U.S. Department of Justice Insert OMB No. 

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 under the Solving 

Cold Cases with DNA Program. This program furthers the Department’s mission by offering 

assistance to States and units of local government to identify, review, and investigate Uniform 

Crime Report (UCR) Part 1 Violent Crime “cold cases” that have the potential to be solved 

through DNA analysis and to locate and analyze biological evidence associated with these 

cases. 

Solicitation: 

Solving Cold Cases With DNA 

Eligibility 

States (including territories) and units of local government (including federally-recognized Indian 

tribal governments as determined by the Secretary of the Interior and published in the Federal 

Register) are eligible to apply for funding under this solicitation. 

Deadline 

Registration with OJP’s Grant Management System (GMS) is required prior to application 

submission. (See “How to Apply” page 7.) 

All applications are due by 11:45 p.m. eastern time on March 12, 2010. 

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

Contact Information 

For technical assistance with submitting the application, contact the Grants Management 

System Support Hotline at 1–888–549–9901, option 3 or via e-mail to 

GMSHelpDesk@usdoj.gov. 

Note: The GMS Support Hotline hours of operation are Monday–Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 

midnight eastern time, except for Federal holidays. 

For assistance with any other requirement of this solicitation, contact Charles Heurich, Program 

Manager, at 202–616–9264 or by e-mail to charles.heurich@usdoj.gov. 

SL# 000933 
CONTENTS 

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

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

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

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

Performance Measures ..................................................................................................... 6 

How to Apply..................................................................................................................... 7 

What an Application Must Include..................................................................................... 9 

Standard Form 424 ............................................................................................... 9 

Program Narrative ................................................................................................. 9 

Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative ................................................. 10 

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) ...................................................... 10 

Plan for Collecting the Data Required for Performance Measures ..................... 11 

Tribal Authorizing Resolution (if applicable)........................................................ 11 

Other Standard Forms ........................................................................................ 11 

Selection Criteria............................................................................................................. 12 

Review Process .............................................................................................................. 12 

Additional Requirements................................................................................................. 13 

Application Checklist....................................................................................................... 15 

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Solving Cold Cases With DNA

CFDA No. 16.560 

Overview 

NIJ seeks applications from States and units of local government for funding to identify, review, 

and investigate “violent crime cold cases” that have the potential to be solved using DNA 

analysis and to locate and analyze biological evidence associated with these cases. Experience 

has shown that cold case programs can solve a substantial number of violent crime cold cases, 

including homicides and sexual assaults. Advances in DNA technologies have substantially 

increased the successful DNA analysis of aged, degraded, limited, or otherwise compromised 

biological evidence. As a result, crime scene samples once thought to be unsuitable for testing 

may now yield DNA profiles. Additionally, samples that previously generated inconclusive DNA 

results may now be successfully analyzed using newer methods. 

For the purposes of this announcement: “violent crime cold case” refers to any unsolved 

UCR Part 1 Violent Crime case for which all significant investigative leads have been 

exhausted. 

Authorizing Legislation: Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2010 (Public Law 111– 

117). 

Deadlines: Registration and Application 

Registration is required prior to submission. The deadline to register in GMS is 11:45 p.m. 

eastern time on March 12, 2010 and the deadline for applying for funding under this 

announcement is 11:45 p.m. eastern time on March 12, 2010. Please see the “How to Apply” 

section, page 7, for more details. 

Eligibility 

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

Specific Information—Solving Cold Cases With DNA 

Award Purposes 

The goal of this solicitation is to make funding available to States and units of local government 

to: 

1. Identify, review, and prioritize violent crime cold cases that have the potential to be 

solved using DNA analysis (by appropriate persons such as prosecutors, public 

defenders, law enforcement personnel, forensic scientists, and medical examiners) in 

order to determine whether DNA analysis of any existing biological evidence could help 

solve the cold case. 

2. Identify, collect, retrieve, and evaluate biological evidence from such cases that may 

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reasonably be expected to contain DNA. 

3. Perform DNA analyses on such biological evidence including the handling and 

screening of this evidence. 

Funds may be used for certain investigative purposes provided they fall within the scope of the 

solicitation. Specifically, all investigative activities must be directly related to the funding 

purposes (1, 2, and/or 3) above. Activities such as interviewing victims, witnesses, suspects, 

etc., are permissible in violent crime cold case investigations that have the potential to be solved 

through DNA analysis until either all samples with potential DNA evidence have been recovered 

and analyzed (including probative evidentiary samples, cold hit confirmatory samples, reference 

samples from victims and consensual partners, etc.) or the review of the case demonstrates that 

no biological material was present for further analysis. 

Please Note: Costs for general cold case investigations—those that do not involve UCR, Part 1 

violent crimes, or do not have the potential to be solved through DNA analysis—are not 

allowable. Funds also are not to be used for the purpose of general laboratory capacity 

enhancement or general casework backlog reduction. 

All DNA analyses conducted using funding from this program must be performed by a laboratory 

(government-owned or fee-for-service) that is accredited and currently undergoes external 

audits not less than once every 2 years that demonstrate compliance with the DNA Quality 

Assurance Standards established by the Director of the FBI. All eligible DNA profiles obtained 

with funding under this program must be entered into the Combined DNA Index System 

(CODIS) and, where applicable, uploaded to the National DNA Index System (NDIS). 

Each DNA analysis conducted under this program must be maintained pursuant to all applicable 

Federal privacy requirements, including those described in 42 U.S.C § 14132(b)(3). 

Applicants should be aware that NIJ may choose to conduct an evaluation of one or more 

projects funded under this solicitation. Any such evaluation may focus on the impact of the 

project and its implementation, and may result in publication of a report. An example of an NIJfunded report (on Boston’s Operation Ceasefire) may be found at 

http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/188741.pdf. 

Award Period 

In general, NIJ will limit any grants under this program to a maximum period of 18 months after 

the start of the award. 

Permissible Uses of Funds 

All expenditures under this program must relate directly to violent crime cold cases that have the 

potential to be solved through DNA analysis and to one or more of the three award purposes 

listed above. The following types of expenditures may be permitted: 

1. Salary and benefits of additional employees. Funds may be used for salaries and 

benefits of additional full-time or part-time employees to the extent such employees are 

directly engaged in case review, location of evidence, or DNA analysis of biological 

evidence. Applicants must provide documentation that additional new full-time/part-time 

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employee(s) will be directly engaged in these activities. 

2. Overtime. Funds may be used for overtime for people directly engaged in case review, 

location of evidence, DNA analysis of biological evidence, and post-hit case investigation 

necessary for retrieval of confirmatory DNA samples. All overtime payments must be 

made in accordance with the applicable provisions of the OJP Financial Guide, available 

at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/financialguide/. 

3. Travel. Funds may be used for travel for investigative purposes within the scope of the 

program (excluding witness travel). 

4. Laboratory equipment. Funds may be used to upgrade, replace, lease, or purchase 

laboratory equipment when the primary use of this equipment can be documented as 

directly related to investigation of violent crime cold cases that have the potential to be 

solved through DNA analysis. 

5. Computer equipment. Funds may be used to upgrade, replace, lease, or purchase 

computer hardware or software that will be used exclusively for case review, location of 

evidence, or DNA analysis of biological evidence. 

6. Laboratory supplies. Funds may be used to acquire laboratory supplies for DNA 

analysis of biological evidence. 

7. Consultant and contractor services. Funds may be used to hire consultants or 

temporary contract staff, or both, to conduct case reviews, locate evidence, or conduct 

DNA analysis of biological evidence. Funds may also be used for contracts with 

accredited fee-for-service vendors to conduct DNA analysis of biological evidence. 

8. Training. Funds may be used to attend training directly related to case review, location 

of evidence, and DNA analysis of biological evidence. 

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

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

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

What will not be funded: 

1. Salaries and benefits for existing staff. Funds may not be used to pay salaries or 

benefits, or both, for existing staff, other than overtime as discussed above.
 

2. Travel for witnesses. 

3. Portable investigative equipment such as cameras and tape recorders. 

4. Cell phones and cell phone plans. 

5. Vehicles. 

6. Construction. 

7. Renovation. 

8. Rental costs for space. 

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

modifications or additional requirements that may be imposed by law. Since 2005, NIJ has 

made awards to approximately 35 percent of the applicants in the Solving Cold Cases With 

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DNA program, roughly 31 awards per year. An average of $12.7 million has been awarded over 

the four solicitations. NIJ anticipates that up to approximately $12 million will be available for 

awards under the FY 2010 solicitation. 

Applicants should be aware that the total period for an NIJ award, including one that receives 

additional funding, ordinarily will not exceed 3 years. 

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

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

Budget Information 

Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation; Waiver: No portion of any 

award of more than $250,000 made under this solicitation may be used to pay total cash 

compensation (salary plus bonuses) to any employee of the award recipient at a rate that 

exceeds 110% of the maximum annual salary payable to a member of the Federal 

Government’s Senior Executive Service (SES) at an agency with a Certified SES Performance 

Appraisal System for that year. (The 2010 salary table for SES employees is available at 

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

employee at a higher rate, provided the amount in excess of this compensation limitation is paid 

with non-Federal funds. (Any such additional compensation will not be considered matching 

funds where match requirements apply.) 

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

basis at the discretion of the Assistant Attorney General (AAG) for the Office of Justice 

Programs. An applicant that wishes to request a waiver must include a detailed justification in 

the budget narrative of its application. Unless the applicant submits a waiver request and 

justification with the application, the applicant should anticipate that OJP will request that the 

applicant adjust and resubmit its budget. 

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

uniqueness of the service being provided, the individual’s specific knowledge of the program or 

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

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

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

Performance Measures 

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

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

provide data that measure the results of their work. Additionally, applicants must discuss in their 

application their methods for collecting data for performance measures. Please refer to “What 

an Application Must Include” (below) for additional information on applicant responsibilities for 

collecting and reporting data. Performance measures for this solicitation are as follows: 

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Objective Performance Measure(s) Data Grantee Provides 

To identify, review, and investigate 

“violent crime cold cases” that have 

the potential to be solved through 

DNA analysis, and to locate and 

analyze biological evidence 

associated with these cases. 

1. Increase in the number of the 

total identified UCR Part 1 

Violent Crimes cold cases 

where the files or evidence, or 

both, have been reviewed for 

the presence of biological 

evidence. 

2. Increase in the number of UCR 

Part 1 Violent Crimes cold case 

DNA profiles generated that 

have been entered into CODIS. 

3. Increase in the number of 

CODIS hits resulting from cold 

case analyses. 

1. The number of violent crime 

cold cases reviewed. 

2. The number of violent crime 

cold cases reviewed in which 

biological evidence still existed. 

3. The number of violent crime 

cold cases subjected to DNA 

analysis. 

4. The number of violent crime 

cold cases that yielded DNA 

profiles. 

5. The number of DNA profiles 

entered into CODIS. 

6. The number of CODIS hits. 

7. Quarterly financial reports, 

semi-annual progress reports, 

and a final comprehensive 

progress report. 

How to Apply 

Applications will be submitted through OJP’s Grants Management System (GMS). GMS is a 

Web-based, data-driven computer application that provides cradle to grave support for the 

application, award and management of grants at OJP. Applicants should begin the process 

immediately to meet the GMS registration deadline, especially if this is the first time they have 

used the system. Complete instructions on how to register and submit an application in GMS 

can be found at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/gmscbt/. If you experience technical difficulties at any point 

during this process, please e-mail GMSHelpDesk@usdoj.gov, or call 1–888–549–9901 (option 

3), Monday–Friday from 6:00 a.m. to midnight eastern time, except for Federal holidays. OJP 

highly recommends starting the registration process as early as possible to prevent delays in 

the application submission by the specified deadline. 

All applicants are required to complete the following steps. 

1. Acquire a DUNS Number. A DUNS number is required to submit an application in 

GMS. The Office of Management and Budget requires that all businesses and nonprofit 

applicants for Federal funds include a DUNS (Data Universal Numbering System) 

number in their application 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. 

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

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

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

Database. CCR registration is required to receive funding. OJP requires that all 

applicants (other than individuals) for Federal financial assistance maintain current 

registrations in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database. The CCR database 

is the repository for standard information about Federal financial assistance applicants, 

recipients, and subrecipients. Organizations that have previously submitted applications 

via Grants.gov are already registered with CCR, as it is a requirement for Grants.gov 

registration. Please note, however, that applicants must update or renew their CCR 

registration at least once per year to maintain an active status. Information about CCR 

registration procedures can be accessed at www.ccr.gov. 

3. Acquire a GMS Username and Password. If you are a new user, please create a GMS 

profile by selecting the first time user link under the sign-in box of the GMS home page. 

For more information on how to register in GMS, go to www.ojp.usdoj.gov/gmscbt/. 

4. Search for the Funding Opportunity on GMS. After you log in to GMS or complete 

your GMS profile for your username and password, go to the Funding Opportunities link 

on the left hand side of the page. Please select “National Institute of Justice” and then 

“NIJ FY 10 Solving Cold Cases With DNA.” 

5. Select the Apply Online Button Associated with the Solicitation Title. The search 

results from step 4 will display the solicitation title along with the Registration and 

Application Deadlines for this funding opportunity. Please select the Apply Online button 

in the Action Column to create an application in the system. 

6. Submit an Application Addressing All of the Requirements Outlined in this 

Solicitation by Following the Directions in GMS. Once submitted, GMS will display a 

confirmation screen stating your submission was successful. Important: You are urged 

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

Note: OJP’s Grants Management System (GMS) does not accept executable file types as 

application attachments. These disallowed file types include, but are not limited to, the 

following extensions: ".com," ".bat," ".exe," ".vbs," ".cfg," ".dat," ".db," ".dbf," ".dll," ".ini," ".log," 

".ora," ".sys," and ".zip." 

Experiencing Unforeseen GMS Technical Issues 

If you experience unforeseen GMS technical issues beyond your control which prevent you from 

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

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

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

number, and provide a GMS Help Desk tracking number(s). After the program office reviews all 

of the information submitted, and contacts the GMS Helpdesk to validate the technical issues 

you reported, OJP will contact you to either approve or deny your request to submit a late 

application. If the technical issues you reported cannot be validated, your application will be 

rejected as untimely. 

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

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

(2) failure to follow GMS instructions on how to register and apply as posted on its Web site; (3) 

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

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

Notifications regarding known technical problems with GMS are posted on the OJP funding Web 

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

What an Application Must Include 

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 required attachments. Where resumes are required, OJP 

recommends that all resumes be included in a single file. 

Standard Form 424 

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

complete your SF424. 

 Program Narrative 

Proposals must clearly define the strategy and criteria that will be used to identify, 

prioritize, and select violent crime cold cases that have the potential to be solved through 

DNA analysis. These may be demonstrated through the inclusion of checklists, 

flowcharts, diagrams, or narratives, and should be developed through collaboration with 

appropriate members of the criminal justice community (such as crime laboratory 

personnel, prosecutors, defense counsel, medical examiners, law enforcement 

investigators, etc.). The proposal must include a description of the follow-up activities 

that will be performed to advance a case toward adjudication should a DNA match be 

obtained. For proposals where the crime laboratory is not the submitting agency but 

where DNA analysis will be performed, there must be a demonstration of the crime 

laboratory’s commitment to analyze the biological evidence, interpret the DNA results, 

and upload the DNA profiles into DNA databases. 

The program narrative must address the specific project objectives, expected results, 

and implementation approach. It should demonstrate, specifically and comprehensively, 

how requested funds will be used for the review and investigation of violent crime cold 

cases that have the potential to be solved through DNA analysis and for the location and 

analysis of biological evidence associated with these cases. 

The Program Narrative includes: 

a. Cover page 

b. Abstract (not to exceed 600 words). 

c. Table of contents. 

d. Main body, which includes: 

• Purpose, goals, and objectives. 

• Review of relevant literature. 

• Implementation plan. 

• Management plan and organization. 

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

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• Bibliography/References (if applicable). 

• List of key personnel (required). 

• Resumes of key personnel (required). 

• List of previous and current NIJ awards to applicant organization 

(required). 

• Letters of cooperation/support or administrative agreements from 

organizations collaborating in the project (if applicable). 

• Chart for timeline or milestones (required). 

• Human Subjects Protection Paperwork including Institutional Review 

Board (IRB) documentation and forms (see 

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

• Privacy Certificate (for further guidance go to 

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

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

have submitted this proposal (if applicable). 

• Other materials required by the solicitation. 

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

narrative section. 

Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative 

A sample Budget Detail Worksheet can be found at 

www.ojp.gov/funding/forms/budget_detail.pdf. If you submit a different format, you must 

include the budget categories as listed in the sample budget worksheet. 

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

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

The Budget Narrative is a plain-language description of each of the proposed 

expenditures listed in the Budget Detail Worksheet. It should clearly explain the purpose 

and reason for all expenditures in the budget. There should be no ambiguities about any 

budget item. The narrative also should include details for calculated rates or other 

figures. As with the Budget Detail Worksheet, the Budget Narrative must be broken 

down on a year-by-year basis. 

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

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

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

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

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

supported with non-Federal contributions. 

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) 

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

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

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

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

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

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submit an indirect cost rate proposal at 

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

Plan for Collecting the Data Required for Performance Measures 

The Data Collection Plan is a description of the applicant’s plan for collecting the data 

required for performance measures. Applicants must discuss this plan in their 

applications. The plan must describe how the performance measures data will be 

derived, state who will be responsible for collecting the data, and state that the data will 

be available for review 3 years post award, as required. The data collection plan should 

be rigorous to ensure that the performance measure data provided are accurate, 

auditable, and correctly measure the impact of the Federal funds provided. 

Tribal Authorizing Resolution (if applicable) 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

provided under the grant. 

If an applicant is unable to obtain a signed copy of a tribal resolution documenting 

support for its application, then, at a minimum, the applicant must submit an unsigned, 

draft tribal resolution as part of its application. If an applicant fails to submit either a 

signed or an unsigned copy of a tribal resolution as part of its application, then it will be 

eliminated from funding consideration. If selected for funding, any applicant that has 

submitted an unsigned tribal resolution must submit the signed copy of the tribal 

resolution to OJP within 30 days of acceptance of the award. In all such cases, use of 

and access to funds will be contingent on receipt of the signed tribal resolution. 

Other Standard Forms 

Additional forms that may be required are available on OJP’s funding page at 

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/forms.htm. Please note in particular the following 

forms. 

1. Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other 

Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (required of all 

applicants as part of the GMS application process) 

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

funds for lobbying activities) 

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

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

from OJP within the past 3 years) 

4. Standard Assurances (required of all applicants as part of the GMS application 

process) 

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

categories: 1) Program Narrative; 2) Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative; 3); 

Appendices; and 4) Other Requirements. 

Selection Criteria 

Statement of the Problem (Understanding of the problem and its importance)—15% 

Applicants should include appropriate citations and other information to demonstrate an 

understanding of the problem and the expected impact of the funding in solving cold cases 

with DNA. 

Project/Program Design and Implementation (Quality and technical merit)—30% 

1. Awareness of the state of current DNA technology and its application to solving cold 

cases. 

2. Soundness of methodology and analytic and technical approach, including demonstrated 

team approach to solving cold cases. 

3. Feasibility of proposed project and awareness of pitfalls. 

4. Innovation and creativity (when appropriate). 

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

applicants)—20% 

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—20% 

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

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

3. Use of existing resources to conserve costs. 

Impact/Outcomes and Evaluation/Plan for Collecting Data for Performance Measures 

(Relevance to policy and practice)—15% 

1. Potential for resolving violent crime cold cases. 

2. Affordability and cost-effectiveness. 

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 basic minimum program or legislative 

requirements as stated in the solicitation (including, but not limited to, requirements as to 

timeliness, proper format, and responsiveness to the scope of the solicitation). 

Peer reviewers will be reviewing the applications submitted under this solicitation that meet 

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

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

12
 
reviewer is an expert in the field of the subject matter of a given solicitation who is NOT a 

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

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

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

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

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

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

performance, and available funding. 

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

review of applications for potential discretionary awards and cooperative agreements to 

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

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

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

principles and agency regulations. 

Absent explicit statutory authorization or written delegation of authority to the contrary, all final 

grant award decisions will be made by the Assistant Attorney General (AAG), who may also 

give consideration to factors including, but not limited to, underserved populations, geographic 

diversity, strategic priorities, past performance, and available funding when making awards. 

Additional Requirements 

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

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

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

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

• Civil Rights Compliance 

• Faith-Based and Other Community Organizations 

• Confidentiality and Human Subjects Protection (if applicable) 

• Anti-Lobbying Act 

• Financial and Government Audit Requirements 

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

• DOJ Information Technology Standards (if applicable) 

• Single Point of Contact Review 

• Nonsupplanting of State or Local Funds 

• Criminal Penalty for False Statements 

• Compliance with Office of Justice Programs Financial Guide 

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• 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 

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

including 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. If 

a cold DNA hit occurs during a reporting period, a brief description of the case should be 

included. The descriptions should detail the type of hit (offender or forensic) and the evidence 

the hit was obtained from. 

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Application Checklist 

Solving Cold Cases With DNA 

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

Eligibility 

_____ Tribal authorizing resolution (if applicable) 

Application Components: 

_____ Program Narrative (see pages 9–10 and “Selection Criteria,” page 12) 

_____ Appendices to the Program Narrative 

_____ Bibliography/References (if applicable) 

_____ List of key personnel (required) 

_____ Resumes of key personnel (required) 

_____ List of previous and current NIJ awards to applicant organization 

_____ Letters of cooperation/support or administrative agreements from organizations 

collaborating in the project (if applicable) 

_____ Chart for timeline or milestones (required) 

_____ Human Subjects Protection Paperwork 

_____ Privacy Certificate 

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

submitted this proposal (if applicable) 

_____ Budget Narrative 

_____ Budget Detail Worksheet 

_____ Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) 

_____ Plan for Collecting Data for Performance Measures 

Program Narrative/Abstract Format: 

_____ Double-spaced 

_____ 12-point standard font 

_____ 1” standard margins 

_____ Narrative is 25 pages or less 

Other Requirements: 

_____ Standard Form 424 

_____ DUNS number 

_____ Other standard forms as applicable (see page 11) including: 

_____ Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (if applicable) 

_____ Accounting System and Financial Capability Questionnaire (if applicable)
 

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