[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 112 (Friday, June 9, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36724-36726]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-14671]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

National Institute of Corrections


Solicitation for a Cooperative Agreement--Critical Issues in 
Managing Women Offenders

AGENCY: National Institute of corrections, Department of Justice.

ACTION: Solicitation for a cooperative agreement.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Justice (DOJ), National Institute of 
Corrections (NIC), announces the availability of funds in FY 2000 for a 
cooperative agreement to develop a 24-36 hour curriculum on Critical 
Issues in Managing Women Offenders. The cooperative agreement 
represents the first part of a two-phased project to develop and 
deliver the curriculum in the next 15 months. NIC will award this 
project in two parts: in the current year (FY 2000), NIC will award a 
cooperative agreement for a six month project to develop the 
curriculum. Based on satisfactory performance in the development phase, 
in FY 2001 NIC will award a supplement to deliver the curriculum as a 
regional training program at two different locations. $50,000 is 
available for part one of the project, and $50,000 will be available in 
FT 2001 for training program delivery under a regional partnership 
format. Regional partnerships are funded in part by participating 
agencies. The funding for FY 2001 is contingent on congressional 
approval of the federal budget at the beginning of the fiscal year.
    A cooperative agreement is a form of assistance relationship where 
the National Institute of Corrections is substantially involved during 
the performance of the award. An award is made to an organization that 
will, in concert with the Institute, provide a clearer articulation of 
gender-responsive strategies which are grounded in current theory and 
research, drawn from different relevant disciplines and agencies, and 
applied to the realities of correctional practice in prisons, jails, 
and community corrections. No funds are transferred to state or local 
governments.

Background

    Women offenders and related gender issues are gaining increased 
focus from policy makers in corrections for numerous reasons. During 
the last decade, the women offender population has nearly tripled in 
every sector of corrections. Changes in mandatory sentencing for drug 
offenders on the federal and state levels are resulting in larger 
numbers of women serving longer periods of time in correctional 
facilities. A variety of critical issues such as cross-gender 
supervision, appropriate relationships between staff and offenders, 
management of population growth, parity in programming, and appropriate 
interventions are increasing in numbers and visibility within the 
criminal justice community and with the public, many due to residual 
court action.
    NIC has a five year history of designing and delivering a seminar 
on Critical Issues in Managing Women Offenders. The first seminar 
occurred in July, 1994; a group of highly motivated and experienced 
practitioners convened to consider the issues facing them in promoting 
more effective correctional practice with women offenders. Over time, 
through four seminars, the program has solidified its focus on policy 
makers and top managers as the primary audience. Its purpose is to 
provide a solid grounding in policy and practice issues which face 
criminal justice agencies in addressing the unique circumstances and 
needs of women offenders from a system-wide perspective. Participants 
include agency administrators and deputy directors from jails, 
community corrections and prisons; judges, prosecutors, public 
defenders, and other court personnel. Participants attend as 
individuals and not as agency teams.
    The goals of the seminar (as defined for the April, 1999, session) 
were to:
     Better understand and articulate the emerging and critical 
issues to consider in shaping policy for women offenders;
     Be able to identify the benefits of applying a systems 
perspective in planning for women offenders;
     Have increased knowledge of the information and resource 
(research, expertise, and practical strategies) available to address 
women offender issues and how to access them;
     Articulate a vision for improving criminal justice policy 
and practice regarding women offenders in their jurisdiction and 
develop three action steps for moving toward that vision.
    Based on the success of this program, NIC seeks to expand its 
capacity to deliver the seminar through a multi-state regional format. 
The audience will remain individuals from across the system who are 
policy makers.
    NIC assumes that the successful applicant will review the materials 
developed for the prior 5 seminars including the agendas, participant 
manuals and handouts, and records of meeting, and will work closely 
with the Project Manager in designing the curriculum.

Purpose

    The National Institute of Corrections is seeking an applicant 
organization or team which offers curriculum design expertise, overall 
knowledge of women offenders and corrections, experience with training 
of policy level participants, expertise in competency-based curriculum 
including writing, editing, formation, assembling and

[[Page 36725]]

packaging; and knowledge of adult learning theory and training.
    The purpose of the cooperative agreement is:
    (1) To fully develop and refine one (1) 24-36 hour training 
curriculum package on Critical Issues in Managing Women Offenders. The 
curriculum will have the following elements:
    a. Instructors Guide with Lesson Plans. This must include 
performance objectives that specify the knowledge or skills/
competencies that will be obtained by the participants. They must be 
detailed to the degree that other trainers with some experience in the 
topic can use them to deliver training.
    b. Computer Generated View Graphs created in Corel Presentations of 
key points that will be emphasized by the trainers. The lesson plans 
must include a small representation of the full size view graph and 
indicate where and when they are used. As appropriate, some of the view 
graphs may be designed as handouts to participants. Other multi-media 
or visual aids (such as news print, videos, etc.) used to support the 
delivery of lesson modules must be coordinated and indicate when and 
where to be used.
    c. Participant Manual and Materials that correlate with each 
module, topic by topic, as appropriate to deliver the training. These 
materials may include overviews, published articles (if copyrighted 
must obtain copyright release), check lists, key points outlines, 
examples of instruments, reports and other materials used by 
participants to perform their work.
    d. Evaluation Questions and Strategies (if appropriate) that will 
be used pre or post delivery for the curriculum. These should directly 
relate to the objectives in each module.
    e. Resource Materials, such as video and audio tapes, books, 
journals and other information to support the objectives of the 
curriculum.
    (2) To deliver the curriculum in two regional seminars in the 
spring and summer, 2001, under a supplemental cooperative agreement.
    Work to be Performed by the Service Provider: The following 
represents the kinds of work activity required by the project and the 
expectations of the relationship between NIC, the Program Manager and 
the service provider.
     Consult with the NIC Program Monitor on an agreed time 
line to assure progress and understanding of the scope of work.
     Conduct a review of the Critical Issues in Managing Women 
Offenders agendas, participant materials, and records of meeting.
     Thoroughly review any other existing training materials 
developed by NIC, OJP, or other agencies for relevant parts that could 
be re-written for application to this project.
     Conduct necessary planning with content experts 
(selections with input from Program Manager) to generate the framework, 
concepts, modules, content, strategies and performance objectives. (All 
of the above is subject to final approval by the Program Manager.)
     Assign and coordinate writing, development and revisions 
of the modules and content areas for the curriculum including multi-
media materials.
     Develop, edit, revise, format and package the curriculum, 
lesson plans, and other course materials.
     Submit preliminary draft for review by the Program Manager 
per the specified time line. Make revisions and submit second draft if 
requested.
     Prepare all materials using WordPerfect 7.0 or higher word 
processing software and Corel Presentations (visuals) and submit final 
copies of all materials on 3.5" computer disks (or zip drive disks) and 
in ``camera ready'' hard copy format (4 paper copies).

Application Requirements

    Applicants must prepare a proposal that describes their plan to 
provide the project outcomes. The plan must include goals and 
objectives, methodology, deliverables, management plan, an overall 
project budget for the full two years, and a budget and budget 
narrative for the first 6 month phase. Applicants must identify their 
key project staff and the relevant expertise of each, and address the 
manner in which they would perform all tasks in collaboration with the 
NIC Project Manager. Proposals are limited to twenty-five double-spaced 
pages in length, not including resumes, other addenda, and SF-424 
forms. Please note that the Standard Form 424, Application for Federal 
Assistance, submitted with the proposal must contain the cover sheet, 
budget, budget narrative, assurances, and management plan for the FY 
2000 funded portion only, for a maximum of $50,000.

    Authority: Public Law 93-415.

Funds Available

    Project funds are limited to a maximum total of $100,000 for both 
direct and indirect costs for two years. A grant award of $50,000 will 
be made in FY 2000, and a supplemental award of $50,000 will be made in 
FY 2001. (Contingent on FY 2001 congressional budget approval) NIC is 
committed to funding the full fifteen month project and project 
activity must be completed within 15 months of the date of the award. 
Funds may only be used for activities that are linked to the desired 
outcomes of the project.
    All products from this funding effort will be in public domain and 
available to interested agencies through the National Institute of 
Corrections.

Deadline for Receipt of Applications

    Applications must be received by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, July 17, 
2000. They should be addressed to: National Institute of Corrections, 
320 First Street, NW., Room 5007, Washington, DC 20534, Attention: 
Administrative Officer. Hand delivered applications can be brought to 
500 First Street, NW, Washington, DC 20534. The Front desk will call 
Bobbi Tinsley at (202) 307-3106, extension 0 for pickup.

Addresses and Further Information

    Requests for the application kit, which consists of a copy of this 
announcement and copies of the required forms, should be directed to 
Judy Evens, Cooperative Agreement Control Office, National Institute of 
Corrections, 320 First Street, NW, Room 5007, Washington, DC 20534 or 
by calling (800) 995-6423, extension 159 or (202) 307-3106, extension 
159. She can also be contacted by E-mail via [email protected]. All 
technical and/or programmatic questions concerning this announcement 
should be directed to Andie Moss at the above address or by calling 
(800) 995-6423 or (202) 307-3106, extension 140, or by E-mail via 
[email protected]. Application forms may also be obtained through the NIC 
website: http://www.nicic.org. (Click on ``What's New'' and then, 
``Cooperative Agreements.'')

Eligible Applicants

    An eligible applicants is any state or general unit of local 
government, public or private agency, educational institution, 
organization, team, or individual with the requisite skills to 
successfully meet the outcome objectives of the project.

Review Considerations

    Applications received under this announcement will be subjected to 
an NIC three to five member Peer Review Process.
    Number of Awards: One (1).
    NIC Application Number: 00P17. This number should appear as a 
reference line in the cover letter and also in box 11 of Standard Form 
424.

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is: 16.602.



[[Page 36726]]


    Dated: June 2, 2000.
Morris L. Thigpen,
Director, National Institute of Corrections.
[FR Doc. 00-14671 Filed 6-8-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-36-M