PKG00264921-instructions.pdf

OMB No. 1122-0020 Approval Expires 1/31/2022

U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women

OVW Fiscal Year 2021 Improving Criminal Justice

Responses to Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and

Stalking Grant Program

Solicitation Assistance Listing Number # 16.590

Grants.gov Opportunity Number: O-OVW-2021-37003

Solicitation Release Date: January 13, 2021 12:00 AM

Version: 1

Grants.gov Deadline: March 29, 2021 11:59 PM

Application JustGrants Deadline: March 31, 2021 11:59 PM

Eligible Applicants:

City or township governments, County governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, State governments, Other

Other Eligible applicants are limited to: States; Indian Tribal governments; state and local courts

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(including juvenile courts); units of local government; state, tribal, or territorial domestic violence or sexual assault coalitions; or victim services providers in the United States or U.S.

territories. For more information, see the Eligibility Information section of this solicitation.

Letter of Intent Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a non-binding Letter of Intent to OVW.ICJR@usdoj.gov by March 16, 2021. Interested applicants who do not submit a Letter of Intent are still eligible to apply. For more information, see the Application and Submission Information section of this solicitation.

Pre-Application Information Sessions OVW will conduct optional web-based Pre-Application Information Sessions. For more information, see the Application and Submission Information section of this solicitation.

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

Submission Information Registration: To submit an application, all applicants must obtain a Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number and register online with the System for Award Management (SAM) and with Grants.gov. To ensure sufficient time to complete the registration process, applicants must obtain a DUNS number and register online with SAM and with Grants.gov immediately, but no later than March 16, 2021.

Submission: Applications for this program will be submitted through a NEW two-step process: (1) submission of the SF-424 and SF-LLL in Grants.gov and (2) submission of the full application including attachments in the Justice Grants System (JustGrants). Submit the SF-424 and SF-LLL as early as possible, but not later than 24-48 hours before the Grants.gov deadline. For technical assistance with Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. For technical assistance with JustGrants, contact OVW JustGrants Support at 1-866-655-4482 or OVW.JustGrantsSupport@usdoj.gov.

For more information about registration and submission, see the Application and Submission Information section of this solicitation.

Notification OVW anticipates notifying applicants of funding decisions by October 1, 2021.

O-OVW-2021-37003

mailto:OVW.ICJR@usdoj.gov

Contents

Contact Information Program Description

Overview of OVW Statutory Authority About this OVW Program Program Scope Purpose Areas OVW Priority Areas Activities that Compromise Victim Safety and Recovery or Undermine Offender Accountability Out-of-Scope Activities Activities Requiring Prior Approval

Federal Award Information Awards, Amounts and Durations Availability of Funds Types of Awards Award Period and Amounts Types of Applications Mandatory Program Requirements

Eligibility Information Eligible Applicants Ineligible Entities and Disqualifying Factors Cost Sharing or Matching Other Program Eligibility Requirements

Application and Submission Information Information to Complete the Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) . 22 Standard Applicant Information (JustGrants 424 and General Agency Information) Proposal Abstract Proposal Narrative Budget and Associated Documentation

Budget Worksheet and Budget Narrative (Web-based Form) Pre-Agreement Cost Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) Financial Management Questionnaire (including applicant disclosure of high-risk status) Disclosure of Process Related to Executive Compensation Data Requested with Application Certification of Eligibility Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and Other Supportive Documents Additional Application Components Letters of Nonsupplanting Proof of 501(c)(3) Status (Nonprofit Organization Only) Confidentiality Notice Form Disclosures and Assurances Disclosure of Lobbying Activities DOJ Certified Standard Assurances Applicant Disclosure of Duplication in Cost Items DOJ Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements . 37 How to Apply Submission Dates and Time

Application Review Information Review Criteria Review and Selection Process Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

Federal Award Administration Information Federal Award Notices Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements General Information about Post-Federal Award Reporting Requirements . 45

Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s) Other Information

Public Reporting Burden- Paper Work Reduction Act Notice Application Checklist

Program Description Overview of OVW OVW is a component of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). Created in 1995, OVW administers grant programs authorized by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and subsequent legislation and provides national leadership on issues of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. OVW grants support coordinated community responses to hold offenders accountable and serve victims.

Statutory Authority 34 U.S.C. §§ 10461-10465

About this OVW Program The Improving Criminal Justice System Responses to Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Grant Program (ICJR Program) (CFDA# 16.590) program is authorized by 34 U.S.C. §§ 10461-10465 and implemented through regulations at 28 C.F.R. Part 90, Subpart D. The ICJR Program encourages state, local, and tribal governments and courts to treat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking as serious violations of criminal law requiring the coordinated involvement of the entire criminal justice system. For additional information about this program and related performance measures, including how awards contribute to the achievement of program goals and objectives, see:

OVW grant program information: OVW Grants and Programs webpage Program performance measures under the Measuring Effectiveness Initiative: VAWA Measuring Effectiveness Initiative webpage Examples of successful projects in OVW's most recent report to Congress on the effectiveness of VAWA grant programs: 2018 Biennial Report

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

Purpose Areas Pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 10461(b), funds under this program must be used for one or more of the following purposes:

To implement proarrest programs and policies in police departments, including1.

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https://www.justice.gov/ovw/grant-programs https://www.vawamei.org/grant-programs/ https://www.vawamei.org/grant-programs/ https://www.justice.gov/ovw/page/file/1292636/download https://www.justice.gov/ovw/page/file/1298396/download https://www.justice.gov/ovw/resources-applicants policies for protection order violations and enforcement of protection orders across state and tribal lines.

To develop policies, educational programs, protection order registries, data2.

collection systems, and training in police departments to improve tracking of cases and classification of complaints involving domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Policies, educational programs, protection order registries, and training described in this paragraph shall incorporate confidentiality, and privacy protections for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

To centralize and coordinate police enforcement, prosecution, or judicial3.

responsibility for domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking cases in teams or units of police officers, prosecutors, parole and probation officers, or judges.

To coordinate computer tracking systems and provide the appropriate training4.

and education about domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking to ensure communication between police, prosecutors, parole and probation officers, and both criminal and family courts.

To strengthen legal advocacy service programs and other victim services for5.

victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, including strengthening assistance to such victims in immigration matters.

To educate federal, state, tribal, territorial, and local judges, courts, and court-6.

based and court-related personnel in criminal and civil courts (including juvenile courts) about domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking and to improve judicial handling of such cases.

To provide technical assistance and computer and other equipment to police7.

departments, prosecutors, courts, and tribal jurisdictions to facilitate the widespread enforcement of protection orders, including interstate enforcement, enforcement between states and tribal jurisdictions, and enforcement between tribal jurisdictions.

To develop or strengthen policies and training for police, prosecutors, and the8.

judiciary in recognizing, investigating, and prosecuting instances of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking against older individuals (as defined in section 3002 of title 42) and individuals with disabilities (as defined in section 12102(2) of title 42).

To develop state, tribal, territorial, or local policies, procedures, and protocols for9.

preventing dual arrests and prosecution in cases of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and to develop effective methods for identifying the pattern and history of abuse that indicates which party is the actual perpetrator of abuse.

To plan, develop and establish comprehensive victim service and support10.

centers, such as family justice centers, designed to bring together victim advocates from victim service providers, staff from population specific organizations, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, probation officers, governmental victim assistants, forensic medical professionals, civil legal attorneys, chaplains, legal advocates, representatives from community-based organizations and other relevant public or private agencies or organizations into one centralized location, in order to improve safety, access to services, and confidentiality for victims and families. Although funds may be used to support the colocation of project partners under this paragraph, funds may not support construction or major renovation expenses or activities that fall outside of the scope of the other statutory purpose areas.

To develop and implement policies and training for police, prosecutors,11.

probation and parole officers, and the judiciary in recognizing, investigating, and prosecuting instances of sexual assault, with an emphasis on recognizing the threat to the community for repeat crime perpetration by such individuals.

To develop, enhance, and maintain protection order registries.12.

To develop human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing programs for sexual13.

assault perpetrators and notification and counseling protocols.

To develop and implement training programs for prosecutors and other14.

prosecution-related personnel regarding best practices to ensure offender accountability, victim safety, and victim consultation in cases involving domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

To develop or strengthen policies, protocols, and training for law enforcement,15.

prosecutors, and the judiciary in recognizing, investigating, and prosecuting instances of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking against immigrant victims, including the appropriate use of applications for nonimmigrant status under subparagraphs (T) and (U) of section 1101(a)(15) of title 8.

To develop and promote state, local, or tribal legislation and policies that16.

enhance best practices for responding to the crimes of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, including the appropriate treatment of victims.

To develop, implement, or enhance sexual assault nurse examiner programs or17.

sexual assault forensic examiner programs, including the hiring and training of such examiners.

To develop, implement, or enhance Sexual Assault Response Teams or similar18.

coordinated community responses to sexual assault.

To develop and strengthen policies, protocols, and training for law enforcement19.

officers and prosecutors regarding the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault cases and the appropriate treatment of victims.

To provide human immunodeficiency virus testing programs, counseling, and20.

prophylaxis for victims of sexual assault.

To identify and inventory backlogs of sexual assault evidence collection kits and21.

to develop protocols for responding to and addressing such backlogs, including policies and protocols for notifying and involving victims.

To develop multidisciplinary high-risk teams focusing on reducing domestic22.

violence and dating violence homicides by:

a. using evidence-based indicators to assess the risk of homicide and link high-risk victims to immediate crisis intervention services;

b. identifying and managing high-risk offenders; and

c. providing ongoing victim advocacy and referrals to comprehensive services including legal, housing, health care, and economic assistance.

Note: Given the intensive nature of implementing purpose area 22, the only purpose area that can be combined with this is purpose area 3.

To develop, strengthen, and implement policies, protocols, and training for law23.

enforcement regarding cases of missing or murdered Indians, as described in section 5704 of title 25.

To compile and annually report data to the Attorney General related to missing24.

or murdered Indians, as described in section 5705 of title 25.

Note: Proposals under purpose areas 23 and 24 must have a primary purpose of treating domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking as serious violations of criminal law, as required by 34 U.S.C. § 10461(a).

Because the majority of the statutory purpose areas listed above include functions and/or activities that are inherently governmental, state/tribal coalitions and victim service providers applying as the lead applicant may seek funding to address only purpose areas 5, 10, and 17 above.

OVW Priority Areas In FY 2021, OVW is interested in supporting the priority area(s) identified below. Applications proposing activities in the following areas will be given special consideration.

Reduce violent crime against women and promote victim safety through investing in law1.

enforcement, increasing prosecution, and promoting effective prevention.

In FY 2021, OVW will give special consideration to continuation applications submitted by states, Indian tribal governments, state and local courts (including juvenile courts), and units of local government that meaningfully address one or more of the following ten statutory purpose areas. To demonstrate that an application meaningfully addresses this priority, no less than 50 percent of proposed goals, objectives, activities, and budget must support law enforcement, prosecution, sexual assault nurse examiners/sexual assault forensic examiners, and/or court partners.

Purpose areas that address this priority are purpose area 3 (specialized units), 6 (improving judicial handling of cases), 8 (developing policies and trainings for working with older individuals and individuals with disabilities), 10 (co-located services/FJC), 11 (developing policies and training for recognizing, investigating or prosecuting instances of sexual assault), 14 (training for prosecutors), 17 (developing sexual assault nurse examiner programs or sexual assault forensic nurse programs, including hiring and training of examiners), 18 (developing Sexual Assault Response Teams or similar coordinated community responses to sexual assault), 19 (improving investigation or prosecution of sexual assault cases), and/or 22 (reducing domestic and dating violence homicides), Applications that meet these requirements will receive a 5-point addition during the programmatic process.

In an effort to encourage new applicants to apply for ICJR funding, 10 points will be applied to applications from jurisdictions who have not previously received ICJR funding. Additional information is provided in the Mandatory Program Requirements section of this solicitation.

Statutory Priority Pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 10462(b), when making ICJR Program awards, OVW must give priority to applicants that:

Do not currently provide for centralized handling of cases involving domestic1.

violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking by police, prosecutors, and courts;

Demonstrate a commitment to strong enforcement of laws, and prosecution or2.

cases, involving domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, including the enforcement of protection orders from other states and jurisdictions, including tribal jurisdictions;

Have established cooperative agreements or can demonstrate effective ongoing3.

collaborative arrangements with neighboring jurisdictions to facilitate the enforcement of protection orders from other states and jurisdictions, including tribal jurisdictions; and Intend to utilize grant funds to develop and install data collection and4.

communication systems, including computerized systems, and training on how to use these systems effectively to link police, prosecutors, courts, and tribal jurisdictions for the purpose of identifying and tracking protection orders and violations of protection orders, in those jurisdictions where such systems do not exist or are not fully effective.

In FY 2021, applications submitted by states, Indian tribal governments, state and local courts (including juvenile courts), and units of local government addressing one or more of the statutory priorities above will receive one additional point during the programmatic review process.

Activities that Compromise Victim Safety and Recovery or Undermine Offender Accountability OVW does not fund activities that jeopardize victim safety, deter or prevent physical or emotional healing for victims, or allow offenders to escape responsibility for their actions.

Applications that propose any such activities may receive a deduction in points during the review process or may be eliminated from consideration. Information on activities that compromise victim safety and recovery or undermine offender accountability may be found in the Solicitation Companion Guide.

Out-of-Scope Activities The activities listed below are out of the program scope and will not be supported by this program’s funding. See also the list of unallowable costs in the Funding Restrictions section of this solicitation.

Research projects. Funds under this program may not be used to conduct research,1.

defined in 28 C.F.R. § 46.102 as a systematic investigation designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge. Surveys and focus groups, depending on their design and purpose, may constitute research and therefore be out-of-scope. Prohibited research does not include assessments conducted for internal improvement purposes only (see Limited Use of Funds below). For information on distinguishing between research and assessments, see the Solicitation Companion Guide.

Direct legal representation. Grant funds may only be used to provide legal2.

representation to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in the limited context of protection order proceedings.

Family Law. Grant funds may not be used for family law matters including, but not3.

limited to, divorce, custody, visitation, and/or child support.

Prevention activities. Grant funds may not be used for prevention activities. Grantees4.

are only permitted to engage in outreach activities to inform potential victims about the

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availability of services.

Family violence services. Grant funds may not be used to address child abuse or5.

other family violence issues, such as violence perpetrated by a child against a parent or violence perpetrated by a sibling against another sibling.

Services for children. Grant funds may not be used to investigate or prosecute child6.

physical or sexual abuse cases. Grant funds may be used to investigate, prosecute, and provide services in cases involving victims age 11 and older. Grant funds may be used to provide direct services to individuals 10 and under only where such services are an ancillary part of providing services to the individual’s parent who is a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking (such as providing child care services while the parent-victim receives services).

Sex offender registry. Grant funds may not be used to create sex offender registries. 7.

Missing or murdered Indians. Grant funds may not be used for policies, protocols,8.

training or data collection and reporting that do not further the purpose of treating domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking as serious violations of criminal law.

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

Limited Use of Funds Grantees may use up to three percent of grant award funds to assess their work for internal improvement purposes only, such as by convening a listening session to identify service gaps in the community or surveying training participants about the quality of training content and delivery. Applicants considering such assessments must refer to the OVW research decision tree in the Solicitation Companion Guide to ensure that the activity does not qualify as human subjects research. The Solicitation Companion Guide also provides additional information on federal requirements related to research, assessments, and surveys.

Activities Requiring Prior Approval Recipients must receive prior approval before using grant funds to support surveys, whether conducted as part of a program or needs assessment, or for any other purpose. Prior approval is necessary to determine whether the activity is within the scope of the award and meets the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (see the Solicitation Companion Guide for more information).

https://www.justice.gov/ovw/resources-applicants

Federal Award Information Awards, Amounts and Durations Anticipated Number of Awards

Anticipated Maximum Dollar Amount of Awards $1,000,000.00

Period of Performance Start Date

10/1/21 12:00 AM

Period of Performance Duration (Months)

Anticipated Total Amount to be Awarded Under Solicitation $30,000,000.00

Availability of Funds All awards are subject to the availability of appropriated funds and any modifications or additional requirements that may be imposed by law. There is no guarantee that funds will be available in the future. OVW may elect to make awards in a future fiscal year for applications submitted under this solicitation but not selected for FY 2021 funding, depending on the merits of the applications and the availability of funding.

Types of Awards Awards will be made as grants.

Award Period and Amounts New Applicants:

The award period is 48 months for new applicants and continuation applicants seeking to implement purpose area 22 for the first time.

Budgets must reflect 48 months of project activities, and the total “estimated funding” on the SF-424 must reflect 48 months for new applicants. OVW anticipates that the award period will start on October 1, 2021.

Continuation Applicants:

The award period is 36 months for continuation applicants.

Budgets must reflect 36 months of project activities, and the total “estimated funding” on the SF-424 must reflect 36 months for continuation applicants. OVW anticipates that the award period will start on October 1, 2021

Funding levels under this program for FY 2021 are:

1. $500,000 for projects with a service area population up to 400,000 for the entire 36 or 48 months.

2. $750,000 for projects with a service area population 400,001 to 700,000 for the entire 36 or 48 months.

3. $1,000,000 for projects with a service area population 700,001 and above for the entire 36 or 48 months.

4. $1,000,000 for statewide projects, regardless of service area population for the entire 36 or 48 months.

Applicants must upload and attach a service area map with population size to their application in JustGrants.

OVW has the discretion to make awards for greater or lesser amounts than requested and to negotiate the scope of work and budget with applicants prior to making an award.

Types of Applications In FY 2021, OVW will accept applications for this program from the following:

Recipients of an FY FY 2019 or FY 2020 award under this program are NOT eligible to apply as the lead applicant on an FY 2021 proposal.

New: Applicants that have never received funding under this program or whose previous funding under this program expired on or before March 31, 2020.

The ICJR Program is fundamentally guided by the core principle of developing and establishing a coordinated community response (CCR). A CCR team convenes multidisciplinary community partners to provide interagency, coordinated responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Collaboration improves responses to victims/survivors and more effectively holds offenders accountable.

In FY 2021, the ICJR Program will give special consideration to new applicants that have never received ICJR funding and are committed to developing a CCR, revitalizing or enhancing their CCR, and engaging in a community assessment process. New applicants proposing to implement, develop, revitalize or enhance their CCR will receive a 10-point addition during the programmatic review process.

Continuation: Applicants that have an existing or recently closed (after March 31, 2020) award under this program. Continuation funding is not guaranteed. Note: The purpose of ICJR funding is to provide jurisdictions with resources to address VAWA crimes; it is not intended to be long-term sustained funding. In an effort to distribute ICJR funding across the country and to support innovative projects, continuation applicants that propose new project goals, objectives, and activities will receive special consideration.

Note: Current grantees with a substantial amount of unobligated funds remaining (50 percent or more of the previous award) as of March 31, 2021 without adequate justification may not be considered for funding or may receive a reduced award amount if selected for funding in FY 2021.

Mandatory Program Requirements All applicants that receive funding under this program will be required to engage in the following activities:

1. OVW-sponsored training and technical assistance (TTA).

2. OVW may conduct a program assessment or evaluation necessitating grantee involvement. Therefore, recipients may be expected to dedicate some OVW-funded time and resources to participating in an assessment or evaluation.

3. Attend a new grantee orientation.

4. Attend training on stalking and cyberstalking within the first 12 months of the project period.

5. Submit HIV certification documentation as detailed below:

Pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 10461(d), states and units of local government that receive ICJR Program funding shall not be entitled to 5 percent of their total award unless the state or unit of local government:

1. certifies that it has a law, policy, or regulation that requires –

a) the state or unit of local government at the request of a victim to administer to a defendant, against whom an information or indictment is presented for a crime in which by force or threat of force the perpetrator compels the victim to engage in sexual activity, testing for the immunodeficiency virus (HIV) not later than 48 hours after the date on which the information or indictment is presented and the defendant is in custody or has been served with the information or indictment;

b) as soon as practicable notification to the victim, or parent and guardian of the victim, and the defendant of the testing results; and

c) follow-up tests for HIV as may be medically appropriate, and that as soon as practicable after each such test the results be made available in accordance with subparagraph (b); or

2. gives the Attorney General assurances that its laws and regulations will be in compliance with requirements of paragraph (1) within the period ending on the date on which the next session of the state legislature ends.

All state and local government applicants must submit either a certification that they are in compliance with the above requirement along with a copy of the relevant law, regulation, or policy, or an assurance attesting that the applicant will meet the requirement by the end of the next legislative session from the date of application. The certification or assurance must be in the form of a letter, on government letterhead, signed and dated by the authorized representative of the state or local government. A special condition withholding five percent of funds will be added to all awards to states and units of local governments that submit assurances or do not provide a compliant law, regulation, or policy with the certification.

Pursuant to 28 C.F.R. § 90.64(b)(2), in the event that a unit of local government does not have authority to prosecute “crime[s] in which by force or threat of force the perpetrator compels the victim to engage in sexual activity[,]” the unit of local government may submit a letter from an appropriate legal authority in the jurisdiction certifying that the jurisdiction does not have authority to prosecute “crime[s] in which by force or threat of force the perpetrator compels the victim to engage in sexual activity” and that therefore the certification is not relevant to the unit of local government in question.

The signed HIV Certification, HIV Assurance, or HIV Exemption letter must be uploaded as an additional attachment at the end of the application in JustGrants.

In addition, all new applicants that receive funding under this program and continuation applicants seeking to implement purpose area 22 for the first time will be required to engage in a 12-month planning phase.

New grantees will spend the first 12 months of the 48-month project period completing required training by OVW TTA providers to ensure critical partners have the necessary competency in improving the criminal justice response to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. During the 12-month planning phase, new grantees are required to engage in a mandatory planning phase before the start of the implementation phase. Grantees will:

1. Identify a dedicated project coordinator.

2. Create a coordinated community response with project partners and relevant stakeholders in the community.

3. Identify evidenced-based practices and/or tools that may be implemented at the agency and community level.

4. Submit a logic model that outlines community goals. OVW must approve the logic model prior to the start of the implementation phase.

Note: Continuation applicants that have never implemented a lethality/risk assessment tool and are seeking to implement purpose area 22 in FY 2021 will receive a 48-month award and will be required to complete the 12-month TTA planning period.

Eligibility Information Eligible Applicants Pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 10461(c), the following entities are eligible to apply for this program:

1. States.

“State” means each of the several states and the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. 34 U.S.C. § 12291(a)(31).

2. Indian tribal governments.

“Tribal government” means any tribe, band, pueblo, nation, or other organized group or community of Indians, including any Alaska Native village or regional or village corporation (as defined in, or established pursuant to, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.)), that is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians. 34 U.S.C. § 12291(a)(36).

3. State and local courts (including juvenile courts).

“Courts” means any civil or criminal, tribal, and Alaska Native Village, federal, state, local or territorial court having jurisdiction to address domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, including immigration, family, juvenile, and dependency courts, and the judicial officers serving in those courts, including judges, magistrate judges, commissioners, justices of the peace, or any other person with decision making authority. 34 U.S.C. § 12291(a)(2).

4. Units of local government.

“Unit of local government” means any city, county, township, town, borough, parish, village, or other general purpose political subdivision of a state.

(Note: Pursuant to 28 C.F.R. § 90.61(b), the following are not considered units of local government and are not eligible to apply as the lead applicant: police departments, pre-trial service agencies, district or city attorneys’ offices, sheriffs’ departments, probation and parole departments, and universities. These entities may assume responsibility for the development and implementation of the project but must have their state, tribal government, or unit of local government apply as the lead applicant.)

5. State, tribal, or territorial domestic violence or sexual assault coalitions that partner with a state, Indian tribal government, or unit of local government.

A “state, tribal, or territorial domestic violence or sexual assault coalition” is a coalition recognized by OVW pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 10441(d)(2)(A), determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under 42 U.S.C. § 10411, or determined by the Center for Injury Prevention and Control of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 280b et seq.). See also 34 U.S.C. § 12291(a)(32)-(35).

6. Victim service providers that partner with a state, Indian tribal government, or unit of local government.

A “victim service provider” is a nonprofit, nongovernmental or tribal organization or rape crisis center, including a state or tribal domestic violence and/or sexual assault coalition, that assists or advocates for domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking victims, including a domestic violence shelter, faith-based organization or other organization, with a documented history of effective work concerning domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. 34 U.S.C. § 12291(a)(43). Victim service providers must provide direct services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking as one of their primary purposes and have a demonstrated history of effective work in this field.

501(c)(3) Status

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

Executive Order 13929 Safe Policing for Safe Communities To advance Executive Order 13929 Safe Policing for Safe Communities, the Attorney General determined that all state, local, and university or college law enforcement agencies must be certified by an approved independent credentialing body or have started the certification process to be eligible for FY 2021 DOJ discretionary grant funding, either as a recipient or a subrecipient. To become certified, the law enforcement agency must meet two mandatory conditions: (1) the agency’s use of force policies adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws; and (2) the agency’s use of force policies prohibit chokeholds except in situations where use of deadly force is allowed by law. For detailed information on this new certification requirement, see Safe Policing to access the Standards for Certification on Safe Policing for Safe Communities, Implementation Fact Sheet, and List of Designated Independent Credentialing Bodies.

Ineligible Entities and Disqualifying Factors Applications submitted by ineligible entities or that do not meet all program eligibility requirements will not be considered for funding. In addition, an application deemed deficient in one or more of the following categories may not be considered for funding: 1. activities that compromise victim safety, 2. out-of-scope activities, 3. unallowable costs, 4. pre-award risk assessment, 5. completeness of application contents, and 6. timeliness. Failure to comply https://cops.usdoj.gov/SafePolicingEO fully with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements (see Application and Submission section for more information on these requirements) will result in removal from consideration. An applicant with past performance issues, long-standing open audits, or an open criminal investigation also may not be considered for funding.

Note: Any nonprofit organization that holds money in offshore accounts for the purpose of avoiding paying the tax described in section 511(a) of the Internal Revenue Code is not eligible for a grant from this program. See 34 U.S.C. § 12291(b)(16)(B)(ii).

Cost Sharing or Matching This program has no matching requirement.

Other Program Eligibility Requirements In addition to meeting the eligible entity requirements outlined above, applicants for this program must also meet the requirements below. All certification and other eligibility related documents must be current and developed in accordance with the FY 2021 solicitation.

Certifications must take the form of a letter, on letterhead, signed, and dated by the Chief Executive Officer (i.e., the certification letter must be signed by the highest official of the state, tribe, local jurisdiction, or court). Examples of an appropriate Chief Executive Officer are a governor for a state, chief judge for a court, a mayor or county executive for a unit of local government, etc. If the certification letter is determined to be deficient and the application is selected for funding, the applicant will be required to correct any deficiencies prior to OVW making an award. The signed certification letter must be uploaded as a separate attachment in JustGrants. Sample certification letters can be found on the OVW website.

Certification of Eligibility

Under 34 U.S.C. § 10461(c):

1. State, Unit of Local Government, and Tribal Government Applicants must:

1. certify that their laws or official policies:

1. encourage or mandate arrests of domestic violence offenders based on probable cause that an offense has been committed; and

2. encourage or mandate arrest of domestic violence offenders who violate the terms of a valid and outstanding protection order;

2. demonstrate that their laws, policies, or practices and their training programs discourage dual arrests of offender and victim;

3. certify that their laws, policies, or practices prohibit issuance of mutual restraining orders of protection except in cases where both parties file a claim and the court makes detailed findings of fact indicating that both parties acted primarily as aggressors and that neither party acted primarily in self-defense;

4. certify that their laws, policies, and practices do not require, in connection with the prosecution of any misdemeanor or felony domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking offense, or in connection with the filing, issuance, registration, modification, enforcement, dismissal, or service of a protection order, or a petition for a protection order, to protect a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault, that the victim bear the costs associated with the filing of criminal charges against the offender, or the costs associated with the filing, issuance, registration, modification, enforcement, dismissal, or service of a warrant, protection order, petition for a protection order, or witness subpoena, whether issued inside or outside the state, tribal, or local jurisdiction; and

5. certify that, their laws, policies, or practices will ensure that –

1. no law enforcement officer, prosecuting officer or other government official shall ask or require an adult, youth, or child victim of a sex offense as defined under federal, tribal, state, territorial, or local law to submit to a polygraph examination or other truth telling device as a condition for proceeding with the investigation of, trial of, or sentencing for such an offense; and

2. the refusal of a victim to submit to an examination described in clause (i) shall not prevent the investigation of, trial of, or sentencing for the offense.

2. Court Applicants must certify that:

their laws, policies, or practices prohibit issuance of mutual restraining orders of1.

protection except in cases where both parties file a claim and the court makes detailed findings of fact indicating that both parties acted primarily as aggressors and that neither party acted primarily in self-defense;

the laws, policies, and practices applicable to the court do not require, in connection2.

with the prosecution of any misdemeanor or felony domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking offense, or in connection with the filing, issuance, registration, modification, enforcement, dismissal, or service of a protection order, or a petition for a protection order, to protect a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault, that the victim bear the costs associated with the filing of criminal charges against the offender, or the costs associated with the filing, issuance, registration, modification, enforcement, dismissal, or service of a warrant, protection order, petition for a protection order, or witness subpoena, whether issued inside or outside the state, tribal, or local jurisdiction; and the laws, policies or practices applicable to the court ensure that:3.

1. no law enforcement officer, prosecuting officer or other government official shall ask or require an adult, youth, or child victim of a sex offense as defined under federal, tribal, state, territorial, or local law to submit to a polygraph examination or other truth telling device as a condition for proceeding with the investigation of, trial of, or sentencing for such an offense; and

2. The refusal of a victim to submit to an examination described in subparagraph

(i) shall not prevent the investigation of, trial of, or sentencing for the offense.

3. Coalition and Victim Service Provider Applicants:

Coalition and victim service provider applicants must partner with a state, Indian tribal government, or unit of local government, and must submit with their application a

Certification of Eligibility as described above signed by the chief executive officer of the government partner on government agency letterhead. A coalition or victim service provider applicant with only a court partner is not eligible and therefore cannot submit a Certification of Eligibility from a court partner.

Required Partnerships All applications to the ICJR Program must include formal partnerships as described below based on lead applicant type. Applicants that fail to include the mandatory partner will be removed from further consideration.

1. State, Indian Tribal Government, Unit of Local Government and Court Applicants:

Applicants that are states, units of local governments, tribal governments, or courts are required to enter into a formal partnership with: 1) one or more victim service provider(s) that have a documented history of serving victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and/or stalking, and 2) other governmental organizations that are necessary for the implementation of the proposed project. A victim service provider must be involved in the development and implementation of the project. Victim service provider partners must provide direct services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking as one of their primary purposes and have a demonstrated history of effective work in this field.

2. Coalition or Victim Service Provider Applicants:

Lead applicants that are victim service providers, including coalitions, are required to enter into a formal partnership with: 1) a state, Indian tribal government, or unit of local government appropriate to the service area, and 2) any specific governmental organizations that are necessary for the implementation of the proposed project. All partners must be involved in the development and implementation of the project.

All formal partnerships must be documented in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or Letter(s) of Commitment (LOC) in limited situations. LOC(s) can only be submitted in place of an MOU when the lead applicant is a court and the court is precluded from entering into an MOU. In that situation, the court applicant may submit an LOC in lieu of an MOU, stating how the court is precluded from entering into an MOU, and the project partners may also submit LOCs in lieu of an MOU. See “Memorandum of Understanding” section for additional information on MOU requirements.

Limit on Number of Applications OVW will consider only one application per organization for the same service area. In addition, if an applicant submits multiple versions of the same application, OVW will review only the most recent system-validated version submitted before the deadline.

Application and Submission Information Address to Request Application Package The complete application package (this solicitation, including links to required forms) is available on Grants.gov and on the OVW website. Applicants wishing to request a paper copy of these materials should contact 202-353-5498 and OVW.ICJR@usdoj.gov.

Pre-Application Information Session(s) OVW will conduct two optional web-based pre-application information sessions. During these sessions, OVW staff will review this program’s requirements, review the solicitation, and allow for a brief question and answer period. These sessions are tentatively scheduled for:

February 3, 2021 at 1 pm ET (new applicants)1.

February 3, 2021 at 3 pm ET (continuing applicants)2.

Participation in a pre-application information session is optional and not a requirement to be eligible to apply.

To register, contact the ICJR Program at OVW.ICJR@usdoj.gov or at 202-353-5498.

Registration must be received at least 2 days prior to the start of the session. Participants are not registered until they receive a confirmation email. Webinars will be captioned in English and Spanish. Interested applicants needing additional language assistance should contact this program at OVW.ICJR@usdoj.gov or at 202-353-5498 as soon as possible, but no later than January 29, 2021.

Content and Form of Application Submission The information below (“ Letter of Intent” through “ Submission Dates and Times”) describes the full content and form of application submission.

Letter of Intent Applicants intending to apply for FY 2021 funding under this program are strongly encouraged to submit a Letter of Intent. The letter should state that the applicant is registered and current with SAM and with Grants.gov. The letter should be submitted to OVW at OVW.ICJR@usdoj.gov by March 16, 2021. This letter will not obligate the applicant to submit an application. See the OVW website for a sample Letter of Intent.

Formatting and Technical Requirements Applications must follow the requirements below for all documents, unless otherwise noted.

Points may be deducted for applications that do not adhere to the following requirements:

1. Double-spaced (Data Requested with Application, Pre-Award Risk Assessment, and charts may be single-spaced).

2. 8½ x 11 inch pages.

3. One-inch margins.

4. Type no smaller than 12 point, Times New Roman (TNR) or Arial font, except for footnotes, which may be in 10-point font.

5. Page numbers.

6. No more than 20 pages for the Proposal Narrative.

O-OVW-2021-37003

https://www.justice.gov/ovw/how-apply mailto:OVW.ICJR@usdoj.gov mailto:OVW.ICJR@usdoj.gov mailto:OVW.ICJR@usdoj.gov

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

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

Application Contents Applications must include the required documents and demonstrate that the program eligibility requirements have been met. For a complete checklist of the application contents, see the Application Checklist in the Other Information section of this solicitation.

OVW will not contact applicants for missing items on the list below. Applications that do not include all of the following documents will be considered substantially incomplete and will not be considered for funding:

1. Proposal Narrative.

2. Budget Detail Worksheet and Narrative.

3. Data Requested with Application

4. MOU/LOC(s) in accordance with partnership requirements described above.

5. Certification of Eligibility.

Information to Complete the Application…