NIJ FY 2010 Geospatial Technology | Apply Online

NIJ FY 2010 Geospatial Technology (NIJ 2010 2405) FAQs

What is the NIJ FY 2010 Geospatial Technology funding opportunity?

It is a discretionary National Institute of Justice (NIJ) grant program (Funding Opportunity Number NIJ 2010 2405) supporting research and development work that improves how state and local criminal justice agencies use geospatial technology.

What is the main purpose of this program?

The program is intended to produce practical, agency-relevant advances in geospatial technology through research, development, testing, and evaluation (often referred to as RDT and E) that strengthen criminal justice operations that rely on location-based data and spatial analysis.

What kinds of criminal justice needs or use cases does NIJ want to improve?

The opportunity highlights improvements that can strengthen crime analysis, mapping, situational awareness, resource deployment, investigative support, and other justice operations that depend on geospatial data and spatial analysis.

What types of work does NIJ expect applicants to perform?

Projects are expected to involve research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDT and E). The emphasis is on advances that are practical and relevant to real operational needs of state and local criminal justice agencies.

Does the solicitation allow adapting technology that was not originally built for criminal justice?

Yes. A notable feature of this solicitation is that it explicitly welcomes adapting technologies not originally designed for criminal justice, as long as the application to justice needs is clear and the work meaningfully advances the field.

What type of award is this?

The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement.

What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement typically indicates NIJ expects a more active role than in a standard grant. While details are generally specified in the full solicitation, cooperative agreements commonly involve ongoing coordination with NIJ staff, structured deliverables, and possible collaboration related to evaluation or dissemination of results.

What is the CFDA number associated with this program?

The associated CFDA number is 16.560 (National Institute of Justice Research, Evaluation, and Development Project Grants).

What funding areas or categories does this opportunity fall under?

The program is listed within Law, Justice and Legal Services and aligns with Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

How many awards are expected?

The listing indicates an expected total of 100 awards.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity indicates there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

What are the posted date, deadline, and archive date for this opportunity?

The posted/creation date is February 1, 2010. The application deadline is March 18, 2010. The program was archived on June 18, 2010.

Where are the award ceiling and floor listed, and what are they?

In the source record, the award ceiling and award floor are shown as 0. This generally signals that applicants should consult the full solicitation document for actual budget limits or expectations rather than relying on the summary fields.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning the competition is open to any applicant type as long as they meet any conditions or clarifications contained in the solicitation.

Does "unrestricted eligibility" mean any organization can apply?

The listing describes eligibility as unrestricted, and it notes that open eligibility commonly accommodates a wide range of applicants (such as universities, nonprofits, for-profit technology firms, state and local governments, tribal entities, and other organizations). Applicants still need to meet the solicitation's requirements and demonstrate the ability to perform credible RDT and E work that produces outcomes usable by, or transferable to, state and local criminal justice agencies.

How do applications get submitted?

Applications are submitted through the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Grants Management System (GMS), a web-based platform that supports the full grant lifecycle from application through award management.

Why does NIJ recommend starting the application process early?

NIJ emphasizes starting early, especially for first-time users, because registration and setup steps in GMS can take time and may create last-minute submission risk.

Where can applicants find training or instructions for GMS?

Registration and submission instructions are provided via the GMS training and help resource at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/gmscbt/.

Who should applicants contact for technical problems with GMS registration or submission?

Applicants should contact the GMS Help Desk at GMSHelpDesk@usdoj.gov or call 1-888-549-9901 (option 3).

What are the GMS Help Desk hours?

The Help Desk is available Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to midnight Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.

Who is the NIJ program contact for programmatic questions about this solicitation?

The listed NIJ contact is Ronald Wilson, Program Manager. He can be reached at (202) 305-8711 or ronald.wilson@usdoj.gov.

Where should applicants look for the most detailed requirements, deliverables, and selection criteria?

The announcement references an additional information link to the full solicitation document, which is where applicants would find the most detailed guidance on priorities, required deliverables, allowable costs, selection criteria, and any special conditions tied to geospatial technology projects.