Opportunity Information: Apply for O NIJ 2021 45003
The Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice (NIJ) grant opportunity titled "Research and Evaluation on Crime Laboratory Systems and Processes, Fiscal Year 2021" (Funding Opportunity Number O-NIJ-2021-45003) is a discretionary grant program focused on improving how crime laboratories operate by supporting research and evaluation projects. The central goal is to generate practical, evidence-based knowledge that helps strengthen the accuracy and reliability of crime laboratory systems and processes. In other words, NIJ is looking for proposals that can meaningfully examine how lab work is managed, performed, reviewed, and reported, and that can identify ways to reduce error, improve consistency, and increase confidence in forensic results.
A major emphasis of the solicitation is on real-world research that is informed by, or conducted in collaboration with, operational partners such as crime laboratories, police departments, prosecutors, courts, or other relevant criminal justice agencies. If a project includes partnerships, the application is expected to include strong letters of support from each partnering agency. These letters must be signed by an appropriate decision-making authority and should demonstrate that the partner is genuinely committed to participating in the work, not simply lending a name to the proposal. The letters must also explicitly acknowledge a key award condition: de-identified data connected to the project (whether generated during the study, provided by partners, or otherwise obtained through the work) will be archived by the grant recipient with the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD) at the end of the award. Because data archiving and privacy protections are central requirements, applicants and partners are encouraged to review NACJD policies and protections in advance to ensure they understand how de-identification, confidentiality, and long-term access are handled.
If NIJ selects a proposal for funding, the grantee is expected to have a formal agreement in place with all partnering agencies by January 1, 2022. This agreement must include language that supports compliance with the NACJD data archiving requirement. The solicitation also clarifies how to structure multi-organization projects financially and administratively: only one entity may submit the application as the official applicant, even if multiple agencies will be involved in carrying out the project. Any additional participating entities that will use federal award funds must be included as subrecipients rather than as co-applicants, which affects budgeting, reporting responsibilities, and grant management.
The opportunity falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 16.560. NIJ anticipated making about two awards, with an award ceiling of up to $1,000,000 per award. The solicitation was created on December 21, 2020, and the original application deadline was March 8, 2021. Eligibility is broad and includes various levels of government (state, county, city or township, and special districts), public and private institutions of higher education, federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and other eligible applicants as further described in the solicitation’s additional eligibility guidance.
Overall, NIJ is funding a small number of relatively high-impact projects designed to evaluate and strengthen the internal systems, workflows, and quality-related processes that shape crime laboratory performance. Strong partnership documentation, clear planning for formal interagency agreements, and early attention to de-identified data archiving with NACJD are treated as essential components of a competitive and compliant application.Apply for O NIJ 2021 45003
- The Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research and Evaluation on Crime Laboratory Systems and Processes, Fiscal Year 2021" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.560.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 21, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 08, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Research and Evaluation on Crime Laboratory Systems and Processes, Fiscal Year 2021" and is offered by the Department of Justice (DOJ), National Institute of Justice (NIJ).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is O-NIJ-2021-45003.
What type of grant program is this?
This is a discretionary grant program focused on supporting research and evaluation projects intended to improve how crime laboratories operate.
What is the main purpose or goal of the solicitation?
The central goal is to generate practical, evidence-based knowledge that strengthens the accuracy and reliability of crime laboratory systems and processes. NIJ is looking for work that meaningfully examines how lab work is managed, performed, reviewed, and reported, and that identifies ways to reduce error, improve consistency, and increase confidence in forensic results.
What kinds of projects is NIJ seeking to fund?
NIJ is seeking research and evaluation projects that examine crime laboratory systems and processes in real-world contexts. The solicitation emphasizes projects that can evaluate and strengthen internal systems, workflows, and quality-related processes that affect crime laboratory performance.
Is collaboration with operational partners expected or required?
The solicitation places a major emphasis on real-world research that is informed by, or conducted in collaboration with, operational partners. Examples mentioned include crime laboratories, police departments, prosecutors, courts, and other relevant criminal justice agencies.
If a project includes partners, what documentation is expected?
If partnerships are part of the project, the application is expected to include strong letters of support from each partnering agency.
Who must sign the letters of support?
Letters of support must be signed by an appropriate decision-making authority at the partnering agency.
What should letters of support demonstrate?
The letters should show that each partner is genuinely committed to participating in the work, rather than simply lending their name to the proposal.
Do the partner letters need to address any specific award condition?
Yes. The letters must explicitly acknowledge a key award condition: de-identified data connected to the project will be archived by the grant recipient with the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD) at the end of the award.
What data must be archived with NACJD?
The requirement applies to de-identified data connected to the project, including data generated during the study, provided by partners, or otherwise obtained through the work.
When is the data expected to be archived?
The solicitation states that de-identified project data will be archived with NACJD at the end of the award.
Why does the solicitation emphasize NACJD policies and protections?
Because data archiving and privacy protections are described as central requirements. Applicants and partners are encouraged to review NACJD policies and protections in advance to understand how de-identification, confidentiality, and long-term access are handled.
If NIJ selects a proposal for funding, is a formal agreement with partners required?
Yes. If selected for funding, the grantee is expected to have a formal agreement in place with all partnering agencies by January 1, 2022.
What must the formal agreement with partners include?
The agreement must include language that supports compliance with the NACJD data archiving requirement.
Can multiple organizations submit the application together as co-applicants?
No. The solicitation clarifies that only one entity may submit the application as the official applicant, even when multiple agencies will be involved in carrying out the project.
How should additional participating entities be included if they will use federal award funds?
Any additional participating entities that will use federal award funds must be included as subrecipients, not co-applicants. This affects budgeting, reporting responsibilities, and grant management.
What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?
The opportunity falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development funding activity category.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The solicitation is associated with CFDA 16.560.
How many awards did NIJ anticipate making?
NIJ anticipated making about two awards.
What is the maximum (ceiling) amount per award?
The award ceiling is up to $1,000,000 per award.
When was the solicitation created?
The solicitation was created on December 21, 2020.
What was the original application deadline?
The original application deadline was March 8, 2021.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes: state, county, city or township governments, and special districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other eligible applicants as described in the solicitation's additional eligibility guidance.
What makes an application competitive based on the information provided?
Based on the solicitation summary provided, competitive and compliant applications should emphasize: (1) research with practical, real-world relevance to crime laboratory operations; (2) strong partnership documentation with committed operational partners; (3) early and clear planning for de-identified data archiving with NACJD (including partner acknowledgment in letters of support); and (4) readiness to put formal interagency agreements in place by January 1, 2022, including required data-archiving language.
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