[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 84 (Wednesday, April 30, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23494-23496]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-9448]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

National Institute of Corrections


Solicitation for a Cooperative Agreement--Video Production: New 
Jail Planning

AGENCY: National Institute of Corrections.

ACTION: Solicitation for a Cooperative Agreement.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Corrections (NIC), Jails Division, 
is seeking applications for the development and production of a 
broadcast quality, educational DVD covering the five phases of new jail 
planning.

DATES: Applications must be received by 4 p.m. on Friday, May 30, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Applications must be submitted in six copies to Director, 
National Institute of Corrections, 320 First Street, NW., Room 5007, 
Washington, DC 20534. 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 pick up. Faxed applications will not be 
accepted. Applications can also be submitted via www.grants.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: A copy of this announcement and the required 
application forms can be downloaded from the NIC Web page at http://www.nicic.gov.
    All technical or programmatic questions concerning this 
announcement should be directed to Cheryl Paul at the NIC Jails 
Division, 320 1st Street, NW., Washington, DC 20534, (800) 995-6423 x 
69590, or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background: Since the 1970's the NIC Jails Division has provided 
services designed to assist public agencies in planning, building and 
occupying new jail facilities. These services have been provided 
through training courses (i.e. Planning of New Institutions and 
Managing Jail Design and Construction); technical assistance (i.e. jail 
and justice system assessments and How to Open New Institutions); and 
numerous documents including: Jail Planning and Expansion Local 
Officials and Their Roles, Resource Manual for Transition into a New 
Jail, Jail Design and Operation and the Constitution, Jail Design 
Review Handbook, Site Evaluation and Selection, Jail Design Guide, and 
Building Community Support for Your Project. All of these services 
focus on various aspects of the new jail planning and development 
process and have, over the years, contributed to the success of 
hundreds of counties in opening new jails that operate well and meet 
the detention needs of the community.
    Objectives: The awardee of this cooperative agreement will produce 
a DVD that provides a comprehensive overview of the jail planning and 
development process. The video will be used to educate jail 
administrators, elected and appointed officials, county administrative 
staff, project managers, sheriffs, jail staff, other justice agencies, 
community members, citizen's groups, county boards, consultants, 
technical advisors and professionals in corrections and related fields 
on the activities that need to occur to ensure that the design, 
construction and occupancy of a new facility meets the needs of the 
county or other public agency. There are two primary goals: to clearly 
illustrate the importance of the planning process to the success of a 
new jail; and to provide viewers with basic information on each of the 
nine phases of the new jail planning process.
    The nine phases of new jail planning will provide the educational 
basis for the DVD and they include: Project Recognition; Needs 
Assessment, Master Plans and Economic Feasibility Study; Program 
Development; Project Definition and Implementation Plan;

[[Page 23495]]

Design; Bidding and Negotiations; Construction; Occupancy; Post 
Occupancy. By providing descriptions of the phases and how they fit in 
the planning process the knowledge base of those involved in the 
process will increase so informed decisions can be made during the 
planning, construction and occupancy of their new facility.
    Statement of Work: General Information.
    Working Title: New Jail Planning: Taking Control of the Process.
    Length of DVD: 20-30 minutes.
    Deadline: Video production will begin upon award of this agreement 
and must be completed within twelve months following the award date.
    Intended Audience: Jail administrators; elected and appointed 
officials; county administrative staff; project managers; sheriffs ; 
jail transition teams; other justice agencies; community members; 
citizen's groups; county boards; consultants; technical advisors; 
professionals in corrections and related fields.
    Project Description: The production company awarded this 
cooperative agreement will see the video production through from 
beginning to end. The company is expected to provide the staff, 
equipment, and other resources necessary for script-writing, directing, 
producing, filming, graphic design, off-line editing, on-line editing, 
and all other activities necessary for video production. The company 
will be expected to provide music, professional voice over narration, 
and other talent as necessary for the complete production.
    The awardee will assign one staff member to oversee the project and 
work closely with NIC staff on all phases of production. NIC staff must 
review and approve all aspects of the project, including the treatment, 
scripting, creative ideas, filming sites, shooting days, persons 
interviewed, music, graphics, editing, and screening dates.
    This project will also require travel to up to five jail sites to 
film facilities at different stages of completion and to interview 
those involved in the planning process. Filming at each site may 
require 2-3 days, not including travel time. NIC staff will accompany 
the film crew to the filming sites.
    In general, NIC staff will work closely with the production company 
throughout the project to make sure personnel understand the jail 
planning process and that it is portrayed accurately in every detail of 
the video. NIC staff will be available to the production company to 
assist with questions or problems that arise. It is important, 
therefore, that the production company staff members are readily 
available for in-person meetings with NIC staff when necessary. It is 
anticipated that the production company will need to attend up to five, 
in person, meetings at the NIC offices in Washington, DC or other 
agreed upon location. Provisions can be made for telephone conferences 
as appropriate and necessary.

Pre Production

    Script Writing: Working with NIC staff and up to two subject matter 
experts, chosen in conjunction with NIC following the award of the 
cooperative agreement and paid by the awardee, the awardee will produce 
a written script for the video (refer to Production Schedule).
    Talent: The awardee will provide a professional voice over 
narrator(s) for the video and other talent as deemed necessary during 
the scripting process. NIC does not anticipate the need to hire 
professional actors for filming and will arrange for individuals to 
participate in filmed interviews and staged events, such as meetings.
    Setting: Filming will take place at various locations throughout 
the United States. The awardee will be required to film jail facilities 
at various stages of completion. It is anticipated that filming will 
also take place in conference rooms, board rooms, classrooms and other 
settings related to the information presented in the video. NIC will be 
responsible for locating all sites were filming will occur.

Production

    Quality: It is expected that the final version of this video will 
be of high-end broadcast quality in a format consistent with that 
quality, such as Betacam Digital. Once the video is completed, the 
production company will provide NIC with one master suitable for 
duplicating onto a DVD format. All videotape used in this production is 
the property of the U.S. Government and is to be delivered to NIC upon 
completion of this project.
    Client Approval: NIC staff will be available for quality assurance 
through all phases of the project (refer to Production Schedule). Each 
step of the production process will require the approval of NIC staff.

Post-Production

    Audio: The awardee will provide all music for the video as approved 
by NIC.
    Voice Over: The awardee will provide professional talent for voice 
over narration of the video. It is anticipated that there will be one 
male and one female voice used for the narration. It would be desirable 
if commonly recognized voices would be used for this purpose. All 
voices used in the narration of this video will be approved by NIC.
    Graphics/Effects: NIC anticipates the extensive use of graphics, 
artwork, lettering and backgrounds in this video, e.g. flow charts, 
blueprints, tables, etc. The awardee will be expected to produce all 
graphics for the video. NIC also anticipates of the use of digital 
effects for the transition between elements in the film.

Presentation

    Videotape Distribution: NIC expects to widely distribute this DVD. 
It will be made available, upon request and free of charge, through the 
NIC Information Center. Local officials, detention practitioners, 
professional corrections organizations, private corrections 
consultants, and professionals in related fields will be able to 
request a copy of the DVD. NIC will also distribute the DVD to 
participants in our various training programs related to new jail 
planning. The DVD will also be downloadable from our Web site.
    Quantity: NIC will require, in addition to the master, 100 copies 
in DVD format. Each DVD will be labeled with the seal of the United 
States Department of Justice, National Institute of Corrections and an 
appropriate graphic developed by the production company and approved by 
NIC. All DVDs will be encased in a standard rigid DVD case with the 
graphic from the DVD and additional information on the front.
    Production Schedule: The list below shows the major activities 
required to complete the project. Video production will begin upon 
award of this agreement and must be completed twelve months after the 
award date. The schedule for completion of activities should include 
the following, at a minimum:
    Awardee's kickoff meeting in Washington, DC with NIC staff for a 
project overview;
    Awardee conducts research of the concepts of new jail planning 
(materials provided by NIC) and hires up to two subject matter experts, 
chosen in conjunction with and approved by NIC, as technical 
consultants;
    NIC project staff develops an outline of key concepts to be 
included in video with suggestions for illustrating concepts;
    Working with NIC project staff, the awardee develops initial 
treatment and/or story board for the film;
    Awardee writes the script and presents to NIC staff for review;
    Awardee completes script revisions and submits to NIC staff final 
approval;

[[Page 23496]]

    Awardee prepares complete shot list; Filming (locations) and 
interviews scheduled and coordinated with sites by NIC staff;
    Awardee completes filming at various locations around the United 
States with assistance from NIC staff;
    Awardee begins off-line editing; Screening of off-line edit and 
selection of shots to be used completed by awardee and NIC staff;
    Graphics created by awardee reviewed and approved by NIC staff;
    On-line narration completed by professional talent hired by awardee 
and approved by NIC;
    On-line edit completed by awardee;
    On-line screening by awardee and NIC staff;
    Review and approval of final edit by NIC staff;
    Final products delivered to NIC by awardee.
    Applicants' Conference: An applicants' conference will be held on 
Friday, May 16, 2008 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. (EDT) at the NIC office, 500 
1st Street, NW., Washington, DC, 7th Floor. The conference will give 
applicants the opportunity to meet with NIC project staff to ask 
questions about the project and the application procedures. Attendance 
at the conference is optional and provisions can be made for telephone 
conferencing for those who will be unable to attend in person. 
Applicants who plan to attend or who would like to participate via 
telephone should call Cheryl Paul, NIC Jails Division, Correctional 
Program Specialist, at (800) 995-6423 x 69590 by Wednesday, May 14, 
2008 to confirm attendance.
    Application Requirements: The application package must include OMB 
Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance and a cover 
letter that identifies the audit agency responsible for the applicant's 
financial accounts as well as the audit period or fiscal year that the 
applicant operates under (e.g., July 1 through June 30); and an outline 
of projected costs. The following additional forms must also be 
included: OMB Standard Form 424A, Budget information--Non-Construction 
Programs; OMB Standard Form 424B, Assurances--Non-Construction Programs 
(available on www.grants.gov) and DOJ/NIC Certification Regarding 
Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; and 
the Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (available at http://www.nicic.gov/Downloads/PDF/certif-frm.pdf.) The applications should be 
concisely written, typed double spaced and referenced to the project by 
the ``NIC Application Number'' and Title in this announcement.
    Applications can be submitted in hard copy, or electronically via 
www.grants.gov. If submitted in hard copy, there needs to be an 
original and six copies of your full proposal (program and budget 
narrative, application forms and assurances). The original should have 
the applicant's signature in blue ink.
    The narrative portion of the application should include, at a 
minimum: a brief paragraph indicating the applicant(s understanding of 
the purpose of the video and the issues to be addressed; a brief 
paragraph that summarizes the project goals and objectives; a clear 
description of the methodology that will be used to complete the 
project and achieve its goals; a statement or chart of measurable 
project milestones and time lines for the completion of each milestone; 
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 an indication that all 
required staff will be available; a description of the qualifications 
of the applicant organization and a r[eacute]sum[eacute] for the 
principal and each staff member assigned to the project that documents 
relevant knowledge, skills and ability to carry out the project; a 
minimum of five references for which the applicant has provided a 
similar service; a budget that details all costs for the project, shows 
consideration for all contingencies for this project, and notes a 
commitment to work within the proposed budget; and a brief sample of a 
minimum of two video productions completed by the applicant. The 
applicant organization must specify its role in the production of the 
sample videos.

    Authority: Public Law 93-415.

    Funds Available: NIC is seeking the applicant's best ideas 
regarding accomplishment of the scope of work and the related costs for 
achieving the goals of this solicitation. The final budget and award 
amount will be negotiated between NIC and the successful applicant. 
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.
    Eligibility of Applicants: An eligible applicant is any agency, 
educational institution, organization, individual or team with 
expertise in video production to implement a project of this size and 
scope.
    Review Considerations: Applications will be reviewed by a team of 
NIC staff. Among the criteria used to evaluate the applications are: 
indication of a clear understanding of the project requirements; 
background, experience, and expertise of the proposed project staff, 
including any subcontractors; effectiveness of the creative approach to 
the project; clear, concise description of all elements and tasks of 
the project, with sufficient and realistic time frames necessary to 
complete the tasks; technical soundness of project design and 
methodology; financial and administrative integrity of the proposal, 
including adherence to federal financial guidelines and processes; a 
sufficiently detailed budget that shows consideration of all 
contingencies for this project and commitment to work within the budget 
proposed; indication of availability to meet with NIC staff, possibly 
at short notice, at key points in videotape production (at a minimum, 
those listed under ``Project Description'').
    Number of Awards: One.
    NIC Application Number: 08J63. This number should appear as a 
reference line in the cover letter, in box 4a of Standard Form 424, and 
outside of the envelope in which the application is sent.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 16.601.
    Executive Order 12372: This project is not subject to the 
provisions of Executive Order 12372.

Morris L. Thigpen,
Director, National Institute of Corrections.
 [FR Doc. E8-9448 Filed 4-29-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-36-P