Solicitation for a Cooperative Agreement-New Jail Planning Initiative: Review and Revision, 29268-29271 [2011-12455]
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Paris, FRANCE, has withdrawn as a
party to this venture.
No other changes have been made in
either the membership or planned
activity of the group research project.
Membership in this group research
project remains open, and CMX intends
to file additional written notifications
disclosing all changes in membership.
On March 12, 2010, CMX filed its
original notification pursuant to Section
6(a) of the Act. The Department of
Justice published a notice in the Federal
Register pursuant to Section 6(b) of the
Act on April 16, 2010 (75 FR 20003).
The last notification was filed with
the Department on February 8, 2011. A
notice was published in the Federal
Register pursuant to Section 6(b) of the
Act on March 25, 2011 (76 FR 16819).
Patricia A. Brink,
Director of Civil Enforcement, Antitrust
Division.
[FR Doc. 2011–12241 Filed 5–19–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410–11–M
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
National Institute of Corrections
Solicitation for a Cooperative
Agreement—New Jail Planning
Initiative: Review and Revision
National Institute of
Corrections, U.S. Department of Justice.
ACTION: Solicitation for a Cooperative
Agreement.
AGENCY:
The National Institute of
Corrections (NIC) Jails Division is
seeking applications for the revision of
its services related to new jail planning.
The project will be for an 18-month
period and will be carried out in
conjunction with the NIC Jails Division.
The awardee will work closely with NIC
staff on all aspects of the project. To be
considered, applicants must
demonstrate, at a minimum: (1) In-depth
knowledge of the purpose, functions,
and operational complexities of local
jails, (2) extensive experience in the
roles of architect and planner in the
new-jail planning process, as taught by
NIC (see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION),
and (3) expertise and experience in
developing curricula based on adult
learning principles, specifically the
Instructional Theory Into Practice (ITIP)
model.
DATES: Applications must be received
by 4 p.m. (EDT) on Friday, June 10,
2011.
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SUMMARY:
Mailed applications must be
sent to: Director, National Institute of
Corrections, 320 First Street, NW., Room
ADDRESSES:
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5002, Washington, DC 20534.
Applicants are encouraged to use
Federal Express, UPS, or similar service
to ensure delivery by the due date as
mail at NIC is sometimes delayed due to
security screening.
Applicants who wish to hand-deliver
their applications should bring them to
500 First Street, NW., Washington, DC
20534, and dial 202–307–3106, ext. 0, at
the front desk for pickup.
Faxed or e-mailed applications will
not be accepted; however, electronic
applications can be submitted via
https://www.grants.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A
copy of this announcement and links to
the required application forms can be
downloaded from the NIC Web site at
https://www.nicic.gov/
cooperativeagreements.
Questions about this project and the
application procedures should be
directed to Mike Jackson, Correctional
Program Specialist, National Institute of
Corrections. Questions must be sent via
e-mail to Mr. Jackson at
mpjackson@bop.gov. Mr. Jackson will
respond via e-mail to the individual.
Also, all questions and responses will
be posted on NIC’s Web site at https://
www.nicic.gov for public review. (The
names of those submitting the questions
will not be posted).The Web site will be
updated regularly and postings will
remain on the Web site until the closing
date of this cooperative agreement
solicitation.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: The NIC Jails Division
offers technical assistance, training, and
information on new jail planning to
local jurisdictions nationwide. These
services cover the full range of activities
related to new jail planning, from
exploration of the need for a new jail to
the decision to build through design,
construction, and occupation of the new
facility.
Based on a recent review of these
services, NIC intends to revise its
training and technical assistance to
ensure it most effectively meets the
needs of local jurisdictions considering
building a new jail.
NIC’s training and technical
assistance on new jail planning
currently includes:
Jail and Justice System Assessment—
This is a 3-day onsite technical
assistance event for individual
jurisdictions that are considering
renovating an existing jail or
constructing a new one because their
jail is crowded or in poor condition.
Assessment activities include a review
of the current jail and interviews with
local criminal justice system officials on
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policies and practices that affect the jail
population. This assistance results in
recommendations for local officials
about possible improvements they can
make to the existing jail, construction of
jail beds, and ways in which criminal
justice system practices might be
modified to alleviate jail crowding.
Planning of New Institutions—This 4day training program conducted at NIC’s
training center in Colorado is for
jurisdictions that have made the
commitment to build a new jail or
renovate an old one. It focuses on the
critical elements of planning a new
facility, including collecting and using
data, pre-architectural programming,
site evaluation, project management,
and determining staffing needs. The
program stresses the importance of indepth planning before starting facility
design and the need for the owners and
operators of the new jail to maintain
control of the planning process.
Managing Jail Design and
Construction—This 4-day training
program conducted at NIC’s training
center in Colorado is for jurisdictions
that are ready to begin designing a new
jail. It targets three-person jurisdictional
teams whose members have key
decision-making roles in the project.
These teams may include the sheriff, the
jail administrator, the project manager,
transition team leader, or other assigned
staff member. The program introduces
participants to project management and
clarifies the roles and responsibilities of
those who develop, design, and
construct new facilities. Through a
variety of exercises, the program guides
participants in understanding how the
nuances of jail operations must be
translated into design. Jurisdictional
teams learn how to read and interpret
facility planning documents, manage
changes during construction, and
develop a design and construction plan
that meets their needs.
How to Open a New Institution—This
training program is delivered onsite for
individual jurisdictions that are within
12–18 months of opening a new jail. It
is designed for the transition team—
those staff charged with planning the
details of the day-to-day operations of
the new facility and the transition into
that facility. Training is provided on the
function of the jail’s mission statement;
development of operational scenarios,
policies, procedures, and post orders;
move logistics; staff training issues;
budgeting for transition; and
development of an action plan for
transition.
The cooperative agreement awardee
will complete revisions to all four of
these services, ensuring that information
about new jail planning is consistent
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both with the NIC model and across all
four services.
Scope of Work
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Revisions to the Jail and Justice System
Assessment
Currently, NIC service providers
collect a variety of information about
the local jurisdiction’s criminal justice
system by gathering data, reviewing the
jail, and interviewing key criminal
justice system officials. In the revised
Jail and Justice System Assessment, NIC
service providers will no longer collect
data or interview criminal justice
officials about system practices. Instead,
the service providers will help local
officials understand the importance of
making a well-informed decision
regarding the need for a new jail; the
role information plays in decisionmaking; the need to explore local
criminal justice system policies and
practices, and how they affect the
average daily population and length of
stay; and non-jail options for arrestees
and offenders.
Service providers will also give an
overview of the new jail planning
process, stressing the importance of
planning and the need for the jail’s
owners and operators to direct the
planning process. In addition, they will
review the jail, but only briefly and only
as it relates to (1) the condition of the
physical plant, (2) major operational
challenges posed by the physical plant,
and (3) crowding. The revised Jail and
Justice System Assessment will be a 2day technical assistance event
conducted onsite in the requesting
jurisdiction.
To accomplish these revisions, the
awardee will identify pre-service
information that the jurisdiction must
supply to NIC; develop a form that the
jurisdiction will use to record the
requested information; identify the
elements of the jail review; develop a
guide and checklist for the jail review;
develop a presentation guide, with
presentation slides and participant
handouts, on how to determine the need
for a new jail, non-jail options, and the
new jail planning process; conduct and
assess one pilot of the revised Jail and
Justice System Assessment; revise the
Jail and Justice System Assessment and
related materials as indicated by the
assessment of the pilot.
NIC Review: All draft materials must
be sent to NIC for review and approval
before they are piloted and again before
they are submitted as a final product.
NIC Reviews: The awardee will
deliver the pre-service information
form, the jail review guide and
checklist, the presentation guide, and
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related materials in hard copy (1) and
on disk. The awardee must also ensure
that all products meet NIC’s standards
for accessibility and Section 508
compliance.
Revisions to the Planning of New
Institutions Training Program
Much of the basic content in this
program will not be changed. However,
some information will be added and this
is likely to result in some new modules.
NIC will add information on ‘‘green’’
facilities and Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED)
certification; keeping up the new jail
planning momentum in the face of
political and personnel changes;
planning to ensure the jail has resources
to support intended operations over the
long term; and the importance of the
transition process and the role of the
transition team.
Although most of the program’s
content remains relevant, the program
must be reviewed in its entirety to
ensure effective sequencing, timing, and
consistency of information among
modules. Also, all lesson plans and
other curriculum components must be
redesigned to conform to the
Instructional Theory into Practice model
of training for adult learners. This will
require significant revision. All lesson
plans, all sections of the participant
manual, and all presentation slides must
be consistent in format, voice, and level
of detail. All materials must have a
professional appearance in accordance
with the style and design direction
provided by NIC.
The project director and the
curriculum specialist must attend the
current PONI program scheduled for
August 22–25, 2011 in Aurora, Colorado
to gain insight into the program.
Revisions to this program should be
ready to pilot during the first year of the
cooperative agreement. Both the project
director and the curriculum specialist
must attend this program. The awardee
will then refine the program and related
materials based on the assessment of the
pilot.
NIC Reviews: All draft materials must
be sent to NIC for review and approval
before they are piloted and again before
they are submitted as a final product.
Final Product: The final curriculum
will includea program description
(overview); detailed narrative lesson
plans; presentation slides for each
lesson plan; a participant manual that
follows the lesson plans; and other
training materials as identified through
this project. The curriculum will be
designed according to the Instructional
Theory Into Practice model for adult
learners. Lesson plans will be in a
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format that NIC provides. The awardee
will deliver all materials in hard copy
(1) and on a disk. The awardee must
also ensure that all products meet NIC’s
standards for accessibility and Section
508 compliance. Revisions to the
Managing Jail Design and Construction
training program:
This program will be redesigned for
onsite delivery to individual local
jurisdictions. The redesigned program
will be up to 3 days long and will not
include the 1-day jail tour that is part of
the current program.
Most of the content will remain the
same, however, the training materials
will need to be revised to reflect a
single-jurisdiction audience. Also, the
revised program must be reviewed in its
entirety to ensure effective sequencing,
timing, and consistency of information
among modules. All lesson plans and
other curriculum components must be
redesigned to conform to the
Instructional Theory into Practice model
of training for adult learners. This will
require significant revision. All lesson
plans, all sections of the participant
manual, and all presentation slides must
be consistent in format, level of detail,
and voice. All materials must have a
professional appearance in accordance
with the style and design direction
provided by NIC.
NIC Reviews: All draft materials must
be sent to NIC for review and approval
before they are piloted and again before
they are submitted as a final product.
Final Product: The final curriculum
will include a program description
(overview); detailed narrative lesson
plans; presentation slides for each
lesson plan; and a participant manual
that follows the lesson plans. The
curriculum will be designed according
to the Instructional Theory Into Practice
model for adult learners. Lesson plans
will be in a format that NIC provides.
The awardee will deliver all materials in
hard copy (1) and on a disk. The
awardee must also ensure that all
products meet NIC’s standards for
accessibility and Section 508
compliance. Revisions to the How to
Open a New Institution training
program:
This program will not be revised;
however, the awardee will develop one
brief lesson plan and related training
materials for one module on reading and
interpreting construction documents.
Meetings
The cooperative agreement awardee,
with subject matter experts and the
curriculum specialist, will attend an
initial meeting with the NIC staff for a
project overview and preliminary
planning. This will take place shortly
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after the cooperative agreement is
awarded and will be held in
Washington, DC. The meeting will last
up to two full days.
The awardee, with subject matter
experts and the curriculum specialist,
should also plan to meet with NIC staff
at least two more times during the
course of the project. These meetings
will last up to 2 days and may focus on
project development and updates. Only
one of these meetings will be held in
Washington, DC.
The awardee, with subject matter
experts, should plan to meet via WebEx
several times at key points during the
project for updates and project
development activities. NIC will host
these meetings, which will last up to
two hours. The meeting itself will be at
NIC’s expense, but fees for project staff
who attend the meeting will be charged
to the cooperative agreement.
Application Requirements: An
application package must include OMB
Standard Form 425, 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
under which the applicant operates
(e.g., July 1 through June 30); and an
outline of projected costs with the
budget and strategy narratives described
in this announcement. 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); DOJ/FBOP/NIC
Certification Regarding Lobbying,
Debarment, Suspension and Other
Responsibility Matters; and the DrugFree Workplace Requirements (available
at https://www.nicic.org/Downloads/
PDF/certif-frm.pdf.)
Applications should be concisely
written, typed double spaced, and
reference the NIC opportunity number
and title referenced in this
announcement. If you are hand
delivering or submitting via Fed-Ex,
please include an original and three
copies of your full proposal (program
and budget narrative, application forms,
assurances and other descriptions). The
original should have the applicant’s
signature in blue ink. Electronic
submissions will be accepted only via
https://www.grants.gov.
The narrative portion of the
application should include, at a
minimum, a brief paragraph indicating
the applicant’s understanding of the
project’s purpose; a brief paragraph that
summarizes the project goals and
objectives; a clear description of the
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methodology that will be used to
complete the project and achieve its
goals; a statement or chart of measurable
project milestones and timelines for the
completion of each milestone; a
description of the qualifications of the
applicant organization; a resume for the
principle and each staff member
assigned to the project (including
instructors) that documents relevant
knowledge, skills, and abilities to carry
out the project; and a budget that details
all costs for the project, shows
consideration for all contingencies for
the project, and notes a commitment to
work within the proposed budget.
The narrative portion of the
application should not exceed ten
double-spaced typewritten pages,
excluding attachments related to the
credentials and relevant experience of
staff.
In addition to the narrative and
attachments, the applicant must submit
two full sample curricula developed by
the primary curriculum developer
named in the application. For each
sample curriculum, the applicant must
submit lesson plans, presentation slides,
and a participant manual.
Authority: Public Law 93–415.
Funds Available: NIC is seeking the
applicant’s best ideas regarding
accomplishment of the scope of work
and the related costs for achieving the
goals of this solicitation. Funds may be
used only for the activities that are
linked to the desired outcome of the
project. The funding amount should not
exceed $300,000.
Eligibility of Applicants: An eligible
applicant is 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
demonstrated ability to implement a
project of this size and scope.
Review Considerations: Applications
will be subject to the NIC Review
Process. The criteria for the evaluation
of each application will be as follows:
Project Design and Management—30
Points
Is there a clear understanding of the
purpose of the project and the nature
and scope of project activities? Does the
applicant give a clear and complete
description of all work to be performed
for this project? Does the applicant
clearly describe a work plan, including
objectives, tasks, and milestones
necessary to project completion? Are the
objectives, tasks, and milestones
realistic and will they achieve the
project as described in NIC’s solicitation
for this cooperative agreement? Are the
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roles and the time required of project
staff clearly defined? Is the applicant
willing to meet with NIC staff, at a
minimum, as specified in the
solicitation for this cooperative
agreement?
Applicant Organization & Project Staff
Background—50 Points
Is there a description of the
background and expertise of all project
personnel as they relate to this project?
Is the applicant capable of managing
this project? Does the applicant have an
established reputation or skill that
makes the applicant particularly well
qualified for the project? Do primary
project personnel, individually or
collectively, have in-depth knowledge
of the purpose, functions, and
operational complexities of local jails?
Do the primary project personnel,
individually or collectively, have
expertise on the key elements in jail
administration? Do the primary project
personnel, individually or collectively,
have expertise and experience specified
in the SUMMARY section of this Request
for Proposal? Does the staffing plan
propose sufficient and realistic time
commitments from key personnel? Are
there written commitments from
proposed staff that they will be available
to work on the project as described in
the application?
Budget—20 Points
Does the application provide adequate
cost detail to support the proposed
budget? Are potential budget
contingencies included? Does the
application include a chart that aligns
the budget with project activities along
a timeline with, at a minimum,
quarterly benchmarks? In terms of
program value, is the estimated cost
reasonable in relation to work
performed and project products?
Sample Curricula—70 Points (35 Points
per Curriculum)
Does the sample curriculum include
all components specified in the RFP
(lesson plans, presentation slides, and
participant manual)? Are the lesson
plans designed according to the
Instructional Theory Into Practice
model? Does each lesson plan have
performance objectives that describe
what the participants will accomplish
during the module? Are the lesson plans
detailed, clear, and well written
(spelling, grammar, punctuation)? Is the
participant manual clear, and does it
follow the lesson plans? Do the
presentation slides effectively illustrate
information in the lesson plans? Do the
presentation slides have a professional
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appearance, and can they be easily read
from a distance of 30–40 feet?
Note: NIC will NOT award a cooperative
agreement to an applicant who does not have
a Dun and Bradstreet Database Universal
Number (DUNS) and is not registered in the
Central Contractor Registry (CCR). Applicants
can obtain a DUNS number at no cost by
calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS number
request line at 800–333–0505. Applicants
who are sole proprietors should dial 866–
705–5711 and select option #1.
Applicants may register in the CCR
online at the CCR Web site at https://
www.ccr.gov. Applicants can also
review a CCR handbook and worksheet
at this Web site.
Number of Awards: One
NIC Opportunity Number: 11JA03.
This number should appear as a
reference line in the cover letter, where
the opportunity number is requested on
Standard Form 424, and on the outside
of the envelope in which the application
is sent.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Number: 16.601.
Executive Order 12372: This project is
not subject to the provisions of the
executive order.
Morris L. Thigpen,
Director, National Institute of Corrections.
[FR Doc. 2011–12455 Filed 5–19–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410–36–P
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of the Secretary
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission for OMB
Review; Comment Request; Federal
Contractor Veterans’ Employment
Report
ACTION:
Notice.
The Department of Labor
(DOL) is submitting the Veterans’
Employment and Training Service
(VETS) sponsored information
collection request (ICR) titled, ‘‘Federal
Contractor Veterans’ Employment
Report,’’ Forms VETS–100 and VETS–
100A, to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) for review and approval
for continued use in accordance with
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of
1995 (Pub. L. 104–13, 44 U.S.C. chapter
35).
DATES: Submit comments on or before
June 20, 2011.
ADDRESSES: A copy of this ICR with
applicable supporting documentation;
including a description of the likely
respondents, proposed frequency of
response, and estimated total burden
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SUMMARY:
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may be obtained from the RegInfo.gov
Web site, https://www.reginfo.gov/
public/do/PRAMain, on the day
following publication of this notice or
by contacting Michel Smyth by
telephone at 202–693–4129 (this is not
a toll-free number) or sending an e-mail
to DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov.
Submit comments about this request
to the Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk
Officer for the Department of Labor,
Veterans’ Employment and Training
Service (VETS), Office of Management
and Budget, Room 10235, Washington,
DC 20503, Telephone: 202–395–6929/
Fax: 202–395–6881 (these are not tollfree numbers), e-mail:
OIRA_submission@omb.eop.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Contact Michel Smyth by telephone at
202–693–4129 (this is not a toll-free
number) or by e-mail at
DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment
Assistance Act of 1974 (VEVRAA), 38
U.S.C. 4212(d), requires Federal
contractors and subcontractors subject
to the Act’s affirmative action
provisions in 38 U.S.C. 4212(a) to track
and report annually to the Secretary of
Labor the number of employees in their
workforces, by job category and hiring
location, who belong to the specified
categories of covered veterans. The
VETS maintains two sets of regulations
to implement the reporting
requirements under the VEVRAA and
uses two different forms for providing
the required information on the
employment of covered veterans.
Regulations set forth in 41 CFR part
61–250 require contractors with a
government contract of $25,000 or more
entered into before December 1, 2003, to
use Form VETS–100 for reporting
information on the number of covered
veterans in their workforces.
Regulations set forth in 41 CFR part 61–
300 implement amendments to the
reporting requirements under the
VEVRAA made by the Jobs for Veterans
Act (JVA) (Pub. L. 107–288) enacted in
2002. The JVA amended the VEVRAA
by: (1) Increasing from $25,000 to
$100,000, the dollar amount of the
contract that subjects a Federal
contractor to the requirement to report
on veterans’ employment; and (2)
changing the categories of covered
veterans under the VEVRAA, and thus
the categories of veterans that
contractors are required to track and
report on annually. These latter
regulations require contractors with a
government contract entered into or
modified on or after December 1, 2003,
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in the amount of $100,000 or more to
use Form VETS–100A for reporting
information on their employment of
covered veterans under the VEVRAA.
This information collection is subject
to the PRA. A Federal agency generally
cannot conduct or sponsor a collection
of information, and the public is
generally not required to respond to an
information collection, unless it is
approved by the OMB under the PRA
and displays a currently valid OMB
Control Number. In addition,
notwithstanding any other provisions of
law, no person shall generally be subject
to penalty for failing to comply with a
collection of information if the
collection of information does not
display a valid OMB control number.
See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6. The
DOL obtains OMB approval for this
information collection under OMB
Control Number 1293–0005. The current
OMB approval is scheduled to expire on
May 31, 2011; however, it should be
noted that information collections
submitted to the OMB receive a monthto-month extension while they undergo
review. For additional information, see
the related notice published in the
Federal Register on January 13, 2011
(76 FR 2420).
Interested parties are encouraged to
send comments to the OMB, Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs at
the address shown in the ADDRESSES
section within 30 days of publication of
this notice in the Federal Register. In
order to help ensure appropriate
consideration, comments should
reference OMB Control Number 1293–
0005. The OMB is particularly
interested in comments that:
• Evaluate whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary
for the proper performance of the
functions of the agency, including
whether the information will have
practical utility;
• Evaluate the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information,
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used;
• Enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and
• Minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those who
are to respond, including through the
use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology,
e.g., permitting electronic submission of
responses.
Agency: Veterans’ Employment and
Training Service (VETS).
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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 98 (Friday, May 20, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29268-29271]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-12455]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
National Institute of Corrections
Solicitation for a Cooperative Agreement--New Jail Planning
Initiative: Review and Revision
AGENCY: National Institute of Corrections, U.S. Department of Justice.
ACTION: Solicitation for a Cooperative Agreement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) Jails Division is
seeking applications for the revision of its services related to new
jail planning. The project will be for an 18-month period and will be
carried out in conjunction with the NIC Jails Division. The awardee
will work closely with NIC staff on all aspects of the project. To be
considered, applicants must demonstrate, at a minimum: (1) In-depth
knowledge of the purpose, functions, and operational complexities of
local jails, (2) extensive experience in the roles of architect and
planner in the new-jail planning process, as taught by NIC (see
Supplementary Information), and (3) expertise and experience in
developing curricula based on adult learning principles, specifically
the Instructional Theory Into Practice (ITIP) model.
DATES: Applications must be received by 4 p.m. (EDT) on Friday, June
10, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Mailed applications must be sent to: Director, National
Institute of Corrections, 320 First Street, NW., Room 5002, Washington,
DC 20534. Applicants are encouraged to use Federal Express, UPS, or
similar service to ensure delivery by the due date as mail at NIC is
sometimes delayed due to security screening.
Applicants who wish to hand-deliver their applications should bring
them to 500 First Street, NW., Washington, DC 20534, and dial 202-307-
3106, ext. 0, at the front desk for pickup.
Faxed or e-mailed applications will not be accepted; however,
electronic applications can be submitted via https://www.grants.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A copy of this announcement and links
to the required application forms can be downloaded from the NIC Web
site at https://www.nicic.gov/cooperativeagreements.
Questions about this project and the application procedures should
be directed to Mike Jackson, Correctional Program Specialist, National
Institute of Corrections. Questions must be sent via e-mail to Mr.
Jackson at mpjackson@bop.gov. Mr. Jackson will respond via e-mail to
the individual. Also, all questions and responses will be posted on
NIC's Web site at https://www.nicic.gov for public review. (The names of
those submitting the questions will not be posted).The Web site will be
updated regularly and postings will remain on the Web site until the
closing date of this cooperative agreement solicitation.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: The NIC Jails Division offers technical assistance,
training, and information on new jail planning to local jurisdictions
nationwide. These services cover the full range of activities related
to new jail planning, from exploration of the need for a new jail to
the decision to build through design, construction, and occupation of
the new facility.
Based on a recent review of these services, NIC intends to revise
its training and technical assistance to ensure it most effectively
meets the needs of local jurisdictions considering building a new jail.
NIC's training and technical assistance on new jail planning
currently includes:
Jail and Justice System Assessment--This is a 3-day onsite
technical assistance event for individual jurisdictions that are
considering renovating an existing jail or constructing a new one
because their jail is crowded or in poor condition. Assessment
activities include a review of the current jail and interviews with
local criminal justice system officials on policies and practices that
affect the jail population. This assistance results in recommendations
for local officials about possible improvements they can make to the
existing jail, construction of jail beds, and ways in which criminal
justice system practices might be modified to alleviate jail crowding.
Planning of New Institutions--This 4-day training program conducted
at NIC's training center in Colorado is for jurisdictions that have
made the commitment to build a new jail or renovate an old one. It
focuses on the critical elements of planning a new facility, including
collecting and using data, pre-architectural programming, site
evaluation, project management, and determining staffing needs. The
program stresses the importance of in-depth planning before starting
facility design and the need for the owners and operators of the new
jail to maintain control of the planning process.
Managing Jail Design and Construction--This 4-day training program
conducted at NIC's training center in Colorado is for jurisdictions
that are ready to begin designing a new jail. It targets three-person
jurisdictional teams whose members have key decision-making roles in
the project. These teams may include the sheriff, the jail
administrator, the project manager, transition team leader, or other
assigned staff member. The program introduces participants to project
management and clarifies the roles and responsibilities of those who
develop, design, and construct new facilities. Through a variety of
exercises, the program guides participants in understanding how the
nuances of jail operations must be translated into design.
Jurisdictional teams learn how to read and interpret facility planning
documents, manage changes during construction, and develop a design and
construction plan that meets their needs.
How to Open a New Institution--This training program is delivered
onsite for individual jurisdictions that are within 12-18 months of
opening a new jail. It is designed for the transition team--those staff
charged with planning the details of the day-to-day operations of the
new facility and the transition into that facility. Training is
provided on the function of the jail's mission statement; development
of operational scenarios, policies, procedures, and post orders; move
logistics; staff training issues; budgeting for transition; and
development of an action plan for transition.
The cooperative agreement awardee will complete revisions to all
four of these services, ensuring that information about new jail
planning is consistent
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both with the NIC model and across all four services.
Scope of Work
Revisions to the Jail and Justice System Assessment
Currently, NIC service providers collect a variety of information
about the local jurisdiction's criminal justice system by gathering
data, reviewing the jail, and interviewing key criminal justice system
officials. In the revised Jail and Justice System Assessment, NIC
service providers will no longer collect data or interview criminal
justice officials about system practices. Instead, the service
providers will help local officials understand the importance of making
a well-informed decision regarding the need for a new jail; the role
information plays in decision-making; the need to explore local
criminal justice system policies and practices, and how they affect the
average daily population and length of stay; and non-jail options for
arrestees and offenders.
Service providers will also give an overview of the new jail
planning process, stressing the importance of planning and the need for
the jail's owners and operators to direct the planning process. In
addition, they will review the jail, but only briefly and only as it
relates to (1) the condition of the physical plant, (2) major
operational challenges posed by the physical plant, and (3) crowding.
The revised Jail and Justice System Assessment will be a 2-day
technical assistance event conducted onsite in the requesting
jurisdiction.
To accomplish these revisions, the awardee will identify pre-
service information that the jurisdiction must supply to NIC; develop a
form that the jurisdiction will use to record the requested
information; identify the elements of the jail review; develop a guide
and checklist for the jail review; develop a presentation guide, with
presentation slides and participant handouts, on how to determine the
need for a new jail, non-jail options, and the new jail planning
process; conduct and assess one pilot of the revised Jail and Justice
System Assessment; revise the Jail and Justice System Assessment and
related materials as indicated by the assessment of the pilot.
NIC Review: All draft materials must be sent to NIC for review and
approval before they are piloted and again before they are submitted as
a final product.
NIC Reviews: The awardee will deliver the pre-service information
form, the jail review guide and checklist, the presentation guide, and
related materials in hard copy (1) and on disk. The awardee must also
ensure that all products meet NIC's standards for accessibility and
Section 508 compliance.
Revisions to the Planning of New Institutions Training Program
Much of the basic content in this program will not be changed.
However, some information will be added and this is likely to result in
some new modules. NIC will add information on ``green'' facilities and
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification;
keeping up the new jail planning momentum in the face of political and
personnel changes; planning to ensure the jail has resources to support
intended operations over the long term; and the importance of the
transition process and the role of the transition team.
Although most of the program's content remains relevant, the
program must be reviewed in its entirety to ensure effective
sequencing, timing, and consistency of information among modules. Also,
all lesson plans and other curriculum components must be redesigned to
conform to the Instructional Theory into Practice model of training for
adult learners. This will require significant revision. All lesson
plans, all sections of the participant manual, and all presentation
slides must be consistent in format, voice, and level of detail. All
materials must have a professional appearance in accordance with the
style and design direction provided by NIC.
The project director and the curriculum specialist must attend the
current PONI program scheduled for August 22-25, 2011 in Aurora,
Colorado to gain insight into the program. Revisions to this program
should be ready to pilot during the first year of the cooperative
agreement. Both the project director and the curriculum specialist must
attend this program. The awardee will then refine the program and
related materials based on the assessment of the pilot.
NIC Reviews: All draft materials must be sent to NIC for review and
approval before they are piloted and again before they are submitted as
a final product.
Final Product: The final curriculum will includea program
description (overview); detailed narrative lesson plans; presentation
slides for each lesson plan; a participant manual that follows the
lesson plans; and other training materials as identified through this
project. The curriculum will be designed according to the Instructional
Theory Into Practice model for adult learners. Lesson plans will be in
a format that NIC provides. The awardee will deliver all materials in
hard copy (1) and on a disk. The awardee must also ensure that all
products meet NIC's standards for accessibility and Section 508
compliance. Revisions to the Managing Jail Design and Construction
training program:
This program will be redesigned for onsite delivery to individual
local jurisdictions. The redesigned program will be up to 3 days long
and will not include the 1-day jail tour that is part of the current
program.
Most of the content will remain the same, however, the training
materials will need to be revised to reflect a single-jurisdiction
audience. Also, the revised program must be reviewed in its entirety to
ensure effective sequencing, timing, and consistency of information
among modules. All lesson plans and other curriculum components must be
redesigned to conform to the Instructional Theory into Practice model
of training for adult learners. This will require significant revision.
All lesson plans, all sections of the participant manual, and all
presentation slides must be consistent in format, level of detail, and
voice. All materials must have a professional appearance in accordance
with the style and design direction provided by NIC.
NIC Reviews: All draft materials must be sent to NIC for review and
approval before they are piloted and again before they are submitted as
a final product.
Final Product: The final curriculum will include a program
description (overview); detailed narrative lesson plans; presentation
slides for each lesson plan; and a participant manual that follows the
lesson plans. The curriculum will be designed according to the
Instructional Theory Into Practice model for adult learners. Lesson
plans will be in a format that NIC provides. The awardee will deliver
all materials in hard copy (1) and on a disk. The awardee must also
ensure that all products meet NIC's standards for accessibility and
Section 508 compliance. Revisions to the How to Open a New Institution
training program:
This program will not be revised; however, the awardee will develop
one brief lesson plan and related training materials for one module on
reading and interpreting construction documents.
Meetings
The cooperative agreement awardee, with subject matter experts and
the curriculum specialist, will attend an initial meeting with the NIC
staff for a project overview and preliminary planning. This will take
place shortly
[[Page 29270]]
after the cooperative agreement is awarded and will be held in
Washington, DC. The meeting will last up to two full days.
The awardee, with subject matter experts and the curriculum
specialist, should also plan to meet with NIC staff at least two more
times during the course of the project. These meetings will last up to
2 days and may focus on project development and updates. Only one of
these meetings will be held in Washington, DC.
The awardee, with subject matter experts, should plan to meet via
WebEx several times at key points during the project for updates and
project development activities. NIC will host these meetings, which
will last up to two hours. The meeting itself will be at NIC's expense,
but fees for project staff who attend the meeting will be charged to
the cooperative agreement.
Application Requirements: An application package must include OMB
Standard Form 425, 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 under
which the applicant operates (e.g., July 1 through June 30); and an
outline of projected costs with the budget and strategy narratives
described in this announcement. 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); DOJ/
FBOP/NIC Certification Regarding Lobbying, Debarment, Suspension and
Other Responsibility Matters; and the Drug-Free Workplace Requirements
(available at https://www.nicic.org/Downloads/PDF/certif-frm.pdf.)
Applications should be concisely written, typed double spaced, and
reference the NIC opportunity number and title referenced in this
announcement. If you are hand delivering or submitting via Fed-Ex,
please include an original and three copies of your full proposal
(program and budget narrative, application forms, assurances and other
descriptions). The original should have the applicant's signature in
blue ink. Electronic submissions will be accepted only via https://www.grants.gov.
The narrative portion of the application should include, at a
minimum, a brief paragraph indicating the applicant's understanding of
the project's purpose; a brief paragraph that summarizes the project
goals and objectives; a clear description of the methodology that will
be used to complete the project and achieve its goals; a statement or
chart of measurable project milestones and timelines for the completion
of each milestone; a description of the qualifications of the applicant
organization; a resume for the principle and each staff member assigned
to the project (including instructors) that documents relevant
knowledge, skills, and abilities to carry out the project; and a budget
that details all costs for the project, shows consideration for all
contingencies for the project, and notes a commitment to work within
the proposed budget.
The narrative portion of the application should not exceed ten
double-spaced typewritten pages, excluding attachments related to the
credentials and relevant experience of staff.
In addition to the narrative and attachments, the applicant must
submit two full sample curricula developed by the primary curriculum
developer named in the application. For each sample curriculum, the
applicant must submit lesson plans, presentation slides, and a
participant manual.
Authority: Public Law 93-415.
Funds Available: NIC is seeking the applicant's best ideas
regarding accomplishment of the scope of work and the related costs for
achieving the goals of this solicitation. Funds may be used only for
the activities that are linked to the desired outcome of the project.
The funding amount should not exceed $300,000.
Eligibility of Applicants: An eligible applicant is 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 demonstrated ability to implement
a project of this size and scope.
Review Considerations: Applications will be subject to the NIC
Review Process. The criteria for the evaluation of each application
will be as follows:
Project Design and Management--30 Points
Is there a clear understanding of the purpose of the project and
the nature and scope of project activities? Does the applicant give a
clear and complete description of all work to be performed for this
project? Does the applicant clearly describe a work plan, including
objectives, tasks, and milestones necessary to project completion? Are
the objectives, tasks, and milestones realistic and will they achieve
the project as described in NIC's solicitation for this cooperative
agreement? Are the roles and the time required of project staff clearly
defined? Is the applicant willing to meet with NIC staff, at a minimum,
as specified in the solicitation for this cooperative agreement?
Applicant Organization & Project Staff Background--50 Points
Is there a description of the background and expertise of all
project personnel as they relate to this project? Is the applicant
capable of managing this project? Does the applicant have an
established reputation or skill that makes the applicant particularly
well qualified for the project? Do primary project personnel,
individually or collectively, have in-depth knowledge of the purpose,
functions, and operational complexities of local jails? Do the primary
project personnel, individually or collectively, have expertise on the
key elements in jail administration? Do the primary project personnel,
individually or collectively, have expertise and experience specified
in the SUMMARY section of this Request for Proposal? Does the staffing
plan propose sufficient and realistic time commitments from key
personnel? Are there written commitments from proposed staff that they
will be available to work on the project as described in the
application?
Budget--20 Points
Does the application provide adequate cost detail to support the
proposed budget? Are potential budget contingencies included? Does the
application include a chart that aligns the budget with project
activities along a timeline with, at a minimum, quarterly benchmarks?
In terms of program value, is the estimated cost reasonable in relation
to work performed and project products?
Sample Curricula--70 Points (35 Points per Curriculum)
Does the sample curriculum include all components specified in the
RFP (lesson plans, presentation slides, and participant manual)? Are
the lesson plans designed according to the Instructional Theory Into
Practice model? Does each lesson plan have performance objectives that
describe what the participants will accomplish during the module? Are
the lesson plans detailed, clear, and well written (spelling, grammar,
punctuation)? Is the participant manual clear, and does it follow the
lesson plans? Do the presentation slides effectively illustrate
information in the lesson plans? Do the presentation slides have a
professional
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appearance, and can they be easily read from a distance of 30-40 feet?
Note: NIC will NOT award a cooperative agreement to an applicant
who does not have a Dun and Bradstreet Database Universal Number
(DUNS) and is not registered in the Central Contractor Registry
(CCR). Applicants can obtain a DUNS number at no cost by calling the
dedicated toll-free DUNS number request line at 800-333-0505.
Applicants who are sole proprietors should dial 866-705-5711 and
select option 1.
Applicants may register in the CCR online at the CCR Web site at
https://www.ccr.gov. Applicants can also review a CCR handbook and
worksheet at this Web site.
Number of Awards: One
NIC Opportunity Number: 11JA03. This number should appear as a
reference line in the cover letter, where the opportunity number is
requested on Standard Form 424, and on the outside of the envelope in
which the application is sent.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 16.601.
Executive Order 12372: This project is not subject to the
provisions of the executive order.
Morris L. Thigpen,
Director, National Institute of Corrections.
[FR Doc. 2011-12455 Filed 5-19-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-36-P
