State of Hawai i Department of

The Attorney General

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS:

RFP Number:

AG-CPJAD-VAWA-D2006-WF

1) Outreach Services for Underserved Adult Female Victims of Violence (Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Dating Violence, or Stalking)

OR

2) Multi-disciplinary Training in the areas of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Dating Violence, or Stalking

April 1, 2008

April 1, 2008

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

RFP No. AG-CPJAD-VAWA-D2006-WF

1) Outreach Services for Underserved Adult Female Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Dating Violence, or Stalking; OR

2) Multi-disciplinary Training in the areas of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Dating Violence, or Stalking

The Department of the Attorney General, Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division (hereinafter The Department ), is requesting proposals from qualified applicants to provide either: 1) Outreach services in the State of Hawaii for underserved adult female victims of violence (see above); or 2) Multi-disciplinary Training in the areas stated in the above title. Note: If monies are still available after the above priority areas have been met, then the Department has the discretion to allocate the funds to any category authorized under the Violence Against Woman Act of 2005, including core victim services and a 25% in-kind match will be required; applications will be accepted.[1] The contract period is scheduled for one year contingent upon an approved extension to the master grant (see footnote below). [2]

Sealed proposals (one original and five copies) must be postmarked (United States mail) before midnight on May 1, 2008 or hand delivered by 4:00 p.m., Hawaii Standard Time (HST), on

May 1, 2008 to:

Department of the Attorney General

Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division

235 South Beretania Street, Suite 401

Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

Attention: Ms. Kathleen Mitchell

Proposals postmarked (United States mail) after midnight on May 1, 2008 or hand delivered after 4:00 p.m., HST, on May 1, 2008 will not be considered and will be returned to the applicant unopened. There are no exceptions to this requirement.

The Department of the Attorney General, Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division, will conduct an orientation on April 18, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., HST. The location of the orientation meeting will be at:

Leiopapa A Kamehameha

(State Office Tower)

235 South Beretania Street, Suite 302

Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

All prospective applicants are encouraged to attend the orientation.

The deadline for submission of written questions is 4:30 p.m., HST, on April 23, 2008. All written questions will be sent a written response from the State during the period of April 23-29, 2008.

Inquiries regarding this RFP should be directed to the RFP Contact Person, Ms. Kathleen Mitchell, Criminal Justice Planning Specialist, 235 South Beretania Street, Suite 401, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813,

or may be made by telephone to (808) 586-1389, or e-mail Kathleen.M.Mitchell@hawaii.gov, or

fax (808) 586-1373.

PUBLIC NOTICE TO OFFERORS

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

AG-CPJAD-VAWA-D2006-WF

The Department of the Attorney General is soliciting proposals from qualified applicants to:

1) Provide outreach services in the State of Hawaii for underserved adult female victims of domestic violence or sexual assault; or 2) Implement Multi-disciplinary Training to various professional disciplines working in domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, or stalking. Note: If monies are still available after the above priority areas have been met, then the Department has the discretion to allocate the funds to any category authorized under the Violence Against Woman Act of 2005, including core victim services and a 25% in-kind match will be required; applications will be accepted.

Copies of the Request for Proposals (RFP) may be obtained from the Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division, 235 South Beretania Street, Suite 401, Honolulu, Hawaii, at no cost beginning at 8:30 a.m., Hawaii Standard Time (HST), April 1, 2008. The RFP can also be downloaded from the Department s Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division website beginning at 8:30 a.m. HST, April 1, 2008. The website is located at: www.hawaii.gov/ag/cpja (click on Grants & Planning and scroll down to the Request for Proposals ). The RFP is also available on the State Procurement Office website at www.spo4.hawaii.gov/spoh/. Click 103F

HRS Procurement Notices.

Sealed proposals with pricing will be received up to 4:00 p.m., HST, May 1, 2008 at the Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division, 235 South Beretania Street, Suite 401, Honolulu, Hawaii. Proposals postmarked (United States mail) after midnight on May 1, 2008 or hand delivered after 4:00 p.m., HST, May 1, 2008 will not be considered and will be returned to the applicant unopened. There are no exceptions to this requirement.

The Department of the Attorney General, Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division, will conduct an orientation on April 18, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. HST. The location of the orientation meeting will be at:

Leiopapa A Kamehameha

(State Office Tower)

235 South Beretania Street, Conference Room 302

Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

All prospective applicants are encouraged to attend the orientation.

The State reserves the right to cancel this RFP and reject any and all proposals or to waive any defect, when in its opinion, such cancellation, rejection, or waiver will be in the best interests of the State of Hawaii. The State of Hawaii assumes no financial responsibility in the preparation of any responses to this RFP.

Telephone inquiries regarding this RFP should be directed to Ms. Kathy Mitchell at: Oahu (808) 586-1389, e-mail Kathleen.M.Mitchell@hawaii.gov, or fax (808) 586-1373; from Molokai and Lanai 1-800-468-4644, ext. 6-1389; from Maui 984-2400, ext. 6-1389; from Kauai 274-3141, ext. 6-1389; from Hawaii 974-4000, ext. 6-1389.

PROPOSAL MAIL-IN AND DELIVERY INFORMATION SHEET

ALL MAIL-INS MUST BE POSTMARKED BY UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE (USPS) NO LATER THAN

May 1, 2008

All Mail-ins		AG-CPJAD RFP COORDINATOR
Department of Attorney General		Kathy Mitchell
Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division		For further information or inquiries
235 S. Beretania Street, Suite 401		Phone: 586-1389
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813		Fax: 586-1373

ALL HAND DELIVERIES WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THE FOLLOWING SITE UNTIL

4:00 P.M., Hawaii Standard Time (HST) May 1, 2008

Drop-off Site

Oahu:		No available drop-off sites on the neighbor islands.
Department of Attorney General, Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division Leiopapa A Kamehameha (State Office Tower) 235 S. Beretania Street, Suite 401 Honolulu, Hawaii		All proposals must be postmarked by USPS no later than May 1, 2008.

BE ADVISED: All mail-ins postmarked by USPS after May 1, 2008, will be rejected.

Hand deliveries will not be accepted after 4:00 p.m., HST, May 1, 2008.

Deliveries by private mail services such as FEDEX shall be considered hand deliveries and will not be accepted if received after 4:00 p.m., HST, May 1, 2008.

RFP Table of Contents

Section 1 Administrative Overview

I. Authority.................................................................................................... 1-1

II. RFP Organization....................................................................................... 1-1

III. Contracting Office...................................................................................... 1-2

IV. Procurement Timetable............................................................................... 1-2

V. Orientation................................................................................................. 1-2

VI. Submission of Questions............................................................................. 1-3

VII. Submission of Proposals............................................................................. 1-3

VIII. Discussions with Applicants........................................................................ 1-5

IX. Opening of Proposals................................................................................. 1-5

X. Additional Materials and Documentation..................................................... 1-6

XI. RFP Amendments...................................................................................... 1-6

XII. Cancellation of Request for Proposals......................................................... 1-6

XIII. Costs for Proposal Preparation................................................................... 1-6

XIV. Provider Participation in Planning................................................................ 1-6

XV. Rejection of Proposals............................................................................... 1-6

XVI. Notice of Award........................................................................................ 1-7

XVII. Protests..................................................................................................... 1-7

XVIII. Availability of Funds................................................................................... 1-8

XIX. Monitoring and Evaluation.......................................................................... 1-8

XX. General and Special Conditions of the Contract.......................................... 1-8

XXI. Cost Principles........................................................................................... 1-9

Section 2 - Service Specifications

I. Introduction............................................................................................... 2-1

A. Overview....................................................................................... 2-1

B. Federal Priorities............................................................................ 2-2

C. Federal Statutory Eligibility Requirements........................................ 2-2

D. Limitations on STOP Program Funding........................................... 2-4

E. Activities That May Compromise Victim Safety.............................. 2-5

F. VAWA Statutory Purpose Areas................................................... 2-5

G. State VAWA Planning Committee Priorities.................................... 2-7

H. Planning in Preparation for the RFP................................................ 2-8

I. Description of the Goals of the Service........................................... 2-9

J. Description of the Target Population to be Served........................... 2-9

K. Geographic Coverage of Service.................................................... 2-9

L. Probable Funding Amounts, Source, and Period of Availability........ 2-9

II. General Requirements.............................................................................. 2-10

A. Specific Qualifications or Requirements......................................... 2-10

B. Secondary Purchaser Participation................................................ 2-11

C. Multiple or Alternate Proposals.................................................... 2-11

D. Single or Multiple Contracts to be Awarded................................. 2-11

E. Single or Multi-Term Contracts to be Awarded............................ 2-11

F. RFP Contact Person.................................................................... 2-12

III. Scope of Work........................................................................................ 2-12

A. Outreach Service Activities........................................................... 2-12

B. Multi-disciplinary Training and Staff Support Efforts...................... 2-14

C. Management Requirements........................................................... 2-14

Section 3 - Proposal Application Instructions

General Instructions for Completing Applications.......................................................... 3-1

I. Background and Summary......................................................................... 3-1

II. Experience and Capability.......................................................................... 3-2

A. Necessary Skills and Experience.................................................... 3-2

B. Quality Assurance and Evaluation................................................... 3-2

C. Coordination of Services................................................................ 3-2

D. Facilities......................................................................................... 3-2

III. Project Organization and Staffing................................................................ 3-2

A. Proposed Staffing........................................................................... 3-2

B. Staff Qualifications......................................................................... 3-3

C. Supervision and Training................................................................. 3-3

D. Organization Chart......................................................................... 3-3

IV. Service Delivery......................................................................................... 3-3

V. Financial.................................................................................................... 3-3

A. Pricing Structure............................................................................. 3-3

B. Other Financial Related Materials................................................... 3-4

VI. Other......................................................................................................... 3-4

A. Litigation........................................................................................ 3-4

Section 4 Proposal Evaluation

I. Introduction............................................................................................... 4-1

II. Evaluation Process..................................................................................... 4-1

III. Evaluation Criteria...................................................................................... 4-2

A. Phase 1 Evaluation of Proposal Requirements.............................. 4-2

B. Phase 2 Evaluation of Proposal Application................................. 4-2

C. Phase 3 Recommendation for Award........................................... 4-4

Section 5 Attachments

Attachment A. Competitive Proposal Application Checklist

Attachment B. Sample Proposal Table of Contents

Attachment C. Certifications

Section 1

Administrative Overview

Section 1

Administrative Overview

Applicants are encouraged to read each section of the RFP thoroughly. While sections such as the administrative overview may appear similar among RFPs, state purchasing agencies may add additional information as applicable. It is the responsibility of the applicant to understand the requirements of each RFP. Section 2 of this RFP provides the background and purpose areas of the Violence Against Women STOP Formula Grants, as well as, the criteria for eligibility. Specifically, Section 2 addresses two priority areas, which grant funds shall be awarded 1) Outreach for underserved victims; and 2) Multi-disciplinary Training (refer to Section 2 for details). If funds are available after these priority areas have been met, then the Department has the discretion to allocate the funds to any category authorized under the Violence Against Woman Act of 2005, including core victim services and a 25% in-kind match will be required; applications will be accepted. Non-profit non-governmental victim service providers (herein APPLICANT ) may apply for funds to implement the above services.

I. Authority

This RFP is issued under the provisions of the Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), Chapter 103F and its administrative rules. All prospective applicants are charged with presumptive knowledge of all requirements of the cited authorities. Submission of a valid executed proposal by any prospective applicant shall constitute admission of such knowledge on the part of such prospective applicant.

II. RFP Organization

This RFP is organized into five sections:

Section 1, Administrative Overview--Provides applicants with an overview of the procurement process.

Section 2, Service Specifications--Provides applicants with an overview of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (2005), purpose areas, state priorities, a general description of the tasks to be performed, delineates applicant responsibilities, and defines deliverables (as applicable).

Section 3, Proposal Application Instructions--Describes the required format and content for the proposal application.

Section 4, Proposal Evaluation--Describes how proposals will be evaluated by the state purchasing agency.

Section 5, Attachments --Provides applicants with information and forms necessary to complete the application.

III. Contracting Office

The Contracting Office is responsible for overseeing the contract(s) resulting from this RFP, including system operations, fiscal agent operations, and monitoring and assessing provider performance. The Contracting Office is:

Department of the Attorney General
Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division
235 S. Beretania Street, Suite 401
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Phone (808)	586-1389	Fax: (808)	586-1373

IV. Procurement Timetable

Note that the procurement timetable represents the State s best estimated schedule. Contract start dates may be subject to the issuance of a notice to proceed.

Activity	Scheduled Date
Public notice announcing RFP	April 1, 2008
Distribution of RFP	April 1, 2008
RFP orientation session	April 18, 2008
Closing date for submission of written questions for written responses	April 23, 2008
State purchasing agency's response to applicants written questions	April 23-29, 2008
Proposal submittal deadline	May 1, 2008
Proposal evaluation and Provider selection period	May 2-9, 2008
Provider selection	May 12-20, 2008
Notice of statement of findings and decision	May 21-30, 2008
Contract start date	June 1, 2008

V. Orientation

An orientation for applicants in reference to the request for proposals will be held as follows:

Date:	April 18, 2008	Time:	9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Location:	Leiopapa A Kamehameha (State Office Tower) 235 S. Beretania Street, Conference Room 302 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

Applicants are encouraged to submit written questions prior to the orientation. Impromptu questions will be permitted at the orientation and spontaneous answers provided at the state purchasing agency's discretion. However, answers provided at the orientation are only intended as general direction and may not represent the state purchasing agency's position. Formal official responses will be provided in writing. To ensure a written response, any oral questions should be submitted in writing following the close of the orientation, but no later than the submittal deadline for written questions indicated in the next paragraph (VI. Submission of Questions).

VI. Submission of Questions

Applicants may submit questions to the RFP Contact Person identified in Section 2, II. F., of this RFP. All written questions will receive a written response from the state purchasing agency.

Deadline for submission of written questions:

Date:

April 23, 2008

Time:

4:30 p.m.,

HST

State agency responses to applicant written questions will be provided:

Date:

April 23-29, 2008

VII. Submission of Proposals

A. Forms/Formats - Forms, with the exception of program specific requirements, may be found on the State Procurement Office website at: www.spo.hawaii.gov, click Procurement of Health and Human Services and For Private Providers. Refer to the Proposal Application Checklist for the location of program specific forms and the order in which all components of the application should be assembled and submitted to the state purchasing agency.

1. Proposal Application Identification (Form SPOH200) - Provides identification of the proposal.

2. Proposal Application Checklist Provides applicants with information on where to obtain the required forms; information on program specific requirements; which forms are required and the order in which all components should be assembled and submitted to the state purchasing agency.

3. Table of Contents - A sample table of contents for proposals is located in Section 5, Attachments. This is a sample and meant as a guide. The table of contents may vary depending on the RFP.

4. Proposal Application (Form SPO-H-200A) - Applicant shall submit comprehensive narratives that addresses all of the issues contained in the Proposal Application Instructions, including a cost proposal/budget if required. (Refer to Section 3 of this RFP.)

5. Registration Form (SPO-H-100A) If applicant is not registered with the State Procurement Office (business status), this form must be submitted with the application. If applicant is unsure as to their registration status, they may check the State Procurement Office website at: www.spo.hawaii.gov, click Procurement of Health and Human Services, and For Private Providers and Provider Lists The List of Registered Private Providers for Use with the Competitive Method of Procurement or call the State Procurement Office at (808) 5874706.

6. Tax Clearance A certified copy of a current valid tax clearance certificate issued by the State of Hawaii, Department of Taxation (DOTAX) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will be required either at the time of proposal submittal or upon notice of award at the discretion of the purchasing agency.

Refer to Section 4, item III.A.1, Administrative Requirements, and the Proposal Application Checklist to see if the tax clearance is required at time of proposal submittal. The tax clearance application may be obtained from the Department of Taxation website at www.hawaii.gov/tax/tax.html.

7. Certifications Federal and/or State certifications, as applicable (see Attachment C).

B. Program Specific Requirements - Additional program specific requirements are included in Sections 2 and/or 3, Service Specifications and the Proposal Application Instructions, as applicable. For Federal and/or State certifications, refer to the Proposal Application Checklist and Attachment B of this RFP.

C. Multiple or Alternate Proposals - Multiple or alternate proposals shall not be accepted unless specifically provided for in Section 2 of this RFP. In the event alternate proposals are not accepted and an applicant submits alternate proposals, but clearly indicates a primary proposal, it shall be considered for award as though it were the only proposal submitted by the applicant.

D. Proposal Submittal - Proposals must be postmarked by USPS or hand delivered by the date and time designated on the Proposal Mail-In and Delivery Information Sheet attached to this RFP. Any proposal post-marked or received after the designated date and time shall be rejected. Note that postmarks must be by United States Postal Service or they will be considered hand-delivered and shall be rejected if late. The number of copies required is located on the Proposal Mail-In and Delivery Information Sheet. Fax proposals, proposals submitted on diskette/CD, or proposals transmitted via email are not permitted.

E. Wages and Labor Law Compliance - Before a provider enters into a service contract in excess of $25,000, the provider shall certify that it complies with section 103-55, HRS, Wages, hours, and working conditions of employees of contractors performing services. Section 103-55, HRS may be obtained form the Hawaii State Legislature website at http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/. Or go directly to:

http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol02_Ch0046-0115/HRS0103/HRS_0103-0055.htm

F. Confidential Information If an applicant believes any portion of a proposal contains information that should be withheld as confidential, the applicant shall request in writing nondisclosure of designated proprietary data to be confidential and provide justification to support confidentiality. Such data shall accompany the proposal, be clearly marked, and shall be readily separable from the proposal to facilitate eventual public inspection of the non-confidential sections of the proposal.

Note that price is not considered confidential and will not be withheld.

VIII. Discussions with Applicants

A. Prior to Submittal Deadline. Discussions may be conducted with potential applicants to promote understanding of the purchasing agency s requirements. Applicants are encouraged to submit written questions to the state purchasing agency for an official written response.

B. After Proposal Submittal Deadline - Discussions may be conducted with applicants whose proposals are determined to be reasonably susceptible of being selected for award, but proposals may be accepted without discussions, in accordance section 3-143-403, HAR.

IX. Opening of Proposals

Upon receipt of proposal by a state purchasing agency at a designated location, proposals, modifications to proposals, and withdrawals of proposals shall be date-stamped, and when possible, time-stamped. All documents so received shall be held in a secure place by the state purchasing agency and not examined for evaluation purposes until the submittal deadline.

Procurement files shall be open to public inspection after a contract has been awarded and executed by all parties.

X. Additional Materials and Documentation

Upon request from the state purchasing agency, each applicant shall submit any additional materials and documentation reasonably required by the state purchasing agency in its evaluation of the proposals.

XI. RFP Amendments

The State reserves the right to amend this RFP at any time prior to the closing date for the final revised proposals.

XII. Cancellation of Request for Proposal

The request for proposal may be canceled and any or all proposals may be rejected in whole or in part, when it is determined to be in the best interests of the State.

XIII. Costs for Proposal Preparation

Any costs incurred by applicants in preparing or submitting a proposal are the applicants sole responsibility.

XIV. Provider Participation in Planning

Provider participation in a state purchasing agency s efforts to plan for or to purchase health and human services prior to the state purchasing agency s release of a request for proposals, including the sharing of information on community needs, best practices, and providers resources, shall not disqualify providers from submitting proposals if conducted in accordance with sections 3-142-202, 3-142-203 and 3-143-618 of the Hawaii Administrative Rules for Chapter 103F, HRS.

XV. Rejection of Proposals

The State reserves the right to consider as acceptable only those proposals submitted in accordance with all requirements set forth in this RFP and which demonstrate an understanding of the problems involved and comply with the service specifications. Any proposal offering any other set of terms and conditions contradictory to those included in this RFP may be rejected without further notice.

A proposal may be automatically rejected for any one or more of the following reasons: (Relevant sections of the Hawaii Administrative Rules for Chapter 103F, HRS, are parenthesized)

(1) Rejection for failure to cooperate or deal in good faith.
(Section 3-141-201, HAR)

(2) Rejection for inadequate accounting system. (Section 3-141-202, HAR)

(3) Late proposals (Section 3-143-603, HAR)

(4) Inadequate response to request for proposals (Section 3-143-609, HAR)

(5) Proposal not responsive (Section 3-143-610 (1), HAR)

(6) Applicant not responsible (Section 3-143-610 (2), HAR)

XVI. Notice of Award

A statement of findings and decision shall be provided to all applicants by mail upon completion of the evaluation of competitive purchase of service proposals.

Any agreement arising out of this solicitation is subject to the approval of the Department of the Attorney General as to form, and to all further approvals, including the approval of the Governor, required by statute, regulation, rule, order or other directive.

No work is to be undertaken by the awardee prior to the contract commencement date. The State of Hawaii is not liable for any costs incurred prior to the official starting date.

XVII. Protests

Any applicant may file a protest against the awarding of the contract. The Notice of Protest form, SPO-H-801, is available on the SPO website (see the Proposal Application Checklist in Section 5 of this RFP. Only the following matters may be protested:

(1) A state purchasing agency s failure to follow procedures established by Chapter 103F of the Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(2) A state purchasing agency s failure to follow any rule established by Chapter 103F of the Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

(3) A state purchasing agency s failure to follow any procedure, requirement, or evaluation criterion in a request for proposals issued by the state purchasing agency.

The Notice of Protest shall be mailed by USPS or hand delivered to the head of the state purchasing agency conducting the protested procurement and the procurement officer who is conducting the procurement (as indicated below) within five working days of the postmark of the Notice of Findings and Decision sent to the protestor. Delivery services other than USPS shall be considered hand deliveries and considered submitted on the date of actual receipt by the state purchasing agency.

Head of State Purchasing Agency	Procurement Officer
Name: The Honorable Mark J. Bennett	Name: Lari Koga
Title: Attorney General	Title: Administrator, CPJAD
Mailing Address: 425 Queen Street, Honolulu, HI 96813	Mailing Address: 235 South Beretania Street, Suite 401, Honolulu, HI 96813
Business Address: 425 Queen Street, Honolulu, HI 96813	Business Address: 235 South Beretania Street, Suite 401, Honolulu, HI 96813

XVIII. Availability of Funds

The award of a contract and any allowed renewal or extension thereof, is subject to allotments made by the U.S Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of the Comptroller, and subject to the availability of Federal funds. No state funds are available for a contract issued under this RFP.

XIX. Monitoring and Evaluation

The criteria by which the performance of the contract will be monitored and evaluated are:

(1) Performance/Outcome Measures

(2) Output Measures

(3) Quality of Care/Quality of Services

(4) Financial Management

(5) Administrative Requirements

XX. General and Special Conditions of Contract

The general conditions that will be imposed contractually are on the SPO website. (See Section 5, Proposal Application Checklist for the address). Special conditions may also be imposed contractually by the state purchasing agency, as deemed necessary.

XXI. Cost Principles

In order to promote uniform purchasing practices among state purchasing agencies procuring health and human services under Chapter 103F, HRS, state purchasing agencies will utilize standard cost principles outlined in Form SPOH201 which is available on the SPO website (see section 5, the Proposal Application Checklist). Nothing in this section shall be construed to create an exemption from any cost principle arising under federal law.

The contractor agrees to comply with the financial and administrative requirements set forth in the current edition of the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Financial Guide (see website: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov).

.

Section 2

Service Specifications

Section 2

Service Specifications

I. Introduction

A. Overview

The Governor of the State of Hawaii designated the Department of the Attorney General, State of Hawaii (hereinafter Department ) to be the administrator for the STOP (Services-Training-Officers-Prosecutors) Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program.

STOP grants lay the foundation for on-going efforts to restructure and strengthen the criminal justice response to reduce violence against women. The emphasis of the STOP Program continues to be on the implementation of comprehensive strategies addressing violence against women that are sensitive to the needs and safety of victims and hold offenders accountable for their crimes. States are encouraged to carry out these strategies by forging lasting partnerships between the criminal justice system and victim advocacy organizations and by encouraging communities to look beyond traditional resources and to look to new partners, such as faith-based and community organizations, to respond more vigorously to domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking crimes. The STOP Program requires and encourages collaboration among victim service providers, faith-based and community-based organizations, prosecutors, and police those who encounter victims of domestic and sexual violence. The STOP Program was initially authorized under the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 and reauthorized and amended by the Violence Against Women Act 2000 and Violence Against Women Act 2005 (VAWA 2005). Several significant changes were made in the VAWA 2005 and are attached at the end of this section.

States must allocate 25 percent of the VAWA funds to law enforcement, 25 percent

to prosecution, 5 percent to the Judiciary, and 30 percent to victim services of which at least 10 percent shall be distributed to culturally specific community-based organizations. The remaining 15 percent may be allocated at the State s discretion within the parameters of the VAWA.

The funding for this RFP represents the discretionary portion of the STOP grant and a 25% match will be required.[3]

B. Stop Formula Grant Program Federal Priorities

In shaping strategies, the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) has set two overarching federal priorities in using the STOP Program funds. States are encouraged to develop and support projects to:

implement community-driven initiatives, utilizing faith-based and community organizations, to address the needs of underserved populations as defined by VAWA, including people with disabilities and elder victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

address sexual assault and stalking through service expansion; development and implementation of protocols; training for judges, other court personnel, prosecutors, and law enforcement; and development of coordinated community responses to violence against women.

C. Federal Statutory Eligibility Requirements of VAWA 2005

The State of Hawaii and its subgrantees must meet certain federal eligibility criteria established by the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 (http://www.usdoj.gov/ovw/regulations.htm) and the Office of Justice Programs Financial Guide (http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/FinGuide/) in order to receive STOP Program funds.

1. Consultation with Victim Services Programs Tribes, local prosecution, law enforcement, and courts must consult with local victim services programs during the course of developing their grant applications in order to ensure that proposed activities and equipment acquisitions are designed to promote the safety, confidentiality, and economic independence of victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence.

2. Non-disclosure of Confidential or Private Information In order to ensure the safety of adult, youth, and child victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and their families, subgrantees shall protect the confidentiality and privacy of persons receiving services.

Subgrantees shall not disclose or reveal

a) Any personally identifying information or individual information collected in connection with services requested, utilized, or denied through subgrantees programs; or

b) Individual client information without the informed, written, reasonably time-limited consent of the person (or in the case of an unemancipated minor, the minor and the parent or guardian or in the case of persons with disabilities, the guardian) about whom information is sought, whether for this program or any other Federal, State, tribal, or territorial grant program, except that consent for release may not be given by the abuser of the minor, person with disabilities, or the abuser of the other parent of the minor.

If release of information is compelled by statutory or court mandate subgrantees shall make reasonable attempts to provide notice to victims affected by the disclosure of information and shall take steps necessary to protect the privacy and safety of the person affected by the release of the information.

Subgrantees may share

a) Non-personally identifying data in the aggregate regarding services to their clients and non-personally identifying demographic information in order to comply with Federal, State, tribal, or territorial reporting, evaluation or data collection requirements;

b) Court-generated information and law-enforcement generated information contained in secure, governmental registries for protection order enforcement purposes; and

c) Law enforcement and prosecution-generated information necessary for law enforcement and prosecution purposes.

3. Filing Costs for Criminal Charges and Protection Orders Victims will not be charged a fee to file misdemeanor or felony criminal charges against the offender in a domestic violence offense. Victims will not pay any costs associated with the filing, issuance, registration, or services of a warrant, protection order, petition for a protection order, or witness subpoena, whether issued inside the state, tribal, or local jurisdiction for protection against domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Hawaii Revised Statutes 607-2.5 meets this federal statutory requirement.

4. Forensic Medical Examination - The state, Indian tribal government, unit of local government or another governmental entity shall incur the full out-of-pocket cost of forensic medical exams for victims of sexual assault.

Forensic medical exams are performed by trained examiners for victims of sexual assault and do not require victims of sexual assault to pay or seek reimbursement for the exam from their insurance carriers.

By January 5, 2009, the state, Indian tribal government, unit of local government or another governmental entity will not require victims of sexual assault to participate in the criminal justice system or cooperate with law enforcement in order to be provided with a forensic exam, reimbursement for the cost of the exam, or both.

The State VAWA Committee is currently addressing how the State of Hawaii will meet the federal statutory eligibility requirement.

5. Judicial Notification The State of Hawaii and local judicial administrative policies and practices includes notification to domestic violence offenders of Federal, State, or local gun laws no later than January 5, 2008.

The State of Hawaii meets this federal statutory requirement pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes 134-7.

6. Polygraph Testing Prohibition - A state or territory must certify: that not later than January 5, 2009, their laws, policies, or practices will ensure that no law enforcement officer, prosecuting officer or other government official shall ask or require an adult, youth, or child victim of an alleged sex offense as defined under Federal, Tribal, State, or local law to submit to a polygraph examination or other truth telling device as a condition for proceeding with the investigation of such an offense. The refusal of a victim to submit to an examination shall not prevent the investigation, charging, or prosecution of the offense.

D. Limitations on STOP Program Funding

With certain exceptions, STOP Program funded services must be specific to adult victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or dating violence.

Children s services supported by STOP Program funds must show an inextricable link and be the direct result of providing services to an adult victim of violence against women. For example, STOP Program funds may support the expansion of battered women s shelter services to include programs for children of the battered women residing in the shelter.

Services may be provided to adolescents age 14 and older who are 1) victims of dating violence, or 2) sexual assault by a person who is not a family or household member.

Male victims may receive services under a STOP Program funded project as long as the agency s primary focus is on efforts to stop violence against women.

In addition to the clear criminal justice purposes for which the Violence Against Women Act was intended, funding for civil justice assistance is allowable. This funding is limited by the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, as amended by the Violence Against Women Act, to situations that bear directly and substantially upon criminal justice matters or are inextricably intertwined with criminal justice matters. Since it is consistent with the overall intent of the statute, legal assistance to victims attempting to obtain civil protection orders may be supported.

STOP Program funds may not be used to support services for obtaining divorces. Divorces and legal separations are civil proceedings that fall outside the scope of the 14 broad Purpose Areas for which STOP Program funds may be used.

STOP Program funds may not be used to support services that focus exclusively on children or to develop sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking or dating violence prevention curricula.

Additionally, STOP Program funds may not support legal or defense services for perpetrators.

E. Activities That May Compromise Victim Safety

Ensuring victim safety is the guiding principle underlying the STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program. Experience has shown that certain practices may compromise victim safety rather than enhance it. Certain responses by the authorities may have the effect of minimizing or trivializing the offender s criminal behavior. Accordingly, consistent with the goals of ensuring victim safety while holding perpetrators accountable for their criminal conduct, applicants are strongly discouraged from proposing projects that include any activities that may compromise victim safety such as the following:

Offering perpetrators the option of entering pre-trial diversion programs.

Mediation or counseling for couples as a systemic response to domestic violence or sexual assault.

Requiring victims to report sexual assault, stalking, or domestic violence crimes to law enforcement or forcing victims to participate in criminal proceedings.

Court mandated batterer intervention programs that do not use the coercive power of the criminal justice system to hold batterers accountable for their behavior.

Placement of batterers in anger management programs.

Procedures that would force victims of domestic violence to testify against their abusers or impose other sanctions on them. Rather, procedures that provide victims the opportunity to make an informed choice about whether to testify are encouraged.

F. VAWA Statutory Purpose Area: To be eligible for funding under the Violence Against Women Act, applicants must design projects that fall within at least one of 14 authorized Purpose Areas established by Congress.

1. Training law enforcement officers and prosecutors to more effectively identify and respond to violent crimes against women, including the crimes of sexual assault and domestic violence.

2. Developing, training, or expanding units of law enforcement officers and prosecutors specifically targeting violent crimes against women, including the crimes of sexual assault and domestic violence.

3. Developing and implementing more effective police and prosecution policies, protocols, orders, and services specifically devoted to preventing, identifying, and responding to violent crimes of sexual assault and domestic violence.

4. Developing, installing, or expanding data collection and communication systems, including computerized systems, linking police, prosecutors, and courts or for the purpose of identifying and tracking arrests, protection orders, violations of protection orders, prosecutions, and convictions for violent crimes against women, including the crimes of sexual assault and domestic violence.

5. Developing, enlarging, or strengthening victim services programs, including sexual assault and domestic violence programs, developing or improving delivery of victim services to racial, cultural, ethnic, and language minorities, providing specialized domestic violence court advocates in courts where a significant number of protection orders are granted, and increasing reporting and reducing attrition rates for cases involving violent crimes against women, including crimes of sexual assault, domestic violence, and dating violence.

6. Developing, enlarging, or strengthening programs addressing stalking.

7. Developing, enlarging, or strengthening programs addressing the needs and circumstances of Indian tribes in dealing with violent crimes against women, including crimes of sexual assault and domestic violence.

8. Supporting formal and informal statewide, multidisciplinary efforts, to the extent not supported by state funds, to coordinate the response of state law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, courts, victim services agencies, and other state agencies and departments, to violent crimes against women, including the crimes of sexual assault, domestic violence, and dating violence.

9. Training of sexual assault forensic medical personnel examiners in the collection and preservation of evidence, analysis, prevention, and providing expert testimony and treatment of trauma related to sexual assault.

10. Developing, enlarging, or strengthening programs to assist law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, and others to address the needs and circumstances of older and disabled women who are victims of domestic violence or sexual assault, including recognizing, investigating, and prosecuting instances of such violence or assault and targeting outreach and support, counseling, and other victim services to such older and disabled individuals.

11. Providing assistance to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in immigration matters.

12. Maintaining core victim services and criminal justice initiatives, while supporting complementary new initiatives and emergency services for victims and their families.

13. Supporting the placement of special victim assistants (to be known as Jessica Gonzales Victim Assistants ) in local law enforcement agencies to serve as liaisons between victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking and personnel in local law enforcement agencies in order to improve the enforcement of protection orders. Jessica Gonzales Victim Assistants shall have expertise in domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking and may undertake the following activities

developing, in collaboration with prosecutors, courts, and victim service providers, standardized response policies for local law enforcement agencies, including triage protocols to ensure that dangerous or potentially lethal cases are identified and prioritized;

notifying persons seeking enforcement of protection orders as to what responses will be provided by the relevant law enforcement agency;

referring persons seeking enforcement of protection orders to supplementary services (such as emergency shelter programs, hotlines, or legal assistance services); and

taking other appropriate action to assist or secure the safety of the person seeking enforcement of a protection order; and

14. To provide funding to law enforcement agencies, nonprofit nongovernmental victim service providers, and State, tribal, territorial, and local governments, (which funding stream shall be known as the Crystal Judson Domestic Violence Protocol Program) to promote

the development and implementation of training for local victim domestic violence service providers, and to fund victim services personnel, to be known as Crystal Judson Victim Advocates , to provide supportive services and advocacy for victims of domestic violence committed by law enforcement personnel:

the implementation of protocols within law enforcement agencies to ensure consistent and effective responses to the commission of domestic violence by personnel within such agencies (such as the model policy promulgated by the International Association of Chiefs of Police ( Domestic Violence by Police Officers: A Policy of the IACP, Police Response to Violence Against Women Project July 2003));

the development of such protocols in collaboration with State, tribal, territorial and local victim services providers and domestic violence coalitions. Any law enforcement, State, tribal, territorial, or local government agency receiving funding under the Crystal Judson Domestic Violence Protocol Program under paragraph 14. shall on an annual basis, receive additional training on the topic of incidents of domestic violence committed by law enforcement personnel from domestic violence and sexual assault nonprofit organizations and, after a period of 2 years, provide a report of the adopted protocol to the Department of Justice, including a summary of progress in implementing such protocol.

G. State VAWA Planning Committee Priorities

To be eligible for STOP grant funds, states must develop and submit a VAWA Implementation Plan for approval to the Office of Justice Programs (OJP). States are required to develop their Implementation Plans through deliberative consultation and coordination with a broad range of participants, including private, nonprofit victim service programs (such as sexual assault and domestic violence victim service programs) and victim advocates.

The Implementation Plan includes an overview of the process used to develop the plan, documentation from participating organizations regarding their involvement in the development and implementation of the plan;