[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 118 (Monday, June 19, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38001-38003]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-15387]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Bureau of Justice Statistics

[OJP(BJS)-1286]


National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS) Implementation 
Program

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

ACTION: Solicitation for award of cooperative agreements.

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

SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to announce a public 
solicitation to make awards to states to provide funding to 
jurisdictions for implementing the National Incident Based Reporting 
System (NIBRS).

DATES: Proposals must be received by 5:00 p.m. ET on or before Monday, 
July 31, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Proposals should be mailed to: Application Coordinator, 
Bureau of Justice Statistics, Room 2406, 810 7th Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20531, (202) 616-3497 [This is not a toll-free number].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles R. Kindermann, Ph.D., Senior 
Statistician, Bureau of Justice Statistics, (202) 616-3489, or Carol G. 
Kaplan, Chief, Criminal History Improvement Programs, (202) 307-0759 
[This is not a toll-free number].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Crime Identification Technology Act (CITA) provides funding to 
states (in conjunction with units of Local government) and tribes that 
want to participate in the FBI's new approach to uniform crime 
reporting, the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). NIBRS 
moves beyond aggregate statistics and raw counts of crimes and arrests 
that comprise the

[[Page 38002]]

summary UCR program to individual records for each reported crime 
incident and its associated arrest. NIBRS looks at detailed offense, 
offender, victim, property, and arrest data. In addition to changing 
the fundamental reporting structure underlying crime and arrest 
information, NIBRS collects offense and arrest data on 22 crime 
categories, spanning 46 offenses (as compared to the 8 UCR index 
offenses), and additional offenses for which only arrest information is 
reported. The requirements for compatibility with NIBRS can be found at 
http://www.fbi.gov/publish/nibrs/nibrs.htm:

Objectives

    The purpose of this solicitation is to make awards to states to 
provide funding to jurisdictions for implementing the National Incident 
Based Reporting System (NIBRS). The amount available under the FY 2000 
appropriation is $10 million.

Type of Assistance

    Assistance will be made available in the form of cooperative 
agreements.

Statutory Authority

    The awards made pursuant to this solicitation will be funded by the 
Bureau of Justice Statistics consistent with the provisions of 42 
U.S.C. 3732 and the Crime Identification Technology Act of 1998 (CITA), 
42 U.S.C. 14601. A complete description of requirements and programs 
funded under CITA is available at the OJP CITA website http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/cita.

Eligibility Requirements

    The NIBRS awards will be made to states applying on behalf of one 
or more cities or counties in the state, regardless of whether the 
state maintains a UCR program. Within the state, requests may be made 
on behalf of one or more jurisdictions or a collaboration of 
jurisdictions. In addition, a state can apply for funding to be used at 
the state level, provided that the state also applies for funds on 
behalf of a city or county jurisdiction.
    BJS will select the jurisdictions to be funded. The program will be 
competitive between and within states and requests for state funding 
will compete against requests for funding for cities and counties. 
Because of limited funding, not every state will receive an award, and 
the grants may not cover the entire costs of the conversion to NIBRS.
    All awards will be made to the state which will transfer funds to 
the selected jurisdictions as appropriate. The proposal must present a 
separate budget for each jurisdiction or collaboration and describe 
procedures for transfer of funds. Applications requesting funds for 
more than one jurisdiction must include an approval signature from the 
appropriate official in each jurisdiction proposed for funding.
    States interested in obtaining funding for NIBRS implementation 
under this solicitation, should contact either their state ASUCRP 
representative on their website-www.asucrp.org or the state agency 
designated by the Governor to apply for Federal NIBRS funds. 
Applications should include a cover memo from the ASUCRP member. If the 
applicant agency differs from the ASUCRP member's agency, the selection 
of the applicant agency should be explained. Applications should be 
submitted by July 31, 2000.
    Total funds available for all recipients within a state cannot 
exceed $1 million and no more than three jurisdictions or 
collaborations can be proposed for funding. Since not all proposals 
submitted by a state may be approved for funding, the total requested 
in the application may exceed the $1 million limit on funds available 
for the state overall.
    CITA requires that states receiving funds appropriated under that 
Act certify support for the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background 
Check System (NICS) and that a statewide strategy for information 
sharing is in effect or will be initiated. BJS also funds the National 
Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP) with CITA funds, and 
applicant states should check with BJS to determine whether the state 
has already certified to meeting these requirements. CITA also requires 
that fund recipients provide a 10% ``match'' of the total project cost 
(see below for additional information on match requirements).

Scope of Work

    The object of this solicitation is to make awards to states to 
provide funding to jurisdictions for implementing the National 
Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) in order to improve the quality 
of crime statistics in the country. Proposals should describe in 
appropriate detail the tasks and activities necessary for the 
implementation of NIBRS in the proposed jurisdictions. Resumes of the 
proposed consultants and firms to be involved with the project should 
be enclosed with the proposal. The application should include detailed 
timetable for each task to be funded under the project and for full 
implementation of NIBRS if this extends beyond the proposed funding 
period. The timetable can contain milestones beyond the one year grant 
period as long as they do not assume additional BJS funding. Since all 
proposed jurisdictions may not be selected for funding, the proposal 
should contain clearly separate descriptions of tasks and fund requests 
for each proposed jurisdiction.
    Applications should also describe the status of NIBRS in the 
applicant state. If the state system is not NIBRS compliant, the 
proposal must explain how the proposed jurisdictions or collaborations 
will have NIBRS compliant record management systems.
    The application should demonstrate familiarity with current 
activities relating to NIBRS implementation, including the ongoing 
SEARCH/BJS program demonstrating operational values of NIBRS 
(www.search.org/nibrs/default.asp), and the current efforts by the 
Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) (www.police forum.org), the 
Justice Research and Statistics Association (JRSA) (www.jrsa.org/ibrrc/index/html) and the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) 
(www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/pdf/compasscfp.pdf). Where applicable, the 
application should discuss the relationship between the proposed 
project activities and these other activities.
    NIBRS awarded funds may be used to cover costs of: system 
enhancements or other modifications which will enable NIBRS compliant 
reporting; developing and providing training in NIBRS compliant 
reporting and analysis procedures (including salary and related costs 
for persons developing and providing the training); developing, 
implementing, or licensing of software which supports NIBRS compliant 
data collection, reporting, and analysis; and, attendance at 
conferences or other related activities that aid in the process of 
implementing NIBRS. Funds many not be used for equipment purchase or to 
cover salaries or overtime for persons attending NIBRS training 
sessions or meetings. Where a state is applying for funds to be 
transferred to a local jurisdiction(s), an amount equal to up to 5% of 
the amount to be transferred may be requested by the state to cover 
administrative costs.
    The application should also include a description of activities, 
with accompanying fiscal implications, which will serve as the match 
for activities funded under the NIBRS award. BJS will consider all 
efforts which are designed to further the establishment of NIBRS 
compatible reporting to be allowable in support of the 10% match 
requirement.
    Since this award program is authorized and funded under the Crime

[[Page 38003]]

Identification Technology Act of 1998, the program will be coordinated 
with other OJP efforts funded under CITA. Additionally, to encourage 
coordination and information sharing among criminal justice systems, 
all OJP awards supporting information technology development include a 
special condition which requires that a description of the project be 
submitted to the State Information Technology Point of Contact, if one 
has been designated. The name and address can be obtained at 1-800-421-
6770 or at the OJP webpage (http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov). A copy of the 
correspondence should be either submitted with the application or 
submitted prior to fund drawdown. The intent of this condition is to 
facilitate communication within the State and there is no requirement 
that the point of contact concur with the information technology 
project.

Award Procedures

    Applications will be reviewed competitively by a panel comprised of 
members selected by BJS. The panel will make recommendations to the 
Director, BJS. Final authority to enter into a cooperative agreement is 
reserved for the Director, BJS, or his designee.
    Applicants will be evaluated on the basis of:
    1. The jurisdictions commitment to implementing NIBRS
    2. Knowledge of issues related to the Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) 
and the National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS), including 
familiarity with NIBRS related material contained in websites 
maintained by the FBI, BJS, JRSA, and NIJ.
    3. The jurisdiction's current level of automation and plans for 
replacing the record management systems if necessary.
    4. The likelihood that the jurisdiction will implement NIBRS in a 
timely manner.
    5. Availability of qualified professional and support staff and 
suitable equipment for project activities.
    6. Demonstrated fiscal, management and organizational capability.
    7. Reasonableness of estimated costs for the total project and for 
individual cost categories

Application and Awards Process

    An original and five (5) copies of a full proposal must be 
submitted with SF 424 (Rev. 1988), Application for Federal Assistance, 
as the cover sheet. Proposals must be accompanied by OJP Form 7150/1, 
Budget Detail Worksheet; OJP Form 4000/3 (Rev. 1-93), Assurances; OJP 
Form 4061/6, Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension 
and Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements; 
and OJP Form 7120-1 (Rev. 1-93), Accounting System and 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 the Federal laws and 
regulations which prohibit discrimination in any program or activity 
the receives Federal funds. To obtain appropriate forms, contact Joyce 
Stanford, BJS Administrative Assistant, at (202) 616-3497.
    The application should cover a 1-year period with information 
provided for completion of the entire project. Proposals must include a 
program narrative, detailed budget, and budget narrative. The program 
narrative shall describe activities as stated in the scope of work and 
address the evaluation criteria. The detailed budget must provide costs 
including salaries of staff involved in the project and portion of 
those salaries to be paid from the award; fringe benefits paid to each 
staff person; travel costs; supplies required to complete the project; 
and, other allowable costs. The source and amount of matching funds 
should also be included in the detailed budget. The budget narrative 
should closely follow the content of the detailed budget. The narrative 
should also relate the items budgeted to the project activities and 
should provide a justification and explanation for the budgeted items. 
Refer to the aforementioned timetable when developing the program 
narrative and budget information.

    Dated: June 14, 2000.
Jan M. Chaiken,
Director, Bureau of Justice Statistics.
[FR Doc. 00-15387 Filed 6-16-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-18-P