PKG00294186.pdf

OMB No. 1121-0329 Approval Expires 02/28/2027

BJA FY 2026 Veterans

Treatment Court Program

Grants.gov Funding Opportunity Number: O-BJA-2026-172714

Application Deadlines in Eastern Time (ET):

1. Complete SF-424 and submit in Grants.gov: October 29, 2026, by 11:59 PM ET

2. Submit full application in JustGrants: November 5, 2026, by 8:59 PM ET https://Grants.gov

BJA FY 2026 Veterans Treatment Court Program

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?

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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 Veterans

Treatment Court Program. This opportunity supports the implementation and enhancement of veterans’ treatment court (VTC) operations to reduce the use of opioids, stimulants, and other substances, including alcohol, by high-risk/high-need veterans in the criminal justice system.

VTCs effectively integrate substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health disorder

(MHD) treatment, mandatory drug testing, incentives and sanctions, and transitional services in judicially supervised court settings that have jurisdiction over veterans in the criminal justice system who have SUD and/or co-occurring mental health disorders

(MHSUD), including those with a history of violence and post-traumatic stress disorder

(PTSD) and/or traumatic brain injury (TBI).

This NOFO provides three categories of funding:

Category 1: Planning and Implementation – Six-month planning phase followed by launch of a new VTC.

Category 2: Enhancement – Supports projects to strengthen or expand services provided by a fully operational VTC.

Category 3: Statewide – Funds one-time projects that sustainably improve, enhance, or expand statewide VTC services.

Controlled Substances Act

Federal funds may not be used to support programs or activities that violate the

Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. § 801, et seq., regardless of local or state practices or laws. Programs or activities funded under a BJA VTC award must ensure that participants are periodically tested for the use of controlled substances. See the

Eligible Applicants section for eligibility details.

https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/fy26-vtc-appendix.pdf

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-2026-172714

Competition ID Number Category 1, C-BJA-2026-00030-PROD:

Planning and Implementation Category 2, C-BJA-2026-00031-PROD:

Enhancement Category 3, C-BJA-2026-00032-PROD:

Statewide

Expected Total Amount of Funding Approximately $20,732,429

Anticipated Number of Awards Category 1: 5 Category 2: 11 Category 3: 2

Award Type(s) Grant

Anticipated Award Amount Category 1: Up to $950,000 Category 2: Up to $1,000,000 Category 3: Up to $2,500,000

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, 2026

Step 1: Grants.gov Deadline 11:59 p.m. ET on October 29, 2026

Step 2: JustGrants Deadline 8:59 p.m. ET on November 5, 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:

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For Categories 1 and 2:

Government Entities o State governments o County governments o City or township governments o Special district governments o Native American Tribal governments (federally recognized) o Native American Tribal governments (other than federally recognized)

Other

• Other units of local government

For Category 3:

Other

• State agencies

“Other” Entities Definition:

• "Other" Entities Definition: For the purposes of this NOFO, "other units of local government" include towns, boroughs, parishes, villages, or other general purpose political subdivisions of a state.

• "State agencies" include state administering agencies (SAA), administrative offices of the courts, state criminal justice agencies, state substance abuse agencies, and other state agencies involved with substance use, mental health, or related services.

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

Limit on Number of Applications: You may submit multiple applications under this

NOFO, including multiple applications within the same category (Category 1 and/or

Category 2). Each application must be for a distinct VTC program, regardless of category.

If a project will be carried out by two or more entities (project partners), only one entity may submit the application. The other entities (project partners) must be proposed as subrecipients rather than co-applicants. An entity may be proposed as a subrecipient in more than one application. For additional information regarding subawards, see the Application Resource Guide.

An entity may be proposed as a subrecipient in more than one application.

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Additional Eligibility Factors

Required Partnership: Applicants in Categories 1 and 2 must demonstrate partnerships with key organizations necessary to operate a VTC. Applicants must submit memorandum of understandings (MOUs) or letters of intent documenting these partnerships. See Memorandum of Understanding for additional information.

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.

In addition to the Agency priorities listed above, priority consideration will be given under this NOFO to applicants in states and units of local government that actively meet the below criteria, to the maximum extent permitted by law:

(i) enforce prohibitions on open illicit drug use;

(ii) enforce prohibitions on urban camping and loitering;

(iii) enforce prohibitions on urban squatting;

(iv) enforce, and where necessary, adopt, standards that address individuals who are a danger to themselves or others and suffer from serious mental illness or SUD, or who are living on the streets and cannot care for themselves, through assisted outpatient treatment or by moving them into treatment centers or other appropriate facilities via civil commitment or other available means, to the maximum extent permitted by law; or

(v) for state applicants, substantially implement and comply with, to the extent required, the registration and notification obligations of the Sex

Offender Registry and Notification Act, particularly in the case of registered sex offenders with no fixed address, including by adequately mapping and checking the location of homeless sex offenders.

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Applicants seeking this additional priority consideration, should complete the Agency Funding Priorities Inventory – Ending Crime and Disorder in JustGrants to indicate which criteria they are actively meeting.

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 Department of Homeland Security (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 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: Reduce recidivism and prevent overdose fatalities by connecting high‑risk adults—including those with SUDs, mental health conditions, and TBIs—to treatment and recovery supports through judicially supervised VTCs.

• Objective 1: Connect eligible individuals to treatment, recovery support services, and mandatory drug testing.

• Objective 2: Reduce recidivism rates among participants through comprehensive court supervision, sanctions, and incentives.

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• Objective 3: Increase the number of individuals who successfully complete the VTC program.

For a description of how awards under this NOFO will contribute to achieving these goals and objectives, see the Performance Reports section below.

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 do not need to submit any deliverables other than the standard items in the Post-Award Requirements and Administration section.

Performance Reports

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

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

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

Step 2: JustGrants

Standard Applicant Information *Required* Online Form

Proposal Abstract Text Box

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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

• Categories 1 and 2 *Required*

• Category 3 Not applicable

Attachment

Additional Application Components

• Timeline *Required*

• Tribal Authorizing Resolution (if applicable)

• Subrecipient and Contract Disclosure (if applicable)

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.

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

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

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

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• 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.

• Describe the veteran target population, including number and proportion of veterans in the criminal justice system, criminogenic risk levels, substance use and behavioral health trends, prevalence of TBI, charges/offense types being considered, and average jail/prison sentence. How the need relates to the purpose of the NOFO.

• Why federal funding is needed to support the program.

2. Project Goals and Objectives (10% 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.

• How the applicant will deliver or complete those activities.

• When the activities will take place.

• Who in the applicant's organization will staff the activities, including key staff.

• What deliverables, reports, and other items will be produced as part of the project.

• Include a long-term strategy and detailed implementation plan.

• An outline plan to track program outcomes, activities, and success.

4. Capabilities and Competencies (30% of application score): What administrative and technical capacity and expertise do you bring to successfully complete this project? Please include:

• A short description of your capacity to deliver the proposed project and meet the post-award requirements, if funded.

• A description of projects or activities your organization has conducted, or is currently conducting, that demonstrates your ability to undertake the proposed project activities.

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

• If you plan to use subrecipients(s) to help conduct the project, please name them (if they are known) or describe how the applicant will identify them. Please describe their role in conducting project activities. This should align with MOUs and/or letters of support for this project.

5. Sustainability (5% of application score): Specify plans for obtaining necessary support and continuing the proposed program following the conclusion of Federal support. Please include:

• Plans for maintaining program operations after the grant period, including potential state, local, or other funding sources you will pursue.

• Steps you will take during the grant period to build toward sustainability

(e.g., developing partnerships, building local capacity, institutionalizing policies and procedures).

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) or Separate Attachment (attach file in JustGrants) 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.

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.

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

• 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.

• Disclosure of Process Related to Executive Compensation (if applicable):

Applicants to this funding opportunity are not required to provide this disclosure.

Funding Restrictions/Unallowable Expenses Reference the DOJ Grants Financial Guide for complete information on allowable and unallowable costs, including restrictions on trinkets, giveaways, food costs, and profit/management fees

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Supporting Documents *Required* (for Categories 1 and 2)

Attach a 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:

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

• Tribal Authorizing Resolution (if applicable): Read information on whether you may need to submit a Tribal Authorizing Resolution.

• Subrecipient and Contract Disclosure (if applicable): Read information on whether you may need to submit a Subrecipient and Contract Disclosure. This should align with MOUs and/or letters of support for this project.

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)

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5. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES

The DOJ Grant Application Submission Checklist provides instructions for how to submit your application by established 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.

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 indicates 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)

U.S. Department of Justice | Office of Justice Programs | Bureau of Justice Assistance | 14 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#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

Phone: 833-872-5175

JustGrants Help Desk 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.

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