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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

16.610:  Regional Information Sharing Systems

Popular Name:  RISS

Objectives:  To enhance the ability of the State and local criminal justice agencies to identify, target, and remove criminal conspiracies and activities that span jurisdictional boundaries. The first objective of the Regional Information Sharing Systems Program (RISS) is to encourage and facilitate the rapid exchange and sharing of information among Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies pertaining to known or suspected criminals or criminal activity. The second objective is to enhance coordination and communication among agencies that are in pursuit of criminal conspiracies determined to be interjurisdictional in nature. In addition, the RISS Program may provide technical and financial resources, such as specialized equipment, training, and investigative funds, to augment existing multijurisdictional enforcement resources and operations.

PROGRAM AND AWARD	FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS	FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS	INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS	ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS	POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

16.610 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  Six RISS projects are authorized as eligible to receive funding to provide services to law enforcement agencies throughout the nation. The projects are: The Middle Atlantic Great-Lakes Organized Crime Law Enforcement Center (MAGLOCLEN), the Mid-States Organized Crime Information Center (MOCIC), the New England State Police Information Network (NESPIN), the Regional Organized Crime Information Center (ROCIC), the Rocky Mountain Information Network (RMIN), and the Western States Information Network (WSIN).

Beneficiary Eligibility:  State and local criminal justice agencies; Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies and personnel benefit from this program.

Credentials/Documentation:  The six RISS projects are required to submit a Federal application for assistance, as well as a detailed program and budget narrative.

16.610 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372 "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in their respective States for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance. The Standard application forms (SF-424) as furnished by the Federal agency in accordance with 28 CFR, Part 66 (Common Rule), must be used for this program.

Application Procedure:  The fiscal year 2000 SCAAP application for payment process has been modified from previous fiscal year funding. The SCAAP cycle for fiscal year 2000 will be administered via the Office of Justice Programs Internet-based Grants Management System. Inmate data, including the proper inmate identifiers, will either be manually key-stroked into the on-line application system, or submitted on-line by electronically attaching the applicable portions of their inmate databases. The on-line application process will begin in late March, 2000, and end mid-May, 2000. The INS inmate verification process will then commence. Requests for Payment (RFP) and monetary drawdowns will end no later than August 31, 2000. Technical assistance is available to applicants for preparation of the on-line process by calling the OJP Grants Management System Hotline at 1-888-549-9901.

Award Procedure:  BJA reviews applications for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with all program requirements.

Deadlines:  Applications are due no later than May 15, 2000.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  About 90 days prior to the expiration of the project's current active grant.

Appeals:  None.

Renewals:  A project must submit a written request justifying the need for the extension and how the extension would be consistent with the objectives of the grant 60 days prior to the expiration of the current grant.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  Not applicable.

Examples of Funded Projects:  Not applicable.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  FY 00: $25 million (to be divided among the six RISS projects).

16.610 RELATED PROGRAMS:

16.610 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

16.610 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE, OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants.

Obligations:  (Grants) FY 99 $19,977,511; FY 00 est $20,026,932; and FY 01 est $25,000,000.

Budget Account Number:  15-0401-0-1-754.

Authorization:  Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, Public Law 90-351; 42 U.S.C. 3796h.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  Financial Guide, Office of Justice Programs, Office of the Comptroller; BJA's Funding and Administration Guidelines of the Regional Information Sharing Systems Program, and The Criminal Intelligence Systems Operating Policies (28 CFR, Part 23).

16.610 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  None.

Headquarters Office:  Mary Santonastasso, State and Local Assistance Division, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Fourth Floor, 810 Seventh Street, NW., Washington, DC 20531. Phone: (202) 305-2088 or the Justice Response Center, 1-800-421-6770.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

16.610 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  Projects are awarded 100 percent of the project costs and no match is required.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Awards are made for a period of 12 months.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Up to 100 percent of total project grant costs are funded through Federal assistance. Cost-sharing is governed by Appropriation Act requirements. However, projects are encouraged to obtain and utilize additional funds through voluntary contributions, membership fees or dues, fees for service, or other sources from member agencies or governmental units benefitting from project services. Such funds will be considered program income and must be used to augment project operations or to reduce the Federal share of project costs.

16.610 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Reporting requirements for grants/projects awarded under the RISS Program are articulated in the OJP Financial Guide, as well as the Funding and Administration Guidelines of the Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) Program Guide.

Audits:  Payments and transactions are subject to audits by the General Accounting Office, the Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General, State or local government auditors, and auditors from independent public accounting firms. Jurisdictions must follow their local policies and procedures, including maintenance of reliable and accurate accounting systems, record keeping, and systems of internal control. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that receive financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records:  Recipients of Federal funds are expected to retain documentation supporting all program transactions for at least 3 years after the closure of audit reports related to such funding. If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit, or other action involving records has been started before the expiration of the 3 year period, the records must be retained until completion of the action and resolution of all related issues, or until the end of the regular 3 year period, whichever is later.