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NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY 

Federal Agency Name: Corporation for National and Community Service 

Funding Opportunity Title: FY 2017 Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) Replacement 

Sponsor Competitions

Announcement Type: Initial Announcement 

CFDA Number: 94.011

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 will be due on December 9, February 10, April 11, or June 12 by 5:00 p.m. 

Eastern Time. Please refer to your State Fact Sheet for the specific application deadline. 

 Successful applicants will be notified prior to the start date. 

FULL TEXT OF THE NOTICE 

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. Purpose of FGP Replacement Sponsor Competition Funding

The mission of the Corporation for National and Community Service (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 1965, the Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) engages adults age 55 and over to 

provide loving and experienced tutors and mentors to children and youth with special or 

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

volunteer can provide. Senior Corps Foster Grandparents serve an average of 20 hours per week 

in schools, hospitals, drug treatment centers, correctional institutions, and child care centers. 

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

parents, and care for premature infants and children with disabilities. Foster Grandparents often 

maintain an ongoing, intensive relationship with the children and youth served for a year or 

longer.

The purpose of this grant funding is to support one or more grant(s) for Foster Grandparent 

Program (FGP) operations and programming within the specific geographic service areas. Within 

each state, there are designated geographic locations in which applicants should propose to 

provide FGP services. Please see the Senior Corps Replacement Grants page for an individual 

Fact Sheet for each state included. Each state Fact Sheet includes information on the geographic 

locations, the estimated annual federal funding, the total number of Volunteer Service Years 

associated, and the application deadline. 
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Applicants should be aware that individual Foster Grandparent volunteers may still be serving in 

the geographic service areas listed in each state Fact Sheet, who were enrolled by the incumbent 

or previous sponsor of the FGP project in the geographic service area. Applicants should 

consider these volunteers in planning the FGP project proposed in the grant application, and are 

encouraged to make efforts to allow these volunteers to continue serving in the proposed new 

FGP project. 

2. Funding Priorities 

Through these grant competitions, CNCS intends to fund FGP grants in specific geographic 

service areas due to the incumbent FGP sponsor relinquishing the grant or otherwise vacating 

services in the geographic location. 

FGP grant applications must: 

 propose to serve a geographic service area that is listed in the State Fact Sheet 

 meet the National Performance Measure requirements and other criteria established in 

this Notice 

The National and Community Service Act of 1990, as amended by the Serve America Act, 

emphasizes measuring the impact of service and focusing on a core issue area. In order to carry 

out Congress’s intent and to maximize the impact of investment in national service, CNCS 

prioritizes grant-making in the Education focus area. 

A brief description of the focus area relevant to this competition is: 

Education 

Grants will provide support and/or facilitate access to services and resources that contribute to 

improved educational outcomes for economically disadvantaged people, especially children, and 

for children with special and/or exceptional needs. Activities may include providing support 

and/or facilitating access to services and resources that contribute to school readiness, providing 

support that improves academic performance, and providing support that improves academic 

engagement. 

In order to receive priority consideration, applicants must demonstrate that the priority area is a 

significant part of the program focus and intended outcomes, and must include a high quality 

program design. Applicants proposing programs that receive priority consideration are not 

guaranteed funding. 

3. National Performance Measures 

CNCS expects applicants 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 and make tactical and strategic adjustments to achieve their goals. 

Applicants are required to use the specific performance measures outlined in this Notice. For 

more information, please refer to FGP National Performance Measure Instructions at Senior 

Corps Replacement Grants. 
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Applicants must identify the Primary focus area and work plans must include the service activity 

in the selected Primary focus area. 

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 requirements: 

 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: 

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

2. National Performance Measure outputs in Inclusion of people with disabilities (H15) 

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

Appendix B). 

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

standardized stipend cost per VSY is calculated by multiplying the number of hours served 

by the current cost per hour for the stipend (l044 hours x $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 2017 National Performance Measures 

The FY 2017 performance measures require a minimum number of unduplicated volunteers in 

outcome-based assignments. We have a standard calculation for all FGP applicants to use to 

determine the number of VSYs/unduplicated volunteers needed to meet the 2017 National 

Performance Measures requirements. 

 Calculation: One year Federal Funding Amount listed in the State Fact Sheet 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 wishing to request a different federal per VSY rate should discuss ideas and plans 

with the CNCS State Office, as is applicable, to understand the full implications of the request. 

Applicants should also review and understand the following parameters: 

1) 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. 

2) 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 
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volunteers and 20 percent of funds in volunteer support (grant administration). 

4. Evidence-based Programming Funding Augmentation

Applicants may request one-time funding to support the engagement of seniors in evidencebased programming. Regardless of budget period start date, all such requests will be assessed in 

May 2017. Requests for funding augmentation must be submitted with the appropriate 

application in eGrants by April 17, 2017. All program regulations apply with the full amount 

of an augmented grant. For a full description of the funding augmentation opportunity and 

instructions on making an augmentation request, see Appendix C, Evidence-based Programming.

Interested applicants with an anticipated project start date of February 1, 2017, April 1, 2017, or 

June 1, 2017 must submit an amendment application following their initial award. Applicants 

with an anticipated project start date of August 1 or later must submit the request as part of the 

initial renewal application. 

A schedule of webinars and question/answer opportunities will be posted with Appendix C, 

Evidence-based Programming on the Senior Corps Replacement Grants. 

5. Program Authority

The National and Community Service Act of 1990, as amended, (42 U.S.C. § 12501 et seq.) The 

Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, as amended (42 U.S.C. § 4950 et seq.). The full FGP 

regulations may be found at 45 CFR Part 2552. 

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. Estimated Available Funds

CNCS anticipates awarding an amount not to exceed the total amount available in the State Fact 

Sheets for the 2017 FGP Replacement Sponsor Competitions. CNCS reserves the right to 

prioritize providing funding to existing awards over making new awards. 

CNCS anticipated that up to $400,000 will be available for evidence-based programming 

augmentations through the selection process described in Appendix C, Evidence-based 

Programming. 

2. Estimated Award Amount

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

amounts are listed on each Individual State Fact Sheet, and reflect the funding level of the 

previous grant operated in the geographic service area. 

Applicants proposing to support the development and implementation of evidence-based 

programs may be eligible for a one-time funding augmentation. Applicants must provide 

documentation of how a higher level of funding supports the development and implementation of 

evidence-based programs. For more information, see Appendix C, Evidence-based 

Programming. 

There is no guarantee of availability of additional funding to support evidence-based programs. 

The final amount to be awarded may be less than the amount requested, but will not be higher 
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than the amount requested in the application. The final award, base funding level plus 

augmentation, will not be higher than $500,000. 

3. Project Period 

The project period (multi-year) will vary as determined in the individual State Fact Sheet. While 

the project period will be 3 years, the funding award for the first year is referenced in the State 

Fact Sheet. 

Continuation funding for years 2 and 3 is not guaranteed and may be dependent upon: 

 Satisfactory performance that signals the grantee is on track to achieve its proposed 

performance measures at the end of the grant 

 Demonstrated capacity to manage the grant 

 Compliance with grant requirements, including terms and conditions, criminal history 

checks, reporting, and securing the required non-federal share 

 Availability of Congressional appropriations 

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

4. Type of Award 

The 2017 FGP Replacement Sponsor Grants will be awarded on a cost reimbursement grant. 

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION 

1. Eligible Applicants 

The following non-federal entities (as defined in 2 CFR §200.69) that have DUNS numbers and 

are registered in System for Award Management (SAM) are eligible to apply: 

 Indian tribes (2 CFR §200.54) 

 institutions of higher education (2 CFR §200.55) 

 local governments (2 CFR §200.64) 

 nonprofit organizations (2 CFR §200.70) 

 states (2 CFR §200.90) 

 

In addition to Indian tribes as defined in 2 CFR 200.54, tribal organizations that are controlled, 

sanctioned, or chartered by Indian tribes are also eligible to apply. If an entity applies for an 

award as a tribal organization on behalf of a federally-recognized tribe, or multiple specific 

federally-recognized tribes, it must submit a sanctioning resolution, applicable to the entirety of 

the performance period to which the applicant is applying, adopted by the Tribal Council (or 

comparable tribal governing body) of each Indian tribe. The resolution(s) must identify the entity 

by name as a tribal organization and indicate whether it is controlled, sanctioned, or chartered by 

an Indian tribe(s). It must authorize the entity to be the legal applicant and act on behalf of and 

include the Indian tribe(s) in a CNCS application for the purpose of conducting the activities and 

providing the services described in the application. A current resolution will not suffice to meet 

this requirement unless the resolution applies to the entire performance period of the award, i.e. 

current resolutions that are applicable to a previous Senior Corps award at the time of application 

submission, but expire during the prospective performance period of a new award, do not meet 

this requirement. 
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2. Non-Federal Share Requirements 

Applicants are required to match funds for 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. 

Applicants proposing to support the development and implementation of evidence-based 

programs must be prepared to provide non-federal share on the amount of a requested 

augmentation. Requests for evidence-based programming augmentation must include 

information on the source non-federal share that will be applied. See Appendix, C, Evidencebased Programming, for instructions. 

3. Other Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must have sufficient local presence to directly manage the proposed FGP grant. The 

operation of an FGP grant cannot be delegated to another organization, even if the other 

organization is an affiliate of the legal sponsor. 

Under section 132A(b) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990, as amended, 

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

this Notice. 

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. 

Note that under Title IV, Division H of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 if CNCS is 

aware that any corporation has any unpaid federal tax liability which— 

 has been assessed 

 all judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted or have lapsed 

 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 FGP Grant Application Instructions, the FGP 

National Performance Measures, and the FGP regulations, 45 CFR Part 2552. Additional 

documents that may be useful are the eGrants Instructions for Entering Volunteer Station Rosters 

and the FGP Performance Measures Worksheet. 

All of these documents are available online at: 
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http://www.nationalservice.gov/SeniorCorps_Replacement_Grants. 

1. Address to Request Application Package 

Applicants should refer to Senior Corps Replacement Grants website to obtain the necessary 

information to apply. Applicants can also send an email to the CNCS state office to request a 

printed copy of the application package. 

2. Content and Form of Application Submission 

Please choose the following NOFA when starting your application in eGrants: FY 2017 FGP 

Replacement Sponsor Competition.

a. Application Content 

Complete applications must have the following: 

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

applicants complete the data elements in the eGrants system. Many of the fields will be 

filled automatically with information entered during the registration process. 

 Narratives 

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

service activity in the application’s Primary Focus area. The Executive Summary 

should not be longer than one page. Executive Summaries of all compliant 

applications are published on the CNCS website following grant awards. 

o Strengthening Communities Narrative 

o Recruitment and Development Narrative 

o Program Management Narrative 

o Organizational Capability Narrative 

o Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy 

o Other (if applicable, see Appendix C, Evidence-based Programming) 

 Standard Form 424A Budget 

 Performance Measures (See Appendix B) 

 Authorization, Assurances, and Certifications 

b. Page Limits 

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

application sections that count towards the page limit are: 

 The SF-424 Face Sheet 

 Executive Summary 

 The Program Design and Organizational Capability narratives 

The application page limit does not include the “Other” section of the narrative, Budget, 

Performance Measures, or any required additional documents. 

Applicants proposing to support the development and implementation of evidence-based 

programming must enter the request in the “Other” section of the Narratives as instructed in 

Appendix C, Evidence-based Programming. This should be the only information entered in the 

“Other” section. 

 
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Please note that the length of the application in word processing software may be different than 

how it will print 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 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, 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 who do not comply with these requirements may become ineligible to receive an 

award. See the SAM Quick Guide for Grantees. 

4. Submission Dates and Times 

a. Application Submission Deadline 

The application deadline will vary. The application deadlines will be December 9, February 10, 

April 11, or June 12. Please refer to your State Fact Sheet for the specific application deadline. 

Applicants proposing to support the development and implementation of evidence-based 

programs must submit the proposal with the appropriate application in eGrants by April 17, 2017 

(see Appendix C, Evidence-based Programming). 

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 on the CNCS website. 

b. Late Applications 
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CNCS may consider an application submitted after the deadline, but only if the applicant submits 

a letter to their CNCS state office 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. CNCS will determine whether 

or not to accept a late application on a case-by-case basis. CNCS will not consider an advance 

request to submit a late application. 

5. Intergovernmental Review 

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

Programs.” 

6. Funding Restrictions 

a. Indirect Cost

Application budgets may include indirect costs. Based on qualifying factors, applicants may 

either use a federally-approved indirect cost rate, a 10% 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 cost allocation plans. All methods 

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

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

Organization section in eGrants. 

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

option utilized methods must be applied consistently across all federal awards. 

b. Budget Guidance

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

may include any training events approved by CNCS. Applicants may budget for an additional 

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

budgeting purposes is $1,000. Long distance travel funds may be re-budgeted later in the year, 

depending on actual training activities. 

7. Other Submission Requirements

 

a. Electronic Application Submission in eGrants 

Applicants must submit applications electronically via eGrants, CNCS’s web-based 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 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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Applicants should contact the National Service Hotline at (800) 942-2677 or eGrants Questions

if they have a problem when they create an account or 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 NOFA Name 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. 

b. Submission of Additional Documents 

Please refer to the column for New Competitive in the Grant Application Instructions for a 

complete list of required documents. Applicants are required to submit all documents by the 

application submission deadline. 

The additional document: Aggregate Dollar Amount of Funding Form/Breakdown of Funding 

Sources is available online here: Senior Corps Replacement Grants. 

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

subject line: 2017 FGP Replacement Sponsor Competition Additional Documents - Application 

ID number. Emails should include: 

 the legal applicant name and its point of contact information

 the application ID number

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

 individually saved files that are clearly labeled, and that include the legal applicant name 

and application ID number within the body of each document. 

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

Instructions. CNCS will not review or return them.

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION 

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. 

The weights assigned to each category are 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, applicants must address everything requested in the 

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

requested by the selection criteria. 

Basic Selection Criteria: Categories and Respective Weights 
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Category Percentage Sub-Category Percentage Relevant part 

of the 

application 

Program Design 50% Strengthening 35% Work Plan 

Communities 

Recruitment and 15% Narrative 

Development 

Organizational 

Capacity

30% Program Management 15% Narrative 

Organizational 15% Narrative 

Capability 

Cost-Effectiveness 20% Cost-Effectiveness 20% Work Plan, 

and Budget Adequacy and Budget Adequacy 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 FGP volunteers; 

3. The instrument description and data collection plans; and 

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

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

Q6. (5%) 

Narrative demonstrates a plan and infrastructure to ensure FGP volunteers receive 

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

Q7. (5%) 

Narrative 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 FGP volunteers 

3. FGP volunteers with disabilities 

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

Q8. (5%) 

Narrative demonstrates a plan and infrastructure to retain and recognize FGP volunteers 

b. Organizational Capability (30%): 

Program Management (15%) 

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

Q9. (5%) 

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

FGP 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). 

Organizational Capability (15%) 

Reviewers will assess the extent to which the applicant 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 FGP 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. 
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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. 

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

Reviewers will assess the extent to which the applicant 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

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 and balanced set of high-quality applicants that represent the priorities and strategic 

considerations described in this Notice. The stages of the review and selection process follows: 

a. Compliance and Eligibility Review 

CNCS staff will screen applications to determine if the applicant has complied with eligibility 

and submission requirements in the Notice. Applications determined non-compliant will not 

advance for review. An application is compliant if the applicant: 

 is an eligible organization 

 submitted an application by the submission deadline 

 submitted an application to a valid opportunity as described in the State Fact Sheet 

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

Compliance and eligibility screening, including compliance with restrictions on prohibited 

activities, may occur at various stages of the grant-making process. Application that are 

determined to be non-compliant will not receive an award. 

b. Application Review 

Internal Review 

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

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

also consider the comprehensiveness and feasibility of the application, and the priorities and 

strategic considerations detailed in this Notice. 

c. Application 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. 
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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 fashion may result in application being removed from consideration. CNCS staff may 

conduct a site visit inspection as part of the clarification process, as appropriate. 

Should clarification result in a reduction of the total number of unduplicated volunteers, the 

application may be rescored to reflect the updated information and could affect funding decisions. 

d. 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; 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 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: 

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 DUNS and SAM 

o “Do Not Pay” 

 reports and findings from single audits performed under 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart F – 

Audit Requirements 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. 

e. Consideration of Integrity and Performance System Information 

Prior to making any award under this Notice that exceeds $150,000, CNCS is required to review 
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and consider any information about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and 

performance system accessible through SAM (currently FAPIIS) (see 41 U.S.C. 2313). 

Any applicant, at its option, may review information in the designated integrity and performance 

systems accessible through SAM and comment on any information about itself that a federal 

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

system accessible through SAM. 

CNCS will consider any 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. Negotiation 

CNCS may negotiate the funding level or special award conditions with applicants before the 

final grant award. The final funding: 

 May be less than the amount proposed in the application, but 

 Cannot be higher than the amount proposed in the application. 

g. Selection for Funding 

The review and selection process is designed to: 

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

2) build a diversified portfolio based on the following strategic considerations: 

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

o meaningful representation of 

 the priority area as a significant part of the program focus and intended 

outcomes with a high quality program design 

 the National Performance Measures requirements and other criteria 

established in this Notice (Appendix B) 

 equitable treatment of rural and urban communities 

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

Application Clarification, and Risk Assessment Evaluation. In the event of tie scores, the higher 

score for the Strengthening Communities selection criteria will be prioritized. 

The respective CNCS Area Manager will consider the staff recommendation. If the Area 

Manager agrees with the recommendation from the State Director, he/she will issue a notification 

of concurrence to the Director of Senior Corps Director. If the Area Manager disagrees with a 

recommendation, he/she will convene a Senior Staff Review that includes the Director of Senior 

Corps. 

In selecting applicants to receive awards under this Notice, the Director of the Senior Corps will 

endeavor to include a diverse portfolio of applications based on staff recommendations and 

strategic considerations. 
16 

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

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 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 

 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 

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 CNCS 

Grant Officer is the authorizing document for grant activities. Unsuccessful applicants will also 

receive a notification that their application was not approved for funding. 

There are four start dates associated with this Notice: February 1, 2017, April 1, 2017, June 1, 

2017, and August 1, 2017. 

 For grants with a February 1, 2017 start date, CNCS anticipates the awards will be issued 

by mid-January 2017. 

 For grants with an April 1, 2017 start date, CNCS anticipates the awards will be issued by 

mid-March 2017. 

 For grants with a June 1, 2017 start date, CNCS anticipates the awards will be issued by 

mid-May 2017. 

 For grants with an August 1, 2017 start date, CNCS anticipates the awards will be issued 

by mid-July 2017. 

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, the approved budget, as well as the 

requirements of applicable sections of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 and 

provisions of the DVSA, as part of the binding commitments under the grant award. The NGA 
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will also require all FGP recipients to adopt the CNCS National Performance Measures. Awards 

will also be subject to the specific terms and conditions established for discretionary grants or 

defined in the Terms and Conditions and/or Special Conditions attached to the award. If 

necessary applicants will have the opportunity to negotiate conditions before they accept an 

award. 

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), now 

consolidated in 2 CFR Parts 200 and 2205. 

Awardees will also be subject to the following: 

 45 CFR Part 2552—FGP Federal Regulations 

b. Requests for Improper Payment Information

CNCS may, from time to time, request documentation from applicants 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, or other remedies as 

appropriate. In addition, CNCS may, in appropriate circumstances, consider in its funding 

decisions any previous failures to make timely responses. 

c. CNCS Terms and Conditions 

All awards made under this Notice will be subject to the 2017 CNCS General Terms and 

Conditions, and the 2017 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 http://www.nationalservice.gov/resources/terms-and-conditionscncs-grants. 

Awards will also be subject to the specific terms and conditions established for discretionary 

grants or defined in the Terms and Conditions and/or Special Conditions attached to the award. If 

necessary, applicants will have the opportunity to negotiate conditions before they accept an 

award. 

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 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 grant recipient with a written exemption or written approval of an 
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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 CFR § 2540.200–§ 2540.207 and CNCS Criminal History Check Resources for complete 

information and FAQs. 

e. Compliance with Requests for Data 

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 such requests may result in award 

funds being placed on temporary manual hold, reimbursement only, or other remedies as 

appropriate. In addition, CNCS may, in appropriate circumstances, consider any previous failures 

to make timely responses in its funding decisions. 

3. Use of Materials

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 bi-annual financial reports and narrative progress reports 

through eGrants, CNCS’s web-based grants management system. All grantees must provide 
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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 award period, recipients must submit final financial and progress 

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

requirements of CNCS’s Office of Grants Management. The final reports are due 90 days after 

the end of the grant award period. 

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 

giving CNCS 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: 

 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: Resources: Data Collection and Instruments. 

G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS 

The Notice, Grant Application Instructions, and Appendices are available at Senior Corps 

Replacement Grants. For question, more information or an emailed copy of related material(s), 

refer to the individual state Fact Sheet for the contact information for the CNCS State Office. 

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 Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 

p.m. Eastern Time. 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 State Offices participating in this Notice will host technical assistance calls to answer 

questions about this Notice. CNCS strongly encourages all applicants to participate in these 

sessions. Call-in information for the technical assistance calls can be found on the competition 

website: Senior Corps Replacement Grants. 

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.