NIST said Tuesday it plans to spend up to $20 million over the next five years on the Forensic Science Center of Excellence and could extend the funding for another five-year period.
The facility would focus on creating probabilistic systems that can help forensic professionals validate tools used in pattern and digital evidence analyses.
According to NIST, the center would also facilitate interactions between the agency and the forensic sciences community as well as train practitioners in using new methods.
The COE grant program is open to academic and nonprofit organizations throughout the U.S., and interested parties may work individually or partner with business enterprises or state/tribal/local government agencies.
Applications are due Dec. 11 by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.