The Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation (BCJI) program resources are targeted specifically to persistently distressed neighborhoods that have significant crime challenges and produce a significant proportion of crime or type of crime within the larger community or jurisdiction impeding broader neighborhood

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development goals.

The goal of BCJI is to improve community safety by designing and implementing effective, comprehensive approaches to addressing crime within a targeted neighborhood as part of a broader strategy to advance neighborhood revitalization through cross-sector community-based partnerships.

To achieve these goals, successful strategies must commit to accomplishing the following objectives:
a) Identify a neighborhood with a concentration of crime hot spots which have for a period of time composed a significant proportion of crime or types of crime;
b) Identify and build upon existing planning efforts, if any, to revitalize the neighborhood or address issues that relate to the crime issues identified;
c) Enhance a community-based team with the presence of criminal justice, social service and neighborhood revitalization partners to implement the project;
d) Offer ongoing community engagement and leadership building support and ensure the community is engaged in the process;
e) Collaborate with local law enforcement and a research partner to conduct an analysis of crime drivers, an assessment of needs and available resources;
f) Develop a strategy that offers a continuum of approaches to address the drivers of crime, including potentially, enforcement, prevention, intervention, and revitalization strategies;
g) Establish effective partnerships both to provide solutions along the continuum and commit resources to sustain what works; and
h) Implement a comprehensive and coordinated strategy with support from the BCJI training and technical assistance provider.


i) Assess program implementation in collaboration with research partners, and plan for sustainment of effective strategies with private and public state, local and tribal funding.

Not Applicable.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Allowable uses of funds include the development and implementation of evidence-based strategies that target crime in locations where most crime is occurring and can have the biggest impact while also building the capacity of the community to deter future crime through neighborhood revitalization.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Allowable uses of funds include the development and implementation of evidence-based strategies that target crime in locations where most crime is occurring and can have the biggest impact while also building the capacity of the community to deter future crime through neighborhood revitalization.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Eligible entities to serve as fiscal agent include states, unit of local governments, non-profit organizations, and federally recognized Indian tribal governments as determined by the Secretary of the Interior.

Credentials/Documentation

The application must include: Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424); Program Abstract; Program Narrative; Budget and Budget Narrative; Project Timeline and Position Descriptions; Letters of Support. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

The BCJI application requires a consortium of partners (hereinafter "cross-sector partnership") to work together to design a strategy addressing a targeted crime problem and responding to the scope of this solicitation.

The application must also show commitment from the local law enforcement agency, community leaders, and a research partner as part of this partnership through detailed letters of support outlining their participation and partnership in the project.

This cross-sector partnership must designate one agency or organization as the Fiscal Agent.

Environmental impact information is not required for this program.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. All competitive grant applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov. Applications or supplemental materials received by facsimile or postal mail will not be accepted.

Award Procedures

Upon approval by the Assistant Attorney General, successful applicants are notified via the Grants Management System. One copy of the grant award must be signed by the authorized official and returned to the Office of Justice Programs.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Authorization

FY 2012 Appropriations Act Pub L. No. 112-55
BCSI Pub L. No. 113-6, 127 Stat. 198, 254.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 90 to 120 days.

Appeals

Determined by the Assistant Attorney General, OJP.

Renewals

Subject to annual appropriations.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.
This program has no matching requirements.
This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Up to 36 months. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: See the Office of Justice Programs Financial Guide 2011 (www.ojp.usdoj.gov/financialguide/index.htm ) and Post award Instructions (www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/pdfs/post_award_instructions.pdf) for specifics.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

No program reports are required.

No cash reports are required.

Recipients are required to submit semi-annual Progress Reports.

Recipients are required to submit quarterly Financial Reports.

Recipients are required to submit semi-annual Progress Reports and quarterly Financial Reports.

To assist in fulfilling the Departments responsibilities under the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), Public Law 103-62, and the GPRA Modernization Act of 2010, Public Law 111-352, recipients must provide data that measures the results of their work.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Payments and transactions are subject to audits by the Government Accountability Office, Department of Justice s Office of the Inspector General, state or local government auditors, and auditors from independent public accounting firms. Jurisdictions must follow their local policies and procedures, including maintenance of reliable and accurate accounting systems, record keeping, and systems of internal control.

All organizations that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in any fiscal year must have a single audit for that year in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-133, as amended, unless the audit condition on the award says otherwise. These audits are due to the cognizant federal agency not later than 9 months after the end of the grantee s fiscal year.

Records

Recipients of federal funds are expected to retain documentation supporting all program transactions for at least 3 years after the closure of audit reports related to such funding. If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit, or other action involving records has been started before the expiration of the 3-year period, the records must be retained until completion of the action and resolution of all related issues, or until the end of the regular 3-year period, whichever is later.

Financial Information

Account Identification

15-0404-0-1-754.

Obigations

(Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 12 $13,393,248; FY 13 est $16,738,000; and FY 14 est $35,000,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Category 1 Award: up to $1 million
Category 2 Award: up to $600,000.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

Solicitation guidelines are posted on the Office of Justice Programs web site at http://www.ojp.gov/funding/solicitations.htm.
For additional guidance reference the Office of Justice Programs Financial Guide 2011 (www.ojp.usdoj.gov/financialguide/index.htm ) and Post award Instructions (www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/pdfs/post_award_instructions.pdf). Applicable OMB Circulars and Department of Justice regulations applicable to specific types of grantees can be found in title 28 of the Code of Federal Regulations (28 C.F.R.).

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
Bureau of Justice Assistance
810 7th Street, NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20531 Email: AskBJA@usdoj.gov Phone: (202) 616-6500 or 1-866-859-2647

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Criteria are described in the OJP Program Announcement available at http://www.ojp.gov/funding/solicitations.htm.