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16.526 OVW TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE INITIATIVE

FEDERAL AGENCY
OFFICE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

AUTHORIZATION
Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005, Public Law 109-162, Section 3(a), 42 U.S.C. 13925(b)(11).

OBJECTIVES
To provide communities with critical resources that help them forge partnerships across agencies and disciplines to respond effectively to violent crimes against women. OVW's Technical Assistance Program was created to provide grantees with the expertise and support they need to develop and implement successful local projects, increase victim safety, and bolster offender accountability. Grantees participate in educational initiatives, conferences, peer-to- peer consultations, and targeted assistance that allow them to learn from experts and one another about how to overcome obstacles and incorporate promising practices in their efforts to address violence against women. In addition, the Technical Assistance Program focuses on building the capacity of national criminal justice and victim advocacy organizations to effectively address violent crimes against women and examine issues of special interest to OVW and its constituents.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE
Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements).

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS
OVW funds a constellation of technical assistance projects to support the activities of its grantees and to forge partnerships among organizations that have not traditionally worked together to address domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Grantees learn from national experts and each other how best to develop and implement locally responsive programs. OVW encourages applicants to the Technical Assistance Program to design educational initiatives that are interactive and experiential and that seek to change values and attitudes that have traditionally prevented victim advocates and criminal justice professionals from responding effectively to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. Applicants proposing education programs must detail the adult education methods they will use to promote new insight, knowledge, skills, and abilities in the individuals with whom they propose to work.

Applicant Eligibility
Eligible applicants are organizations or individuals partnered with organizations.

Beneficiary Eligibility
Beneficiaries are organizations or individuals partnered with organizations.

Credentials/Documentation
Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments, and OMB Circular No. A-110 for Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals and Other Nonprofit Organizations.

Preapplication Coordination
This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. Application forms furnished by the Federal agency, in accordance with 28 CFR, Part 66 (Common Rule) must be used for this program.

Application Procedure
Applicants must apply through the on-line grants.gov portal. The receipt, review, and analysis of applications will follow Office on Violence Against Women policies and procedures for the administration of grant applications. This program is subject to provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110.

Award Procedure
Upon approval by the Office on Violence Against Women, online notification is sent to the applicant agency with copies of the Grant Award. One copy of the Grant Award must be signed electronically by an authorized official and returned to the Office of Justice Programs.

Deadlines
Contact the Office on Violence Against Women for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Applicants will be notified by the end of the fiscal year.

Appeals
No statutory rights of appeal.

Renewals
Renewals are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Formula and Matching Requirements
Grants will be made for amounts up to 100 percent of the costs of the projects contained in the approved applications. Matching is not required for this grant.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Up to 24 months. Funds are released on an as needed basis to the grantee.

Reports
Each grantee receiving funds under this program shall submit semi-annual progress reports. Upon completion of the grant period, the institution shall file a performance report explaining the activities carried out and including an assessment of the effectiveness of those activities in achieving the purposes of the program. Grantees are also required to submit quarterly financial reports.

Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that receive 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.

Records
The award recipient must keep complete records on disposition of funds.

Account Identification
15-0409-0-1-754.

Obligations
(Grants) FY 07 $14,107,409; FY 08 est $12,734,568; and FY 09 est $8,914,198.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$20,000 to $1,500,000; $318,364.

PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS
FY 07: Applicants: 188, Awards: 57; FY 08: Applicants: 41, Awards: 41; FY 09 est: Applicants: 41, Awards: 41.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE
OJP Financial Guide is applicable.

Regional or Local Office
None.

Headquarters Office
Office on Violence Against Women, Department of Justice, 800 K Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20530; Telephone: (202) 307-6026.

Web Site Address
http://www.ovw.usdoj.gov

RELATED PROGRAMS
16.524, Legal Assistance for Victims; 16.525, Grants to Combat Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking on Campus; 16.587, Violence Against Women Discretionary Grants for Indian Tribal Governments; 16.588, Violence Against Women Formula Grants; 16.589, Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Grant Program; 16.590, Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders.

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS
OVW's TA projects have offered educational opportunities, conferences, peer-to-peer consultations, site visits, and tailored assistance that has allowed grantees and others to learn from experts and one another about how to effectively respond to crimes of violence against women.plement the Peaceful Families Project, designed to provide culturally appropriate assistance to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking in the Muslim communities.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS
Criteria are established by the Office on Violence Against Women and are included in an annual Call for Concept Papers.


General Services Administration
Office of Chief Acquisition Officer
Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR)