BJA FY 23 The Smart Policing Initiative Grant Program | O BJA 2023 171650

Opportunity Information: Apply for O BJA 2023 171650

The BJA FY 23 Smart Policing Initiative (SPI) Grant Program is a discretionary federal funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs (OJP), administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). It is designed to help law enforcement agencies strengthen how they prevent and respond to crime by using evidence-based policing strategies, better data practices, and modern technology. The program also sits within OJP's broader priorities around advancing civil rights and racial equity, increasing access to justice, supporting victims and people impacted by the justice system, improving community safety, and building trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

SPI is specifically aimed at supporting projects that do more than just purchase tools or expand routine operations. Instead, BJA is looking for initiatives that implement and test innovative approaches to common policing challenges, particularly approaches that can be measured, evaluated, and refined based on results. A key theme in the solicitation is practical innovation: agencies are encouraged to try new tactics, use analytics and research to guide decisions, and document outcomes so that lessons learned can be shared and replicated. The opportunity also emphasizes the role of law enforcement in appropriately supporting community violence intervention and prevention efforts in their jurisdictions, which signals interest in strategies that coordinate with community partners and align enforcement activities with broader violence reduction plans.

Another major focus is the development, implementation, and testing of technologies that improve information sharing and data transparency. In practice, this can include tools, systems, and processes that make it easier to share relevant information within an agency, across agencies, and with the public when appropriate. BJA references its broader portfolio of data- and technology-driven public safety efforts, including initiatives like the National Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) Initiative, to reinforce that SPI projects should be grounded in sound data use and modern operational capabilities rather than ad hoc decision-making.

The award is offered as a cooperative agreement, which typically means BJA will have an active role during the project period through collaboration, guidance, and oversight, more so than under a standard grant. The posted award ceiling is $800,000. The funding opportunity number is O-BJA-2023-171650, the assistance listing (CFDA) number is 16.738, and the activity category is Law, Justice and Legal Services. The original application closing date was May 1, 2023, and the opportunity was created on March 9, 2023.

Eligibility is geared toward public-sector and tribal law enforcement entities and their governmental partners. Eligible applicants include state, local, tribal, and campus law enforcement agencies; governmental non-law-enforcement agencies that serve as the fiscal agent for a law enforcement agency; federally recognized Indian tribal governments that perform law enforcement functions; and tribal consortia made up of two or more federally recognized tribes, including consortia organized as nonprofit entities, when acting as a fiscal agent for one or more tribal law enforcement agencies.

For applicants looking for models of what BJA has funded under SPI in prior years, the solicitation points to examples of successful projects available at https://www.smart-policing.com/. That site is useful for understanding the kinds of policing problems agencies have tackled under SPI, how projects were structured, and the way outcomes and implementation lessons are typically framed for this program.

• The Bureau of Justice Assistance in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BJA FY 23 The Smart Policing Initiative Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.738.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-03-09.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-05-01. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $800,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for O BJA 2023 171650

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