Facilitator Training for Victim Offender Dialogue
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- 26PR08
- Agency
-
Bureau of Prisons
Department of Justice
- Applications due
- Award size
- Up to $100,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Cooperative Agreement
- Category
-
- Other
- Eligible applicants
- Not on record
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The National Institute of Corrections (NIC), operating under the Department of Justice Bureau of Prisons, seeks qualified providers to develop and deliver two blended facilitated dialogue training courses for victim offender dialogue (VOD) facilitators serving state correctional agencies. The primary deliverables include one basic training course comprising approximately 18 hours of virtual instruction and 32 hours of in-person instruction for 26 participants, and one advanced training focused on sexual assault cases consisting of 3 hours of virtual and 24 hours of in-person instruction for 26 participants. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, for-profit entities, and institutions of higher education (including tribal entities), all of which must possess 501(c)(3) status or tribal authorization; for-profit recipients must waive any profit or fee for services. Key requirements include hiring and compensating six instructors per course, developing participant materials in both print and electronic formats, coordinating all logistics, and collaborating with NIC IT staff and social science researchers on evaluation activities. The awardee must submit quarterly progress reports and comply with NIC approval processes for subject matter experts, curriculum materials, and training dates. Applications are due April 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time via Grants.gov, with an anticipated award date of May 8, 2026.
This solicitation offers a single award of $100,000 for a 12-month project period, with the basic training scheduled for June 2026 and the advanced training for July 2026. Both courses will be conducted at the National Corrections Academy in Aurora, Colorado, with NIC providing all participant travel expenses and maintaining significant operational oversight throughout the project. Applicants must submit complete applications including SF-424 forms, project abstracts, 30-page program narratives, detailed budgets, logic models, timelines, personnel resumes, accessibility conformance reports (VPAT), and disclosure statements regarding pending applications and high-risk status.
Synopsis
The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) has a long history of developing and delivering post-conviction victim service resources to support Victim Services Coordinators across the 50 state departments of correction. These coordinators manage a wide range of responsibilities, many of which are mandated by state constitutions, statutes, or administrative rules. One such responsibility is providing opportunities for victims/survivors-or their family members-to meet with the individual who committed the crime. These interactions, often called Victim Offender Dialogue (VOD), allow victims to share how the crime has impacted their lives and to ask questions that may never have been addressed. Because these interactions are highly sensitive, they must be facilitated by specially trained professionals to ensure the best possible outcome for all parties. Across the United States, this service is referred to by several terms, including Victim Offender Dialogue (VOD), Victim Offender Mediation (VOM), Victim Offender Mediation/Dialogue (VOMD), and Facilitated Dialogue. Currently, at least 26 states either operate or are required to operate a victim offender dialogue program. However, very few have formalized facilitator training programs, and most lack the dedicated funding needed to establish one. Many rely on a
mix of staff and volunteers-or on volunteers exclusively-making it essential that training opportunities be provided regularly as personnel and volunteers cycle out. NIC is committed to strengthening the field of corrections by ensuring that agencies are equipped with the training, tools, and resources necessary to deliver post-conviction victim services effectively. Through this solicitation, NIC seeks a provider to deliver:
• One blended basic training for new facilitators of victim-offender dialogue.
• One blended advanced training focused on cases involving sexual assault.
Together, these training courses will expand the capacity of state correctional agencies to meet victims' needs, foster healing, and enable victims to actively participate in repairing the harm caused to them.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| NIC Style Guide.pdf | ||
| 26PR08 - Victim Offender Dialogue FINAL.pdf |
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