U.S. Department of Justice OMB No. 1121-0329 Office of Justice Programs Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) is seeking applications for funding under its Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 National AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program. This program furthers the Department’s mission by increasing the nation’s capacity to respond to incidents of endangered missing and abducted children. OJJDP FY 2013 National AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program Eligibility Eligible applicants are limited to nonprofit and for-profit organizations (including tribal nonprofit and for-profit organizations), and institutions of higher education (including tribal institutions of higher education). For-profit organizations must agree to forgo any profit or management fee. (See Eligibility, page 3.) Deadline Applicants must register with Grants.gov prior to submitting an application. (See How To Apply, page 17.) All applications are due by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on May 13, 2013. (See Deadlines: Registration and Application, page 3.) Contact Information For technical assistance with submitting an application, contact the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 800-518-4726, 606-545-5035, or via e-mail to [email protected]. Hotline hours of operation are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except federal holidays. For assistance with any other requirements of this solicitation, contact the Justice Information Center (JIC) at 1–877–927–5657, via e-mail to [email protected], or by live Web chat. JIC hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. eastern time, Monday through Friday, and 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. eastern time on the solicitation close date. Grants.gov number assigned to this announcement: OJJDP-2013-3535 Release date: March 13, 2013 Contents Overview ................................................................................................................................... 3 Deadlines: Registration and Application ................................................................................... 3 Eligibility .................................................................................................................................... 3 Program-Specific Information.................................................................................................... 3 Performance Measures ............................................................................................................. 7 Project Evaluations ................................................................................................................... 7 Notice of Post-Award FFATA Reporting Requirement .............................................................. 9 What an Application Is Expected To Include ............................................................................. 9 1. Information to Complete the Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) ....................... 9 2. Abstract ............................................................................................................................. 9 3. Program Narrative ........................................................................................................... 10 4. Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative ............................................................. 12 5. Indirect Cost Rate Agreement ......................................................................................... 13 6. Additional Attachments ................................................................................................... 13 7. Other Standard Forms .................................................................................................... 14 Selection Criteria ..................................................................................................................... 15 Review Process ...................................................................................................................... 15 Additional Requirements ......................................................................................................... 16 How To Apply .......................................................................................................................... 17 Provide Feedback to OJP on This Solicitation ........................................................................ 19 Application Checklist ............................................................................................................... 20 2 OMB No. 1121-0329 OJJDP FY 2013 National AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program Approval Expires 02/28/2013 OJJDP-2013-3535 OJJDP FY 2013 National AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program (CFDA #16.543) Overview The AMBER Alert program is a partnership of law enforcement, broadcasters and media, transportation agencies, emergency management agencies, telecommunications/call centers, other public safety agencies, and child protection organizations and professionals dedicated to recovering endangered missing and abducted children. The National AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program serves to increase the nation’s capacity to respond to incidents of endangered missing and abducted children. This program is authorized under Section 405 of the Missing Children’s Act, which is Title IV of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5771 et seq.). Deadlines: Registration and Application Applicants must register with Grants.gov to submit an application. OJP encourages applicants to register several weeks before the application submission deadline. In addition, OJP urges applicants to submit applications at least 72 hours prior to the due date of the application to allow time to receive the validation message and to correct any problems that may have caused a rejection notification. The deadline to apply for funding under this announcement is 11:59 p.m. eastern time on May 13, 2013. See How To Apply, page 17, for details. Eligibility Eligible applicants are limited to nonprofit and for-profit organizations (including tribal nonprofit and for-profit organizations), and institutions of higher education (including tribal institutions of higher education). For-profit organizations must agree to forgo any profit or management fee. OJJDP welcomes joint applications from two or more eligible applicants; however, one applicant must be clearly indicated as the primary applicant (for correspondence, award, and management purposes) and the others indicated as co-applicants. Program-Specific Information Purpose This program provides training and technical assistance support to enhance the national AMBER Alert network; increases and improves law enforcement response to missing, endangered, and abducted children; increases the recovery rate of abducted children; strengthens child alert systems in the nation’s northern and southern borders to better protect American children abducted to or through foreign countries; creates greater community capacity in understanding broader issues related to exploitation and abuse of children; and enhances public participation in the recovery of missing, endangered, and abducted children. 3 OMB No. 1121-0329 OJJDP FY 2013 National AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program Approval Expires 02/28/2013 OJJDP-2013-3535 The successful applicant will work closely with OJJDP, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC), and appropriate agencies, organizations, and professionals to provide training and technical assistance to law enforcement agencies, AMBER Alert coordinators, child protection professionals, broadcasters, and others concerned with child abduction and victimization. The successful applicant will consult with OJJDP, who will provide input and guidance on training topics, publications, manuals, training conferences, and other substantive program issues and deliverables. Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables OJJDP is interested in innovative approaches to the design and delivery of training and technical assistance (TTA) to support the AMBER Alert network. The network includes law enforcement agencies, AMBER Alert coordinators, public safety agencies, departments of transportation, broadcasters, and child protection agencies and professionals, including the Canadian provinces, Mexican border states, and other related partners/organizations. Applicants must propose approaches that deliver effective, cost-efficient training through a combination of traditional classroom instruction and distance and online learning technologies. Proposed approaches should clearly demonstrate the applicant’s knowledge, understanding, and experience in the following tasks: • delivering TTA to bilingual audiences, to law enforcement agencies, public safety and other child protection organizations, and professionals. • developing and maintaining a cadre of experts who can conduct TTA on national, state, and local levels through both traditional and nontraditional teaching modalities, including the capacity to deliver training and technical assistance to bilingual audiences. • evaluating and assessing training outcomes. The successful applicant will deliver training programs already developed for AMBER Alert system stakeholders. In addition, the applicant should be prepared to modify existing training delivery mechanisms to increase efficiency and cost effectiveness. OJJDP will expect the successful applicant to propose other courses and training products targeting the development of core knowledge related to child abduction investigations. OJJDP expects to modify tasks and specifications as the Office identifies emerging training needs. The assigned OJJDP program manager must approve all changes to the proposed scope of work. Successful applicants must clearly identify OJJDP in all documents, trainings, and materials produced for the purpose of this cooperative agreement as the federal agency responsible for products created with grant funds. The Department of Justice, as the awarding agency, reserves a royalty-free, nonexclusive, and irrevocable license to reproduce, publish, or otherwise use and authorize others to use, for federal government purposes, the copyright in any work developed under an award or subaward and any rights of copyright to which a recipient or subrecipient purchases ownership with award support. 4 OMB No. 1121-0329 OJJDP FY 2013 National AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program Approval Expires 02/28/2013 OJJDP-2013-3535 Applicants should plan training events in conjunction with other relevant conferences and events, as appropriate, to maximize participation and cost effectiveness. The award recipients will coordinate the development of new training with OJJDP. Successful applicants will: • provide other technical support, determined in consultation with OJJDP, in developing a training mission; conduct planning meetings and training events with NCMEC; coordinate special meetings of grantees/practitioners; and develop special reports, brochures, best practices papers, etc., to be disseminated at OJJDP’s discretion. • perform all logistics to support regional and site-specific TTA, such as program marketing, participant applications and acceptance, consultant coordination and travel, in addition to acquiring meeting/lodging space and providing participant lodging, according to federal regulations, including securing OJP approval for all meetings. • provide a mechanism to evaluate and assess measurable outcomes (i.e., long-term knowledge retention) of TTA activities, to include pre- and post-event assessment, and a 6- month post-event assessment of retained knowledge and skills. • in concert with OJJDP, maintain and develop state-of-the-art curricula and materials through systematic review, assessment, and revision. • contribute content for the OJJDP Web site to effectively disseminate and communicate TTA services and products, as OJJDP deems suitable. Amount and Length of Awards OJJDP expects to make one cooperative agreement of as much as $2.5 million for a 12-month project period. Based on the availability of funds and determination of successful performance, OJJDP may provide continuation funding for as many as two additional 1-year increments. All awards are subject to the availability of appropriated funds and to any modifications or additional requirements that may be imposed by law. In furtherance of the goals and objectives described above, OJJDP's role will include the following tasks: • reviewing and approving major work plans, including changes to such plans, and key decisions pertaining to project operations. • reviewing and approving major project-generated documents and materials used in the provision of project services. • providing guidance in significant project planning meetings and participating in project sponsored training events or conferences. Budget 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, recipients may not use federal funds to pay total cash compensation (salary plus cash bonuses) to any employee of the award 5 OMB No. 1121-0329 OJJDP FY 2013 National AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program Approval Expires 02/28/2013 OJJDP-2013-3535 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. The 2012 salary table for SES employees is available at www.opm.gov/oca/12tables/indexSES.asp. 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. (Any such additional compensation will not be considered matching funds where match requirements apply.) The Assistant Attorney General for OJP may exercise discretion to waive, on an individual basis, the limitation on compensation rates allowable under an award. Applicants requesting a waiver should include a detailed justification in the budget narrative of their applications. Applicants who do not submit a waiver request and justification with their applications should anticipate that OJP will request them to adjust and resubmit their budgets. The justification should include the particular qualifications and expertise of the individual, the uniqueness of the service the individual will provide, the individual’s specific knowledge of the program or project being undertaken with award funds, and a statement explaining that the individual’s salary is commensurate with the regular and customary rate for an individual with his/her qualifications and expertise, and for the work to be done. Minimization of Conference Costs. OJP encourages applicants to review the guidance on conference approval, planning, and reporting that is available on the OJP Web site at www.ojp.gov/funding/confcost.htm. This guidance sets out the current OJP policy, which requires all funding recipients who propose to hold or sponsor conferences (including meetings, trainings, and other similar events) to minimize costs, requires OJP review and prior written approval of most conference costs for cooperative agreement recipients (and certain costs for grant recipients), and generally prohibits the use of OJP funding to provide food and beverages at conferences. The guidance also sets upper limits on many conference costs, including facility space, audio/visual services, logistical planning services, programmatic planning services, and food and beverages (in the rare cases where food and beverage costs are permitted at all). Prior review and approval of conference costs can take time (see the guidance for specific deadlines), and applicants should take this into account when submitting proposals. Applicants also should understand that conference cost limits may change and that they should check the guidance for updates before incurring such costs. Note on food and beverages. OJP may make exceptions to the general prohibition on using OJP funding for food and beverages but will do so only in rare cases where food and beverages are not otherwise available (e.g., in extremely remote areas); the size of the event and capacity of nearby food and beverage vendors would make it impractical to not provide food and beverages; or a special presentation at a conference requires a plenary address where conference participants have no other time to obtain food and beverages. Any such exception requires OJP’s prior written approval. The restriction on food and beverages does not apply to water provided at no cost, but does apply to any and all other refreshments, regardless of the size or nature of the meeting. Additionally, this restriction does not affect direct payment of per diem amounts to individuals in a travel status under your organization’s travel policy. 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 6 OMB No. 1121-0329 OJJDP FY 2013 National AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program Approval Expires 02/28/2013 OJJDP-2013-3535 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 of the OJP "Other Requirements for OJP Applications" Web page at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/other_requirements.htm. Match 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. Performance Measures To assist the Department with fulfilling its responsibilities under the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), Public Law 103-62, and the GPRA Modernization Act of 2010, Public Law 111–352, applicants that receive funding under this solicitation must provide data that measure the results of their work done under this solicitation. OJP will require any award recipient, post award, to provide the data requested in the “Data Grantee Provides” column so that OJP can calculate values for the “Performance Measures” column. OJJDP will require award recipients to submit semiannual performance metrics of relevant data through the Data Reporting Tool (DCTAT) located at www.ojjdp-dctat.org/. Performance measures for this solicitation are as follows: Objective Performance Measure(s) Data Grantee Provides To provide TTA programs Number of training requests Number of training requests and assistance to received. received. stakeholders in the AMBER Number of technical assistance Number of technical Alert system, to include law requests received. assistance requests received. enforcement, broadcasters, Number of program materials Number of program materials child protection organizations developed. developed. and agencies, and other Number of planning or training Number of planning or training participants. events held. events held, including specifically with NCMEC and The deliverables (training, other organizations, as OJJDP technical assistance, directs. supportive materials) should Number of people trained. Number of people trained. be directed toward the Percentage of people exhibiting Number of people exhibiting continuation, expansion, and increased knowledge of the program increased knowledge of the enhancement of DOJ’s area. program area (determined by AMBER Alert program. pre- and post- testing. OJP does not require applicants to submit performance measures data with their applications. Instead, applicants should discuss in their application their proposed methods for collecting data for performance measures. Refer to the section “What an Application Is Expected To Include” on page 9 for additional information. Project Evaluations Applicants that propose to use funds awarded through this solicitation to conduct project evaluations or statistical data collections should be aware that these activities (such as 7 OMB No. 1121-0329 OJJDP FY 2013 National AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program Approval Expires 02/28/2013 OJJDP-2013-3535 systematic investigations to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge) may constitute research, which is defined as follows: Research means a systematic investigation, including research development, testing, and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge. Activities that meet this definition constitute research for the purposes of this policy, whether or not they are conducted or supported under a program that is considered research for other purposes. For example, some demonstration and service programs may include research activities (28 C.F. R. § 46.102(d). The following information pertains to applications that propose to conduct research and involves human subjects: DOJ regulations (28 C.F.R. Part 46) protect the human subjects of federally funded research. In brief, 28 C.F.R. Part 46 requires that an Institutional Review Board, in accordance with the regulations, review and approve most research involving human subjects that any federal department or agency conducts or supports before an award recipient may expend federal funds for that research. As a rule, persons who participate in federally funded research must provide their informed consent and must be permitted to terminate their participation at any time. Funding recipients, before they will be allowed to spend OJP funds on any research activity involving human subjects, must submit appropriate documentation to OJP showing compliance with 28 C.F.R .Part 46 requirements, as OJP requests. DOJ regulations (28 C.F.R. Part 22) require recipients of OJP funding to submit a Privacy Certificate as a condition of approval of any grant application or contract proposal that contains a research or statistical component under which information identifiable to a private person will be collected, analyzed, used, or disclosed. The funding recipient's Privacy Certificate includes a description of its policies and procedures to be followed to protect the confidentiality of identifiable data (28 C.F.R. § 22.23). The Department's regulations provide, among other matters, that: "Research or statistical information identifiable to a private person may be used only for research or statistical purposes (28 C.F.R. § 22.21).” Moreover, any private person from whom information identifiable to a private person is collected or obtained (either orally or by means of written questionnaire or other document) must be advised that the information will only be used or disclosed for research or statistical purposes and that compliance with the request for information is voluntary and may be terminated at any time (28 C.F.R. § 22.27). OJP has developed a decision tree (www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/pdfs/decision_tree.pdf) to assist applicants in assessing whether an activity they plan to undertake with OJP funds may constitute research involving human subjects. Applicants should review this decision tree and include a statement in their application narrative that clarifies if they intend to use any information from a project evaluation or data collection to contribute to generalizable knowledge or if they intend to use the information solely for internal improvements and/or to meet OJP’s performance measures data reporting requirements. If an application includes a research, demonstration evaluation, or statistical data collection component, OJP will examine that component to determine whether it meets the definition of research. For additional information visit the “Research and Protection of Human Subjects” and the “Confidentiality” sections of the OJP “Other Requirements” Web page at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/other_requirements.htm. 8 OMB No. 1121-0329 OJJDP FY 2013 National AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program Approval Expires 02/28/2013 OJJDP-2013-3535 Notice of Post-Award FFATA Reporting Requirement Applicants should anticipate that OJP will require all recipients (other than individuals) of awards of $25,000 or more under this solicitation, consistent with the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA), to report award information on any first-tier subawards totaling $25,000 or more, and, in certain cases, to report information on the names and total compensation of the five most highly compensated executives of the recipient and first-tier subrecipients. Each applicant entity must ensure that it has the necessary processes and systems in place to comply with the reporting requirements should it receive funding. Reports regarding subawards will be made through the FFATA Subaward Reporting System (FSRS), found at www.fsrs.gov. Please note also that applicants should anticipate that no subaward of an award made under this solicitation may be made to a subrecipient (other than an individual) unless the potential subrecipient acquires and provides a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. What an Application Is Expected To Include Applicants should anticipate that if they fail to submit an application that contains all of the specified elements, it may negatively affect the review of their application; and, should OJJDP decide to make an award, it may result in the inclusion of special conditions that preclude the recipient from accessing or using award funds pending satisfaction of the conditions. Moreover, applicants should anticipate that some application elements are so critical that applications that do not respond to the scope of the solicitation, do not meet the eligibility requirements, do not request funding within the funding limit, or do not include the application elements that OJJDP has designated to be critical will neither proceed to peer review nor receive further consideration. Under this solicitation, OJJDP has designated the following application elements as critical: Program Narrative, Budget Detail Worksheet or Budget Narrative. OJP strongly recommends that applicants use appropriately descriptive file names (e.g., “Program Narrative,” “Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative,” “Timelines,” “Memoranda of Understanding,” “Resumes”) for all attachments. Also, OJP recommends that applicants include resumes in a single file. 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 GMS take information from the applicant’s profile to populate the fields on this form. If the applicant is a for-profit entity, select "For-Profit Organization" or "Small Business" (as applicable), when selecting "type of applicant." 2. Abstract Applications should include a high-quality abstract that summarizes the proposed project in 400 words or less. Abstracts should be: • written for a general public audience. 9 OMB No. 1121-0329 OJJDP FY 2013 National AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program Approval Expires 02/28/2013 OJJDP-2013-3535 • submitted as a separate attachment with “Project Abstract” as part of its file name. • single-spaced, using a standard 12-point font (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. The abstract should include a brief description of the project’s purpose, the population to be served, and the activities that the applicant will implement to achieve the project’s goals and objectives. The abstract should describe how the applicant will measure progress toward these goals. The abstract should indicate whether any portion of the project budget will be used to conduct research, as described in the Project Evaluations section on page 7. All project abstracts should follow the detailed template available at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/Project_Abstract_Template.pdf. 3. Program Narrative Applicants must submit a program narrative that presents a detailed description of the purpose, goals, objectives, strategies, design, and management of the proposed program. The program narrative should be double-spaced with 1-inch margins, not exceeding 30 pages of 8½ by 11 inches, and use a standard 12-point font, preferably Times New Roman. Pages should be numbered “1 of 30,” etc. The tables, charts, pictures, etc., including all captions, legends, keys, subtext, etc., may be single-spaced, and will count in the 30-page limit. Material required under the Budget and Budget Narrative and Additional Attachments sections will not count toward the program narrative page count. Applicants may provide bibliographical references as a separate attachment that will not count toward the 30-page program narrative limit. If the program narrative fails to comply with these length-related restrictions, OJJDP may consider such noncompliance in peer review and in final award decisions. The program narrative should address the following selection criteria: (1) statement of the problem; (2) goals, objectives, and performance measures; (3) program design and implementation; and (4) capabilities/competencies. The applicant should clearly delineate the connections between and among each of these sections. For example, the applicant should derive the goals and objectives directly from the problems to be addressed. Similarly, the project design section should clearly explain how the program’s structure and activities will accomplish the goals and objectives identified in the previous section. The following sections should be included as part of the program narrative. a. Statement of the Problem. Applicants should briefly describe the need for training and technical assistance support for the national AMBER Alert network. The applicant should use data to provide evidence that the need exists, demonstrate the size and scope of the need, and document the effects of the need on the target population and the larger community. Applicants should describe the target population and any previous or current attempts to address the need. Applicants should describe any research or evaluation studies that relate to the need and contribute to the applicant’s understanding of its causes and potential solutions. 10 OMB No. 1121-0329 OJJDP FY 2013 National AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program Approval Expires 02/28/2013 OJJDP-2013-3535