NIJ FY 2010 Research and Development on Pattern and Impression Evidence | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the name of this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is the NIJ FY 2010 Research and Development on Pattern and Impression Evidence grant.

2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is NIJ 2010 2422.

3) Which agency is offering this opportunity?

The opportunity is offered by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) under the Office of Justice Programs (OJP).

4) What is the purpose of this program?

The program supports research and development aimed at improving how forensic scientists work with pattern and impression evidence. The overall goal is to strengthen the ability to identify, capture, visualize, analyze, and preserve these forensic traces so they can be used more effectively in criminal justice settings.

5) What type of award is being used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which generally implies a more active federal role in the project compared with a standard grant.

6) What CFDA program does this fall under?

This solicitation is within CFDA 16.560: National Institute of Justice Research, Evaluation, and Development Project Grants.

7) What broad categories does this opportunity relate to?

It is listed under law, justice, and legal services, and also under science and technology and other research and development.

8) How many awards were expected?

The solicitation anticipated up to about 100 awards.

9) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching was required based on the provided information.

10) What were the award floor and ceiling amounts?

The listing shows an award floor of 0 and an award ceiling of 0, meaning applicants would need to rely on the full solicitation text for any practical limits or expectations.

11) What are the main research priorities NIJ highlighted for FY 2010?

NIJ emphasized developing tools and methods that make the identification, collection, preservation, and analysis of impression and pattern evidence faster and more broadly applicable, while also being rugged enough for real-world casework, less expensive to implement, and less labor intensive for practitioners.

12) What specific topic areas were highlighted?

Highlighted priority topic areas included:

• Research on fluid transfer and fluid dynamics (especially blood) to support more reliable bloodstain pattern analysis.
• Studies examining mechanical properties of materials (including fracture mechanics) to improve physical match comparisons.
• Research on how environmental factors (heat, moisture, sunlight, contaminants, or time) affect impression and pattern evidence and the conclusions that can be drawn from it.

13) What types of evidence count as "pattern and impression evidence" for this solicitation?

The opportunity is intentionally broad. Examples explicitly noted include firearms and tool marks, footwear and tire tread impressions, bite marks, blood spatter, friction ridge detail, fracture match evidence, and questioned documents, among others.

14) Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was described as unrestricted, meaning it was open to any type of entity unless otherwise clarified in the solicitation itself.

15) When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on December 31, 2009.

16) What was the application deadline?

The original closing date was February 16, 2010, and it was later extended to March 2, 2010.

17) When was the opportunity archived?

The archive date shown is June 2, 2010.

18) How were applications required to be submitted?

Applications were required to be submitted through the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Grants Management System (GMS), a web-based platform used to manage the full lifecycle of OJP awards.

19) What system steps were applicants told to complete before applying?

The process described included:

• Obtaining a DUNS number (free, one-time identifier required for organizations applying for federal funds; individuals are exempt).
• Maintaining an active registration in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database (required for organizations receiving funding; renewal at least annually).
• Creating a GMS username and password.
• Locating the solicitation within GMS under funding opportunities (selecting NIJ and the pattern and impression evidence solicitation).
• Starting the application by selecting the "Apply Online" option.

20) Why did NIJ/OJP recommend starting the submission process early?

NIJ and OJP emphasized starting early, especially for first-time users, because registration steps could delay submission if left to the last minute.

21) How early did applicants recommend submitting before the deadline?

Applicants were urged to submit at least 72 hours before the deadline to reduce the risk of last-minute technical or validation issues.

22) Were there restrictions on the types of attachments allowed in GMS?

Yes. The notice cautioned that GMS would not accept executable-type attachments and listed prohibited file extensions (for example, .exe, .bat, .dll, and .zip). Applicants needed to prepare attachments in acceptable formats.

23) Where could applicants get technical help with the GMS system?

Applicants were directed to the GMS Help Desk at GMSHelpDesk@usdoj.gov or 1-888-549-9901 (option 3). The help desk was available on weekdays during extended hours.

24) Who was the NIJ program contact for solicitation access issues or program-specific questions?

The listed NIJ contact was Program Manager Danielle McLeod Henning at 202-353-3812.

25) What kinds of project outcomes does NIJ appear to be seeking?

Based on the stated priorities, NIJ was looking for R&D outcomes that help practitioners handle pattern and impression evidence more effectively, including methods and tools that are faster, more broadly applicable, rugged for real-world casework, less expensive to implement, and less labor intensive.