This site offers general information about this program based on the fiscal year 2008 solicitation (2008), which contains further detail and instruction. Requirements for funding in future years may differ.
The objective of this program is to accelerate the analysis of convicted offender and/or arrestee DNA samples collected by States pursuant to applicable law for databasing purposes (hereinafter, "DNA database samples"), in order to provide timely CODIS-compatible data for all 13 CODIS core STR loci for State and national DNA databases. Funds are to be used by a State's designated existing and accredited DNA database laboratory to reduce the backlog of DNA database samples in one of three ways:
- Through in-house analysis. The DNA database laboratory will determine what its backlog is and can apply for $35.00 per sample to be analyzed. If the database laboratory lacks funding to ensure timely review of the profiles generated, it may apply for an additional $5.00 per DNA profile generated in-house for a total of $40.00 per sample tested in-house.
- Through sending samples to be tested by accredited fee-for-service laboratories. Funding requests for this option are to be calculated in exactly the same fashion as for the in-house testing option above.
- Through data review of sample profiles generated by an accredited fee-for-service laboratory. If the database laboratory lacks funding to ensure timely review of the profiles generated, it may apply for an additional $5.00 per DNA profile generated.
Who Can Receive Funding
| "States" Defined |
|---|
| For purposes of this announcement, the term "State" includes the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. For those States that use a laboratory operated by a unit of local government for analysis of the State's DNA database samples, the application must be submitted by the unit of local government having oversight of the DNA database program. |
Eligible applicants are States with a designated existing crime laboratory that conducts analysis of DNA database samples, provided the designated DNA database laboratory meets all of the following requirements:
- Is accredited by a nonprofit professional association of persons actively involved in forensic science that is nationally recognized within the forensic science community.
- Possesses sufficient in-house DNA analysis capacity to analyze at least 50 percent of their annual receipt of DNA database samples, or a minimum of 5,000 DNA database samples per month—if in-house testing is requested.
- Is a participant in the National DNA Index System (NDIS).
- Undergoes external audits, not less than once every 2 years, to demonstrate compliance with DNA Quality Assurance Standards established by the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
