29 Apr Funding Alert! Department of Justice COPS Grants
U.S. Department of Justice – Community Oriented Policing Services
Attention law enforcement agencies! The Department of Justice (DOJ) – Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) office has several funding opportunities currently available and multiple programs that will open soon. COPS funds a variety of grant programs that advance community policing through hiring personnel; developing and testing policing strategies; and training community members, leaders, and law enforcement officers. Included below are brief breakdowns of the open COPS solicitations, which support officer mental health and wellness and investigating the unlawful distribution of opioids and methamphetamines. In next week’s Funding Friday blog post, we will take a closer look at some of the upcoming COPS opportunities.
Which opportunities are currently available?
COPS currently has three open solicitations:
Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) Program
The LEMHWA program supports the improved delivery of and access to mental health and wellness services (e.g., peer mentoring, suicide prevention, stress reduction, officer family services, etc.) for law enforcement officers. The full solicitation is available here.
- Supported Expenses: Costs associated with implementing new or enhancing existing programs that offer mental health training and services, including civilian personnel salaries, equipment/supplies, and procurement contracts.
- Anticipated Outcomes: Develop new or leverage existing knowledge about promising community policing activities/strategies, increase skills and abilities of law enforcement agencies, increase awareness of effective policing strategies, and more.
- Eligibility: Local, state, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies
- Project period: 24 months
- Funding Available: 57 awards up to $125,000 each
- Proposals due: June 3, 2021
Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program
The AHTF program advances public safety through investments in law enforcement agencies that locate or investigate the distribution of heroin, fentanyl, or carfentanil and the unlawful distribution of prescription opioids. The program emphasizes states with high per capita rates of primary treatment admissions. The full solicitation is available here.
- Supported Expenses: Additional law enforcement, civilian, and task force personnel; training; and equipment.
- Anticipated Outcomes: Increase collaboration with federal agencies, increase number and efficiency of investigations, increase number and size of drug seizures, increase number of drug-endangered children identified, and more.
- Eligibility: State governments and state law enforcement agencies
- Project period: 36 months
- Funding Available: 15 awards of up to $4,000,000 each
- Proposals due: June 10, 2021
COPS Anti-Methamphetamine Program (CAMP)
The CAMP program provides funds to law enforcement agencies to locate or investigate such illicit activities as precursor diversion, laboratories, or methamphetamine traffickers. The program emphasizes states with high rates of seizures of precursor chemicals, finished methamphetamine, laboratories, and laboratory dumps. Note that awardees cannot use CAMP funding to support treatment programs or to prosecute methamphetamine-related activities. The full solicitation is available here.
- Supported Expenses: Additional law enforcement, civilian, and task force personnel; training; and equipment.
- Anticipated Outcomes: Increase number and efficiency of investigations, increase number and size of drug seizures, increase percentage of investigations resulting in arrests, increase knowledge of community policing principles, and more.
- Eligibility: State governments and state law enforcement agencies; projects can include one or more subrecipients that collaborate to carry out the program activities.
- Project period: 36 months
- Funding Available: 12 awards between $1,000,000 and $2,000,000 each
- Proposals due: June 10, 2021
What if I am ready to apply? To move your project forward, take the following action steps as soon as possible:
- Review the full program solicitations, available here, for additional details about each program.
- View the DOJ’s COPS website for examples of previously funded proposals, tips and assistance, program contacts, and other news and resources.
- Make sure your System for Award Management (SAM) registration is active and be sure you have agov profile. You can check your SAM status here: https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/searchRecords/search.jsf.
- DOJ proposals also require submission through the new JustGrants system. You can view further information and access technical assistance here: https://justicegrants.usdoj.gov/training-resources.
What if I need help with this application?
Contact Assel Grant Services (AGS) today! Our team can help with all aspects of preparing the application and managing the grant if you are awarded. If you would like to discuss this possibility, please contact AGS as soon as possible. Rosie Brennan, Community Engagement Specialist, will be happy to talk with you about this opportunity and provide you a quote for grant services.
What if I am not ready to apply this year?
Start preparing for next year! The DOJ also has a variety of other programs and funding opportunities available that might be a good fit. The office’s website has ample resources, webinars, and descriptions of available or upcoming opportunities. And check out our Funding Friday post next week for more information on upcoming COPS programs.
How do I learn more about federal grant opportunities?
AGS is excited to offer a new Federal Grants Training Series coming in 2021! The series is designed to support nonprofit professionals before and during their first federal grant. AGS also offers several on demand webinars on a variety of topics to support the full grant cycle. Check out our website to learn more and sign up for our training newsletter.
AGS blogs, funding alerts, and trainings are aligned with the Grant Professional Certification Institute’s Competencies and Skills
Competency #1: Knowledge of how to research, identify, and match funding resources to meet specific needs
Skill 1.2: Identify major trends in public funding and public policy
Skill 1.6: Identify fundable programs and projects for specific organization
Skill 1.7: Determine best matches between funders and specific programs