STOP Grant Law Enforcement Services

Background
The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), Office of Domestic Violence (ODV), administers the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Services, Officers, Training and Prosecutors (STOP) Formula Grant. The STOP Grant aims to enhance responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by law enforcement, prosecution, courts, and victim services. This Request for Applications (RFA) seeks to fund eligible organizations to develop effective law enforcement strategies against violent crimes targeting women and to strengthen victim services.

Work Details
The Provider will increase trauma-informed law enforcement investigations related to VAWA crimes including Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Stalking, and Sexual Assault. Specific tasks include:

- Staffing dedicated personnel for these cases;
- Following up with State Attorneys on filed Probable Cause Affidavits;
- Explaining the criminal justice process to victims post-arrest;
- Participating in STOP Law Enforcement Grantee Meetings;
- Updating protocols to align with IACP Model Policy Response;
- Providing annual in-service training for officers on domestic violence response;
- Collaborating with local certified Domestic Violence centers and rape crisis programs;
- Developing a tracking system for monthly statistics; and
- Submitting all materials developed under STOP funding for review prior to public release.

Period of Performance
The contract will be performed from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2025.

Place of Performance
Services will be provided within the designated counties as specified in the contract. Administrative offices must operate between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Bidder Requirements
Bidders must be government agencies responsible for law enforcement within their jurisdiction. Priority will be given to agencies serving underserved rural areas. The Provider must maintain a minimum staffing level as specified in the contract and cannot subcontract direct service work.