BJA FY24 Justice Information Sharing Training and Technical Assistance Program | O BJA 2024 172166

FAQs: BJA FY24 Justice Information Sharing Training and Technical Assistance Program (JISTTA)

1) What is the BJA FY24 Justice Information Sharing Training and Technical Assistance Program?

It is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). The program focuses on helping state, local, and tribal jurisdictions reduce crime and strengthen criminal justice system performance by improving justice information sharing and coordinated, multi-agency work.

2) What is the main purpose of this grant?

The central purpose is to improve how criminal justice agencies exchange and use data so they can collaborate more effectively across jurisdictional boundaries and apply data-driven, evidence-based approaches to public safety and investigations.

3) Does this funding support direct law enforcement operations?

No. Based on the solicitation description provided, the program emphasizes training, technical assistance, and support services rather than funding direct enforcement operations.

4) What kinds of activities does the program emphasize?

The program emphasizes training, technical assistance, and support services that make justice information-sharing infrastructure and information-sharing practices more effective for day-to-day use.

5) Who is the intended beneficiary of the funded work?

The funded work is intended to support the Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) Centers and the RISS Technology Support Center (RTSC) under BJA's Justice Information Sharing Training and Technical Assistance (JISTTA) Program, so they can better serve the broader law enforcement and criminal justice community.

6) What are RISS Centers and the RTSC in the context of this opportunity?

In this solicitation, RISS Centers and the RISS Technology Support Center (RTSC) are the key entities the award is meant to support through capability-building and sustained training and technical assistance. The intent is to strengthen how these RISS entities deliver information-sharing support to practitioners.

7) What outcomes is BJA trying to achieve through this solicitation?

The intended outcomes include more consistent multi-agency collaboration, better use of shared intelligence and investigative information, and stronger operational decision-making grounded in reliable data. Overall, the grant aims to improve public safety outcomes by strengthening systems, skills, and inter-agency processes that make justice information sharing work well.

8) What type of federal award is this?

This opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement.

9) What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement means the recipient should expect substantial involvement from BJA during the project period. The description indicates this typically includes close coordination on deliverables, priorities, and performance expectations, with iterative planning, regular reporting, and alignment with federal program objectives as implementation moves forward.

10) What is the opportunity number for this solicitation?

The opportunity number is O-BJA-2024-172166.

11) What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number associated with this opportunity?

It is associated with Assistance Listing (CFDA) 16.610, which covers Bureau of Justice Assistance programs.

12) When was this grant opportunity posted?

The posting (creation) date listed is May 30, 2024.

13) What is the application deadline?

The application deadline listed for the original closing date is July 8, 2024.

14) How many awards does BJA anticipate making under this solicitation?

BJA anticipates making a single award under this solicitation.

15) What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?

The award ceiling is $548,000.

16) What does it imply that there is a single award with a defined ceiling?

Based on the description provided, it suggests a targeted effort intended to fund one organization to provide training and technical assistance support at the program level, up to the stated ceiling amount.

17) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include: nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (also excluding institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses.

18) Are institutions of higher education eligible?

The eligibility description provided excludes institutions of higher education from the listed nonprofit categories.

19) Are for-profit entities allowed to apply?

Yes. The listed eligible applicant types include for-profit organizations other than small businesses and also small businesses.

20) What level of jurisdictions is this program intended to help?

The program is focused on helping state, local, and tribal jurisdictions by strengthening how agencies share and use criminal justice information.

21) How does this program relate to multi-agency investigations and public safety?

The program aims to improve the exchange and use of criminal justice data so agencies can collaborate more effectively across jurisdictional boundaries, including through better use of shared intelligence and investigative information and more evidence-based approaches to investigations and public safety efforts.

22) What is the overall strategy behind this funding?

The strategy is to improve public safety by investing in the training, technical assistance, and support capacity tied to the RISS network and its technology support backbone, strengthening information-sharing systems and day-to-day practices so jurisdictions can collaborate more smoothly and make decisions guided by reliable data and evidence.