NIJ FY 2026 Research and Evaluation on Violent Crime: Gangs and Organized Criminal Groups (Domestic and Transnational)
Open Posted
- Opportunity number
- O-NIJ-2026-172806
- Agency
-
National Institute of Justice
Office of Justice Programs, Department of Justice
- Applications due
- Award size
- Up to $3,000,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Science and Technology and other Research and Development
- Eligible applicants
-
- Small Businesses
- Special District Governments
- Tribal Organizations (Not Federally Recognized)
- Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
- Independent School Districts
- County Governments
- Non-501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Higher Education Inst. (Private)
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- State Governments
- City/Township Governments
- For Profit Organizations
- 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 National Institute of Justice is soliciting applications for research and evaluation on violent crime associated with gangs and organized criminal groups (domestic and transnational), with an application due date of November 30, 2026.
Eligible applicants include state and local governments, federally recognized and non-federally recognized tribal organizations, public and private higher education institutions, 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits, for-profit organizations including small businesses, county and city/township governments, independent school districts, and special district governments. Non-U.S. entities are not eligible. No cost share is required.
The NOFO makes approximately five awards from a total pool of three million dollars, with awards anticipated by February 1, 2027. Performance periods extend up to 60 months. Applicants must complete the SF-424 form in Grants.gov by November 30, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET, followed by full application submission in JustGrants by December 7, 2026 at 8:59 p.m. ET. SAM.gov registration or renewal is required by November 16, 2026.
NIJ prioritizes rigorous evaluations of strategies designed to reduce gang and organized criminal group violence, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, mixed methods research, quasi-experimental designs, and multi-site evaluations. Projects should inform law enforcement strategies supporting Executive Order 14157 and the 2026 National Drug Control Strategy's campaign against transnational criminal threats. Evaluations must address violent crime measures including murder, aggravated assault, and robbery, alongside relevant intermediate and process outcomes. Process evaluations should support interpretation of program implementation.
The 30-page proposal narrative is weighted as follows: statement of problem (5 percent), project design and implementation (40 percent), capabilities and competencies (15 percent), and potential impact (25 percent). A detailed budget carries 15 percent weight. Deliverables include scholarly publications, research dissemination products for practitioners and policymakers, and archived datasets. NIJ may provide priority consideration to projects directly supporting law enforcement operations and assisting trafficking and sexual assault victims.
The funding is issued under CFDA 16.560, National Institute of Justice Research, Evaluation, and Development Project Grants.
Synopsis
This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for NIJ FY 2026 Research and Evaluation on Violent Crime: Gangs and Organized Criminal Groups (Domestic and Transnational). This opportunity supports research and evaluation proposals on gang and organized criminal group-related violent crime, including domestic and transnational. Projects funded through this NOFO will study topics that inform law enforcement strategies and operations to effectuate EO 14157, "Designating Cartels And Other Organizations As Foreign Terrorist Organizations And Specially Designated Global Terrorist;" Chapter 4 of the 2026 National Drug Control Strategy, "Global Campaign Against Transnational Criminal Threats;" and other related threats, including those posed by firearm, human, and other trafficking-related violence. NIJ seeks rigorous evaluations of new or existing strategies intended to reduce violent crime associated with gangs and organized criminal groups or networks and are led by or collaborate with law enforcement agencies. Evaluations should consider how individual, group, organizational, situational, or other relevant contextual factors interact with the strategies being studied. NIJ encourages evaluation designs such as randomized controlled trials (when feasible), mixed methods research, quasi-experimental designs, matched comparisons, and other appropriate methodologies. Process evaluations should be incorporated to support interpretation of program implementation and outcomes. Outcome evaluations must focus on violent crime measures such as murder, aggravated assault, and robbery along with relevant intermediate and process outcomes. Multi-site and cross-jurisdictional evaluations are encouraged.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| PKG00294442.pdf |
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