Opportunity Information: Apply for O BJA 2021 19004
The BJA FY 21 Smart Policing Initiative (SPI) is a discretionary grant program from the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, designed to help law enforcement agencies strengthen public safety while also improving trust, accountability, and fairness. The program sits within DOJ's broader priorities of advancing civil rights, expanding access to justice, supporting crime victims, protecting the public from emerging threats, and reinforcing positive relationships between police and the communities they serve. In practical terms, SPI funding is meant to move agencies toward policing strategies that are driven by evidence, guided by data, and supported by modern technology rather than relying only on tradition or intuition.
A central requirement and defining feature of SPI is the creation of formal police-researcher partnerships. Funded agencies are expected to work closely with researchers to design, implement, and test strategies aimed at preventing crime, improving response to incidents, and reducing crime overall. These partnerships are also intended to strengthen police accountability by bringing rigorous evaluation methods into everyday operations, helping agencies measure what works, what does not, and why. The goal is not just to launch a new tactic or tool, but to evaluate its real-world impact and build agency capacity to continuously analyze crime intelligence and operational data.
The solicitation also emphasizes the development and testing of justice information-sharing technology. In this context, "justice information-sharing technology" is defined broadly to include hardware and/or software, whether hosted on-site or through remote/hosted services, as long as it supports the collection, storage, sharing, or analysis of criminal justice data. That can include systems or platforms that help agencies share information across units or with partner agencies, improve analytic capabilities, or better integrate datasets that are typically siloed. The focus is on implementing technology in a way that supports measurable improvements and can be evaluated for effectiveness.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is identified as "BJA FY 21 Smart Policing Initiative" with the funding opportunity number O-BJA-2021-19004. It is a grant funding instrument categorized as discretionary, with the administering agency listed as the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance. The CFDA number associated with the opportunity is 16.738. The solicitation was created on May 19, 2021, with an original closing date of July 6, 2021. Awards were capped at an award ceiling of $500,000, and BJA anticipated making approximately 14 awards.
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with the note that applicants should consult the solicitation's additional eligibility details for clarification. Overall, the program is structured to help agencies adopt and rigorously test evidence-based policing approaches, modernize their use of data and information-sharing, and demonstrate outcomes through evaluation, all while aligning with DOJ priorities related to rights, justice, public safety, and community trust.Apply for O BJA 2021 19004
- The Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance in the affordable care act sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BJA FY 21 Smart Policing 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 May 19, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 06, 2021. (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.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 14 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: BJA FY 21 Smart Policing Initiative (SPI)
What is the BJA FY 21 Smart Policing Initiative (SPI)?
The BJA FY 21 Smart Policing Initiative (SPI) is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). It is designed to help law enforcement agencies strengthen public safety while also improving trust, accountability, and fairness through evidence-based, data-driven strategies supported by modern technology.
Which federal agency administers this grant?
This opportunity is administered by the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).
What is the official funding opportunity number for this solicitation?
The funding opportunity number is O-BJA-2021-19004.
What is the CFDA number associated with SPI?
The CFDA number associated with this opportunity is 16.738.
When was the solicitation created and when did it close?
The solicitation was created on May 19, 2021, and the original closing date was July 6, 2021.
Is this a discretionary or formula grant program?
This is a discretionary grant program.
How much funding is available per award?
The award ceiling for this opportunity was $500,000.
How many awards did BJA expect to make?
BJA anticipated making approximately 14 awards under this solicitation.
What is the main purpose of SPI funding?
SPI funding is intended to help law enforcement agencies move toward policing strategies that are driven by evidence, guided by data, and supported by modern technology, rather than relying only on tradition or intuition. The program emphasizes measurable improvements and evaluation of what works in real-world practice.
What outcomes does SPI aim to support beyond crime reduction?
In addition to preventing and reducing crime, SPI aims to improve trust, accountability, and fairness in policing, aligning with DOJ priorities such as advancing civil rights, expanding access to justice, supporting crime victims, protecting the public from emerging threats, and reinforcing positive relationships between police and the communities they serve.
Is a police-researcher partnership required?
Yes. A central requirement and defining feature of SPI is the creation of a formal police-researcher partnership. Funded agencies are expected to work closely with researchers to design, implement, and test strategies.
What is the role of the researcher in an SPI project?
Based on the solicitation summary, researchers are expected to collaborate with the law enforcement agency to help design strategies, support implementation, and apply rigorous evaluation methods to test effectiveness. The partnership is intended to help measure what works, what does not, and why, strengthening accountability and supporting continuous improvement.
What kinds of strategies are SPI projects expected to test?
SPI projects are expected to focus on strategies aimed at preventing crime, improving response to incidents, and reducing crime overall, with an emphasis on approaches that can be evaluated and supported by evidence, data, and technology.
How does SPI define "justice information-sharing technology"?
"Justice information-sharing technology" is defined broadly to include hardware and/or software, whether hosted on-site or through remote/hosted services, as long as it supports the collection, storage, sharing, or analysis of criminal justice data.
What are examples of what justice information-sharing technology might support?
The solicitation description indicates the technology may support sharing information across units or with partner agencies, improving analytic capabilities, or integrating datasets that are typically siloed, as long as the technology is implemented in a way that supports measurable improvements and can be evaluated for effectiveness.
Is the goal simply to purchase technology or launch a new tactic?
No. The stated goal is not just to launch a new tactic or tool, but to evaluate real-world impact and build agency capacity to continuously analyze crime intelligence and operational data.
How does SPI connect to accountability and fairness?
SPI emphasizes strengthening police accountability by bringing rigorous evaluation methods into everyday operations. The focus on evidence, data, and evaluation is framed as a way to improve trust, accountability, and fairness while supporting public safety goals.
What does "evidence-based" and "data-driven" mean in the context provided?
In the context provided, it means implementing policing strategies informed by evidence and guided by data (including crime intelligence and operational data), supported by modern technology, and evaluated to determine effectiveness rather than relying only on tradition or intuition.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as "Others," with a note that applicants should consult the solicitation's additional eligibility details for clarification.
Where should applicants look for more specific eligibility rules?
The opportunity summary indicates that applicants should consult the solicitation's additional eligibility details for clarification.
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