O-OVC-2023-171716-OVC FY23 HTMINORS-V1_SI-171716.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 Integrated Services for Minor Victims of Human Trafficking

Assistance Listing Number # 16.320

Grants.gov Opportunity Number: O-OVC-2023-171716

Solicitation Release Date: April 05, 2023 2:30 PM ET

Step 1: Application Grants.gov Deadline: June 06, 2023 11:59 PM ET

Step 2: Application JustGrants Deadline: June 13, 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 Integrated Services for Minor Victims of Human Trafficking. This program aligns with the DOJ’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

This solicitation does not include Solicitation Categories.

Eligible Applicants:

City or township governments, County governments, 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

O-OVC-2023-171716

http://www.justice.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 than institutions of higher education, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, State governments

Nonprofit organizations that hold money in offshore accounts for the purpose of avoiding paying the tax described in 26 U.S.C. § 511(a) are not eligible to apply.

An applicant entity may submit more than one application, if each application proposes a different project in response to the solicitation. Also, an entity may be proposed as a subrecipient (subgrantee) in more than one application.

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.

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

O-OVC-2023-171716

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

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

O-OVC-2023-171716

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html http://support@grants.gov https://justicegrants.usdoj.gov https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#apply https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#apply https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#apply https://justicegrants.usdoj.gov/news

Contents

Overview 1 Contact Information 2

Pre-application Information Session 2 Submission Information 2

Program Description 7 Overview 7 Statutory Authority 7 Specific Information 7 Mandatory Program Requirements 8 Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables 9 Evidence-Based Programs or Practices 12 Information Regarding Potential Evaluation of Programs and Activities

Priority Areas 12 Federal Award Information 13

Awards, Amounts and Durations 14 Continuation Funding Intent 14 Availability of Funds 14 Type of Award 14 Financial Management and System of Internal Controls 14 Budget Information 15 Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement 15 Pre-agreement Costs (also known as Pre-award Costs) 15 Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation:

Waiver

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

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

Content of Application Submission 17 Information to Complete the Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) in Grants.gov

Standard Applicant Information (JustGrants 424 and General Agency Information)

Proposal Abstract 17 Proposal Narrative 18

Goal, Objective and Deliverables 22 Budget and Associated Documentation 22 Budget Worksheet and Budget Narrative (Web-based Form) 22 Pre-agreement Costs (also known as Pre-award Costs) 23 Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) 23 Consultant Rate 23 Limitation on Employee Compensation; Waiver 23 Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire (including applicant disclosure of high-risk status)

Disclosure of Process Related to Executive Compensation 23 Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and Other Supportive Documents

Additional Application Components 24 Curriculum Vitae or Resumes 24 Tribal Authorizing Resolution 24 Letters of Support 24 Research and Evaluation Independence and Integrity Statement 24 Disclosures and Assurances 25 Disclosure of Lobbying Activities 25 DOJ Certified Standard Assurances 25 Applicant Disclosure of Duplication in Cost Items 25 DOJ Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements;

Law Enforcement and Community Policing

Applicant Disclosure and Justification - DOJ High Risk Grantees 25

How to Apply 25 Submission Dates and Time 26

Experiencing Unforeseen Technical Issues Preventing Submission of an Application

Application Review Information 28 Review Criteria 28 Review Process 29

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

Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s) 30

Other Information 31 Freedom of Information and Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552 and 5 U.S.C.

552a)

Provide Feedback to OJP 31 Performance Measures 31 Application Checklist 32

Standard Solicitation Resources 34 Appendix A: Types of Victim Services That OVC Funds 35

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 will fund programs to enhance the quality and quantity of services available to assist minor victims of human trafficking, as defined by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA), as amended, by providing services that are developmentally appropriate and tailored to the individual needs of young trafficking victims.

Statutory Authority

The statutory authority for this program is 22 U.S.C. § 7105(b)(2).

Specific Information

The purpose of this program is to enhance the quality and quantity of services available to assist minor victims of human trafficking. It will provide funding for services to victims of severe forms of human trafficking, as defined in 22 U.S.C. § 7102(11):

Sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such an act has not attained 18 years of age.

The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.

Sex trafficking and labor trafficking occur in many different settings within communities, and minor victims of these crimes have specific needs that must be addressed to ensure that they receive services tailored to their safety, security, and healing. Minor victims of human trafficking are often involved in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems and may be subject to polyvictimization, including various victimizations prior to, and during, the time they were trafficked. Similarly, adverse childhood experiences, including child maltreatment, can contribute to minors’ vulnerability to traffickers. A trauma-informed, culturally relevant, gender responsive approach to services will help ensure that minor victims of human trafficking have the opportunity to make informed decisions about the support they need and enable them to work toward identifying and achieving their personal goals.

Organizations funded under this program will also be expected to implement developmentally appropriate and evidence-based practices widely accepted in other child- and youth-serving systems.

Eligibility for services under this grant are limited to victims who were trafficked and began receiving services while under age 18; however, receipt of services can extend beyond the age of 18, as needed.

Reintegration with and support for healthy family members or caregivers is a critical component of the minor’s long-term success. Services may also extend to the victim’s children, supportive nonoffending parents, caregivers, sponsors, and guardians, if these services are identified as impacting the minor’s safety, security, and healing. Efforts to refer family members to other free and low-cost services prior to the use of OVC funds must be documented.

Mandatory Program Requirements

Applicants that receive funding under this program will be required to:

Submit the policies, procedures, and rules governing the provision of services for review upon OVC request (post-award).

1.

Ensure that their policies and procedures follow applicable federal and state laws protecting the civil rights of program participants and staff (post-award).

2.

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

3.

Ensure that the project coordinator/program director and other relevant staff participate in any grantee orientations and OVC-sponsored training and technical assistance.

4.

As part of routine programmatic reporting, describe ongoing efforts to enhance responses to labor trafficking.

5.

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

6.

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 at OVC’s website. Organizations https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/human-trafficking/about-human-trafficking#vxmfbl 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

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

Goals

The goal of this program is to provide services that address the needs of minor victims of sex and labor trafficking through a continuum of trauma-informed, culturally relevant, and gender responsive services to ensure their safety, security, and healing and to prevent them from being directed to or involved in the justice system.

Objectives

The objectives of this program include the following:

Provide services to meet the individualized needs of minor victims of sex and labor trafficking.

Collaborate with local partners (e.g., service providers, criminal and juvenile justice and child welfare professionals, members of the judiciary, community- and faith-based organizations) to ensure minor victims of sex and labor trafficking are properly identified, responded to, and provided with appropriate services.

Establish community-based interventions (i.e., engage stakeholders, including community-based agencies, health care providers, families and/or caregivers, experts with lived experience, advocates, public defenders, and prosecutors) through community outreach and education to develop a continuum of care that addresses the specific needs of each victim.

Provide other essential services for minor victims of sex and labor trafficking (either directly or through referrals), including emergency interventions (i.e., provision of food, clothing, drop-in shelters, health care, and other direct services that address the immediate needs of minor victims of trafficking) and long-term interventions (i.e., job training, life skills, education, and other direct services that are victim-centered, survivor-led, and culturally relevant). See Appendix A for the types of services OVC funds.

Collect data and participate in assessment activities to determine if the program is meeting stated goals and objectives.

Services must be victim-centered, trauma-informed, and developmentally appropriate.

Partnerships that incorporate a holistic community approach are encouraged.

Deliverables

The deliverables to be provided are services for minor victims of sex and labor trafficking, measured quarterly by service-hours or units delivered, type of service, number of new and continuing victims served, and other key data points. Award recipients will be required to submit performance measure data and a quarterly performance report in JustGrants.

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 upon 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 competent; 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.

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 direction 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.

O-OVC-2023-171716

https://www.ojp.gov/program/civil-rights/limited-english-proficient-lep https://ovc.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh226/files/model-standards/6/glossary.html https://ovc.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh226/files/model-standards/6/glossary.html

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

For program providing 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.

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)).

1.

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.

2.

Primary Prevention Activities: Per 22 U.S.C. § 7105(b)(2), the purpose of this funding is to support victim service programs; therefore, applicants should not propose primary prevention activities under this program.

3.

Applicants should consult the DOJ Grants Financial Guide for information on additional unallowable costs for federal award recipients and subrecipients.

Limitation on Use of Funds (22 U.S.C. § 7110(g))

The following statutory language applies to all awards under this solicitation:

Restriction on programs – No funds made available to carry out this chapter, or any amendment made by this chapter, may be used to promote, support, or advocate the legalization or practice of prostitution. Nothing in the preceding sentence shall be construed to preclude assistance designed to promote the purposes of this Act by ameliorating the suffering of, or health risks to, victims while they are being trafficked or after they are out of the situation that resulted

1.

O-OVC-2023-171716

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fysb/acf_issuebrief_htprevention_10202020_final_508.pdf https://www.ojp.gov/program/civil-rights/limited-english-proficient-lep https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fysb/acf_issuebrief_htprevention_10202020_final_508.pdf https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fysb/acf_issuebrief_htprevention_10202020_final_508.pdf https://www.ojp.gov/doj-financial-guide-2022 from such victims being trafficked.

1.

Restriction on organizations – No funds made available to carry out this chapter, or any amendment made by this chapter, may be used to implement any program that targets victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons described in section 7102(9)(A) of this title through any organization that has not stated in either a grant application, a grant agreement, or both, that it does not promote, support, or advocate the legalization or practice of prostitution. The preceding sentence shall not apply to organizations that provide services to individuals solely after they are no longer engaged in activities that resulted from such victims being trafficked.

2.

Pursuant to the statute above, OVC requires grantees under this program to agree to the following award condition: Recipient certifies that it does not promote, support, or advocate the legalization or practice of prostitution, nor will it use grant funds or program match funds to promote, support, or advocate the legalization or practice of prostitution.

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:

O-OVC-2023-171716

https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/human-trafficking/ovc-human-trafficking-program-faqs https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#evidence-based https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#evidence-based https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#potential-evaluation https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government/

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;

outreach and/or public awareness campaigns specifically tailored to historically underserved and marginalized communities to encourage participation in the proposed project(s); budgeted incorporation of members representing historically underserved and marginalized communities in program evaluation, surveys, or other means of project feedback; and partnership with organizations that primarily serve communities that have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by inequality.

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 Native, Eskimo, and Aleut), 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

This solicitation does not include Solicitation Categories.

Awards, Amounts and Durations

Anticipated Number of Awards

Anticipated Maximum Dollar Amount of Awards Up to $950,000

Period of Performance Start Date 10/1/23

Period of Performance Duration (Months)

Additional Information $10,000,000

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 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.

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.

O-OVC-2023-171716

https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#administrative https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#administrative https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#fm-internal-controls

Budget Information

While the maximum allowable funding amount is $950,000, organizations that are new or that have never before received a federal award may wish to submit a proposed budget at a lower amount to support targeted services to minor victims of human trafficking. 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.

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 requires a 25 percent cash or in-kind match. Federal funds awarded under this solicitation may not cover more than 75 percent of the total costs of the project being funded. An applicant must identify the source of the 25 percent non-federal portion of the total project costs and how they will use match funds. If an award recipient’s proposed match exceeds the required match amount, and OJP approves the budget, the total match amount in the approved budget becomes mandatory and subject to audit.

(“Match” funds may be used only for purposes that would be allowable for the federal funds.) Recipients must satisfy this match requirement with cash or in-kind match.

How to Calculate Match

Formula

Step 1 Award Amount ÷ % of Federal Share = Total (Adjusted Project Cost)

Step 2 Total (Adjusted) Project Cost x % of Recipient Share = Required Match

Example

Match Requirement – 75/25 (Federal share/Recipient share)

Federal Award = $150,000

Step 1 $150,000 ÷ 75% Federal Share = $200,000

Step 2 $200,000 x 25% Recipient's Share = $50,000

See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for additional information on this match requirement. For step-by-step instructions for entering match amounts in the budget, see the Budget Summary Match Guide.

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

O-OVC-2023-171716

https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#cost-sharing https://justicegrants.usdoj.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh296/files/media/document/budget-summary-match-guide.pdf

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 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.

O-OVC-2023-171716

https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#pre-agreement-costs https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#limitation-use-award https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#prior-approval https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#costs-associated https://cops.usdoj.gov/SafePolicingEO

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.

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

O-OVC-2023-171716

https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#complete-application https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html 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. Tables, charts, and graphs included in the proposal narrative can be created in a legible font smaller than 12-point, and will count toward the page limit.

The Proposal Narrative must include the following sections:

a. Description of the Issue

This section must:

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, 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.

1.

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.

2.

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 their findings (e.g., community data, Census data, client data).

3.

Describe current efforts to address the service needs of trafficking survivors in the geographic area. Using online directories available from OVC and the Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP), applicants should determine if there is an existing federally funded trafficking victim service provider within their jurisdiction, and explain how the proposed project does not duplicate

4.

O-OVC-2023-171716

https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#proposal-abstract https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/human-trafficking/map https://www.acf.hhs.gov/otip/victim-assistance/victim-assistance-grants

1.

2.

3.

these efforts and targets unmet needs.

4.

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.

5.

b. Project Design and Implementation

This section must:

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

1.

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

2.

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

3.

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

4.

Link project activities to the requirements of this solicitation and justify the logic of the proposed approach.

5.

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

6.

Describe how the applicant plans to ensure project activities are trauma-informed and protect the safety and confidentiality needs of victims. Include a description of how child rights and child developmental needs are incorporated into project design.

7.

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

8.

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

9.

Explain efforts to avoid further stigmatizing and/or criminalizing minors who have been trafficked.

10.

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.

11.

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.

12.

If the applicant is seeking priority consideration for Priority A, it should address in this section how the proposed project(s) 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:

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

1.

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

2.

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.

3.

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

4.

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 with the identified underserved communities, and document plans and position descriptions for staff to be hired.

5.

Demonstrate the capacity and expertise of any proposed project partners to successfully implement the project activities including implementing culturally responsive projects with the identified underserved communities.

6.

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

7.

Describe the applicant’s experience managing grants and document their administrative and financial capacity to manage federal grants, such as examples of financial controls.

8.

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:

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

1.

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

2.

In addition, this plan must describe how the applicant will use the collected data to confirm whether they are identifying and serving labor trafficking victims as described in the application.

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

OVC will require award recipients to submit quarterly performance measure data in the Performance Measurement Tool (PMT) and separately submit a semi-annual performance report in JustGrants. A list of resources and trainings can be found at https://ovc.ojp.gov/funding/performance-measures/human-trafficking.

OVC will provide further guidance on the…