Opportunity Information: Apply for NIJ 2011 2810
Apply for NIJ 2011 2810
- The National Institute of Justice in the law, justice and legal services science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Solving Cold Cases With DNA" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.560 National Institute of Justice Research, Evaluation, and Development Project Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 7, 2011 and posted on Jan 7, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 8, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 100 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) grant opportunity titled Solving Cold Cases With DNA is a discretionary funding program offered through a cooperative agreement to support state governments and units of local government in reopening and advancing unsolved violent crime investigations that can potentially be resolved through modern DNA testing. The core purpose is to help jurisdictions systematically identify appropriate cold cases, conduct a structured review of those cases, and carry out the investigative and forensic work needed to move them toward resolution. The program is built around the practical reality that many older violent crime cases stalled because evidence could not be meaningfully tested at the time, leads were exhausted, or forensic methods were not sensitive enough to produce usable results.
A central focus of the solicitation is the location, preservation, and DNA analysis of biological evidence connected to cold cases, recognizing that evidence management is often the biggest bottleneck in older investigations. NIJ highlights that advances in DNA technology have dramatically improved the ability to develop profiles from evidence that is aged, degraded, limited in quantity, or otherwise compromised. That means items once considered untestable may now produce probative results, and samples that previously returned inconclusive findings may yield a usable DNA profile when re-tested with newer methods. The program’s emphasis is therefore not just on testing, but on the end-to-end process of finding the evidence, choosing appropriate items for analysis, and integrating results into an investigative strategy.
For eligibility and case scope, NIJ defines a violent crime cold case as an unsolved UCR Part 1 Violent Crime in which all significant investigative leads have been exhausted. In practice, this commonly includes homicides and sexual assaults, and NIJ notes that dedicated cold case programs have a track record of solving a meaningful number of these crimes when resources are targeted and forensic capabilities are leveraged effectively. The goal is both investigative and public safety oriented: identifying perpetrators, supporting prosecutions where feasible, and providing answers to victims and families.
Administratively, the opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number NIJ-2011-2810, with CFDA number 16.560 (National Institute of Justice Research, Evaluation, and Development Project Grants). NIJ anticipated making around 100 awards. The solicitation does not require cost sharing or matching. While the listing shows award floor and ceiling as 0, that typically indicates amounts are specified in the full solicitation or vary based on project design rather than being capped in the summary record. The original posting date was January 7, 2011, with an application deadline of March 8, 2011, and an archive date of June 8, 2011.
For applicants needing help, NIJ provided a program contact (Charles Heurich, Program Manager) for solicitation and programmatic questions, and directed applicants to Grants.gov support for technical submission issues.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NIJ Solving Cold Cases With DNA
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled Solving Cold Cases With DNA and is offered by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ).
What type of funding program is this?
It is a discretionary funding program offered through a cooperative agreement.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is intended for state governments and units of local government.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The program supports reopening and advancing unsolved violent crime investigations that may be resolved through modern DNA testing. It is designed to help jurisdictions systematically identify appropriate cases, review them in a structured way, and conduct investigative and forensic work to move cases toward resolution.
What kinds of cases does NIJ consider a "violent crime cold case" under this solicitation?
NIJ defines a violent crime cold case as an unsolved UCR Part 1 Violent Crime in which all significant investigative leads have been exhausted.
What types of crimes are commonly included in this program's cold case focus?
In practice, this commonly includes homicides and sexual assaults.
What problem is this program trying to address in older investigations?
Many older cases stalled because evidence could not be meaningfully tested at the time, leads were exhausted, or forensic methods were not sensitive enough to produce usable results. The program is built around the reality that newer DNA methods can change what is possible in these cases.
What is the central focus of the solicitation?
A central focus is the location, preservation, and DNA analysis of biological evidence connected to cold cases. NIJ recognizes that evidence management is often a major bottleneck in older investigations.
How does modern DNA technology factor into this program?
NIJ emphasizes that advances in DNA technology have improved the ability to develop profiles from evidence that is aged, degraded, limited in quantity, or otherwise compromised. Items once considered untestable may now produce probative results, and previously inconclusive samples may yield usable profiles when re-tested with newer methods.
Is the program only about DNA testing?
No. The program emphasizes an end-to-end process: finding and preserving evidence, selecting appropriate items for analysis, and integrating DNA results into an overall investigative strategy to advance cases.
What outcomes is NIJ aiming for with this funding?
The goals are investigative and public-safety oriented: identifying perpetrators, supporting prosecutions where feasible, and providing answers to victims and families.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is NIJ-2011-2810.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 16.560 (National Institute of Justice Research, Evaluation, and Development Project Grants).
How many awards did NIJ anticipate making?
NIJ anticipated making approximately 100 awards.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The solicitation indicates that cost sharing or matching is not required.
What are the award minimum and maximum amounts?
The listing shows an award floor and ceiling of 0. This typically indicates that award amounts are specified in the full solicitation or may vary based on project design rather than being capped in the summary record.
When was the opportunity posted, and what were the key dates?
The original posting date was January 7, 2011. The application deadline was March 8, 2011. The archive date was June 8, 2011.
Who should applicants contact for programmatic or solicitation questions?
NIJ provided a program contact: Charles Heurich, Program Manager, for solicitation and programmatic questions.
Who should applicants contact for technical issues submitting through Grants.gov?
For technical submission issues, applicants were directed to Grants.gov support.
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