Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant Program

The information on this page is based on the fiscal year 2008 award announcement, which contains further detail and instruction. Requirements for funding in future years may differ.

• Program Description and Purpose
• Eligibility
• Expected Results and Outcome
• Use of Funds
• Allocation of Fund
• Program Contact
• Legislation

Program Description and Purpose

The Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program (the Coverdell program) awards grants to States and units of local government to help improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner services. Among other things, funds may be used to eliminate a backlog [1] in the analysis of forensic evidence; and to train and employ forensic laboratory personnel, as needed, to eliminate such a backlog. States may apply for both "base" (formula) and competitive funds. Units of local government may apply for competitive funds.

A State or unit of local government that receives a Coverdell grant must use the grant for one or more of these three purposes:

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 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.
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, toxicology, controlled substances, forensic pathology, questioned documents, and trace evidence.
3. To train, assist, and employ forensic laboratory personnel as needed to eliminate such a backlog.

Eligibility

States [2] and units of local government may apply for FY2008 Coverdell funds. States may be eligible for both "base" (formula) and competitive funds. Units of local government within States may be eligible for competitive funds and may apply directly to NIJ. State applications for funding MUST be submitted by the Coverdell State Administering Agency (SAA) . (Other interested State agencies or departments must coordinate with their respective SAA. ) Each applicant must satisfy the specific application requirements outlined in this announcement, the general requirements for NIJ and OJP grants, and all other applicable legal requirements.

The Coverdell law (at 42 U.S.C. § 3797k(4)) requires that, to request a grant, an applicant for Coverdell funds must submit:

• A certification and description regarding a plan for forensic science laboratories.
• A certification regarding use of generally accepted laboratory practices.
• A certification and description regarding costs of new facilities.
• A certification regarding external investigations into allegations of serious negligence or misconduct. See below for important notes and guidance regarding this certification . 

Applicants are expected to review the requirements of each certification carefully before determining whether the certification may be properly made. Any certification that is submitted must be executed by an official who is both familiar with the requirements of the certification and authorized to make the certification on behalf of the applicant agency (that is, the agency applying directly to NIJ).

Review the fiscal year 2008 solicitation (pdf, 28 pages) for additional information, guidance and templates for certifications. Certifications must be made using the templates that appear in Appendix 2 of the 2008 solicitation.

Certifications made on behalf of subrecipients of award funds—rather than certifications made on behalf of the agency applying directly to NIJ—are not acceptable to satisfy the certification requirements.

In connection with the certification regarding external investigations, applicants must provide, prior to receiving award funds, the name(s) of the existing “government entity” (or government entities). This information is to be provided as an attachment to the program narrative section of the application. See “What an Application Must Include.”

Important Note on Referrals in Connection With Allegations of Serious Negligence or Serious Misconduct.

The highest standards of integrity in the practice of forensic science are critical to enhance the administration of justice. We strongly encourage recipients (and subrecipients) of Coverdell funds to make use of the process referenced in their certification as to external investigations and refer allegations of serious negligence or misconduct substantially affecting the integrity of forensic results to government entities with an appropriate process in place to conduct independent external investigations.

Special Guidance on Certification Regarding External Investigations into Allegations of Serious Negligence or Misconduct.

The certification regarding external investigations has a number of requirements, each of which must be satisfied before the certification may be made. The official authorized to make the certification on behalf of the applicant agency must review each of the statutory elements and this guidance carefully before determining whether a certification may be properly made. After reviewing the information and guidance provided here, the official, on behalf of the applicant agency, must determine whether:

• A government entity exists
• With an appropriate process 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’s office, coroner’s office, law enforcement storage facility, or medical facility in the State that will receive a portion of the grant amount.

Note: In making this certification, the certifying official is certifying that these requirements are satisfied not only with respect to the applicant itself, but also with respect to each entity that will receive a portion of the grant amount. Certifying officials are advised that a false statement in the certification may be subject to criminal prosecution, including under 18 U.S.C. § 1001.

Expected Results and Outcomes

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.

The output measures for Coverdell awards are:

1. Change in the number of days between submission of a sample to a forensic science laboratory and delivery of test results to a requesting office or agency.
2. The number of backlogged forensic cases analyzed with Coverdell funds, if applicable to the grant.
3. The number of forensic science or medical examiner personnel who completed appropriate training or educational opportunities with Coverdell funds, if applicable to the grant.

Use of Funds

The types of expenses listed below generally may be paid with Coverdell funds.

1. Personnel. Funds may be used for forensic science or medical examiner personnel, overtime, fellowships, visiting scientists, interns, consultants, or contracted staff.
2. Computerization. Funds may be used to upgrade, replace, lease, or purchase computer hardware and software for forensic analyses and data management.
3. Laboratory equipment. Funds may be used to upgrade, lease, or purchase forensic laboratory or medical examiner equipment and instrumentation.
4. Supplies. Funds may be used to acquire forensic laboratory or medical examiner supplies. Note: To help ensure compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Department of Justice regulations, Coverdell awardees who intend to use funds for activities involving the use or purchase of chemicals will be required to submit additional information. Please see the "Additional Requirements" section of the fiscal year 2008 announcement (pdf, 23 pages). Applicants should note that award recipients whose proposals involve the use or purchase of chemicals may encounter delays in the release of their award funds pending satisfactory completion of the NEPA review process.
5. Accreditation. Funds may be used to prepare for laboratory accreditation by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD-LAB), the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME), or other appropriate accrediting bodies. Funds also may be used for application and maintenance fees charged by appropriate accrediting bodies.
6. 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.
7. 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.
   

   Limitations on use of funds for costs of new facility. The Coverdell law limits the amount of funds that can be used for the costs of a new facility or facilities. Maximum amounts are determined by the total amount of the Coverdell grant (including both base and competitive funds) and the total amount of funds available for Coverdell grants nationwide. See the fiscal year 2008 solicitation document for formulas to calculate the maximum amounts that may be used for costs of new facilities (pdf, 23 pages).
   Note: To help ensure compliance with NEPA and Department of Justice regulations, Coverdell awardees who intend to use funds for activities involving the renovation or construction of facilities will be required to submit additional information. Applicants should note that award recipients whose proposals involve construction or renovation may encounter delays in the release of their award funds pending satisfactory completion of the NEPA review process.

8. 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:

1. Expenses other than those listed above (including expenses for general law enforcement functions or non-forensic investigatory functions).
2. Costs for any new facility that exceed the limits described above.
3. Administrative expenses that exceed 10 percent of the total grant amount.

Match requirement
There is no State or local match required under the Coverdell program.

Allocation of Funds

“Base” funds for States

Approximately 75 percent of the funds available for Coverdell grants will be allocated among eligible States based on population. See “Estimated Amount of Base Funds, by State (pdf, 23 pages)” in the fiscal year 2008 solicitation for the approximate amount for each eligible State.

Note: Under the provisions of the Coverdell law, several factors (including the number of eligible State applicants) affect “base” amounts.

Competitive funds for States and units of local government

Twenty-five percent of the available funds will be allocated among States and units of local government through a competitive process. For FY2008, the maximum amount a State or unit of local government may receive in competitive funds is $95,000.

Units of local government that provide forensic science or medical examiner services (whether through a forensic science laboratory, medical examiner’s office, or coroner’s office) may apply directly to NIJ for competitive funds. States may apply through SAAs for competitive funds for forensic sciences improvements above and beyond those it can accomplish with its estimated amount of base funds.

Minimum awards to States

The Coverdell law sets a floor for the total amount an eligible applicant State will receive as its Coverdell grant. For FY2008, the minimum Coverdell grant to an eligible State will be not less than $99,337 (minimum awards for American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are lower). If the amount a State would otherwise receive as its total Coverdell grant (including both base funds and any competitive funds) is less than $99,337, NIJ will increase that State’s total grant to $99,337.

All awards are subject to the availability of appropriated funds and to any modifications or additional requirements that may be imposed by law.

Legislation

Authorizing

Public Law Number 106-561 (12/21/2000): An Act to improve the quality, timeliness, and credibility of forensic science services for criminal justice purposes, and for other purposes. Cited as Paul Coverdell National Forensic Sciences Improvement Act. S.3045, Text or PDF.

Public Law Number 107-273 (H.R. 2215): In 2002, this amendment made these funds available to units of local government as well as States.

Public Law Number 108-405 (H.R. 5107): In 2004, this Act expanded the Coverdell program to include a forensic science backlog reduction component and the requirement of a new certification regarding external investigations.

Appropriating

• 2006: Public Law 109-108
• 2005: Public Law 108-447
• 2004: Public Law 108-199
• 2003: Public Law 108-007
• 2002: Public Law 107-077

Program Contacts

If you would like to speak with someone at NIJ about this program, contact Alan Spanbauer, program manager at 202-305-2436 or alan.spanbauer@usdoj.gov.