NOTICE 

NamUs Solicitation Changes: 

The closing date for this solicitation has been changed from March 4, 2011 to April 4, 

2011. 

Also, the following section has been inserted on page 5. 

Important Note: 

All applications to the NamUs solicitation should include in-house or contract system 

developer support for any NamUs system development or NamUs system upgrades 

that may be needed during the period of performance. 

The NamUs system is currently supported utilizing: Cisco ASA 5505 Firewall, Redhat, 

Ruby on Rails, My SQL, Apache, as well as the internet. 

Please see: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/funding/2011/namus-faqs.htm for Frequently 

Asked Questions and additional NamUs solicitation information. 
U.S. Department of Justice OMB No. 1121-0329 

Office of Justice Programs 

National Institute of Justice 

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

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

National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) Program. NamUs responds to the 

need to assist State and local law enforcement, medical examiners and coroners, allied 

professionals, and the general public with resolving missing and unidentified persons cases. 

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: 

National Missing and Unidentified Persons System 

(NamUs)
 

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include States (including territories), units of local government (including 

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

nonprofit organizations (including tribal nonprofit organizations), and institutions of higher 

education (including tribal institutions of higher education) to manage the National Missing and 

Unidentified Persons System. 

Deadline 

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

page 8.) 

All applications are due by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on April 4, 2011. (See “Deadlines: 

Registration and Application,” page 3.) 

Note: A Teleconference call for applicants and prospective applicants will be held on 

January 19, 2011, at 1:00 p.m. eastern standard time. The telephone numbers to participate are 

202–353–0880 in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area or the toll-free number 1–800–521–
 

6079. The pass code to join the teleconference is 1561.
 

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 Charles Heurich, Program 

Manager, at 202–616–9264 or by e-mail to Charles.Heurich@usdoj.gov. 

Grants.gov number assigned to announcement: NIJ–2011–2809 

SL# 000951 
 

CONTENTS 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Performance Measures...............................................................................................6 

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

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

424................................................................................................... 10 

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

Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative.................................................... 12 

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

Tribal Authorizing Resolution (if applicable) ........................................................ 12 

Additional Attachments................................................................................... 13
 

Other Standard Forms.................................................................................... 13 

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

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

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National Missing and Unidentified Persons 

System (NamUs)

CFDA 16.560 

Overview 

With this solicitation, NIJ seeks applications for funding for the National Missing and Unidentified 

Persons System (NamUs) Program. This program furthers the Department’s mission by 

responding to the need to assist State and local law enforcement, medical examiners and 

coroners, allied professionals, and the general public with resolving missing and unidentified 

persons cases. 

Currently in the United States, thousands of people are searching for those who are missing. 

NamUs was developed to provide national assistance in this search, for those living and 

deceased, in hopes of resolving these cases. NIJ seeks proposals from eligible candidates to 

partner with NIJ to administer and manage NamUs, support ongoing NamUs programs, 

continue national outreach efforts, provide national assistance, and oversee the forensic 

services provided through NamUs. 

Authorizing Legislation: Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 

(sections 201 and 202); Homeland Security Act of 2002 (section 232). 

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 April 4, 2011. 

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

Note: A Teleconference call for applicants and prospective applicants will be held on 

January 19, 2011, at 1:00 p.m. eastern standard time. The telephone numbers to participate are 

202–353–0880 in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area or the toll-free number 1–800–521–
 

6079. The pass code to join the teleconference is 1561.
 

Eligibility 

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

Program-Specific Information—National Missing and Unidentified 

Persons System (NamUs) 

Background 

NamUs was created to respond to an overwhelming need for a central reporting system for 

unidentified human remains cases. In the Spring of 2005, NIJ assembled Federal, State, and 

local law enforcement officials, medical examiners and coroners, forensic scientists, key 

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policymakers, and victim advocates for a national strategy meeting in Philadelphia called the 

"Identifying the Missing Summit." Shortly after this Summit, the work to develop NamUs began. 

NamUs is the first national online repository for missing persons and unidentified dead cases. 

NamUs brings together two distinct data bases—the Unidentified Decedent System and the 

Missing Persons System—to provide a powerful tool for creating matches between them. 

NamUs is searchable and accessible by everyone including the general public, the law 

enforcement community, medical examiners and coroners, victim advocates, and others. 

NamUs can be used to search and track cases, print missing persons posters, find resources, 

and even map out travel routes in an effort to locate a missing person. Both systems provide 

access to free DNA testing and forensic services such as anthropologists and odontologists to 

allied professionals (e.g., law enforcement agencies, medical examiners, coroners, and the 

general public as appropriate). 

In 2009 NamUs became a fully searchable system. NamUs will now search cases in the missing 

persons database against cases in the unidentified decedents database in an effort to identify 

unidentified human remains and solve missing persons cases. 

A census by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) demonstrated the magnitude of the number 

of unidentified decedents nationwide. A Special Report, entitled Medical Examiners and 

Coroners’ Offices, 2004 (available at bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/meco04.pdf) stated that 

over 4,000 unidentified human decedents are reported each year by medical examiners and 

coroners, and of those, an estimated 1,000 remain unidentified 1 year later and become “cold 

cases.” As of 2004, almost 13,500 unidentified human decedents were on record. The true 

number may actually be higher, as this census did not include unidentified human remains that 

are stored in other locations, such as law enforcement agencies. Experts refer to this national 

crisis as a “mass disaster over time” (“Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains: The Nation’s 

Silent Mass Disaster.” NIJ Journal No. 256. January 2007). (Also see the BJS Fact Sheet 

Unidentified Human Remains in the United States, 1980–2004, available at 

bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/uhrus04.pdf.) 

More detailed information about NamUs and the missing and unidentified persons databases 

can be viewed at www.namus.gov and www.namus.gov/about.htm. 

Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables 

NIJ is seeking applicants to manage the NamUs program and provide the following tasks: 

(1) Assist stakeholders within the missing persons and/or unidentified human remains 

communities by entering data, locating data, and upgrading existing data in the NamUs 

system in support of the efforts of States and units of local government to identify 

missing persons and unidentified remains. 

(2) Provide forensic services to eligible stakeholders, including but not limited to: acquisition 

and analysis of DNA, coordination/collection of family reference samples, 

anthropological and odontological review and evaluation, and fingerprint examination. 

(3) When appropriate, have the resulting DNA profiles entered into the FBI’s National DNA 

Index System using the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) version 6.0. 

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(4) Provide ongoing day-to-day management by overseeing the NamUs system, its 

personnel, and the overall program. 

(5) Provide quality assurance and quality control over the NamUs system data. 

(6) Develop and sustain national outreach and training efforts by: 

a.	 Coordinating training and outreach presentations at national and regional 

conferences. 

b.	 Making contacts within the law enforcement, medical examiners, and coroners 

communities to increase user awareness. 

(7) Track and analyze quantitative matrices to demonstrate the national impact of NamUs 

by providing summaries of the collected analytics. 

(8) Work closely with NIJ to further expand the offerings that NamUs can provide by working 

in partnership with NIJ to expand applications as NamUs continues to mature and 

expand. 

(9) Work closely with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Criminal Justice Information 

Services unit (CJIS). Through an Interagency Agreement, CJIS has agreed to house and 

maintain the information technology (IT) portion of NamUs. The details of this agreement 

have not yet been finalized. 

Important Note: 

All applications to the NamUs solicitation should include in-house or contract system developer 

support for any NamUs system development or NamUs system upgrades that may be needed 

during the period of performance. 

The NamUs system is currently supported utilizing: Cisco ASA 5505 Firewall, Redhat, Ruby on 

Rails, My SQL, Apache, as well as the internet. 

Please see: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/funding/2011/namus-faqs.htm for Frequently Asked 

Questions and additional NamUs solicitation information. 

Amount and length of awards: NIJ anticipates that up to a total of $2,500,000 may become 

available for one (1) award made through this solicitation. All NIJ awards are subject to the 

availability of appropriated funds and to any modifications or additional requirements 

that may be imposed by law. NIJ expects to make one award for FY 2011, depending on 

funds available, the number of high-quality applications, and other pertinent factors. Subject to 

the availability of future funds, between $2 million and $3 million may be made available on an 

annual basis for a 12-month supplement to an award made from this solicitation. NIJ cannot 

guarantee, however, that any such supplements will be funded. Such additional funding 

depends on, among other things, NIJ resources, strategic priorities, and satisfactory completion 

of each phase, stage, or task associated with the award. 

Applicants should be aware that the total period of an award, including one that receives 

additional funding, ordinarily will not exceed 3 years. 

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

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

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

What will not be funded: 

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

these items if they are necessary to manage the program. 

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

2. Vehicles. 

3. Construction. 

4. Renovation. 

5. Rental costs for space. 

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 2011 salary table for SES employees is available at 

www.opm.gov/oca/11tables/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 Assistant Attorney General of the Office of Justice Programs. 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. 

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: 

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Objective Performance Measure(s) Data Grantee Provides 

To manage NamUs in 

partnership with NIJ to 

identify, review, and 

enter missing and 

unidentified persons 

cases into the NamUs 

system with relevant 

stakeholders; to 

maximize the use of 

forensic services to 

assist in solving these 

cases; and to provide 

national outreach to 

maximize potential user 

awareness. 

1. Percent increase in the number of 

missing and unidentified persons 

cases entered into the NamUs 

system. 

2. Percent increase in the number of 

users registered in the NamUs 

system. 

3. Percent of cases where forensic 

service information 

(anthropology, dental, DNA, and 

fingerprints) was entered into the 

system. 

4. Percent increase in the number of 

DNA profiles and/or family 

reference samples entered into 

CODIS 6.0. 

5. Percent of cases resolved by use 

of the NamUs system. 

1a. The number of new missing 

persons cases entered into 

NamUs. 

1b. Number of existing missing 

persons cases in NamUs. 

1c. The number of new unidentified 

persons cases entered into NamUs. 

1d. Number of existing unidentified 

persons cases in NamUs. 

2a. Number of new users registered 

in the NamUs system. 

2b. Number of users currently 

registered in the NamUs system. 

3a. The number of cases where 

forensic service information 

(anthropology, dental, DNA, and 

fingerprints) was utilized and 

entered into the NamUs system. 

3b. Number of cases currently 

entered into the system. 

4a. The number of new DNA profiles 

and/or family reference samples 

entered into CODIS 6.0. 

4b. Number of cases currently 

entered into CODIS 6.0. 

5a. The number of cases resolved 

due to NamUs assistance. 

5b. Number of cases reviewed. 

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

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

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

(below) for additional information. 

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” for purposes of applicable DOJ human subjects protections. 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.” 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. 

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Research, for the purposes of human subjects protections for 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 “Other Requirements for OJP Applications” Web page 

(www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/other_requirements.htm). Applicants whose proposals may involve 

a research or statistical component also should review the “Confidentiality” section on that Web 

page. 

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. 

Reports regarding subawards will be made through the FFATA Subaward Reporting System 

(FSRS), found at www.fsrs.gov. 

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: 

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. 

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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–2011–2809. 

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 

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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, and resumes/curriculum vitae of 

key personnel 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 should 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. 

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Program Narrative Guidelines: 

a.	 Title Page 

b.	 Project Abstract (not counted against the 25-page program narrative limit and 

not to exceed 600 words). 

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. 

•	 Plan for Collecting the Data Required for This Solicitation’s 

Performance Measures. Note: Submission of performance measures 

data is not required for the application. Performance measures are 

included as an alert that successful applicants will be required to 

submit specific data to NIJ as part of their reporting requirements. For 

the application, the applicant should indicate an understanding of 

these requirements and discuss how the applicant will gather the 

required data, should the applicant receive funding. 

• Dissemination Strategy. 

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

•	 Purpose, goals, and objectives. 

•	 Review of relevant literature. 

•	 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 project. 

•	 Curriculum vitae, resumes or biographical sketches of key personnel. 

•	 Project timeline and calendar with expected milestones. 

•	 Human Subjects Protection Paperwork including Institutional Review 

Board (IRB) documentation and forms (see 

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

•	 Privacy Certificate (for further guidance go to 

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

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

•	 Letters of cooperation/support or administrative agreements from 

organizations collaborating in the project, (if applicable). 

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

proposal has been submitted (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 should be 

included. 

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

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

b. Budget Narrative 

The Budget Narrative should thoroughly and clearly describe every category of 

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

mathematically sound and correspond with the information and figures provided in 

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

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

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

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

Budget Narrative should be broken down by year. 

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

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

feasible 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 should 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 should be included with the 

application. In those instances when an organization or consortium of tribes proposes to 

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apply for a grant on behalf of a tribe or multiple specific tribes, then the application 

should 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 lieu of tribal resolutions. 

6.	 Additional Attachments 

Provide an organizational chart illustrating the structure of key personnel and other 

NamUs project support personnel. 

Provide a narrative of the roles and responsibilities of the personnel included in the 

organizational chart as outlined above. 

7. 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)—10% 

Applicants should include appropriate citations and other information to demonstrate an 

understanding of the problem regarding missing and unidentified persons in the United 

States and the expected impact of NamUs. 

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

1. Awareness of the state of current capabilities, research, or technology. 

2. Soundness of methods and analytic and technical approach. 

3. Feasibility of proposed project and awareness of pitfalls. 

4. Innovation and creativity (when appropriate). 

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

Budget—20% 

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. 

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). 

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 researchers and technologists 

collaborate with practitioners and policymakers. The application may include letters showing 

support from practitioners, but they carry less weight than clear evidence of the applicant’s 

understanding of how policymakers and practitioners can best use and benefit from the 

proposed work. While a partnership may affect State or local activities, it should also have 

broader implications for other communities nationwide. 

Dissemination Strategy—15% 

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

including researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. 

2. Suggestions for print and electronic products that NIJ should consider developing for 

practitioners and policymakers. 

3. If applicable, a clear strategy leading to the adoption into practice of any equipment or 

software. 

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 

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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. 

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

grant award decisions will be made by the Assistant Attorney General (AAG), 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. 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 

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• Criminal Penalty for False Statements 

• Compliance with Office of Justice Programs Financial Guide 

• Suspension or Termination of Funding 

• Nonprofit Organizations 

• For-profit Organizations 

• Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) 

• Rights in Intellectual Property 

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

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

• Active CCR Registration 

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

materials, including 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. 

Interim reports: Grantees must submit weekly data reports (with content agreed upon by NIJ 

Program Office) 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 

National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
 

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

What an Application Should Include: 

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

_____ Program Narrative (see page 10) 

_____ Appendices to the Program Narrative (see page 11) 

_____ Bibliography/references 

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

pertaining to the proposed project 

_____ Curriculum vitae, resumes or biographical sketches of key personnel 

_____ Project timeline and calendar with expected milestones 

_____ Human Subjects Protection Paperwork 

_____ Privacy Certificate 

_____ 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) 

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

proposal has been submitted (if applicable) 

_____ Budget Detail Worksheet (see page 12) 

_____ Budget Narrative (see page 12) 

_____ Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) (see page 12) 

_____ Tribal Authorizing Resolution (if applicable) (see page 12) 

_____ Program Narrative/Abstract Format (see page 10) 

_____ Double-spaced 

_____ 12-point standard font 

_____ 1” standard margins 

_____ Narrative is 25 pages or less 

_____ Additional Attachments (see page 13) 

Organizational chart illustrating the structure of key personnel and other 

NamUs project support personnel. 

_____ Narrative of the roles and responsibilities of the personnel included in the 

organizational chart as outlined above. 

_____ Other Standard Forms as applicable (see page 13), including: 

_____ Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (if applicable) 

_____ Accounting System and Financial Capability Questionnaire (if applicable) 

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