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Grants / Justice and legal services

BJA FY 2026 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR)—Formula Grants Program

Bureau of Justice Assistance, Department of Justice

Deadline
October 29, 2026in 9 days
Award size
Up to $3.5 millionAbout 140 awards
Matching funds
Not required
Fit for small groups
Better for larger organizations

In plain language

This grant helps local and state governments process more DNA samples to reduce backlogs. It pays for equipment, training, and other tools to improve DNA analysis. The money is meant for governments and some educational institutions.

The money can pay for

  • Equipment for DNA analysis
  • Training for staff
  • Improving DNA processing capacity
  • Supporting CODIS database entry

Who can apply

County, city, state, and other local governments can apply, as well as some colleges and universities.

Is it a fit for a small group?

Better for larger organizations. This grant is for governments and educational institutions, not for small community nonprofits like food pantries or churches.

Before you apply

  • Eligible applicants are limited to governments and some schools
  • No matching funds are required
  • The deadline is October 29, 2026
  • Federal applicants need an active registration at SAM.gov and a Grants.gov account. Registration can take several weeks, so start early.

This summary was written by GrantGather with AI, based on the official listing. It can contain mistakes. Check the official listing on Grants.gov before you apply.

From the official listing

This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the BJA FY 2026 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR)—Formula Grants Program. This opportunity will support states and units of local government with existing crime laboratories that conduct DNA analysis to process, and/or to increase the capacity to process, more DNA samples for entry into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), thereby helping to reduce the number of forensic DNA and DNA database samples awaiting analysis and/or to prevent a backlog of forensic and database DNA samples.

Opportunity number
O-BJA-2026-172718
Posted
September 21, 2026
Eligible applicants
County governments
City or township governments
Special district governments
State governments
Others (see eligibility details)
Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
Eligibility details
Other Units of Local Government: For the purposes of this NOFO, “other units of local government” include towns, boroughs, parishes, villages, or other general purpose political subdivisions of a state.
Assistance listing
16.036 Comprehensive Forensic DNA Analysis Grant Program
Agency contact
Bureau of Justice Assistance
OJP.ResponseCenter@usdoj.gov
202-514-9354
Open the official listing on Grants.govAgency’s full announcement

Nonprofits are eligible here through the “Others” category. Read the eligibility details carefully.