OMB No. 1122-0020 Approval Expires: 06/30/2028

Office on Violence Against Women:

FY 2026 Violence Against Women Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Initiative

– Invitation to Apply

Grants.gov Funding Opportunity Number: O-OVW-2026-172660

Application Deadlines in Eastern Time (ET):

1: Complete SF-424 and Submit in Grants.gov: Sept 15, 2026, by 11:59 pm ET

2: Submit full application in JustGrants: Sept 17, 2026, by 4:59 pm ET

OVW FY 2026 Tribal SAUSA Initiative

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Contents

1. Basic Information 3

2. Eligibility 4

3. Program Description 4

4. Application Contents and Format 5

5. Submission Requirements and Deadlines 8

6. Application Review Information 8

7. Award Notices 8

8. Post-Award Requirements & Administration 8

9. Questions? 9

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1. BASIC INFORMATION

Purpose of the Funding The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) is a component of the U.S. Department of Justice. OVW administers Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) grants designed to prevent and respond to domestic/dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking (VAWA crimes).

This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the Violence Against Women Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) Initiative (Tribal SAUSA Initiative). This initiative supports Tribes and United States Attorneys' Offices (USAOs) in their investigation and prosecution of VAWA crimes in Indian country. Tribes receive funds to work with their USAO partner to hire or retain a mutually agreed upon attorney to be cross-designated as both a SAUSA and a Tribal prosecutor. The goals of the initiative are to fill gaps in jurisdictional coverage; increase communication and coordination among Tribal, federal, and state law enforcement agencies; establish consistent relationships between federal prosecutors and Tribal community(ies); and improve the quality of investigation and prosecution of VAWA crimes. See Eligibility for FY 2026 invited Tribes.

Funding Details Announcement Type Initial

Assistance Listing Number 16.055

Statutory Authority Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 20261

Grants.gov Opportunity Number O-OVW-2026-172660

Expected Total Amount of Funding $4,380,000

Anticipated Number of Awards 3

Award Type Grant

Anticipated Award Amount Up to $1,460,000

Expected Award Period 60 months, starting on October 1, 2026

1 Pub. L. No. 119-74, div. A, tit. II 140 Stat. 17, 27 (FY 2026 DOJ Appropriations Act)

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Key Dates and Times NOFO Release Date September 1, 2026 Step 1: Grants.gov Deadline 11:59 p.m. ET on September 15, 2026 Step 2: JustGrants Deadline 4:59 p.m. ET on September 17, 2026 Anticipated Notification Date By September 30, 2026

See Questions? at the end of this NOFO for agency contact information.

2. ELIGIBILITY

Eligible Applicants

Government Entities

• The following federally recognized Tribes are invited to apply:

o Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation o Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians o Yurok Tribe of the Yurok Reservation, California

Cost sharing: This NOFO does not require cost sharing (match).

Additional Eligibility Factors Disqualifying factors: Applications submitted by entities that were not invited to apply will not be funded. Factors that may result in removal during the review process are described on the OVW website.

3. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Statutory Authority/Program Goals and Objectives Per the FY 2026 DOJ Appropriations Act, funds must be used for the following purposes:

1. To support salary and fringe benefits for a Tribal prosecutor, mutually agreed upon by the Tribe and the USAO as appropriate for designation as a SAUSA, as well as training, travel, and other resources needed to support the work of the

SAUSA.

2. To prosecute cases in either federal or Tribal court that are directly related to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, sex trafficking, or stalking.

A sample federal caseload for the Tribal SAUSA includes the following crimes if agreed upon with the USAO:

• Misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence and criminal violations of protection orders committed by non-Indians;

• Stalking;

https://www.justice.gov/ovw/discretionary-grant-application-review-process

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• Dating violence;

• Felony assault of a spouse, intimate partner, or dating partner;

• Adult and youth sexual assault;

• Child sexual assault;

• Interstate domestic violence, stalking, or violation of a protection order (18 U.S.C.

§§ 2261, 2261A, 2262);

• Domestic assault by a habitual offender (18 U.S.C. § 117); and

• Any other offenses directly related to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, sex trafficking, or stalking.

Memorandum of understanding (MOU): Recipients must submit a fully executed MOU with their partner USAO within 120 days of receiving their award, and the MOU must remain current throughout the grant period. OVW will provide recipients with instructions for the MOU. Do not submit the MOU as a part of the application.

The Tribal SAUSA must be hired within one year of approval of the MOU. The award will include a condition stating that the award will be closed if the grant-funded position remains vacant one year after the MOU is executed.

Expected Outcomes: OVW will measure success by reviewing a recipient’s submission of performance reports and data and the extent to which project implementation reflects progress toward the goals and objectives of this NOFO. See the VAWA Measuring Effectiveness Initiative for more information.

Unallowable Activities: For information on program-specific unallowable activities and costs to help you develop your application and budget consistent with program requirements, see the Application Companion Guide and Budget in this NOFO.

4. APPLICATION CONTENTS AND FORMAT

Application Contents List Applications must contain the items below to avoid a delay in award. Refer to the DOJ Grant Application Submission Checklist for application instructions. All supporting documents and resources for this program are on the OVW website.

Application Item Submission Type

Step 1: Grants.gov

Application for Federal Assistance: SF-424 Online Form

Step 2: JustGrants

Standard Applicant Information Online Form https://www.vawamei.org/ https://www.vawamei.org/ https://www.justice.gov/ovw/fy-2026-application-companion-guide#24 https://justicegrants.usdoj.gov/training/checklist-application-submission https://justicegrants.usdoj.gov/training/checklist-application-submission https://www.justice.gov/ovw/funding-opportunities#discretionary https://www.grants.gov/quick-start-guide/applicants

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Data Requested with Application: Pre-award Risk Assessment Online Form

Proposal Narrative Attachment

Budget Attachment

Financial Attachment: Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) Attachments

Additional Application Components

• Certification Regarding Out-of-Scope Activities

• Summary Data Sheet

• Confidentiality Notice Form

Attachments

Standard Applicant Information Review and edit as needed the information imported from the SF-424 submitted in Grants.gov and add ZIP codes for areas affected by the project.

Data Requested with Application: Pre-award Risk Assessment Complete this questionnaire in JustGrants. The questions are available here.

Proposal Narrative Format of the Proposal Narrative It must be:

• No longer than 10 pages, single-spaced

• In a font no smaller than 11-point

• On correctly numbered pages with one-inch margins

• In a file format openable in Microsoft Word or Adobe Reader

• Written in plain language

Sections of the Proposal Narrative The Proposal Narrative must include the three sections listed below.

1. Purpose of the Project/What Will Be Done

• State the project’s goals/objectives. Consider the goals of the Tribal SAUSA

Initiative:

a. Fill gaps in jurisdictional coverage;

b. Increase communication and coordination among Tribal, federal, and state law enforcement agencies;

c. Establish consistent relationships between federal prosecutors and the

Tribal community(ies); and

d. Improve the quality of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking cases through training and best practices.

• Briefly discuss anticipated challenges or barriers to implementing the project

(e.g., USAO location will make frequent in-person meetings difficult).

https://www.grants.gov/quick-start-guide/applicants https://www.grants.gov/quick-start-guide/applicants https://www.justice.gov/ovw/media/1408981/dl?inline

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• Briefly discuss the availability of victim services in the geographic area for American Indian/Alaska Native victims of VAWA crimes including sex trafficking, and how the project will involve victim service provider(s).

2. Who Will Implement the Project

• Identify the people who will implement the project. Provide for each person their name, agency/organization, position/title, their role and responsibilities on the proposed project, and a description of how they are equipped to fulfill their role/responsibility on the project.

Budget and Associated Documentation Budget Use the Sample Budget Narrative (attach file in JustGrants) to submit the budget. Refer to Budget Information and the Creating a Budget webinar for more information:

• List each cost needed to implement the project under the appropriate cost category. Total funding requested for 60 months must be no more than $1,460,000.

• Clearly name and describe each cost.

• Show the computation of each cost (e.g., cost per unit, number of units, and total cost).

• Enter narrative, as needed, to explain the cost calculations and connection to your project goals, objectives, and activities.

• Include only costs that are reasonable, allocable, and necessary to implement the project. They must be allowable under the funding statute and agency requirements.2

• Distinguish clearly between subawards and contracts in allocating any grant funds to other entities.3

• Set aside a minimum of $10,000 on the Travel line for travel between the USAO and Tribal communities and training. Costs for required training provided by Executive Office for United States Attorneys (EOUSA) National Indian Country Training Initiative will be covered by EOUSA’s Office of Legal Education. Do not include funds for this in the budget.

Budget/Financial Attachments

• Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable): If the budget includes indirect costs, upload your current, federally approved indirect cost rate agreement.

Additional Application Components Attach these in JustGrants:

2 See 2 C.F.R. Part 200, Subpart E and the DOJ Grants Financial Guide. Read information on unallowable costs here.

3 More information on this is here.

https://www.justice.gov/ovw/gfmd-sample-budget https://www.justice.gov/ovw/budget-information https://www.justice.gov/ovw/video/creating-budget-training-ovw-applicants https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#subpart-E https://www.ojp.gov/funding/financialguidedoj/overview https://www.justice.gov/ovw/budget-information https://www.justice.gov/ovw/fy-2026-application-companion-guide

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• Certification regarding out-of-scope activities letter signed by the Authorized Representative.

o Note: This certification is the subject of federal litigation. For the most up-to-date information about the certification requirement, see the notice on OVW’s funding opportunities page.

• Summary Data Sheet, one to four pages.

• Confidentiality Notice Form, signed by the Authorized Representative, acknowledging the confidentiality requirements of 34 U.S.C. § 12291(b)(2).

Disclosures and Assurances Complete the disclosures, assurances, and certifications in JustGrants.

5. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES

The DOJ Grant Application Submission Checklist provides instructions for submitting by the deadlines. Executive Order (E.O.) 12372 (Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs) applies to this funding opportunity. OVW’s How to Apply page has a policy for applicants to request late submission due to technical difficulties, severe weather, or natural or manmade disaster.

6. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

This is an invitation to apply NOFO. Applications are not subject to peer review but are reviewed for completeness and program requirements. OVW will contact applicants for missing items, and failure to submit may prevent OVW from making an award.

7. AWARD NOTICES

Read about the award notification process OVW’s website.

8. POST-AWARD REQUIREMENTS & ADMINISTRATION

Read the Application Companion Guide for more information about standard award terms and conditions, administrative and national policy requirements, and post-award reporting requirements.

https://www.justice.gov/ovw/media/1403491/dl?inline https://www.justice.gov/ovw/funding-opportunities https://www.justice.gov/ovw/media/1410106/dl?inline https://www.justice.gov/ovw/media/384316/dl?inline https://www.justice.gov/ovw/fy-2026-application-companion-guide#22b https://www.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh241/files/media/document/standardassurances.pdf https://www.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh241/files/media/document/certifications.pdf https://justicegrants.usdoj.gov/training/checklist-application-submission https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html https://www.justice.gov/ovw/how-to-apply-for-ovw-funding https://www.justice.gov/ovw/discretionary-grant-application-review-process#award https://www.justice.gov/ovw/fy-2026-application-companion-guide https://www.justice.gov/ovw/fy-2026-general-terms-and-conditions https://www.justice.gov/ovw/fy-2026-general-terms-and-conditions

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9. QUESTIONS?

NOFO Contact Phone: 202-307-6026 Email: OVW.TribalSAUSA@usdoj.gov

SAM.gov Help Desk Website: https://sam.gov/content/help Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET Monday – Friday

Grants.gov Help Desk

Phone: 800-518-4726 Email: support@grants.gov Website: https://www.grants.gov/support Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (closed federal holidays)

JustGrants Help Desk

Phone: 866-655-4482 Email: OVW.JustGrantsSupport@usdoj.gov Hours: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Mon-Fri mailto:OVW.TribalSAUSA@usdoj.gov https://sam.gov/content/help mailto:support@grants.gov https://www.grants.gov/support mailto:OVW.JustGrantsSupport@usdoj.gov