Victims of Crime Act Human Trafficking Victim Services Program NOFO Grant

Victims of Crime Act Human Trafficking Victim Services Program NOFO Grant is sponsored by Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. Provides grants to organizations in Illinois to enhance services for individuals affected by human trafficking, including both sex and labor trafficking.

Euna Grants - Criminal Justice Information Authority - 1745-0923 Human Trafficking 1745-0923 Human Trafficking 1745-0923 Human Trafficking The federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) was passed in 1984 for the purpose of compensating and assisting victims of crime and providing funds for training and technical assistance. ICJIA is charged with the administration of the Illinois’ Victims of Crime Act Victim Assistance Formula Grant Program.

This program is supported by fines and penalties levied against criminals convicted of federal crimes and allocated to states by formula by the Office for Victims of Crime of the U.S. Department of Justice. In federal fiscal year 2022, Illinois received a VOCA award of $53,660,957 million. VOCA grants must support the provision of direct services to victims of crime.

States are required to allocate a minimum of 10 percent of funds received for services to each of the following: victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, and underserved victims of violent crime. VOCA funds may not be used to supplant or replace state and local funds that would otherwise be available for crime victim services and must be used to develop new projects or expand existing projects.

Criminal Justice Info Authority Ronnie. Reichgelt@Illinois. gov Humanities, Law, Justice and Legal Services ICJIA has made available a maximum of $800,000 in Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant funding to improve services for and/or the responses to victims of human trafficking.

This opportunity will support nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations, including faith-based and other community organizations, that provide core services, direct intervention, and related assistance to these victims. Underserved Victims, Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), Human Trafficking Funding Opportunity Number Agency Opportunity Number Assistance Listings Number https://il. amplifund.

com/Public/Opportunities/Details/bdf93e7e-6180-4b2b-b635-d44b40bbb0bb Federal Or Federal Pass Through Funding Source Description A total of $800,000 in funding is available through this solicitation. Applicants may request a minimum of $125,000 and a maximum of $175,000 in grant funding. Agreements that result from this funding opportunity are contingent upon and subject to the availability of sufficient funds.

Applications must include an Implementation Schedule that describes how the program activities will be carried out. The Implementation Schedule must include information that will allow ICJIA to assess grant activity relative to planned project performance.

See Funding Restrictions Download Expected Number of Awards Indirect Cost Description In order to charge indirect costs to a grant, the applicant organization must either have an annually negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) or elect to use a standard de minimis rate. There are three types of allowable indirect cost rates: a) Federally Negotiated Rate.

Organizations that receive direct federal funding, may have an indirect cost rate that was negotiated with the Federal Cognizant Agency. Illinois will accept the federally negotiated rate. b) State Negotiated Rate.

The organization may negotiate an indirect cost rate with the State of Illinois if they do not have a Federally Negotiated Rate. If an organization has not previously established an indirect cost rate, an indirect cost rate proposal must be submitted through the State of Illinois’ centralized indirect cost rate system in the GATA Grantee Portal.

If an organization previously established an indirect cost rate, the organization must annually submit a new indirect cost proposal through the GATA Grantee Portal system within the earlier of: six (6) months after the close of the grantee’s fiscal year; and three (3) months of the notice of award. c) De Minimis Rate.

An organization that has never negotiated an indirect cost rate with the Federal Government or the State of Illinois is eligible to elect a de minimis rate of 10% of modified total direct cost (MTDC). Once established, the de minimis Rate may be used indefinitely. The State of Illinois must verify the calculation of the MTDC annually in order to accept the de minimis rate.

A recipient of grant funds must register its indirect cost rate election through Indirect Cost Rate Election System (ICRES). It is the organization’s responsibility to ensure that any indirect cost rate utilized is properly registered. Grantees have discretion and can elect to waive payment for indirect costs.

Grantees that elect to waive payments for indirect costs cannot be reimbursed for indirect costs. The organization must record an election to “Waive Indirect Costs” into ICRES. Indirect Cost election must be completed annually, for every state fiscal year.

Restrictions on Indirect Costs In-Kind Match Requirement Other Funding Requirement Submission Timeline Additional Information Completed application materials must be received by and in possession of the AmpliFund grant management system by 5:00 p. m. , November 6, 2023, to be considered for funding.

Applications must be submitted via AmpliFund. Allow Multiple Applications Application Review Start Date / Pre-Qualification Deadline Other Submission Requirements Proposals will not be accepted by email, mail, fax, or in person. AmpliFund will not permit late submissions.

Agencies are encouraged to submit their applications 24-72 hours in advance of the deadline to avoid unforeseen technical difficulties. Technical difficulties with the grant management system should be reported immediately to ICJIA Question Submission Information Question Submission Open Date Question Submission Close Date Question Submission Email Address CJA. HumanTraffickingNOFO@Illinois.

gov Question Submission Additional Information All substantive questions and responses will be posted on the ICJIA website at and here. Due to the competitive nature of this solicitation, applicants may not discuss the opportunity directly with any ICJIA employee other than via email . Technical Assistance Session Technical Assistance Session Conference Info / Registration Link https://youtu.

be/EuZP72812ms Applicant Eligibility Information Beneficiary Eligibility Information Credentials Documentation Eligibility Information Additional Eligibility Information Applicant Eligibility: Registered agencies in good standing with the State Beneficiary Eligibility: Purposes of compensating and assisting crime victims, funding training and technical assistance, and serving victims of federal crimes.

Credentials Documentation: Registered in the GATA Grantee Portal and in Good Standing with Pre-qualification requirements. Award Administration Information The ICJIA Budget Committee is scheduled to review and approve designations in December 2023.

Administrative and National Policy Requirements In addition to implementing the funded project consistent with the approved project proposal and budget, agencies selected for funding must comply with applicable grant terms and conditions and other legal requirements, including the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), GATA, and the U.S. Department of Justice Grants Financial Guide.

Additional programmatic and administrative special conditions may be required.

The following documents must be submitted prior to the execution of an agreement: • Fiscal Information Sheet • Audit Information Sheet • Programmatic Risk Assessment • Civil Rights Compliance Questionnaire Recipients must submit periodic financial reports, periodic performance reports, final financial and performance reports, and, if applicable, an annual audit report in accordance with the 2 CFR Part 200 Uniform Requirements.

Future awards and fund drawdowns may be withheld if reports are delinquent. Programs selected for funding will be required to submit quarterly reports on the following objectives and must identify the number of clients they aim to serve during the performance period. In addition to the required ICJIA data submission, the applicant will be required to report on the progress of activity in the OVC Performance Measurement Tool (PMT).

State Awarding Agency Contacts For questions and technical assistance regarding application submission, contact: Shataun Hailey, Victim Services Program Manager Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) is a state agency dedicated to improving the administration of criminal justice.

ICJIA brings together key leaders from the justice system and the public to identify critical issues facing the criminal justice system in Illinois, and to propose and evaluate policies, programs, and legislation that address those issues. The statutory responsibilities of ICJIA fit into four areas: grants administration; research and analysis; policy and planning; and information systems and technology.

Section 7 of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Act grants ICJIA authority “to apply for, receive, establish priorities for, allocate, disburse, and spend grants of funds that are made available by and received on or after January 1, 1983 from private sources or from the United States pursuant to the federal Crime Control Act of 1973, as amended, and similar federal legislation, and to enter into agreements with the United States government to further the purposes of this Act, or as may be required as a condition of obtaining federal funds” and “to receive, expend, and account for such funds of the State of Illinois as may be made available to further the purposes of this Act.

” (20 ILCS 3930/7(k), (l)) The Victims of Crime Act of 1984 established the Crime Victims Fund (34 U.S.C. 20101(c)) for the purpose of creating a special mandatory spending account dedicated to helping victims of all types of crimes. Authorized by the Victims of Crime Act are: ● Children’s Justice Act grants ● U.S. Attorney’s victim/witness coordinators ● F.

B. I. victim assistance specialists ● Federal victim notification system ● OVC discretionary grants ● State compensation formula grants ● State victim assistance formula grants ● Antiterrorism Emergency Reserve In addition, distribution of federal funds through the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority is authorized by 20 Ill.

Admin. Code 1520. 40, stating in pertinent part that [ICJIA] will annually review Section 1404 of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (P.

L. 98-473, effective October 12, 1984) and based on the requirements of Section 1404(a) and (b), the need for services to victims and the services available to address that need, as evidenced by oral and written comment and testimony received at public meetings conducted pursuant to the Open Meetings Act (Ill. Rev.

Stat. 1983, ch. 102, par.

41 et seq.) , select program priorities for each federal fiscal year. ” The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), passed by Congress in 1984 and amended in 1988, established the Crime Victims Fund, which provides funds to states for victim assistance and compensation programs that offer support and services to those affected by violent crimes.

In addition, distribution of federal funds through VOCA by the ICJIA is authorized by 20 Ill. Admin. Code 1520.

40, stating in pertinent part that “[ICJIA] will annually review Section 1404 of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (P. L. 98-473, effective October 12, 1984) and based on the requirements of Section 1404(a) and (b), the need for services to victims and the services available to address that need” will “select program priorities for each federal fiscal year.

” Neither the State of Illinois nor ICJIA are obligated to make any award as a result of this announcement. The ICJIA Executive Director or designee has sole authority to bind ICJIA to the expenditure of funds through the execution of grant agreements. This application is subject to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Any information that the applicant believes should be exempt under FOIA should clearly highlight the information that is exempt, and the basis of the exemption. Review and Selection Process All applications will be screened for completeness including GATA pre-qualification and ICQ submission for the current state fiscal year. Applications that are not complete will not be reviewed.

Reviewers will score applications based on completeness, clear and detailed responses to program narrative questions, and inclusion of all mandatory program elements as well as past performance history and/or financial standing with ICJIA. The applicant must demonstrate that costs are reasonable, necessary, and allowable. The total number of points available is 100.

ICJIA reserves the right to reject incomplete proposals, proposals that include unallowable activities, proposals that do not meet eligibility or program requirements, and proposals that are otherwise unsatisfactory. ICJIA may invite applicants to answer clarifying questions and modify budgets that include unallowable or unreasonable costs. NOFO application budgets will be reviewed for allowability, completeness, and cost-effectiveness.

ICJIA will perform an in-depth budget review of all grants awarded and may require budget modifications that do not materially change the nature of the program. Successful applicants whose applications contained unallowable or unreasonable costs may have their awards reduced by the total amount of those costs. Upon applicant acceptance of the grant award, announcement of the grant award shall be published by ICJIA to the GATA portal.

Review team recommendations will be forwarded to Budget Committee for approval. Applicants will be notified of the Budget Committee's decision. Unsuccessful applicants may request a formal appeal of the evaluation process.

Evaluation scores and funding determinations may not be contested and will not be considered by ICJIA’s Appeals Review Officer. The appeal must be via AmpliFund and submitted within 14 calendar days after receipt of a Funding Opportunity Declination Letter from ICJIA.

The appeal must include, at a minimum, the following: • Statement indicating a request for a formal appeal • A statement of reason for the appeal The appeal will be sent to: Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority Once an appeal is received, ICJIA will acknowledge receipt of an appeal. ICJIA will respond to the appeal, in writing, within 60 days or explain why more time is required.

ICJIA will resolve the appeal by a written determination, which will include: • Rationale for the determination. • Standard description of the appeal review process and criteria. Unsuccessful applicants may request a debriefing for feedback to improve future applications.

Debriefings include written advice on the strengths and weaknesses of applications using the evaluation and review criteria. Requests for debriefings must be made via email and submitted within seven calendar days after receipt of notice. Debriefing requests will not be granted if there is an active appeal, administrative action, or court proceeding.

The written debriefing requests shall include: • The name and address of the requesting party. • Identification of grant program. • Reasons for the debrief request.

Anticipated Announcement Dates Task Date NOFO & Technical Assistance Recording posted October 5, 2023 Applications due 5:00 p. m. , November 6, 2023 Last day to submit questions 5:00 p.

m. , Thursday, November 2, 2023 ICJIA Budget Committee review/approval of recommended designations December 14, 2023 Program start date January 1, 2024