NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Federal Agency Name: Corporation for National and Community Service

Funding Opportunity Title: FY 2021 AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion Program (SCP) 

Expansion

Announcement Type: Initial Announcement

Assistance Listing Number: 94.016

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. In September of 2020, CNCS rebranded its name. Although CNCS remains 

its legal name, CNCS now operates under the working name of AmeriCorps, and Senior Corps is now 

referred to as AmeriCorps Seniors.

Important Dates

• Applications are due Wednesday, February 3, 2021 by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. 

• Successful applicants will be notified by mid- April 2021.

• Successful applicants will be issued awards by June 2021.

FULL TEXT OF THE NOTICE

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A.1. Purpose of AmeriCorps Seniors’ Senior Companion Program Funding

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

through service and volunteering. Through AmeriCorps, AmeriCorps Seniors, and the Volunteer 

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

national challenges through service and volunteer action.

Established in 1974, the AmeriCorps Seniors’ 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. AmeriCorps Seniors’ Senior Companion volunteers 

serve an average of 20 hours per week, with most 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. While serving, AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers improve their own lives by staying 

active and civically engaged. 

A.2. Funding Priorities 

AmeriCorps Seniors funding priorities for this grant cycle are:

• AmeriCorps Seniors is committed, in this grant competition, to focus on programs that actively 

engage in removing structural racial inequities, advancing racial equality, and increasing 

opportunity in order to achieve sustainable change in communities. 

• AmeriCorps Seniors encourages grant applications to include work plans that advance justice 

and equality in areas such as healthy futures. 
• AmeriCorps Seniors encourages applicants to focus on efforts to help local communities respond 

to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Applicants may propose programming in the 

healthy futures focus area to aid communities as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

• AmeriCorps Senior prioritizes grant making in the Healthy Futures focus area identified by the 

National and Community Service Act of 1990, as amended by the Serve America Act. Under this 

focus area, grants must address health needs within communities by focusing specifically on 

independent living (aging in place), and access to health care. Activities may include supporting 

the ability of homebound, older adults and individuals with disabilities to live independently. 

To receive priority consideration, applicants must show that the priority area is a significant part of the 

program focus and intended outcomes and must include a high-quality program design. Proposing 

programs that receive priority consideration does not guarantee funding. 

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

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

more information on AmeriCorps Seniors response to COVID-19, please visit the COVID -19 section on our 

Manage AmeriCorps Seniors page at : https://nationalservice.gov/programs/senior-corps/managesenior-corps-grants

Grant applications must propose to serve one or more open geographic service areas listed in Appendix 

A of this Notice. There is no maximum number of open service areas that can be included in one 

application. 

For example, an applicant could propose to serve only one open geographic service area in their 

applications (for example Lake County, FL). Or an applicant could propose to serve multiple 

open geographic service areas in their application (for example Lake County, Duval County, and 

Brevard County, FL). 

A.3. Performance Goals or Expected Outcomes

National Performance Measures 

AmeriCorps Seniors expects applicants to use National Performance Measures as part of a 

comprehensive performance measurement strategy that relies on both performance and evaluation 

data to learn from their work and make tactical and strategic adjustments to achieve their goals. 

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

information, please refer to the National Performance Measures Instructions at 

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

requirements can be found at https://nationalservice.gov/documents/2015/fgp-appendix-bperformance-measure-instructions

Applicants must identify Healthy Futures as the primary focus area. Work plans must include at least 

one service activity in the selected primary focus area. The primary focus area should represent the area 

in which the applicant aims to make the most impact.

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

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

include work plans that meet the following minimum requirements: For every $6,500 in annual base 
federal funding, at least one Volunteer Service Year’s (VSY’s) worth of service must be incorporated in 

work plans, and must produce: 

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

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

for applicants that have historically supported programming in this area (see Appendix B). 

 

*Volunteer Service Year (VSY): VSY is a budget term which equals l044 service hours. The standardized 

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

for the stipend (l044 hours x $3.00 per hour).

A.4. Program Authority

Awards under this Notice are authorized by the National and Community Service Act of 1990, as 

amended, (42 U.S.C. 12501 et seq.) and the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, as amended (42 

U.S.C. 5013).

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

B.1. Estimated Available Funds

AmeriCorps Seniors anticipates approximately $4,000,000 for FY 2021 AmeriCorps Seniors SCP 

Expansion awards. The actual level of funding is subject to the availability of annual appropriations. 

B.2. Estimated Award Amount

Award amounts will vary, as determined by the scope of the projects. Awards amounts will be based on 

the applicant’s ability to address the funding priorities stated above in Section A.2. and the applicant’s 

ability to clearly address in its application all review criteria as set forth in Section E.1. 

All applicants are instructed to identify in their application the proposed service area as defined on 

Appendix A, the requested Volunteer Service Year (VSY) level, and the proposed federal funding level 

with the maximum cost per VSY not exceeding $6,500.00. Applicants may apply for one or more 

counties. Applicants may apply for any federal funding level within the parameters that the funding 

level may not exceed $6,500.00 per VSY. 

AmeriCorps Seniors expects to make awards with a minimum federal funding level of $260,000.00 and 

40 VSY. The final award amounts will vary as determined by the scope of the projects.

B.3. Period of Performance

Successful applicants will be issued awards by June 2021. 

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

initial award for the first year of the period of performance, based on a one-year budget. Continuation 

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

satisfactory performance. 

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

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

performance measures at the end of the grant;

• Demonstrated capacity to manage the grant;
• Compliance with grant requirements, including terms and conditions, criminal history checks, 

reporting and securing the required non-federal share; and/or;

• Availability of Congressional appropriations

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

funding.

B.4. Type of Award 

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

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

AmeriCorps Seniors primary point of contact. 

The FY 2021 AmeriCorps Seniors SCP grants will be awarded on a cost reimbursement basis.

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

C.1. Eligible Applicants

The following non-federal entities (all of which are defined in 2 CFR 200.69) are eligible to apply: 

• Indian tribes 

• institutions of higher education 

• local governments 

• nonprofit organizations 

• states 

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

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

applies for an award as a tribal organization that is controlled or chartered by one or more Indian tribes,

the organization must provide copies of, or links to, documentation which demonstrates that the 

organization is controlled or chartered by a federally recognized Indian tribe. If an entity applies as an 

organization sanctioned by a federally recognized tribe, or multiple specific federally recognized tribes, it 

must submit a sanctioning resolution, adopted by the Tribal Council (or comparable tribal governing 

body) of each Indian tribe. The resolution(s) must identify the entity applying for an AmeriCorps Seniors

award by name as a tribal organization that is sanctioned by the Indian tribe(s) for the purpose of 

applying for AmeriCorps Seniors funding (or federal grant funds generally). 

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

award. See Section D.3. Unique entity identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) for more 

information.

C.2. Cost Sharing or Matching

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

applicant’s match can be non- AmeriCorps Seniors cash and/or in-kind contributions. Applicants must 

indicate whether the match is proposed or secured. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to meet 

the ten percent match requirement at the time of application submission. See Section D.6. Funding 

Restrictions for more information.

C.3. Other Eligibility Requirements
Applications that propose to engage in activities that are prohibited under AmeriCorps Seniors’ statutes, 

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

funding.

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

that any corporation has any unpaid federal tax liability— 

• that has been assessed

• for which all judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted or have lapsed 

• that is not being paid in a timely manner pursuant to an agreement with the authority 

responsible for collecting the tax liability— 

that corporation is not eligible for an award under this Notice. However, this exclusion will not apply to a 

corporation which a federal agency has considered for suspension or debarment and has made a 

determination that suspension or debarment is not necessary to protect the interests of the federal 

government.

Pursuant to the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, an organization described in the Internal Revenue Code 

of 1986, 26 U.S.C. 501 (c)(4) that engages in lobbying activities is not eligible to apply for AmeriCorps

Seniors funding.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

This Notice should be read together with the AmeriCorps Seniors SCP regulations, 45 CFR §§ Part – 2551, 

AmeriCorps Seniors SCP Grant Application Instructions, Appendix A: List of Funding 

Opportunities, and the AmeriCorps Seniors SCP Performance Measures. These documents are available 

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

foster-grandparent-program-and-senior 

D.1. Address to Request an Application Package

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

Funding Opportunities webpages. Applicants should refer to AmeriCorps Funding Opportunities for 

more information and instructions on how to fully respond to this Notice. Applicants can also send an 

email to the assigned AmeriCorps Seniors Portfolio Manager in the Regional Office for a printed copy of

the Notice and Guidance. AmeriCorps Seniors also offers live text chat at

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

D.2. Content and Form of Application Submission

D.2.a. Application Content 

Complete applications must include the following elements: 

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

complete the data elements in the eGrants system. 

• Narrative Sections: 

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

o Program Design

o Organizational Capability

o Cost-Effectiveness & Budget Adequacy

• Standard Form 424A Budget

• Performance Measures
• Authorization, Assurances, and Certifications

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

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

D.2.b. Page Limits

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

application sections that count towards the page limit are the:

• SF-424 Face Sheet 

• Executive Summary 

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

narratives.

The application page limit does not include the Budget, Performance Measures, or any required 

additional documents. 

Please note that the length of the application as a word processing document may differ from the length 

of the document printed out from eGrants. The character limits in eGrants do not align with page limits 

set in the Notice. AmeriCorps Seniors strongly encourages applicants to print out the application from 

the “Review and Submit” tab in eGrants prior to submission in order to confirm that the application 

does not exceed the page limit.

AmeriCorps Seniors will not consider the results of any alternative printing methods when determining if 

an application complies with the page limit. Reviewers will also not consider material that is over the 

page limit, even if eGrants allows applicants to enter and submit additional text.

D.3. Unique entity identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) 

All applicants must register with the System for Award Management (SAM) at

https://www.sam.gov/SAM/ and maintain an active SAM registration until the application process is 

complete. If an applicant is awarded a grant, it must maintain an active SAM registration throughout the 

life of the award. See the SAM Quick Guide for Grantees at:

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

SAM registration must be renewed annually. AmeriCorps Seniors suggests that applicants finalize a new 

registration or renew an existing one at least three weeks before the application deadline, to allow time 

to resolve any issues that may arise. Applicants must use their SAM-registered legal name and address 

on all grant applications to AmeriCorps Seniors.

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

DUNS. If an applicant has not fully complied with these requirements by the time AmeriCorps Seniors is 

ready to make a Federal award, AmeriCorps Seniors may determine that the applicant is not qualified to 

receive an award and use that determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another applicant. 

Applications must include an Employer Identification Number.

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

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

AmeriCorps Seniors recommends registering at least 30 days before the application due date. 
The Federal government is implementing Unique Entity Identifiers (UEI) as part of the SAM registration 

process to eventually replace DUNS numbers. AmeriCorps Seniors may ask applicants to add the UEI to 

their application as part of the clarification or pre-award process. AmeriCorps Seniors is adding a field to 

capture the UEI in eGrants. If you already have a UEI and the UEI field is available in eGrants, you can 

enter it at the time you submit your application. 

D.4. Submission Dates and Times

D.4.a. Application Submission Deadline

Applications are due Wednesday, February 3, 2021 by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. 

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

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

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

AmeriCorps Seniors Expansion Competition website. 

D.4.b. Additional Documents Deadline

Additional documents are due by the application submission deadline. See Sections D.4.a. Application 

Submission Deadline and D.7.b. Submission of Additional Documents for more information.

D.4.c. Late Applications

All applications received after the submission deadline published in this Notice are presumed to be noncompliant. To overcome this presumption, the applicant must:

• submit a written explanation or justification of the extenuating circumstance(s) that caused the 

delay, including: 

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

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

Hotline

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

o any other documentation or evidence that supports the justification

• ensure that AmeriCorps Seniors receives the written explanation or justification and any other 

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

2021FGPSCP@cns.gov no later than 24 hours after the application deadline stated in the Notice.

Communication with AmeriCorps Seniors staff, including an applicant’s Portfolio Manager, is not a 

substitute for a written explanation or justification of the extenuating circumstance that caused the 

delay as outlined above. Applicants are required to continue working in eGrants, AmeriCorps Seniors

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

Please note: AmeriCorps Seniors will not consider an advance request to submit a late application.

Please carefully review and follow the guidance in this section and submit your application as soon as 

possible.

D.5. Intergovernmental Review

This Notice is not subject to Executive Order 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.” 
D.6. Funding Restrictions 

D.6.a. Award Funding Requirements

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

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

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

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

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

matching requirements. 

D.6.b. Indirect Costs

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

federally-approved indirect cost rate, a 10 percent de minimis rate of modified total direct costs, or may 

claim certain costs directly, as outlined in 2 CFR 200.413. States, local governments, and Indian tribes 

may use previously approved indirect cost allocation plans. All methods must be applied consistently 

across all federal awards. Applicants that have a federal negotiated indirect cost rate or that will be 

using the 10 percent de minimis rate must enter that information in the Organization section in eGrants.

The instructions for how to enter the organization’s indirect cost rate are located here: eGrants Indirect 

Cost Rate User Instructions. Applicants should not submit documentation addressing the indirect cost 

rate agreement via email. 

Please note: To request a Federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement, when AmeriCorps is the 

applicable cognizant agency for an organization’s indirect costs, the applicant must submit a request to 

IndirectCostRate@cns.gov. The applicant may also obtain instructions and additional information by 

contacting the email address above.

D.6.c. Pre-Award Costs

Pre-award costs are not authorized for this funding opportunity. 

D.6.d. Budget Guidance 

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

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

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

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

actual training activities. 

D.7. Other Submission Requirements

D.7.a. Electronic Application Submission in eGrants

Applicants must submit applications electronically via eGrants, AmeriCorps web-based application 

system. AmeriCorps Seniors recommends that applicants create an eGrants account and begin the 

application at least three weeks before the deadline. Applicants should draft the application as a Word 

document, then copy and paste the text into the appropriate eGrants field no later than 10 days before 

the deadline.

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

authorized representative must use their own eGrants account to sign and submit the application. A 
copy of the governing body’s authorization for this official representative to sign must be on file in the 

applicant’s office.

Applicants should contact the National Service Hotline at (800) 942-2677 or via eGrants Questions if 

they have a problem when they create an account, prepare, or submit the application. National Service 

Hotline hours are posted at https://questions.nationalservice.gov/ 

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 Grant Administration (OGA)/ FY 2021 AmeriCorps Seniors SCP Expansion

Application 

250 E Street, SW, Suite 300

Washington, DC 20525

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

requirements in this Notice also apply to paper applications. AmeriCorps Seniors does not accept 

applications submitted via fax or email.

D.7.b. Submission of Additional Documents 

Applicants are required to submit the following additional documents by the application submission 

deadline:

• All renewal applicants are required to submit an Operational and Financial Management Survey 

(OFMS) located at: https://www.nationalservice.gov/resources/financial-management/financialand-grants-management - select Applicant Operational and Financial Management Survey under 

the Pre-Award/Application Certification Forms Section. Please submit the OFMS as a Word 

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

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

assessment of your application.

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

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

• the legal applicant name and its point of contact information

• the application ID number

• a list of documents that are attached to the email

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

application ID number within the heading of each document. To ensure that all required 

additional documents are received, please provide each document as an individual file. Please 

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

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

 

 

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

AmeriCorps Seniors will not review or return them.

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

E.1. Review Criteria

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

the requested funds. Reviewers will assess the quality of applications by using the selection criteria 

described below and will rate them accordingly. They will also consider the weights assigned to each 

criterion.

Categories/Subcategories Percentage

Program Design 50

• Strengthening Communities 35

• Recruitment and Development 15

Organizational Capability 30

• Program Management 15

• Organizational Capability 15

Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy 20

• Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy 20

E.1.a. Program Design (50 percent): 

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

Strengthening Communities (35 percent) 

• Q1. Workplans describe and demonstrate the community need. 

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

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

outcomes listed in the work plan. This question will focus on work plans that lead to National 

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

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

o The community need(s) identified; 

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

o The instrument description and data collection plans; and 

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

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

• Q4. Work plan outputs and outcomes are aligned 

with National Performance Measure instructions. 

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

design and the number of volunteers engaged. 

Recruitment and Development of Volunteers (15 percent) 

Reviewers will assess the extent to which the proposed project addresses: 
• Q8. Narrative demonstrates a plan and infrastructure to ensure AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers 

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

 

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

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

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

language proficiency 

o Veterans and military family members as AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers 

o AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers with disabilities 

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

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

Seniors volunteers. 

E.1.b. Organizational Capability (30 percent): 

Reviewers will consider the extent to which the applicant demonstrates: 

Program Management (15 percent) 

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

with AmeriCorps Seniors SCP program regulations. 

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

volunteers are performing their assigned service activities. 

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

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

Organizational Capability (15 percent) 

• Q16. Plans and infrastructure to provide sound programmatic and fiscal oversight (both financial 

and in-kind) and day to day operational support to ensure the following: 

o Compliance with AmeriCorps Seniors SCP program requirements (statues, regulations, 

and applicable OMB circulars) 

o Accountability; 

o Efficient and effective use of available resources. 

• Q17. Demonstrated clearly defined paid staff positions, including identification of current staff 

assigned to the project, (name, title, and brief position description) and how these positions will 

ensure the accomplishment of program objectives. 

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

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

management, and purchasing. 

E.1.c. Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy (20 percent):

Reviewers will consider the completeness and reasonableness of the budget: 

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

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

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

grant proposal process, and other plans. 

E.2. Review and Selection Process

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

provide input on the eligible applications. The review and selection process is intended to produce a 
diversified set of high-quality programs that represent the priorities and strategic considerations 

described in this Notice. The determinations made by AmeriCorps Seniors reviewers may be different 

from what the applicant self-determined upon submission of its application. The stages of the review 

and selection process follow: 

 

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

AmeriCorps Seniors will conduct an initial Compliance and Eligibility Review to determine if an 

application meets the eligibility requirements published in this Notice and advances to the next stage of 

the review process. 

An application is compliant if the applicant: 

• is an eligible organization

• submitted an application by the submission deadline

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

o submitted required additional documents by the submission deadline:

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

areas listed in Appendix A are eligible for funding. 

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

further reviewed. However, determinations of eligibility can take place at any point during the 

application review and selection process. Applicants that are determined to be ineligible will not receive 

an award.

E.2.b. Application Review 

Internal Review

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

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

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

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

AmeriCorps Seniors and/or the Focus Areas, as well as experience assessing applications. All Staff 

Reviewers will be screened for conflicts of interest. 

Post-Review Quality Control

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

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

assessment. This additional level of review will be used to ensure fairness and provide assurances that 

an application was not disadvantaged in the original review.

E.2.c. Applicant Clarification

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

information to make funding recommendations. A request for clarification does not guarantee an award.

Applicants may be recommended for funding even if they are not asked for clarifying information. An 

applicant’s failure to respond to a request for clarification adequately and in a timely manner may result 

in the removal of its application from consideration. AmeriCorps Seniors staff may conduct a site visit 

inspection as part of the clarification process, as appropriate.

E.2.d. Pre-Award Risk Assessment
AmeriCorps Seniors staff will evaluate the risks to the program posed by each applicant to assess an 

applicant’s ability to manage federal funds. This evaluation is in addition to assessments of the 

applicant’s eligibility and the quality of its application on the basis of the selection criteria. Results from 

this evaluation will inform funding decisions. If AmeriCorps Seniors determines that an award will be 

made to an applicant with assessed risks, special conditions that correspond to the degree of assessed 

risk may be applied to the award. Additionally, if AmeriCorps Seniors concludes that the reasons for 

applicants having poor risk assessment are not likely to be mitigated, those applications may not be 

selected for funding. 

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

Due Diligence:

• federal debt delinquency

• suspension and debarment

• information available through OMB-designated repositories of government-wide eligibility 

qualification or financial integrity information, such as:

o Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS)

o U.S. Treasury Bureau of Fiscal Services

o System for Award Management (SAM)

o “Do Not Pay” 

• reports and findings from single audits performed under Uniform Administrative Guidance and 

findings of any other available audits or investigations

• IRS Tax Form 990

• Oversight.gov

• Public Litigation Records

Operational and Financial Management:

• financial stability

• Operational and Financial Management Survey

Past Performance: 

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

or procurement awards, including: 

• timeliness of compliance with applicable reporting requirements

• accuracy of data reported

• validity of performance measure data reported

• conformance to the terms and conditions of previous federal awards

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

on award recipients

• meeting matching requirements

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

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

compliance with criminal history check requirements for grant recipients using the AmeriCorps

Seniors approved contracted vendors

Other Programmatic Risks:

• publicly available information, including information from the applicant organization's website
• amount of funding requested by the organization 

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

Prior to making any award that exceeds the $250,000, AmeriCorps Seniors is required to review and 

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

accessible through SAM (currently FAPIIS) (See 41 U.S.C. 2313). Additionally, AmeriCorps Seniors may 

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

applicant receiving an award, including those under $250,000. 

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

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

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

accessible through FAPIIS.

AmeriCorps Seniors may consider comments by any applicant, in addition to the other information in 

the designated integrity and performance system, in making a judgment about the applicant's integrity, 

business ethics, and record of performance under federal awards when completing its review of risk 

posed by the applicant under the Risk Assessment Evaluation section of this Notice. 

E.2.f. Selection for Funding

The review and selection process is designed to: 

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

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

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

o meaningful representation of 

 geographic diversity 

 rural communities

 small and medium programs 

 single and multi-state programs

 faith-based organizations

 Focus Area

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

applications with a greater degree of alignment with the review criteria. In selecting applicants to 

receive awards under this Notice, the Program Director will endeavor to include a diverse portfolio of 

applications based on staff recommendations and strategic considerations.

AmeriCorps Seniors reserves the right to award applications in an amount other than at the requested 

level of funding and will document the rationale for doing so.

AmeriCorps Seniors reserves the right to adjust or make changes to the review process, if unforeseen 

challenges or urgent circumstances make it impossible, impracticable, or inefficient to conduct the 

review process as planned. Any such adjustments or changes will not affect the selection criteria that 

will be used to assess applications.

E.3. Feedback to Applicants
Applicants will receive feedback from the Staff Reviewers on whether their applications are compliant . 

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

provided during clarification.

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

F.1. Federal Award Notices

AmeriCorps Seniors will make awards following the selection announcement. AmeriCorps Seniors

anticipates announcing the results of this funding opportunity by mid- April 2021 contingent on the 

availability of congressional appropriations. All applicants, successful or not, will be notified of funding 

decisions via email.

Notification of an award is not an authorization to begin activities. The Notice of Grant Award signed by 

the Office of Grant Administration is the authorizing document. An awardee may not expend federal 

funds until the start of the Period of Performance identified on the Notice of Grant Award.

F.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements 

F.2.a. Uniform Guidance

All awards made under this Notice will be subject to the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost 

Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), in 2 CFR Parts 200 and 2205. 

F.2.b. Requests for Improper Payment Information

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

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

amended. Failure to make timely responses to these requests may result in award funds being placed on 

manual hold, reimbursement only status, or other remedies may be applied as appropriate. 

F.2.c. CNCS Terms and Conditions 

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

Conditions, and the AmeriCorps Seniors 2021 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 AmeriCorps General and Program-Specific Terms and 

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

F.2.d. National Service Criminal History Check Requirements

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

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

NSCHCs on persons (including award-funded staff, national service participant, or volunteer) receiving a 

salary, living allowance, stipend, or education award through a program receiving AmeriCorps Seniors

funds. This includes staff that receive part of their salary through a subgrant. An individual is ineligible to 

serve in a position that receives such AmeriCorps Seniors funding if the individual is registered, or 

required to be registered, as a sex offender or has been convicted of murder. The cost of conducting 

NSCHCs is an allowable expense under the award. 

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

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

https://www.nationalservice.gov/documents/2018/nschc-using-fieldprint-and-truescreen-manual
Failure to conduct compliant NSCHC may result in significant disallowed costs.

 

 

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

of an alternative search procedure, recipients must perform the following checks: 

All award-funded staff and volunteers must undergo NSCHCs that include:

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

• Either

o A name- or finger-based search of the statewide criminal history registry in the person’s 

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

o A fingerprint-based FBI criminal history check.

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

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

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

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

• Both 

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

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

o A fingerprint-based FBI criminal history check.

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

and FAQs.

F.2e. Official Guidance

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

https://www.nationalservice.gov/resources/official-guidance. The contents of these documents do not 

have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way unless incorporated 

into a contract or grant agreement. These documents are intended only to provide clarity to the public 

regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies.

F.3. Use of Material

To ensure that materials generated with AmeriCorps Seniors funding are available to the public and 

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

F.4. Reporting 

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

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

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

progress reports through eGrants, AmeriCorps Seniors web-based grants management system. All 

recipients must submit quarterly financial reports to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Payment Management System. 
In addition, at the end of the award period, recipients must submit final financial and progress reports 

that are cumulative over the entire award period and consistent with the close-out requirements. The 

final reports are due 120 days after the end of the project period. 

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

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

its subrecipients. Recipients must have the necessary systems in place to collect and report this 

information. See 2 CFR Part 170 for more information and to determine how these requirements apply. 

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

policies, processes, and practices that provide reasonable assurance that they are reporting high quality 

performance measure data. At a minimum, recipients should have policies, processes, and practices that 

address the following five aspects of data quality for themselves and for subrecipients (if applicable):

• the data measures what it intends to measure

• the data reported is complete

• the recipient collects data in a consistent manner

• the recipient takes steps to correct data errors

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

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

secure future AmeriCorps Seniors funding.

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

G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

For more information, email 2021FGPSCP@cns.gov . AmeriCorps Seniors also offers live text chat at 

www.NationalService.gov/contact-us. 

For technical questions and problems with the eGrants system, call the National Service Hotline at (800) 

942-2677. National Service Hotline hours are posted at https://questions.nationalservice.gov/. 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 

H.1. Technical Assistance

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

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

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

Calendar from the AmeriCorps Seniors FGP-SCP Expansion Competition page. 

H.2. Re-Focusing of Funding

AmeriCorps Seniors reserves the right to re-focus program dollars estimated for this continuation and 

renewal process 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. AmeriCorps 

Seniors informs people who may respond to this Notice of Funding that they are not required to 

respond unless the OMB control number and expiration date are current valid. (See 5 C.F.R. 

1320.5(b)(2)(i).) The OMB Control Number for the information collection is 3045-0035. It expires on 

12/31/2021. 

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

information requested under this Notice of Funding is collected pursuant to the funding purposes set 

forth at 42 U.S.C. 5013(a) requirements 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.