[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 162 (Friday, August 21, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44842-44845]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22477]
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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
Availability of Funds for National Provider of Training and
Technical Assistance to National Service Programs Operated by Indian
Tribes or Involving Native Americans
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
(Corporation) announces the availability of approximately $100,000 to
provide training and technical assistance (T/TA) to national service
programs supported by the Corporation that are operated by Indian
Tribes or involve Native Americans. The Corporation expects to make one
award in the form of a one-year cooperative agreement with the
possibility of extension based on performance, need, and availability
of funds.
DATES: Proposals must be received by the Corporation by 3:00 p.m.
Eastern time on September 21, 1998.
ADDRESSES: All proposals should be submitted to the Corporation for
National and Community Service, 1201 New York Avenue, NW, Washington,
DC 20525, Attention: Laurel Ihator, Room 9808.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Ekstrom or Susan Schechter at the
Corporation for National and Community Service, (202) 606-5000, ext.
461, T.D.D. (202) 565-2799. This notice may be requested in an
alternative format for persons with visual impairments.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Corporation for National and Community Service was established
in 1993 to engage Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service in
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 a part of a
team. AmeriCorps*State/National, VISTA, and National Civilian Community
Corps engage thousands of Americans on a full- or part-time basis at
more than 1,000 locations to help communities meet their toughest
challenges. Learn and Serve America integrates service into the
academic life of more than 800,000 students in all 50 states. The
National Senior Service Corps utilizes the skills, talents and
experience of over 500,000 older Americans to help make communities
stronger, safer, healthier and smarter.
The Corporation directly operates the AmeriCorps*VISTA *NCCC
programs. More than 4,000 AmeriCorps*VISTA members serve to develop
grassroots programs, mobilize resources and build capacity for service
programs across the nation. AmeriCorps*NCCC (National Civilian
Community Corps) provides an opportunity for approximately 1,000
individuals between the ages of 18 and 24 to participate in a
residential program principally located on downsized military bases.
The Corporation provides assistance to organizations that carry out
AmeriCorps*State/National, Learn and Serve America, and National Senior
Service Corps programs. AmeriCorps*State/National programs, which
involve 25,000 Americans each year in results-driven community service,
are grant programs managed by (1) State Commissions that select and
oversee programs operated by local organizations, (2) national non-
profit organizations that identify and act as parent organizations for
operating sites across the country; (3) Indian tribes; or (4) U.S.
Territories. Learn and Serve America grants provide service learning
opportunities for students in K-12 and higher education settings. The
National Senior Service Corps operates through grants to local
organizations for Retired Senior Volunteer Programs (RSVP), Foster
Grandparents and Senior Companions to provide service to their
communities. For additional information on the national service program
supported by the Corporation, go to http://www.nationalservice.org.
II. Eligibility
Public agencies, non-profit organizations (i.e., youth-serving
groups, community-based organizations, and service organizations),
institutions of higher education, Indian tribes, and
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for-profit companies are eligible to apply. Based on previous T/TA
provider application processes and the Corporation's estimate of the
number of potential applicants, the Corporation expects fewer than ten
applications to be submitted.
III. Period of Assistance and Other Conditions
A. Cooperative Agreements
Awards made under this Notice will be in the form of cooperative
agreements. Administration of cooperative agreements is controlled by
the Corporation's 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 and other
organizations). Providers must comply with reporting requirements,
including quarterly financial reports and quarterly progress reports
linking progress on deliverables to expenditures.
B. Use of Materials
To ensure that materials generated for training and technical
assistance purposes are available to the public and readily accessible
to grantees and subgrantees, the Corporation retains royalty-free, non-
exclusive, and irrevocable licenses to obtain, use, reproduce, publish,
or disseminate products, including data produced under the agreement,
and to authorize others to do so. The awardee will agree to make
available, to the extent practical, products at no cost or at the cost
of reproduction to the national service field as identified by the
Corporation.
C. Time Frame
The Corporation expects that work under agreements awarded through
this Notice will commence on or about November 1, 1998, following the
conclusion of the Corporation's selection process and the negotiation
of a cooperative agreement. The Corporation expects that the period of
performance will be one year, with the possibility of extension based
on performance, need and availability of funds.
D. Other Corporation-sponsored Training and Technical Assistance
In addition to using the provider selected under this Notice, the
Corporation currently provides T/TA to national service programs
through a network of national providers in conflict resolution, human
relations and diversity training, educational success, financial
management, supervisory skills training, training materials
development, National Service Resource Center, organizational
development and program management, public safety programs, risk
management, crew-based programming, member development and management,
sustainability, and out-of-school time.
IV. T/TA Activities
The Corporation expects the provider selected under this Notice to
integrate the following requirements into its service delivery:
1. Consistent with the Statement of Work, respond to requests for
T/TA from Indian tribes regarding any aspect of a national service
program operated by an Indian tribe.
2. Respond to requests for T/TA relating to Native American issues
made by any other organization operating a national service program
supported by the Corporation.
3. Coordinate continually with Corporation staff concerning
programs that are in particular need of T/TA support.
4. Conduct active, targeted outreach to programs identified by the
Corporation as needing T/TA services.
5. Work in partnership with programs to help identify/clarify needs
and determine the most suitable responses.
6. Prepare and submit for approval by the Corporation specific
criteria for the evaluation of their T/TA services. After each T/TA
event, to facilitate continuous improvement of these services, the
provider will solicit evaluations of its services consistent with the
approved evaluation criteria. The provider will maintain records on
these evaluations and provide these records to the Corporation or an
authorized representative upon request. The provider will also submit
to the Director of T/TA a quarterly report which, in part, (1) compares
accomplishments with goals; (2) describes the nature and scale of T/TA
activity; (3) provides aggregate summaries of the evaluations of each
event; (4) recommends agendas based on analyses of T/TA activity and
trends; (5) as practicable, relates activity costs to budget line
items; (6) identifies developments that hinder compliance with the
agreement; and (7) when appropriate, cites or proposes corrective
action, and seeks Corporation assistance. The Corporation may conduct
independent assessments of the provider's performance.
7. Orient and train staff and consultants in the Corporation's
background and objectives.
8. Collaborate in training events organized by other providers for
the Corporation.
9. Conduct outreach to national service programs to promote
awareness of available T/TA services for programs operated by Indian
tribes and for other issues involving Native Americans.
10. Use peer-provided T/TA in situations where this approach is
feasible and appropriate. Identify, document and transmit effective
practices.
11. Develop training that is interactive, culturally appropriate,
experiential and based on the principles of adult learning.
12. Develop training designs that accommodate participants at
various levels of existing knowledge and skills.
13. Ensure that assistance is inclusive of, and accessible to,
persons with disabilities.
14. Link all T/TA activities to the greatest extent possible to the
goal of sustainability in the absence of Corporation financial support.
15. Help organizations improve the quality of their program
objectives and desired outcomes.
16. Operate with a focus on capacity-building to help programs
develop their internal T/TA capacity, such as by improving their skills
in problem identification, problem solving and assessing local T/TA
resources. The provider should develop train-the-trainer initiatives
for the purpose of increasing capacity at the tribal and local level to
deliver T/TA services to national service programs. The provider should
support and encourage programs' access to local T/TA resources.
17. Develop and maintain a network of geographically dispersed and
tribally-diverse experts that includes staff from Corporation-funded
programs.
18. Use electronic communication as much as possible to facilitate
the delivery of T/TA services. The Corporation is especially interested
in approaches that expedite service delivery, increase communications
and are cost-efficient. In all T/TA activities, programs should be
encouraged and assisted in using electronic communication and
automation.
V. Statement of Work
The provider should deliver a training program that reflects the
diverse and unique needs of the approximately 40 Indian tribes
operating national service programs. The provider will broker services
of consultants and other national providers, offer direct services
whenever they fall within the range of expertise of the provider, and
provide
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designated support services to Indian tribes that receive grants to
operate national service programs.
Specific tasks include, but are not limited to, the following:
Recruit, screen and retain a qualified pool of
consultants, primarily Native American, with a diverse array of skills
and expertise.
Orient consultants to the Corporation's mission,
philosophy, objectives, and requirements.
Identify consultants from geographically and tribally
diverse backgrounds.
Conduct targeted outreach as identified by the
Corporation.
Establish partnerships with other national providers.
--Provide training and orientation on Native American issues to
providers as requested
--Conduct joint training sessions when appropriate
--Review and evaluate resource materials developed by other national
providers to ensure that they are appropriate and useful for Indian
tribes operating national service programs
Respond promptly to T/TA needs in the most appropriate
manner:
--Refer need to a consultation/provider
--Provide on-line consultation
--Provide telephone consultation via a toll-free number
--Provide on-site consultation.
Plan and coordinate an annual ``network'' training event
for approximately 75-100 participants from Indian tribes operating
national service programs.
Develop and maintain a web page that includes:
--T/TA calendar
--Resource information that supports programs
--Articles
--Agendas and resource materials from training events conducted by the
provider and consultant pool
--Service learning information.
Monitor and post information on the listserv dedicated to
Indian tribes operating national service programs.
Develop and disseminate information on a quarterly basis
for and about Indian tribes operating national service programs.
Develop resource manuals or materials as needed.
Work with the National Service Resource Center to
establish a resource library specifically related to the needs of
Indian tribes operating national service programs.
--Identify relevant workshops, conferences, print materials, Internet
sites, curricula and videos
--Maintain a catalog of available resources.
Develop and conduct needs assessments for Indian tribes
operating national service programs.
VI. Application Guidelines
A. Proposals Must Include
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 50-75 word summary of the proposed
T/TA program or activity; and the total funding requested (not to
exceed $100,000).
A narrative of no more than 10 double-spaced, single-sided, typed
pages in no smaller than 12-point font describing:
(a) Objectives, scope of activities being proposed, and expected
outcomes (e.g., proposed number and duration of training events and
number of participants; proposed number of consultations).
(b) Detailed work plan for accomplishing the objectives to include
a timeline demonstrating implementation of each objective.
(c) 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 six double-spaced, single-sided,
typed pages in no smaller than 12-point font describing the
organization's capacity to provide T/TA services nationwide, including
descriptions of recent work similar to that being proposed, references
that can be contacted related to that work, organizational structure
and staff strengths and backgrounds (resumes of proposed staff may be
included in an appendix).
4. A detailed budget summary, including the allocation of person-
hours/days by task, an estimate of travel and other direct costs by
task as appropriate, using the following format:
Budget Summary
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Applicant
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A. Staff......................................... ........... List positions in attached Budget Narrative.
Salaries..................................... ........... ................................................
Benefits..................................... ........... ................................................
Subtotal A................................... ........... ................................................
B. Program Staff Development..................... ........... Include expenses for program directors to attend
training events. Costs included in Other should
be described in the accompanying budget
narrative.
Travel....................................... ........... ................................................
Per Diem..................................... ........... ................................................
Other........................................ ........... ................................................
Subtotal B................................... ........... ................................................
C. Consultants................................... ........... Specify the total cost of consultants.
D. Training Events............................... ........... This amount should include the cost of training
supplies, facilities, etc.
E. Sub-contracts, sub-grants..................... ........... Specify the total cost of subgrants and
subcontracts, if any.
F. Communication................................. ........... This amount should include the total cost of
communications systems and equipment. Systems
may include newsletters, computer networks and
mailings.
Systems...................................... ...........
Equipment.................................... ...........
Subtotal F................................... ...........
G. Supplies...................................... ........... Include only supply costs not associated with
Training Events.
H. Other......................................... ........... Specify the total of all other costs unrelated
to the above categories.
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Total Request (A through H)...................... ........... ................................................
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Costs in proposed budgets must consist solely of those allowable
under reimbursable cost principles found in applicable OMB Circulars. A
supporting budget narrative including an explanation of the basis for
cost estimates is required. Include any information on funding from
other sources if any. (Provider match is not required.)
5. Resumes and/or other descriptions of staff qualifications may be
included in an appendix and are not subject to the page limits that are
otherwise applicable.
6. Applicants must submit one unbound, original proposal and two
copies. Proposals may not be submitted by facsimile.
B. Selection Process and Criteria
To ensure fairness to all applicants, the Corporation reserves the
right to take remedial action, up to and including disqualification, in
the event a proposal fails to comply with the requirements relating to
page limits, line spacing, and font size.
The Corporation will assess applications based on the criteria, and
respective weights, listed below.
Quality (35%)
The Corporation will consider the quality of the proposed
activities based on:
(a) Demonstrated understanding of the needs and requirements of
national service programs operated by Indian tribes or involving Native
Americans, other national service programs, and the role of training
assistance in supporting Corporation-funded programs.
(b) Description of proposed T/TA objectives, activities, and
expected outcomes.
(c) Degree to which the objectives are addressed through the work
plan.
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 area(s) under
consideration, and the experience of staff proposed for the project.
(b) Organizational experience in delivering high-quality training
and technical assistance to Indian tribes flexibly, creatively,
responsively, and working in partnership with other organizations and
individuals.
(c) Background of the organization's leadership and key staff
proposed for the project.
(d) Demonstrated ability to manage federal assistance.
(e) Demonstrated ability to provide T/TA services nationwide on a
cost-effective basis.
Evaluation (10%)
The Corporation will consider how the applicant:
(a) Proposes to assess its services and products delivered under
the award.
(b) Plans to use assessments of its services and products to
improve subsequent services and products.
Budget (20%)
The Corporation will consider the budget based on:
(a) Scope of proposed T/TA activity (i.e., number of persons,
programs, and/or Indian tribes proposed T/TA activities are planned to
reach);
(b) Cost-effectiveness of the proposed activity; the degree to
which the T/TA provider proposes a reasonable estimate of the amount of
services the organization will be able to provide given the requested
amount of funds and the organization's existing resources.
Preference of Nation-Wide Capacity
In addition, the Corporation may select an organization that has
demonstrated its ability 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. 98-22477 Filed 8-20-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6050-28-M