Requests for Proposals

Funding Goal

Funds awarded under these competitive solicitations are to be awarded in furtherance of the stated goals of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009:

• To create and preserve jobs and promote economic recovery.
• To assist those most impacted by the recession.
• To invest in transportation, environmental protection and other infrastructure that will provide long-term economic benefits.
• To stabilize State and local government budgets, in order to minimize and avoid reductions in essential service and counterproductive state and local tax increases.

The priority for funding under these competitive solicitations are to be directed to programs that can demonstrate a reduction in available funds as a direct result of recent economic conditions. Additional priorities will support communities representing regional coalitions and communities in northern or lesser-served areas of the state.

Proposals under the following competitive solicitations may include new programs, enhancements to existing programs and existing programs that can demonstrate a funding reduction. It is the intent of this office, to focus on those programs that can conclusively demonstrate that, due to recent funding losses, existing jobs are in jeopardy and that, absent this funding, those jobs will be lost. While this office generally promotes the creation of new programs and the expansion of existing, the focus of this funding is 'Recovery', therefore, priority will be given to existing programs that have had a clear reduction in existing funding, such that personnel positions are in jeopardy.

As funding allows, new and enhanced programs will be considered, however, as stated, the priority will be to make current programs more stable and, therefore, better able to weather the current fiscal crisis to ensure essential services are not lost.

The federal government and the NH Department of Justice are committed to investing Recovery Act dollars with an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability so Americans know where their tax dollars are going and how they are being spent. Awards made with Recovery Act funds are subject to an increased level of financial and programmatic over-site at both the federal and state level of government.

• Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program
• STOP Violence Against Women Recovery Act Grant Program (VAWA)
• Victims of Crime Act (VOCA)

Application Due Dates – Current Grant Recipients

Grant applications for applicants with programs currently funded by the NH Department of Justice in which funding is requested to enhance a project or to help restore prior funding cuts will be due no later than May 27, 2009, at 4:00 pm. The purpose of this due date is to help ensure that we are able to complete the administrative processes necessary for a July 1, 2009, start date, so as to ensure uninterrupted service for those agencies operating on the State fiscal year.

Application Due Dates – New Program Applicants

Applications for new projects, specifically those projects for which the applicant is not currently receiving NH Department of Justice funding in support of, will be due by June 15, 2009, at 4:00 pm. Following the grant review process, these applications will likely start on or about August 1, 2009.

Grant Periods

Applicant projects should be based on a July 1, 2009, to June 30, 2010, grant period. In some cases, additional year funding may be offered to applicants, contingent on program performance and funding availability. Due to administrative requirements, most grant projects will begin on July 1, 2009, or upon approval by Governor and Council, whichever is later.

Review Criteria

Applications will be reviewed by committee based on the following criteria:

• Problem Statement (30 points)
• Project/Program Design and Implementation (35 points)
• Sustainability and Evaluation Plan (5 points)
• Budget Detail (20 points)
• Budget Narrative (10 points)

Applicants must review the instructional materials provided with each application package to determine what items need to be included in a successful application under that program.