NIJ-2018-13640.pdf

Notice regarding the solicitation “Graduate Research Fellowship in Social and Behavioral Sciences ”

January 17, 2018: Budget language has been modified and updated language will be provided as an addendum at a later date.

The original solicitation document begins on the next page.

OMB No. 1121-0329 Approval Expires 11/30/2020

U.S. Department of Justice 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 seeking applications for funding of innovative doctoral dissertation research in the social and behavioral sciences that is relevant to supporting crime reduction, enhancing investigations and prosecutions, protecting police officers and other public safety personnel, combating the opioid epidemic, victimization, and addressing illegal immigration in the United States. This program furthers the Department’s mission by sponsoring research to provide objective, independent, evidence-based knowledge and tools to meet the challenges of crime and criminal justice, particularly at the state, local, and tribal levels.

Graduate Research Fellowship in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Applications Due: March 12, 2018

Eligibility

Eligible applicants are limited to degree-granting academic institutions (including tribal institutions of higher education) in the United States and its territories. To be eligible, the institution must be fully accredited by one of the regional institutional accreditation agencies recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. Under this solicitation, the applicant institution must apply as the sponsoring institution for the doctoral candidate conducting criminal justice-related research in a discipline relevant to NIJ’s mission. An institution may submit more than one application.

All recipients and subrecipients (including any for-profit organization) must forgo any profit or management fee.

An applicant may submit more than one application under this solicitation, but each application must propose sponsoring a different doctoral candidate’s dissertation research.

Deadline

Applicants must register with Grants.gov at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html prior to submitting an application. All applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on March 12, 2018.

To be considered timely, an application must be submitted by the application deadline using Grants.gov, and the applicant must have received a validation message from Grants.gov that indicates successful and timely submission. OJP urges applicants to submit applications at least https://www.usdoj.gov/ https://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ http://nij.gov/Pages/welcome.aspx http://nij.gov/Pages/welcome.aspx https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html

NIJ-2018-13640

72 hours prior to the application due date, to allow time for the applicant to receive validation messages or rejection notifications from Grants.gov, and to correct in a timely fashion any problems that may have caused a rejection notification.

OJP encourages all applicants to read this Important Notice: Applying for Grants in Grants.gov.

For additional information, see How to Apply in Section D. Application and Submission Information.

Contact Information

For technical assistance with submitting an application, contact the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 800-518-4726, 606-545-5035, at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html, or via email to support@grants.gov.

The Grants.gov Support Hotline operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except on federal holidays.

An applicant that experiences unforeseen Grants.gov technical issues beyond its control that prevent it from submitting its application by the deadline may email the NIJ contact identified below within 24 hours after the application deadline to request approval to submit its application. Additional information on reporting technical issues appears under Experiencing Unforeseen Grants.gov Technical Issues in the How to Apply section.

For assistance with any other requirements of this solicitation, contact the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) Response Center: toll-free at 1-800-851-3420; via TTY at 301-240-6310 (hearing impaired only); email grants@ncjrs.gov; fax to 301-240-5830; or web chat at https://webcontact.ncjrs.gov/ncjchat/chat.jsp. The NCJRS Response Center hours of operation are 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. eastern time, Monday through Friday, and 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. eastern time on the solicitation close date. General information on applying for NIJ awards can be found at www.nij.gov/funding/Pages/welcome.aspx. Answers to frequently asked questions that may assist applicants are posted at www.nij.gov/funding/Pages/faqs.aspx.

Grants.gov number assigned to this solicitation: NIJ-2018-13640

[Release date: January 11, 2018] https://ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Grants-govInfo.htm https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html mailto:support@grants.gov https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html mailto:responsecenter@ncjrs.gov https://webcontact.ncjrs.gov/ncjchat/chat.jsp http://www.nij.gov/funding/Pages/welcome.aspx http://www.nij.gov/funding/Pages/faqs.aspx

Contents A. Program Description

Overview

Program-Specific Information

Goals, Objectives, Deliverables, and Expected Scholarly Products

B. Federal Award Information

Type of Award

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls

Budget Information

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement

Pre-agreement Costs (also known as Pre-award Costs)

Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation; Waiver

Prior Approval, Planning, and Reporting of Conference/Meeting/Training Costs

Costs Associated with Language Assistance (if applicable)

C. Eligibility Information

D. Application and Submission Information

What an Application Should Include

How to Apply

E. Application Review Information

Review Criteria

Review Process

F. Federal Award Administration Information

Federal Award Notices

Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements

General Information about Post-Federal Award Reporting Requirements

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)

H. Other Information

Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552 and 5 U.S.C. 552a)

Provide Feedback to OJP

Application Checklist

Graduate Research Fellowship in Social and Behavioral Sciences

(CFDA # 16.562)

A. Program Description

Overview

The NIJ Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) Program in Social and Behavioral Sciences is open to doctoral students in all social and behavioral science disciplines. This program provides awards to accredited academic institutions to support graduate research leading to doctoral degrees in areas that are relevant to ensuring public safety, preventing and controlling crime, and ensuring the effective administration of criminal justice in the United States. Of particular interest is research on issues deemed critical by the U.S. Department of Justice:

• Violent crime reduction

• Enhancing investigations and prosecutions

• Protecting police officers and other public safety personnel

• Combating the opioid epidemic

• Victimization

• Addressing illegal immigration.

NIJ invests in doctoral education by supporting universities that sponsor students who demonstrate the potential to successfully complete doctoral degree programs in disciplines relevant to the mission of NIJ, and who are in the final stages of graduate study. Applicants sponsoring doctoral students are eligible to apply only if:

1. The doctoral student’s degree program is in a social and behavioral science discipline;

and

2. The student’s proposed dissertation research has demonstrable implications for addressing the challenges of public safety, crime, and/or the fair and impartial administration of criminal justice in the United States.

To learn more about NIJ’s Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) Program in Social and Behavioral Sciences, see http://www.nij.gov/GRF-SBS.

Academic institutions sponsoring doctoral students whose disciplines are outside the social and behavioral sciences will not be considered under this solicitation. Applicants sponsoring doctoral students whose research is in the areas of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) should submit applications under NIJ’s “Graduate Research Fellowship Program in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics” (GRF-STEM) solicitation.

http://www.nij.gov/GRF-SBS

Awards are anticipated to be made to successful applicant institutions in the form of a grant to cover a fellowship for the sponsored doctoral student. Awards in the amount of $32,000 will be made under this solicitation. Award funds should be used to cover all allowable expenses over the project period. Additional funds will not be provided. Final award decisions will be made by the Director of the National Institute of Justice.

Statutory Authority: Any awards under this solicitation would be made under statutory authority provided by a full-year appropriations act for FY 2018. As of the writing of this solicitation, the Department of Justice is operating under a short-term "Continuing Resolution";

no full-year appropriation for the Department has been enacted for FY 2018.

Program-Specific Information

NIJ’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program in Social and Behavioral Sciences is open to doctoral students in all social and behavioral science disciplines. To learn more about the program, see http://www.nij.gov/GRF-SBS.

Degree-granting educational institutions are encouraged to sponsor outstanding and promising doctoral students whose dissertation research has direct implications for ensuring public safety, preventing and controlling crime, and ensuring the fair and impartial administration of criminal justice in the United States.

Successful applicants must clearly demonstrate how the proposed dissertation research will advance criminal justice practice and/or policy in the United States and addresses issues deemed critical by the U.S. Department of Justice (see above). The proposal must demonstrate strong support from the dissertation chair in the development, review, and submission of the proposal as well as the execution of the proposed work.

Quantitative, qualitative, primary, and secondary data analysis and mixed-methods approach research studies are encouraged. Special consideration will be given to applications that demonstrate that the most rigorous research methods applicable to the proposed research topic will be used to maximize the validity and reliability of the findings.

NIJ encourages the resubmission of proposals that have addressed previous peer review comments. Please see page 15 for more details on the information to be included with a resubmission.

Applicant Information

The applicant under this solicitation will be a degree-granting academic institution in the United States or its territories. To be eligible, the academic institution of record must be fully accredited by one of the regional institutional accreditation agencies recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. An applicant institution sponsoring a doctoral student is eligible to apply only if the doctoral student satisfies the Doctoral Student Eligibility Requirements. Applications from students who apply as individuals will be removed from consideration.

The academic institution’s institution-wide research office (e.g., office of sponsored research) must complete and submit an application electronically using Grants.gov (see What an Application Should Include). If allowed by the applicant institution, the sponsored doctoral student should be identified as the project’s principal investigator.

http://www.nij.gov/GRF-SBS

The applicant must demonstrate that the sponsored graduate student is enrolled in a qualifying doctoral degree program at the time of application. This should take the form of a document from the Office of the Registrar, or an equivalent university- or college-wide office with the authority to verify status. A transcript may be accepted if it clearly indicates the student’s current full-time enrollment in the qualifying doctoral degree program.

Doctoral Student Eligibility Requirements

The graduate student must:

1. Be enrolled full-time in a doctoral degree program in a social and behavioral sciences discipline at the eligible academic institution; and

2. Propose a dissertation research topic that is relevant to addressing the challenges of public safety, crime, and/or the fair and impartial administration of criminal justice in the United States (see What an Application Should Include).

There are three requirements for the NIJ Graduate Research Fellowship Program that must be completed before an award can be made. It is not necessary for the student to have completed the three requirements listed below at the time of the application due date:

1. The doctoral student must have completed all required course work.

2. The doctoral student must have passed qualifying comprehensive exams.

3. The doctoral student must be advanced to candidacy by the university.

The doctoral student need not have a dissertation committee at the time the application is submitted, nor is it necessary for the student’s dissertation topic to have been accepted by the committee. However, if the application is selected for award, grant funds will be withheld until the applicant academic institution submits proof that the student’s dissertation topic has been accepted by the committee, and that it is substantively the same as that proposed in the application.

If the doctoral student has an approved topic at the time of application, then it should be noted in a statement of support from the doctoral student’s dissertation committee chair (see Dissertation Committee Chair Requirements). If the doctoral student’s topic has not been approved at the time of application, then the expected dates by which the doctoral student will meet this requirement should be indicated in the project timeline (see “Proposed project timeline and expected milestones” under Appendices). In addition, the doctoral student’s faculty advisor, department chair, departmental director of graduate studies, or an individual with similar responsibilities must submit a statement of support at the time of application. That statement of support should generally follow the outline provided below for the statement of support from the dissertation committee chair, including all relevant elements.

Even though an award may be made, access to award funds will be withheld until the required documentation is received and approved by the NIJ Program Office. NIJ anticipates that award notifications will be made on or before September 30, 2018. The applicant academic institution and the doctoral student are cautioned not to anticipate the availability of fellowship funds for meeting any necessary or required expenses until the requirements stipulated above have been met in full. Awarded applicants may receive fellowship funding to support only a doctoral student who is actively enrolled in the doctoral degree program and actively carrying out the research for the dissertation identified in the funding application.

Applicants whose doctoral students have completed the three requirements are encouraged to provide documentation of such completion in the application. Applicants whose doctoral students have not completed these requirements by the solicitation application deadline are encouraged to apply but should indicate, in the project timeline, the dates by which the sponsored doctoral student is expected to complete the three requirements under this section.

The timeline should also provide details of other project milestones, including but not limited to:

the expected timing of the dissertation prospectus defense, the writing of the dissertation, and an expected dissertation defense date. The project timeline also should include time to complete edits to the dissertation and time for submission of the final dissertation to NIJ.

Human subjects protection paperwork including Institutional Review Board (IRB) documentation and a completed privacy certificate are not required at the time of application. If awarded, and if applicable, funds will be withheld until submission and NIJ approval of any required Human Subjects Protection paperwork and/or a completed Privacy Certificate. The Privacy Certificate must be signed by the academic institution’s IRB chair. For information on NIJ’s Human Subjects and Privacy Protection requirements, see http://www.nij.gov/nij/funding/humansubjects/welcome.htm.

Dissertation Committee Chair Requirements

Although a fellowship may be awarded based on consideration of a letter of support from the faculty advisor, department chair, departmental director of graduate studies, or individual with similar responsibilities, the NIJ Program Office must receive a statement of support from the sponsored doctoral student’s dissertation committee chair prior to authorizing the disbursement of award funds (applicants can expect to see conditions to that effect attached to any such award). If the dissertation committee has accepted the student’s topic at the time of application, that statement of support must be submitted as part of the application. If the topic has not been accepted by the time of application, it must be submitted as soon as is reasonable after the topic has been approved. The approved dissertation topic must remain substantively similar to that initially proposed.

The statement of support should:

• Evaluate the doctoral student’s proposed project.

• Describe the current status of the proposed work.

• Outline any other outstanding work, academic or otherwise, toward completion of the degree.

• Verify the date on which the dissertation research project is expected to be ready to begin.

• Comment on the student’s potential to complete the dissertation successfully.

• Indicate that the doctoral student has the full support of the dissertation committee.

http://www.nij.gov/nij/funding/humansubjects/welcome.htm

• Describe the dissertation committee chair’s role in monitoring the project and present evidence of both the department’s and the dissertation committee chair’s abilities to mentor doctoral candidates through the completion of their degrees.

• Verify that the dissertation committee chair will review and approve all progress reports prior to their submission to NIJ.

An application that does not include the statement of support from (1) the dissertation committee chair; or (2) the doctoral student’s faculty advisor, department chair, departmental director of graduate studies, or individual with similar responsibilities will be removed from consideration.

For information on application elements designated as critical by NIJ under this solicitation, see page 13.

Goals, Objectives, Deliverables, and Expected Scholarly Products

The ultimate goal of this solicitation is to increase the pool of researchers in the social and behavioral sciences that are involved in research relevant to problems that affect criminal justice policy and practice in the United States, particularly addressing issues deemed critical by the U.S. Department of Justice (see above). Through the GRF program in the Social and Behavioral Sciences, NIJ supports graduate education by investing in academic institutions that support outstanding and promising doctoral students.

Recipients of awards made under this solicitation will be required to deliver bi-annual and final progress reports, and quarterly financial reports to NIJ by specified deadlines.

The final deliverables for awards under this solicitation are:

• An official signed copy of the doctoral student’s dissertation.

• A list of scholarly products and products developed for broad dissemination to informal audiences resulting from the dissertation research.

Upon submission, the dissertation may be archived at the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS). Doctoral students who participate in the GRF program are encouraged but are not required to archive their dissertation data.

In addition to these deliverables (and the required reports and data on performance measures described in Section F. Federal Award Administration Information), NIJ expects scholarly products to result from each award under this solicitation, taking the form of one or more published, peer-reviewed, scientific journal articles, and/or (if appropriate) law review journal articles, book chapter(s) or book(s) in the academic press, technological prototypes, patented inventions, or similar scientific products.

The Goals, Objectives, Deliverables, and Expected Scholarly Products are directly related to the performance measures that demonstrate the results of the work completed. Applicants should visit OJP’s Current Funding Opportunities page at https://ojp.gov/funding/Explore/CurrentFundingOpportunities.htm to view the specific reporting requirements for this grant program.

http://www.ncjrs.gov/ http://www.ncjrs.gov/ https://ojp.gov/funding/Explore/CurrentFundingOpportunities.htm

Performance Measures

OJP will require each successful applicant to submit regular performance data that demonstrate the results of the work carried out under the award (see “General Information about Post- Federal Award Reporting Requirements” in Section F. Federal Award Administration Information).

Applicants should visit OJP’s performance measurement page at www.ojp.gov/performance to view the specific reporting requirements for this grant program.

The application should demonstrate the applicant’s understanding of the performance data reporting requirements for this grant program and detail how the applicant will gather the required data should it receive funding.

Please note that applicants are not required to submit performance data with the application.

Performance measures information is included as an alert that successful applicants will be required to submit performance data as part of the reporting requirements under an award.

Objective

Performance Measure(s)

Data Recipient Provides

Conduct research in social and behavioral sciences having clear implications for criminal justice policy and practice in the United States.

1. Relevance to the needs of the field as measured by whether the project’s substantive scope did not deviate from the funded project or any subsequent agency-approved modifications to the scope.

2. Quality of the research as demonstrated by the scholarly products that result in whole or in part from work funded under the NIJ award, such as published, peer-reviewed, scientific journal articles, and/or (as appropriate for the funded project) law review journal articles, book chapter(s) or book(s) in the academic press, technological prototypes, patented inventions, or similar scientific products.

3. Quality of management as measured by such factors as whether significant project milestones were achieved, reporting and other deadlines were met, and costs remained within approved limits.

1. Quarterly financial reports, semi-annual and final progress reports, and products of the work performed under the NIJ award (including, at minimum, a final research report).

If applicable, an annual audit report

2. List of citation(s) to all scholarly products that resulted in whole or in part from work funded under the NIJ award.

3. An official signed copy of the doctoral student’s dissertation.

https://www.ojp.gov/performance

Evaluation Research

If an application includes an evaluation research component (or consists entirely of evaluation research), the application is expected to propose the most rigorous evaluation design appropriate for the research questions to be addressed. If the primary purpose of the evaluation is to determine the effectiveness or impact of an intervention (e.g., program, practice, or policy), the most rigorous evaluation designs may include random selection and assignment of participants (or other appropriate units of analysis) to experimental and control conditions. In cases where randomization is not feasible, applicants should propose a strong quasi-experimental design that can address the risk of selection bias.

Applications that include evaluation research should consider the feasibility of including cost/benefit analysis. In cases where evaluations find that interventions have produced the intended benefit, cost/benefit analysis provides valuable and practical information for practitioners and policymakers that aids decision-making.

Evaluation research projects may also address a wide range of research questions beyond those focused on the effectiveness or impact of an intervention. Different research designs may be more appropriate for different research questions and at different stages of program development. The intervention strategies, setting, other contextual factors, and resources should be taken into account when selecting an evaluation design. In all cases, applications are expected to propose the most rigorous evaluation design appropriate for the research questions to be addressed.

Applicants are encouraged to review evidence rating criteria at https://www.crimesolutions.gov/about_starttofinish.aspx for further information on high-quality evaluation design elements.

B. Federal Award Information

NIJ expects to make up to 10 awards with an estimated total amount awarded of up to $320,000. NIJ will not supplement awards with additional funding, but no-cost extensions may be granted on a case-by-case basis, for project delays.

To allow time for (among other things) any necessary post-award review and financial clearance by OJP of the proposed budget and for any associated responses or other action(s) that may be required of the recipient, applicants should propose an award start date of January 1, 2019.

All awards are subject to the availability of appropriated funds and to any modifications or additional requirements that may be imposed by law.

Type of Award

NIJ expects to make any award under this solicitation in the form of a grant. See Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements, under Section F. Federal Award Administration Information, for a brief discussion of important statutes, regulations, and award conditions that apply to many (or in some cases, all) OJP grants.

Please note: Any recipient of an award under this solicitation will be required to comply with DOJ regulations on confidentiality and protection of human subjects. See “Requirements related https://www.crimesolutions.gov/about_starttofinish.aspx to Research” under “Overview of Legal Requirements Generally Applicable to OJP Grants and Cooperative Agreements - FY 2017 Awards” in the OJP Funding Resource Center at https://ojp.gov/funding/index.htm.

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Award recipients and subrecipients (including recipients or subrecipients that are pass-through entities1) must, as described in the Part 200 Uniform Requirements2 as set out at 2 C.F.R.

200.303:

(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that [the recipient (and any subrecipient)] is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in “Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government” issued by the Comptroller General of the United States and the “Internal Control Integrated Framework”, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

(b) Comply with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal awards.

(c) Evaluate and monitor [the recipient’s (and any subrecipient’s)] compliance with statutes, regulations and the terms and conditions of Federal awards.

(d) Take prompt action when instances of noncompliance are identified including noncompliance identified in audit findings.

(e) Take reasonable measures to safeguard protected personally identifiable information and other information the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity designates as sensitive or [the recipient (or any subrecipient)] considers sensitive consistent with applicable Federal, state, local, and tribal laws regarding privacy and obligations of confidentiality.

To help ensure that applicants understand applicable administrative requirements and cost principles, OJP encourages prospective applicants to enroll, at no charge, in the DOJ Grants Financial Management Online Training, available at https://ojpfgm.webfirst.com/. (This training is required for all OJP recipients.)

Also, applicants should be aware that OJP collects information from applicants on their financial management and systems of internal controls (among other information) which is used to make award decisions. Under Section D. Application and Submission Information, applicants may access and review the OJP Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire (https://ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/FinancialCapability.pdf) that OJP requires all applicants (other than an individual applying in his/her personal capacity) to download, complete, and submit as part of the application.

1 For purposes of this solicitation, the phrase “pass-through entity” includes any recipient or subrecipient that provides a subaward (“subgrant”) to carry out part of the funded award or program.

2 The "Part 200 Uniform Requirements” means the DOJ regulation at 2 C.F.R Part 2800, which adopts (with certain modifications) the provisions of 2 C.F.R. Part 200.

https://ojp.gov/funding/Explore/SolicitationRequirements/index.htm https://ojp.gov/funding/index.htm https://ojpfgm.webfirst.com/ https://ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/FinancialCapability.pdf

Budget Information

What will not be funded:

• Applications primarily to purchase equipment, materials, or supplies. (A budget may include these items if they are necessary to conduct research, development, demonstration, evaluation, or analysis.)

• Applications for dissertation research by doctoral students who are not pursuing research related to public safety, crime, and/or the fair and impartial administration of criminal justice in the United States.

• Applications that are not responsive to this specific solicitation.

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement

See “Cofunding” paragraph under item 4 (“Budget and Associated Documentation”) under What an Application Should Include in Section D. Application and Submission Information.

Pre-agreement Costs (also known as Pre-award Costs) Pre-agreement costs are costs incurred by the applicant prior to the start date of the period of performance of the federal award. Requests for approval of pre-agreement costs will not be considered under this solicitation.

Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation; Waiver With respect to any award of more than $250,000 made under this solicitation, a recipient may not use federal funds to pay total cash compensation (salary plus cash bonuses) to any employee of the recipient at a rate that exceeds 110 percent 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 year3. The 2018 salary table for SES employees is available at the Office of Personnel Management website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/18Tables/exec/html/ES.aspx. Note: A recipient may compensate an employee at a greater rate, provided the amount in excess of this compensation limitation is paid with non-federal funds. (Non-federal funds used for any such additional compensation will not be considered matching funds, where match requirements apply.) If only a portion of an employee’s time is charged to an OJP award, the maximum allowable compensation is equal to the percentage of time worked times the maximum salary limitation.

The Director of the National Institute of Justice may exercise discretion to waive, on an individual basis, this limitation on compensation rates allowable under an award. An applicant that requests a waiver should include a detailed justification in the budget narrative of its application. An applicant that does not submit a waiver request and justification with its application should anticipate that OJP will require the applicant to adjust and resubmit the budget.

3 OJP does not apply this limitation on the use of award funds to the nonprofit organizations listed in Appendix VIII to 2 C.F.R. Part 200.

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/18Tables/exec/html/ES.aspx https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/18Tables/exec/html/ES.aspx

The justification should address, in the context of the work the individual would do under the award, the particular qualifications and expertise of the individual, the uniqueness of a service the individual will provide, the individual’s specific knowledge of the proposed program or project, and a statement that explains whether and how the individual’s salary under the award would be commensurate with the regular and customary rate for an individual with his/her qualifications and expertise, and for the work he/she would do under the award.

Prior Approval, Planning, and Reporting of Conference/Meeting/Training Costs OJP strongly encourages every applicant that proposes to use award funds for any conference-, meeting-, or training-related activity (or similar event) to review carefully—before submitting an application—the OJP policy and guidance on approval, planning, and reporting of such events, available at www.ojp.gov/financialguide/DOJ/PostawardRequirements/chapter3.10a.htm. OJP policy and guidance (1) encourage minimization of conference, meeting, and training costs; (2) require prior written approval (which may affect project timelines) of most conference, meeting, and training costs for cooperative agreement recipients and of some conference, meeting, and training costs for grant recipients; and (3) set cost limits, which include a general prohibition of all food and beverage costs.

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 for individuals with limited English proficiency may be allowable. 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 under “Overview of Legal Requirements Generally Applicable to OJP Grants and Cooperative Agreements - FY 2017 Awards” in the OJP Funding Resource Center athttps://ojp.gov/funding/index.htm.

C. Eligibility Information

For eligibility information, see title page.

For information on cost sharing or match requirements, see “What an Application Should Include” in Section D. Application and Submission Information.

D. Application and Submission Information

What an Application Should Include

This section describes in detail what an application should include. An applicant should anticipate that if it fails to submit an application that contains all of the specified elements, it may negatively affect the review of its application; and, should a decision be made to make an award, it may result in the inclusion of award conditions that preclude the recipient from accessing or using award funds until the recipient satisfies the conditions and OJP makes the funds available.

Moreover, an applicant should anticipate that an application that OJP determines is nonresponsive to the scope of the solicitation, or that OJP determines does not include the application elements that NIJ has designated to be critical, will neither proceed to peer review https://ojp.gov/financialguide/DOJ/PostawardRequirements/chapter3.10a.htm https://ojp.gov/funding/Explore/SolicitationRequirements/index.htm https://ojp.gov/funding/Explore/SolicitationRequirements/index.htm https://ojp.gov/funding/index.htm nor receive further consideration. For this solicitation, NIJ has designated the following application elements as critical: Program Narrative, Budget Detail Worksheet, Budget Narrative, resumes/curriculum vitae of key personnel, bibliography/references, project timeline, and a statement of support from the dissertation committee chair or, as appropriate, the doctoral student’s faculty advisor, department chair, departmental director of graduate studies, or an individual with similar responsibilities. An applicant may combine the Budget Narrative and the Budget Detail Worksheet in one document. However, if an applicant submits only one budget document, it must contain both narrative and detail information. Please review the “Note on File Names and File Types” under How to Apply to be sure applications are submitted in permitted formats.

OJP strongly recommends that applicants use appropriately descriptive file names (e.g., “Program Narrative,” “Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative,” “Timelines,” “Memoranda of Understanding,” “Resumes”) for all attachments. Also, OJP recommends that applicants include resumes in a single file.

1. Information to Complete the Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424)

The SF-424 is a required standard form used as a cover sheet for submission of pre-applications, applications, and related information. Grants.gov and OJP’s Grants Management System (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).

To avoid processing delays, an applicant must include an accurate legal name on its SF-

424. On the SF-424, current OJP award recipients, when completing the field for “Legal Name” (box 8a), should use the same legal name that appears on the prior year award document (which is also the legal name stored in OJP’s financial system.) Also, these recipients should enter the Employer Identification Number (EIN) in box 8c exactly as it appears on the prior year award document. An applicant with a current, active award(s) must ensure that its GMS profile is current. If the profile is not current, the applicant should submit a Grant Adjustment Notice updating the information on its GMS profile prior to applying under this solicitation.

A new applicant entity should enter its official legal name in box 8a, its address in box 8d, its EIN in box 8b, and its Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number in box 8c of the SF-424. A new applicant entity should attach official legal documents to their applications (e.g., articles of incorporation, 501(c)(3) status documentation, organizational letterhead etc.) to confirm the legal name, address, and EIN entered into the SF-424. OJP will use the System for Award Management (SAM) to confirm the legal name and DUNS number entered in the SF-424; therefore, an applicant should ensure that the information entered in the SF-424 matches its current registration in SAM. See the How to Apply section for more information on SAM and DUNS numbers.

Intergovernmental Review: This solicitation ("funding opportunity") is not subject to Executive Order 12372. (In completing the SF-424, an applicant is to answer question 19 by selecting the response that the “Program is not covered by E.O. 12372.”)

2. Project Abstract

The project abstract is a very important part of the application, and serves as an introduction to the proposed project. NIJ uses the project abstract for a number of purposes, including https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html assignment of the application to an appropriate review panel. If the application is funded, the project abstract typically will become public information and be used to describe the project.

Applications should include a high-quality project abstract that summarizes the proposed project in 250-400 words. Project abstracts not submitted in the template below should be—

• Written for a general public audience.

• Submitted as a separate attachment with “Project Abstract” as part of its file name.

• Single-spaced, using the form’s standard 12-point font (with 1-inch margins).

As a separate attachment, the project abstract will not count against the page limit for the program narrative.

Project abstracts should follow the detailed template (including the detailed instructions as to content) available at www.nij.gov/funding/documents/nij-project-abstract-template.pdf.

3. Program Narrative

The program narrative section of the application should not exceed 15 double-spaced pages in 12-point font with 1-inch margins. If included in the main body of the program narrative, tables, charts, figures, and other illustrations count toward the 15-page limit for the narrative section. The project abstract, table of contents, appendices, and government forms do not count toward the 15-page limit.

If the program narrative fails to comply with these length-related restrictions, NIJ may consider such noncompliance in peer review and in final award decisions.

The following sections should be included as part of the program narrative.4

Program Narrative Guidelines:

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

The title page should include the title of the project, submission date, funding opportunity number, and the name and complete contact information (that is, address, telephone number, and e-mail address) for both the applicant academic institution and the principal investigator (i.e., the sponsored doctoral student, if allowed by the academic institution).

b. Resubmit Response (if applicable) (not counted against the 15-page program narrative limit).

4 As noted earlier, if the proposed program or project reasonably could be conducted in discrete phases, with each phase resulting in completion of one or more significant, defined milestones, then NIJ strongly recommends that the applicant structure the application – specifically including the narrative, expected scholarly products, timelines/milestones, and budget detail worksheet and budget narrative – to set out each phase clearly. (In appropriate cases, the expected scholarly product(s) from a particular phase may vary from those described above.)

See generally “Goals, Objectives, Deliverables, and Expected Scholarly Products” under “Program-Specific Information,” above.

https://nij.gov/funding/documents/nij-project-abstract-template.pdf

If an applicant is resubmitting an application 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 application, and (2) a brief summary of revisions to the application, including responses to previous feedback received from NIJ.

c. Table of Contents and Figures (not counted against the 15-page program narrative limit).

d. Main Body

The main body of the program narrative should describe the proposed project in depth. The following sections should be included as part of the program narrative:

• Statement of the Problem and Research Questions. The statement of the problem should address the need for research in this area. Applicants should discuss current gaps in data, research, and knowledge, including those for particular justice sectors, for certain populations, and to answer questions relevant to current policy and practice needs and public interests. As part of this discussion, applicants should present a review of previous literature and discuss previous research related to these problems.

This section should also identify the proposed research questions and discuss the purpose, goals, and objectives of the proposed project.

• Project Design and Implementation. Applicants should provide a detailed description of the strategies to implement this research project and address the research questions. Design elements should follow directly from the research project’s goals and objectives and address the program-specific information noted on page 5. Applicants should describe the research methodology in detail and demonstrate the validity and usefulness of the data they will collect.

Applicants should consider the rigor and soundness of the methodology and analytical and technical approaches for the proposed research and address the feasibility of the proposed project and potential challenges or problems in carrying out the activities.

• Potential Impact. Applicants should describe the potential impact of the research and how it may inform or improve criminal or juvenile justice-related policy, practice, or theory in the United States.

The discussion of impact should include a discussion of the deliverables, including planned scholarly products indicated in the program-specific information [page 5] and a plan for dissemination to appropriate audiences.

Applicants should identify plans to produce or make available to broader interested practitioners and policy makers in a form that is designed to be readily accessible and useful to them.

• Capabilities/Competencies. This section should describe the experience and capability of the applicant organization, key staff, and any proposed subgrantees (including consultants) that the applicant will use to implement and manage this effort and the federal funds under this award, highlighting any previous experience implementing projects of similar scope, design, and magnitude. If applicable, a description contextualizing the proposed doctoral work relative to, or within, any other work being conducted under an existing NIJ award, which must be specifically identified. Applicants should address:

• Experience and capacity to work with the proposed data sources in the conduct of similar research efforts.

• Experience and capacity to design and implement rigorous research and data analysis projects.

• Experience producing and disseminating meaningful deliverables.

Applicants should also outline the management plan and organization that connects to the goals and objectives of the project.

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

• Bibliography/references

• Any tools/instruments, questionnaires, tables/charts/graphs, or maps pertaining to the proposed project that are supplemental to such items included in the main body of the narrative

• Curriculum vitae or resumes of the doctoral student and the dissertation committee chair. If the applicant does not have a dissertation committee chair, a curriculum vitae or resume from the faculty advisor, department chair, departmental director of graduate studies, or individual with similar responsibilities that submitted a letter of support

• Personal statement from the student discussing his or her academic background, research experience, career goals, and the anticipated role of the fellowship in his or her professional trajectory, not to exceed two (2) double-spaced pages in 12-point font with 1-inch margins

• List of the student’s dissertation committee (if known) and their contact information to include: names, telephone numbers, and email addresses. The dissertation chair should be clearly identified. Applicants should use the “Proposed Project Staff, Affiliation, and Roles” form available at http://www.nij.gov/funding/documents/nij-project-staff-template.xlsx to provide this listing

• To assist OJP in assessing actual or apparent conflicts of interest (including such conflicts on the part of prospective reviewers of the application), a complete list of the individuals named or otherwise identified anywhere in the application (including in the budget or in any other attachment) who will or http://www.nij.gov/funding/documents/nij-project-staff-template.xlsx may work (or advise or consult) on the proposed research, development, or evaluation project. This applies to all such individuals, including, for example, individuals who are or would be employees of the applicant or employees of any proposed subrecipient entity, any individuals who themselves may be a subrecipient, and individuals who may (or will) work without compensation (such as advisory board members). This appendix to the program narrative is to include, for each listed individual: name, title, employer, any other potentially-pertinent organizational affiliation(s), and the individual's proposed roles and responsibilities in carrying out the proposed project. If the application identifies any specific entities or organizations (other than the applicant) that will or may work (or advise or consult) on the proposed project, without also naming any associated individuals, the name of each such organization also should be included on this list. Applicants should use the “Proposed Project Staff, Affiliation, and Roles” form available at http://www.nij.gov/funding/documents/nij-project-staff-template.xlsx to provide this list.

If the application (including the budget) identifies any proposed non-competitive agreements that are or may be considered procurement "contracts" (rather than subawards) for purposes of federal grants administrative requirements the applicant also must list the entities with which the applicant proposes to contract. Applicants should provide this list as a separate sheet entitled "Proposed non-competitive procurement contracts."

For information on distinctions -- for purposes of federal grants administrative requirements -- between subawards and procurement contracts under awards, see “Budget and Associated Documentation,” below.

• Proposed project timeline and expected milestones

• Human Subjects Protection paperwork (documentation and forms related to Institutional Review Board (IRB) review).

(See nij.gov/funding/humansubjects/Pages/welcome.aspx) Note: Final IRB approval is not required…