To enhance the quality and completeness of the nation's criminal history record systems; to provide financial and technical assistance to States for the establishment or improvement of computerized criminal history record systems and in their efforts to collect data on stalking and domestic violence;

credit: The Guardian

to improve data accessibility and support data transmissions to national systems will permit the immediate identification of persons who are prohibited from purchasing firearms, are subject to domestic violence protective orders, or are ineligible to hold positions of responsibility involving children, the elderly, or the disabled; to support the development of accurate and complete State sex offender identification and registration systems which interface with the FBI's Sex Offender Registry and meet applicable Federal and State requirements; to develop and improve the processes for identifying, classifying, collecting, and entering data regarding stalking and domestic violence into local, State, and national crime information databases; to ensure that criminal justice systems are designed, implemented, or upgraded to be compliant where applicable, with the FBI operated National Instant Criminal Background Check System and Interstate Automated Fingerprint Identification System, meet other applicable statewide or regional criminal justice information sharing standards and plans; and, build upon ongoing efforts so as to support the wide range of technology based, criminal justice information, identification, and communications needs identified by the States.

The NCHIP grant program is designed to improve the Nation's safety and security by enhancing the quality, completeness, and accessibility of criminal history record information and by insuring the nationwide implementation of criminal justice and noncriminal justice background check systems. For more information on program accomplishments, go to http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/nchip.htm.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Allowable uses of funds are outlined in the NCHIP fiscal year 2008 Program Announcement released December 2007.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Awards will be made to the agency designated by the Governor to administer the NCHIP program.

An award will be made to each eligible applicant State.

The designated agency may be the agency with primary responsibility for implementing the major activity to be funded with NCHIP funds or a parent agency with programmatic oversight over, and legislative authority to transfer funds to, such agency.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Funds awarded to the State may be allocated for use in State or local agencies or the courts. Private organizations may receive funds under contract arrangements with a State agency or its subgrantees to which NCHIP funds are allocated by the State.

Credentials/Documentation

The applicant must furnish, along with the application for an award, a detailed budget, a budget narrative, and a program narrative including the accomplishments, goals, impact, methods, evaluation plan, and resources of the project.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

A potential grantee should contact the Headquarters Office, Gerald Ramker, NCHIP Branch Chief, Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S.

Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20531; Telephone: (202) 307-0765, or E-mail: Gerald.Ramker@usdoj.gov, to obtain a copy of the program announcement.

The standard application forms as furnished by the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), in accordance with 28 CFR Part 66 (Common Rule), must be used for this program.

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 Procedures

The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) now requires that funding applications be submitted electronically through the OJP Grants Management System (GMS), which can be accessed at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/fundopps.htm.

Award Procedures

An award is granted by the Director of the Bureau of Justice Statistics and must be accepted by the applicant agency or institution according to the special conditions of the grant or cooperative agreement.

Deadlines

Contact the Headquarters Office, Gerald Ramker, NCHIP Branch Chief, Bureau of Justice Statistics at (202) 307-0765 or E-mail: Gerald.Ramker@usdoj.gov for application deadlines. The NCHIP Program Announcement, also contains submission information.

Authorization

Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, Public Law 105-251; 42 U.S.C. 3760.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Approximately 90 days.

Appeals

Hearing by Director.

Renewals

Awards may be for up to 12 months. Activities must be completed by September 30, 2009.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Provision of a 20 percent cash or in-kind match by the recipient is required.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Project duration period will be for up to 12 months. There are three methods for requesting payment of grant funds: the Letter of Credit Electronic Certification System (LOCES), the Phone Activated Paperless Request System (PAPRS) and the Automated Standard Application for Payment (ASAP).

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Reporting requirements include: Financial Status Reports containing the actual expenditures for the reporting period and cumulative for the award to be submitted quarterly online through GMS: and Progress Reports presenting information relevant to the performance of the project to be submitted online through GMS for reporting periods June 30 and December 31.

Audits

Nonfederal entities that expend $500,000 or more in Federal funds (from all sources including passthrough sub awards) in the organizational fiscal year (12 month turn around reporting period) shall have a single organizational audit conducted in accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular A133. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from audit requirements for that year.

Records

In accordance with the requirements set forth in 28 CFR Parts 66 and 70, all financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent to the award shall be retained by each organization for at least 3 years following the closure of the most recent audit report.

Financial Information

Account Identification

15-0401-0-1-754; 15-0404-0-1-754.

Obigations

FY 07 $9,872,280; FY 08 $9,400,000; and FY 09 est not available.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

None.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

Office of Justice Programs Financial Guide.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Gerald Ramker, NCHIP Branch Chief, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20531; Telephone: (202) 307-0765, or E-mail: Gerald.Ramker@usdoj.gov. Use the same number for FTS.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Criteria are described in the fiscal year 2008 NCHIP Program Announcement at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/html/nchip08sol.htm#contents.