Clarification of page 4, “Doctoral Student Eligibility Requirements.” 

Applicants who have completed the three requirements as listed in the section “Doctoral 

Student Eligibility Requirements” are encouraged to provide documentation of such completion 

in their application. Applicants who do not expect to have completed these requirements by the 

February 28, 2011, solicitation application deadline are encouraged to apply, but should be sure 

to include a timeline or otherwise indicate the expected completion dates of the three 

requirements under this section. Successful applicants will be required to provide 

documentation of the completion this section’s requirements by the award start date, and 

completion must be achieved no later than the award start date. 
U.S. Department of Justice OMB No. 1121-0329

Office of Justice Programs 

National Institute of Justice 

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

Justice (NIJ) is pleased to announce that it is seeking applications for funding under the Ph.D. 

Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) program, which provides awards for research on crime, 

violence, and other criminal justice-related topics to accredited academic universities that 

support graduate study leading to research-based doctoral degrees in disciplines relevant to 

NIJ’s mission. This program furthers the Department’s mission by sponsoring research to 

provide objective, independent, evidence-based knowledge and tools to meet the challenges of 

crime and justice, particularly at the State and local levels. 

Solicitation: 

NIJ Ph.D. Graduate Research Fellowship Program 

 FY 2011 

Eligibility

Applicants are limited to degree-granting educational institutions in the United States. To be 

eligible, the institution must be fully accredited by one of the regional institutional accreditation 

agencies recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. Under this solicitation, the applicant 

institution must apply as the sponsoring institution for a doctoral candidate conducting research 

in a discipline relevant to NIJ’s mission. 

Deadline 

Registration with Grants.gov is required prior to application submission. (See “How to Apply,” 

page 8.) 

All applications are due by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on February 28, 2011. (See “Deadlines: 

Registration and Application,” page 3) 

Contact Information

For technical assistance with submitting the application, contact the Grants.gov Customer 

Support Hotline at 800–518–4726 or via e-mail to support@grants.gov.

Note: The Grants.gov Support Hotline hours of operation are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 

except Federal holidays. 

For assistance with any other requirement of this solicitation, contact Marie Garcia, Social 

Science Analyst, at 202–514–7128 or by e-mail to Marie.Garcia@usdoj.gov. 

Grants.gov number assigned to announcement: NIJ–2011–2821

SL# 000965 
NIJ–2011–2821 

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 2 

CONTENTS 

Overview ...................................................................................................................................... 3 

Deadlines: Registration and Application ....................................................................................... 3 

Eligibility ........................................................................................................................................ 3 

Program-Specific Information ....................................................................................................... 3 

Performance Measures ................................................................................................................. 7 

Notice of New Post-Award Reporting Requirements .................................................................... 8 

How to Apply ................................................................................................................................. 8 

What an Application Should Include ........................................................................................... 10 

Information to Complete the Application for Federal Assistance, Standard Form (SF) 424 ... 10 

Program Narrative ................................................................................................................. 11 

Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative ..................................................................... 13 

Other Standard Forms............................................................................................................ 14 

Selection Criteria ........................................................................................................................ 14 

Review Process .......................................................................................................................... 16 

Additional Requirements ............................................................................................................. 16 

Application Checklist .................................................................................................................. 18 

Attachment A .............................................................................................................................. 20 
NIJ–2011–2821 

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 3 

NIJ Ph.D. Graduate Research Fellowship 

Program FY 2011 Solicitation 

(CFDA 16.562) 

Overview 

The NIJ Ph.D. Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) program provides awards for research on 

crime, violence, and other criminal justice-related topics to accredited universities that support 

graduate study leading to research-based doctoral degrees. NIJ invests in doctoral education by 

supporting universities that sponsor students who demonstrate the potential to successfully 

complete doctoral degree programs in disciplines relevant to the mission of NIJ. Applicants 

sponsoring doctoral students in policy and health sciences or in an education field are eligible to 

apply only if the doctoral research dissertation is in an NIJ-supported discipline (i.e., social and 

behavioral sciences, operations technology, information and sensors research and 

development, and investigative and forensic sciences). 

The GRF program is intended to support universities that sponsor students who are in the final 

stages of graduate study. Awards are granted to successful applicants in the form of a grant to 

cover a doctoral student fellowship. Currently, the GRF fellowship is $25,000. 

Deadlines: Registration and Application 

Registration is required prior to submission. OJP strongly encourages registering with 

Grants.gov several weeks before the deadline for application submission. The deadline for 

applying for funding under this announcement is 11:59 p.m. eastern time on February 28, 2011. 

Please see the “How to Apply” section, page 8, for more details. 

Eligibility 

Please refer to the title page for eligibility under this program. 

Program-Specific Information—NIJ Ph.D. Graduate Research 

Fellowship Program FY 2011

Universities are encouraged to sponsor outstanding and promising doctoral students whose 

dissertation prospectus demonstrates independent and original research that has direct 

implications for criminal justice in the United States. 

Successful applicants must clearly demonstrate how the proposed dissertation research 

advances basic criminal justice knowledge, practice, and/or policy for criminal justice agencies 

in the United States. Quantitative, qualitative, primary, and secondary data analysis studies are 

encouraged. Special consideration will be given to applicants who use the most rigorous 

research methods applicable to their proposed research topic to maximize the validity and 

reliability of findings. 
NIJ–2011–2821 

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 4 

Official Applicant 

The official applicant under this solicitation must be a degree-granting educational institution in 

the United States. To be eligible, the institution of record must be fully accredited by one of the 

regional institutional accreditation agencies recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. 

Applicants sponsoring doctoral students in policy and health sciences or in an education field 

are eligible to apply only if the doctoral research dissertation is in an NIJ-supported discipline 

(i.e., social and behavioral sciences, operations technology, information and sensors research 

and development, and investigative and forensic sciences). 

Working with a qualified doctoral student (candidate) and his or her dissertation chair or advisor, 

the university or college office of sponsored research or the university-wide research office must 

complete an application and submit it electronically using Grants.gov (see “What an Application 

Should Include,” pages 10–14). 

In addition, the university applicant must submit an official statement regarding the student's 

progress in his or her current program of study. This statement must be signed by either the 

department chair or the college dean. Copies of the student’s current academic transcripts are 

required. The transcripts must document current matriculation toward a doctoral degree. 

Doctoral Student Eligibility Requirements 

Universities are encouraged to sponsor doctoral students who have nearly completed all Ph.D. 

requirements. Below are general guidelines for determining doctoral student eligibility. 

Although it is not necessary for the student to have formally defended the dissertation 

prospectus at the time of the application due date, the following must have occurred and be 

documented in the application: 

• The doctoral student must have completed all required course work. 

• The doctoral student must have passed qualifying comprehensive exams. 

• The doctoral student must be advanced to candidacy by the university. 

Prior to award, documentation must be provided indicating that the doctoral student’s 

dissertation prospectus has been approved and successfully defended. FY11 awards are 

anticipated to be made by no later than September 2011. Failure to provide documentation of 

any of these requirements will result in disqualification from eligibility for an award under this 

program. Evidence of advancement to candidacy will be required if an award is made. 

Doctoral Student Advisor Requirements 

The sponsored student’s dissertation chair or advisor must submit a signed statement of 

support on university letterhead which: 

• Evaluates the student’s proposed project. 

• Describes the current status of the proposed work. 

• Outlines any other outstanding work toward completion of the degree. 

• States (demonstrates) the student’s potential to successfully complete the dissertation. 
NIJ–2011–2821 

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 5 

The statement must also: 

• Describe the advisor’s role in monitoring the project and present evidence of both the 

department’s and the advisor’s track record with respect to doctoral candidates’ 

completion of their degrees. 

• Verify that the dissertation research has begun or will begin by the time of the award 

(i.e., by no later than September 30, 2011). 

• Indicate that the student has the full support of the dissertation committee. 

• Verify that the advisor will review and approve all progress reports prior to their 

submission to NIJ. 

Relevance of the student’s project for policy and practice in the United States. 

NIJ’s specific research, development, testing, and evaluation interests are established and are 

modified in response to the needs of the field of criminal justice. High-quality proposals that 

clearly articulate the practical implications of the research to the field of criminal justice are 

preferred. Applicants may include letters of support or agreement from collaborating agencies; 

however, these carry less weight than clear evidence that the applicant understands how and 

why policymakers and practitioners would benefit from the proposed research. 

Amount and length of awards: NIJ anticipates that up to a total of $25,000 may become 

available for up to five awards made through this solicitation. All awards are subject to the 

availability of appropriated funds and to any modifications or additional requirements 

that may be imposed by law. 

Students do not receive awards directly. The university will be responsible for the administration 

of grant funds and for distributing payments to the fellowship recipient. The grant recipient 

organization should request funds based upon immediate disbursement/reimbursement 

requirements. Funds will not be paid in a lump sum, but rather disbursed over time as project 

costs are incurred or anticipated. Recipients should time their drawdown requests to ensure that 

Federal cash on hand is the minimum needed for disbursements/reimbursements to be made 

immediately or within 10 days. The official grant end date must be calculated to reflect the 

expected successful completion and submission of the student’s dissertation to NIJ. In addition, 

it is important to note that the fellowship recipient is eligible for funding only during months of 

enrollment in a full-time program leading to the doctoral degree. 

Match requirement: See "Cofunding" paragraph under "What an Application Should Include" 

(below). 

Evaluation research: Within applications proposing evaluation research, funding priority will be 

given to experimental research designs that use random selection and assignment of 

participants to experimental and control conditions. When randomized designs are not feasible, 

priority will be given to quasi-experimental designs that include contemporary procedures such 
NIJ–2011–2821 

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 6 

as Propensity Score Matching or Regression Discontinuity Design to address selection bias in 

evaluating outcomes and impacts.

Evaluations that also include measurements of program fidelity and implementation as part of a 

thorough process assessment are desirable. Measurements of program fidelity should be 

included as part of an assessment of program processes and operations to ensure that policies, 

programs, and technologies are implemented as designed. As one aspect of a comprehensive 

evaluation, assessments of program processes should include objective measurements and 

qualitative observations of programs as they are actually implemented and of services that are 

delivered. These may include assessment of such aspects as adherence to program content 

and protocol, quantity and duration, quality of delivery, and participant responsiveness. 

Proposed evaluation research designs with multiple units of analysis and multiple 

measurements will also be given priority. Design aspects that contribute to the validity of results 

are necessary to effectively address issues of generalizability and representativeness of 

findings. 

Finally, applications that include cost/benefit analysis will be given priority. NIJ views 

cost/benefit analysis as an effective way to communicate and disseminate findings from 

evaluation research. 

Please note: All applicants under this solicitation must comply with Department of Justice 

regulations on confidentiality and human subjects’ protection. See “Other Requirements for OJP 

Applications” at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/other_requirements.htm. 

What will not be funded: 

1. Provision of training or direct service. 

2. Proposals primarily to purchase equipment, materials, or supplies. (The budget may 

include these items if they are necessary to conduct applied research, development, 

demonstration, evaluation, or analysis.) 

3. Work that will be funded under another specific solicitation. 

4. Proposals that do not contain a research component or do not respond to the specific 

goals of this solicitation. 

5. Direct or indirect administrative expenses of the applicant university. 

6. Research that lacks clear implications for criminal justice policy and/or practice in the 

United States. 

Budget Information 

Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation; Waiver: With respect to 

any award of more than $250,000 made under this solicitation, Federal funds may not be used 

to pay total cash compensation (salary plus bonuses) to any employee of the award 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. (The 2010 salary table for SES employees is available at 

www.opm.gov/oca/10tables/indexSES.asp.) Note: A recipient may compensate an employee at 

a higher rate, provided the amount in excess of this compensation limitation is paid with nonFederal funds. (Any such additional compensation will not be considered matching funds where 

match requirements apply.) 
NIJ–2011–2821 

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 7 

The limitation on compensation rates allowable under an award may be waived on an individual 

basis at the discretion of the Director of the National Institute of Justice. An applicant that 

wishes to request a waiver must include a detailed justification in the budget narrative of its 

application. Unless the applicant submits a waiver request and justification with the application, 

the applicant should anticipate that OJP will request the applicant to adjust and resubmit its 

budget. 

The justification should include: the particular qualifications and expertise of the individual, the 

uniqueness of the service being provided, the individual’s specific knowledge of the program or 

project being undertaken with award funds, and a statement explaining that the individual’s 

salary is commensurate with the regular and customary rate for an individual with his/her 

qualifications and expertise, and for the work that is to be done. 

Performance Measures 

To assist in fulfilling the Department’s responsibilities under the Government Performance and 

Results Act (GPRA), Public Law 103-62, applicants that receive funding under this solicitation 

must provide data that measure the results of their work. Any award recipient will be required, 

post award, to provide the data requested in the “Data Grantee Provides” column so that OJP 

can calculate values for the “Performance Measures” column. Performance measures for this 

solicitation are as follows: 

Objective Performance Measure(s) Data Grantee Provides 

Develop and analyze 

information and data 

having clear implications 

for criminal justice policy 

and practice in the 

United States. 

1. Relevance to the needs of the 

field as measured by whether the 

grantee’s substantive scope did 

not deviate from the funded 

proposal or any subsequent 

agency modifications to the 

scope. 

2. Quality of the research as 

assessed by peer reviewers. 

3. Quality of management as 

measured by whether significant 

interim project milestones were 

achieved, final deadlines were 

met, and costs remained within 

approved limits. 

4. If applicable, number of NIJ final 

grant reports, NIJ research 

documents, and grantee 

research documents published. 

1. A final report (doctoral student’s 

dissertation) providing a 

comprehensive overview of the 

project and a detailed description 

of the project design, data, and 

methods; a full presentation of 

scientific findings; and a thorough 

discussion of the implications of 

the project findings for criminal 

justice practice and policy in the 

United States. 

2. Quarterly financial reports, semiannual progress reports, and a 

final progress report. 

3. If applicable, each data set that 

was collected, acquired, or 

modified in conjunction with the 

project. 

4. If applicable, citation to 

report(s)/document(s).

Submission of performance measures data is not required for the application. Instead, 

applicants should discuss in their applications their proposed methods for collecting data for 

performance measures. Please refer to the section “What an Application Should Include” 

(below) for additional information. 
NIJ–2011–2821 

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 8 

Note on project evaluations: Applicants that propose to use funds awarded through this 

solicitation to conduct project evaluations should be aware that certain project evaluations (such 

as systematic investigations designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge) may 

constitute “research.” However, project evaluations that are intended only to generate internal 

improvements to a program or service, or are conducted only to meet OJP’s performance 

measure data reporting requirements, likely do not constitute “research.” Research is subject to 

applicable DOJ human subjects protections. Applicants should provide sufficient information for 

OJP to determine whether the particular project they propose would either intentionally or 

unintentionally collect and/or use information in such a way that it meets the DOJ regulatory 

definition of research. 

Research, for the purposes of OJP-funded programs, is defined as, “a systematic investigation, 

including research development, testing, and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to 

generalizable knowledge.” 28 C.F.R. § 46.102(d). For additional information on determining 

whether a proposed activity would constitute research, see the decision tree to assist applicants 

on the “Research and the Protection of Human Subjects” section of the OJP Web site 

(www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/other_requirements.htm). 

Notice of New Post-Award Reporting Requirements 

Applicants should anticipate that all recipients (other than individuals) of awards of $25,000 or 

more under this solicitation, consistent with the Federal Funding Accountability and 

Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA), will be required to report award information on any first-tier 

subawards totaling $25,000 or more, and, in certain cases, to report information on the names 

and total compensation of the five most highly compensated executives of the recipient and 

first-tier subrecipients. Each applicant entity must ensure that it has the necessary processes 

and systems in place to comply with the reporting requirements should it receive funding. 

It is expected that reports regarding subawards will be made through the FFATA Subaward 

Reporting System (FSRS), found at https://www.fsrs.gov. Additional guidance on reporting will 

be provided in the near future by OJP and/or the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). 

Please note also that applicants should anticipate that no subaward of an award made under 

this solicitation may be made to a subrecipient (other than an individual) unless the potential 

subrecipient acquires and provides a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. 

How to Apply 

Applications will be submitted through Grants.gov. Grants.gov is a “one-stop storefront” that 

provides a unified process for all customers of Federal awards to find funding opportunities and 

apply for funding. Complete instructions on how to register and submit an application can be 

found at www.Grants.gov. If the applicant experiences technical difficulties at any point during 

this process, please call the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 800–518–4726, 24 hours 

a day, 7 days a week, except Federal holidays. Registering with Grants.gov is a one-time 

process; however, processing delays may occur, and it can take up to several weeks for 

first-time registrants to receive confirmation and a user password. OJP highly recommends that 

applicants start the registration process as early as possible to prevent delays in submitting an 

application package by the specified application deadline. 
NIJ–2011–2821 

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 9 

All applicants are required to complete the following steps:

 

1. Acquire a DUNS number. A DUNS number is required for Grants.gov registration. In 

general, the Office of Management and Budget requires that all applicants (other than 

individuals) for Federal funds include a DUNS (Data Universal Numbering System) 

number in their applications for a new award or renewal of an existing award. A DUNS 

number is a unique nine-digit sequence recognized as the universal standard for 

identifying and keeping track of entities receiving Federal funds. The identifier is used for 

tracking purposes and to validate address and point of contact information for Federal 

assistance applicants, recipients, and subrecipients. The DUNS number will be used 

throughout the grant life cycle. Obtaining a DUNS number is a free, one-time activity. 

Obtain a DUNS number by calling Dun and Bradstreet at 866–705–5711 or by applying 

online at www.dnb.com. Individuals are exempt from this requirement. 

2. Acquire or renew registration with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) 

database. OJP requires that all applicants (other than individuals) for Federal financial 

assistance maintain current registrations in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) 

database. An applicant must be registered in the CCR to successfully register in 

Grants.gov. The CCR database is the repository for standard information about Federal 

financial assistance applicants, recipients, and subrecipients. Organizations that have 

previously submitted applications via Grants.gov are already registered with CCR, as it 

is a requirement for Grants.gov registration. Please note, however, that applicants must 

update or renew their CCR registration annually to maintain an active status. 

Information about CCR registration procedures can be accessed at www.ccr.gov. 

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

username and password. Complete the AOR profile on Grants.gov and create a 

username and password. The applicant organization’s DUNS Number must be used to 

complete this step. For more information about the registration process, go to 

www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp. 

4. Acquire confirmation for the AOR from the E-Business Point of Contact (E-Biz 

POC). The E-Biz POC at the applicant organization must log into Grants.gov to confirm 

the applicant organization’s AOR. Please note that there can be more than one AOR for 

the organization. 

5. Search for the funding opportunity on Grants.gov. Please use the following 

identifying information when searching for the funding opportunity on Grants.gov. The 

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number for this solicitation is 16.562, 

titled “Criminal Justice Research and Development Graduate Research Fellowships” and 

the funding opportunity number is NIJ–2011–2821.

6. Submit an application consistent with this solicitation by following the directions 

in Grants.gov. Within 24–48 hours after submitting the electronic application, the 

applicant should receive an e-mail validation message from Grants.gov. The validation 

message will state whether the application has been received and validated, or rejected, 

with an explanation. Important: Applicants are urged to submit applications at least 72 

hours prior to the due date of the application to allow time to receive the validation 

message and to correct any problems that may have caused a rejection notification. 
NIJ–2011–2821 

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 10 

Note: Grants.gov will forward the application to OJP’s Grants Management System 

(GMS). GMS does not accept executable file types as application attachments. These 

disallowed file types include, but are not limited to, the following extensions: “.com,” “.bat,” 

“.exe,” “.vbs,” “.cfg,” “.dat,” “.db,” “.dbf,” “.dll,” “.ini,” “.log,” “.ora,” “.sys,” and “.zip.”

Experiencing Unforeseen Grants.gov Technical Issues 

If an applicant experiences unforeseen Grants.gov technical issues beyond the applicant’s 

control that prevent submission of its application by the deadline, the applicant must contact NIJ 

staff within 24 hours after the deadline and request approval to submit its application. At that 

time, NIJ staff will instruct the applicant to submit specific information detailing the technical 

difficulties. The applicant must e-mail: a description of the technical difficulties, a timeline of 

submission efforts, the complete grant application, the applicant DUNS number, and Grants.gov 

Help Desk tracking number(s) received. After the program office reviews all of the information 

submitted, and contacts the Grants.gov Help Desk to validate the technical issues reported, 

OJP will contact the applicant to either approve or deny the request to submit a late application. 

If the technical issues reported cannot be validated, the application will be rejected as untimely. 

To ensure a fair competition for limited discretionary funds, the following conditions are not valid 

reasons to permit late submissions: (1) failure to begin the registration process in sufficient time, 

(2) failure to follow Grants.gov instructions on how to register and apply as posted on its Web 

site, (3) failure to follow all of the instructions in the OJP solicitation, and (4) technical issues 

experienced with the applicant’s computer or information technology (IT) environment. 

Notifications regarding known technical problems with Grants.gov, if any, are posted at the top 

of the OJP funding Web page, www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/solicitations.htm. 

What an Application Should Include 

This section describes what an application should include and sets out a number of elements. 

Applicants should anticipate that failure to submit an application that contains all of the specified 

elements may negatively affect the review of the application; and, should a decision be made to 

make an award, it may result in the inclusion of special conditions that preclude access to or 

use of award funds pending satisfaction of the conditions. 

Moreover, applicants should anticipate that some application elements are so critical that 

applications unresponsive to the scope of the solicitation, or that do not include a program 

narrative, budget detail worksheet including a budget narrative, tribal resolution (if applicable), 

resumes/curriculum vitae of key personnel, and all items listed under Section f “Appendices” 

and labeled as “required” (see pages 12–13), will neither proceed to peer review nor receive 

further consideration. 

OJP strongly recommends use of appropriately descriptive file names (e.g., “Program 

Narrative,” “Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative,” “Timelines,” “Memoranda of 

Understanding,” “Resumes”) for all attachments. OJP recommends that resumes be included in 

a single file. 

1. Information to complete the Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) 

The SF-424 is a standard form required for use as a cover sheet for submission of preapplications, applications, and related information. Grants.gov and GMS take information 
NIJ–2011–2821 

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 11 

from the applicant’s profile to populate the fields on this form. When selecting "type of 

applicant," if the applicant is a for-profit entity, please select "For-Profit Organization" or 

"Small Business" (as applicable). 

2. Program Narrative 

The program narrative section of your application should not exceed 15 double-spaced 

pages in 12-point font with 1-inch margins. Abstract, table of contents, charts, figures, 

appendices, and government forms do not count toward the 15-page limit for the 

narrative section. 

If the program narrative fails to comply with these length-related restrictions, 

noncompliance may be considered in peer review and in final award decisions. 

Program Narrative Guidelines: 

a. Title Page (not counted against the 15-page program narrative limit). 

The title page should include the title of the project, submission date, funding 

opportunity number, and the applicant’s name and complete contact information 

(i.e., name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address).

b. Project Abstract (not counted against the 15-page program narrative limit). 

The 400 to 600-word abstract should state the problem under investigation 

(including research goals and objectives) and the anticipated relevance of the 

project to criminal justice public policy, practice, or theory. It should describe the 

proposed method and/or research design, including data to be used in 

addressing research questions, data collection procedures and instrumentation, 

access to data, and other methods or procedures of the proposed study. It 

should also describe procedures for data analysis and all expected products, 

including interim and final reports, instrumentation, and devices. If applicable, it 

should describe the subjects who will be involved in the proposed project, 

including the number of participants; participants’ age, gender, and race/ethnicity; 

and other pertinent characteristics, such as methods used to gain access to 

subjects. 

c. Resubmit Response (if applicable) (not counted against the 15-page program 

narrative limit). If an applicant is resubmitting a proposal that was presented 

previously to NIJ, but not funded, the applicant should indicate this. A statement 

should be provided, no more than two pages, addressing: (1) the title, 

submission date, and NIJ-assigned application number of the previous proposal, 

and (2) a brief summary of revisions to the proposal. This document should be 

inserted after the abstract. 

d. Table of Contents and Figures (not counted against the 15-page program 

narrative limit). 

e. Main body. The main body of the program narrative should describe the project 

in depth. The following sections should be included as part of the program 

narrative: 

• Statement of the Problem. 

• Project/Program Design and Implementation. 
NIJ–2011–2821 

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 12 

• Capabilities/Competencies. 

• Impact/Outcomes and Evaluation. 

• Dissemination Strategy. 

Note: Within these sections, the narrative should address: 

• Purpose, goals, and objectives. 

• Review of relevant literature. 

• Detailed description of research design and methods (a minimum 5-

page description) to include: research questions, hypotheses, 

description of sample, research methods justification, analysis plan 

and justification, etc. 

• Research independence and integrity (see “Selection Criteria” below). 

• Implications for criminal justice policy and practice in the United 

States. 

• Management plan and organization. 

• Dissemination strategy. 

 

f. Appendices (not counted against the 15-page program narrative limit) include: 

• Bibliography/references (required). 

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

pertaining to the proposed study (required if applicable). 

 Examples of when the documents listed immediately above 

may be required: 

• If tables/charts/graphs are referenced in the text, they 

must be included with the application. 

• If the proposed study includes analysis of survey data, 

the survey/questionnaire documents must be included 

with the application. 

• If the proposed study includes a geographical 

component or geospatial analysis, maps or other 

geospatial products must be included in the 

application. 

• List of names of the student’s dissertation committee and their 

complete contact information to include: names, addresses, telephone 

numbers, and email addresses (required). 

• Curriculum vitae, resumes or biographical sketches of student and his 

or her dissertation chair or advisor (required). 

• Dissertation chair or advisor’s statement of support (required). For 

information on required content, see pages 4-5. 

• University statement of student progress in the current program of 

study (required). For information on required content, see page 4. 

• A copy of the student’s academic transcripts (required). For 

information on required content, see page 4.

• Project timeline and research calendar with expected milestones 

(required). 

• Human Subjects Protection Paperwork including Institutional Review 

Board (IRB) documentation and forms (see 

www.ojp.gov/nij/funding/humansubjects/human-subjects.htm). 
NIJ–2011–2821 

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 13 

• Privacy Certificate (for further guidance go to 

www.ojp.gov/nij/funding/humansubjects/privacy-certificateguidance.htm). 

• List of previous and current NIJ awards to applicant organization and 

investigator(s) (required). Note: Applicant universities with a history of 

poor performance may not be considered for funding (i.e., failure to 

meet grant deadlines and reporting requirements or failure to comply 

with special conditions of awards). All applicants must complete the 

form provided as Attachment A to this solicitation and include the 

completed form with the application. 

• Letters of cooperation/support or administrative agreements from 

organizations collaborating in the project, such as law enforcement 

and correctional agencies (if applicable). 

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

proposal has been submitted (if applicable). 

3. Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative 

a. Budget Detail Worksheet 

A sample Budget Detail Worksheet can be found at 

www.ojp.gov/funding/forms/budget_detail.pdf. If the budget is submitted in a different 

format, the budget categories listed in the sample budget worksheet should be 

included. 

For questions pertaining to budget and examples of allowable and unallowable costs, 

please see the OJP Financial Guide at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/financialguide/index.htm.

b. Budget Narrative 

The Budget Narrative should thoroughly and clearly describe every category of 

expense listed in the Budget Detail Worksheet. The narrative should be 

mathematically sound and correspond with the information and figures provided in 

the Budget Detail Worksheet. The narrative should explain how all costs were 

estimated and calculated and how they are relevant to the completion of the 

proposed project. The narrative may include tables for clarification purposes but 

need not be in a spreadsheet format. As with the Budget Detail Worksheet, the 

Budget Narrative should be broken down by year. 

The following is a sample budget narrative description of a cost item. 

Salaries and Wages-Personnel ($25,000) 

The Principal Investigator (i.e., the doctoral student), Mr./Mrs. xxx, will devote xxx 

summer and xxx academic months per year toward the project. The University has 

established that a one-month effort is equivalent to xxx hours. 

The fringe benefit rate during the academic year for the graduate student is ___%. 

The summer fringe benefit rate is ___%. The benefits included in the rate cover 

__________. 

Cofunding: A grant made by NIJ under this solicitation may account for up to 100 

percent of the total cost of the project. The application should indicate whether it is 

feasible to contribute cash, facilities, or services as non-Federal support for the 
NIJ–2011–2821 

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 14 

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. 

4. Other Standard Forms

Additional forms that may be required in connection with an award are available on 

OJP’s funding page at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/forms.htm. For successful applicants, 

receipt of funds may be contingent upon submission of all necessary forms. Please note 

in particular the following forms. 

a. Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other

Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (required to 

be submitted in GMS prior to the receipt of any award funds) 

b. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (required for any applicant that expends any 

funds for lobbying activities; this form must be downloaded, completed, and 

then uploaded) 

c. Accounting System and Financial Capability Questionnaire (required for any 

applicant other than an individual that is a non-governmental entity and that 

has not received any award from OJP within the past 3 years; this form must 

be downloaded, completed, and then uploaded) 

d. Standard Assurances (required to be submitted in GMS prior to the receipt of 

any award funds) 

Selection Criteria 

Statement of the Problem (Understanding of the problem and its importance)—20% 

1. Clarity of problem statement and its importance to the field of study. 

2. Demonstrated connection between problem and proposed research.

3. Awareness of the state of current research and/or technology.

4. Identification of gaps in existing research.

5. Demonstrated understanding of the population under investigation.

Project/Program Design and Implementation (Quality and technical merit)—35%

1. Detailed and complete discussion of proposed research methods. 

2. Explanation for research method approach. 

3. Awareness of limitations of analysis plan and proposed practical solutions. 

4. Awareness of human subjects’ matters. 

5. Overall feasibility of proposed project and awareness of pitfalls. 

6. Innovation and creativity. 

Impact/Outcomes and Evaluation (Impact of the proposed project and relevance to policy and 

practice)—20% 

1. Potential for major advances in scientific or technical understanding of the problem. 

2. Potential for significant advances in the field and filling key gaps in scientific knowledge 

related to criminal justice policy and practice in the United States. 
NIJ–2011–2821 

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 15 

3. Relevance for improving criminal justice policy and practice, public safety, security 

and/or quality of life. 

4. Relevance to the concerns of criminal justice agencies focusing on crime and justice 

problems. 

5. Perceived potential for commercialization and/or implementation of new technology 

(when applicable). 

Capabilities/Competencies (Capabilities, demonstrated productivity, and experience of 

applicants)—10%

1. Qualifications and experience of doctoral student and dissertation chair or advisor (i.e., 

successful coursework completion, relevant work and/or research experience, 

leadership roles, mentoring experience, and record of publication). 

2. Demonstrated ability of dissertation advisor to manage endeavor. 

3. Adequacy of management plan to ensure project completion. 

4. Identification of appropriate stakeholders and/or consultants in field of interest. 

5. University record of accomplishment with respect to doctoral candidate’s completion of 

degrees. 

6. University record of past performance regarding NIJ grants and contracts. 

Dissemination Strategy—15% 

1. Extensiveness and creativity of the applicant’s plan for print and electronic product 

dissemination to researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. Extensive dissemination 

may include plans for peer-reviewed journal articles, web-based documents, 

conference/meeting presentations, program guides/tools, trade articles, etc.; and 

identification of journals and organizations through which products will be released. 

Creativity is the degree to which the applicant’s plan goes beyond standard reporting 

requirements (i.e., final technical report) and/or may include multimedia products such 

as DVDs, blogs and podcasts, etc. 

Research Independence and Integrity 

Regardless of a proposal’s rating under the criteria outlined above, in order to receive funds, the 

applicant’s proposal must demonstrate research independence, including appropriate 

safeguards to ensure research objectivity and integrity. 

For purposes of this solicitation, research independence and integrity pertains only to ensuring 

that the design, conduct, or reporting of research funded by NIJ grants, cooperative 

agreements, or contracts will not be biased by any financial interest on the part of the 

investigators responsible for the research or on the part of the applicant. 

In the program narrative section dealing with research independence and integrity, the applicant 

must explain the process and procedures that the applicant has put in place to identify and 

manage potential financial conflicts of interest on the part of its staff, consultants, and/or 

subrecipients. It must also identify any potential organizational financial conflicts of interest on 

the part of the applicant with regard to the proposed research. If the applicant believes that 

there are no potential organizational financial conflicts of interest, the applicant must provide a 

brief narrative explanation of why it believes that to be the case. 
NIJ–2011–2821 

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 16 

Where potential organizational financial conflicts of interest exist, in the program narrative the 

applicant must identify the safeguards the applicant has put in place to address those conflicts 

of interest. 

Considerations in evaluating research independence and integrity will include, but may not be 

limited to, the adequacy of the applicant’s efforts to identify factors that could affect the 

objectivity/integrity of the proposed staff and/or the organization in carrying out the research, 

development, or evaluation activity; and the adequacy of the applicant’s existing or proposed 

remedies to control any such factors. 

Review Process 

OJP is committed to ensuring a fair and open process for awarding grants. NIJ reviews the 

application to make sure that the information presented is reasonable, understandable, 

measurable, and achievable, as well as consistent with the solicitation. 

Peer reviewers will review the applications submitted under this solicitation that meet basic 

minimum requirements. NIJ may use either internal peer reviewers, external peer reviewers, or 

a combination to review the applications under this solicitation. An external peer reviewer is an 

expert in the field of the subject matter of a given solicitation who is NOT a current U.S. 

Department of Justice employee. An internal reviewer is a current U.S. Department of Justice 

employee who is well-versed or has expertise in the subject matter of this solicitation. Eligible 

applications will be evaluated, scored, and rated by a peer review panel. Peer reviewers’ ratings 

and any resulting recommendations are advisory only. In addition to peer review ratings, 

considerations for award recommendations and decisions may include, but are not limited to, 

underserved populations, geographic diversity, strategic priorities, past performance, and 

available funding. 

The Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO), in consultation with NIJ, conducts a financial 

review of applications for potential discretionary awards to evaluate the fiscal integrity and 

financial capability of applicants; examines proposed costs to determine if the budget detail 

worksheet and budget narrative accurately explain project costs; and determines whether costs 

are reasonable, necessary, and allowable under applicable Federal cost principles and agency 

regulations. 

All final award decisions will be made by the Director of the National Institute of Justice, who 

also may give consideration to factors including, but not limited to, underserved populations, 

geographic diversity, strategic priorities, past performance, and available funding when making 

awards. 

Additional Requirements 

Applicants selected for awards must agree to comply with additional legal requirements upon 

acceptance of an award. OJP strongly encourages applicants to review the information 

pertaining to these additional requirements prior to submitting an application. Additional 

information for each requirement can be found at 

www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/other_requirements.htm. 
NIJ–2011–2821 

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 17 

• Civil Rights Compliance 

• Faith-Based and Other Community Organizations 

• Confidentiality 

• Research and the Protection of Human Subjects 

• Anti-Lobbying Act 

• Financial and Government Audit Requirements 

• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 

• DOJ Information Technology Standards (if applicable) 

• Single Point of Contact Review 

• Non-Supplanting of State or Local Funds 

• Criminal Penalty for False Statements 

• Compliance with Office of Justice Programs Financial Guide

• Suspension or Termination of Funding 

• Nonprofit Organizations 

• For-profit Organizations 

• Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) 

• Rights in Intellectual Property 

• Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) of 2006 

• Awards in Excess of $5,000,000 – Federal Taxes Certification Requirement 

• Active CCR Registration 

If a proposal is funded, the grant recipient will be required to submit several reports and other 

materials, including: 

• Documentation of Institutional Review Board’s review (human subjects) and approval of 

the proposed project prior to funding availability. 

• Quarterly financial reports, semi-annual progress reports, a final progress report, and, if 

applicable, an annual audit report in accordance with Office of Management and Budget 

Circular A–133. 

• A copy of the student’s defended, approved, and edited dissertation. 
NIJ–2011–2821 

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 18 

Application Checklist 

NIJ Ph.D. Graduate Research Fellowship Program FY2011 

This application checklist has been created to assist in developing an application. 

Eligibility Requirement: 

_____University is fully accredited by one of the regional institutional accreditation agencies 

recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education 

_____Dissertation topic is in an NIJ-supported discipline (select one) 

 social and behavioral sciences 

 operations technology 

 information and sensors research and development 

 investigative and forensic sciences 

_____Documentation of doctoral student having completed all required course work, passed 

qualifying comprehensive exams, and advanced to candidacy by the university. 

What an Application Should Include: 

_____ Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424), see page 10

_____ Program Narrative (see pages 11–13 and “Selection Criteria” pages 14–15)

_____ Appendices to the Program Narrative: 

_____ Bibliography/references (required) 

_____ Any tools/instruments, questionnaires, tables/charts/graphs, or maps 

pertaining to the proposed study (required if applicable) 

_____ Dissertation committee complete contact information (required) 

_____ Curriculum vitae, resumes or biographical sketches of student and 

advisor or chair (required) 

_____ Student Advisor’s or Chair’s Statement of Support (on university 

letterhead and signed by advisor or chair) (required) 

_____ Official university statement regarding student’s progress in the doctoral 

program (on university letterhead and signed by authorized university 

representative for example, department chair or college dean) (required) 

_____ Transcripts (official or unofficial) (required) 

_____ Project timeline and research calendar with expected milestones 

(required) 

_____ Human Subjects Protection Paperwork 

_____ Privacy Certificate 

_____ List of previous and current NIJ awards to applicant organization and 

investigators (form at Attachment A) (required) 

_____ Letters of cooperation/support or administrative agreements from 

organizations collaborating in the project (if applicable) 

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

proposal has been submitted (if applicable) 

_____ Budget Detail Worksheet (see page 13) 

_____ Budget Narrative (see page 13) 

_____ Program Narrative/Abstract Format: (see page 11) 

_____ Double-spaced 

_____ 12-point standard font 

_____ 1” standard margins 

_____ Narrative is 15 pages or less 

_____ Other Standard Forms as applicable (see page 14), including: 
NIJ–2011–2821 

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 19 

 _____ Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (if applicable) 

 _____ Accounting System and Financial Capability Questionnaire (if applicable) 
NIJ–2011–2821 

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 20 

Attachment A 

List of Previous and Current NIJ Awards to Applicant Organization and 

Investigators 

All applicants must complete this form and include it as an appendix to the application. See 

page 13 for additional information regarding this form. 

NIJ Ph.D. Graduate Research Fellowship Program FY 2011 

• Official Applicant: 

___________________________________________________ 

• Principal Investigator (intended fellowship recipient): 

___________________________________________________ 

List of previous and current NIJ awards to applicant organization and investigators. Please note 

that this information is required. 

 ___ No, the applicant organization and investigators have never received funding from NIJ. 

 ___ Yes, the applicant organization and/or investigators have previously received or are 

 currently receiving funding from NIJ. 

If yes, please list the award number(s) and amount(s). (Add additional pages as necessary.) 

Award Amount

_________________________________________________________ 

_________________________________________________________ 

_________________________________________________________ 

_________________________________________________________ 

_________________________________________________________ 

_________________________________________________________