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 for the 2011 

Visiting Fellows Program. 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: 

NIJ Visiting Fellows Program 

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 (including federallyrecognized Indian tribal governments as determined by the Secretary of the Interior), nonprofit 

and for-profit organizations (including tribal nonprofit and profit 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. 

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 April 28, 2011. (See “Deadlines: 

Registration and Application,” page 3.) 

Contact Information

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

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

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

except Federal holidays. 

For assistance with any other requirement of this solicitation, contact Thomas Feucht, NIJ 

Executive Senior Science Advisor, 202–307–2949 or by e-mail to Thomas.Feucht@usdoj.gov.

Grants.gov number assigned to announcement: NIJ–2011–2829

SL# 000966 
NIJ–2011–2829 

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CONTENTS 

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

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

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

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

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

Notice of New Post-Award Reporting Requirements..........................................................8 

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

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

Information to Complete the Application for Federal Assistance, Standard Form (SF) 

424...................................................................................................11 

Program Narrative..........................................................................................11 

Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative....................................................13 

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable)........................................................14 

Tribal Authorizing Resolution (if applicable).........................................................14 

Other Standard Forms....................................................................................14 

Selection Criteria.....................................................................................................15 

Review Process...........................................................................................................17 

Additional Requirements ...........................................................................................17 

Application Checklist.................................................................................................20 
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NIJ Visiting Fellows Program 

(CFDA 16.560) 

Overview 

With this solicitation, subject to funding availability, NIJ seeks proposals for important research 

work and scholarship as part of the 2011 NIJ Visiting Fellows Program. Awards made under 

the NIJ Visiting Fellows Program will bring leading researchers and others into residency at NIJ 

to make important scholarly contributions in their chosen fields of criminology or criminal justice 

research and to work with the NIJ Director and staff to help shape the direction of NIJ’s research 

programs. NIJ will recruit Research Fellows, who have worked mainly in academic or other 

research settings, and Policy Fellows, who have worked mainly in a criminal justice policy or 

practice setting. NIJ will also recruit Partnership Fellows—a Research Fellow and a Policy 

Fellow who will work together on a joint research project. During their Fellowship at NIJ, Visiting 

Fellows will work on a significant piece of scholarship that has the potential to significantly 

advance criminology or criminal justice research, such as a major “capstone” effort culminating 

a line of research or some work in a new area that has significant potential to transform our 

understanding of crime and justice in the United States. 

Authorizing Legislation: Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 

(sections 201 and 202); Homeland Security Act (section 232). 

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 is 11:59 p.m. eastern time on April 28, 2011. 

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

Eligibility 

Awards to NIJ Visiting Fellows may be made as grants or as Intergovernmental Personnel Act 

(IPA) appointments to be negotiated with an award recipient’s home agency under the 

provisions of the IPA mobility program and applicable law.1

 Generally, university or collegebased academic researchers and other researchers are eligible to apply to the Visiting Fellows 

Program. Professionals working in the criminal justice field, including individuals in criminal 

justice agencies and other applied settings, especially managers, executives, and others with 

policy responsibility and/or research experience, are also eligible to apply. Applicants must 

demonstrate the financial and administrative capacity to manage an agreement or award, as 

well as the knowledge and skills to successfully execute research activities. Applicants are 

advised to read the entire program solicitation carefully to ensure that the requirements are 

clearly understood. Eligibility will be determined only after review of a complete, submitted 

application. 

1

 See the Office of Personnel Management Web site at www.opm.gov/programs/ipa/mobility.asp for information about 

IPAs, including eligibility requirements specific to the IPA program. 
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ogram. 

m is a 

tive research field 

at has the potential to establish a new area of criminal justice research. 

 

(Applicants who may be eligible for an IPA agreement and who wish to explore this avenue for 

funding should submit a grant application through the grant submission process described 

below and should include specific language regarding interest in an IPA agreement as part of 

their budget information. See instructions regarding budget information, below.) 

Program-Specific Information—NIJ Visiting Fellows Program 

Subject to funding availability, NIJ announces plans to support important research work and 

scholarship through the NIJ Visiting Fellows Program. Awards made under the NIJ Visiting 

Fellows Program will bring leading researchers into residency at NIJ to make important 

scholarly contributions in a specific area of criminology or criminal justice research and to work 

with the NIJ Director and staff to help shape the direction of NIJ’s research programs. NIJ will 

recruit Research Fellows, who have worked mainly in academic or other research settings, and 

Policy Fellows, who have worked mainly in a criminal justice policy or practice setting. NIJ will 

also seek Partnership Fellows—a Research Fellow and a Policy Fellow working together on a 

joint project. 

NIJ Fellows will be accomplished researchers and others with credentials and experience that 

demonstrate significant achievements in—and a continuing commitment to—advancing through 

research our ability to solve the persistent challenges of crime and justice in the United States. 

Applicants in all areas of criminal justice scholarship pertinent to NIJ’s broad research mission—

including the social sciences, forensic sciences, and criminal justice technology—are eligible for 

funding under these programs. NIJ seeks applications that would be an asset to the work of any 

of the agency’s three research offices: the Office of Investigative and Forensic Sciences, the 

Office of Science and Technology, and the Office of Research and Evaluation. NIJ encourages 

researchers from a broad range of disciplines to consider how their work in areas related to 

crime and justice might be supported through the NIJ Visiting Fellows Program. 

The 2010 report, Strengthening the National Institute of Justice, by the National Academy of 

Sciences, recommended that NIJ make a concerted effort to more actively bolster the 

infrastructure of the criminal justice research field, and suggested that NIJ “should undertake 

efforts to nurture and grow the pool of researchers involved in criminal justice research as well 

as activities that support the research endeavor itself.”2

 In the spirit of that recommendation, 

and as one part of NIJ’s renewed efforts to bolster the infrastructure of the criminal justice 

research field, NIJ is pleased to present funding opportunities through the NIJ Visiting Fellows 

Pr

 

The Visiting Fellows Program is designed to bring accomplished researchers into close working 

contact with the Director and staff of the NIJ. A centerpiece of the Visiting Fellows Progra

term of residency at NIJ. The Visiting Fellows Program is designed to support important 

foundational scholarship, “capstone” research, or other important work in an established line of

research. Alternately, it may support scholarship in an important and innova

th

2

 The National Research Council. 2010. Strengthening the National Institute of Justice. Washington, DC: The 

National Academies Press, p. 6. 
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hough research through original data collection can be supported through the Visiting Fellows 

s. 

s that most awards for the NIJ Visiting Fellows Program will support a single 

dividual; however, NIJ also encourages applications for Partnership awards, in which a 

 NIJ, the nation’s leading criminal justice research agency, 

cated in Washington, DC. Generally, Visiting Fellows will be established researchers or others 

 or 

arch 

ellows, Policy Fellows will be expected to complete a major piece of scholarship during their 

Research and Policy Partners Visiting Fellowship. This 

ward will comprise two Visiting Fellow awards—one to a Research Visiting Fellow and a 

t 

egin after October 1, 2011 and before June 30, 2012. 

ellowship at NIJ. This may be a “capstone” effort, culminating an important research effort 

hat 

e 

be 

uilding a 

umulative body of research knowledge in a given area. Applicants to NIJ’s 2011 Visiting 

T

Program, the program is designed to support scholarship—research, writing, and 

dissemination—that is not typically supported through NIJ’s other research grant program

NIJ anticipate

in

researcher will work in residency at NIJ in partnership with a policymaker or practitioner on a 

joint project. 

The Visiting Fellows Program will provide support for research and scholarship that will benefit 

from the unique environment of

lo

with credentials and research accomplishments that will provide a high likelihood of significant

scholarship as an NIJ Fellow. 

For 2011, NIJ invites applications for two kinds of Visiting Fellows. Research Fellows will be 

researchers who are based in academic institutions or other research settings and whose 

record of scholarship has prepared them to make a significant contribution to criminology or 

criminal justice research through the NIJ Fellows Program. Policy Fellows will be individuals

who have gained extensive familiarity with criminal justice research while working in a policy

applied criminal justice setting, such as a law enforcement or corrections agency or an agency

or office with responsibility for criminal justice and public policy (such as a governor’s office,

mayor’s office, or other important policy setting pertinent to criminal justice). Like Rese

F

Fellowship at NIJ. This effort may involve research that makes an important contribution to 

existing policy strategies or research that may help to develop new policy strategies. 

NIJ also hopes to fund at least one 

a

second to a partner Policy Visiting Fellow, who have outlined a research effort that will be 

pursued jointly as Visiting Fellows. 

NIJ Fellows are expected to work full-time as a Fellow for a period of at least 12 months, with a

least 6 months spent in residency at NIJ. 

2011 Visiting Fellows are expected to b

Ideally, the period of residency (6–12 months in length) will begin by June 30, 2012. 

Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables 

Each Visiting Fellow will be expected to complete a major piece of scholarship during their

F

conducted over a longer period of time; or it could be an important new piece of scholarship t

has the potential to establish a new direction for criminology or criminal justice research. 

In addition to their own scholarship, Visiting Fellows will be expected to participate in a wid

range of collegial work with the NIJ Director and the NIJ staff. Much of this collegial work—

expected to comprise about 20 percent of the Fellow’s time while in residency at NIJ—will 

designed to shape and inform the core knowledge-building work of NIJ. NIJ is especially 

interested in funding Fellows who can make significant contributions toward b

c
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Fellows Program are encouraged to read the report on NIJ by the National Academy of 

Sciences, Strengthening the National Institute of Justice, available online at 

www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12929, particularly the sections regarding the need to 

“build a body of cumulative knowledge” that will inform criminal justice practice and po

Amount and length of awards: NIJ anticipates that $2 million will be available for up to six 

awards made through this solicitation. All awards are subject to the availability of 

appropriated fun

licy. 

ds and to any modifications or additional requirements that may be 

posed by law. The funding level for each Visiting Fellowship will be largely determined by 

pplicants should be aware that most fellowships will include a 6–18 month term of residency at 

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

 and human subjects’ protection. See “Other Requirements for OJP 

g/other_requirements.htm

im

the salary requirements of the applicant, which must be fully documented in the budget and 

budget narrative. 

A

NIJ and ordinarily will not exceed a total period of 2 years. (A shorter residency, while not 

preferable, may be considered.) 

P

regulations on confidentiality

Applications” at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/fundin .

What will not be funded: 

1. Provision of training or direct service. 

budget may include 

sis.) 

. Work that will be funded under another specific solicitation. 

not contain a research component or do not respond to the specific goals 

of this solicitation. 

ibility of an IPA agreement, should 

ubmit a grant application through the grant application procedures described below; budget 

ent at 

e 

dexSES.asp

2. Proposals primarily to purchase equipment, materials, or supplies. (The 

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

evaluation, or analy

3

4. Proposals that do 

Budget Information 

Eligibility for an IPA Agreement: Some Fellowship applicants may be eligible to be funded 

through an IPA agreement, a funding mechanism that may be preferable to a grant award. All 

applicants, including those who wish to explore the feas

s

information submitted in the grant application should clearly state an interest in the feasibility of

an IPA agreement as an alternate funding mechanism. 

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 recipi

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 Performanc

Appraisal System for that year. (The 2011 salary table for SES employees is available at 

www.opm.gov/oca/11tables/in .) Note: A recipient may compensate an employee at 

 higher rate, provided the amount in excess of this compensation limitation is paid with nonederal funds. (Any such additional compensation will not be considered matching funds where a

F

match requirements apply.) 
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 request a waiver must include a detailed justification in the budget narrative of its 

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

 the 

 knowledge of the program or 

roject being undertaken with award funds, and a statement explaining that the individual’s 

ns and expertise, and for the work that is to be done. 

ding” paragraph under “What an Application Should Include” 

sure the results of their work. Any award recipient will be required, 

ost award, 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 follo

Pe Da

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

a

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

budget. 

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

uniqueness of the service being provided, the individual’s specific

p

salary is commensurate with the regular and customary rate for an individual with his/her 

qualificatio

Match Requirement: See “Cofun

(below). 

Performance Measures 

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

Results Act (GPRA), Public Law 103-62, applicants that receive funding under this solicitation 

must provide data that mea

p

ws: 

Objective rformance Measure(s) ta Grantee Provides 

Develop and analyze 

information and data 

that have clear 

implications for 

criminal justice policy 

and practice in the 

United States. 

1. 

r the 

id 

ate from the funded 

3. 

nes were 

4. 

grant reports, NIJ research 

1. 

lications of 

. ble, each data set that 

or 

with the 

 Relevance to the needs of the

field as measured by whethe

grantee’s substantive scope d

not devi

proposal or any subsequent 

agency modifications to the 

scope. 

2. Quality of the research as 

assessed by peer reviewers. 

 Quality of management as 

measured by whether significant 

interim project milesto

achieved, final deadlines were 

met, and costs remained within 

approved limits. 

 If applicable, number of NIJ final 

documents, and grantee 

research documents published. 

4. If applicable, citation to 

report(s)/document(s).

 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 imp

the project findings for criminal 

justice practice and policy in the 

United States. 

2. Quarterly financial reports, semiannual progress reports, and a 

final progress report. 

3 If applica

was collected, acquired, 

modified in conjunction 

project. 
NIJ–2011–2829 

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res data is not required for the application. Instead, 

pplicants should discuss in their applications their proposed methods for collecting data for 

ch 

ledge) may 

 not constitute “research.” Applicants should provide sufficient information 

r OJP to determine whether the particular project they propose would either intentionally or 

d 

). For 

ts” section of the OJP “Other Requirements for OJP Applications” Web page 

Submission of performance measu

a

performance measures. Please refer to the section “What an Application Should Include” 

(below) for additional information. 

Note on project evaluations: Applicants that propose to use funds awarded through this 

solicitation to conduct project evaluations should be aware that certain project evaluations (su

as systematic investigations designed to develop or contribute to generalizable know

constitute “research” for purposes of applicable DOJ human subjects protections. However, 

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

service, or are conducted only to meet OJP’s performance measure data reporting 

requirements, likely do

fo

unintentionally collect and/or use information in such a way that it meets the DOJ regulatory 

definition of research. 

Research, for the purposes of human subjects protections for OJP-funded programs, is define

as, “a systematic investigation, including research development, testing, and evaluation, 

designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge.” 28 C.F.R. § 46.102(d

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

see the decision tree to assist applicants on the “Research and the Protection of Human 

Subjec

(www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/other_requirements.htm). Applicants whose proposals may involve 

ity” section on that Web 

r 

es 

cant entity must ensure that it has the necessary processes 

nd systems in place to comply with the reporting requirements should it receive funding. 

a research or statistical component also should review the “Confidential

page. 

Notice of New Post-Award Reporting Requirements 

Applicants should anticipate that all recipients (other than individuals) of awards of $25,000 or 

more under this solicitation, consistent with the Federal Funding Accountability and 

Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA), will be required to report award information on any first-tie

subawards totaling $25,000 or more, and, in certain cases, to report information on the nam

and total compensation of the five most highly compensated executives of the recipient and 

first-tier subrecipients. Each appli

a

Reports regarding subawards will be made through the FFATA Subaward Reporting System 

(FSRS), found at www.fsrs.gov. 

Please note also that applicants should anticipate that no subaward of an award made under 

 be made to a subrecipient (other than an individual) unless the potential 

s and provides a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. 

e 

this solicitation may

subrecipient acquire

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 awards to find funding opportunities and 

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

found at www.Grants.gov. If the applicant experiences technical difficulties at any point during 

this process, please call the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 800–518–4726, 24 hours 

a day, 7 days a week, except Federal holidays. Registering with Grants.gov is a one-time 
NIJ–2011–2829 

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can take up to several weeks for 

rst-time registrants to receive confirmation and a user password. OJP highly recommends that 

 to prevent delays in submitting an 

plication package by the specified application deadline. 

process; however, processing delays may occur, and it 

fi

applicants start the registration process as early as possible

ap

All applicants are required to complete the following steps:

 

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

general, the Office of Management and Budget requires that all applicants (other t

individuals) 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

han 

 will be used 

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

Obtain a DUNS number by calling Dun and Bradstreet at 866–705–5711 or by applying 

online at www.dnb.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 h

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

) 

ave 

as it 

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

update or renew their CCR registration annually 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.g

username and password. Complete the AOR p

ov 

rofile 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/applicants/get_registered.jsp. 

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

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

OR for 

 on Grants.gov. The 

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

n 

P

the applicant organization’s AOR. Please note that there can be more than one A

the organization. 

5. Search for the funding opportunity on Grants.gov. Please use the following 

identifying information when searching for the funding opportunity

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

Grants,” and the funding opportunity number is NIJ–2011–2829.

6. Submit an 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 an e-mail validation message from Grants.gov. The validatio
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ed, 

with an explanation. Important:

message will state whether the application has been received and validated, or reject

 Applicants are urged to submit applications at least 72 

ystem 

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 S

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

ing extensions: “.com,” “.bat,” 

exe,” “.vbs,” “.cfg,” “.dat,” “.db,” “.dbf,” “.dll,” “.ini,” “.log,” “.ora,” “.sys,” and “.zip.”

NIJ 

ubmitted, and contacts the Grants.gov Help Desk to validate the technical issues reported, 

disallowed file types include, but are not limited to, the follow

“.

Experiencing Unforeseen Grants.gov Technical Issues 

If an applicant experiences unforeseen Grants.gov technical issues beyond the applicant’s 

control that prevent submission of its application by the deadline, the applicant must contact 

staff within 24 hours after the deadline and request approval to submit its application. At that 

time, NIJ staff will instruct the applicant to submit specific information detailing the technical 

difficulties. The applicant must e-mail: a description of the technical difficulties, a timeline of 

submission efforts, the complete grant application, the applicant DUNS number, and Grants.gov 

Help Desk tracking number(s) received. After the program office reviews all of the information 

s

OJP will contact the applicant to either approve or deny the request to submit a late application. 

If the technical issues reported cannot be validated, the application will be rejected as untimely. 

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

reasons to permit late submissions: (1) failure to begin the registration process in suffici

lid 

ent time, 

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

ironment. 

at the top 

funding/solicitations.htm

(2

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) env

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

of the OJP funding Web page, www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ . 

tion that contains all of the specified 

lements may negatively affect the review of the application; and, should a decision be made to 

or 

l that 

pplications unresponsive to the scope of the solicitation, or that do not include a program 

 vitae of 

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

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

Un cluded in 

a single

What an Application Should Include 

This section describes what an application should include and sets out a number of elements.

Applicants should anticipate that failure to submit an applica

e

make an award, it may result in the inclusion of special conditions that preclude access to 

use of award funds pending satisfaction of the conditions. 

Moreover, applicants should anticipate that some application elements are so critica

a

narrative, budget detail worksheet including a budget narrative, and resumes/curriculum

key personnel will neither proceed to peer review nor receive further consideration. 

OJP strongly 

N

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

 file. 
NIJ–2011–2829 

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1. 

ted information. Grants.gov and GMS take information 

from the applicant’s profile to populate the fields on this form. When selecting "type of 

icant is a for-profit entity, please select "For-Profit Organization" or 

2. 

tive section of the application should not exceed 15 double-spaced 

ages in 12-point font with 1-inch margins. Abstract, table of contents, charts, figures, 

the 

If th ly with these length-related restrictions, 

. 

Pro

Information to complete the Application for Federal Assistance (SF–424) 

The SF–424 is a standard form required for use as a cover sheet for submission of preapplications, applications, and rela

applicant," if the appl

"Small Business" (as applicable). 

Program Narrative 

The program narra

p

appendices, and government forms do not count toward the 15-page limit for 

narrative section. 

e program narrative fails to comp

noncompliance may be considered in peer review and in final award decisions

gram Narrative Guidelines: 

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

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

on 

b. 

ion 

 the 

, it 

cribe the subjects who will be involved in the proposed project, 

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

rogram 

e than two pages, addressing: (1) the title, 

submission date, and NIJ-assigned application number of the previous proposal, 

e 

 abstract. 

e. ain body. The main body of the program narrative should describe the project 

 be included as part of the program 

narrative: 

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

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

Project Abstract (not counted against the 15-page program narrative limit). 

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

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

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

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

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

should des

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

subjects. 

c. Resubmit Response (if applicable) (not counted against the 15-page p

narrative limit). If an applicant is resubmitting a proposal that was presented 

previously to NIJ, but not funded, the applicant should indicate this. A statement

should be provided, no mor

and (2) a brief summary of revisions to the proposal. This document should b

inserted after the

d. Table of Contents and Figures (not counted against the 15-page program 

narrative limit). 

M

in depth. The following sections should
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entation. 

res 

For 

rstanding of 

cuss how the applicant will gather the 

ng. 

 should address: 

iled description of research design and methods to include: 

plan, 

iminal justice policy and practice in the United 

 Fellowship on NIJ staff and on 

the organization. 

f. 

nnel. 

imeline and research calendar with expected milestones. 

view 

• Statement of the Problem. 

• Project/Program Design and Implem

• Capabilities/Competencies. 

• Impact/Outcomes and Evaluation. 

• Plan for Collecting the Data Required for This Solicitation’s 

Performance Measures. Note: Submission of performance measu

data is not required for the application. Performance measures are 

included as an alert that successful applicants will be required to 

submit specific data to NIJ as part of their reporting requirements. 

the application, the applicant should indicate an unde

these requirements and dis

required data, should the applicant receive fundi

• Dissemination Strategy. 

Note: Within these sections, the narrative

• Purpose, goals, and objectives. 

• Review of relevant literature. 

• Deta

research questions, hypotheses, description of sample, analysis 

etc. 

• Implications for cr

States, including impact of the Visiting

• Management plan and organization. 

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

• Bibliography/references. 

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

pertaining to the proposed study. 

• Curriculum vitae, resumes or biographical sketches of key perso

• Project t

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

below). 

• Human Subjects Protection Paperwork including Institutional Re

Board (IRB) documentation and forms (see 

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

• Privacy Certificate (for further guidance go to 

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

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

investigator(s). 

• Letters of cooperation/support or administ

nd 

rative agreements from 

ng sources to which this 

• Other materials specified by the solicitation. 

organizations collaborating in the project, such as law enforcement 

and correctional agencies (if applicable). 

• List of other agencies, organizations, or fundi

proposal has been submitted (if applicable). 

• Data Archiving Strategy (see descriptive paragraph below).
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study 

rmediate data, or documentation detailing 

how the data changed throughout the project. This data archiving strategy 

and final data sets (as 

cumentation of such manipulations. 

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

 should be submitted as an appendix to the 

application and will not count toward the 15-page limit. Please label this appendix 

udget Narrative 

a. 

ov/funding/forms/budget_detail.pdf

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.) Applicants for NIJ research grants are 

strongly encouraged to 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 

because there are no original data, inte

therefore should briefly describe the— 

• Anticipated manipulations of original, intermediate, 

applicable). 

• Methods of do

submission. 

The data archiving strategy

“Data Archiving Strategy.” 

3. Budget Detail Worksheet and B

Budget Detail Worksheet 

A sample Budget Detail Worksheet can be found at 

www.ojp.g . If the budget is submitted in a different 

rmat, the budget categories listed in the sample budget worksheet should be 

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

 Financial Guide at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/financialguide/index.htm

fo

included. 

F

please see the OJP . 

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 provid

the Budget Detail Worksheet. The narrative should explain how 

ed in 

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 but 

eed not be in a spreadsheet format. As with the Budget Detail Worksheet, the 

ts may 

dget narrative: 

loring 

n

Budget Narrative should be broken down by year. 

Information regarding IPA Agreements: Some Visiting Fellowship applican

be eligible to be funded through an IPA agreement, a funding mechanism that may 

be preferable to a grant award. Applicants who wish to be considered for IPA 

agreements should include the following statement as part of their bu

“The applicant agency, [name of applicant agency], is interested in exp

the feasibility of funding this fellowship application through an 
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d 

se costs 

Intergovernmental Personnel Act Agreement.” Depending on individual 

circumstances, a Visiting Fellowship may provide funding to cover costs associate

with residency in Washington, DC, during the period of residency at NIJ. The

may be included as part of the proposed budget. Note: Applicants considering an 

IPA agreement are encouraged to review the IPA program requirements at 

www.opm.gov/pprograms/ipa/mobility.asp for information about relocation expenses 

under IPA agreements. However, an applicant should note that the overall cost of 

each Fellowship application, relative to its perceived benefits, is part of the criteria by 

hich an application is evaluated (described below). Applicants are encouraged to 

ther it is 

ontributions that the applicant expects to make and the proposed budget should 

supported with non-Federal contributions. 

4. 

. 

s 

ries. If DOJ 

 the cognizant Federal agency, obtain information needed to submit an indirect cost 

de/part3/part3chap17.htm

w

present a budget request that represents high value to NIJ while limiting costs. 

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

percent of the total cost of the project. The application should indicate whe

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

support for the project. The application should identify generally any such 

c

indicate in detail which items, if any, will be 

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) 

Indirect costs are allowed only if the applicant has a federally approved indirect cost rate

(This requirement does not apply to units of local government.) A copy of the rate 

approval should be attached. If the applicant does not have an approved rate, one can 

be requested by contacting the applicant’s cognizant Federal agency, which will review 

all documentation and approve a rate for the applicant organization or, if the applicant’

accounting system permits, costs may be allocated in the direct cost catego

is

rate proposal at: www.ojp.usdoj.gov/financialgui .

5. 

) a third 

r 

oposes to 

without authorizing resolution or other enactment of each tribal governing body) may 

 in lieu of tribal resolutions.

6. 

sdoj.gov/funding/forms.htm

Tribal Authorizing Resolution (if applicable) 

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

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 othe

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

the tribe or tribal organization and its membership should be included with the 

application. In those instances when an organization or consortium of tribes pr

apply for a grant on behalf of a tribe or multiple specific tribes, then the application 

should include a resolution from all tribes that will be included as a part of the 

services/assistance provided under the grant. A consortium of tribes for which existing

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

submit a copy of its consortium bylaws with the application

Other Standard Forms

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

OJP’s funding page at www.ojp.u . For successful applicants, 

receipt of funds may be contingent upon submission of all necessary forms. Please note 

in particular the following forms. 
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a. 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). 

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

funds for lobbying activities; this form must be downloaded, completed, and 

then uploaded).

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

applicant other than an individual that is a non-governmental entity and that 

has not received any award from OJP within the past 3 years; this form must 

be downloaded, completed, and then uploaded). 

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

any award funds). 

Selection Criteria 

Statement of the Problem (Understanding of the problem and its importance)—5%

Project/Program Design and Implementation (Quality and technical merit)—15%

1. Awareness of the state of current research. 

2. Soundness of methods and analytic and technical approach. 

3. Feasibility of proposed project and awareness of pitfalls. 

4. Innovation and creativity (when appropriate). 

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

applicants)—35%

1. Qualifications and experience of proposed staff. 

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

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

and resources are used. 

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

Budget—10% 

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)—30% 

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. 

4. Affordability and cost-effectiveness of proposed products, when applicable (e.g., 

purchase price and maintenance costs for a new technology or cost of training to use the 

technology). 
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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. The application may include letters showing 

support from practitioners, but they carry less weight than clear evidence of the applicant’s 

understanding of how policymakers and practitioners can best use and benefit from the 

proposed work. While a partnership may affect State or local activities, it should also have 

broader implications for other communities nationwide. 

Visiting Fellowship applications should also clearly explain the implications of the Fellowship 

for the staff and organization of NIJ, providing detailed information about the contributions 

the Fellow would make to the intellectual life and broad range of research activities of NIJ. 

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 that NIJ should consider developing for 

practitioners and policymakers. 

3. If applicable, a clear strategy leading to the adoption into practice of any equipment or 

software. 

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. 

For purposes of this solicitation, research independence and integrity pertains only to ensuring 

that the design, conduct, or reporting of research funded by NIJ grants, cooperative 

agreements, or contracts will not be biased by any financial interest on the part of the 

investigators responsible for the research or on the part of the applicant. 

In the appendix dealing with research independence and integrity, the applicant must explain 

the process and procedures that the applicant has put in place to identify and manage potential 

financial conflicts of interest on the part of its staff, consultants, and/or subrecipients. It must 

also identify any potential organizational financial conflicts of interest on the part of the applicant 

with regard to the proposed research. If the applicant believes that there are no potential 

organizational financial conflicts of interest, the applicant must provide a brief narrative 

explanation of why it believes that to be the case. 

Where potential organizational financial conflicts of interest exist, in the appendix the applicant 

must identify the safeguards the applicant has put in place to address those conflicts of interest. 
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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. 

For the 2011 Visiting Fellows Program, NIJ plans to use a special “blue ribbon” peer 

review panel comprising senior NIJ scientists. The panel will review the applications 

submitted under this solicitation that meet basic minimum requirements. Eligible applications will 

be evaluated, scored, and rated by the 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 to evaluate the fiscal integrity and 

financial capability of applicants; examines proposed costs to determine if the budget detail 

worksheet 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. OJP strongly encourages applicants to review the information 

pertaining to these additional requirements prior to submitting an application. Additional 

information for each requirement can be found at 

www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/other_requirements.htm. 

• Civil Rights Compliance 

• Faith-Based and Other Community Organizations 

• Confidentiality 

• Research and the Protection of Human Subjects 

• Anti-Lobbying Act 
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• Financial and Government Audit Requirements 

• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 

• DOJ Information Technology Standards (if applicable) 

• Single Point of Contact Review 

• Non-Supplanting 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 

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

• Awards in Excess of $5,000,000 – Federal Taxes Certification Requirement 

• Active CCR Registration 

If a proposal is funded, the award recipient 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, placed in the context of existing literature; 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 electronic 

format. 
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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 

NIJ Visiting Fellows Program 

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

What an Application Should Include: 

_____ Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) (see page 10) 

_____ Program Narrative/Abstract Format: (see page 11) 

_____ Double-spaced 

_____ 12-point standard font 

_____ 1” standard margins 

_____ Narrative is 15 pages or less 

_____ Appendices to the Program Narrative: (see page 12) 

_____ Bibliography/references 

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

pertaining to the proposed study 

_____ Curriculum vitae, resumes or biographical sketches of key personnel 

_____ Project timeline and research calendar with expected milestones 

_____ Research independence and integrity 

_____ 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 this 

proposal has been submitted (if applicable) 

_____ Data Archiving Strategy 

_____ Budget Detail Worksheet (see page 13) 

_____ Budget Narrative (see page 13) 

_____ Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) (see page 14) 

_____ Tribal Authorizing Resolution (if applicable) (see page 14) 

_____ Other Standard Forms as applicable (see page 14), including: 

 _____ Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (if applicable) 

 _____ Accounting System and Financial Capability Questionnaire (if applicable)