BJA FY25 Local Law Enforcement Crime Gun Intelligence Center Integration Initiative | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the BJA FY25 Local Law Enforcement Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) Integration Initiative?

It is a discretionary grant program from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), intended to reduce firearm-related crime by helping jurisdictions build, expand, or more fully integrate a Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) capability.

2) What is the main goal of this grant opportunity?

The main goal is to reduce firearm-related crime by moving crime gun evidence and intelligence from a slower, case-by-case process into a faster, coordinated workflow that produces timely investigative leads and supports effective prosecutions.

3) What does "CGIC integration" mean in practical terms?

Based on the opportunity description, integration refers to improving how agencies and partners coordinate crime gun evidence, intelligence, and investigative steps so they can connect shootings, identify firearms involved, trace those firearms, and support timely investigations and prosecutions in a more streamlined, collaborative way.

4) What kinds of activities or outcomes does the initiative emphasize?

The initiative emphasizes using intelligence and technology to speed up development of actionable leads from firearm incidents. This typically includes improving the ability to identify and analyze crime guns, determine their origins and trafficking patterns, connect guns to individuals and networks involved in violent crime, and shorten the time between a shooting and the generation of investigative leads.

5) Does this grant require partnership with ATF?

A defining feature in the description is that the opportunity is intended to be carried out in partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), leveraging federal crime gun tracing expertise alongside local investigative and prosecutorial work.

6) Why is ATF partnership highlighted in this opportunity?

The description frames ATF partnership as important because it helps jurisdictions leverage federal crime gun tracing and intelligence capabilities while aligning those resources with local investigations and prosecution strategies.

7) Who is the funding agency for this program?

The funding agency is the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).

8) What type of funding is this?

This is a discretionary grant program, and the funding instrument is a grant.

9) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 16.738.

10) What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is O-BJA-2025-172482.

11) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The posted award ceiling is $700,000, indicating the maximum amount an individual award is expected to provide under this opportunity.

12) When was this opportunity created (posted)?

The creation date listed is February 19, 2026.

13) What is the application closing date?

The original closing date is March 30, 2026.

14) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is aimed at state, local, and Tribal law enforcement efforts, including prosecutors' offices. Eligible applicant types listed include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, federally recognized Tribal governments, other-than-federally recognized Tribal organizations, and other eligible entities as defined in the solicitation. The description also notes "other units of local government."

15) Are prosecutors' offices included in the intended audience for this funding?

Yes. The description indicates the opportunity is aimed at state, local, and Tribal law enforcement efforts, including prosecutors' offices.

16) What should applicants do to confirm eligibility?

The description notes that applicants are directed to the "Eligible Applicants" section of the solicitation for specific criteria, so organizations should confirm their entity type and proposed project structure match the requirements as written in the full announcement.

17) What problem is this program trying to solve?

The program is designed to address firearm-related crime by improving the speed and coordination of how crime gun evidence and intelligence are processed, so shootings and recovered firearms can be linked more quickly to generate investigative leads and support prosecutions.

18) What kinds of improvements does the program encourage in investigations?

The framing signals an operational focus on shortening the time between a shooting and lead generation, strengthening coordination between agencies and disciplines, and increasing the likelihood that offenders are held accountable through effective prosecution strategies supported by strong evidence and analysis.

19) How does the initiative describe the role of intelligence and technology?

It emphasizes using intelligence and technology to speed up how law enforcement develops actionable leads from firearm incidents, including connecting shootings, identifying firearms involved, and supporting tracing and analysis that can inform investigations and prosecutions.

20) What is the overall purpose of investing in a CGIC model under this opportunity?

Overall, the opportunity is described as a targeted public-safety investment to help jurisdictions operationalize crime gun intelligence in a disciplined, collaborative way, aligning local investigators and prosecutors with ATF tracing and intelligence capabilities to produce faster, stronger investigative leads and case outcomes.