The DNA Audit/Grant Progress Assessment (GPA) program is the longest-running and most widely known program at NFSTC. The DNA Audit program visits and reviews publicly funded DNA laboratories against the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Quality Assurance Standards as approved by the National DNA Index System (NDIS). The program is funded by a Cooperative Agreement with the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), Office of Science & Technology.

Additional information about the NFSTC Forensic Technologies Center of Excellence DNA/GPA audit program was presented at the 2010 National Institute of Justice conference.

Schedules and Calendars

NFSTC Biennial GPA/DNA Calendar

External DNA Audits
These audits are provided by NFSTC at no cost to the laboratories and must be completed every two years. Check out this section for schedules, calendars and general information.

Grant Progress Assessments
Laboratories that receive NIJ funding must have their grants assessed every two years, as per NIJ grant rules. Grant Progress Assessments (GPA) can be conducted at the same time for those laboratories and agencies choosing to participate in the free DNA Audit program.

NFSTC assesses project progress for grantees receiving funds from:

• DNA Grant Program
• Paul E. Coverdell Forensic Sciences Improvement Program
• Using DNA to Solve Cold Cases and other DNA grant programs