O-OVC-2024-171945-OVC_FY24_AEAP_CO-V1_SI-171945.pdf

OMB No. 1121-0329

Approval Expires 12/31/2023

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

Solicitation Title: OVC FY24 Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program for Crime Victim Compensation and/or Assistance - Colorado - Invited to Apply Solicitation Short Title: OVC FY24 AEAP CO Assistance Listing Number: #16.321 Grants.gov Opportunity Number: O-OVC-2024-171945 Solicitation Release Date: 01/17/2024 Step 1: Application Grants.gov Deadline: 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on 01/24/2024 Step 2: Application JustGrants Deadline: 8:59 p.m. Eastern Time on 01/31/2024

Contents Synopsis

Program Description Overview

Eligibility

Agency Contact Information

Application Submission Information

Registration

Submission

Program Description

Program Description Overview

Statutory Authority

Specific Information

Solicitation Goals and Objectives

Goals

Objectives

Deliverables

Federal Award Information

Awards, Amounts, and Durations

Availability of Funds

Type of Award

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement

Eligibility Information

Page 2 Grants.gov Opportunity Number O-OVC-2024-171945

How To Apply

Application Resources

How To Apply

Registration

Submission

Applying as an Individual .................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Submission Dates and Time

Experiencing Unforeseen Technical Issues Preventing Submission of an Application (Technical Waivers)

Application and Submission Information

Content of the SF-424 in Grants.gov

Content of the JustGrants Application Submission

Application Review Information

Review Process

Federal Award Administration Information

Federal Award Notices

Evidence-Based Programs or Practices

Information Regarding Potential Evaluation of Programs and Activities

Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements

Civil Rights Compliance

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls

Information Technology Security Clauses

General Information About Post-Federal Award Reporting Requirements

Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)

Other Information

Freedom of Information and Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. §§ 552 and 552a)

Provide Feedback to OJP

Performance Measures

Application Checklist

Pre-Application

Application Step 1

Application Step 2

Review, Certify, and Submit Application in JustGrants

Standard Solicitation Resources

Page 3 Grants.gov Opportunity Number O-OVC-2024-171945

Synopsis

Program Description Overview The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) is seeking applications for funding.

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

With this solicitation, OVC seeks applications to provide supplemental funding to eligible entities providing assistance to victims of specific acts of criminal mass violence or terrorism.

This program furthers the DOJ’s mission to uphold the rule of law, to keep our country safe, and to protect civil rights.

Eligibility

• Other

This is not a competitive solicitation. OVC will contact potential applicants directly.

For Crime Victim Assistance, eligible applicants are limited to state victim assistance programs;

public agencies, including federal, state, and local governments, and federally recognized Indian tribal governments, as determined by the Secretary of the Interior and published in the Federal Register; public institutions of higher education; and victim service and nongovernmental organizations.

For Crime Victim Compensation, eligible applicants are limited to state crime victim compensation administrative agencies.

OVC does not provide Antiterrorism Emergency Assistance Program (AEAP) funding directly to individual crime victims. AEAP applications will be accepted only from the jurisdiction where the crime occurred, unless a federal statute establishes a special authorization and appropriation supporting allocations to other jurisdictions or a compelling justification can be provided to the OVC Director supporting requests from other jurisdictions. In the case of terrorism and mass violence outside the United States, OVC will make a determination regarding which organizations or agencies within the United States may apply for funding.

This is a restricted invitation because the program is intended to respond to specific cases of terrorism and mass violence. Only after OVC has consulted with an eligible organization can an application be submitted. Further program guidance is set out in the AEAP Guidelines (available from OVC, or at in the Federal Register at 67 Fed. Reg. 4822 (Jan. 31, 2002) and 79 Fed. Reg. 59298 (Oct. 1, 2014)). (See https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2002-01-31/pdf/02- 2299.pdf for details.)

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.

https://www.justice.gov/ https://www.ojp.gov/ http://www.ovc.gov/ http://www.ovc.gov/ https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2002-01-31/pdf/02-2299.pdf https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2002-01-31/pdf/02-2299.pdf https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#information-proposed-subwards https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#information-proposed-subwards

Page 4 Grants.gov Opportunity Number O-OVC-2024-171945

OVC may elect to fund applications submitted under this FY 2024 solicitation in future fiscal years, dependent on, among other considerations, the merit of the applications and the availability of appropriations.

Agency Contact Information

For assistance with the requirements of this solicitation, contact the OJP Response Center by phone at 800-851-3420 or 301-240-6310 (TTY for hearing-impaired callers only) or email grants@ncjrs.gov. The OJP Response Center operates from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) Monday–Friday and from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET on the solicitation close date.

Application Submission Information Registration Before submitting an application, all applicants must register with the System for Award Management (SAM).

Submission Applications must be submitted to DOJ electronically through a two-step process that begins in Grants.gov and is completed in JustGrants. See the solicitation cover page for the Grants.gov and JustGrants application deadlines.

Step 1: The applicant must register for this opportunity in Grants.gov at https://www.grants.gov/register and submit by the Grants.gov deadline the required Application for Federal Assistance standard form (SF-424) and a Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL).

See solicitation cover page for application deadlines.

Step 2: The applicant must submit the full application, including attachments, in JustGrants at JustGrants.usdoj.gov. See solicitation cover page for application deadlines.

mailto:grants@ncjrs.gov https://www.sam.gov/ https://www.sam.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/register https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SF424_4_0-V4.0.pdf https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SF424_4_0-V4.0.pdf https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SFLLL_2_0-V2.0.pdf https://justicegrants.usdoj.gov/

Page 5 Grants.gov Opportunity Number O-OVC-2024-171945

Program Description Program Description Overview

The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) supports victims of mass violence and terrorism through the Antiterrorism Emergency Assistance Program (AEAP). Funding for this program comes from the Antiterrorism Emergency Reserve (the Emergency Reserve). Along with non-grant training and technical assistance services, there are four types of grants that may be combined into one application: crisis response, consequence management, criminal justice support, and crime victim compensation.

AEAP grants are a mechanism by which the Director of OVC may award supplemental crime victim compensation and assistance to eligible entities responding to acts of mass criminal violence or domestic terrorism. The event must be sufficiently large that the jurisdiction cannot provide needed services to victims of the incident with existing resources, while also supporting victims of other crimes, in a timely and comprehensive manner. AEAP is designed to support mass violence incidents that are seemingly random or unpredictable in nature, and does not support victimization as a consequence of disputes between individuals or groups – including gang-related violence – domestic violence, or broader community gun violence. It is expected that states and communities use other funding, such as VOCA formula funding, to support victims in areas that are known to have higher crime rates.

AEAP funds may be used to provide emergency relief to benefit victims such as crisis response efforts, help victims adapt to and cope with the consequences of the event over the longer-term, and facilitate victim participation in the judicial process. AEAP can also supplement state crime victim compensation administrative agencies that reimburse victims for out-of-pocket expenses related to their victimization. Funding under this program is retroactive to the date of the incident. Justification for all funding must demonstrate that AEAP funds will support victims of the incident and are supplemental to existing resources. OVC may provide a no-cost consultant(s) to help the prospective grantee with the AEAP application process.

Statutory Authority 34 U.S.C. §§ 20101(d)(5) and 20105(b)

Specific Information Because many mass violence or domestic terrorism incidents involve federal jurisdiction and law enforcement officials, OVC will immediately coordinate with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Victim Services Division (VSD) to determine which resources may already be deployed and which services are being coordinated with state and local victim assistance and law enforcement personnel on the scene. In the event that the FBI is investigating a federal crime or is asked to assist state, local, or tribal authorities with a non-federal crime, VSD can be a valuable resource to victims and affected agencies, especially in the initial aftermath of an incident. In such instances, VSD personnel can provide immediate victim assistance such as helping to collect anti-mortem data and to conduct death notifications; establishing or helping staff Family Assistance Centers; assisting with incident briefings for victims/families, individual needs assessments, and personal effects management; and providing support and information to victims through a national network of FBI Victim Specialists. When the FBI is investigating federal crimes or their assistance is requested by state, local, or tribal authorities, VSD may also support select short-term emergency victim-related expenses. This may include expenses associated with emergency transportation or temporary lodging for victims or their families. For more information on the FBI’s victim services, visit: https://www.fbi.gov/resources/victim-assistance. State Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) personnel and other state and local victim https://www.fbi.gov/resources/victim-assistance https://www.fbi.gov/resources/victim-assistance

Page 6 Grants.gov Opportunity Number O-OVC-2024-171945 assistance providers should work with appropriate federal, state, local, and tribal government agencies and nongovernmental and nonprofit agencies to address the full range of victims’ needs.

Upon verification that an act of mass criminal violence or domestic terrorism has resulted in a significant number of victims who were killed or injured, or witnesses who were psychologically affected, OVC will contact the state VOCA administrator(s) in the affected state(s) and advise them that AEAP resources may be available. In order to determine the scope of possible need and resources available, this will be the first of many interactions between OVC and the agency eligible to receive AEAP funds.

Once OVC determines the appropriate eligible applicant, OVC will interact regularly with the applicant and inform the organization of the range of AEAP resources. OVC may also supply samples of approved AEAP application submissions to use as a guideline for developing a funding request. As victims’ needs become more apparent and victim support expenses mount, OVC encourages the applicant to call or email OVC with questions about what AEAP funding can support.

AEAP Guidelines follow the definition of victim that is used under the VOCA program. However, because of the nature of mass violence and domestic terrorist incidents, AEAP may also include individuals who are likely to suffer vicarious trauma from the incident, for example, people in direct proximity to the crime and emergency responders who respond to the incident. (Note:

Please see the definitions of a direct and indirect victims under “Statement of the Problem”.)

There are four types of supplemental grants available under AEAP:

1. Crisis Response (emergency/short-term, up to 9 months): designed to provide resources to help victims rebuild adaptive capacities, decrease stressors, and to reduce symptoms of trauma immediately following the terrorism or mass violence event.

2. Consequence Management (ongoing/longer term, up to 18 months): designed to provide supplemental resources to help victims adapt to the trauma event and to restore victims' sense of equilibrium.

3. Criminal Justice Support (ongoing/longer term, up to 36 months): designed to facilitate victim participation in an investigation or prosecution directly related to the terrorist and mass violence event. (Please note the longer time frame here is generally intended to provide victim support in instances where there is a trial or other extended criminal proceeding.)

4. Crime Victim Compensation (available at any time): designed to provide supplemental funding to reimburse victims for out-of-pocket expenses related to their victimization in cases of terrorism or mass violence occurring within the United States.

Prospective grantees will identify victim-related expenses, including those associated with the immediate aftermath of the event; the longer-term consequences for victims; and victim participation in investigations or prosecutions. OVC may require detailed justification for proposed expenses and will need to ensure that the requested funding is supplemental and does not supplant existing resources or duplicate funding from another source. The prospective grantee and OVC will collaborate to refine the application prior to the final application submission. The time needed to complete this process may vary depending on the complexity of the application. Historically, grants have taken between 6-18 months to develop although some may be submitted more quickly and others take longer.

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OVC personnel will help prospective grantees throughout this process and will be available to address questions and concerns. In most instances, OVC may also provide an expert mass violence consultant to assist the applicant with researching and gathering information, determining victims needs, identifying victim resources, developing response strategies, and drafting the AEAP proposal. OVC understands that states or communities may not have the expertise or resources to develop an AEAP grant and this is where an OVC-provided consultant can offer valuable assistance. There is no cost to the prospective grantee for the consultant.

OVC will also work with prospective grantees to ensure that they have coordinated their response with other agencies that may be able to provide support. For example, OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance may have funding available for law enforcement activities associated with the event that are not victim-related (see Justice Assistance Grant information at www.bja.gov/ProgramDetails.aspx?Program_ID=59). DOJ Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grants may also be available (see www.cops.usdoj.gov/Default.asp?Item=232). Additionally, under limited circumstances, the U.S.

Department of Education may have funding available to help local educational agencies and institutions of higher education recover from a violent or traumatic event (see “Project school Emergency Response to Violence” at www2.ed.gov/programs/dvppserv/index.html).

VOCA state administrating agencies (SAAs) that support the victim response efforts after a mass violence event and anticipate applying for an AEAP grant to supplement their existing crime victim assistance and compensation efforts should be careful to ensure that they follow established OVC policies, the Victim Assistance Final Rule, the Victim Compensation Guidelines, the Department of Justice (DOJ) Grants Financial Guide, and proper accounting principles. It is expected that state VOCA programs will examine their existing resources to determine whether they can support an incident without significantly adversely affecting victims of other crimes. If they lack sufficient resources, then AEAP funding will be considered. Since AEAP grants are retroactive to the date of the event and there will be a gap in time between when the event occurred and the AEAP grant is awarded, it is vital that VOCA SAAs and potential subrecipients carefully track all federal and state funds used to support victims of a mass violence event prior to the date of the AEAP award. Any and all pre-award costs are incurred at the sole risk of the applicant. Because victims often need immediate support, VOCA SAAs and potential subrecipients may use unobligated crime victim assistance or compensation formula funds as an interim solution to assist these victims. Regardless of how the mass violence victim services are funded before an AEAP award is made, proper accounting practices should be employed and expenses should be clearly tracked to ensure that the VOCA SAAs or subrecipients do not duplicate reimbursements for mass violence-related costs.

The following information provides examples of the types of support that are available under AEAP grants. This is not an exhaustive list; other items will be considered if the applicant can demonstrate that expenditures support victim assistance or compensation and that such expenses are supplemental and not provided through other funding.

Examples of supplemental VOCA compensation items typically covered under AEAP include (*see Compensation Note on page 8):

• Compensation for autopsy, refrigeration, and transport of a body; funeral and burial costs; etc.

https://www.bja.gov/ProgramDetails.aspx?Program_ID=59 http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/Default.asp?Item=232 http://www2.ed.gov/programs/dvppserv/index.html https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/07/08/2016-16085/victims-of-crime-act-victim-assistance-program https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2001/05/16/01-12256/victims-of-crime-act-victim-compensation-grant-program https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2001/05/16/01-12256/victims-of-crime-act-victim-compensation-grant-program https://www.ojp.gov/funding/financialguidedoj/overview

Page 8 Grants.gov Opportunity Number O-OVC-2024-171945

• Compensation for medical costs and medical-related expenses, including vocational rehabilitation, non-medical attendant services, rehabilitation and physical therapy, diagnostic examinations, prosthetic devices, eyeglasses, medical/dental/vision health insurance copayments, etc.

• Compensation for mental health costs, including crisis counseling, group therapy, etc., and insurance copayments supporting these type services.

• Emergency travel and/or transportation costs.

• Lost wages.

Note: Compensation funds may NOT be used to cover property damage or loss. Property damage is damage to material goods (not including medical-related devices) or the physical loss of money, stocks, bonds, etc. Additionally, compensation is intended for individuals, not businesses or organizations.

Examples of supplemental VOCA assistance services typically covered under AEAP include:

• Victim advocacy efforts including applying for compensation.

• Counseling and group therapy (providers should be licensed and accredited according to state standards and delivering evidence-based or widely accepted therapeutic services).

• Rehabilitation expenses.

• Vocational rehabilitation.

• Emergency food, clothing, housing, transportation, and travel.

• Temporary housing, per diem, and relocation.

• Child and dependent care.

• Cleaning and return of personal effects.

• Employer and creditor intervention.

• Automated informational telephone services.

• Outreach, awareness, and education.

• Case management and navigator services.

• Victim informational websites, including victim notification systems.

• Support for victim participation in investigations and criminal justice proceedings such as travel/transportation to court or closed-circuit viewing facility, counseling, advocacy, victim impact statements, etc.

• Other criminal justice support such as assistance with victim impact statements; attorney advisor and victim advocate personnel costs; case briefings by investigators; criminal justice notification, information, and referral; outreach, awareness, and education, etc.

• On a case-by-case basis, the OVC Director may approve limited funding to be used for administrative purposes (such as staff and some equipment) deemed essential to the delivery of services and assistance to victims.

• Support for trauma suffered by first responders.

• Very limited victim service-related law enforcement and first responder overtime expenses, such as death notifications; showing/explaining the crime scene to the family; law enforcement-based victim advocates; crime scene cleanup; and additional security at a memorial service or funeral when there is an ongoing threat. (Please note that AEAP CANNOT cover routine law enforcement or first responder expenses and that any requests for funding must be related to victim activities. Interviewing victims and witnesses about the incident is NOT considered a victim service.)

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• Limited expenses for coroners’ or medical examiners’ offices for a larger-than-normal number of deceased victims. Costs for additional supplies and overtime may be considered if the office is overwhelmed. Salaries of current staff will not be reimbursed. It is assumed that the coroner or medical examiner will be able to support some amount of these expenses. For example, if responding to multiple vehicle fatalities is normal for the office, then some costs above that norm will be considered. The type and amount will depend on the size of the incident and office (major city versus rural area). Costs will NOT be considered for expenses related to a suspect/perpetrator.

The following is generally covered under OVC-provided training and technical assistance:

• Training and technical assistance (TTA) is principally available to help federal, state, and local authorities identify victim needs and needed resources, to coordinate services to victims, develop short- and longer-term strategies for responding, and other related purposes as determined by OVC. TTA may include conducting limited needs assessments and planning, defining the mental health needs of victims, identifying strategies for integrating victim assistance in the incident command structure, improving coordination and collaboration among responding agencies, linking mental health services with victim assistance services, and working cooperatively in a multi-disciplinary environment.

If a state VOCA agency is applying for both compensation and assistance resources, the request should be combined into one application, if practical. It is possible to file a supplemental application if circumstances are such that it is not possible to combine all items in the initial request or if there is an unforeseen ongoing need.

*Note to state VOCA compensation programs applying for supplemental crime victim compensation: AEAP may provide state crime victim compensation agencies supplemental funding to reimburse victims for out-of-pocket expenses related to their victimization in cases of mass criminal violence or domestic terrorism occurring within the United States. AEAP funds may not be used to cover property damage or loss and the funding is not intended to exceed existing compensation program limits; however, OVC may award state compensation programs supplemental funding to cover extra expenses related to the incident. Under a 2014 clarification to the AEAP Guidelines, OVC may provide funding to the state program, public agencies, or other organizations to cover expenses not ordinarily covered (whether in amount or type) by state crime victim compensation programs. Due to the nature of mass violence incidents, victims (in addition to being more numerous) may also have compensation needs that are more extensive or somewhat different than what the state program would ordinarily cover, such as compensation to emergency responders or victims who were in the immediate proximity of the crime when it occurred or, in the aftermath of a bombing where many victims lose limbs, there may be an increased need for rehabilitative services that extend beyond what a state compensation program typically provides. Caregivers for seriously injured victims may also incur expenses not typically covered under state crime victim compensation programs such as lost wages and travel expenses when providing care for or taking victims to medical appointments. OVC will coordinate such awards with state crime victim compensation programs in the event that such an award is made to another organization. (See Federal Register :: Amendment to the Anti-Terrorism and Emergency Assistance Program Guidelines for the 2014 amendment to the AEAP Guidelines.)

Examples of mental health interventions that may be funded or denied funding under AEAP grants:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2014/10/01/2014-23343/amendment-to-the-anti-terrorism-and-emergency-assistance-program-guidelines https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2014/10/01/2014-23343/amendment-to-the-anti-terrorism-and-emergency-assistance-program-guidelines

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To the greatest extent possible, proposed mental health interventions should be evidence-based treatments/empirically supported treatments (EBTs and ESTs) or evidence-based practices (EBPs). (Please refer to the OVC-funded National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center (NMVVRC) at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) for an explanation of these terms and examples of them in the “What are Evidence-Based Treatments and Evidence-Based Practices?” Tip Sheet: evidence-based-treatments-versus-evidence-based-practices.pdf (nmvvrc.org) and trauma-focused-treatments-versus-trauma-informed-resiliency.pdf (nmvvrc.org).) In general, some empirically supported treatments include Cognitive Processing therapy (CPT), Complicated Grief Treatment (CGT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Prolonged Exposure (PE), and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). Evidence-based practices may include Grief and Trauma Intervention (GTI) for Children, Psychological First Aid (PFA), Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR) and others. There may be instances, for example, where a local Resiliency Center established following a mass violence incident will provide activities such as trauma-informed yoga, trauma music therapy, etc. These may be appropriate to draw victims into the Resiliency Center and increase their awareness of various services or as a way to provide low-level interventions for victims who need limited support. However, these types of programs are not intended to be used extensively or as stand-alone treatments for most victims.

OVC reserves the right to decline funding for proposed treatments if they are not evidence-based treatments, empirically supported treatments, or evidence-based practices. The applicant should work with OVC to provide information for OVC to make a determination whether requested interventions will be funded under the AEAP grant. At this time, OVC will NOT fund activities such as Equine-Assisted therapy or Trauma Reiki even though some states may fund these activities under their state VOCA programs. Aside from the samples provided on the referenced NMVVRC “What are Evidence-Based Treatments and Evidence-Based Practices?” Tip Sheet, the applicant can expect OVC to carefully review proposed interventions and all funded interventions must be provided by licensed/accredited personnel.

Allowable expenses are based, in part, on activities authorized in guidelines established for OVC’s Antiterrorism Emergency Reserve and the Federal VOCA Victim Assistance Grant Program Guidelines. In addition, when developing these categories of available services and assistance, OVC relied on the requirements in the Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance that deal specifically with the provision of services for victims of terrorism and other mass casualties.

Victim services identified in this section are intended to complement services that are available from other agencies and organizations. For instance, an applicant would not be precluded from receiving AEAP funding merely because it received funding from a private charitable organization or another federal agency, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency; however, the applicant would be required to demonstrate how AEAP funding would complement and enhance (not duplicate) the ability to meet an unmet need.

Funding under this program is administered by one agency working in conjunction with other organizations and victim assistance providers. OVC will award one grant with the grantee assuming overall responsibility for coordination of grant activities with subgrantees and/or contractors. With extraordinary justification, OVC may entertain more than one application and https://nmvvrc.org/media/3cpdw33e/evidence-based-treatments-versus-evidence-based-practices.pdf https://nmvvrc.org/media/3cpdw33e/evidence-based-treatments-versus-evidence-based-practices.pdf https://nmvvrc.org/media/xohdbcwn/trauma-focused-treatments-versus-trauma-informed-resiliency.pdf https://nmvvrc.org/media/xohdbcwn/trauma-focused-treatments-versus-trauma-informed-resiliency.pdf

Page 11 Grants.gov Opportunity Number O-OVC-2024-may award funding to multiple applicants for different types of assistance. If multiple applicants receive grants under AEAP, they are expected to coordinate their activities. OVC also works closely with applicants to ensure the most appropriate use of resources from all affected entities.

Applicants should identify other public and private entities that were consulted in the process of preparing the application and describe how the proposed services fit within the overall plan for addressing victims’ needs. OVC will consider the level of coordination and the availability of resources from other federal, state, local, and tribal agencies and private entities when making funding determinations. Extensive coordination with agencies (e.g., state emergency preparedness organizations, state mental health providers, and local chapters of the American Red Cross and the United Way) and among federal and state law enforcement and prosecution personnel is a necessary component of an effective response to terrorism and mass violence and a criterion upon which OVC will base its funding decision. OVC does not provide AEAP funding directly to individual crime victims.

Solicitation Goals and Objectives The objective of this program is to improve services and assistance by providing supplemental funding to assist victims of criminal mass violence and domestic terrorism. This is consistent with OJP Strategic Objective 1.2, to increase access to sound, practical programs designed to improve outcomes for youth, non-violent offenders, and victims. OVC is authorized to provide emergency relief for the benefit of victims in cases of mass criminal violence or domestic terrorism occurring within the United States (34 U.S.C. § 20105(b)). This support provides supplemental resources in relation to the jurisdiction’s crisis response efforts, consequence management activities, criminal justice actions, crime victim compensation program, and training and technical assistance.

Goals

While the overall goal of AEAP is to support criminal mass violence and terrorism victims, individual grant goals, objectives, and deliverables will vary by incident as each event is unique and resources may differ in each jurisdiction. Support for victims under AEAP is accomplished by providing supplemental crime victim assistance and compensation to support these victims, including first responders who are adversely impacted by these events.

Objectives

The overall objective is to increase access to programs designed to improve services, assistance (including victim compensation), and outcomes for victims of mass violence and terrorism.

How AEAP funding serves these victims varies depending on the nature of the incident. For example, funding may support direct victim services such as individual/group counseling or vocational/rehabilitation expenses. In other instances, AEAP funding supports victim advocacy efforts; case management and victim navigation services; Resiliency Center activities and websites; TTA for various activities including training for mental health practitioners; outreach and awareness; etc.

Deliverables

Deliverables vary by incident and depend on what the AEAP grant activities are supporting.

Page 12 Grants.gov Opportunity Number O-OVC-2024-

Deliverables include completing the AEAP PMT questionnaire as well as semi-annual progress reports addressing the following items:

• Description of Services Provided;

• Description of Plans for Addressing Longer-term and Unmet Needs;

• and the Evaluation/Assessment of the Effectiveness of the Response.

• A Final Report is also required.

For information about what the applicant needs to submit regarding Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables please see the How To Apply section on the Application Goals, Objectives, Deliverables, and Timeline Web-Based Form.

Federal Award Information Awards, Amounts, and Durations Anticipated Number of Awards: one Anticipated Maximum Dollar Amount per Award: $3,485,727 Period of Performance Start Date: 11/19/2022 Period of Performance Duration (Months): 36 months Anticipated Total Amount To Be Awarded Under Solicitation: $3,485,727

Additional Information: AEAP grants may be retroactive to the date of the mass violence or terrorist incident and range from 9 to 36 months duration.

Availability of Funds This funding opportunity, and awards under this funding opportunity, are subject to the availability of funding and to any changes 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

OJP expects to make awards under this funding opportunity as grants. See the “Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements” section of the 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.

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement

This solicitation does not require a match.

Eligibility Information For eligibility information, see the Synopsis section.

For the purposes of this notice of funding opportunity, “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.

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

Page 13 Grants.gov Opportunity Number O-OVC-2024-

How To Apply

Before You Apply DOJ’s AEAP Guidelines for Terrorism and Mass Violence Crimes requires that a Letter of Request be submitted to OVC once an applicant has determined the extent and nature of the need but before a formal application is submitted. This letter should include a brief discussion of the following:

• The type of crime and description of the criminal event;

• The lead law enforcement agency conducting the investigation;

• Estimated number of victims affected by the crime, both direct and indirect;

• The applicant’s role in responding to the victim population since the date of the incident;

• Services that this funding will support and how these efforts will either complement services already in place or respond to an unmet need;

• The amount of funding requested and the timeframe for support; and

• A description of outreach and coordination with other public and private entities during the process of preparing the request for assistance.

Application Resources When preparing and submitting an application, the following resources may aid prospective applicants:

1. Grants.gov “How To Apply for Grants”

2. OJP “How To Apply” section in the Application Resource Guide

3. JustGrants Application Submission Training

This solicitation (notice of funding opportunity) incorporates guidance provided in the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide (Application Resource Guide), which provides additional information for applicants to prepare and submit applications to OJP for funding. If this solicitation requires something different from any guidance provided in the Application Resource Guide, the difference will be noted in this solicitation and the applicant is to follow the guidelines in this solicitation, rather than the guidance in the Application Resource Guide that is in conflict.

How To Apply Registration Before submitting an application, all applicants must register with the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). An applicant must renew their registration every 12 months. If an applicant does not renew their SAM.gov registration, it will expire. An expired registration can delay or prevent application submission in Grants.gov and JustGrants. Applicants are encouraged to start the SAM.gov registration process at least 30 days prior to the application deadlines. Applicants who fail to begin the registration or renewal process at least 10 business days prior to the Grants.gov deadline may not complete the process in time and will not be considered for late submission.

Submission Applications must be submitted to DOJ electronically through a two-step process that begins in Grants.gov and is completed in JustGrants.

https://www.grants.gov/applicants/grant-applications/how-to-apply-for-grants 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/training/training-application-submission 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://www.ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/Grant-App-Resource-Guide.htm 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://www.ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/Grant-App-Resource-Guide.htm

Page 14 Grants.gov Opportunity Number O-OVC-2024-

Step 1: After registering with SAM.gov, the applicant must submit the SF-424 and SF-LLL in Grants.gov at https://www.grants.gov/register by the Grants.gov deadline. To leave time to address any technical issues that may arise, an applicant should submit the SF-424 and SF-LLL as early as possible. If an applicant fails to submit in Grants.gov by the deadline, they will be unable to apply in JustGrants. Applicants can confirm Grants.gov submission by verifying their application status shows as “submitted” or “agency tracking number assigned.”

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

OJP recommends that applicants submit the complete application package in JustGrants as soon as possible. Some of the required sections of the application will be entered directly into JustGrants, and other sections will require documents to be uploaded and attached. Therefore, applicants should allow enough time before the JustGrants deadline to prepare all the requirements of the application. Applicants may save their progress in the system and add to or change the application as needed prior to hitting the “Submit” button at the end of the application in JustGrants.

An applicant will receive emails when successfully submitting in Grants.gov and JustGrants and should maintain all emails and other confirmations received from SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and JustGrants systems.

For additional information, see the “How To Apply” section in the Application Resource Guide and the DOJ Application Submission Checklist.

Submission Dates and Time The SF-424 and the SF-LLL must be submitted in Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on 01/24/2024.

The full application must be submitted in JustGrants by 8:59 p.m. Eastern Time on 01/31/2024.

To be considered timely, the full application must be submitted in JustGrants by the JustGrants application deadline. Failure to begin the SAM.gov, Grants.gov, or JustGrants registration and application process in sufficient time (i.e., waiting until the due dates identified in this solicitation for those systems to begin the application steps) is not an acceptable reason to request a technical waiver.

Experiencing Unforeseen Technical Issues Preventing Submission of an Application (Technical Waivers) OJP will only consider requests to submit an application after the deadline when the applicant can document that a technical issue with a government system prevented submission of the application on time.

If an applicant misses a deadline due to unforeseen technical issues with SAM.gov, Grants.gov, or JustGrants, the applicant may request a waiver to submit an application after the deadline.

However, the waiver request will not be considered unless it includes documentation of attempts to receive technical assistance to resolve the issue prior to the application deadline. A tracking number is the most typical documentation and is generated when the applicant contacts the applicable service desks to report technical difficulties. Tracking numbers are generated https://www.grants.gov/register https://justicegrants.usdoj.gov/ https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#apply https://justicegrants.usdoj.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh296/files/media/document/appln-submission-checklist.pdf

Page 15 Grants.gov Opportunity Number O-OVC-2024-automatically when an applicant emails the applicable service desks, and for this reason, long call wait times for support do not relieve the applicant of the responsibility of getting a tracking number.

An applicant experiencing technical difficulties must contact the associated service desk indicated below to report the technical issue and receive a tracking number:

• SAM.gov: contact the SAM.gov Help Desk (Federal Service Desk), Monday–Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET at 866-606-8220.

• Grants.gov: contact the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except on federal holidays, at 800-518-4726, 606-545-5035, or support@grants.gov.

• JustGrants: contact the JustGrants Service Desk at JustGrants.Support@usdoj.gov or 833-872-5175, Monday–Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET and Saturday, Sunday, and federal holidays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET.

If an applicant has technical issues with SAM.gov or Grants.gov, the applicant must contact the OJP Response Center at grants@ncjrs.gov within 24 hours of the Grants.gov deadline to request approval to submit after the deadline.

If an applicant has technical issues with JustGrants that prevent application submission by the deadline, the applicant must contact the OJP Response Center at grants@ncjrs.gov within 24 hours of the JustGrants deadline to request approval to submit after the deadline.

Waiver requests sent to the OJP Response Center must—

• describe the technical difficulties experienced (provide screenshots if applicable);

• include a timeline of the applicant’s submission efforts (e.g., date and time the error occurred, date and time of actions taken to resolve the issue and resubmit; and date and time support representatives responded);

• include an attachment of the complete grant application and all the required documentation and materials;

• include the applicant’s Unique Entity Identifier (UEI); and

• include any SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and JustGrants Service Desk tracking numbers documenting the technical issue.

OJP will review each waiver request and the required supporting documentation and notify the applicant whether the request for late submission has been approved or denied. An applicant that does not provide documentation of a technical issue (including all information listed above), or that does not submit a waiver request within the required time period, will be denied.

For more details on the waiver process, OJP encourages applicants to review the “Experiencing Unforeseen Technical Issues” section in the Application Resource Guide.

Application and Submission Information Content of the 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 Application Resource Guide for additional information on completing the SF-424.

https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp https://www.grants.gov/support mailto:support@grants.gov mailto:JustGrants.Support@usdoj.gov mailto:grants@ncjrs.gov mailto:grants@ncjrs.gov https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#experiencing-unforeseen-technical-issues https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#complete-application

Page 16 Grants.gov Opportunity Number O-OVC-2024-

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 funding opportunity is not subject to Executive Order (E.O.)

12372. In completing the SF-424, an applicant should answer question 19 by selecting “Program is not covered by E.O. 12372.”

Content of the JustGrants Application Submission

Entity and User Verification (First Time Applicant) For first time JustGrants applicants, once the application is received from Grants.gov, DOJ will send an email (from DIAMD-NoReply@usdoj.gov) to the individual listed in Section 8F of the SF-424 with instructions on how to create a JustGrants account. This email should arrive within 24 hours after this individual receives confirmation from Grants.gov of their SF-424 and SF-LLL submissions. Register the Entity Administrator (the person who manages who can access JustGrants on behalf of the applicant), the Application Submitter, and Authorized Representative for the applicant with JustGrants as early as possible and (recommended) not later than 48-72 hours before the JustGrants deadline. Once registered in JustGrants, the Application Submitter will receive a link in an email to complete the rest of the application in JustGrants. Find additional information on JustGrants Application Submission in the Application Resource Guide.

Standard Applicant 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 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 Application Resource Guide for an example of a proposal abstract.

Data Requested With Application The following application elements should be submitted in the web-based forms in JustGrants.

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire (including applicant disclosure of high-risk status) The Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire helps OJP assess the financial management and internal control systems, and the associated potential risks of an applicant as part of the pre-award risk assessment process.