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 to participate in 

an action research project designed for State and local jurisdictions that are struggling with large 

quantities of untested sexual assault kits. The purpose of this study is to understand the 

underlying nature of the problem and to identify effective and sustainable solutions. 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: 

Strategic Approaches to Sexual Assault Kit (SAK) Evidence: 

An Action Research Project 

Eligibility 

Applicants are limited to States (including territories) and units of local government (including 

federally-recognized Indian tribal governments as determined by the Secretary of the Interior). 

Each applicant must demonstrate a team approach that includes an effective partnership 

between the applicant jurisdiction’s criminal justice practitioner agencies and a research 

organization partner. Please carefully review the “Program-Specific Information” section, 

beginning on page 3, for additional details. 

Deadline 

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

page 10.) 

Note: A Webinar for applicants will be held on November 17, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. eastern 

standard time. See http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/sexual-assault-kits.htm for more details. 

All applications are due by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on January 18, 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 Kristina Rose, Deputy 

Director, at 202–307–0466 or by e-mail to Kristina.Rose@usdoj.gov; or Katharine Browning, 

Ph.D., Senior Social Science Analyst, at 202–616–4786 or by e-mail at 

Katharine.Browning@usdoj.gov. 

Grants.gov number assigned to announcement: NIJ–2011–2808

SL# 000947 
CONTENTS 

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

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

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

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

Performance Measures ................................................................................................................. 9 

Notice of New Post-Award Reporting Requirements .................................................................. 10 

How to Apply ............................................................................................................................... 10 

What an Application Should Include ........................................................................................... 12 

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

424 ...................................................................................................................... 12 

Program Narrative ........................................................................................................... 12 

Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative ............................................................. 14 

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) ................................................................. 14 

Tribal Authorizing Resolution (if applicable) ................................................................... 14 

Other Standard Forms .................................................................................................... 15 

Selection Criteria ......................................................................................................................... 15 

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

Additional Requirements ............................................................................................................. 17 

Application Checklist ................................................................................................................... 19 

NIJ–2011–2808

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 2 
Strategic Approaches to Sexual Assault Kit 

(SAK) Evidence: An Action Research Project 

(CFDA 16.560) 

Overview 

NIJ is seeking applicants interested in participating in an action research project designed for 

State and local jurisdictions that are struggling with large quantities of untested sexual assault 

kits. The purpose of this study is to understand the underlying nature of the problem and identify 

effective and sustainable solutions. 

The action research project will be conducted in two phases. The first phase will be a six-month 

planning grant in which the teams will come together, conduct an initial assessment of the 

problem, and develop a working plan for implementing the remainder of the action research 

steps in the second phase of the project. This solicitation is for the first phase of the project only.

Authorizing Legislation: Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (sections 201 

and 202). 

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 January 18, 2011. 

Please see the “How to Apply” section, page 10, for more details. 

Eligibility 

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

Program-Specific Information—Strategic Approaches to Sexual 

Assault Kit (SAK) Evidence: An Action Research Project 

Over the past few years, the discovery of thousands of untested sexual assault kits (SAK) (also 

known as “rape kits”) in law enforcement agencies has been the topic of extensive media 

coverage, numerous policy discussions, and Congressional hearings. These untested SAKs are 

often referred to as being part of a “backlog,” but in actuality this is not the case. A backlog 

refers to evidence that has been submitted to a crime laboratory by a law enforcement agency 

and is awaiting DNA analysis.1

 In this solicitation, we are referring to SAK evidence that has not 

yet been submitted to a crime laboratory and may have been recently discovered in the 

law enforcement agency’s property room or storage facility. 

NIJ–2011–2808

3 

 

1

Mark Nelson. Making Sense of the DNA Backlog: Myths and Realities, Washington, DC: U.S. Department of 

Justice, National Institute of Justice, 2010, NCJ 230183. 

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 
The purpose of this study is two-fold. First, NIJ is interested in learning about the underlying 

factors that contribute to this unsubmitted SAK evidence. Second, based on what is learned, 

promising strategies will be developed and implemented to reduce and eliminate the untested 

kits in that jurisdiction. Through monitoring and assessment, all strategies will be evaluated for 

their effectiveness and sustainability. The primary goals of this research project are to: 

• Develop transportable lessons and practices regarding SAK evidence using a proven 

problem-solving research model. 

• Improve the criminal justice system response to sexual assault, from the initial point of 

contact through prosecution. 

A recent NIJ study of more than 2,000 law enforcement agencies across the country found that 

14 percent of all unsolved homicides and 18 percent of unsolved rapes contained evidence that 

was not submitted by law enforcement agencies to crime labs for analysis.2

 The same study 

showed that investigating officers may not have submitted the evidence to a crime lab for a 

number of reasons. For example, subsequent investigation may have shown that the evidence 

would not have probative value; charges against an alleged perpetrator may have been 

dropped; the suspect may have pled guilty; or, in a rape case, the issue may be "consent" and, 

therefore, analysis of the evidence may have been considered not to be relevant or of sufficient 

probative value for the purposes of helping to establish whether or not there was consent. 

However, the study showed that some law enforcement agencies may not fully understand the 

potential value of forensic evidence in developing new leads in a criminal investigation. Fortyfour percent said that one of the reasons they did not send evidence to the lab was because a 

suspect had not been identified and 15 percent said that they did not submit evidence because 

analysis had not been requested by a prosecutor. Specialized training in these cases may have 

been beneficial and led to a different outcome. The only way to determine if the untested 

evidence in law enforcement custody needs to be submitted for forensic analysis is to review 

the case and the evidence itself.3

There has been little research on the nature of untested SAK evidence, and few, if any, 

promising practices exist to guide jurisdictions as they manage the current situation and develop 

valid and reliable policies and procedures for the future. 

The issue of untested SAK evidence has prompted a number of research questions that include: 

• What should be the course of action when a large quantity of untested SAK evidence is 

discovered in a given jurisdiction? Should resources be devoted to test all evidence—

even cases past the statute of limitations? 

• Alternatively, should a “triage” process be established to determine what SAK evidence 

should be sent to the lab and when? If a triage is warranted, upon what rules should it be 

established? 

• How many untested kits contain probative evidence in one or more cases? What 

procedures need to be put in place to ensure these kits are processed in the future? 

NIJ–2011–2808

 

• When and how should sexual assault victims be notified during this process? 

2 Kevin J. Strom, Jeri Ropero-Miller, Shelton Jones, Nathan Sikes, Mark Pope and Nicole Horstmann, The 

2007 Survey of Law Enforcement Forensic Evidence Processing (pdf, 81 pages), Final Report, 

Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, September 2009, 228415. 3

 Ibid

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 4 
• What types of follow-up services are effective for victims who have been recently notified 

of re-opened cases? 

Applicants should consider these and other research questions when formulating their proposed 

action research projects. 

Overview of Action Research

Action research refers to an approach where researchers engage in an active partnership with 

one or more practitioner agencies to solve problems. Action research often includes the 

following steps: 

1. Identifying the problem. 

2. Developing the strategies to address the problem. 

3. Implementing the strategies. 

4. Monitoring the progress of the implementation. 

5. Providing feedback to better refine the strategies targeting the problem. 

6. Assessing and evaluating the implementation and the impact the strategies have. 

The research partner plays a key role in identifying the problem by analyzing data and other 

information that can pinpoint the issue that will be addressed. The research partner works in 

partnership with the practitioner agency to develop intervention strategies to target the problem. 

The practitioner agency implements the strategies and the researchers monitor the progress 

and provide feedback to better refine the approach. Finally, the researchers conduct an 

assessment on the implementation and impact of the strategies. 

NIJ, as the research and evaluation arm of the U.S. Department of Justice, has been at the 

forefront of the development and support of this type of criminal justice action research, and has 

played a pioneering role in the advancement of this strategic problem-solving approach within 

the criminal justice system. Examples of previous NIJ action research include the Operation 

Ceasefire Program in Boston (see http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/188741.pdf) and the 

Strategic Approaches to Community Safety Initiative (SACSI) (see 

http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/216298.pdf). For further reading on action research, please 

refer to: 

• Action Research for Crime Control and Prevention by Lois Felson Mock 

(http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/publications/Abstract.aspx?id=252402). 

• Research for Problem Solving and the New Collaborations by David Kennedy 

(http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/176979.pdf). 

• The Memphis Strategic Approaches to Community Safety Initiatives Project: A Case 

Study by James R. “Chip” Coldren, Jr. and David R. Forde. 

(http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/232198.pdf). 

The Sexual Assault Kit Action Research Project

NIJ will award funding to 3-5 sites to be part of this action research project. The formal applicant 

must be a State or unit of local government, although each site should demonstrate a team 

NIJ–2011–2808

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 5 
approach that includes an effective partnership between the practitioner agencies and a 

research organization or partner. The research partner should have a full understanding of the 

action research approach. The practitioner team should consist of, but not be limited to, 

representatives from police departments, the crime laboratory, the prosecutor’s office, and a 

community-based victim services organization.4

 NIJ will provide guidance and technical 

assistance on action research to the practitioner team and its research partners as needed. 

Note: A Webinar for applicants will be held on November 17, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. eastern 

standard time. See http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/sexual-assault-kits.htm for more details. 

The action research project will be conducted in two phases. The first phase will be a six-month 

planning grant in which the teams will come together, conduct an initial assessment of the 

problem, and develop a working plan for implementing the remainder of the action research 

steps in the second phase of the project. 

Phase 1: Planning 

This solicitation is for proposals for the first phase of the project. In the first phase of the project, 

the team will need to conduct an audit of the cases in the set of untested SAKs, as a first step in 

the action research process. 

As part of the application: 

• The applicant must submit signed letters of commitment from the agency that has 

untested sexual assault evidence, the crime laboratory that provides DNA services to the 

law enforcement agency, the prosecutor’s office, a community-based victim services 

organization, and a research organization. The letters must be included in the 

application to be considered for funding. 

• The application should include a list of key team members from each participating 

agency (one from each agency) and describe the role of each team member. Each team 

should designate a “site coordinator” who will serve as the central point of contact for the 

site team. This individual will be responsible for fostering and coordinating 

communication among the team members and ensuring that the team is meeting its 

milestones. 

• As part of the application, information regarding the extent of untested evidence that has 

yet to be submitted to a crime laboratory should be provided in detail. The number of 

untested kits in the crime laboratory for which an official request for testing has not been 

made, may be included in this description. There should be a minimum of 500 untested 

cases combined in this set for the purposes of this solicitation. 

• The application should include a discussion of current practices and procedures 

regarding the submission of physical evidence in sexual assault cases and a discussion 

of potential outcome variables that might be appropriate for the applicant’s jurisdiction. 

 

NIJ–2011–2808

6 

4 A community-based victim services organization is a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that 

assists sexual assault victims, including rape crisis centers, faith-based organizations, and other 

organizations with a documented history of effective work concerning sexual assault. 

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 
• The applicant should demonstrate the willingness and ability of the participating 

agencies that make up the site team to follow up on leads generated from analysis of 

DNA samples from sexual assault kits. 

• Funds for Phase 1 may be used to cover personnel costs (including research partners), 

travel expenses for meetings and project activities, group meeting expenses, and 

preliminary DNA screening or analysis (as appropriate for the project). 

Within 60 days of award, a 2-day workshop for all the sites will take place in Washington, DC. 

All key site team personnel will be expected to attend. The workshop will focus on the elements 

of a successful action research project and key issues around DNA and untested SAK 

evidence. Funding for this workshop will be provided through NIJ’s logistical contractor and 

does not need to be factored into the applicant’s budget. 

Phase 2: Implementation 

Phase two is contingent on successful progress during phase one and the submission of an 

implementation plan and research design for the remaining steps of the action research project. 

Amount and length of awards: For phase one, NIJ anticipates that up to a total of $1 million 

may become available for up to 5 planning grant awards of up to $200,000 each 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. NIJ funding for an 

individual research project rarely exceeds $500,000, though total funding for projects requiring 

multiple years to complete has exceeded $1 million in some cases. 

NIJ envisions applicants will use funds from year 1 to analyze and define the problem, develop 

strategies and procedures for possible solutions, and develop a research design to provide 

assessment of outcomes and impacts of this action research project. Eligible funded applicants 

will then be allowed to apply for further assistance to implement their action research plans. 

Applicants should be aware that the total period for an award ordinarily will not exceed 3 years 

(one year planning and two years implementation and evaluation). Additional funding, up to 

$4 million, subject to appropriations availability, will be made available to continue the study 

after the planning year has concluded. 

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 

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 

NIJ–2011–2808

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 7 
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 http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/other_requirements.htm. 

What will not be funded: 

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

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

of this solicitation. 

3. Proposals that only offer to eliminate the sexual assault kit backlog but not to participate in 

the research portion of the study. 

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.) 

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. 

NIJ–2011–2808

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 8 
Match requirement: See “Cofunding” paragraph under “What an Application Should Include” 

(below). 

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 

1. To develop a plan 

for an action research 

project. 

2. To implement an 

action research 

project that includes 

an assessment of 

outcomes and impact 

in Phase 2. 

1. Develop a plan that effectively addresses a 

jurisdiction’s particular circumstances as 

assessed by peer reviewers. 

2. Establish coordinating teams to implement 

plans as demonstrated by copies of executed 

agreements. 

3. If applicable, effectively execute an action 

research project. 

1. Interim and final reports 

concerning the status and outcomes 

from the action research planning 

grant, including an implementation 

plan for the research project, clearly 

relating the project to the 

jurisdictions’ circumstances. 

2. If applicable, interim and final 

reports concerning the status and 

outcomes from the action research 

project. 

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

applicants must discuss in their application their proposed methods for collecting data for 

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

(below) for additional information. 

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. 

NIJ–2011–2808

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 9 
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. 

All applicants are required to complete the following steps:

 

NIJ–2011–2808

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. 

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 10 
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 16.560, 

titled “National Institute of Justice Research, Evaluation, and Development Project 

Grants,” and the funding opportunity number is NIJ-2011-2808.

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. 

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 

NIJ–2011–2808

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 11 
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 required sign letters of commitment (see 

page 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 

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 the application must not exceed 25 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 25-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. 

NIJ–2011–2808

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 12 
Program Narrative Guidelines: 

a. Title Page (not counted against the 25-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 25-page program narrative limit) 

The 400 to 600-word abstract should provide a brief summary of the proposal, 

including the make-up of the project team and the basic approach being used to 

accomplish the project. 

c. Table of Contents and Figures (not counted against the 25-page program 

narrative limit). 

d. 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. 

• Capabilities/Competencies. 

• Impact/Outcomes and Evaluation. 

Note: Within the above sections, the narrative should address: 

• Purpose, goals, and objectives. 

• Detailed description of the jurisdiction’s current problem and the 

approach that will be used to accomplish the project objectives. See 

“Phase 1: Planning” discussion on page 6 for additional details 

regarding what the narrative should include. 

• Implications for criminal justice policy and practice in the United 

States. 

• Management plan and organization. 

e. Appendices (not counted against the 25-page program narrative limit) include: 

• Bibliography/references. 

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

pertaining to the proposed study. 

• Curriculum vitae, resumes or biographical sketches of all key 

personnel. 

• Project timeline and research calendar with expected milestones. 

• Research independence and integrity (see “Selection Criteria,” 

below). 

• 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 awards to applicant organization and 

investigator(s). 

NIJ–2011–2808

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 13 
• Signed letters of commitment from participating agencies, as 

described in the “Phase 1: Planning” section, on page 6 (above). 

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

have submitted this proposal (if applicable). 

• Other materials specified by the solicitation. 

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 must 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 must be broken down by year. 

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

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

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

support for the project. The application should identify generally any such 

contributions that the applicant expects to make, and the proposed budget should 

indicate in detail which items, if any, will be supported with non-Federal contributions. 

4. Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) 

Indirect costs are allowed only if the applicant has a federally approved indirect cost rate. 

(This requirement does not apply to units of local government.) A copy of the rate 

approval must be attached. If the applicant does not have an approved rate, one can be 

requested by contacting the applicant’s cognizant Federal agency, which will review all 

documentation and approve a rate for the applicant organization or, if the applicant’s 

accounting system permits, costs may be allocated in the direct cost categories. If DOJ 

is the cognizant Federal agency, obtain information needed to submit an indirect cost 

rate proposal at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/financialguide/part3/part3chap17.htm.

5. Tribal Authorizing Resolution (if applicable) 

If an application is being submitted by either (1) a tribe or tribal organization or (2) a third 

party proposing to provide direct services or assistance to residents on tribal lands, then 

a current authorizing resolution of the governing body of the tribal entity or other 

enactment of the tribal council or comparable governing body authorizing the inclusion of 

the tribe or tribal organization and its membership must be included with the application. 

In those instances when an organization or consortium of tribes proposes to apply for a 

NIJ–2011–2808

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 14 
grant on behalf of a tribe or multiple specific tribes, then the application must include a 

resolution from all tribes that will be included as a part of the services/assistance 

provided under the grant. A consortium of tribes for which existing consortium bylaws 

allow action without support from all tribes in the consortium (i.e., without authorizing 

resolution or other enactment of each tribal governing body) may submit a copy of its 

consortium bylaws with the application in order to satisfy this requirement. 

6. 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)—5%

Project/Program Design and Implementation (Quality and technical merit)—20%

1. Soundness of the approach to accomplish the proposed work. 

2. Feasibility of proposed project and awareness of pitfalls. 

3. Innovation and creativity (when appropriate). 

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

applicants)—45%

1. Qualifications and experience of proposed staff. 

 2. Demonstrated ability of proposed staff and organization to manage the effort. 

 3. Adequacy of the plan to manage the project, including how various tasks are subdivided 

and resources are used. 

 4. Successful past performance on NIJ grants and contracts (when applicable). 

NIJ–2011–2808

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 15 
Budget—10% 

1. Total cost of the project relative to the perceived benefit. 

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

 3. Use of existing resources to conserve costs. 

Impact/Outcomes and Evaluation (Relevance to policy and practice)—20% 

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

2. Potential for significant advances in the field. 

3. Relevance for improving the policy and practice of criminal justice and related agencies 

in the United States and improving public safety, security, and quality of life. 

4. Affordability and cost-effectiveness of proposed products, when applicable (e.g., 

purchase price and maintenance costs for a new technology or cost of training to use the 

technology). 

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 appendix 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. 

Where potential organizational financial conflicts of interest exist, in the appendix 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 

NIJ–2011–2808

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 16 
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. 

• 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 

NIJ–2011–2808

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 17 
• 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 the proposal is funded, the award recipient will be required to submit several reports and other 

materials, including: 

Final substantive report: The final report should be a comprehensive overview of the project 

and should include a detailed description of the project design, data, and methods; a full 

presentation of scientific findings, placed in the context of existing literature; a thorough 

discussion of the implications of the project findings for criminal justice practice and policy in the 

United States; etc. It must contain an abstract of no more than 600 words and an executive 

summary of 2,500 to 4,000 words. 

A draft of the final report, abstract, and executive summary must be submitted 90 days before 

the end date of the grant. The draft final report will be peer reviewed upon submission. The 

reviews will be forwarded to the principal investigator with suggestions for revisions. The author 

must then submit the revised final report, abstract, and executive summary by the end date of 

the grant. The abstract, executive summary, and final report must be submitted in electronic 

format. 

Interim reports: Grantees must submit 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. Future awards and fund drawdowns may be 

withheld if reports are delinquent. 

NIJ–2011–2808

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 18 
NIJ–2011–2808

OMB No. 1121-0329 

Approval Expires 02/28/2013 

 19 

Application Checklist 

Strategic Approaches to Sexual Assault Kit (SAK) Evidence: 

An Action Research Project 

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

Eligibility Requirement:

_____ Tribal authorizing resolution (if applicable) 

What an Application Should Include: 

_____ Application for Federal Assistance (SF–424) (see page 12) 

_____ Program Narrative (see page 12) 

_____ Appendices to the Program Narrative: (see page 13) 

_____ Bibliography/references 

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

pertaining to the proposed study 

_____ Curriculum vitae, resumes or biographical sketches of all key personnel 

_____ Project timeline and research calendar with expected milestones 

_____ Research independence and integrity 

_____ Human Subjects Protection Paperwork 

_____ Privacy Certificate 

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

investigators 

_____ Signed letters of commitment from participating agencies 

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

have submitted this proposal (if applicable) 

_____ Data Archiving Strategy 

_____ Budget Detail Worksheet (see page 14) 

_____ Budget Narrative (see page 14) 

_____ Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) (see page 14) 

_____ Tribal Authorizing Resolution (if applicable) (see page 14) 

_____ Program Narrative/Abstract Format: (see page 12) 

_____ Double-spaced 

_____ 12-point standard font 

_____ 1” standard margins 

_____ Narrative is 25 pages or less 

_____ Other Standard Forms as applicable (see page 15), including: 

 _____ Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (if applicable) 

 _____ Accounting System and Financial Capability Questionnaire (if applicable)