Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement – Competitive Grants Program (United States)

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) offers the FY 2026 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement—Competitive Grants Program to support improvements in forensic science. This is a competitive grants opportunity with a submission deadline of 5 November 2026 (time zones noted below). The opportunity page lists both a Grants.gov deadline and an Application JustGrants deadline. This competitive grants program is administered by BJA under the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement initiative. The opportunity is intended to support efforts that improve forensic science capabilities and related outcomes within the justice system. Specific program objectives, supported activities, and measurable outcomes are not included in the text provided here. Applicants should review the official solicitation PDF linked from the opportunity page for the complete scope and requirements. The provided source text does not include award amounts, funding limits, or benefit details. It also does not specify whether there is cost sharing or any restrictions on eligible costs. For accurate financial and benefit information (including award size, allowable costs, and any match requirements), consult the official solicitation PDF available from the opportunity page. The provided source text does not list eligible applicant types, eligible jurisdictions, or eligibility exclusions. Eligibility requirements are typically detailed in the solicitation document. Applicants should refer to the official guidelines in the solicitation PDF for: The provided source text does not describe eligible activities, priority areas, or thematic focus areas. These details are expected to be included in the solicitation instructions and scope of work requirements. Review the solicitation PDF linked on the opportunity page to confirm: Forensic science improvements can strengthen the quality and reliability of evidence used in criminal justice processes. This BJA competitive program is designed to fund work under the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement framework, supporting organizations seeking to enhance forensic science capacity. Because the provided text does not include program-specific outcomes or activity categories, applicants should validate how their proposed work aligns with the solicitation’s stated priorities and requirements in the official PDF. The source text confirms the submission system deadlines but does not provide step-by-step instructions or required documents. Based on the deadlines shown, applicants should plan for submissions through both Grants.gov and JustGrants.

Official opportunity page (BJA): BJA FY 2026 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement—Competitive Grants Program (Opportunity ID: O-BJA-2026-172711)

What is the deadline for this BJA Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement competitive grant?

The opportunity page lists two deadlines: October 29, 2026, 11:59 pm Eastern for Grants.gov and November 5, 2026, 8:59 pm Eastern for JustGrants.

Is this solicitation open? Yes. The source page lists Solicitation Status: Open. What is the opportunity ID? The opportunity ID is O-BJA-2026-172711. Where can I find the official application instructions? The opportunity page provides a PDF download. The provided text does not include the instructions themselves, so applicants should use the PDF linked from the official page. What funding amount or award size is available? The provided source text does not specify award amounts, funding pools, or per-recipient limits. These details should be confirmed in the official solicitation PDF. Who can apply? The provided source text does not list eligible applicant types or geographic eligibility. Applicants should check the solicitation PDF for eligibility requirements. How do I submit the application? The page indicates submission through Grants.gov and JustGrants, with deadlines for both systems. Detailed submission steps are not included in the provided text and should be taken from the solicitation. If your organization works on forensic science improvement and meets the solicitation’s eligibility requirements, start by downloading and reviewing the official solicitation PDF from the BJA opportunity page. Then align your proposal content and submission timeline to the Grants.gov and JustGrants deadlines listed on the page.