Opportunity Information: Apply for O BJA 2026 172701
The BJA FY 2026 Local Law Enforcement Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) Integration Initiative is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), designed to help law enforcement agencies build or strengthen Crime Gun Intelligence Centers. The central goal is to reduce and better respond to firearm-related crime by improving how agencies collect, manage, share, and analyze crime gun evidence, then turn that information into actionable investigative leads and stronger prosecutions. The program is explicitly collaborative and is carried out in partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), reflecting a focus on integrating local investigative work with federal tools and systems that support gun crime investigations.
A CGIC, as described in the notice, is an interagency model that emphasizes speed and coordination. It brings together key partners (typically local police, prosecutors, and ATF, and often crime labs and other justice stakeholders) to ensure that critical pieces of gun-crime evidence are rapidly processed and exploited for intelligence. The evidence highlighted in the opportunity includes items like cartridge casings and semiautomatic handguns, which can be entered and analyzed through ATF systems to connect shooting incidents, identify linkages among cases, and develop investigative leads. The program is built around using ATF technology platforms such as the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), which supports ballistic correlation and linking of fired evidence, and eTrace, ATF's Electronic Tracing System used to trace recovered firearms to help identify potential sources and trafficking patterns.
The practical value of the initiative is in tightening the timeline from "crime occurs" to "lead is generated" to "case is charged and prosecuted." By supporting CGIC development and expansion, the grant aims to help agencies institutionalize processes that make gun intelligence more reliable and more immediate. That includes establishing workflows for the prompt collection of ballistic evidence at scenes, quick submission to appropriate systems, consistent follow-up on leads, coordinated case review among investigative and prosecutorial teams, and systematic use of tracing and ballistic results to identify repeat shooters, link gun crimes across jurisdictions, and focus enforcement on the most serious drivers of gun violence.
Eligibility is broad across government and justice partners, reflecting the initiative's emphasis on cross-agency coordination. Eligible applicants include state governments; county governments; city or township governments; special district governments; federally recognized Tribal governments; and Tribal organizations other than federally recognized Tribal governments. The notice also clarifies that "other units of local government" may apply, including towns, boroughs, parishes, villages, or other general-purpose political subdivisions of a state. Prosecutors' offices are included within the eligible law enforcement and justice community referenced in the description, underscoring that the program is not just about investigations and technology, but also about building cases that can be successfully prosecuted.
Key administrative details from the posting include the funding opportunity number O-BJA-2026-172701, CFDA number 16.738, and an award ceiling of up to $700,000 per award. The opportunity was created on 2026-08-17, and the original application closing date is 2026-09-24. The funding instrument is a grant, the category is discretionary, and the activity area is Law, Justice and Legal Services. While the posting notes "expected awards" without specifying a number in the source data provided, the structure and ceiling indicate an intent to make targeted investments that can meaningfully support staffing, technology integration, evidence processing workflows, and interagency coordination needed to stand up or expand a CGIC capability.
Overall, this NOFO is aimed at jurisdictions that want to formalize and integrate gun-crime intelligence operations, especially those prepared to work closely with ATF and to leverage NIBIN and eTrace as core components of their strategy. The focus is not simply on buying tools, but on building a coordinated intelligence function that quickly connects gun evidence to investigations and prosecutions, improving the ability to identify crime guns and their sources and to hold shooters and firearm offenders accountable.Apply for O BJA 2026 172701
- The Bureau of Justice Assistance in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BJA FY 2026 Local Law Enforcement Crime Gun Intelligence Center Integration Initiative" 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 2026-08-17.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-09-24. (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.
- 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), Others.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
FAQs: BJA FY 2026 Local Law Enforcement Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) Integration Initiative
What is the BJA FY 2026 Local Law Enforcement CGIC Integration Initiative?
It is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), intended to help law enforcement agencies build or strengthen Crime Gun Intelligence Centers (CGICs) so they can reduce and better respond to firearm-related crime.
What is the main purpose of this grant?
The central goal is to improve how agencies collect, manage, share, and analyze crime gun evidence, and then convert that information into actionable investigative leads and stronger prosecutions, ultimately improving the response to firearm-related crime.
What is a Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) in this program?
A CGIC is described as an interagency model focused on speed and coordination. It brings together key partners to ensure gun-crime evidence is rapidly processed and used for intelligence that supports investigations and prosecutions.
What kinds of agencies and partners are typically involved in a CGIC?
The notice highlights collaboration among partners such as local police, prosecutors, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). It also notes that crime labs and other justice stakeholders are often involved as well.
How is ATF involved in this initiative?
The program is explicitly collaborative and is carried out in partnership with ATF, reflecting a focus on integrating local investigative work with federal tools and systems that support gun crime investigations.
What ATF tools and systems are emphasized by this opportunity?
The opportunity emphasizes integrating ATF technology platforms, including the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) for ballistic correlation/linking of fired evidence, and eTrace (ATF's Electronic Tracing System) to trace recovered firearms and help identify potential sources and trafficking patterns.
What types of crime gun evidence are specifically mentioned?
The notice highlights evidence such as cartridge casings and semiautomatic handguns, which can be entered and analyzed through ATF systems to connect shooting incidents and generate investigative leads.
How does the grant aim to improve outcomes in gun-crime cases?
The practical focus is to tighten the timeline from when a crime occurs, to when a lead is generated, to when a case is charged and prosecuted. It supports the development and expansion of CGIC processes that make gun intelligence more immediate and reliable.
What kinds of workflows or processes does the initiative support?
The grant is aimed at helping agencies institutionalize workflows such as prompt collection of ballistic evidence at scenes, quick submission into appropriate systems, consistent follow-up on leads, coordinated case review among investigative and prosecutorial teams, and systematic use of tracing and ballistic results.
What investigative or enforcement benefits are described for CGICs?
The notice describes benefits such as identifying repeat shooters, linking gun crimes across jurisdictions, and focusing enforcement on the most serious drivers of gun violence using tracing results and ballistic linkages.
Is this grant only about purchasing technology?
No. The focus is not simply on buying tools, but on building a coordinated intelligence function that integrates evidence processing, information sharing, analysis, and investigative/prosecutorial coordination, with NIBIN and eTrace as core components.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include state governments; county governments; city or township governments; special district governments; federally recognized Tribal governments; and Tribal organizations other than federally recognized Tribal governments. The notice also clarifies that other units of local government may apply (including towns, boroughs, parishes, villages, or other general-purpose political subdivisions of a state).
Are prosecutors' offices eligible or relevant under this opportunity?
The description includes prosecutors' offices within the eligible law enforcement and justice community referenced and underscores that the program supports building cases that can be successfully prosecuted, not only investigative activity.
What is the funding opportunity number for this NOFO?
The funding opportunity number is O-BJA-2026-172701.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 16.738.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is up to $700,000 per award.
What is the application deadline?
The original application closing date is 2026-09-24.
When was this opportunity created?
The posting indicates it was created on 2026-08-17.
What type of funding instrument is this?
The funding instrument is a grant.
Is this a discretionary or formula program?
The category is discretionary.
What is the activity area for this program?
The activity area is Law, Justice and Legal Services.
How many awards will be made?
The posting notes "expected awards" but does not specify a number in the information provided here.
What kinds of jurisdictions are the best fit for this NOFO based on the description?
The NOFO is aimed at jurisdictions that want to formalize and integrate gun-crime intelligence operations, especially those prepared to work closely with ATF and leverage NIBIN and eTrace as core components of their strategy.
What does "integration" mean in the context of this initiative?
Based on the description, integration refers to connecting local evidence collection and investigative work with coordinated interagency processes and federal tools/systems (such as NIBIN and eTrace) to quickly produce investigative leads and support prosecution.
How does this program support cross-jurisdictional gun-crime connections?
By rapidly processing and analyzing ballistic evidence through systems like NIBIN and using firearm tracing through eTrace, the program supports identifying linkages among shooting incidents and connecting gun crimes across jurisdictions.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Law, Justice and Legal Services
Previous opportunity: Lewis-Houghton Civics and Democracy Initiative: New Awards for 2027-2029
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for O BJA 2026 172701
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "O BJA 2026 172701", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.