BJA FY24 Invited to Apply- Administrative Funding Adjustments to BJA Previously Funded Awards | O BJA 2024 171898

FAQs: BJA FY24 Invited to Apply - Administrative Funding Adjustments to BJA Previously Funded Awards

1) What is this grant opportunity?

This is a Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) discretionary grant solicitation called "BJA FY24 Invited to Apply - Administrative Funding Adjustments to BJA Previously Funded Awards." It is designed to support a continuation-type action for an already-funded BJA project through a new award that closely mirrors the prior grant.

2) Is this a competitive grant that new applicants can apply for?

No. This is not a broadly competitive program for new applicants. It is only open to organizations that have received a direct, official invitation letter from BJA.

3) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is strictly invitation-based. Only applicants that received a formal invitation letter from BJA may apply, and the invitation letter governs the specific eligibility requirements and directions for submission.

4) What does "Invited to Apply" mean in practical terms?

"Invited to Apply" means BJA has already identified specific prior award recipients and has sent them an official invitation to submit an application. If you did not receive the invitation letter, you are not eligible to apply under this solicitation.

5) What is the purpose of the solicitation?

The purpose is to provide funding so an invited recipient can continue work tied to a particular earlier BJA award, following the instructions contained in the invitation letter.

6) Is this funding meant to start a new project?

No. The funding is described as an administrative adjustment to prior work rather than a new program launch. The project is expected to remain substantially the same in scope and purpose as the previously funded project.

7) How similar does the continuation project need to be to the prior project?

The continuation is intended to remain substantially the same as the previous project in terms of scope and purpose. It is also expected to be similar in award amount and performance period.

8) Which rules and guidelines should applicants follow?

Applicants are expected to follow the requirements and program guidelines from the original solicitation under which the earlier funding was awarded, unless this FY24 solicitation specifically states an exception.

9) What guidance should be used to prepare the application?

Applications must be prepared using Office of Justice Programs (OJP) guidance, including the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide, which provides instructions on how to develop and submit materials to OJP.

10) What happens if the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide conflicts with this solicitation?

If there is a conflict between the Resource Guide and this solicitation, the solicitation controls for that specific issue.

11) What role does the invitation letter play in the application?

The invitation letter governs the specific eligibility requirements and directions for submission. It is the controlling document for what the invited organization must submit and how.

12) What is the mission area and CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

This opportunity sits within BJA's law, justice, and legal services mission area and is associated with CFDA 16.738.

13) Who is this funding intended to support?

The solicitation is framed as supporting state, local, and tribal criminal justice practitioners, through continued work under a previously approved BJA-funded project.

14) What broader DOJ priorities are referenced for the continued work?

BJA emphasizes that continued work should align with broader Department of Justice priorities, including promoting civil rights and racial equity, improving access to justice, supporting crime victims and people impacted by the justice system, strengthening community safety, addressing evolving public safety threats, and building trust between law enforcement and the community.

15) Do those DOJ priorities replace the original project requirements?

The solicitation presents these priorities as high-level values and outcomes OJP expects grantees to advance as they carry forward previously approved project activities. Applicants are still expected to follow the original solicitation requirements unless this FY24 solicitation states an exception.

16) What is the funding instrument type?

The funding instrument type listed for this opportunity is a grant.

17) What is the opportunity number?

The opportunity number is O-BJA-2024-171898.

18) How many awards does BJA expect to make under this posting?

The posting indicates an expected single award.

19) What is the award ceiling?

The award ceiling listed is $554,758.

20) What was the original application closing date listed in the posting?

The original application closing date shown is November 16, 2023.

21) Is the listed eligible applicant category truly open to "Others"?

While the listing identifies the eligible applicant category broadly as "Others," the solicitation is not open to the public. Eligibility is controlled by receipt of a formal BJA invitation letter.

22) Are recipients and subrecipients allowed to include profit or management fees in the budget?

No. A notable condition in the solicitation is that all recipients and subrecipients, including for-profit organizations, must forgo any profit or management fee. The funded work must be carried out on a cost-reimbursement basis without adding profit or a separate management fee line item.

23) Does the no-profit/no-management-fee condition apply to for-profit entities involved in the project?

Yes. The condition explicitly applies to all recipients and subrecipients, including for-profit organizations.

24) What does this solicitation function as overall?

Overall, it functions as an invited-only mechanism to extend or adjust funding for a previously funded BJA project, keeping the project largely intact while ensuring it continues to meet OJP and DOJ program expectations and compliance requirements.