Grants Information
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Grants Information

Many agencies and labs have found that applying for and receiving grant money is a good way to finance their purchase of an M-Vac™ system. We want to help our customers learn where to look for these grant opportunities as well as how the process works. Grants are often available for only a short window of time (often two or three months from initial posting to the application deadline) so it is important to look at the websites often. There is also some preparatory work that can be done anytime in order to make the specific application process go faster once an opening shows up.

A change was made for grant applications for 2021 which involves having two deadlines for every application. The first deadline is with the Grants.gov and it is for submitting the SF-424 (a 3-page basic information form) and the SF-LLL (a 1-page lobbying activities disclosure) forms in grants.gov. The second deadline is for submitting the full application in JustGrants. You won't be able to submit the main application in JustGrants if the grants.gov forms aren't already submitted.

Here are links to likely grants that are currently open:

  • NIJ FY24 Research and Evaluation for the Testing and Interpretation of Physical Evidence in Publicly Funded Forensic Laboratories. Grants.gov deadline is April 15, 2024, 11:59 pm Eastern. JustGrants deadline is April 22, 2024, 8:59 pm Eastern. This year, the NIJ is seeking "applications for rigorous research and evaluation projects that will: 1. Identify and inform the forensic community of best practices through the evaluation of existing and emerging laboratory protocols; and/or 2. Have a direct and immediate impact on laboratory efficiency and assist in making laboratory policy decisions."
  • NIJ FY24 Research and Evaluation on Violence Against Women. Grants.gov deadline is April 17, 2024, 11:59 pm Eastern. JustGrants deadline is May 1, 2024, 8:59 pm Eastern. This solicitation is looking for applications to fund evaluations "focused on assessing programs, practices, models, or interventions" in one of two priority areas, the second of which is "Improving Accountability from Persons Who Offend." More specifically, "accountability refers to holding individuals responsible for their crimes, ensuring that they are answerable for their behavior. . ." Finding that person accurately is the first step of holding them accountable, so the M-Vac™ should be a part of this evaluation.
  • NIJ FY24 Research and Evaluation on Trafficking in Persons. Grants.gov deadline is April 24, 2024, 11:59 pm Eastern. JustGrants deadline is May 1, 2024, 8:59 pm Eastern. This program wants to "better understand, prevent, and respond to trafficking in persons in the United States." The second category under this offering is "Technology and Trafficking," and the second topic of interest in that category is "technology used by investigators to investigate and build cases." The M-Vac™ fits right in.
  • NIJ FY24 Research and Evaluation on the Impact of Technologies for Forensic Science Applications. Grants.gov deadline is April 29, 2024,11:59 pm Eastern. JustGrants deadline is May 6, 2024, 8:59 pm Eastern. The NIJ is looking for applications for funding for research on how "technologies with a forensic science application impact criminal justice systems." More specifically, they want "evaluations of the implementation of technologies, methods, or workflow processes to understand the impact on backlog reduction, capacity enhancement, cost relative to benefit, workforce development, or case closure efficiency." NIJ is hosting a webinar discussing this opportunity on March 7, 2024, from 1-2pm ET.
  • FY24 Postconviction Testing of DNA Evidence. Grants.gov deadline is April 29, 2024, 8:59 pm Eastern. JustGrants deadline is May 6, 2024, 8:59 pm Eastern. The BJA is offering to assist with costs associated with "DNA testing in violent felony cases (as defined by state law) where the results of such testing might show actual innocence." The first category is for "Case reviews and DNA testing," and includes the specific language, "BJA seeks to help defray the costs (e.g., additional personnel, overtime, testing supplies, and services) associated with postconviction DNA testing."
  • OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Enhancing Investigation and Prosecution of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking (EIP) Initiative - Solicitation. Grants.gov deadline is April 30, 2024 at 11:59 PM Eastern. JustGrants deadline is May 2, 2024 at 8:59 PM Eastern. In their description of this program, the OVW says this solicitation "is designed to promote, and evaluate, effective policing and prosecution responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking." It "encourages law enforcement agencies and/or prosecutors’ offices to expand and improve their capacity to effectively investigate and/or prosecute" the above-mentioned crimes.
  • FY24 Emmett Till Cold Case Investigations and Prosecution Program. Grants.gov deadline is May 28, 2024, 8:59 pm Eastern. JustGrants deadline is June 4, 2024, 8:59 pm Eastern. The BJA's first stated goal with this grant is "to facilitate accountability, justice, and reconciliation for the thousands of cold case murder victims associated with civil rights violations by identifying, investigating, prosecuting, and resolving these cases."

Here are some key places to look often for new postings. Several of these have the option to subscribe to a periodic email update service that helps you stay apprised of new openings.OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Enhancing Investigation and Prosecution of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking (EIP) Initiative - Solicitation. Grants.gov deadline is April 30, 2024 at 11:59 PM Eastern. JustGrants deadline is May 2, 2024 at 8:59 PM Eastern. In their description of this program, the OVW says this solicitation "is designed to promote, and evaluate, effective policing and prosecution responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking." It "encourages law enforcement agencies and/or prosecutors’ offices to expand and improve their capacity to effectively investigate and/or prosecute" the above-mentioned crimes.

Here are some websites that help explain the various government agencies' processes:

  • DOJ Grants Financial Guide - This Guide gives a lot of definitions and tips for all parts of the DOJ's grant process. Don't miss the first Appendix, which is a guide to all the government's acronyms, so you can keep your DHS apart from your HHS or know your BJA from your JABG!
  • OJP Grant Application Resource Guide - This explains a lot of the rules and regulations for applying for OJP Grants and even goes through the process step by step.The OJP is the first of three subsets for grants under the DOJ.
  • OVW Grants - A page that explains the process for applying for OVW grants. The OVW is the second of three subsets for grants under the DOJ.
  • COPS Grants - A basic page that explains the process for applying for COPS (Office of Community Oriented Policing Services) grants. COPS is the third of three subsets for grants under the DOJ.
  • Grants.gov - This robust site leads to several helpful blogs (linked on the Home tab) with articles of interest to those applying for government grants as well as to the Grants Learning Center (Learn Grants tab) and several other helpful webpages (various other tabs.)
  • Just Grants (Justice Grants System) - This website combines the resources for all three grant making branches of the DOJ mentioned above.
Here is an example of a recent grant that was awarded specifically for implementing the M-Vac™. We have the draft of the application and permission to share it, so it is available upon request.
We would appreciate feedback on your successes in getting grant monies awarded for purchasing the M-Vac™ System. Your tips could help others succeed as well.