[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 14, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17214-17215]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-8467]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

National Institute of Corrections


Solicitation for a Cooperative Agreement--Evidence Based 
Strategic Planning in Southern California

AGENCY: National Institute of Corrections, Department of Justice.

ACTION: Solicitation for a cooperative agreement.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Corrections (NIC), Community 
Corrections Division, is seeking applications for the development of 
evidence based strategic plans in four Southern California County 
Probation Departments. Efforts to develop initial plans in county 
probation departments will happen over a 9-month period, and will be 
carried out in conjunction with the NIC Community Corrections Division. 
NIC Community Corrections staff will direct and participate in the 
planning efforts to ensure consistency with other evidence based 
planning and implementation work coordinated through NIC. Note that 
this particular Cooperative Agreement is intended to cover only the 
initial strategic planning phase for each site, as described below in 
the section entitled Supplementary Information.

DATES: Applications must be received by 4 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, June 2, 
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/cooperativeagreements.
    All technical questions concerning this announcement should be 
directed to Pam Davison at 202-353-0484 or at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background: Since 2002, NIC has been involved in evidence based 
planning and implementation initiatives in several State and local 
court and community corrections agencies. The importance of up front 
organizational development work, encompassed within the strategic 
planning process, has been critical to those agencies that have desired 
to maintain continuing service enhancements over time.
    Strategic Planning: For purposes of this Cooperative Agreement, 
strategic planning includes the following activities: 1. On site 
orientation to evidence based information pertaining to behavior 
change, recidivism reduction, and organizational development processes. 
2. Up front organizational assessment of each participating Probation 
Department, related at a minimum to: (a) Readiness for change; (b) 
Knowledge of evidence based principles; (c) Leadership prowess; (d) 
Operational and project management skills; and (e) Collaborative 
partnerships. 3. Inventory of risk tools, performance evaluation 
processes and data reports. 4. Investigation of each agency's access to 
data and capability for reporting and data analysis. 5. Establishment 
of a planning process and documentation framework. 6. Creation of 
adjunct sub-plans as needed that roll up to the umbrella plan; such as 
plans specifically aimed at data and outcomes, communication, and 
quality assurance.
    Physical Documentation: Simple matrix planning formats and GANTT 
charts with annotations are preferred.
    Scope of Work/Products: At the end of the nine-month period, each 
of the participating county probation departments should have 
established a strategic planning process that can be engaged to support 
the continuing progress of evidence based implementation. Tangible 
products of the awardee's involvement with the county and with NIC 
should at a minimum include: (a) Gap analysis results for the 
organization, its leadership and management, and its offender services; 
(b) Matrix Planning format; (c) Timelines documented on a changeable 
GANTT chart; (d) Measureable objectives and goals, related ultimately 
to recidivism reduction.
    Budget and Strategy Narratives: The applicant's submission 
narratives should include suggested on-site protocols for training, 
assessing and facilitating group planning processes. Include costs 
associated with assessment tools, analysis and travel.
    Please also note suggested budget adjustments for contingencies, 
such as the possibility that only three counties participate; or that 
an additional fifth county participates.
    Application Requirements: An application package must include OMB 
Standard Form 425, 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 with the budget and strategy narratives described in 
this announcement. The following

[[Page 17215]]

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 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 other descriptions). 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 measureable 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.
    The total narrative portion of the application should not exceed 
ten double-spaced type written pages, excluding attachments related to 
credentials and relevant experience of staff.

    Authority: Pub. L. 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 and objectives of this solicitation. Funds may only 
be used for the activities that are linked to the desired outcomes 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 subject to the NIC 
Review Process. The criteria for the evaluation of each application 
will be as follows: 1. Organizational/Staff Background (30%). NIC will 
review the background, experience and expertise of the proposed project 
staff, including subcontractors. Do staff have previous experience, 
working with community corrections organizations? What expertise and 
experience does the project team have with organizational development 
issues, including organizational and staff assessment? Does the staff 
have experience and expertise in strategic planning, and specifically, 
in strategic planning toward evidence-based implementation in probation 
and the court? Is the number of staff involved realistic and 
appropriate for the scope of the work, and does the applicant have the 
capacity to deliver all aspects of this project on time? Is there a 
reason that each member of the proposed team has been included? 2. 
Project Design/Content (50%). Does the applicant clearly understand the 
goals of this project? Is the practical application of research-based 
principles evident in the project design? Are project tasks, timelines, 
benchmarks and expected objectives evident? How sound are the technical 
strategies proposed? Have the strategies proved to be fruitful in other 
projects? Will the applicant be able to deliver matrix-style formats 
and gantt charts as requested? Are these applications transferable to 
the field? Are the final work products identified, and do the proposed 
strategies lead to their completion within the time frame? How will the 
applicant measure its own performance and the performance of adjunct 
team members? Is the applicant willing to meet with NIC staff as 
needed? 3. Budget (20%). Does the budget narrative clearly tie to the 
numbers; and, can the products be delivered on the desired timeline, 
within the proposed budget? Are the contingencies, including the 
addition or subtraction of a county department, addressed? Are the 
final work products clearly defined and identified on the work plan? Is 
a gantt chart provided that aligns budget with objectives along a 
timeline that shows, at a minimum, quarterly benchmarks?

    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 800-333-0505 (if you 
are a sole proprietor, dial 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 telephone conference will be 
held on Wednesday, May 6, between noon and 1:30 p.m. EDT. Applicants 
who are interested in participating in this applicants' conference call 
should indicate their expectation to participate by e-mailing Pam 
Davison at [email protected] no later than Monday, May 4, at noon EDT. 
This telephone conference will give applicants the opportunity to ask 
questions about the project and the application procedures. 
Participation in the telephone conference for applicants is optional.
    Note that interested applicants need to provide complete contact 
information, including e-mail address and phone number, to Pam Davison 
when they indicate their expectation to participate.
    NIC Opportunity Number: 09C81. This number should appear as a 
reference line in the cover letter, where the opportunity number is 
requested on the Standard Form 424, and outside of the envelope in 
which the application is sent.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 16.602 Executive 
Order 12372: This project is not subject to the provision of Executive 
Order 12372.

Morris L. Thigpen,
Director, National Institute of Corrections.
[FR Doc. E9-8467 Filed 4-13-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-36-P