83_FR_5487 83 FR 5461 - Request for Letters of Intent To Apply for 2018 Technology Initiative Grant Funding

83 FR 5461 - Request for Letters of Intent To Apply for 2018 Technology Initiative Grant Funding

LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 26 (February 7, 2018)

Page Range5461-5464
FR Document2018-02435

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) issues this Notice describing the process for submission of Letters of Intent to Apply for 2018 funding from the LSC Technology Initiative Grant program. This notice and application information are posted at: https://www.lsc.gov/ grants-grantee-resources/our-grant-programs/tig.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 26 (Wednesday, February 7, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 7, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5461-5464]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02435]


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LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION


Request for Letters of Intent To Apply for 2018 Technology 
Initiative Grant Funding

AGENCY: Legal Services Corporation.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) issues this Notice 
describing the process for submission of Letters of Intent to Apply for 
2018 funding from the LSC Technology Initiative Grant program. This 
notice and application information are posted at: https://www.lsc.gov/grants-grantee-resources/our-grant-programs/tig.

DATES: Deadline: Letters of Intent must be completed and submitted into 
the online system at http://lscgrants.lsc.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. 
EST, Friday, March 9, 2018. The online system may experience technical 
difficulties due to heavy traffic on the day of the deadline. 
Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete LOI submissions as early 
as possible.
    LSC will not accept applications submitted after the application 
deadline unless an extension of the deadline has been approved in 
advance (see Waiver Authority). Therefore, allow sufficient time for 
online submission.
    LSC will provide confirmation via email upon receipt of the 
completed electronic submission of each Letter of Intent. Keep this 
email as verification that the program's LOI was submitted and 
received. If no confirmation email is received, inquire about the 
status of your LOI at Techgrants@lsc.gov.

ADDRESSES: Letters of Intent must be submitted electronically at http://lscgrants.lsc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the status of a 
current TIG project, contact Eric Mathison, Program Analyst, Telephone: 
202-295-1535; Email: emathison@lsc.gov.
    For questions about projects in CT, IL, IN, ME, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, 
OH, PA, RI, WI, WV, VT, contact David Bonebrake, Program Counsel, 
Telephone: 202.295.1547; Email: dbonebrake@lsc.gov.
    For questions about projects in AK, AZ, CA, CO, GU, HI, ID, IA, KS, 
MP, MN, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, ND, OK, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA, WY, contact 
Glenn Rawdon, Senior Program Counsel, Telephone: 202.295.1552; Email: 
grawdon@lsc.gov.
    For questions about projects in AL, AR, DC, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, 
MO, NC, PR, SC, TN, VI, VA, contact Jane Ribadeneyra, Program Analyst, 
Telephone: 202.295.1554, Email: ribadeneyraj@lsc.gov.
    If you have a general question, please email techgrants@lsc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Summary

    The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) issues this Notice describing 
the criteria governing submission and processing of Letters of Intent 
to Apply for Technology Initiative Grants (TIG). Since LSC's TIG 
program was established in 2000, LSC has made over 700 grants totaling 
more than $63 million. This grant program funds technology tools that 
help achieve LSC's goal of increasing the quantity and quality of legal 
services available to eligible persons. Projects funded under the TIG 
program develop, test, and replicate innovative technologies that can 
enable grant recipients and state justice communities to improve low-
income persons' access to high-quality legal assistance through an 
integrated and well managed technology system.

II. General Information

    The Legal Services Corporation awards Technology Initiative Grant 
funds through an open, competitive, and impartial selection process. 
All prospective applicants for 2018 TIG funds must submit a Letter of 
Intent to Apply (LOI) prior to submitting a formal application. The 
format and contents of the LOI should conform to the requirements 
specified below in Section IV.
    Through the LOI process, LSC selects those projects that have a 
reasonable chance of success in the competitive grant process based on 
LSC's analysis of the project description and other information 
provided in the LOI. LSC will solicit full proposals for the selected 
projects.

LSC Requirements

    Technology Initiative Grant funds are subject to all LSC 
requirements, including the requirements of the Legal Services 
Corporation Act (LSC Act), any applicable appropriations acts and any 
other applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, guidelines, 
instructions, and other directives of the Legal Services Corporation 
(LSC), including, but not limited to, the LSC Audit Guide for 
Recipients and Auditors, the Accounting Guide for LSC Recipients, and 
the CSR Handbook, with any amendments to the foregoing adopted before 
or during the period of the grant. Before submitting a Letter of Intent 
to Apply, applicants should be familiar with LSC's subgrant 
requirements at 45 CFR Part 1627 (see http://www.lsc.gov/about/laws-regulations/lsc-regulations-cfr-45-part-1600-et-seq), particularly as 
they pertain to payments of LSC funds to other entities for 
programmatic activities.
    For additional information and resources regarding TIG compliance, 
including subgrants, third-party contracting, conflicts of interest, 
grant modification procedures, and special TIG grant assurances, see 
LSC's TIG compliance web page.

Eligible Applicants

    Only current LSC basic field grant recipients awarded at least a 
one-year basic field grant term are eligible to apply for TIG.
    LSC will not award a TIG to any applicant that is not in good 
standing on any existing TIG projects. Applicants must be up to date 
according to the milestone schedule on all existing TIG projects prior 
to submitting an LOI, or have requested and received an adjustment to 
the original milestone schedule. LSC will not award a TIG to any 
applicant that has not made satisfactory progress on prior TIGs. LSC 
recipients that have had a previous TIG terminated for failure to 
provide timely reports and submissions are not eligible to receive a 
TIG for three years after their earlier grant was terminated. This 
policy does not apply to applicants that worked with LSC to end a TIG 
early after an unsuccessful project implementation resulting from 
technology limitations, a failed proof of concept, or other reasons 
outside of the applicant's control.

Funding Availability

    The amount of TIG funding available will depend on the 2018 fiscal 
year appropriation to the LSC from Congress, which had not been 
determined by January 31, 2018, the date this notice was issued. The 
federal government is currently operating under a Continuing Resolution 
(CR) that expires February 8, 2018. The Continuing Resolution maintains 
funding at FY 2017 levels, which for TIG is $4 million, but with an 
across-the-board reduction of 0.6791 percent, or $27,164 for TIG. We 
anticipate that Congress will pass another CR to continue funding the 
federal government at FY 2017 levels if they do not pass an FY 2018 
budget by midnight February 8th. If not, the federal government will 
shut down. In 2017, 25 TIG projects received funding

[[Page 5462]]

with a median funding amount of $138,905. (See TIG's past awards web 
page for more information on past grants).

Collaborations

    The TIG program encourages applicants to reach out to and include 
in TIG projects others interested in access to justice--the courts, bar 
associations, pro bono projects, libraries, and social service 
agencies. Partnerships can enhance the reach, effectiveness, and 
sustainability of many projects.

Grant Categories

    LSC will accept projects in three application categories:

(1) Innovations and Enhancements
(2) Replication and Adaptation
(3) Technology Improvement Project
Grant Category 1: Innovations and Enhancements
    The Innovations and Enhancements Category is designated for 
projects that: (1) Implement new or innovative approaches for using 
technology in legal services delivery; or (2) enhance the effectiveness 
and efficiency of existing technologies so that they may be better used 
to increase the quality and quantity of services to clients.
    LSC recommends a minimum amount for funding requests in this 
category of $40,000, but projects with lower budgets will be 
considered. There is no maximum amount for TIG funding requests that 
are within the total appropriation for TIG. Although there is no 
funding limit or matching requirement for applications in this 
category, additional weight is given to projects with strong support 
from partners. Proposals for initiatives with broad applicability and/
or that would have impact throughout the legal services community are 
strongly encouraged.
Grant Category 2: Replication and Adaptation
    The Replication and Adaptation category is for proposals that seek 
to replicate, adapt, or provide added value to the work of prior 
technology projects. This includes, but is not limited to, the 
implementation and improvement of tested methodologies and technologies 
from previous TIG projects. Applicants may also replicate technology 
projects funded outside of the TIG program, including sectors outside 
the legal aid community, such as social services organizations, the 
broader non-profit community, and the private sector. LSC recommends a 
minimum amount for funding requests in this category of $40,000, but 
projects with lower budgets will be considered. There is no maximum 
amount for TIG funding requests that are within the total appropriation 
for TIG.
    Project proposals in the Replication and Adaptation category may 
include, but are not limited to:
A. Replication of Previous TIG Projects
    LSC requires that any original software developed with TIG funding 
be available to other legal services programs at little or no cost. 
Applicants should look to previous successful TIG projects and 
determine how they could be replicated at a reduced cost from the 
original project, and/or how they could be expanded and/or enhanced. 
Projects where original software or content has already been created 
lend themselves to replication, and LSC encourages programs to look to 
these projects to see how they could benefit the delivery systems in 
their state.
B. Automated Form Replication
    Law Help Interactive (LHI) is an automated document server powered 
by HotDocs Server and made available to any LSC funded program at no 
charge. See https://lawhelpinteractive.org. LHI is deployed across the 
country with thousands of active HotDocs templates and A2J Author 
modules hosted on the LawHelp Interactive National HotDocs Server at 
https://lawhelpinteractive.org. Despite differences from state to state 
in the content and format, many of these forms can be edited for use in 
other jurisdictions with less effort, hence at a lower cost, than 
developing the form from scratch.
    Even if a form differs from one state to another, the information 
needed to populate a form will, for the most part, be similar. (What 
are the names of the plaintiff, the defendant, the children, etc.?). 
This means the interviews are more easily replicated than form 
templates. These form templates and interviews are available to be 
modified as needed. Applicants should identify which forms and 
templates are to be adapted, and then estimate the cost to do this and 
compare that to the cost of developing them from scratch. LHI has the 
capacity to support Spanish, Vietnamese, Mandarin and Korean language 
interviews. In addition, LHI has been integrated with other systems to 
allow the flow of information between LHI and court e-filing systems 
and legal aid case management systems. The ``Connect'' feature enables 
pro bono programs from across a state to use LHI interviews and forms 
to assign pre-screened pro bono cases and their documents to panel 
attorneys. For additional information, including examples, best 
practices, models and training materials, see the LawHelp Interactive 
Resource Center at http://www.probono.net/dasupport (you may need to 
request a free membership to access this website).
C. Replication of Technology Projects in Other Sectors
    In addition to replicating other TIG funded technology projects, 
LSC encourages replication of proven technologies from non-LSC funded 
legal aid organizations as well as sectors outside the legal aid 
community. Ideas for replication may be found through resources and 
organizations such as the Legal Services National Technology Assistance 
Project (LSNTAP), the American Bar Association, international legal aid 
providers such as the Legal Services Society of British Columbia and 
HiiL's Innovating Justice project, Idealware (see the article on 
Unleashing Innovation), NTEN, and TechSoup.
Grant Category 3: Technology Improvement Projects
    In 2015 LSC updated its publication Technologies That Should Be in 
Place in a Legal Aid Office Today, often referred to as the LSC 
Technology Baselines. The updated Baselines demonstrate LSC's 
commitment to improving the use of technology across its grantee 
organizations. LSC also recognizes that grantees need to have 
sufficient technology infrastructure in place before they can take on a 
more innovative TIG project. Therefore, only LSC grantees that have not 
had a TIG award in the last five years (since 2013) are eligible to 
apply for a Technology Improvement Project. The maximum amount for 
funding requests in this category is $25,000 to conduct a technology 
assessment, business process improvement and/or a technology planning 
project.
    Many legal aid organizations do not have internal expertise or 
capacity to take on such projects. An award for a Technology 
Improvement Project is intended to provide funding for appropriate 
consulting services to conduct the technology assessment, business 
process improvement and/or technology planning process. The project 
should result in a plan for the organization to make the investments 
needed to improve its use of technology in the delivery of legal 
services.

III. Area of Interest--Projects That Integrate Artificial Intelligence 
Into Service Delivery

    Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a popular topic in the 
legal services

[[Page 5463]]

community. This area of interest encourages organizations to explore 
how practical applications of AI can increase operational efficiency 
and lead to greater access to services within legal aid. Applicants 
should consider how emerging AI systems can enhance the existing work 
of advocates. For example, an AI-powered recommendation engine might 
help intake staff determine how to best route an online intake, or an 
AI-powered case management tool could provide attorneys a list of 
similar closed cases to help inform their legal strategy. In both 
cases, staff would monitor the quality of recommendations and help 
improve the system over time.
    LSC also believes that client-facing apps can incorporate AI to 
help low-income individuals complete legal tasks. Products such as the 
DoNotPay chatbot show that people seeking legal assistance are eager to 
use these tools, and organizations should focus on how they can provide 
high-quality user experiences that help users get through their legal 
process.
    In both cases, applicants should aim for using accessible systems 
with open Application Programming Interfaces (API) that allow legal aid 
providers to collaborate in this emerging area and result in tools that 
benefit the entire community. Applicants should also explore how large 
data sets--such as case or website data--can best be leveraged to 
improve the quality of these systems.

IV. Specific Letter of Intent To Apply Requirements

One Project per Letter of Intent

    Applicants may submit multiple LOIs, and a separate LOI should be 
submitted for each project for which funding is sought.

Letter Requirements and Format

    Letters of Intent must be submitted using the online system at 
http://lscgrants.lsc.gov. Additional instructions and information can 
be found on the TIG website. This system will walk you through the 
process of creating a simple two-page LOI. You will start by picking 
the Category in which you are applying from a drop-down list. After 
that, you will be taken to a form to be submitted. You will start by 
filling in the amount you are requesting from TIG, followed by two 
questions concerning whether you also are also applying to PBIF for 
funds related to the project.
    Then, for the categories Innovations and Enhancements and 
Replication and Adaptation, you will have the following five fields:
    1. Description of Project (maximum 2500 characters)--Briefly 
describe the basic elements of the project, including any specific 
technologies the project will develop or implement, how they will be 
developed, how they will operate, the function they will serve within 
the legal services delivery system, their expected impact, and other 
similar factors. (Only the impact should be highlighted here; more 
details about the system's benefits should be provided below).
    2. Major Benefits (maximum 2500 characters)--Describe the specific 
ways in which the project will increase or improve services to clients 
and/or enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of legal aid 
organization operations. To the extent feasible, discuss both the 
qualitative and quantitative aspects of these benefits.
    3. Estimated Costs (maximum 1500 characters)--This should include 
the amount of funding you are seeking from the TIG program, followed by 
the estimated total project cost, summarizing the anticipated costs of 
the major components of the project. List anticipated contributions, 
both in-kind and monetary, from all partners involved in the project.
    4. Major Partners (maximum 1500 characters)--Identify organizations 
that are expected to be important partners. Specify the role(s) each 
partner will play.
    5. Innovation/Replication (maximum 1500 characters)--Identify how 
and why the proposed project is new and innovative and/or is a 
replication or adaptation of a previous technology project. Identify 
how and why the proposed project can significantly benefit and/or be 
replicated by other legal services providers and/or the legal services 
community at large.
    For the category Technology Improvement Project, you will have 
these four fields:
    1. Description of Project (maximum 2500 characters)--Briefly 
describe what type of project will be undertaken, such as a technology 
assessment, business process analysis or technology planning process. 
Describe how this will lead to a plan for improving the program's 
operations. Also, discuss who will be responsible for carrying out the 
activities, such as by internal staff or an outside contractor.
    2. Major Benefits (maximum 2500 characters)--Describe the promise 
that the project has to increase or improve services to clients and/or 
enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of program operations. To the 
extent feasible, discuss both the qualitative and quantitative aspects 
of these benefits.
    3. Estimated Costs (maximum 1500 characters)--Start by stating the 
amount of funding you are seeking from the TIG program, and then give 
the estimated total project cost, summarizing the anticipated costs of 
the major components of the project. List anticipated contributions, 
both in-kind and monetary, of all partners involved in the project.
    4. Implementation (maximum 1500 characters)--Discuss the 
organizations commitment to implement the plan or recommendations that 
result from the project, including probable financing sources.

Selection Process

    LSC will initially review all LOIs to determine whether they 
conform to the required format and clearly present all of the required 
elements listed and described above. Failure to meet these requirements 
may result in rejection of the LOI.
    LSC will review each LOI to identify those projects likely to 
improve access to justice, or to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, 
and quality of legal services provided by grantees. The LOI will also 
be reviewed to determine the extent to which the project proposed is 
clearly described and well thought out, offers major benefits to our 
targeted client community, is cost-effective, involves all of the 
parties needed to make it successful and sustainable, and is either 
innovative or a cost-effective replication of prior successful 
projects. LSC will invite those applicants that satisfy these criteria 
to submit full applications.

Next Steps for Successful Applicants

    LSC will notify successful applicants by April 20, 2018. Successful 
applicants will have until 11:59 p.m. EDT, Monday, June 4, 2018, to 
complete and submit full applications in the online application system.

Waiver Authority

    LSC, upon its own initiative or when requested, may waive 
provisions in this Notice at its sole discretion. Waivers may be 
granted only for requirements that are discretionary and not mandated 
by statute or regulation. Any request for a waiver must set forth the 
reason for the request and be included in the application. LSC will not 
consider a request to extend the deadline for a Letter of Intent to 
Apply unless the extension request is received by LSC prior to the 
deadline.


[[Page 5464]]


    Dated: February 2, 2018.
Katherine Ward,
Executive Assistant to the Vice President for Legal Affairs & General 
Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2018-02435 Filed 2-6-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7050-01-P



                                                                           Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 7, 2018 / Notices                                             5461

                                                  Issued: February 2, 2018.                             Telephone: 202.295.1552; Email:                       amendments to the foregoing adopted
                                                Lisa R. Barton,                                         grawdon@lsc.gov.                                      before or during the period of the grant.
                                                Secretary to the Commission.                               For questions about projects in AL,                Before submitting a Letter of Intent to
                                                [FR Doc. 2018–02438 Filed 2–6–18; 8:45 am]              AR, DC, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, MO,                   Apply, applicants should be familiar
                                                BILLING CODE 7020–02–P
                                                                                                        NC, PR, SC, TN, VI, VA, contact Jane                  with LSC’s subgrant requirements at 45
                                                                                                        Ribadeneyra, Program Analyst,                         CFR Part 1627 (see http://www.lsc.gov/
                                                                                                        Telephone: 202.295.1554, Email:                       about/laws-regulations/lsc-regulations-
                                                                                                        ribadeneyraj@lsc.gov.                                 cfr-45-part-1600-et-seq), particularly as
                                                LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION                                 If you have a general question, please             they pertain to payments of LSC funds
                                                Request for Letters of Intent To Apply                  email techgrants@lsc.gov.                             to other entities for programmatic
                                                for 2018 Technology Initiative Grant                    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            activities.
                                                Funding                                                                                                         For additional information and
                                                                                                        I. Summary                                            resources regarding TIG compliance,
                                                AGENCY: Legal Services Corporation.                        The Legal Services Corporation (LSC)               including subgrants, third-party
                                                ACTION: Notice.                                         issues this Notice describing the criteria            contracting, conflicts of interest, grant
                                                                                                        governing submission and processing of                modification procedures, and special
                                                SUMMARY:    The Legal Services                          Letters of Intent to Apply for                        TIG grant assurances, see LSC’s TIG
                                                Corporation (LSC) issues this Notice                    Technology Initiative Grants (TIG).                   compliance web page.
                                                describing the process for submission of                Since LSC’s TIG program was
                                                Letters of Intent to Apply for 2018                     established in 2000, LSC has made over                Eligible Applicants
                                                funding from the LSC Technology                         700 grants totaling more than $63                        Only current LSC basic field grant
                                                Initiative Grant program. This notice                   million. This grant program funds                     recipients awarded at least a one-year
                                                and application information are posted                  technology tools that help achieve LSC’s              basic field grant term are eligible to
                                                at: https://www.lsc.gov/grants-grantee-                 goal of increasing the quantity and                   apply for TIG.
                                                resources/our-grant-programs/tig.                       quality of legal services available to                   LSC will not award a TIG to any
                                                DATES: Deadline: Letters of Intent must                 eligible persons. Projects funded under               applicant that is not in good standing on
                                                be completed and submitted into the                     the TIG program develop, test, and                    any existing TIG projects. Applicants
                                                online system at http://lscgrants.lsc.gov               replicate innovative technologies that                must be up to date according to the
                                                no later than 11:59 p.m. EST, Friday,                   can enable grant recipients and state                 milestone schedule on all existing TIG
                                                March 9, 2018. The online system may                    justice communities to improve low-                   projects prior to submitting an LOI, or
                                                experience technical difficulties due to                income persons’ access to high-quality                have requested and received an
                                                heavy traffic on the day of the deadline.               legal assistance through an integrated                adjustment to the original milestone
                                                Applicants are strongly encouraged to                   and well managed technology system.                   schedule. LSC will not award a TIG to
                                                complete LOI submissions as early as                                                                          any applicant that has not made
                                                                                                        II. General Information                               satisfactory progress on prior TIGs. LSC
                                                possible.
                                                   LSC will not accept applications                        The Legal Services Corporation                     recipients that have had a previous TIG
                                                submitted after the application deadline                awards Technology Initiative Grant                    terminated for failure to provide timely
                                                unless an extension of the deadline has                 funds through an open, competitive,                   reports and submissions are not eligible
                                                been approved in advance (see Waiver                    and impartial selection process. All                  to receive a TIG for three years after
                                                Authority). Therefore, allow sufficient                 prospective applicants for 2018 TIG                   their earlier grant was terminated. This
                                                time for online submission.                             funds must submit a Letter of Intent to               policy does not apply to applicants that
                                                   LSC will provide confirmation via                    Apply (LOI) prior to submitting a formal              worked with LSC to end a TIG early
                                                email upon receipt of the completed                     application. The format and contents of               after an unsuccessful project
                                                electronic submission of each Letter of                 the LOI should conform to the                         implementation resulting from
                                                Intent. Keep this email as verification                 requirements specified below in Section               technology limitations, a failed proof of
                                                that the program’s LOI was submitted                    IV.                                                   concept, or other reasons outside of the
                                                and received. If no confirmation email                     Through the LOI process, LSC selects               applicant’s control.
                                                is received, inquire about the status of                those projects that have a reasonable
                                                                                                                                                              Funding Availability
                                                your LOI at Techgrants@lsc.gov.                         chance of success in the competitive
                                                                                                        grant process based on LSC’s analysis of                The amount of TIG funding available
                                                ADDRESSES: Letters of Intent must be                                                                          will depend on the 2018 fiscal year
                                                                                                        the project description and other
                                                submitted electronically at http://                                                                           appropriation to the LSC from Congress,
                                                                                                        information provided in the LOI. LSC
                                                lscgrants.lsc.gov.                                                                                            which had not been determined by
                                                                                                        will solicit full proposals for the
                                                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:     For                selected projects.                                    January 31, 2018, the date this notice
                                                information on the status of a current                                                                        was issued. The federal government is
                                                TIG project, contact Eric Mathison,                     LSC Requirements                                      currently operating under a Continuing
                                                Program Analyst, Telephone: 202–295–                      Technology Initiative Grant funds are               Resolution (CR) that expires February 8,
                                                1535; Email: emathison@lsc.gov.                         subject to all LSC requirements,                      2018. The Continuing Resolution
                                                  For questions about projects in CT, IL,               including the requirements of the Legal               maintains funding at FY 2017 levels,
                                                IN, ME, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA,                     Services Corporation Act (LSC Act), any               which for TIG is $4 million, but with an
                                                RI, WI, WV, VT, contact David                           applicable appropriations acts and any                across-the-board reduction of 0.6791
                                                                                                        other applicable laws, rules, regulations,            percent, or $27,164 for TIG. We
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES




                                                Bonebrake, Program Counsel,
                                                Telephone: 202.295.1547; Email:                         policies, guidelines, instructions, and               anticipate that Congress will pass
                                                dbonebrake@lsc.gov.                                     other directives of the Legal Services                another CR to continue funding the
                                                  For questions about projects in AK,                   Corporation (LSC), including, but not                 federal government at FY 2017 levels if
                                                AZ, CA, CO, GU, HI, ID, IA, KS, MP,                     limited to, the LSC Audit Guide for                   they do not pass an FY 2018 budget by
                                                MN, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, ND, OK, OR,                     Recipients and Auditors, the                          midnight February 8th. If not, the
                                                SD, TX, UT, WA, WY, contact Glenn                       Accounting Guide for LSC Recipients,                  federal government will shut down. In
                                                Rawdon, Senior Program Counsel,                         and the CSR Handbook, with any                        2017, 25 TIG projects received funding


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                                                5462                       Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 7, 2018 / Notices

                                                with a median funding amount of                         $40,000, but projects with lower budgets              additional information, including
                                                $138,905. (See TIG’s past awards web                    will be considered. There is no                       examples, best practices, models and
                                                page for more information on past                       maximum amount for TIG funding                        training materials, see the LawHelp
                                                grants).                                                requests that are within the total                    Interactive Resource Center at http://
                                                                                                        appropriation for TIG.                                www.probono.net/dasupport (you may
                                                Collaborations                                            Project proposals in the Replication                need to request a free membership to
                                                   The TIG program encourages                           and Adaptation category may include,                  access this website).
                                                applicants to reach out to and include                  but are not limited to:
                                                in TIG projects others interested in                                                                          C. Replication of Technology Projects in
                                                                                                        A. Replication of Previous TIG Projects               Other Sectors
                                                access to justice—the courts, bar
                                                associations, pro bono projects,                          LSC requires that any original                        In addition to replicating other TIG
                                                libraries, and social service agencies.                 software developed with TIG funding be                funded technology projects, LSC
                                                Partnerships can enhance the reach,                     available to other legal services                     encourages replication of proven
                                                effectiveness, and sustainability of many               programs at little or no cost. Applicants             technologies from non-LSC funded legal
                                                projects.                                               should look to previous successful TIG                aid organizations as well as sectors
                                                                                                        projects and determine how they could                 outside the legal aid community. Ideas
                                                Grant Categories                                        be replicated at a reduced cost from the              for replication may be found through
                                                  LSC will accept projects in three                     original project, and/or how they could               resources and organizations such as the
                                                application categories:                                 be expanded and/or enhanced. Projects                 Legal Services National Technology
                                                (1) Innovations and Enhancements                        where original software or content has                Assistance Project (LSNTAP), the
                                                (2) Replication and Adaptation                          already been created lend themselves to               American Bar Association, international
                                                (3) Technology Improvement Project                      replication, and LSC encourages                       legal aid providers such as the Legal
                                                                                                        programs to look to these projects to see             Services Society of British Columbia
                                                Grant Category 1: Innovations and                       how they could benefit the delivery
                                                Enhancements                                                                                                  and HiiL’s Innovating Justice project,
                                                                                                        systems in their state.                               Idealware (see the article on Unleashing
                                                   The Innovations and Enhancements                                                                           Innovation), NTEN, and TechSoup.
                                                Category is designated for projects that:               B. Automated Form Replication
                                                (1) Implement new or innovative                            Law Help Interactive (LHI) is an                   Grant Category 3: Technology
                                                approaches for using technology in legal                automated document server powered by                  Improvement Projects
                                                services delivery; or (2) enhance the                   HotDocs Server and made available to                     In 2015 LSC updated its publication
                                                effectiveness and efficiency of existing                any LSC funded program at no charge.                  Technologies That Should Be in Place
                                                technologies so that they may be better                 See https://lawhelpinteractive.org. LHI               in a Legal Aid Office Today, often
                                                used to increase the quality and                        is deployed across the country with                   referred to as the LSC Technology
                                                quantity of services to clients.                        thousands of active HotDocs templates                 Baselines. The updated Baselines
                                                   LSC recommends a minimum amount                      and A2J Author modules hosted on the                  demonstrate LSC’s commitment to
                                                for funding requests in this category of                LawHelp Interactive National HotDocs                  improving the use of technology across
                                                $40,000, but projects with lower budgets                Server at https://lawhelpinteractive.org.             its grantee organizations. LSC also
                                                will be considered. There is no                         Despite differences from state to state in            recognizes that grantees need to have
                                                maximum amount for TIG funding                          the content and format, many of these                 sufficient technology infrastructure in
                                                requests that are within the total                      forms can be edited for use in other                  place before they can take on a more
                                                appropriation for TIG. Although there is                jurisdictions with less effort, hence at a            innovative TIG project. Therefore, only
                                                no funding limit or matching                            lower cost, than developing the form                  LSC grantees that have not had a TIG
                                                requirement for applications in this                    from scratch.                                         award in the last five years (since 2013)
                                                category, additional weight is given to                    Even if a form differs from one state              are eligible to apply for a Technology
                                                projects with strong support from                       to another, the information needed to                 Improvement Project. The maximum
                                                partners. Proposals for initiatives with                populate a form will, for the most part,              amount for funding requests in this
                                                broad applicability and/or that would                   be similar. (What are the names of the                category is $25,000 to conduct a
                                                have impact throughout the legal                        plaintiff, the defendant, the children,               technology assessment, business process
                                                services community are strongly                         etc.?). This means the interviews are                 improvement and/or a technology
                                                encouraged.                                             more easily replicated than form                      planning project.
                                                                                                        templates. These form templates and                      Many legal aid organizations do not
                                                Grant Category 2: Replication and                       interviews are available to be modified               have internal expertise or capacity to
                                                Adaptation                                              as needed. Applicants should identify                 take on such projects. An award for a
                                                   The Replication and Adaptation                       which forms and templates are to be                   Technology Improvement Project is
                                                category is for proposals that seek to                  adapted, and then estimate the cost to                intended to provide funding for
                                                replicate, adapt, or provide added value                do this and compare that to the cost of               appropriate consulting services to
                                                to the work of prior technology projects.               developing them from scratch. LHI has                 conduct the technology assessment,
                                                This includes, but is not limited to, the               the capacity to support Spanish,                      business process improvement and/or
                                                implementation and improvement of                       Vietnamese, Mandarin and Korean                       technology planning process. The
                                                tested methodologies and technologies                   language interviews. In addition, LHI                 project should result in a plan for the
                                                from previous TIG projects. Applicants                  has been integrated with other systems                organization to make the investments
                                                may also replicate technology projects                  to allow the flow of information
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                                                                                                                                                              needed to improve its use of technology
                                                funded outside of the TIG program,                      between LHI and court e-filing systems                in the delivery of legal services.
                                                including sectors outside the legal aid                 and legal aid case management systems.
                                                community, such as social services                      The ‘‘Connect’’ feature enables pro bono              III. Area of Interest—Projects That
                                                organizations, the broader non-profit                   programs from across a state to use LHI               Integrate Artificial Intelligence Into
                                                community, and the private sector. LSC                  interviews and forms to assign pre-                   Service Delivery
                                                recommends a minimum amount for                         screened pro bono cases and their                        Artificial intelligence (AI) has become
                                                funding requests in this category of                    documents to panel attorneys. For                     a popular topic in the legal services


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                                                                           Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 7, 2018 / Notices                                             5463

                                                community. This area of interest                        Adaptation, you will have the following               discuss both the qualitative and
                                                encourages organizations to explore                     five fields:                                          quantitative aspects of these benefits.
                                                how practical applications of AI can                       1. Description of Project (maximum                   3. Estimated Costs (maximum 1500
                                                increase operational efficiency and lead                2500 characters)—Briefly describe the                 characters)—Start by stating the amount
                                                to greater access to services within legal              basic elements of the project, including              of funding you are seeking from the TIG
                                                aid. Applicants should consider how                     any specific technologies the project                 program, and then give the estimated
                                                emerging AI systems can enhance the                     will develop or implement, how they                   total project cost, summarizing the
                                                existing work of advocates. For                         will be developed, how they will                      anticipated costs of the major
                                                example, an AI-powered                                  operate, the function they will serve                 components of the project. List
                                                recommendation engine might help                        within the legal services delivery                    anticipated contributions, both in-kind
                                                intake staff determine how to best route                system, their expected impact, and other              and monetary, of all partners involved
                                                an online intake, or an AI-powered case                 similar factors. (Only the impact should              in the project.
                                                management tool could provide                           be highlighted here; more details about
                                                                                                        the system’s benefits should be                         4. Implementation (maximum 1500
                                                attorneys a list of similar closed cases to
                                                                                                        provided below).                                      characters)—Discuss the organizations
                                                help inform their legal strategy. In both
                                                                                                           2. Major Benefits (maximum 2500                    commitment to implement the plan or
                                                cases, staff would monitor the quality of
                                                                                                        characters)—Describe the specific ways                recommendations that result from the
                                                recommendations and help improve the
                                                                                                        in which the project will increase or                 project, including probable financing
                                                system over time.
                                                                                                        improve services to clients and/or                    sources.
                                                   LSC also believes that client-facing
                                                                                                        enhance the effectiveness and efficiency              Selection Process
                                                apps can incorporate AI to help low-
                                                                                                        of legal aid organization operations. To
                                                income individuals complete legal
                                                                                                        the extent feasible, discuss both the                    LSC will initially review all LOIs to
                                                tasks. Products such as the DoNotPay
                                                                                                        qualitative and quantitative aspects of               determine whether they conform to the
                                                chatbot show that people seeking legal
                                                                                                        these benefits.                                       required format and clearly present all
                                                assistance are eager to use these tools,                   3. Estimated Costs (maximum 1500                   of the required elements listed and
                                                and organizations should focus on how                   characters)—This should include the                   described above. Failure to meet these
                                                they can provide high-quality user                      amount of funding you are seeking from                requirements may result in rejection of
                                                experiences that help users get through                 the TIG program, followed by the                      the LOI.
                                                their legal process.                                    estimated total project cost,                            LSC will review each LOI to identify
                                                   In both cases, applicants should aim                 summarizing the anticipated costs of the              those projects likely to improve access
                                                for using accessible systems with open                  major components of the project. List                 to justice, or to improve the efficiency,
                                                Application Programming Interfaces                      anticipated contributions, both in-kind               effectiveness, and quality of legal
                                                (API) that allow legal aid providers to                 and monetary, from all partners                       services provided by grantees. The LOI
                                                collaborate in this emerging area and                   involved in the project.                              will also be reviewed to determine the
                                                result in tools that benefit the entire                    4. Major Partners (maximum 1500                    extent to which the project proposed is
                                                community. Applicants should also                       characters)—Identify organizations that               clearly described and well thought out,
                                                explore how large data sets—such as                     are expected to be important partners.                offers major benefits to our targeted
                                                case or website data—can best be                        Specify the role(s) each partner will                 client community, is cost-effective,
                                                leveraged to improve the quality of                     play.                                                 involves all of the parties needed to
                                                these systems.                                             5. Innovation/Replication (maximum
                                                                                                                                                              make it successful and sustainable, and
                                                IV. Specific Letter of Intent To Apply                  1500 characters)—Identify how and why
                                                                                                                                                              is either innovative or a cost-effective
                                                Requirements                                            the proposed project is new and
                                                                                                                                                              replication of prior successful projects.
                                                                                                        innovative and/or is a replication or
                                                                                                                                                              LSC will invite those applicants that
                                                One Project per Letter of Intent                        adaptation of a previous technology
                                                                                                                                                              satisfy these criteria to submit full
                                                                                                        project. Identify how and why the
                                                  Applicants may submit multiple LOIs,                                                                        applications.
                                                                                                        proposed project can significantly
                                                and a separate LOI should be submitted                                                                        Next Steps for Successful Applicants
                                                                                                        benefit and/or be replicated by other
                                                for each project for which funding is
                                                                                                        legal services providers and/or the legal
                                                sought.                                                                                                         LSC will notify successful applicants
                                                                                                        services community at large.
                                                Letter Requirements and Format                             For the category Technology                        by April 20, 2018. Successful applicants
                                                                                                        Improvement Project, you will have                    will have until 11:59 p.m. EDT,
                                                  Letters of Intent must be submitted                   these four fields:                                    Monday, June 4, 2018, to complete and
                                                using the online system at http://                         1. Description of Project (maximum                 submit full applications in the online
                                                lscgrants.lsc.gov. Additional                           2500 characters)—Briefly describe what                application system.
                                                instructions and information can be                     type of project will be undertaken, such              Waiver Authority
                                                found on the TIG website. This system                   as a technology assessment, business
                                                will walk you through the process of                    process analysis or technology planning                 LSC, upon its own initiative or when
                                                creating a simple two-page LOI. You                     process. Describe how this will lead to               requested, may waive provisions in this
                                                will start by picking the Category in                   a plan for improving the program’s                    Notice at its sole discretion. Waivers
                                                which you are applying from a drop-                     operations. Also, discuss who will be                 may be granted only for requirements
                                                down list. After that, you will be taken                responsible for carrying out the                      that are discretionary and not mandated
                                                to a form to be submitted. You will start                                                                     by statute or regulation. Any request for
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                                                                                                        activities, such as by internal staff or an
                                                by filling in the amount you are                        outside contractor.                                   a waiver must set forth the reason for
                                                requesting from TIG, followed by two                       2. Major Benefits (maximum 2500                    the request and be included in the
                                                questions concerning whether you also                   characters)—Describe the promise that                 application. LSC will not consider a
                                                are also applying to PBIF for funds                     the project has to increase or improve                request to extend the deadline for a
                                                related to the project.                                 services to clients and/or enhance the                Letter of Intent to Apply unless the
                                                  Then, for the categories Innovations                  effectiveness and efficiency of program               extension request is received by LSC
                                                and Enhancements and Replication and                    operations. To the extent feasible,                   prior to the deadline.


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                                                5464                       Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 7, 2018 / Notices

                                                  Dated: February 2, 2018.                              name of the agency that submitted the                 accumulating the records (or notes that
                                                Katherine Ward,                                         schedule, and a mailing address. If you               the schedule has agency-wide
                                                Executive Assistant to the Vice President for           would like an appraisal report, please                applicability when schedules cover
                                                Legal Affairs & General Counsel.                        include that in your request.                         records that may be accumulated
                                                [FR Doc. 2018–02435 Filed 2–6–18; 8:45 am]              FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      throughout an agency); provides the
                                                BILLING CODE 7050–01–P                                  Margaret Hawkins, Director, by mail at                control number assigned to each
                                                                                                        Records Appraisal and Agency                          schedule, the total number of schedule
                                                                                                        Assistance (ACRA); National Archives                  items, and the number of temporary
                                                NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS                           and Records Administration; 8601                      items (the records proposed for
                                                ADMINISTRATION                                          Adelphi Road; College Park, MD 20740–                 destruction); and includes a brief
                                                                                                        6001, by phone at 301–837–1799, or by                 description of the temporary records.
                                                [NARA–2018–018]                                                                                               The records schedule itself contains a
                                                                                                        email at request.schedule@nara.gov.
                                                                                                        SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NARA
                                                                                                                                                              full description of the records at the file
                                                Records Schedules; Availability and                                                                           unit level as well as their disposition. If
                                                Request for Comments                                    publishes notice in the Federal Register
                                                                                                        for records schedules they no longer                  NARA staff has prepared an appraisal
                                                AGENCY: National Archives and Records                   need to conduct agency business. NARA                 memorandum for the schedule, it also
                                                Administration (NARA).                                  invites public comments on such                       includes information about the records.
                                                ACTION: Notice of availability of                       records schedules, as required by 44                  You may request additional information
                                                proposed records schedules; request for                 U.S.C. 3303a(a).                                      about the disposition process at the
                                                comments.                                                  Each year, Federal agencies create                 addresses above.
                                                                                                        billions of records on paper, film,                   Schedules Pending
                                                SUMMARY:   The National Archives and                    magnetic tape, and other media. To
                                                Records Administration (NARA)                                                                                    1. Department of Agriculture,
                                                                                                        control this accumulation, agency                     Agricultural Research Service (DAA–
                                                publishes notice at least once monthly                  records managers prepare schedules
                                                of certain Federal agency requests for                                                                        0310–2018–0001, 2 items, 2 temporary
                                                                                                        proposing records retention periods and               items). Peer review case files consisting
                                                records disposition authority (records                  submit these schedules for NARA’s
                                                schedules). Once approved by NARA,                                                                            of administrative records such as peer
                                                                                                        approval. These schedules provide for                 review documents, review panel
                                                records schedules provide mandatory                     timely transfer into the National
                                                instructions on what happens to records                                                                       organization and composition, and
                                                                                                        Archives of historically valuable records             project review information.
                                                when agencies no longer need them for                   and authorize the agency to dispose of
                                                current Government business. The                                                                                 2. Department of Defense, Defense
                                                                                                        all other records after the agency no                 Logistics Agency (DAA–0361–2017–
                                                records schedules authorize agencies to                 longer needs them to conduct its
                                                preserve records of continuing value in                                                                       0012, 5 items, 5 temporary items).
                                                                                                        business. Some schedules are                          Records related to product management
                                                the National Archives of the United                     comprehensive and cover all the records
                                                States and to destroy, after a specified                                                                      and distribution.
                                                                                                        of an agency or one of its major                         3. Department of Homeland Security,
                                                period, records lacking administrative,                 subdivisions. Most schedules, however,                Transportation Security Administration
                                                legal, research, or other value. NARA                   cover records of only one office or                   (DAA–0560–2018–0002, 1 item, 1
                                                publishes notice in the Federal Register                program or a few series of records. Many              temporary item). Requests and
                                                for records schedules in which agencies                 of these update previously approved                   authorizations for Federal air marshals
                                                propose to destroy records they no                      schedules, and some include records                   to carry personal weapons.
                                                longer need to conduct agency business.                 proposed as permanent.                                   4. Department of Homeland Security,
                                                NARA invites public comments on such                       The schedules listed in this notice are            United States Citizenship and
                                                records schedules.                                      media neutral unless otherwise                        Immigration Services (DAA–0566–
                                                DATES: NARA must receive requests for                   specified. An item in a schedule is                   2017–0035, 3 items, 3 temporary items).
                                                copies in writing by March 9, 2018.                     media neutral when an agency may                      Disabled veteran leave request case files.
                                                Once NARA finishes appraising the                       apply the disposition instructions to                    5. Department of Justice, Bureau of
                                                records, we will send you a copy of the                 records regardless of the medium in                   Prisons (DAA–0129–2017–0002, 1 item,
                                                schedule you requested. We usually                      which it creates or maintains the                     1 temporary item). Case files of inmates
                                                prepare appraisal memoranda that                        records. Items included in schedules                  incarcerated in Federal institutions.
                                                contain additional information                          submitted to NARA on or after                            6. Department of Justice, Federal
                                                concerning the records covered by a                     December 17, 2007, are media neutral                  Bureau of Investigation. Administrative
                                                proposed schedule. You may also                         unless the item is expressly limited to               correction for incorrect date spans on
                                                request these. If you do, we will also                  a specific medium. (See 36 CFR                        schedule N1–65–04–04 approved in
                                                provide them once we have completed                     1225.12(e).)                                          2004, covering the FBI’s transition to a
                                                the appraisal. You have 30 days after we                   Agencies may not destroy Federal                   revised recordkeeping practice in 1988.
                                                send to you these requested documents                   records without Archivist of the United               N1–65–04–04 incorrectly stated that the
                                                in which to submit comments.                            States’ approval. The Archivist approves              switch in recordkeeping practices for
                                                ADDRESSES: You may request a copy of                    destruction only after thoroughly                     the Office of Origin occurred in 1995
                                                any records schedule identified in this                 considering the records’ administrative               and for the Auxiliary Office in 1991,
                                                notice by contacting Records Appraisal                  use by the agency of origin, the rights               when it actually began on a rolling basis
                                                                                                        of the Government and of private people
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                                                and Agency Assistance (ACRA) using                                                                            in 1988 for both. The error in date spans
                                                one of the following means:                             directly affected by the Government’s                 created an inadvertent gap, resulting in
                                                  Mail: NARA (ACRA); 8601 Adelphi                       activities, and whether or not the                    some records created between 1988 and
                                                Road; College Park, MD 20740–6001.                      records have historical or other value.               1995 being unscheduled.
                                                  Email: request.schedule@nara.gov.                        In addition to identifying the Federal                7. Department of Veterans Affairs,
                                                  FAX: 301–837–3698.                                    agencies and any subdivisions                         Veterans Health Administration (DAA–
                                                  You must cite the control number,                     requesting disposition authority, this                0015–2018–0001, 3 items, 3 temporary
                                                which appears in parentheses after the                  notice lists the organizational unit(s)               items). Records related to eligibility and


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Document Created: 2018-10-26 13:56:33
Document Modified: 2018-10-26 13:56:33
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice.
DatesDeadline: Letters of Intent must be completed and submitted into the online system at http://lscgrants.lsc.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. EST, Friday, March 9, 2018. The online system may experience technical difficulties due to heavy traffic on the day of the deadline. Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete LOI submissions as early as possible.
ContactFor information on the status of a current TIG project, contact Eric Mathison, Program Analyst, Telephone: 202-295-1535; Email: [email protected]
FR Citation83 FR 5461 

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