[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 107 (Monday, June 4, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33000-33002]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-13411]



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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

National Institute of Corrections


Solicitation for a Cooperative Agreement: Resources for NIC's Web 
Site on Data Collection and Analysis in Corrections

AGENCY: National Institute of Corrections, U.S. Department of Justice.

ACTION: Solicitation for a cooperative agreement.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) is seeking 
applications for the development of resources for NIC's Web site on 
data collection and analysis for corrections. The resource materials 
will include, but are not limited to, documents or other information 
sources (i.e. spreadsheets, Web sites) that provide examples of policy 
and procedure governing information management; information on 
effective practices in developing or acquiring automated information 
management systems; and an overview of current information technology 
in corrections. NIC currently has some content under development on its 
Web site at http://nicic.gov/informationtechnolgy.
    The Web site resources will also include small data applications 
that provide users the capability for data analysis and interpretation 
and short tutorials on how to download and use the applications 
provided. The Web site applications, after initial development, 
deployment, and testing, will be maintained by NIC.
    The project will be for a 12-month period and will be carried out 
in conjunction with the NIC Jails Division who will confer as needed 
with Prisons and Community Corrections Services Division staff. The 
awardee will work closely with NIC staff on all aspects of the project. 
To be considered, the applicant team collectively must have, at a 
minimum, (1) in-depth knowledge of the purpose, functions, and 
operational complexities of corrections (2) in-depth knowledge of the 
full range of decisions corrections administrators must make to manage 
corrections populations/clients and operations, (3) in-depth knowledge 
of the types of data needed to inform these decisions, (4) expertise 
and experience in identifying, collecting, and analyzing these data, 
(5) expertise and experience in developing and managing information 
systems, (6) experience in developing Web page content, development of 
statistical and assessment applications using standard html and java 
script, asp.net and Excel, and development of tutorials or other ``how-
to'' resources that support the developed applications; and (7) 
demonstrated ability to research materials in support of this type of 
project.
    All resource products developed must comply with Section 508 
Standards for Accessibility. (http://section508.gov).

DATES: Applications must be received by 4 p.m. (EDT) on Friday, June 
29, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Mailed applications must be sent to: Director, National 
Institute of Corrections, 320 First Street NW., Room 5002, Washington, 
DC 20534. Applicants are encouraged to use Federal Express, UPS, or 
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 emailed applications will not be accepted; however, 
electronic applications can be submitted via http://www.grants.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A copy of this announcement and the 
required application forms can be downloaded from the NIC Web site at 
www.nicic.gov/cooperativeagreements.
    Questions about this project and the application procedures should 
be directed to Erika McDuffe, Program Specialist, NIC Jails Division. 
Questions must be sent via email to Ms. McDuffe at [email protected]. 
Ms. McDuffe will respond via email to the individual. Also, all 
questions and responses will be posted on NIC's Web site at 
www.nicic.gov for public review. (The names of those submitting the 
questions will not be posted.) The Web site will be updated regularly 
and postings will remain on the Web site until the closing date of this 
cooperative agreement solicitation.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background: Local corrections facilities vary widely in size, 
geographic location, funding levels, operational philosophy, and 
design. Nonetheless, most corrections administrators make the same 
types of decisions critical to their operations, the safety and 
security of inmates/offenders and staff, and the responsible use of 
resources. For example, corrections administrators must make decisions 
related to: Resource needs; budget projections and requests; inmate/
client population management (types and numbers of inmates/clients 
housed/enrolled, length of stay, average daily population); staffing 
levels, and; corrections activities and programs. It is not uncommon, 
however, for these and other decisions to be made in the absence of key 
data. Many corrections agencies do not have staff dedicated to data 
collection and analysis, information system management, or information 
technology. Given that many corrections agencies have severely limited 
resources, they are unlikely to acquire such staff. Corrections staff 
assigned to other duties usually do not have expertise in this area or 
the time to develop it.
    Scope of Work: To develop the corrections data collection and 
analysis resources, the awardee will complete the following activities:

Meet With NIC Staff

    The awardee will meet with NIC staff for a project kick-off meeting 
shortly after receiving the award. Meeting participants will review all 
aspects of the project, further refine the list of topics that will be 
included in the resources for NIC Web site, and review all requirements 
related to cooperative agreement processes. This meeting will last up 
to 2 days and will be conducted at NIC's offices in Washington, DC.
    The awardee should plan at least 2 more face-to-face meetings with 
NIC staff. These meetings will be up to 2 days long and held in 
Washington, DC. Web-Ex meetings will be planned during critical 
development points in the project. Awardee must have Web-Ex 
capabilities.

Research Materials

    Based on the refined list of topics to be included on the NIC Web 
site, the awardee will research related materials in partnership with 
the NIC Information Center for inclusion on the Web site. As part of 
this task, the awardee will review documents or other web-based 
resources for applicability and appropriate use on the Web site. In 
many cases NIC will provide the resources for review. However, it is 
expected that the awardee will identify documents and other resources 
for the review. Original writing is required to provide a brief summary 
or annotation of recommended documents or materials.

Develop Informational Materials

    The awardee will identify those topics for which they could find no 
suitable materials. NIC will determine how best to address the issue 
after discussion with the awardee.

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Develop Data Applications for Data Analysis and Statistical Reporting

    These data applications will provide users with the capabilities to 
enter their own data and review the results in graphs or charts (a 
corrections dashboard). During the initial planning session and after 
research about available resources, the type and number of applications 
will be discussed. We anticipate that 3-5 of these applications will be 
developed initially.
    Examples of possible data applications include: (1) Correctional 
Population Trends--Tracks daily number of inmates by categories gender, 
age, race, sentencing stats, Average Daily Population, Average length 
of stay, primary charge; (2) Staff Trends--Tracks number of staff post, 
number of employees, vacancies, types of leave, overtime usage; (3) 
Budget Status--Tracks budgets by standard categories, obligations, 
expenditures and balance; (4) Program Attendance--Tracks types of 
programs, enrollments and completions; (5) Incident Reports--Tracks 
daily incidents by categories like major, minor, reported and confirmed 
sexual assaults.

Develop Tutorials and ``How To'' Resources

    Brief tutorials will be developed to demonstrate the use of the 
statistical reporting applications. These segments will be specific to 
the applications and provide guidelines for appropriate data gathering 
and quality assurance of data collected.

Pilot the Applications

    Working with NIC's Information Center, Jails Division Staff and a 
pilot corrections facility chosen by NIC, the awardee will pilot the 
applications and tutorials to demonstrate its capabilities and 
usefulness.

Deploy the Applications

    After successful pilot of the applications and tutorials, they will 
be deployed from the NIC Web site. The applications may also be 
distributed via CD or mobile application. The awardee will provide 
assistance for the developed applications and tutorials for the first 
30 days of deployment on NIC's Web site. The awardee will be 
responsible for any technical issues resulting from development of the 
applications and supporting tutorials.

Provide Ongoing Review of the Web Site Content

    In conjunction with the NIC Information Center and the Jails 
Division, during the term of the award, the awardee will provide 
continuous review of the Web site content as it is added to the site. 
It is expected that content (other than the applications under 
development) will be added regularly and that the awardee will provide 
reviews and recommendations to address any issues.
    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 under 
which the applicant operates (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 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 www.grants.gov); DOJ/FBOP/NIC 
Certification Regarding Lobbying, Debarment, Suspension and Other 
Responsibility Matters; and the Drug-Free Workplace Requirements 
(available at www.nicic.org/Downloads/PDF/certif-frm.pdf.)
    Applications should be concisely written, typed double spaced, and 
reference the NIC opportunity number and title referenced 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 be accepted only via 
www.grants.gov.
    The narrative portion of the application should include, at a 
minimum: A brief paragraph indicating the applicant's understanding of 
the project's purpose; 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 timelines for the completion 
of each milestone; a description of the qualifications of the applicant 
organization; a resume for the principal and each staff member assigned 
to the project (including developers) that documents relevant 
knowledge, skills, and abilities to carry out the project; and a budget 
that details all costs for the project, shows consideration for all 
contingencies for the project, and notes a commitment to work within 
the proposed budget.
    In addition to the narrative and attachments, the applicant must 
submit a simple example of a proposed downloadable statistical analysis 
tool and slides representing a tutorial segment based on that tool.

    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 be used only for 
the activities that are linked to the desired outcome of the project. 
The funding amount should not exceed $135,000.00.
    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:

Project Design and Management (40%)

    Is there a clear understanding of the purpose of the project and 
the nature and scope of project activities? Does the applicant give a 
clear and complete description of all work to be performed for this 
project? Does the applicant clearly describe a work plan, including 
objectives, tasks, and milestones necessary to project completion? Are 
the roles and the time required of project staff clearly defined?

Applicant Organization and Project Staff Background (40%)

    Is there a description of the background and expertise of all 
project personnel as they relate to this project? Does the applicant 
have an established reputation or skill that makes the applicant 
particularly well qualified for the project? Do primary project 
personnel, individually or collectively, have in-depth knowledge of the 
purpose, functions, and operational complexities of local corrections 
agencies? Do the primary project personnel, individually or 
collectively, have expertise and experience specified in the 
``Summary'' section of this Request for Proposal?

Budget (20%)

    Does the application provide adequate cost detail to support the 
proposed budget? Does the application include a chart that aligns the 
budget with project

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activities along a timeline with, at minimum, quarterly benchmarks? In 
terms of program value, is the estimated cost reasonable in relation to 
work performed and project products?

    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 obtain a DUNS number at no cost by calling the 
dedicated toll-free DUNS number request line at 800-333-0505. 
Applicants who are sole proprietors should dial 866-705-5711 and 
select option 1.

    Applicants may register in the CCR online at the CCR Web site at 
www.ccr.gov. Applicants can also review a CCR handbook and worksheet at 
this Web site.
    Number of Awards: One.
    NIC Opportunity Number: 12JA04. This number should appear as a 
reference line in the cover letter, where the opportunity number is 
requested on Standard Form 424, and on the 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 the executive order.

Morris L. Thigpen,
Director, National Institute of Corrections.
[FR Doc. 2012-13411 Filed 6-1-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-36-P