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National Drug Court Training and Technical Assistance Program:
Drug Court Technical Assistance Initiative, FY 2004
About OJP
The Office of Justice Programs (OJP), U.S. Department of Justice,
was created in l984 to provide federal leadership in developing
the nation's capacity to prevent and control crime, administer
justice, and assist crime victims. OJP carries out this mission
by forming partnerships with other federal, state, and local agencies,
as well as national and community-based organizations. OJP is dedicated
to comprehensive approaches that empower communities to address
crime, break the cycle of substance abuse and crime, combat family
violence, address youth crime, hold offenders accountable, protect
and support crime victims, enhance law enforcement initiatives,
and support advancements in adjudication. OJP also works to reduce
crime in Indian Country, enhance technology's use within the criminal
and juvenile justice systems, and support state and local efforts
through technical assistance and training.
About BJA
The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), a component of the Office
of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, supports innovative
programs that strengthen the nation's criminal justice system.
Its primary mission is to provide leadership and a range of assistance
to local criminal justice strategies to make America's communities
safer. BJA accomplishes this mission by providing funding, training,
technical assistance, and information to state and community criminal
justice programs and by emphasizing the coordination of federal,
state, and local efforts. BJA's specific goals are to help communities
reduce and prevent crime, violence, and drug abuse and to improve
the functioning of the criminal justice system.
Letters of Intent
Applicants for the National Drug Court Training and Technical Assistance Program's Technical Assistance Initiative are asked to submit letters of intent. Letters of intent must provide the following information:
- The name of the organization.
- The categories for which the applicant plans to submit an application. Three funding categories are available. An applicant may apply for more than one category.
The Bureau of Justice Assistance uses this information to plan for the review of the applications. Letters of intent are not binding. Letters of intent must be received by 5 p.m. e.t. December 30, 2003 by fax at 202-354-4147. Please direct them to the attention of the National Drug Court Training and Technical
Assistance Program.
About the National Drug Court Training and Technical Assistance Program
This solicitation provides information about the National Drug Court Training and Technical Assistance Program (NDCTTAP). This program supports the Drug Court Grant Program as described in Title I, Part EE, of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets (Crime Control) Act of 1968, Public Law 90-351, Title I, 82 Stat. 197, as amended by the 21st Century Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act, Public Law 107-273, Division B, Title II, Subtitle C, 116 Stat. 1758 (2002), which authorizes the Attorney General to provide technical assistance and training to further the purposes of the Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program.
In fiscal year (FY) 2004, funding under this competitive grant announcement is contingent on the availability and amount of FY 2004 funding for the Drug Court Program. BJA has developed a
comprehensive array of training and technical assistance opportunities for jurisdictions either planning or operating an adult, family, juvenile, tribal, or driving while intoxicated (DWI) drug court.
The goal of this initiative is to provide a comprehensive array of technical assistance services that strengthens jurisdictions' ability to implement, enhance, or institutionalize a family, juvenile, or tribal drug court. The objectives of the initiative are to:
- Provide culturally competent, proactive, comprehensive, user-friendly technical assistance services.
- Develop and deliver curricula based on adult learning theory.
- Coordinate the work of all technical assistance providers and grantees to maximize available
expertise in the drug court field.
- Develop uniform protocols for the assessment and delivery of technical assistance, as well as
tracking, evaluation, and followup.
- Use technical assistance strategies that include, but are not limited to, developing publications,
teleconferencing, peer-to-peer consultations, onsite technical assistance, and ongoing technical
assistance by phone and e-mail.
In FY 2004, BJA hopes to offer cooperative agreements for technical assistance in the following three categories:
- Family drug courts. A cooperative agreement will be awarded to provide technical assistance to family drug courts for an 18-month period. Applicants must demonstrate a thorough knowledge of family drug courts, extensive knowledge of brokering and developing technical assistance, knowledge of adult education techniques, and a willingness to work with other BJA training and technical assistance providers. A request for funding may not exceed $200,000.
- Juvenile drug courts. A cooperative agreement will be awarded to provide technical assistance to
juvenile drug courts for an 18-month period. Applicants must demonstrate a thorough knowledge of
drug courts, an extensive knowledge of brokering and developing technical assistance, knowledge of
adult education techniques, and a willingness to work with other BJA training and technical
assistance providers. A request for funding may not exceed $200,000.
- Tribal drug courts. A cooperative agreement will be awarded to provide technical assistance to
tribal drug courts for an 18-month period. Applicants must demonstrate a thorough knowledge of
tribal drug courts, an extensive knowledge of brokering and developing technical assistance,
knowledge of adult education techniques, and a willingness to work with other BJA training and
technical assistance providers. A request for funding may not exceed $200,000.
Collaborative efforts by consortia are encouraged.
Drug Court Training and Technical Assistance providers are part of the NDCTTAP consortium, which
meets biannually to coordinate and collaborate on activities. Applicants should budget for three 2-day
meetings of the NDCTTAP consortium for the 18-month grant period.
Eligibility
For the purposes of this solicitation, eligible applicants are limited to for-profit (commercial) organizations, nonprofit organizations, and institutions of higher education. For-profit organizations must agree to waive their fees. This solicitation is not open to public agencies other than institutions of higher education that qualify as public agencies. (See section 901(a)(6) and (17) of the Crime Control Act for definitions of "public agency" and "institution of higher education.") All applicants must demonstrate that they have the management and financial abilities and staff capacity to effectively plan and implement projects of the size and scope described in this grant announcement.
Amount and Length of Awards
Three categories of funding are available. An applicant may apply (either as a sole applicant or a joint applicant) for one technical assistance cooperative agreement in each of the three categories by submitting a separate application for each. Collaborative efforts and consortia of providers are strongly encouraged.
BJA anticipates awarding one application in each category. A request for funding may not exceed $200,000. The award period is 18 months.
Review Process
All applications will be peer reviewed. BJA staff will make recommendations, based on peer review results and other considerations, to the BJA Director, who will make final award recommendations to OJP's Assistant Attorney General. See specific formatting requirements under How To Apply.
Funding decisions will be made on the basis of several criteria, including the merit and fundamental strengths of the application. Consideration may also be given for other factors including, but not limited to, geographic and regional balance. Applications that meet all eligibility requirements will be evaluated according to the selection criteria. Peer reviewers' recommendations are advisory only. The final award decision is made by the Assistant Attorney General.
BJA will negotiate specific terms of the awards with the selected applicants.
How To Apply
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number for this solicitation is 16.585, titled "Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program."
OJP requires that funding applications be submitted through the OJP Grants Management System (GMS). If you experience difficulties at any point in this process,
please call the GMS Help Desk at 1-888-549-9901. Applications submitted via GMS must be in one of
the following formats: Microsoft Word (*.doc*), PDF (*.pdf*), or text (*.txt*). Steps to apply include—
Step 1: Sign On
- If you already have a GMS user ID, proceed to GMS sign in. You will not be considered registered
for the solicitation until you have signed on to GMS and entered the appropriate solicitation, even if
your organization already has a user ID. To do so, please proceed to step 2.
- If you do not have a GMS user ID, select "New User? Register Here." Complete all of the required
information and click "Create Account" at the bottom of the page. Note your user ID and password,
which are case sensitive. Within 2 business days, BJA will send an e-mail confirmation to newly
registered applicants that their user ID and password have been approved and they are eligible to
submit an application.
- Beginning October 1, 2003, a Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System
(DUNS) number must be included in every application for a new award or renewal of an award. The
DUNS number will be required whether an applicant is submitting an application through OJP's
Grants Management System or using the governmentwide electronic portal. An application will not be considered complete until the applicant
has provided a valid DUNS number. Individuals who would personally receive a grant or
cooperative agreement from the federal government are exempt from this requirement.
Organizations should verify that they have a DUNS number or take the steps necessary to obtain one as soon as possible. Applicants can receive a DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS number request line at 1-800-333-0505.
Step 2: Select and Register for the Program
- After you have logged onto the system using your user ID and password, click on "Funding
Opportunities."
- Select the "Bureau of Justice Assistance" from the drop-down list and click "Search." This will
narrow the list of solicitations within the Office of Justice Programs to those in BJA.
- Find "Drug Court Technical Assistance Initiative" and click "Apply Online."
- Confirm that your organization is eligible to apply for this program by reading the text on the screen.
If eligible, proceed by clicking "Continue."
Step 3: Complete the Overview Information
- Select the type of application your are submitting by choosing "Application Non-Construction" in the
"Type of Submission" section.
- Select "New" in the drop-down box for "Type of Application."
- If your state has a review and comment process under Executive Order 12372, select "Yes" and enter the date you made this application available under that review or "N/A" because this program has not been selected by your
state for such a review. If your state does not have such a process, then select "No. Program Not
Covered by E.O. 12372."
- Click "Save and Continue."
Step 4: Complete the Applicant Information
- Answer "Yes" or "No" to the question about whether your organization is delinquent on any federal
debt.
- Check the information on the rest of this page, which will prepopulate based on the information you
submitted during the registration process, for accuracy and relevance. Make any needed changes.
- Click "Save and Continue."
Step 5: Complete the Project Information
- Provide a title that describes your project.
- List the geographic areas to be affected by the project.
- Enter a start date for the project that is on or after May 15, 2004 and an end date that is no more than
18 months later.
- Select all of the congressional districts that are affected by this application. To select multiple
districts, hold down the CTRL key while making your selections.
- Enter the amount of the grant for which your organization is applying (no more than $200,000) on
the federal line under "Estimated Funding."
- Click "Save and Continue."
Step 6: Upload Attachments
You will be asked to upload three attachments to the online application system. (See Attachments for detailed instructions.)
1. The Budget Detail Worksheet (Attachment #1).
2. The Program Narrative (Attachment #2).
3. Other Program Attachments (Attachment #3).
- Click "Attach" to upload these documents. A new window will open. Click "Browse" and find
the file you want to upload, then click "Upload Your Document." A window that says "File
Upload Successful" should appear. Next to the upload list, the notation should change to
"Attachment OK." Repeat these steps for all three uploads.
Note: Depending on the size of the attachment and the speed of your Internet connection, this process can take several hours. The system will shut down promptly at the deadline. Any incomplete application
will not be accepted and no exceptions will be granted. Please plan accordingly.
- Click on "Tips for Successful Upload" if you encounter any difficulties uploading your file. This
document will explain the usual problems with uploading files and will help you through them.
- Click "Save and Continue."
Step 7: Complete the Assurances and Certifications
- You must accept both the assurances document and the certifications document. To do this, click on
the links marked "Assurances" and "Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension, and
Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements."
- Read both documents. At the bottom of each one, click "Accept."
- Enter the correct personal information for the person submitting the application after you have
accepted both documents.
- Click the box at the bottom of the page to certify that the person submitting the application is
authorized to accept these assurances and certifications.
- Click "Save and Continue."
Step 8: Review the SF-424
By answering the questions contained in GMS, you have completed the Standard Form 424 and other forms required to apply for grant funding. Take a moment to review the SF-424 to ensure that it is accurate.
- Make changes to any portion of the application by clicking that section along the left side of the
screen. Be sure to click "Save and Continue" after making any changes.
- Click "Continue" when you are sure that the information is accurate
Step 9: Submit the Application
- A list of application components will appear on the screen. It should say "Complete" before each
component. If it says "Incomplete," click on the word and it will take you back to the unfinished
section. An explanation of what is missing will be at the top of that screen.
- Read below the list of components for language indicating that your user ID has not been approved.
Even if you have a complete application, you will be unable to submit it until BJA has approved your
user ID. BJA will approve your user ID within 2 business days after you begin your application.
Note: If the applicant notifies BJA in advance of the deadline of its inability to submit an application
electronically and demonstrates that it has made reasonable efforts to comply with the requirement to
submit its application electronically, BJA may, at its discretion, allow submission of the application in a
paper version via overnight express only. (General mail delivery is still delayed by heightened security
screenings in the D.C. area.) The applicant must continue its efforts to submit an application
electronically. An application approved for submission in hard copy/paper version will be accepted only
if it is postmarked no later than the date of the application deadline and is sent to the address listed in the Additional Information section.
Attachments
Budget Detail Worksheet (Attachment #1)
The applicant must provide a budget that (1) is complete, allowable, and cost effective in relation to the
proposed activities, (2) shows the cost calculations that demonstrate how the applicant arrived at the total
amount requested, and (3) provides a brief supporting budget narrative that
links costs with project implementation.
Applicants must submit the budget worksheet and a budget narrative in one file. The worksheet provides
the detailed computation for each budget item (often in spreadsheet format). The narrative justifies or
explains each budget item and relates it to project activities.
- Budget Worksheet. The budget worksheet must list the cost of each budget item and show how the
cost was calculated. For example, costs for personnel should show the annual salary rate and the
percentage of time devoted to the project for each employee to be paid through grant funds. Note:
Total costs specified in the budget detail worksheet must match the total amount requested.
- Budget Narrative. The budget narrative should closely follow the content of the budget worksheet and justify all proposed costs. For example, the narrative should explain how fringe benefits were calculated, how travel costs were estimated, why particular items of equipment or supplies must be purchased, and how overhead or indirect costs (if applicable) were calculated. The budget narrative should justify the specific items listed in the budget worksheet (particularly supplies, travel, and equipment) and demonstrate that all costs are reasonable.
Use the sample budget detail worksheet as a guide in the
preparation of the budget worksheet and budget narrative. Applicants should budget for three 2-day
meetings of the NDCTTAP consortium for the 18-month grant period.
Program Narrative (Attachment #2)
The program narrative must be double spaced, using a standard 12-point font (Times New Roman
preferred) with 1-inch margins, and must not exceed 25 pages. (Please number pages "1 of 25," "2 of 25," and so forth.) The program narrative must respond to the selection criteria. Submissions that do not adhere to the format will be deemed ineligible.
Project abstract. The project abstract section should not exceed 200 words. It should briefly describe the project's purpose, goals, and objectives; summarize the activities that will be implemented to achieve the proposed goals and objectives; and identify the population to be served with cooperative agreement
funds.
Project design and strategy. The project design and strategy section of the narrative must illustrate
what is proposed and how the applicant intends to do it. It should include the following elements:
- A description of how the objectives will be achieved.
- A description of how the deliverables will be implemented.
- A description of how the proposed quantitative and qualitative measures indicate progress in meeting
the objectives.
- A description of the technical assistance protocols and triage process that will be used.
- A comprehensive plan for identifying appropriate faculty.
Applicants must discuss their capacity to submit the following deliverables:
- A technical assistance evaluation plan and a process to use the evaluation results to improve the
technical assistance (due within 1 month of the award).
- A technical assistance triage process (due within 2 months of the award).
- A faculty list organized by area of expertise. The faculty list must include name, title, city, state, and
area of expertise for each faculty member (due within 2 months of the award).
- A faculty training plan (due within 3 months of the award).
The project design and strategy section should also address the applicant's ability to:
- Assess the technical assistance needs of operational family, juvenile, or tribal drug courts.
- Provide various technical assistance services to family, juvenile, or tribal drug courts.
- Teach and demonstrate the drug court philosophy and best practices to operational family, juvenile,
or tribal drug courts.
- Strengthen the drug court team's ability to work together and expand the team's membership.
- Foster practitioner-to-practitioner education.
- Strengthen the drug court team's capacity to assess program implementation and impact.
Other Program Attachments (Attachment #3)
This file must include the following materials:
Selection Criteria
Applicants will be evaluated by a peer review panel according to the criteria outlined below.
- Project Design and Strategy (50 points)
Applicants must detail a project design that is innovative, viable, and within their ability to carry out.
Applicants must delineate quantitative and qualitative measures by which progress in meeting project
objectives will be assessed. Applications must indicate how project objectives and work
requirements will be achieved and must describe a cohesive and well-thought-out plan for
transferring knowledge about drug courts and best practices for drug courts in the related initiative to
the field. The project design and strategy section of the program narrative must illustrate what the
applicants will do and how they intend to do it. It should include:
- A description of how the objectives will be achieved (15 points).
- A description of how the deliverables will be implemented (15 points).
- A description of how the proposed quantitative and qualitative measures indicate progress in meeting the objectives (10 points).
- A description of the technical assistance protocols and triage process that will be used (10
points).
- Work Plan (10 points)
The work plan must address the goals, objectives, and deliverables described in the category and
include the tasks to be accomplished, timeline for completing the tasks, and percentage of time that
will be dedicated by the individuals responsible for the tasks.
- Management and Organizational Capability (35 points)
This statement must describe the management structure, staffing, and experience working with state
agencies and local entities. The statement must demonstrate the applicant's ability to implement and
complete the project successfully, efficiently, and cost effectively. Collaborative commitments with
other organizations must clearly and specifically outline the parties' respective project
responsibilities, costs, allotted number of hours, and manner in which ongoing communication and
collaboration will be managed. The applicant must document its ability to implement the project,
address all eligibility requirements, and succinctly describe its organizational experience with respect
to program objectives and proposed activities. The applicant must demonstrate a willingness to work
with the other technical assistance providers receiving awards. The applicant must provide résumés
for all key personnel, as well as job descriptions outlining roles and responsibilities for key positions
that are currently vacant.
- Budget (5 points)
Applicants must provide a budget that is complete, allowable, and cost effective in relation to the
proposed activities. Applicants should budget for three 2-day meetings of the NDCTTAP consortium
for the 18-month grant period.
Performance Measures
To ensure compliance with the Government Performance and Results Act, Public Law 103-62, grantees
are required to collect and report data that measure the program's results. To ensure accountability of this
data for which OJP is responsible, performance will be measured by the following outcomes:
- Number of training sessions offered.
- Number of technical assistance requests fulfilled.
Submission Deadline
All applicants must register for this program by January 8, 2004 even if they have previously applied for or received funding under this program or any OJP program. Within 2 business days, BJA will send an e-mail confirmation to registered applicants stating that their user ID and password have been approved for this program, and that they are eligible to submit an application. Applications for this program are due by 5 p.m. e.t. on
January 13, 2004. Faxed or mailed applications or supplemental materials will not be accepted, except
as described under How To Apply.
Other Requirements
Civil Rights Compliance
All recipients of federal grant funds must comply with nondiscrimination requirements contained in
federal laws. If a court or administrative agency makes a finding of discrimination against a recipient of
funds on grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, disability, or age after a due process
hearing, the recipient must forward a copy of the finding to the Office for Civil Rights of the Office of
Justice Programs.
Limited English Proficiency
National origin discrimination includes discrimination on the basis of limited English proficiency (LEP). To ensure compliance with Title VI and the Safe Streets Act, recipients are required to take reasonable steps to ensure that LEP persons have meaningful access to their programs. Meaningful access may entail providing language assistance services, including oral and written translation when necessary. The U.S. Department of Justice has issued guidance for grantees to assist them in complying with Title VI requirements. The guidance document can be accessed on the internet at www.lep.gov, or by contacting OJP's Office for Civil Rights at 202–307–0690, or by writing to the following address:
Office for Civil Rights
Office of Justice Programs
U.S. Department of Justice
810 7th Street NW., Eighth Floor
Washington, DC 20531
Faith-Based and Community Organizations
It is OJP policy that faith-based and community organizations that statutorily qualify as eligible
applicants under OJP programs are invited and encouraged to apply for assistance awards. Faith-based and community organizations will be considered for awards on the same basis as any other
eligible applicants and, if they receive assistance awards, will be treated on an equal basis with
all other grantees in the administration of such awards. No eligible applicant or grantee will be
discriminated against on the basis of its religious character or affiliation, religious name, or the
religious composition of its board of directors or persons working in the organization.
Anti-Lobbying Act
The Anti-Lobbying Act (18 U.S.C. § 1913)
recently was amended to expand significantly restrictions on the use of appropriated funding for
lobbying. This expansion also makes the anti-lobbying restrictions enforceable via large civil penalties,
with civil fines between $10,000 and $100,000 for each individual occurrence of lobbying activity. These
restrictions are in addition to the anti-lobbying and lobbying disclosure restrictions imposed by 31 U.S.C. § 1352.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is currently in the process of amending the OMB cost
circulars and the common rule (codified at 28
C.F.R. Part 69 for Department of Justice grantees) to reflect these modifications. However, in the interest of full disclosure, all applicants must understand that no federally appropriated funding made available under this grant program may be used, either directly or indirectly, to support the enactment, repeal, modification, or adoption of any law, regulation, or policy, at any level of government, without the express approval by OJP. Any violation of this prohibition is subject to a minimum $10,000 fine for each occurrence. This prohibition applies to all
activity, even if currently allowed within the parameters of the existing OMB circulars.
Confidentiality and Human Subjects Protection
U.S. Department of Justice regulations (28 C.F.R. Part 22) require applicants for BJA 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 personally identifiable information will be collected. In addition to the regulations in Part 22, regulations concerning protection of human subjects are set forth in 28 C.F.R. Part 46. In general, 28 C.F.R. Part 46 requires that all research involving human subjects conducted or supported by a federal department or agency be reviewed and approved by an Institutional Review Board before funds are expended for that research.
General information regarding Confidentiality and Human Subjects Protection can be found on the National Institute of Justice web site. Sample formats of the Privacy Certificate, Transfer Agreement, and Single Project Assurance for submission to BJA can be found on the OJP web site.
Additional Information
For general information about BJA programs, training, and technical assistance, contact the BJA
Clearinghouse at 1-800-851-3420 or visit the BJA home page.
For additional information about this solicitation, call 202-616-6500 or email "ASKBJA".
The OJP Financial Guide, which contains information on allowable
costs, methods of payment, audit requirements, accounting systems, and financial records, is available online. This document governs the administration of funds by all successful applicants and their contractors.
Appendix
Technical Assistance Forms
Successful applicants for the Drug Court Technical Assistance Initiative will be required to work with BJA to prepare the following forms:
- Technical Assistance Request Form. To be completed by a jurisdiction. This form will be used by
the technical assistance provider to assess a jurisdiction's technical assistance needs.
- Technical Assistance Assessment and Approval Form. To be completed by the technical
assistance provider. This form describes the proposed technical assistance plan for the jurisdiction,
with justification for the proposed plan, and is submitted to BJA for approval.
- Technical Assistance Report Outline. To be completed by the consultant who provided the
technical assistance to the jurisdiction.
- Technical Assistance Evaluation. To be completed by the jurisdiction that received the technical
assistance.
- Technical Assistance Impact Form. To be completed by the jurisdiction that received the technical
assistance. As a followup to the evaluation, this form will help to determine the impact of the
technical assistance on the jurisdiction.
- Consultant Fee Verification Form. To be completed by the consultants on an annual basis to
determine the pay rate for consultants.
Minimum Standards of Performance
Output and performance are the focus of the National Drug Court Training and Technical Assistance
Program. BJA and OJP reserve the right to disallow costs if the performance standards outlined in the
solicitation are not met or if approved deliverables under the cooperative agreement are not submitted to
BJA in accordance with the approved work plan.
The cooperative agreement recipient or recipients must meet the minimum standards of performance
(MSP) described below in performing the work described in the performance work plan. MSP
distinguishes between satisfactory and unsatisfactory performance. BJA and OJP will monitor the
cooperative agreement recipient's performance in accordance with procedures set forth in its application
and will take appropriate action for documented instances of performance that fall below MSP. At a
minimum, to achieve satisfactory performance, the cooperative agreement recipients must ensure that:
- At least 90 percent of onsite technical assistance work plans are submitted to BJA within 15 days of
receiving the request.
- At least 95 percent of the deliverables are completed within the timeframe approved by BJA.
- Written materials, documents, publications, and brochures follow Government Printing Office
guidelines and are virtually free of errors relating to content accuracy, style, spelling, and grammar.
- All trainers, faculty, or consultants are approved by BJA and reflect a wide range of expertise,
experience, cultural and ethnic diversity, and geographic representation.
- Technical assistance services meet the needs of the participants as demonstrated by an average score
of at least 5.5 out of a possible 7 in the overall assessment of the services, using an evaluation form
approved by BJA.
- The most economical rates for travel, lodging, and meeting costs are used 100 percent of the time.
- An adequate workforce is maintained at all times, within the budget limitations of the cooperative
agreement, to provide for the timely performance of all deliverables described herein.
The recipient also must be able to report the impact of the technical assistance and provide
data that indicate a program result that is valid, verifiable, and able to be audited.
Use of Consultants
OJP's Financial Guide (part III, chapter 15, paragraph 6) requires
compensation for consultant services to be reasonable and consistent with that paid for similar services in
the market. Therefore, depending on the services needed, a grant recipient may set a daily rate below the
maximum of the individual's calculated daily rate if the nature of the services dictates a lesser rate.
The Financial Guide establishes the maximum rate for consultants not requiring prior written approval at $450 (excluding travel and subsistence costs) for an 8-hour day. An 8-hour day may include preparation and report writing and actual travel time in addition to the time required for actual
performance. Preparation and report writing time is determined on a case-by-case basis depending on the
nature of the work to be provided by the consultant. Additionally, documentation and records to support
the consultant's fee must be kept and updated on an annual basis.
Personnel Requirements
Certain skilled and experienced professional and technical personnel are essential for cooperative
agreement recipients to accomplish the work necessary under the National Drug Court Training and
Technical Assistance Program. These people are identified as "key personnel." Key personnel must meet
the minimum qualifications defined below and must be identified in the budget narrative.
The applicant should also describe other staff and contract personnel who will be required to perform the
tasks outlined in the solicitation to ensure that the deliverables are met on time.
The applicant shall provide staff who are qualified to perform the work described in the performance
work statement. The proposed team is expected to have experience and knowledge about drug courts,
court administration, substance abuse treatment, training curricula, and development and delivery of
training and technical assistance. The application should describe the responsibilities of key and nonkey
personnel and the percentage of time each type of staff will be assigned to the project to ensure
availability when needed.
The proposed staff must meet the following criteria for the proposal to be considered responsive. The
minimum skills required for key personnel to perform the tasks under the National Drug Court Training
and Technical Assistance Program's Technical Assistance Initiative are as follows.
Key Personnel for the Drug Court Technical Assistance Initiative
Technical Assistance Project Director. The technical assistance project director will be the primary
point of contact with BJA and be responsible for activities such as providing project oversight and
direction, ensuring technical assistance development, identifying consultants, and facilitating planning
meetings. The incumbent must have a minimum of an advanced college degree; 5 years of work
experience in criminal justice, substance abuse, public policy, or a similar discipline; and at least 5 years
of work experience in developing and managing a technical assistance program of similar
magnitude and complexity. Additional years of work and technical assistance experience as
listed above may be substituted for the advanced degree.
Clearinghouse Project Director. The clearinghouse project director will be the primary point of contact
with BJA and be responsible for activities such as project oversight and direction, managing a
clearinghouse, and facilitating planning meetings. The incumbent must have a minimum of an advanced
college degree; 5 years of work experience in criminal justice, substance abuse, public policy, or a
similar discipline; and at least 5 years of work experience in developing and managing a technical assistance program of similar magnitude and complexity. Additional years of work and training
experience as listed above may be substituted for the advanced degree.
Technical Assistance Manager. The technical assistance manager will be responsible for ensuring the development of onsite technical assistance, identifying faculty with appropriate skills and experience,
and executing the onsite technical assistance. At minimum, the technical assistance manager must have a
bachelor's degree; at least 4 years of experience in criminal justice, substance abuse, public policy, or a
similar discipline; and at least 3 years of work experience in developing and managing a technical
assistance program of similar magnitude and complexity.
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