[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 40 (Monday, March 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10200-10202]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-5225]


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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE


AmeriCorps*VISTA Supervision and Transportation Support 
Guidelines

AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.

ACTION: Notice of guidelines with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Corporation for National Service (``Corporation'') plans 
to replace the VISTA Supervision and Transportation Support Guidelines 
published in the Federal Register on May 5, 1987 (52 FR 16422). These 
guidelines will enable AmeriCorps*VISTA to make a grant agreement, or 
other arrangements with a sponsoring organization to pay for on-the-job 
transportation and/or supervisory support for AmeriCorps*VISTA members. 
The Corporation invites all interested parties to comment on the issues 
discussed in this notice. Any comments received will be carefully 
considered in the development of the final AmeriCorps*VISTA Supervision 
and Transportation Support Guidelines.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the

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address section on or before March 25, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Rosezina Dunn, AmeriCorps*VISTA Office, 
Corporation for National Service, Room 9110, 1201 New York Avenue, 
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20525. (See Supplementary Information section 
for policy on electronic access.)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry Bevan, Program and Field Support 
Manager, AmeriCorps*VISTA, (202) 606-5000, extension 206. For 
individuals with disabilities, information will be made available in 
alternative formats, upon request.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Final Notice of VISTA Supervision and 
Transportation Support Guidelines, as published in the Federal Register 
on May 5, 1987 (52 FR 16422), will be replaced by new guidelines. This 
notice proposes new guidelines to ensure that AmeriCorps*VISTA members 
have the support to ensure that they may perform their assignments 
effectively. These guidelines will apply to AmeriCorps*VISTA sponsors 
and members serving under Title I, Part A of Pub. L. 93-113, as 
amended. The Corporation seeks public comment for all portions of these 
proposed guidelines. Comments submitted in response to this notice will 
be summarized and/or included in the final guidelines; they will also 
become a matter of public record. No electronic mail or facsimile 
transmission comments will be accepted.

AmeriCorps*VISTA Supervision and Transportation Support Guidelines 
Implementation

    These Guidelines apply to all AmeriCorps*VISTA member supervision 
and/or on-the-job transportation support grant applications/agreements 
submitted to the Corporation for National Service on or after the 
effective date of the final notice.

1. Purpose

    (a) Section 105(b) of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, 
Public Law 93-113, as amended, requires the AmeriCorps*VISTA program to 
ensure that each member serving under Title I, Part A of the Act has 
available such allowances and support as will enable them to carry out 
the purpose and provisions of the Act and to perform their assignments 
effectively. In accordance with Section 105(b) and these guidelines, 
AmeriCorps*VISTA may make a commitment through a grant agreement, or 
other arrangement with a sponsor, to pay for on-the-job transportation 
and/or supervisory support of such members.
    (b) This order establishes the policy and guidelines for 
determining:
    (1) The circumstances under which grants or other arrangements for 
AmeriCorps*VISTA contributions to on-the-job transportation expenses of 
AmeriCorps*VISTA members may be negotiated between AmeriCorps*VISTA and 
the sponsor; and
    (2) The circumstances under which grants or other arrangements for 
AmeriCorps*VISTA contributions to the cost of providing supervision for 
AmeriCorps*VISTA members may be negotiated between AmeriCorps*VISTA and 
the sponsor.

2. Scope

    Provisions of this policy and guidelines apply to AmeriCorps*VISTA 
sponsors and members serving under Title I, Part A of Pub. L. 93-113, 
as amended.

3. Background

    While AmeriCorps*VISTA must ensure that members have available such 
allowances and support as will enable them to perform their project 
assignments effectively, the provision of adequate on-the-job 
transportation and supervision for AmeriCorps*VISTA members is 
primarily the responsibility of the sponsoring organization.
    AmeriCorps*VISTA recognizes, however, that in some instances 
sponsoring organizations requesting members for projects that conform 
to AmeriCorps*VISTA's programming criteria may need assistance in 
providing this support. Corporation State Program Directors are 
provided with limited financial resources for the purpose of entering 
into transportation and/or supervision arrangements with 
AmeriCorps*VISTA project sponsors.
    When such arrangements are established with a sponsoring 
organization, they are to provide for the direct support of 
AmeriCorps*VISTA member transportation and supervision, as well as 
travel needed to supervise AmeriCorps*VISTA members. They are not 
intended to provide for other support needed to accomplish the goals of 
the project. All other overhead expenses such as supplies, materials, 
and equipment are the sole responsibility of the sponsoring 
organization.

4. Policy

    (a) AmeriCorps*VISTA will provide full or partial funding for on-
the-job transportation of AmeriCorps*VISTA members and/or for hiring of 
persons responsible for supervision of the members, but only in those 
cases where such support is deemed by the Corporation State Program 
Director to be:
    (1) Necessary for the effective functioning of the AmeriCorps*VISTA 
members on the project, and
    (2) Within these guidelines.
    (b) Gradual assumption of transportation and/or supervision support 
by the sponsoring organization over the life of the project is 
encouraged.
    (c) When a supervision and/or transportation arrangement is 
approved, the nature of the agreement between the Corporation State 
Program Director and the sponsor will be reflected in the relevant 
Memorandum of Agreement. Any agreement whereby AmeriCorp*VISTA provides 
funds for these purposes will include provisions to ensure that:
    (1) Services are furnished at a reasonable rate;
    (2) The rate conforms to sponsor's hiring policies and/or local 
prevailing salary levels;
    (3) Any expenses incurred by the sponsoring organization over the 
agreed amount will be at its own expense.
    (d) In developing/renewing projects, the Corporation State Program 
Director shall take into account the travel and supervisory 
requirements of the proposed project. AmeriCorps*VISTA project support 
funds will be provided only when needs of the project and the assigned 
members cannot be met by the sponsor's own structure and resources.
    (e) Renewal of supervision and/or transportation grants 
arrangements will be based on needs, availability of resources, and 
project performance.

5. Guidelines for Transportation Arrangements

    (a) The Corporation State Program Director will establish the 
following facts before approving AmeriCorps*VISTA funds to support on-
the-job transportation for AmeriCorps*VISTA members:
    (1) Necessity of transportation, including public transportation, 
for AmeriCorps*VISTA members to achieve the goals/objectives of the 
project as contained in the project application;
    (2) Inability of the sponsoring organization to provide adequate 
transportation.
    (b) The Corporation will not provide on-the-job transportation 
support for:
    (1) Travel expenses incurred by AmeriCorps*VISTA members from their 
residence to their assigned post; and
    (2) Transportation or delivery services to the population being 
served.
    (c) The Corporation State Program Director will consider budget

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constraints, available resources, and program and geographic priorities 
in distributing AmeriCorps*VISTA on-the-job transportation funds.

6. Guidelines for Supervision Arrangements

    (a) The Corporation State Program Director shall establish the 
following facts before approving AmeriCorps*VISTA funds to support on-
the-job supervision of AmeriCorps*VISTA members:
    (1) Necessity of full- or part-time supervision for members to 
achieve the goals/objectives of the project as outlined in the project 
application;
    (2) Inability of the sponsoring organization to provide adequate 
supervision;
    (3) Number of AmeriCorps*VISTA members assigned to the project 
during the period covered by the Memorandum of Agreement;
    (4) Necessity of supervisor job-related travel based on number of 
AmeriCorps*VISTA members assigned and the geographic dispersion of the 
project.
    (b) The Corporation has determined that:
    (1) Projects averaging three (3) or fewer AmeriCorps*VISTA members 
over the course of the Memorandum of Agreement will not be eligible for 
any AmeriCorps*VISTA supervisory funding.
    (2) Projects averaging at least four (4) AmeriCorps*VISTA members 
during the term of the Memorandum of Agreement are eligible for part-
time supervisory funding in the same ratio as the individual would 
spend in actual supervision, e.g., if the supervisor spends at least 
30% time directly supervising the members, AmeriCorps*VISTA would fund 
up to 30% of salary.
    (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.
    (c) 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 that 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 AmeriCorps*VISTA 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: February 24, 1998.
Kenneth L. Klothen,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 98-5225 Filed 2-27-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6060-28-P