FY 2023 Statistical Support Program Supplement | O BJS 2023 171862

FAQs: FY 2023 Statistical Support Program Supplement (BJS/OJP)

What is the FY 2023 Statistical Support Program Supplement?

It is a Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) funding opportunity under the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs (OJP). The program is categorized under information and statistics, indicating a focus on statistical and data-related work connected to the justice system rather than direct service delivery.

Which agency is offering this grant opportunity?

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

What type of funding instrument is used?

The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement. This typically means the federal agency expects substantial involvement in how the work is carried out, such as coordination on priorities, deliverables, methods, and review of products.

Is this a new competitive grant or a continuation opportunity?

It is positioned as a continuation award opportunity. This generally suggests it is intended to extend, enhance, or continue previously established work under an existing Statistical Support Program framework.

Where is the full description of what the supplement is intended to support?

The solicitation directs applicants to the Overview section of the original solicitation document hosted on the BJS website for a fuller description of what the supplement is intended to support.

What is the primary purpose or focus of this program?

The program sits within the information and statistics activity category. Based on that framing, its primary purpose is to support statistical and data-related work tied to the justice system, such as data development, statistical analysis, and reporting.

How does this opportunity connect to OJP priorities?

The opportunity is framed within OJP policy and mission commitments, including advancing civil rights and racial equity, expanding access to justice, supporting crime victims and people impacted by the justice system, strengthening community safety, protecting the public from crime and evolving threats, and building trust between law enforcement and communities.

What kinds of outcomes or products are implied by the stated priorities?

The priorities often translate into data development, statistical analysis, and reporting that help stakeholders understand justice system operations and outcomes, identify disparities, and guide evidence-based decision-making.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this solicitation?

The Funding Opportunity Number is O-BJS-2023-171862.

When was the opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on August 21, 2023.

What was the application closing date?

The original application closing date was August 30, 2023.

Does the timeline suggest anything about the nature of the award?

Yes. The short application window is described as typical of certain continuation or supplemental actions, which aligns with the solicitation being framed as a continuation opportunity.

How many awards did BJS anticipate making?

BJS anticipated making one award.

What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $1,350,000.

What does the single award expectation and award ceiling imply?

It suggests the program may be designed to fund a single recipient to perform a defined set of statistical support tasks, potentially at a national or multi-jurisdictional scale.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The associated CFDA number is 16.734, which corresponds to BJS statistical and criminal justice data programs.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as "Others." The solicitation indicates applicants should refer to the Additional Information on Eligibility section for clarification.

What might "Others" mean in the eligibility field for this opportunity?

Based on the solicitation language provided, "Others" can signal that eligibility may be limited to a specific existing recipient, a narrow class of entities (such as certain research organizations or national nonprofits), or organizations meeting criteria described in the underlying solicitation. The continuation framing and expectation of one award also suggest the eligible applicant pool may be constrained rather than broadly open competition.

What legal authority does BJS cite for issuing this solicitation?

BJS cites statutory authority under 34 U.S.C. 10132(c), which is part of the authorizing statute for BJS activities related to collecting, analyzing, and disseminating criminal justice statistics.

Is this opportunity mainly for direct service programs?

No. The opportunity is categorized under information and statistics, indicating a focus on statistical and data-related work rather than direct service delivery.

What role does BJS typically play under a cooperative agreement?

Under a cooperative agreement, BJS typically has substantial involvement in the work, which may include coordinating on priorities, deliverables, methods, and reviewing products.

How should applicants interpret the relationship between this supplement and the original solicitation?

The supplement is tied to an existing Statistical Support Program framework, and the solicitation points applicants to the original solicitation's Overview section for full details. This implies the supplement is meant to build on or continue previously established goals, deliverables, or methods described in that original document.

What is the overall intent of this opportunity based on the provided description?

Overall, it is described as targeted funding to sustain or expand statistical capacity and deliverables that support justice system transparency and improvement, aligned with OJP commitments on equity, access to justice, victim support, community safety, and public trust.