Biology Casework Analysis Contribution Program (BCACP)

Who is eligible?

• Governmental forensic laboratories operated by the Province of Ontario (Centre of Forensic Sciences)
• Governmental forensic laboratories operated by the Province of Quebec (Laboratoire de sciences judiciaires et de médecine légale)

Who is not eligible

• All private sector companies, businesses, and organizations not operating as the official provincial forensic laboratories of Ontario or Quebec.
• Entities not representing the provincial governments of Ontario or Quebec.
• Organizations without a mandate to conduct biology casework analysis (including DNA identification) for the purpose of supporting criminal investigations on behalf of the provinces of Ontario or Quebec.

Eligible expenses

• Salaries and wages for permanent or temporary professional, clerical, technical, and administrative staff, including employer contributions to employee benefit plans such as Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan, Workers' Compensation, and Provincial Pension Plans.
• Services for personnel administration, accounting, bookkeeping, and audit directly related to laboratory operations.
• Rent, utilities (electricity, heat, water, telephone), and maintenance of offices or laboratory facilities associated with the program.
• Supplies and materials required for biological casework analysis.
• Acquisition of equipment required directly to support biology casework analysis.
• Travel and living expenses related to laboratory operations.
• Training program costs for staff involved in casework analysis.
• Computer services, library expenses, research costs, and expenses for collecting and analyzing statistics relevant to laboratory operations.
• Minor capital purchases directly supporting the laboratory operations for biology casework analysis.

Eligible geographic areas

• Province of Ontario
• Province of Quebec

• Ability to increase the efficiency of biological analysis (DNA) in forensic laboratories in Ontario and Quebec.
• Reduction of processing times and backlog of cases.
• Number of DNA profiles submitted to the forensic database of the National DNA Data Bank.
• Presentation of detailed and credible financial and performance reports according to program requirements.

• Step 1: Contact Public Safety Canada
  • Initiate general inquiries with Public Safety Canada for guidance on the application process and to access the most recent program terms and conditions.
• Step 2: Prepare Application Documentation
  • Compile a budget of anticipated eligible expenses for each fiscal year.
  • Prepare an annual financial report attested to by a certified financial officer.
  • Draft a project plan detailing activities for identifying, collecting, and analyzing biological materials from crime scenes, including the process for submitting DNA profiles to the National DNA Data Bank.
  • Document sources of confirmed and potential funding, ensuring transparency regarding government assistance levels (federal/provincial/municipal).
• Step 3: Submit Application to Public Safety Canada
  • Transmit the prepared application package, including all financial documents and project details, to Public Safety Canada as directed during initial inquiries or as specified in program documentation.
• Step 4: Application Review and Agreement Negotiation
  • Participate in the review process with Public Safety Canada, responding to any requests for additional information or clarification.
  • If successful, negotiate a Contribution Agreement outlining program terms, eligible activities, expenditure categories, and reporting requirements.
• Step 5: Ongoing Reporting and Compliance
  • Once approved, submit annual budgets, financial reports, and performance/activity reports as required by the signed Contribution Agreement.
  • Ensure ongoing adherence to reporting and monitoring obligations throughout the duration of funding.

• Payments are based on reimbursement of eligible expenditures and progress reports must be submitted for payment processing.
• Annual financial and performance reports are required, detailing activities, expenditures, and accomplishments.
• Recipients must disclose all sources of funding for the initiative to ensure compliance with total government assistance limits.
• The maximum agreement duration is five years, and Public Safety Canada may consider reimbursement of some pre-agreement expenses on an exceptional basis.