Results and Reporting

At the end of the project period, public crime laboratories receiving FY 2009 Forensic DNA Backlog Reduction funding are expected to demonstrate improvements over current operations in forensic DNA casework backlog reduction and/or crime laboratory capacity enhancement for DNA analysis. Expected results include:

• A reduction in the average number of days between submission of DNA evidence samples to the applicant's forensic science laboratory (or laboratories) and the delivery of DNA test results to the requesting office or agency.
• An increase in the number of forensic DNA samples processed per analyst per month.
• A reduction in the applicant's backlog of forensic DNA casework.
  

Laboratories that do not observe a demonstrated improvement are expected to be able to demonstrate a mitigating critical situation affecting the laboratory which, if the project funded under this program had not been implemented, would have caused an increase in the forensic DNA casework backlog and/or a decrease in the crime laboratory capacity for DNA analysis.

Performance Measures

To assist in fulfilling the Department's responsibilities under the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), P.L. 103–62, applicants who receive funding under this solicitation must provide data that measures the results of their work. Performance measures for this announcement are as follows:

Program Objective 1: To improve DNA analysis capacity of existing State and local government crime laboratories that conduct DNA analysis.

• Performance Measure 1: Reduction in the average number of days between the submission of a DNA sample to a laboratory and the delivery of the test results. Under this measure, the grantee provides:
  • Average number of days between the submission of a request for DNA analysis to a laboratory and the delivery of the test results at the beginning of the grant period.
  • Average number of days between the submission of a request for DNA analysis to a laboratory and the delivery of the test results at the end of the reporting period.
• Performance Measure 2: Increase in DNA analysis throughput for the lab. Under this measure, the grantee provides:
  • Average number of DNA samples analyzed per analyst at the beginning of the grant period.
  • Average number of DNA samples analyzed per analyst at the end of the reporting period.
    

Performance Objective 2: To reduce backlogged DNA casework in State and local government crime laboratories.

• Performance Measure 3a: Percent reduction in DNA backlog casework.
  
• Performance Measure 3b: CODIS hits attributable to forensic casework DNA analyses funded under this announcement.
  Under these measures, the grantee provides:
  • Number of backlogged forensic DNA cases at the beginning of the award period.
  • Number of backlogged forensic DNA cases analyzed using funds provided under this announcement.
  • Number of backlogged forensic DNA cases at the end of the award period.
    
  • Number of forensic DNA profiles entered into CODIS as the result of funds provided under this announcement.
    
  • Number of CODIS hits attributable to forensic DNA analyses funded under this announcement.