NIJ FY22 Evaluation of OJP Community Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI) Projects

Yes. The role of the evaluation to be funded under the NIJ solicitation is to provide a rigorous, independent evaluation of the CVIPI project (see page 5 of the NIJ solicitation). The role of the internal research partner in the OJP solicitation is to assist with the implementation of the program and its strategies, identify and suggest evidence-based strategies to tailor to the community, and lead the identification and collection of key performance metrics, including ongoing process and outcome assessments of the program. Applicants coordinating with an evaluation application to the NIJ solicitation should also include an internal research partner with the application to the OJP solicitation to support the data collection and implementation through an action research method, as appropriate.

Can the same research partner serve as both the internal research partner and as the NIJ evaluation partner?
A: Yes, if they are eligible applicants as specified in the solicitations. If the same entity proposed as the internal research partner in the OJP solicitation also applies to perform the independent evaluation funded under the NIJ solicitation, separate applications must be submitted to each solicitation. The evaluation funded under the NIJ solicitation must be independent, as stated on page 5 of the NIJ solicitation, “..NIJ seeks proposals for rigorous, independent evaluations of the outcome and impact of projects funded under the FY 2022 OJP Community Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative solicitation….” It is incumbent on the applicant to demonstrate in the proposal how that independence will be maintained.