REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA) 2018-2019 IOWA AMERICORPS STATE GRANTS Issuing Agency Name: Volunteer Iowa (Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service) Funding Opportunity: 2018-2019 Iowa AmeriCorps State Grants Announcement Type: Re-issued announcement, posted 3/15/2018 CFDA Number: 94.006 Due Date: Pre-applications due May 15, 2018 (Special Competition Round 2) Link to Application Materials: https://www.iowagrants.gov/insidelinkopps.jsp?documentpk=1503886162014 The intent and purpose of this Request for Grant Applications (RFA) is to announce the availability of grant funding to plan for and establish AmeriCorps State programs within the State of Iowa. AmeriCorps State and National grants provide funding to help organizations manage an AmeriCorps program, which involves recruiting, training, and supporting AmeriCorps members who serve on a full-time or part-time basis to help the organization address a community need. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis to projects that support organizational capacity-building, education, healthy futures, environmental stewardship, veterans and military families, economic opportunities, public safety, disaster preparedness/response, and other identified community issues in Iowa. Successful programs utilize service as a strategy to meet community needs, while supporting the development and growth of the AmeriCorps members serving with the organization. This RFA and appendices complement the Volunteer Iowa Application Instructions, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) Mandatory Supplemental Guidance ( Guidance ) and the CNCS Performance Measure Instructions. Applications will be received only from organizations seeking funding to operate a program wholly within the state of Iowa (multi-state applicants apply directly to the Corporation for National and Community Service). Multistate AmeriCorps National Direct applicants that intend to place members in Iowa must consult with Volunteer Iowa regarding these intended placements using the process and link provided in the Application and Submission Information section. Disclosure: Publication of this Announcement of Federal Funding Opportunity (Notice) does not obligate Volunteer Iowa or the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to award any specific number of grants or to obligate any particular amount of funding. The actual level and timing of grant funding will be subject to the availability of annual federal appropriations. About the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service (Volunteer Iowa) The mission of Volunteer Iowa is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. Our staff members provide technical assistance, support services and capacity-building resources to help organizations effectively utilize the time and talent of volunteers and national service members. If you determine the attached opportunity is not a good fit for your organization, we encourage you to consult with our staff about how you may be able to receive resources and support from Volunteer Iowa or other national service programs. i
Other Programs, Services, and Initiatives Offered by Volunteer Iowa and Our Partners AmeriCorps NCCC: Organizations may apply to host a team of AmeriCorps NCCC members to provide intensive, short term service on projects in the areas of disaster services, environment, infrastructure improvement, energy conservation and urban and rural development. Projects are normally six to eight weeks in duration but will vary depending on the requirements of the project. Organizations must be capable of utilizing at least one full team of eight to twelve members effectively. AmeriCorps VISTA: Organizations can also apply to become a host site in an existing AmeriCorps VISTA project or they can directly sponsor their own VISTA project. The Volunteer Iowa VISTA project accepts applications for host sites where members can address the opioid epidemic or serve in rural communities improving education and economic opportunity. In general, AmeriCorps VISTA focuses on anti-poverty, community empowerment, and sustainable solutions by having members provide capacity building services at their host organizations. AmeriCorps VISTA project sponsors must be able to support three or more full-time AmeriCorps VISTA members serving for one-year on an anti-poverty project. Other AmeriCorps State & National opportunities: Organizations wishing to place AmeriCorps members in multiple states should apply directly to the Corporation for National and Community Service for an AmeriCorps National grant. Some AmeriCorps State and National grantees act as intermediary organizations and accept applications from organizations wishing to serve as host sites for one or more AmeriCorps member positions. Volunteer Iowa can help agencies connect with existing intermediary programs. Iowa Mentoring Partnership (IMP): IMP certifies local youth mentoring programs and provides these high-quality programs with training opportunities, recognition awards, advocacy initiatives, and statewide marketing and media campaigns. RSVP (formerly Retired and Senior Volunteer Program): RSVP collaborates with organizations in addressing identified priority community needs, through the mobilization and management of adult volunteers aged 55 and over. RSVP volunteers provide support that enhances the organization. Host organizations must have positions that match program priorities and must be able to provide supervision of the volunteers. Service Enterprise Initiative: By achieving the Service Enterprise certification and level of excellence, organizations are uniquely positioned to leverage the time and skills of volunteers and expand program operations and revenues, which also allows the nonprofit or government agency to realize greater programmatic impact and operational effectiveness. Volunteer Iowa facilitates the process for additional organizations to become certified and gives funding preference to those certified. Volunteer Generation Fund (VGF): Volunteer Iowa provides VGF grants to organizations in Iowa to develop or expand the state s volunteer infrastructure, including development and enhancement of Iowa s network of volunteer centers, in order to mobilize volunteers in areas consistent with our state service plan. The program is designed to increase the number of people who serve in meaningful roles as volunteers dedicated to addressing important needs in communities across America. VolunteerIowa.org: The Volunteer Iowa website provides an online system, Get Connected, for volunteers and organizations across Iowa to use to connect with one another. Organizations can post volunteer opportunities and quickly reach out and recruit people who are interested in helping them. Volunteer Recognition: The commission coordinates Iowa s two most prestigious volunteer recognition programs, the Governor s Volunteer Awards, an easy and low-cost way for Iowa organizations to honor their volunteers and the Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame, the highest state-level honor volunteers can receive. Nominations are accepted on an annual cycle. In conjunction with the Iowa Nonprofit Summit, the commission helps coordinate the selection of the Iowa Nonprofit Award winners. The Employer Volunteer initiative recognizes employer support for volunteerism, and various social media recognition opportunities are open to participation by the field. For More Information Contact the AmeriCorps NCCC North Central Region campus for more information about AmeriCorps NCCC Ph: (319)472-9664 Email: jburns@cns.gov Contact the Corporation for National & Community Service State Office in Iowa for general information about AmeriCorps VISTA Ph: 515-776-4552 Email: ia@cns.gov Contact Volunteer Iowa for more information about all other opportunities Ph: 1.800.308.5987 Email:icvs@iowaeda.com ii
CONTENTS IMPORTANT DATES...1 A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION...3 1. Purpose of AmeriCorps Funding... 3 2. CNCS Focus Areas & Funding Priorities... 4 3. Volunteer Iowa Program Development Priorities... 5 4. Performance Measures... 6 5. Program Authority... 7 B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION...7 1. Estimated Available Funds... 7 2. Estimated Award Amount... 7 3. Project and Award Period... 8 4. Type of Award... 8 C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION...9 1. Eligible Applicants... 9 2. Threshold Issues... 11 3. Other Requirements... 11 D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION...11 1. Application Materials... 11 2. Content and Form of Application Submission... 12 3. Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number & System for Award Management (SAM)... 13 4. Submission Dates and Times... 13 5. Funding Restrictions... 14 6.. Other Submission Requirements... 16 E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION...19 1. Criteria for New and Recompeting Program Grants... 19 2. Criteria for Evidence Based Intervention Planning Grants... 26 3. Review and Selection Process... 27 4. Feedback to Applicants... 31 5. Transparency in Grant-making... 31 6. Application Preparation & Certifications... 31 F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION...32 1. Federal Award Notices... 32 2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements... 32 3. National Service Criminal History Check Requirements... 32 4. Use of Material... 33 5. Reporting... 33 6. Continuation Funding Information and Requirements... 34 G. OTHER INFORMATION...34 1. Technical Assistance... 34 2. Reallocation of Funding... 34 H. AWARDING AGENCY CONTACT(S)...34 1. Volunteer Iowa... 34 2. CNCS 34 IMPORTANT DATES Volunteer Iowa Notice of Intent: All interested Iowa applicants are strongly encouraged to submit electronic notice of intent to apply at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/acnotice18-19 by the dates noted based on your application type (See Types of Applicants section for definitions). Only those organizations that submit a notice of intent to apply will be added to the mailing list to receive updates and guidance related to the RFA, FAQs, and other application materials. 1
Competitive or Formula Funding Consideration: To be considered for Competitive funding, a Legal Applicant Organization must meet all eligibility criteria as outlined in the Eligibility Information section of this RFA. Competitive Continuation applicants have a separate process and the criteria for those applicants will be outlined in the Application Instructions. An applicant that is being considered for Competitive funding will also be considered for Formula funding. To be considered for Formula funding, a Legal Applicant Organization must meet all eligibility criteria as outlined in the Eligibility Information section of this RFA. Regular or Special Competition: Most applicants under this RFA are expected to compete in the Regular Competition, which has earlier deadlines. Only applicants meeting the specific, limited priority for the Special Competition may participate in and follow those deadlines. Applicants who meet the Special Competition criteria but who apply in the Regular Competition will be prioritized over those who apply in the Special Competition, only. Unspecified Dates, Time Zone Details: For some steps in the application process, anticipated date ranges are provided in this RFA but not exact dates. For those steps (such as technical assistance periods, clarification periods, and negotiation periods), specific dates and deadlines related to those steps will be communicated to applicants as they are scheduled and applicants will be expected to comply with those more specific deadlines. All times noted are Central time. Anticipated Key Dates for the Regular Competition: New, Recompete, & Evidence-Based Planning Grant Applicants RFA released 9/5/2017, updated 11/2/2017 Pre-application clarification and Q&A webinar #1 9/18/2017, 10:00 AM Notice of intent requested to Volunteer Iowa (REGULAR COMPETITION) 10/3/2017, 11:59 PM Pre-application clarification and Q&A webinar #2 10/3/2017, 10:00 AM Pre-applications, including state certification & waiver requests, due to 10/10/2017 11:59 PM Volunteer Iowa Applicants notified by Volunteer Iowa regarding COMPETITIVE or 10/24/2017 FORMULA status for final application Competitive: Competitive applicant technical assistance period 10/30-11/30-2017 Formula: Formula applicant technical assistance period 11/30/17-1/24/18 Final application clarification and Q&A webinar #1 (COMPETITIVE focus) 11/14/2017, 10:00 AM Final application clarification and Q&A webinar #2 (FORMULA focus) 1/23/2018 10:00 AM Final applications due to Volunteer Iowa (COMPETITIVE) 12/12/2017, 11:59 PM Final applications due to Volunteer Iowa (FORMULA) 2/6/2018, 11:59 PM Competitive applicant clarification period Dec- early Jan. 2018 Formula applicant clarification period Mid late Feb. 2018 Applicants meet with Volunteer Iowa 4/10/2018 Applicants meet with Volunteer Iowa 4/10/2018 Grant Review Committee Grant Review Committee Negotiations for competitive applications April-May 2018 Negotiations for formula applications Mid May 2018 CNCS notification sent to successful 5/15/2018 Notification sent to formula applicants Late May 2018 competitive applicants Final negotiation & resubmission of May- June 2018 Final negotiation & submission of May- June 2018 approved grants to CNCS approved grants to CNCS Mandatory new program director training (1-2 days) Late July or early Aug. 2018 Mandatory new program director training (1-2 days) Late July or early Aug. 2018 Grant agreement award & program start date 9/1/ 2018 1 Grant agreement award & program start date 9/1/ 2018 1 1 Applicants may start 8/1/2018 if requested and approved by Volunteer Iowa. Anticipated Key Dates for the Regular Competition: Competitive Continuation Applicants RFA released 9/5/2017 Notice of intent requested to Volunteer Iowa (REGULAR COMPETITION) 10/3/2017, 11:59 PM Applicable waiver & state certification requests due to Volunteer Iowa 10/10/2017 11:59 PM Final application clarification and Q&A webinar #1 (COMPETITIVE focus) 11/14/2017, 10:00 AM 2
Final applications due to Volunteer Iowa (CONTINUATION) 12/5/2017, 11:59 PM Competitive applicant clarification period Dec- early Jan. 2018 Negotiations for competitive applications Apr.- May 2018 CNCS notification sent to successful competitive applicants 5/15/2018 Final negotiation & resubmission of approved grants to CNCS Late May-early June 2018 Mandatory new program director training (1-2 days) Late July or early Aug. 2018 Grant agreement award & program start date 9/1/2018 1 1 Applicants may start 8/1/2018 if requested and approved by Volunteer Iowa. Anticipated Key Dates for the Special Competition, including Evidence-Based and Evidence-Informed Planning Grants: RFA released 9/5/2017 Notice of intent requested to Volunteer Iowa (SPECIAL COMPETITION) 2/6/2018, 11:59 PM Pre-applications & waiver requests due to Volunteer Iowa 2/13/2018, 11:59 PM Special applicants notified by Volunteer Iowa regarding COMPETITIVE or 2/27/2018 FORMULA status for final application Special applicant technical assistance period Feb-March 2018 Revised pre-applications due to Volunteer Iowa (SPECIAL 3/27/2018, 11:59 PM COMPETITION) Special applicant clarification period 3/28/018-4/3/2018 Applicants meet with Volunteer Iowa Grant Review Committee 4/10/2018 Final applications due to Volunteer Iowa (SPECIAL COMPETITION) 4/24/2018, 11:59PM Negotiations for special applications May-June 2018 Notification sent to formula applicants Late May 2018 Notification sent to competitive applicants Summer 2018 Final negotiation & submission of approved grants to CNCS Summer 2018 Mandatory program director training (2-3 days) Late July or early Aug. 2018 Grant agreement award & program start date 9/1/2018 1 1 Applicants may start 8/1/2018 if requested and approved by Volunteer Iowa. Anticipated Key Dates for the Special Competition Round 2, including Evidence-Based and Evidence-Informed Planning Grants: Updated RFA released 3/15/2018 Notice of intent requested to Volunteer Iowa (SPECIAL COMPETITION) 5/8/2018, 11:59 PM Pre-applications & waiver requests due to Volunteer Iowa 5/15/2018, 11:59 PM Special applicant technical assistance period May-June 2018 Revised pre-applications due to Volunteer Iowa (SPECIAL 6/12/2018, 11:59 PM COMPETITION) Applicants meet with Volunteer Iowa Committee 6/19/2018 Special applicant clarification period June-July 2018 Final applications due to Volunteer Iowa (SPECIAL COMPETITION) 7/24/2018, 11:59PM Negotiations for special applications July-August 2018 Notification sent to awarded applicants August 2018 Final negotiation & submission of approved grants to CNCS Late August 2018 Mandatory program director training (2-3 days) Fall 2018 Grant agreement award & program start date TBD, likely 9/1/2018 or 1/1/2019 A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 1. Purpose of AmeriCorps Funding The mission of CNCS is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic participation through service and volunteering. Through AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and the Volunteer Generation Fund, CNCS has helped to engage millions of citizens in meeting community and national challenges through service and volunteer action. The goals of the AmeriCorps program are: (1). Getting Things Done- by providing service to address community problems; (2). Strengthening Communitiesby uniting individuals and institutions in a common effort; (3). Encouraging Responsibility- throughout members service experience and throughout their lives; and (4). Expanding Opportunity- by enhancing members educational opportunities, job 3
experience, and life skills. There are three branches of AmeriCorps programs AmeriCorps State & National, AmeriCorps VISTA, and AmeriCorps NCCC. AmeriCorps State & National is the largest branch of AmeriCorps. AmeriCorps grants are awarded to eligible organizations (see Eligible Applicants section) proposing to engage AmeriCorps members in evidence-based or evidence-informed interventions/practices to strengthen communities. The organizations that receive grants are responsible for recruiting, selecting, and supervising AmeriCorps members to serve in their programs. Programs design service activities for a team of members serving full- or part-time over the course of up to one year or during the summer. An AmeriCorps member is an individual who engages in community service through an approved national service position. AmeriCorps members also mobilize community volunteers and strengthen the capacity of the organizations they serve. Members may receive a living allowance and other benefits while serving. Upon successful completion of their service, members earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award from the National Service Trust that members can use to pay for higher education expenses or apply to qualified student loans. 2. CNCS Focus Areas & Funding Priorities The National and Community Service Act of 1990, as amended by the Serve America Act, emphasizes measuring the impact of service and focusing on a core set of issue areas. In order to carry out Congress intent and to maximize the impact of investment in national service, CNCS has the following focus areas: Disaster Services. Grant activities will provide support to increase the preparedness of individuals for disasters, improve individuals readiness to respond to disasters, help individuals recover from disasters, and/or help individuals mitigate disasters. Grantees also have the ability to respond to national disasters under CNCS cooperative agreements and FEMA mission assignments. Economic Opportunity. Grants will provide support and/or facilitate access to services and resources that contribute to the improved economic well-being and security of economically disadvantaged people; help economically disadvantaged people, to have improved access to services that enhance financial literacy; transition into or remain in safe, healthy, affordable housing; and/or have improved employability leading to increased success in becoming employed. Education. Grants will provide support and/or facilitate access to services and resources that contribute to improved educational outcomes for economically disadvantaged children; improved school readiness for economically disadvantaged young children; improved educational and behavioral outcomes of students in low-achieving elementary, middle, and high schools; and/or support economically disadvantaged students prepare for success in post-secondary educational institutions. Environmental Stewardship. Grants will support responsible stewardship of the environment, while preparing communities for challenging circumstances and helping Americans respond to and recover from disruptive life events: programs that conserve natural habitats; protect clean air and water; maintain public lands; support wildland fire mitigation; cultivate individual and community self-sufficiency; provide reforestation services after floods or fires; and more. AmeriCorps programs support activities, such as conservation and fire corps, which may also help veterans and others learn new job skills through conservation service. Healthy Futures. Grants will provide support for activities that will improve access to primary and preventive health care for communities served by CNCS-supported programs; increase seniors ability to remain in their own homes with the same or improved quality of life for as long as possible; and/or increase physical activity and improve nutrition in youth with the purpose of reducing childhood obesity. Veterans and Military Families. Grants will positively impact the quality of life of veterans and improve military family strength; increase the number of veterans, wounded warriors, military service members, and their families served by CNCSsupported programs; and/or increase the number of veterans and military family members engaged in service through CNCSsupported programs. Regular Competition Funding Priorities (See Mandatory Supplemental Guidance for further information about some of the priorities) CNCS seeks to prioritize the investment of national service resources in the following areas: Disaster Services - improving community resiliency through disaster preparation, response, recovery, and mitigation Economic Opportunity - increasing economic opportunities for communities by engaging opportunity youth, either as the population served and/or as AmeriCorps members, to prepare them for the workforce 4
Education - improving student academic performance in Science, Technology, Engineering, and/or Mathematics (STEM) Healthy Futures - reducing and/or preventing prescription drug and opioid abuse Veterans and Military Families - positively impacting the quality of life of veterans and improving military family strength Governor and Mayor Initiatives Rural intermediaries - organizations that demonstrate measurable impact and primarily serve communities with limited resources and organizational infrastructure. Safer Communities - programs that focus on public safety, preventing and mitigating civil unrest, and/or partnerships between law enforcement and the community Evidence Based Intervention Planning Grants Encore Programs - programs that engage Americans age 55 and older In order to receive priority consideration for submitting an application within a Notice priority(ies), applicants must demonstrate that the priority area is a significant part of the program focus and intended outcomes and must include a high-quality program design. Responses that propose programs for the purpose of receiving priority consideration are not guaranteed funding. CNCS Special Competition Funding Priorities Prescription Drug and Opioid Abuse working to reduce and/or prevent prescription drug and opioid abuse Child Welfare programs that reduce and/or prevent child abuse, improve outcomes for child victims of abuse, or improve outcomes for foster youth, including youth aging out of foster care Infrastructure - working to improve or support improvement of one or more of the following 16 infrastructure categories: Aviation, Bridges, Dams, Hazardous Waste, Inland Waterways, Levees, Ports, Public Parks, Rail, Roads, Schools, Solid Waste, Transit, Wastewater 3. Volunteer Iowa Program Development Priorities Volunteer Iowa program development priorities, outlined below, add to or complement the CNCS priorities. Priorities Based on the Volunteer Iowa State Service Plan Every three years Volunteer Iowa drafts this blueprint for maximizing civic engagement and service in Iowa. This plan identifies priority areas for new program development, summarized below. The full plan is posted at https://www.volunteeriowa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2016/08/sspforigov.pdf. Programs that are part of or utilize a comprehensive community strategy. In particular, Volunteer Iowa will seek to fund programs that use the principles of collective impact to work together with other stakeholders to address a common problem. Programs or strategies that engage underrepresented populations and those that provide a high return on investment. Volunteer Iowa seeks national service programs are diversified and better connected with those who are underrepresented as volunteers or whose service provides maximum value including: Iowans age 55+, disconnected youth (those at-risk for or currently out of school or unemployed), students, Iowans with disabilities, veterans, and minority and rural populations. Programs that recruit opportunity youth (as defined in the Mandatory Supplemental Guidance) as AmeriCorps members are also eligible for a higher level of funding from CNCS. Programs in geographic areas that are underserved or have the highest need, particularly rural communities. Volunteer Iowa will prioritize programs that aim to make members available to unserved/underserved areas, particularly through multifocus intermediary models. Participation in the Iowa Disaster Cadre. Volunteer Iowa plays a lead role in coordinating unaffiliated volunteers in times of disaster and is the only state service commission holding a cooperative agreement with FEMA for the deployment of AmeriCorps members to federally declared disaster areas. Priority is placed on funding programs that sign up for the Iowa Disaster Cadre, to allow their members to be activated for special service assignments involving disaster service, even if this is not a primary program focus. Disaster deployments can range from sandbagging and levee patrol to volunteer management and victim case management. Certification as a Service Enterprise. Volunteer Iowa is a leader in certifying organizations as Service Enterprises for their comprehensive integration of volunteers into their work. Priority is placed on funding organizations that are certified as a Service Enterprise. 5
Priorities Based on Iowa Code The Iowa Legislature has defined several areas of service activity as state priorities that have been incorporated into Iowa law. In some years, state funding is available for applicants whose AmeriCorps program meets the requirements of established state service corps; the state funds can be used as match to the CNCS federal funds. Applicants wishing to certify or register under a state priority area should complete and submit the relevant sections of Appendix 2 State Priority Certification with their preapplication. Green Corps. A program that involves youth, or AmeriCorps members of any age, in major transformative projects emphasizing energy efficiency, historic preservation, neighborhood development, and storm water reduction and management. Program details are outlined in the Iowa Administrative Code 817, Chapter 10. Use the following link to view the related Code: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/law/administrativerules/chapters?agency=817. Summer Youth Corps. A program that involves disadvantaged youth (ages 16-25) in meaningful service opportunities that enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and fulfill unmet community needs. Program details are outlined in the Iowa Administrative Code 817, Chapter 9. Use the following link to view the related Code: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/law/administrativerules/chapters?agency=817. Reading Corps: A program that engages members in data-based, problem-solving models of literacy instruction to use in tutoring students from prekindergarten to third grade who are not proficient in reading or who are at risk of becoming not proficient in reading. Program details are outlined in the Iowa Administrative Code 817, Chapter 11. Use the following link to view the related Code: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/law/administrativerules/chapters?agency=817. Refugee Rebuild, Integrate, Serve, Empower (Refugee RISE) AmeriCorps program: A program to increase community integration and engagement for diverse refugee communities in urban and rural areas across the state. Program details are outlined in the Iowa Administrative Code 817, Chapter 12. Use the following link to view the related Code: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/law/administrativerules/chapters?agency=817. State Level Special Competition Priorities Summer Programming: A program that engages AmeriCorps members in service only during the summer. May potentially include funds for a planning component in advance of the summer activities. Expansion Programming: A program that expands a successful, existing AmeriCorps model into new geographic areas, to new target communities, or into related issue areas. Afterschool Programming: A program that engages AmeriCorps members to help expand the quantity or improve the quality of afterschool/out-of-school time programming. Evidence-Based or Evidence-Informed Planning Grants: A proposal to plan for a program that engages AmeriCorps members in evidence-based or evidence-informed service activities. 4. Performance Measures All applications must include at least one aligned performance measure (output and outcome) that corresponds to the proposed primary intervention. This may be a National Performance Measure or an applicant-determined measure. Additional performance measures, including output-only National Performance Measures, may also be included if desired; however, all performance measures must be consistent with the program s Theory of Change and represent significant program activities. Neither Volunteer Iowa nor CNCS expects applicants to select performance measures to correspond to each and every potential member activity or community impact. Volunteer Iowa and CNCS value the quality of performance measures over the quantity of performance measures, accordingly Volunteer Iowa may require applicants to limit the number of measures to be included in their final applications. Volunteer Iowa and CNCS expect applicants to use National Performance Measures as part of their comprehensive performance measurement strategy if the National Performance Measures are part of the applicant s theory of change. Applicants may use self-determined measures if there are no National Performance Measures that fit with their program design. Applicants should use both performance and evaluation data to learn from their work as well as make tactical and strategic adjustments to achieve 6
their goals. For more information, please refer to the National Performance Measure Instructions [http://www.nationalservice.gov/build-your-capacity/grants/funding-opportunities.]. As described in the Application Instructions, applicants must include all information about their proposed performance measures in the Performance Measure section of the applications in CNCS s web-based grants management system (the system). Providing performance measures information elsewhere in the narrative cannot be in lieu of providing full information in the Performance Measures section of the application in CNCS s web-based grant management system. If the applicant selects to use National Performance Measures, all definitions and data collection requirements described in the National Performance Measure Instructions must be included in the text of the performance measures themselves, and it must be evident in the performance measure text that all definitions and requirements outlined in the National Performance Measures Instructions are met. In the application narrative, applicants should discuss their rationale for setting output and outcome targets for their performance measures. Recompeting applicants proposing to significantly increase or decrease output or outcome targets from their previous grant should provide a justification for this change. 5. Program Authority CNCS s legal authority to award these grants is found in the National and Community Service Act of 1990, as amended, (NCSA) (42 U.S.C. 12501 et seq.) B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION 1. Estimated Available Funds Volunteer Iowa and CNCS expect a competitive AmeriCorps grant competition. Both Volunteer Iowa and CNCS reserve the right to prioritize providing funding to existing awards over making new awards. The actual level of funding will be subject to the availability of annual appropriations. Competitive programs are funded out of a portion of the funds reserved for the national competition; formula programs are awarded out of funds made available to Volunteer Iowa for single-state programming. AmeriCorps State Competitive programs are those funded at the national level after a successful state and federal review process in which they compete against other single-state programs as well as multi-state National Direct programs. The best applicants at the state level and those which best fit with CNCS priorities become part of a competitive portfolio that Volunteer Iowa submits to the federal competition. After the federal-level review generally at least some programs from Iowa are awarded this type of funding each year. Competitive AmeriCorps State programs are funded on a three-year basis in terms of program goals and objectives, but they develop one-year budgets and must re-apply every year for continued funding. Applicants contending for competitive funding from CNCS are concurrently considered for funding at the state formula level, and those not chosen for competitive funding may be awarded formula funding. AmeriCorps State Formula programs are funded from federal resources allocated to Volunteer Iowa according to a formula based on state population. Applicants whose activities match Volunteer Iowa priorities but not CNCS priorities, applicants whose proposals need more work, and those with limited experience managing federal grants or large programs are likely to be considered for formula funding, only. The formula competition also includes programs that were included in the Volunteer Iowa competitive portfolio but not selected for funding at the national competitive level. Each year, CNCS notifies Volunteer Iowa of the amount of formula funding available; in recent years approximately $1.6 million. In many years, Volunteer Iowa does not have adequate funding to cover all requests. Formula programs are funded on a one-year budget period basis and must re-apply every year for funding. Based on a program s one-year budget and submitted application, Volunteer Iowa has the discretion to approve programs on a two or three-year basis. State of Iowa Community Programs funds may be available to applicants meeting criteria established in the Iowa Code. State funding awarded to AmeriCorps State applicants may be used as match towards the federal share of their AmeriCorps grant. 2. Estimated Award Amount Grant awards have two components: operating funds and AmeriCorps member positions, resulting in a cost per member service year (MSY). Grant award amounts vary both in the level of operating funds and in the type and amount of AmeriCorps member positions as determined by the scope of the projects. However, awards must fit into the cost per MSY limits established in this RFA. 7
3. Project and Award Period The project period is generally one year, with a start date of September 1, 2018, and end date of August 31, 2019, respectively. Applicants with a demonstrated need to start before September 1, 2018 may seek approval for an alternate start date of August 1, 2018, with an end date of July 31, 2019 by sending an email to Volunteer Iowa. During the program year, programs may request extensions as necessary, to conclude their programs as late as December 31, 2019. Special funding opportunities may also have the flexibility for additional alternate start dates, such as January 1, 2019. The project start date may not occur prior to the date CNCS awards the grant. AmeriCorps members may not enroll prior to the start date of the award. AmeriCorps members may not begin service prior to the beginning of the member enrollment period as designated in the grant award. A program may not certify any hours a member performs prior to the beginning of the member enrollment period, execution of a grant agreement with Volunteer Iowa, and signature of a member service agreement between the member and the program. AmeriCorps members are limited to serving a 12 month or shorter term within the program year. Competitive grant awards cover a three-year project period unless otherwise specified, but the application is submitted with a one-year budget. Continuation funding for subsequent years is not guaranteed and shall be dependent upon availability of appropriations and satisfactory performance. Applicants not forwarded to or not selected for competitive funding will be considered for formula grant awards, which cover only a one-year period. Applicants must submit a new funding application each year, and Volunteer Iowa makes every effort to award continued funding to programs that demonstrate satisfactory performance, compliance, and management capacity. 4. Type of Award a. AmeriCorps Operating Grants: CNCS may award a Cost Reimbursement or a Fixed Amount grant to any successful applicant, but the availability of a Full-Time Fixed Amount grant is limited to certain applicants. See the Eligible Applicants section and the Mandatory Supplemental Guidance for more information. CNCS will not provide both types of grants for the same project in one fiscal year. Grant Types Cost Reimbursement Fixed Amount Available Subtypes Traditional Professional Corps Evidence- Based Planning Grant Full-time Education Award Program (EAP) Maximum Cost per MSY Type of Slots in the National Service Trust Budget Submission Required Availability of Funds linked to enrollment and retention of awarded MSYs Professional Corps $14,932 $1,000* N/A $13,430 $800 $1,000* All All N/A FT or <FT serving in a FT capacity All FT only Yes No Yes, if requesting operating funds No Yes 8
Special Requirements Financial Reporting Requirements Available to New Applicants N/A Yes Must place qualified professionals in communities with an inadequate number of such professionals. Member salaries must be paid entirely by organization where member serves and not included in budget. Yes; Living allowance or salary paid to members may not be counted toward the match requirements VOLUNTEER IOWA 2018-2019 AMERICORPS STATE RFA See N/A N/A Must place qualified Notice professionals in communities with an inadequate number of such professionals. Member salaries must be paid entirely by organization where member serves and not included in budget. Yes Yes No Yes No b. Evidence Based Intervention Planning Grants: CNCS is seeking applications for planning grants that will be used to develop national service models 1 that seek to integrate members in innovative ways into evidence-based interventions. For example, in the Economic Opportunity focus area applicants could explore how to adapt social enterprise, workforce partnership, supportive housing, or financial literacy program models. Alternatively, applicants could propose taking an evidence-based practice 2 such as motivational interviewing and training AmeriCorps members to apply these skills in ways that could improve individual economic or health outcomes. C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION 1. Eligible Applicants The following Non-Federal entities (as defined in 2 CFR 200.69) who have DUNS numbers and are registered in System for Award Management (SAM) are eligible to apply: Indian Tribes (2 CFR 200.54) Institutions of higher education (2 CFR 200.54) Local governments (2 CFR 200.64) Nonprofit organizations (2 CFR 200.70) States (2 CFR 200.90) New Applicants CNCS encourages organizations that have not received prior funding from CNCS to apply. CNCS general practice for competitive applicants is to award at least 20 member positions (slots) but no more than 50 member positions (slots) to organizations receiving an AmeriCorps grant for the first time. New applicants are eligible to apply for Cost Reimbursement and Education Award Program (EAP) grants but are not eligible to apply for Full-Time Fixed Amount grants at the competitive level. Existing subgrantees/operating sites of Fixed Amount and Cost Reimbursement grantees who can demonstrate a successful history and current capacity to manage a Fixed Amount grant are considered by CNCS to have AmeriCorps experience and therefore can apply for competitive Fixed Amount grants. See Mandatory Supplemental Guidance for more information. Volunteer Iowa may consider awarding formula Full-Time Fixed Amount funding to new applicants who demonstrate strong experience with grant management and solid financial management systems.) 1 A body of evidence is emerging that supports the role of national service in effective education interventions. Many of these service education interventions are currently being funded by AmeriCorps. The purpose of these planning grants is to identify new evidencebased service interventions in focus areas with less evidence such as Economic Opportunity and Healthy Futures. 2 Applicants are encouraged to use federal agency clearinghouses or evidence reviews (see https://www.nationalservice.gov/documents/main-menu/2016/clearinghouses-and-evidence-reviews) to identify evidence-based programs and practices. 9
Types of Applicants Single-State Applicants Organizations that propose to operate only in Iowa must apply through the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service (Volunteer Iowa). A Single-State application from Iowa that is submitted directly to CNCS by the applicant rather than to Volunteer Iowa will be considered noncompliant and will not be reviewed. See the Mandatory Supplemental Guidance for descriptions of National Direct and Single-State applicants. National Direct Applicants 3 Multi-State: Organizations that propose to operate AmeriCorps programs in more than one State or Territory apply directly to CNCS. However, AmeriCorps National Direct sponsor organizations may be eligible to apply for an AmeriCorps State grant for the Iowa-only portion of their program (should their overall program or expansion request not be competitively funded by CNCS). Such applicants may be required to submit proof of application to CNCS for a national direct grant in order to participate in a formula-only competition through Volunteer Iowa. States and Territories without Commissions: Applicants in South Dakota, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands apply directly to CNCS because this State and these Territories do not have an established Commission. Federally-recognized Indian Tribes: Applicants that are Indian Tribes apply directly to CNCS. Such applicants should see the CNCS Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for more detail about which applicants fit under this category. In addition, federally-recognized Indian Tribes will also be eligible to apply for operating or planning grants under a separate Notice of Federal Funding Opportunity for Indian Tribes to be released by CNCS later in the Winter with an application deadline in the Spring. CNCS may request applicants apply under the Tribal competition, rather than under their current NOFO. New Applicants. New applicants are those that have not previously received an AmeriCorps State or National operational grant, are not currently managing an AmeriCorps State or National program, are a current AmeriCorps planning grantee requesting the first year of operational funding, or are submitting an application for a program design or funding type for which they have not previously received AmeriCorps funding. Recompeting Applicants. Current competitively funded grantees entering the final year of their three-year grant period must submit a new full application in a process is known as recompetition. In addition to the basic application information, recompeting programs must describe program impact and accomplishments for the previous years of AmeriCorps funding received, including reporting on performance measures. Applicants must include data regarding AmeriCorps member enrollment and retention rates for the same period. Finally, recompeting applicants will be required to submit an evaluation summary and/or plan. Such applicants are advised that previous site visit reports, performance records, program progress reports, financial reports and egrants member documentation, as well as member enrollment and retention rates, will be reviewed as part of the selection process. New/Previous Applicants: Previous applicants include those who are currently receiving formula funding or those who were competitively funded at one time but did not successfully recompete in the previous year and are seeking competitive funding once again. Similar to recompete applicants, previous applicants will be required to provide information regarding their previous year(s) of AmeriCorps program funding in the current application. Previous applicants may be required to submit an evaluation summary and/or plan. Continuation Applicants. Current competitive AmeriCorps State grantees that are in years one or two of their three year competitive grant are considered continuation applicants (current formula programs are not considered continuation applicants because they receive only one year grants). Competitive continuation applicants submit an abbreviated application in order to be considered for continued funding of their grant. Continuation funding is not guaranteed. Competitive continuation applicants do not re-enter all of the application information; rather their original application is carried over within the egrants system and they provide updates on program performance and explanations of any program modifications in a special field. 3 Although National Direct applicants do not have to apply to Commissions, there are substantial requirements to coordinate with the Commissions for states in which national service programs will operate. See the Coordination among State Commission & National Direct Applicants section for information on these important requirements. 10
Competitive continuation applicants should make special note of which application requirements in this RFA do and do not apply to them, and they should refer to the section for continuation applicants within the CNCS application instructions. 2. Threshold Issues Applications should reflect that they meet the following threshold requirements for the grant type for which they are applying. CNCS requires programs to engage at least 20 members, but has no minimum MSY requirement. Volunteer Iowa generally expects programs to engage a minimum of 10 full-time AmeriCorps members or the equivalent number of MSYs, (such as 20 half-time, or 5 full-time and 19 quarter time). Applicants should see the Volunteer Iowa FAQs for more information about the program size threshold. Volunteer Iowa has a waiver form, Appendix 1, to request an exception to its 10 MSY minimum; there is no exception to the CNCS minimum. This means that programs engaging less than 20 members will be eligible for formula funding, only. Professional Corps applicants and/or applicants determined to be a Professional Corps by CNCS must demonstrate that the community in which they will place AmeriCorps members serving as professionals has an inadequate number of said professionals. Applications for a Full-Time Fixed Amount grant must reflect that all member positions are full-time, or less than full-time positions serving in a full-time capacity. Applications for the Governor and Mayor Initiative must clearly reflect that they are from one Governor, one or more Mayors, and a minimum of two nonprofits. If the proposed service activities require specialized member qualifications and/or training (for example, tutoring programs: 45 CFR 2522.910-.940), the applicant must describe how the program will meet these requirements. New applicant organizations will have and submit at the time of final application submission, a copy of the most recent agency audit or financial review. 3. Other Requirements Under section 132A(b) of the NCSA, organizations that have been convicted of a federal crime may not receive assistance described in this RFA. Note that under section 745 of Title VII, Division E of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, if CNCS is aware that any corporation has any unpaid Federal tax liability which has been assessed, for which all judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted or have lapsed, and that is not being paid in a timely manner pursuant to an agreement with the authority responsible for collecting the tax liability, that corporation is not eligible for an award under this RFA. 4 A similar restriction may be enacted with the appropriation which will fund awards under this RFA. 4 Pursuant to the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, 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 for CNCS funding. D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION This RFA should be read together with the AmeriCorps Regulations, 45 CFR 2520 2550, the Mandatory Supplemental Guidance, Volunteer Iowa Application Instructions, and the National Performance Measure Instructions which are incorporated by reference. These documents will be posted or linked to, as they are available, at https://www.iowagrants.gov/insidelinkopps.jsp?documentpk=1503886162014. The full Regulations are available online at www.ecfr.gov. Please note that single-state applicants that apply to Volunteer Iowa through this RFA have different deadlines, more required additional documentation, and different instructions than applicants to CNCS. Please ensure that if you are an Iowa-only applicant, you use this RFA to complete your proposal to Volunteer Iowa and not the Notice of Funding Opportunity from CNCS. 1. Application Materials 4 However, this exclusion will not apply to a corporation which a federal agency has considered for suspension or debarment and has made a determination that suspension or debarment is not necessary to protect the interests of the federal government. 11