Notices regarding the solicitation “Assessing the Effectiveness of the 

Second Chance Act Grant Program: A Phased Evaluation Approach, 

Fiscal Year 2020” 

April 17, 2020: A typographical error on page 18 has been corrected to clarify that the 

Appendices listed therein do not count against the 30-page program narrative limit.

March 27, 2020: Many of our solicitations encourage research partnerships and require 

applicants to include a strong letter of support, signed by an appropriate decision-making 

authority from each proposed partnering entity.

NIJ continues to strongly encourage prospective applicants to submit executed agreements 

necessary to carrying out the work proposed with applications if they can be obtained, but with 

an understanding of the circumstances surrounding the pandemic, NIJ will accept applications 

without them.

Applicants selected for award will be required to submit completed agreements by January 1, 

2021. Funds will be withheld until such agreements have been received.

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

Office of Justice Programs Approval Expires 11/30/2020 

National Institute of Justice 

Assessing the Effectiveness of the Second Chance Act Grant 

Program: A Phased Evaluation Approach, Fiscal Year 2020

FY 2020 Competitive Research Grant Solicitation

CFDA No. 16.560

Grants.gov Solicitation Number: NIJ-2020-17170

Solicitation Release Date: March 25, 2020

Application Deadline: 11:59 p.m. eastern time on May 26, 2020

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

Justice (NIJ) is seeking applications for funding to support an evaluation of the Second Chance 

Act grant program. This program furthers the Department’s mission by advancing the body of 

knowledge on promising practices in offender reentry and to inform the development of more 

effective federal and other reentry-specific initiatives.

This solicitation incorporates the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide by reference. The OJP 

Grant Application Resource Guide provides guidance to applicants on how to prepare and 

submit applications for funding to OJP. If this solicitation expressly modifies any provision in the 

OJP Grant Application Resource Guide, the applicant is to follow the guidelines in this 

solicitation as to that provision.

Eligibility (Who may apply)

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

agreements with, eligible entities as listed below:

 States (including territories);

 Units of local government;

 Federally recognized Indian tribal governments that perform law enforcement functions 

(as determined by the Secretary of the Interior);

 Nonprofit and for-profit organizations (including tribal nonprofit and for-profit 

organizations); and

 Institutions of higher education (including tribal institutions of higher education).
2

NIJ-2020-17170

Foreign governments, foreign organizations, and foreign colleges and universities are not 

eligible to apply. Federal agencies are eligible to apply. (Any award made to a federal agency 

will be made as an inter-agency reimbursable agreement.)

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

management fee.

Contact Information

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

Hotline at 1-800-518-4726 or 1-606-545-5035 (international), at 

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html, or at support@grants.gov. The Grants.gov

Support Hotline operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except on federal holidays.

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

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

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

application after the deadline. Additional information on reporting technical issues appears 

under “Experiencing Unforeseen Grants.gov Technical Issues” in the “How To Apply

(Grants.gov)” section in the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide.

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

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

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

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

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

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

awards can be found at https://nij.ojp.gov/funding. Answers to frequently asked questions that 

may assist applicants are posted at https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/frequently-asked-questions-aboutapplying-grants-and-cooperative-agreements.

Deadline Details

Applicants must register with Grants.gov at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html

prior to submitting an application. All applications are due by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on 

May 26, 2020.

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

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

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

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

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

problems that may have caused a rejection notification.

An applicant must use the Add Attachment button to attach a file to its application. Do not click 

the paperclip icon to attach files. This action will not attach the files to the application. After 

adding an attachment, select the View Attachment button to confirm you attached the correct 

file. To remove the file, select the Delete Attachment button.

OJP encourages all applicants to read this Important Notice: Applying for Grants in Grants.gov.
3

NIJ-2020-17170

For additional information, see the “How to Apply (Grants.gov)” section in the OJP Grant 

Application Resource Guide.
4

NIJ-2020-17170

Contents

A. Program Description 5

Overview 5

Project-Specific Information 5

Goals, Objectives, Deliverables, and Expected Scholarly Products 10

OJP Priority Areas 12

B. Federal Award Information 13

Type of Award 14

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls 14

Budget Information 14

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement 15

Pre-agreement Costs (also known as Pre-award Costs) 15

Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation; Waiver 15

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

Costs Associated with Language Assistance (if applicable) 15

C. Eligibility Information 15

D. Application and Submission Information 15

What an Application Should Include 15

How To Apply (Grants.gov) 21

E. Application Review Information 22

Review Criteria 22

Review Process 23

F. Federal Award Administration Information 25

Federal Award Notices 25

Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements 25

Information Technology (IT) Security Clauses 25

General Information about Post-Federal Award Reporting Requirements 25

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s) 26

H. Other Information 26

Freedom of Information and Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552 and 5 U.S.C. 552a) 26

Provide Feedback to OJP 26

Application Checklist 27
5

NIJ-2020-17170

Assessing the Effectiveness of the Second 

Chance Act Grant Program: A Phased Evaluation 

Approach, Fiscal Year 2020

CFDA No. 16.560

A. Program Description

Overview

With this solicitation, NIJ requests proposals for research to evaluate the effectiveness of the 

Second Chance Act (SCA) grant program in improving reentry and reducing recidivism. To 

support this effort, NIJ will fund a phased research evaluation strategy that details and

measures the implementation, processes, outcomes, costs, and impacts of the grants awarded 

under the SCA grant program.

Applicants may refer to the following key source of information:

 Section 507 of the First Step Act of 2018 – Evaluation of the Second Chance Act 

Program.

 Bureau of Justice Assistance FY 2020 competitive grant solicitation – Second Chance 

Act Evaluation Participation Support.

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

(sections 201 and 202); 28 U.S.C. 530C.

Project-Specific Information

NIJ is soliciting proposals to examine the effectiveness of grants used by the Department of 

Justice, specifically the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), to support offender reentry and 

recidivism reduction programs at the State, local, Tribal, and Federal levels. The successful 

applicant will develop a phased research strategy to address the legislative mandates set forth 

in Section 507 of the First Step Act of 2018. The research proposed under this solicitation 

should describe in detail how the proposed evaluation will address all of the SCA mandates.

The mandates include the examination of:

1. The effectiveness of such programs in relation to their cost, including the extent to which 

the programs improve reentry outcomes, including employment, education, housing, 

reductions in recidivism, of participants in comparison to comparably situated individuals 

who did not participate in such programs and activities.

2. The effectiveness of program structures and mechanisms for delivery of services.

3. The impact of such programs on the communities and participants involved.

4. The impact of such programs on related programs and activities.
6

NIJ-2020-17170

5. The extent to which such programs meet the needs of various demographic groups.

6. The quality and effectiveness of technical assistance provided by the Department of 

Justice to grantees for implementing such programs.

7. Such other factors as may be appropriate.

In addition, applicants should measure the implementation, processes, outcomes, costs, and 

impacts of the grants sponsored by the SCA. Thus, at a minimum, the successful applicant will 

propose research designs that include process, outcome, impact, and cost studies. The 

successful applicant will be expected to assess up to five SCA sites. The sites subject to 

evaluation will be determined by NIJ and BJA at a later date, and the final sample size may be 

subject to change. The selected sites will be those deemed suitable for a multi-year randomized 

controlled trial (RCT), and have shown progress toward meeting established goals of the SCA 

grant program.

The research funded under this solicitation will be supported using a phased approach. Three 

phases are proposed below. Applicants should prepare to structure the evaluation project in 

phases to include critical design reviews that will involve NIJ staff. The phased evaluation 

approach involves a multistep process that ultimately results in a rigorous outcome evaluation. 

In cases where programs have achieved a suitable level of development, NIJ encourages 

applicants to propose rigorous outcome evaluations, using randomized evaluation designs 

where it is possible and appropriate to do so. If this is not possible or appropriate, applicants

should propose the most rigorous and appropriate design possible that is likely to produce highquality, causal evidence. Applicants are encouraged to develop their program narrative and 

analysis plan based on the following information.

The three-phased approach includes:

 Phase 1: Formative Evaluation. This phase should not exceed a six-month performance 

period.

 Phases 2 and 3: Development and Submission of Proposal for SCA Grant Program 

Evaluation (Phase 2) and Completion of the SCA Grant Program Evaluation (Phase 3). 

As combined, the two phases should not exceed a 4.5-year performance period.

Additional details about the three phases are provided below.

Applications submitted to this solicitation should address only how the applicant proposes to 

implement Phase 1 and Phase 2 of this evaluation. Subject to the availability of appropriated 

funds and to any modifications or additional requirements that may be imposed by law, NIJ will 

provide supplemental funding to the successful applicant to conduct Phase 3 of the SCA 

program evaluations.

Up to $1.5 million will be available to the successful applicant in order to complete Phases 1 and 

2. Funding for Phase 3 will be contingent upon the successful completion of Phases 1 and 2, 

and will be made available at the discretion of the NIJ Director.
7

NIJ-2020-17170

Phase 1: Formative Evaluation

In Phase 1, applicants will conduct a formative evaluation to determine if an outcome evaluation 

of the SCA site is feasible. Additionally, the formative evaluation should determine if the overall 

goals and objectives of the SCA grant program are well-defined, and the mechanism for 

measuring the goals and objectives is clear.

Establishing the type of evaluation that would be appropriate for each SCA site is the primary 

goal of Phase 1. The successful applicant will develop a site-specific evaluation plan for each 

SCA site. Plans will include provisions for an implementation, process, outcome, cost, and 

impact evaluation. The plan should include strategies to measure the implementation, 

processes, outcomes, costs, and impacts of the grants sponsored under the SCA. Preference 

will be given to evaluation plans that use a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design. The plan 

will be provided to NIJ for review. Applications should provide detailed information describing 

how all tasks under Phase 1 will be accomplished. 

When developing the site-specific evaluation plan, the successful applicant is encouraged to 

propose an RCT design where applicable. The successful applicant is strongly encouraged to 

consider and include the following information in the evaluation plan:

1. A description of the reentry intervention program model with fidelity benchmarks of 

implementation activities. Applicants should describe likely model adaptions that may be 

needed at proposed evaluation sites. A discussion of how these adaptations may impact 

model fidelity should be included. If a multi-site evaluation is proposed, applicants should 

indicate how consistent implementation fidelity will be achieved.

2. An explanation of the theory of change behind the model activities. Applicants should 

clearly describe how the proposed project activities contribute to the expected outcomes, 

such as reducing recidivism. The narrative should clearly identify the data to be collected 

or that is available to measure both activities and outcomes. 

3. Clear delineation (if applicable) of the relative and incremental impact of each service or 

program provided in a comprehensive reentry plan. If there are enough program 

participants to support multiple, sufficiently powered analyses (see item 5 below), 

applicants are encouraged to randomly assign participants to different combinations of 

services (or single vs. multiple programs.) 

4. The logic model of the evaluation. The logic model should include the randomization 

plan which outlines how the participants will be identified and randomized into either the 

treatment group(s) or the control group(s). The randomization plan should also give an 

estimate of the rate of enrollment, if the evaluation will rely on stock or flow enrollment 

(or a combination of both), and when the applicant anticipates that the target sample 

size(s) will be reached. The study should use an intent-to-treat design when analyzing 

differences between the treatment and control groups. Finally, the applicant should 

identify what reentry services, if any, the control group(s) participants will receive. 

5. A power analysis. Applicants should connect the power analysis to anticipated effect

sizes necessary to detect a difference in the treatment and control groups based on the 

services the control group will receive. If a multi-site evaluation is proposed, applicants 

should include pooled and site-specific calculations in their power analysis. 
8

NIJ-2020-17170

6. A discussion of likely sources of contamination in the evaluation design, and how the 

applicant proposes to mitigate contamination.

7. A robust site description. This should include, but not be limited to, a description of any 

training and technical assistance (TTA) the site(s) has/have received, or will receive, 

during the course of the evaluation, and the vendor supplying the TTA. 

8. Evidence that a validated risk assessment was used to measure and confirm the risk 

levels for the offenders involved with the reentry initiative under evaluation. Applications 

should also include detailed information about the risk assessment, as well as the timing 

of the measurement, of offender risk levels, data collection tools and data collection, and 

processing procedures, including the steps for accessing data, linking records from 

multiple data sets (e.g., across the reentry continuum), and transforming administrative 

records into analytic files. 

9. A discussion of outcome measures specific to recidivism and other reentry-specific 

outcomes. 

Phase 2: Development and Submission of Proposal for SCA Grant Program Evaluation

For SCA grantees that are found to be suitable for further evaluation, the successful awardee 

will submit an application for funding to support an evaluation of the effectiveness of the SCA 

grant program. This application will be based on the site-specific evaluation plan developed in 

Phase 1.

Phase 3: SCA Grant Program Evaluation

Phase 3 will involve an implementation, process, outcome, cost, and impact evaluation of the 

SCA sites. For the purposes of this research, applicants should consider, but are not limited to, 

the measurement of the following outcomes: 

 Reduction in recidivism rates. For the purposes of this solicitation, recidivism is defined 

as a return to prison and/or jail with either a new conviction, or as the result of a violation 

of the terms of supervision within 18 months of initial release. 

 Rearrest.

 Reduction in crime. 

 Increased employment and education opportunities. 

 Reduction in violations of conditions of supervised release. 

 Increased payment of child support. 

 Increased housing opportunities. 

 Reduction in drug and alcohol abuse. 

 Increased participation in substance abuse and mental health services.
9

NIJ-2020-17170

 Matching offender needs with the appropriate supervision strategy/programming.

Applications proposing research involving partnerships with criminal justice or other agencies

must include a strong letter of support, signed by an appropriate decision-making authority from 

each proposed partnering agency. A letter of support must include the partnering agency’s 

acknowledgement that de-identified data provided through this project will be archived by the 

awardee in the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD) at the conclusion of the 

award (see “Goals, Objectives, Deliverables, and Expected Scholarly Products,” below). If 

selected for an award, applicants will be expected to have a formal agreement in place with 

partnering agencies by January 1, 2021. That agreement must include provisions to meet the 

data-archiving requirements of the award. In rare circumstances, for example, where law 

prohibits the archiving of agency data, NIJ may agree to a successful applicant creating and 

archiving an appropriate synthetic dataset. Those circumstances will be rare, decided by NIJ on 

a case-by-case basis, and will require extensive documentation and justification for exceptions

to be made.

Preference will be given to those proposals that include plans to measure the outcomes of 

interest, specifically recidivism, for at least 36-months. Applicants should plan their project 

timelines accordingly. This should be reflected in the project timeline submitted as part of the 

application. 

Continuations may be made available at a later date to successful research projects that are 

able to implement a longer-term follow-up (i.e., longer than three years).

New Investigator/Early Career Opportunity 

NIJ is interested in supporting researchers who are early in their careers and new to NIJ’s 

research grant portfolios, specifically non-tenured assistant professors, or equivalent full-time 

staff scientist positions in a research institution, who propose research on topics relevant to 

NIJ’s Office of Research, Evaluation and Technology (ORET). To that end, NIJ may, in 

appropriate circumstances, give special consideration in award decisions to applications 

proposing such researchers as principal investigators (PIs). To qualify, the proposed PI must at 

the time of application submission: 

 Hold a non-tenured assistant professor appointment at an accredited institution of higher 

education in the United States or an equivalent full-time staff scientist position at a 

research institution; and 

 Have completed a terminal degree or post-graduate clinical training within the ten (10) 

years prior to September 30, 2020, and 

 Have never previously received NIJ funding as a PI on a research project with the 

exception of Graduate Research Fellows or Data Resources Program grantees. 

If seeking to be considered for the New Investigator/Early Career Opportunity, the applicant 

should identify that they are submitting a New Investigator/Early Career proposal on the title 

page of the application.
10

NIJ-2020-17170

Goals, Objectives, Deliverables, and Expected Scholarly Products

The primary goal of this solicitation is to examine the effectiveness of grants used by the 

Department of Justice, specifically the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), to support offender 

reentry and recidivism reduction programs at the State, local, Tribal, and Federal levels. The 

objective will be to determine whether the selected SCA grantees accomplished the overall 

goals of the Second Chance Act. Findings from this research will assist State, local, and Tribal 

jurisdictions to promote safe communities, and reduce recidivism among former offenders as 

they successfully reintegrate into the community. 

Phase 1 Site-specific Evaluation Plan. The site-specific evaluation plan should detail the type of 

evaluation that would be appropriate for each SCA site.

Phase 2 Application. Upon successful completion of Phase 1, the successful applicant will 

develop and submit an application for funding to support the Phase 3 evaluation of the 

effectiveness of the SCA grant program. The application should include a budget narrative and 

worksheet for the tasks involved in Phase 3. 

Interim Research Report. The successful applicant will be expected to produce a report detailing 

interim study results.

Final Research Report. Any recipient of an award under this solicitation will be expected to 

submit a final research report. Additional information on the final research report requirement for 

the solicitation is posted on the Research, Development, and Evaluation Grant Award 

Requirements section on NIJ’s website. The Final Research Report will undergo review for 

public archive on the NCJRS Web site.

Required Data Sets and Associated Files and Documentation. Any recipient of an award under 

this solicitation will be expected to submit to the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data 

(NACJD) all data sets that result in whole or in part from the work funded by the award, along 

with associated files and any documentation necessary for future efforts by others to reproduce 

the project’s findings and/or to extend the scientific value of the data set through secondary 

analysis. For more information, see Program Narrative in Section D. Application and 

Submission Information.

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

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

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

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

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

inventions, or similar scientific products.

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

practitioner and policymaker audiences through articles in trade publications, the development 

of training manuals, policy briefs, conferences, webinars, and articles for newspapers or 

magazines.

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

performance measures that demonstrate the results of the work completed.
11

NIJ-2020-17170

Performance Measures

OJP will require each successful applicant to submit regular performance data that demonstrate 

the results of the work carried out under the award (see “General Information about PostFederal Award Reporting Requirements” in Section F. Federal Award Administration 

Information).

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

an overview of performance measurement activities at OJP.

The application should demonstrate the applicant’s understanding of the performance data 

reporting requirements for this grant program and detail how the applicant will gather the 

required data should it receive funding.

Please note that applicants are not required to submit performance data with the application. 

Performance measures information is included as an alert that successful applicants will be 

required to submit performance data as part of the reporting requirements under an award.

Objective Performance Measure(s) Data Recipient Provides

Conduct research in 

science, technology, 

engineering, and/or 

mathematics having 

clear implications for 

criminal justice policy 

and practice in the 

United States.

Conduct research in 

social and behavioral 

sciences having clear 

implications for criminal 

justice policy and 

practice in the United 

States.

1. Relevance to the needs of the field 

as measured by whether the 

project’s substantive scope did not 

deviate from the funded project or 

any subsequent agency-approved 

modifications to the scope.

2. Quality of the research as 

demonstrated by the scholarly 

products that result in whole or in 

part from work funded under the NIJ 

award, such as published, peerreviewed, scientific journal articles, 

and/or (as appropriate for the 

funded project) law review journal 

articles, book chapter(s) or book(s) 

in the academic press, 

technological prototypes, patented 

inventions, or similar scientific 

products.

3. Quality of management as 

measured by such factors as 

whether significant project 

milestones were achieved, reporting 

and other deadlines were met, and 

costs remained within approved 

limits.

1. Site-specific evaluation plan 

for each SCA site.

2. Application for funding for 

Phases 2 and 3 (if applicable).

3. Quarterly financial reports, 

semi-annual, interim, and final 

progress reports, and products 

of the work performed under 

the NIJ award (including, at 

minimum, a final research 

report).

If applicable, an annual audit 

report.

4. List of citation(s) to all 

scholarly products that 

resulted in whole or in part 

from work funded under the 

NIJ award.

5. If applicable, each data set 

that resulted in whole or in part 

from work funded under the 

NIJ award.
12

NIJ-2020-17170

Evaluation Research

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Applications that include evaluation research should consider the feasibility of including 

cost/benefit analysis. In cases where evaluations find that interventions have produced the 

intended benefit, cost/benefit analysis provides valuable and practical information for 

practitioners and policymakers that aids decision making.

Evaluation research projects may also address a wide range of research questions beyond 

those focused on the effectiveness or impact of an intervention. Different research designs may 

be more appropriate for different research questions and at different stages of program 

development. The intervention strategies, setting, other contextual factors, and resources 

should be taken into account when selecting an evaluation design. In all cases, applications are 

expected to propose the most rigorous evaluation design appropriate for the research questions 

to be addressed.

Applicants are encouraged to review evidence rating criteria at

https://www.crimesolutions.gov/about_starttofinish.aspx for further information on high-quality 

evaluation design elements.

OJP Priority Areas

In FY 2020, and in addition to executing any statutory prioritization that may be applicable, OJP 

may give priority consideration to applications as follows:

 Applications that address specific challenges that rural communities face. 

 Applications that demonstrate that the individuals who are intended to benefit from the 

requested grant reside in high-poverty areas or persistent-poverty counties.

 Applications that offer enhancements to public safety in economically distressed 

communities (Qualified Opportunity Zones).

To receive priority consideration under the rural priority, applicants must describe what makes 

the geographic service area rural (using U.S. Census or other appropriate government data; for 

assistance, applicants may wish to refer to https://www.census.gov/programssurveys/geography/guidance/geo-areas/urban-rural.html), how isolated the area is from needed 

services, and how they will address specific challenges in rural communities. 

To receive priority consideration under the poverty priority, the applicant must provide 

information to demonstrate that the individuals who are intended to benefit from the requested 

grant reside in high-poverty areas or persistent poverty counties. For purposes of this priority 
13

NIJ-2020-17170

consideration, the term ‘‘high-poverty area’’ means any census tract with a poverty rate of at 

least 20 percent as measured by the 2013–2017 5-year data series available from the American 

Community Survey of the Census Bureau (applicants may search by census tract at 

https://www.census.gov/acs/www/data/data-tables-and-tools/narrative-profiles/2017/) and the 

term ‘‘persistent poverty counties’’ means any county that has had 20 percent or more of its 

population living in poverty over the past 30 years, as measured by the 1990 and 2000 

decennial censuses and the most recent Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (applicants 

may search by county at https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/dec/censuspoverty.html and at https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe.html).

To receive priority consideration under the Qualified Opportunity Zones priority, applicants must 

include information that specifies how the project will enhance public safety in the specified 

QOZs. For resources on QOZs, and for a current list of designated QOZs, see the U.S. 

Department of the Treasury’s resource webpage, accessible at 

https://www.cdfifund.gov/pages/opportunity-zones.aspx.

B. Federal Award Information

Maximum number of awards NIJ expects to make: 1

Estimated maximum dollar amount for each award: Up to $1.5 million

Total amount anticipated to be awarded under solicitation: $1.5 million

Period of performance start date: January 1, 2021

Period of performance duration: 60-months

The preceding funding and time constraints notwithstanding, applications should be 

crafted to reflect the funding and time that is necessary to achieve the goals and 

objectives of this solicitation based on the applicant’s proposed phased technical 

approach.

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

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

required of the recipient, applicants should propose an award start date of January 1, 2021.

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

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

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

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

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

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

amount or length of time anticipated for an individual award (or awards) under this solicitation.) 

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

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

would be productive. (If, in FY 2020, NIJ elects to fund only certain phases of a proposed 

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

vary from those described above.)
14

NIJ-2020-17170

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

solicitation, through continuation awards. OJP will consider, among other factors, OJP’s 

strategic priorities, a recipient’s overall management of the award, and progress of award 

funded work, when making continuation award decisions.

Under this solicitation, only one application by any particular applicant entity will be considered. 

An entity may, however, be proposed as a subrecipient (subgrantee) in more than one 

application.

NIJ may elect to fund applications submitted under this FY 2020 solicitation in future fiscal 

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

availability of appropriations.

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

additional requirements that may be imposed by law.

Type of Award

NIJ expects to make an award under this solicitation as a grant or cooperative agreement. A 

cooperative agreement permits OJP to have substantial involvement in carrying out award 

activities. See the “Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements” section of 

the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for additional information.

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

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

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

Cooperative Agreements – FY 2020 Awards” in the OJP Funding Resource Center.

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls

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

entities) must, as described in the Part 200 Uniform Requirements1 as set out at 2 C.F.R. 

200.303, comply with standards for financial and program management. See OJP Grant 

Application Resource Guide for additional information.

Budget Information

What will not be funded:

 Applications primarily to purchase equipment, materials, or supplies. (A budget may 

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

demonstration, evaluation, or analysis.)

 Applications that are not responsive to this specific solicitation.

 Funds may not be used to support biomedical or behavior control experimentation on 

individuals or any research involving such experimentation.

 

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

modifications) the provisions of 2 C.F.R. Part 200.
15

NIJ-2020-17170

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement

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

under “What an Application Should Include” in Section D. Application and Submission 

Information.

Please see the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for information on the following:

 Pre-agreement Costs (also known as Pre-award Costs)

 Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation; Waiver

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

 Costs Associated with Language Assistance (if applicable)

C. Eligibility Information

For eligibility information, see title page.

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

Include” in Section D. Application and Submission Information.

D. Application and Submission Information

This solicitation expressly modifies the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide by not 

incorporating the “Disclosure of Process Related to Executive Compensation” provisions in the 

“Application Attachments” section of the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide.

What an Application Should Include

The following application elements MUST be included in the application submission for an 

application to meet the basic minimum requirements (BMR) to advance to peer review and 

receive consideration for funding: Program Narrative, Budget Detail Worksheet (including 

Budget Narrative), resumes/curriculum vitae of key personnel. (For purposes of this solicitation, 

“key personnel” means the principal investigator, and any and all co-principal investigators.)

See the “Application Elements and Formatting Instructions” section of the OJP Grant Application 

Resource Guide for information on what happens to an application that does not contain all the 

specified elements, or that is nonresponsive to the scope of the solicitation.

1. Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form (SF)-424)

The SF-424 is a required standard form used as a cover sheet for submission of preapplications, applications, and related information. See the OJP Grant Application Resource 

Guide for additional information on completing the SF-424.

Intergovernmental Review: This solicitation ("funding opportunity") is not subject to 

Executive Order 12372. (In completing the SF-424, an applicant is to answer question 19 by 

selecting the response that the “Program is not covered by E.O. 12372.”)
16

NIJ-2020-17170

2. Project Abstract

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

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

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

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

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

project in no more than 400 words. Project abstracts should be:

 Written for a general public audience.

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

 Single-spaced, using a standard 12-point Times New Roman font with 1-inch 

margins.

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

program narrative.

Project abstracts should follow the detailed template (including the detailed instructions as to 

content) available on the NIJ webpage.

3. Program Narrative

The program narrative section of the application should not exceed 30 double-spaced pages 

in 12-point font with 1-inch margins. If included in the main body of the program narrative, 

tables, charts, figures, and other illustrations count toward the 30-page limit for the narrative 

section. The project abstract, table of contents, appendices, and government forms do not 

count toward the 30-page limit.

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

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

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

2

Program Narrative Guidelines:

a. Title Page (not counted against the 30-page program narrative limit)

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

number, and the name and complete contact information (that is, address, telephone 

number, and e-mail address) for both the applicant and the principal investigator.

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Information,” above.
17

NIJ-2020-17170

b. Resubmit Response (if applicable) (not counted against the 30-page program narrative 

limit)

If an applicant is resubmitting an application presented previously to NIJ, but not funded, 

the applicant should indicate this. A statement should be provided, no more than two 

pages, addressing: (1) the title, submission date, and NIJ-assigned application number 

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

including responses to previous feedback received from NIJ.

c. Table of Contents and Figures (not counted against the 30-page program narrative 

limit)

d. Main Body

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

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

 Statement of the Problem and Research Questions. The statement of the problem 

should address the need for research in this area. Applicants should discuss current 

gaps in data, research, and knowledge, including those for particular justice sectors, 

for certain populations, and to answer questions relevant to current policy and 

practice needs and public interests. As part of this discussion, applicants should 

present a review of previous literature and discuss previous research related to these 

problems.

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

purpose, goals, and objectives of the proposed project.

 Project Design and Implementation. Applicants should provide a detailed description 

of the strategies to implement this research project and address the research 

questions. Design elements should follow directly from the research project’s goals 

and objectives and address the program-specific information noted on page 5. 

Applicants should describe the research methodology in detail and demonstrate the 

validity and usefulness of the data they will collect. Applicants should consider the 

rigor and soundness of the methodology and analytical and technical approaches for 

the proposed research and address the feasibility of the proposed project and 

potential challenges or problems in carrying out the activities.

 Potential Impact. Applicants should describe the potential impact of the research and 

how it may inform or improve criminal or juvenile justice-related policy, practice, or 

theory in the United States.

The discussion of impact should include a discussion of the deliverables, including 

planned scholarly products indicated in the project-specific information on page 10

and a plan for dissemination to appropriate audiences. Applicants should identify 

plans to produce or make available to broader interested practitioners and policy 

makers in a form that is designed to be readily accessible and useful to them.
18

NIJ-2020-17170

 Capabilities/Competencies. This section should describe the experience and

capability of the applicant organization, key staff, and any proposed subgrantees

(including consultants) that the applicant will use to implement and manage this effort

and the federal funds under this award, highlighting any previous experience

implementing projects of similar scope, design, and magnitude. Applicants should

address:

o Experience and capacity to work with the proposed data sources in the conduct

of similar research efforts.

o Experience and capacity to design and implement rigorous research and data

analysis projects.

o Experience producing and disseminating meaningful deliverables.

Applicants should also outline the management plan and organization that connects to 

the goals and objectives of the project.

e. Appendices (not counted against the 30-page program narrative limit) include:

 Bibliography/references.

 Any tools/instruments, questionnaires, tables/charts/graphs, or maps pertaining to

the proposed project that are supplemental to such items included in the main body

of the narrative.

 Curriculum vitae or resume of the principal investigator and any and all co-principal

investigators. In addition, curriculum vitae, resume, or biographical sketches of all

other individuals (regardless of “investigator” status) who will be significantly involved

in substantive aspects of the proposed project (including, for example, individuals

such as statisticians used to conduct proposed data analysis).

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

conflicts on the part of prospective reviewers of the application, a complete list of the

individuals named or otherwise identified anywhere in the application (including in

the budget or in any other attachment) who will or may work (or advise or consult) on

the proposed research, development, or evaluation project. This applies to all such

individuals, including, for example, individuals who are or would be employees of the

applicant or employees of any proposed subrecipient entity, any individuals who

themselves may be a subrecipient, and individuals who may (or will) work without

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

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

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

and responsibilities in carrying out the proposed project. If the application identifies

any specific entities or organizations (other than the applicant) that will or may work

(or advise or consult) on the proposed project, without also naming any associated

individuals, the name of each such organization also should be included on this list.

Applicants should use the “Proposed Project Staff, Affiliation, and Roles” form

available on the NIJ webpage to prepare this list.
19

NIJ-2020-17170

If the application (including the budget) identifies any proposed non-competitive 

agreements that are or may be considered procurement "contracts" (rather than 

subawards) for purposes of federal grants administrative requirements the applicant 

also must list the entities with which the applicant proposes to contract. Applicants 

should provide this list as a separate sheet entitled "Proposed non-competitive 

procurement contracts."

For information on distinctions — for purposes of federal grants administrative 

requirements — between subawards and procurement contracts under awards, see 

“Budget Information and Associated Documentation,” below.

 Proposed project timeline and expected milestones.

 Human Subjects Protection paperwork (documentation and forms related to 

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

an application is submitted.

 Privacy Certificate (for further guidance go to 

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

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

 List of any previous and current NIJ awards to the applicant and investigator(s), 

including the NIJ-assigned award numbers and a brief description of any scholarly 

products that resulted in whole or in part from work funded under the NIJ award(s). 

(See “Goals, Objectives, Deliverables, and Expected Scholarly Products” under 

“Program-Specific Information,” above, for definition of “scholarly products.”)

 List of other agencies, organizations, or funding sources to which this application has 

been submitted (if applicable).

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

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

document, according to the requirements set forth at 

https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/participant-support-costs-and-incentives-social-scienceresearch.

 Data archiving plan. Applicants should anticipate that NIJ will require (through 

special award conditions, that data sets resulting in whole or in part from projects 

funded under this solicitation be submitted for archiving with the NACJD. See

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

Applications should include as an appendix a brief plan — labeled “Data Archiving 

Plan” — to comply with data archiving requirements. The plan should provide brief 

details about proposed data management and archiving, including submission to NIJ 

(through NACJD) of all files and documentation necessary to allow for future 

efforts by others to reproduce the project’s findings and/or to extend the scientific 

value of the data set through secondary analysis. Pertinent files and documentation 

include, among other things, qualitative and quantitative data produced, 
20

NIJ-2020-17170

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

programming code necessary to reproduce all constructed measures and the original 

data analysis, description of necessary de-identification procedures, and (when 

required) a copy of the privacy certificate and informed consent protocols.

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

associated with meeting archiving requirements.

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

days before the end of the period of performance.

 Letters of cooperation/support or administrative agreements from organizations 

collaborating in the project, such as law enforcement and correctional agencies (if 

applicable).

Please see the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for information on the following:

4. Budget Information and Associated Documentation in the Budget Preparation and 

Submission Information section.

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

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

follow the guidance in the following paragraph instead of the guidance stated under the 

“Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement” heading in the OJP Grant Application Resource 

Guide.

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

5. Indirect Cost Rate Agreement

6. Tribal Authorizing Resolution (if applicable) 

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

applicant disclosure of high-risk status)

8. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

9. Applicant Disclosure of Pending Applications

10. Applicant Disclosure and Justification – DOJ High Risk Grantees3(if applicable)

11. Research and Evaluation Independence and Integrity

 

3 A “DOJ High-Risk Grantee” is a recipient that has received a DOJ High-Risk designation based on a documented 

history of unsatisfactory performance, financial instability, management system or other internal control deficiencies, 

or noncompliance with award terms and conditions on prior awards, or that is otherwise not responsible.
21

NIJ-2020-17170

12. Additional Attachments

a. Documentation of Rural Challenges (if applicable)

As is mentioned above, OJP will give priority consideration in award decisions to 

applications that address specific challenges that rural communities face. Each applicant 

proposing to receive priority consideration under the rural priority should provide a 

sufficient narrative to include what makes the geographic service area rural (using U.S. 

Census or other appropriate government data), how isolated the area is from needed 

services, and how it will address specific challenges in rural communities.

b. Documentation of High-Poverty Areas or Persistent-Poverty Counties (if 

applicable)

As mentioned above, OJP will give priority consideration in award decisions to 

applications that demonstrate that the individuals who will benefit from the requested 

grant reside in high-poverty areas or persistent-poverty counties as defined above. 

Each applicant proposing to receive consideration under the High-Poverty Areas or 

Persistent Poverty Counties priority should provide a sufficient narrative explanation to 

identify each specific High-Poverty Area (by census tract number(s)) and/or each 

specific Persistent-Poverty County where individuals are intended to benefit from the 

requested grant and how the requested grant will address specific challenges in each 

such identified area and/or county.

c. Documentation of Enhanced Public Safety in Qualified Opportunity Zones (if 

applicable)

As is mentioned above, OJP will give priority consideration in award decisions to 

designated Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZs). Each applicant proposing to receive 

priority consideration under the under the Qualified Opportunity Zones priority should 

provide a sufficient narrative explanation in order for OJP to identify clearly the public 

safety benefit the applicant anticipates that its project will have on a specified QOZ(s). 

The narrative and the list of affected QOZs (by census tract number) must be included 

as an attachment that is clearly labeled as addressing QOZs. The applicant may also 

include tables, charts, graphs, or other relevant illustrations that may be useful in 

comprehending the manner in which the proposed project is anticipated to benefit a 

QOZ(s).

How To Apply (Grants.gov)

Applicants must register in and submit applications through Grants.gov, a primary source to find 

federal funding opportunities and apply for funding. Find information on how to apply in 

response to this solicitation in the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide.

Registration and Submission Steps

Applicants will need the following identifying information when searching for the funding 

opportunity on Grants.gov.
22

NIJ-2020-17170

 Assistance Listing 16.560, National Institute of Justice Research, Evaluation, and 

Development Project Grants.

 Funding Opportunity Number NIJ-2020-17170.

For information on each registration and submission step, see the OJP Grant Application 

Resource Guide.

E. Application Review Information

Review Criteria

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

the following review criteria.

Statement of the Problem and Research Questions (Understanding of the problem, research 

questions, and their importance) – 15%

1. Demonstrated understanding of the problem.

2. Demonstrated importance of research questions, goals and objectives, including 

alignment with the aims of the solicitation.

3. Demonstrated awareness of the state of current research.

Project Design and Implementation (Quality and technical merit) – 50%

1. Soundness of methods and analytic and technical approach to addressing the stated 

aim(s) of the proposed project.

2. Feasibility of proposed project.

3. Awareness of potential pitfalls of proposed project design and feasibility of proposed 

actions to minimize and/or mitigate them.

4. Feasibility of completing the deliverables noted in the solicitation.

Potential Impact – 15%

Potential for a significant scientific or technical advance(s) that will improve criminal/juvenile 

justice in the United States, such as:

 Potential for significantly improved understanding of the stated criminal/juvenile justice 

problem.

 Potential for innovative solution to address (all or a significant part of) the stated 

criminal/juvenile justice problem.

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

applicant organization and proposed project staff) – 20%
23

NIJ-2020-17170

1. Qualifications and experience of proposed project staff (that is, the principal investigator, 

any and all co-principal investigators, and all other individuals (and organizations) 

identified in the application (regardless of “investigator” status) who will be significantly 

involved in substantive aspects of the proposed project).

2. Demonstrated ability of the applicant organization to implement the proposed strategies 

and manage the effort.

3. Relationship between the capabilities/competencies of the proposed project staff 

(including the applicant organization) and the scope and strategies of the proposed 

project.

Plan for Dissemination to Broader Audiences (if applicable to the proposed project)

Peer reviewers may comment — in the context of scientific and technical merit — on strength 

and feasibility the proposed plan (if any) to produce or to make available to broader interested 

audiences, such as criminal/juvenile justice practitioners or policymakers, summary information 

from the planned scholarly products of the project.

Budget

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

the context of scientific and technical merit.

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

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

3. Use of existing resources to conserve costs.

4. Alignment of the proposed budget with proposed project activities.

Review Process

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

understandable, measurable, achievable, and consistent with the solicitation.

The following five paragraphs in this solicitation expressly modify the “Application Review 

Information” provisions in the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide. An applicant is to follow 

the guidance in these five paragraphs instead of the guidance stated under the “Application 

Review Information” heading in the Guide.

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

minimum requirements. For purposes of assessing whether an application meets basic 

minimum requirements and should proceed to further consideration, OJP screens applications 

for compliance with those requirements. Although specific requirements may vary, the following 

are common requirements applicable to all solicitations for funding under OJP programs:

 The application must be submitted by an eligible type of applicant.
24

NIJ-2020-17170

 The application must request funding within programmatic funding constraints (if 

applicable).

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

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

requirements.

 The application, if submitted by an applicant that is a DOJ High Risk Grantee,

4 or is 

designated “high risk” by a federal grant-making agency outside of DOJ, must not have 

been determined by the Director to pose a substantial risk of program implementation 

failure, based on 1) the applicant’s lack of sufficient progress in addressing required 

corrective actions necessary for removal of the DOJ High Risk Grantee (or non-DOJ 

high risk) designation, 2) the nature and severity of the issues leading to or 

accompanying the DOJ High Risk Grantee (or non-DOJ high risk) designation, and/or 3) 

the applicant’s expected ability to manage grant funds and achieve grant goals and 

objectives.

For a list of the application elements that MUST be included in the application submission in 

order for an application to meet the basic minimum requirements, see “What an Application 

Should Include” under Section D. Application and Submission Information.

Peer review panels will evaluate, score, and rate applications that meet basic minimum 

requirements. NIJ may use internal peer reviewers, external peer reviewers, or a combination, 

to assess applications on technical merit using the solicitation’s review criteria. An internal 

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

this solicitation. An external peer reviewer is an expert in the subject matter of a given 

solicitation who is not a current DOJ employee. Peer reviewers’ ratings and any resulting 

recommendations are advisory only, but are considered carefully.

Other important considerations for NIJ include geographic diversity, strategic priorities 

(specifically including, but not limited to, those mentioned above relating to addressing specific 

challenges that rural communities face, high-poverty areas or persistent-poverty counties, 

demonstrable potential enhancement to public safety in one or more federally designated 

Qualified Opportunity Zones), available funding, the planned scholarly products, and the extent 

to which the Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative accurately explain project costs that 

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

cost principles.

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

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

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

record with respect to performance, integrity, and business ethics, OJP checks whether the 

applicant is listed in SAM as excluded from receiving a federal award.

In addition, if OJP anticipates that an award will exceed $250,000 in federal funds, OJP also 

must review and consider any information about the applicant that appears in the non-public 

 

4 See “Applicant Disclosure and Justification – DOJ High Risk Grantees” under “What an Application Should Include,” 

above, for a definition of “DOJ High Risk Grantee.”
25

NIJ-2020-17170

segment of the integrity and performance system accessible through SAM (currently, the 

Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System, FAPIIS).

Important note on FAPIIS: An applicant, at its option, may review and comment on any 

information about itself that currently appears in FAPIIS and was entered by a federal awarding 

agency. OJP will consider any such comments by the applicant, in addition to the other 

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

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

take into account not only peer review ratings and NIJ recommendations, but also other factors 

as indicated in this section.

F. Federal Award Administration Information

Please see the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for information on the following:

 Federal Award Notices

 Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements

If selected for funding, in addition to implementing the funded project consistent with the 

OJP-approved application, the recipient must comply with all award conditions, and all 

applicable requirements of federal statutes and regulations (including applicable 

requirements referred to in the assurances and certifications executed in connection with 

award acceptance). 

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

Policy, and Other Legal Requirements” section in the OJP Grant Application Resource 

Guide.

 Information Technology (IT) Security Clauses

 General Information about Post-Federal Award Reporting Requirements

In addition to the deliverables described in Section A. Program Description, any recipient 

of an award under this solicitation will be required to submit certain reports and data.

Required reports. Recipients typically must submit quarterly financial reports, semiannual progress reports, final financial and progress reports, and, if applicable, an 

annual audit report in accordance with the Part 200 Uniform Requirements or specific 

award conditions. Applicants should anticipate that progress reports will be required to 

follow the non-budgetary components of the Research Performance Progress Report 

(RPPR) template/format. General information on RPPRs may be found at 

www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/rppr/. Future awards and fund drawdowns may be withheld 

if reports are delinquent. (In appropriate cases, OJP may require additional reports.)

See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for additional information on specific 

post-award reporting requirements, including performance measures data.
26

NIJ-2020-17170

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)

For questions directed to the Federal Awarding Agency, see NCJRS contact information on 

page 2.

For contact information for Grants.gov, see page 2.

H. Other Information

Please see the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for information on the following:

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

 Provide Feedback to OJP
27

NIJ-2020-17170

Application Checklist

Assessing the Effectiveness of the Second Chance Act Grant Program: A Phased 

Evaluation Approach, Fiscal Year 2020

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

What an Applicant Should Do:

Prior to Registering in Grants.gov:

 Acquire a DUNS Number (see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide)

 Acquire or renew registration with SAM (see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide)

To Register with Grants.gov:

 Acquire AOR and Grants.gov username/password

(see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide)

 Acquire AOR confirmation from the E-Biz POC (see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide)

To Find Funding Opportunity:

 Search for the Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov

(see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide)

 Access Funding Opportunity and Application Package

(see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide)

 Sign up for Grants.gov email notifications (optional)

(see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide)

 Read Important Notice: Applying for Grants in Grants.gov

 Read OJP policy and guidance on conference approval, planning, and reporting available at

ojp.gov/financialguide/DOJ/PostawardRequirements/chapter3.10a.htm

(see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide)

After Application Submission, Receive Grants.gov Email Notifications That:

 (1) application has been received,

 (2) application has either been successfully validated or rejected with errors

(see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide)

If No Grants.gov Receipt, and Validation or Error Notifications Are Received:

 Contact NIJ regarding technical difficulties

(see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide)

Overview of Post-Award Legal Requirements:

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

Cooperative Agreements – FY 2020 Awards” in the OJP Funding Resource Center.

Scope Requirement:

 The federal amount requested is within the allowable limit(s).

 Eligibility Requirement: See cover page.
28

NIJ-2020-17170

What an Application Should Include:

The following items are critical application elements required to pass basic minimum requirements 

review. An application that OJP determines does not include the application elements that must 

be included in the application submission in order for the application to meet the basic minimum 

requirements, will neither proceed to peer review, nor receive further consideration.

 Program Narrative (see page 16)

 Budget Detail Worksheet (including Budget Narrative

(see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide)

 Resumes/curriculum vitae of key personnel (see page 18)

 Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) (see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide)

 Project Abstract (see page 16)

 Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) (see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide)

 Tribal Authorizing Resolution (if applicable) (see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide)

 Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire

(see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide)

 Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) (see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide)

 Applicant Disclosure of Pending Applications (see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide)

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

(see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide)

 Research and Evaluation Independence and Integrity

(see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide)

Additional Attachments:

 Request and Justification for Employee Compensation; Waiver (if applicable) 

(see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide)

 Documentation of rural challenges (if applicable)

 Documentation of high-poverty areas or persistent poverty counties (if applicable)

 Documentation of enhanced public safety in federally designated Qualified 

Opportunity Zones (if applicable) (see page 21)