PKG00294212.pdf

OMB No. 1121-0329

Approval Expires 02/28/2027

U.S. Department of Justice | Office of Justice Programs | National Institute of Justice | NOFO | ojp.gov | 1

NIJ FY25 Invited to Apply -

Law Enforcement

Advancing Data and

Science (LEADS) Scholars

Program

Total Amount To Be Awarded Under This Funding Opportunity: $1,000,000

Anticipated Award Ceiling: Up to $1,000,000

Anticipated Period of Performance Duration: 12 months

Funding Opportunity Number: O-NIJ-2025-172769

Deadline to submit SF-424 in Grants.gov: September 24, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time

Deadline to submit application in JustGrants: September 25, 2026, by 8:59 p.m. Eastern Time

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CONTENTS

Basic Information

Eligibility

Program Description

Application Contents, Submission Requirements, and Deadlines

Application Review

Award Notices

Post-Award Requirements and Administration

Other Information

Application Checklist

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Eligibility

Description Deadlines &

Contents Application

Review Award Notices

Post-Award Requirements

Other Information

Application Checklist

Basic Information

BASIC INFORMATION

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is accepting applications for funding in response to this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO).

Agency Name U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs National Institute of Justice

NOFO Title NIJ FY25 Invited to Apply - Law Enforcement Advancing Data and Science (LEADS) Scholars Program

Announcement Type Initial

Funding Opportunity Number O-NIJ-2025-172769

Assistance Listing Number 16.560

Executive Summary This funding opportunity seeks to support the Law Enforcement Advancing Data and Science

(LEADS) Scholars Program, an ongoing NIJ program designed to increase the in-house research capabilities of law enforcement agencies by directly building data and research skills of individuals employed by and engaged with these agencies. Please see the Eligible Applicants section for the eligibility criteria.

OJP is committed to advancing work that furthers DOJ’s mission to uphold the rule of law, to keep our country safe, and to protect civil rights. OJP provides federal leadership, funding, and other critical resources to directly support law enforcement, combat violent crime, protect

American children, provide services to American crime victims, and address public safety challenges, including human trafficking and the opioid crisis.

Key Dates and Times Funding Opportunity Release Date September 22, 2026

SAM.gov Registration/Renewal Begin process as soon as possible

Step 1: Grants.gov Application Deadline 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on September 24, 2026

Step 2: JustGrants Application Deadline 8:59 p.m. Eastern Time on September 25, 2026 https://www.justice.gov/ https://www.ojp.gov/ https://nij.ojp.gov/

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Deadlines &

Contents Application

Review Award Notices

Post-Award Requirements

Other Information

Application Checklist

Basic Information

Funding Details

Total Amount To Be Awarded Under This Funding Opportunity: $1,000,000

Anticipated Number of Awards: 1

Anticipated Award Ceiling: $1,000,000

Anticipated Period of Performance Start Date: January 1, 2027

Anticipated Period of Performance Duration: 12 months

Availability of Funds This funding opportunity, and awards under this funding opportunity, are subject to the availability of funding and any changes or additional requirements that may be imposed by the agency or by law. In addition, nothing in this NOFO is intended to, nor does it, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the

United States or its departments, agencies, entities, officers, employees, agents, or any other person.

Statutory Authority Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (sections 201 and 202); the

Homeland Security Act of 2002 (sections 231-233, 235); 28 U.S.C. 530C

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Application Checklist

Agency Contact Information

For assistance with the requirements of this funding opportunity:

Joel Hunt, Senior Computer Scientist

Phone: (202) 598-0313

Email: Joel.Hunt@usdoj.gov

For assistance with SAM.gov (registration/renewal):

SAM.gov Help Desk

Web: SAM.gov Help Desk (Federal Service Desk)

Hours of operation: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET Monday–Friday, except on federal holidays

For assistance with Grants.gov (registration, submission of the Application for Federal

Assistance SF-424):

Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline

Phone: 800-518-4726, 606-545-5035

Email: support@grants.gov

Web: Grants.gov Customer Support

Hours of operation: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except on federal holidays

For assistance with JustGrants (registration, submission of full application):

JustGrants Service Desk

Phone: 833-872-5175

Email: JustGrants.Support@usdoj.gov

Hours of operation: 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET Monday–Friday and 9:00 a.m. to

5:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sunday, and federal holidays.

For procedures related to unforeseen technical issues beyond the control of the applicant that impact submission by the deadlines, see the Application Resource Guide section on “Experiencing Unforeseen Technical Issues.”

Resources for Applying OJP Grant Application Resource Guide: Referred to as the Application Resource Guide throughout the NOFO, this resource provides guidance to help applicants for OJP funding prepare and submit their applications.

JustGrants Application Submission Training Webpage: Offers helpful information and resources on the grant application process.

Note: If this NOFO requires something different from any guidance provided in the Application

Resource Guide, the difference will be noted in this NOFO and the applicant should follow the guidance in this NOFO.

https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide https://justicegrants.usdoj.gov/training/training-application-submission https://www.ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/Grant-App-Resource-Guide.htm https://www.ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/Grant-App-Resource-Guide.htm

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Other Information

Application Checklist

ELIGIBILITY

Eligible Applicants The types of entities that are eligible to apply for this funding opportunity are listed below:

“Other” Entities: Only the applicant that received an official invitation letter from NIJ is able and eligible to apply. Please refer to that letter for eligibility requirements. The application will only be accepted from the following:

• National Policing Institute (NPI)

Cost Sharing/Match Requirement This NOFO does not require cost sharing/match.

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Basic Information

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

General Purpose of the Funding With this solicitation, NIJ seeks to continue funding to support the Law

Enforcement Advancing Data and Science (LEADS) Scholars Program, an ongoing NIJ program designed to increase the in-house research capabilities of law enforcement agencies by directly building data and research skills of individuals employed by and engaged with these agencies.

In 2014, NIJ established the Law Enforcement Advancing Data and Science (LEADS) Scholars

Program to support research-minded, mid-career law enforcement officers working to integrate research into agency policy and practice. To further the reach and impact of the program, NIJ has since added two additional categories of scholars, LEADS Civilians and LEADS Academics.

The program provides for three-year, merit-based scholarships that support travel and registration costs to attend an NIJ Summer Session in Washington, DC, consisting of policing research-focused seminars and research support, professional development programming, and meetings with various DOJ subject matter experts and leadership. The program also supports travel costs to other conferences and workshops including the annual IACP Conference and

Exposition, where participants take part in a variety of research-related events and sessions.

The LEADS Scholars program provides participants with direct research support in identifying current research evidence on priority issues and assisting in developing independent research.

The LEADS Scholars take part in numerous activities to support their professional growth, such as attending virtual and in-person trainings, participating in an on-line community of practice, publishing in journals and trade magazines, presenting to law enforcement agencies at national conferences, and establishing leadership positions in evidence-based research groups.

For more information on the NIJ LEADS Scholars program please visit https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/national-institute-justices-law-enforcement-advancing-data-and-science-leads-programs.

Applicants should refer to Application Contents, Submission Requirements, and Deadlines:

Budget Detail Form for information on allowable and unallowable costs that may inform the development of their project design.

Agency Funding Priorities In order to advance public safety and help meet its mission, NIJ priorities include:

1. Directly supporting law enforcement operations (including immigration law enforcement operations);

2. Combatting violent crime;

3. Supporting services to American citizens;

4. Protecting American children; and

5. Supporting American victims of trafficking and sexual assault.

Unallowable Uses of Funds The following are certain unallowable costs and certain activities that are out of the program scope and will not be funded.

https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/national-institute-justices-law-enforcement-advancing-data-and-science-leads-programs https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/national-institute-justices-law-enforcement-advancing-data-and-science-leads-programs

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Basic Information

1. Out of program scope is any program or activity, at any tier that, directly or indirectly, violates (or promotes or facilitates the violation of) federal immigration law (including 8 U.S.C. § 1373) or impedes or hinders the enforcement of federal immigration law— including by failing to comply with 8 U.S.C. § 1373, give access to DHS agents, or honor DHS requests and provide requested notice to DHS agents.

2. Out of program scope is any program or activity, at any tier that violates any applicable Federal civil rights or nondiscrimination law. This includes violations that – (1) indirectly violate the law, including by promoting or facilitating violations; or (2) unlawfully favor individuals in any race or protected group, including on a majority or minority, or privileged or unprivileged, basis, within a given area, population, or sector.

3. As specified in the DOJ Grants Financial Guide, in Chapter 3.13 “Unallowable Costs” (“Legal Services for Aliens”), any obligations of funds, at any tier, under this award to provide (or to support the provision of) legal services to any removable alien or any alien otherwise unlawfully present in the United States shall be unallowable costs for purposes any award made under this notice, but the foregoing shall not be understood to apply— (1) to legal services to obtain protection orders for victims of crime; or (2) to immigration-related legal services that may be expressly authorized or required by any law, or any judicial ruling, governing or applicable to the award.

Program Goals and Objectives Program Goal: The National Institute of Justice Research, Evaluation, and Development

Project Grants program (16.560) fosters the development of new knowledge and tools that can be applied to reduce crime and advance justice, particularly at the state and local level.

Program Objectives:

1. Develop, demonstrate, and evaluate programs and practices relevant to criminal justice, juvenile justice, and crime victims’ services outcomes.

2. Identify and analyze the causes and correlates of crime.

3. Improve the functioning of the criminal and juvenile justice systems.

4. Develop new methods for the prevention and reduction of crime.

5. Develop new methods to detect, investigate, and prosecute crime.

6. Enhance the justice research infrastructure.

How Awards Will Contribute to Program Goals/Objectives The goal of this NOFO is to continue to fund the support of the LEADS Scholars program to enhance law enforcement professionals’ capacities to collect and analyze data; enhance capacities to conduct research that answers key questions and produces evidence; and increase the utilization of research and evidence to better inform policies and practices. The program’s activities will be developed collaboratively between the applicant and NIJ, with substantial involvement by NIJ.

Expected Outcomes: Deliverables and Performance Measures To achieve the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity, OJP has identified expected deliverables that must be produced by a recipient. OJP has also identified performance measures (pieces of data) that will indicate how a recipient is achieving the performance goals https://www.ojp.gov/doj-financial-guide-2024

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Basic Information and objectives identified above. Recipients will need to collect and report this performance measure data to OJP.

OJP will measure success by reviewing a recipient's submission of performance reports and data and the extent to which project implementation reflects progress toward the goals and objectives of this NOFO.

Deliverables Deliverables are what the applicant will create or produce under the award. The term

“deliverables” as used here refers to discrete products under an award. An award may support activities (e.g., personnel time for award activities) that are part of recipient performance but are not considered deliverables. Award recipients will be expected to develop and submit the deliverables listed below in the course of implementing their proposed project.

Scholarly Products: NIJ expects scholarly products to result from each award under this NOFO, 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.

NIJ expects the dissemination of such products throughout the period of performance to the extent possible. Development and delivery of interim products should be built into the Project

Timeline.

NIJ expects awardees to deposit author accepted manuscripts for peer reviewed publications derived from research funded by the award in a publication repository designated by NIJ.

Ensuring Research Evidence is Translated into Actionable Information to Promote Change in the Field: In addition to scholarly products, NIJ expects that grantees will be an equal effort to development of dissemination products to make the research findings accessible to practitioner and policymaker audiences.

Required Data Sets and Associated Files and Documentation. NIJ requires grant recipients to archive each data set resulting in whole or in part from their funded research. Data archiving allows NIJ to ensure the preservation, availability, and transparency of data collected through its grant funded research projects. It supports the discovery, reuse, reproduction, replication, and extension of funded studies by other scientists.

At the end of the award period, grant recipients must archive data according to the Data

Archiving Plan approved by NIJ, and consistent with the approved Privacy Certificate and any other approved human subject protections documentation. Unless otherwise specified in writing by the NIJ grant manager, as authorized by the appropriate NIJ authority, data submission is required for all research, development, and evaluation awards, and the requirement may not be unilaterally modified or waived. (Grant recipients are strongly encouraged to submit data sets no later than 90 days or earlier prior to the end of the award period of performance.) For interim publications, the subset of data used to create the findings must be deposited in an appropriate repository at the time of publication.

NIJ’s principal data repository is the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD). NIJ recognizes that data from grants funding research in the natural sciences and engineering may not be appropriate in file type or field of study for archiving at NACJD. To fulfill their data archiving requirement and maximize the visibility of this data to the relevant communities, NIJ https://www.icpsr.umich.edu/web/pages/NACJD/index.html

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Basic Information encourages these grantees to archive their data at a repository appropriate to their field of study. Regardless of the primary data repository used, all NIJ-funded projects must provide study-level information to NACJD, which includes a project abstract and link to the publicly accessible data location. More information on NIJ’s data archiving requirements is found here

Data Archiving | National Institute of Justice (ojp.gov) .

Final Research Report. Any recipient of an award under this NOFO will be expected to submit a

Final Research Report by the end of the award period of performance. Recipients will also be required to deliver a draft of their Final Research Report no later than 90 days or earlier prior to the end of the award period of performance. Additional information on NIJ’s final research report requirements is found here Post-Award Requirements for Research, Development, and

Evaluation Grants | National Institute of Justice (ojp.gov).

Technology Exemplars. In select circumstances recipients funded to develop algorithms, methods, software, hardware, or other technologies may be required to deliver exemplars along with detailed implementation instructions for third-party evaluation.

Performance Measures OJP will require each award recipient to submit regular performance reports that communicate progress toward achieving the goals and objectives identified in Program Goals and Objectives.

Applicants can visit OJP’s performance measurement page at ojp.gov/performance for more information on performance measurement activities.

A list of performance measure questions for this funding opportunity can be found below.

Objective Performance Measure(s) Data Recipient Provides

1. Provide support to the

LEADS Scholars

Program to increase the in-house research capabilities of law enforcement agencies by building data and research skills of individuals employed by and engaged with these agencies.

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 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) of all scholarly products that resulted in whole or in part from work funded under the NIJ award.

3. If applicable, each data set that resulted in whole or in part from work funded under the NIJ award.

https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/data-archiving https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/research-development-and-evaluation-grant-award-requirements https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/research-development-and-evaluation-grant-award-requirements https://www.ojp.gov/performance https://www.ojp.gov/performance

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Other Information

Application Checklist

Basic Information

Funding Instrument OJP expects to make awards under this funding opportunity as cooperative agreements, which allow OJP to have substantial involvement in carrying out award activities. See the

“Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements” section of the Application

Resource Guide for a brief discussion of important statutes, regulations, and award conditions.

https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#administrative https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#administrative

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Eligibility Program

Application Submission

Application Review

Award Notices

Post-Award Requirements

Other Information

Application Checklist

Basic Information

APPLICATION CONTENTS, SUBMISSION

REQUIREMENTS, AND DEADLINES

How To Request Application Materials This NOFO contains all the information needed to apply for this funding opportunity. The application for this funding opportunity is submitted through web-based forms and attachments in Grants.gov and JustGrants through the steps that follow.

Unique Entity Identifiers (UEIs) and SAM.gov Registration To submit an application, an applicant must have an active registration in the System for Award

Management (SAM.gov). SAM.gov assigns entities a unique entity identifier (UEI) that is required for the entity to apply for federal funding. Applicants will enter their UEI with their application. Award recipients must then maintain an active UEI for the duration of their award's period of performance.

First-time Registration: Entities registering in SAM.gov for the first time will submit information about their entity type and structure, financial information (such as dates of the fiscal year, banking information, and executive compensation), entity points of contact, and other information. The information is reviewed and verified by SAM.gov, and then a UEI is issued.

This process may take several weeks, so entities considering applying for funding should begin the registration process as soon as possible.

Renewing an Existing Registration: Entities must renew their SAM.gov registration every 12 months to keep it active. If an entity does not renew their SAM.gov registration, it will expire. An expired registration can delay or prevent the submission of an application for funding in

Grants.gov and JustGrants.

Applicants are encouraged to start the SAM.gov registration or renewal process at least 30 days prior to the application’s Grants.gov deadline. Applicants who fail to begin the registration or renewal process at least 10 business days prior to the Grants.gov deadline may not be able to complete the process in time and will not be considered for a technical waiver that allows for late submission.

Submission Instructions: Summary Applications must be submitted to DOJ electronically through a two-step process that begins in

Grants.gov and is completed in JustGrants. See Basic Information: Key Dates for the

Grants.gov and JustGrants application deadlines.

• Step 1: The applicant must submit the required Application for Federal Assistance SF-

424 by the Grants.gov deadline.

• Step 2: The applicant must submit the full application, including attachments, through

JustGrants by the deadline (see JusticeGrants.usdoj.gov).

Submission Step 1: Grants.gov Submission of SF-424 Access/Registration If the applicant does not already have a Grants.gov account, they will need to register for this opportunity in Grants.gov. Applicants should follow the Grants.gov Quick Start Guide for https://www.sam.gov/ https://www.sam.gov/ https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SF424_4_0-V4.0.pdf https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SF424_4_0-V4.0.pdf https://justicegrants.usdoj.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/quick-start-guide/applicants

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Application Submission

Application Review

Award Notices

Post-Award Requirements

Other Information

Application Checklist

Basic Information

Applicants to register, create a workspace, assign roles, submit an application, and troubleshoot issues.

Submission of the SF-424 Applicants will begin the application process in Grants.gov with the submission of the SF-424, which collects the applicant’s name, address, and UEI; the funding opportunity number; and proposed project title, among other information. The SF-424 must be signed by the Grants.gov

Authorized Organizational Representative for the applicant.

See the Application Resource Guide for additional information on completing the SF-424.

Section 8F – Applicant Point of Contact: Please include the name and contact information of the individual who will complete the application in JustGrants. JustGrants will use this information (i.e., email address) to assign the application to this user in JustGrants.

Section 19 – Intergovernmental Review: This funding opportunity is not subject to Executive

Order (E.O.) 12372 (Intergovernmental Review). Applicants should answer section 19 by selecting, “Program is not covered by E.O. 12372.”

An applicant should submit the SF-424 as early as possible and recommended not later than 48 hours before the Grants.gov deadline. If an applicant fails to submit the SF-424 in

Grants.gov by the deadline, they will be unable to submit their application in JustGrants.

Once the first part of the application has been successfully submitted in Grants.gov, the

Grants.gov Workspace status will change from “In Progress” to “Submitted.” Applicants will also receive a series of four Grants.gov email notifications. Refer to the DOJ Application Submission

Checklist for additional details.

If an applicant needs to update information in the SF-424 after it is submitted in Grants.gov, they can update the information as part of their JustGrants submission (see Application Contents, Submission Requirements, and Deadlines: Standard Applicant Information). They do not need to submit an update in Grants.gov.

Submission Step 2: JustGrants Submission of Full Application Access/Registration For first-time JustGrants applicants, once the application is received from Grants.gov, DOJ will send an email (from DIAMD-NoReply@usdoj.gov) to the email address listed in Section 8F of the SF-424 with instructions on how to create a JustGrants account. This email should arrive within 24 hours after confirmation from Grants.gov of the SF-424 submission.

Creating and setting up a JustGrants account consists of three steps:

1. Follow the instructions in the email to first confirm who will be the Entity Administrator

(the person who manages which staff can access JustGrants on behalf of the applicant).

2. Log in to JustGrants and confirm the information in the Entity Profile.

3. Invite other individuals who will serve as the Application Submitter and the

Authorized Representative for the applicant to register for JustGrants.

These steps should be completed in JustGrants as early as possible and recommended not later than 48 hours before the JustGrants deadline. Once registered in JustGrants, the https://www.grants.gov/quick-start-guide/applicants https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#complete-application https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html https://justicegrants.usdoj.gov/training/checklist-application-submission https://justicegrants.usdoj.gov/training/checklist-application-submission

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Application Submission

Application Review

Award Notices

Post-Award Requirements

Other Information

Application Checklist

Basic Information

Application Submitter will receive a link in an email to complete the rest of the application in

JustGrants. Applicants can find additional information on JustGrants registration in the DOJ

Grant Application Submission Checklist.

Preparing for Submission Some of the required sections of the application will be entered directly into JustGrants, and other sections will require documents to be uploaded and attached. Therefore, applicants should allow enough time before the JustGrants deadline to prepare, enter, and upload all the requirements of the application.

Applicants may save their application in the system and add to or change the application as needed prior to hitting the “Submit” button at the end of the application in JustGrants. Once the application is submitted, no changes or additions can be made to the application. OJP recommends that applicants submit the complete application package in JustGrants at least 48 hours prior to the JustGrants deadline.

For additional information, including file name and type requirements, see the “How To Apply” section in the Application Resource Guide.

Standard Applicant Information The Standard Applicant Information section of the JustGrants application is pre-populated with the SF-424 data submitted in Grants.gov. The applicant will need to review the Standard

Applicant Information in JustGrants and can make whatever edits are needed. Within this section, the applicant will need to add ZIP codes for areas affected by the project; confirm their

Authorized Representative; and confirm the organization’s unique entity identifier, legal name, and address.

Proposal Abstract A proposal abstract (no more than 2,000 characters) summarizing the proposed project must be completed in the JustGrants web-based form. The text from abstracts will be made publicly available on the OJP.gov and USASpending.gov websites if the project is awarded, so this section of the application should not contain any personally identifiable information (e.g., the name of the project director).

The abstract should be in paragraph form without bullets or tables and written in the third person

(e.g., they, the community, their, themselves, rather than I or we). The abstract should include the following information:

• The goals, objectives, and research questions to be addressed.

• The research design and methods.

• Work products to be produced and a plan for disseminating those products.

See the Application Resource Guide for an example of a proposal abstract.

Data Requested With Application Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire

(including Applicant Disclosure of High-Risk Status) The Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire helps OJP assess what financial management and internal control systems the applicant has in place, whether these systems would be sufficient to maintain a funding award, and the associated potential https://justicegrants.usdoj.gov/training/checklist-application-submission https://justicegrants.usdoj.gov/training/checklist-application-submission https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#apply https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#proposal-abstract https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#proposal-abstract

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Application Submission

Application Review

Award Notices

Post-Award Requirements

Other Information

Application Checklist

Basic Information risks of an applicant as part of the pre-award risk assessment process. Every OJP applicant

(other than an individual applying in their personal capacity, not representing an applicant organization) is required to complete the web-based form in JustGrants. See the Application

Resource Guide: Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire

(including Applicant Disclosure of High-Risk Status) for additional guidance on how to complete the questionnaire.

Proposal Narrative Format of the Proposal Narrative: The Proposal Narrative will be submitted as an attachment in JustGrants. The attached document should be double-spaced, using a standard

12-point size font; have no less than 1-inch margins; have numbered pages; and should not exceed 30 pages. If the Proposal Narrative does not comply with these restrictions, NIJ may consider such noncompliance in peer review and in final award decisions. Tables, charts, and graphs can be created in legible font smaller than 12-point. They will not count toward the 30-page limit if embedded in the text of the Proposal Narrative as opposed to being attached in an appendix. Applicants should carefully weigh the comparative benefit of embedding a table, chart, or graph in the narrative as opposed to attaching it as an appendix, in helping a reviewer understand the proposal.

Sections of the Proposal Narrative: The Proposal Narrative must include the following sections.

a. Title Page (not counted against the proposal narrative page limit)

The title page should include:

• Project title.

• Submission date.

• Funding opportunity number.

• Principal Investigator (and any co-principal investigators).

• Unique author identifier (e.g., ORCID, Researcher ID, Scopus Author ID), if available.

• Requests for consideration under “new investigator” and/or “research priorities”.

• Key words, including science focus areas.

• Contact information (that is, name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address) for both the applicant and the principal investigator.

b. Table of Contents and Figures (not counted against the proposal narrative page limit)

c. Main Body

1. Statement of the Problem

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. It is not uncommon for multiple problems to exist simultaneously (for example, there may be a criminal justice problem affecting public safety, a current technical challenge/need identified by forensic practitioners, as well as a scientific/technology gap between the current state of the art and a desired solution) and applicants should discuss each of these https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#fm-internal-controls-questionnaire https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#fm-internal-controls-questionnaire https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#fm-internal-controls-questionnaire

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Basic Information clearly and justify the importance of the separate issues. As part of this discussion, applicants should present a review of previous literature and discuss previous research related to these problems.

2. 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 in the NOFO. Applicants should describe the research methodology and analysis plan 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.

3. 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 applicant should include a discussion of the proposed dissemination plan to produce scholarly products and to make information available to broader interested audiences, such as criminal justice practitioners or policymakers. This should include the applicant’s intentions as it regards dissemination of interim findings and other knowledge products.

4. Capabilities and Competencies

This section should describe the experience and capabilities 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. 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. Among other factors, that plan should include a description of the anticipated level of effort of key personnel.

5. Appendices (not counted against the proposal narrative page limit) include:

• 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.

• List of other agencies, organizations, or funding sources to which this application has been submitted (if applicable).

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Basic

• Any table/charts/graphs supporting the program narrative.

6. Plan for Collecting the Data Required for This NOFO’s Performance Measures Note: An applicant is not required to submit performance data with the application.

Rather, performance measure information is included to provide notice that award recipients will be required to submit performance data as part of each award’s reporting requirements.

NIJ will require award recipients to submit performance measure data in quarterly financial reports, semi-annual performance reports, and the final research report and separately submit a semi-annual performance report in JustGrants. For more information on NIJ post award reporting requirements please see Post-Award

Requirements for Research, Development, and Evaluation Grants | National Institute of Justice (ojp.gov) .

Project Evaluations: An applicant that proposes to use award funds to conduct project evaluations must follow the guidance in the “Note on Project Evaluations” section in the

Application Resource Guide.

Budget and Associated Documentation: Budget Detail Form The applicant will complete the JustGrants budget detail form. The form collects the individual costs under each cost category needed to implement the proposed project. Applicants should ensure that the name/description of each cost is clear and provide the detailed calculation (e.g., cost per unit and number of units) for the total cost. Applicants should enter additional narrative, as needed, to fully describe the cost calculations and connection to the project goals and objectives.

Budget proposals should include the funding needed to implement the proposed activities. In preparing their budget proposals, applicants should consider what types of costs are allowable, if awarded funding. Costs are allowable when they are reasonable, allocable to, and necessary for the performance of the project funded under the federal award and when they comply with the funding statute and agency requirements, including the conditions of the award and the cost principles set out in 2 C.F.R. Part 200, Subpart E and the DOJ Grants Financial Guide.

Budget Worksheet and Budget Narrative (Attachment)

Costs Associated With a Conference/Meeting/Training: An applicant that proposes to use award funds for activities related to a conference, meeting, training, or similar event should review the Application Resource Guide for information on prior approval, planning, and reporting costs for a conference/meeting/training.

Costs Associated With Language Assistance and Access: 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 in specific grant programs. Costs to provide reasonable accommodation and facilitate language access for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may also be allowable in specific grant programs. See the Application Resource

Guide for information on costs associated with language assistance.

For additional information about how to prepare a budget for federal funding, see the Application

Resource Guide section on “Budget Preparation and Submission Information” and the technical https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/research-development-and-evaluation-grant-award-requirements https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/research-development-and-evaluation-grant-award-requirements https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/research-development-and-evaluation-grant-award-requirements https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#project-evaluations https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#project-evaluations https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#subpart-E https://www.ojp.gov/funding/financialguidedoj/overview https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#prior-approval https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#costs-associated https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#costs-associated https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#budget-prep https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#budget-prep https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#budget-prep

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Basic Information steps to complete the budget form in JustGrants in the Complete the Application in JustGrants:

Budget training.

Budget and Associated Documentation: Budget/Financial Attachments Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable): An applicant with a current, federally approved indirect cost rate agreement should upload it as an attachment in JustGrants.

Indirect costs are costs of an organization that are not readily assignable to a particular project but are necessary for the operation of the organization and the performance of the project.

Examples of costs usually treated as indirect include those incurred for operation and maintenance of offices or workspaces and salaries of administrative or support staff. The requirements for the development and submission of indirect cost proposals and cost allocation plans are listed in Appendices III–VII of 2 C.F.R. Part 200. A non-federal applicant should follow the guidelines applicable to its type of organization. See the DOJ Grants Financial Guide and the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for additional information on indirect cost rate agreements.

Consultant Rate (if applicable): OJP has established maximum rates for consultants; see the

“Listing of Costs Requiring Prior Approval” section of the DOJ Grants Financial Guide for more information. If an applicant proposes a rate for a consultant on their project that is higher than the established maximum rate and receives an award, then the award recipient must submit a document requesting approval for the rate and cannot incur costs at the higher rate without prior

OJP approval. The award recipient must provide justification for why the proposed rate is higher than the established maximum rate, such as why the rate is reasonable and consistent with that paid for similar services in the marketplace.

Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation for Awards Over

$250,000; Waiver (if applicable): This notice of funding opportunity expressly modifies the OJP

Grant Application Resource Guide by not incorporating the “Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation; Waiver” provisions in the “Financial Information” section of the

OJP Grant Application Resource Guide.

Disclosure of Process Related to Executive Compensation (if applicable): This notice of funding opportunity expressly modifies the Application Resource Guide by not incorporating its

“Disclosure of Process Related to Executive Compensation” provisions. Applicants to this funding opportunity are not required to provide this disclosure.

Additional Application Components The applicant should attach the additional requested documentation listed below in JustGrants.

• Tribal Authorizing Resolution (if applicable): An application in response to this NOFO may require inclusion of Tribal authorizing documentation as an attachment. If applicable, the applicant will upload the Tribal authorizing documentation as an attachment in JustGrants. See the Application Resource Guide for information on Tribal authorizing resolutions.

• Research and Evaluation Independence and Integrity Statement (if applicable): If an application proposes research (including research and development) and/or evaluation, the applicant must demonstrate research/evaluation independence and integrity, including appropriate safeguards, before it may receive award funds. The https://justicegrants.usdoj.gov/training/training-application-submission#825w88n https://justicegrants.usdoj.gov/training/training-application-submission#825w88n https://www.ojp.gov/funding/financialguidedoj/iii-postaward-requirements#12-68 https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#indirect-cost https://www.ojp.gov/funding/financialguidedoj/iii-postaward-requirements#8w5i7p https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#tribal-authorizing-resolution

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Basic Information applicant will upload documentation of its research and evaluation independence and integrity as an attachment in JustGrants. For additional information, see the Application

Resource Guide.

• Curriculum Vitae or Resumes: Provide curriculum vitae or resume for all investigators regardless of status (i.e., PI, subaward PI, Co-PI, subaward Co-PI, co-investigator Co-I, subaward Co-I, I, and subaward-I) and project directors.

• Bibliography/References: Provide a bibliography of any references cited in the

Proposal Narrative.

• Tools/Instruments, Questionnaires, Tables/Charts/Graphs, or Maps: 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.

• List of Individuals in the Application: To assist NIJ in assessing actual or apparent conflicts of interest (including such conflicts on the part of prospective reviewers of the application), provide 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 may work (or advise or consult) on the proposed research, development, or evaluation project. Applicants should use the “Proposed Project Staff, Affiliation, and

Roles” form available on the NIJ webpage to prepare this list.

• Human Subjects Protection: Human Subjects Protection paperwork as a separate attachment (documentation and forms related to IRB review). See https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/human-subjects-protection. Note: Final IRB approval is not required at the time an application is submitted

• Privacy Certificate: Privacy Certificate as a separate file (for further guidance go to

Confidentiality and Privacy Protections | National Institute of Justice (ojp.gov) and https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/privacy-certificate-guidance#model-privacy-certificate.

• Request To Use Incentives or Stipends: Applicants proposing to use incentives or stipends payments as part of their research project design, must submit an incentive or stipend approval request, as a separate document, according to the requirements set forth at https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/participant-support-costs-and-incentives.

• Project Management Plan and Timeline: Applicants should also outline the management…