Opportunity Information: Apply for O BJA 2026 172792
The OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program Round 10 is a discretionary Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) funding opportunity, offered through a cooperative agreement, aimed at strengthening the capacity of state, local, Tribal, and territorial prosecuting agencies to partner directly with federal prosecutors on complex criminal matters. The central idea is to help jurisdictions assign or hire qualified prosecutors who can be cross-designated to work under federal direction as Special Attorneys (under the National Fraud Enforcement Division or the Criminal Division) or serve inside a U.S. Attorney's Office as Special Assistant United States Attorneys (SAUSAs). While operating in these federal-aligned roles, the prosecutors remain employees of their original home agencies, but their work under the program focuses on investigating and prosecuting designated cases in coordination with federal authorities.
A key focus of the program is addressing fraud and other crimes committed by aliens within the United States, described in the notice as "criminal aliens." In addition to that core emphasis, the cross-designated personnel supported by this funding may also be assigned to cases involving drug trafficking or human trafficking occurring within the United States. The NOFO indicates that the National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney's Offices will coordinate with selected prosecutor offices on a case-by-case basis to work through logistics and local circumstances, which signals that award recipients should expect close operational collaboration and ongoing coordination with federal partners rather than a fully independent, stand-alone project.
Beyond funding prosecutors, the program explicitly allows grant funds to be used to add investigative and analytical capacity that supports these prosecutions. This includes hiring criminal investigators and other specialized staff such as analysts, forensic accountants, and similar roles that help with the collection, organization, and analysis of investigative information. The broader purpose is to improve how investigative information is gathered and analyzed, strengthen investigative and prosecutorial capacity, expand intergovernmental coordination, and enhance the ability of jurisdictions to counter gang or other criminal activity while also improving the investigation and prosecution of fraud, drug trafficking, and human trafficking cases tied to the program's focus areas.
This NOFO is authorized under Public Law 119-21, Title X, Subtitle A, Part II, Section 100055, codified at 34 U.S.C. 61101, and is listed under CFDA number 16.076. Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments, along with other units of local government. For purposes of this solicitation, "other units of local government" is clarified to include entities such as towns, boroughs, parishes, and villages, or other general-purpose political subdivisions of a state. The opportunity number is O-BJA-2026-172792, the original application closing date is October 28, 2026, and the award ceiling is $3,000,000.Apply for O BJA 2026 172792
- 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 10" 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 2026-10-14.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-10-28. (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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program (Round 10)
What is the OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program Round 10?
It is a discretionary Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) funding opportunity offered through a cooperative agreement. The program is designed to strengthen the capacity of state, local, Tribal, and territorial prosecuting agencies to partner directly with federal prosecutors on complex criminal matters by supporting qualified prosecutors who can work in federal-aligned roles.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The central purpose is to help jurisdictions assign or hire qualified prosecutors who can be cross-designated to work under federal direction as Special Attorneys (under the National Fraud Enforcement Division or the Criminal Division) or serve inside a U.S. Attorney's Office as Special Assistant United States Attorneys (SAUSAs). The work is intended to improve investigative and prosecutorial capacity and expand coordination between local and federal partners on designated cases.
Who is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) through the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).
What type of award is this?
This is a cooperative agreement, which signals that award recipients should expect close operational collaboration and ongoing coordination with federal partners rather than operating a fully independent, stand-alone project.
Who can apply (eligible applicants)?
Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and other units of local government.
What does "other units of local government" mean for this solicitation?
For purposes of this solicitation, "other units of local government" includes entities such as towns, boroughs, parishes, and villages, or other general-purpose political subdivisions of a state.
What kinds of prosecutorial roles can be supported with this funding?
The funding supports prosecutors who can be cross-designated to work under federal direction as Special Attorneys (under the National Fraud Enforcement Division or the Criminal Division) or who can serve inside a U.S. Attorney's Office as Special Assistant United States Attorneys (SAUSAs).
Do prosecutors funded under this program become federal employees?
No. The notice indicates that prosecutors remain employees of their original home agencies, even while operating in federal-aligned roles under the program.
What federal partners are involved in coordinating the work?
The notice identifies the National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney's Offices as federal partners that will coordinate with selected prosecutor offices on a case-by-case basis.
What is the primary case focus described in the notice?
A key focus is addressing fraud and other crimes committed by aliens within the United States, described in the notice as "criminal aliens."
Can supported personnel work on cases beyond fraud-related matters?
Yes. In addition to the core emphasis described in the notice, cross-designated personnel supported by this funding may also be assigned to cases involving drug trafficking or human trafficking occurring within the United States.
Does the program only fund prosecutors?
No. The program explicitly allows grant funds to be used to add investigative and analytical capacity that supports these prosecutions.
What types of non-prosecutor positions may be supported?
The notice states that allowable support includes hiring criminal investigators and other specialized staff such as analysts, forensic accountants, and similar roles that help with the collection, organization, and analysis of investigative information.
What capacity-building outcomes does the program aim to support?
The broader purpose includes improving how investigative information is gathered and analyzed, strengthening investigative and prosecutorial capacity, expanding intergovernmental coordination, and enhancing the ability of jurisdictions to counter gang or other criminal activity while also improving investigation and prosecution of fraud, drug trafficking, and human trafficking cases tied to the program's focus areas.
How will coordination with federal offices work in practice?
The notice indicates that the National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney's Offices will coordinate with selected prosecutor offices on a case-by-case basis to work through logistics and local circumstances, implying ongoing coordination and joint operational planning.
What is the authorizing statute for this NOFO?
The NOFO is authorized under Public Law 119-21, Title X, Subtitle A, Part II, Section 100055, codified at 34 U.S.C. 61101.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed in the notice is 16.076.
What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is O-BJA-2026-172792.
When is the application closing date?
The original application closing date is October 28, 2026.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $3,000,000.
What is meant by "cross-designated" in the context of this program?
Based on the notice language, "cross-designated" refers to qualified prosecutors from state, local, Tribal, or territorial prosecuting agencies being designated to work under federal direction as Special Attorneys (under the National Fraud Enforcement Division or the Criminal Division) or to serve inside a U.S. Attorney's Office as SAUSAs, while remaining employees of their home agencies.
What is the intended benefit of funding investigators, analysts, or forensic accountants?
The notice describes these roles as supporting the collection, organization, and analysis of investigative information, with the aim of strengthening investigations and prosecutions connected to the program's focus areas and improving coordination across governments.
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