Re-Posting of National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP) Lead Entity for Live Scan Equipment Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO #3242-2629)

LINK TO NOFO Information & Instructions:

The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) has made available $2,062,500 in FFY23 National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP) supplemental funding to contract with a justice system-related lead entity that will manage subgrants to Illinois justice system agencies for live scan fingerprinting equipment.

Application deadline: 5:00 p.m. CST, March 18, 2024

Program Requirements

The purpose of this funding opportunity is to provide live scan fingerprinting equipment to Illinois justice system agencies that will improve the timeliness, accuracy, and completeness of criminal history records submitted by agencies. Justice system agencies may include law enforcement agencies, courts, and correctional agencies in Illinois.

Illinois is in the early stages of extensive planning to improve statewide firearm prohibitor records. In conjunction with longer term planning and solutions, Illinois seeks to address known gaps in core reporting infrastructure by installing new live scan machines in justice system agencies that currently submit criminal history records through paper-based processes and/or use obsolete live scan hardware and software. Addressing this need will improve the timeliness, accuracy, and completeness of submitted criminal history records. As arrest record submissions improve, so will disposition information subsequently added through live scan and submitted by the Illinois State Police (ISP) to the FBI for inclusion in National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) records.

Through this funding opportunity, a lead entity will distribute and manage funds to subgrantees and will be responsible for the fiscal oversight and quality assurance of its subgrants. The applicant will provide subject matter expertise and technical assistance and conduct structured monitoring. Subgrantees must follow the rules, policies and procedures established by the lead entity, ICJIA, and Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA).

Subgrantees are Illinois justice system agencies that submit criminal history records through paper-based processes or using obsolete hardware and software. Available data indicates 125 such agencies exist in Illinois. The selected lead entity will work with the Illinois State Police to identify agencies in need of live scan equipment.

Eligibility Information

Agencies must be registered in the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal a https://grants.illinois.gov/portal/ to become eligible to apply for an award. Applicants must comply with all GATA pre-qualification requirements and receive approval from ICJIA of their Internal Control Questionnaire (ICQ) SFY 24 and Programmatic Risk Assessment, before the execution of the grant agreement.

Eligible Applicants

Applicants must possess subject matter expertise in criminal justice and preferably in live scan and/or criminal history records and have an established record of providing services related to justice system equipment distribution, a statewide network of justice system agencies, and the structural capacity to oversee all aspects of monitoring its subgrantees. Manufacturers, importers, dealers, distributors, and suppliers of live scan devices (as defined in herein) are ineligible. Entities that sell training to justice system agencies for profit also are ineligible. Eligible subgrantees are justice system agencies in Illinois. See NOFO for a complete list of eligibility requirements.

Deadline

Completed application materials must be emailed to CJA.LiveScan@illinois.gov by 5:00 P.M. on March 18, 2024, to be considered for funding. Proposals will not be accepted by mail, fax, or in person. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Late submissions will not be reviewed.

Available Funds

A total of $2,062,500 in funding is available through this solicitation. Applicants may request a minimum of $2,000,000 and a maximum of $2,062,500 in grant funding.

Agreements that result from this funding opportunity are contingent upon and subject to the availability of funds.

Period of Performance

Funding is available for the period of June 1, 2024, through May 31, 2025.

Technical Assistance Session

Technical assistance recordings providing additional information regarding this funding opportunity will be available for viewing beginning at 10:00 a.m. on January 30, 2024.

VIEW THE REQUIRED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WEBINAR RECORDING

Information provided during this webinar recording will be unofficial and not binding on the state.

Timeline

Reporting

Recipients must submit periodic financial reports, periodic performance reports, final financial and performance reports, and a calendar year-end financial report in accordance with the CFR Part 200 Uniform Requirements. Future awards and fund drawdowns may be withheld if reports are delinquent.

Required Documents

The following documents must be emailed to CJA.LiveScan@illinois.gov by the 5 p.m., March 18, 2024, deadline for application review. Click the links below to download the complete NOFO Packet.

• Uniform State Grant Application
• Program Narrative
• Budget/Budget Narrative

DOWNLOAD NOFO PACKET ZIP FILE:

Questions

Questions regarding this NOFO may be submitted to CJA.LiveScan@illinois.gov until 5:00 p.m., March 12, 2024.

All substantive questions and responses will be posted. Updates to NOFO materials and questions from applicants and their responses are revised weekly. View them here.

Contact Information

Michael Lynch
Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority
CJA.LiveScan@illinois.gov