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 Trafficking in Persons 

Assistance Listing Number #  16.560 

Grants.gov Opportunity Number: O-NIJ-2023-171574 

Solicitation Release Date:     February 07, 2023 3:00 PM ET  

Version:  1 

Step 1: Application Grants.gov Deadline:    April 24, 2023 11:59 PM ET  

Step 2: Application JustGrants Deadline:    May 08, 2023 8:59 PM ET 

Overview 

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

(NIJ) seeks proposals for research and evaluation projects addressing the following topical areas: 1) 

research and evaluation on human trafficking victim assistance and service provision, 2) research on 

forced criminality, and 3) human trafficking prevalence estimation. 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 

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-2023-171574 
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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O-NIJ-2023-171574 
Contents 

Overview 1 

Grants.gov 

applicant disclosure of high-risk status) 

Page 3 of 29 

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 11 

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 12 

Costs Associated with Language Assistance (if applicable) 12 

Anticipated Number of Awards 12 

Anticipated Maximum Dollar Amount of Awards 12 

Period of Performance Duration 12 

Eligibility Information 12 

Application and Submission Information 13 

Content of Application Submission 13 

Information to Complete the Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) in 13 

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

Proposal Abstract 13 

Proposal Narrative 13 

Goal, Objective and Deliverables 16 

Budget and Associated Documentation 16 

Budget Worksheet and Budget Narrative (Web-based Form) 16 

Pre-agreement Costs (also known as Pre-award Costs) 17 

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) 17 

Consultant Rate 17 

Limitation on Employee Compensation; Waiver 17 

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire (including 17 

Disclosure of Process Related to Executive Compensation 17 

Additional Application Components 17 

Curriculum Vitae or Resumes 17 

Tribal Authorizing Resolution 18 

Timeline Form 18 

O-NIJ-2023-171574 
Letters of Support 18 

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

Community Policing 

Application 

Research and Evaluation Independence and Integrity Statement 18 

Bibliography/reference 18 

Any Tools/Instruments, Questionnaires, Tables/Charts/Graphs, or Maps 18 

List of Individuals in the Application 18 

Human Subjects Protection 18 

Privacy Certificate 18 

Request to Use Incentives or Stipends 19 

Documentation of “new investigator” status, if applicable 19 

Consortium/Contractual Arrangements 19 

Data Archiving Plan 19 

Disclosures and Assurances 19 

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities 19 

DOJ Certified Standard Assurances 19 

Applicant Disclosure of Duplication in Cost Items 20 

DOJ Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other 20 

Applicant Disclosure and Justification - DOJ High Risk Grantees 20 

How to Apply 20 

Submission Dates and Time 20 

Experiencing Unforeseen Technical Issues Preventing Submission of an 21 

Application Review Information 22 

Review Criteria 22 

Review Process 23 

Federal Award Administration Information 24 

Federal Award Notices 24 

Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements 24 

Information Technology Security Clauses 24 

General Information about Post-Federal Award Reporting Requirements 24 

Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s) 24 

Other Information 24 

Freedom of Information and Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552 and 5 U.S.C. 552a) 24 

Provide Feedback to OJP 25 

Performance Measures 25 

Application Checklist 25 

Standard Solicitation Resources 28 

Endnotes 29 

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Program Description 

Overview 

OJP 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. 

In collaboration with the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), NIJ seeks to build upon its research and 

evaluation efforts to better understand, prevent, and respond to trafficking in persons in the United 

States. Applicants should propose research and evaluation projects that — first and foremost — have 

clear implications for criminal justice policy and practice in the United States. NIJ seeks proposals for 

research and evaluation projects addressing the following topical areas: 1) research and evaluation on 

human trafficking victim assistance and service provision, 2) research on forced criminality, and 3) 

human trafficking prevalence estimation. Applications proposing projects other than in these three areas 

will not be considered. 

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 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 deidentified 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); 

Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (section 107(b)(2)); 28 U.S.C. 530C. 

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Specific Information 

Applicants should familiarize themselves with prior NIJ-funded research on the subject of human 

trafficking.[1] 

Topic Area 1: Research and Evaluation on Service Provision for Victims of Human Trafficking 

NIJ seeks proposals for rigorous evaluations of models of direct service provision specifically to aid 

victims of human trafficking. 

There have been relatively few rigorous evaluations of programs, models, or interventions specific to 

providing services to victims of human trafficking. Much of the existing research has been focused on 

U.S. citizen minors who are victims of sex trafficking. NIJ is interested in testing various models of 

service provision to aid victims of human trafficking (both sex trafficking and labor trafficking), including 

those developed for other populations, such as victims of domestic violence or individuals experiencing 

homelessness. Services may include, but are not limited to, case management, housing, behavioral 

health services, employment services, and legal services. Models could include approaches like rapid 

rehousing, peer support, clinical interventions for post-traumatic stress disorder, and holistic, wraparound service. NIJ will prioritize applications that propose to: 

Use rigorous evaluation methodology and/or seek to build on past evaluative efforts to increase 

scientific rigor; 

Evaluate or test models involving services that include both sex and labor trafficking survivors; 

Involve multiple locations and/or organizations; and/or 

Focus on services for underserved populations 

NIJ will consider applications for formative evaluations with evaluability assessments; however, priority 

will be given to outcome/impact evaluations that include a process evaluation. 

For outcome/impact applications, NIJ will only fund projects that evaluate well-developed programs. 

Applications should provide a brief description of the program design and history, theory of change, 

program case flow, anticipated outcomes, sustainability of the program, and other relevant information. 

Appended supplemental materials may include copies of logic models, program guides and materials, 

policies and procedures, manuals, prior evaluation findings, program staffing, and funding information. 

Applicants should propose the most rigorous, appropriate design possible. Specifically, applicants are 

expected to use the most rigorous, feasible research methods in evaluating service delivery programs 

with preference given to those that employ experimental or strong quasi-experimental research designs. 

Outcome/impact evaluations must also include a process/implementation evaluation component. 

Applications should consider the feasibility of including cost/benefit analysis. 

Topic Area 2: Forced Criminality Research 

NIJ seeks proposals for research focused on labor trafficking in illicit activities beyond commercial sex, 

including, but not limited to, drug production, distribution, and sale; theft; and fraudulent activities. 

Although there are growing data sets and initiatives on this form of human trafficking in other countries, 

such as the United Kingdom, information in the United States is very limited on how individuals use 

force, fraud, or coercion to compel others to engage in such illegal activities. Because these cases are 

rarely identified by the criminal justice system or by victim service providers as human trafficking, 

projects should consider the role of stakeholders in other sectors, such as juvenile justice, corrections, 

law enforcement responding to non-trafficking crimes, and others who may be interacting with individuals 

without identifying them as people who have perpetrated or experienced these forms of human 

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trafficking. Projects could focus on the occurrence of forced criminality among particular populations 

adjudicated for criminal activity (such as minors processed through drug courts) and should examine the 

unique barriers to identifying these individuals as victims of human trafficking, to providing them with 

victim services, to protecting them from prosecution for crimes they were coerced to commit, and to 

holding their traffickers criminally accountable. 

Topic Area 3: Estimating Prevalence 

NIJ seeks proposals for research that improves upon current methodologies used to produce estimates 

of the prevalence of human trafficking (sex and labor) within the United States. Specifically, NIJ seeks to 

fund research that develops methodologies for estimating prevalence and validating those estimates in 

defined, local geographic areas. Proposals should focus on generating a statistically sound estimate of 

trafficking prevalence of one or more trafficking types, sectors, industries (such as agricultural, janitorial, 

or meat processing), and/or geographic area(s). Applicants should propose data collection mechanisms 

that account for the race and ethnicity of victims of human trafficking. Applicants should demonstrate 

familiarity with other efforts to arrive at prevalence estimates, such as the U.S. State Department’s 

Prevalence Reduction Innovation Forum[2] [3] and propose research complementary to these efforts. 

Additional Information 

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 

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 helps with decisionmaking. 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. 

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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 high-quality 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 better understand, prevent, and respond to trafficking in persons in the 

United States and to provide federal, state, local, and tribal stakeholders with knowledge and tools to 

more effectively address trafficking in persons. 

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. 

Overall, this solicitation seeks to support projects to: 

1. Evaluate strategies to provide direct services to victims of human trafficking. 

2. Understand how individuals use force, fraud, or coercion to compel others to engage in illegal 

activities. 

3. Develop better means for human trafficking prevalence estimation. 

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 

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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: 

A. Applications that propose research project(s) that are designed to promote racial equity and the 

removal of barriers to access and opportunity for communities that have been historically 

underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by inequality, when making award decisions. 

To receive this consideration, the applicant must describe how the proposed project(s) will address 

potential inequities and barriers to equal opportunity, and/or contribute to greater access to 

services for underserved and historically marginalized populations. 

B. 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 these priority areas 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 

Period of Performance Start Date Period of Performance Duration (Months) 

1/1/24 60 

Anticipated Total Amount to be Awarded 

Under Solicitation 

$2,000,000.00 

Additional Information 

Please see Anticipated Number of Awards, 

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 

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discussion of important statutes, regulations, and award conditions that apply to many (or in some cases, 

all) OJP grants. 

NIJ also expects to make awards under this solicitation as cooperative agreements, which provide for 

OJP to have substantial involvement in carrying out award activities. See the “Administrative, National 

Policy, and Other Legal Requirements” section of the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for 

additional information. 

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. 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 

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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 Number of Awards 

Total number of awards NIJ expects to make to be determined by the number of applications received 

and their merit. 

Anticipated Maximum Dollar Amount of Awards 

Maximum dollar amount for each award to be determined by the requirements of the research proposed 

in grants selected for award. Applicants are encouraged to propose budgets that match the research 

activities proposed, up to the full dollar amount anticipated to be awarded under this solicitation. 

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 eligibility information, see the solicitation cover page. 

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

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. 

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.) 

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. 

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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. 

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 (e.g., he, she, they), and exclude personally 

identifiable information (such as dates of birth or social security numbers). 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, 

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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 

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. 

If the applicant is seeking priority consideration for Priority 1(A), it should address in this section 

how the proposed project(s) will address issues related to racial equity and the removal of barriers 

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to access and opportunity, and/or contribute to greater access to services, for communities that 

have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by inequality, and should 

also identify how the project design and implementation will specifically incorporate the input or 

participation of these communities. 

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. 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(B), 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 specify 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 

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 

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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, as well as 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 measureable 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. 

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(A) and has proposed activities (such as 

community or stakeholder meetings, community outreach or public awareness campaigns, community 

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participation in project design, implementation, or evaluation, etc.) to incorporate the input and 

participation of communities that have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely 

affected by inequality, financial support for the identified activities and participation must be reflected in 

the web-based budget form. 

If the applicant is seeking priority consideration under Priority 1(B) 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 

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“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 

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. Applicants 

should use the “Proposed Project Staff, Affiliation, and Roles” form available on the NIJ webpage to 

prepare this list. 

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 

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Privacy Certificate as a separate file (for further guidance go to https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/confidentialityand-privacy-protections and https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/model-privacy-certificate). 

Request to Use Incentives or Stipends 

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-socialscience-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 

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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. 

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 

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. 

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. 

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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 24, 

2023. 

The full application must be submitted in JustGrants by 8:59 p.m. eastern time on May 08, 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. 

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, 

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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 on how the 

proposed project/program addresses the following criteria: 

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. 

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 (20%) 

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

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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. 

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 

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). 

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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 

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 552a). 

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O-NIJ-2023-171574 
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. 

1. Quarterly financial reports, 

semi-annual and final 

performance reports, and 

products of the work performed 

under the NIJ award (including, at 

minimum, a final research report). 

If applicable, an annual audit 

report. 

Conduct research in 

science, technology, 

engineering, and/or 

mathematics having clear 

implications for criminal or 

juvenile justice policy and 

practice in the United 

States. 

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. 

2. List of citation(s) to all 

scholarly products that resulted in 

whole or in part from work funded 

under the NIJ award. 

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. 

3. If applicable, each data set that 

resulted in whole or in part from 

work funded under the NIJ 

award. 

4. Number of technologies fielded 4. Description of all technologies 

as a result (in whole or in part) of fielded as a result (in whole or in 

work funded under the NIJ award. part) of work funded under the 

NIJ award. 

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O-NIJ-2023-171574 
Application Checklist 

NIJ FY23 Research and Evaluation on Trafficking in Persons 

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 

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O-NIJ-2023-171574 
a validation receipt 

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 

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O-NIJ-2023-171574 
Data Archiving 

Disclosures and Assurances 

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 

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O-NIJ-2023-171574 
training, direct technical assistance and support on JustGrants system functionality. 

Endnotes 

[1]NIJ funded research on the subject of human trafficking. 

[2] U.S. State Department’s Prevalence Reduction Innovation Forum. 

[3] Estimating the Prevalence of Human Trafficking. 

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O-NIJ-2023-171574