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

Office of Justice Programs Approval Expires 11/30/2020 

National Institute of Justice 

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

Justice (NIJ) is seeking applications to strengthen the medical examiner-coroner system. This 

program furthers the Department’s mission by providing resources to improve medicolegal 

death investigations (MDI) in the United States. 

Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner 

System Program 

Applications Due: June 12, 2019

Eligibility 

Eligible applicants are agencies directly involved in medicolegal death investigations as part of 

their normal business, such as medical examiner offices and coroner offices, States (including 

territories), units of local government, federally recognized Indian tribal governments (as 

determined by the Secretary of the Interior) that perform law enforcement functions, non-profit 

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

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

individuals. 

Eligible applicants for Purpose Area 1, Forensic Pathology Fellowships are limited to entities 

with programs that should meet or exceed the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical 

Education (ACGME).1

Eligible applicants for Purpose Area 2, Medical Examiner-Coroner Office Accreditation are 

limited to domestic medical examiner and coroner offices actively seeking accreditation through 

an independent accrediting organization, such as the National Association of Medical 

Examiners (NAME) and the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners 

(IACME), or other appropriate accrediting bodies. 

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

management fee.

NIJ welcomes 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).2 The applicant must be the entity that would have primary responsibility for 

carrying out the award, including administering the funding and managing the entire program. 

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

 

1 ACGME Program Requirements for Graduate Medical Education in Forensic Pathology, 2017.

2

 For additional information on subawards, see "Budget and Associated Documentation" under Section D. Application 

and Submission Information. 
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NIJ-2019-15523 

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 2019 solicitation in future fiscal 

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

availability of appropriations. 

Deadline 

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 

June 12, 2019. 

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. 

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

For additional information, see How to Apply in Section D. Application and Submission 

Information. 

Contact Information 

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

Support Hotline at 800-518-4726, 606-545-5035, 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 section. 

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

Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) Response Center, by telephone at 1-800-851-3420; via 

TTY at 301-240-6310 (hearing impaired only), or by email at grants@ncjrs.gov. 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 

www.nij.gov/funding/Pages/welcome.aspx. Answers to frequently asked questions that may 

assist applicants are posted at www.nij.gov/funding/Pages/faqs.aspx. 

Grants.gov number assigned to this solicitation: NIJ-2019-15523

Release date: April 11, 2019 
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NIJ-2019-15523 

Contents 

A. Program Description .............................................................................................................. 4

Overview ................................................................................................................................ 4

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

Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables ....................................................................................... 5

Information Regarding Potential Evaluation of Programs and Activities .................................. 7

B. Federal Award Information ..................................................................................................... 7

Type of Award ........................................................................................................................ 7

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls ......................................................... 8

Budget Information ................................................................................................................. 9

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement .................................................................................. 9

Pre-agreement Costs (also known as Pre-award Costs) ........................................................ 9

Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation; Waiver ............................... 9

Prior Approval, Planning, and Reporting of Conference/Meeting/Training Costs ...................10

Costs Associated with Language Assistance (if applicable) ..................................................10

C. Eligibility Information .............................................................................................................10

D. Application and Submission Information ...............................................................................10

What an Application Should Include ......................................................................................10

How To Apply ........................................................................................................................25

E. Application Review Information .............................................................................................30

Review Criteria ......................................................................................................................30

Review Process ....................................................................................................................34

F. Federal Award Administration Information ............................................................................36

Federal Award Notices ..........................................................................................................36

Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements ............................................36

General Information about Post-Federal Award Reporting Requirements .............................37

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s) ...................................................................................38

H. Other Information..................................................................................................................38

Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552 and 5 U.S.C. 552a) ....................38

Provide Feedback to OJP .....................................................................................................39

Appendix A: Performance Measures Tables .........................................................................40

Appendix B: Application Checklist .........................................................................................43
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NIJ-2019-15523 

Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner 

System Program 

(CFDA No. 16.560) 

A. Program Description 

Overview 

With this solicitation, NIJ seeks proposals to strengthen the medical examiner/coroner (ME/C) 

system in the United States. Through this program, NIJ will support grants in two focus areas 

by: 

(1) Supporting forensic pathology fellowships; and 

(2) Providing resources necessary for medical examiner and coroner offices to achieve 

accreditation. 

Statutory Authority: Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2019 (Public Law 116-60).

Program Specific Information 

The National Science and Technology Council’s Fast-Track Action Committee on 

Strengthening the Medicolegal-Death-Investigation System’s (FTAC-SMDIS) report titled 

Strengthening the Medicolegal-Death-Investigation System: Improving Data Systems notes 

that death investigations performed by ME/C offices are vital to criminal justice by investigating 

violent deaths. Of the estimated 2.6 million deaths annually, ME/C offices investigate nearly 

500,000 cases in approximately 2,400 jurisdictions. FTAC-SMDIS found that the ME/C 

community lacks adequate personnel and resources to address the country’s medicolegal 

death investigation (MDI) needs. In addition, FTAC-SMDIS reports that there are systemic 

issues with death investigation data quality and infrastructure, inadequate facilities, and 

inconsistent expertise levels.3 Other reports such as Strengthening the Medical Examiner–

Coroner System Through NIJ-funded Programs: 2018 Medicolegal Death Investigation 

Stakeholders’ Meeting have also asserted a need to address deficient facilities, equipment, 

staffing, education, and training for MDI.4

NIJ’s Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner System is a competitive program 

designed to support the enhancement of MDI services, and increase the supply of 

forensic pathologists nationwide. NIJ is seeking proposals in two purpose areas: 

 

3

 White House National Science and Technology Council report on Strengthening the Medicolegal Death 

Investigation System: Improving Data Systems. September 2016. 

https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/NSTC/strengthening_the_medicolegal_death

_investigation_system_final.pdf. 

4

 U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, Office of Investigative and Forensic Sciences. FINAL 

REPORT: Strengthening the Medical Examiner – Coroner System through NIJ-Funded Programs. Washington, DC: 

NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence, 2018. https://rti.connectsolutions.com/pvmowt95gx7z/. 
5 

NIJ-2019-15523 

 Purpose Area 1: Forensic Pathology Fellowships. 

 Purpose Area 2: Medical Examiner-Coroner Office Accreditation. 

Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables 

The goals of the Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner System program are to: 

1) Increase the supply of qualified forensic pathology practitioners; and

2) Strengthen the quality and consistency of ME/C services. 

Proposals are expected to clearly identify the purpose area to which they are applying. 

The Goals, Objectives and Deliverables are directly related to the performance measures that 

demonstrate the results of the work completed, as discussed in Section D. Application and 

Submission Information, under Program Narrative.

Purpose Area 1: Forensic Pathology Fellowships 

Competition ID: NIJ-2019-15526

Background: There is an extreme shortage of board-certified forensic pathologists in the United 

States5 as underscored in the 2009 report issued by the National Academies of Sciences on 

strengthening forensic science in the United States.6 This call was reaffirmed by several recent 

reports, developed through national initiatives dedicated to improving the quality and practice of 

forensic sciences. Both the National Commission on Forensic Science7 and the Office of 

Science and Technology Policy, Fast-Track Action Committee on Strengthening the 

Medicolegal Death Investigation System8

recommended investments in workforce development 

initiatives for forensic pathologists, in order to increase their quantity and thereby support the 

medicolegal death investigation needs of our nation.9

Board-certified forensic pathologists are physicians who have completed, at a minimum, four 

years of medical school, and three-to-four years of medical specialty training in anatomical 

pathology or anatomical and clinical pathology, followed by an accredited fellowship year in 

forensic pathology. Forensic pathology fellowships provide specialized training in autopsies and 

death scene investigations under direct supervision by a board-certified forensic pathologist, as 

 

5

 National Commission on Forensic Science Increasing the Number, Retention, and Quality of Board-Certified 

Forensic Pathologists, August 2015. https://www.justice.gov/ncfs/file/641646/download.

6

 National Research Council. Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward. Washington, DC: 

The National Academies Press, 2009. doi:10.17226/12589. https://www.nap.edu/catalog/12589/strengtheningforensic-science-in-the-united-states-a-path-forward. 

7

 DOJ National Commission on Forensic Science. https://www.justice.gov/ncfs. (Last accessed October 25, 2017). 

8

 Views on Increasing the Number, Retention, and Quality of Board-Certified Forensic Pathologists. DOJ National 

Commission on Forensic Science. August 11, 2015. https://www.justice.gov/ncfs/file/787356/download.

9

 White House National Science and Technology Council report on Strengthening the Medicolegal Death 

Investigation System: Improving Data Systems. September 2016. 

https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/NSTC/strengthening_the_medicolegal_death

_investigation_system_final.pdf. 
6 

NIJ-2019-15523 

well as general training in courtroom testimony, criminalistics, anthropology, odontology, 

toxicology, research techniques, and other forensic science-related specialties.10

Through this funding opportunity, applications are being solicited from institutions with current 

ACGME-accredited forensic pathology fellowship programs to recruit quality candidates who 

have completed all necessary medical education and pathology residency requirements. This 

program will strengthen the ME/C system by increasing the number and quality of boardcertified forensic pathologists. 

Agencies that are awarded funds under this purpose area will be required to provide information 

to NIJ, generally in the form of semi-annual progress reports, throughout the duration of the 

award. These reports should describe all relevant progress, including any issues encountered 

and/or successes achieved. Awardees are encouraged to report to NIJ any additional 

information about the fellowship program that may assist NIJ to better serve the MDI 

community.

Purpose Area 2: Medical Examiner-Coroner Office Accreditation 

Competition ID: NIJ-2019-15506

Background: Accreditation provides an independent measure of quality assurance by assessing 

that an office maintains written policies and procedures; as well as adequate staff, equipment, 

training, and suitable physical facilities to produce a forensically-documented, accurate, and 

credible death investigation product.11,12 Examples of accrediting bodies that publish 

professional standards on procedures for conducting autopsies and medicolegal death 

investigations are the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME)13 and the 

International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners (IACME).14

Through this funding opportunity, applications are being solicited from ME/C agencies seeking 

accreditation through an appropriate ME/C accrediting agency such as, but not limited to, those 

listed above. Final determination of the appropriateness of an accrediting body for the purposes 

of this solicitation will be made by NIJ. This program will strengthen the quality of ME/C services 

in the United States by ensuring that agencies performing postmortem examinations are in 

compliance with industry and professional standards and performance criteria. Funds may not 

be used to maintain existing accreditation. 

Agencies that are awarded funds under this purpose area will be required to provide information 

to NIJ, generally in the form of semi-annual progress reports, throughout the duration of the 

award. NIJ is interested in, among other things, understanding the advantages and challenges 

that arise with implementing an accreditation program, especially when resources and policies 

vary among jurisdictions. Reports should address progress made in achieving accreditation and, 

 

10 National Research Council, 256. 

11 Recommendation on the Accreditation of Medicolegal Death Investigation Offices. DOJ National Commission on 

Forensic Science. January 30, 2015. https://www.justice.gov/archives/ncfs/page/file/787236/download. 

12 National Research Council. p.258. 

13 National Association of Medical Examiners. Inspection and Accreditation.

https://netforum.avectra.com/eweb/DynamicPage.aspx?Site=name&WebCode=Accred (Last accessed October 25 2017). 

14 International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners. Accreditation. 

http://www.theiacme.com/accreditation. (Last accessed October 25, 2017). 
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NIJ-2019-15523 

for example, costs, benefits, and other technical, administrative, policy, or legal gaps that 

support, sustain, or limit the achievement of accreditation. 

Information Regarding Potential Evaluation of Programs and Activities 

The Department of Justice has prioritized the use of evidence-based programming and deems it 

critical to continue to build and expand the evidence informing criminal and juvenile justice 

programs to reach the highest level of rigor possible. Therefore, applicants should note that the 

Office of Justice Programs may conduct or support an evaluation of the programs and activities 

funded under this solicitation. Recipients and sub-recipients will be expected to cooperate with 

program-related assessments or evaluation efforts, including through the collection and 

provision of information or data requested by OJP (or its designee) for the assessment or 

evaluation of any activities and/or outcomes of those activities funded under this solicitation. 

The information or data requested may be in addition to any other financial or performance data 

already required under this program. 

B. Federal Award Information 

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

of funds, the quality of the applications, and other pertinent factors. NIJ expects to award up to 

$4 million under the Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner System Program to 

institutions that administer an accredited forensic pathology fellowship program, and to state 

and local ME/C offices actively seeking accreditation. NIJ expects to make up to ten (10) 

forensic pathology fellowship awards of $100,000 each under Purpose Area 1 of this solicitation. 

Funds may be used toward a salary/stipend for the fellow and related costs that may include 

fringe benefits (if applicable), at the applicant institution’s discretion. Up to $25,000 of the 

$100,000 may be used for other related direct or indirect costs. Related costs may include any 

combination of the fellow’s fees, project costs, professional society membership fees, or 

conference travel, among other allowable expenses incurred during the award period of 

performance. Under Purpose Area 2, NIJ expects to make awards to support ME/C office 

accreditation, with an estimated total amount awarded of up to $3 million. NIJ expects to make 

awards for a 24-month period of performance, to begin on January 1, 2020. 

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 any award under this solicitation in the form of a grant. See Administrative, 

National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements, under Section F. Federal Award Administration 

Information, for a brief discussion of important statutes, regulations, and award conditions that 

apply to many (or in some cases, all) OJP grants.
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NIJ-2019-15523 

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls 

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

entities15) must, as described in the Part 200 Uniform Requirements16 as set out at 2 C.F.R. 

200.303:

(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that 

provides reasonable assurance that [the recipient (and any subrecipient)] is 

managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, 

and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls 

should be in compliance with guidance in “Standards for Internal Control in the 

Federal Government” issued by the Comptroller General of the United States and 

the “Internal Control Integrated Framework”, issued by the Committee of 

Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). 

(b) Comply with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the 

Federal awards. 

(c) Evaluate and monitor [the recipient’s (and any subrecipient’s)] compliance with 

statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of Federal awards. 

(d) Take prompt action when instances of noncompliance are identified including 

noncompliance identified in audit findings. 

(e) Take reasonable measures to safeguard protected personally identifiable 

information and other information the Federal awarding agency or pass-through 

entity designates as sensitive or [the recipient (or any subrecipient)] considers 

sensitive consistent with applicable Federal, state, local, and tribal laws regarding 

privacy and obligations of confidentiality. 

To help ensure that applicants understand the applicable administrative requirements and cost 

principles, OJP encourages prospective applicants to enroll, at no charge, in the DOJ Grants 

Financial Management Online Training, available at https://onlinegfmt.training.ojp.gov/. (This 

training is required for all OJP award recipients.) 

Also, applicants should be aware that OJP collects information from applicants on their financial 

management and systems of internal controls (among other information) which is used to make 

award decisions. Under Section D. Application and Submission Information, applicants may 

access and review a questionnaire – the OJP Financial Management and System of Internal 

Controls Questionnaire – that OJP requires all applicants (other than an individual applying in 

his/her personal capacity) to download, complete, and submit as part of the application. 

 

15 For purposes of this solicitation, the phrase “pass-through entity” includes any recipient or subrecipient that provides a 

subaward ("subgrant”) to a subrecipient (subgrantee) to carry out part of the funded award or program. Additional 

information on proposed subawards is listed under What an Application Should Include, Section D of this solicitation. 

16 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. 
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NIJ-2019-15523 

Budget Information 

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement 

This solicitation does not require a match. However, 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. 

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

Pre-agreement costs are costs incurred by the applicant prior to the start date of the period of 

performance of the federal award. 

OJP does not typically approve pre-agreement costs; an applicant must request and obtain the 

prior written approval of OJP for all such costs. All such costs incurred prior to award and prior 

to approval of the costs are incurred at the sole risk of the applicant. (Generally, no applicant 

should incur project costs before submitting an application requesting federal funding for those 

costs.) Should there be extenuating circumstances that make it appropriate for OJP to consider 

approving pre-agreement costs, the applicant may contact the point of contact listed on the title 

page of this solicitation for the requirements concerning written requests for approval. If 

approved in advance by OJP, award funds may be used for pre-agreement costs, consistent 

with the recipient’s approved budget and applicable cost principles. See the section on Costs 

Requiring Prior Approval in the DOJ Grants Financial Guide at 

https://ojp.gov/financialguide/DOJ/index.htm for more information. 

Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation; Waiver 

With respect to any award of more than $250,000 made under this solicitation, a recipient may 

not use federal funds to pay total cash compensation (salary plus cash bonuses) to any 

employee of the recipient at a rate that exceeds 110 percent of the maximum annual salary 

payable to a member of the federal government’s Senior Executive Service (SES) at an agency 

with a Certified SES Performance Appraisal System for that year.17 The 2019 salary table for 

SES employees is available at the Office of Personnel Management website at 

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salarytables/19Tables/exec/html/ES.aspx. Note: A recipient may compensate an employee at a 

greater rate, provided the amount in excess of this compensation limitation is paid with nonfederal funds. (Non-federal funds used for any such additional compensation will not be 

considered matching funds, where match requirements apply.) If only a portion of an 

employee's time is charged to an OJP award, the maximum allowable compensation is equal to 

the percentage of time worked times the maximum salary limitation. 

The Assistant Attorney General for OJP may exercise discretion to waive, on an individual 

basis, this limitation on compensation rates allowable under an award. An applicant that 

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

An applicant that does not submit a waiver request and justification with its application should 

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

 

17 OJP does not apply this limitation on the use of award funds to the nonprofit organizations listed in Appendix VIII to 

2 C.F.R. Part 200. 
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NIJ-2019-15523 

The justification should address, in the context of the work the individual would do under the 

award, the particular qualifications and expertise of the individual, the uniqueness of a service 

the individual will provide, the individual’s specific knowledge of the proposed program or 

project, and a statement that explains whether and how the individual’s salary under the award 

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

qualifications and expertise, and for the work he/she would do under the award. 

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

OJP strongly encourages every applicant that proposes to use award funds for any conference-, 

meeting-, or training-related activity (or similar event) to review carefully—before submitting an 

application—the OJP and DOJ policy and guidance on approval, planning, and reporting of such 

events, available at www.ojp.gov/financialguide/DOJ/PostawardRequirements/chapter3.10a.htm. 

OJP policy and guidance (1) encourage minimization of conference, meeting, and training costs; 

(2) require prior written approval (which may affect project timelines) of most conference, 

meeting, and training costs for cooperative agreement recipients, as well as some conference, 

meeting, and training costs for grant recipients; and (3) set cost limits, which include a general 

prohibition of all food and beverage costs. 

Costs Associated with Language Assistance (if applicable) 

If an applicant proposes a program or activity that would deliver services or benefits to 

individuals, the costs of taking reasonable steps to provide meaningful access to those services 

or benefits for individuals with limited English proficiency may be allowable. Reasonable steps 

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

services, where appropriate. 

For additional information, see the "Civil Rights Compliance" section under “Overview of Legal 

Requirements Generally Applicable to OJP Grants and Cooperative Agreements – FY 2018 

Awards” in the OJP Funding Resource Center at https://ojp.gov/funding/index.htm. 

C. Eligibility Information 

For eligibility information, see title page. 

For information on cost sharing or match requirements, see Section B. Federal Award 

Information.

D. Application and Submission Information 

What an Application Should Include 

This section describes in detail what an application should include. An applicant should 

anticipate that if it fails to submit an application that contains all of the specified elements, it may 

negatively affect the review of its application; and, should a decision be made to make an 

award, it may result in the inclusion of award conditions that preclude the recipient from 

accessing or using award funds until the recipient satisfies the conditions and OJP makes the 

funds available. 
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NIJ-2019-15523 

Moreover, an applicant should anticipate that an application that OJP determines is

nonresponsive to the scope of the solicitation, or that OJP determines does not include the 

application elements that NIJ has designated to be critical, will neither proceed to peer review, 

nor receive further consideration. For this solicitation, NIJ has designated the following 

application elements as critical: Program Narrative, Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget 

Narrative, and resumes/curriculum vitae of key personnel.

NOTE: OJP has combined the Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative in a single 

document collectively referred to as the Budget Detail Worksheet. See “Budget Information and 

Associated Documentation” below for more information about the Budget Detail Worksheet and 

where it can be accessed. 

OJP strongly recommends that applicants use appropriately descriptive file names (e.g., 

“Program Narrative,” “Budget Detail Worksheet,” “Timelines,” “Memoranda of Understanding,” 

“Resumes”) for all attachments. Also, OJP recommends that applicants include resumes in a 

single file. 

Please review the “Note on File Names and File Types” under How To Apply to be sure 

applications are submitted in permitted formats. 

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

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

Management System (GMS) take information from the applicant’s profile to populate the 

fields on this form. When selecting "type of applicant," if the applicant is a for-profit entity, 

select "For-Profit Organization" or "Small Business" (as applicable). 

To avoid processing delays, an applicant must include an accurate legal name on its SF424. On the SF-424, current OJP award recipients, when completing the field for “Legal 

Name” (box 8a), should use the same legal name that appears on the prior year award 

document (which is also the legal name stored in OJP’s financial system.) Also, current 

recipients should enter the Employer Identification Number (EIN) in box 8b exactly as it 

appears on the prior year award document. An applicant with a current, active award(s) 

must ensure that its GMS profile is current. If the profile is not current, the applicant should 

submit a Grant Adjustment Notice updating the information on its GMS profile prior to 

applying under this solicitation. 

A new applicant entity should enter its official legal name in box 8a, its address in box 8d, its 

EIN in box 8b, and its Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number in box 8c of the 

SF-424. A new applicant entity should attach official legal documents to its application (e.g., 

articles of incorporation, 501(c)(3) status documentation, organizational letterhead) to 

confirm the legal name, address, and EIN entered into the SF-424. OJP will use the System 

for Award Management (SAM) to confirm the legal name and DUNS number entered in the 

SF-424; therefore, an applicant should ensure that the information entered in the SF-424 

matches its current registration in SAM. See the How to Apply section for more information 

on SAM and DUNS numbers. 

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.”)
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NIJ-2019-15523 

2. Project Abstract

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

project in 400 words or less. 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 font (such as Times New Roman) with 1-inch 

margins. 

The project abstract is an important part of the application and serves as an introduction to 

the proposed project. If the application is funded, the project abstract typically will become 

public information and be used to describe the project. 

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

program narrative. 

3. Program Narrative

The program narrative section of the application should not exceed 15 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 15-page limit for the narrative 

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

count toward the 15-page limit. 

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

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

The following sections should be included as part of the program narrative.18

a. Title Page (not counted against the 15-page program narrative limit) 

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

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

and e-mail address) for the applicant organization and purpose area (Purpose Area 1: 

Forensic Pathology Fellowships or Purpose Area 2: Medical Examiner-Coroner Office 

Accreditation).

b. Main Body 

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

and how funds will be used to improve ME/C services and strengthen the ME/C system 

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

narrative: 

 

18 For information on subawards (including the details on proposed subawards that should be included in the 

application), see "Budget and Associated Documentation" under Section D. Application and Submission Information. 
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 Statement of the Problem. 

o Explain the importance of the problem or critical barrier to progress in 

the field that the proposed project addresses. 

o Explain the criminal justice significance of the problem. 

 Project Design and Implementation. 

o Describe the overall strategy, methodology, and plan of activities to 

accomplish the specific aims of the project. 

 Potential Impact. 

o Explain the criminal justice significance of the proposed project. 

o Explain how the application will strengthen the ME/C system and improve 

ME/C services. 

 Capabilities and Competencies. 

o Describe each senior/key personnel’s’ role in the project and why the 

individual is well-suited for that role. 

 Plan for Collecting the Data Required for this Solicitation’s Performance 

Measures. 

Within these sections, the narrative should address: 

 Purpose, goals, and objectives. 

 Review of relevant literature. 

 Any planned products (e.g. guidelines, protocols, and operational documents). 

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

 Management plan and organization. 

 Any plans for disseminating information to broader audiences (if applicable to the 

proposed project). 

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 Post-Federal Award Reporting Requirements” in Section F. Federal 

Award Administration Information). The performance data directly relate to the goals, 

objectives, and deliverables identified under "Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables" in 

Section A. Program Description. 
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NIJ-2019-15523 

Applicants should visit OJP’s performance measurement page at 

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

OJP. 

Performance measures for this solicitation are listed in Appendix A: Performance 

Measures Table. 

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. 

In addition to the performance metrics, awardees under Purpose Area 1 will be required 

to provide to NIJ details about the impact and progress of the fellowship program in a 

narrative report. The agency should include any details about the number of fellowship 

applications prior to implementing the NIJ program and any changes noted in the 

number of fellowship applications received. Outreach efforts to increase the fellowship 

applicant pool as well as the results of these efforts should also be described. 

Awardees under Purpose Area 2 will be required to provide to NIJ details about the 

impact and progress of the accreditation efforts in a narrative report in addition to the 

performance metrics. The report should include information on the level of effort 

provided towards accreditation processes and the progress made including the level 

of staffing and amount of time provided. Successes and pitfalls as well as any 

information NIJ can use towards the learning of ME/C accreditation processes, 

issues, and results should also be provided. 

Award recipients will be required to provide the relevant data by submitting semi-annual 

performance metrics through semi-annual reports in GMS. 

Note on Project Evaluations 

An applicant that proposes to use award funds through this solicitation to conduct project 

evaluations should be aware that certain project evaluations (such as systematic investigations 

designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge) may constitute “research” for 

purposes of applicable DOJ human subjects protection regulations. However, project 

evaluations that are intended only to generate internal improvements to a program or service, or 

are conducted only to meet OJP’s performance measure data reporting requirements, likely do 

not constitute “research.” Each applicant should provide sufficient information for OJP to 

determine whether the particular project it proposes would either intentionally or unintentionally 

collect and/or use information in such a way that it meets the DOJ definition of research that 

appears at 28 C.F.R. Part 46 (“Protection of Human Subjects”). 

“Research,” for purposes of human subjects protection for OJP-funded programs, is defined as 

“a systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to 

develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge.” 28 C.F.R. 46.102(d). 
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NIJ-2019-15523 

For additional information on determining whether a proposed activity would constitute research 

for purposes of human subjects protection, applicants should consult the decision tree in the 

“Research and the protection of human subjects” section of the “Requirements related to 

Research” webpage of the "Overview of Legal Requirements Generally Applicable to OJP 

Grants and Cooperative Agreements – FY 2018 Awards," available through the OJP Funding 

Resource Center at https://ojp.gov/funding/index.htm. 

Every prospective applicant whose application may propose a research or statistical component 

also should review the “Data Privacy and Confidentiality Requirements” section on that 

webpage. 

c. Appendices (not counted against the 15-page program narrative limit) include: 

i. Bibliography/references. 

ii. Timelines and project plans with milestones. 

iii. 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. 

iv. For Purpose Area 1: Forensic Pathology Fellowships — Forensic Pathology 

Fellowship Program Accreditation Documentation: 

o Acceptable types of documentation of current accreditation include: an 

electronic (scanned) copy of the current accreditation certificate(s), a digital 

photograph of the current accreditation certificate(s), or a letter from the 

accrediting body that includes the certificate number. Additionally, if a 

certificate references another document that contains key information on the 

type or scope of the accreditation, provide a copy of that supplemental 

documentation. Independent accrediting or certifying organizations may include 

the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or other appropriate 

accrediting bodies. 

v. For Purpose Area 2: Medical Examiner-Coroner Office Accreditation — Forensic 

Laboratory Accreditation Documentation, if applicable: 

o Acceptable types of documentation of current accreditation include: an 

electronic (scanned) copy of the current accreditation certificate(s), a digital 

photograph of the current accreditation certificate(s), or a letter from the 

accrediting body that includes the certificate number. Additionally, if a 

certificate references another document that contains key information on the 

type or scope of the accreditation, provide a copy of that supplemental 

documentation. Independent accrediting or certifying organizations may include 

the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) and the International 

Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners (IACME), or other appropriate 

accrediting bodies. If the office is not currently accredited, applicants may 

provide supporting documentation that demonstrate activities seeking 

achievement of accreditation. 
16

NIJ-2019-15523 

vi. Organizational chart of the applicant agency and all proposed collaborators 

involved in the project. Include project-related staffing plans and narratives for 

each organizational chart, proposed new hires, and any anticipated staffing 

changes related to the Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner System 

Program funding if received. 

vii. Curriculum vitae or resumes of the all key personnel. In addition, curriculum vitae, 

resumes, or biographical sketches of all known others who will be significantly 

involved in substantive aspects of the project. 

viii. List (to the extent known) of all proposed project staff members, including those 

affiliated with the applicant organization or any proposed subrecipients 

organization(s), any proposed consultant(s) and contractors (whether individuals or 

organizations), and any proposed members of an advisory board for the project (if 

applicable). The list should include, for each individual and organization: name, title 

(if applicable), employer or other organizational affiliation, and roles and 

responsibilities proposed for the project. 

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

available at www.nij.gov/funding/documents/nij-project-staff-template.xlsx to 

provide this listing. 

ix. List of any previous and current NIJ awards to applicant organization, including the 

NIJ- assigned award numbers and a brief description of any products that resulted 

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

x. Letters of cooperation/support or administrative agreements from organizations 

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

applicable). 

xi. List of other agencies, organizations, or funding sources to which this proposal has 

been submitted (if applicable). 

4. Budget and Associated Documentation

The Budget Detail Worksheet and the Budget Narrative are now combined in a single 

document collectively referred to as the Budget Detail Worksheet. The Budget Detail 

Worksheet is a user-friendly, fillable, Microsoft Excel-based document designed to calculate 

totals. Additionally, the Excel workbook contains worksheets for multiple budget years that 

can be completed as necessary. All applicants should use the Excel version when 

completing the proposed budget in an application, except in cases where the 

applicant does not have access to Microsoft Excel or experiences technical 

difficulties. If an applicant does not have access to Microsoft Excel or experiences 

technical difficulties with the Excel version, then the applicant should use the 508-compliant 

accessible Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) version. 

Both versions of the Budget Detail Worksheet can be accessed at 

https://ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Forms/BudgetDetailWorksheet.htm. 
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NIJ-2019-15523 

a. Budget Detail Worksheet

The Budget Detail Worksheet should provide the detailed computation for each budget 

line item, listing the total cost of each and showing how it was calculated by the 

applicant. For example, costs for personnel should show the annual salary rate and the 

percentage of time devoted to the project for each employee paid with grant funds. The 

Budget Detail Worksheet should present a complete itemization of all proposed costs. 

For questions pertaining to budget and examples of allowable and unallowable costs, 

see the DOJ Grants Financial Guide at https://ojp.gov/financialguide/DOJ/index.htm. 

b. Budget Narrative

The budget narrative should thoroughly and clearly describe every category of expense 

listed in the Budget Detail Worksheet. OJP expects proposed budgets to be complete, 

cost effective, and allowable (e.g., reasonable, allocable, and necessary for project 

activities).

An applicant should demonstrate in its budget narrative how it will maximize cost 

effectiveness of award expenditures. Budget narratives should generally describe cost 

effectiveness in relation to potential alternatives and the goals of the project. For 

example, a budget narrative should detail why planned in-person meetings are 

necessary, or how technology and collaboration with outside organizations could be 

used to reduce costs, without compromising quality. 

The budget narrative should be mathematically sound and correspond clearly with the 

information and figures provided in the Budget Detail Worksheet. The narrative should 

explain how the applicant estimated and calculated all costs, and how those costs are 

necessary to the completion of the proposed project. The narrative may include tables 

for clarification purposes, but need not be in a spreadsheet format. As with the Budget 

Detail Worksheet, the budget narrative should describe costs by year. 

c. Information on Proposed Subawards (if any), and on Proposed Procurement 

Contracts (if any) 

Applicants for OJP awards typically may propose to make subawards. Applicants also 

may propose to enter into procurement contracts under the award. 

Whether an action – for federal grants administrative purposes – is a subaward or 

procurement contract is a critical distinction as significantly different rules apply to 

subawards and procurement contracts. If a recipient enters into an agreement that is a 

subaward of an OJP award, specific rules apply – many of which are set by federal 

statutes and DOJ regulations; others by award conditions. These rules place particular 

responsibilities on an OJP recipient for any subawards the OJP recipient may make. The 

rules determine much of what the written subaward agreement itself must require or 

provide. The rules also determine much of what an OJP recipient must do both before 

and after it makes a subaward. If a recipient enters into an agreement that is a 

procurement contract under an OJP award, a substantially different set of federal rules 

applies. 
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NIJ-2019-15523 

OJP has developed the following guidance documents to help clarify the differences 

between subawards and procurement contracts under an OJP award and outline the 

compliance and reporting requirements for each. This information can be accessed 

online at https://ojp.gov/training/training.htm. 

 Subawards under OJP Awards and Procurement Contracts under Awards: A 

Toolkit for OJP Recipients. 

 Checklist to Determine Subrecipient or Contractor Classification. 

 Sole Source Justification Fact Sheet and Sole Source Review Checklist. 

In general, the central question is the relationship between what the third-party will do 

under its agreement with the recipient and what the recipient has committed (to OJP) to 

do under its award to further a public purpose (e.g., services the recipient will provide, 

products it will develop or modify, research or evaluation it will conduct). If a third party 

will provide some of the services the recipient has committed (to OJP) to provide, will 

develop or modify all or part of a product the recipient has committed (to OJP) to 

develop or modify, or will conduct part of the research or evaluation the recipient has 

committed (to OJP) to conduct, OJP will consider the agreement with the third party a 

subaward for purposes of federal grants administrative requirements. 

This will be true even if the recipient, for internal or other non-federal purposes, labels or 

treats its agreement as a procurement, a contract, or a procurement contract. Neither 

the title nor the structure of an agreement determines whether the agreement — for 

purposes of federal grants administrative requirements — is a subaward or is instead a 

procurement contract under an award. The substance of the relationship should be given 

greater consideration than the form of agreement between the recipient and the outside 

entity. 

1. Information on proposed subawards 

A recipient of an OJP award may not make subawards ("subgrants") unless the 

recipient has specific federal authorization to do so. Unless an applicable statute or 

DOJ regulation specifically authorizes (or requires) subawards, a recipient must have 

authorization from OJP before it may make a subaward. 

A particular subaward may be authorized by OJP because the recipient included a 

sufficiently-detailed description and justification of the proposed subaward in the 

Program Narrative, Budget Detail Worksheet, and Budget Narrative as approved by 

OJP. If, however, a particular subaward is not authorized by federal statute or 

regulation, and is not approved by OJP, the recipient will be required, post-award, to 

request and obtain written authorization from OJP before it may make the subaward. 

If an applicant proposes to make one or more subawards to carry out the federal 

award and program, the applicant should-- (1) identify (if known) the proposed 

subrecipient(s), (2) describe in detail what each subrecipient will do to carry out the 

federal award and federal program, and (3) provide a justification for the 

subaward(s), with details on pertinent matters such as special qualifications and 

areas of expertise. Pertinent information on subawards should appear not only in the 

Program Narrative, but also in the Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative. 
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NIJ-2019-15523 

Information on proposed procurement contracts (with specific justification for 

proposed noncompetitive contracts over $250,00019) 

Unlike a recipient contemplating a subaward, a recipient of an OJP award generally 

does not need specific prior federal authorization to enter into an agreement that -- for 

purposes of federal grants administrative requirements -- is considered a procurement 

contract, provided that (1) the recipient uses its own documented procurement 

procedures and (2) those procedures conform to applicable federal law, including the 

Procurement Standards of the (DOJ) Part 200 Uniform Requirements (as set out at 2 

C.F.R. 200.317 – 200.326). The Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative should 

identify proposed procurement contracts. (As discussed above, subawards must be 

identified and described separately from procurement contracts.) 

The Procurement Standards in the Part 200 Uniform Requirements, however, reflect a 

general expectation that agreements that (for purposes of federal grants administrative 

requirements) constitute procurement “contracts” under awards will be entered into on 

the basis of full and open competition. All noncompetitive (sole source) procurement 

contracts must meet the OJP requirements outlined at 

https://ojp.gov/training/subawards-procurement.htm. If a proposed procurement contract 

would exceed the Simplified Acquisition Threshold — currently, $250,000 -- a recipient 

of an OJP award may not proceed without competition unless and until the recipient 

receives specific advance authorization from OJP to use a non-competitive approach for 

the procurement. An applicant that (at the time of its application) intends – without 

competition – to enter into a procurement contract that would exceed $250,000 should 

include a detailed justification that explains to OJP why, in the particular circumstances, 

it is appropriate to proceed without competition. 

If the applicant receives an award, sole source procurements that do not exceed the 

Simplified Acquisition Threshold (currently $250,000) must have written justification for 

the noncompetitive procurement action maintained in the procurement file. If a 

procurement file does not have the documentation that meets the criteria outlined in 2 

C.F.R. 200, the procurement expenditures may not be allowable. Sole source 

procurement over the $250,000 Simplified Acquisition Threshold must have prior 

approval from OJP using a Sole Source Grant Adjustment Notice (GAN). Written 

documentation justifying the noncompetitive procurement must be submitted with the 

GAN and maintained in the procurement file. 

d. Pre-Agreement Costs 

For information on pre-agreement costs, see Section B. Federal Award Information. 

 

19 Consistent with the provisions of Office of Management and Budget memorandum, OMB M-18-18, dated June 20, 

2018, and entitled, “Implementing Statutory Changes to the Micro-Purchase and the Simplified Acquisition 

Thresholds for Financial Assistance,” DOJ will allow recipients (and any subrecipients) of awards made under this 

solicitation to use a simplified acquisition threshold of $250,000 and a micro-purchase threshold of $10,000, for 

federal grants administrative purposes. 
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NIJ-2019-15523 

5. Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable)

Indirect costs may be charged to an award only if: 

(a) The recipient has a current (unexpired), federally-approved indirect cost rate; or

(b) The recipient is eligible to use, and elects to use, the “de minimis” indirect cost rate

described in the Part 200 Uniform Requirements, as set out at 2 C.F.R. 200.414(f). 

An applicant with a current (unexpired) federally-approved indirect cost rate is to attach a 

copy of the indirect cost rate agreement to the application. An applicant that does not have a 

current federally-approved rate may request one through its cognizant federal agency, which 

will review all documentation and approve a rate for the applicant entity, or, if the applicant’s 

accounting system permits, applicants may propose to allocate costs in the direct cost 

categories. 

For assistance with identifying the appropriate cognizant federal agency for indirect costs, 

please contact the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) Customer Service Center at 

1-800-458-0786 or at ask.ocfo@usdoj.gov. If DOJ is the cognizant federal agency, 

applicants may obtain information needed to submit an indirect cost rate proposal at 

https://www.ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/IndirectCosts.pdf. 

Certain OJP recipients have the option of electing to use the “de minimis” indirect cost rate. 

An applicant that is eligible to use the “de minimis” rate that wishes to use the "de minimis" 

rate should attach written documentation to the application that advises OJP of both-- (1) the 

applicant’s eligibility to use the “de minimis” rate, and (2) its election to do so. If an eligible 

applicant elects the “de minimis” rate, costs must be consistently charged as either indirect 

or direct costs, but may not be double charged or inconsistently charged as both. The "de 

minimis" rate may no longer be used once an approved federally-negotiated indirect cost 

rate is in place. (No entity that ever has had a federally-approved negotiated indirect cost 

rate is eligible to use the "de minimis" rate.) For the “de minimis” rate requirements 

(including information on eligibility to elect to use the rate), see the Part 200 Uniform 

Requirements, at 2 C.F.R. 200.414(f). 

6. Tribal Authorizing Resolution (if applicable) 

A tribe, tribal organization, or third party that proposes to provide direct services or 

assistance to residents on tribal lands should include in its application a resolution, letter, 

affidavit, or other documentation, as appropriate, that demonstrates (as a legal matter) that 

the applicant has the requisite authorization from the tribe(s) to implement the proposed 

project on tribal lands. In those instances when an organization or consortium of tribes 

applies for an award on behalf of a tribe or multiple specific tribes, the application should 

include appropriate legal documentation, as described above, from all tribes that would 

receive services or assistance under the award. A consortium of tribes for which existing 

consortium bylaws allow action without support from all tribes in the consortium (i.e., without 

an authorizing resolution or comparable legal documentation from each tribal governing 

body) may submit, instead, a copy of its consortium bylaws with the application. 
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NIJ-2019-15523 

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

applicant disclosure of high-risk status)

Every OJP applicant (other than an individual applying in his or her personal capacity) is 

required to download, complete, and submit the OJP Financial Management and System of 

Internal Controls Questionnaire (Questionnaire) at 

https://ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/FinancialCapability.pdf as part of its application. 

The Questionnaire helps OJP assess the financial management and internal control 

systems, and the associated potential risks of an applicant as part of the pre-award risk 

assessment process. 

The Questionnaire should only be completed by financial staff most familiar with the 

applicant's systems, policies, and procedures in order to ensure that the correct responses 

are recorded and submitted to OJP. The responses on the Questionnaire directly impact the 

pre-award risk assessment and should accurately reflect the applicant’s financial 

management and internal control system at the time of the application. The pre-award risk 

assessment is only one of multiple factors and criteria used in determining funding. 

However, a pre-award risk assessment that indicates that an applicant poses a higher risk to 

OJP may affect the funding decision and/or result in additional reporting requirements, 

monitoring, special conditions, withholding of award funds, or other additional award 

requirements. 

Among other things, the form requires each applicant to disclose whether it currently is 

designated “high risk” by a federal grant-making agency outside of DOJ. For purposes of 

this disclosure, high risk includes any status under which a federal awarding agency 

provides additional oversight due to the applicant’s past performance, or other programmatic 

or financial concerns with the applicant. If an applicant is designated high risk by another 

federal awarding agency, the applicant must provide the following information: 

 The federal awarding agency that currently designates the applicant high risk. 

 The date the applicant was designated high risk. 

 The high-risk point of contact at that federal awarding agency (name, phone number, 

and email address). 

 The reasons for the high-risk status, as set out by the federal awarding agency. 

OJP seeks this information to help ensure appropriate federal oversight of OJP awards. An 

applicant that is considered “high-risk” by another federal awarding agency is not 

automatically disqualified from receiving an OJP award. OJP may, however, consider the 

information in award decisions, and may impose additional OJP oversight of any award 

under this solicitation (including through the conditions that accompany the award 

document). 

8. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

Each applicant must complete and submit this information. An applicant that expends any 

funds for lobbying activities is to provide all of the information requested on the form 

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) posted at 
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NIJ-2019-15523 

https://ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/Disclosure.pdf. An applicant that does not expend 

any funds for lobbying activities is to enter “N/A” in the text boxes for item 10 (“a. Name and 

Address of Lobbying Registrant” and “b. Individuals Performing Services”).

9. Applicant Disclosure of Pending Applications 

Each applicant is to disclose whether it has (or is proposed as a subrecipient under) any 

pending applications for federally-funded grants or cooperative agreements that (1) include 

requests for funding to support the same project being proposed in the application under this 

solicitation, and (2) would cover any identical cost items outlined in the budget submitted to 

OJP as part of the application under this solicitation. The applicant is to disclose applications 

made directly to federal awarding agencies, and also applications for subawards of federal 

funds (e.g., applications to State agencies that will subaward (“subgrant”) federal funds).

OJP seeks this information to help avoid inappropriate duplication of funding. Leveraging 

multiple funding sources in a complementary manner to implement comprehensive 

programs or projects is encouraged and is not seen as inappropriate duplication. 

Each applicant that has one or more pending applications as described above is to provide 

the following information about pending applications submitted within the last 12 months: 

 The federal or State funding agency. 

 The solicitation name/project name. 

 The point of contact information at the applicable federal or State funding 

agency. 

Federal or State 

Funding Agency 

Solicitation 

Name/Project 

Name

Name/Phone/Email for Point of Contact 

at Federal or State Funding Agency

DOJ/Office of 

Community Oriented 

Policing Services 

(COPS Office)

COPS Hiring 

Program SAJane Doe MPLE , 202/000-0000;jane.doe@usdoj.gov

Health and Human 

Services/Substance 

Abuse and Mental 

Health Services 

Administration

Drug-Free 

Communities 

Mentoring Program/

North County Youth 

Mentoring Program

John Doe, 202/000-0000; 

john.doe@hhs.gov

Each applicant should include the table as a separate attachment to its application. The file 

should be named “Disclosure of Pending Applications.” The applicant’s Legal Name on the 

application must match the entity named on the disclosure of pending applications 

statement. 

Any applicant that does not have any pending applications as described above is to submit, 

as a separate attachment, a statement to this effect: “[Applicant Name on SF-424] does not 
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NIJ-2019-15523 

have (and is not proposed as a subrecipient under) any pending applications submitted 

within the last 12 months for federally-funded grants or cooperative agreements (or for 

subawards under federal grants or cooperative agreements) that request funding to support 

the same project being proposed in this application to OJP and that would cover any 

identical cost items outlined in the budget submitted as part of this application.”

10. Applicant Disclosure and Justification - DOJ High Risk Grantees20 (if applicable) 

An applicant that is designated as a DOJ High Risk Grantee is to submit in GMS, as a 

separate attachment to its application, information that OJP will use, among other pertinent 

information, to determine whether it will consider or select the application for an award under 

this solicitation. The file should be named “DOJ High Risk Grantee Applicant Disclosure and 

Justification.” (See, also, “Review Process,” below, under Section E. Application Review 

Information, for a brief discussion of how such information may considered in the application 

review process.) 

OJP constantly seeks to optimize its investments in criminal- and juvenile justice-focused 

programs and activities, increase program effectiveness, and maximize the return – and 

program impact – from limited programmatic resources. Therefore, OJP may remove from 

consideration or not select for award a “DOJ High Risk Grantee” applicant that is determined 

to pose a substantial risk of program implementation failure. In making such determinations, 

OJP will consider one or more of the following factors: the applicant’s lack of sufficient 

progress in addressing required corrective actions necessary for removal of the DOJ High 

Risk Grantee designation; the nature and severity of the issues leading to or accompanying 

the applicant’s DOJ High Risk Grantee designation; or the applicant’s expected ability to 

manage grant funds and achieve grant goals and objectives. 

In this attachment, the applicant is to provide any additional information or justification –

especially with regard to corrective actions yet to be implemented (as of the application 

date) – that may help demonstrate how the applicant has addressed or otherwise mitigated 

such uncorrected matters, such that any negative impact on the proposed program and its 

implementation would be immaterial or would be significantly reduced or eliminated. (To the 

extent that the applicant believes that any of the information provided pursuant to this 

disclosure may be confidential in nature, the applicant should specifically identify it.) 

11. Additional Attachments

a. Potential Environmental Impact Coversheet and Checklist

Each applicant is to submit an NIJ Programmatic Coversheet and Checklist with its 

application to assist NIJ in assessing the potential environmental impacts of the activities 

proposed for funding by the applicant. Specifically, the applicant is expected to: 

 Carefully read the Programmatic Environmental Assessment; 

 

20 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. 
24

NIJ-2019-15523 

 Complete the Cover Sheet and the attached the Programmatic Checklist; and

 Attach the completed documents to the grant application. 

The applicant should also submit a Cover Sheet and NIJ Programmatic Checklist for 

any organization identified in the Budget Detail Worksheet that will receive grant funds 

through a sub-award or procurement contract to perform any of the following activities: 

new construction or renovations that change the basic prior use of a facility or 

significantly change the size; research and/or technology development that could be 

expected to have an effect on the environment; or implementation of programs 

involving the use of chemicals. 

b. Research and Evaluation Independence and Integrity

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 must demonstrate independence and integrity regarding both this proposed 

research and/or evaluation, and any current or prior related projects. 

Each application should include an attachment that addresses both i. and ii. below. 

i. For purposes of this solicitation, each applicant is to document research and 

evaluation independence and integrity by including one of the following two items: 

a. A specific assurance that the applicant has reviewed its application to identify 

any actual or potential apparent conflicts of interest (including through review of 

pertinent information on the principal investigator, any co-principal investigators, 

and any subrecipients), and that the applicant has identified no such conflicts of 

interest – whether personal or financial or organizational (including on the part of 

the applicant entity or on the part of staff, investigators, or subrecipients) – that 

could affect the independence or integrity of the research, including the design, 

conduct, and reporting of the research. 

OR

b. A specific description of actual or potential apparent conflicts of interest that the 

applicant has identified – including through review of pertinent information on the 

principal investigator, any co-principal investigators, and any subrecipients – that 

could affect the independence or integrity of the research, including the design, 

conduct, or reporting of the research. These conflicts may be personal (e.g., on 

the part of investigators or other staff), financial, or organizational (related to the 

applicant or any subrecipient entity). Some examples of potential investigator (or 

other personal) conflict situations are those in which an investigator would be in a 

position to evaluate a spouse’s work product (actual conflict), or an investigator 

would be in a position to evaluate the work of a former or current colleague 

(potential apparent conflict). With regard to potential organizational conflicts of 

interest, as one example, generally an organization would not be given an award 

to evaluate a project, if that organization had itself provided substantial prior 

technical assistance to that specific project or a location implementing the project 

(whether funded by OJP or other sources), because the organization in such an 
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NIJ-2019-15523 

instance might appear to be evaluating the effectiveness of its own prior work. 

The key is whether a reasonable person understanding all of the facts would be 

able to have confidence that the results of any research or evaluation project are 

objective and reliable. Any outside personal or financial interest that casts doubt 

on that objectivity and reliability of an evaluation or research product is a problem 

and must be disclosed. 

ii. In addition, for purposes of this solicitation, each applicant is to address possible 

mitigation of research integrity concerns by including, at a minimum, one of the 

following two items: 

a. If an applicant reasonably believes that no actual or potential apparent conflicts 

of interest (personal, financial, or organizational) exist, then the applicant should 

provide a brief narrative explanation of how and why it reached that conclusion. 

The applicant also is to include an explanation of the specific processes and 

procedures that the applicant has in place, or will put in place, to identify and 

prevent (or, at the very least, mitigate) any such conflicts of interest pertinent to 

the funded project during the period of performance. Documentation that may be 

helpful in this regard may include organizational codes of ethics/conduct and

policies regarding organizational, personal, and financial conflicts of interest. 

There is no guarantee that the plan, if any, will be accepted as proposed. 

OR

b. If the applicant has identified actual or potential apparent conflicts of interest 

(personal, financial, or organizational) that could affect the independence and 

integrity of the research, including the design, conduct, or reporting of the 

research, the applicant is to provide a specific and robust mitigation plan to 

address each of those conflicts. At a minimum, the applicant is expected to 

explain the specific processes and procedures that the applicant has in place, or 

will put in place, to identify and eliminate (or, at the very least, mitigate) any such 

conflicts of interest pertinent to the funded project during the period of 

performance. Documentation that may be helpful in this regard may include 

organizational codes of ethics/conduct and policies regarding organizational, 

personal, and financial conflicts of interest. There is no guarantee that the plan, if 

any, will be accepted as proposed. 

OJP will assess research and evaluation independence and integrity based on 

considerations such as the adequacy of the applicant’s efforts to identify factors that 

could affect the objectivity or integrity of the proposed staff and/or the applicant entity 

(and any subrecipients) in carrying out the research, development, or evaluation activity; 

and the adequacy of the applicant’s existing or proposed remedies to control any such 

factors. 

How To Apply 

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

federal funding opportunities and apply for funding. Find complete instructions on how to 

register and submit an application at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html. 

Applicants that experience technical difficulties during this process should call the Grants.gov 
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NIJ-2019-15523

Customer Support Hotline at 800-518-4726 or 606–545–5035, which operates 24 hours a day, 7 

days a week, except on federal holidays.

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

and it can take several weeks for first-time registrants to receive confirmation of registration 

and a user password. OJP encourages applicants to register several weeks before the 

application submission deadline. In addition, OJP urges applicants to submit applications at 

least 72 hours prior to the application due date, in order 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.

OJP strongly encourages all prospective applicants to sign up for Grants.gov email notifications

regarding this solicitation at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/manage-subscriptions.html. If 

this solicitation is cancelled or modified, individuals who sign up with Grants.gov for updates will 

be automatically notified.

Browser Information: Grants.gov was built to be compatible with Internet Explorer. For 

technical assistance with Google Chrome, or another browser, contact Grants.gov Customer 

Support.

Note on Attachments: Grants.gov has two categories of files for attachments: “mandatory” and

“optional.” OJP receives all files attached in both categories. Attachments are also labeled to 

describe the file being attached (e.g., Project Narrative, Budget Narrative, Other). Please ensure 

that all required documents are attached in the correct Grants.gov category and are labeled 

correctly. Do not embed “mandatory” attachments within another file.

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.

An application can be checked for errors via the Check Application button on the Forms tab of 

the Manage Workspace page. The button is active if the set of forms in the workspace matches 

those required in the application package. If you receive a Cross-Form Errors message after 

clicking the Check Application button, refer to the Cross-Form Errors help article for more 

detailed information about this validation error.

Note on File Names and File Types: Grants.gov only permits the use of certain specific

characters in the file names of attachments. Valid file names may include only the characters 

shown in the table below. Grants.gov rejects any application that includes an attachment(s) with 

a file name that contains any characters not shown in the table below. Grants.gov forwards

successfully-submitted applications to the OJP Grants Management System (GMS).
27

NIJ-2019-15523 

Characters

Upper case (A – Z)

Lower case (a – z)

Underscore (__)

Hyphen ( - )

Space

Period (.)

Special Characters Special Characters Special Characters

Parenthesis ( ) Curly braces { } Square brackets [ ]

Ampersand (&)* Tilde (~) Exclamation point (!)

Comma ( , ) Semicolon ( ; ) Apostrophe ( ‘ )

At sign (@) Number sign (#) Dollar sign ($)

Percent sign (%) Plus sign (+) Equal sign (=)

*When using the ampersand (&) in XML, applicants must use the “&” format.

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

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

“.cfg,” “.dat,” “.db,” “.dbf,” “.dll,” “.ini,” “.log,” “.ora,” “.sys,” and “.zip.” GMS may reject applications 

with files that use these extensions. It is important to allow time to change the type of file(s) if 

the application is rejected. 

All applicants are required to complete the following steps:

Unique Entity Identifier (DUNS Number) and System for Award Management (SAM)

Every applicant entity must comply with all applicable SAM and unique entity identifier 

(currently, a DUNS number) requirements. SAM is the repository for certain standard 

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

number is a unique nine-digit identification number provided by the commercial company Dun 

and Bradstreet. More detailed information about SAM and the DUNS number is in the numbered 

sections below. 

If an applicant entity has not fully complied with the applicable SAM and unique identifier 

requirements by the time OJP makes award decisions, OJP may determine that the applicant is 

not qualified to receive an award and may use that determination as a basis for making the 

award to a different applicant. 

Applying as an Individual 

An individual who wishes to apply in his/her personal capacity should search Grants.gov for 

funding opportunities for which individuals are eligible to apply. Use the Funding Opportunity 

Number (FON) to register. (An applicant applying as an individual must comply with all 

applicable Grants.gov individual registration requirements.) 

Enter the FON at https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/IndCPRegister to complete the registration 

form and create a username and password for Grants.gov. (An applicant applying as an 

individual should complete all steps below except 1, 2, and 4.) 

Registration and Submission Steps 

1. Acquire a unique entity identifier (currently, a DUNS number). The Office of 

Management and Budget requires every applicant for a federal award (other than an

individual) to include a "unique entity identifier" in each application, including an application 

for a supplemental award. Currently, a DUNS number is the required unique entity identifier. 

This unique entity identifier is used for tracking purposes, and to validate address and point 

of contact information for applicants, recipients, and subrecipients. It will be used throughout 
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NIJ-2019-15523 

the life cycle of an OJP award. Obtaining a DUNS number is a free, one-time activity. Call 

Dun and Bradstreet at 866–705–5711 to obtain a DUNS number or apply online at 

https://www.dnb.com/. A DUNS number is usually received within 2 business days. 

2. Acquire or maintain registration with SAM. Any applicant for an OJP award creating a 

new entity registration (or updating or renewing a registration) in SAM.gov must submit an 

original, signed notarized letter appointing the authorized Entity Administrator within thirty 

(30) days of the registration activation. Notarized letters must be submitted via U.S. 

Postal Service Mail. Read the Alert at sam.gov/SAM/ to learn more about what is required 

in the notarized letter, and read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) at 

www.gsa.gov/samupdate to learn more about this process change. All applicants for OJP 

awards (other than individuals) must maintain current registrations in the SAM database. 

Applicants will need the authorizing official of the organization and an Employer 

Identification Number (EIN). Information about SAM registration procedures can be 

accessed at sam.gov/SAM/. 

An application cannot be successfully submitted in Grants.gov until Grants.gov receives the 

SAM registration information. Once the SAM registration/renewal is complete, the 

information transfer from SAM to Grants.gov can take as long as 48 hours. OJP 

recommends that the applicant register or renew registration with SAM as early as possible.

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

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

and password. An applicant entity’s "unique entity identifier" (DUNS number) must be used 

to complete this step. For more information about the registration process for organizations 

and other entities, go to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organizationregistration.html. Individuals registering with Grants.gov should go to 

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html. 

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

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

applicant organization’s AOR. The E-Biz POC will need the Marketing Partner Identification 

Number (MPIN) password obtained when registering with SAM to complete this step. Note 

that an organization can have more than one AOR.

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

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

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

Institute of Justice Research, Evaluation, and Development Project Grants,” and the funding 

opportunity number is NIJ-2019-15523. 

6. Select the correct Competition ID. Some OJP solicitations posted to Grants.gov contain 

multiple purpose areas, denoted by the individual Competition ID. If applying to a solicitation 

with multiple Competition IDs, select the appropriate Competition ID for the intended 

purpose area of the application.

1. Purpose Area 1: Forensic Pathology Fellowships — NIJ-2019-15526

2. Purpose Area 2: Medical Examiner-Coroner Office Accreditation — NIJ-2019-15506
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NIJ-2019-15523 

7. Access Funding Opportunity and Application Package from Grants.gov. Select “Apply

for Grants” under the “Applicants” column. Enter your email address to be notified of any 

changes to the opportunity package before the closing date. Click the Workspace icon to 

use Grants.gov Workspace. 

8. Submit a valid application consistent with this solicitation by following the directions 

in Grants.gov. To preview the application prior to (or after) submitting, go to the View 

Application tab in Workspace. For additional information, review the View Application Tab

help article and Attachments Tab help article. Within 24-48 hours after submitting the 

electronic application, the applicant should receive two notifications from Grants.gov. The 

first will confirm the receipt of the application. The second will state whether the application 

has been validated and successfully submitted, or whether it has been rejected due to 

errors, with an explanation. It is possible to first receive a message indicating that the 

application is received, and then receive a rejection notice a few minutes or hours later. 

Submitting an application well ahead of the deadline provides time to correct the problem(s) 

that caused the rejection. Important: OJP urges each applicant to submit its application at 

least 72 hours prior to the application due date, to allow time 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. Applications must be successfully 

submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on June 12, 2019.

Go to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html for further 

details on DUNS numbers, SAM, and Grants.gov registration steps and timeframes. 

Note: Application Versions 

If an applicant submits multiple versions of the same application, OJP will review only the most 

recent system-validated version submitted. 

Experiencing Unforeseen Grants.gov Technical Issues 

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

prevent it from submitting its application by the deadline must contact the Grants.gov Customer 

Support Hotline at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html or the SAM Help Desk 

(Federal Service Desk) at https://www.fsd.gov/fsd-gov/home.do to report the technical issue and 

receive a tracking number. The applicant must email the NIJ contact identified in the Contact 

Information section on the title page within 24 hours after the application deadline to request 

approval to submit its application after the deadline. The applicant's email must describe the 

technical difficulties, and must include a timeline of the applicant’s submission efforts, the 

complete grant application, the applicant’s DUNS number, and any Grants.gov Help Desk or 

SAM tracking number(s). 

Note: OJP does not automatically approve requests to submit a late application. After 

OJP reviews the applicant's request, and contacts the Grants.gov or SAM Help Desks to verify 

the reported technical issues, OJP will inform the applicant whether the request to submit a late 

application has been approved or denied. If OJP determines that the untimely application 

submission was due to the applicant's failure to follow all required procedures, OJP will deny the 

applicant’s request to submit its application. 
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NIJ-2019-15523 

The following conditions generally are insufficient to justify late submissions: 

 Failure to register in SAM or Grants.gov in sufficient time (SAM registration and renewal 

can take as long as 10 business days to complete. The information transfer from SAM to 

Grants.gov can take up to 48 hours.) 

 Failure to follow Grants.gov instructions on how to register and apply as posted on its 

website. 

 Failure to follow each instruction in the OJP solicitation. 

 Technical issues with the applicant’s computer or information technology environment, 

such as issues with firewalls or browser incompatibility. 

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

the top of the OJP Funding Resource Center at https://ojp.gov/funding/index.htm. 

E. Application Review Information 

Review Criteria 

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

the following review criteria. 

Review Criteria for Purpose Area 1 – Forensic Pathology Fellowships

1. Statement of the Problem/Description of the Issue (Understanding of the problem and its 

importance) — 15% 

a. Demonstrated understanding of the problem that exists in the ME/C system in the 

United States. 

b. Demonstrated awareness of the current state of ME/C issues. 

c. Impact of funding on the ME/C system and ME/C services in the United States. 

2. Project Design and Implementation (Quality and technical merit) — 15% 

a. Awareness of the state of ME/C system and ME/C services in the United States. 

Soundness of methods and approach to addressing the stated objectives of the 

proposed project. The overall strategy should be well reasoned and appropriate to 

accomplish the goals of the project. 

b. Feasibility of proposed project. 

c. Awareness of pitfalls of the proposed project design and actions to minimize and/or 

mitigate them. 

d. Innovation and creativity (when appropriate).
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NIJ-2019-15523 

3. Expected Outcomes/Potential Impact — 30%

a. Description of the expected outcome(s) of the project. Anticipated forensic 

pathology fellowships to be completed and anticipated forensic pathology 

fellowship processes to be initiated and/or assisted through the program. 

b. Potential for significantly improved understanding of the stated problem. If the 

goals of the project are achieved, how will scientific knowledge, technical 

capability, and/or MDI practice in the criminal justice system be improved? 

c. What is the likelihood that the project will exert a sustained, powerful influence 

on the MDI field(s) as related to criminal justice? 

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

criminal/justice problem. How will successful completion of the project change the 

concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, or services that drive MDI as it 

relates to criminal justice? How will a successful project address the identified 

ME/C problem and associated critical barriers to progress? 

e. Potential to increase the awareness of best practices for the ME/C community. 

4. Capabilities and Competencies — 15% 

a. Qualifications and experience of proposed project staff (including all individuals 

and organizations identified in the application who will be significantly involved in 

substantive aspects of the proposal). 

b. Demonstrated ability of the applicant organization to manage the effort. 

c. Relationship between the capabilities/competencies of the proposed 

project staff (including the applicant organization) and the scope of the 

proposed project. 

d. Strength of the environment (e.g., institutional and jurisdictional support, 

equipment and other physical resources, or collaborative arrangements) in which 

the work will be done and its contribution to the probability of success. Does the 

program meet or exceed ACGME-accredited forensic pathology fellowship 

requirements? 

e. Affordability and cost-effectiveness of proposed approach. 

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

15% 

a. Demonstrated plan for collection of the performance measure data as described in 

the solicitation. 

6. Budget — 10%: complete, cost effective, and allowable (e.g., reasonable, allocable, and 

necessary for project activities). Budget narratives should demonstrate generally how 

applicants will maximize cost effectiveness of grant expenditures. Budget narratives 
32

NIJ-2019-15523 

should demonstrate cost effectiveness in relation to potential alternatives and the goals 

of the project.21

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

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

c. Use of existing resources to conserve costs. 

d. Proposed budget alignment with proposed project activities. 

Review Criteria for Purpose Area 2 – Medical Examiner-Coroner Office Accreditation

1. Statement of the Problem/Description of the Issue (Understanding of the problem and its 

importance) — 15% 

a. Demonstrated understanding of the problem that exists in the ME/C system in 

the United States. 

b. Demonstrated awareness of the current state of ME/C issues. 

c. Impact of funding ME/C accreditation activities on the ME/C system and ME/C 

services in the United States. 

2. Project Design and Implementation (Quality and technical merit) — 15% 

a. Awareness of the state of ME/C accreditation on the ME/C system and ME/C 

services in the United States. 

b. Soundness of methods and approach to addressing the stated objectives of 

the proposed project. The overall strategy should be well reasoned and 

appropriate to accomplish the goals of the project. 

c. Feasibility of proposed project. 

d. Awareness of pitfalls of the proposed project design and actions to minimize 

and/or mitigate them. 

e. Innovation and creativity (when appropriate). 

3. Expected Outcomes/Potential Impact — 30%

a. Description of the expected outcome(s) of the project. Anticipated accreditation 

processes to be completed and anticipated accreditation processes to be initiated 

or assisted through the program. 

 

21 Generally speaking, a reasonable cost is a cost that, in its nature or amount, does not exceed that which would be 

incurred by a prudent person under the circumstances prevailing at the time the decision was made to incur the 

costs. 
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NIJ-2019-15523 

b. Potential for significantly improved understanding of the stated problem. If the 

goals of the project are achieved, how will scientific knowledge, technical 

capability, and/or MDI practice be improved? 

c. What is the likelihood that the project will exert a sustained, powerful influence on 

the MDI field(s) as related to criminal justice? 

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

criminal justice problem. How will successful completion change the concepts, 

methods, technologies, treatments, or services that drive MDI as it relates to 

criminal justice? How will a successful project address the identified ME/C problem 

and associated critical barriers to progress? 

e. Potential to increase the awareness of best practices for the ME/C community. 

f. Potential to improve the understanding of scientific rationale underpinning existing 

ME/C practices. 

g. Potential for innovative protocols to increase the efficiency, accuracy, reliability or 

cost- effectiveness of medicolegal death investigations. 

4. Capabilities and Competencies — 15% 

a. Qualifications and experience of proposed project staff (including all individuals 

and organizations identified in the application who will be significantly involved in 

substantive aspects of the proposal). 

b. Demonstrated ability of the applicant organization to manage the effort. 

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

(including the applicant organization) and the scope of the proposed project. 

d. Strength of the environment (e.g., institutional and jurisdictional support, 

equipment and other physical resources, or collaborative arrangements) in which 

the work will be done and its contribution to the probability of success. 

e. Affordability and cost-effectiveness of proposed approach. 

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

15% 

a. Demonstrated plan for collection of the performance measure data as described in 

the solicitation. 

6. Budget — 10%: complete, cost effective, and allowable (e.g., reasonable, allocable, and 

necessary for project activities). Budget narratives should demonstrate generally how 

applicants will maximize cost effectiveness of grant expenditures. Budget narratives 
34

NIJ-2019-15523

should demonstrate cost effectiveness in relation to potential alternatives and the goals 

of the project.

22

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

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

c. Use of existing resources to conserve costs.

d. Proposed budget alignment with proposed project activities.

Review Process

OJP is committed to ensuring a fair and open process for making awards. NIJ reviews the 

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

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

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

minimum requirements. 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.

 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 designated as “critical elements.”

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

23 or is 

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

been determined by the Director/Administrator 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 critical elements for this solicitation, see “What an Application Should Include” 

under Section D. Application and Submission Information.

 

22 Generally speaking, a reasonable cost is a cost that, in its nature or amount, does not exceed that which would be

incurred by a prudent person under the circumstances prevailing at the time the decision was made to incur the 

costs.

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

Include,” above, for a definition of “DOJ High Risk Grantee.”
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NIJ-2019-15523

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, although reviewer views are considered carefully. Other 

important considerations for NIJ include geographic diversity, strategic priorities, and available 

funding, as well as 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 

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.

The evaluation of risks goes beyond information in SAM, however. OJP itself has in place a 

framework for evaluating risks posed by applicants for competitive awards. OJP takes into 

account information pertinent to matters such as —

1. Applicant financial stability and fiscal integrity.

2. Quality of the applicant’s management systems, and the applicant’s ability to meet 

prescribed management standards, including those outlined in the DOJ Grants Financial 

Guide.

3. Applicant's history of performance under OJP and other DOJ awards (including 

compliance with reporting requirements and award conditions), as well as awards from 

other federal agencies.

4. Reports and findings from audits of the applicant, including audits under the Part 200 

Uniform Requirements.

5. Applicant's ability to comply with statutory and regulatory requirements, and to effectively 

implement other award requirements.

Note on applicants with a “high risk” designation: Risks associated with DOJ High Risk 

Grantees, or applicants designated as “high risk” by a federal grant-making agency outside of 

DOJ, are taken into account during the review process, and each applicant with such “high risk” 
36

NIJ-2019-15523

designations will be considered for funding on a case-by-case basis, depending on the nature 

and severity of the issues that led to the DOJ High Risk Grantee (or non-DOJ high risk) 

designation, status of progress in addressing corrective actions, and expected ability to manage 

grant funds and achieve grant goals and objectives. A “high risk” designated applicant is to 

submit disclosure and justification documentation consistent with the requirements specified, 

above, under “What an Application Should Include” in Section C. Application and Submission 

Information.

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

award decisions will be made by the Assistant Attorney General, 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

Federal Award Notices

Award notifications will be made by September 30, 2019. OJP sends award notifications by 

email through GMS to the individuals listed in the application as the point of contact and the 

authorizing official (E-Biz POC and AOR). The email notification includes detailed instructions 

on how to access and view the award documents, and steps to take in GMS to start the award

acceptance process. GMS automatically issues the notifications at 9:00 p.m. eastern time on 

the award date.

For each successful applicant, an individual with the necessary authority to bind the applicant 

will be required to log in; execute a set of legal certifications and a set of legal assurances;

designate a financial point of contact; thoroughly review the award, including all award 

conditions; and sign and accept the award. The award acceptance process requires a physical 

signature on the award document by the authorized representative. The fully-executed award 

document must then be scanned and submitted to OJP.

Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements

If selected for funding, in addition to implementing the funded project consistent with the OJPapproved application, the recipient must comply with all award conditions, as well as all 

applicable requirements of federal statutes and regulations (including applicable requirements 

referred to in the assurances and certifications executed in connection with award acceptance). 

OJP strongly encourages prospective applicants to review information on post-award legal

requirements and common OJP award conditions prior to submitting an application. 

Applicants should consult the “Overview of Legal Requirements Generally Applicable to OJP 

Grants and Cooperative Agreements – FY 2018 Awards,” available in the OJP Funding 

Resource Center at https://ojp.gov/funding/index.htm. In addition, applicants should examine the 

following two legal documents, as each successful applicant must execute both documents 

before it may receive any award funds. (An applicant is not required to submit these documents 

as part of an application.)
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NIJ-2019-15523

 Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility 

Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements.

 Certified Standard Assurances.

The webpages accessible through the “Overview of Legal Requirements Generally Applicable to 

OJP Grants and Cooperative Agreements – FY 2018 Awards” are intended to give applicants 

for OJP awards a general overview of important statutes, regulations, and award conditions that 

apply to many (or in some cases, all) OJP grants and cooperative agreements awarded in FY 

2019. Individual OJP awards typically also will include additional award conditions. Those 

additional conditions may relate to the particular statute, program, or solicitation under which the 

award is made; to the substance of the funded application; to the recipient's performance under 

other federal awards; to the recipient's legal status (e.g., as a for-profit entity); or to other 

pertinent considerations.

Awards under this solicitation will include a condition (the specific terms of which will govern the 

award) related to verification of employment eligibility. The condition will, generally speaking, 

require the recipient (and any subrecipient) that accepts the award to verify the employment 

eligibility of any individual hired under the award, consonant with 8 U.S.C. § 1324a(1).

Awards under this solicitation will include a condition (the specific terms of which will govern the 

award) related to competition requirements set forth at 2 C.F.R. § 200.319. The condition will, 

generally speaking, prohibit recipients (and any subrecipients) from procuring goods and 

services with award funds by means of any competition that disadvantages or excludes vendors 

on the basis of their having (or their having had) a prior or existing contractual relationship with 

the federal government.

OJP will include as appropriate an award condition (the specific terms of which will govern the 

award) requiring recipients of OJP grant funding that will support projects that involve or serve 

minors under the age of 18 to develop and implement written screening procedures (consistent 

with pertinent federal, state, and local law) for individuals who will interact in a staff or volunteer 

capacity with minors involved in the grant-funded programs.

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 the following reports and data.

Required reports. Recipients typically must submit quarterly financial reports, semi-annual

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. Future

awards and fund drawdowns may be withheld if reports are delinquent. (In appropriate cases, 

OJP may require additional reports.)

Awards that exceed $500,000 will include an additional condition that, under specific

circumstances, will require the recipient to report (to FAPIIS) information on civil, criminal, and 

administrative proceedings connected with (or connected to the performance of) either the OJP 

award or any other grant, cooperative agreement, or procurement contract from the federal 

government. Additional information on this reporting requirement appears in the text of the 

award condition posted on the OJP webpage at https://ojp.gov/funding/FAPIIS.htm.
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Data on performance measures. In addition to required reports, each award recipient also must 

provide data that measure the results of the work done under the award. To demonstrate 

program progress and success, as well as to assist DOJ in fulfilling its responsibilities under the 

Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), Public Law 103-62, and the GPRA 

Modernization Act of 2010, Public Law 111–352, OJP will require any award recipient, post 

award, to provide performance data as part of regular progress reporting. Successful applicants 

will be required to access OJP’s performance measurement page at www.ojp.gov/performance

for an overview of performance measurement activities at OJP.

Performance measures are also listed as Appendix A.

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)

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

title page.

For contact information for Grants.gov, see the title page.

H. Other Information

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

All applications submitted to OJP (including all attachments to applications) are subject to the 

federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and to the Privacy Act. By law, DOJ may withhold 

information that is responsive to a request pursuant to FOIA if DOJ determines that the 

responsive information either is protected under the Privacy Act or falls within the scope of one 

of nine statutory exemptions under FOIA. DOJ cannot agree in advance of a request pursuant 

to FOIA not to release some or all portions of an application.

In its review of records that are responsive to a FOIA request, OJP will withhold information in 

those records that plainly falls within the scope of the Privacy Act or one of the statutory 

exemptions under FOIA. (Some examples include certain types of information in budgets, and 

names and contact information for project staff other than certain key personnel.) In appropriate 

circumstances, OJP will request the views of the applicant/recipient that submitted a responsive 

document.

For example, if OJP receives a request pursuant to FOIA for an application submitted by a 

nonprofit or for-profit organization or an institution of higher education, or for an application that 

involves research, OJP typically will contact the applicant/recipient that submitted the 

application and ask it to identify -- quite precisely -- any particular information in the application 

that the applicant/recipient believes falls under a FOIA exemption, the specific exemption it 

believes applies, and why. After considering the submission by the applicant/recipient, OJP 

makes an independent assessment regarding withholding information. OJP generally follows a 

similar process for requests pursuant to FOIA for applications that may contain law-enforcement 

sensitive information.
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Provide Feedback to OJP

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

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

review process. Provide feedback to OJPSolicitationFeedback@usdoj.gov.

IMPORTANT: This email is for feedback and suggestions only. OJP does not reply from this 

mailbox to messages it receives in this mailbox. Any prospective applicant that has specific 

questions on any program or technical aspect of the solicitation must use the appropriate 

telephone number or email listed on the front of this document to obtain information. These 

contacts are provided to help ensure that prospective applicants can directly reach an individual 

who can address specific questions in a timely manner.

If you are interested in being a reviewer for other OJP grant applications, please email your 

resume to ojpprsupport@usdoj.gov. (Do not send your resume to the OJP Solicitation Feedback 

email account.) Note: Neither you nor anyone else from your organization or entity can be a 

peer reviewer in a competition in which you or your organization/entity has submitted an 

application.
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Appendix A: Performance Measures Tables 

Performance Measures for Purpose Area 1: NIJ Forensic Pathology Fellowships

Objective Performance Measure(s) Data Recipient Provides

Increase the 

capacity of 

ME/C services 

through the 

addition of 

qualified 

forensic 

pathologists.

The number of forensic 

pathology fellowship 

participants who completed 

fellowship training.

The number of participants who completed forensic 

pathology fellowship training under the Strengthening 

the Medical Examiner-Coroner System Program.

The number of forensic pathology fellowship 

participants funded through NIJ’s Strengthening the 

Medical Examiner-Coroner System Program.

The number of overall forensic pathology fellowship 

participants.

Percentage of death 

investigations performed by 

forensic pathology fellows 

through Strengthening the 

Medical Examiner-Coroner 

System Program 

Total number of deaths investigated by ME/C office 

six (6) months prior to award start date.

Total number of deaths investigated by ME/C office 

during each reporting period. 

Total number of deaths investigated by NIJ-funded 

forensic pathology fellow(s) during the reporting 

period.

Total number of deaths investigated by ME/C office 

during entire project.

Total number of deaths investigated by NIJ-funded 

forensic pathology fellow during the entire project.

Percentage of autopsies 

performed by forensic 

pathology fellows through 

Strengthening the Medical 

Examiner-Coroner System 

Program.

Total number of autopsies performed by ME/C office 

during the six (6) month period prior to the award start 

date.

Total number of autopsies performed by ME/C office 

during each reporting period.

Total number of autopsies performed by NIJ-funded 

forensic pathology fellow(s) during each reporting 

period

Total number of autopsies performed by ME/C office 

during entire project.

Total number of autopsies performed by NIJ-funded 

forensic pathology fellow(s) during the entire project.
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Performance Measures for Purpose Area 2: Medical Examiner-Coroner Office 

Accreditation

Objective Performance Measure(s) Data Recipient Provides

Increase the 

quality of ME/C 

services in the 

United States 

through 

accreditation 

and 

certification.

Provide accreditation 

documentation that meets 

expectations.

Provide accreditation documentation for each 

agency/organization that applied from appropriate 

accrediting body.

Percent increase in the 

number of certified 

individuals in ME/C 

agencies.

Number of individuals at ME/C agency or organization 

in medicolegal death investigation supporting 

positions.

Number of certified individuals at ME/C agency or 

organization in medicolegal death investigation 

supporting positions.

Number of individuals seeking certification with 

Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner System 

Program funding.

Number of individuals who achieved certification with 

Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner System 

Program funding during the project period.

Percent decrease in death 

investigation cases 

backlog.

Number of deaths investigated six (6) months prior to 

award start date.

Number of deaths investigated during the reporting 

period.

Total number of deaths investigated during the entire

project.

Average number of days to produce a final death 

investigation report prior to award start date.

Average number of days to produce a final death 

investigation report during each reporting period.

Average number of days to produce a final death 

investigation report at the end of the project period.

Percent decrease in 

autopsy cases backlog.

Number of autopsies performed during the six (6) 

month period prior to the award start date.

Number of autopsies performed during each reporting 
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period.

Total number of autopsies performed during the entire 

project.

Average number of days to produce a final autopsy 

report prior to award start date.

Average number of days to produce a final autopsy 

report during each reporting period.

Average number of days to produce a final autopsy 

report at the end of the project period.
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Appendix B: Application Checklist 

Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner System Program, FY 2019 

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 page 27) 

_____ Acquire or renew registration with SAM (see page 28) 

To Register with Grants.gov: 

_____ Acquire AOR and Grants.gov username/password (see page 28) 

_____ Acquire AOR confirmation from the E-Biz POC (see page 28) 

To Find Funding Opportunity:

_____ Search for the Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov (see page 28) 

_____ Select the correct Competition ID (see page 28) 

_____ Access Funding Opportunity and Application Package (see page 29) 

_____ Sign up for Grants.gov email notifications (optional) (see page 26) 

_____ 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 page 10) 

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 page 29) 

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

_____ contact NIJ regarding experiencing technical difficulties (see page 2) 

Overview of Post-Award Legal Requirements: 

_____ Review the "Overview of Legal Requirements Generally Applicable to OJP Grants and 

Cooperative Agreements – FY 2018 Awards" in the OJP Funding Resource Center at 

https://ojp.gov/funding/index.htm. 

Scope Requirement: 

_____ The federal amount requested is within the allowable limit(s) of for each Purpose Area. 

Eligibility Requirement: See cover page. 

What an Application Should Include: 

_____ Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) (see page 11) 

_____ Project Abstract (see page 12) 

_____ Program Narrative (critical element) (see page 12) 

_____ CVs/Resumes (critical element) (see page 16) 

_____ Budget Detail Worksheet (critical element) (see page 17) 

_____ Budget Narrative (critical element) (see page 17) 

_____ Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) (see page 20) 
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_____ Tribal Authorizing Resolution (if applicable) (see page 20)

_____ Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire (see page 21)

_____ Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) (see page 21)

_____ Applicant Disclosure of Pending Applications (see page 22)

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

(see page 23)

_____ Additional Attachments

_____ Potential Environmental Impact Coversheet and Checklist (see page 23)

_____ Research and Evaluation Independence and Integrity, (if applicable)

(see page 24)

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

(see page 9)