[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]


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

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.

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

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]
BILLING CODE 4410-18-P