[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 131 (Wednesday, July 9, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36848-36849]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-17790]
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Office of Justice Programs
[OJP(BJS)-1132]
RIN 1121-ZA78
Solicitation for Award of Cooperative Agreement
AGENCY: Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics,
Justice.
ACTION: Solicitation for Award of Cooperative Agreement.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces a public solicitation for a 12 to 18
month project to develop model definitions and data collection
protocols for statistical data describing levels of domestic violence.
Although a majority of States and the Federal Government collect
statistics related to domestic violence offenses, there is a great
variation in how each agency, State, or program (1) defines the
offenses, and (2) collects the data. Statutory language across States
varies with references to family violence, domestic violence, intimate
violence, etc. Criteria for inclusion or exclusion (as determined by
the victim/offender relationship) are widely divergent. Some include
child victims as well as adults. Others are more restrictive. Types of
relationships and various living situations are handled differently
across jurisdictions. This plethora of definitions and data collection
standards may serve local purposes, but create barriers for
comparability and the extent to which data can be aggregated across
jurisdictions or data sources. The present proposed project addresses
these issues and creates a framework to maximize comparability,
evaluation, and understanding of the prevalence and incidence of
``domestic violence.''
DATES: Proposals must be postmarked on or before September 3, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Proposal should be mailed to: Applications Coordinator,
Bureau of Justice Statistics, Room 303, 633 Indiana Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20531.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carol G. Kaplan, Chief, Criminal
History Improvement Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Room 303,
633 Indiana Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20531, (202) 307-0759.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Bureau of Justice Statistics, the statistical agency of the
U.S. Department of Justice, is authorized to ``recommend national
standards for justice statistics and for insuring the reliability and
validity of justice statistics.'' See the Omnibus Crime Control and
Safe Streets Act of 1968, as amended, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 3732(8). BJS
provided and continues to provide (1) assistance to States in upgrading
the quality of criminal history record systems, and (2) coordination
among States and between the States, BJS, and other Federal agencies,
particularly with respect to data quality and exchange.
Objective
The major purpose of this project is to develop model definitions
and data collection protocols for statistical data describing levels of
domestic/family/sexual violence.
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 authorization under 42 U.S.C. 3732 (8) and the
Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 Title IV Section
40292 (the Violence Against Women Act).
Eligibility Requirements
Both profit-making and nonprofit-making organizations may apply for
funds. Consistent with OJP fiscal requirements, no fees may be charged
against the project by profit-making organizations (this includes cost
of facilities capital).
Scope of Work
The objective of the proposed project is to develop model
definitions and data collection protocols for statistical data
describing levels of domestic/family/sexual violence. Specifically, the
recipient of funds will:
1. Establish and convene two working groups: (1) A small (6-10
persons) Task Force to draft definitions, and (2) a more comprehensive
Advisory Group (20-25 persons) to provide input to, review, and endorse
the Task Force products. The Advisory Group will meet at least 3 times
and the Task Force will be convened at least 5 times during the course
of the project.
Representatives of all interested groups (statistical, data
systems, domestic violence victims, etc.) will be included on the
Advisory Group. Researchers or persons with statistical experience and/
or expertise will be included on the Task Force. BJS will provide key
input to the selection of membership on both groups. Staff work
(including both administrative support for meetings, payment, and
substantive drafting tasks) for both groups will be provided by the
recipient organization.
2. Develop and support BJS publication of model definitions and
data collection protocols. Under this task, the recipient organization
will have responsibility for:
(A) Convening the Task Force and Advisory Group;
(B) Preparing and circulating materials to facilitate discussion.
Materials for circulation at meetings should include, but are not
limited to: (1) A state of the art report based on the findings in the
NIJ/BJS/JRSA report ``Domestic and Sexual Violence Data Collection: A
Report to Congress under the Violence Against Women Act'' (July 1996)
and an analysis of other relevant definitions used outside the criminal
justice system, and (2) an analysis of the technical, policy, and
statistical issues related to the establishment of domestic/sexual
violence definitions;
(C) Working with the Task Force to draft materials for approval by
the Advisory Group;
(D) Preparing, or assisting in the preparation of, draft model
definitions and data collection standards for publication by BJS in the
Federal Register; and
(E) Preparing an accompanying document discussing the proposed
definitions in terms of the policy, technical, and feasibility issues
described above.
3. Facilitating interaction among BJS, the members of the Task
Force and the Advisory Group by:
(A) Establishing a centralized mechanism for exchange of
information regarding domestic/sexual violence related grants from the
Office of Justice Programs (and/or other Federal agencies) in which the
tasks involve developing or revising data collection systems or forms;
and
(B) Creating and supporting a limited access conference capability
(LISTSERV) for the duration of the project.
4. Assisting BJS in activities connected with the publication of
the draft model definitions and standards in the Federal Register.
(Publication would be handled by BJS). If deemed necessary, this may
include convening and staffing a meeting to describe and discuss the
proposed definitions.
[[Page 36849]]
5. Collating and reviewing comments and drafting the revised
definitions and standards for final approval by BJS and the Advisory
Group and subsequent publication in the Federal Register. Publication
in the Federal Register will be handled by BJS.
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 the activities to be
undertaken and the staffing levels and qualifications for each task.
Descriptions of experience relevant to the project also 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 the goals of the project, demonstrate an understanding and
ability to perform the specific activities to be conducted and appear
to be fiscally feasible and efficient. In addition, applicants will be
evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:
(A) Knowledge of, and experience working in, the statistical and
data systems environment at the Federal and State levels;
(B) Knowledge of the special concerns raised by groups that focus
on domestic violence reduction and victim support;
(C) Knowledge, experience, and expertise in the technical, policy,
and feasibility issues relating to statistical data collection and the
specific problems associated with collection of data on domestic
violence;
(D) Credibility among the statistical, systems, and domestic
violence communities based on prior activity and current affiliations;
(E) Demonstrated ability and experience in bringing together
divergent groups to facilitate agreement on complex and high visibility
issues;
(F) Demonstrated track record in producing written reports
accessible to an audience of State policy makers;
(G) Demonstrated experience in convening and managing meetings
involving multiple attendants from different organizations; and
(H) Reasonableness of estimated costs for the total project and for
individual cost categories.
Application and Awards Process
An original and two (2) copies of a full proposal must be submitted
on SF-424 (Revision 1988), Application for Federal Assistance, as the
cover sheet. Proposals must be accompanied by a budget detail
worksheet; OJP Form 4061/6, Certifications Regarding Lobbying,
Debarment, Suspension and other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free
Workplace; and OJP Form 7120-1 (Rev. 1-93), Accounting Systems
Financial Capability Questionnaire (to be submitted by applicants who
have not previously received Federal funds from the Office of Justice
Programs). If appropriate, applicants must complete and submit Standard
Form LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities. All applicants must sign
Certified Assurances that they are in compliance with Federal laws and
regulations which prohibit discrimination in any program or activity
that received Federal funds. To obtain appropriate forms or for further
information regarding submission of proposals, contact Getha Hilario,
BJS Management Assistant, at (202) 633-3031.
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 a sole source justification for
procurements in excess of $100,000.
Project duration is estimated at between 12 and 18 months. Costs
are estimated not to exceed $500,000.
Dated: July 2, 1997.
Jan M. Chaiken,
Director, Bureau of Justice Statistics.
[FR Doc. 97-17790 Filed 7-8-97; 8:45 am]
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