Opportunity Information: Apply for O BJA 2026 172711
The BJA FY 2026 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement - Competitive Grants Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). It is released as a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and is designed to help jurisdictions strengthen the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of forensic science and medicolegal death investigation services. In practical terms, the program supports targeted improvements to forensic laboratories as well as medical examiner and coroner offices, including the work performed by labs run by state governments and units of local government.
This competitive grant program falls under the Law, Justice, and Legal Services funding activity category and is listed under CFDA number 16.742. The funding instrument is a grant, meaning selected applicants receive an award to carry out approved activities and deliverables rather than a contract for procurement. The opportunity number is O-BJA-2026-172711, and the NOFO was created on 2026-09-21.
Eligible applicants include a wide range of governmental entities and certain tribal organizations. Specifically, applicants may include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments. This eligibility scope is meant to ensure that both statewide systems and local or regional service providers can pursue funding to address gaps in forensic capacity, quality assurance, training, technology, and other operational needs that affect the reliability and timeliness of forensic and death investigation services.
The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $500,000 per award. While the posting notes that awards are expected, the specific number of expected awards is not provided in the source information. The application deadline (original closing date) is 2026-10-29, which is the date by which complete applications would typically need to be submitted through the required federal application portal(s) and in compliance with all NOFO instructions.
At a high level, the program focus is on measurable improvements to forensic science and medical examiner/coroner functions. This can include strengthening laboratory operations and services, addressing quality and performance issues, improving service delivery, and modernizing practices that support criminal justice and public safety outcomes. Because the NOFO description highlights improvements to forensic science and medicolegal services broadly, it is especially relevant for agencies seeking to enhance laboratory capabilities, reduce processing delays, improve consistency and accuracy in forensic results, and bolster the overall integrity of forensic and death investigation work used in the justice system.Apply for O BJA 2026 172711
- The Bureau of Justice Assistance in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BJA FY 2026 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement- Competitive Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.742.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-09-21.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-10-29. (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 $500,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the BJA FY 2026 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement - Competitive Grants Program?
It is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). The program is released as a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and supports targeted improvements that strengthen the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of forensic science and medicolegal death investigation services.
Which federal agency is offering this grant?
The grant is offered by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).
Is this funding competitive or formula-based?
This is a competitive grant program, meaning applications are reviewed competitively and awards are made to selected applicants.
Is this opportunity a grant or a contract?
The funding instrument is a grant. Selected applicants receive an award to carry out approved activities and deliverables rather than a procurement contract.
What is the purpose of this program?
The purpose is to help jurisdictions improve forensic science and medicolegal death investigation services by strengthening the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of operations in forensic laboratories and medical examiner/coroner offices.
What kinds of organizations is the program intended to support?
The program is intended to support jurisdictions seeking improvements to forensic laboratories and to medical examiner and coroner offices, including labs run by state governments and units of local government.
What types of activities or improvements does the program support?
Based on the NOFO description, supported improvements may include addressing gaps in forensic capacity, quality assurance, training, technology, and other operational needs affecting the reliability and timeliness of forensic and medicolegal death investigation services. The focus is on measurable improvements to forensic science and medical examiner/coroner functions.
What outcomes is the program trying to improve?
The program emphasizes measurable improvements such as strengthening laboratory operations and services, addressing quality and performance issues, improving service delivery, modernizing practices, reducing processing delays, improving consistency and accuracy in forensic results, and supporting the integrity of forensic and death investigation work used in the justice system.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments.
Are tribal entities eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are eligible, and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments are also listed as eligible applicants.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $500,000 per award.
How many awards will be made?
The information provided indicates that awards are expected, but it does not specify the number of expected awards.
What is the application deadline?
The original closing date listed is 2026-10-29. Complete applications would typically need to be submitted by that date in compliance with NOFO instructions and required federal application portal requirements.
What is the opportunity number for this NOFO?
The opportunity number is O-BJA-2026-172711.
When was the NOFO created?
The NOFO was created on 2026-09-21.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The CFDA number listed is 16.742.
What funding activity category does this opportunity fall under?
This opportunity is listed under the Law, Justice, and Legal Services funding activity category.
What does it mean that this is a discretionary federal grant opportunity?
It means the awarding agency (BJA) has discretion to select which applications to fund through a competitive process, rather than distributing funds automatically by a formula.
What does the NOFO emphasize about improvements?
The description emphasizes measurable improvements to forensic science and medical examiner/coroner functions, including improvements to quality, efficiency, effectiveness, service delivery, and modernization of practices supporting criminal justice and public safety outcomes.
What types of offices and facilities can benefit from this funding?
The program is designed to support improvements to forensic laboratories and to medical examiner and coroner offices, including laboratories operated by state governments and units of local government.
What is the practical focus of the program for applicants?
In practical terms, it supports targeted improvements to address operational needs affecting forensic and death investigation services, such as capacity, quality assurance, training, technology, and other factors that influence reliability and timeliness.
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| Invited to Apply – Emergency and Transitional Pet Shelter and Housing Assistance for Victims of Domestic Violence Program Apply for O OVC 2026 172758 Funding Number: O OVC 2026 172758 Agency: Office for Victims of Crime Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| BJA FY26 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR)—Competitive Grants Program Apply for O BJA 2026 172680 Funding Number: O BJA 2026 172680 Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $4,900,000 |
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| OJJDP FY 2026 Invited to Apply - Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force National Training Program Apply for O OJJDP 2026 172766 Funding Number: O OJJDP 2026 172766 Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| OJJDP FY 2026 Invited to Apply - Internet Crimes Against Children Data System Enhancements Apply for O OJJDP 2026 172765 Funding Number: O OJJDP 2026 172765 Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $900,000 |
| OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program Round 9 Apply for O BJA 2026 172762 Funding Number: O BJA 2026 172762 Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| DOJ FY 2026 Assisting Neighborhoods and Governments with Enforcement of Laws (ANGEL) Grant Program Apply for O BJA 2026 172778 Funding Number: O BJA 2026 172778 Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| BJA FY 2026 John R. Justice (JRJ) Formula Grant Program Apply for O BJA 2026 172779 Funding Number: O BJA 2026 172779 Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $120,000 |
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| OJJDP FY 2026 Second Chance Act Youth Reentry Program Apply for O OJJDP 2026 172751 Funding Number: O OJJDP 2026 172751 Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| BJA FY 2026 Bridging Immigration-Related Deficits Experienced Nationwide Program: Memphis Safe Initiative Invitation to Apply (City of Memphis) Apply for O BJA 2026 172780 Funding Number: O BJA 2026 172780 Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $10,905,000 |
| OJJDP FY 2026 Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program Support Apply for O OJJDP 2026 172731 Funding Number: O OJJDP 2026 172731 Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $1,200,000 |
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