Notices regarding the solicitation “Research and Development in

Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes””

January 25, 2017: A recorded webinar has been posted. To assist applicants in completing their 

proposals, NIJ held a webinar related to this solicitation. The recording of the webinar has been 

posted at https://nij.gov/multimedia/Pages/video-fy17-forensic-research-and-developmentsolicitation-webinar.aspx.

January 11, 2017: The operational requirements referenced in this solicitation have been

updated. The updated operational requirements are available at

http://www.nij.gov/topics/forensics/pages/forensic-operational-requirements.aspx.

The original solicitation document begins on the next page.
U.S. Department of Justice OMB No. 1121-0329

Office of Justice Programs Approval Expires 12/31/2018

National Institute of Justice

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

Justice (NIJ) is seeking applications for funding of basic or applied research and development in 

forensic science for criminal justice purposes. This program furthers the Department’s mission 

by sponsoring research to provide objective, independent, evidence-based knowledge and tools 

to meet the challenges of criminal justice, particularly at the state and local levels. NIJ’s 

Forensic Science Technology Working Group (TWG) assists in identifying and prioritizing 

operational needs and requirements of the field. The forensic science needs discussed at the 

FY 2015 TWG meeting may be found on NIJ.gov and are intended to facilitate proposal 

development. 

Research and Development in Forensic Science 

for Criminal Justice Purposes

Applications Due: February 28, 2017

Eligibility

In general, NIJ is authorized to make grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative 

agreements with, states (including territories), units of local government, federally recognized 

Indian tribal governments that perform law enforcement functions (as determined by the 

Secretary of the Interior), nonprofit and for-profit organizations (including tribal nonprofit and forprofit organizations), institutions of higher education (including tribal institutions of higher 

education), and certain qualified individuals. Federal agencies are eligible to apply. (Any award 

made to a federal agency will be made as an interagency reimbursable agreement). For-profit 

organizations must agree to forgo any profit or management fee. Foreign governments, foreign 

organizations, and foreign colleges and universities are not eligible to apply.

NIJ welcomes applications under which two or more entities would carry out the federal award; 

however, only one entity may be the applicant. Any others must be proposed as subrecipients 

(“subgrantees”).1 The applicant must be the entity that would have primary responsibility for 

carrying out the award, including administering funding and managing the entire research, 

including monitoring and appropriately managing any subawards (“subgrants”).

Under this solicitation, any particular applicant entity may submit more than one application, as 

long as each application proposes a different project in response to the solicitation. Also, an 

entity may be proposed as a subrecipient (“subgrantee”) in more than one application.

NIJ may elect to fund applications submitted under this FY 2017 solicitation in future fiscal 

years, dependent on, among other considerations, the merit of the applications and on the 

availability of appropriations.

 

1 For additional information on subawards, see "Budget and Associated Documentation" under Section D. Application 

and Submission Information. 
NIJ-2017-11080

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Deadline

Applicants must register with Grants.gov prior to submitting an application. All applications are 

due by 11: 59 p.m. eastern time on February 28, 2017.

To be considered timely, an application must be submitted by the application deadline using 

Grants.gov, and the applicant must have received a validation message from Grants.gov that 

indicates successful and timely submission. OJP urges applicants to submit applications at least 

72 hours prior to the application due date, in order to allow time for the applicant to receive 

validation messages or rejection notifications from Grants.gov, and to correct in a timely fashion 

any problems that may have caused a rejection notification.

OJP encourages all applicants to read this Important Notice: Applying for Grants in Grants.gov. 

For additional information, see How to Apply in Section D. Application and Submission 

Information. 

Contact Information

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

Support Hotline at 800-518-4726 or 606-545-5035, or via email to support@grants.gov. The

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

federal holidays. 

An applicant that experiences unforeseen Grants.gov technical issues beyond its control that 

prevent it from submitting its application by the deadline may email the NIJ contact identified 

below within 24 hours after the application deadline to request approval to submit its 

application. Additional information on reporting technical issues appears under “Experiencing 

Unforeseen Grants.gov Technical Issues” in the How to Apply section.

For assistance with any other requirements of this solicitation, contact the National Criminal 

Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) Response Center: toll-free at 1-800-851-3420; via TTY at 

301-240-6310 (hearing impaired only); email grants@ncjrs.gov; fax to 301-240-5830; or web 

chat at https://webcontact.ncjrs.gov/ncjchat/chat.jsp. The NCJRS Response Center hours of 

operation are 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. eastern time, Monday through Friday, and 10:00 a.m. to 

8:00 p.m. eastern time on the solicitation close date. General information on applying for NIJ 

awards can be found at www.nij.gov/funding/Pages/welcome.aspx. Answers to frequently asked 

questions that may assist applicants are posted at www.nij.gov/funding/Pages/faqs.aspx. 

Grants.gov number assigned to this announcement: NIJ-2017-11080

Release date: November 18, 2016
NIJ-2017-11080

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Contents

A. Program Description.............................................................................................................. 4

Overview ................................................................................................................................ 4

Program-Specific Information ................................................................................................. 4

Goals, Objectives, Deliverables, and Expected Scholarly Products ........................................ 6

B. Federal Award Information....................................................................................................11

Type of Award .......................................................................................................................12

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls........................................................12

Budget Information ................................................................................................................13

Cost Sharing or Match Requirement......................................................................................14

Pre-Agreement Cost..............................................................................................................14

Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation; Waiver...............................14

Prior Approval, Planning, and Reporting of Conference/Meeting/Training Costs ...................15

Costs Associated with Language Assistance (if applicable)...................................................15

C. Eligibility Information.............................................................................................................15

D. Application and Submission Information...............................................................................16

What an Application Should Include ......................................................................................16

How to Apply .........................................................................................................................34

E. Application Review Information.............................................................................................37

Review Criteria ......................................................................................................................37

Review Process.....................................................................................................................39

F. Federal Award Administration Information ............................................................................41

Federal Award Notices ..........................................................................................................41

Administrative, National Policy, and other Legal Requirements .............................................41

General Information About Post-Federal Award Reporting Requirements .............................42

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s) ...................................................................................43

H. Other Information..................................................................................................................43

Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552 and 5 U.S.C. 552a) ....................43

Provide Feedback to OJP......................................................................................................44

Application Checklist .............................................................................................................45
NIJ-2017-11080

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Research and Development in Forensic Science 

for Criminal Justice Purposes

(CFDA No. 16.560) 

A. Program Description

Overview

With this solicitation, NIJ seeks proposals for basic or applied research and development 

projects. An NIJ forensic science research and development grant supports a discrete, 

specified, circumscribed project that will: (1) increase the body of knowledge to guide and inform 

forensic science policy and practice, or (2) lead to the production of useful material(s), device(s), 

system(s), or method(s) that have the potential for forensic application. The intent of this 

program is to direct the findings of basic scientific research; research and development in 

broader scientific fields applicable to forensic science; and ongoing forensic science research 

toward the development of highly-discriminating, accurate, reliable, cost-effective, and rapid 

methods for the identification, analysis, and interpretation of physical evidence for criminal 

justice purposes. The forensic science operational needs discussed at NIJ’s FY 2015 Forensic 

Science TWG meeting may be found on NIJ.gov, and are intended to assist in proposal 

development. Additional research needs of the forensic science community can be found at the 

Organization of Scientific Area Committees website. 

Statutory Authority: Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 

(sections 201 and 202); Homeland Security Act of 2002 (sections 231-233); 28 U.S.C. 530C. 

Program-Specific Information

This solicitation seeks applications for funding to support basic or applied research and 

development forensic science projects. For the purposes of this solicitation, the following 

definitions apply:

• Forensic—Of, relating to, or used in legal proceedings or argumentation.2

• Science—The observation, identification, description, experimental investigations, and 

theoretical explanation of natural phenomena.3

• Basic research—A systematic study directed toward fuller knowledge or understanding 

of the fundamental aspects of phenomena and of observable facts without specific 

applications towards processes or products in mind. Basic research may include 

activities with broad applications in mind.4 (For the purposes of this solicitation, basic 

research must include activities with broad application to forensic sciences related to the 

criminal justice system.)

 

2 The definition of “forensic” is taken from Webster’s II New Riverside University Dictionary. 3 The definition of “science” is taken from Webster’s II New Riverside University Dictionary. 4 Definition is taken from: OMB Circular A–11, Preparation, Submission, and Execution of the Budget, Section 84—

Character Classification (Schedule C).
NIJ-2017-11080

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• Applied research—A systematic study to gain knowledge or understanding necessary 

to determine the means by which a recognized and specific need may be met.5 (For the 

purposes of this solicitation, the specific need(s) being met must relate to the 

improvement of forensic science services for criminal justice purposes.)

• Development—The systematic application of knowledge or understanding, directed 

toward the production of useful materials, devices, and systems or methods, including 

design, development, and improvement of prototypes and new processes to meet 

specific requirements.6 (For the purposes of this solicitation, the development of forensic 

technologies and methods should assist in answering questions posed in criminal 

investigations or increase crime laboratory capacity to meet the demand for forensic 

science services.)

Proposals are expected to identify the forensic science discipline(s) intended to benefit from the 

project. The forensic science discipline(s) should be listed in the keywords on the title 

page. Some of the forensic science disciplines are listed below (where available, links have also 

been provided to sites containing additional information).

• DNA and forensic biology (www.cstl.nist.gov/strbase, www.swgdam.org, 

https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensic-science/biologydna-scientific-area-committee).

• Forensic crime scene analysis (https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensic-science/crimescenedeath-investigation-scientific-area-committee, https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensicscience/crime-scene-investigation-subcommittee).

• Forensic anthropology and forensic odontology (www.swganth.org, 

https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensic-science/anthropology-subcommittee, 

https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensic-science/odontology-subcommittee).

• Bloodstain pattern analysis (http://www.swgstain.org/, 

https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensic-science/bloodstain-pattern-analysis-subcommittee) 

• Controlled substances (www.swgdrug.org, https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensicscience/seized-drugs-subcommittee).

• Fire debris analysis and arson scene investigations (https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensicscience/fire-and-explosion-investigation-subcommittee, 

https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensic-science/fire-debris-and-explosives-subcommittee).

• Firearms and toolmark identification (www.swggun.org,

https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensic-science/firearms-and-toolmarks-subcommittee).

• Latent print (www.swgfast.org, https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensic-science/friction-ridgesubcommittee).

• Shoeprint/tire tread examination (www.swgtread.org, 

https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensic-science/footwear-and-tire-subcommittee).

 

5 Ibid.

6 Ibid.
NIJ-2017-11080

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• Questioned documents (www.swgdoc.org, https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensicscience/forensic-document-examination-subcommittee).

• Trace evidence (www.swgmat.org, https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensic-science/sacchemistryinstrumental-analysis, https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensic-science/materialstrace-subcommittee).

• Forensic toxicology (www.swgtox.org, https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensicscience/toxicology-subcommittee).

• Medicolegal death investigations, including forensic pathology (www.swgmdi.org, 

https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensic-science/crime-scenedeath-investigation-scientificarea-committee, https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensic-science/medicolegal-deathinvestigation-subcommittee).

Goals, Objectives, Deliverables, and Expected Scholarly Products

NIJ’s Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes program is 

intended to meet the following goals and objectives. Proposals should address at least one of 

the goals specified below. Proposed projects that address more than one goal should be 

separated into discrete phases that clearly identify the goal to be addressed by each phase 

(additional information regarding the phasing of proposals can be found in Section B. Federal 

Award Information). 

• Fundamental/Basic Research Goal: Improve the understanding of the accuracy, 

reliability, and measurement validity of forensic science disciplines. Applicants may refer 

to Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward by the National 

Research Council of the National Academies to review research recommendations put 

forth by the committee. To achieve this goal, projects should meet at least one of the 

following objectives:

o Conduct basic scientific research in the physical, life, and cognitive sciences that is 

designed to increase the knowledge underlying forensic science disciplines intended 

for use in the criminal justice system. For the purposes of this objective, basic 

research studies proposed must include activities with broad application to forensic 

sciences related to the criminal justice system. Proposals should describe the 

anticipated impact of the study on one or more forensic science disciplines.

o Perform studies that examine the degree of accuracy and reliability of methods used 

by forensic scientists to achieve a more complete understanding of the scientific 

basis of forensic evidence and the interpretation of that evidence. Studies also may 

examine various processes within forensic methods, from the initial acceptance and 

examination of evidence for its probative value and quality, to the final interpretation 

of forensic results, including assessment of error rate.

o Conduct research studies designed to further the understanding of quantifiable 

measures of uncertainty in the conclusions of forensic analyses, regardless of the 

sources of uncertainty. Studies should seek to establish limits of reliability and 

accuracy that forensic methods can achieve with respect to varying conditions of 

forensic evidence.
NIJ-2017-11080

7

o Develop new approaches to forensic analysis, including quantitation of analyses that 

are currently qualitative in nature (e.g., in the development of quantitative studies 

related to friction ridge analysis or other impression and pattern evidence).

• Applied Research Goal: Increase knowledge or understanding necessary to guide 

criminal justice policy and practice related to the forensic sciences. To achieve this goal, 

projects should meet at least one of the following objectives:

o Perform applied research to increase knowledge of physical evidence and/or its 

behavior. Examples include, but are not limited to, the study of fluid transfer and fluid 

dynamics of certain biological fluids (e.g., blood) to increase understanding of 

patterns deposited at crime scenes; the examination of chemical properties of 

evidence for the purpose of identifying source materials; studies of the behavior of 

chemical compounds of forensic interest in biological systems; research to better 

understand aged, degraded, limited, damaged, inhibited, or otherwise compromised 

physical evidence (e.g., studies on the effect of environmental factors on physical 

evidence; studies to increase the overall understanding of the processes and 

mechanisms that result in the inability to obtain analytical results from evidence).

o Perform evaluation studies of technologies that are expected to have application to 

forensic sciences in criminal justice settings. The purpose of an evaluation must be 

to test a new, modified, or previously untested technology to determine whether it is 

effective for forensic science application. Proposals for evaluation studies should 

systematically use scientific methods to measure efficiency, implementation, and 

utility of the technology being evaluated. The primary intent of a proposed evaluation 

study must be to generate new knowledge or contribute to the knowledge in the 

forensic scientific literature. Furthermore, knowledge gained from an evaluation study 

should be applicable to sites other than the one(s) being evaluated. An evaluation 

study should result in a report suitable for publication and dissemination to guide 

criminal justice policy and/or practice related to the forensic sciences. The results of 

an evaluation study should contribute to generalizable knowledge that can be 

applied beyond a particular program/geography, and can inform other 

researchers, practitioners, and/or policymakers. 

• Development Goal: Produce novel and useful materials, devices, systems, or methods 

that have the potential for forensic application for criminal justice purposes. For 

development projects, proposals should demonstrate potential for increased quality of 

result and/or decreased time/cost for forensic analyses as compared to current standard 

practices. In order to achieve this goal, projects should meet at least one of the following 

objectives:

o Improve the “front end” of the forensic analysis processes. Examples include, but are 

not limited to, the development of improved methods for detection and identification 

of evidence at crime scenes, the development of improved screening methods to 

help assess the probative value of physical evidence (i.e., onsite presumptive and/or 

confirmatory analysis of evidence), the development of improved means to remotely 

detect forensic evidence at a crime scene to overcome scene hazards and prevent 

evidence contamination, the development of nondestructive or minimally destructive 

methods for evidentiary sample identification and/or collection, and the development 

of improved tools or methods for evidence preservation and/or storage.
NIJ-2017-11080

8

o Develop instrumental systems to improve analysis throughput and the reliability, 

reproducibility, selectivity, and/or sensitivity of current methods used in crime 

laboratories for forensic analysis.

o Develop tools or methods that can separate the various components of a mixture. 

The separation method must be successful on typical forensic samples (limited in 

yield, etc.) and must not reduce the efficiency of downstream forensic methods. 

Examples of mixtures include, but are not limited to, cells from different sources 

(e.g., sperm cells from female epithelial cells, epithelial cells from different sources), 

products of DNA processes (e.g., polymerase chain reaction [PCR] products in 

mixtures from two or more individuals), and trace materials.

o Develop improved tools for examining aged, degraded, limited, damaged, inhibited, 

or otherwise compromised physical evidence. Examples include, but are not limited 

to, the development of tools to determine the condition of the evidence to assist 

crime laboratory analysts in selecting the appropriate analytical approach, the 

development of methods to repair damaged evidence (without compromising sample 

integrity) to increase the likelihood of obtaining an analytical result, improvements to 

the methods for detection and/or removal or remediation of substances that inhibit 

the success of analysis, or other methods that will maximize the success rate of the 

analysis of compromised evidence.

o Develop novel approaches to forensic science methods for analysis and 

interpretation. Examples include streamlined, portable, high-throughput, more 

informative, more sensitive, less susceptible to inhibition, and other novel methods 

for analysis of physical evidence for criminal justice purposes.

o Develop novel approaches and/or enhance current approaches to interpret forensic 

data derived from physical evidence, including an assessment of the significance of 

association. This may include development of databases (comprehensive, 

searchable, easily accessible, secure databases for use in determining the statistical 

strength of analytical results obtained from evidence found at crime scenes) and/or 

analyses that provide quantitative measures and statistical evaluation of forensic 

evidence.

In addition to these deliverables (and the required reports and data on performance measures 

described in Section F. Federal Award Administration Information), NIJ expects scholarly 

products to result from each award under this solicitation, taking the form of one or more 

published, peer-reviewed, scientific journal articles, and/or (if appropriate) law review journal 

articles, book chapter(s) or book(s) in the academic press, technological prototypes, patented 

inventions, or similar scientific products.

Some projects may be chosen for technology evaluation or technology transition activities. More 

information, including examples of previous workshops and evaluations, can be found through 

the following links: www.nij.gov/topics/forensics/lab-operations/Pages/workshops.aspx and 

www.forensiccoe.org/Our-Impact/Sharing-Knowledge/Workshops. 

NIJ encourages researchers to seek guidance from, or partner with, crime laboratories. Such 

associations foster a greater understanding of the issues unique to the field of forensic science, 

and may strengthen the scope of the proposed research plan.
NIJ-2017-11080

9

Information on NIJ’s forensic science research and development programs (including previously 

funded projects) can be found at: http://www.nij.gov/topics/forensics/pages/welcome.aspx. 

New Investigator Opportunities

NIJ is interested in funding new investigators in forensic science research as it pertains to NIJ’s 

mission. Proposals whose principal investigator and any co-investigator(s) are defined as “new 

investigators” may, in appropriate circumstances, be given special consideration in award 

decisions.

To be considered a “new investigator” for the purposes of this solicitation, one of the two sets of 

criteria below must be demonstrated, and the applicant should identify the principal 

investigator(s) and any co-investigators, as “new investigator(s)” on the title page of the 

proposal: 

• The investigator must have received — no earlier than April 1, 2013 — an initial 

appointment in the United States to a full-time junior faculty position at a university or to 

an equivalent full-time staff scientist position in a research institution; hold such a fulltime appointment at the time of application submission; and must never have received 

NIJ funding for a research project — other than a Graduate Research Fellowship 

program grant. (Typically, the appropriate faculty rank is that of “Assistant Professor,” 

although some institutions may use a different title to designate junior faculty status.)

• The investigator must be an established researcher who has not successfully competed 

for NIJ funding as a principal investigator, co-principal investigator, or collaborative 

researcher in the past 10 years. The investigator must hold a full-time appointment in the 

United States to a faculty position at a university or an equivalent position as a scientist 

on the staff of a research institution at the time of application submission.

In the case of a grant application that involves more than one investigator, all co-investigators 

must meet the definition of “new investigator” in order for the application to be 

considered as one from a “new investigator.” 

Innovative Areas of Research Opportunities

NIJ is interested in funding innovative research in developing fields as applied to the forensic 

sciences. Proposals that contribute to the following national research initiatives may be given 

special consideration in award decisions. If submitting a research proposal that contributes to 

the following national research initiatives, the applicant should state thus on the title page of the 

proposal. 

• Nanotechnology: Nanotechnology is the understanding and control of matter at 

dimensions between approximately 1 and 100 nanometers, where unique phenomena 

enable novel applications. Encompassing nanoscale science, engineering, and 

technology, nanotechnology involves imaging, measuring, modeling, and manipulating 

matter at this length scale.

7 The National Nanotechnology Initiative is a U.S. government 

research and development initiative to understand and control matter at the nanoscale, 

intended to revolutionize technology and industry to benefit society. NIJ is interested in 

funding proposals that employ nanotechnology to advance the forensic science 

 

7 www.nano.gov/sites/default/files/pub_resource/2014_nni_strategic_plan.pdf. 
NIJ-2017-11080

10

disciplines. Information on the National Nanotechnology Initiative can be found at: 

www.nano.gov/. 

• Microbiome: Microbiomes are the communities of microorganisms that live on or in 

people, plants, soil, oceans, and the atmosphere. Microbiomes maintain healthy function 

of these diverse ecosystems, influencing human health, climate change, food security, 

and other factors. Although new technologies have enabled exciting discoveries about 

the importance of microbiomes, scientists still lack the knowledge and tools to manage 

microbiomes in a manner that prevents dysfunction or restores healthy function.8 The 

National Microbiome Initiative was launched to foster the study of microbiomes across 

different ecosystems. There are many potential applications to studying the microbiome 

for forensic purposes. A well-known application is the estimation of time since death by 

recording the change in the microbiome over a known period of time; however, the study 

of the microbiome for other forensic purposes is encouraged. NIJ is interested in funding 

proposals investigating the microbiome for forensic applications beyond postmortem 

interval (i.e., time since death) determination. Such applications may be related to trace 

evidence, cause of death, or human identification, among others. A fact sheet on the 

National Microbiome Initiative, including a description of recent NIJ funding in 

microbiome-related research, can be found at: 

https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/documents/OSTP National 

Microbiome Initiative Fact Sheet.pdf. 

• Fatal Head Trauma: The BRAIN (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative 

Neurotechnologies) Initiative is a “research effort to revolutionize our understanding of 

the human mind...” NIJ is interested in funding proposals investigating the human brain 

for forensic applications. Such applications may include cause of death determination, 

pediatric head trauma assessment, or sudden and unexplained death in infants and 

adults. Information on the BRAIN Initiative can be found at: www.whitehouse.gov/brain. 

The Goals, Objectives, Deliverables, and Expected Scholarly Products are directly related to the 

performance measures set out in the table immediately below.

 

8 https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/documents/OSTP%20National%20

Microbiome%20Initiative%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf. 
NIJ-2017-11080

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Performance Measures

Objective Performance Measure(s) Data Grantee Provides

Conduct 

research in 

science, 

technology, 

engineering, 

and/or 

mathematics 

having clear 

implications for 

criminal justice 

policy and 

practice in the 

United States.

1.Relevance to the needs of the field as 

measured by whether the project’s 

substantive scope did not deviate from the 

funded proposal or any subsequent agencyapproved modifications to the scope.

2.Quality of the research as demonstrated by 

the scholarly products that result in whole or 

in part from work funded under the NIJ award 

(published, peer-reviewed, scientific journal 

articles, and/or (as appropriate for the funded 

project) law review journal articles, book 

chapter(s) or book(s) in the academic press, 

technological prototypes, patented 

inventions, or similar scientific products).

3.Quality of management as measured by such 

factors as whether significant project 

milestones were achieved, reporting and 

other deadlines were met, and costs 

remained within approved limits.

4.If applicable, the number of technologies 

fielded as a result (in whole or in part) of work 

funded under the NIJ award.

1. Quarterly financial reports, 

semi-annual and final progress 

reports, and, if applicable, an 

annual audit report in 

accordance with the Part 200 

Uniform Requirements of the 

work performed under the NIJ 

award.

2. List of citation(s) to all 

scholarly products that 

resulted in whole or in part 

from work funded under the 

NIJ award.

3. If applicable, each data set 

that resulted in whole or in part 

from work funded under the 

NIJ award. 

4. If applicable, a description of 

all technologies fielded as a 

result (in whole or in part) of 

work funded under the NIJ 

award.

B. Federal Award Information

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. In fiscal year 2015, NIJ 

provided over $29,748,420 million in grants to fund research and development projects relatedto forensic science, including DNA. NIJ funding for an individual research or development 

project rarely exceeds $500,000 annually, although total funding for projects requiring multiple 

years to complete has exceeded $1 million in some cases. In FY 2015, the average forensic 

science research and development award was approximately $238,943 per year, and the 

average project period was two years. NIJ encourages the submission of proposed project 

periods that do not exceed three years. 

To allow time for (among other things) any necessary post-award review and financial clearance 

by OJP of the proposed budget (and for any associated responses or other action(s) that may 

be required of the recipient), applicants should propose an award start date of January 1, 2018.

If the applicant is proposing a project that reasonably could be conducted in discrete phases, 

with each phase resulting in completion of one or more significant, defined milestones, then NIJ

strongly recommends that the applicant structure the application—specifically including the 

narrative, expected scholarly products, timelines/milestones, and budget detail worksheet and 

budget narrative—to clearly set out each phase. (This is particularly the case if the applicant 

proposes a project that will exceed—in cost or the length of the period of performance—the 

amount or length anticipated for an individual award (or awards) under this solicitation.) Given 
NIJ-2017-11080

12

limitations on the availability to NIJ of funds for awards for research, development, and 

evaluation, this information will assist NIJ in considering whether partial funding of applications 

would be productive. (If, in FY 2017, NIJ elects to fund only certain phases of a proposed 

project, the expected scholarly products from the partial-funding award may, in some cases, 

vary from those described above.)

NIJ may, in certain cases, provide additional funding in future years to awards made under its 

research, development, and evaluation solicitations, through supplemental awards. In making 

decisions regarding supplemental awards, NIJ will consider, among other factors, the availability 

of appropriations, OJP’s strategic priorities, and OJP’s assessment of both the management of 

the award (for example, timeliness and quality of progress reports), and the progress of the 

work funded under the award.

All awards are subject to the availability of appropriated funds, and to any modifications or 

additional requirements that may be imposed by law.

Type of Award

NIJ expects that any award under this solicitation will be in the form of a grant. See 

Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements, under Section F. Federal Award 

Administration Information, for a brief discussion of important statutes, regulations, and award 

conditions that apply to many (or in some cases, all) OJP grants.

Any funds provided to another federal agency will be transferred by interagency agreement.

Please note: Any recipient of an award under this solicitation will be required to comply with 

DOJ regulations on confidentiality and protection of human subjects. See “Requirements related 

to Research” under “Overview of Legal Requirements Generally Applicable to OJP Grants and 

Cooperative Agreements - FY 2017 Awards” in the OJP Funding Resource Center. 

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls

Award recipients and subrecipients (including recipients or subrecipients that are pass-through 

entities9

) must, as described in the Part 200 Uniform Requirements10 as set out at 2 C.F.R. 

200.303:

(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that 

provides reasonable assurance that [the recipient (and any subrecipient)] is 

managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, 

and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls 

should be in compliance with guidance in “Standards for Internal Control in the 

Federal Government” issued by the Comptroller General of the United States and 

the “Internal Control Integrated Framework”, issued by the Committee of 

Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

(b) Comply with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the 

Federal awards.

 

9 For purposes of this solicitation, the phrase “pass-through entity” includes any recipient or subrecipient that provides 

a subaward (“subgrant”) to carry out part of the funded award or program.

10 The "Part 200 Uniform Requirements” means the DOJ regulation at 2 C.F.R Part 2800, which adopts (with certain 

modifications) the provisions of 2 C.F.R. Part 200.
NIJ-2017-11080

13

(c) Evaluate and monitor [the recipient’s (and any subrecipient’s)] compliance with 

statutes, regulations and the terms and conditions of Federal awards.

(d) Take prompt action when instances of noncompliance are identified including 

noncompliance identified in audit findings.

(e) Take reasonable measures to safeguard protected personally identifiable 

information and other information the Federal awarding agency or pass-through 

entity designates as sensitive or [the recipient (or any subrecipient)] considers 

sensitive consistent with applicable Federal, state, local, and tribal laws regarding 

privacy and obligations of confidentiality.

To help ensure that applicants understand applicable administrative requirements and cost 

principles, OJP encourages prospective applicants to enroll, at no charge, in the DOJ Grants 

Financial Management Online Training, available here. 

Budget Information

What will not be funded:

• Proposals that are not responsive to this specific solicitation. This includes:

o Proposals that do not contain a research component or do not respond to the 

specific goals of this solicitation.

o Proposals that do not clearly address criminal justice concerns in the United States.

• Proposals primarily to purchase equipment, materials, or supplies. (A budget may 

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

demonstration, evaluation, or analysis). Proposals that include equipment purchases 

should include a discussion of how federally-funded equipment is proposed to be used 

after the funded work has been completed and/or the project period has ended. Note 

that OJP may issue specific equipment disposition instructions in appropriate 

circumstances.)

• Provision of training or direct service.

• Proposals in the area of digital evidence or digital forensics. Digital evidence includes 

information stored or transmitted in binary form that may be relied on in court. It is 

typically found on computer hard drives, mobile phones, personal digital assistants, 

CDs/DVDs, flash memory equipment and other electronic devices. Digital evidence is 

commonly associated with electronic crime (e.g., child pornography or credit card fraud); 

however, digital evidence can also be used as forensic evidence in other types of 

crimes.

• Proposals that focus primarily on crimes directly related to nonhuman animals. (A project 

may include nonhuman animals, if: (a.) they are necessary to conduct the proposed 

research [e.g., the use of animals or other organisms for experimental modeling], or (b.) 

the nonhuman biological components are analogous to the physical evidence that would 

be examined in criminal investigations involving human suspects and victims.) 
NIJ-2017-11080

14

• Proposals focusing on the estimation of postmortem interval (i.e. time since death) 

whose research design is not novel nor applicable across the geography of the United 

States. The primary intent of these studies must be to generate new knowledge or 

contribute to the knowledge in the forensic scientific literature that is applicable to 

locations other than the one(s) being evaluated.

• Proposals that focus on predicting the behavior of criminal offenders or indicators that 

result in victimization.

• Proposals that seek to administer surveys on the perceptions of physical evidence 

collection policies among evidence examiners.

• Proposals that focus on legal factors involved in how physical evidence is processed.

• Proposals for social science research whose primary focus is not identification, 

collection, testing and interpretation of physical evidence.

• Proposals focused on criminal psychology.

• Proposals involving the use of canines, (e.g. detector dogs).

• Proposals on voice authentication.

• Proposals on deception detection.

• Costs associated with conducting conferences. A conference is a symposium, seminar, 

workshop, or any other organized and formal meeting, whether conducted face-to-face 

or via the Internet, where individuals assemble (or meet virtually) to exchange 

information and views or explore or clarify a defined subject, problem, or area of 

knowledge, whether or not a published report results from such meeting. A meeting 

where a gathering discusses general matters as part of a normal course of doing 

business is not considered a conference. Funds may be used to attend conferences for 

the purposes of dissemination of research findings.

Cost Sharing or Match Requirement

See “Cofunding” paragraph under item 4 (“Budget and Associated Documentation”) under What 

an Application Should Include in Section D. Application and Submission Information. 

Pre-Agreement Cost

Requests for approval of pre-agreement costs will not be considered under this solicitation. 

Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation; Waiver

With respect to any award of more than $250,000 made under this solicitation, recipients may 

not use federal funds to pay total cash compensation (salary plus cash 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.

11 The 2016 salary 

 

11 This limitation on use of award funds does not apply to the non-profit organizations specifically named at Appendix 

VIII to 2 C.F.R. Part 200.
NIJ-2017-11080

15

table for SES employees is available at the Office of Personnel Management website. Note: A 

recipient may compensate an employee at a greater rate, provided the amount in excess of this 

compensation limitation is paid with non-federal funds. (Non-federal funds used for any such 

additional compensation will not be considered matching funds, where match requirements 

apply.) If only a portion of an employee’s time is charged to an OJP award, the maximum 

allowable compensation is equal to the percentage of time worked times the maximum salary 

limitation.

The Director of the National Institute of Justice may exercise discretion to waive, on an 

individual basis, this limitation on compensation rates allowable under an award. An applicant 

that requests a waiver should include a detailed justification in the budget narrative of its 

application. An applicant that does not submit a waiver request and justification with its 

application should anticipate that OJP will require the applicant to adjust and resubmit the 

budget.

The justification should address — in the context of the work the individual would do under the 

award — the particular qualifications and expertise of the individual, the uniqueness of a service 

the individual will provide, the individual’s specific knowledge of the proposed program or 

project, and a statement that explains whether and how the individual’s salary under the award 

would be commensurate with the regular and customary rate for an individual with his/her 

qualifications and expertise, and for the work he/she would do under the award.

Prior Approval, Planning, and Reporting of Conference/Meeting/Training Costs

OJP strongly encourages every applicant that proposes to use award funds for any conference-, 

meeting-, or training-related activity (or similar event) to review carefully—before submitting an 

application—the OJP policy and guidance on approval, planning, and reporting of such events, 

available at www.ojp.gov/financialguide/DOJ/PostawardRequirements/chapter3.10a.htm. OJP 

policy and guidance (1) encourage minimization of conference, meeting, and training costs; (2) 

require prior written approval (which may affect project timelines) of most conference, meeting, 

and training costs for cooperative agreement recipients and of some conference, meeting, and 

training costs for grant recipients; and (3) set cost limits, which include a general prohibition of 

all food and beverage costs.

Costs Associated with Language Assistance (if applicable)

If an applicant proposes a program or activity that would deliver services or benefits to 

individuals, the costs of taking reasonable steps to provide meaningful access to those services 

or benefits for individuals with limited English proficiency may be allowable. Reasonable steps 

to provide meaningful access to services or benefits may include interpretation or translation 

services where appropriate.

For additional information, see the "Civil Rights Compliance" section under “Overview of Legal 

Requirements Generally Applicable to OJP Grants and Cooperative Agreements - FY 2017 

Awards” in the OJP Funding Resource Center. 

C. Eligibility Information

For eligibility information, see title page.

For information on cost sharing or match requirements, see “What an Application Should 

Include” in Section D. Application and Submission Information.
NIJ-2017-11080

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D. Application and Submission Information

What an Application Should Include

This section describes in detail what an application should include. An applicant should 

anticipate that if it fails to submit an application that contains all of the specified elements, it may 

negatively affect the review of its application; and, should a decision be made to make an 

award, it may result in the inclusion of award conditions that preclude the recipient from 

accessing or using award funds until the recipient satisfies the conditions and OJP makes the 

funds available.

Moreover, an applicant should anticipate that an application that OJP determines is 

nonresponsive to the scope of the solicitation, or that OJP determines does not include the 

application elements that NIJ has designated to be critical, will neither proceed to peer review 

nor receive further consideration. For this solicitation, NIJ has designated the following 

application elements as critical: Program Narrative, Budget Detail Worksheet, Budget Narrative, 

and resumes/curriculum vitae of key personnel. (For purposes of this solicitation, “senior/key 

personnel” means the principal investigator, and any and all co-principal investigators and other 

significant contributors.) An applicant may combine the Budget Narrative and the Budget Detail 

Worksheet in one document. However, if an applicant submits only one budget document, it 

must contain both narrative and detail information. Please review the “Note on File Names and 

File Types” under How to Apply to be sure applications are submitted in permitted formats.

OJP strongly recommends that applicants use appropriately descriptive file names (e.g., 

“Program Narrative,” “Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative,” “Timelines,” 

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

applicants include resumes in a single file.

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

The SF-424 is a required standard form used as a cover sheet for submission of preapplications, applications, and related information. Grants.gov and OJP’s Grants 

Management System (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, 

select "For-Profit Organization" or "Small Business" (as applicable).

To avoid processing delays, applicants must include an accurate legal name on their SF424. Current OJP award recipients, when completing the field for “Legal Name” should use 

the same legal name that appears on the prior year award document which is also the legal 

name stored in OJP’s financial system. On the SF-424, enter the Legal Name in box 5 and 

Employer Identification Number (EIN) in box 6 exactly as it appears on the prior year award 

document. Applicants with current awards must ensure that their GMS profile is current. If it 

isn't they should submit a GAN updating the information on their GMS profile prior to 

applying under this solicitation. 

New applicants should enter the Official Legal Name and address of the applicant entity in 

box 5 and the EIN in box 6 of the SF-424. Applicants must attach official legal documents to 

their applications (e.g., articles of incorporation, 501C3, etc.) to confirm the legal name, 

address, and EIN entered into the SF-424.
NIJ-2017-11080

17

Intergovernmental Review: This funding opportunity (program) is not subject to Executive 

Order 12372. (In completing the SF-424, applicants are to make the appropriate selection in 

response to question 19 to indicate that the “Program is not covered by E.O. 12372.”)

2. Project Abstract

The project abstract is a very important part of the application, and serves as an introduction 

to the proposed project. NIJ uses the project abstract for a number of purposes, including 

assignment of the application to an appropriate review panel. If the application is funded, the 

project abstract typically will become public information and be used to describe the project.

Applications should include a high-quality project abstract that summarizes the proposed 

project in 250-400 words. Project abstracts should be— 

• Written for a general public audience.

• Submitted as a separate attachment with “Project Abstract” as part of its file name.

• Single-spaced, using a standard 12-point font (with 1-inch margins). 

As a separate attachment, the project abstract will not count against the page limit for the 

program narrative.

Project abstracts should follow the detailed templated (including the detailed instructions as 

to content) available at www.nij.gov/funding/documents/nij-project-abstract-template.pdf.

3. Program Narrative

The program narrative section of the application should not exceed 18 single-spaced pages 

in 12-point font with 1-inch margins, of which a minimum of nine (9) pages should be 

dedicated to Project Design and Implementation. If included in the main body of the program 

narrative, tables, charts, figures, and other illustrations count toward the 18-page limit for the 

narrative section. The project abstract, table of contents, appendices, and government forms 

do not count toward the 18-page limit.

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

consider such noncompliance in peer review and in final award decisions.

The following sections should be included as part of the program narrative.12

Program Narrative Guidelines: 

a. Title Page (not counted against the 18-page program narrative limit).

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

opportunity number, and the name and complete contact information (that is, 

 

12 As noted earlier, if the proposed program or project reasonably could be conducted in discrete phases, with each 

phase resulting in completion of one or more significant, defined milestones, then NIJ strongly recommends that the 

applicant structure the application – specifically including the narrative, expected scholarly products, 

timelines/milestones, and budget detail worksheet and budget narrative – to set out each phase clearly. (In 

appropriate cases, the expected scholarly product(s) from a particular phase may vary from those described above.) 

See generally, “Goals, Objectives, Deliverables, and Expected Scholarly Products” under “Program-Specific 

Information,” above.
NIJ-2017-11080

18

address, telephone number, and e-mail address) for both the applicant 

organization and the principal investigator, including “new investigator” status 

and/or “innovative area of research” proposal, as applicable.

b. Resubmit Response (if applicable) (not counted against the 18-page program 

narrative limit).

If an applicant is resubmitting a proposal presented previously to NIJ, but not 

funded, the applicant should indicate this. A statement should be provided, no 

more than two pages, addressing: (1) the title, submission date, and NIJassigned application number of the previous proposal, and (2) a brief summary of 

revisions to the proposal, including responses to previous feedback received 

from NIJ. See additional information regarding revision applications under Project 

Design and Implementation section below.

c. Table of Contents and Figures (not counted against the 18-page program narrative 

limit).

d. Main Body

The main body of the program narrative should describe the proposed project in 

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

narrative:

• Specific Aims

o State concisely the goals of the proposed research and summarize the 

expected outcome(s), including the impact that the results of the 

proposed research will exert on the research field(s) involved.

o List succinctly the specific objectives of the research proposed, e.g., to 

test a stated hypothesis, create a novel design, solve a specific problem, 

challenge an existing paradigm or forensic practice, address a critical 

barrier to progress in the field, or develop new technology.

• Research Strategy – Organize the Research Strategy in the specified order 

using the instructions provided below. Start each section with the appropriate 

section heading – Statement of the Problem, Project Design and 

Implementation, Impact, Capabilities and Competencies.

o Statement of the Problem. 

 Explain the importance of the problem or critical barrier to progress in 

the field that the proposed project addresses.

 Explain the criminal justice significance of the problem.

 Describe the scientific premise for the proposed project, including 

consideration of the strengths and weaknesses of published research 

or preliminary data crucial to the support of your application.
NIJ-2017-11080

19

 Describe the current state of the art and technologies, both in practice 

and in past/current research, directed at the described problem. If this 

request is a direct follow up of an earlier study, describe those results.

 Explain how the proposed project will improve scientific knowledge, 

technical capability, and/or forensic practice. Describe how concepts, 

methods, technologies, or services that drive the forensic science field 

will be changed if the proposed aims are achieved.

o Project Design and Implementation. (This section should account for a 

minimum of nine (9) pages of the main body of the narrative.) 

 Describe the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses to be used 

to accomplish the specific aims of the project. Describe the 

experimental design and methods proposed and how they will achieve 

robust and unbiased results. Include how the data will be collected, 

analyzed, and interpreted as well as any resource sharing plans as 

appropriate.

 Human Subjects/Study Population: If the project will involve human 

subjects, clearly describe the study population. Include detailed 

information about how subjects were or will be identified and sampled 

and the method(s) of characterization. For case-control studies, 

provide inclusion and exclusion criteria and any matching done 

between cases and controls. Describe relevant environmental factors 

and how they were measured. If the subjects provided for this study 

are a subset of a family population, explain which individuals were 

included and how they were selected. Highlight special features of the 

study population that would enhance success.

 Sample Information: In table form, provide: sample description such 

as case/control status and/or collection site; number of samples 

included in the study; subsample source (e.g., tissue source of the 

DNA). If data from other subjects will be included in the analysis, add 

row(s) to describe those samples. Three examples are provided here:

Sample Set Target # of 

Samples

Source Service Previous Service

Known controls 500 Buccal Targeted 

sequencing

STR base genotyping

Forensic 

samples

500 Buccal Targeted 

sequencing

STR base genotyping

Sample 

Set

Target # of 

Samples

Source Subsample Set Service

Crania 300 Modern 

Donated 

Collection

300 individuals of known 

Hispanic Ancestry; 150 

Male, 150 Female

Morphometric 

sex 

estimation

Pelvis 300 Modern 

Donated 

Collection

300 individuals of known 

Hispanic Ancestry; 150 

Male, 150 Female

Morphometric 

sex 

estimation
NIJ-2017-11080

20

Subject Description Target # of 

Samples

Collection Site

Patients at drug rehab facilities 100 Scalp, cut (not plucked)

Controls – subjects donating hair for wigs 100 Scalp, cut (not plucked)

Provide supporting text that justifies the choice of samples. Describe 

other relevant information (e.g., the extraction methods used for each 

DNA source and the approximate DNA concentrations). Describe 

previous analyses done on these subjects.

 Power and Effect Size: Use power analyses to describe the range of 

effect sizes detectable by the study. Address relevant features of the 

analytic plan, such as the model(s) to be tested, the extent of multiple 

testing, and what significance level would be used for testing. Include 

all appropriate parameters. If the study design requires separate 

analysis of subject groups, provide power analyses for each category. 

If there is a plan to test for environment effects, address the power for 

detection of these effects.

 Data Analyses: Provide a thorough plan for data analyses. Include: 

analytical approaches to be used and their justification; plans for 

quality control analyses; methods to control for possible confounding 

effects; how false positive rates will be controlled in light of multiple 

testing; etc. If there is a plan to analyze the data obtained with earlier 

data, or to perform comparisons to determine success, describe your

strategy for that process.

 Describe the role of each team member in the analysis process, and 

summarize the team's experience with the approaches proposed.

 Discuss potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks 

for success anticipated to achieve the aims.

 If the project is in the early stages of development, describe any 

strategy to establish feasibility, and address the management of any 

high-risk aspects of the proposed work.

 Explain how relevant variables are factored into research designs and 

analyses.

 Data Management: Describe the institutional computing resources 

available for this study, the type of database that will be used (if 

applicable), and how the data will be managed. Highlight the team's 

experience with management of data sets (especially those similar to 

the proposed project). Also describe strategies for data sustainability 

beyond the proposed funded work.

 As applicable, also include the following information as part of the 

Project Design and Implementation: 

- Preliminary Studies for New Applications: For new applications, 

include information on preliminary studies. Discuss the PI’s 
NIJ-2017-11080

21

preliminary studies, data, and or experience pertinent to this 

application. Preliminary data can be an essential part of a 

research grant application, and help to establish the likelihood of 

success of the proposed project. New Investigators should 

include preliminary data. 

o Potential Impact. 

 Explain the criminal justice significance of the proposed study.

 Explain how the application challenges and seeks to shift current 

research or forensic practice paradigms.

 Describe any novel theoretical concepts, approaches or 

methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions to be developed or 

used, and any advantage over existing methodologies, 

instrumentation, or inventions.

 Explain any refinements, improvements, or new applications of 

theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, or 

instrumentation.

o Capabilities/Competencies. 

 Facilities and Other Resources: Describe how the scientific 

environment in which the research will be done contributes to the 

probability of success (e.g., institutional support, physical resources, 

and intellectual rapport). In describing the scientific environment in 

which the work will be done, discuss ways in which the proposed 

studies will benefit from unique features of the scientific environment 

or subject populations or will employ useful collaborative 

arrangements. If there are multiple performance sites, describe the 

resources available at each site.

 Equipment: List major items of equipment already available for this 

project and, if appropriate identify location and pertinent capabilities.

 Senior/Key Personnel Profile: Describe each senior/key personnels’ 

role in the project, and why the individual is well-suited for that role. 

The relevant factors may include: aspects of past training; previous 

experimental work on this specific topic or related topics; technical 

expertise; collaborators or scientific environment; and/or past 

performance in this or related fields. Senior/key personnel are defined 

as all individuals who contribute in a substantive, meaningful way to 

the scientific development or execution of the project, whether or not 

salaries are requested. Consultants should be included if they meet 

this definition.

- Principal investigator (PI) profile should be listed first.

- Senior/Key Personnel Profile: The remaining senior/key 

personnel profiles should be listed in alphabetical order. While 
NIJ-2017-11080

22

alphabetical order is preferred, it is not required. However, be 

aware that these profiles will appear in the application in the 

order provided by the applicant. Therefore, peer reviewers will 

see them in the order presented. Those with a postdoctoral role 

should be included if they meet the definition of senior/key 

personnel.

- Other Significant Contributors (OSCs): OSCs are those 

individuals who commit to contribute to the scientific development 

or execution of the project, but do not commit any specified 

measurable effort (i.e., person months) to the project. These 

individuals are typically presented at effort of “zero person 

months” or "as needed." Individuals with measurable effort may 

not be listed as OSCs. Consultants should be included if they 

meet the OSC definition. OSCs should be listed after all 

senior/key persons.

• Review of Relevant Literature.

• Planned Scholarly Products (See Goals, Objectives, Deliverables, and 

Expected Scholarly Products under Program-Specific Information, above, for 

a discussion of expected scholarly products.)

• Implications for criminal justice policy and practice in the United States.

• Plan for Dissemination to Broader Audiences (if applicable to the proposed 

project). Applicants should identify plans (if any) to produce or to make 

available to broader interested audiences – such as criminal/juvenile justice 

(and other related fields) practitioners or policymakers – summary information 

from the planned scholarly products of the proposed project (such as 

summaries or translational materials of articles in peer-reviewed scientific 

journals), in a form designed to be readily accessible and useful to those 

audiences. (Such dissemination might include, for example, trade press 

articles and webinars.)

e. Appendices (not counted against the 18-page program narrative limit; however, do 

not use the appendix to circumvent the program narrative page limits) include:

• Bibliography/references. Provide a bibliography of any references cited in the 

Project Narrative. Each reference must include the names of all authors (in 

the same sequence in which they appear in the publication), the article and 

journal title, book title, volume number, page numbers, and year of 

publication. Include only bibliographic citations. While there is not a page 

limitation, it is important to be concise, and to select only those literature 

references pertinent to the proposed research. Attach this information as a 

separate PDF file titled “Bibliography and References Cited.”

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

pertaining to the proposed project that are supplemental to such items 

included in the main body of the narrative. (Tables, charts, graphs, or other 
NIJ-2017-11080

23

relevant illustrations that are essential for comprehension of the 

project/program design should be included in the main body of the narrative.)

• Curriculum vitae or resumes of senior/key personnel. For the purposes of this

solicitation, “senior/key personnel” means the principal investigator, any and 

all co-principal investigators, and other significant contributors. Reviewers 

use these pages in part to address the “Capabilities/Competencies” selection 

criterion. Attach this information as a separate PDF file titled “Curriculum 

Vitae or Resumes of Senior/Key Personnel.”

• Documentation of “new investigator” status, if applicable.

• Proposed project timeline and expected milestones.

• Progress report for renewal and revision applications, if applicable. For 

renewal/revision applications, provide a progress report. Provide the 

beginning and ending dates for the period covered since the last competitive 

review. Summarize the specific aims of the previous project period and the 

importance of the findings, and emphasize the progress made toward their 

achievement. Explain any significant changes to the specific aims and any 

new directions, including changes to the specific aims resulting from 

significant budget reductions. For any studies meeting the NIJ definition for 

research involving human subjects 

(http://www.nij.gov/funding/humansubjects/pages/welcome.aspx), discuss 

previous participant enrollment (e.g., recruitment, retention, inclusion of 

women, minorities, children etc.) as part of the progress report, particularly if 

relevant to studies proposed in the renewal or revision application. If 

applicable, Reviewers use these pages in part to address the “Project Design 

and Implementation” selection criterion. Attach this information as a separate 

PDF file titled “Progress Report for Renewal”.

• Progress report publication list (renewal applications only). List the titles and 

complete references to all appropriate publications, manuscripts accepted for 

publication, patents, and other printed materials that have resulted from the 

project since it was last reviewed competitively. This list should be included 

with the “Progress Report for Renewal” PDF file attachment noted above.

• Multiple PI leadership plan. For applications designating multiple PIs, a 

leadership plan must be included. For applications designating multiple PIs, 

all such individuals must be assigned the PI role on the Senior/Key Personnel 

Profile form, even those at organizations other than the applicant 

organization. A rationale for choosing a multiple PI approach should be 

described. The governance and organizational structure of the leadership 

team and the research project should be described, including communication 

plans, process for making decisions on scientific direction, and procedures for 

resolving conflicts. The roles and administrative, technical, and scientific 

responsibilities for the project or program should be delineated for the PIs 

and other collaborators. Do not submit a leadership plan if you are not 

submitting a multiple PI application. Reviewers use these pages in part to 

address the “Capabilities/Competencies” selection criterion. Attach this 

information as a separate PDF file titled “Multiple PI Leadership Plan.”
NIJ-2017-11080

24

• Consortium/contractual arrangements. Explain the programmatic, fiscal, and 

administrative arrangements to be made between the applicant organization 

and the consortium organization(s). If consortium/contractual activities 

represent a significant portion of the overall project, explain why the applicant 

organization, rather than the ultimate performer of the activities, should be the 

grantee. Reviewers use these pages in part to address the “Project Design 

and Implementation” selection criterion. Attach this information as a separate 

PDF file titled “Consortium/Contractual Arrangements”

• Letters of Support. Attach all appropriate letters of support, including any 

letters necessary to demonstrate the support of consortium participants and 

collaborators such as senior/key personnel and other significant contributors 

included in the grant application. Letters are not required for personnel (such 

as research assistants) not contributing in a substantive, measurable way to 

the scientific development or execution of the project. Letters should stipulate 

expectations for co-authorship, and whether samples, data, or other 

resources promised in the letter are freely available to other investigators in 

the scientific community or will be provided to the particular investigators 

only. For consultants, letters should include rate/charge for consulting 

services and level of effort/number of hours per year anticipated. In addition, 

letters ensuring access to core facilities and resources should stipulate 

whether access will be provided as a fee-for-service. Combine and attach this 

information as one separate PDF file titled “Letters of Support”.

• Resource sharing plan(s). NIJ considers the sharing of unique research 

resources developed through NIJ-sponsored research an important means to 

enhance the value and further the advancement of the research. When 

resources have been developed with NIJ funds and the associated research 

findings published or provided to NIJ, it is important that they be made readily 

available for research purposes to qualified individuals within the scientific 

community. Applications should include as an appendix a brief plan about 

proposed data management and archiving, including submission to NIJ of all 

files and documentation necessary to allow for future efforts by others to 

reproduce the project’s findings and/or to extend the scientific value of the 

data set through secondary analysis. Pertinent files and documentation 

include, among other things, qualitative and quantitative data produced, 

instrumentation and data collection forms, codebook(s), any specialized 

programming code necessary to reproduce all constructed measures and the 

original data analysis, description of necessary de-identification procedures, 

and (when required) a copy of the privacy certificate and informed consent 

protocols. Attach this information as a separate PDF file titled “Resource 

Sharing Plan(s).”

• Human Subjects Protection paperwork (documentation and forms related to 

Institutional Review Board (IRB) review). (See 

nij.gov/funding/humansubjects/Pages/welcome.aspx) 

• Privacy Certificate (for further guidance go to 

nij.gov/funding/humansubjects/pages/confidentiality.aspx).
NIJ-2017-11080

25

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

investigator(s), including the NIJ-assigned award numbers and a brief 

description of any scholarly products that resulted in whole or in part from 

work funded under the NIJ award(s). (See “Goals, Objectives, Deliverables, 

and Expected Scholarly Products” under “Program-Specific Information,” 

above, for definition of “scholarly products.”)

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

proposal has been submitted (if applicable).

• To assist OJP in assessing actual or apparent conflicts of interest (including 

such conflicts on the part of prospective reviewers of the application, a 

complete list of the individuals named or otherwise identified anywhere in the 

application (including in the budget or in any other attachment) who will or 

may work (or advise or consult) on the proposed research, development, or 

evaluation project. This applies to all such individuals, including, for example, 

individuals who are or would be employees of the applicant or employees of 

any proposed subrecipient entity, any individuals who themselves may be a 

subrecipient, and individuals who may (or will) work without compensation 

(such as advisory board members). This appendix to the program narrative is 

to include, for each listed individual: name, title, employer, any other 

potentially-pertinent organizational affiliation(s), and the individual's proposed 

roles and responsibilities in carrying out the proposed project. If the 

application identifies any specific entities or organizations (other than the 

applicant) that will or may work (or advise or consult) on the proposed project, 

without also naming any associated individuals, the name of each such 

organization also should be included on this list. Applicants should use the 

“Proposed Project Staff, Affiliation, and Roles” form available at

www.nij.gov/funding/documents/nij-project-staff-template.xlsx to provide this 

list.

If the application (including the budget) identifies any proposed noncompetitive agreements that are or may be considered procurement 

"contracts" (rather than subawards) for purposes of federal grants 

administrative requirements the applicant also must list the entities with which 

the applicant proposes to contract. Applicants should provide this list as a 

separate sheet titled "Proposed non-competitive procurement contracts."

For information on distinctions — for purposes of federal grants 

administrative requirements — between subawards and procurement 

contracts under awards, see “Budget and Associated Documentation,” below.

4. Budget and Associated Documentation

a. Budget Detail Worksheet

A sample Budget Detail Worksheet can be found at 

www.ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/BudgetDetailWorksheet.pdf. An applicant that 

submits its budget in a different format should use the budget categories listed in the 

sample budget worksheet. (An applicant should include in the budget work associated 

with satisfying data archiving requirements.) NIJ expects applicants to provide a 
NIJ-2017-11080

26

thorough narrative for each section of the Budget Detail Worksheet. The Budget Detail 

Worksheet should break out costs by year.

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

see the DOJ Grants Financial Guide at DOJ Grants Financial Guide.

b. Budget Narrative

The budget narrative should thoroughly and clearly describe every category of expense 

listed in the Budget Detail Worksheet. OJP expects proposed budgets to be complete,

cost effective, and allowable (e.g., reasonable, allocable, and necessary for project 

activities).

An applicant should demonstrate in its budget narrative how it will maximize cost 

effectiveness of grant expenditures. Budget narratives should generally describe cost 

effectiveness in relation to potential alternatives and the goals of the project. For 

example, a budget narrative should detail why planned in-person meetings are 

necessary, or how technology and collaboration with outside organizations could be 

used to reduce costs, without compromising quality.

The budget narrative should be mathematically sound and correspond with the 

information and figures provided in the Budget Detail Worksheet. The narrative should 

explain how the applicant estimated and calculated all costs, and how those costs are 

necessary 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 describe costs by year.

c. Cofunding

An award 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.

For additional match information, see the Cost Sharing or Match Requirement section 

under Section B. Federal Award Information.

If a successful application proposes a voluntary match amount, and OJP approves the 

budget, the total match amount incorporated into the approved budget becomes 

mandatory and subject to audit.

d. Information on Proposed Subawards (if any), as well as on Proposed Procurement 

Contracts (if any)

Applicants for OJP awards typically may propose to make "subawards." Applicants also 

may propose to enter into procurement "contracts" under the award. 

Whether — for purposes of federal grants administrative requirements — a particular 

agreement between a recipient and a third party will be considered a "subaward" or 

instead considered a procurement "contract" under the award is determined by federal 
NIJ-2017-11080

27

rules and applicable OJP guidance. It is an important distinction, in part because the 

federal administrative rules and requirements that apply to "subawards" and 

procurement "contracts" under awards differ markedly.

In general, the central question is the relationship between what the third-party will do 

under its agreement with the recipient and what the recipient has committed (to OJP) to 

do under its award to further a public purpose (e.g., services the recipient will provide, 

products it will develop or modify, research or evaluation it will conduct). If a third party 

will provide some of the services the recipient has committed (to OJP) to provide, will 

develop or modify all or part of a product the recipient has committed (to OJP) to 

develop or modify, or will conduct part of the research or evaluation the recipient has 

committed (to OJP) to conduct, OJP will consider the agreement with the third party a 

subaward for purposes of federal grants administrative requirements. 

This will be true even if the recipient, for internal or other non-federal purposes, labels or 

treats its agreement as a procurement, a contract, or a procurement contract. Neither 

the title nor the structure of an agreement determines whether the agreement — for 

purposes of federal grants administrative requirements — is a subaward or is instead a 

procurement “contract” under an award. 

Additional guidance on the circumstances under which (for purposes of federal grants 

administrative requirements) an agreement constitutes a subaward as opposed to a 

procurement contract under an award, is available (along with other resources) on the 

OJP Part 200 Uniform Requirements web page.

1. Information on proposed subawards

A recipient of an OJP award may not make subawards ("subgrants") unless the recipient 

has specific federal authorization to do so. Unless an applicable statute or DOJ 

regulation specifically authorizes (or requires) subawards, a recipient must have 

authorization from OJP before it may make a subaward.

A particular subaward may be authorized by OJP because the recipient included a 

sufficiently-detailed description and justification of the proposed subaward in the 

application as approved by OJP. If, however, a particular subaward is not authorized by 

federal statute or regulation, and is not sufficiently described and justified in the 

application as approved by OJP, the recipient will be required, post-award, to request

and obtain written authorization from OJP before it may make the subaward.

If an applicant proposes to make one or more subawards to carry out the federal award 

and program, the applicant should — (1) identify (if known) the proposed subrecipient(s), 

(2) describe in detail what each subrecipient will do to carry out the federal award and 

federal program, and (3) provide a justification for the subaward(s), with details on 

pertinent matters such as special qualifications and areas of expertise. Pertinent 

information on subawards should appear not only in the Program Narrative, but also in 

the Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative. 

2. Information on proposed procurement contracts (with specific justification for 

proposed noncompetitive contracts over $150,000)

Unlike a recipient contemplating a subaward, a recipient of an OJP award generally 

does not need specific prior federal authorization to enter into an agreement that — for 
NIJ-2017-11080

28

purposes of federal grants administrative requirements — is considered a procurement 

contract, provided that (1) the recipient uses its own documented procurement 

procedures and (2) those procedures conform to applicable federal law, including the 

Procurement Standards of the (DOJ) Part 200 Uniform Requirements (as set out at 2 

C.F.R. 200.317 - 200.326). The Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative should 

identify proposed procurement contracts. (As discussed above, subawards must be 

identified and described separately from procurement contracts.)

The Procurement Standards in the Part 200 Uniform Requirements, however, reflect a 

general expectation that agreements that (for purposes of federal grants administrative 

requirements) constitute procurement “contracts” under awards will be entered into on 

the basis of full and open competition. If a proposed procurement contract would exceed 

the simplified acquisition threshold — currently, $150,000 — a recipient of an OJP award 

may not proceed without competition unless and until the recipient receives specific 

advance authorization from OJP to use a non-competitive approach for the procurement.

An applicant that (at the time of its application) intends — without competition — to enter 

into a procurement contract that would exceed $150,000 should include a detailed 

justification that explains to OJP why, in the particular circumstances, it is appropriate to 

proceed without competition. Various considerations that may be pertinent to the 

justification are outlined in the DOJ Grants Financial Guide.

e. Pre-Agreement Cost Approvals

For information on pre-agreement costs, see Section B. Federal Award Information.

5. Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable)

Indirect costs may be charged to an award only if:

(a) The recipient has a current (that is, unexpired), federally approved indirect cost rate; 

or

(b) The recipient is eligible to use, and elects to use, the “de minimis” indirect cost rate 

described in the Part 200 Uniform Requirements, as set out at 2 C.F.R. 200.414(f).

An applicant with a current (that is, unexpired) federally-approved indirect cost rate is to 

attach a copy of the indirect cost rate agreement to the application. An applicant that does 

not have a current federally-approved rate may request one through its cognizant federal 

agency, which will review all documentation and approve a rate for the applicant entity, or, if 

the applicant’s accounting system permits, applicants may propose to allocate costs in the 

direct cost categories.

For assistance with identifying the appropriate cognizant federal agency for indirect costs, 

please contact the Customer Service Center at 1-800-458-0786 or at ask.ocfo@usdoj.gov. If 

DOJ is the cognizant federal agency, an applicant may obtain information needed to submit 

an indirect cost rate proposal at www.ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/IndirectCosts.pdf.

Certain OJP recipients have the option of electing to use the “de minimis” indirect cost rate. 

An applicant eligible to use the “de minimis” rate that wishes to use the "de minimis" rate 

should attach written documentation to the application that advises OJP of both — (1) the 

applicant’s eligibility to use the “de minimis” rate, and (2) its election to do so. If an eligible 
NIJ-2017-11080

29

applicant elects the “de minimis” rate, costs must be consistently charged as either indirect 

or direct costs, but may not be double charged or inconsistently charged as both. The "de 

minimis" rate may no longer be used once an approved federally-negotiated indirect cost 

rate is in place. (No entity that ever has had a federally-approved negotiated indirect cost 

rate is eligible to use the "de minimis" rate.)

6. Tribal Authorizing Resolution (if applicable)

A tribe, tribal organization, or third party that proposes to provide direct services or 

assistance to residents on tribal lands should include in its application a resolution, letter, 

affidavit, or other documentation, as appropriate, that demonstrates (as a legal matter) that 

the applicant has the requisite authorization from the tribe(s) to implement the proposed 

project on tribal lands. In those instances when an organization or consortium of tribes 

applies for an award on behalf of a tribe or multiple specific tribes, the application should 

include appropriate legal documentation, as described above, from all tribes that would 

receive services or assistance under the award. A consortium of tribes for which existing 

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

an authorizing resolution or comparable legal documentation from each tribal governing 

body) may submit, instead, a copy of its consortium bylaws with the application.

7. Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire (including 

applicant disclosure of high-risk status)

Every applicant (other than an individual applying in his/her personal capacity) is to 

download, complete, and submit the OJP Financial Management and System of Internal 

Controls Questionnaire, as part of its application.

Among other things, the form requires each applicant to disclose whether it currently is 

designated “high-risk” by a federal grant-making agency outside of DOJ. For purposes of 

this disclosure, high risk includes any status under which a federal awarding agency 

provides additional oversight due to the applicant’s past performance, or other programmatic 

or financial concerns with the applicant. If an applicant is designated high risk by another 

federal awarding agency, the applicant must provide the following information:

• The federal awarding agency that currently designates the applicant high-risk

• The date the applicant was designated high-risk

• The high-risk point of contact at that federal awarding agency (name, phone number, 

and email address)

• The reasons for the high-risk status, as set out by the federal awarding agency

OJP seeks this information to help ensure appropriate federal oversight of OJP awards. An 

applicant that is considered “high-risk” by another federal awarding agency is not 

automatically disqualified from receiving an OJP award. OJP may, however, consider the 

information in award decisions, and may impose additional OJP oversight of any award 

under this solicitation (including through the conditions that accompany the award 

document).
NIJ-2017-11080

30

8. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

Each applicant must complete and submit this information. An applicant that expends any 

funds for lobbying activities is to provide all of the information requested on the form 

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL). An applicant that does not expend any funds for 

lobbying activities is to enter “N/A” in the text boxes for item 10 (“a. Name and Address of 

Lobbying Registrant” and “b. Individuals Performing Services”).

9. Additional Attachments

a. Applicant disclosure of pending applications13

Each applicant is to disclose whether it has (or is proposed as a subrecipient under) any 

pending applications for federally-funded grants or cooperative agreements that (1) 

include requests for funding to support the same project being proposed in the 

application under this solicitation, and (2) would cover the identical cost items outlined in 

the budget submitted to OJP under this solicitation. The applicant is to disclose both 

applications made directly to federal awarding agencies, and also applications for 

subawards of federal funds (e.g., applications to state agencies that will subaward 

(“subgrant”) federal funds).

OJP seeks this information to help avoid any inappropriate duplication of funding. 

Leveraging multiple funding sources in a complementary manner to implement 

comprehensive programs or projects is encouraged and is not seen as inappropriate 

duplication.

Each applicant that has one or more pending applications as described above is to 

provide the following information about pending applications submitted within the last 12 

months:

• The federal or state funding agency.

• The solicitation name/project name.

• The point of contact information at the applicable funding agency.

 13 Typically, the applicant is not the principal investigator; rather, the applicant, most frequently, is the institution, 

organization, or company in which the principal investigator is employed.
NIJ-2017-11080

31

SAMPLE

Each applicant should include the table as a separate attachment to its application. The 

file should be named “Disclosure of Pending Applications.” The applicant Legal Name on 

the application must match the entity named on the disclosure of pending applications 

statement.

Any applicant that does not have any pending applications as described above is to 

submit, as a separate attachment, a statement to this effect: [Applicant Name on SF424] does not have (and is not proposed as a subrecipient under) any pending 

applications submitted within the last 12 months for federally-funded grants or 

cooperative agreements or for subawards under federal grants or cooperative 

agreements) that request funding to support the same project being proposed in this 

application to OJP and that would cover the identical cost items outlined in the budget 

submitted as part of this application.”

b. Research and Evaluation Independence and Integrity

When an application proposes research (including research and development) and/or 

evaluation, the applicant must demonstrate research/evaluation independence and 

integrity, including appropriate safeguards, before it may receive award funds. The 

applicant must demonstrate independence and integrity regarding both this proposed 

research and/or evaluation, and any current or prior related projects.

Each application should include an attachment that addresses both i. and ii. below.

Attach this information as a separate PDF file titled “Research and Evaluation 

Independence and Integrity.” 

i. For purposes of this solicitation, each applicant is to document research and 

evaluation independence and integrity by including one of the following two items:

a. A specific assurance that the applicant has reviewed its application to identify 

any actual or potential apparent conflicts of interest (including through review 

of pertinent information on the principal investigator, any co-principal 

investigators, and any subrecipients), and that the applicant has identified no 

such conflicts of interest – whether personal or financial or organizational 

(including on the part of the applicant entity or on the part of staff, 

investigators, or subrecipients) – that could affect the independence or 

integrity of the research, including the design, conduct, and reporting of the 

research.

Federal or 

State 

Funding 

Agency 

Solicitation 

Name/Project 

Name

Name/Phone/E-mail for Point of Contact at 

Funding Agency

DOJ/COPS COPS Hiring 

Program

Jane Doe, 202/000-0000; jane.doe@usdoj.gov

HHS/ 

Substance 

Abuse &

Mental Health 

Services 

Administration

Drug Free 

Communities 

Mentoring Program/ 

North County Youth 

Mentoring Program

John Doe, 202/000-0000; john.doe@hhs.gov
NIJ-2017-11080

32

OR

b. A specific description of actual or potential apparent conflicts of interest that 

the applicant has identified – including through review of pertinent information 

on the principal investigator, any co-principal investigators, and any 

subrecipients – that could affect the independence or integrity of the 

research, including the design, conduct, or reporting of the research. These 

conflicts may be personal (e.g., on the part of investigators or other staff), 

financial, or organizational (related to the applicant or any subrecipient entity). 

Some examples of potential investigator (or other personal) conflict situations 

are those in which an investigator would be in a position to evaluate a 

spouse’s work product (actual conflict), or an investigator would be in a 

position to evaluate the work of a former or current colleague (potential 

apparent conflict). With regard to potential organizational conflicts of interest, 

as one example, generally an organization would not be given an award to 

evaluate a project, if that organization had itself provided substantial prior 

technical assistance to that specific project or a location implementing the 

project (whether funded by OJP or other sources), because the organization 

in such an instance might appear to be evaluating the effectiveness of its own 

prior work. The key is whether a reasonable person understanding all of the 

facts would be able to have confidence that the results of any research or 

evaluation project are objective and reliable. Any outside personal or financial 

interest that casts doubt on that objectivity and reliability of an evaluation or 

research product is a problem and must be disclosed.

ii. In addition, for purposes of this solicitation, each applicant is to address possible 

mitigation of research integrity concerns by including, at a minimum, one of the 

following two items:

a. If an applicant reasonably believes that no actual or potential apparent 

conflicts of interest (personal, financial, or organizational) exist, then the 

applicant should provide a brief narrative explanation of how and why it 

reached that conclusion. The applicant also is to include an explanation of the 

specific processes and procedures that the applicant has in place, or will put 

in place, to identify and prevent (or, at the very least, mitigate) any such 

conflicts of interest pertinent to the funded project during the period of 

performance. Documentation that may be helpful in this regard may include 

organizational codes of ethics/conduct and policies regarding organizational, 

personal, and financial conflicts of interest. There is no guarantee that the 

plan, if any, will be accepted as proposed.

OR

b. If the applicant has identified actual or potential apparent conflicts of interest 

(personal, financial, or organizational) that could affect the independence and 

integrity of the research, including the design, conduct, or reporting of the 

research, the applicant is to provide a specific and robust mitigation plan to 

address each of those conflicts. At a minimum, the applicant is expected to 

explain the specific processes and procedures that the applicant has in place, 

or will put in place, to identify and eliminate (or, at the very least, mitigate) 

any such conflicts of interest pertinent to the funded project during the period 
NIJ-2017-11080

33

of performance. Documentation that may be helpful in this regard may 

include organizational codes of ethics/conduct and policies regarding 

organizational, personal, and financial conflicts of interest. There is no 

guarantee that the plan, if any, will be accepted as proposed.

OJP will assess research and evaluation independence and integrity based on 

considerations such as the adequacy of the applicant’s efforts to identify factors that 

could affect the objectivity or integrity of the proposed staff and/or the applicant entity 

(and any subrecipients) 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.

c. Disclosure of Process Related to Executive Compensation

An applicant that is a nonprofit organization may be required to make certain 

disclosures relating to the processes it uses to determine the compensation of its 

officers, directors, trustees, and key employees.

Under certain circumstances, a nonprofit organization that provides unreasonably 

high compensation to certain persons may subject both the organization’s managers 

and those who receive the compensation to additional federal taxes. A rebuttable 

presumption of the reasonableness of a nonprofit organization’s compensation 

arrangements, however, may be available if the nonprofit organization satisfied 

certain rules set out in Internal Revenue Service regulations with regard to its 

compensation decisions.

Each applicant nonprofit organization must state at the time of its application (in the

"OJP Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire" 

mentioned earlier) whether or not the applicant entity believes (or asserts) that it 

currently satisfies the requirements of 26 C.F.R. 53.4958-6 (which relate to 

establishing or invoking a rebuttable presumption of reasonableness of compensation 

of certain individuals and entities).

A nonprofit organization that states in the questionnaire that it believes (or asserts) 

that it has satisfied the requirements of 26 C.F.R. 53.4958-6 must then disclose, in an 

attachment to its application (to be titled "Disclosure of Process related to Executive 

Compensation"), the process used by the applicant nonprofit organization to 

determine the compensation of its officers, directors, trustees, and key employees 

(together, "covered persons").

At a minimum, the disclosure must describe in pertinent detail: (1) the composition of 

the body that reviews and approves compensation arrangements for covered 

persons; (2) the methods and practices used by the applicant nonprofit organization to 

ensure that no individual with a conflict of interest participates as a member of the 

body that reviews and approves a compensation arrangement for a covered person; 

(3) the appropriate data as to comparability of compensation that is obtained in 

advance and relied upon by the body that reviews and approves compensation 

arrangements for covered persons; and (4) the written or electronic records that the 

applicant organization maintains as concurrent documentation of the decisions with 

respect to compensation of covered persons made by the body that reviews and 

approves such compensation arrangements, including records of deliberations and of 

the basis for decisions.
NIJ-2017-11080

34

For purposes of the required disclosure, the following terms and phrases have the 

meanings set out by the Internal Revenue Service for use in connection with 26 C.F.R. 

53.4958-6: officers, directors, trustees, key employees, compensation, conflict of 

interest, appropriate data as to comparability, adequate documentation, and concurrent 

documentation.

Applicant nonprofit organizations should note that following receipt of an appropriate 

request, OJP may be authorized or required by law to make information submitted to 

satisfy this requirement available for public inspection. Also, a recipient may be required 

to make a prompt supplemental disclosure after the award in certain circumstances 

(e.g., changes in the way the organization determines compensation).

How to Apply

Applicants must register in, and submit applications through Grants.gov, a primary source to 

find federal funding opportunities and apply for funding. Find complete instructions on how to 

register and submit an application at www.Grants.gov. Applicants that experience technical 

difficulties during this process should call the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 800-518-

4726 or 606–545–5035, which operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except on federal 

holidays.

Registering with Grants.gov is a one-time process; however, processing delays may occur, 

and it can take several weeks for first-time registrants to receive confirmation of registration 

and a user password. OJP encourages applicants to register several weeks before the 

application submission deadline. In addition, OJP urges applicants to submit applications at 

least 72 hours prior to the application due date, in order to allow time for the applicant to receive 

validation messages or rejection notifications from Grants.gov, and to correct in a timely fashion 

any problems that may have caused a rejection notification.

OJP strongly encourages all prospective applicants to sign up for Grants.gov email notifications

regarding this solicitation. If this solicitation is cancelled or modified, individuals who sign up with 

Grants.gov for updates will be automatically notified.

Browser Information: Grants.gov was built to be compatible with Internet Explorer. For 

technical assistance with Google Chrome, or another browser, contact Grants.gov Customer 

Support.

Note on Attachments. Grants.gov has two categories of files for attachments: “mandatory” and 

“optional.” OJP receives all files attached in both categories. Please ensure that all required 

documents are attached in either Grants.gov category.

Note on File Names and File Types: Grants.gov only permits the use of certain specific

characters in file names of attachments. Valid file names may include only the characters shown 

in the table below. Grants.gov rejects any application that includes an attachment(s) with a file 

name that contains any characters not shown in the table below. Grants.gov forwards 

successfully-submitted applications to the OJP Grants Management System (GMS).
NIJ-2017-11080

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Characters Special Characters

Upper case (A – Z) Parenthesis ( ) Curly braces { } Square brackets [ ]

Lower case (a – z) Ampersand (&) Tilde (~) Exclamation point (!)

Underscore (__) Comma ( , ) Semicolon ( ; ) Apostrophe ( ‘ )

Hyphen ( - ) At sign (@) Number sign (#) Dollar sign ($)

Space Percent sign (%) Plus sign (+) Equal sign (=)

Period (.) When using the ampersand (&) in XML, applicants must use the 

“&” format.

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.” GMS may reject applications 

with files that use these extensions. It is important to allow time to change the type of file(s) if 

the application is rejected.

All applicants are required to complete the following steps: 

Every applicant entity must comply with all applicable System for Award Management (SAM) 

and unique entity identifier (currently, "DUNS" number) requirements. If an applicant entity has 

not fully complied with applicable SAM and unique identifier requirements by the time OJP 

makes award decisions, OJP may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive an 

award and may use that determination as a basis for making the award to a different applicant.

An individual who wishes to apply in his/her personal capacity should search Grants.gov for 

funding opportunities for which individuals are eligible to apply. Use the Funding Opportunity 

Number (FON) to register. (An applicant applying as an individual must comply with all 

applicable Grants.gov individual registration requirements.)

Complete the registration form at https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/IndCPRegister to create a 

username and password for Grants.gov. (An applicant applying as an individual should 

complete all steps except 1, 2 and 4.)

1. Acquire a unique entity identifier (currently, a Data Universal Numbering System 

(“DUNS”) number). In general, the Office of Management and Budget requires every 

applicant for a federal award (other than an individual) to include a "unique entity identifier" 

in each application, including an application for a supplemental award. Currently, a DUNS 

number is the required unique entity identifier.

A DUNS number is a unique nine-digit identification number provided by the commercial 

company Dun and Bradstreet. This unique entity identifier is used for tracking purposes, and 

to validate address and point of contact information for applicants, recipients, and 

subrecipients. It will be used throughout the life cycle of an OJP award. Obtaining a DUNS 

number is a free, one-time activity. Call Dun and Bradstreet at 866–705–5711 to obtain a 

DUNS number or apply online at www.dnb.com. A DUNS number is usually received within 

1-2 business days.

2. Acquire registration with the System for Award Management (SAM). SAM is the 

repository for certain standard information about federal financial assistance applicants, 

recipients, and subrecipients. All applicants for OJP awards (other than individuals) must 

maintain current registrations in the SAM database. An applicant must be registered in SAM 

to successfully register in Grants.gov. Each applicant must update or renew its SAM 
NIJ-2017-11080

36

registration at least annually to maintain an active status. SAM registration and renewal 

can take as long as 10 business days to complete.

An application cannot be successfully submitted in Grants.gov until Grants.gov receives the 

SAM registration information. Once the SAM registration/renewal is complete, the 

information transfer from SAM to Grants.gov can take as long as 48 hours. OJP 

recommends that the applicant register or renew registration with SAM as early as possible.

Information about SAM registration procedures can be accessed at www.sam.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. An applicant entity’s "unique entity identifier" (DUNS number) must be used 

to complete this step. For more information about the registration process for organizations 

and other entities, go to www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html. Individuals registering 

with Grants.gov should go to http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/individualregistration.html.

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. The E-Biz POC will need the Marketing Partner Identification 

Number (MPIN) password obtained when registering with SAM to complete this step. Note 

that an organization can have more than one AOR.

5. Search for the funding opportunity on Grants.gov. 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-2017-11080.

6. Submit a valid 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 two notifications from Grants.gov. The first will confirm the receipt of the 

application. The second will state whether the application has been validated and 

successfully submitted, or whether it has been rejected due to errors, with an explanation. It 

is possible to first receive a message indicating that the application is received, and then 

receive a rejection notice a few minutes or hours later. Submitting an application well ahead 

of the deadline provides time to correct the problem(s) that caused the rejection. Important:

OJP urges each applicant to submit its application at least 72 hours prior to the application 

due date, to allow time to receive validation messages or rejection notifications from 

Grants.gov, and to correct in a timely fashion any problems that may have caused a 

rejection notification. Applications must be successfully submitted through Grants.gov by 

11: 59 p.m. eastern time on February 28, 2017.

Click here for further details on DUNS numbers, SAM, and Grants.gov registration steps and 

timeframes.

Note: Application Versions

If an applicant submits multiple versions of the same application, OJP will review only the most 

recent system-validated version submitted.
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Experiencing Unforeseen Grants.gov Technical Issues

An applicant that experiences unforeseen Grants.gov technical issues beyond its control that

prevent it from submitting its application by the deadline may contact the Grants.gov Customer 

Support Hotline or the SAM Help Desk (Federal Service Desk) to report the technical issue and 

receive a tracking number. The applicant may e-mail the NIJ contact identified in the Contact 

Information section on the title page within 24 hours after the application deadline to request 

approval to submit its application after the deadline. The applicant’s e-mail must describe the 

technical difficulties, and must include a timeline of the applicant’s submission efforts, the 

complete grant application, the applicant’s DUNS number, and any Grants.gov Help Desk or 

SAM tracking number(s).

Note: OJP does not automatically approve requests to submit a late application. After 

OJP reviews the applicant’s request, and contacts the Grants.gov or SAM Help Desks to verify 

the reported technical issues, OJP will inform the applicant whether the request to submit a late 

application has been approved or denied. If OJP determines that the untimely application 

submission was due to the applicant’s failure to follow all required procedures, OJP will deny the 

applicant’s request to submit its application.

The following conditions generally are insufficient to justify late submissions:

• Failure to register in SAM or Grants.gov in sufficient time (SAM registration and renewal 

can take as long as 10 business days to complete. The information transfer from SAM to 

Grants.gov can take up to 48 hours.)

• Failure to follow Grants.gov instructions on how to register and apply as posted on its 

website.

• Failure to follow each instruction in the OJP solicitation.

• Technical issues with the applicant’s computer or information technology environment, 

such as issues with firewalls or browser incompatibility.

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

the top of the OJP Funding Resource Center web page.

E. Application Review Information

Review Criteria

Depending on the number of applications received, applications may be categorized by 

scientific discipline into discrete groups for purposes of peer review and/or selection for award.

Applications that meet basic minimum requirements will be evaluated by peer reviewers using 

the following review criteria.

Statement of the Problem (Understanding of the problem and its importance) – 10%

1. Demonstrated understanding of the problem that exists in an identified forensic science 

field/discipline or area of criminal justice.
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2. Demonstrated awareness of the current state of the art and technologies, both in 

practice and in past/current research, directed at the described problem.

Project Design and Implementation (Quality and technical merit) – 50%

1. Soundness of methods and analytic and technical approach to addressing the stated 

aim(s) of the proposed project. The overall strategy, methodology, and analyses should 

be well-reasoned and appropriate to accomplish the specific aims of the project.

2. Feasibility of proposed project and the strength of supporting data. The proof-of-principle 

of the proposed technology or methodology should be established and supported by 

preliminary data presented in or referenced in the proposal. More innovative plans 

and/or plans with a higher potential for failure should be counterbalanced to manage the 

inherent risk; e.g., by firm theoretical basis, reasonable preliminary data (depending on 

the mechanism), the track record of the principal investigator and any co-principal 

investigator(s), and an outstanding scientific and management plan.

3. Detailed description and justification of the sample type and sample size to be tested 

and approaches for data analysis are thorough and appropriate to accomplish the 

specific aims of the project.

4. Awareness of potential pitfalls of proposed project design and feasibility of proposed 

actions to minimize and/or mitigate them.

Potential Impact –20%

Potential for a significant scientific or technical advance(s) that will improve criminal/juvenile

justice in the United States, such as:

• Potential for significantly improved understanding of the stated criminal/juvenile justice 

problem. If the goals of the project are achieved, how will scientific knowledge, technical 

capability, and/or forensic science practice in the criminal justice system be improved? 

What is the likelihood that the project will exert a sustained, powerful influence on the 

forensic science field(s) related to criminal justice?

• Potential for innovative solution to address (all or a significant part of) the stated 

criminal/juvenile justice problem. How will successful completion change the concepts, 

methods, technologies, treatments, or services that drive the forensic science field as it 

relates to criminal justice? How will a successful project address the identified criminal 

justice or forensic science problem and associated critical barriers to progress?

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

applicant organization and proposed project staff) – 20%

1. Qualifications and experience of proposed project staff (that is, the principal investigator, 

any and all co-principal investigators, and all other individuals (and organizations)

identified in the application (regardless of “investigator” status) who will be significantly 

involved in substantive aspects of the proposal).

2. Demonstrated ability of the applicant organization to manage the effort.
NIJ-2017-11080

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3. Relationship between the capabilities/competencies of the proposed project staff 

(including the applicant organization) and the scope of the proposed project.

4. Strength of the scientific environment (e.g., institutional support, equipment and other 

physical resources, or collaborative arrangements) in which the work will be done and its 

contribution to the probability of success.

Budget

In addition peer reviewers will consider and may comment on the following additional items in 

the context of scientific and technical merit.

1. Total cost of the project relative to the perceived benefit (cost effectiveness).

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

3. Use of existing resources to conserve costs.

4. Alignment of the proposed budget with proposed project activities.

5. Proposed plan (if any) to produce or to make available to broader interested audiences, 

such as criminal/juvenile justice practitioners or policymakers, summary information from 

the planned scholarly products of the project.

Plan for Dissemination to Broader Audiences (if applicable to the proposed project)

Peer reviewers should comment — in the context of scientific and technical merit — on the 

proposed plan (if any) to produce or to make available to broader interested audiences, such as 

criminal/juvenile justice practitioners or policymakers as well as practitioners in other, related 

fields, summary information from the planned scholarly products of the project.

Review Process

OJP is committed to ensuring a fair and open process for making awards. 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. For purposes of assessing whether an applications meets basic 

minimum requirements and should proceed to further consideration, OJP screens applications 

for compliance with those requirements. Although specific requirements may vary, the following 

are common requirements applicable to all solicitations for funding under OJP programs:

• The application must be submitted by an eligible type of applicant.

• The application must request funding within programmatic funding constraints (if 

applicable).

• The application must be responsive to the scope of the solicitation.

• The application must include all items designated as “critical elements.”
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• The applicant must not be identified in SAM as excluded from receiving federal 

awards.

For a list of the critical elements for this solicitation, see “What an Application Should Include” 

under Section D. Application and Submission Information.

Peer review panels will evaluate, score, and rate applications that meet basic minimum 

requirements (critical elements). NIJ may use internal peer reviewers, external peer reviewers, 

or a combination, to assess applications on technical merit using the solicitation’s review 

criteria. An external peer reviewer is an expert in the subject matter of a given solicitation who is 

not a current DOJ employee. An internal reviewer is a current DOJ employee who is well-versed 

or has expertise in the subject matter of this solicitation. Peer reviewers’ ratings and any 

resulting recommendations are advisory only, although reviewer views are considered carefully. 

Other important considerations for NIJ include underserved populations, geographic diversity, 

strategic priorities, and available funding, as well as the planned scholarly products and the 

extent to which the budget detail worksheet and budget narrative accurately explain project 

costs that are reasonable, necessary, and otherwise allowable under federal law and applicable 

federal cost principles.

Pursuant to the Part 200 Uniform Requirements, before award decisions are made, OJP also 

reviews information related to the degree of risk posed by applicants. Among other things to 

help assess whether an applicant that has one or more prior federal awards has a satisfactory 

record with respect to performance, integrity, and business ethics, OJP checks whether the 

applicant is listed in SAM as excluded from receiving a federal award. In addition, if OJP 

anticipates that an award will exceed $150,000 in federal funds, OJP also must review and 

consider any information about the applicant that appears in the non-public segment of the 

integrity and performance system accessible through SAM (currently, the Federal Awardee 

Performance and Integrity Information System; "FAPIIS").

Important note on FAPIIS: An applicant, at its option, may review and comment on any 

information about itself that currently appears in FAPIIS and was entered by a federal awarding 

agency. OJP will consider any such comments by the applicant, in addition to the other 

information in FAPIIS, in its assessment of the risk posed by applicants."

The evaluation of risks goes beyond information in SAM, however. OJP itself has in place a 

framework for evaluating risks posed by applicants for competitive awards. OJP takes into 

account information pertinent to matters such as—

1. Applicant financial stability and fiscal integrity.

2. Quality of the management systems of the applicant, and applicant’s ability to meet 

prescribed management standards, including those outlined in the DOJ Grants Financial 

Guide.

3. Applicant’s history of performance under OJP and other DOJ awards (including scholarly 

products, and compliance with reporting requirements and award conditions), as well as 

awards from other federal agencies.

4. Reports and findings from audits of the applicant, including audits under the Part 200 

Uniform Requirements
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All final award decisions will be made by the Director of the National Institute of Justice. Peer 

reviewers’ ratings and any resulting recommendations are advisory only, although their views 

are considered carefully. In addition to peer review ratings, considerations for award 

recommendations and decisions may include, but are not limited to, planned scholarly products, 

proposed budgets, past performance (including scholarly products) under prior NIJ and OJP 

awards, research independence and integrity, strategic priorities, “new investigator” status, 

“innovative areas of research,” and available funding when making awards.

NIJ recognizes the value of engaging persons from various cultures, heritages and backgrounds 

throughout its grant making process; and broadly defines diversity beyond the scope of race, 

ethnicity, and gender to include scientific discipline, geographic location, persons with 

disabilities, sexual orientation, and years of professional experience. We recognize that diversity 

in thought, perspective, and experience are all critical to informing and advancing the field of 

criminal justice.

F. Federal Award Administration Information

Federal Award Notices

Award notifications will be made by September 30, 2017. OJP sends award notifications by 

email through GMS to the individuals listed in the application as the point of contact and the 

authorizing official (E-Biz POC and AOR). The email notification includes detailed instructions 

on how to access and view the award documents, and steps to take in GMS to start the award 

acceptance process. GMS automatically issues the notifications at 9:00 p.m. eastern time on 

the award date.

For each successful applicant, an individual with the necessary authority to bind the applicant 

will be required to login; execute a set of legal certifications and a set of legal assurances; 

designate a financial point of contact; thoroughly review the award, including all award 

conditions; and sign and accept the award. The award acceptance process requires physical 

signature of the award document by the authorized representative and the scanning of the fullyexecuted award document to OJP.

Administrative, National Policy, and other Legal Requirements

If selected for funding, in addition to implementing the funded project consistent with the OJPapproved application, the recipient must comply with all award conditions, as well as all 

applicable requirements of federal statutes, regulations, and executive orders (including 

applicable requirements referred to in the assurances and certifications executed in connection 

with award acceptance). OJP strongly encourages prospective applicants to review information 

on post-award legal requirements and common OJP award conditions prior to submitting an 

application.

Applicants should consult the “Overview of Legal Requirements Generally Applicable to OJP 

Grants and Cooperative Agreements - FY 2017 Awards”, available in the OJP Funding 

Resource Center. In addition, applicants should examine the following two legal documents, as 

each successful applicant must execute both documents before it may receive any award funds.

• Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility 

Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements.

• Standard Assurances.
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Applicants may view these documents in the Apply section of the OJP Funding Resource 

Center.

The web pages accessible through the “Overview of Legal Requirements Generally Applicable 

to OJP Grants and Cooperative Agreements - FY 2017 Awards” are intended to give applicants 

for OJP awards a general overview of important statutes, regulations, and award conditions that 

apply to many (or in some cases, all) OJP grants and cooperative agreements awarded in FY 

2017. Individual OJP awards typically also will include additional award conditions. Those 

additional conditions may relate to the particular statute, program, or solicitation under which the 

award in made; to the substance of the funded application; to the recipient's performance under 

other federal awards; to the recipient's legal status (e.g., as a for-profit entity); or to other 

pertinent considerations.

As stated above, NIJ expects any award under this in the form of a grant. If appropriate, on rare 

occasions an award may be made as a cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement will 

include a condition in the award document that sets out the “substantial federal involvement” in 

carrying out the award and program. Generally speaking, under cooperative agreements with 

OJP, responsibility for the day-to-day conduct of the funded project rests with the recipient. 

OJP, however, may have substantial involvement in matters such as coordination efforts and 

site selection, as well as review and approval of work plans, research designs, data collection 

instruments, and major project-generated materials. In addition, OJP often indicates in the 

award condition that it may redirect the project if necessary.

In addition to a condition that sets out the “substantial federal involvement” in the award, 

cooperative agreements awarded by OJP include a condition the requires specific reporting in 

connection with conferences, meetings, retreats, seminars, symposium, training activities, or 

similar events funded under the award.

General Information About Post-Federal Award Reporting Requirements

In addition to the deliverables and expected scholarly products described in Section A. Program 

Description, any recipient of an award under this solicitation will be required to submit the 

following reports and data.

Required reports. Recipients typically must submit quarterly financial reports, semi-annual

progress reports, final financial and progress reports, and, if applicable, an annual audit report in 

accordance with the Part 200 Uniform Requirements or specific award conditions. Applicants 

should anticipate that progress reports will be required to follow the non-budgetary components 

of the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) template/format. General information on 

RPPRs may be found at www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/rppr/. Future awards and fund drawdowns 

may be withheld if reports are delinquent. (In appropriate cases, OJP may require additional 

reports.)

Awards that exceed $500,000 will include an additional condition that, under specific 

circumstances, will require the recipient to report (to FAPIIS) information on civil, criminal, and 

administrative proceedings connected with (or connected to the performance of) either the OJP 

award or any other grant, cooperative agreement, or procurement contract from the federal 

government. Additional information on this reporting requirement appears in the text of the 

award condition posted on the OJP web site at http://ojp.gov/funding/FAPIIS.htm.

Special reporting requirements may be required as appropriate.
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As indicated earlier in this solicitation, NIJ expects scholarly products to result from any award 

under this solicitation. Please review the Goals, Objectives, Deliverables, and Expected 

Scholarly Products segment of the “Program-Specific Information” section of this solicitation, as 

well as the “Performance Measures” section.

Data on performance measures. In addition to required reports, each recipient of an award 

under this solicitation also must provide data that measure the results of the work done under 

the award. To demonstrate program progress and success, as well as to assist DOJ with 

fulfilling its responsibilities under the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 

(GPRA), Public Law 103-62, and the GPRA Modernization Act of 2010, Public Law 111–352, 

OJP will require any recipient, post award, to provide the data listed as “Data Recipient 

Provides” in the performance measures table in Section A. Program Description, under 

"Performance Measures," so that OJP can calculate values for this solicitation's performance 

measures.

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)

For questions directed to OJP, see NCJRS contact information on title page.

For contact information for Grants.gov, see the title page.

H. Other Information

Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552 and 5 U.S.C. 552a)

All applications submitted to OJP (including all attachments to applications) are subject to the 

federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and to the Privacy Act. By law, DOJ may withhold 

information that is responsive to a request pursuant to FOIA if DOJ determines that the 

responsive information either is protected under the Privacy Act or falls within the scope of one 

of nine statutory exemptions under FOIA. DOJ cannot agree in advance of a request pursuant 

to FOIA not to release some or all portions of an application.

In its review of records that are responsive to a FOIA request, OJP will withhold information in 

those records that plainly falls within the scope of the Privacy Act or one of the statutory 

exemptions under FOIA. (Some examples include certain types of information in budgets, and 

names and contact information for project staff other than certain key personnel.) In appropriate 

circumstances, OJP will request the views of the applicant/recipient that submitted a responsive 

document.

For example, if OJP receives a request pursuant to FOIA for an application submitted by a 

nonprofit or for-profit organization or an institution of higher education, or for an application that 

involves research, OJP typically will contact the applicant/recipient that submitted the 

application and ask it to identify — quite precisely — any particular information in the application 

that applicant/recipient believes falls under a FOIA exemption, the specific exemption it believes 

applies, and why. After considering the submission by the applicant/recipient, OJP makes an 

independent assessment regarding withholding information. OJP generally follows a similar 

process for requests pursuant to FOIA for applications that may contain law-enforcement 

sensitive information.
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Provide Feedback to OJP

To assist OJP in improving its application and award processes, OJP encourages applicants to 

provide feedback on this solicitation, the application submission process, and/or the application 

review process. Provide feedback to OJPSolicitationFeedback@usdoj.gov.

IMPORTANT: This e-mail is for feedback and suggestions only. OJP does not send replies from 

this mailbox to messages it receives in this mailbox. Any prospective applicant that has specific 

questions on any program or technical aspect of the solicitation must use the appropriate 

telephone number or e-mail listed on the front of this solicitation document to obtain information. 

These contacts are provided to help ensure that prospective applicants can directly reach an 

individual who can address specific questions in a timely manner.

If you are interested in being a reviewer for other OJP grant applications, please e-mail your 

resume to ojppeerreview@lmsolas.com. (Do not send your resume to the OJP Solicitation 

Feedback email account.) Note: Neither you nor anyone else from your organization or entity 

can be a peer reviewer in a competition in which you or your organization/entity has submitted 

an application.
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Application Checklist

Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice 

Purposes

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

What an Applicant Should Do:

Prior to Registering in Grants.gov:

_____ Acquire a DUNS Number (see page 35)

_____ Acquire or renew registration with SAM (see page 35)

To Register with Grants.gov: 

_____ Acquire AOR and Grants.gov username/password (see page 36)

_____ Acquire AOR confirmation from the E-Biz POC (see page 36)

To Find Funding Opportunity: 

_____ Search for the funding opportunity on Grants.gov (see page 36)

_____ Download Funding Opportunity and Application Package (see page 36)

_____ Sign up for Grants.gov email notifications (optional) (see page 34)

_____ Read Important Notice: Applying for Grants in Grants.gov

_____ Read OJP policy and guidance on “conference” approval, planning, and reporting

available at http://ojp.gov/financialguide/DOJ/PostawardRequirements/chapter3.10a.htm

(see page 15)

After Application Submission, Receive Grants.gov Email Notifications That:

_____ (1) Application has been received

_____ (2) Application has either been successfully validated or rejected with errors 

(see page 36)

If no Grants.gov receipt, and validation or error notifications are received:

_____ Please refer to the section: Experiencing Unforeseen Grants.gov Technical Issues 

(see page 37)

Overview of Post-Award Legal Requirements:

_____ Review the "Overview of Legal Requirements Generally Applicable to OJP Grants and 

Cooperative Agreements – FY 2017 Awards" in the OJP Funding Resource Center.

Eligibility Requirement: see cover page

What an Applicant Should Do:

_____ Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) (see page 16)

_____ Project Abstract (if applicable) (see page 17)

_____ Program Narrative (critical element) (see page 17)

_____ Appendices (see page 22)

_____ Bibliography/References

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

to the proposed study that supplement those in the narrative

_____ Curriculum vitae or resumes of senior/key personnel

_____ Documentation of “new investigator” status, if applicable

_____ Proposed project timeline and expected milestones

_____ Progress Report for Renewal and Revision Applications
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_____ Progress Report Publication List

_____ Multiple PI Leadership Plan

_____ Budget Detail Worksheet (critical element) (see page 25)

_____ Budget Narrative (critical element) (see page 26)

_____ Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) (see page 28)

_____ Tribal Authorizing Resolution (if applicable) (see page 29)

_____ Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire

(see page 29)

_____ Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) (see page 30)

_____ Additional Attachments

_____ Applicant Disclosure of Pending Applications (see page 30)

_____ Research and Evaluation Independence and Integrity (see page 31)

_____ Disclosure of Process related to Executive Compensation (see page 33)

_____ CV’s/Resumes (critical element) (see page 23)

_____ Request and Justification for Employee Compensation Waiver (if applicable)

(see page 14)

_____ Consortium/Contractual Arrangements

_____ Letters of Support

_____ Resource Sharing Plan

_____ Human Subjects Protection Paperwork 

_____ Privacy Certificate

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

investigator(s)

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

has been submitted (if applicable)