[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 4, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46631-46632]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-22450]


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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

Availability of Funds for Technical and Administrative Support 
for the National Service Scholarship Program

AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.

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SUMMARY: The Corporation for National Service (the Corporation) 
announces the availability of up to $250,000 to provide technical and 
administrative support for a new National Service Scholarship Program 
to recognize high school juniors and seniors engaged in outstanding 
community service. Students selected for recognition will receive 
locally-funded scholarships, matched or supplemented with federal funds 
provided by the Corporation. Of the National Service Scholars, a small 
number selected at the State level will receive special recognition and 
larger scholarships, and an even smaller number selected at the 
national level will receive special recognition and still larger 
scholarships. The Corporation's goal in this effort is to highlight the 
outstanding community service performed by high school students across 
the country, to recognize the particularly noteworthy service 
accomplishments of outstanding young individuals, and to assist those 
individuals in pursuing higher education.
    As part of this effort, the Corporation is interested in selecting 
an organization to provide administrative and technical support related 
to this program. The successful applicant will assist in the design of 
the program, conduct outreach and promote the program, solicit input 
from interested nonprofit organizations with relevant expertise, work 
with local nonprofits and other organizations to carry out the program, 
and provide the administrative and technical support necessary to 
accomplish the objectives described above.

DATES: The deadline for submission of applications is October 15, 1996. 
Applications must be received by the Corporation no later than 3:00 
p.m. Eastern Standard Time on that date.

ADDRESSES: Applications must be addressed to: Corporation for National 
Service, 1201 New York Avenue NW, Ninth Floor, Washington, DC 20525. 
Attention: Simon G. Woodard. Applications may not be submitted by 
facsimile.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, contact Simon 
G. Woodard at (202) 606-5000, ext. 114. This notice may be requested in 
an alternative format for the visually impaired by calling (202) 606-
5000, ext. 260. The Corporation's T.D.D. number is (202) 565-2799.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Corporation is a federal government corporation that encourages 
Americans of all ages and backgrounds to engage in community-based 
service. This service addresses the nation's educational, public 
safety, environmental and other human needs to achieve direct and 
demonstrable results. In doing so, the Corporation fosters civic 
responsibility, strengthens the ties that bind us together as a people, 
and provides educational opportunity for those who make a substantial 
commitment to service.
    Pursuant to the National and Community Service Act of 1990, as 
amended, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 12501, et seq. (the Act), the Corporation may 
``support innovative and model programs.'' Under this authority, the 
Corporation intends to conduct a National Service Scholarship Program 
that will recognize high school juniors/seniors for outstanding service 
in their communities and provide modest scholarship support in 
recognition of such service.
    Through this notice, the Corporation invites proposals from 
interested applicants to design and implement the program. An outline 
of the program, and the expectations of performance are provided below.

Purpose and Potential Design of the National Service Scholarship 
Program

    The purpose of this program is to highlight the outstanding 
community service performed by high school students across the country, 
to recognize the particularly noteworthy service accomplishments of 
outstanding young individuals, and to assist those individuals in 
pursuing higher education.
    The Corporation anticipates that the final design of this program 
will come from a collaboration involving the organization selected 
under this notice, an independent panel of experts in the field, and 
State and local stakeholders. The Corporation expects that the national 
service scholarship program will be implemented by local schools and 
communities across the country according to guidelines and procedures 
they will establish, consistent with the following general guidelines:
    (1) The volunteer activities of the high school junior/senior 
should demonstrate effort over a sustained period of no less than one 
year, and should have a significant impact in meeting the needs of the 
local community.
    (2) The awarding of the scholarship should be made by a local 
organization in recognition of the individual's community service and 
in accordance with procedures that are equitable and provide the 
opportunity for consideration of all eligible candidates.
    (3) It may be connected with service learning programs of the 
school district.
    (4) The selection process should be strictly non-partisan and non-
political.

[[Page 46632]]

    (5) The scholarship recipient should be acknowledged by the 
community and school in an appropriate fashion, such as high school 
graduation.
    (6) The scholarship should be provided by private funding sources, 
and should be a minimum of $500.
    The following is one potential design of the program to assist 
organizations in understanding the scope and magnitude of the effort 
required in this project. In this scenario, individuals might be 
selected by local high schools or community organizations as National 
Service Scholars. They, in turn, might complete a brief application and 
submit them to either the State Education Agency, which now administers 
service learning programs, or to the State Commission on National and 
Community Service, as determined by the governor of the State. That 
organization, based on merit criteria and consistent with the local 
guidelines, could select a number of individuals who would have their 
scholarship matched by the Corporation; and award a number of larger 
scholarships to particularly noteworthy individuals. The application 
might also include reference to the connection between service and 
school studies. Each State agency would forward the applications of the 
statewide scholarship recipients to a panel of nationally renowned 
individuals who will select several larger scholarship recipients 
across the nation.
    The scholarships provided by private organizations should be for 
the purpose of paying the cost of a student's higher education and will 
be granted under the terms and conditions set by those organizations. 
The matching amount provided by the Corporation, as well as the larger 
scholarships, would be paid directly to an institution of higher 
education.

Eligible Applicants

    To be eligible, applicants must be a non-profit organization or 
educational institution. 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 
activities is not eligible.

Required Activities of the Successful Applicant

    The organization selected will (1) Complete a final program design 
and implementation plan for approval by the Corporation; (2) publicize 
the program to local school districts, State agencies, and other 
affected parties; (3) provide assistance to local nonprofits and seek 
input from national nonprofit organization with relevant expertise and 
knowledge; (4) respond to inquiries from all parties in timely fashion; 
(5) organize the selection process for nationally-selected 
scholarships; and (6) provide administrative and technical support to 
the Corporation at all phases of the program.

Corporation Involvement

    Substantial involvement is expected between the Corporation and the 
successful applicant when carrying out the program. The Corporation 
anticipates providing sufficient staff to support this effort and to 
oversee the provision of Corporation funds. The applicant must keep 
relevant Corporation staff informed of its activities; work with 
Corporation staff during development, delivery and assessment of 
services provided; and attend meetings/conferences at the Corporation's 
request.

Project Duration

    The Corporation anticipates entering into a cooperative agreement 
covering a project period of approximately November, 1996 through 
approximately October, 1997, with the possibility of renewal based on 
performance, need, and the availability of funds at the discretion of 
the Corporation.

Overview of Application Requirements

    The application should include a narrative section describing the 
organization's background and capacity to provide the technical and 
administrative support for this program, an implementation timeline, a 
staffing plan, and a certification that it will comply with all 
conditions attendant to the receipt of federal funding. The application 
may be no longer than 20 single-sided pages double-spaced in 12-point 
font.
    Initially all applications will be reviewed to confirm that the 
applicant is an eligible recipient and to ensure that the application 
contains the information required. The Corporation will assess 
applications based on the criteria listed below (in descending order of 
importance):

(1) Quality
(2) Organizational Capacity
(3) Proposed Costs.

    The Corporation reserves the right to request additional written 
information from applicants subsequent to the submission of initial 
applications.

    Dated: August 28, 1996.
Shirley Sagawa,
Managing Director for Planning, Corporation for National Service.
[FR Doc. 96-22450 Filed 9-3-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6050-28-P