PKG00246161-instructions..pdf

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

U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is seeking applications for tribal, state and local jurisdictions to participate in the Justice Reinvestment Initiative grant program. This program furthers the Department’s mission to prevent and respond to crime and other public safety-related problems.

Justice Reinvestment Initiative:

Reducing Violent Crime by Improving

Justice System Performance FY 2018 Competitive Grant Announcement

Applications Due: January 7, 2019

Eligibility

Categories 1 and 2: Eligible applicants are states, local units of government, and federally recognized Indian tribes (as determined by the Secretary of the Interior).1 Category 2 also includes applicants that are private and non-profit organizations (including tribal non-profit or for-profit organizations), colleges and universities, both private and public (including tribal institutions of higher education, with national law enforcement and corrections expertise.

BJA 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 as subrecipients (subgrantees).2 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.

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

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

In addition, as discussed below, if the applicant is a state or local government entity, in order to validly accept this award, the chief legal officer of that jurisdiction must properly execute, and the applicant must submit, specific certifications relating to certain federal laws. See Appendices E and F. (Note: this requirement does not apply to Indian tribal governments.)

1 In this solicitation, “state” refers to states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.

2 For additional information on subawards, see "Budget and Associated Documentation" under Section D. Application and Submission Information.

https://www.usdoj.gov/ https://www.ojp.gov/ https://www.bja.gov/ https://www.bja.gov/

BJA-2018-13700

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 January 7, 2019.

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.

This deadline does not apply to the receipt of certifications relating to certain federal laws (See Appendices E and F). As explained below, an applicant that is either a state or local government entity may not validly accept an award unless those certifications are submitted to the OJP on or before the day the applicant submits the signed award acceptance documents.

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

For additional information, see How To Apply in 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 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 unforeseen Grants.gov technical issues beyond an applicant’s control that prevent it from submitting its application by the deadline, or any other requirement 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 grants@ncjrs.gov; fax to 301–240–5830; or web chat at https://webcontact.ncjrs.gov/ncjchat/chat.jsp. The NCJRS Response Center hours of operation are 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. eastern time, Monday through Friday, and 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

eastern time on the solicitation close date.

Grants.gov number assigned to this solicitation: BJA-2018-13700

Release date: November 8, 2018 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

Contents A. Program Description

Overview Program-Specific Information Objectives and Deliverables Evidence-Based Programs or Practices

Information Regarding Potential Evaluation of Programs and Activities……...………………..11 B. Federal Award Information

Type of Award Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Budget Information Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement 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 5 U.S.C. 552a) Provide Feedback to OJP Appendix A: Performance Measures Table Appendix B: Sample Program and Research Model Appendix C: Application Checklist Appendix D: Information regarding Communication with DHS and/or ICE……… Appendix E: Certification Relating to 8 U.S.C. §§ 1373 & 1644………………………………...47

Appendix F: Certification Relating to Various Statutes (other than 8 U.S.C. §§ 1373 & 1644)………………………….……………………………………………………………………...49 Appendix G: Certain relevant federal laws……………………………

Justice Reinvestment Initiative: Reducing Violent Crime by Improving Justice System Performance

CFDA # 16.827

A. Program Description

Overview Every justice agency has a role to play in simultaneously preventing crime, apprehending and prosecuting perpetrators, facilitating appropriate sentencing and treatment, and preserving communities’ security. BJA offers this grant program, Justice Reinvestment Initiative: Reducing Violent Crime by Improving Justice System Performance, for sites to apply and expand the Justice Reinvestment approach to identify and respond to crime and other public safety problems, explore innovative and cost-saving strategies, and to reinvest in strategies that can decrease crime and reduce recidivism. This approach will help build the capacity of state and local jurisdictions to analyze, identify, and respond to drivers of both violent crime and high costs (Category 1) and to test innovative tools to facilitate coordinated information sharing and analysis among justice partners (Category 2).

The Justice Reinvestment approach involves five steps to build capacity and implement sustainable change: 1) engage stakeholders, 2) analyze data and drivers of crime problems, 3) develop innovative or research-based responses, 4) implement responses, and 5) measure outcomes.3 Through this program, applicants may address a challenge directly or remove impediments to addressing a challenge (e.g., improve homicide clearance rates or revise spending so that resources may be redirected to directly reducing violent crime and break down information silos so that information is shared seamlessly across systems and intelligence gathering efforts are not duplicated). Award recipients will receive technical assistance from subject experts.

Statutory Authority Awards under this solicitation will be made under statutory authority provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, Public Law No. 115-141, 132 Stat 348, 422.

Program-Specific Information This program provides funding for tribal, state, and local justice agencies to develop, implement, and test innovative and research-based responses to high-cost drivers of crime and other public safety and community challenges, as identified through data analysis. Challenges may include chronic crime problems, emerging crime problems, or barriers to justice agencies’ ability to address such problems, including those related to law enforcement, prosecution, sentencing, jail and prison, probation and parole. For example, high-cost drivers may include: opioid and substance abuse; high system utilization by populations with significant mental health issues;

3 These principles are cornerstones of the Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI). BJA has supported justice reinvestment to improve the return on states’ public safety investments through a targeted, data-driven policymaking process. Based on the successes of the early justice reinvestment projects, BJA launched JRI in 2010 to support a multi-staged process in which a jurisdiction increases the cost effectiveness of its criminal justice system and reinvests savings into high-performing strategies to increase public safety.

repeat violent offenders; or lack of information sharing or technology integration within the criminal justice system. Examples such as these make it very difficult and costly for communities to ensure the security of their residents. By collaboratively identifying the root causes and implications of, and solutions to, these problems, criminal justice agencies can better prioritize resources and improve the management of offenders returning to or residing in communities who are most likely to commit new or violent offenses.4

Through this solicitation, BJA seeks applicants in two categories. Both have specific objectives and deliverables described under their respective category headings:

• Category 1: Improving the Efficacy of State, Local, and Tribal Justice Systems

• Category 2: Innovations in Information Sharing to Coordinate Crime Reduction

Applicants should use existing data to explain the problem they wish to address. Proposed solutions should be evidence-based. Category 1 supports efforts examining a wide variety of problems and solutions; Category 2 is focused specifically on information sharing. Additionally, solutions should improve criminal justice operations while prioritizing public safety and crime reduction. Applicants should propose operational solutions and strategies to prioritize apprehending violent offenders and holding them accountable, and to address other high-cost drivers to the criminal justice system. States may examine criminal codes and associated penalties as needed; and/or they may consider modifications to penalties for opioid- and stimulant-specific cases (e.g., methamphetamine), where incorporating treatment options may be appropriate for offenders whose instant offenses and criminal histories are non-violent, do not involve guns, and drug offenses are limited to personal use.

The Justice Reinvestment Initiative is a vehicle for criminal justice agencies and systems to improve business management and operations processes in order to address complex factors that drive crime and use of criminal justice system resources, particularly at the state, local, and tribal, levels. All applicants should propose to meet the objectives and deliverables outlined in this solicitation through the five-step process, modeled on Justice Reinvestment, as follows:

1. Engage stakeholders. The project team includes all agencies and individuals necessary to understand and address the problem.

2. Analyze data and identify drivers. The project team uses data to determine the cause(s), symptoms, and scope of the problem, as well as impediments to addressing the problem. The lead and other stakeholder agencies provide relevant data.

3. Develop innovative or research-based responses. The project team devises strategies and activities to specifically address the root cause(s) of the problem(s) and/or impediments to addressing the root causes. The team documents planned activities, including parties responsible and timelines; and secures buy-in from stakeholders.

4. Implement responses. The project team enacts strategies and activities according to the plan and makes course corrections as needed to increase the likelihood of achieving desired outcomes.

5. Measure outcomes. The project team assesses the effectiveness of the implemented strategies and activities to address the crime problem. The team documents what works, and how it works to support sustainability, future funding requests, and to inform

4 Braga, A. A., Pierce, G. L., McDevitt, J., Bond, B. J., & Cronin, S. (2008). The strategic prevention of gun violence among gang-involved offenders. Justice Quarterly, 25(1), 132–162; Bonta, James and Don A. Andrews, Risk-Need- Responsivity Model for Offender Assessment and Rehabilitation (Ottawa, Ontario, CA Public Safety Canada, 2007).

replication.

Applicants are advised to work with a research partner in using the “action research” approach to improve problem assessment, implementation of solutions, and realization of outcomes.

Practitioners and research partners may:

1. Use data to assess problems and identify underlying causes.

2. Develop strategies and partnerships to address problems and reduce crime.

3. Enhance implementation, providing real-time feedback to inform decision-making.

4. Build communities of practice and advance the field, including by evaluating initiatives and sharing results. 5

Category 1: State, Local, and Tribal Justice Systems. Competition ID: BJA-2018-14883 BJA seeks applicants to address persistent or emerging crime and public safety problems, or to remove impediments to directly addressing them.6 Applicants should review the entire criminal justice system spectrum – from event to reentry – to identify opportunities for improvement that align with holding violent offenders accountable, addressing the opioid epidemic, supporting law enforcement and correctional institutions, and supporting victims of violent crime.

Objectives and Deliverables BJA will make awards for sites to pursue the following objectives:

• Collect and analyze data, and identify and respond to crime and cost drivers, including crime and costs associated with investigating, prosecuting, and detaining individuals who have committed crimes and are in the U.S. without legal immigration status. For example, by reducing gang violence and time to deportation.

• Engage stakeholders across the justice system (e.g., law enforcement, jails, treatment providers) to diagnose and develop coordinated responses. For example, improve data collection and training about types of victimization, trauma, and related needs in order to develop policies and procedures to maximize benefits (e.g., accessing federal resources to aid victims of violent crime, use of databases to track restitution orders and collection, increasing the amount inmates pay toward victim restitution), and to reduce the collateral effects of violence.

• Test, establish, and/or expand innovative ideas and evidence-based strategies to prevent and respond to crime. For example, assess the correctional population to ensure appropriate bed space usage and, if needed, seek strategies to correct the inmate mix to prioritize bed space for serious, chronic, violent offenders. Focus state probation and parole agency resources on identifying offenders’ risks for general and violent recidivism, and related substance use and mental health needs, and mitigating their risk for engaging in violent behavior or being the victims of violent crime.

• Foster effective and consistent collaboration with justice system agencies to improve strategic and tactical system operations. For example, implement and test approaches to consistently gather and validate intelligence collected in jails and prisons (e.g., about

5 For guidance about identifying and working with a research partner, see:

http://www.psnmsu.com/documents/ResearchPartnerQ&A.pdf 6 For instance, tribal communities are impacted in many ways by the opioid epidemic, which is straining tribal resources. This funding opportunity allows tribal communities to develop a plan to not only treat the abuse, but improve the functioning of the tribal justice system by developing diversion and other effective community-based responses to address opioid abuse. Any costs saved or averted by decreasing reliance on jail, could be reinvested in front-end or treatment and wellness programs, thereby decreasing crime and reducing recidivism.

http://www.psnmsu.com/documents/ResearchPartnerQ&A.pdf security threat groups); and develop and implement plans to respond to intelligence behind and outside the walls.

• Use data, technology, and intelligence to focus resources on the problems, people, and places associated with concentrations of crime and cost drivers. For example, review existing violent crime and opiate reduction strategies to determine whether they are having the intended effects, and improve performance if they are not. Develop analytic capacity to inform more targeted and effective strategies to address specific crime problems.

The required deliverables are:

• An action plan composed of a problem analysis, program and research model, summary of strategies and intended outcomes, and research base for proposed strategies. For more information, see page 14 and Appendix B.

• Final evaluation report based on the program and research model (at closeout).

Consistent with the objectives and deliverables outlined above, applicants should include the following in their proposals:

• A summary description of the problem to be addressed by this grant.

• Data-driven, evidence-based, and/or innovative grant activities to correct the problem.

• Description of prior efforts to correct the problem and the need for federal funding to undertake the proposed activities.

• Demonstrated understanding of, and a plan to utilize, the action research approach which incorporates a researcher to assist with unpacking the problem, implementation, and evaluation.7

• Demonstration of relevant agencies’ and stakeholders’ commitment to proposed activities.

Category 2: Innovations in Information Sharing to Coordinate Crime Reduction.

Competition ID: BJA-2018-14883 BJA seeks applicants to develop and test innovative and responsible tools to facilitate information sharing and coordinate community corrections, law enforcement, prosecutors and other system stakeholders to improve identification of, and coordinated responses to, violent crime that could later be applied to the justice reinvestment process. Applicants should propose ethical approaches to remove offender anonymity – addressing how and when offenders come into contact with each part of the criminal justice system and across jurisdictions – in order to make the most efficient use of resources and to hold offenders accountable.

Objectives and Deliverables BJA will make awards to pursue the following objectives:

• Break down information sharing silos and challenge current practices that may impede a community’s violent crime reduction strategies.

• Develop comprehensive and integrated data-sharing and notification systems about violent offenders moving into, between, or being released into communities.

7 For guidance, see: http://www.psnmsu.com/documents/ResearchPartnerQ&A.pdf.

http://www.psnmsu.com/documents/ResearchPartnerQ&A.pdf o Include data from multiple sources, as appropriate given the stated problem (e.g., law enforcement, corrections, probation, parole, sheriff’s departments, and courts).

o Make data sharing between key agencies—such as corrections, probation and parole, and law enforcement—automated where appropriate, to facilitate better public safety partnerships.

o Develop or improve offender-specific information-sharing protocols to ensure that agencies are aware of high-risk individuals and receive relevant intelligence so they are managed appropriately through detention, reentry, and supervision.

o Design a model of cooperation between all user agencies to implement notification and information sharing systems.

o Develop training protocols and procedures for staff use of the data-sharing system to ensure optimal implementation of the system’s capabilities.

• Build data-analysis capacity and improve justice system partners’ abilities to produce a cross-system analysis that provides a better understanding of the contributions of pretrial, probation, parole, reentry, and other services to crime trends.

o Implement and test approaches to consistently gather and validate intelligence collected in jails and prisons (e.g., about security threat groups). Develop and implement plans to respond to intelligence.

o Gather or link multiple data systems to improve implementation of risk and other assessments (e.g., risk of general and/or violent recidivism, substance use and mental health needs); identify individuals at high risk of committing, or being victimized by, violent crime.

The required deliverables are:

• An action plan composed of a problem analysis, program and research model, summary of strategies and intended outcomes, and research base for proposed strategies. For more information, see page 14 and Appendix B.

• Final evaluation report based on the program and research model (at closeout).

Consistent with the objectives and deliverables outlined above, applicants should include the following in their proposals:

• A summary description of the problem to be addressed by this grant.

• Plan to implement operational solutions and strategies – noting specific data-driven, evidence-based, and/or innovative grant activities – to correct the problem.

• Description of prior efforts to correct the problem and the need for federal funding to undertake the proposed grant activities.

• A plan to document and evaluate the activities undertaken, and to assess impact on the stated problem.

• Demonstration of relevant agencies’ and stakeholders’ commitment to proposed activities.

Categories 1 and 2: Priority Consideration Applicants may receive priority consideration in the review process by explaining how the problem area identified in the application could be addressed through cooperation with federal immigration authorities, including compliance with 8 USC §§ 1373, 1644, and 1324, participation in a 287 (g) or other cooperation program, honoring requests for notice of release, transfers of custody, and/or short term extensions of custody, and providing access to detention centers so federal immigration authorities may conduct interviews. If an applicant chooses to seek this priority consideration, please explain specifically how these forms of cooperation will address the problem area identified, and how grants funds will achieve this end.

Applicants that propose to address operational gaps related to repeat violent offenders or precipitous increases in crime may additionally receive priority consideration. Proposals must include data to demonstrate the scope of the problem and to support the proposed intervention.

The 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.

Category 1 and 2: Allowable Uses for Award Funds Allowable uses for award funds can include the following activities to help tribal, state, and local agencies achieve Justice Reinvestment Program objectives:

• Peer learning activities to exchange insights, experiences, and guidance with other jurisdictions that have pursued, or are pursuing, similar work. Peer learning exchanges may be distance-based or conducted via site visits. Facilitation will be made available from subject experts upon request.

• Conduct data analysis to identify barriers to effective agency performance or to identify problems, people, and communities in need of targeted intervention(s) to reduce crime and make communities safe. For example, applicants may propose to:

o Analyze drivers of agency budgets; develop and implement a reallocation plan to better address repeat calls in response to domestic violence, opioid and substance abuse, alcohol abuse, violent crime, and gangs and/or drug trafficking;

o Gather or link multiple data systems to improve implementation of risk and other assessments; identify individuals at high risk of committing, or being victimized by, violent crime; conduct social network analysis; and assess in-house or contracted programs and services; and/or o Conduct other analyses that will contribute to the execution of the applicant’s proposed strategy.

• Plan and implement innovative or research-based crime reduction strategies to intervene with groups, individuals, and communities identified as high risk in order to reduce violent crime. For example, applicants may propose to:

o Implement strategies and programs to respond to the needs of victims and communities and assess criminogenic needs of offenders in order to decrease the risk for offenders to recidivate;

o Adopt technology to supplement the criminal justice workforce; and/or o Provide staff training and resources to more effectively and efficiently address burgeoning or chronic problems.

• Build data analysis capacity to improve justice system partners’ abilities to produce a cross-system analysis that provides a better understanding of the contributions of pretrial, probation, parole, reentry, and other services, to crime trends; and diagnose and address problems as they arise. For example, applicants may propose to develop agencies’ ability or establish a partnership (e.g., with a local university) to:

o Train analysts and/or train trainers to track and respond to trends through data-driven decision making;

o Develop information-sharing solutions across agencies to facilitate the analyses described above, or share dashboards and/or mapping to help target prevention and/or enforcement efforts; and o Establish a state-based violent crime reduction implementation team to assist jurisdictions in identifying and analyzing local violent crime challenges and solutions.

Evidence-Based Programs or Practices OJP strongly emphasizes the use of data and evidence in policy making and program development in criminal justice, juvenile justice, and crime victim services. OJP is committed to:

• Improving the quantity and quality of evidence that OJP generates.

• Integrating evidence into program, practice, and policy decisions within OJP and the field.

• 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. 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 The Department of Justice 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 the Office of Justice Programs may conduct or support an evaluation of the programs and activities funded under this solicitation. Recipients and sub-recipients 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 BJA expects to make approximately six awards of up to $1,250,000 each, for an estimated total of approximately $10,025,090 combined across Category 1 and Category 2. BJA expects to make awards for a 36-month period of performance, to begin on or about April 1, 2019.

https://www.crimesolutions.gov/

BJA 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 BJA expects to make any award under this solicitation in the form of a grant. See Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements, under Section F. Federal Award Administration Information, for a brief discussion of important statutes, regulations, and award conditions that apply to many (or in some cases, all) OJP grants.

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Award recipients and subrecipients (including recipients or subrecipients that are pass-through entities8) must, as described in the Part 200 Uniform Requirements9 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.

8 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 4c of this solicitation.

9 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.

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 the OJP Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire that OJP requires all applicants to download, complete, and submit as part of the application.

Budget Information

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement This solicitation does not require a match. However, if a successful application proposes a voluntary match amount, and OJP approves the budget, the total match amount incorporated into the approved budget becomes mandatory and subject to audit.

Award Special Condition – Withholding of Funds for Action Plan Once awarded, each grant award will have in place a special condition withholding all but $150,000, which will allow grantees to further establish and refine their comprehensive action plan. The recipient will not be authorized to obligate, expend, or draw down funds in excess of $150,000 until: (1) the recipient submits the comprehensive action plan by 180 days after the final OJP budget approval; (2) BJA approves the action plan; and (3) a Grant Adjustment Notice (GAN) has been issued to remove this condition. Awardees will receive technical assistance directly from BJA and other subject experts to assist with this action plan. The comprehensive action plan should include:

1. A program plan, including:

a) A description of the problem and the data that led to its identification.

b) A program and research model that links the problem to solution(s) to be tested, intended outcomes, and evaluation metrics (See Appendix B).

c) The research base or theory of change for proposed strategies and solutions.

d) An evaluation plan, to include ongoing analysis, monitoring, and assessment of the overall project impact.

2. A contract, memorandum of understanding, or other agreement that clearly delineates the role and responsibilities of the research partner, if applicable. This document should establish the authority of the research partner to access agency data, interview personnel, and monitor operations that are relevant to the evaluation of the initiative.

3. Any additional letters of commitment from external agencies or organizations that are expected to participate in the project. In developing the action plan, it may be necessary to secure additional letters of commitment.

4. Documentation of executive support and commitment of agency resources to the project.

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

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.

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.10 The 2018 salary table for SES employees is available on the Office of Personnel Management website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/18Tables/exec/html/ES.aspx. 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.

10 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://ojp.gov/financialguide/DOJ/index.htm https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/18Tables/exec/html/ES.aspx https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/18Tables/exec/html/ES.aspx

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, as well as 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.

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 title page.

In addition, as discussed in more detail below, if the applicant is a state or local government entity, in order to validly accept this award, the chief legal officer of that jurisdiction must properly execute, and the applicant must submit, specific certifications relating to certain federal laws (see Appendices E and F). (Note: this requirement does not apply to Indian tribal governments.)

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 in response to this solicitation 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 recipient satisfies the conditions and OJP makes the funds available.

Moreover, an applicant should anticipate that an application that OJP determines is nonresponsive to the scope of the solicitation, or that OJP determines does not include the https://www.ojp.gov/financialguide/DOJ/PostawardRequirements/chapter3.10a.htm https://ojp.gov/funding/Explore/LegalOverview/index.htm https://ojp.gov/funding/Explore/LegalOverview/index.htm https://ojp.gov/funding/Explore/LegalOverview/index.htm https://ojp.gov/funding/index.htm application elements that BJA has designated to be critical, will neither proceed to peer review, nor receive further consideration. For this solicitation, BJA has designated the following application elements as critical: Program Narrative, Budget Detail Worksheet, Budget Narrative, Timeline/Task Plan, Applicant Disclosure of Proposed Subrecipients, Position Descriptions for Key Roles, and Letters of Support.

NOTE: OJP has combined the Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative in a single document collectively referred to as the Budget Detail Worksheet. See “Budget Information and Associated Documentation” below for more information about the Budget Detail Worksheet and where it can be accessed.

OJP strongly recommends that applicants use appropriately descriptive file names (e.g., “Program Narrative,” “Budget Detail Worksheet,” “Timelines,” “Memoranda of Understanding,” “Résumés”) for all attachments. Also, OJP recommends that applicants include résumés in a single file.

Please review the “Note on File Names and File Types” under How To Apply to be sure applications are submitted in permitted formats.

1. Information to Complete the Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424)

The SF-424 is a required standard form used as a cover sheet for submission of pre-applications, applications, and related information. Grants.gov and the OJP Grants Management System (GMS) take information from the applicant’s profile to populate the fields on this form. When selecting "type of applicant," if the applicant is a for-profit entity, select "For-Profit Organization" or "Small Business" (as applicable).

To avoid processing delays, an applicant must include an accurate legal name on its SF-

424. On the SF-424, current OJP award recipients, when completing the field for “Legal Name” (box 8a), should use the same legal name that appears on the prior year award document (which is also the legal name stored in OJP’s financial system.) Also, current recipients should enter the Employer Identification Number (EIN) in box 8b exactly as it appears on the prior year award document. An applicant with a current, active award(s) must ensure that its GMS profile is current. If the profile is not current, the applicant should submit a Grant Adjustment Notice updating the information on its GMS profile prior to applying under this solicitation.

A new applicant entity should enter its official legal name in box 8a, its address in box 8d, its EIN in box 8b, and its Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number in box 8c of the SF-424. A new applicant entity should attach official legal documents to its application (e.g., articles of incorporation, 501(c)(3) status documentation, organizational letterhead) to confirm the legal name, address, and EIN entered into the SF-424. OJP will use the System for Award Management (SAM) to confirm the legal name and DUNS number entered in the SF-424; therefore, an applicant should ensure that the information entered in the SF-424 matches its current registration in SAM. See the How To Apply section for more information on SAM and DUNS numbers.

Intergovernmental Review: This solicitation ("funding opportunity") is not subject to Executive Order 12372. (In completing the SF-424, an applicant is to answer question 19 by selecting the response that the “Program is not covered by E.O. 12372.”) https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html

2. Project Abstract Applications should include a high quality project abstract that summarizes the proposed project in 400 words or fewer. Project abstracts should be:

• Written for a general public audience.

• Submitted as a separate attachment with “Project Abstract” as part of its file name.

• Single-spaced, using a standard 12-point font (such as Times New Roman) with 1-inch margins.

• Include the legal name of the applicant and the project’s title, objectives, design elements, and proposed deliverables

As a separate attachment, the project abstract will not count against the page limit for the program narrative. BJA requests that the abstract be submitted as a text file, such as the Word .doc format.

3. Program Narrative The program narrative should be double-spaced, using a standard 12-point font (Times New Roman preferred); have no less than 1-inch margins; and should not exceed 20 pages.

Pages should be numbered “1 of 20,” “2 of 20,” etc. If the program narrative fails to comply with the length restriction, BJA may consider such noncompliance in peer review and in final award decisions.

The following sections should be included as part of the program narrative11:

a. Statement of the Problem

b. Project Design and Implementation

c. Capabilities and Competencies

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

OJP will require each successful applicant to submit regular performance data that demonstrate the results of the work carried out under the award (see “General Information about Post-Federal Award Reporting Requirements” in Section F. Federal Award Administration Information). The performance data directly relate to the objectives and deliverables identified under "Objectives and Deliverables" in Section A. Program Description.

Applicants should visit OJP’s performance measurement page at www.ojp.gov/performance for an overview of performance measurements at OJP.

Performance measures for this solicitation are listed in Appendix A: Performance Measures Table.

The application should demonstrate the applicant’s understanding of the performance data reporting requirements for this grant program and detail how the applicant will gather the required data should it receive funding.

11 For information on subawards (including the details on proposed subawards that should be included in the application), see "Budget and Associated Documentation" under Section D. Application and Submission Information.

https://www.ojp.gov/performance

Please note that applicants are not required to submit performance data with the application. Performance measures information is included as an alert that successful applicants will be required to submit performance data as part of the reporting requirements under an award.

Note on Project Evaluations An applicant that proposes to use award funds through this solicitation to conduct project evaluations should be aware that certain project evaluations (such as systematic investigations designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge) may constitute “research” for purposes of applicable DOJ human subjects protection regulations.