Opportunity Information: Apply for O BJA 2026 172719
The OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program Round 8 is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). It is offered through a cooperative agreement, which generally means awardees should expect ongoing coordination with federal partners during the life of the project rather than operating fully independently. The program is designed to strengthen prosecutorial capacity and deepen coordination between state, local, Tribal, territorial, and federal authorities when handling certain complex criminal matters.
At the center of this NOFO is funding to help prosecuting agencies assign or hire qualified prosecutors who will be "cross-designated" to work in roles that bridge local and federal systems. Funded prosecutors may serve either as Special Attorneys under the direction of the Department of Justice's National Fraud Enforcement Division or the DOJ Criminal Division, or as Special Assistant United States Attorneys (SAUSAs) embedded within a U.S. Attorney's Office. These prosecutors remain employees of their home agencies, but for the duration of their appointment under this program they work on federally coordinated matters and prosecute assigned cases in partnership with federal authorities. The program explicitly allows for full-time placements or part-time, case-by-case support depending on operational needs and the nature of the caseload.
The primary focus of the work is investigating and prosecuting fraud and other crimes committed by aliens within the United States (referred to in the NOFO as "criminal aliens"). In addition, cross-designated prosecutors supported through this program may also be tasked with cases involving drug trafficking or human trafficking committed within the United States. Practical implementation is meant to be flexible: the National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney's Offices will coordinate with selected prosecutor offices on a case-by-case basis to work through logistics, case assignment, and any local circumstances that affect how the collaboration functions.
The underlying purpose of the program, as stated in the NOFO, is to expand investigative and prosecutorial capacity and improve intergovernmental coordination so jurisdictions are better positioned to pursue these matters effectively. In other words, the grant is intended to increase the availability of cross-designated prosecutorial personnel who can plug into federal enforcement efforts, help move cases efficiently through the appropriate systems, and contribute to stronger enforcement of applicable criminal laws in the covered areas. The program is authorized under Public Law 119-21, Title X, Subtitle A, Part II, Section 100055, codified at 34 U.S.C. 61101.
Eligible applicants include state governments; county governments; city or township governments; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and other units of local government. The NOFO clarifies that "other units of local government" includes towns, boroughs, parishes, villages, and other general-purpose political subdivisions of a state. The opportunity is listed under Assistance Listing (CFDA) number 16.076. The funding opportunity title is "OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program Round 8," with opportunity number O-BJA-2026-172719. The posting date is shown as August 28, 2026, and the application closing date is September 21, 2026. The award ceiling is $3,000,000.Apply for O BJA 2026 172719
- The Bureau of Justice Assistance in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program Round 8" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.076.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-08-28.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-09-21. (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 $3,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program Round 8?
The OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program Round 8 is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). The program supports prosecuting agencies in strengthening prosecutorial capacity and improving coordination across state, local, Tribal, territorial, and federal partners for certain complex criminal matters.
Who is administering this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, and is administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).
Is this a grant or a cooperative agreement?
This opportunity is offered through a cooperative agreement. That generally means award recipients should expect ongoing coordination with federal partners during the project period rather than operating fully independently.
What is the main purpose of this program?
The program is intended to expand investigative and prosecutorial capacity and improve intergovernmental coordination. It aims to increase the availability of cross-designated prosecutorial personnel who can connect local and federal systems, move cases efficiently through the appropriate processes, and strengthen enforcement of applicable criminal laws in the covered areas.
What does the program fund prosecuting agencies to do?
The program provides funding to help prosecuting agencies assign or hire qualified prosecutors who will be cross-designated to work in roles that bridge local and federal systems.
What does "cross-designated" mean in this NOFO?
In this context, cross-designated prosecutors are local or other eligible prosecuting agency personnel who, for the duration of their appointment under the program, work on federally coordinated matters and prosecute assigned cases in partnership with federal authorities.
What roles can funded prosecutors serve in under this program?
Funded prosecutors may serve either as Special Attorneys under the direction of the DOJ National Fraud Enforcement Division or the DOJ Criminal Division, or as Special Assistant United States Attorneys (SAUSAs) embedded within a U.S. Attorney's Office.
Do funded prosecutors become federal employees?
No. The NOFO states that these prosecutors remain employees of their home agencies. During their appointment under the program, they work on federally coordinated matters and prosecute assigned cases in partnership with federal authorities.
Can placements be full-time, or do they have to be part-time?
The program explicitly allows for either full-time placements or part-time, case-by-case support, depending on operational needs and the nature of the caseload.
What types of cases are the primary focus of the program?
The primary focus is investigating and prosecuting fraud and other crimes committed by aliens within the United States (referred to in the NOFO as "criminal aliens").
Are any other case types eligible for support under this program?
Yes. In addition to the primary focus, cross-designated prosecutors supported through this program may also be tasked with cases involving drug trafficking or human trafficking committed within the United States.
How will case assignment and collaboration work in practice?
Implementation is intended to be flexible. The DOJ National Fraud Enforcement Division, the DOJ Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney's Offices will coordinate with selected prosecutor offices on a case-by-case basis to address logistics, case assignment, and local circumstances affecting collaboration.
Which agencies or offices will coordinate with award recipients?
Coordination may involve the DOJ National Fraud Enforcement Division, the DOJ Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney's Offices, depending on the role and placement of the cross-designated prosecutors.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include state governments; county governments; city or township governments; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and other units of local government.
What does "other units of local government" include?
The NOFO clarifies that "other units of local government" includes towns, boroughs, parishes, villages, and other general-purpose political subdivisions of a state.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The Assistance Listing (CFDA) number is 16.076.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The opportunity number is O-BJA-2026-172719.
What is the official title of the funding opportunity?
The official title is "OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program Round 8."
When was this opportunity posted?
The posting date shown is August 28, 2026.
What is the application deadline?
The application closing date is September 21, 2026.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $3,000,000.
What legal authority authorizes this program?
The program is authorized under Public Law 119-21, Title X, Subtitle A, Part II, Section 100055, codified at 34 U.S.C. 61101.
Does the NOFO require one specific operational model for every jurisdiction?
No. The NOFO describes the approach as flexible, with federal components and selected prosecutor offices working through logistics and local circumstances on a case-by-case basis.
What is the overall outcome the program is trying to achieve?
The stated outcome is stronger prosecutorial capacity and deeper coordination among jurisdictions so they are better positioned to pursue covered matters effectively, including more effective integration of cross-designated prosecutors into federally coordinated enforcement efforts.
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