Opportunity Information: Apply for O NIJ 2023 171873
The NIJ FY 2023 Invited to Apply - Funding to Support the Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice (NIJ), under CFDA 16.560. It is designed to fund a single, focused research and development effort in forensic science that can either expand the scientific knowledge base used to shape forensic policy and practice or produce practical outputs such as materials, devices, systems, or methods with clear potential for forensic application. The opportunity sits within the Office of Justice Programs broader priorities of advancing civil rights and racial equity, improving access to justice, supporting victims and others impacted by the justice system, strengthening community safety, addressing evolving public safety threats, and building trust between law enforcement and communities.
At its core, the solicitation seeks rigorous basic or applied R and D projects that strengthen the scientific foundations of forensic work used in the criminal justice system. NIJ is emphasizing projects that push forensic science toward methods that are more discriminating and accurate, more reliable and reproducible, faster to implement, and more cost-effective in real-world settings. While a proposed project does not have to deliver an immediate, ready-to-deploy solution to a current operational problem, it must at least tackle foundational scientific work that credibly leads toward eventual solutions that practitioners can use. In other words, the program is meant to move the field forward in a measurable way, whether that is through validated insights that guide decision-making or through prototype tools and methods that can mature into operational capabilities.
The solicitation also frames project relevance around the needs of the forensic science community. Applicants are expected to connect their work to documented challenges and practitioner priorities, including needs discussed during NIJs Forensic Science Technology Working Group (TWG) meeting (materials referenced on NIJ.OJP.gov) and additional research needs identified by the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC). This alignment matters because NIJ is explicitly encouraging research that responds to operational realities in forensic laboratories and investigative settings, even when the research itself is early-stage or exploratory.
From an administrative standpoint, the funding opportunity number is O-NIJ-2023-171873. The award ceiling listed is $266,406, and NIJ anticipated making one award. The posting indicates it was created on August 31, 2023, with an original closing date of September 5, 2023, reflecting a very short submission window typical of an invited-to-apply competition. Eligibility is labeled broadly as "Others," with clarification intended to appear in the solicitation under an additional eligibility section, which generally means applicants must consult the full notice to confirm exactly which organization types can apply under this invitation.
Finally, the solicitation cites multiple statutory authorities that underpin NIJs ability to fund this work: Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (sections 201 and 202), provisions of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (sections 231-233 and 235), and 28 U.S.C. 530C. These authorities collectively support NIJs role in advancing criminal justice-related science and technology, including forensic science R and D that can improve how evidence is identified, analyzed, and interpreted in support of justice system outcomes.Apply for O NIJ 2023 171873
- The Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIJ FY 2023 Invited to Apply - Funding to Support the Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.560.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 31, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 05, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $266,406.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "NIJ FY 2023 Invited to Apply - Funding to Support the Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes Program."
Which agency is offering this funding?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), National Institute of Justice (NIJ).
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is O-NIJ-2023-171873.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The program is listed under CFDA 16.560.
How many awards does NIJ expect to make under this solicitation?
NIJ anticipated making one award.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed is $266,406.
What is the purpose of this solicitation?
The solicitation is designed to fund a single, focused research and development (R&D) effort in forensic science for criminal justice purposes. The work should either expand the scientific knowledge base that informs forensic policy and practice or produce practical outputs (such as materials, devices, systems, or methods) with clear potential for forensic application.
Is this opportunity meant for basic research, applied research, or both?
It supports rigorous basic or applied R&D projects, as long as they strengthen the scientific foundations of forensic work used in the criminal justice system.
Does the project need to produce an immediately deployable tool or solution?
No. The project does not have to deliver an immediate, ready-to-deploy solution to a current operational problem. However, it must address foundational scientific work that credibly leads toward eventual solutions practitioners can use.
What kinds of outputs are considered appropriate for this program?
The solicitation indicates two broad kinds of outcomes are appropriate: (1) validated insights that guide forensic decision-making, policy, and practice, and/or (2) practical outputs such as prototype or developmental materials, devices, systems, or methods with clear potential for forensic application.
What characteristics does NIJ emphasize for proposed forensic methods or technologies?
NIJ emphasizes advancing forensic science toward approaches that are more discriminating and accurate, more reliable and reproducible, faster to implement, and more cost-effective in real-world settings.
How should applicants demonstrate that their project is relevant to the forensic science community?
Applicants are expected to connect their work to documented challenges and practitioner priorities. The solicitation specifically points to needs discussed during NIJ's Forensic Science Technology Working Group (TWG) meeting (materials referenced on NIJ.OJP.gov) and additional research needs identified by the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC).
What is the role of NIJ's Forensic Science Technology Working Group (TWG) in this solicitation?
The TWG is referenced as a source of practitioner-identified needs and priorities. Applicants are encouraged to align proposed work with those documented needs to show relevance to operational realities in forensic laboratories and investigative settings.
What is OSAC and how is it referenced in the solicitation?
The Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) is referenced as another source of research needs. The solicitation encourages applicants to align proposed R&D with needs identified by OSAC.
How does this opportunity relate to broader Office of Justice Programs priorities?
The solicitation sits within OJP priorities that include advancing civil rights and racial equity, improving access to justice, supporting victims and others impacted by the justice system, strengthening community safety, addressing evolving public safety threats, and building trust between law enforcement and communities.
When was this opportunity posted?
The posting indicates the opportunity was created on August 31, 2023.
What was the closing date for submissions?
The original closing date listed was September 5, 2023.
Why is the application window so short?
The opportunity is described as an "invited-to-apply" competition, and the posting notes a very short submission window typical of that type of solicitation.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is labeled broadly as "Others," with a note that clarification is intended to appear in the solicitation under an additional eligibility section. Applicants are expected to consult the full notice to confirm which organization types can apply under this invitation.
What does "invited to apply" imply for eligibility and competition?
Based on the posting language, it indicates this is an invited-to-apply competition and is intended to support a single award. The posting also suggests that applicants should verify eligibility requirements in the full solicitation's additional eligibility section.
What statutory authorities are cited for this funding?
The solicitation cites Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (sections 201 and 202), provisions of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (sections 231-233 and 235), and 28 U.S.C. 530C.
What do the cited authorities generally support in relation to this program?
They collectively support NIJ's role in advancing criminal justice-related science and technology, including forensic science R&D intended to improve how evidence is identified, analyzed, and interpreted in support of justice system outcomes.
What is the overall scope of the funded effort?
The solicitation describes funding for a single, focused R&D effort. The emphasis is on measurable progress for the field, either through stronger scientific foundations or practical prototypes/methods that can mature into operational capabilities.
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