U.S. Department of Justice OMB No. 1121-0329

Office of Justice Programs 

National Institute of Justice

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

Justice (NIJ) is pleased to announce that it is seeking applications for funding to support applied 

research and development projects that will increase knowledge and understanding necessary 

to guide forensic science policy and practice or result in the production of useful materials, 

devices, systems, or methods that have the potential for forensic application. This program 

furthers the Department’s mission by sponsoring research to provide objective, independent, 

evidence-based knowledge and tools to meet the challenges of crime and criminal justice, 

particularly at the State and local levels. 

Applied Research and Development in 

Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes

Eligibility

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

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

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

and for-profit organizations (including tribal nonprofit or for-profit organizations), institutions of 

higher education (including tribal institutions of higher education), and certain qualified 

individuals. For-profit organizations must agree to forgo any profit or management fee. NIJ may 

also enter into interagency agreements with Federal entities in appropriate cases. Foreign 

governments, foreign organizations, and foreign institutions of higher education are not eligible 

to apply. 

NIJ may elect to make awards for applications submitted under this solicitation in future fiscal 

years, dependent on the merit of the applications and on the availability of appropriations in 

future years.

Deadline

Applicants must register with Grants.gov prior to submitting an application. (See “How to Apply,”

page 12.) All applications are due by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on April 1, 2013. (See “Deadlines: 

Registration and Application,” page 3.)

Contact Information

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

Support Hotline at 800–518–4726 or 606–545–5035 or via e-mail to support@grants.gov.

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

except federal holidays.

For additional assistance with requirements, e-mail NIJ at forensic.research@usdoj.gov.

Additional information can be found at www.nij.gov/nij/funding/welcome.htm, and frequently 

asked questions that may assist with applying are posted at www.nij.gov/funding/faqs.htm.

Grants.gov number assigned to announcement: NIJ-2013-3361

Release Date: January 2, 2013

SL001059
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Contents

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

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

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

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

Performance Measures.............................................................................................................10

Notice of Post-Award FFATA Reporting Requirement...............................................................11

How to Apply.............................................................................................................................12

What an Application Should Include..........................................................................................14

Information to Complete the Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) .....................14

Program Narrative .........................................................................................................14

Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative.............................................................16

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable)..................................................................17

Tribal Authorizing Resolution (if applicable)...................................................................17

Additional Attachments..................................................................................................18

Other Standard Forms...................................................................................................18

Selection Criteria.......................................................................................................................18

Review Process ........................................................................................................................21

Additional Requirements ...........................................................................................................22

Provide Feedback to OJP on This Solicitation...........................................................................23

Application Checklist.................................................................................................................24
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Applied Research and Development in 

Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes

(CFDA No. 16.560)

Overview

With this solicitation, NIJ seeks proposals for applied research and development projects that 

will: (1) increase knowledge or understanding necessary to guide forensic science policy and 

practice or (2) result in the production of useful materials, devices, systems, or methods that 

have the potential for forensic application. The intent of the Applied Research and Development 

in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes Program is to direct the findings of basic 

scientific research, research and development in broader scientific fields applicable to forensic 

science, and ongoing forensic science research toward the development of highly 

discriminating, accurate, reliable, cost-effective, and rapid methods for the identification, 

analysis, and interpretation of physical evidence for criminal justice purposes.

Deadlines: Registration and Application

Applicants must register with Grants.gov prior to submitting an application. OJP encourages

applicants to register several weeks before the application submission deadline. The deadline to 

apply for funding under this announcement is 11:59 p.m. eastern time on April 1, 2013. See the 

“How to Apply” section on page 12 for details.

Eligibility

Refer to the title page for eligibility under this program.

Program-Specific Information

This solicitation seeks applications for funding to support applied research and development 

forensic science projects. For the purposes of this solicitation, the following definitions apply: 

• Forensic—Of, relating to, or used in legal proceedings or argumentation.1

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

theoretical explanation of natural phenomena.2

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

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

towards processes or products in mind. Basic research may include activities with broad 

applications in mind.3 (For the purposes of the planned NIJ FY 2013 solicitation “Basic 

Scientific Research to Support Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes,” basic

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

criminal justice system.) 

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

Character Classification (Schedule C). 
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• Applied research—A systematic study to gain knowledge or understanding necessary to 

determine the means by which a recognized and specific need may be met.4 (For the 

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

of forensic science services for criminal justice purposes.) 

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

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

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

requirements.5 (For the purposes of this solicitation, the development of forensic 

technologies and methods should assist in answering questions posed in criminal 

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

services.) 

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

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

also been provided to sites containing additional information). 

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

• Forensic crime scene analysis (www.swgstain.org). 

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

• Controlled substances (www.swgdrug.org). 

• Fire debris analysis and arson scene investigations (www.ncfs.ucf.edu/twgfex). 

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

• Latent print (www.swgfast.org).

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

• Questioned documents (www.swgdoc.org). 

• Trace evidence (www.swgmat.org). 

• Forensic toxicology (www.swgtox.org). 

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

Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables

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

Program is intended to meet the following goals and objectives. Proposals should address at 

least one of these goals. Proposed projects that intend to meet both goals should be separated 

into discrete phases that are clearly associated with each goal (additional information regarding 

the phasing of proposals can be found in the “Amount and Length of Awards” section on page 

8).

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

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

projects should meet at least one of the following objectives: 

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

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

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

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

materials (fracture mechanics) for the purpose of physical match analysis of 

evidence; the examination of chemical properties of evidence for the purpose of 

identifying source materials; studies of the behavior of chemical compounds of 

 4 Ibid. 

5 Ibid.
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forensic interest in biological systems; research to better understand aged, 

degraded, limited, damaged, inhibited, or otherwise compromised physical evidence 

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

increase the overall understanding of the processes and mechanisms that result in 

the inability to obtain analytical results from evidence). 

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

application to forensic sciences in criminal justice settings. The purpose of an 

evaluation should be to test a new, modified, or previously untested technology to 

determine whether it is effective for forensic science application. Proposals for 

evaluation studies should systematically use scientific methods to measure 

efficiency, implementation, and utility of the technology being evaluated. The primary 

intent of a proposed evaluation study should be to generate new knowledge or 

contribute to the knowledge in the forensic scientific literature. Furthermore, 

knowledge gained from an evaluation study should be applicable to sites other than 

the one(s) being evaluated. An evaluation study should result in a report suitable for 

publication and dissemination to guide criminal justice policy and/or practice related 

to the forensic sciences. The results of an evaluation project should contribute to 

generalizable knowledge that can be applied beyond a particular program/geography 

and can inform other researchers, practitioners, and/or policymakers.

o Expected work products: 

 A final technical report that includes results of the studies performed. 

 Where applicable, a report suitable for dissemination to forensic science 

practitioners that includes recommendations for best practices and/or protocols 

for criminal justice purposes. 

 Scientific data supporting any reported conclusions or recommendations. 

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

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

consideration will be given to projects that demonstrate potential for increased quality of 

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

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

objectives: 

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

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

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

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

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

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

evidence contamination, the development of nondestructive or minimally destructive 

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

of improved tools or methods for evidence preservation and/or storage. 

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

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

laboratories for forensic analysis. 
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o Develop tools or methods that can separate the various components of a mixture. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

crime laboratory analysts in selecting the appropriate analytical approach, the 

development of methods to repair damaged evidence (without compromising sample 

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

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

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

analysis of compromised evidence. 

o Develop novel approaches for forensic science methods for analysis and 

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

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

for analysis of physical evidence for criminal justice purposes. 

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

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

association. This may include development of databases (comprehensive, 

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

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

analyses that provide quantitative measures and statistical evaluation of forensic 

evidence. 

o Expected work products include: 

 A final technical report that includes results of the studies performed. 

 Where applicable, a report suitable for dissemination to forensic science 

practitioners that includes recommendations for best practices and/or protocols 

for criminal justice purposes and an evaluation of the proposed technology 

(which should also include the technology’s limitations). 

 Scientific data supporting any reported conclusions or recommendations. 

 If applicable, prototype(s) of devices and/or software. 

Some projects may be chosen for Technology Evaluation or Technology Transition 

Workshop(s). Examples of previous evaluations and workshops can be found through the link: 

www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/topics/forensics/welcome.htm. 

Applicants under this solicitation should demonstrate an appreciation of and general familiarity 

with the forensic science techniques currently used for analyzing physical evidence. Applicants 

should also have an appreciation of the costs and the training required to implement and 

maintain a proposed technology. NIJ strongly encourages researchers to seek guidance from or 

partner with appropriate State or local crime laboratories. Such associations foster a greater 
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understanding of the issues unique to the field of forensic science and may strengthen the 

scope of the proposed research plan.

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

funded projects) can be found at: www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/topics/forensics/welcome.htm. 

The following resources may provide additional information to prospective applicants about 

forensic sciences: 

• Fundamentals of Forensic DNA Typing, by Butler, J. (San Diego, CA: Academic Press, 

2009) ISBN 0–12–374999–4. 

• Advanced Topics in Forensic DNA Typing: Methodology, by Butler, J. (San Diego, CA: 

Academic Press, 2011) ISBN 978–0–12–374513–2.

• Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation, 7th Edition, by Fisher, B.J. (Boca Raton, FL: CRC 

Press, 2004) ISBN 0–8493–1691–X. 

• Criminalistics, An Introduction to Forensic Science, 7th Edition, by Saferstein, R. (Upper 

Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1998) ISBN 0–13–592940–7. 

• Forensic Science Handbook, Volume I, 2nd Edition, edited by Saferstein, R. (Englewood 

Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2002) ISBN 0–13–091058–9. 

• Forensic Science Handbook, Volume II, 2nd Edition, edited by Saferstein, R. (Englewood 

Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2005) ISBN 0–13–112434–X. 

• Forensic Science Handbook, Volume III, edited by Saferstein, R. (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: 

Prentice Hall, 1993) ISBN 0–13–325390–2. 

• Fundamentals of Forensic Science, by Houck, M., Siegel, J. (Burlington, MA: Elsevier 

Academic Press, 2006) ISBN 0–12–356762–9. 

• Forensic Chemistry, by Bell, S. (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006) ISBN 

0–13–147835–4. 

• Forensic Pathology, Practical Aspects of Criminal & Forensic Investigations, 2nd Edition, by 

Di Maio, D., Di Maio, V. (Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2001) ISBN 0–84–930072–X. 

• Scientific Examination of Questioned Documents, Revised Edition, by Hilton, O. (Boca 

Raton, FL: CRC Press, Inc., 1993) ISBN 0–8493–95–10–0. 

• Clarke's Analysis of Drugs and Poisons, 3rd Edition, edited by Mofatt, A., Osselton, M., 

Widdop, B. (London, UK: Pharmaceutical Press, 2004) ISBN 0–85369–473–1. 

• Principles of Forensic Toxicology: Revised and Updated, 2nd Edition, by Levine, B. 

(Washington, DC: American Association for Clinical Chemistry, Inc., 2006) ISBN 1–59–

425053–7. 

• Spitz and Fisher's Medicolegal Investigation of Death: Guidelines for the Application of 

Pathology to Crime Investigation, by Spitz, W., Spitz D., Fisher, R. (Springfield, IL: Charles 

C. Thomas Publisher, 2006) ISBN 0–398–07544–1. 

• Quantitative-Qualitative Friction Ridge Analysis: An Introduction to Basic and Advanced 

Ridgeology, by Ashbaugh, D. (Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1999) ISBN 0–8493–7007–8. 

• “Forensic science,” by Brettell, T.A., Butler, J.M., Almirall, J.R. (2009). Journal of Analytical 

Chemistry 81:4695–4711. 

• “Confirmation bias: A ubiquitous phenomenon in many guises,” by Nickerson, R.S. (1998). 

Review of General Psychology 2:175–220. 

• “The vision in 'blind' justice: Expert perception, judgment and visual cognition in forensic 

pattern recognition,” by Dror, I.E. and Cole, S. (2010). Psychonomic Bulletin and Review 

17(2):161–167. 

• National Institute of Justice Firearm Examiner Training: 

www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/training/firearms-training/index.htm. 
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Amount and Length of Awards

Total funding for this solicitation and the number of awards made will depend on the availability 

of funds, the quality of the applications, and other pertinent factors. All awards are subject to 

the availability of appropriated funds and to any modifications or additional requirements 

that may be imposed by law. In fiscal year 2012, NIJ provided over $15 million in grants to 

fund research and development projects related to forensic science, including DNA. NIJ funding 

for an individual research or development project rarely exceeds $500,000 annually, although 

total funding for projects requiring multiple years to complete has exceeded $1 million in some 

cases. In FY 2012, the average forensic science research and development award size was 

approximately $195,000 per year, and the average project period was 2 years. If feasible, NIJ 

recommends that applicants divide the proposed work into discrete phases, with each phase 

resulting in a measurable deliverable. Applicants should try to structure the phases so that the 

funding required in any fiscal year will not exceed $500,000. Although NIJ cannot guarantee that 

subsequent phases, stages, or tasks will be funded, this approach will enable NIJ to fund the 

proposed work incrementally, depending on, among other things, the quality of the deliverable 

at the end of each phase, strategic priorities, and the availability of funds. However, applicants 

should not divide their work if it is not feasible to do so without impairing the technical and 

programmatic soundness of their approach. Note: Deliverables (e.g., technical reports, 

prototypes, software, recommendations for best practices and/or protocols, etc.) will be required 

at the end of each phase to enable NIJ to assess the progress of the work and to assist NIJ in 

making reasoned determinations as to the suitability of funding the next phase of the work. 

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

FY 2013 award announcements are expected to be made by September 30, 2013. Applicants 

may wish to consider proposing project period start dates commencing on January 1, 2014.

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

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

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

What will not be funded: 

1. Provision of training or direct service.

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

these items if they are necessary to conduct applied research, development, demonstration, 

evaluation, or analysis. Proposals that include equipment purchases should include a 

discussion of how federally funded equipment is proposed to be used after the funded work 

has been completed and/or the project period has ended. Note that OJP may issue specific 

equipment disposition instructions in appropriate circumstances.)

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

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

of this solicitation.

5. Proposals addressing basic scientific research in the physical, life, and cognitive sciences 

that are designed to increase the knowledge underlying forensic science disciplines. 

Applicants proposing such studies may consider submitting applications to the planned NIJ 

FY 2013 solicitation entitled “Basic Scientific Research to Support Forensic Science for 

Criminal Justice Purposes.” 

6. Proposals addressing both a basic research and an applied research or development 

component. Applicants should submit the applied research and/or development component 

only. 

7. Proposals that do not clearly address criminal justice concerns in the United States.
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8. Proposals that focus primarily on non-human animal DNA or non-human animal biological 

components.

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

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

found on computer hard drives, mobile phones, personal digital assistants, CDs, flash 

memory equipment and other electronic devices. Digital evidence is commonly associated 

with electronic crime (e.g., child pornography or credit card fraud); however, digital evidence 

can also be used as forensic evidence in other types of crimes.6

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

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

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

views or explore or clarify a defined subject, problem, or area of knowledge, whether or not 

a published report results from such meeting. A meeting where a gathering discusses 

general matters as part of a normal course of doing business is not considered a 

conference. Funds may be used to attend conferences for the purposes of dissemination of 

research findings. 

Budget Information

Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation; Waiver

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

may not be used to pay total cash compensation (salary plus bonuses) to any employee of the 

award recipient at a rate that exceeds 110% of the maximum annual salary payable to a 

member of the Federal Government’s Senior Executive Service (SES) at an agency with a 

Certified SES Performance Appraisal System for that year. The 2012 salary table for SES 

employees is available at www.opm.gov/oca/12tables/indexSES.asp. Note: A recipient may 

compensate an employee at a higher rate, provided the amount in excess of this compensation 

limitation is paid with non-federal funds. (Any such additional compensation will not be 

considered matching funds where match requirements apply.)

The limitation on compensation rates allowable under an award may be waived on an individual 

basis at the discretion of the Director of the National Institute of Justice. An applicant requesting

a waiver should include a detailed justification in the budget narrative of its application. Unless 

the applicant submits a waiver request and justification with the application, the applicant should 

anticipate that OJP will request the applicant to adjust and resubmit its budget.

The justification should include the particular qualifications and expertise of the individual, the 

uniqueness of the service being provided, the individual’s specific knowledge of the program or 

project being undertaken with award funds, and a statement explaining that the individual’s 

salary is commensurate with the regular and customary rate for an individual with his/her 

qualifications and expertise, and for the work to be done.

Minimization of Conference Costs

No OJP funding can be used to purchase food and/or beverages for any meeting, conference, 

training, or other event. Exceptions to this restriction may be made only in cases where such 

sustenance is not otherwise available (i.e., extremely remote areas), or where a special 

presentation at a conference requires a plenary address where there is no other time for 

sustenance to be obtained. Such an exception would require prior approval from OJP. This 

 6 See generally www.nij.gov/topics/forensics/evidence/digital/welcome.htm
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restriction does not apply to water provided at no cost, but does apply to any and all other 

refreshments, regardless of the size or nature of the meeting. Additionally, this restriction does 

not impact direct payment of per diem amounts to individuals in a travel status under the 

organization’s travel policy.

Updated Department of Justice and OJP guidance on conference planning, minimization of 

costs, and conference cost reporting is accessible on the OJP website at 

www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/confcost.htm.

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 by individuals with limited English proficiency may be allowable costs. Reasonable 

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

translation services where appropriate.

For additional information, see the "Civil Rights Compliance" section of the OJP "Other 

Requirements for OJP Applications" Web page 

(www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/other_requirements.htm).

Match Requirement

See “Cofunding” paragraph under “What an Application Should Include” (below).

Performance Measures

To assist the Department in fulfilling its responsibilities under the Government Performance and 

Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), Public Law 103-62, and the GPRA Modernization Act of 2010, 

Public Law 111–352, applicants that receive funding under this solicitation must provide data 

that measure the results of their work done under this solicitation. Any award recipient will be 

required, post award, to provide the data requested in the “Data Grantee Provides” column so 

that OJP can calculate values for the “Performance Measures” column. (Submission of 

performance measures data is not required for the application.) Performance measures for this 

solicitation are as follows:
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Objective Performance Measure(s) Data Grantee Provides

The production of novel and 

useful knowledge, materials, 

devices, systems, or 

methods that have the 

potential for forensic 

science application in 

criminal justice settings 

and/or the ability to guide 

criminal justice policy and 

practice related to forensic 

sciences.

1. Relevance to the needs 

 of the field as measured 

 by whether the grantee’s

 substantive scope did not

 deviate from the funded 

 proposal or any 

 subsequent agency 

 modifications to the

 scope.

2. Quality of the research 

 as assessed by peer

 reviewers. 

3. Quality of management 

 as measured by whether 

 significant interim project 

 milestones were 

 achieved, final deadlines

 were met, and costs 

 remained within 

 approved limits. 

4. If applicable, number of

 NIJ final grant reports, 

 NIJ research

 documents, and grantee

 research documents 

 published.

5. If applicable, number of 

 fielded technologies. 

1. A final report providing a 

comprehensive overview of the 

project and a detailed 

description of the project design, 

data, and methods; a full 

presentation of scientific 

findings; and a thorough 

discussion of the implications of 

the project findings for criminal 

justice practice and policy in the 

United States.

2. Quarterly financial reports, 

semiannual progress reports, 

and a final progress report. 

3. If applicable, each data set that 

was collected, acquired, or 

modified in conjunction with the 

project. 

4. If applicable, citation to 

report(s)/document(s).

5. If applicable, description of 

fielded technologies.

Notice of Post-Award FFATA Reporting Requirement

Applicants should anticipate that OJP will require all recipients (other than individuals) of awards 

of $25,000 or more under this solicitation, consistent with the Federal Funding Accountability 

and Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA), to report award information on any first-tier subawards 

totaling $25,000 or more, and, in certain cases, to report information on the names and total 

compensation of the five most highly compensated executives of the recipient and first-tier 

subrecipients. Each applicant entity must ensure that it has the necessary processes and 

systems in place to comply with the reporting requirements should it receive funding. Reports 

regarding subawards will be made through the FFATA Subaward Reporting System (FSRS), 

found at www.fsrs.gov.

Please note also that applicants should anticipate that no subaward of an award made under 

this solicitation may be made to a subrecipient (other than an individual) unless the potential 

subrecipient acquires and provides a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number.
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How to Apply

Applications will be submitted through Grants.gov. Grants.gov is a “one-stop storefront” that 

provides a unified process for all customers of federal awards to find funding opportunities and 

apply for funding. Complete instructions on how to register and submit an application can be 

found at www.Grants.gov. If the applicant experiences technical difficulties at any point during 

this process, call the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 800–518–4726 or 606–545–5035,

24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except federal holidays. Registering with Grants.gov is a onetime process; however, processing delays may occur, and it can take up to several weeks

for first-time registrants to receive confirmation and a user password. OJP highly recommends 

that applicants start the registration process as early as possible to prevent delays in submitting 

an application package by the specified application deadline.

All applicants are required to complete the following steps:

1. Acquire a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. In general, the Office 

of Management and Budget requires that all applicants (other than individuals) for 

federal funds include a DUNS number in their applications for a new award or renewal of 

an existing award. A DUNS number is a unique nine-digit sequence recognized as the 

universal standard for identifying and keeping track of entities receiving federal funds. 

The identifier is used for tracking purposes and to validate address and point of contact 

information for federal assistance applicants, recipients, and subrecipients. The DUNS 

number will be used throughout the grant life cycle. Obtaining a DUNS number is a free, 

one-time activity. Obtain a DUNS number by calling Dun and Bradstreet at 866–705–

5711 or by applying online at www.dnb.com. A DUNS number is usually received within 

1-2 business days. 

2. Acquire registration with the System for Award Management (SAM). SAM replaces 

the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database as the repository for standard 

information about federal financial assistance applicants, recipients, and subrecipients.

OJP requires all applicants (other than individuals) for federal financial assistance to 

maintain current registrations in the SAM database. Applicants must be registered in

SAM to successfully register in Grants.gov. (Previously, organizations that had

submitted applications via Grants.gov were registered with CCR, as it was a requirement 

for Grants.gov registration. SAM registration replaces CCR as a pre-requisite for 

Grants.gov registration.) Applicants must update or renew their SAM registration 

annually to maintain an active status.

Applicants that were previously registered in the CCR database must, at a minimum:

• Create a SAM account;

• Log in to SAM and migrate permissions to the SAM account (all the entity 

registrations and records should already have been migrated).

Applicants that were not previously registered in the CCR database must register in 

SAM prior to registering in Grants.gov. Information about SAM registration procedures 

can be accessed at www.sam.gov.

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

username and password. Complete the AOR profile on Grants.gov and create a 

username and password. The applicant organization’s DUNS number must be used to 
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complete this step. For more information about the registration process, go to 

www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp.

4. Acquire confirmation for the AOR from the E-Business Point of Contact (E-Biz 

POC). The E-Biz POC at the applicant organization must log into Grants.gov to confirm 

the applicant organization’s AOR. Note that there can be more than one AOR for the 

organization.

5. Search for the funding opportunity on Grants.gov. Use the following identifying 

information when searching for the funding opportunity on Grants.gov. The Catalog of 

Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number for this solicitation is 16.560, titled 

“National Institute of Justice Research, Evaluation, and Development Project Grants,” 

and the funding opportunity number is NIJ-2013-3361.

6. Complete the Disclosure of Lobbying Activities. All applicants must complete this 

information. An applicant that expends any funds for lobbying activities must provide the 

detailed information requested on the form, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL). 

An applicant that does not expend any funds for lobbying activities should enter “N/A” in 

the required highlighted fields. 

7. Submit an application consistent with this solicitation by following the directions 

in Grants.gov. Within 24–48 hours after submitting the electronic application, the 

applicant should receive an e-mail validation message from Grants.gov. The validation 

message will state whether the application has been received and validated, or rejected, 

with an explanation. Important: Applicants are urged to submit applications at least 72 

hours prior to the due date of the application to allow time to receive the validation 

message and to correct any problems that may have caused a rejection notification.

Note: Grants.gov will forward the application to OJP’s Grants Management System 

(GMS). GMS does not accept executable file types as application attachments. These 

disallowed file types include, but are not limited to, the following extensions: “.com,” “.bat,”

“.exe,” “.vbs,” “.cfg,” “.dat,” “.db,” “.dbf,” “.dll,” “.ini,” “.log,” “.ora,” “.sys,” and “.zip.”

Note: Duplicate Applications

If an applicant submits multiple versions of an application, NIJ will review the most recent 

version submitted.

Experiencing Unforeseen Grants.gov Technical Issues

If an applicant experiences unforeseen Grants.gov technical issues beyond the applicant’s 

control that prevent submission of its application by the deadline, the applicant must send an 

email to the NIJ email address in the Contact Information section on the title page within 24 

hours after the application deadline and request approval to submit its application. The 

applicant must include in the e-mail: a description of the technical difficulties, a timeline of 

submission efforts, the complete grant application, the applicant DUNS number, and Grants.gov 

Help Desk or SAM tracking number(s) the applicant has received. Note: Requests are not 

automatically approved by NIJ. After the program office reviews all of the information 

submitted, and contacts the Grants.gov or SAM Help Desks to validate the technical issues 

reported, OJP will contact the applicant to either approve or deny the request to submit a late 
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application. If the technical issues reported cannot be validated, the application will be rejected 

as untimely. 

The following conditions are not valid reasons to permit late submissions: (1) failure to begin the 

registration process in sufficient time, (2) failure to follow Grants.gov instructions on how to 

register and apply as posted on its Web site, (3) failure to follow all of the instructions in the OJP 

solicitation, and (4) technical issues experienced with the applicant’s computer or information 

technology (IT) environment, including firewalls.

Notifications regarding known technical problems with Grants.gov, if any, are posted at the top 

of the OJP funding Web page at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/solicitations.htm.

What an Application Should Include

Applicants should anticipate that failure to submit an application that contains all of the specified 

elements may negatively affect the review of the application; and, should a decision be made to 

make an award, it may result in the inclusion of special conditions that preclude access to or 

use of award funds pending satisfaction of the conditions. 

Moreover, applicants should anticipate that applications that are unresponsive to the scope of 

the solicitation, or that do not include application elements designated by NIJ to be critical, will 

neither proceed to peer review nor receive further consideration. Under this solicitation, NIJ has 

designated the following application elements as critical: program narrative, budget detail 

worksheet and budget narrative, and resumes/curriculum vitae of key personnel. The Budget 

Narrative and the Budget Detail Worksheet may be combined in one document. However, if only 

one document is submitted, it must contain both narrative and detail information.

OJP strongly recommends use of appropriately descriptive file names (e.g., “Program 

Narrative,” “Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative,” “Timelines,” “Memoranda of 

Understanding,” “Resumes”) for all attachments. OJP recommends that resumes be included in 

a single file.

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

The SF–424 is a standard form required for use as a cover sheet for submission of preapplications, applications, and related information. Grants.gov and GMS take information 

from the applicant’s profile to populate the fields on this form. When selecting "type of 

applicant," if the applicant is an for-profit entity, select "For-Profit Organization" or "Small 

Business" (as applicable).

2. Program Narrative

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

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

dedicated to the description of the project/program design and implementation. If tables, 

charts, figures, and other illustrations are included in the main body of the program 

narrative, they will count toward the 18-page limit for the narrative section. Abstract, 

table of contents, appendices, and government forms do not count toward the 18-page 

limit for the narrative section.

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

noncompliance may be considered in peer review and in final award decisions.
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Program Narrative Guidelines: 

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

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

opportunity number, the applicant’s name and complete contact information (i.e., 

name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address), and a list of key 

words/phrases relevant to the proposed subject matter.

b. Project Abstract (not counted against the 18-page program narrative limit). 

The 400 to 600-word abstract should state the problem under investigation 

(including research goals and objectives) and the anticipated relevance of the 

project to criminal justice public policy, practice, or theory. It should describe the 

proposed method and/or research design, including data to be used in 

addressing research questions, data collection procedures and instrumentation, 

access to data, and other methods or procedures of the proposed study. It 

should also describe procedures for data analysis and all expected products, 

including interim and final reports, instrumentation, and devices. 

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

narrative limit). If an applicant is resubmitting a proposal that was 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 proposal, 

and (2) a brief summary of revisions to the proposal. This document should be 

inserted after the abstract.

d. Table of Contents (not counted against the 18-page program narrative limit). 

e. Main body. The main body of the program narrative should describe the project 

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

narrative: 

• Statement of the Problem.

• Project/Program Design and Implementation (this section should 

account for a minimum of 9 pages of the main body of the narrative). 

• Capabilities/Competencies.

• Impact/Outcomes, Evaluation, and Dissemination. 

Within these sections, the narrative should address:

• Purpose, goals, and objectives. (See “Goals, Objectives, and 

Deliverables” on page 4.)

• Review of relevant literature.

• Detailed description of research design and methods to include: 

research questions, hypotheses, description of sample, analysis plan, 

etc.

• Implications for criminal justice policy and practice in the United 

States.

• Management plan and organization.

f. Appendices (not counted against the 18-page program narrative limit) include:

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

pertaining to the proposed study 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/program design should be included in the main body of the 

narrative.) 

• Supporting data—This should include any preliminary data to support 

the investigator’s ability to perform the work and/or proof of principle 

for the proposed research/technology. 

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

(Curriculum vitae, resumes, or biographical sketches should be limited 

to no more than 2 pages per person.) 

• Project timeline and research calendar with expected milestones. 

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

below).

• Human Subjects Protection Paperwork, including Institutional Review 

Board (IRB) documentation and forms (see 

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

• Privacy Certificate (for further guidance go to 

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

• Other funding:

 List of previous and current NIJ awards to applicant 

organization and investigator(s).

 List of current and pending non-NIJ support for each 

investigator collaborating on this proposal. 

 List of other agencies, organizations, or funding sources to 

which this proposal has been submitted (if applicable). 

• Letters of cooperation/support or administrative agreements from 

organizations collaborating in the project, memoranda of 

understanding (MOUs), or letters of intent to establish MOUs (if 

applicable).

• Other materials specified by the solicitation.

• Data archiving plan (See descriptive paragraph below.)

Data Archiving Plan: Applications should include a description of the 

proposed data management and archiving process. The submission 

of data has not been a requirement of the forensic science research 

and development program; however, data may be requested on a 

case-by-case basis.

3. Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative

a. Budget Detail Worksheet 

A sample Budget Detail Worksheet can be found at 

www.ojp.gov/funding/forms/budget_detail.pdf. If the budget is submitted in a 

different format, the budget categories listed in the sample budget worksheet 

should be included.
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For questions pertaining to budget and examples of allowable and unallowable costs, 

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

b. Budget Narrative

The Budget Narrative should thoroughly and clearly describe every category of 

expense listed in the Budget Detail Worksheet. Proposed budgets are expected 

to be complete; reasonable and allowable; cost-effective; and necessary for 

project activities. The narrative should be mathematically sound and correspond 

with the information and figures provided in the Budget Detail Worksheet. The 

narrative should explain how all costs were estimated and calculated and how 

they are relevant to the completion of the proposed project. The narrative may 

include tables for clarification purposes but need not be in a spreadsheet format. 

As with the Budget Detail Worksheet, the Budget Narrative should be broken 

down by year.

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

100 percent of the total cost of the project. The application should indicate 

whether it is feasible for the applicant to contribute cash, facilities, or services as 

non-Federal support for the project. The application should identify generally any 

such contributions that the applicant expects to make and the proposed budget 

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

contributions.

If a successful application proposes a voluntary match amount, the match 

amount incorporated into the OJP-approved budget becomes mandatory and 

subject to audit.

4. Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

rate proposal at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/pdfs/indirect_costs.pdf.

5. Tribal Authorizing Resolution (if applicable)

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

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

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

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

the tribe or tribal organization and its membership should be included with the 

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

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

should include a resolution (or comparable legal documentation, as may be applicable) 

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

the grant. A consortium of tribes for which existing consortium bylaws allow action 

without support from all tribes in the consortium (i.e., without authorizing resolution or 

other enactment of each tribal governing body) may submit a copy of its consortium 
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bylaws with the application in lieu of tribal resolutions (or comparable legal 

documentation).

6. Additional Attachments

List of Entities Involved in the Project 

The application should include a stand-alone attachment entitled “List of Entities” that 

lists the names of all entities that will be involved in the work. This list should include, but 

is not limited to: the organizations at which the investigators are employed; academic 

institutions at which grant-funded researchers are employed or enrolled; organizations 

that may receive subawards or contracts; and any organization(s) named in letters of 

cooperation/support, administrative agreements from organizations collaborating in the 

project, MOUs, or letters of intent to establish MOUs.

7. Other Standard Forms

Additional forms that may be required in connection with an award are available on

OJP’s funding page at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/forms.htm. For successful applicants, 

receipt of funds may be contingent upon submission of all necessary forms. Note in 

particular the following forms.

a. Standard Assurances

Applicants must read, certify, and submit this form in GMS prior to the receipt 

of any award funds.

b. Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other

Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements

Applicants must read, certify, and submit in GMS prior to the receipt of any 

award funds.

c. Accounting System and Financial Capability Questionnaire (required for any 

applicant other than an individual that is a non-governmental entity and that 

has not received any award from OJP within the past 3 years; this form must 

be downloaded, completed, and submitted).

Selection Criteria

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

the following review criteria. 

Depending on the number of applications received, applications may be categorized by 

scientific discipline into discrete groups for purposes of peer review and/or selection for award.

Statement of the Problem (Understanding of the problem and its importance)—5%

1. Clarity of the description of the problem. 

2. Demonstrated understanding of the problem that exists in an identified forensic science 

field/discipline or area of criminal justice. 

3. Awareness of the state of the art of tools available for the stated problem (if applicable, 

this should include tools that are currently in development). 
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4. Strength of citations and other appropriate information to support the understanding of the 

problem and the expected contribution of the proposed research/development to the 

identified field of forensic science or area of criminal justice. 

Project/Program Design and Implementation (Quality and technical merit)—50%

1. Awareness of the state of current research. (What are the existing technology gaps? 

How will the proposed effort resolve the problem stated?) 

2. Soundness of methods and analytic and technical approach. (The overall strategy, 

methodology, and analyses should be well-reasoned and appropriate to accomplish the 

specific aims of the project.) 

3. Feasibility of proposed project and the strength of supporting data. (The proof of

principle of the proposed technology or methodology should be established and 

supported by preliminary data presented in or referenced in the proposal. More 

innovative plans and/or plans with a higher potential for failure should be 

counterbalanced to manage the inherent risk; e.g., by firm theoretical basis, reasonable 

preliminary data (depending on the mechanism), the track record of the lead 

investigator(s), and an outstanding scientific and management plan).

4. Relationship between the proposed timeline and the project design. (Are the timeline 

and milestones logical and realistic? Are milestones adequately developed and 

quantitative, so they can serve as effective guidance for assessment of progress by the 

investigators and NIJ?)

5. Awareness of pitfalls and feasibility of proposed actions to minimize and/or mitigate 

them. (Are key technical barriers and dependencies identified?) 

6. Innovation and creativity (when appropriate). (Innovative projects include those that 

challenge and seek to shift current research or practice paradigms by using novel 

theoretical concepts, instrumentation, approaches, or methodologies. These concepts, 

instrumentation, approaches, or methodologies may be novel to one field of forensic 

science or novel in a broad sense. The refinement, improvement, or new application of 

theoretical concepts, instrumentation, approaches, or methodologies may also be 

proposed.) 

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

applicants)—15%

1. Qualifications and experience of proposed staff.

The principal investigator (PI) should demonstrate an ongoing record of 

accomplishments that have advanced the field(s). If the project is collaborative or has 

more than one PI, investigators should have complementary and integrated expertise.

2. Demonstrated ability of proposed staff to publish research in peer reviewed scientific 

journals.

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

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

and resources are used.

5. Strength of strategic collaborations. (Does the proposed project connect technical 

expertise with criminal justice policy and practice? Does the project propose teams of 

strategic partners (e.g., researchers, technologists, practitioners, and/or policymakers) 

that have demonstrated experience and success in the relevant science/technology and 

practical forensic science disciplines? Do the proposed partnerships add value to the 

core competencies of the applicant, and are the benefits of each partnership clearly 

explained? Proposals that involve strategic collaborations should include letters of 
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cooperation/support from partners and may be further strengthened with the inclusion of 

memoranda of understanding (MOUs) or letters of intent to establish MOUs.) 

6. Strength of the scientific environment (e.g., institutional support, equipment and other 

physical resources, or collaborative arrangements) in which the work will be done and its 

contribution to the probability of success. 

Impact/Outcomes, Evaluation, and Dissemination (Relevance to policy and practice)—30% 

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

(How will successful completion change the concepts, methods, technologies, 

treatments, or services that drive the forensic science field as it relates to criminal 

justice? How will a successful project address the identified criminal justice or forensic

science problem and associated critical barriers to progress?) 

2. Potential for significant advances in the field. (If the goals of the project are achieved, 

how will scientific knowledge, technical capability, and/or forensic science practice in the 

criminal justice system be improved? What is the likelihood that the project will exert a 

sustained, powerful influence on the forensic science field(s) related to criminal justice?) 

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

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

(Higher quality applications clearly explain the practical implications of the project.) 

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

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

technology).

5. Perceived potential for commercialization and/or implementation of a new technology for 

use by forensic science practitioners in the criminal justice system (when applicable). 

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

(including researchers) and, in line with NIJ’s mission, forensic science researchers, 

practitioners, and policymakers in the criminal justice system. (The dissemination 

strategy should be consistent with the goals of the solicitation and proposed project. A 

strong dissemination plan will be detailed and will go beyond a basic confirmation that 

the findings will be presented at national/regional forensic science meetings or through 

NIJ work products. Does the proposal include a clear description of how final research 

data will be shared, or, if applicable, explain why data sharing is not possible? Does the 

dissemination strategy include suggestions for print and electronic products that NIJ 

might develop for criminal justice practitioners and policymakers? If applicable, does the 

strategy include suggestions for training materials or workshops; e.g., technology 

transition workshops for forensic science practitioners in the criminal justice system?) 

Budget 

Reviewers will consider and may comment on the following additional items in the context of 

scientific and technical merit:

1. Total cost of the project relative to the perceived benefit (cost-effectiveness). 

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

3. Use of existing resources to conserve costs. (Does the applicant leverage the existing 

scientific environment to conserve cost?) 

4. Consistency of budget with all proposed activities (e.g., dissemination strategy). 

The budget criteria will also be considered by the program office.
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Research Independence and Integrity

Regardless of a proposal’s rating under the criteria outlined above, in order to receive funds, the 

applicant’s proposal must demonstrate research independence, including appropriate 

safeguards to ensure research objectivity and integrity. 

For purposes of this solicitation, research independence and integrity pertains only to ensuring 

that the design, conduct, or reporting of research funded by NIJ grants, cooperative 

agreements, or contracts will not be biased by any financial interest on the part of the

investigators responsible for the research or on the part of the applicant.

In the appendix dealing with research independence and integrity, the applicant must explain 

the process and procedures that the applicant has put in place to identify and manage potential 

financial conflicts of interest on the part of its staff, consultants, and/or subrecipients. It must 

also identify any potential organizational financial conflicts of interest on the part of the applicant 

with regard to the proposed research. If the applicant believes that there are no potential 

organizational financial conflicts of interest, the applicant must provide a brief narrative 

explanation of why it believes that to be the case.

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

must identify the safeguards the applicant has put in place to address those conflicts of interest.

Considerations in evaluating research independence and integrity will include, but may not be 

limited to, the adequacy of the applicant’s efforts to identify factors that could affect the 

objectivity/integrity of the proposed staff and/or the organization in carrying out the research, 

development, or evaluation activity; and the adequacy of the applicant’s existing or proposed 

remedies to control any such factors.

Review Process

OJP is committed to ensuring a fair and open process for awarding grants. NIJ reviews the 

application to make sure that the information presented is reasonable, understandable, 

measurable, and achievable, as well as consistent with the solicitation.

Peer reviewers will review the applications submitted under this solicitation that meet basic 

minimum requirements. NIJ may use either internal peer reviewers, external peer reviewers, or 

a combination, to review the applications under this solicitation. An external peer reviewer is an 

expert in the subject matter of a given solicitation who is NOT a current DOJ employee. An 

internal reviewer is a current DOJ employee who is well-versed or has expertise in the subject 

matter of this solicitation. Applications that meet basic minimum requirements will be evaluated, 

scored, and rated by a peer review panel. Peer reviewers’ ratings and any resulting 

recommendations are advisory only. In addition to peer review ratings, considerations for award 

recommendations and decisions may include, but are not limited to, underserved populations, 

geographic diversity, strategic priorities, past performance, and available funding.

The Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO), in consultation with NIJ, conducts a financial 

review of applications for potential discretionary awards to evaluate the fiscal integrity and 

financial capability of applicants; examines proposed costs to determine if the Budget Detail 

Worksheet and Budget Narrative accurately explain project costs; and determines whether 
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costs are reasonable, necessary, and allowable under applicable federal cost principles and 

agency regulations. 

All final award decisions will be made by the Director of the National Institute of Justice, who

also may give consideration to factors including, but not limited to, underserved populations, 

geographic diversity, strategic priorities, past performance, and available funding when making 

awards.

Additional Requirements

Applicants selected for awards must agree to comply with additional legal requirements upon 

acceptance of an award. OJP strongly encourages applicants to review the information 

pertaining to these additional requirements prior to submitting an application. Additional

information for each requirement can be found at

www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/other_requirements.htm.

• Civil Rights Compliance

• Civil Rights Compliance Specific to State Administering Agencies

• Faith-Based and Other Community Organizations

• Confidentiality

• Research and the Protection of Human Subjects

• Anti-Lobbying Act

• Financial and Government Audit Requirements

• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

• DOJ Information Technology Standards (if applicable) 

• Single Point of Contact Review

• Non-Supplanting of State or Local Funds

• Criminal Penalty for False Statements

• Compliance with Office of Justice Programs Financial Guide

• Suspension or Termination of Funding

• Nonprofit Organizations

• For-profit Organizations

• Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA)
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• Rights in Intellectual Property 

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

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

• Policy and Guidance for Conference Approval, Planning and Reporting

• OJP Training Guiding Principles for Grantees and Subgrantees

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

materials, including: 

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

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

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

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

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

summary of 2,500 to 4,000 words. 

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

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

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

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

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

format.

Interim reports: Grantees must submit quarterly financial reports, semi-annual progress 

reports, a final progress report, and, if applicable, an annual audit report in accordance with 

Office of Management and Budget Circular A–133. Grantees should anticipate that semiannual 

progress reports will be required to follow the nonbudgetary components of the Research 

Performance Progress Report template/format. Future awards and fund drawdowns may be 

withheld if reports are delinquent. 

Provide Feedback to OJP on This Solicitation

To assist OJP in improving its application and award processes, we encourage applicants to 

provide feedback on this solicitation, the application submission process, and/or the application 

review/peer review process. Feedback can be provided to 

OJPSolicitationFeedback@usdoj.gov.
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Application Checklist

Applied Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal 

Justice Purposes

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

What an Application Should Include: 

_____ Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) (see page 14)

_____ Appendices to the Program Narrative (see page 15)

_____ Bibliography/references 

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

pertaining to the proposed study that supplement those in the narrative

_____ Supporting Data—This should include any preliminary data to support the 

investigator’s ability to perform the work and/or proof of principle for the 

proposed research/technology

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

_____ Project timeline and research calendar with expected milestones 

_____ Research independence and integrity 

_____ Human Subjects Protection Paperwork 

_____ Privacy Certificate 

_____ Other funding: 

_____ List of previous and current NIJ awards to applicant organization 

 and investigator(s) 

_____ List of current and pending non-NIJ support for each investigator 

 collaborating on this proposal 

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

 this proposal has been submitted (if applicable) 

 _____ Letters of cooperation/support, administrative agreements from 

 organizations collaborating in the project, memoranda of 

 understanding (MOUs), or letters of intent to establish MOUs (if 

 applicable) 

 _____ Data Archiving Plan

_____ Budget Detail Worksheet (see page 16)

_____ Budget Narrative (see page 17)

_____ Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) (see page 13)

_____ Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) (see page 17)

_____ Tribal Authorizing Resolution (if applicable) (see page 17)

_____ Program Narrative/Abstract Format: (see page 14)

_____ Single spaced 

_____ 12-point standard font 

_____ 1-inch standard margins 

_____ Narrative is 18 pages or less 

_____ Project/Program Design and Implementation is at least 9 pages of the 

main body of the narrative

_____ Additional Attachments (see page 18)

_____ List of Entities Involved in the Project

_____ Other Standard Forms as applicable (see page 18), including:

_____ Accounting System and Financial Capability Questionnaire (if applicable)