[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 140 (Monday, July 22, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43926-43929]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-17500]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

National Institute of Corrections


Solicitation for a Cooperative Agreement--Evidence-Based Decision 
Making in State and Local Criminal Justice Systems: Planning and 
Development for Implementation

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 soliciting 
proposals from organizations, groups, or individuals to enter into a 
cooperative agreement for a 15-month period to begin no later than 
August 15, 2013. Work under this cooperative agreement will be an 
extension of the NIC's Evidence-Based Decision Making (EBDM) in Local 
Criminal Justice Systems initiative. It will require the coordination 
of jurisdictions receiving technical assistance under EBDM and review 
of work produced under other cooperative agreements that resulted in 
deliverables under EBDM. Work under this cooperative agreement will 
involve

[[Page 43927]]

all activities necessary to plan for the successful implementation of 
EBDM in a statewide structure.
    Specifically, the awardee will plan a comprehensive structure for 
implementation, including development of a technical assistance (TA) 
plan and the tools required to build capacity to implement EBDM within 
local jurisdictions and state-level criminal justice planning 
committees. The awardee will also revise ``A Framework for Evidence-
Based Decision Making in Local Criminal Justice Systems'' to include 
needed content changes and additions to support statewide 
implementation; develop activities and tools needed to select a state 
that, through an identified process, is determined to have the greatest 
potential for successful planning and implementation of EBDM at the 
statewide level; provide TA to current EBDM sites and their states' 
criminal justice coordinating counsels and executive administration in 
preparation for statewide planning for EBDM implementation. This 
project will be a collaborative venture with the NIC Community Services 
Division.
    NIC Opportunity Number: 13CS14. This number should appear in the 
reference line in your cover letter, on Standard Form 424 in section 11 
with the title of your proposal, and in the right justified header of 
your proposal.
    Number of Awards and Funds Available: Under this solicitation, one 
award will be made. The total amount of funds available under this 
solicitation is $480,000.00. Funds awarded under this solicitation may 
be used only for activities directly related to the project as 
described herein unless otherwise amended in writing by NIC.
    Applications: All applicants must be submitted electronically via 
http://www.grants.gov. Hand delivered, mailed, faxed, or emailed 
applications will not be accepted.

DATES: Application must be submitted before midnight on Monday, August 
5, 2013.

    Authority:  Public Law 93-415.

    Eligibility of Applicants: An eligible applicant is any public or 
private agency, educational institution, organization, individual or 
team with expertise in the described areas.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background: The purpose of the EBDM Initiative is to equip criminal 
justice policymakers with the information, processes, and tools that 
result in measurable reductions in pretrial misconduct and post-
conviction reoffending. The initiative to date has built the capacity 
within seven local criminal justice systems to (1) improve the quality 
of information used to make individual case decisions in local systems 
and (2) engage these systems as policymaking bodies to improve the 
effectiveness of their decisions collectively at identified decision 
points. Local officials involved in this initiative include judges, 
prosecutors, public defenders, police, sheriff, human service 
providers, county executives, probation, and pretrial services 
directors.
    A copy of ``A Framework for Evidence-Based Decision Making in Local 
Criminal Justice Systems'' is available at http://nicic.gov/Library/024372. The ``Roadmap to Phase II'' outlines the primary objectives of 
TA targeted at each of the seven local systems. A copy of the roadmap 
is available at http://static.nicic.gov/Public/roadmap phase ii final 
2.docx.
    The work completed to date on the EBDM initiative, including the 
Framework document, tools, and TA, have not addressed criminal justice 
decisions beyond an offender's placement in prison.
    The intent of this proposal is to perform the activities required 
to expand the decision making points of the current EBDM Framework to 
include parole review, reentry (including institution and community 
planning), parole release and setting of conditions of parole 
supervision, responses to parole violations of conditions of community 
supervision, and revocation and termination of parole. It will expand 
collaborative partnerships to include the executive decision makers 
from state criminal justice agencies and build their capacity to (1) 
improve the quality of information used to make individual case 
decisions in state systems, (2) engage agencies as policymaking bodies 
to improve the effectiveness of their decisions collectively at 
identified decision points, and (3) improve the effectiveness of state 
policy and legislative mandates to support local jurisdictions' 
criminal justice system goals. It will link and coordinate state and 
local collaborative bodies to (1) improve the quality of information 
used to make individual case decisions managed at both the state and 
local levels and (2) engage these state and local agencies as 
policymaking bodies to improve the effectiveness of their decisions 
collectively at identified decision points. State officials will 
include chief judge, attorney general, chief public defender, 
department of corrections director, parole release and supervision 
authority, state police, director of health and human services, 
victim's rights, and the governor's office.
    Included within this proposal is the provision of TA for current 
EBDM sites to help them prepare for statewide implementation, as well 
as the development of a protocol to establish an effective process for 
state site selection.
    Scope of Work: The goal of this cooperative agreement is to develop 
the tools and protocols needed to select and build the capacity to 
implement EBDM within a statewide structure. This is will be 
accomplished through the following primary tasks: (1) Develop the ``The 
Framework for Evidence-Based Decision Making in Local and State 
Criminal Justice Systems.'' This document will be a revision and update 
of ``Framework for Evidence-Based Decision Making in Local Criminal 
Justice Systems.'' The updated document will include all of the 
relevant findings and information needed to guide decision points 
beyond prison placement. The updates and revision must be consistent 
with the current principles of EBDM. (2) Develop tools and protocols to 
build the capacity of state-level systems to make evidence-based 
decisions modeled after the tools and protocols developed and tested in 
``The Roadmap to Phase II.'' The revisions and updates will include any 
knowledge, skill building, and information that would be specific to 
state-level executives and collaborative bodies. (3) Develop a protocol 
to link and coordinate local collaborative bodies to their state 
collaborative body. This link and coordination is intended to improve 
the quality of information and the effectiveness of the decisions of 
state and local bodies in reaching their harm reduction goals. This 
link has not been developed or tested in previous EBDM work and will 
require new development. (4) Develop all the tools and processes needed 
to select a state that has the greatest potential of completing the 
planning and implementation phases of EBDM. Learn more about the EBDM 
phases at http://www.nicic.gov/ebdm. The same selection process should 
be used for the local jurisdiction selection within this award and it 
should be modified for selection of the state that will receive future 
NIC technical assistance as part of this initiative. (5) Deliver TA to 
current states participating in the EBDM initiative (Colorado, Indiana, 
Oregon, Minnesota, Virginia, Wisconsin) to prepare them for the state 
selection process if they choose to participate. Thirty percent of the 
total budget of this cooperative agreement will be devoted to this 
effort. The TA should be both prescriptive and individual to the

[[Page 43928]]

specific developmental needs of each state. (6) Propose a technical 
assistance plan that develops the prerequisite skills and knowledge 
that each state should possess as it begins the selection process and 
state-level collaboration. Proposals should also mention an applicant's 
ability to provide specialized ad-hoc technical assistance specific to 
the needs of the individual states. (7) Use local and state selection 
criteria to make the final selection of the state, including up to four 
of its local jurisdictions, to serve as NIC's pilot sites during the 
planning and implementation phases.
    The order in which these tasks are to be completed will be 
determined at the initial planning meeting.
    DELIVERABLES: (1) A manuscript of ``A Framework for Evidence-Based 
Decision Making in Local and State Criminal Justice Systems,'' (2) 
Tools and protocols needed to build state and local criminal justice 
system capacity to make evidence-based decisions, (3) Tools and 
protocols needed to link and coordinate state and local collaborative 
bodies, (4) Tools and processes to select the EBDM pilot state, 
including up to four of its local jurisdictions that will link to the 
state-level collaborative body, (5) Working documents of all the tools, 
protocols, and processes that are developed under this cooperative 
agreement. The documents must be in a format accessible to NIC and 
ready for use in selected sites. (6) EBDM state selection, including 
the local jurisdictions that will serve as NIC's pilot sites, (7) TA to 
the current EBDM states (6 eligible states) to prepare them for EBDM 
state selection, (8) Planning meetings and updates with the assigned 
NIC correctional program specialist throughout the award period, 
including at a minimum, (a) an in-person planning meeting with NIC 
staff to be held within 2 weeks of the award and (b) meeting routinely 
with NIC staff to discuss the progress of the project deliverables. 
Meetings will be held no less than quarterly and may be conducted in 
person, by phone, or online as agreed upon by both the NIC staff and 
awardee, (9) All documentation submitted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: All technical or programmatic 
questions concerning this announcement should be directed to Lori 
Eville, Correctional Program Specialist, National Institute of 
Corrections who may be reached by email at [email protected]. In addition 
to the direct reply, all questions and responses will be posted on 
NIC's Web site at www.nicic.gov for public review (the names or 
affiliations of those submitting 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.
    Application Requirements: Application Requirements: Applications 
should be typed, double spaced, in 12-point font, and reference the 
project by the ``NIC Opportunity Number'' 13CS14 and title in this 
announcement, ``Evidence-Based Decision Making in State and Local 
Criminal Justice Systems: Planning and Development for 
Implementation.'' The package must include: 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); a concisely written 
program narrative, not to exceed 30 numbered pages, in response to the 
statement of work, and a detailed budget with a budget narrative 
explaining projected costs. Applicants may submit a description of the 
project teams' qualifications and expertise relevant to the project, 
but should not attach lengthy resumes. Attachments to the proposal 
describing your organization or examples of other past work beyond 
those specifically requested above are discouraged. These attachments 
should not exceed 5MB.
    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://nicic.gov/Downloads/General/certif-frm.pdf.
    Failure to supply all required forms with the application package 
may result in disqualification of the application from consideration.

    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.bpn.gov/ccr. A CCR Handbook and worksheet can also be 
reviewed at the Web site.
    Review Considerations: Applications received under this 
announcement will be subject to the NIC Review Process. Proposals which 
fail to provide sufficient information to allow evaluation under the 
criteria below may be judged non-responsive and disqualified.
    The criteria for the evaluation of each application will be as 
follows:

Programmatic (40%)

    Are all of the project tasks adequately discussed? Is there a clear 
statement of how each task will be accomplished, to include the overall 
project goal(s), major tasks to achieve the goal(s), the strategies to 
be employed in completing the tasks, required staffing, and other 
required resources? Are there any approaches, techniques, or design 
aspects proposed that are new to NIC and will enhance the project?

Organizational (35%)

    Do the proposed project staff members possess the skills, 
knowledge, and expertise necessary to complete the tasks listed under 
the scope of work? Does the applicant organization, group, or 
individual have the organizational capacity to complete all project 
tasks? Does the proposal contain project management and staffing plans 
that are realistic and sufficient to complete the project within the 
project time frame?

Project Management/Administration (25%)

    Does the applicant identify reasonable objectives and/or milestones 
that reflect the key tasks, and measures to track progress? If 
consultants and/or partnerships are proposed, is there a reasonable 
justification for their inclusion in the project, and a clear structure 
to ensure effective coordination? Is the proposed budget realistic, 
does it provide a sufficient cost detail/narrative, and does it 
represent good value relative to the anticipated results?
    Specific Requirements: Documents or other media that are produced 
under this award must follow these guidelines: Prior to the preparation 
of the final draft of any document or other media, the awardee must 
consult with NIC's Writer/Editor concerning the acceptable formats for 
manuscript submissions and the technical specifications for electronic 
media. For all awards in which a document will be a deliverable, the 
awardee must follow the guidelines listed herein, as well as follow the 
Guidelines for Preparing and Submitting Manuscripts for Publication as 
found in the ``General Guidelines for Cooperative Agreements,'' which 
can be found on

[[Page 43929]]

our Web site at www.nicic.gov/cooperativeagreements.
    All final documents and other materials submitted under this 
project must meet the federal government's requirement for Section 508 
accessibility, including those provisions outlined in 1194 Subpart B, 
Technical Provisions, Subpart C, Functional Performance Criteria; and 
Subpart D, Documentation and Support, NIC's government product 
accessibility template (see www.nicic.gov/section508) outlines the 
agency's minimum criteria for meeting this requirement; a completed 
form attesting to the accessibility of project deliverables should 
accompany all submissions.
    Note Concerning Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: The 
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) should be entered into 
box 10 of the SF 424. The CFDA number for this solicitation is 16.602, 
Research and Policy Formulation. You are not subject to Executive Order 
12372 and should check box b under section 16.

Robert M. Brown, Jr.,
Acting Director, National Institute of Corrections.
[FR Doc. 2013-17500 Filed 7-19-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-36-P