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

Office of Justice Programs 

National Institute of Justice 

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

Justice (NIJ) is pleased to announce that it is seeking applications for funding an evaluation of 

the demonstration field experiments testing innovative reentry models to be funded by the 

Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) in FY2011 under the Second Chance Act of 2007 (SCA). 

This program furthers the Department’s mission by sponsoring research to provide objective, 

independent, evidence-based knowledge and tools to meet the challenges of crime and justice, 

particularly at the State and local levels. 

Solicitation: Evaluation of the Multi-site 

Demonstration Field Experiment: What Works in 

Reentry Research

Eligibility 

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

agreements with, States (including territories), local governments (including federallyrecognized Indian tribal governments as determined by the Secretary of the Interior and 

published in the Federal Register), nonprofit and profit organizations (including tribal nonprofit 

and profit organizations), institutions of higher education (including tribal institutions of higher 

education), and certain qualified individuals. Foreign governments, foreign organizations, and 

foreign institutions of higher education are not eligible to apply. 

Deadline 

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

(See “How to Apply,” page 8.) 

All applications are due by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on June 14, 2010. 

(See “Deadlines: Registration and Application,” page 3.) 

Contact Information 

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

Hotline at 1–800–518–4726 or via e-mail to support@grants.gov.

Note: The Grants.gov Support Hotline hours of operation are 24 hours, seven days a week, 

except for Federal holidays. 

For assistance with any other requirement of this solicitation, contact Marie Garcia, Social 

Science Analyst, at 202–514–7128 or by e-mail to Marie.Garcia@usdoj.gov. 

Grants.Gov number assigned to announcement: NIJ–2010–2688

SL# 000943 
CONTENTS 

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

Deadlines: Registration and Application ........................................................................... 3 

Eligibility ............................................................................................................................ 3 

Specific Information .......................................................................................................... 3 

Performance Measures ..................................................................................................... 7 

How to Apply ..................................................................................................................... 8 

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

Standard Form 424 ............................................................................................. 10 

Program Narrative ............................................................................................... 10 

Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative ................................................. 12 

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) ...................................................... 13 

Tribal Authorizing Resolution (if applicable) ........................................................ 13 

Other Program-Specific Attachments .................................................................. 13 

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

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

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

Application Checklist ....................................................................................................... 18 

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Evaluation of the Multi-site Demonstration Field 

Experiment: What Works in Reentry Research 

CFDA No. 16.560 

Overview 

As part of a collaborative effort with the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to implement and 

rigorously test important criminal justice interventions and programs, NIJ seeks proposals to 

support a randomized controlled trial program evaluation as part of a multi-site Demonstration 

Field Experiment (DFE) on prisoner reentry. The rigorous multi-site DFE is part of NIJ’s reentry 

evaluation activities supported with funding under the Second Chance Act of 2007 (SCA). The 

purpose of the SCA is to provide effective solutions for managing the increasing number of 

people who are released from jail and prison into communities and the subsequent challenges 

communities face as offenders attempt to reintegrate into society. 

Applicants are encouraged to review the SCA (see http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgibin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ199.110.pdf). 

Authorizing Legislation: Second Chance Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-199) Sec 241. 

Deadlines: Registration and Application 

Registration is required prior to submission. OJP strongly encourages registering with 

Grants.gov several weeks before the deadline for application submission. The deadline for 

applying for funding under this announcement 11:59 p.m. eastern time on June 14, 2010. 

Please see the “How to Apply” section, page 8, for more details. 

Eligibility 

Please refer to the title page for eligibility information under this program. 

Specific Information—Evaluation of the Multi-site 

Demonstration Field Experiment: What Works in Reentry 

Research 

Background 

At yearend 2008, there were 1.6 million prisoners under federal or state correctional authority 

(Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2009). About 735,000 offenders were released from prison during 

the year. A prior BJS study reported that 52% of offenders released from state prisons were 

reincarcerated—either for a new crime or a technical violation—within 3 years of release from 

prison. The most recent data available from BJS indicate that in 2006, expenditures on 

corrections were estimated to be $68.7 billion. 

The SCA has several goals, including “to encourage the development and support of, and to 

expand the availability of, evidence-based programs that enhance public safety and reduce 

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recidivism, such as substance abuse treatment, alternatives to incarceration, and 

comprehensive reentry services.” 42 U.S.C. § 17501(a)(3). This NIJ solicitation will support this 

goal by testing an innovative reentry model in several jurisdictions across the United States. 

This NIJ solicitation seeks to make a single award for DFE program evaluation activities 

that will focus on a rigorous experimental test of a specific reentry intervention or 

strategy. (The specific reentry program or intervention to be tested will be determined by NIJ 

and BJA through a separate competitive process, and up to six DFE sites will be selected by 

BJA through a separate solicitation. Funds to support the implementation of the selected 

program at the DFE sites will be provided by BJA, subject to the availability of funds.) 

Understanding Demonstration Field Experiments

NIJ and BJA are supporting a multi-site randomized controlled trial (RCT) on prisoner reentry 

where costs associated with program implementation are funded by BJA, and costs associated 

with the evaluation are funded by NIJ. NIJ plans to fully fund the evaluation component of this 

effort under this solicitation. (Program implementation costs, to be paid by BJA, will be 

expended in FY2011.) 

A multi-site DFE will provide a rigorous test of a specific reentry program or model and its 

causal relationship to desired reentry outcomes, including re-offending and re-incarceration. The 

DFE approach creates a strong infrastructure to ensure adherence to both the required reentry 

intervention model and a rigorous evaluation design (using randomized assignment of cases to 

experimental and control groups). The DFE will consist of up to six sites that will be funded (by 

BJA) to implement the DFE model and a single evaluation award (to be funded by NIJ under 

this solicitation) to manage and monitor the randomized controlled trial process, to conduct the 

analysis of data from the RCT, and to submit a final research report and other research 

deliverables. 

The DFE approach provides a rigorous test of the causal connection between program activity 

and targeted outcomes. In addition, the DFE will provide important data on program 

implementation, site capabilities to undertake a rigorous RCT, and process evaluation findings. 

The selection of the DFE evaluator is the first of three important steps in undertaking the DFE. 

The model to be implemented at the demonstration sites and evaluated by the NIJ evaluation 

grantee will be determined by NIJ and BJA through a separate selection process. Upon 

selection of the program model to be implemented (to be completed in summer 2010), BJA will 

finalize and release a solicitation to recruit demonstration sites (scheduled for early FY 2011). 

DFE sites will be selected for BJA funding based upon their commitment to build knowledge and 

to implement the specified reentry program or intervention with fidelity; to adhere to all 

requirements of the RCT, including random assignment of cases to experimental and control 

conditions; and to cooperate fully with the evaluation (which is the single purpose for which the 

DFE is funded). DFE site applicants must agree to comply with these mandatory program 

requirements or they will not be selected for funding. 

Evaluating the Multi-Site DFE 

The research proposed under this solicitation should include process, outcome, cost, and 

impact evaluation plans for up to six demonstration sites to receive BJA funding as part of the 

DFE. The main objective of the DFE – realized through the RCT evaluation – will be to 

determine “what works” in reentry programming. Through a carefully controlled experiment, the 

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DFE will determine whether the intended outcomes of reentry interventions are achieved and 

whether they are attributable to the reentry program being tested in the RCT DFE. 

Though the program to be implemented at the sites has not yet been specified, it is important to 

note that the overall goals of the SCA are to break the cycle of criminal recidivism, protect the 

public, and assist offenders reentering the community from incarceration to establish a selfsustaining and law abiding life. An evaluation of a SCA-funded reentry program should include 

analyzing relevant implementation and impact measures to assess program goals that might 

include rebuilding ties between offenders and their families; enhancing public safety and 

reducing recidivism; providing offenders with educational, literacy, housing, vocational, or job 

placement services to facilitate reentry into the community; maintaining cost-effective service 

delivery systems; and supporting the development and expansion of evidence-based 

programming. 

NIJ recognizes the challenge of developing a detailed research design for the DFE in the 

absence of more specific information about the program to be implemented or the sites to be 

selected. Once the evaluation awardee has been selected, the evaluator will work with NIJ and 

BJA to finalize the evaluation design for conducting the DFE. 

The successful applicant under this solicitation will be tasked with: 

• Designing, finalizing, and implementing a process for random assignment of offenders to 

experimental and control groups at each DFE site. 

• Establishing target sample sizes for experimental and control groups at each site, based 

on the expected effect size of the intervention to be selected and implemented. 

• Providing on-site research coordination for all aspects of the DFE implementation, 

including human subjects informed consent, randomization, process evaluation, and 

design compliance. 

• Working collaboratively with NIJ and BJA staff, as well as the DFE sites to track fidelity 

to the program and randomization process, including monthly conference calls. 

• Developing a set of evaluation questions which provide structure to the evaluation and 

consider the broader implications for the criminal justice system and the process of 

reentry. 

• Completing a needs assessment which provides information about the specific needs 

the reentry model intends to address. 

• Conducting an assessment of program operations, implementation (including program 

staff adherence to program objectives and processes), and overall service delivery. 

• Conducting a full assessment of offender monitoring in the DFE sites (since monitoring 

and supervision is likely to be an important factor in offender outcomes such as 

reincarceration for technical violations, and thus an important contextual feature in 

interpreting the DFE outcomes). 

• Conducting a process evaluation to determine whether the reentry model in question is 

delivered as intended to the target recipients. 

• Writing a systematic description of whether the program is functioning as intended. 

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• Conducting an impact assessment of program outcomes and impact on the population 

served by the specific reentry model and site. 

• Conducting an assessment of program costs, cost-effectiveness, determining the 

efficacy of the reentry program in achieving specific outcomes in relation to program 

costs. 

• Reporting and disseminating interim and final study results, including presentation of 

interim and final findings at one or more NIJ Conferences and at other relevant 

practitioner and researcher meetings (to be finalized in collaboration with NIJ and BJA 

as part of design finalization). 

Reentry programs address a wide range of offender and public safety outcomes. The model 

intervention to be selected later by NIJ and BJA may address all or some of the following 

outcomes. Applicants should demonstrate their ability to effectively measure: 

• Reduction in individual recidivism rates. 

• Reduction in local crime (such as reduced criminal activity of the offender). 

• Increased employment and education opportunities. 

• Reduction in violations of conditions of supervised release. 

• Increased payment of child support. 

• Increased housing opportunities. 

• Reduction in drug and alcohol abuse. 

• Increased participation in substance abuse and mental health services. 

• Usefulness (utility) of risks-needs assessment tools in the subsequent provision of 

services. 

• Program cost effectiveness. 

To the greatest extent possible, the applicant should employ measures that are consistent with 

and build upon the baseline data that BJA will collect. 

Amount and length of awards: NIJ anticipates that up to a total of $3 million may become 

available for an award made through this solicitation. All NIJ awards are subject to the 

availability of appropriated funds and to any modifications or additional requirements 

that may be imposed by law. NIJ expects to make one award, depending on funds available, 

the number of high-quality applications, and other pertinent factors. Applicants should be aware 

that the total period for the award is not anticipated to exceed four years. 

A grant made by NIJ under this solicitation may account for up to 100 percent of the total cost of 

the project. See "Cofunding" under "What an Application Must Include." 

Evaluation Research: Applicants under this solicitation should recognize that the purpose of 

the DFE program is to implement and test an intervention using a randomized control trial (RCT) 

or true experiment, the method many consider to provide the highest standard of evidence in 

evaluation research. While an experimental design eliminates many threats to validity, obstacles 

to achieving rigorous evidence of “what works” remain. For instance, applicants should 

anticipate the need to measure and address issues of program fidelity and implementation 

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through process measures. Adherence to the random assignment protocol must be measured, 

tracked, and ensured. The successful applicant will demonstrate a strong knowledge of the 

necessary ingredients to successful experiments under field conditions. 

Applications that include demonstrated ability for conducting effective cost/benefit analysis 

within an experimental design will be given priority. NIJ views cost/benefit analysis as an 

effective way to communicate and disseminate findings from evaluation research. 

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

regulations on confidentiality and human subjects protection. See “Other Requirements for OJP 

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

What will not be funded:

1. Provision of training or direct service. 

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

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

demonstration, evaluation, or analysis.) 

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

Budget 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, Federal funds may not be used 

to pay total cash compensation (salary plus 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. (The 2010 salary table for SES employees is available at 

http://www.opm.gov/oca/10tables/indexSES.asp.) Note: A recipient may compensate an 

employee at a higher 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.) 

The limitation on compensation rates allowable under an award may be waived on an individual 

basis at the discretion of the Director of the National Institute of Justice. An applicant that 

wishes to request a waiver must include a detailed justification in the budget narrative of its 

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

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

budget. 

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

uniqueness of the service being provided, 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 that is to be done. 

Performance Measures 

To assist in fulfilling the Department’s responsibilities under the Government Performance and 

Results Act (GPRA), P.L. 103-62, applicants who receive funding under this solicitation must 

provide data that measure the results of their work. Applicants who receive funding under this 

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solicitation are required to provide the data requested in the “Data Grantee Provides” column so 

that OJP can calculate values for the “Performance Measures” column. Performance measures 

for this solicitation are as follows: 

Objective Performance Measure(s) Data Grantee Provides

Develop and analyze 

information and data 

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 

grantee’s substantive scope did not 

deviate from the funded proposal or 

any subsequent agency 

modifications to the scope. 

2. Quality of the research as assessed 

by peer reviewers. 

3. Quality of management as measured 

by whether significant interim project 

milestones were achieved, final 

deadlines were met, and costs 

remained within approved limits. 

4. If applicable, number of NIJ final 

grant reports, NIJ research 

documents, and grantee research 

documents published. 

1. A final report providing a comprehensive 

overview of the project and a detailed 

description of the project design, data, 

and methods; a full presentation of 

scientific findings; and a thorough 

discussion of the implications of the 

project findings for criminal justice 

practice and policy in the United States. 

2. Quarterly financial reports, semi-annual 

progress reports, and a final progress 

report. 

3. If applicable, each data set that was 

collected, acquired, or modified in 

conjunction with the project. 

4. If applicable, citation to 

report(s)/document(s). 

How to Apply 

Applications will be submitted through Grants.gov. Grants.gov is a “one-stop storefront” that 

provides a unified process for all customers of Federal grants to find funding opportunities and 

apply for funding. Complete instructions on how to register and submit an application can be 

found at www.grants.gov. If you experience difficulties at any point during this process, please 

call the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 1–800–518–4726, 24 hours, seven days a 

week, except for Federal holidays. Registering with Grants.gov is a one-time process; however, 

processing delays may occur and it can take up to several weeks for first-time registrants 

to receive confirmation and a user password. OJP highly recommends that applicants start the 

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

by the application deadline specified. 

All applicants are required to complete the following steps.

1. Acquire a DUNS Number. A DUNS number is required for Grants.gov registration. The 

Office of Management and Budget requires that all businesses and nonprofit applicants 

for Federal funds include a DUNS (Data Universal Numbering System) number in their 

applications for a new award or renewal of an existing award. A DUNS number is a 

unique nine-digit sequence recognized as the universal standard for identifying and 

keeping track of entities receiving Federal funds. The identifier is used for tracking 

purposes and to validate address and point-of-contact information for Federal assistance 

applicants, recipients, and subrecipients. The DUNS number will be used throughout the 

grant life cycle. Obtaining a DUNS number is a free, one-time activity. Obtain a DUNS 

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number by calling 1–866–705–5711 or by applying online at 

www.dunandbradstreet.com. Individuals are exempt from this requirement. 

2. Acquire or Renew Registration With the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) 

Database. OJP requires that all applicants (other than individuals) for Federal financial 

assistance maintain current registrations in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) 

database. An applicant must be registered in the CCR to successfully register in 

Grants.gov. The CCR database is the repository for standard information about Federal 

financial assistance applicants, recipients, and subrecipients. Organizations that have 

previously submitted applications via Grants.gov are already registered with CCR, as it 

is a requirement for Grants.gov registration. Please note, however, that applicants must 

update or renew their CCR registration at least once per year to maintain an active 

status. Information about CCR registration procedures can be accessed at www.ccr.gov. 

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

Username and Password. Complete your AOR profile on Grants.gov and create your 

username and password. You will need to use your organization’s DUNS Number to 

complete this step. For more information about the registration process, go to 

www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp. 

4. Acquire Authorization for Your AOR From the E-Business Point of Contact (E-Biz 

POC). The E-Biz POC at your organization must login to Grants.gov to confirm you as 

an AOR. Please note that there can be more than one AOR for your organization. 

5. Search for the Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov. Please use the following 

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

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number for this solicitation is 16.560, 

titled “National Institute of Justice Research, Evaluation, and Development Projects 

Grants,” and the funding opportunity number is NIJ–2010–2688.

6. Submit an Application Consistent With This Solicitation. Within 24–48 hours after 

submitting your electronic application, you should receive an e-mail validation message 

from Grants.gov. The validation message will tell you whether the application has been 

received and validated or rejected, with an explanation. Important: You are urged to 

submit your application at least 72 hours prior to the due date of the application to allow 

time to receive the validation message and to correct any problems that may have 

caused a rejection notification. 

Note: Grants.gov will forward the application to OJP’s Grants Management System 

(GMS). 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."

Experiencing Unforeseen Grants.gov Technical Issues 

If you experience unforeseen Grants.gov technical issues beyond your control that prevent you 

from submitting your application by the deadline, you must contact the NIJ staff member listed 

on the title page within 24 hours after the deadline and request approval to submit your 

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

DUNS number, and provide a Grants.gov Help Desk tracking number(s). After the program 

office reviews all of the information submitted, and contacts the Grants.gov Help Desk to 

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validate the technical issues you reported, OJP will contact you to either approve or deny your 

request to submit a late application. If the technical issues you reported cannot be validated, 

your application will be rejected as untimely. 

To ensure a fair competition for limited discretionary funds, the following conditions are not valid 

reasons to permit late submissions: (1) failure to begin the registration process in sufficient time; 

(2) failure to follow Grants.gov instructions on how to register and apply as posted on its Web 

site; (3) failure to follow all of the instructions in the OJP solicitation; and (4) technical issues 

experienced with the applicant’s computer or information technology (IT) environment. 

Notifications regarding known technical problems with Grants.gov are posted on the OJP 

funding Web page, www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/solicitations.htm. 

What an Application Must Include 

This section describes what an application is expected to include and sets out a number of 

elements. Applicants should anticipate that failure to submit an application that contains all of 

the specified elements may negatively affect the review of the application and, should a decision 

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

preclude access to or use of award funds pending satisfaction of the conditions. 

Moreover, applicants should anticipate that applications that are not responsive to the scope of 

the solicitation, or do not include a program narrative, budget detail worksheet, budget narrative, 

tribal resolution (if applicable), and resumes/curriculum vitae of key personnel will not proceed 

to peer review and will not receive further consideration. 

OJP strongly recommends use of appropriately descriptive file names (e.g., “Program 

Narrative,” “Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative,” “Timelines,” “Memoranda of 

Understanding,” “Resumes”) for all attachments. OJP recommends that resumes be included in 

a single file. 

Standard Form 424 

Please see www07.grants.gov/assets/SF424Instructions.pdf for instructions on how to 

complete your SF424. When selecting "type of applicant," if the applicant is a for-profit 

entity, please select "For-Profit Organization" or "Small Business" (as applicable) in the 

Type of Applicant 1 data field. For-profit applicants also may select additional applicable 

categories (e.g., "Private Institution of Higher Education"). 

 Program Narrative 

Program Narrative Guidelines: 

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

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

opportunity number, and the applicant’s name and complete contact information 

(i.e., name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address). 

b. Project Abstract (not counted against the 30-page program narrative limit). 

The 400 to 600-word abstract should state the problem under investigation 

(including research goals and objectives) and the anticipated relevance of the 

project to criminal justice public policy, practice, or theory. It should describe the 

proposed method and/or research design, including data to be used in 

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addressing research questions, data collection procedures and instrumentation, 

access to data, and other methods or procedures of the proposed study. It 

should also describe procedures for data analysis and all expected products, 

including interim and final reports, instrumentation, and devices. If applicable, it 

should describe the subjects who will be involved in the proposed project, 

including the number of participants; participants’ age, gender, and race/ethnicity; 

and other pertinent characteristics, such as methods used to gain access to 

subjects. 

c. Resubmit Response (if applicable). If an applicant is resubmitting a proposal 

that was presented previously to NIJ, but not funded, the applicant must indicate 

this. A two-page document addressing the previous consensus review must be 

provided that covers the following: (1) the title, submission date, and NIJassigned application number of the previous proposal, and (2) a brief summary of 

responses to the peer review and/or revisions to the proposal. This document 

should be inserted after the abstract. This document will not be counted against 

the 30-page program narrative limit. 

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

narrative limit). 

e. Main body. The main body of the Program Narrative should describe the project 

in depth and include the following sections: 

• Purpose, goals, and objectives. 

• Review of relevant literature. 

• Detailed description of research design and methods to include: 

research questions, hypotheses, description of sample, analysis plan, 

etc. 

• Research independence and integrity (see “Selection Criteria,” 

below). 

• Implications for criminal justice policy and practice in the United 

States. 

• Management plan and organization. 

• Dissemination strategy. 

The program narrative section of your application must not exceed 30 doublespaced pages in 12-point font with 1-inch margins. Abstract, table of contents, 

charts, figures, appendices, and government forms do not count toward the 30-

page limit for the narrative section. 

Applicants should anticipate that if the program narrative fails to comply with 

these length-related restrictions, such that it provides a significant competitive 

advantage, the failure to comply may be considered in peer review and in final 

award decisions. 

f. Appendices (not counted against program narrative page limit) include: 

• Bibliography/references. 

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

pertaining to the proposed study. 

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• Curriculum vitae, resumes or biographical sketches of all key 

personnel. 

• Project timeline and research calendar with expected milestones. 

• Human Subjects Protection Paperwork including Institutional Review 

Board (IRB) documentation and forms (see 

http://www.ojp.gov/nij/funding/humansubjects/human-subjects.htm). 

• Privacy Certificate (for further guidance go to 

http://www.ojp.gov/nij/funding/humansubjects/privacy-certificateguidance.htm). 

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

investigator(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 you 

have submitted this proposal (if applicable). 

• Other materials specified by the solicitation. 

• Data Archiving Strategy (see descriptive paragraph below).

Data Archiving Strategy 

NIJ requires that each data set resulting from funded research be submitted as a 

grant product or deliverable for archiving with the National Archive of Criminal 

Justice Data. (Data sets are to be submitted 90 days before the end of the 

project period.) Applications for NIJ research grants must include a brief (one- or 

two-page) data archiving strategy. For purposes of research replication and 

extension, the inclusion of only the final data set often prevents other researchers 

from replicating or extending the study because there are no original data, 

intermediate data, or documentation detailing how the data changed throughout 

the project. This data archiving strategy therefore must briefly describe the— 

• Anticipated manipulations of original, intermediate, and final data sets (as 

applicable). 

• Methods of documentation of such manipulations. 

• Preparation of original, intermediate, and final data sets for archive 

submission. 

The data archiving strategy should be submitted as an appendix to the 

application and will not count toward the 30-page limit. Please label this appendix 

“Data Archiving Strategy.” 

Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative 

a. Budget Detail Worksheet

A sample Budget Detail Worksheet can be found at 

www.ojp.gov/funding/forms/budget_detail.pdf. If the budget is submitted in a different 

format, the budget categories listed in the sample budget worksheet must be 

included. 

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

please see the OJP Financial Guide at www.ojp.gov/financialguide/index.htm. 

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b. Budget Narrative 

The Budget Narrative should thoroughly and clearly describe every category of 

expense listed in the Budget Detail Worksheet. The narrative should be 

mathematically sound and correspond with the information and figures provided in 

the Budget Detail Worksheet. The narrative should explain how all costs were 

estimated and calculated and how they are relevant to the completion of the 

proposed project. The narrative may include tables for clarification purposes and can 

be provided in a Microsoft Office Word document. As with the Budget Detail 

Worksheet, the Budget Narrative must be broken down by year. 

Cofunding: A grant made by NIJ under this solicitation may account for up to 100 

percent of the total cost of the project. You must indicate whether you believe it is 

feasible for you to contribute cash, facilities, or services as non-Federal support for the 

project. Your application should identify generally any such contributions that you expect 

to make and your proposed budget should indicate in detail which items, if any, will be 

supported with non-Federal contributions. 

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) 

Applicants that do not have a federally negotiated indirect cost rate and wish to establish 

one can submit a proposal to their “cognizant” Federal agency. Generally, the cognizant 

Federal agency is the agency that provides the preponderance of direct Federal funding. 

This can be determined by reviewing an organization’s schedule of Federal financial 

assistance. If DOJ is your cognizant Federal agency, obtain information needed to 

submit an indirect cost rate proposal at 

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/financialguide/part3/part3chap17.htm.

Tribal Authorizing Resolution 

If an application is being submitted by either (1) a tribe or tribal organization, or (2) by a 

third party proposing to provide direct services or assistance to residents on tribal lands, 

then a current authorizing resolution of the governing body of the tribal entity or other 

enactment of the tribal council or comparable governing body authorizing the inclusion of 

the tribe or tribal organization and its residents must be included with the application. In 

those instances when an organization or consortium of tribes proposes to apply for a 

grant on behalf of a tribe or multiple specific tribes, then the application must include a 

resolution from all tribes that will be included as a part of the services/assistance 

provided under the grant. 

Other Standard Forms 

Additional forms that may be required in connection with an award are available on 

OJP’s funding page at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/forms.htm. Please note in 

particular the following forms. 

1. Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other 

Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (required to be 

submitted in GMS prior to the receipt of any award funds) 

2. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (required for any applicant that expends any 

funds for lobbying activities) 

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3. Accounting System and Financial Capability Questionnaire (required for any 

applicant that is a nongovernmental entity and that has not received any award 

from OJP within the past 3 years) 

4. Standard Assurances (required to be submitted in GMS prior to the receipt of any 

award funds) 

Note: Attachments to the application should be included in one of the following four 

categories: 1) Program Narrative; 2) Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative; 

3) Appendices; and 4) Other. 

Selection Criteria 

Statement of the Problem (Understanding of the problem and its importance)—20%

Applicant’s understanding of prisoner reentry, the state of knowledge regarding reentry, and 

current reentry programs and models. 

Project/Program Design and Implementation (Quality and technical merit)—25%

1. Understanding of the use of experimental design for program evaluation. 

2. Soundness of methods and strategies proposed for random assignment and for 

measuring, tracking, and correcting mis-assignment, contamination, and other threats to 

the design. 

3. Soundness of methods to estimate expected program effect, statistical power, and 

required sample sizes. 

4. Innovation and creativity in ensuring successful completion of the DFE evaluation. 

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

applicants)—25%

 1. Demonstrated ability in reentry research and in managing and conducting RCTs, 

including cost analysis strategies and informed consent/human subjects requirements. 

2. Qualifications and experience of proposed staff. 

 3. Demonstrated ability of proposed staff and organization to manage the effort. 

 4. Adequacy of the plan to manage the project, including how various tasks are subdivided 

and resources are used. 

 5. Successful past performance on NIJ grants and contracts (when applicable). 

Budget—20% 

1. Total cost of the project relative to the perceived benefit. 

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

 3. Use of existing resources to conserve costs. 

Impact/Outcomes and Evaluation (Relevance to policy and practice)—5% 

1. Potential for significant advances in scientific or technical understanding of the problem. 

2. Potential for significant advances in the field. 

3. Relevance for improving the policy and practice of criminal justice and related agencies 

in the United States and improving public safety, security, and quality of life. 

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Relevance of the project for policy and practice in the United States

Higher quality applications clearly explain the practical implications of the project. They 

connect technical expertise with criminal justice policy and practice. To ensure that the 

project has strong relevance for policy and practice, some researchers and technologists 

collaborate with practitioners and policymakers. You may include letters showing support 

from practitioners, but they carry less weight than clear evidence that you understand why 

policymakers and practitioners would benefit from your work and how they would use it. 

While a partnership may affect State or local activities, it should also have broader 

implications for others across the country. 

Dissemination Strategy—5% 

1. Well-defined plan for the grant recipient to disseminate results to appropriate audiences, 

including researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. 

 2. Suggestions for print and electronic products NIJ might develop for practitioners and 

policymakers. 

Research Independence and Integrity 

Regardless of a proposal’s rating under the criteria outlined above, in order to receive funds, the 

applicant’s proposal must demonstrate research independence, including appropriate 

safeguards to ensure research objectivity and integrity. 

Considerations in evaluating research independence and integrity will include, but may not be 

limited to, the adequacy of the applicant’s efforts to identify factors that could affect the 

objectivity/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. 

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 be reviewing the applications submitted under this solicitation that meet 

basic minimum requirements. NIJ may use either internal peer reviewers, external peer 

reviewers, or a combination to review the applications under this solicitation. An external peer 

reviewer is an expert in the field of the subject matter of a given solicitation who is NOT a 

current U.S. Department of Justice employee. An internal reviewer is a current U.S. Department 

of Justice employee who is well-versed or has expertise in the subject matter of this solicitation. 

Eligible applications will be evaluated, scored, and rated by a peer review panel. Peer 

reviewers’ ratings and any resulting recommendations are advisory only. In addition to peer 

review ratings, considerations for award recommendations and decisions may include, but are 

not limited to, underserved populations, geographic diversity, strategic priorities, past 

performance, and available funding. 

The Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO), in consultation with NIJ, conducts a financial 

review of applications for potential discretionary awards and cooperative agreements to 

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evaluate the fiscal integrity and financial capability of applicants; examines proposed costs to 

determine if the budget and budget narrative accurately explain project costs; and determines 

whether costs are reasonable, necessary, and allowable under applicable Federal cost 

principles and agency regulations. 

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

also may give consideration to factors including, but not limited to, underserved populations, 

geographic diversity, strategic priorities, past performance, and available funding when making 

awards. 

Additional Requirements 

Applicants selected for awards must agree to comply with additional legal requirements upon 

acceptance of an award. We strongly encourage you to review the information pertaining to 

these additional requirements prior to submitting your application. Additional information for 

each can be found at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/other_requirements.htm. 

• Civil Rights Compliance

• Faith-Based and Other Community Organizations 

• Confidentiality and Human Subjects Protection (if applicable) 

• Anti-Lobbying Act 

• Financial and Government Audit Requirements 

• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (if applicable) 

• DOJ Information Technology Standards (if applicable) 

• Single Point of Contact Review 

• Nonsupplanting of State or Local Funds 

• Criminal Penalty for False Statements 

• Compliance with Office of Justice Programs Financial Guide

• Suspension or Termination of Funding 

• Nonprofit Organizations 

• For-Profit Organizations 

• Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) 

• Rights in Intellectual Property 

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• Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) of 2006 

• Awards in excess of $5,000,000 – Federal taxes certification requirement 

If your proposal is funded, you will be required to submit several reports and other materials, 

including: 

Final substantive report: The final report should be a comprehensive overview of the project 

and should include a detailed description of the project design, data, and methods; a full 

presentation of scientific findings; a thorough discussion of the implications of the project 

findings for criminal justice practice and policy in the United States; etc. It must contain an 

abstract of no more than 600 words and an executive summary of 2,500 to 4,000 words. 

A draft of the final report, abstract, and executive summary must be submitted 90 days before 

the end date of the grant. The draft final report will be peer reviewed upon submission. The 

reviews will be forwarded to the principal investigator with suggestions for revisions. The author 

must then submit the revised final report, abstract, and executive summary by the end date of 

the grant. The abstract, executive summary, and final report must be submitted in both paper 

and electronic formats. 

For program evaluation studies, the final report should include a section on measuring program 

performance. This section should outline the measures used to evaluate program effectiveness, 

modifications made to those measures as a result of the evaluation, and recommendations 

regarding these and other potential performance measures for similar programs. (This 

information will be particularly valuable to NIJ and other Federal program agencies in 

implementing performance measures for federally funded criminal justice programs.) 

Interim reports: Grantees must submit quarterly financial reports, semi-annual progress 

reports, a final progress report, and, if applicable, an annual audit report in accordance with 

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

withheld if reports are delinquent. 

Data sets: NIJ requires submission of all data sets (original, intermediate, and final) produced 

or collected for the funded project, and any artifact associated with the project data. Included 

with the final sets of data should be the plan outlined in the Data Archiving Strategy section of 

the proposal. 

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Application Checklist 

Evaluation of the Multi-site Demonstration Field Experiment: 

What Works in Reentry Research

The application checklist has been created to aid you in developing your application. 

Eligibility Requirement: 

_____ Tribal authorizing resolution (if applicable) 

Application Components: 

_____ Program Narrative (see pages 10–11 and “Selection Criteria,” pages 14–15) 

_____ Appendices to the Program Narrative 

_____ Bibliography/references 

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

pertaining to the proposed study 

_____ Curriculum vitae, resumes or biographical sketches of all key personnel 

_____ Project timeline and research calendar with expected milestones 

_____ Human Subjects Protection Paperwork 

_____ Privacy Certificate 

_____ List of previous and current NIJ awards to applicant organization and 

investigators 

_____ Letters of cooperation/support or administrative agreements from 

organizations collaborating in the project (if applicable) 

_____ List of other agencies, organizations, or funding sources to which you 

have submitted this proposal (if applicable) 

_____ Data Archiving Strategy 

_____ Budget Narrative 

_____ Budget Detail Worksheet 

_____ Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) 

Program Narrative/Abstract Format:

_____ Double-spaced 

_____ 12-point standard font 

_____ 1” standard margins 

_____ Narrative is 30 pages or less 

Other: 

_____ Standard Form 424 

_____ DUNS number 

_____ Other standard forms as applicable (see page 13), including 

_____ Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (if applicable) 

_____ Accounting System and Financial Capability Questionnaire (if applicable)