FY 2023 National Criminal History Improvement Program Supplemental Funding | O BJS 2023 171464

Opportunity Information: Apply for O BJS 2023 171464

The FY 2023 National Criminal History Improvement Program Supplemental Funding (NCHIP-SF) opportunity is a discretionary grant offered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), under the Office of Justice Programs (OJP). It is designed to help states and certain tribal entities improve the quality, completeness, and accessibility of criminal history and related records that support public safety decision-making, with a particular emphasis in this supplemental round on strengthening the records infrastructure used for firearm background checks. The funding is being made available in the context of broader DOJ priorities that include advancing civil rights and racial equity, improving access to justice, supporting victims and justice-involved individuals, strengthening community safety, protecting the public from evolving threats, and building trust between law enforcement and communities.

A central driver of this solicitation is the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (Public Law 117-159), which includes provisions intended to expand access to records used by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). In practical terms, BJS is prioritizing the use of these supplemental funds to upgrade and improve the electronic availability of records that can determine whether a person is prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms. That focus includes criminal records and mental health records, and it explicitly includes juvenile records when those records relate to firearm prohibitions. The goal is to ensure that disqualifying records covered under federal law, specifically 18 U.S.C. 922(g) or 18 U.S.C. 922(n), can be located and used in real time or near-real time during a NICS firearm-related background check, reducing gaps caused by incomplete reporting, delayed entry, or non-electronic systems.

The award mechanism for this opportunity is a cooperative agreement, which typically means the federal agency anticipates having more substantial involvement in the funded work than with a standard formula or project grant. The program is categorized under the “Information and Statistics” funding activity area (CFDA 16.554), reflecting BJSs mission to support data systems and records improvement initiatives that affect justice information sharing. While the solicitation description emphasizes the NICS-related purpose, the underlying theme is modernization and interoperability, meaning projects are expected to improve how records are captured, updated, transmitted, and made searchable across the systems that feed into background checks and related public safety functions.

Eligibility is primarily aimed at state governments and federally recognized Native American tribal governments, with the listing also indicating that other entities may be eligible as described in the solicitation’s additional eligibility guidance. The opportunity was created on November 17, 2022, and had an original application deadline of February 21, 2023. BJS anticipated making roughly 55 awards, with an overall award ceiling listed at up to 80,000,000, signaling a sizable investment intended to produce measurable improvements across multiple jurisdictions rather than a single, centralized project.

In summary, this FY 2023 NCHIP supplemental funding round is about closing critical records gaps that can affect firearm purchase eligibility determinations. It targets upgrades that make prohibiting criminal, mental health, and qualifying juvenile records electronically available when NICS checks are performed, aligning records modernization work with both the requirements of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and OJPs broader equity, access to justice, and community safety goals.

• The Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics in the information and statistics sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2023 National Criminal History Improvement Program Supplemental Funding" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.554.
• This funding opportunity was created on Nov 17, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 21, 2023. (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 $80,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 55 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for O BJS 2023 171464

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