NIJ FY25 Research and Development of Innovations in Forensic Science
U.S. Department of Justice — National Institute of Justice
Up to $12.5M pool / ~$417K avg
Advance forensic science — funded by the nation's crime research agency
NIJ funds basic and applied research to advance forensic science for criminal justice purposes. Awards support projects that increase knowledge underlying forensic disciplines — DNA analysis, digital evidence, trace evidence, toxicology, firearms identification, bloodstain patterns, questioned documents, and more — or lead to novel materials, devices, systems, or methods with forensic application. For-profit companies and small businesses can apply alongside universities and nonprofits. Total pool: $12.5M across up to 30 awards.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Amount range
- $100,000 – $1,200,000
- Realistic amount
- Most NIJ forensics awards fall in the $200K–$600K range over 5 years (roughly $40K–$120K/year). Large multi-site technol…
- Deadline
- June 2, 2026 (Grants.gov) / June 9, 2026 (JustGrants)
- Status
- active
- States
- Nationwide
- Payment model
- reimbursement
Who qualifies
- U.S.-based organizations only
- Small businesses (SBA size standards apply — file under DBA name and UEI)
- For-profit companies other than small businesses
- Universities and private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status
- State, county, city, and tribal governments
- Federal agencies and federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs)
- University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs)
- Sole proprietors should apply under DBA name with EIN as TIN
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Principal investigator and research team salaries and fringe benefits
- Laboratory supplies, reagents, reference standards, and consumables
- Equipment directly required for proposed forensic research
- Subcontracts to crime laboratories or other research partners
- Travel for research activities and dissemination (conferences, practitioner outreach)
- Indirect/overhead costs up to institution's federally negotiated rate
- Data collection, analysis, and storage infrastructure
- Publication and dissemination costs
Ineligible expenses
- Research not responsive to NOFO goals (no criminal justice nexus)
- Programs or activities that violate or impede federal immigration law enforcement
- Legal services for removable aliens or those unlawfully present
- Programs that unlawfully favor or disfavor individuals based on race or protected group
- Construction or facility renovation as primary purpose
- Lobbying or political activities
How to apply
-
1
Ensure SAM.gov registration is active
Active SAM.gov registration is mandatory. Begin renewal at least 30 days before June 2, 2026. First-time registrants should start by May 4, 2026. SAM.gov assigns your Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) required for submission.
~13 hrs
-
2
Obtain eRA Commons and JustGrants accounts
JustGrants (justgrants.usdoj.gov) is the DOJ application system. The PI and organization administrator must each have accounts. Coordinate with your institution's authorized representative (AOR) who signs the application.
~13 hrs
-
3
Register in Grants.gov
Complete Grants.gov registration tied to your SAM.gov UEI. This is required for Step 1 (SF-424 submission) even though the full application goes through JustGrants.
~13 hrs
-
4
Develop research proposal aligned to NIJ's 3 goals
Choose one or more of: Goal 1 (Foundational/Basic Research), Goal 2 (Applied Research), Goal 3 (Development of forensic materials, devices, or systems). Proposals addressing federal priority areas (law enforcement operations, violent crime, child protection) receive priority consideration. Include a Gold Standard Science statement.
~13 hrs
-
5
Submit SF-424 through Grants.gov by June 2, 2026
File the SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance) and required attachments in Grants.gov by 11:59 PM ET June 2, 2026. This is Step 1 of the two-step submission.
~13 hrs
-
6
Submit full application through JustGrants by June 9, 2026
After Grants.gov submission, complete the full application in JustGrants by 8:59 PM ET June 9, 2026. This includes the Proposal Narrative, Budget Detail Form with narrative justification, and all biosketches.
~13 hrs
Industry & certifications
NAICS codes: 541715, 541380, 541690, 611310
Peer review weights Project Design at 40% — a rigorous methodology section with clear hypothesis, controls, and measurable outcomes is the single highest-leverage investment. Partner with a crime lab early.
Deadline & timing
Two-step submission: SF-424 in Grants.gov by June 2, 2026 11:59 PM ET, then full application in JustGrants by June 9, 2026 8:59 PM ET. SAM.gov registration must be active — begin renewal at least 30 days before deadline. Period of performance starts January 1, 2027.
Programs that stack well
Related programs
Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.