[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 40 (Wednesday, February 28, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12811-12813]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-4822]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

National Institute of Corrections


Solicitation for a Cooperative Agreement--Documentation of the 
Impact of NIC Executive Leadership Training for Women

AGENCY: National Institute of Corrections, DOJ.

ACTION: Solicitation for a cooperative agreement.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) invites 
applications for a cooperative agreement to assess and document the 
impact of the NIC Executive Leadership Training for Women. In order to 
assess its effectiveness and impact, the award recipient will develop 
an assessment methodology which employs primarily qualitative data, 
including self-reported outcomes; and secondarily, findings from 
quantitative analysis of participant assessment instruments. An 
overview of available data is highlighted later in this announcement.
    The award recipient will become familiar with the work currently 
being done at NIC that provides for an understanding of the history and 
future development goals of the NIC Executive Leadership Training 
Program for Women. Through an NIC briefing and review of written 
materials the recipient will have access to the original design 
methodology and all aspects of curriculum development and delivery.
    This project will be a collaborative venture with the NIC Prisons 
Division. The results of the project will give guidance to future 
refinement as NIC seeks to continue to offer the most current and 
effective offerings for leadership development. A total of $50,000 is 
reserved for the project which will support one cooperative agreement 
not to exceed 10 months in duration. The recipient of the award will be 
selected through this competitive solicitation process. Andie Moss, 
Correctional Program Specialist is the designated NIC project manager.

Background: History

    In the early 1990's the Prisons Division of the National Institute 
of Corrections made a commitment to a leadership development curriculum 
that would enhance the ability of women for executive level positions 
in Corrections. Although some women were in mid-level management and 
executive positions, the gains realized during the previous 20 years 
seemed to be slowing. Noting the under-representation of women in 
executive positions NIC awarded a Cooperative Agreement to develop a 
curriculum to address this concern. The development of the program was 
divided into two phases: needs assessment and curriculum design; and a 
pilot presentation. The program was originally designed for senior 
level women working in state departments of corrections. It quickly 
expanded to include professional women from jails and community 
corrections. Since the development of the core program, additional 
``phases'' or training events have been added to further enhance the 
long-term development of the graduate and her contribution to her 
agency.

Background: Curriculum Design

    The curriculum design of NIC Executive Leadership for Women was 
developed as a competency model based on research done with 
correctional visionaries and women in senior positions in correctional 
leadership. The administration of several assessment instruments 
created findings that formed the development of the competencies. 
Through one such instrument, Strategic Directions Questionnaire, 
correctional leaders identified ten competencies as essential to a 
commissioner's future leadership effectiveness. From this, a 
Correctional Leadership Competency Model was developed. In this 
original research for the program 48 directors of corrections 
participated.
    In addition, twenty women in correctional leadership positions 
(directors, deputy directors and regional directors of corrections) 
completed the Leadership 360TM questionnaire, a competency 
assessment instrument, which was used in conjunction with the 
Correctional Leadership Competency Model to identify the area in which 
women most needed leadership development.
    The three largest gap areas--strategic, communication and 
consensual skills were given particular emphasis in the design of the 
training. All ten competencies were used in the development of the 
curriculum. Participants attending the program receive Leadership 
360TM feedback, which includes a profile of the individual 
gap scores against the Correctional Leadership Competency Model.
    A brief description of the phases offers an overview of the goals 
throughout the process. Classes are small, ranging from 20-22 
participants. Participants return a year after the first five day 
program for the Phase II program, a three day event.

Phase I: Executive Leadership

    This five-day program focuses on leadership development. A number 
of assessments, including the Leadership 360TM feedback, are 
combined with experiential activities and simulations to help 
participants gain understanding of their own behavior and leadership 
effectiveness. The program is highly individualized.

Phase II: Strategic Leadership

    At the recommendation of Phase I participants, NIC funded a three-
day follow-up training. Phase II emphasizes strategic thinking, the 
leader's role in challenging and encouraging change within the 
organization, and the use of persuasion and consensual skills for 
managing change. Phase I and II program participants overlap, thereby 
creating opportunities for the two classes to network and further build 
leadership capacity on a national level.

Phase III: Organizational Leadership

    With Phase III, NIC extended its leadership program to directors of 
corrections. Partnerships between Phase I and II participants and their 
directors are the cornerstone in building

[[Page 12812]]

organizational competency. Phase III is focused on the dynamics of the 
organization, especially the use of innovative problem-solving, and the 
role of the executive team in creating effective vehicles for systemic 
change.

Scope of the Project

    The work of this project will result in:
    A. A summary of the impact of the program for a representation of 
graduates based on the original goals of the program and the 
competencies that defined the learning objectives.
    B. Within the written summary, a section that identifies those 
aspects of the program which had the most impact on the participants 
and aspects of the program that need further development or 
improvement.
    C. A recommendation for a training evaluation design for 
prospective use which will be developed in consultation with NIC and 
the future program provider.

Project Activities

    The National Institute of Corrections is interested in ideas that 
the applicant may present that will maximize the use of information 
available through graduate interviews, interviews with key staff 
working with the graduate, surveys and a review of the program design. 
The availability of seven years of data from assessment instrumentation 
allows for a quantitative review of overall trends from participant 
classes in identifying gap areas and subsequent goal setting based on 
program goals. This body of information may offer insight into the 
success of the program based on the original research that identified 
the competency based curriculum.
    A. To support the outcome of the documentation of the program's 
impact, some of the following possible activities are highlighted to 
provide guidance to the applicant:
     Conduct interviews with a representation of graduates of 
the program using the goals of the program as guidance for the 
development of the interview. At least some portion of these are 
recommended as face to face interviews. Interviews should also be 
guided by the questions below listed under required activity.
     Develop a survey to send to all graduates with questions 
directed at the short and long term impact from participating in the 
training program.
     Consider both of the above activities for key stakeholders 
working with the women graduates, i.e. chief executive officer.
     Document the key ``learnings'' or observations and trends 
of women who participated.
    B. To support the desired outcome of enhancing curriculum 
development for future offerings of the program some suggested 
activities may be:
     Review existing curriculum guides, and participants 
notebooks for potential update of original research.
     Document recommendations from interviews that address 
program delivery or program design.
     Document recommendations from survey.
     Provide NIC with recommended materials that may inform the 
Institute on women's leadership development.
     Review available data from class profiles of 
instrumentation to identify trends in gap areas based on the 
Correctional Leadership Competency Model.
    C. To support the desired outcome of recommending a training 
evaluation for future programs suggested activities may include:
     A review of effective training evaluation models resulting 
in a written recommendation.
     Joint discussions with the NIC program manager and the 
awardee of the NIC Executive Leadership Training for Women cooperative 
agreement resulting in a written recommendation.

Specific Requirements

     Attending an initial meeting with NIC for overview of 
program's history and development.
     Collaborating with NIC and the awardee of the cooperative 
agreement entitled Executive Leadership Training for Women, announced 
within the next two months in the Federal Register. This collaboration 
will be for the purpose of sharing information for future program 
development.
     Designing a project model that would include but would not 
be limited to collecting information with the following guiding 
questions:
    Does the design of a program just for women matter? Why or why not?
    Is the current program design meeting the needs of women in 
leadership?
    What aspects of the program were most helpful to you? Least 
helpful?
    Do you feel your participation in this program increased, decreased 
or neutrally impacted your leadership effectiveness. Why?
    Do you have specific recommendations for improvement of the design 
of the program?

    Authority: Public Law 93-415.

Funds Available

    The award will be limited to $50,000 (direct and indirect costs) 
and project activity must be completed within ten months of the date of 
award. This project will be a collaborative venture with the NIC 
Prisons Division.

Application Requirements

    The successful applicant will propose a project approach that will 
ensure accomplishment of each of the stated desired outcomes under the 
section Scope of Project within this announcement. The applicant will 
assure that the project team offers technical expertise in the areas of 
program evaluation and leadership education specific to the development 
of women in leadership. The project staff identified must indicate a 
willingness to the commitment of time necessary to complete the project 
plan.
    The success of the work under this project is critical to the 
further development of NIC's leadership series for executive women. 
This announcement is running concurrently with the NIC cooperative 
agreement entitled Executive Leadership Training for Women. Successful 
applicants for each of these related projects must be willing to work 
in collaboration to provide for coordinated information sharing in the 
curriculum refinement goals of NIC. The NIC Program Manager will be 
responsible for assuring adequate opportunities for coordination.

Deadline for Receipt of Applications

    Applications must be received by 4:00 pm on Friday, 3/23/01. They 
should be addressed to: Director, National Institute of Corrections, 
320 First Street, NW., Room 5007, Washington, DC 20534. Hand delivered 
applications should 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

    A copy of this announcement, application and forms may also be 
obtained through the NIC web site: http://www.nicic.org (click on 
``Cooperative Agreements''). If a written copy is needed contact Judy 
Evens, Cooperative Agreement Control Office (1-800-995-6423 x 44222 or 
(202) 307-3106 ext. 44222, email at [email protected].) All technical and/
or programmatic questions concerning this announcement should be 
directed to Andie Moss, Project Manager, at 320 First Street, NW, Room 
5007, Washington, DC 20534 or by calling 800-995-6423, ext. 30485, 202-
307-3106, ext. 30485, or e-mail: [email protected].
    Review Considerations: Applications received under this 
announcement will

[[Page 12813]]

be subject to an NIC three to five member Peer Review Process.
    Number of Awards: One (1).
    NIC Application Number: 01P05 This number should appear as a 
reference line in your cover letter and also in box 11 of Standard Form 
424.
    Executive Order 12372: This program is subject to the provisions of 
Executive Order 12372. Executive Order 12372 allows States the option 
of setting up a system for reviewing applications from within their 
States for assistance under certain Federal programs. Applicants (other 
than Federally-recognized Indian tribal governments) should contact 
their State Single Point of Contact (SPOC), a list of which is included 
in the application kit, along with further instructions on proposed 
projects serving more than one State.

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 16.603.

    Dated: February 8, 2001.
Morris L. Thigpen,
Director, National Institute of Corrections.
[FR Doc. 01-4822 Filed 2-27-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-36-M