NOTICE 

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions regarding this solicitation are now available 

at: http://nij.gov/funding/2012/faq-impact-of-body-armor-program.htm. 
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 to conduct an 

evaluation of the impact of the NIJ body armor research program. This program furthers the 

Department’s mission by sponsoring research to provide objective, independent, evidencebased knowledge and information to meet the challenges of crime and justice, particularly at the 

State and local levels. 

Evaluating the Impact of the NIJ Body Armor 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 for-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. 

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

years, dependent on the merit of the applications and on the availability of appropriations in 

future years. 

Deadline 

Applicants must register with Grants.gov prior to submitting an application. (See ―How to Apply,‖ 

page 9.) All applications are due by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on April 23, 2012. (See ―Deadlines: 

Registration and Application,‖ page 3.)

Contact Information 

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

Support Hotline at 800–518–4726 or 606–545–5035 or via 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 requirements of this solicitation, contact Debra Stoe, Physical 

Scientist, by phone at 202–616–7036 or by e-mail at Debra.Stoe@usdoj.gov. 

Grants.gov number assigned to announcement: NIJ–2012–3106

Release Date: January 24, 2012

SL000996 
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Contents 

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

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

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

Program-Specific Information ..................................................................................................... 3 

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

Notice of Post-Award FFATA Reporting Requirement ................................................................. 8 

How to Apply .............................................................................................................................. 9 

What an Application Should Include ......................................................................................... 11

Information to Complete the Application for Federal Assistance (SF–424) ................... 11

Program Narrative .........................................................................................................12

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 ....................................................................................................................... 16

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

Provide Feedback to OJP on This Solicitation .......................................................................... 18

Application Checklist ................................................................................................................ 19
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Evaluating the Impact of the NIJ Body Armor 

Program 

(CFDA No. 16.560) 

Overview 

The purpose of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Research, Evaluation, and Development 

Project Grants program is to encourage and support research, development, and evaluation to 

improve criminal justice policy and practice in the United States. 

With this solicitation, NIJ seeks proposals for funding to conduct an evaluation of the impact of 

NIJ’s body armor research program on law enforcement policy and practice in the United States 

beginning with the program’s inception in the early 1970s through today.

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

(sections 201 and 202) and Homeland Security Act of 2002 (section 232). 

Deadlines: Registration and Application 

Applicants must register with Grants.gov prior to submitting an application. OJP encourages 

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

apply for funding under this announcement is 11:59 p.m. eastern time on April 23, 2012. See 

the ―How to Apply‖ section on page 9 for details. 

Eligibility 

Refer to the title page for eligibility under this program. 

 

Program-Specific Information

NIJ’s Science and Technology (S&T) program sponsors research, development, test, and 

evaluation efforts to improve the safety and effectiveness of the tools and technologies used by 

criminal justice agencies. Although Federal agencies are part of its constituency, NIJ’s primary 

focus is on the needs of State and local agencies. 

Today, the vast majority of law enforcement agencies in the United States require their officers 

to use body armor. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that in 2007: 

 80 percent of local police officers were employed by departments with some type of 

body armor requirement;

 75 percent of local police departments required field officers to wear body armor at least 

some of the time while on duty; and 

 65 percent required field officers to wear body armor all of the time while on duty.1

 

1

 Brian A. Reaves, Local Police Departments, 2007, Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office 

of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Dec. 2010 (NCJ 231174), p. 19. 
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This widespread adoption into practice of the use of body armor stemmed from an ongoing 

program of research that NIJ initiated in the early 1970s. This program involves the 

development of improved body armor. It also involves the development of standards to measure 

the performance of body armor and a testing program to help ensure that the armor sold to law 

enforcement agencies is safe and effective. The initial step in NIJ’s body armor program was 

the publication of NILECJ Standard-0101.00 Ballistic Resistance of Police Body Armor in 1972.2

That standard established the performance goals for the subsequent NIJ-sponsored 

development of a body armor that used a newly-introduced material called Kevlar®. That 

development effort culminated in a pilot deployment of the resulting body armor with 15 urban 

police departments across the United States in 1975. 

The current NIJ ballistic-resistant body armor standard (NIJ Standard-0101.06) was published in 

July 2008. An NIJ standard for stab-resistant body armor was published in September 2000. 

These standards define both performance requirements and the methods to be used to test 

armors to determine if they meet those requirements. NIJ has ongoing testing programs for both 

types of armor, and publishes a list of armor models tested and found to be compliant with these 

standards. Use of these standards and participation in the compliance-testing program is 

voluntary. 

This solicitation seeks applications for funding to evaluate the impact of this program on law 

enforcement policy and practice in the United States. 

Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables 

The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) /DuPont Kevlar® Survivor’s Club, 

established in 1987, reports that body armor has saved more than 3,000 law enforcement 

officers’ lives since the introduction of soft body armor in the mid 1970s. NIJ expects that the 

successful applicant will not only propose to examine this metric in greater depth but will also 

expand its investigations beyond that single measure to develop a more comprehensive 

evaluation of the impact of the NIJ body armor program. Among the questions that NIJ is 

interested in this research addressing are: 

 How has the NIJ body armor program changed policing policy, practices, or strategies 

(e.g., training, situational risk assessment, response, procurement)? 

 What impact has the NIJ body armor program had on the body armor industry and the 

subsequent design, quality, and consistency of armor sold to law enforcement agencies? 

This evaluation is expected to inform NIJ strategic planning as it moves its body armor research 

program forward. 

At the conclusion of this project, the successful applicant will deliver a final report that details 

their findings and conclusions regarding the impact of NIJ’s body armor program. Applicants will 

also provide a dissemination plan for the findings resulting from this project. 

Evidence-Based Programs or Practices

OJP considers programs and practices to be evidence-based when their effectiveness has been 

demonstrated by causal evidence (generally obtained through one or more outcome 

evaluations). Causal evidence documents a relationship between an activity or intervention 

 

2

 The National Institute of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice (NILECJ) was a predecessor agency to 

NIJ. 
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(including technology) and its intended outcome, including measuring the direction and size of a 

change, and the extent to which a change may be attributed to the activity or 

intervention. Causal evidence depends on the use of scientific methods to rule out, to the extent 

possible, alternative explanations for the documented change. The strength of causal evidence, 

based on the factors described above, will influence the degree to which OJP considers a 

program or practice to be evidence-based. OJP’s CrimeSolutions.gov website is one resource 

that applicants may use to find information about evidence-based programs in criminal justice, 

juvenile justice, and crime victim services. 

Amount and Length of Awards 

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

of funds, the quality of the applications, and other pertinent factors. In recent years, 

approximately 8 percent of applications to NIJ's annual Science and Technology solicitations 

have been funded. NIJ funding for an individual research or development project rarely exceeds 

$500,000 annually, though total funding for projects requiring multiple years to complete has 

exceeded $1 million in some cases. If feasible, NIJ recommends that applicants divide the 

proposed work into discrete phases, with each phase resulting in the delivery of a measurable 

deliverable. Applicants should try to structure the phases so that the funding required in any 

fiscal year will not exceed $500,000. Although NIJ cannot guarantee that subsequent phases, 

stages, or tasks will be funded, this approach will enable NIJ to fund the proposed work 

incrementally, depending on, among other things, the quality of the deliverable at the end of 

each phase, strategic priorities, and the availability of funds. However, applicants should not 

divide their work if it is not feasible to do so without impairing the technical and programmatic 

soundness of their approach. Note: Deliverables (e.g., technical reports, proof-of-concept 

demonstrations, prototypes) will be required at the end of each phase to enable NIJ to assess 

the progress of the work and assist NIJ in making reasoned determinations as to the suitability 

of funding the next phase of the work. 

NIJ anticipates that it will make up to one award of up to $400,000. Supplemental funding for 

subsequent project periods, if any, will depend on, among other things, the quality of the 

deliverable at the end of the first period, strategic priorities, and the availability of funds. 

All awards are subject to the availability of appropriated funds and to any modifications or 

additional requirements that may be imposed by law. 

Applicants should be aware that the total period for an award ordinarily will not exceed 3 years. 

It is expected that this evaluation will be completed in 2 years. 

Evaluation research: Within applications proposing evaluation research, funding priority will be 

given to experimental research designs that use random selection and assignment of 

participants to experimental and control conditions. When randomized designs are not feasible, 

priority will be given to quasi-experimental designs that include contemporary procedures such 

as Propensity Score Matching or Regression Discontinuity Design to address selection bias in 

evaluating outcomes and impacts.

Evaluations that also include measurements of program fidelity and implementation as part of a 

thorough process assessment are desirable. Measurements of program fidelity should be 

included as part of an assessment of program processes and operations to ensure that policies, 

programs, and technologies are implemented as designed. As one aspect of a comprehensive 

evaluation, assessments of program processes should include objective measurements and 

qualitative observations of programs as they are actually implemented and of services that are 
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delivered. These may include assessment of such aspects as adherence to program content 

and protocol, quantity and duration, quality of delivery, and participant responsiveness. 

Proposed evaluation research designs with multiple units of analysis and multiple 

measurements will also be given priority. Design aspects that contribute to the validity of results 

are necessary to effectively address issues of generalizability and representativeness of 

findings. 

Finally, applications that include cost/benefit analysis 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 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. (The 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. 

4. Proposals that do not contain a research component or do not respond to the specific goals 

of this solicitation.

5. Proposals that do not address the specific topics identified in this solicitation as they are 

described. 

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 2012 salary table for SES 

employees is available at www.opm.gov/oca/12tables/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 requesting 

a waiver should 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 the applicant to 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 to be done. 
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Minimization of Conference Costs 

No OJP funding can be used to purchase food and/or beverages for any meeting, conference, 

training, or other event. Exceptions to this restriction may be made only in cases where such 

sustenance is not otherwise available (i.e., extremely remote areas), or where a special 

presentation at a conference requires a plenary address where there is no other time for 

sustenance to be obtained. Such an exception would require prior approval from OJP. This 

restriction does not apply to water provided at no cost, but does apply to any and all other 

refreshments, regardless of the size or nature of the meeting. Additionally, this restriction does 

not impact direct payment of per diem amounts to individuals in a travel status under your 

organization’s travel policy.

Updated Department of Justice and OJP guidance on conference planning, minimization of 

costs, and conference cost reporting will be forthcoming and will be accessible on the OJP 

website at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/funding.htm. 

Costs Associated with Language Assistance (if applicable) 

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

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

or benefits by individuals with limited English proficiency may be allowable costs. Reasonable 

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

translation services where appropriate. 

For additional information, see the "Civil Rights Compliance" section of the OJP "Other 

Requirements for OJP Applications" Web page 

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

Match Requirement 

See ―Cofunding‖ paragraph under ―What an Application Should Include‖ (below).

Performance Measures 

To assist the Department in fulfilling its responsibilities under the Government Performance and 

Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), Public Law 103-62, and the GPRA Modernization Act of 2010, 

Public Law 111–352, applicants that receive funding under this solicitation must provide data 

that measure the results of their work done under this solicitation. Any award recipient will be 

required, post award, to provide the data requested in the ―Data Grantee Provides‖ column so 

that OJP can calculate values for the ―Performance Measures‖ column. (Submission of 

performance measures data is not required for the application.) Performance measures for this 

solicitation are as follows: 
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Objective

Provide safer, more 

effective tools and 

technologies for use by 

criminal justice agencies. 

Performance Measure(s)

1. Relevance to the needs of the 

field as measured by whether

the grantee’s substantive 

scope did not deviate from th

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 fielded

technologies. 

5. If applicable, number of NIJ 

final grant reports, NIJ research 

documents, and grantee 

research documents published. 

e

Data Grantee Provides

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, 

semiannual progress reports, 

and a final progress report. 

3. If applicable, each dataset that 

was collected, acquired, or 

modified in conjunction with 

the project. 

4. If applicable, description of 

fielded technologies. 

5. If applicable, citation to 

report(s)/document(s).

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 (such as systematic investigations 

designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge) may constitute ―research‖ for 

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

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

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

not constitute ―research.‖ Applicants should provide sufficient information for OJP to determine 

whether the particular project they propose would either intentionally or 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 defined 

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

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

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 

Subjects‖ section of the OJP ―Other Requirements for OJP Applications‖ Web page 

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

a research or statistical component also should review the ―Confidentiality‖ section on that Web 

page. 

Notice of Post-Award FFATA Reporting Requirement 

Applicants should anticipate that OJP will require all recipients (other than individuals) of awards 

of $25,000 or more under this solicitation, consistent with the Federal Funding Accountability 
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and Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA), to report award information on any first-tier subawards 

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

compensation of the five most highly compensated executives of the recipient and first-tier 

subrecipients. Each applicant entity must ensure that it has the necessary processes and 

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

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

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

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 be 

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

this process, call the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 800–518–4726 or 606–545–5035, 

24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except federal holidays. Registering with Grants.gov is a onetime 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 specified application deadline. 

All applicants are required to complete the following steps: 

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

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

federal funds include a DUNS number in their applications for a new award or 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 number by calling Dun and Bradstreet at 866–705–

5711 or by applying online at www.dnb.com. A DUNS number is usually received within 

1-2 business days. 

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

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

username and password. The applicant organization’s DUNS number must be used to 

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

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

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

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

the applicant organization’s AOR. Note that there can be more than one AOR for the 

organization.

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

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

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

―National Institute of Justice Research, Evaluation, and Development Project Grants,‖

and the funding opportunity number is NIJ-2012-3106. 

6. Complete the Disclosure of Lobbying Activities. All applicants must complete this 

information. An applicant that expends any funds for lobbying activities must provide the 

detailed information requested on the form, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL). 

An applicant that does not expend any funds for lobbying activities should enter ―N/A‖ in 

the required highlighted fields. 

7. 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 validation 

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

with an explanation. Important: Applicants are urged to submit applications 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.‖

Note: Duplicate Applications

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

version submitted. 

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 email the 

National Institute of Justice contact identified in the Contact Information section on the title page

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

The applicant must include in the 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) the applicant has received. Note: Requests are not 

automatically approved by NIJ. After the program office reviews all of the information 

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

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, including firewalls. 

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

of the OJP funding Web page at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/solicitations.htm. 

What an Application Should Include 

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 be made to 

make an award, it 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 unresponsive to the scope of 

the solicitation, or that do not include application elements designated by NIJ to be critical will 

neither proceed to peer review nor receive further consideration. Under this solicitation, NIJ has 

designated the following application elements as critical: program narrative, budget detail 

worksheet and budget narrative, and resumes/curriculum vitae of key personnel. The Budget 

Narrative and the Budget Detail Worksheet may be combined in one document. However, if only 

one document is submitted, it must contain both narrative and detail information. 

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. 

1. 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 related information. Grants.gov and GMS take 

information from the applicant’s profile to populate the fields on this form. When 

selecting "type of applicant," if the applicant is a for-profit entity, select "For-Profit 

Organization" or "Small Business" (as applicable). 

2. Program Narrative 

The program narrative section of the application should not exceed 30 double-spaced 

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. 

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

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

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) (not counted against the 30-page program 

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

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

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

inserted after the abstract. 

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

narrative: 

 Statement of the Problem. 

 Project/Program Design and Implementation. 

 Capabilities/Competencies. 

 Impact/Outcomes and Evaluation. 

 Dissemination Strategy. 

Within these sections, the narrative should address: 

 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. 

 Implications for criminal justice policy and practice in the United 

States. 

 Management plan and organization. 
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f. Appendices (not counted against the 30-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 personnel. 

 Project timeline and research calendar with expected milestones. 

Research independence and integrity (see ―Selection Criteria,‖ 

below). 

 Human Subjects Protection Paperwork including Institutional Review 

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 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 this 

proposal has been submitted (if applicable). 

 Other materials specified by the solicitation. 

3. 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 should be 

included. 

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

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

b. Budget Narrative 

The Budget Narrative should thoroughly and clearly describe every category of 

expense listed in the Budget Detail Worksheet. Proposed budgets are expected to 

be complete; reasonable and allowable; cost-effective; and necessary for project 

activities. 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 but need not be in a spreadsheet format. As with the 

Budget Detail Worksheet, the Budget Narrative should 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. The application should indicate whether it is 

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

support for the project. The application should identify generally any such 
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contributions that the applicant expects to make and the proposed budget should 

indicate in detail which items, if any, will be supported with non-Federal contributions. 

If a successful application proposes a voluntary match amount, the match amount 

incorporated into the OJP-approved budget becomes mandatory and subject to 

audit. 

4. 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’s 

accounting system permits, costs may be allocated in the direct cost categories. If DOJ 

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

rate proposal at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/pdfs/indirect_costs.pdf. 

5. Tribal Authorizing Resolution (if applicable)

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

should include a resolution (or comparable legal documentation, as may be applicable) 

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., without authorizing resolution or 

other enactment of each tribal governing body) may submit a copy of its consortium 

bylaws with the application in lieu of tribal resolutions (or comparable legal 

documentation).

6. Other Standard Forms

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

OJP’s funding page at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/forms.htm. For successful applicants, 

receipt of funds may be contingent upon submission of all necessary forms. Note in 

particular the following forms. 

a. Standard Assurances 

Applicants must read, certify, and submit this form in GMS prior to the receipt 

of any award funds. 

b. Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other 

Responsibility Matters and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements 

Applicants must read, certify, and submit in GMS prior to the receipt of any 

award funds. 

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

applicant other than an individual that is a non-governmental entity and that 
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has not received any award from OJP within the past 3 years; this form must 

be downloaded, completed, and submitted) 

Selection Criteria 

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

Project/Program Design and Implementation (Quality and technical merit)—20%

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)—15%

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—15%

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

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

3. Use of existing resources to conserve costs. 

Impact/Outcomes and Evaluation (Relevance to policy and practice)—20% 

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). 

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. 

Dissemination Strategy—10% 

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

including researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. 
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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. 

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 review 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 subject matter of a given solicitation who is NOT a current DOJ employee. An 

internal reviewer is a current DOJ employee who is well-versed or has expertise in the subject 

matter of this solicitation. Applications that meet basic minimum requirements 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. 
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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 

 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 
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 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. 

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 datasets (original, intermediate, and final) produced or 

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

Provide Feedback to OJP on This Solicitation 

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

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

review/peer review process. Feedback can be provided to 

OJPSolicitationFeedback@usdoj.gov. 
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Application Checklist 

Evaluating the Impact of the NIJ Body Armor 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 11) 

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

 Double-spaced 

_____ 12-point standard font 

_____ 1‖ standard margins

_____ Narrative is 30 pages or less 

_____ Appendices to the Program Narrative: (see page 13) 

_____ 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 including Institutional Review Board (IRB) 

documentation and forms. 

_____ Privacy Certificate 

_____ 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 this proposal 

has been submitted (if applicable). 

_____ Budget Detail Worksheet (see page 13) 

_____ Budget Narrative (see page 13) 

_____ Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) (see page 10) 

_____ 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 

 _____ Accounting System and Financial Capability Questionnaire (if applicable)