Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 111 /Wednesday, June 10, 1998 / Notices 31755

(3) AmeriCorps*VISTA projects are

eligible for funding of a full-time

supervisory position if the project

averages at least eight (8)

AmeriCorps*VISTA members over the

course of the Memorandum of

Agreement.

d. Necessity of supervisor job-related

travel based on number of

AmeriCorps*VISTA members assigned

and the geographic dispersion of the

project.

The Corporation State Program

Director will consider budget

constraints, available resources, and

program and geographic priorities in

distributing AmeriCorps*VISTA

supervision funds.

7. Elimination or Reduction of

Transportation and/or Supervision

Funding

a. As a general rule, the level of

funding, determined by the Project

Manager and contained in an

AmeriCorps*VISTA project support

grant/agreement, will be maintained

throughout the term of the annual

Memorandum of Agreement between

the Corporation for National Service and

the sponsoring organization. However,

types of conditions which may cause

the reduction or elimination of project

support during the term of the annual

Memorandum of Agreement are:

(1) Amendment by mutual agreement

between the Corporation for National

Service and the sponsor;

(2) Termination by the sponsor for

any reason;

(3) Reassignment, resignation, or

termination of AmeriCorps*VISTA

members from the project before their

term of service has ended with no

replacements during that budget year;

(4) Substantial changes in member

assignments; or

(5) Suspension or termination in

accordance with 45 CFR Part 1206,

Subpart A.

b. All grant awards or agreements

documenting supervisory or on-the-job

transportation arrangements will

contain language indicating that the

AmeriCorps*VISTA funding may be

reduced or eliminated in accordance

with the provisions of this Guideline

and the Memorandum of Agreement.

Dated: June 4, 1998.

Kenneth L. Klothen,

General Counsel.

[FR Doc. 98–15380 Filed 6–9–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6050–28–P

CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Availability of Funds for

AmeriCorps*VISTA ‘‘Welfare to Work’’

Grants Nationwide

AGENCY: Corporation for National and

Community Service.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Funds.

SUMMARY: The Corporation for National

and Community Service (hereinafter

‘‘the Corporation’’) announces the

availability of funds for fiscal year 1999,

subject to the availability of

appropriations, for new

AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteers in

Service to America) program grants

focusing on ‘‘Welfare to Work’’

strategies throughout the United States,

the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico,

and the Virgin Islands. Project

applications will be written to cover a

12-month period and grants will be

awarded for a 12-month period with a

renewal option. As part of this effort,

the Corporation is soliciting

applications from public or private nonprofit organizations, including current

AmeriCorps*VISTA project sponsors,

which will operate programs on a multistate basis. Approximately five to seven

grants are expected to be awarded in

October 1998, subject to the availability

of FY 1999 funding.

DATES: Applications must be received

by 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, July 24,

1998.

ADDRESSES: Application instructions

and kits are available from the

Corporation for National and

Community Service,

AmeriCorps*VISTA, 1201 New York

Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20525,

(202) 606–5000, ext. 134, TDD (202)

565–2799, or TTY via the Federal

Information Relay Service at (800) 877–

8339. One signed original and four

copies of the application should be

submitted to the Corporation for

National and Community Service, 1201

New York Avenue, N.W., Mailstop

9207, Attn: Kathleen Dennis,

Washington, DC 20525. The Corporation

will not accept applications that are

submitted via facsimile or e-mail

transmission. Applications submitted

via overnight mail that arrive after the

closing date will be accepted if they are

postmarked at least two days prior to

the closing date. Otherwise, late

applications will not be accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For

further information, contact Kathleen

Dennis at (202) 606–5000, ext. 134.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

AmeriCorps*VISTA is authorized

under the Domestic Volunteer Service

Act of 1973, as amended (Pub. L. 93–

113). The statutory mandate of

AmeriCorps*VISTA is ‘‘to strengthen

and supplement efforts to eliminate and

alleviate poverty and poverty-related

problems in the United States by

encouraging and enabling persons from

all walks of life, all geographical areas,

and all age groups . . . (to) assist in the

solution of poverty and poverty-related

problems, and . . . to generate the

commitment of private sector resources,

to encourage volunteer service at the

local level, and to strengthen local

agencies and organizations to carry out

the purpose (of the program).’’ (42

U.S.C. § 4951)

AmeriCorps*VISTA carries out its

legislative mandate by assigning

individuals 18 years and older, on a

full-time, year-long basis, to public and

private non-profit organizations whose

goals are in accord with

AmeriCorps*VISTA’s legislative

mission. Each AmeriCorps*VISTA

project must focus on the mobilization

of community resources, the

transference of skills to community

residents, and the expansion of the

capacity of community-based

organizations to solve local problems.

Programming should encourage

permanent, long-term solutions to

problems confronting low-income

communities rather than short-term

approaches for handling emergency

needs.

AmeriCorps*VISTA project sponsors

must actively elicit the support and/or

participation of local public and private

sector elements in order to enhance the

chances of a project’s success as well as

to make the activities undertaken by

AmeriCorps*VISTA members selfsustaining when the Corporation no

longer provides resources.

B. Purpose of This Announcement

The Welfare to Work initiative is a

nationwide effort to create and expand

opportunities for low-income

individuals who have significant

barriers making it difficult for them to

move into jobs providing long-term

employment potential. The initiative

will focus on developing efforts in job

training, employment and selfemployment to enable low-income

individuals to achieve economic selfsufficiency. The Corporation is

interested in promoting comprehensive,

coordinated approaches to increasing

low-income individuals’ economic

opportunities. All grant projects will be

expected to be an integral part of a
31756 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 111 /Wednesday, June 10, 1998 / Notices

comprehensive strategy for developing

and implementing innovative

approaches that enhance a community’s

ability to move eligible individuals into

self-sustaining employment, to create

upward mobility paths and higher

earnings, and to achieve sustainable

improvements in the community’s

service infrastructure for assisting lowincome residents.

AmeriCorps*VISTA’s participation in

the Welfare to Work initiative will focus

on:

1. National or multi-state

organizations working in conjunction

with local affiliates that share a vision

of promoting economic self-sufficiency

among low-income individuals;

2. Initiation and/or expansion of

community-based economic and

community development programs such

as: microenterprise or small business

development; community development

credit unions; micro-lending; individual

development accounts; neighborhood

revitalization; job readiness/training/

counseling/placement activities; and,

job-related supportive services in areas

with a substantial percentage of lowincome residents;

3. Promotion of partnerships and

collaboration between the public and

private sectors including businesses,

community-based organizations; faithbased organizations and other service

programs;

4. Employment strategies which may

include:

• creation of job opportunities

(including self-employment) that allow

for flexibility to address work and

family needs while providing income

levels that are adequate for selfsufficiency;

• proactive strategies to involve

employers in design of service strategies

and implementation of the project;

• activities to help individuals access

nontraditional occupations;

• use of integrated work and learning

strategies to develop skills; and,

• development of responsive

transportation and child care service

systems.

Job creation should include livable

wages, benefits, and long-term economic

progress for the individual and

community;

5. Recruitment, training, and

coordination of local volunteers;

6. Mobilization of resources needed to

support the project; and

7. Development of a sustainable

capacity in local communities to

effectively move low-income residents

and welfare recipients into permanent

jobs to foster the long-term selfsufficiency of the target population.

C. Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants for

AmeriCorps*VISTA program grants

supporting the Welfare to Work

initiative must be public or private nonprofit organizations with a regional or

national constituency who operate on a

multi-state or national basis. Such

entities may include: regional or

national non-profit organizations, tribal

or territorial governments, or

organizations representing tribal

populations. Current

AmeriCorps*VISTA sponsoring

organizations may apply without

affecting the status of their existing

projects.

D. Scope of Grant

Each grant budget will support 20 to

50 AmeriCorps*VISTA members on a

full-time basis for one year of service.

The average Federal cost of an

AmeriCorps*VISTA service year i.e.,

total Federal cost divided by total

number of members, will range from

approximately $11,000 to $13,000 in the

continental United States depending

upon the location of the assignment(s).

(Higher rates apply in Alaska and

Hawaii.) Specific budget guidance is

available in the project application kit;

average allowance costs contained in

the instructions should be used to

prepare the budget submission.

Each grant will include funds for the

grantee to pay: a monthly subsistence

allowance for AmeriCorps*VISTA

members that is commensurate with the

cost-of-living of the assignment area and

covers the cost of food, housing,

utilities, and incidental expenses; an

end-of-service cash stipend payment,

accrued at the rate of $100 per month,

for those members not selecting the

AmeriCorps education award; and

relocation expenses for those

AmeriCorps*VISTA members who must

relocate in order to serve. The grant will

also include funds for member inservice training, member supervision,

and member/supervisor job-related

transportation.

The following costs will be covered

by the Corporation: an AmeriCorps

education award in the amount of $4725

for AmeriCorps*VISTA members who

complete their year of service and do

not elect the stipend, health support for

all AmeriCorps*VISTA members; a

child care allowance for eligible

AmeriCorps*VISTA members; preservice orientation; and, travel from

home of record to training to assignment

for all AmeriCorps*VISTA members as

well as travel home at the end of

service.

Grant applicants should demonstrate

their commitment to matching the

Federal contribution toward the

operation of the AmeriCorps*VISTA

Welfare to Work program grant by

offsetting all, or part of, the costs of

member supervision, transportation,

and training, as well as the basic costs

of the program itself (e.g., space,

telephone, etc.). This support can be

achieved through cash or in-kind

contributions.

Grants will be awarded on a twelvemonth basis with a renewal option

subject to need, satisfactory

performance, and the availability of

Corporation resources. Publication of

this announcement does not obligate the

Corporation to award any specific

number of grants or to obligate the

entire amount of funds available, or any

part thereof, for grants under the

AmeriCorps*VISTA program.

E. Responsibilities of National Grantee

Applicant organizations must have:

national or multi-state networks, the

existing capacity needed to monitor and

support a national or multi-state project;

and experience in operating other

national or multi-state programs. The

applicant organization must

demonstrate a strong institutional

commitment of personnel, resources,

training and technical expertise.

Applicant organizations must develop a

strong and well-coordinated multi-site

project rather than loosely tying together

several unrelated local programs.

The applicant organization will have

several crucial roles and responsibilities

in operating a high quality multi-site

AmeriCorps*VISTA project. All

applicant organizations must:

• identify local sites and assist them

with preparation of Part A of the Project

Application (Form 1421),

• provide on-going monitoring,

training, technical assistance, and

support to local sites,

• assist in member recruitment, and

• work with sites to develop longterm sustainability plans.

After selection, the national grantees

will be advised by the Corporation of

specific requirements related to the

AmeriCorps*VISTA project, including

the submission of Project Progress

Reports to the Americorps*VISTA

Headquarters project manager and

assistance in the design and delivery of

training. The Corporation State Office

works with the local project affiliates to

develop Part B of the project application

and to provide in-service training and

technical assistance for the members.

The Corporation State Office also

provides training to AmeriCorps*VISTA

supervisors through periodic site visits
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 111 /Wednesday, June 10, 1998 / Notices 31757

and meetings with supervisors. A

Project Progress Report is submitted by

each local affiliate to the Corporation

State Office on a quarterly basis.

F. Submission Requirements

To be considered for funding,

applicants must submit five copies, with

original signatures on items 2 and 3, of

the following:

(1) A one-page narrative summary

description, single-spaced, single-sided

in 10–12 point, of the proposed

AmeriCorps*VISTA Welfare to Work

project including the name, address,

telephone number, and contact person

for the applicant organization as shown

on the SF 424. The summary should

include the major objectives and

expected outcomes of the project. The

summary will be used as a project

abstract to provide reviewers with an

introduction to the substantive parts of

the application. Therefore, care should

be taken to produce a summary which

accurately and concisely reflects the

proposal.

(2) Application for Federal

Assistance, SF 424, with a detailed

narrative budget justification.

(3) AmeriCorps*VISTA Project

Application, Form 1421, Parts A and B.

All project information must be

contained in the space provided on the

application form except where

additional sheets may be submitted for

the Project Work Plan and/or Member

Assignment Description(s).

(4) Current resume of potential

AmeriCorps*VISTA supervisor(s), if

available, or resume of the director of

the applicant organization.

(5) List of members of the Board of

Directors including their professional

affiliations and/or program-related

activities.

(6) Organizational chart illustrating

the location of the AmeriCorps*VISTA

project within the overall applicant

organization.

(7) Letters of support must be

provided from outside organizations

that will be collaborating in the overall

project effort. Letters should reflect

knowledge and endorsement of the

specific objectives of the project, as well

as any commitment of resources to the

project if applicable.

(8) For each local site that will be

hosting AmeriCorps*VISTA member(s),

Part A of the application must be

included. No other documents

pertaining to the local sites should be

attached.

National applicant organizations must

also submit one copy of the following:

(1) Current Articles of Incorporation.

(2) Proof of non-profit status, or an

application for non-profit status and

related documentation.

(3) CPA certification of accounting

capability.

(4) A copy of most recent annual

report, if available.

No additional attachments are to be

included. Such attachments will not be

read or given to reviewers.

G. Criteria for AmeriCorps*VISTA

Welfare to Work Project Selection

All of the following elements must be

incorporated in the applicant’s

submission:

I. Program Design

a. Getting Things Done

The proposed project must:

1. Address the needs of low-income

communities and otherwise comply

with the provisions of the Domestic

Volunteer Service Act of 1973, as

amended (42 U.S.C. 4951 et seq.)

applicable to AmeriCorps*VISTA and

all applicable published regulations,

guidelines, and Corporation policies.

2. Be internally consistent, i.e. the

problem statement that demonstrates

need, the project work plan, the

AmeriCorps*VISTA member assignment

description, and all other components

must be related logically to each other.

3. Contain clear and measurable

objectives/outcomes in the project

application for a 12-month period that

address the overall objectives of the

Welfare to Work initiative. Proposed

projects must show how the activities of

the AmeriCorps*VISTA members

contribute to specific outcomes related

to increased economic opportunity for

low-income people. It is expected that

outcome objectives will reflect the

evolution of the project over the 12-

month period.

4. Include activities and mechanisms

that provide for the involvement of

beneficiaries of the project.

5. Indicate how the proposed project

complements and/or enhances welfare

to work activities already underway in,

or planned for, the community(ies)

which will be served by the project. To

the extent possible, projects should seek

out opportunities to collaborate with

other Corporation programs, as well as

with other community partners,

including the business sector.

6. Describe how the number of

AmeriCorps*VISTA members requested

is appropriate for the project goals/

objectives, and how the skills requested

are appropriate for the assignment(s).

b. Strengthening Communities

The proposed project must:

1. Describe how the project will

develop a sustainable capacity in the

local community to effectively create

permanent employment and to foster

the long-term self-sufficiency of the

community. Project services should

provide assistance oriented towards

long-term solutions.

2. Demonstrate collaboration with

organizations which provide supportive

services to enhance job creation and

community development.

3. Be designed to generate public and/

or private sector resources, and to

promote local, part-time volunteer

service at the community level.

4. Describe in measurable terms the

anticipated self-sufficiency outcomes at

the conclusion of the project, including

outcomes related to the sustainability of

the project activities.

c. Member Development

The proposed project must:

1. Clearly state how

AmeriCorps*VISTA members will be

trained, supervised, and supported to

ensure the achievement of program

goals and objectives as stated in the

project work plan.

2. Describe how AmeriCorps*VISTA

assignments are designed to utilize the

full-time AmeriCorps*VISTA member’s

time to the maximum extent.

II. Organizational Capacity

The proposed project must:

1. Ensure that resources needed to

achieve project goals and objectives are

available.

2. Have the management and

technical capability to implement the

project successfully.

3. Have a track record or experience

in dealing with the issues addressed by

the proposed project.

4. Have systems for the evaluation

and monitoring of project activities.

Applicants must describe the methods

that will be used to track progress

toward the stated objectives, and the

procedures that will provide the

feedback needed to make adjustments

and improve program quality. Projects

must also be prepared to cooperate with

the Corporation for National Service and

its evaluation partners in all

Corporation monitoring and evaluation

efforts.

III. Budget/Cost-Effectiveness

The proposed project must:

1. Include a budget that adequately

supports the program design.

2. Include a budget that adheres to

budget guidance provided with the

application.

3. Describe how the applicant

organization is committing resources

necessary for program implementation.
31758 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 111 /Wednesday, June 10, 1998 / Notices

H. Application Review

Proposal Evaluation

To ensure fairness to all applicants,

the Corporation reserves the right to

take action, up to and including

disqualification, in the event that a

proposal fails to comply with any

requirements specified in this Notice.

1. Program Design (60% as described

below):

The project application allows the

Corporation to assess the capacity of the

applicant organization to implement the

project and accomplish the purpose of

the Welfare to Work initiative. The

overall quality of the application will be

evaluated as follows:

a. Responsiveness to Getting Things

Done Criteria (25%).

b. Responsiveness to Strengthening

Communities Criteria (30%).

c. Responsiveness to Member

Development Criteria (5%).

2. Organizational Capacity (25%):

The applicant organization’s capacity

to direct, manage, support, provide

technical assistance, assess the project,

and promote long-term implementation

of the project’s efforts, must be reflected

in the Project Application.

3. Budget (15%):

Applicants must prepare the budget

according to information contained in

Item D, Scope of Grant, above, and

instructions about costs and allowance

levels contained in the application kit.

A detailed Budget Narrative must

identify and justify each line item and

cost. The Corporation will assess the

cost-effectiveness of the proposed

project and the project’s ability to

leverage significant resources from

private and/or public sources.

I. Geographic Diversity

After evaluating the overall quality of

the proposal and its responsiveness to

the criteria noted above, the Corporation

will take into consideration whether

funded projects are: (1) geographically

diverse, including projects in both

urban and rural areas; and (2) in areas

of high concentration of low-income

residents, including those in

empowerment zones, enterprise

communities and homeownership

zones.

J. Bidders’ Conferences

An informal, technical assistance

meeting and telephone conference call

is being planned for June 24, 1998, at

2:00 p.m. Eastern time for potential

applicants. The term ‘‘technical

assistance,’’ however, does not include

advising the applicant how to make

substantive improvements in its

application that will affect ratings.

All applicants must pre-register by

faxing the names, organization and

phone number of up to two members

planning to participate, and an

indication of whether participation will

be in person or via conference call. This

information should be faxed to Kathleen

Dennis at 202–565–2789. All

reservations must be submitted by June

22, 1998.

Questions may be submitted in

advance of the meeting via fax to the

above number. If you are unable to

attend the Bidders’ Conference but

would like the conference materials and

a conference transcript, submit your

request via fax to the fax number above.

K. Program Authority

Corporation Authority to make these

grants is authorized under Title I, Part

A of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act

of 1973, as amended (Pub. L. 93–113).

Dated: June 4, 1998.

Kenneth L. Klothen,

General Counsel.

[FR Doc. 98–15379 Filed 6–9–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6050–28–P

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES

ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND

SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[OMB Control No. 9000–0022]

Proposed Collection; Comment

Request Entitled Customs and Duties;

Correction and Republication

AGENCIES: Department of Defense (DOD),

General Services Administration (GSA),

and National Aeronautics and Space

Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Notice of request for comments

regarding an extension to an existing

OMB clearance (9000–0022).

SUMMARY: The notice document

concerning OMB clearance 9000–0022

published on June 2, 1998 (63 FR 29977)

contained incomplete information.

Therefore, the entire document is

reprinted for the convenience of the

reader. The document as corrected reads

as follows:

Correction and Republication

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES

ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND

SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[OMB Control No. 9000–0022]

Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Entitled Customs and Duties

AGENCIES: Department of Defense (DOD),

General Services Administration (GSA),

and National Aeronautics and Space

Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Notice of request for comments

regarding an extension to an existing

OMB clearance (9000–0022).

SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44

U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Federal

Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

Secretariat will be submitting to the

Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) a request to review and approve

an extension of a currently approved

information collection requirement

concerning Customs and Duties. The

clearance currently expires on

September 30, 1998.

DATES: Comments may be submitted on

or before August 3, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send comments regarding

this burden estimate or any other aspect

of this collection of information,

including suggestions for reducing this

burden, to: FAR Desk Officer, OMB,

Room 10102, NEOB, Washington, DC

20503, and a copy to the General

Services Administration, FAR

Secretariat (MVRS), 1800 F Street, NW,

Room 4037, Washington, DC 20405.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul

Linfield, Federal Acquisition Policy

Division, GSA (202) 501–1757.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Purpose

United States laws impose duties on

foreign supplies imported into the

customs territory of the United States.

Certain exemptions from these duties

are available to Government agencies.

These exemptions are used whenever

the anticipated savings outweigh the

administrative costs associated with

processing required documentation.

When a Government contractor

purchases foreign supplies, it must

notify the contracting officer to

determine whether the supplies should

be duty-free. In addition, all shipping

documents and containers must specify

certain information to assure the dutyfree entry of the supplies.

The contracting officer analyzes the

information submitted by the contractor

to determine whether or not supplies

should enter the country duty-free. The

information, the contracting officer’s

determination, and the U.S. Customs

forms are placed in the contract file.

B. Annual Reporting Burden

Public reporting burden for this

collection of information is estimated to

average 30 minutes per response,

including the time for reviewing