AmeriCorps*VISTA Supervision and Transportation Support Guidelines

CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

AmeriCorps*VISTA Supervision and Transportation Support

Guidelines

AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.

ACTION: Final Notice for AmeriCorps*VISTA Supervision and

Transportation Support Guidelines.

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SUMMARY: The Corporation for National and Community Service will

replace the VISTA Supervision and Transportation Support Guidelines

published in the Federal Register on May 5, 1987 (52 FR 16422). These

revised guidelines will enable AmeriCorps*VISTA to make a grant

agreement, or other arrangements with a sponsoring organization to pay

for on-the-job transportation and/or supervisory support for

AmeriCorps*VISTA members.

DATES: These guidelines become effective on July 9, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diana B. London, Acting Director of

AmeriCorps*VISTA, (202) 606-5000 ext. 228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A request for comments on the revised

AmeriCorps*VISTA Supervision and Transportation Support Guidelines was

published in the Federal Register on March 2, 1998, (63 FR 10200), and

no comments were received. Thus, these are the final guidelines for all

AmeriCorps*VISTA member supervision and/or transportation support grant

applications/agreements submitted to the Corporation for National and

Community Service. The text of the guidelines follows:

AmeriCorps*VISTA Supervision and Transportation Support Guidelines

Implementation

These Guidelines apply to all AmeriCorps*VISTA member supervision

and/or on-the-job transportation support grant applications/agreements

submitted to the Corporation for National Service on or after the

effective date of the final notice.

[[Page 31754]]

1. Purpose

Section 105(b) of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, Pub.

L. 93-113, as amended, requires the AmeriCorps*VISTA program to ensure

that each member serving under Title I, Part A of the Act has available

such allowances and support as will enable them to carry out the

purpose and provisions of the Act and to perform their assignments

effectively. In accordance with Section 105(b) and these guidelines,

AmeriCorps*VISTA may make a commitment through a grant agreement, or

other arrangement with a sponsor, to pay for on-the-job transportation

and/or supervisory support of such members.

This order establishes the policy and guidelines for determining:

a. The circumstances under which grants or other arrangements for

AmeriCorps*VISTA contributions to on-the-job transportation expenses of

AmeriCorps*VISTA members may be negotiated between AmeriCorps*VISTA and

the sponsor; and

b. The circumstances under which grants or other arrangements for

AmeriCorps*VISTA contributions to the cost of providing supervision for

AmeriCorps*VISTA members may be negotiated between AmeriCorps*VISTA and

the sponsor.

2. Scope

Provisions of this policy and guidelines apply to AmeriCorps*VISTA

sponsors and members serving under Title I, Part A of Pub.L. 93-113, as

amended.

3. Background

While AmeriCorps*VISTA must ensure that members have available such

allowances and support as will enable them to perform their project

assignments effectively, the provision of adequate on-the-job

transportation and supervision for AmeriCorps*VISTA members is

primarily the responsibility of the sponsoring organization.

AmeriCorps*VISTA recognizes, however, that in some instances

sponsoring organizations requesting members for projects that conform

to AmeriCorps*VISTA's programming criteria may need assistance in

providing this support. Corporation State Program Directors are

provided with limited financial resources for the purpose of entering

into transportation and/or supervision arrangements with

AmeriCorps*VISTA project sponsors.

When such arrangements are established with a sponsoring

organization, they are to provide for the direct support of member

transportation and supervision, as well as travel needed to supervise

AmeriCorps*VISTA members. They are not intended to provide for other

support needed to accomplish the goals of the project. All other

overhead expenses such as supplies, materials, and equipment are the

sole responsibility of the sponsoring organization.

4. Policy

AmeriCorps*VISTA will provide full or partial funding for on-the-

job transportation of AmeriCorps*VISTA members and/or for hiring of

persons responsible for supervision of the members, but only in those

cases where such support is deemed by the Corporation State Program

Director to be:

a. Necessary to the effective functioning of the AmeriCorps*VISTA

members on the project, and

b. Within these guidelines.

(1) Gradual assumption of transportation and/or supervision support

by the sponsoring organization over the life of the project is

encouraged.

(2) When a supervision and/or transportation arrangement is

approved, the nature of the agreement between the Corporation State

Program Director and the sponsor will be reflected in the relevant

Memorandum of Agreement. Any agreement whereby AmeriCorp*VISTA provides

funds for these purposes will include provisions to ensure that:

(i) Services are furnished at a reasonable rate;

(ii) The rate conforms to sponsor's hiring policies and/or local

prevailing salary levels;

(iii) Any expenses incurred by the sponsoring organization over the

agreed amount will be at its own expenses.

(3) In developing/renewing projects, the Corporation State Program

Director shall take into account the travel and supervisory

requirements of the proposed project. AmeriCorps*VISTA project support

funds will be provided only when needs of the project and the assigned

members cannot be met by the sponsor's own structure and resources.

(4) Renewal of supervision and/or transportation grants

arrangements will be based on need, availability of resources, and

project performance.

5. Guidelines for Transportation Arrangements

The Corporation State Program Director will establish the following

facts before approving AmeriCorps*VISTA funds to support on-the-job

transportation for AmeriCorps*VISTA members:

a. Necessity of transportation for AmeriCorps*VISTA members to

achieve the goals/objectives of the project as contained in the project

application;

b. Inability of the sponsoring organization to provide adequate

transportation.

c. Travel expenses incurred by AmeriCorps*VISTA members from their

residence to and from their project site shall not be eligible for

reimbursement with transportation grant funds.

d. AmeriCorps*VISTA funds shall not be used to provide on-the-job

transportation funds to transport members to and from their regularly

assigned post, or to transport or provide delivery services to the

population being served.

e. Expenses incurred by AmeriCorps*VISTA members who utilize public

transportation for project-related purposes shall be eligible for

reimbursement consistent with actual costs, including public

transportation passes.

The Corporation State Program Director will consider budget

constraints, available resources, and program and geographic priorities

in distributing AmeriCorps*VISTA on-the-job transportation funds.

6. Guidelines for Supervision Arrangements

The Corporation State Program Director shall establish the

following facts before approving AmeriCorps*VISTA funds to support on-

the-job supervision of AmeriCorps*VISTA members:

a. Necessity of full or part-time supervision for members to

achieve the goals/objectives of the project as outlined in the project

application;

b. Inability of the sponsoring organization to provide adequate

supervision;

c. Number of AmeriCorps*VISTA members assigned to the project

during the period covered by the Memorandum of Agreement:

(1) Projects averaging three (3) or fewer AmeriCorps*VISTA members

over the course of the Memorandum of Agreement will not be eligible for

any AmeriCorps*VISTA supervisory funding.

(2) Projects averaging at least four (4) AmeriCorps*VISTA members

during the term of the Memorandum of Agreement are eligible for part-

time supervisory funding in the same ratio as the individual would

spend in actual supervision, e.g., if the supervisor spends at least

30% time directly supervising the members, AmeriCorps*VISTA would fund

up to 30% of salary.

[[Page 31755]]

(3) AmeriCorps*VISTA projects are eligible for funding of a full-

time supervisory position if the project averages at least eight (8)

AmeriCorps*VISTA members over the course of the Memorandum of

Agreement.

d. Necessity of supervisor job-related travel based on number of

AmeriCorps*VISTA members assigned and the geographic dispersion of the

project.

The Corporation State Program Director will consider budget

constraints, available resources, and program and geographic priorities

in distributing AmeriCorps*VISTA supervision funds.

7. Elimination or Reduction of Transportation and/or Supervision

Funding

a. As a general rule, the level of funding, determined by the

Project Manager and contained in an AmeriCorps*VISTA project support

grant/agreement, will be maintained throughout the term of the annual

Memorandum of Agreement between the Corporation for National Service

and the sponsoring organization. However, types of conditions which may

cause the reduction or elimination of project support during the term

of the annual Memorandum of Agreement are:

(1) Amendment by mutual agreement between the Corporation for

National Service and the sponsor;

(2) Termination by the sponsor for any reason;

(3) Reassignment, resignation, or termination of AmeriCorps*VISTA

members from the project before their term of service has ended with no

replacements during that budget year;

(4) Substantial changes in member assignments; or

(5) Suspension or termination in accordance with 45 CFR Part 1206,

Subpart A.

b. All grant awards or agreements documenting supervisory or on-

the-job transportation arrangements will contain language indicating

that the AmeriCorps*VISTA funding may be reduced or eliminated in

accordance with the provisions of this Guideline and the Memorandum of

Agreement.

Dated: June 4, 1998.

Kenneth L. Klothen,

General Counsel.

[FR Doc. 98-15380 Filed 6-9-98; 8:45 am]

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