Opportunity Information: Apply for O BJA 2023 171623
The BJA FY 23 Competitive DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), designed to help states and local governments strengthen their ability to process DNA evidence and reduce backlogs. The focus is on improving public safety and solving crimes by expanding the effective use of DNA technology, specifically by supporting the processing of DNA samples that can be uploaded to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). In practical terms, the program is aimed at helping jurisdictions with existing crime laboratories increase throughput, reduce delays, and improve the overall efficiency and reliability of DNA analysis workflows so that investigative leads can be generated faster and cases can move forward more effectively.
A central theme of the solicitation is alignment with broader Office of Justice Programs (OJP) priorities. The opportunity is framed within OJP goals that include advancing civil rights and racial equity, increasing access to justice, supporting crime victims and people impacted by the justice system, strengthening community safety, protecting the public from emerging and evolving threats, and building trust between law enforcement and the community. While the core funding purpose is technical and operational (DNA capacity and backlog reduction), applicants are implicitly expected to implement the work in a manner that supports fairness, accountability, and equitable access to justice outcomes, particularly given the role forensic evidence can play in both identifying offenders and excluding innocent individuals.
Eligible applicants include state governments and units of local government such as counties and cities or townships, as well as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. The eligibility language specifically targets jurisdictions that already have crime laboratories conducting DNA analysis, meaning the program is not intended to build brand-new labs from scratch but rather to enhance existing capabilities. The funding activity category is listed under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, reflecting the forensic science and laboratory capacity-building emphasis, and the relevant CFDA number is 16.741.
The opportunity was posted under Funding Opportunity Number O-BJA-2023-171623 with a creation date of February 24, 2023, and an original application closing date of April 19, 2023. BJA anticipated making around 10 awards, with an award ceiling of up to $1,000,000 per award. As a competitive program, funding would be awarded based on the strength of the proposal, including how clearly the applicant demonstrates an existing need (such as measurable backlogs), a feasible plan to increase DNA processing capacity, and a credible approach to ensuring that improvements translate into timely CODIS-eligible profile generation and entry.
Overall, this grant opportunity is meant to help jurisdictions modernize and expand operational DNA capacity so more qualifying samples can be processed and entered into CODIS efficiently. By reducing DNA backlogs and improving turnaround times, the program supports faster investigative leads, strengthens casework, and can improve outcomes for victims and communities while reinforcing justice system integrity through the responsible and effective use of forensic DNA technology.Apply for O BJA 2023 171623
- The Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BJA FY 23 Competitive DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.741.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 24, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 19, 2023. (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 $1,000,000.00 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, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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FAQs: BJA FY 23 Competitive DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program
What is the BJA FY 23 Competitive DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program?
The CEBR Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). It is designed to help states and local governments strengthen their ability to process DNA evidence and reduce DNA backlogs, with an emphasis on improving public safety and helping solve crimes through expanded, effective use of DNA technology.
What is the main purpose of this grant?
The main purpose is to increase DNA processing capacity and reduce delays so that more qualifying DNA samples can be processed efficiently, generating investigative leads faster and helping cases move forward more effectively.
What kinds of DNA work does the program prioritize?
The program specifically focuses on supporting the processing of DNA samples that can be uploaded to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). In practice, this means the work should result in timely generation and entry of CODIS-eligible DNA profiles.
How does reducing a DNA backlog improve public safety?
Reducing backlogs and improving turnaround times can lead to faster investigative leads, stronger casework, and improved outcomes for victims and communities. It can also reinforce justice system integrity because forensic DNA can help identify offenders and exclude innocent individuals.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include state governments; units of local government (such as counties and cities or townships); and public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.
Is this funding intended to create a brand-new crime laboratory?
No. The eligibility language targets jurisdictions that already have crime laboratories conducting DNA analysis. The program is intended to enhance existing capabilities rather than build new labs from scratch.
What types of organizations does BJA expect to benefit from the program?
The program is aimed at jurisdictions with existing crime laboratories that need to increase throughput, reduce delays, and improve the overall efficiency and reliability of DNA analysis workflows.
What does "competitive" mean for this grant?
It means awards are made based on the strength of the proposal compared to other applicants. Funding is not automatic; applicants are evaluated on how well they demonstrate need and how credible and feasible their capacity enhancement and backlog reduction plan is.
How many awards were anticipated?
BJA anticipated making around 10 awards under this opportunity.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling was up to $1,000,000 per award.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was created on February 24, 2023, with an original application closing date of April 19, 2023.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this solicitation?
The Funding Opportunity Number is O-BJA-2023-171623.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The relevant CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 16.741.
What is the funding activity category for this grant?
The funding activity category is listed under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, reflecting the program's forensic science and laboratory capacity-building emphasis.
What does BJA look for in a strong application?
Based on the description, competitive proposals are expected to clearly demonstrate an existing need (such as measurable backlogs), present a feasible plan to increase DNA processing capacity, and provide a credible approach to ensuring improvements translate into timely CODIS-eligible profile generation and entry.
What does the solicitation mean by improving "throughput"?
In this context, throughput refers to the volume of DNA evidence that an existing crime laboratory can process within a given period. The grant is intended to help labs process more qualifying samples efficiently while reducing delays.
How does this grant connect to broader Office of Justice Programs (OJP) priorities?
The opportunity is framed within OJP priorities that include advancing civil rights and racial equity, increasing access to justice, supporting crime victims and people impacted by the justice system, strengthening community safety, protecting the public from emerging and evolving threats, and building trust between law enforcement and the community.
Does the program have expectations related to equity, fairness, or accountability?
Yes. While the core purpose is technical and operational (DNA capacity and backlog reduction), the solicitation emphasizes alignment with OJP priorities, implying that applicants are expected to implement the work in a way that supports fairness, accountability, and equitable access to justice outcomes.
What is CODIS and why is it central to this program?
CODIS is the Combined DNA Index System. The program emphasizes processing DNA samples that can be uploaded to CODIS because doing so can generate investigative leads and support case advancement when qualifying profiles are entered efficiently.
What is the overall outcome this program is trying to achieve?
The overall goal is to modernize and expand operational DNA capacity so more qualifying samples can be processed and entered into CODIS efficiently, leading to reduced backlogs, faster turnaround times, quicker investigative leads, and strengthened justice system integrity through responsible and effective use of forensic DNA technology.
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