OMB No. 1121-0329 

Expires  12/31/2023 

U.S. Department of Justice 

Office of Justice Programs 

National Institute of Justice 

NIJ FY23 Research and Evaluation on School Safety 

Assistance Listing Number #  16.560 

Grants.gov Opportunity Number: O-NIJ-2023-171616 

Solicitation Release Date:     February 21, 2023 3:00 PM ET  

Version:  1 

Step 1: Application Grants.gov Deadline:    May 08, 2023 11:59 PM ET  

Step 2: Application JustGrants Deadline:    May 22, 2023 8:59 PM ET 

Overview 

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

collaboration with the Bureau of Justice Assistance, seeks proposals for rigorous research and evaluation 

projects to fill knowledge gaps in two topical areas: 1) studies on the root causes and consequences of school 

violence and 2) examinations of the impact and effectiveness of school safety approaches implemented for 

purposes authorized under the STOP School Violence Act. This program furthers the DOJ’s mission by 

supporting the development of new knowledge and tools to address the challenges of crime and justice in the 

United States through fundamental research. 

This solicitation incorporates guidance provided in the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide which provides 

additional information for applicants to prepare and submit applications to OJP for funding. 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. 

Solicitation Categories 

This solicitation does not include Solicitation Categories. 

Eligible Applicants: 

City or township governments, County governments, For profit organizations other than small businesses, 

Independent school districts, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal 

organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with 

the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, 

other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Public and State controlled 

institutions of higher education, Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Small businesses, Special 

district governments, State governments 

An applicant entity may submit more than one application, if each application proposes a different project in 

response to the solicitation. Also, an entity may be proposed as a subrecipient (subgrantee) in more than one 

application. 

NIJ will consider applications under which two or more entities would carry out the federal award; however, only 

one entity may be the applicant. Any others must be proposed as subrecipients (subgrantees). For additional 

information on subawards, see the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide. 

NIJ may elect to fund applications submitted under this FY 2023 solicitation in future fiscal years, dependent on, 

among other considerations, the merit of the applications and the availability of appropriations. 

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Contact Information 

For assistance with the requirements of this solicitation, contact the OJP Response Center at 800-851-3420, 

301-240-6310 (TTY for hearing-impaired callers only), or grants@ncjrs.gov. The OJP Response Center 

operates from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. eastern time (ET) Monday–Friday, and 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET on the 

solicitation close date. 

Submission Information 

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

Management (SAM). You must renew and validate your registration every 12 months. If you do not renew your 

SAM registration, it will expire. An expired registration can delay or prevent application submission in 

Grants.gov and JustGrants. Registration and renewal can take up to 10 business days to complete. 

Submission: Applications must be submitted to DOJ electronically through a two-step process via Grants.gov 

and JustGrants. 

Step 1: The applicant must submit by the Grants.gov deadline the required Application for Federal 

Assistance standard form (SF-424) and a Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) form when they 

register in Grants.gov at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html. Submit the SF-424 and SF-LLL as 

early as possible, but no later than 48 hours before the Grants.gov deadline. If an applicant fails to submit 

in Grants.gov, they will be unable to apply in JustGrants. 

For technical assistance with submitting the SF-424 and a SF-LLL in Grants.gov, contact the Grants.gov 

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

support@grants.gov. The Grants.gov Support Hotline operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except on 

federal holidays. 

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

JustGrants.usdoj.gov by the JustGrants application deadline. 

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

Desk at 833-872-5175 or JustGrants.Support@usdoj.gov. The JustGrants Service Desk operates 7 a.m. to 9 

p.m. ET Monday–Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sunday, and Federal holidays. 

OJP encourages applicants to review the “How To Apply” section in the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide 

and the JustGrants website for more information, resources, and training. Applicants should maintain all 

receipts and confirmations received from SAM.gov, Grants.gov, JustGrants systems. 

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Contents 

Overview 1 

Contact Information 2 

Submission Information 2 

Program Description 5 

Overview 5 

Statutory Authority 5 

Specific Information 5 

Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables 8 

Priority Areas 9 

Federal Award Information 10 

Awards, Amounts and Durations 10 

Continuation Funding Intent 10 

Availability of Funds 11 

Type of Award 11 

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls 11 

Budget Information 11 

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement 11 

Pre-agreement Costs (also known as Pre-award Costs) 11 

Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation: Waiver 12 

Prior Approval, Planning, and Reporting of Conference/Meeting/Training Costs 12 

Costs Associated with Language Assistance (if applicable) 12 

Anticipated Number of Awards 12 

Anticipated Maximum Dollar Amount of Awards 12 

Period of Performance Duration 12 

Eligibility Information 12 

Application and Submission Information 13 

Content of Application Submission 13 

Information to Complete the Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) in Grants.gov 13 

Standard Applicant Information (JustGrants 424 and General Agency Information) 13 

Proposal Abstract 13 

Proposal Narrative 13 

Goal, Objective and Deliverables 15 

Budget and Associated Documentation 16 

Budget Worksheet and Budget Narrative (Web-based Form) 16 

Pre-agreement Costs (also known as Pre-award Costs) 16 

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) 16 

Consultant Rate 16 

Limitation on Employee Compensation; Waiver 17 

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire (including applicant 17 

disclosure of high-risk status) 

Disclosure of Process Related to Executive Compensation 17 

Additional Application Components 17 

Curriculum Vitae or Resumes 17 

Tribal Authorizing Resolution 17 

Timeline Form 17 

Letters of Support 17 

Research and Evaluation Independence and Integrity Statement 17 

Bibliography/reference 17 

Any Tools/Instruments, Questionnaires, Tables/Charts/Graphs, or Maps 18 

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List of Individuals in the Application 18 

Human Subjects Protection 18 

Privacy Certificate 18 

Request to Use Incentives or Stipends 18 

Documentation of “new investigator” status, if applicable 18 

Consortium/Contractual Arrangements 18 

Data Archiving Plan 18 

Disclosures and Assurances 19 

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities 19 

DOJ Certified Standard Assurances 19 

Applicant Disclosure of Duplication in Cost Items 19 

DOJ Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility 19 

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

Applicant Disclosure and Justification - DOJ High Risk Grantees 19 

How to Apply 19 

Submission Dates and Time 20 

Experiencing Unforeseen Technical Issues Preventing Submission of an Application 20 

Application Review Information 21 

Review Criteria 21 

Review Process 22 

Federal Award Administration Information 23 

Federal Award Notices 23 

Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements 23 

Information Technology Security Clauses 23 

General Information about Post-Federal Award Reporting Requirements 23 

Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s) 23 

Other Information 23 

Freedom of Information and Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552 and 5 U.S.C. 552a) 23 

Provide Feedback to OJP 23 

Performance Measures 24 

Application Checklist 24 

Standard Solicitation Resources 27 

Endnotes 27 

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Program Description 

Overview 

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

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

protects the public from crime and evolving threats, and builds trust between law enforcement and the 

community. 

With this solicitation, NIJ, in collaboration with the Bureau of Justice Assistance, seeks proposals for rigorous 

research and evaluation projects to fill knowledge gaps in two topical areas: 1) studies on the root causes and 

consequences of school violence and 2) examinations of the impact and effectiveness of school safety 

approaches implemented for purposes authorized under the STOP School Violence Act. 

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

people with lived experience of the subject of study, including, but not limited to, justice practitioners, 

community members, crime victims, service providers and individuals who have experienced justice system 

involvement. 

Applicants are encouraged to propose multidisciplinary research teams to build on the complementary 

strengths of different methods and areas of subject matter expertise. NIJ also seeks proposals that include 

consideration and measurement of issues of diversity, discrimination, and bias across age, gender and gender 

identity, race, ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation, as applicable. 

Applications proposing research involving partnerships with criminal justice or other agencies, should include a 

letter of support, signed by an appropriate decision-making authority from each proposed, partnering agency. A 

letter of support should include the partnering agency’s acknowledgement that de-identified data derived from, 

provided to, or obtained through an award funded by NIJ will be archived by the grant recipient with the National 

Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD) at the conclusion of the award. Applicants and their potential partners 

are encouraged to review NIJ’s data archiving guidance. If selected for an award, grantees will be expected to 

have a formal agreement in place with partnering agencies by January 1, 2024. That formal agreement must 

include a provision to meet the data archiving requirements of the award. 

NIJ seeks proposals that include robust, creative, and multi-pronged dissemination strategies that include 

strategic partnerships with organizations and associations that are best equipped to ensure that research 

findings lead to changes in policies and practices related to the subjects of study. Special consideration will be 

given to proposals that dedicate at least 15% of the requested project award funding toward implementing such 

strategies, as demonstrated in the Budget Worksheet and Budget Narrative. 

In the case of partnerships that will involve the use of federal award funds by multiple partnering agencies to 

carry out the proposed project, only one entity/partnering agency may be the applicant (as is the case with any 

application submitted in response to this solicitation); any others must be proposed as subrecipients. The 

applicant is expected to conduct the a majority of the work proposed. 

Statutory Authority 

Bipartisan Safer Communities Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022 (Pub. L. No. 117-159, 136 Stat. 1313, 

1339); Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (sections 201 and 202); the Homeland 

Security Act of 2002 (sections 231-233); Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2023 (Pub. L. No. 117-328, 

136 Stat. 4459, 4533 and 4542-4543; 28 U.S.C. 530C. 

Specific Information 

For nearly a decade, NIJ has made significant investments in advancing knowledge about the root causes and 

consequences of school violence, developing strategies for increasing school safety, and rigorously evaluating 

innovative school safety strategies through pilot programs.[1] [2] NIJ seeks to build on this knowledge by 

funding studies to fill key gaps in what works to keep K-12 schools and students safe. This solicitation seeks 

proposals for two topical areas. 

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Topic Area 1: The Root Causes and Consequences of School Violence 

NIJ is interested in receiving proposals using rigorous methods to identify the root causes and consequences of 

various forms of school violence perpetration and victimization that will aid in the development of interventions 

or strategies to prevent school violence. Relatedly, knowledge is needed to enhance understanding of the 

mediating and moderating factors that predict school violence and its consequences. Finally, NIJ seeks studies 

that propose to examine the peer and situational contexts surrounding school violence perpetration and 

victimization (e.g., social dynamics, triggers), and improve understanding of why certain factors may result in 

violence. 

Proposed studies should demonstrate how they will build on and complement existing knowledge on this topic, 

[3] avoid duplication with ongoing research efforts, and aid in the development of interventions or strategies to 

prevent school violence. Applications should provide a clear explanation of the form(s) of school violence to be 

studied. 

Topic Area 2: Evaluation of the Impact and Effectiveness of School Safety Approaches Implemented for 

Purposes Authorized Under the STOP School Violence Act 

Although serious violence at school is relatively uncommon, school-based victimization is a significant concern. 

Schools across the nation have implemented a wide variety of approaches to keep schools and students safe. 

The Student, Teachers, and Officers Preventing School Violence Act of 2018 (STOP School Violence Act)[4] 

purpose areas call for projects that would support a variety of school safety activities and resources. This 

solicitation complements the STOP School Violence Act by seeking applications for rigorous evaluations of the 

effectiveness of school safety approaches addressing the STOP School Violence Act’s purpose areas. 

The STOP School Violence Act projects are administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and the 

Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office). NIJ is seeking rigorous outcome/impact and 

process evaluations of one or more of the activities or purpose areas funded by BJA or the COPS Office in their 

current or previous STOP School Violence Act grant program solicitations.[5] Applicants may propose 

evaluations of school safety projects that have received funding under STOP School Violence Act grants 

funded by BJA or the COPS Office. Alternatively, applicants may propose evaluations of school safety projects 

that receive funding from other sources but nonetheless align with the activities and categories defined by the 

STOP School Violence Act as specified in the solicitations released by BJA and the COPS Office. Outcome/ 

impact evaluations must also include a process/implementation evaluation component. 

Within the range of approaches and activities supported by the STOP School Violence Act, NIJ is particularly 

interested in examining the following understudied approaches to improve school safety. These include the 

following areas. 

Programs designed to reduce (or prevent) more serious school violence outcomes. 

Although much research has been conducted on more frequently occurring aggression and bullying behavior, a 

great deal less school safety research has been conducted on more serious school violence, such as 

aggravated assault. NIJ is interested in funding rigorous evaluations of programs designed to reduce or prevent 

more serious school violence outcomes. 

Programs/practices involving school police/SROs[6] 

The individuals involved in law enforcement at school (e.g., school resource officers, security officers, school 

police) and the roles they play in school safety programs and practices vary widely by jurisdiction, resulting in a 

variety of law enforcement approaches for school safety. NIJ is interested in funding rigorous studies to 

examine the implementation and impact of various law enforcement approaches on school safety programs and 

practices, including circumstances when law enforcement officers are added to or removed from school safety 

programs and practices. 

NIJ also invites proposals for rigorous studies that examine the implementation and impact to school safety of 

alternatives to traditional SROs, such as civilians that serve in a similar capacity, or that examine outcomes for 

SROs who carry their service weapon, compared with those who do not carry their service weapon, while on 

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school campuses. 

Comparative evaluations (e.g., which school climate, anti-bullying, or school-based mental health program is 

most effective) 

Many school safety programs have been evaluated, but to date, little research has been conducted on the 

relative effectiveness of one type of program compared with another. NIJ is interested in funding rigorous 

evaluations that compare the effectiveness of two or more programs with a similar goal (e.g., two types of 

school climate programs, two threat assessment models, a school climate and an anti-bullying program). In the 

absence of a no-treatment (or treatment as usual) comparison group, applicants must describe the criteria they 

will use to establish program effectiveness. Applicants should make a strong case for the importance of 

establishing the comparative effectiveness of the programs to be evaluated; that is, what might make one more 

program more desirable than the other if they are similarly effective (e.g., program cost, time commitment for 

school staff). Applicants may also consider proposing to conduct cost-benefit analyses in addition to the 

comparative evaluation. 

Comprehensive or multi-component school safety approaches 

Schools may choose to use multiple school safety approaches concurrently for a variety of reasons, including 

to: 1) improve the likelihood of a particular outcome and/or 2) address multiple, different school safety needs. 

NIJ is interested in studying the implementation and impact of these approaches to advance understanding of 

the effectiveness of comprehensive school safety strategies. 

Other common and understudied approaches 

There are some programs and practices that are widely implemented in schools, although little is known about 

their effectiveness. Research is particularly limited on the efficacy of trainings for school personnel to prevent, 

prepare, and respond to school safety incidents.[7] NIJ is particularly interested in funding rigorous evaluations 

of such trainings, as well as programs and practices, that are widely used in schools (e.g., restorative practices, 

school security technologies and strategies), that have not been subject to robust research and evaluation, or 

for which evaluation results have been mixed. 

Applicants proposing to evaluate one or more school safety projects must demonstrate in their application that 

the project(s) is/are sufficiently developed and well-positioned to support the proposed evaluation. For example, 

before a rigorous outcome evaluation may be conducted, the school safety program or activities must have a 

clearly defined conceptual framework (e.g., logic model). NIJ wants to build understanding not only of whether a 

program is effective, but also of what elements within or external to the program design or implementation 

contribute to its success or failure. 

Under this solicitation, NIJ is seeking applications for projects with clear potential for producing findings that 

have practical benefits for improving school safety. In order to produce findings with a high potential for 

influencing school safety practices, researchers are strongly encouraged to work closely with educators and 

other stakeholders within the schools and in the community to develop the right questions, prioritize challenges, 

identify solutions, collect data, and make sense of the findings. 

Additional Information 

Applicants should discuss potential risks and harms to individuals or groups associated with the use and/or 

misuse of any practice or technology proposed as a part of the research and evaluation, as well as any ethical 

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

regulations, and/or governing judicial decisions (e.g., established case law, prevailing court rulings) related to 

the practice or technology’s proposed use. Any limitations that may impede the lawful use or implementation of 

any practice or technology proposed should be described, and a realistic approach to mitigate such limitations 

in the context of the proposed research should be discussed. 

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 

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to be addressed. If the primary purpose of the evaluation is to determine the effectiveness or impact of an 

intervention (e.g., program, practice, or policy), the most rigorous evaluation designs may include random 

selection and assignment of participants (or other appropriate units of analysis) to experimental and control 

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

Applications that propose evaluation research should also include an implementation evaluation component to 

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

research methods that enable interim feedback on implementation fidelity to enable program providers to make 

ongoing improvements in program delivery. 

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

demonstrate research/evaluation independence and integrity through discussion of potential risks (if any) to 

independence and integrity, and appropriate safeguards, as required. 

NIJ also encourages applicants to 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 helps with 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 setting, strategies, other 

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

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

research questions to be addressed. Applicants are encouraged to review evidence-rating criteria at https:// 

crimesolutions.ojp.gov/about/how-we-review-and-rate-program-start-finish for further information on high-quality 

evaluation design elements. 

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 in the United 

States. 

Have completed a terminal degree or post-graduate clinical training within the six (6) years prior to 

September 30, 2023. 

Have never previously received NIJ funding as a PI on a research project with the exception of Graduate 

Research Fellows. 

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

it is submitting a New Investigator/Early Career proposal on the title page of the application. 

Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables 

Goals 

The goal of this solicitation is to generate and disseminate knowledge to inform development of evidence-based 

strategies and practices to reduce school violence. 

Objectives 

An applicant should address the objectives that are relevant to their proposed program/project in the Goals, 

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Objectives, Deliverables, and Timeline web-based form. 

This solicitation has two primary objectives: 

1. To examine root causes and consequences of school violence. 

2. To evaluate the impact and effectiveness of school safety approaches that received funding for 

purposes authorized under STOP School Violence Act or that align with the activities and categories 

defined by the STOP School Violence Act. 

Deliverables 

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 

NIJ’s webpage. 

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. 

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

The goals, objectives, and deliverables are directly related to the performance measures that show the 

completed work’s results, as discussed in the “Application and Submission Information” section. 

Priority Areas 

The Department of Justice is committed to advancing work that promotes civil rights and racial equity, increases 

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

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

enforcement and the community. 

1. Priority Considerations Supporting Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for 

Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government 

In support of Executive Order 13985, OJP will give priority consideration to: 

A. Applications that propose research project(s) that are designed to promote racial equity and the removal of 

barriers to access and opportunity for communities that have been historically underserved, marginalized, and 

adversely affected by inequality, when making award decisions. 

To receive this consideration, the applicant must describe how the proposed project(s) will address potential 

inequities and barriers to equal opportunity, and/or contribute to greater access to services for underserved and 

historically marginalized populations. 

B. Applicants that demonstrate that their capabilities and competencies for implementing their proposed project 

(s) are enhanced because they (or at least one proposed subrecipient that will receive at least 40% of the 

requested award funding, as demonstrated in the Budget Web-Based Form) identify as a culturally specific 

organization. 

To receive this additional priority consideration, applicants must describe how being a culturally specific 

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organization (or funding the culturally specific subrecipient organization(s)) will enhance their ability to 

implement the proposed project(s) and should also specify which populations are intended or expected to be 

served or to have their needs addressed under the proposed project(s). 

Culturally specific organizations are defined for the purposes of this solicitation as private nonprofit or tribal 

organizations whose primary purpose as a whole is to provide culturally specific services to racial and ethnic 

groups, including, among others, Black people, Hispanic and Latino people, Native American and other 

Indigenous peoples of North America (including Alaska Native, Eskimo, and Aleut), Asian Americans, Native 

Hawaiians, and/or Pacific Islanders. 

2. Minority Serving Institutions 

NIJ will give special consideration in award decisions to proposals from Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). 

MSIs include: 

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) 

Hispanic-serving Institutions (HSI) 

Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU) 

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

Predominantly Black Institutions (PBI) 

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

Native American-serving Non-Tribal Institutions (NASNTI) 

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

thresholds and is designated as such by the federal government for various purposes under specific statutes. 

For more information, please see the U.S. Department of Education's definitions and lists of institutions. (The 

lists are provided for reference purposes only; MSI status is not an eligibility criterion for this solicitation.) 

Note: Addressing these priority areas is one of many factors that NIJ considers in making funding decisions. 

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

Federal Award Information 

Solicitation Categories 

This solicitation does not include Solicitation Categories. 

Awards, Amounts and Durations 

Anticipated Number of Awards Anticipated Maximum Dollar Amount of Awards 

TBD TBD 

Period of Performance Start Date Period of Performance Duration (Months) 

1/1/24 60 

Anticipated Total Amount to be Awarded Under 

Solicitation 

$5,900,000.00 

Additional Information 

Please see Anticipated Number of Awards, 

Anticipated Maximum Dollar Amount of Awards, and 

Period of Performance Duration sections below. 

Continuation Funding Intent 

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

through continuation awards. NIJ will consider, among other factors, NIJ’s strategic priorities, a recipient’s 

overall management of the award, and the award-funded work’s progress, when making continuation award 

decisions. 

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Availability of Funds 

This solicitation, and awards under this solicitation, are subject to the availability of appropriated funds and to 

any modifications or additional requirements that may be imposed by the agency or by law. In addition, nothing 

in this solicitation is intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, 

enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its 

officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. 

Type of Award 

NIJ expects to make awards under this solicitation as grants. See the “Administrative, National Policy, and 

Other Legal Requirements” section of the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for a brief discussion of 

important statutes, regulations, and award conditions that apply to many (or in some cases, all) OJP grants. 

NIJ also expects to make awards under this solicitation as cooperative agreements, which provide for 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. 

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls 

Award recipients and subrecipients (including recipients or subrecipients that are pass-through entities) must, 

as described in the Part 200 Uniform Requirements as set out at 2 C.F.R. 200.303, comply with standards for 

financial and program management. See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for additional information. 

Budget Information 

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 2023, 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.) 

NIJ may elect to fund applications submitted under this FY 2023 solicitation in future fiscal years, dependent on, 

among other considerations, the merit of the applications and on the availability of appropriations. 

What will not be funded: 

Applications primarily to purchase equipment, materials, or supplies, or to provide direct services. (A 

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

evaluation, or analysis.) 

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

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

sources and explain what type of match will be provided. 

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement 

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

Information” section. 

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

See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for information on pre-agreement costs (also known as preaward costs). 

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Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation: Waiver 

See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for information on the Limitation on Use of Award Funds for 

Employee Compensation; Waiver. 

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

See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for information on Prior Approval, Planning, and Reporting of 

Conference/Meeting/Training Costs. 

Costs Associated with Language Assistance (if applicable) 

See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for information on Costs Associated with Language 

Assistance. 

Anticipated Number of Awards 

Total number of awards NIJ expects to make to be determined by the number of applications received and their 

merit. 

Anticipated Maximum Dollar Amount of Awards 

Maximum dollar amount for each award to be determined by the requirements of the research proposed in 

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

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

Period of Performance Duration 

To be determined by the period of performance of awarded applications. Successful applicants will be expected 

to complete the work proposed within a five-year period of performance. 

Eligibility Information 

For eligibility information, see the solicitation cover page. 

For information on cost sharing or match requirements, see the “Federal Award Information” section. 

For the purposes of this solicitation, “state” means any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the 

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the 

Northern Mariana Islands. 

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.) 

Notice regarding law enforcement agencies: State, local, and university or college law enforcement 

agencies must be certified by an approved independent credentialing body or have started the certification 

process to be eligible for FY 2023 DOJ discretionary grant funding. To become certified, the law enforcement 

agency must meet two mandatory conditions: (1) the agency’s use-of-force policies adhere to all applicable 

federal, state, and local laws, and (2) the agency’s use-of-force policies prohibit chokeholds except in situations 

where use of deadly force is allowed by law. The certification requirement also applies to law enforcement 

agencies receiving DOJ discretionary grant funding through a subaward. For detailed information on this 

certification requirement, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/SafePolicingEO to access the Standards for 

Certification on Safe Policing for Safe Communities, the Implementation Fact Sheet, and the List of Designated 

Independent Credentialing Bodies. 

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

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Application and Submission Information 

Content of Application Submission 

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

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

Proposal Narrative 

Budget Web-Based Form (The web-based form includes the budget details and the budget narrative.) 

Curriculum Vitae/Resumes for Key Personnel. (For purposes of this solicitation, “key personnel” means 

the principal investigator, and any and all co-principal investigators.) 

If NIJ determines that an application does not include these elements, it will neither proceed to peer review, nor 

receive further consideration. 

Information to Complete the Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) in Grants.gov 

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

submission of pre-applications, applications, and related information. See the OJP Grant Application Resource 

Guide for additional information on completing the SF-424. 

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

complete the application in JustGrants. JustGrants will use this information (email address) to assign the 

application to this user in JustGrants. 

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

12372. (In completing the SF-424, an applicant is to answer question 19 by selecting “Program is not covered 

by E.O. 12372.”) 

Standard Applicant Information (JustGrants 424 and General Agency Information) 

The “Standard Applicant Information” section of the JustGrants application is pre-populated with the SF-424 

data submitted in Grants.gov. The applicant will need to review the Standard Applicant Information in 

JustGrants and make edits as needed. Within this section, the applicant will need to add ZIP codes for areas 

affected by the project; confirm their Authorized Representative; and verify and confirm the organization’s 

unique entity identifier, legal name, and address. 

Proposal Abstract 

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

primary activities, expected outcomes, the service area, intended beneficiaries, and subrecipients (if known) — 

must be completed in the JustGrants web-based form. This abstract should be in paragraph form without bullets 

or tables, written in the third person, and exclude personally identifiable information. Abstracts will be made 

publicly available on the OJP and USASpending.gov websites if the project is awarded. See the OJP Grant 

Application Resource Guide for an example of a proposal abstract. 

Proposal Narrative 

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

double-spaced, using a standard 12-point font; have no less than 1-inch margins; and should not exceed 30 

numbered pages. If the Proposal Narrative fails to comply with these length restrictions, NIJ may consider such 

noncompliance in peer review and in the final award decision. 

The Proposal Narrative should include the following sections: 

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

The title page should include: 

Project title. 

Submission date. 

Funding opportunity number. 

Principal Investigator (and any co-principal investigators). 

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

Requests for consideration under “new investigator” and/or “priority areas of research” areas. 

Key words, including science focus areas. 

Contact information (that is, name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address) for both the applicant 

and the principal investigator. 

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

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

indicate this. A statement should be provided, no more than two pages, addressing: (1) the title, submission 

date, and NIJ-assigned application number of the previous application, and (2) a brief summary of revisions to 

the application, including responses to previous feedback received from NIJ. 

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

d. Main Body 

1. Statement of the Problem 

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. It is not uncommon for multiple problems to exist simultaneously (for example, there may be a 

criminal justice problem affecting public safety, a current technical challenge/need identified by forensic 

practitioners, as well as a scientific/technology gap between the current state of the art and a desired 

solution) and applicants should discuss each of these clearly and justify the importance of the separate 

issues. As part of this discussion, applicants should present a review of previous literature and discuss 

previous research related to these problems. 

2. Project Design and Implementation 

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

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

and objectives and address the program-specific information noted in the solicitation. Applicants should 

describe the research methodology and analysis plan in detail and demonstrate the validity and 

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

methodology and analytical and technical approaches for the proposed research and address the 

feasibility of the proposed project and potential challenges or problems in carrying out the activities. 

If the applicant is seeking priority consideration for Priority 1(A), it should address in this section how the 

proposed project(s) will address issues related to racial equity and the removal of barriers to access and 

opportunity, and/or contribute to greater access to services, for communities that have been historically 

underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by inequality, and should also identify how the project 

design and implementation will specifically incorporate the input or participation of these communities. 

3. 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 applicant should include a 

discussion of the proposed dissemination plan to produce scholarly products and to make information 

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available to broader, interested audiences, such as criminal justice practitioners or policymakers. 

4. Capabilities and 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: 

Experience and capacity to work with the proposed data sources in the conduct of similar research 

efforts. 

Experience and capacity to design and implement rigorous research and data analysis projects. 

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. Among other factors, that plan should include a description of the anticipated 

level of effort of key personnel. 

If the applicant is seeking priority consideration under Priority 1(B), it should describe, within this section, 

how being a culturally specific organization (or funding a culturally specific subrecipient organization at a 

minimum of 40% of the project budget) will enhance its ability to implement the proposed project(s) and 

specify which culturally specific populations are intended or expected to be the subject and/or beneficiary 

of the research conducted under the proposed project(s). 

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

The project management plan. 

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. 

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

submitted (if applicable). 

6. Plan for Collecting the Data Required for this Solicitation’s Performance Measures 

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

measure information is included as a notification that award recipients will be required to submit 

performance data as part of each award’s reporting requirements. Some measures are presented as 

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

OJP will require each award recipient to submit regular performance data that show the completed work’s 

results. The performance data directly relate to the goals, objectives, and deliverables identified in the 

“Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables” discussion. Applicants can visit OJP’s performance measurement 

page at www.ojp.gov/performance for an overview of performance measurement activities at OJP. 

A list of performance measure questions for this program can be found in the ‘Performance Measures’ 

section below. 

NIJ will require award recipients to submit performance measure data in quarterly financial reports, semiannual performance reports, and the final research report and separately submit a semi-annual 

performance report in JustGrants. NIJ will provide further guidance on the post-award submission 

process, if the applicant is selected for award. 

Goal, Objective and Deliverables 

The applicant will submit the project’s goals, objectives, deliverables and timeline in the JustGrants web-based 

form. The applicant will also enter the projected fiscal year and quarter that each objective and deliverable will 

be completed. Please refer to the Application Submission Job Aid for step-by-step directions. 

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Goals. The applicant should describe the project’s intent to change, reduce, or eliminate the problem noted in 

the previous section and outline the project’s goals. 

Program Objectives. The applicant should explain how the program will accomplish its goals. Objectives are 

specific, quantifiable statements of the project’s desired results. They should be measurable and clearly linked 

to the goal. 

Deliverables. Project deliverables refer to outputs—tangible or intangible—that are submitted within the scope 

of a project. 

Budget and Associated Documentation 

Budget Worksheet and Budget Narrative (Web-based Form) 

The applicant will complete the JustGrants web-based budget form. For additional information, see the OJP 

Grant Application Resource Guide and the Complete the Application in JustGrants – Budget training. 

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. 

For additional match information, see the “Cost Sharing or Match Requirement” section under Federal Award 

Information. 

If a successful application proposes a voluntary match amount, and OJP approves the budget, the total match 

amount incorporated into the approved budget becomes mandatory and subject to audit. 

If the applicant is seeking priority consideration for Priority 1(A), it should address in this section how the 

proposed project(s) will address issues related to racial equity and the removal of barriers to access and 

opportunity, and/or contribute to greater access to services, for communities that have been historically 

underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by inequality, and should also identify how the project 

design and implementation will specifically incorporate the input or participation of these communities. 

If the applicant is seeking priority consideration under Priority 1(B) based on the identification of at least one 

proposed subrecipient as a culturally specific organization, the proposed funding for the subrecipient in the 

web-based budget form must reflect a minimum of 40% of award funding. The budget narrative must also 

describe how the activities that will be funded with the (minimum) 40% of award funding provided to the 

subrecipient specifically relate to the priority consideration requested and described in the Capabilities and 

Competencies section of the application. 

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

See the section on Costs Requiring Prior Approval in the DOJ Grants Financial Guide Post Award 

Requirements for more information. 

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) 

If applicable, the applicant will upload their indirect cost rate agreement as an attachment in JustGrants. See 

the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for more information on indirect costs. 

Consultant Rate 

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See the DOJ Grants Financial Guide for information on the consultant rates which require prior approval from 

OJP. 

Limitation on Employee Compensation; Waiver 

See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for information on the Limitation on Use of Award Funds for 

Employee Compensation for Awards over $250,000; Waiver. 

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire (including applicant disclosure of 

high-risk status) 

The applicant will download the questionnaire, complete it, and upload it as an attachment in JustGrants. See 

the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for the link to the questionnaire and additional information. 

Disclosure of Process Related to Executive Compensation 

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

“Disclosure of Process Related to Executive Compensation” provisions. Applicants to this solicitation are not 

required to provide this disclosure. 

Additional Application Components 

The applicant will attach the additional requested documentation in JustGrants. 

Curriculum Vitae or Resumes 

Provide 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). 

Tribal Authorizing Resolution 

An application in response to this solicitation may require inclusion of tribal authorizing documentation as an 

attachment. If applicable, the applicant will upload the tribal authorizing documentation as an attachment in 

JustGrants. See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for information on tribal authorizing resolutions. 

Timeline Form 

Proposed project timeline and expected milestones. 

Letters of Support 

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

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

Research and Evaluation Independence and Integrity Statement 

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

demonstrate research/evaluation independence and integrity, including appropriate safeguards, before it may 

receive award funds. The applicant will upload documentation of its research and evaluation independence and 

integrity as an attachment in JustGrants. For additional information, see the OJP Grant Application Resource 

Guide. 

Bibliography/reference 

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Provide a bibliography of any references cited in the Proposal Narrative. 

Any Tools/Instruments, Questionnaires, Tables/Charts/Graphs, or Maps 

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. 

List of Individuals in the Application 

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

prospective reviewers of the application), provide a complete list of the individuals named or otherwise identified 

anywhere in the application (including in the budget or in any other attachment) who will, or may work (or advise 

or consult) on, the proposed research, development, or evaluation project. Applicants should use the “Proposed 

Project Staff, Affiliation, and Roles” form available on the NIJ webpage to prepare this list. 

Human Subjects Protection 

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

Institutional Review Board [IRB] review). See https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/human-subjects-protection. Note: Final 

IRB approval is not required at the time an application is submitted. 

Privacy Certificate 

Privacy Certificate as a separate file (for further guidance go to https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/confidentiality-andprivacy-protections and https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/model-privacy-certificate). 

Request to Use Incentives or Stipends 

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

submit an incentive or stipend approval request, as a separate document, according to the requirements set 

forth at https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/participant-support-costs-and-incentives-social-science-research. 

Documentation of “new investigator” status, if applicable 

Documentation of “new investigator” status, if applicable. 

Consortium/Contractual Arrangements 

Explain the programmatic, fiscal, and administrative arrangements to be made between the applicant 

organization and the consortium organization(s). 

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. 

Applications should include, as a separate file, 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, instrumentation and data collection forms, codebook(s), any specialized 

programming code necessary to reproduce all constructed measures and the original data analysis, description 

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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. 

Disclosures and Assurances 

The applicant will address the following disclosures and assurances. 

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities 

Complete and submit the SF-LLL in Grants.gov. Once the applicant submits in Grants.gov, this information will 

pre-pend into JustGrants. See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for additional information. 

DOJ Certified Standard Assurances 

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

Resource Guide for additional information. 

Applicant Disclosure of Duplication in Cost Items 

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

Application Resource Guide for additional information. 

DOJ Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; 

Drug-Free Workplace Requirements; Law Enforcement and Community Policing 

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

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

Policing. See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for additional information. 

Applicant Disclosure and Justification - DOJ High Risk Grantees 

If applicable, submit the DOJ High Risk Disclosure and Justification as an attachment in JustGrants. A DOJ 

High Risk Grantee is an award recipient that has received a DOJ High Risk designation based on a 

documented history of unsatisfactory performance; financial instability; management system or other internal 

control deficiencies; noncompliance with award terms and conditions on prior awards or is otherwise not 

responsible. See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for additional information. 

How to Apply 

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

Management (SAM).  You must renew and validate your registration every 12 months.  If you do not renew your 

SAM registration, it will expire.  An expired registration can delay or prevent application submission in 

Grants.gov and JustGrants.  Registration and renewal can take up to 10 business days to complete. 

Submission: Applications must be submitted to DOJ electronically through a two-step process via Grants.gov 

and JustGrants. 

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

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html by the Grants.gov deadline. Submit the SF-424 and SF-LLL 

as early as possible, but no later than 48 hours before the Grants.gov deadline. If an applicant fails to 

submit in Grants.gov, they will be unable to apply in JustGrants. 

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

JustGrants.usdoj.gov by the JustGrants deadline. 

Within 24 hours after receipt of confirmation emails from Grants.gov, the individual in Section 8F of the SF-424 

will receive an email from DIAMD-NoReply@usdoj.gov with instructions on how to create a JustGrants account. 

Register the Entity Administrator and the Application Submitter with JustGrants as early as possible but no later 

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than 48-72 hours before the JustGrants deadline. Once registered in JustGrants, the Application Submitter will 

receive an emailed link to complete the rest of the application in JustGrants. The Entity Administrator also will 

need to log into JustGrants to review and invite the applicant’s Authorized Representative(s) before an 

application can be submitted. 

Submit the complete application package in JustGrants at least 24 – 48 hours prior to the JustGrants deadline. 

Some of the application components will be entered directly into JustGrants, and others will require uploading 

attached documents. Therefore, applicants will need to allow ample time before the JustGrants deadline to 

prepare each component. Applicants may save their progress in the system and revise the application as 

needed prior to hitting the Submit button at the end of the application in JustGrants. 

For additional information, see the “How to Apply” section in the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide and 

the DOJ Application Submission Checklist. 

Submission Dates and Time 

The SF-424 and the SF-LLL must be submitted in Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on May 08, 2023. 

The full application must be submitted in JustGrants by 8:59 p.m. eastern time on May 22, 2023 . 

OJP urges applicants to submit their Grants.gov and JustGrants submissions prior to the due dates with 

sufficient time to correct any errors and resubmit by the submission deadlines if a rejection notification is 

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

application deadline. Failure to begin the SAM.gov, Grants.gov, or JustGrants registration process in sufficient 

time (i.e., waiting until the date identified in this solicitation) is not an acceptable reason for late submission. 

Experiencing Unforeseen Technical Issues Preventing Submission of an Application 

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

that a technical issue with a government system prevented application submission. 

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

the applicant may request a waiver to submit an application after the deadline. However, the waiver request will 

not be considered unless it includes a tracking number generated when the applicant contacts the applicable 

service desks to report technical difficulties. Tracking numbers are generated automatically when an applicant 

emails the applicable service desks; and for this reason applicants are encouraged to email the appropriate 

service desk, even if they also intend to call the service desk for phone support. Experiencing wait times for 

phone support does not relieve the applicant of the responsibility of getting a tracking number. 

An applicant experiencing technical difficulties must contact the associated service desk indicated below to 

report the technical issue and receive a tracking number: 

SAM.gov - contact the SAM Help Desk (Federal Service Desk), Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET 

at 866-606-8220. 

Grants.gov - contact the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except on 

federal holidays, at 800-518-4726, 606-545-5035, or support@grants.gov. 

JustGrants - contact the JustGrants Service Desk at JustGrants.Support@usdoj.gov or 833-872-5175, 

Monday – Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET and Saturday, Sunday, and Federal holidays from 9 a.m. to 5 

p.m. ET. 

An applicant experiencing technical difficulties must contact the associated service desk indicated below to 

report the technical issue and receive a tracking number: 

SAM.gov - contact the SAM Help Desk (Federal Service Desk), Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET 

at 866-606-8220. 

Grants.gov - contact the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline,  24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except 

on federal holidays, at 800-518-4726, 606-545-5035, or support@grants.gov. 

JustGrants - contact the JustGrants Service Desk at JustGrants.Support@usdoj.gov or 833-872-5175, 

Monday – Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET and Saturday, Sunday, and Federal holidays from 9 a.m. to 5 

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p.m. ET. 

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

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

to submit after the deadline. 

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

applicant must contact the OJP Response Center at grants@ncjrs.gov  within 24 hours of the JustGrants 

deadline to request approval to submit after the deadline. 

Waiver requests sent to the OJP Response Center must -

describe the technical difficulties experienced, 

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

time of actions taken to resolve the issue and resubmit; and date and time support representatives 

responded), 

include an attachment of the complete grant application and all the required documentation and materials, 

include the applicant's Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), and 

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

technical issue. 

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

whether the request for late submission has been approved or denied. An applicant that does not provide 

documentation of a technical issue or that does not submit a waiver request within the required time period will 

be denied. 

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

Technical Issues” section in the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide. 

Application Review Information 

Review Criteria 

Merit Review Criteria 

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

proposed project/program addresses the following criteria: 

Statement of the Problem (understanding of the problem) (10%) 

Demonstrated understanding of the problem. 

Demonstrated importance of research questions, goals, and objectives, including alignment with the 

aims of the solicitation. 

Demonstrated awareness of the state of current research. 

Project Design and Implementation (quality and technical merit) (45%) 

Feasibility of proposed project. 

Soundness of methods and analytic and technical approach to addressing the stated aim(s) of the 

proposed project. 

Awareness of potential pitfalls of proposed project design and feasibility of proposed actions to 

minimize and/or mitigate them. 

Feasibility of completing the deliverables noted in the solicitation. 

Capabilities and Competencies (capabilities, demonstrated productivity, and experience of the applicant 

organization and proposed project staff) (20%) 

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 

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proposed project). 

Demonstrated ability of the applicant organization to implement the proposed strategies and 

manage the effort. 

Relationship between the capabilities/competencies of the proposed project staff (including the 

applicant organization) and the scope and strategies of the proposed project. 

Potential Impact (20%) 

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

the United States. 

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. 

Strength and feasibility of the proposed dissemination plan to produce scholarly products (such as 

published, peer-reviewed, scientific journal articles, book chapter(s) or book(s) in the academic 

press, technological prototypes, patented inventions, databases, standards or similar scientific 

products) as well as make summary information available to broader, interested audiences, such as 

criminal justice practitioners or policymakers. 

Budget (5%) 

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

of scientific and technical merit. 

Alignment of the proposed budget with proposed project activities. 

Appropriateness of the budget relative to the level of effort. 

Use of existing resources to conserve costs. 

Other Review Criteria/Factors 

Other important considerations for NIJ include geographic diversity, strategic priorities (specifically including, 

but not limited to, those priority areas already mentioned, if applicable), available funding, past performance, 

and the extent to which the Budget Web-Based Form accurately explains project costs that are reasonable, 

necessary, and otherwise allowable under federal law and applicable federal cost principles. 

Review Process 

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

technical merit by a peer review panel(s) in accordance with OJP peer review policy and procedures using the 

review criteria listed above. 

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

review. Although specific requirements may vary, the following are common requirements applicable to all OJP 

solicitations: 

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

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. 

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 entity. Among other things to help assess 

whether an applicant with one or more prior federal awards has a satisfactory record of performance, integrity, 

and business ethics, OJP checks whether the applicant entity 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 entity that appears in the non-public segment of the integrity and 

performance system accessible through SAM (currently, the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity 

Information System, FAPIIS). 

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

that currently appears in FAPIIS and was entered by a federal awarding agency. OJP will consider such 

comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in FAPIIS, in its assessment of the risk posed by 

the applicant entity. 

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

account not only peer review ratings and NIJ recommendations, but also other factors as indicated in this 

section. 

Federal Award Administration Information 

Federal Award Notices 

Generally, award notifications are made by the end of the current Federal fiscal year, September 30th. See the 

OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for information on award notifications and instructions. 

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 the applicable requirements referred to in the assurances and certifications 

executed in connection with award acceptance. For additional information on these legal requirements, see the 

“Administrative, National Policy, and and Other Legal Requirements” section in the OJP Grant Application 

Resource Guide. 

Information Technology Security Clauses 

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

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

General Information about Post-Federal Award Reporting Requirements 

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

solicitation will be required to submit certain reports and data. 

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

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

in accordance with the Part 200 Uniform Requirements or specific award conditions. Future awards and fund 

drawdowns may be withheld if reports are delinquent. (In appropriate cases, OJP may require additional 

reports.) 

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

requirements, including performance measure data. 

Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s) 

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

cover page. 

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

solicitation cover page. 

Other Information 

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

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

(5 U.S.C. §§ 552 and 552a). 

Provide Feedback to OJP 

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O-NIJ-2023-171616 
See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for information on how to provide feedback to OJP. 

Performance Measures 

Objective Performance Measure(s) Data Recipient Provides 

Conduct research in 

social and behavioral 

sciences having clear 

implications for criminal 

justice policy and 

practice in the United 

States. 

Conduct research in 

science, technology, 

engineering, and/or 

mathematics having 

clear implications for 

criminal or juvenile 

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 agencyapproved 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. Quarterly financial reports, semiannual and final performance 

reports, and products of the work 

performed under the NIJ award 

(including, at minimum, a final 

research report). If applicable, an 

annual audit report. 

2. List of citation(s) to all scholarly 

products that resulted in whole or in 

part from work funded under the NIJ 

award. 

3. If applicable, each data set that 

resulted in whole or in part from work 

funded under the NIJ award. 

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Application Checklist 

NIJ FY23 Research and Evaluation on School Safety 

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

reference the OJP Application Submission Steps in the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide and the DOJ 

Application Submission Checklist. 

Pre-Application 

Before Registering in Grants.gov: 

Acquire or renew your Entity’s System Award Management (SAM) Registration Information (see OJP 

Grant Application Resource Guide) 

Register in Grants.gov 

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

(see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide) 

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

Resource Guide) 

Find the Funding Opportunity 

Search for the funding opportunity in Grants.gov using the opportunity number, assistance listing number, or keyword(s) 

Access the funding opportunity and application package (see Step 7 in the 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 https:// 

www.ojp.gov/funding/financialguidedoj/iii-postaward-requirements#6g3y8 (see OJP Grant Application 

Resource Guide) 

Review the Overview of Post-Award Legal Requirements 

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

Agreements - FY 2023 Awards” in the OJP Funding Resource Center. 

Review the Scope Requirement 

The federal amount requested is within the allowable limit(s) of $5.9M. 

Review Eligibility Requirement: 

Review the Eligibility section on the cover page and Eligibility Information section in the solicitation. 

~~~~ 

Application Step 1 

Submit the SF-424 and SF-LLL in Grants.gov 

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

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

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

notifications: 

a submission receipt 

a validation receipt 

a grantor agency retrieval receipt 

an agency tracking number assignment 

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

Contact OJP Response Center at grants@ncjrs.gov or 800-851-3420 or TTY: 301-240-6310 (hearing 

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

customer support, or support@grants.gov regarding technical difficulties (see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide) 

Within 24 hours after receipt of confirmation emails from Grants.gov, the individual in Section 8F of the SF-424

will receive an email from JustGrants with login instructions. 

Proceed to Application Step 2 and complete application in JustGrants 

Application Step 2 

Submit the following information in JustGrants: 

Application Components 

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

Proposal Abstract 

Proposal Narrative* 

Budget and Associated Documentation 

Budget Web-Based form* 

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

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire (see OJP Grant Application 

Resource Guide) 

Additional Application Components 

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

Research and Evaluation Independence and Integrity (see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide 

Request and Justification for Employee Compensation; Waiver (if applicable) (see OJP Grant Application 

Resource Guide) 

Curriculum Vitae or Resumes* 

Timeline Form 

Letters of Support 

Bibliography/reference 

Any tools/instruments, questionnaires, tables/chart/graphs, or maps 

List of Individuals 

Human Subjects 

Privacy Certificate 

Request to Use Incentives or Stipends 

New Investigator Status (if applicable) 

Consortium/Contractual Arrangements 

Data Archiving 

Disclosures and Assurances 

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

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

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DOJ Certified Standard Assurances (see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide) 

DOJ Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; and 

Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide) 

Applicant Disclosure and Justification – DOJ High Risk Grantees (if applicable) (see OJP Grant 

Application Resource Guide) 

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

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

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

Review, Certify and Submit Application in JustGrants 

Any validation errors will immediately display on screen after submission. 

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

application. Access the Application Submission Validation Errors Quick Reference Guide for step-by-step 

instructions to resolve errors prior to submission. 

Once the application is submitted and validated, a confirmation message will appear at the top of the page. Users will also receive a notification in the “bell” alerts confirming submission. 

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

received: 

Contact the JustGrants Service Desk at 833-872-5175 or JustGrants.Support@usdoj.gov regarding 

technical difficulties. See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for additional information. 

Standard Solicitation Resources 

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

submitting applications for OJP funding. 

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

fiduciary responsibility to safeguard grant funds and to ensure funds are used for the purposes for which they 

were awarded. It compiles a variety of laws, rules and regulations that affect the financial and administrative 

management of DOJ awards. This guide serves as a starting point for all award recipients and subrecipients of 

DOJ grants and cooperative agreements in ensuring the effective day-to-day management of awards. 

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

system itself. Through this portal both award recipients and applicants can access training resource and user 

support options, find frequently asked questions and sign-up for the JustGrants Update e-newsletter. 

JustGrants Application Submission Training Page offers helpful information and resources on the application 

process. This training page includes e-learning videos, reference guides, checklists and other resources to help 

applicants complete an application. 

Virtual Q&A Sessions are advertised here and provide opportunities for users to receive topic-specific training, 

direct technical assistance and support on JustGrants system functionality. 

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Endnotes 

[1] For example, see https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/nijs-comprehensive-school-safety-initiative. 

[2] https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/awards/list. 

[3] https://www.ojp.gov/library/publications/causes-and-consequences-school-violence-review. 

[4] The STOP School Violence Act of 2018 was enacted into law at Title V, Division S, of Public Law 115-141 ( 

https://www.congress.gov/115/plaws/publ141/PLAW-115publ141.pdf), and is codified at 34 U.S.C. 

10551-10556. 

[5] For more information see: https://bja.ojp.gov/program/stop-school-violence-program/overview and https:// 

cops.usdoj.gov/svpp. 

[6]  McKenna, J. and Petrosino, A. (2022). School Policing Programs: Where We Have Been and Where We 

Need To Go Next. Washington, DC: US Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice. https:// 

www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/301592.pdf. 

[7] https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/training-school-personnel-prevent-prepare-and-respond-school-safetyincidents. 

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