24PR13 - Trauma-Informed Crisis Response FINAL.pdf

24PR13

The National Institute of Corrections (NIC), in partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), is seeking applications for funding under the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 to develop a research-based training model to improve trauma-informed crisis responses for people with mental illness and developmental disabilities in a carceral setting.

NIC FY 2024 Training Model to Improve Trauma- Informed Crisis Responses for People with Mental Illness and Developmental Disabilities in a Carceral Setting

Eligibility

NIC invites applications from nonprofit organizations (including faith-based, community, and tribal organizations), for-profit organizations (including tribal for-profit organizations), and institutions of higher education (including tribal institutions of higher education). Recipients, including for-profit organizations, must agree to waive any profit or fee for services. Foreign governments, international organizations, and non-governmental international organizations/institutions are not eligible to apply.

Proof of 501(c) (3) status as determined by the Internal Revenue Service or an authorizing tribal resolution is required.

NIC 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 entire program. Only one (1) application will be accepted from a submitting organization.

NIC 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.

For additional eligibility information, see Section C. Eligibility Information.

Deadline

Applicants must register with Grants.gov prior to submitting an application. NIC encourages applicants to register several weeks before the application submission deadline. In addition, NIC urges applicants to submit applications 72 hours prior to the application due date. 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 June 24, 2024.

Late applications are neither reviewed nor considered.

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

http://www.nicic.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html

Contact Information

For programmatic questions concerning this solicitation contact Dena Owens, Correctional Program Specialist, National Institute of Corrections, at d41williams@bop.gov. Responses to programmatic questions will be posted on NIC’s website for public review. The website will be updated regularly, and postings will remain on the website until the closing date of this solicitation.

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

Applicants who experience unforeseen Grants.gov technical issues beyond their control that prevent them from submitting their application by the deadline must e-mail the NIC at BOP-NIC/General@bop.gov 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.

Grants.gov number assigned to this announcement: 24PR13 Release date: April 22, 2024 mailto:support@grants.gov mailto:BOP-NIC/General@bop.gov

Contents NIC FY 2024 Training Model to Improve Trauma-Informed Crisis Responses for People with Mental Illness and Developmental Disabilities in a Carceral Setting

Eligibility

Deadline

Contact Information

NIC FY 2024 Training Model to Improve Trauma-Informed Crisis Responses for People with Mental Illness and Developmental Disabilities in a Carceral Setting

(CFDA # 16.601)

A. Program Description

Overview

Program-Specific Information

Goals

Objectives

Deliverables

Applications must include in Program Narrative and Budget Narrative the incorporation of products delivered meet Plain Language and 508 Standards

Cooperative Agreements require significant staff involvement excluding the basic monitoring of the project, progress, deliverables and reports

B. Federal Award Information

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls

Budget Information

C. Eligibility Information

D. Application and Submission Information

What an Application Should Include Statement of the problem Project Design and Implementation Logic Model Timeline or Milestone Chart Capabilities and Competencies, Résumés of All Key Personnel Letters of Support/Memoranda of Understanding Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative

Budget and Budget Justification

How to Apply

All applicants are required to complete the following steps:

Acquire and maintain registration with the System for Award Management (SAM) Acquire an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) and a Grants.gov username and password

How to Submit an Application to the National Institute of Corrections via Grants.gov Grants.gov applicants can apply online using Workspace Applicant Support Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission Duplicate applications Experiencing Unforeseen Grants.gov Technical Issues

E. Application Review Information Selection Criteria Programmatic Review (40) Organizational Review (35) Management/Administrative Review (25) Review Process

F. Federal Award Administration Information Federal Award Notices Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements Plain Language Section 508 Accessibility Paperwork Reduction Act

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)

H. Other Information Provide Feedback to NIC

NIC FY 2024 Training Model to Improve Trauma-Informed Crisis Responses for People with Mental Illness and Developmental Disabilities in a Carceral Setting

(CFDA # 16.601)

A. Program Description

Overview

Current estimates suggest that 14% of people incarcerated in state and federal prisons and 25% of people incarcerated in jails have a serious mental illness compared to only 5% of the U.S. population. The magnitude of the problem of untreated mental illness is revealed not only in the numbers but also in the consequences. People with untreated mental illness are more likely to experience suicide, victimization, and violence. The rates of suicide among people incarcerated are far higher than national averages, and even higher still for special populations (including juvenile and LGBTI individuals), resulting in a behavioral health crisis.

The Memphis police department developed crisis intervention team (CIT) training in 1988 following an encounter with a man with schizophrenia. The traditional CIT program, known as the “Memphis model,” is a one-week, 40-hour intensive training course on identifying mental illness, de-escalating situations, and diverting individuals from the criminal justice system. There are three main goals of CIT training: (1) to improve officers’ knowledge of mental health, (2) to reduce the use of force, and (3) to increase diversion to treatment. As of 2016, CIT had been replicated in over 400 jurisdictions domestically and over 1,500 internationally. The rapid expansion of CIT in law enforcement led the intervention to be adapted for corrections. Although the research on CIT in corrections is limited, data suggests that CIT can effectively help jurisdictions manage crises, prioritize mental health care, and reduce use-of-force incidents.

In 2010, the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) recognized that there was an opportunity to formally introduce the CIT Law Enforcement Model to corrections and detention agencies. The CIT Program for Corrections and Detention was developed and designed for jails, prisons, and community corrections agencies alike. It focused on building an agency’s capacity to implement a locally owned and administered CIT program and the training for that jurisdiction.

From December 2010 to March 2014, NIC implemented Phase I of its CIT Program for Corrections and Detention. During this time, staff representing 19 jail systems, 20 state departments of corrections, and one team from U.S. Probation and Parole, were trained in the tenets of CIT. These three-person teams (consisting of one mental health advocate, operations executive, and behavioral health clinician) were encouraged to take the information learned at the National Corrections Academy in Aurora, Colorado, back to their respective agencies to strategically plan the implementation of a locally owned CIT program.

In June 2014, NIC implemented Phase II (also referred to as a Partnership Training Program) of its CIT initiative. This 40-hour classroom-based CIT program is held at a host state department of corrections or jail. Through the end of September 2017, seven jail systems and five state departments of corrections have benefitted from the Phase II initiative.

In September 2017, the National Institute of Corrections and the Bureau of Justice Assistance were approached by the Sheriffs Association of Texas and the Texas Commission on Jail Standards to develop a 40-hour customized crisis intervention training for jailers in the State of Texas and an accompanying 40-hour train-the-trainer course that could be used to train jailers from 254 counties in Texas in alignment with existing jail standards. This request was in response to the anticipated passage of the Sandra Bland Act, a major criminal justice reform bill that passed the Texas Legislature during the 85th Regular Session. The Sandra Bland Act as introduced presented the gold standard of what can be done in criminal justice reform. One such provision of the Act included Peace Office and Jailer De-escalation Training. As of April 1, 2018, all new cadets were to receive a mandatory 40-hour training program on de-escalation and crisis intervention. Additionally, all current officers now had de-escalation training as part of their required continuing education every two years. This de-escalation training teaches officers how to tactically use communication, time, and space to calm a situation down instead of taking a command approach to try to end the situation as quickly as possible.

An early evaluation of CIT implementation in a Maine county jail showed that CIT officers appreciated the new skills and knowledge provided by the training and said they felt better prepared to handle mental health crises. They also reported using more verbal de-escalation and less physical force when responding to incidents involving persons with mental illness. A follow-up to that evaluation found that officers who received the training were more likely to verbally de-escalate a situation and less likely to use physical force.

Other recent studies provide promising evidence of the effectiveness of CIT in corrections. A study by McNeely and Donley (2020) examined CIT implementation by the Minnesota Department of Corrections (Minnesota DOC) and its effect on mental health referrals, individual compliance, and the use of force by correctional officers. Their findings showed that CIT officers were 350% more likely to refer individuals incarcerated to mental health services, but the training was not associated with any change in officers’ use of force. Other findings from that study showed that while CIT training did not affect immediate individual compliance, it did increase eventual compliance by over 200%.

Another study of CIT implementation at an Oakland County jail in Michigan found that CIT significantly improved correctional officers’ understanding and perceptions of mental illness, improved officer self-efficacy, and significantly decreased the use of correction emergency response teams (CRT), suggesting a decrease in officers’ use of force and improved verbal de-escalation.

Finally, most recently, a study at the Missouri Department of Corrections found that compared to non- CIT-trained officers, CIT-trained officers had significantly lower stigmatizing attitudes, more mental health knowledge, and better perceptions of options following CIT training compared with non-CIT-trained officers. A random selection of CIT-trained officers was also interviewed six to nine months after the training and reported that CIT had reduced their use of force.

NIC in partnership with BJA seeks to provide funding to create a researched-based Training Model to Improve Trauma-Informed Responses to People with Mental Illness and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Carceral settings. Its purpose is providing a critical resource for correctional custody supervision in de-escalating crisis and decreasing the likelihood of violence and injury to people in custody, medical and health care providers, and correctional staff.

Program-Specific Information This cooperative agreement focuses on developing a comprehensive national crisis intervention train-the-trainer program to educate, train, and prepare jail and prison staff so they are equipped to appropriately interact with people in a carceral setting who have mental illness (MI) and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). This training should be developed by an institution of higher education or non-profit, /for profit/tribal in conjunction with health care and corrections professionals to ensure a multidisciplinary approach. The training must focus on understanding behavioral health, including MI and substance use disorders, IDD, developing empathy, navigating community resources, and de-escalation skills and practical application training of those skills in a trauma-informed manner for all staff working in prisons and jails. The centerpiece of this training must be a 40-hour CIT train-the-trainer program, building from the following:

1. Crisis Intervention Teams: A Frontline Response to Mental Illness in Corrections [Lesson Plans and Participant's Manual] | National Institute of Corrections (nicic.gov)

2. Texas Sheriffs Association, Jail Mental Health Officer Training: A Texas Mental Health Training

Initiative for Jails Instructor Guide, Revised November 2018.

Tailored specifically for prisons and jails, this train-the-trainer program will serve as a pilot program, establishing best practices for federal, state, local, and tribal correctional agencies.

Applicants have the option to propose one of the following approaches:

1. Dual Curriculum Approach: Applicants may opt to develop two distinct curricula – one tailored specifically for prisons and another tailored specifically for jails. Each curriculum should address the unique challenges and requirements of the respective setting while adhering to the tenets of CIT training.

2. Unified Curriculum Approach: Applicants may propose a single, comprehensive curriculum designed to be adaptable for use in both prison and jail settings. The approach should emphasize the development of core competencies and skills that are universally applicable while allowing customization to address specific nuances and dynamics within each setting.

Goals

The overall goal of the research-based national training model is to enhance and increase crisis training and to support prisons and jails through a pilot train-the-trainer program. Applicants must describe how they will build upon NIC’s existing resource, Crisis Intervention Teams: A Frontline Response to Mental Illness in Corrections [Lesson Plans and Participant's Manual] | National Institute of Corrections (nicic.gov) and the Texas Sheriffs Association, Jail Mental Health Officer Training: A Texas Mental Health Training Initiative for Jails Instructor Guide, Revised November 2018. 40-hour Crisis Intervention Training. These curricula provide trainees with a 5-day, 40-hour training that has modules of varying lengths and delivery modes for a variety of learning styles. They are modeled after the research-based Memphis Model Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) approach, with the expanded capability to be customizable to local community resources and needs.

Objectives

1. Develop a trauma-informed crisis response train-the-trainer curriculum for correctional officers and mental health, medical, and other front-line correctional staff that is based in academia and is multidisciplinary.

2. Pilot the curriculum.

3. Create and administer evaluations for participants to assess knowledge and skills before and after their training.

https://nicic.gov/resources/nic-library/all-library-items/crisis-intervention-teams-frontline-response-mental-illness https://nicic.gov/resources/nic-library/all-library-items/crisis-intervention-teams-frontline-response-mental-illness https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.nicic.gov/nicic.gov/files/media/document/24-04-05%20-%20Texas%20-%20JMHO%20Instructor%207-19.pdf?VersionId=h5NzTaS4SAm3tZ.HESf_LrJSReuSO7mF https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.nicic.gov/nicic.gov/files/media/document/24-04-05%20-%20Texas%20-%20JMHO%20Instructor%207-19.pdf?VersionId=h5NzTaS4SAm3tZ.HESf_LrJSReuSO7mF

4. Revise the curriculum upon completion of the pilot.

Deliverables

1. Participate in a virtual kickoff meeting with the NIC and BJA program managers to discuss the scope of work and all related aspects of the cooperative agreement. Clarification of goals, objectives, and deliverables will occur, including setting initial deadlines and role clarification within fifteen (15) days of the award. The awardee will be responsible for providing minutes and recommendations to NIC and meeting participants.

2. Provide a work plan that lists the activities and describes how they relate to the stated objectives.

Describe the specific actions and how they will fulfill the program’s objectives and reach the program’s goal(s). Provide a detailed description of the method(s) to be used to carry out each activity. Provide a timetable/project plan indicating roughly when the activities or program milestones are to be accomplished and who is responsible.

3. Describe the specific actions and how they will fulfill the program’s objectives and reach the program’s goal(s). Provide a detailed description of the method(s) to be used to carry out each activity. Provide a timetable/project plan indicating roughly when the activities or program milestones are to be accomplished and who is responsible.

4. Address whether any of the program-specific priority areas have been met.

5. Facilitate a two-day virtual focus group and planning meeting with at least 3 subject matter experts

(SMEs) and the program managers from NIC and BJA. SMEs will be chosen in collaboration with the NIC program manager and seek concurrence from BJA. SMEs must have significant experience, knowledge, and skills (i.e., five or more years) working with curriculum content, design, and instructional development. SMEs must also have expertise in delivering training to correctional audiences on issues specific to CIT for jails and prisons. The awardee will be responsible for all fees for the work of SMEs. Any work of SMEs beyond the focus group is also the awardee’s responsibility.

6. Conduct a comprehensive review of current research, literature, and best practices available in coordinated crisis response relevant to carceral settings and identify areas of further development to grow the number of available tools and products for prisons and jails and their medical and behavioral health provider partners.

7. Develop a research-based national 40-hour CIT classroom-based train-the-trainer curriculum specific to prisons and jails. The curriculum must be developed using Instructional Theory Into Practice

(ITIP).

8. The curriculum must be developed in conjunction with health care and corrections professionals and, at a minimum, focus on the following elements/modules: understanding mental and behavioral health, developing empathy, navigating community resources, and de-escalation skills and practical application of those skills. The awardee will develop lesson plans, course media, a participant manual, and a facilitator manual for the 40-hour CIT classroom-based training program using the course content.

a. The facilitator manual must include presentation slides for each lesson plan;

supplemental material such as visual or audio aids, handouts, and exercises; and eight hours of roleplaying scenario-based training. The roleplaying scenario content https://nicic.gov/resources/nic-library/all-library-items/itip-toolkit-guide-working-curriculum-developers should be specific to and representative of situations that may occur in prisons and jails. The participant manual should include the program overview, a statement of commitment, a generic training agenda, a table of contents, handouts, and the narrative material for each module.

9. Provide draft versions of the proposed curriculum to NIC and BJA for review, response, and approval.

10. Facilitate two 40-hour CIT trainings to pilot the classroom-based train-the-trainer curriculum. Jail and prison sites and agencies will be selected by the NIC program manager.

11. Provide 4 SMEs approved by NIC who will facilitate the 40-hour classroom-based instruction. Travel expenses for the SMEs are the responsibility of the awardee.

12. Provide 4 professional actors approved by NIC with experience in CIT training who will perform the

8 hours of role-play scenarios. Travel expenses for the actors are the responsibility of the awardee.

13. Revise the curriculum upon completion of the pilots.

14. Conduct strategic planning with jails and prison agencies participating in the pilot classroom-based training to assist them in planning, developing, and implementing academic-based, comprehensive CIT training and associated policies and practices required to successfully implement the full program. Additionally, assist these agencies in identifying and securing the participation of collaborating partners required for implementation, including but not limited to mental and behavioral health, housing, and wraparound service agencies to ensure that multiagency, existing policies and procedures required for implementation are reviewed and modified as appropriate.

Administer the Kirkpatrick Training Evaluation Model to assess (1) initial reactions to the event, (2) the degree of knowledge transfer, (3) behavioral change and application of new skill sets, and (4) effect on the identified outcome.

15. The evaluations must be analyzed, and major findings must be discussed with NIC and BJA program managers to inform the program of any needed modifications.

16. Maintain regular, routine contact with NIC and BJA program managers regarding programmatic and deliverable progress through three (3) quarterly progress reports and one (1) final report (all of which adhere to written requirements and the proscribed schedule outlined in the award documents).

17. Complete any additional ad hoc tasks/deliverables requested or deemed necessary by NIC and BJA to address topics related to correctional/mental and behavioral health safety strategies. The applicant may set aside a conservative amount in its budget to be used for these activities, or it may be required to coordinate with NIC and BJA and receive approval to reallocate its funding.

Specific Requirements

• The awardee will actively work with the NIC program manager to determine the suitability of SMEs and actors. The final determination rests with the NIC program manager.

• The awardee is responsible for all fees and travel costs for SMEs and actors.

• The awardee will print and distribute instructor/facilitator manuals, participant manuals, and associated materials for all training events and provide copies for the NIC program manager.

• The awardee will, at a minimum, deliver the following items in electronic versions via thumb drive, email, and hard copy for all curricula in this cooperative agreement:

o Program overview o Program agenda o Detailed trainer agenda o Detailed narrative lesson plans o Individual lesson plans by module o Comprehensive instructor manual with attached cover including all lesson plans in one cohesive document.

o Participant manual that follows the lesson plan o Supplemental materials (e.g., handouts, activities, etc.)

Applications must include in the Program Narrative and Budget Narrative the incorporation of products delivered to meet Plain Language and 508 Standards.

NIC Staff Responsibilities Cooperative agreements require significant staff involvement in addition to the basic monitoring of the project, progress, deliverables, and reports.

Significant staff involvement may include the following:

• Serve as subject matter expert in the project.

• Approve subject matter experts.

• Review and approve curricula and training plans.

• Approve project timelines.

• Attend pilot training.

• Work collaboratively on all deliverables.

The successful applicant must complete the deliverables specified in the statement of work and program description during the project period in addition to the strategy and content of the program design. The program narrative should reflect how the applicant will accomplish these activities.

Before approving a deliverable, NIC reserves the right to review the deliverable for adherence to Section 508 accessibility standards. If NIC determines that the applicant’s deliverable requires a higher level of conformance than what was actually received, NIC may, at its option, reject the deliverable and require the applicant to remediate the deliverable to align with the applicant’s stated Section 508 conformance claims before its approval.

Additionally, before approving a deliverable, NIC reserves the right to review the applicant’s deliverables for conformance to federal plain writing guidelines and NIC Guidelines for Preparing and Submitting Manuscripts for Publication. If NIC determines that the applicant’s deliverables do not meet all applicable guidelines, NIC may, at its option, reject the deliverable and require the applicant to remediate the deliverable to be aligned with those guidelines.

Evidence-Based Programs or Practices.

NIC strongly emphasizes the use of data and evidence in policy making and program development.

• improving the quantity and quality of evidence NIC generates;

• integrating evidence into program, practice, and policy decisions within NIC and the field; and

• improving the translation of evidence into practice.

NIC 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 NIC considers a program or practice to be evidence-based.

Accessibility Requirements Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-

220) requires that when federal agencies develop, buy, maintain, or use information and communication technology (ICT), it shall be accessible to people with disabilities. Federal employees and members of the public who have disabilities must have access to and use of information and data comparable to employees and members of the public without disabilities.

Deliverables submitted as part of this project must conform to the Revised Section 508 Standards (see 36 C.F.R. § 1194.1 & Apps. A, C & D), which are available online at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2017-title36-vol3/xml/CFR-2017-title36-vol3-part1194.xml.

All functional performance criteria apply when the requirements outlined Chapters 4–6 of the Revised 508 Standards either (1) do not address one or more functions of ICT or (2) provide lower accessibility and usability for people with disabilities than would be provided by using alternative design or technology. All Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Level A and AA success criteria and 502 Interoperability with Assistive Technology and 503 Application of the Revised 508 Standards apply. All requirements for hardware features, components, and support services and documentation also apply. See https://www.section508.gov/

Plain Language Requirements The Plain Writing Act of 2010 requires federal agencies to use plain writing in documents that are necessary for obtaining government funding, providing information about federal government benefits or services, or explaining to the public how to comply with a requirement that the federal government administers or enforces. The Act also requires agencies to use plain writing in every paper or electronic letter, publication, form, notice, or instruction. Its purpose is to improve the effectiveness and accountability of federal agencies. See http://www.nicic.gov/plainlanguage and https://plainlanguage.gov/law/

Deliverables submitted as part of this project must adhere to the federal plain writing guidelines, which are available at https://www.plainlanguage.gov/guidelines/, and the NIC Guidelines for Preparing and Submitting Manuscripts for Publication, which is available at https://www.nicic.gov/plainlanguage.

Additional resources NIC training and technical assistance awardee standards. NIC has developed the TA Handbook] to promote among providers the consistency and quality of NIC-sponsored training and technical assistance and to advance common expectations of performance excellence. The standards present minimum expectations that providers must meet for effective practice in the planning, coordination, delivery, and evaluation of training.

B. Federal Award Information

NIC expects to make one award for as much as $1,000,000.00 for a 12-month project period, beginning on August 8, 2024. Requests for amounts more than $1,000,000.00, including direct and indirect costs will https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2017-title36-vol3/xml/CFR-2017-title36-vol3-part1194.xml https://www.section508.gov/ http://www.nicic.gov/plainlanguage https://plainlanguage.gov/law/ https://www.plainlanguage.gov/guidelines/ https://www.nicic.gov/plainlanguage not be considered.

Type of award. NIC expects to make an award from this solicitation in the form of a cooperative agreement which is a particular type of grant used when NIC 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, additional information on the substantial involvement can be found in Section A. See Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements, under Section F. Federal Award Administration, for details regarding the federal involvement anticipated under an award from this solicitation.

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

If the awardee demonstrates significant progress toward implementing project activities and achieving project goals, NIC may, in certain cases, provide supplemental non-competitive funding for FY 2025 and FY 2026 to the awardee. With the supplemental funding, the project period can be extended up to two additional 12-month increments for an overall project period of 36 months. 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.

Performance Measures

Performance measures capture outcomes of cooperative agreement activities, demonstrating if programs accomplish goals and objectives. NIC requires all applicants to submit quarterly progress reports demonstrating progress towards completion of the work proposed under this solicitation. The performance measures for this solicitation are outlined on the following page:

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-A/subject-group-ECFR2a6a0087862fd2c/section-200.1 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-A/subject-group-ECFR2a6a0087862fd2c/section-200.1

Objective Performance Measure(s)

Description Data Grantee Provides

Meet with NIC and BJA program managers for initial kick-off meeting.

Hold meeting/ present strategy to accomplish work.

Meeting to focus on clarification of goals, objectives, and deliverables, including setting of initial deadlines.

Meeting minutes shared with all participants that include any identified milestones and timelines agreed upon.

Conduct a focus group meeting.

Hold a meeting. Meeting to review all modules and identify updates needed.

Documented feedback of all recommendations.

Develop and implement the trauma-informed crisis response training for correctional officers and mental health, medical, and other front-line correctional staff that is based in academia and is multidisciplinary.

Provide draft of curriculum, lesson plan, instructor, and participant manual, etc.

An explanation of the updates made and the subject matter experts’ suggestions and feedback that occurred during the reporting period.

Number and type of materials updated and provided during the reporting period.

Deliver 40-hour classroom-based CIT train-the-trainer course

Delivery of 2 CIT trainings meeting all deliverable requirements

This measure represents the number of planning, training, or technical assistance activities held during the reporting period.

Number of planning, training, or technical assistance events held during the reporting period

Edit curriculum Revise curriculum upon completion of the pilot program

This measure represents the number and type of program materials that were revised during the reporting period

Number and type of program materials revised during the reporting period.

Maintain regular, routine contact with NIC program manager regarding programmatic and deliverable progress.

Provide quarterly and final progress reports.

Regular communication between the awardee and the NIC program manager is critical to the successful completion of the deliverables outlined in this solicitation. A formal means of communication (and subsequent written records) enables both parties to effectively share information in a consistent manner.

Three (3) quarterly progress reports and one (1) final report (all of which adhere to written requirements and the proscribed schedule outlined in the award documents).

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls

Award recipients and subrecipients (including recipients or subrecipients that are pass-through entities) must, as described in Part 200 Uniform Requirements as sent out as set out at 2 C.F.R. 200.303:

Establish and maintain effective internal control over the federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the nonfederal 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).

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

Evaluate and monitor the nonfederal entity's compliance with statute, regulations, and the terms and conditions of federal awards.

Take prompt action when instances of noncompliance are identified, including noncompliance identified in audit findings.

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 nonfederal entity considers sensitive consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding privacy and obligations of confidentiality.

Budget Information

Funding Restrictions Foreign Travel is not allowed unless prior written approval is received from Awarding Agency (NIC).

Equipment purchases are not allowed. Construction is not an allowable activity.

Incentives or Stipends Unless specifically listed in Section A, NIC will not fund incentives or Stipends.

Pre-Agreement Cost Approvals NIC does not typically approve pre-agreement costs; an applicant must request and obtain the prior written approval of NIC 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 NIC’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.

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. The 2024 salary table for SES employees is available at the Office of Personnel Management website. 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.)

C. Eligibility Information

NIC invites applications from nonprofit organizations (including faith-based, community, and tribal organizations), for-profit organizations (including tribal for-profit organizations), and institutions of higher education (including tribal institutions of higher education). Recipients, including for-profit organizations, must agree to waive any profit or fee for services. Foreign governments, international organizations, and non-governmental international organizations/institutions are not eligible to apply.

Proof of 501(c) (3) status as determined by the Internal Revenue Service or an authorizing tribal resolution is required.

NIC 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 entire program. Only one (1) application will be accepted from a submitting organization.

NIC 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.

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement This solicitation does not require cost sharing or match. However, if a successful application proposes a voluntary cost share or match amount, and NIC approves the budget, the total cost share or match amount shall be incorporated into the approved budget, and becomes mandatory and subject to audit. Cost sharing or match will not be used as a factor during the merit review of applications.

Limit on Number of Application Submissions If an applicant submits multiple versions of the same application, NIC 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. See attached checklist.

Moreover, applicants should anticipate that applications that are determined to be nonresponsive to the scope of the solicitation, do not request funding within the funding limit, or that do not include the application elements that NIC has designated to be critical, will neither proceed to peer review nor receive https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2023/executive-senior-level further consideration. Under this solicitation, NIC has designated the following application elements as critical: Project Abstract, Program Narrative, Accessibility Conformance Report, Budget Detail Worksheet, Budget Narrative, Logic Model, Timeline or Milestone Chart and résumés of all key personnel.

Applicants should review the “Note on File Names and File Types” under How To Apply to be sure that they submit their applications in the permitted formats.

NIC strongly recommends that applicants use appropriately descriptive file names (e.g., “Accessibility Conformance Report”, “Program Narrative,” “Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative,” “Timelines,” “Memoranda of Understanding,” “Résumés”) for all attachments. Also, NIC recommends that applicants include résumés in a single file.

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. This form can be found on Grants.gov and NIC’s website https://nicic.gov/invitations-bid-and-requests-proposal.

Intergovernmental review This funding opportunity 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.”)

Project Abstract Applications must 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;

• submitted as a separate attachment with “Project Abstract” as part of its file name; and

• 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.

The abstract should briefly describe the project’s purpose, the population to be served, and the activities that the applicant will implement to achieve the project’s goals and objectives. The abstract should describe how the applicant will measure progress toward these goals.

Program Narrative Applicants must submit a program narrative that presents a detailed description of the purpose, goals, objectives, strategies, design, and management of the proposed program. The program narrative should be double-spaced with 1-inch margins, not exceeding 30 pages of 8½ by 11 inches, and use a standard 12-point font, preferably Times New Roman. Pages should be numbered “1 of 30,” etc. The tables, charts, pictures, etc., including all captions, legends, keys, subtext, etc., may be single-spaced and will count in the 30-page limit. Material required under the Budget and Budget Narrative and Additional Attachments sections will not count toward the program narrative page count. Applicants may provide bibliographical references as a separate attachment that will not count toward the 30-page program narrative limit. If the program narrative fails to comply with these length-related restrictions, NIC may consider such noncompliance in peer review and in final award decisions.

https://www.grants.gov/forms https://nicic.gov/invitations-bid-and-requests-proposal http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html

The program narrative should address the following selection criteria: (1) statement of the problem; (2) goals, objectives, and performance measures; (3) program design and implementation; and (4) capabilities/competencies. The applicant should clearly delineate the connections between and among each of these sections. For example, the applicant should derive the goals and objectives directly from the problems to be addressed. Similarly, the project design section should clearly explain how the program’s structure and activities will accomplish the goals and objectives identified in the previous section.

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

Statement of the problem.

Applicants should describe any research or evaluation studies that relate to the problem and contribute to the applicant’s understanding of its causes and potential solutions. While NIC expects applicants to review the research literature for relevant studies, they should also explore whether unpublished local sources of research or evaluation data are available.

Goals, objectives, and performance measures.

Applicants should describe the goals of the proposed training and technical assistance program and identify its objectives. When formulating the program’s goals and objectives, applicants should be cognizant of the performance measures that NIC will require successful applicants to provide.

Goals. Applicants should describe the program’s intent to deliver training and technical assistance, as described in the previous section and outline the project’s goals.

Program objectives. Applicants should explain how the program will accomplish its goals.

Objectives are specific, quantifiable statements of the project’s desired results. They should be clearly linked to the training and technical assistance strategy identified in the preceding section and measurable.

NIC does not require applicants to submit performance measures data with their application.

Performance measures are included as an alert that NIC 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.

Project Design and Implementation Applicants should detail how the project will operate throughout the funding period and describe the strategies that they will use to achieve the goals and objectives identified in the previous section.

Applicants should describe how they will complete the deliverables stated in the Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables section on page 5. NIC encourages applicants to select evidence-based practices for their programs.

Logic Model Applicants must include a logic model that graphically illustrates how the performance measures are related to the project’s problems, goals, objectives, and design. Applicants should submit the logic model as a separate attachment, as stipulated in Additional Attachments.

Timeline or Milestone Chart Applicants must submit a milestone chart that indicates major tasks associated with the goals and objectives of the project, assigns responsibility for each, and plots completion of each task by month or quarter for the duration of the award, using “Year 1,” “Month 1,” “Quarter 1,” etc., not calendar dates.

Applicants should submit the timeline as a separate attachment, as stipulated in Additional Attachments, page 19. On receipt of an award, the recipient may revise the timeline, based on training and technical assistance that NIC will provide.

Capabilities and Competencies, Résumés of All Key Personnel This section should describe the experience and capability of the applicant organization and any contractors or subawards that the applicant will use to implement and manage this effort and its associated federal funding, highlighting any previous experience implementing projects of similar design or magnitude. Applicants should highlight their experience/capability/capacity to manage subawards, including details on their system for fiscal accountability. Management and staffing patterns should be clearly connected to the project design described in the previous section. Applicants should describe the roles and responsibilities of project staff and explain the program’s organizational structure and operations. Applicants should include a copy of an organizational chart showing how the organization operates, including who manages the finances; how the organization manages subawards, if there are any;

and the management of the project proposed for funding.

Letters of Support/Memoranda of Understanding If submitting a joint application, as described under Section C: Eligibility Information, page 1, applicants should provide signed and dated letters of support or memoranda of understanding for all key partners that include the following:

expression of support for the program and a statement of willingness to participate and collaborate with it;

description of the partner’s current role and responsibilities in the planning process and expected responsibilities when the program is operational; and estimate of the percentage of time that the partner will devote to the planning and operation of the project.

Accessibility Conformance Report Applicants must provide an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) for each type of Information and Communication…