Post-conviction Testing of DNA Evidence

 
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    CFDA#

    16.820
     

    Funder Type

    Federal Government

    IT Classification

    B - Readily funds technology as part of an award

    Authority

    Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)

    Summary

    The Post-conviction Testing of DNA Evidence program funds projects that will defray the costs associated with postconviction DNA testing in cases of violent felony offenses (as defined by state law) in which actual innocence might be demonstrated. The Postconviction Testing of DNA Evidence Program also provides funds to assist in defraying the costs associated with postconviction case review and evidence location in these cases.  


    Any awards under this solicitation would be made under statutory authority provided by full year appropriations act for FY 2024. As of the writing of this solicitation, the Department of Justice is operating under a short-term "Continuing Resolution;" no full-year appropriation for the Department has been enacted for FY 2024. 


    Specific Information 

    Under Category 1, BJA seeks to help defray the costs (e.g., additional personnel, overtime, testing supplies, and services) associated with postconviction DNA testing for violent felony offenses (as defined by state law) in which actual innocence might be demonstrated. Funds may be used to review suitable postconviction cases and locate and analyze biological evidence.  


    Under Category 2, BJA provides funding to assist entities to improve the preservation of biological evidence and/or modernize record retention for postconviction violent felony offenses (as defined by state law) in which actual innocence might be demonstrated. 


    BJA will prioritize applications for Category 1 for funding over those in Category 2. Once funding decisions for Category 1 are complete, remaining funding will be distributed to the relevant applications in Category 2, as appropriate.  


    Category 1 

    Program objectives for Category 1 are to: 

    1. Identify potential postconviction DNA testing cases.  
    2. Review appropriate postconviction cases to identify those in which DNA testing could prove the actual innocence of a person convicted of a violent felony offense as defined by state law. 
    3. Locate biological evidence associated with such postconviction cases. 
    4. Perform DNA analysis of appropriate biological evidence and report and review the DNA test results.

    Category 2 

    Program objectives for Category 2 are to: 

    1. Locate, record, store, and retain biological evidence in adjudicated cases in accordance with best practices.  
    2. Modernize evidence retention practices for biological evidence in accordance with best practices. 
    3. Modernize and digitize the storage of existing files and records in adjudicated cases. 
    4. Implement modern, digitized file and record retention systems.  
     

    History of Funding

    Previous awardees can be found at https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/awards/list?field_award_status_value=All&state=All&field_funding_type_value=All&field_served_nationally_value=All&fiscal_year=&combine_awards=Post-conviction+Testing+of+DNA+Evidence&awardee=&city=#awards-awards-list-block-gkgdpm1ooymuyukj

    Additional Information

    Eligible expenses include: 

    • Salary and Benefits of Additional Employees
    • Engage additional (temporary) personnel
    • Overtime
    • Victim Advocates
    • Travel (limited) 
    • Computer equipment
    • Laboratory supplies
    • Evidence Management/Preservation/Tracking Software, Supplies and Equipment
    • Procurement from private laboratories of DNA analyses
    • Training (limited)

    Ineligible expenses include: 

    • Costs associated with civil litigation related to the original criminal conviction. 
    • Salaries, benefits, or overtime for staff who are not directly engaged in case identification, case review, location of biological evidence, or DNA analysis of biological evidence or directly engaged in modernization of evidence retention practices for biological evidence or modernization of the storage of existing files/records in adjudicated cases. 
    • Laboratory equipment, instrumentation, and software such as, but not limited to, genetic analyzers, DNA extraction robotics and probabilistic genotyping software, except as described in Expenses That Are Permitted” above. 
    • Construction. 
    • Renovation. 
    • Office furnishings. 
    • Witness travel. 
    • General litigation training or training that is not relevant to postconviction work involving DNA. 
    • Direct administrative expenses that exceed 5% of the federal portion of the award. 

    Contacts

    National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) Response Center

    National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) Response Center
    Bureau of Justice Assistance
    810 Seventh Street NW
    Washington, DC 20531
    (800) 851-3420
    (301) 240-5830
     

  • Eligibility Details

    Eligible applicants include city or township governments, county governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and state governments.


    An applicant entity may submit more than one application, if each application proposes a different project in response to the solicitation. Also, an entity may be proposed as a subrecipient (subgrantee) in more than one application.


    BJA will consider applications under which two or more entities would carry out the federal award; however, only one entity may be the applicant. Any others must be proposed as subrecipients (subgrantees).

    Deadline Details

    The SF-424 and the SF-LLL must be submitted in Grants.gov by April 29, 2024 8:59 PM ET, The full application must be submitted in JustGrants by May 6, 2024 8:59 PM ET. Similar deadlines are anticipated annually.

    Award Details

    Up to $12,000,000 is available in total funding for an anticipated 12 awards. Cost sharing/matching is not required. Project periods last 36 months, starting October 1, 2024.

    Related Webcasts Use the links below to view the recorded playback of these webcasts


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