Opportunity Information: Apply for O BJS 2025 172527
The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) FY25 Consolidated National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP) is a discretionary cooperative agreement opportunity designed to strengthen the quality and usability of criminal history information nationwide. The core intent is to make criminal history records more accurate, complete, timely, and easier to access across jurisdictions so that both criminal justice and authorized non-criminal justice background checks can be carried out reliably. In practice, this means helping states, courts, and tribal governments modernize the systems and processes that create, update, and share records that feed into national repositories and background check systems.
The opportunity is structured around three related funding tracks. First, NCHIP (total funding noted as $70,000,000) focuses broadly on improving national safety and security by enhancing criminal history record information and supporting nationwide implementation of background check systems. This track is typically associated with projects that address gaps in record completeness, improve the linkage between arrests and final dispositions, support automation and system integration, and increase the overall accessibility and consistency of records used for decision-making across the justice system and for permitted non-criminal justice purposes.
Second, NCHIP SF BSCA (total funding noted as $40,000,000) is a set-aside aligned with the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (Public Law 117-159). This portion emphasizes DOJ priorities tied to reducing violent crime and addressing gun violence by improving the accuracy, usefulness, and interstate accessibility of criminal history and related records. The key idea is to strengthen the national record systems and the quality of the data they rely on so that name-based and fingerprint-based background checks perform better, especially when records must be shared and interpreted across state lines. This track reflects the additional appropriations and policy focus established under Title III, Division B(3) of the Act.
Third, the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Act Record Improvement Program (NARIP), with $25,000,000 described in the notice, supports targeted work to ensure that disqualifying records are properly available to the FBI’s NICS. Funding is aimed at helping states, state court systems, and tribal governments improve the reporting of specific categories of records that can affect firearms eligibility, including certain mental health adjudications/commitments (as applicable under law), protection and restraining orders, domestic violence convictions, and other relevant criminal history information. The notice emphasizes that BJS coordinates NARIP work with NCHIP so that state and court system efforts are complementary and aligned with the broader goal of improving the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of state and national criminal records.
Eligible applicants include state governments and federally recognized Native American tribal governments, along with other eligible entities as permitted under the program, and the notice specifically references courts by noting that the eligible court applicant is the state central administrative office (or a similar entity) designated by statute or regulation to administer federal grant funds on behalf of the jurisdiction’s court system. This is important because much of the data needed for complete criminal histories (particularly dispositions and certain orders) originates in courts, and the program is designed to support end-to-end record improvement from initial events through final outcomes.
Administratively, the opportunity is offered by the Bureau of Justice Statistics under a cooperative agreement mechanism, indicating that recipients should expect more substantial federal involvement than a standard grant (for example, collaboration, guidance, or shared responsibilities tied to national systems and standards). The funding activity category is listed as Information and Statistics, reflecting the program’s focus on improving the underlying data infrastructure that supports public safety decisions and background check processes. The opportunity lists CFDA numbers 16.554 and 16.813, an expected 56 awards, and an award ceiling of $2,410,714. The original application closing date provided is February 24, 2026, and the opportunity number is O-BJS-2025-172527.Apply for O BJS 2025 172527
- The Bureau of Justice Statistics in the information and statistics sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BJS FY25 Consolidated National Criminal History Improvement Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.554, 16.813.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-01-15.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-02-24. (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 $2,410,714.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 56 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Others.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
FAQs: BJS FY25 Consolidated National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP)
What is this funding opportunity?
The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) FY25 Consolidated National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP) is a discretionary cooperative agreement opportunity intended to strengthen the quality and usability of criminal history information nationwide. The focus is on making criminal history records more accurate, complete, timely, and accessible across jurisdictions so criminal justice uses and authorized non-criminal justice background checks can be carried out reliably.
What is the main goal of NCHIP?
The core goal is to improve criminal history records and the systems that create, update, and share them. This includes improving record accuracy and completeness, increasing timeliness, and enabling easier access and sharing across jurisdictions, including better support for national repositories and background check systems.
What kinds of improvements does the program support?
Based on the notice description, supported improvements commonly include modernizing systems and processes that produce and transmit criminal history data, addressing gaps in record completeness, improving linkage between arrests and final dispositions, supporting automation and system integration, and increasing overall accessibility and consistency of records used for decision-making.
How is the opportunity structured?
The opportunity is structured around three related funding tracks: NCHIP, NCHIP SF BSCA (a set-aside aligned with the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act), and NARIP (the NICS Act Record Improvement Program).
What is the NCHIP track and how much funding is associated with it?
The NCHIP track is described as focusing broadly on improving national safety and security by enhancing criminal history record information and supporting nationwide implementation of background check systems. The total funding amount noted for this track is $70,000,000.
What is the NCHIP SF BSCA track?
NCHIP SF BSCA is a set-aside aligned with the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (Public Law 117-159). It emphasizes DOJ priorities tied to reducing violent crime and addressing gun violence by improving the accuracy, usefulness, and interstate accessibility of criminal history and related records.
How much funding is listed for the NCHIP SF BSCA set-aside?
The total funding amount noted for NCHIP SF BSCA is $40,000,000.
What is the purpose of the NCHIP SF BSCA set-aside?
The notice describes the key idea as strengthening national record systems and the quality of the data they rely on so that name-based and fingerprint-based background checks perform better, especially when records are shared and interpreted across state lines. The track reflects additional appropriations and policy focus under Title III, Division B(3) of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
What is NARIP?
The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Act Record Improvement Program (NARIP) supports targeted work to ensure that disqualifying records are properly available to the FBI's NICS, helping improve the effectiveness of firearms eligibility background checks.
How much funding is listed for NARIP?
The notice describes $25,000,000 for NARIP.
What types of records does NARIP focus on improving?
NARIP funding is aimed at improving reporting of specific categories of records that can affect firearms eligibility, including certain mental health adjudications/commitments (as applicable under law), protection and restraining orders, domestic violence convictions, and other relevant criminal history information.
How do NCHIP and NARIP relate to each other?
The notice emphasizes that BJS coordinates NARIP work with NCHIP so that state and court system efforts are complementary and aligned with the broader goal of improving the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of state and national criminal records.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include state governments and federally recognized Native American tribal governments, along with other eligible entities as permitted under the program.
Are courts eligible to apply?
Yes. The notice specifically references courts and explains that the eligible court applicant is the state central administrative office (or a similar entity) designated by statute or regulation to administer federal grant funds on behalf of the jurisdiction's court system.
Why do courts matter for this program?
The notice highlights that much of the data needed for complete criminal histories (particularly dispositions and certain orders) originates in courts. The program is designed to support end-to-end record improvement from initial events through final outcomes.
What is the funding mechanism?
The opportunity is offered under a cooperative agreement mechanism. This indicates recipients should expect more substantial federal involvement than a standard grant, such as collaboration, guidance, or shared responsibilities tied to national systems and standards.
What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category is listed as Information and Statistics, reflecting the focus on improving the data infrastructure that supports public safety decisions and background check processes.
What are the CFDA numbers for this opportunity?
The opportunity lists CFDA numbers 16.554 and 16.813.
How many awards does BJS expect to make?
The opportunity indicates an expected 56 awards.
What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?
The listed award ceiling is $2,410,714.
What is the application deadline?
The original application closing date provided is February 24, 2026.
What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is O-BJS-2025-172527.
What is the overall intent of improving national criminal history information?
The notice describes an intent to help states, courts, and tribal governments modernize systems and processes that feed into national repositories and background check systems, improving the reliability of both criminal justice decision-making and authorized non-criminal justice background checks.
Does the program emphasize interstate sharing of records?
Yes. The description highlights improving interstate accessibility of criminal history and related records, particularly so background checks (including name-based and fingerprint-based checks) work better when records must be shared and interpreted across state lines.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Information and Statistics
Previous opportunity: APEX Accelerator-Option Period for Existing Award Recipients
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for O BJS 2025 172527
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (O BJS 2025 172527) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| BJS FY25 State Justice Statistics Program for Statistical Analysis Centers Apply for O BJS 2025 172526 Funding Number: O BJS 2025 172526 Agency: Bureau of Justice Statistics Category: Information and Statistics Funding Amount: $225,000 |
| BJS FY25 Survey of Public Defenders (SPD) Apply for O BJS 2025 172531 Funding Number: O BJS 2025 172531 Agency: Bureau of Justice Statistics Category: Information and Statistics Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| BJS FY25 Census of Law Enforcement Training Academies (CLETA) Apply for O BJS 2025 172532 Funding Number: O BJS 2025 172532 Agency: Bureau of Justice Statistics Category: Information and Statistics Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| BJS FY25 National Prison Rape Statistics Program (NPRSP) Assessment Apply for O BJS 2025 172573 Funding Number: O BJS 2025 172573 Agency: Bureau of Justice Statistics Category: Information and Statistics Funding Amount: $500,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "O BJS 2025 172527", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.