SMART FY19 AWA FINAL 508 addendum.pdf

Addendum for the Solicitation:

SMART FY 2019 Support for Adam Walsh Act Implementation Grant Program

March 21, 2019: Contact information.

The SMART Office has updated the points of contact for this solicitation. For assistance with any requirements of this solicitation, contact Amy Staubs at 202- 307-5762 or Amy.Staubs@ojp.usdoj.gov, Samantha Opong at 202-514-9320 or Samantha.Opong@ojp.usdoj.gov, or Kisha Green at 202-616-3573 or Kisha.W.Green@ojp.usdoj.gov from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Eastern Standard Time.

mailto:Amy.Staubs@ojp.usdoj.gov mailto:Samantha.Opong@ojp.usdoj.gov mailto:Kisha.W.Green@ojp.usdoj.gov

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

U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART), is seeking applications for funding under the SMART Office FY 2019 Support for Adam Walsh Act Implementation Grant Program. This program furthers the Department’s mission by assisting states, the District of Columbia, territories and certain federally recognized Indian tribes with implementation and ongoing maintenance of requirements under the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, specifically Subtitle A of Title I, the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).

SMART FY 2019 Support for Adam Walsh Act Implementation Grant Program

Applications Due: April 18, 2019

Eligibility

PURPOSE AREA 1:

Eligible applicants are limited to jurisdictions that are defined by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) as states, the District of Columbia, the principal U.S. territories and federally recognized Indian tribal governments (as determined by the Secretary of the Interior) that are eligible under SORNA section 127 to carry out the functions of SORNA and have elected to do so.

Tribal applicants must demonstrate eligibility status by indicating that the tribe has elected to carry out the requirements of SORNA under section 127 and has not delegated its duties since its election. Tribes that have elected to carry out the requirements of SORNA must submit the tribal resolution that documents the tribe’s election to do so. The Bureau of Indian Affairs publishes a list of federally recognized Indian tribes in the Federal Register.

PURPOSE AREA 2:

Eligible applicants are limited to counties in states that the SMART Office has determined to have substantially implemented SORNA.

https://www.usdoj.gov/ https://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ http://www.smart.gov/ http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/smart https://www.bia.gov/sites/bia.gov/files/assets/as-ia/ofa/admindocs/IndianEntitiesRecognized_2018-01-11.pdf https://www.smart.gov/sorna-map.htm

Funding Opportunity Number: SMART-2019-14905

PURPOSE AREA 3:

Eligible applicants are limited to states, the District of Columbia and principal U.S. territories that are either currently utilizing SMART’s Sex Offender Registry Tool (SORT) as their sex offender registry or will do so if selected for this award.

For all purpose areas, the SMART Office will consider making prioritized funding awards to the following: 1) jurisdictions that have not previously received funding under this program; 2) state and territorial applicants (or their political subdivisions or units of local government) that have already implemented SORNA; 3) tribal applicants that have implemented SORNA, submitted a SORNA substantial implementation package to the SMART Office for review or submitted a request for additional time to implement SORNA; or 4) tribal applicants that have not implemented SORNA, but whose SORNA registration activities have not been delegated to the state, if the funds are being used to move closer to substantial implementation.

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

The SMART Office 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 project.

Any proposed subawards must be approved by the SMART Office. The SMART Office may consider administration priorities, among other factors in determining whether to approve any such subaward.

The SMART Office may elect to fund applications submitted under this fiscal year (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 prior to submitting an application. All applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on April 18, 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.

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

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html https://ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Grants-govInfo.htm

Contact Information

For technical assistance with submitting an application, contact the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 800-518-4726, 606-545-5035, at support@grants.gov or at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html. The Grants.gov Support Hotline operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except for 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 SMART Office 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 other requirements of this solicitation, contact Amy Staubs at 202-307- 5762 or Amy.Staubs@ojp.usdoj.gov, Samantha Opong at 202-514-9320 or Samantha.Opong@ojp.usdoj.gov, or Kisha Green at 202-616-3573 or Kisha.W.Green@ojp.usdoj.gov from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Eastern Standard Time.

General information on applying for SMART awards can be found at the SMART Funding Opportunities page.

Grants.gov number assigned to this solicitation: SMART-2019-14905

Release date: February 15, 2019 mailto:support@grants.gov https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html mailto:Amy.Staubs@ojp.usdoj.gov mailto:Samantha.Opong@ojp.usdoj.gov mailto:Kisha.W.Green@ojp.usdoj.gov https://smart.gov/funding.htm https://smart.gov/funding.htm

Contents A. Program Description

Overview Program-Specific Information Goals, Objectives and Deliverables Evidence-Based Programs or Practices Information Regarding Potential Evaluation of Programs and Activities

B. Federal Award Information Type of Award Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Budget Information Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement Pre-agreement Costs (also known as Pre-award Costs) Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation; Waiver Prior Approval, Planning and Reporting of Conference/Meeting/Training Costs Costs Associated with Language Assistance (if applicable)

C. Eligibility Information D. Application and Submission Information

What an Application Should Include How To Apply

E. Application Review Information Review Criteria Review Process

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

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

Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552 and 5 U.S.C. 552a) Provide Feedback to OJP Appendix A: Performance Measures Table Appendix B: Application Checklist

SMART FY 19 Support for Adam Walsh Act Implementation Grant Program

SMART FY 19 Support for Adam Walsh Act

Implementation Grant Program

CFDA # 16.750

A. Program Description

Overview The Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART) Support for Adam Walsh Act Implementation Grant Program assists jurisdictions with developing and/or enhancing programs designed to implement the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). SORNA (34 U.S.C. § 20901 et seq.) was enacted to protect the public by establishing a comprehensive national system of standards for the registration and notification of convicted sex offenders.

The term jurisdiction is defined in SORNA as any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the principal U.S. territories and federally recognized Indian tribes — to the extent provided by SORNA section 127 — that have elected to implement SORNA.

Statutory Authority: This program is authorized pursuant to the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, 34 U.S.C. § 20901 et seq.

Program-Specific Information The Support for Adam Walsh Act (AWA) Implementation Grant Program assists jurisdictions with developing and/or enhancing programs designed to implement SORNA requirements. In summary, SORNA requires 1) all states, the District of Columbia, the principal U.S. territories and participating federally recognized Indian tribes to maintain a sex offender registry; and 2) sex offenders to register and maintain a current registration in each jurisdiction where the offender resides, is an employee or is a student. SORNA also sets forth requirements for sex offender registries, to include specified information, duration of registration and in-person verification of sex offender registration information, as well as participation in the National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW.gov) and interjurisdictional notification of relocating offenders (e.g., SORNA Exchange Portal). For more specific information about SORNA substantial implementation and the National Guidelines and Supplemental Guidelines on Sex Offender Registration and Notification, visit SMART's SORNA guidance.

In fiscal year 2019, the SMART Office seeks to expand the AWA program to 1) provide support to counties in states that have substantially implemented SORNA to augment enforcement, compliance and coordination and 2) encourage further implementation and integration of the Sex Offender Registry Tool (SORT).

Goals, Objectives and Deliverables The SMART Office is interested in proposals that facilitate, enhance and maintain jurisdictional implementation of SORNA. For each purpose area below, applications must include how the proposed project will further SORNA implementation. Where specified, eligible applicants may https://www.smart.gov/SORNA.htm submit an application to more than one purpose area; however, applications must not duplicate focus areas, approaches and/or methodologies.

Note: Activities proposed under Purpose Area 2 may address SORNA implementation issues described in Purpose Area 1 of this solicitation. However, to be considered under Purpose Area 2, applicants must clearly identify how the applied-for funding will directly address local-level efforts to accomplish planned activities, goals and objectives, but will not duplicate or conflict with any ongoing SORNA activities, or any SORNA-related activities proposed for funding by the applicant’s respective state under Purpose Area 1. Similarly, applications under Purpose Area 3 can enhance activities proposed for funding under Purpose Areas 1 or 2, but must not duplicate them.

PURPOSE AREA 1: Maintaining and Enhancing SORNA Substantial Implementation in States, Territories and Tribal Jurisdictions

COMPETITION ID: SMART-2019-15629

Applications are solicited from eligible jurisdictions interested in reaching, maintaining or enhancing SORNA implementation.

For state and territorial jurisdictions that have not yet substantially implemented SORNA, applicants must explain how the proposed project will bring the jurisdiction closer to implementation based on SMART’s most recent SORNA substantial implementation review and determination for the jurisdiction.

For tribal jurisdictions that have not yet substantially implemented SORNA, applicants must have received a SORNA substantial implementation review, submitted materials for review or requested and received a “reasonable time” extension from the SMART Office. If the jurisdiction has received a substantial implementation review, the applicant must explain how the proposed project will bring the jurisdiction closer to implementation based on SMART’s most recent review and determination.

For jurisdictions that have substantially implemented SORNA, the application must explain how the proposed project will support continued implementation of SORNA, enhance current registration/notification programs or address any SORNA requirements not fully met, as identified in their most recent SORNA substantial implementation review.

In developing and/or enhancing efforts or programs designed to implement or maintain SORNA standards, applicants may propose specific strategies and projects including, but not limited to, the following.

Below are examples of strategies and projects to develop or enhance jurisdiction-wide SORNA implementation.

All state, tribal and territory applicants might —

• Develop proposed legislation and administrative materials (such as policies, procedures or processing forms) that address SORNA’s requirements, including legal support.

• Provide support for coordinated interagency efforts to enhance implementation of SORNA requirements.

• Develop or enhance law enforcement and other criminal justice agency information sharing within the jurisdiction, as well as between jurisdictions.

• Implement records management projects, such as converting paper documents to digital format as required by SORNA.

• Develop or enhance information sharing between the jurisdiction’s sex offender registry and other jurisdiction entities (such as correctional facilities, motor vehicle departments) to improve the accuracy of information about registered sex offenders.

• Develop and conduct training, including safety training, for law enforcement and other criminal justice agency personnel responsible for sex offender registration, notification, monitoring or management or investigating failure to register cases.

• Enhance registration verification strategies, collaborating with other jurisdictions and agencies on absconder investigations and expanding community education and prevention programs related to sex offender registration, notification or management.

• Implement and enforce SORNA’s 21-day advance notice of international travel requirement.

• Enhance the jurisdiction’s infrastructure to assist implementation of SORNA, such as the collection, storage, submission or analysis of sex offender biometric data (finger and palm prints) and DNA to state or FBI laboratories. See Budget Information including referenced footnote for more information.

Tribal applicants

• Tribes that have been found to have substantially implemented SORNA may apply for funding to create, improve and/or sustain registration/notification activities, including developing community education programs on sex offender topics (e.g., promoting an understanding of the tribe’s sex offender registration, notification, treatment and community supervision strategies; safety planning; and facts and statistics about sexual offending and offenders), or collaboration with intratribal organizations, including victim service agencies, courts, probation, schools and other entities. An application to fund such a collaborative approach or project must include supporting documentation from the included tribal organizations detailing how the collaboration will work. The application should also detail how such strategies will sustain and support the tribe’s sex offender registration and notification program.

• Tribes that have been found to have substantially implemented SORNA may apply for funding to develop or enhance interjurisdictional cooperation, including information-sharing infrastructure improvement to assist implementation of SORNA, such as the collection, storage, submission or analysis of sex offender biometric data (finger and palm prints).

• Tribes that have elected to carry out SORNA may apply for funding to support SORNA activities that benefit a consortium of tribes implementing SORNA. Several tribes may choose to form a consortium to share resources (e.g., hardware, digital fingerprint equipment, kiosks; joint staff or shared registry office space; shared public registry website) or collaborate on enforcement activities or registration facilities. An application to fund a collaborative approach or project must include supporting documentation, such as an interagency agreement, a memorandum of understanding or a letter of cooperation that demonstrates commitment from each member jurisdiction of the consortium.

States with tribal jurisdictions within their borders

• States may apply to support efforts of local or state units of government, or P.L. 280 tribes,2 to develop or enhance their sex offender registration and notification functions that pertain to tribal nations that have had their SORNA functions delegated to the state.

• State jurisdictions that include P.L. 280 tribes are encouraged to specifically address the unique needs of the tribes in any project design for SORNA implementation as it relates to these tribes.

• State jurisdictions that have tribal SORNA jurisdictions within their borders may apply for funding to enhance their collaboration with tribes, including enhancing information sharing such as tribal access to the National Crime Information Center, National Sex Offender Registry. An application to fund a collaborative approach or project must include supporting documentation, such as an interagency agreement, a memorandum of understanding or a letter of cooperation, which demonstrates the collaborative endeavor from each SORNA jurisdiction involved in the collaboration.

As in prior fiscal years, jurisdictions may elect to subaward to a political subdivision or unit of local government in their application, if that subaward is in keeping with the jurisdiction’s overall implementation strategy. Note, however, that it is the jurisdiction’s responsibility to ensure that the subaward(s) in question do not duplicate any request submitted by these entities under Purpose Area 2, below.

PURPOSE AREA 2: Support for SORNA Implementation in Counties

COMPETITION ID: SMART-2019-15630

Applications are solicited from eligible entities that seek to improve sex offender registration, address verification activities and assure sex offender registry official safety, at the county level in states that have substantially implemented SORNA. (See SMART.gov to confirm state implementation status.)

Strategies proposed under Purpose Area 2 may address the issues described in Purpose Area 1 of this solicitation. However, in order to be considered for an award under Purpose Area 2, applicants must clearly identify how the proposed project will directly address county-level efforts to accomplish SORNA implementation, but will not duplicate or conflict with any ongoing SORNA activities at the state level.

Applicants may propose specific strategies and projects to develop or enhance jurisdiction-wide SORNA implementation including the following:

• Enhance registration verification strategies, collaborate with other county law enforcement and other agencies on absconder investigations and expand community education and prevention programs related to sex offender registration, 2 Public Law 83-280 (PL 280) delegated to certain named states criminal and civil jurisdiction on reservations within those states’ boundaries. The following states are mandatory PL-280: Alaska, California, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon and Wisconsin. (See 18 U.S.C. 1162) Another nine states have “opted-in,” but not all tribes in those states have consented to delegation.

notification or management.

• Implement records management projects, such as converting paper documents to digital format as required by SORNA.

• Develop or enhance information sharing between the county’s sex offender registry and other entities in the county (such as jail facilities, motor vehicle departments) to improve the accuracy of information about registered sex offenders.

• Develop and implement registration location and officer safety protocols.

• Foster communication/assistance to neighboring Indian tribes who require and request sex offender registration assistance.

Purchases of proprietary software at the county level are not allowable costs unless written documentation is submitted to and approved by the SMART Office demonstrating that (1) there was coordination at both the state and county levels to identify software that is interoperable with the state-wide software system; and (2) no-cost software furnished by the government is inadequate.

Applicants must include in the application package a letter of support from the state registering agency confirming that proposed county-level efforts will not be duplicative of, or conflict with, any ongoing SORNA activities at the state level.

PURPOSE AREA 3: Support for Implementation and Integration of the Sex Offender Registry Tool (SORT)

COMPETITION ID: SMART-2019-15631

Applications are solicited from eligible applicants that choose to utilize the SMART-developed Sex Offender Registry Tool (SORT) as their sex offender registry system and have associated costs related to the implementation and integration of SORT. Applicants must either currently be using SORT or plan to do so if selected for this award.

SORNA directs the Attorney General to develop and support registry management and website software to assist jurisdictions in fulfilling information sharing and community notification requirements. SMART developed and made SORT available to states and territories for the operation of their sex offender registration and notification programs, which automates these processes and enables jurisdictions to implement SORNA’s information collection and sharing requirements by utilizing the software. SORNA implementation requires jurisdictions to use current electronic and cyber technology to seamlessly track sex offenders who move from one jurisdiction to another, and to ensure that sex offender information is immediately made available to all applicable jurisdictions and, as appropriate, to the public.

SORT functions as the state-level administrative registry system and provides local registration agencies with their own customizable public sex offender registry website.

SORT is designed to enhance information-sharing capabilities and maximize efficiency and cost effectiveness of registry system setup and ongoing maintenance. See the SORT Fact Sheet for additional information.

Although SORT is available to states and territories at no cost, integrating SORT into a jurisdiction’s existing registry system may have associated costs that can include data migration, customization and integration into existing systems and tools.

https://smart.gov/pdfs/SORT_Fact_Sheet.pdf https://smart.gov/pdfs/SORT_Fact_Sheet.pdf

Examples of associated costs:

• Customization of SORT software to specific jurisdiction needs

• Integration with message switch systems and NCIC access

• Integration with live scans

• Data migration

• Third-party integration tools (e.g., data-mapping tool)

In order to receive funding under Purpose Area 3, applicants must detail how the proposed project will reduce the jurisdiction’s long-term costs in registry operation and maintenance.

Preference will be provided to applicants that demonstrate long-term solutions and cost saving strategies and sustainability.

Additional Information Required State and territory applicants that are penalized for failing to substantially implement SORNA and that recently received or are expected to receive Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) SORNA reallocation funding should describe how the proposed project complements the work that the jurisdiction plans to perform with that reallocation funding. Applicants should ensure that the proposed project involves activities that are separate from or complement the tasks being performed with the SORNA reallocation funding, so as to avoid receiving duplicate funds for the same activity.

The Goals, Objectives and Deliverables are directly related to the performance measures that demonstrate the results of the work completed, as discussed in Section D. Application and Submission Information, under Program Narrative.

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; and

• 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.

OJP’s 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.

http://www.crimesolutions.gov/

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.

Encouraging Program Investments in Economically Distressed Communities (Qualified Opportunity Zones) Under this program, OJP will, as appropriate, give priority consideration in award decisions to applications that propose projects that directly benefit federally designated Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZ). In order to assist OJP in considering this factor, applicants should include information in the application that specifies how the project will enhance public safety in the specified QOZs. For resources on QOZs, and for a current list of designated QOZs, see the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s resource webpage, accessible at https://www.cdfifund.gov/pages/opportunity-zones.aspx.

B. Federal Award Information The SMART Office expects to make the following awards:

Purpose Area 1 – up to 30 awards of up to $400,000 each

Purpose Area 2 – up to 28 awards of up to $150,000 each

Purpose Area 3 – up to 5 awards of up to $1 million each.

The SMART Office expects to make awards for a 36-month period of performance, with a start date of October 1, 2019.

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

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Award recipients and subrecipients (including recipients or subrecipients that are pass-through entities3) must, as described in the Part 200 Uniform Requirements4 as set out at 2 C.F.R.

200.303:

(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that [the recipient (and any subrecipient)] is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in “Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government” issued by the Comptroller General of the United States and the “Internal Control Integrated Framework,” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

(b) Comply with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal awards.

(c) Evaluate and monitor [the recipient’s (and any subrecipient’s)] compliance with statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of Federal awards.

(d) Take prompt action when instances of noncompliance are identified including noncompliance identified in audit findings.

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

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. (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 should be aware that the SMART Office has developed information technology resources that have been made available to all SORNA jurisdictions for the purpose of meeting requirements of participation in the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website. These resources include software such as mapping technology, geographic radius and email address search applications and community notification and email notification applications. Additionally, 3 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.

4 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.

https://ojpfgm.webfirst.com/ https://ojpfgm.webfirst.com/ https://ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/FinancialCapability.pdf the SMART Office provides the Tribe and Territory Sex Offender Registry System (TTSORS) free of charge to tribes and territories. TTSORS assists the tribes and territories with implementing SORNA registry system requirements. It functions as the administrative registry system and as the public sex offender registry website system for jurisdictions. See the TTSORS Fact Sheet for additional information. It is recommended that applicants avoid proposals that include similar software expenditures.

Software may be purchased with funding under this solicitation if there is a proven and justifiable need. Allowable software purchases include software needed by the jurisdiction to support kiosks or facilitate information sharing between a jurisdiction’s sex offender registry and other law enforcement-operated electronic systems or databases and sex offender tracking systems within the jurisdiction (including local law enforcement), software that facilitates sex offender tracking and management throughout the jurisdiction and software or technical assistance necessary to facilitate use of SMART-provided software resources.

Applicant proposals may include the purchase of equipment for items such as digital fingerprint and palm print equipment, scanners to transfer existing records and documents into a digital format, computer hardware and DNA collection equipment.5 It is expected that, in this grants cycle and in future years, Adam Walsh Act implementation funding will be increasingly used for implementation activities other than the purchase of equipment, given the widespread automation of law enforcement records systems since the enactment of SORNA.

Grant funds to tribes can be used to purchase an electronic scanner or live scan device for scanning finger and palm prints for upload to the FBI Next Generation Identification system.

However, tribes will typically have to coordinate with the state in which they are located in order to connect to those federal databases.6 NOTE: A tribe can purchase a scanner without working with the state, but if no connection is established, the tribe will have to print the scanned prints and mail them to the FBI using FBI-provided mailers. Information on this process is available on the SMART Office website.

States will need to agree to accept and facilitate a connection to a tribe that wishes to use such devices for the upload. Further, states will need to provide to the tribe information on what hardware or device will interface with their system. Tribal applicants must document either 1) how the transmission of data will be made directly to the FBI, or 2) how data will be transmitted through the state, including any MOUs or other agreements.

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.

5 Tribes that propose to utilize grant funds to support the collection, storage and submission of DNA must document that costs are necessary and verifiable. Examples of verified and validated costs include fees that a state or its political subdivision charges the tribe for collection, storage or submission of DNA. Please note that contracting with a private lab does not facilitate submission of DNA to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), and thus does not meet SORNA requirements. As a result, private lab fees are considered unallowable costs. The FBI Laboratory permits SORNA tribes to receive free DNA collection kits, and the FBI Laboratory analyzes the kits and enters the data into CODIS for free. Please contact the SMART Office for additional information about utilizing this service.

6 This process may change in the future with further expansion of the Department’s Tribal Access Program.

http://www.smart.gov/pdfs/TTSORSFactSheet.pdf http://www.smart.gov/

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 for more information.

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

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://ojp.gov/financialguide/DOJ/index.htm 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 https://www.ojp.gov/financialguide/DOJ/PostawardRequirements/chapter3.10a.htm conference, meeting and training costs for cooperative agreement recipients, as well as some conference, meeting and training costs for grant recipients; and (3) set cost limits, which include a general prohibition of all food and beverage costs.

Costs Associated with Language Assistance (if applicable) If an applicant proposes a program or activity that would deliver services or benefits to individuals, the costs of taking reasonable steps to provide meaningful access to those services or benefits for individuals with limited English proficiency may be allowable. Reasonable steps to provide meaningful access to services or benefits may include interpretation or translation services, where appropriate.

For additional information, see the Civil Rights Compliance section under Overview of Legal Requirements Generally Applicable to OJP Grants and Cooperative Agreements - FY 2018 Awards in the OJP Funding Resource Center.

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 the SMART Office has designated to be critical, will neither proceed to peer review, nor receive further consideration. For this solicitation, the SMART Office has designated the following application elements as critical: Program Narrative, Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative, Plan for Sustainability and requested funding amount does not exceed the maximum amount allowable.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Intergovernmental Review: This solicitation ("funding opportunity") is not subject to Executive Order 12372. (In completing the SF-424, an applicant is to answer question 19 by selecting the response that the “Program is not covered by E.O. 12372.”)

2. Project Abstract Applications should include a high-quality project abstract that summarizes the primary activities of the proposed project and describe the jurisdiction’s current SORNA implementation status 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; and

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

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

3. Program Narrative The program narrative should respond to the solicitation and present a detailed description of the purpose, scope, goals and objectives of the proposed project. The program narrative should be double-spaced, using a standard 12-point font (Times New Roman is preferred) with 1-inch margins, and should not exceed 25 pages. Please number pages “1 of 25,” “2 of 25,” etc. Submissions that do not adhere to the format will be deemed ineligible. Information required under the “Budget and Budget Narrative” and “Other Attachments” sections will not count toward the program narrative page count.

If the program narrative fails to comply with these length-related restrictions, the SMART Office may consider such noncompliance in peer review and in final award decisions.

The following sections should be included as part of the program narrative:8

a. Description of the Issue

Applicants should describe the challenges that the jurisdiction faces in implementing or maintaining ongoing compliance with SORNA and the strategy for addressing those challenges, if grant funds are awarded. Applicants should describe steps taken to assess and analyze their current sex offender registration and notification systems in relation to SORNA implementation or ongoing compliance.

b. Project Design and Implementation

Applicants should detail how the project will operate during the funding period and describe the strategy that will be used to implement the proposed project. This section should illustrate what activities are proposed for the project and describe how the strategy will support the goals and objectives.

For Purpose Area 1: SORNA Implementation Plan (for jurisdictions that have not already implemented SORNA): Discussion of a jurisdiction’s planned activities should include information regarding the jurisdiction’s SORNA implementation plan. The plan should include a list of involved individuals/entities and their responsibility regarding SORNA implementation. It is expected that successful grantees will report on their jurisdiction’s SORNA implementation progress in their quarterly progress reports.

This requirement does not apply to jurisdictions that have already been found to be substantially implementing SORNA.

c. Capabilities and Competencies This section should describe the experience and capability of the applicant and any proposed subrecipients…