About this opportunity
AI summaryThe U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs seeks grant applications for the FY 2026 Integrity in American Elections Grant Program to strengthen investigative and prosecutorial capacities surrounding election crimes. Funded activities target illegal voting, registration offenses, and disruptions to election processes, including coordinating the removal of ineligible convicted individuals from voter rolls. Eligible entities are onshore USA organizations, including state, local, and tribal governments and educational organizations; state and local government applicants must submit a mandatory CEO certification. Applicants must complete the SF-424 in Grants.gov by December 1, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET, followed by the full application in JustGrants by December 8, 2026, at 8:59 PM ET. Required application contents include standard applicant information, a proposal narrative, and a web-based budget detail worksheet. Evaluators will score applications based on Project Design and Implementation (35%), Capabilities and Competencies (30%), and the Budget (15%). Cost sharing or matching funds are not required.
Buyer and opportunity details
- Client
- Office of Justice Programs
- Solicitation No.
- O-BJA-2026-172793
Scope of work
- Investigation and prosecution of state or local election crimes
- Prevention of election-related activities punishable under state or local criminal law
- Establish or enhance investigative capacity to detect, document, and substantiate suspected illegal voting and registration crimes
- Enhance capacity of state and local prosecutors to coordinate with state elections offices to remove ineligible individuals from voter rolls
- Strengthen criminal justice agency capacity to detect election-related criminal activity and refer substantiated concerns for investigation or prosecution
- Regular submission of performance reports and data reflecting progress toward program goals
How proposals are evaluated
| Criterion | Weight / scoring |
|---|---|
| Description of the Need | 5% |
| Project Goals and Objectives | 15% |
| Project Design and Implementation | 35% |
| Capabilities and Competencies | 30% |
| Budget | 15% |
Minimum qualifications
- State, local, tribal government entity, or other unit of local government
- State or local government applicants must submit Appendix 1 CEO certification regarding compliance with 8 U.S.C. 1373 and 1644
- Active SAM.gov registration
Documents to include with your response
- Application for Federal Assistance: SF-424
- Standard Applicant Information
- Proposal Abstract
- Proposal Narrative
- Budget Detail Worksheet
- Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire
- Agency Funding Priorities Inventory
- Certification by the Chief Executive Officer (Appendix 1 template, for state/local governments)
- Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable)
- Disclosures and Assurances (Lobbying, Standard Assurances, Certifications)
Key dates
- NOFO Release Date
- October 15, 2026
- SAM.gov Registration/Renewal begin process
- November 1, 2026, and no later than November 17, 2026
- Step 1: Grants.gov Deadline
- 11:59 p.m. ET on December 1, 2026
- Step 2: JustGrants Deadline
- 8:59 p.m. ET on December 8, 2026
- Contract start
- January 1, 2027
How to submit
- Method
- Electronic via Grants.gov and JustGrants
- Instructions
- Step 1: Submit SF-424 in Grants.gov. Step 2: Submit full application in JustGrants. Proposal Narrative must be double-spaced, standard 12-point font, 1-inch margins, numbered pages, not exceeding 10 pages. Proposal Abstract limited to 2,000 characters.
Contract details
- Term
- 24 months starting on January 1, 2027
- Estimated value
- Up to $5,000,000 total (Up to $250,000 per award)
- Funding
- Pub. L. No. 90-351, Title I, Part E, subpart 1 (codified at 34 U.S.C. 10151 – 10158); 28 U.S.C. 530C(a); Assistance Listing Number 16.738; 2 C.F.R. Part 200
Grants.gov funding details
- Funding opportunity
- O-BJA-2026-172793 · OJP FY 2026 Integrity in American Elections Grant Program
- Agency
- Bureau of Justice Assistance
- Assistance listing
- 16.738 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program
- Award size
- $5.0M
- Applications close
- Dec 1, 2026
- Instrument
- Grant
- Cost sharing required
- No
- Eligible applicants
- City or township governments; County governments; Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification); Special district governments; State governments; Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
Source: Grants.gov (U.S. federal public data).