OMB No. 1121-0329

Approval Expires 02/28/2027

BJA FY 2026 National Center for Veterans Justice

Grants.gov Funding Opportunity Number: O-BJA-2026-172760

Application Deadlines in Eastern Time (ET):

1. Complete SF-424 and submit in Grants.gov: October 30, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. ET

2. Submit full application in JustGrants: November 6, 2026, by 8:59 p.m. ET

BJA FY 2026 National Center for Veterans Justice

Contents

1. Basic Information

2. Eligibility

3. Program Description

4. Application Contents and Format

5. Submission Requirements and Deadlines

6. Application Review Information

7. Award Notices

8. Post-Award Requirements & Administration

9. Questions?

U.S. Department of Justice | Office of Justice Programs | Bureau of Justice Assistance | 3

1. BASIC INFORMATION

Purpose of the Funding

The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) is committed to advancing work that furthers the

U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) mission to keep our country safe and secure and uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of American citizens. OJP provides federal leadership, funding, and other critical resources to directly support law enforcement, combat violent crime, protect American children, provide services to American crime victims, and address public safety challenges, including human trafficking and the opioid crisis.

This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the BJA FY 2026 National Center for Veterans Justice. This opportunity will establish a national center to provide specialized support to state, local, and tribal criminal justice agencies; treatment and service providers; courts; corrections systems; and community supervision agencies to effectively support and respond to the needs of veterans across the justice system, improve outcomes, and strengthen public safety.

The Center will serve as a one stop shop to address critical gaps in veteran identification, cross-system coordination, and implementation of evidence-based interventions by providing criminal justice professionals with specialized tools, training, and technical assistance on military culture, combat trauma, military sexual trauma

(MST), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and other veteran-specific considerations. Providing resources and specialized technical assistance through a centralized location and entity is essential to effectively supporting veterans whose needs require coordination across multiple systems, including criminal justice, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), behavioral health, and social service systems that operate under distinct legal frameworks and institutional priorities.

See the Eligible Applicants section for eligibility details.

Funding Details

Announcement Type Initial

Assistance Listing Number 16.043

Statutory Authority Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2026 (Pub. L. No. 119-74, 140 Stat. 5, 32-

33, para. 14(D))

Grants.gov Opportunity Number O-BJA-2026-172760

Expected Total Amount of Funding Approximately $4,000,000

Anticipated Number of Awards 1

Award Type(s) Cooperative Agreement

U.S. Department of Justice | Office of Justice Programs | Bureau of Justice Assistance | 4

Anticipated Award Amount Up to $4,000,000

Expected Award Period(s) 48 months starting on January 1, 2027

Key Dates and Times

NOFO Release Date September 21,2026

SAM.gov Registration/Renewal Begin the process by September 21, 2026, and no later than September 30, Step 1: Grants.gov Deadline 11:59 p.m. ET on October 30, 2026

Step 2: JustGrants Deadline 8:59 p.m. ET on November 6, 2026

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

2. ELIGIBILITY

Eligible Applicants

The types of entities that are eligible to apply are:

Educational Organizations

• Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education

• Private institutions of higher education

Nonprofit Organizations

• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), other than institutions of higher education

• Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education

For-Profit Organizations

• Organizations other than small businesses

• Small businesses

Cost Sharing (Match) Requirement: This NOFO does not require cost sharing

(match).

Limit on Number of Applications: You may submit only one application to this NOFO.

If you submit multiple applications, only the most recent system-validated version will be reviewed. Applications under which two or more entities (project partners) would carry out the project will be considered. However, only one entity may be the applicant; any others must be proposed as subrecipients. Read the Application Resource Guide for https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#information-proposed-subawards

U.S. Department of Justice | Office of Justice Programs | Bureau of Justice Assistance | 5 additional information on subawards. An entity may be proposed as a subrecipient in more than one application.

3. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Statutory Authority

Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2026 (Pub. L. No. 119-74, 140 Stat. 5, 32-33, para. 14(D))

Agency Funding Priorities

To help meet its mission, OJP may give priority consideration to applications proposing

(as applicable within the scope of this NOFO) projects designed to advance the goals listed below:

(a) Directly supporting law enforcement operations (including immigration law enforcement operations);

(b) Combatting violent crime;

(c) Supporting services to American citizens;

(d) Protecting American children; and

(e) Supporting American victims of trafficking and sexual assault.

Note: Addressing these priorities is one of many factors that OJP considers in making funding decisions. Receiving priority consideration does not guarantee funding.

Unallowable Activities: The following are certain unallowable costs and certain activities that are out of the program scope and will not be funded.

1. Out of program scope is any program or activity, at any tier that, directly or indirectly, violates (or promotes or facilitates the violation of) federal immigration law (including 8 U.S.C. § 1373) or impedes or hinders the enforcement of federal immigration law—including by failing to comply with 8 U.S.C. § 1373, give access to DHS agents, or honor DHS requests and provide requested notice to DHS agents.

2. Out of program scope is any program or activity, at any tier that violates any applicable Federal civil rights or nondiscrimination law. This includes violations that (1) indirectly violate the law, including by promoting or facilitating violations;

or (2) unlawfully favor individuals in any race or protected group, including on a majority or minority, or privileged or unprivileged, basis, within a given area, population, or sector.

3. As specified in the DOJ Grants Financial Guide, in Chapter 3.13 “Unallowable

Costs” (“Legal Services for Aliens”), any obligations of funds, at any tier, under this award to provide (or to support the provision of) legal services to any https://www.ojp.gov/doj-financial-guide-2024

U.S. Department of Justice | Office of Justice Programs | Bureau of Justice Assistance | 6 removable alien or any alien otherwise unlawfully present in the United States shall be unallowable costs for purposes any award made under this notice, but the foregoing shall not be understood to apply: (1) to legal services to obtain protection orders for victims of crime; or (2) to immigration-related legal services that may be expressly authorized or required by any law, or any judicial ruling, governing or applicable to the award.

Goals and Objectives of This Funding Opportunity

Goal 1: Establish and maintain national infrastructure to support the field and coordinate federal resources for veterans in the criminal justice system.

• Objective 1: Provide criminal justice agencies with immediate access to evidence-based tools, implementation guides, and coordination frameworks.

• Objective 2: Reduce gaps in veteran identification and program access and enhance service delivery through targeted technical assistance, strengthening coordination between criminal justice and VA Veterans Justice Outreach specialists, and coordinating with other existing federal resources.

Goal 2: Improve identification of veterans in the criminal justice system and connections to appropriate veteran-specific interventions and services.

• Objective 1: Increase criminal justice agencies’ capacity to implement validated veteran screening protocols at key decision points across the criminal justice system.

• Objective 2: Enhance criminal justice agencies’ effective utilization of VA verification systems Veteran Re-entry Search Service (VRSS) and Status Query and Response Exchange System (SQUARES).

• Objective 3: Strengthen corrections and community supervision agencies’ ability to identify incarcerated and supervised veterans and establish connections to VA healthcare, benefits, and re-entry programs.

• Objective 4: Establish data collection and reporting systems that track veteran identification practices at key decision points across the justice system and inform continuous program improvement.

Goal 3: Strengthen effectiveness and implementation of veteran-specific criminal justice interventions.

• Objective 1: Improve evidence-based practice implementation and program quality for veteran-specific interventions.

• Objective 2: Strengthen coordination between veteran-specific criminal justice programs and veteran service systems, including VA healthcare and benefits programs, and community-based service providers.

• Objective 3: Enhance criminal justice professionals’ specialized knowledge and skills for working with veterans, military culture, service-related trauma (PTSD, TBI, MST), co-occurring disorders, and evidence-based interventions.

U.S. Department of Justice | Office of Justice Programs | Bureau of Justice Assistance | 7

Expected Outcomes

OJP expects recipients to submit deliverables and performance reports, as described below. Read the Application Resource Guide for more information. OJP 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.

Deliverables

Recipients, under this NOFO, have specific deliverables, in addition to the standard items in the Post-Award Requirements and Administration section.

Recipients will be expected to submit the following:

• A comprehensive, searchable online platform with evidence-based tools, implementation guides, training materials, assessment instruments, practice resources, recorded webinars, and resource lists.

• Training curricula, technical publications, toolkits, practice guides, policy templates, and coordination frameworks developed to support veteran-specific programs, veteran identification, military culture, service-related trauma, and evidence-based interventions.

Performance Reports

OJP requires recipients to submit regular performance reports that communicate progress toward achieving the Program Goals and Objectives. Read information on performance reporting.

Award recipients will receive further guidance on post award reporting requirements.

Substantial Involvement of Federal Agency: OJP expects to make one award under this NOFO as a cooperative agreement, which allows OJP to have substantial involvement in carrying out the project. Read the Application Resource Guide for a discussion of this involvement and related award conditions.

4. APPLICATION CONTENTS AND FORMAT

Application Contents List

OJP will only consider applications that contain all required parts, which are marked

*Required* below. Refer to the DOJ Grant Application Submission Checklist for application instructions.

Application Item Submission Type

Step 1: Grants.gov

Application for Federal Assistance: SF-424 *Required* Online Form https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#general-information-about-post-federal-award-reporting-requireme https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#general-information-about-post-federal-award-reporting-requireme https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#administrative https://justicegrants.usdoj.gov/training/checklist-application-submission

U.S. Department of Justice | Office of Justice Programs | Bureau of Justice Assistance | 8

Application Item Submission Type

Step 2: JustGrants

Standard Applicant Information *Required* Online Form

Proposal Abstract Text Box

Data Requested With Application

• Financial Management and System of Internal

Controls Questionnaire (including Applicant

Disclosure of High-Risk Status)

• Agency Funding Priorities Inventory

Online Form

Proposal Narrative *Required* Attachment

Budget *Required* Online Form

Other Budget/Financial Attachments

• Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable)

• Consultant Rate (if applicable)

• Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee

Compensation for Awards Over $250,000; Waiver (if applicable)

• Disclosure of Process Related to Executive

Compensation (if applicable)

Attachment

Memorandum of Understanding Attachment

Additional Application Components

• Curriculum vitae or resumes

• Timeline

• Work Product Examples *Required*

Attachment

In addition to the items marked *Required* in the table above, the following are considered basic minimum requirement elements that are considered in the responsiveness review:

• The application is submitted by an eligible applicant.

• The requested award amount does not exceed the award ceiling.

• The application is responsive to the scope of the NOFO.

Standard Applicant Information *Required*

Review and edit as needed the information imported from the SF-424 submitted in

Grants.gov. Add ZIP codes for areas affected by the project.

U.S. Department of Justice | Office of Justice Programs | Bureau of Justice Assistance | 9

Proposal Abstract

In JustGrants, enter a proposal abstract (limited to 2,000 characters) summarizing the proposed project. As abstracts for funded projects are public, do not include any personally identifying information (e.g., staff names). The abstract should include the following information:

• The name of the applicant’s proposed project.

• The purpose of the proposed project (i.e., what the project will do and why it is necessary).

• Where the project will take place (i.e., the service area, if applicable).

• Who will be served by the project (i.e., who will be helped or have their needs addressed by the project).

• What activities will be carried out to complete the project.

• The subrecipient(s)/partner organizations or entities, if known.

• Deliverables and expected outcomes (i.e., what the project will achieve).

View an example of a proposal abstract.

Data Requested With Application

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire (including Applicant Disclosure of High-Risk Status)

Review information on this questionnaire.

Agency Funding Priorities Inventory

Applicants seeking priority consideration under the Agency Funding Priorities section should answer the inventory questions in their entirety in the web-based form in

JustGrants.

Proposal Narrative *Required*

Format of the Proposal Narrative

Submit the narrative as an attachment in JustGrants. The document should:

• Be double-spaced, using a standard 12-point size font.

• Have no less than 1-inch margins.

• Have numbered pages.

• Not exceed 10 pages.

If the Proposal Narrative does not follow this format, OJP may reduce the score/ranking of the application.

Sections of the Proposal Narrative

The Proposal Narrative must include the four sections listed below. If you want priority consideration, the Proposal Narrative must state which priority(ies) your project will advance and describe how it will do so.

https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#proposal-abstract https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#fm-internal-controls-questionnaire

U.S. Department of Justice | Office of Justice Programs | Bureau of Justice Assistance | 10

1. Description of the Need (5% of application score): What critical issue or problem do you propose to address with this project? Please include:

• A brief explanation of the need, gap, or issue to be addressed by the proposed project.

• Supporting information, data, or evidence to demonstrate the need’s existence, size, and impact on the target population and community.

• How the need relates to the purpose of the NOFO.

2. Project Goals and Objectives (5% of application score): How will the proposed project address the need identified and address the purpose of the NOFO? Please include:

• Project goals (goals are broad, visionary statements on what you hope to accomplish).

• Project objectives (objectives are specific outcomes you plan to achieve through project activities).

• How your project goals and objectives relate to the goals and objectives of the funding opportunity.

3. Project Design and Implementation (35% of application score): How will you implement project activities that meet the project goals and objectives? Please include:

• What activities you will conduct to achieve the proposed goals and objectives, including your approach to establishing and maintaining the required comprehensive, searchable online resource center.

• How you will deliver or complete those activities, including your strategy for coordinating with federal partners to align resources and enhance service delivery.

• When the activities will take place.

• Who in your organization will staff the activities, including key staff.

• Who will participate in and benefit from the activity.

• What deliverables, reports, and other items will be produced as part of the project. Applicants must address how they will produce the deliverables of the funding opportunity and can propose additional deliverables with clear timelines that demonstrate comprehensive response to the funding opportunity’s goals while allowing flexibility to adapt to emerging needs and implementation lessons.

• If you plan to use subrecipients to help conduct the project, please name them (if they are known) or describe how you will identify them. Please describe their role in conducting project activities.

4. Capabilities and Competencies (40% of application score): What administrative and technical capacity and expertise do you bring to successfully complete this project?

Please include:

U.S. Department of Justice | Office of Justice Programs | Bureau of Justice Assistance | 11

• A short description of your capacity to deliver the proposed project and meet the post-award requirements, if funded, including technical capacity to develop and maintain a national online resource platform.

• A description of projects or activities your organization has conducted, or is currently conducting, that demonstrates your ability to undertake the proposed project activities, particularly experience providing national-level technical assistance and training across multiple jurisdictions and stakeholder types.

• A summary of relevant experience of team members with key responsibilities for implementing the project.

• Relevant experience and capacity supporting veterans involved in the criminal justice system, including familiarity with military culture, VA systems, and collaboration with veteran-serving and justice agencies.

Project Evaluations: An applicant that proposes to use award funds to conduct project evaluations must follow the guidance on project evaluations.

Budget and Associated Documentation

Budget (15% of application score) *Required*

Use the Budget Detail Worksheet (Web-Based Form) to submit the budget. Read information on budget preparation and JustGrants Application Submission Training.

• List each cost needed to implement the project under the appropriate cost category.

• 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.1

Budget/Financial Attachments

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

• Consultant Rate (if applicable): Read information on limits to consultant rates and whether you need to request approval to exceed those limits.

1 See 2 C.F.R. Part 200, Subpart E and the DOJ Grants Financial Guide. Read information on unallowable costs that apply to all funding opportunities.

https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#project-evaluations https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#budget-prep https://justicegrants.usdoj.gov/training/training-application-submission https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#indirect-cost https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#consultant-rate-if-applicable https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#subpart-E https://www.ojp.gov/funding/financialguidedoj/overview https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#unallowable-uses-of-funds

U.S. Department of Justice | Office of Justice Programs | Bureau of Justice Assistance | 12

• Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation for Awards

Over $250,000; Waiver (if applicable): Read information on this limitation and to determine whether you need to submit a waiver.

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Supporting Documents

Attach a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or letter of intent between the applicant and each of the project partner(s). Read information on what to include in an MOU/letter of intent.

MOUs should be submitted as one separate attachment to the application. Unsigned draft MOUs may be submitted with the application, but you should describe in a cover page to the attachment why they are unsigned.

Additional Application Components

Attach these in JustGrants:

• Curriculum vitae or resumes: Resumes of key personnel who will work on the proposed project or a description of the experience and skills of key personnel necessary to implement the project.

• Timeline: Listing of key activities and milestones, and the months/quarters during which they will take place.

• Work Product Examples *Required*: Examples of work product that demonstrate the applicant has the experience to successfully meet the goals, objectives, and deliverables sought in this funding opportunity. This may include fact sheets or briefs; toolkits; final TTA reports that include recommendations;

and websites.

Disclosures and Assurances

Read the disclosures and assurances and complete them in JustGrants:

• Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

• Disclosure of Duplication in Cost Items (if applicable)

• DOJ Certified Standard Assurances

• DOJ Certifications

• Applicant Disclosure and Justification—DOJ High-Risk Grantees (if applicable)

5. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES

The DOJ Grant Application Submission Checklist provides instructions for how to submit your application by the deadlines. Executive Order (E.O.) 12372 (Intergovernmental

Review of Federal Programs) does not apply to this funding opportunity: read the

Application Resource Guide for details. Read OJP’s policy for applicants to request late submission due to technical difficulties, severe weather, or natural or manmade disasters.

https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#limitation-use-award https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#memorandum-of-understanding-mou-and-supporting-documents https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#memorandum-of-understanding-mou-and-supporting-documents https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#disclosures-and-assurances https://justicegrants.usdoj.gov/training/checklist-application-submission https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#guidance-for-specific-sf-424-fields https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#experiencing-unforeseen-technical-issues https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#experiencing-unforeseen-technical-issues

U.S. Department of Justice | Office of Justice Programs | Bureau of Justice Assistance | 13

6. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

The Application Resource Guide explains the responsiveness review, review criteria, and review and selection process, including risk review, and deciding official. Refer to the Application Contents List for all required application components and other basic minimum requirement elements that are considered in the responsiveness review. The

Proposal Narrative and Budget sections of this NOFO indicate the weight of technical review criteria.

7. AWARD NOTICES

Read about the award notification process.

8. POST-AWARD REQUIREMENTS & ADMINISTRATION

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

9. QUESTIONS?

NOFO Contact Name: OJP Response Center

Phone: 800-851-3420 or 202-353-5556 (TTY for hearing-impaired callers only)

Email: OJP.ResponseCenter@usdoj.gov

Hours: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. ET, Monday–Friday

SAM.gov Help Desk Website: sam.gov/help

Hours: 8 a.m.–8 p.m. ET, Monday–Friday (closed federal holidays)

Grants.gov Help Desk Phone: 800-518-4726

Email: support@grants.gov

Website: grants.gov/support

Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (closed federal holidays)

JustGrants Help Desk Phone: 833-872-5175

Email: JustGrants.Support@usdoj.gov

Hours: 7:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. ET, Monday–Friday and 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sunday, and federal holidays.

https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#application-review-for-competitive-funding https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#federal-award-notices https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#general-information mailto:OJP.ResponseCenter@usdoj.gov https://sam.gov/help mailto:support@grants.gov https://www.grants.gov/support mailto:JustGrants.Support@usdoj.gov