Opportunity Information: Apply for 21CS19
The National Institute of Corrections (NIC), part of the U.S. Department of Justice, offered a cooperative agreement opportunity to convert its longstanding "Orientation for Parole Board Chairs" training from a mixed in-person and online format into a fully virtual instructor-led training (VILT) program delivered via WebEx. The original curriculum was developed in 2008 using the ITIP (Instructor Training Institute Program) learning design approach and built through a DACUM process, meaning the course content and modules were structured around a systematic analysis of the actual duties and competencies required of parole board chairs. In its existing form, the program totals about 42 hours and combines pre-assignments with both virtual instruction and a large in-person component that typically took place in a classroom setting with roughly 20 to 25 participants.
The central purpose of the training is to prepare newly selected parole board chairs for the responsibilities of leading a paroling authority, with a strong emphasis on evidence-based decision-making. Participants are expected to learn the role expectations and leadership obligations of a chair, while also taking a close look at their own agency or jurisdiction's parole policies and procedures to determine whether they align with evidence-based practices. In other words, the course is not just informational; it pushes learners to actively assess how parole decisions, hearings, and related administrative processes can be structured to support public safety and fair, consistent outcomes grounded in research and best practice.
The driving need for the project was the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. NIC noted that the traditional delivery model relied on approximately 40 hours of face-to-face instruction, and pandemic-related constraints made it difficult to continue offering that kind of classroom-based training. NIC also made an internal decision to limit these in-person events, yet demand from the criminal justice field for this training continued. As a result, NIC sought to ensure the program could still be offered nationally by redesigning it into a completely virtual format without losing the integrity of the ITIP learning design or the interactive elements that typically make leadership training effective.
The work envisioned under the award focused on a detailed curriculum review and conversion process. That conversion included reassessing and restructuring key training components such as the overall schedule and timing (for example, how long sessions should run when delivered online), the sequence and emphasis of topics, the supporting resource materials, and the learning activities and exercises so they function well in a live virtual environment. A major practical requirement was adapting the course for effective delivery on the WebEx platform, which typically means redesigning activities that were once done in person (discussion-based work, small group exercises, case reviews, and guided policy analysis) into virtual equivalents that maintain participant engagement and learning outcomes.
Administratively, this opportunity was listed as "NIC Parole Board Chair Curriculum Conversion: Blended Delivery to Virtual Instructor Led Training" under Funding Opportunity Number 21CS19 and CFDA 16.601. It was categorized as "Other" and funded through a cooperative agreement, indicating NIC expected an active partnership with the selected awardee rather than a hands-off grant. The solicitation anticipated a single award with an award ceiling of $60,500. The opportunity was posted on February 8, 2021, with an original application closing date of April 9, 2021, and eligibility was broadly described as "Others" with further clarification referenced in the full announcement.Apply for 21CS19
- The Department of Justice, National Institute of Corrections in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIC Parole Board Chair Curriculum Conversion: Blended Delivery to Virtual Instructor Led Training" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.601.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 08, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 09, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $60,500.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is this funding opportunity about?
This cooperative agreement opportunity from the National Institute of Corrections (NIC), U.S. Department of Justice, focuses on converting NIC's longstanding "Orientation for Parole Board Chairs" training from a blended format (mix of in-person and online) into a fully virtual instructor-led training (VILT) program delivered via WebEx.
2. What is the name of the project or solicitation?
The opportunity is titled "NIC Parole Board Chair Curriculum Conversion: Blended Delivery to Virtual Instructor Led Training."
3. Who is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the National Institute of Corrections (NIC), which is part of the U.S. Department of Justice.
4. What type of funding mechanism is being used?
The solicitation is funded through a cooperative agreement. This indicates NIC expected to work in active partnership with the selected awardee, rather than providing a purely hands-off grant.
5. What is the goal of converting the training to a fully virtual format?
The goal is to ensure the training can continue to be delivered nationally in a completely virtual environment, while maintaining the integrity of the ITIP learning design approach and preserving the interactive elements that make leadership training effective.
6. Why was the conversion to a fully virtual training needed?
NIC identified a need driven by COVID-19 pandemic disruptions. The traditional model relied heavily on face-to-face classroom instruction, and pandemic constraints made it difficult to continue offering that format. NIC also decided to limit in-person events, but demand for the training continued.
7. What training program is being converted?
The program being converted is NIC's "Orientation for Parole Board Chairs" training.
8. When was the original curriculum developed?
The original curriculum was developed in 2008.
9. How was the original curriculum designed?
The curriculum was developed using the ITIP (Instructor Training Institute Program) learning design approach and was built through a DACUM process, meaning the content and modules were structured around a systematic analysis of the real duties and competencies required of parole board chairs.
10. About how long is the training in its existing form?
In its existing form, the program totals about 42 hours.
11. What did the training format look like before the conversion?
The training combined pre-assignments with virtual instruction and a large in-person classroom component. The in-person portion typically involved roughly 20 to 25 participants.
12. What is the central purpose of the "Orientation for Parole Board Chairs" training?
The central purpose is to prepare newly selected parole board chairs for the responsibilities of leading a paroling authority, with a strong emphasis on evidence-based decision-making.
13. What are participants expected to learn or do in the course?
Participants are expected to learn role expectations and leadership obligations of a chair, and to closely examine their own agency or jurisdiction's parole policies and procedures to assess whether they align with evidence-based practices.
14. Is the course purely informational, or does it require participant work?
It is not described as purely informational. The training pushes learners to actively assess parole decision-making, hearings, and administrative processes in light of research and best practice, with the aim of supporting public safety and fair, consistent outcomes.
15. What platform is required for the new virtual delivery?
The redesigned training is intended to be delivered via WebEx.
16. What kinds of curriculum changes were envisioned under the award?
The work described includes a detailed curriculum review and conversion process, including reassessing and restructuring the overall schedule and timing for online delivery, the sequence and emphasis of topics, supporting resource materials, and learning activities and exercises so they work effectively in a live virtual environment.
17. What kinds of in-person learning activities needed to be adapted for virtual delivery?
Activities that typically occur in person, such as discussion-based work, small group exercises, case reviews, and guided policy analysis, needed to be redesigned into virtual equivalents that maintain engagement and learning outcomes.
18. What is meant by maintaining the integrity of the ITIP learning design?
NIC indicated that the conversion should preserve the ITIP-based learning design approach used in the original curriculum, rather than simply moving materials online without maintaining the underlying structure and interactive instructional elements.
19. What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this solicitation?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is 21CS19.
20. What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 16.601.
21. How was the opportunity categorized?
The solicitation was categorized as "Other."
22. How many awards were anticipated?
The solicitation anticipated a single award.
23. What was the award ceiling?
The award ceiling was $60,500.
24. When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on February 8, 2021.
25. What was the original application closing date?
The original application closing date was April 9, 2021.
26. Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broadly described as "Others," with additional clarification referenced in the full announcement.
27. What is the intended audience for the training being converted?
The training is intended to prepare newly selected parole board chairs for leadership responsibilities within a paroling authority.
28. What was the challenge NIC was trying to solve with this project?
NIC sought to address the loss of feasibility for a roughly 40-hour face-to-face instructional model due to pandemic constraints and reduced in-person events, while still meeting continued national demand for the training.
29. What does it mean that the training is "virtual instructor-led"?
Based on the description, the course is intended to be delivered live in a virtual environment (rather than self-paced only), with an instructor facilitating interactive learning activities using WebEx.
30. What aspects of the course delivery were specifically called out for reassessment?
NIC specifically noted the need to reassess and restructure the schedule and timing (including how long online sessions should run), the sequence and emphasis of topics, supporting resources, and activities/exercises so they function well in a virtual format.
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