Research and Evaluation on Terrorism Prevention, FY 2019 | NIJ 2019 15303

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the official title of this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Research and Evaluation on Terrorism Prevention, FY 2019."

Which agency is offering this funding?

The funder is the U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice (NIJ).

What type of grant is this?

This is a discretionary grant.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is NIJ 2019 15303.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number is 16.560.

What is NIJ trying to accomplish with this solicitation?

NIJ is aiming to strengthen the evidence base on how radicalization occurs and which prevention and intervention approaches measurably reduce terrorism risk. The solicitation emphasizes research that produces practical, usable findings for real-world prevention and intervention efforts.

Is the focus on domestic or international terrorism?

The solicitation focuses on domestic radicalization and terrorism.

What kinds of projects are most aligned with NIJ's priorities here?

Projects that go beyond theory and instead test, measure, and compare prevention strategies in ways that generate actionable evidence for practitioners and policymakers are most aligned with this opportunity.

What is a major priority area in this funding opportunity?

A major priority is rigorous evaluation of both new and existing demonstration programs designed to prevent terrorism.

Does NIJ encourage evaluation of existing programs, or only new programs?

NIJ encourages evaluation of both new and existing demonstration programs.

What evaluation approaches does NIJ explicitly encourage?

NIJ explicitly encourages rigorous evaluation designs, particularly approaches that are phased (for example, pilot work followed by expanded implementation), comparative (such as comparing different program models or participant groups), and multi-site (testing programs across multiple locations).

What does NIJ mean by "phased" evaluation designs?

NIJ highlights phased designs as evaluations that may start with pilot work and then expand into broader implementation, allowing learning and refinement over time while still producing rigorous findings.

What does NIJ mean by "comparative" evaluation designs?

Comparative designs are described as evaluations that compare different program models or different participant groups to understand relative effectiveness.

Why does NIJ emphasize multi-site evaluations?

Multi-site evaluations are emphasized to test whether results hold across different locations and conditions, improving confidence about whether findings generalize beyond a single setting.

What kinds of outcomes is NIJ trying to identify through evaluations?

NIJ is seeking evidence about which approaches show measurable benefits, the circumstances in which they work best, and the implementation factors that make them more or less effective in practice.

Besides program evaluation, what other research topics does NIJ want to fund?

NIJ is also interested in research that improves understanding of risk factors associated with radicalization, identifies protective factors, and supports the development or improvement of risk assessment tools. NIJ also highlights deradicalization and disengagement as key areas of interest.

What kinds of risk factors does NIJ want studied?

The solicitation mentions individual, social, environmental, and situational contributors that may increase vulnerability to radicalization.

Does NIJ also care about protective factors, not just risks?

Yes. NIJ expresses interest in identifying protective factors that reduce risk.

What does NIJ mean by "risk assessment tools" in this context?

Risk assessment tools are described as structured methods that practitioners could use to assess risk levels, triage cases, or tailor interventions, with an emphasis on tools that are empirically grounded and usable in prevention settings.

Is NIJ looking for purely conceptual or theoretical work on assessment tools?

The solicitation signals interest in tools and research that are empirically grounded and practically useful, rather than purely conceptual.

What does the solicitation say about deradicalization and disengagement research?

NIJ encourages projects that build knowledge about how and why individuals reduce involvement in extremist ideologies or violent networks and what interventions support that process.

Are correctional and reentry contexts included in the scope?

Yes. The solicitation includes research on programs and services for people incarcerated for terrorism-related offenses and for those returning to the community after release.

What kinds of correctional or reentry questions does NIJ want addressed?

NIJ is looking for studies that can inform correctional programming, reentry planning, and post-release support, including what services are provided, how they are delivered, and what outcomes they produce.

Who is eligible to apply for this NIJ opportunity?

Eligibility includes state, county, and city or township governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding universities when applicable); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.

Does the eligibility list include universities?

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

Are tribal governments eligible?

Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are eligible.

Are nonprofit organizations eligible?

Yes. Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status are eligible (excluding universities when applicable).

Are for-profit organizations eligible?

Yes. For-profit organizations other than small businesses are eligible, and small businesses are also eligible.

When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on February 12, 2019.

What was the original closing date?

The original closing date was April 22, 2019.

How many awards did NIJ anticipate making?

NIJ anticipated making about 4 awards.

What is the maximum award amount?

The award ceiling is up to $3,500,000.

What activity categories does this opportunity fall under?

The activity category spans law, justice, and legal services, as well as science and technology and broader research and development.

What is the overall theme of the funded work (social science vs. technology)?

The solicitation reflects a mix of social science, program evaluation, and applied tool development, including research and development related to prevention programs and empirically grounded assessment methods.

What is NIJ trying to avoid in proposed projects?

Based on the emphasis in the solicitation, NIJ is looking for work that moves beyond theory alone and prioritizes practical, program-focused research that tests, measures, and compares strategies in ways that can guide real-world decision-making.