EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM

– Important News –

During 2009, local and state criminal justice agencies have unprecedented opportunities to obtain federal grant support for their activities, as a result of the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act" (i.e., stimulus bill). That Act appropriated $225 million to a special Edward Byrne Memorial Competitive Grant Program.

To maximize the benefit to local and state criminal justice agencies, there is no matching requirement for the Byrne Competitive Grant. In awarding grants under this special program, priority will be given to applications that "demonstrate the use of evidence-based practices and/or data-driven strategies.” The Department also may "give consideration to factors including, but not limited to underserved populations, strategic priorities, past performance, and available funding."

Grant Overview

Areas of Assistance
Being mindful of the Recovery Act's emphasis on job creation and retention, the Department of Justice is focusing this competitive grant program on job creation and retention in support of:

(1) Preventing and reducing violent crime;

(2) Providing funding for neighborhood-based probation and parole officers, as a compliment to the COPS program;¹

(3) Reducing mortgage fraud and crime related to vacant properties;

(4) Hiring of civilian support personnel in law enforcement (e.g., training staff, analysts, and dispatchers);

(5) Enhancing forensic and crime scene investigations;

(6) Improving resources and services for victims of crime;

(7) Supporting problem-solving courts; and

(8) National training and technical assistance partnerships.

Applicants my submit multiple applications if they address different projects.Once an award has been made, recipients will have four years to expend all grant funds.

How is This Program Different from the Regular Byrne Grant Program (JAG)?
Although the parameters of this grant program may seem familiar to most applicants, they need to be aware that for grants authorized by the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act" differences include, but are not limited to:

(1) An emphasis on job creation and job retention in the grant awards;

(2) Mandatory submission of various certifications regarding use of the funds;

(3) Mandatory submission of specific quarterly progress reports within 10 days of the end of the quarter;

(4) Adherence to specific performance measures; and

(5) Increased grant oversight.

Who May Apply
Units of local government may apply for a grant award under Categories 1 – 7. Grant administrators, however, are reserving awards under Category 8 for a national organization(s).

Complete details about this grant opportunity and the application procedures may be found in Funding Opportunity BJA – 2009 – 2117, (released March 19, 2009), available on the Office of Justice Programs' home page. For general background information about this grant, see the "Frequently Asked Questions” document prepared by the Bureau of Justice Assistance.

How To Apply

Applications must be submitted online through the Office of Justice Programs Grants Management System (GMS), by April 27, 2009 (7 p.m. Central time). Note that each application requires a separate GMS registration. (Prior to commencing their application, applicants may wish to review the Office's general grant guidelines.)

Agencies that have not applied for a federal grant before are advised that federal grant applicants must possess a DUNS (Data Universal Number System) number in order to submit grant applications. A DUNS number is a unique nine-digit sequence recognized as the universal standard for identifying and tracking entities receiving federal funds. If, after speaking to your chief financial officer, you determine that your county does not have a DUNS number or that your agency should have a separate one, you may obtain one from D&B.

In addition, applicants for federal funds must have a current registration in the federal government's Central Contractor Registration (CCR) system. To remain active, a registration must be updated or renewed annually. Allow up to three weeks for registration processes to be completed. Some applicants report delays in these systems, so it is important to allow ample time for registration and the upload of applications.

For Additional Information

The Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) carries responsibility for administering this grant program. Applicants may telephone the Bureau's toll free telephone number (866) 859-2687 for additional information or may contact the following BJA staff members:

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Prepared by the
Texas Association of Counties
April 22, 2009