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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 Novel Psychoactive Substance 

Discovery, Education, and Reporting Institute

Assistance Listing Number: 16.560

Grants.gov Opportunity Number: O-NIJ-2024-172007

Solicitation Release Date: March 06, 2024

Step 1: Application Grants.gov Deadline: 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on April 30, 2024

Step 2: Application JustGrants Deadline: 8:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 07, 2024

Contents

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

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

Eligibility................................................................................................................................. 4

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

Application Submission Information....................................................................................... 5

Registration........................................................................................................................ 5

Submission......................................................................................................................... 5

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

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

Statutory Authority ................................................................................................................. 7

Specific Information ............................................................................................................... 7

Solicitation Goals and Objectives .......................................................................................... 9

Goals.................................................................................................................................. 9

Objectives .......................................................................................................................... 9

Deliverables ....................................................................................................................... 9

Federal Award Information ..................................................................................................10

Awards, Amounts, and Durations.....................................................................................10

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

Availability of Funds .........................................................................................................11
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Type of Award ..................................................................................................................11

Budget Information...........................................................................................................11

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

Eligibility Information............................................................................................................12

How To Apply ..........................................................................................................................12

Application Resources .........................................................................................................12

How To Apply ......................................................................................................................12

Registration......................................................................................................................12

Submission.......................................................................................................................13

Submission Dates and Time................................................................................................13

Experiencing Unforeseen Technical Issues Preventing Submission of an Application 

(Technical Waivers) .........................................................................................................14

Application and Submission Information..............................................................................15

Content of Application Submission and Available Surveys..............................................15

Content of the SF-424 in Grants.gov ...............................................................................15

Content of the JustGrants Application Submission ..........................................................15

Application Review Information ...........................................................................................28

Review Criteria.................................................................................................................28

Review Process ...............................................................................................................30

Federal Award Administration Information...........................................................................30

Federal Award Notices.....................................................................................................30

Evidence-Based Programs or Practices ..........................................................................30

Information Regarding Potential Evaluation of Programs and Activities ..........................30

Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements......................................31

Civil Rights Compliance ...................................................................................................31

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls .................................................31

Information Technology Security Clauses........................................................................32

General Information About Post-Federal Award Reporting Requirements ......................32

Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)..................................................................................32

Other Information.................................................................................................................32

Freedom of Information and Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. §§ 552 and 552a).............................32

Provide Feedback to OJP ................................................................................................32

Performance Measures .......................................................................................................33

Application Checklist............................................................................................................36

Pre-Application.................................................................................................................36
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Application Step 1 ............................................................................................................36

Application Step 2 ............................................................................................................37

Review, Certify, and Submit Application in JustGrants ....................................................38

Standard Solicitation Resources..........................................................................................39
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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 to establish and operate a Novel Psychoactive Substance 

Discovery, Education, and Reporting Institute (NPS DiscERn) to rapidly identify and report 

newly emerging opioids, stimulants, and other drugs which may cause intoxication, impairment, 

or other adverse effects.

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

protect civil rights.

Eligibility

• State governments

• Special district governments

• City or township governments

• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education

• County governments

• 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

• Other

o Federal Agencies

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. 
Page 5 O-NIJ-2024-172007

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 

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 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 solicitation 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 solicitation 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 solicitation Submission 

Dates and Time section for application deadlines.
Page 6 O-NIJ-2024-172007

Program Description

Program Description Overview

With this solicitation, NIJ seeks to establish and operate a Novel Psychoactive Substance 

Discovery, Education, and Reporting Institute (NPS DiscERn) to rapidly identify and report 

newly emerging opioids, stimulants, and other drugs which may cause intoxication, impairment, 

or other adverse effects. The NPS DiscERn should focus on specific efforts to include, but not 

be limited to:

1. Providing an open-access drug early warning system that collaborates with forensic 

science, public health, and criminal justice agencies to rapidly identify emerging opioids, 

stimulants, and other drugs known as Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS).

2. Providing analytical methodologies and testing scope recommendations for state, local, 

federal, or private seized drug and forensic toxicology testing laboratories.

3. Exploring alternative or nontraditional sources for NPS information, such as wastewater 

or syringe washes.

4. Curating a common reference of forensically relevant drug substances (prioritizing NPS) 

that defines a systematic name and incorporates synonyms. This reference may support 

the standardization of reported results and strengthen data collection across multiple 

reporting systems.

5. Educating forensic practitioners, law enforcement, medical examiners and coroners, 

legal, public health, and treatment professionals, and the public about emerging drug 

threats, NPS trends, and testing technologies or methods that support the identification 

or assessment of NPS.

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 at the 

conclusion of the award. Applicants and their potential partners are encouraged to review NIJ’s 

data archiving guidance. Regardless of the primary data repository used, any NIJ-funded 

research projects under this award must provide study-level information to the National Archive 

of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD), which includes a project abstract and link to the publicly 

accessible data location, ideally with a DOI or other persistent link. 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 

will be given to proposals that dedicate at least 15% of the requested project award funding 
Page 7 O-NIJ-2024-172007

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

The proliferation and misuse of novel opioids, stimulants, and other psychoactive drugs has 

been an ongoing problem in the United States since 2005. These Novel Psychoactive 

Substances (NPS) are “newly misused narcotic or psychotropic compounds, comparable to 

classic psychotropic substances, that may pose a threat to public health. NPS drugs are 

typically analogs and synthetic derivatives of naturally occurring compounds, existing controlled 

substances, or research chemicals used during the development of pharmaceuticals, designed 

to produce effects similar to the controlled substances they mimic. NPS are diverse and include 

many drug classes, such as amphetamines, analgesics, benzodiazepines, benzyl & phenyl 

piperazines, cannabinoids, cathinones, cocaine analogs, fentanyls, hallucinogens, opiates and 

opioids, phenethylamines, pipradrols and piperidines, and a range of prescribed medications.”1

NIJ recognized the challenges presented by the NPS market and, beginning in 2018, funded 

research to create an early drug warning system.2,3,4,5,6,7,8 This system, which has identified 145 

1 novel-psychoactive-substances-brochure-br3505en-ms.pdf (sigmaaldrich.com). 

2 NPS Discovery (cfsre.org). 

3 NPS Discovery Toolkit | National Institute of Justice (ojp.gov). 

4 Toxicological Time Travel: Retrospective Datamining of Analytical Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry Data for 

Evaluating the Rise and Fall of Novel Opioid and Fentanyl Analog Use in the United States | National Institute of 

Justice (ojp.gov). 

5 Retrospective Identification of Synthetic Cannabinoids in Forensic Toxicology Casework using Archived High 

Resolution Mass Spectrometry Data | National Institute of Justice (ojp.gov). 

6 A More Timely Process for Identifying and Analyzing Trends of Emerging Novel Psychoactive Substances in the 

United States | National Institute of Justice (ojp.gov). 

7 Real-Time Sample-Mining and Data-Mining Approaches for the Discovery of Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) 

| National Institute of Justice (ojp.gov). 

8 Implementation of NPS Discovery – An Early Warning Systems for Novel Drug Intelligence, Surveillance, 

Monitoring, Response, and Forecasting using Drug Materials and Toxicology Populations in the US | National 

Institute of Justice (ojp.gov). 
Page 8 O-NIJ-2024-172007

new NPS for the first time in the United States, has provided numerous publications and public 

health alerts, and informed scheduling actions by the Department of Justice’s Drug Enforcement 

Administration. The success of that initial project and the need for expansion of resources for 

drug chemists, forensic toxicologists, and other criminal justice, public health, and treatment 

professionals motivated NIJ to create an institute dedicated to the identification of, and reporting 

and education on NPS.

The rapid emergence of NPS on global drug markets is a risk to public health and challenges

traditional drug policy, regulation, testing, and enforcement opportunities. Often, little is known 

about the adverse health effects and social harms of these newly misused drugs, which poses a 

considerable challenge for prevention, treatment, and public safety efforts. The analysis and 

identification of a large number of chemically diverse and emerging substances present in nonregulated drug markets is demanding, requiring time, human, and supply resources that are 

already in short supply. Further, forensic drug chemistry and toxicology laboratories struggle to 

incorporate validated testing to address a never-ending flow of emerging NPS — many that will 

only be present in the illicit drug market for a few months. Identification, monitoring, information 

sharing, early warning, and risk awareness are essential in responding to these challenges. The 

mission of NPS DiscERn is to provide persistent and comprehensive monitoring of NPS in 

forensic and other relevant samples, both of solid drugs and toxicological samples. NPS 

DiscERn will provide near real-time trend reporting aligning with the rapid rise and decline of 

use of specific drugs in illicit markets. NPS DiscERn will apply and develop technologies to gain 

knowledge of what drugs are currently prevalent, disseminate methods for detection to forensic 

and public health laboratories, and lead to other work that may develop understandings of toxic 

effects to allow for rapid scheduling and interdiction. These actions may help to prevent 

overdose deaths through early warning.

Through these efforts, the NPS DiscERn will increase awareness surrounding emerging drug 

threats, provide tools to strengthen surveillance, testing, and uniform reporting, and educate 

criminal justice and public health professionals regarding the impact of NPS.

NPS DiscERn should have established collaborations with partners including, but not limited to, 

federal, state, or local government agencies, public forensic science laboratories, commercial 

laboratories, hospitals, coroners, and medical examiners.

As part of the program proposal, an applicant should designate a Institute Director who has the 

knowledge, skills, experience, and vision to lead the NPS DiscERn, and should outline an 

internal management structure capable of supporting the discovery, education, and reporting of 

NPS compounds.

The following are not within the scope of this solicitation and will not be reviewed:

• 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.
Page 9 O-NIJ-2024-172007

Solicitation Goals and Objectives

Goals

The goal of this program is to establish and operate NPS DiscERn to rapidly identify and report 

newly emerging opioids, stimulants, and other drugs which may cause intoxication, impairment, 

or other adverse effects.

Objectives

The NPS DiscERn will meet the goal of this program through, but not limited to, the following 

objectives and activities:

• Providing an open-access drug early warning system that collaborates with forensic 

science, public health, and criminal justice agencies to rapidly identify emerging opioids, 

stimulants, and other drugs known as NPS. The early warning system should produce 

near-real-time reports to inform forensic and other drug testing laboratories, health 

officials to include medical examiner and coroner offices, law enforcement , hospitals, 

treatment centers, and the general public about emerging NPS and NPS trends.

• Providing analytical methodologies and testing scope recommendations for state, local, 

federal, or private seized drug and forensic toxicology testing laboratories. This includes, 

but is not limited to, toolkits for use by forensic laboratories, monographs, and peerreviewed and open access journal articles.

• Curating a common reference of forensically relevant drug substances (prioritizing NPS) 

that defines a systematic name and incorporates synonyms. This reference may support 

the standardization of reported results and strengthen data collection across multiple 

reporting systems.

• Educating forensic practitioners, law enforcement, medical examiners and coroners, 

legal, public health, and treatment professionals, and the public about emerging drug 

threats, NPS trends, and testing technologies or methods that support the identification 

or assessment of NPS. This includes through such dissemination routes as trend 

reports, public alerts, webinars, and podcasts.

The successful applicant will demonstrate established collaborations such that they may 

reasonably expect to be able to test samples from a variety of sources, both forensic and 

clinical, geographically dispersed, and both solid drugs and toxicological samples. It is expected 

that at least 4,000 samples will be tested under this program per year. In this connection, NIJ is 

very interested in applications that propose to leverage existing programs, facilities, and 

personnel.

Deliverables

Research award recipients are expected to produce the following deliverables.

Technical Summary. Any recipient of an award under this solicitation will be expected to submit 

a technical summary by the end of the award project period.

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

this solicitation will be expected to submit all research data sets that result, in whole or in part, 

from the work funded by the award, in accordance with their data archiving plan (see Data 
Page 10 O-NIJ-2024-172007

Archiving Plan under “Application and Submission Information”), along with associated files and 

any documentation necessary for future efforts by others to reproduce the project’s findings.

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. 

Awardees are encouraged to publish their research using open access options. Grant funds 

may be used for costs associated with open access publication. NIJ expects that there will be 

an equal effort to make the research findings accessible to practitioner and policymaker 

audiences. Applicants should design their dissemination plan with these audiences, in

particular, in mind.

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.

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. 

Federal Award Information

Awards, Amounts, and Durations

Anticipated Number of Awards: NIJ expects to make 1 award under this solicitation. 

Anticipated Maximum Dollar Amount per Award: $2,000,000. Maximum dollar amount for the 

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: 01/01/2025. 

Period of Performance Duration (Months): Up to 36 Months. To be determined by the period of 

performance of awarded applications. Successful applicants will be expected to complete the 

work proposed within 36 months period of performance.

Anticipated Total Amount To Be Awarded Under This Solicitation: Up to $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 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.
Page 11 O-NIJ-2024-172007

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 cooperative agreements, which 

provide for OJP to have substantial involvement in carrying out award activities. See the

“Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements” section of the Application 

Resource Guide for additional information.

Budget Information

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

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

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

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

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

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

amount or length of time anticipated for an individual award (or awards) under this solicitation.) 

Given limitations on the availability to NIJ of funds for awards for research, development, and 

evaluation, this information will assist NIJ in considering whether partial funding of applications 

would be productive. (If, in FY 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.)

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.
Page 12 O-NIJ-2024-172007

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.

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.

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.)

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 
Page 13 O-NIJ-2024-172007

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. 

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. 

Submission Dates and Time

The SF-424 and the SF-LLL must be submitted in Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET on April 30, 

2024. 

The full application must be submitted in JustGrants by 8:59 p.m. ET on May 07, 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. 
Page 14 O-NIJ-2024-172007

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.

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.
Page 15 O-NIJ-2024-172007

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). 

• 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 the principal investigator, all co-principal investigators, and other 

significant contributors.)

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. 

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 
Page 16 O-NIJ-2024-172007

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.

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. 
Page 17 O-NIJ-2024-172007

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 not exceed 18 numbered pages, of which a minimum of nine (9) pages should 

be dedicated to Project Design and Implementation. If included in the main body of the proposal 

narrative, tables, charts, figures, and other illustrations count toward the 18-page limit for the 

narrative section. The proposal abstract, table of contents, appendices, and government forms 

do not count toward the 18-page limit. If the Proposal Narrative fails to comply with these length 

restrictions, NIJ may consider such noncompliance in peer review and in final award decisions.

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.

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

c. 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.
Page 18 O-NIJ-2024-172007

This section should also identify the proposed research questions and introduce the 

purpose, goals, and objectives of the proposed project.

The Statement of the Problem section should do the following:

• Explain the importance of the problem or critical barrier to progress in the 

field that the proposed project addresses.

• Explain the criminal justice and public safety/health significance of the 

problem.

• Describe the scientific premise for the proposed project, including 

consideration of the strengths and weaknesses of published research or 

preliminary data crucial to the support of your application.

• Describe the current state of the art and technologies, both in practice and in 

past/current research, directed at the described problem. If this request is a 

direct follow-up of an earlier study, describe those results.

• Explain how the proposed project will improve scientific knowledge, technical 

capability, and/or forensic practice. Describe how concepts, methods, 

technologies, or services that drive the forensic science field will be changed 

if the proposed aims are achieved.

• Include a review of relevant literature.

2. Project Design and Implementation (This section should account for a minimum of 

nine (9) pages of the main body of the narrative.)

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

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

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

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

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

the methodology and analytical and technical approaches for the proposed research 

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

problems in carrying out the activities.

The Project Design and Implementation section should include the following:

• Describe the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses to be used to 

accomplish the specific aims of the project. Describe the experimental design 

and methods proposed and how they will achieve robust and unbiased 

results. Include how the data will be collected, analyzed, and interpreted, as 

well as the data archiving plan (see Data Archiving Plan under Appendices).

• Describe the role of each team member in the analysis process, and 

summarize the team's experience with the approaches proposed.

• Discuss potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks for 

success anticipated to achieve the aims.

• Data management: Describe the institutional computing resources available 

for this study, the type of database that will be used (if applicable), and how 

the data will be managed. Highlight the team’s experience with management 

of data sets (especially those similar to the proposed project). Also describe 

strategies for data sustainability beyond the proposed funded work.
Page 19 O-NIJ-2024-172007

• Preliminary Data/Results: For new lines of research, include preliminary 

results, if available. Discuss the PI’s preliminary studies, data, and or 

experience pertinent to this application.

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 Potential Impact section should do the following:

• Explain the criminal justice significance of the proposed work.

• Explain how the proposed work challenges and seeks to shift current 

research or forensic practice paradigms.

• Describe any novel theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, 

instrumentation, or interventions to be developed or used, and any advantage 

over existing methodologies, instrumentation, or inventions.

• Explain any refinements, improvements, or new applications of theoretical 

concepts, approaches or methodologies, or instrumentation.

• Describe the plan for dissemination to produce scholarly products (See 

Deliverables above, for a discussion of expected scholarly products.) 

Applicants should also identify plans to broader interested practitioners and 

policy makers in a form that is designed to be readily accessible and useful to 

them. Awardees are encouraged to publish their research using open access 

options. Grant funds may be used for costs associated with open access 

publication.

Describe implications for criminal justice policy and practice in the United States.

4. Capabilities and Competencies

This section should describe the experience and capabilities of the applicant 

organization, key staff, and any proposed subgrantees (including consultants) that 

the applicant will use to implement and manage this effort and the federal funds 

under this award, highlighting any previous experience implementing projects of 

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

• Experience and capacity to work with the proposed data sources in the 

conduct of similar research efforts.

• Experience and capacity to design and implement rigorous research and data 

analysis projects.

• Experience producing and disseminating meaningful deliverables.

Applicants should also outline the management plan and organization that connects 

to the goals and objectives of the project. Among other factors, that plan should 

include a description of the anticipated level of effort of key personnel.

The Capabilities/Competencies section should include the following:
Page 20 O-NIJ-2024-172007

• Facilities and other resources: Describe how the scientific environment in 

which the research will be conducted contributes to the probability of success 

(e.g., institutional support, physical resources, and intellectual rapport). In 

describing the scientific environment in which the work will be conducted, 

discuss ways in which the proposed studies will benefit from unique features 

of the scientific environment or subject populations or will employ useful 

collaborative arrangements. If there are multiple performance sites, describe 

the resources available at each site.

• Equipment: List major items of equipment already available for this project 

and, if appropriate, identify location and pertinent capabilities.

• Senior/Key personnel profile: Describe each senior/key personnel’s role in 

the project and why the individual is well-suited for that role. The relevant 

factors may include: aspects of past training; previous experimental work on 

this specific topic or related topics; technical expertise; collaborators or 

scientific environment; and/or past performance in this or related fields. 

Senior/key personnel are defined as all individuals who contribute in a 

substantive, meaningful way to the scientific development or execution of the 

project, whether or not salaries are requested. Consultants should be 

included if they meet this definition.

o The Principal investigator (PI) profile should be listed first.

o The remaining senior/key personnel profiles should be listed in 

alphabetical order. Although alphabetical order is preferred, it is not 

required. However, be aware that these profiles will appear in the 

application in the order provided by the applicant. Therefore, peer 

reviewers will see them in the order presented. Those with a 

postdoctoral role should be included if they meet the definition of 

senior/key personnel.

o Other significant contributors (OSCs): OSCs are those individuals who 

commit to contribute to the scientific development or execution of the 

project, but do not commit any specified measurable effort (i.e., 

person months) to the project. These individuals are typically 

presented at an effort of “zero person months” or "as needed." 

Individuals with measurable effort may not be listed as OSCs. 

Consultants should be included if they meet the OSC definition. OSCs 

should be listed after all senior/key persons.

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

• Multiple PI leadership plan. For applications designating multiple PIs, a 

leadership plan must be included. For applications designating multiple PIs, 

all such individuals must be assigned the PI role on the Senior/Key Personnel 

Profile form, even those at organizations other than the applicant 

organization. A rationale for choosing a multiple PI approach should be 

described. The governance and organizational structure of the leadership 

team and the research project should be described, including communication 

plans, process for making decisions on scientific direction, and procedures for 

resolving conflicts. The roles and administrative, technical, and scientific 

responsibilities for the project or program should be delineated for the PIs 

and other collaborators. Reviewers use this information in part to address the 
Page 21 O-NIJ-2024-172007

“Capabilities/Competencies” selection criterion. Attach this information as a 

separate PDF file titled “Multiple PI Leadership Plan.” Do not submit a 

Multiple PI leadership plan if you are not submitting a multiple PI application.

• 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.

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

application has been submitted (if applicable).

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. They should be included in the timeline andbe clearly linked to the goals 

of the project.

• 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 should be included in the timeline.

Deliverables Expected by Successful Applicants

Project deliverables include, but are not limited to, a final technical summary for publication by 

NIJ at the National Criminal Justice Reference Service and peer-reviewed publications. 

Program objectives and deliverables should be included in one timeline.

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
Page 22 O-NIJ-2024-172007

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.

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 
Page 23 O-NIJ-2024-172007

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 

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, resumes, or biosketches of senior/key personnel (not counted against the 

proposal narrative page limit). Curriculum vitae, resumes, or biosketches of key personnel 

should not exceed five (5) pages per person. For the purposes of this solicitation, “key 

personnel” means the principal investigator, all co-principal investigators, and other significant 

contributors. Reviewers use this information in part to address the “Capabilities/Competencies” 

selection criterion. NIJ encourages use of the SciENcv standard format biosketch 

(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sciencv/). Attach this information as a separate PDF file titled 

“CVs of Key Personnel.”

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 
Page 24 O-NIJ-2024-172007

documentation as an attachment in JustGrants. See the Application Resource Guide for 

information on tribal authorizing resolutions.

Letters of Support (if applicable)

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

outlines the supporting entity’s reasons for supporting for the project and the scope of work they 

are committing to. Applications submitted from two or more entities are encouraged to submit 

signed letters of support that provide a detailed description of why the proposed project should 

receive federal funding. 

Each letter of support should include the following: (1) a description of the relationship between 

the applicant entity and the supporting entity; (2) a description of the need and what benefits 

would be gained from the project; (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. 

In addition, letters ensuring access to core facilities and resources should stipulate whether 

access will be provided as a fee-for-service.

Letters of support should also be included as necessary to demonstrate the support of 

consortium participants and collaborators such as key personnel and other significant 

contributors included in the grant application. These letters should stipulate expectations for coauthorship, and whether samples, data, or other resources promised in the letter are freely 

available to other investigators in the scientific community or will be provided to the particular 

investigators only. For consultants, letters should include rate/charge for consulting services and 

level of effort/number of hours per year anticipated.

Letters of support should be signed by the relevant decision-maker and then submitted as one 

separate attachment to the application titled “Letters of Support”. 

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. Each reference must 

include the names of all authors (in the same sequence in which they appear in the publication), 

the article and journal title, book title, volume number, page numbers, and year of publication. 

Include only bibliographic citations. Although there is not a page limitation, it is important to be 

concise, and to select only those literature references pertinent to the proposed project. Attach 

this information as a separate PDF file titled “Bibliography and References Cited.”

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. (Tables, 
Page 25 O-NIJ-2024-172007

charts, graphs, or other relevant illustrations that are essential for comprehension of the 

project/program design should be 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.

Consortium/Contractual Agreements

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

applicant organization and the consortium organization(s). If consortium/contractual activities 

represent a significant portion of the overall project, explain why the applicant organization, 

rather than the ultimate performer of the activities, should be the grantee. Reviewers use this 

information in part to address the “Project Design and Implementation” selection criterion. 

Attach this information as a separate PDF file titled “Consortium/Contractual Arrangements”.

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 in accordance with the submitted plan as approved by NIJ. Regardless of the primary 

data repository used, all NIJ-funded projects must provide study-level information to the 

National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD), which includes a project abstract and link to 

the publicly accessible data location, ideally with a DOI or other persistent link. See 

https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/data-archiving. 
Page 26 O-NIJ-2024-172007

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

detailing plans for data management and archiving of all files and documentation necessary 

to allow for others to reproduce the project’s findings. 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 

reported results, 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.

The National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD) is NIJ’s principal data repository and is 

the preferred repository for social science data. However, NACJD is not equipped to accept 

many of the data types produced in the natural sciences (e.g., sequence data, spectra, images, 

video). NIJ encourages that data of this nature be archived at a repository appropriate to the 

particular field of study, and that a DOI or another persistent link be assigned. In this case, the 

DAP should refer to submission of only basic project information to NACJD along with a DOI link 

to the data in a publicly available repository elsewhere. See https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/dataarchiving#alternate-data-repositories for further guidance.

List of Any Previous and Current NIJ Awards

List of any previous and current NIJ awards to the applicant and investigator(s), including the 

NIJ-assigned award numbers and a brief description of any scholarly products that resulted in 

whole or in part from work funded under the NIJ award(s). (See “Deliverables” under “ProgramSpecific Information,” above, for definition of “scholarly products.”)

Potential Environmental Impact Coversheet and Checklist - National Environmental Policy Act 

(NEPA) 

Each applicant is to submit an NIJ Programmatic Coversheet and Checklist with its application 

to assist NIJ in assessing the potential environmental impacts of the activities proposed for 

funding by the applicant. Specifically, the applicant is expected to:

• Carefully read the Programmatic Environmental Assessment. 

• Complete the Cover Sheet and the attached Programmatic Checklist. 

• Attach the completed documents to the grant application.

The applicant should also submit a Cover Sheet and NIJ Programmatic Checklist for any 

organization identified in the Budget Detail Worksheet that will receive grant funds through a 

sub-award or procurement contract to perform any of the following activities: new construction 

or renovations that change the basic prior use of a facility or significantly change the size; 

research and/or technology development that could be expected to have an effect on the 

environment; or implementation of programs involving the use of chemicals. For more 

information about NEPA and NIJ’s NEPA Process, please go to 

https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/national-environmental-policy-act-nepa. 

Current and Pending (Other) Support
Page 27 O-NIJ-2024-172007

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

submitted, or which are currently supporting this work. NIJ encourages use of the SciENcv “NSF 

Current and Pending (Other) Support” standard format (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sciencv/). 

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. 

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.
Page 28 O-NIJ-2024-172007

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 request funding within any stated programmatic funding limits or 

boundaries.

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

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

requirements.

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) (5%)

• Demonstrated understanding of the problem related to testing and reporting of 

NPS.

• Demonstrated awareness of the state of current research.

Project Design and Implementation (quality and technical merit) (40%)

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

stated aim(s) of the proposed project.

• Feasibility of 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.

• Innovation and creativity (when appropriate).

Capabilities and Competencies (capabilities, demonstrated productivity, and experience 

of the applicant organization and proposed project staff) (30%)

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

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

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

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

• Demonstrated ability of the applicant organization to implement the proposed 

strategies and manage the effort (applicants should briefly describe the 

management plan here; full details for the project management structure, 

approach, and strategies should be described in the project management plan).
Page 29 O-NIJ-2024-172007

• Relationship between the capabilities/competencies of the proposed project staff 

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

proposed project.

• Demonstration of partnerships to enhance the scope and reach of project 

activities.

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.

• Strength and feasibility of the proposed dissemination plan to produce stated 

deliverables and scholarly products (such as published, peer-reviewed, scientific 

journal articles, book chapter(s) or book(s) in the academic press, technological 

prototypes, patented inventions, databases, standards, or similar scientific 

products) as well as make summary information available to broader interested 

audiences, such as criminal justice practitioners or policymakers.

Budget (5%)

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

items in the context of scientific and technical merit.

• Alignment of the proposed budget with proposed project activities.

• Appropriateness of the budget relative to the level of effort.

• Use of existing resources to conserve costs.

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,available funding, past performance, planned scholarly products, geographic diversity, 

and the extent to which the Budget web-based form accurately explains project costs that are 

reasonable, necessary, and otherwise allowable under federal law and applicable federal cost 

principles. 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 
Page 30 O-NIJ-2024-172007

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.

Peer review panels will evaluate and score applications that meet basic minimum requirements. 

NIJ may use external peer reviewers, internal peer reviewers, or a combination, to assess 

applications on technical merit using the solicitation’s review criteria. An external peer reviewer 

is an expert in the subject matter of a given solicitation who is not a current DOJ employee. An 

internal reviewer is a current DOJ employee who is well-versed or has expertise in the subject 

matter of this solicitation. Peer reviewers’ ratings and any resulting recommendations are 

advisory only, although reviewer views are considered carefully.

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. 

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.” 
Page 31 O-NIJ-2024-172007

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.

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.
Page 32 O-NIJ-2024-172007

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, technical summary, 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 33 O-NIJ-2024-172007

Performance Measures

Objective Performance Measure(s) Description Data Recipient 

Provides

Establish an 

open-access 

drug early 

warning system 

to rapidly identify 

emerging 

opioids, 

stimulants, and 

other drugs 

known as NPS.

Quality of the work as 

demonstrated by the 

deliverables and 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.

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.

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.

Number of technologies 

fielded as a result of, in 

whole or in part, work 

funded under the NIJ 

award.

A technology is 

defined as a tool 

to include, for 

example, test 

methods, 

software, 

hardware, etc.

A fielded 

technology is one 

that remains in 

use at the 

conclusion of the 

grant or 

agreement.

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.

Number of samples 

tested and their 

demographics (e.g., 

location, type of sample, 

etc.)

Number of historical data 

files examined.

Number of NPS identified 

for the first time per year.

List of citation(s) to all 

scholarly products that 

resulted, in whole or in 

part, from work funded 

under the NIJ award.

If applicable, each 

research data set that 

resulted in whole or in 

part from work funded 

under the NIJ award.

Description of all 

technologies fielded as a 

result of, in whole or in 

part, work funded under 

the NIJ award.
Page 34 O-NIJ-2024-172007

Providing 

analytical 

methodologies 

and testing 

scope 

recommendation

s

Quality of the work as 

demonstrated by the 

deliverables and 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.

Number of technologies 

fielded as a result of, in 

whole or in part, work 

funded under the NIJ 

award.

Provide analytical 

methodologies 

and toolkits.

Publish 

monographs or 

peer-reviewed 

open access 

journal articles.

Number and 

dissemination type of 

published methodologies 

and testing scope 

recommendations per 

year.

Exploring 

alternative or 

nontraditional 

sources for NPS 

information, 

such as 

wastewater or 

syringe washes.

Quality of the work as 

demonstrated by the 

deliverables and 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.

Explore 

alternative or 

nontraditional 

sources of NPS 

information.

Number of alternative 

sources explored per 

year.

Number of possible 

partners contacted to 

secure nontraditional 

samples per year.

Curating a 

common 

reference of 

forensically 

relevant drug 

substances

Quality of the work as 

demonstrated by the 

deliverables and 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 

Identify 

forensically 

relevant drug 

substances 

through a 

consensus of best 

practice and 

subject matter 

expertise.

Disseminate 

reference to 

Number of substances 

added to reference per 

year.

Number and types of 

engagement activities 

and dissemination efforts 

per year related to the 

reference.
Page 35 O-NIJ-2024-172007

articles, book chapter(s) or 

book(s) in the academic 

press, technological 

prototypes, patented 

inventions, or similar 

scientific products.

support 

standardization 

and strengthen 

data collection.

Educate about 

emerging drug 

threats and NPS 

trends.

Quality of the work as 

demonstrated by the 

deliverables and 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.

Engagement with 

forensic 

practitioners, law 

enforcement, 

medical 

examiners and 

coroners, legal, 

public health, and 

treatment 

professionals.

Dissemination of 

information to 

include reports, 

public alerts, 

webinars, and 

podcasts.

Number and types of 

engagement activities 

associated with 

education or knowledge 

transfer and 

dissemination efforts per 

year.
Page 36 O-NIJ-2024-172007

Application Checklist

NIJ FY24 Novel Psychoactive Substance Discovery, Education, and Reporting Institute

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). 

• 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

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 
Page 37 O-NIJ-2024-172007

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, resumes, or biosketches of key personnel* (Critical Component). 

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

• Letters of support (if applicable). 

• Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) and Other Supportive Documents (if 

applicable). 

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

Application Resource Guide). 

• Bibliography/references. 
Page 38 O-NIJ-2024-172007

• Any tools/instruments, questionnaires, tables/charts/graphs, or maps. 

• List of individuals in the application. 

• Human Subjects Protection. 

• Privacy Certificate. 

• Request to Use Incentives or Stipends. 

• Consortium/Contractual Arrangements. 

• Data Archiving Plan. 

• List of any previous and current NIJ awards. 

• Potential Environmental Impact coversheet and checklist — National Environmental 

Policy Act (NEPA). 

• Current and pending (other) support. 

• 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 39 O-NIJ-2024-172007

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.