Get Funded

The Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program (the Coverdell program) awards grants to states and units of local government to help improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner/coroner 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, as needed, to eliminate such a backlog. State Administering Agencies (SAAs) may apply for both "base" (formula) and competitive funds. Units of local government may apply for competitive funds.

This year there are 2 types of awards available: Competitive and Formula

COMPETITIVE:
Full Description: With this solicitation, NIJ seeks proposals for competitive funding under the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program (the Coverdell program), which awards grants to States and units of local government to help improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner/coroner’s office 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 mediocolegal death investigators, as needed, to eliminate such a backlog.Under the Coverdell program, State Administering Agencies (SAAs) are eligible to apply for both formula and competitive funds. Units of local government are eligible to apply for competitive funds only. This solicitation is ONLY for the competitive funds.


FORMULA:
Full Description: With this solicitation, NIJ seeks proposals for formula funding for States under the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program (the Coverdell program), which awards grants to help improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner/coroner’s office services. This solicitation is ONLY for SAAs applying for the formula funds. For purposes of this solicitation, any entity performing forensic science services is considered a “forensic science laboratory.”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. Under the Coverdell program, State Administering Agencies (SAAs) are also eligible to apply for competitive funds under a separate solicitation.

STEP 1: DETERMINE YOUR NEED

A. Available Data
When it comes to data, more is better. Start with what you have internally. This includes calls for service, incident reports, annual UCR numbers, and anything else you have available. Whether it’s violent crime, drugs, gangs, or traffic-related issues, you should have a wealth of data to show the extent of the problem. Comparing this data across time is important to prove your case. A minimum of three years is typically needed, but it may be necessary to go back a few more years to better show the situation, particularly if your numbers are relatively low, such as those for a small jurisdiction. You can use percentages as a way to prove the increase. Another source of data that can assist in the problem statement is census information. If your problem is gang-related, for instance, what is the high school graduation rate in the area? Select those numbers that can be shown to directly contribute to the problem, which may require a bit of research. Don’t just throw a few in for good measure, make sure they are relevant.

B. Anecdotal Information
Personal stories can come from the police officers patrolling the areas and the citizens affected by the crime. A couple is all that’s needed, but it puts a personal touch to the problem that simple numbers can’t. There’s a fine line between boring and sappy, so get someone to review this section who isn’t involved with it to let you know where yours lands.

C. Prove That the Problem is Solvable
This is where your project comes in. After all, you are asking for funding to solve the problem, so it needs to be able to be solved by your project. It isn’t enough to say it, you have to prove it. That means some research into the problem and its solutions needs to be done and the outcomes cited in your problem statement. You probably should also show what steps have been taken in the past — and how successful or unsuccessful they were. Prove that you’ve been using your own resources but have not been able to solve the problem.

STEP 2: DETERMINE HOW NEEDS FIT INTO APPLICABLE GRANT FUNDING

The types of expenses listed below generally may be paid with Coverdell funds.Note: The following list details the types of expenses allowed under the Coverdell program. These expenses should NOT be used as budget categories—instead they are to be incorporated into the appropriate standard OJP budget categories. For more information on OJP’s standard budget format, see the section titled “What an Application Should Include.”

1. Computerization: Funds may be used to upgrade, replace, lease, or purchase computer hardware and software for forensic analyses and data management.

2. Laboratory equipment:Funds may be used to upgrade, lease, or purchase forensic laboratory or medical examiner/coroner’s office equipment and instrumentation.

3. Supplies: Funds may be used to acquire forensic laboratory or medical supplies.

STEP 3: VIEW OUR TOP PICKS FOR FUNDING
This equipment is designed to:
A. Eliminate a backlog in the analysis of forensic science evidence, including, among other things, a backlog with respect to firearms examination, latent prints.
B. 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).

STEP 4: NEED HELP WITH THE APPLICATION?
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