45 C.F.R. Subpart I—Application and Fiscal Requirements
Title 45 - Public Welfare
(a) How and when may an eligible organization apply for a grant? (1) An eligible organization may file an application for a grant at any time. (2) Before submitting an application an applicant shall determine the availability of funds from the Corporation. (3) The Corporation may also solicit grant applicants. Applicants solicited under this provision are not assured of selection or approval and may have to compete with other solicited or unsolicited applications. (b) What must an eligible organization include in a grant application? (1) An applicant shall complete standard forms prescribed by the Corporation. (2) The applicant shall comply with the provisions of Executive Order 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,” (3 CFR, 1982 Comp., p. 197) in 45 CFR part 1233 and any other applicable requirements. (c) Who reviews the merits of an application and how is a grant awarded? (1) The Corporation reviews and determines the merit of an application by its responsiveness to published guidelines and to the overall purpose and objectives of the program. When funds are available, the Corporation awards a grant in writing to each applicant whose grant proposal provides the best potential for serving the purpose of the program. The award will be documented by Notice of Grant Award (NGA). (2) The Corporation and the sponsoring organization are the parties to the NGA. The NGA will document the sponsor's commitment to fulfill specific programmatic objectives and financial obligations. It will document the extent of the Corporation's obligation to provide financial support to the sponsor. (d) What happens if the Corporation rejects an application? The Corporation will return to the applicant an application that is not approved for funding, with an explanation of the Corporation's decision. (e) For what period of time does the Corporation award a Senior Companion grant? The Corporation awards a Senior Companion grant for a specified period that is usually 12 months in duration. (a) Is non-Corporation support required? A Corporation grant may be awarded to fund up to 90 percent of the cost of development and operation of a Senior Companion project. The sponsor is required to contribute at least 10 percent of the total project cost from non-Federal sources or authorized Federal sources. (b) Under what circumstances does the Corporation allow less than the 10 percent non-Corporation support? The Corporation may allow exceptions to the 10 percent local support requirement in cases of demonstrated need such as: (1) Initial difficulties in the development of local funding sources during the first three years of operations; or (2) An economic downturn, the occurrence of a natural disaster, or similar events in the service area that severely restrict or reduce sources of local funding support; or (3) The unexpected discontinuation of local support from one or more sources that a project has relied on for a period of years. (c) May the Corporation restrict how a sponsor uses locally generated contributions in excess of the 10 percent non-Corporation support required? Whenever locally generated contributions to Senior Companion projects are in excess of the minimum 10 percent non-Corporation support required, the Corporation may not restrict the manner in which such contributions are expended provided such expenditures are consistent with the provisions of the Act. (d) Are program expenditures subject to audit? All expenditures by the grantee of Federal and non-Federal funds, including expenditures from excess locally generated contributions in support of the grant are subject to audit by the Corporation, its Inspector General, or their authorized agents. (e) How are Senior Companion cost reimbursements budgeted? The total of cost reimbursements for Senior Companions, including stipends, insurance, transportation, meals, physical examinations, and recognition, shall be a sum equal to at least 80 percent of the amount of the federal share of the grant award. Federal, required non-Federal, and excess non-federal resources can be used to make up the amount allotted for cost reimbursements. (f) May a sponsor pay stipends at a rate different than the rate established by the Corporation? A sponsor shall pay stipends at the same rate as that established by the Corporation. What rules govern a sponsor's management of grants? (a) A sponsor shall manage a grant in accordance with: (1) The Act; (2) Regulations in this part; (3) 45 CFR Part 2541, “Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments”, or 45 CFR Part 2543, “Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit Organizations'; (4) The following OMB Circulars, as appropriate A–21, “Cost Principles for Educational Institution”, A–87, “Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian Tribal Governments”, A–122, “Cost Principles for Non-Profit Organizations”, and A–133, “Audits of States, Local Governments, and Other Non-Profit Organizations” (OMB circulars are available electronically at the OMB homepage www.whitehouse.gov/WH/EOP/omb); and (5) Other applicable Corporation requirements. (b) Project support provided under a Corporation grant shall be furnished at the lowest possible cost consistent with the effective operation of the project. (c) Project costs for which Corporation funds are budgeted must be justified as being necessary and essential to project operation. (d) Volunteer expense items, including transportation, meals, recognition activities and items purchased at the volunteers' own expense and which are not reimbursed, are not allowable as contributions to the non-Federal share of the budget. (e) Costs of other insurance not required by program policy, but maintained by a sponsor for the general conduct of its activities are allowable with the following limitations: (1) Types and extent of and cost of coverage are according to sound institutional and business practices; (2) Costs of insurance or a contribution to any reserve covering the risk of loss of or damage to Government-owned property are unallowable unless the government specifically requires and approves such costs; and (3) The cost of insurance on the lives of officers, trustees or staff is unallowable except where such insurance is part of an employee plan which is not unduly restricted. (f) Costs to bring a sponsor into basic compliance with accessibility requirements for individuals with disabilities are not allowable costs. (g) Payments to settle discrimination allegations, either informally through a settlement agreement or formally as a result of a decision finding discrimination, are not allowable costs. (h) Written Corporation approval/concurrence is required for the following changes in the approved grant: (1) Reduction in budgeted volunteer service years. (2) Change in the service area. (3) Transfer of budgeted line items from Volunteer Expenses to Support Expenses. This requirement does not apply if the 80 percent volunteer cost reimbursement ratio is maintained. [64 FR 14115, Mar. 24, 1999, as amended at 69 FR 20830, Apr. 19, 2004]
Title 45: Public Welfare
PART 2551—SENIOR COMPANION PROGRAM
Subpart I—Application and Fiscal Requirements
§ 2551.91 What is the process for application and award of a grant?
§ 2551.92 What are project funding requirements?
§ 2551.93 What are grants management requirements?
