12511(27))

Entities must have a Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and be 

registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) to receive an award. See section D.3. 

for more information.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Applicants are required to match funds equal to a percentage of their total program budget 

(CNCS Share plus the Grantee Share equals the total program budget). The applicant’s match 

(Grantee Share) can be cash and/or in-kind contributions. See Section D.6. Funding Restrictions 

for more information. Match requirements increase with each year and are as follows:

• 20% in the first year

• 30% in the second year

• 40% in the third year

• 50% in the fourth year and any later year in which a recipient receives a VGF grant.

3. Other Eligibility Requirements

Applications that propose to engage in activities that are prohibited under CNCS’s statutes, 

regulations, or the terms and conditions of its awards are not eligible to receive CNCS funding.
4

Note that under appropriations provisions annually enacted by Congress, if CNCS 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 VGF Performance Measures Instructions and 

Budget Instructions. These documents are available online at www.nationalservice.gov/vgf.

1. Address to Request an Application Package

Applicants should refer to CNCS Funding Opportunities for more information and instructions 

on how to fully respond to this Notice. Applicants can also send an email to 

AmeriCorpsGrants@cns.gov for a printed copy of the Notice. CNCS also offers live text chat at 

www.NationalService.gov/contact-us. 

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

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. 

Executive Summaries of all compliant applications are made available to the 

public on the CNCS website following grant awards.

o Program Design

o Organizational Capability

o Cost-Effectiveness & Budget Adequacy

• Standard Form 424A Budget

• Performance Measures

Authorization, Assurances, and Certifications 

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

https://espan.cns.gov/cnsmisc/EASSUR.HTM).
5

b. Page Limits

Applications may not exceed 12 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. CNCS 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.

CNCS 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.

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 the DUNS Request Service. 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) at 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. Please go to the General Services 

Administration (GSA) SAM Update page for login information: www.sam.gov/SAM/

SAM registration must be renewed annually. CNCS 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 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:

www.sam.gov/SAM/transcript/Quick_Guide_for_Grants_Registrations.pdf.
6

4. Submission Dates and Times

a. Application Submission Deadline

Applications are due Wednesday, May 6, 2020 by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. 

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

D.4.c. Late Applications. CNCS reserves the right to extend the submission deadline. CNCS will 

post a notification in the event of an extended deadline on CNCS’s website. 

b. Additional Documents Deadline

Additional documents are not required for this grant competition.

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: 

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

 the ticket number if a request for assistance was submitted to the National Service 

Hotline

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

 any other documentation or evidence that supports the justification

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

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

LateApplications@cns.gov no later than 24 hours after the application deadline stated in 

the Notice.

Communication with CNCS staff, including an applicant’s program officer/portfolio manager, is 

not a substitute for a written explanation or justification of the extenuating circumstance that 

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

CNCS’s web-based application system and with the National Service Hotline to submit the 

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

basis.

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

explanation or justification or any other evidence to overcome the presumption of noncompliance within the published timeframe, will not be reviewed or selected for award.

Please note: CNCS 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.

5. Intergovernmental Review

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

Programs.” 
7

6. Funding Restrictions 

a. Award Funding Requirements

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

federal funding provided will be limited to the required percent of the total allowable costs for 

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

described in Section C.2. 

Applicants who will be pass-through entities must include in their subawards terms and 

conditions that will ensure that the pass-through entity’s award under this Notice will comply 

with the cost share and matching requirements. See 2 CFR 200.331(a)(2)-(4) and 2 CFR 200.74.

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. However, under section 121(d) of the NCSA

and CNCS’ regulations at 45 CFR 2517.710, no more than five percent of award funds may be 

used to recover indirect costs on VGF grants.

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

here: eGrants Indirect Cost Rate User Instructions.

Please note: If CNCS serves as the cognizant agency, the applicant must file a request. To file a 

request, send an email to IndirectCostRate@cns.gov.

c. Pre-Award Costs

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

of Grant Administration.

7. Other Submission Requirements

a. Electronic Application Submission in eGrants

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

system. 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 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 his or her 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.
8

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. The general public hours for the National Service Hotline are as follows:

• Mon - Fri, 9 am – 7 pm ET (Jan, May, June, July, Aug, Sept)

• Mon - Thu, 9 am – 7 pm ET (Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec).

Be prepared to provide the application ID, organization’s name, and the competition 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 in eGrants, applicants may send a 

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

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

application electronically. 

Corporation for National and Community Service 

ATTN: Office of Grants Administration (OGA)/VGF 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. CNCS does not accept 

applications submitted via fax or email.

b. Submission of Additional Documents

Additional documents are not required for this grant competition. Do not send any additional 

documents.

Do not submit any items that are not requested in this Notice. CNCS will not review or return 

them.

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

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 Percentage

Program Design 50

• Goals and Objectives 25

• Program Impact 25

Organizational Capability 35

Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy 15
9

a. Program Design (50 percent): 

Reviewers will assess:

Goals and Objectives (25 percent)

• The extent to which the applicant convincingly links the identified need, 

proposed interventions, and the anticipated outputs and outcomes.

• The extent to which the program design aligns with the purpose of the VGF.

• Whether the proposed interventions and activities are evidence-informed.

Program Impact (25 percent)

• The extent to which the applicant demonstrates that the proposed project is 

likely to have a notable, positive impact as measured by the magnitude of the 

effect on the need(s).

• The extent to which the objectives and outcomes to be achieved by the 

proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.

• The applicant’s plan to measure and collect data on National Performance

Measures outcomes and outputs.

b. Organizational Capability (35 percent): 

Reviewers will assess:

• The extent to which the organization has the experience, staffing, and management 

structure to plan, implement, and evaluate the proposed project.

 The extent to which the organization has the necessary plans and infrastructure

to provide programmatic and fiscal oversight, day-to-day operational support, 

and data collection

 The applicant’s track record raising funds to support service activities and 

initiatives

 Likelihood of effectiveness of the applicant’s plan for securing partners and 

community support for, and involvement in, the proposed project.

• If you are a former or a current VGF grantee, the extent to which you have met 

the program objectives and complied with the financial requirements during the 

past performance period.

c. Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy (15 percent): 

Reviewers will assess:

• The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives, 

design, and potential significance of the proposed project.

• The extent to which the budget is clear and in alignment with the program

narrative.

• The extent to which the budget includes adequate resources to carry out the 

program effectively.

• The extent to which the program demonstrates that financial and in-kind

resources will be obtained to support program implementation.

• Whether the applicant adequately budgets for its required share of costs.
10

2. Review and Selection Process

CNCS 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 stages of the review and selection process follow:

a. Compliance and Eligibility Review

CNCS will conduct a Compliance Review to determine if an application meets the compliance 

requirements published in this Notice and advances to the next stage of the review process. 

An application is compliant if the applicant: 

• is an eligible organization

• submitted an application by the submission deadline

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

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

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

ineligible will not receive an award.

b. Application Review 

Internal Review 

CNCS Staff Reviewers will assess 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. CNCS will recruit 

and select reviewers on the basis of demonstrated expertise in VGF 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, CNCS staff will review the results for fairness and 

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

additional level of review may be used to assess applications for which there are significant 

reviewer anomalies. 

c. Applicant Clarification

CNCS may ask an applicant for clarifying information. CNCS 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. Clarification 

responses should be complete and correct upon submission.

d. Risk Assessment

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 
11

addition to the assessment 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 

CNCS 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 CNCS 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, CNCS may consider some of the following criteria: 

• financial stability

• financial capacity to manage Federal funds

• 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: 

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 meeting matching requirements

o 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 U.S. Treasury Bureau of Fiscal Services

o Dun and Bradstreet

o 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

• 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.

e. Consideration of Integrity and Performance System Information

Prior to making any award that exceeds $150,000, CNCS is required to review and consider any 

information about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and performance system 

accessible through SAM and FAPIIS (see 41 U.S.C. 2313). Additionally, CNCS may expand 

upon these requirements and use its discretion to review and consider information about any 

applicant receiving an award, including those under $150,000.

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 
12

awarding agency previously entered and is currently in the designated integrity and performance 

system accessible through FAPIIS.

CNCS 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. 

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 CNCS Funding Priorities (See Section A.2. Funding Priorities)

o meaningful representation of 

 geographic diversity 

 rural communities

 small and medium programs.

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 Chief Executive Officer will endeavor to 

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

considerations.

CNCS reserves the right to prioritize funding existing awards over making new awards. 

CNCS 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.

CNCS 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.

3. Feedback to Applicants

Following awards, applicants will receive summary comments from the Staff Review of their 

compliant applications. This feedback will be based on the review of the original application and 

will not reflect information provided during clarification.

4. Transparency in Grant-making

CNCS is committed to transparency in grant-making. The following information for new and recompeting applications will be published on CNCS Results of Grant Competitions within 90 

business days after all grants are awarded:

• a list of all compliant applications submitted

• executive summaries of all compliant applications
13

• data extracted from the SF-424 Face Sheet 

Submitted program narratives for successful applications will be available upon request.

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 July 6, 2020. All applicants, successful or not, will 

be notified of funding decisions via email.

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

Award signed by the Office of Grant Administration is the authorizing document for grant 

activities. An awardee may not expend federal funds until the start of the Project Period 

identified on the Notice of Grant Award.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

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.

b. Requests for Improper Payment Information

CNCS may, from time to time, 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 temporary manual hold, reimbursement only status, or other remedies may 

be applied as appropriate. 

c. CNCS Terms and Conditions 

All awards made under this Notice will be subject to the FY 2020 CNCS General Terms and 

Conditions, and the FY 2020 Program Specific Terms and Conditions for the particular program 

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

reporting requirements. Current versions of the CNCS General and Specific Terms and 

Conditions for each of its programs is available at /www.nationalservice.gov/resources/termsand-conditions-cncs-grants. 

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 CNCS 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 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.
14

Grantees should utilize two vendors CNCS has engaged to conduct the required NSCHCs. 

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

Unless CNCS 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, national service participants, 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.

3. Use of Material

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

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

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

materials produced under the award, including data, and to authorize others to do so (2 CFR 

§200.315).

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 reports 

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

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

Department of Health and Human Services.
15

At the end of the award period, recipients must submit final financial and progress reports that 

are consistent with the close-out requirements. The final reports are due 90 days after the end of 

the agreement. 

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

$25,000, and may be required to report on executive compensation for the recipient organization 

and its subrecipients. Recipients and subrecipients 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 CNCS funding.

For further guidance and training resources, see the AmeriCorps Performance Measurement page

on the Knowledge Network.

5. Continuation Funding Information and Requirements

Organizations that have current VGF awards that continue into FY 2020 must submit an 

application in order to be eligible to receive funding for the following year. Please see the 

Application Guidance. Requests by existing continuation applicants for increases in the level of 

funding will be assessed using the review criteria published in this Notice.

The review will also be based on progress reports, the federal financial report, and CNCS 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. 

CNCS 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 more information or a printed copy of related material(s), email 

AmeriCorpsGrants@cns.gov. CNCS also offers live text chat at 

www.NationalService.gov/contact-us.
16

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

at (800) 942-2677. The general public hours for the National Service Hotline are as follows:

• Mon - Fri, 9 am – 7 pm ET (Jan, May, June, July, Aug, Sept)

• Mon - Thu, 9 am – 7 pm ET (Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec).

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

1. Technical Assistance

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

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

information for the technical assistance calls is on CNCS’s website:

www.nationalservice.gov/build-your-capacity/grants/funding-opportunities.

2. Re-Focusing of Funding

CNCS reserves the right to re-focus program dollars for this competition in the event of disaster 

or other compelling needs. 

I. IMPORTANT NOTICES

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

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

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

reporting forms. CNCS 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-

0187. It expires on 9/30/2020.

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

that the information requested under this Notice of Funding is collected pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 

12592 and 12615 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 as amended, and 42 

U.S.C. 4953 of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 as amended. Purposes and Uses -

The information requested is collected for the purposes of reviewing grant applications and 

granting funding requests. Routine uses may include disclosure of the information to federal, 

state, or local agencies pursuant to lawfully authorized requests. In some programs, the 

information may also be provided to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to 

determine the existence of any prior criminal convictions. The information may also be provided 

to appropriate federal agencies and contractors that have a need to know the information for the 

purpose of assisting the government to respond to a suspected or confirmed breach of the 

security or confidentiality or information maintained in this system of records, and the 

information disclosed is relevant and unnecessary for the assistance. Effects of Nondisclosure -

The information requested is voluntary; however, to be a recipient of this grant program, 

disclosure of personal or sensitive information is required to receive federal benefits.