[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 111 (Friday, June 8, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30887-30893]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-14402]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE


Availability of Funds for National Provider of Information and 
Training and Technical Assistance to Faith-Based and Small Community 
Organizations Using Service and Volunteerism as a Strategy To Meet 
Community Needs

AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Corporation for National and Community Service 
(Corporation) announces the availability of funds for an organization 
selected under this Notice to provide information concerning available 
resources and training and technical assistance, to assist faith-based 
and small community organizations using service and volunteers to meet 
the needs of individuals whom prosperity has left behind. The 
Corporation intends to enter into a cooperative agreement of up to 
three years, beginning on or about August 1, 2001. The funds available 
under this Notice will support the initial phase of the agreement 
(generally the first year's budget), with additional funding contingent 
upon need, quality of service, and availability of appropriations for 
this purpose.
    The Corporation anticipates making up to $400,000 available for the 
first year of this award. This amount is approximate and for the first 
year only and may change depending upon the availability of 
appropriations and the nature and scope of activities to be supported.


    Note: This is a notice for selection of organizations to provide 
information concerning available resources, and training and 
technical assistance, to faith-based and small community 
organizations. This is not a notice for program grant proposals.


DATES: The Corporation must receive Proposals by 3 pm Eastern time on 
July 9, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit proposals to the Corporation for National and 
Community Service, 1201 New York Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20525, 
Attention: Jim Ekstrom.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Arthurine Walker, Jim Ekstrom, or 
Christine Benero at the Corporation for National and Community Service, 
(202) 606-5000, extensions 423, 139, or 193; TTY (202) 565-2799; email 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d3b2a4b2bfb8b6a193b0bda0fdb4bca5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9bfaecfaf7f0fee9dbf8f5e8b5fcf4ed">[email protected]</span></a>, or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#98f2fdf3ebeceaf7f5d8fbf6ebb6fff7ee"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="610b040a1215130e0c21020f124f060e17">[email protected]</span></a>, or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#197a7b7c777c6b76597a776a377e766f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7e1d1c1b101b0c113e1d100d50191108">[email protected]</span></a>. This Notice 
is available on the Corporation's web site, http://www.nationalservice.org/whatshot/notices/. Upon request, this 
information will be made available in alternate formats.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Earlier this year the President signed two Executive Orders 
emphasizing the role of faith-based organizations and community groups 
in assisting those whom prosperity has left behind. The 
Administration's document, A Blueprint for New Beginnings, notes that: 
``In every instance where this Administration sees a responsibility to 
help people, it will look first to faith-based organizations, 
charities, and community groups that have shown the ability to save and 
change lives.''
    The Corporation supports this agenda through all of its programs, 
which are described below. Since 1993, we have had extensive experience 
working with faith-based organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, 
Lutheran Services in America, the Catholic Network for Volunteer 
Services, and the National Jewish Coalition for Literacy.
    The Corporation for National and Community Service was established 
in 1993 to engage Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service to 
their communities. The Corporation's national and community service 
programs provide opportunities for participants to serve full-time and 
part-time, with or without stipend, as individuals or as part of a 
team. AmeriCorps*State, National, VISTA, and National Civilian 
Community Corps

[[Page 30888]]

programs engage thousands of Americans on a full, or part-time basis, 
at over 1,000 locations to help communities meet their toughest 
challenges. Learn and Serve America integrates service into the 
academic life or experiences of nearly one million youth from 
kindergarten through higher education in all 50 states. The National 
Senior Service Corps uses the skills, talents and experience of over 
500,000 older Americans to help make communities stronger, safer, 
healthier and smarter.
    AmeriCorps*State and AmeriCorps*National programs, which involve 
over 40,000 Americans each year in results-driven community service, 
are grant programs managed by: (1) Governor-appointed state commissions 
(see ``Glossary of Terms'') that select and oversee programs operated 
by local organizations; (2) national non-profit organizations that act 
as parent organizations (see ``Glossary of Terms'') for operating sites 
across the country; (3) Indian tribes; or (4) U.S. Territories.
    Learn and Serve America provides service-learning opportunities for 
approximately 1.2 million youth and students in 2,500 projects annually 
through grants to state education agencies (see ``Glossary of Terms''), 
Indian Tribes and U.S.Territories, nonprofit agencies, community-based 
organizations, and higher education institutions and organizations. The 
National Senior Service Corps awards grants to nearly 1,300 local 
organizations to operate the Retired and Senior Volunteer (RSVP), 
Foster Grandparent (FGP) and Senior Companion (SCP) programs in their 
communities.
    In addition, the Corporation supports the AmeriCorps*VISTA 
(Volunteers in Service to America) and AmeriCorps*NCCC (National 
Civilian Community Corps) programs. Annually more than 6,000 
AmeriCorps*VISTA members develop grassroots programs, mobilize 
resources and build capacity for service across the nation. 
AmeriCorps*NCCC provides the opportunity for approximately 1,000 
individuals between the ages of 18 and 24 to participate each year in 
ten-month residential programs located mainly on inactive military 
bases. For additional information on the national service programs 
supported by the Corporation, go to http://www.nationalservice.org.
    Training and technical assistance for Corporation programs takes 
place at local, state, regional and national levels, with most 
occurring at the local and state levels.
    To ensure equity and to promote quality, the Corporation funds a 
series of national training and technical assistance agreements.

II. Eligibility

    State and local government entities, non-profit organizations, 
institutions of higher education, Indian tribes, and commercial 
entities are eligible to apply. Pursuant to the Lobbying Disclosure Act 
of 1995, an organization described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S C. 501(c)(4), which engages in lobbying, 
is not eligible to apply. Organizations that operate or intend to 
operate Corporation-supported programs are eligible.
    We will consider proposals from single applicants and applicants in 
partnership. We will also consider proposals from applicants proposing 
other approaches to meeting the requirement that we consider to be 
responsive to this Notice.
    Organizations may apply to provide information, and training and 
technical assistance, in partnership with organizations seeking other 
Corporation funds. Based on previous training and technical assistance 
competitions and our estimate of potential applicants, we expect fewer 
than ten applications to be submitted in response to this notice.

III. Conditions

A. Legal Authority

    This notice is authorized under the National and Community Service 
Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. 12501 et seq., and the Domestic Volunteer 
Service Act of 1973, 42 U.S.C. 4950 et seq.

B. Cooperative Agreements

    The award made under this Notice will be in the form of a 
cooperative agreement. Administration of cooperative agreements is 
controlled by Corporation regulations, 45 CFR part 2541 (for agreements 
with state and local government agencies) and 45 CFR part 2543 (for 
agreements with institutions of higher education, non-profit 
organizations and commercial entities). The provider must comply with 
reporting requirements, including submitting semi-annual financial 
reports and progress reports linking progress on deliverables to 
expenditures.
    Cooperative agreements require substantial involvement on the part 
of the government. Substantial involvement includes frequent and 
regular communication with, and monitoring by, the Corporation's 
cognizant officer.

C. Time Frame

    The Corporation expects that activities assisted under the 
agreement awarded through this Notice will commence on or about August 
1, 2001, following the conclusion of the selection and award process. 
The Corporation will make an award covering a period not to exceed 
three years. Applications must include a detailed work plan of proposed 
activities and a line-item budget for year one of the agreement and 
should note projected changes to proposed activities for years two and 
three of the award period. If the Corporation approves an application 
and enters into a multi-year award agreement, at the outset it will 
provide funding only for the first year of the award period. The 
Corporation has no obligation to provide additional funding in 
subsequent years. Funding for the second and third years of an award 
period is contingent upon satisfactory performance, the availability of 
funds, and any other criteria established in the award agreement.

D. Use of Materials

    To ensure that materials generated with Corporation funding for 
training and technical assistance purposes are available to the public 
and readily accessible, the Corporation reserves a royalty-free, non-
exclusive, and irrevocable right to obtain, use, reproduce, publish, or 
disseminate publications and materials produced under the agreement, 
including data, and to authorize others to do so. The provider must 
agree to make such publications and materials available to the national 
service field, as identified by the Corporation, at no cost or at the 
cost of reproduction. All materials developed with Corporation funding 
must be consistent with Corporation editorial and publication 
guidelines and must be accessible to individuals with disabilities to 
the extent required by law.

IV. Scope of Activities To Be Supported

    The provider selected under this Notice will:
    (a) Provide information concerning national service resources and 
other volunteer service resources;
    (b) Make referrals to other federal government and state agencies;
    (c) Assist state service commissions and others, where appropriate, 
with the development of statewide coalitions to coordinate local 
outreach and serve as intermediaries; and
    (d) Provide or broker technical assistance and/or training 
services.

[[Page 30889]]

    The majority of activities over the life of the agreement will 
likely fall into the first three categories. However, the provider 
should be prepared to provide, coordinate or broker training services, 
materials development, and ongoing technical assistance possibly in 
conjunction with other Corporation T/TA providers (for a current list 
go to www.etr/nsrc/org). The provider will tailor such training 
services to the specific needs of faith-based and small community 
organizations using service and volunteers to meet community needs. 
Training services may particularly come into play as the provider 
carries out the requirements of the third category; supporting state 
service commissions and others in the development of statewide 
coalitions. Under item (b), the provider is expected to handle general 
inquiries concerning programming and funding opportunities available 
throughout the federal government from small community and faith-based 
organizations. The services provided under item (d) will be available 
to faith-based and small community organizations without regard to 
whether such organizations become Corporation grantees or sub-grantees.
    The Corporation recently conducted a meeting of faith-based and 
small community organizations to help us identify steps that we could 
take to make our resources more accessible to such organizations. We 
learned that such organizations need information about resources and 
support available at the Corporation and from other federal, state, and 
local agencies, as well as training and technical assistance in the use 
of volunteers and service in meeting community needs.
    Based upon this meeting and input from other interested parties, 
the Corporation is seeking a provider who will meet these needs. The 
provider must integrate the deliverables and principles listed below 
into its service delivery. The provider is further expected to conduct 
activities that will reflect and support the diversity of faith-based 
and small community organizations.

A. Tasks Related to IV(a) and (b) Providing Information to Faith-Based 
and Community Organizations

1. Systems
    a. Electronically track information requests, referrals and 
services provided based on guidance from the Corporation.
    b. Provide follow-up to assure that the needs of the faith-based 
and small community organization are addressed.
2. Audience and Outreach
    a. Respond to ongoing requests for information from faith-based and 
small community organizations concerning national and community service 
resources.
    b. Advertise services to assure awareness.
    c. Work with the faith-based and small community organizations that 
request assistance to identify and clarify their needs and determine an 
appropriate service response.
3. Delivery
    a. Set up and staff a toll-free 800 number to provide support for 
faith-based and small community organizations.
    b. Develop and set up an appropriate technological capacity to 
handle incoming requests for information.
    c. Provide follow-up, ongoing support for organizations to assure 
connections with national and community service resources. Report on 
the results of this follow-up.
    d. Refer small community and faith-based organizations to other 
federal government agencies, and states and local organizations, as 
appropriate, in those situations where requests cannot be met by 
national and community service resources.
4. Evaluation
    a. Develop and submit a plan for evaluating the impact of 
information services, particularly the impact on the organization's 
needs and the principles and deliverables of this Notice.
    b. Conduct an assessment after each training and technical 
assistance event.

B. Tasks Related to IV(c) and (d) Supporting State Service Commissions 
in the Development of State-Wide Coalitions and Brokering of Training 
and Technical Assistance

1. Systems
    a. Electronically track requests, referrals and services provided 
based on guidance from the Corporation.
    b. Develop a system for referring state service commissions and 
other organizations to local content area experts or Corporation T/TA 
providers who can provide staff, member and volunteer training to 
faith-based and small community groups.
2. Audience and Outreach
    a. In collaboration with training and technical assistance staff, 
develop and implement an outreach plan to state service commissions, 
Corporation State Offices, State Education Agencies, and other key 
state-wide organizations regarding the usefulness of intermediaries in 
assisting faith-based and small community organizations and to promote 
the provider's services in helping to start and develop state-wide 
coalitions or intermediaries to support local faith-based and small 
community organizations.
    b. Work with state service commissions and other statewide 
organizations that request assistance to identify and clarify their 
needs and determine an appropriate service response.
    c. Develop and maintain a web site of research, effective 
practices, and training and technical assistance resources in the 
provider's area with links to national service sites, as directed by 
the Corporation.
    d. Respond to any individual requests for guidance and support from 
faith-based and small community organizations and determine appropriate 
referral for technical assistance.
3. Capacity-Building Services
    a. Provide information, materials, and consulting support to state 
service commissions and other statewide organizations interested in 
starting coalitions or intermediaries to support local faith-based and 
small community organizations in gaining greater access to federal 
resources.
    b. If training services are determined to be needed in order to 
help state commissions or other statewide organizations develop 
capacity to support coalitions and intermediaries, schedule and 
coordinate logistics of training services with the state commission, 
state education agency, and Corporation state office or with state 
office cluster-wide training activities.
    c. Where appropriate, directly provide or coordinate training and 
technical assistance for faith-based or small community organizations.
    d. Develop course and publication outlines and descriptions in 
collaboration with Corporation staff.
    e. Ensure that all training and technical assistance and resources 
including web sites are accessible to persons with disabilities as 
required by law to include the following:
    i. Notifying potential participants that reasonable accommodations 
will be provided upon request;
    ii. Providing reasonable accommodations when requested to do so, 
including provision of sign language interpreters, special assistance, 
and documents in alternate formats;
    iii. Using accessible locations for training events;

[[Page 30890]]

    iv. Providing training and technical assistance materials that are 
accessible to persons with disabilities, by using accessible 
technology, providing materials in alternate formats upon request, 
captioning videos and not using solely a non-voice-over format, and 
when indicating a telephone number, including a non-voice telephone 
alternative such as TDD or e-mail;
    v. Deliver training that enhances the capacity of participants to 
function independently and effectively, which includes, but is not 
limited to, the following:

--Using transfer-of-skills methods and train-the-trainer models in 
delivering services following guidelines provided by the Corporation;
--Providing structured opportunities for peer-to-peer assistance during 
and after all on-request and scheduled training events;
--Developing and disseminating training event packets that include the 
training agenda, handouts and list of training event participants.
4. Effective Practices
    a. Research, identify, document and transmit effective tools and 
practices through all the provider's training and technical assistance 
services.
    b. Submit effective tools and practices in stipulated format to the 
Effective Practices Information Center database (EpiCenter--see 
``Glossary of Terms''), and, if appropriate, to the National Service-
Learning Clearinghouse; encourage grantee use of same.
    c. Develop and implement a dissemination plan for all materials 
(e.g., publications, videotapes, etc.) produced under the agreement.
5. Evaluation
    a. Develop and submit a plan for evaluating the impact of training 
and technical assistance services, particularly the impact of training 
events relative to each training event's objectives and the principles 
and deliverables of this Notice.
    b. Conduct an assessment after each training and technical 
assistance event.
    c. Maintain records of these evaluations and provide them to the 
Corporation, or an authorized representative, upon request.
    d. Submit aggregate evaluation summaries of training and technical 
assistance events' evaluations as part of progress reports to the 
Corporation.
    e. The Corporation may conduct an independent assessment of each 
provider's performance.
7. Reporting Requirements
    The provider is responsible for submitting timely progress and 
financial reports during and at the conclusion of the award period to 
the Corporation as follows:
    a. Semi-annual Progress Reports. Progress reports must be submitted 
semi-annually and are due January 31, 2002, for the period ending 
December 30, 2001, and July 31, 2002, for the period ending June 30, 
2002. The provider must develop the capacity to submit this information 
electronically. At a minimum, progress reports must provide the 
information below:
    i. A comparison of accomplishments with the goals and objectives 
for the reporting period;
    ii. An annotated version of the approved budget that compares 
actual costs with budgeted costs by line item, and explains 
differences. The explanation should include, as appropriate, an 
analysis of cost overruns and high-cost units and a description of 
service requests not anticipated in the provider's original budget;
    iii. A description of the services provided to include:
    (a) Number of requests received;
    (b) Activity conducted to address each request;
    (c) Number of participants to whom information was provided and/or 
affected by each training and technical assistance event;
    (d) Client feedback on the services; and
    (e) Problems encountered in delivering services with 
recommendations for correcting them.
    iv. List of upcoming activities and events with dates and 
locations;
    v. Recommended training and technical assistance focus areas as 
suggested by analyses of service activities and trends;
    vi. Discussion of developments that hindered, or may hinder, 
compliance with the cooperative agreement;
    vii. List of materials submitted to the National Service Resource 
Center and National Service-learning Clearinghouse;
    viii. List of practices and supporting documentation or materials 
submitted to the Effective Practices Information Center database 
(EpiCenter).
    b. Financial reports must be submitted semi-annually to include a 
summary of expenditures during the period. A cumulative report must be 
submitted on the Financial Status Report (FSR) form SF 269A.
    c. Final Reports. i. Upon completing the final year of the 
agreement, the provider must submit, in lieu of the last semiannual 
progress report, a final progress report that is cumulative over the 
entire award period. This final progress report is due within 90 days 
after the close of the agreement.
    ii. Upon completing the final year of the award, the provider must 
submit, in lieu of the last semi-annual FSR, a final FSR that is 
cumulative over the entire award period. This FSR is due within 90 days 
after the end of the agreement.
    d. Financial reports must be submitted in three (3) copies to the 
Office of Grants Management. Progress reports shall be submitted in 
three (3) copies to the Corporation's cognizant training officer of the 
award.
    e. The provider must meet as necessary with the cognizant training 
officer or with other staff or consultants designated by the 
Corporation training official to exchange views, ideas, and information 
concerning T/TA. The provider must submit such special reports as may 
be reasonably requested by the Corporation.
7. Other Requirements
    a. Assure that provider staff and consultants are fully versed in 
the background, approach, vocabulary, assets, needs and objectives of 
the Corporation and each of its program streams.
    b. Participate in the planning and implementation of conferences 
and training events as requested by the Corporation.
    c. Collaborate in materials' development and training events 
organized by other providers or the Corporation, as requested.
    d. Share effective practices with other providers through the 
training and technical assistance listserv, the Effective Practices 
Information Center database (EpiCenter) and other mechanisms such as 
the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse and the National Service 
Resource Center (see ``Glossary of Terms'').
    e. Creatively and effectively use technology as a cost-effective 
strategy for reaching large numbers of organizations.

V. Application Guidelines

A. Proposal Content and Submission

    Applicants must submit one unbound, original proposal and two bound 
copies. Applicants may voluntarily submit two additional bound copies 
for a total of four copies. Proposals may not be submitted by 
facsimile. Page limits are provided as a guide. Proposals must include 
the following:

[[Page 30891]]

1. Cover Page
    The cover page must include the name, address, phone number, fax 
number, e-mail address of the contact person and World Wide Web site 
URL (if available) of the applicant organization; the category for 
which the application is being submitted; a 25-50 word summary of 
proposed information and training and technical assistance activities; 
and, the total funding amount requested for the first year.
2. List of Activities and Materials
    A one-two page list of all proposed information and training and 
technical assistance activities and materials.
3. Information and Capacity-Building Delivery Plan
    A bulleted narrative of approximately 20 double-spaced, single-
sided, typed pages in no smaller than 12-point font that includes:
    a. The applicant's proposed strategy and rationale for providing 
information and capacity-building support to state service commissions, 
other statewide organizations, and a diverse audience of faith-based 
and small community organizations for year one with proposed changes 
(if any) for years two and three. The applicant should use the specific 
deliverables and requirements outlined in Section IV of this Notice as 
a starting point for a plan and should present these deliverables in a 
way that creatively reflects the applicant's areas of expertise and 
knowledge of faith-based and small community organization audiences. It 
is not sufficient to simply re-list the tasks stated in this Notice. As 
appropriate, the applicant should also include the following 
information for each proposed information and capacity-building support 
activity, product, or event: type of activity, number, frequency, 
audience, information, knowledge and skills individuals will gain, 
estimated audience size, content, skill level, proposed needs 
assessment and continuous improvement strategies.
    b. A detailed one-year work plan and timeline for completing all 
information and training and technical assistance activities. The work 
plan should include all deliverables and the tasks leading to them.
    c. A plan for regularly evaluating performance and using findings 
for continuous improvement.
4. Technology Strategy
    A one-page description of how applicant proposes to use technology, 
particularly e-learning, to effectively broaden the reach of 
information and training delivery. Description should include target 
audience; proposed use of technology; rationale for approach; types of 
information being shared; concepts and skills to be delivered under 
training, including desired learner outcomes; and how outcomes will be 
achieved.
5. Description of Organizational Capacity
    An organizational chart that clearly shows the place of the 
provider in the parent organization's structure and resumes and a 
narrative of approximately three double-spaced, single-sided, typed 
pages in no smaller than 12-point font which describes:
    a. The organization's capacity to provide information and capacity-
building support services nationwide, including descriptions of recent 
work similar to that being proposed.
    b. The organization's knowledge of and experience with faith-based 
and community organizations and national and community service.
    c. The organization's ability to leverage the expertise and 
resources of a broad base of organizations to achieve the objectives 
under this Notice.
    d. References that can be contacted related to the organization's 
capacity.
    e. List of proposed staff that includes each one's areas of 
expertise. (Note: Final list will be subject to Corporation approval.)
6. Budget
    A detailed, line-item budget with costs organized by personnel, 
task and sub-task and related to the activities and deliverables 
outlined in the introductory narrative and work plan. Costs in proposed 
budgets must consist solely of costs allowable under applicable cost 
principles found in OMB Circulars.
    Applicants should be mindful that a demonstrated commitment to 
providing services in the most cost-effective manner possible will be a 
major consideration in the evaluation of proposals. Provider match is 
not required. The budget should include:
    a. Proposed staff and expert-consultant hours and pay rates by task 
and sub-task;
    b. Types and quantities of other direct costs being proposed by 
task and subtask (for example, amounts of travel and volume of other 
task-related resources, such as communications, postage, etc.).
7. Budget Narrative
    Provide a budget narrative that corresponds with all items in the 
line-item budget and that includes an explanation and cost basis for 
all cost estimates that appear in the line-item budget. The narrative 
should clearly show the following:
    a. How each cost was derived, using equations to reflect all 
factors considered.
    b. The anticipated unit cost (with derivation) of the various 
deliverables (such as training events, publications and technical 
assistance interventions).

B. Selection Criteria

    The Corporation will assess applications based on the criteria 
listed below.
1. Quality (25%)
    The Corporation will consider the quality of the proposed 
activities based on:
    a. Evidence of the applicant's knowledge of faith-based and small 
community organizations, the goals of the Corporation and its various 
programs (see Section VI. ``Glossary''), and the Corporation's 
information sharing and training and technical assistance requirements 
and principles as outlined in this Notice and demonstrated by 
applicant's past experience and proposed approach.
    b. Evidence of the applicant's knowledge of adult learning and 
experience in training adults; the audience appropriateness, strategic 
nature (i e., broad reaching and capacity-building), effectiveness and 
creativity of the applicant's approach.
2. Organizational and Personnel Capacity (35%)
    The Corporation will consider the organizational capacity of the 
applicant to deliver the proposed services based on:
    a. Evidence of the organization's experience in delivering high-
quality information and capacity-building support to faith-based and 
small community organizations in a flexible, responsive, collaborative 
and creative manner; experience with or knowledge of national or 
community service as described by applicant; experience using 
technology as an outreach tool.
    b. Evidence of experience providing information to, and training 
and technical assistance to, adults who work in or with faith-based or 
small community organizations on the part of the proposed staff and 
consultants as demonstrated by annotated staff lists or resumes.
    c. Demonstrated ability to manage a federal grant or apply sound 
fiscal management principles to grants and cost accounting as evidenced 
by an annotated list of applicant's previous grants experience.

[[Page 30892]]

    d. Demonstrated ability to provide information and capacity-
building support services nationwide as evidenced by proposed 
technology plan, proposed staffing and previous levels of activity and 
experience.
    e. Demonstrated ability to leverage the expertise and resources of 
a broad base of organizations.
3. Evaluation (15%)
    The Corporation will consider how the applicant:
    a. Proposes to assess the effectiveness and need for its services 
and products delivered under the award.
    b. Plans to use assessments of its services and products to modify 
and improve subsequent services and products.
4. Budget (25%)
    The Corporation will consider the budget based on:
    a. Cost of each proposed activity in relation to the scope and 
depth of the services proposed (i.e., the number of states, programs 
and individuals the proposed activities are intended to reach);
    b. The clarity and thoroughness of the budget and budget narrative 
(see specifications under ``Budget Narrative'').

VI. Glossary of Terms

Clusters

    The Corporation's field offices are organized into five regions 
(``clusters'') as follows:

Atlantic:
    Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New 
Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode 
Island, Vermont, Virgin Islands
North Central:
    Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North 
Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin
Pacific:
    Alaska, American Samoa, California, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Mariannas, 
Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming
South:
    Alabama, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, 
Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West 
Virginia
Southwest:
    Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New 
Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas

Cluster-Based Training

    Training events planned in conjunction with the Corporation's 
training and technical assistance officer and the commissions, state 
offices, state education agencies or Tribal, national direct and higher 
education grantees in a particular region.

Corporation State Office

    The Corporation-staffed office that, within a state, manages VISTA 
activities, oversees Senior Corps activities, and otherwise supports 
programs funded under the national service laws. Corporation state 
offices are organized by cluster.

Effective Practice(s)

    The following definition is used to guide submissions of effective 
practice(s) to the Effective Practices Information Center (EpiCenter): 
An effective practices is an action or series of actions by a grantee, 
program staff, national service participant, or technical assistance 
provider that helps to solve an essential problem facing a national 
service program and the community it serves, leading to a successful 
outcome. Effective practices address issues shared by program staff or 
national service participants across local program or operating sites 
and can be replicated in or adapted to serve in more than one locale. 
Effective practices can be described and documented in terms of (1) the 
problem it solves; (2) the context in which it has been successful; (3) 
the level of outcome or impact it helped to achieve; and (4) evidence 
of success of the practice.

Effective Practices Information Center (EpiCenter)

    EpiCenter is the Corporation's online database of effective program 
practices in national service. Its mission is to support practitioners 
in developing sustainable programs that lead to positive outcomes for 
beneficiaries, participants, institutions, and communities and to make 
this information widely accessible across the national service network. 
Providers are required to submit effective training and program 
practices to EpiCenter. The database can be visited at 
www.nationalservice.org/resources/epicenter.

Grantees

    Entities funded directly by the Corporation. These include and are 
not limited to: state commissions; state education agencies; Tribes and 
U.S.Territories; national direct parent organizations; institutions, 
consortia and organizations of higher education; local governments; and 
non-profit organizations. Many grantees also subgrant a significant 
portion of their funds to others (e.g., a state commission conducts a 
competition and review process and funds AmeriCorps programs throughout 
a state; a state education agency (SEA) conducts a competition and 
review process and funds school systems throughout a state). 
Regulations do not allow the 1,300 Senior Corps grantees to subgrant.

Learn and Serve America National Service-Learning Clearinghouse

    The Learn and Serve America National Service-Learning Clearinghouse 
is a collaborative effort among twelve national partner organizations 
to collect and disseminate information on service-learning for national 
service awardees and the general public engaged in service-learning. 
The Clearinghouse maintains and operates a web site and service-
learning listservs, a library of print and media materials related to 
service-learning, and a toll-free information and referral service. 
Providers are required to submit copies of service-learning related 
training materials and training scripts to the Learn and Serve America 
National Service-Learning Clearinghouse.

National Service Resource Center (NSRC)

    The National Service Resource Center (NSRC) serves as a repository 
of information on all aspects of national service. The NSRC manages 
most of the Corporation's listservs. Training and technical assistance 
publications are posted or distributed by the NSRC and its web site 
includes a calendar of training events and links to all current 
providers.

Parent Organization

    The legal applicant for Corporation for National Service national 
direct funds; the organization responsible for the management and 
oversight of the national direct grant.

State Education Agency

    Refers to the officer or agency primarily responsible for that 
state's supervision of public elementary and secondary schools.

State Service Commission

    Refers to the State agency with responsibility for, among other 
things, selecting and overseeing national service programs, developing 
a unified state plan incorporating all streams of service, providing 
training and technical assistance to national service programs, and 
supporting recruitment and other public awareness activities.

[[Page 30893]]

Stream of Service

    Refers to the Corporation's three programs: AmeriCorps, Learn and 
Serve America and National Senior Service Corps. Cross-stream 
activities, therefore, refer to activities conducted or attended by 
representatives from more than one program stream.

Subgrantees

    Many Corporation awardees competitively award a significant portion 
of their funds to other entities known as subgrantees State 
commissions, for example, subgrant to local non-profit organizations. 
Senior Corps programs do not subgrant (see ``Grantees'').

Substream of Service

    Refers to the categories within each of the above streams and 
includes the following:

AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps*State
AmeriCorps*National
AmeriCorps*Promise Fellows
AmeriCorps*VISTA
AmeriCorps*National Civilian Community Corps
Learn and Serve America
Learn and Serve America K-12 School-Based and Community-Based Programs
Learn and Serve America Higher Education Programs
National Senior Service Corps
Foster Grandparent Program
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)
Senior Companion Program

Training and Technical Assistance Listserv

    Currently managed by the National Service Resource Center, the 
training and technical assistance listserv is one way providers share 
best practices with one another. Providers also share effective 
practices through the Effective Practices Information Center 
(EpiCenter) and the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse.

    Dated: June 1, 2001.
George Gary Kowalczyk,
Coordinator, National Service Programs, Corporation for National and 
Community Service.
[FR Doc. 01-14402 Filed 6-7-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6050-$$-P


</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>