Submitting Proposals to NIJ

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Developing A Quality Proposal For Submission To
The National Institute Of Justice

Sunday April 27, 2008
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Contact Information

• Bernard Auchter [phone]
• Senior Social Science Analyst, VVRD
• Office for Research and Evaluation
• National Institute of Justice
• U.S. Department of Justice

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Presentation Content

• Overview of NIJ
• Current Research Priorities
• Budget Funding Overview
• Application Process
• Peer Review Process
• FAQ
• QA

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Office of Justice Programs
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What does NIJ do?

• NIJ is the research, development, and evaluation
  agency of the U.S. Department of Justice and is
  the only Federal agency solely dedicated to
  researching crime control and justice issues.
• The Institutes mission is to
• advance science to enhance the administration of
  justice and public safety and
• to show what works to reduce crime and enhance
  the justice system.

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Principal Deputy Director David W. Hagy
Senior Advisor
Chief of Staff
Planning, Budget, Management Admin. Division
International Center
Communications Division
Senior Science Advisor
Human Subjects Protection Officer
Evaluation Research Specialist X 2
Office of Science Technology
Office of Research Evaluation
Operational Technologies Division
Investigative Forensic Sciences Division
Crime Control Prevention Research Division
Justice Systems Research Division
Information Sensor Technologies Division
Violence Victimization Research Division
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Current Research Priorities

• Corrections
• Counterterrorism/Critical Incidents
• Crime Prevention/Causes of Crime
• Drugs, Alcohol, and Crime
• Investigative and Forensic Sciences (including
  DNA)
• Interoperability, Spatial Information, Automated
  Systems
• Justice Systems (Sentencing, Courts, Prosecution,
  Defense)
• Law Enforcement/Policing
• Program Evaluation (especially, cost-benefit
  analysis)
• Violence and Victimization (including Violent
  Crimes)

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NIJ Signature Programs

• Data Resources Program (DRP)
• Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) Program
• Mapping and Analysis for Public Safety (MAPS)
• W.E.B. Du Bois Fellowship Program
• Violence Against Women and Family Violence
  Research and Evaluation Program
• DNA Initiative

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• Budget Funding Overview

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NIJ Enacted Budget History FY2000-2008
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An Overview NIJ Solicitations

• Targeted or General Solicitations
• Most often released in the Fall or early Winter
• RFPs are generally on the street between 60 to
  90 days some cases 120 days
• External Internal Peer Review
• Briefings and Award Decisions
• Notices of award and nonaward are sent
  approximately 6-9 months after the closing date
  of a solicitation

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Fiscal Year 2008 Social Science Posted
Solicitations

• FY2008 (ORE solicitations closed)
• Various DNA and Forensics solicitations May
  closing dates
• FY2009
• Data Resources Program
• Graduate Research Fellowship
• W.E.B. Du Bois Fellowship Program

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Fiscal Year 2008 Social Science Solicitations

• American Indian and Alaska Native Crime Justice
  Research Technology Assessment
• Crime and Justice Research Evaluation
  (investigator initiated)
• Research and Evaluation on Justice System
  Responses to Violence Against Women
• Research and Evaluation on the Abuse, Neglect,
  and Exploitation of Elderly Individuals and
  Residents of Residential Care Facilities
• Research on Crime Prevention and Crime Control
  Focus on Gangs
• Research on Human Trafficking
• Research on Policing
• Research on Safe Community Release for Pretrial
  and Jail Populations
• Research on Terrorism
• Social Science Research in Forensic Sciences

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Solicitation Notification

• Grants.gov
• Solicitation Notification Email Subscription
• Grant Submission
• NIJs Funding Page
• http//www.ojp.gov/nij/funding/welcome.htm
• OJP Funding Page
• http//www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/solicitations.htm

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• Application
• Process

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60-120 days on the street
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NIJ Application Requirements

• Abstract (400 words)
• Program Narrative
• Research question or problem
• Research goals and objectives
• Research design and methods
• Implications for knowledge and practice
• Dissemination plan for project deliverables
• Description of estimated costs
• Staffing and Management plan
• Timeline
• Data Archiving Strategy
• Tables, figures, charts, and appendixes (if
  applicable)

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(No Transcript)
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Application Forms

• Required
• Application for Federal Assistance (SF424 )
  generated in grants.gov
• Budget Worksheet, Budget Summary, Budget
  Narrative
• Certifications Regarding Lobbying Debarment,
  Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters and
  Drug-Free Workplace Requirements
• Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
• If funded
• Accounting System and Financial Capability
  Questionnaire
• Protection of Human Subjects Form
• Privacy Certificate and Confidentiality
  Requirements
• Geographic Areas Affected worksheet
• Employment Eligibility Verification
• DOJ Form 560

http//www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/forms.htm
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NIJ funds are not used for

• Provisions of training or direct service (See
  Laboratory Enhancement Funding for exceptions.)
• Proposals primarily to purchase equipment,
  materials, or supplies
• Proposals to fund a program
• Work that will be funded under another
  solicitation

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• Writing A Competitive Proposal

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Competitive Proposals Clearly State

• Research hypotheses
• The theory (or theories) that is driving the
  questions
• The research method(s) being proposed
• The key constructs and how they will be measured
• The entire data collection plan
• Surveys, observations, site visits, etc.
• Sample (criteria, process, size, etc.)
• Data analysis plan

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Competitive Proposals Clearly State

• Demonstrated an understanding of the problem and
  its importance
• The projects impact/importance on the field
• The So What Question?
• The timeline and budget
• The budget worksheet summary are complete and
  accurate
• The budget narrative describes and provides
  justification for all expenses
• The dissemination strategy

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Suggestions for writing a competitive proposal

• Is the proposal clear and succinct?
• Is the proposal written well?
• Is your abstract thorough and succinct?
• Have you checked spelling, sentence structure,
  and grammar?
• Have you followed the solicitation criteria?
• Is your literature review thorough, complete, and
  accurate?

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Suggestions for writing a competitive proposal

• Have you complied with format requirements (page
  limitation, font, page setup)?
• Have all forms been uploaded?
• Adhere to the page limit!
• Helpful presentation materials
• Logic Models
• Graphs/ Charts
• Project Timeline
• Management Plan (project staff, role
  responsibilities, commitment)
• Organization Chart
• Deliverables

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Suggestions for writing a competitive proposal

• Do you have a good management plan and timeline
  in place?
• Have you justified staff time and their
  contribution?
• Have you considered in-kind contributions?
• Have you submitted MOUs, Letters of Support,
  and/or other documentation indicating
  collaborative commitments?
• Is there enough detailed discussion and
  explanation to avoid the trust me factor?

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• Budget
• Considerations

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Budget Guidance

• Your Budget Narrative must describe the purpose
  for every item, service, and person listed in the
  Budget Detail Worksheet Summary.
• OJP Financial Guide
• http//www.ojp.usdoj.gov/financialguide/index.htm
• NIJ Guidelines for Submitting Applications
• http//www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/202948.pdf

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Budgets Get Rejected Because

• Required cost breakdown by categories has not
  been included.
• Incomplete or missing budget narrative.
• Budget worksheet, budget narrative, and budget
  summary figures do not match.
• Unallowable costs included in the budget.
• Computations are incorrect.

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Post Award Standard Requirements of Grantees

• Human Subjects Protection Materials
• IRB (w/ FWA) Review and Approval (build in the
  time!)
• Privacy Certificate
• Interview Protocol Instruments (build in NIJ
  review time!)
• Quarterly and Final Financial Reports (SF269)
• Semi-Annual and a Final Progress Reports
• 10 of budget frozen until receipt of final
  report
• Draft Final Technical Report (90 days before
  the end date)
• Executive Summary (2,500 words)
• Final Project Abstract (400 words)
• Data Codebook/Data Dictionary

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• Frequently
• Asked
• Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the average length of most research
  studies funded?
• What is the average award?
• Quantitative vs. Qualitative
• Research vs. Evaluation
• Does NIJ have any priorities areas?
• How many applicants get funded?
• Can I apply under multiple RFPs?
• Can I revise and resubmit a rejected proposal?

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Institute Contact Information

• For information on specific solicitation content
• Most details are covered on the NIJ web page at
  Frequently Asked Questions at
  http//www.ojp.gov/nij/funding/faqs.htm
• You can then call and ask to speak to the
  particular program manager listed in the
  solicitation.

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• The Peer Review Process

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Proposal Review Process

• Review and approval of proposals takes about 6
  months
• External Peer Review Recommendation
• Technical Reviewers (2 per panel)
• Practitioner Reviewers (2 per panel)
• Internal Peer Reviews Recommendation
• Office Institute Briefings
• Directors Funding Decision

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Peer Review Criteria

• Understanding Of The Problem And Its Importance
• Quality And Technical Merit
• Research Design
• Methods
• Impact Of Proposed Project
• Substantive Contribution
• Advancing Fields of Research and Practice
• Capabilities, Demonstrated Productivity, And
  Experience Of Researcher/Research Team
• Budget Considerations
• Dissemination Strategy

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The Decision-making Process

• NIJ Director is thoroughly briefed on all
  proposals
• NIJ Director is the sole and final authority over
  awards
• NIJ Director makes final determination based on
• Available Funds
• Quality of Research Proposed
• The Studys Impact On Policy Practice
• The Topics Fit To The Institutes
• Research Priorities Strategic Goals
• Portfolio Contribution Programmatic Relevance

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Questions Answers