[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 107 (Wednesday, June 4, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33604-33609]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-14035]



[[Page 33603]]

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Part III





Department of Justice





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Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention



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Program Announcement for the Internet Crimes Against Children Task 
Force Program; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 107 / Wednesday, June 4, 2003 / 
Notices  

[[Page 33604]]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

[OJP (OJJDP) Docket No. 1376]


Program Announcement for the Internet Crimes Against Children 
Task Force Program

AGENCY: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office 
of Justice Programs, Justice.

ACTION: Notice of solicitation.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention 
(OJJDP) is requesting applications from state and local law enforcement 
agencies interested in participating in the Internet Crimes Against 
Children (ICAC) Task Force Program. In an effort to expand ICAC 
Regional Task Force coverage to areas that do not currently have an 
ICAC Regional Task Force presence, this solicitation is limited to 
State and local law enforcement agencies in the following states and 
localities: Arkansas; New Jersey; northern Florida;\1\ the Los Angeles, 
California, metropolitan area;\2\ and the northern Virginia/Washington, 
DC metropolitan area (excluding Maryland).\3\ Only one grant will be 
awarded per State/locality listed above. This program encourages 
communities to develop regional multidisciplinary, multijurisdictional 
task forces to prevent, interdict, and investigate sexual exploitation 
offenses committed by offenders who use online technology to victimize 
children.
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    \1\ For the purpose of this solicitation, northern Florida is 
defined as counties and cities north of, and including, Hillsborough 
County, Indian River County, Osceola County, and Polk County.
    \2\ For the purpose of this solicitation, the Los Angeles 
metropolitan area is defined as cities and towns within, and 
including, Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside County, San 
Bernardino County, and Ventura County.
    \3\ For the purpose of this solicitation, the northern Virginia/
Washington, DC, metropolitan area (excluding Maryland) is defined as 
the cities of Washington, DC; Alexandria, Virginia; and Falls 
Church, Virginia, and the cities and towns in Virginia within, and 
including, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Prince 
William County, and Stafford County.

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DATES: Applications must be received by July 7, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Holloway, 202-305-9838, ICAC 
Program Manager, Child Protection Division, Office of Juvenile Justice 
and Delinquency Prevention.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose

    Due to an increase in funding, this solicitation is being extended 
to further expand the ICAC Task Force program to provide national 
coverage beyond that established through grants awarded under this 
program in 2002. Funding the specific states and regions identified in 
this solicitation will further this goal.
    The purpose of this program is to help state and local law 
enforcement agencies enhance their investigative response to offenders 
who use the Internet, online communication systems, or other computer 
technologies to sexually exploit children. Throughout this program 
announcement, ``Internet crimes against children'' refers to the sexual 
exploitation of children that is facilitated by computers and includes 
crimes of child pornography and online solicitation for sexual 
purposes.

Background

    Unlike some adults who view the benefits of the Information Age 
dubiously, children and teenagers have seized the Internet's 
educational and recreational opportunities with astonishing speed. 
Adapting information technology to meet everyday needs, young people 
are increasingly going online to meet friends, get information, 
purchase goods and services, and complete school assignments. 
Currently, 28 million children and teenagers have access to the 
Internet; industry experts predict that they will be joined by another 
50 million globally by 2005. Although the Internet gives children and 
teenagers access to valuable resources, it also increases their risk of 
being sexually exploited or victimized.
    When online, large numbers of young people encounter sexual 
solicitations they do not want and sexual material they do not seek. In 
the most serious cases, they are targeted by offenders seeking children 
for sex. Research conducted by the University of New Hampshire revealed 
that one in five children between ages 10 and 17 received a sexual 
solicitation over the Internet in 1999. One in 33 received an 
aggressive solicitation from someone who asked to meet them somewhere, 
called them on the telephone, or sent them mail, money, or gifts.
    Cloaked in the anonymity of cyberspace, sex offenders can 
capitalize on the natural curiosity of children and seek victims with 
little risk of detection. Preferential sex offenders no longer need to 
lurk in parks and malls. Instead, they can roam from chat room to chat 
room, trolling for children susceptible to victimization. This alarming 
activity has grave implications for parents, teachers, and law 
enforcement officers because it circumvents conventional safeguards and 
provides sex offenders with virtually unlimited opportunities for 
unsupervised contact with children.
    Today's Internet is also rapidly becoming the new marketplace for 
offenders seeking to acquire material for their child pornography 
collections. Child pornography depicts the sexual assault of children 
and is often used by child molesters to recruit, seduce, and control 
their victims. Child pornography is used to break down inhibitions, 
validate sex between children and adults as normal, and control victims 
throughout their molestation. When offenders lose interest in their 
victims, child pornography is often used as blackmail to ensure the 
child's silence; when posted on the Internet, pornography becomes an 
enduring and irretrievable record of victimization and a relentless 
violation of that child's privacy.
    OJJDP recognizes that the increasing online presence of children, 
the lure of predators searching for unsupervised contact with underage 
victims, and the proliferation of child pornography present a 
significant threat to the health and safety of children and a 
formidable challenge to law enforcement today and into the foreseeable 
future. Three main factors complicate law enforcement's response to 
these challenges.
    First, conventional definitions of jurisdiction are practically 
meaningless in the electronic universe of cyberspace; very few 
investigations begin and end within the same geographical area. Because 
they involve multiple jurisdictions, most investigations require close 
coordination and cooperation between Federal, State, and local law 
enforcement agencies.
    Second, evidence collection in ICAC investigations typically 
requires specialized expertise and equipment. Because preferential sex 
offenders tend to be avid recordkeepers, their computers, magnetic 
media, and related equipment can be valuable sources of evidence. 
However, routine forensic examination procedures are insufficient for 
seizing, preserving, and analyzing this information. In addition, the 
seizure of computers and related technology may lead to specific legal 
issues regarding property and privacy rights.
    Third, routine interviewing practices are inadequate for collecting 
testimonial evidence from child victims of Internet crimes. Some 
children deny they are victims because they fear embarrassment, 
ridicule from their peers, or discipline from their parents. Other 
victims bond with the offender, remain susceptible to further 
manipulation, or resent what they perceive as interference from law 
enforcement. Investigators who do not

[[Page 33605]]

fully understand the dynamics of juvenile sexual exploitation risk 
losing critical information that could help convict perpetrators or 
identify additional victims. When appropriate, medical and 
psychological evaluations should be a part of law enforcement's 
response to cases involving child victims. In addition to ensuring that 
injuries or diseases related to the victimization are treated, forensic 
medical examinations provide crucial corroborative evidence.
    The above factors almost routinely complicate the investigative 
process. Although no two cases raise identical issues of jurisdiction, 
evidence collection, and victim services, it is logical to presume that 
investigations characterized by a multijurisdictional, 
multidisciplinary approach will more likely result in successful 
prosecutions.
    A variety of Federal activities are helping and can further help 
law enforcement respond to these offenses. For example, the Innocent 
Images National initiative, managed by the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation's (FBI's) Cyber Division, Innocent Images Unit, works 
specifically on cases involving computer-facilitated child sexual 
exploitation. The U.S. Customs Service (USCS) and the U.S. Postal 
Inspection Service (USPIS) have successfully investigated hundreds of 
child pornography cases.
    The Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) of the U.S. 
Department of Justice prosecutes Federal violations and offers advice 
and litigation support to Federal, State, and local prosecutors working 
on child pornography and sexual exploitation cases.
    With support from OJJDP and private-sector funding, the National 
Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) serves as the 
nation's primary resource center and clearinghouse for issues involving 
missing and exploited children. NCMEC's Training Division coordinates a 
comprehensive training and technical assistance program that includes 
prevention and awareness activities. Gathering information from 
citizens and Internet service providers, the CyberTipline (http://www.missingkids.com) collects online reports regarding the computer-
facilitated sexual exploitation of children and rapidly forwards this 
information to the law enforcement agencies with investigative 
jurisdiction. Brought online in March 1998, the CyberTipline has 
provided law enforcement officers with information that has enabled 
them to arrest individuals seeking sex with underage victims and to 
safely recover and return children enticed from home by sex offenders.
    NCMEC's law enforcement training and technical assistance program 
was developed in partnership with OJJDP, the FBI, USCS, USPIS, and 
CEOS. NCMEC has also developed an education and awareness campaign that 
features the Kids and Company curriculum, the Know the Rules teen 
awareness program, and two pamphlets (Child Safety on the Information 
Highway and Teen Safety on the Information Highway) that provide 
information about safe Internet practices for children and youth. These 
programs and materials are offered free of charge, and OJJDP encourages 
communities working on child victimization issues to use them. 
Additional information about NCMEC's services for children, parents, 
educators, and law enforcement officers can be obtained by calling 800-
THE-LOST or by accessing NCMEC's Web site at http://www.missingkids.com.
    Since fiscal year 1998, OJJDP has awarded funds to 35 State and 
local law enforcement agencies to develop regional multijurisdictional 
and multiagency task forces to prevent, interdict, and investigate ICAC 
offenses. The following jurisdictions currently receive ICAC Regional 
Task Force Program funding: Alabama Department of Public Safety; 
Bedford County, Virginia, Sheriff's Department; Broward County, 
Florida, Sheriff's Department; Clark County, Nevada, Las Vegas 
Metropolitan Police Department; Colorado Springs, Colorado, Police 
Department; Connecticut State Police; Cuyahoga County, Ohio, District 
Attorney; Dallas, Texas, Police Department; Delaware County, 
Pennsylvania, District Attorney; Georgia Bureau of Investigation; 
Hawaii Office of the Attorney General; Illinois State Police; Indiana 
State Police; Kentucky State Police; Knoxville, Tennessee, Police 
Department; Louisiana Office of the Attorney General; Maryland State 
Police; Massachusetts Department of Public Safety; Michigan State 
Police; Nebraska State Patrol; New York State Division of Criminal 
Justice Services; North Carolina Division of Criminal Investigation; 
Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation; Phoenix, Arizona, Police 
Department; Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Police Department; Sacramento 
County, California, Sheriff's Office; Saint Paul, Minnesota, Police 
Department; San Diego, California, Police Department; San Jose, 
California, Police Department; Seattle, Washington, Police Department; 
Sedgewick County, Kansas, Sheriff's Office; South Carolina Office of 
the Attorney General; Utah Office of the Attorney General; Wisconsin 
Department of Justice; and the Wyoming Division of Criminal 
Investigation. These agencies have become regional clusters of ICAC 
technical and investigative expertise, offering prevention and 
investigation services to children, parents, educators, law enforcement 
officers, and other individuals working on child sexual exploitation 
issues. Collectively, task force agencies have made more than 800 
arrests, seized more than 900 computers, and provided forensic or 
investigative assistance in nearly 3,000 cases.
    Despite these accomplishments, law enforcement agencies continue to 
be increasingly challenged by sex offenders who use computer technology 
to victimize children. To help meet this challenge, OJJDP is continuing 
the ICAC Regional Task Force Program, which will competitively award 
cooperative agreements to state and local law enforcement agencies 
seeking to improve their investigative responses to the computer-
facilitated sexual exploitation of children.

Program Strategy

    The ICAC Task Force Program seeks to enhance the nationwide 
response to child victimization by maintaining and expanding a State 
and local law enforcement network composed of regional task forces. The 
program encourages communities to develop multijurisdictional, 
multiagency responses and provides funding to State and local law 
enforcement agencies to help them acquire the knowledge, personnel, and 
specialized equipment needed to prevent, interdict, and investigate 
ICAC offenses. Although the ICAC Task Force Program emphasizes law 
enforcement investigations, OJJDP encourages jurisdictions to include 
intervention, prevention, and victim services activities as part of 
their comprehensive approach.

OJJDP Program Management

    During the past four years of managing the ICAC Task Force Program, 
OJJDP has made the following observations:
    1. The Internet challenges traditional thinking about law 
enforcement jurisdiction and renders city, county, and State boundaries 
virtually meaningless. Because of this jurisdictional ambiguity, 
offenders are often able to frustrate enforcement actions and conceal 
their criminal activities.
    2. Nearly all ICAC investigations (95 percent) involve substantial 
communication and coordination efforts among Federal, State, and local 
law

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enforcement agencies. Without meaningful case coordination, law 
enforcement agencies may inadvertently investigate identical suspects 
and organizations, target undercover operatives of other law 
enforcement agencies, or disrupt clandestine investigations of other 
agencies.
    [sbull] The obvious need for interagency cooperation and 
coordination has sustained interest in maintaining standards for ICAC 
undercover investigations. Representatives from Federal, State, and 
local law enforcement agencies have repeatedly expressed concern about 
initiating investigations that are based on referrals from outside 
agencies--referrals that may be predicated on information acquired 
through inappropriate officer conduct or investigative techniques.
    [sbull] The clandestine nature of undercover operations, the 
anonymity of Internet users, and the unclear jurisdictional boundaries 
of cyberspace significantly exacerbate these investigative concerns. 
Undercover operations, when executed and documented properly, collect 
virtually unassailable evidence regarding a suspect's predilection to 
sexually exploit children. These operations allow law enforcement 
agencies to go on the offensive and, most important, protect children 
from revictimization. Although carefully managed undercover operations 
by well-trained officers can be very effective, these operations also 
generate concerns regarding legal, coordination, communication, and 
resource management issues.
    3. Although Internet awareness appears to be growing, many 
children, teenagers, and parents are not sufficiently informed about 
the potential dangers and repercussions of releasing personal 
information to, or meeting with, individuals encountered online.
    4. Although Federal agencies are responsible for monitoring illegal 
interstate and telecommunications activities, protecting children is 
primarily the responsibility of State and local law enforcement 
agencies. The production of child pornography or the sexual assault of 
a child--whether originating online or not--usually creates both a 
jurisdictional interest and a responsibility for State and local 
authorities.
    [sbull] Despite the belief that these cases are usually 
manufactured by undercover operations in which officers pose as minors 
in chat rooms, most ICAC investigations are initiated in response to a 
citizen complaint or a request from law enforcement. Unfortunately, 
these cases often involve multiple victims who require a response by 
both local law enforcement and victim services.
    5. The Internet is placing a new demand on forensic resources. 
Computers are piling up in evidence rooms across the country because 
many agencies do not have the forensic capacity to meet the needs of 
investigative efforts.
    6. A generation ago, officers beginning their law enforcement 
careers would be issued a uniform, a service weapon, and a notebook. 
Those items rarely changed during a 20-year career. Today, changes in 
equipment and software occur seemingly overnight. Officers are hard-
pressed to stay current not only with the technological changes but 
also with a motivated offender community that is adapting these new 
technologies to exploit children.
    To address these observations and concerns, the ICAC Task Force 
Program implements the following management strategies:
    [sbull] Maintaining and expanding the nationwide network of State 
and local law enforcement agencies participating in the program.
    [sbull] Ensuring that ICAC Task Force personnel are adequately 
trained and equipped.
    [sbull] Establishing and/or maintaining ICAC Task Force 
investigative standards to facilitate interagency case referrals.
    [sbull] Advocating coordination and collaboration among Federal, 
State, and local law enforcement agencies investigating ICAC offenses.
    [sbull] Fostering meaningful information-sharing to avoid redundant 
investigations or activities that could disrupt the ongoing 
investigations of other agencies.
    [sbull] Maintaining an ICAC Task Force Board composed of local law 
enforcement executives and prosecutors to advise OJJDP, formulate 
policy recommendations, and assess the law enforcement community's 
needs for training and technical assistance related to investigating 
Internet crimes.
    [sbull] Convening an annual ICAC Task Force training conference to 
focus on child exploitation, emerging technology, and its relevance to 
criminal activity and enforcement efforts and to enhance the networking 
essential for sustaining an effective State and local law enforcement 
response to online crime.
    OJJDP established the ICAC Task Force Program Standards through a 
collaborative process involving the ten original ICAC Task Force 
agencies, the FBI, NCMEC, USCS, USPIS, CEOS, and the Executive Office 
for United States Attorneys. The standards were designed by the task 
force agencies to foster information-sharing, coordinate 
investigations, ensure the probative quality of undercover operations, 
and facilitate interagency case referrals by standardizing 
investigative practices. In 2002, the ICAC standards were revised and 
updated to reflect twenty additional ICAC Regional Task Forces and an 
expanded program focus on the protection of children.
    OJJDP has also established an ICAC Task Force Board (the Board) to 
help administer the ICAC Task Force Program. As a condition of the 
award, each grantee must designate a policy-level law enforcement 
official or prosecutor to be a Board member. Although its primary 
responsibility is to serve as an advisory group to OJJDP, the Board 
also encourages case coordination and facilitates information-sharing 
on trends, innovative investigative techniques, and prosecution 
strategies. Technical advice is provided to the Board by NCMEC, CEOS, 
the FBI, USCS, and USPIS.
    The award also requires that each ICAC Regional Task Force member 
send at least one investigator and one policy-level official to an ICAC 
Task Force Program orientation seminar. The seminars, which were 
developed by OJJDP and NCMEC in consultation with Federal law 
enforcement agencies, provide information on legal issues, specific 
investigative techniques, undercover operation documentation 
requirements, behavioral characteristics of preferential sex offenders, 
and other topics relevant to child exploitation cases.
    To learn about the next seminar scheduled at NCMEC's Jimmy Ryce Law 
Enforcement Training Center in Alexandria, VA, contact NCMEC at http://www.missingkids.com. Expenses associated with attendance at the 
orientation seminar will be reimbursed by OJJDP and NCMEC. Expenses 
associated with Board responsibilities will be covered by grant funds.

Goal

    The program's goal is to enhance the ICAC investigative response of 
State and local law enforcement agencies.

Objectives

    Projects must accomplish the following objectives:
    [sbull] Develop or expand multiagency, multijurisdictional regional 
task forces that include, but are not limited to, representatives from 
law enforcement, prosecution, victim services, and child protective 
services agencies. Regional task forces should include large regional 
geographic areas, entire States, or, when applicable, multiple States. 
Relevant nongovernment organizations may also

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be included. OJJDP encourages applicants to invite Federal law 
enforcement agencies to participate in the task force.
    [sbull] Institute policies and procedures that comply with the ICAC 
Task Force Program Standards (see ``OJJDP Program Management'' above). 
Requests from eligible law enforcement agencies for copies of the ICAC 
Program Operational and Investigative Standards must be faxed on 
official letterhead to the Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse at 301-519-
5600.
    [sbull] Enhance investigative capacity by properly equipping and 
training ICAC Task Force investigators. Task force investigators should 
be computer-literate, knowledgeable about child exploitation issues, 
and familiar with Federal and State statutes and caselaw pertaining to 
ICAC investigations.
    [sbull] Develop and maintain case management systems to record 
offenses and investigative results, make or receive outside agency 
referrals of ICAC cases, and comply with the reporting requirements of 
the ICAC Task Force Monthly Performance Measures Report.
    [sbull] Develop response protocols or memorandums of understanding 
that foster collaboration, information-sharing, and service integration 
among public and private organizations that provide services to 
sexually exploited children.

Eligibility Requirements

    Applicants must be State and/or local law enforcement agencies 
located in Arkansas; New Jersey; northern Florida; \4\ the Los Angeles, 
California, metropolitan area,\5\ or the northern Virginia/Washington, 
DC, metropolitan area (excluding Maryland).\6\ Joint applications from 
two or more eligible applicants are welcome; however, one applicant 
must be clearly designated as the primary applicant (for 
correspondence, award, and management purposes) and the other(s) 
designated as coapplicant(s).
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    \4\ For the purpose of this solicitation, northern Florida is 
defined as counties and cities north of, and including, Hillsborough 
County, Indian River County, Osceola County, and Polk County.
    \5\ For the purpose of this solicitation, the Los Angeles 
metropolitan area is defined as cities and towns within, and 
including, Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside County, San 
Bernardino County, and Ventura County.
    \6\ For the purpose of this solicitation, the northern Virginia/
Washington, DC, metropolitan area (excluding Maryland) is defined as 
the cities of Washington, DC; Alexandria, Virginia; and Falls 
Church, Virginia, and the cities and towns in Virginia within, and 
including: Arlington County, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Prince 
William County, and Stafford County.
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Selection Criteria

    OJJDP is committed to establishing a network of state and local law 
enforcement agencies to respond to offenses involving online enticement 
and child pornography. Within this network, ICAC Task Forces positioned 
throughout the country will serve as regional sources of technical, 
educational, and investigative expertise, providing assistance to 
parents, teachers, law enforcement officers, and other professionals 
working on child sexual exploitation issues. Successful applicants will 
be expected to serve as regional clusters of ICAC technical and 
investigative expertise, collaborate with existing ICAC Task Forces, 
and become part of a nationwide law enforcement network designed to 
protect children from computer-facilitated victimization. To accomplish 
this goal, regional task forces should include large regional 
geographic areas, entire States, or, when applicable, multiple States.
    Applications should include evidence of multidisciplinary, 
multijurisdictional partnerships among public agencies, private 
organizations, community-based groups, and prosecutors' offices. 
Successful applicants will develop or enhance an investigative ICAC 
response that includes prevention, education, and victim services 
activities.
    OJJDP will convene a peer review panel to evaluate and rank 
applications and to make funding recommendations to the OJJDP 
Administrator. Although peer review recommendations are given weight, 
they are advisory only. Final award decisions will be made by the OJJDP 
Administrator. OJJDP will negotiate the specific terms of the award 
with applicants who are being considered. Applicants will be evaluated 
and rated according to the criteria outlined below.

Application Procedures

    The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) requires that applications be 
submitted through its online Grants Management System (GMS). This 
online application system is designed to streamline the processing of 
requests for funding. A toll-free telephone number (888-549-9901) is 
available to provide applicants with technical assistance as they work 
through the online application process.
    Applicants should use the following application guidelines when 
preparing their application for this grant program. Applications must 
be submitted to OJP electronically through GMS no later than 8 p.m., 
e.t., on July 7, 2003. However, in order to allow adequate time to 
register with GMS, applicants must create a ``user profile'' before 
June 19, 2003. Applicants who have previously registered with GMS and 
have a GMS password should log on to GMS prior to June 19, 2003, to 
determine whether the password is still valid. If the password has 
expired, follow the on-screen instructions or call the GMS Hotline 
(888-549-9901). OJJDP will begin accepting applications immediately.

Application Requirements

    Applicants to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force 
Program solicitation must submit the following information online 
through GMS:
    [sbull] Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424). This form is 
generated by completing the Overview, Applicant Information, and 
Project Information screens in GMS.
    [sbull] Assurances and Certifications. The Assurances and 
Certifications must be reviewed and accepted electronically by the 
authorizing official or the designated authorizing official.
    [sbull] Budget Detail Worksheet (Attachment #1). The Budget Detail 
Worksheet--including budget worksheets and detailed budget narratives 
for each year in the project period--accounts for 15 of the possible 
100 points allotted by the peer reviewers.
    [sbull] Program Narrative (Attachment #2). The Program Narrative--
including Problem(s) To Be Addressed, Goals and Objectives, Project 
Design, and Management and Organizational Capability--accounts for 85 
out of the possible 100 points allotted by the peer reviewers. Point 
values for specific sections of the Program Narrative are as follows: 
Problem(s) To Be Addressed (10 points), Goals and Objectives (10 
points), Project Design (35 points), and Management and Organizational 
Capability (30 points).
    [sbull] Other Program Attachments (Attachment #3). The Other 
Program Attachments--including resumes of key personnel and a project 
timeline--will not be included in the peer reviewers' scoring of the 
application. However, these materials are required and must be attached 
in one file to your GMS application.
    Detailed instructions and descriptions of each of the required 
elements are provided below. Note: Applications that do not include all 
the required elements will not be considered for funding.

Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424)

    The Application for Federal Assistance is a standard form used by 
most Federal agencies. The Catalog of

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Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number for this program is 16.543.

Assurances and Certifications

    Applicants are required to review and accept the Assurances and 
Certifications. Please verify that the name, address, phone number, fax 
number, and e-mail address of the authorizing official on these online 
forms are correct.
    [sbull] Assurances. Applicants must comply with the Assurances to 
receive Federal funds under this program. It is the responsibility of 
the recipient of the Federal funds to fully understand and comply with 
these requirements. Failure to comply may result in the withholding of 
funds, termination of the award, or other sanctions.
    [sbull] Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension, 
and Other Responsibility Matters; and the Drug-Free Workplace 
Requirement. Applicants are required to review and check off the box on 
the certification form included in the online application process. This 
form commits the applicant to compliance with the certification 
requirements under 28 CFR part 69, ``New Restrictions on Lobbying,'' 
and 28 CFR part 67, ``Government-Wide Debarment and Suspension 
(Nonprocurement) and Government-Wide Requirements for Drug-Free 
Workplace (Grants).''
    The authorizing official must review the Assurances and 
Certifications forms in their entirety. To accept the Assurances and 
Certifications in GMS, click on the Assurances and Certifications link 
and click the ``Accept'' button at the bottom of the screen.

Budget Detail Worksheet (Attachment 1) (15 Points)

    Applicants must provide a proposed budget that is complete, 
detailed, reasonable, allowable, and cost-effective in relation to the 
activities to be undertaken. Budgets must allow for required travel, 
including four trips for one individual to attend the quarterly ICAC 
Task Force Board meetings. Budgets must also allow for the 
participation of at least two agency representatives at the annual ICAC 
Training Conference.
    Applicants must submit budget worksheets and budget narratives in 
one file. The worksheet provides the detailed computation for each 
budget item (often in spreadsheet format). The narrative justifies or 
explains each budget item and relates it to project activities.
    [sbull] Budget Worksheet. The budget worksheet must list the cost 
of each budget item and show how the cost was calculated. For example, 
costs for personnel should show the annual salary rate and the 
percentage of time devoted to the project for each employee to be paid 
through grant funds. The budget worksheet should present a complete and 
detailed itemization of all proposed costs.
    [sbull] Budget Narrative. The budget narrative should closely 
follow the content of the budget worksheet and provide justification 
for all proposed costs. For example, the narrative should explain how 
fringe benefits were calculated, how travel costs were estimated, why 
particular items of equipment or supplies must be purchased, and how 
overhead or indirect costs (if applicable) were calculated. The budget 
narrative should justify the specific items listed in the budget 
worksheet (particularly supplies, travel, and equipment) and 
demonstrate that all costs are reasonable.
    A sample Budget Detail Worksheet form that can be used as a guide 
to help applicants prepare the budget worksheet and budget narrative is 
available at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov. (Use the main search engine to 
search for ``Budget Detail Worksheet.'')

Program Narrative (Attachment 2) (85 Total Points)

Problem(s) To Be Addressed (10 Points)

    Applicants must clearly identify the need for this project in their 
communities and demonstrate an understanding of the program concept. 
Applicants must include data that illustrate the size and scope of the 
problem in their State or region. If statistics or other research 
findings are used to support a statement or position, applicants must 
provide the relevant source of information.

Goals and Objectives (10 Points)

    Applicants must establish clearly-defined, measurable, and 
attainable goals and objectives for this program.

Project Design (35 Points)

    Applicants must explain in clear terms how the State or regional 
task force will be developed and implemented. Applicants must define 
the region, State, or, when applicable, the multistate area in which 
the task force intends to concentrate its efforts. Applicants must 
present a clear workplan that contains program elements directly linked 
to achieving the project objectives. The workplan must indicate project 
milestones, product due dates, and the nature of the products to be 
delivered.

Management and Organizational Capability (30 Points)

    The management structure and staffing described in the application 
must be adequate and appropriate for the successful implementation of 
the project. Applicants must identify individuals responsible for the 
project and their time commitments. Applicants must provide a schedule 
of major tasks and milestones. Applicants must describe how activities 
that prevent Internet crimes against children will be continued after 
Federal funding is no longer available. In addition, applicants must 
provide signed letters of support from State and local prosecution 
offices and the local district United States Attorney.

Other Program Attachments (Attachment 3)

    At a minimum, resumes of key personnel and a project timeline 
should be included.

Application Format

    The narrative portion of this application (excluding forms, 
assurances, and appendixes) must not exceed 35 pages and must be 
submitted on 8\1/2\- by 11-inch paper and double spaced on one side in 
a standard 12-point font. The double-spacing requirement applies to all 
parts of the program narrative and project abstract, including any 
lists, tables, bulleted items, or quotations. These standards are 
necessary to maintain fair and uniform consideration among all 
applicants. If the narrative and abstract do not conform to these 
standards, OJJDP will deem the application ineligible for 
consideration.

Project and Award Period

    These cooperative agreements will be funded for up to an 18-month 
budget and project period and will begin June 1, 2003, and end November 
30, 2004. Funding beyond the initial project period will be contingent 
upon the grantee's performance and the availability of funds.

Award Amount

    The total amount available for this program is $1.5 million. OJJDP 
intends to award five cooperative agreements of up to $300,000 each for 
the 18-month project period.

Performance Measurement

    To ensure compliance with the Government Performance and Results 
Act, Pub. L. 103-62, this solicitation notifies applicants that they 
are required to collect and report on data that measure the results of 
the program

[[Page 33609]]

implemented by this grant. To ensure the accountability of this data 
(for which OJP is responsible) the following performance measures are 
provided:
    [sbull] The number of investigations.
    [sbull] The number of computer forensic examinations.
    Under this solicitation, applicants will be required to supply 
OJJDP with the above performance information. In addition, OJJDP will 
measure the performance of the ICAC Task Force Program. Data collection 
will be covered within the existing ICAC Monthly Performance Report 
(MPR) forms. MPR is a required data-reporting document that was created 
by OJJDP to collect ICAC data related to arrests, subpoenas, search 
warrants, technical assistance (investigative and computer forensic), 
and prevention and intervention activities performed by ICAC Regional 
Task Forces and ICAC Investigative Satellites. Data gathered from MPRs 
will track the number of arrests made and the outcomes of those arrests 
(plea bargains, prosecutions, etc.), assist in the identification of 
victims who need resources such as counseling and therapy, and track 
tips and aid in target area identification.
    Data collected from MPRs will provide crucial baseline data 
necessary for a future evaluation of the ICAC Task Force Program after 
it has been fully established throughout the country. Assistance in 
obtaining this information will facilitate future program planning and 
will allow OJP to provide Congress with measurable program results of 
Federally funded programs.

Coordination of Federal Efforts

    To encourage better coordination among Federal agencies in 
addressing State and local needs, the U.S. Department of Justice 
requests that applicants provide information on the following: (1) 
Active Federal grant award(s) supporting this or related efforts, 
including awards from the U.S. Department of Justice; (2) any pending 
application(s) for Federal funds for this or related efforts; and (3) 
plans for coordinating any funds described in items (1) or (2) with the 
funding sought by this application. For each Federal award, applicants 
must include the program or project title, the Federal grantor agency, 
the amount of the award, and a brief description of its purpose.
    ``Related efforts'' is defined for these purposes as one of the 
following:
    [sbull] Efforts for the same purpose (i.e., the proposed award 
would supplement, expand, complement, or continue activities funded 
with other Federal grants).
    [sbull] Another phase or component of the same program or project 
(e.g., to implement a planning effort funded by other Federal funds or 
to provide a substance abuse treatment or education component within a 
criminal justice project).
    [sbull] Services of some kind (e.g., technical assistance, 
research, or evaluation) rendered to the program or project described 
in the application.

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    Dressler, K. 1997. Multijurisdictional Task Forces: Ten Years of 
Research and Evaluation: A Report to the Attorney General. Washington, 
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    Finkelhor, D., Mitchell, K., and Wolak, J. 2000. Online 
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    Hammerschlag, M. 1996. Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Child 
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    Lanning, K., and Farley, R. 1997. Understanding and Investigating 
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    National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 1998. Know the 
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Computer Criminals. Lake Geneva, WI: Tiare Publications.
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Victims of Sexual Abuse. Portable Guide. Washington, DC: U.S. 
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Office for Victims of Crime.

    Dated: May 30, 2003.
J. Robert Flores,
Administrator, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
[FR Doc. 03-14035 Filed 6-3-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-18-P