Opportunity Information: Apply for O NIJ 2025 172616
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is offering a discretionary funding opportunity titled "NIJ FY25 Research and Evaluation of Emerging Technology Implementation and Impact for Law Enforcement Purposes" (Funding Opportunity Number: O-NIJ-2025-172616). The goal of this program is to fund research and evaluation that helps the law enforcement community understand how emerging technologies are actually implemented in real agencies and what impacts those technologies have once they are put into use. Rather than focusing only on whether a tool works in a lab or a pilot, this opportunity is centered on the practical realities of adoption: how agencies roll out new technology, what policies and training are needed, what operational and staffing changes come along with it, how agencies communicate about the technology internally and with the public, and what measurable effects technology has on public safety outcomes and agency budgets.
NIJ is looking for studies that go beyond basic descriptions and instead generate evidence that can guide decisions in policing. That includes examining implementation strategies, identifying common barriers and facilitators, and producing findings that can translate into actionable guidance for law enforcement agencies. Examples of relevant themes include policy design (such as governance, oversight, data access, retention, and accountability rules), training approaches (initial training, refresher training, supervisor training, and training tied to policy compliance), operational impacts (workflow changes, dispatch or investigative processes, integration with existing systems, and effects on response), staffing and workload considerations (new specialist roles, changes in patrol time, analytic capacity, procurement and IT demands), and communication strategies (public messaging, stakeholder engagement, transparency practices, and managing community concerns). NIJ also explicitly highlights interest in the budget implications of implementation and use, which can include acquisition and maintenance costs, staffing costs, downstream savings, opportunity costs, and longer-term financial sustainability.
A key emphasis of this opportunity is partnership between researchers and practitioners. NIJ encourages applicants to build new researcher-practitioner collaborations or leverage existing partnerships so that study questions, data collection, and interpretation are grounded in operational reality and aligned with what agencies and communities need to know. In practice, this means projects that include meaningful law enforcement participation, access to real-world implementation settings and administrative data, and plans for producing outputs that practitioners can use (for example, implementation playbooks, model policies, lessons learned, and decision-support resources), while maintaining research independence and methodological rigor.
The application process uses a two-stage structure. Applicants must first submit a concept paper. NIJ will review concept papers and only invite some applicants to submit a full proposal. Full proposals should not be submitted unless the applicant is specifically invited by NIJ. Because the concept paper determines whether an applicant can move forward, it effectively serves as the initial competitive screen, and applicants should treat it as the place to clearly define the emerging technology focus, the implementation setting, the evaluation design, the data sources, expected deliverables, and the practical value of the work. The NOFO directs applicants to the "General Purpose of the Funding" section for required concept paper formatting and content details.
Awards will be made as cooperative agreements, which typically means NIJ expects substantial involvement during the project period, such as collaboration on project direction, milestones, deliverables, or dissemination. The total maximum award amount (ceiling) is $3,000,000, and NIJ anticipates making around 4 awards under this solicitation. The program falls under CFDA 16.560 and is categorized under science and technology and other research and development activities.
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 tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities, other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other eligible entities. The original closing date listed for the opportunity is 2026-06-15, and the opportunity was created on 2026-05-14.
Overall, this grant opportunity is designed to produce practical, evidence-based guidance on how law enforcement agencies can implement emerging technologies responsibly and effectively. NIJ is signaling that it values strong evaluation design paired with real-world operational insight, with a particular focus on the policies, training, staffing, communications, public safety impacts, and budget consequences that determine whether a technology improves policing outcomes or creates new challenges.Apply for O NIJ 2025 172616
- The National Institute of Justice in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIJ FY25 Research and Evaluation of Emerging Technology Implementation and Impact for Law Enforcement Purposes" 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 2026-05-14.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-06-15. (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 $3,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 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), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), 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, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the title of this NIJ funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "NIJ FY25 Research and Evaluation of Emerging Technology Implementation and Impact for Law Enforcement Purposes."
2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is O-NIJ-2025-172616.
3) Which federal agency is offering this grant?
The funding opportunity is offered by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ).
4) What is the main goal of the program?
The goal is to fund research and evaluation that helps the law enforcement community understand how emerging technologies are implemented in real agencies and what impacts those technologies have once they are in use. The emphasis is on practical adoption and real-world outcomes rather than only lab testing or pilot performance.
5) What kind of projects is NIJ trying to fund?
NIJ is seeking studies that generate evidence to guide decision-making in policing. The studies should go beyond basic descriptions and examine implementation strategies, barriers and facilitators, and measurable impacts, with findings that can translate into actionable guidance for law enforcement agencies.
6) Is this opportunity focused on whether a technology works in a lab or pilot?
No. This opportunity is centered on what happens when a technology is adopted and rolled out in real agencies, including policies, training, staffing, operational changes, communications, and measurable outcomes after deployment.
7) What types of implementation topics does NIJ want applicants to examine?
NIJ highlights multiple implementation areas, including policy design, training approaches, operational impacts, staffing and workload considerations, and communication strategies, along with the budget implications of implementation and use.
8) What policy-related themes are specifically mentioned as relevant?
Examples include governance and oversight, data access rules, data retention practices, and accountability rules.
9) What training-related themes are specifically mentioned as relevant?
Examples include initial training, refresher training, supervisor training, and training tied to policy compliance.
10) What operational impacts does NIJ suggest applicants may study?
Examples include workflow changes, changes to dispatch or investigative processes, integration with existing systems, and effects on response.
11) What staffing and workload issues does NIJ suggest could be included?
Examples include new specialist roles, changes in patrol time, analytic capacity needs, and increased procurement and IT demands.
12) What communications topics does NIJ indicate are relevant?
Examples include public messaging, stakeholder engagement, transparency practices, and approaches for managing community concerns.
13) Does NIJ want projects to address budget impacts?
Yes. NIJ explicitly highlights interest in budget implications tied to implementation and use, including acquisition and maintenance costs, staffing costs, downstream savings, opportunity costs, and longer-term financial sustainability.
14) How important are researcher-practitioner partnerships for this solicitation?
A key emphasis is partnership between researchers and practitioners. NIJ encourages applicants to build new collaborations or leverage existing ones so that study questions, data collection, and interpretation are grounded in operational reality and aligned with what agencies and communities need to know.
15) What does NIJ mean by meaningful law enforcement participation?
Based on the description provided, NIJ is looking for projects that include law enforcement participation, access to real-world implementation settings and administrative data, and plans to produce outputs practitioners can use, while maintaining research independence and methodological rigor.
16) What kinds of outputs does NIJ want projects to produce for practitioners?
Examples mentioned include implementation playbooks, model policies, lessons learned, and decision-support resources.
17) What is the application process structure?
The process is two-stage. Applicants must first submit a concept paper. NIJ will review concept papers and only invite some applicants to submit a full proposal.
18) Can applicants submit a full proposal without an invitation?
No. Full proposals should not be submitted unless the applicant is specifically invited by NIJ.
19) Why is the concept paper especially important for this opportunity?
The concept paper functions as the initial competitive screen determining whether an applicant can move forward to a full proposal. Applicants are expected to clearly define the emerging technology focus, the implementation setting, the evaluation design, the data sources, expected deliverables, and the practical value of the work.
20) Where are the required concept paper formatting and content details located?
The NOFO directs applicants to the "General Purpose of the Funding" section for required concept paper formatting and content details.
21) What type of award will NIJ make under this solicitation?
Awards will be made as cooperative agreements.
22) What does it mean that awards are cooperative agreements?
In this context, it typically means NIJ expects substantial involvement during the project period, such as collaboration on project direction, milestones, deliverables, or dissemination.
23) What is the maximum award amount?
The total maximum award amount (ceiling) is $3,000,000.
24) How many awards does NIJ expect to make?
NIJ anticipates making around 4 awards under this solicitation.
25) What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The program falls under CFDA 16.560.
26) How is this opportunity categorized?
It is categorized under science and technology and other research and development activities.
27) 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 tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities, other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other eligible entities.
28) Are both nonprofit and for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. The eligible applicant types listed include nonprofit organizations and for-profit organizations (including small businesses, and for-profit organizations other than small businesses).
29) Are tribal entities eligible to apply?
Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations are included in the eligible applicant types.
30) When was this opportunity created and what is the listed closing date?
The opportunity was created on 2026-05-14, and the original closing date listed is 2026-06-15.
31) What is NIJ ultimately trying to produce through this grant program?
The overall intent is to produce practical, evidence-based guidance on how law enforcement agencies can implement emerging technologies responsibly and effectively, with strong evaluation design and real-world operational insight.
32) What kinds of impacts does NIJ want studies to measure?
Based on the information provided, NIJ is interested in measurable effects on public safety outcomes and agency budgets, along with implementation-related impacts tied to policies, training, staffing, operational changes, and communications.
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