draft fy15 bridge project solicitation.version 2. 02.11.15.pdf

OMB No. 1121-0329

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

Office of Justice Programs

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) is seeking applications for the FY15 Bridging Research and Practice Project to Advance Juvenile Justice and Safety (The Bridge Project).

The Bridge Project will develop research-to-practice resources to advance the understanding, translation, and application of research and research-based strategies across four primary components of the juvenile justice system: 1) Prevention and diversion; 2) Community-based alternatives to placement; 3) Detention and secure confinement; and 4) Reentry. This project furthers the Department’s mission by developing innovative and easily accessible, consumable resources and tools for juvenile justice practitioners, administrators, and policymakers. The project will assist OJJDP in identifying and synthesizing relevant research into actionable, evidence-based practice tools to improve public safety and the effectiveness of the juvenile justice system.

OJJDP FY2015 Bridging Research and Practice Project To Advance Juvenile Justice and Safety

Eligibility

In general, OJJDP is authorized to make grants to or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with states (including territories), units of local government (including federally recognized Indian tribal governments, as determined by the Secretary of the Interior), nonprofit and for-profit organizations (including tribal nonprofit or for-profit organizations), institutions of higher education (including tribal institutions of higher education), and certain qualified individuals. For-profit organizations must agree to forgo any profit or management fee. Foreign governments, foreign organizations, and foreign institutions of higher education are not eligible to apply.

OJJDP welcomes applications that involve two or more entities; however, one eligible entity must be the applicant and the other(s) must be proposed as subrecipient(s). The applicant must be the entity with primary responsibility for conducting and leading the project. If successful, the applicant will be responsible for monitoring and managing any subrecipients or, as applicable, for administering any procurement subcontracts that would receive federal program funds from the applicant under the award. OJJDP will consider only one application per lead applicant;

however, subrecipients may be part of multiple proposals. (Applicants should also review and consider the “Duplicate Applications” note under How To Apply in Section D. Application and Submission Information.)

OJJDP 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.

http://www.usdoj.gov/ http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ http://www.ojjdp.gov/ http://www.ojjdp.gov/

OJJDP-2015-4108

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 28, 2015.

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. 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 OJJDP 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 Response Center by telephone at 800-851-3420, by e-mail at responsecenter@ncjrs.gov, or by Web Chat at https://webcontact.ncjrs.gov/ncjchat/chat.jsp. Answers to frequently asked questions that may assist applicants are posted at http://www.ojjdp.gov/grants/solicitations/FY2015/FAQ/VOCATTABridgingFAQ.pdf.

Grants.gov number assigned to this announcement: OJJDP-2015-4108

Release date: March 31, 2015 http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply_for_grants.jsp http://ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Grants-govInfo.htm http://ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Grants-govInfo.htm mailto:support@grants.gov mailto:responsecenter@ncjrs.gov https://webcontact.ncjrs.gov/ncjchat/chat.jsp http://www.ojjdp.gov/grants/solicitations/FY2015/FAQ/VOCATTABridgingFAQ.pdf

Contents

A. Program Description

Overview

Program-Specific Information

Goals, Objectives, Deliverables, and Expected Scholarly Products

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

C. Eligibility Information

Cost Sharing or Match Requirement

Limit on Number of Applications 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

OJJDP FY2015 Bridging Research and Practice Project To Advance Juvenile Justice and Safety

(CFDA #16.540)

A. Program Description

Overview

This project will develop research-to-practice resources to advance the understanding, translation, and application of research and research-based strategies across four primary components of the juvenile justice system: (1) prevention and diversion, (2) community-based alternatives to placement, (3) detention and secure confinement, and (4) reentry. The intent of this project is to assist OJJDP, practitioners, and researchers with the translation and dissemination of research findings to be more understandable, useful, and strategically targeted. This project will collect and analyze current research findings on effective juvenile justice practices and develop innovative and easily accessible, consumable resources and tools for juvenile justice practitioners, administrators, and policymakers. The project will assist OJJDP in identifying and synthesizing relevant research into actionable, evidence-based practice tools to improve public safety and the effectiveness of the juvenile justice system.

Authorizing legislation. This program is authorized by 42 U.S.C. § 5631-5633.

Program-Specific Information

The Bridge Project will help build a nexus between research and practice in juvenile justice.

OJJDP and many other organizations, agencies, and academic institutions have long supported a diverse and rigorous portfolio of research in juvenile justice prevention and intervention and system reforms; however, translating knowledge gained from research and promoting widespread understanding, uptake, and implementation remains a challenge.

While in theory important research findings may seem a logical impetus for changes to practice, the reality is that it takes unique expertise and skills to assess which findings merit wide-scale adoption and then to transform this knowledge into resources that have practical utility to the field.

OJJDP expects that this project will help develop practitioner resources and tools to ensure that any youth’s contact with the juvenile justice system is Rare, Fair, and Beneficial because the system uses the best research-based practice and policy strategies available.

This research translation project will require the successful applicant to work closely with OJJDP to address research-to-practice gaps by creating both the translational materials and products (e.g., interactive online tools, printed materials, resources, etc.) and innovative dissemination strategies that are most likely to facilitate uptake and use of research findings by the target juvenile justice stakeholders. These strategies will be grounded in and guided by the latest research in organizational change, implementation science, and dissemination technologies. The target audiences include juvenile justice professionals responsible for policy, practices, and programs across the noted priority areas in the juvenile justice system.

The four priority areas include, but are not limited to:

http://www.ojjdp.gov/about/missionstatement.html prevention and diversion to prevent youth from unnecessarily entering the juvenile justice system.

community-based alternatives to placement to provide the best match for youth’s risks and needs in a community setting.

detention and secure confinement to ensure youth in facilities receive developmentally appropriate treatment.

reentry to help youth successfully transition back to the community.

The successful applicant will work with OJJDP to build upon and coordinate with other evidence-based resources, such as OJP’s CrimeSolutions.gov and OJJDP’s Model Program Guide; however, the scope and focus of this project is not to create an evidence-based program library that assesses the quality of evidence regarding interventions. Instead, the successful applicant will actively assist researchers and OJJDP in translating research findings into resources and tools to promote their accessibility and the likelihood of wide-spread uptake and implementation. This will require the collection, analysis, and translation of key juvenile justice research and creative dissemination to promote application of the findings across the country. To avoid duplication, OJJDP will house and disseminate the products and resources via its existing vehicles (e.g., OJJDP website, OJJDP’s Model Programs Guide, and OJJDP’s National Training and Technical Assistance Center).

The successful applicant will work with OJJDP to develop a strategic project plan regarding the specific research, products, and activities to be addressed under this initiative. Examples of the types of research findings that may be included in this project include:

longitudinal study findings of delinquency, offending, and positive developmental trajectories.

findings from rigorous, multi-site impact evaluations or meta-analsyses.

findings and knowledge from efforts under the OJJDP Juvenile Justice Reform and Reinvestment Initiative and uses and relative readiness of using data-driven tools.

risk assessment and predictive analytic tool research focusing on the reliability, validity, and use of risk and needs instruments for reliable recidivism data--providing information on the best of what is known in this area.

structured decision-making approach studies and data findings involving the use of dispositional matrices and data to track progress and improvements in the juvenile justice system and tracking system outcomes and matching risk levels to community-based needs in the least restrictive environments with appropriate services to meet youth’s needs in a developmentally appropriate way.

research from other OJJDP grant-supported topical areas ready for synthesis, such as mentoring or trauma-responsive systems.

http://www.crimesolutions.gov/ http://www.ojjdp.gov/mpg/ http://www.ojjdp.gov/mpg/ http://www.ojjdp.gov/ http://www.ojjdp.gov/mpg/ http://www.ojjdp.gov/mpg/ https://www.nttac.org/

Goals, Objectives, Deliverables, and Expected Scholarly Products

The overall goal of the Bridge Project is to support the translation of research into actionable practice change through effective products (e.g. tools, resources, dissemination, and implementation facilitation strategies). It will focus on improving the use of research and data through innovative tools and strategies to inform juvenile justice reform and enhance evidence-based practice.

The central objectives include:

working with OJJDP to develop a proposed plan for deliverables each year of the project to address current needs of the field and the state of the relevant research. As appropriate and necessary, this may involve convening in person and virtual research-related meetings, forums, and focus groups to guide priorities for translation.

creating timely, useful, and accessible research translation products and disseminating them through strategies likely to promote implementation. As noted above, this includes a variety of approaches and delivery platforms or formats and involves:

o reviewing recent OJJDP grant funded and other research in the four priority areas in juvenile justice to identify potential key areas for translating research findings.

o collaborating with the researchers and expert training, technical assistance, and service-delivery practitioners to translate those findings to key points and takeaways.

o translating the key findings to materials, tools, resources, documents, etc., to be disseminated in a variety of media. These translational materials should be user-friendly; guided by implementation, organizational, and dissemination research; and employ multiple innovative formats to increase utility, accessibility, and uptake.

accessing and coordinating across pre-existing training, technical assistance, and dissemination providers and delivery mechanisms to disseminate and support the implementation of the translational materials, such as those that NTTAC has identified.

Completing additional, related tasks for dissemination and communication, such as occasional publications, conference presentations, or related literature reviews.

Deliverables. Proposals should describe the potential translational products that the applicant proposes to produce from the project. OJJDP and the applicant will consult to determine the final products and dissemination strategies. Successful applicants will submit relevant reports and deliverables to OJJDP. These will be a part of their progress reporting or special reports and include the following:

a project plan for each year of the project with an overview of the key research and approaches to translational product creation.

practitioner friendly overview documents highlighting the project’s goals and objectives, as OJJDP requires. (Refer to OJJDP News @ a Glance and JuvJust publications for examples of the type of documents requested, www.ojjdp.gov/enews/enews.html.).

http://www.ojjdp.gov/enews/enews.html a detailed progress report to OJJDP every 6 months describing the status of the evaluation, methodological and implementation issues, progress toward the project goals, and any other issues that are relevant to the study’s completion.

the final products developed under the initiative.

B. Federal Award Information

OJJDP expects to make one award of as much as $500,000 for a 12-month project period.

Pending the availability of funding, OJJDP may supplement the award with an additional $500,000 per year for an additional 2 years, for a total of $1.5 million over 3 years. The initial funding amount of $500,000 will cover a 12-month budget period beginning on October 1, 2015.

OJJDP may, in certain cases, provide supplemental funding in future years to awards under its research, development, and evaluation solicitations. Important considerations in decisions regarding supplemental funding include, among other factors, the availability of funding, strategic priorities, OJJDP’s assessment of the quality of the management of the award (for example, timeliness and quality of progress reports), and OJJDP’s 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 award1. OJJDP expects to make any award from this announcement in the form of a cooperative agreement, which is a particular type of grant used if OJJDP 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.

As discussed later in the solicitation, important rules (including limitations) apply to any conference/meeting/training costs under cooperative agreements.

OJJDP will require any recipient of an award under this solicitation to comply with Department of Justice regulations on confidentiality and human subjects’ protection, as applicable. See “Evidence, Research, and Evaluation Guidance and Requirements” under “Solicitation Requirements” in the OJP Funding Resource Center.

Financial management and system of internal controls. If selected for funding, the award recipient must:

(a) Establish and maintain effective internal controls over the federal award that provide 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

1 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://ojp.gov/funding/index.htm

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 nonfederal 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 nonfederal 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. What will not be funded:

Proposals primarily to purchase equipment, materials, or supplies. (A budget may include these items if they are necessary to conduct research, development, demonstration, evaluation, or analysis.)

Proposals that are not responsive to this specific solicitation.

Pursuant to the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, grantees may not use OJJDP funds for any biomedical or behavior control experimentation on individuals or any research involving such experimentation.

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.

Preagreement cost approvals. OJP does not typically approve preagreement costs; an applicant must request and obtain the prior written approval of OJP for all such costs. If approved, preagreement 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://www.ojjdp.gov/about/jjdpa2002titlev.pdf 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 year2. The 2015 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.)

The OJJDP Administrator 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/funding/confcost.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

Eligibility. For additional eligibility information, see title page.

2 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/funding/confcost.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, OJJDP 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 affect negatively 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 determined to be nonresponsive to the scope of the solicitation or that do not include the application elements that OJJDP has designated to be critical will neither proceed to peer review nor receive further consideration.

Under this solicitation, OJJDP has designated the following application elements as critical:

Program Narrative, Budget Detail Worksheet, Budget Narrative, and resumes/curriculum vitae of key personnel. For purposes of this solicitation, key personnel means the principal investigator or project director and all coprincipal investigators. 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 is subject to Executive Order 12372. Applicants may find the names and addresses of their state’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC) at the following website:

www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc/. Applicants whose state appears on the SPOC list must contact their state’s SPOC to find out about, and comply with, the state’s process under Executive Order 12372. In completing the SF-424, applicants whose state appears on the SPOC list are to make the appropriate selection in response to question 19 once the applicant has complied with their state’s E.O. 12372 process.

(Applicants whose state does not appear on the SPOC list are to make the appropriate http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc/ selection in response to question 19 to indicate that the “Program is subject to E.O.

12372 but has not been selected by the State for review.”)

2. Project Abstract

The project abstract is an important part of the application and serves as an introduction to the proposed project. OJJDP uses the project abstract for a number of purposes, including assignment of the application to an appropriate review panel. If the application is funded, the project abstract typically will become public information and be used to describe the project.

Applications should include a high-quality project abstract that summarizes the proposed project in 250-400 words. Project abstracts should be—

Written for a general public audience.

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.

The abstract should include a brief description of:

The purpose of the project, the problem to be addressed, and the anticipated relevance to juvenile justice policy, practice, and theory.

Potential strategies to complete the explicit goals and objectives of the project.

Key partners involved.

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

3. 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, OJJDP may consider such noncompliance in peer review and in final award decisions.

The program narrative should address the following selection criteria: (1) statement of the problem (2) program design and implementation; (3) potential impact; and (4) capabilities/competencies. The applicant should clearly delineate the connections between and among each of these sections. For example, the project design section should clearly explain how the program’s structure and activities will respond to the problem statement identified in the previous section.

Program narrative guidelines include the following:

a. Title page (not counted against the 30-page program narrative limit). Should include the title of the project, submission date, funding opportunity number, and the name and complete contact information (address, telephone number, and e-mail address) for both the applicant organization and the principal investigator or project director.

b. Table of contents and figures (not counted against the 30-page program narrative limit).

c. Main body. Should describe the proposed project in depth. Include the following sections as part of the program narrative:

(1) Statement of the problem and project objectives. Applicants should briefly describe the nature and scope of the problem that the program will address (i.e., need for translational research products). The applicant should use data to provide evidence of the need, demonstrate the size and scope of the need, and document the effects of the need on the target population and the larger community.

Applicants should describe their understanding of the objectives outlined under Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables on pages 6-7.

(2) Project design and implementation. Applicants should provide a detailed description of the strategy to implement the project, addressing the key objectives noted on page 6. This includes detailed explanations of:

strategies to implement each of the key objectives.

how current juvenile justice and implementation, organizational change, and dissemination research inform those strategies.

anticipated barriers to completing each of the objectives.

potential delivery or platform formats and implementation considerations for the final products.

Performance Measures. OJJDP does not require applicants to submit performance measures data with their applications. Performance measures (see Performance Measures, page 14) are included as an alert that OJJDP 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.

OJJDP encourages award recipients to use information from existing program records to fulfill performance measures reporting requirements rather than initiating new data collection activities for this purpose.

Timeline. Applicants should submit a realistic timeline or 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 (see “Sample Project Timelines” at www.ojjdp.gov/grantees/timelines.html).

Applicants should submit the timeline as a separate attachment, as stipulated in Additional Attachments, page 17.

d. Potential impact. Applicants should describe the potential impact of the project and how it may inform or improve juvenile justice-related policy, practice, and theory in the United States. This includes a description of:

how the proposed project will inform juvenile justice systems reform and improvement efforts.

implications for public safety and juvenile justice policy and practice.

how applicants will complete the deliverables stated in the Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables section on page 6.

e. Capabilities/competencies. This section should describe the experience and capability of the applicant organization and any contractors or subgrantees that the applicant will use to implement and manage this effort and its associated federal funding, highlighting any previous experience implementing projects of similar scope, design, and magnitude. Applicants should address:

experience and capacity to systematically synthesize, analyze, and disseminate research products for projects of similar scope and size.

experience and capacity to develop innovative information dissemination systems that are research-based, leverage and coordinate with pre-existing networks of providers, and utilize various technological options.

OJJDP encourages applicants to subaward with organizations or individuals that have complementary skills and experiences for completing a project of this scope and size.

Applicants should also 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 http://www.ojjdp.gov/grantees/timelines.html who manages the finances; how the organization manages subawards, if there are any; and the management of the project proposed for funding.

f. 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 solicitation. OJP will require any award recipient, post award, to provide the data requested in the “Data Grantee Provides” column so that OJP can calculate values for the “Performance Measures” column. (Submission of performance measures data is not required for the application.) Performance measures for this solicitation are as follows:

Objective Performance Measure(s) Data Grantee Provides

To generate research/evaluation products that will improve evidence-and research-based juvenile justice practice.

Number of deliverables that meet expectations.

Number of deliverables that meet expectations (as outlined in the solicitation).

g. Appendices. Appendices (not counted against the 30-page program narrative limit) include:

bibliography/references.

tools/instruments, questionnaires, tables/charts/graphs, or maps pertaining to the proposed project that supplement items included in the main body of the narrative.

curriculum vitae or resumes of the principal investigator and all coprincipal investigators. In addition, curriculum vitae, resumes, or biographical sketches of all other individuals (regardless of investigator status) who will be significantly involved in substantive aspects of the proposal (including, for example, individuals, such as statisticians, serving as consultants to conduct proposed data analysis).

list (to the extent known) of all proposed project staff members, including those affiliated with the applicant organization or any proposed subrecipient organization(s), any proposed consultant(s) and contractors (whether individuals or organizations), and any proposed members of an advisory board for the project (if applicable). The list should include, for each individual and organization: name, title (if applicable), employer or other organizational affiliation, and roles and responsibilities proposed for the project. Applicants should use the “Proposed Project Staff, Affiliation, and Roles” form available at www.nij.gov/funding/documents/nij-project-staff-template.xlsx to provide this listing.

proposed project timeline and expected milestones.

http://www.nij.gov/funding/documents/nij-project-staff-template.xlsx list of any previous and current OJJDP awards to applicant organization and investigator(s), including the OJJDP-assigned award numbers and a brief description of any scholarly products that resulted in whole or in part from work funded under the OJJDP award(s). Scholarly products can result form of one or more published, peer-reviewed, scientific journal articles, and/or (if appropriate) law review journal articles, book chapter(s) or book(s) in the academic press, technological prototypes, patented inventions, or similar scientific products.

letters of cooperation/support or administrative agreements from organizations collaborating in the project, such as law enforcement and correctional agencies (if applicable).

letters of support/memoranda of understanding. If submitting an application with a subaward, as described under Eligibility, page 1, applicants should provide signed and dated letters of support or memoranda of understanding for all key partners that include the following:

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

o description of the partner’s current role and responsibilities in the planning process and expected responsibilities when the program is operational.

o estimate of the percent of time that the partner will devote to the planning and operation of the project.

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. OJJDP expects applicants to provide a thorough narrative to each section of the Budget Detail 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 sound mathematically, and correspond with the information and figures provided in the Budget Detail Worksheet. The narrative should explain http://ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/BudgetDetailWorksheet.pdf http://www.ojp.gov/financialguide/index.htm 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. Noncompetitive procurement contracts in excess of simplified acquisition threshold. If an applicant proposes to make one or more noncompetitive procurements of products or services, where the noncompetitive 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. Preagreement cost approvals. For information on preagreement costs approvals, 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 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 submit, at a minimum, 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, OJJDP will make use of and access to funds contingent on receipt of the fully executed legal documentation.

http://ojp.gov/financialguide/index.htm http://ojp.gov/financialguide/index.htm mailto:ask.ocfo@usdoj.gov http://www.ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/IndirectCosts.pdf

SAMPLE

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 applications3. 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 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

3 Typically, the applicant is not the principal investigator; rather, the applicant, most frequently, is the institution, organization, or company in which the principal investigator is employed.

Federal or State Funding Agency

Solicitation Name/ Project Name

Name/Phone/E-mail for Point of Contact at Funding Agency mailto:OJPComplianceReporting@usdoj.gov

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 OJJDP grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts will not be biased by any personal or financial conflict of interest on the part of part of its staff, consultants, and/or sub-recipients responsible for the research and evaluation or on the part of the applicant organization;

OR

b. A specific listing of actual or perceived conflicts of interest that the applicant has identified in relation to this proposal. These conflicts could be either personal (related to specific staff, consultants, and/or sub-recipients) or organizational (related to the applicant or any subgrantee organization).

Examples of potential investigator (or other personal) conflict situations may include, but are not limited to, those in which an investigator would be in a position to evaluate a spouse’s work product (actual conflict), or an investigator would be in a position to…