Overview and Award Schedule

The purpose of the Coverdell Grant Program is to assist state agencies and local units of government in carrying out specific programs to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner services. This may include the elimination of backlogs in the analysis of forensic evidence, including controlled substances, firearms examination, forensic pathology, latent prints, questioned documents, toxicology, and trace evidence.  Grants will pay for 100 percent of the program costs and successful applications have a twelve-month grant period.

All applicants for Coverdell grants, whether state agencies or units of local government:

1. Must have developed a plan for their forensic science laboratory that is designed to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science or medical examiner services;
2. Must specifically describe the manner in which grant funds will be used to carry out that plan;
3. Must use generally accepted laboratory practices and procedures as established by accrediting organizations or appropriate certifying bodies; and
4. Must be able to certify––with respect to any forensic laboratory system, medical examiner’s office, coroner’s office, law enforcement storage facility, or medical facility that will receive any portion of the grant––that a government entity exists and an appropriate process is in place to conduct independent external investigations into allegations of serious negligence or misconduct by employees or contractors substantially affecting the integrity of forensic results. 

Application and Forms

Additional forms and instructions are provided below.