Opportunity Information: Apply for BJA 2020 17680
The BJA FY 20 Second Chance Act Evaluation Participation Support opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number BJA 2020 17680; CFDA 16.812) is a discretionary grant program from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance. Its purpose is to provide funding to help jurisdictions that run Second Chance Act-funded reentry programs participate in a formal evaluation of those programs. In practical terms, the grant is meant to cover the time, coordination, data-related work, and other participation costs that local and state agencies often face when an external evaluator is studying their program operations and outcomes.
This solicitation is designed to work alongside a separate National Institute of Justice effort called "Assessing the Effectiveness of the Second Chance Act Grant Program A Phased Evaluation Approach." NIJ is soliciting and selecting the evaluators, while BJA is offering resources so that the jurisdictions being evaluated can fully engage with the evaluation process. The broader goal is to strengthen the evidence base on what approaches are most effective in offender reentry programming, and it directly supports the statutory requirement in the Second Chance Act Reauthorization Act of 2018 to evaluate the Second Chance Act grant program.
Eligible applicants include a wide range of government entities, including state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments, with the solicitation also indicating that additional eligible applicant types may be described in the full eligibility guidance. The program is categorized under grant funding and is associated with activities spanning areas such as education, employment and training, and research and development-related work connected to reentry outcomes and program effectiveness.
The opportunity was posted on February 27, 2020, with an original application deadline of April 28, 2020. BJA anticipated making approximately five awards, with an award ceiling of up to $800,000. Overall, the funding is not primarily aimed at creating brand-new reentry services; instead, it is aimed at ensuring jurisdictions can meaningfully participate in rigorous evaluation activities so DOJ and the field can learn more about which reentry strategies work best, for whom, and under what conditions.Apply for BJA 2020 17680
- The Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance in the education, employment, labor and training, humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda), science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BJA FY 20 Second Chance Act Evaluation Participation Support" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.812.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 27, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 28, 2020. (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 $800,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the BJA FY 20 Second Chance Act Evaluation Participation Support opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). It is identified as Funding Opportunity Number BJA 2020 17680 and CFDA 16.812.
What is the main purpose of this grant?
The purpose is to provide funding that helps jurisdictions operating Second Chance Act-funded reentry programs participate in a formal evaluation of those programs. The funding is meant to cover participation-related costs that can arise when an external evaluator studies program operations and outcomes.
What kinds of costs is the funding intended to support?
Based on the solicitation description, the funding is intended to support participation costs such as staff time, coordination efforts, data-related work, and other costs associated with engaging in a rigorous external evaluation.
Is this grant meant to create new reentry services or expand programming?
No. The funding is not primarily aimed at creating brand-new reentry services. Instead, it is aimed at ensuring jurisdictions can meaningfully participate in evaluation activities so the field can learn what reentry strategies are most effective, for whom, and under what conditions.
How does this opportunity relate to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) evaluation effort?
This solicitation is designed to work alongside a separate NIJ effort called "Assessing the Effectiveness of the Second Chance Act Grant Program A Phased Evaluation Approach." NIJ is responsible for soliciting and selecting the evaluators, while BJA provides resources so the jurisdictions being evaluated can fully engage in the evaluation process.
Who selects the evaluators for the formal evaluation?
The evaluators are solicited and selected by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), as described in the related NIJ effort.
What role does BJA play in the evaluation process?
BJA offers funding to support jurisdictions that are participating in the evaluation, with the intent that jurisdictions have the capacity to coordinate, provide data, and otherwise participate effectively while external evaluators conduct the study.
Why is DOJ funding evaluation participation for Second Chance Act programs?
The broader goal is to strengthen the evidence base on offender reentry programming. The opportunity also supports a statutory requirement in the Second Chance Act Reauthorization Act of 2018 to evaluate the Second Chance Act grant program.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include government entities such as state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments. The solicitation also indicates that additional eligible applicant types may be described in full eligibility guidance.
Is this opportunity limited to government entities?
The provided information lists multiple categories of government entities as eligible applicants and notes that additional eligible applicant types may be described in the full eligibility guidance.
What program areas or activities are associated with this grant?
The opportunity is associated with grant-funded work connected to reentry outcomes and program effectiveness, including activities spanning areas such as education, employment and training, and research and development-related work tied to evaluation and evidence-building.
When was the opportunity posted, and what was the application deadline?
The opportunity was posted on February 27, 2020. The original application deadline was April 28, 2020.
How many awards did BJA anticipate making?
BJA anticipated making approximately five awards.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling was up to $800,000.
What type of grant is this (formula vs. discretionary)?
This is a discretionary grant program.
What is the key takeaway for jurisdictions considering this opportunity?
If a jurisdiction operates a Second Chance Act-funded reentry program and is expected to participate in a formal external evaluation, this funding is intended to help cover the practical participation burden (time, coordination, and data work) so the jurisdiction can engage fully and the evaluation can generate stronger evidence about program effectiveness.
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