Opportunity Information: Apply for O BJA 2026 172653
The OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program (Round 5) is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). The program is designed to help state, local, Tribal, and territorial prosecuting agencies expand their ability to investigate and prosecute specific categories of crimes by supporting the assignment or hiring of prosecutors who can be cross-designated to work in close coordination with federal authorities. Awards will be made through a cooperative agreement, which typically means the federal government expects substantial involvement in how the work is carried out, particularly around coordination, case selection, and operational logistics.
At the center of the program is the placement of qualified prosecutors as either Special Attorneys operating under the direction of the National Fraud Enforcement Division or the Criminal Division, or as Special Assistant United States Attorneys (SAUSAs) embedded within a U.S. Attorney's Office. These prosecutors remain employees of their home agencies, but during their appointment they take on federally coordinated casework. The main enforcement focus is fraud and other crimes committed by aliens within the United States (referred to in the notice as "criminal aliens"). The program also allows cross-designated prosecutors to be assigned, as needed and on a case-by-case basis, to matters involving drug trafficking or human trafficking committed within the United States. Practical implementation is expected to be tailored to local conditions, with the National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney's Offices coordinating directly with selected prosecutor offices to work out staffing arrangements, supervision, and other operational details.
The stated purpose of the grant, authorized by Public Law 119-21 (Title X, Subtitle A, Part II, Section 100055, codified at 34 U.S.C. 61101), is to strengthen investigative and prosecutorial capacity and to improve intergovernmental coordination. In plain terms, it is meant to add prosecutorial horsepower where it is needed, create more consistent joint federal-state-local working relationships, and increase the availability of prosecutors who can pursue complex cases in partnership with federal components. By supporting cross-designated personnel, the program aims to make it easier for jurisdictions to move cases efficiently and effectively when federal authority, federal court access, or federal investigative partnerships are important to successful outcomes.
Eligible applicants include state governments, counties, cities or townships, federally recognized Tribal governments, and other units of local government (explicitly including towns, boroughs, parishes, villages, and similar general-purpose political subdivisions). The opportunity is listed under CFDA 16.076 and carries the funding opportunity number O-BJA-2026-172653. The application closing date is July 24, 2026, and the maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $3,000,000.Apply for O BJA 2026 172653
- The Bureau of Justice Assistance in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program Round 5" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.076.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-07-13.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-24. (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 $3,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Others.
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FAQs: OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program (Round 5)
What is the OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program (Round 5)?
The OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program (Round 5) is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP). It is administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and supports prosecuting agencies in expanding their capacity to investigate and prosecute certain crime categories by funding prosecutors who can be cross-designated to coordinate closely with federal authorities.
Which federal agency is offering and administering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, and administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).
Is this a formula grant or a discretionary grant?
This is a discretionary funding opportunity.
What is the primary purpose of this grant program?
The stated purpose is to strengthen investigative and prosecutorial capacity and improve intergovernmental coordination. Practically, the program is intended to increase prosecutorial resources where needed, promote consistent joint federal-state-local working relationships, and expand access to prosecutors who can pursue complex cases in partnership with federal components.
What type of award will be made?
Awards will be made through a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement typically means the federal government expects substantial involvement in how the work is carried out. In this program, that involvement is described as being particularly focused on coordination, case selection, and operational logistics.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include state governments, counties, cities or townships, federally recognized Tribal governments, and other units of local government. The notice explicitly includes towns, boroughs, parishes, villages, and similar general-purpose political subdivisions.
What kinds of agencies is the program meant to support?
The program is designed to help state, local, Tribal, and territorial prosecuting agencies expand their ability to investigate and prosecute specific categories of crimes by supporting the assignment or hiring of prosecutors who can be cross-designated to work in close coordination with federal authorities.
What is being funded under this program?
The program supports the assignment or hiring of qualified prosecutors who can be cross-designated to work in close coordination with federal partners, either as Special Attorneys operating under certain DOJ components or as Special Assistant United States Attorneys (SAUSAs) embedded within a U.S. Attorney's Office.
What are the two main cross-designated prosecutor roles mentioned in the notice?
The notice describes placement of qualified prosecutors as (1) Special Attorneys operating under the direction of the National Fraud Enforcement Division or the Criminal Division, or (2) Special Assistant United States Attorneys (SAUSAs) embedded within a U.S. Attorney's Office.
Do the prosecutors funded under this program become federal employees?
No. The notice states that these prosecutors remain employees of their home agencies, but during their appointment they take on federally coordinated casework.
What is the main enforcement focus for supported casework?
The main enforcement focus is fraud and other crimes committed by aliens within the United States (referred to in the notice as "criminal aliens").
Are other crime types allowed under this program?
Yes. The program allows cross-designated prosecutors to be assigned, as needed and on a case-by-case basis, to matters involving drug trafficking or human trafficking committed within the United States.
How will staffing, supervision, and operational details be handled?
The notice indicates that practical implementation is expected to be tailored to local conditions, with the National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney's Offices coordinating directly with selected prosecutor offices to work out staffing arrangements, supervision, and other operational details.
Which DOJ components are named as central partners in coordination?
The notice names the National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney's Offices as key partners expected to coordinate with selected prosecutor offices on implementation details.
Why does the program emphasize cross-designation and federal coordination?
According to the notice, supporting cross-designated personnel is meant to make it easier for jurisdictions to move cases efficiently and effectively when federal authority, federal court access, or federal investigative partnerships are important to successful outcomes.
What is the legal authority for this grant program?
The program is authorized by Public Law 119-21 (Title X, Subtitle A, Part II, Section 100055), codified at 34 U.S.C. 61101.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling listed in the notice is $3,000,000.
What is the application deadline?
The application closing date is July 24, 2026.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The funding opportunity number is O-BJA-2026-172653.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 16.076.
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