NIJ FY25 Research and Evaluation on Drugs and Crime: Nexus with Firearms and Violence | O NIJ 2025 172605

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the title of this NIJ funding opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "NIJ FY25 Research and Evaluation on Drugs and Crime: Nexus with Firearms and Violence."

What agency is offering this grant?

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is offering this discretionary research funding opportunity.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this solicitation?

The Funding Opportunity Number is O-NIJ-2025-172605.

What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?

The CFDA number provided is 16.560.

What is the overall purpose of the solicitation?

The purpose is to support rigorous, applied research that explains and addresses how drug crimes intersect with firearms and violence, with an emphasis on producing practical, evidence-based tools, strategies, practices, and policies that can be used by criminal justice stakeholders.

What kinds of outcomes is NIJ looking for from funded projects?

NIJ is looking for applied studies that result in actionable, evidence-based tools and approaches that state, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies and other criminal justice stakeholders can use to respond more effectively to drug trafficking, drug markets, and drug-related violence involving firearms.

Who is expected to use the results of these studies?

The solicitation emphasizes usefulness for state, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies, as well as other criminal justice stakeholders involved in addressing drug trafficking, drug markets, and drug-related violence.

How is the NOFO structured?

The NOFO is structured around four research topic areas, giving applicants multiple pathways to propose research and evaluation work related to the drugs-firearms-violence nexus.

What are the four research topic areas?

The four topic areas are: (1) Pattern Identification, (2) Interdiction and Disruption Strategies, (3) Prosecution, and (4) Drug Market Dynamics.

What does the Pattern Identification topic area focus on?

Pattern Identification focuses on detecting and explaining patterns that link drug activity with firearm use and violent outcomes. Examples described include identifying hotspots, offender networks, trafficking routes, or recurring situational factors that help predict where and when drug-market activity is most likely to escalate into gun violence.

What does the Interdiction and Disruption Strategies topic area focus on?

This area emphasizes evaluating or developing operational approaches intended to interrupt drug trafficking, destabilize harmful drug markets, and reduce firearm-associated violence. The solicitation notes this work is most useful when it tests real-world interventions, measures effectiveness, and documents what works, what does not, and under what conditions results are strongest.

What does the Prosecution topic area focus on?

The Prosecution area centers on how prosecution strategies, case processing decisions, and related legal approaches influence outcomes in drug and firearm-related cases. It may include examining which prosecutorial policies or collaborations improve public safety, how charging decisions affect deterrence or incapacitation, and whether certain approaches reduce violence without unintended negative effects.

What does the Drug Market Dynamics topic area focus on?

Drug Market Dynamics focuses on understanding how drug markets function and change over time, including how supply, demand, enforcement pressure, and social conditions shape market behavior and the risk of firearm-related violence. It can include applied analyses that help agencies anticipate shifts in drug distribution, market competition, or emerging substances that may alter violence trends.

What type of award will NIJ make under this solicitation?

Awards will be made as cooperative agreements.

What does it mean that awards are cooperative agreements?

The solicitation indicates that cooperative agreements generally involve substantial NIJ involvement during the project period, such as iterative feedback, coordination on research design or deliverables, and an emphasis on products that can be translated into practice.

How much funding is available per award?

The maximum award amount is $2,000,000.

How many awards does NIJ expect to make?

NIJ expects to make approximately three awards under this solicitation.

When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on May 4, 2026.

What is the application closing date?

The original application closing date is June 8, 2026.

Is this a discretionary funding opportunity?

Yes. The opportunity is described as a discretionary research funding opportunity.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad. Eligible entities include state governments; county and city/township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions when applicable); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other eligible applicants as defined by the solicitation.

Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations are listed as eligible applicants.

Are nonprofits eligible to apply?

Yes. Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status are listed as eligible (excluding higher education institutions when applicable).

Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) are listed as eligible, and small businesses are also listed as eligible.

Are institutions of higher education eligible?

Yes. Both public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible.

Are local governments eligible to apply?

Yes. County governments and city/township governments are explicitly listed as eligible, along with other government entity types such as special district governments.

Does this solicitation emphasize real-world applicability?

Yes. The solicitation emphasizes rigorous, applied research and the development of practical, evidence-based products that can be translated into practice, especially for local, tribal, and state partners.

What kinds of practical products does NIJ want applicants to produce?

The description emphasizes tools, strategies, practices, and policies that are evidence-based and usable by law enforcement agencies and other criminal justice stakeholders responding to drug trafficking, drug markets, and drug-related violence involving firearms.

Does the solicitation focus specifically on the relationship between drugs, firearms, and violence?

Yes. The central theme is the nexus between drug crimes, firearms, and violent outcomes, including how drug markets and drug trafficking intersect with firearm use and violence.

Can applicants propose research that predicts where drug-market activity may escalate into gun violence?

Yes. The Pattern Identification topic area explicitly includes work that identifies patterns and situational factors that help predict where and when drug-market activity is most likely to escalate into gun violence.

Does NIJ encourage evaluation of interventions in real-world settings?

Yes. The Interdiction and Disruption Strategies topic area highlights the value of testing real-world interventions, measuring effectiveness, and documenting what works, what does not, and when results are strongest.

Can proposals examine prosecution and charging decisions in drug and firearm-related cases?

Yes. The Prosecution topic area includes examining prosecution strategies, case processing decisions, charging decisions, and related collaborations, with attention to public safety outcomes and possible unintended negative effects.

Can proposals focus on how drug markets change over time and how that relates to violence?

Yes. The Drug Market Dynamics topic area includes understanding how markets function and change over time, and how those changes may affect the risk of firearm-related violence.