[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 34 (Thursday, February 20, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8311-8313]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-4022]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

National Institute of Corrections


Solicitation for a Cooperative Agreement--``Operational Practices 
for 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 2003 for a 
cooperative agreement to fund the project ``Operational Practices for 
Women Offenders.'' NIC will award a two year cooperative agreement to 
review the current training program, develop a curriculum, prepare an 
accompanying participant and trainer manual and attend the May 2003 
program for insight into the current components. In addition, the award 
recipient will be responsible for the final (NIC approved) curriculum, 
training of faculty for the program and the delivery of the program in 
FY 2004, with the participant and trainer manuals in place. A total of 
$120,00 is reserved for the project during fiscal years 2003 and 2004. 
The 2003 allocation is $20,000 and the 2004 allocation is $100,000.
    A cooperative agreement is a form of assistance relationship where 
the National Institute of Corrections is substantially involved during 
the performance of the award. The recipient of the award will be 
selected through the competitive solicitation process.

DATES: Applications must be received by 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on 
March 27, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Mailed applications must be sent to: Director, National 
Institute of Corrections, 320 First Street, NW., Room 5007, Washington, 
DC 20534. Applicants are encouraged to use Federal Express, UPS, or 
similar service to ensure delivery by the due date as mail at NIC is 
still being delayed due to recent events.
    Hands delivered applicants should be brought to 500 First Street, 
NW., Washington, DC 20534. At the front desk, call (202) 307-3106, 
extension 0 for pickup. Faxed or emailed applications will not be 
accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A copy of this announcement and the 
required application forms can be downloaded from the NIC web page at 
www.nicic.org (Click on ``cooperative agreements.'') Hard copies of the 
announcement can be obtained by calling Rita Rippetoe at 1-800-995-6423 
extension 44222 or e-mail [email protected].
    All technical or programmatic questions concerning this 
announcement should be directed to Evelyn Bush, Correctional Program 
Specialist, National Institute of Corrections. She can be reached by 
calling 1-800-995-6423 extension 40376 or by e-mail at [email protected]. 
Supplemental information regarding the program can be received by mail 
or e-mail. Please contact Sharon Floyd at 1-800-995-6423 ext 44072.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background: The National Institute of Corrections, Prisons 
Division, began its work defining critical issues that impact women 
offenders in 1996. Based on surveys, workshops and state-driven 
inquiries for assistance and information, NIC began addressing gender-
specific needs and services.
    The program goal is to provide assistance to state departments of 
correction around the specific issues and concerns dealing with women 
offenders.
    The ``Operational Practices for Women Offenders'' program was 
developed with the practitioner in mind, to help correctional managers 
increase their understanding of women offenders and enhance their 
skills for effectively working with them.
    The role of the correctional institution has changed a great deal 
over the past 200 years. The almshouses and dungeons of the early days 
gave way to custodial institutions and then to reformatories. Today, 
correctional facilities are making new strides in providing improved 
conditions, diversity and quality in programming, and availability of 
educational, vocational, treatment and medical services.
    Both theorists and popular viewpoint have played a role in the 
structure of corrections for the women offender. The current trend is 
to dispel traditional stereotypes and myths surrounding the woman 
offender, to develop a realistic picture of the variety of women in the 
penal system today, and to address the individual and group needs of 
these women.
    As a number of women entering the Criminal Justice system grew, (at 
a faster rate than men) practitioners felt the impact based on the 
growing number of operational issues. These included concerns about 
searches, contraband, privacy, etc. NIC became involved in responding 
to these requests for assistance to ``do it the right way and the 
appropriate way.''
    Differences in women's pathways into the criminal justice system 
and women's behavior while in custody have important implications for 
the practices in women's prisons. There is significant evidence that 
the response of women to incarceration, treatment, and rehabilitation 
differs from that of men.
    Gender responsiveness has been defined by Bloom and Covington as 
``creating an environment that reflects an understanding of the reality 
of women's lives and addresses the issues

[[Page 8312]]

of women.'' As the criminal justice system becomes more responsive to 
the issues of managing women offenders, it will be more effective in 
targeting the pathways to offending that propel women into, and return 
them to, the criminal justice system.
    Taken from Gender Responsive Strategies: Research, Practice and 
Guiding Principles for Women Offenders, NIC 2002)
    Purpose: The National Institute of Corrections is seeking 
applications for a cooperative agreement that will take over management 
of an existing program, develop and produce a curriculum with a 
corresponding participant and trainer's manual. In addition, the 
awardee will deliver subsequent offerings of the 5 day interactive 
program. The product should be ``user-friendly'' so that will be 
effective and useful to state departments of corrections. The pilot 
program will be modified, if necessary, based on the final program 
review and evaluation.
    Scope of Work: 1. Review the current NIC training program; design a 
curriculum that incorporates the most up-to-date research on women 
offenders with the objective to prepare correctional managers to work 
effectively with women offenders; describe the methodology for 
identifying any recommended or significant change.
    2. Produce a program curriculum, participant manual and trainer's 
guide that is user-friendly and designed for interactive, adult 
learning. All overheads slides, presentations and other audio-visual 
materials, with copyright permission, are to be included.
    3. Conduct a program planning session and train staff/trainers for 
program delivery;
    4. ``Pilot'' ``Operational Practices for Women Offenders'' staining 
program in May 2004 to an audience of 25 to 30 correctional 
practitioners;
    5. Develop, disseminate, and compile results of participant program 
evaluation, with results to the NIC Project Monitor, within 30 days of 
the May 2004 program completion.
    6. Design and pilot test an impact evaluation instrument to be 
completed by participants 9-12 months after attending the training.
    Specific Requirements: 1. Significant changes to the existing 
curriculum must be justified with research-based documentation.
    2. Attendance of at least one primary team member is required for 
the duration of the May 2003 program. There must be included in the 
proposal a statement that this primary team member will attend the 
training program May 19-23, 2003, with the costs reflected in the 
budget narrative.
    3. The applicant must demonstrate that the project team is 
comprised of persons with expertise in correctional administration/
management with women offenders as well as project staff who 
specifically have experience in correctional management and gender-
specific responsive programming.
    4. All identified trainers for the training program must have 
recent (within five years) experience in working with women offenders, 
as either staff or consultant. This experiences should be clearly 
identified in the resume or narrative.
    5. The person designated as project director is required to be the 
person who will manage the 5 day on-site program presentation (2004) 
and who has full decision-making authority to work with the NIC project 
manager. This person must have sufficient time dedicated to the project 
to assure availability for collaboration with the NIC project manager.
    6. Applicants should identify in the proposal specific strategies 
for assuring a collaborative effort between their project team and NIC. 
This will include the planning session, manual materials, and the 
selection of trainers for the program. The applicant should demonstrate 
ability to work collaboratively with NIC from previous work, if 
applicable.
    7. The awardee must follow all of NIC's procedures and time frames 
for the provision of training and this must be stated in the proposal. 
Dates for the training program will determined by NIC in consultation 
with the awardee.
    8. Location for the training program will be recommended by the 
awardee but the final decision for a site will remain with NIC.
    Application Requirements: Applications must be submitted using OMB 
Standard Form 424, Federal Assistance, and attachments. (Copies can be 
downloaded from the NIC web page at www.nicic.org/service/coop/default.htm.) The applications should be concisely written, typed 
double-spaced and refer to the project by the ``NIC Application 
Number'' and Title is this announcement.
    Submit an original and two copies. The original should have the 
applicant's signature in blue ink. A cover letter must identify the 
responsible audit agency for the applicant's financial accounts.
    The narrative portion of this cooperative agreement application 
should include, at a minimum:
    1. A brief paragraph indicating the applicant's understanding of 
this cooperative agreement;
    2. One or more paragraphs detailing the applicants understanding of 
the historical and current views of working with women offenders, and 
the response for effectively working with women offenders;
    3. A brief paragraph summarizing the project goals and objectives;
    4. A clear description of the methodology for project completion 
and achievement of its goals;
    5. A clearly developed Project Plan which demonstrates how and when 
the various goals and objectives of the project will be achieved 
through its various activities so as to produce the required results;
    6. A chart of measurable project milestones and time lines for the 
completion of each milestone;
    7. A description of the qualifications of the applicant 
organization and each project staff;
    8. A description of the staffing plan for the project, including 
the role of each project staff, the percentage of the time commitment 
for each (in days), the relationship among the staff (who reports to 
whom), and a statement from individual staff that they will be 
available to work on this project and meet the required level of 
experience.
    9. A budget detailing all costs for the project, costs for trainer 
services and travel, 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. A budget narrative must be included 
which explains how all costs were determined.

    Authority: Public Law 93-415.

    Funds Available: The award will be limited to a maximum of $120,000 
(direct and indirect costs). Participant travel for the program 
delivery will be paid by NIC and is not included in the funding for 
this project. 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. NIC retains the right to select 
the applicants for participation. $20,000 will be allocated for fiscal 
year 2003, and $100,000 will be allocated for fiscal year 2004.

Antideficiency Act

    Nothing contained herein shall be construed to obligate the parties 
to any expenditure or obligation of funds in

[[Page 8313]]

excess or in advance of appropriation in accordance with the 
Antideficiency Act, 31 U.S.C. 1341.
    Eligibility Applicants: An eligible applicant is any State or 
general unit of local government, private agency, educational 
institution, organization, individuals or team with expertise in the 
requested areas in order to successfully meet the objectives of this 
project.
    Review Considerations: Applications received under this 
announcement will be subjected to a 3- to 5-member Peer Review Process.
    Number of Awards: One (1).
    NIC Application Number: 03P21. This number should appear as a 
reference line in the cover letter and also in box 11 of Standard Form 
424, and on the outside of the envelope in which the application is 
sent.
    Executive Order 12372: This program is not subject to the 
provisions of Executive Order 12372.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number is: 16.601, Title: 
Training and Staff Development).

    Dated: February 12, 2003.
Morris L. Thigpen,
Director, National Institute of Corrections.
[FR Doc. 03-4022 Filed 2-19-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-36-M