[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 153 (Tuesday, August 10, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48365-48366]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-19641]
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
National Institute of Corrections
Solicitation for a Cooperative Agreement--NIC Cost Containment
Online Resource Center Project
AGENCY: National Institute of Corrections, U.S. Department of Justice.
ACTION: Solicitation for cooperative agreement.
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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) is soliciting
proposals from organizations, groups, or individuals to enter into a
cooperative agreement for an 18-month project period. The goal of this
agreement is the development of a cost containment online resource
center. The NIC Cost Containment Online Resource Center (CCORC) will be
housed on the NIC Web site and contain materials to assist corrections
practitioners with developing and implementing systems-level cost
containment strategies. The CCORC will serve as a forum for information
exchange and a repository for current, practical evidence-based
information about cost containment. The project's four tasks are to (1)
compile a guide providing a detailed review of existing evidence-based
models, including their strengths, weaknesses, and applicability to
correctional agencies, for managing cost containment interventions at
the systems level; (2) gather supplemental materials designed to
provide concrete and practical strategies for planning, implementing,
and sustaining cost containment interventions (The intent is to combine
packaged materials with ``off-the-shelf'' modules that agencies can use
to develop workable solutions.); (3) work with the NIC Information
Center's Contracting Officer's Technical Representative(COTR), NIC's
intermediary with the Information Center, to develop the online site;
and (4) coordinate two meetings of a review panel to advise the project
early in the development of its products and near the end to evaluate
their utility for the corrections field. All expenses for these
meetings will be provided out of the funding awarded under this
agreement. The two meetings are expected to last one and a half days
for up to 10 participants. With the assistance of the recipient, NIC
will identify the participants for each meeting. The recipient of this
award will assist NIC in locating an appropriate venue and coordinating
local arrangements at the site, including meeting rooms and food and
beverage services. The recipient will also assist participants in
arranging
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travel and lodging and in reimbursing costs in conformity with Federal
guidelines.
With input from NIC, the recipient will prepare each meeting
agenda, participant lists, white papers, handouts, and supplementary
materials; duplicate them in sufficient quantities; and deliver them to
the venue. With input from NIC, the recipient will also supply or
arrange for a facilitator and a note taker for each meeting to be paid
out of the funding awarded under this agreement.
DATES: Applications must be received by 4 p.m. EDT on Monday, August
30, 2010. Selection of the successful applicant and notification of
review results to all applicants will be sent by October 2010.
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, call (202) 307-3106,
extension 0 for pickup. Faxed applications will not be accepted. The
only electronic applications (preferred) that will be accepted can be
submitted via www.grants.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: A copy of this announcement can be downloaded
from the NIC Web site at www.nicic.gov.
All technical or programmatic questions concerning this
announcement should be directed to Dee Halley, Correctional Program
Specialist, Research and Evaluation Division, National Institute of
Corrections. She can be reached by calling 1-800-995-6423 extension 4-
0374 or by e-mail at [email protected].
Required Expertise: Applicant organizations and project teams
should be able to demonstrate the capacity to accomplish all four
project tasks and have experience with and/or an understanding of
correctional operations, assessing cost benefits and effectiveness, and
budget planning, development, and management.
Application Requirements: The application should be concisely
written, typed double-spaced and reference the NIC Opportunity Number
and Title provided in this announcement. The program narrative text is
to be limited to 25 double-spaced pages, exclusive of resumes and
summaries of experience (do not submit full curriculum vitae). In
addition to the program narrative, 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 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
(all OMB Standard Forms are available at www.grants.gov); DOJ/FBOP/NIC
Certification Regarding Lobbying, Debarment, Suspension and Other
Responsibility Matters; and the Drug-Free Workplace Requirements
(available at www.nicic.org/Downloads/PDF/certif-frm.pdf.)
Authority: Public Law 93-415.
Funds Available and Budget Considerations: Up to $150,000 is
available for this project, but preference will be given to applicants
who provide the most efficient solutions in accomplishing the scope of
work. Determination will be made based on best value to the Government,
not necessarily the lowest bid. Funds may be used only for the
activities that are directly related to the project. This project will
be a collaborative venture with the NIC Research and Evaluation
Division.
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 received under this
announcement will be subject to the NIC Review Process. The criteria
for the evaluation of each application will be as follows:
Programmatic (40%)
Are all of the four project tasks adequately discussed and support
the overall goal? Is there a clear description of how each project task
will be accomplished, including sub-tasks; the strategies to be
employed; required staffing; responsible parties, and other required
resources? Are there any unique or exceptional approaches, techniques,
or design aspects proposed that will enhance the project?
Organizational (35%)
Does the proposed project staff possess the skills, knowledge, and
expertise necessary to complete the four project tasks, meeting all of
the criteria listed in the solicitation? Does the applicant agency,
institution, organization, individual or team have the organizational
capacity to complete the project tasks? Are the proposed project
management and staffing plans realistic and sufficient to complete the
project within the 18-month timeframe?
Project Management/Administration (25%)
Does the applicant identify reasonable objectives, milestones, and
measures to track progress? If consultants and/or partnerships are
proposed, is there a reasonable justification for their inclusion in
the project and a clear structure to ensure effective coordination and
supervision? Is the proposed budget realistic, provide sufficient cost
detail/narrative, and represent good value relative to the anticipated
results?
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).
A DUNS number can be received at no cost by calling the dedicated
toll-free DUNS number request line at 1-800-333-0505 (if you are a sole
proprietor, you would dial 1-866-705-5711 and select option 1).
Registration in the CCR can be done online at the CCR Web site:
http://www.ccr.gov. A CCR Handbook and worksheet can also be reviewed
at the Web site.
Number of Awards: One.
NIC Opportunity Number: 10PEI40. This number should appear as a
reference line in the cover letter, where indicated on Standard Form
424, and outside of the envelope in which the application is sent.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 16.602.
Executive Order 12372: This program is not subject to the
provisions of Executive Order 12372.
Morris L. Thigpen,
Director, National Institute of Corrections.
[FR Doc. 2010-19641 Filed 8-9-10; 8:45 am]
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