Program Requirements - Applicants  must  execute Show Up, Stand Out  programming to reduce truancy of  elementary and middle school students, grades K-8, identified as chronically truantduring the previous school year (SY19-20)  or accumulated three consecutive to nine unexcused absences “at-risk” of becoming truant that attend DC Public and Public Charter Schools located in Wards One, Two, Four, Five, Six, Seven, and/or Eight. Intervention is targeted to avoid student/family referral to the Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) or Court Social Services Division (CSSD).  -Applicants must collect and track all data and program efforts into OVSJG’s Efforts to Outcomes (ETO) database.  - Applicants must be familiar with absence and truancy protocols as defined by Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) and legislature, such as the Attendance Accountability Amendment Act of 2013 and the Attendance Clarification Act of 2015.  - Applications must describe their capacity to expand to additional schools. Expansion to elementary and/or middle schools that feed into current school partners is encouraged, even if not listed on preliminary list. Truancy rates will be verified.  New applicants must identify public or public charter schools that have high truancy and have capacity to support the Show Up, Stand Out program at their schools. Minimum of five schools.  - Applicants must demonstrate how funding will be used to improve and/or expand existing services in partnership with local school administrators and Student Support Teams (SST).  -Applicants must emphasize a public health and trauma-informed family strengthening and youth engagement approach, with assigned teams to the initiative that can start the truancy response at the school in conjunction with the school attendance designee, provide education on attendance policies/procedures for resolving attendance related issues, case management, implementation of behavioral interventions, and have considerable capacity to conduct home/face-to-face visits where needed. OVSJG recommends staff program capacity to include: one program manager (at least 75%), multiple family support workers (100%), multiple youth coordinators (100%), and one data quality assurance personnel (at least 50%).  - Applicants must have capacity to respond to crisis with sufficient clinical social workers and case managers.  - Applicants must include a detailed description of how OVSJG funds will be used to strengthen  organizational  capacity  to  provide  and  measure  the  impact  of  these services.  - Applicants must participate in all Show Up, Stand Out sponsored technical assistance, meetings, and Show Up, Stand Out Training Academy.  - Applicants must designate the program manager (and one alternate) to participate in the Show Up, Stand Out Advisory Committee which meets on a monthly basis.  - Applicants must participate in a process and outcome evaluation that will be funded separately by OVSJG.  - Applicants must serve as brand ambassadors for the Show Up, Stand Out program by promoting the program by name during service, using Show Up, Stand Out collateral (i.e., letterhead, posters, flyers), and operating programming under the Show Up, Stand Out program. - Applicants must maintain current Non-Disclosure Agreement for all SUSO staff with an ETO login for Data Sharing Agreement between OVSJG and OSSE (Office of State Superintendent)  Required Collaboration  -Letters of support, addressed to OVSJG Director Michelle Garcia, from partnering local schools are required from applicants. Letters from schools should state the following: “I am familiar with the Show Up, Stand Out (SUSO) program and I am interested in receiving the support of this program to mitigate barriers to school attendance of children and families within my school. If a grant is awarded to , we would be interested in collaborating with this agency to implement the SUSO program.  - A Memoranda of Agreement with DCPS must be in place within the first 30 days of the grant period. OVSJG will develop the MOA and assist in its execution. Any partnerships described in letters of commitment should be formalized by this time.

Submission Requirement

Each applicant may only submit one proposal in response to this RFA. Proposals must justify services provided to the identified low-performing DC Public Schools and DC Public Charter Schools in Ward One, Two, Four, Five, Six, Seven, and Eight. The primary school location of the child is the basis for services provided to families; however case management practices may occur anywhere in the District. Applicants must establish partnerships with local schools prior to submission with documented letters of commitment. OVSJG will not accept more than one proposal per applicant. All applicants are required to submit the application online, signed by the Authorized Official to OVSJG’s electronic grants management system (eGMS), ZoomGrants ^TM, found on https://www.zoomgrants.com/zgf/FY2022ShowUpStandOut.

If the applicant is a non-profit organization, the President of the Board of Directors must sign award documents. Applications are due by Friday, May 28, 2021, by 11:59pm.

Availability of Funds

The funding period is October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022. All grant expenditures and project activities must occur within this time frame. Any costs that are incurred either before the start of the project period or after the expiration of the project period are not allowable. Current grantees may reapply to OVSJG for subsequent years of funding with continued grant awards contingent upon grantee’s demonstrated performance.

The Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants also reserves the right to, without prior notice, reduce or cancel one or more programs listed in this RFA, reject all applications, adjust total funds available, or cancel the RFA in part or whole. Funding levels in the respective program areas are contingent upon continued District funding, grantee performance, and/or reduction, elimination, or reallocation of local funds by DC Government, and in accordance with applicable sections within the grant award and/or agreement. OVSJG reserves the right to accept or deny any or all applications if OVSJG determines it is in the best interest to do so. For more information, refer to OVSJG Grant Policy at www.ovsjg.dc.gov  

Application Deadline

All required sections of the funding application must be received by 3pm EDT Wednesday, May 28, 2021, through OVSJG’s electronic grants management system (eGMS), ZoomGrants, found on http://ovsjg.dc.gov. Hard copies will not be accepted.

Inquiries

All inquiries to this RFA should be submitted by May 6, 2021 via email to brenda.aleman@dc.gov with “Truancy RFA SUSO” in the subject line.

Financial Statements

All applicants are required to submit a copy of the most recent and complete set of audited or unaudited financial statements available for the applicant organization. If audited financial statements have never been prepared due to the size or recent establishment of an organization, the applicant must provide, at a minimum, an organizational budget, an income statement (profit and loss statement), and a balance sheet certified by an authorized representative of the organization, and any letters, filings, etc. submitted to the IRS within three years before the date of the grant application.

Business License/Pre-qualification Criteria

All applicants must submit evidence of being a legally-authorized entity (e.g. 501(c)3 determination letter) and/or submit a current license to conduct business within the District of Columbia, if relevant for the applicant’s business status, and any correspondence or other communication received from the IRS within three years before submission of the grant application that relates to the applicant’s tax status. Applicants must have valid Employment Identification Number (EIN), DUNS number and SAM registration. OVSJG pre-approval is required for this section in ZoomGrants ^TM. 

Disclosure of Legal Proceedings

All applicants are required to disclose in a signed written statement provided on organizational letterhead, the truth of which is sworn or attested to by the applicants’ authorized official, whether the applicant, or where applicable, that its officers, partners, principals, members, associates or key employees, within the last three (3) years prior to the date of the application, has not:

1. been indicted or had charges brought against them (if still pending) and/or been convicted of (a) any crime or offense arising directly or indirectly from the conduct of the applicant’s organization or (b) any crime or offense involving financial misconduct or fraud, or
2. been the subject of legal proceedings arising directly from the provision of services by the organization.

If the response is in the affirmative, the applicant shall fully describe any such indictments, charges, convictions, or legal proceedings (and the status and disposition thereof) and surrounding circumstances in writing and provide documentation of the circumstances. 

Payments Provisions

The Government of the District of Columbia shall make payments on invoiced amounts in accordance with the terms of a grant agreement, which results from this RFA. Grant funds will be awarded on a cost-reimbursement basis only. At any time or times before final payment and three (3) years thereafter, the Government of the District of Columbia may conduct an audit of the grantee’s expenditure statements.

Restrictions on the Use of Funds

In addition to any specific funding restrictions described in this RFA, all grantees must expend grant funds in accordance with the cost principles delineated by the City-Wide Grants Manual and Sourcebook, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements (2 CFR 200), and, if applicable based on funding source, the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs Financial Guide, www.ojp.usdoj.gov/financialguide.

Funding to Faith-Based Organizations

Applicants from faith-based organizations (FBO’s) are invited and encouraged to apply for eligible grant activities described in this RFA. Faith-based organizations will be considered for awards on the same basis as other eligible applicants and will be treated on an equal basis with other grantees should they receive an award. No eligible applicant or grantee will be discriminated for or 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. However, grant funds may not be used to engage in inherently religious activities, such as proselytizing, scripture study, or worship. Funded FBOs may, of course, engage in religious activities; however, these activities must be separate in time or location from the OVSJG funded program. Moreover, funded FBOs must not compel program beneficiaries to participate in inherently religious activities. Funded faith-based organizations must also not discriminate on the basis of religion in the delivery of services or benefits. 

Civil Rights Requirements

Successful applicants must be able to demonstrate compliance with Federal and District Civil Rights Requirements. If applicant is selected for a grant award, relevant staff will be required post and display the District of Columbia Equal Employment Opportunity poster in a conspicuous area accessible to employees; and appoint an Equal Opportunity (EO) Coordinator within the organization who will provide support and oversight to staff and service beneficiaries.

Applicants must agree to comply with the District of Columbia Language Access Act. The District’s Language Access Program exists to ensure District residents who are limited or non-English proficient are afforded equal access to information and services provided by the District. Residents or visitors who speak little or no English must be offered interpretation services and/or translated documents when obtaining government services, as required by the Language Access Act of 2004. All applicants to this RFA must agree to provide language access for residents who speak Amharic, Chinese, French, Korean, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Language access includes access to certified interpreters and translated materials. All applications should demonstrate a plan to ensure compliance with the District’s Language Access Act.

Non-discrimination in Hiring and Delivery of Services and Discrimination Reporting 

In accordance with the below listed applicable federal statutes as well as District non-discrimination requirements, grantees agree to not discriminate in their hiring practices and/or provision of services against any and all protected populations. In addition, grantees agree to notify OVSJG within 48 hours of any and all employee or beneficiary formal complaints of discrimination against their organization, and to more generally comply with all civil rights hiring and beneficiary service policies and procedures as identified in the below listed applicable statutes. Applicable statutes may include the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3789d); the Victims of Crime Act (42 U.S.C. 10604(e)); the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 5672(b)); the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d); the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794); the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12131-34); the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681, 1683, 1685-86);  the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C. 6101-07); and the Department of Justice’s regulations implementing these civil rights statutes at 28 C.F.R. pt. 35, 42, and 54; and Ex. Order 13279 (equal protection of the laws for faith-based and community organizations).

Tax Requirement

If applicant is selected for a grant award, grantee must obtain and submit current year filing certification from the District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) that the applicant organization has complied with the filing requirements of District of Columbia tax laws and that the entity has paid taxes due to the District of Columbia, or is in compliance with any payment agreement with OTR. Grantees may be asked to submit an affidavit indicating that the applicant organization is current on all taxes, including Unemployment Insurance and Worker’s Compensation premiums.

Insurance Requirement

All grantees will be required to provide in writing the name of all of its insurance carriers and the type of insurance provided (e.g., general liability insurance carrier, automobile insurance carrier, workers’ compensation insurance carrier, fidelity bond holder, etc). Applicants who have secured insurance at the time of application should upload the required documentation in the Documents/Required Attachments section in ZoomGrants. Applicants that do not have insurance secured at the time of application who are awarded a grant are required to provide insurance documentation prior to award execution

Additional Requirements

OVSJG reserves the right to require additional certifications and/or information in accordance with applicable Federal or District requirements including the City-Wide Grants Manual and Sourcebook and the OVSJG Policies and Procedures Manual. OVSJG will provide written notice of any additional requirements at the time of the award.

Reporting

Reimbursement Requests and Expenditure Reports

If applicant is selected for a grant award, grantee will be required to submit electronic requests for reimbursement accompanied by scanned supporting financial documentation (i.e., financial bank statements, etc.) and signature pages to OVSJG via the established online financial reporting system.

Programmatic Reporting

If applicant is selected for a grant award, grantee will be required to submit quarterly electronic programmatic reports to OVSJG. Grantees will be required to report on the performance measures (outputs/outcomes) through quarterly programmatic reports and data reporting submitted to OVSJG in ZoomGgrants^TM and ETO. In order to maintain quality in data collection standards, reports will be issued prior to the approval of reimbursements to evaluate the accuracy and completeness of data entered into ETO.

OVSJG may require the grantee to submit other reports and materials during the term of the grant in the form and manner as prescribed by OVSJG. Grantees who do not comply with submission requirements will be denied requests for reimbursements for all grant awards received from OVSJG.

Monitoring

If applicant is selected for a grant award, grantee may receive, a site visit from OVSJG staff to review their grant file, administrative procedures, and program operations. The Grant Program Manager will monitor program services and conduct grant administration pursuant to the terms of the grant agreement and will make onsite visits to the grantee’s service facilities. Monitoring efforts are designed to determine the grantee’s level of compliance with Federal and/or District requirements and identify specifically whether the grantee’s operational, financial and management systems and practices are adequate to account for program funds in accordance with Federal and/or District requirements. Failure to be in compliance with requirements may result in payment suspension, payment reduction, or termination of the grant.

Corrective Action and Termination of Funding

In the event the programmatic, financial, or documentation conditions of the grant are not being met in a thorough and timely fashion, progressive actions will be taken, at the discretion of the Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants, up to and including termination of funding. A project which is prematurely terminated will be subject to the same requirements regarding audit, recordkeeping, and submission of reports as a project which runs for the duration of the project period.

Risk Assessment Classification

If the application is awarded a grant, a risk assessment classification system will be used to assist in determining the level of grantee monitoring to be performed and the frequency thereof. After grants are awarded, each grantee will receive a risk classification based on past financial and programmatic reporting of the grantee, documentation submitted with the application, and other factors as detailed in the OVSJG Grants Management Policies and Procedures Manual.

If OVSJG determines that an award will be made to a high-risk organization, then funding restrictions may be included. If OVSJG decides to impose any funding restrictions, then OVSJG will notify the organization in writing of the restriction, the reason(s), corrective actions, and process for requesting reconsideration.

Privacy/Confidentiality

Except as otherwise provided by federal law, no recipient of OVSJG funds shall use or reveal any research or statistical information furnished under OVSJG by any person, and identifiable to any specific private person, for any purpose other than the purpose for which such information was obtained in accordance with the OVSJG program funded. Such information, and any copy of such information shall be immune from legal process and shall not, with the consent of the person furnishing such information, be admitted as evidence or used for any purpose in any action, suit, or judicial, legislative, or administrative proceeding.

Client records will be kept confidential and secure in accordance with the District and federal regulations. In accordance with standard practice, only aggregate data and/or individual data that are non-identifiable will be released.