BJS FY 2026 Consolidated National Criminal History Improvement Program
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- O-BJS-2026-172688
- Agency
-
Bureau of Justice Statistics
Office of Justice Programs, Department of Justice
- Applications due
- Award size
- Up to $2,196,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Cooperative Agreement
- Category
-
- Information and Statistics
- Eligible applicants
-
- State Governments
- Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
- Other
- Points of contact
-
- Steven W. Perry askbjs@usdoj.gov (202) 307-0765
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Bureau of Justice Statistics is soliciting applications for the FY 2026 Consolidated National Criminal History Improvement Program, with SF-424 submission due September 28, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET and full application submission due October 5, 2026 at 8:59 PM ET. This cooperative agreement opportunity consolidates three programs totaling $123 million across approximately 56 awards.
Eligible applicants are state governments, federally recognized tribal governments, and state court systems (defined as state central administrative offices designated to administer federal grant funds). No cost share is required. Individual awards reach up to $2,196,429 for 36-month project periods beginning October 1, 2026. Up to two applications per state may be submitted by different entities—a state agency and a state court system.
The opportunity consolidates the National Criminal History Improvement Program ($59 million), NCHIP Supplemental Funding under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act ($40 million), and the NICS Act Record Improvement Program ($24 million). Funding priorities span five areas: automation and completeness of criminal history records; full participation in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS); full participation in the Interstate Identification Index (III); automation and reporting of juvenile records; and record sealing and expungement. These programs aim to improve criminal history record quality, completeness, and accessibility for both criminal justice operations and firearm background checks.
Applications require a proposal abstract (2,000 characters maximum) and narrative (maximum 30 pages, double-spaced) addressing Description of the Need (5%), Project Goals and Objectives (20%), Project Design and Implementation (35%), and Capabilities and Competencies (25%), with Budget comprising 15% of the application score. Award notification is anticipated December 1, 2026.
Assistance Listing numbers are 16.554 (NCHIP) and 16.813 (NARIP).
Synopsis
1) NCHIP ($59,000,000)- This program aims to improve the nation's safety and security by enhancing the quality, completeness, and accessibility of criminal history record information; and by ensuring the nationwide implementation of criminal justice and non-criminal justice background check systems. 2) NCHIP SF BSCA ($40,000,000) - This program furthers the DOJ's mission to reduce violent crime and address gun violence by improving the accuracy, utility, and interstate accessibility of criminal-history and related records in support of national record systems and their use for name- and fingerprint-based criminal history background checks. This program was developed to implement Title III, Division B (3) - Appropriations outlined in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (Pub. L. 117-159). 3) NARIP ($24,000,000)- This program provides grants to assist states, state court systems and tribal governments in updating the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) with certain mental health, protection and restraining order, domestic violence conviction, and other criminal history record information which may disqualify individuals from purchasing or possessing firearms. BJS coordinates its work on the NICS program with the efforts of the National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP) to ensure that funded state and state court system programs are complementary and consistent with the overall goal of improving the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of state and national criminal records.
Eligibility
Courts: The state central administrative office or similar entity designated by statute or regulation to administer federal grant funds on behalf of the jurisdiction's court system.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| PKG00294010.pdf |
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