Opportunity Information: Apply for NIJ 2016 4305
Apply for NIJ 2016 4305
- The National Institute of Justice in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIJ FY 16 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 National Institute of Justice Research, Evaluation, and Development Project Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 3, 2015 and posted on Sep 2, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 1, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $15,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $15,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 50 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments For profit organizations other than small businesses County governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Private institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Independent school districts Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education City or township governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Small businesses Special district governments Individuals.
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Opportunity Summary:
The NIJ FY 16 Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes grant (Funding Opportunity Number NIJ 2016 4305) was a discretionary National Institute of Justice funding opportunity aimed at advancing forensic science through targeted research and development. NIJ sought proposals for either basic research or applied R&D projects that would do one of two things: first, expand the scientific evidence base that informs forensic science policy and day-to-day practice; and second, produce practical outputs such as materials, devices, systems, or methods that could realistically be used in forensic settings. The core idea was to move promising scientific findings, whether from forensic science itself or from broader scientific fields with forensic relevance, toward solutions that make the identification, analysis, and interpretation of physical evidence more discriminating, accurate, reliable, cost-effective, and fast for criminal justice purposes.
From a funding and program structure perspective, this opportunity was offered as a grant under the Law, Justice and Legal Services activity category and was tied to CFDA 16.560 (National Institute of Justice Research, Evaluation, and Development Project Grants). NIJ anticipated making about 50 awards, with an estimated total funding amount of $15,000,000. The solicitation listed no cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants were not expected to contribute a mandatory non-federal match as a condition of receiving funding. The award ceiling and the total estimated funding were both shown as $15,000,000, and the award floor was listed as $1,000, signaling that project budgets could vary widely depending on scope and that the program was designed to accommodate both smaller exploratory efforts and larger, more ambitious R&D initiatives.
The eligibility pool was broad and included many types of organizations and entities that are commonly involved in forensic research, development, and implementation. Eligible applicants included state, county, city or township, and special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments as well as other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (with separate mention for institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits that are not small businesses); independent school districts; and even individuals. This wide eligibility reflects NIJ's interest in fostering innovation wherever it exists, whether in academic laboratories, government agencies, private sector technology development teams, or practitioner-driven environments.
In terms of timing, the opportunity was posted on September 2, 2015 (with creation dated September 3, 2015). The original application closing date was January 31, 2016, later reflected as a current closing date of February 1, 2016. The archive date was March 1, 2016. For applicants needing assistance accessing the full solicitation, NIJ provided a direct point of contact via the program email forensic.research@usdoj.gov, indicating that the program was managed through NIJ's forensic research portfolio and that prospective applicants could seek administrative or access-related help through that channel.
Overall, this grant opportunity was designed to strengthen forensic science in ways that matter in real criminal justice contexts. It emphasized not just producing publishable science, but also translating research into methods and tools that could improve how physical evidence is handled and interpreted, supporting outcomes that are scientifically sound, operationally feasible, and responsive to the practical constraints of crime laboratories and the broader justice system.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the NIJ FY 16 Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes grant?
This was a discretionary National Institute of Justice (NIJ) funding opportunity focused on advancing forensic science through targeted research and development. It is identified as NIJ FY 16 Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this solicitation?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed for this opportunity is NIJ 2016 4305.
What types of projects was NIJ looking to fund?
NIJ sought proposals for either (1) basic research or (2) applied research and development (R&D) projects. Projects needed to align with one of two goals: expanding the scientific evidence base that informs forensic science policy and day-to-day practice, or producing practical outputs that could realistically be used in forensic settings.
What were the two main goals NIJ emphasized for proposed work?
The solicitation emphasized: (1) expanding the scientific evidence base that supports forensic science policy and routine practice, and (2) developing practical outputs such as materials, devices, systems, or methods suitable for real-world forensic use.
What kinds of deliverables counted as "practical outputs" under this opportunity?
The opportunity explicitly mentioned practical outputs including materials, devices, systems, or methods that could realistically be used in forensic settings.
What was the overarching purpose of the funded research and development?
The core idea was to move promising scientific findings (from forensic science or other relevant scientific fields) toward solutions that improve the identification, analysis, and interpretation of physical evidence for criminal justice purposes.
What improvements to forensic work did NIJ highlight as important outcomes?
NIJ highlighted improvements that make physical evidence processes more discriminating, accurate, reliable, cost-effective, and fast for criminal justice purposes.
Was this opportunity considered discretionary funding?
Yes. The opportunity was described as a discretionary NIJ funding opportunity.
What activity category was this grant associated with?
The solicitation was offered under the Law, Justice and Legal Services activity category.
What CFDA number was associated with this program?
The opportunity was tied to CFDA 16.560, described as National Institute of Justice Research, Evaluation, and Development Project Grants.
How many awards did NIJ anticipate making?
NIJ anticipated making about 50 awards.
What was the estimated total funding amount for the solicitation?
The estimated total funding amount was $15,000,000.
What was the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?
The award ceiling was listed as $15,000,000.
What was the award floor listed for this opportunity?
The award floor was listed as $1,000.
Did this opportunity require cost sharing or matching funds?
No. The solicitation listed no cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants were not expected to provide a mandatory non-federal match as a condition of receiving funding.
What does the wide range between the award floor and ceiling suggest about project sizes?
Based on the listed award floor ($1,000) and ceiling ($15,000,000), the program was positioned to accommodate a wide range of project budgets, from smaller exploratory efforts to larger R&D initiatives, depending on scope.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad and included: state, county, city or township, and special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits that are not small businesses); independent school districts; and individuals.
Were for-profit organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. For-profit organizations were explicitly listed as eligible, including small businesses and other for-profit entities that are not small businesses.
Were individuals eligible to apply?
Yes. Individuals were included among the eligible applicant types.
Were tribal entities eligible to apply?
Yes. Both federally recognized tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations were included as eligible applicants.
Were colleges and universities eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility list included both public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on September 2, 2015 (with creation dated September 3, 2015).
What was the application closing date?
The original application closing date was January 31, 2016, and it was later reflected as a current closing date of February 1, 2016.
When was the archive date for the opportunity?
The archive date was March 1, 2016.
How could applicants get help accessing the full solicitation?
NIJ provided a program email contact for assistance accessing the full solicitation: forensic.research@usdoj.gov.
What NIJ program area managed this opportunity, based on the contact information provided?
The contact email indicates the solicitation was managed through NIJ's forensic research portfolio (forensic.research@usdoj.gov).
Did NIJ emphasize operational use in real forensic settings?
Yes. The solicitation emphasized translating research into methods and tools that could be realistically used in forensic settings and that are operationally feasible for crime laboratories and the broader justice system.
Was the solicitation focused only on producing publishable research?
No. The description emphasized not only producing science, but also translating research into methods and tools that improve how physical evidence is handled and interpreted in real criminal justice contexts.
What kinds of scientific sources could be leveraged for proposals?
The opportunity encouraged moving promising scientific findings forward, whether originating within forensic science itself or from broader scientific fields with forensic relevance.
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