NIJ FY09 Criminal Justice Technology Information and Sensor Systems Center of Excellence | Apply Online

FAQs: NIJ FY09 Criminal Justice Technology Information and Sensor Systems Center of Excellence (NIJ 2009 2244)

What is this funding opportunity?

This opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number NIJ 2009 2244) was a National Institute of Justice (NIJ) solicitation from FY09 to create a single, national-level Criminal Justice Technology Information and Sensor Systems Center of Excellence. The intent was to strengthen NIJ's research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDTE) work focused on criminal justice information and sensor technologies.

Who is the sponsoring agency behind this solicitation?

The sponsoring agency was the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), which is the research and evaluation arm of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) within the Office of Justice Programs (OJP).

What is the main purpose of creating a Center of Excellence rather than funding a single study?

The solicitation was designed to stand up an operational center, not a one-off research project. The Center was expected to continually support NIJ and the broader criminal justice community with technical expertise, technology testing, evaluation, and applied assistance over time.

How many awards did NIJ expect to make?

NIJ anticipated making one award. This indicates a centralized model where one lead organization would operate the Center and coordinate services and outputs at a national level.

What type of award was this?

This was a discretionary cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement typically indicates substantial involvement by the funding agency during the period of performance, such as NIJ collaboration on priorities, deliverables, and coordination with other NIJ-funded work.

What technical areas was the Center expected to cover?

The Center was expected to provide hands-on testing, evaluation, and technology assistance across three main technical areas: information technology, geospatial analysis, and sensor systems.

What kinds of activities would the Center be expected to perform?

Based on the description provided, the Center was positioned to: test and evaluate emerging technologies; provide technology assistance to NIJ and practitioner agencies; support demonstration activities; facilitate technology transfer; encourage adoption of appropriate technologies; and help build the infrastructure needed for responsible implementation of technology across jurisdictions.

What does "hands-on testing and evaluation" mean in the context of this opportunity?

In practice, the Center would help NIJ and practitioner agencies understand whether emerging tools perform as advertised, identify limitations, and clarify what is required to deploy those tools responsibly and effectively.

Who were the intended end users or beneficiaries of the Center's work?

The Center was meant to support NIJ and the broader criminal justice community, including end users such as law enforcement agencies, corrections departments, courts, and related criminal justice organizations.

Was the Center expected to support technology implementation and deployment, or only research?

The solicitation emphasized strengthening the infrastructure around technology implementation, not just the technology itself. The Center would support the pipeline from concept to real-world use by assisting with demonstrations, technology transfer, and adoption by practitioner agencies.

What role did guidelines and standards play in this solicitation?

A major emphasis was on contributing to the development and dissemination of technology guidelines and standards. This was framed as a key factor in moving tools beyond pilot phases and enabling safe, scalable adoption across jurisdictions.

What kind of "technology assistance" was contemplated?

The Center was expected to serve as a technical resource for agencies by providing ongoing technology assistance, information, and support. The description implies activities such as responding to practitioner questions, translating research findings into practical guidance, and helping agencies make informed decisions related to procurement, integration, performance expectations, and operational impacts.

What were the listed funding activity categories?

The funding activity categories were listed under both Law, Justice and Legal Services and Science and Technology/Research and Development.

Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. Cost sharing or matching was not required for this opportunity.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was described as unrestricted, meaning the competition was broadly open to applicant types, subject to any additional limits that might have been clarified in the full solicitation text.

When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

The opportunity was posted May 20, 2009. The original closing date was June 19, 2009, and it was later extended to June 22, 2009.

When was the opportunity archived?

The opportunity was archived on September 19, 2009.

Where were applications required to be submitted?

Applications were required to be submitted through the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Grants Management System (GMS), and prior registration was required.

What should applicants do if they had technical problems submitting through GMS?

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

Who was the program contact for questions about the solicitation requirements?

The listed point of contact for programmatic questions was Frances Scott, Physical Scientist at NIJ. Phone: 202-305-9950. Email: frances.scott@usdoj.gov.

Was the funding amount specified in the provided summary information?

No. The award ceiling and floor fields were shown as 0 in the source data, which generally indicates the amount was not specified in that particular summary record and would typically be detailed in the full solicitation document.

What does it imply that the award ceiling and floor were listed as 0?

Based on the information provided, it suggests the funding amount was not captured in that summary record. The actual funding level would normally be addressed in the full solicitation materials rather than in that abbreviated data field.

What does NIJ mean by producing "objective, evidence-based knowledge and practical tools"?

NIJ framed the award around generating objective, evidence-based knowledge and practical tools intended to improve public safety and the administration of justice. In this solicitation, that focus was tied to testing and evaluating technologies and producing guidance and support that practitioner agencies could use in real-world decisions.

What does "technology transfer" refer to in this opportunity?

The Center was expected to help move technology from development and evaluation into real-world use by facilitating technology transfer and encouraging adoption of appropriate technologies by criminal justice end users.