Provides funding to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner/coroner services.

34 USC 10561-10566

30 ILCS 708

Title 44 Administrative Code 7000

Coverdell grant must be used for one or more of the following objectives: (1) To carry out all or a substantial part of a program intended to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science or medical examiner/coroner’s office services. (2) To eliminate a backlog in the analysis of forensic science evidence, including, among other things, a backlog with respect to firearms examination, latent prints, impression evidence, toxicology, digital evidence, fire evidence, controlled substances, forensic pathology, questioned documents, and trace evidence. (3) To train, assist, and employ forensic laboratory personnel and medicolegal death investigators, as needed to eliminate such a backlog. (4) To 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). (5) To educate and train forensic pathologists. (6) To fund medicolegal death investigation systems to facilitate accreditation of medical examiner and coroner offices and certification of medicolegal death investigators.

Yes

Grantee must comply with award terms and conditions required in the grant agreement.

Other; Government Organizations;

States may apply for Coverdell funds. States may be eligible for both formula and competitive funds. Any state application for funding must be submitted by the Coverdell State Administering Agency (SAA). The Coverdell law (at 34 USC 10562) requires that, to request a grant, an applicant for Coverdell funds must submit: 1. A certification and description regarding a plan for forensic science laboratories. Each applicant must submit a certification that the State or unit of local government has developed a plan for forensic science laboratories under a program intended to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science or medical examiner services in the State, including such services provided by the laboratories operated by the State and those operated by units of local government within the State. Applicants must also specifically describe the manner in which the grant will be used to carry out that plan. 2. A certification regarding use of generally accepted laboratory practices. Each applicant must submit a certification that any forensic laboratory system, medical examiner’s office, or coroner’s office in the State, including any laboratory operated by a unit of local government within the State, that will receive any portion of the grant amount (whether directly or through a subgrant) uses generally accepted laboratory practices and procedures established by accrediting organizations or appropriate certifying bodies. 3. A certification regarding forensic science laboratory accreditation. Each applicant must submit a certification that any forensic science laboratory system in the State (except with regard to any medical examiner’s office, or coroner’s office in the State), including any laboratory operated by a unit of local government within the State, that will receive any portion of the grant amount (whether directly or through a subgrant) either is accredited, or, is not so accredited, but will (or will be required in a legally binding and enforceable writing to) use a portion of the grant amount to prepare and apply for such accreditation not more than two (2) years after the date on which a grant is awarded under a fiscal year’s grant solicitation for the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program. 4. A certification and description regarding costs of new facilities. Each applicant must submit a certification that the amount of the grant used for the costs of any new facility constructed as part of a program to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science or medical examiner services will not exceed certain limitations set forth in the Coverdell law at 34 USC 10562. (See information on “permissible expenses” in the solicitation.) Applicants must also specifically describe any new facility to be constructed as well as the estimated costs of the facility. 5. A certification regarding external investigations into allegations of serious negligence or misconduct. Each applicant must submit a certification that “a government entity exists and an appropriate process is in place to conduct independent external investigations into allegations of serious negligence or misconduct substantially affecting the integrity of the forensic results committed by employees or contractors of any forensic laboratory system, medical examiner office, coroner’s office, law enforcement storage facility, or medical facility in the State that will receive a portion of the grant amount.

Eligible applicants must be state or local (i.e., county and municipal) governments. A state/local government entity performing forensic science services is considered a “forensic science laboratory” if it: • Employs one or more full-time scientists (with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a natural science [e.g., chemistry, physics, biology, or a closely-related natural-science field]), and whose principal function is to examine physical evidence in criminal matters and provide reports and testimony to courts of law regarding such evidence. • “Police identification units” (units operating outside of the crime laboratory function), or entities that engage exclusively in evidence collection and documentation are not forensic science laboratories for these purposes. • Medical examiner and coroner offices are treated as forensic science laboratories.

Formula Grants

Government Services

Applicants should provide documentation of current accreditation with the application for any accredited laboratory. Acceptable types of documentation of current accreditation include: an electronic (scanned) copy of the current accreditation certificate(s), a digital photograph of the current accreditation certificate(s), or a letter from the accrediting body that includes the certificate number. Additionally, if a certificate references another document that contains key information on the type or scope of the accreditation, provide a copy of that supplemental documentation. Independent accrediting or certifying organizations may include ANAB, NAME, A2LA, IAC&ME, or other appropriate accrediting bodies. (Per 34 U.S.C. § 10562 (2), such an accrediting body would be “an accrediting body that is a signatory to an internationally recognized arrangement and that offers accreditation to forensic science conformity assessment bodies using an accreditation standard that is recognized by that internationally recognized arrangement[.]”)

Pre-application coordination is required. An environmental impact assessment (NEPA) is also required. Register and submit the Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) and the Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) in Grants.gov at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html. To register in Grants.gov, applicants will need to obtain a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) and System for Award Management (SAM) registration or renewal. Register the Entity Administrator (E-Biz POC) and Application Submitter in the DOJ Justice Grants System (JustGrants). This program is subject to Executive Order 12372 (E.O. 12372), "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." Applicants must contact their State Administering Agency (SAA) to determine if the program has been selected for review by the State. The date that the application was sent to the SAA, or the reason such submission is not required (applicant's state does not appear on the Single Points of Contact or SPOC) would indicate “Program is subject to E.O.12372 but has not been selected by the state for review” in the application.

Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) for this listing will be posted on Grants.gov. Application Submitter will complete and submit the full application in JustGrants at https://justgrants.usdoj.gov. See “How to Apply” section in the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide.

Subject to availability of appropriated funds, and applicable eligible and legal requirements. See current fiscal year's solicitation.

BJA reviews the application to make sure information presented is reasonable, understandable, measurable, achievable, and consistent with the solicitation. BJA will also review applications to ensure statutory requirements have been met. Peer reviewers will review requests for competitive funds submitted under the solicitation that meet basic minimum requirements. BJA may use internal peer reviewers (DOJ employees), external peer reviewers, or a combination, to assess competitive requests under the program meeting basic minimum requirements on technical merit using the solicitation’s selection criteria. Peer reviewers’ ratings and any resulting recommendations are advisory only, although their views are considered carefully. Absent explicit statutory authorization or written delegation of authority to the contrary, the Assistant Attorney General (AAG) will make all final award decisions. With respect to requests for competitive funds, the AAG may also give consideration to factors including, but not limited to, peer review ratings, underserved populations, geographic diversity, strategic priorities, past performance, and available funding when making awards. Award notifications are sent by email through JustGrants to the individuals listed in the application.

The full application must be submitted in JustGrants by the JustGrants application deadline.

See current fiscal year's solicitation

For statutory formula awards, see 28 CFR Part 18. There are no appeal rights for rejection of a discretionary application, but for discretionary awards, see 28 CFR Part 18.

N/A

Matching Requirements: N/A. Statutory Formula: Title Chapter Part Subpart Public Law Statutory Formula: 34 USC 10563.

Funds shall not be used for general law enforcement functions or non-forensic investigatory functions, and shall not be used for research or statistical projects or activities.

Award recipients are required to submit periodic financial reports, progress reports, final financial and final progress reports, performance metrics and, if applicable, an annual audit report in accordance with the Part 200 Uniform Requirements or specific award conditions. In addition, Coverdell grantees are required to report referrals in connection with allegations of serious negligence or serious misconduct.

2 CFR 200; 30 ILCS 708/65(c); 44 III. Admin Code 7000.90

2 CFR 200.333; 2 CFR 200.336; 44 Ill. Admin. Code 7000.430(a), (b) and (e); 44 Ill. Admin. Code 7000.450

15-0404-0-1-754;

FY22 est $35,000,000.00; FY21 est $33,000,000.00; FY20 $26,469,758.00; FY19 $27,370,932.00; FY18 $27,363,404.00; FY17 $10,690,702.00

Financial assistance is in the amount consistent with the applicant's proposed project and BJA's plans, priorities and levels of financing.

In Fiscal Year 2020, BJA’s Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program awarded a total of $26.5 million through the program's formula ($22.5 million) and competitive ($4 million) solicitations. The awards help states and local governments improve the quality and timeliness of forensic services provided by crime laboratories and medical examiner and coroners' offices. Funding is used to eliminate forensic analysis backlogs and employ and/or train laboratory personnel and death investigators A total of 1,513 award were made from 2002 to 2020. From 2011 to 2018, major program accomplishments include: 1. Approximately 1 million backlog cases analyzed 2. Approximately 10,000 forensic science personnel attended training 3. Approximately 1,000 medical examiner personnel attended training 4. From 2017 to 2018, 4 agencies received initial accreditation and 70 agencies used fees to maintain accreditation. The ISP is a government entity crime laboratory system comprised of six operational forensic science laboratories responsible for conducting forensic analysis on evidence submissions from approximately 1,200 law enforcement agencies located throughout the State of Illinois, and a Training and Applications Laboratory composed of the Statewide Training Program and the Research and Development Laboratory responsible for training staff and conducting/reviewing validations. The laboratory system maintains ISO accreditation and compliance with the requirements of the Quality Assurance Standards established by the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The ISP offers provides forensic science service in the disciplines of Drug Chemistry, Trace Chemistry, Toxicology, Firearms / Tool marks, Footwear/Tire tracks, Latent Prints, Microscopy and Forensic Biology/DNA. ISP forensic analysts must successfully complete an internal, structured training program prior to conducting forensic analysis. All ISP forensic analysts are required to participate annually in the quality assurance proficiency testing program. Over the years (2008 - present), the ISP used Coverdell funds to assist with the achievement of many goals, projects, personnel training and equipment purchases, as well as address the opioid crisis. The result has been a significant improvement in the quality and timeliness of the forensic services provided to the law enforcement community. The purchase of digital imaging systems for the latent print section allowed latent print examiners to capture, calibrate and document analytical images from evidence submissions, the purchase of balances and instrumentation such as the GC/MS, triple quadrupole LC/MS and GC/IR systems used by the drug chemistry section to assist with the analysis of synthetic opioids improved the overall analytical capacity, the purchase of small equipment including barcode printers/scanners which eliminated the extra time needed to retype agency information, the purchase of light sources for stereoscopes and microscopes used for screening purposes, and the purchase of refrigerators used to store evidence in the toxicology section, all contributed to the continuous improvement in the analytical productivity, and overall backlog reduction.

2 CFR Part 200; 2 CFR Part 2800; the current fiscal year’s solicitation available at www.bja.gov; and the DOJ Grants Financial Guide available at www.ojp.gov.

None

US DOJ OJP BJA 810 7th Street, N.W., Washington, DC

https://bja.gov

DNA Capacity Enhancement Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program

Information on previously awarded NIJ/BJA grant funded projects can be accessed at www.ojp.gov. Fiscal Year 2017. Fiscal Year 2018. Fiscal Year 2019. Fiscal Year 2020.

5/7/2021

FY 2015 : $42,414
FY 2016 : $184,706
FY 2017 : $164,585
FY 2018 : $109,950
FY 2019 : $193,904
FY 2020 : $153,779