U.S. Department of Justice 

Office of Justice Programs 

National Institute of Justice 

The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice 

(NIJ) is seeking applications for funding to evaluate the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s 

(BJA) Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification (SAVIN) Program. As of 

Fiscal Year 2008, the SAVIN program has provided funding for 33 States and Puerto 

Rico for the development, implementation, and/or enhancement of a victim notification 

system. BJA expects to fund additional sites this year. Funding through this solicitation is 

intended to support a national evaluation including State-level analyses of the SAVIN 

program leading to a promising practices toolkit to aid the continued development, 

implementation, and enhancement of comprehensive victim notification programs within 

individual States and territories. In addition to the evaluation focus, NIJ hopes to 

advance both theory and practice related to victims through this research. This program 

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

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

justice, particularly at the State and local levels. 

Solicitation: 

Evaluation of the Statewide Automated 

Victim Information and Notification (SAVIN) 

Program 

Eligibility 

 (See “Eligibility,” page 3) 

Deadline 

Registration with the Office of Justice Programs’ Grant Management System 

(GMS) is required prior to application submission. 

(See “Registration,” page 3) 

All applications are due July 20, 2009, 11:45 p.m. eastern time.

Contact Information 

For assistance with the requirements of this solicitation, contact Bethany Backes, Social 

Science Analyst, at 202–305-4419 or bethany.backes@usdoj.gov. 

This application must be submitted through the Office of Justice Programs’ Grants 

Management System (GMS). For technical assistance with submitting the application, 

call the Grants Management System Support Hotline at 1–888–549–9901, option 3. 

Note: The GMS Support Hotline hours of operation are Monday–Friday from 7 a.m. to 

9 p.m. eastern time. 

SL# 000883 
CONTENTS 

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

Deadline: Registration ....................................................................................................... 3 

Deadline: Application ........................................................................................................ 3 

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

Faith-Based and Other Community Organizations ................................................ 4 

American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Tribes and/or Tribal Organizations.... 4 

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

Performance Measures ..................................................................................................... 8 

How to Apply ..................................................................................................................... 9 

What an Application Must Include ................................................................................... 10 

Selection Criteria ............................................................................................................. 12 

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

Additional Requirements ................................................................................................. 14 

2
Evaluation of the Statewide Automated 

Victim Information and Notification (SAVIN) 

Program 

CFDA No. 16.560 

Overview 

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

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

Justice Programs (OJP). NIJ provides objective, independent, evidence-based 

knowledge and tools to enhance the administration of justice and public safety. NIJ 

solicits applications to inform its search for the knowledge and tools to guide policy and 

practice. 

The Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification (SAVIN) Program (guided 

in part by the general principles of 42 USC 10603e) is intended to protect crime victims 

from further victimization and help ensure their legal rights are upheld by providing 

access to registration for timely and accurate notification about any changes to the 

status of their offender (e.g., trial dates and times, inmate relocation, offender release). 

As of Fiscal Year 2008, 33 States and Puerto Rico have received funding to develop, 

implement, and/or enhance their notification system; however, notification features differ 

from State to State and sometimes from county to county. This solicitation seeks 

applications for support of a national evaluation including State-level analyses that 

identify strategies for developing, implementing, and enhancing a victim notification 

system that fully addresses the needs and concerns of victims. 

Deadline: Registration 

Applicants must register with GMS prior to applying. The deadline to register is 

11:45 p.m. eastern time on July 20, 2009. 

Deadline: Application 

The due date for applying for funding under this announcement is July 20, 2009, 

11:45 p.m. eastern time. 

Eligibility 

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

agreements with, States (including territories), local governments (including federally 

recognized Indian tribal governments that perform law enforcement functions), nonprofit 

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

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

individuals. Foreign governments, foreign organizations, and foreign institutions of higher 

education are not eligible to apply. 

3
Faith-Based and Other Community Organizations: Consistent with Executive Order 

13279, dated December 12, 2002, and 28 C.F.R. Part 38, faith-based and other 

community organizations that statutorily qualify as eligible applicants under DOJ 

programs are invited and encouraged to apply for assistance awards to fund eligible 

grant activities. Faith-based and other community organizations will be considered for 

awards on the same basis as other eligible applicants and, if they receive assistance 

awards, will be treated on an equal basis with all other grantees in the administration of 

such awards. No eligible applicant or grantee will be discriminated for or against on the 

basis of its religious character or affiliation, religious name, or the religious composition 

of its board of directors or persons working in the organization. 

Faith-based organizations receiving DOJ assistance awards retain their independence 

and do not lose or have to modify their religious identity (e.g., remove religious symbols) 

to receive assistance awards. DOJ grant funds, however, may not be used to fund any 

inherently religious activity, such as prayer or worship. Inherently religious activity is 

permissible, although it cannot occur during an activity funded with DOJ grant funds; 

rather, such religious activity must be separate in time or place from the DOJ-funded 

program. Further, participation in such activity by individuals receiving services must be 

voluntary. Programs funded by DOJ are not permitted to discriminate in the provision of 

services on the basis of a beneficiary’s religion. 

If your organization is a faith-based organization that makes hiring decisions on the 

basis of religious belief, it may be entitled, under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, 

42 U.S.C. § 2000bb, to receive Federal funds and yet maintain that hiring practice, even 

if the law creating the funding program contains a general ban on religious discrimination 

in employment. For the circumstances under which this may occur, and the certifications 

that may be required, please see the section titled “Funding to Faith-Based 

Organizations” on the "Other Requirements for OJP Applications" Web page at 

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

Applicants are also encouraged to review the “Civil Rights Compliance” section of the 

“Other Requirements for OJP Applications” Web page, which also can be found at 

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

American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Tribes and/or Tribal Organizations: If a 

grant application is being submitted on behalf of a tribe or tribal organization, a current 

authorizing resolution of the governing body of the tribal entity or other enactment of the 

tribal council or comparable government body authorizing the inclusion of the tribe or 

tribal organization named in the application must be included with the application. 

Specific Information—Evaluation of the Statewide 

Automated Victim Information and Notification (SAVIN) 

Program

The SAVIN program helps protect crime victims from further victimization and helps 

ensure their legal rights are upheld by providing registered victims with timely and 

accurate information about any important dates and developments relating to the 

criminal proceedings at issue in the case (e.g., trial dates, times, or changes; probation 

hearings; inmate relocation; and offender release). This information enables victims to 

4
fully participate in the judicial process while maintaining total anonymity. Effective SAVIN 

programs, which require broad multiagency support, increase victim safety, meet 

legislative requirements, and minimize the costs associated with keeping victims 

informed throughout the criminal justice process. Information on SAVIN grantees 

including state, grantee name, award amount, and program title can be found at the 

following link: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/06_08SAVINawards.pdf. 

The SAVIN program provides funding for two categories: implementation or 

enhancement. Funding for implementation supports the creation of new programs 

including planning, deploying, operating, and assessing the effectiveness of new SAVIN 

programs. Funding for enhancements supports the expansion of coverage and inclusion 

of additional information for notification such as court events, offenders on community 

supervision (probation or parole), juvenile cases, protection orders, and related 

information important to crime victims and can also be used to assess the effectiveness 

of enhancements. Not all States that have a notification program in place receive funding 

through the SAVIN program. Additionally, some States have received funds for both 

implementation and enhancement whereas others have received funds for only one 

category. 

In October 2006, the Integrated Justice Information Systems Institute, through BJA 

funding, produced a report entitled “Planning, Implementing and Operating Effective 

Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification (SAVIN) Programs: Guidelines 

and Standards” (see full report at 

http://it.ojp.gov/documents/ijis_savin_guidelines_standards.pdf). The report provided 

recommendations for planning, implementing, and operating effective SAVIN programs. 

The report also noted the importance of cooperation and involvement by all stakeholders 

including victims; private organizations; and State, local, and county criminal justice 

agencies. Although the report provides guiding principles for SAVIN grantees, it did not 

evaluate practices or procedures related to the development and enhancement of 

SAVIN programs. 

In order to assess the effectiveness of the SAVIN program, including State and local 

investment and victim participation and satisfaction, and provide a guide for current and 

new SAVIN grantees, NIJ is seeking applications for a national evaluation including 

State-level analyses of the SAVIN program and the development of a promising 

practices toolkit. The evaluation should examine implementation, process, outcome, and 

cost-effectiveness of SAVIN-funded programs. The toolkit should provide information on 

and strategies for the implementation, development, and enhancement of notification 

programs. The toolkit should be developed in a format that is easily accessible and 

understandable to the target audience of the SAVIN program. 

Although this is not an exhaustive list, the successful applicant is expected to conduct a 

national evaluation including State-level analyses related to the development, 

implementation, and enhancement of the SAVIN-funded programs by addressing the 

following: 

• What are the different and best approaches for developing, implementing, and 

administering State and local notification programs that address the goals of the 

SAVIN program? (For example: Was there an advisory board or governance 

plan? Who was involved with the development? Once implemented, how are 

programs administered and supported?) 

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• What are the major obstacles that State and local jurisdictions have faced with 

the development, implementation, and sustainability of their SAVIN-funded 

programs, and what are the solutions to these obstacles? 

• How are victims informed of the existence of a notification program, and are they 

notified in a timely and appropriate manner? (For example: Are there written 

protocols requiring notification of the program by law enforcement, advocates, or 

court personnel?) 

• Who are the stakeholders in various States, and what role do they play within 

their SAVIN-funded program? How does stakeholder support or lack of support 

impact the development, implementation, and sustainability of the SAVIN-funded 

program? 

• How does specific State legislation impact the development, implementation, and 

ongoing administration of SAVIN-funded programs (including sustainability)? (For 

example: Did legislation require the development of a notification program and/or 

specify additional funding to support the program? How does legislation differ 

among States? Is there model legislation?) 

• How are the SAVIN-funded programs publicized to stakeholders including 

victims, advocacy organizations, and State, local, and county agencies? (For 

example: do promoters use public service announcements or public education 

programs, mail pamphlets, etc. to disseminate information?) 

• How satisfied are victims and advocacy agencies with the SAVIN-funded 

program in their State or jurisdiction in terms of usability, availability of needed 

features, and reliability? 

• How do SAVIN-funded notification programs address the relocation of victims 

and other participants who are registered? 

• What are the major enhancements undertaken by SAVIN grantees and are the 

enhancements helpful to victims? 

• What are the costs associated with implementing and sustaining SAVIN-funded 

notification programs? What are the costs associated with adding and sustaining 

enhancements to SAVIN-funded programs? 

• What are the differences between States with an active victim notification 

program receiving funds wholly or partially from the SAVIN program versus 

States that have an active victim notification program and do not receive funds 

from the SAVIN program? 

Currently, there is a SAVIN Advisory Committee that meets twice a year, some of whose 

members may participate in the future on a smaller board (SAVIN Evaluation Advisory 

Committee) that would include researchers. The applicant awarded funding is expected 

to consult with BJA and NIJ staff, and any SAVIN Evaluation Advisory Committee that 

may be established, prior to finalizing the research questions and evaluation design and 

6
throughout the course of the evaluation. Additional research questions may emerge, and 

some research questions may be revised or eliminated based on this consultation. In 

addition to the mandatory semi-annual progress reports, grantees will be required to 

provide two interim reports per year to NIJ, which will be shared with BJA and the SAVIN 

Evaluation Advisory Committee (if applicable). Interim reports should be submitted in 

April and October and include updates on the evaluation including adherence to timeline, 

ongoing activities, and instruments developed. Applications should provide an overview 

of what will be addressed in the interim reports and include the submission of interim 

reports on the project timeline. 

Applications should contain a thorough dissemination plan that includes a symposium 

expected to be appended to a BJA-sponsored SAVIN National Conference. The 

symposium should focus on a presentation and discussion of the evaluation results 

including promising practices. In addition to the symposium, at a minimum, applicants 

should propose multiple methods for dissemination that would include written 

submission to research and practice journals, presentations at professional conferences, 

and other dissemination vehicles. Applications should also address dissemination of the 

promising practices toolkit. 

Evaluation Research: Within applications proposing evaluation research, funding 

priority will be given to experimental research designs that use random selection and 

assignment of participants to experimental and control conditions. When randomized 

designs are not feasible, priority will be given to quasi-experimental designs that include 

contemporary procedures like Propensity Score Matching and Regression Discontinuity 

Design to address selection bias in evaluating outcomes and impacts. 

Evaluations that also include measurements of program fidelity and implementation as 

part of a thorough process assessment are desirable. Measurements of program fidelity 

should be included as part of an assessment of program processes and operations to 

ensure that policies, programs, and technologies are implemented as designed. As one 

aspect of a comprehensive evaluation, assessments of program processes should 

include objective measurements and qualitative observations of programs as they are 

actually implemented and services are delivered. These may include assessment of 

such aspects as adherence to program content and protocol, quantity and duration, 

quality of delivery, and participant responsiveness. 

Proposed evaluation research designs with multiple units of analysis and multiple 

measurements will also be given priority. Design aspects that contribute to the validity of 

results are necessary to effectively address issues of generalizability and 

representativeness of findings. 

Finally, applications that include cost/benefit analysis will be given priority. NIJ views 

cost/benefit analysis as an effective way to communicate and disseminate findings from 

evaluation research. 

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

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

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

7
What will not be funded:

1. Provision of training or direct service. 

2. Proposals primarily to purchase equipment, materials, or supplies. (Your budget 

may include these items if they are necessary to conduct applied research, 

development, demonstration, evaluation, or analysis.) 

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

Cost of proposed work: NIJ anticipates that up to $1.5 million may become available 

for an award made through this solicitation. All NIJ awards are subject to the 

availability of appropriated funds and to any modifications or additional 

requirements that may be imposed by law. NIJ expects to make one award, 

depending on funds available, the number of high-quality applications, and other 

pertinent factors. If you propose a project that exceeds the amount of money that may 

be available for this solicitation, we recommend that you divide the project into phases, 

stages, or tasks so that NIJ can consider making an award for a specific portion of the 

work. NIJ cannot guarantee that subsequent phases, stages, or tasks will be funded. 

Such additional funding depends on, among other things, NIJ resources, strategic 

priorities, and your satisfactory completion of each phase, stage, or task. Note: 

Deliverables (e.g., a final report) will be required at the end of each phase, stage, or 

task. 

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

additional funding, ordinarily will not exceed 3 years. 

A grant made by NIJ under this solicitation may account for up to 100 percent of the total 

cost of the project. See "Cofunding," under "What an Application Must Include." 

Limitation on use of award funds for employee compensation; waiver: No portion 

of any award of more than $250,000 made under this solicitation may be used to pay 

any portion of the total cash compensation (salary plus bonuses) of any employee of the 

award recipient whose total cash compensation exceeds 110 percent of the maximum 

annual salary payable to a member of the Federal Government’s Senior Executive 

Service (SES) at an agency with a Certified SES Performance Appraisal System for that 

year. (The salary table for SES employees is available at http://www.opm.gov.) 

This prohibition may be waived at the discretion of the Assistant Attorney General for the 

Office of Justice Programs. An applicant that wishes to request a waiver should include 

a detailed justification in the budget narrative for the application. The justification should 

include: the particular qualification and expertise of the individual, the uniqueness of the 

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

undertaken with the grant funds and a statement explaining that the individual’s salary is 

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

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

Performance Measures 

To assist in fulfilling the Department’s responsibilities under the Government 

Performance and Results Act (GPRA), P.L. 103–62, applicants who receive funding 

under this solicitation must provide data that measure the results of their work. 

Performance measures for this solicitation are as follows: 

8
Objective Performance Measures Data Grantee Provides 

Develop and 

analyze 

information and 

data having clear 

implications for 

criminal justice 

policy and practice 

in the United 

States. 

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. 

Quality of the research as assessed by 

peer reviewers. 

Quality of management as measured by 

whether significant interim project 

milestones were achieved, final 

deadlines were met, and costs 

remained within approved limits. 

If applicable, number of NIJ final grant 

reports, NIJ research documents, and 

grantee research documents published. 

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. 

Quarterly financial reports, semi-annual 

progress reports, interim reports, and a 

final progress report. 

If applicable, each data set that was 

collected, acquired, or modified in 

conjunction with the project. 

If applicable, citation to 

report(s)/document(s).

How to Apply 

 

Grants Management System Instructions. Applications must be submitted through 

OJP’s online Grants Management System (GMS). To access the system, go to 

https://grants.ojp.usdoj.gov. Applicants should begin the process a few weeks prior to 

the GMS registration deadline, especially if this is the first time they have used the 

system. Each application requires a separate GMS registration. For a step-by-step 

guide, visit http://www.ojp.gov/gmscbt/ and refer to the section entitled “External 

Overview: Locating & Applying for Funding Opportunities.” For additional assistance, call 

the GMS Help Desk at 1–888–549–9901 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. eastern time. 

Note: OJP will not review any application whose attachments are in Microsoft 

Vista or Microsoft 2007 format. Applications submitted via GMS must be in the 

following formats: Microsoft Word (*.doc), Word Perfect (*.wpd), PDF files (*.pdf), or Text 

Documents (*.txt), and may include Microsoft Excel (*.xls) files. GMS is not yet 

compatible with Vista and cannot yet process Microsoft Word 2007 documents saved in 

the new default format with the extension “.docx.” Please ensure that Word documents 

you are submitting are saved using "Word 97–2003 Document (*.doc)" format. 

Additionally, 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." 

CFDA Number: 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.” 

A DUNS number is required: The Office of Management and Budget requires that all 

businesses and nonprofit applicants for Federal funds include a DUNS (Data Universal 

Numbering System) number in their application for a new award or renewal of an award. 

9
Applications without a DUNS number are incomplete. A DUNS number is a unique ninedigit 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, simple, one-time activity. Obtain one by 

calling 1–866–705–5711 or by applying online at http://www.dnb.com/us. Individuals are 

exempt from this requirement. 

Central Contractor Registration (CCR) is required: In addition to the DUNS number 

requirement, OJP requires that all applicants (other than individuals) for Federal financial 

assistance maintain current registrations in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) 

database. The CCR database is the repository for standard information about Federal 

financial assistance applicants, recipients, and subrecipients. Organizations that have 

previously submitted applications via Grants.gov are already registered with CCR, as it 

is a requirement for Grants.gov registration. Please note, however, that applicants must 

update or renew their CCR at least once per year to maintain an active status. 

Information about registration procedures can be accessed at www.ccr.gov. 

What an Application Must Include 

An application must include the following: 

Standard Form 424 

Program Narrative 

The Program Narrative includes: 

a. Abstract (not to exceed 600 words). 

The abstract should state the problem under investigation (including goals 

and objectives of the proposed project) and the anticipated relevance of 

the project to criminal justice public policy, practice, or theory applicable 

to the United States. 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, devices, and data sets 

to be submitted in accordance with the Data Archiving Strategy (see 

below). If applicable, it should describe the subjects who will be involved 

in the proposed project, including the number of participants; participants’ 

age, gender, and race/ethnicity; and other pertinent characteristics, such 

as methods used to gain access to subjects. 

b. Resubmit response (if applicable). 

If you are resubmitting a proposal that was submitted, but not funded, 

under a previous solicitation, you must provide a response indicating that 

your proposal is a revision and that it was submitted before. You should 

prepare a two-page response to the earlier panel review that includes (1) 

the title, submission date, and NIJ-assigned application number of the 

previous proposal, and (2) a brief summary of responses to the review 

and/or revisions to the proposal. Insert the response after the abstract. 

10
c. Table of contents. 

d. Main body. 

The main body of the Program Narrative should describe the project in 

depth and include the following sections: 

• Purpose, goals, and objectives. 

• Review of relevant literature. 

• Research design and methods. 

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

• Management plan and organization. 

• Dissemination strategy including plans for a symposium and toolkit. 

e. Appendixes. 

Appendixes are not counted against program narrative page limit and 

must include: 

• Bibliography/References (if applicable). 

• Data Archiving Strategy (see “Other Program Attachments” below). 

• List of key personnel (required). 

• Résumés of key personnel (required). 

• List of previous and current NIJ awards (required). 

• Letters of cooperation/support or administrative agreements from 

organizations collaborating in the project (if applicable). 

• Chart for timeline, research calendar, or milestones (required). 

• Other materials required by the solicitation. 

Budget Detail Worksheet 

The Budget Detail Worksheet should address the full scope, duration, and cost of the 

project. The Budget Detail Worksheet should include a breakdown of costs associated 

with each budget category, including itemizations and calculations where necessary.

The budget must be broken down on a year-by-year basis over the length of the project. 

That is, if the proposed project is 3 years, then there should be separate budgets for 

year one, year two, and year three. 

Templates for filling out the Budget Detail Worksheet may be found online at 

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/forms/budget_detail.pdf, OJP Standard Forms & 

Instructions. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of the Chief Financial 

Officer's Customer Service Center at 1–800–458–0786. 

Budget Narrative 

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

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

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

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

figures. 

As with the Budget Detail Worksheet, the Budget Narrative must be broken down on a 

year-by-year basis. 

Indirect Rate Agreement (if applicable) 

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

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

11
Federal agency is the agency that provides the preponderance of direct Federal funding. 

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

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

submit an indirect cost rate proposal at 

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

Other Program Attachments 

These include several forms, available on OJP’s funding page at 

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/forms.htm. 

Data Archiving Strategy: NIJ requires that each data set resulting from funded 

research be submitted as a grant product or deliverable for archiving with the National 

Archive of Criminal Justice Data. (Data sets are to be submitted 90 days before the end 

of the project period.) Applications for NIJ research grants must include a brief (one- or 

two-page) data archiving strategy. For purposes of research replication and extension, 

the inclusion of only the final data set often prevents other researchers from replicating 

or extending the study because there are no original data, intermediate data, or 

documentation detailing how the data changed throughout the project. This data 

archiving strategy therefore must briefly describe the— 

• Anticipated manipulations of original, intermediate, and final data sets (as 

applicable). 

• Methods of documentation of such manipulations. 

• Preparation of original, intermediate, and final data sets for archive submission. 

The data archiving strategy should be submitted as an appendix to the application and 

will NOT count toward the 30-page limit. Please label this appendix “Data Archiving 

Strategy.” 

Page limit: The program narrative section of your application must not exceed 30 

double-spaced pages in 12-point font with 1-inch margins. Abstract, resubmit response, 

table of contents, charts, figures, appendixes, and government forms do not count 

toward the 30-page limit for the narrative section. 

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

percent of the total cost of the project. You must indicate whether you believe it is 

feasible for you to contribute cash, facilities, or services as non-Federal support for the 

project. Your application should identify generally any such contributions that you expect 

to make and your proposed budget should indicate in detail which items, if any, will be 

supported with non-Federal contributions. 

Selection Criteria 

Successful applicants must demonstrate the following: 

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

1. Clarity of problem statement. 

2. Awareness of relevant research. 

3. Connection between proposed research and problem. 

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

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

2. Soundness of methodology and analytic and technical approach. 

3. Feasibility of proposed project and awareness of pitfalls. 

4. Innovation and creativity (when appropriate). 

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

applicants)—20%

1. Qualifications and experience of proposed staff. 

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

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

subdivided and resources are used. 

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

Budget—15%

1. Total cost of the project relative to the perceived benefit. 

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

 3. Use of existing resources to conserve costs. 

Impact/Outcomes and Evaluation (Relevance to policy and practice)—15% 

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

problem. 

2. Potential for significant advances in the field. 

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

agencies and improving public safety, security, and quality of life. 

4. Affordability and cost-effectiveness of proposed end products, when applicable 

(e.g., purchase price and maintenance costs for a new technology or cost of 

training to use the technology). 

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

technology (when applicable). 

Relevance of the project for policy and practice: 

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

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

that the project has strong relevance for policy and practice, some researchers and 

technologists collaborate with practitioners and policymakers. You may include 

letters showing support from practitioners, but they carry less weight than clear 

evidence that you understand why policymakers and practitioners would benefit from 

your work and how they would use it. While a partnership may affect State or local 

activities, it should also have broader implications for others across the country. 

Dissemination Strategy—5% 

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

audiences, including researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. 

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

and policymakers. 

13
Review Process 

OJP is committed to ensuring a standardized process for awarding grants. NIJ reviews 

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

understandable, measurable, achievable, and consistent with program or legislative 

requirements as stated in the solicitation. 

Peer reviewers will be reviewing the applications submitted under this solicitation as 

well. NIJ may use either internal peer reviewers, external peer reviewers, or a 

combination of both to review the applications under this solicitation. An external peer 

reviewer is an expert in the field of the subject matter of a given solicitation who is NOT 

a current U.S. Department of Justice employee. An internal reviewer is an expert in the 

field of the subject matter of a given solicitation who is a current U.S. Department of 

Justice employee. Applications will be screened initially to determine whether the 

applicant meets all eligibility requirements. Only applications submitted by eligible 

applicants that meet all other requirements (such as timeliness, proper format, and 

responsiveness to the scope of the solicitation) 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 may include, but are not 

limited to, underserved populations, strategic priorities, past performance, and available 

funding. 

After the peer review is finalized, the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO), in 

consultation with NIJ, conducts a financial review of all potential discretionary awards 

and cooperative agreements to evaluate the fiscal integrity and financial capability of 

applicants; examines proposed costs to determine if the budget and budget narrative 

accurately explain project costs; and determines whether costs are reasonable, 

necessary, and allowable under applicable Federal cost principles and agency 

regulations. OCFO also reviews the award document and verifies the OJP Vendor 

Number. 

When awards will be made: All applicants, whether they are accepted or rejected, will 

be notified. The review and approval process takes about 4 months. You should not 

propose to begin work until at least 4 months after the application deadline on the cover 

of this solicitation. Also, you should not expect to receive notification of a decision for at 

least 4 months after that date. Lists of awards are updated regularly on NIJ’s Web site at 

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/funding/welcome.htm. 

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

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

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

populations, strategic priorities, past performance, and available funding when making 

awards. 

Additional Requirements 

Successful applicants selected for an award must agree to comply with additional 

applicable requirements prior to receiving grant funding. We strongly encourage you to 

review the list below pertaining to these additional requirements prior to submitting your 

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application. Additional information for each can be found at 

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

• Civil Rights Compliance 

• Funding to Faith-Based Organizations 

• Confidentiality and Human Subjects Protection 

• Anti-Lobbying Act 

• Financial and Government Audit Requirements 

• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 

• DOJ Information Technology Standards 

• Single Point of Contact Review 

• Nonsupplanting of State and Local Funds 

• Criminal Penalty for False Statements 

• Compliance with Office of Justice Programs Financial Guide 

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/financialguide/

• Suspension or Termination of Funding 

• Nonprofit Organizations 

• For-Profit Organizations 

• Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) 

• Rights in Intellectual Property 

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

If your proposal is funded, you will be required to submit several reports and other 

materials, including: 

Final substantive report: The final report should be a comprehensive overview of the 

project and should include, among other things, 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. 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 

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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 both paper and electronic formats. 

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

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

program effectiveness, modifications made to those measures as a result of the 

evaluation, and recommendations regarding these and other potential performance 

measures for similar programs. (This information will be particularly valuable to NIJ and 

other Federal program agencies in implementing performance measures for federally 

funded criminal justice programs.) 

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

reports, interim reports, a final progress report, and, if applicable, an annual audit report 

in accordance with Office of Management and Budget Circular A–133. Future awards 

and fund drawdowns may be withheld if reports are delinquent. 

Data sets: NIJ requires submission of all data sets (original, intermediate, and final) 

produced or collected for the funded project, and any artifact associated with the project 

data. Included with the final sets of data should be the plan outlined in the Data 

Archiving Strategy section of the proposal.