Part II—Application and Approval Process
§12581. Provision of assistance and approved national service positions by competitive and other means
(a) Allotments of assistance and approved positions to States and Indian tribes
(1) 331/3 percent allotment of assistance to certain States
Of the funds allocated by the Corporation for provision of assistance under subsections (a) and (b) of
(2) One percent allotment for certain territories and possessions
Of the funds allocated by the Corporation for provision of assistance under subsections (a) and (b) of
(3) One percent allotment for Indian tribes
Of the funds allocated by the Corporation for provision of assistance under subsections (a) and (b) of
(4) Effect of failure to apply
If a State or Indian tribe fails to apply for, or fails to give notice to the Corporation of its intent to apply for, an allotment under this subsection, the Corporation shall use the amount that would have been allotted under this subsection to the State or Indian tribe—
(A) to make grants (and provide approved national service positions in connection with such grants) to other eligible entities under
(B) after making grants under subparagraph (A), to make a reallotment to other States and Indian tribes with approved applications under
(b) Reservation of approved positions
The Corporation shall ensure that each individual selected during a fiscal year for assignment as a VISTA volunteer under title I of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (
(c) Reservation for special assistance
From amounts appropriated for a fiscal year pursuant to the authorization of appropriation in
(d) Competitive distribution of remaining funds
(1) State competition
Of the funds allocated by the Corporation for provision of assistance under subsections (a) and (b) of
(2) Federal agencies and other applicants
The Corporation shall distribute on a competitive basis to subdivisions of States, Indian tribes, public or private nonprofit organizations (including labor organizations), institutions of higher education, and Federal agencies the remainder of the funds allocated by the Corporation for provision of assistance under
(3) Limitation on distribution to Federal agencies
The Corporation may not provide more than 1/3 of the funds available for competitive distribution under paragraph (2) for a fiscal year to Federal agencies under
(4) Priority limitations
The Corporation may limit the categories of eligible applicants for assistance under paragraph (2) consistent with the priorities established by the Corporation under
(5) Reservation of funds for supplemental and outreach grants
(A) Reservation
From amounts appropriated for a fiscal year pursuant to the authorization of appropriation in
(B) Grants to assist entities in placing applicants who are individuals with a disability
(i) In general
The Chief Executive Officer shall make grants from a portion of the funds reserved under subparagraph (A) to entities that—
(I) receive a grant to carry out a national service program under paragraph (1) or (2);
(II) demonstrate that the entity has received a substantial number of applications for placement in the national service program of persons who are individuals with a disability and who require a reasonable accommodation (as defined in
(III) demonstrate that additional funding would assist the national service program in placing a substantial number of such individuals with a disability as participants in projects carried out through the program.
(ii) Requirements
Funds made available through such a supplemental grant under clause (i) shall be made available for the same purposes, and subject to the same requirements, as funds made available through a grant made under paragraph (1) or (2).
(C) Grants for outreach to individuals with a disability
(i) In general
From the portion of the funds reserved under subparagraph (A) that is not used to make grants under subparagraph (B), the Chief Executive Officer shall make grants to public or private nonprofit organizations to pay for the Federal share described in
(I) providing information about the programs specified in section 12651d(d)(10) 1 of this title to such individuals with a disability who desire to perform national service; and
(II) enabling the individuals to participate in activities carried out through such programs, which may include assisting the placement of the individuals in approved national service positions.
(ii) Application
To be eligible to receive a grant under this subparagraph, an organization described in clause (i) shall submit an application to the Chief Executive Officer at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Chief Executive Officer may require.
(e) Application required
The allotment of assistance and approved national service positions to a State or Indian tribe under subsection (a) of this section, and the competitive distribution of assistance under subsection (d) of this section, shall be made by the Corporation only pursuant to an application submitted by a State or other applicant under
(f) Approval of positions subject to available funds
The Corporation may not approve positions as approved national service positions under this division for a fiscal year in excess of the number of such positions for which the Corporation has sufficient available funds in the National Service Trust for that fiscal year, taking into consideration funding needs for national service educational awards under division D of this subchapter based on completed service. If appropriations are insufficient to provide the maximum allowable national service educational awards under division D of this subchapter for all eligible participants, the Corporation is authorized to make necessary and reasonable adjustments to program rules.
(g) Sponsorship of approved national service positions
(1) Sponsorship authorized
The Corporation may enter into agreements with persons or entities who offer to sponsor national service positions for which the person or entity will be responsible for supplying the funds necessary to provide a national service educational award. The distribution of these approved national service positions shall be made pursuant to the agreement, and the creation of these positions shall not be taken into consideration in determining the number of approved national service positions to be available for distribution under this section.
(2) Deposit of contribution
Funds provided pursuant to an agreement under paragraph (1) and any other funds contributed to the Corporation to support the activities of the Corporation under the national service laws shall be deposited in the National Service Trust established in
(
References in Text
For ratification of Compact of Free Association with Palau, referred to in subsec. (a)(2), see Proc. No. 6726, Sept. 27, 1994, 59 F.R. 49777, set out as a note under
The Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, referred to in subsec. (b), is
Prior Provisions
A prior section 129 of
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in
1 So in original.
§12582. Application for assistance and approved national service positions
(a) Time, manner, and content of application
To be eligible to receive assistance under
(b) Types of permissible application information
In order to have adequate information upon which to consider an application under
(1) A description of the national service programs proposed to be carried out directly by the applicant using assistance provided under
(2) A description of the national service programs that are selected by the applicant to receive a grant using assistance requested under
(3) A description of other funding sources to be used, or sought to be used, for the national service programs referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2), and, if the application is submitted for the purpose of seeking a renewal of assistance, a description of the success of the programs in reducing their reliance on Federal funds.
(4) A description of the extent to which the projects to be conducted using the assistance will address unmet human, educational, environmental, or public safety needs and produce a direct benefit for the community in which the projects are performed.
(5) A description of the plan to be used to recruit participants, including youth who are individuals with disabilities and economically disadvantaged young men and women, for the national service programs referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2).
(6) A description of the manner in which the national service programs referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2) build on existing programs, including Federal programs.
(7) A description of the manner in which the national service programs referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2) will involve participants—
(A) in projects that build an ethic of civic responsibility and produce a positive change in the lives of participants through training and participation in meaningful service experiences and opportunities for reflection on such experiences; and
(B) in leadership positions in implementing and evaluating the program.
(8) Measurable goals for the national service programs referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2), and a strategy to achieve such goals, in terms of—
(A) the impact to be made in meeting unmet human, educational, environmental, or public safety needs; and
(B) the service experience to be provided to participants in the programs.
(9) A description of the manner and extent to which the national service programs referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2) conform to the national service priorities established by the Corporation under
(10) A description of the past experience of the applicant in operating a comparable program or in conducting a grant program in support of other comparable service programs.
(11) A description of the type and number of proposed service positions in which participants will receive the national service educational award described in division D of this subchapter and a description of the manner in which approved national service positions will be apportioned by the applicant.
(12) A description of the manner and extent to which participants, representatives of the community served, community-based agencies with a demonstrated record of experience in providing services, and labor organizations contributed to the development of the national service programs referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2), including the identity of the individual representing each appropriate labor organization (if any) who was consulted and the nature of the consultation.
(13) Such other information as the Corporation may reasonably require.
(c) Required application information
An application submitted under subsection (a) of this section shall contain the following information:
(1) A description of the jobs or positions into which participants will be placed using the assistance provided under
(2) A description of the minimum qualifications that individuals shall meet to become participants in such programs.
(d) Application to receive only approved national service positions
(1) Applicability of subsection
This subsection shall apply in the case of an application in which—
(A) the applicant is not seeking assistance under subsection (a) or (b) of
(B) the applicant requests national service educational awards for service positions described in
(2) Special application requirements
For the applications described in paragraph (1), the Corporation shall establish special application requirements in order to determine—
(A) whether the service positions meet unmet human, educational, environmental, or public safety needs and meet the criteria for assistance under this division; and
(B) whether the Corporation should approve the positions as approved national service positions.
(e) Special rule for State applicants
(1) Submission by State Commission
The application of a State for approved national service positions or for a grant under
(2) Competitive selection
The application of a State shall contain an assurance that all assistance provided under
(3) Assistance to non-State entities
The application of a State shall also contain an assurance that not less than 60 percent of the assistance will be used to make grants in support of national service programs other than national service programs carried out by a State agency. The Corporation may permit a State to deviate from the percentage specified by this subsection if the State has not received a sufficient number of acceptable applications to comply with the percentage.
(f) Special rule for certain applicants
(1) Written concurrence
In the case of a program applicant that proposes to also serve as the service sponsor, the application shall include the written concurrence of any local labor organization representing employees of the service sponsor who are engaged in the same or substantially similar work as that proposed to be carried out.
(2) "Program applicant" defined
For purposes of this subsection, the term "program applicant" means—
(A) a State, subdivision of a State, Indian tribe, public or private nonprofit organization, institution of higher education, or Federal agency submitting an application under this section; or
(B) an entity applying for assistance or approved national service positions through a grant program conducted using assistance provided to a State, subdivision of a State, Indian tribe, public or private nonprofit organization, institution of higher education, or Federal agency under
(g) Limitation on same project in multiple applications
The Corporation shall reject an application submitted under this section if a project proposed to be conducted using assistance requested by the applicant is already described in another application pending before the Corporation.
(
Prior Provisions
A prior section 130 of
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in
§12583. National service program assistance requirements
(a) Impact on communities
An application submitted under
(1) address unmet human, educational, environmental, or public safety needs through services that provide a direct benefit to the community in which the service is performed; and
(2) comply with the nonduplication and nondisplacement requirements of
(b) Impact on participants
An application submitted under
(1) provide participants in the national service program with the training, skills, and knowledge necessary for the projects that participants are called upon to perform;
(2) provide support services to participants, such as the provision of appropriate information and support—
(A) to those participants who are completing a term of service and making the transition to other educational and career opportunities; and
(B) to those participants who are school dropouts in order to assist those participants in earning the equivalent of a high school diploma; and
(3) provide, if appropriate, structured opportunities for participants to reflect on their service experiences.
(c) Consultation
An application submitted under
(1) provide in the design, recruitment, and operation of the program for broad-based input from—
(A) the community served and potential participants in the program; and
(B) community-based agencies with a demonstrated record of experience in providing services and local labor organizations representing employees of service sponsors, if these entities exist in the area to be served by the program;
(2) prior to the placement of participants, consult with the appropriate local labor organization, if any, representing employees in the area who are engaged in the same or similar work as that proposed to be carried out by such program to ensure compliance with the nondisplacement requirements specified in
(3) in the case of a program that is not funded through a State, consult with and coordinate activities with the State Commission for the State in which the program operates.
(d) Evaluation and performance goals
(1) In general
An application submitted under
(A) arrange for an independent evaluation of any national service program carried out using assistance provided to the applicant under
(B) apply measurable performance goals and evaluation methods (such as the use of surveys of participants and persons served), which are to be used as part of such evaluation to determine the impact of the program—
(i) on communities and persons served by the projects performed by the program;
(ii) on participants who take part in the projects; and
(iii) in such other areas as the Corporation may require; and
(C) cooperate with any evaluation activities undertaken by the Corporation.
(2) Evaluation
Subject to paragraph (3), the Corporation shall develop evaluation criteria and performance goals applicable to all national service programs carried out with assistance provided under
(3) Alternative evaluation requirements
The Corporation may establish alternative evaluation requirements for national service programs based upon the amount of assistance received under
(e) Living allowances and other inservice benefits
Except as provided in
(1) ensure the provision of a living allowance and other benefits specified in
(2) require that each national service program that receives a grant from the applicant using such assistance will also provide a living allowance and other benefits specified in
(f) Selection of participants from individuals recruited by Corporation or State Commissions
The Corporation may also require an assurance by the applicant that any national service program carried out by the applicant using assistance provided under
(
Prior Provisions
A prior section 131 of
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in
§12584. Ineligible service categories
(a) In general
Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, an application submitted to the Corporation under
(1) business organized for profit;
(2) labor union;
(3) partisan political organization;
(4) organization engaged in religious activities, unless such service does not involve the use of assistance provided under
(A) to give religious instruction;
(B) to conduct worship services;
(C) to provide instruction as part of a program that includes mandatory religious education or worship;
(D) to construct or operate facilities devoted to religious instruction or worship or to maintain facilities primarily or inherently devoted to religious instruction or worship; or
(E) to engage in any form of proselytization; or
(5) nonprofit organization that fails to comply with the restrictions contained in
(b) Regional Corporation
The requirement of subsection (a) of this section relating to an assurance regarding direct benefits to businesses organized for profit shall not apply with respect to a Regional Corporation, as defined in section 3(g) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (
(
References in Text
The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, referred to in subsec. (b), is
Prior Provisions
A prior section 132 of
§12585. Consideration of applications
(a) Corporation consideration of certain criteria
The Corporation shall apply the criteria described in subsections (c) and (d) of this section in determining whether—
(1) to approve an application submitted under
(2) to approve service positions described in the application as national service positions that include the national service educational award described in division D of this subchapter and provide such approved national service positions to the applicant.
(b) Application to subgrants
(1) In general
A State or other entity that uses assistance provided under
(2) Contents
The application of the State or other entity under
(A) a certification that the State or other entity used these criteria in the selection of national service programs to receive assistance;
(B) a description of the jobs or positions into which participants will be placed using such assistance, including descriptions of specific tasks to be performed by such participants; and
(C) a description of the minimum qualifications that individuals shall meet to become participants in such programs.
(c) Assistance criteria
The criteria required to be applied in evaluating applications submitted under
(1) The quality of the national service program proposed to be carried out directly by the applicant or supported by a grant from the applicant.
(2) The innovative aspects of the national service program, and the feasibility of replicating the program.
(3) The sustainability of the national service program, based on evidence such as the existence—
(A) of strong and broad-based community support for the program; and
(B) of multiple funding sources or private funding for the program.
(4) The quality of the leadership of the national service program, the past performance of the program, and the extent to which the program builds on existing programs.
(5) The extent to which participants of the national service program are recruited from among residents of the communities in which projects are to be conducted, and the extent to which participants and community residents are involved in the design, leadership, and operation of the program.
(6) The extent to which projects would be conducted in the following areas where they are needed most:
(A) Communities designated as empowerment zones or redevelopment areas, targeted for special economic incentives, or otherwise identifiable as having high concentrations of low-income people.
(B) Areas that are environmentally distressed.
(C) Areas adversely affected by Federal actions related to the management of Federal lands that result in significant regional job losses and economic dislocation.
(D) Areas adversely affected by reductions in defense spending or the closure or realignment of military installations.
(E) Areas that have an unemployment rate greater than the national average unemployment for the most recent 12 months for which satisfactory data are available.
(7) In the case of applicants other than States, the extent to which the application is consistent with the application under
(8) Such other criteria as the Corporation considers to be appropriate.
(d) Other considerations
(1) Geographic diversity
The Corporation shall ensure that recipients of assistance provided under
(2) Priorities
The Corporation may designate, under such criteria as may be established by the Corporation, certain national service programs or types of national service programs described in
(A) national service programs carried out by another Federal agency;
(B) national service programs that conform to the national service priorities in effect under
(C) innovative national service programs;
(D) national service programs that are well established in one or more States at the time of the application and are proposed to be expanded to additional States using assistance provided under
(E) grant programs in support of other national service programs if the grant programs are to be conducted by nonprofit organizations with a demonstrated and extensive expertise in the provision of services to meet human, educational, environmental, or public safety needs;
(F) professional corps programs described in
(G) programs that—
(i) received funding under part D of this subchapter, as in effect on the day before September 21, 1993;
(ii) the Corporation determines to meet the requirements of sections 12572 (other than subsection (g)), 12573, and 12578 through 12580 of this title, as in effect on such day, in addition to the requirements of this division; and
(iii) include an evaluation component.
(3) Additional priority
In making a competitive distribution of funds under
(A) proposed in an application submitted by a State Commission; and
(B) not one of the types of programs described in paragraph (2),
if the State Commission provides an adequate explanation of the reasons why it should not be a priority of such State to carry out any of such types of programs in the State.
(4) Review panel
The Corporation shall—
(A) establish panels of experts for the purpose of securing recommendations on applications submitted under
(B) consider the opinions of such panels prior to making such determinations.
(e) Emphasis on areas most in need
In making assistance available under
(1) are conducted in any of the areas described in subsection (c)(6) of this section or on Federal or other public lands, to address unmet human, educational, environmental, or public safety needs in such areas or on such lands; and
(2) place a priority on the recruitment of participants who are residents of any of such areas or Federal or other public lands.
(f) Rejection of State applications
(1) Notification of State applicants
If the Corporation rejects an application submitted by a State Commission under
(2) Resubmission and reconsideration
The Corporation shall provide a State Commission notified under paragraph (1) with a reasonable opportunity to revise and resubmit the application. At the request of the State Commission, the Corporation shall provide technical assistance to the State Commission as part of the resubmission process. The Corporation shall promptly reconsider an application resubmitted under this paragraph.
(3) Reallotment
The amount of any State's allotment under
(
References in Text
Part D of this subchapter and
Prior Provisions
A prior section 133 of
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in