Senior Corps > Notices of Funds Availability / Notices of Funding Opportunities

The new application deadline is Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 5:00p.m Eastern Time.

Please note the updated Training and Technical Assistance Conference Call schedule at the bottom of the page.

The new Performance Measures Module (screens) are available and functioning in eGrants. You are now able to enter your Work Plan(s) in eGrants. For additional information on how to enter your Work Plan(s) in eGrants, please refer to the eGrants Work Plan: 2013 RSVP New Applications Online Course section below.

Recording of the Performance Measures Module Technical Assistance Webinar

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is releasing the 2013 RSVP Competition Draft Notice of Federal Funding Opportunity (Draft Notice) as a draft on August 2, 2012. CNCS’s intent by offering this Draft Notice on this date is to provide all potential applicants with additional time to become familiar with the requirements and characteristics of the RSVP competition. We recommend potential applicants use this additional time to begin outlining and developing their grant applications.

CNCS will also be holding technical assistance calls during this time. It is emphasized that because this is a draft document, it is possible that the final Notice could contain certain requirements that are not currently contained in this Draft Notice. We anticipate that the final Notice, the final Application Instructions and eGrants will be open for submission of applications on or about September 1, 2012. The deadline for submitting applications is Thursday, October 18, 2012.

APPLICATION DUE: Applications are due Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Successful applicants will be notified in March 2013.

NOTICE OF INTENT DUE: Please note you can still submit a Notice of Intent to Apply after the deadline. If you intend to apply, submit a Notice of Intent to Apply via email to:2013RSVPIntent@cns.gov by September 10, 2012 stating your intent to apply. The Notice of Intent to Apply is not required however, it is strongly encouraged.

The mission of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic participation through service and volunteering. For more than 15 years, CNCS—through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, Social Innovation Fund, and other programs and activities—has helped to engage millions of citizens in meeting community and national challenges through service and volunteer action.

In 2009, Congress passed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act (SAA), the most sweeping expansion of national service in a generation. This landmark law not only expands service opportunities, but also focuses national service on key outcomes; builds the capacity of individuals, nonprofits, and communities to succeed; and encourages innovative approaches to solving problems.

In alignment with the SAA and the CNCS Strategic Plan, this Senior Corps RSVP Draft Notice will focus grant making for fiscal year 2013 in the six Focus Areas identified by SAA:

Education
Healthy Futures
Veterans and Military Families
Environmental Stewardship
Economic Opportunity
Disaster Services

In order to carry out the intent of Congress and to maximize the impact of the investment in national service, CNCS seeks to fund programs that can demonstrate community impact and solve community problems through National Performance Measures in the Focus Areas listed above. Please see the full text of this Draft Notice for additional funding priorities.

In this competition CNCS intends to fund RSVP projects that support volunteers 55 years and older serving in a diverse range of activities that meet specific local and community needs and respond to National Performance Measures.

RSVP projects awarded under this Draft Notice must:

Serve all the counties in the geographic service area associated with the funding opportunity listed in Appendix A Part 1 or Part 2;
Support at least 80% of the number of volunteers listed in Appendix A;
Minimize, to the extent possible, disruptions to the current volunteers associated with any incumbent project. Please see Appendix C for more information; and
Meet the National Performance Measure requirements and other criteria established in this Draft Notice.

In accordance with the Obama administration’s emphasis on open government, CNCS has moved toward greater transparency in grantmaking. This Draft Notice includes a description of the application review and selection process in Section V. In addition, the following information pertaining to this competition for applications will be published on the CNCS website at http://nationalservice.gov/about/open/grants.asp, within a period not to exceed 90 business days after all grants are awarded:

Blank external review form.
List of and executive summaries of all compliant applications submitted.
SF424 face sheet and program narrative for successful applications.
List of external reviewers.
Summaries of external reviewer comments for successful applications.

This Draft Notice should be read together with the RSVP regulations [45 CFR Part 2553], the Senior Corps RSVP Grant Application Instructions, and the National Performance Measures Instructions. Publication of this Draft Notice does not obligate CNCS to award any specific number of grants nor does it require CNCS to obligate the entire amount of available funding.

Please see the NOFO (link provided below) for full details

AVAILABLE DOCUMENTS:

Click here to view the Notice of Funds Availability (PDF)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Press Release
Frequently Asked Questions
Technical Assistance Information

Frequently Asked Questions:

Click here for the latest Frequently Asked Questions - Updated 10/4/2012

Technical Assistance Information:

RSVP Grant Application Instructions (PDF)
RSVP Work Plan Worksheets (Word)
eGrants Visual Instructions (PDF)
Appendix A, Part 1: Funding Opportunities Covered by this Notice - updated 9/21/2012 (PDF)
Appendix A, Part 2: List of Available Funding Opportunities by State - updated 9/21/2012 (PDF)
Appendix B: Performance Measures (PDF)
Appendix C: Graduation Stations (PDF)
Appendix D Financial Management Forms:
- 1199A (PDF)
- 1199A Instructions (PDF)
- Contact Information with DUNS (PDF)
- FFR User Form #2 (PDF)
- FFR User Form (PDF)
Appendix E: Financial Management Survey (PDF)
Appendix F: Terms and Definitions - updated 8/24/2012 (PDF)
Aggregate Dollar Amount of Funding Form (Excel spreadsheet)
NOFO Outreach PowerPoint (PDF)
Station Roster Templates
- If you are using Microsoft Office 2010 Excel please use Template A (Excel, PDF).
- If you are using any previous version of Microsoft Office Excel (i.e. 97-2003) please use Template B (Excel, PDF). When using this version, please refer to the “Station Types” tab to populate Station Type entries.

eGrants Work Plan: 2013 RSVP New Applications Online Course

This tutorial, designed for 2013 RSVP new competitive applications, guides users through the eGrants performance measure screens. It demonstrates how to complete the new performance measure section of the application. The tutorial also includes some program specific content information. For a list of the National Performance Measures, please refer to Appendix B of the Notice of Funding Opportunity. The tutorial is located at eGrants Work Plan: 2013 RSVP New Applications.

Virtual Conference Information

The Senior Corps National Virtual Conference has ended. However, the event is available on-demand until November 16, 2012. Feel free to log in to attend the webcasts, visit exhibitor booths, and access Senior Corps 2.0! library material. After November 16, 2012, you will be able to access all conference materials on the National Service Resource Center.

Grant Opportunity Fact Sheets

The 2013 RSVP Grant Opportunity fact sheets provide information on the current Notice of Funding Opportunity with an emphasis on CNCS’ six focus areas:

Technical Assistance Conference Call Information

NOFO Overview Technical Assistance (two calls available)

Call Date: Thursday, August 2, 2012
Replay Available at (800) 308-7816 Passcode: 7347
Replay available through October 18, 2012

Call Date: Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Replay Available at (800) 513-1167 Passcode: 7404
(Replay available through October 18, 2012)

General Information and RSVP 101 Technical Assistance Call

Call Date: Monday, August 27, 2012
Replay Available at (800) 839-2310 Passcode: 7597
(Replay available through October 18, 2012)

The Senior Corps Team will be hosting 3 Open Office Training and Technical Assistance calls next week. The calls will cover the Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions and review the Step-by-Step guide on how to enter your 2013 RSVP Grant Application in eGrants. You will have the opportunity to ask questions as time permits. The call-in information for each call is listed below.

Call Date: Tuesday, October 9, 2012, 2:00 PM Eastern Time
Call-in number: 888-469-3076 Passcode: 3048200
Replay Available at 866-515-1612 Passcode: 4812
(Replay available through October 18, 2012)

To join the online meeting

Go to https://cncs.webex.com/cncs/j.php?ED=161610072&UID=0&PW=NMTIxNDY0OTQ1&RT=MiMxMQ%3D%3D
If requested, enter your name and email address.
If a password is required, enter the meeting password: 2013RSVP
Click “Join”

Call Date: Wednesday, October 10, 2012, 2:00 PM Eastern Time
Call-in number: (888) 323-9808 Passcode: 9206735
Replay Available at (800) 395-6236 Passcode: 8997
(Replay available through October 18, 2012)

To join the online meeting

Go to https://cncs.webex.com/cncs/j.php?ED=161493747&UID=0&PW=NMjVkODlmYWNj&RT=MiMxMQ%3D%3D
If requested, enter your name and email address.
If a password is required, enter the meeting password: 2013RSVP
Click “Join”

Call Date: Thursday, October 11, 2012, 2:00 PM Eastern Time
Call-in number: 888-469-3217 Passcode: 4438740
Replay Available at 800-846-4244 Passcode: 4831
(Replay available through October 18, 2012)

To join the online meeting

Go to https://cncs.webex.com/cncs/j.php?ED=161609842&UID=0&PW=NYmM5ZmZhMDUx&RT=MiMxMQ%3D%3D
If requested, enter your name and email address.
If a password is required, enter the meeting password: 2013RSVP
Click “Join”

Performance Measures Module Technical Assistance (four calls available)

Topic: eGrants PM Module
Date: Monday, September 24, 2012

Replay number: 800-510-9771
Passcode: 7776
End date: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Topic: Performance Measures Module TA 9.25
Date: Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Replay number: 800-496-9143
Passcode: 7324
End date: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Topic: Performance Measures Module TA 9.26
Date: Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Replay number: 866-428-3805
Passcode: 7783
End date: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Topic: Senior Corps Application - Step-by-Step Guide
Date: Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Time: 2:00 pm, Eastern Daylight Time
Meeting Number: 647 287 476
Meeting Password: RSVP

To join the online meeting (Now from mobile devices!)

Go to https://cncs.webex.com/cncs/j.php?ED=161412562&UID=0&PW=NMjgxZThkOTc4&RT=MiMxMQ%3D%3D
If requested, enter your name and email address.
If a password is required, enter the meeting password: RSVP
Click "Join".

Call-in number: (888) 323-9808 Passcode: 7187073
Replay Available at (800) 395-1636 Passcode: 8770
(Replay available through October 18, 2012)

General Information Technical Assistance (two calls available)

The Senior Corps Team will be hosting a Training and Technical Assistance call tomorrow, October 4, 2012 at 2PM Eastern Time. The call will provide a step-by-step guide to entering your 2013 RSVP Senior Corps Application in eGrants. You will have the opportunity to ask questions as time permits. The call-in information is listed below.

Call Date: Thursday, October 4, 2012, 2:00 PM Eastern Time
Call-in number: (888) 323-9808 Passcode: 2449773
Replay Available at (866) 396-4183 Passcode: 8877
(Replay available through October 18, 2012)

To join the online meeting

Go to https://cncs.webex.com/cncs/j.php?ED=161585162&UID=492262817&PW=NZGQxYmJmNDg0&RT=MiMxMQ%3D%3D
If requested, enter your name and email address.
If a password is required, enter the meeting password: 2013RSVP
Click “Join”

OVERVIEW | FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS | TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE INFORMATION