Updated 5/31/2011: Revised Solicitation posted and Questions & Answers posted. Applicants should carefully read the correction to the solicitation and download the attached revised solicitation. 

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.

DEADLINE: Applications must be received by 4:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, June 10, 2011.

• Learn More about NIC’s Cooperative Agreements

*Important* Solicitation Corrections – Posted 5/31/2010

Two corrections have been made to this solicitation.  First, NIC has deleted the following statement from page nine of the original document:  "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."  There is now no limitation on the length of the narrative.

Second, NIC has deleted the following review criteria listed under Applicant Organization and Project Staff Background on page 10 of the original document: "Do the primary project personnel, individually or collectively, have expertise on the key elements in jail administration?"

Questions & Answers – Posted 5/31/2011

Following are the answers to questions received on May 24, 2011 in response to the above solicitation.

• Question 1: Will NIC cover the costs for printing the necessary materials for the pilots?
  Answer: Yes.
• Question 2: If the awardee is responsible for printing the materials, will NIC facilitate and pay for the shipping of the materials to the site(s)?
  Answer: NIC will cover all costs related to printing and mailing the materials.
• Question 3: Will NIC select and pay the trainers for the Planning of New Institutions (PONI) and Managing Jail Design and Construction (MJDC) pilots?
  Answer: For PONI, NIC and the awardee jointly will identify potential trainers, with NIC making the final selection. NIC will pay the trainers’ fees and expenses. The awardee will pay all fees and expenses for the project director and curriculum specialist to attend the pilots. For MJDC, NIC and the awardee jointly will identify potential trainers, with NIC making the final selection. The awardee will pay the trainers’ fees and expenses. The awardee will also pay all fees and expenses for the project director and curriculum specialist to attend.
• Question 4: Will subject matter experts who are part of the cooperative agreement team be eligible to instruct at the pilots?
  Answer: Yes.
• Question 5: Is the intent that NIC will later develop graphics for the manual covers and/or presentation slides or will graphic design be part of the cooperative agreement expenses?
  Answer: The awardee will deliver all materials in final form. This will include graphics for the manual covers, presentation slides, and any other materials.
• Question 6: It appears that the Jail and Justice System Assessment (JJSA) will be revised to provide more of a training experience for the jurisdiction to educate them about the process instead of using their data and policymaker interviews to shape the way in which the JJSA is conducted. Is this the intent?
  Answer: Yes. However, the awardee will develop presentations for the JJSA, not formal training.
• Question 7: The cooperative agreement says the awardee will conduct and assess one pilot of the revised JJSA. Does this mean the entire cost is to be covered by the awardee? (e.g. travel expenses and per diems, printing, airfare, lodging, etc.)
  Answer: The awardee is responsible for all costs, except printing. The awardee will develop all materials, and NIC will print and send them to the JJSA site.
• Question 8: Will the awardee select the TRP(s) to be used for the JJSA pilot?
  Answer: NIC and the awardee will identify potential TRPs, with NIC making the final selection.
• Question 9: Will NIC select the jurisdiction for the JJSA pilot?
  Answer: Yes, but the awardee may assist with the selection.
• Question: Will NIC staff also attend and assess the JJSA pilot?
  Answer: Yes.
• Question 10: If the curriculum specialist is not able to attend the August 2011 PONI program due to prior commitments, but is an experienced ITIP curriculum designer who has helped revise other NIC jails training curriculum (updates and ITIP), and members of the cooperative agreement team are very familiar with PONI, can the team provide the specialist with the necessary information about the PONI program?
  Answer: The curriculum specialist must attend the program. If you will have more than one curriculum specialist on your team, only one of them will be required to attend the August program.
• Question 11: Will the MJDC program continue to use the current drawings/specifications (for an existing jail) or will other drawings/specifications be developed?
  Answer: Other drawings/specifications will be developed by the awardee.
• Question 12: If other plans are developed for MJDC, is the intent to have them developed as part of this cooperative agreement or will they be developed by others outside of this agreement?
  Answer: These plans will be developed by the awardee with funds from the cooperative agreement award.
• Question 13: If developed outside of this agreement, will the drawings/specifications be available prior to the development of the curriculum for MJDC?
  Answer: The drawings/specifications will be developed by the awardee.
• Question 14: For MJDC (page 7), it says the revised program must be reviewed in its entirety to ensure effective sequencing, timing, etc.  It goes on to say the draft materials must be sent to NIC for review and approval before they are piloted and again before being submitted as a final product. This implies that someone from the cooperative agreement team will attend the pilot and assess the program, but it is not stated clearly as it is in the JJSA and PONI scope of work.  Is the intent that one or more of the team members attend the pilot? 
  Answer: The project director and curriculum specialist must attend the pilot, at the awardee's expense.
• Question 15: The cooperative agreement boilerplate information requires that a form OMB425, Application for Federal Assistance be submitted.  However, I think the correct form number is standard form 424.  Which form should I use?
  Answer: The required application form is standard form 424.
• Following is the answer to a question received May 30, 2011 on the above solicitation.
  Question 16: Is the requirement to limit the narrative portion of the cooperative agreement to no more than 10 pages correct? 
  Answer: This question refers to the following statement on page 9 of the original solicitation: “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.” This statement is incorrect. There is no limitation on the number of pages for the narrative portion of the cooperative agreement application.

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