[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 45 (Friday, March 7, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11148-11149]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-5525]



[[Page 11148]]

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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

National Institute of Corrections


Solicitation for a Cooperative Agreement--``Best Practices in 
Prison Staffing Analysis''

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 ``Prison Staffing Analysis.'' 
NIC will award a one year cooperative agreement to develop a training 
program, with accompanying materials, which can be used by state 
prisons to train their staff on how to conduct a prison staffing 
analysis; to examine staffing patterns and needs in women's prisons as 
well as special offender populations, such as units for the mentally 
ill and chronically ill, and to provide staffing recommendations for 
these units; and to identity best practices which are used in 
conducting a prison staffing analysis. A total of $100,000 (direct and 
indirect costs) is reserved for this project commencing in fiscal year 
2003.
    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 
April 25, 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 extensive screening procedures.
    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 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 rippetoe@bop. gov.
    All technical or programmatic questions concerning this 
announcement should be directed to Madeline Ortiz, National Institute 
of Corrections. She can be reached by calling 1-800-995-6423 extension 
30481 or by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: The National Institute of 
Corrections has offered the training program, ``Conducting Prison 
Staffing Analysis,'' over the last several years. Many participants 
have taken numerous ideas from this program back to their home agencies 
to implement within their institutions. The manuals used in the 
training programs are available to the field through the NIC 
Information Center. These manuals will help inform the applicant about 
the scope of the course work provided through those programs. In 
addition, the NIC Jails Division has produced a document and e-learning 
program regarding staffing analysis in jails which may also provide 
helpful information. The ``Staffing Analysis Workbook for Jails'' is 
available on the NIC Web site (http://www.nicic.org; click on 
``publications'' then ``jails''). For a CD of the e-learning training 
``Staffing Analysis for Jails'' contact Sharon Floyd, NIC Prisons' 
Division, at 1-800-995-6423 ext 44072.
    In 2002 the National Institute of Corrections' Prisons Division and 
Information Center conducted a survey of state corrections agencies on 
the subject of staffing needs and analysis of women's prisons as well 
as special offender population units, such as for the mentally ill and 
the chronically ill. The responses varied from state to state, however, 
the survey identified a clear need for different staffing requirements 
for these prison populations. Results of this survey will be available 
after March 15, 2003, on the NIC Web site (http://www.nicic.org).
    Numerous changes in the correctional environment, such as budget 
reductions, changes in the characteristics of the workforce, 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 systems have in place for establishing staffing 
patterns.
    A goal of the Prisons Division is to provide the most current 
information to correctional managers regarding prison staffing 
analysis. Included in this project will be the compilation of relevant 
materials from past programs, the development of new information 
regarding staffing analysis for women's prisons and special population 
units, and identification of ``best practices'' in the field of prison 
staffing analysis.
    Purpose: To develop a training program which can be used by state 
prisons to train staff how to conduct a staffing analysis, to provide 
information on staffing analysis in women's prisons and special 
population units, and to identify ``best practices'' used in conducting 
staffing analysis by departments of corrections for state prisons.
    Scope of Work: The awardee will research the NIC training 
materials, examine other sources of information regarding staffing 
analysis in prisons, and obtain specific information from various adult 
state and federal correction agencies to complete the following tasks:
    1. Identify criteria required to conduct a valid staffing analysis 
in general male inmate populations, women's prisons populations, and 
for special populations such as mentally ill and chronically ill.
    2. 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 staffing requirements. Examples of assessment 
instruments from other correctional systems that meet established 
criteria should also be considered and included in the training 
material if the awardee thinks advisable.
    3. Provide an example, or examples, of staffing assessment 
instruments that may be used in women's prisons as well as special 
offender population units, such as for the mentally ill and the 
chronically ill. This can be done through identifying systems with 
existing formulas/strategies that meet established criteria, or the 
awardee may need to develop formulas/strategies.
    4. Provide a comprehensive list of the range of issues that a 
correctional agency should address in their staffing plans. Provide 
sample policies and procedure that readers could use to improve their 
own.
    5. Identify ``best practices'' which have been identified from 
state departments of corrections regarding staffing analysis for 
various types of offender populations.
    6. Develop a training program, with all necessary materials, which 
can be used by a state prison to train staff on conducting a staffing 
analysis. The training materials are intended to be used on site at a 
prison without the necessity of an NIC instructor. The delivery method 
may include e-learning, self-explanatory course and workbook, in-house 
trainer delivered content, or other methods as identified by the 
awardee. The materials must be

[[Page 11149]]

amenable to delivery on site without outside/consultant expertise.
    7. Compile relevant materials from previous NIC training programs 
and other sources on staffing analysis into a workbook which can be 
used as part of the developed training program.
    8. Identify strategies that could be used to defend appropriate 
staffing levels in the climate of budget reductions. Case examples 
where staffing analysis have been used successfully to defend 
appropriate staffing levels should be included.
    Specific Requirements: 1. The applicant must proposed a project 
team which includes a person(s) with prison staffing analysis expertise 
and a person(s) with correctional management and operations experience. 
Documentation of the principal's and all team members relevant 
knowledge, skills, abilities, and specific experience related to 
carrying out the described tasks must be included in the application.
    2. The person designated as project director must 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. 
Specific examples of successful collaboration with NIC or other 
agencies will be helpful. The requirement, in federal law and policy, 
that NIC/the government agency be ``substantially involved'' in all 
aspects of the project work needs to be addressed in the proposal.
    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/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 in this announcement.
    Submit an original and six 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 
the history of and need for doing staffing analysis in prisons;
    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 direct experience in conducting 
staffing analysis should be highlighted;
    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, shows 
consideration for all contingencies for this project, and notes a 
commitment to work within the budget proposed. The 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 $100,000 
(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.
    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 in order to successfully meet the objectives of this 
project.
    Review Considerations: Applications received under this 
announcement will be subject to a 3- to 5-member Peer Review Process.
    Number of Awards: One (1).
    NIC Application Number: 03P25. This number should appear as a 
reference line in the cover letter, 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 12372: This program is not subject to the 
provisions of Executive Order 12372.

    Dated: March 3, 2003.
Morris L. Thigpen,
Director, National Institute of Corrections.
[FR Doc. 03-5525 Filed 3-6-03; 8:45 am]
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