RFI_Evaluation of BOP Reentry Programs.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (USDOJ)

OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS (OJP)

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE (NIJ)

Evaluation of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Reentry Programs

This Request for Information (RFI) is the initiation of market research under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part

10. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. This announcement does not constitute an Invitation for Bids (IFB), Request for Quotation (RFQ), or a Request for Proposal (RFP), and it should not be construed as a commitment of any kind by the Government to issue a formal solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Responses to this notice may not be accepted as offers.

The Government anticipates the applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code assigned to these services to be 541611 – Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services. However, the Government is open to Industry input to a more appropriate NAICS code. The anticipated contract type is Time & Materials (T&M). The anticipated period of performance is a base period of 12-months, commencing on/around June 1, 2022, and up to four options periods (three 12-month option periods and one 3-month option period). Contractors should ensure that they are properly registered in the Government System for Award Management at SAM.gov.

Background

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) — the research, development, and evaluation agency of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) — is dedicated to improving knowledge and understanding of crime and justice issues through science. NIJ provides objective and independent knowledge and tools to inform the decision-making of the criminal justice community to reduce crime and advance justice, particularly in state, local, and tribal jurisdictions. As part of accomplishing its mission, NIJ competitively awards grants and cooperative agreements, and enters into contracts for various research, development, and evaluation projects addressing criminal and juvenile justice issues in the social, physical, and forensic sciences.

NIJ is a component of the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), which also includes the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA);

the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS); the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC); the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP); and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART).

In collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), NIJ seeks to support a contract to evaluate reentry programs offered by the BOP in response to the First Step Act (FSA) of 2018 mandate which requires the “ongoing research and data analysis” on evidence-based recidivism reduction programs (See 18 U.S.C. § 3631 (b)(3)(A-C)). The evaluation should examine outcomes related to reductions in recidivism as well as other related outcomes (e.g., housing stability, employment, demonstrating academic engagement, participation in structured activities, food security). In support of the contract and evaluation, deliverables must be developed to document findings from the evaluation. The evaluation will focus on the following BOP reentry programs: (1) Female Integrated Treatment (FIT), (2) Foundation, (3) Threshold Program, (4) Life Connections, (5) Steps Toward Awareness, Growth, and Emotional Strength (STAGES), (6) Skills Program, and (7) Non-residential Sex Offender Treatment Program (SOTP-NR). See BOP’s First Step Act Approved Programs Guide for additional information: https://www.bop.gov/inmates/fsa/docs/fsa_program_guide_2107.pdf

This evaluation furthers the Department's mission by addressing the research mandate in Section 3631 of the FSA and by supporting the development of knowledge to address the challenges of crime and justice in the U.S. Specifically, it aims to generate knowledge and understanding of which evidence-based recidivism reduction programs are the most effective at reducing the risk of recidivism for the federal inmate population.

Objective and Scope

The scope of this effort includes an evaluation of BOP reentry programs. The objective of the evaluation is to support the following FSA mandate: “(3) conduct ongoing research and data analysis on - (A) evidence-based recidivism reduction programs relating to the use of prisoner risk and needs assessment tools; (B) the most effective and efficient uses of such https://www.bop.gov/inmates/fsa/docs/fsa_program_guide_2107.pdf programs; and (C) which evidence-based recidivism reduction programs are the most effective at reducing recidivism, and the type, amount, and intensity of programming that most effectively reduces the risk of recidivism.” Specific tasks for this effort are detailed below and will be managed by the Contractor. The Contractor will work closely with NIJ program scientists and engage with BOP, if and as needed, to implement the evaluation.

Anticipated Services

The following are concurrent tasks that the contractor is anticipated to perform:

1) Provide a detailed evaluation and project workplan and timeline, identifying the key outcomes and milestones and expected product delivery. This includes outlining key activities to achieve the study goal and objectives, the timeframe for completion, intermediary steps, associated deliverables, and responsible individuals. The Contractor will work closely with NIJ to review and update the workplan following the project kickoff and throughout the life of the contract, as needed.

2) In concert with NIJ and BOP, complete site selection, gather relevant information and data, and complete required reentry program evaluation.

a. Determine criteria for the selection of sites. The reentry programs are offered in various locations across the U.S. The criteria for site selection should take the location(s) and availability of each program into consideration, as well as other pertinent information, for example, facility size, inmate population served, facility security level, and relevant policy and/or practice matters.

i. FIT: 2 locations.

ii. Foundation: 29 locations.

iii. Threshold: all BOP institutions.

iv. Life Connections: 6 locations.

v. STAGES: 2 locations.

vi. Skills Program: 2 locations.

vii. SOTP-NR: 8 locations.

b. Provide an evaluation site plan with a list of and justification for recommended sites to NIJ for approval.

c. Develop site-specific and cross-site protocols to support evaluation.

d. Determine appropriate data collection efforts at and appropriate evaluation design for each reentry program site. This could include, but would not be limited to, reviews of administrative policies, operational guidelines, reports, and other primary source documents, qualitative interviews with program staff and participants, focus groups, surveys, and secondary analysis of administrative data. Additionally, proposals should include process, outcome/impact, and cost studies, and other relevant assessments as appropriate.

e. Amend the project workplan as and if needed.

3) Develop research reports documenting findings from each program evaluation. The findings should be provided and responsive to the FSA research mandate (see 18 U.S.C. § 3631 (b)(3)(A-C)). The contractor is encouraged to develop a dissemination plan with the goal of disseminating study results to criminal justice stakeholders and the public. The public dissemination of study findings will be subject to NIJ and BOP review and approval. Study cost estimates and timeline should account for the effort needed to develop and publish these additional deliverables. The findings may also be used internally to further develop BOP’s reentry programming.

a. Develop a comprehensive draft and final technical research manuscript that describes all aspects of the evaluation including the research questions or objectives, methods, and analytical techniques of the study and the findings, recommendations, and conclusions, similar to the type of information reported in a refereed journal.

b. Develop a separate draft and final summary overview report to summarize the evaluation as a whole in a concise and accessible manner for broad audiences including practitioners and policymakers. The report should include sections that state the purpose, project design and methods, data analysis, findings, and implications for criminal justice policy and practice at the federal and national levels.

c. Assist with dissemination of the study findings and recommendations, as needed and if approved by NIJ.

d. Work collaboratively with NIJ and BOP to identify other opportunities for joint publications and general dissemination.

4) Establish and manage a multidisciplinary research team, to implement an efficient and effective project management approach, and to meet administrative reporting and other requirements related to NIJ funded research.

a. Submit monthly progress reports that describe accomplishments of the preceding month, planned activities for the following month, problems encountered and resolutions, and ongoing consultations and communications activities.

b. Convene monthly meetings with NIJ and submitting meet notes with a list of after-action items.

c. Prepare and/or participate in briefings and meetings, as requested by NIJ.

d. Comply with DOJ human subject’s protection regulations 28 CFR Part 46 and providing compliance documentation to NIJ.

e. Comply with DOJ confidentiality regulations 28 CFR Part 22 and providing Privacy Certificate to NIJ.

f. Comply with data security protocols and obtaining clearance to work with BOP data, as required.

g. Provide a data archiving plan describing the proposed data management and archiving, including submission to the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD) all files and documentation necessary to allow for future efforts by others to reproduce the project’s findings and/or to extend the scientific value of any data set(s) through secondary analysis.

h. Comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) by preparing an Information Clearance Request (ICR) for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) review and approval, as applicable.

Contractor Capabilities

The objectives and tasks of this requirement must be met by personnel who are highly skilled and experienced in conducting program evaluations, specifically in an institutional setting, and have documented expertise in the specific programming area (e.g., gender-informed care, faith-based programming, mental health treatment, therapeutic communities, and sex offenders). The Contractor shall ensure that all positions possess the skills, knowledge, training, expertise, and certification(s) required to perform all services required by the contract satisfactorily.

To this end, the OJP is seeking the following information from interested companies, with respect to the following items:

1) Experience in performing research and evaluation of multi-site reentry programs, service quality, making process improvements when necessary, and providing recommendations to the government regarding improvement or enhancement of processes or services.

2) Experience enlisting appropriate and required subject matter expertise.

3) A list of proposed subject matter experts that could be engaged to participate in the requested program evaluations. The list should identify the names and affiliations of possible subject matter experts, and the expertise (e.g., scholarly, professional) and value they would contribute to a specific program evaluation. It is expected that subject matter experts would be identified for each of the various BOP reentry programs subject to evaluation under this contract.

4) Experience managing large-scale evaluation projects, preferably within corrections organizations.

5) Experience with providing day-to-day oversight on project finances and coordinating with subject matter expert consultants.

Information Submission Instructions

In addition to addressing the items above, the response should also include the following information:

1) Vendor’s name, DUNS and cage code, website, mailing address, points of contact information (name, job title, email address and phone number)

2) Vendor’s current business designation and socioeconomic status

3) Vendor’s government-wide contracting vehicles (i.e. GSA Schedule Contract, OASIS, etc.)

4) Vendor’s tailored capability statements explaining the complexity and amount of effort expected of this task, an addressing the tasking areas of this requirement, with appropriate documentation supporting claims of organizational and staff capability.

5) Vendor’s Past Performance – Provide a list of previous contracts where similar services were provided. Provide customer/Government Agency contact information where these services were provided including: contact name and organization, telephone number, and email address.

All responses to this RFI must be submitted electronically (via e-mail) to Ms. Jamila A. Garrett, Contract Specialist, at Jamila.Garrett@usdoj.gov.

The response to this notice is limited to 10 single sided pages (including all attachments, charts, etc.). Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions. Interested vendors should monitor a government point of entry site for further information. Your firm’s response to this RFI is appreciated.

Submission Time and Date

Responses to the information provided above are due no later than Friday, December 03, 2021, at 12:00 PM Eastern Time.

Responses received after this date and time may not be considered.

Disclaimer and Important Notes

This RFI is for information and planning purposes only and shall NOT be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the Government. This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in the response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any concern responding to this notice should ensure that their response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the concern’s qualifications to perform the work.

Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation MAY be published. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.

The Government will NOT accept requests for meetings or briefings, and may not answer any questions posed. No phone solicitations or email with regards to the status of a solicitation will be accepted prior to its release. Information and materials submitted in response to this notice WILL NOT be returned.

The Government will not pay for the preparation of any information submitted. As a result of this notice, the Government MAY issue a solicitation. There is no solicitation available at this time. However, should such a requirement materialize, no basis for claims against the Government shall arise as a result of a response to this RFI or the Government’s use of such information as either part of our evaluation process or in developing specifications for any subsequent requirement.

Confidentiality

No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).

Primary Point of Contact

Please address any questions via email to Ms. Jamila A. Garrett, Contract Specialist, at Jamila.Garrett@usdoj.gov.