Officer Safety Research and Technology Development for Criminal Justice Applications | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the "Officer Safety Research and Technology Development for Criminal Justice Applications" opportunity?

This is a National Institute of Justice (NIJ) competitive funding opportunity offered as a cooperative agreement. It focuses on generating practical, evidence-based improvements to officer safety for both law enforcement and corrections, with an emphasis on applied research, technology development, and evaluation that can be used in real-world criminal justice operations.

Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

The opportunity is offered by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), the research, development, and evaluation arm of the U.S. Department of Justice focused on strengthening criminal justice policy and practice.

Is this a grant or a cooperative agreement?

It is offered as a cooperative agreement. This generally means NIJ expects more substantial involvement than under a standard grant, such as collaboration on project direction, milestones, deliverables, or technical priorities.

What larger program is this opportunity part of?

It sits within NIJ's broader Research, Evaluation, and Development Projects Grants program, identified as CFDA 16.560, which supports applied research, technology development, and rigorous evaluation intended to strengthen criminal justice policy and day-to-day practice in the United States.

What is the main goal of the solicitation?

The solicitation is looking for teams that can study real-world safety problems officers face, build or refine tools that address those problems, and produce results agencies can use to reduce harm and improve operational outcomes.

What topic areas does the solicitation target?

The solicitation targets three areas: (1) research into the causes of on-the-job injuries leading to permanent disabilities for law enforcement and corrections officers, (2) research and technology development related to nonmetallic handcuffs, and (3) proposals focused on tripwire detection and marking.

What does NIJ want under the topic on permanent-disability injuries?

NIJ is seeking research into the causes of on-the-job injuries to law enforcement and corrections officers that result in permanent disabilities. The intent is to move beyond anecdotal accounts and produce actionable findings such as injury patterns, modifiable risk factors, and prevention strategies that agencies can implement through training, equipment, policy, or operational changes.

What kinds of factors might be studied in the permanent-disability injury topic?

Based on the solicitation description, relevant factors include the circumstances, tasks, environments, and contributing conditions that increase risk and lead to the most serious, life-altering injuries.

What is the nonmetallic handcuffs topic about?

This topic calls for research and technology development related to alternatives to traditional metal restraints. The description highlights operational needs such as use in environments where metal detection is a concern, weight and portability considerations, corrosion resistance, and other deployment constraints.

What types of work are likely to be competitive for nonmetallic handcuffs?

The description suggests competitive work would likely include design, materials selection, performance testing, usability considerations, safety considerations, and evaluation against functional requirements that matter under field conditions.

What functional requirements are mentioned for evaluating nonmetallic handcuffs?

The solicitation summary mentions field-relevant requirements such as strength, cut resistance, reliability, ease of application, and minimizing injury risk to both officers and restrained individuals.

What is the tripwire detection and marking topic about?

This topic focuses on technologies or methods to detect tripwires and then mark or identify them to reduce risk to officers during operations. The emphasis is on practical solutions for hazardous environments where tripwires may be used as triggers for booby traps or other threats.

What kinds of activities are implied for tripwire detection and marking projects?

The description indicates work would typically include developing detection approaches, validating performance in realistic conditions, and ensuring any marking method is clear, durable, and operationally useful without creating additional safety or tactical problems.

Is the funding considered discretionary?

Yes. The opportunity is listed as discretionary funding in the summary information.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

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

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to many applicant types, subject to any clarifications or additional requirements that may appear in the full solicitation.

When was the opportunity posted and what was the application deadline?

The opportunity was posted on November 5, 2010, and the application deadline was February 3, 2011.

Is the opportunity still open?

No. The record indicates the opportunity was archived on May 3, 2011.

Where should applicants look for the actual funding amounts or award sizes?

The summary record lists the award floor and ceiling as 0, which typically means the applicant should consult the full announcement for details such as funding limits, expected award sizes, and the anticipated number of awards.

What legal authorities are cited for this solicitation?

The cited authorities are the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (sections 201 and 202) and the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (section 232).

Who is the agency point of contact for solicitation questions?

The listed NIJ point of contact is Brian Montgomery, Physical Scientist at NIJ. Phone: 202-353-9786. Email: Brian.Montgomery@usdoj.gov.

Who should be contacted for Grants.gov submission or technical issues?

For submission and system issues, applicants are directed to the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 800-518-4726 and support@grants.gov. Support is available 24/7 except federal holidays.

What is the practical outcome NIJ appears to want from funded projects?

Across the described topics, the focus is on practical, evidence-based outputs that criminal justice agencies can use. Examples implied by the summary include actionable research findings, validated technology or methods, field-relevant performance testing, and operationally usable recommendations or tools that reduce harm and improve safety outcomes.