[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 240 (Wednesday, December 16, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66677-66679]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-29958]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

National Institute of Corrections


Solicitation for a Cooperative Agreement: Document Development--
Working With Mental Illness in Corrections: A Framework, Strategies and 
Best Practices

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) is soliciting 
proposals from organizations, groups or individuals to enter into a 
cooperative agreement for the development of a document to provide 
correctional administrators and practitioners in jails, prisons and 
community corrections a framework/model and guide to implement best 
strategies and practices to work with offenders diagnosed with mental 
illness or demonstrate mental health problems.

DATES: Applications must be received by 4 p.m. EST on Friday, February 
12, 2010.

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.
    Hand delivered applications should be brought to 500 First Street, 
NW., Washington, DC 20534. At the front desk, dial 7-3106, extension 0 
for pickup.
    Faxed applications will not be accepted. Electronic applications 
can be submitted via http://www.grants.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A copy of this announcement and a link 
to 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 Michael Dooley, 
Correctional Program Specialist (CPS), National Institute of 
Corrections (NIC) at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background: Correctional systems are confronted with substantial 
numbers of persons with mental illness who are detained, committed and/
or are under supervision through the nation's jails, prisons and 
community corrections. According to the New Freedom Commission on 
Mental Health: Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, ``people with serious 
mental illnesses who come in contact with the criminal justice system 
are typically poor and uninsured, are disproportionately members of 
minority groups, and often are homeless and have co-occurring substance 
abuse and mental disorders. They cycle in and out of homeless shelters, 
hospitals, and jails, occasionally receiving mental health and 
substance abuse services, but most likely receiving no services at all 
(APA, 2000).''
    A recent study on the prevalence of adults with serious mental 
illnesses in jails suggest that of more than 20,000 adults entering 
five local jails are documented with serious mental illnesses in 14.5 
percent of the men and 31 percent of the women, rates in excess of 
three to six times those found in the general population (Steadman, 
Osher, Robbins, Case and Samuels, June 2009).
    In a NIC 2008 Needs Assessment, interviewees noted that problems 
with mental illness continue to challenge both prison and jail 
operations, and there is a critical need for more collaboration with 
providers of services for the mentally ill, and a review of policies 
driving them into the corrections system. According to the 2005 NIC 
Needs Assessment ``Adequacy of offender mental health care'' was the 
second highest (2.48) concern to senior corrections officials (Clem and 
Eggers, 2005).
    The challenges to corrections are significant and multi-faceted, 
having a significant adverse impact on

[[Page 66678]]

corrections, public safety and government spending, not to mention the 
devastating impact for these individuals and their families.
    The large and disproportionate number of offenders under 
correctional custody and supervision continue to be a serious 
management and safety problem in both our correctional institutions and 
our communities.
    Project Goal: The overall goal of the initiative is to provide 
corrections mental health professionals, practitioners, policy makers 
and others with an interest in mental health and corrections, a 
framework and guide to implement best practice strategies to 
effectively work with and manage offenders in custody and/or under 
community supervision and who are challenged with mental health 
problems.
    Document Requirements: The following are the expected document 
requirements. Note: Publications produced under this award must follow 
the ``Guidelines for Preparing and Submitting Manuscripts for 
Publication'' as found in the General Guidelines for Cooperative 
Agreements included in this award package. All final publications 
submitted for posting on the NIC Web site must meet the Federal 
government's requirement for accessibility (508 PDF or HTML file).
    Document Length: The number of pages is to be determined. The 
document must include appendices and a bibliography.
    Document Audience: Administrators, mental health and other program 
management staff, and line correctional staff in jails, prisons and 
community corrections agencies. The document will also target community 
mental health providers and policy makers.
    Use of Document: The document will be an implementation guide to 
help State and local, and urban and rural correctional agencies 
implement a comprehensive framework/model and strategies to build and 
maintain partnerships with community-based mental health and social 
service providers to effectively manage and treat persons with mental 
illness.
    Document Distribution: NIC expects to distribute the document 
widely. It will be made available on the NIC Web site and in print 
through the NIC Information Center, upon request and free of charge. It 
will also be made available through other agencies and organizations 
with an interest in providing services in the area of mental illness in 
criminal justice and corrections.
    Document Content: The document will cover at a minimum: (1) The 
background and nature of the problem as it relates to managing 
offenders with mental illness in any correctional setting. This should 
include the impact of the problem in jail settings, prison settings and 
community supervision settings, and the impact on offenders diagnosed 
with mental illness, as well as how these systems can interface and 
increase efficacy with this group; (2) supporting research and 
evidence, surveys and assessments around the most effective models and 
practices for treating and managing the offenders with diagnosed mental 
illness. This should lead to the development or assembly of a best 
practice framework and model for the effective management and treatment 
of offenders diagnosed with mental illness, and collaboration with 
corrections, community mental health providers and other key 
stakeholders; (3) the roles of policy makers, administrators, program 
managers and line practitioners, from both corrections and mental 
health fields in addressing the problem and implementing solutions; (4) 
descriptions of strategies and practices that show the most promise in 
working effectively and efficiently with a mental health offender 
population. This must include strategies and practices for 
collaboration with corrections, the mental health provider community 
and the offenders and families. This discussion should focus on the 
differences and variable needs between large and small jurisdictions, 
and urban/metropolitan and rural jurisdictions, as well as the 
differences at the state, county and local levels; (5) examples of 
programs and strategies that have been implemented and demonstrate 
responsiveness to the needs and interests of corrections, mental health 
and offenders; (6) barriers to planning and implementing strategies and 
programs for working with mentally ill offenders, and systems working 
collaboratively to address the problems and needs of this population. 
The document will also provide suggestions for overcoming barriers, 
with examples around ``lessons learned'' from jurisdictions that have 
experienced success in this area; the development and presentation of a 
coherent framework/model for implementation of the best practice 
strategies and programs most likely to succeed in large urban and small 
rural jurisdictions, and at the state, county and local levels.
    Note that this is only a preliminary schedule of content to be 
included. The document content and layout may be modified once the 
award recipient begins the document development work and consults with 
NIC project managers. It is expected that the award recipient build in 
a process and format to identify and inform the structure and content 
of the document, such as a focus group with key leaders and subject 
matter experts in this field.
    General Scope of Work: The award recipient will produce a completed 
document that has received initial editing from a professional editor. 
NIC will be responsible for the final editing process and document 
design. The award recipient will remain available during this time to 
answer questions and to make revisions to the document. Document 
development will begin upon award of this agreement and must be 
completed 12 months after the award date.
    Project Requirements: The following list shows the major activities 
required to complete the project. The schedule for completion of 
activities should include, at a minimum, the following activities on 
the part of the award recipient: Submit a detailed work plan with time 
lines and milestones for accomplishing project activities to the 
assigned CPS for approval prior to any work being performed under this 
agreement; meet with NIC project manager for an overview of the project 
and initial planning; review materials provided by NIC; complete the 
initial outline of document content and layout; meet with NIC project 
manager to review, discuss and agree on content outline; research 
content topics and related resources; submit draft sections of document 
to NIC for review; revise draft sections for NIC's approval; submit 
document to editor hired by award recipient for first content edit; 
submit draft of entire document to NIC for review; revise document for 
NIC's approval; submit document to NIC in hard copy and on disk in 
Microsoft Word format.
    Throughout the project period, the award recipient must make 
provisions for meetings with NIC staff at critical planning and review 
points in document development.
    Applicant Web-conference: A web-conference will be conducted for 
persons with the intent to apply to the solicitation on Thursday, 
January 7, 2009 at 12 p.m. EST. In this conference NIC project managers 
will respond to questions regarding the solicitation and expectation of 
work to be performed. This is optional and not a requirement of the 
application process. You must pre-register to attend the conference. 
You may register by going to https://nic.webex.com/nic/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=715880766 and following the registration instructions. You 
will be

[[Page 66679]]

provided instructions for accessing the session.
    Application Requirements: Applications should be concisely written, 
typed double spaced and reference the ``NIC Opportunity Number'' and 
Title provided in this announcement. The 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 of fiscal 
year that the applicant operates under (e.g., July 1 through June 30), 
and an outline of projected costs. The following forms must also be 
included: OMB Standard Form 424A, Budget Information--Non Construction 
Programs, OMB Standard Form 424B, Assurances--Non Construction Programs 
(available at http://www.grants.gov), and DOJ/NIC Certification 
Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility 
Matters; and 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 three copies of the full proposal (program and budget 
narratives, application forms and assurances). The original should have 
the applicant's signature in blue ink.
    The narrative portion of the application must be limited to no more 
than 12 double spaced pages, exclusive of resumes and summaries of 
experience. The narrative should include, at a minimum: A brief 
paragraph indicating the applicant's understanding of the purpose of 
the document 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 
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; a 
minimum of three 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 sample of a least 
one document completed by the applicant. The applicant must specify its 
role in the production of the sample document(s).

    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. 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 Prisons 
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 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 sub-contractors; 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; and indication of availability to meet with NIC staff.

    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 CCR can be done online at the CCR Web site: 
http://www.ccr.gov. A CCR handbook and worksheet can also be viewed at 
the Web site.
    Number of Awards: One.
    NIC Opportunity Number: 10P08. This number should appear as a 
reference line in the cover letter, where indicated on 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.

Thomas J. Beauclair,
Deputy Director, National Institute of Corrections.
[FR Doc. E9-29958 Filed 12-15-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-36-P