[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 53 (Friday, March 20, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11968-11970]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-6113]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

National Institute of Corrections


Solicitation for a Cooperative Agreement--Direct Supervision: 
Curriculum Development

AGENCY: National Institute of Corrections, Department of Justice.

ACTION: Solicitation for a cooperative agreement.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Corrections, Jails Division, is 
seeking applications for the development of two training-program 
curricula: one that focuses on the role of the housing-unit officer and 
shift supervisor in a direct supervision jail and another that focuses 
on the role of the administrator in a direct supervision jail. The 
project will be for an eighteen-month period, and will be carried out 
in conjunction with the NIC Jails Division. NIC Jails Division staff 
will direct the project and will participate in curriculum design, 
lesson plan development, and the creation of related training 
materials.

DATES: Applications must be received by 4 p.m. (EDT) on Friday, April 
10, 2009.

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 a 
similar service to ensure delivery by the due date, as mail at NIC is 
sometimes delayed due to security screening.
    Applicants who wish to hand-deliver their applications should bring 
them to 500 First Street, NW., Washington, DC 20534 and dial (202) 307-
3106, ext. 0 at the front desk for pickup.
    Faxed or e-mailed 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 
http://www.nicic.gov.
    All technical or programmatic questions concerning this 
announcement should be directed to Robbye Braxton-Mintz, Correctional 
Program Specialist, National Institute of Corrections. She can reached 
by calling 1-800-995-6423 ext. 4-4562 or by e-mail at 
[email protected].

[[Page 11969]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Direct supervision jails combine a physical plant design, interior 
fixtures and furnishings, and an inmate management philosophy to 
significantly reduce the problems commonly associated with jails, such 
as violence, vandalism, inmate rule violations, and unsanitary 
conditions. Direct supervision is based on eight principles: (1) 
Effective control, (2) effective supervision, (3) competent staff, (4) 
safety of staff and inmates, (5) manageable and cost-effective 
operations, (6) effective communication, (7) classification and 
orientation, and (8) justice and fairness. Although all staff in a 
direct supervision jail must understand the principles and their 
operational implications, there are three staff positions that are key 
in the implementation of direct supervision: the jail administrator, 
the shift supervisors, and the housing-unit staff. NIC intends to 
develop training programs to better prepare staff in each of these 
positions to carry out their duties in support of direct supervision. 
Two curricula will be developed to support this.
    Curriculum #1: ``The Role of the Housing Officer and Supervisor in 
a Direct Supervision Jail'' and Curriculum #2: ``The Role of the 
Administrator in a Direct Supervision Jail--Commitment, Leadership, and 
Support''
    The first curriculum will focus on the role of the housing-unit 
officer and the shift supervisor in a direct supervision jail. It will 
be based on the NIC program titled ``How to Run a Direct Supervision 
Housing Unit: Training for Trainers''. This program is currently 
designed to familiarize staff trainers in jails with ``How to Run a 
Direct Supervision Housing Unit'', and prepare them to conduct this 
program for staff in their own jail.
    Under this cooperative agreement project, NIC intends to update 
``How to Run a Direct Supervision Housing Unit'', which will be 
attended by a team of two trainers and two shift supervisors from each 
participating jail. This program will last up to five days. Immediately 
after completing this program, the trainers and shift supervisors will 
receive separate instruction for up to four days. The trainers will 
receive instruction (developed under this project) on conducting the 
program for staff in their own jail. The supervisors will receive 
training (developed under this project) on their role in supporting the 
officer in effective housing-unit management, based on what they 
learned in the first week. On the final day of training, the two groups 
will meet together to discuss what they have learned and how they can 
implement this in their jail. They will also develop an action plan to 
conduct ``How to Run a Direct Supervision Housing Unit'' for their 
housing-unit staff.
    The second curriculum must be newly developed. It will focus on the 
role of the administrator in a direct supervision jail and will 
include, at a minimum: a discussion of the direct supervision 
principles; the jail administrator's leadership role related 
specifically to direct supervision; recruiting, hiring, promoting, and 
training staff in support of direct supervision; common challenges in 
implementing and sustaining direct supervision operations; decision 
making within the context of direct supervision; and assessing 
operations and operational outcomes within the framework of direct 
supervision. This program will be attended by administrators only. We 
anticipate this program will be no more than five days long.
    Objectives: The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) wishes to 
develop two training curricula. The first will focus on the role of the 
housing-unit officer and the shift supervisor in implementing and 
supporting direct supervision. The second will focus on the role of the 
jail administrator in providing leadership and support for direct 
supervision.
    Use of Curricula: NIC will use these curricula as the basis for its 
training programs on the role of the housing unit officer, shift 
supervisor, and administrator in a direct supervision jail.
    The curricula will become the sole property of NIC, and will not be 
published for general distribution; however, curricula materials will 
be made available to training participants.
    Scope of Work: The work will involve the production of two complete 
curricula, each of which will include: program description (overview); 
detailed narrative lesson plans; presentation slides for each lesson 
plan, and; participant manual that follows the lesson plans.
    The curricula will be designed for adult learners and will take 
into account the need to accommodate a variety of learning styles. 
Lesson plans will be in a format that NIC provides.
    The schedule for project completion should include, at a minimum, 
the following activities (for the development of both curricula): meet 
with NIC project manager for project overview and initial planning; 
review materials provided by NIC; meet with NIC staff to draft a 
framework for each curriculum, including content topics, sequencing, 
and time frames; meet with NIC staff to outline content for each module 
and assign writers (including one NIC staff); write lesson plans; 
exchange lesson plans among the writers for review; revise lesson 
plans; send lesson plans to advisory committee for review and comment 
(committee is composed of five members identified by NIC and paid by 
the awardee); meet with NIC staff to review comments and agree on 
revisions; revise lesson plans; develop participant manual, 
presentation slides, and program overview; submit final draft of all 
materials to NIC for review; revise as directed by NIC; and submit 
final curricula in camera-ready hard copy and on disk in Word format.
    Curriculum 1 will be developed first. Because of the 
length and complexity of this curricula, lesson plans should be grouped 
into thirds for development. Also, this curriculum will be piloted in 
the Washington, DC area. To conduct the pilot, the awardee will hire 
four instructors for this nine-day program and pay for their fees, 
travel, lodging, meals, and any other related expenses. NIC will secure 
training space and equipment, select participants, and pay for all 
costs related to participant materials and participant travel, lodging, 
and meals, where necessary. The pilot will be conducted after all 
lesson plans, presentation slides, and the participant manual are 
drafted.
    Curriculum 2 will be developed second and will be 
informed, at least in part, by curriculum 1. This curriculum 
will not be piloted under this cooperative agreement.
    Application Requirements: An application package must include OMB 
Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance; 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 
(both available at http://www.grants.gov); DOJ/FBOP/NIC Certification 
Regarding Lobbying, Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility 
Matters; and the Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (available at http://www.nicic.org/Downloads/PDF/certif-frm.pdf). Applications should be 
concisely written, typed

[[Page 11970]]

double-spaced and reference the NIC Application Number and Title 
provided in this announcement.
    If you are hand delivering or submitting via Fed-Ex, please include 
an original and three copies of your full proposal (program and budget 
narrative, application forms, assurances, and curricula). Curricula may 
be submitted in hard copy or on disk in Word or WordPerfect format. The 
original should have the applicant's signature in blue ink. Electronic 
submissions will only be accepted via http://www.grants.gov.
    The narrative portion of the application should include, at a 
minimum: brief paragraph indicating the applicant's understanding of 
the project's purpose; brief paragraph that summarizes the project 
goals and objectives; clear description of the methodology that will be 
used to complete the project and achieve its goals; statement or chart 
of measurable project milestones and time lines for the completion of 
each milestone; description of the qualifications of the applicant 
organization and a resume for the principle and each staff member 
assigned to the project that documents relevant knowledge, skills and 
ability to carry out the project; 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; two 
curricula developed by the applicant or primary project-team members.
    The curricula must include lesson plans, presentation slides, and a 
participant manual. The application must also include a description of 
the role of the applicant or project-team member in the development of 
the sample curricula. The curricula submitted DO NOT have to be related 
to direct supervision.
    Authority: Public Law 93-415.
    Funds Available: NIC is seeking applicants' best ideas regarding 
accomplishments of the scope of work and the related costs for 
achieving the goals of this solicitation. Funds may only be used for 
the activities that are linked to the desired outcome of the project.
    Eligibility of Applicants: An eligible applicant is any State or 
general unit of local government, private agency, educational 
institution, organization, individual or team with expertise in the 
described areas. Applicants must have demonstrated ability to implement 
a project of this size and scope.
    Review Considerations: Applications will be reviewed by a team of 
three to five persons. Evaluation will be based on criteria such as: 
clarity of applicant's understanding of project requirements; 
background, experience, and expertise of the proposed project staff, 
including subcontractors; specific level of experience with, and 
expertise on jails generally, and direct supervision jails in 
particular; experience with curriculum design based on Instructional 
Theory into Practice (ITIP); experience in designing, managing, 
facilitating, or delivering training on direct supervision to jail 
practitioners who are moving from a traditional jail to a direct 
supervision jail; clarity of the description of all project elements 
and tasks; technical soundness of project design and methodology; 
financial and administrative integrity of the proposal, including 
adherence to Federal financial guidelines and processes; sufficiently 
detailed budget that shows consideration of all contingencies for this 
project and a commitment to work within the budget proposal; indication 
of availability to meet with NIC staff at various points during the 
project; and design and quality of sample curricula.

    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).

    Applicants can receive a DUNS number at no cost by calling the 
dedicated toll-free DUNS number request line at 1-800-333-0505 (if you 
are a sole proprietor, dial 1-866-705-5711 and select option 1).
    Applicants may register in the CCR online at the CCR Web site: 
http://www.ccr.gov. A CCR handbook and worksheet can also be reviewed 
at the Web site.
    Number of Awards: One.
    Applicant's Conference: An applicant's conference will be held on 
Friday, April 3, 2009 from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. (EDT) at the NIC office, 500 
1st Street, NW., 7th Floor, Washington, DC. 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 those who will be unable to attend 
in person may request a telephone conference instead. In addition, if 
you have access to a computer, provisions can be made to conduct a 
WebEx session. Applicants who plan to attend or who would like to 
participate via telephone or WebEx should call Robbye Braxton-Mintz, 
NIC Jails Division, Correctional Program Specialist, at 1-800-995-6423 
ext. 4-4562 by 4:30 p.m. (EDT) on Wednesday April 1, 2009 to confirm 
attendance and receive further instructions.
    NIC Opportunity Number: 09J69. This number should appear as a 
reference line in the cover letter, in box 12 of Standard Form 424 
(where it asks for Funding Opportunity Number), 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 provision 
of Executive Order 12372.

Thomas J. Beauclair,
Deputy Director, National Institute of Corrections.
[FR Doc. E9-6113 Filed 3-19-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-36-P