FEDERAL AGENCY:

OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

AUTHORIZATION:

Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, Section 201, as amended; Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, Public Law 100-690.

To encourage and support research, development, and evaluation to further understanding of the causes and correlates of crime and violence, methods of crime prevention and control, and criminal justice system responses to crime and violence and contribute to the improvement of the criminal justice system and its responses to crime, violence, and delinquency.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

Dissemination of Technical Information. Place Cursor Here for Definition

Applicant Eligibility: The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is authorized to make grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with State and local governments, private nonprofit organizations, public nonprofit organizations, profit organizations, nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and qualified individuals. Applicants from the Territories of the United States and federally recognized Indian Tribal Governments are also eligible to participate in this program.

Beneficiary Eligibility: State and local governments; private nonprofit organizations, public nonprofit organizations, profit organizations, nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and qualified individuals.

Credentials/Documentation: The applicant must furnish, along with the application for a grant, cooperative agreement or contract, resumes of principal investigator and key personnel, details of the budget composition, goals, impact, methods, evaluation, schedule and resources of the project. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments and OMB Circular No. A-21 for educational institutions.

Pre-application Coordination: A potential grantee or contractor should contact the Institute to determine whether a similar proposal has already been funded or whether the proposal is within the objectives and priorities of the Institute. The standard application form (SF 424) as furnished by the Federal agency, in accordance with 28 CFR, Part 66 (Common Rule), must be used for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure: General information is provided in individual program solicitations which are obtained by sending a self- addressed mailing label to NCJRS, Box 6000, Rockville, MD 20849-6000; calling toll free to request a copy at (800) 851-3420; or accessing the web site at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110 or the Common Rule, where applicable.

Award Procedure: All applications are reviewed and evaluated by program managers for compatibility with the needs of the Institute's research plan, on-going or prior studies, and the particular promise of the proposal itself. The Institute uses external peer review processes, in addition to NIJ program manager review, in order to weigh each application in terms of proposed methodology, economy, and other criteria bearing on the technical merit of the proposal. The Institute Director makes final award decisions, incorporating the recommendations of the relevant NIJ staff and management-level personnel and external peer reviewers.

Deadlines: Throughout fiscal year 2000, NIJ will release multiple announcements for research funding. Program deadlines will be included in the announcements of Requests for Proposals in the Federal Register, on NIJ's website at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij, and on the NCJRS bulletin board and in electronic and hard copy publications.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: Approximately 90 days for full proposals.

Appeals: Hearing by the Director.

Renewals: None.

Formula and Matching Requirements: This program has no statutory formula requirement. However, the Institute shall require, whenever feasible, as a condition of approval of a grant or contract that the recipient contribute money, facilities, or services to carry out the purpose for which the grant or contract is sought.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: Project durations are normally up to 24 months but longer awards are possible.

Reports: Fiscal Report, consisting of quarterly expenditures and budget expenditure reports; final financial reports setting forth costs and expenditures of the complete project; and Project Reports, consisting of bi-annual project reports, and a final report. Other reports may be requested.

Audits: All organizations that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in any fiscal year must have a single audit for that year in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-133, as amended, unless the audit condition on the award says otherwise. These audits are due to the cognizant Federal agency not later than 9 months after the end of the grantee's fiscal year.

Records: Records and accounts concerning the expenditure of Institute and grantee or contractor contributed funds shall be maintained during the grant and contract period and retained for 3 years thereafter.

Account Identification: 15-0401-0-1-754.

Obligations: (Grants) FY 01 $57,404,095; FY 02 est $50,660,454; and FY 03 est $75,066,901.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance: In amounts consistent with the Institute's plans, priorities and levels of financing.

Project reports and program implementation manuals are available from the National Criminal Justice Reference Service, P.O. Box 6000, Rockville, Maryland 20850, (301) 514- 5500. In fiscal year 2000, approximately 900 applications will be received. It is anticipated that approximately 300 or more will be awarded. In fiscal year 2001, approximately 1,125 applications will be received. It is anticipated that approximately 350 or more will be awarded.

Grants and funding information are available free from the National Criminal Justice Reference Service, Box 6000, Rockville, MD 20849-6000 or call (800) 851- 3420. It is also available electronically through the NCJRS web site at www.ncjrs.org or through the NIJ website under "Funding Opportunities" at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij.

Regional or Local Office: None.

Headquarters Office: National Institute of Justice, Department of Justice, 810 7th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20531. Telephone: (202) 307-2942. Use same number for FTS. Fax number is (202) 307-6394.

Priority is given to concerns such as: violent crime, alcohol-and drug-related crime, community crime prevention, criminal justice system improvement, forensic science research, and technology development.

Proposals are evaluated according to the criteria specified in the program solicitation. With few exceptions, all proposals are reviewed competitively by a peer review panel consisting of outside experts in the field for technical quality and the general merits of the problems addressed. The Institute uses the peer review process to ensure fair and knowledgeable evaluation of pre-applications and proposals. Program solicitations are announced in the Federal Register and advertised on the Institute's website at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij.