[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 39 (Tuesday, February 27, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7277-7280]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4321]



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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Office of Justice Programs


Discretionary Grant Program Awarded by the Office for Victims of 
Crime for Fiscal Year 1996

AGENCY: Office for Victims of Crime (OVC).

ACTION: Public announcement of availability of the funds under the 
Discretionary Grant Program authorized by the Victims of Crime Act 
(VOCA) of 1984 codified at 42 U.S.C. Sec. 10601, et seq.

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SUMMARY: OVC is publishing this notice to announce the availability of 
discretionary funding for a training and technical assistance project 
to improve services to child and adult victims of sexual assault and 
abuse.

DATES: The deadline for receipt of applications is March 22, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Mail applications to OVC, 633 Indiana Avenue, N.W., 
Washington, D.C., 20531. Hand delivered applications must be taken to 
OVC, 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 200, Washington, D.C. 20006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melanie Smith, Program Specialist, 
(202) 616-1860.

I. Introduction

    The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) is a component of the Office 
of Justice Programs within the U.S. Department of Justice. It serves as 
the chief advocate within the Department for all crime victim issues. 
In addition to ensuring that the criminal justice system addresses the 
victim's legitimate rights and interests, OVC's program activities 
include providing victim assistance and compensation grants to the 
states; training and technical assistance; and emergency services to 
victims of federal crimes. See 42 U.S.C.A. Secs. 10601-10605.

II. Program Description

    Promising Strategies and Practices for Evidentiary Medical 
Examinations, Including the Use of Nurse Examiners and Special Settings 
(Cooperative Agreement).
    Award Amount: $50,000.
    Purpose: To encourage the participation of child and adult victims 
of sexual assault and abuse in the criminal justice process by 
promoting victim-sensitive practices and settings for the collection of 
medical evidence.
    Background: In many places, adult and child victims of sexual 
assault and abuse who arrive at hospital emergency rooms often have to 
contend with a lack of privacy, long waits for doctors who are busy 
attending to other medical emergencies, a lack of emotional support 
throughout the forensic examination process, and an impersonal, chaotic 
environment. These conditions not only compound the trauma experienced 
by victims, but discourage many victims from coming forward to report 
the crime or to obtain necessary assistance and medical services. In 
addition, evidence that is poorly collected and improperly preserved 
undermines efforts to successfully prosecute and convict sex offenders.
    To address these issues, some jurisdictions have developed sexual 
assault nurse examiner programs, in which nurses who are specially 
trained to address the medical and emotional needs of victims perform 
the examinations in a setting especially designed for victims. The 
intent of these programs is to free doctors to attend to other medical 
emergencies; to use consistent forensic examination practices to ensure 
that appropriate steps are followed in collecting, handling, and 
storing evidence; and, most importantly, to assist child and adult 
victims in a compassionate and sensitive manner. Various communities 
have also found that examination rooms designed for victims seem to 
increase their willingness to participate in the criminal justice 
process. In addition, they have found that the use of trained nurse 
examiners can reduce costs and enhance the provision of services. These 
innovative measures not only reduce trauma to victims; they also result 
in credible evidence, the basis for successfully prosecuting and 
convicting sex offenders.

Goals

     To promote the use of sexual assault nurse examiner 
programs and special settings for evidentiary medical examinations of 
child and adult victim of sexual assault and abuse.
     To define standards for consistent, compassionate and 
quality practices in conducting evidentiary medical examinations of 
child and adult victims of sexual assault and abuse. 

[[Page 7278]]


Objectives

     To conduct a national scope survey and assessment of 
promising policies, procedures, and training materials used by sexual 
assault nurse examiner and other non-emergency room programs serving 
victims of sexual assault and abuse;
     To identify and assess the components of special medical 
settings for evidentiary exams, including clinics or examining rooms, 
to include a focus area on their utility in meeting the unique needs of 
child victims;
     To identify competent, experienced sexual assault nurse 
examiners for training and program replication purposes; and
     To produce a complete guidebook on the implementation and 
operation of sexual assault nurse examiner programs and special 
settings for evidentiary medical examinations.
    Program Strategy: This solicitation invites applicants to develop a 
guidebook on how to implement and operate nurse examiners programs for 
child and adult victims of sexual assault and abuse, and how to 
establish special settings designed for evidentiary examinations. The 
program will comprise three phases:
1. Assessment
    This phase entails the identification and assessment of materials 
describing or being used by sexual assault nurse examiner programs. As 
part of the assessment phase, the grantee will convene an advisory 
committee with national-scope representation from the following fields: 
a practitioner and administrator of a nurse examiner program; victim 
assistance/advocacy; child protective services; medicine; mental 
health; law enforcement; and prosecution; and the judiciary; and other 
appropriate representatives. The advisory board will assist in 
developing criteria for assessing promising practices, reviewing and 
rating collected materials, and creating a dissemination plan for 
getting the materials to practitioners, medical facilities, national 
organizations, colleges and universities and other entities that can 
use the information to improve evidence collection and victim 
assistance practices and procedures. The activities to be completed 
during this phase are:
     Establishment of the advisory committee with OVC review 
and approval;
     Development and submission, for OVC review and approval, 
of a plan and criteria for surveying and assessing sexual assault nurse 
examiner programs and the use of victim-sensitive settings for the 
collection of medical evidence;
     A national-scope survey and review of literature, 
policies, procedures and practices for sexual assault nurse examiner 
programs and the use of special settings;
     Identification and description of model programs 
nationwide; and
     Preparation of an assessment report of findings.
2. Development of Prototype
    Upon completion of the first phase, the grantee will, in 
collaboration with its advisory committee, develop a model program 
brief for implementing and operating a sexual assault nurse examiner 
program and for establishing special settings for expert medical 
examinations. The brief will highlight essential components of nurse 
examiner programs, as well as optional or adaptable elements from model 
programs around the nation. Particular attention shall be given to 
issues such as training and credentialing of nurse examiners, as well 
as qualifying nurses to testify in court. The brief will also describe 
examples of special settings used for evidentiary medical examinations 
of child and adult sexual assault and abuse victims. The activities for 
this phase are:
     Development and drafting of model program elements;
     Highlighting of model programs identified by the survey; 
and
     Review and refinement of draft product by project staff 
and advisory committee for OVC review and approval.

3. Finalization of Products

    Upon completion of the second phase, the grantee will produce the 
guidebook and other project products. The activities for this phase 
are:
     Development and draft of guidebook incorporating the model 
program brief, accompanying instructions on implementing and operating 
a sexual assault nurse examiner program, and discussions of special 
settings and unique concerns of child victims;
     Review and refinement of draft;
     A dissemination strategy identifying potential and 
appropriate recipients of the guidebook;
     Identification, in list form with supporting vitae, of 
training and technical assistance staff;
     Preparation of a final report on the project; and
     Preparation of an OVC Bulletin summarizing the project's 
findings.
    Eligibility Requirements: In addition to the requirements of 
Sections VI-XI, applicants must demonstrate:
     Expert knowledge of trauma experienced by child and adult 
victims of sexual assault and abuse;
     Active liaison with national scope nursing and/or victim 
advocacy associations;
     Capability to conduct a national scope information search;
     Knowledge of issues associated with the criminal justice 
system's handling of crime victims and, more specifically, service 
provision to child and adult victims of sexual assault and abuse; and
     Management and financial capability to oversee a project 
of this size and scope.
    Award Period: 12 months.
    Contact: Melanie Smith, (202) 616-3575.

VI. Eligibility Requirements

    In addition to special eligibility requirement listed within the 
individual program descriptions above, the following will apply. 
Applications are invited from public and private non-profit agencies 
and organizations. Applicants must demonstrate that they have ample 
expertise and/or prior experience in the design and conduct of projects 
of a nature similar to that for which they are applying.
    Applicants must also demonstrate that they have the management 
capability, fiscal integrity, and financial responsibility, including, 
but not limited to, an acceptable accounting system and internal 
controls, and compliance with grant fiscal requirements. Applicants who 
fail to demonstrate that they have the capability to manage the program 
will be ineligible for funding consideration.

VII. Application Requirements

    All applicants must submit a completed Application for Federal 
Assistance (Standard Form 424 and OJP Form 4000/3 (1/93) Attachment to 
SF-424), including a program narrative. All applications must include 
the information outlined in this section of the solicitation (Section 
VI, Application Requirements) in Part IV, Program Narrative of the 
application (SF-424). The program narrative of the application must not 
exceed 35 double-spaced pages in length. Applicants that fail to adhere 
to this program requirement will be automatically disqualified from 
competition.
    In accordance with Executive Order No. 12549, 28 C.F.R. 67.510, 
applications must also provide Certifications Regarding Lobbying, 
Debarment, Suspension, and other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free 
Workplace Requirements (OJP Form 

[[Page 7279]]
4061/6), which will be supplied with the application package, and must 
be submitted with the application.
    Applications that include non-competitive contracts for the 
provision of specific services must include a sole source justification 
for any procurement in excess of $100,000. Financial questionnaires 
must be completed by new non-governmental (except public colleges, 
universities, and hospitals) applicants. This includes a review of the 
accounting system and a determination that periodic audits are 
performed to ensure fiscal integrity. New or supplemental awards may 
not be made to applicants with delinquent financial or progress 
reports, delinquent or unresolved audit reports, delinquent federal 
debts, other unresolved issues of fiscal integrity, or to applicants 
who have been debarred or suspended from federal financial and non-
financial assistance and benefits under federal programs and 
activities.
    Where indicated, cooperative agreements are awarded to states, 
units of local government, or public or private non-profit 
organizations at the discretion of OVC. Cooperative agreements are used 
when substantial involvement is anticipated between OVC and the 
recipient during performance of the contemplated activity. Interagency 
agreements between OVC and other governmental units or agencies are 
negotiated by the entities involved.
    The following information must be included in the application (SF-
424) Part IV Program Narrative:
A. Organizational Capability
    Applicants must demonstrate that they are eligible to compete for a 
grant on the basis of the eligibility criteria established in Section 
VI of this solicitation. Applicants must concisely describe their 
organizational experience with respect to the eligibility criteria 
specified in each program description listed above. Applicants must 
demonstrate how their organizational experience and capabilities will 
enable them to achieve the goals and objectives of the initiative for 
which they are applying. Applicants are invited to append examples of 
prior work products of a similar nature to their application.
    Applicants must demonstrate that their organization has or can 
establish fiscal controls and accounting procedures that assure that 
federal funds available under this agreement are disbursed and 
accounted for properly. Non-profit applicants who have not previously 
received federal funds will be asked to submit a copy of the Office of 
Justice Programs Accounting System and Financial Capability 
Questionnaire (OJP Form 7120/1). Copies of the form will be provided in 
the application kit and must be prepared and submitted along with the 
application. The CPA certification (Section H) is required only of 
those non-profit applicants who have not previously received federal 
funding.
B. Program Goals and Objectives
    A brief statement of the applicant's understanding of the goals and 
objectives of the program should be included. The application should 
also include a problem statement and a discussion of the potential 
contribution of this program to the field.
C. Program Strategy
    Applicants should describe the proposed approach for achieving the 
goals and objectives of each program. A detailed description of how the 
activities and projects of each program would be accomplished should be 
included.
D. Program Implementation Plan
    Applicants should prepare a plan that outlines the major activities 
involved in implementing the program, describe how they will allocate 
available resources to implement the project, and also describe how the 
program will be managed.
    The plan must also include an organizational chart depicting the 
roles and describing the responsibilities of key organizational and 
functional components and a list of key personnel responsible for 
managing and implementing the major stages of the project. Applicants 
must present detailed position descriptions, qualifications, and 
selection criteria for each position. This documentation and individual 
resumes may be submitted as appendices to the application.
E. Time-Task Plan
    Applicants must develop a time-task plan for the duration of the 
project periods, clearly identifying major milestones and products. 
This must include designation of organizational responsibility and a 
schedule for the completion of the activities and products. Applicants 
should also indicate the anticipated cost schedule per month for the 
entire project period.
F. Products
    Applicants must describe concisely the interim and final products 
of each stage of the program.
G. Program Budget
    Budgets must be accompanied by a detailed justification for all 
costs, including the basis for computation of these costs. Applications 
containing contract(s) must include detailed budgets for each 
organization's expenses.
H. Assessment
    Each grant recipient will be required to submit formal findings 
from an assessment, within 60 days of the completion of each year's 
activities and within 90 days of project completion. Each application 
must provide a plan for assessing the project.

VIII. Procedures for Selection

    All applications will be evaluated and rated based on the extent to 
which they meet the established weighted criteria. In general, all 
applications received will be reviewed in terms of their responsiveness 
to the minimum program application requirements set forth in Section 
VII. Applications will be evaluated by a peer review panel according to 
the OVC Competition and Peer Review Guidance.
    Applications submitted in response to the competitive announcements 
will be evaluated by a peer review panel. The results of the peer 
review will be a relative aggregate ranking of applications in the form 
of ``Summary of Ratings.'' These ordinarily will be based on numerical 
values assigned by individual peer reviewers. Peer review 
recommendations, in conjunction with the results of internal review and 
any necessary supplementary reviews, will assist OVC in considering 
competing applications and in selection of the application for funding. 
The final award decision will be made by the OVC Director.
    Applications for each program description, except where other point 
values or categories have been specifically identified, will be 
evaluated and rated by the peer review panels based on the extent to 
which they meet the following criteria:
A. Utility of the Project (10 points)
    This refers to the applicant's response to the stated project 
purpose, goals, and objectives, and the applicant's explanation of the 
usefulness of the project to the field.
B. Project Strategy/Design (30 points)
    This provides a description of project components and activities; a 
specific plan for how the grant applicant intends to achieve the 
purpose, goals and objectives of the funded program. The strategy or 
design must include clear 

[[Page 7280]]
descriptions of interim deliverables and final products.
C. Implementation Plan (10 points)
    This plan will be judged on the realistic identification of tasks 
according to increments in the project period, and the assignment of 
specific staff to tasks on the time-task line.
D. Organizational Capability (30 points)
    Points will be awarded based on the applicant's statement of the 
organization's capability to successfully undertake this federally 
funded project. This will consist of two parts: (1) a specific 
description of the applicant's management structure, previous 
experience with similar or related efforts, and financial capability 
(15 points); and (2) a project management plan and documentation of the 
professional staff members' unique qualifications to perform their 
assigned tasks (15 points).
E. Budget (15 points)
    Points will be awarded based on the enumeration and accompanying 
narrative of grant costs, to be evaluated for clarity, reasonableness, 
allowability, and cost effectiveness.
F. A Plan To Assess the Project's Accomplishments (5 points)
    This assigns points based on the grant applicant's plan for 
assessing the impact of the project in accomplishing its goal(s).

IX. Submission Requirements

    All applicants responding to this solicitation are subjected to the 
following requirements:
    (1) Upon request to OVC, the necessary forms for application will 
be provided, along with Department of Justice certification 
information.
    (2) Applicants must submit the original signed application 
(Standard Form 424) and two copies to OVC. Applications should not be 
bound. Applicants should also include Certifications Regarding 
Lobbying; Debarment; Suspension and other Responsibility Matters; and 
Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (Form 4061/6), in order to meet the 
requirements of the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-690, 
Title V, Subtitle D) and the Disclosure of Lobbying Activities Form (SF 
LLL) in accordance with 31 U.S.C. Sec. 1352.
    (3) All applications must be received by mail or hand delivered to 
OVC by 5 p.m. Eastern Time by March 22, 1996. Those applications sent 
by mail should be addressed to: Office for Victims of Crime, U.S. 
Department of Justice, 633 Indiana Avenue, N.W., Washington D.C. 20531, 
ATTN: Administrative Officer. Hand-delivered applications must be taken 
to OVC, 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W., Suite 200, Washington, D.C. 
20006, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. except weekends or 
federal holidays. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. on the 
established deadline date. Postmarks WILL NOT be accepted.
    OVC will notify applicants in writing of the receipt of their 
application. Applicants also will be notified by letters as to the 
decision made regarding whether or not their submission will be 
recommended for funding. Applications will be reviewed as Peer Review 
Panels can be convened. Every effort will be made to review 
applications in a timely manner.

X. Civil Rights Compliance

    A. All recipients of Crime Victims Fund assistance, including 
contractors, must provide Certified Assurances that they are in 
compliance with the non-discrimination requirements of the Victims of 
Crime Act of 1984, as amended, which states: No person shall on the 
ground of race, color, religion, national origin, [disability], or sex 
be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, be 
subjected to discrimination under, or denied employment in connection 
with any undertaking funded in whole or in part with sums made 
available under this chapter.

42 U.S.C. Sec. 10604.

    Recipients also must assure compliance with the following 
additional statutes and regulations: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act 
of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 2000d; Section 504 of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. Sec. 794; Subtitle A, 
Title II of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, codified at 42 
U.S.C. Sec. 12101, et seq.; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 
1972, as amended, 20 U.S.C. Secs. 1681-1683; the Age Discrimination Act 
of 1975, as amended, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 6101, et seq.; and Department of 
Justice Non-Discrimination Regulations, 28 CFR Part 42, subparts C, D, 
E, and G.
    B. In the event a federal or state court or federal or state 
administrative agency makes a finding of discrimination after a due 
process hearing on the grounds of race, color, religion, national 
origin, sex, or disability against a recipient of funds, the recipient 
will forward a copy of the finding to the Office for Civil Rights, 
Office of Justice Programs.

XI. Audit Requirements

    An audit is required for agencies receiving federal funds, with 
some exceptions. The purpose of an audit is to determine whether 
federal funds are being used properly and effectively. Each funded 
agency must provide the name of the federal cognizant agency where 
their audit report is submitted. In most cases, the agency that 
receives an applicant's audit is the agency that provides the most 
direct funds to applicant during the current fiscal year. If you do not 
know the name of the cognizant agency, please check with your budget 
office. More detailed information on audit requirements are listed in 
the Office of Justice Programs Guideline Manual, Financial and 
Administrative Guide for Grants, May 15, 1990.

XII. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Numbers

16.582  Crime victim assistance/discretionary grants
16.583  Children's Justice Act for Native American Indian Tribes
Aileen Adams,
Director.
[FR Doc. 96-4321 Filed 2-26-96; 8:45 am]
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