Opportunity Information: Apply for 26PR08
Apply for 26PR08
- The National Institute of Corrections in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Facilitator Training for Victim Offender Dialogue" 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 2026-02-27.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-04-17. (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 $100,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) is funding a single cooperative agreement to strengthen post-conviction victim services in state corrections by building a more consistent pipeline of qualified Victim Offender Dialogue (VOD) facilitators. VOD (also commonly called Victim Offender Mediation, Victim Offender Mediation/Dialogue, or Facilitated Dialogue) is a structured, voluntary process that can allow victims or survivors, or sometimes their family members, to meet with the person who committed the crime. The purpose is typically to give victims a chance to describe the real-life impact of the offense, ask questions that may never have been answered, and take part in a carefully managed process that can support healing and accountability. Because these meetings are emotionally intense and can carry safety and re-traumatization risks if mishandled, NIC is emphasizing the need for specialized, high-quality facilitator training.
The grant is aimed at a practical field problem: while at least 26 states either operate or are required to operate some form of VOD program, many do not have formal training programs or stable funding dedicated to training. Programs often depend on a mix of staff and volunteers, and in some places volunteers provide most or all facilitation services. That staffing reality creates frequent turnover and an ongoing need to train new facilitators and refresh/advance the skills of experienced practitioners. NICs goal is to improve the consistency, availability, and quality of VOD services delivered through state departments of correction, ultimately helping agencies meet victim-related obligations that may be set by constitutions, statutes, or administrative rules.
Under this solicitation, NIC is looking for one provider to design and deliver two blended trainings (meaning a combination of delivery methods, commonly mixing virtual and in-person components). The first is a blended basic training for new victim-offender dialogue facilitators, focused on foundational knowledge and core facilitation skills required to manage these sensitive conversations ethically and safely. The second is a blended advanced training that specifically prepares facilitators to handle cases involving sexual assault, which typically require additional trauma-informed approaches, careful screening and preparation, and higher-level facilitation competence due to the heightened risk of harm if the process is not handled correctly. Together, these two courses are intended to expand state corrections capacity to offer VOD in a responsible way that prioritizes victim needs and supports meaningful repair of harm where appropriate.
The opportunity is offered by NIC under CFDA 16.601, with an Opportunity Number of 26PR08 and a Funding Opportunity Title of Facilitator Training for Victim Offender Dialogue. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which generally means NIC expects to have substantial involvement in the project (for example, collaboration on curriculum expectations, deliverables, scheduling, or quality standards), rather than simply issuing a grant and stepping back. The anticipated award ceiling is $100,000, and NIC expects to make one award.
Eligibility is fairly broad within the U.S. context. Applicants may include nonprofit organizations (including faith-based, community, and tribal organizations), for-profit organizations (including tribal for-profit organizations), and institutions of higher education (including tribal institutions). However, recipients including for-profits must agree to waive any profit or fee for services, which effectively means the work must be delivered at cost rather than as a profit-generating contract. Foreign governments, international organizations, and non-governmental international organizations/institutions are not eligible. The solicitation also requires proof of 501(c)(3) status for nonprofits as determined by the IRS, or an authorizing tribal resolution for tribal entities.
NIC is open to collaborative proposals involving two or more entities, but it requires that one eligible organization serve as the primary applicant and take full responsibility for administering the funds and managing the program overall, with any partners proposed as subrecipients. There is also a strict submission limit: only one application will be accepted from a submitting organization. The original closing date for applications is April 17, 2026, and the opportunity was created on February 27, 2026. NIC also notes it may make awards from applications under this solicitation in future fiscal years, depending on application merit and the availability of appropriations, which signals that strong proposals could potentially remain relevant beyond the initial funding cycle if budgets allow.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity about?
This National Institute of Corrections (NIC) opportunity funds a single cooperative agreement to strengthen post-conviction victim services in state corrections by building a more consistent pipeline of qualified Victim Offender Dialogue (VOD) facilitators through standardized training.
What is Victim Offender Dialogue (VOD)?
Victim Offender Dialogue (VOD) is a structured, voluntary process that can allow victims or survivors, and sometimes their family members, to meet with the person who committed the crime. It is also commonly called Victim Offender Mediation, Victim Offender Mediation/Dialogue, or Facilitated Dialogue.
What is the purpose of VOD?
VOD is typically intended to give victims a chance to describe the real-life impact of the offense, ask questions that may never have been answered, and participate in a carefully managed process that can support healing and accountability.
Why is NIC emphasizing specialized facilitator training?
These meetings can be emotionally intense and may involve safety concerns and re-traumatization risks if mishandled. NIC is emphasizing specialized, high-quality training to help ensure VOD is facilitated ethically and safely.
What field problem is NIC trying to solve with this award?
While at least 26 states either operate or are required to operate some form of VOD program, many states do not have formal training programs or stable training funding. Programs often rely on a mix of staff and volunteers, and in some places volunteers provide most or all facilitation services. This creates frequent turnover and ongoing training needs for new facilitators and skill refresh/advancement for experienced practitioners.
What is NIC trying to achieve overall?
NICs goal is to improve the consistency, availability, and quality of VOD services delivered through state departments of correction. This is intended to help agencies meet victim-related obligations that may be established by constitutions, statutes, or administrative rules.
How many awards will NIC make?
NIC expects to make one award under this solicitation.
What type of funding instrument is being used?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement. This generally means NIC expects substantial involvement in the project, such as collaboration on curriculum expectations, deliverables, scheduling, or quality standards.
What is the anticipated funding amount?
The anticipated award ceiling is $100,000.
What is the Opportunity Number and Funding Opportunity Title?
The Opportunity Number is 26PR08, and the Funding Opportunity Title is Facilitator Training for Victim Offender Dialogue.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered under CFDA 16.601.
What will the selected provider be required to do?
The selected provider is expected to design and deliver two blended trainings to increase the supply and quality of VOD facilitators serving state corrections VOD programs.
What does NIC mean by "blended" training?
Blended training means a combination of delivery methods, commonly mixing virtual and in-person components.
What is included in the blended basic VOD facilitator training?
The basic training is intended for new victim-offender dialogue facilitators and focuses on foundational knowledge and core facilitation skills required to manage these sensitive conversations ethically and safely.
What is included in the blended advanced training?
The advanced training specifically prepares facilitators to handle cases involving sexual assault. It is expected to emphasize additional trauma-informed approaches, careful screening and preparation, and higher-level facilitation competence due to the heightened risk of harm if the process is not handled correctly.
Why does the advanced training focus on sexual assault cases?
Sexual assault cases typically require additional trauma-informed approaches and more careful screening and preparation. NIC highlights that the risk of harm is higher if the process is not handled correctly, so advanced, specialized preparation is needed.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants may include U.S.-based nonprofit organizations (including faith-based, community, and tribal organizations), for-profit organizations (including tribal for-profit organizations), and institutions of higher education (including tribal institutions).
Are for-profit organizations allowed to apply?
Yes. For-profit organizations may apply, but recipients including for-profits must agree to waive any profit or fee for services. This means the work must be delivered at cost rather than as a profit-generating contract.
Are foreign or international entities eligible?
No. Foreign governments, international organizations, and non-governmental international organizations/institutions are not eligible.
What documentation is required for nonprofit or tribal applicants?
The solicitation requires proof of 501(c)(3) status for nonprofits as determined by the IRS, or an authorizing tribal resolution for tribal entities.
Can multiple organizations apply together as a partnership or coalition?
NIC is open to collaborative proposals involving two or more entities. However, one eligible organization must serve as the primary applicant and take full responsibility for administering the funds and managing the program overall, with any partners proposed as subrecipients.
Is there a limit on how many applications an organization can submit?
Yes. Only one application will be accepted from a submitting organization.
What is the application due date?
The original closing date for applications is April 17, 2026.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on February 27, 2026.
Could NIC make awards from this solicitation in later fiscal years?
Yes. NIC notes it may make awards from applications under this solicitation in future fiscal years, depending on application merit and the availability of appropriations.
How does this work connect to state departments of correction?
The trainings are intended to expand state corrections capacity to offer VOD responsibly through state departments of correction, prioritizing victim needs and supporting meaningful repair of harm where appropriate.
What is the main quality and safety emphasis NIC highlights for VOD?
NIC emphasizes that VOD must be facilitated ethically and safely due to emotional intensity and the risk of re-traumatization or other harm if the process is mishandled. The training focus is intended to strengthen quality, screening, preparation, and facilitator competence.
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