FY 2023 Survey of Prison Inmates Research and Development | O BJS 2023 171796

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the FY 2023 Survey of Prison Inmates Research and Development (SPIRD) opportunity?

SPIRD is a Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) cooperative agreement (U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs) focused on modernizing the Survey of Prison Inmates (SPI). The work centers on updating the SPI survey instrument, conducting a field test of the revised instrument, and producing a practical national implementation plan for the next full SPI.

What is the primary purpose of this project?

The project is intended to rebuild and strengthen the tools and planning needed for a high-quality national inmate survey. It is not framed as a one-time, standalone study; it is a research-and-development effort designed to prepare BJS for a future national SPI that better reflects current correctional realities and policy needs.

What does SPIRD aim to modernize?

SPIRD specifically targets the Survey of Prison Inmates (SPI), a core national data collection effort. The goal is to refresh the SPI instrument (its questions, definitions, and structure), test it in real prison settings, and develop an operational plan to administer the next national survey.

What are the main deliverables under this opportunity?

Based on the opportunity description, the main deliverables include: (1) redevelopment of the SPI survey instrument, (2) a pilot/field test of the revised instrument in prison settings, and (3) a practical national implementation plan for executing the next full SPI (including operations, sampling, logistics, and data quality protections).

What does “instrument redevelopment” mean in the context of SPIRD?

Instrument redevelopment refers to updating the SPI questionnaire and related components so the survey better reflects current prison conditions and policy questions. This includes revising questions, definitions, and the overall structure of the instrument to improve relevance and performance.

What is meant by a “field test” for the revised SPI instrument?

A field test means trying the revised instrument in real-world prison environments to evaluate how it performs in practice. The purpose is to identify what works and what needs adjustment before a full national rollout.

What is the expected output of the national implementation plan?

The national implementation plan is expected to be a credible roadmap for administering the next full SPI at a national scale. The description indicates this plan should cover key execution elements such as operations, sampling, logistics, and protections to support data quality.

How does this opportunity connect to broader Department of Justice or OJP priorities?

The solicitation situates the work within OJP priorities emphasizing civil rights and racial equity, access to justice, support for victims and people impacted by the justice system, strengthened community safety, protection from evolving threats, and building trust between law enforcement and communities. The SPIRD work is positioned as foundational data infrastructure that can support equity-focused, evidence-based justice policy.

What is the funding instrument type, and why does it matter?

The award is a cooperative agreement. This matters because BJS expects to be actively involved in the project rather than only providing funds and receiving a final report. The description indicates close coordination with BJS on methodological decisions, testing protocols, instrument revisions, and the final national rollout plan.

What is the activity category for this opportunity?

The activity category is “Information and Statistics,” signaling that the focus is on developing and improving a statistical data collection capability (the SPI) rather than providing direct services or running program operations.

How many awards does BJS expect to make?

The opportunity lists one expected award (ExpectedAwards: 1).

What is the maximum funding amount available?

The award ceiling for this opportunity is $2,000,000.

Is this a competitive opportunity?

Yes. The opportunity is described as discretionary, meaning proposals are competitively reviewed and funding is provided at the agency’s discretion.

Who is eligible to apply for SPIRD?

Eligibility is broad and includes: public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses.

What types of organizations are well-positioned to apply (based on the project scope described)?

The description suggests the project is substantial and specialized, pointing to applicants with strong survey methods capacity, experience working in correctional environments, and the ability to convert testing results into a scalable national plan. Examples mentioned or implied include university survey research centers, nonprofit research institutes, and specialized survey or data-collection firms.

What kinds of work activities are implied for a successful SPIRD project?

The description implies activities such as reviewing the current SPI instrument, identifying gaps tied to evolving prison issues and justice policy needs, revising and cognitively testing questions for clarity and validity with incarcerated respondents, and conducting field testing under real prison conditions to assess feasibility and performance.

What practical factors might be assessed during field testing, according to the opportunity description?

The description highlights assessing response patterns, item nonresponse, interview length, sensitivity concerns, and overall feasibility in prison environments.

What operational elements are implied for the national implementation plan?

The opportunity description indicates the plan should address how a national SPI could be executed, including operations, sampling approaches, facility recruitment and coordination, interviewer training and safety protocols, privacy and confidentiality protections, data management standards, quality assurance steps, and a timeline and budget framework that BJS could use to launch the next survey.

Which federal office and program are associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) within the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs (OJP).

What is the CFDA number for this program?

The program is associated with CFDA number 16.734 (BJS statistical programs).

What is the opportunity number and official title?

The opportunity number is O-BJS-2023-171796, and the funding opportunity title is “FY 2023 Survey of Prison Inmates Research and Development.”

When was the solicitation created, and what was the original closing date?

The solicitation was created on June 21, 2023, and the original closing date was August 21, 2023.

What makes this opportunity different from funding a typical research study?

The description frames SPIRD as research-and-development for a national statistical program. The goal is to update and test the survey instrument and produce an implementation plan for a future national SPI, rather than funding a single one-off analysis or limited-scope study.

What is the end goal of SPIRD in terms of impact?

The stated intent is to strengthen the foundation for a key national inmate data collection so future national statistics are more current, rigorous, and useful for policy decisions tied to equity, safety, and public trust.