Recovery.gov - Track the Money

The Corporation received a total of $200 million in funding in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act). Of this total, $154 million will be used to put approximately 13,000 additional AmeriCorps*State and National and AmeriCorps*VISTA members to work through national service, meeting needs of vulnerable populations and communities during the current economic recession. AmeriCorps members and grantees funded through the Recovery Act will engage in a range of activities, from employment and skills training to housing counseling and foreclosure mitigation. The service of the AmeriCorps members will also bolster the capacity of community organizations that are faced with an increased need for their services. This funding may also be used to provide current grantees with relief from requirements to provide matching funds.

Upon completion of their service, Recovery AmeriCorps*State and National and AmeriCorps*VISTA members are eligible to receive an education award from the National Service Trust based on their service. The Trust received $40 million in Recovery Act funding. In addition, the Corporation received $6 million in funding for information technology upgrades in its salaries and expenses account, of which $800,000 can be used to administer the program funds appropriated under the Recovery Act. The Corporation needs these upgrades so that agency IT systems are managed in a cost-effective manner and operated in a stable and secure facility with appropriate safeguards and back-up plans. This will ensure the continual availability of the agency's IT systems across the country. The move also will allow the Corporation to adequately support current grantees (including Recovery grantees), AmeriCorps members and others requiring access to the systems, as well as preparing for the anticipated growth in Corporation programs.

The majority of funds received by the Corporation are for grants. The Corporation received $6 million for information technology upgrades in its salaries and expenses account, of which $800,000 can be used to administer the program funds appropriated under the Recovery Act. The Corporation will competitively award a contract to move its computer and network operations centers out of its Washington, DC, headquarters facility. In addition, the Corporation will utilize in place IDIQ contracts to upgrade its information technology hardware and software.

The major contract to be awarded with Recovery Act funds is to move the Corporation's computer and network operations center to a shared services provider under a firm fixed price contract. Contracts awarded under IDIQ contracts will be either firm fixed price or T&M.

The Corporation will develop standardized performance measures for priority service areas to be used by grantees addressing those areas. Grantees addressing other community needs will propose performance measures in their applications.

Also, managers and employees are held accountable for operations and results of the AmeriCorps State & National and VISTA program through the Corporation's appraisal system. Performance plans include criteria that measure the performance of each manager and employee on the completion and quality of essential duties and responsibilities, including oversight of program partners and achievement of key program milestones on schedule and within budget.