Opportunity Information: Apply for BJA 2020 17028
The BJA FY 20 Strategies for Policing Innovation (SPI) grant (Funding Opportunity Number BJA 2020 17028) is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, designed to help law enforcement agencies take a focused, problem-solving approach to their most pressing public safety challenges. The core purpose of SPI is to support police agencies in clearly identifying and defining specific crime problems and then making lasting operational and organizational changes that improve how the agency uses evidence-based practices, data, and technology. Rather than funding general policing activities, the opportunity is framed around innovation and measurable improvement, encouraging agencies to institutionalize approaches that can be sustained beyond the grant period.
This program supports work that strengthens the practical use of research-informed strategies, data-driven decision-making, and modern technology in day-to-day policing. In practice, that means agencies are expected to move beyond short-term initiatives and instead build systems and processes that embed effective practices into how they deploy personnel, analyze crime patterns, evaluate interventions, and manage organizational performance. The emphasis on "lasting" change signals that competitive proposals would typically be those that demonstrate a clear plan for implementation, internal adoption, and continued use after federal funds end.
Eligible applicants include a broad range of governmental entities: state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity categories associated with the opportunity span areas such as law, justice, and legal services as well as science and technology and research and development, reflecting the program's interest in both operational change and the analytical or technical capabilities that make those changes effective.
The opportunity was created on March 13, 2020, with an original application closing date of May 12, 2020. The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $700,000, and BJA anticipated making approximately 9 awards under this solicitation. Taken together, these details indicate a competitive national program with moderately sized awards intended to catalyze targeted, well-defined innovation projects within policing agencies, especially those that can demonstrate a strong connection between a specific crime problem, an evidence-based response, and a plan to use data and technology to guide and measure results.Apply for BJA 2020 17028
- The Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance in the employment, labor and training, humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda), law, justice and legal services, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BJA FY 20 Strategies for Policing Innovation" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.738.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 13, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 12, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $700,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 9 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
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FAQs: BJA FY 20 Strategies for Policing Innovation (SPI) Grant (BJA 2020 17028)
What is the BJA FY 20 Strategies for Policing Innovation (SPI) grant?
The Strategies for Policing Innovation (SPI) grant is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). It is designed to help law enforcement agencies take a focused, problem-solving approach to pressing public safety challenges by supporting innovation and measurable improvement rather than general policing activities.
What is the main purpose of the SPI program?
The core purpose is to support police agencies in clearly identifying and defining specific crime problems and then making lasting operational and organizational changes. These changes should improve how the agency uses evidence-based practices, data, and technology in day-to-day policing.
Is this grant intended to fund general law enforcement operations?
No. The opportunity is framed around innovation and measurable improvement. It is not intended to fund broad, general policing activities; it emphasizes targeted projects that address a specific crime problem and institutionalize improved practices.
What kinds of problems or projects does SPI focus on?
SPI focuses on well-defined, specific crime problems and the agency changes needed to address them. Projects are expected to connect a clearly identified public safety challenge to an evidence-based response and use data and technology to guide decisions and measure results.
What does BJA mean by "lasting operational and organizational changes"?
"Lasting" change refers to improvements that become embedded in how the agency operates. The program emphasizes building systems and processes that continue beyond the grant period, such as improved approaches to deploying personnel, analyzing crime patterns, evaluating interventions, and managing organizational performance.
How important are evidence-based practices in this grant?
They are central to the program. SPI emphasizes improving how agencies use evidence-based (research-informed) practices and encourages practical, day-to-day adoption rather than short-term initiatives.
How important are data and technology in an SPI proposal?
Data and technology are key themes of the solicitation. The program supports strengthening data-driven decision-making and modern technology use in policing, particularly where those tools help analyze crime patterns, guide interventions, and measure outcomes.
What does "research-informed strategies" mean in the context of SPI?
The opportunity highlights the use of strategies informed by research and evidence. In practical terms, it points to implementing approaches that are supported by research findings and integrating them into routine decision-making and operations.
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments.
Is this opportunity limited to a particular type of government entity?
No. Eligibility is broad across multiple types of governmental entities, including state, local, special district, and federally recognized tribal governments.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this solicitation?
The Funding Opportunity Number is BJA 2020 17028.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on March 13, 2020.
What was the original application closing date?
The original application closing date was May 12, 2020.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling (maximum award amount) is $700,000.
How many awards did BJA anticipate making?
BJA anticipated making approximately 9 awards under this solicitation.
What do the expected number of awards and award ceiling suggest about competitiveness?
With an anticipated approximately 9 awards and a maximum award of $700,000, the program appears to be a competitive national solicitation with moderately sized awards intended to catalyze targeted innovation projects.
What activity categories are associated with this grant?
The opportunity spans activity categories including law, justice, and legal services as well as science and technology and research and development. This reflects an interest in both operational policing changes and the analytical or technical capabilities that support them.
What would a strong SPI project generally demonstrate?
Based on the program description, strong projects would typically demonstrate: (1) a clear identification and definition of a specific crime problem, (2) a plan to implement evidence-based responses, (3) a clear use of data and technology to guide and measure the work, and (4) an approach to institutionalize changes so they can be sustained after federal funds end.
Does SPI emphasize short-term initiatives or long-term institutionalization?
SPI emphasizes long-term institutionalization. Agencies are expected to move beyond short-term initiatives and build processes and systems that embed effective practices into everyday operations and continue after the grant period.
How does SPI relate to performance measurement and evaluation?
The solicitation emphasizes measurable improvement and encourages agencies to use data to evaluate interventions and manage organizational performance. This implies an expectation that the agency will track and assess results rather than only implementing activities.
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