Internet Crimes Against Children Data System Enhancements

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), a component of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, has released the fiscal year 2025 funding opportunity titled Internet Crimes Against Children Data System Enhancements. OJJDP provides federal leadership and resources to strengthen the nation’s ability to prevent and respond to juvenile delinquency and victimization. This program builds on OJJDP’s broader mission to uphold the rule of law, keep communities safe, and protect children from harm, particularly those affected by online exploitation. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support the continued maintenance and enhancement of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Data System (IDS). The IDS is a secure system that assists credentialed law enforcement investigators across federal, state, local, and tribal jurisdictions in investigating cases of child sexual exploitation and abuse facilitated through technology. This system reduces duplicative investigative work, improves the management of CyberTipline reports, and enhances collaboration across agencies. The awarded project is expected to improve the system’s case deconfliction tools, data storage and analysis capabilities, and connectivity with other secure law enforcement networks. The successful applicant will also provide training and technical assistance to ICAC task forces and federal partners on the use of the system. Funding is intended to support one award up to $900,000, with a performance period of 12 months beginning October 1, 2025. Applicants must propose budgets reasonable and appropriate to the scope of work. OJJDP specifies that awards will be made as cooperative agreements, meaning the Department of Justice will have substantial involvement in carrying out award activities. Allowable activities include system development, hosting, training, and technical assistance. Unallowable uses include activities that violate federal immigration laws, contravene federal civil rights laws, or provide legal services to individuals unlawfully present in the United States except in narrow, expressly authorized circumstances. Eligibility for this program is broad. State governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, tribal governments (both federally recognized and non-recognized), public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and units of local government are eligible to apply. Joint applications from ICAC task forces and affiliates are encouraged. Applications submitted by non-law enforcement agencies must include a signed memorandum of understanding with a credentialed law enforcement agency that addresses data security, access, and hosting requirements. Only one primary applicant may submit, but subrecipient partnerships are permitted. Cost sharing or matching is not required for this program. The application process involves two steps. First, applicants must submit the SF-424 form through Grants.gov no later than October 23, 2025, by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Second, applicants must submit the full application in JustGrants, including the proposal narrative, budget detail form, and supporting documents, by October 30, 2025, at 8:59 p.m. Eastern Time. OJJDP strongly recommends starting the SAM.gov registration or renewal process by September 30, 2025, and no later than October 8, 2025, to avoid delays. Late submissions may only be considered if applicants can document technical difficulties with government systems beyond their control. Applications will be reviewed through a multi-step process. First, OJP will screen submissions for basic minimum requirements, including eligibility, completeness, and compliance with scope. Then, peer reviewers will evaluate proposals based on problem statement, project goals and objectives, design and implementation, capabilities and competencies, and budget. The highest scoring proposals will undergo further programmatic and financial review before a final award decision is made by the Assistant Attorney General. Deliverables from the award include updates to the ICAC Data System standard operating procedures, statistical reports for DOJ analysis, and comprehensive training and technical assistance materials for law enforcement users. Applicants seeking assistance during the application process can contact the OJP Response Center at 800-851-3420 or 202-353-5556 (TTY), or by email at OJP.ResponseCenter@usdoj.gov, Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Technical support for SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and JustGrants is available through their respective help desks. Award notices will be delivered through JustGrants, and recipients will be expected to submit quarterly financial reports, semi-annual performance reports, and a final performance and financial report at the conclusion of the project.