NIJ FY09 Criminal Justice Electronic Crime Technology Center of Excellence | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the name of this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is the NIJ FY09 Criminal Justice Electronic Crime Technology Center of Excellence grant opportunity.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is NIJ 2009 2245.

Which agency issued this solicitation?

This was a discretionary Department of Justice solicitation issued by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ).

Where does NIJ sit within the Department of Justice?

NIJ is the research, development, and evaluation arm of DOJ within the Office of Justice Programs (OJP).

What was the main purpose of the funding?

The purpose was to fund the establishment and operation of a single Criminal Justice Technology Center of Excellence focused specifically on electronic crime and digital evidence.

How many awards did NIJ expect to make?

NIJ expected to make one award.

What type of award mechanism was used?

The award mechanism was a cooperative agreement.

What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement typically indicates a closer working relationship with the funding agency than a standard grant, often involving substantial federal involvement in shaping or coordinating activities.

What problem or need was NIJ trying to address?

NIJ framed the need around strengthening its research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDTE) pipeline by adding hands-on scientific and technical capacity in fast-moving technology areas related to electronic crime and digital evidence.

What was the Center of Excellence intended to do in practical terms?

The Center was intended to function as a national support hub to help NIJ move technologies from research concepts to real-world use.

What kinds of support activities were envisioned for the Center?

Activities described included providing scientific and technical support to NIJ research and development efforts; helping demonstrate, transfer, and encourage adoption of relevant technologies by law enforcement and other criminal justice agencies; assisting with the development and dissemination of technology guidelines and standards; and delivering technology assistance, information, and support to agencies handling electronic crime investigations and digital evidence.

Was the Center expected to do research only, or also support field operations?

The Center was not framed as research in isolation. It was expected to bridge R&D, field testing, standards and guidance, and day-to-day operational needs in policing and the broader justice system.

What topic areas did the opportunity fall under?

The opportunity was categorized under Law, Justice and Legal Services as well as Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?

The listing was under CFDA 16.560 (National Institute of Justice Research, Evaluation, and Development Project Grants).

Was cost sharing or a match required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement was stated in the listing.

When was the opportunity posted?

The posted date was May 20, 2009.

What was the application closing date?

The original closing date was June 19, 2009, and it was extended to June 22, 2009.

Was this solicitation later archived?

Yes. The solicitation was later archived on September 19, 2009.

Did the listing specify an award ceiling or floor?

No. The listing did not specify an award ceiling or floor (both were shown as 0).

What does it mean that the ceiling and floor were shown as 0?

Based on the listing notes, this typically means applicants were expected to refer to the full solicitation document for budget expectations, period of performance details, and any constraints tied to allowable costs or staffing.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was described as unrestricted, meaning it was broadly open to many entity types, subject to any clarifications included in the full solicitation text.

How were applications submitted?

Applications had to be submitted through the Office of Justice Programs Grants Management System (GMS), with advance registration required.

Was advance registration required to submit through GMS?

Yes. Advance registration in the OJP Grants Management System (GMS) was required.

Who should applicants contact for technical issues with submission?

For submission and technical issues, applicants were directed to the GMS Support Hotline at 1 888 549 9901 (option 3) during weekday hours.

Who was the program contact for solicitation requirements and programmatic questions?

The point of contact listed for programmatic questions was Joseph Heaps, Deputy Chief, IST.

How can the program contact be reached?

Joseph Heaps could be reached by phone at 202 305 1554 and by email at joseph.heaps@usdoj.gov.

What kinds of agencies or practitioners were intended to benefit from the Center's work?

The Center was intended to support law enforcement and other criminal justice agencies, including agencies that handle electronic crime investigations and digital evidence.

What role did NIJ describe for itself in relation to this work?

NIJ described its role as producing objective, evidence-based knowledge and practical tools for the criminal justice field, and the Center was meant to strengthen NIJ's ability to do that in electronic crime and digital evidence technology areas.