[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