Notices regarding the solicitation “NIJ FY22 Research and Evaluation on 

Policing”

April 6, 2022: NIJ has added FAQs related to this solicitation. See the funding detail page. 

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

Approval Expires  12/31/2023 

U.S. Department of Justice 

Office of Justice Programs 

National Institute of Justice 

NIJ FY22 Research and Evaluation on Policing 

Assistance Listing Number # 

Grants.gov Opportunity Number: 

Solicitation Release Date: 

Version: 

Grants.gov Deadline: 

Application JustGrants Deadline: 

16.560 

O-NIJ-2022-171247

April 04, 2022 2:00 PM 

2

May 20, 2022 11:59 PM 

June 03, 2022 8:59 PM 

Overview 

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

seeks applications to fund rigorous research examining policing that will contribute to a better understanding of 

the changes occurring in American policing and their impact on policy and practice. This program furthers the 

DOJ’s mission by supporting the development of new knowledge and tools to address the challenges of crime 

and justice in the United States. 

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

Application Resource Guide provides guidance to applicants for the preparation and submission to OJP of 

applications for funding. If this solicitation expressly modifies any provision in the OJP Grant Application 

Resource Guide, the applicant is to follow the guidelines in this solicitation as to that provision. 

Solicitation Categories 

This solicitation does not include Solicitation Categories. 

Eligible Applicants: 

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

Independent school districts, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal 

organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the 

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

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

institutions of higher education, Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Small businesses, Special 

district governments, State governments, Other 

Other 

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

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

Northern Mariana Islands. 

To advance Executive Order 13929 Safe Policing for Safe Communities, the Attorney General determined that all 

state, local, and university or college law enforcement agencies must be certified by an approved independent 

credentialing body or have started the certification process, to be eligible for FY 2022 DOJ discretionary grant 

funding. To become certified, the law enforcement agency must meet two mandatory conditions: (1) the agency’s 

use-of-force policies adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and (2) the agency’s use-of-force 

policies prohibit chokeholds except in situations where use of deadly force is allowed by law. The certification 

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requirement also applies to law enforcement agencies receiving DOJ discretionary grant funding through a 

subaward. For detailed information on this certification requirement, please visit 

https://cops.usdoj.gov/SafePolicingEO to access the Standards for Certification on Safe Policing for Safe 

Communities, the Implementation Fact Sheet, and the List of Designated Independent Credentialing Bodies. 

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

Federal agencies are eligible to apply. (Any award made to a federal agency will be made as an inter-agency 

reimbursable agreement.). 

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

NIJ will consider applications under which two or more entities would carry out the federal award; however, only 

one entity may be the applicant. Any others must be proposed as subrecipients (subgrantees). For additional 

information on subawards, see the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide. 

NIJ may elect to fund applications submitted under this FY 2022 solicitation in future fiscal years, dependent on, 

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

Contact Information 

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

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities form (SF-LLL) in Grants.gov, contact the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline 

at 800-518-4726, 606-545-5035, Grants.gov Customer Support, or support@grants.gov. The Grants.gov 

Support Hotline operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except on federal holidays. 

For technical assistance with submitting the full application in DOJ's Justice Grants System (JustGrants), contact 

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

operates 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. eastern time Monday-Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, and Federal 

holidays. 

For assistance with any other requirements of this solicitation, contact the OJP Response Center by telephone at 

800-851-3420 or TTY: 301-240-6310 (hearing impaired only), or by email at grants@ncjrs.gov. The OJP 

Response Center hours of operation are 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., eastern time Monday–Friday, and 10:00 a.m. to 

8:00 p.m. on the solicitation closing date. 

Submission Information 

Applications will be submitted to DOJ in two steps: 

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

standard form (SF)-424 and a Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) form when they register in Grants.gov 

at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html. To register in Grants.gov, the applicant will need to ensure 

that its System for Award Management (SAM) registration is current. 

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

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

JustGrants application deadline. OJP encourages applicants to review the “How to Apply” section in the OJP 

Grant Application Resource Guide and the JustGrants website for more information, resources, and training. 

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Contents 

Contact Information 2 

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Program Description 5 

Overview 5 

Statutory Authority 5 

Specific Information 5 

Goals, Objectives, Deliverables, and Timeline 8 

Priority Areas 9 

Federal Award Information 10 

Awards, Amounts and Durations 10 

Continuation Funding Intent 10 

Availability of Funds 10 

Types of Awards 10 

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls 10 

Budget Information 10 

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement 11 

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

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

Prior Approval, Planning, and Reporting of Conference/Meeting/Training Costs 11 

Costs Associated with Language Assistance (if applicable) 11 

Anticipated Number of Awards 11 

Maximum Dollar Amount for each Award 11 

Period of Performance Duration 11 

Eligibility Information 12 

Application and Submission Information 12 

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

Standard Applicant Information (JustGrants 424 and General Agency Information) 12 

Proposal Abstract 12 

Proposal Narrative 12 

Goals, Objectives, Deliverables, and Timeline 14 

Budget and Associated Documentation 15 

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

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) 15 

Financial Management Questionnaire (including applicant disclosure of high-risk status) 15 

Disclosure of Process Related to Executive Compensation 15 

Additional Application Components 15 

Curriculum Vitae or Resumes 15 

Tribal Authorizing Resolution 16 

Timeline Form 16 

Letters of Support 16 

Research and Evaluation Independence and Integrity Statement 16 

Bibliography/reference 16 

Any tools/instruments, questionnaires, tables/chart/graphs, or maps 16 

List of Individuals in the Application 16 

Human Subjects Protection 16 

Privacy Certificate 16 

Request to Use Incentives or Stipends 16 

Documentation of “New Investigator/Early Career” Status, if applicable 16 
Consortium/Contractual Arrangements 17 

Data Archiving Plan 17 

Disclosures and Assurances 17 

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities 17 

DOJ Certified Standard Assurances 17 

Applicant Disclosure of Duplication in Cost Items 17 

DOJ Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility 

Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements 17 

Applicant Disclosure and Justification – DOJ High Risk Grantees (if applicable) 17 

How to Apply 18 

Submission Dates and Time 18 

Experiencing Unforeseen Technical Issues 18 

Application Review Information 19 

Review Criteria 19 

Review Process 20 

Federal Award Administration Information 21 

Federal Award Notices 21 

Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements 21 

Information Technology (IT) Security Clauses 21 

General Information about Post-Federal Award Reporting Requirements 21 

Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s) 21 

Other Information 21 

Freedom of Information and Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552 and 5 U.S.C. 552a) 21 

Provide Feedback to OJP 21 

Performance Measures 22 

Application Checklist 23 

Endnotes 24 

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Program Description 

Overview 

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

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

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

community. 

With this solicitation, NIJ seeks proposals for rigorous research and evaluation projects in four topic areas. This 

includes projects that address (1) diversifying responses to public safety needs; (2) implementation and 

sustainment of long-term organizational change in policing agencies; and (3) police recruitment, retention, and 

training in today’s environment. NIJ also seeks investigator-initiated research and evaluation projects on 

contemporary policing in the U.S. on topics outside of the three topic areas listed above, which will contribute to a 

better understanding of the changes occurring in American policing and the impact on policy and practice. 

Successful applicants should propose the most rigorous design to answer their proposed research questions. NIJ 

will consider research designs that include qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods designs. Randomized 

controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental designs are preferred, in that order, but NIJ understands that not 

all research questions lend themselves to such designs. 

Applicants are encouraged to partner with practitioner agencies where such partnerships will enhance the 

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

include a strong letter of support, signed by an appropriate decision-making authority from each proposed, 

partnering agency. A letter of support should include the partnering agency’s acknowledgement that de-identified 

data derived from, provided to, or obtained through this project will be archived by the grant recipient with the 

National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD) at the conclusion of the award. Applicants and their potential 

partners are encouraged to review the NACJD’s policies and protections at (NACJD). If selected for award, 

grantees will be expected to have a formal agreement in place with partnering agencies by January 1, 2023. That 

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

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

carry out the proposed project, only one entity/partnering agency may be the applicant (as is the case with any 

application submitted in response to this solicitation); any others must be proposed as subrecipients. 

Statutory Authority 

Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (sections 201 and 202). 

Specific Information 

The institution of policing in the United States is at an inflection point and, consequently, is under considerable 

stress with the potential to place public safety at risk. Civil unrest and a number of highly publicized incidents 

between police and community residents in jurisdictions across the country have led to calls for policing reform. In 

some parts of the country, the calls for reform focus on defunding or “de-centering” the police, reducing their 

primary role in maintaining public safety by removing certain policing mandates (e.g., as first/frontline responders 

for dealing with the homeless, drug use and abuse, mental health distress).[1] Calls for reform in other parts of 

the country look to retain those mandates but with a more diverse, skilled, and better trained workforce. 

At the same time that the role of police in maintaining public safety is in flux, the violent crimes reported to police 

are increasing and the police work force is decreasing. In 2020, the FBI reports that homicides increased by 

nearly 30%[2]. Moderate hiring increases of officers to the policing ranks have been offset by increasing numbers 

of resignations and retirements resulting in agencies being under-staffed, with demoralized and fatigued officers 

working longer shifts to compensate for slots that haven’t been filled with new recruits.[3] The research topics 

proposed in this solicitation are intended to increase understanding of the changes occurring in American policing 

at this inflection point and how those changes impact public safety. 

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Topic 1: Diversifying Responses to Public Safety Needs 

Recent events have resulted in efforts to reimagine public safety in a number of jurisdictions by redefining police 

mandates and/or reallocating police resources. In response to the complexities that are often involved in 

maintaining public safety and the delivery of public services, discussions have centered around the role and level 

to which the police should be involved in provision of certain public safety services. Many jurisdictions across the 

country have diverse public safety needs that may often require the delivery of multiple public services. Recent 

efforts have focused on the need for partnerships to meet gaps in the delivery of public safety services in many 

communities, as well as strategies and tactics designed to effectively triage police resources and prioritize the 

need for police involvement in certain situations. 

NIJ is interested in research that examines police resource reallocation consequent to redefining police mandates 

on public safety and community well-being. Areas of interest include, but are not necessarily limited to, an 

examination of decisions to redefine police mandates as they pertain to dealing with the mentally ill, homeless 

individuals, drug addiction, or law enforcement in school settings, and to reallocate the funds to support those 

mandates at other agencies. In addition, NIJ expects proposals to explore various practical aspects of policing 

that coincide with the ongoing discussion of police mandates, such as: 

Co-responder strategies designed to respond to specific populations (e.g., the mentally ill, individuals with 

substance use disorders, homeless or at-risk youths in school settings). 

Deflection strategies implemented to steer individuals from the criminal justice system. 

Harm reduction policing strategies. 

The role of dispatch in police deployment in response to calls for service (e.g., 911 emergency responses 

versus alternatives to police responses). 

Changes in traffic enforcement responsibilities on patrol functions (e.g., ending primary traffic stops for 

minor infractions). 

Topic 2: Implementation and Sustainment of Long-Term Organizational Change 

NIJ has a long history of facilitating research on policing operations, largely examining programs, strategies, and 

tactics, yet there has been little research on how to implement long-term changes and/or reforms to police 

practices.[4] Police leaders are increasingly faced with calls to change how the services their agencies provide 

are delivered to the communities they serve. These changes often need to go beyond implementing specific 

targeted programs and may require substantial changes involving multiple units in the agency. Instituting major 

changes to how policing is done, executing a new chief’s vision, and adjusting the focus of a department requires 

much more than just implementing a specific program or practice.[5] Many police chiefs are grappling with how to 

implement sustainable and needed reforms while simultaneously addressing violent crime, ensuring officer 

safety, and remaining flexible enough to respond to the next ebb or flow in their mandate. 

In looking towards how best to guide agencies attempting to implement sustainable changes, it is informative to 

look back to another period of major policing reform and innovation. Much of the knowledge surrounding how to 

implement major changes to policing strategies comes from research around major police crime prevention 

innovations of the 1980s and 1990s, practices that were often grounded in the major paradigms of communityoriented or problem-oriented policing.[6] This body of research identified many barriers to sustaining major 

changes in police departments. Sustainably implementing practices such as community-oriented policing entails 

adopting a new philosophical approach to policing practices as much as deploying new strategies and tactics. 

Thus, major department-wide changes are often necessary to successfully implement such a practice, such as 

changing the organizational culture, institutionalizing the practice across all officers and not relegating duties to 

one unit, and even revising performance metrics to align with the new practice principles.[7] 

In this topical area, NIJ seeks proposals for rigorous research to inform state, local, and tribal policing leaders 

contemplating reforms to guide their efforts. Applicants should consider research questions including, but not 

limited to: 

Barriers to implementing lasting reforms. 

The role of organizational culture in sustaining (or inhibiting) new practices. 

Effective ways to institutionalize new practices. 

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How best to perceive and mitigate unintended consequences. 

Evaluations of innovative approaches to implementing long-term practices. 

Topic 3: Recruitment, Retention, and Training in Today’s Environment 

NIJ is interested in understanding how the challenges associated with this inflection point in policing impact 

recruitment, training, and retention practices and strategies and the effectiveness of those practices and 

strategies in meeting those challenges. 

To that end, NIJ seeks proposals for a comprehensive landscape analysis, complemented by case studies that 

evaluate current recruitment and training practices and strategies and/or explore the effects of modifying current 

recruitment and training practices and strategies in response to the calls for reform of policing mandates. NIJ 

expects the research to include, but is not limited to, the following aspects of the topic: 

Recruitment outreach method. 

Diversity of job title/category postings within departments. 

Diversity of expected tasks performed across departments. 

Job requirements and knowledge, skills, and abilities across departments and between job titles. 

Actual qualifications of applying applicants. 

Academy training curriculum. 

Requirements to obtain peace officer certification. 

How to measure the short- and long-term outcomes of recruitment strategies. 

Annual training requirements. 

How to measure the short- and long-term outcomes of training programs. 

To understand the effects of changing policing mandates on officer retention practices and strategies, NIJ seeks 

proposals for a comprehensive landscape analysis, complemented by case studies that evaluate current 

retention practices and strategies. NIJ expects the research to include, but is not limited to, the following aspects 

of the topic: 

Retention incentives or promotions. 

Salary changes. 

Shift changes/preferences. 

Professional development opportunities. 

Other bonuses. 

Cost benefit of retaining an officer (see above) versus retraining new/transfer officers. 

Work-life balance and wellness. 

Changes in organizational structure. 

For the landscape analyses, applicants may want to consider proposing the use of innovative technology 

solutions (e.g., internet bots) to collect and analyze online and secondary data (e.g., job listings, benefits 

packages, training curriculum, certification requirements, and staffing levels) from online sources (e.g., opensource, secondary data, and association websites). 

Topic 4: Investigator-initiated Research and Evaluation on Contemporary Policing 

NIJ also seeks investigator-initiated research and evaluation projects on contemporary policing in the U.S. on 

topics outside of the three topic areas listed above, which will contribute to a better understanding of the changes 

occurring in American policing and the impact on policy and practice. Applications should explore research 

questions and issues not covered under the other three topic areas. 

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 

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

design that can address the risk of selection bias. Applications that include evaluation research should consider 

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

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

policymakers that aids decision-making. Evaluation research projects may also address a wide range of research 

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

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

intervention strategies, setting, other contextual factors, and resources should be considered when selecting an 

evaluation design. In all cases, applications are expected to propose the most rigorous evaluation design 

appropriate for the research questions to be addressed. Applicants are encouraged to review evidence-rating 

criteria at https://www.crimesolutions.gov/about_starttofinish.aspx for further information on high-quality 

evaluation design elements. 

New Investigator/Early Career Opportunity 

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

portfolios, specifically non-tenured assistant professors, or equivalent full-time staff scientist positions in a 

research institution, who propose research on topics relevant to NIJ’s Office of Research, Evaluation, and 

Technology (ORET). To that end, NIJ may, in appropriate circumstances, give special consideration in award 

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

must at the time of application submission: 

Hold a non-tenured assistant professor appointment at an accredited institution of higher education in the 

United States or an equivalent full-time staff scientist position at a research institution in the United States. 

Have completed a terminal degree or post-graduate clinical training within the six (6) years prior to 

September 30, 2022. 

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

Research Fellows or Data Resources Program grantees. 

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

they are submitting a New Investigator/Early Career proposal on the title page of the application. 

Goals, Objectives, Deliverables, and Timeline 

Goals 

The goal of this solicitation is to develop knowledge to inform reform and strengthening of the criminal justice 

system to ensure fair and just treatment for all and to reduce crime and promote safe communities. 

Objectives 

1. To promote and support rigorous research to better understand: 

Diversifying responses to public safety needs. 

Implementation and sustainment of long-term organizational change in policing agencies. 

Police recruitment, retention, and training in today’s environment. 

2. To encourage innovation in research into the changes occurring in American policing and their impact on 

policy and practice. 

Deliverables 

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

research report. Additional information on the final research report requirement for the solicitation is posted on 

NIJ’s webpage. 

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

will be expected to submit to the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD) all data sets that result in 

whole or in part from the work funded by the award, along with associated files and any documentation 

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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. 

Technical Deliverables. Should any algorithm, method, software development kit, and/or training data set result 

from research and evaluation activities funded under this solicitation, such work products will be delivered to NIJ 

at the end of the award for potential third-party evaluation, along with detailed implementation instructions. 

Documentation must include descriptions of algorithmic development and approaches to data collection. 

In addition to these deliverables (and the required reports and data on performance measures), NIJ expects 

scholarly products to result from each award under this solicitation, taking the form of one or more published, 

peer-reviewed, scientific journal articles, and/or (if appropriate) law review journal articles, book chapter(s) or 

book(s) in the academic press, technological prototypes, patented inventions, or similar scientific products. NIJ 

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

audiences. 

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

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

completed work’s results, as discussed in the “Application and Submission Information” section. 

Priority Areas 

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

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

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

community. 

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

Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government 

Consistent with this Executive Order, the term “underserved community” refers to a population sharing a 

particular characteristic, as well as a geographic community, that has been systematically denied a full 

opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life or whose members have been historically 

underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by inequality. Such communities include, among others, Black 

people, Hispanics and Latino/a/e people, Native American and other Indigenous peoples of North America 

(including Alaska Natives, Eskimos, and Aleuts), Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. 

In support of Executive Order 13985, OJP will: 

A. Give priority consideration to applications that propose research project(s) that will address issues 

related to racial equity and the removal of barriers to access and opportunity for communities that have 

been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by inequality, when making award 

decisions. 

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

inequities and barriers to equal opportunity, and/or contribute to greater access to services for underserved 

and historically marginalized populations. 

B. Give priority consideration to applicants that can demonstrate that their capabilities and competencies for 

implementing their proposed project(s) are enhanced because the applicant (or at least one proposed 

subrecipient that will receive at least 30% of the requested award funding, as demonstrated in the Budget 

Worksheet and Budget Narrative) identifies as a culturally specific organization. To receive this additional 

priority consideration, applicants must describe how being a culturally specific organization (or funding the 

culturally specific subrecipient organization(s)) will enhance their ability to implement the proposed project 

(s) and should also specify which culturally specific populations are intended or expected to be served or to 

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have their needs addressed under the proposed project(s). 

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

organizations whose primary purpose as a whole is to provide culturally specific services to, among others, 

Black people, Hispanics and Latino/a/e people, Native American and other Indigenous peoples of North 

America (including Alaska Natives, Eskimos, and Aleuts), Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and/or 

Pacific Islanders. 

Note: Addressing these priority areas is one of many factors that the NIJ Director considers in making funding 

decisions. Receiving priority consideration for one or more priority areas is not a guarantee of an award. 

Federal Award Information 

Solicitation Categories 

This solicitation does not include Solicitation Categories. 

Awards, Amounts and Durations 

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

1/1/23 12:00 AM 60 

Anticipated Total Amount to be Awarded Under 

Solicitation 

$8,000,000.00 

Additional Information 

Please see Anticipated Number of Awards, Maximum 

Dollar Amount for each Award, and Period of 

Performance Duration sections below. 

Continuation Funding Intent 

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

through continuation awards. NIJ will consider, among other factors, NIJ’s strategic priorities, a recipient’s overall 

management of the award, and the award-funded work’s progress, when making continuation award decisions. 

Availability of Funds 

This solicitation, and awards (if any are made) under this solicitation, are subject to the availability of appropriated 

funds and to any modifications or additional requirements that may be imposed by the agency or by law. In 

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

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

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

Types of Awards 

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

Legal Requirements” section of the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for a brief discussion of important 

statutes, regulations, and award conditions that apply to many (or in some cases, all) OJP grants. 

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls 

Award recipients and subrecipients (including recipients or subrecipients that are pass-through entities) must, as 

described in the Part 200 Uniform Requirements as set out at 2 C.F.R. 200.303, comply with standards for 

financial and program management. See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for additional information. 

Budget Information 

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

resulting in completion of one or more significant, defined milestones, then NIJ strongly recommends that the 

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applicant structure the application — specifically including the narrative, expected scholarly products, 

timelines/milestones, and budget 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 2022, 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 2022 solicitation in future fiscal years, dependent on, 

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

What will not be funded: 

Applications primarily to purchase equipment, materials, or supplies. (A budget may include these items if 

they are necessary to conduct research, development, demonstration, evaluation, or analysis.) 

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

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement 

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

Information” section. 

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

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

Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation: Waiver 

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

Employee Compensation; Waiver. 

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

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

Conference/Meeting/Training Costs. 

Costs Associated with Language Assistance (if applicable) 

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

Anticipated Number of Awards 

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. Applicants are 

encouraged to propose budgets that match the proposed research activities, up to the full dollar amount 

anticipated to be awarded under this solicitation. 

Period of Performance Duration 

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

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O-NIJ-2022-171247 
to complete the work proposed within a five-year period of performance. 

Eligibility Information 

For eligibility information, see the solicitation cover page. 

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

Application and Submission Information 

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

to advance to peer review and receive consideration for funding: 

Proposal Narrative 

Budget Worksheet and Budget Narrative (Web-based Form) (The web-based form includes the 

budget details and the budget narrative.) 

Curriculum Vitae/Resumes for Key Personnel. (Curriculum Vitae for key personnel. For purposes of 

this solicitation, “key personnel” means the principal investigator, and any and all co-principal 

investigators.) 

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

for information on what happens to an application that does not contain all the specified elements or is 

nonresponsive to the scope of the solicitation. 

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

The SF-424 must be submitted in Grants.gov. The SF-424 is a required standard form used as a cover sheet for 

submission of pre-applications, applications, and related information. See the OJP Grant Application Resource 

Guide for additional information on completing the SF-424. 

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

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

application to this user in JustGrants. 

Intergovernmental Review: This solicitation (“funding opportunity”) is not subject to Executive Order 12372. (In 

completing the SF-424, an applicant is to answer question 19 by selecting the response that the “Program is not 

covered by E.O. 12372.”) 

Standard Applicant Information (JustGrants 424 and General Agency Information) 

The Standard Applicant Information section of the JustGrants application is pre-populated with the SF-424 data 

submitted in Grants.gov. 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 its 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 the purpose of the 

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

known), will be completed in the JustGrants web-based form. This abstract should be written in the third person 

and will be made publicly available on the OJP website if the project is awarded. 

Proposal Narrative 

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

double-spaced, using a standard 12-point font; have no less than 1-inch margins; and should not exceed 30 

pages. Pages should be numbered and submitted as an attachment. If the program narrative fails to comply with 

these length restrictions, NIJ may consider such noncompliance in peer review and in final award decision. 

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

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/early career” and/or “priority area 1A,” and/or “priority 

area 1B”. 

Key words, including science focus areas. 

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

and the principal investigator. 

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

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

indicate this. A statement should be provided, no more than two pages, addressing: (1) the title, submission date, 

and NIJ-assigned application number of the previous application, and (2) a brief summary of revisions to the 

application, including responses to previous feedback received from NIJ. 

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

d. Main Body 

1. Statement of the Problem. 

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

current gaps in data, research, and knowledge, including those for particular justice sectors, for certain 

populations, and to answer questions relevant to current policy and practice needs and public interests. It is 

not uncommon for multiple problems to exist simultaneously (for example, there may be a criminal justice 

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

well as a scientific/technology gap between the current state of the art and a desired solution) and 

applicants should discuss each of these clearly and justify the importance of the separate issues. As part of 

this discussion, applicants should present a review of previous literature and discuss previous research 

related to these problems. 

2. Project Design and Implementation. 

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

address the research questions. Design elements should follow directly from the research project’s goals 

and objectives and address the program-specific information noted in the solicitation. Applicants should 

describe the research methodology and analysis plan in detail and demonstrate the validity and usefulness 

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

analytical and technical approaches for the proposed research and address the feasibility of the proposed 

project and potential challenges or problems in carrying out the activities. 

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

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

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

underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by inequality. 

3. Potential Impact. 

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

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

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

available to broader interested audiences, such as criminal justice practitioners or policymakers. 

4. Capabilities and Competencies. 

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

proposed subgrantees (including consultants) that the applicant will use to implement and manage this 

effort and the federal funds under this award, highlighting any previous experience implementing projects of 

similar scope, design, and magnitude. Applicants should address: 

Experience and capacity to work with the proposed data sources in the conduct of similar research 

efforts. 

Experience and capacity to design and implement rigorous research and data analysis projects. 

Experience producing and disseminating meaningful deliverables. 

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

objectives of the project. 

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

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

minimum of 30% of the project budget) will enhance its ability to implement the proposed project(s) and 

should also specify which culturally specific populations are intended or expected to be the subject and/or 

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

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

The project management plan. 

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

or may be considered procurement "contracts" (rather than subawards), for purposes of federal grants 

administrative requirements, the applicant also must list the entities with which the applicant proposes 

to contract. 

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

(if applicable). 

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

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

measure information is included as an alert that successful applicants will be required to submit 

performance data as part of each award’s reporting requirements. 

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

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

the “Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables” discussion. 

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

Applicants can also visit OJP’s performance measurement page at www.ojp.gov/performance for an 

overview of performance measurement activities at OJP. 

NIJ will require award recipients to submit performance measure data in quarterly financial reports, semiannual performance reports (using the Research Performance Progress Report template/format), and the 

Final Research Report. NIJ will provide further guidance on the post-award submission process, if selected 

for award. 

Goals, Objectives, Deliverables, and Timeline 

The applicant will submit the project's goals, objectives, deliverables and timelines in the JustGrants Web-based 

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form. 

Budget and Associated Documentation 

Budget Worksheet and Budget Narrative (Web-based Form) 

The applicant will complete the JustGrants web-based budget form. See the OJP Grant Application Resource 

Guide for additional information. 

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

proposed subrecipient as a culturally specific organization, the proposed funding for the subrecipient in the webbased budget form must be a minimum of 30% of award funding. 

The budget narrative must also describe how the activities that will be funded with the (minimum) 30% of award 

funding provided to the subrecipient specifically relate to the priority consideration requested under Priority 

1(B) and described in the Capabilities and Competencies section of the application. 

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

provisions in the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide. The applicant is to follow the guidance in the following 

paragraph instead of the guidance stated under the “Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement” heading in the OJP 

Grant Application Resource Guide. 

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

the project. The application should indicate whether it is feasible for the applicant to contribute cash, facilities, or 

services as non-federal support for the project. The application should identify generally any such contributions 

that the applicant expects to make and the proposed budget should indicate in detail which items, if any, will be 

supported with non-federal contributions. 

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

Information. 

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

amount incorporated into the approved budget becomes mandatory and subject to audit. 

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) 

The applicant will submit its indirect cost rate agreement by uploading it as an attachment in JustGrants. See the 

OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for additional information. 

Financial Management Questionnaire (including applicant disclosure of high-risk status) 

The applicant will download the questionnaire, complete it, and submit it by uploading it as an attachment in 

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

information. 

Disclosure of Process Related to Executive Compensation 

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

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

Grant Application Resource Guide for information. 

Additional Application Components 

Applicants will attach the additional requested documentation in JustGrants. 

Curriculum Vitae or Resumes 

Curriculum vitae of key personnel. Curriculum vitae or resume of the principal investigator and any and all coprincipal investigators. In addition, curriculum vitae, resume, or biographical sketches of all other individuals 

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(regardless of “investigator” status) who will be significantly involved in substantive aspects of the proposed 

project (including, for example, individuals such as statisticians used to conduct proposed data analysis). 

Tribal Authorizing Resolution 

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

attachment. If applicable, the applicant will submit the tribal authorizing documentation by uploading it as an 

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

resolutions. 

Timeline Form 

Proposed project timeline and expected milestones. 

Letters of Support 

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

as law enforcement and correctional agencies (if applicable). 

Research and Evaluation Independence and Integrity Statement 

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

demonstrate research/evaluation independence and integrity, including appropriate safeguards, before it may 

receive award funds. The applicant will submit documentation of its research and evaluation independence and 

integrity by uploading it as an attachment in JustGrants. For additional information, see the OJP Grant 

Application Resource Guide. 

Bibliography/reference 

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

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

Any tools/instruments, questionnaires, tables/charts/graphs, or maps pertaining to the proposed project that are 

supplemental to such items included in the main body of the narrative. 

List of Individuals in the Application 

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

prospective reviewers of the application), provide a complete list of the individuals named or otherwise identified 

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

or consult) on the proposed research, development, or evaluation project. Applicants should use the “Proposed 

Project Staff, Affiliation, and Roles” form available on the NIJ webpage to prepare this list. 

Human Subjects Protection 

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

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

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

Privacy Certificate 

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

Request to Use Incentives or Stipends 

Applicants proposing to use incentives or stipends payments as part of their research project design, must submit 

an incentive or stipend approval request, as a separate document, according to the requirements set forth at 

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

Documentation of “New Investigator/Early Career” Status, if applicable 

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Documentation of “new investigator/early career” status, if applicable. 

Consortium/Contractual Arrangements 

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

organization and the consortium organization(s). 

Data Archiving Plan 

Applicants should anticipate that NIJ will require, through special award conditions, that data sets resulting in 

whole or in part from projects funded under this solicitation be submitted for archiving with the NACJD. See 

https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/research-development-and-evaluation-grant-award-requirements#data. 

Applications should include as a as a separate attachment a brief plan — labeled “Data Archiving Plan” — to 

comply with data archiving requirements. The plan should provide brief details about proposed data management 

and archiving, including submission to NIJ (through NACJD) of all files and documentation necessary to allow 

for future efforts by others to reproduce the project’s findings and/or to extend the scientific value of the data set 

through secondary analysis. Pertinent files and documentation include, among other things, qualitative and 

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

programming code necessary to reproduce all constructed measures and the original data analysis, description 

of necessary de-identification procedures, and (when required) a copy of the privacy certificate and informed 

consent protocols. 

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

requirements. 

Note that recipients are strongly encouraged to submit required data sets at least 90 days before the end of the 

period of performance. 

Disclosures and Assurances 

The applicant will address the following disclosures and assurances. 

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities 

Complete and submit the SF-LLL in Grants.gov. See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for additional 

information. 

DOJ Certified Standard Assurances 

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

Resource Guide for additional information. 

Applicant Disclosure of Duplication in Cost Items 

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

Application Resource Guide for additional information. 

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

Workplace Requirements 

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

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

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

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

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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, or noncompliance with award terms and conditions on prior awards, or that is otherwise not 

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

How to Apply 

Step 1: The applicant must submit the SF-424 and SF-LLL in Grants.gov at 

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html. 

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

JustGrants.usdoj.gov. 

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

DOJ Application Submission Checklist. 

Submission Dates and Time 

The SF-424 and the SF-LLL must be submitted in Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on May 20, 2022. 

The full application must be submitted in JustGrants by 8:59 p.m. eastern time on June 3, 2022. 

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

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

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

deadline. 

Experiencing Unforeseen Technical Issues 

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

control that prevent application submission by the deadline, must demonstrate all efforts in requesting technical 

support in order to submit an application by the deadline. Technical support is available via phone and email to 

the applicable SAM.gov, Grants.gov, or JustGrants support centers or service desks in which an applicant 

received a ticket number for resolution. If an applicant misses a deadline due to unforeseen technical difficulties, 

the applicant may request a waiver to submit an application after the deadline. Note: If an applicant does not 

submit all the required Grants.gov forms by the Grants.gov deadline, the applicant will not be able to proceed to 

the JustGrants portion of the application process. 

An applicant experiencing technical difficulties with the following systems must contact the associated support 

desk indicated below to report the technical issue and receive a tracking number: 

Grants.gov - contact the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline 

SAM.gov - contact the SAM Help Desk (Federal Service Desk) 

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

An applicant requesting a waiver to submit a late application must document their request for technical 

assistance in an email to the OJP Response Center at grants@ncjrs.gov within 24 hours after the application 

deadline to request approval to submit its application after the deadline. If an applicant has technical issues with 

Grants.gov, the applicant must contact the OJP Response Center within 24 hours of the Grants.gov deadline to 

request approval to submit after the deadline. However, waiver requests will not be reviewed until after the 

JustGrants deadline to allow time for all waivers to be submitted. Waiver requests to submit after the submission 

deadline must: 

Describe the technical difficulties experienced. 

Include a timeline of the applicant's submission efforts (e.g., what date and time did the error occur, what 

date and time was action taken to resolve the issue and resubmit, and what date and time did support 

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representatives respond). 

Include an attachment(s) of the complete grant application and all required documentation and material. 

Include the applicant's Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and any applicable SAM.gov tracking number(s), 

Grants.gov Help Desk, and JustGrants Support Desk Ticket Numbers. 

OJP will review each request for late submission and required supporting documentation and notify the applicant 

whether the request has been approved or denied. For more details on the waiver process, OJP encourages 

applicants to review the “Experiencing Unforeseen Technical Issues” section in the OJP Grant Application 

Resource Guide. 

Application Review Information 

Review Criteria 

Merit Review Criteria 

Applications that meet the basic minimum requirements will be evaluated by peer reviewers on how the proposed 

project/program addresses the following criteria: 

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

Demonstrated understanding of the problem. 

Demonstrated importance of research questions, goals and objectives, including alignment with the aims of 

the solicitation. 

Demonstrated awareness of the state of current research. 

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

Feasibility of proposed project. 

Soundness of methods and analytic and technical approach to addressing the stated aim(s) of the 

proposed project. 

Awareness of potential pitfalls of proposed project design and feasibility of proposed actions to minimize 

and/or mitigate them. 

Feasibility of completing the deliverables noted in the solicitation. 

3. Capabilities and Competencies (capabilities, demonstrated productivity, and experience of the applicant 

organization and proposed project staff) (15%) 

Qualifications and experience of proposed project staff (that is, the principal investigator, any and all coprincipal investigators, and all other individuals (and organizations) identified in the application (regardless 

of “investigator” status) who will be significantly involved in substantive aspects of the proposed project). 

Demonstrated ability of the applicant organization to implement the proposed strategies and manage the 

effort. 

Relationship between the capabilities/competencies of the proposed project staff (including the applicant 

organization) and the scope and strategies of the proposed project. 

4. Potential Impact (20%) 

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

United States. 

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

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

problem. 

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Strength and feasibility of the proposed dissemination plan to produce scholarly products (such as 

published, peer-reviewed, scientific journal articles, book chapter(s) or book(s) in the academic press, 

technological prototypes, patented inventions, databases, standards or similar scientific products) as well as 

make summary information available to broader interested audiences, such as criminal justice practitioners 

or policymakers. 

5. Budget (0%) 

In addition, peer reviewers will consider and may comment on the following additional items in the context of 

scientific and technical merit. 

Alignment of the proposed budget with proposed project activities. 

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

Appropriateness of the budget relative to the level of effort. 

Use of existing resources to conserve costs. 

Other Review Criteria 

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

not limited to, those mentioned above relating to priority areas), available funding, past performance, and the 

extent to which the Budget Worksheet and Budget Narrative (Web-based form) accurately explain project costs 

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

Review Process 

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

technical merit by a peer review panel(s) in accordance with OJP peer review policy and procedures using the 

review criteria listed above. 

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

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

solicitations: 

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

The application must request funding within programmatic funding constraints (if applicable). 

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

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

The application, if submitted by an applicant that is a DOJ High Risk Grantee, or is designated “high risk” by 

a federal grant-making agency outside of DOJ, must not have been determined by the NIJ Director to pose 

a substantial risk of program implementation failure, based on 1) the applicant’s lack of sufficient progress 

in addressing required corrective actions necessary for removal of the DOJ High Risk Grantee (or non-DOJ 

high risk) designation, 2) the nature and severity of the issues leading to or accompanying the DOJ High 

Risk Grantee (or non-DOJ high risk) designation, and/or 3) the applicant’s expected ability to manage grant 

funds and achieve grant goals and objectives. 

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 with respect to performance, integrity, and business 

ethics, OJP checks whether the applicant is listed in SAM as excluded from receiving a federal award. 

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

consider any information about the applicant that appears in the non-public segment of the integrity and 

performance system accessible through SAM (currently, the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity 

Information System, FAPIIS). 

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

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

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

All final award decisions will be made by Director of the National Institute of Justice, who may consider not only 

peer review ratings and NIJ recommendations, but also other factors as indicated in this section. 

Federal Award Administration Information 

Federal Award Notices 

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

Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements 

If selected for funding, in addition to implementing the funded project consistent with the OJP-approved 

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

and regulations, including the applicable requirements referred to in the assurances and certifications executed in 

connection with award acceptance. For additional information on these legal requirements, see the 

“Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements” section in the OJP Grant Application Resource 

Guide. 

Information Technology (IT) Security Clauses 

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

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

security. 

General Information about Post-Federal Award Reporting Requirements 

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

solicitation will be required to submit certain reports and data. 

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

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

accordance with the Part 200 Uniform Requirements or specific award conditions. Future awards and fund 

drawdowns may be withheld if reports are delinquent. (In appropriate cases, OJP may require additional reports.) 

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

requirements, including performance measure data. 

Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s) 

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

2. 

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

Other Information 

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

See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for information on the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act (5 

U.S.C. 552 and 5 U.S.C. 552a). 

Provide Feedback to OJP 

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

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Performance Measures 

Objective Performance Measure(s) Data Recipient Provides 

Conduct research in social 

and behavioral sciences 

having clear implications 

for criminal justice policy 

and practice in the United 

States. 

Conduct research in 

science, technology, 

engineering, and/or 

mathematics having clear 

implications for criminal or 

juvenile justice policy and 

practice in the United 

States. 

1. Relevance to the needs of the 

field as measured by whether the 

project’s substantive scope did 

not deviate from the funded 

project or any subsequent 

agency-approved modifications 

to the scope. 

2. Quality of the research as 

demonstrated by the scholarly 

products that result, in whole or 

in part, from work funded under 

the NIJ award, such as 

published, peer-reviewed, 

scientific journal articles, and/or 

(as appropriate for the funded 

project) law review journal 

articles, book chapter(s) or book 

(s) in the academic press, 

technological prototypes, 

patented inventions, or similar 

scientific products. 

3. Quality of management as 

measured by such factors as 

whether significant project 

milestones were achieved, 

reporting and other deadlines 

were met, and costs remained 

within approved limits. 

1. Quarterly financial 

reports, semi-annual and 

final 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. 

2. List of citation(s) to all 

scholarly products that 

resulted, in whole or in 

part, from work funded 

under the NIJ award. 

3. If applicable, each data 

set that resulted, in whole 

or in part, from work 

funded under the NIJ 

award. 

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Application Checklist 

NIJ FY22 Research and Evaluation on Policing 

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

Submission Checklist is another resource. 

What an Applicant Must Do: 

Prior to registering in Grants.gov: 

Confirm your Entity’s System Award Management (SAM) Registration Information (see OJP Grant 

Application Resource Guide) 

To register in Grants.gov: 

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

Guide) 

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

Application Resource Guide) 

To find the funding opportunity: 

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

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

Resource Guide) 

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

Read Important Notice: Applying for Grants in Grants.gov 

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

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

Resource Guide 

Overview of Post-Award Legal Requirements: 

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

Agreements - FY 2022 Awards” in the OJP Funding Resource Center. 

Review Scope Requirement: 

The federal amount requested is within the allowable limit(s) of $8M. 

Review Eligibility Requirement: See cover page. 

~~~ 

Prepare to submit the Application for Federal Assistance standard form (SF)-424 and Disclosure of

Lobbying Activities form (SF-LLL) 

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

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

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

After the SF-424 and SF-LLL submission in Grants.gov, receive Grants.gov email notifications that: 

Submission has been received in Grants.gov 

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

Application Resource Guide) 

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

Contact OJP Response Center regarding technical difficulties (see OJP Grant Application Resource 

Guide) 

Receive email notification to complete application in JustGrants: 

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Proceed to complete application in JustGrants 

Content of Application Submission: Critical Application Elements 

The following items are critical application elements required to pass the basic minimum requirements review. If 

OJP determines that an application does not include the following elements, it will neither proceed to peer review, 

nor receive further consideration. 

Proposal Narrative 

Budget Worksheet and Budget Narrative (web-based form) 

Curriculum Vitae/Resumes for Key Personnel 

~~~ 

Proposal Abstract 

Budget and Associated Documentation: 

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

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

Resource Guide) 

Disclosure of Process related to Executive Compensation (see OJP Grant Application Resource 

Guide) 

Additional Application Components: 

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

Research and Evaluation Independence and Integrity (see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide) 

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

Application Resource Guide) 

Disclosures and Assurances: 

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

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

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

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

and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide) 

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

Application Resource Guide) 

Submit application in JustGrants: 

Application has been successfully submitted in JustGrants 

If no JustGrants application submission, validation, or error notifications are received: 

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

Endnotes 

[1] Decentering Police to Improve Public Safety (2021). Washington, D.C. Available at: 

https://dccouncil.us/police-reform-commission-full-report/. 

[2] Available at: https://crime-data-explorer.app.cloud.gov/pages/home. 

[3] PERF Special Report. Survey on Police Workforce Trends (2021). Washington, D.C. Available at: 

https://www.policeforum.org/workforcesurveyjune2021. 

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[4] Ikerd, T. & S Walker (2010). Making Police Reforms Endure: The Keys for Success. Washington, DC: The 

Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/making-policereforms-endure-keys-success. 

[5] CrimeSolutions defines a program as “a specific set of activities carried out according to guidelines to achieve 

a defined purpose...” A practice, on the other hand, is a “general category of programs, strategies, or procedures 

that share similar characteristics with regard to the issues they address and how they address them.” 

Crimesolutions.ojp.gov/programs-practices. 

[6] See Braga, A. (2015). “Crime and Policing Revisited.” New Perspectives in Policing. Washington, DC: 

National Institute of Justice. https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/248888.pdf. 

[7] Ikerd, T. & S Walker (2010). Making Police Reforms Endure: The Keys for Success. Washington, DC: The 

Office of Community Oriented Policing Services and Branly, S. et al. (2015). Implementing a Comprehensive 

Performance Management Approach in Community Policing Organizations: An Executive Guidebook. 

Washington, DC: The Office of Community Policing Services. https://cops.usdoj.gov/ric/Publications/cops-p331-

pub.pdf. 

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