[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 56 (Tuesday, March 23, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13587-13589]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-6354]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

National Institute of Corrections


Solicitation for a Cooperative Agreement--Workforce Development 
for Community Corrections: Defining Workforce Issues and Strategies for 
the 21st Century

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 FY2004 for a 
cooperative agreement to fund the Project ``Workforce Development for 
Community Corrections: Defining Workforce Issues and Strategies for the 
21st Century.'' NIC will award this cooperative agreement to create a 
guidebook that will identify, analyze and address critical issues and 
challenges, and suggest strategies and solutions, related to 
recruitment, hiring, preemployment assessment, performance evaluation, 
job descriptions, retention of staff, and required knowledge and skills 
for promotion into first line supervisory positions. Up to $75,000 is 
available for this project.

DATES: Applications must be received by 4 p.m., eastern daylight 
savings time, on Thursday, June 3, 2004.

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 can be brought to 500 First Street, 
NW., Room 700, Washington, DC 20534. At the front desk, call 7-3106 
extension 0 for pickup. Faxed or e-mailed applications will not be 
accepted.
    Electronic applications can be submitted at the www.grants.gov Web 
site.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: All technical and/or programmatic 
questions concerning this announcement should be directed to Drew 
Molloy at the above address, or by calling (202) 514-0100 or 1-800-995-
6423, extension 40100 or by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Over the past several years, community corrections professionals 
have been asked to take on expanded roles in the justice system and the 
broader community. For some staff the expected activities are new, and 
for others, the activities are reminiscent of what they were asked to 
do early in their careers. In addition, in the 21st century, the job 
expectations are not always clearly defined, are constantly changing to 
meet the needs of an agency, and may not always be targeted in 
recruiting and staff development efforts. Community corrections' staff 
are not only asked to supervise offenders, but are also asked to be 
change agents with offenders, develop partnerships with human services 
agencies, work closely with community-based organizations and advocacy 
groups, deliver offender services directly, and be familiar with 
changing technologies related to community corrections.

Purpose

    This project will define the critical needs and challenges for the 
community corrections field as it seeks to provide a professional and 
skilled workforce in the 21st century. The project will consist of, but 
not be limited to, examining expanded and changing job roles and 
related job descriptions, the skills and experiences required to fill 
these jobs, the changing workforce entering the profession, recruitment 
and retention strategies, developing field staff into first line 
supervisors, and the changing role of first line supervisors. In 
addition, the project will look at what staff development and 
organizational development issues should be addressed, how agency 
executives can improve staff job satisfaction and move

[[Page 13588]]

forward with a changing workforce, and what roles do institutions of 
higher learning, organized labor, research and the changing offender 
population (mental health, elderly, women offenders, violent and 
younger offenders) play in the process.
    The project will also tie into the framework and principles of 
Evidence Based Practices (EBP); while recognizing that not every agency 
will be formally involved in EBP but will still be seeking answers to 
deal with the changing workforce of the 21st century.

Scope of Work

    The project will consist of two components: (1) a small advisory 
workgroup of community correction practitioners and human resources 
specialists and, (2) the cooperative agreement award. The workgroup 
will provide the knowledge and expertise pertaining to the community 
corrections workforce and human resources in general. In addition, it 
will work closely with the cooperative agreement recipient as the 
guidebook is developed and finalized. It is anticipated that the 
workgroup will meet on at least two occasions during the fiscal year 
2004. The second meeting will be held to review outcomes from the first 
meeting and to meet with the cooperative agreement recipient to review 
the status of the guidebook. The workgroup will be convened and funded 
by NIC with resources independent of the cooperative agreement.
    The successful applicant for this cooperative agreement will be 
expected to work both independently and with the workgroup, gathering 
information on the human services workforce in the 21st century, with a 
focus on community corrections. To gather information the applicant may 
plan focus groups meetings, conduct research, visit community 
corrections agencies, conduct surveys, interview community corrections 
professionals at all levels, attend local, state, and national 
community corrections conferences, seek input from professional 
community corrections associations, contact criminal justice 
departments at institutions of higher learning and/or seek material 
related to the project from any other resources. Funding for these 
activities would come from the cooperative agreement award.
    Focus groups will be conducted by NIC staff (and members of the 
workgroup) at one regional corrections conference and one national 
probation and parole conference, and possibly other meetings and 
conferences. A NIC sponsored meeting of state executives of probation, 
parole and community corrections will be held in which information for 
this project will be gathered from those individuals.
    The cooperative agreement will have the following outcomes:

     Define the critical needs and challenges facing 
the community corrections profession as it seeks to provide a skilled 
and professional workforce in the 21st century.
     Define the skills and experiences required of a 
community corrections workforce in the 21st century.
     Develop and recommend job descriptions for the 
changing workforce.
     Identify and recommend recruitment, hiring and 
retention strategies for the changing community corrections workforce.
     Identify and recommend strategies for developing 
line staff into first line supervisors within the context of the 
changing workforce and changing roles of community corrections staff.
     Develop, write and prepare for final NIC 
publication a guidebook (that would serve as a resource for agencies) 
which outlines the aforementioned definitions, recommendations and 
strategies for the community corrections workforce in the 21st century. 
In addition, the guidebook could serve institutions of higher learning 
as a resource for incorporating community corrections workforce issues 
into the criminal justice curriculum.

    A cooperative agreement is an assistance relationship where the 
National Institute of Corrections is substantially involved in all 
aspects of the project during the performance of the award. An award is 
made to a recipient who will, in concert with the Institute, develop 
and write an issues-oriented guidebook on recruiting, retaining, 
evaluating and developing into leadership roles a skilled workforce in 
the 21st century for probation, parole and community corrections 
agencies.

Specific Requirements

    Applicants must prepare a proposal that describes their plan to 
provide the project outcomes. The plan must include goals and 
objectives, methodology, deliverables, management plan, and an overall 
project budget for a 12 month period for the date of award. Applicants 
must identify their key project staff and the relevant expertise of 
each, and address the manner in which they would perform all tasks in 
collaboration with the NIC Project Manager and the workgroup. Proposals 
are limited to twenty-five double-spaced pages in length, not including 
resumes, other addenda, and SF-424 forms.

Application Requirements

    Applications must be submitted using OMB Standard Form 242, 
Application for Federal Assistance, Budget Information for Non-
Construction Programs (SF424A), Assurances--Non-Construction Programs 
(SF424B) and Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment; Suspension 
and Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements. 
It is also requested that the optional form Ensuring Equal Opportunity 
for Applicants (DOJ Form 560) also be submitted. All of these forms can 
be found on NIC's Web site: www.nicic.org (under Partnering with NIC, 
Cooperative Agreements, How to Apply).
    All applications should be concisely written, typed double spaced 
and referenced to the project by the ``NIC Application Number'' and 
Title referenced in this document. If submitted in hard copy, submit an 
original and 5 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.

    Authority: Public Law 93-415.

Funds Available

    This award will be limited to a maximum of $75,000 for both direct 
and indirect costs for 12 months. Funds may only be used for activities 
that are linked to the desired outcomes of the project. No funds are 
transferred to State or local governments.
    All products from this funding effort will be in the public domain 
and available to interested agencies through the National Institute of 
Corrections.

Eligibility of Applicants

    An eligible applicant is any State or general unit of local 
government, private or non-profit agency, educational institution, 
organization, individual, or team with expertise in the described 
areas.

Review Considerations

    Applications received under this announcement will be subjected to 
a 3 to 5 person NIC Peer Review Process.
    Number of Awards: One (1).
    NIC Application Number: 04C30 This number should appear as a 
reference line in the cover letter, in box 11 of SF-424, and, if sent 
in hard copy, on the outside of the envelope in which the application 
is sent.

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 16.601--Training 
and staff Development.


[[Page 13589]]


    Executive Order 12372: This project is not subject to the 
provisions of Executive Order 12372.

    Dated: March 15, 2004.
Morris L. Thigpen,
Director, National Institute of Corrections.
[FR Doc. 04-6354 Filed 3-22-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-36-M