BJA FY25 Tribal Justice Infrastructure: Physical Plant and Corrections Operations Support Program

The Tribal Justice Infrastructure: Physical Plant and Corrections Operations Support Program is a federally funded initiative administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance. This program is structured to support tribal jurisdictions implementing infrastructure-related elements of the Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation’s Tribal Justice System Infrastructure Program (TJSIP). It offers critical resources for enhancing tribal justice system capacity by addressing both facility infrastructure and operational needs in tribal communities across the United States. The grant program provides funding in two categories. Category 1 focuses on the "Physical Plant," offering support for technical expertise related to the renovation, expansion, or construction of new permanent tribal justice-related facilities. These may include prefabricated buildings, modular units, or pre-engineered steel facilities. The anticipated award amount under this category is up to $500,000, with an expected period of performance of 36 months. This support is intended to help tribal jurisdictions develop operational plans, architectural designs, and facility activation strategies for justice-related buildings such as police departments, courts, detention centers, and domestic violence shelters. Category 2, “Corrections Operations,” supports efforts to expand and improve tribal corrections operations through statistical analysis, data infrastructure enhancement, and technology adoption. This may include assessments of violent crime trends, corrections population forecasts, and identification of jurisdictional gaps in services for victims and offenders. The anticipated funding for this category is up to $1,350,000. Eligible activities may include direct support to tribal leaders in analyzing crime and correctional data, developing responses based on those analyses, and planning for resource allocation to support long-term operational capacity. Eligibility for the program is broad and inclusive. It encompasses Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status), and for-profit organizations including small businesses. Only one application per entity may be submitted, though entities may be included as subrecipients on multiple applications. The program does not require cost sharing or matching funds, lowering barriers to entry for eligible applicants. The application process is conducted in two main phases. Applicants must first submit the SF-424 form via Grants.gov by April 10, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Following this, the full application, including all supporting documentation, must be submitted in JustGrants by April 17, 2026, at 8:59 p.m. Eastern Time. The process involves standard federal registration steps, including an active SAM.gov account and a unique entity identifier. Required materials include a project narrative, budget details, and, where applicable, memoranda of understanding with project partners. Applications will be evaluated based on responsiveness to program goals, quality of project design, organizational capacity, and performance data collection plans. Awards under this program will be issued as cooperative agreements, allowing for substantial federal involvement. Reporting requirements include quarterly financial updates, semi-annual performance reports, and a final project report documenting results and lessons learned. Selected applicants are expected to begin their 36-month projects on October 1, 2025. While the current opportunity closes in 2026, the program is recurring, and future rounds are anticipated. Contact information for technical support and questions includes the OJP Response Center ([email protected] or 800-851-3420).

Follow proposal narrative and budget guidance carefully; ensure performance metrics collection plan is well described.