BJA FY 2026 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR)-Formula Grants Program
Open Posted
- Opportunity number
- O-BJA-2026-172718
- Agency
-
Bureau of Justice Assistance
Office of Justice Programs, Department of Justice
- Applications due
- Award size
- Up to $3,500,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Law, Justice and Legal Services
- Eligible applicants
-
- Other
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- State Governments
- City/Township Governments
- County Governments
- Special District Governments
- Points of contact
-
- OJP Response Center ojp.responsecenter@usdoj.gov (800) 851-3420
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Bureau of Justice Assistance is soliciting applications for the FY 2026 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR)-Formula Grants Program with an application due date of October 29, 2026. Eligible applicants are state governments, county governments, city/township governments, special district governments, other units of local government, and public or state-controlled higher education institutions that own, control, or operate a crime laboratory. No cost share or matching requirement applies.
The program will distribute up to $88.9 million through an anticipated 130 awards to support states and units of local government with existing crime laboratories in processing DNA samples for entry into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and reducing forensic DNA and database sample backlogs. Individual awards may reach up to $3.5 million. Fund distribution follows a formula based on Uniform Crime Reporting violent and property crime data and state population, with a minimum allocation of $575,000 per state. A minimum of 40 percent of awarded funds must support processing crime scene samples.
The performance period runs 24 months, starting January 1, 2027. Applicants must submit the SF-424 in Grants.gov by October 29, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET, followed by the full application in JustGrants by November 5, 2026 at 8:59 p.m. ET. Required components include a proposal narrative (maximum 10 pages, double-spaced), budget detail worksheet with narrative, baseline data, proof of DNA laboratory accreditation, signed CEBR eligibility and budget certification forms, and financial management questionnaires. The proposal must address project need, goals aligned with NOFO objectives, implementation details and timeline, and organizational capabilities. Applicants must coordinate with other publicly funded DNA laboratories in their state to ensure requested amounts do not exceed state allocations.
The CFDA number is 16.036 (Comprehensive Forensic DNA Analysis Grant Program).
Synopsis
This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the BJA FY 2026 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR)-Formula Grants Program. This opportunity will support states and units of local government with existing crime laboratories that conduct DNA analysis to process, and/or to increase the capacity to process, more DNA samples for entry into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), thereby helping to reduce the number of forensic DNA and DNA database samples awaiting analysis and/or to prevent a backlog of forensic and database DNA samples.
Eligibility
Other Units of Local Government: 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.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| PKG00294175.pdf |
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