U.S. Department of Justice OMB No. 

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 the 

Institute’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 2010 

Eligibility 

For this program, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is authorized to make grants to degreegranting educational institutions in the United States. The institution of record must be fully 

accredited by one of the regional institutional accreditation agencies recognized by the U.S. 

Secretary of Education. 

Deadline 

Registration with OJP’s Grants Management System is required prior to application submission. 

(See “How to Apply,” page 7.) 

All applications are due by 11:45 p.m. eastern time on April 2, 2010. 

(See “Deadlines: Registration and Application,” page 3.) 

Contact Information 

For technical assistance with submitting the application, contact the Grants Management System 

Support Hotline at 1–888–549–9901, option 3 or via e-mail to GMSHelpDesk@usdoj.gov. 

Note: The GMS Support Hotline hours of operation are Monday–Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 

midnight eastern time, except for Federal holidays. 

For assistance with any other requirement of this solicitation, contact Christine Crossland at 

202–616–5166 or by e-mail to Christine.Crossland@usdoj.gov or Marie Garcia at 

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

SL# 000918 
CONTENTS 

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

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

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

Specific Information .......................................................................................................... 3 

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

How to Apply..................................................................................................................... 7 

What an Application Must Include..................................................................................... 9 

Standard Form 424 ............................................................................................... 9 

Program Narrative ................................................................................................. 9 

Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative ................................................. 11 

Other Standard Forms ........................................................................................ 12 

Selection Criteria............................................................................................................. 12 

Review Process .............................................................................................................. 14 

Additional Requirements................................................................................................. 14 

Application Checklist....................................................................................................... 16 

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NIJ Ph.D. Graduate Research Fellowship 

Program FY 2010

CFDA No. 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 stipend. Currently, the GRF stipend is $25,000. 

Deadlines: Registration and Application 

Registration is required prior to submission. The deadline to register in GMS is 11:45 p.m. 

eastern time on April 2, 2010 and the deadline for applying for funding under this 

announcement is 11:45 p.m. eastern time on April 2, 2010. Please see the “How to Apply” 

section, page 7, for more details. 

Eligibility 

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

Specific Information—NIJ Ph.D. Graduate Research Fellowship 

Program FY 2010 

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. 

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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 research office must complete an 

application and submit it electronically using GMS (see “What an Application Must Include,” 

pages 9–12). 

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 (i.e., February 3, 2010), 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. FY10 awards are 

anticipated to be made by no later than September of 2010. Failure to provide documentation of 

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

program. 

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. 

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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 award (i.e., by 

no later than September 30, 2010). 

•	 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. For a detailed list of NIJ’s 

priorities, please see http://www.ojp.gov/nij/about/research-priorities.htm. 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: A fellowship stipend in the form of a $25,000 grant will be 

awarded to successful applicants (i.e., accredited universities in the United States). It is 

anticipated that up to five awards will be made during the year, depending upon the availability 

of funds and the number of qualified applications. All NIJ 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. Grant recipient 

organizations 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. 

A grant made by NIJ under this solicitation may account for up to 100 percent of the total cost of 

the project. See "Cofunding" under "What an Application Must Include." 

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 (but are not limited to) 

contemporary procedures like Propensity Score Matching and 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 

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

cost/benefit analysis as an effective means in which 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 http://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. (Your budget may 

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

demonstration, evaluation, or analysis.) 

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

4. Research that lacks clear implications for criminal justice policy and practice in the 

United States. 

Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation; Waiver: No portion of any 

award of more than $250,000 made under this solicitation may 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 

http://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 non-federal funds. (Any such additional compensation will not be considered matching 

funds where match requirements apply.) 

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 that the applicant 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 

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salary is commensurate with the regular and customary rate for an individual with his or 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), P.L. 103–62, applicants who receive funding under this solicitation must 

provide data that measure the results of their work. 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. 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, 

semi-annual progress reports, 

and a final progress report. 

How to Apply 

Applications will be submitted through OJP’s Grants Management System (GMS). GMS is a 

Web-based, data-driven computer application that provides cradle to grave support for the 

application, award and management of grants at OJP. Applicants should begin the process 

immediately to meet the GMS registration deadline, especially if this is the first time they have 

used the system. Complete instructions on how to register and submit an application in GMS 

can be found at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/gmscbt/. If you experience technical difficulties at any point 

during this process, please e-mail GMSHelpDesk@usdoj.gov, or call 1–888–549–9901 (option 

3), Monday–Friday from 6:00 a.m. to midnight eastern time, except for Federal holidays. OJP 

highly recommends starting the registration process as early as possible to prevent delays in 

the application submission by the specified deadline. 

All applicants are required to complete the following steps. 

1. Acquire a DUNS Number. A DUNS number is required to submit an application in 

GMS. The Office of Management and Budget requires that all businesses and nonprofit 

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

number in their application 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 

7
 
 

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 1–866–705–5711 or by applying online at 

www.dunandbradstreet.com. Individuals are exempt from this requirement. 

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

Database. CCR registration is required to receive funding. OJP requires that all 

applicants (other than individuals) for federal financial assistance maintain current 

registrations in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database. 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 at least once per year to maintain an active status. Information about CCR 

registration procedures can be accessed at www.ccr.gov. 

3. Acquire a GMS Username and Password. If you are a new user, please create a GMS 

profile by selecting the first time user link under the sign-in box of the GMS home page. 

For more information on how to register in GMS, go to www.ojp.usdoj.gov/gmscbt/. 

4. Search for the Funding Opportunity on GMS. After you log in to GMS or complete 

your GMS profile for your username and password, go to the Funding Opportunities link 

on the left hand side of the page. Please select “National Institute of Justice” and then 

“NIJ FY 10 ORE Ph.D. Graduate Research Fellowship Program.” 

5. Select the Apply Online Button Associated with the Solicitation Title. The search 

results from step 4 will display the solicitation title along with the Registration and 

Application Deadlines for this funding opportunity. Please select the Apply Online button 

in the Action Column to create an application in the system. 

6. Submit an Application Addressing All of the Requirements Outlined in this 

Solicitation by Following the Directions in GMS. Once submitted, GMS will display a 

confirmation screen stating your submission was successful. Important: You are urged 

to submit your application at least 72 hours prior to the due date of the application. 

Note: OJP’s Grants Management System (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 GMS Technical Issues 

If you experience unforeseen GMS technical issues beyond your control which prevent you from 

submitting your application by the deadline, you must contact the NIJ staff member listed on the 

title page within 24 hours after the deadline and request approval to submit your application. 

At that time, NIJ staff will require you to e-mail the complete grant application, your DUNS 

number, and provide a GMS Help Desk tracking number(s). After the program office reviews all 

of the information submitted, and contacts the GMS Helpdesk to validate the technical issues 

you reported, OJP will contact you to either approve or deny your request to submit a late 

8
 
 

application. If the technical issues you reported cannot be validated, your 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 GMS 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 GMS are posted on the OJP funding Web 

page, www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/solicitations.htm. 

What an Application Must Include 

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 required attachments. Where resumes are required, OJP 

recommends that all resumes be included in a single file. 

Standard Form 424 

Please see www07.grants.gov/assets/SF424Instructions.pdf for instructions on how 

to complete your SF424. When selecting "type of applicant," if the applicant is a forprofit entity, please select "For-Profit Organization" or "Small Business" (as 

applicable) in the Type of Applicant 1 data field. For-profit applicants also may select 

additional applicable categories (e.g., "Private Institution of Higher Education"). 

Program Narrative 

The program narrative is the student's dissertation prospectus, or an abridged 

version of it. 

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, and the 

student’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. 

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c. Resubmit Response (if applicable). If an applicant is resubmitting a proposal 

that was presented previously to NIJ, but not funded, the applicant must indicate 

this. A two-page document addressing the previous consensus review must be 

provided that covers the following: (1) the title, submission date, and NIJassigned application number of the previous proposal, and (2) a brief summary of 

responses to the peer review and/or revisions to the proposal. This document 

should be inserted after the abstract. This document will not be counted against 

the 15-page program narrative limit. 

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 and include the following sections: 

•	 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 method 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. 

The program narrative section of your application must 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. Failure to follow page-limit and format specifications will 

result in automatic disqualification. 

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

• Bibliography/references (required). 

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

pertaining to the proposed study (required). 

•	 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). 

10
 
 

 

•	 Human Subjects Protection Paperwork including Institutional Review 

Board (IRB) documentation and forms (see 

http://www.ojp.gov/nij/funding/humansubjects/human-subjects.htm). 

•	 Privacy Certificate (for further guidance go to 

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

•	 List of previous and current NIJ grants and contracts to applicant 

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

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

meet grant deadlines and reporting requirements or failure to comply 

with special conditions of awards). 

•	 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 you 

have submitted this proposal (if applicable). 

Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative 

a. Budget Detail Worksheet & Summary (required) 

A sample Budget Detail Worksheet can be found at 

http://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 

must be included. 

For questions pertaining to budget and examples of allowable and unallowable 

costs, please see the OJP Financial Guide at 

http://www.ojp.gov/financialguide/index.htm. 

b. Budget Narrative (required) 

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 

dissertation. The narrative may include tables for clarification purposes and can 

be provided in a Microsoft Office Word document. As with the Budget Detail 

Worksheet, the Budget Narrative must 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./Ms. xxxx, 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___________. 

11
 
Cofunding: A grant made by NIJ under this solicitation may account for up to 100 

percent of the total cost of the project. You must indicate whether you believe it is 

feasible for you to contribute cash, facilities, or services as non-Federal support for the 

project. Your application should identify generally any such contributions that you expect 

to make and your proposed budget should indicate in detail which items, if any, will be 

supported with non-Federal contributions. 

Other Standard Forms 

Additional forms that may be required are available on OJP’s funding page at 

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/forms.htm. Please note in particular the following 

forms. 

1. Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other 

Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (required of all 

applicants as part of the GMS application process) 

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

funds for lobbying activities) 

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

applicant that is a nongovernmental entity and that has not received any award 

from OJP within the past 3 years) 

4. Standard Assurances (required of all applicants as part of the GMS application 

process) 

Note: Attachments to the application should be included in one of the following four 

categories: 1) Program Narrative; 2) Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative; 

3) Appendices; and 4) Other Requirements. 

Selection Criteria 

Successful applicants must demonstrate the following: 

Statement of the Problem/Program Narrative (Understanding of the problem and its 

importance)—20% 

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

•	 Demonstrated connection between problem and proposed research. 

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

•	 Identification of gaps in existing research. 

•	 Demonstrated understanding of the population under investigation. 

•	 Connection to NIJ priority areas (see http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/about/researchpriorities.htm). 

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

•	 Detailed and complete discussion of proposed research methods. 

•	 Explanation for research method approach. 

•	 Detailed and complete discussion of analytic and technical technique(s). 

•	 Identification of appropriate approach to answer proposed research questions. 

12
 
•	 Awareness of limitations of analysis plan and proposed practical solutions. 

•	 Awareness of human subjects’ matters. 

•	 Overall feasibility of proposed project. 

•	 Innovation and creativity. 

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

practice)—20% 

•	 Potential for major advances in scientific or technical understanding of the 

problem. 

•	 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. 

•	 Relevance for improving criminal justice policy and practice, public safety, 

security, and quality of life. 

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

justice problems. 

•	 Perceived potential for commercialization and/or implementation of new 

technology (when applicable). 

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

applicants)—10% 

•	 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). 

•	 Demonstrated ability of dissertation advisor to manage endeavor. 

•	 Adequacy of management plan to ensure project completion. 

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

•	 University record of accomplishment with respect to doctoral candidates’ 

completion of degrees. 

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

Dissemination strategy—15% 

•	 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 

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. 

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 

13
 
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 basic minimum program or legislative 

requirements as stated in the solicitation (including, but not limited to, requirements as to 

timeliness, proper format, and responsiveness to the scope of the solicitation). 

Peer reviewers will be reviewing 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 and cooperative agreements to 

evaluate the fiscal integrity and financial capability of applicants; examines proposed costs to 

determine if the budget 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. 

When awards will be made: All applicants, whether they are accepted or rejected, will be 

notified. The review and approval process takes about nine months. Lists of awards are updated 

regularly on NIJ’s Web site at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/funding/welcome.htm. 

Additional Requirements 

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

acceptance of an award. We strongly encourage you to review the information pertaining to 

these additional requirements prior to submitting your application. Additional information for 

each can be found at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/other_requirements.htm. 

• Civil Rights Compliance 

• Faith-Based and Other Community Organizations 

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•	 Confidentiality and Human Subjects Protection (if applicable) 

• Anti-Lobbying Act 

•	 Financial and Government Audit Requirements 

•	 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (if applicable) 

•	 DOJ Information Technology Standards (if applicable) 

•	 Single Point of Contact Review 

•	 Nonsupplanting 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 

If funded, several reports and other materials will be required, including: 

•	 Documentation of Institutional Review Board 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. 

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Application Checklist

NIJ Ph.D. Graduate Research Fellowship Program FY 2010 

The application checklist has been created to aid you in developing your application. 

Before submitting your application, please address the following: 

Eligibility 

_____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 

_____Research proposal has direct implications for criminal justice in the U.S. 

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

qualifying comprehensive exams, and advanced to candidacy by the university 

Application Components: 

_____Program Narrative (see pages 9–11 and “Selection Criteria” pages 12–14) 

_____Appendices to the Program Narrative 

_____Bibliography/references (required) 

_____Any tools/instruments, questionnaires, tables/charts/graphs, or maps 

pertaining to the proposed study (required) 

_____Dissertation committee complete contact information (required) 

_____Curriculum vitae, resume or biographical sketch of student and advisor or 

chair 

_____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 letterhead and signed by authorized university representative 

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

_____Transcripts (official or unofficial) (required) 

_____Project Timeline (required) 

_____Human Subjects Protection Paperwork 

_____Privacy Certificate 

_____List of previous and current NIJ awards to applicant organization (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 you have 

submitted this proposal (if applicable) 

_____Budget Narrative 

_____Budget Detail Worksheet 

(cont., next page) 

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(Application Checklist, cont.) 

Program Narrative/Abstract Format: 

_____Double-spaced 

_____12-point standard font 

_____1” standard margins 

_____Narrative is 15 pages or less 

Other Requirements: 

_____Standard Form 424 

_____DUNS number 

_____Other standard forms as applicable (see page 12), including 

_____Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (if applicable) 

_____Accounting System and Financial Capability Questionnaire (if applicable)
 

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