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 

is seeking applications for funding under the Forensic Science Training Development 

and Delivery Program. This program furthers the Department’s mission by supporting 

the development and delivery of training to State and local public crime laboratory 

forensic scientists and other relevant State and local criminal justice practitioners and 

policymakers in the area of forensic science. 

Solicitation: 

Forensic Science Training Development 

and Delivery Program 

Eligibility 

 (See “Eligibility,” page 4) 

Deadline 

Registration with Grants.gov is required prior to application submission. 

(See “Registration,” page 3) 

All applications are due January 26, 2009, 11:59 p.m. eastern time. 

Contact Information 

For assistance with the requirements of this solicitation, contact Charles Heurich, 

Program Manager, at 202–616–9264 or Charles.Heurich@usdoj.gov. 

This application must be submitted through Grants.gov. For technical assistance with 

submitting the application, call the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 

1–800–518–4726 or send an email to support@grants.gov. 

Note: The Grants.gov Support Hotline hours of operation are Monday–Friday from 

7 a.m. to 9 p.m. eastern time. 

Grants.gov Funding Opportunity No. NIJ–2009–1942 

SL# 000855 
CONTENTS 

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

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

Deadline: Application ........................................................................................................ 4 

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

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

American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Tribes and/or Tribal Organizations.... 5 

Specific Information ........................................................................................................... 5 

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

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

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

Selection Criteria............................................................................................................. 14 

Review Process .............................................................................................................. 15 

Additional Requirements................................................................................................. 16 

2
 
Forensic Science Training Development and 

Delivery 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. 

As stated in the President’s DNA Initiative, Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology, 

the forensic science community has a critical need for trained forensic scientists in public 

crime laboratories. Additionally, there is a need to inform other criminal justice 

practitioners and policymakers on developments in forensic science. To that end, NIJ 

seeks applications from training provider(s), and other relevant entities, to develop 

and/or deliver knowledge-based forensic science curricula at the State and/or local level 

to train forensic scientists and to inform other criminal justice practitioners and 

policymakers. Applicants are encouraged to propose enhancements or modifications to 

existing training programs for computer-based or Web-based delivery. Dissemination of 

the product and sustainability of these initiatives is a priority. Applicants that propose to 

deliver training will be responsible for all aspects of the training delivery, including, but 

not limited to, travel, lodging, and per diem for participants, and any other trainingrelated logistics. The project period for proposals submitted under this solicitation is up 

to 24 months. 

Deadline: Registration 

Registering with Grants.gov is a one-time process; however, processing delays may 

occur and it can take up to several weeks for first-time registrants to receive 

confirmations/user passwords. OJP highly recommends that applicants start the 

registration process as early as possible to prevent delays in submitting an application 

package to our agency by the application deadline specified. The registration process for 

organizations involves these steps: (1) Obtain a Data Universal Numbering System 

(DUNS) number; (2) Register your organization with the Central Contractor Registration 

(CCR) database; (3) Register with Grants.gov’s Credential Provider and obtain a 

username and password; (4) Register with Grants.gov to establish yourself as an 

Authorized Organization Representative (AOR); and (5) The E-Business Point of 

Contact (POC) assigns the “Authorized Applicant Role” to you. For more information 

about the registration process, go to www.grants.gov. Note: Your CCR must be 

renewed once a year. Failure to renew the CCR may prohibit submission of a grant 

application through Grants.gov. 

3
 
Deadline: Application 

The due date for applying for funding under this announcement is January 26, 2009, 

11:59 p.m. eastern time. 

Within 24 to 48 hours after submitting your electronic application, you should receive an 

e-mail validation message from Grants.gov. The validation message will tell you whether 

the application has been received and validated or has been rejected, and why. 

Important: You are urged to submit your application 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 the rejection notification. 

If you experience unforeseen Grants.gov technical issues beyond your control, you must 

contact OJP staff within 24 hours after the due date and request approval to submit 

your application. At that time, OJP staff will require you to e-mail the complete grant 

application along with your DUNS number and provide a Grants.gov Help Desk tracking 

number(s). After OJP reviews all of the information submitted and contacts Grants.gov to 

validate the technical issues reported by the applicant, OJP will contact you to either 

approve or deny the request. 

To ensure a fair competition for limited discretionary funds, the following conditions are 

not valid reasons to permit late submissions: (1) failure to begin the registration process 

in sufficient time; (2) failure to follow Grants.gov instructions on how to register and apply 

as posted on its Web site; (3) failure to follow all of the instructions in the OJP 

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

information technology (IT) environment. 

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. 

Federal agencies are eligible to apply for funding under this solicitation. If an award is 

made to a Federal agency, it will be through an Interagency Agreement (IAA) with the 

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

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

13279, dated December 12, 2002, and 28 C.F.R. Part 38, it is DOJ policy that faithbased 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 

4
 
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 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—Forensic Science Training 

Development and Delivery Program 

The goal of the NIJ Forensic Science Training Development and Delivery Program is to 

provide access to forensic science training to State and local public crime laboratory 

forensic science practitioners and to inform other State and local criminal justice 

practitioners and policymakers on developments in forensic science, at no charge. This 

goal will be accomplished mainly through the development of new training, the 

enhancement of existing training, and the delivery of new and existing forensic science 

training. 

Training currently funded by NIJ supports these goals through several means, including 

onsite technical training, offsite technical training, conferences, workshops, distance 

learning, and other training events. Applicants who propose to deliver training will be 

expected to develop curricula, create an agenda, identify speakers, select sites, provide 

logistical support, and execute each training event. 

5
 
NIJ is seeking applications to perform one or more of the following tasks: develop new 

forensic science training curricula, deliver these newly developed forensic science 

training curricula, or leverage existing forensic science training curricula to deliver 

content through multiple cost-effective delivery mechanisms. The applicant may employ 

traditional classroom, hands-on laboratory-based, computer-based, Web-based, or other 

mechanisms for training delivery, depending on the objectives of the individual training 

program. Training must be provided at no charge to participants. 

The applicant should have demonstrated experience and success in the development 

and/or delivery of both large-scale and focused forensic science training for forensic 

science practitioners and other criminal justice practitioners or policymakers. The 

applicant should also have the ability to develop and execute forensic science trainings 

in collaboration with NIJ. Priority consideration will be given to applicants that leverage 

existing curricula and have strategic partnerships to cost-effectively deliver forensic 

science content to State and local practitioners and policymakers. 

NIJ will consider proposals for the following priority content areas. NIJ may also consider 

proposals for areas outside of these priority content areas. 

Priority content areas for training development and delivery: 

• Forensic crime scene investigation (Web-based, simulation/game-type, and/or 

distance-learning products only). 

• Forensic toxicology (Web-based). 

• Pattern evidence (e.g., fingerprints, questioned documents). 

• Digital evidence. 

o	 Cell phone forensic examination training developed to teach State and 

local law enforcement computer forensic examiners how to acquire and 

examine physical or permanent memory and provide them with a detailed 

understanding of how cell phone data are stored and processed. This 

course must provide them with a comprehensive proficiency in manually 

locating and interpreting specific data within a data set or image file and 

provide comprehensive instruction in how automated cell phone forensic 

tools locate, identify, and report data of evidentiary value. 

o	 A training course to teach State and local law enforcement computer 

forensic examiners how and where to manually locate data on digital 

media storage devices and how automated computer forensic tools 

locate, identify, and report information of evidentiary value. This training 

course will provide them with the skills, knowledge, and tools to locate 

and identify specific information in formats such as hexadecimal or binary 

within data sets, carve information from the data set in a forensically 

sound manner, and articulate the findings. 

o	 Digital evidence collection training course developed to present the 

information contained in the NIJ publication Electronic Crime Scene 

Investigation: A Guide for First Responders. This course must teach State 

and local law enforcement forensic response teams and computer 

forensic examiners the material in the guide and provide them with a 

6
 
measurable proficiency in digital evidence recognition, seizure, 

packaging, transportation, and storage. 

o	 Development of a cell phone forensic examination guide that will provide 

State and local law enforcement computer forensic examiners with the 

information necessary to conduct thorough examinations of cell phones 

and compose comprehensive reports. 

o	 Development and delivery of a guide and a corresponding training course 

in cell phone seizure that will teach State and local law enforcement 

forensic response teams and computer forensic examiners proper seizure 

techniques to ensure that the integrity of seized cell phones as evidence 

is maintained. 

• Medicolegal death investigation for medical examiners or coroners (on a regional or 

national level). 

• Continuing education for forensic anthropologists. 

• Education of criminal justice practitioners and policymakers other than forensic 

scientists (e.g., law enforcement officers, prosecutors) on relevant aspects of 

forensic science. 

In addition, NIJ is also considering funding the delivery of specific training in the future 

which is detailed below: 

• Missing Persons and Unidentified Decedents Regional Training for Law 

Enforcement. 

o	 The agenda is to include crime laboratory services (including DNA), case 

studies, and the latest investigative technologies that assist in identifying 

human remains. 

This event should be delivered 2 times within a 12-month period and be 2.5 days in 

length, delivered regionally, with 150 attendees per event. It is expected that all aspects 

of the training including planning, development, and execution will managed by the 

applicant. NIJ will have significant involvement with the agenda development and 

speaker selection. 

All curricula content must be developed in accordance with the appropriate Scientific 

Working Group (SWG) or national training guidelines for that specific discipline, if 

applicable. 

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

regulations on confidentiality and human subjects protection. See the Confidentiality and 

Human Subjects Protection Compliance section under “Other Requirements for OJP 

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

What will not be funded: 

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

2. State and local law enforcement agency requests to attend or receive forensic 

science training. 

3. Federal agency requests to develop training for Federal employees. 

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

and narrative must include justification that these items are necessary to develop 

or deliver the forensic science training.) 

5. Proposals that fall within the scope of one of NIJ’s targeted solicitations. 

Applicants should review the current funding opportunities section of NIJ’s Web 

site to ensure that proposals are not better suited for other open solicitations. 

Proposals will not be considered under more than one solicitation. 

6. Proposals to conduct research or casework. NIJ only seeks proposals to support 

training development and/or delivery. 

7. Proposals that otherwise are not responsive to this solicitation. 

Cost of proposed work: 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. 

Approximately 28 percent of applications to NIJ's Forensic Science Training 

Development and Delivery Program FY 2007 and FY 2008 solicitations were funded. 

The average award amount was approximately $640,000. 

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. 

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. 

Additionally, applicants must discuss their data collection methods in the application. 

Performance measures for this solicitation are as follows: 

8
 
Objective Performance Measures Data Grantee Provides 

To increase the number of 

relevant no-cost training 

opportunities provided to forensic 

science and criminal justice 

practitioners and policymakers. 

The number of forensic science 

personnel successfully completing 

developed or delivered training, or 

both, under this solicitation. 

The percentage of forensic 

science personnel participating in 

the training who felt the training 

was relevant to their needs. 

Quality of management as 

measured by whether significant 

interim project milestones were 

achieved, final deadlines were 

met, and costs remained within 

approved limits. 

A description of the relevant 

training provided to the forensic 

community. 

The number of forensic science 

personnel successfully completing 

the developed/delivered training. 

The number of participants who 

felt the training was relevant to 

their needs. 

How to Apply 

DOJ is participating in the e-Government initiative, one of 25 initiatives included in the 

President’s Management Agenda. Part of this initiative—Grants.gov—is a “one-stop 

storefront” that provides a unified process for all customers of Federal grants to find 

funding opportunities and apply for funding.
 

Grants.Gov Instructions: Complete instructions can be found at www.grants.gov. 

If you experience difficulties at any point during this process, please call the Grants.gov 

Customer Support Hotline at 1–800–518–4726, Monday–Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
 

eastern time. 

Funding Opportunities With Multiple Purpose Areas: Some OJP solicitations posted 

to Grants.gov contain multiple purpose areas, denoted by the individual Competition ID. 

If you are applying to a solicitation with multiple Competition IDs, you must select the 

appropriate Competition ID for the intended purpose area of your application. The 

application will be peer reviewed according to the requirements of the purpose area 

under which it is submitted. 

Note: OJP’s Grants Management System (GMS) does not support Microsoft Vista 

or Microsoft 2007. Therefore, OJP will not review any application whose 

attachments are in Microsoft Vista or Microsoft 2007 format. GMS downloads 

applications from Grants.gov and is the system in which OJP reviews applications and 

manages awarded grants. 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 extensions of “.docx.” Please ensure the documents you 

are submitting in Grants.gov are saved using “Word 97–2003 Document (*.doc)” format. 

9
 
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,” and the Grants.gov funding opportunity number is NIJ–

2009–1942. 

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 

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

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 

Applications should include the following: 

Standard Form 424 

Program Narrative 

The Program Narrative includes: 

a. Abstract (not to exceed 600 words). 

b. Table of contents. 

c. Main body, which includes: 

• Purpose, goals, and objectives. 

• Review of relevant literature. 

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

• Management plan and organization. 

• Dissemination strategy. 

d. Appendixes (not counted against program narrative page limit) include: 

• Bibliography/References (if applicable). 

10
 
• 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. 

e. Additional requirements. Applicants must outline the following, each of which 

is detailed further below: 

Specific forensic science practitioner group to be targeted by proposed 

training. 

The applicant should describe the specific forensic science discipline and the 

need for the proposed training to be developed or delivered, or both, to this 

audience. 

Mechanism for delivery. 

The applicant should describe either how the training content or materials, or 

both, will be delivered or the anticipated mechanism for delivery once the 

training is developed. Examples include Web-based curriculum that is 

designed for distance learning, traditional classroom lecture, and hands-on 

laboratory activities. 

Defined timeline, milestones, and deliverables. 

The applicant should use a detailed timeline to describe various milestones 

throughout the project period as well as the deliverables. 

Location of training and number of practitioners that can be 

accommodated. 

The applicant should describe the location(s) of the training and how the 

location(s) will help ensure cost effectiveness and access to a geographically 

diverse group of forensic science practitioners. If proposing long-distance 

learning activities, the applicant should detail where the material will be 

housed on the Internet (if applicable) and how it will be available to 

practitioners. 

New and innovative solutions being employed. 

The applicant should describe any new or innovative approach to the 

development or delivery of the specific training and how it will enhance the 

training. An example would be providing Web-based training materials as a 

precursor to a hands-on laboratory class to ensure all training participants 

have the same basic level of comprehension before attending the laboratory 

course. 

Strategic partnerships developed. 

The applicant should describe all strategic partnerships that enhance the 

development or delivery of the forensic science training activities. These 

partnerships should add value to the core competencies of the applicant, and 

the benefits of each partnership should be explained. An example would be 

for a forensic science training provider to partner with a logistics coordinator 

for all logistic needs of a training event. 

11
 
Resources being leveraged to provide the best value. 

The applicant should describe any resources being leveraged to decrease 

the cost of training development or delivery. Some examples are previously 

developed curricula, Web-based material that limits hours spent onsite, 

successful previously developed training programs, existing training facilities, 

and existing laboratory equipment. 

Provisions for sustaining this program after Federal funding ends. 

The applicant should describe how the training program will be sustained 

after the Federal investment ends. An example would be providing the 

training materials free of charge on a Web site, or educating laboratory 

managers on how to deliver the training in their own laboratories. 

Recommendations for replicating this program as a successful model. 

The applicant should describe how the program will be developed or 

delivered (or both) in such a manner that it could be replicated by other 

agencies or individual forensic science laboratories. 

Clear and specific outcomes. 

The applicant should describe clear and specific outcomes, including the 

number of State and local public crime laboratory forensic science 

practitioners that will be trained and the level of training they will receive. 

Comparing the number of practitioners trained and the level of experience 

they receive with respect to the funding invested will be critical in determining 

which applicants are considered for funding. In addition, the applicant should 

describe any recognized certifications that may be obtained as a result of the 

successful completion of the proposed training. 

Demonstrated success in developing or delivering (or both) forensic 

science training. 

The applicant should describe previous successes in developing or delivering 

(or both) both large-scale and focused forensic science training to public 

crime laboratory forensic science practitioners. If the applicant is proposing to 

leverage existing forensic science curricula to deliver training, the following 

items should be addressed and can be provided as an appendix to the 

program narrative: 

• Description of the training. 

• Sample syllabus. 

• Description of how the training was developed. 

• Details on any SWG or national training guidelines the training follows, if 

applicable. 

• Name and affiliation of individuals that developed or reviewed, or both, 

the course. 

• Summary of any evaluations obtained from the trainings. 

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. 

12
 
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. 

Data Collection Plan 

The Data Collection Plan is a description of the applicant’s plan for the collection of the 

data required for performance measures. 

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 

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. 

Page limit: The program narrative section of invited full proposals must not exceed 25 

double-spaced pages in 12-point font with 1-inch margins. Abstract, table of contents, 

charts, figures, appendixes, and government forms do not count toward the 25-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. 

13
 
Selection Criteria 

Successful applicants must demonstrate the following: 

Statement of the Problem/Program Narrative (Understanding of the problem and its 

importance)—15% 

Applicants should include appropriate citations and other information to demonstrate 

an understanding of the problem and the expected outcome of the training(s). 

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

1. Awareness of the state of current forensic science training. 

2. Soundness of methodology and 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/Plan for Collecting Data for Performance 

Measures (Relevance to policy and practice)—15% 

1. Potential for significant advances in forensic science training. 

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). 

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. 

14
 
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 10 months. You should not 

propose to begin work until at least 10 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 10 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. 

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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 

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) 

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

other materials, including quarterly financial reports, semiannual progress reports, a final 

progress report, and, if applicable, an annual audit report in accordance with Office of 

Management and Budget Circular A–133. Future awards and fund drawdowns may be 

withheld if reports are delinquent. 

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