Opportunity Information: Apply for NIJ 2020 18372
The National Center on Forensics, Fiscal Year 2020 grant opportunity (NIJ 2020 18372) is a discretionary funding program from the U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice (NIJ), focused on strengthening forensic and medico-legal capacity through a structured, multi-institution partnership. NIJ is seeking proposals to establish and operate a National Center on Forensics under a cooperative agreement, meaning the federal government is expected to have an active role in the project through collaboration, coordination, or ongoing involvement beyond a typical grant.
The core requirement of this solicitation is the formation and facilitation of a three-part partnership that brings together: (1) a full-service state department of forensic science that includes a medical examiner function, (2) an accredited institution of higher education that has affiliated medical and law schools, and (3) a statewide district attorneys association. The intent is to connect the operational side of forensic science and death investigation with academic training pipelines and prosecutorial leadership, so that training and practice align more closely with real-world needs across the justice system.
The center is expected to serve several workforce and training goals. One major objective is to create medico-legal learning opportunities for medical students so they can train as deputy medical examiners or coroners, with special emphasis on serving underserved rural areas where shortages in qualified death investigation personnel can be severe. In addition, the center is intended to provide targeted forensic science and legal training to key justice stakeholders, including district attorneys, judges, and law enforcement personnel. Beyond these formal training activities, the solicitation also emphasizes developing additional opportunities across the partner organizations that support both current practitioners and the next generation of professionals in forensic science, medicine, and law. In practice, this could include coordinated curricula, clinical or field placements, continuing education, cross-disciplinary workshops, or other structured programs that strengthen the overall medico-legal system.
Administratively, this opportunity falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category and is associated with CFDA number 16.560. The solicitation was created on April 6, 2020, with an original closing date of June 5, 2020. NIJ listed an award ceiling of $2,000,000 and anticipated making up to three awards, indicating an intention to fund a small number of substantial, center-like efforts rather than many smaller projects.
Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and local governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); individuals; and other eligible entities as described in the solicitation. Even with broad eligibility, the practical eligibility constraint is the required partnership structure, since applicants must be able to credibly convene and operate the three specified partner types and carry out the training and capacity-building functions described.Apply for NIJ 2020 18372
- 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 "National Center on Forensics, Fiscal Year 2020" 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 Apr 06, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 05, 2020. (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 $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Individuals, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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National Center on Forensics (FY 2020) - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the National Center on Forensics FY 2020 grant opportunity (NIJ 2020 18372)?
This opportunity is a discretionary funding program from the U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice (NIJ). It supports establishing and operating a National Center on Forensics focused on strengthening forensic and medico-legal capacity through a structured, multi-institution partnership.
Which agency is offering this funding?
The funding is offered by the U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice (NIJ).
Is this a standard grant or a cooperative agreement?
This solicitation anticipates a cooperative agreement. That means the federal government is expected to have an active role in the project through collaboration, coordination, or ongoing involvement beyond what is typical for a standard grant.
What is the main purpose of the National Center on Forensics?
The main purpose is to strengthen forensic and medico-legal capacity by connecting operational forensic science and death investigation functions with academic training pathways and prosecutorial leadership, so training and practice align more closely with justice system needs.
What partnership structure is required to apply?
The core requirement is forming and facilitating a three-part partnership that includes:
- A full-service state department of forensic science that includes a medical examiner function
- An accredited institution of higher education with affiliated medical and law schools
- A statewide district attorneys association
What does NIJ mean by a "full-service state department of forensic science" that includes a medical examiner function?
Based on the solicitation description, the partnership must include a state-level forensic science department that provides full-service forensic capabilities and also includes a medical examiner function (i.e., a death investigation/medico-legal component).
What higher education institution qualifies as the academic partner?
The solicitation specifies an accredited institution of higher education that has affiliated medical and law schools.
What organization qualifies as the prosecutorial partner?
The solicitation requires participation from a statewide district attorneys association.
Why does NIJ require these three partner types?
The intent is to connect three parts of the system that directly influence forensic and medico-legal outcomes: operational forensic science and death investigation, academic training pipelines (medicine and law), and prosecutorial leadership. The goal is closer alignment between training and real-world needs across the justice system.
What kinds of training and workforce goals is the center expected to address?
The center is expected to support several workforce and training goals, including creating medico-legal learning opportunities for medical students and providing targeted forensic science and legal training to justice stakeholders.
What is the objective related to medical students?
A major objective is to create medico-legal learning opportunities for medical students so they can train as deputy medical examiners or coroners, with special emphasis on serving underserved rural areas where shortages of qualified death investigation personnel can be severe.
Which audiences are specifically mentioned for targeted training?
The solicitation specifically mentions training for district attorneys, judges, and law enforcement personnel.
Does the solicitation mention training beyond formal courses?
Yes. It emphasizes developing additional opportunities across the partner organizations that support both current practitioners and the next generation of professionals in forensic science, medicine, and law.
What kinds of activities could the center include to meet the solicitation goals?
The solicitation indicates that, in practice, the work could include coordinated curricula, clinical or field placements, continuing education, cross-disciplinary workshops, or other structured programs that strengthen the overall medico-legal system.
What is the funding category or program area for this opportunity?
This opportunity falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category.
What is the CFDA number associated with this solicitation?
The CFDA number associated with this opportunity is 16.560.
When was the solicitation created and when was it originally due?
The solicitation was created on April 6, 2020, and the original closing date was June 5, 2020.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
NIJ listed an award ceiling of $2,000,000.
How many awards did NIJ anticipate making?
NIJ anticipated making up to three awards.
What does "up to three awards" imply about the competition?
It indicates an intention to fund a small number of substantial, center-like efforts rather than many smaller projects.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and local governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); individuals; and other eligible entities as described in the solicitation.
If eligibility is broad, what is the practical constraint on who can apply?
The practical constraint is the required partnership structure. Applicants must be able to credibly convene and operate the three specified partner types and carry out the training and capacity-building functions described.
Can a single organization apply on its own?
The solicitation emphasizes a required three-part partnership. Based on the information provided, an applicant would need to form and facilitate the partnership that includes all three specified partner types to meet the core requirement.
Is the center expected to focus on rural needs?
Yes. The solicitation places special emphasis on serving underserved rural areas, particularly by addressing shortages in qualified death investigation personnel through medico-legal learning opportunities for medical students.
Is this opportunity focused only on forensic laboratories?
No. The solicitation describes a broader medico-legal and justice-system focus that includes forensic science operations, medical examiner/death investigation functions, academic training in medicine and law, and training for prosecutors, judges, and law enforcement.
What is the overarching system impact NIJ is aiming for?
The stated intent is to strengthen the overall medico-legal system by aligning training and practice with real-world needs across the justice system through coordinated efforts among the operational, academic, and prosecutorial partners.
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