BJA FY 23 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG

OMB No. 1121-0329

Expires 12/31/2023

U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Justice Programs

Bureau of Justice Assistance

BJA FY 23 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program -

Local Solicitation

Assistance Listing Number # 16.738

Grants.gov Opportunity Number: O-BJA-2023-171790

Solicitation Release Date: June 30, 2023 12:00 PM ET

Application Grants.gov Deadline: October 23, 2023 8:59 PM ET

Application JustGrants Deadline: October 24, 2023 8:59 PM ET

Overview

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of

Justice Assistance (BJA) seeks applications for funding under the Edward Byrne

Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. This program furthers the DOJ’s

mission by assisting state, local, and tribal jurisdictions’ efforts to prevent or reduce crime

and violence and to improve the fair administration of the justice system.

This solicitation incorporates guidance provided in the OJP Grant Application Resource

Guide which provides additional information for applicants to prepare and submit

applications to OJP for funding. If this solicitation expressly modifies any provision

in the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide, the applicant is to follow the

guidelines in this solicitation as to that provision.

This solicitation expressly modifies the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide by not

incorporating the “Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation;

Waiver” provisions in the “Financial Information” section of the

OJP Grant Application

Resource Guide.

Solicitation Categories

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Competition ID Category * Number

Awards

Dollar

Amount for

Award

Performance

Start Date

Performance

Duration

(Months)

C-BJA-2023-00104-PROD

Category 1–

Applicants with

eligible

allocation

amounts of less

than $25,000

678 $10,420,302

10/1/22

12:00 AM

C-BJA-2023-00105-PROD

Category

2–Applicants

with eligible

allocation

amounts of

$25,000 or more

618 92,358,317

10/1/22

12:00 AM

Eligible Applicants:

City or township governments, County governments, Native American tribal governments

(Federally recognized), Special district governments

By law, for purposes of the JAG Program, the term “units of local government” includes a

town, township, village, parish, city, county, borough, or other general-purpose political

subdivision of a state; or it may be a federally recognized American Indian tribal

government that performs law enforcement functions (as determined by the Secretary of

the Interior). A unit of local government also may be any law enforcement district or

judicial enforcement district established under applicable state law with authority to

independently establish a budget and impose taxes; for example, in Louisiana, a unit of

local government means a district attorney or parish sheriff. The eligible allocations by

state for the fiscal year (FY) 2023 JAG Program can be found at:

https://bja.ojp.gov/

program/jag/fy-2023-allocations.

Eligible allocations under the JAG Program are posted annually on the JAG web page.

See the Allocation Determination and Units of Local Government Requirements

Regarding Use of JAG Funds section for more information. Applicants with eligible

allocation amounts of less than $25,000 will apply to Category 1, and applicants

with eligible allocation amounts of $25,000 or more will apply to Category 2.

Contact Information

For assistance with the requirements of this solicitation, contact the OJP Response

Center at 800-851-3420, 301-240-6310 (TTY for hearing-impaired callers only), or

[email protected].The OJP Response Center operates from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

eastern time (ET) Monday–Friday, and 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET on the solicitation

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close date. 
Submission Information 
Registration: Before submitting an application, all applicants must register with the 
System for Award Management (SAM). You must renew and validate your registration 
every 12 months. If you do not renew your SAM registration, it will expire. An expired 
registration can delay or prevent application submission in 
Grants.gov and JustGrants. 
Registration and renewal can take up to 10 business days to complete. 
Submission: Applications must be submitted to DOJ electronically through a two-step 
process via Grants.gov and JustGrants. 
Step 1: The applicant must submit by the Grants.gov deadline the required Application 
for Federal Assistance standard form (SF-424) and a Disclosure of Lobbying 
Activities (SF-LLL)
 form when they register in Grants.gov at https://www.grants.gov/ 
web/grants/register.html. Submit the SF-424 and SF-LLL as early as possible, but no 
later than 48 hours before the Grants.gov deadline. If an applicant fails to submit in 
Grants.gov, they will be unable to apply in JustGrants. 
For technical assistance with submitting the SF-424 and an SF-LLL in Grants.gov, 
contact the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 800-518-4726, 606-545-5035, 
Grants.gov Customer Support, or [email protected]. The Grants.gov Support Hotline 
operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except on federal holidays. 
Step 2: The applicant must submit the full application, including attachments, in 
JustGrants at JustGrants.usdoj.gov by the JustGrants application deadline. 
For technical assistance with submitting the full application in JustGrants, contact the 
JustGrants Service Desk at 833-872-5175 or 
[email protected]. The 
JustGrants Service Desk operates 
7
 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET Monday–Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 
p.m.
 ET on Saturday, Sunday, and federal holidays.
OJP encourages applicants to review, the “How to Apply” section in the OJP Grant 
Application Resource Guide and the JustGrants website for more information, resources, 
and training. Applicants should maintain all receipts and confirmations received from 
SAM.gov, 
Grants.gov
, JustGrants systems. 
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Contents 
Overview  1 
Activities 
Training Costs 
(SF-424) in Grants.gov 
Information) 
Questionnaire (including applicant disclosure of high-risk status) 
Contact Information  2 
Program Description  6 
Overview  6 
Specific Information  6 
Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables  19 
Evidence-Based Programs  19 
Information Regarding Potential Evaluation of Programs and  19 
Federal Award Information  20 
General Guidance for Federal Award  20 
Awards, Amounts and Durations  21 
Type of Award  21 
Financial Management and System Controls  21 
Budget Information  21 
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement  21 
Pre-agreement Costs (also known as Pre-award Costs)  22 
Prior Approval, Planning, and Reporting of Conference/Meeting/  22 
Costs Associated with Language Assistance (if applicable)  22 
Availability of Funds  22 
Eliigibility Information  22 
Application and Submission Information  22 
Content of Application Submission  22 
Information to Complete the Application for Federal Assistance  23 
Standard Applicant Information (JustGrants 424 and General Agency 23 
Proposal Abstract  23 
Proposal Narrative  24 
Budget and Associated Documentation  26 
Budget Worksheet and Budget Narrative (attachment)  26 
Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable)  26 
Financial Management and System of Internal Controls  26 
Disclosure of Process Related to Executive Compensation  26 
Additional Application Components  27 
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Research and Evaluation Independence and Integrity Statement  27 
Applicant Government 
Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace 
Requirements; Law Enforcement and Community Policing 
Applicant Disclosure and Justification – DOJ High Risk Grantees (if
28 
applicable) 
Memorandum of Understanding (if applicable)  27 
Certifications and Assurances by the Chief Executive of the  27 
Disclosure and Assurances  27 
Disclosure of Lobbying Activities  28 
DOJ Certified Standard Assurances  28 
Applicant Disclosure of Duplication in Cost Items  28 
DOJ Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and 28 
How to Apply  28 
Submission Dates and Time  29 
Application Review Information  31 
Review Process  31 
Federal Award Administration Information  32 
Federal Award Notices  32 
Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements  32 
Information Technology (IT) Security Clauses  32 
Requirements 
552a) 
General Information about Post-Federal Award Reporting  32 
Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)  33 
Other Information  33 
Freedom of Information and Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552 and 5 U.S.C.  33 
Provide Feedback to OJP  34 
Application Checklist  35 
Standard Solicitation Resources  37 
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Program Description

Overview

OJP is committed to advancing work that promotes civil rights and racial equity,

increases access to justice, supports crime victims and individuals impacted by the

justice system, strengthens community safety and protects the public from crime and

evolving threats, and builds trust between law enforcement and the community.

With this solicitation, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) seeks to award Edward

Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program funds to eligible units of local

government. (BJA will issue a separate solicitation for applications from states).

For more information on the JAG Program, please refer to the JAG Fact Sheet and/or

JAG Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

Statutory Authority: The JAG Program is authorized by Title I of Public Law 90-351

(generally codified at

34 U.S.C. 10151-10726), including subpart 1 of part E (codified at

34 U.S.C. 10151-10158); see also 28 U.S.C. 530C(a).

Specific Information

Statutory Formula

JAG awards are based on a statutory formula that is fully described within the JAG

Technical Report. Once each fiscal year’s overall JAG Program funding level is

determined, BJA works with the Bureau of Justice Statistics to begin a four-step grant

award calculation process, which, in general, consists of:

1. Computing an initial JAG allocation for each state, based on its share of violent

crime and population (weighted equally).

2. Reviewing the initial JAG allocation amount to determine if the state allocation is

less than the minimum award amount defined in the JAG legislation (0.25 percent

of the total). If this is the case, the state is funded at the minimum level, and the

funds required for this are deducted from the overall pool of JAG funds. Each of the

remaining states receives the minimum award plus an additional amount based on

its share of violent crime and population.

3. Dividing each state’s final award amount (except for the territories and the District

of Columbia) between the state and its units of local governments at rates of 60

and 40 percent, respectively.

4. Determining award allocations for the units of local government, which are based

on their proportion of the state’s 3-year violent crime average. If the “eligible award

amount” for a particular unit of local government, as determined on this basis, is

$10,000 or more, then the unit of local government is eligible to apply directly to

OJP (under the JAG Local Solicitation) for a JAG award. If the “eligible award

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amount” for a particular unit of local government, as determined on this basis, is

less than $10,000, the funds are not made available for a direct award to that

particular unit of local government, but instead are added to the amount that is

awarded to the state.

Allocation Determination and Units of Local Government Requirements Regarding

Use of JAG Funds

Eligible allocations under JAG are posted annually on the JAG web page.

According to the JAG Program statute, a “disparity” may exist between the funding

eligibility of a county and its associated municipalities. See

34 U.S.C. § 10156(d)(4).

Units of local government identified by BJA as disparate must select a fiscal agent that

will submit an application for the allocation to include all disparate municipalities. A

memorandum of understanding (MOU) that identifies which jurisdiction will serve as the

applicant or fiscal agent for joint funds must be completed and signed by each

participating jurisdiction’s authorized representative. Once an award is made, the fiscal

agent will be responsible for distributing award funds to the other jurisdictions in the

disparate group through subawards that include all appropriate award conditions. To

verify eligibility, an applicant should visit the

JAG web page and click on their respective

state and note the following regarding the state’s allocation table:

1. Disparate units of local government are listed in shaded groups, in alphabetic order

by county. Units of local government identified as disparate must select one unit of

local government to submit an application on behalf of the disparate group.

2. Counties that have an asterisk (*) under the “Direct Allocation" column did not

submit the level of violent crime data to qualify for a direct award from BJA but are

in the disparate grouping indicated by the shaded area. The JAG legislation

requires these counties to remain a partner with the local jurisdictions receiving

funds and must be a signatory on the required MOU.

3. Direct allocations are listed alphabetically below the shaded disparate groupings.

Please note that disparate jurisdictions do not need to abide by the listed

individual allocations, which are provided for information only. Jurisdictions in a

funding disparity are responsible for determining individual amounts within the

Eligible Joint Allocation and documenting individual allocations in the MOU. See

the

JAG FAQs for more information. A sample MOU is also available.

Statutory Program Areas

In general, JAG funds awarded to a unit of local government under the FY 2023 program

may be used to hire additional personnel and/or purchase equipment, supplies,

contractual support, training, technical assistance, and information systems for criminal

justice or civil proceedings, including for any one or more of the following program areas:

1. Law enforcement programs.

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2. Prosecution and court programs.

3. Prevention and education programs.

4. Corrections and community corrections programs.

5. Drug treatment and enforcement programs.

6. Planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs.

7. Crime victim and witness programs (other than compensation).

8. Mental health programs and related law enforcement and corrections programs,

including behavioral programs and crisis intervention teams.

9. Implementation of state crisis intervention court proceedings and related programs

or initiatives, including, but not limited to, mental health courts, drug courts,

veterans courts, and extreme risk protection order programs.

In connection with all of the above purposes, it should be noted that the statute defines

“criminal justice” as “activities pertaining to crime prevention, control, or reduction, or the

enforcement of the criminal law, including, but not limited to, police efforts to prevent,

control, or reduce crime or to apprehend criminals, including juveniles, activities of courts

having criminal jurisdiction, and related agencies (including but not limited to

prosecutorial and defender services, juvenile delinquency agencies and pretrial service

or release agencies), activities of corrections, probation, or parole authorities and related

agencies assisting in the rehabilitation, supervision, and care of criminal offenders, and

programs relating to the prevention, control, or reduction of narcotic addiction and

juvenile delinquency.”

BJA Areas of Emphasis

BJA recognizes that many state and local justice systems currently face challenging

fiscal environments and an important, cost-effective way to relieve those pressures is to

share or leverage resources through cooperation among federal, state, and local law

enforcement. Key areas of priority for BJA include advancing justice system reform

efforts, advancing racial equity and support for underserved communities, preventing and

combating hate crimes, crime and violence reduction strategies, and community violence

intervention (CVI) approaches. BJA encourages recipients of FY 2023 JAG funds to

consider coordination with federal law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders,

including communities most impacted by crime and violence, in addressing these

challenges. Additional details on the BJA areas of emphasis can be found below:

Advancing Justice System Reform Efforts

The justice system serves an important role in protecting communities and seeking

justice for victims. For the justice system to serve that role effectively, it must be

fair, open, and equitable; utilize evidence-based approaches; and promote

restorative practices and rehabilitation. For far too long, however, the justice

system has not lived up to its promise. Racial bias and injustice and overly harsh

sentences have swelled correctional populations which not only exacerbates

distrust in the justice system, but also destabilizes the wellbeing of communities. To

build strong, safe, and healthy communities, it is critical to address the underlying,

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entrenched issues of inequity and disparity in the criminal justice system so that all

persons receive equal treatment under the law. Jurisdictions must carefully review

the ways in which the structures and incentives within their own systems are driving

correctional populations and racial disparities and realign operations and target

resources toward community solutions.

Consistent with President Biden’s Executive Order 14074, Advancing Effective,

Accountable Policing and Criminal Justice Practices To Enhance Public Trust and

Public Safety, and the

Safer America Plan, DOJ is committed to advancing bold,

effective justice reform solutions that deliver safety, equity, and justice for all.

Justice system reform includes, but is not limited to, a wide range of investments in

community safety and justice such as accountability of law enforcement to build

community trust, alternatives to incarceration, community supervision reforms,

support for mental health and substance use treatment services, community-driven

programs and partnerships, and enhancing pretrial processes, Efforts to continue to

address the backlog of court cases created during the pandemic would fall in this

category. BJA encourages JAG recipients to utilize funding for projects that

promote all aspects of justice system reform.

Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities

Consistent with the Presidential Memorandum on Restoring the Department of

Justice’s Access-to-Justice Function and Reinvigorating the White House Legal Aid

Interagency Roundtable and Executive Order 13985,

Advancing Racial Equity and

Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, DOJ is

committed to ensuring equal access to justice and identifying and reducing

disparities that exist throughout the criminal and civil legal systems, and to remove

barriers to ensure equal opportunity for people of color and for communities that

have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by

inequality. This commitment is evidenced by the April 14, 2022,

Equity Action Plan

designed to increase equity, opportunity, and resources for the most vulnerable

communities.

BJA encourages JAG recipients to utilize funds to support efforts at the state,

territory, local, and tribal levels to institute more effective and equitable criminal

justice policies and practices, foster public trust, and enhance public safety and

security by increasing engagement with community members and building

partnerships with community organizations to develop a shared vision and

approach to addressing crime. This includes support for strategies to ensure the

protection of defendants’ and incarcerated individuals’ constitutional rights and

safety and efforts to address wrongful convictions and conviction integrity. This also

includes supporting technological or personnel upgrades to provide more equitable

access to justice, including language access resources, resources to better serve

those with disabilities, and indigent defense services. Finally, this can include

efforts to build partnerships between the criminal justice system and nonprofits to

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provide support for collaborative, community-driven and informed efforts, such as

community-based diversion programs outside of the criminal justice system,

increasing access to resources to support the right to counsel, and developing

community-driven and informed prevention programs or responses to violent crime.

Preventing and Combating Hate Crimes

Hate crimes (sometimes called bias-motivated crimes) are criminal offenses

motivated by some form of bias toward victims based on their perceived or actual

race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender

identity, or disability. Hate crimes have a devastating effect beyond the harm

inflicted on any one victim. They reverberate through families, communities, and

the entire nation as others fear that they too may be threatened, attacked, or forced

from their homes because of what they look like, who they are, where they worship,

who they love, or whether they have a disability. As with most other crimes, hate

crimes in the United States are primarily investigated under state law and

prosecuted by local, state, and tribal authorities. However, reluctance from victims

and witnesses to contact law enforcement about hate crime incidents may arise

from perceptions of bias, distrust of law enforcement or the criminal justice system,

or barriers such as language or concerns about immigration status. Hate crimes are

chronically underreported to and under-identified by law enforcement. Tools such

as the

U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics’ National Crime Victimization Survey

(NCVS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI’s) Uniform Crime Reporting

(UCR) program shed some light on trends among those hate crimes reported to law

enforcement or through NCVS. Although hate crimes are often underreported, in

recent years, there have been alarming spikes in hate crimes and threats of

violence across the country, often fueled by online hate forums. In 2021 and 2022,

there were several attacks on houses of worship, threats against Historically Black

Colleges and Universities, and increased attacks on Asian Americans. Though

many jurisdictions are facing significant increases in hate crimes and hate

incidents,

a recent research study and survey from the National Institute of Justice

(NIJ) indicates that many state and local law enforcement agencies do not have

adequate tools to identify, investigate, and respond to hate crimes, and only 23

percent of law enforcement agencies that responded to the survey reported any

hate crime investigations in 2018.

In September 2022, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced that all 94 U.S.

Attorneys’ offices would be implementing the United Against Hate Program and

emphasized that eliminating hate and bias-motivated crimes is one of DOJ’s top

priorities, and combating hate crimes and promoting trust and accountability in law

enforcement was one of the Department’s priority goals for fiscal year 2023. BJA

encourages JAG recipients to utilize funding to promote change and accountability

by supporting state, local, and tribal efforts to prevent hate crimes, improve data

collection and reporting of hate-related criminal offenses and incidents, and

promote efforts to fully investigate and prosecute hate crimes when they do occur.

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This includes ensuring those agencies that have not yet transitioned to the National

Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS) do so expeditiously to ensure that

national hate crime statistics are as accurate as possible. More information on

BJA’s portfolio addressing hate crimes, including the

Emmett Till Cold Case

Investigations and Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes programs,

can be found at:

Hate Crime | Bureau of Justice Assistance (ojp.gov).

Crime and Violence Reduction Strategies

The Biden–Harris Administration and DOJ have made crime and violence reduction

a top priority. In May 2022, President Biden signed

Executive Order 14074,

Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing and Criminal Justice Practices to

Enhance Public Trust and Public Safety, which states, “since early 2020,

communities around the country have faced rising rates of violent crime, requiring

law enforcement engagement at a time when law enforcement agencies are

already confronting challenges of staffing shortages and low morale.” According to

an analysis of 27 cities conducted by the Council on Criminal Justice, the number

of homicides in 2022 declined 4 percent over 2021, yet the homicide rate remained

34 percent higher than 2019 levels. Also, preliminary data compiled by the

National

Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund indicate that as of December 31, 2022,

226 federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement officers died in the line of duty

in 2022. Line-of-duty-related deaths continue to be a top concern. Sixty-four law

enforcement officers were killed feloniously by firearms in 2022, which is an

increase over the historical number of deaths by gunfire seen in the prior decade

(2010–2020 saw an average of 53).

BJA encourages JAG grantees to invest funds to tailor programs and responses to

state and local crime issues through the use of data and analytics; coordinate with

United States Attorneys and Project Safe Neighborhoods grantees in order to

leverage funding for crime and violence reduction projects and coordinate their law

enforcement activities with those of federal law enforcement agencies such as the

FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug

Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, and the

Department of Homeland Security; and form partnerships with federal, state, and

local law enforcement and prosecutors to identify persons who use guns to commit

a crime and who purchase or sell guns illegally. This includes ensuring that persons

prohibited from purchasing firearms (see e.g.,18 U.S.C. § 922(g)) are deterred from

doing so by enhancing complete, accurate, and timely access to the FBI’s National

Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) and the timely submission of all

necessary records into the FBI databases, which will help prevent illegal transfers

of firearms to those who are prohibited from owning firearms under current law.

BJA also encourages JAG grantees to invest in implementing programs that

provide training, assistance, and resources to law enforcement agencies to mitigate

the current crisis in law enforcement recruitment and retention, bolster the security

of at-risk

places of worship such as synagogues, churches, and mosques, provide

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security for prosecutors and elections, enhanced community policing and crime

prevention, enforcement of commonsense gun laws, and upgrade systems and/or

purchase technology that support agency strategies to reduce violent crime and

enhance their capacity to better address crime.

Community Based Violence Intervention (CVI) Approaches

In April 2021, the Biden–Harris Administration announced historic investments in

CVI efforts to combat the gun violence epidemic. CVI is an approach that uses

evidence-informed strategies to reduce violence through tailored, community-

centered initiatives. These multidisciplinary strategies engage individuals and

groups to prevent and disrupt cycles of violence and retaliation and establish

relationships between individuals and community assets to deliver services that

save lives, address trauma, provide opportunity, and improve the physical, social,

and economic conditions that drive violence. On February 16, 2023, Attorney

General Garland

delivered remarks at a convening of grantees under OJP’s

Community Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative.

He emphasized

that DOJ’s approach to disrupting violent crime is: “centered on our partnerships –

both with the communities harmed by violent crime and with the law enforcement

agencies that protect those communities. Our approach is centered on building

public trust. We know that we cannot do our jobs effectively without the trust of the

communities we serve. Our department-wide anti-violent crime strategy leverages

the resources of our federal prosecutors, agents, investigators, grant programs,

and criminal justice experts towards those ends. We are working closely with local

and state law enforcement agencies, with officials across government, and with the

communities most affected by this violence, and with the community organizations

on the front lines – all toward one goal: the goal of making our communities safer.”

BJA encourages JAG recipients to invest JAG funds to tailor programs to build

strong, sustained partnerships with community residents and organizations to

support CVI work in communities most impacted by violent crime. CVI strategies

typically focus on high-risk individuals and gang and gun violence as well as the

historical and structural challenges that often contribute to community violence. CVI

strategies should involve holistic, coordinated interventions attending to the multiple

needs of individuals at high risk of gang and gun violence. For example, hospital-

based violence intervention programs use credible messengers to connect with

victims of gun violence while they are still in the hospital, and then wraparound

services are typically provided to them such as behavioral health support,

employment access, housing advocacy, and family support. More information on

CVI strategies is available

through

BJA’s National Training and Technical

Assistance Center (NTTAC) and on BJA’s website at: https://bja.ojp.gov/program/

community-violence-intervention/overview. BJA encourages JAG recipients to

partner with organizations with existing CVI strategies to support and enhance

those programs, which may include organizations funded under OJP’s Community

Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI). To identify and learn

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more about existing CVIPI grantees, review OJP’s CVIPI web page and FY 2022

CVIPI award information. In addition, jurisdictions looking to implement those

strategies can request training and technical assistance (TTA) on the

NTTAC

website.

Additional Uses of JAG Funds

JAG funds awarded under this FY 2023 solicitation may also be used to:

Support reentry projects with the goal of improving outcomes for incarcerated

individuals returning to the community from prison or jail.

Support projects related to preventing, detecting, seizing, and/or stopping the

presence and use of contraband cellphones within correctional facilities. This

includes the purchasing of managed access systems and other mitigation

technologies (as permitted by applicable law).

Purchase fentanyl and methamphetamine detection equipment, including handheld

instruments and training for law enforcement safety, as well as opioid reversal

agents.

Purchase drug-detection canines to combat the rise of drug trafficking, including

that of methamphetamines.

Support efforts to seal and expunge criminal history information in accordance with

state laws and policies.

Support efforts to attract and retain an all-inclusive, diverse, expert, and

accountable law enforcement workforce, with a focus on gender and racial

diversity.

Support virtual reality de-escalation training.

Purchase humane remote restraint devices that enable law enforcement to restrain

an uncooperative subject without inflicting pain.

Purchase gunfire detection technology.

Promote data sharing and sex offender monitoring.

Additionally, JAG funds awarded under this FY 2023 solicitation may be used for any

purpose indicated here:

Purposes for Which Funds Awarded Under the Edward Byrne

Memorial Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) Program May Be Used (ojp.gov).

Limitations on the Use of JAG funds

Administrative Costs — Up to 10 percent of a JAG award, including up to 10 percent of

any earned interest, may be used for costs associated with administering the award,

which can include indirect costs.

Supplanting — JAG funds may not be used to supplant state or local funds but must be

used to increase the amount of such funds that would, in the absence of federal funds,

be made available. See the

JAG FAQs for examples of supplanting. Although

supplanting is prohibited, BJA encourages the leveraging of federal funding.

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Matching Funds — Absent specific federal statutory authority to do so, JAG award funds

may not be used as a match for other federal awards.

Prohibited and Controlled Equipment and Associated Procedures under JAG — The

JAG statute, at 34 U.S.C. § 10152(d), specifically identifies a list of prohibited items. In

addition, consistent with Executive Order 14074, Advancing Effective, Accountable

Policing and Criminal Justice Practices To Enhance Public Trust and Public Safety of

May 25, 2022, the use of OJP grant funds for the purchase or transfer of certain

equipment has been designated as prohibited or controlled starting with FY 2023 OJP

grant funds. Details and associated procedures for requesting prior approval, where

applicable, can be found in the

JAG Prohibited and Controlled Equipment Guidance and

the JAG FAQs.

Note: The use of BJA grant funds for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), including

unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAV) and/or any accompanying accessories to support UAS

or UAV devices/systems, is unallowable.

Other Program Requirements

A unit of local government that applies for and receives an FY 2023 JAG award must

note the following:

Trust Fund — Units of local government may draw down JAG funds either in advance or

on a reimbursement basis. To draw down in advance, a trust fund must be established in

which to deposit the funds. The trust fund must be in an interest-bearing account, unless

one of the exceptions in 2 C.F.R. § 200.305(b)(8) apply. If subrecipients draw down JAG

funds in advance, they also must establish a trust fund in which to deposit the funds. For

additional information, see

2 C.F.R. § 200.305.

Minimum Requirements for Extreme Risk Protection Order Programs (ERPOs) —

ERPOs must include, at a minimum—

1. Pre-deprivation and post-deprivation due process rights that prevent any violation

or infringement of the Constitution of the United States, including, but not limited to,

the Bill of Rights and the substantive or procedural due process rights guaranteed

under the fifth and 14th amendments to the Constitution of the United States, as

applied to the states and as interpreted by state courts and United States courts

(including the Supreme Court of the United States). Such programs must include,

at the appropriate phase to prevent any violation of constitutional rights, at

minimum, notice, the right to an in-person hearing, an unbiased adjudicator, the

right to know opposing evidence, the right to present evidence, and the right to

confront adverse witnesses.

2. The right to be represented by counsel at no expense to the government.

3. Pre-deprivation and post-deprivation heightened evidentiary standards and proof

which mean not less than the protections afforded to a similarly situated litigant in

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federal court or promulgated by the state's evidentiary body, and sufficient to

ensure the full protections of the Constitution of the United States, including, but not

limited to, the Bill of Rights and the substantive and procedural due process rights

guaranteed under the fifth and 14th amendments to the Constitution of the United

States, as applied to the states and as interpreted by state courts and United

States courts (including the Supreme Court of the United States). The heightened

evidentiary standards and proof under such programs must, at all appropriate

phases to prevent any violation of any constitutional right, at minimum, prevent

reliance upon evidence that is unsworn or unaffirmed, irrelevant, based on

inadmissible hearsay, unreliable, vague, speculative, and lacking a foundation.

4. Penalties for abuse of the program.

Certifications and Assurances by the Chief Executive of the Applicant Government

(which incorporates the 30-day governing body review requirement) — A JAG application

is not complete, and a unit of local government may not access award funds, unless the

chief executive of the applicant unit of local government (e.g., the mayor) properly

executes, and the unit of local government submits, the “Certifications and Assurances

by the Chief Executive of the Applicant Government.” The most up-to-date version of this

certification can be found at:

FY23 JAG - Certifications and Assurances by the Chief

Executive of the Applicant Government. Please note that this certification contains

assurances that the governing body notification and public comment requirements, which

are required under the JAG statute (at 34 U.S.C. § 10153(a)(2)), have been satisfied.

OJP will not deny an application for an FY 2023 award for failure to submit these

“Certifications and Assurances by the Chief Executive of the Applicant Government” by

the application deadline, but a unit of local government will not be able to access award

funds (and its award will include a condition that withholds funds) until it submits these

certifications and assurances properly executed by its respective chief executive (e.g.,

the mayor).

Body-worn Cameras (BWCs) — A JAG award recipient that proposes to use FY 2023

funds to purchase BWC equipment or implement or enhance BWC programs must

provide to OJP a certification(s) that each direct recipient receiving the equipment or

implementing the program has policies and procedures in place related to BWC

equipment usage, data storage and access, privacy considerations, and training. The

certification form related to BWC policies and procedures can be found at:

JAG - Body-

Worn Camera (BWC) Policy Certification.

A JAG award recipient that proposes to use funds for BWC-related expenses will have

funds withheld until the required certification is submitted and approved by OJP. If the

JAG award recipient proposes to change project activities to utilize JAG funds for BWC-

related expenses after the award is accepted, the JAG award recipient must submit the

signed certification to OJP at that time.

Further, before making any subaward for BWC-related expenses, the JAG award

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recipient must collect a completed BWC certification from the proposed subrecipient. Any

such certifications must be maintained by the JAG award recipient and made available to

OJP upon request. The

BJA BWC Toolkit provides model BWC policies and best

practices to assist criminal justice departments in implementing BWC programs.

Apart from the JAG Program, BJA provides funds under the Body-worn Camera Policy

and Implementation Program (BWCPIP). BWCPIP allows jurisdictions to develop and

implement policies and practices required for effective program adoption, and to address

program factors including the purchase, deployment, and maintenance of camera

systems and equipment; data storage and access; and privacy considerations. Interested

JAG award recipients may wish to refer to the

BWC Partnership Program web page for

more information. JAG award recipients that are also BWC award recipients may not use

JAG funds for any part of the 50 percent match required by the BWC Program.

Body Armor — Body armor purchased with JAG funds may be purchased at any threat

level, make, or model from any distributor or manufacturer, as long as the following

requirements are met: The body armor must have been tested and found to comply with

the latest applicable National Institute of Justice ballistic or stab standards

(

https://

cjtec.org/compliance-testing-program/compliant-product-lists/). In addition, body armor

purchased must be made in the United States.

Body armor purchased with JAG funds must be “uniquely fitted vests,” which means

protective (ballistic or stab-resistant) armor vests that conform to the individual wearer to

provide the best possible fit and coverage through a combination of (1) correctly sized

panels and carrier determined through appropriate measurement and (2) properly

adjusted straps, harnesses, fasteners, flaps, or other adjustable features. Note that the

requirement that body armor be "uniquely fitted" does not necessarily require body armor

that is individually manufactured based on the measurements of an individual wearer. In

support of OJP’s efforts to improve officer safety, the American Society for Testing and

Materials (ASTM) International has made available the Standard Practice for Body Armor

Wearer Measurement and Fitting of Armor

(

Active Standard ASTM E3003) at no cost.

The

Personal Armor Fit Assessment Checklist is excerpted from ASTM E3003.

A JAG award recipient that proposes to use FY 2023 award funds to purchase body

armor must provide OJP with a certification(s) that each law enforcement agency

receiving body armor has a written “mandatory wear” policy in effect

(see

34 U.S.C. §

10202(c)). The certification form related to mandatory wear can be found at: JAG - Body

Armor Mandatory Wear Policy Certification. Note: A JAG award recipient that proposes

to use funds for the purchase of body armor will have funds withheld until the required

certification is submitted and approved by OJP. If the JAG award recipient proposes to

change project activities to utilize funds for the purchase of body armor after the award is

accepted, the award recipient must submit the signed certification to OJP at that time.

Further, before making any subaward for the purchase of body armor, the JAG award

recipient must collect a completed mandatory wear certification from the proposed

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subrecipient. Any such certifications must be maintained by the JAG award recipient and

made available to OJP upon request. A mandatory wear concept and issues paper and a

model policy are available from the BVP Customer Support Center, which can be

contacted at

[email protected] or toll free at 1–877–758–3787. Additional information and

FAQs related to the mandatory wear policy and certifications can be found in the

JAG

FAQs.

Apart from the JAG Program, BJA provides funds under the Patrick Leahy Bulletproof

Vest Partnership (BVP) Program. The BVP Program provides funding to state and local

law enforcement agencies for the purchase of ballistic-resistant and stab-resistant body

armor. For more information on the BVP Program, including eligibility and an application,

refer to the

BVP webpage. JAG award recipients should note, however, that funds may

not be used for any part of the 50 percent match required by the BVP Program.

Death in Custody Reporting Act (DCRA) — The Death in Custody Reporting Act of 2013

(Public Law 113-242) requires states to report to the Attorney General information

regarding the death of any person who is detained, under arrest, in the process of being

arrested, en route to be incarcerated, or incarcerated at a municipal or county jail, state

prison, state-run boot camp prison, boot camp prison that is contracted by the state, any

state or local contract facility, or other local or state correctional facility (including any

juvenile facility). To comply with DCRA, JAG State Administering Agencies (SAAs) are

responsible for collecting data on a quarterly basis from local entities including local jails,

law enforcement agencies, medical examiners, and other state agencies and submitting

the data to BJA. Units of local government are strongly encouraged to cooperate with

DCRA data collection efforts within their state.

Interoperable Communications — Units of local government (including any subrecipients)

that are using FY 2023 JAG funds for emergency communications activities should

comply with the SAFECOM Guidance for Emergency Communication Grants

(SAFECOM Guidance), including provisions on technical standards that ensure and

enhance interoperable communications. The SAFECOM Guidance is an essential

resource for entities applying for federal financial assistance for emergency

communications projects. It provides general information on eligible activities, technical

standards, and other terms and conditions that are common to most federal emergency

communications programs. Specifically, the SAFECOM Guidance provides guidance to

applicants on:

Recommendations for planning, coordinating, and implementing projects.

Emergency communications activities that can be funded through federal grants.

Best practices, policies, and technical standards that help to improve

interoperability.

Resources to help grant recipients comply with technical standards and grant

requirements.

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SAFECOM Guidance is recognized as the primary guidance on emergency

communications grants by the Administration, Office of Management and Budget, and

federal grant program offices. The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

updates the document every year in close coordination with federal, state, local, tribal,

and territorial stakeholders, and partners. SAFECOM Guidance is applicable to all

federal grants funding emergency communications. The most recent version of the

SAFECOM Guidance is available at:

https://www.cisa.gov/safecom/funding.

Additionally, emergency communications projects funded with FY 2023 JAG funds

should support the Statewide Communication Interoperability Plan (SCIP) and be

coordinated with the full-time statewide interoperability coordinator (SWIC) in the state of

the project. As the central coordination point for a state’s interoperability effort, the SWIC

plays a critical role and can serve as a valuable resource. SWICs are responsible for the

implementation of SCIP through coordination and collaboration with the emergency

response community. CISA maintains a list of SWICs for each state and territory. Contact

[email protected] for more information. All communications equipment purchased with

FY 2023 JAG Program funding should be identified during the quarterly performance

measurement reporting.

DNA Testing of Evidentiary Materials and Uploading DNA Profiles to a Database — If

JAG Program funds are to be used for DNA testing of evidentiary materials, any resulting

eligible DNA profiles must be uploaded to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS),

the national DNA database operated by the FBI, by a government DNA lab with access

to CODIS. No profiles generated with JAG funding may be entered into any other

nongovernmental DNA database without prior written approval from BJA (exceptions

include forensic genealogy). Additionally, award recipients utilizing JAG funds for forensic

genealogy testing must adhere to the DOJ Interim Policy Forensic Genealogical DNA

Analysis and Searching available at:

https://www.justice.gov/olp/page/file/1204386/

download. For more information about DNA testing as it pertains to JAG, please refer to

the JAG FAQs.

Entry of Records into State Repositories — As appropriate and to the extent consistent

with law, a special condition will be imposed that would require the following: Any

program or activity that receives federal financial assistance under JAG that is likely to

generate court dispositions or other records relevant to NICS determinations, including

any dispositions or records that involve any noncitizen or migrant who is undocumented

in the United States (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(5)(A), must have a system in place to ensure

that all such NICS-relevant dispositions or records are made available in a timely fashion.

National Incident-based Reporting System — In FY 2016, the FBI formally announced its

intention to sunset the UCR program’s traditional Summary Reporting System (SRS) and

replace it with NIBRS by January 1, 2021. By statute, BJA JAG awards are calculated

using summary part 1 violent crime data from the FBI’s UCR program. Specifically, the

formula allocations for JAG rely heavily on the ratio of “the average number of part 1

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violent crimes of the UCR of the FBI reported by such State for the three most recent

years reported by such State to the average annual number of such crimes reported by

all States for such years” (34 U.S.C. 10156(a)(1)(B)). In preparation for the FBI’s 2021

NIBRS compliance deadline, BJA imposed an administrative requirement for JAG award

recipients that are not NIBRS compliant to dedicate 3 percent of their JAG award toward

coming into full compliance with the FBI’s NIBRS data submission requirement to both

encourage and assist jurisdictions in working toward compliance and ensure they

continue to have critical criminal justice funding available through JAG when SRS

transitioned to NIBRS. A NIBRS set-aside is NOT required for FY 2023 awards; however,

JAG recipients are encouraged to continue working toward and/or maintaining NIBRS

compliance to ensure that JAG eligibility is not affected in future fiscal years. Local

jurisdictions that are seeking NIBRS compliance certification should reach out directly to

their respective state agency. Agencies with questions about the certification process

may contact

[email protected]. More information about NIBRS, including toolkits and

updates from the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services team, can be found at:

NIBRS — FBI.

Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables

Goals

In general, the FY 2023 JAG Program is designed to provide units of local government

with additional personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, training, technical

assistance, and information systems for criminal justice and civil proceedings.

Objectives

The objectives are directly related to the JAG Program accountability measures

described at: https://bja.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh186/files/media/document/jag-pmt-

accountability-measures.pdf.

A unit of local government that receives an FY 2023 JAG award will be required to

produce various types of reports including quarterly performance reports in BJA’s

Performance Measurement Tool (PMT), quarterly financial reports in JustGrants, and

semi-annual progress reports in JustGrants.

The Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables are directly related to the performance

measures that show the completed work’s results, as discussed in the Application and

Submission Information section.

Evidence-Based Programs

OJP strongly encourages the use of data and evidence in policymaking and program

development for criminal justice, juvenile justice, and crime victim services. For additional

information and resources on evidence-based programs or practices, see the

OJP Grant

Application Resource Guide.

Information Regarding Potential Evaluation of Programs and Activities

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OJP may conduct or support an evaluation of the programs and activities funded under

this solicitation. For additional information and applicable documentation to be included in

the application, see the

OJP Grant Application Resource Guide section entitled

“Information Regarding Potential Evaluation of Programs and Activities.”

Federal Award Information

General Guidance for Federal Award

Anticipated number of awards BJA expects to make:1296

Anticipated maximum dollar amount for each award: $4,660,745

Period of performance start date: October 1, 2022

Period of performance duration: 24 - 48 months

Anticipated Total amount to be awarded under solicitation:

$102,778,619

Category 1 — Eligible Allocation Amounts of Less than $25,000: Units of local

government that are listed on the JAG web page as eligible for an allocation amount of

less than $25,000 should apply under Category 1. This includes direct and joint

(disparate) allocations. Category 1 awards of less than $25,000 are 2 years in length.

Extensions of up to 2 years can be requested for these awards via JustGrants no fewer

than 30 days prior to the project period end date and will be automatically granted upon

request.

Category 2 — Eligible Allocation Amounts of $25,000 or More: Units of local government

that are listed on the JAG web page as eligible for an allocation amount of $25,000 or

more should apply under Category 2. This includes direct and joint (disparate)

allocations. Category 2 awards of at least $25,000 are 4 years in length. Extensions

beyond this period may be made on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of BJA and

must be requested via JustGrants no fewer than 30 days prior to the project period end

date.

Solicitation Categories

Competition ID Category * Number

Awards

Dollar

Amount for

Award

Performance

Start Date

Performance

Duration

(Months)

C-BJA-2023-00104-PROD

Category 1–

Applicants with

eligible

allocation

amounts of less

than $25,000

678 $10,420,302

10/1/22

12:00 AM

Category

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C-BJA-2023-00105-PROD

2–Applicants

with eligible

allocation

amounts of

$25,000 or more

618 92,358,317 10/1/22

12:00 AM

Awards, Amounts and Durations

Type of Award

BJA expects to make awards under this solicitation as grants. See the “Administrative,

National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements” section of the

OJP Grant Application

Resource Guide for a brief discussion of important statutes, regulations, and award

conditions that apply to many (or in some cases, all) OJP grants.

Financial Management and System Controls

Award recipients and subrecipients (including recipients or subrecipients that are pass-

through entities) must, as described in the Part 200 Uniform Requirements as set out at 2

C.F.R. 200.303, comply with standards for financial and program management. See the

OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for additional information.

Budget Information

This solicitation expressly modifies the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide by not

incorporating the “Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation;

Waiver” provision in the “Financial Information” section of the

OJP Grant Application

Resource Guide.

General requirement for federal authorization of any subaward; statutory authorization of

subawards under the JAG Program statute. Generally, a recipient of an OJP award may

not make subawards (“subgrants”) unless the recipient has specific federal authorization

to do so. Unless an applicable statute or DOJ regulation specifically authorizes (or

requires) particular subawards, a recipient must have authorization from OJP before it

may make a subaward. However, JAG subawards that are required or specifically

authorized by statute (see

34 U.S.C. § 10152(a) and 34 U.S.C. § 10156) do not require

prior approval. For additional information regarding subawards and authorizations,

please refer to the subaward section in the

OJP Grant Application Resource Guide.

The use of BJA grant funds for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), including unmanned

aircraft vehicles (UAV), and/or any accompanying accessories to support UAS or UAV

devices/systems, is unallowable.

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement

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This solicitation does not require a match.

Pre-agreement Costs (also known as Pre-award Costs)

See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for information on Pre-agreement Costs

(also known as Pre-award Costs).

Prior Approval, Planning, and Reporting of Conference/Meeting/Training Costs

See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for information on Prior Approval,

Planning, and Reporting of Conference/Meeting/Training Costs.

Costs Associated with Language Assistance (if applicable)

See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for information on Costs Associated with

Language Assistance.

Availability of Funds

This solicitation, and awards under this solicitation, are subject to the availability of

appropriated funds and to any modifications or additional requirements that may be

imposed by the agency or by law. In addition, nothing in this solicitation is intended to,

and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or

in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its

officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

The allocations by state for the FY23 JAG Program can be found at: https://bja.ojp.gov/

program/jag/fy-2023-allocations.

Eliigibility Information

For eligibility information, see the solicitation cover page.

For information on cost sharing or matching requirements, see the "Federal Award

Information" section.

All recipients and subrecipients (including any for-profit organization) must forgo any

profit or management fee.

Application and Submission Information

Content of Application Submission

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See the “Application Elements and Formatting Instructions” section of the OJP Grant

Application Resource Guide for information on what happens to an application that does

not contain all the specified elements or is nonresponsive to the scope of the solicitation.

Information to Complete the Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) in

Grants.gov

The SF-424 must be submitted in Grants.gov. It is a required standard form used as a

cover sheet for submission of pre-applications, applications, and related information. See

the

OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for additional information on completing the

SF-424.

In Section 8F of the SF-424, please include the name and contact information of the

individual who will complete the application in JustGrants. JustGrants will use this

information (email address) to assign the application to this user in JustGrants.

Intergovernmental Review: This solicitation (“funding opportunity”) is subject to

Executive Order 12372. An applicant may find the names and addresses of State Single

Points of Contact (SPOCs) at the following website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-

content/uploads/2020/04/SPOC-4-13-20.pdf. If the applicant’s State appears on the

SPOC list, the applicant must contact its SPOC to find out about, and comply with, the

State’s process under E.O. 12372. On the SF-424, an applicant whose State appears on

the SPOC list is to make the appropriate selection in response to question 19, once the

applicant has complied with its State E.O. 12372 process. An applicant whose State

does not appear on the SPOC list should answer question 19 by selecting “Program is

subject to E.O. 12372 but has not been selected by the State for review.” the SF-424, an

applicant whose State appears on the SPOC list is to make the appropriate selection in

response to question 19, once the applicant has complied with its State E.O. 12372

process. An applicant whose State does not appear on the SPOC list should answer

question 19 by selecting “Program is subject to E.O. 12372 but has not been selected by

the State for review.”

Standard Applicant Information (JustGrants 424 and General Agency Information)

The Standard Applicant Information section of the JustGrants application is pre-

populated with the SF-424 data submitted in Grants.gov. The applicant will need to

review the Standard Applicant Information in JustGrants and make edits as needed.

Within this section, the applicant will need to add: zip codes for areas affected by the

project; confirm their Authorized Representative; and verify and confirm the

organization’s unique entity identifier, legal name, and address.

Proposal Abstract

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A brief Proposal Abstract (no more than 100 words), which concisely describes the

intended use of JAG funds, must be completed in the JustGrants web-based form. This

abstract should be in paragraph form without bullets or tables, written in the third person,

and exclude personally identifiable information. Abstracts will be made publicly available

on the OJP and

USASpending.gov websites if the project is awarded. Examples of brief

Proposal Abstracts are included below.

JAG Abstract Examples:

The city of _____ will use JAG funds for overtime for increased patrols to bolster

the security of at-risk nonprofit organizations such as synagogues, churches,

mosques, and other places of worship.

The county of _____ will use JAG funds to hire credible messengers as part of a

community based violence intervention initiative.

Disparate JAG Abstract Example:

The disparate jurisdictions of _____ and _____ will use JAG funds for technology

improvements and equipment. Specifically, the county of _____ will use JAG

funds to replace its records management system in order to transition to NIBRS,

and the city of _____ will use JAG funds to purchase body worn cameras to

promote public trust, accountability, and transparency.

Proposal Narrative

The Proposal Narrative should be submitted as an attachment in JustGrants. The

attached document should be double-spaced, using a standard 12-point font; have no

less than 1-inch margins; and should not exceed 10 numbered pages.

Category 1 — Eligible Allocation Amounts of Less than $25,000

The proposal narrative for Category 1 applications must include a description of the

project(s), including subawards, if applicable, to be funded with JAG funds over the 2

year grant period.

Category 2 — Eligible Allocation Amounts of $25,000 or More

The proposal narrative for Category 2 applications should include:

Description of the Issue

Identify the unit of local government’s strategy/funding priorities for the FY 2023

JAG funds, the subaward process (if applicable, including disparates) and

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timeline, any progress or challenges, and a description of the programs to be

funded over the 4-year grant period.

Project Design and Implementation

Describe the unit of local government’s process, if any, for engaging stakeholders

from across the justice continuum and how that input informs priorities. This

should include a description of how local communities are engaged in the planning

process, how state and local planning efforts are coordinated, and the challenges

faced in coordination. The applicant should identify the stakeholders representing

each program area who are participating in the strategic planning process, the

gaps in the state's needed resources for criminal justice purposes, plans to

improve the administration of the criminal justice system, and how JAG funds will

be coordinated with state and related justice funds.

c. Capabilities and Competencies

Describe any additional strategic planning/coordination efforts in which the units of

local government participate with other criminal justice entities within the local

jurisdiction and/or state. Please provide an overview of any evidence-informed

programs that have been implemented successfully and how those programs

might inform implementation of strategic plan priorities.

d. Plan for Collecting the Data Required for this Solicitation’s Performance Measures

The application should demonstrate the applicant’s understanding of the

performance data reporting requirements for this grant program and detail how the

applicant will gather the required data should it receive funding.

Note: Applicants are not required to submit performance data with the application.

Rather, performance measure information is included as a notification that award

recipients will be required to submit performance data as part of each award’s

reporting requirements. Some measures are presented as examples, while others

are the exact measures that every recipient will be expected to address.

OJP will require each award recipient to submit regular performance data that

show the completed work’s results. The performance data directly relate to the

goals, objectives, and deliverables identified in the “Goals, Objectives, and

Deliverables” discussion. Applicants can visit OJP’s performance measurement

page at

www.ojp.gov/performance for an overview of performance measurement

activities at OJP.

A list of performance measure questions for this program can be found at: https://

bjapmt.ojp.gov/help/JAGDocs.html. NOTE: BJA is in the process of reviewing and

revising these performance measure questions. Any changes resulting from this

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review will be communicated to award recipients.

BJA will require award recipients to submit quarterly performance measure data in

BJA’s PMT located at

https://bjapmt.ojp.gov and separately submit a semi-annual

performance report in JustGrants. BJA will provide further guidance on the post-

award submission process, if selected for award.

Note on Project Evaluations

An applicant that proposes to use award funds through this solicitation to conduct project

evaluations must follow the guidance in the “Note on Project Evaluations” section in the

OJP Grant Application Resource Guide.

Budget and Associated Documentation

Budget Worksheet and Budget Narrative (attachment)

The applicant will complete the budget worksheet attachment and submit it by uploading

it as an attachment in JustGrants. See

the

OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for

additional information.

The budget narrative and budget worksheet (attachment) are critical elements, and

applicants will be unable to successfully submit an application in JustGrants unless an

attachment is uploaded in this section. If an applicant does not have a budget to submit

at the time of application, an attachment must be uploaded noting as such, and BJA will

add the appropriate special condition withholding funds for budget documentation.

Please note that the budget narrative should include a full description of all costs,

including administrative costs (if applicable).

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable)

If applicable, the applicant will upload their indirect cost rate agreement as an attachment

in JustGrants. See

the

OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for additional information.

This rule does not eliminate or alter the JAG-specific restriction in federal law that states

charges for administrative costs may not exceed 10 percent of the award amount,

regardless of the approved indirect cost rate.

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire (including

applicant disclosure of high-risk status)

The applicant will download the questionnaire, complete it, and upload it as an

attachment in JustGrants. See

the

OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for additional

information and the link to the questionnaire.

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Disclosure of Process Related to Executive Compensation

This solicitation expressly modifies the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide by not

incorporating its “Disclosure of Process Related to Executive Compensation”

provisions. Applicants to this solicitation are not required to provide this disclosure.

Additional Application Components

The applicant will attach the requested documentation in JustGrants.

Research and Evaluation Independence and Integrity Statement

If an application proposes research (including research and development) and/or

evaluation, the applicant must demonstrate research/evaluation independence and

integrity, including appropriate safeguards, before it may receive award funds. The

applicant will upload documentation of its research and evaluation independence and

integrity as an attachment in JustGrants. For additional information, see the OJP Grant

Application Resource Guide.

Memorandum of Understanding (if applicable)

For disparate jurisdictions, an MOU that identifies which jurisdiction will serve as the

applicant or fiscal agent for joint funds must be completed and signed by the authorized

representative for each participating jurisdiction. See the Allocation Determination and

Units of Local Government Requirements Regarding Use of JAG Funds section and the

JAG FAQs for more information. A sample MOU is also available.

OJP will not deny an application for an FY 2023 award if the recipient does not submit a

properly executed MOU by the application deadline, but the award recipient will not be

able to access award funds (and its award will include a condition that withholds funds)

until it submits the properly executed MOU.

Certifications and Assurances by the Chief Executive of the Applicant Government

A JAG application is not complete, and a unit of local government may not access award

funds, unless the chief executive of the applicant unit of local government (e.g., the

mayor) properly executes, and submits, the “Certifications and Assurances by the Chief

Executive of the Applicant Government” attached in the section above entitled “Other

Program Requirements.” The most up-to-date certification form can be found at:

https://

bja.ojp.gov/doc/fy-23-local-jag-ce-certification.pdf.

Disclosure and Assurances

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The applicant will address the following disclosures and assurances.

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

Complete and submit the SF-LLL in Grants.gov

. Once the applicant submits in

Grants.gov, this information will pre-pend into JustGrants. See the OJP Grant Application

Resource Guide for additional information.

DOJ Certified Standard Assurances

Review and accept the DOJ Certified Standard Assurances in JustGrants. See the OJP

Grant Application Resource Guide for additional information.

Applicant Disclosure of Duplication in Cost Items

Complete the JustGrants web-based Applicant Disclosure of Duplication in Cost Items

form. See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for additional information.

DOJ Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other

Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements; Law Enforcement

and Community Policing

Review and accept the DOJ Certified Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment,

Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements; and

Law Enforcement and Community Policing in JustGrants. See the

OJP Grant Application

Resource Guide for additional information.

Applicant Disclosure and Justification – DOJ High Risk Grantees (if applicable)

If applicable, submit the DOJ High Risk Disclosure and Justification as an attachment in

JustGrants. A DOJ High Risk Grantee is an award recipient that has received a DOJ

High Risk designation based on a documented history of unsatisfactory performance;

financial instability; management system or other internal control deficiencies;

noncompliance with award terms and conditions on prior awards, or is otherwise not

responsible. See the

OJP Grant Application Resource Guide additional information.

How to Apply

Registration: Before submitting an application, all applicants must register with the

System for Award Management (SAM). You must renew and validate your registration

every 12 months. If you do not renew your SAM registration, it will expire. An expired

registration can delay or prevent application submission in

Grants.gov and JustGrants.

Registration and renewal can take up to 10 business days to complete.

Submission: Applications must be submitted to DOJ electronically through a two-step

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process via Grants.gov and JustGrants.

Step 1: After registering with SAM, the applicant must submit the SF-424 and SF-LLL in

Grants.gov at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html by the Grants.gov

deadline. Submit the SF-424 and SF-LLL as early as possible, but no later than 48

hours before the

Grants.gov deadline. If an applicant fails to submit in Grants.gov,

they will be unable to apply in JustGrants.

Step 2: The applicant must then submit the full application including attachments in

JustGrants at

JustGrants.usdoj.gov by the JustGrants deadline.

Within 24 hours after receipt of confirmation emails from Grants.gov, the individual in

Section 8F of the SF-424 will receive an email from

[email protected] with

instructions on how to create a JustGrants account. Register the Entity Administrator and

the Application Submitter with JustGrants as early as possible but no later than 48-72

hours before the JustGrants deadline. Once registered in JustGrants, the Application

Submitter will receive an emailed link to complete the rest of the application in

JustGrants. The Entity Administrator also will need to log into JustGrants to review and

invite the applicant’s Authorized Representative(s) before an application can be

submitted.

Submit the complete application package in JustGrants at least 24 – 48 hours prior to the

JustGrants deadline. Some of the application components will be entered directly into

JustGrants, and others will require uploading attached documents. Therefore, applicants

will need to allow ample time before the JustGrants deadline to prepare each component.

Applicants may save their progress in the system and revise the application as needed

prior to hitting the Submit button at the end of the application in JustGrants.

For additional information, see the “How to Apply” section in the OJP Grant Application

Resource Guide and the DOJ Application Submission Checklist.

Submission Dates and Time

The SF-424 and the SF-LLL must be submitted in Grants.gov by 10/23/2023 8:59 PM,

ET.

The full application must be submitted in JustGrants by 10/24/2023 8:59 PM, ET.

OJP urges applicants to submit their Grants.gov and JustGrants submissions prior to the

due dates with sufficient time to correct any errors and resubmit by the submission

deadlines if a rejection notification is received. To be considered timely, the full

application must be submitted in JustGrants by the JustGrants application deadline.

Failure to begin the SAM.gov, Grants.gov, or JustGrants registration process in sufficient

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time (i.e., waiting until the date identified in this solicitation) is not an acceptable reason

for late submission.

Experiencing Unforeseen Technical Issues Preventing Submission of an

Application

OJP will only consider a request to submit an application after the deadline when the

applicant can document that a technical issue with a government system prevented

application submission.

If an applicant misses a deadline due to unforeseen technical issues with SAM.gov,

Grants.gov, or JustGrants, the applicant may request a waiver to submit an application

after the deadline. However, the waiver request will not be considered unless it includes

a tracking number generated when the applicant contacts the applicable service desks to

report technical difficulties. Tracking numbers are generated automatically when an

applicant emails the applicable service desks; and for this reason, applicants are

encouraged to email the appropriate service desk, even if they also intend to call the

service desk for phone support. Experiencing wait times for phone support does not

relieve the applicant of the responsibility of getting a tracking number.

An applicant experiencing technical difficulties must contact the associated service desk

indicated below to report the technical issue and receive a tracking number:

SAM.gov - contact the SAM Help Desk (Federal Service Desk), Monday – Friday

from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET at 866-606-8220.

Grants.gov - contact the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline, 24 hours a day, 7

days a week, except on federal holidays, at 800-518-4726, 606-545-5035, or

[email protected].

JustGrants - contact the JustGrants Service Desk at

[email protected] or 833-872-5175, Monday – Friday from 7 a.m. to

9 p.m. ET and Saturday, Sunday, and Federal holidays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.

If an applicant has technical issues with SAM.gov or Grants.gov, the applicant must

contact

the OJP Response Center at

[email protected] within 24 hours of the

Grants.gov deadline to request approval to submit after the deadline.

If an applicant has technical issues with JustGrants that prevent application submission

by the deadline, the applicant must contact

the OJP Response Center at

[email protected] within 24 hours of the JustGrants deadline to request approval to

submit after the deadline.

Waiver requests sent to the OJP Response Center must -

describe the technical difficulties experienced,

include a timeline of the applicant's submission efforts (e.g., date and time the

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error occurred, date and time of actions taken to resolve the issue and

resubmit; and date and time support representatives responded),

include an attachment of the complete grant application and all the required

documentation and materials,

include the applicant's Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), and

include any SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and JustGrants Service Desk tracking

numbers documenting the technical issue.

OJP will review each waiver request and the required supporting documentation and

notify the applicant whether the request

for late submission has been approved or

denied. An applicant that does not provide documentation of a technical issue or that

does not submit a waiver request within the required time period will be denied.

For more details on the waiver process, OJP encourages applicants to review the

“Experiencing Unforeseen Technical Issues” section in the

OJP Grant Application

Resource Guide.

Application Review Information

Review Process

OJP reviews the application to make sure that the information presented is reasonable,

understandable, measurable, achievable, and consistent with the solicitation. See the

OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for information on the application review process

for this solicitation.

Pursuant to the Part 200 Uniform Requirements, before award decisions are made, OJP

also reviews information related to the degree of risk posed by the applicant entity.

Among other things to help assess whether an applicant with one or more prior federal

awards has a satisfactory record with respect to performance, integrity, and business

ethics, OJP checks whether the applicant entity is listed in SAM as excluded from

receiving a federal award.

In addition, if OJP anticipates that an award will exceed $250,000 in federal funds, OJP

also must review and consider any information about the applicant that appears in the

non-public segment of the integrity and performance system accessible through SAM

(currently, the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System, FAPIIS).

Important note on FAPIIS: An applicant may review and comment on any information

about its organization that currently appears in FAPIIS and was entered by a federal

awarding agency. OJP will consider such comments by the applicant, in addition to the

other information in FAPIIS, in its assessment of the risk posed by the applicant entity.

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Absent explicit statutory authorization or written delegation of authority to the contrary, all

final award decisions will be made by the Assistant Attorney General, who may consider

not only peer review ratings and BJA recommendations, but also other factors as

indicated in this section.

Federal Award Administration Information

Federal Award Notices

Generally, award notifications are made by the end of the current Federal fiscal year,

September 30th. See the

OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for information on

award notifications and instructions.

Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements

If selected for funding, in addition to implementing the funded project consistent with the

OJP-approved application, the recipient must comply with all award conditions and all

applicable requirements of federal statutes and regulations, including the applicable

requirements referred to in the assurances and certifications executed in connection with

award acceptance. For additional information on these legal requirements, see the

“Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements” section in the

OJP

Grant Application Resource Guide.

Information Technology (IT) Security Clauses

An application in response to this solicitation may require inclusion of information related

to information technology security. See the

OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for

information.

General Information about Post-Federal Award Reporting Requirements

In addition to the deliverables described in the “Program Description” section, all award

recipients under this solicitation will be required to submit certain reports and data.

Required reports - Award recipients typically must submit quarterly financial reports,

quarterly performance measurement reports, semi-annual performance reports, final

financial and performance reports, and, if applicable, an annual audit report in

accordance with the Part 200 Uniform Requirements or specific award conditions. Future

awards and fund drawdowns may be withheld if reports are delinquent. (In appropriate

cases, OJP may require additional reports.)

Specific reporting requirements by category are listed below:

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Category 1 — Eligible Allocation Amounts of Less than $25,000

Recipients must submit:

Quarterly Federal Financial Reports (and one final Federal Financial Report after all

funds have been obligated and expended) through OJP’s JustGrants system.

Quarterly Performance Measurement Tool reports and a final Performance

Measurement Tool report through BJA’s PMT. Please note that as soon as all

project activity has concluded, that report may be marked final.

An annual performance report and final progress report through OJP’s JustGrants.

If all project activity has concluded at the time the first annual performance report is

submitted, that report may be marked final.

If applicable, an annual audit report in accordance with the Part 200 Uniform

Requirements or specific award conditions.

Category 2 — Eligible Allocation Amounts of $25,000 or More

Recipients must submit:

Quarterly Federal Financial Reports (and one final Federal Financial Report after all

funds have been obligated and expended) through OJP’s JustGrants system.

Quarterly Performance Measurement Tool reports and a final Performance

Measurement Tool report (at any time once all project activity has concluded)

through BJA’s PMT.

Semi-annual performance reports and a final performance report (at any time once

all project activity has concluded) through OJP’s JustGrants.

If applicable, an annual audit report in accordance with the Part 200 Uniform

Requirements or specific award conditions.

See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for additional information on specific

post-award reporting requirements, including performance measure data.

Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)

For OJP contact(s), and contact information for Grants.gov and JustGrants, see the

solicitation cover page.

Other Information

Freedom of Information and Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552 and 5 U.S.C. 552a)

See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for information on the Freedom of

Information and Privacy A

ct (5 U.S.C. §§ 552 and 5 U.S.C. 552a).

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Provide Feedback to OJP

See the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide for information on how to provide

feedback to OJP.

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Application Checklist 
BJA FY 23 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Formula Program -
Local Solicitation 
This application checklist has been created as an aid in developing an application. For 
more information, reference the OJP Application Submission Steps in the OJP Grant 
Application Resource Guide and the DOJ Application Submission Checklist. 
Pre-Application 
Before Registering in Grants.gov: 
Acquire or renew your Entity’s System Award Management (SAM) Registration 
Information (see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide) 
Register in Grants.gov 
Acquire an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) and a Grants.gov 
username and password (see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide) 
Acquire AOR confirmation from the E-Business Point of Contact (E-Biz POC) (see 
OJP Grant Application Resource Guide) 
Find the Funding Opportunity 
Search for the funding opportunity in Grants.gov using the opportunity number, 
assistance listing number, or keyword(s) 
Select the correct Competition ID 
Access the funding opportunity and application package (see Step 7 in the OJP 
Grant Application Resource Guide) 
Sign up for Grants.gov email notifications (optional) (see OJP Grant Application 
Resource Guide) 
Read Important Notice: Applying for Grants in Grants.gov 
Read OJP policy and guidance on conference approval, planning, and reporting 
available at https://www.ojp.gov/funding/financialguidedoj/iii-postaward-
requirements#6g3y8 (see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide) 
Review the Overview of Post-Award Legal Requirements 
Review the “Overview of Legal Requirements Generally Applicable to OJP Grants 
and Cooperative Agreements - FY 2023 Awards” in the OJP Funding Resource 
Center. 
Review the Scope Requirement 
The federal amount requested is within the allowable limit. See https://bja.ojp.gov/ 
program/jag/fy-2023-allocations. 
Review Eligibility Requirement: Review the Eligibility section on the cover page and 
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Eligibility Information section in the solicitation.

Application Step 1

Submit the SF-424 and SF-LLL in Grants.gov

In Section 8F of the SF-424, include the name and contact information of the

individual who will complete the application in JustGrants and the SF-LLL in

Grants.gov

Submit Intergovernmental Review (if applicable)

Within 48 hours after the SF-424 and SF-LLL submission in Grants.gov, receive four (4)

Grants.gov email notifications:

a submission receipt

a validation receipt

a grantor agency retrieval receipt

an agency tracking number assignment

If no Grants.gov receipt and validation email is received, or if error notifications are

received:

Contact BJA or Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 800-518-4726,

606-545-5035, Grants.gov customer support, or [email protected] regarding

technical difficulties (see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide)

Within 24 hours after receipt of confirmation emails from Grants.gov, the individual in

Section 8F of the SF-424 will receive an email from JustGrants with login instructions.

Proceed to Application Step 2 and complete application in JustGrants

Application Step 2

Submit the following information in JustGrants

Application Components

Standard Applicant information (SF-424 information from Grants.gov)

Proposal Abstract

Proposal Narrative

Budget and Associated Documentation

Budget Worksheet and Narrative (attachment)

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) (see OJP Grant Application Resource

Guide)

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire (see OJP

Grant Application Resource Guide)

Additional Application Components

Research and Evaluation Independence and Integrity (see OJP Grant Application

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Resource Guide)

Memorandum of Understanding (if applicable)

FY23 JAG - Certifications and Assurances by the Chief Executive of the Applicant

Government

Disclosures and Assurances

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) (see OJP Grant Application Resource

Guide)

Applicant Disclosure of Duplication in Cost Items (see OJP Grant Application

Resource Guide)

DOJ Certified Standard Assurances (see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide)

DOJ Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other

Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements; Law Enforcement and

Community Policing (see

OJP Grant Application Resource Guide)

Applicant Disclosure and Justification – DOJ High Risk Grantees (if applicable)

(see OJP Grant Application Resource Guide)

Review, Certify and Submit Application in JustGrants

Any validation errors will immediately display on screen after submission.

Correct validation errors, if necessary, and then return to the “Certify and Submit”

screen to submit the application. Access the Application Submission Validation

Errors Quick Reference Guide for step-by-step instructions to resolve errors prior to

submission.

Once the application is submitted and validated, a confirmation message will

appear at the top of the page. Users will also receive a notification in the “bell”

alerts confirming submission.

If no JustGrants application submission confirmation email or validation is received, or if

error notification is received:

Contact the JustGrants Service Desk at 833-872-5175 or

[email protected] regarding technical difficulties. See the OJP Grant

Application Resource Guide for additional information.

Standard Solicitation Resources

OJP Grant Application Resource Guide provides guidance to assist OJP grant applicants

in preparing and submitting applications for OJP funding.

DOJ Grants Financial Guide serves as the primary reference manual to assist award

recipients in fulfilling their fiduciary responsibility to safeguard grant funds and to ensure

funds are used for the purposes for which they were awarded. It compiles a variety of

laws, rules and regulations that affect the financial and administrative management of

DOJ awards. This guide serves as a starting point for all award recipients and

subrecipients of DOJ grants and cooperative agreements in ensuring the effective day

to-day management of awards.

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JustGrants Resources Website is an entryway into information about JustGrants and the

grants management system itself. Through this portal both award recipients and

applicants can access training resource and user support options, find frequently asked

questions and sign-up for the

JustGrants Update e-newsletter.

JustGrants Application Submission Training Page offers helpful information and

resources on the application process. This training page includes e-learning videos,

reference guides, checklists and other resources to help applicants complete an

application.

Virtual Q&A Sessions are advertised here and provide opportunities for users to receive

topic-specific training, direct technical assistance, and support on JustGrants system

functionality.

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