To: Commission Executive Directors

From: Lois Nembhard, Acting Director, AmeriCorps State/National

Margaret Rosenberry, Director of Grants Management

Subj: Guidance on 2010 Commission Administrative, PDAT, and Disability Grants

Date: October 7, 2009

The Corporation will be operating under a Continuing Resolution for the foreseeable future. Therefore, as we have done in the past, we will award only 50% of each commission’s Administrative, PDAT and Disability grants in December, based on 2009 allocations. Once we have our 2010 budget, we will distribute final allocation charts. The draft application instructions are attached and the due date is November 3, 2009. If OMB approval of the application instructions is delayed or results in substantive changes, we will change the due date. This memo provides additional information related to expectations under the Serve America Act and the use of unexpended funds.

2010 Allocation Amounts for Administrative, PDAT, and Disability Grants. The Serve America Act increases the minimum amount of each Administrative grant to $250,000 and the maximum to $1,000,000. Based on amounts we anticipated receiving, and in consultation with OMB and Congress, we established a maximum of $850,000 for 2010 and published estimated allocation amounts in our 2010 Congressional Budget Justification. However, since that time both Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have taken steps to create commissions and may be eligible for Administrative, PDAT and Disability grants in 2010. We will publish revised charts as soon as we have our appropriation and know the total available for allocation. Allocations for Disability funds will remain the same, but expect decreases in Administrative and PDAT grants from expected levels. Please be aware that the increase to $250,000 does not take place until Congress passes the 2010 Appropriations bill and the President signs it. If we operate under a Continuing Resolution for the entire year, the 2009 levels apply.

Use of Unexpended Funds. As noted in the attached draft guidance, if you have unexpended funds from your 2009 award that you want to carry over into 2010, you must include those funds in the budgets you submit for any of your three grants. If you don’t include them, the Corporation will deduct the amount reported as unexpended on the FFRs for the period ending 12/31/09 when we award the remainder of your 2010 grants.

Awarding the Remainder of 2010 Grants. When the Corporation receives its 2010 appropriation, you will receive final allocation charts for commission Administrative, PDAT and Disability funds. Your program officer will work with you then to make any necessary budget amendments to reflect your allocation and to initiate amendments for the remainder your allocations for the year

Please remember awards will not be made to commissions if the following issues are present: non-submission of financial reports; non-submission of closeout documents, or failure to reconcile grant closeouts; failure to meet match; and/or outstanding A-133 or IG audit issues. Additionally, and new for 2010, receipt of your grant is also contingent on submission of the required supplemental plan for service by adults 55 years of age and older.

Attached: Draft Application Instructions (PDF)

Amy Borgstrom
Associate Director of Policy
AmeriCorps State and National
202 606 6930