BJA FY 2024 Enhancing Correctional Practices to Protect Vulnerable People: Technical Assistance and Microgrant Program | O BJA 2024 172047

Opportunity Information: Apply for O BJA 2024 172047

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is offering a single, national-level cooperative agreement under the FY 2024 program titled "Enhancing Correctional Practices to Protect Vulnerable People: Technical Assistance and Microgrant Program" (Opportunity Number O-BJA-2024-172047). The purpose of this opportunity is to select one organization to run a competitive microgrant program and deliver training and technical assistance (often referred to as TTA) to correctional agencies that want to improve how they protect vulnerable people in prisons, jails, and other confinement settings. A central goal is to help agencies move away from overly restrictive or punitive responses and instead adopt practices that are safer, more appropriate, and better tailored to the needs of people who are at heightened risk of harm while confined.

In practical terms, the funded organization will serve as an administrator and capacity-builder for the field. On the microgrant side, the awardee is expected to design and operate a competitive process that makes smaller sub-awards available to agencies working on reforms aligned with the program goals. On the technical assistance side, the awardee will provide guidance, training, and hands-on support to help agencies plan, implement, and sustain improvements in policy and practice. Because the award uses a cooperative agreement, BJA typically maintains an active role in shaping or overseeing key elements of the work, meaning the recipient should be prepared for ongoing coordination with the federal program office rather than operating with complete independence.

The program is explicitly focused on people considered vulnerable in confinement settings. The solicitation notes that this includes, but is not limited to, individuals with physical disabilities, people with severe or persistent mental illness, LGBTQ individuals, youthful inmates housed in adult facilities, and people who are blind, deaf, or non-English speaking. The emphasis is on improving protection and conditions for these groups, which often face elevated risks of victimization, isolation, communication barriers, inadequate access to services, and inappropriate disciplinary responses. The broader policy direction signaled by the solicitation is to reduce reliance on restrictive measures and punitive approaches that can worsen outcomes, particularly for people with mental health conditions, disabilities, or other needs that require accommodation rather than punishment.

This is a discretionary funding opportunity from BJA (Agency Name: Bureau of Justice Assistance) listed under CFDA 16.735. The funding instrument type is a cooperative agreement, and the expected number of awards is one, meaning a single entity will be chosen to run the national program rather than multiple regional recipients. The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $2,500,000. The opportunity was created on March 19, 2024, and the original closing date was June 13, 2024.

Eligibility is broad and includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. This range of eligible applicants suggests BJA is open to selecting an experienced technical assistance provider, research or training organization, university-based center, nonprofit intermediary, or a qualified private-sector entity capable of administering subawards and delivering specialized assistance to correctional agencies.

Overall, this solicitation is best understood as a "hub" award: one recipient will be responsible for distributing microgrants to support on-the-ground improvements while also providing structured training and tailored technical assistance to help correctional agencies implement better, less punitive approaches that protect people with heightened vulnerability in custody.

• The Bureau of Justice Assistance in the humanities sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BJA FY 2024 Enhancing Correctional Practices to Protect Vulnerable People: Technical Assistance and Microgrant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.735.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-03-19.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-06-13. (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 $2,500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.

Apply for O BJA 2024 172047

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