Comprehensive Forensic DNA Analysis Grant Program

Program goal(s) name: Improve the use of DNA evidence to investigate and prosecute violent cold case crimes. Program goal(s) description: Increase the number of CODIS-eligible samples analyzed in eligible laboratories. Reduce DNA testing turnaround t

Assist states and units of local government to collect, process, and increase their capacity to process DNA evidence for entry into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) to reduce DNA processing backlogs, improve the timeliness of testing, and increase investigation and prosecution of violent cold case crimes in which suspects have been identified through DNA evidence.

Award periods for this program are up to 36 months. For specifics pertaining to this program, please see the current fiscal year's program solicitation available at the Office of Justice Programs web site (https://www.ojp.gov/funding/explore/current-funding-opportunities). FY 2023 solicitation available at https://bja.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh186/files/media/document/O-BJA-2023-171582.pdf. For additional information, see the Department of Justice Grants Financial Guide section on "Period of Availability of Funds" at http://ojp.gov/financialguide/DOJ/PostawardRequirements/chapter3.2a.htm.

Each applicant is to submit a BJA Programmatic Coversheet and Checklist with its application to assist BJA in assessing the potential environmental impacts of the activities proposed for funding by the applicant. Specifically, the following is detailed in the solicitation, the applicant is expected to: • Carefully read the Programmatic Environmental Assessment; • Complete the Cover Sheet and the attached the Programmatic Checklist; and • Attach the completed documents to the grant application.

Criteria for selecting proposals is determined as part of the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO).

All final award decisions will be made by the Assistant Attorney General, unless a statute explicitly authorizes award decisions by another official or there is written delegation of authority to another official. For successful applicants, JustGrants will send a system-generated email to the Application Submitter, Authorized Representative, and Entity Administrator with information on accessing their official award package in JustGrants. The award package will include key information (such as funding amount and period of performance) as well as award conditions that must be followed. The Authorized Representative for the entity should accept or decline the award within 45 days of the notification.

The review procedure for applications is specified in the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) and generally includes eligibility and responsiveness, merit, programmatic, budget, and risk reviews.

In some cases, award periods may be extended if specific criteria are met. For details, please review the discussion of no-cost extensions in the Criteria for Award Extension section of the Department of Justice Grants Financial Guide available at https://www.ojp.gov/funding/financialguidedoj/overview

Applicable rights to appeal are provided in the notice of denial of funding.