SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The OMB is particularly interested in comments which:

• Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of CNCS, including whether the information will have practical utility;
• Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions;
• Propose ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
• Propose ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Comments

A 60-day Notice requesting public comment on this information collection was published in the Federal Register on May 6, 2026 at 91 FR 23529. The comment period ended July 6, 2026. One public comment was received. A summary of the comments and AmeriCorps VISTA's responses are below:

• Comment: Concern that an intermediary project might find it difficult to fit all of the requested information for the concept paper and application into the page limit. Response: The suggested page limit for intermediary projects to concisely respond to the narrative questions is sufficient because the list of sites and performance measures does not count towards the narrative page limit.
• Comment: Request that requirements for the continuation application instructions be reduced for intermediary projects with a large number of Volunteers and/or service ( printed page 48091) locations. Response: The continuation application is used to help evaluate and measure the success of a project, regardless of project type (single service location, muti-service location, or intermediary) or size. A project sponsor's answers help AmeriCorps assess whether a project is continuing to strive towards sustainability and their use of VISTA resources is compliant.
• On the progress report instructions, the commenter suggested:
• Consolidating the VISTA Progress Report Supplement (VPRS) with the Project Process Report (PPR) to allow for one reporting period.Response: VISTA is working towards a single project progress report. However, we are still including the progress report supplement until the report consolidation is complete, which we expect to happen by FY2028.
• Making the Sustainability narrative section “not applicable” for intermediary projects.Response: Legislation and regulations governing AmeriCorps VISTA apply to all project models (single-site, multi-site, or intermediary), and accordingly, sustainability is a key factor in our determination of a project's success.
• Making the Partnership Collaboration and Development narrative “not applicable” for intermediary projects.Response: The PPR instructions were updated with clarifying language, so intermediaries do not have to list each partnership developed by every site, but are encouraged to provide three to five examples.
• Changing the due date for PPRs from 30 days to 60 days.Response: The instructions have been updated to reflect a deadline of no later than 90 calendar days for annual performance reports.
• Questioning how the agency uses the information in the Member Development section.Response: Volunteer (formally, “member”) development is a cornerstone of VISTA's legislation and a key component of the agency's new strategic plan. We use this information to review key metrics and identify possible training needs.
• Changing the “Demographics” title of the PPR and removing information on youth and veterans and military families.Response: AmeriCorps VISTA will continue to use “Demographics.” The term has specific meaning and is widely used, including across AmeriCorps programs. Youth, veterans, and military families are a high priority for the agency and the Administration, so we need to collect data about these populations. We do recognize that not all projects will serve these target populations. The instructions state that projects may enter “0” if it does not apply to them.
• Removing the Resource Development section.Response: We have added language to the instructions to clarify the more limited requirements for intermediary project responses. Intermediary projects only need to highlight successful projects. AmeriCorps frequently uses this information in outreach and reporting to Congress to demonstrate the success of the VISTA program and its partners in generating non-AmeriCorps resources.
• Removing information on the number of VISTA Volunteers serving under each performance measure.Response: We updated the PPR instructions to explain what to enter in the “# of Full Time VISTAS” field. We need to collect this information to determine the scope of VISTA Volunteer activities, where we may need to supplement training resources, and to pull data for information requests.

Title of Collection: AmeriCorps VISTA Application and Reporting Forms.

OMB Control Number: 3045-0038.

Type of Review: Revision.

Respondents/Affected Public: Businesses and Organizations, State, Local or Tribal Governments.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 750.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 13,763.

Abstract: AmeriCorps seeks to revise the concept paper and project application instructions, continuation application instructions, project progress report instructions, and support grant budget instructions in the current information collection. The revisions streamline content, ensure use of plain English with use of the second person, separate systems instructions from content explanations, update terminology, and divide narrative fields into clearer subsections to organize content. No revisions are being made to the VISTA Progress Report Supplement (VPRS) instructions. The information collection will otherwise be used in the same manner as the existing application and reporting forms. AmeriCorps also seeks to continue using the current forms until the revised forms are approved by OMB. The currently approved information collection is due to expire on March 31, 2027.

91 FR 48090