fy15 ojjdp voca tta to child abuse prosecutors-mcd qc-ean.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 funding under its fiscal year (FY) 2015 Victims of Child Abuse Training and Technical Assistance for Child Abuse Prosecutors program. This program furthers the Department’s mission by providing funding for a national training and technical assistance program to enhance the effectiveness of attorneys and others who investigate and prosecute child abuse cases.

OJJDP FY 2015 VOCA Training and Technical Assistance for Child Abuse Prosecutors

Eligibility

Eligibility is limited to national organizations with broad membership among attorneys who prosecute criminal cases in state courts and have demonstrated experience in providing training and technical assistance to prosecutors.

OJJDP 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 application per lead applicant will be considered; however, subrecipients may be part of multiple proposals.

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.

Deadline

Applicants must register with Grants.gov prior to submitting an application. OJP encourages applicants to register several weeks before the application submission deadline. In addition, OJP 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 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.

http://www.usdoj.gov/ http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ http://www.ojjdp.gov/ http://www.ojjdp.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply_for_grants.jsp http://ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Grants-govInfo.htm

OJJDP-2015-4128

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 who 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 www.ojjdp.gov/grants/solicitations/FY2015/FAQ/VOCATTAProsecutorsFAQ.pdf.

Grants.gov number assigned to this announcement: OJJDP-2015-4128

Release date: March 31, 2015 mailto:support@grants.gov mailto:responsecenter@ncjrs.gov https://webcontact.ncjrs.gov/ncjchat/chat.jsp http://www.ojjdp.gov/grants/solicitations/FY2015/FAQ/VOCATTAProsecutorsFAQ.pdf

Contents

A. Program Description

Overview

Program-Specific Information

Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables

Evidence-Based Programs or Practices

B. Federal Award Information

Type of Award

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls

Budget Information

Cost Sharing or Match Requirement

Pre-Agreement Cost Approvals

Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation; Waiver

Prior approval, planning, and reporting of conference/meeting/training costs

Costs Associated with Language Assistance

C. Eligibility Information

Cost Sharing or Match Requirement

Limit on Number of Application Submissions

D. Application and Submission Information

What an Application Should Include

How To Apply

E. Application Review Information

Selection Criteria

Review Process

F. Federal Award Administration Information

Federal Award Notices

Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements

General Information about Post-Federal Award Reporting Requirements

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)

H. Other Information

Provide Feedback to OJP

Application Checklist

OJJDP FY 2015 VOCA Training and Technical

(CFDA #16.758)

A. Program Description

Overview

The OJJDP FY 2015 Victims of Child Abuse (VOCA) Act Training and Technical Assistance for Child Abuse Prosecutors program will fund a national training and technical assistance program for attorneys and others who are involved in the criminal prosecution of child abuse to enhance the effectiveness of the investigation and prosecution of such crimes. This program is authorized under the Victims of Child Abuse Act 42 U.S.C. Section 13003.

Program-Specific Information

The successful applicant will operate a national training and technical assistance program for attorneys and others involved in prosecuting child abuse cases in state or federal courts to enhance the effectiveness of the investigation and prosecution of such crimes. The successful applicant will develop and disseminate publications and promoting methods to provide project assessment and increase coordination among other VOCA programs. Other VOCA programs include the Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers Program, Training and Technical Assistance to Child Abuse Professionals Program, Children’s Advocacy Centers Membership and Accreditation Program, and the Children’s Advocacy Centers Subgrant Program.

Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables

The program’s goal is to enhance the effectiveness of the investigation and prosecution of child abuse. Section 214A of the Victims of Child Abuse Act (42 U.S.C. 13003) provides that grants shall be made to national organizations to provide technical assistance and training to attorneys and others involved in the prosecution of child abuse cases in state or federal courts for the purpose of improving the quality of prosecution of such cases. The VOCA Act also provides that established grant criteria shall require that a program provide training and technical assistance that includes information regarding improved child interview techniques, thorough investigative methods, interagency coordination, and effective presentation of evidence in court.

This training and technical assistance program will address a wide range of topics related to improving the investigation and prosecution of child abuse and neglect. Training and technical assistance will be provided to prosecutors who prosecute child abuse cases in juvenile and adult courts. The training and technical assistance program will address emerging topics in the field such as serial child torture, abusive head trauma, prosecution of abusive burn cases, drowned child cases, defending the forensic interview at trial, and efforts to stop the justice system’s revictimization of commercially sexually exploited youth.

To achieve its goal, OJJDP has established the following objectives to support:

training opportunities for prosecutors in juvenile and adult courts and related criminal justice professionals.

technical assistance efforts for prosecutors in juvenile and adult courts and related criminal justice professionals.

publications and resources for prosecutors in juvenile and adult courts and related criminal justice professionals.

coordination among other OJJDP VOCA programs.

The successful applicant will develop plans for achieving the above objectives by designing and implementing the following activities:

training sessions (onsite, cross-site, telephone, web-based, etc.) for prosecutors in juvenile and adult courts and related criminal justice professionals at the local, state, regional, and national levels. The applicant will propose the topics, types, quantity, duration, audiences, timing, and means of delivery of training sessions, identifying trainers with relevant expertise and audiences with significant need. The applicant will include plans for evaluating training sessions to include measuring changes in participants’ knowledge, attitude, and behavior.

technical assistance at the state and local levels for prosecutors in juvenile and adult courts and related criminal justice professionals designed to enhance the investigation and prosecution of child abuse.

training and technical assistance that will address—among other relevant topics identified by the applicant—improved child interview techniques, thorough investigative methods, interagency coordination, and effective presentation of evidence in court.

publications and resources to enhance the investigation and prosecution of child abuse.

The applicant will indicate the topics, types, quantity, audiences, and production schedule for proposed publications, identifying the authors and contributors. The applicant will create a plan to disseminate publications and measure their impact and, at a minimum: collecting data on the number disseminated, the number of times online versions are accessed, and the types of users.

methods to provide ongoing project assessment relating to training and technical assistance efforts.

methods to increase coordination among other OJJDP VOCA programs.

OJJDP will assign major tasks and deliverables under this solicitation that are based on a review of the successful application.

OJJDP will expect the successful applicant to coordinate their training and technical assistance activities with the VOCA Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers, the VOCA Children’s Advocacy Advisory Board (to be established) and all other VOCA grantees, as OJJDP directs.

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

Improving the quantity and quality of evidence OJP generates.

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

Improving the translation of evidence into practice.

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

Additional resources. OJJDP encourages applicants to review the recommendations contained in the reports of the Attorney General’s National Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence and the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee on American Indian/Alaska Native Children Exposed to Violence, the National Research Council’s Reforming Juvenile Justice: A Developmental Approach and Implementing Juvenile Justice Reform, and the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council’s Confronting Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Sex Trafficking of Minors in the United States and to consider incorporating the recommendations into their applications, where applicable.

OJJDP training and technical assistance awardee standards. OJJDP has developed the Core Performance Standards for Training, Technical Assistance, and Evaluation to promote among providers the consistency and quality of OJJDP-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. Award recipients must coordinate with OJJDP’s National Training and Technical Assistance Center (NTTAC) in the assessment and delivery of services to ensure the effective use of OJJDP grant funding. For additional information, go to OJJDP’s NTTAC website.

Requirements related to coordination of activities will include, but are not limited to:

Coordination with OJJDP NTTAC. OJJDP requires all training and technical assistance projects to coordinate their activities with OJJDP NTTAC by complying with all OJJDP/NTTAC protocols to ensure coordinated delivery of services among providers and the effective use of OJJDP grant funding. OJJDP reserves the right to modify these protocols at any time with reasonable notice to the grantee prior to project completion.

http://www.crimesolutions.gov/ http://www.ojjdp.gov/MPG/ http://www.justice.gov/defendingchildhood/cev-rpt-full.pdf http://www.justice.gov/defendingchildhood/cev-rpt-full.pdf http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/defendingchildhood/pages/attachments/2014/11/18/finalaianreport.pdf http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/defendingchildhood/pages/attachments/2014/11/18/finalaianreport.pdf http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=14685 http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=14685 http://sites.nationalacademies.org/dbasse/claj/implementing_juvenile_justice_reform/ http://www.iom.edu/ http://www.nationalacademies.org/nrc/index.html http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/Confronting-Commercial-Sexual-Exploitation-and-Sex-Trafficking-of-Minors-in-the-United-States.aspx http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/Confronting-Commercial-Sexual-Exploitation-and-Sex-Trafficking-of-Minors-in-the-United-States.aspx http://www.nttac.org/

OJJDP-funded webinars. The award recipient must comply with OJJDP’s Webinar Guidelines, as described in the core performance standards. Minimally, OJJDP training and technical assistance providers will submit information to OJJDP NTTAC in advance of all events for the online calendar, use the approved OJJDP presentation template, and record events and upload the files onto NTTAC’s Online University.

Training information sharing. The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) will be collecting information from its program offices on OJP-funded training and technical assistance events. Award recipients must use OJJDP’s standard electronic training request form, and submit information to NTTAC on all training events (e.g., name of requestor, description of request, dates of event) 30 days in advance of the event date, and report additional data as OJJDP requires.

B. Federal Award Information

OJJDP estimates that it will make one award for up to $900,000 for a 12-month project period, beginning on October 1, 2015.

OJJDP may provide supplemental funding for an additional 2 years for a total project period of 36 months to awards under this solicitation. Important considerations in decisions regarding supplemental funding include, among other factors, the availability of funding, strategic priorities, assessment of the quality and effectiveness of the training and technical assistance, and the quality of the management of the award (for example, timeliness and quality of progress reports), and assessment of the progress of the work funded under the award.

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

Type of award1. OJJDP expects to make an award from this solicitation 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, for details regarding the federal involvement anticipated under an award from this solicitation.

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

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

United States and the “Internal Control Integrated Framework”, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

(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.

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

Budget Information

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

Preagreement cost approvals. OJP does not typically approve pre-agreement costs; an applicant must request and obtain the prior written approval of OJP for all such costs. If approved, pre-agreement costs could be paid from grant funds consistent with a grantee’s approved budget, and under applicable cost standards. However, all such costs prior to award and prior to approval of the costs are incurred at the sole risk of an applicant.

Generally, no applicant should incur project costs before submitting an application requesting federal funding for those costs. Should there be extenuating circumstances that appear to be appropriate for OJP’s consideration as pre-agreement costs, the applicant should contact the point of contact listed on the title page of this announcement for details on the requirements for submitting a written request for approval. See the section on Costs Requiring Prior Approval in the Financial Guide for more information.

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.2 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

2 This limitation on use of award funds does not apply to the nonprofit organizations specifically named at Appendix

VIII to 2 C.F.R. Part 200.

http://gfm.webfirst.com/ http://ojp.gov/financialguide/index.htm http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/15Tables/exec/html/ES.aspx of this compensation limitation is paid with non-Federal funds. (Any such additional compensation will not be considered matching funds where match requirements apply.)

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

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

Prior approval, planning, and reporting of conference/meeting/training costs. OJP strongly encourages applicants that propose to use award funds for any conference-, meeting-, or training-related activity to review carefully—before submitting an application— the OJP policy and guidance on conference approval, planning, and reporting. OJP policy and guidance (1) encourage minimization of conference, meeting, and training costs; (2) require prior written approval (which may affect project timelines) of most such costs for cooperative agreement recipients and of some such costs for grant recipients;

and (3) set cost limits, including a general prohibition of all food and beverage costs.

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

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

C. Eligibility Information

For additional eligibility information, see the title page.

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 http://ojp.gov/financialguide/PostawardRequirements/chapter15page1.htm http://ojp.gov/funding/index.htm

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

Moreover, applicants should anticipate that applications that are determined to be nonresponsive to the scope of the solicitation, do not request funding within the funding limit, 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 or Budget Narrative.

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.

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

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

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

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

2. Project Abstract

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

Written for a general public audience.

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

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

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

The abstract should briefly describe the national training and technical assistance program for attorneys and others involved in the criminal prosecution of child abuse and the activities that the applicant will implement to achieve the program’s goals and objectives. The abstract should describe how the applicant will measure progress toward http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html these goals. The abstract should indicate whether the applicant will use any portion of the project budget to conduct research as described in “Note on Project Evaluations” on page 14.

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) 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 needs 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:

a. Statement of the problem. Applicants should briefly describe the need for a national training and technical assistance program for attorneys and others involved in the criminal prosecution of child abuse. The applicant should use data to provide evidence that the need exists, demonstrate the size and scope of the need, and document the effects of the need has on the target population and the larger community. Applicants should describe the target population and any previous or current attempts to address the need for enhanced training opportunities for prosecutors and others involved in the criminal prosecution of child abuse.

Applicants should describe any research or evaluation studies that relate to the need and contribute to the applicant’s understanding of its causes and potential solutions.

Although OJJDP 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.

b. Goals, objectives, and performance measures. Applicants should describe the goals of the proposed national 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 OJJDP will require successful applicants to provide.

Goals. Applicants should describe the program’s intent to address the need for a national training program for attorneys and others involved in the prosecution of child abuse.

Program objectives. Applicants should explain how the program will accomplish its goals. Objectives are specific, quantifiable statements of the program’s desired results. They should be clearly linked to the need identified in the preceding section and measurable.

Performance measures. To assist the Department with fulfilling its responsibilities under the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) of 1993, 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. OJJDP will require award recipients to submit semiannual performance metrics of relevant data through the Data Reporting Tool (DCTAT) located at www.ojjdp-dctat.org/.

Performance measures for this solicitation are as follows:

Objectives Performance Measures

Description Data Grantee Provides

To improve the quality of criminal prosecution of child abuse by providing technical assistance and training to improve the effectiveness of attorneys and others involved in the prosecution of child abuse cases in state or federal courts.

The following are mandatory measures for grant recipients.

OJJDP has an online system (www.ojjdp-dctat.org) for grantee transmittal of performance measures data.

For detailed information on specific measures and resources, see OJJDP’s Performance Measures web page (www.ojjdp.gov/grantees/pm).

Number of deliverables completed on time.

This measure represents the number of deliverables completed on time during the reporting period.

During the reporting period:

Number of memoranda of understanding developed.

Extent of interagency cooperation among VOCA Act programs that work to improve the investigation and prosecution of child abuse.

Number of planning/training activities conducted.

number of planning/training activities held during the reporting period. Planning and training activities include creation of task forces or interagency committees, meetings held, needs assessments undertaken, Number of planning/ training activities conducted for prosecutors and related criminal justice professionals (by type: planning or training).

http://www.ojjdp-dctat.org/ http://www.ojjdp-dctat.org/ http://www.ojjdp.gov/grantees/pm http://www.ojjdp.gov/grantees/pm etc. Preferred data source is program records.

Number materials developed.

number of investigation- and prosecution-related materials that were developed during the reporting period. Include only substantive materials, such as program overviews, client workbooks, and lists of local service providers. Do not include program advertisements or administrative forms such as sign-in sheets or client tracking forms. Count the number of pieces developed.

Program records are the preferred data source.

Number of investigation- and prosecution-related materials developed to assist prosecutors and related criminal justice professionals in investigating and prosecuting child abuse.

Percentage of professionals trained exhibiting increased knowledge of the program.

number of people defined as prosecutors and allied criminal justice professionals who exhibit an increased knowledge of the program area after participating in training. Use of pre- and posttests is preferred.

Number of prosecutors and related criminal justice professionals trained.

Number of prosecutors and related allied criminal justice professionals exhibiting increased knowledge of the program.

Percentage professionals satisfied with the program training.

number of prosecutors and related criminal justice professionals satisfied with the program training.

Number of prosecutors and related criminal justice professionals reporting satisfaction with program training as indicated on a survey tool.

Number of prosecutors and related criminal justice professionals who completed the training.

Number of programs/agencies that have agreements to use common intake/ assessment forms.

This measure represents an unduplicated count of the number of programs/agencies that have agreements to use common intake/assessment forms during the reporting period.

Number of programs/ agencies that have agreements to use common intake/ assessment forms.

Number of programs within a center/system that have modified their policies/procedures based on a system recommendation.

This measure represents an unduplicated count of the number of programs within a center/system that have modified their policies/ procedures based on a system recommendation during the reporting period.

Number of programs within a center or system that have modified their policies/ procedures based on a system recommendation.

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

Note on project evaluations. Applicants that propose to use funds awarded through this solicitation to conduct project evaluations should be aware that certain project evaluations (such as systematic investigations designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge) may constitute “research” for purposes of applicable DOJ human subjects protection regulations. However, project evaluations that are intended only to generate internal improvements to a program or service—or are conducted only to meet OJP’s performance measure data reporting requirements— likely do not constitute “research.” Applicants should provide sufficient information for OJP to determine whether the particular project they propose would either intentionally or unintentionally collect and/or use information in such a way that it meets the DOJ regulatory definition of research.

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

c. Project design and implementation. Applicants should detail how the training and technical assistance program 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 4.

OJJDP encourages applicants to select evidence-based practices for their programs.

This section should also include details regarding any leveraged resources (cash or in-kind) from local sources to support the project and discuss plans for sustainability beyond the grant period.

Logic model. Applicants should include a logic model that graphically illustrates how the performance measures are related to the project’s problems, goals, objectives, and design. See sample logic models here. Applicants should submit the logic model as a separate attachment, as stipulated in Additional Attachments, page 17.

Timeline. Applicants should submit a realistic timeline or milestone chart that indicates major tasks associated with the goals and objectives of the project, assigns http://ojp.gov/funding/Explore/SolicitationRequirements/EvidenceResearchEvaluationRequirements.htm http://ojp.gov/funding/index.htm http://www.ojjdp.gov/grantees/pm/logic_models.html 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” here).

Applicants should submit the timeline as a separate attachment, as stipulated in Additional Attachments, page 17. On receipt of an award, the recipient may revise the timeline, based on training and technical assistance that OJJDP will provide.

d. Capabilities and 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 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 Eligibility, 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.

• estimate of the percentage of time that the partner will devote to the planning and operation of the project.

4. Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative

Applicants should provide a budget that (1) is complete, allowable, and cost-effective in relation to the proposed activities; (2) shows the cost calculations demonstrating how they arrived at the total amount requested; and (3) provides a brief supporting narrative to link costs with project activities. The budget should cover the entire award period.

For questions pertaining to budget and examples of allowable and unallowable costs, see the Financial Guide.

a. Budget Detail Worksheet. Find a sample Budget Detail Worksheet here. Applicants that submit their budget in a different format should include the budget categories listed in the sample budget worksheet.

http://www.ojjdp.gov/grantees/timelines.html http://ojp.gov/financialguide/index.htm http://ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/BudgetDetailWorksheet.pdf

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

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

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

c. 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, 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, 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 here.

6. 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 e-mail the following information to OJPComplianceReporting@usdoj.gov at the time of application http://ojp.gov/financialguide/index.htm http://ojp.gov/financialguide/index.htm mailto:ask.ocfo@usdoj.gov http://ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/IndirectCosts.pdf mailto:OJPComplianceReporting@usdoj.gov

SAMPLE

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.

7. Additional Attachments

Applicants should submit the following information, as stipulated in the cited pages, as attachments to their applications. While the materials listed below are not assigned specific point values, peer reviewers will, as appropriate, consider these items when rating applications. For example, reviewers will consider résumés and/or letters of support/ memoranda of understanding when assessing “capabilities/competencies.”

Peer reviewers will not consider any additional information that the applicant submits other than that specified below.

a. Applicant disclosure of pending applications. Applicants are to disclose whether they have pending applications for federally-funded grants or subgrants (including cooperative agreements) that include requests for funding to support the same project being proposed under this solicitation and will cover the identical cost items outlined in the budget narrative and worksheet in the application 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.

Federal or State Funding Agency

Solicitation Name/ Project Name

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

DOJ/COPS COPS Hiring Program

Jane Doe, 202–000–0000;

jane.doe@usdoj.gov

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 subrecipients) 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 subrecipients 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 subrecipients) 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…