BJA FY 23 The National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative: Training and Technical Assistance Program | O BJA 2023 171749

Opportunity Information: Apply for O BJA 2023 171749

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) FY 23 National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) Program is a discretionary funding opportunity (CFDA 16.833) designed to strengthen how jurisdictions respond to violent crimes connected to unsubmitted sexual assault kits (SAKs), sexually motivated homicides, and related crime scene evidence. The central aim is capacity building at the state and local level so agencies can move from having untested or untracked evidence to having effective, coordinated systems that support investigation, prosecution, and victim-centered engagement. While the program is primarily focused on supporting existing SAKI-funded sites, it also allows for assistance to other jurisdictions pursuing community-based sexual assault reform when resources permit. Because the work spans forensic science, investigations, prosecution strategy, victim services, and program management, applicants are encouraged to partner with other qualified providers to cover the full range of expertise.

The funded provider(s) are expected to deliver a broad menu of training and technical assistance services. This includes developing and delivering training and educational sessions led by subject matter experts; providing hands-on support for core SAK work such as inventorying, testing, and tracking kits; and offering both on-site and remote assistance tied to investigating and prosecuting sexually motivated crimes as well as other violent crime cold cases. The program also emphasizes performance management, requiring the creation and reporting of performance metrics so sites can measure progress and outcomes. Another required area is TTA related to the collection of lawfully owed DNA, reflecting the program focus on ensuring that DNA is properly obtained and managed in accordance with legal requirements. Across all of this, the provider(s) must help SAKI sites operate as multidisciplinary teams, strengthening coordination among law enforcement, prosecutors, crime labs, and victim advocacy partners, with an emphasis on victim engagement and support as cases move forward from evidence testing and cold case follow-up.

A distinct and notable priority in this solicitation is additional forensic support for identifying and resolving Jane and John Doe sexually motivated homicides. In practice, this means the TTA provider(s) should be prepared to assist jurisdictions with complex unidentified decedent cases that intersect with sexual violence and homicide investigations, leveraging forensic approaches and cross-disciplinary coordination to help move those cases toward identification and resolution.

BJA expects the selected TTA provider(s) to build on, rather than duplicate, existing federal resources. The solicitation specifically points to leveraging tools and materials available through sakitta.org as well as resources from the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and the DOJ Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). At the same time, the awardee(s) should create new tools and resources where gaps exist, and make those resources broadly available not only to grantees but also to the wider field. The intent is to extend the impact beyond individual sites by packaging effective practices into usable guidance, templates, trainings, and other practical materials, and then actively marketing those resources so they are actually discovered and used.

Because the award is a cooperative agreement, BJA anticipates close involvement in planning, approvals, and ongoing oversight. The solicitation highlights several guiding principles for how TTA should be designed and delivered: it should be driven by data, field needs, and research; it should use effective adult learning approaches and technology to improve reach and quality; it should be flexible and accessible to agencies with different experience levels and capacities; and it should include a serious plan for assessing impact and making refinements based on what is working. Strong project management is also emphasized, including proactive communication, coordination with other BJA partners, regular updates to BJA and grantees, and careful stewardship of funds. A key expectation is that the provider(s) can keep the work moving while navigating BJA review and approval processes typical of cooperative agreements.

The solicitation is structured around two purpose areas with different eligibility rules. Under Purpose Area 1, eligible applicants include for-profit and nonprofit organizations (including tribal organizations), faith-based and community organizations, institutions of higher education (including tribal institutions), and consortiums with demonstrated national and local TTA experience. Under Purpose Area 2, eligibility expands to include states and territories, units of local government (including federally recognized tribal governments), nonprofit and for-profit organizations, and institutions of higher education. A major financial condition applies across both purpose areas: for-profit entities, and in Purpose Area 1 also recipients and subrecipients broadly, must agree to forgo any profit or management fee, meaning award funds are intended to support service delivery rather than generate profit.

Administratively, this is a BJA discretionary opportunity using a cooperative agreement funding instrument. The opportunity number is O-BJA-2023-171749, it was created on April 26, 2023, and the original closing date was June 5, 2023. The listed award ceiling is $4,000,000. The overall takeaway is that BJA is funding an organization or team of organizations that can serve as a national backbone for training, technical guidance, performance measurement, and targeted forensic and multidisciplinary support, helping jurisdictions turn unsubmitted SAKs and associated violent crime evidence into stronger investigations, more effective prosecutions where appropriate, and more consistent, victim-centered system responses.

• The Bureau of Justice Assistance in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BJA FY 23 The National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative: Training and Technical Assistance Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.833.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-04-26.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-06-05. (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 $4,000,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for O BJA 2023 171749

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