[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 162 (Friday, August 21, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44845-44847]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22476]


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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE


Availability of Funds for Provision of Training and Technical 
Assistance to Sponsors of AmeriCorps Promise Fellows

AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.

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SUMMARY: The Corporation for National and Community Service 
(hereinafter the ``Corporation'') announces the availability of 
approximately $200,000 to support an organization selected under this 
Notice to provide training and technical assistance to organizations 
that sponsor AmeriCorps Promise Fellows. The organization selected 
will--on a national level--develop in the Fellows an identity that 
derives from participation in a common, national endeavor, design and 
help implement a training program to provide the Fellows with the 
skills required to fulfill their mission, and facilitate the exchange 
of information among Fellows, sponsoring organizations, and others 
involved in the AmeriCorps Promise Fellows initiative.

DATES: All proposals must be submitted by September 30, 1998. The 
Corporation anticipates making an award under this announcement no 
later than November 1, 1998. The project period is negotiable, but will 
end no later than December 31, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Proposals must be submitted to the Corporation at the 
following address: Corporation for National and Community Service, 
Attn: Gary Kowalczyk, 1201 New York Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20525.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, contact the 
Corporation for National and Community Service, Dana Rodgers, at (202) 
606-5000, ext. 211, or T.D.D. at (202) 565-2799. This notice may be 
requested in alternative format for visually impaired persons.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Corporation for National and Community Service

    The Corporation is a federal government corporation that encourages 
Americans of all ages and backgrounds to engage in national and 
community 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

[[Page 44846]]

substantial contribution to service. For more information about the 
Corporation and the activities it supports, go to http://
www.nationalservice.org.
    Section 198 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990, as 
amended, 42 U.S.C. 12653, authorizes the Corporation to provide, 
directly or through contracts or cooperative agreements, training and 
technical assistance in support of activities under the national 
service laws.
    Through this notice, the Corporation invites proposals from 
eligible applicants to provide training, technical assistance and other 
support to sponsors of AmeriCorps Promise Fellows. The Corporation 
anticipates making a single award for this purpose.
    Public agencies, non-profit organizations (i.e., youth-serving 
groups, community-based organizations, and service organizations), 
institutions of higher education, Indian tribes, and for-profit 
companies, including those that operate Corporation-supported programs, 
are eligible to apply. Submissions from organizations that can document 
an ability to provide T/TA on a nationwide basis will be accorded a 
preference in the selection process. Based on past T/TA competitions 
and the Corporation's estimate of the number of potential applicants, 
the Corporation expects that fewer than ten applications will be 
submitted.

Background

    Last year in Philadelphia, President Clinton, former Presidents 
Bush, Carter, and Ford, Mrs. Nancy Reagan, and General Colin Powell, 
with the endorsement of many governors, mayors, and leaders of the 
independent sector, declared: ``We have a special obligation to 
America's children to see that all young Americans have:
     Caring adults in their lives, as parents, mentors, tutors, 
coaches;
     Safe places with structured activities in which to learn 
and grow;
     A healthy start and healthy future;
     An effective education that equips them with marketable 
skills; and
     An opportunity to give back to their communities through 
their own service.
    For more information about the five goals of the President's Summit 
for America's Future, go to http://www.americaspromise.org.
    As a major partner in this effort, the Corporation for National 
Service devotes a substantial part of its activities to help meet these 
goals, including the work of AmeriCorps, Learn and Serve America, and 
the National Senior Service Corps. AmeriCorps Promise Fellows will 
provide States and local communities with additional and unique support 
to help carry out their plans to provide America's children with these 
five fundamental resources.
    The Corporation for National Service will use approximately $5 
million to award up to 100 grants to support AmeriCorps Promise Fellows 
dedicated to achieving the five goals for children set at the 
President's Summit. These grants, in the aggregate, are expected to 
support between 500 and 750 Fellowships. Fellows will spend one year 
serving with organizations that are committed to helping to meet one or 
more of the given goals of the President's Summit. In addition, each 
Fellow completing service will receive the $4,725 AmeriCorps education 
award.

Relationship to AmeriCorps Promise Fellows and Other Groups

    This Notice seeks a provider to work with sponsors of AmeriCorps 
Promise Fellows throughout the country. Sponsors may include State 
Commissions, national non-profit organizations, Indian tribes and U.S. 
Territories. Fellows will serve with host organizations directly 
engaged in achieving the five goals identified at the Presidents' 
Summit. For purposes of this Notice, the term ``sponsor'' includes both 
sponsoring and host organizations. Sponsors will ensure that Fellows 
work in coordination with America's Promise: The Alliance for Youth, an 
organization established to follow through on the commitments made at 
the Presidents' Summit. For more information about the AmeriCorps 
Promise Fellows, see the notice announcing the availability of funds 
published at 63FR 38811 (July 20, 1998) or go to http://www/
nationalservice.org.
    The provider will need to coordinate at the national level with 
America's Promise as well as the Corporation. It will also be required 
to work in a complementary role with the State Commissions and other 
sponsors.

Training and Technical Assistance Activities

    Within the framework of relationships described above, the 
Corporation expects the provider selected under this Notice to engage 
in the following:
    (1) Developing a National Program Identity: Fellows need to see 
themselves, and be seen by others, as part of a unique effort that is 
grounded in their identity as AmeriCorps members, but expands on that 
awareness to identify with their special mission to support 
implementation at the community level of the five fundamental resources 
for youth identified at the Presidents' Summit and carried forward by 
America's Promise at the community and state levels.
    The provider will support this through a variety of ways, which for 
illustrative purposes may include:
    Facilitating communication and general program awareness among 
Fellows, through newsletters and other periodic communications to 
Fellows and the organizations where they serve, an Internet listserv or 
other means of communication among Fellows and sponsor and host 
organization staff, and periodic contact through phone calls, mass 
mailings and training conferences.
    Developing and disseminating materials concerning AmeriCorps 
Promise Fellows on a national basis.
    Designing and developing items that provide a unique identity to 
the Fellows, such as caps, T-shirts and other clothing, program logos, 
etc. in coordination with the Corporation and America's Promise.
    (2) Training Support for AmeriCorps Promise Fellows. The provider 
will take the lead in designing and delivering a training program to 
provide Fellows with the knowledge and skills needed to successfully 
implement the initiative. This may include:
     Designing and developing training curricula and materials, 
focusing on overall program objectives and identity, special skills 
such as community outreach, networking, resource mobilization, 
community volunteer recruitment, and training and coordination.
     Conducting, in collaboration with the Corporation, 
America's Promise, and sponsors, an initial national pre-service 
orientation for the Fellows, focusing on the terms and conditions of 
service and the identity and mission of the Fellows. The orientation 
will likely be a three-day event at a central location, with all 500-
750 Fellows participating. The provider will participate in design of 
the orientation, facilitate and present selected topics, and provide 
logistical coordination, including working with the site (hotel, 
conference center, etc.) as well as with the Corporation, America's 
Promise and sponsors. The provider will not be responsible for the 
travel and per diem of participants, including Fellows and staff (other 
than provider staff).
     Providing technical assistance and support on a continuing 
basis to the Fellows and their sponsors.
    (3) Program Coordination: The provider will support the 
implementation of the AmeriCorps Promise Fellows initiative by:
     Facilitating information exchange through regular 
communications with and between the Corporation, America's

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Promise, and sponsors, including design and implementation of a 
management information system, periodic oral, electronic and written 
reports and other communications about the status of the Fellowship 
initiative.
     Identifying issues and challenges requiring action by the 
Corporation or sponsors.
    (4) Self Evaluation: The provider will implement a program of 
continuous improvement, including periodic self-assessments and follow-
up to ensure that issues identified in the assessments are addressed. 
The provider will share these self-assessments with the Corporation.

Contents of the Proposal

    Eligible parties must submit a proposal that contains the following 
information:
    1. A cover page listing: name, address, phone number, fax number, 
e-mail address and World Wide Web site (if available) of the applicant 
organization and contact person; a brief summary of the proposed 
program; and the total funding requested (not to exceed $200,000).
    2. Narrative of no more than 10 double-spaced, single sided, typed 
pages in no smaller than 12 point font describing:
     A detailed work plan for accomplishing the tasks described 
in the
     Training and Technical Assistance portion of this Notice.
     The applicant's plan for regularly evaluating its 
performance and reporting the findings and proposed improvements to the 
Corporation.
    3. A narrative of no more than four double-spaced, single sided, 
typed pages in no smaller than 12-point font describing the 
organization's capacity to provide training, technical assistance, and 
other requested assistance nationwide, including descriptions of recent 
work similar to that being proposed, references that can be contacted 
relative to that work, organizational structure and staff members 
proposed for participation in this program, including their strengths 
and backgrounds (resumes of proposed staff members may be included as 
an attachment and are not counted toward the page limits.)
    4. A detailed budget, including the allocation of person-hours by 
task, an estimate of travel and other direct costs by task as 
appropriate. Costs in the proposed budget must consist solely of costs 
allowable under applicable OMB Circulars. A supporting budget narrative 
including an explanation of the basis for cost estimates is required.

Selection Process and Criteria

    The Corporation anticipates supporting a single cooperative 
agreement under this Notice, with the exact amount depending on the 
proposal. In making a selection, the Corporation will evaluate 
applications based on the criteria listed below:

(1) Quality (35%)

    The Corporation will consider the quality of the proposed 
activities based on:
    (a) Demonstrated understanding of the needs of the AmeriCorps 
Promise Fellows initiative and the role of training and technical 
assistance in supporting the initiative.
    (b) Degree to which the work plan demonstrates how the provider 
will carry out the Training and Technical Assistance activities.

(2) Organizational and Personnel Capacity (35%)

    The Corporation will consider the organizational capacity of the 
applicant to deliver the proposed services based on:
    (a) Organizational experience in delivering high-quality training 
and technical assistance, particularly in the areas under 
consideration.
    (b) Organizational experience in delivering high-quality training 
and technical assistance flexibly, creatively, responsively, and 
working in partnership with other organizations and individuals.
    (c) Background of the organization's leadership and staff/
consultants proposed for the project.
    (d) Demonstrated ability to manage a federal grant or apply sound 
fiscal management principles to grants and cost accounting.
    (e) Demonstrated ability to provide T/TA services nationwide on a 
cost-effective basis.

Evaluation (10%)

    The Corporation will consider how the applicant proposes to:
    (a) Assess its services and products delivered under the award.
    (b) Use the self-assessments to modify and improve subsequent 
services and performance.

Budget (20%)

    The Corporation will consider the budget based on:
    (a) Scope of the proposed activity (i.e., number of Fellows, 
sponsors, and host organizations the proposed activities are expected 
to reach).
    (b) Cost-effectiveness of the proposed activity; the degree to 
which the provider proposes a reasonable estimate of the amount of 
services the organization will be able to provide based on the 
requested amount of funds and the organization's existing resources.

Preference for Nation-Wide Capacity

    In addition, the Corporation may select an organization that has 
demonstrated its capacity to provide T/TA on a nation-wide basis over 
an organization of comparable merit that has not demonstrated this 
ability.

    Dated: August 17, 1998.
Thomas L. Bryant,
Acting General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 98-22476 Filed 8-20-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6050-28-P