NIJ FY 09 Research and Development in the Forensic Analysis of Trace Evidence | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The NIJ FY 09 Research and Development in the Forensic Analysis of Trace Evidence grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number NIJ 2009 1944) was a discretionary, competitive funding solicitation issued by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), which serves as the research, development, and evaluation arm of the U.S. Department of Justice within the Office of Justice Programs. The purpose of the program was to generate objective, evidence-based knowledge and practical tools that strengthen how trace evidence is found, collected, analyzed, and interpreted for criminal justice use. In plain terms, NIJ was looking for research and development projects that could make trace evidence work more reliable, more informative, and more useful to investigators and crime laboratories, with a focus on improvements that translate into real-world policy and practice.

The solicitation emphasized trace evidence investigation and laboratory analysis, aiming to address both crime scene work and downstream forensic testing. NIJ expressed particular interest in proposals that develop novel methods to detect, collect, and preserve trace materials on scenes and on evidentiary items. This includes, for example, better ways to locate minute or easily lost traces, improved collection techniques that reduce contamination or loss, and preservation approaches that maintain evidentiary value over time and through handling. A second major priority area was the development of analytical techniques that increase the discriminatory power of trace evidence beyond current practice, meaning methods that can better differentiate between sources, provide stronger comparative capability, or yield more specific conclusions than what routine approaches typically allow.

Another highlighted topic was research into the specificity and importance of microscopic hair comparisons relative to other techniques. This reflects NIJ interest in understanding how traditional microscopic comparison performs, when it is informative, what its limits are, and how it should be weighed or complemented by other methods. The solicitation also called for novel or enhanced approaches to interpreting trace evidence results, including the assessment of the significance of an association. This is essentially about strengthening the reasoning framework around trace findings: how to translate analytical observations into conclusions that are scientifically grounded, appropriately qualified, and meaningful for investigators, attorneys, judges, and juries. It points toward work on statistical interpretation, evaluative reporting, and decision frameworks that help laboratories communicate what a match, similarity, or association actually implies.

Administratively, the award mechanism was a cooperative agreement, signaling that NIJ anticipated substantial involvement during the project period, such as collaboration, oversight, or iterative guidance consistent with federal cooperative agreements. The opportunity fell under CFDA 16.560 (National Institute of Justice Research, Evaluation, and Development Project Grants). Cost sharing or matching was not required. Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning any type of entity could apply as long as it met any additional eligibility clarifications contained in the full solicitation document. The announcement was posted on November 13, 2008, and the application deadline was December 29, 2008, with the opportunity later archived on January 29, 2009. The listing did not specify an award ceiling or floor in the summary fields provided, which typically means applicants needed to consult the full solicitation document for budget expectations, allowable costs, and the number or size of anticipated awards.

For support, applicants were directed to Grants.gov customer service for technical submission problems (phone 1-800-518-4726 or email support@grants.gov). Programmatic and solicitation requirement questions were directed to Lois Tully, Deputy Chief, Investigative and Forensic Sciences Division at NIJ (202-307-0694; lois.tully@usdoj.gov). Overall, this funding opportunity was structured to push the forensic field toward better tools, stronger science, and more defensible interpretation specifically for trace evidence, spanning the full chain from scene detection and collection through lab analysis and the communication of results.

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