NIJ FY18 Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes | NIJ 2018 13600

Opportunity Information: Apply for NIJ 2018 13600

The NIJ FY18 Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes opportunity is a discretionary grant program run by the Department of Justice's National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to fund basic or applied research and development that strengthens forensic science. The program is built around supporting focused, clearly defined projects that either expand the scientific knowledge base that informs forensic policy and day-to-day practice, or produce tangible outputs such as materials, devices, systems, or methods with real potential for forensic use. The overall thrust is to move discoveries from broader scientific and engineering fields, as well as ongoing forensic research, into practical advances that help criminal justice agencies identify, analyze, and interpret physical evidence more effectively.

A central priority of this solicitation is improving the performance and usefulness of forensic methods. NIJ emphasizes methods that are highly discriminating (better at telling sources apart), accurate and reliable (sound performance with known limitations), cost-effective (reasonable to deploy at scale), and rapid (faster turnaround without sacrificing quality). Projects are expected to connect to the practical challenges faced by the forensic science community. Applicants are encouraged to align their work with documented needs, including the operational needs discussed at NIJ's FY 2016 Forensic Science Technical Working Group meeting (available via NIJ.gov) and the broader research needs compiled through the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC). Importantly, NIJ signals that proposed work does not have to deliver an immediate, field-ready fix to a listed problem, but it should clearly speak to those needs and contribute meaningful knowledge or developmental progress that supports eventual solutions.

In terms of who can apply, eligibility is broad and includes state, county, city or township, and special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); individuals; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. This mix is intended to attract proposals from academic labs, government entities, nonprofits, and commercial developers, reflecting the reality that advances in forensic science often come from collaborations across sectors.

The opportunity is categorized under science and technology and other research and development, uses the grant funding instrument, and is associated with CFDA number 16.560. The solicitation was created on February 21, 2018, with an original closing date of April 23, 2018. NIJ anticipated making about 50 awards under this solicitation, with an overall award ceiling listed as $20,000,000. The funding opportunity number is NIJ 2018 13600, and the title is NIJ FY18 Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes.

Taken together, this solicitation is essentially an R and D pipeline for forensic science: it funds well-scoped research that can either clarify what works and why (building the evidence base behind forensic practices) or generate new or improved tools and methods that can be validated and eventually adopted in operational forensic settings. The most competitive projects are likely to be those that are tightly defined, technically rigorous, and explicitly tied to real forensic community needs, while also showing a credible path toward measurable improvements in capability, speed, cost, and scientific defensibility.

• 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 FY18 Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes" 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 Feb 21, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 23, 2018. (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 $20,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 50 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.

Apply for NIJ 2018 13600

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