FEDERAL AGENCY:

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE, OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS, 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. Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, Section 821, Public Law 104-132.

To support the development of counter terrorism technologies, assist in the development of standards for those technologies, and work with state and local jurisdictions to identify particular areas of vulnerability to terrorist acts and be better prepared to respond if such acts occur.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

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 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:   NIJ sponsors solicitations for the development of counter-terrorism technologies for State and local law enforcement through its collaborations with various technology partners. Applicants may obtain information about solicitation opportunities, deadlines, and projects currently being funded through accessing the Institute's Justice Technology Information Network (JUSTNET) web site at www.nlectc.org or by calling Wendy Howe in the Institute's Office of Science and Technology at (202) 616-9794. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110 or the Common Rule where applicable.

Award Procedure:   Grants are awarded by the Institute Director based on the recommendations of the Institute staff and outside reviewers.

Deadlines:   NIJ sponsors solicitations for the development of counter-terrorism technologies for State and local law enforcement through its collaborations with various technology partners. Applicants may obtain information about solicitation opportunities, deadlines, and projects currently being funded through accessing the Institute's Justice Technology Information Network (JUSTNET) web site at www.nlectc.org or by calling Wendy Howe in the Institute's Office of Science and Technology at (202) 616-9794.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   Approximately 90 days from application deadline.

Appeals:   Appeals will be conducted through a hearing by the NIJ Director.

Renewals:   None.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   This program has no formula or matching requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Project durations are normally not less than 6 months nor more than 18 months.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Fiscal reports consisting of quarterly expenditures and budget expenditure reports; final financial report giving costs and expenditures of the completed project; program reports consisting of bi- annual progress reports; and a final report including a summary. Other reports may be requested. Financial reporting for IPAs will be negotiated in the appointment agreement.

Audits:   In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profits Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

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

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

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

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 $4,520,580; FY 02 est $79,450,259; and FY 03 est $17,000,000.

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

Initiated pursuant to the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, this highly successful program has already produced several technologies. Among them are: an advanced electromagnetic portal for detection of concealed weapons, operational in an Idaho courthouse; an interagency information sharing system for law enforcement involving several jurisdictions in Florida; a hand-held, acoustic device for detection of concealed weapons; a computer-based training tool for bomb technicians; a concrete- penetrating, safely disabling large explosive devices such as 50-gallon fuel- fertilizer bombs, undertaken in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The Institute has also completed distribution of the RTR-3 x-ray diagnostic system to 28 State and local bomb squads across the Nation for evaluation under operational conditions. The RTR-3 is a computer based, portable x-ray system that diagnoses explosive devices in real-time. It also transmits x-ray images of those devices via modem to remote experts for analysis. This effort was undertaken in collaboration with the Technical Support Working Group (TSWG), which sponsored development of the RTR-3, and the FBI. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Division and Naval Office of Special Technology are supporting this project.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

NIJ sponsors solicitations for the development of counter-terrorism technologies for State and local law enforcement through its collaborations with various technology partners. Applicants may obtain information about solicitation opportunities, deadlines, and projects currently being funded through accessing the Institute's Justice Technology Information Network (JUSTNET) web site at www.nlectc.org or by calling Wendy Howe in the Institute's Office of Science and Technology at (202) 616-9794.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

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. FTS number is (202) 307-2942.

Web Site Address:   http://www.usdoj.gov/nij

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

An interactive, computer-based training tool for bomb technicians; the RTR-3, a computer based, portable x-ray system, that enables the diagnosis of explosive devices in real-time; an EOD Technician Training Kit for use by bomb disposal organizations which will soon be available to qualified bomb disposal teams; flying plate disrupter technology, which disrupts the explosive capabilities of large explosive devices; percussion- activated non-electric (PAN) disrupter technology, which neutralizes the explosive capabilities of smaller explosive devices; development and testing of a personal alarm monitor, a wearable device providing indication of exposure to a wide variety of chemical and biological hazards; development and demonstration of a portable (briefcase sized) through- the-wall surveillance device; development of an inexpensive, handheld, low-power radar that will enable law officers to detect individuals through interior building walls.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

All proposals will be reviewed by a peer review panel. Their selection will be based on the applicant's experience; the significance and conceptualization of the project topic; the quality and feasibility of the research design; the comprehensiveness, coherence, and specificity of the proposed project for developing counter-terrorism technologies for State and local law enforcement; the qualifications of key staff to manage and direct the activities and tasks set forth in the project plan; the reasonableness and cost effectiveness of the program budget in relation to the proposed program objectives; and the potential impact of the project on the criminal justice system.