Paul Coverdell Forensic Sciences Improvement Grant Program

 

Goals: To improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner services. Among other things, funds may be used to eliminate a backlog in the analysis of forensic evidence and to train and employ forensic laboratory personnel and medicolegal death investigators, as needed, to eliminate such a backlog. Objectives: A State or unit of local government that receives a Coverdell grant must use the grant for one or more of these six purposes: 1. To carry out all or a substantial part of a program intended to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science or medical examiner/coroner?s office services in the State, including those services provided by laboratories operated by the State and those operated by units of local government within the State. 2. To eliminate a backlog in the analysis of forensic science evidence, including, among other things, a backlog with respect to firearms examination, latent prints, impression evidence, toxicology, digital evidence, fire evidence, controlled substances, forensic pathology, questioned documents, and trace evidence. 3. To train, assist, and employ forensic laboratory personnel and medicolegal death investigators, as needed to eliminate such a backlog. 4. To address emerging forensic science issues (such as statistics, contextual bias, and uncertainty of measurement) and emerging forensic science technology (such as high throughput automation, statistical software, and new types of instrumentation). 5. To educate and train forensic pathologists. 6. To fund medicolegal death investigation systems to facilitate accreditation of medical examiner and coroner offices and certification of medicolegal death investigators.

Active 16.742 Office of Justice Programs, Department of Justice A - Formula Grants; B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2017 The Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement (Coverdell) Program has substantially contributed to the increase of quality and timeliness of forensic science in state and local forensic laboratories and medical examiner/coroner’s offices. Coverdell funding has been utilized to: provide training and certification(s) to forensic practitioners across the many forensic science disciplines including firearms examination, latent prints, impression evidence, toxicology, digital evidence, fire evidence, controlled substances, forensic pathology, questioned documents, and trace evidence; increase the availability of overtime for analysts; hire additional analysts to reduce evidence backlogs; purchase and/or upgrade laboratory instruments and equipment to increase throughput, decrease turn-around time, replace outdated and/or inoperable equipment and instruments; and assist laboratories to achieve accreditation thereby increasing the level of quality of the forensic science services..
Fiscal Year 2018 The Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement (Coverdell) Program has substantially contributed to the increase of quality and timeliness of forensic science in state and local forensic laboratories and medical examiner/coroner’s offices. Coverdell funding has been utilized to: provide training and certification(s) to forensic practitioners across the many forensic science disciplines including firearms examination, latent prints, impression evidence, toxicology, digital evidence, fire evidence, controlled substances, forensic pathology, questioned documents, and trace evidence; increase the availability of overtime for analysts; hire additional analysts to reduce evidence backlogs; purchase and/or upgrade laboratory instruments and equipment to increase throughput, decrease turn-around time, replace outdated and/or inoperable equipment and instruments; and assist laboratories to achieve accreditation thereby increasing the level of quality of the forensic science services. Of the applications received, it is expected that there will be 54 awards through the formula program and 25 awards in the competitive program. In FY2017 and FY2018, there were 52 awards made for both years under the formula program, and 10 and 25 awards made under the competitive program for 2017 and 2018, respectively. Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, Part BB, Sections 2801 - 2806, Pub. L. No. 90-351, 34 USC 10561 - 34 USC 10566 and an act appropriating funds for the Department of Justice in the current fiscal year. Under the Coverdell program, SAAs may apply for both "base" (formula) and competitive funds. Units of local government may apply for competitive funds. Coverdell SAAs and units of local government may apply directly to NIJ for funding. The Coverdell law (at 34 USC 10562) requires that, to request a grant, an applicant for Coverdell funds must submit: 1. A certification and description regarding a plan for forensic science laboratories. Each applicant must submit a certification that the State or unit of local government has developed a plan for forensic science laboratories under a program intended to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science or medical examiner services in the State, including such services provided by the laboratories operated by the State and those operated by units of local government within the State. Applicants must also specifically describe the manner in which the grant will be used to carry out that plan. 2. A certification regarding use of generally accepted laboratory practices. Each applicant must submit a certification that any forensic laboratory system, medical examiner's office, or coroner's office in the State, including any laboratory operated by a unit of local government within the State, that will receive any portion of the grant amount (whether directly or through a subgrant) uses generally accepted laboratory practices and procedures established by accrediting organizations or appropriate certifying bodies. 3. A certification regarding forensic science laboratory accreditation. Each applicant must submit a certification that any forensic science laboratory system in the State (except with regard to any medical examiner's office, or coroner's office in the State), including any laboratory operated by a unit of local government within the State, that will receive any portion of the grant amount (whether directly or through a subgrant) either is accredited, or, is not so accredited, but will (or will be required in a legally binding and enforceable writing to) use a portion of the grant amount to prepare and apply for such accreditation not more than two (2) years after the date on which a grant is awarded under a fiscal year's grant solicitation for the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program. 4. A certification and description regarding costs of new facilities. Each applicant must submit a certification that the amount of the grant used for the costs of any new facility constructed as part of a program to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science or medical examiner services will not exceed certain limitations set forth in the Coverdell law at 34 USC 10562. (See information on "permissible expenses" in the solicitation.) Applicants must also specifically describe any new facility to be constructed as well as the estimated costs of the facility. 5. A certification regarding external investigations into allegations of serious negligence or misconduct. Each applicant must submit a certification that "a government entity exists and an appropriate process is in place to conduct independent external investigations into allegations of serious negligence or misconduct substantially affecting the integrity of the forensic results committed by employees or contractors of any forensic laboratory system, medical examiner office, coroner's office, law enforcement storage facility, or medical facility in the State that will receive a portion of the grant amount." Eligible applicants must be State or local (i.e., county and municipal) governments. The purpose of this solicitation is to request applications for grants from State and units of local government to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner services and/or to eliminate backlogs in the analysis of forensic evidence, including firearms examination, latent prints, impression evidence, toxicology, digital evidence, fire evidence, controlled substances, forensic pathology, questioned documents, and trace evidence for criminal justice purposes in State and local forensic laboratories. For the purposes of this solicitation - o A State/local government entity performing forensic science services is considered a "forensic science laboratory" if it: o Employs one or more full-time scientists (with a minimum of a bachelor's degree in a natural science [e.g., chemistry, physics, biology, or a closely-related natural-science field]), and o Whose principal function is to examine physical evidence in criminal matters and provide reports and testimony to courts of law regarding such evidence. o "Police identification units" (units operating outside of the crime laboratory function), or entities that engage exclusively in evidence collection and documentation, are not forensic science laboratories for these purposes. o Medical examiner and coroner offices are treated as forensic science laboratories. The applicant must furnish the following along with the application for a grant: a certification that states there exists a plan for forensic science laboratories that is designed to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science or medical examiner services; a certification that states each forensic laboratory, forensic laboratory system, medical examiner's office, or coroner's office that will receive any portion of a Coverdell grant uses generally accepted laboratory practices and procedures as established by accrediting organizations or appropriate certifying bodies; a certification regarding forensic science laboratory accreditation except with regard to any medical examiner's office, or coroner's office in the State; a certification that states that a government entity exists and an appropriate process is in place to conduct independent external investigations into allegations of serious negligence or misconduct by employees or contractors substantially affecting the integrity of forensic results, and resumes of key personnel. Preapplication coordination is required. An environmental impact assessment is required for this listing. 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. Potential applicants are encouraged to request the program announcement for additional information about eligibility requirements and application and selection procedures. Applicants must contact their SAA to determine if the program has been selected for review by the State. The date that the application was sent to the SAA, or the reason such submission is not required, must be included in the application. A. Base Funds for States: Eighty-five percent of the funds available for Coverdell grants will be allocated among eligible States based on population (State base funds). To be eligible, a State must satisfy the specific application requirements outlined in this announcement and all other general requirements for NIJ and OJP grants. Applications for State base funding must be submitted by the Coverdell State Administering Agency listed on the Office of Justice Programs web site at: https://ojp.gov/saa/ B. Competitive Funds for States and Units of Local Government: Fifteen percent of the available funds will be allocated among States and units of local government through a competitive process. Units of local government that provide forensic science or medical examiner services (whether through a forensic science laboratory, medical examiner's office, or coroner's office) may apply directly to NIJ for competitive funds. Coverdell SAAs may apply for competitive funds for forensic sciences improvements above and beyond those it can accomplish with its base funds. State applications for competitive funding will only be accepted from Coverdell SAAs. Other State agencies or departments who wish to apply for competitive funds must coordinate with their respective SAA. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. The Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program - Competitive solicitation will be posted on Grants.gov. See the current fiscal year's solicitation available at www.nij.gov. NIJ reviews program funding applications to make sure that the information presented is reasonable, understandable, measurable, and achievable, as well as consistent with the solicitation. NIJ will also review applications to ensure statutory requirements have been met. Peer reviewers will review requests for competitive funds submitted under the solicitation that meet basic minimum requirements. NIJ may use internal peer reviewers (DOJ employees), external peer reviewers, or a combination, to assess competitive requests under the program meeting basic minimum requirements on technical merit using the solicitation's selection criteria. Peer reviewers' ratings and any resulting recommendations are advisory only, although their views are considered carefully. Absent explicit statutory authorization or written delegation of authority to the contrary, the Assistant Attorney General (AAG) will make all final award decisions. With respect to requests for competitive funds, the AAG may also give consideration to factors including, but not limited to, peer review ratings, underserved populations, geographic diversity, strategic priorities, past performance, and available funding when making awards. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines See the current fiscal year's solicitation available at www.nij.gov. For statutory formula awards, see 28 C.F.R. Part 18. There are no appeal rights for rejection of a discretionary application, but for discretionary awards, see 28 C.F.R. Part 18. Not applicable. See the current fiscal year's solicitation available at www.nij.gov. Under the Coverdell program, SAAs may apply for both “base” (formula) and competitive funds. Units of local government may apply for competitive funds. Coverdell SAAs and units of local government may apply directly to NIJ for funding. Approximately 85 percent of the funds available for Coverdell grants will be allocated among eligible States based on population (State “base” funds). The Coverdell statute requires that the remaining 15 percent of program funds be awarded competitively. A State or unit of local government that receives a Coverdell grant must use the grant for one or more of these six purposes: 1. To carry out all or a substantial part of a program intended to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science or medical examiner/coroner’s office services in the State, including those services provided by laboratories operated by the State and those operated by units of local government within the State. 2. To eliminate a backlog in the analysis of forensic science evidence, including, among other things, a backlog with respect to firearms examination, latent prints, impression evidence, toxicology, digital evidence, fire evidence, controlled substances, forensic pathology, questioned documents, and trace evidence. 3. To train, assist, and employ forensic laboratory personnel and medicolegal death investigators, as needed to eliminate such a backlog. 4. To address emerging forensic science issues (such as statistics, contextual bias, and uncertainty of measurement) and emerging forensic science technology (such as high throughput automation, statistical software, and new types of instrumentation). 5. To educate and train forensic pathologists. 6. To fund medicolegal death investigation systems to facilitate accreditation of medical examiner and coroner offices and certification of medicolegal death investigators. Funds may be used for personnel, computerization, laboratory equipment, supplies, accreditation, education, training, certification, facilities (the Coverdell law limits the amount of funds that may be used for the costs of a new facility or facilities), and administrative expenses (not to exceed 10 percent of the total amount of a Coverdell grant). Performance Reports: See the current fiscal year’s solicitation available at www.nij.gov, and the Department of Justice Grants Financial Guide, available at http://ojp.gov/financialguide/DOJ/index.htm. . To assist the Department with fulfilling its responsibilities under the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), Public Law 103-62, and the GPRA Modernization Act of 2010, Public Law 111–352, applicants that receive funding under this program must provide data that measure the results of their work done under this solicitation. Performance measures and data expected to be provided are as specified in the current fiscal year’s solicitation. See 2 CFR 200 for audit requirements. See 2 CFR 200.334 for the government-wide requirements for retention requirements for records. Statutory Formula: Statutory Formula: 34 USC 10563

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. In general, NIJ will limit grants under the Coverdell program to a maximum of 12 months. See the current fiscal year’s solicitation available at www.nij.gov, and the DOJ Grants Financial Guide at http://ojp.gov/financialguide/DOJ/index.htm. See the current fiscal year’s solicitation available at www.nij.gov, and the Department of Justice Grants Financial Guide, available at http://ojp.gov/financialguide/DOJ/index.htm. None/Not specified. Luther Schaeffer
U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
National Institute of Justice
810 7th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20531 US
Luther.Schaeffer@usdoj.gov
Phone: 202-514-1287

Frances Scott
U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
National Institute of Justice
810 7th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20531 USA
Frances.Scott@usdoj.gov
Phone: 202-305-9950 https://nij.gov 15-0404-0-1-754 (Formula Grants) FY 18$27,363,404.00; FY 19 est $30,000,000.00; FY 20 est $10,000,000.00; FY 17$10,690,702.00; - In amounts consistent with the applicant's proposed project and NIJ's plans, priorities and levels of financing. See 2 CFR Part 200, 2 CFR Part 2800, the current fiscal year's solicitation available at www.nij.gov, and the DOJ Grants Financial Guide, available at www.ojp.gov. Fiscal Year 2017 See the NIJ website at www.nij.gov. Information on past awarded NIJ projects can be accessed at www.nij.gov/funding/awards/Pages/welcome.aspx.
Fiscal Year 2018 Fiscal Year 2018: See the NIJ website at www.nij.gov. Information on past awarded NIJ projects can be accessed at www.nij.gov/funding/awards/Pages/welcome.aspx.
Fiscal Year 2019 Fiscal Year 2019: See the NIJ website at www.nij.gov. Information on past awarded NIJ projects can be accessed at www.nij.gov/funding/awards/Pages/welcome.aspx.