Office for Victims of Crime Federal Victim Training & Technical Assistance Program (FVTP) Guidelines
Who can apply for the Federal Victim Training & Technical Assistance Program?
Federal victim assistance personnel Military victim assistance personnel Tribal victim assistance personnel working in collaboration with a federal agency and/or victim assistance personnel. OVC initiated requests involving federal agency victim assistance personnel or tribal victim assistance programs
What type of support is available through FVTP?
The funding provided by OVC is from the Victims Fund and is subject to the requirements of the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). OVC encourages collaborative, multiagency requests that involve cross training. Training and technical assistance efforts can be supported through funding that covers: Speaker/consultant expenses (including federal personnel under certain circumstances) Allowable speaker/consultant fees Conference room fees Audiovisual equipment Binders Conference/training materials Online training materials (example: limited technical assistance adapting various online materials to your agency) Development of training DVD’s (example: limited technical assistance from a videographer to consult with team developing training video) Food and beverages subject to restrictions
What types of training & technical assistance requests will not be supported?
Lobbying efforts Fundraising efforts Entertainment (story tellers, musicians, dance groups) Registration fees, if the majority of funding comes from OVC Trainings held at casinos or resorts without special permission from the OJP Assistant Attorney General
Are there any further restrictions on the use of these funds?
All costs approved must be compliant with OJP Financial Guidelines, www.ojp.usdoj.gov/financialguide/ Conference requests must be approved by the appropriate government and/or tribal authorizing official Conference fees must comply with GAO guidance The final training agenda will be reviewed by OVC Speakers/presenters must primarily focus on providing skills and knowledge to federal victim
Updated on: 7/01/2009
assistance personnel and/or service providers who work with federal, military, and tribal victims of crime Training must provide skills or knowledge that improves federal, military, or tribal victim assistance interventions Training must be cost-effective No more than one working meal for a given conference Any printing or copying requests must adhere to GPO guidelines, www.access.gpo.gov/ OVC must approve all requests to reimburse federal employees travel and subsistence costs. See also “Can federal personnel travel and subsistence expenses be reimbursed through FVTP?”
Are there any restrictions on support for speakers?
Speakers/presenters should provide written training objectives for OVC review to ensure that the requested training is appropriate and addresses the above mentioned goals Maximum payment for speakers is $450.00 per day, no exceptions Reasonable preparation time may be considered on a case-by-case basis and will be determined by OVC Travel time cannot be compensated Travel arrangements are made by TTAC through TTAC’s travel agency TTAC will confirm the financial arrangements and work with speakers to directly reimburse them TTAC will obtain the speaker’s biographical information when TTAC has identified the speaker. The applicant will obtain speaker’s biographical information when the speaker is identified by the applicant.
Are there any restrictions on training topics?
OVC funds shall not be used to support investigative or prosecutorial training topics, except in the following cases:
• •
the skills or knowledge imparted will result in improved understanding and intervention with federal or tribal victims of crime the training complies with the most recent edition of the Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance, http://www.usdoj.gov/olp/pdf/ag_guidelines.pdf
Can federal personnel travel and subsistence expenses be reimbursed through FVTP?
Expenses associated with training attendance (i.e., travel, lodging, meals, and incidentals) for federal agency personnel attending an OVC-supported event may be reimbursed by OVC TTAC under certain circumstances as follows: Federal agency personnel who are presenting at an OVC-supported conference should attempt to secure travel and subsistence funding from their own agency, particularly the agencies listed below, given these agencies have OVC funding for training and technical assistance. When agency funding is not available, OVC TTAC may be able to reimburse federal personnel who are presenting for their travel and subsistence costs. Federal agency personnel who are attending an OVC-supported conference must secure funding from their own agency victim assistance program if their agency receives funding from OVC for training and technical assistance (see list below). If the federal agency is not listed below, training related travel and subsistence expenses may be reimbursed by OVC for attendance at an OVC supported conference.
Updated on 7/01/2009
Agencies with OVC training and technical assistance funding: Executive Office for United States Attorneys (EOUSA) must support EOUSA and United States Attorneys Office (USAO) personnel Federal Bureau of Investigation Department of State, Office of Consular Affairs (DOS) Department of Justice – Criminal Division (DOJ-CD) Civil Rights Division – Criminal Section (CRD-CS) Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Military including Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Department of Defense (DOD) Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Department of the Interior (DOI), including Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) National Security Division (NSD)
What types of food and beverage expenses are allowable?
The proposed costs are reasonable as determined by OVC Food and beverage expenditures are directly connected to a work-related event and must be necessary for the participants’ full and uninterrupted participation in the training Continental Breakfast: a light breakfast that may include a selection of coffees, teas, juices, fruits, and assorted pastries is allowable provided several hours of substantive material directly follows the continental breakfast Working Lunch or Dinner: (limit one per conference event) the following planning parameters must be in place: • have several hours of substantive information provided prior to and after lunch or dinner • have a speaker during lunch and/or dinner who is providing relevant educational and substantive materials that foster skills needed for effective victim assistance • have a formal or working agenda for the luncheon or dinner • mandate that all attendees participate in the event Food service, such as breaks, must be followed by a structured training OVC funding cannot be used for social events, entertainment, or “meet and greet” gatherings
Are there any restrictions on meeting space requests?
Per recent guidance, if the audience is comprised of 50% or more federal employees: • Must select a federal venue
If a federal training venue is not available, or fewer than 50% of attendees are federal, and a nonfederal venue is requested: • • • • •
Updated on 7/01/2009
the requesting agency shall provide to OVC, in advance, three cost estimates for any proposed nonfederal venue the venue cost estimates must be within federal per diem for the location of the event hotel obligations that include any of the following: room nights, food and beverage, meeting room rental, and audiovisual costs must be submitted through TTAC TTAC will contract with the venue for approved costs on behalf of OVC if the venue contains a casino or is categorized as a resort, it must receive preapproval from the Office of the Attorney General in advance of any commitments
OVC Training Priorities: TOPICS:
Indian County Crime Victim Issues Attorney General Guidelines on Victim and Witness Assistance Developing Victim Assistance Program Standards VOCA-Compliant Training on Crime Victim Issues
AUDIENCE:
Federal, military, and tribal victim assistance personnel Agency personnel who come in contact with federal victims of crime and have not received OVC funding in the past
How to apply?
Please fill out the application form completely, as these requests are competitive. If you have questions on completing your application, please contact Angela Bafile at 703–277–6682 or abafile@icfi.com. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications should be received no less than 60 days prior to your conference/TTA event—NO EXCEPTIONS. If your application is received less than 60 days prior to your event, OVC TTAC will make all attempts to process your request, but support for this request is at the discretion of the Office for Victims of Crime. In making your request, please do not list events or activities that will be supported by another agency. You should focus exclusively on the support you are asking from OVC when completing this application.
Updated on 7/01/2009