Primary Department: Institute of Forensic Sciences
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Luis A. Sanchez, M.D., Executive Director & Chief Medical Examiner
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Grant - Application
Project ID (if applicable): O-BJA-2025-172472
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Bureau of Justice Assistance/Office of Justice Programs
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable):
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable):
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): 0%
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): Grantor does not allow indirect cost capture
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by the Institute of Forensic Sciences for approval to submit an application to the Bureau of Justice Assistance/Office of Justice Programs for grant funds in the amount of $500,000, with no required match, for the FY25 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement - Competitive Grants Program.
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Background and Discussion:
This funding opportunity seeks to improve forensic science and medical examiner/coroner services, including services provided by laboratories operated by states and units of local government. Funding is to be used for forensic science laboratories and/or medical examiner/coroner offices.
Expected Impact:
This program will provide instrumentation intended to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science at the HCIFS. This program is in alignment with both the BJA’s and HCIFS’s goal to continue backlog reduction initiatives while maintaining industry-accepted professional practices and complying with applicable statutory, regulatory, safety and accreditation requirements.
Alternative Options:
There are few, if any, alternative options for this type of program.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 1. Make Harris County safer and more just.
County Strategic Plan Objective: B: Reduce criminal legal system exposure that does not advance public safety.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): N/A
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): N/A
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): N/A
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): N/A
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
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Location:
Address (if applicable): 1861 Old Spanish Trail, Houston, TX 77054
Precinct(s): Countywide
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Anticipated Court Date: 10/16/2025
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 10/1/2025
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Wendi Welch, Budget Manager
Attachments (if applicable): Notice of Funding Opportunity