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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 156 (Friday, August 12, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50265-50267]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-20520]

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U.S DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

National Institute of Corrections

Solicitation for a Cooperative Agreement--Management of Technical 
Assistance for Selected Sites in NIC's ``Evidence-Based Decision Making 
in Local Criminal Justice Systems'' Project

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) Community Services 
Division is soliciting proposals from organizations, groups, or 
individuals to enter into a cooperative agreement with NIC for up to 
twelve months beginning in September 2011. Work under this cooperative 
agreement is part of larger NIC project, ``Evidence-Based Decision 
Making (EBDM) in Local Criminal Justice Systems.'' Work under this 
cooperative agreement will be coordinated with recipients of other 
awards providing services under Phase III of this project.
    Specifically, under this cooperative agreement, the recipient will, 
(1) provide technical assistance to four Phase III ``Tier II'' sites 
that have already been identified, and (2) provide ad hoc technical 
assistance to other non-EBDM sites to be determined together with the 
NIC staff.

DATES: Application must be received by 4 p.m. (EDT) on Wednesday, 
August 24, 2011. Selection of the successful applicant and notification 
of review results to all applicants will be made by September 15, 2011.

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.
    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 can be 
downloaded from the NIC Web site at http://www.nicic.gov/cooperativeagreements. All technical or programmatic questions 
concerning this announcement should be directed to Lori Eville, 
Correctional Program Specialist, National Institute of Corrections, at 
[email protected]. All questions and answers will be posted on the NIC 
Web site.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Overview: The overall goal of the EBDM Initiative is to establish 
and test articulated linkages (information tools and protocols) between 
local criminal justice decisions and the application of human and 
organizational change principles (evidence-based practices) to achieve 
measurable reduction of pretrial misconduct and post-conviction risk or 
re-offending. The unique focus of the initiative is the locally 
developed strategies of criminal justice officials that guide practice 
within existing sentencing statutes and rules. The initiative intends 
to: (1) improve the quality of information that leads to making 
individual case decisions in local systems; and (2) engage these 
systems as policy making bodies to collectively improve the 
effectiveness and capacity of the decision process related to pretrial 
release/sentencing

[[Page 50266]]

options. Local officials include judges, prosecutors, public defenders, 
police, human service providers, county executives, and jail, probation 
and pretrial services agencies' administrators.
    Local criminal justice decisions are defined broadly to include 
dispositions regarding to arrest, cite and release or to custody; 
pretrial release or detention and setting of bail and pretrial release 
conditions; pretrial diversion; charging and plea bargaining; 
sentencing of adjudicated offenders regarding use of community and 
custody options; and responses to violations of conditions of pretrial 
release and community sentences.
    Background: In June 2008, the National Institute of Corrections 
(NIC) launched a multiple phase initiative and awarded a cooperative 
agreement to address ``Evidence-Based Decision Making in Local Criminal 
Justice Systems.'' The goal of Phase I of the initiative was to build a 
system wide framework (arrest through final disposition and discharge) 
that will result in more collaborative, evidence-based decisionmaking 
and practices in local criminal justice systems. This effort is 
grounded in two decades of research on the factors that contribute to 
criminal reoffending and the methods the justice system can employ to 
interrupt the cycle of re-offense. The initiative seeks to equip 
criminal justice policymakers in local communities with the 
information, processes, and tools that will result in measurable 
reductions of pretrial misconduct and post-conviction reoffending.
    The principle product of Phase I of this initiative was the 
Evidence-Based Decision Making Framework in Local Criminal Justice 
Systems. The Framework identifies the key structural elements of a 
system informed by evidence-based practice. It defines a vision of 
safer communities. It puts forward the belief that risk and harm 
reduction are fundamental goals of the justice system, and that these 
can be achieved without sacrificing offender accountability or other 
important justice system outcomes.
    The Framework both acknowledged the importance of the key premises 
and values underlying our criminal justice system and provides a set of 
principles to guide evidence-based decisionmaking within that context. 
The principles themselves are evidence-based. The Framework also 
highlights some of the most groundbreaking research that demonstrates 
that pretrial misconduct and offender recidivism can be reduced. It 
identifies the key stakeholders who must be actively engaged in a 
collaborative partnership if an evidence-based system of justice is to 
be achieved. It outlines some of the most difficult challenges agencies 
face as they seek to deliberately and systematically implement such an 
approach in their local communities. A copy of the Evidence-Based 
Decision Making Framework document can be downloaded online at http://www.cepp.com/ebdm.
    In August 2010, NIC launched Phase II (Planning and Engagement 
Stage) of the Evidence-Based Decision Making in Local Criminal Justice 
Systems Initiative by selecting seven jurisdictions to serve as EBDM 
``Seed Sites.'' Those sites are: Mesa County, Colorado; Grant County, 
Indiana; Ramsey County, Minnesota; Yamhill County, Oregon; City of 
Charlottesville/County of Albemarle, Virginia; Eau Claire County, 
Wisconsin; Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.
    The cooperative agreement awardees of Phase II provided intensive 
technical assistance to each of the 7 seed sites for a period of 10 
months. The overarching purpose of the technical assistance was to: (1) 
Develop a shared philosophy and vision for the local criminal justice 
system; (2) Determine the capacity to collect and analyze date, 
including the quality of the date, to support ongoing analysis of the 
effectiveness of current and future policies, practices, and services 
designed to achieve specific risk and harm reduction outcomes; and (3) 
Change in knowledge, skills, and abilities regarding research-based 
risk reduction strategies.
    Each site was provided technical assistance that was specific to 
the initiative and that was individualized to their system's needs. 
Monthly site visits from an assigned Technical Assistance Site 
Coordinator lead the jurisdictions through the attainment of specific 
activities and goals. The Roadmap to Phase II outlines the major 
objectives that the technical assistance providers guided the seeds 
sites to achieve. The technical assistance is intended to lead to the 
following outcomes: Build a genuine, collaborative policy team; Build 
individual agencies that are collaborative and in a state of readiness 
for change; Understand current practice within each agency/across the 
system; Understand and have the capacity to implement evidence-based 
practices; Establish performance measurements/outcomes/system 
scorecard; Develop system logic model; Engage/gain support of the 
community; Develop Strategic Action Plan.
    Phase II is designed to be completed by September 2011. Each 
jurisdiction submitted an application for acceptance into Phase III of 
the initiative. Within their applications are a detailed strategic 
action plan and their system's logic model. The action plan and logic 
model will be the foundation of implementation activities of the Phase 
III technical assistance. Numerous factors regarding the sites 
performance were evaluated and reviewed by a panel to make the 
recommendations of which jurisdictions are best positioned to implement 
their action plans to reach their harm reduction goals.
    Although there will only be three jurisdictions selected to move to 
Phase III, Tier I of the EBDM initiative, receiving the most intensive 
technical assistance, NIC is interested in continuing to provide 
technical assistance and training to assist the remaining four Tier II 
jurisdictions toward the implementation of their action plan and system 
logic model.
    Scope of Work: There are two (2) project tasks and deliverables 
required under this this cooperative agreement:
    (1) Technical Assistance will be provided to four Tier II EBDM seed 
sites: Grant County, IN; Yamhill County, OR; Charlottesville, VA; and 
Ramsey County, MN. As Tier II sites, their technical assistance is 
expected to be limited in comparison to the Tier I sites. The technical 
assistance will be guided by the ``Roadmap to Phase II'', each site's 
strategic action plan and logic model, and other specialized assistance 
required to reach the jurisdiction's identified outcomes.
    (2) Subject to the availability of funds, work with NIC project 
manager to provide technical assistance and guidance to non-EBDM sites 
that submit requests for assistance in implementing the EBDM framework 
within their criminal justice system.
    Application Requirements: Applications should be concisely written, 
typed double-spaced and reference the project by the ``NIC Opportunity 
Number'' and Title in this announcement. 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 program narrative in response to the statement of work and a budget 
narrative explaining projected costs. 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;

[[Page 50267]]

Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; and the Drug-
Free Workplace Requirements (available at http://www.nicic.gov/Downloads/general/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.

    Authority:  Public Law 93-415.

    Funds Available: Up to 165,000 is available for this project, 
subject to available funding, but preference will be given to 
applicants who provide the most cost efficient solutions in 
accomplishing the scope of work. Determination will be made based on 
best value to the government, not necessarily the lowest bid. Funds may 
be used only for the activities that are directly related to the 
project.
    This project will be a collaborative venture with the NIC Community 
Services 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.
    Required Expertise: Successful applicants must be able to 
demonstrate that they have the organizational capacity to carry out the 
deliverables of this project, including extensive experience in 
correctional and criminal justice policy and practice, and a strong 
background in criminal justice system-wide change with experience in 
the implementation of evidence-based practices in the criminal justice 
system to reduce pretrial misconduct and offender risk of re-offending.
    Applicants should also have demonstrated the ability to package a 
criminal justice strategy and advance it to a national audience.
    Review Considerations: Applications received under this 
announcement will be subject to the NIC Review Process. The criteria 
for the evaluation of each application will be as follows:
Program Narrative: (50%)
    Are all of the project tasks adequately discussed, and is there a 
clear statement of how each will be accomplished, including the 
staffing, resources, and strategies to be employed? Are there any 
innovative approaches, techniques, or design aspects proposed that will 
enhance the project?
Organizational Capabilities: (25%)
    Do the skills, knowledge, and expertise of the applicant(s) and the 
proposed project staff demonstrate a high level of competency to carry 
out the tasks? Does the applicant have the necessary experience and 
organizational capacity to carry out the goals of the project?
Program Management/Administration: (25%)
    Does the applicant identify reasonable objectives, milestones, and 
measures to track progress? If there are consultants and/or 
partnerships proposed, is there a clear structure to ensure effective 
utilization and coordination? Is the proposed budget realistic, does it 
provide sufficient cost detail/narrative, and does it represent good 
value relative to the anticipated results?

    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 CRR can be done 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.
    NIC Opportunity Number: 11CC07. 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: 16.603.

    Executive Order 12372: This program is subject to the provisions of 
Executive Order 12372.
    E.O. 12372 allows states the option of setting up a system for 
reviewing applications from within their states for assistance under 
certain Federal programs. Applicants (other than Federally-recognized 
Indian Tribal governments) should contact their State Single Point of 
Contact (SPOC), a list of which can be found at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.

Christopher Innes,
Chief, Research & Information Services, National Institute of 
Corrections.
[FR Doc. 2011-20520 Filed 8-11-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-36-P
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