OSM/VISTA AmeriCorps

The purpose of the OSM Youth Program is to carry out appropriate environmental projects cooperatively with non-profit IRS 501(c)(3) eligible applicants that have access to AmeriCorps Volunteers to Service to America positions through partnership with the Corporation for National and Community or other intermediary organization on issues impacting coal communities and historic coal mining areas. The goal is to promote and stimulate public purposes such as education, job training, development of responsible citizenship and productive community involvement. The program is designed to further the understanding and appreciation of natural and cultural resources through the involvement of youth and young adults. It is also designed to continue the longstanding efforts of OSM to provide opportunities for public service, youth employment, minority youth development, training, and participation of young adults in accomplishing environmental-related work.

The not-for-profit sponsor organization will be responsible for the daily operation of the OSM/VISTA Program, working closely with OSM to ensure the program aligns with the mission of the Bureau. Eligible sponsor organizations will have, at minimum, the following to be considered eligible:
• Have a 501(c)(3) status
• Have access to AmeriCorps positions through partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service, or other intermediary organization
• Have the organizational capacity to oversee participants in the field and across the country

Youth and local communities that benefit from reclamation of abandoned mine lands; Youth interested in gaining experience in a Federal agency.

• Applications submitted through Grants.gov and received by 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time on the due date identified in the NOFO, will be reviewed to determine whether they are eligible, complete, and responsive and aligned with the respective program objectives as described in the Program Description.
• Applications determined to be ineligible, incomplete, and/or non-responsive based on the initial screening will be eliminated from further review.
• Applications that are determined to be eligible, complete, and responsive will proceed for full merit reviews in accordance with the review and selection processes set forth below for each of the respective programs.
• At least three objective reviewers, knowledgeable in the subject matter of this NOFO and its objectives, will evaluate each application based on the evaluation criteria.
• Each reviewer will assign individual scores to each criterion for each application.
• The scores provided by each reviewer for each application will then be combined to form a composite score for each application, which serves as the basis for the relative ordering or ranking of applications.
• OSM may select some, all, or none of the applications, or part(s) of any particular application.
• The OSM Approving Official or his/her designee approves and awards cooperative agreements for this program