[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 111 (Wednesday, June 10, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 31753-31755] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-15380] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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] BILLING CODE 6050-28-P