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 for validation 

projects resulting in the implementation of novel DNA technologies for forensic application. This 

solicitation focuses on the validation of technologies that result in faster, more robust, more 

informative, less costly, or less labor-intensive identification, collection, preservation, and/or 

analysis of biological evidence. This program furthers the Department’s mission by facilitating 

the implementation of novel technologies to increase the capacity of the DNA laboratories of 

States and units of local government. These improvements are critical to preventing future DNA 

backlogs and to helping the criminal justice system realize the full potential of DNA technology. 

Solicitation: 

Forensic DNA Unit Efficiency 

Improvement Program 

Eligibility 

(See “Eligibility,” page 3.) 

Deadline 

Registration with OJP’s Grant Management System (GMS) is required prior to application 

submission. (See “How to Apply,” page 8.) 

All applications are due by 11:45 p.m. eastern time on May 14, 2010. 

(See “Deadlines: Registration and Application,” page 4.) 

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 

GMS.HelpDesk@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 Mark S. Nelson, Senior 

Program Manager, at 202–616–1960 or by e-mail to Mark.S.Nelson@usdoj.gov, or Minh 

Nguyen, Program Manager, at 202–305–2664 or by e-mail to Minh.Nguyen@usdoj.gov. 

SL# 000906 
CONTENTS 

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

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

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

Specific Information .......................................................................................................... 4 

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

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

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

Standard Form 424 ............................................................................................. 10 

Program Narrative ............................................................................................... 10 

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

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) ...................................................... 12 

Program-Specific Attachment ............................................................................. 12 

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

Selection Criteria ............................................................................................................. 13 

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

Additional Requirements ................................................................................................. 15 

Application Checklist ....................................................................................................... 17 

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Forensic DNA Unit Efficiency Improvement 

Program 

CFDA No. 16.741 

Overview 

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is the research, development, and evaluation agency of 

the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and a component of the Office of Justice Programs (OJP). 

NIJ provides objective, independent, evidence-based knowledge and tools to enhance the 

administration of justice and public safety. NIJ solicits applications to inform its search for the 

knowledge and tools to guide policy and practice. 

The goal of NIJ’s Forensic DNA Unit Efficiency Improvement Program is to identify and facilitate 

implementation of novel technologies resulting from ongoing research and development projects 

in the field of forensic DNA, as well as in other fields such as molecular biology, genetics, and 

biotechnology that may improve the capacity and/or efficiency of forensic DNA laboratories. 

Specifically, this program is designed to fund the incorporation of such novel technologies, 

through validation studies, into State and local government forensic laboratories that are 

currently performing DNA analysis. Priority consideration will be given to proposals that focus on 

technologies developed as a result of NIJ’s Forensic DNA Research and Development 

Program. Additionally, technologies intended to improve the efficiency of analyzing DNA 

samples will be given priority consideration over those that improve the identification, collection, 

and/or preservation of biological evidence/samples. 

Authorizing Legislation: Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2010 (Public Law 111-

117).

Deadlines: Registration and Application 

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

eastern time on May 14, 2010, and the deadline for applying for funding under this 

announcement is 11:45 p.m. eastern time on May 14, 2010. Please see the “How to Apply” 

section, page 8, for more details. 

Eligibility 

States1

 and units of local government with existing crime laboratories that conduct DNA 

analysis that undergo external audits not less than once every 2 years to demonstrate 

compliance with DNA Quality Assurance Standards established by the Director of the Fe

Bureau of Investigation, and are accredited by a nonprofit professional association of person

actively involved in forensic science that is nationally recognized within the forensic science 

deral 

s 

ommunity. 

 

c

1

 For purposes of this announcement, the term “State” includes the District of Columbia, the 

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of 

the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands. 

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Specific Information—Forensic DNA Unit Efficiency 

Improvement

Award Purposes, Goals and Objectives, and Deliverables 

The purpose of the FY 2010 Forensic DNA Unit Efficiency Improvement Program is to provide 

Federal assistance to States and units of local government to perform validation studies with the 

objective of implementing novel, capacity-enhancing technologies into their DNA laboratories. 

Prior to using novel analysis techniques on forensic casework or DNA databasing samples, 

DNA laboratories are required by the Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic DNA Testing 

Laboratories2

 and/or the Quality Assurance Standards for DNA Databasing Laboratories3 (both 

quality assurance documents will be referred to hereafter as QAS) established by the Director of 

the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to use validated methods and procedures for DNA 

analyses. In order to validate methods and procedures, two types of validation studies must be 

performed: 

• Developmental validation is the acquisition of test data and determination of conditions 

and limitations of a new or novel DNA methodology for use on samples. 

• Internal validation is an accumulation of test data within the laboratory to demonstrate 

that established methods and procedures perform as expected in the laboratory. 

 

All developmental validation studies performed with funds awarded under this program must 

comply with Standard 8.2 of the QAS: 

STANDARD 8.2 Developmental validation shall precede the use of a novel methodology for 

[forensic DNA analysis or DNA database analysis, as applicable]. 

8.2.1 Developmental validation studies shall include, where applicable, characterization 

of the genetic marker, species specificity, sensitivity studies, stability studies, 

reproducibility, [case-type or database-type] samples, population studies, mixture 

studies, precision and accuracy studies, and PCR-based studies. PCR-based studies 

include reaction conditions, assessment of differential and preferential amplification, 

effects of multiplexing, assessment of appropriate controls, and product detection 

studies. All validation studies shall be documented. 

8.2.2 Peer-reviewed publication of the underlying scientific principle(s) of a technology 

shall be required. 

Applicants proposing projects for internal validation of existing validated technologies that are 

novel to the analysis of forensic samples must provide sufficient justification that developmental 

validation studies previously performed in other fields sufficiently address forensic applications. 

All internal validation studies performed with funds awarded under this program must comply 

with Standard 8.3 of the QAS: 

 

2

 Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic DNA Testing Laboratories; version effective July 1, 2009 

(http://www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/html/codis5.htm). 3

 Quality Assurance Standards for DNA Databasing Laboratories; version effective July 1, 2009 

(http://www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/html/codis5.htm).

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STANDARD 8.3 Except as provided in Standard 8.3.1.1, internal validation of all manual and 

robotic methods shall be conducted by each laboratory and reviewed and approved by the 

laboratory’s technical leader prior to using a procedure for [forensic/database, as applicable] 

applications. 

8.3.1 Internal validation studies... shall include as applicable: [known and non-probative 

evidence samples or mock evidence samples or database-type samples], reproducibility 

and precision, sensitivity and stochastic studies, mixture studies [for forensic DNA 

testing laboratories only], and contamination assessment. Internal validation studies 

shall be documented and summarized. The technical leader shall approve the internal 

validation studies. 

8.3.1.1 Internal validation data may be shared by all locations in a multi-laboratory 

system. Each laboratory in a multi-laboratory system shall complete, document and 

maintain applicable precision, sensitivity, and contamination assessment studies. The 

summary of the validation data shall be available at each site. 

8.3.2 Internal validation shall define quality assurance parameters and interpretation 

guidelines, including as applicable, guidelines for mixture interpretation [for forensic DNA 

testing laboratories only]. 

8.3.3 A complete change of detection platform or test kit (or laboratory assembled 

equivalent) shall require internal validation studies. 

In addition to applicable sections of the QAS, all validation studies should be performed in 

accordance with the FBI’s Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM), 

Revised Validation Guidelines. These revised guidelines were published in Forensic Science 

Communications Volume 6 – Number 3 in July 2004 and are available at the FBI’s website: 

http://www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/fsc/backissu/july2004/standards/2004_03_standards02.htm

Priority consideration will be given to proposals that focus on technologies developed as a result 

of NIJ’s Forensic DNA Research and Development Program. A list of research articles and 

reports from NIJ-funded research can be found at http://static.dna.gov/tables/articles_all.htm, 

and general information on projects funded under NIJ’s Forensic DNA Research and 

Development Program can be found at http://www.dna.gov/research/. Information on NIJ-funded 

research and development projects conducted by the National Institute of Standards and 

Technology can be found at the website 

http://www.cstl.nist.gov/biotech/strbase/NIJprojects.htm. Applicable technologies developed 

through other initiatives, such as research and development in academia or in the private 

sector, and technologies established in other industries (e.g., clinical laboratory testing) that 

may be readily transferred to DNA laboratories, may also be considered. 

Additionally, technologies that will improve the efficiency of analysis of forensic DNA samples 

will be given priority consideration over those that improve the identification, collection and/or 

preservation of biological evidence. 

The goal of the program is to facilitate the evaluation and implementation of novel technologies 

that will improve the capacity and efficiency of the applicant’s DNA laboratories. Applicants are 

expected to publish validation studies and standard operating procedures resulting from 

successful projects. Such publications will assist other State and units of local government in 

implementing similar novel technologies to increase their efficiency and capacity. 

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Award Period

Any awards will start on the same date of October 1, 2010. In general, NIJ will limit its awards 

under this program to a maximum period of 18 months after the start of the award (from October 

1, 2010 to March 31, 2012). Requests for no-cost extensions of award periods submitted 

through the Grants Management System will, if necessary, be considered. Applicants should be 

aware, however, that the total period of an award, including one that receives a project period 

extension(s), ordinarily will not exceed 3 years. 

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: 

Funds awarded through this program may not be used to validate existing commercial kits, 

robotic platforms, or automation schemes that are already in use in the forensic DNA 

community; rather, this program seeks to fund novel technologies that have not yet been widely 

implemented in forensic DNA testing laboratories or DNA databasing laboratories. Funding for 

general validation studies to implement existing (non-novel) technologies may be available 

through NIJ’s Forensic DNA Backlog Reduction Program. 

This program is not intended to supplement awards made under the Forensic DNA Backlog 

Reduction Program in the current or previous fiscal years and, in general, funding will not be 

provided for: 

1. Handling, screening, and/or analysis of actual forensic DNA casework or convicted 

offender and/or arrestee samples.* 

2. Personnel costs (employee and contract labor, including overtime) to handle, screen, or 

analyze forensic DNA casework or convicted offender and/or arrestee samples.* 

3. Laboratory instruments, including robotic workstations, hardware, software, or laboratory 

consumables as standalone requests for which funding is available through another 

source.* 

4. Continuing education costs and associated travel costs. 

5. Accreditation costs and fees. 

*These activities may be considered for funding if they are required for validation studies and/or 

implementation of the proposed, novel technology. 

Amount and length of awards: Total funding for this solicitation and the number of awards 

made will depend on the availability of funds, the quality of the applications, and other pertinent 

factors. All awards are subject to the availability of appropriated funds and to any 

modifications or additional requirements that may be imposed by law. 

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.” 

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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 percent 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. 

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. Applicants who receive funding under this 

solicitation are required 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 Measures Data Grantee Provides 

Validation and/or implementation of 

novel tools and technologies that 

improve DNA analysis capacity of 

State and local government crime 

laboratories that conduct DNA 

analysis. 

1. Demonstrated proof that the 

scope of the project did not 

deviate from the funded proposal 

or any subsequent 

modification(s) by NIJ to the 

scope; this performance measure 

is intended to substantiate 

relevance to the needs of the 

field. 

2. Number of implemented 

technologies, if applicable. 

3. Number of NIJ final grant reports, 

NIJ research documents, grantee 

research documents, and 

grantee validation studies 

published, if applicable. 

1. A final report that includes: (1) an 

overview of the project, (2) a 

detailed description of the project 

design, data, and methods; (3) a 

comprehensive discussion of the 

scientific findings, if applicable, 

and (4) a clear and wellarticulated discussion of the 

potential implications of the 

findings for criminal justice 

practice and policy in the United 

States. 

2. Description of implemented 

technologies, If applicable. 

3. Citation to all other 

reports/documents in addition to 

the final report, described, above. 

If applicable, publications, galley 

proofs of pending publications, or 

manuscripts ready for publication 

for technologies that have been 

successfully validated.

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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 

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 Forensic DNA Unit Efficiency Improvement 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 

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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 Consistent with 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 

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 

This section describes what an application is expected to 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 

nevertheless be made to make an award, 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 applications that are not responsive to the scope of 

the solicitation, or do not include a Program Narrative, Budget Detail Worksheet, Budget 

Narrative, and Resumes/Curriculum Vitae of Key Personnel will not proceed to peer review and 

will not 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 

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Understanding,” “Resumes”) for all attachments. OJP recommends that 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. 

• Item 8: Type of Application—“New.” 

• Item 9: Name of Federal Agency—“National Institute of Justice.” 

• Item 10: Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)—For this Program, the 

number is 16.741. 

• Item 11: Descriptive Title of Applicant’s Project—“FY 2010 Forensic DNA Unit 

Efficiency Improvement Program—[YOUR AGENCY NAME].” 

• Item 13: Proposed Project Dates—For this program, the proposed project dates 

should be “October 1, 2010 to March 31, 2012.” 

• Item 16: Is Application Subject to Review by State Executive Order 12372 

Process?—A listing of States that have participated in this process can be found at 

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.

 Program Narrative 

 The Program Narrative includes: 

 a. Cover page 

 b. Abstract (not to exceed 600 words). 

 c. Table of contents. 

 d. Main body, which includes: 

 • Purpose, goals, and objectives. 

 • Review of relevant literature. 

o If an applicant does not intend to perform one or more 

 developmental validation studies on the premise that this work 

 has been previously completed, the applicant must provide 

 appropriate citations for the developmental validation work that 

 has been completed by the relevant scientific community for the 

 novel technology they are interested in pursuing. 

o If the proposed novel method or process is the result of NIJ 

funded research and development, the applicant must include 

appropriate citations including NIJ award numbers. 

• Project design and methods including the plan for data analysis, if 

applicable. At a minimum, this should include: 

o A description of each validation study that will be performed, and 

o The proposed number and type of samples for each validation 

study. 

o Applicants should demonstrate an appreciation of and general 

familiarity with the technologies currently used for analyzing DNA 

evidence. Applicants also should demonstrate an appreciation of 

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the costs and the training required to implement and maintain the 

proposed technology. 

Note: NIJ encourages applicants to seek guidance from, or 

partner with, appropriate research laboratories; however, if 

developmental validation studies are performed outside of a 

grantee’s DNA laboratory, subsequent internal validation studies 

must also be performed as part of the funded project. 

• 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. 

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

 • Bibliography/References (if applicable). 

 • List of key personnel. 

 • Resumes of key personnel. 

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

• Letters of cooperation/support or administrative agreements from 

organizations collaborating in the project (if applicable). 

• Chart for timeline or milestones. 

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

have submitted this proposal (if applicable). 

 • Other materials specified by the solicitation. 

The program narrative section of your application is expected not to exceed 15 doublespaced 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 pages for the 

narrative section. 

 Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative

A sample Budget Detail Worksheet can be found at 

www.ojp.gov/funding/forms/budget_detail.pdf. If you submit a different format, you must 

include the budget categories as listed in the sample budget worksheet. NIJ encourages 

the use of a Microsoft Excel budget detail worksheet template that is available from the 

program managers listed on page 2 of this solicitation. 

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

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

The Budget Narrative is a plain-language description of each of the proposed 

expenditures listed in the Budget Detail Worksheet. It should clearly explain the purpose 

and reason for all expenditures in the budget. There should be no ambiguities about any 

budget item. The narrative also should include details for calculated rates or other 

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figures. As with the Budget Detail Worksheet, the Budget Narrative must be broken 

down on a year-by-year basis. 

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. 

 Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable)

Applicants that do not have a federally negotiated indirect cost rate and wish to establish 

one can submit a proposal to their “cognizant” Federal agency. Generally, the cognizant 

Federal agency is the agency that provides the preponderance of direct Federal funding. 

This can be determined by reviewing an organization’s schedule of Federal financial 

assistance. If DOJ is your cognizant Federal agency, obtain information needed to 

submit an indirect cost rate proposal at 

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/financialguide/part3/part3chap17.htm.

Program-Specific Attachment

Submit an electronic (scanned) copy of the current accreditation certificate of the 

applicant’s DNA laboratory. 

Other Standard Forms 

Additional forms that may be required in connection with an award 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. 

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Selection Criteria 

Successful applicants must demonstrate the following: 

Statement of the Problem (Understanding of the problem and its importance)—15% 

Include appropriate citations and other information to demonstrate an understanding of the 

problem, both within the areas affected by the applicant’s laboratory and throughout the 

Nation’s forensic community. This statement should also address the importance of the 

problem and include a discussion on the need for resolution for the overall forensic 

community. 

Project/Program Design and Implementation (Quality and technical merit)—30%

1. Awareness of the state of current research or technology being proposed for validation. 

2. Soundness of methodology and analytic and technical approach. 

3. Feasibility of proposed project and awareness of pitfalls. 

4. Compliance of validation studies with QAS and SWGDAM Revised Validation 

Guidelines. This should include: 

• Adequate justification for any studies that will not be performed by the applicant’s 

laboratory, and 

• If developmental validation studies were/will be performed outside of the 

applicant’s DNA laboratory, clearly defined plan for the completion of subsequent 

internal validation studies required for implementation. 

5. Innovation and creativity (when appropriate). 

6. If applicable, references to NIJ award numbers to demonstrate that proposed novel 

methods are based on previous NIJ funded research and development. 

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

applicants)—20%

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. Demonstrated appreciation of and general familiarity with the technologies currently 

used for analyzing DNA evidence. 

 5. Successful past performance on NIJ grants and contracts. 

Budget—15%

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)—15% 

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

2. Potential for significant advances in the field; specifically, increasing capacity and 

efficiencies of DNA forensic unit operations. 

3. Potential for improvement to the efficiency of DNA sample analyses (versus 

improvements to the identification, collection, and/or preservation of biological 

evidence/samples.) 

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4. 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. 

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

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

the technology). 

6. Perceived potential for implementation of a new technology (when applicable). 

Relevance of the project for policy and practice in the United States

Higher quality applications clearly explain the practical implications of the project. They 

connect technical expertise with criminal justice policy and practice. To ensure that the 

project has strong relevance for policy and practice, some applicants may collaborate with 

researchers and other external organizations. You may include letters showing support from 

these researchers or external organizations, but they carry less weight than clear evidence 

that you understand why the field would benefit from the work and how beneficiaries would 

use it. While a partnership may affect State or local activities, it should also have broader 

implications for others across the country. 

Dissemination Strategy—5%

1. Well-defined plan for the grant recipient to disseminate results to appropriate audiences, 

including researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. 

 2. Demonstration of ability, or past performance, to publish scientific research. 

 3. Suggestions for print and electronic products NIJ might develop for practitioners and 

policymakers. 

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 

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 be reviewing the applications submitted under this solicitation that meet 

basic minimum requirements. NIJ will use external peer reviewers 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. 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, 

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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. 

Absent explicit statutory authorization or written delegation of authority to the contrary, all final 

grant award decisions will be made by the Director of the National Institute of Justice, who may 

also 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. 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 

• 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 

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• 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 your proposal is funded, you 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 applicable scientific findings (e.g., characterization of genetic markers, species 

specificity, stability, reproducibility, population studies, precision and accuracy, PCR-based 

procedures, results of testing on known and nonprobative evidence samples as well as casetype samples, match criteria, sensitivity and stochastic studies, mixture studies, contamination); 

requirements for implementation (e.g., a description of the training and qualifying test 

requirements for implementation); 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 appropriate project key personnel 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 may 

be submitted in electronic formats. 

For program evaluation studies, the final report should include a section on measuring program 

performance. This section should outline the measures used to evaluate program effectiveness, 

modifications made to those measures as a result of the evaluation, and recommendations 

regarding these and other potential performance measures for similar programs. (This 

information will be particularly valuable to NIJ and other Federal program agencies in 

implementing performance measures for federally funded criminal justice programs.) 

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. 

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Application Checklist 

Forensic DNA Unit Efficiency Improvement Program 

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

Application Components: 

_____ Program Narrative (see pages 10–11 and “Selection Criteria,” pages 13–14) 

_____ Appendices to the Program Narrative 

_____ Bibliography/References (if applicable) 

_____ List of key personnel 

_____ Resumes of key personnel 

_____ List of previous and current NIJ awards to applicant organization 

_____ Letters of cooperation/support or administrative agreements from organizations 

collaborating in the project (if applicable) 

_____ Chart for timeline or milestones 

_____ Human Subjects Protection Paperwork 

_____ Privacy Certificate 

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

submitted this proposal (if applicable) 

_____ Budget Narrative 

_____ Budget Detail Worksheet 

_____ Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) 

Program Narrative/Abstract Format:

_____ Double-spaced 

_____ 12-point standard font 

_____ 1” standard margins 

Other: 

_____ Standard Form 424 

_____ DUNS number 

_____ Program-Specific Attachment (see page 12): 

_____ Proof of accreditation certificate (see page 12) 

_____ Other Standard Forms as applicable (see page 12), including 

_____ Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (if applicable)