Title: Solicitation for CODIS STR Analysis of States' Collected Convicted
Offender DNA Samples.
Series: Solicitation
Author: National Institute of Justice
Published: NIJ, March 2000
Subject: Funding Resources
20 pages
41,000 bytes

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U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
National Institute of Justice

National Institute of Justice
Solicitation
Jeremy Travis, Director
March 2000

Solicitation for CODIS STR Analysis of States' Collected Convicted
Offender DNA Samples 

APPLICATION DEADLINE: May 15, 2000 

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U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
810 Seventh Street N.W.
Washington, DC 20531

Janet Reno
Attorney General

Daniel Marcus
Acting Associate Attorney General

Mary Lou Leary
Acting Assistant Attorney General

Jeremy Travis
Director, National Institute of Justice

For grant and funding information contact:
Department of Justice Response Center:
800-421-6770

Office of Justice Programs
World Wide Web Site:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov

National Institute of Justice
World Wide Web Site:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Background & Overview
II. Solicitation of Proposals
III. Eligibility and State Match Requirements
IV. Program Criteria
V. Restrictions and Limitations on Use of Funds
VI. Application Instructions and Requirements
VII. Award Criteria
VIII. Administrative Requirements
IX . Audit Requirements
X . Monitoring
XI. Suspension or Termination of Funding
XII. Award Period
XIII. Award Amount
XIV. Due Date
XV. Contact

Appendices

Appendix A - Quality Assurance Standards for Convicted Offender DNA 
Databasing Laboratories
Appendix B - NDIS Standards for Acceptance of DNA Data
Appendix C - Relevant provisions of the DNA Identification Act of 1994
Appendix D - Table of Convicted Offender Samples
Appendix E - Program and State Match Assurances
Appendix F - Common Message Format for CODIS
Appendix G - CODIS Hit Counting Guidelines
Appendix H - List of SPOCs
Appendix I - State Byrne Grant Offices
Appendix J - Model RFP for the Outsourcing of Convicted Offender DNA
Samples to Vendor Laboratories

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Solicitation for CODIS STR Analysis of States' Collected Convicted
Offender DNA Samples

I. Background & Overview

At the request of the Attorney General, the National Commission on the
Future of DNA Evidence was established in March 1998 to provide
recommendations on the current and future use of DNA technology in the
operation of the criminal justice system, from crime scene to jury. One of
the specific objectives of the National Commission is to recommend
appropriate funding areas to maintain or improve essential laboratory
capabilities. In furtherance of that objective, a Laboratory Funding Issues
Working group was empaneled. 

In response to the Attorney General's request for recommendations that
could be implemented immediately, the Laboratory Funding Issues
Working Group reported that there were substantial numbers of convicted
offender DNA samples that had been collected by the States but had not
yet been analyzed and entered into the State and national DNA databases.
At the time of this recommendation, it was estimated that there were over
750,000 convicted offender DNA samples awaiting analysis in State
forensic laboratories across the country.

States are encouraged to respond to this Solicitation requesting the STR
analysis of the convicted offender samples collected but not yet analyzed
with STR technology as of March 31, 2000. Again, States may include
convicted offender samples that have been analyzed with RFLP
technology but not request testing of samples previously analyzed with
STR technology in the numbers of collected convicted offender samples
for which they are requesting funding. 

States shall be required to outsource the STR analysis of their collected
convicted offender samples so that the resulting DNA profiles can be
entered into State and national DNA databases as expeditiously as
possible. States shall also be required to contract only with laboratories
that will certify their compliance with the DNA Identification Act of 1994,
the FBI Director's Quality Assurance Standards for Convicted Offender
DNA Databasing Laboratories, proficiency testing by an approved
proficiency test provider and NDIS Standards for Acceptance of DNA
Data. Additionally, States shall be required to contract with only American
Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board
(ASCLD/LAB) accredited laboratories or laboratories holding a
certification of compliance with DNA Advisory Board standards issued by
the National Forensic Science Technology Center (NFSTC). 

States responding to this Solicitation and determined to be eligible for the
program will receive an award for the analysis of a specified number of
convicted offender samples based on the number of backlogged samples
identified in their application. States shall be responsible for the quality
assurance of these convicted offender samples in accordance with the
Quality Assurance Standards for Convicted Offender DNA Databasing
Laboratories. States that are unable to perform the quality assurance of
these convicted offender samples in their own laboratories may choose to
out source the retesting to another laboratory or submit blind samples for
retesting by the vendor laboratory. The objective of this program is to
rapidly accelerate the analysis of the convicted offender samples collected
by the States in order to provide CODIS-compatible data (13 CODIS core
STR loci) for State and national DNA databases such that law enforcement
is provided with critical investigative information in a timely manner. This
solicitation represents the first opportunity many States will have to
participate in CODIS using STR markers.

II. Solicitation of Proposals

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) requests proposals from State
governments for the analysis of collected convicted offender samples.
Samples that are owed from convicted offenders or that are projected to be
collected may not be considered in this Solicitation. States shall be
required to report the number of convicted offender samples collected in
their State and the number of these samples that have been analyzed with
the 13 CODIS core loci - FGA, vWA, D3S1358, CSF1PO, TPOX, THO1,
D18S51, D21S11, D8S1179, D7S820, D13S317, D5S818, and D16S539.
Please note that samples previously analyzed with STR technology will
not be eligible for analysis under this Solicitation. 

States shall be required to submit an application to NIJ for the analysis of
their convicted offender samples. States that receive an award shall follow
their State procurement policies/procedures including, if applicable, their
sole source procedures to select a vendor laboratory to perform the STR
analysis of their convicted offender samples. Please note, that this
solicitation requires compliance with certain time limitations. States may
perform their own quality assurance of the analyzed samples, submit blind
samples for retesting by the vendor laboratory, or outsource the convicted
offender samples for retesting by another laboratory.

The objective of this solicitation is to analyze the States' convicted
offender samples in a timely manner so that these convicted offender DNA
profiles may be entered into State and national DNA databases to assist in
the investigation of crimes involving biological evidence. 

The Awards will be issued for an initial term of one year. 

III. Eligibility and State Match Requirements

Eligible applicants must be State governments. For those States in which a
local laboratory has responsibility for the analysis of the convicted
offender samples, the application shall be submitted by the State
government agency having oversight of the DNA database program. To be
eligible for funding under this Solicitation, States must have a minimum of
1,000 collected samples from convicted offenders which have not been
analyzed with STR technology as of March 31, 2000.

States shall also comply with the mandatory program and State match
requirements specified in Section IV of this Solicitation. For example,
States that are performing forensic DNA analysis responding to this
Solicitation shall be in compliance with the DNA Identification Act of
1994 (Appendix C) specifically with respect to compliance with the
Quality Assurance Standards for Convicted Offender DNA Databasing
Laboratories (Appendix A) and the proficiency testing requirements for
participation in the National DNA Index System (NDIS). To be eligible
for funding under this Solicitation, States must be participants in the
National DNA Index System (NDIS) or must have applied to participate in
NDIS as of March 31, 2000. 

As a State Match, States submitting a proposal in response to this
Solicitation shall be required to analyze a number of unknown suspect
cases (cases in which biological evidence is available but for which no
suspect has been identified) equal to at least 2.5 % of the total number of
convicted offender samples contracted out under this program during the
one year term of this Award. The number of unknown suspect cases
analyzed under this program may be calculated from the beginning of
Federal Fiscal Year 2000 (October 1, 1999) and extend 12 months after
the date of the NIJ award. States unable to demonstrate that this 2.5%
State match for unknown suspect cases has been analyzed and entered into
their State Forensic DNA database at the conclusion of the program shall
not be eligible for similar funding in future years. Please note that the
unknown suspect cases that are analyzed but do not produce results
suitable to be entered into CODIS will still apply to a State's 2.5% State
match requirement.

IV. Program Criteria 

A. Program Requirements - States shall comply with the following
mandatory requirements in order to be eligible to participate in this
program: 

1. States shall outsource the STR analysis of their collected convicted
offender samples in accordance with their State procurement
policies/procedures including their sole source procedures, if applicable.
Please note, if the responding State already has a relationship/contract with
a vendor laboratory, that vendor laboratory may be used if they are able to
meet all program requirements listed in this solicitation. If the responding
State plans on using this vendor laboratory, they should list in the Program
Narrative how the vendor laboratory meets all program requirements.

2. States shall require that any vendor laboratory selected for the STR
analyses of their convicted offender samples or the quality assurance of
those convicted offender samples be accredited by the American Society
of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board
(ASCLD/LAB) or have received a certificate of compliance with the DNA
Advisory Board standards from the National Forensic Science Technology
Center (NFSTC). 

3. If eligible to receive funding under this program, the State agrees to
expedite, as possible, their State procurement process in order to ensure
that a laboratory is selected as expeditiously as possible in order that the
first batch of collected convicted offender samples are provided to that
laboratory within one hundred and twenty (120) days of receipt of
notification of their award by NIJ. 

4. The State shall require that any vendor laboratory selected for STR
analysis of their convicted offender samples to analyze and report back the
results of the analysis of each batch of convicted offender samples to them
within thirty (30) days of receipt of that batch.

5. The State shall conduct quality assurance of the vendor laboratory's
analyses by either the submission of blind samples for retesting by the
vendor laboratory, by contracting out the retesting of the convicted
offender samples to another laboratory, or by retesting samples in-house.
The number of these quality assurance samples shall not exceed 10% of
the total convicted offender samples submitted by that State. The State
shall provide the vendor laboratory with quality assurance samples in the
first batch of convicted offender samples and, upon receipt of the results of
the quality assurance analyses, notify NIJ within thirty (30) days of the
quality assurance status of the vendor laboratory. The State shall
immediately report to NIJ any discrepancies in the quality assurance of the
convicted offender analyses performed by the vendor laboratory.

6. States performing forensic DNA analysis on their convicted offender
samples shall be in compliance with the current standards for the quality
assurance program for DNA analysis, issued by the Director of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation pursuant to the DNA Identification Act of 1994,
entitled Quality Assurance Standards for Convicted Offender DNA
Databasing Laboratories, (Appendix A). 

7. The State shall require that the laboratory selected analyze the State's
convicted offender samples for Amelogenin and all of the 13 CODIS core
loci - FGA, vWA, D3S1358, CSF1PO, TPOX, THO1, D18S51, D21S11,
D8S1179, D7S820, D13S317, D5S818, and D16S539 - in accordance with
the Federal Bureau of Investigation's NDIS Standards for Acceptance of
DNA Data; (Appendix B). The State agrees that the data provided by the
vendor laboratory, once the appropriate quality assurance of the samples
has been completed, will be expeditiously uploaded into CODIS, their
State DNA database, and NDIS. 

(a) The State shall require that the laboratory provide the genotypes in the
common message format for insertion into the FBI's Combined DNA
Index System (CODIS), (Appendix F). Please note that the common
message format for CODIS is undergoing revision and that the vendor
laboratory selected shall be required to provide the genotypes in CODIS
compatible format throughout the duration of their contract with the State.
A new revised version of the common message format may be instituted
no sooner than January 1, 2001 and laboratories should contact the FBI's
CODIS Help Desk for the most recent common message format after
January 1, 2001. 

8. States participating in the program are required to report to NIJ in the
format specified by the "CODIS Hit Counting Guidelines" (Appendix G)
any hits relating to the convicted offender samples analyzed as a result of
funding provided under this program. Such reporting shall occur within
thirty (30) days of the occurrence of such a hit.

B. State Match Requirements - States shall comply with the following
mandatory requirements in order to be eligible to participate in this
program: 

1. States receiving an award under this program shall be required to
analyze at least 2.5 % of the total number of convicted offender samples
contracted out under this program (From Table 1 [Appendix D], Column 5
- [Columns 7 + 8]) in unknown suspect cases (cases in which biological
evidence is available but for which no suspect has been identified) during
the 12 month term of the Award. The analysis of these unknown suspect
cases shall be with STR technology, specifically with as many of the 13
CODIS core loci that are validated in the State's laboratory system - FGA,
vWA, D3S1358, CSF1PO, TPOX, THO1, D18S51, D21S11, D8S1179,
D7S820, D13S317, D5S818, and D16S539. The State agrees that the
unknown suspect casework will be processed within its laboratory system
and the resulting data will be expeditiously uploaded into CODIS, their
State DNA database, and NDIS. 

The number of unknown suspect cases analyzed may be calculated as of
the beginning of Federal Fiscal Year 2000 (October 1, 1999). States
unable to demonstrate that this 2.5% number in unknown suspect case
load has been analyzed and entered into their State DNA database at the
conclusion of the program will not be eligible for similar funding in future
years. Please note that the unknown suspect cases that are analyzed but do
not produce results suitable to be entered into CODIS will still apply to a
State's 2.5% State match requirement.

2. States receiving an award under this program shall report to the
National Institute of Justice (NIJ), in the format specified by the "CODIS
Hit Counting Guidelines," any hits relating to the unknown suspect cases
analyzed as part of the State Match required under this program. Such
reporting shall occur within thirty (30) days of the occurrence of such hit.

3. States participating in the program are required to describe in their
Program Narrative how they will include the unknown suspect cases from
local laboratories in their State, if applicable. 

V. Restrictions and Limitations on Use of Funds 

The Federal funding provided under this program shall only be used for
outsourcing to vendor laboratories for the STR analysis of convicted
offender samples from States receiving an award under this Solicitation. 

No single award to a State shall exceed the cost of STR analyses for
100,000 samples.

VI. Application Instructions and Requirements 

States responding to this Solicitation shall include the following forms and
information, completed and signed by the appropriate official of the
applicant's agency: 

Responses shall be assembled in the order shown below:

1. Standard Form (SF) 424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
2. OJP Form 7150/1 Budget Detail Worksheet
3. Abstract
4. Program Narrative
5. Table of Convicted Offender Samples 
6. "Program Assurances"
7. "State Match Assurances"
8. OJP Form 4000/3 Assurances
9. OJP Form 4061/3 (Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment,
Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-free Workplace
Requirements)
10. "Statutory Assurance" required by the DNA Identification Act of 1994
11. Certification that Federal funds will not be used to supplant State or
local funds.
12. Privacy Certificate

Obtaining Forms. The "Program Assurances," "State Match Assurances"
and "Statutory Assurance" forms and Table of Convicted Offender
Samples are included at the end of this Solicitation. To obtain the other
forms, applicants can:

o Access the Justice Information Center on the web at
http://www.ncjrs.org/fedgrant.htm#NIJ. At this site, the NIJ application
forms are available as electronic files that may be downloaded to a
personal computer.

o Request hard copies of the forms by mail from the National Criminal
Justice Reference Center at 800-851-3420 or from the Department of
Justice Response Center at 800-421-6770 (in the Washington, D.C. area,
call 202-307-1480).

o Request copies by fax. Call 800-851-3420 and select option 1, then
option 1 again for NIJ. The code is 1023.

Additional information on the specific forms and narratives follow.

Standard Form 424 Application for Federal Assistance (signature required)

The Application for Federal Assistance is a standard form used by most
Federal agencies for application for Federal assistance. It contains 18
different items, all of which are to be completed in order for the
application to be reviewed. NIJ cannot accept the application without a
completed and signed SF 424. Please type or electronically generate the
SF 424 as handwritten applications may be difficult to read.

Item 1 - Type of Submission: The STR analysis of convicted offender
samples funding cannot be used for construction or building purposes.
Check the "Non-Construction" box in the application section.

Item 2 - Date Submitted: Indicate the date you sent the application to the
Federal agency (e.g. NIJ). The "Applicant Identifier" is the number
assigned by your jurisdiction, if any, to track applications. If your
jurisdiction does not assign an identifier number, leave this space blank.

Item 3 - Date Received by State: Enter the date you sent a copy of your
application to the State office that administers the Byrne Formula Grant
Program.

Item 4 - Date Received by Federal Agency: This item will be completed
by the Federal agency.

Item 5 - Applicant Information: The "Legal Name" is the unit of
government or the parent organization. For example, the primary or parent
organization of a police department is the city or township. The
"Organizational Unit" is the police department. One person should be
designated as the contact for the program (i.e., the Project Director) and
that person's telephone, fax and e-mail address should be included. It is not
unusual for the name of the contact person to differ from the authorized
representative of your agency in item 18 below.

Item 6 - Employer Identification Number: Each employer receives an
employer identification number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service.
Generally, this number can be easily obtained from your agency's
accountant or comptroller. If your agency has prior grants from the Office
of Justice Programs, please use the Grantee Vendor Number found on your
Award document.

Item 7 - Type of Applicant: Enter the appropriate letter in the space
provided.

Item 8 - Type of Application: Check ANEW@ since this is the first year
for the STR Analysis of Convicted Offender Samples program.

Item 9 - Name of Federal Agency: Type in "National Institute of Justice."

Item 10 - Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: For this STR
Analysis of Convicted Offender Samples program, the number is 16.564
and the title is STR Analysis of Convicted Offender Samples Program.

Item 11 - Descriptive Title of Applicant's Project: Type in "STR Analysis
of Convicted Offender Samples."

Item 12- Areas Affected by Project: Identify the geographic area(s)
encompassed by the program - it should be "statewide."

Item 13 - Proposed Project Dates: Fill in the dates during which you
anticipate the project will operate - for this program, it should be June 1,
2000 to May 31, 2001

Item 14 - Congressional Districts: Fill in the number of the Congressional
district in which the program will be located as well as the Congressional
district(s) the program will serve - which should be "statewide."

Item 15 - Estimated Funding: On line (a), enter the amount of Federal
funds requested, not to exceed the dollar amount allocated in the program
announcement. For purposes of this program, multiply the number of
collected but unanalyzed convicted offender samples in the Table of
Convicted Offender Samples (Appendix D), [Column 5 - (Columns 7+8)]
by $50 per sample for the total amount requested and to be entered on line
(a). On lines (b), (c) or (d), enter the number of unknown suspect cases
that will be analyzed as your State Match. This number should total 2.5%
of the collected but unanalyzed convicted offender samples calculated
above. You may leave line (g) blank.

Item 16 - Executive Order 12372: Some States (although not all) require
you to submit your application to a State Single Point of Contact (SPOC)
to coordinate applications for Federal funds within the State. If your State
requires a copy of your application, indicate the date that it was submitted
to the (SPOC). If a copy is not required, indicate the reason. (See
administrative requirements for information on this issue.)

Item 17 - Delinquent Federal Debt: This question applies to the applicant
organization. Categories of debt include delinquent audit disallowances,
loans, and taxes.

Item 18 - Authorized Representative: Type the name of the person legally
authorized to enter into contracts on behalf of your agency. The signature
on the original application must be signed in blue ink and/or stamped
"original" to distinguish the original from photocopies.

OJP Form 7150/1 Budget Detail Worksheet

Each application must contain a completed copy of the Budget Detail
Worksheet

Abstract

Each application must contain an a brief synopsis of the program which
should be no longer that one page.

Program Narrative

Each application must contain a completed Program Narrative that
provides the following information:

1. Applicant Information. Please provide the name, address, point of
contact, telephone, fax, and e-mail address for the applicant agency. 

2. Please provide a brief summary of your State's DNA database program,
including the method and manner of collection, agencies responsible in the
State for collection activities, current capabilities within the State to
perform forensic DNA analysis, average annual workload/caseload, if
applicable, and whether the offender is charged a fee for the
collection/analysis of the DNA sample. If your State currently performs
forensic DNA analysis, please describe the facility(ies) and staff, including
accreditation and certification status. This summary should not exceed two
pages.

3. Please provide a plan of how your State will include the unknown
suspect cases from other local laboratories, if applicable in your State, in
the 2.5% of unknown suspect cases required to be analyzed as the State
Match. Please provide a certification of the participating local laboratories
in the proposed plan. Also indicate the definition that your agency uses to
identify an unknown suspect case.

Table of Convicted Offender Samples (Appendix D)

Please note that when recording the number of convicted offender samples
collected and analyzed, record the actual number of samples collected and
analyzed as of December 31, 1999, the actual number of samples that were
collected and analyzed by March 31, 2000 and the estimated number of
convicted offender samples that will be collected and analyzed as of
September 30, 2000.

Table 1, Column 1. 
Please specify the actual number of convicted offender samples collected
as of December 31, 1999. This number should be the cumulative total of
all convicted offender samples collected since the time your State DNA
database law took effect.

Table 1, Column 2.
Please specify the actual number of convicted offender samples analyzed
with RFLP technology as of December 31, 1999. This number should be
the cumulative total of all convicted offender samples analyzed with RFLP
technology since the time your State DNA database law took effect. Also,
this number should include all convicted offender samples analyzed with
RFLP technology, regardless of whether the samples were analyzed by a
contract laboratory.

Table 1, Column 3.
Please specify the actual number of convicted offender samples analyzed
with STR technology as of December 31, 1999. This number should be the
cumulative total of all convicted offender samples analyzed with STR
technology since the time your State DNA database law took effect. Also,
this number should include all convicted offender samples analyzed with
STR technology, regardless of whether the samples were analyzed by a
contract laboratory.

Table 1, Column 4.
Please specify the actual number of convicted offender samples analyzed
with STR technology, specifically all 13 CODIS core loci - FGA, vWA,
D3S1358, CSF1PO, TPOX, THO1, D18S51, D21S11, D8S1179, D7S820,
D13S317, D5S818, and D16S539 - as of December 31, 1999. This number
should be the cumulative total of all convicted offender samples analyzed
with STR technology, specifically all 13 CODIS core loci, since your
DNA database law took effect until December 31, 1999. Also, this number
should include all convicted offender samples analyzed with STR
technology, specifically all 13 CODIS core loci, regardless of whether the
samples were analyzed by a contract laboratory.

Table 1, Column 5.
Please specify the actual number of convicted offender samples collected
as of March 31, 2000. This number should be the cumulative total of all
convicted offender samples collected since the time your State DNA
database law took effect.

Table 1, Column 6
Please specify the actual number of convicted offender samples analyzed
with RFLP technology as of March 31, 2000. This number should be the
cumulative total of all convicted offender samples analyzed with RFLP
technology since the time your State DNA database law took effect. Also,
this number should include all convicted offender samples analyzed with
RFLP technology, regardless of whether the samples were analyzed by a
contract laboratory.

Table 1, Column 7.
Please specify the actual number of convicted offender samples analyzed
with STR technology as of March 31, 2000. This number should be the
cumulative total of all convicted offender samples analyzed with STR
technology since the time your State DNA database law took effect. Also,
this number should include all convicted offender samples analyzed with
STR technology, regardless of whether the samples were analyzed by a
contract laboratory.

Table 1, Column 8.
Please specify the actual number of convicted offender samples analyzed
with STR technology, specifically all 13 CODIS core loci - FGA, vWA,
D3S1358, CSF1PO, TPOX, THO1, D18S51, D21S11, D8S1179, D7S820,
D13S317, D5S818, and D16S539 - as of March 31, 2000. This number
should be the cumulative total of all convicted offender samples analyzed
with STR technology, specifically all 13 CODIS core loci, since your State
DNA database law took effect until March 31, 2000. Also, this number
should include all convicted offender samples analyzed with STR
technology, specifically all 13 CODIS core loci, regardless of whether the
samples were analyzed by a contract laboratory.

Table 1, Column 9.
Please specify the estimated number of convicted offender samples
collected as of September 30, 2000. This number should be the cumulative
total of all convicted offender samples collected since the time your State
DNA database law took effect.

Table 1, Column 10.
Please specify the estimated number of convicted offender samples
analyzed with RFLP technology as of September 30, 2000. This number
should be the cumulative total of all convicted offender samples analyzed
with RFLP technology since the time your State DNA database law took
effect. Also, this number should include all convicted offender samples
analyzed with RFLP technology, regardless of whether the samples were
analyzed by a contract laboratory.

Table 1, Column 11.
Please specify the estimated number of convicted offender samples
analyzed with STR technology as of September 30, 2000. This number
should be the cumulative total of all convicted offender samples analyzed
with STR technology since the time your State DNA database law took
effect. Also, this number should include all convicted offender samples
analyzed with STR technology, regardless of whether the samples were
analyzed by a contract laboratory.

Table 1, Column 12.
Please specify the estimated number of convicted offender samples
analyzed with STR technology, specifically all 13 CODIS core loci - FGA,
vWA, D3S1358, CSF1PO, TPOX, THO1, D18S51, D21S11, D8S1179,
D7S820, D13S317, D5S818, and D16S539 - as of September 30, 2000.
This number should be the cumulative total of all convicted offender
samples analyzed with STR technology, specifically all 13 CODIS core
loci, since your State DNA database law took effect until September 30,
2000. Also, this number should include all convicted offender samples
analyzed with STR technology, specifically all 13 CODIS core loci,
regardless of whether the samples were analyzed by a contract laboratory.

Table 1, Question 1. 
Please specify what offenses are covered by your State DNA database law. 

Table 1, Question 2. 
Please specify the date that your current State DNA database law took
effect.

Table 1, Question 3.
Please specify the average annual number of convictions for such
qualifying offenses since your State DNA database law took effect. 

Table 1, Question 4.
For States that will be contracting out the retesting of their convicted
offender samples for quality assurance purposes or submitting blind
samples for retesting by the vendor laboratory, please indicate the total
number of convicted offender samples that will be contracted out under
this program [total not to exceed 10% of Column 5 - (Columns 7+8)].

Program Assurances (Appendix E)

Please review and have signed and dated by the head of the agency.

State Match Assurances (Appendix E)

Please review and have signed and dated by the head of the agency.

OJP Form 4000/3 (Assurances)

Please review and have signed and dated by the head of the agency.

OJP Form 4061/6 (Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment,
Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace
Requirements)

Please review and have signed and dated by the head of the agency.

Statutory Assurance

Please review and have signed and dated by the head of the agency.

Federal Funding Certification

Please include a statement that Federal funding made available under this
program will not be used to supplant State or local funds and have this
signed by the head of the agency.

Privacy Certificate

Please review and have signed and dated by the head of the agency.

VII. Award Criteria

All responses will be reviewed by an evaluation panel selected for their
operational expertise as well as their knowledge in the substantive areas
covered by this Solicitation. The panel's evaluations will be presented to
the Director of NIJ, who will make the final award decision. If a State is
determined to be eligible, the amount of the award will be based upon the
number of convicted offender samples that have been collected but not
analyzed with STR technology, in accordance with the following formula: 

According to the numbers recorded in Table 1:

Formula for States requesting funding under this program: 

Column 5 - (Columns 7 +8) X $50.00 = Maximum Amount of Award.  

Funding to outsource the analysis of quality assurance samples or the
submission of blind samples of a responding State must either be supplied
by the State or utilized from the funds awarded based upon the previous
formula. 

VIII. Administrative Requirements

A. Single Point of Contact Review. Executive Order 12372 requires
applicants from State government to submit a copy of the application to
the State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) if an SPOC exists and if the
program has been selected for review by the State. Applicants must
contact their SPOC to determine if the program has been selected for
review by the State. A list of SPOCs is provided in Appendix H. The date
that the application was sent to the SPOC or the reason such submission is
not required should be entered in item 16 on the Application for Federal
Assistance, SF 424.

B. Coordination with State Formula Grant Program. A copy of the
application must also be submitted to the State office that administers the
Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance
Formula Grant Program. A list of State offices is provided in Appendix I.

IX. Audit Requirements

State governments are governed by the Single Audit Act of 1984 and the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-128, "Audits of
State and Local Governments." The type of audit required under this
circular is dependent upon the amount of Federal funds received.
Applicants are required to identify when the agency's fiscal year begins
and ends and provide the name of the agency's cognizant Federal agency.
This information may be provided in the Program Narrative section of the
application.

A. Certification required by the DNA Identification Act of 1994. Each
applicant must provide the signed certification required by the Act. A
certification form ("Statutory Assurance") is included at the end of this
Solicitation.

B. Certifications regarding lobbying; debarment, suspension, and other
responsibility matters; and drug-free workplace requirements. Applicants
should refer to the regulations cited in OJP Form 4061/6 (3/91) to
determine the certification(s) to which they are required to attest.
Applicants should also review the instructions for certification included in
the regulations before completing this form. Signing this form commits
the applicant to compliance with certification requirements under 28 CFR
Part 69, "New Restrictions on Lobbying," and 28 CFR Part 67,
"Government-wide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) and
Government-wide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)." The
certification will be treated as a material representation of fact upon which
reliance will be placed by the Department of Justice in awarding grants.

C. Civil rights requirements - prohibition of discrimination for recipients
of Federal funds. No person in any State shall on the grounds of race,
color, religion, national origin, gender, or disability be excluded from
participation in, be denied the benefits of, be subjected to discrimination
under, or be denied employment in connection with any program or
activity receiving Federal financial assistance, pursuant to the following
statutes and regulations: Section 809(c), Omnibus Crime Control and Safe
Streets Act of 1968, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 3789d, and Department of
Justice Nondiscrimination Regulations, 28 CFR Part 42, Subparts C, D, E
and G; Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Section 504
of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Subtitle A, Title II of the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA) (1990), and Department of Justice regulations
on disability discrimination, 28 CFR Part 5 and Part 39; Title IX of the
Education Amendments of 1972; and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975.

In the event a Federal or State court or a Federal or State administrative
agency makes a finding of discrimination after a due process hearing on
the grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, or disability
against a recipient of funds, the recipient will forward a copy of the
finding to the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) of the Office of Justice
Programs (OJP). 

X. Monitoring

Each grant awarded under this Solicitation will be monitored according to
OJP Handbook 4500.2C (Revised Chapter 7 Monitoring).

XI. Suspension or Termination of Funding

NIJ may suspend, in whole or in part, or terminate funding for a grantee
for the following reasons:

Failure to conform to the requirements or statutory objectives of Title I of
the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, as amended.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the DNA Identification Act of
1994 (Public Law 103-322), regulations promulgated thereunder, or with
the terms and conditions of its grant award.

Failure to comply with the Program and State Match Requirements of this
award.

Prior to suspension of a grant, NIJ will provide reasonable notice to the
grantee of its intent to suspend the grant and will attempt informally to
resolve the problem resulting in the intended suspension. Hearing and
appeal procedures for termination actions are set forth in Department of
Justice regulations in 28 CFR Part 18.

XII. Award Period

Awards under this program are issued for a period of one year. 

XIII. Award Amount

A total of approximately $15 million may be available under this
Solicitation for the STR analysis of convicted offender samples
nationwide and the quality assurance program for those samples. Actual
awards are based upon the needs of the submitting States.

XIV. Due Date

An original plus ten (10) copies of fully executed responses must be
received by NIJ by the close of business on May 15, 2000. Extension of
this deadline shall not be permitted.

Applications submitted via facsimile will not be accepted.

Applications must be sent to the following address:

Solicitation for the States to Request STR Analysis of Their Convicted
Offender Samples 
National Institute of Justice
Office of Science & Technology
810 7th Street, N.W., 7th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20531*

*If shipping other than U.S. Mail, please use Zip Code 20001.

XV. Contact

Applicants are encouraged to contact NIJ to discuss questions concerning
this Solicitation before submitting their proposals. To obtain further
information, applicants may contact Dr. Lisa Forman, at the above
address, by phone at (202) 307-6608 or by e-mail at
formanl@ojp.usdoj.gov

Applicants may also contact the U.S. Department of Justice Response
Center at (800) 421-6770 or (202) 307-1480 for general information.

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