NIJ FY 2022 Invited to Apply - Forensic Technology Center of Excellence | O NIJ 2022 171432

Opportunity Information: Apply for O NIJ 2022 171432

The NIJ FY 2022 Invited to Apply - Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) opportunity is a continuation cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs (OJP), administered by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). It supports the establishment and operation of a national Forensic Technology Center of Excellence designed to strengthen NIJ's research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDTandE) pipeline and to speed the practical transition of proven forensic technologies into real-world use. The program is framed within OJP's broader priorities that emphasize civil rights and racial equity, improved access to justice, support for crime victims and people affected by the justice system, stronger community safety, protection from emerging threats, and improved trust between law enforcement and communities.

At its core, the FTCOE is meant to act as a bridge between innovation and implementation across all areas of forensic science. The selected recipient is expected to provide scientific and technical support that helps NIJ plan, execute, and interpret forensic science RDTandE efforts, while also helping move validated tools and methods from the research stage into routine practice. A major focus is technology transition: supporting demonstration projects, testing, evaluation, transfer, and adoption of appropriate technologies by end users such as crime laboratories, medical examiner and coroner offices, law enforcement agencies, and other forensic service providers in the criminal justice system. This includes helping practitioners understand what works, under what conditions it works, and what is required for reliable deployment, such as training, quality assurance, and operational considerations.

Another central function of the FTCOE is knowledge transfer and dissemination. The center is expected to provide ongoing technology transition assistance, facilitate communication between researchers and practitioners, and develop resources that make research findings usable and accessible. This includes building and sharing educational materials, highlighting evidence-based best practices, and creating practical guidance that supports adoption decisions in the field. The FTCOE is also expected to work closely with NIJ program managers to assess and clearly communicate the impact of NIJ-funded forensic science RDTandE, the value of evidence-based best practices, and systems-based approaches that improve how forensic science supports the broader criminal justice process.

A distinctive requirement described in the solicitation is the development of national forensic science library services. This means identifying, curating, and making available relevant scholarly and technical literature for both researchers and practitioners, with the goal of strengthening the knowledge base of the forensic science community and making it easier to locate, evaluate, and apply high-quality information. In practice, this library function is intended to support better-informed research, more consistent application of validated methods, and improved decision-making across forensic disciplines.

Administratively, this opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number O-NIJ-2022-171432 and CFDA 16.560. It is categorized as a continuation award and uses a cooperative agreement instrument, which typically indicates substantial federal involvement in guiding, coordinating, or collaborating on activities during the project period rather than a hands-off grant relationship. The award ceiling is $4,300,000, with an expected two awards. Eligibility is shown as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," indicating that eligibility is not limited to only one standard applicant type and may include specific organizational categories as defined in the full solicitation. The solicitation cites statutory authority under Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (sections 201 and 202), relevant sections of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (sections 231-233 and 235), and 28 U.S.C. 530C. The opportunity was created on September 2, 2022, with an original closing date of September 6, 2022.

Overall, the FTCOE opportunity is aimed at creating a centralized, nationally oriented capability that helps NIJ and the forensic community move more efficiently from research results to reliable field practice, while also expanding access to trustworthy forensic knowledge and reinforcing evidence-based approaches that support fair, effective, and community-trusted justice outcomes.

• 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 2022 Invited to Apply - Forensic Technology Center of Excellence" 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 Sep 02, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 06, 2022. (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 $4,300,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for O NIJ 2022 171432

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