oppOVW-2018-13823-cfda16.529-instructions..pdf

U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women (OVW)

OVW Fiscal Year 2018 Training and Services to End Violence Against Women with

Disabilities Grant Program

Solicitation

Release Date: on or about November 20, 2017

Eligibility

Eligible applicants are limited to: states; units of local government; Indian tribal governments or tribal organizations; and victim service providers, such as state or tribal domestic violence or sexual assault coalitions or nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations serving individuals with disabilities.

(See “Eligibility Information”)

Deadlines

Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (E.T.) on January 26, 2018.

(See “Submission Dates and Times”)

Registration Information: To submit an application, all applicants must obtain a Data Universal Number System (DUNS) Number, and register online with the System for Award Management (SAM) and with Grants.gov. To ensure sufficient time to complete the registration process, applicants must obtain a DUNS Number and register online with SAM and with Grants.gov immediately, but no later than, January 05, 2018.

(See “Registration”) http://www.grants.gov/

OMB Number – 1122-0020 Expiration Date: 12/31/2018 ii

Letter of Registration: Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a letter of registration to OVW.Disabilities@usdoj.gov by December 29, 2017. This will ensure that applicants are well-positioned to successfully submit an application by the deadline. Submitting a Letter of Registration will not obligate potential applicants to submit an application. Interested applicants who do not submit a Letter of Registration are still eligible to apply.

(See “Letter of Registration”)

Pre-Application Information Session: OVW will conduct one web-based Pre-Application Information Session for entities interested in submitting an application for the Training and Service to End Violence Against Women with Disabilities Grant Program. Participation in this session is optional. Interested applicants who do not participate are still eligible to apply.

(See “Pre-Application Information Session(s)”)

Contact Information

For assistance with the requirements of this solicitation, email OVW at OVW.Disabilities@usdoj.gov. Alternatively, interested parties may call OVW at (202) 307-6026.

Submission and Notification Information

Submission: Applications for the Training and Services to End Violence Against Women with Disabilities Grant Program will be submitted through Grants.gov. For technical assistance with Grants.gov, contact the Grants.gov Customer Support Line at 1-800-518-4726.

The Grants.gov number assigned to this announcement is OVW-2018-13823.

Notification: OVW anticipates notifying all applicants of funding decisions by October 1, 2018.

iii

Contents A. Program Description

Overview

About the OVW Training and Services to End Violence Against Women with Disabilities Grant Program

Program Scope

Purpose Areas

Mandatory Program Requirements

OVW Priority Areas

Activities that Compromise Victim Safety and Recovery and Undermine Offender Accountability

Out-of-Scope Activities

Unallowable Activities

B. Federal Award Information Availability of Funds

Award Period

Award Amounts

Types of Applicants

C. Eligibility Information Eligible Applicants

Eligible Entities

Nonprofit Organization Requirement – 501(c)3 Status

Nonprofit Organization Requirement – Offshore Accounts

Cost Sharing or Match Requirement

Other Program Eligibility Requirements

Limit on Number of Applications

D. Application and Submission Information Address to Request Application Package

Pre-Application Information Session

Content and Form of Application Submission

Letter of Registration

Application Contents

Formatting and Technical Requirements iv

Application Requirements

Summary Data Sheet (5 Points Total)

Proposal Abstract (not scored)

Project Narrative for New Applicants

Budget Detail Worksheet and Narrative

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

Additional Required Information

Unique Entity Identifier (DUNS Number) and System for Award Management (SAM)

Submission Dates and Times

OVW Policy on Duplicate Applications

OVW Policy on Late Submissions

Intergovernmental Review - Single Point of Contact Review

Funding Restrictions

Other Submission Requirements

Submitting a Grant Application

E. Application Review Information Criteria

Review and Selection Process

Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

F. Federal Award Administration Information Federal Award Notices

Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Reporting

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

Application Checklist

APPENDIX A

Budget Guidance & Sample Budget Detail Worksheet

APPENDIX B

Sample Letter of Registration

APPENDIX C

Disclosures of Process Related to Executive Compensation

APPENDIX D

Summary of Current and Recent OVW Projects v

APPENDIX E

Summary of Current and Pending Non-OVW Grants to Do the Same or Similar Work

OVW Training and Services to End Violence Against Women with Disabilities Grant Program

(CFDA 16.529)

A. Program Description Overview The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) is a component of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). Created in 1995, OVW implements the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and subsequent legislation and provides national leadership on issues of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. Since its inception, OVW has supported a multifaceted approach to responding to these crimes through implementation of grant programs authorized by VAWA. By forging state, local, and tribal partnerships among police, prosecutors, judges, victim advocates, health care providers, faith leaders, organizations that serve culturally specific and underserved communities, and others, OVW grants help provide victims, across their life span, with the protection and services they need to pursue safe and healthy lives, while improving communities’ capacity to provide justice for victims and hold offenders accountable.

About the OVW Training and Services to End Violence Against Women with Disabilities Grant Program This program is authorized by 34 U.S.C. § 20122. Recognizing the pressing need to focus on sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking against individuals with disabilities and Deaf individuals due to the proliferation of such crimes, Congress authorized the Training and Services to End Violence Against Women with Disabilities Grant Program (Disability Grant Program). The Disability Grant Program was statutorily created in the Violence Against Women Act of 2000 and reauthorized by subsequent legislation. The goal of the Disability Grant Program is to create sustainable change within and between organizations that improves the response to individuals with disabilities and Deaf individuals who are victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking and to hold perpetrators of such crimes accountable. Disability Grant Program funds are used to establish and strengthen multidisciplinary collaborative relationships; increase organizational capacity to provide accessible, safe, and effective services to individuals with disabilities and Deaf individuals who are victims of violence and abuse; identify needs within the grantee’s organization and/or service area; and develop a plan to address those identified needs that builds a strong foundation for future work.

For additional information on the Disability Grant Program, including what past Disability Grant Program grantees have accomplished with their grant funds and to view the Disability Grant Program performance measures and grantee-reported data, see http://muskie.usm.maine.edu/vawamei/disabilitymain.htm.

Program Scope Activities supported by the Disability Grant Program are determined by statute, federal regulations, and OVW policies. If an applicant receives an award, the funded project is bound by the provisions of this solicitation, the DOJ Financial Guide, including updates to the guide after an award is made, and the conditions of the award.

http://muskie.usm.maine.edu/vawamei/disabilitymain.htm https://www.justice.gov/ovw/file/892031/download

Purpose Areas In FY 2018, funds under the Disability Grant Program may be used for the following statutory purposes:

1. To provide personnel, training, technical assistance, advocacy, intervention, risk reduction (including using evidence-based indicators to assess the risk of domestic and dating violence homicide) and prevention of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking against individuals with disabilities;

2. To conduct outreach activities to ensure that individuals with disabilities who are victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking receive appropriate assistance;

3. To conduct cross-training for victim service organizations, governmental agencies, courts, law enforcement, and nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations serving individuals with disabilities about risk reduction, intervention, prevention and the nature of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking for individuals with disabilities;

4. To provide technical assistance to assist with modifications to existing policies, protocols, and procedures to ensure equal access to the services, programs, and activities of victim service providers for individuals with disabilities;

5. To provide training and technical assistance on the requirements of shelters and victim service providers under Federal anti-discrimination laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and section 794 of title 29 (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973);

6. To modify facilities, purchase equipment, and provide personnel so that shelters and victim services organizations can accommodate the needs of individuals with disabilities;1

7. To provide advocacy and intervention services for individuals with disabilities who are victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking; or

8. To develop model programs providing advocacy and intervention services within organizations serving individuals with disabilities who are victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking.

Mandatory Program Requirements There are different mandatory program requirements for new and continuation grantees. It is important that applicants read the information below carefully. An applicant that fails to address these requirements in their application, and who is chosen for funding, will still be responsible for meeting the appropriate mandatory program requirements listed below during the implementation of the project.

Applicants that receive funding under the Disability Grant Program will be required to engage in the following activities:

New Applicants Planning & Development and Implementation Phases OVW mandates that new grantees engage in an intensive, structured process which includes a planning and development phase prior to an implementation phase. New grantees must work closely with OVW and the OVW-designated technical assistance provider (TA provider) throughout the award. Project activities during the planning and development phase have been predetermined by OVW. Implementation phase initiatives and activities will be identified in the

1 Please note, grantees that modify facilities under purpose area 6 will be required to work with OVW to meet the requirements of relevant laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act and the National Historic Preservation Act.

strategic plan drafted during the planning and development phase and will directly respond to the needs identified in the planning and development phase.

The program planning requirements during the planning and development phase of the project include the creation of the following materials:

1. Collaboration charter;

2. Project focus memo;

3. Needs assessment plan and tools;

4. Needs assessment report; and

5. Strategic plan.

Additionally, new grantees will be required to use specified performance indicators designed to measure organizational capacity to serve survivors with disabilities. Grantees will first apply the indicators to determine baseline capacity and then use the same indicators every six months during their award period to assess their progress. The TA provider will provide the indicators to new grantees and assist them in using them.

Technical Assistance Technical assistance (TA) under the Disability Grant Program is proactive and mandatory.

Multidisciplinary collaborative teams must participate in all technical assistance events supported by OVW related to the Disability Grant Program. TA will be delivered through, but not limited to frequent, regular contact with the TA provider, site visits, telephone/video conference calls, grantee meetings, and web-based technical assistance. New grantees should expect a high level of involvement with the TA provider for the duration of their awards.

Decision-Maker Participation The Executive Director, CFO/CEO, Board of Directors and other decision-makers from all organizations involved with the project must be involved in an active and meaningful manner throughout the life of the project. They should expect to attend meetings and engage in collaborative discussions at various points throughout the project. They should also be prepared to implement systemic changes within their organization to improve services and responses to individuals with disabilities and Deaf individuals who have experienced violence and abuse. This participation should be outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding.

Continuation Applicants

Scope of Activities Continuation applicants must propose projects that will either enhance the previously funded project or replicate the previously funded project in a different community. Specifically, proposed activities must build upon successful initiatives undertaken and funded during the previous award period.

Critical Assessment Continuation grantees will be required to reexamine proposed activities to ensure that they enhance and build upon initiatives undertaken and funded during the previous award period.

This review will take place within six months of the project start date.

Purpose Areas Applicants may not propose to engage solely in providing direct services. If applicants propose to use grant funds to support direct services, the proposal must also include: (1) an overall coordinated response to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking against individuals with disabilities and/or Deaf individuals, and (2) a proposal to engage in at least one Disability Grant Program purpose area other than the provision of direct services.

OVW Priority Areas In FY 2018, OVW is interested in supporting the priority are identified below. Applications proposing activities in the following area will be given special consideration during the application review and recommendation process.

• Increase support for survivors of sexual assault, including services, law enforcement response, and prosecution.

OVW recognizes that sexual assault against individuals with disabilities and Deaf individuals is a serious problem. As such, OVW is encouraging applicants to submit proposals that address sexual assault. Applications that propose a sexual assault focus must include a sexual assault victim service provider as a member of the multidisciplinary collaborative team (for more information on what is considered a victim service provider , see Eligibility Information, and for further information regarding agreements between multidisciplinary collaborative team members, please see the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) section under Application and Submission Information). For purposes of this solicitation, the Disability Grant Program considers a sexual assault victim service provider to be a state sexual assault coalition, rape crisis center2, or a victim service program that has a demonstrated history of providing appropriate services to sexual assault victims.

Activities that Compromise Victim Safety and Recovery and Undermine Offender Accountability The following activities have been found to jeopardize victim safety, deter or prevent physical or emotional healing for victims, or allow offenders to escape responsibility for their actions:

1. Procedures or policies that exclude victims from receiving safe shelter, advocacy services, counseling, and other assistance based on their actual or perceived sex, age, immigration status, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental health condition, physical health condition, criminal record, work in the sex industry, or the age and/or gender of their children;3

2. Procedures or policies that compromise the confidentiality of information and/or privacy of persons receiving OVW-funded services;

3. Procedures or policies that require victims to take certain actions (e.g., seek an order of protection, receive counseling, participate in couples counseling or mediation, report to law enforcement, seek civil or criminal remedies, etc.) in order to receive services;

4. Procedures or policies that fail to include conducting safety planning with victims;

5. Project designs and budgets that fail to account for the access needs of individuals with disabilities, with limited English proficiency, or who are Deaf or hard of hearing; and

2 The term “rape crisis center” means a nonprofit, nongovernmental, or tribal organization, or governmental entity in a State other than a Territory that provides intervention and related assistance, as specified in 34 U.S.C. 12511(b)(2)(C), to victims of sexual assault without regard to their age. In the case of a governmental entity, the entity may not be part of the criminal justice system (such as a law enforcement agency) and must be able to offer a comparable level of confidentiality as a nonprofit entity that provides similar victim services.

3 If an award is made, the recipient will also be subject to statutory prohibitions on discrimination. For further information on these civil rights requirements, see the section "Violence Against Women Act Non-Discrimination Provision” under “F. Federal Award Administration Information.”

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/usc_sec_42_00014043---g000-#b_2_C

6. Products or program services that are not accessible to individuals with disabilities and/or Deaf individuals.

This list is not exhaustive. Applications that propose any activities that compromise victim safety and recovery or undermine offender accountability may receive a deduction in points during the review process or may be eliminated from consideration entirely.

Out-of-Scope Activities OVW has determined the activities listed below to be out of the program scope, and they will not be supported by Disability Grant Program funding.

1. Research projects (This does not include program assessments conducted only for internal improvement purposes. See “Research and Protection of Human Subjects” in the Solicitation Companion Guide).

2. Public service campaigns; and

3. Projects that focus on children.

Applications that propose activities that are deemed to be substantially out-of-scope may receive a deduction in points during the review process or may be eliminated from consideration entirely.

Unallowable Activities OVW has determined the activities listed below to be unallowable, and they will not be supported by Disability Grant Program funding.

1. Lobbying;

2. Fundraising;

3. Purchase of real property;

4. Physical modifications to buildings, excluding minor renovations under purpose area 6 so that shelters and victim service organizations can accommodate the needs of individuals with disabilities; and

5. Construction.

Applicants that propose unallowable activities may receive a deduction in points during the review process or may be eliminated from consideration entirely.

An application that is deemed deficient in more than one of the aforementioned categories (activities that compromise victim safety, out-of-scope activities, unallowable activities) may not be considered for funding.

B. Federal Award Information Availability of Funds All awards are subject to the availability of appropriated funds and any modifications or additional requirements that may be imposed by law. There is no guarantee that funds will be available in the future. Therefore, OVW encourages applicants to develop a plan to sustain project activities if federal funding through this program ceases to be available. Also, OVW may elect to make awards in a future fiscal year for applications submitted under this solicitation but not selected for FY 2018 funding, depending on the merits of the applications and on the availability of funding.

https://www.justice.gov/ovw/page/file/1007726/download#Solicitationhttps://www.justice.gov/ovw/page/file/1007726/download

Award Period The grant award period is 36 months for new applications and 24 months for continuation applications. Budgets must reflect 36 or 24 months of project activity, and the total “estimated funding” on the SF-424 must reflect 36 or 24 months. Generally, the award period will start on October 1, 2018.

Award Amounts Applicants should not exceed the award amounts listed in this solicitation and should carefully consider the resources needed to successfully implement the proposed project.

Funding levels under the Disability Grant Program for FY 2018 are as follows:

1. New, local-focused $425,000 for the entire 36 months

2. New, state-focused $500,000 for the entire 36 months

3. Continuation, local-focused $325,000 for the entire 24 months

4. Continuation, state-focused $400,000 for the entire 24 months

OVW has the discretion to award grants for greater or lesser amounts than requested and to negotiate the scope of work and budget with applicants prior to awarding a grant.

The Disability Grant Program typically makes awards in the range of $325,000 - $500,000.

OVW estimates that it will make up to 10 awards for an estimated $4,275,000.

Awards will be made as cooperative agreements. Cooperative agreements are a form of award when OVW expects to have ongoing substantial involvement in award activities. For this program, the substantial involvement includes, but is not limited to, regular contact (electronic, telephonic, and in person) between OVW and grant recipients. OVW review and approval of all products and materials, and grant recipient participation in proactive technical assistance, such as attending and participating in new grantee orientation and training institutes, webinars, and site visits.

Types of Applicants In FY 2018, OVW will accept applications for the Disability Grant Program from the following:

New: applicants that have never received funding under the Disability Grant Program.

Additionally, an applicant that has received funding under the Disability Grant Program in FY 2006 and after, but has experienced a lapse in funding for two years or more, is considered to be new.

Continuation: applicants that have received funding under the Disability Grant Program after FY 2012 and have never received a continuation award or applicants that have received one continuation award under the Disability Grant Program. Continuation funding is not guaranteed.

Grant recipients that received new Disability Grant Program funding for 36 months in FY 2016 or FY 2017 or continuation funding for 24 months in FY 2017 are NOT eligible to apply.

Additionally, current grantees with a substantial amount of funds remaining at the time of application submission without adequate justification will not be considered for funding in FY 2018.

Sub-Type: In addition to new and continuation applications, OVW has determined that applicants for the Disability Grant Program must also identify as one of the sub-types listed below. Refer to the Other Program Eligibility Requirements area of the solicitation for further information about this requirement.

1. New, local-focused project

2. New, state-focused project

3. Continuation, local-focused project

4. Continuation, state-focused project

C. Eligibility Information Eligible Applicants It is very important that applicants review this information carefully. Applications that are submitted by ineligible entities or that do not meet all program eligibility requirements will not be considered for funding.

Eligible Entities

1. States;

2. Units of local government;

3. Indian tribal governments or tribal organizations; and

4. Victim service providers, such as state or tribal domestic violence or sexual assault coalitions or nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations serving individuals with disabilities.

For the purposes of this solicitation the following definitions apply:

States A state is defined to include all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

OVW does not consider public universities to be "states" for purposes of eligibility for the Disability Grant Program. However, some universities are affiliated with nonprofit organizations that may otherwise qualify under the statute. Please contact the Disability Grant Program Specialist at (202) 307-6026 if you need further information regarding the eligibility requirements for public universities..

Unit of Local Government A unit of local government4 is any city, county, township, town, borough, parish, village, or other general purpose political subdivision of a state.

The following entities generally will not be considered a unit of local government for purposes of eligibility for the Disability Grant Program:

4 Please note, the definition of “Unit of Local Government” outlined above reflects changes made as a result of the Violence Against Women Act of 2013. Therefore, some entities previously considered to be a unit of local government are no longer eligible.

1. County departments or offices (e.g. department of health & human services, office of health services);

2. Police departments;

3. Sheriffs’ departments; and

4. District or city attorneys’ offices.

Indian Tribal Government Indian tribal government is defined as: (A) the governing body of an Indian tribe, or (B) a tribe, band, pueblo, nation, or other organized group or community of Indians, including any Alaska Native village or regional or village corporation (as defined in, or established pursuant to, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. §1601 et seq.)), that is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.

Indian Tribe Indian tribe is defined as a tribe, band, pueblo, nation, or other organized group or community of Indians, including any Alaska Native village or regional or village corporation (as defined in, or established pursuant to, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. § 1601 et seq.)), that is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians (See, e.g., 34 U.S.C. 12291 (a)(16).

Tribal Organization Tribal organization is defined as (1) the governing body of any Indian tribe; (2) any legally established organization of Indians which is controlled, sanctioned, or chartered by such governing body of a tribe or tribes to be served, or which is democratically elected by the adult members of the Indian community to be served by such organization and which includes the maximum participation of Indians in all phases of its activities; or (3) any tribal nonprofit organization.

Any applicant representing a consortium of tribal governments and/or organizations must submit a resolution or legal equivalent from each of the constituent tribal governments and/or organizations supporting the application5.

Tribal Nonprofit Organization The term “tribal nonprofit organization” means a victim services provider that has as its primary purpose to assist Native victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking; and staff and leadership of the organization must include persons with a demonstrated history of assisting American Indian or Alaska Native victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

Victim Service Provider A victim service provider is a nonprofit, nongovernmental or tribal organization or rape crisis center, including a state or tribal coalition, that assists or advocates for domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking victims. Victim service providers may include

5 Regarding a tribal consortium application, the applicant must submit documentation of authority as described above from each tribal consortium member, unless existing consortium bylaws or other tribal governance documents allow action without explicit authorization from the member tribes in the consortium. In the latter case, the tribal consortium must submit a resolution, a letter, affidavit, or other documentation, as appropriate, that certifies that the tribal consortium has the legal authority to apply for grants on behalf of the consortium. This documentation must be current, be sufficient to demonstrate authority for the application, contain authorizing signature(s), and be submitted by the application’s due date. In addition, a copy of the bylaws or other governance documents that allow the tribal consortium’s action without support from all consortium members must be included with this documentation.

domestic violence shelters, faith-based organizations, and other organizations with a documented history of effective work concerning domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

Victim Services The terms “victim services” and “services” mean services provided to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, including telephonic or web-based hotlines, legal advocacy, economic advocacy, emergency and transitional shelter, accompaniment and advocacy through medical, civil or criminal justice, immigration, and social support systems, crisis intervention, short-term individual and group support services, information and referrals, culturally specific services, population specific services, and other related supportive services.

Nonprofit Organization Requirement – 501(c)3 Status Any entity that is eligible for the Disability Grant Program based on its status as a nonprofit organization must be an organization that is described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of that Code. See 34 U.S.C. § 12291(b)(16)(B).

Nonprofit Organization Requirement – Offshore Accounts Any nonprofit organization that holds money in offshore accounts for the purpose of avoiding paying the tax described in section 511(a) of the Internal Revenue Code is not eligible for a grant from the Disability Grant Program.

Cost Sharing or Match Requirement This program has no match or cost sharing requirement.

Other Program Eligibility Requirements In addition to meeting the eligible entity requirements outlined above, applications for the Disability Grant Program must also meet the requirements below. All certification and other eligibility related documents must be current and developed in accordance with the FY 2018 solicitation. Applications that do not meet all of the program eligibility requirements below will not be considered for funding under the Disability Grant Program.

Required Partnerships In general, partners identified in the application as receiving a portion of the award are subrecipients and not contractors because they meet the criteria in 2 C.F.R. § 200.330 for distinguishing between subrecipients and contractors: they will be using federal funds to carry out a program for a public purpose specified in the authorizing statute for this program (as opposed to providing goods or services for the benefit of the applicant), will have their performance measured in relation to whether objectives of the grant program were met, and will have responsibility for programmatic decision making. For more information, see the Solicitation Companion Guide.

Multidisciplinary Collaborative Team/Memorandum of Understanding Every applicant must identify and support a multidisciplinary collaborative team comprised of, at a minimum, the following:6

6 For new applications, a college or university may not be proposed as a a partner. For continuation applications, a college or university may be proposed as a multidisciplinary collaborative team member.

https://www.justice.gov/ovw/page/file/1007726/download#Solicitation

1. At least one victim service provider or tribal organization serving victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and/or stalking; and

2. At least one nonprofit, nongovernmental organization or tribal organization serving individuals with disabilities and/or Deaf individuals.

Applicants must enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the members of the multidisciplinary collaborative team and provide a copy of the MOU together witht eh application. OVW will review the MOU to identify the multidisciplinary collaborative team members and as evidence of how the applicant will support the multidisciplinary collaborative team. Furthermore, every applicant must identify whether the multidisciplinary collaboration team will have a state focus or a local focus.

A state-focused project is a multidisciplinary collaborative team comprised solely of organizations that operate at the state level (e.g. a state independent living council, state or tribal sexual assault and/or domestic violence coalition). A state-focused project will concentrate efforts in either one or two communities within the state (pilot sites). The grant-funded activities will be carried out by the state-level organizations in the multidisciplinary collaborative team.

A local-focused project is a multidisciplinary collaborative team comprised solely of local or community-based organizations (e.g., a center for independent living, community mental health organization, rape crisis center, or domestic violence shelter/program). Grant activities will focus within and between the local or community based organizations represented on the multidisciplinary collaborative team.

New Applicants. In FY 2018, OVW will accept new applications from state- and local-focused projects. Due to the structured nature of the grant program, a college or university may not be a partner on a new application. New applications that propose a college or university as a multidisciplinary collaborative team member will not be considered for funding.

Continuation Applicants. In FY 2018, OVW will accept continuation applications from state- or local-focused projects. A continuation application may propose to have a college or university act as a multidisciplinary collaborative team member.

Please note, applications that propose multidisciplinary collaborative teams that do not meet the requirements outlined above will not be considered for funding. Furthermore, applications that propose activities covering multiple states, regional, or nation-wide activities will not be considered for funding.

Limit on Number of Applications OVW will consider only one application per organization in response to this solicitation. If an applicant submits multiple versions of the same application, OVW will review only the most recent system-validated version submitted before the deadline.

D. Application and Submission Information Address to Request Application Package The complete application package is available on Grants.gov or at the OVW website. Applicants wishing to request a paper copy of the application materials should contact the Disability Grant Program Specialist at (202) 307-6029 or OVW.Disability@usdoj.gov.

Pre-Application Information Session

OVW will conduct a web-based pre-application information session for entities interested in submitting an application for the Disability Grant Program. Participation in this session is optional. Interested applicants who do not participate are still eligible to apply. During this session, OVW staff will review the Disability Grant Program requirements, review the solicitation, and allow for a brief question and answer period. This session is tentatively scheduled for:

• December 12, 2017; 1 – 3 pm ET

Anyone interested in submitting an application to the Disability Grant Program may register to participate in a pre-application information session. The total number of participants for the session may be limited. Registration is on a first-come-first-served basis, and space is not guaranteed. Interested participants from the same agency/jurisdiction are strongly encouraged to participate together so that as many interested applicants as possible can join the session.

OVW reserves the right to deny multiple registrations from a single agency/jurisdiction.

A transcript of the session can be made available upon request for those unable to attend.

To register, contact Jocelyn Harrison at OVW.Disabilities@usdoj.gov or at 202-307-6029.

Registration must be received at least two days prior to the start of the session. Participants are not registered until they receive a confirmation email.

Content and Form of Application Submission The information below (“Letter of Registration” through “Additional Required Information”) describes the full content and form of application submission.

Letter of Registration Applicants intending to apply for FY 2018 funding under this program are strongly encouraged to submit a letter of registration. The letter should state that the applying organization is registered and current with SAM and with Grants.gov. The letter should be submitted to OVW at OVW.Disabilities@usdoj.gov by December 29, 2017. This will ensure that the applicant is well-positioned to successfully submit a proposal by the application deadline. This letter will not obligate the applicant to submit an application. See Appendix B for a sample Letter of Registration.

Application Contents This section describes what is included in a complete application package. Applicants should anticipate that failure to submit an application that contains all of the specified elements will negatively affect the review of the application and may result in the application not being considered for funding. Should a decision be made to make an award, the award may include http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.justice.gov/ovw/open-solicitations mailto:OVW.Disability@usdoj.gov https://www.sam.gov/portal/SAM/#1 special conditions that preclude access to or use of award funds pending satisfaction of the conditions. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that a complete application is submitted by the deadline.

Applicants should not submit documents that were not specifically asked for in the solicitation.

Providing information that was not requested will not increase the likelihood that an application will be selected for funding. All materials submitted as part of an application may be released pursuant to a request under the Freedom of Information Act.

Formatting and Technical Requirements Applications must follow the requirements below. Points may be deducted for applications that do not adhere to the following requirements:

1. Double spaced (Project Abstract, Summary Data Sheet and charts may be single space)

2. 8½ x 11 inch paper

3. One-inch margins

4. Type no smaller than 12 point, Times New Roman font

5. Page numbers

6. No more than 20 pages for the Project Narrative

7. Word documents in the following formats: Microsoft Word (.doc), PDF files (.pdf), or Text

Documents (.txt).

8. Headings and sub-headings that correspond to the sections identified in this section of the solicitation.

Application Requirements Applications must include the following required documents and demonstrate that the program eligibility requirements have been met. OVW will not contact applicants for missing items on the list below. Applications that do not address all of the following components will be considered substantially incomplete and will not be considered for funding:

1. Project Narrative

2. Budget Detail Worksheet and Narrative

3. Memorandum of Understanding

In addition to the application being scored on the documents listed above, the Summary Data Sheet will also be scored.

Summary Data Sheet (5 Points Total) The Summary Data Sheet should be one to four pages in length and may be single or double spaced. The Summary Data Sheet does not count toward the 20 page limit for the Project Narrative. Provide the following information:

1. Name, title, address, phone number, and e-mail address of the individual with authority to accept grants on behalf of the applicant.

2. Name, title, address, phone number, and e-mail address for the grant point-of-contact.

This person must be an employee of the applicant.

3. Statement as to whether the applicant (i.e., the organization whose DUNS number is being used for the application) will serve as a fiscal agent/sponsor for an entity or entities that will ultimately implement the project, and that the applicant itself will not be involved with implementation of the project beyond issuing a subaward or subawards to other entities. If this is the case, the applicant must include a statement acknowledging that, should an award be made, the applicant will be responsible for all applicable statutory, fiscal, and programmatic requirements, including those of 2 CFR Part 200, as well as all project deliverables. The applicant must also list all of the entities with which it will enter into agreements to implement the project, and should include a description of how these entities intend to accomplish the purposes of the award (if such a description is not already provided in a Memorandum of Understanding submitted as part of the application). Note that, in such situations, the fiscal agent/sponsor must be an eligible applicant for the program.

4. Statement as to whether the applicant has expended $750,000 in federal funds in the applicant’s past fiscal year. If so, specify the end date of the applicant’s fiscal year.

5. Summary of current and recent OVW projects (if applicable). If the applicant has a current grant or cooperative agreement under any OVW grant program or an award that has been closed within the last 12 months from the date this solicitation closes, the information must be provided in a table using the format found in APPENDIX D. Failure to provide the required table will result in a loss of points.

6. Statement as to whether the applicant is a nonprofit organization that is described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of that Code.

7. A list of other federal grant programs from which the applicant currently receives funding or for which it has applied for funding in FY 2018 to do similar work. Provide this information in a table using the format found in APPENDIX E.

8. Statement as to whether the applicant is a nonprofit organization that holds money in offshore accounts for the purpose of avoiding paying the tax described in section 511(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.

9. Statement as to whether the applicant is a nonprofit organization that uses the Internal Revenue Service's three-step safe-harbor procedure to establish a rebuttable presumption that its executives' compensation is reasonable. If the applicant is not a nonprofit organization or is a nonprofit that does not use the safe-harbor procedure, provide a statement to that effect. For additional information about the safe-harbor procedure, see "Disclosures Related to Executive Compensation" in the Additional Required Information section.

10. The percentage of grant activities, should the application be funded, that will address each of the following issues (the total percentages should not exceed 100%):

• Sexual assault;

• Domestic violence;

• Dating/teen dating violence; and/or

• Stalking.

11. Whether it is a new or continuation application.

12. Geographic focus (state or local).

13. Disability focus (general or a specific type of disability).

14. Crime focus (sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, or a combination).

15. List multidisciplinary collaborative team members. Specify if the member organization is a sexual assault, domestic violence, dual program/coalition, or a disability organization.

Proposal Abstract (not scored) The Proposal Abstract should provide a short and accurate summary (no more than two pages double-spaced) of the proposed project, including who will be involved with the proposed project, what will be done as primary activities, what products will be produced, the service area where the proposed project will take place and who will be impacted by the proposed project.

Applicants should not summarize past accomplishments in this section.

http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl

Project Narrative for New Applicants (65 Points Total) The Project Narrative may not exceed 20 pages in length, double-spaced. The Project Narrative must include the following two sections:

Purpose of Application (35 points)

This section must:

1. Describe the communities to be served including the geographic location, the populations in the service area, and any marginalized and/or underserved population;7

2. Identify the service area where the project will be implemented;

3. Describe the type of disability the project will focus on (may be disability in general or a specific type of disability). Demographic information must be provided for the disability focus in the service area:

4. Detail the current response to violence against individuals with disabilities and/or Deaf individuals within the proposed service area as it relates to the disability focus.

This section must identify available services, and gaps and barriers in service provision;

5. State the challenges that the organizations that comprise the multidisciplinary collaborative team have experienced in providing services to individuals with disabilities and/or Deaf individuals who are victims of violence and abuse as it relates to the disability focus; and

6. Describe the need for project resources and how funding would alleviate that need.

The need must directly relate to the stated gaps and barriers to providing services to individuals with disabilities and/or Deaf individuals who are victims of violence and abuse in the service area.

Who Will Implement the Project (30 Points)

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

2. Demonstrate that the individuals and organizations identified have the capacity to address the stated need, including the expertise necessary to appropriately serve any marginalized and/or underserved populations identified in the Purpose of the Application section, and can successfully implement the proposed project activities;

3. Clearly demonstrate that the multidisciplinary collaborative team requirements, as outlined by the solicitation, have been met;

4. Provide detailed information about the organizations and individuals (if known) that comprise the multidisciplinary collaborative team including the population with which each organization works and the services provided. Multidisciplinary collaborative team members must have experience directly related to the stated need and service area;

5. Describe in detail why each multidisciplinary collaborative team member was chosen. In doing so, the application must demonstrate a direct relationship to the stated need and detail the qualifications and capacity of each multidisciplinary collaborative team member (organizations and individuals (if known)) to achieve the project goals; and

7 Applicants should use U.S. Census and other government data, as well as the Limited English Proficient Mapping Tool, available at www.lep.gov/maps/, to obtain this information.

http://www.lep.gov/maps/

6. Describe in detail the demonstrated ability of each multidisciplinary collaborative team member to build their organization‘s capacity. Examples must be provided.

Project Narrative for Continuation Applicants (65 Points Total)

Continuation applicants must propose projects that will either enhance the previously funded project or replicate the previously funded project in a different community. Specifically, proposed activities must build upon the successful initiatives funded during the previous award.

The Project Narrative may not exceed 20 pages in length, double-spaced. The Project Narrative is comprised of the following three sections:

Purpose of Application (20 Points)

1. Describe the communities to be served including the geographic location, the populations in the service area, and any marginalized and/or underserved population;8

2. Identify the service area (state or local) in which the project will be implemented;

3. Describe the type of disability the project will focus on (may be disability in general or a specific type of disability). Demographic information must be provided for the disability focus in the service area;

4. Describe the rationale for the disability focus;

5. Detail the current response to violence against individuals with disabilities and/or Deaf individuals within the proposed service area as it relates to the disability focus. This section must identify available services, and gaps and barriers in service provision;

6. State the challenges that the organizations that comprise the multidisciplinary collaborative team have experienced in providing services to individuals with disabilities and/or Deaf individuals who are victims of violence and abuse as it relates to the disability focus; and

7. Describe the need for project resources and how funding would alleviate that need. The need must directly relate to the stated gaps and barriers to providing services to individuals with disabilities and/or Deaf individuals who are victims of violence and abuse in the service area.

What Will Be Done (25 points)

The application must provide a clear link between the proposed activities and the need…