[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 214 (Tuesday, November 4, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65681-65683]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-26241]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

National Institute of Corrections


Solicitation for a Cooperative Agreement--Production of Seven 
Satellite/Internet Broadcasts

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 2009 for a 
cooperative agreement to fund the production of seven satellite/
Internet broadcasts. Five of the proposed satellite programs are 
nationwide satellite/Internet broadcasts (three and four hours each). 
One of the programs is eight-hours in length and is for site 
coordinators as a precursor to a 32-hour program. Another is a 
satellite/Internet Training Program which will be sixteen hours in 
length (four hours each day, Monday through Thursday). There will be a 
total of 39 hours of broadcast time in FY 2009.

DATES: Applications must be received by 4 p.m. (EST) on Friday, 
November 21, 2008.

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.
    Faxed applications will not be accepted. Electronic applications 
can be submitted via http://www.grants.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: All technical and/or programmatic 
questions concerning this announcement should be directed to Ed 
Wolahan, Corrections Program Specialist, at 791 Chambers Road, Aurora, 
CO 80011, or by calling 800-995-6429, ext. 4419, or by e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background: Satellite/Internet Broadcasting is defined as a 
training/education process transpiring between trainers/teachers at one 
location and participants/students at other locations via technology. 
NIC is using satellite broadcasting and the Internet to economically 
reach more criminal justice staff in federal, state and local agencies. 
Another strong benefit of satellite delivery is its ability to 
broadcast programs conducted by experts in the correctional field, thus 
reaching the entire audience at the same time with exactly the same 
information.

[[Page 65682]]

In addition, NIC is creating stand-alone training programs on DVDs from 
its edited 3 and 32-hour satellite/Internet training programs that will 
be disseminated through its Information Center.
     Purpose: The purpose of funding this initiative is to produce 
seven satellite/Internet broadcasts, disseminating current information 
to the criminal justice community. Five will be three-hours in length, 
one will be eight-hours in length, and one will be sixteen-hours in 
length.
     Scope of Work: To address the scope of work for this project, the 
following will be needed:
     Producer Consultation and Creative Services: The producer will: 
Consult and collaborate with NIC's Distance Learning Administrator 
(Executive Producer) on program design, program coordination, design of 
field segments and content development; work with each consultant/
trainer to develop their modules for delivery using the satellite/
Internet format and/or the teleconference format; help develop scripts, 
graphic design, production elements and rehearsals for each module of 
the site coordinators' training and the satellite/Internet training 
programs; and use their expertise in designing creative ways to deliver 
satellite teleconferencing.
    The producer will also be responsible for attending planning 
meetings and assisting in the videotaping of testimonials at 
conferences.
     Pre-Production Video: The producer will supervise the production 
of vignettes to be used in each of the satellite/Internet broadcasts, 
as well as each DVD production. NIC presenters (content experts) will 
draft outlines of the scripts for each vignette. From the outlines, 
scripts will be developed by the producer (script writing expert) and 
approved by NIC's Distance Learning Administrator. Professional actors 
will play the parts designated by the script. Story boards for each 
production will be written by NIC's Distance Learning Administrator. A 
total of between 18 and 25 vignettes will be created under this 
cooperative agreement.
    The producer will supervise camera and audio crews to capture 
testimonials from leaders in the criminal justice field at designated 
conferences. (There will be four such conferences in 2009.) The 
producer will coordinate all planning of the production and post-
production for each of the seven satellite/Internet broadcasts.
     Video Production: Video production for each teleconference will 
consist of videotaping content-related events in the field, editing 
existing video, and videotaping experts for testimonial presentations. 
It will also include voice-over, audio and music if necessary, for each 
video. Blank tapes and narration for field shooting will be purchased 
for each site. The format for all field shooting will be either Beta 
Cam, DVD Pro Digital and/or Mini DVD.
     Post Production (Studio): Innovative and thought-provoking opening 
sequences will be produced for each teleconference. In addition, 
graphics will be utilized to enhance the learning in each module. The 
producer will coordinate art direction, lighting, set design, and 
furniture for all teleconference segments. (Set design should change 
periodically throughout the award period). The set will be customized 
to each topic. The producer will organize and supervise the complete 
production crew on rehearsal and production days, per the schedules 
below. This will also include the production of DVD's for each 
broadcast and the editing necessary for a final and approved cut.
     Production: The production group will set up and maintain studio 
lighting, adjust audio, and have a complete production crew for the 
days and hours set by the Distance Learning Administrator. A production 
crew shall include the following: Director, Audio Operator, Video 
Operator, Character Generator Operator, Floor Director, Four (4) Camera 
Operators, Teleprompter Operator, On-Line Internet Coordinator, Make-Up 
Artist (production time only), and Interactive Assistance Personnel 
(fax, e-mail, and telephone). Each production shall also have closed 
captioning for all programs.
    After each production, the studio will provide 12 VHS or DVD copies 
to NIC and the Master on Beta Cam and DVD. The DVD will have a splash 
page that will break down each module, each day, and the vignettes that 
have been produced for each program.
    For each three-hour program, NIC will receive one DVD with splash 
page. For the eight-hour program, NIC will receive two DVD's and, for 
the sixteen-hour program, four DVD's will be provided, with splash page 
on each. Each DVD will be edited to provide the necessary content under 
the direction of the Distance Learning Administrator.
     Transmission: The producer will: Purchase satellite uplink time 
that will include the footprints of Alaska, Hawaii, Virgin Islands, and 
the Continental United States; acquire downlink transponder time for 
KU-Band; purchase Internet streaming of 200 simultaneous feeds for each 
program; and be able to provide closed captioning on the Internet feed.
     Equipment: Applicants must have a minimum of the following 
equipment: Broadcast Studio of approximately 2,000 square feet, with an 
area for a studio audience of between 15 and 20 people; four Digital 
Studio Cameras (one of which must be an overhead camera with robotic 
control); Chroma Key: at least one wall with chroma key capability, 
along with a digital ultimate keying system; a tape operation facility 
providing playback/record in various formats, including DV, Betacam, 
Betacam SP, SVHS, VHS, U-Matic \3/4\ & SP; Advit or comparable editing 
bay; three-dimensional animation with computer graphics; Internet 
streaming capacity for several hundred simultaneous downloads in both 
G2 Real Player and Microsoft Media Player-Capture Closed Captioning; 
ability to archive four selected satellite/Internet broadcasts from FY 
2008 and all seven broadcasts from FY 2009; Computer Teleprompter for 
at least three studio cameras; Interruptible Fold Back (IFB) or In Ear 
Monitor (IEM) for all presenters and the moderator during the three 
hour programs and an (IFB) for each presenter during the eight-hour and 
sixteen-hour programs; individual control from control room to the 
Distance Learning Administrator; wireless microphones for each 
presenter during the three, eight, and sixteen-hour programs; 
microphones for the studio audience at each round table (should be able 
to pick up audio during the training program); Satellite Uplink and 
Transponder: KU-Band Digital with the footprints of Alaska, Hawaii, 
Virgin Islands, and the Continental United States; and Portable Field 
Equipment--Digital Video Cameras with recording decks, portable 
lighting kits, microphones (both hand-held and lapel), field monitors, 
audio mixers, and camera tripods.
     Personnel: Applicants must have a minimum of the following 
qualified personnel: Producer/Director; Script Writer; Set Designer; 
Lighting Designer; Audio Operator; Graphics Operator; Graphics Artist; 
Floor Manager; Studio Camera Operators (4); Tape Operator; Location 
Camera Operator; Teleprompter Operator; Clerical/Administrative 
Support; Makeup Artist (as needed during production); Closed Caption 
Operator (as needed during production);
    Application Requirements: Applications should be concisely written, 
typed double spaced and reference the project by the ``NIC Application 
Number'' and Title in this announcement. The package must include: a 
cover letter that identifies the audit agency responsible for the

[[Page 65683]]

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); 
a program narrative in response to the statement of work and a budget 
narrative explaining projected costs. The following forms must also be 
included: OMB Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance; 
OMB Standard Form 424A, Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs; 
OMB Standard Form 424B, Assurances--Non-Construction Programs (these 
forms are available at http://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.)
    Applications may be submitted in hard copy, or electronically via 
http://www.grants.gov. If submitted in hard copy, there needs to be an 
original and six copies of the full proposal (program and budget 
narratives, application forms and assurances). The original should have 
the applicant's signature in blue ink.
    Authority: Public Law 93-415.
     Funds Available: NIC is seeking the applicants' 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.
    This project will be a collaborative venture with the NIC Academy 
Division.
     Eligibility of Applicants: An eligible applicant is any public or 
private agency, educational institution, organization, individual or 
team with expertise in the described areas.
     Review Considerations: Applications received under this 
announcement will be subjected to an NIC three to five member review 
panel.

    Note: NIC will NOT award a cooperative agreement to an applicant 
who does not have a Dun and Bradstreet Database Universal Number 
(DUNS) and is not registered in the Central Contractor Registry 
(CCR).

    A DUNS number can be received at no cost by calling the dedicated 
toll-free DUNS number request line at 1-800-333-0505 (if you are a sole 
proprietor, you would dial 1-866-705-5711 and select option 1).
    Registration in the CRR can be done online at the CRR Web site: 
http://www.crr.gov. A CRR Handbook and worksheet can also be reviewed 
at the Web site.
    Number of Awards: One (1).
     NIC Application Number: 09A54. This number should appear as a 
reference line in your 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 program is not subject to the 
provisions of Executive Order 12372.

Morris Thigpen,
Director, National Institute of Corrections.
 [FR Doc. E8-26241 Filed 11-3-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-36-P