Solicitation for a Cooperative Agreement: Document-Inmate Behavior Management: Keeping Inmates Productively Occupied, 45248-45250 [E8-17729]

Agencies

• Department of Justice
• National Institute of Corrections

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 150 (Monday, August 4, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45248-45250]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-17729]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

National Institute of Corrections


Solicitation for a Cooperative Agreement: Document--Inmate 
Behavior Management: Keeping Inmates Productively Occupied

AGENCY: National Institute of Corrections, Department of Justice.

ACTION: Solicitation for a Cooperative Agreement.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Corrections, Jails Division, is 
seeking applications for the development of a document that provides 
jail practitioners with a guide on developing and implementing programs 
and activities for jail inmates, as part of an overall strategy to 
manage inmate behavior.

DATES: Applications must be received by 4 p.m. EDT, Friday, August 15, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: Mailed applications must be sent to: Director, National 
Institute of Corrections, 320 First Street, NW., Room 5007, Washington, 
DC 20534. Applicants are encouraged to use Federal Express, UPS, or 
similar service to ensure delivery by the due date.
    Hand delivered applications should be brought to 500 First Street, 
NW., Washington, DC 20534. At the front desk, dial 7-3106, ext. 0 for 
pickup. Faxed or e-mailed applications will not be accepted. Electronic 
applications can be submitted via https://www.grants.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A copy of this announcement and the 
required application forms can be downloaded from the NIC Web page at 
https://www.nicic.gov. Hard copies of the announcement can be obtained 
by calling Pam Davison at 1-800-995-6423 ext. 30484 or e-mail 
pdavison@bop.gov.
    All technical or programmatic questions concerning this 
announcement should be directed to Robbye Braxton-Mintz, Correctional 
Program Specialist, National Institute of Corrections, Jails Division. 
Ms. Mintz can be reached on 1-800-995-6423 ext. 44562 or by e-mail at 
rbraxtonmintz@bop.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background: The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) has 
identified six key elements in the effective management of inmate 
behavior in jails:
    Assessing the risks and needs of each inmate at various points 
during his/her detention;
    Assigning inmates to appropriate housing;
    Meeting inmates' basic needs;
    Defining and conveying expectations for inmate behavior;
    Supervising inmates;
    Keeping inmates productively occupied.
    If a jail fully and properly implements all six elements, it should 
experience a significant reduction in the negative inmate behavior 
often experienced in jails, such as vandalism, violence, rule 
violations, and disrespectful behavior toward staff and other inmates.
    The NIC Jails Division offers training and technical assistance on 
inmate behavior management, but wishes to develop additional tools that 
will help jails implement the individual elements.
    Objectives: The National Institute of Corrections wishes to produce 
a document that gives jail practitioners guidance on how to develop and 
implement inmate activities and programs, as part of the overall inmate 
behavior management strategy.
    Statement of Work: General Information.
    Document Length: The number of pages in the body is to be 
determined. The document will include appendices and a bibliography.
    Document Audience: Jail administrators and program management 
staff. This guide is intended for use by jails of all sizes.
    Use of Document: The document will be a practical guide for 
developing and implementing inmate activities and programs in a jail 
setting, as part of the overall inmate behavior management strategy.
    Document Distribution: NIC expects to distribute the document 
widely. It will be made available on the NIC Web site and through the 
NIC Information Center, upon request and free of charge.
    Document Content: The document will be a clear and practical guide 
for jail practitioners on developing, implementing, and evaluating 
inmate activities and programs in jails, within the context of inmate 
behavior management. It must account for diversity among jails, in 
terms of size and resources available.
    The document will cover the following, at a minimum:
    The benefits of implementing inmate activities and programs in 
jails related to reducing idle time and negative behavior. The document 
must cite the available evidence of the relationship between inmate 
activities and programs and the reduction of negative inmate behavior. 
This will involve identifying research on this topic and contact with a 
variety of jails to obtain information on their experience. In some 
cases, studies may be available. In other cases, only anecdotal 
evidence may be given. The author will identify, review, and cite both 
types of evidence.
    The role of jail administration and management staff in providing 
leadership and support for reducing negative inmate behavior through 
implementation of activities and programs. The author will stress the 
importance of the jail administrator's demonstrated commitment to this 
and provide concrete examples of how the administrator can actively 
demonstrate commitment.
    Determination of need for inmate activities and programs. The 
document will discuss needs in two primary areas. The first area 
focuses on the needs of the jail regarding reduction of negative inmate 
behavior. The document will explain the collection and analysis of data 
on the types and frequency of inmate misbehavior and the relationship 
between misbehavior and lack of productive activities for inmates. The

[[Page 45249]]

second area focuses on determining the needs of inmates as a basis for 
designing programs such as anger management, life skills, pro-social 
skills, substance abuse, education, physical fitness, and other. The 
document will explain how to collect and analyze data to identify 
trends in the needs of the inmate population, with reference to the 
first element of inmate behavior--``assessing the risks and needs of 
each inmate.''
    Goal setting. The document will describe how to set measurable 
goals for inmate activities and programs related to both areas of need 
noted above. The document will describe a process for setting realistic 
goals that can be measured, determining time frames for measuring goal 
achievement, and devising methods of measuring goal achievement.
    Planning, designing, and implementing activities and programs. The 
document will describe considerations in planning, designing, and 
implementing programs that will contribute to achieving goals related 
to reduction of negative inmate behavior and meeting inmates' needs. 
This will include consideration of goals, identification of the inmate 
populations targeted, funding required, space and equipment needs, 
staffing needs (whether staff or volunteers), and the specific tasks 
and timelines required for implementation. It will also include a 
discussion of commonly encountered barriers to planning and 
implementing activities and programs--such as those related to 
resources, staff support, administrative commitment, and suggest 
strategies for overcoming the barriers, with examples from jails that 
have experienced this. Finally, the document will stress the importance 
of documenting activities and programs, with specific suggestions on 
the documentation necessary to evaluate both the quality of 
implementation and progress in achieving goals.
    An overview of the range and types of inmate activities and 
programs that may be developed to reduce negative inmate behavior and 
meet inmates' needs. The document will provide examples of activities 
and programs that range from no-cost to high-cost and from simple to 
complex. It will also note, for example, the types of staff (jail 
staff, volunteers, non-jail personnel) that are necessary to implement 
the activities and programs. It is important that the document clearly 
convey that the jail has a variety of options that are no to low-cost 
and that some level of productive activities and programs can be 
implemented in any jail, regardless of size or resource levels. The 
document will also describe potential resources the jail can draw upon 
in implementing activities and programs.
    Evaluation of activities and programs (assessing both the quality 
of implementation and success in achieving goals). The document will 
describe the data collection and analysis necessary for evaluation, and 
it will describe evaluation processes.
    Revision of activities and programs based on evaluation Project 
Description: The awardee will produce a completed document that has 
received initial editing from a professional editor. NIC will be 
responsible for the final editing process and document design, but the 
awardee will remain available during this time to answer questions and 
to make revisions to the document.
    Project Schedule: The list below shows the major activities 
required to complete the project. Document development will begin upon 
award of this agreement and must be completed 12 months after the award 
date. The schedule for completion of activities should include, at a 
minimum, the following activities. The awardee will:
    Meet with NIC project manager for an overview of the project and 
initial planning;
    Review materials provided by NIC;
    Complete the initial outline of document content and layout;
    Meet with NIC project manager to review, discuss and agree on 
content outline;
    Research content topics and related resources;
    Submit draft sections of document to NIC for review;
    Revise draft sections for NIC's approval;
    Submit document to editor hired by awardee for first content edit;
    Submit a draft of entire document to NIC for review;
    Revise document for NIC's approval; and
    Submit document to NIC in hard copy and on disk in Microsoft Word 
format.
    Throughout the project period, the awardee should make provision 
for meetings with NIC staff, to be held in Washington, DC, at critical 
planning and review points in document development.
    Document Preparation: For all awards in which a document will be a 
deliverable, the awardee must follow the Guidelines for Preparing and 
Submitting Manuscripts for Publication as found in the ``General 
Guidelines for Cooperative Agreements'' which will be included in the 
award package.
    Application Requirements: An application package must include OMB 
Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance; a cover letter 
that identifies the audit agency responsible for the applicant's 
financial accounts as well as the audit period or fiscal year that the 
applicant operates under (e.g., July 1 through June 30); and an outline 
of projected costs. The following additional forms must also be 
included: OMB Standard Form 424A, Budget Information--Non-Construction 
Programs; OMB Standard Form 424B, Assurances--Non-Construction Programs 
(both available at https://www.grants.gov) and DOJ/NIC Certification 
Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility 
Matters; and the Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (available at https://
www.nicic.gov/Downloads/PDF/certif-frm.pdf).
    Applications should be concisely written, typed double spaced and 
reference the NIC Application Number and Title provided in this 
announcement.
    Submit an original and three copies of your full proposal (program 
and budget narrative, application forms and assurances). The original 
should have the applicant's signature in blue ink. As previously 
stated, electronic submissions will only be accepted via 
www.grants.gov.
    The narrative portion of the application should include, at a 
minimum, a:
    Brief paragraph indicating the applicants' understanding of the 
purpose of the document and the issues to be addressed;
    Brief paragraph that summaries the project goals and objectives;
    Clear description of the methodology that will be used to complete 
the project and achieve its goals;
    Statement or chart of measurable project milestones and time lines 
for the completion of each milestone;
    Description of the qualifications of the applicant organization and 
a resume for the principal and each staff member assigned to the 
project that documents relevant knowledge, skills and ability to carry 
out the project;
    Minimum of three references for which the applicant has provided a 
similar service;
    Budget that details all costs for the project, shows consideration 
for all contingencies for this project, and notes a commitment to work 
within the proposed budget; and
    Sample of a least one document completed by the applicant.
    The applicant must specify its role in the production of the sample 
document(s).

    Authority: Public Law 93-415.

    Funds Available: NIC is seeking the applicants' best ideas 
regarding

[[Page 45250]]

accomplishment of the scope of work and the related costs for achieving 
the goals of this solicitation. The final budget and award amount will 
be negotiated between NIC and the successful applicant. Funds may only 
be used for the activities that are linked to the desired outcome of 
the project.
    Eligibility of Applicants: Applications are solicited from any 
state or general unit of local government, private agency, educational 
institution, organization, individual or team with expertise in the 
described areas. Applicants must have a demonstrated ability to 
implement a project of this size and scope.
    Review Considerations: Applications will be reviewed by a team of 
NIC staff. Among the criteria used to evaluate the applications are:
    Indication of a clear understanding of the project requirements;
    Background, experience, and expertise of the proposed project 
staff, including any sub-contractors;
    Effectiveness of the creative approach to the project;
    Clear, concise description of all elements and tasks of the 
project, with sufficient and realistic time frames necessary to 
complete the tasks;
    Technical soundness of project design and methodology;
    Financial and administrative integrity of the proposal, including 
adherence to federal financial guidelines and processes;
    A sufficiently detailed budget that shows consideration of all 
contingencies for this project and commitment to work within the budget 
proposed; and
    Indication of availability to meet with NIC staff.
    Number of Awards: One.
    NIC Application Number: 08J66.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 16.601.
    Executive Order 12372: This project is not subject to the 
provisions of Executive Order 12372.

Thomas J. Beauclair,
Deputy Director, National Institute of Corrections.
[FR Doc. E8-17729 Filed 8-1-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-36-P