[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 156 (Monday, August 15, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-19916]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 15, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Bureau of Justice Statistics

 

Continuation of Federal Justice Statistics Project

AGENCY: Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics.

ACTION: Solicitation for award of cooperative agreement.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to announce a public 
solicitation for the continuation of the Bureau of Justice Statistics' 
(BJS) Federal Statistics program. The program serves as the national 
resource for data describing the processing of criminal cases through 
the Federal justice system. Under the program, data generated by 
Federal criminal justice agencies are collected, maintained, analyzed 
and archived. Data can also be linked across databases to permit more 
complex analyses. Regular annual reports are prepared based on data in 
the database and special tabulations are prepared pursuant to BJS 
direction. The project to be funded under the proposed cooperative 
agreement will continue current activities as modified in this 
solicitation.

DATES: Proposals must be postmarked on or before September 14, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Proposals should be mailed to: Applications Coordinator, 
Bureau of Justice Statistics, 633 Indiana Avenue NW., Room 1144-D, 
Washington DC 20531.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carol G. Kaplan, Assistant Deputy 
Director, Bureau of Justice Statistics, (202) 307-0759.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Bureau of Justice Statistics Federal Justice Statistics Program 
was initiated in 1982 to serve as a central resource for information 
describing the processing of Federal criminal cases and the 
characteristics of Federal offenders. The project collects data from 
different components of the Federal criminal justice system and traces 
the progress of cases from investigation, through prosecution, 
adjudication, sentencing and corrections. The project represents the 
primary BJS effort concerned solely with Federal transactions and 
responds directly to the legislative mandate that BJS ``collect, 
analyze and disseminate comprehensive Federal justice transaction 
statistics (including statistics on issues of Federal justice interest 
such as public fraud and high technology crime) * * *'' as set out in 
42 USC 3732(c)(15).
    In keeping with the original program plan which was designed to 
minimize data collection costs, no original data collection is 
supported under the program and data are obtained from operational 
Federal agencies, including the Executive Office for the United States 
Attorneys, the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, the 
Bureau of Prisons, etc. In order to trace the flow of cases, however, 
computer matching techniques have been developed which permit the 
linkage of data obtained from different sources. The development of 
this linkage program permits the analysis of particular issues which 
involve data contained in more than one data set.
    Over the past eight years, a regular series of reports has been 
issued under the program. These include an annual ``Compendium of 
Federal Criminal Justice Statistics'', which describes transactions 
during the identified year, and an annual report, ``Federal Criminal 
Case Processing'', which describes trends in Federal case processing 
since 1980. Under the current award, BJS Special Reports have also been 
drafted for publication by BJS and project staff have responded to ad 
hoc BJS requests for specific data tabulations and analyses. A major 
study was also undertaken on the issue of race and sentencing under 
Federal Sentencing Guidelines and a report was prepared for BJS 
publication.

Objectives

    The purpose of this award is to support the continuation of the 
basic activities initiated under the Federal Justice Statistics 
program. The program infrastructure will be modified, however, in order 
to maximize the utility of program resources. Specifically, under the 
proposed award, the recipient of funds will serve as the Federal 
Justice Resource Center. Under this arrangement, the recipient will 
continue to collect, maintain, and archive data from operational 
Federal justice agencies and to produce the regular annual BJS reports 
(Federal Justice Statistics Compendium, Federal Criminal Case 
Processing, and Federal Drug Case Processing). BJS Special Reports, 
however, will no longer be drafted by project staff. As an alternative, 
project staff will prepare data tabulations and analyses pursuant to 
BJS instructions for use in BJS Special Reports, Fact Sheets or other 
reports. BJS will be the primary author of reports prepared with data 
generated under the project and will specify the desired tables, tests 
or other data sets to be prepared for use in drafting BJS reports or 
undertaking BJS studies.

Type of Assistance

    Assistance will be made available under a cooperative agreement.

Statutory Authority

    The cooperative agreement to be awarded pursuant to this 
solicitation will be funded by the Bureau of Justice Statistics 
consistent with its mandate as set forth in 42 USC 3732; it will 
specify the involvement of BJS in the project.

Eligibility Requirements

    Both profit making and nonprofit organizations may apply for funds. 
Consistent with OJP fiscal requirements, however, no fees may be 
charged against the project by profit making organizations.

Scope of Work

    The objective of the proposed project is to continue basic 
activities initiated under the ongoing BJS Federal Statistics program 
with modifications as noted below.
    Specifically, the recipient of funds will serve as the Federal 
Justice Statistics Resource Center. The Resource Center will:
    1. Maintain and expand the Federal Justice Statistics Database. 
This will involve the collection, processing and maintenance of data 
provided by Federal agencies presently participating in the project 
(including the Executive Office for the United States Attorneys, 
Administrative Office of the United States Courts, Bureau of Prisons, 
United States Sentencing Commission, Drug Enforcement Administration 
and the Federal Bureau of Investigation) and negotiating with other 
Federal agencies (particularly those engaged in investigatory 
activities) to obtain additional data for inclusion in the Federal 
Statistics Database. The recipient of funds will also be responsible 
for processing data to meet uniform classification categories and for 
linking data to permit analysis of data obtained from different 
sources.
    2. Prepare tapes and related documentation for archiving in the 
national archive maintained by BJS. Public use tapes shall be prepared 
in conformance with BJS standards for submission to the archive.
    3. Prepare one edition of the BJS report, ``Compendium of Federal 
Justice Statistics'' and submit both text and tables in camera-ready 
format within a reasonable time after the reference year.
    4. Prepare one edition of the BJS report, ``Federal Criminal Case 
Processing'', and submit both text and tables in camera-ready format 
within a reasonable time after the reference year.
    5. Prepare one edition of the BJS report, ``Federal Drug Case 
Processing'', and submit both text and tables in camera-ready format 
within a reasonable time after the reference year.
    6. Prepare data tabulations, analyses, data sets and other data 
manipulations in response to specific BJS requests relating to BJS 
Special Reports, Fact Sheets or other studies. BJS will have 
responsibility for the design of specific studies and for the 
identification of specific data elements and calculations required for 
study analysis. BJS will serve as the primary author of reports 
prepared with data generated under the project and may request that the 
project staff supply BJS with copies of edited and unedited data tapes 
and documentation supplied to the project. The media on which data sets 
are transmitted shall be designated by BJS.
    7. Prepare a simple program to permit immediate access by all BJS 
staff to limited data elements in order to facilitate responses to 
specific public requests for data on particular crime categories or 
violations of the Federal Criminal Code.
    All products are to be submitted on a schedule to be negotiated 
with BJS. It is anticipated, however, that products will be spaced 
throughout the period of the award.

Award Procedures

    Proposals should describe, in appropriate detail, the procedures to 
be undertaken in furtherance of each of the activities described under 
the Scope of Work. Information should focus on activities to be 
conducted during the initial 12 month period but should also include a 
more general discussion of three year objectives for the program. 
Information on staffing levels and qualifications should be included 
for each task and descriptions of experience relevant to the project 
should be included.
    Applications will be competitively reviewed by a BJS selected panel 
which will make recommendations to the Director, BJS.
    Final authority to enter into a cooperative agreement is reserved 
for the Director, BJS, or his designee, who may, in his discretion, 
determine that none of the applications shall be funded.
    Applications will be evaluated on the overall extent to which they 
respond to criminal justice priorities, conform to the goals of the 
Federal Justice Statistics program and appear to be fiscally feasible 
and efficient. In particular, applicants will be evaluated on the basis 
of:
    1. Knowledge of, and experience in, working with different 
components of the criminal justice system, (with particular emphasis on 
knowledge of operational, management and statistical data collected and 
maintained by various Federal criminal justice components).
    2. Statistical expertise in the area of data analysis, data 
linkage, and research;
    3. Experience in the application of statistical data to analysis of 
criminal justice issues;
    4. Experience in developing and utilizing simulation models;
    5. Demonstrated ability to prepare high quality statistical 
reports;
    6. Availability of qualified professional and support staff and of 
suitable equipment for data processing and data manipulation;
    7. Demonstrated fiscal, management and organizational capability 
suitable for providing sound program direction for this multi-faceted 
effort; and
    8. Reasonableness of estimated costs for the total project and for 
individual cost categories.

Application and Awards Process

    An original and three (3) copies of a full proposal must be 
submitted on SF 424 (Revision 1988) including the Certified Assurances. 
Proposals must be accompanied by OJP Form 4061/3, Certification 
Regarding Drug-Free Workplace and OJP Form 4061/2, Certification 
Regarding Disbarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters. 
Applicants must complete the certificate regarding lobbying and, if 
appropriate, complete and submit Standard Form LLL, Disclosure of 
Lobbying Activities.
    Proposals must include both narrative descriptions and a detailed 
budget. The narrative shall describe activities as discussed in the 
previous section. The budget shall contain detailed costs for 
personnel, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies and other 
expenses. Contractual services or equipment must be procured through 
competition or the application must contain an applicable sole source 
justification.
    Awards will be made for a period of 12 months with an option for 
two additional continuation years conditional upon availability of 
funds and the quality of the initial performance and products. Costs 
are estimated at not to exceed $650,000 for the initial 12-month 
period.
Lawrence A. Greenfeld,
Acting Director, Bureau of Justice Statistics.
[FR Doc. 94-19916 Filed 8-12-94; 8:45 am]
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