NIJ FY 2022 Invited to Apply - Investigator-Initiated Research and Evaluation on Firearm Violence | O NIJ 2022 171365

Opportunity Information: Apply for O NIJ 2022 171365

The NIJ FY 2022 Invited to Apply - Investigator-Initiated Research and Evaluation on Firearm Violence opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number O-NIJ-2022-171365) is a discretionary grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice (NIJ), within the Office of Justice Programs (OJP). It is designed to fund a single, scientifically rigorous research and/or program evaluation project that can help prevent and reduce intentional, interpersonal firearm violence and mass shootings in the United States. The core idea is to strengthen the national evidence base on what drives firearm violence and what interventions, policies, or strategies can realistically reduce harm, with an emphasis on producing findings that are practical and usable for public safety decision-making rather than purely academic outputs.

The solicitation is framed within OJP's broader mission priorities, explicitly tying firearm violence research to civil rights and racial equity, improved access to justice, support for victims and people impacted by the justice system, stronger community safety, and increased trust between law enforcement and communities. In other words, NIJ is not only looking for studies that can demonstrate methodological strength, but also work that is aligned with real-world justice outcomes, including how firearm violence and responses to it may affect communities differently and how prevention approaches can be implemented in ways that are fair, lawful, and effective.

From a programmatic standpoint, the funded work is expected to focus on intentional interpersonal firearm violence (for example, shootings connected to street violence, retaliatory conflicts, and other interpersonal disputes) as well as mass shootings. The solicitation highlights both research and evaluation, which signals openness to projects that generate new knowledge about causes and patterns of firearm violence and projects that assess the effectiveness of specific programs, strategies, or interventions intended to reduce shootings or related victimization. NIJ emphasizes "high-practical utility," meaning the ideal project will produce results that practitioners, policymakers, and communities can use to make decisions about prevention, enforcement, services, or other responses tied to firearm violence.

This opportunity also directly supports a Department of Justice priority area: preventing and reducing gun crimes, gun-violence-related victimization, and the broader range of criminal activities associated with firearm violence. It is mapped to DOJ Strategic Objective 3.1, which is focused on combating violent crime, promoting safe communities, and upholding the rights of crime victims. The statutory authority for the solicitation is Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, specifically sections 201 and 202, which is the traditional legal foundation under which NIJ is able to sponsor criminal justice research and evaluation.

Administratively, the award is categorized under science and technology and other research and development, and it is associated with CFDA number 16.560. The anticipated funding level listed includes an award ceiling of $321,667, with one expected award, indicating this is a narrowly scoped competition. The eligibility field is broadly labeled "Others," with the note that applicants should consult the solicitation's additional eligibility details for clarification, which often indicates that a limited pool may have been targeted or that eligibility conditions are defined in the full text rather than the summary. The opportunity was created on June 9, 2022, with an original closing date of June 10, 2022, reflecting a very short application window consistent with an "invited to apply" format, where NIJ typically solicits an application from a specific prospective applicant or a small set of applicants based on prior communication or qualification.

Overall, the grant is best understood as a targeted NIJ research investment intended to yield credible, actionable evidence on how to reduce firearm violence and mass shootings, while remaining consistent with DOJ and OJP priorities around equity, community trust, victim-centered approaches, and public safety impact.

• The Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIJ FY 2022 Invited to Apply - Investigator-Initiated Research and Evaluation on Firearm Violence" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.560.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 09, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 10, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $321,667.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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