Notices regarding the solicitation “NIJ FY24 Graduate Research Fellowship” 

March 1, 2024: Footnote 1 on page 6 has been removed. Questions about whether a 

degree program qualifies under “sciences or engineering” may be directed to the OJP 

Response Center. In particular, we would like to clarify that Social Work is considered to 

be a qualifying degree program field.

February 7, 2024: Footnote 1 on page 6 has been modified. 

The original funding opportunity document begins on the next page.
Page 1 O-NIJ-2024-171946

OMB No. 1121-0329

Approval Expires 12/31/2023

U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Justice Programs

National Institute of Justice

NIJ FY24 Graduate Research Fellowship

Assistance Listing Number: 16.560

Grants.gov Opportunity Number: O-NIJ-2024-171946

Solicitation Release Date: January 18, 2024

Step 1: Application Grants.gov Deadline: 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on April 10, 2024

Step 2: Application JustGrants Deadline: 8:59 p.m. Eastern Time on April 17, 2024

Contents

Synopsis.................................................................................................................................... 4

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

Eligibility................................................................................................................................. 4

Agency Contact Information .................................................................................................. 4

Pre-Application Information Session...................................................................................... 5

Application Submission Information....................................................................................... 5

Registration........................................................................................................................ 5

Submission......................................................................................................................... 5

Program Description.................................................................................................................. 6

Program Description Overview .............................................................................................. 6

Statutory Authority ................................................................................................................. 6

Program-Specific Information ................................................................................................ 6

Solicitation Goals and Objectives ........................................................................................10

Goals................................................................................................................................10

Objectives ........................................................................................................................10

Deliverables .....................................................................................................................10

Priority Areas .......................................................................................................................11

Federal Award Information ..................................................................................................12

Awards, Amounts, and Durations.....................................................................................12

Availability of Funds .........................................................................................................12

Type of Award ..................................................................................................................12
Page 2 O-NIJ-2024-171946

Budget Information...........................................................................................................12

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement ...........................................................................14

Eligibility Information............................................................................................................14

How To Apply ..........................................................................................................................14

Application Resources .........................................................................................................14

How To Apply ......................................................................................................................15

Registration......................................................................................................................15

Submission.......................................................................................................................15

Submission Dates and Time................................................................................................15

Experiencing Unforeseen Technical Issues Preventing Submission of an Application 

(Technical Waivers) .........................................................................................................16

Application and Submission Information..............................................................................17

Content of Application Submission and Available Surveys..............................................17

Content of the SF-424 in Grants.gov ...............................................................................17

Content of the JustGrants Application Submission ..........................................................18

Application Review Information ...........................................................................................26

Review Criteria.................................................................................................................27

Review Process ...............................................................................................................28

Federal Award Administration Information...........................................................................29

Federal Award Notices.....................................................................................................29

Evidence-Based Programs or Practices ..........................................................................29

Information Regarding Potential Evaluation of Programs and Activities ..........................29

Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements......................................29

Civil Rights Compliance ...................................................................................................29

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls .................................................30

Information Technology Security Clauses........................................................................30

General Information About Post-Federal Award Reporting Requirements ......................30

Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)..................................................................................30

Other Information.................................................................................................................30

Freedom of Information and Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. §§ 552 and 552a).............................30

Provide Feedback to OJP ................................................................................................31

Performance Measures .......................................................................................................31

Application Checklist............................................................................................................32

Pre-Application.................................................................................................................32

Application Step 1 ............................................................................................................32
Page 3 O-NIJ-2024-171946

Application Step 2 ............................................................................................................33

Review, Certify, and Submit Application in JustGrants ....................................................34

Standard Solicitation Resources..........................................................................................35
Page 4 O-NIJ-2024-171946

Synopsis

Overview

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

Justice (NIJ) is seeking applications for funding. 

OJP is committed to advancing work that promotes civil rights and equity, increases access to 

justice, supports crime victims and individuals impacted by the justice system, strengthens 

community safety and protects the public from crime and evolving threats, and builds trust 

between law enforcement and the community.

With this solicitation, NIJ seeks to fund doctoral dissertation research that is relevant to 

preventing and controlling crime, advancing knowledge of victimization and effective victim 

services, or ensuring the fair and impartial administration of criminal or juvenile justice in the 

United States. This program furthers the DOJ’s mission by increasing the pool of researchers 

who are engaged in providing science-based solutions to problems relevant to criminal and 

juvenile justice policy and practice in the United States.

This program furthers DOJ’s mission to uphold the rule of law, to keep our country safe, and to 

protect civil rights.

Eligibility

• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education

• Private institutions of higher education

An applicant may submit more than one application, but each application must propose 

sponsoring a different doctoral candidate’s dissertation research.

Agency Contact Information

For assistance with the requirements of this solicitation, contact the OJP Response Center by 

phone at 800-851-3420 or 301-240-6310 (TTY for hearing-impaired callers only) or email 

grants@ncjrs.gov. The OJP Response Center operates from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern 

Time (ET) Monday-Friday and from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET on the solicitation closing date.

For contact procedures related to unforeseen technical issues beyond the control of the 

applicant that impact submission by the deadlines, see the “How To Apply” section, 

Experiencing Unforeseen Technical Issues. 

For assistance with submitting the Application for Federal Assistance standard form (SF-424)

and a Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) in Grants.gov, contact the Grants.gov 

Customer Support Hotline at 800-518-4726, 606-545-5035, Grants.gov Customer Support, or 

support@grants.gov. The Grants.gov Support Hotline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 

except on federal holidays.

For technical assistance with submitting the full application in JustGrants, contact the 

JustGrants Service Desk at 833-872-5175 or JustGrants.Support@usdoj.gov. The JustGrants 
Page 5 O-NIJ-2024-171946

Service Desk operates from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET Monday-Friday and from 9:00 a.m. to 

5:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sunday, and federal holidays.

Pre-Application Information Session

NIJ will hold an informational webinar on this solicitation on February 14, 2024 at 12pm EST. 

This meeting will provide a detailed overview of the solicitation and allow participants to ask 

questions. Visit the registration page for details.

Application Submission Information

Registration

Before submitting an application, an applicant must have a registration in the System for Award 

Management (SAM.gov). 

Submission

Applications must be submitted to DOJ electronically through a two-step process that begins in

Grants.gov and is completed in JustGrants. See the Submission Dates and Time section for the 

Grants.gov and JustGrants application deadlines.

Step 1: The applicant must register for this opportunity in Grants.gov at 

https://grants.gov/register and submit by the Grants.gov deadline the required Application for 

Federal Assistance standard form (SF-424) and a Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL). 

See the Submission Dates and Time section for application deadlines.

Step 2: The applicant must submit the full application, including attachments, in JustGrants at 

JustGrants.usdoj.gov by the JustGrants application deadline. See the Submission Dates and 

Time section for application deadlines.
Page 6 O-NIJ-2024-171946

Program Description

Program Description Overview

The Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) program provides grants to accredited academic 

institutions to support outstanding doctoral students whose dissertation research is relevant to 

criminal or juvenile justice. Applicant academic institutions are eligible to apply only if:

1. The student is currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program in the sciences or engineering.

2. The student’s proposed dissertation research has demonstrable relevance to preventing

and controlling crime, advancing knowledge of victimization and effective victim services,

or ensuring the fair and impartial administration of criminal or juvenile justice, in the

United States.

NIJ will give special consideration to proposals with methods that include meaningful 

engagement with the people closest to the subject of study, including practitioners as well as 

community members representing crime victims, people under criminal justice supervision, and 

members of high-crime communities.

NIJ also seeks proposals that include consideration and measurement of issues of diversity, 

discrimination, and bias across age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation, as 

applicable.

Statutory Authority

Any awards under this solicitation would be made under statutory authority provided by a fullyear appropriations act for FY 2024. As of the writing of this solicitation, the Department of 

Justice is operating under a short-term "Continuing Resolution"; no full-year appropriation for 

the Department has been enacted for FY 2024. 

Program-Specific Information

Degree-granting academic institutions are encouraged to sponsor outstanding and promising 

doctoral students whose dissertation research has direct implications for preventing and 

controlling crime, advancing knowledge of victimization and effective victim services, or 

ensuring the fair and impartial administration of criminal or juvenile justice, in the United States.

In prior years, NIJ posted separate solicitations for applicants in the social and behavioral 

sciences (GRF-SBS) and for those in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields 

(GRF-STEM). All eligible applicants are now invited to apply under this single funding 

opportunity (GRF), without distinction between SBS and STEM. NIJ anticipates continued 

support for graduate research from all branches of the sciences, and invites applications from 

eligible applicants regardless of degree program. Proposals will continue to be reviewed by 

panels of experts appropriate to the field of study. Clearly indicating the student’s degree 
Page 7 O-NIJ-2024-171946

program on the proposal narrative cover page will facilitate assignment to appropriate 

reviewers.

To learn more about the program, including answers to Frequently Asked Questions, go to 

https://www.nij.ojp.gov/GRF. Look for information on a webinar scheduled for a date to be 

determined. Webinar slides and a transcript will be posted after the event.

Awards are anticipated to be made to successful applicant institutions in the form of grants to 

cover fellowships for the sponsored doctoral students. Each fellowship provides up to three 

years of support usable within a five-year period. For each year of support, NIJ provides the 

degree-granting institution $41,000 for Salary and Fringe, up to $16,000 in Cost of Education 

Allowance, and up to $3,000 in Research Expenses (see Federal Award Information section). 

The award will be made for the total fellowship amount (up to three years of funding). Although 

the award is made for the full amount, after the first year, each annual funding increment is 

withheld pending annual demonstration of continued enrollment and adequate progress towards 

the degree.

Successful applicants must demonstrate clearly how the proposed dissertation research will 

advance criminal or juvenile justice practice and/or policy in the United States.

Applicants contemplating research relevant to the forensic sciences may consider the problem 

areas highlighted by NIJ’s Forensic Science Technology Working Group (TWG), which identifies 

current technology challenges encountered in operational forensic science laboratories, as well 

as NIJ’s Forensic Science Strategic Research Plan. Additional research needs of the forensic 

science community can be found at the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) 

website. 

Applicants contemplating research on topics relevant to the other sciences, mathematics, or 

engineering in the areas of criminal or juvenile justice, victimization, or victims services, may 

consider the information provided here: Search | National Institute of Justice (ojp.gov). 

Although the above priorities are provided as possible focus areas for proposed research, they 

should not be considered as limiting the range of eligible research. All eligible applicants 

proposing research with demonstrated relevance to criminal and/or juvenile justice practice 

and/or policy in the United States are invited to apply.

Applicant Information

The applicant under this solicitation will be a degree-granting academic institution in the United 

States or its territories. To be eligible, the academic institution of record must be fully accredited 

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

Education. An applicant institution sponsoring a doctoral student is eligible to apply only if the 

doctoral student satisfies the Doctoral Student Eligibility Requirements listed below. 

Applications from students who apply as individuals will be removed from consideration. 

The academic institution’s institution-wide research office (e.g., office of sponsored research) 

must submit an application electronically. The applicant institution must demonstrate that the 

sponsored graduate student is enrolled in a qualifying doctoral degree program at the time of 

application. This should take the form of a document from the Office of the Registrar, or an 
Page 8 O-NIJ-2024-171946

equivalent university- or college-wide office with the authority to verify status. A transcript may 

be accepted if it clearly indicates the student’s current full-time enrollment in the qualifying 

doctoral degree program.

Doctoral Student Eligibility Requirements

The graduate student must:

1. Be currently enrolled full-time in a doctoral degree program in the sciences or 

engineering1 at the eligible academic institution.

2. Propose a dissertation research topic that has demonstrable relevance to preventing 

and controlling crime, advancing knowledge of victimization and effective victim services, 

or ensuring the fair and impartial administration of criminal or juvenile justice, in the 

United States.

The doctoral student need not have a dissertation committee at the time the application is 

submitted, nor is it necessary for the student’s dissertation topic to have been accepted by the 

committee. However, if the application is selected for award, grant funds will be withheld until 

the applicant academic institution submits proof that the student’s dissertation topic has been 

accepted by the committee, and that it is substantively the same as that proposed in the 

application.

If the doctoral student has an approved topic at the time of application, then it should be noted 

in a statement of support from the doctoral student’s dissertation committee chair (see 

Dissertation Committee Chair Requirements below). 

If the doctoral student does not yet have a dissertation committee, or the dissertation topic has 

not yet been approved at the time of application, then the expected dates by which the doctoral 

student will meet these requirements should be indicated in the project timeline (see “Project 

Timeline and Expected Milestones” under Appendices). In addition, the doctoral student’s 

faculty advisor, department chair, departmental director of graduate studies, or an individual 

with similar responsibilities, must submit a statement of support at the time of application. That 

statement of support should generally follow the outline provided below for the statement of 

support from the dissertation committee chair, including all relevant elements.

Even though an award may be made, access to award funds will be withheld until the required 

documentation is received and approved by NIJ. NIJ anticipates that award notifications will be 

made on or before September 30, 2024. The applicant academic institution and the doctoral 

student are cautioned not to anticipate the availability of fellowship funds for meeting any 

necessary or required expenses until the requirements stipulated above have been met in full.

Awarded applicants may receive fellowship funding only while the student is actively enrolled in 

the doctoral degree program and is carrying out research for the dissertation identified in the 

applicant’s funding application.

Dissertation Committee Chair Requirements

Although a fellowship may be awarded based on consideration of a letter of support from the 

faculty advisor, department chair, departmental director of graduate studies, or individual with 

similar responsibilities, NIJ must receive a signed statement of support from the sponsored 
Page 9 O-NIJ-2024-171946

student’s dissertation committee chair prior to authorizing the disbursement of award funds. If 

the dissertation committee has accepted the student’s topic at the time of application, that 

statement of support must be submitted as part of the application. If the topic has not been 

accepted by the time of application, it must be submitted as soon as is reasonable after the 

topic has been approved. The approved dissertation topic must remain substantively similar to 

that initially proposed.

The statement of support should:

• Evaluate the student’s proposed project.

• Describe the current status of the proposed work.

• Outline any pending milestones — academic or otherwise — toward completion of the 

degree.

• Describe the committee chair’s role in monitoring the project, and verify that the 

committee chair will review all performance reports prior to submission to NIJ.

An application that does not include the statement of support from (1) the dissertation 

committee chair or (2) the doctoral student’s faculty advisor, department chair, 

departmental director of graduate studies, or individual with similar responsibilities, will 

be removed from consideration. 

For information on application elements designated as critical by NIJ under this solicitation, see 

Application and Submission Information. 

Evaluation Research

If an application includes an evaluation research component (or consists entirely of evaluation 

research), the application is expected to propose the most rigorous evaluation design 

appropriate for the research questions to be addressed. If the primary purpose of the evaluation 

is to determine the effectiveness or impact of an intervention (e.g., program, practice, or policy), 

the most rigorous evaluation designs may include random selection and assignment of 

participants (or other appropriate units of analysis) to experimental and control conditions. In 

cases where randomization is not feasible, applicants should propose a strong quasiexperimental design that can address the risk of selection bias.

Applications that propose evaluation research should also include an implementation evaluation 

component to ensure that implementation fidelity metrics are collected and analyzed. Applicants 

are encouraged to propose research methods that enable interim feedback on implementation 

fidelity to enable program providers to make ongoing improvements in program delivery.

If an application proposes an evaluation involving program staff, the applicant must demonstrate 

research/evaluation independence and provide a description of and justification for the roles of 

program staff as distinct from evaluation activities, a discussion of potential risks (if any) to 

independence and integrity, and a description of the safeguards that will be employed to ensure 

research independence.

NIJ also encourages applicants to consider the feasibility of including a cost/benefit analysis. In 

cases where evaluations find that interventions have produced the intended benefit, cost/benefit 

analysis provides valuable and practical information for practitioners and policymakers that 

helps with decision-making. Evaluation research projects may also address a wide range of 
Page 10 O-NIJ-2024-171946

research questions beyond those focused on the effectiveness or impact of an intervention. 

Different research designs may be more appropriate for different research questions and at 

different stages of program development. The intervention strategies, setting, other contextual 

factors, and resources should be considered when selecting an evaluation design.

In all cases, applications are expected to propose the most rigorous evaluation design 

appropriate for the research questions to be addressed. Applicants are encouraged to review 

evidence-rating criteria at https://crimesolutions.ojp.gov/about/how-we-review-and-rateprogram-start-finish for further information on high-quality evaluation design elements.

Solicitation Goals and Objectives

Goals

The ultimate goal of this program is to increase the pool of researchers who are engaged in 

providing solutions to problems relevant to criminal and/or juvenile justice policy and practice in 

the United States. Through the GRF program, NIJ supports the research of promising doctoral 

students as they train to become the creators of future innovation. This is consistent with 

national research and development (R&D) priorities2: 

• Cultivating an equitable STEM education, engagement, and workforce ecosystem. 

The training of the American workforce, a critical component of maintaining American 

competitiveness, is a national priority. This program supports the training of young scientists 

capable of meeting future science and technology workforce demands. NIJ’s GRF program 

seeks to engage these emerging researchers to help meet the needs of America’s criminal 

and/or juvenile justice practitioners, while simultaneously developing their skills to contribute 

broadly to America’s research and development enterprise.

Objectives

The objective of this solicitation is to support Ph.D. students who are engaged in research 

relevant to NIJ’s mission to the successful completion of their degree programs. The fellowship 

stipend, cost of education allowance, and research expenses allowance are intended to provide 

the financial resources to allow these students to devote maximum effort to the completion of 

their degrees.

Deliverables

Fellowship award recipients are expected to produce the following deliverables.

Recipients of awards made under this solicitation will be required to submit annual and final 

performance reports, and quarterly financial reports, to NIJ by specified deadlines (see Federal 

Award Administration Information section). The final deliverable for awards under this 

solicitation are:

• A copy of the doctoral student’s defended dissertation.

• Archived datasets with associated metadata and documentation.

2 https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/M-22-15.pdf.
Page 11 O-NIJ-2024-171946

• A list of scholarly products resulting from the dissertation research, as well as products 

developed for broad dissemination to informal audiences.

Such scholarly products may take the form of peer-reviewed journal articles, indexed 

conference abstracts, book chapters or books in the academic press, technological prototypes, 

software, patented inventions, or similar scientific products. Products developed for broad 

dissemination to informal audiences may take the form of websites, webinars, podcasts, 

informational documents, online tools, or other similar products.

NIJ may forward the dissertation for public archiving or abstracting at the National Criminal 

Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) Virtual Library. Any request for an embargo period on 

public archiving of the full text dissertation, or for abstracting only with a link to a full-text 

resource (such as a dissertation repository), must be made to the grant manager at the time of 

dissertation submission.

GRF fellows are expected to archive all datasets in venues appropriate to their scientific 

communities and in accordance with their data archiving plan (see Data Archiving Plan under 

“Application and Submission Information”). This should include associated metadata and any 

documentation necessary for others to reproduce the project’s findings. Applicants are 

encouraged to review NIJ’s Data Archiving page for information on archiving study datasets and 

appropriate data repositories, including the NIJ-funded National Archive of Criminal Justice Data

(NACJD) for criminal justice social science data.

In addition to these deliverables, 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. NIJ 

expects that there will be an equal effort to make the research findings accessible to practitioner 

and policymaker audiences.

For information about what the applicant needs to submit regarding Goals, Objectives, and 

Deliverables, please see the Solicitation Goals and Objectives.

Priority Areas

NIJ will give special consideration in award decisions to proposals from Minority Serving 

Institutions (MSIs). 

Minority-Serving Institutions include:

• Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)

• Hispanic-serving Institutions (HSI)

• Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU)

• Alaska Native-serving Institutions or Native Hawaiian-serving Institutions (ANNH)

• Predominantly Black Institutions (PBI)

• Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving Institutions (AANAPISI)

• Native American-serving Non-Tribal Institutions (NASNTI)

Whether an institution is an MSI is based on the original purpose of its establishment or its 

current enrollment thresholds and is designated as such by the federal government for various 
Page 12 O-NIJ-2024-171946

purposes under specific statutes. For more information, please see the U.S. Department of 

Education’s definitions and lists of institutions. (The lists are provided for reference purposes 

only; MSI status is not an eligibility criterion for this solicitation.)

Note: Addressing this priority area is one of many factors that NIJ considers in making funding 

decisions. Receiving priority consideration for one or more priority areas does not guarantee an 

award.

Federal Award Information

Awards, Amounts, and Durations

Anticipated Number of Awards: Approximately 20 awards. Total number of awards NIJ expects 

to make to be determined by the number of applications received and their merit.

Anticipated Maximum Dollar Amount per Award: Up to $180,000. Maximum dollar amount for 

each award to be determined by the requirements of the research proposed in grants selected 

for award. Applicants are encouraged to propose budgets that match the research activities 

proposed, up to the full dollar amount anticipated to be awarded under this solicitation.

Period of Performance Start Date: 01/01/2025. 

Period of Performance Duration (Months): Up to 60 Months. To be determined by the period of 

performance of awarded applications. Successful applicants will be expected to complete the 

work proposed within a five-year period of performance.

Anticipated Total Amount To Be Awarded Under This Solicitation: $2,250,000. 

Additional Information: Grantees must clear all required award conditions before incurring 

expenses barring spending pre-approval, and, if applicable, confirm NIJ approval of new or 

modified Institutional Review Board (IRB) and privacy certificate documents before beginning 

research activities.

Availability of Funds

This funding opportunity, and awards under this funding opportunity, are subject to the 

availability of funding and to any changes or additional requirements that may be imposed by 

the agency or by law. In addition, nothing in this solicitation is intended to, and does not, create 

any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party 

against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or 

agents, or any other person. 

Type of Award

NIJ expects to make awards under this funding opportunity as grants. See the “Administrative, 

National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements” section of the Application Resource Guide for a 

brief discussion of important statutes, regulations, and award conditions that apply to many (or 

in some cases, all) OJP grants.

Budget Information
Page 13 O-NIJ-2024-171946

The applicant’s budget should reflect the entire proposed project timeline of up to three years of 

funding, in discrete 12-month increments. The Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) 

should reflect the cumulative funding request.

Each year of support includes:

1. $41,000 Salary and Fringe Benefits.

2. Up to $16,000 Cost of Education Allowance.

3. Up to $3,000 Research Expenses.

The $41,000 Salary and Fringe Benefits budget category may include fringe benefits (if 

applicable) and health insurance, at the applicant institution’s discretion. Where possible, in 

accordance with institutional policy, academic institutions should account for the full amount of 

$41,000 when justifying the personnel expenses of the doctoral student. The Salary and Fringe 

category may not include support for any person other than the doctoral student.

The $16,000 Cost of Education Allowance may include any combination of the doctoral 

student’s tuition, student fees, or university administrative or indirect costs. If the university 

elects not to use the entire $16,000 Cost of Education Allowance for tuition, fees, or 

administrative or indirect costs, the remaining portion may be used to supplement allowable 

expenses under the Research Expenses category.

The $3,000 Research Expenses category may include research supplies, instrumental user 

facility time, incentives for human subjects participation, undergraduate research assistants, 

data collection site travel, conference travel, or professional society membership fees, among 

other allowable expenses during the award period of performance.

All travel should be relevant, reasonable, and justified. As the goal of the GRF program is to 

support the development of new scholars, some conference travel early in the project period to 

attend and observe, rather than present original research, may be acceptable. International 

travel requires additional justification and prior approval.

The following are sample budget narrative descriptions of relevant cost items that might be used 

by an applicant:

Salaries and Wages — Personnel

The Principal Investigator (i.e., the doctoral student), Mr./Ms. xxx, will devote xxx summer 

months and xxx academic months per year toward the project. One summer month effort is 

equivalent to xxx hours. One academic month’s effort is equivalent to xxx hours. Therefore, the 

salary paid to Mr./Ms. xxx in each academic month will be xxx, and in each summer month will 

be xxx. (Note that if a stipend will be allocated in equal disbursements each month, please 

provide such a description with the corresponding monthly breakdown.)

The fringe benefit rate during the academic year for the graduate student is ___ %. The summer 

fringe benefit rate is ___ %. The benefits included in this rate cover __________.

Travel

Attendance at the xxx Annual Meeting will provide an opportunity to disseminate the results of 

my work within the relevant academic community. The meeting will be held in xxx. The expected 
Page 14 O-NIJ-2024-171946

lodging rate is $xxx, based on xxx source, for a total of xxx nights ($xxx total). The meal 

allowance is $xxx per day, based on xxx source. (Note that whether the appropriate source is 

the federal per diem rate or a lower rate stipulated by the academic institution is at the 

institution’s discretion.) The expected transportation cost is $xxx, based on xxx source. Other 

anticipated costs include an anticipated baggage fee of $xxx. The total requested funding for 

this travel event is $xxx.

What will not be funded:

• Applications primarily to purchase equipment, materials, or supplies, or to provide direct 

services. (A budget may include these items if they are necessary to conduct research, 

development, demonstration, evaluation, or analysis.)

• Applications for dissertation research by doctoral students who are not pursuing 

research relevant to crime, advancing knowledge of victimization and effective victim 

services, or the fair and impartial administration of criminal or juvenile justice in the 

United States.

• Applications that are not responsive to the purposes of this specific solicitation.

The applicant should identify within their budget which items, services, etc., will/would be 

covered by matching sources and explain what type of match will be provided.

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement

See “Cofunding” paragraph under “Budget and Associated Documentation” in the “Application 

and Submission Information” section.

Eligibility Information

For eligibility information, see the Synopsis section. 

How To Apply

Application Resources

When preparing and submitting an application, the following resources may aid prospective 

applicants:

1. Grants.gov “How to Apply for Grants.” 

2. OJP “How To Apply” section in the Application Resource Guide. 

3. JustGrants Application Submission Training. 

4. NIJ Guidance for Applicants and Awardees. 

This solicitation (notice of funding opportunity) incorporates guidance provided in the OJP Grant 

Application Resource Guide (Application Resource Guide), which provides additional 

information for applicants to prepare and submit applications to OJP for funding. If this 

solicitation requires something different from any guidance provided in the Application 

Resource Guide, the difference will be noted in this solicitation and the applicant is to 

follow the guidelines in this solicitation, rather than the guidance in the Application 

Resource Guide that is in conflict.
Page 15 O-NIJ-2024-171946

How To Apply

Registration

Before submitting an application, all applicants must register with the System for Award 

Management (SAM.gov). An applicant must renew their registration every 12 months. If an 

applicant does not renew their SAM.gov registration, it will expire. An expired registration can 

delay or prevent application submission in Grants.gov and JustGrants. Applicants are 

encouraged to start the SAM.gov registration process at least 30 days prior to the application 

deadlines. Applicants who fail to begin the registration or renewal process at least 10 business 

days prior to the Grants.gov deadline may not complete the process in time and will not be 

considered for late submission. 

Submission

Applications must be submitted to DOJ electronically through a two-step process that begins in 

Grants.gov and is completed in JustGrants.

Step 1: After registering with SAM.gov, the applicant must submit the SF-424 and SF-LLL in 

Grants.gov at https://grants.gov/register by the Grants.gov deadline. To leave time to address 

any technical issues that may arise, an applicant should submit the SF-424 and SF-LLL 

as early as possible and recommended not later than 48 hours before the Grants.gov 

deadline. If an applicant fails to submit in Grants.gov by the deadline, they will be unable to 

apply in JustGrants. Applicants can confirm Grants.gov submission by verifying their application 

status shows as “submitted” or “agency tracking number assigned.”

Step 2: The applicant must then submit the full application, including attachments, in 

JustGrants at JustGrants.usdoj.gov by the JustGrants deadline.

OJP recommends that applicants submit the complete application package in JustGrants at 

least 48 hours prior to the JustGrants deadline. Some of the required sections of the application 

will be entered directly into JustGrants, and other sections will require documents to be 

uploaded and attached. Therefore, applicants should allow enough time before the JustGrants 

deadline to prepare all the requirements of the application. Applicants may save their progress 

in the system and add to or change the application as needed prior to hitting the “Submit” button 

at the end of the application in JustGrants.

An applicant will receive emails when successfully submitting in Grants.gov and JustGrants and 

should maintain all emails and other confirmations received from SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and 

JustGrants systems.

For additional information, see the “How To Apply” section in the Application Resource Guide

and the DOJ Application Submission Checklist. 

Submission Dates and Time

The SF-424 and the SF-LLL must be submitted in Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET on April 10, 

2024.
Page 16 O-NIJ-2024-171946

The full application must be submitted in JustGrants by 8:59 p.m. ET on April 17, 2024.

To be considered timely, the full application must be submitted in JustGrants by the 

JustGrants application deadline. Failure to begin the SAM.gov, Grants.gov, or JustGrants 

registration and application process in sufficient time (i.e., waiting until the due dates identified 

in this solicitation for those systems to begin the application steps) is not an acceptable reason

to request a technical waiver. 

Experiencing Unforeseen Technical Issues Preventing Submission of an Application 

(Technical Waivers)

OJP will only consider requests to submit an application after the deadline when the applicant 

can document that a technical issue with a government system prevented submission of the 

application on time.

If an applicant misses a deadline due to unforeseen technical issues with SAM.gov, Grants.gov, 

or JustGrants, the applicant may request a waiver to submit an application after the deadline. 

However, the waiver request will not be considered unless it includes documentation of attempts 

to receive technical assistance to resolve the issue prior to the application deadline. A tracking 

number is the most typical documentation and is generated when the applicant contacts the 

applicable service desks to report technical difficulties. Tracking numbers are generated 

automatically when an applicant emails the applicable service desks, and for this reason, long 

call wait times for support do not relieve the applicant of the responsibility of getting a tracking 

number.

An applicant experiencing technical difficulties must contact the associated service desk 

indicated below to report the technical issue and receive a tracking number:

• SAM.gov: contact the SAM.gov Help Desk (Federal Service Desk), Monday-Friday from 

8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET at 866-606-8220.

• Grants.gov: contact the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline, 24 hours a day, 7 days a 

week, except on federal holidays, at 800-518-4726, 606-545-5035, or 

support@grants.gov. 

• JustGrants: contact the JustGrants Service Desk at JustGrants.Support@usdoj.gov or 

833-872-5175, Monday-Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET and Saturday, Sunday, 

and federal holidays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET. 

If an applicant has technical issues with SAM.gov or Grants.gov, the applicant must contact the 

OJP Response Center at grants@ncjrs.gov within 24 hours of the Grants.gov deadline to 

request approval to submit after the deadline.

If an applicant has technical issues with JustGrants that prevent application submission by the 

deadline, the applicant must contact the OJP Response Center at grants@ncjrs.gov within 24 

hours of the JustGrants deadline to request approval to submit after the deadline.

Waiver requests sent to the OJP Response Center must: 

• describe the technical difficulties experienced (provide screenshots if applicable); 
Page 17 O-NIJ-2024-171946

• include a timeline of the applicant’s submission efforts (e.g., date and time the error 

occurred, date and time of actions taken to resolve the issue and resubmit; and date and 

time support representatives responded);

• include an attachment of the complete grant application and all the required 

documentation and materials; 

• include the applicant’s Unique Entity Identifier (UEI); and

• include any SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and JustGrants Service Desk tracking numbers 

documenting the technical issue.

OJP will review each waiver request and the required supporting documentation and notify the 

applicant whether the request for late submission has been approved or denied. An applicant 

that does not provide documentation of a technical issue (including all information listed above), 

or that does not submit a waiver request within the required time period, will be denied.

For more details on the waiver process, OJP encourages applicants to review the “Experiencing 

Unforeseen Technical Issues” section in the Application Resource Guide. 

Application and Submission Information

Content of Application Submission and Available Surveys

The following application elements must be included in the application to meet the basic 

minimum requirements to advance to peer review and receive consideration for funding:

• SF-424 and SF-LLL (in Grants.gov). 

• Proposal Narrative (in JustGrants). 

• Budget Web-Based Form, which includes the budget details and the budget narrative (in 

JustGrants). 

• Verification of Current Enrollment in a qualifying degree program. 

• Undergraduate and Graduate Transcripts (official or unofficial). 

• Statement of Support from the dissertation committee chair (or, if the student does not 

yet have a committee, the student’s faculty advisor, department chair, departmental 

director of graduate studies, or an individual with similar responsibilities).

• Biosketches, Curriculum Vitae, or Resumes for Key Personnel. (For purposes of this 

solicitation, “key personnel” means the student and the person providing the Statement 

of Support.)

• Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire, including 

applicant disclosure of high-risk status (in JustGrants). 

If NIJ determines that an application does not include these elements, it will not proceed to peer 

review and will not receive any further consideration.

Content of the SF-424 in Grants.gov

The SF-424 must be submitted in Grants.gov. It is a required standard form used as a cover 

sheet for submission of pre-applications, applications, and related information. See the 

Application Resource Guide for additional information on completing the SF-424. 
Page 18 O-NIJ-2024-171946

In Section 8F of the SF-424, please include the name and contact information of the individual 

who will complete the application in JustGrants. JustGrants will use this information (email 

address) to assign the application to this user in JustGrants.

Intergovernmental Review: This funding opportunity is not subject to Executive Order (E.O.) 

12372. In completing the SF-424, an applicant should answer question 19 by selecting 

“Program is not covered by E.O. 12372.”

Content of the JustGrants Application Submission

Entity and User Verification (First Time Applicant)

For first time JustGrants applicants, once the application is received from Grants.gov, DOJ will 

send an email (from DIAMD-NoReply@usdoj.gov) to the individual listed in Section 8F of the 

SF-424 with instructions on how to create a JustGrants account. This email should arrive within 

24 hours after this individual receives confirmation from Grants.gov of their SF-424 and SF-LLL 

submissions. Register the Entity Administrator (the person who manages who can access 

JustGrants on behalf of the applicant), the Application Submitter, and Authorized 

Representative for the applicant with JustGrants as early as possible and (recommended) not 

later than 48-72 hours before the JustGrants deadline. Once registered in JustGrants, the 

Application Submitter will receive a link in an email to complete the rest of the application in 

JustGrants. Find additional information on JustGrants Application Submission in the Application 

Resource Guide. 

Standard Applicant Information

The “Standard Applicant Information” section of the JustGrants application is pre-populated with 

the SF-424 data submitted in Grants.gov. The applicant will need to review the Standard 

Applicant Information in JustGrants and make edits as needed. Within this section, the applicant 

will need to add ZIP codes for areas affected by the project, confirm their Authorized

Representative, and verify and confirm the organization’s unique entity identifier, legal name, 

and address.

Proposal Abstract

A Proposal Abstract (no more than 400 words) summarizing the proposed project — including 

goals, objectives, research questions, research design and methods, work products and 

dissemination plan — must be completed in the JustGrants web-based form. This abstract

should be in paragraph form without bullets or tables, written in the third person, and exclude 

personally identifiable information. Abstracts will be made publicly available on the OJP and 

USASpending.gov websites if the project is awarded. See the Application Resource Guide for 

an example of a proposal abstract. 

Data Requested With Application

The following application elements should be submitted in the web-based forms in JustGrants.
Page 19 O-NIJ-2024-171946

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire (including applicant 

disclosure of high-risk status)

The Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire helps OJP assess 

the financial management and internal control systems, and the associated potential risks of an 

applicant as part of the pre-award risk assessment process. Every OJP applicant (other than an 

individual applying in their personal capacity, not representing an applicant organization) is 

required to complete the web-based Questionnaire form in JustGrants. See the Application 

Resource Guide: Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire 

(including Applicant Disclosure of High Risk Status) for the questions additional guidance on 

how to complete the form. 

Brief Applicant Entity Questionnaire

The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) is collecting the following information to help assess its 

efforts to attract a broader range of applicants. These questions apply to the applicant entity and 

its work and scope only, and not to the specific project(s) being proposed within the application. 

Responses to the questions will not be considered in the application review process. The 

questions included in the questionnaire are available in the Standard Forms & Instructions: Brief 

Applicant Entity Questionnaire. 

Proposal Narrative

The Proposal Narrative should be submitted as an attachment in JustGrants. The document 

should not exceed 10 numbered pages. If included in the main body of the proposal narrative, 

any tables, charts, figures, and other illustrations do count toward the 10-page limit. Title page, 

resubmit response (if applicable), table of contents, and any appendices do not count toward 

the page limit.

The proposal narrative is expected to be the intellectual product of the student. Although the 

involvement of graduate advisors and others is encouraged in the development of research 

ideas and in the revision of drafts, the student should be the primary author of the research 

proposal.

The Proposal Narrative should include the following sections:

a. Title Page (not counted against the proposal narrative page limit)

The title page should include:

• Project title.

• Submission date.

• Funding opportunity number.

• Name and contact information (address, phone, and email) for the sponsored 

doctoral student.

• Unique author identifier (e.g., ORCID, ResearcherID, Scopus Author ID).

• Name of the enrolled doctoral program (degree field).

• Key words.
Page 20 O-NIJ-2024-171946

b. Resubmit Response (if applicable) (not counted against the proposal narrative page 

limit)

If an applicant is resubmitting an application 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 NIJ-assigned application number 

of the previous application, and (2) a brief summary of revisions to the application, 

including responses to previous feedback received from NIJ.

c. Table of Contents and Figures (not counted against the proposal narrative page limit)

d. Main Body

1. Statement of the Problem and Research Questions

The statement of the problem should address the need for research in the area of 

study. Applicants should discuss current gaps in data, research, and knowledge, 

including those for particular justice sectors, for certain populations, and to answer 

questions relevant to current policy and practice needs and public interests. As part 

of this discussion, applicants should present a review of previous literature and 

discuss previous research related to these problems.

This section should also identify the proposed research questions and discuss the 

purpose, goals, and objectives of the proposed project. The relevance of the 

proposed research to crime, victimization, or criminal or juvenile justice in the United 

States should be clearly articulated, as well as the potential significance of the 

proposed research to the particular field of study.

Discussion of potential risk or harm (if applicable)

Applicants should discuss potential risks and harms to individuals or groups 

associated with the use and/or misuse of any practice or technology proposed as a 

part of the research and evaluation, as well as any ethical considerations that may 

factor into its use. In addition, applicants should be aware of all relevant statutes, 

regulations, and/or governing judicial decisions (e.g., established case law, prevailing 

court rulings) related to the practice or technology’s proposed use. Any limitations 

that may impede the lawful use or implementation of any practice or technology 

proposed should be described, and a realistic approach to mitigate such limitations in 

the context of the proposed research should be discussed.

2. Project Design and Implementation

Applicants should provide a detailed description of the strategies to implement this 

research project and address the research questions. Design elements should follow 

directly from the research project’s goals and objectives and address the programspecific information noted in the solicitation. Applicants should describe the research 

methodology and analysis plan in detail and demonstrate the validity and usefulness 

of the data they will collect. Applicants should consider the rigor and soundness of 

the methodology and analytical and technical approaches for the proposed research 

and address the feasibility of the proposed project and potential challenges or 

problems in carrying out the activities.
Page 21 O-NIJ-2024-171946

This section should include a discussion of the deliverables, including planned 

scholarly products and a plan for dissemination to appropriate audiences. Applicants 

should also identify plans, if appropriate, to make the results available to interested 

criminal and/or juvenile justice practitioners and the broader public in a form that is 

readily accessible and useful to them.

3. Capabilities and Competencies

This section should describe the experience and capabilities of the doctoral student, 

the research advisor or committee chair (if applicable), and the academic 

environment, highlighting previous experience implementing similar research.

Applicants should address:

 

• The preparation and qualifications of the doctoral student.

• The academic environment and supporting resources.

• Experience producing and disseminating research deliverables (publications 

and presentations).

Applicants should also outline a management plan. This should identify the people 

involved in the execution of the project, their specific roles, and any framework to be 

used for ensuring that their tasks are fulfilled.

Additionally, applicants should include, if applicable, a description contextualizing the 

proposed doctoral work relative to, or within, any other work being conducted under 

an existing NIJ award, which must be specifically identified.

4. Appendices (not counted against the proposal narrative page limit) may include:

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

Proposal Narrative.

• Any tables/charts/graphs, questionnaires, 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 relevant illustrations that are 

essential for comprehension of the project design should be included in the 

main body of the narrative.)

• Project Timeline and Expected Milestones. Should detail student progress 

milestones, including: advancement to candidacy (if applicable), the writing of 

the dissertation, major events in the dissemination plan, and expected 

dissertation defense date. Any steps that are specifically required by the 

sponsoring institution for successful completion of the degree program should 

be noted.

Note: An applicant is not required to submit performance data with the application. 

Rather, performance measure information is included to provide notice that award 

recipients will be required to submit performance data as part of each award’s 

reporting requirements. 
Page 22 O-NIJ-2024-171946

NIJ will require each award recipient to submit regular performance data that show 

the completed work’s results. The performance data directly relate to the solicitation 

goals and objectives identified in the “Goals and Objectives” section. Applicants can 

visit OJP’s performance measurement page at www.ojp.gov/performance for more 

information on performance measurement activities. 

A list of performance measure questions for this program can be found in the 

“Performance Measures” section. Some measures are presented as examples, while 

others are the exact measures that every recipient will be expected to address.

NIJ will require GRF award recipients to submit performance measure data in 

quarterly financial reports and annual performance reports in JustGrants. NIJ will 

provide further guidance on the post-award submission process, if the applicant is 

selected for award.

Budget and Associated Documentation

Funding Restrictions

All recipients and subrecipients (including any for-profit organization) must forgo any profit or 

management fee.

Budget Detail and Narrative Web-Based Form

The applicant will complete the JustGrants web-based budget form, which includes both 

detailed calculations and budget narrative sections.

For additional information about how to prepare a budget for federal funding, see the 

“Application Resource Guide” section on Budget Preparation and Submission Information and

the technical steps to complete the budget form in JustGrants in the Complete the Application in 

JustGrants: Budget training. 

The following paragraph (on “Cofunding”) expressly modifies the “Cost Sharing or Matching 

Requirement” provisions in the Application Resource Guide. The applicant is to follow the 

guidance in the following paragraph instead of the guidance stated under the “Cost Sharing or 

Matching Requirement” heading in the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide.

Cofunding: An award made by NIJ under this solicitation may account for up to 100% 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.

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.
Page 23 O-NIJ-2024-171946

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. See the Application 

Resource Guide for information on costs associated with language assistance.

Budget/Financial Attachments

Pre-Agreement (Pre-Award) Costs (if applicable)

Pre-agreement costs are defined as costs requiring approval incurred by the applicant prior to 

the start date of the period of performance of the federal award. OJP does not typically approve 

pre-agreement costs. If a successful applicant, in anticipation of the federal award, but before 

the start date of the period of performance, incurs costs that are necessary for efficient and 

timely performance of the funded project, those costs may not be charged to the award. See the

“Costs Requiring Prior Approval” section in the DOJ Grants Financial Guide Post-Award 

Requirements for more information.

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable)

Indirect costs are costs of an organization that are not readily assignable to a particular project 

but are necessary to the operation of the organization and the performance of the project. 

Examples of costs usually treated as indirect include those incurred for facility operation and 

maintenance, depreciation, and administrative salaries. The requirements for the development 

and submission of indirect cost proposals and cost allocation plans are listed in Appendices III – 

VII of 2 C.F.R. Part 200. A non-federal applicant should follow the guidelines applicable to its 

type of organization. If applicable, an applicant with a current federally-approved indirect cost

rate agreement will upload it as an attachment in JustGrants. See the DOJ Financial Guide for 

additional information on Indirect Cost Rate Agreement. 

Consultant Rate (if applicable)

Costs for consultant services require prior approval from OJP. If the proposed project expects to 

fund consultant services, compensation for individual consultant services is to be reasonable 

and consistent with that paid for similar services in the marketplace. See the DOJ Grants 

Financial Guide for information on the consultant rates, which require prior approval from OJP.

Disclosure of Process Related to Executive Compensation (if applicable)

This notice of funding opportunity expressly modifies the Application Resource Guide by not 

incorporating its “Disclosure of Process Related to Executive Compensation” provisions. 

Applicants to this funding opportunity are not required to provide this disclosure.

Additional Application Components

The applicant will attach the additional requested documentation in JustGrants.

Verification of Current Enrollment
Page 24 O-NIJ-2024-171946

Verification of full-time enrollment in a qualifying doctoral program at the time of application 

(CRITICAL COMPONENT).

Undergraduate and Graduate Transcripts

Undergraduate and graduate transcripts, official or unofficial (CRITICAL COMPONENT).

Statement of Support

Statement of support from the dissertation committee chair or the doctoral student’s faculty 

advisor, department chair, departmental director of graduate studies, or individual with similar 

responsibilities, as applicable (CRITICAL COMPONENT).

Biosketches, Curriculum Vitae, or Resumes

Biosketches, curriculum vitae, or resumes for the student and the person providing the 

Statement of Support (CRITICAL COMPONENT). NIJ encourages use of the SciENcv standard 

format biosketch (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sciencv/), and in particular the “NIH Fellowship 

Biosketch” format for the student fellow.

Personal Statement

Personal statement from the student discussing their academic background, research 

experience, career goals, and the anticipated role of the fellowship in their professional 

trajectory, not to exceed one page. If using the “NIH Fellowhsip Biosketch” format SciENcv 

biosketch, this can be included in the “Personal Statement” field rather than attached as a 

separate document.

List of Individuals in the Application

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

the part of prospective reviewers of the application), provide 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 project. This 

should include the student and the student’s dissertation committee (if known). The dissertation 

chair should be clearly identified. Applicants should use the “Proposed Project Staff, Affiliation, 

and Roles” form available on the NIJ webpage to prepare this list.

Current and Pending (Other) Support

A list of currently active grants or fellowships supporting the student, as well as a list of all 

pending grant or fellowship proposals the student has submitted and the dates that funding 

would be active (if applicable). NIJ encourages use of the SciENcv “NSF Current and Pending 

(Other) Support” standard format (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sciencv/). 

Research and Evaluation Independence and Integrity Statement

If an application proposes research (including research and development) and/or evaluation, the 

applicant must demonstrate research/evaluation independence and integrity, including 

appropriate safeguards to address potential conflicts of interest before it may receive award

funds. The applicant will upload documentation of its research and evaluation independence 
Page 25 O-NIJ-2024-171946

and integrity as an attachment in JustGrants. For additional information, see the Application 

Resource Guide. 

Human Subjects Protection

Human Subjects Protection paperwork as a separate attachment (documentation and forms 

related to Institutional Review Board [IRB] review). See https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/humansubjects-protection. Note: Final IRB approval is not required at the time an application is 

submitted.

Privacy Certificate

Privacy Certificate as a separate file (for further guidance go to 

https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/confidentiality-and-privacy-protections and 

https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/privacy-certificate-guidance#model-privacy-certificate). 

Request To Use Incentives or Stipends

Applicants proposing to use incentives or stipends payments as part of their research project 

design, must submit an incentive or stipend approval request, as a separate document, 

according to the requirements set forth at https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/participant-support-costsand-incentives. 

Data Archiving Plan

Applicants should anticipate that NIJ will require, through award conditions, that data sets 

resulting, in whole or in part, from projects funded under this solicitation be archived in 

accordance with the submitted Data Archiving Plan as approved by NIJ. See 

https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/data-archiving. 

Applicants should attach a separate Data Archiving Plan detailing plans for data management 

and the archiving of all files and documentation necessary for others to reproduce the 

project’s findings. Pertinent files and documentation include, among other things, raw or 

processed data, instrumental parameters, qualitative and quantitative data produced, data 

collection forms, codebook(s), any specialized programming code necessary to reproduce all 

reported results, description of necessary de-identification procedures, and (when required) a 

copy of the privacy certificate and informed consent protocols.

The plan should be one or two pages in length and include the level of effort associated with 

meeting archiving requirements.

The National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD) is NIJ’s principal data repository and is 

the preferred repository for GRF social science data. However, NACJD is not equipped to 

accept many of the data types produced in the natural sciences (e.g., sequence data, spectra, 

images, video). NIJ encourages that data of this nature be archived at a repository appropriate 

to the particular field of study, and that a DOI or another persistent link be assigned. In this 

case, the DAP should refer to submission of only basic project information to NACJD along with 

a DOI link to the data in a publicly available repository elsewhere. See 

https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/data-archiving#alternate-data-repositories for further guidance.
Page 26 O-NIJ-2024-171946

Note that recipients are strongly encouraged to submit required data sets at least 90 days 

before the end of the period of performance.

Letters of Support

Letters of cooperation/support or administrative agreements from organizations collaborating in 

the project, such as law enforcement and correctional agencies (if applicable).

Disclosures and Assurances

The applicant will address the following disclosures and assurances. 

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

The SF-LLL attachment that was completed and submitted in Grants.gov is attached to this 

section. 

Applicant Disclosure of Duplication in Cost Items

To ensure funding coordination across grant making agencies, and to avoid unnecessary or 

inappropriate duplication among grant awards, the applicant will disclose if it has any pending 

applications for federal funding, including pending applications for subawards of federal funds.

Complete the JustGrants web-based Applicant Disclosure of Duplication in Cost Items form. 

See the Application Resource Guide for additional information. 

DOJ Certified Standard Assurances

Review and accept the DOJ Certified Standard Assurances in JustGrants. See the Application 

Resource Guide for additional information. 

DOJ Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility 

Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements; Law Enforcement and Community Policing

Review and accept in JustGrants the DOJ Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, 

Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements; Law 

Enforcement and Community Policing. See the Application Resource Guide for additional 

information. 

Applicant Disclosure and Justification – DOJ High-Risk Grantees

If applicable, submit the DOJ High-Risk Disclosure and Justification as an attachment in 

JustGrants. A DOJ High-Risk Grantee is an award recipient that has received a DOJ High-Risk 

designation based on a documented history of unsatisfactory performance; financial instability; 

management system or other internal control deficiencies; noncompliance with award terms and 

conditions on prior awards or is otherwise not responsible. See the Application Resource Guide

for additional information.

Application Review Information
Page 27 O-NIJ-2024-171946

Review Criteria

Basic Minimum Review Criteria

OJP screens applications to ensure they meet the basic minimum requirements prior to 

conducting the peer review. Although specific requirements may vary, the following are 

requirements for all OJP solicitations:

• The application must be submitted by an eligible type of applicant.

• The application must be responsive to the scope of the solicitation.

• The application must include all items necessary to meet the basic minimum 

requirements. See the list under Content of Application Submission.

Merit Review Criteria

Applications that meet the basic minimum requirements will be evaluated by peer reviewers on

how the proposed project/program addresses the following criteria:

Statement of the Problem and its Significance (30%)

• Clarity of the problem statement and research questions.

• Demonstrated awareness of the state of current research.

• Connection between the problem and the proposed research.

• Demonstrated relevance of the proposed research to crime, victimization, or 

criminal or juvenile justice in the United States.

• Potential significance of the proposed research to the field of study.

Project Design and Implementation (40%)

• Detailed and complete discussion of proposed research methods.

• Soundness of the research methods and appropriateness to the proposed study.

• Feasibility of the proposed project, awareness of potential pitfalls, and proposed 

practical solutions.

• Strength of the proposed dissemination plan to produce scholarly products as 

well as to make summary information available to broader interested audiences, 

such as criminal or juvenile justice practitioners or policymakers.

Capabilities and Competencies (25%)

• Qualifications of the student, including:

a. Undergraduate record

b. Graduate coursework completed

c. Relevant work and/or research experience

d. Leadership roles

e. Publication record

• Academic environment and supporting resources of the applicant institution, 

degree program, and graduate advisor (if applicable).

Budget (5%)
Page 28 O-NIJ-2024-171946

In addition, reviewers will consider and may comment on the following additional 

items in the context of scientific and technical merit.

• Appropriateness of requested research expenses and related costs to the 

proposed dissertation research.

Reviewers are not expected to conduct a detailed financial analysis and assessment 

of the budget, but rather to consider it from the perspective of their experience.

Other Review Criteria/Factors

Other important considerations for OJP include available funding, geographic diversity, strategic 

priorities (specifically including, but not limited to, those priority areas already mentioned), and 

the extent to which the Budget web-based form accurately explains project costs that are 

reasonable, necessary, and otherwise allowable under federal law and applicable federal cost 

principles. Costs are allowable when they are reasonable, allocable to, and necessary for the 

performance of the federal award, and when they comply with the funding statute and agency 

requirements (to include the conditions of the award), including the cost principles set out in the 

Uniform Requirements 2 C.F.R. Part 200, Subpart E. 

Risk Criteria/Factors

Pursuant to the Part 200 Uniform Requirements, before award decisions are made, OJP also 

reviews information related to the degree of risk posed by the applicant. Among other things to 

help assess whether an applicant with one or more prior federal awards has a satisfactory 

record of performance, integrity, and business ethics, OJP checks whether the applicant is listed 

in SAM.gov as excluded from receiving a federal award.

In addition, if OJP anticipates that an award will exceed $250,000 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.gov (currently, the 

Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System, FAPIIS). 

Important note on FAPIIS: An applicant may review and comment on any information about its 

organization that currently appears in FAPIIS and was entered by a federal awarding agency. 

OJP will consider such comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in 

FAPIIS, in its assessment of the risk posed by the applicant.

Review Process

Applications submitted under this solicitation that meet the basic minimum requirements will be 

evaluated for technical merit by a peer review panel(s) in accordance with OJP peer review 

policy and procedures using the review criteria listed above.

All final award decisions will be made by the Director of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), 

who may take into account not only peer review ratings and NIJ staff recommendations, but also 

other factors as indicated in this section. 
Page 29 O-NIJ-2024-171946

Federal Award Administration Information

Federal Award Notices

Generally, award notifications are made by the end of the current federal fiscal year, September 

30. See the Application Resource Guide for information on award notifications and instructions.

Evidence-Based Programs or Practices

OJP strongly encourages the use of data and evidence in policymaking and program 

development for criminal justice, juvenile justice, and crime victim services. For additional 

information and resources on evidence-based programs or practices (programs or practices that 

have been evaluated as effective), see the Application Resource Guide. 

Information Regarding Potential Evaluation of Programs and Activities

OJP may conduct or support an evaluation of the projects and activities funded under this 

solicitation. For additional information on what should be included in the application, see the 

Application Resource Guide section entitled “Information Regarding Potential Evaluation of 

Programs and Activities.” 

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 and all applicable 

requirements of federal statutes and regulations, including the applicable requirements referred 

to in the assurances and certifications executed in connection with award acceptance. For 

additional information on these legal requirements, see the “Administrative, National Policy, and 

Other Legal Requirements” section in the Application Resource Guide. 

Civil Rights Compliance

If a successful applicant accepts funding from OJP — as a recipient of OJP funding — that 

award recipient must comply with certain federal civil rights laws that prohibit it from 

discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, or disability in how the 

recipient delivers its program’s services or benefits and in its employment practices. The civil 

rights laws that may be applicable to the award include Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 

(Title VI), the nondiscrimination provisions of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act 

of 1968 (Safe Streets Act), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. These and other 

federal civil rights laws are discussed in greater detail here: Overview of Legal Requirements 

Generally Applicable to OJP Grants and Cooperative Agreements - FY 2024 Awards under the 

“Civil Rights Requirements” section, and additional resources are available from the OJP Office 

for Civil Rights. 

Part of complying with civil rights laws that prohibit national origin discrimination includes 

recipients taking reasonable steps to ensure that people who are limited in their English

proficiency (LEP) because of their national origin have meaningful access to a recipient’s 

program and activity. An LEP person is one whose first language is not English and who has a 

limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English. To help recipients meet this 

obligation to serve LEP persons, DOJ has published a number of resources, including a 

language access assessment and planning tool, which are available at 
Page 30 O-NIJ-2024-171946

https://www.lep.gov/language-access-planning. Additional resources are available at 

https://www.ojp.gov/program/civil-rights-office/limited-english-proficient-lep. If the award 

recipient proposes a program or activity that would deliver services or benefits to LEP 

individuals, the recipient may use grant funds to support the costs of taking reasonable steps 

(e.g., interpretation or translation services) to provide meaningful access. Similarly, recipients 

are responsible for ensuring that their programs and activities are readily accessible to qualified 

individuals with disabilities. Applicants for OJP funding must allocate grant funds or explain how 

other available resources will be used to ensure meaningful and full access to their programs. 

For example, grant funds can be used to support American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter 

services for deaf or hard of hearing individuals or the purchase of adaptive equipment for 

individuals with mobility or cognitive disabilities. For resources, see http://www.ADA.gov or 

contact OJP.

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls

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

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

200.303, comply with standards for financial and program management. See the Application 

Resource Guide for additional information.

Information Technology Security Clauses

An application in response to this solicitation may require inclusion of information related to 

information technology security. See the Application Resource Guide for more information.

General Information About Post-Federal Award Reporting Requirements

In addition to the deliverables described in the “Program Description” section, all award 

recipients under this solicitation will be required to submit certain reports and data.

Required reports. Award recipients must submit quarterly financial reports, annual performance

reports, final financial and performance reports, and, if applicable, an annual audit report in 

accordance with the Part 200 Uniform Requirements or specific award conditions. Future 

awards and fund drawdowns may be withheld if reports are delinquent (in appropriate cases, 

OJP may require additional reports). 

See the Application Resource Guide for additional information on specific post-award reporting 

requirements, including performance measure data.

Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)

For questions directed to the Federal Awarding Agency, see OJP Response Center contact 

information in the solicitation Synopsis. 

For OJP contact(s), contact information for Grants.gov, and contact information for JustGrants,

see the solicitation Synopsis. 

Other Information

Freedom of Information and Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. §§ 552 and 552a)
Page 31 O-NIJ-2024-171946

See the Application Resource Guide for information on the Freedom of Information and Privacy 

Act (5 U.S.C. §§ 552 and 552a).

Provide Feedback to OJP

See the Application Resource Guide for information on how to provide feedback to OJP

Performance Measures

Objective Performance Measure(s) Data Recipient Provides

Conduct dissertation 

research that has

clear implications for 

crime, victimization, or 

criminal or juvenile 

justice policy and 

practice in the United 

States.

Quality of the research as 

demonstrated by the scholarly 

products that result, in whole or in 

part, from work funded under the 

NIJ award, such as 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.

1. A copy of the student’s 

successfully defended and 

accepted final dissertation.

2. List of citation(s) to all 

scholarly products that 

resulted, in whole or in part, 

from work funded under the 

NIJ award.

3. Datasets archived according 

to the Data Archiving Plan.

4. Quarterly financial reports, 

annual and final performance 

reports. If applicable, an 

annual audit report.
Page 32 O-NIJ-2024-171946

Application Checklist 

NIJ FY24 Graduate Research Fellowship

This application checklist has been created as an aid in developing an application. For more 

information, reference The OJP Application Submission Steps in the OJP Grant Application 

Resource Guide and the DOJ Application Submission Checklist. 

Pre-Application

Before Registering in Grants.gov

• Confirm your entity’s registration in the System Award Management (SAM.gov) is active 

through the solicitation period; submit a new or renewal registration in SAM.gov if 

needed (see Application Resource Guide). 

Register in Grants.gov

• Acquire an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) and a Grants.gov username

and password (see Application Resource Guide). 

• Acquire AOR confirmation from the E-Business Point of Contact (E-Biz POC) (see 

Application Resource Guide). 

Find the Funding Opportunity

• Search for the funding opportunity in Grants.gov using the opportunity number, 

assistance listing number, or keyword(s). 

• Access the funding opportunity and application package (see Step 7 in the Application 

Resource Guide). 

• Sign up for Grants.gov email notifications (optional) (see Application Resource Guide). 

• Read Important Notice: Applying for Grants in Grants.gov (about browser compatibility 

and special characters in file names). 

• Read OJP policy and guidance on conference approval, planning, and reporting

available at https://www.ojp.gov/funding/financialguidedoj/iii-postawardrequirements#6g3y8 (see Application Resource Guide). 

Review the Overview of Post-Award Legal Requirements

• Review the “Overview of Legal Requirements Generally Applicable to OJP Grants and 

Cooperative Agreements - FY 2024 Awards” in the OJP Funding Resource Center. 

Review the Scope Requirement

• The federal amount requested is within the allowable limit(s) of $180,000. 

Review Eligibility Requirement

• Review the “Eligibility” section in the Synopsis and “Eligibility Information” section in the 

solicitation.

Application Step 1

After registering with SAM.gov, submit the SF-424 and SF-LLL in Grants.gov. 

• In Section 8F of the SF-424, include the name and contact information of the individual 
Page 33 O-NIJ-2024-171946

who will complete the application in JustGrants and the SF-LLL in Grants.gov. 

Within 48 hours after the SF-424 and SF-LLL submission in Grants.gov, receive four (4) 

Grants.gov email notifications:

• A submission receipt

• A validation receipt

• A grantor agency retrieval receipt

• An agency tracking number assignment 

If no Grants.gov receipt and validation email is received, or if error notifications are received:

• Contact OJP Response Center at grants@ncjrs.gov or 800-851-3420 or TTY: 301-240-

6310 (hearing impaired only) or Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 800-518-4726, 

606-545-5035, Grants.gov customer support, or support@grants.gov regarding technical 

difficulties (see Application Resource Guide section on Experiencing Unforeseen 

Technical Issues) 

Within 24 hours after receipt of confirmation emails from Grants.gov, the individual in Section 8F 

of the SF-424 will receive an email from JustGrants with login instructions.

• Proceed to Application Step 2 and complete application in JustGrants

Application Step 2

Submit the following information in JustGrants: 

Application Components

• Entity and User Verification (First Time Applicant)

• Standard Applicant information (SF-424 information from Grants.gov)

• Proposal Abstract

• Proposal Narrative* (Critical Component)

• Verification of Current Enrollment* (Critical Component)

• Undergraduate and Graduate Transcripts* (Critical Component)

• Statement of Support* (Critical Component)

• Biosketches, Curriculum Vitae or Resumes* (Critical Component)

Budget and Associated Documentation

• Budget web-based form* (Critical Component)

• Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire (see Application 

Resource Guide) 

• Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) (see Application Resource Guide) 

Additional Application Components

• Personal Statement

• Current and Pending (Other) Support 

• List of Individuals in the Application 

• Research and Evaluation Independence and Integrity (see Application Resource Guide) 

• Human Subjects 
Page 34 O-NIJ-2024-171946

• Privacy Certificate 

• Request to Use Incentives or Stipends 

• Data Archiving Plan 

• Letters of Support (if applicable)

Disclosures and Assurances

• Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) (see Application Resource Guide) 

• Applicant Disclosure of Duplication in Cost Items (see Application Resource Guide) 

• DOJ Certified Standard Assurances (see Application Resource Guide) 

• DOJ Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other 

Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements; Law Enforcement and 

Community Policing (see Application Resource Guide) 

• Applicant Disclosure and Justification – DOJ High-Risk Grantees (if applicable) (see 

Application Resource Guide) 

*Note: Items designated with an asterisk must be submitted for an application to meet 

the basic minimum requirements review. If OJP determines that an application does not 

include the designated items, it will neither proceed to peer review, nor receive further 

consideration.

Review, Certify, and Submit Application in JustGrants

• Any validation errors will immediately display on screen after submission.

• Correct validation errors, if necessary, and then return to the “Certify and Submit” screen 

to submit the application. Access the Application Submission Validation Errors Quick 

Reference Guide for step-by-step instructions to resolve errors prior to submission.

• Once the application is submitted and validated, a confirmation message will appear at 

the top of the page. Users will also receive a notification in the “bell” alerts confirming 

submission.

If no JustGrants application submission confirmation email or validation is received, or if error 

notification is received: 

• Contact the JustGrants Service Desk at 833-872-5175 or

JustGrants.Support@usdoj.gov regarding technical difficulties. See the Application 

Resource Guide for additional information. 
Page 35 O-NIJ-2024-171946

Standard Solicitation Resources

Application Resource Guide provides guidance to assist OJP grant applicants in preparing and 

submitting applications for OJP funding.

DOJ Grants Financial Guide serves as the primary reference manual to assist award recipients 

in fulfilling their fiduciary responsibility to safeguard grant funds and to ensure funds are used for 

the purposes for which they were awarded. It compiles a variety of laws, rules, and regulations 

that affect the financial and administrative management of DOJ awards. This guide serves as a 

starting point for all award recipients and subrecipients of DOJ grants and cooperative 

agreements in ensuring the effective day-to-day management of awards.

JustGrants Resources Website is an entryway into information about JustGrants and the grants 

management system itself. Through this portal both award recipients and applicants can access 

training resources and user support options, find frequently asked questions, and sign up for the

JustGrants Update e-newsletter. 

JustGrants Application Submission Training page offers helpful information and resources on 

the application process. This training page includes e-learning videos, reference guides, 

checklists, and other resources to help applicants complete an application.

Virtual Q&A Sessions are advertised here and provide opportunities for users to receive topicspecific training, direct technical assistance, and support on JustGrants system functionality.