Entitlement mentality & re-compete

Ever since the former EISSA latched onto the RSVP program, it has been able to keep RSVP through thick and thin. In fact, it has become an "entitlement mentality." There's really no way the current EICAP thinks it can lose RSVP. As long as some semblance of a grant application is turned in each year and as long as the financial numbers are submitted on time, the money flows. This is the way it has been for decades and some people think that's the way it's going to be forever. Once the "entitlement mentality" takes hold in the bureaucratic mindset, it becomes an ingrained expectation and behavior and a self-fulfilling prophesy.

Well, don't count on it any more. Welcome to the Brave New World of The Re-Compete!

When the Serve America Act was passed in April 2009, it included a clause that all RSVP's nationwide will face competition for their grants beginning in 2013! Yep, that's right, any qualified Tom, Dick and Harry non-profit is going to be able to (in essence) bid for the right to sponsor an RSVP and subsequently receive the annual federal funds.

We strongly suspect that EICAP will lose RSVP in this process. The accumulated baggage of years of dubious management practices carry considerable weight. The cost of administering the RSVP (as deducted from the federal funds) has become enormous and unsustainable. Meanwhile, a smaller 501-c-3 that is focused solely on volunteerism and one that is leaner and meaner could easily provide a lot more bang for the buck when it comes to utilizing RSVP meager annual federal grant--there's simply no doubt about that.

The often arcane policies and procedures that EICAP lays down on the RSVP are not conducive to efficiency, productivity and often do not have any real connection to how people behave in the real world. EICAP's one size fits all policies and procedures are out of step and tune with the needs of today's RSVP mission, goals and objectives.

This is not only the case with the Eastern Idaho RSVP but with hundreds of other RSVP's nationwide. This is not only an EICAP problem, it's a problem with entrenched long-in-the-tooth bureaucracies all across America. They have simply fallen asleep as the switch as a result of enjoying decades of the "entitlement mentality."

That's why the language for "re-compete" made it into the new 2009 law. The CNCS bureaucracy will go to great lengths to assure that the process is fair and equitable. However, that same "fair & equitable" policy will level the playing field for those who may wish to compete for the right to sponsor any given RSVP. It's a brand new ball game and you will have a ringside seat for the first few rounds of this re-complete process. CNCS is already sending out various guidance, surveys and so forth regarding this process. Even though it doesn't become reality until 2013, that might as well be tomorrow in the perspective of a slow-moving giant bureaucracy.

A recent irony of federal law will give your competitors a much greater advantage than you. Why is that? Quite simply, it is now illegal for you to write your own RSVP grant application! Yep, you must do that on time that is not paid for by federal funds. That means your employer somehow has to make an accounting procedure that does not bill your time to the fed funds for whenever you are writing your annual grant AND/OR the re-compete paperwork!!!!

Meanwhile, your competitors will not be under that constraint in the compeition process since they will presumably not be (yet) operating on federal funds. They will also have the advantage of being able to devote 100% of their attention to the process while you will have to dance to the tunes of many duties during this time.

In light of the way that this RSVP has been administered over the years, we would have to bet that strong and serious competition will arise for the right to sponsor this RSVP. We would also--at this time--be inclined to bet that the competition will prevail and that EICAP will no longer sponsor RSVP after 2013. In light of our 2.5 years here, we have to say that would be a good thing!

Keep an eye over your shoulder--the competition is behind you and they just might be gaining.