Apply now! NIJ is accepting applications under this program. The deadline for applications April 19, 2010, 11:45 p.m. eastern time. Download the solicitation (pdf, 19 pages).
This site offers general information about this program based on the fiscal year 2010 solicitation, which contains further detail and instruction. Requirements for funding in future years may differ.
The objective of the Convicted Offender and/or Arrestee DNA Backlog Reduction Program is to accelerate the analysis of convicted offender samples, arrestee DNA samples or both collected by States pursuant to applicable law for databasing purposes (hereinafter, "DNA database samples"), in order to provide timely Combined DNA Index System (CODIS)-compatible data for all 13 CODIS core STR loci ("profile") for State and national DNA databases. Funds are to be used by a State's designated existing and accredited DNA database laboratory ("DNA database laboratory") to reduce the number of DNA database samples pending DNA analysis ("backlog") in one of three ways:
- Through in-house analysis. The DNA database laboratory will determine what its backlog is and may apply for no more than $35.00 per sample to be analyzed.
- Through sending samples to be tested by accredited fee-for-service laboratories. The DNA database laboratory will determine what its backlog is and may apply for up to $35.00 per sample to be analyzed.
- Through data review of sample profiles generated by an accredited laboratory. If the database laboratory lacks funding to ensure timely review of the profiles generated, it may apply for up to $5.00 per DNA profile reviewed.
All profiles obtained from DNA database samples with funding provided under this announcement must be entered into CODIS within 90 days of completion of analysis and uploaded to the National DNA Index System (NDIS).
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.
- Is a participant in the National DNA Index System (NDIS).
- Undergoes external audits, not less than once every 2 years, to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the Quality Assurance Standards for DNA Databasing Laboratories established by the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
- If the laboratory requests assistance with analysis of samples in-house, then the laboratory must possess sufficient in-house DNA analysis capacity to analyze at least 50 percent of its annual receipt of DNA database samples or a minimum of 5,000 DNA database samples per month.
