FR Doc 04-2089 [Federal Register: February 3, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 22)] [Notices] [Page 5187-5193] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr03fe04-93] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention [OJP (OJJDP) Docket No. 1392] Program Announcement for the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program AGENCY: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, Justice. ACTION: Notice of Solicitation. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Based on the availability of appropriations, notice is hereby given that the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) is requesting applications from State and local law enforcement agencies interested in participating in the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program. In an effort to expand ICAC Regional Task Force coverage to areas that do not currently have an ICAC Regional Task Force presence, this solicitation is limited to State and local law enforcement agencies in the following States and localities: Illinois, Iowa, New Mexico, Oregon, West Virginia, and the Northern Virginia/Washington, DC, metropolitan area (excluding Maryland). (For the purpose of this solicitation, the Northern Virginia/Washington, DC, metropolitan area is defined as the cities of Washington, DC; Alexandria, VA; and Falls Church, VA; and all cities and towns in Virginia within and including Arlington County, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Prince William County, and Stafford County.) Only one grant will be awarded per State/locality listed above. This program encourages communities to develop regional multidisciplinary, multijurisdictional task forces to prevent, interdict, and investigate sexual exploitation offenses committed by offenders who use online technology to victimize children. DATES: Applications must be received by March 19, 2004. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Holloway, ICAC Program Manager, Child Protection Division, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, at (202) 305-9838 or holloway@ojp.usdoj.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Purpose The purpose of this program is to help State and local law enforcement agencies enhance their investigative response to offenders who use the Internet, online communication systems, or other computer technologies to sexually exploit children. Throughout this program announcement, ``Internet crimes against children'' refers to the sexual exploitation of children that is facilitated by computers and includes crimes of child pornography and online solicitation for sexual purposes. Background Unlike some adults who view the benefits of the Information Age dubiously, children and teenagers have seized the Internet's educational and recreational opportunities with astonishing speed. Adapting information technology to meet everyday needs, young people are increasingly going online to meet friends, get information, purchase goods and services, and complete school assignments. Currently, more than 28 million children and teenagers have access to the Internet; industry experts predict that they will be joined by another 50 million globally by 2005. Although the Internet gives children and teenagers access to valuable resources, it also increases their risk of being sexually exploited or victimized. Cloaked in the anonymity of cyberspace, sex offenders can capitalize on the natural curiosity of children and seek victims with little risk of detection. Preferential sex offenders no longer need to lurk in parks and malls. Instead, they can roam from chat room to chat room, trolling for children susceptible to victimization. This alarming activity has grave implications for parents, teachers, and law enforcement officers because it circumvents conventional safeguards and provides sex offenders with virtually unlimited opportunities for unsupervised contact with children. Today's Internet is also rapidly becoming the new marketplace for offenders seeking to acquire material for their child pornography collections. More insidious than sexually explicit adult pornography, child pornography depicts the sexual assault of children and is often used by child molesters to recruit, seduce, and control their victims. Child pornography is used to break down inhibitions, validate sex between children and adults as normal, and control victims throughout their molestation. When offenders lose interest in their victims, child pornography is often used as blackmail to ensure the child's silence. When posted on the Internet, pornography becomes an enduring and irretrievable record of victimization and a relentless violation of that child's privacy. OJJDP recognizes that the increasing online presence of children, the lure of predators searching for unsupervised contact with underage victims, and the proliferation of child pornography present a significant threat to the health and safety of children and a formidable challenge to law enforcement today and into the foreseeable future. Three main factors complicate law enforcement's response to these challenges. First, conventional definitions of jurisdiction are practically meaningless in the electronic universe of cyberspace; very few investigations begin and end within the same geographical area. Because they involve multiple jurisdictions, most investigations require close coordination and cooperation between Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies. Second, evidence collection in ICAC investigations typically requires specialized expertise and equipment. Because preferential sex offenders tend to be avid recordkeepers, their computers, magnetic media, and related [[Page 5188]] equipment can be valuable sources of evidence. However, routine forensic examination procedures are insufficient for seizing, preserving, and analyzing this information. In addition, the seizure of computers and related technology may lead to specific legal issues regarding property and privacy rights. Third, routine interviewing practices are inadequate for collecting testimonial evidence from child victims of Internet crimes. Some children deny they are victims because they fear embarrassment, ridicule from their peers, or discipline from their parents. Other victims bond with the offender, remain susceptible to further manipulation, or resent what they perceive as interference from law enforcement. Investigators who do not fully understand the dynamics of juvenile sexual exploitation risk losing critical information that could help convict perpetrators or identify additional victims. When appropriate, medical and psychological evaluations should be a part of law enforcement's response to cases involving child victims. In addition to ensuring that injuries or diseases related to the victimization are treated, forensic medical examinations provide crucial corroborative evidence. The above factors almost routinely complicate the investigative process. Although no two cases raise identical issues of jurisdiction, evidence collection, and victim services, it is logical to presume that investigations characterized by a multijurisdictional, multidisciplinary approach will more likely result in successful prosecutions. Current Strategies A variety of Federal activities are helping and can further help law enforcement respond to these offenses. For example, the Innocent Images National initiative, managed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI's) Cyber Division, Innocent Images Unit, works specifically on cases involving computer-facilitated child sexual exploitation. The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (BICE) (formerly the U.S. Customs Service [USCS]) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) have successfully investigated hundreds of child pornography cases. The Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) of the U.S. Department of Justice prosecutes Federal violations and offers advice and litigation support to Federal, State, and local prosecutors working on child pornography and sexual exploitation cases. With support from OJJDP and private sector funding, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) serves as the nation's primary resource center and clearinghouse for issues involving missing and exploited children. NCMEC's training division coordinates a comprehensive training and technical assistance program that includes prevention and awareness activities. Gathering information from citizens and Internet service providers, the CyberTipline (http://www.missingkids.com ) collects online reports regarding the computer- facilitated sexual exploitation of children and rapidly forwards this information to the law enforcement agencies with investigative jurisdiction. Brought online in March 1998, the CyberTipline has provided law enforcement officers with information that has enabled them to arrest individuals seeking sex with underage victims and to safely recover and return children enticed from home by sex offenders. NCMEC's law enforcement training and technical assistance program was developed in partnership with OJJDP, the FBI, BICE, USPIS, and CEOS. NCMEC has also developed an education and awareness campaign that features the Kids and Company curriculum, the Know the Rules teen awareness program, and two pamphlets (Child Safety on the Information Highway and Teen Safety on the Information Highway) that provide information about safe Internet practices for children and youth. These programs and materials are offered free of charge, and OJJDP encourages communities working on child victimization issues to use them. Additional information about NCMEC's services for children, parents, educators, and law enforcement officers can be obtained by calling 800- THE-LOST or by accessing NCMEC's Web site at http://www.missingkids.com . Since fiscal year 1998, OJJDP has awarded funds to 40 State and local law enforcement agencies to develop regional multijurisdictional and multiagency task forces to prevent, interdict, and investigate ICAC offenses. The following jurisdictions currently receive ICAC Regional Task Force Program funding: Alabama Department of Public Safety; Arkansas State Police; Bedford County, Virginia, Sheriff's Department; Broward County, Florida, Sheriff's Department; Colorado Springs, Colorado, Police Department; Connecticut State Police; Cuyahoga County, Ohio, District Attorney; Dallas, Texas, Police Department; Delaware County, Pennsylvania, District Attorney; Gainesville, Florida, Police Department; Georgia Bureau of Investigation; Hawaii Office of the Attorney General; Indiana State Police; Kentucky State Police; Knoxville, Tennessee, Police Department; Las Vegas, Nevada, Metropolitan Police Department; Los Angeles, California, Police Department; Louisiana Office of the Attorney General; Maryland State Police; Massachusetts Department of Public Safety; Michigan State Police; Nebraska State Patrol; New Jersey State Police; New York State Police; North Carolina Division of Criminal Investigation; Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation; Phoenix, Arizona, Police Department; Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Police Department; Sacramento County, California, Sheriff's Office; Saint Paul, Minnesota, Police Department; San Diego, California, Police Department; San Jose, California, Police Department; Seattle, Washington, Police Department; Sedgewick County, Kansas, Sheriff's Office; South Carolina Office of the Attorney General; Utah Office of the Attorney General; Wisconsin Department of Justice; and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. These agencies have become regional clusters of ICAC technical and investigative expertise, offering prevention and investigation services to children, parents, educators, law enforcement officers, and other individuals working on child sexual exploitation issues. Collectively, task force agencies have made more than 1,200 arrests and provided forensic or investigative assistance in more than 4,500 cases. Despite these accomplishments, law enforcement agencies continue to be increasingly challenged by sex offenders who use computer technology to victimize children. To help meet this challenge, OJJDP is continuing the ICAC Regional Task Force Program, which will competitively award cooperative agreements to State and local law enforcement agencies seeking to improve their investigative responses to the computer- facilitated sexual exploitation of children. Program Strategy The ICAC Task Force Program seeks to enhance the nationwide response to child victimization by maintaining and expanding a State and local law enforcement network composed of regional task forces. The program requires communities to develop multijurisdictional, multiagency responses and provides funding to State and local law enforcement agencies to help them acquire the knowledge, personnel, and specialized equipment needed to prevent, interdict, and investigate ICAC offenses. Although the ICAC Task Force Program emphasizes [[Page 5189]] law enforcement investigations, OJJDP encourages jurisdictions to include intervention, prevention, and victim services activities as part of their comprehensive approach. OJJDP Program Management During the past 5 years of managing the ICAC Task Force Program, OJJDP has made the following observations: The Internet challenges traditional thinking about law enforcement jurisdiction and renders city, county, and State boundaries virtually meaningless. Because of this jurisdictional ambiguity, offenders are often able to frustrate enforcement actions and conceal their criminal activities. Nearly all ICAC investigations (95 percent) involve communication and coordination efforts among Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies. Without meaningful case coordination, law enforcement agencies may inadvertently investigate identical suspects and organizations, target undercover operatives of other law enforcement agencies, or disrupt clandestine investigations of other agencies. The obvious need for interagency cooperation and coordination has sustained interest in maintaining standards for ICAC undercover investigations. Representatives from Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies have repeatedly expressed concern about initiating investigations that are based on referrals from outside agencies--referrals that may be predicated on information acquired through inappropriate officer conduct or investigative techniques. The clandestine nature of undercover operations, the anonymity of Internet users, and the unclear jurisdictional boundaries of cyberspace significantly exacerbate these investigative concerns. Undercover operations, when executed and documented properly, collect virtually unassailable evidence regarding a suspect's predilection to sexually exploit children. These operations allow law enforcement agencies to go on the offensive and, most important, protect children from revictimization. Although carefully managed undercover operations by well-trained officers can be very effective, these operations also generate concerns regarding legal, coordination, communication, and resource management issues. Although Internet awareness appears to be growing, many children, teenagers, and parents are not sufficiently informed about the potential dangers and repercussions of releasing personal information to, or meeting with, individuals encountered online. Although Federal agencies are responsible for monitoring illegal interstate and telecommunications activities, protecting children is primarily the responsibility of State and local law enforcement agencies. The production of child pornography or the sexual assault of a child--whether originating online or not--usually creates both a jurisdictional interest and a responsibility for State and local authorities. Despite the belief that these cases are usually manufactured by undercover operations in which officers pose as minors in chat rooms, most ICAC investigations are initiated in response to a citizen complaint or a request from law enforcement. Unfortunately, these cases often involve multiple victims who require a response by both local law enforcement and victim services. Internet crime is placing a new demand on forensic resources. Computers are piling up in evidence rooms across the country because many agencies do not have the forensic capacity to meet the needs of investigative efforts. A generation ago, officers beginning their law enforcement careers would be issued a uniform, a service weapon, and a notebook. Those items rarely changed during a 20-year career. Today, changes in equipment and software occur seemingly overnight. Officers are hard pressed to stay current not only with technological changes but also with a motivated offender community that is adapting these new technologies to exploit children. To address these observations and concerns, the ICAC Task Force Program implements the following management strategies: Maintaining and expanding the nationwide network of State and local law enforcement agencies participating in the program. Ensuring that ICAC Task Force personnel are adequately trained and equipped. Establishing and/or maintaining ICAC Task Force investigative standards to facilitate interagency case referrals. Advocating coordination and collaboration among Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies investigating ICAC offenses. Fostering meaningful information sharing to avoid redundant investigations or activities that could disrupt the ongoing investigations of other agencies. Maintaining an ICAC Task Force Board composed of local law enforcement executives and prosecutors to advise OJJDP, formulate policy recommendations, and assess the law enforcement community's needs for training and technical assistance related to investigating Internet crimes. Convening an annual ICAC Task Force training conference to focus on child exploitation, emerging technology, and its relevance to criminal activity and enforcement efforts, and to enhance the networking essential for sustaining an effective State and local law enforcement response to online crime. OJJDP established the ICAC Task Force Program Standards through a collaborative process involving the 10 original ICAC Task Force agencies, the FBI, NCMEC, USCS, USPIS, CEOS, and the Executive Office for United States Attorneys. The standards were designed by the task force agencies to foster information sharing, coordinate investigations, ensure the probative quality of undercover operations, and facilitate interagency case referrals by standardizing investigative practices. In 2002, the ICAC standards were revised and updated to reflect 20 additional ICAC Regional Task Forces and an expanded program focus on the protection of children. OJJDP has also established an ICAC Task Force Board (the Board) to help administer the ICAC Task Force Program. As a condition of the award, each grantee must designate a policy-level law enforcement official or prosecutor to be a Board member. Although its primary responsibility is to serve as an advisory group to OJJDP, the Board also encourages case coordination and facilitates information sharing on trends, innovative investigative techniques, and prosecution strategies. Technical advice is provided to the Board by NCMEC, CEOS, the FBI, BICE, and USPIS. Goal The program's goal is to enhance the ICAC investigative response of State and local law enforcement agencies. Objectives Projects must accomplish the following objectives: Develop or expand multiagency, multijurisdictional regional task forces that include, but are not limited to, representatives from law enforcement, prosecution, victim services, and child protective services agencies. Regional task forces should include large regional geographic areas, entire States, or, when applicable, multiple States. Relevant nongovernment organizations may also be included. OJJDP strongly encourages applicants to invite Federal law [[Page 5190]] enforcement agencies to participate in the task force. Institute policies and procedures that comply with the ICAC Task Force Program Standards (see ``OJJDP Program Management'' above). Requests from eligible law enforcement agencies for copies of the ICAC Program Operational and Investigative Standards must be faxed on official letterhead to the ICAC Program Manager at 202-353-9093. Enhance investigative capacity by properly equipping and training ICAC Task Force investigators. Task force investigators should be computer literate, knowledgeable about child exploitation issues, and familiar with Federal and State statutes and case law pertaining to ICAC investigations. Develop and maintain case management systems to record offenses and investigative results, make or receive outside agency referrals of ICAC cases, and comply with the reporting requirements of the ICAC Monthly Performance Report (MPR). Develop response protocols or memorandums of understanding that foster collaboration, information sharing, and service integration among public and private organizations that provide services to sexually exploited children. Eligibility Requirements Applicants must be State and/or local law enforcement agencies located in Illinois, Iowa, New Mexico, Oregon, West Virginia, and the Northern Virginia/Washington, DC, metropolitan area (excluding Maryland). (For the purpose of this solicitation, the Northern Virginia/Washington, DC, metropolitan area is defined as the cities of Washington, DC; Alexandria, VA; and Falls Church, VA; and all cities and towns in Virginia within and including Arlington County, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Prince William County, and Stafford County.) Joint applications from two or more eligible agencies are welcome; however, one applicant must be clearly designated as the primary applicant (for correspondence, award, and management purposes) and the other(s) designated as coapplicant(s). Selection Criteria OJJDP is committed to establishing a network of State and local law enforcement agencies to respond to offenses involving online enticement and child pornography. Within this network, ICAC Task Forces positioned throughout the country will serve as regional sources of technical, educational, and investigative expertise, providing assistance to parents, teachers, law enforcement officers, and other professionals working on child sexual exploitation issues. Successful applicants will be expected to serve as regional clusters of ICAC technical and investigative expertise, collaborate with existing ICAC Task Forces, and become part of a nationwide law enforcement network designed to protect children from computer-facilitated victimization. To accomplish this goal, regional task forces should include large regional geographic areas, entire States, or, when applicable, multiple States. Applications should include evidence of multijurisdictional and multiagency law enforcement partnerships and multidisciplinary partnerships among public agencies, private organizations, community- based groups, and prosecutors' offices. Successful applicants will develop or enhance an investigative ICAC response that includes prevention, education, and victim services activities. All applications will be peer reviewed. OJJDP will review peer review results, and the U.S. Department of Justice will make the final award determinations. Applicants will be evaluated and rated according to the criteria outlined below. Application Procedures The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) requires that applications be submitted through its online Grants Management System (GMS). This online application system is designed to streamline the processing of requests for funding. A toll-free telephone number (888-549-9901) is available to provide applicants with technical assistance as they work through the online application process. Beginning October 1, 2003, a Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number must be included in every application for a new award or renewal of an award. The DUNS number will be required whether an applicant is submitting an application on paper, through OJP's Grants Management System, or using the government- wide electronic portal (Grants.gov). An application will not be considered complete until a valid DUNS number is provided by the applicant. Individuals who would personally receive a grant or cooperative agreement from the Federal government are exempt from this requirement. Organizations should verify that they have a DUNS number or take the steps necessary to obtain one as soon as possible. Applicants can receive a DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS number request line at 800-333-0505. Applicants should use the following application guidelines when preparing their application for this cooperative agreement. Applications must be electronically submitted to OJP through GMS no later than 5 p.m., e.t., on March 19, 2004. However, in order to allow adequate time to register with GMS, applicants must create a ``user profile'' before March 4, 2004. Applicants who have previously registered with GMS and have a GMS password should log on to GMS prior to March 4, 2004, to determine whether the password is still valid. If the password has expired, please follow the on-screen instructions or call the GMS Hotline (888-549-9901). OJJDP will begin accepting applications immediately. Applications submitted via GMS must be in the following word processing formats: Microsoft Word (``.doc''), PDF files (``.pdf''), or Text Documents (``.txt''). Application Requirements Applicants to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program solicitation must submit the following information online through GMS: Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424). This form is generated by completing the Overview, Applicant Information, and Project Information screens in GMS. Assurances and Certifications. The Assurances and Certifications must be reviewed and accepted electronically by the authorizing official or the designated authorizing official. Budget Detail Worksheet (Attachment #1). The Budget Detail Worksheet--including budget worksheets and detailed budget narratives for each year in the project period--accounts for 15 of the possible 100 points allotted by the peer reviewers. Program Narrative (Attachment #2). The Program Narrative--including Problem(s) To Be Addressed, Goals and Objectives, Project Design, and Management and Organizational Capability--accounts for 85 of the possible 100 points allotted by the peer reviewers. Point values for specific sections of the Program Narrative are as follows: Problem(s) To Be Addressed (10 points), Goals and Objectives (10 points), Project Design (35 points), and Management and Organizational Capability (30 points). Other Program Attachments (Attachment #3). The Other Program Attachments--including resumes of key personnel, signed letters of support, and information on additional funding activities (see ``Coordination of Federal Efforts'' below)--will be used by the peer reviewers to enhance their [[Page 5191]] evaluation of the project design and management and organization sections of the narrative. These materials are required and must be attached in one file to your GMS application. Detailed instructions and descriptions of each of the required elements are provided below. Note: Applications that do not include all the required elements will not be considered for funding. Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) The Application for Federal Assistance is a standard form used by most Federal agencies. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number for this program is 16.543. Assurances and Certifications Applicants are required to review and accept the Assurances and Certifications. Please verify that the name, address, phone number, fax number, and e-mail address of the authorizing official on these online forms are correct. Assurances. Applicants must comply with the Assurances to receive Federal funds under this program. It is the responsibility of the recipient of the Federal funds to fully understand and comply with these requirements. Failure to comply may result in the withholding of funds, termination of the award, or other sanctions. Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters; and the Drug-Free Workplace Requirement. Applicants are required to review and check the box on the certification form included in the online application process. This form commits the applicant to compliance with the certification requirements under 28 CFR Part 69, ``New Restrictions on Lobbying,'' and 28 CFR Part 67, ``Government-Wide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) and Government-Wide Requirements for Drug- Free Workplace (Grants).'' The authorizing official must review the Assurances and Certifications forms in their entirety. To accept the Assurances and Certifications in GMS, click on the Assurances and Certifications link and click the ``Accept'' button at the bottom of the screen. Budget Detail Worksheet (Attachment 1) (15 points) Applicants must provide a proposed budget that is complete, detailed, reasonable, allowable, and cost effective in relation to the activities described in the program narrative. Budgets must allow for required travel, including four trips for one individual to attend the quarterly ICAC Task Force Board meetings. Budgets must also allow for the participation of at least two agency representatives at the annual ICAC Training Conference. Applicants must submit budget worksheets and budget narratives in one file. The worksheet provides the detailed computation for each budget item (often in spreadsheet format). The narrative justifies or explains each budget item and relates it to project activities. Budget Worksheet. The budget worksheet must list the cost of each budget item and show how the cost was calculated. For example, costs for personnel should show the annual salary rate and the percentage of time devoted to the project for each employee to be paid through grant funds. The budget worksheet should present a complete and detailed itemization of all proposed costs. Budget Narrative. The budget narrative should closely follow the content of the budget worksheet and provide justification for all proposed costs. For example, the narrative should explain how fringe benefits were calculated, how travel costs were estimated, why particular items of equipment or supplies must be purchased, and how overhead or indirect costs (if applicable) were calculated. The budget narrative should justify the specific items listed in the budget worksheet (particularly supplies, travel, and equipment) and demonstrate that all costs are reasonable. A sample Budget Detail Worksheet form that can be used as a guide to help applicants prepare the budget worksheet and budget narrative is available at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/oc. (Follow link to Standard Forms, item 3, Budget Detail Worksheet.) Program Narrative (Attachment 2) (85 total points) Problem(s) To Be Addressed (10 points) Applicants must clearly identify the need for this project in their communities and demonstrate an understanding of the program concept. Applicants must include data that illustrate the size and scope of the problem in their State or region. If statistics or other research findings are used to support a statement or position, applicants must provide the relevant source information. Goals and Objectives (10 points) Applicants must establish clearly defined, measurable, and attainable goals and objectives for this program that are congruent with those outlined in the ``Goals'' and ``Objectives'' sections of this solicitation. Project Design (35 points) Applicants must explain in clear terms how the State or regional task force will be developed and implemented. Applicants must define the region, State, or, when applicable, the multistate area in which the task force intends to concentrate its efforts. Applicants must present a clear workplan that contains program elements directly linked to achieving the project objectives. The workplan must indicate project milestones, product due dates, and the nature of the products to be delivered. Management and Organizational Capability (30 points) The management structure and staffing described in the application must be adequate and appropriate for the successful implementation of the project. Applicants must identify individuals responsible for the project and their time commitments. Applicants must provide a schedule of major tasks and milestones. Applicants must describe how activities that prevent Internet crimes against children will be continued after Federal funding is no longer available. Other Program Attachments (Attachment 3) At a minimum, resumes of key personnel, signed letters of support from State and local prosecution offices and the local district United States Attorney must be included. Information pertaining to the ``Coordination of Federal Efforts'' section of this solicitation (see below) should also be included. Application Format The narrative portion of this application (excluding forms, assurances, and appendixes) must not exceed 35 double-space pages, with 1-inch margins, written in a standard 12-point font. The double-spacing requirement applies to all parts of the program narrative, including any lists, tables, bulleted items, or quotations. These standards are necessary to maintain fair and uniform consideration among all applicants. If the narrative does not conform to these standards, OJJDP will deem the application ineligible for consideration. Project and Award Period These cooperative agreements will be funded for up to an 18-month budget and project period. Funding beyond the [[Page 5192]] initial project period will be contingent on the grantee's performance and the availability of funds. Award Amount OJJDP estimates that the total amount available for this program will be $1.8 million. OJJDP intends to award six cooperative agreements of up to $300,000 each for the 18-month project period. Funding is contingent upon congressional appropriations. Performance Measurement To ensure compliance with the Government Performance and Results Act, Public Law 103-62, this solicitation notifies applicants that they will be required to collect and report on data that measure the results of the program implemented by this cooperative agreement. To ensure the accountability of these data, for which OJP is responsible, grantees are required to provide the following data: The number of investigations. The number of computer forensic examinations. Under this solicitation, grantees will be required to supply OJJDP with the above performance information. In addition, OJJDP will measure the performance of the ICAC Task Force Program. Data collection will be covered within the existing ICAC Monthly Performance Report (MPR) forms. MPR is a required data-reporting document that was created by OJJDP to collect ICAC data related to arrests, subpoenas, search warrants, technical assistance (investigative and computer forensic), and prevention and intervention activities performed by ICAC Regional Task Forces and ICAC Investigative Satellites. Data gathered from MPRs will help law enforcement track the number of arrests made and the types of offenses (e.g., enticement and/or child pornography possession, distribution, and manufacturing) that suspects are charged with. Information collected from MPRs will provide law enforcement with crucial baseline data necessary for a future evaluation of the ICAC Task Force Program after it has been fully established throughout the country. Obtaining this information will facilitate future program planning and will allow OJP to provide Congress with measurable program results of federally funded programs. Coordination of Federal Efforts To encourage better coordination among Federal agencies in addressing State and local needs, the U.S. Department of Justice requests that applicants provide information on the following: (1) Active Federal grant award(s) supporting this or related efforts, including awards from the U.S. Department of Justice; (2) any pending application(s) for Federal funds for this or related efforts; and (3) plans for coordinating any funds described in items (1) or (2) with the funding sought by this application. For each Federal award, applicants must include the program or project title, the Federal grantor agency, the amount of the award, and a brief description of its purpose. ``Related efforts'' is defined for these purposes as one of the following: Efforts for the same purpose (i.e., the proposed award would supplement, expand, complement, or continue activities funded with other Federal grants). Another phase or component of the same program or project (e.g., to implement a planning effort funded by other Federal funds or to provide a substance abuse treatment or education component within a criminal justice project). Services of some kind (e.g., technical assistance, research, or evaluation) rendered to the program or project described in the application. Faith-based and community organizations It is OJP policy that faith-based and community organizations that statutorily qualify as eligible applicants under OJP programs are invited and encouraged to apply for assistance awards. Faith-based and community organizations will be considered for an award on the same basis as any other eligible applicants and, if they receive assistance awards, will be treated on an equal basis with non faith-based and community organization grantees in the administration of such awards. No eligible applicant or grantee will be discriminated against on the basis of its religious character or affiliation, religious name, or the religious composition of its board of directors or persons working in the organization. Limited English proficiency National origin discrimination includes discrimination on the basis of limited English proficiency (LEP). To ensure compliance with Title VI and the Safe Streets Act, recipients are required to take reasonable steps to ensure that LEP persons have meaningful access to their programs. Meaningful access may entail providing language assistance services, including oral and written translation when necessary. The U.S. Department of Justice has issued guidance for grantees to assist them in complying with Title VI requirements. The guidance document can be accessed on the Internet at http://www.lep.gov, or by contacting OJP's Office for Civil Rights at 202-307-0690, or by writing to the following address: Office for Civil Rights, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, 810 7th Street NW., Eighth Floor, Washington, DC 20531. Lobbying The Anti-Lobbying Act, 18 U.S.C. 1913, recently was amended to expand significantly the restriction on use of appropriated funding for lobbying. This expansion also makes the anti-lobbying restrictions enforceable via large civil penalties, with civil fines between $10,000 and $100,000 per each individual occurrence of lobbying activity. These restrictions are in addition to the anti-lobbying and lobbying disclosure restrictions imposed by 31 U.S.C. 1352. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is currently in the process of amending the OMB cost circulars and the common rule (codified at 28 CFR part 69 for DOJ grantees) to reflect these modifications. However, in the interest of full disclosure, all applicants must understand that no federally appropriated funding made available under this grant program may be used, either directly or indirectly, to support the enactment, repeal, modification or adoption of any law, regulation, or policy, at any level of government, without the express approval by OJP. Any violation of this prohibition is subject to a minimum $10,000 fine for each occurrence. This prohibition applies to all activity, even if currently allowed within the parameters of the existing OMB circulars. Bibliography Burgess, A., and Grant, C. 1988. Children Traumatized in Sex Rings. Alexandria, VA: National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Cage, R., and Pence, D. 1997. Criminal Investigation of Child Sexual Abuse. Portable Guide. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Dressler, K. 1997. 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Alexandria, VA: National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Lanning, K., and Farley, R. 1997. Understanding and Investigating Child Sexual Exploitation. Portable Guide. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Magid, L. 1994. Child Safety on the Information Highway. Pamphlet. Alexandria, VA: National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Magid, L. 1998. Teen Safety on the Information Highway. Pamphlet. Alexandria, VA: National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 1998. Know the Rules. Pamphlet. Alexandria, VA: National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Quarantiello, L. 1997. Cyber Crime: How to Protect Yourself from Computer Criminals. Lake Geneva, WI: Tiare Publications. Rosenblatt, K. 1995. High-Technology Crime: Investigating Cases Involving Computers. San Jose, CA: KSK Publications. Saywitz, K., and Faller, K. 1997. 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