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OMB No. 1121-0329

Approval Expires 02/28/2027

U.S. Department of Justice 

Office of Justice Programs 

National Institute of Justice

NIJ FY24 W.E.B. Du Bois Program of Research 

on Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the 

Justice System

Assistance Listing Number: 16.560

Grants.gov Opportunity Number: O-NIJ-2024-172018

Solicitation Release Date: March 07, 2024

Letter of Interest Due Date: 8:59 p.m. Eastern Time on April 15, 2024 

Step 1: Application Grants.gov Deadline: 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 16, 2024

Step 2: Application JustGrants Deadline: 8:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 30, 2024

Contents

Synopsis.................................................................................................................................... 4

Overview................................................................................................................................ 4

Funding Category .................................................................................................................. 4

Eligibility................................................................................................................................. 5

Agency Contact Information .................................................................................................. 5

Application Submission Information....................................................................................... 6

Registration........................................................................................................................ 6

Submission......................................................................................................................... 6

Program Description.................................................................................................................. 7

Program Description Overview .............................................................................................. 7

Statutory Authority ................................................................................................................. 8

Specific Information ............................................................................................................... 8

Solicitation Goals and Objectives ........................................................................................13

Goals................................................................................................................................13

Objectives ........................................................................................................................13

Deliverables .....................................................................................................................13

Priority Areas .......................................................................................................................14

Federal Award Information ..................................................................................................16
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Awards, Amounts, and Durations.....................................................................................16

Continuation Funding Intent .............................................................................................16

Availability of Funds .........................................................................................................16

Type of Award ..................................................................................................................16

Budget Information...........................................................................................................17

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement ...........................................................................17

Eligibility Information............................................................................................................17

How To Apply ..........................................................................................................................18

Application Resources .........................................................................................................18

How To Apply ......................................................................................................................18

Registration......................................................................................................................18

Submission.......................................................................................................................19

Applying as an Individual .................................................................................................19

Submission Dates and Time................................................................................................20

Experiencing Unforeseen Technical Issues Preventing Submission of an Application 

(Technical Waivers) .........................................................................................................20

Application and Submission Information..............................................................................21

Content of Application Submission and Available Surveys..............................................21

Content of the SF-424 in Grants.gov ...............................................................................21

Content of the JustGrants Application Submission ..........................................................22

Application Review Information ...........................................................................................32

Review Criteria.................................................................................................................32

Review Process ...............................................................................................................35

Federal Award Administration Information...........................................................................35

Federal Award Notices.....................................................................................................35

Evidence-Based Programs or Practices ..........................................................................35

Information Regarding Potential Evaluation of Programs and Activities ..........................36

Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements......................................36

Civil Rights Compliance ...................................................................................................36

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls .................................................37

Information Technology Security Clauses........................................................................37

General Information About Post-Federal Award Reporting Requirements ......................37

Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)..................................................................................37

Other Information.................................................................................................................37

Freedom of Information and Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. §§ 552 and 552a).............................37
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Provide Feedback to OJP ................................................................................................37

Performance Measures .......................................................................................................38

Application Checklist............................................................................................................39

Pre-Application.................................................................................................................39

Application Step 1 ............................................................................................................39

Application Step 2 ............................................................................................................40

Review, Certify, and Submit Application in JustGrants ....................................................41

Standard Solicitation Resources..........................................................................................42
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Synopsis

Overview

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

Justice (NIJ) is seeking applications for funding. 

OJP is committed to advancing work that promotes civil rights and 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.

With this solicitation, NIJ seeks applications for two categories of investigator-initiated research: 

(1) studies that examine how observed racial and ethnic disparities in the justice system might 

be reduced through public policy intervention at any point during the administration of justice 

and (2) studies that advance knowledge and practice, policy, or both regarding the intersections 

of race, ethnicity, crime, and justice within the United States.

This program furthers DOJ’s mission to uphold the rule of law, to keep our country safe, and to 

protect civil rights.

Funding Category

Competition 

ID

Competition 

Title (Category 

Name)

Expected 

Number of 

Awards

Dollar Amount 

for Award

Performance 

Start Date

Performance 

Duration (Months)

C-NIJ-2024-

00005-PROD

W.E.B. Du Bois 

Scholars

Total number of 

awards NIJ 

expects to make 

to be determined 

by the number of 

applications 

received and their 

merit. 

Maximum dollar 

amount for each 

award to be 

determined by 

the requirements 

of the research 

proposed in 

grants selected 

for award.

01/01/2025 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.

C-NIJ-2024-

00006-PROD

W.E.B. Du Bois 

Fellows

Total number of 

awards NIJ 

expects to make 

to be determined 

by the number of 

applications 

received and their 

merit. 

Maximum dollar 

amount for each 

award to be 

determined by 

the requirements 

of the research 

proposed in 

grants selected 

for award.

01/01/2025 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.
Page 5 O-NIJ-2024-172018

Eligibility

• State governments

• Special district governments

• City or township governments

• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education

• County governments

• Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities

• Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal 

governments)

• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)

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

education

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

higher education

• Private institutions of higher education

• For-profit organizations other than small businesses

• Small businesses

• Individuals

• Independent school districts

• Other

o Units of local government

An applicant 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 (project partners) would carry out 

the federal award; however, only one entity may be the applicant for the solicitation. Any others 

must be proposed as subrecipients (subgrantees). See the Application Resource Guide for 

additional information on subawards. 

NIJ may choose to fund applications submitted under this FY 2024 solicitation in future fiscal 

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

availability of appropriations. 

Agency Contact Information

For assistance with the requirements of this solicitation, contact the OJP Response Center by 

phone at 800-851-3420 or 301-240-6310 (TTY for hearing-impaired callers only) or email

grants@ncjrs.gov. The OJP Response Center operates from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern 

Time (ET) Monday-Friday and from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET on the solicitation closing date.

For procedures related to unforeseen technical issues beyond the control of the applicant that 

impact submission by the deadlines, see the “How To Apply” section, Experiencing Unforeseen

Technical Issues. 

For assistance with submitting the Application for Federal Assistance standard form (SF-424)

and a Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) in Grants.gov, contact the Grants.gov 

Customer Support Hotline at 800-518-4726, 606-545-5035, Grants.gov Customer Support, or 
Page 6 O-NIJ-2024-172018

support@grants.gov. The Grants.gov Support Hotline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 

except on federal holidays.

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 from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET Monday-Friday and from 9:00 a.m. to 

5:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sunday, and federal holidays.

Application Submission Information

Registration

Before submitting an application, an applicant must have a registration in the System for Award 

Management (SAM.gov). 

The SAM.gov registration is not required for a person applying as an “individual” and not on 

behalf of a company; state, local, or tribal government; academic institution; or other type of 

organization. Individuals should obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) and not apply 

using a social security number: IRS Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) Online. 

The SAM.gov registration is required for a person applying on behalf of a small business 

(company). The business should obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) and not apply 

using a social security number: IRS Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) Online. 

Submission

Applications must be submitted to DOJ electronically through a two-step process that begins in 

Grants.gov and is completed in JustGrants. See the Submission Dates and Time section for the 

Grants.gov and JustGrants application deadlines.

 

Step 1: The applicant must register for this opportunity in Grants.gov at 

https://grants.gov/register and submit by the Grants.gov deadline the required Application for 

Federal Assistance standard form (SF-424) and a Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL). 

See the Submission Dates and Time section for application deadlines.

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

JustGrants.usdoj.gov by the JustGrants application deadline. See the Submission Dates and 

Time section for application deadlines.
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Program Description

Program Description Overview

With this solicitation, NIJ seeks applications for investigator-initiated research in two priority 

areas from two different categories of investigators.

The priority areas are: (1) studies that examine how observed racial and ethnic disparities in the 

justice system might be reduced through public policy intervention at any point during the 

administration of justice; and (2) studies that advance knowledge and practice, policy, or both 

regarding the intersections of race, ethnicity, crime, and justice within the United States.

The two categories of investigators are:

Category 1: W.E.B. Du Bois Scholars — Researchers who are advanced in their careers 

(awarded an academic or research doctorate terminal degree at least seven years prior to 

December 31, 2023) may apply for grants for research, evaluation, and mentoring of lessexperienced researchers.

Category 2: W.E.B. Du Bois Fellows — Researchers who are early in their careers (awarded an 

academic or research doctorate terminal degree within seven years of December 31, 2023) may 

apply for grants for research and evaluation.

Both categories of investigators may submit proposals under either priority area.

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

engagement with the people closest to the subject of study, including practitioners as well as 

community members representing crime victims, people under criminal justice supervision, and 

members of high-crime communities.

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, race, ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation, as 

applicable.

Applications proposing research involving partnerships with juvenile justice, criminal justice or 

other agencies should include a strong letter of support, signed by an appropriate decisionmaking authority from each proposed, partnering agency. A letter of support should include the 

partnering agency’s acknowledgment 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, 2025. 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. Special consideration 
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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 the 

preponderance of the work proposed.

Statutory Authority

Any awards under this solicitation would be made under statutory authority provided by a fullyear appropriations act for FY 2024. As of the writing of this solicitation, the Department of 

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

the Department has been enacted for FY 2024.

Specific Information

W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1963) was an American sociologist, historian, writer, and editor. As a 

social scientist, Du Bois used objective scientific methods to promote social change. The 

Philadelphia Negro: A Social Study,

1 published by Du Bois in 1899, was a groundbreaking 

sociological study of the city’s African American community. It was one of the first research 

projects to combine urban ethnography (the study of city life) with social history and descriptive 

statistics.

From FY 2000 to 2018, NIJ supported the W.E.B. Du Bois Program (Program) to advance the 

field of research on race and crime in the United States, with funding for fellows who are early in 

their careers. In FY 2016, NIJ expanded the Program to include a funding category supporting 

more extensive research projects led by experienced principal investigators (PIs) who could 

mentor early career researchers. NIJ reinstituted the Program in FY 2021, focusing on research 

on public policy interventions that can reduce racial and ethnic disparities in the justice system. 

NIJ continues this focus in FY 2024 and seeks research that advances knowledge and practice, 

policy, or both regarding the intersections of race, ethnicity, crime, and justice within the United 

States.

Racial and ethnic disparities in the justice system have been well-documented in the research 

literature.2 For example, Black Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans are disproportionately 

1 Du Bois, W.E.B. (1899). The Philadelphia Negro: A Social Study. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.

2 Kovera, M. B. (2019). Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice System: Prevalence, Causes, and a Search for 

Solutions. Journal of Social Issues, 75(4), 1139-1164; Ellen A. Donnelly (2017). Racial disparity reform: racial 

inequality and policy responses in US national politics. Journal of Crime and Justice, 40(4), 462-477, DOI: 

10.1080/0735648X.2016.1176950; Alexander, M. (2010). The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of 

Colorblindness. New York: The New Press; Horowitz, J. and Utada, C. (2018). Community Supervision Marked by 

Racial and Gender Disparities. The Pew Charitable Trusts.
Page 9 O-NIJ-2024-172018

represented in arrest, prosecution, conviction, and incarceration rates.3 In addition, communities 

of color often experience high levels of crime and victimization.4 

Since President Johnson’s Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice 55 

years ago, substantial empirical attention has been devoted to uncovering factors contributing to 

racial and ethnic disparities in the justice system and, to a lesser extent, programs, policies, and 

practices that might lessen such disparities.5 Studies have examined disparity at all stages of 

the justice process, from police discretion to arrest, to incarceration, and to application of the 

death penalty. In addition, special issues of journals have focused on strategies aimed at 

reducing this disparity.6 Although the call for reform to address racial and ethnic disparities 

within the justice system is not new, it became more urgent in 2020 with the deaths of George 

Floyd and Breonna Taylor. The severe beating of Tyre Nicols on January 7, 2023, by five 

Memphis police officers and his subsequent death three days later indicate the need for justice 

system reform persists. Black and Hispanic Americans continue to be killed by police at a much 

higher rate than white Americans.7

NIJ has a long history of funding research on race, ethnicity, and crime and their intersections 

with the administration of justice through the Program. NIJ intends to build upon and expand 

that body of knowledge through this solicitation. Potential applicants should review the NIJ 

website to learn about projects NIJ has previously funded under this Program.8

NIJ Priority Areas

1. Studies that Examine how Observed Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Justice System 

Might be Reduced Through Public Policy Interventions

NIJ seeks proposals for rigorous research projects examining the existing body of 

evidence to identify policy interventions that have the potential to reduce observed racial 

3 Franklin, T. W. (2018). The state of race and punishment in America: Is justice really blind? Journal of Criminal 

Justice, 59(SI), 18-28; Kovera, M. B. (2019). Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice System: Prevalence, Causes, 

and a Search for Solutions. Journal of Social Issues, 75(4), 1139-1164; Dragomir, R. R., & Tadros, E. (2020). 

Exploring the Impacts of Racial Disparity Within the American Juvenile Justice System. Juvenile & Family Court 

Journal, 71(2), 61-73.

4 Morgan and Truman (2020). Criminal Victimization, 2019. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, 

Bureau of Justice Statistics, NCJ 255113; Warnken, H. and Lauritsen, J. (2019). Who Experiences Violent 

Victimizations and Who Accesses Services? Findings from the National Crime Victimization Survey for Expanding 

Our Reach. Center for Victim Research; Crime in the United States, 2019. U.S. Department of Justice, Federal 

Bureau of Investigation, Criminal Justice Information Services Division. https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2019/crimein-the-u.s.-2019/tables/table-43/#overview; Violence Policy Center (2020). Black Homicide Victimization in the United 

States. An Analysis of 2017 Homicide Data. 

5 The Challenge of Crime in a Free Society: A Report by the President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and 

Administration of Justice. United States Government Printing Office Washington, D.C., February 1967; Donnelly, E. 

A. (2017). Racial disparity reform: racial inequality and policy responses in US national politics, Journal of Crime and 

Justice, 40(4), 462-477, DOI: 10.1080/0735648X.2016.1176950. 

6 See for example Criminology and Public Policy, 19(4).

7 https://policeepi.uic.edu/civilian-deaths-in-police-shootings-and-interventions/. 

8 https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/fellowships/web-du-bois-program. 
Page 10 O-NIJ-2024-172018

and ethnic disparities in the justice system (which may involve primary and/or secondary 

data collection). NIJ expects the findings and recommendations derived from this 

research to guide future research and the testing of promising interventions.

NIJ is interested in policy interventions that have the potential to reduce disparities at 

any point during the administration of justice for juveniles and/or adults. These 

interventions could include policing practices, access to defense resources, access to 

justice, pre-trial release practices, charging decisions, sanctions imposed, access to 

treatment services, post-release programming, or any other point at which disparity is 

evident. NIJ is particularly interested in identifying interventions with the greatest 

potential to positively impact an individual’s progress out of the justice system.

2. Studies that Advance Knowledge and Practice, Policy, or Both Regarding the 

Intersections of Race, Ethnicity, Crime, and Justice within the United States

The Program supports quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods research that furthers 

the Department’s mission by advancing knowledge and practice, policy, or both 

regarding the intersections of race, ethnicity, crime, and the administration of justice 

within the United States. NIJ seeks investigator-initiated proposals for funding to conduct 

rigorous research that builds upon and enhances the extant literature in this area 

focused on identifying actionable levers for change.

Applications for NIJ’s two priority areas are sought from two categories of researchers:

Category 1: W.E.B. Du Bois Scholars

A primary goal of the W.E.B. Du Bois Scholars Program is to grow the field of well-trained 

researchers examining the intersections of race, crime, violence, and the administration of 

justice within the United States. Therefore, Scholars (researchers awarded an academic or 

research doctorate terminal degree at least seven years before December 31, 2023) must 

propose a mentorship component to the study that goes beyond hiring graduate and 

undergraduate students as project staff.

Applications must include a general mentorship plan detailing how the proposed research will 

contribute to the mentoring and training of junior researchers, graduate students, and/or 

undergraduate students by the Scholar and research partners. This general mentorship plan 

must be provided as an appendix to the application.

For mentorship plan approval as part of the grant award process, NIJ will require:

• The curriculum vitae/resume of all the individual(s) to be mentored.

• A career development plan for the mentee(s).

• A description of the use of resources for the mentoring enterprise, such as research 

workspace and equipment, statistical software, and other research support.

• A description of the availability of activities (including classes, seminars, and informal 

opportunities) for interaction with other scientists or researchers.

• Training in career skills, such as grant writing, budget formulation, project management,

and effective presentations.

• A statement that at least one peer-reviewed journal article from the project will be first 

authored by the mentee(s).
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Nominally, a W.E.B. Du Bois Scholars grant project is expected to take 36 months or more to 

complete and have a minimum value of $500,000. However, the actual proposed period of 

performance and funding request will be determined by the research requirements, up to the full 

five years allowed, and the total funding amount anticipated to be available to support this 

solicitation.

Category 2: W.E.B. Du Bois Fellows

Prospective Fellows from all social and behavioral sciences, technology, engineering, and 

mathematics are welcome to apply. Applicants must:

• Possess an academic (or research) doctorate terminal degree in their respective field.

• Not have been awarded tenure by December 31, 2023.

• Be the proposal PI if the project has multiple investigators.

NIJ is soliciting proposals for Fellowships from researchers early in their careers to conduct 

qualitative and/or quantitative research, including secondary data analysis. This category offers 

talented researchers an opportunity to elevate independently generated research and ideas to 

the level of national discussion. In this funding category, first-time grant recipients are 

encouraged to apply. Fellowship applicants should indicate on the cover page of the program 

narrative that they are applying to the Fellows category of this solicitation.

Nominally, a W.E.B. Du Bois Fellows grant project is expected to take 24 months or more to 

complete and have a minimum value of $250,000. However, the actual proposed period of 

performance and funding request will be determined by the research requirements, up to the full 

five years allowed, and the total funding amount anticipated to be available to support this 

solicitation.

Scholars or Fellows who submit applications under NIJ’s Priority Area 1 (Studies that Examine 

how Observed Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Justice System Might be Reduced Through 

Public Policy Interventions) should provide, as applicable: 

• A complete description of the data to be used in the study. This narrative should include 

the number of cases, complete variable descriptions, data collection method, data 

format, data source, and the cost of accessing data. 

• A description of the justice phenomena that currently results in unwarranted disparity in 

the treatment of, or outcomes for, racial or ethnic categories.

• A disparity analysis (using existing data) showing evidence of racial or ethnic disparity 

surrounding the justice phenomena or event to be studied. NIJ is interested in proposals 

documenting evidence of disparity in the population to be studied and surrounding the 

specific activity under study.

• If applicable, a detailed description of the modification or intervention expected to 

resolve unwarranted disparity and a summary of the literature that the proposed 

intervention will effectively reduce unjustified disparity.

• If applicable, a description of the analytic techniques and methods of determining 

success/failure should be provided, if the method relies on statistical modeling of the 

intervention/modification.
Page 12 O-NIJ-2024-172018

• An explicit statement discussing how the proposed research follows the W.E.B. Du Bois 

Program’s tradition of multidisciplinary scientific inquiry and how it will propel the justice 

research field forward.

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.

Letter of Intent: Applicants are encouraged to submit a letter of intent to apply to nijsdubois 

research@ojp.usdoj.gov by April 15, 2024. The letter should be addressed to the NIJ Director, 

Dr. Nancy La Vigne, using the following address: National Institute of Justice, 810 Seventh 

Street, NW, Washington, DC 20531. Submitting a letter of intent will not oblige a potential 

applicant to apply. Applicants who do not provide a letter of intent can still apply.

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 quasiexperimental 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 an evaluation involving program staff, the applicant must demonstrate 

research/evaluation independence and provide a description of and justification for the roles of 

program staff as distinct from evaluation activities, a discussion of potential risks (if any) to 

independence and integrity, and a description of the safeguards that will be employed to ensure 

research independence.

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 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.
Page 13 O-NIJ-2024-172018

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-rateprogram-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. 

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, 2024. 

• 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. 

Solicitation Goals and Objectives

Goals

The primary goal of this solicitation is to promote the fair administration of justice. Findings from 

this research program will assist state, local, and tribal jurisdictions in promoting fairer justice 

systems and increase the legitimacy of those systems, thus enhancing racial and ethnic 

communities’ trust in public safety. Secondary goals include advancing research methods and 

growing the field of well-trained researchers.

Objectives

This solicitation aims to: 1) identify policy interventions that have the potential to reduce racial 

and ethnic disparities in the justice system and guide future research and testing of promising 

interventions; 2) advance knowledge and practice, policy, or both regarding the intersections of 

race, ethnicity, crime, and justice within the United States; 3) translate and disseminate 

research findings to diverse stakeholder audiences to improve practice and policy through 

science; 4) build an enhanced capability to conduct rigorous justice research and evaluation 

projects through the mentoring of junior researchers by scholars advanced in their careers. 

Deliverables

Research award recipients are expected to produce the following deliverables.
Page 14 O-NIJ-2024-172018

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

submit a Final Research Report by the end of the award period of performance. Recipients will

also be required to deliver a draft of their Final Research Report no later than 90 days or earlier

prior to the end of the award period of performance. 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. Grant recipients are strongly encouraged to submit data sets no later than 90 days or 

earlier prior to the end of the award period of performance.

In addition to these deliverables, 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.

In select circumstances recipients funded to develop algorithms, methods, software, hardware

or other technologies may be required to deliver exemplars along with detailed implementation 

instructions for third-party evaluation.

For information about what the applicant needs to submit regarding Goals, Objectives, and 

Deliverables, please see the How to Apply section on the Application Goals, Objectives, 

Deliverables, and Timeline. 

Priority Areas

1. In order to further OJP’s mission, OJP will provide priority consideration when making 

award decisions to the following:

1A. Applications that propose project(s) that are designed to meaningfully advance 

equity and remove barriers to accessing services and opportunities for communities that 

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

disproportionately impacted by crime, violence, and victimization.

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

will address identified inequities and contribute to greater access to services and 

opportunities for communities that have been historically underserved, marginalized, 

adversely affected by inequality, and disproportionately impacted by crime, violence, and 

victimization. Project activities under this consideration may include, but are not limited 

to, the following: improving victim services, justice responses, prevention initiatives, 

reentry services and other parts of an organization's or community’s efforts to advance 

public safety. Applicants should propose activities that address the cultural (and

linguistic, if appropriate) needs of communities, outline how the proposed activities will 
Page 15 O-NIJ-2024-172018

be informed by these communities, and implement culturally responsive and inclusive 

outreach and engagement.

1B. 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) are a population specific organization that 

serves communities that have been historically underserved, marginalized, adversely 

affected by inequality, and disproportionately impacted by crime, violence, and 

victimization.

For purposes of this solicitation, population specific organizations are nonprofit, 

nongovernmental, or tribal organizations that primarily serve members of a specific 

underserved population and have demonstrated experience and expertise providing 

targeted services to members of that specific underserved population.

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

population specific organization (or funding the population specific subrecipient 

organization(s)) will enhance their ability to implement the proposed project(s) and 

should also specify which historically underserved populations are intended or expected 

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

2. NIJ will give special consideration in award decisions to proposals for which a Minority 

Serving Institution (MSI) is the lead applicant.

Minority-Serving Institutions include:

• 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.
Page 16 O-NIJ-2024-172018

Federal Award Information

Awards, Amounts, and Durations

Anticipated Number of Awards: To be determined by the number and quality of applications 

received and funding available. Total number of awards NIJ expects to make to be determined 

by the number of applications received and their merit.

Anticipated Maximum Dollar Amount per Award: To be determined by the number and quality of 

applications received and funding available. 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 Start Date: Not earlier than 01/01/2025. 

Period of Performance Duration (Months): Cannot exceed 60 Months. 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.

 

Anticipated Total Amount To Be Awarded Under This Solicitation: $2,000,000.

Additional Information: Grantees must clear all required award special conditions before 

incurring expenses, barring spending pre-approval, and, if applicable, confirm NIJ approval of 

new or modified Institutional Review Board (IRB) and privacy certificate documents before 

beginning research activities.

Continuation Funding Intent

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

funding opportunity through continuation awards. NIJ will consider, among other factors, NIJ’s 

strategic priorities, a recipient’s overall management of the award, and the progress of the work 

funded under the award, when making continuation award decisions.

Availability of Funds

This funding opportunity, and awards under this funding opportunity, are subject to the 

availability of funding and to any changes 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 funding opportunity as grants. See the “Administrative, 

National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements” section of the 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.
Page 17 O-NIJ-2024-172018

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 2024, 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 2024 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.

• Programs or services unrelated to the scope of the research project or existing programs 

or services being evaluated.

• Training in support of programs or direct services unrelated to or associated with the 

proposed research project.

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.

Eligibility Information

For eligibility information, see the Synopsis section. 

For the purposes of this notice of funding opportunity, “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.

An “individual” applicant may apply for this funding opportunity. If you work on grant applications 

on behalf of a company; state, local, or tribal government; academic institution; or other type of 

organization, then you are not an individual applicant. See the “How To Apply” section for 

information on how to apply as an individual. 
Page 18 O-NIJ-2024-172018

For the purposes of this notice of funding opportunity, other units of local government include 

towns, boroughs, parishes, villages, or other general purpose political subdivisions of a state.

Federal agencies are not eligible to apply.

Foreign governments, foreign organizations, and foreign colleges and universities are not 

eligible to apply. 

How To Apply

Application Resources

When preparing and submitting an application, the following resources may aid prospective 

applicants:

1. Grants.gov “How to Apply for Grants” 

2. OJP “How To Apply” section in the Application Resource Guide

3. JustGrants Application Submission Training

4. NIJ Guidance for Applicants and Awardees

This solicitation (notice of funding opportunity) incorporates guidance provided in the OJP Grant 

Application Resource Guide (Application Resource Guide), which provides additional 

information for applicants to prepare and submit applications to OJP for funding. If this 

solicitation requires something different from any guidance provided in the Application 

Resource Guide, the difference will be noted in this solicitation and the applicant is to 

follow the guidelines in this solicitation, rather than the guidance in the Application 

Resource Guide that is in conflict.

How To Apply

Registration

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

Management (SAM.gov). An applicant must renew their registration every 12 months. If an 

applicant does not renew their SAM.gov registration, it will expire. An expired registration can 

delay or prevent application submission in Grants.gov and JustGrants. Applicants are 

encouraged to start the SAM.gov registration process at least 30 days prior to the application 

deadlines. Applicants who fail to begin the registration or renewal process at least 10 business 

days prior to the Grants.gov deadline may not complete the process in time and will not be 

considered for late submission. 

A small business, in addition to obtaining the SAM.gov registration, should obtain an Employer 

Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service. The person applying for an 

award will submit the EIN value as the Tax Identification Number (TIN). The applicant should 

not submit their social security numbers. For additional information, including the steps to obtain 

an EIN: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employeridentification-number-ein-online. 
Page 19 O-NIJ-2024-172018

Submission

Applications must be submitted to DOJ electronically through a two-step process that begins in 

Grants.gov and is completed in JustGrants.

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

Grants.gov at https://grants.gov/register by the Grants.gov deadline. To leave time to address 

any technical issues that may arise, an applicant should submit the SF-424 and SF-LLL 

as early as possible and recommended not later than 48 hours before the Grants.gov 

deadline. If an applicant fails to submit in Grants.gov by the deadline, they will be unable to 

apply in JustGrants. Applicants can confirm Grants.gov submission by verifying their application 

status shows as “submitted” or “agency tracking number assigned.”

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

JustGrants at JustGrants.usdoj.gov by the JustGrants deadline.

OJP recommends that applicants submit the complete application package in JustGrants at 

least 48 hours prior to the JustGrants deadline. Some of the required sections of the application 

will be entered directly into JustGrants, and other sections will require documents to be 

uploaded and attached. Therefore, applicants should allow enough time before the JustGrants 

deadline to prepare all the requirements of the application. Applicants may save their progress 

in the system and add to or change the application as needed prior to hitting the “Submit” button 

at the end of the application in JustGrants.

An applicant will receive emails when successfully submitting in Grants.gov and JustGrants and 

should maintain all emails and other confirmations received from SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and 

JustGrants systems.

For additional information, see the “How To Apply” section in the Application Resource Guide

and the DOJ Application Submission Checklist. 

Applying as an Individual

The SAM.gov registration is not required for a person applying as an “individual” and not on 

behalf of a company; state, local, or tribal government; academic institution; or other type of 

organization.

An individual who wishes to apply for this funding in their personal capacity should use the 

Funding Opportunity Number (FON) O-NIJ-2024-172018 to register with Grants.gov. Enter the 

FON at

https://apply07.grants.gov/help/html/help/index.htm#t=Register%2FIndividualApplicantRegistrati

on.htm to complete the registration form and create a username and password for Grants.gov.

Individuals should obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue 

Service. The individual applying for an award will submit the EIN value as the Tax Identification 

Number (TIN). Individuals should not submit their social security numbers. For additional 

information, including the steps to obtain an EIN: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/smallbusinesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online. 

For additional information, see the “How To Apply” section of the Application Resource Guide. 

Follow the instructions for applying as an individual.
Page 20 O-NIJ-2024-172018

Submission Dates and Time

The SF-424 and the SF-LLL must be submitted in Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET on May 16, 

2024. 

The full application must be submitted in JustGrants by 8:59 p.m. ET on May 30, 2024. 

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 and application process in sufficient time (i.e., waiting until the due dates identified 

in this solicitation for those systems to begin the application steps) is not an acceptable reason

to request a technical waiver. 

Experiencing Unforeseen Technical Issues Preventing Submission of an Application 

(Technical Waivers)

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 submission of the 

application on time.

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 documentation of attempts 

to receive technical assistance to resolve the issue prior to the application deadline. A tracking 

number is the most typical documentation and is 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, long 

call wait times for support do 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.gov Help Desk (Federal Service Desk), Monday-Friday from 

8:00 a.m. to 8:00 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 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET and Saturday, Sunday, 

and federal holidays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 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.
Page 21 O-NIJ-2024-172018

Waiver requests sent to the OJP Response Center must: 

• describe the technical difficulties experienced (provide screenshots if applicable); 

• 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 (including all information listed above), 

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 Application Resource Guide. 

Application and Submission Information

Content of Application Submission and Available Surveys

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:

• SF-424 and SF-LLL (in Grants.gov)

• Proposal Narrative (in JustGrants). 

• General Mentorship Plan under Scholars category. 

• Budget Web-Based Form, which includes the budget details and the budget narrative (in 

JustGrants). 

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

personnel” means all investigators regardless of status (i.e., principal investigator [PI], 

subaward PI, co-principal investigator [Co-PI], subaward Co-PI, co-investigator [Co-I], 

subaward Co-I, investigator[I], and subaward-I), senior staff (e.g., project 

leader/director/manager, senior technical advisor), and any other technical staff (e.g., 

consultants, statistician, project coordinator, research associate, data coordinator). 

If NIJ determines that an application does not include these elements, it will not proceed to peer 

review and will not receive any further consideration.

Content of the 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 

Application Resource Guide for additional information on completing the SF-424. 
Page 22 O-NIJ-2024-172018

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 funding opportunity is not subject to Executive Order (E.O.) 

12372. In completing the SF-424, an applicant should answer question 19 by selecting 

“Program is not covered by E.O. 12372.”

Content of the JustGrants Application Submission

Entity and User Verification (First Time Applicant)

For first time JustGrants applicants, once the application is received from Grants.gov, DOJ will 

send an email (from DIAMD-NoReply@usdoj.gov) to the individual listed in Section 8F of the 

SF-424 with instructions on how to create a JustGrants account. This email should arrive within 

24 hours after this individual receives confirmation from Grants.gov of their SF-424 and SF-LLL 

submissions. Register the Entity Administrator (the person who manages who can access 

JustGrants on behalf of the applicant), the Application Submitter, and Authorized

Representative for the applicant with JustGrants as early as possible and (recommended) not 

later than 48-72 hours before the JustGrants deadline. Once registered in JustGrants, the 

Application Submitter will receive a link in an email to complete the rest of the application in 

JustGrants. Find additional information on JustGrants Application Submission in the Application 

Resource Guide. 

Standard Applicant 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 

goals, objectives, research questions, research design and methods, work products and 

dissemination plan — 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 Application Resource Guide for 

an example of a proposal abstract. 

Data Requested With Application

The following application elements should be submitted in the web-based forms in JustGrants.
Page 23 O-NIJ-2024-172018

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire (including applicant 

disclosure of high-risk status)

The Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire helps OJP assess 

the financial management and internal control systems, and the associated potential risks of an 

applicant as part of the pre-award risk assessment process. Every OJP applicant (other than an 

individual applying in their personal capacity, not representing an applicant organization) is 

required to complete the web-based Questionnaire form in JustGrants. See the Application 

Resource Guide: Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire 

(including Applicant Disclosure of High Risk Status) for additional guidance on how to complete 

the questionnaire. 

Brief Applicant Entity Questionnaire

The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) is collecting the following information to help assess its 

efforts to attract a broader range of applicants. These questions apply to the applicant entity and 

its work and scope only, and not to the specific project(s) being proposed within the application. 

Responses to the questions will not be considered in the application review process. The 

questions included in the questionnaire are available in the Standard Forms & Instructions: Brief 

Applicant Entity Questionnaire. 

Principal Investigator Contact Information

To facilitate administrative processes associated with application review and post review 

activities, applicants are requested to enter the name of the Principal Investigator for the 

application project, as well as their contact information.

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 size 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 final award decisions. Proposal narrative tables, charts, and graphs should also use a 

standard 12-point size font.

The Proposal Narrative must 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”.
Page 24 O-NIJ-2024-172018

• 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(s). 

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

limit.)

If an applicant is resubmitting an application presented previously to NIJ, under any prior 

NIJ solicitation 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 NIJassigned 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 demonstrate thorough knowledge of the extant scientific literature 

in the field related to the(se) problem(s) using primary and secondary sources.

2. Project Design and Implementation

Applicants should present a valid theoretical framework to justify the importance and 

significance of the proposed work, followed by research questions or hypotheses. 

Applicants should also 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. Applicants must address all 

sensitive human subjects’ privacy, protection, and confidentiality issues.

If an applicant is seeking consideration under Priority 1A, it should explain in this 

section how the proposed project(s) will meaningfully address identified inequities 

and contribute to greater access to services and opportunities for communities that 

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

and disproportionately impacted by crime, violence, and victimization. The applicant 
Page 25 O-NIJ-2024-172018

should also identify how the project design and implementation will specifically 

incorporate the input and/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, all 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 1B, it should: (1) 

describe within this section how being a population specific organization (or funding 

a population specific subrecipient organization at a minimum of 40% of the project 

budget) will enhance its capabilities and competencies to implement the proposed 

project; (2) specify which populations are intended or expected to be served, have 

their needs addressed, and/or be affected by the proposed project; and (3) include 

information to confirm that the population specific organization is specifically 

designed to serve communities that have been historically underserved, 

marginalized, adversely affected by inequality, and disproportionately impacted by 

crime, violence, and victimization (examples of such information include, but are not 

limited to, the website address, charter, mission statement, or operating principles of 

the population specific organization).

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

• If the application (including the budget) identifies any proposed noncompetitive 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.
Page 26 O-NIJ-2024-172018

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

application has been submitted (if applicable).

• General Mentorship Plan under Scholars category.

• Any table/charts/graphs supporting program narrative. 

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 to provide notice that award 

recipients will be required to submit performance data as part of each award’s 

reporting requirements. 

NIJ will require each award recipient to submit regular performance data that show 

the completed work’s results. The performance data directly relate to the solicitation 

goals and objectives identified in the “Goals and Objectives” section. Applicants can 

visit OJP’s performance measurement page at www.ojp.gov/performance for more 

information on performance measurement activities. 

A list of performance measure questions for this program can be found in the 

“Performance Measures” section. Some measures are presented as examples, while 

others are the exact measures that every recipient will be expected to address.

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.

Application Goals, Objectives, Deliverables, and Timeline

The applicant will submit the project’s goals, objectives, deliverables, and timeline in JustGrants. 

This is a summary of the goals, objectives, deliverables, and timeline that relate to the proposal 

narrative. 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 stepby-step directions. 

• Goals: The applicant should describe the project’s intent to change, reduce, or eliminate 

the problem noted in the proposal narrative. 

• Program Objectives and Timeline: The applicant should include objectives to

accomplish its goals. Objectives are specific, measurable actions to reach the project’s 

desired results. The included timelines should be clearly linked to the goal.

• Deliverables and Timeline: Project deliverables refer to outputs — tangible (for 

example, a report or a website) or intangible (for example, greater feelings of safety 

reported by the community) — that are documented and submitted within the scope of a 

project. Deliverables include timelines.

Deliverables Expected by Successful Applicants

Program objectives and deliverables should be included in one timeline.
Page 27 O-NIJ-2024-172018

Budget and Associated Documentation

Funding Restrictions

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

management fee.

Budget Detail and Narrative Web-Based Form

The applicant will complete the JustGrants web-based budget form, which includes both 

detailed calculations and budget narrative sections. 

For additional information about how to prepare a budget for federal funding, see the Application 

Resource Guide section on Budget Preparation and Submission Information and the technical 

steps to complete the budget form in JustGrants in the Complete the Application in JustGrants: 

Budget training. 

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

Requirement” provisions in the 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% 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.

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 1A and has proposed activities to 

incorporate the input and participation of communities that have been historically underserved, 

marginalized, adversely affected by inequality, and disproportionately impacted by crime, 

violence and victimization, 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 1B based on the identification of a 

proposed subrecipient as a population specific organization, the proposed funding for the 

subrecipient must reflect a minimum of 40% of the total award funding within the web-based 

budget form. 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 proposed project that will meaningfully address identified inequities and contribute to 

greater access to services and opportunities for communities that have been historically 

underserved, marginalized, adversely affected by inequality, and disproportionately impacted by 

crime, violence, and victimization.
Page 28 O-NIJ-2024-172018

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

OJP strongly encourages every applicant that proposes to use award funds for any conference, 

meeting, or training related activity (or similar event) to review carefully — before submitting an 

application — the Application Resource Guide for information on prior approval, planning, and 

reporting of conference/meeting/training costs.

Costs Associated With Language Assistance (if applicable)

If an applicant proposes a program or activity that would deliver services or benefits to 

individuals, the costs of taking reasonable steps to provide meaningful access to those services 

or benefits for individuals with limited English proficiency may be allowable. See the Application 

Resource Guide for information on costs associated with language assistance.

Budget/Financial Attachments

Pre-Agreement (Pre-Award) Costs (if applicable)

Pre-agreement costs are defined as costs requiring approval incurred by the applicant prior to 

the start date of the period of performance of the federal award. OJP does not typically approve 

pre-agreement costs. If a successful applicant, in anticipation of the federal award, but before 

the start date of the period of performance, incurs costs that are necessary for efficient and 

timely performance of the funded project, those costs may not be charged to the award. See the

“Costs Requiring Prior Approval” section in the DOJ Grants Financial Guide Post-Award 

Requirements for more information.

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable)

Indirect costs are costs of an organization that are not readily assignable to a particular project 

but are necessary to the operation of the organization and the performance of the project. 

Examples of costs usually treated as indirect include those incurred for facility operation and 

maintenance, depreciation, and administrative salaries. The requirements for the development 

and submission of indirect cost proposals and cost allocation plans are listed in Appendices III – 

VII of 2 C.F.R. Part 200. A non-federal applicant should follow the guidelines applicable to its 

type of organization. If applicable, an applicant with a current federally-approved indirect cost

rate agreement will upload it as an attachment in JustGrants. See the DOJ Financial Guide for 

additional information on Indirect Cost Rate Agreement. 

Consultant Rate (if applicable)

Costs for consultant services require prior approval from OJP. If the proposed project expects to 

fund consultant services, compensation for individual consultant services is to be reasonable 

and consistent with that paid for similar services in the marketplace. See the DOJ Grants 

Financial Guide for information on the consultant rates, which require prior approval from OJP. 

Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation for Awards Over $250,000; Waiver (if 

applicable)

If an applicant proposes to hire employees with federal award funds, for any award of more than 

$250,000 made under a funding opportunity, an award recipient may not use federal funds to 

pay total cash compensation (salary plus cash bonuses) to any employee of the recipient at a 
Page 29 O-NIJ-2024-172018

rate that exceeds 110% of the maximum annual salary payable to a member of the federal 

government’s Senior Executive Service (SES) at an agency with a Certified SES Performance 

Appraisal System for that year. See the Application Resource Guide for information on the 

“Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation for Awards over $250,000; 

Waiver.” 

Disclosure of Process Related to Executive Compensation (if applicable)

This notice of funding opportunity expressly modifies the Application Resource Guide by not 

incorporating its “Disclosure of Process Related to Executive Compensation” provisions. 

Applicants to this funding opportunity 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 regardless of status (i.e., PI, subaward PI, Co-PI, subaward 

Co-PI, co-investigator Co-I, subaward Co-I, I, and subaward-I), senior staff (e.g., project 

leader/director/manager, senior technical advisor), and any other technical staff (e.g., 

consultants, statistician, project coordinator, research associate, data coordinator).

Tribal Authorizing Resolution (if applicable)

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 Application Resource Guide for 

information on tribal authorizing resolutions.

Letters of Support or Commitment (if applicable)

Applicants should include, for each named entity, a signed letter of support or commitment that 

outlines the entity’s reasons for supporting or committing to the project. The letters should 

include the following: (1) a description of the relationship and terms of the collaboration (e.g., 

type of support or resources) between the applicant entity and the supporting entity, including 

level of responsibility; (2) a description of the need and what benefits would be gained from the 

project and collaboration; (3) a description of the applicant’s capacity to complete the proposed 

project; and (4) an understanding that final, de-identified project data will be archived with the 

National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD).

Letters of support and commitment should be signed by the relevant decision-maker or 

authorized representative and then submitted as one separate attachment to the application. 

Applications involving the participation of two or more entities are encouraged to submit signed 

letters with the application that describe why the proposed project should receive federal 

funding. (Only one entity may be the applicant.) Letters of support and commitment must also 

have wet signatures, e-signatures, or digital signatures; otherwise, they will be considered 

invalid.
Page 30 O-NIJ-2024-172018

Research and Evaluation Independence and Integrity Statement (if applicable)

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 Application Resource Guide. 

Bibliography/References 

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/humansubjects-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/privacy-certificate-guidance#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-costsand-incentives. 

Documentation of “New Investigator” status (if applicable) 

Applicants who seek a “New Investigator” designation are required to provide documentation of 

the status that should include when the investigator completed their academic (or research) 

doctorate terminal degree or post-graduate clinical training; a statement corroborating that they 
Page 31 O-NIJ-2024-172018

have not received previous NIJ funding as a PI on a research award (except for GRF grantees); 

verification that the investigator currently holds 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.

Consortium/Contractual Agreements

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.

Project Management Plan and Timeline 

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

and objectives of the project, including the project management structure, approach, and 

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

effort of key personnel. In addition, applicants should include a project management timeline 

documenting the timing for project tasks, management, milestones, and deliverables.

Disclosures and Assurances

The applicant will address the following disclosures and assurances. 

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

The SF-LLL attachment that was completed and submitted in Grants.gov is attached to this 

section. 
Page 32 O-NIJ-2024-172018

Applicant Disclosure of Duplication in Cost Items

To ensure funding coordination across grant making agencies, and to avoid unnecessary or 

inappropriate duplication among grant awards, the applicant will disclose if it has any pending 

applications for federal funding, including pending applications for subawards of federal funds.

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

See the Application Resource Guide for additional information. 

DOJ Certified Standard Assurances

Review and accept the DOJ Certified Standard Assurances in JustGrants. See the 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 in JustGrants the DOJ Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, 

Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements; Law 

Enforcement and Community Policing. See the 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 Application Resource Guide

for additional information.

Application Review Information

Review Criteria

Basic Minimum Review Criteria

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 

requirements for all OJP solicitations:

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

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

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

requirements.

o Proposal Narrative.

o Budget Web-Based Form, which includes the budget details and the budget 

narrative.

o Curriculum Vitae/Resumes for Key Personnel. For purposes of this solicitation, 

“key personnel” means all investigators regardless of status (i.e., principal 

investigator [PI], subaward PI, co-principal investigator [Co-PI], subaward Co-PI, 
Page 33 O-NIJ-2024-172018

co-investigator [Co-I], subaward Co-I, investigator[I], and subaward-I), senior 

staff (e.g., project leader/director/manager, senior technical advisor), and any 

other technical staff (e.g., consultants, statistician, project coordinator, research 

associate, data coordinator).

o General Mentorship Plan under the Scholars category.

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) (15%)

• Responsiveness to the solicitation.

• Demonstrated understanding of the problem(s).

• Exhibited comprehension of the population and region under investigation.

• Illustrative awareness of the state of current research.

• Presentation of a valid theoretical framework justifying the study and directing 

research questions and design.

• Documented importance of research questions or hypotheses and project goals 

and objectives.

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

• Thoroughness and completeness of the discussion of the study’s research 

design (e.g., type[s] of research methods to be employed, research setting, 

sampling methods, research protocols, operationalization and measurement, 

data collection processes and techniques, data strategy, and analysis plan).

• Soundness of methods and analytic and technical approaches to address the 

proposed project’s stated aim(s), answer research questions, or test hypotheses.

• Awareness and responsiveness to human subjects’ privacy, protection, and 

confidentiality issues.

• Attentiveness of potential pitfalls of proposed project design and feasibility of 

proposed actions to minimize and mitigate them.

• Feasibility of the proposed project as designed.

Capabilities and Competencies (capabilities, demonstrated productivity, and experience 

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

• Detailed listing of the qualifications, expertise, and experience of proposed 

project staff (i.e., all investigators, regardless of status, senior staff, and other 

staff [or organization]) who will be significantly involved in substantive aspects of 

the proposed project to include percent of time devoted to the project. The listing 

should document the relationship between the capabilities and competencies of 

the proposed project staff (including the applicant organization[s]) and the scope 

and strategies of the proposed project. 

• Presentation of a thorough management plan showing the roles and 

responsibilities of proposed staff, including how tasks will be subdivided and 

supervised.
Page 34 O-NIJ-2024-172018

• Illustrative documentation of the applicant organization’s capabilities and 

strategies to manage and support the effort, including a description of the 

scientific environment (e.g., institutional support, equipment, other physical 

resources, or collaborative arrangements) where the work will be done.

• Documented history of translating scientific knowledge successfully into effective 

and sustainable practices, systems, and policies.

• Executed letters of agreement, support, or commitment that detail terms of 

collaboration, level of responsibility, and type of support or resources to be 

provided.

• Discussion of research/evaluation independence and integrity, including potential 

risks (if any) and appropriate safeguards to be used.

Potential Impact (10%)

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

criminal/juvenile justice in the United States.

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

justice problem.

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

criminal/juvenile justice problem.

• 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.

• Probability project findings will translate into actionable information to promote 

change in the field.

Budget (5%)

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

items in the context of scientific and technical merit.

• Comprehensive breakdown of all costs (including subgrantees/recipients) with 

justification or rationale.

• 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.

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

Reviewers are not expected to conduct a detailed financial analysis and assessment of 

the budget, but rather to consider it from the perspective of their experience.

Other Review Criteria/Factors

Other important considerations for OJP 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 
Page 35 O-NIJ-2024-172018

federal law and applicable federal cost principles. Costs are allowable when they are 

reasonable, allocable to, and necessary for the performance of the federal award, and when 

they comply with the funding statute and agency requirements (to include the conditions of the 

award), including the cost principles set out in the Uniform Requirements 2 C.F.R. Part 200, 

Subpart E. 

Risk Criteria/Factors

Pursuant to the Part 200 Uniform Requirements, before award decisions are made, OJP also 

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

help assess whether an applicant with one or more prior federal awards has a satisfactory 

record of performance, integrity, and business ethics, OJP checks whether the applicant is listed 

in SAM.gov as excluded from receiving a federal award.

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

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

segment of the integrity and performance system accessible through SAM.gov. 

Important note on Responsibility/Qualification Data (formerly FAPIIS): An applicant may review 

and comment on any information about its organization that currently appears in SAM.gov and 

was entered by a federal awarding agency. OJP will consider such comments by the applicant, 

in addition to the other information in SAM.gov, in its assessment of the risk posed by the 

applicant.

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.

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 staff 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 30. See the Application Resource Guide for information on award notifications and 

instructions.

Evidence-Based Programs or Practices

OJP strongly encourages the use of data and evidence in policymaking and program 

development for criminal justice, juvenile justice, and crime victim services. For additional 

information and resources on evidence-based programs or practices (programs or practices that 

have been evaluated as effective), see the Application Resource Guide. 

 
Page 36 O-NIJ-2024-172018

Information Regarding Potential Evaluation of Programs and Activities

OJP may conduct or support an evaluation of the projects and activities funded under this 

solicitation. For additional information on what should be included in the application, see the 

Application Resource Guide section entitled “Information Regarding Potential Evaluation of 

Programs and Activities.” 

Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements

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

requirements of federal statutes and regulations, including 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 Application Resource Guide. 

Civil Rights Compliance

If a successful applicant accepts funding from OJP — as a recipient of OJP funding — that 

award recipient must comply with certain federal civil rights laws that prohibit it from 

discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, or disability in how the 

recipient delivers its program’s services or benefits and in its employment practices. The civil 

rights laws that may be applicable to the award include Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 

(Title VI), the nondiscrimination provisions of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act 

of 1968 (Safe Streets Act), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. These and other 

federal civil rights laws are discussed in greater detail here: Overview of Legal Requirements 

Generally Applicable to OJP Grants and Cooperative Agreements - FY 2024 Awards under the 

“Civil Rights Requirements” section, and additional resources are available from the OJP Office 

for Civil Rights. 

Part of complying with civil rights laws that prohibit national origin discrimination includes 

recipients taking reasonable steps to ensure that people who are limited in their English 

proficiency (LEP) because of their national origin have meaningful access to a recipient’s 

program and activity. An LEP person is one whose first language is not English and who has a 

limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English. To help recipients meet this 

obligation to serve LEP persons, DOJ has published a number of resources, including a 

language access assessment and planning tool, which are available at 

https://www.lep.gov/language-access-planning. Additional resources are available at 

https://www.ojp.gov/program/civil-rights-office/limited-english-proficient-lep. If the award 

recipient proposes a program or activity that would deliver services or benefits to LEP 

individuals, the recipient may use grant funds to support the costs of taking reasonable steps 

(e.g., interpretation or translation services) to provide meaningful access. Similarly, recipients 

are responsible for ensuring that their programs and activities are readily accessible to qualified 

individuals with disabilities. Applicants for OJP funding must allocate grant funds or explain how 

other available resources will be used to ensure meaningful and full access to their programs. 

For example, grant funds can be used to support American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter 

services for deaf or hard of hearing individuals or the purchase of adaptive equipment for 

individuals with mobility or cognitive disabilities. For resources, see http://www.ADA.gov or 

contact OJP.
Page 37 O-NIJ-2024-172018

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 Application 

Resource Guide for additional information.

Information Technology Security Clauses

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

information technology security. See the 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 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 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 in the solicitation Synopsis. 

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

see the solicitation Synopsis. 

Other Information

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

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

Act (5 U.S.C. §§ 552 and 552a).

Provide Feedback to OJP

See the Application Resource Guide for information on how to provide feedback to OJP. 
Page 38 O-NIJ-2024-172018

Performance Measures

Objective Performance Measure(s) Data Recipient Provides

Conduct research in 

social and behavioral 

sciences that has

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 that has 

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, peerreviewed, 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.
Page 39 O-NIJ-2024-172018

Application Checklist

NIJ FY24 W.E.B. Du Bois Program of Research on Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities

in the Justice System

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

• Confirm your entity’s registration in the System Award Management (SAM.gov) is active 

through the solicitation period; submit a new or renewal registration in SAM.gov if 

needed (see Application Resource Guide). 

Register in Grants.gov

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

and password (see Application Resource Guide). 

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

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). 

• Select the correct Competition ID. 

o Category 1: W.E.B. Du Bois Scholars (C-NIJ-2024-00005-PROD)

o Category 2: W.E.B. Du Bois Fellows (C-NIJ-2024-00006-PROD)

• Access the funding opportunity and application package (see Step 7 in the Application 

Resource Guide). 

• Sign up for Grants.gov email notifications (optional) (see Application Resource Guide). 

• Read Important Notice: Applying for Grants in Grants.gov (about browser compatibility 

and special characters in file names). 

• Read OJP policy and guidance on conference approval, planning, and reporting

available at https://www.ojp.gov/funding/financialguidedoj/iii-postawardrequirements#6g3y8 (see 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 2024 Awards” in the OJP Funding Resource Center. 

Review the Scope Requirement

• The federal amount requested is within the allowable limit(s) of $2,000,000. 

Review Eligibility Requirement

• Review the “Eligibility” section in the Synopsis and “Eligibility Information” section in the 

solicitation.

Application Step 1
Page 40 O-NIJ-2024-172018

After registering with SAM.gov (unless applicant is an individual), submit the SF-424 and SFLLL 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. 

• 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 Application Resource Guide section on Experiencing Unforeseen 

Technical Issues). 

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

• Entity and User Verification (First Time Applicant).

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

• Proposal Abstract. 

• Proposal Narrative* (Critical Component).

• Application Goals, Objectives, Deliverables, and Timeline. 

Budget and Associated Documentation

• Budget Detail Narrative and web-based form* (Critical Component). 

• Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire (see Application 

Resource Guide). 

• Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) (see Application Resource Guide). 

Additional Application Components

• Curriculum Vitae or Resumes* (Critical Component).

• General Mentorship Plan under Scholars category* (Critical Component).

• Tribal Authorizing Resolution (if applicable) (see Application Resource Guide).

• Letters of Support or Commitment (if applicable). 
Page 41 O-NIJ-2024-172018

• Research and Evaluation Independence and Integrity Statement (if applicable) (see 

Application Resource Guide). 

• Bibliography/References. 

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

• List of Individuals in the Application. 

• Human Subjects Protection Documentation. 

• Privacy Certificate. 

• Request to Use Incentives or Stipends. 

• Documentation of “New Investigator” Status (if applicable). 

• Consortium/Contractual Arrangements. 

• Data Archiving Plan. 

• Project Management Plan and Timeline. 

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

Application Resource Guide). 

Disclosures and Assurances

• Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) (see Application Resource Guide). 

• Applicant Disclosure of Duplication in Cost Items (see Application Resource Guide). 

• DOJ Certified Standard Assurances (see Application Resource Guide). 

• DOJ Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other 

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

Community Policing (see Application Resource Guide). 

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

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 Application 

Resource Guide for additional information. 
Page 42 O-NIJ-2024-172018

Standard Solicitation Resources

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 resources 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.

Weekly Training Webinars are advertised here and provide opportunities for users to receive 

topic-specific training, direct technical assistance, and support on JustGrants system 

functionality.