Deadline: 6-Feb-24
The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) is seeking applications for funding under the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 for the preparation and delivery of two NIC courses: The Learning and Performance Coach (2 hybrid deliveries) and The Learning Designer (2 virtual deliveries).
The Learning Designer will be delivered solely using a virtual platform, while the Learning and Performance Coach will be delivered using a hybrid approach – a mix of virtual instructor-led and onsite components. NIC will provide complete curriculum packages for both of these programs to the awardee.
- The Learning and Performance Coach Overview
- The Learning and Performance Coach targets those who function as a performance coach within their organization and expands on the field training officer/on-the-job training (FTO/OJT) concept. It was developed using a learner centered performance-based approach to training. It focuses on outcomes and the learner’s ability to use what they learn in this course in their current position by applying learning tools and educational theories. While this program requires an in-person component for the practical application of performance coaching techniques, many of the cognitive components leading up to this practical application can be delivered virtually. NIC will seek two agencies to serve as hosts for this hybrid training.
- The Learning Designer Overview
- The role of the learning or instructional designer is ever evolving. The increased popularity of online education and the additional use of extensive technology to aid instruction have intensified the need for personnel who are adept at creating modern learning experiences based on the science of instructional design and grounded in the psychology of learning. This course takes the participant step by step through the process of designing a learning module. The theories, principles, and guidelines that participants learn in this course will enable them to help learners in their agencies and organizations succeed. This program is designed to be delivered virtually. It does not require a partner agency, and NIC will recruit participants nationwide. The class size should not exceed 36 participants.
Goal
The goal of this cooperative agreement is to collaboratively provide coordination and administrative support to the NIC program manager in the delivery of The Learning Designer (two virtual deliveries) and The Learning and Performance Coach (two hybrid deliveries). Effective coordination and support includes proposing and providing skilled facilitators, collaboratively managing host agency logistics, and participant and agency communications to support each delivery.
Objective
The objective of this cooperative agreement is to build corrections agency capacity in learning and performance through the comprehensive planning, preparation, collaborative management and delivery of two established NIC programs: The Learning Designer (two virtual deliveries) and The Learning and Performance Coach (two hybrid deliveries).
Funding Information
NIC expects to make one award for as much as $100,000.00 for a 12-month project period, beginning on March 22, 2024. Requests for amounts more than a total of $100,000.00, including direct and indirect costs will not be considered.
Requirements
- The Learning and Performance Coach Requirements
- The Learning and Performance Coach requires a minimum of three (3) facilitators, proposed by the applicant, to plan, prepare, facilitate, and collaboratively manage the deliveries, including the practical application of the coaching component during hybrid deliveries.
- Facilitators proposed for the Learning and Performance Coach must have substantiated experience/expertise in the following: (1) a minimum of ten years of experience facilitating and delivering learner centered training programs within a correctional environment; (2) a minimum of five years of experience and grounding in the principles, content, and delivery of an FTO/OJT or coaching program, and/or be a credentialed and/or certified performance coach; and (3) five years of virtual production, design, and facilitation expertise using various virtual platforms.
- NIC will recruit two partner agencies/host agencies for the delivery of the onsite portions of this program. When the partner/host agencies are selected, NIC will collaboratively schedule the deliveries with the awardee. Partner/host agencies participant expenses are the responsibility of the partner/host agencies.
- The Learning Designer Requirements
- NIC will seek participants for this open enrollment program. Each delivery is targeted to thirty-six participants who design learning experiences and curriculum for their agencies. NIC will provide a roster of participants to the awardee to support required programmatic communications.
- The Learning Designer requires a minimum of two facilitators for comprehensive planning, preparation, setup, rehearsal, facilitation and participant activity tracking.
- Facilitators used for the delivery of The Learning Designer must have substantiated experience/expertise in the following: (1) a minimum of ten years of experience facilitating and delivering learner centered training programs within a correctional environment; (2) a minimum of five years of experience and grounding in the principles, content, and research into practice of instructional design, detailing in-person and virtual design expertise; (3) a minimum of five years of virtual production, design, and facilitation expertise using various virtual platforms; (4) grounding and use of the Instructional Theory Into Practice (ITIP) model for designing curriculum; and (5) documented expertise in designing learning experiences using the components of adult learning theory.
Eligibility Criteria
- NIC invites applications from 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 of higher education). Recipients, including for-profit organizations, must agree to waive any profit or fee for services. Foreign governments, international organizations, and non-governmental international organizations/institutions are not eligible to apply. Proof of 501(c) (3) status as determined by the Internal Revenue Service or an authorizing tribal resolution is required.
- NIC welcomes applications that involve two or more entities; however, one eligible entity must be the applicant and the others must be proposed as subrecipients. The applicant must be the entity with primary responsibility for administering the funding and managing the entire program. Only one (1) application will be accepted from a submitting organization.
- NIC may elect to make awards for applications submitted under this solicitation in future fiscal years, dependent on the merit of the applications and on the availability of appropriations.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.