[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 147 (Tuesday, July 31, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39494-39497]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-19012]


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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE


Notice Inviting Applications for Technical and Administrative 
Support for the National Service-Learning Leader Schools Program

AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.

ACTION: Notice inviting applications to administer program.

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SUMMARY: The Corporation for National and Community Service (the 
Corporation) announces that it expects to have available up to $600,000 
assistance to develop and implement

[[Page 39495]]

the National Service-Learning Leader Schools program through a 
cooperative agreement with an organization selected under this notice. 
The program recognizes middle and high schools providing outstanding 
service-learning opportunities for students. Under this program, the 
Corporation intends to work with the selected organization to: (1) Work 
with experts to identify standards for high quality, broad-based 
service-learning programs in middle and high schools; (2) offer 
opportunities for all middle and high schools to address these 
standards in their Leader School award applications; (3) provide awards 
to a selected group of Leader Schools; and (4) provide training in 
leadership and service-learning to Leader Schools.

DATES: Proposals must be received by the Corporation by 5 p.m. Eastern 
Time on September 14, 2001. Applications may not be submitted by 
facsimile.

ADDRESSES: Submit proposals to the Corporation for National and 
Community Service, Department of Service-Learning, 1201 New York Avenue 
NW., Attention: Bob Bhaerman, Room 8307, Washington, DC, 20525.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Bhaerman, (202) 606-5000, ext. 
341, TTY (202) 565-2799; e-mail [email protected]. This Notice is 
available on the Corporation's web site, http://www.nationalservice.org/whatshot/notices/. Upon request, this 
information will be made available in alternate forms for people with 
disabilities.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Availability of Funds

    The estimated amount of funds available for the award under this 
competition is based on the history of conducting the program for a 
one-year period; and the actual level of funding, if any, is contingent 
on the availability of appropriations.

II. Background

    The Corporation is a federal government corporation that encourages 
Americans of all ages and backgrounds to engage in school-, college-, 
and community-based service. This service addresses the nation's 
educational, public safety, environmental, and other human needs. The 
Corporation funds K-12 service-learning programs that provide 
opportunities for students to become engaged citizens through active 
participation in thoughtfully organized service that is conducted in 
and meets the needs of a community and is integrated into academic and/
or vocational curriculum.
    The purpose of the National Service-Learning Leader Schools program 
is to encourage the development of service-learning programs at middle 
and high schools by recognizing high quality, broad-based service-
learning programs in schools. The program is national in scope and 
involves practitioners in schools as well as service-learning personnel 
in State Education Agencies and other state and national education and 
service organizations.
    The Corporation will enter into a cooperative agreement with the 
successful applicant who will work with representatives of the 
Corporation to administer the program, including working with existing 
Leader Schools, and other experts in education to revise a set of 
criteria to be used in selecting Leader Schools. These criteria include 
evidence that the school has (1) integrated community service into the 
academic and/or vocational curriculum, (2) conducted community service 
that is coordinated with the community and that meets identified needs 
of the community, (3) integrated service-learning into the culture and 
climate of the school, (4) developed activities that foster civic 
responsibility and student leadership, (5) provided structured time for 
students and teachers to reflect on the service experience, and (6) 
assessed the impact on service-learning on student learning, behavior, 
attendance, teaching methods, and/or the community.

III. Eligibility

    Public agencies, non-profit organizations, institutions of higher 
education, Indian tribes, and for-profit companies are eligible to 
apply. Pursuant to the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C. 1611, 
an organization described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. 501(c) (4), that engages in lobbying activities 
is not eligible to apply.

IV. Conditions

(a) Legal Authority

    Pursuant to the National and Community Service Act of 1990, as 
amended, 42 U.S.C. 12501, et seq., the Corporation may ``support 
innovative and model programs.'' Under this authority, the Corporation 
intends to support a National Service-Learning Leader School program.

(b) Cooperative Agreement

    The award under this Notice will be in the form of a cooperative 
agreement. Administration of cooperative agreements is pursuant to 
Uniform Administrative Requirements in Corporation 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, 
hospitals, and other non-profit organizations and for-profit 
companies). The awardee must comply with semi-annual program and fiscal 
reporting requirements, linking progress to expenditures.

(c) Time Frame

    The Corporation expects that the activities funded under the 
agreement will commence on or about October 1, 2001, following the 
conclusion of the selection and award process. The Corporation will 
make an award covering a period not to exceed three years. Applicants 
must include a proposed budget and proposed activities for three years, 
with a line-item budget and detailed work plan for the first one-year 
budget period only. The Corporation expects to have up to $600,000 
available for the first year of this agreement, contingent on 
congressional appropriations for FY 2002. If the Corporation approves 
an application and enters into a multi-year award agreement, at the 
outset it will provide funding only for the first year of the award 
period as funds are made available by Congress. The Corporation has no 
obligation to provide additional funding in subsequent years. Funding 
for the second and third years of an award period also is contingent 
upon satisfactory performance, the availability of funds, and any other 
criteria established in the award agreement.

(d) Use of Materials

    To ensure that materials generated with Corporation funding for the 
technical and administrative support for this program are available to 
the public and readily accessible to the field, the Corporation 
reserves a royalty-free, non-exclusive, and irrevocable right to 
obtain, use, reproduce, publish, or disseminate publications and 
materials produced under this agreement, including data, and to 
authorize others to do so. The provider must agree to make such 
publications and materials available to the national service field, as 
identified by the Corporation, at no cost or at the cost of 
reproduction. All materials developed for the Corporation must be 
consistent with Corporation editorial and publication guidelines and 
must be accessible to individuals with disabilities to the extent 
required by law.

[[Page 39496]]

V. Scope of Activities

    The Corporation anticipates that it will be substantially involved 
in carrying out the program with the successful applicant providing 
administrative and technical support during all phases of the program. 
Corporation involvement will include approval of the final program 
design and implementation plan. The Corporation expects that the 
initial budget period under this award will be October 1, 2001 to 
September 30, 2002. The following three primary and 18 specific 
activities will be conducted:

(a) Conduct the Application and Review Process

    (1) Prepare applications and disseminate them through national 
outreach activities.
    (2) Coordinate state education agency involvement in the 
competitive and formula outreach and selection process.
    (3) Provide implementation support to the state education agencies.
    (4) Manage the national review and selection process.

(b) Provide Support to Leader Schools

    (1) Monitor and report the progress of the selected schools. 
(Leader Schools serve for two years.)
    (2) Coordinate communication with and among Leader Schools.
    (3) Provide individualized technical assistance and facilitate 
peer-to-peer assistance.
    (4) Plan and conduct an annual technical assistance Leadership 
Institute.
    (5) Support Leader Schools as active service-learning leaders.

(c) Conduct Activities Related to Other Aspects of the Program

    (1) Publicize the program through a variety of marketing 
strategies.
    (2) Maintain contacts with the press.
    (3) Maintain a web site and listserv for the program.
    (4) Convene an advisory group annually.
    (5) Plan for the possible expansion of the program to other 
educational levels.
    (6) Revise program criteria and materials.
    (7) Link the program with other recognition programs such as the 
President's Student Service Awards and Scholarships and with 
Corporation for National Service training activities such as the 
National Service-Learning Exchange.
    (8) Develop and manage the re-certification process for schools to 
remain Leader Schools after two years.
    (9) Report progress on all of the activities to the Corporation, as 
indicated in the following section.

VI. Reporting Requirements

    The awardee is responsible for submitting timely progress and 
financial reports during and at the Conclusion of the award period to 
the Corporation as follows:
    (a) Semi-annual progress reports.
    Progress reports must be submitted semi-annually based on the 
following schedule:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Reporting periods                       Reports due
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October 1 to March 31.....................  April 30.
April 1 to September 30...................  October 31.
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    The provider must develop the capacity to submit this information 
electronically.
    At a minimum, progress reports must provide the following 
information:
    (1) Comparison of accomplishments with the goals and objectives for 
the reporting period;
    (2) Annotated version of the approved budget that compares actual 
costs with budgeted costs by line item and explains differences. The 
explanation should include, as appropriate, an analysis of cost 
overruns and high-cost units and a description of activities not 
anticipated in the original budget;
    (3) Description of the activities, including a list of upcoming 
activities and events with dates; and
    (4) Developments that hinder, or may hinder, compliance with the 
cooperative agreement.
    (b) Financial reports must be submitted semi-annually to include a 
summary of expenditures during the period. A cumulative report must be 
submitted on the Financial Status Report (FSR) form SF 269A.
    (c) Final reports.
    (1) Awardees completing the final year of the agreement must 
submit, in lieu of the last semi-annual progress report, a final 
progress report that is cumulative over the entire award period. This 
final report is due within 90 days after the close of the agreement.
    (2) Awardees completing the final year of the award must submit, in 
lieu of the last semi-annual FSR, a final FSR that is cumulative over 
the entire award period. This FSR is due within 90 days after the end 
of the agreement.
    (d) Financial reports must be submitted in three (3) copies to the 
Office of Grants Management. Progress reports must be submitted in 
three (3) copies to the Corporation's cognizant program officer of the 
award.

VII. Application Guidelines

(a) Proposal Content and Submission

    Applicants must submit one (1) unbound, original proposal and two 
(2) copies. The program narrative application must not exceed 25 
double-spaced, single-sided, typed pages with at least one-inch margins 
and no smaller than 12-point font. You must complete the Standard Form 
424 (SF 424)--Application for Federal Assistance, Standard Form 424A 
(SF424A)--Budget Forms, and Standard Form 424B (SF424B)-- Assurances. 
These forms are available on the web at: http://www.nationalservice.org/whatshot/notices. Proposals may not be 
submitted by facsimile. Proposals must include the following:
(1) Cover Page
    Include the name, address, phone number, fax number, e-mail address 
of the contact person and World Wide Web site URL (if available) of the 
applicant organization, and the total funding amount requested for the 
first year.
(2) Description of How and When the Three (3) Primary and 18 Specific 
Activities Will Be Implemented
(3) Description of Organizational Capacity to Provide the Technical and 
Administrative Support of This Initiative, Including Descriptions of 
Recent Work Similar to That Being Proposed
(4) Budget [Not Part of the Page Limit]
    Include a detailed, line-item budget for the first year with costs 
organized by activities outlined in the work plan and a projected 
overall budget for the second and third years. Use Standard Form 424B 
for the first year budget information. Financial reporting throughout 
the term of the cooperative agreement must be organized so that all 
costs are attributed to specific activities. Costs in proposed budgets 
must consist solely of costs allowable under applicable cost principles 
found in OMB Circulars A-21, A-122, and/or A-87, as appropriate.
(5) Budget Narrative [Not Part of the Page Limit]
    The budget narrative should parallel all items in the line-item 
budget and explain the cost basis for all cost estimates in the budget. 
Clearly show how each cost item was derived.
(6) Appendices [Not Part of the Page Limit; No More Than 5 Items]
    Items may include referral to the address of an applicant-designed 
web

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site, brochures, other publicity items, and/or staff resumes.

(b) Selection Criteria

    The Corporation will initially determine whether the organization 
is eligible and whether the application contains all of the information 
required. After the initial screening, the Corporation will assess 
applications based on the following criteria. Following the review 
process, the Corporation will notify applicants of their status in 
writing.
(1) Program Design (60%)
    The quality of the applicant's proposed plan, including a 
description of how and when the applicant plans to meet each of the 
three (3) primary and 18 specific activities.
(2) Organizational Capacity (25%)
    The applicant's organizational experience and capacity to carry out 
the activities described in this Notice, including the following 
components:
     Ability to provide sound programmatic and fiscal 
oversight;
     Experience of key personnel;
     Well-defined staff roles; and
     Well-designed plans evaluation plans.
(3) Budget and Cost Effectiveness (15%)
    The extent to which:
     The budget is adequate to support the scope of the 
activities; and
     The proposed costs are reasonable in relation to the 
program's activities.

    Dated: July 26, 2001.
Jodi Raybuck,
Acting Director, Department of Service-Learning, Corporation for 
National and Community Service.
[FR Doc. 01-19012 Filed 7-30-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6050-$$-P