TO:	All State Administrative Agency Heads All State Administrative Agency Points of Contact All Core City/Core County Points of Contact All State Homeland Security Directors
FROM:	Matt A. Mayer Acting Executive Director
SUBJECT:	Allowable Costs-AmeriCorps*VISTA Program

Grantees and sub-grantees of the FY04 and FY05 Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) may apply funding to fulfill sponsor obligations set forth in Memorandums of Agreement (but not grants) with the Corporation for National and Community Service to support AmeriCorps*VISTA (VISTA) volunteers who are developing and sustaining Citizen Corps Programs and Activities within their jurisdictions. Sponsor obligations under the Memorandums of Agreement may include: a duty to assist in the recruitment of applicants, operate the VISTA project in accordance with the DVSA and the requirements of the VISTA Handbook, provide on-sight transportation and project support as specified in the Project Application, and submit Project Progress Reports.

Grantees and sub-grantees may use the Citizen Corps Program allocations as allowable costs to support sponsorship of the VISTA volunteers. Usage by the other funding streams (e.g., UASI, etc) may be allowable but must be approved in advance on a case by case basis by the Preparedness Officer in coordination with the Citizen Corps Headquarters Program office. This bulletin applies only to VISTA members (VISTA volunteers) and to no other AmeriCorps program or participant.

Because this application of funds supports another federal program, grantees and sub-grantees who intend to use HSGP funding to sponsor AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteers must notify their SLGCP Preparedness Officer and their Citizen Corps Regional Program Manager of the amount of HSGP funding being used and the number of VISTA volunteers that will be supported. In addition, grantees and sub-grantees who fund AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteers are asked to include reference to this resource in the relevant project descriptions of the FY05 ISIP report.

Questions about costs may be directed by electronic mail to askcsid@dhs.gov, or you may call the toll free number at 1-800-368-6498. Questions about the AmeriCorps*VISTA Program should be directed to Carol Rogers, Senior Program Specialist, AmeriCorps*VISTA at crogers@cns.gov.