U.S.

Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
National Institute of Justice
NOV. 05

Solicitation for Proposals

Crime and Justice Research

Notice: Deadline:
You must submit your application electronically using [Link].
Go to [Link] for application January 24, 2006
instructions. For [Link] technical support, call 1–800–518–4726.

8 p.m. eastern time

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 16.560

CFDA Title: National Institute of Justice Research, Evaluation, and Development
Project Grants
[Link] Funding No.
2006-NIJ-1162

SL 000731
U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
810 Seventh Street N.W.
Washington, DC 20531

Alberto R. Gonzales
Attorney General

Regina B. Schofield
Assistant Attorney General

Glenn R. Schmitt
Acting Director, National Institute of Justice

This and other publications and products of

the National Institute of Justice can be found
on the World Wide Web at:

National Institute of Justice

[Link]

Office of Justice Programs

Partnerships for Safer Communities
[Link]
Crime and Justice Research

I. Introduction
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is the research, development, and evaluation agency of the
U.S. Department of Justice and a component of the Office of Justice Programs (OJP). NIJ
provides objective, independent, evidence-based knowledge and tools to enhance the
administration of justice and public safety. NIJ solicits proposals to inform its search for the
knowledge and tools to guide policy and practice.

NIJ is seeking proposals for crime and justice research on topics relevant to State and/or local
criminal and juvenile justice policy and practice. Through this solicitation, NIJ seeks proposals for
social and behavioral research and evaluation addressing community crime prevention, policing,
juvenile and criminal justice systems improvement, corrections, alcohol- and drug-related crime,
criminal behavior, and other topics that have the potential to advance practice and policy in
criminal and juvenile justice operations nationally.

Due date: The due date is January 24, 2006. Extensions to the deadlines are generally not
granted.

Page limit: The program narrative section of your proposal must not exceed 30 double-spaced
pages in 12-point font with 1-inch margins. Abstract, table of contents, charts, figures,
appendixes, and government forms do not count toward the 30 -page limit for the narrative
section.

Reasons for rejection: NIJ may reject applications that are incomplete, do not respond to the
scope of the solicitation, do not comply with format requirements, or are submitted after the
deadline. No additions to the original submission are allowed.

How to apply: Detailed instructions for using [Link] to apply are available at
[Link] For [Link] technical support, call 1–800–
518–4726.

II. Proposal Topics

NIJ has identified priority topic areas for research. Although any specific topic may be proposed,
NIJ asks that proposals be submitted on a priority topic in one of the general areas below. Please
note that you will be required to complete a Topics Designation Form and submit the form with
your application. Download the form at [Link]
[Link] and attach it to “Other Attachment Forms” in [Link].

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Special consideration will be given to applicants who use the most rigorous research methods,
particularly randomized controlled trials, in order to maximize the validity and reliability of findings.

Law Enforcement/Policing. NIJ is seeking research or evaluation on strategies for improving

police and law enforcement agencies' effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity; enhancing
officer safety, particularly through better use of public/private policing partnerships; procedures
and technologies that improve the ability of police organizations to collect, analyze, disseminate,
and use information effectively and to communicate reliably and securely; procedures, policies,
technologies, and basic knowledge that will maximize the effectiveness of appropriate and lawful
police actions; identifying the characteristics of partnerships between law enforcement agencies
and researchers that lead to effective problem-solving and establishing the relative importance of
those characteristics; and improved law enforcement and prevention of and preparation for
terrorist events on the part of first responders.

Justice Systems. NIJ is seeking research or evaluation on the policies and operations of the
criminal or juvenile justice systems (e.g., courts, corrections, probation, parole) and the functional
role a policy, practice, or program plays in the broader context of the community, system, or
organization, including the impact of differing sentencing strategies; how the State or local
funding structures affect criminal justice cost effectiveness or cost shifting; and the impact of
policies or practices in one part of the system on those "downstream" from it (for example, the
effect of court operations on managing prison populations or the impact of correctional practices
on parole and re-entry).

Courts, Prosecution, and Defense. NIJ is seeking research or evaluation on specialized courts
and specialized prosecution strategies; charging and plea bargaining; system costs including cost
effectiveness and indirect and opportunity costs of differing strategies; court services for litigants
and other participants who have special needs; community prosecution; court system
improvement strategies; and how court systems are affected by the introduction of new,
sophisticated scientific evidence.

Corrections. NIJ is seeking research or evaluation leading to safe, secure, and cost-effective
operations in managing both adult and juvenile offenders in prisons, jails, and community
corrections, including studies on assessing and managing special offender populations. NIJ is
also seeking research or evaluation on the causes of violence and strategies for reducing
violence, including sexual assault and other misconduct in prisons and jails; policies and

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practices to manage high-risk offenders; and approaches to increase the cost effectiveness of
operations or programs and contain system costs.

Offender Programs and Treatment. NIJ is seeking research on or evaluation of

treatment/intervention strategies within the correctional system, their effectiveness in influencing
offender behaviors, and their impact on operations. This includes studies of substance abuse or
other behavior, educational or vocational programs, programs operated by community-based
(including faith-based) organizations, and programs designed to encourage the successful return
to society by offenders.

Crime Prevention/Causes of Crime. NIJ is seeking research on delinquent/criminal behavior or

evaluation of prevention programs, interventions, and strategies; studies of crime prevention in
specific situations or environments using physical design, access control strategies, and
technologies; research on community-based and faith-based approaches that prevent crime;
research on deterrence mechanisms that prevent crime; and studies that develop cost-benefit
methods that can be applied to crime prevention or control programs or that assess the cost
effectiveness of specific crime prevention strategies, programs, and technologies.

Violence and Victimization, Including Violent Crimes. NIJ is seeking research on or

evaluation of strategies to prevent and intervene in child abuse and neglect, other victimization of
children, and youth violence (e.g., school violence, bullying, hate crime); studies of repeat and
series victimization; research to help understand and prevent white collar crime, identity theft, and
elder fraud; research on victims of trafficking and services for trafficking victims; research on
crime victim compensation programs; studies of efforts to reduce community violence; and
evaluation of policies and interventions to address crime victims' needs.

Drugs, Alcohol, and Crime. NIJ is seeking research or evaluation that furthers understanding of
the relationships between drugs, alcohol, and crime; research and evaluation of drug-control
policies and initiatives; research on the growth of new and emerging drug markets; research on
and evaluation of disruption of drug markets and drug sales; and the development and evaluation
of technologies used to test for illicit drugs.

International Crime and Justice. NIJ is seeking research related to transnational crime and its
impacts at the Federal, State, and/or local levels, including terrorism, corruption, human
trafficking, intellectual property theft, drug trafficking, and illegal logging; research related to the

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nature and interaction of the criminal groups involved in these crimes and assessments of the
harm they cause; and evaluation of criminal justice responses in the transnational context.

Evaluation Research and Methods. Related to the above topics, NIJ encourages evaluation
research proposals that include randomized experiments. NIJ is also interested in improving the
quality and utility of applied research through proposals on specialized topics such as cost-benefit
analysis, evaluability assessment, and other evaluation designs pertinent to criminal justice
problems and issues. These ideas may be proposed under the topic of methodology or as part of
evaluation research within another topic area.

Please note that NIJ regularly releases solicitations targeting specific research areas, including
some of the areas described above. Applicants are encouraged to check NIJ’s Web site regularly
to identify targeted solicitations under which their proposed research might better be considered.
Applications submitted under the Criminal Justice Research solicitation deemed suitable for other
open solicitations may be transferred to those solicitations at the discretion of NIJ.

III. General Requirements and Guidance

NIJ is asking you to submit a proposal that states the problem under investigation (including goals
and objectives of the proposed project) and the relevance of the project to public policy, practice,
or theory. The program narrative section should state the research question and objectives and
explain how the work will contribute to knowledge and practice. It should describe in sufficient
detail the research methods and analytic strategy.

Your application should include these elements:

• Program Narrative
The Program Narrative includes:
a. Abstract (not to exceed 400 words).
b. Table of contents.
c. Main body, which includes:
• Purpose, goals, and objectives.
• Review of relevant literature.
• Research design and methods.
• Implications for policy and practice.
• Management plan and organization.
• Dissemination strategy.
d. Appendixes (not counted against solicitation page limit) include:
• Bibliography/References (if applicable).

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 • List of key personnel (required).
• Résumés of key personnel (required).
• List of previous and current NIJ awards (required).
• Letters of cooperation/support or administrative agreements from organizations
collaborating in the project (if applicable).
• Chart for timeline, research calendar, or milestones (required).
• Other materials required by the solicitation.

• Budget Detail Worksheet

Templates for filling out the Budget Detail Worksheet may be found through the Internet
at [Link] OJP Standard Forms &
Instructions. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of the Comptroller's
Customer Service Center at 1–800–458–0786.

• Budget Narrative

• Negotiated Indirect Rate Agreement (if applicable)

• Other Program Attachments

These include several forms, available on OJP’s funding page at
[Link]

A. Submit applications online: Paper applications are not accepted. Applications must be
submitted online at [Link]. See [Link] for
application instructions.

B. Relevance of the project for policy and practice: Higher quality proposals clearly explain
the practical implications of the project. They connect technical expertise with policy and
practice. To ensure that the project has strong relevance for policy and practice, some
researchers and technologists collaborate with practitioners and policymakers. You may
include letters showing support from practitioners, but they carry less weight than clear
evidence that you understand why policymakers and practitioners would benefit from your
work and how they would use it. While a partnership may affect State or local activities, it
should also have broader implications for others across the country.

C. Cofunding: A grant made by NIJ under this solicitation may account for up to 100 percent of
the total cost of the project. You must indicate whether you believe it is feasible for you to
contribute cash, facilities, or services as non-Federal support for the project. Your proposal
should identify generally any such contributions that you expect to make and your proposed
budget should indicate in detail which items, if any, will be supported with non-Federal
contributions.

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D. Number of grants to be awarded: NIJ’s grant award process is highly competitive. The
number of awards NIJ makes is always subject to the availability of funds and the number
and quality of applications received.

E. When awards will be made: All applicants, whether they are accepted or rejected, will be
notified. The review and approval process takes about 6 months. You should not propose to
begin work until at least 6 months after the proposal deadline on the cover of this solicitation.
Also, you should not expect to receive notification of a decision for at least 6 months after that
date. Lists of awards are updated regularly on NIJ’s Web site at
[Link]

F. Financial capability questionnaire: Any applicant that is a nongovernmental entity and has
not previously received an award from OJP will be required to complete and submit a
financial capability questionnaire before any award is made.

G. An environmental assessment may be required: All awards are subject to the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). To ensure NEPA compliance, NIJ may require some
award recipients to submit additional information.

H. Protection of confidentiality: Federal regulations require applicants for NIJ funding to

outline specific procedures for protecting private information about individuals as part of the
Privacy Certificate submitted with the application package. For additional information, see the
chapter on confidentiality of information in “Guidelines: How to Submit Applications,”
[Link]

I. A DUNS number is required: The Office of Management and Budget requires that all
businesses and nonprofit applicants for Federal funds include a DUNS (Data Universal
Numeric System) number in their application for a new award or renewal of an award.
Applications without a DUNS number are incomplete. A DUNS number is a unique nine-digit
sequence recognized as the universal standard for identifying and keeping track of entities
receiving Federal funds. The identifier is used for tracking purposes and to validate address
and point of contact information. NIJ will use the DUNS number throughout the grant life
cycle. Obtaining a DUNS number is a free, one-time activity. Obtain one by calling 1–866–
705–5711 or by applying online at [Link] Individuals are exempt
from this requirement.

J. Funds cannot be used to lobby: Under the Anti-Lobbying Act (18 U.S.C. § 1913), grantees
generally may not use funds to support the enactment, repeal, or modification of any law,
regulation, or policy at any level of government. For additional information on rules and
regulations, see OJP’s Financial Guide at [Link]

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K. What will not be funded:
1. Provision of training or direct service.
2. Proposals primarily to purchase equipment, materials, or supplies. (Your budget may
include these items if they are necessary to conduct applied research, development,
demonstration, evaluation.
3. Work that will be funded under another specific solicitation.
4. Proposals for science and technology testing or development grants are not eligible
under this solicitation.

L. Cost of proposed work: NIJ anticipates that multiple awards, ranging from less than
$100,000 up to $300,000, and occasionally more, may be made through this solicitation. All
NIJ awards are subject to the availability of appropriated funds. NIJ expects to make multiple
awards depending on funds available and number of high-quality applications. If you propose
a project that exceeds the amount of money that may be available for this solicitation, we
recommend that you divide the project into phases, stages, or tasks so that NIJ can consider
making an award for a specific portion of the work. NIJ cannot guarantee that subsequent
phases, stages, or tasks will be funded. Such additional funding depends on NIJ’s resources
and your satisfactory completion of each phase, stage, or task. Note: Deliverables (e.g., a
final report) will be required at the end of each phase, stage, or task.

M. Information technology standards compliance: As appropriate, all equipment and

software developed under awards that result from this solicitation must be compliant with
U.S. Department of Justice Information Technology interface standards, including the
National Criminal Intelligence Sharing Plan (see
[Link] Global Justice
XML Data Model (see [Link] and the Law Enforcement Information Sharing
Plan (LEISP). A list of additional standards can be found at the OJP Standards
Clearinghouse ([Link]

N. Funding to faith-based and community organizations: Consistent with President George

W. Bush's Executive Order 13279, dated December 12, 2002, and 28 C.F.R. Part 38, it is
OJP policy that faith-based and community organizations that statutorily qualify as eligible
applicants under OJP programs are invited and encouraged to apply for assistance awards to
fund eligible grant activities. Faith-based and community organizations will be considered on
the same basis as any other eligible applicants and, if they receive an award, will be treated
on an equal basis with all other grantees in the administration of such awards. No eligible
applicant or grantee will be discriminated for or against on the basis of its religious character
or affiliation, religious name, or the religious composition of its board of directors or persons
working in the organization. Faith-based organizations receiving OJP awards retain their
independence and do not lose or have to modify their religious identity (e.g., removing
religious symbols) to receive awards. OJP grant funds, however, may not be used to fund

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 any inherently religious activity, such as prayer or worship. Inherently religious activity is
permissible, although it cannot occur during an activity funded with OJP grant funds; religious
activity must be separate in time or place from the OJP-funded program. Further,
participation in such activity by individuals receiving services must be voluntary. Programs
funded by OJP are not permitted to discriminate in the provision of services on the basis of a
beneficiary’s religion.

O. Call for assistance:

For technical guidance about applying through [Link], call [Link] Technical Support
at 1–800–518–4726. For questions about this solicitation, the research being solicited, or
other NIJ funding opportunities, see the NIJ Web site at [Link] or
contact NIJ at 202–305–7807.

IV. Selection Criteria

NIJ is firmly committed to the competitive process in awarding grants. All proposals are subjected
to independent peer-review panel evaluations. External peer-review panelists consider both
technical and programmatic merits. Panelists are selected based on their expertise in subject
areas pertinent to the proposals.

Peer-review panelists will evaluate proposals using the criteria listed below. NIJ staff then make
recommendations to the NIJ Director. The Director makes final award decisions.

Successful applicants must demonstrate the following:

A. Understanding of the problem and its importance.

B. Quality and technical merit.

1. Awareness of the state of current research or technology.
2. Soundness of methodology and analytic and technical approach.
3. Feasibility of proposed project and awareness of pitfalls.
4. Innovation and creativity (when appropriate).

C. Impact of the proposed project.

1. Potential for significant advances in scientific or technical understanding of the problem.
2. Potential for significant advances in the field.
3. Relevance for improving the policy and practice of criminal justice and related agencies
and improving public safety, security, and quality of life.
4. Affordability and cost-effectiveness of proposed end products, when applicable (e.g.,
purchase price and maintenance costs for a new technology or cost of training to use the
technology).

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 5. Perceived potential for commercialization and/or implementation of a new technology
(when applicable).

D. Capabilities, demonstrated productivity, and experience of applicants.

1. Qualifications and experience of proposed staff.
2. Demonstrated ability of proposed staff and organization to manage the effort.
3. Adequacy of the plan to manage the project, including how various tasks are subdivided
and resources are used.
4. Successful past performance on NIJ grants and contracts (when applicable).

E. Budget.
1. Total cost of the project relative to the perceived benefit.
2. Appropriateness of the budget relative to the level of effort.
3. Use of existing resources to conserve costs.

F. Dissemination strategy.
1. Well-defined plan for the grant recipient to disseminate results to appropriate audiences,
including researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.
2. Suggestions for print and electronic products NIJ might develop for practitioners and
policymakers.

V. Requirements for Successful Applicants

If your proposal is funded, you will be required to submit several reports and other materials as
follows:

A. Final substantive report: The final report should be a comprehensive overview of the
project and should include a detailed description of the project design, data, and methods; a
full presentation of scientific findings; and a thorough discussion of the implications of the
project findings for criminal justice practice and policy. It must contain an abstract of no more
than 400 words and an executive summary of no more than 2,500 words.

A draft of the final report, abstract, and executive summary must be submitted 90 days before
the end date of the grant. The draft final report will be peer reviewed upon submission. The
reviews will be forwarded to the principal investigator with suggestions for revisions. The
author must then submit the revised final report, abstract, and executive summary by the end
date of the grant. The abstract, executive summary, and final report must be submitted in
both paper and electronic formats.

For evaluation studies, the final report should include a section on measuring program
performance. This section should outline the measures used to evaluate program

9
 effectiveness, modifications made to those measures as a result of the evaluation, and
recommendations regarding these and other potential performance measures for similar
programs. (This information will be particularly valuable to NIJ and other Federal program
agencies in implementing performance measures for federally funded criminal justice
programs.)

B. Interim reports: Grantees must submit quarterly financial reports, semi-annual progress
reports, a final progress report, and, if applicable, an annual audit report in accordance with
Office of Managment and Budget Circular A-133. Future awards and fund drawdowns may be
withheld if reports are delinquent. Post-award reporting requirements are described in
“Guidelines: How to Submit Applications,” available at
[Link]

C. Materials concerning protection of confidential information and human subjects:

Recipients of NIJ research funds must comply with Federal regulations concerning the
protection of information about individuals or non-governmental entities. Recipients also must
comply with Federal regulations concerning protection of human subjects or identifiable
private information. In general, all research involving human subjects or identifiable private
information that is conducted or supported by NIJ funds must be reviewed and approved by
an Institutional Review Board before Federal funds are expended for that research. NIJ may
also ask grant recipients for additional information related to confidentiality and human
subjects.

Information regarding NIJ’s requirements for confidentiality and protection of human subjects
appears in the chapter on human subjects protection in “Guidelines: How to Submit
Applications,” at [Link] and at NIJ’s Human Subjects
Protection Web page, [Link]

D. Electronic data: Some grant recipients will be required to submit electronic data and
supporting documentation, such as a codebook or dictionary, capable of being re-analyzed
and used by other researchers. The materials must be submitted by the end date of the
grant. Grant applicants should ensure that the proposed timeline and budget accommodate
these requirements.

E. Performance Measures: To assist OJP in fulfilling its responsibilities under the Government
Performance and Results Act (GPRA), P.L. 103-62, applicants who receive funding under
this solicitation must provide data that measures the results of their work. This data will also
contribute to achieving NIJ’s overall research, development, and evaluation mission. NIJ
expects research to be accurate, objective, relevant, and useful. Performance measures for
this solicitation are as follows:

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Objective Performance Measures Data Grantee Provides

Develop and analyze information 1. Relevance to the needs of the 1. A final report providing a
and data having clear implications field as measured by whether the comprehensive overview of
for criminal justice policy and grantee’s substantive scope did not the project and a detailed
practice. deviate from the funded proposal description of the project
or any subsequent agency design, data, and methods; a
modifications to the scope. full presentation of scientific
findings; and a thorough
2. Quality of the research as discussion of the implications
assessed by peer reviewers. of the project findings for
criminal justice practice and
3. Quality of management as policy.
measured by whether significant
interim project milestones were 2. Quarterly financial reports,
achieved, final deadlines were met, semi-annual progress reports,
and costs remained within and a final progress report.
approved limits.

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 Tips for Submitting Your Application
1. Begin the application process early—especially if you have never used [Link].
NIJ will not accept applications received after the deadline listed on the cover. To
start the process, go to [Link]
2. Go to [Link] for detailed application
instructions.
3. Although your proposal may budget for the purchase of equipment if the equipment
is necessary to conduct the project, NIJ will not fund applications that are primarily
to purchase equipment, materials, or supplies.
4. Call for help:
• For technical guidance about [Link], call 1–800–518–4726.
• For questions about this solicitation, the research being solicited, or other NIJ
funding opportunities, contact NIJ at 202–305–7807 or visit NIJ’s Web site at
[Link]

View or print a copy of this document from the NIJ Web site
([Link] or request one by calling NCJRS at 1–800–851–3420
or e-mailing askncjrs@[Link].

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 The National Institute of Justice is the
research, development, and evaluation
agency of the U.S. Department of Justice.
NIJ’s mission is to advance scientific research,
development, and evaluation
to enhance the administration
of justice and public safety.

NIJ is a component of the Office of Justice

Programs, which also includes the Bureau of
Justice Assistance, the Bureau of Justice Statistics,
the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention, and the Office for Victims of Crime.