Opportunity Information: Apply for O BJA 2026 172759
The BJA FY26 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement - Formula Grants Program (Funding Opportunity Number O-BJA-2026-172759) is a mandatory, formula-based grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). It falls under CFDA/Assistance Listing 16.742 and supports activities in the Law, Justice, and Legal Services category. The program is designed to provide formula funds to states to strengthen and improve the quality, capacity, and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner/coroner services, consistent with the broader goals of the Coverdell program to enhance forensic science systems and outcomes in the criminal justice process.
Eligibility for this specific notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is limited to state governments, with applications submitted by the state administering agencies (SAAs). The key distinction in this posting is that it covers formula funds only. States may be eligible for both formula and competitive Coverdell funding overall, but competitive funding is not included here. If a state or a unit of local government is seeking competitive Coverdell funds authorized under 34 U.S.C. 10563(a)(2), they must apply separately under BJA's FY 2026 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement - Competitive Grants Program NOFO, which is a different opportunity with its own requirements and application process.
The opportunity was created on 2026-09-21 and has an application closing date of 2026-10-30. The posted award ceiling is $23,757,080. While the listing indicates "Expected Awards:" without a number, formula programs typically allocate funding to eligible states based on statutory or administrative formulas rather than selecting a small number of discretionary winners, meaning eligible states that meet application and compliance requirements generally receive an allocation determined by the formula and available appropriations.
In practical terms, this grant is intended to help states address forensic science improvement needs, which commonly include reducing backlogs, improving laboratory efficiency and quality assurance, strengthening accreditation and certification efforts, upgrading equipment and training, and supporting improvements in forensic disciplines and medicolegal death investigation functions. Because it is a formula NOFO, states should focus on meeting the program's eligibility, submission, and administrative requirements tied to their formula allocation, and they should treat any interest in competitive Coverdell funding as a separate track with a separate application under the competitive NOFO.Apply for O BJA 2026 172759
- The Bureau of Justice Assistance in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BJA FY26 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement - Formula Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.742.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-09-21.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-10-30. (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 $23,757,080.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
FAQs: BJA FY26 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement - Formula Grants Program (O-BJA-2026-172759)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is the BJA FY26 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement - Formula Grants Program.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is O-BJA-2026-172759.
Who is administering this grant program?
This program is administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).
Is this a competitive grant or a formula grant?
This notice covers formula funds only. It is described as mandatory and formula-based, meaning funding is allocated to eligible states using a formula rather than a discretionary competition.
Who is eligible to apply under this NOFO?
Eligibility under this specific NOFO is limited to state governments, with applications submitted by the state administering agencies (SAAs).
Can local governments apply directly for this formula funding?
Based on the information provided, applications for this formula NOFO are limited to state governments through their SAAs. The NOFO text provided does not indicate that units of local government can apply directly under this formula posting.
What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number for this program?
The CFDA/Assistance Listing number is 16.742.
What service area or category does this program fall under?
The program supports activities in the Law, Justice, and Legal Services category.
What is the purpose of the Coverdell formula grant funds?
The purpose is to provide formula funds to states to strengthen and improve the quality, capacity, and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner/coroner services, consistent with the broader goals of the Coverdell program to enhance forensic science systems and outcomes in the criminal justice process.
What kinds of activities might these funds support?
The description indicates the grant is intended to help states address forensic science improvement needs. Common examples mentioned include reducing backlogs, improving laboratory efficiency and quality assurance, strengthening accreditation and certification efforts, upgrading equipment and training, and supporting improvements across forensic disciplines and medicolegal death investigation functions.
Does this NOFO include competitive Coverdell funding?
No. This posting is specifically for formula funds only. Competitive Coverdell funding is not included in this NOFO.
If a state (or local government) wants competitive Coverdell funds, what should they do?
They must apply separately under BJA's FY 2026 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement - Competitive Grants Program NOFO, which is a different opportunity with its own requirements and application process.
Can a state be eligible for both formula and competitive Coverdell funding?
Yes. The information provided notes that states may be eligible for both formula and competitive Coverdell funding overall, but they are handled as separate tracks and require separate applications under the applicable NOFOs.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on 2026-09-21.
What is the application closing date?
The application closing date is 2026-10-30.
What is the posted award ceiling?
The posted award ceiling is $23,757,080.
How many awards are expected?
The listing shows "Expected Awards:" without a number. Because this is a formula program, awards are generally allocated to eligible states based on a statutory or administrative formula rather than selecting a small number of discretionary winners.
How does a formula-based award generally work for this program?
As described, formula programs typically allocate funding to eligible states based on formulas rather than competitive scoring. In practice, that means eligible states that meet application and compliance requirements generally receive an allocation determined by the formula and available appropriations.
What should states focus on when applying for this formula NOFO?
The information provided suggests that, because this is a formula NOFO, states should focus on meeting the program's eligibility, submission, and administrative requirements tied to their formula allocation.
What types of systems or services are explicitly mentioned as being supported?
The program explicitly mentions strengthening forensic science services and medical examiner/coroner services, with an emphasis on quality, capacity, and timeliness.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Law, Justice and Legal Services
Next opportunity: OJJDP FY 2026 Invited to Apply - Internet Crimes Against Children Data System Enhancements
Previous opportunity: OJJDP FY 2026 Community and Schools Youth Drug Prevention Program
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 172759
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (O BJA 2026 172759) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| OJJDP FY 2026 Multistate Mentoring Programs Apply for O OJJDP 2026 172745 Funding Number: O OJJDP 2026 172745 Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $4,000,000 |
| OJJDP FY 2026 Strengthening Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Technological Investigative Capacity Apply for O OJJDP 2026 172753 Funding Number: O OJJDP 2026 172753 Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $675,000 |
| OJJDP FY 2026 Victims of Child Abuse Act Training and Technical Assistance for Child Abuse Professionals Apply for O OJJDP 2026 172755 Funding Number: O OJJDP 2026 172755 Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $2,850,000 |
| BJA FY 2026 Rural Violent Crime Reduction Initiative Apply for O BJA 2026 172761 Funding Number: O BJA 2026 172761 Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $2,637,041 |
| OJJDP FY 2026 Invited To Apply - Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Forces Apply for O OJJDP 2026 172767 Funding Number: O OJJDP 2026 172767 Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $1,060,081 |
| BJA FY 2026 Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Program Apply for O BJA 2026 172709 Funding Number: O BJA 2026 172709 Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Invited to Apply – Emergency and Transitional Pet Shelter and Housing Assistance for Victims of Domestic Violence Program Apply for O OVC 2026 172758 Funding Number: O OVC 2026 172758 Agency: Office for Victims of Crime Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| BJA FY26 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR)—Competitive Grants Program Apply for O BJA 2026 172680 Funding Number: O BJA 2026 172680 Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $4,900,000 |
| OJJDP FY 2026 Invited to Apply - Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Training, Technical Assistance, and Subgrants Program Apply for O OJJDP 2026 172764 Funding Number: O OJJDP 2026 172764 Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $12,000,000 |
| OJJDP FY 2026 Invited to Apply - Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force National Training Program Apply for O OJJDP 2026 172766 Funding Number: O OJJDP 2026 172766 Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| OJJDP FY 2026 Invited to Apply - Internet Crimes Against Children Data System Enhancements Apply for O OJJDP 2026 172765 Funding Number: O OJJDP 2026 172765 Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $900,000 |
| OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program Round 9 Apply for O BJA 2026 172762 Funding Number: O BJA 2026 172762 Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| DOJ FY 2026 Assisting Neighborhoods and Governments with Enforcement of Laws (ANGEL) Grant Program Apply for O BJA 2026 172778 Funding Number: O BJA 2026 172778 Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| BJA FY 2026 John R. Justice (JRJ) Formula Grant Program Apply for O BJA 2026 172779 Funding Number: O BJA 2026 172779 Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $120,000 |
| BJA FY 2026 Tribal Justice Training and Technical Assistance Program Apply for O BJA 2026 172727 Funding Number: O BJA 2026 172727 Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $1,870,000 |
| OJJDP FY 2026 Second Chance Act Youth Reentry Program Apply for O OJJDP 2026 172751 Funding Number: O OJJDP 2026 172751 Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| BJA FY 2026 Bridging Immigration-Related Deficits Experienced Nationwide Program: Memphis Safe Initiative Invitation to Apply (City of Memphis) Apply for O BJA 2026 172780 Funding Number: O BJA 2026 172780 Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $10,905,000 |
| OJJDP FY 2026 Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program Support Apply for O OJJDP 2026 172731 Funding Number: O OJJDP 2026 172731 Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $1,200,000 |
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 172759", 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.