PKG00294197.pdf

OMB No. 1121-0329

Approval Expires 02/28/2027

BJA FY 2026 Paul

Coverdell Forensic

Science Improvement—

Competitive Grants

Program

Grants.gov Funding Opportunity Number: O-BJA-2026-172711

Application Deadlines in Eastern Time (ET):

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

2. Submit full application in JustGrants: November 5, 2026, by 8:59 p.m. ET

FY2026 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants – Competitive Program

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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 FY26 Paul Coverdell

Forensic Science Improvement—Competitive Grants Program. This opportunity funds improvements to forensic science and medical examiner/coroner services, including services provided by laboratories operated by states and units of local government.

Funding is to be used for forensic science laboratories (see the definition in the BJA

FY2026 Coverdell – Forensic Appendix) and/or medical examiner/coroner offices. A state or unit of local government that receives a Coverdell grant must use the grant for one or more of the following six objectives:

1. To carry out all or a substantial part of a program intended to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science or medical examiner/coroner services in the state, including those services provided by laboratories operated by the state and those operated by units of local government within the state.

2. To eliminate a backlog in the analysis of forensic science evidence, including, among other things, a backlog with respect to firearms examination, latent prints, impression evidence, toxicology, digital evidence, fire evidence, controlled substances, forensic pathology, questioned documents, and trace evidence.

3. To train, assist, and employ forensic laboratory personnel and medicolegal death investigators, as needed, to eliminate such a backlog.

4. To address emerging forensic science issues (such as statistics, contextual bias, and uncertainty of measurement) and emerging forensic science technology

(such as high throughput automation, statistical software, and new types of instrumentation).

5. To educate and train forensic pathologists.

6. To fund medicolegal death investigation systems to facilitate accreditation of medical examiner and coroner offices and certification of medicolegal death investigators.

Important Note: Congress has appropriated funding to help the forensic science community address the specific challenges crime laboratories are confronting related to https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/fy26-coverdell-appendix.pdf https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/fy26-coverdell-appendix.pdf

U.S. Department of Justice | Office of Justice Programs | Bureau of Justice Assistance | 4 the proliferation of opioids and synthetic drugs. To address these issues, BJA plans to allocate approximately 61 percent of available funds to specifically target the challenges that opioids and synthetic drugs have brought to the forensic science community.

Specific forensic definitions, additional information regarding the Coverdell program, and information necessary to complete this application can be found on

See the Eligible Applicants section for eligibility details.

Funding Details

Announcement Type Initial

Assistance Listing Number 16.742

Statutory Authority Pub. L. No. 90-351, Title I, Part BB (codified at

34 U.S.C. 10561-10566)

Grants.gov Opportunity Number O-BJA-2026-172711

Expected Total Amount of Funding Up to $4,295,281

Anticipated Number of Awards 10

Award Type(s) Grant

Anticipated Award Amount Up to $500,000

Expected Award Period(s) 36 months starting on October 1, 2026

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:

Government Entities

• State governments

• County governments

• City or township governments

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• Special district governments

• Native American tribal governments (federally recognized)

• Native American tribal governments (other than federally recognized)

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

(match).

Limit on Number of Applications: You may submit more than one application if each application proposes a different project. Also, an entity may be proposed as a subrecipient in more than one application. If more than one request for competitive funds is made by the state, or unit of local government, each should be submitted as a separate application in Grants.gov.

Additional Eligibility Factors

State applicants: Any state application for funding MUST be submitted by the

Coverdell SAA (see a list of SAAs on the OJP website at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/saa/ index.htm). Other interested state agencies or departments must coordinate with their respective SAAs. Under the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvements Grant

Program, state administering agencies (SAAs) may be eligible and apply for both formula and competitive funds.

When applying for competitive funds, an SAA should consult with all interested state agencies to prepare a request for competitive funds. No more than one request for competitive funds per state (SAA) will be funded. If more than one request for competitive funds is made by the state, each should be submitted as a separate application in Grants.gov.

This NOFO is ONLY for competitive funds. An applicant seeking to apply for

Coverdell formula funds (consistent with 34 U.S.C. § 10563(a)(1)) available for grants to eligible states would need to apply separately under BJA’s FY26 Paul Coverdell

Forensic Science Improvement Grants—Formula Program NOFO.

Unit of local government applicants: Units of local government within states may be eligible for competitive funds and may apply directly to BJA. A unit of local government should consult all interested components before preparing an application for competitive funds. No more than one application for competitive funds per unit of local government will be funded. If more than one request for competitive funds is made by the unit of local government, each should be submitted as a separate application in Grants.gov.

As part of the discussion of existing resources and current needs, applicants requesting competitive funds should include information in the proposal narrative that describes any known, specific impact(s) on resources and needs indicated by Part 1 violent crime data (state data and any data reported by the applicant).

Certifications: The Coverdell law (34 U.S.C.§ 10562) requires that, to request a grant, an application for Coverdell funds, certain certifications must be submitted. See the http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/saa/index.htm http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/saa/index.htm

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Additional Application Components for a list of the certifications that must be submitted and how they should be submitted. Funds will not be made available to applicant agencies that fail to provide the necessary information.

https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/coverdell-cert-generally-accepted-lab-practices.pdf https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/coverdell-cert-forensic-science-lab-system-accreditation.pdf https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/coverdell-cert-use-of-funds-new-facilities.pdf https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/coverdell-cert-external-investigations.pdf https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/coverdell-attachment-external-investigations.pdf https://bja.ojp.gov/program/coverdell/overview

3. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Statutory Authority

Pub. L. No. 90-351, Title I, Part BB (codified at 34 U.S.C. 10561-10566)

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 https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/coverdell-cert-generally-accepted-lab-practices.pdf https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/coverdell-cert-forensic-science-lab-system-accreditation.pdf https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/coverdell-cert-use-of-funds-new-facilities.pdf https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/coverdell-cert-external-investigations.pdf https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/coverdell-attachment-external-investigations.pdf https://bja.ojp.gov/program/coverdell/overview

U.S. Department of Justice | Office of Justice Programs | Bureau of Justice Assistance | 7 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 1: Improve quality of forensic science services.

• Objective 1: To carry out all or a substantial part of a program intended to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science or medical examiner/coroner services in the state, including those services provided by laboratories operated by the state and those operated by units of local government within the state.

• Objective 2: To address emerging forensic science issues (such as statistics, contextual bias, and uncertainty of measurement) and emerging forensic science technology (such as high throughput automation, statistical software, and new types of instrumentation).

• Objective 3: To educate and train forensic pathologists

• Objective 4: To fund medicolegal death investigation systems to facilitate accreditation of medical examiner and coroner offices and certification of medicolegal death investigators.

Goal 2: Improve timeliness of forensic science services.

• Objective 1: To eliminate a backlog in the analysis of forensic science evidence, including, among other things, a backlog with respect to firearms examination, latent prints, impression evidence, toxicology, digital evidence, fire evidence, controlled substances, forensic pathology, questioned documents, and trace evidence.

• Objective 2: To train, assist, and employ forensic laboratory personnel and medicolegal death investigators, as needed, to eliminate such a backlog.

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

https://www.ojp.gov/doj-financial-guide-2024

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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 will be expected to submit the following:

For each fiscal year of an award made under this NOFO, recipients will be required to report to BJA the following:

• On an annual basis, an addendum report that shall be attached to the semi-annual performance report that is due January 30 of each year, which shall include the number and nature of any allegations of serious negligence or misconduct substantially affecting the integrity of forensic results.

• Information on the referrals of such allegations (e.g., the government entity or entities to which referred, the date of referral), including the outcome of such referrals (if known as of the date of the report) and if any such allegations were not referred, the reason(s) for the nonreferral.

• Coverdell grantees are required to submit a final report that must include the following:

o A summary and assessment of the program carried out with this grant, which shall include a comparison of pre-grant and post-grant forensic science capabilities.

o The average number of days between submission of a sample to a forensic science laboratory or forensic science laboratory system in the

State operated by the State or by a unit of local government and the delivery of test results to the requesting office or agency.

o The number and type of cases accepted during the grant award period by the forensic laboratory or laboratories that received grant funds.

o The progress of any unaccredited forensic science service provider receiving grant funds toward obtaining accreditation.

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.

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

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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

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)

Attachment

Additional Application Components

• Coverdell Statutory Certifications: As described above in the Eligibility section, the Coverdell law provides that, to request a grant, each applicant must submit five certifications specific to the

Coverdell Program *Required*

Attachments https://justicegrants.usdoj.gov/training/checklist-application-submission

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Application Item Submission Type

• Forensic Laboratory Accreditation Documentation

• Tribal Authorizing Resolution (if applicable)

• Timeline

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 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.

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

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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.

1. Description of the Need (5% of the 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.

• Describe the challenges faced in providing forensic and/or medical examiner/coroner services in the jurisdiction.

• Outline the average annual number of Part 1 violent crimes reported to the

Federal Bureau of Investigation for calendar years 2022, 2023, and 2024 by the state (and for applicant units of local government, the local data, if available) and include a discussion of the impact on the laboratory’s resources and needs based on the reported data.

2. Project Goals and Objectives (15% of the 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).

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

• Which specific Coverdell goal and objective the applicant proposes to achieve.

3. Project Design and Implementation (35% of the 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 you will deliver or complete those activities.

• 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.

• 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.

• A timeline listing key activities and milestones, and the quarters during which they will take place.

4. Capabilities and Competencies (30% of the 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.

• Information demonstrating an understanding of the Coverdell Competitive performance measures, the specific section(s) that are relevant to the proposed project, and the plans for collecting said data.

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

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 the 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.

https://bja.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh186/files/media/document/Coverdell-Measures.pdf 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

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• 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

The following information specific to this funding opportunity will help you develop your project budget:

Budget and Associated Documentation: Budget Detail Form

The applicant will complete the JustGrants Budget Detail form. The form collects the individual costs under each cost category needed to implement the proposed project.

Applicants should ensure that the name/description of each cost is clear and provide the detailed calculation (e.g., cost per unit and number of units) for the total cost. Applicants should enter additional narrative, as needed, to fully describe the cost calculations and connection to the project goals and objectives (including, if applicable, describing connections to OJP priority goals).

Permissible Expenses

The following list details the types of expenses allowed under the Coverdell Program.

These expenses should NOT be used as budget categories—instead they are to be incorporated into the appropriate standard OJP budget categories. For more information on OJP’s standard budget format, see the section titled “Application Review.” Additional information can be found at BJA FY2026 Coverdell – Forensic Appendix.

• Salary and benefits of laboratory employees

• Overtime for laboratory staff

• Computerization

• Laboratory equipment

• Supplies

• Accreditation

• Education, training, and certification

• Facilities—Limitations on use of funds for costs of new facility. The

Coverdell law limits the amount of funds that may be used for the costs of a new facility or facilities (34 U.S.C. § 10564(c)).

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://bja.ojp.gov/funding/fy26-coverdell-appendix.pdf 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

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• Administrative expenses. Not more than 10 percent of the total amount of a

Coverdell grant may be used for a recipient’s administrative expenses.

• Forensic genetic genealogical DNA analysis. Program activity involving forensic genetic genealogical DNA analysis and searching (FGGS) is subject to the DOJ

Interim Policy on Forensic Genetic Genealogical DNA Analysis and Searching or to the final policy, when issued.

Note on the use of funds to address opioid- and synthetic drug-related challenges: Applications requesting Coverdell funds for projects that address specified opioid and synthetic drug-related challenges to the forensic science community will be given priority consideration. As such, the application should demonstrate, wherever applicable, how any proposed use of funds would address challenges that opioids and/or synthetic drugs have brought to the forensic science community. Additionally, annotate each line item in the budget as “opioid- and/or synthetic drug-related” or “non-opioid- or synthetic drug-related.”

Expenses That Are Not Permitted

1. Funds to conduct research, although applicants may address emerging forensic science issues and technology through implementation of new technologies and processes into public laboratories.

2. Expenses other than those listed above (including expenses for general law enforcement functions or non-forensic investigatory functions).

3. Costs for any new facility that exceed the limits described above.

4. Recipient administrative expenses (direct or indirect) that exceed 10 percent of the total grant amount.

5. The use of funds for the purchase and/or lease of vehicles, such as crime scene vans.

All recipients and subrecipients (including any for-profit organization) must forgo any profit or management fee.

Budget proposals should include the funding needed to implement the proposed activities. In preparing their budget proposals, applicants should consider what types of costs are allowable, if awarded funding. Costs are allowable when they are reasonable, allocable to, and necessary for the performance of the project funded under the federal award and when they comply with the funding statute and agency requirements, including the conditions of the award and the cost principles set out in 2 C.F.R. Part 200, Subpart E and the DOJ Grants Financial Guide.

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.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#subpart-E 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#indirect-cost https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#consultant-rate-if-applicable

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• 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.

Additional Application Components

Applicants should review the BJA FY2026 Coverdell – Forensic Appendix for specific requirements and additional information that will inform their application and grant activities if awarded.

Attach these in JustGrants:

The applicant should attach the additional requested documentation listed below in

JustGrants.

• Coverdell Statutory Certifications *Required*: The Coverdell law (34 U.S.C.§

10562) requires that, to request a grant, an application for Coverdell funds must submit the following certifications. Applicants are expected to carefully review the requirements of each certification before determining whether the certification may be properly made. Any certification that is submitted must be executed by an official who is both familiar with the requirements of the certification and authorized to make the certification on behalf of the applicant agency (that is, the agency applying directly to BJA). Certifications must be submitted using the templates provided at the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants

Program Certifications page: https://bja.ojp.gov/program/coverdell/ certifications#certifications.

o A certification and description regarding a plan for forensic science laboratories.

▪ Applicant states are to submit the “Application from a State” version only; applicant units of local government are to submit the

“Application from a Unit of Local Government” version only.

o A certification regarding use of generally accepted laboratory practices.

o A certification regarding forensic science laboratory system accreditation.

▪ Applicants requesting funds for only medical examiner’s offices or coroner’s offices in the state are not required to submit this certification. See 34 U.S.C. § 10562(2).

o A certification and description regarding use of funds for new facilities.

▪ Applicants must submit this certification even if no new facilities are being constructed.

o A certification regarding external investigations into allegations of serious negligence or misconduct and the External Investigations Attachment

Template. In connection with the certification regarding external investigations, applicants must provide, prior to receiving award funds, the https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#limitation-use-award https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/fy26-coverdell-appendix.pdf https://bja.ojp.gov/program/coverdell/certifications#certifications https://bja.ojp.gov/program/coverdell/certifications#certifications https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/coverdell-cert-to-plan-forensic-labs-state.pdf https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/coverdell-cert-to-plan-forensic-labs-local.pdf https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/coverdell-cert-generally-accepted-lab-practices.pdf https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/coverdell-cert-forensic-science-lab-system-accreditation.pdf https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/coverdell-cert-use-of-funds-new-facilities.pdf https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/coverdell-cert-external-investigations.pdf https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/coverdell-cert-external-investigations.pdf

U.S. Department of Justice | Office of Justice Programs | Bureau of Justice Assistance | 16 name(s) of the existing government entity (or government entities). This information is to be provided as an attachment to the proposal narrative section of the application using the External Investigations Attachment

Template.

Please note that funds will not be made available to applicant agencies that fail to provide the necessary information.

• Tribal Authorizing Resolution (if applicable): An application in response to this

NOFO may require inclusion of tribal authorizing documentation as an attachment. If applicable, the applicant will upload the tribal authorizing documentation as an attachment in JustGrants. See the Application Resource

Guide for information on tribal authorizing resolutions.

• Timeline: Provide a timeline listing key activities and milestones, and the quarters during which they will take place.

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 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 peer review criteria.

https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/coverdell-attachment-external-investigations.pdf https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/coverdell-attachment-external-investigations.pdf https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#tribal-authorizing-resolution https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#tribal-authorizing-resolution 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 https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#application-review-for-competitive-funding

U.S. Department of Justice | Office of Justice Programs | Bureau of Justice Assistance | 17

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.

Potential Environmental Impact: Grant programs that involve chemicals must comply with NEPA 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#federal-award-notices https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#general-information https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/nepa-guidance#0-1 mailto:OJP.ResponseCenter@usdoj.gov https://sam.gov/help mailto:support@grants.gov https://www.grants.gov/support mailto:JustGrants.Support@usdoj.gov

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Rule Name Status Description

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Image-only PDF Passed Document is not image-only PDF

Tagged PDF Passed Document is tagged PDF

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Bookmarks Passed Bookmarks are present in large documents

Color contrast Passed manually Document has appropriate color contrast

Page Content

Rule Name Status Description

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Tagged annotations Passed All annotations are tagged

Tab order Passed Tab order is consistent with structure order

Character encoding Passed Reliable character encoding is provided

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Scripts Passed No inaccessible scripts

Timed responses Passed Page does not require timed responses

Navigation links Passed manually Navigation links are not repetitive

Forms

Rule Name Status Description

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Field descriptions Passed All form fields have description

Alternate Text

Rule Name Status Description

Figures alternate text Passed Figures require alternate text

Nested alternate text Passed Alternate text that will never be read

Associated with content Passed Alternate text must be associated with some content

Hides annotation Passed Alternate text should not hide annotation

Other elements alternate text Passed Other elements that require alternate text

Tables

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TH and TD Passed TH and TD must be children of TR

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Lists

Rule Name Status Description

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Headings

Rule Name Status Description

Appropriate nesting Passed Appropriate nesting

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