[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 114 (Thursday, June 13, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40752-40754]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-14852]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

National Institute of Corrections


Solicitation for a Cooperative Agreement--``A Guide to Preparing 
for and Managing Prison Emergencies''

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 2002 for a 
cooperative agreement to fund the project ``A Guide to Preparing for 
and Managing Prison Emergencies''. NIC will award a one year 
cooperative agreement to develop a document which will assist 
correctional agencies in assessing and managing prisons during 
emergencies, including prison disturbances, work actions and natural 
and environmental disasters.
    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 will be made to an organization 
that will produce a document that can be distributed to state 
correctional agencies to use in the assessment and management of 
emergencies that would include but not be limited to managing natural 
and environmental disasters, riots, work stoppages, and other 
disturbances that may impact on normal operation of an institution and 
possibly the correctional system.

Background

    The National Institute of Corrections has offered special interest 
seminars, ``Managing Prisons During Natural and Environmental 
Disasters'' and ``Emergency Preparedness Assessment'' over the last 
several years. Many agencies have taken numerous ideas back to their 
home agencies to implement during these challenging situations. The 
manuals used in the seminars are available to the field; however, a 
compilation of the materials into one document would be of benefit to 
practitioners as a centralized resource for an internal assessment of 
these issues and discussion of strategies for effective management in 
these situations.
    Numerous changes in the correctional environment, such as budget 
reductions, changes in the characteristics of the workforce and changes 
in the demographics and characteristics of the inmate population, have 
created an even more pronounced need for assessing the current policies 
and procedures that

[[Page 40753]]

systems have in place for managing emergencies.
    Since the September 11 terrorist attacks, the need to effectively 
manage prisons during emergencies has taken on new urgency and a set of 
incidents previously not dealt with in the institutional setting. One 
example is a correctional system that was faced with a major rumor in 
the inmate population throughout the state that in the case of 
terrorist attacks, inmates would be considered a dispensable population 
and would be the last to receive assistance and their demise was 
likely. The same fears that have raised concern in the general public 
are multiplied in the prison setting when it comes to the distribution 
of resources during times of emergency coupled with the divided focus 
of staff due to their concern over the welfare of their families in 
these tense situations.
    It is the goal of the Prisons Division to provide the most current 
information available to correctional managers in a practical and user-
friendly format.

Purpose

    To provide a Guide to assist correctional agencies in managing 
various emergencies and to make information regarding strategies which 
have proven successful available to all correctional agencies. To 
provide an assessment tool by which a correctional agency can assess 
their readiness to handle any emergency.

Scope of Work

    The awardee will research the NIC training materials and other 
sources of information regarding emergencies and obtain specific 
information from various adult state and federal correctional agencies 
to complete the following tasks:
    1. Update the assessment tool used in previous NIC programs as an 
example, not a model, of a comprehensive tool for assessing a 
correctional agency's preparedness for emergencies. Examples of 
assessment instruments from other correctional systems should also be 
considered and included in the Guide if awardee thinks advisable.
    2. Provide a comprehensive list of the range of issues that a 
correctional agency should address in their emergency plans. Provide 
sample policies and procedures and examples of Memorandums of 
Understanding and other mutual aid documents that readers could use to 
improve their own Emergency Plans.
    3. Develop an assessment protocol that systems can use in preparing 
for natural and environmental disasters and emergencies.
    4. Identify emergencies which have occurred in all of the following 
areas: riots, disturbances, staff strikes, infectious disease 
contaminations, inmate work stoppages and hunger strikes, floods, ice 
storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, chemical spills, and other emergencies 
possibly not identified.
    5. Provide a synopsis of one or more emergency situations in each 
category described above which occurred in an adult prison setting and 
describe how they were managed; provide information available from 
After--Action reports; and provide a detailed discussion of the 
``Lessons Learned'' by the DOC that might help other systems.
    6. Identify technology that could assist correctional agencies in 
preparing for emergency situations, such as simulation systems, 
communication systems for coordinating with external agencies, etc. 
This does not include basic radio or telephone systems, weaponry, 
chemical agents, etc. that are utilized in daily operations. The intent 
of this task is to identify technologies, especially newer 
technologies, which could assist agencies in preparing for and managing 
emergencies, but is not intended to occupy a major focus in the award.

Specific Requirements

    1. The applicant must propose a project team which includes a 
person(s) with emergency preparedness expertise and correctional 
management and operations experience. Documentation of the principal's 
and all team members relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities to carry 
out the described tasks must be included in the application.
    2. The person designated as project director needs to be the person 
who will manage the project on a day-to-day basis and who has full 
decision-making authority to work with the NIC project manager. This 
person must have enough time dedicated to the project to assure they 
are available to direct the day-to-day activities of the project and to 
be available for collaboration with the NIC project manager.
    3. Applicants should identify in the proposal specific strategies 
for assuring a collaborative effort between their project team and NIC.

Application Requirements

    The applicant must provide goals, objectives, and methods of 
implementation for the project that are consistent with this 
announcement. Objectives should be clear, measurable, attainable, and 
focused on the methods used to conduct the project. Applicants should 
provide an implementation plan for the project and include a schedule 
which will demonstrate milestones for significant tasks in chart form. 
The project must be completed within one year of its start date.
    The applications should be concisely written, typed double-spaced, 
and referenced to the project by the number and title given in this 
cooperative agreement announcement. The narrative portion of this 
cooperative agreement application should include, at a minimum:
    1. A Brief paragraph that indicates the applicant's understanding 
of the purpose of the document;
    2. A brief paragraph that summarizes the project goals and 
objectives;
    3. A clear descrption of the methodology that will be used to 
complete the project and achieve its goals with clearly identified 
tasks to achieve the project goals;
    4. A statement or chart of measurable project milestones and time 
lines for the completion of each;
    5. A description of the staffing plan for the project, including 
the role of each project staff, the time commitment for each, the 
relationship among the staff (who reports to whom), and an indication 
that all required staff will be available;
    6. A statement from all project staff indicating that they will be 
available to work on this project;
    7. A brief description of the qualifications of the applicant 
organization and each project staff;
    8. A budget that details all costs for the project, shows 
consideration for all contingencies for this project, and notes a 
commitment to work within the budget proposed (budget should be divided 
into object class categories as shown on application Standard Form 
424A).

    Authority: Public Law 93-415.

    Funds Available. The award will be limited to a maximum of $120,000 
(direct and indirect costs). Funds may only be used for the activities 
that are linked to the desired outcome of the project. No funds are 
transferred to state or local governments. This project will be a 
collaborative venture with the NIC Prisons Division.
    Application Procedures: Applicants must be submitted in six copies 
to the Director, National Institute of Corrections, 320 First Street, 
NW, Room 5007, Washington, DC 20534. At least one copy of the 
application must have the applicant's original signature in blue ink. A 
cover letter must identify the responsible audit agency for the 
applicant's financial accounts.
    Deadline for Receipt of Applications: Applications must be received 
by 4:00

[[Page 40754]]

p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday, July 23, 2002. They should be 
addressed to Director, National Institute of Corrections, 320 First 
Street, NW., Room 5007, Washington, DC 20534. The NIC application 
number should be written on the outside of the mail or courier 
envelope. Applicants are encouraged to use Federal Express, UPS, or 
similar service to ensure delivery by due date as the mail at the 
National Institute of Corrections is still being delayed due to recent 
decontamination procedures implemented after recent events. 
Applications mailed or express delivery should be sent to: National 
Institute of Corrections, 320 First Street, NW, Room 5007, Washington, 
DC 20534, Attn: Director. Hand delivered applications can be brought to 
500 First Street, NW, Washignton, DC 20534. The security officer will 
call our front desk at 307-3106 to come to the security desk for 
pickup. Faxed or e-mailed applications will not be accepted.
    Addresses and Further Information: A copy of this announcement and 
applications forms may be obtained through the NIC web site: http.//
www.nicic.org (under ``Additional Opportunities'' click on the title of 
this cooperative agreement.) Requests for a hard copy of the 
application forms, and announcement 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 44222 or (202) 307-3106, extension 
44222. She can also be contacted by E-mail via [email protected].
    All technical and or programmatic questions concerning this 
announcement should be directed to BeLinda P. Watson at the above 
address or by calling (800) 995-6423, extension 30483 or (202) 353-
0483, or by E-mail via [email protected].
    Eligible Applicants: An eligible applicant is any state or general 
unit of local government, private agency, educational institution, 
organization, individuals or team with expertise in requested areas.
    Review Considerations: Applications received under this 
announcement will be subjected to a 3 to 5 person Peer Review Process.
    Number of Awards: One (1).
    NIC Application Number: 021P11. This number should appear as a 
reference line in the cover letter and also in box 11 of Standard Form 
424 and outside the envelope in which the application is sent.
    Executive Order 12372: This program is not subject to the 
provisions of Executive Order 12372.

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 16.601: 
Corrections--Training and Staff Development.

    Dated: June 7, 2002.
Larry Solomon,
Deputy Director, National Institute of Corrections.
[FR Doc. 02-14852 Filed 6-12-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-36-M