NIJ FY25 Invited to Apply - Operation of the Secretariat of SC 37 under JTC 1 of ISO/IEC

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ), under the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs (OJP), has released a continuation grant opportunity titled “Invited to Apply - Operation of the Secretariat of SC 37 under JTC 1 of ISO/IEC.” This funding opportunity is intended to continue support for the operation of the Secretariat of Subcommittee 37 (SC 37), which is part of Joint Technical Committee 1 (JTC 1) of the International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC). The total available funding for this opportunity is $60,000, with an anticipated single award for a 12-month performance period beginning April 1, 2026. NIJ is the research, development, and evaluation agency of the U.S. Department of Justice, and it plays a central role in advancing knowledge and technology to improve the criminal justice system. The agency supports initiatives that help reduce crime and improve justice, including through the development of standards and tools to support law enforcement. In this particular grant, the funding supports biometric standardization—especially facial recognition and related technologies—to ensure interoperability and data exchange across different applications and systems. This initiative funds leadership and administrative operations for SC 37, which focuses on biometric standardization, to ensure the body operates in line with ISO/IEC directives. The grant's core objectives include convening SC 37 meetings, overseeing work progress within its working groups, reporting to international stakeholders, and supporting U.S. participation through Technical Advisory Group (TAG) meetings. Deliverables include meeting agendas, minutes, reports, and related documentation. Performance is evaluated based on submission quality and timeliness of reports, and recipients must collect data and submit periodic reports in alignment with NIJ standards. Eligibility for this grant is exclusive to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), listed under “Other” entities. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement for this funding opportunity. The anticipated award is a single grant of $60,000, and the solicitation explicitly notes that the program will not fund any activity that violates federal immigration laws or civil rights statutes. Also, legal services for certain individuals unlawfully present in the U.S. are generally considered unallowable. The application process is divided into two steps. Applicants must first submit the required SF-424 form through Grants.gov by February 24, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Subsequently, the full application must be submitted through the JustGrants platform by March 3, 2026, at 8:59 p.m. Eastern Time. The full application must include a proposal narrative, budget worksheet, project management timeline, and several attachments such as MOUs, privacy certificate, and human subjects protection documentation. Registration with SAM.gov and the acquisition of a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) are mandatory steps for eligibility. Applicants will be notified of awards through the JustGrants system, and successful awardees must accept the award within 45 days of notification. The grant includes standard DOJ reporting requirements, including quarterly financial reports and semi-annual performance reports. Additional requirements may include compliance with civil rights laws and post-award financial audits. While no recurring cycle is explicitly stated, this is a continuation award, implying a recurring need, and future funding may follow similar timelines.

Submit early; ensure all mandatory uploads (e.g., Privacy Certificate, Data Archiving Plan) are complete; maintain SAM.gov registration; follow exact narrative guidelines