The Paul Coverdell National Forensic Sciences Improvement Act authorizes funding to improve the quality, timeliness, and credibility of forensic science services for criminal justice purposes. Act funding is directed to crime laboratories and medical examiners’ offices based on population and crime statistics. The program permits funding for facilities, personnel, computerization, equipment, supplies, education, and training.

The Coverdell program is authorized by Title I of the Omnibus Safe Streets and Crime Control Act of 1968, Part BB, codified at 42 U.S.C. § 3797j-3797o (the Coverdell law).

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This project is supported under FY18(NIJ - Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement) 34 USC 10561-10566; 28 USC 530C

The result of Coverdell grants to applicant States should be a demonstrated improvement over current operations in the quality and/or timeliness of forensic science or medical examiner services provided in the State, including services provided by laboratories operated by the State and services provided by laboratories operated by units of local government within the State. Reduction of forensic analysis backlogs is considered an improvement in timeliness of services. The result of Coverdell grants directly to units of local government should be a demonstrated improvement over current operations in the quality and/or timeliness of forensic science or medical examiner services provided by the local jurisdiction.

Yes

A National Forensic Science Improvement Act (NFSIA) Notice of Funding Opportunity was posted October 29, 2019 to fund selected State and local units of governments to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner/coroner’s office services, including services provided by laboratories operated by states and/or units of local government. The award may also be used to eliminate backlogs in the analysis of general forensic evidence or to train and employ forensic laboratory personnel and medicolegal death investigators to eliminate such backlogs. At least 64% of the funding must target opioid testing.

Government Organizations;

Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office (CCMEO)

The NFSIA funding has assisted the CCMEO to establish a postmortem toxicology outsourcing program. Outsourcing toxicology testing has enabled the CCMEO to reduce its current backlog of expanded toxicology testing while enabling the CCMEO to focus its efforts on providing thorough, quality, accurate and efficient medicolegal death investigation services to the Cook County residents.

Project Grants

Public Safety

Registered in the GATA Grantee Portal and in Good Standing with Pre-qualification requirements.

None

Registered in the GATA Grantee Portal, in Good Standing with Pre-qualification requirements and submittal of all application requirements by the close date/time of the posted Notice of Funding Opportunity.

Proposals will be reviewed by a panel of ICJIA staff and stakeholders with expertise in services to victims of crime. Applicants will be selected based on overall scoring. Decisions on which projects to fund among applications with equivalent scores will be selected based on individual scores of the evidence-based practices category.

Review team recommendations will be forwarded to the ICJIA Budget Committee for preliminary approval and applicants will be notified of the Committee's decision. A panel will conduct a final review of applications for cost allowability.

As identified in the Notice of Funding Opportunity

Budget Committee review/approval of recommended designations

Unsuccessful applicants may request a formal appeal. Only the evaluation process is subject to appeal. Evaluation scores and funding determinations may not be contested and will not be considered by the ICJIA’s Appeals Review Officer. The appeal must be in writing and submitted within 14 calendar days after either the date the grant award notice is published or receipt of a Funding Opportunity Declination Letter from ICJIA, whichever comes first.

Additional funding of up to 24 months may be awarded after the initial funding period, contingent upon satisfactory performance and availability of funds. Total funding for the grant program under a NOFO will not exceed 36 months.

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The types of expenses listed below generally may be paid with Coverdell funds: Personnel: Funds may be used for forensic science or medical examiner personnel, overtime, fellowships, visiting scientists, interns, consultants, or contracted staff. Computerization: Funds may be used to upgrade, replace, lease, or purchase computer hardware and software for forensic analyses and data management. Laboratory equipment: Funds may be used to upgrade, lease, or purchase forensic laboratory or medical examiner equipment and instrumentation. Supplies: Funds may be used to acquire forensic laboratory or medical examiner supplies. Accreditation: Funds may be used to prepare for laboratory accreditation by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD-LAB), Forensic Quality Services (FQS), the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME), the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA), or other appropriate accrediting bodies. Funds also may be used for application and maintenance fees charged by appropriate accrediting bodies. Education, training and certification: Funds may be used for appropriate internal and external training of staff that are directly and substantially involved in providing forensic science or medical examiner services. In appropriate cases, funds also may be used for fees charged by appropriate certifying bodies for certification of staff in specific forensic discipline areas. All education, training, and certification activities must be designed to improve the quality and/or timeliness of forensic science or medical examiner services. The grant application should demonstrate that the proposed training or certification is directly related to the job position and duties of the individual(s) receiving the training or seeking certification. Facilities: Funds may be used for program expenses relating to facilities, provided the expenses are directly attributable to improving the quality and/or timeliness of forensic science or medical examiner services. Funds also may be used for renovation and/or construction undertaken as part of the applicant’s program to improve the quality and/or timeliness of forensic science or medical examiner services. See the specific year's solicitation to which you are applying for detailed on limitations on use of funds for costs of new facility. Administrative expenses: Not more than 10 percent of the total amount of a Coverdell grant may be used for administrative expenses. The following expenses that are not permitted: Expenses other than those listed above (including expenses for general law enforcement functions or non-forensic investigatory functions). Costs for any new facility that exceed the limits described above. Administrative expenses that exceed 10 percent of the total grant amount.

Submit program reports Submit financial status reports Submit timekeeping certifications Submit closeout financial status report, property inventory, and closeout program report

Grantee develops and maintains a record-keeping system to document all agreement related activities and expenditures. Records will act as the original source material for compilation of the data required, and all other program activity.

Grantee will provide access for purposes of monitoring, audit and examination to all relevant books, documents, papers, and records, and to relevant books, documents, papers and records of subcontractors.

NSFIA (CDFA 16.742) FFY19 (19-CD-BX-0001) FFY20 (20-CD-BX-0004) 15PBJA-21-GG-02903-COVE

Single obligation to CCMEO

$176,665

To improve the timeliness of the closure of routine and drug-related cases that necessitate toxicology analysis.

A state or unit of local government that receives a Coverdell grant must use the grant for one or more of these three purposes: To carry out all or a substantial part of a program intended to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science or medical examiner services in the State, including those services provided by laboratories operated by the State and those operated by units of local government within the State. To eliminate a backlog in the analysis of forensic science evidence, [1] including, among other things, a backlog with respect to firearms examination, latent prints, toxicology, controlled substances, forensic pathology, questioned documents, and trace evidence. To train, assist and employ forensic laboratory personnel as needed to eliminate such a backlog.

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2121 W Harrison, Chicago, IL 60612

https://www.cookcountyil.gov/agency/medical-examiners-office http://www.nij.gov/topics/forensics/lab-operations/capacity/nfsia/pages/welcome.aspx http://www.icjia.state.il.us/grants/overview#tab_grant-programs

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None

FY 2018 : $759,283
FY 2019 : $729,357
FY 2020 : $721,979
FY 2021 : $620,977
FY 2022 : $626,611
FY 2023 : $465,271