[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 59 (Tuesday, March 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13217-13219]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-7247]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Bureau of Justice Statistics
[OJP No. 1073]
RIN 1121-ZA29


Solicitation for Award of Cooperative Agreement To Continue the 
Bureau of Justice Statistics Criminal Justice Information Policy 
Program

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

ACTION: Solicitation for Award of Cooperative Agreement.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to announce a public 
solicitation for the continuation of the Bureau of Justice Statistics 
(BJS) Criminal Justice Information Policy program. The program, which 
has been in existence since 1978, serves as the primary liaison between 
BJS, the States, and other Federal agencies, on issues relating to the 
quality, content, management, use and exchange of criminal history 
record information (CHRI). Projects supported under the program 
include, but are not limited to, major national conferences on criminal 
justice data quality issues, comprehensive national surveys of State 
criminal history data quality, numerous workshops on emerging issues 
such as the uses of Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS) 
and forensic uses of DNA, National Task Forces composed of members 
representing all components of the Federal and State criminal justice 
systems, ongoing review of State legislative developments and 
preparation of a biannual Compendium of State legislation, and 
extensive preparation of materials and training in areas such as data 
quality auditing.
    A key element in all of these efforts is the extent to which the 
program provides for direct input by States, for coordination among the 
States on program activities, and for liaison between the project and 
other relevant agencies of the Federal Government such as the Federal 
Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Immigration and Naturalization 
Service (INS). The presently proposed project, which is designed to 
continue these activities, will be funded under a cooperative 
agreement.

DATES: Proposals must be postmarked on or before April 25, 1996.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carol G. Kaplan, Chief, Criminal 
History Improvement Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 633 Indiana 
Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20531, (202) 307-0759.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Bureau of Justice Statistics Justice Information Policy 
Assistance (JIPA) program represents the primary response of BJS to its 
legislative charter to ``Identify, analyze and participate in the 
implementation of privacy, security and information policies which 
impact on Federal and State criminal justice operations and related 
statistical activities.'' See section 302(c)(22) of the Omnibus Crime 
Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 
Sec. 3732(c)(22). The program is designed to assist States in upgrading 
the quality of State criminal history record systems and in increasing 
the utility of criminal history records for both criminal and non-
criminal justice purposes. The program also provides for coordination 
among States and between States and BJS and other Federal agencies on 
national issues such as the interstate system for the exchange of 
criminal history record data.
    The BJS Program was initiated over eighteen years ago, concurrent 
with the issuance of Department of Justice Regulations set out at 28 
C.F.R. Part 20 which requires that States ensure that criminal history 
records are accurate, complete, secure, and disseminated only to 
authorized users. Since its inception, projects undertaken under the 
program have focussed on the

[[Page 13218]]
rapidly changing technology, legislation and policies affecting 
criminal history record systems. Of equal importance, the project has 
served as the primary liaison among the States and Federal agencies on 
issues of data quality and criminal record exchange. The program is 
also closely coordinated with the Bureau of Justice Assistance which 
administers the Edward Byrne State and Local Law Enforcement Formula 
Grant program. The 1990 amendments to the Omnibus Crime Control and 
Safe Streets Act of 1986, as amended, require that at least five 
percent of these grant funds be used for the improvement of criminal 
justice records.
    Over the past eighteen years, five national conferences on criminal 
justice data quality and data management have been conducted under the 
proposal. The conferences have included speakers representing the 
Congress, the Department of Justice and State criminal justice 
practitioners, researchers, and members of the judiciary. Proceedings 
of the conferences have also been prepared and widely distributed.
    In addition to the national conferences, smaller workshops have 
been conducted to explore the issues and technologies in emerging areas 
such as automated fingerprint technology, forensic uses of 
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), dissemination techniques and strategies to 
improve data quality. Documents prepared on the basis of State input at 
these workshops have formed the basis for a series of BJS reports on 
varying issues relating to data quality and information policy. In 
addition to DNA and AFIS, reports in this series address ``hot'' files, 
investigative files, original records of entry and the release of data 
for non-criminal justice purposes such as employment screening. These 
reports are available through the National Criminal Justice Reference 
Service (NCJRS).
    On a more operational level, the project has also produced reports 
and training materials detailing specific strategies for improving data 
quality and three manuals on the auditing of data quality in criminal 
history record systems. Periodic reports have also been prepared 
following studies of, for example, the potential liability of law 
enforcement personnel for erroneous release of identifiable criminal 
history records and the impact of new identification technologies (such 
as retinal scans).
    On an ongoing basis the program also maintains contact with 
representatives of the State repositories and other State personnel 
having responsibility for operation of the State criminal record 
system. In addition to serving as a continuing resource regarding the 
status of criminal record systems in the States, the project reviews 
changes in State legislation impacting on privacy and record management 
and, on a biannual basis, collects and classifies State legislation in 
the Compendium of State Privacy Legislation which is issued by BJS. 
Full texts of statutes are maintained both by the project and at NCJRS.
    Major national surveys are also conducted under this project. 
Surveys have focussed on requirements of State legislation and the 
nature of State operating practices.
    Funds for this project are subject to the availability of 
Department of Justice appropriations.

Objectives

    The major purpose of this award is to support the continuation of 
activities currently being funded under the ongoing Justice Information 
program, as described above.

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 under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 3732(c)(22).

Eligibility Requirements

    The solicitation is open to non-profit organizations only.

Scope of Work

    The objective of the proposed project is to continue activities 
initiated under the ongoing BJS justice information policy program. 
Specifically, the recipient of funds will:
    1. Identify, on the basis of existing information and contact with 
the States, two issues relevant to current policies affecting criminal 
justice records, and prepare reports on these issues. Preparation of 
such reports should include, as appropriate, analyses of existing State 
legislation, current technology, and State activity in the area under 
consideration. If necessary, a workshop of State representatives should 
be convened to discuss and provide input for the reports. Final 
decisions on subjects for these reports will be made by BJS.
    2. Conduct a fifty state review to identify new and amended 
legislation impacting on privacy, security and record procedures in 
each of the states; analyze the results of the legislative search and 
related state inquiries; and, prepare the 1996 update to the BJS 
series, Compendium of State Privacy and Security Legislation. The 
analysis should address issues identified in previous editions of the 
Compendium and data should be presented in previously developed 
formats. Full text and legislative analysis tables should be provided 
in an online fashion to be identified by BJS.
    3. Convene a major national conference on the technical legislative 
policy and operational aspects of issues relating to criminal justice 
data quality. The conference, to be hosted jointly with BJS, should 
include high level Federal, State and local policy makers, 
representatives of the judiciary, criminal justice practitioners, 
researchers, and, if appropriate, representatives of State or Federal 
legislative bodies. To provide for the broader review of presentations 
and relevant materials, the proceedings should be compiled for 
publication by BJS. Time and location for the meeting will be jointly 
agreed upon with BJS. Costs under the project should cover staff, 
materials, presentations and logistics, but not cover costs of attendee 
participation or travel.
    4. Convene and conduct one meeting of a working group to identify 
and address technical and policy issues relating to long range planning 
for the design and operation of state criminal history record 
repositories. The group should include representatives of the State 
repositories, judiciary, prosecutors, correctional agencies and other 
data users. The project should develop discussion materials and 
background information for use by the working group. The applicant will 
suggest three possible topics for this working group. Selection of 
persons to serve as part of the working group will be made jointly with 
BJS. A report describing the activities and recommendations of the 
working group should be prepared for submission to BJS.
    5. Maintain a resource of information regarding State activity, 
legislation, and CHRI status and provide ad hoc assistance to States 
and to BJS on these matters. This may include assisting States through 
referrals to other States, reference to written materials, etc. Also, 
the recipient of funds will conduct ad hoc activities at the request of 
BJS involving, for example, the informal rapid turn-around telephone 
survey of States on a particular current issue or the collation of 
materials on a new issues associated with CHRI technology or policy.
    All products will be submitted on a schedule to be determined 
jointly with BJS. BJS anticipates that the products

[[Page 13219]]
will be spaced throughout the period of the award.

Award Procedures

    Proposals should describe in appropriate detail the efforts to be 
undertaken in furtherance of each of the activities described in the 
Scope of Work. Information should focus on activities to be undertaken 
in the initial 12 month period but should also include a general 
discussion of three year goals and objectives of 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 of BJS. Final authority 
to enter into a cooperative agreement is reserved for the Director who 
may, at his discretion, determine that none of the applications shall 
be funded.
    Applications will be evaluated on the overall extent to which they 
respond to be goals of the criminal justice information program, 
demonstrate an understanding and ability to perform the specific 
activities to be conducted and appear to be fiscally feasible and 
efficient. In particular, the applicant will be evaluated on the basis 
of:
    1. Knowledge and expertise in the current and historical conditions 
of criminal justice records systems as they exist at both the State and 
Federal level. Particular emphasis will be given to knowledge and 
experience relating to current technologies, the status of State and 
Federal legislation, current and prior operating policies and a 
historical and current knowledge of the issues which affect the 
exchange of data between State and Federal systems.
    2. Expertise in the identification and analysis of issues and 
policies which affect the operation of criminal history records 
systems, the exchange of data among States and the Federal Government, 
and the release of data for noncriminal justice purposes.
    3. Expertise and experience in the analysis of legislation and 
State regulations relating to criminal history records and the privacy 
of data maintained in the State criminal history record systems.
    4. Contact and experience in dealing with Federal and State 
representatives on issues relating to criminal history record policies. 
Particular emphasis will be given to: (a) experience in dealing with 
relevant personnel in Federal agencies, such as INS, the FBI and the 
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, on issues relating to the 
development end improvement of national criminal history record systems 
and the use of criminal record data for criminal and noncriminal 
justice purposes; and (b) ongoing organizational and staff connections 
with representatives of the States (including criminal justice 
practitioners, policy makers, and record management personnel) 
sufficient to ensure direct State input to products produced under the 
project.
    5. Demonstrated ability to produce high quality reports and conduct 
national conferences and workshops on sensitive issues for an audience 
of professional policy analysts, researchers, criminal justice 
practitioners, legislators and the general public.
    6. Demonstrated fiscal, management and organization capacity 
(including availability of professional and support staff) suitable for 
providing sound program management for this multi-faceted effort.
    7. 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 4061/6, Certifications 
Regarding Lobbying, Debarment, Suspension and other Responsibility 
Matters; and Drug Free Workplace. 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 of 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 $425.000 for the initial 12-month 
period.
Jan M. Chaiken,
Director, Bureau of Justice Statistics.
[FR Doc. 96-7247 Filed 3-25-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-18-P