Notices regarding the solicitation “Research on Juvenile Justice

Topics, Fiscal Year 2021” 

March 3, 2021: A separate project management plan is not required. However, the 

discussion of capabilities and competencies in the main body of the proposal narrative 

should outline the management plan and organization that connects the goals and 

objectives of the project.

February 1, 2021: NIJ has extended both deadlines for this solicitation to:

Grants.gov Deadline: March 25, 2021 11:59 PM

Application JustGrants Deadline: April 8, 2021 11:59 PM

January 15, 2021: A “Clarifications” section has been added to page 10. 

The original solicitation document begins on the next page. 
OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires  11/30/2020 

U.S. Department of Justice 

Office of Justice Programs 

National Institute of Justice 

Research on Juvenile Justice Topics, Fiscal Year 2021 

CFDA #  16.560 

Grants.gov Opportunity Number: O-NIJ-2021-40003

Solicitation Release Date: December 11, 2020 2:30 PM 

Version:  6

Grants.gov Deadline: 

Application JustGrants Deadline: 

March 25, 2021 11:59 PM 

April 8, 2021 11:59 PM 

Overview 

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), National Institute of 

Justice (NIJ), is seeking applications for funding for studies that advance knowledge and 

understanding in one of the following two priority topic areas: (1) juvenile justice responses to 

the COVID-19 pandemic or (2) deinstitutionalization of status offenders. This project furthers 

the Department’s mission by supporting the development of new knowledge and tools to 

address the challenges of crime and justice in the United States. 

This solicitation incorporates the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide by reference. The 

OJP Grant Application Resource Guide provides guidance to applicants for the preparation 

and submission to OJP of applications for funding. If this solicitation expressly modifies 

any provision in the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide, the applicant is to follow 

the guidelines in this solicitation as to that provision. 

Solicitation Categories 

This solicitation does not include Solicitation Categories. 

Eligible Applicants: 

City or township governments, County governments, For profit organizations other than small 

businesses, Independent school districts, Native American tribal governments (Federally 

recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal 

governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher 

education, Private institutions of higher education, Public and State controlled institutions of 

higher education, Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Small businesses, 

Special district governments, State governments, Other 

Other 

For purposes of this solicitation, the term “State” means any State of the United States, 

the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virginia Islands, Guam, 

American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. 

Page 1 of 25 

O-NIJ-2021-40003
Notices regarding the solicitation “Research on Juvenile Justice 

Topics, Fiscal Year 2021”

January 15, 2021: A “Clarifications” section has been added to page 10.

The original solicitation document begins on the next page.
Foreign governments, foreign organizations, and foreign colleges and universities are 

not eligible to apply. Federal agencies are eligible to apply. (Any award made to a 

federal agency will be made as an inter-agency reimbursable agreement.) 

To advance Executive Order 13929 Safe Policing for Safe Communities, the Attorney 

General determined that all state, local, and university or college law enforcement 

agencies must be certified by an approved independent credentialing body or have 

started the certification process to be eligible for FY 2021 DOJ discretionary grant 

funding.  To become certified, the law enforcement agency must meet two mandatory 

conditions: (1) the agency’s use of force policies adhere to all applicable federal, state, 

and local laws; and (2) the agency’s use of force policies prohibit chokeholds except in 

situations where use of deadly force is allowed by law. The certification requirement 

also applies to law enforcement agencies receiving DOJ discretionary grant funding 

through a subaward.  For detailed information on this new certification requirement, 

please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/SafePolicingEO to access the Standards for 

Certification on Safe Policing for Safe Communities, Implementation Fact Sheet, and 

List of Designated Independent Credentialing Bodies 

All recipients and subrecipients (including any for-profit organization) must forgo any profit or 

management fee 

NIJ will consider applications under which two or more entities would carry out the federal 

award; however, only one entity may be the applicant. Any others must be proposed as 

subrecipients (subgrantees). For additional information on subawards, see the OJP Grant 

Application Resource Guide. 

NIJ may elect to fund applications submitted under this FY 2021 solicitation in future fiscal 

years, dependent on, among other considerations, the merit of the applications and on the 

availability of appropriations. 

Contact Information 

For technical assistance with submitting the SF-424 and SF- LLL in Grants.gov, contact the 

Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 800-518-4726, 606-545-5035, at Grants.gov customer 

support webpage, or email at support@grants.gov. The Grants.gov Support Hotline operates 24 

hours a day, 7 days a week, except on federal holidays. 

For technical assistance with submitting the full application in DOJ’s Justice Grants System 

(JustGrants), contact the JustGrants Service Desk at JustGrants.Support@usdoj.gov or at 

833-872-5175. The JustGrants Service Desk operates 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST Monday - Friday and 9

a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, and Federal holidays.

An applicant that experiences unforeseen Grants.gov or JustGrants technical issues beyond 

its control that prevent it from submitting its application by the deadline must email the Nation 

al Criminal Justice Reference Service Response Center (Response Center) at grants@ncjrs.g 

ov within 24 hours after the application deadline to request approval to submit its 

application after the deadline. 

For assistance with any other requirements of this solicitation, contact the Response Center 

by telephone at 800–851–3420 or TTY: 301–240–6310 (hearing impaired only) or by email at 

grants@ncjrs.gov. Response Center hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday 

through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET on the solicitation close date. 

Page 2 of 25 

O-NIJ-2021-40003
Submission Information 

In FY 2021, applications will be submitted to DOJ in a NEW two-step process. 

Step 1: Applicants will submit an SF-424 and an SF-LLL in Grants.gov at https://www.grants. 

gov/web/grants/register.html. To register in Grants.gov, applicants will need to obtain a Data 

Universal Numbering System (DUNS) and System for Award Management (SAM) registration 

or renewal. 

Step 2: Applicants will submit the full application including attachments in JustGrants at Jus 

tGrants.usdoj.gov. 

To be considered timely, the full application must be submitted in JustGrants by the 

JustGrants application deadline. 

OJP encourages applicants to review, the “How to Apply" section in the OJP Grant 

Application Resource Guide. 

Page 3 of 25 

O-NIJ-2021-40003 
Contents 

Program Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 

Statutory Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 

Specific Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 

Goals, Objectives, Deliverables, and Timeline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 

OJP Priority Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 

Federal Award Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 

Continuation Funding Intent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 

Availability of Funds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 

Type of Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 

Budget Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 

Pre-agreement Costs (also known as Pre-award Costs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 

Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation: Waiver .11 

Prior Approval, Planning, and Reporting of Conference/Meeting/Training 

Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 

Costs Associated with Language Assistance (if applicable) . . . . . . . . . . .11 

Period of Performance Duration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 

Eligibility Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 

Application and Submission Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 

Standard Applicant Information (JustGrants 424 and General Agency 

Financial Management Questionnaire (including applicant disclosure of 

Documentation of Anticipated Benefit to Qualified Opportunity Zones (if 

Information to Complete the Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) .12 

Information) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 

Proposal Abstract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 

Proposal Narrative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 

Goals, Objectives, Deliverables, and Timeline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 

Budget and Associated Documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 

Budget Worksheet and Budget Narrative (Web-based Form) . . . . . . . . . .15 

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 

high-risk status) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 

Disclosure of Process Related to Executive Compensation . . . . . . . . . . .16 

Additional Application Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 

Curriculum Vitae or Resumes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 

Tribal Authorizing Resolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 

applicable) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 

Research and Evaluation Independence and Integrity Statement . . . . . . .17 

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O-NIJ-2021-40003
Documentation of Rural Challenges (if applicable) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 

Documentation of High-Poverty Areas or Persistent-Poverty Counties (if 

DOJ Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and 

Applicant Disclosure and Justification – DOJ High Risk Grantees (if 

applicable) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 

Disclosures and Assurances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 

Applicant Disclosure of Duplication in Cost Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 

DOJ Certified Standard Assurances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 

Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements . .18 

applicable) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 

How to Apply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 

Submission Dates and Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 

Application Review Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 

Review Criteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 

Review Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 

Federal Award Administration Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 

Federal Award Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 

Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements . . . . . . . .21 

Information Technology (IT) Security Clauses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 

General Information about Post-Federal Award Reporting Requirements .21 

Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 

Other Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 

Freedom of Information and Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552 and 5 U.S.C. 

552a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 

Provide Feedback to OJP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 

Performance Measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 

Application Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 

Endnotes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 

Page 5 of 25 

O-NIJ-2021-40003
Program Description 

Overview 

With this solicitation, NIJ, in collaboration with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 

Prevention (OJJDP), seeks proposals for rigorous research projects that inform policy and 

practice in the field of juvenile justice. Specifically, this solicitation seeks proposals for studies 

that advance knowledge and understanding in one of the following two priority topic areas: (1) 

juvenile justice responses to the COVID-19 pandemic or (2) deinstitutionalization of status 

offenders. Applications proposing research outside of these two research areas will not be 

considered. 

Applications proposing research involving partnerships with criminal justice or other agencies 

should include a strong letter of support, signed by an appropriate decision-making authority 

from each proposed partnering agency. A letter of support should include the partnering 

agency’s acknowledgement that de-identified data derived from, provided to, or obtained 

through this project will be archived by the grant recipient with the National Archive of Criminal 

Justice Data (NACJD) at the conclusion of the award. Applicants and their potential partners 

are encouraged to review the NACJD policies and protections at (NACJD). If selected for an 

award, applicants will be expected to have a formal agreement in place with partnering 

agencies by January 1, 2022. That written agreement must include provisions to meet the 

data-archiving requirements of the award. 

In the case of partnerships that will involve the use of federal award funds by multiple 

partnering agencies to carry out the proposed project, only one entity/partnering agency may 

be the applicant (as is the case with any application submitted in response to this solicitation); 

any others must be proposed as subrecipients. 

Statutory Authority 

Any awards under this solicitation would be made under statutory authority provided by a fullyear appropriations act for FY 2021. As of the writing of this solicitation, the Department of 

Justice is operating under a short-term "Continuing Resolution;" no full-year appropriation for 

the Department has been enacted for FY 2021. 

Specific Information 

NIJ works closely with OJJDP to support high-quality, rigorous research, evaluations, and 

statistical analyses related to juvenile justice, as well as preventing and responding to juvenile 

delinquency and child victimization. The purpose of this solicitation is to invite applicants to 

address the two priority topic areas described below. Under both priority topic areas, 

applicants should propose to conduct scientifically rigorous research studies with an emphasis 

on informing policy and practice. Applicants may propose single, multisite, or national 

research efforts. The proposed study designs may involve a broad range of research 

methodologies. 

Priority Area 1: Juvenile Justice Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic 

The juvenile justice system plays a central role in protecting public safety; supervising youth, 

including those at high-risk to reoffend; and ensuring the safety, health, and long-term 

success of youth in its custody.[1] The COVID-19 public health crisis introduced 

unprecedented challenges for state and local juvenile justice systems attempting to fulfill 

these responsibilities.[2] 

NIJ seeks proposals for research that advances the understanding of the effects of juvenile 

justice responses to the COVID-19 public health crisis on public safety and youth outcomes. 

In particular, NIJ is interested in the impact of changes in juvenile justice policies and 

practices related to admissions to, transfers between, and releases from juvenile residential 

placement facilities. This is inclusive of responses to new offenses and technical violations for 

juveniles under community supervision that may result in placement. For this solicitation, 

juvenile residential placement facilities include detention, corrections, or other placement 

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O-NIJ-2021-40003 
facilities that hold juveniles who have been charged with or adjudicated for an offense. NIJ 

recognizes that jurisdictions vary widely in the structure, organization, and administration of 

their juvenile justice systems, and in conditions and responses related to the COVID-19 

pandemic. As such, NIJ encourages applications that effectively address issues of 

generalizability and broader implications for juvenile justice policy and practice in the United 

States. 

Priority Area 2: Deinstitutionalization of Status Offenders 

Since the passage of the original Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) in 

1974, Congress has included deinstitutionalization of status offenders (DSO) as one of the 

core compliance requirements for the participation of states and U.S. territories in the OJJDP 

Formula Grants Program.[3] A “status offender” is a youth under the jurisdiction of the 

juvenile court for a noncriminal act considered a violation of law solely because of the youth’s 

status as a minor. “Status offenses” refer to a rather broad range of offenses such as 

truancy, curfew violation, failure to abide by parent’s rules, underage tobacco and alcohol 

use, and running away. “Deinstitutionalization of status offenders” refers to elimination of 

secure confinement of status offenders, particularly within juvenile justice detention and 

correctional facilities. Status offending youth who come to the attention of the juvenile justice 

system may need varied services to address issues related to child welfare, education, mental 

health, behavioral health, trauma, and substance abuse. 

NIJ seeks proposals for policy, practice, and program research at the national, state, and local 

levels to better understand how to effectively comply with DSO requirements while also 

achieving goals such as public safety, diversion, risk and needs assessment, evidence-based 

treatment delivery, and positive outcomes for status offending youth. NIJ is interested in 

proposals that examine both system and youth-level outcomes. System outcomes are 

focused on the impact on system functioning, including around screening and assessment 

(i.e., how particular youth are assessed to inform intake, detention, and disposition decisions), 

justice system responses (e.g., court processing decisions and case outcomes for status 

offenders), and service and treatment delivery. Youth outcomes are focused on the impact on 

youth served, including subsequent delinquency or status offending and positive youth 

outcomes. 

New Investigator/Early Career Opportunity 

NIJ is interested in supporting researchers who are early in their careers and new to NIJ’s 

research grant portfolios, specifically non-tenured assistant professors, or equivalent full-time 

staff scientist positions in a research institution, who propose research on topics relevant to 

NIJ’s Office of Research, Evaluation and Technology (ORET). To that end, NIJ may, in 

appropriate circumstances, give special consideration in award decisions to applications 

proposing such researchers as principal investigators (PIs). To qualify, the proposed PI must 

at the time of application submission: 

Hold a non-tenured assistant professor appointment at an accredited institution of 

higher education in the United States or an equivalent full-time staff scientist position at 

a research institution in the United States. 

Have completed a terminal degree or post-graduate clinical training within the four (4) 

years prior to September 30, 2021. 

Have never previously received NIJ funding as a PI on a research project with the 

exception of Graduate Research Fellows or Data Resources Program grantees. 

If seeking to be considered for the New Investigator/Early Career Opportunity, the applicant 

should identify that they are submitting a New Investigator/Early Career proposal on the title 

page of the application. 

Evaluation Research 

If an application includes an evaluation research component (or consists entirely of evaluation 

research), the application is expected to propose the most rigorous evaluation design 

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O-NIJ-2021-40003 
appropriate for the research questions to be addressed. If the primary purpose of the 

evaluation is to determine the effectiveness or impact of an intervention (e.g., program, 

practice, or policy), the most rigorous evaluation designs may include random selection and 

assignment of participants (or other appropriate units of analysis) to experimental and control 

conditions. In cases where randomization is not feasible, applicants should propose a strong 

quasi-experimental design that can address the risk of selection bias. 

Randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies are a powerful, much-needed tool for building 

scientific evidence about what works. Therefore, studies employing RCT methods to assess 

the effectiveness of programs and practices will be given higher priority consideration. RCT 

applications with strong designs measuring outcomes of self-evident policy importance are 

strongly encouraged. A strong RCT design should include low sample attrition, sufficient 

sample size, close adherence to random assignment, valid outcome measures, and statistical 

analyses. Taking RCT costs into consideration, applicants may want to consider studies using 

privacy protected administrative data that are already being collected or implementing an 

intervention into a program already funded. 

Applications that include evaluation research should consider the feasibility of including 

cost/benefit analysis. In cases where evaluations find that interventions have produced the 

intended benefit, cost/benefit analysis provides valuable and practical information for 

practitioners and policymakers that aids decision-making. 

Evaluation research projects may also address a wide range of research questions beyond 

those focused on the effectiveness or impact of an intervention. Different research designs 

may be more appropriate for different research questions and at different stages of program 

development. The intervention strategies, setting, other contextual factors, and resources 

should be taken into account when selecting an evaluation design. In all cases, applications 

are expected to propose the most rigorous evaluation design appropriate for the research 

questions to be addressed. 

Applicants are encouraged to review evidence rating criteria at https://www.crimesolutions.go 

v/about_starttofinish.aspx for further information on high-quality evaluation design elements. 

Goals, Objectives, Deliverables, and Timeline 

Goals 

The goal of this solicitation is to generate and advance knowledge, with practical implications 

for juvenile justice policy and practice. 

Objectives 

To advance knowledge and understanding of two topics: (1) juvenile justice responses to the 

COVID-19 pandemic or (2) deinstitutionalization of status offenders. 

Deliverables 

Final Research Report. Any recipient of an award under this solicitation will be expected to 

submit a final research report. Additional information on the final research report requirement 

for the solicitation is posted on NIJ’s webpage. 

Required Data Sets and Associated Files and Documentation. Any recipient of an award 

under this solicitation will be expected to submit to the National Archive of Criminal Justice 

Data (NACJD) all data sets that result in whole or in part from the work funded by the award, 

along with associated files and any documentation necessary for future efforts by others to 

reproduce the project’s findings and/or to extend the scientific value of the data set through 

secondary analysis. 

In addition to these deliverables (and the required reports and data on performance 

measures), NIJ expects scholarly products to result from each award under this solicitation, 

taking the form of one or more published, peer-reviewed, scientific journal articles, and/or (if 

appropriate) law review journal articles, book chapter(s) or book(s) in the academic press, 

technological prototypes, patented inventions, or similar scientific products. NIJ expects that 

there will be an equal effort to make the research findings accessible to practitioner and 

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O-NIJ-2021-40003 
policymaker audiences. 

The Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables are directly related to the performance measures that 

demonstrate the results of the work completed, as discussed under Application and 

Submission Information. 

OJP Priority Areas 

In FY 2021 and in addition to executing any program-specific prioritization that may be applicable, 

OJP will give priority consideration to applications as follows: 

Applications that address specific challenges that rural communities face. 

Applications that demonstrate that the individuals who are intended to benefit from the 

requested grant reside in high-poverty areas or persistent-poverty counties. 

Applications that offer enhancements to public safety in economically distressed communities 

(Qualified Opportunity Zones). 

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O-NIJ-2021-40003

To receive priority consideration under the rural priority, applicants must describe what makes the 

geographic service area rural (using U.S. Census or other appropriate government data; for 

assistance, applicants may wish to refer to https://www.census.gov/programssurveys/geography/guidance/geo-areas/urban-rural.html), how isolated the area is from needed 

services, and how they will address specific challenges in rural communities. 

To receive priority consideration under the poverty priority, the applicant must provide information to 

demonstrate that the individuals who are intended to benefit from the requested grant reside in highpoverty areas or persistent poverty counties.  For purposes of this priority consideration, the term 

‘‘high-poverty area’’ means any census tract with a poverty rate of at least 20 percent as 

measured by the 2013–2017 5-year data series available from the American Community Survey of 

the Census Bureau (applicants may search by census tract at https://www.census.gov/acs/www/data 

/data-tables-and-tools/narrative-profiles/2017/) and the term ‘‘persistent poverty counties’’ means 

any county that has had 20 percent or more of its population living in poverty over the past 30 years, 

as measured by the 1990 and 2000 decennial censuses and the most recent Small Area Income and 

Poverty Estimates (applicants may search by county at https://www.census.gov/data/tables/timeseries/dec/census-poverty.html and at https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe.html). 

To receive priority consideration under the Qualified Opportunity Zones priority, applicants must 

include information that specifies how the project will enhance public safety in the specified QOZs. 

For resources on QOZs, and for a current list of designated QOZs, see the U.S. Department of the 

Treasury’s resource webpage, accessible at https://www.cdfifund.gov/pages/opportunity-zones.aspx 

OJP policy priority consideration will consist of receiving additional points in the application scoring 

process. Receipt of priority consideration does not guarantee that an application will be funded; nor 

will the failure to receive priority consideration necessarily mean that an application will not be 

funded. 

Federal Award Information 

Awards, Amounts and Durations 

Total Federal Awards 

5 

Maximum Dollar Amount for Awards 

$600,000.00 

Period of Performance Start Date 

1/1/22 12:00 AM 
Period of Performance Duration (Months) 

60 

Total Amount to be Awarded Under Solicitation 

$2,000,000.00 

Clarifications

The recent median NIJ grant award amount is approximately $600,000, Applicants are 

encouraged to propose budgets that match the research activities proposed, which may 

be more or less than the anticipated maximum dollar amount of awards. Total Federal 

Awards: NIJ anticipates making 1 to 5 awards.

Continuation Funding Intent 

NIJ may, in certain cases, provide additional funding in future years to awards made under 

this solicitation, through continuation awards. NIJ will consider, among other factors, NIJ’s 

strategic priorities, a recipient’s overall management of the award, and progress of awardfunded work, when making continuation-award decisions. 

Availability of Funds 

All awards are subject to the availability of appropriated funds and to any modifications or additional 

requirements that may be imposed by law. 

Type of Award 

NIJ expects to make awards under this solicitation as grants. See the “Administrative, 

National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements” section of the OJP Grant Application 

Resource Guide for a brief discussion of important statutes, regulations, and award 

conditions that apply to many (or in some cases, all) OJP grants (and cooperative 

agreements). 

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls 

Award recipients and subrecipients (including recipients or subrecipients that are pass-through 

entities) must, as described in the Part 200 Uniform Requirements as set out at 2 C.F.R. 200.303, 

comply with standards for financial and program management. The “Part 200 Uniform 

Requirements” means the DOJ regulation at 2 C.F.R. Part 2800, which adopts (with certain 

modifications) the provisions of 2 C.F.R. Part 200. See OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for 

additional information. 

Budget Information 

If the applicant is proposing a project that reasonably could be conducted in discrete phases, 

with each phase resulting in completion of one or more significant, defined milestones, then 

NIJ strongly recommends that the applicant structure the application — specifically including 

the narrative, expected scholarly products, timelines/milestones, and budget detail worksheet 

and budget narrative — to clearly define each phase. (This is particularly the case if the 

applicant proposes a project that will exceed — in cost or the length of the period of 

performance — the amount or length of time anticipated for an individual award (or awards) 

under this solicitation.) Given limitations on the availability to NIJ of funds for awards for 

research, development, and evaluation, this information will assist NIJ in considering whether 

partial funding of applications would be productive. (If, in FY 2021, NIJ elects to fund only 

certain phases of a proposed project, the expected scholarly products from the partial-funding 

award may, in some cases, vary from those described above.) 

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O-NIJ-2021-40003
NIJ may elect to fund applications submitted under this FY 2021 solicitation in future fiscal 

years, dependent on, among other considerations, the merit of the applications and on the 

availability of appropriations. 

What will not be funded: 

Applications primarily to purchase equipment, materials, or supplies. (A budget may 

include these items if they are necessary to conduct research, development, 

demonstration, evaluation, or analysis.) 

Applications that are not responsive to the purposes of this specific solicitation. 

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement 

See “Cofunding” paragraph under item 5 (“Budget and Associated Documentation”)  under 

“Content of Application Submission” in Application and Submission  Information. 

Pre-agreement Costs (also known as Pre-award Costs) 

See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide information on Pre-agreement Costs (also known as 

Pre-award Costs). 

Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation: Waiver 

See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide information on Limitation on Use of Award Funds for 

Employee Compensation: Waiver. 

Prior Approval, Planning, and Reporting of Conference/Meeting/Training 

Costs 

See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for information on Prior Approval, Planning, and 

Reporting of Conference/Meeting/Training Costs. 

Costs Associated with Language Assistance (if applicable) 

See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for information on Costs Associated with Language 

Assistance. 

Period of Performance Duration 

To be determined by the period of performance of awarded applications. Successful 

applicants will be expected to complete the work proposed within a five-year period of 

performance. 

Eligibility Information 

For additional eligibility information, see the title page. 

For information on cost sharing or match requirements, see “What an Application Should  Incl 

ude” in Application and Submission Information. 

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O-NIJ-2021-40003 
Application and Submission Information 

The following application elements MUST be included in the application submission for an 

application to meet the basic minimum requirements (BMR) to advance to peer review and receive 

consideration for funding: 

Program Narrative, 

Budget Worksheet and Budget Narrative (web-based form), 

Curriculum Vitae/Resumes for Key Personnel. (For purposes of this solicitation, “key 

personnel” means the principal investigator, and any and all co-principal investigators.) 

See the “Application Elements and Formatting Instructions” section of the OJP Grant Application 

Resource Guide for information on what happens to an application that does not contain all the 

specified elements or that is nonresponsive to the scope of the solicitation. 

Information to Complete the Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) 

The SF-424 will be submitted in Grants.gov. The SF-424 is a required standard form used as 

a cover sheet for submission of pre-applications, applications, and related information. See 

the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for additional information on completing the 

SF-424. 

Intergovernmental Review: This solicitation (“funding opportunity”) is not subject to Executi 

ve Order 12372. (In completing the SF-424, an applicant is to answer question 19 by selecting 

the response that the “Program is not covered by E.O. 12372.”) 

Standard Applicant Information (JustGrants 424 and General Agency 

Information) 

The Standard Applicant Information section of the JustGrants application is pre-populated with 

the SF-424 data submitted in Grants.gov. Applicants will need to review the Standard 

Applicant Information in JustGrants and make edits as needed. Within this section, applicants 

will need to: add zip codes for areas affected by the project, confirm their Authorized 

Representative, and verify the organizations legal name and address. 

Proposal Abstract 

A proposal abstract (no more than 400 words) summarizing the proposed project including primary 

activities, products and deliverables, the service area, and who will benefit from the proposed 

project, will be completed in the JustGrants Web-based form. 

Proposal Narrative 

The program narrative should be submitted as an attachment in JustGrants. The attached 

document should be double-spaced, using a standard 12-point Times New Roman font; have 

no less than 1-inch margins; and should not exceed 30 pages. Pages should be numbered 

and submitted as an attachment. If the program narrative fails to comply with these lengthrelated restrictions, NIJ may negatively consider such noncompliance in peer review and in 

final award decisions. 

The following sections must be included as part of the program narrative: 

a. Title Page (not counted against the program narrative page limit)

The title page should include:

Project title. 

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Submission date. 

Funding opportunity number. 

Principal Investigator (and any co-principal investigators). 

Unique author identifier (e.g., ORCID, ResearcherID, Scopus Author ID), if available. 

Requests for consideration under “new investigator” and/or “priority areas of 

research” areas. 

Key words, including science focus areas. 

Contact information (that is, name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address) for 

both the applicant and the principal investigator. 

b. Resubmit Response (if applicable) (not counted against the program narrative page 

limit.) 

If an applicant is resubmitting an application presented previously to NIJ, but not funded, the 

applicant should indicate this. A statement should be provided, no more than two pages, 

addressing: (1) the title, submission date, and NIJ-assigned application number of the 

previous application, and (2) a brief summary of revisions to the application, including 

responses to previous feedback received from NIJ. 

c. Table of Contents and Figures (not counted against the program narrative page limit) 

d. Main Body 

1. Statement of the Problem. 

The statement of the problem should address the need for research in this area. 

Applicants should discuss current gaps in data, research, and knowledge, including 

those for particular justice sectors, for certain populations, and to answer questions 

relevant to current policy and practice needs and public interests. It is not uncommon for 

multiple problems to exist simultaneously (for example, there may be a criminal justice 

problem affecting public safety, a current technical challenge/need identified by forensic 

practitioners, as well as a scientific/technology gap between the current state of the art 

and a desired solution) and applicants should discuss each of these clearly and justify 

the importance of the separate issues. As part of this discussion, applicants should 

present a review of previous literature and discuss previous research related to these 

problems. 

2. Project Design and Implementation. 

Applicants should provide a detailed description of the strategies to implement this 

research project and address the research questions. Design elements should follow 

directly from the research project’s goals and objectives and address the programspecific information noted in the solicitation. Applicants should describe the research 

methodology and analysis plan in detail and demonstrate the validity and usefulness of 

the data they will collect. Applicants should consider the rigor and soundness of the 

methodology and analytical and technical approaches for the proposed research and 

address the feasibility of the proposed project and potential challenges or problems in 

carrying out the activities. 

3. Potential Impact. 

Applicants should describe the potential impact of the research and how it may inform 

or improve criminal or juvenile justice-related policy, practice, or theory in the United 

States. Applicants should also discuss their dissemination plan to produce scholarly 

products as well as make summary information available to broader interested 

audiences, such as criminal justice practitioners or policymakers. 

4. Capabilities and Competencies. 

This section should describe the experience and capability of the applicant organization, 

key staff, and any proposed subgrantees (including consultants) that the applicant will 

use to implement and manage this effort and the federal funds under this award, 

highlighting any previous experience implementing projects of similar scope, design, 

and magnitude. Applicants should address: 

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O-NIJ-2021-40003 
Experience and capacity to work with the proposed data sources in the conduct of 

similar research efforts. 

Experience and capacity to design and implement rigorous research and data 

analysis projects. 

Experience producing and disseminating meaningful deliverables. 

Applicants should also outline the management plan and organization that connects to 

the goals and objectives of the project. 

5. Appendices (not counted against the program narrative page limit) include: 

Bibliography/references. Provide a bibliography of any references cited in the 

Project Narrative. 

Any tools/instruments, questionnaires, tables/charts/graphs, or maps pertaining to 

the proposed project that are supplemental to such items included in the main 

body of the narrative. 

Curriculum vitae or resume of the principal investigator and any and all coprincipal investigators. In addition, curriculum vitae, resume, or biographical 

sketches of all other individuals (regardless of “investigator” status) who will be 

significantly involved in substantive aspects of the proposed project (including, for 

example, individuals such as statisticians used to conduct proposed data 

analysis). 

To assist OJP in assessing actual or apparent conflicts of interest (including such 

conflicts on the part of prospective reviewers of the application), provide a 

complete list of the individuals named or otherwise identified anywhere in the 

application (including in the budget or in any other attachment) who will or may 

work (or advise or consult) on the proposed research, development, or evaluation 

project. Applicants should use the “ Proposed Project Staff, Affiliation, and Roles” 

form available on the NIJ webpage to prepare this list. 

Documentation of “new investigator” status, if applicable. 

The project management plan. 

Proposed project timeline and expected milestones. 

Consortium/contractual arrangements. Explain the programmatic, fiscal, and 

administrative arrangements to be made between the applicant organization and 

the consortium organization(s). 

Human Subjects Protection paperwork (documentation and forms related to 

Institutional Review Board [IRB] review). See https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/humansubjects-and-privacy-protection. Note: Final IRB approval is not required at the 

time an application is submitted. 

Privacy Certificate (for further guidance go to https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/confidenti 

ality-and-privacy-protections and https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/model-privacycertificate). 

Data archiving plan. Applicants should anticipate that NIJ will require, through 

special award conditions, that data sets resulting in whole or in part from projects 

funded under this solicitation be submitted for archiving with the NACJD. See http 

s://nij.ojp.gov/funding/data-archiving-plans-nij-funding-applicants. 

Applications should include as an appendix a brief plan — labeled “Data 

Archiving Plan” — to comply with data archiving requirements. The plan should 

provide brief details about proposed data management and archiving, including 

submission to NIJ (through NACJD) of all files and documentation necessary to 

allow for future efforts by others to reproduce the project’s findings and/or to 

extend the scientific value of the data set through secondary analysis. Pertinent 

files and documentation include, among other things, qualitative and quantitative 

data produced, instrumentation and data collection forms, codebook(s), any 

specialized programming code necessary to reproduce all constructed measures 

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O-NIJ-2021-40003 
and the original data analysis, description of necessary de-identification 

procedures, and (when required) a copy of the privacy certificate and informed 

consent protocols. 

The plan should be one or two pages in length and include the level of effort 

associated with meeting archiving requirements. 

Note that recipients are strongly encouraged to submit required data sets at least 

90 days before the end of the period of performance. 

Letters of cooperation/support or administrative agreements from organizations 

collaborating in the project, such as law enforcement and correctional agencies (if 

applicable). 

If the application (including the budget) identifies any proposed non-competitive 

agreements that are or may be considered procurement "contracts" (rather than 

subawards), for purposes of federal grants administrative requirements, the 

applicant also must list the entities with which the applicant proposes to contract. 

List of other agencies, organizations, or funding sources to which this application 

has been submitted (if applicable). 

Applicants proposing to use incentives or stipends payments as part of their 

research project design, must submit an incentive or stipend approval request, as 

a separate document, according to the requirements set forth at https://nij.ojp.gov/ 

funding/participant-support-costs-and-incentives-social-scienceresearch. 

Note: applicants are not required to submit performance data with the application. Rather, 

performance measures information is included as an alert that successful applicants will be 

required to submit performance data as part of the reporting requirements under an award. 

OJP will require each successful applicant to submit regular performance data that 

demonstrate the results of the work carried out under the award. The performance data 

directly relate to the goals, objectives, and deliverables identified under “Goals, Objectives, 

Deliverables” on page 8. 

A list of performance measure questions for this program can be found on page 22. 

Applicants can also visit OJP’s performance measurement page at 

www.ojp.gov/performance for an overview of performance measurement activities at OJP. 

Award recipients will be required to submit performance measure data in quarterly financial 

reports, semi-annual progress reports, and the Final Research Report. Further guidance on 

the post-award submission process will be provided, if selected for award. 

Goals, Objectives, Deliverables, and Timeline 

Applicants will submit the project's goals, objectives, deliverables, and timelines in the JustGrants 

Web-based form. See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for additional information. 

Budget and Associated Documentation 

Budget Worksheet and Budget Narrative (Web-based Form) 

Applicants will complete the JustGrants web-based budget form. See the OJP Grant Application 

Resource Guide for additional information. 

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The following paragraph (on “Cofunding”) expressly modifies the “Cost Sharing or Matching 

Requirement” provisions in the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide. The applicant is to 

follow the guidance in the following paragraph instead of the guidance stated under the “Cost 

Sharing or Matching Requirement” heading in the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide. 

Cofunding: An award made by NIJ under this solicitation may account for up to 100 percent 

of the total cost of the project. The application should indicate whether it is feasible for the 

applicant to contribute cash, facilities, or services as non-federal support for the project. The 

application should identify generally any such contributions that the applicant expects to make 

and the proposed budget should indicate in detail which items, if any, will be supported with 

non-federal contributions. 

For additional match information, see the “Cost Sharing or Match Requirement” section 

under Federal Award Information. 

If a successful application proposes a voluntary match amount, and OJP approves the 

budget, the total match amount incorporated into the approved budget becomes mandatory 

and subject to audit. 

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) 

Applicants will submit their indirect cost rate agreement by uploading the agreement as an 

attachment in JustGrants. See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for additional information. 

Financial Management Questionnaire (including applicant disclosure of 

high-risk status) 

Applicants will download the questionnaire in JustGrants and submit by uploading the completed 

questionnaire as an attachment in JustGrants. See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for 

additional information. 

Disclosure of Process Related to Executive Compensation 

If applicable, applicants will submit a description of the process used to determine compensation by 

uploading the document as an attachment in JustGrants. See the “Application Attachments” section 

of the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for information. 

Additional Application Components 

Curriculum Vitae or Resumes 

Curriculum vitae or resume of the principal investigator and any and all co-principal 

investigators. In addition, curriculum vitae, resume, or biographical sketches of all other 

individuals (regardless of “investigator” status) who will be significantly involved in 

substantive aspects of the proposed project (including, for example, individuals such as 

statisticians used to conduct proposed data analysis). 

Tribal Authorizing Resolution 

If applicable, applicants will submit the Tribal Authorizing Resolution by uploading the resolution as 

an attachment in JustGrants. An application in response to this solicitation may require inclusion of 

information related to a tribal authorizing resolution as an attachment. See the OJP Grant 

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O-NIJ-2021-40003 
Application Resource Guide for information on tribal authorizing resolutions. 

Documentation of Anticipated Benefit to Qualified Opportunity Zones (if 

applicable) 

As is mentioned above, OJP will give priority consideration in award decisions to designated 

Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZs). Each applicant proposing to receive priority 

consideration under the under the Qualified Opportunity Zones priority must provide a 

sufficient narrative explanation in order for OJP to identify clearly the public safety benefit the 

applicant anticipates that its project will have on a specified QOZ(s). The narrative and the list 

of affected QOZs (by census tract number) must be included as an attachment that is clearly 

labeled as addressing QOZs. The applicant may also include tables, charts, graphs, or other 

relevant illustrations that may be useful in comprehending the manner in which the proposed 

project is anticipated to benefit a QOZ(s). Applicants will submit the narrative by uploading the 

document as an attachment in JustGrants. 

Research and Evaluation Independence and Integrity Statement 

If an application proposes research (including research and development) and/or evaluation, the 

applicant must demonstrate research/evaluation independence and integrity, including appropriate 

safeguards, before it may receive award funds. Applicants will submit a description of their research 

and evaluation independence and integrity by uploading the document as an attachment in 

JustGrants. For additional information regarding demonstrating research/evaluation independence 

and integrity, including appropriate safeguards, see the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide. 

Documentation of Rural Challenges (if applicable) 

As is mentioned above, OJP will give priority consideration in award decisions to applications 

that address specific challenges that rural communities face. Each applicant proposing to 

receive priority consideration under the rural priority must provide a sufficient narrative to 

include what makes the geographic service area rural (using U.S. Census or other appropriate 

government data), how isolated the area is from needed services, and how it will address 

specific challenges in rural communities. Applicants will submit the narrative by uploading the 

document as an attachment in JustGrants. 

Documentation of High-Poverty Areas or Persistent-Poverty Counties (if 

applicable) 

As mentioned above, OJP will give priority consideration in award decisions to applications 

that demonstrate that the individuals who will benefit from the requested grant reside in highpoverty areas or persistent-poverty counties as defined above. Each applicant proposing to 

receive consideration under the High-Poverty Areas or Persistent Poverty Counties priority 

must provide a sufficient narrative explanation to identify each specific High-Poverty Area (by 

census tract number(s)) and/or each specific Persistent-Poverty County where individuals are 

intended to benefit from the requested grant and how the requested grant will address specific 

challenges in each such identified area and/or county. Applicants will submit the narrative by 

uploading the document as an attachment in JustGrants. 

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O-NIJ-2021-40003 
Disclosures and Assurances 

Applicants will complete the following disclosures and assurances. 

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities 

Applicants will complete and submit the SF-LLL in Grants.gov. See the OJP Grant Application 

Resource Guide for additional information. 

Applicant Disclosure of Duplication in Cost Items 

Applicants will complete the JustGrants web-based Applicant Disclosure of Duplication in Cost Items 

form. See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for additional information. 

DOJ Certified Standard Assurances 

See the DOJ Certified Standard Assurances in the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide. 

DOJ Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other 

Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements 

Applicants will review and accept the DOJ Certified Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, 

Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements. See OJP 

Grant Application Resource Guide. 

Applicant Disclosure and Justification – DOJ High Risk Grantees (if 

applicable) 

If applicable, applicants will submit as an attachment in JustGrants. See the OJP Grant 

Application Resource Guide for additional information. A DOJ High Risk Grantee is a recipient 

that has received a DOJ High Risk designation based on a documented history of 

unsatisfactory performance, financial instability, management system or other internal control 

deficiencies, or noncompliance with award terms and conditions on prior awards, or that is 

otherwise not responsible. 

How to Apply 

Applicants will submit an SF-424 and an SF-LLL in Grants.gov at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants 

/register.html. 

Applicants will submit the full application including attachments in JustGrants at JustGrants.usdoj.g 

ov. 

For additional information, see the “How to Apply” section in the OJP Grant Application Resource 

Guide. 

Submission Dates and Time 

The SF-424 and the SF-LLL will be submitted in Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on March

25, 2021 . OJP urges applicants to submit applications at least 72 hours prior to the application due 

date to allow time for the applicant to receive validation messages or rejection notifications from 

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O-NIJ-2021-40003
Grants.gov and to correct in a timely fashion any problems that may have caused a rejection 

notification. 

The full application will be submitted in JustGrants by 11:59 p.m. eastern time  on April 8, 2021. 

To be considered timely, the full application must be submitted in JustGrants by the JustGrants 

application deadline. 

Application Review Information 

Review Criteria 

a. Scored Review Criteria

Applications that meet basic minimum requirements will be evaluated by peer reviewers. 

Applications will be evaluated on how the proposed project/program addresses the following 

criteria:

1. Statement of the Problem(understanding of the problem, (10%)

Demonstrated understanding of the problem.

Demonstrated importance of research questions, goals and objectives, including

alignment with the aims of the solicitation.

Demonstrated awareness of the state of current research.

2. Project Design and Implementation (quality and technical merit) (50%).

Feasibility of proposed project.

Soundness of methods and analytic and technical approach to addressing the stated

aim(s) of the proposed project.

Awareness of potential pitfalls of proposed project design and feasibility of proposed

actions to minimize and/or mitigate them.

Feasibility of completing the deliverables noted in the solicitation.

3. Capabilities and Competencies (capabilities, demonstrated productivity, and experience

of the applicant organization and proposed project staff) (20%) 

Qualifications and experience of proposed project staff (that is, the principal 

investigator, any and all co-principal investigators, and all other individuals (and 

organizations) identified in the application (regardless of “investigator” status) who will 

be significantly involved in substantive aspects of the proposed project). 

Demonstrated ability of the applicant organization to implement the proposed strategies 

and manage the effort. 

Relationship between the capabilities/competencies of the proposed project staff 

(including the applicant organization) and the scope and strategies of the proposed 

project.

4. Potential Impact (20%)

Potential for a significant scientific or technical advance(s) that will improve

criminal/juvenile justice in the United States.

Potential for significantly improved understanding of the stated criminal/juvenile justice

problem.

Potential for innovative solution to address (all or a significant part of) the stated

criminal/juvenile justice problem.

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Strength and feasibility of the proposed dissemination plan to produce scholarly 

products (such as published, peer-reviewed, scientific journal articles, book chapter(s) 

or book(s) in the academic press, technological prototypes, patented inventions, 

databases, standards or similar scientific products) as well as make summary 

information available to broader interested audiences, such as criminal justice 

practitioners or policymakers.

 5. Budget (0%) 

In addition, peer reviewers will consider and may comment on the following additional 

items in the context of scientific and technical merit. 

Alignment of the proposed budget with proposed project activities. 

Total cost of the project relative to the perceived benefit (cost effectiveness). 

Appropriateness of the budget relative to the level of effort. 

Use of existing resources to conserve costs. 

b. Additional Review Criteria 

Other important considerations for NIJ include geographic diversity, strategic priorities (specifi 

cally including, but not limited to, those mentioned above relating to addressing specific 

challenges that rural communities face, high-poverty areas or persistent-poverty counties, 

demonstrable potential enhancement to public safety in one or more federally designated 

Qualified Opportunity Zones), available funding, past performance, and the extent to which 

the Budget Worksheet and Budget Narrative (web-based form) accurately explain project 

costs that are reasonable, necessary, and otherwise allowable under federal law and 

applicable federal cost principles. 

Review Process 

Applications submitted under this solicitation that meet basic minimum requirements, will be 

evaluated for technical merit by a peer review panel(s) in accordance with OJP peer review 

policy and procedures using the stated review criteria above. 

OJP screens applications to ensure they meet the basic minimum requirements prior to 

conducting peer review. Although specific requirements may vary, the following are common 

requirements applicable to all solicitations for funding under OJP programs: 

The application must be submitted by an eligible type of applicant. 

The application must request funding within programmatic funding constraints (if 

applicable). 

The application must be responsive to the scope of the solicitation. 

The application must include all items necessary to meet the basic minimum 

requirements. 

The application, if submitted by an applicant that is a DOJ High Risk Grantee, or is 

designated “high risk” by a federal grant-making agency outside of DOJ, must not have 

been determined by the NIJ Director to pose a substantial risk of program 

implementation failure, based on 1) the applicant’s lack of sufficient progress in 

addressing required corrective actions necessary for removal of the DOJ High Risk 

Grantee (or non-DOJ high risk) designation, 2) the nature and severity of the issues 

leading to or accompanying the DOJ High Risk Grantee (or non-DOJ high risk) 

designation, and/or 3) the applicant’s expected ability to manage grant funds and 

achieve grant goals and objectives. 

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O-NIJ-2021-40003 
Pursuant to the Part 200 Uniform Requirements, before award decisions are made, OJP also 

reviews information related to the degree of risk posed by the applicant. Among other things 

to help assess whether an applicant that has one or more prior federal awards has a 

satisfactory record with respect to performance, integrity, and business ethics, OJP checks 

whether the applicant is listed in SAM as excluded from receiving a federal award. 

In addition, if OJP anticipates that an award will exceed $250,000 in federal funds, OJP also 

must review and consider any information about the applicant that appears in the non-public 

segment of the integrity and performance system accessible through SAM (currently, the 

Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System, FAPIIS). 

Important note on FAPIIS: An applicant may review and comment on any information about 

itself that currently appears in FAPIIS and was entered by a federal awarding agency. OJP 

will consider any such comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in 

FAPIIS, in its assessment of the risk posed by the applicant. 

All final award decisions will be made by Director of the National Institute of Justice, who may 

take into account not only peer review ratings and NIJ recommendations, but also other 

factors as indicated in this section. 

Federal Award Administration Information 

Federal Award Notices 

See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for information on award notifications and 

instructions. 

Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements 

If selected for funding, in addition to implementing the funded project consistent with the OJPapproved application, the recipient must comply with all award conditions, and all applicable 

requirements of federal statutes and regulations (including applicable requirements referred to in the 

assurances and certifications executed in connection with award acceptance). 

For additional information on these legal requirements, see the “Administrative, National Policy, and 

Other Legal Requirements” section in the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide. 

Information Technology (IT) Security Clauses 

An application in response to this solicitation may require inclusion of information related to 

information technology security. See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for information on 

information technology security. 

General Information about Post-Federal Award Reporting Requirements 

In addition to the deliverables described in “Program Description,” any recipient of an award 

under this solicitation will be required to submit certain reports and data. 

Required reports. Recipients typically must submit quarterly financial reports, quarterly, semiannual progress reports, final financial and progress reports, final research reports, and, if 

applicable, an annual audit report in accordance with the Part 200 Uniform Requirements or 

specific award conditions. Future awards and fund drawdowns may be withheld if reports are 

delinquent. (In appropriate cases, OJP may require additional reports.) 

See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for additional information on specific post-award 

reporting requirements, including performance measures data. 

Progress Reporting Frequency 

semi-annual 

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Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s) 

For questions directed to the Federal Awarding Agency, see NCJRS contact information on 

page 2. 

For contact information for Grants.gov, see page 2. 

Other Information 

Freedom of Information and Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552 and 5 U.S.C. 552a) 

See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for information on Freedom of Information and 

Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552 and 5 U.S.C. 552a). 

Provide Feedback to OJP 

See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for information on how to provide feedback to OJP. 

Performance Measures 

Objective Performance Measure(s) Data Recipient Provides

Conduct research in 

social and behavioral 

sciences having clear 

implications for 

criminal justice policy 

and practice in the 

United States. 

1. Relevance to the needs of the field as 

measured by whether the project’s 

substantive scope did not deviate from 

the funded project or any subsequent 

agency-approved modifications to the 

scope. 

2. Quality of the research as 

demonstrated by the scholarly products 

that result in whole or in part from work 

funded under the NIJ award, such as 

published, peer-reviewed, scientific 

journal articles, and/or (as appropriate for 

the funded project) law review journal 

articles, book chapter(s) or book(s) in the 

academic press, technological 

prototypes, patented inventions, or 

similar scientific products. 

3. Quality of management as measured 

by such factors as whether significant 

project milestones were achieved, 

reporting and other deadlines were met, 

and costs remained within approved 

limits. 

1. Quarterly financial reports, 

semi-annual and final progress 

reports, and products of the work 

performed under the NIJ award 

(including, at minimum, a final 

research report). If applicable, an 

annual audit report. 

2. List of citation(s) to all scholarly 

products that resulted in whole or 

in part from work funded under 

the NIJ award. 

3. If applicable, each data set that 

resulted in whole or in part from 

work funded under the NIJ award. 

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O-NIJ-2021-40003 
Application Checklist 

Research on Juvenile Justice Topics, Fiscal Year 2021 

This application checklist has been created as an aid in developing an application. 

What an Applicant Must Do: 

Prior to Registering in Grants.gov: 

Acquire a DUNS Number  (see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide) 

Acquire or renew registration with SAM  (see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide) 

To Register with Grants.gov: 

Acquire AOR and Grants.gov username/password  (see OJP Grant Application Resource 

Guide) 

Acquire AOR confirmation from the E-Biz POC  (see OJP Grant Application Resource 

Guide) 

To Find Funding Opportunity: 

Search for the Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov 

Access Funding Opportunity and Application Package (see OJP Grant Application Resource 

Guide) 

Sign up for Grants.gov email notifications (optional)  (see OJP Grant Application Resource 

Guide) 

Read Important Notice: Applying for Grants in Grants.gov 

Read OJP policy and guidance on conference approval, planning, and reporting available at oj 

p.gov/financialguide/DOJ/PostawardRequirements/chapter3.10a.htm  (see OJP Grant 

Application Resource Guide) 

Overview of Post-Award Legal Requirements: 

Review the “ Overview of Legal Requirements Generally Applicable to OJP Grants and 

Cooperative Agreements - FY 2021 Awards” in the OJP Funding Resource Center. 

Scope Requirement: 

The federal amount requested is within the allowable limit(s) of  $2 million. 

Eligibility Requirement: 

State governments 

Special district governments 

City or township governments 

Public and State controlled institutions of higher education 

County governments 

Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities 

Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal 

governments) 

Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) 

Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher 

education 

Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of 

higher education 

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Private institutions of higher education 

For profit organizations other than small businesses 

Independent school districts 

Small businesses 

For purposes of this solicitation, the term “State” means any State of the United States, 

the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virginia Islands, Guam, 

American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. 

Foreign governments, foreign organizations, and foreign colleges and universities are 

not eligible to apply. Federal agencies are eligible to apply. (Any award made to a 

federal agency will be made as an inter-agency reimbursable agreement.) 

Submit SF-424 and SF-LLL in Grants.gov 

After SF-424 and SF-LLL Submission in Grants.gov, Receive Grants.gov Email Notifications That: 

Submission has been received in Grants.gov 

Submission has either been successfully validated or rejected with errors  (see OJP Grant 

Application Resource Guide) 

If No Grants.gov Receipt, and Validation or Error Notifications are Received: 

Contact the NCJRS Response Center regarding technical difficulties  (see OJP Grant 

Application Resource Guide) 

Receive email notification to complete application in JustGrants: 

Complete Application in JustGrants 

Content of Application Submission: 

The following items are critical application elements required to pass Basic Minimum Requirements review. An 

application that OJP determines does not include the application elements that must be included in the application 

submission in order for the application to meet the basic minimum requirements, will neither proceed to peer review, nor 

receive further consideration. 

Program Narrative  (see page 12) 

Budget Worksheet and Budget Narrative (Web-based form) (see page 15) 

Curriculum Vitae/Resumes for Key Personnel (see page 14) 

Content of Application Submission 

Information to Complete the Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) in Grants.gov 

Standard Applicant Information (SF-424 info from Grants.gov) 

Proposal Abstract 

Program Narrative 

Budget and Associated Documentation

 Budget Worksheet and Budget Narrative (web-based form) 

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) 

Guide 

(see OJP Grant Application Resource 

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 Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire (see OJP Grant 

Application Resource Guide)

 Disclosure of Process related to Executive Compensation 

Additional Application Components

 Tribal Authorizing Resolution (if applicable) (see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide)

 Research and Evaluation Independence and Integrity  (see OJP Grant Application 

Resource Guide)

 Documentation of rural challenges (if applicable)

 Documentation of high-poverty areas or persistent poverty counties (if applicable)

 Documentation of enhanced public safety in federally designated Qualified Opportunity 

Zones (if applicable) 

Disclosures and Assurances 

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL)  (see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide)

 Applicant Disclosure of Duplication in Cost Items (Pending Applications)  (see OJP Grant 

Application Resource Guide)

 DOJ Certified Standard Assurance (see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide)

 DOJ Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility 

Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (see OJP Grant Application Resource 

Guide)

 Applicant Disclosure and Justification – DOJ High Risk Grantees (if applicable)  (see OJP 

Grant Application Resource Guide) 

Submit Application in JustGrants: 

Application has been successfully submitted in JustGrants 

If No JustGrants Application Submission, Validation, or Error Notifications are Received: 

Contact JustGrants.Support@usdoj.gov or 833–872–5175 regarding technical difficulties 

Endnotes 

[1] National Research Council and Institute of Medicine. 2001. Juvenile Crime, Juvenile 

Justice. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/9747. 

[2] Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. COVID–19 Guidance: State 

Juvenile Detention and Correctional Facilities. Available online: https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/sites/g/file 

s/xyckuh176/files/media/document/OJJDP-COVID-19-Guidance-for-States.pdf. 

[3] Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act Reauthorization 2018. Available online: 

https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh176/files/media/document/jjdpa-as-amended_0.pdf. 

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