PKG00249958-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 funding under the Improving Justice and Mental Health Collaboration: Training and Technical Assistance to Grantees and the Field Program.

This program furthers the Department’s priorities by providing training and technical assistance to law enforcement and other criminal justice agencies and their partner mental health and substance abuse authorities to reduce crime and recidivism associated with people with mental illnesses.

Improving Justice and Mental Health Collaboration: Training and Technical Assistance to Grantees and the Field

FY 2019 Competitive Grant Announcement Applications Due: June 11, 2019

Eligibility

Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations (including tribal organizations) and for-profit (commercial and tribal) organizations, faith-based and community organizations, and institutions of higher education (including tribal institutions of higher education).

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

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).1 The applicant must be the entity that would have primary responsibility for carrying out the award, including administering the funding and managing the entire program.

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

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

Competitive applicants will include partnership with a police organization or association that has the capacity to consult and engage communities on issues of improved justice system and public health responses to people with mental illness (MI) or co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse (CMISA).

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

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

BJA-2019-15123

BJA may elect to fund applications submitted under this FY 2019 solicitation in future fiscal years, dependent on, among other considerations, the merit of the applications and on the availability of appropriations.

Deadline

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

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-2019-15123

Release date: April 10, 2019 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……………………….10 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: Application Checklist Appendix B: Performance Measures Table

Improving Justice and Mental Health Collaboration: Training and Technical Assistance to Grantees and the Field

FY 2019 Competitive Grant Announcement

CFDA # 16.745

A. Program Description

Overview Through this solicitation, BJA seeks training and technical assistance (TTA) providers to support the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP) and the Justice and Mental Health State-Based Capacity Building Program (CBP). The primary goal of JMHCP is to facilitate cross-system collaboration among the criminal justice, mental health, and substance abuse treatment systems to increase access to mental health and other treatment services for individuals with mental illnesses (MI) or co-occurring mental illness or substance abuse (CMISA). The primary goal of CBP is to provide comprehensive resources and services to unfunded JMHCP applicants (“customers”) and the field in general.

Statutory Authority: This program is authorized by the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act of 2004 (MIOTCRA) (Public Law 108-414), the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-416) and as amended by the 21st Century Cures Act (Public Law 114-255). Any awards under this solicitation will be made under 34 U.S.C. 10651 and Pub. L. No. 116-6, 133 Stat 13, 114.

Program-specific Information Through JMHCP, BJA has awarded more than $121,000,000 to 482 jurisdictions in 49 states and 2 territories to implement cross-system justice and mental health programs. For nearly 125 active grantees, expert TTA is critical to the success of their jurisdictions to plan, implement, and sustain these complex, cross-system programs. Effective TTA is needed to assist these grantees achieve the lasting systemwide policy and practice improvements BJA expects.

Although the JMHCP appropriation has increased 150 percent from fiscal year (FY) 2017 to FY 2018, many applications remain unfunded and communities remain in need of assistance. In FY 2018, JMHCP received 109 applications and was able to fund under half, with 47 awards.

Therefore, through CBP, BJA partners with a technical assistance provider to engage unfunded applicants with support and guidance.

TTA provided to support grant-funded and unfunded jurisdictions promotes officer and public safety through systemwide improvements such as improved information sharing and coordination of system resources for people who are accessing multiple services, including hospital emergency departments, jails, and mental health crisis services. Expert TTA provides project-specific support for justice and treatment professionals, and facilitates communication, cross-system collaboration, and the delivery of support services to justice professionals and treatment and related service providers.

Objectives and Deliverables

Category 1: Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program Training and Technical Assistance. Competition ID: BJA-2019-15953

Category 1 Objective 1: Provide comprehensive, responsive, individualized TTA to JMHCP Category 1, 2, and 3 grantees to meet their objectives, deliverables, and activities.

Category 1 Objective 1 Deliverables and Activities:

1. Provide individualized, efficient, and consistent delivery of TTA to help grantees meet their federally funded program objectives and achieve a sustainable program by the end of their project period.

a) Develop individualized TTA work plans for each grantee based on the goals outlined in their applications. Work plans should be presented to the grantee, revised as needed, and agreed to by the grantee. They should include checklists to help grantees execute key tasks (e.g., developing a researcher-practitioner partnership). Note that BJA may require the selected provider to submit for review and approval proposed TTA plans, protocols, or strategies in advance of dissemination and implementation with grantees.

b) Assist grantees to complete the JMHCP Planning and Implementation (P&I) Guide,2 which focuses on program governance, design, data collection and evaluation, and sustainability, and assess progress in achieving the grant goals. Submit proposed modifications of the P&I Guide to BJA for review and approval prior to distributing to grantees.

c) Assign each grantee a TTA coach to assess and identify its TTA needs, including a summary of the findings for the grantee and recommended next steps to improve program performance to be shared with BJA. Each coach should have the skills needed to move their assigned grantees toward their goals and the time available to do that.

TTA coaches should have consistent, scheduled monthly calls with grantees. Prior to assigning coaches, the awarded applicant will provide a list to BJA of TTA coaches/consultants and their expertise. Provide follow-up information regarding the grantee’s implementation of the coach’s recommendations.

d) Anticipate, quickly identify, and address challenges that arise during TTA delivery.

When challenges arise, the TTA provider should engage in strategies like case conferencing to harness the collective knowledge of TTA coaches.

2. The TTA provider shall assist grantees in the development of a uniform program evaluation.

They shall routinely engage grantees on their evaluation activities process, including data collection, providing guidance on the evaluation plan to ensure quality design, relationship with and feedback from evaluators, and evaluation plan progress.

3. The TTA provider should proactively build field knowledge and capacity in the subject in which it is awarded. This includes coordinating and supporting a presence at national meetings and conferences via workshops, panel presentations, briefings and the gathering of current national practices involving people with mental illness.

a) Coordinate TTA activities with BJA’s National Training and Technical Assistance Center in order to ensure coordinated delivery of services among TTA providers and effective use of BJA TTA grant funding.

b) Research the use of alternatives to prosecution through pretrial diversion in appropriate cases involving individuals with mental illness

2 The Planning and Implementation guides: FY2017 JMHCP Category 1, FY2017 JMHCP Category 2, FY2017 JMHCP Category 3 https://csgjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/2017-JMHCP-Category-1-PI-Guide-Final.pdf https://csgjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/2017-JMHCP-Category-2-Law-Enforcement-Planning-Guide-Final.pdf https://csgjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/2017-JMHCP-Category-3-I-Guide-Final.pdf https://csgjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/2017-JMHCP-Category-3-I-Guide-Final.pdf

4. Assist grantees in the collection of performance measure data for submission to the Performance Measurement Tool, working in collaboration with the local research partners when relevant. The TTA provider will assist BJA to identify and respond to trends from the performance measure data submissions.

a) Based on performance reporting trends and TTA needs assessments, propose to and work with BJA on tailoring the TTA strategy to meet emerging needs and trends.

5. There are occasions where an external expert is required. To this end, the TTA provider should use a range of vetted local and national subject experts including practitioners, academics, and federal partners. The TTA provider should identify and maintain a list of subject experts whose expertise and experience best fit the needs of the grantees. With the approval of BJA, assign TTA consultants to assist grantees, and report on and monitor the TTA assistance provided. Expertise shall include the ability to provide specialized training to criminal justice and juvenile justice personnel in appropriate diversion techniques.

6. Maintain a listserv of grantees, subgrantees, and key contacts responsible for undertaking grant and related activities, including interested state, local, and tribal contacts, and federal and national partners

Category 1 Objective 2: Provide TTA to assist JMHCP Category 1 Collaborative County Approaches to Reducing the Prevalence of Individuals with Serious Mental Illness in Jails grantees to increase and maintain jail capacity for violent offenders, and develop systemwide coordinated approaches to safely reduce the prevalence of low risk individuals with MI and CMISA in local jails.

Category 1 Objective 2 Deliverables and Activities:

1. Develop a plan to create peer-to-peer state and county learning sites, through Category 1 grantee cohorts, that can serve as model sites, to include facilitated calls, webinars, and site visits.

2. Assist in the development of a plan to conduct timely screening and assessments for MI and CMISA and for risk of recidivism.

3. Provide agency guidance to establish baseline measures of: the number of people with MI and CMISA booked into jail, their average length of stay, percentage of people connected to treatment, and their recidivism rates.

4. Using the “Six Questions” planning tool, assist grantees to conduct a comprehensive process analysis and inventory of services to determine existing policies, practices, programs, and treatments. Identify service capacity and gaps as well as evidence-based programs and practices.

5. Help Category 1 grantees to prioritize policy, practice, and funding improvements and estimate the impact of new strategies.

6. Assist grantees in the establishment of a process for tracking the impact of the plan on four key outcomes: (1) the number of people with mental illnesses booked into jail; (2) their length of stay in jail; (3) connections to treatment; (4) and recidivism.

7. Assist grantees to design a data-integration/data-matching system between jails and community service providers to better understand patterns of people considered “high utilizers” of multiple systems such as health care, housing, and use of emergency medical services (EMS) to improve and increase coordination, response, and community capacity.

Category 1 Objective 3: Provide targeted TTA to assist JMHCP Category 2 Strategic Planning for Police and Mental Health Collaboration grantees to free up law enforcement time to focus on responding to violent crime and to improve officer and citizen safety during calls for service involving people with MI and CMISA.

https://stepuptogether.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Reducing-the-Number-of-People-with-Mental-Illnesses-in-Jail_Six-Questions.pdf

Category 1 Objective 3 Deliverables and Activities:

1. Develop and implement a specialized TTA strategy for Category 2 law enforcement grantees, using the Police Mental Health Collaboration (PMHC) Framework3 for police leadership and their mental health system delivery partners.

2. Guide grantees in establishing an interagency workgroup that includes law enforcement, behavioral health, and all other major stakeholders (e.g., 911 and dispatch, hospitals, courts, corrections, and housing).

3. Assist the project coordinator to review data on performance and adherence to policies and procedures, day-to-day operations according to the PMHC mission, and ways to coordinate outreach and engagement with other partners.

4. Review and provide feedback on (and help revise as needed) existing protocols to respond to people who have MI and CMISA, including interagency agreements, screening, guidance for mental health calls for service, and information sharing.

5. Review and provide feedback on (and revise as needed) existing officer, call-taker, and mental health provider training to improve encounters with people with MI and CMISA.

6. Assess existing behavioral care resources (e.g., crisis hotlines, mobile outreach, crisis facilities, outpatient treatment, etc.), help grantees identify gaps in services, and prioritize behavioral health resources for the PMHC.

7. Assess and provide strategies to track mental health-related calls for service and dispositions (e.g., repeat calls for the same individuals, duration of calls for service) and assist in developing additional capacity to analyze and track these calls.

8. Assist with the design of data-integration/data-matching systems between law enforcement and community service providers to better understand patterns of people considered “high utilizers” of multiple services such as health care, housing, and use of EMS to improve and increase coordination, response, and community capacity.

9. Provide TTA for a team of at least 2 collaborative project partners (1 law enforcement and 1 mental health partner representative) to travel and engage in peer-to-peer learning with 1 of 10 BJA-established Law Enforcement Mental Health Collaboration learning sites as part of the strategic planning process.4

10. Develop a process for reviewing and improving performance data to promote additional PMHC capacity and long-term sustainability.

Category 1 Objective 4: Provide TTA to assist JMHCP Category 3 Implementation and Expansion grantees to increase public safety and reduce recidivism among high risk people with MI and CMISA.

Category 1 Objective 4 Deliverables and Activities:

Provide subject expertise resources and technical assistance to:

a) Expand cross-system training for criminal justice, mental health, and substance abuse treatment personnel.

b) Screen, assess, and gather information-sharing processes to identify individuals with MI or CMISA in order to appropriately inform decision-making and prioritize limited resources.

3 The PMHC Framework is a written guide for law enforcement executives that draws upon the most advanced PMHCs in the nation, to articulate core components of a robust PMHC that can improve outcomes in agency-wide collaborative responses and metrics-driven performance management.

4 https://csgjusticecenter.org/law-enforcement/projects/mental-health-learning-sites/ https://csgjusticecenter.org/law-enforcement/publications/police-mental-health-collaborations-a-framework-for-implementing-effective-law-enforcement-responses-for-people-who-have-mental-health-needs/ https://csgjusticecenter.org/law-enforcement/publications/police-mental-health-collaborations-a-framework-for-implementing-effective-law-enforcement-responses-for-people-who-have-mental-health-needs/ https://csgjusticecenter.org/law-enforcement/projects/mental-health-learning-sites/

c) Develop and plan for specialized caseloads for people under community supervision with significant mental health needs who are at higher risk of reoffending.

d) Increase the use of case management and service coordination, including evidence-based treatment models that are tailored to meet the assessed needs of the target population; case management and service coordination housed inside police agencies; or evidence-based or promising mental health treatment practices shown to improve clinical outcomes for people with serious mental illnesses.

e) Research grantee capacity to develop technical and non-technical strategies for information sharing within and across criminal justice and behavioral health treatment agencies to make eligibility determinations and ensure direct connections to treatment services in the community.

Category 2: Justice and Mental Health State-based Capacity Building Program.

Competition ID: BJA-2019-15954

Category 2 Objective 1: To develop and provide information and TTA to the field and to support cross-organizational coordination.

Category 2 Objective 1 Deliverables and Activities:

1. The TTA provider must serve as a thought leader and information clearinghouse for relevant research and best practices.

a) Create and disseminate knowledge diffusion products (e.g., fact sheets, webinars) through BJA’s networks. Coordinate strategy with other TTA providers and federal partners in order to minimize duplication of efforts.

b) Disseminate best practices and lessons learned by facilitating a presence at national, state, local, tribal, or other conferences and events related to award activities where officials learn about successful strategies.

2. Prioritize and respond to field-initiated requests as well as assist unfunded applicants. Not all ad hoc responses require an extensive response—some may require referral to resources or connection with other agencies—but a limited number will require more thorough exploration and response. In consultation with BJA, TTA providers must design a process to solicit requests for assistance, triage requests that are received and respond to them efficiently and effectively, and produce regular written reports to summarize the support provided.

3. Engage in cross-organizational coordination.

a) Be both aware of and in touch with other key, overlapping initiatives and other BJA TTA providers in jurisdictions.

b) Assist in coordinating existing federal partnerships and strategies related to justice and mental health collaboration. This includes working in conjunction with BJA and other federal partners such as the Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee (ISMICC) to develop and implement responses to priority areas, including identifying policies within their departments that hinder or facilitate local collaboration for preliminarily qualified offenders. This coordination shall result in recommendations to improve interdepartmental collaboration regarding the provision of services to qualified offenders.

c) Convene regular meetings (e.g., biannual stakeholder meeting) to allow for ongoing dialogue among relevant partners including, at a minimum, federal partners, public/private partnerships, and interest groups (e.g. peer support community).

4. Administer, enhance, and keep updated a TTA program website. Coordinate content with BJA policy to update and enhance BJA website content. Ensure that visitors can quickly access the information they seek. Ensure that up-to-date information about service offerings and issues affecting grantees and the field is readily available.

5. Maintain and staff a toll-free telephone number and general email address through which interested parties can request and obtain information in a timely fashion.

Category 2 Objective 2: To increase coordination, tools and resources that build state and local capacity to improve system responses to, and outcomes for, people with mental illnesses in the justice system.

Category 2 Objective 2 Deliverables and Activities:

1. Stakeholder Engagement and Coordinated System Response

a) Engage professional associations with a shared focus to coordinate TTA, and reach a broader audience of stakeholders.

b) Identify and assist states in policy development and implementation that facilitates and improves local and county justice mental health (MH) initiatives.

c) Coordinate and make TTA available to jurisdictions needing responsive field guidance that may require system or stakeholder engagement/coordination and provide basic triage, assessment, and guidance to provide a plan and process for assistance.

2. Police Response to Homelessness and Service System Delivery Partnership

a) Assist law enforcement agencies and community partners to convene and review policies and procedures regarding community responses to homelessness.

b) Facilitate use of innovative technology and data- sharing strategies to share information between first responders and community service providers.

c) Assist law enforcement (LE) and their community service partners to develop a homeless outreach team; align policy and procedures with emerging best practices in response.

d) Strengthen LE-MH partnerships using the PMHC Framework and Policy Guide where appropriate. Assist jurisdictions with the Framework’s four key outcome measures and provide a special focus on responding to homelessness and increasing connections to community-based services.

3. Development and Provision of Products, Tools, and Resources for the field

a) Refine and grow, self-help tools that guide local efforts to reduce the number and prevalence of people with MI in jails.

b) Develop and grow written products and tools, based on a body of evidence for what works at a state level, to support county collaborations as they strive to reduce the prevalence of people with MI in jails. Provide assistance on connections to treatment and community-based service delivery systems and related state health policy.

c) Provide guidance, through written products and TTA, regarding a collaborative coordinator’s role and activities. Explore, and report on, model counties.

d) Assist grantees in their use of criminogenic and violence risk assessments to identify and prioritize treatment and case management services for individuals identified as high utilizers of multiple community and public service delivery systems.

e) Assist grantees with program evaluation. Inform program administrators which policies, processes, and approaches are most effective for their service population.

f) Expand knowledge of what works regarding programs that have the highest likelihood for success in lowering recidivism and improving public health outcomes.

g) Provide subject expertise to grantees regarding their provision of services for female offenders consistent with the statutory requirement to focus on this population.

The objectives and deliverables are directly related to the performance measures that demonstrate the results of the work completed, as set out in Section D. Application and https://csgjusticecenter.org/law-enforcement/publications/police-mental-health-collaborations-a-framework-for-implementing-effective-law-enforcement-responses-for-people-who-have-mental-health-needs/

Submission Information, under "Program Narrative." See also The National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices. Note that programs listed in CrimeSolutions.gov does not mean a strategy is “recommended” or that it has been demonstrated to achieve positive results in all circumstances. Applicants must document that the selected practice is appropriate for the specific target population and purposes of their projects.

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 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 up to two awards with an estimated total amount awarded of up to $4,340,000. BJA will make two awards, one award in Category 1 and one award in Category 2, each with a twelve month period of performance. Specific award amounts for each category are identified below.

https://www.crimesolutions.gov/

CATEGORY 1: JUSTICE AND MENTAL HEALTH COLLABORATION PROGRAM

TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: up to $2,480,000. Project period: 12 months. Competition ID: BJA-2019-15953

CATEGORY 2: JUSTICE AND MENTAL HEALTH STATE-BASED CAPACITY

BUILDIING PROGRAM: up to $1,860,000. Project period: 12 months. Competition

ID: BJA-2019-15954

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 cooperative agreement, which is a type of award that provides for OJP to have substantial involvement in carrying out award activities. See Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements, under Section F. Federal Award Administration Information, for a brief discussion of what may constitute substantial federal involvement.

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Award recipients and subrecipients (including recipients or subrecipients that are pass-through entities5) must, as described in the Part 200 Uniform Requirements6 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.

5 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.

6 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.

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

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

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

Budget Information Applicants must explain their inability to fund the technical assistance program adequately without federal assistance; specify how the federal support will be used to supplement and not supplant public and private sources of funding that would otherwise be available, including billing third-party resources for services already covered; and outline plans for obtaining the necessary support to continue the proposed collaboration program following federal support.

For questions pertaining to budget and examples of allowable and unallowable costs, see the DOJ Grants Financial Guide at https://ojp.gov/financialguide/DOJ/index.htm.

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.

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.

https://onlinegfmt.training.ojp.gov/ https://ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/FinancialCapability.pdf https://ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/FinancialCapability.pdf https://ojp.gov/financialguide/DOJ/index.htm

Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation; Waiver With respect to any award of more than $250,000 made under this solicitation, a recipient may not use federal funds to pay total cash compensation (salary plus cash bonuses) to any employee of the recipient at a rate that exceeds 110 percent of the maximum annual salary payable to a member of the federal government’s Senior Executive Service (SES) at an agency with a Certified SES Performance Appraisal System for that year.7 The 2019 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/19Tables/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.

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.

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

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/19Tables/exec/html/ES.aspx https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/19Tables/exec/html/ES.aspx https://www.ojp.gov/financialguide/DOJ/PostawardRequirements/chapter3.10a.htm

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

C. Eligibility Information

For eligibility information, see title page.

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

D. Application and Submission Information

What an Application Should Include This section describes in detail what an application should include. An applicant should anticipate that if it fails to submit an application that contains all of the specified elements, it may negatively affect the review of its application; and, should a decision be made to make an award, it may result in the inclusion of award conditions that preclude the recipient from accessing or using award funds until the 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 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 and Budget Narrative, Timeline/Project Plan, Position Descriptions/Resumes, Letters of Support/Memoranda of Understanding, and Examples of Work Product.

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).

https://ojp.gov/funding/Explore/LegalOverview/index.htm https://ojp.gov/funding/index.htm

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, etc.) 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.”)

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

In addition, the abstract must:

• Clearly identify the funding category.

• Include the names of the lead applicant, the partner applicant, and subrecipients (police organization/associations, states, mental health organizations)

• Include a brief description of how the applicant plans to address the problem and the amount of federal funding requested.

As a separate attachment, the project abstract will not count against the page limit for the program narrative.

3. Program Narrative The program narrative must respond to the solicitation and the Review Criteria (a–e) in the order given. The program narrative must be double-spaced, using a standard 12-point font (Times New Roman is preferred) with 1-inch margins, and must not exceed 20 pages.

Please number pages “1 of 20,” “2 of 20,” etc. If the program narrative fails to comply with these length-related restrictions, BJA may consider such noncompliance in peer review and in final award decisions.

https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html

The following sections should be included as part of the program narrative8:

a. Description of the Issue

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 measurement activities at OJP. Performance measures for this solicitation are listed in Appendix B: 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.

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.

Post-award recipients will be required to submit performance measure data semiannually through BJA’s online Training and Technical Assistance Reporting Portal.

More information on reporting requirements can be found at:

https://www.bjatraining.org/working-with-nttac/providers.

e. Plan for Measuring Program Success to Inform Plan for Sustainment

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.