NIJ FY 2026 Invited to Apply - Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grants/Byrne Discretionary Grants Program | O NIJ 2026 172643

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the NIJ FY 2026 Invited to Apply - Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grants opportunity?

This is a National Institute of Justice (NIJ) notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grants. It is intended to carry out specific projects that Congress has already designated for funding in the Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2026 (Public Law 119-74, Division A, Title II).

Is this an open competitive grant program?

No. This is not an open competition. NIJ states that invitations to apply were sent only to eligible recipients that are specifically named in the FY 2026 Congressional Joint Explanatory Statement table titled "Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending."

What does it mean that this is an "earmark-style" opportunity?

It means funding is set aside for particular community project grants already listed by Congress. The projects and recipients are designated in the Congressional Joint Explanatory Statement that accompanies the FY 2026 appropriations law, rather than selected through a general competitive review among all applicants.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is restricted to recipients specifically named in the Joint Explanatory Statement's "Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending" table for FY 2026, and who received an invitation to apply from NIJ.

How do I confirm whether my organization is an eligible recipient?

NIJ indicates that eligibility hinges on being the congressionally designated recipient listed in the Joint Explanatory Statement. If an organization is unsure whether it qualifies, NIJ encourages contacting the agency before investing time in an application.

Why does the applicant name in SAM/UEI matter for this opportunity?

NIJ emphasizes that the applicant's legal name (or any "doing business as" name) associated with its Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) in the System for Award Management (SAM) must exactly match the recipient name shown in the congressional listing.

What if our SAM/UEI name does not exactly match the name in the congressional listing?

NIJ highlights exact name matching as a key eligibility and compliance point. If there is uncertainty about name alignment, NIJ recommends contacting the agency before spending significant effort on the application.

What types of project purposes does this funding support?

The designated projects align with long-standing Byrne discretionary objectives, including improving how the criminal justice system functions, preventing or combating juvenile delinquency, and supporting services for victims of crime (excluding direct victim compensation).

Are victim compensation costs allowable under this opportunity?

The NOFO description notes that the purpose includes supporting services for victims of crime while excluding direct victim compensation.

Does NIJ administer all Byrne discretionary community project earmarks?

No. The NOFO explains that while Byrne discretionary funding is distributed across Office of Justice Programs (OJP) components, this specific posting covers only those OJP-Byrne projects that NIJ will administer.

Which other DOJ/OJP offices may administer other earmarked Byrne-related projects?

NIJ notes that other earmarked Byrne-related projects will be handled under separate NOFOs by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), and the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC).

How do applicants know which DOJ component is administering their designated project?

The NOFO stresses that applicants should pay attention to which DOJ component is administering their designated project, because the invitation and application process will run through the responsible office (NIJ, BJA, OJJDP, or OVC), not through a single consolidated program.

What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?

Based on the opportunity metadata, the funding instrument is a grant.

How is this opportunity categorized in the posting metadata?

The posting categorizes this as an earmark opportunity. The funding activity category is listed as "Science and Technology and other Research and Development," consistent with NIJ's role as DOJ's research, development, and evaluation arm.

What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?

The assistance listing is tied to CFDA 16.753.

What is the opportunity number?

The opportunity number is O NIJ 2026 172643.

What is the application deadline?

The posting indicates an application closing date of July 29, 2026.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The posting lists an award ceiling of $1,357,000.

How many awards does NIJ expect to make under this posting?

The metadata indicates an expectation of two awards, suggesting a small number of congressionally directed projects administered by NIJ for this cycle.

Can the designated funding amount be moved to other purposes or a different project?

No. The appropriations language highlighted in the NOFO underscores that the designated amounts are to be used for the specified Byrne projects and may not be transferred to other purposes.

How closely must the application match what Congress listed?

The NOFO indicates applicants should treat the scope, budget, and intended deliverables as anchored to the congressionally identified project description and funding level, rather than proposing an unrelated or substantially different initiative.

What is the main compliance takeaway for applicants?

The key compliance point described is (1) matching the designated recipient identity through SAM/UEI registration (including exact name matching to the congressional listing) and (2) ensuring the application aligns with the specific project Congress listed for FY 2026.