Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes, Fiscal Year 2020 | NIJ 2020 17294

Opportunity Information: Apply for NIJ 2020 17294

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ), within the U.S. Department of Justice, released this Fiscal Year 2020 discretionary grant opportunity to support research and development in forensic science for criminal justice purposes (Funding Opportunity Number: NIJ 2020 17294; CFDA: 16.560). The program is aimed at funding clearly defined, stand-alone projects in either basic or applied R and D that strengthen the scientific foundations of forensic science and help the field move toward methods that are more accurate, reliable, fast, and cost-effective for the identification, analysis, and interpretation of physical evidence.

At its core, the solicitation is looking for projects that do one of two things. First, a proposed effort can focus on expanding the body of knowledge that informs forensic science policy and practice, meaning work that improves understanding of validity, limitations, uncertainty, performance, and interpretation in forensic disciplines. Second, a project can be geared toward development outcomes, such as producing useful materials, devices, systems, or methods that have real potential for forensic application. In other words, applicants can propose foundational science that improves how forensic evidence is understood and used, or they can propose practical innovations that laboratories and practitioners could eventually adopt.

NIJ emphasizes that the goal is to translate advances from broader scientific fields and ongoing forensic R and D into forensic tools and approaches that are highly discriminating (able to differentiate between sources effectively), accurate, reliable, rapid, and economically feasible. The solicitation highlights alignment with the operational needs of the forensic science community, pointing applicants toward needs and challenges discussed at NIJ’s FY 2016 Forensic Science Technology Working Group meeting (available through NIJ.gov) as well as additional needs identified through the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC). Importantly, NIJ notes that projects do not need to deliver immediate, fully deployable solutions to those needs; however, proposals should clearly connect to them and generate knowledge or developmental progress that contributes meaningfully toward eventual solutions.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations that can contribute to forensic science advancement. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities, other than institutions of higher education); and for-profit organizations other than small businesses, along with additional eligible entities as clarified in the solicitation’s eligibility section. This wide eligibility reflects NIJ’s interest in supporting innovation and research capacity across universities, public agencies, laboratories, nonprofits, and industry partners.

The opportunity was created on March 19, 2020, with an original closing date of May 18, 2020. NIJ anticipated making about 50 awards under this solicitation, with an award ceiling listed as $20,000,000. Overall, the grant program is designed to push forensic science forward through targeted R and D that is responsive to practitioner needs, strengthens the scientific basis of evidence, and accelerates the development of improved methods and tools used throughout the criminal justice system.

• 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 Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes, Fiscal Year 2020" 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 Mar 19, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 18, 2020. (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 $20,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 50 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), 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, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for NIJ 2020 17294

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