BJA FY25 Missing and Unidentified Human Remains (MUHR) Program
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- O-BJA-2025-172470
- Agency
-
Bureau of Justice Assistance
Office of Justice Programs, Department of Justice
- Applications due
- Award size
- Up to $1,000,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Law, Justice and Legal Services
- Eligible applicants
-
- City/Township Governments
- State Governments
- County Governments
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Other
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- Non-501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- 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 (BJA) within the Department of Justice is seeking applications for the Missing and Unidentified Human Remains (MUHR) Program, which aims to improve reporting, transportation, forensic processing, and identification of missing persons and unidentified human remains cases, with a specific focus on migrant populations. Eligible applicants include city/township governments, state governments, county governments, nonprofit organizations, higher education institutions, and other eligible entities. Key contract requirements involve DNA analysis performed by accredited laboratories, compliance with FBI DNA Quality Assurance Standards, and strict protocols for sample collection and processing, including voluntary consent and law enforcement oversight. Evaluation criteria will likely emphasize the applicant's ability to effectively locate and identify missing persons, manage forensic evidence, and collaborate across jurisdictions. The grant opportunity was posted on September 17, 2025, with a proposal deadline of November 20, 2025.
Recent federal grant awards under this program have typically ranged from $323,675 to $1,000,000, with three-year performance periods from October 1 to September 30. The program provides funding directly to jurisdictions to help them reduce backlogs of missing persons and unidentified human remains cases, with a particular interest in supporting small, rural, and tribal entities. Successful applicants must submit a signed grant award within 45 days of notification and comply with specific requirements, such as entering eligible DNA profiles into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and following strict guidelines for sample usage and storage. The place of performance will be within the jurisdiction of the awarded organization, with a focus on forensic investigation, case management, and identification efforts across the United States.
Synopsis
The Missing and Unidentified Human Remains (MUHR) Program supports efforts to improve the reporting, transportation, forensic processing, and identification of missing persons (MP) and unidentified human remains (UHR) cases, including those involving migrants as authorized by Public Law 116-277. This program increases public safety by providing resources to locate and identify missing persons and unidentified human remains in the United States. Please see the Eligible Applicants section for the eligibility criteria.
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