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

FY 2023 National Criminal History Improvement Program Supplemental Funding (NCHIP-SF) FAQs

What is the FY 2023 NCHIP Supplemental Funding (NCHIP-SF) opportunity?

The FY 2023 National Criminal History Improvement Program Supplemental Funding (NCHIP-SF) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), within the Office of Justice Programs (OJP). It supports projects that improve the quality, completeness, and accessibility of criminal history and related records used in public safety decision-making.

Which federal agency is offering this funding?

The funding is offered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), under the Office of Justice Programs (OJP).

What is the main purpose of this supplemental funding round?

This supplemental round places particular emphasis on strengthening the records infrastructure used for firearm background checks, especially by upgrading and improving the electronic availability of records that help determine whether a person is prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms.

How does this opportunity relate to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS)?

BJS is prioritizing projects that expand and improve records used by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) so that disqualifying records can be located and used in real time or near-real time during firearm-related background checks.

Why is the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act mentioned in the solicitation?

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 for NICS checks. This funding round aligns records improvement work with that broader federal goal.

What types of records are a focus for improvement under this opportunity?

The solicitation highlights improving electronic availability of records that may determine firearm prohibitions, including criminal records and mental health records. It also explicitly includes juvenile records when those juvenile records relate to firearm prohibitions.

Are juvenile records included, and under what circumstances?

Yes. Juvenile records are explicitly included when those records relate to firearm prohibitions, so they can be available for use during firearm-related background checks.

What legal standards for firearm prohibitions are referenced?

The solicitation references federal firearm prohibition and related disqualifying categories under 18 U.S.C. 922(g) and 18 U.S.C. 922(n), with the goal of ensuring covered disqualifying records can be found and used during NICS checks.

What kinds of problems is this funding intended to reduce?

The goal is to reduce gaps caused by incomplete reporting, delayed entry, or non-electronic systems that prevent disqualifying records from being available at the time a NICS firearm background check is conducted.

What is the award type or mechanism for this grant?

The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which generally indicates DOJ/BJS expects a higher level of federal involvement in the funded work compared to a standard project grant.

What is the funding activity area and program identifier listed for this opportunity?

The program is categorized under the “Information and Statistics” funding activity area and is listed under CFDA 16.554.

What is the broader theme of the projects expected under this opportunity?

While the solicitation emphasizes NICS-related improvements, the underlying theme is records modernization and interoperability. Projects are expected to improve how records are captured, updated, transmitted, and made searchable across systems that feed into background checks and related public safety functions.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is primarily aimed at state governments and federally recognized Native American tribal governments. The listing also indicates other entities may be eligible as described in the solicitation’s additional eligibility guidance.

How many awards did BJS anticipate making?

BJS anticipated making roughly 55 awards under this opportunity.

What was the total award ceiling listed for the program?

The overall award ceiling is listed as up to 80,000,000, reflecting a sizable investment across multiple jurisdictions.

When was this opportunity created and what was the original deadline?

The opportunity was created on November 17, 2022. The original application deadline was February 21, 2023.

How does this grant align with broader DOJ/OJP priorities mentioned in the description?

The funding is described in the context of 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.

Is this funding intended for a single national system or multiple jurisdictions?

The description suggests a multi-jurisdiction approach, with a large overall ceiling and an anticipated number of awards indicating the intent to produce measurable improvements across multiple states and eligible tribal entities rather than one centralized project.