[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 34 (Thursday, February 20, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8308-8311]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-4023]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

National Institute of Corrections


Solicitation for a Cooperative Agreement--``Executive Training 
for Women--Team Development''

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, ``Executive Training for 
Women--Team Building''. NIC invites applications for a one year 
cooperative agreement to design and deliver a three-day team 
development training program. Participants will be selected graduates 
of the two prior Executive Leadership Training for Women programs and 
the participant's chosen senior administrator. The participant has 
determined that this administrator is critical to her success in her 
current position, and is supportive of her efforts to succeed and grow 
in the organization.
    This third program offering continues the leadership development of 
the woman executive by inviting other key personnel into the process to 
work together as a highly productive and respectful team. This 
particular team approach should incorporate researched and documented 
leadership styles of both men and women. The award recipient must 
become familiar with Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the NIC Executive 
Leadership Training for Women Program in order to understand the 
program history and progression to this advanced level of training, 
designed for selected graduates of the Phase 1 and 2 program. The 
cooperative agreement includes the responsibility for the program and 
curriculum design, training of faculty, and the delivery and evaluation 
of the pilot program in FY 2004. A total of $100,000 is reserved for 
the project during fiscal year 2003.
    This 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

[[Page 8309]]

of the award will be selected through the competitive solicitation 
process.

DATES: Applications must be received by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time 
on April 15, 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.
    Hand delivered applications 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 e-mailed 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 
http://www.ncic.org (click on ``Cooperative Agreements''). Hard copies 
of the application can be obtained by calling Rita Rippetoe, (800) 995-
6423, extension 44222 or by e-mail [email protected].
    All technical and or programmatic questions concerning this 
announcement should be directed to Evelyn Bush at the above address or 
by calling (800) 995-6423, extension 40376 or (202) 514-0376 or by e-
mail via [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The National Institute of Corrections, Prisons Division, offered 
the first Executive Training for Women program in 1994. The program was 
designed to address both the personal and professional aspects of 
correctional leadership and has continued to build upon the success of 
that beginning effort. Through a three part series focusing on 
executive, strategic and organizational leadership, NIC has sought to 
``close the gap'' for women executives in their knowledge, self and 
observer perception, and recognition of their value to the 
organization. the ultimate goal of the program is to assist the leader 
with the final integration of her professional awareness and its value 
to the agency ``team'' in problem-solving and policy planning.
    Developed in 1993, the first program was conducted in 1994. The 
program concept dates back to the late 1980's and early 1990's, as the 
National Institute of Corrections recognized the continued under-
representation of women executives in corrections throughout the 
country. While women have made significant achievements in correctional 
employment over the last few decades, promotion to the Executive level 
has been slow. At no time in the history of state departments of 
corrections in the United States have women held even 20% of all of the 
Department Director positions. While the entry door into the 
corrections field swings open wider, it is less so for the promotional 
door toward advancement. Since entry can no longer be legally 
prohibited. There are more and more women employed in the field, 
expecting to be regarded with professional equality and upward mobility 
opportunities.
    NIC's response to the dilemma of women being under-represented in 
executive level positions in the field of corrections was to establish 
an Executive Leadership Training for Women Program. With the addition 
of this third phase, the program is designed to enhance the ability of 
women to achieve and to function effectively in executive-level 
positions in state departments of corrections. Phase 1 and 2 have 
recently (2002) been updated to include the latest research on 
leadership theories and women's leadership.

Phase 1: Executive Leadership

    A five-day program focused on leadership development. A number of 
assessments are combined with experiential activities and simulations 
to focus behavior (self-mastery), leadership competency, clarify 
current and future personal and professional goals, and accelerate 
promotional achievement.

Phase 2: Strategic Leadership

    This three-day follow up program was developed in 1995 based on 
needs assessments from Phase 1 participants. As an expansion of the 
first program, key elements included strategic competency, the leader's 
role in the organization, and the moving the organization forward.

Phase 3: Team Building

    The outcome of this cooperative agreement will be a three-day (24 
hour) pilot program to build organizational competency by focusing on 
the group dynamics of the organization and the relationships necessary 
to succeed. Special attention should be given to the use of innovative 
problem-solving, and the role of ``executive teaming'' with recognition 
of the unique strengths and weaknesses of each team member.

Program Outcomes

    Expand agency leadership capacity by addressing partnerships and 
relationship skills necessary to create a climate for understanding, 
growth and support of its key personnel;
    Incorporate strategies for the organization's success (mission) by 
the promotion of effective leadership communication for problem solving 
discussions and policy planning;
    Overcoming barriers to team performance by recognition of 
individual attributes and talents;
    Create an atmosphere that encourages ``coaching'' as an agency 
benefit.
    Purpose: The National Institute of Corrections is seeking 
applications for a cooperative agreement that will design and deliver a 
3-day interactive pilot program, focused on agency team development. 
The program design must provide the opportunity for the executives to 
comfortably and effectively work to approach problems and policy 
planning. Recognizing and valuing the woman's leadership style, the 
emphasis of this third training program is to successfully integrate 
the individual styles into creative teams. This is accomplished by 
bringing the woman leader to the training program together with the 
next upper-level supervisor that is most supportive of her career 
efforts and her organizational value. The pilot program will be 
modified, if necessary, based on the participant and faculty 
evaluation.

Scope of Work

    1. Design and implement a program based on current leadership and 
gender research which identifies the competencies necessary for a group 
of people to work as a highly productive and cohesive team. Expected 
components include, but are not limited to: Communicating Effectively 
in Teams, Problem Solving & Resolving Team Conflicts, Interrelationship 
Dynamics and Consensus Building.
    2. Awardee must become acquainted with the current Executive 
Leadership Training for Women Program (Phase 1 and Phase 2) via written 
materials, participant manual and discussion with the current 
contractor. Additionally, attendance by one team member is required at 
the September 2003 Executive program in Maryland.
    3. Identify in the proposal specific strategies for assuring a 
collaborative effort between their project team and NIC. This will 
include the curriculum review and pre-approval, program planning 
session, manual materials, and the selection and training of faculty 
for the program.

[[Page 8310]]

    4. Conduct a program planning session, prepare program agenda, 
participant manual, and train staff/faculty for program delivery. All 
associated overhead slides, presentations, participant manual and any 
other audio-visual materials, with copyright permission, are to be 
provided to NIC. (Use CD-Rom.)
    5. ``Pilot'' the Executive Training for Women-Team Development 
program in FY04 to an audience of 24 to 30 correctional practitioners;
    6. Develop an evaluation tool, disseminate to participants and 
compile a basic analysis of the program, with results to the NIC 
Project Monitor within 30 days of the 2004 program completion.
    7. Applicants are encouraged to include one or more graduates of 
the NIC Executive Leadership Training Program for Women in their 
project, i.e. planning meeting, project team. Specific names are not 
required, but positions must be identified in the budget with 
respective faculty roles identified.

Specific Requirements

    1. Based on research of the existing leadership theories and 
realizing that those who had studied women executives discovered that 
the learning process needed to be complimented by a supportive 
environment. Applicants should consider ``The Setting'' as well as the 
style and methods of the program presentation. The location for the 
training will be recommended by the awardee with the final decision 
remaining with NIC.
    The setting and learning environment incorporated in, and critical 
to, leadership training suggests the following consideration when 
attempting to locate a suitable site:
    A. private outdoor space, preferably a grassed area to accommodate 
two groups of ten (10) to twelve (12) to execute team building 
activities;
    B. secluded indoor and outdoor space conducive to individual and 
team problem solving, and personal reflection time;
    C. classroom space that will accommodate 30 adults plus podium, LCD 
set-up, display table, and refreshment table;
    D. dining area (separate from the public and classroom area) that 
will accommodate up to 30 people,
    2. The applicant must demonstrate that the project team is 
comprised of at least one person with expertise in women's leadership 
education; one with expertise in executive team building and at least 
one with correctional administration/management experience at no less 
than the Warden/Superintendent level. This experience should be clearly 
identified in the accompanying resumes. Each individual must submit 
signed letters stating their willingness to work on this project.
    3. The person designated as project director is required to be the 
person who will be on-site and coordinate the 3-day program 
presentation and who has full decision-making authority to work with 
the NIC project manager. This person must have experience at the level 
of a Warden and have enough time dedicated to the project to assure 
availability for detailed collaboration with the NIC project manager.
    4. Participants for the pilot program will be sought from women 
leaders who have participated in the two previous offerings, advising 
them of a special opportunity to explore additional leadership 
training, accompanied by a supportive, senior administrator. Since the 
size of the program will be limited, the applicant for this cooperative 
agreement is being asked to propose creative and relevant criteria for 
the admission of the Executive Woman (+1) to the Phase 3 training.
    5. The applicant should provide a clear design of what the 3 day 
program will look like including, but not limited to, a sessions by 
topic and time frames, activities/exercises by type and learning 
objective, and debriefing/processing time frames.
    6. Interactive activities should be targeted to increased learning 
and understanding of team dynamics, strengths, etc. No activities 
should require a level of physical fitness greater than an average 50 
year old person could perform. The majority of the activities should 
assure that the executive women and the senior administrator from the 
state interact during the course of the exercises.
    7. All proposed interactive team activities should have a specific 
learning objective. The technique for processing the exercise or 
activity to achieve the learning objective should be clearly explained.
    8. The applicant is to include a variety of interactive team 
activities, which, after concluding, will be throughly debriefed to 
achieve the learning objective. Although there is no prohibition from 
using outdoor, physical activities, such team activities are not to 
predominate.
    9. 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;
    10. Dates for the training program will be determined by NIC in 
consultation with the awardee;
    11. NIC will receive applications and select participants for the 
program.
    12. Applicants should identify in the proposal specific strategies 
for assuring a collaborative effort between the project team and the 
NIC project manager. This will include the planning session, manual 
materials, and the selection of faculty for the program.
    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 http://www.nicic.org/services/coop/default.htm. The applications should be concisely written, typed double 
spaced and refer to the project by the ``NIC Application Number'' and 
Title in 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 
the purpose of this cooperative agreement;
    2. One or more paragraphs detailing the applicants understanding of 
women leadership;
    3. A brief paragraph that summarizes the project goals and 
objectives;
    4. A clear description of the methodology that will be used to 
complete the project and achieve its goals;
    5. A clearly developed Project Plan which demonstrates how the 
various goals and objectives of the project will be achieved through 
its various activities to produce the required results;
    6. 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 time commitment for each, 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;
    9. A budget detailing 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). A budget narrative must be included which explains how all costs 
were determined.


[[Page 8311]]


    Authority: Public Law 93-415.

    Funds Available: The award will be limited to a maximum of $100,000 
(direct and indirect costs). Participant travel will be arranged for 
and paid by NIC. All other costs must be outlined in the proposal's 
budget. 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. Based upon satisfactory performance of the 
awardee and the availability of funding in future years, a supplemental 
award could be made available for continued program delivery.
    This project will be a collaborative venture with the NIC Prisons 
Division.

Antideficiency Act

    Nothing contained herein shall be construed to obligate the parties 
to any expenditure or obligation of funds in excess or in advance of 
appropriation in accordance with the Antideficiency Act, 31 U.S.C. 1341
    Eligibility of 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.
    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: 03P22. 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.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number is: 16.601, Title: 
Training and Staff Development.
    Executive Order 12362: This program is not subject to the 
provisions of Executive Order 12372.

    Dated: February 12, 2003.
Morris L. Thigpen,
Director, National Institute of Correction.
[FR Doc. 03-4023 Filed 2-19-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-36-M