Opportunity
Federal Register #2026-21002
AmeriCorps VISTA proposes criminal-history acknowledgment form for candidates and sponsors
Buyer
Corporation for National and Community Service (operating as AmeriCorps)
Posted
October 14, 2026
Respond By
November 13, 2026
Identifier
2026-21002
AmeriCorps VISTA is proposing a criminal-history acknowledgment form for certain VISTA candidates and sponsors. - Government buyer: Corporation for National and Community Service, operating as AmeriCorps; program: AmeriCorps VISTA. No sub-agency or specific office is identified. - Named OEMs and vendors: None. No commercial products or contracted services are requested. - Proposed collection: The AmeriCorps VISTA Criminal History Acknowledgment Form (CHAF) would collect information when candidates do not report criminal history on their application or have specified violent or serious offenses. - Information requested: Candidates may provide offense and court-status details and, where applicable, accept special service conditions or submit a personal narrative. Sponsors or site supervisors provide a suitability recommendation and describe proposed support or supervision. AmeriCorps VISTA retains final authority over eligibility and suitability decisions. - Estimated annual burden: 240 responses and 120 burden hours. - Procurement status: This is a request for comments on a proposed information collection, not a solicitation for products or services.
Description
The Corporation for National and Community Service, operating as AmeriCorps, proposes a new information collection for AmeriCorps VISTA sponsors and certain categories of candidates for VISTA service. The collection uses the AmeriCorps VISTA Criminal History Acknowledgment Form (CHAF) as part of a process intended to increase sponsor autonomy in member selection and standardize data collection for criminal-history issues. Sponsors complete the form when a candidate fails to report criminal history on their application or has certain violent or serious offenses; candidates and sponsors provide information, recommendations, and, in some cases, a personal narrative. Written comments are due November 13, 2026.