Justice for Families Program Solicitation OVW Fiscal Year 2016

8/20/2019 Justice for Families Program Solicitation OVW Fiscal Year 2016

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U.S. Department of Justice

Office on Violence Against Women (OVW)

OVW Fiscal Year 2016Justice for Families Program

Solicitation

Solicitation Release Date

This solicitation was released on or about November 24, 2015.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants are limited to: states, units of local government, courts (including juvenilecourts), Indian tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, legal services providers, and victim

service providers.(See Eligibility Information)

Deadlines

Appl ication : All appli cat ions are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (E.T.) on January 20,

2016.(See “ Submission Dates and Times” )

Registration: To ensure all applicants have ample time to complete the registration process,applicants must obtain a Data Universal Number System (DUNS) Number, register online withthe System for Award Management (SAM) and with Grants.gov immediately, but no later than,

January 4, 2016.(See “ Registration” )

Letter of Registration: Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a letter of registration [email protected] by January 4, 2016. This will ensure that applicants are well-positioned

to successfully submit an application by the deadline. This letter will not obligate potential

applicants to submit an application. Interested applicants who do not submit a Letter ofRegistration are still eligible to apply.

(See “ Letter of Registration” )

Pre-Appli cation Conference Calls: OVW will conduct Pre-Application Conference Calls foranyone interested in submitting an application for the Justice for Families Program. Participationin these calls is optional. Interested applicants who do not participate are still eligible to apply.

(See “ Content and Form of Application Submission” )

http://www.grants.gov/http://www.grants.gov/http://www.grants.gov/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.grants.gov/


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Contact Information

For assistance with the requirements of this solicitation, call OVW at (202) 307-6026.

In Fiscal Year 2016, OVW applications for the Justi ce for Families Program will be

submitted through Grants.gov. For technical assistance with Grants.gov, please contactthe Grants.gov Customer Suppor t Hotl ine at 1-800-518-4726.

The Grants.gov number assigned to this announcement is OVW-2016-9003

It is anticipated that all applicants will be notified of the outcome of their applications bySeptember 30, 2016.

http://www.grants.gov/http://www.grants.gov/http://www.grants.gov/http://www.grants.gov/http://www.grants.gov/http://www.grants.gov/http://www.grants.gov/http://www.grants.gov/http://www.grants.gov/http://www.grants.gov/http://www.grants.gov/http://www.grants.gov/http://www.grants.gov/http://www.grants.gov/http://www.grants.gov/


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Contents Eligibility ...........................................................................................................................................i

Deadlines .........................................................................................................................................i

Contact Information .........................................................................................................................ii A. Program Description .................................................................................................................. 1

Overview ........................................................................................................................................ 1

About the OVW Justice for Families Program ................................................................................ 1

Program Scope .............................................................................................................................. 1

Purpose Areas ............................................................................................................................... 2

Mandatory Program Requirements ................................................................................................ 3

OVW Priority Areas ........................................................................................................................ 3

Activities that Compromise Victim Safety and Recovery ................................................................ 3

Out-of-Scope Activities ................................................................................................................... 5

Unallowable Activities .................................................................................................................... 6

B. Federal Award Information ......................................................................................................... 6

Availability of Funds ....................................................................................................................... 6

Award Period ................................................................................................................................. 6

Award Amounts.............................................................................................................................. 6

Types of Applicants ........................................................................................................................ 7

C. Eligibility Information .................................................................................................................. 7

Eligible Applicants .......................................................................................................................... 7

Eligible entities for this program are: .............................................................................................. 7

Eligibility Requirements for Current Grantees ................................................................................ 8

Nonprofit Organization Requirements ............................................................................................ 8

Cost Sharing or Match Requirement .............................................................................................. 8

Other .............................................................................................................................................. 8

Program Eligibility Requirements ................................................................................................... 8

Limit on Number of Application Submissions ............................................................................... 10

D. Application and Submission Information .................................................................................. 10

Address to Request Application Package ..................................................................................... 10

Content and Form of Application Submission ............................................................................... 10

Letter of Registration .................................................................................................................... 10


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Pre-Application Conference Call .................................................................................................. 10

Application Contents .................................................................................................................... 11

Formatting and Technical Requirements ...................................................................................... 11

Application Requirements ............................................................................................................ 11

Summary Data Sheet (5 Points) ................................................................................................... 11

Project Narrative .......................................................................................................................... 13

Budget Detail Worksheet and Narrative ....................................................................................... 15

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or Letters of Support (for court applicants only) .............. 17

Proposal Abstract ......................................................................................................................... 18

Additional Required Information ................................................................................................... 19

Proof of 501(c)(3) Status (Nonprofit Organizations Only) ............................................................. 19

Disclosures Related to Executive Compensation ......................................................................... 19

Confidentiality Notice Form .......................................................................................................... 19

Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) ................................................................................ 19

Standard Assurances and Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension, and

Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (Form 4061/6) ............... 20

Letter of Nonsupplanting .............................................................................................................. 20

Financial Accounting Practices .................................................................................................... 20

Financial Capability Questionnaire (if applicable) ......................................................................... 21

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) ................................................................................ 21

Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number and System for Award

Management (SAM) ..................................................................................................................... 21

OVW Policy on Duplicate Applications ......................................................................................... 23

Experiencing Unforeseeable Technical Issues ............................................................................. 23

OVW Policy on Late Submissions ................................................................................................ 24

Intergovernmental Review ........................................................................................................... 24

Single Point of Contact Review .................................................................................................... 24

Funding Restrictions .................................................................................................................... 24

E. Application Review Information ................................................................................................ 27

Criteria ......................................................................................................................................... 27

Review and Selection Process ..................................................................................................... 27

Peer Review ................................................................................................................................ 27

Programmatic Review .................................................................................................................. 27

High Risk Grantees ...................................................................................................................... 28


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Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates ................................................................. 28

F. Federal Award Administration Information ............................................................................... 29

Federal Award Notice ................................................................................................................... 29

Administrative and National Policy Requirements ........................................................................ 29

Violence Against Women Act Non-Discrimination Provision ......................................................... 29

Compliance with OVW Financial Requirements ........................................................................... 30

Reporting ..................................................................................................................................... 30

Reporting Requirements .............................................................................................................. 30

Public Reporting Burden - Paperwork Reduction Act Notice ........................................................ 30

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s) ...................................................................................... 30

H. Other Information..................................................................................................................... 30

Application Checklist .................................................................................................................... 30

APPENDIX A ............................................................................................................................... 32

Budget Guidance & Sample Budget Detail Worksheet ................................................................. 32

Budget Guidance ......................................................................................................................... 33

Budget Detail Worksheet ............................................................................................................. 35

APPENDIX B ............................................................................................................................... 42

Sample Letter of Registration ....................................................................................................... 42

APPENDIX C ............................................................................................................................... 44

Disclosures Related to Executive Compensation Sample Letter .................................................. 44

APPENDIX D ............................................................................................................................... 46

Summary of Current and Recent OVW Projects ........................................................................... 47

APPENDIX E ............................................................................................................................... 48

Summary of Current and Pending Non-OVW Grants to do the Same or Similar Work ................. 49

APPENDIX F ............................................................................................................................... 50

Required Certifications by Application Type ................................................................................. 51

APPENDIX G ............................................................................................................................... 52

Sample Certification Letter for Applicants Proposing to Provide Supervised Visitation and SafeExchange Services ...................................................................................................................... 53

APPENDIX H ............................................................................................................................... 54

Sample Certification Letter for Applicants Proposing to use OVW Grant Funds to Support

Custody Evaluation and/or Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Services .................................................... 55

APPENDIX I ................................................................................................................................. 56

Sample Certification Letter for Applicants Proposing to Provide Legal Services ........................... 57


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APPENDIX J ................................................................................................................................ 58

Required Sample Certification Letter Regarding Mediation or Counseling ................................... 59

APPENDIX K ............................................................................................................................... 60

Sample Certification Letter Regarding Filing and Other Fees ....................................................... 61


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OVW Justice for Families Program (CFDA 16.021)

A. Program Description

OverviewThe Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) is a component of the United States Departmentof Justice (DOJ). Created in 1995, OVW implements the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)and subsequent legislation and provides national leadership on issues of sexual assault,domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. Since its inception, OVW has supported amultifaceted approach to responding to these crimes through implementation of grant programsauthorized by VAWA. By forging state, local and tribal partnerships among police, prosecutors,

judges, victim advocates, health care providers, faith leaders, organizations that serve culturallyspecific and underserved communities, and others, OVW grants help provide victims across thelife span with the protection and services they need to pursue safe and healthy lives, whileimproving communities’ capacity to hold offenders accountable for their crimes.

About the OVW Justice for Families ProgramThis program is authorized by 42 U.S.C. § 10420.

The Grants to Support Families in the Justice System program (referred to as the Justice forFamilies Program) was authorized in the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA)of 2013 to improve the response of all aspects of the civil and criminal justice system to familieswith a history of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, or in casesinvolving allegations of child sexual abuse. The program supports the following activities forimproving the capacity of communities and courts to respond to families affected by the fourcrimes: court-based and court-related programs; supervised visitation and safe exchange byand between parents; training and technical assistance for people who work with families in the

court system; civil legal services; provision of resources in juvenile court matters; anddevelopment or promotion of legislation, model codes, policies, and best practices. The programincludes purpose areas previously authorized under the Safe Havens: Supervised Visitation andSafe Exchange Grant Program (Supervised Visitation) and the Court Training andImprovements Program (Courts).

For additional information on the Justice for Families Program, including what past Justice forFamilies, Supervised Visitation, and Courts grantees have accomplished with their grant fundsand to view the programs’ performance measures, seehttp://muskie.usm.maine.edu/vawamei/justiceforfamiliesmain.html, http://muskie.usm.maine.edu/vawamei/safehavensmain.htm, andhttp://muskie.usm.maine.edu/vawamei/courtsmain.htm, respectively.

Program Scope Activities supported by the Justice for Families Program are determined by statute, federalregulations, and OVW policies. If an applicant receives an award, the funded project is bound bythe provisions of this solicitation, the DOJ Financial Guide, any updates to the DOJ FinancialGuide, and the conditions of the recipient’s award.

http://muskie.usm.maine.edu/vawamei/justiceforfamiliesmain.htmlhttp://muskie.usm.maine.edu/vawamei/justiceforfamiliesmain.htmlhttp://muskie.usm.maine.edu/vawamei/safehavensmain.htmhttp://muskie.usm.maine.edu/vawamei/safehavensmain.htmhttp://muskie.usm.maine.edu/vawamei/courtsmain.htmhttp://muskie.usm.maine.edu/vawamei/courtsmain.htmhttp://muskie.usm.maine.edu/vawamei/courtsmain.htmhttp://muskie.usm.maine.edu/vawamei/safehavensmain.htmhttp://muskie.usm.maine.edu/vawamei/justiceforfamiliesmain.html


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Purpose AreasIn FY 2016, funds under the Justice for Families Program may be used for the purposes listedbelow. OVW is interested in funding projects that take a coordinated approach to helpingfamilies victimized by domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking as theynavigate the justice system. In order to help achieve this coordinated approach, applicantsmust propose activities under purpose area number 1 or 5. If an applicant is proposing to

provide supervised visitation/safe exchange services (purpose area 1), the applicant must propose activities under at least one additional purpose area. The Courts purpose area(purpose area 5) can be addressed on its own, or in combination with another purpose area.1

• (Purpose Area 1) Supervised visitation and safe exchange: Provide supervisedvisitation and safe visitation exchange of children and youth by and between parents insituations involving domestic violence, dating violence, child sexual abuse, sexualassault, or stalking. Applicants proposing activ it ies under th is purpose area mustpropose activities under at least one additional purpose area.

• (Purpose Area 3) Training for court-based and court-related personnel: Educatecourt-based and court-related personnel and court-appointed personnel (including

custody evaluators and guardians ad litem) and child protective services workers on thedynamics of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, includinginformation on perpetrator behavior, evidence-based risk factors for domestic and datingviolence homicide, and on issues relating to the needs of victims, including safety,security, privacy, and confidentiality, including cases in which the victim proceeds pro se.

Appl icants proposing activ it ies under this purpose area must also proposeactivities under purpose area 1 and/or 5.

• (Purpose Area 4) Juvenile court resources: Provide appropriate resources in juvenilecourt matters to respond to dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault (includingchild sexual abuse), and stalking and ensure necessary services dealing with the healthand mental health of victims are available. Applicants proposing activities under this

purpose area must also propose activities under purpose area 1 and/or 5.

• (Purpose Area 5) Court and court-based programs and services: Enable courts orcourt-based or court-related programs to develop or enhance a) court infrastructure(such as specialized courts, consolidated courts, dockets, intake centers, or interpreterservices); b) community-based initiatives within the court system (such as court watchprograms, victim assistants, pro se victim assistance programs, or community-basedsupplementary services); c) offender management, monitoring, and accountabilityprograms; d) safe and confidential information-storage and information-sharingdatabases within and between court systems; e) education and outreach programs toimprove community access, including enhanced access for underserved populations;and f) other projects likely to improve court responses to domestic violence, dating

violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

• (Purpose Area 6) Civil legal assis tance: Provide civil legal assistance and advocacyservices, including legal information and resources in cases in which the victim proceedspro se, to (a) victims of domestic violence; and (b) nonoffending parents in matters thatinvolve allegations of child sexual abuse; that relate to family matters, including civil

1 VAWA 2013 includes eight distinct purpose areas for the Justice for Families Program. However, in FY2016, OVW is limiting applicants to addressing only purpose areas 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8.


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protection orders, custody, and divorce; and in which the other parent is represented bycounsel. Appl icants proposing activ it ies under th is purpose area must alsopropose activities under purpose area 1 and/or 5. In addit ion, a project in whichthe primary focus is on providing civil l egal assistance is not appropriate for theJust ice for Families Program. Applications in which more than 50% of the projectbudget is allocated for civi l legal assistance would be better suited to the OVW

Legal Assistance for Victims Program, for which applications are solicitedannually.

• (Purpose Area 8) Training with in civi l justi ce system: Improve training and educationto assist judges, judicial personnel, attorneys, child welfare personnel, and legaladvocates in the civil justice system. Appl icants proposing activ it ies under thispurpose area must also propose activities under purpose area 1 and/or 5.

Mandatory Program Requirements Applicants for FY 2016 Justice for Families funding are required to demonstrate formalpartnerships among victim services providers and courts within the proposed project. Applications that do not include both 1) a nonprofit domestic violence or sexual assault victim

services provider and 2) a court, either as lead applicant or project partner, will not be eligiblefor Justice for Families Program funding.

OVW Priority AreasIn FY 2016, OWW is interested in supporting the priority areas identified below. Applicationsproposing activities in the following areas will be given special consideration during the reviewprocess:

1. Strengthening and revitalizing coordinated community response and multi-disciplinaryteams, especially those that meaningfully involve organizations and programs that focuson marginalized communities.

2. Meaningfully increasing access to OVW programming for specific underserved

populations (which may be based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity,disability, and age).

3. Increasing the use of promising or evidence-building practices, where available.

OVW will determine whether an application sufficiently addresses a priority area that warrantsspecial consideration. If addressing the first priority area, applicants should include a descriptionof the underserved population that they intend to serve and explain how their particular serviceswill increase access to OVW’s programming. Not all applicants that state their intent to addressa priority area will be favorably considered over other applicants. Meaningful responses toOVW’s priority areas should demonstrate an authentic commitment to addressing the priorityarea(s) and should clearly show that the applicant has the capacity to address the priorityeffectively.

Activi ties that Compromise Vic tim Safety and RecoveryThe following activities have been found to jeopardize victim safety, deter or prevent physical oremotional healing for victims, or allow offenders to escape responsibility for their actions.

Applications that propose activities that compromise victim safety and recovery may receive adeduction in points during the review process or may be eliminated from further considerationentirely.


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For all applicants:

1. Procedures or policies that exclude victims from receiving safe shelter, advocacyservices, counseling, and other assistance based on their actual or perceived age,immigration status, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental healthcondition, physical health condition, criminal record, work in the sex industry, or the age

and/or gender of their children;2 2. Procedures or policies that compromise the confidentiality of information and privacy of

persons receiving OVW-funded services;3. Referring victims to Child Protection Services (CPS) solely for failure to protect their

minor child when witnessing domestic violence except if required under state law;4. Failing to conduct safety planning with victims; and5. Intake and other forms that place an unnecessary or undue burden on anyone receiving

OVW-funded services, such as those that include questions about immigration status,gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, physical or mental health, and work orcriminal history that the service provider does not need to know about to provideservices safely.

For applicants proposing supervised visitation and/or safe exchange services:

1. Failure to align supervised visitation and safe exchange services with the GuidingPrinciples of the Supervised Visitation Program, which can be found here:http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ovw/legacy/2008/08/06/guiding-principles032608.pdf

2. Requiring adult victims to participate in mediation or counseling as a condition forreceiving supervised visitation and safe exchange services;3

3. Charging fees to either parent for OVW-funded supervised visitation and exchangeservices;4

4. Providing visitation or exchange services that do not account for the safety of adultvictims;

5. Requiring a court order to access visitation and/or exchange services; and6. Providing custody evaluations or court reports based on subjective information and

opinions of center staff and volunteers.

For applicants proposing court programs and services:

1. Requiring victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence or stalking to filefor a protection order, cooperate in an investigation or file criminal charges against theirabuser as a condition of receiving services;

2. Internet publication of registration, issuance, or filing of a petition for a protection order,restraining order, or injunction in either the issuing or enforcing state, tribal or territorial

2 If an award is made, the recipient will also be subject to statutory prohibitions on discrimination. For

further information on these civil rights requirements, see the section "Violence Against Women Act Non-Discrimination Provision” under "F. Federal Award Administration Information".3 OVW Justice for Families Program funds cannot be used to support individual, group, and family

counseling. Furthermore, grantees are strongly discouraged from requiring adult victims to participate inmediation or family counseling.4 Although the statute allows for sliding scale fees, grantees providing supervised visitation and safe

exchange services are not allowed to charge fees to parents served with OVW funds, to ensureaccessibility of OVW-funded services.

http://www.ovw.usdoj.gov/docs/guiding-principles032608.pdfhttp://www.ovw.usdoj.gov/docs/guiding-principles032608.pdfhttp://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ovw/legacy/2008/08/06/guiding-principles032608.pdfhttp://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ovw/legacy/2008/08/06/guiding-principles032608.pdfhttp://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ovw/legacy/2008/08/06/guiding-principles032608.pdfhttp://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ovw/legacy/2008/08/06/guiding-principles032608.pdfhttp://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ovw/legacy/2008/08/06/guiding-principles032608.pdfhttp://www.ovw.usdoj.gov/docs/guiding-principles032608.pdfhttp://www.ovw.usdoj.gov/docs/guiding-principles032608.pdf


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jurisdiction if such publication would reveal the identity of the party protected by suchorder;

3. Crafting policies that deny individuals access to services based on their relationship tothe perpetrator; and

4. Procedures that would penalize victims of violence for failing to testify against theirabusers or impose other sanctions on victims.

For applicants proposing c ivil legal assistance:

1. Policies or practices that discourage accepting cases for victims who do not havephysical evidence;

2. Refusal to r epresent victims who are also respondents/defendants;3. Mediation,5 alternative dispute resolution, or joint counseling, involving offenders and

victims being physically present in the same place, as a response to sexual assault,domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking; and

4. Representation on the condition that victims seek protection orders, counseling, or someother course of action with which they disagree.

Out-of-Scope ActivitiesOVW has determined the activities listed below to be out of the program scope and will not besupported by Justice for Families funding. Applications that propose out-of-scope activities mayreceive a point deduction during the review process. Applications that are determined to besubstantially outside the scope of the Justice for Families will not be considered for funding.

For all applicants:

1. Research projects (This does not include program assessments conducted only forinternal improvement purposes. See section Research and Protection of HumanSubjects in the FY 2014 Solicitation Companion Guide athttp://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ovw/legacy/2013/12/16/companion-guide-

fy2014.pdf ) 2. Mandatory mediation in cases where sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence,

or stalking is an issue;3. Therapeutic visitation;4. Parent education/batterer intervention programs;5. Individual, group, and family counseling;6. Telephone and/or virtual (e.g., Skype) monitoring; and7. Supervised visitation and exchange services unrelated to domestic violence, sexual

assault, dating violence, or stalking.


1. Tort cases;2. Child sexual abuse cases and cases involving the child protection system, except those

in which the legal services are provided to nonoffending parents and relate to familymatters, including civil protection orders, custody, and divorce, and in which the otherparent is represented by counsel;

5 Applicants in states and/or jurisdictions where mediation is required, and/or mediation does not require

the parties to be physically present in the same space, may be exempt from this requirement when suchis stated as justification for engaging in this practice.

http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ovw/legacy/2013/12/16/companion-guide-fy2014.pdfhttp://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ovw/legacy/2013/12/16/companion-guide-fy2014.pdfhttp://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ovw/legacy/2013/12/16/companion-guide-fy2014.pdfhttp://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ovw/legacy/2013/12/16/companion-guide-fy2014.pdfhttp://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ovw/legacy/2013/12/16/companion-guide-fy2014.pdf


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3. Criminal defense of victims charged with crimes; and4. Support of law reform initiatives, including but not limited to litigation.

Unallowable ActivitiesThe following is a list of activities that are unallowable and cannot be supported by Justice forFamilies grant funding. Applications that propose unallowable activities may receive a pointdeduction during the review process. Applications that include substantial unallowable activitieswill not be considered for funding.

• Lobbying;• Fundraising;• Purchase of real property;• Construction;• Physical modifications to buildings, including minor renovations (such as painting or

carpeting)

B. Federal Award Information

Availabi li ty of Funds All awards are subject to the availability of appropriated funds and any modifications oradditional requirements that may be imposed by law. There is no guarantee that funds will beavailable in the future. Therefore, OVW encourages applicants to develop a plan to sustainproject activities if federal funding through the Justice for Families ceases to be available. Also,please note that OVW may elect to make awards for applications submitted under thissolicitation in future fiscal years, depending on the merits of the applications and on theavailability of funding.

Award PeriodThe grant award period is 36 months. Budgets must reflect 36 months of project activity, and the

total “estimated funding” on the SF-424 must reflect 36 months. Generally, the award period willstart on October 1, 2016.

Award Amounts Applicants should carefully consider the resources needed to successfully implement theproposed project and present a realistic budget that accurately reflects project costs. Awardsunder the Justice for Families Program for FY 2016 will be made for up to $600,000, and in alimited number of cases, up to $700,000.

OVW has the discretion to award grants for greater or lesser amounts than requested and tonegotiate the scope of work and budget with applicants prior to award of a grant.

Funding levels under the Justice for Families for FY 2016 are as follows:

• Any applicant may apply for up to $600,000.• Any applicant may apply for up to $700,000. However, an application requesting more

than $600,000 must provide specific details (for example, anticipated service volume)that justify the higher amount requested. A very limited number of awards will be madefor more than $600,000.


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The Justice for Families Program typically makes awards in the range of $450,000-$600,000.OVW estimates that it will make up to 25 awards for an estimated $11,000,000.

Awards will be made as grants.

Types of Applicants

In FY 2016, OVW will accept applications for the Justice for Families Program from newapplicants. Current and former Safe Havens and Courts grantees are considered newapplicants. Justice for Families grant recipients that received funding in FY 2015 are not eligibleto apply.

C. Eligibility Information

Eligible ApplicantsIt is very important that applicants review this information carefully. Applications that aresubmitted by ineligible entities or that do not meet all program eligibility requirements will not beconsidered for funding.

Eligible entities for this p rogram are:

• States, meaning any of the states and the District of Columbia, and except as otherwiseprovided, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the VirginIslands, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

• Units of local government, meaning any city, county, township, town, borough, parish,village, or other general purpose political subdivision of a state.

• Courts (including juvenile courts), meaning any civil or criminal, tribal, and AlaskaNative village, federal, state, local or territorial court having jurisdiction to addressdomestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking, including immigration,family, juvenile, and dependency courts.

•

Indian tribal governments, meaning a tribe, band, pueblo, nation, or other organizedgroup or community of Indians, including any Alaska Native village or regional or villagecorporation (as defined in, or established pursuant to, the Alaska Native ClaimsSettlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.)), that is recognized as eligible for the specialprograms and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their statusas Indians.

• Nonprofit organizations, meaning an organization that is described in section 501(c)(3)of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is exempt from taxation under section 501(a)of such Code.

• Legal services providers, meaning entities that provide legal assistance to victims ofdomestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; including privatenonprofit entities, law schools, bar associations, and organizations that receive Legal

Service Corporation funding. This does not include for-profit organizations.• Victim service providers, meaning nonprofit, nongovernmental or tribal organizations

or rape crisis centers, including state or tribal coalitions, that assist or advocate fordomestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking victims, includingdomestic violence shelters, faith-based organizations, and other organizations, with adocumented history of effective work concerning domestic violence, dating violence,sexual assault, or stalking.


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Eligibi lity Requirements for Current GranteesCurrent Safe Havens and Courts grantees may apply under this solicitation, provided they meetall eligibility criteria. Applicants whose current Safe Havens or Courts award ends on or beforeSeptember 30, 2016 may apply to continue that work under the Justice for Families Program, aslong as their applications meet all requirements set forth in this solicitation, including therequirement that applicants address more than one purpose area. Applications submitted by

current and former Safe Havens and Courts grantees will be treated as new applications.

Nonprofit Organization Requirements Any entity that is eligible for the Justice for Families Program based on its status as a nonprofitorganization must be an organization that is described in section 501(c)(3) of the InternalRevenue Code of 1986 and is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of that Code. See 42U.S.C. § 13925(b)(16)(B). Any nonprofit organization that holds money in offshore accounts forthe purpose of avoiding paying the tax described in section 511(a) of the Internal Revenue Codeis not eligible for a grant from the Justice for Families Program.

Cost Sharing or Match RequirementThis program has no matching or cost sharing requirement.

OtherProgram Eligibility RequirementsIn addition to meeting the eligible entity requirements outlined above, applications for the Justicefor Families Program must also meet the requirements below. All certification and othereligibility related documents must be current and developed in accordance with the FY 2016solicitation.

Applicant Requirements

Under 42 USC §10420(d), all applicants for the Justice for Families Program must:

• Certify that the organizational policies of the applicant do not require mediation orcounseling involving offenders and victims being physically present in the same place, incases where domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking is alleged.

For a court-based program, applicants must also:

• Certify that victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking arenot charged fees or any other costs related to the filing, petitioning, modifying, issuance,

IMPORTANT:

Appl icants must cert ify their compl iance with al l s tatutory requirements at the t ime the

application is submitted. OVW will not make an award to any applicant that has notprov ided the requisite certification(s). Each certification must take the form of a letter, onletterhead, signed and dated by the authorizing of ficial. Failure to provide a letter/s

certifying to these requirements may disqualify an application from furtherconsideration. At a minimum, an application missing the required certification letter will

be required to submit a certification letter prior to receiving an award. Please seeappendices F, G, H, I and J for sample certification letters.


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registration, enforcement, withdrawal, or dismissal of matters relating to the domesticviolence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

Applicants proposing to operate supervised visitation programs and services or safe visitationexchange must also:

• Demonstrate that adequate security measures, including adequate facilities, procedures,and personnel capable of preventing violence, and adequate standards are, or will be, inplace (including the development of protocols or policies to ensure that confidentialinformation is not shared with courts, law enforcement agencies, or child welfareagencies unless necessary to ensure the safety of any child or adult using the servicesof a program funded by OVW).

Applicants proposing to support custody evaluation and/or guardian ad litem (GAL) serviceswith Justice for Families funding must:

• Certify that any person providing custody evaluation or guardian ad litem services

through a program funded under this program has completed or will complete trainingdeveloped with input from and in collaboration with a tribal, state, territorial, or localdomestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking victim service provider orcoalition on the dynamics of domestic violence and sexual assault, including child sexualabuse, that includes training on how to review evidence of past abuse and the use ofevidenced-based theories to make recommendations on custody and visitation.

Applicants proposing to provide legal assistance must also certify in writing to the following:

(1) Any person providing legal assistance with funds through this program(A) has demonstrated expertise in providing legal assistance to victims ofdomestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking in the targeted

population; or(B) is partnered with an entity or person that has demonstrated expertisedescribed in subparagraph (A);

(2) Any person providing legal assistance through this program has completed, or willcomplete, training in connection with domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault,and stalking, including child sexual abuse, and related legal issues, including training onevidence-based risk factors for domestic and dating violence homicide;(3) Any training program conducted in satisfaction of the requirement of paragraph (1)has been or will be developed with input from and in collaboration with a tribal, state,territorial, or local domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking victimservice provider or coalition, as well as appropriate tribal, state, territorial, and local lawenforcement officials;

(4) Any person or organization providing legal assistance with funds through thisprogram has informed and will continue to inform state, local, or tribal domestic violence,dating violence, sexual assault or stalking programs and coalitions, as well asappropriate state and local law enforcement officials of their work; and(5) The grantee’s organizational policies do not require mediation or counseling involvingoffenders and victims physically together, in cases where sexual assault, domesticviolence, dating violence, stalking, or child sexual abuse is an issue.


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See Appendix I for a chart identifying which types of projects require which statutorycertifications, and see the appendices for sample certification letters.

Required Partnerships All applicants for the Justice for Families Program must include formal partnerships with both 1)a domestic violence and/or sexual assault victim services provider and 2) a court. Applications

that do not include a victim services provider and a court, either as the lead applicant or aspartners, will not be eligible for Justice for Families Program funding.

Limit on Number of Application Submissions An applicant can only submit one application per organization. If an applicant submits multipleversions of the same application, OVW will review only the most recent system-validatedversion submitted.

D. Application and Submission Information

Address to Request Appl ication PackageThe complete application package is available on Grants.gov or at the OVW website athttp://www.justice.gov/ovw. Applicants wishing to request a paper copy of the applicationmaterials should contact the Justice for Families Program at 202-307-6026. Content and Form of Application Submission

Letter of Registration Applicants intending to apply for FY 2016 funding under this program, are strongly encouragedto submit a letter of registration. The letter should state that the applying organization isregistered and current with the System for Award Management (SAM) and with Grants.gov. Theletter should be submitted to OVW at [email protected] by January 4, 2016. This will ensurethat the applicant is well-positioned to successfully submit a proposal by the applicationdeadline. This letter will not obligate the applicant to submit an application. See Appendix B fora sample Letter of Registration.

Pre-Appli cation Conference CallOVW will conduct one Pre-Application Conference Call. During this call, OVW staff will reviewthe Justice for Families requirements, review the solicitation, and allow for a brief question andanswer session. Participation in this call is optional.

The conference call i s tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, January 6, 2016 at 12:00 pmEST.

Anyone interested in submitting an application to the Justice for Families Program may registerto participate in the pre-application call. The total number of participants for the call is limited to75 participants. Please note: Registration is on a first-come-first-serve basis, and space is notguaranteed. Interested participants from the same agency/jurisdiction are strongly encouragedto participate together so that as many communities as possible can join the call. OVW reservesthe right to deny multiple registrations from a single agency/jurisdiction. To register, please e-mail or call the Justice for Families Program at [email protected] or 202-307-6026.Registration must be received at least one day prior to the start of the call.

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Appl ication ContentsThis section describes what is included in a complete application package. Applicants shouldanticipate that failure to submit an application that contains all of the specified elements willnegatively affect the review of the application and may result in the application not beingconsidered for funding. Should a decision be made to make an award, it may result in theinclusion of special conditions that preclude access to or use of award funds pending

satisfaction of the conditions. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that a completeapplication is submitted by the deadline. OVW will not contact applicants for missing items.

Do not submit documents in addition to those specified in this solici tation. Please notethat any materials submitted as part of an application may be released pursuant to arequest under the Freedom of Information Act .

Formatting and Technical Requirements Applications must follow the requirements below. Points may be deducted for applications thatdo not adhere to the following requirements:

1. Double spaced (Project Abstract, Summary Data Sheet and charts may be single space)

2. 8½ x 11 inch paper3. One-inch margins4. Type no smaller than 12 point, Times New Roman font5. Page numbers6. No more than 20 pages for the Project Narrative7. Word documents in the following formats: Microsoft Word (.doc), PDF files (.pdf), or Text

Documents (.txt).8. Headings and sub-headings that correspond to the sections identified in this section of

the solicitation.

Appl ication Requirements Applications must include the following required documents and demonstrate that the program

eligibility requirements have been met. Applications that do not address all of the followingcomponents will be considered substantially incomplete and will not be considered for funding:

1. Project Narrative2. Budget Detail Worksheet and Narrative3. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or Letters of Support

In addition to the application being scored on the documents listed above, the Summary DataSheet will also be scored. Certifi cation letter(s), as appropriate for the activi ties theapplicant is proposing, must also be submitted with the application.

Summary Data Sheet (5 Points)

The Summary Data Sheet should be one to four pages in length and may be single or doublespaced. The Summary Data Sheet does not count toward the 20-page limit for the ProjectNarrative. Please provide the following information:

1. Name, title, address, phone number, and e-mail address for the Authorized OrganizationRepresentative (AOR) of the applicant agency (see page 19 for the definition of the

AOR).2. Name, title, address, phone number, and e-mail address for the grant point-of-contact.

This person must be an employee of the applicant agency.


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3. Statement as to whether the organization applying will serve as a “pass through entity” a(fiscal agent / sponsor) for an organization, or organizations, that will ultimatelyimplement the project. If so, the applicant must include a statement acknowledging that,should an award be made, it would be responsible for all statutory, fiscal andprogrammatic requirements, including those of 2 CFR Part 200, as well as all projectdeliverables. The organization applying for the award must also list all of the entities it

will enter into agreements with to perform the work, and should include a description ofhow these entities intend to accomplish the purposes of the award if such a descriptionis not already provided in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) submitted as part ofthe application.

4. Statement as to whether the agency applying has expended $750,000 in federal funds inthe organization’s past fiscal year. Please specify the end date of the applicant’s fiscalyear.

5. A list of other federal grant programs from which the applicant organization currentlyreceives funding or for which it has applied for funding in FY 2016 to do similar work.Please provide this information in a table using the format found in APPENDIX E.

6. Statement as to whether the applicant is a nonprofit organization that is described insection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is exempt from taxation

under section 501(a) of that Code.7. Statement as to whether the applicant is a nonprofit organization that holds money in

offshore accounts for the purpose of avoiding paying the tax described in section 511(a)of the Internal Revenue Code.

8. Statement as to whether the applicant is a nonprofit organization that uses the InternalRevenue Service's three-step safe-harbor procedure to establish a rebuttablepresumption that its executives' compensation is reasonable. If the applicant is not anonprofit organization or is a nonprofit that does not use the safe-harbor procedure,provide a statement to that effect. For additional information about the safe-harborprocedure, see "Disclosures Related to Executive Compensation" section.

9. The percentage of grant activities, should the application be funded, that will addresseach of the following issues:

• Sexual assault;• Domestic violence;• Dating/teen dating violence;• Stalking; and• Child sexual abuse (if applicable)

10. Summary of Current and Recent OVW Projects (if applicable).If the applicant has a current grant or cooperative agreement under any OVW program,or an award that has been closed within the last 12 months from the date this solicitationcloses, the information below must be provided in a table using the format found in

Appendix D. Failure to provide the required table will result in a loss of points.The table must:

• Identify all grants by OVW program, award number and project period.• Specify the total funding amount for each grant (initial and supplemental

amounts, if applicable).• Specify the total funds remaining in each grant as of the date of application.• Provide the total funds remaining in each budget category (Personnel, Fringe,

Travel, Equipment, Supplies, Construction, Contractual, and Other) for eachgrant.

• Provide a justification for remaining funds.


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• Estimate the amount of grant funds that will be remaining at the end of thecurrent project period.

• List the number and titles of all full-time and/or part-time positions funded bythe award.

Safe Havens or Courts grantees that have more than 50% of remaining funds at the timeof application submission may not be considered for Justice for Families funding in FY

2016, unless they are applying under different purpose areas than they are currentlyfunded to address or can provide adequate justification for submitting an application forFY 2016 funding.

11. The purpose areas the application addresses. If purpose area 6, Civil Legal Assistance,is being addressed, state the percentage of funds that will support civil legal assistance.

12. Name of the nonprofit domestic violence or sexual assault victim services programpartnering on the project (not applicable if the lead applicant is such an entity).

13. Name of the court partner on the project (not applicable if the lead applicant is such anentity).

Project Narrative (65 Points Total)The Project Narrative may not exceed 20 pages in length, double-spaced. The Project Narrative

comprises the following three sections:

Purpose of Application (10 points)This section must:

• Identify the purpose area(s) the applicant is proposing to address;• State the problem(s) the project will address;• Describe the need for the project in the community;• Identify gaps in services and explain how the proposed project will complement and not

duplicate existing services, including any services provided through the state’s STOPViolence Against Women Formula Grant Program; and

• Describe any previous or current efforts (OVW-funded or not) to address the problem(s)the proposed project targets, and the effectiveness of those efforts.

What Will Be Done (45 points)The applicant must provide a clear link between the proposed activities and the need identifiedin the “Purpose of Application” section.

This section must:

• Describe the safety needs of victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexualassault, and stalking, and the applicant’s commitment to addressing those needsthrough the proposed project;

• Identify barriers to accessing the project’s services, and the applicant’s plan to ensurethat individuals who are eligible to be served by the project—particularly those fromunderserved and marginalized populations—will have access to OVW-funded services;

• Identify project goals, objectives, activities, and products (if applicable), and provide acorresponding 36-month timeline that accounts for any planning and implementation


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activities6 and ensures adequate time and resources for planning and implementation;and

• Describe why the applicant anticipates that the pr o ject will be successful, includingwhether it involves an evidence-based approach;7 and describe how the applicant willdetermine if it accomplished its goals for the project.

For applicants proposing supervised visitation and/or safe exchange services:

• Using concrete examples, describe the extent to which the applicant’s or partner’ssupervised visitation and/or safe exchange services align—or will be aligned—withOVW’s Guiding Principles;

• If applicable, describe the applicant’s or partner’s previous experience providingsupervised visitation and exchange services to families affected by domestic violence,sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking; and

• Provide a detailed statement of how the applicant will ensure that adequate securitymeasures, including adequate facilities, procedures, and personnel capable ofpreventing violence, and adequate standards are, or will be, in place. Describe thelayout and security features of the facility and where in the community the facility is

located. Describe how the applicant will develop protocols or policies to ensure thatconfidential information is not shared with courts, law enforcement agencies, or childwelfare agencies unless necessary to ensure the safety of any child or adult using theservices of a program funded by OVW.

For applicants proposing court projects:

• Describe any specialized docket or court infrastructure that is currently in place or will beestablished as part of this project;

• Describe how the project will improve the judicial handling of sexual assault, domesticviolence, dating violence, stalking, and cases involving allegations of child sexual abuse;ensure offender accountability; and promote informed judicial decision-making; and

• If the applicant is proposing to use any technology (e.g., security systems, GPS,hotlines, and databases), the applicant must explain how it plans to address any victimsafety concerns that could arise from the use of the technology, such as confidentiality,safety planning, and informed consent.


• Describe the extent to which the applicant will provide legal services to sexual assault,domestic violence, dating violence, and/or stalking victims; and/or nonoffending parentsin matters that involve allegations of child sexual abuse, relate to family matters,including civil protection orders, custody, and divorce; and in which the other parent isrepresented by counsel;

6 For a court-based project, planning activities might include but are not limited to: hiring a case manager

or docket coordinator, establishing an advisory committee comprising project partners, obtaining trainingand technical assistance, participating in site visits to other courts identified by OVW, and developingspecialized policies and procedures. For supervised visitation/safe exchange, planning activities mightinclude a process of aligning the applicant’s or partner’s approach to providing services, including policiesand procedures, with OVW’s Guiding Principles. 7 “Evidence-based” for the purposes of this solicitation can be defined by the applicant.

http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ovw/legacy/2008/08/06/guiding-principles032608.pdfhttp://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ovw/legacy/2008/08/06/guiding-principles032608.pdfhttp://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ovw/legacy/2008/08/06/guiding-principles032608.pdfhttp://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ovw/legacy/2008/08/06/guiding-principles032608.pdfhttp://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ovw/legacy/2008/08/06/guiding-principles032608.pdfhttp://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ovw/legacy/2008/08/06/guiding-principles032608.pdfhttp://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ovw/legacy/2008/08/06/guiding-principles032608.pdfhttp://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ovw/legacy/2008/08/06/guiding-principles032608.pdf


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• Describe how the applicant or project partner will provide a supervision and mentoringplan for attorney staff supported by this project; and

• If the applicant is not a nongovernmental sexual assault and/or domestic violenceprogram, explain how it will coordinate with a local nongovernmental sexual assaultand/or domestic violence program.

Who Will Implement the Project (10 points)The applicant must identify the key individuals and organizations that will be involved in theproject and demonstrate that they have the capacity to address the stated need and that theycan successfully implement the stated project activities. OVW is interested in funding projectsthat take a coordinated approach to helping families victimized domestic violence, sexualassault, dating violence, and stalking as they navigate the justice system. Therefore, applicantsmust have formal partnerships, described in this section as well as delineated in the MOU (orletters of support), with a domestic violence and/or sexual assault victim services provider and acourt. If a court is the lead applicant, it must have a victim services provider as a project partner.If a victim services provider is the lead applicant, it must have a court as a partner. Applicationswithout the required partnerships may be eliminated from consideration for funding.

This section must:

• Per the statutory applicant requirements, describe the applicant’s expertise in the areasof domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, as appropriate;

• Describe project partners’ expertise in the areas of domestic violence, dating violence,sexual assault, and stalking, as appropriate;

• Demonstrate that the applicant and/or project partner(s) include a domestic violenceand/or sexual assault victim services provider and a court;

• Describe the experience and qualifications of any organization or agency that will bedirectly involved in implementing the project;

• Describe the history of the collaborative partnership(s); and• Identify key personnel responsible for implementing the project, including position

descriptions, roles, and responsibilities.

Budget Detail Worksheet and Narrative (15 Points) All applicants are required to submit a detailed budget and supporting budget narrative.Budgetary requirements vary slightly among programs, and applicants must read the solicitationclosely to determine the requirements of the budget and budget narrative for each OVWprogram.

Award Period and AmountBudgets should cover a project period of 36 months, or three years, starting on October 1, 2016and ending on September 30, 2019. Budget requests should not exceed $600,000. OVW willconsider approving a very limited number of awards for up to $700,000, but the application mustprovide specific details (for example, anticipated service volume) that justify the higher amountrequested.

Budget Requirements Applicants must submit reasonable budgets based on the resources needed to implement theirprojects in their specific geographic location. The budget should display a clear link between thespecific project activities and the proposed budget items. Specifically, the budget should notcontain any items that are not detailed in the project narrative. The budget narrative must


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support all costs included in the budget and explain how the costs of goods and services aredetermined and how they will fulfill the overall objective of the project.

In some circumstances, the budget and budget narrative will be reviewed separately from theproposed project narrative. Therefore, it is very important that the budget narrative be ascomprehensive as possible and describe in a narrative format each line item requested in the

budget.

A Sample Budget Detail Worksheet is available in Appendix A. When preparing the BudgetDetail Worksheet and Narrative, please use the Sample Budget Detail Worksheet as a guideand be sure to include all necessary budget categories as outlined in the Worksheet. Thebudget must adhere to the DOJ Financial Guide.

This section must:

• Allocate a minimum of $25,000 ($30,000 for Alaska, Hawaii, and territories) to usetowards travel and technical assistance over the three-year period;

• For applicants that anticipate using OVW funds to cover only a portion of a particular

service they provide (e.g., supervised visitation or civil legal assistance), the budgetshould prorate operational costs like rent and phone service accordingly; and

• Ensure that the budget clearly distinguishes between planning and implementationactivities, as appropriate. The application budget should allow for sufficient planning timeand resources, as determined by the applicant and its project partners.

Conference Planning and Expenditure Limitations Applicants should be aware of all applicable laws, regulations, policies and guidance (includingspecific cost limits, prior approval and reporting requirements, where applicable) governing theuse of federal funds for expenses related to conferences (which is defined to include meetings,retreats, seminars, symposiums, training and other similar events), including the provision offood and/or beverages at such events, and costs of attendance at such events. Information on

pertinent laws, regulations, policies and guidance is available at www.justice.gov/ovw/grantees. Applicants should also be aware of the following specific restrictions on conference planningand expenditure limitations:

1. Cost of Logistical Conference Planning2. Cost of Programmatic Conference Planning3. Conference Space and Audio-Visual Equipment and Services4. Prohibition on Trinkets at Conferences5. Entertainment at Conferences6. Food and Beverages at Conferences7. Prior Approval Required Before Entering Into Contracts or Expending Funds for

Conferences

8. Conference Reporting

Updated Department of Justice and OVW guidance on conference planning, minimization ofcosts, and conference cost reporting is accessible on the OVW websitewww.justice.gov/ovw/grantees. For additional information regarding food and beverageregulations, please refer to the DOJ Financial Guide.

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Training and Technical Assistance All applicants are required to allocate funds in the amount of $25,000 to support travel costsassociated with technical assistance and capacity-building activities sponsored by OVW-designated technical assistance providers. Applicants from Alaska, Hawaii, and United StatesTerritories should allocate $30,000 to account for higher travel costs. These specific applicantsmay exceed the budget caps to account for this increased travel amount. The required set-aside

amount may be shared between the applicant and any partnering agency(ies), but the budgetmust reflect the costs in the appropriate categories. Therefore, an employee’s travel costsshould be included in the “Travel” category, while travel costs for the project partner(s) must beincluded in the “Consultants/Contracts” category. Label both costs as “OVW Technical

Assistance.” Include an estimated breakdown for these costs, including the number of trips,number of travelers, airfare or mileage, lodging, per diem, etc. (OVW technical assistance isprovided free of charge to grantees, so applicants do not need to include registration fees). Thisamount should equal the full, required set-aside amount listed above.

Please note these funds can only be used for OVW-designated technical assistance, unlessotherwise approved by OVW. Any training and technical assistance funds not used by the endof the grant period may not be reprogrammed and must be returned to OVW. Travel funds

should be used to support travel by all project partners including nonprofit, nongovernmentalvictim service providers. Funds may also be used by persons whose positions are not grant-funded as long as that person’s roles and responsibilities are linked to the project’s overallmission.

Program Assessments Applicants may not use any OVW funds to conduct research. However, up to three percent ofthe budget may be allocated for the purpose of assessing the effectiveness of funded activities.For example, funds may be used to conduct pre- and post-testing of training recipients or forvictim satisfaction surveys. In conducting such testing or surveys, grantees may not collect,analyze or disseminate any information that would disclose the identity of an individual.

Accommodations and Language Access Applicants are encouraged to allocate grant funds to support activities that help to ensureindividuals with disabilities and Deaf individuals and persons with limited English proficiencyhave meaningful and full access to their programs. For example, grant funds can be used tosupport American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter services, language interpretation andtranslation services, or the purchase of adaptive equipment.

Applicants proposing to use grant funds to create websites, videos and other materials mustensure that the materials are accessible to persons with disabilities. Grant funds may beallocated for these purposes.

Pre-Agreement Cost Approval

Please be aware that costs incurred prior to the start date of the award may not be charged tothe project unless the recipient receives prior approval from OVW. Please see the DOJFinancial Guide for more information on pre-award costs.

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or Letters o f Support (for court applicants only)(15 Points Total)For purposes of this solicitation, the MOU is a document containing the terms of the partnershipand the roles and responsibilities between two or more parties. Court applicants that are


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precluded from signing onto an MOU may submit letters of support in lieu of an MOU. The MOUshould be a single document and should be signed and dated by the Authorized OrganizationRepresentative (AOR) of each proposed partner agency during the development of theapplication. In rare circumstances an MOU can include multiple signature pages as long aseach page includes the name and title of each signing party.

As previously stated, OVW is interested in funding projects that take a coordinated approach tohelping families victimized domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking asthey navigate the justice system. Therefore, applicants must have formal partnerships,delineated in the MOU (or letters of support), with both 1) a domestic violence and/or sexualassault victim services provider and 2) a court. If a court is the lead applicant, it must have avictim services provider as a project partner. If a victim services provider is the lead applicant, itmust have a court as a partner. If the lead applicant is neither a victim service provider nor acourt, it must have a partnership with both a domestic violence and/or sexual assault victimservices provider and a court. Applications without the required partnerships may be eliminatedfrom consideration for funding.

The MOU must:

1. Clearly identify the partners and provide a brief history of the collaborative relationshipamong those partners, including when and under what circumstances the relationshipbegan and when each partner entered into the relationship;

2. Clearly state the roles and responsibilities each partner will assume to ensure thesuccess of the proposed project;

3. Demonstrate meaningful collaboration with a state, tribal, or local court system and anonprofit domestic violence and/or sexual assault victim services organization;

4. Demonstrate a meaningful partnership among all signing parties;5. Specify the extent of each partner’s participation in developing the application;6. Identify the people who will be responsible for developing and implementing project

activities and describe how they will work together and with project staff;

7. Indicate approval of the proposed project budget by all signing parties;8. Describe the resources each partner would contribute to the project, either through time,

in-kind contributions, or grant funds (e.g., office space, project staff, and training);9. Include a current (i.e., signed and dated during the development of the proposal), single

MOU signed by the chief executive officer, director, court administrator or other personauthorized to sign on behalf of each partner; and

10. Demonstrate that is has appropriate partnerships with entities that will receive training ifthe applicant proposes training under purpose area 3 (training for court-based and court-related personnel).

Note that letters of support submitted in lieu of an MOU by any entity besides a court applicantwill not be accepted.

Proposal AbstractThe Proposal Abstract should provide a short and accurate summary (no more than two pagesdouble-spaced) of the proposed project, including who will be involved with the proposedproject, what will be done as primary activities, what products will be produced, the service areawhere the proposed project will take place and who will be impacted by the proposed project.

Applicants should not summarize past accomplishments in this section.


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Addi tional Requi red Informat ionThe following documents will not be scored during the review process but they should beincluded with your submission. Failure to include any of the information may result in theinability to access funds if your application is selected for funding. OVW will be unable to makean award to any nonprofit organization that does not submit a 501(c)(3) determination letterfrom the Internal Revenue Service.

Proof of 501(c)(3) Status (Nonprofit Organizations Only) As noted under Eligible Entities, an entity that is eligible for the Justice for Families Programbased on its status as a nonprofit organization must be an organization that is described insection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is exempt from taxation undersection 501(a) of the Code. All such applicants are required to submit a determination letterfrom the Internal Revenue Service recognizing their tax-exempt status.

Disclosures Related to Executive Compensation Any applicant that is a nonprofit organization that uses the Internal Revenue Service's three-step safe-harbor procedure for establishing a rebuttable presumption that its executives'compensation is reasonable, must provide the following: (1) a brief description of the process

used for determining the compensation of its officers, directors, trustees, and key employees,including the independent persons involved in reviewing and approving such compensation (inlieu of a description, an applicant may submit its written compensation policy); (2) thecomparability data used in establishing executive compensation; and (3) contemporaneoussubstantiation of the deliberation and decision regarding executive compensation. This thirdelement can usually be addressed by submitting minutes from board meetings wherecompensation was considered and approved.

Applicants that want to learn about best practices for establishing compensation for theirexecutives and the IRS's safe-harbor procedures can find more information through the NationalCouncil of Nonprofits, http://www.councilofnonprofits.org/nonprofit-executive-compensation-policy.

Confidentiality Notice Form All applicants are required to acknowledge that they have received notice that grantees andsubgrantees must comply with the confidentiality and privacy requirements of the Violence

Against Women Act, as amended. The acknowledgement form is available on the OVW websiteathttp://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ovw/pages/attachments/2015/01/20/confidentiality_acknowledgement_form_42015.pdf and must be signed by the authorized representative anduploaded to the application on Grants.gov.

Appl ication for Federal Assistance (SF-424) Applicants must complete the SF-424 online. For “Type of Applicant,” please do not select“other.” Please pay careful attention to the amount of Federal funding requested in the

“Estimated Funding” section of this form. This amount must match the amount of Federalfunding requested in the budget section of the application package. Only include values for“Applicant” if the program solicitation requires a match. The individual who is listed in“Authorized Representative” must be the AOR for the applicant agency. The AOR is anindividual who has the authority to apply for and accept grant awards on behalf of theorganization or jurisdiction.

http://www.councilofnonprofits.org/nonprofit-executive-compensation-policyhttp://www.councilofnonprofits.org/nonprofit-executive-compensation-policyhttp://www.councilofnonprofits.org/nonprofit-executive-compensation-policyhttp://www.councilofnonprofits.org/nonprofit-executive-compensation-policyhttp://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ovw/pages/attachments/2015/01/20/confidentiality_acknowledgement_form_42015.pdfhttp://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ovw/pages/attachments/2015/01/20/confidentiality_acknowledgement_form_42015.pdfhttp://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ovw/pages/attachments/2015/01/20/confidentiality_acknowledgement_form_42015.pdfhttp://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ovw/pages/attachments/2015/01/20/confidentiality_acknowledgement_form_42015.pdfhttp://www.grants.gov/http://www.grants.gov/http://www.grants.gov/http://www.grants.gov/http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ovw/pages/attachments/2015/01/20/confidentiality_acknowledgement_form_42015.pdfhttp://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ovw/pages/attachments/2015/01/20/confidentiality_acknowledgement_form_42015.pdfhttp://www.councilofnonprofits.org/nonprofit-executive-compensation-policyhttp://www.councilofnonprofits.org/nonprofit-executive-compensation-policy


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Standard Assurances and Certifi cations Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension,and Other Respons ibil ity Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (Form 4061/6)Please carefully review the assurances and certification forms online. These forms will becompleted online at a later time during the application process. All applicants must complete theDisclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) form. Applicants that expend any funds for lobbying

activities must provide the detailed information requested on the form. Applicants that do notexpend any funds for lobbying activities should enter “N/A” in the required highlighted fields.

Letter of Nonsupplanting Applicants must submit a letter to OVW’s Director, signed by the AOR, certifying that Federalfunds will not be used to supplant state or local funds should a grant award be made. Pleaserefer to http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ovw/legacy/2012/10/09/nonsup_letter.pdf for asample letter. This should be a separate attachment to the application in Grants.gov.

Financial Accounting PracticesEach applicant must prepare a response to the following questions. OVW will review theapplicant’s responses to assist in evaluating the adequacy of the organization’s financial

management system and to identify areas of need for training and technical assistance. Thissection of your application should be no more than two pages and should be a separateattachment to the online application in Grants.gov.

1. Will all funds awarded under this program be maintained in a manner that they will beaccounted for separately and distinctly from other sources of revenue/funding? Pleaseprovide a brief description of the organization’s policies and procedures that ensurefunds will be tracked appropriately.

2. Does the applicant have written accounting policies and procedures? How often arethese policies and procedures updated? Please provide a brief list of the topics coveredin the organization’s policies and procedures. OVW may request a copy for reviewduring the application/award process or as part of the grant monitoring process.

3. Is the applicants financial management system able to track actual expenditures andoutlays with budgeted amounts for each grant or subgrant? Please provide a briefsummary of the organization’s process for tracking expenditures.

4. Does the applicant have procedures in place for minimizing the time between transfer offunds from the United States Treasury and disbursement for project activities? Pleaseprovide a short summary of the organization’s policy for requesting payments for grantawards.

5. Does the applicant have effective internal controls in place to adequately safeguardgrant assets and to ensure that they are used solely for authorized purposes? Pleaseprovide a brief description.

6. Does the applicant have a documented records retention policy? If so, briefly describethe policy.

7. Is the individual primarily responsible for fiscal and administrative oversight of grantawards familiar with the applicable grants management rules, principles, and regulationsincluding the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and AuditRequirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR Part 200)? Please provide a short list of theindividual’s qualifications/experience. If the individual is not familiar with the applicablerules and regulations, the applicant must contact OVW’s Grants Financial ManagementDivision at [email protected] or 1-888-514-8556 immediately after theorganization is notified of its award to coordinate training.

http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ovw/legacy/2012/10/09/nonsup_letter.pdfhttp://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ovw/legacy/2012/10/09/nonsup_letter.pdfhttp://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ovw/legacy/2012/10/09/nonsup_letter.pdfhttp://www.grants.gov/http://www.grants.gov/http://www.grants.gov/http://www.grants.gov/http://www.grants.gov/http://www.grants.gov/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.grants.gov/http://www.grants.gov/http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ovw/legacy/2012/10/09/nonsup_letter.pdf


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Please note: This information wi ll be used for a mandatory pre-award risk assessment.Failure to provide this information or to respond to questions f rom OVW regarding thisinformation in a timely manner could result in the applicant being removed fromconsideration or a delay in funds.

Financial Capabili ty Questionnaire (if applicable)

All nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations that apply for funding from OVW and have notpreviously (or within the last three years) received funding from OVW must complete aFinancial Capability Questionnaire, and submit it online. Additionally, applicants may be requiredto submit their current year’s audit report at a later time. The form