OMB No. 1121-0329 

Expires  12/31/2023 

U.S. Department of Justice 

Office of Justice Programs 

National Institute of Justice 

NIJ FY23 Research and Evaluation on the Administration of Justice: Advancing 

Access to Justice 60 Years after Gideon 

Assistance Listing Number #  16.560 

Grants.gov Opportunity Number: O-NIJ-2023-171579 

Solicitation Release Date:     February 09, 2023 2:30 PM ET  

Version:  2 

Step 1: Application Grants.gov Deadline:    April 26, 2023 11:59 PM ET  

Step 2: Application JustGrants Deadline:    May 10, 2023 8:59 PM ET 

Overview 

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

seeks applications for funding rigorous research and evaluation projects examining the impact of court and 

other criminal justice tools, practices, and policies on public defense or indigent defense services and 

equitable access to justice. This program furthers the DOJ’s mission by supporting the development of new 

knowledge and tools to address the challenges of crime and justice in the United States through fundamental 

research. 

This solicitation incorporates guidance provided in the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide which 

provides additional information for applicants to prepare and submit applications to OJP 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, Nonprofits that do not have 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, Unrestricted (open to any type of entity 

above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled as Additional Information on Eligibility 

An applicant entity may submit more than one application, if each application proposes a different project in 

response to the solicitation. Also, an entity may be proposed as a subrecipient (subgrantee) in more than one 

application. 

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. 

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O-NIJ-2023-171579 
NIJ may elect to fund applications submitted under this FY 2023 solicitation in future fiscal years, dependent 

on, among other considerations, the merit of the applications and the availability of appropriations. 

Contact Information 

For assistance with the requirements of this solicitation, contact the OJP Response Center at 800-851-3420, 

301-240-6310 (TTY for hearing-impaired callers only), or grants@ncjrs.gov. The OJP Response Center 

operates from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. eastern time (ET) Monday–Friday, and 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET on 

the solicitation close date. 

Submission Information 

Registration: Before submitting an application, all applicants must register with the System for Award 

Management (SAM). You must renew and validate your registration every 12 months. If you do not renew 

your SAM registration, it will expire. An expired registration can delay or prevent application submission in 

Grants.gov and JustGrants. Registration and renewal can take up to 10 business days to complete. 

Submission: Applications must be submitted to DOJ electronically through a two-step process via Grants.gov 

and JustGrants. 

Step 1: The applicant must submit by the Grants.gov deadline the required Application for Federal 

Assistance standard form (SF-424) and a Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) form when they 

register in Grants.gov at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html. Submit the SF-424 and SF-LLL 

as early as possible, but no later than 48 hours before the Grants.gov deadline. If an applicant fails to 

submit in Grants.gov, they will be unable to apply in JustGrants. 

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

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

support@grants.gov. The Grants.gov Support Hotline operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except on 

federal holidays. 

Step 2: The applicant must submit the full application, including attachments, in JustGrants at 

JustGrants.usdoj.gov by the JustGrants application deadline. 

For technical assistance with submitting the full application in JustGrants, contact the JustGrants Service 

Desk at 833-872-5175 or JustGrants.Support@usdoj.gov. The JustGrants Service Desk operates 7 a.m. to 9 

p.m. ET Monday–Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sunday, and Federal holidays. 

OJP encourages applicants to review the “How To Apply” section in the OJP Grant Application Resource 

Guide and the JustGrants website for more information, resources, and training. Applicants should maintain 

all receipts and confirmations received from SAM.gov, Grants.gov, JustGrants systems. 

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Contents 

Overview 1 

Contact Information 2 

Submission Information 2 

Program Description 5 

Overview 5 

Statutory Authority 5 

Specific Information 5 

Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables 8 

Priority Areas 9 

Federal Award Information 10 

Awards, Amounts and Durations 10 

Continuation Funding Intent 10 

Availability of Funds 10 

Type of Award 10 

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls 10 

Budget Information 11 

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 

Anticipated Maximum Dollar Amount of Awards 11 

Period of Performance Duration (Months) 12 

Eligibility Information 12 

Application and Submission Information 12 

Content of Application Submission 12 

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

Standard Applicant Information (JustGrants 424 and General Agency Information) 13 

Proposal Abstract 13 

Proposal Narrative 13 

Goal, Objective and Deliverables 15 

Budget and Associated Documentation 15 

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

Pre-agreement Costs (also known as Pre-award Costs) 16 

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) 16 

Consultant Rate 16 

Limitation on Employee Compensation; Waiver 16 

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire (including 16 

Disclosure of Process Related to Executive Compensation 16 

Additional Application Components 16 

Curriculum Vitae or Resumes 16 

Tribal Authorizing Resolution 16 

Timeline Form 17 

Letters of Support 17 

Research and Evaluation Independence and Integrity Statement 17 

Bibliography/reference 17 

Any Tools/Instruments, Questionnaires, Tables/Charts/Graphs, or Maps 17 

applicant disclosure of high-risk status) 

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List of Individuals in the Application 17 

Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements; Law Enforcement and 

Community Policing 

Human Subjects Protection 17 

Privacy Certificate 17 

Request to Use Incentives or Stipends 17 

Documentation of “new investigator” status, if applicable 18 

Consortium/Contractual Arrangements 18 

Data Archiving Plan 18 

Disclosures and Assurances 18 

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities 18 

DOJ Certified Standard Assurances 18 

Applicant Disclosure of Duplication in Cost Items 18 

DOJ Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other 18 

Applicant Disclosure and Justification - DOJ High Risk Grantees 19 

How to Apply 19 

Submission Dates and Time 19 

Experiencing Unforeseen Technical Issues Preventing Submission of an Application 19 

Application Review Information 20 

Review Criteria 20 

Review Process 21 

Federal Award Administration Information 22 

Federal Award Notices 22 

Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements 22 

Information Technology Security Clauses 22 

General Information about Post-Federal Award Reporting Requirements 22 

Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s) 23 

Other Information 23 

Freedom of Information and Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552 and 5 U.S.C. 552a) 23 

Provide Feedback to OJP 23 

Performance Measures 23 

Application Checklist 25 

Standard Solicitation Resources 27 

Endnotes 27 

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Program Description 

Overview 

OJP is committed to advancing work that promotes civil[1] rights and racial equity, increases access to 

justice, supports crime victims and individuals impacted by the justice system, strengthens community safety 

and protects the public from crime and evolving threats, and builds trust between law enforcement and the 

community. 

NIJ’s Research and Evaluation on the Administration of Justice Program supports rigorous research and 

evaluation projects examining the impact of court and other criminal justice tools, practices, and policies on 

the administration of justice and public safety in state, local, and tribal jurisdictions. With the 60th anniversary 

of Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335 (1963),[2] and in collaboration with DOJ’s Office for Access to Justice, 

NIJ’s research priority in FY 2023 is public defense or indigent defense services (IDS) and equitable access 

to justice. 

NIJ will give special consideration to proposals with methods that include meaningful engagement with the 

people with lived experience of the subject of study, including, but not limited to, justice practitioners, 

community members, crime victims, service providers, and individuals who have experienced justice system 

involvement. 

Applicants are encouraged to propose multidisciplinary research teams to build on the complementary 

strengths of different methods and areas of subject-matter expertise. NIJ also seeks proposals that include 

consideration and measurement of issues of diversity, discrimination, and bias across age, gender and 

gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation, as applicable. 

Applications proposing research involving partnerships with criminal justice or other agencies should include 

a 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 an award funded by NIJ 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 NIJ’s data archiving guidance. If selected for an award, 

grantees will be expected to have a formal agreement in place with partnering agencies by January 1, 2024. 

That formal agreement must include a provision to meet the data archiving requirements of the award. 

NIJ seeks proposals that include robust, creative, and multi-pronged dissemination strategies that include 

strategic partnerships with organizations and associations that are best equipped to ensure that research 

findings lead to changes in policies and practices related to the subjects of study. Special consideration will 

be given to proposals that dedicate at least 15% of the requested project award funding toward implementing 

such strategies, as demonstrated in the Budget Worksheet and Budget Narrative. 

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. The 

applicant is expected to conduct a majority of the work proposed. 

Statutory Authority 

Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2023 (Pub. L. No. 117-328, 136 Stat. 4459, 4542-4543); 28 U.S.C. 

530C. 

Specific Information 

Courts play an integral role in the administration of justice as collaborators and intermediaries between 

defendants, victims, law enforcement, corrections, and the community. NIJ’s Courts Research Portfolio[3] 

sponsors research, development, and evaluation to identify court tools, practices, and policies designed to 

meet criminal justice goals, including public safety, cost-efficiency, and fair and equitable treatment of victims 

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and defendants. With this solicitation, NIJ renews its commitment to public defense and IDS stakeholder 

needs as a research priority. It further supports “the need for data and research, the challenges of retention 

and recruitment, and the upcoming 60th anniversary of Gideon v. Wainwright, the landmark case 

establishing a constitutional right to counsel in criminal proceedings.”[4] 

Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335 (1963) brought the right to criminal court representation to all states and 

low-level proceedings, shifting the model from charitable to professional public defense practice and giving 

rise to public defender offices.[5] Professional standards have since been set for criminal indigent defense 

delivery systems and services practiced by any attorney ? whether privately retained, assigned by the court, 

acting pro bono, or serving indigent defendants in a legal aid or public defender’s office.[6] The American Bar 

Association has also promoted the management and oversight of assigned counsel and contract systems.[7] 

Past surveys have found that many states authorize some form of cost recovery, including application fees 

prior to providing legal representation, or recoupment where a client pays all or a portion of the costs 

associated with legal representation or support services.[8] Longstanding workload issues have been 

complicated by the pandemic, which caused staffing shortages, case backlogs, reduced courtroom and jail 

access, and other concerns that have implications for court rules, practices, fairness, and outcomes.[9] 

With this solicitation, NIJ seeks applications for funding rigorous research and evaluation projects 

examining the impact of court and other criminal justice tools, practices, and policies on public 

defense or indigent defense services (IDS) and equitable access to justice. In particular, NIJ is 

interested in the following. 

IDS Approaches: NIJ is interested in research and evaluation on what factors support a robust 

public defense function, how different approaches promote or inhibit IDS independence and 

oversight, and the effectiveness of different IDS delivery approaches on equitable access to 

justice. 

Approaches to IDS delivery include but are not limited to: 

Funding public defender offices 

Appointment of counsel 

Specialized case management by case phase or type (vertical representation) 

Holistic defense programs 

Topics include but are not limited to: 

Community and criminal justice stakeholder engagement 

Perceived legitimacy and public trust 

Case disposition integrity and conduct review 

Equitable access to court-based service resources 

Enhance the Courts Workforce and Court Workgroups: NIJ is interested in the development, 

implementation, and effects of strategies to enhance the workforce and other resources related 

to IDS delivery. 

Topics include but are not limited to: 

Supporting staff in a pandemic work environment 

Recruitment and retention challenges and responses 

Assessing quality and impact of representation 

Enhancing court workgroup functions 

Advance Court Practices Related to IDS Delivery: NIJ is interested in the development, 

implementation, and effects of strategies to advance court practices related to IDS delivery. 

Topics include but are not limited to: 

Information sharing and other court operations 

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Setting practice standards 

Managing victim, witness, expert and other types of evidence 

Addressing needs of clients with disabilities, or language and other needs 

Court policies and procedures on pretrial and other case and defendant outcomes 

Additional Information 

Proposals must be for rigorous research and evaluation projects, and not primarily for program support or 

training and technical assistance. Proposed research must address the administration of justice and public 

safety in state, local, and tribal jurisdictions relevant to IDS, in terms of at least one of the research priorities 

above. Applications for funding research that fall outside of this scope will not be considered.[10] 

Proposed research must pertain to criminal courts and cases involving adults. Applications for funding 

research pertaining to the juvenile justice system will not be considered. 

Research applications should: 

State research questions that correspond clearly to proposed research and evaluation methods, data 

collection, analysis, and reporting plans. 

Detail how qualitative or quantitative research methods will be implemented, and how the collected 

information will be compiled and analyzed. 

Detail interview and focus group protocols, if relevant, with assessment of potential recruitment and 

response bias. 

Describe protocol and associated budget options should field research plans need to be modified due 

to public health and related concerns. 

Describe potential archival data resources, if relevant, and how potential validity and reliability concerns 

will be addressed. 

Demonstrate cultural competence in research protocol and team capabilities that addresses 

geographic, racial/ethnic, language, and other relevant diversity issues. 

Describe, in the project management plan, each research team member (staff, contractor, consultant, 

etc.) with a clearly specified role and projected level of effort, regardless of compensation. 

Provide for each partnering agency a letter of commitment clarifying information, staff, and other 

resource access. 

Confirm access to all necessary information resources for a successful project, without assistance from 

either NIJ or from any other federal agency, except as stipulated in that other federal agency's letter of 

commitment. 

Submit a project timeline beginning on January 1, 2024 that indicates key milestones and necessary 

steps to produce the grant deliverables outlined in the Deliverables section below. 

Propose research excluding national surveys, basic laboratory research, and purely descriptive studies. 

Provide rationale for any research proposals that may overlap with projects supported by other NIJ 

solicitations or other federal research programs.[11] 

Applicants should discuss potential risks and harms to individuals or groups associated with the use and/or 

misuse of any practice or technology proposed as a part of the research and evaluation, as well as any 

ethical considerations that may factor into its use. In addition, applicants should be aware of all relevant 

statutes, regulations, and/or governing judicial decisions (e.g., established case law, prevailing court rulings) 

related to the practice or technology’s proposed use. Any limitations that may impede the lawful use or 

implementation of any practice or technology proposed should be described, and a realistic approach to 

mitigate such limitations in the context of the proposed research should be discussed. 

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 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 

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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. 

Applications that propose evaluation research should also include an implementation evaluation component 

to ensure that implementation fidelity metrics are collected and analyzed. Applicants are encouraged to 

propose research methods that enable interim feedback on implementation fidelity to enable program 

providers to make ongoing improvements in program delivery. 

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

must demonstrate research/evaluation independence and integrity through discussion of potential risks (if 

any) to independence and integrity, and appropriate safeguards, as required. 

NIJ also encourages applicants to consider the feasibility of including a 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 considered 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:// 

crimesolutions.ojp.gov/about/how-we-review-and-rate-program-start-finish for further information on highquality evaluation design elements. 

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 six (6) years prior to 

September 30, 2023. 

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

Graduate Research Fellows. 

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

that it is submitting a New Investigator/Early Career proposal on the title page of the application. 

Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables 

Goals 

The goal of this solicitation is to provide objective and independent knowledge and tools that support courts 

and other agencies in state, tribal, and local jurisdictions in their efforts to reform the criminal justice system. 

Objectives 

An applicant should address the objectives that are relevant to their proposed program/project in the Goals, 

Objectives, Deliverables, and Timeline web-based form. 

The objectives of this solicitation are to support applied research on public defense or IDS approaches and 

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their effects on equitable access to justice, enhancing the workforce and court workgroups, and advancing 

court practices related to IDS delivery. 

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 

policymaker audiences. 

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

completed work's results, as discussed in the "Application and Submission Information" section. 

Priority Areas 

The Department of Justice is committed to advancing work that promotes civil rights and racial equity, 

increases access to justice, supports crime victims and individuals impacted by the justice system, 

strengthens community safety and protects the public from crime and evolving threats, and builds trust 

between law enforcement and the community. 

1. Priority Considerations Supporting Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for 

Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government 

In support of Executive Order 13985, OJP will give priority consideration to: 

Applicants that demonstrate that their capabilities and competencies for implementing their proposed project 

(s) are enhanced because they (or at least one proposed subrecipient that will receive at least 40% of the 

requested award funding, as demonstrated in the Budget Web-Based Form) identify as a culturally specific 

organization. To receive this additional priority consideration, applicants must describe how being a culturally 

specific organization (or funding the culturally specific subrecipient organization(s)) will enhance their ability 

to implement the proposed project(s) and should also specify which populations are intended or expected to 

be served or to have their needs addressed under the proposed project(s). 

Culturally specific organizations are defined for the purposes of this solicitation as private nonprofit or tribal 

organizations whose primary purpose as a whole is to provide culturally specific services to racial and ethnic 

groups, including, among others, Black people, Hispanic and Latino people, Native American and other 

Indigenous peoples of North America (including Alaska Native, Eskimo, and Aleut), Asian Americans, Native 

Hawaiians, and/or Pacific Islanders. 

2. Minority Serving Institutions 

NIJ will give special consideration in award decisions to proposals from Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). 

MSIs include: 

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Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) 

Hispanic-serving Institutions (HSI) 

Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU) 

Alaska Native-serving Institutions or Native Hawaiian-serving Institutions (ANNH) 

Predominantly Black Institutions (PBI) 

Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving Institutions (AANAPISI) 

Native American-serving Non-Tribal Institutions (NASNTI) 

Whether an institution is an MSI is based on the original purpose of its establishment or its current enrollment 

thresholds and is designated as such by the federal government for various purposes under specific statutes. 

For more information, please see the U.S. Department of Education's definitions and lists of institutions. (The 

lists are provided for reference purposes only; MSI status is not an eligibility criterion for this solicitation.) 

Note: Addressing this priority area is one of many factors that NIJ considers in making funding decisions. 

Receiving priority consideration for one or more priority areas does not guarantee an award. 

Federal Award Information 

Solicitation Categories 

This solicitation does not include Solicitation Categories. 

Awards, Amounts and Durations 

Anticipated Number of Awards Period of Performance Start Date 

Up to 4 1/1/24 

Period of Performance Duration (Months) Anticipated Total Amount to be Awarded Under 

60 Solicitation 

$2,000,000.00 

Additional Information 

Please see Anticipated Maximum Dollar Amount of 

Awards and Period of Performance Duration 

sections below. 

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 the award-funded work’s progress, when making continuation award 

decisions. 

Availability of Funds 

This solicitation, and awards under this solicitation, are subject to the availability of appropriated funds and to 

any modifications or additional requirements that may be imposed by the agency or by law. In addition, 

nothing in this solicitation is intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, 

enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, 

its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. 

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. 

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls 

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

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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. See the 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 2023, 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.) 

NIJ may elect to fund applications submitted under this FY 2023 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, or to provide direct services. (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. 

The applicant should identify within their budget which items, services, etc., will/would be covered by 

matching sources and explain what type of match will be provided. 

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement 

See “Cofunding” paragraph under “Budget and Associated Documentation” in the “Application and 

Submission Information” section. 

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

See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide 

for 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 for information on the 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. 

Anticipated Maximum Dollar Amount of Awards 

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NIJ anticipates funding up to 4 awards totaling $2 million. 

Period of Performance Duration (Months) 

Awards will normally not exceed a three-year period of performance, and applications proposing shorter 

timelines are preferred. Successful applicants will be expected to complete the work proposed within a fiveyear period of performance. 

Eligibility Information 

For eligibility information, see the solicitation cover page. 

For information on cost sharing or match requirements, see the “Federal Award Information” section. 

Foreign governments, foreign organizations, and foreign colleges and universities are not eligible to apply. 

Federal agencies are not eligible to apply. 

For the purposes of this solicitation, “state” means any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, 

the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of 

the Northern Mariana Islands. 

Notice regarding law enforcement agencies: 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 2023 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 certification requirement, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/SafePolicingEO to access the 

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

List of Designated Independent Credentialing Bodies. 

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

fee. 

Application and Submission Information 

Content of Application Submission 

The following application elements must be included in the application to meet the basic minimum 

requirements to advance to peer review and receive consideration for funding: 

Proposal Narrative 

Budget Web-Based Form (The web-based form includes the budget details and the budget narrative.) 

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

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

If NIJ determines that an application does not include these elements, it will neither proceed to peer review, 

nor receive further consideration. 

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

The SF-424 must be submitted in Grants.gov. It 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. 

In Section 8F of the SF-424, please include the name and contact information of the individual who will 

complete the application in JustGrants. JustGrants will use this information (email address) to assign the 

application to this user in JustGrants. 

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Intergovernmental Review: This solicitation (“funding opportunity”) is not subject to Executive Order (E.O.) 

12372. In completing the SF-424, an applicant is to answer question 19 by selecting “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. The applicant will need to review the Standard Applicant Information in 

JustGrants and make edits as needed. Within this section, the applicant will need to add ZIP codes for areas 

affected by the project; confirm their Authorized Representative; and verify and confirm the organization’s 

unique entity identifier, legal name, and address. 

Proposal Abstract 

A Proposal Abstract (no more than 400 words) summarizing the proposed project—including its purpose, 

primary activities, expected outcomes, the service area, intended beneficiaries, and subrecipients (if 

known)—must be completed in the JustGrants web-based form. This abstract should be in paragraph form, 

without bullets or tables, written in the third person, and exclude personally identifiable information. Abstracts 

will be made publicly available on the OJP and USASpending.gov websites if the project is awarded. 

See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for an example of a proposal abstract. 

Proposal Narrative 

The Proposal Narrative should be submitted as an attachment in JustGrants. The attached document should 

be double-spaced, using a standard 12-point font; have no less than 1-inch margins; and should not exceed 

30 numbered pages. If the Proposal Narrative fails to comply with these length restrictions, NIJ may consider 

such noncompliance in peer review and in the final award decision. 

The Proposal Narrative should include the following sections: 

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

The title page should include: 

Project title. 

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 proposal 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 proposal 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 

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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 program-specific 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 justice-related policy, practice, or theory in the United States. The applicant should include a 

discussion of the proposed dissemination plan to produce scholarly products and to make 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: 

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. Among other factors, that plan should include a description of the anticipated 

level of effort of key personnel. 

If the applicant is seeking priority consideration under Priority 1, it should describe within this section 

how being a culturally specific organization (or funding a culturally specific subrecipient organization at 

a minimum of 40% of the project budget) will enhance its ability to implement the proposed project 

(s) and which culturally specific populations are intended or expected to be the subject and/or 

beneficiary of the research conducted under the proposed project(s). 

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

The project management plan. 

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 

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submitted (if applicable). 

6. Plan for Collecting the Data Required for this Solicitation’s Performance Measures 

Note: An applicant is not required to submit performance data with the application. Rather, 

performance measure information is included as a notification that award recipients will be required to 

submit performance data as part of each award’s reporting requirements. Some measures are 

presented as examples, while others are the exact measures that every recipient will be expected to 

address. 

OJP will require each award recipient to submit regular performance data that show the completed 

work’s results. The performance data directly relate to the goals, objectives, and deliverables identified 

in the “Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables” discussion. Applicants can visit OJP’s performance 

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

activities at OJP. 

A list of performance measure questions for this program can be found in the ‘Performance Measures’ 

section below. 

NIJ will require award recipients to submit performance measure data in quarterly financial reports, 

semi-annual performance reports, and the final research report and separately submit a semi-annual 

performance report in JustGrants. NIJ will provide further guidance on the post-award submission 

process if the applicant is selected for award. 

Goal, Objective and Deliverables 

The applicant will submit the project's goals, objectives, deliverables and timeline in the JustGrants webbased form. The applicant will also enter the projected fiscal year and quarter that each objective and 

deliverable will be completed. Please refer to the Application Submission Job Aid for step-by-step directions. 

Goals. The applicant should describe the project’s intent to change, reduce, or eliminate the problem noted in 

the previous section and outline the project’s goals. 

Program Objectives. The applicant should explain how the program will accomplish its goals. Objectives are 

specific, quantifiable statements of the project’s desired results. They should be measurable and clearly 

linked to the goal. 

Deliverables. Project deliverables refer to outputs—tangible or intangible—that are submitted within the 

scope of a project. 

Budget and Associated Documentation 

Budget Worksheet and Budget Narrative (Web-based Form) 

The applicant will complete the JustGrants web-based budget form. For additional information, see the OJP 

Grant Application Resource Guide and the Complete the Application in JustGrants – Budget training. 

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. 

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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. 

If the applicant is seeking priority consideration under Priority 1 based on the identification of at least one 

proposed subrecipient as a culturally specific organization, the proposed funding for the subrecipient in the 

web-based budget form must reflect a minimum of 40% of award funding. The budget narrative must also 

describe how the activities that will be funded with the (minimum) 40% of award funding provided to the 

subrecipient specifically relate to the priority consideration requested and described in the Capabilities 

and Competencies section of the application. 

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

See the section on Costs Requiring Prior Approval in the DOJ Grants Financial Guide Post Award 

Requirements for more information. 

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) 

If applicable, the applicant will upload their indirect cost rate agreement as an attachment in JustGrants. See 

the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for more information on indirect costs. 

Consultant Rate 

See the DOJ Grants Financial Guide for information on the consultant rates which require prior approval 

from OJP. 

Limitation on Employee Compensation; Waiver 

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

Employee Compensation for Awards over $250,000; Waiver. 

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire (including applicant disclosure 

of high-risk status) 

The applicant will download the questionnaire, complete it, and upload it as an attachment in JustGrants. 

See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for the link to the questionnaire and additional information. 

Disclosure of Process Related to Executive Compensation 

This solicitation expressly modifies the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide by not incorporating its 

“Disclosure of Process Related to Executive Compensation” provisions.  Applicants to this solicitation are not 

required to provide this disclosure. 

Additional Application Components 

The applicant will attach the additional requested documentation in JustGrants. 

Curriculum Vitae or Resumes 

Provide 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). 

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Tribal Authorizing Resolution 

An application in response to this solicitation may require inclusion of tribal authorizing documentation as an 

attachment. If applicable, the applicant will upload the tribal authorizing documentation as an attachment in 

JustGrants. See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for information on tribal authorizing resolutions. 

Timeline Form 

Proposed project timeline and expected milestones. 

Letters of Support 

Letters of cooperation/support or administrative agreements from organizations collaborating in the project, 

such as law enforcement and correctional agencies (if applicable). 

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. The applicant will upload documentation of its research and evaluation 

independence and integrity as an attachment in JustGrants. For additional information, see the OJP Grant 

Application Resource Guide. 

Bibliography/reference 

Provide a bibliography of any references cited in the Proposal Narrative. 

Any Tools/Instruments, Questionnaires, Tables/Charts/Graphs, or Maps 

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. 

List of Individuals in the Application 

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. 

Human Subjects Protection 

Human Subjects Protection paperwork as a separate attachment (documentation and forms related to 

Institutional Review Board [IRB] review). See https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/human-subjects-protection. Note: 

Final IRB approval is not required at the time an application is submitted. 

Privacy Certificate 

Privacy Certificate as a separate file (for further guidance go to 

https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/confidentiality-and-privacy-protections and https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/modelprivacy-certificate). 

Request to Use Incentives or Stipends 

Applicants proposing to use incentives or stipend 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 

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forth at https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/participant-support-costs-and-incentives-social-science-research. 

Documentation of “new investigator” status, if applicable 

Documentation of “new investigator” status, if applicable. 

Consortium/Contractual Arrangements 

Explain the programmatic, fiscal, and administrative arrangements to be made between the applicant 

organization and the consortium organization(s). 

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 

https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/data-archiving. 

Applications should include as a separate file 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 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. 

Disclosures and Assurances 

The applicant will address the following disclosures and assurances. 

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities 

Complete and submit the SF-LLL in Grants.gov. Once the applicant submits in Grants.gov, this information 

will pre-pend into JustGrants. See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for additional information. 

DOJ Certified Standard Assurances 

Review and accept the DOJ Certified Standard Assurances in JustGrants. See the OJP Grant Application 

Resource Guide for additional information. 

Applicant Disclosure of Duplication in Cost Items 

Complete the JustGrants web-based Applicant Disclosure of Duplication in Cost Items form. See the OJP 

Grant Application Resource Guide for additional information. 

DOJ Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; 

Drug-Free Workplace Requirements; Law Enforcement and Community Policing 

Review and accept the DOJ Certified Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other 

Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements; Law Enforcement and Community Policing. See 

the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for additional information. 

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Applicant Disclosure and Justification - DOJ High Risk Grantees 

If applicable, submit the DOJ High Risk Disclosure and Justification as an attachment in JustGrants. A DOJ 

High Risk Grantee is an award 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; noncompliance with award terms and conditions on prior awards or is otherwise not 

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

How to Apply 

Registration: Before submitting an application, all applicants must register with the System for Award 

Management (SAM).  You must renew and validate your registration every 12 months.  If you do not renew 

your SAM registration, it will expire.  An expired registration can delay or prevent application submission in 

Grants.gov and JustGrants.  Registration and renewal can take up to 10 business days to complete. 

Submission: Applications must be submitted to DOJ electronically through a two-step process via Grants.gov 

and JustGrants. 

Step 1: After registering with SAM, the applicant must submit the SF-424 and SF-LLL in Grants.gov at 

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html by the Grants.gov deadline. Submit the SF-424 and SFLLL as early as possible, but no later than 48 hours before the Grants.gov deadline. If an applicant 

fails to submit in Grants.gov, they will be unable to apply in JustGrants. 

Step 2: The applicant must then submit the full application, including attachments, in JustGrants at 

JustGrants.usdoj.gov by the JustGrants deadline. 

Within 24 hours after receipt of confirmation emails from Grants.gov, the individual in Section 8F of the 

SF-424 will receive an email from DIAMD-NoReply@usdoj.gov with instructions on how to create a 

JustGrants account. Register the Entity Administrator and the Application Submitter with JustGrants as early 

as possible but no later than 48-72 hours before the JustGrants deadline. Once registered in JustGrants, the 

Application Submitter will receive an emailed link to complete the rest of the application in JustGrants. The 

Entity Administrator also will need to log into JustGrants to review and invite the applicant’s Authorized 

Representative(s) before an application can be submitted. 

Submit the complete application package in JustGrants at least 24 – 48 hours prior to the JustGrants 

deadline. Some of the application components will be entered directly into JustGrants, and others will require 

uploading attached documents. Therefore, applicants will need to allow ample time before the JustGrants 

deadline to prepare each component. Applicants may save their progress in the system and revise the 

application as needed prior to hitting the Submit button at the end of the application in JustGrants. 

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

the DOJ Application Submission Checklist. 

Submission Dates and Time 

The SF-424 and the SF-LLL must be submitted in Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on April 26, 2023. 

The full application must be submitted in JustGrants by 8:59 p.m. eastern time on May 10, 2023. 

OJP urges applicants to submit their Grants.gov and JustGrants submissions prior to the due dates with 

sufficient time to correct any errors and resubmit by the submission deadlines if a rejection notification is 

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

application deadline. Failure to begin the SAM.gov, Grants.gov, or JustGrants registration process in 

sufficient time (i.e., waiting until the date identified in this solicitation) is not an acceptable reason for late 

submission. 

Experiencing Unforeseen Technical Issues Preventing Submission of an Application 

OJP will only consider requests to submit an application after the deadline when the applicant can document 

that a technical issue with a government system prevented application submission. 

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If an applicant misses a deadline due to unforeseen technical issues with SAM.gov, Grants.gov, or 

JustGrants, the applicant may request a waiver to submit an application after the deadline. However, the 

waiver request will not be considered unless it includes a tracking number generated when the applicant 

contacts the applicable service desks to report technical difficulties. Tracking numbers are generated 

automatically when an applicant emails the applicable service desks; and for this reason applicants are 

encouraged to email the appropriate service desk, even if they also intend to call the service desk for phone 

support. Experiencing wait times for phone support does not relieve the applicant of the responsibility of 

getting a tracking number. 

An applicant experiencing technical difficulties must contact the associated service desk indicated below to 

report the technical issue and receive a tracking number: 

SAM.gov - contact the SAM Help Desk (Federal Service Desk), Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

ET at 866-606-8220. 

Grants.gov - contact the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except 

on federal holidays, at 800-518-4726, 606-545-5035, or support@grants.gov. 

JustGrants - contact the JustGrants Service Desk at JustGrants.Support@usdoj.gov or 833-872-5175, 

Monday – Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET and Saturday, Sunday, and Federal holidays from 9 a.m. to 

5 p.m. ET. 

If an applicant has technical issues with SAM.gov or Grants.gov, the applicant must contact the OJP 

Response Center at grants@ncjrs.gov within 24 hours of the Grants.gov deadline to request approval to 

submit after the deadline. 

If an applicant has technical issues with JustGrants that prevent application submission by the deadline, the 

applicant must contact the OJP Response Center at grants@ncjrs.gov within 24 hours of the JustGrants 

deadline to request approval to submit after the deadline. 

Waiver requests sent to the OJP Response Center must -

describe the technical difficulties experienced, 

include a timeline of the applicant's submission efforts (e.g., date and time the error occurred, date and 

time of actions taken to resolve the issue and resubmit; and date and time support representatives 

responded), 

include an attachment of the complete grant application and all the required documentation and 

materials, 

include the applicant's Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), and 

include any SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and JustGrants Service Desk tracking numbers documenting the 

technical issue. 

OJP will review each waiver request and the required supporting documentation and notify the applicant 

whether the request for late submission has been approved or denied. An applicant that does not provide 

documentation of a technical issue or that does not submit a waiver request within the required time period 

will be denied. 

For more details on the waiver process, OJP encourages applicants to review the “Experiencing Unforeseen 

Technical Issues” section in the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide. 

Application Review Information 

Review Criteria 

Merit Review Criteria 

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

proposed project/program addresses the following criteria: 

Statement of the Problem (understanding of the problem) (15%) 

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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. 

Project Design and Implementation (quality and technical merit) (45%) 

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. 

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. 

Potential Impact (15%) 

Potential for a significant scientific or technical advance(s) that will improve criminal justice in the 

United States. 

Potential for significantly improved understanding of the stated criminal justice problem. 

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

problem. 

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. 

Budget (5%) 

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. 

Appropriateness of the budget relative to the level of effort. 

Use of existing resources to conserve costs. 

Other Review Criteria/Factors 

Other important considerations for NIJ include geographic diversity, strategic priorities specifically including, 

but not limited to, those priority areas already mentioned, if applicable), available funding, past performance, 

and the extent to which the Budget Web-Based Form accurately explains project costs that are reasonable, 

necessary, and otherwise allowable under federal law and applicable federal cost principles. 

Review Process 

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Applications submitted under this solicitation that meet the 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 review criteria listed above. 

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

review. Although specific requirements may vary, the following are common requirements applicable to all 

OJP solicitations: 

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. 

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 entity. Among other things to help assess 

whether an applicant with one or more prior federal awards has a satisfactory record of performance, 

integrity, and business ethics, OJP checks whether the applicant entity 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 entity 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 its organization 

that currently appears in FAPIIS and was entered by a federal awarding agency. OJP will consider such 

comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in FAPIIS, in its assessment of the risk posed 

by the applicant entity. 

All final award decisions will be made by the Director of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), 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 

Generally, award notifications are made by the end of the current Federal fiscal year, September 30th. 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 OJP-approved 

application, the recipient must comply with all award conditions and all applicable requirements of federal 

statutes and regulations, including the 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 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 more information. 

General Information about Post-Federal Award Reporting Requirements 

In addition to the deliverables described in the “Program Description” section, all award recipients under this 

solicitation will be required to submit certain reports and data. 

Required reports. Award recipients typically must submit quarterly financial reports, semi-annual 

performance reports, final financial and performance reports, and, if applicable, an annual audit report in 

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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 measure data. 

Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s) 

For questions directed to the Federal Awarding Agency, see OJP Response Center contact information on 

cover page. 

For OJP contact(s), contact information for Grants.gov, and contact information for JustGrants, see the 

solicitation cover page. 

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 the 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 

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Objective Performance Measure(s) Description Data Recipient Provides 

Conduct research in 1. Relevance to the needs of the 1. Quarterly financial 

social and behavioral field as measured by whether the reports, semi-annual and 

sciences having clear project’s substantive scope did final performance reports, 

implications for not deviate from the funded and products of the work 

criminal justice policy project or any subsequent performed under the NIJ 

and practice in the agency-approved modifications to award (including, at 

United States. the scope. minimum, a final research 

report). If applicable, an Conduct research in 2. Quality of the research as annual audit report. science, technology, demonstrated by the scholarly 

engineering, and/or products that result in whole or in 2. List of citation(s) to all 

mathematics having part from work funded under the scholarly products that 

clear implications for NIJ award, such as published, resulted in whole or in part 

criminal justice policy peer-reviewed, scientific journal from work funded under the 

and practice in the articles, and/or (as appropriate for NIJ award. 

United States. 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 

A technology is 

defined as a 

tool to include, 

for example, 

test methods, 

software, 

hardware, etc. 

3. If applicable, each data 

set that resulted in whole or 

in part from work funded 

under the NIJ award. 

4. Description of all 

technologies fielded as a 

result (in whole or in part) of 

whether significant project 

milestones were achieved, 

reporting and other deadlines 

were met, and costs remained 

within approved limits. 

4. Number of technologies fielded 

as a result (in whole or in part) of 

work funded under the NIJ award. 

A fielded 

technology is 

one that 

remains in use 

at the 

conclusion of 

the grant or 

agreement. 

work funded under the NIJ 

award. 

Page 24 of 28 

O-NIJ-2023-171579 
Application Checklist 

NIJ FY23 Research and Evaluation on the Administration of Justice: Advancing Access to Justice 60 

Years after Gideon 

This application checklist has been created as an aid in developing an application. For more information, 

reference the OJP Application Submission Steps in the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide and the DOJ 

Application Submission Checklist. 

Pre-Application 

Before Registering in Grants.gov: 

Acquire or renew your Entity’s System Award Management (SAM) Registration Information (see OJP 

Grant Application Resource Guide) 

Register in Grants.gov 

Acquire an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) and a Grants.gov username and password 

(see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide) 

Acquire AOR confirmation from the E-Business Point of Contact (E-Biz POC) (see OJP Grant 

Application Resource Guide) 

Find the Funding Opportunity 

Search for the funding opportunity in Grants.gov using the opportunity number, assistance listing number, or keyword(s) 

Access the funding opportunity and application package (see Step 7 in the 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 https:// 

www.ojp.gov/funding/financialguidedoj/iii-postaward-requirements#6g3y8 (see OJP Grant Application 

Resource Guide) 

Review the Overview of Post-Award Legal Requirements 

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

Agreements - FY 2023 Awards” in the OJP Funding Resource Center. 

Review the Scope Requirement 

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

Review Eligibility Requirement: 

Review the Eligibility section on the cover page and Eligibility Information section in the solicitation. 

~~~~ 

Application Step 1 

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

In Section 8F of the SF-424, include the name and contact information of the individual who will 

complete the application in JustGrants and the SF-LLL in Grants.gov 

Within 48 hours after the SF-424 and SF-LLL submission in Grants.gov, receive four (4) Grants.gov email 

notifications: 

a submission receipt 

a validation receipt 

Page 25 of 28 

O-NIJ-2023-171579 
a grantor agency retrieval receipt 

an agency tracking number assignment 

If no Grants.gov receipt and validation email is received, or if error notifications are received: 

Contact OJP Response Center at grants@ncjrs.gov or 800-851-3420 or TTY: 301-240-6310 (hearing impaired 

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

support, or support@grants.gov regarding technical difficulties (see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide) 

Within 24 hours after receipt of confirmation emails from Grants.gov, the individual in Section 8F of the 

SF-424 will receive an email from JustGrants with login instructions. 

Proceed to Application Step 2 and complete application in JustGrants 

Application Step 2 

Submit the following information in JustGrants: 

Application Components 

Standard Applicant information (SF-424 information from Grants.gov) 

Proposal Abstract 

Proposal Narrative* 

Budget and Associated Documentation 

Budget Web-Based form* 

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) (see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide) 

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

Resource Guide) 

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 

Request and Justification for Employee Compensation; Waiver (if applicable) (see OJP Grant 

Application Resource Guide) 

Curriculum Vitae or Resumes* 

Timeline Form 

Letters of Support 

Bibliography/reference 

Any tools/instruments, questionnaires, tables/chart/graphs, or maps 

List of Individuals 

Human Subjects 

Privacy Certificate 

Request to Use Incentives or Stipends 

New Investigator Status (if applicable) 

Consortium/Contractual Arrangements 

Data Archiving 

Disclosures and Assurances 

Page 26 of 28 

O-NIJ-2023-171579 
Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) (see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide) 

Applicant Disclosure of Duplication in Cost Items (see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide) 

DOJ Certified Standard Assurances (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) 

*Note: Items designated with an asterisk must be submitted for an application to meet the basic

minimum requirements review. If OJP determines that an application does not include the designated

items, it will neither proceed to peer review, nor receive further consideration. 

Review, Certify and Submit Application in JustGrants 

Any validation errors will immediately display on screen after submission. 

Correct validation errors, if necessary, and then return to the “Certify and Submit” screen to submit the 

application. Access the Application Submission Validation Errors Quick Reference Guide for step-by- step instructions to resolve errors prior to submission. 

Once the application is submitted and validated, a confirmation message will appear at the top of the page. Users will also receive a notification in the “bell” alerts confirming submission. 

If no JustGrants application submission confirmation email or validation is received, or if error notification is 

received: 

Contact the JustGrants Service Desk at 833-872-5175 or JustGrants.Support@usdoj.gov regarding 

technical difficulties. See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for additional information. 

Standard Solicitation Resources 

OJP Grant Application Resource Guide provides guidance to assist OJP grant applicants in preparing and 

submitting applications for OJP funding. 

DOJ Grants Financial Guide serves as the primary reference manual to assist award recipients in fulfilling 

their fiduciary responsibility to safeguard grant funds and to ensure funds are used for the purposes for which 

they were awarded. It compiles a variety of laws, rules and regulations that affect the financial and 

administrative management of DOJ awards. This guide serves as a starting point for all award recipients and 

subrecipients of DOJ grants and cooperative agreements in ensuring the effective day-to-day management 

of awards. 

JustGrants Resources Website is an entryway into information about JustGrants and the grants 

management system itself. Through this portal both award recipients and applicants can access training 

resource and user support options, find frequently asked questions and sign-up for the 

JustGrants Update e-newsletter. 

JustGrants Application Submission Training Page offers helpful information and resources on the application 

process. This training page includes e-learning videos, reference guides, checklists and other resources to 

help applicants complete an application. 

Virtual Q&A Sessions are advertised here and provide opportunities for users to receive topic-specific 

training, direct technical assistance and support on JustGrants system functionality. 

Page 27 of 28 

O-NIJ-2023-171579 
Endnotes 

[1] This solicitation is not for research proposals concerning civil matters as NIJ authorities do not allow such 

research, unless there is an exceptional nexus with the proposed criminal justice system research. 

[2] Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335 (1963), https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/372/335/. 

[3] Courts, https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/courts. 

[4] Readout of Justice Department Leadership Meeting with Public Defender and Legal Aid Community 

Leaders, 

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/readout-justice-department-leadership-meeting-public-defender-and-legal-aidcommunity-leaders. 

[5] Mayeux (2016). What Gideon Did. Columbia Law Review, Vol. 116, Pg. 15, 2016, U of Penn Law School, 

Public Law Research Paper No. 16-2, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2724830. 

[6] Criminal Justice Standards for the Defense Function, https://www.americanbar.org/groups/ 

criminal_justice/standards/DefenseFunctionFourthEdition/. 

[7] 2022 ABA Public Defense Summit: Management and Oversight of Assigned Counsel and Contract 

Systems, https://www.americanbar.org/groups/legal_aid_indigent_defense/ 

indigent_defense_systems_improvement/public-education-events/public-defense-summit/agenda/. 

[8] Strong (2016). State-Administered Indigent Defense Systems, 2013, https://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm/ 

content/data/index.cfm?ty=pbdetail&iid=5826. 

[9] ABA Eight Guidelines of Public Defense Related to Excessive Workloads, https://dids.nv.gov/ 

uploadedFiles/didsnvgov/content/Resources/ 

ABAEightGuidelinesofPublicDefenseRelatedtoExcessiveWorkloads(1).pdf. 

[10] Applicants are encouraged to consider other NIJ solicitations that may be more relevant; examples 

include W.E.B. Du Bois Program of Research on Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Justice 

System, Tribal-Researcher Capacity Building, and Research on Juvenile Justice Topics, https://nij.ojp.gov/ 

funding/current. 

[11] The Bureau of Justice Statistics is planning two projects: the Census of Public Defender Offices on 

operations and structures, numbers and types of cases handled, staff size, and funding streams (https:// 

bjs.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/o-bjs-2022-171331); and the Survey of Public Defenders (attorneys) on 

compensation, client communication mediums, training, and access to resources ( 

https://bjs.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bjs-2019-15744); see also Survey of Publicly Appointed Defense 

Attorneys: Design Study ( 

https://bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/survey-publicly-appointed-defense-attorneys-design-study). 

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O-NIJ-2023-171579