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

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), a component of the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs, is inviting applications for the Tribal Justice Infrastructure: Physical Plant and Corrections Operations Support Program. This funding initiative aims to assist tribal jurisdictions in strengthening their justice system infrastructure and operations through technical support, planning, and implementation services. The overarching goal of the program is to enhance safety in tribal communities and uphold accountability through improved justice system capabilities. The BJA operates under the mission of supporting law enforcement, reducing violent crime, protecting children, assisting victims of crime, and ensuring civil rights compliance across justice systems. The program is structured into two distinct categories. Category 1 supports operational planning and technical expertise for tribal justice facilities—whether renovating existing ones or constructing new structures using prefabricated, permanent modular, standalone, or pre-engineered steel methods. This category is geared toward the design and execution of physical infrastructure projects, such as police departments, courts, detention centers, multipurpose justice centers, halfway houses, treatment facilities, and shelters for domestic violence survivors. The maximum award for this category is $500,000, with an expected project period of 36 months. Category 2 focuses on enhancing corrections operations through data-driven analysis and technology integration. Awardees will help tribal jurisdictions assess trends in violent crime and corrections populations and determine feasibility for technology adoption, statistical modeling, and forecasting to support justice system capacity. This includes assisting with changes driven by recent federal legislation or court decisions, such as the Tribal Law and Order Act, the Violence Against Women Act, and McGirt v. Oklahoma. The anticipated award ceiling for Category 2 is $1,350,000, also for a 36-month performance period. The application process follows a two-step submission format. First, applicants must submit the SF-424 form via Grants.gov by April 10, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Then, the full application must be completed in JustGrants by April 17, 2026, at 8:59 p.m. ET. Applications require several core components including a proposal abstract, proposal narrative (covering project design, need, capabilities, and data plan), budget details, financial disclosures, a timeline, resumes or CVs of key personnel, and documentation of subrecipients if applicable. Additional documents such as MOUs and samples of work products demonstrating technical assistance capabilities may be required. Eligibility is open to a wide range of applicants, including Native American tribal organizations (not limited to federally recognized tribes), nonprofit and for-profit organizations (including small businesses), and institutions of higher education (both public and private). There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement for this opportunity. Applicants are encouraged to address priority areas such as supporting law enforcement, reducing violent crime, serving American citizens and children, and aiding victims of trafficking or assault. Proposals are reviewed for technical merit, responsiveness to goals, cost-effectiveness, and organizational capacity. The BJA will issue cooperative agreements under this solicitation, enabling substantial federal involvement throughout the project. Selected applicants will be expected to participate in performance reporting, maintain a high standard of financial management, and comply with federal civil rights and nondiscrimination laws. Final award decisions will be made by the Assistant Attorney General based on peer review results, programmatic considerations, and agency priorities. The period of performance is expected to begin on October 1, 2025, and end 36 months later. Future funding opportunities may be available via continuation awards or future annual solicitations.

Addressing priority areas like violent crime and tribal support enhances chances; adhere strictly to submission formatting and timelines.