O-OVC-2023-171685-OVC FY23 HTGIRLS-V1_SI-171685_508.pdf

OMB No. 1121-0329 Expires 12/31/2023

U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Office for Victims of Crime

OVC FY 2023 Preventing Trafficking of Girls Program Sites and Training and Technical Assistance

Assistance Listing Number # 16.035

Grants.gov Opportunity Number: O-OVC-2023-171685

Solicitation Release Date: March 24, 2023 10:00 AM ET

Step 1: Application Grants.gov Deadline: May 16, 2023 11:59 PM ET

Step 2: Application JustGrants Deadline: May 23, 2023 8:59 PM ET

Overview

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) seeks applications for funding to support the FY 2023 Preventing Trafficking of Girls program. This program aligns with the Department’s priorities to combat victimization, including human trafficking.

This solicitation incorporates guidance provided in the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide which provides additional information for applicants to prepare and submit applications to OJP for funding. If this solicitation expressly modifies any provision in the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide, the applicant is to follow the guidelines in this solicitation as to that provision.

Solicitation Categories

O-OVC-2023-171685

http://www.usdoj.gov/ http://www.ojp.gov/ http://www.ovc.ojp.gov/ http://www.ovc.ojp.gov/ https://www.ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/Grant-App-Resource-Guide.htm https://www.ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/Grant-App-Resource-Guide.htm https://Grants.gov

Competition ID Category * Number of Awards

Dollar Amount for Award

Performance Start Date

Performance Duration (Months)

C-OVC-2023-00018-PROD

1 - Program Sites 6 $500,000 10/1/23

12:00 AM 36

C-OVC-2023-00019-PROD

2 - Training and Technical Assistance Provider

1 $1,500,000 10/1/23

12:00 AM 36

Eligible Applicants:

City or township governments, County governments, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Small businesses, State governments

Eligible Applicants for Category 1:

State governments City or township governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education County governments Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education

Eligible Applicants for Category 2:

Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)

O-OVC-2023-171685

For profit organizations other than small businesses Small businesses

OVC will consider applications under which two or more entities would carry out the federal award; however, only one entity may be the applicant. Any others must be proposed as subrecipients (subgrantees). For additional information on subawards, see the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide.

Entities should apply to the relevant categories based on proposed projects. OVC will not make awards to the same entity under multiple categories through this solicitation.

However, national or regional entities with multiple program locations may receive multiple awards under Category 1 for proposed projects with distinct programmatic locations.

OVC may elect to fund applications submitted under this FY 2023 solicitation in future fiscal years, dependent on, among other considerations, the merit of the applications and the availability of appropriations.

Contact Information For assistance with the requirements of this solicitation, contact the OJP Response Center at 800-851-3420, 301-240-6310 (TTY for hearing-impaired callers only), or grants@ncjrs.gov. The OJP Response Center operates from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

eastern time (ET) Monday–Friday, and 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET on the solicitation close date.

Pre-application Information Session

OVC will conduct pre-application webinars during which OVC staff will review all planned FY 2023 anti-trafficking solicitations, provide high-level information about solicitation requirements, and conduct a question-and-answer session with interested potential applicants. Participation is optional. When the webinars have been scheduled, the details and registration information will be available at https://ovc.ojp.gov/funding/funding-webinars. Preregistration is required for all participants. Register and follow the instructions at https://ovc.ojp.gov/funding/funding-webinars. To use the time most efficiently, OVC encourages participants to review the solicitation and submit any questions they may have in advance and no later than 2 days prior to the webinar.

Submit your questions to askovc@ncjrs.gov with the subject as “Questions for OVC Anti-Human Trafficking Solicitations Webinar.”

Submission Information

Registration: Before submitting an application, all applicants must register with the System for Award Management (SAM). You must renew and validate your registration

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https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#information-proposed-subwards mailto:grants@ncjrs.gov https://ovc.ojp.gov/funding/funding-webinars https://ovc.ojp.gov/funding/funding-webinars https://ovc.ojp.gov/funding/funding-webinars mailto:askovc@ncjrs.gov mailto:askovc@ncjrs.gov https://ovc.ojp.gov/funding/funding-webinars https://ovc.ojp.gov/funding/funding mailto:grants@ncjrs.gov every 12 months. If you do not renew your SAM registration, it will expire. An expired registration can delay or prevent application submission in Grants.gov and JustGrants.

Registration and renewal can take up to 10 business days to complete.

Submission: Applications must be submitted to DOJ electronically through a two-step process via Grants.gov and JustGrants.

Step 1: The applicant must submit by the Grants.gov deadline the required Application for Federal Assistance standard form (SF-424) and a Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) form when they register in Grants.gov at https://www.grants.gov/ web/grants/register.html. Submit the SF-424 and SF-LLL as early as possible, but no later than 48 hours before the Grants.gov deadline. If an applicant fails to submit in Grants.gov, they will be unable to apply in JustGrants.

For technical assistance with submitting the SF-424 and a SF-LLL in Grants.gov, contact the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 800-518-4726, 606-545-5035, Grants.gov Customer Support, or support@grants.gov. The Grants.gov Support Hotline operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except on federal holidays.

Step 2: The applicant must submit the full application, including attachments, in JustGrants at JustGrants.usdoj.gov by the JustGrants application deadline.

For technical assistance with submitting the full application in JustGrants, contact the JustGrants Service Desk at 833-872-5175 or JustGrants.Support@usdoj.gov. The JustGrants Service Desk operates 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET Monday–Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sunday, and Federal holidays.

OJP encourages applicants to review the “How To Apply” section in the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide and the JustGrants website for more information, resources, and training. Applicants should maintain all receipts and confirmations received from SAM.gov, Grants.gov, JustGrants systems.

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Contents

Overview 1

Activities

Waiver

Training Costs

(SF-424) in Grants.gov

Information)

Contact Information 3 Pre-application Information Session 3 Submission Information 3

Program Description 8 Overview 8 Statutory Authority 8 Specific Information 8 Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables 9 Category 1: Program Sites 9 Evidence-Based Programs or Practices 13 Information Regarding Potential Evaluation of Programs and 13

Priority Areas 13 Federal Award Information 14

Awards, Amounts and Durations 15 Continuation Funding Intent 15 Availability of Funds 15 Type of Award 15 Financial Management and System of Internal Controls 16 Budget Information 16 Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement 16 Pre-agreement Costs (also known as Pre-award Costs) 16 Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation: 16

Prior Approval, Planning, and Reporting of Conference/Meeting/ 16

Costs Associated with Language Assistance (if applicable) 16 Eligibility Information 16 Application and Submission Information 17

Content of Application Submission 17 Information to Complete the Application for Federal Assistance 17

Standard Applicant Information (JustGrants 424 and General Agency 18

Proposal Abstract 18 Proposal Narrative 18

Goal, Objective and Deliverables 23

Questionnaire (including applicant disclosure of high-risk status)

Documents

Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements;

Law Enforcement and Community Policing

Budget and Associated Documentation 23 Budget Worksheet and Budget Narrative (Web-based Form) 23 Pre-agreement Costs (also known as Pre-award Costs) 24 Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) 24 Consultant Rate 24 Limitation on Employee Compensation; Waiver 24 Financial Management and System of Internal Controls 24

Disclosure of Process Related to Executive Compensation 24 Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and Other Supportive 25

Additional Application Components 25 Curriculum Vitae or Resumes 25 Tribal Authorizing Resolution 25 Research and Evaluation Independence and Integrity Statement 25 Disclosures and Assurances 25 Disclosure of Lobbying Activities 25 DOJ Certified Standard Assurances 26 Applicant Disclosure of Duplication in Cost Items 26 DOJ Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and 26

Applicant Disclosure and Justification - DOJ High Risk Grantees 26

How to Apply 26 of an Application

Requirements

Submission Dates and Time 27 Experiencing Unforeseen Technical Issues Preventing Submission 27

Application Review Information 29 Review Criteria 29 Review Process 30

Federal Award Administration Information 30 Federal Award Notices 30 Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements 31 Information Technology Security Clauses 31 General Information about Post-Federal Award Reporting 31

Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s) 31 Other Information 31

Freedom of Information and Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552 and 5 U.S.C. 31 552a) Provide Feedback to OJP 31

Performance Measures 32 Application Checklist 33

Standard Solicitation Resources 36 Appendix A: Types of Victim Services That OVC Funds 36

Program Description

Overview

OJP is committed to advancing work that promotes civil rights and racial equity, increases access to justice, supports crime victims and individuals impacted by the justice system, strengthens community safety and protects the public from crime and evolving threats, and builds trust between law enforcement and the community.

To enhance capacity to identify, assist, and provide services to all victims of human trafficking, OVC leads the Nation in supporting victim-centered and trauma-informed programs, policies, and resources that promote justice, access, and empowerment.

With this solicitation, OVC seeks to provide funding for the prevention and early intervention of human trafficking, as defined by 22 U.S.C. § 7102(11).

Statutory Authority

Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2023 (Pub. L. No. 117-328) with funding authorized by the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974.

Specific Information

This program supports prevention and early intervention services for girls who are at risk of, or are victims of, sex and/or labor trafficking. Risk factors that make girls vulnerable to sex or labor trafficking include a history of childhood sexual and physical abuse, witnessing domestic violence, involvement in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, poverty, running away or being homeless, a lack of strong support networks (family, peers, community ties, etc.), failure in school, and substance use disorders.

Services may be provided to girls and young women up to and including age 25.

Mandatory Program Requirements

Applicants that receive funding under this program are required to:

1. Submit the policies, procedures, and rules governing the provision of services for review (postaward) as required by OVC.

2. Ensure their policies and procedures follow applicable federal and state laws protecting the civil rights of program participants and staff (postaward).

3. Ensure that any staff, partner staff, or service providers working with trafficking victims and girls at risk for trafficking are adequately licensed and trained to work with such victims, including by accessing OVC-supported training and technical assistance.

4. Send the project coordinator or program director and one other key staff member to a virtual OVC grantee orientation and have relevant staff participate in OVC-sponsored training and technical assistance.

5. Provide all grant-funded staff at least one session of training (to be delivered by individuals or organizations with reasonable and demonstrable expertise) related to diversity, equity, inclusion, or accessibility and tied to program goals and objectives annually.

Strengthening Responses to Labor Trafficking

Through its award funding, training and technical assistance, and collaboration with federal partners, OVC has worked to strengthen identification of and responses to labor trafficking victims in the United States. Despite these efforts, labor trafficking remains misunderstood, under-identified, underreported, and often unaddressed. As reflected in OVC grantee data, many individuals experience polyvictimization, including both labor and sex trafficking. To increase identification and expand access to services and justice for victims of labor trafficking, OVC is strengthening its expectations of organizations that receive anti-trafficking award funds. More information about gaps and opportunities in the response to this form of human trafficking is available on the OVC website.

Organizations with all levels of experience responding to and serving labor trafficking victims are encouraged to apply, including those that have historically focused exclusively on responding to sex trafficking and are interested in enhancing responses to labor trafficking.

Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables

Goals

The goal of this program is to prevent/reduce victimization of girls who are vulnerable to sex and/or labor trafficking.

Objectives

An applicant should address all the objectives listed below in the Goals, Objectives, Deliverables and Timeline web-based form.

Applicants are invited to apply under the following two purpose areas:

Category 1: Program Sites

The objectives of this category include:

Replicate and scale-up prevention and early intervention programs for girls/young women who are at risk of, or are victims of, sex and/or labor trafficking that have been rigorously evaluated and/or have been shown to be effective or promising and/or have a documented track record of producing successful outcomes for participants. Program models should include a plan to develop services and interventions for high-risk girls/young women, and for those with a history of trauma https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/human-trafficking/about-human-trafficking#vxmfbl due to past or current crime victimization, including child abuse and neglect.

Implement or enhance efforts to identify and provide comprehensive, trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate, and culturally responsive services to girls/ young women who are at risk of, or are victims of, sex and/or labor trafficking. This may include street outreach efforts, partnerships with organizations that serve youth, partnerships with juvenile justice and child welfare systems, and/or collaboration with key community stakeholders.

Participate in an annual peer-to-peer learning (cluster meeting) opportunity hosted by the OVC-funded training and technical assistance provider. (See Budget Information and Associated Documentation.)

Category 2: Training and Technical Assistance Provider

This program area will fund a training and technical assistance (TTA) provider to create training and resources to expand the skills of program providers and other stakeholders working to prevent trafficking of girls. The objectives of this category include:

Develop and disseminate best practices regarding prevention and early intervention strategies for girls and young women who are at risk of, or are victims of, sex and/ or labor trafficking. The successful applicant will support the replication and scaling up of prevention and early intervention strategies that have undergone rigorous evaluation and/or have a documented record of producing positive outcomes, with a strategic focus on filling the resource gap related to marginalized and underserved communities.

Provide TTA to Preventing Trafficking of Girls Category 1 program sites funded in FY 2020, FY 2021, FY 2022, FY 2023, and beyond (estimated 20 program sites total in October 2023) to support the implementation of best practices, enhance collaboration, and generate improved outcomes for program participants. Training and technical assistance will include peer-to-peer learning across multiple system stakeholders.

Develop, in consultation with OVC, widely available training resources that will be useful for all organizations/systems coming in contact with girls and young women at risk of, or victims of, sex and/or labor trafficking, including training for criminal justice, juvenile justice, and education professionals.

Support program sites in identifying and accessing existing anti-trafficking training and resources funded through OVC and other federal partners. Information on anti-trafficking TTA can be found on OVC’s human trafficking microsite. Applicants must describe how they will work with existing TTA providers supporting OVC anti-trafficking programs to identify and coordinate TTA activities involving shared grantees, and how they will develop effective collaboration strategies.

Develop and host an annual meeting for Category 1 program sites.

https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/human-trafficking/training-and-technical-assistance

Deliverables

For the Category 1 program sites, the deliverable to be provided is services, measured quarterly by service-hour or units delivered, type of service, and other key data points.

For the Category 2 TTA provider, the key deliverables will be individualized baseline assessments of Category 1 program sites to determine current policies and practices regarding prevention and early intervention strategies for girls and young women who are at risk of, or are victims of, sex and/or labor trafficking; the development of training and technical assistance (TTA) plans for new program sites to meet the needs of each site based on the individualized baseline assessments; the delivery of TTA to all program sites based on their unique TTA plans; the establishment of a peer-to-peer learning community; the development of online and written resources, tools, and trainings for organizations and public sector systems that may come in contact with girls/young women at risk of, and victims of, sex and/or labor trafficking; hosting an annual grantee meeting; and submitting semiannual narrative performance reports in JustGrants.

Award recipients will be required to submit performance measure data and a quarterly performance report in JustGrants. Further guidance on the postaward submission process will be provided, if selected for award.

The goals, objectives, and deliverables are directly related to the performance measures that show the completed work’s results, as discussed in the “Application and Submission Information” section.

Ensuring Civil Rights

Federal laws prohibit recipients of funding administered by the OJP from discriminating in the delivery of services on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, religion, or disability. Applicable federal laws also prohibit recipients from discriminating on the basis of disability in their employment practices, and from discriminating against employees and beneficiaries on the basis of sex in funded education or training programs.

Recipients are also obligated under federal civil rights laws to provide meaningful access to their programs and activities for persons with limited English proficiency. Under certain circumstances, it might be permissible to limit services based on age. Please note that other federal, state, or local laws prohibiting discrimination may apply.

Enhancing Access to Services and Promoting Survivor Autonomy

OVC is committed to an approach to human trafficking that is trauma-informed, victim-centered, survivor-informed, culturally responsive and evidence-based. Definitions of these concepts are available in the glossary of OVC’s Model Standards for Serving Victims and Survivors of Crime.

In line with these concepts and to enhance survivors’ access to victim services, programs funded under this solicitation will engage in practices that remove barriers to receiving services and support survivor autonomy. Such practices will reduce requirements to engage in services, promote survivors’ choice within service delivery, and protect victim privacy and confidentiality.

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Funded programs will demonstrate their commitment to this approach by maintaining the following. (Note: Many of these requirements are mandated by federal civil rights laws, while others reflect OVC’s policy directives to recipients to enhance access to services and promote survivor autonomy.)

Procedures or policies that provide all survivors access to safe shelter, advocacy services, counseling, and other assistance without exclusions based on actual or perceived sex, age, immigration status, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental health condition, physical health condition, criminal record, involvement in commercial sex, income or lack of income, or the age and/or sex of their children. For those programs that by their design target a particular population (e.g., youth, gender specific), there should be procedures or policies in place to ensure access to comparable, qualified services for other survivors seeking support.

Procedures or policies that protect the confidentiality of information and/or privacy of persons receiving services.

Procedures or policies that do not require victims to take certain actions (e.g., receive counseling, report to law enforcement, commit to sobriety) to be eligible for, or to receive services. For youth-serving programs with justifiable mandatory requirements, a shared decision making model should be used to provide minors with agency in participating in decisions that impact them.

Project designs, products, services, and/or budgets that consider the unique needs of individuals with disabilities, with limited English proficiency, or who are Deaf or hard of hearing, including accessibility for such individuals.

For Programs Serving Children and Youth

If your program provides services to child and youth victims of crime, services must be tailored to ensure that they are developmentally appropriate, culturally responsive, victim-centered, and trauma-informed. In addition to encouraging use of a shared decision making model, OVC promotes the use of evidence-based and evidence-informed practices when working with children and youth victims of crime.

Unallowable Costs

The following activities cannot be supported with grant funds.

1. Holding Beds: Grantees may not “hold beds” in a housing facility by charging their cost to the grant and keeping them empty until a victim needs the bed, when other victims need access to the beds, as this would be considered an unallowable contingency payment (see 2 C.F.R. 200.433 (c)).

2. Stipends/Incentives to Participate in Services: Neither cash, non-cash stipends, nor incentives may be paid to victims to encourage their participation in services.

Nominal cash or non-cash stipends (e.g., taxi or ride share vouchers; public transportation tickets or tokens; money to pay for childcare; or gift cards for meals that are necessary when participants receive services) are allowable. DOJ Grants Financial Guide for information on additional unallowable costs for federal award recipients and subrecipients.

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Information on Managing Human Trafficking Awards

For more information on implementation of OVC Human Trafficking awards, please consult the OVC Human Trafficking Program FAQs.

Evidence-Based Programs or Practices

OJP strongly encourages the use of data and evidence in policymaking and program development for criminal justice, juvenile justice, and crime victim services. For additional information and resources on evidence-based programs or practices, see the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide.

Information Regarding Potential Evaluation of Programs and Activities

OJP may conduct or support an evaluation of the projects and activities funded under this solicitation. For additional information and applicable documentation to be included in the application, see the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide section entitled “Information Regarding Potential Evaluation of Programs and Activities.”

Priority Areas

The Department of Justice is committed to advancing work that promotes civil rights and racial equity, increases access to justice, supports crime victims and individuals impacted by the justice system, strengthens community safety and protects the public from crime and evolving threats, and builds trust between law enforcement and the community.

Priority Considerations Supporting Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government

In support of this Executive Order, OJP will provide priority consideration when making award decisions to the following:

A. Applications that propose project(s) that are designed to promote racial equity and the removal of barriers to access and opportunity for communities that have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by inequality.

To receive this consideration, the applicant must describe how the proposed project(s) will address potential racial inequities and contribute to greater access to services and opportunities for communities that have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by inequality, and identify how the project design and implementation will specifically incorporate the input or participation of those communities and populations disproportionately impacted by crime, violence, and the criminal justice system overall. Examples addressing this requirement include, but are not limited to, the following: budgeted project planning and/or implementation meetings with community stakeholders representing historically underserved and marginalized communities;

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B. Applicants that demonstrate that their capabilities and competencies for implementing their proposed project(s) are enhanced because they (or at least one proposed subrecipient that will receive at least 40% of the requested award funding, as demonstrated in the Budget Web-Based Form) identify as a culturally specific organization.

To receive this additional priority consideration, applicants must describe how being a culturally specific organization (or funding the culturally specific subrecipient organization (s)) will enhance their ability to implement the proposed project(s) and should also specify which populations are intended or expected to be served or to have their needs addressed under the proposed project(s).

Culturally specific organizations are defined for the purposes of this solicitation as private nonprofit or tribal organizations whose primary purpose as a whole is to provide culturally specific services to racial and ethnic groups, including, among others, Black people, Hispanic and Latino people, Native American and other Indigenous peoples of North America (including Alaska Natives, Eskimos, and Aleuts), Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and/or Pacific Islanders.

Note: Addressing these priority areas is one of many factors that OJP considers in making funding decisions. Receiving priority consideration for one or more priority areas does not guarantee an award.

Federal Award Information Solicitation Categories

Competition ID Category * Number of Awards

Dollar Amount for Award

Performance Start Date

Performance Duration (Months)

C-OVC-2023-00018-PROD

1 - Program Sites 6 $500,000 10/1/23

12:00 AM 36

C-OVC-2023-00019-PROD

2 - Training and Technical Assistance Provider

1 $1,500,000 10/1/23

12:00 AM 36

Awards, Amounts and Durations

Anticipated Number of Awards

Anticipated Maximum Dollar Amount of Awards See Category

Period of Performance Start Date Period of Performance Duration (Months) 10/1/23 36

Anticipated Total Amount to be Awarded Under Solicitation $4,500,000

Continuation Funding Intent

OVC may, in certain cases, provide additional funding in future years to awards made under this solicitation through continuation awards. OJP will consider, among other factors, OJP’s strategic priorities, a recipient’s overall management of the award, and the award-funded work’s progress, when making continuation award decisions.

Availability of Funds

This solicitation, and awards under this solicitation, are subject to the availability of appropriated funds and to any modifications or additional requirements that may be imposed by the agency or by law. In addition, nothing in this solicitation is intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

Type of Award

OVC expects to make awards under Category 1 of this solicitation as grants. See the “Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements” section of the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for a brief discussion of important statutes, regulations, and award conditions that apply to many (or in some cases, all) OJP grants.

OVC expects to make the award under Category 2 of this solicitation as a cooperative agreement, which provides for OJP to have substantial involvement in carrying out award

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https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#administrative https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#administrative activities. See the “Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements” section of the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for additional information.

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls

Award recipients and subrecipients (including recipients or subrecipients that are pass-through entities) must, as described in the Part 200 Uniform Requirements as set out at 2 C.F.R. 200.303, comply with standards for financial and program management. See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for additional information.

Budget Information

The applicant should identify within their budget which items, services, etc., will/would be covered by matching sources and explain what type of match will be provided.

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement

This solicitation does not require a match.

Pre-agreement Costs (also known as Pre-award Costs)

See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for information on pre-agreement costs (also known as pre-award costs).

Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation: Waiver

See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for information on the Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation; Waiver.

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

See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for information on Prior Approval, Planning, and Reporting of Conference/Meeting/Training Costs.

Costs Associated with Language Assistance (if applicable)

See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for information on Costs Associated with Language Assistance.

Eligibility Information

For eligibility information, see the solicitation cover page.

For information on cost sharing or match requirements, see the “Federal Award

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Information” section.

For the purposes of this solicitation, “state” means any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Notice regarding law enforcement agencies: State, local, and university or college law enforcement agencies must be certified by an approved independent credentialing body or have started the certification process to be eligible for FY 2023 DOJ discretionary grant funding. To become certified, the law enforcement agency must meet two mandatory conditions: (1) the agency’s use-of-force policies adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, and (2) the agency’s use-of-force policies prohibit chokeholds except in situations where use of deadly force is allowed by law. The certification requirement also applies to law enforcement agencies receiving DOJ discretionary grant funding through a subaward. For detailed information on this certification requirement, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/SafePolicingEO to access the Standards for Certification on Safe Policing for Safe Communities, the Implementation Fact Sheet, and the List of Designated Independent Credentialing Bodies.

All recipients and subrecipients (including any for-profit organization) must forgo any profit or management fee.

Application and Submission Information

Content of Application Submission

The following application elements must be included in the application to meet the basic minimum requirements to advance to peer review and receive consideration for funding:

Proposal Abstract Proposal Narrative Budget Web-Based Form (The web-based form includes the budget details and the budget narrative.)

If OJP determines that an application does not include these elements, it will neither proceed to peer review, nor receive further consideration.

Information to Complete the Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) in Grants.gov

The SF-424 must be submitted in Grants.gov. It is a required standard form used as a cover sheet for submission of pre-applications, applications, and related information. See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for additional information on completing the

SF-424.

O-OVC-2023-171685

https://cops.usdoj.gov/SafePolicingEO https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#complete-application

In Section 8F of the SF-424, please include the name and contact information of the individual who will complete the application in JustGrants. JustGrants will use this information (email address) to assign the application to this user in JustGrants.

Intergovernmental Review: This solicitation (“funding opportunity”) is not subject to Executive Order (E.O.) 12372. In completing the SF-424, an applicant is to answer question 19 by selecting “Program is not covered by E.O. 12372.”

Standard Applicant Information (JustGrants 424 and General Agency Information)

The “Standard Applicant Information” section of the JustGrants application is pre-populated with the SF-424 data submitted in Grants.gov. The applicant will need to review the Standard Applicant Information in JustGrants and make edits as needed.

Within this section, the applicant will need to add ZIP codes for areas affected by the project; confirm their Authorized Representative; and verify and confirm the organization’s unique entity identifier, legal name, and address.

Proposal Abstract

A Proposal Abstract (no more than 400 words) summarizing the proposed project—including its purpose, primary activities, expected outcomes, the geographic service area, intended beneficiaries, and subrecipients (if known) — must be completed in the JustGrants web-based form. This abstract should be in paragraph form without bullets or tables, written in the third person, and exclude personally identifiable information. Abstracts will be made publicly available on the OJP and USASpending.gov websites if the project is awarded. See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for an example of a proposal abstract. If priority consideration is being requested, please indicate the priority areas A and/or B selected.

Proposal Narrative

The Proposal Narrative should be submitted as an attachment in JustGrants. The attached document should be double-spaced, using a standard 12-point font; have no less than 1-inch margins; and should not exceed 20 numbered pages. If the Proposal Narrative fails to comply with these length restrictions, OVC may consider such noncompliance in peer review and in final award decision.

The Proposal Narrative must include the following sections:

a. Description of the Issue

This section must:

1. Identify the nature and scope of the problem that the program will address.

Applicants must demonstrate the problem of human trafficking within the targeted geographic area. Applicants should cite the sources of this data, which could include local, state, and federal data regarding investigations, O-OVC-2023-171685 https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide https://USASpending.gov prosecutions, and the number of individuals identified as victims of human trafficking in the proposed geographic area and data from victim service providers or other local stakeholders. Data should come from multiple sources and extend beyond national hotline data.

2. Describe previous or current attempts to address the problem, including documentation of the number of trafficking victims served each year during 2021 and 2022 within the targeted geographic area. At a minimum, applicants must identify the total number of victims they previously served within the targeted geographic area, and the types of victims they have served (sex or labor trafficking victims). Applicants must cite the sources of this data.

3. Describe the communities to be served, including the geographic area, populations in the service area, and any groups that are vulnerable to human trafficking. Applicants should identify any relevant underserved communities in their geographic area using data to support (e.g., community data, Census data, client data, etc.).

4. Using online directories available from OVC and the Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP), describe current efforts to address the service needs of trafficking survivors in the geographic area. Explain how the proposed project is not duplicative and targets identified gaps.

5. Describe the problem of labor trafficking within the targeted geographic area; what is known and unknown about the problem; current efforts to identify labor trafficking victims; and gaps in the response to labor trafficking.

In addition to the above, Category 2 applicants should describe their understanding of the problem to be addressed, including relevant equity considerations and identification of underserved communities. Applicants should identify existing quantitative and qualitative data that supports their Description of the Issue.

b. Project Design and Implementation

The application must provide a clear link between the proposed activities and the need identified in the “Description of the Issue” section above.

This section must:

1. State the goals and objectives of the proposed project. Goals and objectives must align with those stated in the Goals, Objectives, Deliverables section of this solicitation.

2. Provide a detailed description of the proposed activities necessary to implement this project and meet the stated goals and objectives.

3. Identify which underserved communities, if any, will be targeted through the proposed project.

4. Include a timeline that identifies a timeframe for all the tasks and activities to be completed.

5. Link project activities to the requirements of this solicitation and explain

O-OVC-2023-171685

https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/human-trafficking/map https://www.acf.hhs.gov/otip/grants https://www.acf.hhs.gov/otip/grants how the proposed approach satisfies the requirements.

6. List the project partners, as appropriate, needed to make the project activities effective and sustainable.

7. Describe how the applicant plans to ensure project activities are trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and protect the safety and confidentiality needs of victims.

8. Describe how the proposed project is designed to enhance responses to labor trafficking victims. Failure to include such a description will be taken into consideration when this section is scored during Peer Review.

In addition to the above, Category 1 applicants should:

Identify specific services that will be provided with grant funds (see Appendix A) and describe how and where the services will be provided.

Describe how the applicant will meet the individualized service needs of victims and support victim-informed decisions and autonomy within the delivery of services.

Describe how the applicant will coordinate with other OVC and federally and state-funded anti-trafficking programs to meet the comprehensive needs of trafficking victims.

In addition to the above, Category 2 applicants should provide a clear link between the proposed activities and the need identified in the “Description of the Issue” and should describe (if applicable) how their program design, project partnerships, and deliverables/activities will advance equity for targeted audiences and the communities they serve. Additionally, applicants will be required to proactively collaborate with other anti-trafficking TTA providers to identify common OVC grantees, coordinate efforts, and strengthen the accessibility of resources, to include:

Engaging in regular communication with other OVC-funded TTA providers, including participating in regular workgroups and in-person or remote OVC-led TTA provider meetings.

Referring requests for TTA and grantees to other TTA providers, as needed.

Developing and delivering joint TTA, such as webinars, grantee meeting sessions, etc.

Working collaboratively with other OVC-funded TTA providers as required by OVC.

If the applicant is seeking priority consideration for Priority A, it should address in this section how the proposed projects will promote racial equity and the removal of barriers to access and opportunity for communities that have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by inequality, and identify how the project design and implementation will specifically incorporate the input or participation of these communities.

c. Capabilities and Competencies

This section must:

1. Demonstrate the institutional experience and expertise (or submit formal agreements with partners with experience and expertise with the application) to effectively implement the requirements of this solicitation.

2. Identify the key individuals and organizations involved in the proposed project.

3. Demonstrate that the individuals and organizations identified have the capacity to address the stated need, including the expertise necessary to successfully implement the proposed project activities.

4. Describe specific roles and responsibilities of all project partners and key staff.

5. Demonstrate that project staff have appropriate training and experience to implement project activities as described in the proposal, including the knowledge and expertise necessary to implement culturally responsive projects (or partner appropriately to do so) with the identified underserved communities, and document plans and position descriptions for staff to be hired.

6. Clearly describe who will implement activities as described in the Project Design and Implementation section.

7. Describe their experience managing federal grants and document their current capacity to manage federal grants. For Category 1 applicants, if the applicant has other grants for providing services to victims of human trafficking, the applicant must describe the scope of each of these grants and describe how activities and data collection on these projects will be tracked separately to avoid duplication.

If the applicant is seeking priority consideration under Priority B, it should describe within this section how being a culturally specific organization (or funding a culturally specific subrecipient organization at a minimum of 40% of the project budget) will enhance its ability to implement the proposed project(s), should also specify which populations are intended or expected to be served or have their needs addressed under the proposed project(s), and should include the website address (if applicable) and formal or informal mission statement or principles of the culturally specific organization.

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

This section must include the following information:

1. A plan for collecting all the performance measures data required by this solicitation.

2. A description of the qualifications of key staff who will be responsible for collecting data and reporting performance measures.

In addition, this plan must describe how the applicant will use the collected data to confirm whether the applicant is identifying and responding to labor trafficking victims as described in the application’s Project Design and Implementation.

Note: An applicant is not required to submit performance data with the application. Rather, performance measure information is included as a notification that award recipients will be required to submit performance data as part of each award’s reporting requirements. Some measures are presented as examples, while others are the exact measures that every recipient will be expected to address.

OJP will require each award recipient to submit regular performance data that show the completed work’s results. The performance data directly relate to the goals, objectives, and deliverables identified in the “Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables” discussion. Applicants can visit OJP’s performance measurement page at www.ojp.gov/performance for an overview of performance measurement activities at OJP.

A list of performance measure questions for this program can be found at:

Category 1:

https://ovc.ojp.gov/funding/performance-measures/human-trafficking/human-trafficking-performance-measures-questionnaire.pdf, and

Category 2:

https://ovc.ojp.gov/funding/performance-measures/human-trafficking/tta-providers-questionnaire.pdf.

OVC will require Category 1 award recipients…