[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 39 (Tuesday, February 27, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7277-7280]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4321]
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Office of Justice Programs
Discretionary Grant Program Awarded by the Office for Victims of
Crime for Fiscal Year 1996
AGENCY: Office for Victims of Crime (OVC).
ACTION: Public announcement of availability of the funds under the
Discretionary Grant Program authorized by the Victims of Crime Act
(VOCA) of 1984 codified at 42 U.S.C. Sec. 10601, et seq.
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SUMMARY: OVC is publishing this notice to announce the availability of
discretionary funding for a training and technical assistance project
to improve services to child and adult victims of sexual assault and
abuse.
DATES: The deadline for receipt of applications is March 22, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Mail applications to OVC, 633 Indiana Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, D.C., 20531. Hand delivered applications must be taken to
OVC, 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 200, Washington, D.C. 20006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melanie Smith, Program Specialist,
(202) 616-1860.
I. Introduction
The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) is a component of the Office
of Justice Programs within the U.S. Department of Justice. It serves as
the chief advocate within the Department for all crime victim issues.
In addition to ensuring that the criminal justice system addresses the
victim's legitimate rights and interests, OVC's program activities
include providing victim assistance and compensation grants to the
states; training and technical assistance; and emergency services to
victims of federal crimes. See 42 U.S.C.A. Secs. 10601-10605.
II. Program Description
Promising Strategies and Practices for Evidentiary Medical
Examinations, Including the Use of Nurse Examiners and Special Settings
(Cooperative Agreement).
Award Amount: $50,000.
Purpose: To encourage the participation of child and adult victims
of sexual assault and abuse in the criminal justice process by
promoting victim-sensitive practices and settings for the collection of
medical evidence.
Background: In many places, adult and child victims of sexual
assault and abuse who arrive at hospital emergency rooms often have to
contend with a lack of privacy, long waits for doctors who are busy
attending to other medical emergencies, a lack of emotional support
throughout the forensic examination process, and an impersonal, chaotic
environment. These conditions not only compound the trauma experienced
by victims, but discourage many victims from coming forward to report
the crime or to obtain necessary assistance and medical services. In
addition, evidence that is poorly collected and improperly preserved
undermines efforts to successfully prosecute and convict sex offenders.
To address these issues, some jurisdictions have developed sexual
assault nurse examiner programs, in which nurses who are specially
trained to address the medical and emotional needs of victims perform
the examinations in a setting especially designed for victims. The
intent of these programs is to free doctors to attend to other medical
emergencies; to use consistent forensic examination practices to ensure
that appropriate steps are followed in collecting, handling, and
storing evidence; and, most importantly, to assist child and adult
victims in a compassionate and sensitive manner. Various communities
have also found that examination rooms designed for victims seem to
increase their willingness to participate in the criminal justice
process. In addition, they have found that the use of trained nurse
examiners can reduce costs and enhance the provision of services. These
innovative measures not only reduce trauma to victims; they also result
in credible evidence, the basis for successfully prosecuting and
convicting sex offenders.
Goals
To promote the use of sexual assault nurse examiner
programs and special settings for evidentiary medical examinations of
child and adult victim of sexual assault and abuse.
To define standards for consistent, compassionate and
quality practices in conducting evidentiary medical examinations of
child and adult victims of sexual assault and abuse.
[[Page 7278]]
Objectives
To conduct a national scope survey and assessment of
promising policies, procedures, and training materials used by sexual
assault nurse examiner and other non-emergency room programs serving
victims of sexual assault and abuse;
To identify and assess the components of special medical
settings for evidentiary exams, including clinics or examining rooms,
to include a focus area on their utility in meeting the unique needs of
child victims;
To identify competent, experienced sexual assault nurse
examiners for training and program replication purposes; and
To produce a complete guidebook on the implementation and
operation of sexual assault nurse examiner programs and special
settings for evidentiary medical examinations.
Program Strategy: This solicitation invites applicants to develop a
guidebook on how to implement and operate nurse examiners programs for
child and adult victims of sexual assault and abuse, and how to
establish special settings designed for evidentiary examinations. The
program will comprise three phases:
1. Assessment
This phase entails the identification and assessment of materials
describing or being used by sexual assault nurse examiner programs. As
part of the assessment phase, the grantee will convene an advisory
committee with national-scope representation from the following fields:
a practitioner and administrator of a nurse examiner program; victim
assistance/advocacy; child protective services; medicine; mental
health; law enforcement; and prosecution; and the judiciary; and other
appropriate representatives. The advisory board will assist in
developing criteria for assessing promising practices, reviewing and
rating collected materials, and creating a dissemination plan for
getting the materials to practitioners, medical facilities, national
organizations, colleges and universities and other entities that can
use the information to improve evidence collection and victim
assistance practices and procedures. The activities to be completed
during this phase are:
Establishment of the advisory committee with OVC review
and approval;
Development and submission, for OVC review and approval,
of a plan and criteria for surveying and assessing sexual assault nurse
examiner programs and the use of victim-sensitive settings for the
collection of medical evidence;
A national-scope survey and review of literature,
policies, procedures and practices for sexual assault nurse examiner
programs and the use of special settings;
Identification and description of model programs
nationwide; and
Preparation of an assessment report of findings.
2. Development of Prototype
Upon completion of the first phase, the grantee will, in
collaboration with its advisory committee, develop a model program
brief for implementing and operating a sexual assault nurse examiner
program and for establishing special settings for expert medical
examinations. The brief will highlight essential components of nurse
examiner programs, as well as optional or adaptable elements from model
programs around the nation. Particular attention shall be given to
issues such as training and credentialing of nurse examiners, as well
as qualifying nurses to testify in court. The brief will also describe
examples of special settings used for evidentiary medical examinations
of child and adult sexual assault and abuse victims. The activities for
this phase are:
Development and drafting of model program elements;
Highlighting of model programs identified by the survey;
and
Review and refinement of draft product by project staff
and advisory committee for OVC review and approval.
3. Finalization of Products
Upon completion of the second phase, the grantee will produce the
guidebook and other project products. The activities for this phase
are:
Development and draft of guidebook incorporating the model
program brief, accompanying instructions on implementing and operating
a sexual assault nurse examiner program, and discussions of special
settings and unique concerns of child victims;
Review and refinement of draft;
A dissemination strategy identifying potential and
appropriate recipients of the guidebook;
Identification, in list form with supporting vitae, of
training and technical assistance staff;
Preparation of a final report on the project; and
Preparation of an OVC Bulletin summarizing the project's
findings.
Eligibility Requirements: In addition to the requirements of
Sections VI-XI, applicants must demonstrate:
Expert knowledge of trauma experienced by child and adult
victims of sexual assault and abuse;
Active liaison with national scope nursing and/or victim
advocacy associations;
Capability to conduct a national scope information search;
Knowledge of issues associated with the criminal justice
system's handling of crime victims and, more specifically, service
provision to child and adult victims of sexual assault and abuse; and
Management and financial capability to oversee a project
of this size and scope.
Award Period: 12 months.
Contact: Melanie Smith, (202) 616-3575.
VI. Eligibility Requirements
In addition to special eligibility requirement listed within the
individual program descriptions above, the following will apply.
Applications are invited from public and private non-profit agencies
and organizations. Applicants must demonstrate that they have ample
expertise and/or prior experience in the design and conduct of projects
of a nature similar to that for which they are applying.
Applicants must also demonstrate that they have the management
capability, fiscal integrity, and financial responsibility, including,
but not limited to, an acceptable accounting system and internal
controls, and compliance with grant fiscal requirements. Applicants who
fail to demonstrate that they have the capability to manage the program
will be ineligible for funding consideration.
VII. Application Requirements
All applicants must submit a completed Application for Federal
Assistance (Standard Form 424 and OJP Form 4000/3 (1/93) Attachment to
SF-424), including a program narrative. All applications must include
the information outlined in this section of the solicitation (Section
VI, Application Requirements) in Part IV, Program Narrative of the
application (SF-424). The program narrative of the application must not
exceed 35 double-spaced pages in length. Applicants that fail to adhere
to this program requirement will be automatically disqualified from
competition.
In accordance with Executive Order No. 12549, 28 C.F.R. 67.510,
applications must also provide Certifications Regarding Lobbying,
Debarment, Suspension, and other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free
Workplace Requirements (OJP Form
[[Page 7279]]
4061/6), which will be supplied with the application package, and must
be submitted with the application.
Applications that include non-competitive contracts for the
provision of specific services must include a sole source justification
for any procurement in excess of $100,000. Financial questionnaires
must be completed by new non-governmental (except public colleges,
universities, and hospitals) applicants. This includes a review of the
accounting system and a determination that periodic audits are
performed to ensure fiscal integrity. New or supplemental awards may
not be made to applicants with delinquent financial or progress
reports, delinquent or unresolved audit reports, delinquent federal
debts, other unresolved issues of fiscal integrity, or to applicants
who have been debarred or suspended from federal financial and non-
financial assistance and benefits under federal programs and
activities.
Where indicated, cooperative agreements are awarded to states,
units of local government, or public or private non-profit
organizations at the discretion of OVC. Cooperative agreements are used
when substantial involvement is anticipated between OVC and the
recipient during performance of the contemplated activity. Interagency
agreements between OVC and other governmental units or agencies are
negotiated by the entities involved.
The following information must be included in the application (SF-
424) Part IV Program Narrative:
A. Organizational Capability
Applicants must demonstrate that they are eligible to compete for a
grant on the basis of the eligibility criteria established in Section
VI of this solicitation. Applicants must concisely describe their
organizational experience with respect to the eligibility criteria
specified in each program description listed above. Applicants must
demonstrate how their organizational experience and capabilities will
enable them to achieve the goals and objectives of the initiative for
which they are applying. Applicants are invited to append examples of
prior work products of a similar nature to their application.
Applicants must demonstrate that their organization has or can
establish fiscal controls and accounting procedures that assure that
federal funds available under this agreement are disbursed and
accounted for properly. Non-profit applicants who have not previously
received federal funds will be asked to submit a copy of the Office of
Justice Programs Accounting System and Financial Capability
Questionnaire (OJP Form 7120/1). Copies of the form will be provided in
the application kit and must be prepared and submitted along with the
application. The CPA certification (Section H) is required only of
those non-profit applicants who have not previously received federal
funding.
B. Program Goals and Objectives
A brief statement of the applicant's understanding of the goals and
objectives of the program should be included. The application should
also include a problem statement and a discussion of the potential
contribution of this program to the field.
C. Program Strategy
Applicants should describe the proposed approach for achieving the
goals and objectives of each program. A detailed description of how the
activities and projects of each program would be accomplished should be
included.
D. Program Implementation Plan
Applicants should prepare a plan that outlines the major activities
involved in implementing the program, describe how they will allocate
available resources to implement the project, and also describe how the
program will be managed.
The plan must also include an organizational chart depicting the
roles and describing the responsibilities of key organizational and
functional components and a list of key personnel responsible for
managing and implementing the major stages of the project. Applicants
must present detailed position descriptions, qualifications, and
selection criteria for each position. This documentation and individual
resumes may be submitted as appendices to the application.
E. Time-Task Plan
Applicants must develop a time-task plan for the duration of the
project periods, clearly identifying major milestones and products.
This must include designation of organizational responsibility and a
schedule for the completion of the activities and products. Applicants
should also indicate the anticipated cost schedule per month for the
entire project period.
F. Products
Applicants must describe concisely the interim and final products
of each stage of the program.
G. Program Budget
Budgets must be accompanied by a detailed justification for all
costs, including the basis for computation of these costs. Applications
containing contract(s) must include detailed budgets for each
organization's expenses.
H. Assessment
Each grant recipient will be required to submit formal findings
from an assessment, within 60 days of the completion of each year's
activities and within 90 days of project completion. Each application
must provide a plan for assessing the project.
VIII. Procedures for Selection
All applications will be evaluated and rated based on the extent to
which they meet the established weighted criteria. In general, all
applications received will be reviewed in terms of their responsiveness
to the minimum program application requirements set forth in Section
VII. Applications will be evaluated by a peer review panel according to
the OVC Competition and Peer Review Guidance.
Applications submitted in response to the competitive announcements
will be evaluated by a peer review panel. The results of the peer
review will be a relative aggregate ranking of applications in the form
of ``Summary of Ratings.'' These ordinarily will be based on numerical
values assigned by individual peer reviewers. Peer review
recommendations, in conjunction with the results of internal review and
any necessary supplementary reviews, will assist OVC in considering
competing applications and in selection of the application for funding.
The final award decision will be made by the OVC Director.
Applications for each program description, except where other point
values or categories have been specifically identified, will be
evaluated and rated by the peer review panels based on the extent to
which they meet the following criteria:
A. Utility of the Project (10 points)
This refers to the applicant's response to the stated project
purpose, goals, and objectives, and the applicant's explanation of the
usefulness of the project to the field.
B. Project Strategy/Design (30 points)
This provides a description of project components and activities; a
specific plan for how the grant applicant intends to achieve the
purpose, goals and objectives of the funded program. The strategy or
design must include clear
[[Page 7280]]
descriptions of interim deliverables and final products.
C. Implementation Plan (10 points)
This plan will be judged on the realistic identification of tasks
according to increments in the project period, and the assignment of
specific staff to tasks on the time-task line.
D. Organizational Capability (30 points)
Points will be awarded based on the applicant's statement of the
organization's capability to successfully undertake this federally
funded project. This will consist of two parts: (1) a specific
description of the applicant's management structure, previous
experience with similar or related efforts, and financial capability
(15 points); and (2) a project management plan and documentation of the
professional staff members' unique qualifications to perform their
assigned tasks (15 points).
E. Budget (15 points)
Points will be awarded based on the enumeration and accompanying
narrative of grant costs, to be evaluated for clarity, reasonableness,
allowability, and cost effectiveness.
F. A Plan To Assess the Project's Accomplishments (5 points)
This assigns points based on the grant applicant's plan for
assessing the impact of the project in accomplishing its goal(s).
IX. Submission Requirements
All applicants responding to this solicitation are subjected to the
following requirements:
(1) Upon request to OVC, the necessary forms for application will
be provided, along with Department of Justice certification
information.
(2) Applicants must submit the original signed application
(Standard Form 424) and two copies to OVC. Applications should not be
bound. Applicants should also include Certifications Regarding
Lobbying; Debarment; Suspension and other Responsibility Matters; and
Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (Form 4061/6), in order to meet the
requirements of the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-690,
Title V, Subtitle D) and the Disclosure of Lobbying Activities Form (SF
LLL) in accordance with 31 U.S.C. Sec. 1352.
(3) All applications must be received by mail or hand delivered to
OVC by 5 p.m. Eastern Time by March 22, 1996. Those applications sent
by mail should be addressed to: Office for Victims of Crime, U.S.
Department of Justice, 633 Indiana Avenue, N.W., Washington D.C. 20531,
ATTN: Administrative Officer. Hand-delivered applications must be taken
to OVC, 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W., Suite 200, Washington, D.C.
20006, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. except weekends or
federal holidays. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. on the
established deadline date. Postmarks WILL NOT be accepted.
OVC will notify applicants in writing of the receipt of their
application. Applicants also will be notified by letters as to the
decision made regarding whether or not their submission will be
recommended for funding. Applications will be reviewed as Peer Review
Panels can be convened. Every effort will be made to review
applications in a timely manner.
X. Civil Rights Compliance
A. All recipients of Crime Victims Fund assistance, including
contractors, must provide Certified Assurances that they are in
compliance with the non-discrimination requirements of the Victims of
Crime Act of 1984, as amended, which states: No person shall on the
ground of race, color, religion, national origin, [disability], or sex
be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, be
subjected to discrimination under, or denied employment in connection
with any undertaking funded in whole or in part with sums made
available under this chapter.
42 U.S.C. Sec. 10604.
Recipients also must assure compliance with the following
additional statutes and regulations: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act
of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 2000d; Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. Sec. 794; Subtitle A,
Title II of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, codified at 42
U.S.C. Sec. 12101, et seq.; Title IX of the Education Amendments of
1972, as amended, 20 U.S.C. Secs. 1681-1683; the Age Discrimination Act
of 1975, as amended, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 6101, et seq.; and Department of
Justice Non-Discrimination Regulations, 28 CFR Part 42, subparts C, D,
E, and G.
B. In the event a federal or state court or federal or state
administrative agency makes a finding of discrimination after a due
process hearing on the grounds of race, color, religion, national
origin, sex, or disability against a recipient of funds, the recipient
will forward a copy of the finding to the Office for Civil Rights,
Office of Justice Programs.
XI. Audit Requirements
An audit is required for agencies receiving federal funds, with
some exceptions. The purpose of an audit is to determine whether
federal funds are being used properly and effectively. Each funded
agency must provide the name of the federal cognizant agency where
their audit report is submitted. In most cases, the agency that
receives an applicant's audit is the agency that provides the most
direct funds to applicant during the current fiscal year. If you do not
know the name of the cognizant agency, please check with your budget
office. More detailed information on audit requirements are listed in
the Office of Justice Programs Guideline Manual, Financial and
Administrative Guide for Grants, May 15, 1990.
XII. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Numbers
16.582 Crime victim assistance/discretionary grants
16.583 Children's Justice Act for Native American Indian Tribes
Aileen Adams,
Director.
[FR Doc. 96-4321 Filed 2-26-96; 8:45 am]
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