BJA FY 2026 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement- Competitive Grants Program
Open Posted
- Opportunity number
- O-BJA-2026-172711
- Agency
-
Bureau of Justice Assistance
Office of Justice Programs, Department of Justice
- Applications due
- Award size
- Up to $500,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Law, Justice and Legal Services
- Eligible applicants
-
- Special District Governments
- City/Township Governments
- Tribal Organizations (Not Federally Recognized)
- County Governments
- State Governments
- Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
- 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 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Competitive Grants Program, with the SF-424 form due October 29, 2026, and the full application due November 5, 2026.
Eligible applicants are state governments (through the state Coverdell administering agency), county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and federally recognized or non-federally recognized tribal organizations. No more than one competitive request per state and no more than one application per unit of local government will be funded. No cost share or match requirement applies.
The program anticipates approximately $4.295 million in total funding distributed across approximately 10 awards of up to $500,000 each. The period of performance is 36 months beginning October 1, 2026. Approximately 61 percent of available funds will target challenges related to opioids and synthetic drugs in forensic science laboratories.
Applicants must demonstrate how projects address one or more of six program objectives: improving quality and timeliness of forensic services, eliminating evidence backlogs, training personnel, addressing emerging forensic issues and technology, educating forensic pathologists, or funding medicolegal death investigation systems. Permissible expenses include laboratory employee salaries and benefits, equipment, supplies, accreditation costs, training and education, and facility improvements, with administrative expenses capped at 10 percent of the total grant.
The application requires submission in two steps: SF-424 in Grants.gov by the October 29 deadline, followed by the full application in JustGrants by November 5. The proposal narrative carries 35 percent scoring weight, budget documentation 15 percent, and five Coverdell statutory certifications covering laboratory plans, accreditation, and related compliance matters are required. The CFDA number is 16.742.
Synopsis
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.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| PKG00294197.pdf |
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