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

Office of Justice Programs Approval Expires 12/31/2018

National Institute of Justice

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

Justice (NIJ) is seeking applications for funding for research on the Byrne Criminal Justice 

Innovation (BCJI) Program administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. This research 

furthers the Department’s mission to provide objective, independent, evidence-based 

knowledge and tools to meet the challenges of crime and justice, particularly at the State and 

local levels.

NIJ Evaluation of the Byrne Criminal Justice 

Innovation (BCJI) Program FY 2016

Applications Due: June 6, 2016

Eligibility

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

agreements with, States (including territories), units of local government, federally recognized 

Indian tribal governments that perform law enforcement functions (as determined by the 

Secretary of the Interior), nonprofit and for-profit organizations (including tribal nonprofit and forprofit organizations), institutions of higher education (including tribal institutions of higher 

education), and certain qualified individuals. For-profit organizations must agree to forgo any 

profit or management fee. Foreign governments, foreign organizations, and foreign institutions 

of higher education are not eligible to apply.

Current BCJI Program and Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) grantees, their contractors, 

and consultants are ineligible to apply for this award (this includes any research partners 

involved in current BCJI Program grant projects). Former BCJI Program or TTA grantees, their 

contractors, or consultants may apply if the (paid or unpaid) working relationship related to the 

BCJI or TTA grant ended June 1, 2015 or prior.

NIJ welcomes applications that involve two or more entities that will carry out the funded federal 

award activities, however, one eligible entity must be the applicant and the other(s) must be 

proposed as subrecipient(s). The applicant must be the entity with primary responsibility for 

conducting and leading the project. If successful, the applicant will be responsible for monitoring 

and appropriately managing any subrecipients or, as applicable, for administering any 

procurement subcontracts that would receive federal program funds from the applicant under 

the award.

An eligible applicant may submit more than one application, as long as each application 

proposes a different project in response to the solicitation. (Applicants should also review and 

consider the “Duplicate Applications” note under How to Apply in Section D. Application and 

Submission Information.) Subrecipients may be part of multiple proposals.

NIJ may elect to make awards for applications submitted under this solicitation in future fiscal 

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

availability of appropriations.
2 NIJ-2016-9326

Deadline

Applicants must register with Grants.gov prior to submitting an application. All applications 

are due to be submitted and in receipt of a successful validation message in Grants.gov by 

11:59 p.m. eastern time on June 6, 2016.

All applicants are encouraged 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 or 606-545-5035, or via email to support@grants.gov.

The Grants.gov Support Hotline hours of operation are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except 

federal holidays.

Applicants that experience unforeseen Grants.gov technical issues beyond their control that 

prevent them from submitting their application by the deadline must email the NIJ contact 

identified below within 24 hours after the application deadline and request approval to 

submit their application. Additional information on reporting technical issues is found 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: toll-free at 1-800-851-3420; via TTY at 

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

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

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

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

awards can be found at 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 announcement: NIJ-2016-9326

Release date: April 6, 2016
3 NIJ-2016-9326

Contents

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

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

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

Goals, Objectives, Deliverables, and Expected Products ....................................................... 6

B. Federal Award Information..................................................................................................... 9

Type of Award ........................................................................................................................ 9

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls........................................................10

Budget Information ................................................................................................................11

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement.................................................................................11

Pre-Agreement Cost (also known as Pre-award Cost) Approvals..........................................11

Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation; Waiver...............................11

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

Costs Associated with Language Assistance (if applicable)...................................................12

C. Eligibility Information.............................................................................................................12

Limit on Number of Application Submissions.........................................................................12

D. Application and Submission Information...............................................................................13

What an Application Should Include ......................................................................................13

How to Apply .........................................................................................................................23

E. Application Review Information.............................................................................................26

Selection Criteria ...................................................................................................................26

Review Process.....................................................................................................................27

F. Federal Award Administration Information ............................................................................29

Federal Award Notices ..........................................................................................................29

Administrative, National Policy, and other Legal Requirements .............................................29

General Information About Post-Federal Award Reporting Requirements .............................30

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s) ...................................................................................31

H. Other Information..................................................................................................................31

Provide Feedback to OJP......................................................................................................31

Application Checklist .............................................................................................................33
4 NIJ-2016-9326

NIJ Evaluation of the Byrne Criminal Justice 

Innovation (BCJI) Program FY 2016

(CFDA No. 16.560)

A. Program Description

Overview

In collaboration with the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), NIJ seeks competitive proposals 

for a single award that will support research on the Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation (BCJI) 

Program. The purpose of this solicitation is to inform the program’s place-based and 

community-oriented efforts to reduce violent and serious crime as part of the Administration’s 

comprehensive strategy to advance neighborhood revitalization. Research tasks include: a 

review of BCJI planning, implementation, and enhancement grants; a process evaluation of 

BCJI grant activities; a process and outcome evaluation of the BCJI Training and Technical 

Assistance (TTA) Program; and an evaluability assessment of BCJI grant activities. Results 

from the evaluability assessment may become a precursor to further research and program 

development work, lay groundwork for a possible larger scale evaluation, and assist with the 

coordination of extramural and intramural research and evaluation efforts sponsored by NIJ and 

BJA.

Authorizing Legislation: Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2016 (Public Law 114-

113), 129 Stat. 2242, 2308-2309.

Program-Specific Information

Research suggests that a disproportionate amount of crime and disorder in many communities 

is concentrated in small areas, or “hot spots.” These areas are characterized by a number of 

challenges including poverty, unemployment, struggling schools, and inadequate housing. To 

address these issues, the Administration has provided funds through several federal agencies 

to local and tribal jurisdictions to develop place-based, community-oriented strategies to 

transform neighborhoods.1 BJA has administered the BCJI Program since fiscal year (FY) 2012.

The goal of BCJI is to reduce crime and improve community safety as part of a comprehensive 

strategy to advance neighborhood revitalization. BCJI grants target communities experiencing a 

concentration of chronic hot spots of violent and serious crime and employ data-driven, crosssector strategies to reduce crime and violence. Additionally, these efforts are closely linked with 

neighborhood revitalization efforts to create, enhance, and sustain cross-sector partnerships. 

Across BCJI sites, grant resources are used to address crime drivers through a variety of 

approaches:

• Violence reduction and addressing gang-related activity.

 1 To learn more about the Administration’s strategy, see Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative 

https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/oua/initiatives/neighborhood-revitalization, Promise Neighborhoods 

http://www2.ed.gov/programs/promiseneighborhoods/index.html, and Promise Zone Initiative 

http://www.hud.gov/promisezones.
5 NIJ-2016-9326

• Examination of physical conditions that contribute to crime (crime prevention through 

environmental design [CPTED] assessments, land use, code enforcement, and nuisance 

laws).

• Collaboration and coordination with community and economic development partners.

• Strategies to involve youth and address youth-related crime.

• Building social cohesion and improving collective efficacy among all neighborhood 

partners and residents.

• Active resident and community involvement to support both problem identification and 

solution development.

Cross-sector partnerships for each BCJI grant site include law enforcement, other criminal 

justice partners, neighborhood residents, a research partner or research team, and relevant 

community stakeholders. Since FY 2012, BJA has funded 60 planning, implementation or 

enhancement grants across the U.S. and anticipates funding additional sites in FY 2016.

BJA also funds TTA to support the BCJI Program’s core elements:

1. Place-based strategy – to better integrate crime control efforts with revitalization 

strategies.

2. Data driven – to improve the use of data and research to problem solve and guide 

program strategy.

3. Community oriented – to increase community and resident engagement in shaping crime 

prevention and revitalization efforts.

4. Partnerships and capacity building – to promote sustainable collaboration with crosssector partners to tackle problems from multiple angles.

The following BCJI Program materials provide additional information:

• BJA BCJI Program webpage https://www.bja.gov/ProgramDetails.aspx?Program_ID=70.

• BJA BCJI Program FY2016 Competitive Grant 

Announcement https://www.bja.gov/BCJI16.

• BJA BCJI TTA Program FY2015 Competitive Grant 

Announcement https://www.bja.gov/Funding/15BCJITTAsol.pdf.

• BCJI TTA website http://www.lisc.org/bcji.

• BCJI Site Overviews2

http://programs.lisc.org/CSI/Images/FY_2012_BCJI_Site_Overview_Chart.pdf.

 2 Note these issues, strategies, and even research partner information derived from BCJI Program applications are 

subject to change.
6 NIJ-2016-9326

• BJA BCJI Performance Measures 

https://www.bjaperformancetools.org/help/BCJIPerformanceIndicatorgrid.pdf.

Note BCJI is part of BJA’s Smart Suite3 that promotes the adoption of research and evidence in 

the field by supporting BJA programs that require robust practitioner-researcher partnerships. 

These programs employ data-driven approaches to reduce crime, improve community safety, 

reduce recidivism, and prevent unnecessary confinement. All BJA Smart Suite programs, 

including BCJI, require a research partner to work with the grantee, conducting analysis of the 

crime issues in the target community, collecting data, and evaluating the data. The applicant 

should plan to use the data, analysis and evaluation resources from these researcherpractitioner partnerships to inform evaluation activities under this solicitation.

Goals, Objectives, Deliverables, and Expected Products

NIJ developed this solicitation in collaboration with BJA to seek competitive proposals for a 

single cooperative agreement that will support research on the BCJI Program. Our goal is to 

inform program development relevant to stakeholder interests; research objectives include:

• Documenting the overall BCJI program goals, objectives, design, and history.

• Observing BCJI grant activities to assess site operations and BCJI model fidelity.

• Assessing sites’ capacity for information collection, data management, and analysis.

• Identifying key types of concerns targeted, and approaches developed, across sites.

• Identifying key indicators of outcomes not limited to crime reduction and community 

safety.

• Documenting and assessing TTA activities for correspondence to BCJI site needs and 

BCJI grantee satisfaction.

• Conducting an evaluability assessment to inform future research plans that may include 

process, outcome and/or impact evaluations, as well as cost-efficiency studies.

Research tasks for this cooperative agreement include: a review of BCJI planning, 

implementation, and enhancement grants; a process evaluation of BCJI grant activities; a 

process and outcome evaluation of BCJI TTA; and an evaluability assessment of BCJI grant 

activities for future research planning consideration.

1. Review of BCJI Planning, Implementation and Enhancement Grants

Across the 60 sites4 funded by BJA between FY 2012 and FY 2015, site concerns range 

from illegal drug markets to property and violent crimes involving weapons, problem 

properties and neighborhood blight; target populations include offenders returning from 

 3 To learn more about BJA’s Smart Suite see https://www.bja.gov/programs/crppe/smartsuite.html. 4 These include 26 implementation grants (each $1 million for 36 months), 12 enhancement grants (each $600,000 

for 36 or more months), plus 22 planning grants (11 FY 2014 each $100,000, 11 FY 2015 each $150,000, for 18 

months). BJA intends to fund up to 5 implementation grants (each up to $850,000 for up to 24 months) and 5 

planning and implementation grants (each up to $1 million for up to 36 months) in FY 2016.
7 NIJ-2016-9326

incarceration, gangs, and youth. Sites employ a variety of data-driven and evidenceinformed strategies such as hotspot policing and targeted patrols, youth and family 

programming, CPTED, re-entry programming and gang interventions. Many of these 

strategies are based on focused deterrence, community empowerment, community 

policing, and public health models. The review should describe characteristics of 

communities and partnerships, types of concerns targeted and strategies developed, 

resources and challenges, and other feedback on aspects of the BCJI Program that may

inform its development. Research partner activities relating to problem assessment, 

strategy development, data collection, analysis, and formative evaluation should be 

reviewed as well.

2. Process Evaluation of BCJI Grant Activities

In consultation with BJA, NIJ will work with the grantee to identify up to fifteen (15) 

enhancement and implementation grants for a multisite process evaluation. Although 

sites vary in number and type of grant activities, the evaluation strategy should have a 

minimum standard data collection plan to be conducted across sites, including: site 

observation; interviews with BCJI grantees and local stakeholders; review of research 

partnership data and analysis; review of the research partner’s integration into the BCJI 

cross-sector team (e.g., level of involvement, frequency of meetings) and documentation

of contextual and external factors (e.g., legislation and policies, Neighborhood 

Revitalization Initiative or other federal program support). The process evaluation should 

yield information on sites’ adherence to the BCJI core elements, lessons learned from 

successes and failures in developing and executing strategies, and other feedback on 

aspects of the BCJI Program that impact grantee experiences and may inform program 

development. The process evaluation plan should assume at least one (1) visit by the 

researcher per site, and each visit no less than three (3) days excluding travel time.

3. Evaluability Assessment of BCJI Program Sites for Future Research Plans

Supplementing what is learned from the review and process evaluation of BCJI Program 

sites, the evaluability assessment should provide additional information on up to fifteen 

(15) sites5 for consideration of future research plans that may include outcome and/or 

impact evaluations, as well as cost-efficiency studies. Relevant information for each site 

includes: a draft program logic model to illustrate strategies and intended outcomes; 

confirmation that the strategies are based on valid theoretical and data analysis, to 

include consideration of evidence-based programs with positive outcomes and/or 

sufficient justification to employ innovative strategies rooted in data and based upon a 

theory of change; and preliminary assessment of information and other resources 

sufficient to support a rigorous outcome or impact evaluation (for either quasi- or 

experimental research designs). The evaluability plan should assume at least one (1) 

visit by the researcher per site, and each visit no less than three (3) days excluding 

travel time.

4. Process and Outcome Evaluation of BCJI TTA

TTA is intended to promote BCJI’s core elements and support the development and, if 

applicable, implementation of each site’s strategy. TTA activities should proactively 

 5 For the purposes of this solicitation, applicants may assume that the sites selected for evaluability assessment also 

participated in the process evaluation.
8 NIJ-2016-9326

assist grantees in planning and implementation, support sites’ research partnerships to 

develop valid data-driven crime and outcome analysis, and identify ways to enhance 

criminal justice and community engagement. TTA requirements include regional and 

national meetings for BCJI sites, information dissemination via website and other media, 

consultation on public safety and community trust issues, and coordination with BJA and 

other agencies involved in Neighborhood Revitalization and other federal initiatives. 

Primary data collection plans should build upon information regarding sites’ use of TTA 

services (collected via BCJI Program performance measures) and TTA provider 

performance measure (see TTA solicitation). The process evaluation should document 

and assess TTA activities for overall policy development and support of BCJI’s core 

elements, correspondence to site needs, and grantee satisfaction. The outcome 

evaluation should examine and document the successes and failures of the provider in 

achieving the BCJI Program goals and objectives, with feedback from BCJI Program 

grantees and the TTA team that may inform BCJI program development including TTA 

services. Specifically, the evaluation should assess how the TTA has:

1) Assisted the sites to identify and address TTA needs and gaps;

2) Aligned with each site’s overall BCJI implementation strategy (as determined by 

each site’s Implementation Plan); and

3) Built the sites’ capacity to plan and implement BCJI activities.

Applicants are encouraged to propose a variety of research methods to collect and analyze

information for these four tasks. Evaluation plans should maximize the utility of information 

available from: BJA BCJI Program and TTA grantees,

6 performance measure and progress 

reports submitted by BCJI Program and TTA grantees; and regional and/or annual BCJI 

Program grantee meetings organized by the TTA provider. NIJ, in consultation with BJA, will 

review all proposed research activities in draft prior to the recipient’s initiation of the research 

under this program. Before the NIJ award recipient may begin research involving information 

identifiable to persons, protocols must be approved by relevant Institutional Review Board (IRB) 

and other human subjects protection authorities, and a privacy certificate must be approved by 

NIJ’s Human Subjects Protection Officer.

In addition to required research data sets, interim and final progress and financial reports, 

expected NIJ grant work products include:

• Preliminary individual process evaluation reports for each of the implementation and 

enhancement grants selected; individual draft reports are due within fifteen (15) 

business days of each site visit.

• Preliminary individual evaluability assessment reports for each of the implementation 

and enhancement grants selected; individual draft reports are due within fifteen (15) 

business days of each site visit.

 6 These grantees have agreed, as a condition of award, to comply with, among other things, assessments and 

evaluation efforts, including those funded under this NIJ solicitation. As shown in the FY 2016 BJA BCJI solicitation, 

prospective FY 2016 BJA BCJI grantees are also notified of the requirement to cooperate with assessment and 

evaluation activities funded under this NIJ solicitation.
9 NIJ-2016-9326

• An abstract, executive summary, and comprehensive final report with technical 

appendices including research protocols and instrumentation; draft versions of these 

written deliverables are due ninety (90) days prior to the grant end date for review.

• An NIJ Briefing to be delivered in Washington, D.C. to participants including BJA about 

thirty (30) days prior to the grant end date; presentation materials including a handout 

and PowerPoint slides that summarize research methods and findings are due in draft 

no later than ten (10) business days in advance of the briefing for NIJ review.

Additional Guidance

• Current BCJI Program and TTA grantees, their contractors, and consultants are 

ineligible to apply for this award (this includes any research partners involved in current 

BCJI Program grant projects).

• Former BCJI Program or TTA grantees, their contractors, or consultants may apply if the

(paid or unpaid) working relationship related to the grant ended June 1, 2015 or prior.

• A special condition will be attached to the NIJ award stipulating that the grantee may not 

obligate, expend, or draw down more than $25,000 for pre-research activities; this will be 

removed when the draft research protocol approved by NIJ is cleared by an IRB, and the 

privacy certificate is approved by NIJ’s Human Subjects Protection Officer. 

B. Federal Award Information

NIJ anticipates that up to a total of $850,000 may become available for one (1) 24-month award 

made through this solicitation.7

To allow time for, among other things, any necessary post-award review, modification, and 

clearance by OJP of the proposed budget, applicants should propose an award start date of 

January 1, 2017.

NIJ may, in certain cases, provide supplemental funding in future years to awards under its 

research, development, and evaluation solicitations. Important considerations in decisions 

regarding supplemental funding include, among other factors, the availability of funding, 

strategic priorities, NIJ’s assessment of the quality of the management of the award (for 

example, timeliness and quality of progress reports), and NIJ’s assessment of the progress of 

the work funded under the award.

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 Award8

NIJ expects that it will make any award from this solicitation in the form of a cooperative 

agreement, which is a particular type of grant used if NIJ expects to have ongoing substantial 

 7 NIJ may allow a no-cost extension for a grant made under this solicitation with proper justification, but completion of 

this project within the 24-month period is highly encouraged.

8 See generally 31 U.S.C. §§ 6301-6305 (defines and describes various forms of federal assistance relationships, 

including grants and cooperative agreements [a type of grant]).
10 NIJ-2016-9326

involvement in award activities. Substantial involvement includes direct oversight and 

involvement with the grantee organization in implementation of the grant, but does not involve 

day-to-day project management. See Administrative, National Policy, and other Legal 

Requirements, under Section F. Federal Award Administration Information, for details regarding 

the federal involvement anticipated under an award from this solicitation.

As discussed later in the solicitation, important rules (including limitations) apply to any 

conference/meeting/training costs under cooperative agreements.

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

Department of Justice regulations on confidentiality and human subjects’ protection. See 

“Evidence, Research, and Evaluation Guidance and Requirements” under “Solicitation 

Requirements” in OJP's Funding Resource Center.

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls

Award recipients and subrecipients (including any recipient or subrecipient funded in response 

to this solicitation that is a pass-through entity9

) must, as described in the Part 200 Uniform 

Requirements 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.

In order to better understand administrative requirements and cost principles, applicants are 

encouraged to enroll, at no charge, in the Department of Justice Grants Financial Management 

Online Training available here.

 9 For purposes of this solicitation (or program announcement), “pass-through entity” includes any entity eligible to 

receive funding as a recipient or subrecipient under this solicitation (or program announcement) that, if funded, may 

make a subaward(s) to a subrecipient(s) to carry out part of the funded program.
11 NIJ-2016-9326

Budget Information

What will not be funded:

• Proposals primarily to purchase equipment, materials, or supplies. (A budget may 

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

demonstration, evaluation, or analysis.)

• Proposals that are not responsive to this specific solicitation.

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement

See “Cofunding” paragraph under item 4 (“Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative”) 

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

Information.

Pre-Agreement Cost (also known as Pre-award Cost) Approvals

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

performance of the grant 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. If approved, pre-agreement costs could be paid 

from grant funds consistent with a grantee’s approved budget, and under applicable cost 

standards. However, all such costs prior to award and prior to approval of the costs are incurred 

at the sole risk of an applicant. Generally, no applicant should incur project costs before

submitting an application requesting federal funding for those costs. Should there be 

extenuating circumstances that appear to be appropriate for OJP’s consideration as preagreement costs, the applicant should contact the point of contact listed on the title page of this 

announcement for details on the requirements for submitting a written request for approval. See 

the section on Costs Requiring Prior Approval in the Financial Guide, 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, recipients may 

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

employee of the award recipient at a rate that exceeds 110% 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.

10 The 2016 salary 

table for SES employees is available at the Office of Personnel Management website. Note: A 

recipient may compensate an employee at a greater rate, provided the amount in excess of this 

compensation limitation is paid with non-federal funds. (Any such additional compensation will 

not be considered matching funds where match requirements apply.) For employees who 

charge only a portion of their time to an award, the allowable amount to be charged is equal to 

the percentage of time worked times the maximum salary limitation.

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

2 C.F.R. Part 200.
12 NIJ-2016-9326

The Director of the National Institute of Justice may exercise discretion to waive, on an 

individual basis, the limitation on compensation rates allowable under an award. An applicant 

requesting a waiver should include a detailed justification in the budget narrative of the 

application. Unless the applicant submits a waiver request and justification with the application, 

the applicant should anticipate that OJP will request the applicant to adjust and resubmit the 

budget.

The justification should include the particular qualifications and expertise of the individual, the 

uniqueness of the service the individual will provide, the individual’s specific knowledge of the 

program or project being undertaken with award funds, and a statement explaining that the 

individual’s salary is commensurate with the regular and customary rate for an individual with 

his/her qualifications and expertise, and for the work to be done.

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

OJP strongly encourages applicants that propose to use award funds for any conference-, 

meeting-, or training-related activity to review carefully—before submitting an application—the 

OJP policy and guidance on “conference” approval, planning, and reporting 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 and of some conference, meeting, and 

training costs for grant recipients; and (3) set cost limits, including 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 “Solicitation 

Requirements” in OJP's Funding Resource Center.

C. Eligibility Information

For eligibility information, see title page.

For additional information on cost sharing or matching requirements, see Section B. Federal 

Award Information.

Limit on Number of Application Submissions

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

recent system-validated version submitted. For more information on system-validated versions, 

see How to Apply.
13 NIJ-2016-9326

D. Application and Submission Information

What an Application Should Include

Applicants should anticipate that if they fail to submit an application that contains all of the 

specified elements, it may affect negatively the review of their application; and, should a 

decision be made to make an award, it may result in the inclusion of special conditions that 

preclude the recipient from accessing or using award funds pending satisfaction of the 

conditions.

Moreover, applicants should anticipate that applications determined to be nonresponsive to the 

scope of the solicitation, or that do not include the application elements that NIJ has designated 

to be critical, will neither proceed to peer review nor receive further consideration. Under this 

solicitation, NIJ has designated the following application elements as critical: Program Narrative, 

Budget Detail Worksheet, Budget Narrative, and resumes/curriculum vitae of key personnel. For 

purposes of this solicitation, “key personnel” means the principal investigator, and any and all 

co-principal investigators. Please review the “Note on File Names and File Types” under How to 

Apply to be sure applications are submitted in permitted formats.

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

“Program Narrative,” “Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative,” “Timelines,” 

“Memoranda of Understanding,” “Resumes”) for all attachments. Also, OJP recommends that 

applicants include resumes in a single file.

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 OJP’s 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).

Intergovernmental Review: This funding opportunity (program) is not subject to Executive 

Order 12372. (In completing the SF-424, applicants are to make the appropriate selection in 

response to question 19 to indicate that the “Program is not covered by E.O. 12372.”)

2. Project Abstract

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

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

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

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

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

project in 250-400 words. Project abstracts should be—

• Written for a general public audience.

• Submitted as a separate attachment with “Project Abstract” as part of its file name.
14 NIJ-2016-9326

• Single-spaced, using a standard 12-point font (Times New Roman) with 1-inch margins.

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

program narrative.

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

content) available at www.nij.gov/funding/documents/nij-project-abstract-template.pdf.

3. Program Narrative

The program narrative section of the application should not exceed 25 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 25-page limit for the narrative 

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

count toward the 25-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.11

Program Narrative Guidelines:

a. Title Page (not counted against the 25-page program narrative limit).

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

opportunity number, and the name and complete contact information (that is,

address, telephone number, and e-mail address) for both the applicant 

organization and the principal investigator.

b. Resubmit Response (if applicable) (not counted against the 25-page program 

narrative limit).

If an applicant is resubmitting a proposal presented previously to NIJ, but not 

funded, the applicant should indicate this. A statement should be provided, no 

more than two pages, addressing: (1) the title, submission date, and NIJassigned application number of the previous proposal, and (2) a brief summary of 

revisions to the proposal, including responses to previous feedback received 

from NIJ.

c. Table of Contents and Figures (not counted against the 25-page program narrative 

limit).

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

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

applicant structure the application – specifically including the narrative, expected deliverables, timelines/milestones, 

and budget detail worksheet and budget narrative – to set out each phase clearly. See generally, “Goals, Objectives, 

Deliverables, and Expected Products” under “Program-Specific Information,” above.
15 NIJ-2016-9326

d. Main Body

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

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

narrative:

• Statement of the Problem.

• Project Design and Implementation.

• Potential Impact.

• Capabilities/Competencies.

Within these sections, the narrative should address:

• Purpose, goals, and objectives.

• Review of relevant literature.

• Detailed description of research design and methods, such as research 

questions, hypotheses, description of sample, and analysis plan.

• Deliverables (See Goals, Objectives, Deliverables, and Expected 

Products under Program-Specific Information, above.)

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

• Management plan and organization.

• Plan for Dissemination to Broader Audiences (if applicable to the 

proposed project). Applicants should identify plans (if any) to produce or 

to make available to broader interested audiences – such as 

criminal/juvenile justice practitioners or policymakers – summary 

information from any planned products of the proposed project, in a form 

designed to be readily accessible and useful to those audiences. (Such 

dissemination might include, for example, trade press articles and 

webinars.)

e. Appendices (not counted against the 25-page program narrative limit) include:

• Bibliography/references.

• Any tools/instruments, questionnaires, tables/charts/graphs, or maps 

pertaining to the proposed project that are supplemental to such items 

included in the main body of the narrative.

• Curriculum vitae or resumes of the principal investigator and any and all coprincipal investigators. In addition, curriculum vitae, resumes, or biographical 

sketches of all other individuals (regardless of “investigator” status) who will 
16 NIJ-2016-9326

be significantly involved in substantive aspects of the proposal (including, for 

example, individuals such as statisticians serving as consultants to conduct

proposed data analysis).

• List (to the extent known) of all proposed project staff members, including 

those affiliated with the applicant organization or any proposed subrecipient 

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.

• Proposed project timeline and expected milestones.

• Human Subjects Protection paperwork (documentation and forms related to 

Institutional Review Board (IRB) review). 

(See nij.gov/funding/humansubjects/Pages/welcome.aspx) NOTE: Final IRB 

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

• Privacy Certificate (for further guidance go 

to nij.gov/funding/humansubjects/pages/confidentiality.aspx).

• List of any previous and current NIJ awards to applicant organization and 

investigator(s), 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).

• Letters of cooperation/support or administrative agreements from 

organizations collaborating in the project, such as law enforcement and 

correctional agencies (if applicable).

• List of other agencies, organizations, or funding sources to which this 

proposal has been submitted (if applicable).

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

special award conditions, including a partial withholding of award funds) that 

data sets resulting in whole or in part from projects funded under this 

solicitation be submitted for archiving with the National Archive of Criminal 

Justice Data (NACJD) (See www.nij.gov/funding/data-resourcesprogram/applying/Pages/data-archiving-strategies.aspx).

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

Archiving Plan” – to comply with data archiving requirements. The plan 

should provide brief details about proposed data management and archiving,

including submission to NIJ (through NACJD) of all files and documentation

necessary to allow for future efforts by others to reproduce the project’s 

findings and/or to extend the scientific value of the data set through 
17 NIJ-2016-9326

secondary analysis. Pertinent files and documentation include, among other 

things, qualitative and quantitative data produced, instrumentation and data 

collection forms, codebook(s), any specialized programming code necessary 

to reproduce all constructed measures and the original data analysis,

description of necessary de-identification procedures, and (when required) a 

copy of the privacy certificate and informed consent protocols.

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

associated with meeting archiving requirements.

Note that required data sets are to be submitted 90 days before the end of 

the project period.

4. Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative

a. Budget Detail Worksheet

A sample Budget Detail Worksheet can be found 

at www.ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/BudgetDetailWorksheet.pdf. Applicants that 

submit their budget in a different format should include the budget categories listed in 

the sample budget worksheet. (Work associated with satisfying data archiving 

requirements should be reflected.) NIJ expects applicants to provide a thorough 

narrative to each section of the Budget Detail Worksheet. The Budget Detail Worksheet 

should be broken down by year.

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

see the Financial Guide at http://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).

Applicants should demonstrate in their budget narratives how they will maximize cost 

effectiveness of grant 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 narrative should be sound mathematically, and correspond 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 they are relevant 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 be broken down by year.
18 NIJ-2016-9326

c. Cofunding

An award made by NIJ under this solicitation may account for up to 100 percent of the 

total cost of the project. The application should indicate whether it is feasible for the 

applicant to contribute cash, facilities, or services as non-federal support for the project. 

The application should identify generally any such contributions that the applicant 

expects to make and the proposed budget should indicate in detail which items, if any, 

will be supported with non-federal contributions.

For additional match information, see the Cost Sharing or Match Requirement section 

under Section B. Federal Award Information.

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

budget, the total match amount incorporated into the approved budget becomes 

mandatory and subject to audit.

d. Non-Competitive Procurement Contracts In Excess of Simplified Acquisition 

Threshold

If an applicant proposes to make one or more non-competitive procurements of products 

or services, where the non-competitive procurement will exceed the simplified 

acquisition threshold (also known as the small purchase threshold), which is currently 

set at $150,000, the application should address the considerations outlined in 

the Financial Guide.

e. Pre-Agreement Cost Approvals

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

Information.

5. Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable)

Indirect costs are allowed only under the following circumstances:

(a) The applicant has a current, federally approved indirect cost rate; or

(b) The applicant 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).

Attach a copy of the federally approved indirect cost rate agreement to the application. 

Applicants that do not have an approved rate may request one through their cognizant 

federal agency, which will review all documentation and approve a rate for the applicant 

organization, or, if the applicant’s accounting system permits, costs may be allocated in the 

direct cost categories. For the definition of Cognizant Federal Agency, see the “Glossary of 

Terms” in the Financial Guide. For assistance with identifying your cognizant agency, please 

contact the 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 www.ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/IndirectCosts.pdf.

In order to use the “de minimis” indirect rate, attach written documentation to the application 

that advises OJP of both the applicant’s eligibility (to use the “de minimis” rate) and its 
19 NIJ-2016-9326

election. If the applicant elects the “de minimis” method, costs must be consistently charged 

as either indirect or direct costs, but may not be double charged or inconsistently charged as 

both. In addition, if this method is chosen then it must be used consistently for all federal 

awards until such time as you choose to negotiate a federally approved indirect cost rate.12

6. Tribal Authorizing Resolution (if applicable)

Tribes, tribal organizations, or third parties proposing to provide direct services or assistance 

to residents on tribal lands should include in their applications a resolution, a letter, affidavit, 

or other documentation, as appropriate, that certifies that the applicant has the legal 

authority from the tribe(s) to implement the proposed project on tribal lands. In those 

instances when an organization or consortium of tribes applies for a grant 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 grant. 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.

Applicants unable to submit an application that includes a fully executed (i.e., signed) copy 

of appropriate legal documentation, as described above, consistent with the applicable 

tribe’s governance structure, should submit, at a minimum, an unsigned, draft version of 

such legal documentation as part of its application (except for cases in which, with respect 

to a tribal consortium applicant, consortium bylaws allow action without the support of all 

consortium member tribes). If selected for funding, NIJ will make use of and access to funds 

contingent on receipt of the fully executed legal documentation.

7. Applicant Disclosure of High-Risk Status

Applicants are to disclose whether they are currently designated high-risk by another federal 

grant making agency. This includes any status requiring additional oversight by the federal 

agency due to past programmatic or financial concerns. If an applicant is designated highrisk by another federal grant making agency, you must email the following information to 

OJPComplianceReporting@usdoj.gov at the time of application submission:

• The federal agency that currently designated the applicant as high-risk.

• Date the applicant was designated high risk.

• The high-risk point of contact name, phone number, and email address, from that 

federal agency.

• Reasons for the high-risk status.

OJP seeks this information to ensure appropriate federal oversight of any grant award.

Disclosing this high risk information does not disqualify any organization from receiving an 

OJP award. However, additional grant oversight may be included, if necessary, in award 

documentation.

 12 See 2 C.F.R. § 200.414(f).
20 NIJ-2016-9326

SAMPLE

8. Additional Attachments

a. Applicant disclosure of pending applications13

Applicants are to disclose whether they have pending applications for federally funded 

grants or subgrants (including cooperative agreements) that include requests for funding 

to support the same project being proposed under this solicitation and will cover the 

identical cost items outlined in the budget narrative and worksheet in the application 

under this solicitation. The disclosure should include both direct applications for federal 

funding (e.g., applications to federal agencies) and indirect applications for such funding 

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

OJP seeks this information to help avoid any 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.

Applicants that have pending applications as described above are 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 funding agency.

Applicants should include the table as a separate attachment to their application. The file 

should be named “Disclosure of Pending Applications.”

Applicants that do not have pending applications as described above are to include a 

statement to this effect in the separate attachment page (e.g., “[Applicant Name on SF424] does not have pending applications submitted within the last 12 months for 

federally funded grants or subgrants (including cooperative agreements) that include 

 13 Typically, the applicant is not the principal investigator; rather, the applicant, most frequently, is the institution, 

organization, or company in which the principal investigator is employed.

Federal or 

State 

Funding 

Agency 

Solicitation 

Name/Project 

Name

Name/Phone/E-mail for Point of Contact at 

Funding Agency

DOJ/COPS COPS Hiring 

Program

Jane Doe, 202/000-0000; jane.doe@usdoj.gov

HHS/ 

Substance 

Abuse & 

Mental Health 

Services 

Administration

Drug Free 

Communities 

Mentoring Program/ 

North County Youth 

Mentoring Program

John Doe, 202/000-0000; john.doe@hhs.gov
21 NIJ-2016-9326

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

and will cover the identical cost items outlined in the budget narrative and worksheet in 

the application under this solicitation.”).

b. Research and Evaluation Independence and Integrity

If a proposal involves research and/or evaluation, regardless of the proposal’s other 

merits, in order to receive funds, the applicant must demonstrate research/evaluation 

independence, including appropriate safeguards to ensure research/evaluation 

objectivity and integrity, both in this proposal and as it may relate to the applicant’s other 

current or prior related projects. This documentation may be included as an attachment 

to the application which addresses BOTH i. and ii. below.

i. For purposes of this solicitation, applicants must document research and evaluation 

independence and integrity by including, at a minimum, one of the following two 

items:

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

any research integrity issues (including all principal investigators and subrecipients) and it has concluded that the design, conduct, or reporting of 

research and evaluation funded by NIJ grants, cooperative agreements, or 

contracts will not be biased by any personal or financial conflict of interest on 

the part of part of its staff, consultants, and/or sub-recipients responsible for 

the research and evaluation or on the part of the applicant organization;

OR

b. A specific listing of actual or perceived conflicts of interest that the applicant 

has identified in relation to this proposal. These conflicts could be either 

personal (related to specific staff, consultants, and/or sub-recipients) or 

organizational (related to the applicant or any subgrantee organization). 

Examples of potential investigator (or other personal) conflict situations may 

include, but are not limited to, 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 could not be 

given a grant 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), as the 

organization in such an instance would 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 applicants must address the issue of 

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

the following two items:
22 NIJ-2016-9326

a. If an applicant reasonably believes that no potential personal or 

organizational conflicts of interest exist, then the applicant should provide a 

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

Applicants MUST also include an explanation of the specific processes and 

procedures that the applicant will put in place to identify and eliminate (or, at 

the very least, mitigate) potential personal or financial conflicts of interest on 

the part of its staff, consultants, and/or sub-recipients for this particular 

project, should that be necessary during the grant period. Documentation that

may be helpful in this regard could include organizational codes of 

ethics/conduct or policies regarding organizational, personal, and financial 

conflicts of interest.

OR

b. If the applicant has identified specific personal or organizational conflicts of 

interest in its proposal during this review, the applicant must propose a 

specific and robust mitigation plan to address conflicts noted above. At a 

minimum, the plan must include specific processes and procedures that the 

applicant will put in place to eliminate (or, at the very least, mitigate) potential 

personal or financial conflicts of interest on the part of its staff, consultants, 

and/or sub-recipients for this particular project, should that be necessary 

during the grant period. Documentation that may be helpful in this regard 

could include organizational codes of ethics/conduct or policies regarding 

organizational, personal, and financial conflicts of interest. There is no 

guarantee that the plan, if any, will be accepted as proposed.

Considerations in assessing research and evaluation independence and integrity will 

include, but are not be limited to, the adequacy of the applicant’s efforts to identify 

factors that could affect the objectivity or integrity of the proposed staff and/or the 

organization 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.

9. Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire

In accordance with the Part 200 Uniform Requirements as set out at 2 C.F.R. 200.205, 

federal agencies must have in place a framework for evaluating the risks posed by 

applicants before they receive a federal award. To facilitate part of this risk evaluation, all

applicants (other than an individual) are to download, complete, and submit this form.

10. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

All applicants must complete this information. Applicants that expend any funds for lobbying 

activities are to provide the detailed information requested on the form Disclosure of 

Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL). Applicants that do not expend any funds for lobbying activities 

are to enter “N/A” in the text boxes for item 10 (“a. Name and Address of Lobbying 

Registrant” and “b. Individuals Performing Services”).
23 NIJ-2016-9326

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 www.Grants.gov. Applicants that experience technical 

difficulties during this process should call the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 800-518-

4726 or 606–545–5035, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except 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 and a user password. OJP 

encourages applicants to register several weeks before the application submission deadline. 

In addition, OJP urges applicants to submit applications 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.

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

regarding this solicitation. 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. Please insure all required 

documents are attached in the mandatory category.

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

characters in names of attachment files. Valid file names may include only the characters shown 

in the table below. Grants.gov is designed to reject any application that includes an 

attachment(s) with a file name that contains any characters not shown in the table below. 

Grants.gov is designed to forward successfully submitted applications to OJP’s Grants 

Management System (GMS).

Characters Special Characters

Upper case (A – Z) Parenthesis ( ) Curly braces { } Square brackets [ ]

Lower case (a – z) Ampersand (&) Tilde (~) Exclamation point (!)

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

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

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

Period (.) 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: 
24 NIJ-2016-9326

OJP may not make a federal award to an applicant organization until the applicant organization 

has complied with all applicable DUNS and SAM requirements. Individual applicants must 

comply with all Grants.gov requirements. If an applicant has not fully complied with the 

requirements by the time the federal awarding agency is ready to make a federal award, the 

federal awarding agency may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a federal 

award and use that determination as a basis for making a federal award to another applicant.

Individual applicants should search Grants.gov for a funding opportunity for which individuals 

are eligible to apply. Use the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) to register. Complete the 

registration form at https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/IndCPRegister to create a username and 

password. Individual applicants should complete all steps except 1, 2 and 4.

1. Acquire a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. In general, the Office of 

Management and Budget requires that all applicants (other than individuals) for federal 

funds include a DUNS number in their applications for a new award or a supplement to an 

existing award. A DUNS number is a unique nine-digit sequence recognized as the 

universal standard for identifying and differentiating entities receiving federal funds. The 

identifier is used for tracking purposes and to validate address and point of contact 

information for federal assistance applicants, recipients, and subrecipients. The DUNS 

number will be used throughout the grant life cycle. Obtaining a DUNS number is a free, 

one-time activity. Call Dun and Bradstreet at 866–705–5711 to obtain a DUNS number or 

apply online at www.dnb.com. A DUNS number is usually received within 1-2 business days.

2. Acquire registration with the System for Award Management (SAM). SAM is the 

repository for standard information about federal financial assistance applicants, recipients, 

and subrecipients. OJP requires all applicants (other than individuals) for federal financial 

assistance to maintain current registrations in the SAM database. Applicants must be 

registered in SAM to successfully register in Grants.gov. Applicants must update or renew 

their SAM registration annually to maintain an active status. SAM registration and renewal 

can take as long as 10 business days to complete.

Applications 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 up to 48 hours. OJP 

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

Information about SAM registration procedures can be accessed at www.sam.gov.

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. The applicant organization’s DUNS number must be used to complete this 

step. For more information about the registration process, go 

to www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html. Individuals registering with Grants.gov should 

go to http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/individual-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.
25 NIJ-2016-9326

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 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-2016-9326.

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

in Grants.gov. 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 and the second will state whether the application has been successfully

validated, or 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 well ahead of the deadline provides time to correct the 

problem(s) that caused the rejection. Important: OJP urges applicants to submit 

applications 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. All applications are due 

to be submitted and in receipt of a successful validation message in Grants.gov by 11:59

p.m. eastern time on June 6, 2016.

Click here for further details on DUNS, SAM, and Grants.gov registration steps and 

timeframes.

Note: Duplicate Applications

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

recent system-validated version submitted. See Note on File Names and File Types under How 

To Apply.

Experiencing Unforeseen Grants.gov Technical Issues

Applicants that experience unforeseen Grants.gov technical issues beyond their control that 

prevent them from submitting their application by the deadline must contact the Grants.gov 

Customer Support Hotline or the SAM Help Desk (Federal Service Desk) to report the technical 

issue and receive a tracking number. Then applicants must e-mail the NIJ contact identified in 

the Contact Information section on page 2 within 24 hours after the application deadline and 

request approval to submit their application. The e-mail must describe the technical difficulties, 

and 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: 

NIJ does not automatically approve requests. After the program office reviews the 

submission, and contacts the Grants.gov or SAM Help Desks to validate 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 applicant failed to follow all required procedures, 

which resulted in an untimely application submission, OJP will deny the applicant’s request to 

submit their application.

The following conditions are generally 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.)
26 NIJ-2016-9326

• 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, 

including firewalls, browser incompatibility, etc.

Notifications regarding known technical problems with Grants.gov, if any, are posted at 

the top of the OJP funding web page at http://ojp.gov/funding/index.htm.

E. Application Review Information

Selection Criteria

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

the following review criteria.

Statement of the Problem (Understanding of the problem and its importance) – 25%

1. Demonstrated understanding of the problem.

2. Demonstrated awareness of the state of current research.

3. Demonstrated awareness of relevant tools, protocols, and/or policies. 

Project Design and Implementation (Quality and technical merit) – 40%

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

aim(s) of the proposed project.

2. Feasibility of proposed project.

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

actions to minimize and/or mitigate them.

4. Cultural competence in addressing regional, racial/ethnic, language, and other diversity 

issues in proposed research protocol.

Potential Impact – 10%

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

justice in the United States, such as:

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

problem.

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

criminal/juvenile justice problem.
27 NIJ-2016-9326

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

applicant organization and proposed project staff) – 25%

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

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

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

involved in substantive aspects of the proposal).

2. Demonstrated ability of the applicant organization to manage the effort.

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

(including the applicant organization) and the scope of the proposed project.

4. Cultural competence by addressing regional, racial/ethnic, language, and other diversity 

issues in proposed team capabilities.

5. Potential conflict of interest addressed if any research team member may financially 

benefit from, or is/was involved in the development of, what is being researched.

Budget

Peer reviewers will consider and may comment on the following additional items in the context 

of scientific and technical merit.

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

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

3. Use of existing resources to conserve costs.

4. Proposed budget alignment with proposed project activities.

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

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

plan (if any) to produce or to make available to broader interested audiences, such as 

criminal/juvenile justice practitioners or policymakers, summary information from the planned 

deliverables of the project.

Review Process

OJP is committed to ensuring a fair and open process for awarding grants. 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 applicants have met basic minimum 

requirements, OJP screens applications for compliance with specified program requirements to 

help determine which applications should proceed to further consideration for award. Although 
28 NIJ-2016-9326

program requirements may vary, the following are common requirements applicable to all 

solicitations for funding under OJP grant programs:

• Applications must be submitted by an eligible type of applicant.

• Applications must request funding within programmatic funding constraints (if 

applicable).

• Applications must be responsive to the scope of the solicitation.

• Applications must include all items designated as “critical elements.”

• Applicants will be checked against the System for Award Management.

For a list of critical elements, see “What an Application Should Include” under Section D. 

Application and Submission Information.

NIJ may use internal peer reviewers, external peer reviewers, or a combination, to assess 

applications meeting basic minimum requirements on technical merit using the solicitation’s 

selection criteria. An external peer reviewer is an expert in the subject matter of a given 

solicitation who is not a current DOJ employee. An internal reviewer is a current DOJ employee 

who is well-versed or has expertise in the subject matter of this solicitation. A peer review panel 

will evaluate, score, and rate applications that meet basic minimum requirements.

OJP reviews applications for potential discretionary awards to evaluate the risks posed by 

applicants before they receive an award. This review may include but is not limited to the 

following:

1. Financial stability and fiscal integrity.

2. Quality of management systems and ability to meet the management standards 

prescribed in the Financial Guide.

3. History of performance.

4. Reports and findings from audits.

5. The applicant's ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other 

requirements imposed on award recipients.

6. Proposed costs to determine if the Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative 

accurately explain project costs, and whether those costs are reasonable, necessary, 

and allowable under applicable federal cost principles and agency regulations.

All final award decisions will be made by the Director of the National Institute of Justice. Peer 

reviewers’ ratings and any resulting recommendations are advisory only, although their views 

are considered carefully. In addition to peer review ratings, considerations for award 

recommendations and decisions may include, but are not limited to, proposed budgets, past 

performance (including scholarly products) under prior NIJ and OJP awards, research 

independence and integrity, strategic priorities, and available funding when making awards.
29 NIJ-2016-9326

F. Federal Award Administration Information

Federal Award Notices

OJP sends award notification 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 how to 

accept the award in GMS. GMS automatically issues the notifications at 9:00 p.m. eastern time 

on the award date (by September 30, 2016). Recipients will be required to login; accept any 

outstanding assurances and certifications on the award; designate a financial point of contact; 

and review, sign, and accept the award. The award acceptance process involves physical 

signature of the award document by the authorized representative and the scanning of the fullyexecuted award document to OJP.

Administrative, National Policy, and other Legal Requirements

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

agency-approved project proposal and budget, the recipient must comply with award terms and 

conditions, and other legal requirements, that are included in the award, incorporated into the 

award by reference, or are otherwise applicable to the award. OJP strongly encourages 

prospective applicants to review the information pertaining to these requirements prior to 

submitting an application. To assist applicants and recipients in accessing and reviewing this 

information, OJP has placed it on its Solicitation Requirements page of the OJP Funding 

Resource Center.

Please note in particular the following two forms, which applicants must submit in GMS prior to 

the receipt of any award funds, as each details legal requirements with which applicants must 

provide specific assurances and certifications of compliance. Applicants may view these forms

in the OJP Funding Resource Center and are strongly encouraged to review and consider them 

carefully prior to making an application for OJP grant funds.

• Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility 

Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements.

• Standard Assurances.

Upon grant approval, OJP electronically transmits (via GMS) the award document to the 

prospective award recipient. In addition to other award information, the award document 

contains award terms and conditions that specify national policy requirements14 with which 

recipients of federal funding must comply; uniform administrative requirements, cost principles, 

and audit requirements; and program-specific terms and conditions required based on 

applicable program (statutory) authority or requirements set forth in OJP solicitations and 

program announcements. For example, certain efforts may call for special requirements, terms, 

or conditions relating to intellectual property, data/information-sharing or -access, or information 

security; or audit requirements, expenditures and milestones, or publications and/or press 

releases.

 14 See generally 2 C.F.R. 200.300 (provides a general description of national policy requirements typically applicable 

to recipients of federal awards, including the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA)).
30 NIJ-2016-9326

OJP also may place additional terms and conditions on an award based on its risk assessment 

of the applicant, or for other reasons it determines necessary to fulfill the goals and objectives of 

the program.

Prospective applicants may access and review the text of mandatory conditions OJP includes in 

all OJP awards, as well as the text of certain other conditions, such as administrative conditions, 

via the Mandatory Award Terms and Conditions page of the OJP Funding Resource Center.

As stated above, NIJ expects that it will make any award from this solicitation in the form of a 

cooperative agreement. Cooperative agreement awards include standard “federal involvement” 

conditions that describe the general allocation of responsibility for execution of the funded 

program. Generally stated, under cooperative agreement awards, responsibility for the day-today conduct of the funded project rests with the recipient in implementing the funded and 

approved proposal and budget, and the award terms and conditions. Responsibility for oversight 

and redirection of the project, if necessary, rests with NIJ.

In addition to any “federal involvement” condition(s), OJP cooperative agreement awards 

include a special condition specifying certain reporting requirements required in connection with 

conferences, meetings, retreats, seminars, symposium, training activities, or similar events 

funded under the award, consistent with OJP policy and guidance on “conference” approval, 

planning, and reporting.

General Information About Post-Federal Award Reporting Requirements

Recipients 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. Applicants should anticipate that NIJ will require recipients to use a 

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

(RPPR) template/format for progress reports, appropriately modified for NIJ research awards. 

General information on RPPRs may be found at www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/rppr/. Future

awards and fund drawdowns may be withheld if reports are delinquent.

Special Reporting requirements may be required as appropriate.

As indicated earlier in this solicitation, NIJ expects specific deliverables to result from any award 

under this solicitation. Please review the Goals, Objectives, Deliverables, and Expected 

Products segment of the “Program-Specific Information” section of this solicitation, as well as 

the “Performance Measures” section.

Required Data Sets and Associated Files and Documentation

As discussed earlier, NIJ requires recipients of an award under this solicitation to submit to 

NACJD all data sets that result in whole or in part from the work funded by NIJ, along with 

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

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

secondary analysis. All data sets and necessary documentation are to be submitted 90 days 

prior to the end of the project period. For more information, see the “Program Narrative” section 

of What an Application Should Include.
31 NIJ-2016-9326

Performance Measures

To demonstrate program progress and success, as well as, to assist the Department with 

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,

applicants that receive funding under this solicitation must provide data that measure the results 

of their work done under this solicitation. OJP will require any award recipient, post award, to 

provide the data requested in the “Data Grantee Provides” column so that OJP can calculate 

values for the “Performance Measures” column. (Submission of performance measures data is 

not required for the application.) Performance measures for this solicitation are as follows:

Objective Performance Measure(s) Data Grantee Provides

Conduct research in social 

and behavioral sciences 

having clear implications 

for criminal justice policy 

and practice in the United 

States.

1.Relevance to the needs of the field 

as measured by whether the project’s 

substantive scope did not deviate 

from the funded proposal or any 

subsequent agency-approved 

modifications to the scope.

2.Quality of the research as 

demonstrated by the deliverables 

that result in whole or in part from 

work funded under the NIJ award.

3.Quality of management as measured 

by such factors as whether significant 

project milestones were achieved, 

reporting and other deadlines were 

met, and costs remained within 

approved limits.

1.Quarterly financial reports, 

semi-annual and progress 

reports of the work 

performed under the NIJ 

award, and, if applicable, an 

annual audit report.

2.List of deliverables that 

resulted in whole or in part 

from work funded under the 

NIJ award.

3.If applicable, each data set 

that resulted in whole or in 

part from work funded under 

the NIJ award.

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)

For Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s), see the title page.

For contact information for Grants.gov, see the title page.

H. Other Information

Provide Feedback to OJP

To assist OJP in improving its application and award processes, we encourage applicants to 

provide feedback on this solicitation, the application submission process, and/or the application 

review/peer review process. Provide feedback to OJPSolicitationFeedback@usdoj.gov.

IMPORTANT: This e-mail is for feedback and suggestions only. Replies are not sent from this 

mailbox. If you have specific questions on any program or technical aspect of the solicitation, 

you must directly contact the appropriate number or e-mail listed on the front of this solicitation 
32 NIJ-2016-9326

document. These contacts are provided to help ensure that you can directly reach an individual 

who can address your specific questions in a timely manner.

If you are interested in being a reviewer for other OJP grant applications, please e-mail your 

resume to ojppeerreview@lmsolas.com. The OJP Solicitation Feedback email account will not 

forward your resume. Note: Neither you nor anyone else from your organization can be a peer 

reviewer in a competition in which you or your organization have submitted an application.
33 NIJ-2016-9326

Application Checklist

NIJ Evaluation of the Byrne Criminal Justice

Innovation (BCJI) Program FY 2016

This application checklist has been created to assist in developing an application.

What an Applicant Should Do:

Prior to Registering in Grants.gov:

_____ Acquire a DUNS Number (see page 24)

_____ Acquire or renew registration with SAM (see page 24)

To Register with Grants.gov:

_____ Acquire AOR and Grants.gov username/password (see page 24)

_____ Acquire AOR confirmation from the E-Biz POC (see page 24)

To Find Funding Opportunity:

_____ Search for the funding opportunity on Grants.gov (see page 25)

_____ Download Funding Opportunity and Application Package

_____ Sign up for Grants.gov email notifications (optional) (see page 23)

_____ 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 12)

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 25)

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

_____ Please refer to the section: Experiencing Unforeseen Grants.gov Technical Issues

(see page 25)

General Requirements:

_____ Review the Solicitation Requirements in the OJP Funding Resource Center.

What an Application Should Include:

_____ Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) (see page 13)

_____ Project Abstract (if applicable) (see page 13)

_____ Program Narrative (see page 14)

_____ Budget Detail Worksheet (see page 17)

_____ Budget Narrative (see page 17)

_____ Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) (see page 18)

_____ Tribal Authorizing Resolution (if applicable) (see page 19)

_____ Applicant Disclosure of High-Risk Status (see page 19)

_____ Additional Attachments

_____ Applicant Disclosure of Pending Applications (see page 20)

_____ Research and Evaluation Independence and Integrity (see page 21)

_____ Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire (see page 22)

_____ Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) (see page 22)

_____ Employee Compensation Waiver request and justification (if applicable) (see page 11)