Opportunity Information: Apply for BJA 2020 18018
The BJA FY 20 Safeguarding Correctional Facilities and Public Safety by Addressing Contraband Cellphones Program (Funding Opportunity Number BJA 2020 18018) is a discretionary grant offered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance. It was created on March 10, 2020, with an original application deadline of May 11, 2020. The program focuses on a persistent correctional security and public safety problem: the presence and use of contraband cellphones by detainees and inmates, which can enable criminal coordination, intimidation, trafficking, and other illegal activity both inside facilities and in the community.
The core purpose of the opportunity is to provide site-based funding to help jurisdictions operationalize effective and secure managed access systems in correctional environments. In practical terms, the grants are intended to move beyond planning or discussion and into real-world deployment and operations that prevent, detect, seize, and stop contraband cellphone use. Managed access solutions are aimed at controlling or restricting unauthorized cellular communications within a facility while maintaining the integrity and security of legitimate communications, and the opportunity emphasizes implementation in live correctional settings rather than purely research-oriented work.
A key expectation embedded in the grant description is that award recipients will actively test, implement, and document changes to policy, practice, and tactics related to contraband cellphone interdiction. That means applicants are not only expected to acquire or operate technology, but also to examine how procedures, staff workflows, training, enforcement practices, evidence handling, and operational tactics may need to change to make the overall strategy effective. The documentation component signals that recipients should produce usable lessons learned and clear records of what was changed, how it was carried out, and what outcomes or operational impacts were observed.
Eligible applicants are broad within government, covering state governments and multiple forms of local government such as counties, cities or townships, and special district governments. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are also eligible when they serve a law enforcement function. This eligibility structure reflects the reality that correctional facilities are operated across many jurisdictional levels, and it allows both traditional state and local correctional agencies and tribal jurisdictions to apply.
Awards under this opportunity have a ceiling of $400,000, and the program anticipated making about four awards. The funding activity categories associated with the solicitation span information and statistics, law/justice/legal services, and science and technology and other research and development, which reflects the program's blend of operational corrections work and technology-focused implementation. The CFDA number associated with the program is 16.844, which is commonly used for Bureau of Justice Assistance-related funding and can be helpful for tracking or matching the opportunity within grants management systems.
Overall, this solicitation is geared toward correctional agencies and jurisdictions that are ready to take measurable, on-the-ground steps to reduce contraband cellphone availability and usage through secure managed access operations, while simultaneously strengthening institutional policy and tactical responses and producing documentation that can inform future efforts in other facilities.Apply for BJA 2020 18018
- The Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance in the information and statistics, law, justice and legal services, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BJA FY 20 Safeguarding Correctional Facilities and Public Safety by Addressing Contraband Cellphones Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.844.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 10, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 11, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $400,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled BJA FY 20 Safeguarding Correctional Facilities and Public Safety by Addressing Contraband Cellphones Program.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is BJA 2020 18018.
Which federal agency is offering this grant?
This is a discretionary grant offered by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).
When was the opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on March 10, 2020.
What was the original application deadline?
The original application deadline was May 11, 2020.
What problem is this program trying to address?
The program targets a persistent correctional security and public safety issue: contraband cellphones in detention and correctional facilities. The concern is that detainees and inmates may use these devices to coordinate criminal activity, intimidate others, facilitate trafficking, and engage in other illegal actions both inside the facility and in the surrounding community.
What is the main purpose of the grant?
The core purpose is to provide site-based funding to help jurisdictions operationalize effective and secure managed access systems in real correctional environments, focusing on practical deployment and operations rather than conceptual planning alone.
What does "site-based funding" mean in this context?
Based on the description provided, "site-based" indicates the funding is intended to support implementation in live correctional settings (on the ground, at facilities), not purely research-oriented or theoretical work.
What are "managed access systems"?
Managed access solutions are designed to control or restrict unauthorized cellular communications within a correctional facility while maintaining the integrity and security of legitimate communications. The emphasis is on preventing or disrupting contraband cellphone use in an operational environment.
Is this grant focused on research, planning, or implementation?
The solicitation emphasizes real-world deployment and operations. It is geared toward jurisdictions ready to move beyond planning and into active implementation that prevents, detects, seizes, and stops contraband cellphone use.
What kinds of activities does the grant expect recipients to carry out?
A key expectation is that award recipients will test, implement, and document changes to policy, practice, and tactics related to contraband cellphone interdiction. This goes beyond technology operation and includes examining operational procedures, staff workflows, training, enforcement practices, evidence handling, and tactical responses.
Why does the solicitation emphasize documenting changes and outcomes?
The documentation component signals that recipients should produce usable lessons learned and clear records of what changed, how it was implemented, and what operational impacts or outcomes were observed, so that the work can inform future efforts in other facilities.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include:
- State governments
- Local governments, including county governments, city or township governments, and special district governments
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments, when they serve a law enforcement function
Does the eligibility structure allow different types of correctional operators to apply?
Yes. Eligibility is broad across multiple jurisdictional levels, reflecting that correctional facilities are operated by states, localities, and qualifying tribal jurisdictions.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $400,000.
How many awards were anticipated?
The program anticipated making about four (4) awards.
What funding activity categories are associated with this solicitation?
The solicitation is associated with categories spanning:
- Information and statistics
- Law/justice/legal services
- Science and technology and other research and development
This reflects a blend of operational corrections work and technology-focused implementation.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number associated with the program is 16.844, which can be useful for tracking the opportunity within grants management and reporting systems.
What types of outcomes is the program trying to achieve?
The solicitation is geared toward measurable, on-the-ground steps that reduce contraband cellphone availability and usage through secure managed access operations, while strengthening institutional policy and tactical responses and producing documentation that can guide future efforts.
Is the program limited to stopping cellphone use, or does it include other interdiction actions?
The description indicates an operational focus on preventing, detecting, seizing, and stopping contraband cellphone use, suggesting the strategy can involve multiple interdiction actions and operational responses rather than a single approach.
Is this grant competitive or formula-based?
It is described as a discretionary grant, meaning awards are made competitively at the agency's discretion rather than distributed automatically by formula.
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| BJA FY 20 Law Enforcement Training & Technical Assistance Response Center Apply for BJA 2020 18813 Funding Number: BJA 2020 18813 Agency: Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance Category: Information and Statistics, Law, Justice and Legal Services, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
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