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.Apply for O BJA 2024 172047
- 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The program is titled "Enhancing Correctional Practices to Protect Vulnerable People: Technical Assistance and Microgrant Program" (FY 2024).
What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is O-BJA-2024-172047.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
The funding opportunity is offered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).
What type of funding is this?
This is a discretionary funding opportunity from BJA.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The listing is under CFDA 16.735.
What is the funding instrument type?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that this award is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement typically means BJA will have an active role in shaping and/or overseeing key elements of the work. The selected recipient should expect ongoing coordination with the federal program office rather than operating with complete independence.
How many awards does BJA expect to make?
BJA expects to make one award. A single entity will be selected to run the national-level program.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling (maximum amount) is $2,500,000.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on March 19, 2024.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was June 13, 2024.
What is the main purpose of this solicitation?
The purpose is to select one organization to (1) run a competitive microgrant program and (2) deliver training and technical assistance (TTA) to correctional agencies seeking to improve how they protect vulnerable people in prisons, jails, and other confinement settings.
What kind of program model is this solicitation describing?
It is best understood as a national "hub" award. One recipient serves as an administrator and capacity-builder for the field by operating microgrants and delivering structured training and tailored technical assistance to support reforms aligned with the program goals.
What are the two main components the funded organization is expected to deliver?
The two major components are:
- Microgrant program administration: Designing and operating a competitive process that provides smaller sub-awards (microgrants) to agencies pursuing aligned reforms.
- Training and Technical Assistance (TTA): Providing guidance, training, and hands-on support to help agencies plan, implement, and sustain improvements in policy and practice.
Who is supposed to benefit from this program?
The program is focused on improving protection and conditions for people considered vulnerable in confinement settings, particularly those at heightened risk of harm while confined.
Which populations are explicitly described as "vulnerable" in the solicitation?
The solicitation notes that vulnerable people include, but are not limited to:
- Individuals with physical disabilities
- People with severe or persistent mental illness
- LGBTQ individuals
- Youthful inmates housed in adult facilities
- People who are blind
- People who are deaf
- People who are non-English speaking
What kinds of problems or risks is the program trying to address for vulnerable people in custody?
The solicitation highlights elevated risks such as victimization, isolation, communication barriers, inadequate access to services, and inappropriate disciplinary responses affecting vulnerable populations in confinement settings.
What is the overall approach BJA is encouraging correctional agencies to take?
The opportunity emphasizes helping agencies move away from overly restrictive or punitive responses and toward practices that are safer, more appropriate, and better tailored to the needs of vulnerable people while confined.
Does the program focus only on prisons?
No. The opportunity references prisons, jails, and other confinement settings.
What is meant by "microgrants" in this solicitation?
Microgrants refer to smaller sub-awards that the single national awardee will make available through a competitive process to agencies working on reforms aligned with the program goals.
Who will run the microgrant competition?
The single selected recipient under this cooperative agreement will design and operate the competitive microgrant process and distribute sub-awards to eligible agencies pursuing aligned reforms.
What is meant by Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) in this opportunity?
TTA refers to guidance, training, and hands-on support the selected recipient will provide to correctional agencies to help them plan, implement, and sustain improvements in policy and practice related to protecting vulnerable people.
Is this opportunity intended to fund multiple regional providers?
No. The solicitation anticipates one national-level award, meaning one entity will be chosen to operate the program rather than multiple regional recipients.
Who is eligible to apply for the cooperative agreement?
Eligibility includes:
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (that are not institutions of higher education in that nonprofit category)
- Nonprofit organizations without 501(c)(3) status (that are not institutions of higher education in that nonprofit category)
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
What kinds of organizations does BJA appear open to selecting?
Based on the broad eligibility described, BJA appears 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 support to correctional agencies.
What is the recipient expected to do beyond awarding microgrants?
In addition to making microgrant sub-awards, the recipient is expected to provide structured training and tailored technical assistance, including hands-on support, to help agencies plan, implement, and sustain improvements aligned with the program goals.
What is the central policy direction emphasized in this solicitation?
The solicitation signals a direction toward reducing reliance on restrictive measures and punitive approaches that can worsen outcomes, particularly for people with mental health conditions, disabilities, or other needs requiring accommodation rather than punishment.
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