FORENSIC DNA CAPACITY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (16.741)

Program

16.741 FORENSIC DNA CAPACITY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Justice
Office: National Institute Of Justice

Authorization

Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2005, Public Law 108-447, 118 Stat. 2809, 2853, 2865 (2004).

Program Number

16.741

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

The goal of NIJ's Forensic DNA Backlog Reduction Program for Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 is to assist eligible States and units of local government to reduce forensic DNA case turnaround time, increase the throughput of public DNA laboratories, and reduce DNA forensic casework backlogs. These improvements are critical to preventing future DNA backlogs and to helping the criminal justice system use the full potential of DNA technology.

Types of Assistance

FORMULA GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Expenditures from Forensic DNA Backlog Reduction Program awards may include the following: (1) Salary and benefits of additional laboratory employees: Funds may be used to hire additional full-time or part-time laboratory employees who will be directly engaged in handling, screening, and/or analyzing forensic evidence that may contain DNA, or in validating new DNA analysis technologies. Matching funds are not required. NIJ makes no assurance that funds will be available for this purpose in future award announcements. (2) Overtime for existing laboratory staff: Funds may be used to pay overtime for existing laboratory employees who will be directly engaged in handling, screening, and analyzing forensic evidence that may contain DNA, or in validating new DNA analysis technologies. Any payments for overtime must be in accordance with the applicable provisions of the OJP Financial Guide, available at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/finguide06. (3) Training: Funds may be used for appropriate training of DNA laboratory personnel. - Existing members of the DNA unit: Appropriate training may include internal or external training, appropriate continuing education/training opportunities, and/or applicable graduate-level coursework that is directly related to the applicant's forensic DNA laboratory operation and is for members of the DNA Unit. (Reasonable travel expenses directly associated with training may be paid in accordance with the provisions of the OJP Financial Guide.) Funds associated with internal or external training, appropriate continuing education/training opportunities, and/or applicable graduate-level coursework for existing members of the DNA Unit (including travel expenses) are limited to no more than 5 percent of the total award. Such funds will be awarded with the intended purpose of aiding existing members of the DNA Unit to meet the continuing educational requirements mandated in DNA Quality Assurance Standards established by the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. - New members of the DNA Unit: States and units of local government that wish to use funds to train new employees to handle, screen or analyze DNA evidence should submit a detailed plan for training these individuals with their proposal. There is no fixed percentage cap on the funds for this purpose. (4) Travel (Limited): Funds may be used for travel to public or private accredited laboratories that will conduct DNA analyses to review procedures and practices prior to initial sample shipment, and to make one additional unannounced site visit. Funds may also be used for travel associated with DNA training as described above. Travel expenses must be reasonable and must comply with the applicable provisions of the OJP Financial Guide. (5) Equipment: Funds may be used for upgrading, replacing, and purchasing laboratory equipment, instrumentation, and computer hardware or software (e.g., LIMS or expert systems) for forensic DNA analyses and data management. (6) Supplies for Validation: Allowable supply expenses include the purchase of laboratory supplies that can be directly attributed to the validation of new DNA analysis technologies. Convicted offender-related evidence collection kits may also be purchased. (7) Supplies for in-house laboratory handling, screening, and analysis of forensic DNA casework samples: Funds may be used for costs associated with in-house laboratory handling, screening, and analysis of forensic DNA casework samples. These costs include supply expenses (to include any supplies necessary for the handling, screening, and analysis of backlogged forensic casework samples in addition to supplies discussed above) directly attributable to forensic DNA casework. (8) Renovation: Funds may be used for renovations to existing DNA laboratory facilities if it can be demonstrated that the purchases will directly and specifically improve the efficiency of the forensicDNA laboratory. Expenses thatmaybeallowable include the purchase or upgrade of benches, cabinets, interior dividing walls, plumbing, HVAC systems, electrical wiring, evidence examination and preparation rooms, evidence storage rooms, drying rooms, walk-in freezers, and extraction or amplification rooms. (9) Consultant and contractor services other than sending forensic DNA casework samples to accredited fee-for-service laboratories for analysis: Funds may be used to hire consultants and/or temporary contract staff to handle, screen, and analyze forensic evidence that may contain DNA or to validate new DNA analysis technologies. Funds may also be used to hire consultants or contractors to assist laboratories with the installation of LIMS or expert systems, or with the implementation of DNA process-improvement measures. (10) Sending forensic DNA casework samples to public or private accredited forensic DNA laboratories for analyses: Funds may be used to send samples to accredited fee-for-service laboratories to conduct DNA analyses. Funds may also be used to enter into agreements with accredited government-owned laboratories to conduct DNA analyses, perform data review, enter eligible forensic DNA profiles into CODIS, and, where applicable, upload to NDIS. If an eligible applicant chooses to send samples to an external accredited forensic DNA laboratory, the applicant will be responsible for ensuring that applicable NDIS Data Acceptance Standards are met for all profiles uploaded to NDIS. Administrative expenses: Up to 3 percent of the Federal portion of a grant awarded under this program may be used for direct and indirect administrative expenses specifically related to grant administration and management.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Eligible applicants are State and units of local government with existing crime laboratories conducting DNA analysis that are either: (1) Accredited by a nonprofit professional association actively involved in forensic science that is nationally recognized within the forensic science community such as the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB) or the Forensic Quality Services (FQS), etc., or (2) Undergo external audits, not less than once every 2 years, that demonstrate compliance with DNA Quality Assurance Standards established by the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Credentials/Documentation

The applicant must furnish a copy of their current accreditation certificate. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Detailed information is provided in a program solicitation which is obtained by sending a self-addressed mailing label to NCJRS, Box 6000, Rockville, MD 20849-6000; calling toll free to request a copy at (800) 851-3420; or accessing the web site at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij under Funding Opportunities. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No.A-110 or the Common Rule where applicable. The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) requires that funding applications be submitted electronically through the OJP Grants Management System (GMS), which will be accessed at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/fundopps.htm. On-line submission of an application represents legal binding acceptance of the terms of the application. For further information about GMS, call the OJP GMS Hotline at (1-888) 549-9901.

Award Procedure

All applications will be reviewed by the Program Office. All final decisions will be made by the NIJ Director.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 60 to 90 days. Approximately 90 days from application deadline.

Appeals

Hearing by the NIJ Director.

Renewals

Please contact the program office for more information.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Awards under this program are issued for a period of 18 months. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Please contact program office for more information.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Program reports are not applicable. Cash reports are not applicable. Progress reports consisting of quarterly performance metrics reports, bi-annual progress reports; and a final report including a summary of program accomplishments. Fiscal report consisting of quarterly expenditures and budget expenditure reports; final financial report giving costs and expenditures of the complete project. Performance measure data, as stipulated in the solicitation, are required.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No.A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofits Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

Records and accounts concerning the expenditure of Institute and grantee or appointee-contributed funds shall be maintained during the grant period and retained for 3 years thereafter.

Program Accomplishments

Not Applicable.

Financial Information

Account Identification

15-0401-0-1-754.

Obligations

(Formula Grants) FY 08 $144,189,903; FY 09 est $156,000,000; FY 10 est $151,000,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

No Data Available.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Information about the Forensic DNA Backlog Reduction Program solicitation may be obtained by calling NCJRS at (800) 851-3420 or accessing the web site at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij under Funding Opportunities.

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Mark Nelson National Institute of Justice, Department of Justice, 810 7th Street, N.W., Washington, District of Columbia 20531 Email: Mark.S.Nelson@usdoj.gov Phone: 202-305-2664

Web Site Address

http://www.usdoj.gov/nij.

Examples of Funded Projects

Not Applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

All eligible State and units of local government with existing crime laboratories conducting DNA analysis that are accredited by a nonprofit professional association actively involved in forensic science that is nationally recognized within the forensic science community such as the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB) or the Forensic Quality Services (FQS), etc., and unergo external audits, not less than once every 2 years, that demonstrate compliance with DNA Quality Assurance Standards established by the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.