Opportunity Information: Apply for BJA 2019 15126
The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), within the U.S. Department of Justice, announced the FY 2019 Strategies for Policing Innovation (SPI) grant program as a discretionary funding opportunity designed to help law enforcement agencies take a more deliberate, problem-solving approach to crime reduction and public safety. The core idea behind SPI is to give police agencies the time, support, and resources to clearly identify their most pressing crime or disorder problems, diagnose what is driving those problems using data and evidence, and then carry out operational and organizational changes that are meant to last beyond the life of the grant. Rather than focusing on short-term enforcement surges, SPI emphasizes building durable internal capacity so agencies routinely use evidence-based practices, analytics, and technology to guide decisions.
This opportunity was published under Funding Opportunity Title "BJA FY 19 Strategies for Policing Innovation" with Funding Opportunity Number BJA-2019-15126. It uses the grant funding instrument type and falls within the broader funding activity areas of law, justice and legal services, with additional categorization references to employment/labor/training and humanities (as listed in the source record). The relevant CFDA number is 16.738, which is commonly associated with BJA law enforcement innovation and support activities.
SPI funding was aimed at governmental and quasi-governmental entities that either operate police agencies directly or have the authority to apply on their behalf. Eligible applicants included state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments. The eligibility listing also references "Others" with the expectation that applicants consult the solicitation's additional eligibility details for clarification, which typically covers nuances like whether an applicant must be a law enforcement agency itself, a unit of local government, or another entity serving as the official fiscal agent.
From a funding perspective, BJA set an award ceiling of $700,000 per award and anticipated making about 10 awards under this solicitation. The opportunity opened on April 23, 2019, and had an original application closing date of June 11, 2019. In practical terms, this indicates a competitive national program with a relatively limited number of awards, meaning applicants were expected to present a clear problem statement, a strong plan for using data and research to select strategies, and a credible approach for implementing and sustaining reforms.
Programmatically, SPI is centered on innovation in policing that is grounded in evidence rather than intuition. The program supports agencies in moving from identifying a general concern (for example, violent crime concentrations, repeat calls for service, or specific neighborhood disorder patterns) to defining a focused, measurable problem; analyzing underlying causes and patterns using data; selecting interventions backed by research; and institutionalizing changes so the improvements continue. The emphasis on "lasting operational and organizational changes" signals that BJA wanted agencies to go beyond purchasing tools or running a pilot and instead make improvements to core processes such as crime analysis workflows, deployment strategies, training, supervision, cross-unit coordination, performance management, and the routine use of technology and analytics in decision-making. Overall, the SPI opportunity is best understood as a capacity-building and change-management grant for police agencies that want to modernize how they diagnose problems and apply proven strategies to reduce crime and improve public safety outcomes.Apply for BJA 2019 15126
- 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 sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BJA FY 19 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 Apr 23, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 11, 2019. (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 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: BJA FY 19 Strategies for Policing Innovation (SPI) - BJA-2019-15126
What is the Strategies for Policing Innovation (SPI) grant program?
SPI is a discretionary grant program from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), within the U.S. Department of Justice, designed to help law enforcement agencies take a deliberate, problem-solving approach to crime reduction and public safety. It emphasizes diagnosing specific crime or disorder problems using data and evidence, then implementing operational and organizational changes intended to last beyond the grant period.
Who is the funding agency for this opportunity?
The funding agency is the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), which is part of the U.S. Department of Justice.
What is the official funding opportunity title and number?
The title is "BJA FY 19 Strategies for Policing Innovation" and the funding opportunity number is BJA-2019-15126.
What type of funding instrument is used?
This opportunity uses a grant funding instrument.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 16.738.
What broad funding activity area does SPI fall under?
It is listed under law, justice, and legal services. The source record also includes additional categorization references to employment/labor/training and humanities.
What is SPI trying to help agencies do, in practical terms?
SPI is meant to give agencies time, support, and resources to (1) clearly identify pressing crime or disorder problems, (2) diagnose what is driving those problems using data and evidence, and (3) carry out changes to operations and internal organization that become part of normal practice rather than a short-term initiative.
How is SPI different from short-term enforcement initiatives?
Instead of emphasizing short-term enforcement surges, SPI focuses on building durable internal capacity so agencies routinely use evidence-based practices, analytics, and technology to guide decisions over the long term.
What kinds of problems are agencies expected to address under SPI?
The program description suggests agencies may focus on issues such as violent crime concentrations, repeat calls for service, or specific neighborhood disorder patterns. The key expectation is moving from a general concern to a focused, measurable problem definition.
What approach does SPI promote for selecting strategies?
SPI promotes selecting interventions based on data, evidence, and research rather than intuition. Agencies are expected to analyze patterns and underlying causes, then choose strategies supported by research.
What does BJA mean by "lasting operational and organizational changes"?
The solicitation description indicates BJA wanted changes that persist beyond the grant period. Examples referenced include improving core processes like crime analysis workflows, deployment strategies, training, supervision, cross-unit coordination, performance management, and routine use of technology and analytics in decision-making.
Is SPI mainly a technology purchasing grant?
No. While technology and analytics are part of the program emphasis, SPI is described as a capacity-building and change-management grant. The intent is to institutionalize improved processes and decision-making routines, not simply purchase tools or run a limited pilot.
Who is eligible to apply for SPI funding?
Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments. The eligibility listing also references "Others," with applicants expected to consult additional solicitation eligibility details for clarifications such as whether the applicant must be a law enforcement agency, a unit of local government, or another entity serving as the official fiscal agent.
Can an entity apply on behalf of a police agency?
Yes. The program description indicates SPI was aimed at governmental and quasi-governmental entities that either operate police agencies directly or have the authority to apply on their behalf.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling was $700,000 per award.
How many awards did BJA expect to make?
BJA anticipated making about 10 awards under this solicitation.
When did the application period open and close?
The opportunity opened on April 23, 2019, and the original application closing date was June 11, 2019.
How competitive was this opportunity expected to be?
Based on the national scope, an anticipated 10 awards, and a $700,000 per-award ceiling, it was positioned as a competitive solicitation where applicants were expected to present a clear problem statement, a strong data- and research-informed strategy selection process, and a credible plan to implement and sustain reforms.
What is the core sequence of work SPI expects agencies to follow?
The description outlines a progression: identify a general concern, define a focused and measurable problem, analyze underlying causes and patterns using data, select interventions backed by research, and then institutionalize changes so improvements continue over time.
What is SPI best understood as, overall?
SPI is best described as a capacity-building and change-management grant for police agencies seeking to modernize how they diagnose public safety problems and apply evidence-based strategies to reduce crime and improve outcomes.
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| BJA FY 20 Second Chance Act Community-Based Reentry Program Apply for BJA 2020 17110 Funding Number: BJA 2020 17110 Agency: Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance Category: Employment, Labor and Training, Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| BJA FY 20 Second Chance Act Pay for Success Initiative: Outcomes-based Contracting To Lower Recidivism and Address Substance Use Disorders Through Reentry and Housing Services Apply for BJA 2020 17237 Funding Number: BJA 2020 17237 Agency: Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance Category: Employment, Labor and Training, Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $2,500,000 |
| BJA FY 20 Innovations in Community-Based Crime Reduction (CBCR) Program Apply for BJA 2020 17118 Funding Number: BJA 2020 17118 Agency: Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance Category: Employment, Labor and Training, Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
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