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: Notice of guidelines with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Corporation for National Service (``Corporation'') plans

to replace the VISTA Supervision and Transportation Support Guidelines

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

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.

The Corporation invites all interested parties to comment on the issues

discussed in this notice. Any comments received will be carefully

considered in the development of the final AmeriCorps*VISTA Supervision

and Transportation Support Guidelines.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the

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address section on or before March 25, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Rosezina Dunn, AmeriCorps*VISTA Office,

Corporation for National Service, Room 9110, 1201 New York Avenue,

N.W., Washington, D.C. 20525. (See Supplementary Information section

for policy on electronic access.)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry Bevan, Program and Field Support

Manager, AmeriCorps*VISTA, (202) 606-5000, extension 206. For

individuals with disabilities, information will be made available in

alternative formats, upon request.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Final Notice of VISTA Supervision and

Transportation Support Guidelines, as published in the Federal Register

on May 5, 1987 (52 FR 16422), will be replaced by new guidelines. This

notice proposes new guidelines to ensure that AmeriCorps*VISTA members

have the support to ensure that they may perform their assignments

effectively. These guidelines will apply to AmeriCorps*VISTA sponsors

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

amended. The Corporation seeks public comment for all portions of these

proposed guidelines. Comments submitted in response to this notice will

be summarized and/or included in the final guidelines; they will also

become a matter of public record. No electronic mail or facsimile

transmission comments will be accepted.

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.

1. Purpose

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

Public Law 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.

(b) This order establishes the policy and guidelines for

determining:

(1) 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

(2) 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

AmeriCorps*VISTA 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

(a) 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:

(1) Necessary for the effective functioning of the AmeriCorps*VISTA

members on the project, and

(2) Within these guidelines.

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

by the sponsoring organization over the life of the project is

encouraged.

(c) 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:

(1) Services are furnished at a reasonable rate;

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

prevailing salary levels;

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

agreed amount will be at its own expense.

(d) 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.

(e) Renewal of supervision and/or transportation grants

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

project performance.

5. Guidelines for Transportation Arrangements

(a) 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:

(1) Necessity of transportation, including public transportation,

for AmeriCorps*VISTA members to achieve the goals/objectives of the

project as contained in the project application;

(2) Inability of the sponsoring organization to provide adequate

transportation.

(b) The Corporation will not provide on-the-job transportation

support for:

(1) Travel expenses incurred by AmeriCorps*VISTA members from their

residence to their assigned post; and

(2) Transportation or delivery services to the population being

served.

(c) The Corporation State Program Director will consider budget

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constraints, available resources, and program and geographic priorities

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

6. Guidelines for Supervision Arrangements

(a) 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:

(1) Necessity of full- or part-time supervision for members to

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

application;

(2) Inability of the sponsoring organization to provide adequate

supervision;

(3) Number of AmeriCorps*VISTA members assigned to the project

during the period covered by the Memorandum of Agreement;

(4) Necessity of supervisor job-related travel based on number of

AmeriCorps*VISTA members assigned and the geographic dispersion of the

project.

(b) The Corporation has determined that:

(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.

(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.

(c) 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 that 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 AmeriCorps*VISTA 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: February 24, 1998.

Kenneth L. Klothen,

General Counsel.

[FR Doc. 98-5225 Filed 2-27-98; 8:45 am]

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