Opportunity Information: Apply for NIJ 2019 15231
The Department of Justice's National Institute of Justice (NIJ) grant opportunity titled "Research and Evaluation on Trafficking in Persons, FY 2019" (Funding Opportunity Number: NIJ 2019 15231) is a discretionary research grant aimed at strengthening what the criminal justice field knows about trafficking in persons in the United States. The core expectation is that proposed projects are not just academic in nature, but are designed to produce findings that can realistically shape criminal justice policy and day-to-day practice, including how trafficking is identified, investigated, prosecuted, and prevented, and how victims are supported in ways that intersect with the justice system.
NIJ makes clear that it is continuing an ongoing research and evaluation effort, meaning the program is meant to build evidence over time rather than fund isolated studies without operational value. The solicitation emphasizes U.S.-based trafficking and expects applicants to frame the problem through a criminal justice lens. In other words, the strongest proposals are likely to be those that can inform decisions made by law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, courts, corrections, and affiliated service systems, and that can translate into actionable recommendations, tested interventions, or validated approaches to improving outcomes.
For FY 2019, NIJ highlights several priority research areas. First is labor trafficking, signaling a particular interest in studies that examine trafficking occurring in work settings and supply chains, including how these cases are detected, how they are investigated, what barriers prevent successful enforcement, and what strategies might improve victim identification and case building. Second is a phased evaluation approach with a period of performance not to exceed 24 months. This suggests NIJ is open to projects that are structured in stages, such as initial assessment and planning followed by early implementation measurement, with a realistic scope for a two-year window. Third is outcome evaluation of trafficking-focused victim service providers. This priority points to measuring the effectiveness of service programs designed specifically for trafficking survivors, with an emphasis on outcomes that can be credibly assessed and that matter to criminal justice stakeholders, such as safety, stability, service access, cooperation burdens, re-victimization risk, and system navigation. Fourth is developing a better understanding of traffickers, which could include research on trafficker pathways, recruitment and control tactics, organizational structures, use of technology, financial methods, mobility patterns, and how these factors affect investigative and prosecutorial strategies.
While these priorities are emphasized, NIJ also indicates it may fund strong applications outside the priority areas as long as they address human trafficking in the United States in a criminal justice context. That language leaves room for proposals on other issues such as victim identification tools, investigative techniques, data integration, coordinated response models, legal and procedural barriers, prevention strategies, or analyses of trafficking trends, as long as the work is clearly tied to improving justice system responses.
In terms of award structure, the grant uses the "Grant" funding instrument type and falls under activity categories that include law, justice, and legal services as well as science and technology and other research and development. The CFDA number associated with the program is 16.560. NIJ anticipated making about three awards, with an award ceiling of $1,500,000 per award, indicating a relatively competitive solicitation geared toward substantial research or evaluation projects rather than small pilot studies alone.
Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; public and state controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in those categories); individuals; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and other entities as described in the solicitation's additional eligibility information. This wide eligibility suggests NIJ is open to partnerships among researchers, practitioners, and community-based organizations, provided the proposed work meets research rigor expectations and has clear criminal justice relevance.
Key dates for the opportunity were a creation date of February 26, 2019, with an original closing date of May 8, 2019. Overall, this funding opportunity is designed to support rigorous, policy-relevant research and evaluation that can help the United States better understand trafficking in persons, improve justice system responses, and assess what interventions and service approaches actually produce measurable benefits.Apply for NIJ 2019 15231
- The Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice in the law, justice and legal services, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research and Evaluation on Trafficking in Persons, FY 2019" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.560.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 26, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 08, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the title and funding opportunity number for this grant?
The opportunity is titled "Research and Evaluation on Trafficking in Persons, FY 2019" and the Funding Opportunity Number is NIJ 2019 15231.
2. Which federal agency is offering this funding?
This grant opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice (NIJ).
3. What is the main purpose of this NIJ solicitation?
The purpose is to strengthen what the criminal justice field knows about trafficking in persons in the United States through research and evaluation that can realistically shape criminal justice policy and day-to-day practice.
4. What does NIJ mean by focusing on a "criminal justice lens"?
NIJ expects applicants to frame the problem in ways that inform decisions and actions by criminal justice stakeholders such as law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, corrections, and affiliated service systems. Projects should connect their methods and findings to practical improvements in how trafficking is identified, investigated, prosecuted, prevented, and how victims are supported in justice-related contexts.
5. Is this solicitation limited to trafficking in the United States?
Yes. The solicitation emphasizes U.S.-based trafficking and expects proposed work to address trafficking in persons in the United States.
6. Does NIJ want purely academic research projects?
No. NIJ emphasizes that projects should not be academic exercises without operational value. Proposals should be designed to produce findings that can translate into actionable recommendations, tested interventions, validated approaches, or other outputs that improve justice system responses.
7. What does it mean that NIJ is continuing an "ongoing research and evaluation effort"?
It means NIJ is aiming to build evidence over time, rather than funding isolated studies that do not contribute to practical, cumulative knowledge for the criminal justice field.
8. What are NIJ's FY 2019 priority research areas for this program?
NIJ highlights four priorities for FY 2019: (1) labor trafficking, (2) a phased evaluation approach with a period of performance not to exceed 24 months, (3) outcome evaluation of trafficking-focused victim service providers, and (4) developing a better understanding of traffickers.
9. What types of topics could fall under the labor trafficking priority?
Examples described in the solicitation include trafficking in work settings and supply chains, how labor trafficking is detected, how cases are investigated, barriers to successful enforcement, and strategies to improve victim identification and case building.
10. What is meant by a "phased evaluation approach" in this solicitation?
NIJ indicates openness to projects structured in stages, such as an initial assessment and planning phase followed by early implementation measurement, designed to fit within a period of performance that does not exceed 24 months.
11. What is the maximum period of performance for projects under this opportunity?
The solicitation indicates a period of performance not to exceed 24 months.
12. What does NIJ mean by "outcome evaluation of trafficking-focused victim service providers"?
This priority focuses on measuring the effectiveness of service programs designed specifically for trafficking survivors, emphasizing outcomes that can be credibly assessed and that matter to criminal justice stakeholders (for example, safety, stability, access to services, cooperation burdens, re-victimization risk, and system navigation).
13. What kinds of research questions fit the priority on understanding traffickers?
NIJ notes potential areas such as trafficker pathways, recruitment and control tactics, organizational structures, use of technology, financial methods, mobility patterns, and how these factors affect investigative and prosecutorial strategies.
14. Will NIJ consider proposals that are outside the listed priority areas?
Yes. NIJ indicates it may fund strong applications outside the priority areas, as long as they address human trafficking in the United States and are clearly situated in a criminal justice context.
15. What are examples of non-priority topics NIJ suggests could still be competitive?
The solicitation language leaves room for topics such as victim identification tools, investigative techniques, data integration, coordinated response models, legal and procedural barriers, prevention strategies, or analyses of trafficking trends, as long as the work is tied to improving justice system responses.
16. What is the funding instrument type for this opportunity?
The funding instrument type is a Grant.
17. What activity categories are associated with this grant?
The opportunity falls under activity categories that include law, justice, and legal services as well as science and technology and other research and development.
18. What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number associated with this program is 16.560.
19. How many awards did NIJ anticipate making under this solicitation?
NIJ anticipated making about three awards.
20. What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) per project?
The award ceiling is $1,500,000 per award.
21. Is this a competitive opportunity?
Based on the anticipated number of awards (about three) and the substantial award ceiling, this appears to be a competitive solicitation aimed at rigorous research or evaluation projects rather than small, standalone pilots.
22. Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes: state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; public and state controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in those categories); individuals; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and other entities as described in the solicitation's additional eligibility information.
23. Does the broad eligibility suggest partnerships are allowed or encouraged?
The eligibility description suggests NIJ is open to partnerships among researchers, practitioners, and community-based organizations, as long as the proposed work meets expectations for research rigor and has clear criminal justice relevance.
24. What kinds of criminal justice stakeholders are most relevant to the expected impact of the research?
The solicitation points to stakeholders such as law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, courts, corrections, and affiliated service systems involved in identifying trafficking, investigating cases, prosecuting offenders, preventing trafficking, and supporting victims in ways that intersect with the justice system.
25. What were the key dates for this FY 2019 opportunity?
The creation date was February 26, 2019, and the original closing date was May 8, 2019.
26. What overall outcomes is NIJ trying to achieve through this funding?
NIJ aims to support rigorous, policy-relevant research and evaluation that helps the United States better understand trafficking in persons, improve justice system responses, and assess which interventions and service approaches produce measurable benefits.
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| Prosecuting Cold Cases using DNA and Other Forensic Technologies, FY 2019 Apply for NIJ 2019 15627 Funding Number: NIJ 2019 15627 Agency: Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Evaluation of Street Law Programs, FY 2019 Apply for NIJ 2019 16109 Funding Number: NIJ 2019 16109 Agency: Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Establishment of a National Center on Restorative Justice, FY2019 Apply for NIJ 2019 16510 Funding Number: NIJ 2019 16510 Agency: Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| Research and Evaluation of Trafficking in Persons, Fiscal Year 2020 Apply for NIJ 2020 17324 Funding Number: NIJ 2020 17324 Agency: Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $500,000 |
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| Research into Immigration and Crime, Fiscal Year 2020 Apply for NIJ 2020 17310 Funding Number: NIJ 2020 17310 Agency: Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Research and Evaluation on Technology-Facilitated Abuse for Criminal Justice Purposes, Fiscal Year 2020 Apply for NIJ 2020 17309 Funding Number: NIJ 2020 17309 Agency: Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Research and Evaluation on Drugs and Crime, Fiscal Year 2020 Apply for NIJ 2020 17275 Funding Number: NIJ 2020 17275 Agency: Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Investigator-Initiated Research and Evaluation on Firearm Violence, Fiscal Year 2020 Apply for NIJ 2020 17327 Funding Number: NIJ 2020 17327 Agency: Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Research and Evaluation in Safety, Health, and Wellness in Criminal Justice System, Fiscal Year 2020 Apply for NIJ 2020 17296 Funding Number: NIJ 2020 17296 Agency: Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $4,000,000 |
| Research and Evaluation on School Safety, Fiscal Year 2020 Apply for NIJ 2020 17308 Funding Number: NIJ 2020 17308 Agency: Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Tribal-Researcher Capacity Building Grants Solicitation, Fiscal Year 2020 Apply for NIJ 2020 17329 Funding Number: NIJ 2020 17329 Agency: Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Research on the Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of Elderly Individuals, Fiscal Year 2020 Apply for NIJ 2020 17328 Funding Number: NIJ 2020 17328 Agency: Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
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