COPS-SVPP-APPLICATION-2018 | COPS SVPP APPLICATION 2018

Opportunity Information: Apply for COPS SVPP APPLICATION 2018

The COPS-SVPP-APPLICATION-2018 grant opportunity is a discretionary funding program offered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office, designed to help communities strengthen safety and security at schools and on school grounds. It was announced as an open, competitive solicitation with limited funds, meaning applicants were expected to face strong competition and needed to present clear, well-supported plans. The program sits within the Law, Justice and Legal Services funding area (CFDA 16.710) and focuses specifically on practical, evidence-based steps that can reduce violence risk and improve emergency readiness in K-12 school environments within a given jurisdiction.

Eligibility is limited to three types of applicants: States, units of local government, and Indian tribes. The central purpose is to improve school security through evidence-based school safety programs implemented within the applicant's jurisdiction. Because the funding is intended for government entities (rather than individual schools, nonprofits, or private organizations applying directly), proposals generally need to show how the applicant will coordinate across relevant local systems, such as school districts, law enforcement agencies, and other public safety partners, and how the work will be carried out and sustained.

The solicitation emphasizes that strong applications should demonstrate a comprehensive school safety strategy, not just a single purchase or isolated activity. The COPS Office highlights several categories of allowable or encouraged approaches. These include deeper coordination with law enforcement, such as planning, joint response protocols, and operational integration that improves day-to-day security and emergency response. It also includes training for local law enforcement officers aimed at preventing student violence both against others and self, reflecting a focus on prevention as well as response. Another major category is physical deterrent and security improvements on campus, with examples such as metal detectors, upgraded locks, improved lighting, and similar measures that can harden targets and reduce opportunities for harm. The solicitation also calls out technology that speeds up notification and communication with local law enforcement during an emergency, which can include systems that reduce response times and improve situational awareness. Beyond those examples, the program leaves room for other security measures as long as the COPS Office Director determines they could significantly improve school security.

Because the solicitation is competitive and funds are limited, applicants are encouraged to present a convincing case for why their jurisdiction should be prioritized. The notice states that additional consideration will be given to jurisdictions that can demonstrate a clear need for improved security and/or financial assistance, can show they have the capacity to successfully execute the requested improvements, or will implement evidence-based strategies and programs. In practice, that means applications benefit from concrete documentation of need (such as incident trends, identified vulnerabilities, or resource gaps), a realistic implementation plan (including partners, timelines, and operational details), and a clear link between proposed activities and proven or research-supported safety outcomes.

Key administrative details from the opportunity listing include an original closing date of July 30, 2018, and an award ceiling of $500,000. The funding instrument is a grant, and the opportunity is categorized as discretionary, reinforcing that awards depend on competitive review and agency priorities rather than formula allocation. Overall, the COPS-SVPP-APPLICATION-2018 opportunity is aimed at helping eligible government jurisdictions make tangible, coordinated, and evidence-driven improvements that increase security, strengthen prevention efforts, and enhance emergency communication and response capabilities at schools.

• The Community Oriented Policing Services in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "COPS-SVPP-APPLICATION-2018" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.710.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-06-25.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-07-30. (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: Others.

Apply for COPS SVPP APPLICATION 2018

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