FY25 Research and Evaluation for the Testing and Interpretation of Physical Evidence in Publicly Funded Forensic Laboratories
Can you apply?
This grant is for research and evaluation projects focused on forensic laboratory testing and evidence interpretation. Eligible applicants include universities, research institutions, and public forensic laboratories. Projects must advance scientific methods for DNA, trace evidence, and other physical evidence analysis. Work must address challenges in evidence testing, interpretation accuracy, or laboratory operations for publicly funded facilities. Geographic scope is nationwide; any U.S.-based organization can apply.
International organizations are not eligible. Applicants must have the capacity to conduct rigorous research or evaluation. Prior forensic research experience is helpful but not always required.
This grant is for research and evaluation projects focused on forensic laboratory testing and evidence interpretation. Eligible applicants include universities, research institutions, and public forensic laboratories. Projects must advance scientific methods for DNA, trace evidence, and other physical evidence analysis. Work must address challenges in evidence testing, interpretation accuracy, or laboratory operations for publicly funded facilities. Geographic scope is nationwide; any U.S.-based organization can apply.
International organizations are not eligible. Applicants must have the capacity to conduct rigorous research or evaluation. Prior forensic research experience is helpful but not always required.
Program description
This funding opportunity seeks proposals for research and evaluation studies to produce practical knowledge that can improve the examination and interpretation of physical evidence in forensic science laboratories. Specifically, NIJ seeks applications for rigorous research and evaluation projects that will:
• Identify and inform the forensic community of best practices through the evaluation of existing and emerging laboratory protocols; and/or
• Have a direct and immediate impact on laboratory efficiency and assist in making laboratory policy decisions.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- Colleges (all higher ed)
- County Government
- Private University
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Special District
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Details
This grant is for research and evaluation projects focused on forensic laboratory testing and evidence interpretation. Eligible applicants include universities, research institutions, and public forensic laboratories. Projects must advance scientific methods for DNA, trace evidence, and other physical evidence analysis. Work must address challenges in evidence testing, interpretation accuracy, or laboratory operations for publicly funded facilities. Geographic scope is nationwide; any U.S.-based organization can apply.
International organizations are not eligible. Applicants must have the capacity to conduct rigorous research or evaluation. Prior forensic research experience is helpful but not always required.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (federal application form)
- Project Narrative (research plan and methodology)
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Organizational Capacity Statement
- Letters of Support (from partner labs)
- CVs of Key Personnel
- Data Management Plan (research data)
- Evaluation Plan
Program contact
- 👤 National Institute of Justice
- 📧 OJP.ResponseCenter@usdoj.gov
- 📞 202-616-5314
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 16.560 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$18,393,640
-
$10,561,120
-
$9,800,000
-
$6,998,958
-
$5,997,434
-
$5,691,859
-
$4,581,851
-
$4,501,620
-
$4,500,000
-
$4,000,000
Top States by Funding
- NC 9 awards $38.0M
- VA 13 awards $27.9M
- PA 3 awards $12.5M
- IL 9 awards $11.7M
- CA 6 awards $11.5M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 16.560). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $57,808,937 | |
| 2025 | $3,183,371 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Universities, research institutions, public forensic labs, and nonprofits with research capability. Private for-profit labs are typically not eligible.
What activities does this grant support?
Research on testing methods, evidence interpretation, quality assurance, and best practices. Evaluation studies of forensic processes or laboratory performance are also funded.
Is there a matching requirement?
Typical NIJ grants do not require cost-sharing. Check the full solicitation for any exceptions.
How competitive is this funding?
NIJ research grants are highly competitive. Strong applications include preliminary data and partnerships with working forensic labs.
What is the typical funding range?
NIJ typically awards $200K–$500K for multi-year research projects. Review the solicitation for exact amounts for this cycle.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Partner with active forensic laboratories early. Collaboration strengthens credibility and increases chance of implementation.
- Ground your project in current forensic challenges. Review recent NFSTC reports or NIJ publications to identify priority gaps.
- Include a detailed evaluation plan with measurable outcomes. Agencies want to see how results will improve lab practices.
- Budget conservatively for equipment and staff. NIJ scrutinizes high-cost items; justify each expense clearly.
- Address dissemination and impact explicitly. Explain how findings will reach labs and improve evidence handling nationally.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposals that ignore practical lab constraints often fail; show you understand real-world operations. Vague research questions or methods weaken competitiveness; be specific and methodologically rigorous. Lack of lab partnerships or stakeholder input signals weak implementation potential.
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