15bcjittasol.pdf

OMB No. 1121-0329

U.S. Department of Justice Approval Expires 07/31/2016

Office of Justice Programs

Bureau of Justice Assistance

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is seeking applications to provide national training and technical assistance to local and tribal partners to plan and implement place-based, community-oriented strategies to address neighborhood-level crime issues as part of a broader neighborhood revitalization or redevelopment initiative. Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation (BCJI) resources will target neighborhoods that generate a significant proportion of crime or type of crime within the larger community or jurisdiction. BCJI furthers the Department’s mission by leading efforts to enhance the capacity of local and tribal communities to effectively target and address significant crime issues through data, analysis, and collaborative cross-sector approaches that help advance broader neighborhood development goals.

Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Training and Technical Assistance Program

FY 2015 Competitive Grant Announcement

Eligibility Eligible applicants are limited to any national nonprofit organization, for-profit (commercial) organization (including tribal nonprofit or for-profit organizations), or institution of higher learning (including tribal institutions of higher education) that have expertise and experience in managing training and technical assistance for multifaceted place-based, community-oriented, problem-solving justice programs that improve outcomes in distressed communities. In addition, the applicant must show the capacity to provide technical expertise in implementing action research partnerships between local criminal justice researchers and practitioners. For-profit organizations must agree to waive any profit or fees for services.

BJA welcomes applications that involve two or more entities; however, one eligible entity must be the applicant and the others must be proposed as subrecipients. The applicant must be the entity with primary responsibility for administering the funding and managing the BCJI Training and Technical Assistance Program. Only one application per lead applicant will be considered;

however, subrecipients may be part of multiple proposals.

BJA may elect to make awards for applications submitted under this solicitation in future fiscal years, dependent on the merit of the applications and on the availability of appropriations in future years.

Deadline Applicants must register with Grants.gov prior to submitting an application. All applications are due to be submitted and in receipt of a successful validation message in Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on May 4, 2015.

http://www.justice.gov/ http://www.ojp.gov/ https://www.bja.gov/ https://www.bja.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply_for_grants.jsp

BJA-2015-4159

All applicants are encouraged to read this Important Notice: Applying for Grants in Grants.gov.

For additional information, see How to Apply in Section D. Application and Submission Information.

Contact Information For technical assistance with submitting an application, contact the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 800-518-4726 or 606-545-5035, or via e-mail to support@grants.gov. The Grants.gov Support Hotline hours of operation are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except federal holidays.

Applicants that experience unforeseen Grants.gov technical issues beyond their control that prevent them from submitting their application by the deadline must e-mail the BJA contact identified below within 24 hours after the application deadline and request approval to submit their application. Additional information on reporting technical issues is found under “Experiencing Unforeseen Grants.gov Technical Issues” in the How to Apply section.

For assistance with any other requirements of this solicitation, contact the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) Response Center: toll-free at 1-800-851-3420; via TTY at 301-240-6310 (hearing impaired only); email responsecenter@ncjrs.gov; fax to 301-240-5830;

or web chat at https://webcontact.ncjrs.gov/ncjchat/chat.jsp. The NCJRS Response Center hours of operation are 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. eastern time, Monday through Friday and 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. eastern time on the solicitation close date.

Grants.gov number assigned to this announcement: BJA-2015-4159

Release date: March 18, 2015 http://ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Grants-govInfo.htm http://ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Grants-govInfo.htm mailto:support@grants.gov http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply_for_grants.jsp mailto:responsecenter@ncjrs.gov https://webcontact.ncjrs.gov/ncjchat/chat.jsp

Contents A. Program Description

Overview

Program-Specific Information

Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables

Evidence-Based Programs or Practices

B. Federal Award Information

Type of Award

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls

Budget Information

Cost Sharing or Match Requirement

Pre-Agreement Cost Approvals

Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation; Waiver

Prior Approval, Planning, and Reporting of Conference/Meeting/Training Costs

Costs Associated with Language Assistance (if applicable)

C. Eligibility Information

Cost Sharing or Match Requirement

Limit on Number of Application Submissions

D. Application and Submission Information

What an Application Should Include

How to Apply

E. Application Review Information

Selection Criteria

Review Process

F. Federal Award Administration Information

Federal Award Notices

Administrative, National Policy, and other Legal Requirements

General Information about Post-Federal Award Reporting Requirements

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)

H. Other Information

Provide Feedback to OJP

Application Checklist

Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Training and Technical Assistance Program

(CFDA #16.817)

A. Program Description

Overview The purpose of this FY 2015 competitive grant announcement is to select one provider to deliver a wide range of training and technical assistance (TTA) services to communities participating in the Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation (BCJI) Program. These services include, but are not limited to, helping neighborhoods build cross-sector partnerships; implement effective data-driven or innovative place-based revitalization strategies; engage local residents as equal and important stakeholders; build and increase trust between communities and the police; and collaborate with research partners to collect, analyze, and aid the sites in ongoing use of data to enhance program management and to sustain their strategies, and other matters relevant to the purposes of the BCJI Program. BCJI sites will leverage the TTA solicited through this competitive grant announcement to plan and implement data-driven, cross-sector strategies to reduce crime and violence. BCJI TTA activities will be coordinated with other federal interagency work and TTA activities, and a limited portion of TTA will be provided to jurisdictions with a Promise Zones designation1 to support public safety priorities. The results of the BCJI site efforts will be shared widely to assist other communities with improving and enhancing their crime reduction efforts.

In times of limited resources, local and tribal leaders need tools and information about crime trends in their jurisdiction to assess, plan, and implement the most effective use of criminal justice resources to address these issues. They also need a core foundation of resources and tools to support data-driven strategy development, community-driven capacity building for collaborative problem solving, and assistance to identify and implement evidence-based and innovative strategies to target drivers of crime. A multi-faceted approach like BCJI targets crime in the locations where it is most occurring and can have the biggest impact while also building the capacity of the community to deter future crime by addressing three of the social impacts most likely to impact crime: physical disorder; social economic status and resources, and the “collective efficacy” of the neighborhood.2

BCJI is a central component of the Administration’s larger place-based programming efforts which includes the Promise Zones3 and Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative4 (NRI). These initiatives help local and tribal communities develop place-based, community-oriented strategies to change neighborhoods of distress into neighborhoods of opportunity. Through coordinated federal support, there are growing interagency efforts to align a comprehensive range of federal programs across several agencies, including Departments of Education (ED), DOJ, Health and Human Services (HHS), Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Agriculture (USDA), Interior, and Treasury to both build capacity and revitalize these communities.

1 For more specifics on the level and amount of TA, please see page 7.

2 Collective efficacy is the mutual trust and a willingness of a community to intervene, for example, in the supervision of children and the maintenance of public order.

3 For more information, go to www.hudexchange.info/promise-zones/ 4 For more information, go to www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/oua/initiatives/neighborhood-revitalization .

https://www.hudexchange.info/promise-zones/ http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/oua/initiatives/neighborhood-revitalization

This program is funded pursuant to the “Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015” under the Edward Byrne Memorial criminal justice innovation program appropriation (P.L. 113-235).

Program-Specific Information The goal of BCJI is to reduce crime and improve community safety as part of a comprehensive strategy to advance neighborhood revitalization. Through a broad cross-sector partnership team, including neighborhood residents, BCJI grantees target neighborhoods with hot spots of violent and serious crime and employ data-driven, cross-sector strategies to reduce crime and violence. To read more about neighborhood and community results and to view BCJI site activities, visit the BCJI web site at www.lisc.org/bcji. This web site provides information and resources to BCJI sites and other communities across the country. Additionally, see the BCJI Fact Sheet and the current BCJI Program FY 2015 Competitive Grant Announcement for additional site based and TTA program background and activities.

Since FY 2012, the BCJI TTA Program has been delivered around the four core BCJI program elements:

1. Place-Based Strategy: To target and prioritize crime hot spots.

2. Data-Driven: To improve the use of data and research to problem solve and guide program strategy.

3. Community-Oriented: To increase community and resident engagement in shaping crime prevention and revitalization efforts.

4. Partnerships and Capacity Building: To promote sustainable collaboration with cross-sector partners to tackle problems from multiple angles.

Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables The goal of the BCJI TTA Program is to support the needs of the local BCJI sites (and others as requested by BJA) to ensure that local results are achieved through ongoing development and management of the BCJI program. The objectives of the BCJI TTA Program are to proactively manage, facilitate, and support:

Community-oriented strategies that involve the engagement of community residents and partners to work collaboratively with criminal justice and other neighborhood revitalization initiatives.

Collaborative partnerships and trust building between community members and law enforcement

Place-based strategies to effectively identify, assess, and target crime hot spots or crime problems.

Cross-sector and community partnerships, particularly with partners that support community revitalization and social service providers.

Local research-practitioner partnerships to lead data-driven strategic and innovative approaches.

Ongoing growth and refinement of the BCJI program model.

Applications are solicited for a TTA provider with extensive TTA expertise, experience, and knowledge with the above listed goal and objectives. Applicants are strongly encouraged to http://www.lisc.org/bcji https://www.bja.gov/Publications/BCJIFS-2015.pdf https://www.bja.gov/Publications/BCJIFS-2015.pdf https://www.bja.gov/Funding/15BCJIsol.pdf partner with other organizations to submit joint applications for the required services and deliverables.

TTA for the BCJI Program can include training, technical assistance, and guidance that addresses the management, organization, and project implementation needs of the BCJI grantees. It can also include mentoring by other experts in program implementation and management. At a minimum, the TTA provider shall ensure that its efforts are framed around supporting the development of each site’s strategy for building a comprehensive plan to reduce crime and revitalize the community, and the grantee’s capacity to achieve results. The provider shall also collaborate with other organizations and federal agencies, as BJA deems necessary.

Applicants should address how they will produce the following deliverables:

Provide ongoing TTA (both remote and onsite) to existing and future5 BCJI grantees throughout the duration of their BCJI grant awards.

o Describe a plan to assess grantee TTA needs that details the framework, methodologies, and timeline that will guide the planning and implementation phases of the BCJI strategy. At a minimum, the plan shall assist grantees to: use data to validate the nature and extent of crime and drivers of crime; collect accurate and reliable data, including data related to measurable outcomes; build a process for program improvements; clearly define the implementation schedule; identify and employ promising and evidence-based practices; evaluate the effectiveness of TTA provided; and support networking between the sites.

o Propose a process to identify and deliver individual TTA for each grantee site, including the proposed method of TTA delivery, timeline for delivery, and audience.

Any TTA plans must be approved by both BJA and the grantee before implementation. Once TTA plans are approved, implement the TTA plan, providing timely and high quality services consistent with the plan. Coordinate with BJA in ongoing analysis and refinement to the TTA efforts.

o Recruit, maintain, and use a pool of subject matter experts to assist with TA delivery and provide any needed expertise or guidance on a range of issues, to include, but not limited to, crime issues, resident engagement, police and community trust building, crime analysis, data and evidence driven strategies, performance measures, and broader revitalization efforts.

In close coordination with BJA, plan and conduct national and/or regional meetings, convenings, or other educational sessions for existing and other BCJI sites during the 36-month project period. BJA asks that applicants propose a plan for meetings that best aligns with their overall TTA approach, (up to three national meetings and/or six regional meetings during the grant period).

Create and maintain a dynamic, up-to-date and interactive platform for electronic media to include the maintenance of a BCJI web site, online newsletter, webinars, and blogging opportunities. Provide online resources, materials, and limited assistance (via phone or

5 As of FY 2014, there are 46 BCJI sites. In FY 2015, BJA expects to award an additional 10-12 new sites across two categories (Planning and Implementation). To view the site-based solicitation, go to www.bja.gov/Funding/15BCJIsol.pdf.

http://www.lisc.org/csi/byrne_criminal_justice_innovation_(bcji)/where_is_it_happening/index.php http://www.bja.gov/Funding/15BCJIsol.pdf e-mail) that is available to both BCJI sites and the general public regarding BCJI, lessons learned and related issues. Describe how these materials will be kept current and up to date.

Meet and collaborate with BJA, its NRI and Promise Zones partners, and others to enhance resources, knowledge, and leverage respective expertise of partners in responding to the needs of the field. Upon BJA’s recommendation and approval, the TTA provider will meet with or coordinate with other BJA programs, federal agencies, and TTA providers in an effort to collaborate and coordinate services and technical support across offices and departments.

Provide TTA on public safety and community trust issues as needed6 for select Promise Zones designees (depending upon the needs and priorities identified by the designees, the BCJI TTA provider should be readily available and responsive to requests specific to public safety and community trust needs.)

Create a materials production plan that aligns with the TTA delivery plan and considers how to best reach the BCJI sites, including hard copy materials and web-based resources. BJA strongly encourages the use of distance learning opportunities such as webinars.

Create and produce various documents and materials that highlight a wide range of BCJI site accomplishments and results to be shared across a broad spectrum of audiences (for example, other BCJI sites, law enforcement, social service providers, and policymakers). Describe what these materials might be and how they will be disseminated widely.

Submit bi-monthly progress reports to BJA for the duration of the of BCJI grant, using a consistent format that summarizes the major activities and accomplishments during the reporting period and provide information for each project task regarding significant findings and events, problems encountered, suggested solutions, and staff used. The provider will also specify in the reports the extent to which the project is on schedule.

The TTA provider will be required to participate in BJA’s GrantStat for specified grantees.

Through GrantStat, BJA management and staff examine the performance of the grant programs funded by BJA by tracking grantee or program performance along several key indicators.

GrantStat calls for the collection and analysis of performance data and other relevant grant-level information that enables BJA as well as our TTA partners to be held accountable for the grantee’s and program’s performance as measured against the program’s goals and objectives.

In addition, the TTA provider will be required to assist grantees in the collection of performance measure data, working in collaboration with the local research partners.

BJA TTA projects are required to coordinate all TTA activities with BJA’s National Training and Technical Assistance Center (NTTAC). The precise requirements and protocols are still under development, but once completed, the successful applicant will be required to comply with these protocols in order to ensure coordinated delivery of services among TTA providers and effective

6 The Promise Zone initiative projects a total of 20 designated sites; some Promise Zones sites may also have a BCJI site-based award. Additionally, please note that not all sites may need specific technical assistance on public safety needs.

https://www.hudexchange.info/promise-zones https://www.hudexchange.info/promise-zones use of BJA TTA grant funding. BJA reserves the right to reasonably modify these protocols at any time at its discretion.

Evidence-Based Programs or Practices OJP strongly emphasizes the use of data and evidence in policy making and program development in criminal justice, juvenile justice, and crime victim services. OJP is committed to:

Improving the quantity and quality of evidence OJP generates

Integrating evidence into program, practice, and policy decisions within OJP and the field

Improving the translation of evidence into practice

OJP considers programs and practices to be evidence-based when their effectiveness has been demonstrated by causal evidence, generally obtained through one or more outcome evaluations. Causal evidence documents a relationship between an activity or intervention (including technology) and its intended outcome, including measuring the direction and size of a change, and the extent to which a change may be attributed to the activity or intervention. Causal evidence depends on the use of scientific methods to rule out, to the extent possible, alternative explanations for the documented change. The strength of causal evidence, based on the factors described above, will influence the degree to which OJP considers a program or practice to be evidence-based. The OJP CrimeSolutions.gov web site is one resource that applicants may use to find information about evidence-based programs in criminal justice, juvenile justice, and crime victim services.

B. Federal Award Information

BJA estimates that it will make up to one award of up to $2,000,000 for a 36-month project period, beginning on October 1, 2015.

BJA may, in certain cases, provide supplemental funding in future years to awards under this solicitation. Important considerations in decisions regarding supplemental funding include, among other factors, the availability of funding, strategic priorities, assessment of the quality of the management of the award (for example, timeliness and quality of progress reports), and assessment of the progress of the work funded under the award.

All awards are subject to the availability of appropriated funds and to any modifications or additional requirements that may be imposed by law.

Type of Award 7 BJA expects that it will make any award from this solicitation in the form of a cooperative agreement, which is a particular type of grant used if BJA expects to have ongoing substantial involvement in award activities. Substantial involvement includes direct oversight and involvement with the grantee organization in implementation of the grant, but does not involve day-to-day project management. See Administrative, National Policy, and other Legal Requirements, under Section F. Federal Award Administration Information, for details regarding the federal involvement anticipated under an award from this solicitation.

7 See generally 31 U.S.C. §§ 6301-6305 (defines and describes various forms of federal assistance relationships, including grants and cooperative agreements (a type of grant)).

http://www.crimesolutions.gov/

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls If selected for funding, the award recipient must:

(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-federal entity is managing the federal award in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in “Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government” issued by the Comptroller General of the United States and the “Internal Control Integrated Framework,” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

(b) Comply with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal awards.

(c) Evaluate and monitor the non-federal entity's compliance with statute, regulations and the terms and conditions of federal awards.

(d) Take prompt action when instances of noncompliance are identified including noncompliance identified in audit findings.

(e) Take reasonable measures to safeguard protected personally identifiable information and other information the federal awarding agency or pass-through entity designates as sensitive or the non-federal entity considers sensitive consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding privacy and obligations of confidentiality.

In order to better understand administrative requirements and cost principles, award applicants are encouraged to enroll, at no charge, in the Department of Justice Grants Financial Management Online Training available here.

Budget Information

Cost Sharing or Match Requirement This solicitation does not require a match. However, if a successful application proposes a voluntary match amount, and OJP approves the budget, the total match amount incorporated into the approved budget becomes mandatory and subject to audit.

Pre-Agreement Cost Approvals OJP does not typically approve pre-agreement costs; an applicant must request and obtain the prior written approval of OJP for all such costs. If approved, pre-agreement costs could be paid from grant funds consistent with a grantee’s approved budget, and under applicable cost standards. However, all such costs prior to award and prior to approval of the costs are incurred at the sole risk of an applicant. Generally, no applicant should incur project costs before submitting an application requesting federal funding for those costs. Should there be extenuating circumstances that appear to be appropriate for OJP’s consideration as pre-agreement costs, the applicant should contact the point of contact listed on the title page of this announcement for details on the requirements for submitting a written request for approval. See the section on Costs Requiring Prior Approval in the Financial Guide, for more information.

http://gfm.webfirst.com/ http://ojp.gov/financialguide/index.htm

Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation; Waiver With respect to any award of more than $250,000 made under this solicitation, recipients may not use federal funds to pay total cash compensation (salary plus cash bonuses) to any employee of the award recipient at a rate that exceeds 110 percent of the maximum annual salary payable to a member of the Federal Government’s Senior Executive Service (SES) at an agency with a Certified SES Performance Appraisal System for that year.8 The 2015 salary table for SES employees is available on the Office of Personnel Management web site. Note: A recipient may compensate an employee at a greater rate, provided the amount in excess of this compensation limitation is paid with non-federal funds. (Any such additional compensation will not be considered matching funds where match requirements apply.)

The Assistant Attorney General for OJP may exercise discretion to waive, on an individual basis, the limitation on compensation rates allowable under an award. An applicant requesting a waiver should include a detailed justification in the budget narrative of the application. Unless the applicant submits a waiver request and justification with the application, the applicant should anticipate that OJP will request the applicant to adjust and resubmit the budget.

The justification should include the particular qualifications and expertise of the individual, the uniqueness of the service the individual will provide, the individual’s specific knowledge of the program or project being undertaken with award funds, and a statement explaining that the individual’s salary is commensurate with the regular and customary rate for an individual with his/her qualifications and expertise, and for the work to be done.

Prior Approval, Planning, and Reporting of Conference/Meeting/Training Costs OJP strongly encourages applicants that propose to use award funds for any conference-, meeting-, or training-related activity to review carefully – before submitting an application – the OJP policy and guidance on conference approval, planning, and reporting available at www.ojp.gov/financialguide/PostawardRequirements/chapter15page1.htm. OJP policy and guidance (1) encourage minimization of conference, meeting, and training costs; (2) require prior written approval (which may affect project timelines) of most such costs for cooperative agreement recipients and of some such costs for grant recipients; and (3) set cost limits, including a general prohibition of all food and beverage costs.

Costs Associated with Language Assistance (if applicable) If an applicant proposes a program or activity that would deliver services or benefits to individuals, the costs of taking reasonable steps to provide meaningful access to those services or benefits for individuals with limited English proficiency may be allowable. Reasonable steps to provide meaningful access to services or benefits may include interpretation or translation services where appropriate.

For additional information, see the "Civil Rights Compliance" section under “Solicitation Requirements” in the OJP Funding Resource Center.

C. Eligibility Information For eligibility information, see Title page.

8 This limitation on use of award funds does not apply to the non-profit organizations specifically named at Appendix VIII to 2 C.F.R. part 200.

http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/15Tables/exec/html/ES.aspx http://www.ojp.gov/financialguide/PostawardRequirements/chapter15page1.htm http://ojp.gov/funding/index.htm

Cost Sharing or Match Requirement For additional information on cost sharing and match requirement, see Section B. Federal Award Information.

Limit on Number of Application Submissions If an applicant submits multiple versions of the same application, BJA will review only the most recent system-validated version submitted. For more information on system-validated versions, see How to Apply.

D. Application and Submission Information

What an Application Should Include Applicants should anticipate that if they fail to submit an application that contains all of the specified elements, it may negatively affect the review of their application; and, should a decision be made to make an award, it may result in the inclusion of special conditions that preclude the recipient from accessing or using award funds pending satisfaction of the conditions.

Moreover, applicants should anticipate that applications that are determined to be nonresponsive to the scope of the solicitation, or that do not include the application elements that BJA has designated to be critical, will neither proceed to peer review nor receive further consideration. Under this solicitation, BJA has designated the following application elements as critical: Program Narrative, Budget Detail Worksheet, and Budget Narrative. Applicants may combine the Budget Narrative and the Budget Detail Worksheet in one document. However, if an applicant submits only one budget document, it must contain both narrative and detail information. Please review the “Note on File Names and File Types” under How to Apply to be sure applications are submitted in permitted formats.

OJP strongly recommends that applicants use appropriately descriptive file names (e.g., “Program Narrative,” “Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative,” “Timelines,” “Memoranda of Understanding,” “Resumes”) for all attachments. Also, OJP recommends that applicants include resumes in a single file.

1. Information to Complete the Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424)

The SF-424 is a required standard form used as a cover sheet for submission of pre-applications, applications, and related information. Grants.gov and OJP’s Grants Management System (GMS) take information from the applicant’s profile to populate the fields on this form. When selecting "type of applicant," if the applicant is a for-profit entity, select "For-Profit Organization" or "Small Business" (as applicable).

Intergovernmental Review: This funding opportunity (program) is not subject to Executive Order 12372. (In completing the SF-424, applicants are to make the appropriate selection in response to question 19 to indicate that the “Program is not covered by E.O. 12372.”)

2. Project Abstract Applications should include a high-quality project abstract that summarizes the proposed project in 400 words or less. Project abstracts should be—

Written for a general public audience http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html

Submitted as a separate attachment with “Project Abstract” as part of its file name

Single-spaced, using a standard 12-point font (Times New Roman) with 1-inch margins

As a separate attachment, the project abstract will not count against the page limit for the program narrative.

All project abstracts should follow the detailed template available at ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/ProjectAbstractTemplate.pdf.

Permission to Share Project Abstract with the Public: It is unlikely that BJA will be able to fund all promising applications submitted under this solicitation, but it may have the opportunity to share information with the public regarding promising but unfunded applications, for example, through a listing on a webpage available to the public. The intent of this public posting would be to allow other possible funders to become aware of such proposals.

In the project abstract template, applicants are asked to indicate whether they give OJP permission to share their project abstract (including contact information) with the public.

Granting (or failing to grant) this permission will not affect OJP’s funding decisions, and, if the application is not funded, granting permission will not guarantee that abstract information will be shared, nor will it guarantee funding from any other source.

Note: OJP may choose not to list a project that otherwise would have been included in a listing of promising but unfunded applications, should the abstract fail to meet the format and content requirements noted above and outlined in the project abstract template.

3. Program Narrative The program narrative must respond to the solicitation and the Selection Criteria (1–4) in the order given. The program narrative must be double-spaced, using a standard 12-point font (Times New Roman is preferred) with 1-inch margins, and must not exceed 20 pages.

Please number pages “1 of 20,” “2 of 20,” etc.

If the program narrative fails to comply with these length-related restrictions, BJA may consider such noncompliance in peer review and in final award decisions.

The following sections should be included as part of the program narrative:

a. Statement of the Problem

b. Project Design and Implementation

c. Capabilities and Competencies

d. Plan for Measuring Program Success to Inform Plans for Sustainment

e. Plan for Collecting the Data Required for this Solicitation’s Performance Measures

To assist the Department with fulfilling its responsibilities under the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), Public Law 103-62, and the GPRA Modernization Act of 2010, Public Law 111–352, applicants that receive funding under this solicitation must provide data that measure the results of their work done under this http://ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/ProjectAbstractTemplate.pdf solicitation. Post award, recipients will be required to submit performance metric data quarterly through BJA’s online Training and Technical Assistance Reporting Portal located at www.bjatraining.org.

Performance measures for this solicitation are as follows:

Objective

Performance Measure(s)

Data Grantee Provides

Support the development, implementation, and sustainment of comprehensive, evidence-based, community-oriented crime strategies in targeted neighborhoods through training and technical assistance

Percentage of sites with approved comprehensive strategies to include vision, theory of action, goals, outcome measures and evidence of broad resident, stakeholder and funder buy-in

Percentage of sites with approved comprehensive strategies as components of neighborhood revitalization plans

Number of BCJI sites

Number of BCJI sites with approved comprehensive BCJI strategies to include vision, theory of action, goals, outcome measures and evidence of broad resident, stakeholder and funder buy-in

Number of sites with approved comprehensive BCJI strategies as components of neighborhood revitalization plans

Number of participants who attend the training

Percentage of participants who successfully completed the training

Percentage of participants who rated the training as satisfactory or better

Percentage of participants trained and subsequently demonstrated performance improvement

Percentage of participants trained who reported they will implement one or more policies or practices

Percentage of participants trained who implemented one or more policies or practices 6 months after they were trained

For current reporting period, the number of participants who:

Attended the training

Completed training

Completed an evaluation at the conclusion of the training

Completed an evaluation and rated it as satisfactory or better

Completed a pre- and post-test

Completed the post-test with an improved score over their pre-test

Completed an evaluation and reported that they would make changes in their policies or practices due to training

Implemented changes in policy or practice 6 months after they were trained

Number of onsite visits completed

Percentage of agencies that implemented one or more recommendations

Number of conferences or advisory/focus groups held

During the current reporting period, the number of:

Onsite visits completed with BCJI grantees

Reports submitted to BCJI grantees after onsite visits

Follow-ups with BCJI grantees completed 6 months after onsite visit

BCJI grantees that implemented a new practice or policy 6 months after the onsite visit

During the current reporting period, the number of:

Number of conferences or advisory/focus groups held

Individuals who attended a BCJI conference(s) http://www.bjatraining.org/

Percentage of conferences or forums evaluated as satisfactory or better

Percentage of participants trained and subsequently demonstrated performance improvement

Conference attendees who completed an evaluation

Attendees who rated the conference as satisfactory or better

Conference attendees who completed a pre- and post-test

Conference attendees with an improved score over their pre-test

Increase knowledge of BCJI grantees and the criminal justice community through the development and dissemination of educational materials

Percent of deliverables that meet expectations

Number of publications developed

Number of publications disseminated

Number of deliverables (e.g., BCJI website, online newsletter, webinars, TTA plans, quarterly progress reports, web site resources)

Number of deliverables that meet expectation

Number of unique educational materials (bulletins, presentations, brochures/pamphlets, newsletters, and web sites, etc.) developed

Number of educational materials disseminated to the field

BJA does not require applicants to submit performance measures data with their application. Performance measures are included as an alert that BJA will require successful applicants to submit specific data as part of their reporting requirements. For the application, applicants should indicate an understanding of these requirements and discuss how they will gather the required data, should they receive funding.

Note on Project Evaluations Applicants that propose to use funds awarded through this solicitation to conduct project evaluations should be aware that certain project evaluations (such as systematic investigations designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge) may constitute “research” for purposes of applicable DOJ human subjects protection regulations. However, project evaluations that are intended only to generate internal improvements to a program or service, or are conducted only to meet OJP’s performance measure data reporting requirements likely do not constitute “research.”

Applicants should provide sufficient information for OJP to determine whether the particular project they propose would either intentionally or unintentionally collect and/or use information in such a way that it meets the DOJ regulatory definition of research.

Research, for the purposes of human subjects protections for OJP-funded programs, is defined as, “a systematic investigation, including research development, testing, and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge” 28 C.F.R. § 46.102(d). For additional information on determining whether a proposed activity would constitute research, see the decision tree to assist applicants on the “Research and the Protection of Human Subjects” section of the OJP Funding Resource Center web page (ojp.gov/funding/Explore/SolicitationRequirements/EvidenceResearchEvaluationRequire ments.htm). Applicants whose proposals may involve a research or statistical component also should review the “Data Privacy and Confidentiality Requirements” section on that web page.

http://ojp.gov/funding/Explore/SolicitationRequirements/EvidenceResearchEvaluationRequirements.htm http://ojp.gov/funding/Explore/SolicitationRequirements/EvidenceResearchEvaluationRequirements.htm

4. Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative

a. Budget Detail Worksheet A sample Budget Detail Worksheet can be found at www.ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/BudgetDetailWorksheet.pdf. Applicants that submit their budget in a different format should include the budget categories listed in the sample budget worksheet.

For questions pertaining to budget and examples of allowable and unallowable costs, see the Financial Guide at www.ojp.gov/financialguide/index.htm.

b. Budget Narrative The budget narrative should thoroughly and clearly describe every category of expense listed in the Budget Detail Worksheet. OJP expects proposed budgets to be complete, cost effective, and allowable (e.g., reasonable, allocable, and necessary for project activities).

Applicants should demonstrate in their budget narratives how they will maximize cost effectiveness of grant expenditures. Budget narratives should generally describe cost effectiveness in relation to potential alternatives and the goals of the project. For example, a budget narrative should detail why planned in-person meetings are necessary, or how technology and collaboration with outside organizations could be used to reduce costs, without compromising quality.

The narrative should be mathematically sound and correspond with the information and figures provided in the Budget Detail Worksheet. The narrative should explain how the applicant estimated and calculated all costs, and how they are relevant to the completion of the proposed project. The narrative may include tables for clarification purposes but need not be in a spreadsheet format. As with the Budget Detail Worksheet, the Budget Narrative should be broken down by year.

c. Non-Competitive Procurement Contracts In Excess of Simplified Acquisition Threshold If an applicant proposes to make one or more non-competitive procurements of products or services, where the non-competitive procurement will exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (also known as the small purchase threshold), which is currently set at $150,000, the application should address the considerations outlined in the Financial Guide.

d. Pre-Agreement Cost Approvals For information on pre-agreement costs, see Section B. Federal Award Information.

5. Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable)

Indirect costs are allowed only if the applicant has a current federally approved indirect cost rate. (This requirement does not apply to units of local government.) Attach a copy of the federally approved indirect cost rate agreement to the application. Applicants that do not have an approved rate may request one through their cognizant federal agency, which will review all documentation and approve a rate for the applicant organization, or, if the applicant’s accounting system permits, costs may be allocated in the direct cost categories.

For the definition of Cognizant Federal Agency, see the “Glossary of Terms” in the Financial Guide. For assistance with identifying your cognizant agency, please contact the Customer http://ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/BudgetDetailWorksheet.pdf http://www.ojp.gov/financialguide/index.htm http://ojp.gov/financialguide/index.htm

Service Center at 1-800-458-0786 or at ask.ocfo@usdoj.gov. If DOJ is the cognizant federal agency, applicants may obtain information needed to submit an indirect cost rate proposal at www.ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/IndirectCosts.pdf.

6. Tribal Authorizing Resolution (if applicable)

Tribes, tribal organizations, or third parties proposing to provide direct services or assistance to residents on tribal lands should include in their applications a resolution, a letter, affidavit, or other documentation, as appropriate, that certifies that the applicant has the legal authority from the tribe(s) to implement the proposed project on tribal lands. In those instances when an organization or consortium of tribes applies for a grant on behalf of a tribe or multiple specific tribes, the application should include appropriate legal documentation, as described above, from all tribes that would receive services or assistance under the grant. A consortium of tribes for which existing consortium bylaws allow action without support from all tribes in the consortium (i.e., without an authorizing resolution or comparable legal documentation from each tribal governing body) may submit, instead, a copy of its consortium bylaws with the application.

Applicants unable to submit an application that includes a fully-executed (i.e., signed) copy of appropriate legal documentation, as described above, consistent with the applicable tribe’s governance structure, should, at a minimum, submit an unsigned, draft version of such legal documentation as part of its application (except for cases in which, with respect to a tribal consortium applicant, consortium bylaws allow action without the support of all consortium member tribes). If selected for funding, BJA will make use of and access to funds contingent on receipt of the fully-executed legal documentation.

7. Applicant Disclosure of High Risk Status

Applicants are to disclose whether they are currently designated high risk by another federal grant making agency. This includes any status requiring additional oversight by the federal agency due to past programmatic or financial concerns. If an applicant is designated high risk by another federal grant making agency, you must email the following information to OJPComplianceReporting@usdoj.gov at the time of application submission:

The federal agency that currently designated the applicant as high risk

Date the applicant was designated high risk

The high risk point of contact name, phone number, and email address, from that federal agency

Reasons for the high risk status

OJP seeks this information to ensure appropriate federal oversight of any grant award.

Unlike the Excluded Parties List, this high risk information does not disqualify any organization from receiving an OJP award. However, additional grant oversight may be included, if necessary, in award documentation.

8. Additional Attachments

a. Applicant Disclosure of Pending Applications

Applicants are to disclose whether they have pending applications for federally funded grants or subgrants (including cooperative agreements) that include requests for funding to support the same project being proposed under this solicitation and will cover the identical cost items outlined in the budget narrative and worksheet in the application mailto:ask.ocfo@usdoj.gov http://www.ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/IndirectCosts.pdf mailto:OJPComplianceReporting@usdoj.gov

SAMPLE

under this solicitation. The disclosure should include both direct applications for federal funding (e.g., applications to federal agencies) and indirect applications for such funding (e.g., applications to State agencies that will subaward federal funds).

OJP seeks this information to help avoid any inappropriate duplication of funding.

Leveraging multiple funding sources in a complementary manner to implement comprehensive programs or projects is encouraged and is not seen as inappropriate duplication.

Applicants that have pending applications as described above are to provide the following information about pending applications submitted within the last 12 months:

The federal or state funding agency

The solicitation name/project name

The point of contact information at the applicable funding agency

Applicants should include the table as a separate attachment, with the file name “Disclosure of Pending Applications,” to their application. Applicants that do not have pending applications as described above are to include a statement to this effect in the separate attachment page (e.g., “[Applicant Name on SF-424] does not have pending applications submitted within the last 12 months for federally funded grants or subgrants (including cooperative agreements) that include requests for funding to support the same project being proposed under this solicitation and will cover the identical cost items outlined in the budget narrative and worksheet in the application under this solicitation.”).

b. Research and Evaluation Independence and Integrity

If a proposal involves research and/or evaluation, regardless of the proposal’s other merits, in order to receive funds, the applicant must demonstrate research/evaluation independence, including appropriate safeguards to ensure research/evaluation objectivity and integrity, both in this proposal and as it may relate to the applicant’s other current or prior related projects. This documentation may be included as an attachment to the application which addresses BOTH i. and ii. below.

i. For purposes of this solicitation, applicants must document research and evaluation independence and integrity by including, at a minimum, one of the following two items:

a. A specific assurance that the applicant has reviewed its proposal to identify any research integrity issues (including all principal investigators and sub-recipients) and it has concluded that the design, conduct, or reporting of research and evaluation funded by BJA grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts will not

Federal or State Funding Agency

Solicitation Name/Project Name

Name/Phone/E-mail for Point of Contact at Funding Agency

DOJ/COPS COPS Hiring Program

Jane Doe, 202/000-0000; jane.doe@usdoj.gov

HHS/ Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

Drug Free Communities Mentoring Program/ North County Youth Mentoring Program

John Doe, 202/000-0000;…