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FAQ
What is a Certificate Holder?
Certificate Holder refers to a department of corrections, or an alternate umbrella authority, which is approved by BJA for PIECP Project certification. Certificate Holders assume monitoring and designation responsibilities with respect to their designated Cost Accounting Centers. All PIECP prisoner-made goods are produced within Cost Accounting Centers that a Certificate Holder designates within itself, private prisons located in the same state or jurisdiction, or, in the case of an umbrella authority, within its membership agencies
How do I become a Certificate Holder?
Please see the links below for more information on becoming a Certificate Holder and to access the PIECP Certificate Application.​
Certification refers to an exercise of BJA’s discretionary authority to designate a Prison Work Pilot Project pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1761(c). BJA may issue either standard or provisional certifications to applicant projects. BJA-certified projects are excepted from certain federal marketability restraints on the transport of prisoner-made goods in interstate commerce, as described in 18 U.S.C. 1761(a), and sales to the federal government in excess of $10,000, as described in 41 U.S.C. 35.
What is a CAC?
Cost Accounting Center (CAC) refers to a distinct PIECP goods production unit of the correctional industries system that is managed as a separate accounting entity under the authority of a Certificate Holder. All PIECP production activities are conducted within the context of a designated CAC that, generally, is structured either as a customer or employer model for purposes of determining PIECP inmate benefits. All CACs must operate in compliance with the provisions set forth in 18 U.S.C. 1761(c) and this Guideline.
Ready to get started with your PIECP Program?
1. Complete a CAC application for each CAC your program plans to open. With your CAC application(s), be sure to submit the following:
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Non-displacement ruling from DES (or CH did not request a ruling)
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Sample of Voluntary Participation Form
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Workers Comp Policy
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NEPA
2. Submit your digital documents via email to lisa@nationalcia.org
3. NCIA will review. If any additional information is needed, we will follow up with you.
4. Once NCIA has all documents required, we will send it to BJA for approval.
5. Once approval is given by BJA, NCIA will send you an approval letter.
What's the best model for me?
There are three employment options which are referred to as models. These provide options for the Certificate Holders and Vendor Partners to select the best model for their organization. Click here to review more details about each model.
How do I close a CAC?
CACs should only be closed if there are no plans for any further activities at the site. Once a CAC is undesignated, Certificate Holders must reapply to re-designate the CAC if you wish to restart operations. If your CAC has become inactive and you wish to undesignate, please complete the form below and email it to lisa@nationalcia.org.
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When do I need to re-designate a CAC?
BJA requires a CAC re-designation when:
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A different product is to be produced other than the products currently designated.
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A CAC is moved to a new location (not necessarily a new locality).
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Additional components or processing are being added to an existing CAC that potentially have environmental impacts.
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Notify NCIA prior to making such changes to determine whether a new designation or re-designaton is necessary.
What should my letter look like for the Department of Labor?
How often are assessments completed?
CACs are monitored for compliance by the PIECP Assessors at the request of BJA, on a periodic basis, either through an onsite assessment or an off-site desk assessment.
Need to watch a training video?
Login here. Training is available to Certificate Holders. If your organization is a certificate holder and you do not have the password to the training portal, please reach out to memberservices@nationalcia.org
Where can I find an all inclusive guide for PIECP?
This website is funded in whole or in part through a grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Neither the U.S. Department of Justice nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse, this Web site (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided).