oppOVC-2018-14070-cfda16.320-cidOVC-2018-14567-instructions.pdf

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

OMB No. 1121-0329 Approval Expires 11/30/2020

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) is seeking applications to support comprehensive services to victims of all forms of human trafficking throughout the United States. This program furthers the Department’s mission by enhancing the social service field’s response to victims of human trafficking.

OVC Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Comprehensive Services for Victims of All Forms of Human Trafficking Applications Due: June 25, 2018

Eligibility

By statute, grants under this program may be awarded to states, territories, units of local government, federally recognized Indian tribal governments (as determined by the Secretary of the Interior), and nonprofit (defined as an organization that is described in section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 and is exempt from taxation under 501(a) of such title), nongovernmental organizations (including tribal nonprofits). For the purposes of this program, a unit of local government is any city, county, township, town, borough, parish, village, or other general purpose political subdivision of a state, territory, or federally recognized Indian tribal government.

All recipients and subrecipients must forgo any profit or management fee.

OVC may elect to fund applications submitted under this FY 2018 solicitation in future fiscal years, dependent on, among other considerations, the merit of the applications and on the availability of appropriations.

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.

OVC welcomes 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 subrecipients (“subgrantees").1 The applicant must be the entity that would have primary responsibility for carrying out the award, including administering the funding and managing the entire project.

Under this solicitation, only one application by any particular applicant entity will be considered.

An entity may, however, be proposed as a subrecipient (subgrantee) in more than one application.

1 For additional information on subawards, see "Budget and Associated Documentation" under Section D.

Application and Submission Information.

Revised 6/1/2018 https://www.usdoj.gov/ https://ojp.gov/ https://ovc.gov/ https://ovc.gov/

OVC-2018-14070

Current OVC trafficking victim services grantees who received funding from the OVC FY 2016 or 2017 Enhanced Collaborative Model to Combat Human Trafficking Solicitation and the FY 2016 or 2017 Comprehensive Services for Victims of Human Trafficking Solicitation are not eligible to apply for funding under this solicitation, unless the new proposal includes a distinct geographic scope not included in the FY 2016 or 2107 application.

Deadline

Applicants must register with Grants.gov at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html prior to submitting an application. All applications are due by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on June 25, 2018.

To be considered timely, an application must be submitted by the application deadline using Grants.gov, and the applicant must have received a validation message from Grants.gov that indicates successful and timely submission. OJP urges applicants to submit applications at least 72 hours prior to the application due date, to allow time for the applicant to receive validation messages or rejection notifications from Grants.gov, and to correct in a timely fashion any problems that may have caused a rejection notification.

OJP encourages all applicants to read this Important Notice: Applying for Grants in Grants.gov.

For additional information, see How to Apply in Section Section D. Application and Submission Information.

Contact Information

For technical assistance with submitting an application, contact the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 800–518–4726, 606–545–5035, at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html, or at support@grants.gov. The Grants.gov Support Hotline operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except on federal holidays.

An applicant that experiences unforeseen Grants.gov technical issues beyond its control that prevent it from submitting its application by the deadline must email the OVC contact identified below within 24 hours after the application deadline to request approval to submit its application after the deadline. Additional information on reporting technical issues appears under “Experiencing Unforeseen Grants.gov Technical Issues” in the How To Apply section.

For assistance with any other requirements of this solicitation, contact the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) Response Center: toll free at 800–851–3420; via TTY at 301–240–6310 (hearing impaired only); email to grants@ncjrs.gov; fax to 301–240–5830; or web chat at https://webcontact.ncjrs.gov/ncjchat/chat.jsp. The NCJRS Response Center operates from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., eastern time, Monday through Friday, and from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., eastern time on the solicitation closing date.

Pre-Application Webinar OVC will conduct one pre-application webinar on Thursday, May 24, 2018, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. eastern time. Participation in the webinar is optional. OVC staff will review the solicitation requirements and conduct a question and answer session with interested potential applicants. You may register for the webinar at https://ojp.webex.com/ojp/onstage/g.php?MTID=e6d158e8c5a1c22a3724d77fd52c9f023.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html https://ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Grants-govInfo.htm https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html mailto:support@grants.gov mailto:grants@ncjrs.gov https://webcontact.ncjrs.gov/ncjchat/chat.jsp https://ojp.webex.com/ojp/onstage/g.php?MTID=e6d158e8c5a1c22a3724d77fd52c9f023

Grants.gov number assigned to this solicitation: OVC-2018-14070

Release date: May 10, 2018

Contents A. Program Description

Overview Program-Specific Information Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables Evidence-Based Programs or Practices Information Regarding Potential Evaluation of Programs and Activities

B. Federal Award Information Type of Award Budget Information Cost Sharing or Match Requirement (cash or in-kind) Pre-Agreement Costs (also known as Pre-Award Costs) 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)

C. Eligibility Information D. Application and Submission Information

What an Application Should Include How To Apply

E. Application Review Information Review Criteria Review Process

F. Federal Award Administration Information Federal Award Notices Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements General Information about Post-Federal Award Reporting Requirements

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s) H. Other Information

Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. §§ 552 and 552a) Provide Feedback to OJP Appendix A: Performance Measures Table Appendix B: FY 2018 - Supplemental Budget Guidance Appendix C: Application Checklist

OVC FY 2018 Comprehensive Services for Victims of All Forms of Human Trafficking

(CFDA # 16.320)

A. Program Description

Overview The primary goal of this program is to enhance the quality and quantity of services available to assist victims of human trafficking, as defined by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000, as amended. This solicitation will provide funding to victim service organizations with a demonstrated history of providing comprehensive services for victims of human trafficking.

Funding will also support efforts to increase the capacity of communities to respond to human trafficking victims through the development of interagency partnerships, professional training, and public awareness activities.

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

Program-Specific Information To address the problem of human trafficking in the United States, Congress passed, and the President signed into law, the TVPA of 2000 (22 U.S.C. § 7101 et. seq.), which has been reauthorized several times, to address the problem of human trafficking. The TVPA seeks to combat “severe forms” of human trafficking by punishing traffickers, protecting victims, and mobilizing U.S. Government agencies to wage a global anti-trafficking campaign.

OVC strives to uphold the intent of the TVPA and its subsequent authorizations to ensure that all trafficking victims receive support in accessing the services they need. Sex trafficking and labor trafficking occur within many different community settings and victims of these crimes are very diverse. Trafficking victims include foreign nationals and U.S. citizens. This solicitation places a priority on funding direct services provided by organizations with the capacity to implement a collaborative and “comprehensive” service model, engaging all appropriate community resources, to address the needs of victims of all forms of human trafficking.

Under this program, a victim of trafficking is defined as a person who has been subjected to a “severe form of trafficking in persons,” which, as defined in 22 U.S.C. § 7102(9), means—

a. 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; or

b. 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.

Comprehensive Service Model The Comprehensive Service Model (the Model) includes a wide variety of services that victims of human trafficking often need in order to address their needs for safety, security, and healing.

No one agency is expected to provide all of the services in-house that are outlined within the Comprehensive Service Model; however, applicants are expected to demonstrate that there is a coordinated, communitywide approach in place to ensure that each of the services outlined within the Model is available to trafficking victims identified within their community, either in-house or through project partners and other community-based programs. The delivery of a coordinated, communitywide response to victims will include, but is not limited to, local, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement and prosecutors; legal assistance providers; child welfare and child protection service systems; domestic violence, youth, and homeless shelter systems and transitional housing programs; medical and mental health services and systems; immigrant and refugee service providers; child and adult educational systems; job training programs;

substance abuse treatment agencies; drop-in centers for youth and adults; detention facilities;

faith-based service providers; interpretation and translation providers; and other partners providing critical services.

The Model supports the development of individualized service plans that are tailored to meet victims’ identified needs. Using this Model, in coordination with a victim-centered approach, will ensure that victims of human trafficking have the opportunity to make informed decisions about the support they need to work through the impact of the crime. The Model supports the process of informing victims about their options and helping them work with local, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement in the prosecution of the trafficker.

Intensive case management is a central service within the Comprehensive Services Model, as it ensures that victims have support in accessing a variety of services that are coordinated across multiple systems. It ensures the provision of “wraparound services” that meet victims where they are, and helps to express their choices while working through the trauma of the situation and interacting with the necessary local, state, and federal partners. Applicants must include a plan to ensure that case management is provided for all victims of human trafficking enrolled in the OVC-funded program, regardless of where the victim resides. For example, case management should be provided, either in-house or through project partners, for victims under the age of 18 who may be placed in foster care, a group home, or reside with family; or for adults living independently or within a substance abuse treatment center or a shelter.

Applicants seeking funding through this solicitation must demonstrate that they have prior experience serving trafficking victims. They also must document that they have a Comprehensive Service Model in place or have specific plans to use grant funding to develop such a model. Applicants must ensure that the services outlined below will be made available to victims of all forms of human trafficking within the stated geographic area, including foreign nationals, U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents (LPRs), adults, minors, males, and females.

Applicants must include a description of how they will provide each of the direct services described below, either in-house or through project partners:

• Intake and eligibility assessment, to determine if an individual meets the definition of a victim of a severe form of trafficking, as defined by the TVPA, and to determine eligibility for programs and services.

• Intensive case management, including assessment of client needs, development of individualized service plans, assessment of eligibility for other public or community-based programs, assistance in accessing publicly funded programs, safety planning, assistance with crime victim compensation claims when possible, information and referrals, documentation of services provided, and routine followup to ensure that the victim’s needs are being addressed, either in-house or through project partners.

• Shelter, housing and sustenance, to include access to a variety of emergency and transitional shelters, group and independent living options, and food.

• Medical care.

• Dental care.

• Mental health treatment, emergency mental health assessments, and individual and/or group counseling. Programs include, but are not limited to, treatment and recovery support services that are evidence-based and trauma-informed. Services such as care coordination; peer support; and integrated mental health, substance use, and medical services must be included. All services and programs need to be person-centered;

trauma-specific therapies; and have quality assurance practices for fidelity.

• Interpreter/translator services.

• Substance abuse treatment. Programs include, but are not limited to, treatment and recovery support services that are evidence-based and trauma-informed. Services such as care coordination; peer support; medication-assisted therapies; and integrated mental health, substance use, and medical services must be included. All services and programs need to be person-centered, trauma-specific therapies, and have quality assurance practices for fidelity.

• Assistance in achieving certification from the U.S. Department of Health and Human

Services (HHS) for foreign national victims (HHS certification), including coordination with law enforcement and allied experts to obtain documentation necessary to achieve HHS certification; assistance in coordination with federal law enforcement to request Continued Presence (CP); and assistance in obtaining necessary documents to support their application for services and programs for which they may be eligible.

• Victim advocacy and information about crime victims’ rights and services, including coordination with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and U.S. Attorney’s Office victim/witness coordinators; victim/witness staff in district attorneys’ offices or within local law enforcement; victim advocates within intimate partner violence and domestic violence or sexual assault crisis centers; and local Sexual Assault Response Teams, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, and Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner programs. Victim advocates within these settings may provide information on the status of an investigation or prosecution; assistance with the application process for state crime victim compensation benefits; sexual assault forensic medical exam options; accompaniment to court proceedings; additional comprehensive victim services, whether in-house or through referrals; and information to help clients exercise their rights as crime victims within the criminal justice process.

• Literacy education, job training, and/or education/GED assistance that address the unique needs of clients.

• Life skills training, including managing personal finances, parenting classes, and programs that help clients achieve self-sufficiency.

• Employment assistance.

• Transportation assistance.

• 24-hour a day response, including evenings and weekends, to client emergencies and emergency calls from law enforcement. This may include hotline services, call-forwarding systems or rotating on-call cell phones, and a protocol for responding to victim emergencies and emergency referrals after hours.

• Legal services, including— o assistance in screening each client to ensure they meet the definition of a victim of a severe form of trafficking as defined by the TVPA;

o screening and assessment to determine the type of legal assistance needed;

o explanation of legal rights and protections, including assistance in obtaining restitution and victims’ rights enforcement and compliance efforts and counseling on expungement or vacatur of any conviction for a non-violent crime that is a direct result of being a trafficking victim;

o coordination with law enforcement to request CP;

o assistance in achieving HHS certification or for foreign national minors, an Eligibility Letter for eligibility of benefits to the same extent as refugees;

o assistance in applying for a T nonimmigrant status (T-visa) or other immigration relief;

o assistance with payment of application fees and visa fees, if needed;

o assistance on family and civil matters related to the trafficking victimization, including, but not limited to, protection from abuse orders, representation in family court proceedings, and emancipation of minors;

o assistance with repatriation or family reunification;

o facilitation of representation of the victim by attorneys willing to provide pro bono legal services; and o general advocacy and assistance on matters that arise as a result of the human trafficking victimization.

Note: OVC funding may not be used for criminal defense services. Direct representation on vacatur or expungement matters through court filings or through other litigation services, is NOT an allowable cost under this cooperative agreement or with FY 2018 funds.

Applicants must demonstrate that a coordinated, communitywide approach will be used to leverage various local, state, and federal resources for the provision of a comprehensive array of services for all victims identified through this initiative. Applications that fail to dedicate adequate funding to support direct services, and applicants that propose to perform all work in-house without demonstrated collaboration with other community-based agencies, will not be considered responsive to the solicitation.

OVC is interested in supporting programs that focus on one of the following three purpose areas:

Purpose Area 1: Comprehensive Services. (OVC-2018-14566) Purpose Area 1 will provide funding to victim service providers with a demonstrated history of providing comprehensive services to victims of human trafficking. Comprehensive services include a range of services that victims of human trafficking often need in order to address their needs for safety, security, and healing. These services include, but are not limited to, case management, shelter, medical care, dental care, mental health treatment/counseling, substance abuse treatment, legal services, education, training, employment assistance, and transportation assistance. OVC anticipates funding approximately six awards under Purpose Area 1 for up to $775,000 each.

Purpose Area 2: Comprehensive Services for Sustained Caseloads. (OVC-2018-14567) Purpose Area 2 will provide funding to victim service providers with a demonstrated history of providing comprehensive services to a sustained caseload of a large number of victims of human trafficking. Comprehensive services include a range of services that victims of human trafficking often need in order to address their needs for safety, security, and healing. These services include, but are not limited to, case management, shelter, medical care, dental care, mental health treatment/counseling, substance abuse treatment, legal services, education, training, employment assistance, and transportation assistance.

Applicants should demonstrate a sustained significant caseload of trafficking victims and a high need in their jurisdiction for services (for example, the use of waitlists for certain services). OVC anticipates funding approximately four awards under Purpose Area 2 for up to $925,000 each.

Purpose Area 3: Capacity Building. (OVC-2018-14568) Purpose Area 3 is designed to strengthen the capacity of victim service providers who have experience serving victims of human trafficking and/or related populations (e.g., victims of domestic violence, victims of sexual assault, and/or runaway and homeless youth, etc.) but who currently have a limited capacity to implement the comprehensive services model due to limited staff and/or partnerships to fully meet the needs of human trafficking victims. Under this purpose area, grantees will carry out a planning phase during the first year of the project for the delivery of comprehensive services in collaboration with community partners. In years 2 and 3 of the project period, grantees will provide comprehensive services to victims of human trafficking. OVC anticipates funding approximately eight awards under Purpose Area 3 for up to $550,000 each.

Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables The overarching goal of this program is to enhance the quality and quantity of services available to assist all victims of human trafficking in achieving their goals, which may include increased independence and self-sufficiency, and increased feelings of safety and well-being.

The program’s primary objectives are to enhance interagency collaboration and the coordinated community response to victims of human trafficking, and to provide high-quality services that address the individualized needs of trafficking victims.

Grantees funded through this solicitation will be expected to engage in all of the following activities in order to meet program goals and objectives:

1. Provide comprehensive services for victims of all forms of human trafficking, either in-house or through community partnerships;

2. Work in collaboration with federal, state, and local law enforcement, local service providers, and community- and faith-based organizations to develop comprehensive response protocols to ensure that trafficking victims are identified and referred for appropriate services;

3. Conduct training and public awareness activities for professionals and community members in order to improve their knowledge of human trafficking and their ability to identify and respond to victims; and

4. Conduct data collection and action research activities and evaluation to determine if the program is meeting stated goals and objectives. (Note: 2 to 7 percent of the total project budget, including match funds, must be dedicated to action research activities.)

Funds awarded through this OVC cooperative agreement are intended primarily to support the cost of direct services that promote victim safety and stability in the aftermath of victimization, leading to the goal of independence and economic self-sufficiency. OVC does not set time limits on services and supports the provision of ongoing case management when there are no other specialized programs to provide case management services; however, funds awarded through this program are not intended to provide long-term financial support to trafficking victims.

Applicants that fail to dedicate adequate funding to support the comprehensive services identified below will be negatively scored in the peer review. Applicants must demonstrate that a coordinated, communitywide approach will be used to leverage various local, state, and federal resources for the comprehensive service identified through this initiative.

Comprehensive services should be implemented in coordination with existing community resources. To the extent possible, service providers should assess the needs of each client and make referrals to connect them with other service providers within the community to ensure that all of their needs are met, if not provided within the applicant’s organization. Collaborations are encouraged that yield appropriate interventions, and services to those with disabilities (such as Deaf and hard-of-hearing clients) and those with functional needs (such as people with developmental disabilities).

This program supports services for sex trafficking and labor trafficking victims identified within a specific geographic area. Such victims often represent a diversity of backgrounds, and may include foreign nationals, U.S. citizens, LPRs, adults, minors, males, and females, among others. Service providers will be expected to serve victims of all forms of human trafficking identified above.

Victim service provider partners should meet all of the following criteria:

1. Provide services to victims of human trafficking or related populations (e.g., victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and/or runaway and homeless youth, etc.) as one of their primary purposes and have a demonstrated history of effective work in this field (e.g., mission statement, background information, etc.);

2. Address a demonstrated need in their community by providing services that promote the dignity and self-sufficiency of victims, improve their access to resources, and create options for victims; and

3. Do not engage in or promote activities that compromise victim safety.

Activities That Compromise Victim Safety and Recovery The following activities have been found to jeopardize victim safety or deter or prevent physical or emotional healing for victims: OVC will not fund projects that include these activities.

1. The development and implementation of policies or procedures that exclude any victims from receiving safe shelter, advocacy services, counseling, and other assistance;

2. The development and implementation of policies or procedures that compromise the confidentiality of information and privacy of persons receiving OVC-funded services;

3. The development and implementation of policies or procedures that impose requirements on victims in order to receive services (e.g., receive counseling, seek civil or criminal remedies, etc.);

4. The development and implementation of policies or procedures that fail to conduct safety planning with victims;

5. The implementation of project designs and/or budget allocations that fail to account for the accessibility needs of individuals with disabilities and individuals who have limited English proficiency or are Deaf or hard of hearing; and

6. The establishment or enhancement of a multidisciplinary collaborative community response lacking the appropriate policies and procedures regarding victim confidentiality and information sharing for the members.

Applications that propose activities that compromise victim safety and recovery may receive a deduction in points during the review process or may be eliminated from further consideration entirely. If funded, grantees may be required to modify their application project narrative and/or budget to remove any activities that are deemed to compromise victim safety during the review process.

Lobbying, promoting, or advocating the legalization/regulation of prostitution The Federal Government is opposed to prostitution and related activities, which are inherently harmful and dehumanizing and contribute to the phenomenon of trafficking in persons. U.S.

nongovernmental organizations and their subgrantees cannot use U.S. government funds to lobby for, promote, or advocate the legalization or regulation of prostitution as a legitimate form of work. Foreign nongovernmental organizations and their subgrantees that receive U.S.

government funds to fight trafficking in persons cannot lobby for, promote, or advocate the legalization or regulation of prostitution as a legitimate form of work. It is the responsibility of the primary grantee to ensure these criteria are met by its subgrantees.

Coordinating With Law Enforcement:

OVC strongly encourages all grantees to assist clients above the age of 18 in complying with reasonable requests for local, state, federal, or tribal government agencies with the authority to investigate or prosecute trafficking acts. OVC is committed to the elimination of all forms of trafficking in persons, which requires the prosecution of traffickers as a key part of a multifaceted strategy. Victim-centered investigations and prosecutions of traffickers reduce harm and increase safety for our communities while supporting the healing of victims. Minors (defined here as persons under the age of 18), whether foreign nationals or U.S. citizens, should be encouraged to comply with reasonable requests, if possible, with the understanding that the extent of reasonable cooperation depends on the age, trauma, and maturity of the victim, among other things.

Letters of Support From Law Enforcement and/or Prosecutorial Agencies

Applicants must provide at least one letter of support from a local, state, tribal, and/or federal law enforcement agency and/or a local, state, tribal, and/or federal prosecutor’s office(s). Note that law enforcement and prosecutor’s offices providing letters of support may do so for multiple applicants.

Resource Coordination:

Proposals should fill gaps in existing services. All applicants should determine if there is an existing federally funded trafficking victim service provider within their jurisdiction, and work to ensure that the new application does not duplicate existing services currently funded by OVC, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Office on Violence Against Women, or another federal office or agency.

If there is currently a federally funded trafficking victim service grantee within the same jurisdiction as the applicant’s proposal, applicants must document (1) how the new proposal either supports different services than those already funded or provide strong justification for why additional funding is needed to fill existing gaps in services; and (2) how these services will be coordinated within the geographic area.

Applicants must also include information about any other open award of federal and state funds (including programs supported by Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) victim assistance funds) that are being or will be used, in whole or in part, for one or more of the identical cost items outlined within this application. Applicants with current OVC funding for services for victims of human trafficking must demonstrate how the new proposal fills gaps in services not previously addressed by the existing OVC grant.

The list of OVC-funded trafficking victim services grantees and the geographic regions they serve are listed on the OVC website at http://ojp.gov/ovc/grants/traffickingmatrix.html, and the list of some HHS-funded grantees is available at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/otip/grants.

Applications that fail to address resource coordination with other OVC and federally and state-funded similar grant programs in their proposal will be negatively scored and may receive a deduction in points during the review process.

With regard to services provided to individual clients, applicants must ensure that eligible victims served under this program are not concurrently served with other federally funded grants, contracts, or subawards issued to the applicant agency specifically for services for victims of human trafficking, such as awards funded by HHS or other federal sources. Services can be provided to a victim in the aftermath of victim identification: service providers should facilitate victims’ access to other federal, state, or local programs for which they may be eligible, including HHS-funded services.

http://ojp.gov/ovc/grants/traffickingmatrix.html https://www.acf.hhs.gov/otip/grants

The HHS Trafficking Victim Assistance Program (TVAP) is designed to fund case management services on a per capita basis for foreign national victims and potential victims seeking HHS certification. It is a valuable resource in communities where there are funding gaps due to the lack of federally funded victim service providers or significant spikes in caseloads. Applicants should plan on using OVC funds to provide services to foreign national trafficking clients regardless of HHS certification, and should not anticipate leveraging TVAP funds as a matter of course unless extraordinary circumstances arise. Grantees funded under this solicitation desiring to access TVAP funding due to such circumstances must contact their grant monitor to discuss the need.

Training and Public Awareness:

Training and public awareness activities are integral to a community’s response to human trafficking. Applicants are expected to conduct local trainings for project partners and for other community members, and provide project staff with professional development opportunities (including travel to attend local and national victim assistance or regional or national trafficking conferences). Under this program, OVC recommends that a minimum of 2 percent (but no more than 5 percent) of the total victim service project cost, including match funds, be dedicated to these activities. A Training Plan should be submitted as a separate attachment to the application. For more information about what should be included in the Training Plan, please refer to page 35.

Evaluation and Collecting Data for Performance Measures:

Data collection and evaluation activities are necessary to document the required performance measures and ensure projects meet intended goals related to victims of human trafficking.

Under this program, each application must allocate a minimum of 2 percent of their total project budget to collect data on the performance measures of this grant. A Plan for Evaluation and Data Collection for this solicitation’s Measurable Performance Measures should be submitted as a separate component to the application. For more information about what should be included in the Plan, please refer to page 23.

The Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables are directly related to the performance measures that demonstrate the results of the work completed, as discussed in Section D. Application and Submission Information, under Program Narrative.

Evidence-Based Programs or Practices OJP strongly emphasizes the use of data and evidence in policymaking and program development in criminal justice, juvenile justice, and crime victim services.

OJP is committed to—

• improving the quantity and quality of evidence OJP generates;

• integrating evidence into program, practice, and policy decisions within OJP and the field; and

• improving the translation of evidence into practice.

OJP considers programs and practices to be evidence-based when their effectiveness has been demonstrated by causal evidence, generally obtained through one or more outcome evaluations. Causal evidence documents a relationship between an activity or intervention (including technology) and its intended outcome, including measuring the direction and size of a change, and the extent to which a change may be attributed to the activity or intervention.

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/otip/victim-assistance/certification-and-eligibility-letters-for-foreign-national-victims

Causal evidence depends on the use of scientific methods to rule out, to the extent possible, alternative explanations for the documented change. The strength of causal evidence, based on the factors described above, will influence the degree to which OJP considers a program or practice to be evidence-based.

The OJP CrimeSolutions.gov website at https://www.crimesolutions.gov is one resource that applicants may use to find information about evidence-based programs in criminal justice, juvenile justice, and crime victim services.

Information Regarding Potential Evaluation of Programs and Activities DOJ has prioritized the use of evidence-based programming and deems it critical to continue to build and expand the evidence informing criminal and juvenile justice programs to reach the highest level of rigor possible. Therefore, applicants should note that OJP may conduct or support an evaluation of the programs and activities funded under this solicitation. Recipients and subrecipients will be expected to cooperate with program-related assessments or evaluation efforts, including through the collection and provision of information or data requested by OJP (or its designee) for the assessment or evaluation of any activities and/or outcomes of those activities funded under this solicitation. The information or data requested may be in addition to any other financial or performance data already required under this program.

B. Federal Award Information

OVC expects to make up to 18 awards for this program with amounts ranging from $550,000 to $925,000, depending on the purpose area (mentioned on page 9) with an estimated total amount awarded of up to $12.75 million. OVC expects to make awards for a 36-month period of performance, to begin on October 1, 2018.

OVC reserves the right to exercise discretion in setting award amounts. Award amounts will be based on the documented number of victims served by the applicant each year during 2016 and 2017 within the targeted geographic region, the geographic location of the project, the scope and complexity of the service strategy, funding priorities, and funding availability.

OVC may, in certain cases, provide additional funding in future years to awards made under this solicitation, through continuation awards. In making decisions regarding continuation awards, OJP will consider, among other factors, the availability of appropriations, when the program or project was last competed, OJP’s strategic priorities, and OJP’s assessment of both the management of the award (for example, timeliness and quality of progress reports), and the progress of the work funded under the award.

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

Type of Award OVC expects that any award under this solicitation will be made in the form of a cooperative agreement, which is a type of award that provides for OJP to have substantial involvement in carrying out award activities. See Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements, under Section F. Federal Award Administration Information, for a brief discussion of what may constitute substantial federal involvement.

https://www.crimesolutions.gov/

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls

Award recipients and subrecipients (including recipients or subrecipients that are pass-through entities2) must, as described in the Part 200 Uniform Requirements3 as set out at 2 C.F.R.

200.303:

(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that [the recipient (and any subrecipient)] is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in “Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government” issued by the Comptroller General of the United States and the “Internal Control Integrated Framework”, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

(b) Comply with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the

Federal awards.

(c) Evaluate and monitor [the recipient’s (and any subrecipient’s)] compliance with statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of Federal awards.

(d) Take prompt action when instances of noncompliance are identified including noncompliance identified in audit findings.

(e) Take reasonable measures to safeguard protected personally identifiable information and other information the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity designates as sensitive or [the recipient (or any subrecipient)] considers sensitive consistent with applicable Federal, state, local, and tribal laws regarding privacy and obligations of confidentiality.

To help ensure that applicants understand the applicable administrative requirements and cost principles, OJP encourages prospective applicants to enroll, at no charge, in the DOJ Grants Financial Management Online Training, available at https://ojpfgm.webfirst.com/. (This training is required for all OJP award recipients.)

Also, applicants should be aware that OJP collects information from applicants on their financial management and systems of internal controls (among other information) which is used to make award decisions. Under Section D. Application and Submission Information, applicants may access and review a questionnaire – the OJP Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire – that OJP requires all applicants (other than an individual applying in his/her personal capacity) to download, complete, and submit as part of the application.

2 For purposes of this solicitation, the phrase “pass-through entity” includes any recipient or subrecipient that provides a subaward ("subgrant”) to a subrecipient (subgrantee) to carry out part of the funded award or program. Additional information on proposed subawards is listed under What an Application Should Include, Section D of this solicitation.

3 The "Part 200 Uniform Requirements” means the DOJ regulation at 2 C.F.R Part 2800, which adopts (with certain modifications) the provisions of 2 C.F.R. Part 200.

https://ojpfgm.webfirst.com/ https://ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/FinancialCapability.pdf

Budget Information

Under this program, each application must allocate a minimum of 2 percent of their total project budget to collect data on the performance measures of this grant.

Cost Sharing or Match Requirement (cash or in-kind)

Federal funds awarded under this solicitation may not cover more than 75 percent of the total costs of the project. An applicant must identify the source of the 25 percent non-federal portion4 of the total project costs and how it will use match funds. If a successful applicant’s proposed match exceeds the required match amount, and OJP approves the budget, the total match amount incorporated into 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 may satisfy this match requirement with either cash or in-kind services. See the DOJ Grants Financial Guide at https://ojp.gov/financialguide/DOJ/PostawardRequirements/chapter3.3b.htm for examples of “in-kind” services. The formula for calculating the match is:

Federal Award Amount = Adjusted (Total) Project Costs Federal Share Percentage

Required Recipient’s Share Percentage x Adjusted Project Cost = Required Match

Example: 75%/25% match requirement: for a federal award amount of $350,000, calculate match as follows:

$350,000 = $466,667 75%

25% x $466,667 = $116,667 match

Pre-Agreement Costs (also known as Pre-Award Costs) Pre-agreement costs are costs incurred by the applicant prior to the start date of the period of performance of the federal award.

OJP does not typically approve pre-agreement costs; an applicant must request and obtain the prior written approval of OJP for all such costs. All such costs incurred prior to award and prior to approval of the costs are incurred at the sole risk of the applicant. (Generally, no applicant should incur project costs before submitting an application requesting federal funding for those costs.) Should there be extenuating circumstances that make it appropriate for OJP to consider approving pre-agreement costs, the applicant may contact the point of contact listed on the title page of this solicitation for the requirements concerning written requests for approval. If approved in advance by OJP, award funds may be used for pre-agreement costs, consistent with the recipient’s approved budget and applicable cost principles. See the section on Costs Requiring Prior Approval in the DOJ Grants Financial Guide at https://ojp.gov/financialguide/doj/index.htm for more information.

4 Indian tribes and tribal organizations that otherwise are eligible for an award may be able to apply certain types of funds received from the federal government (for example, certain funds received under an Indian "self-determination contract") to satisfy all or part of a required "non-federal" match.

https://ojp.gov/financialguide/DOJ/PostawardRequirements/chapter3.3b.htm https://ojp.gov/financialguide/doj/index.htm

Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation; Waiver With respect to any award of more than $250,000 made under this solicitation, a recipient may not use federal funds to pay total cash compensation (salary plus cash bonuses) to any employee of the recipient at a rate that exceeds 110 percent of the maximum annual salary payable to a member of the federal government’s Senior Executive Service (SES) at an agency with a Certified SES Performance Appraisal System for that year.5 The 2018 salary table for SES employees is available on the Office of Personnel Management website at . Note: A recipient may compensate an employee at a greater rate, provided the amount in excess of this compensation limitation is paid with non-federal funds. (Non-federal funds used for any such additional compensation will not be considered matching funds, where match requirements apply.) If only a portion of an employee's time is charged to an OJP award, the maximum allowable compensation is equal to the percentage of time worked times the maximum salary limitation.

The Assistant Attorney General for OJP may exercise discretion to waive, on an individual basis, this limitation on compensation rates allowable under an award. An applicant that requests a waiver should include a detailed justification in the budget narrative of its application.

An applicant that does not submit a waiver request and justification with its application should anticipate that OJP will require the applicant to adjust and resubmit the budget.

The justification should address, in the context of the work the individual would do under the award, the particular qualifications and expertise of the individual, the uniqueness of a service the individual will provide, the individual’s specific knowledge of the proposed program or project, and a statement that explains whether and how the individual’s salary under the award would be commensurate with the regular and customary rate for an individual with his/her qualifications and expertise, and for the work he/she would do under the award.

Prior Approval, Planning, and Reporting of Conference/Meeting/Training Costs OJP strongly encourages every applicant that proposes to use award funds for any conference, meeting, or training-related activity (or similar event) to review carefully—before submitting an application—the OJP and DOJ policy and guidance on approval, planning, and reporting of such events, available at https://www.ojp.gov/financialguide/doj/PostawardRequirements/chapter3.10a.htm. OJP policy and guidance (1) encourage minimization of conference, meeting, and training costs; (2) require prior written approval (which may affect project timelines) of most conference, meeting, and training costs for cooperative agreement recipients, and some conference, meeting, and training costs for grant recipients; and (3) set cost limits, which include a general prohibition of all food and beverage costs.

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

5 OJP does not apply this limitation on the use of award funds to the nonprofit organizations listed in Appendix VIII to 2 C.F.R. Part 200.

https://www.ojp.gov/financialguide/doj/PostawardRequirements/chapter3.10a.htm

For additional information, see the "Civil Rights Compliance" section under “Overview of Legal Requirements Generally Applicable to OJP Grants and Cooperative Agreements - FY 2018 Awards” in the OJP Funding Resource Center at https://ojp.gov/funding/index.htm.

C. Eligibility Information

For eligibility information, see the title page.

For information on cost sharing or match requirements, see Section B. Federal Award Information.

D. Application and Submission Information

What an Application Should Include

This section describes in detail what an application should include. An applicant should anticipate that if it fails to submit an application that contains all of the specified elements, it may negatively affect the review of its application; and, should a decision be made to make an award, it may result in the inclusion of award conditions that preclude the recipient from accessing or using award funds until the…