FIBRS Implementation Assistance Program: Support for Local Law Enforcement Agencies

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, through its Criminal Justice Information Services Division, administers the FIBRS Implementation Assistance Program: Support for Local Law Enforcement Agencies. FDLE originally received authority in FY2021-2022 to administer an estimated $6 million to Florida law enforcement agencies to help offset the financial burden associated with transitioning to the technological requirements of the Florida Incident-Based Reporting System. A total of $1,466,286 was reverted and reappropriated through FY2025-2026. Some of those funds support continuation of pre-existing projects, while approximately $1.2 million is available through the residual funding application process for new applications. The program supports activities directly related to implementing incident-based reporting at eligible agencies. FIBRS is intended to collect and process incident-based crime data from participating Florida local and state law enforcement agencies and provide data to NIBRS, Use-of-Force, and LInX while supporting storage and display of Florida-only statistical data. Eligible expenditures may include overtime for project staff, equipment or supplies required for system upgrades, training, and procurement contracts for services such as data migration, system configuration, and consulting. The application also provides categories for travel and other costs when applicants explain their relationship to incident-based reporting. Items purchased before the grant period are unallowable. Other identified unallowable costs include community outreach and education activities, food and beverages, and trinkets and giveaways. Payments are made on a cost-reimbursement basis and only expenditures contained in the approved grant budget may be paid. FDLE welcomes applications from any Florida law enforcement agency and permits multiple-entity applications using a Parent/Child Contractual Relationship. Special consideration may be given to agencies that are not already submitting FIBRS data, applications involving multiple agencies or an entity representing multiple agencies, agencies in fiscally constrained counties, and agencies that did not receive prior funding. No cost-share or matching requirement is stated in the solicitation. The project period is the state fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2026. Awards cannot be extended under the existing fiscal-year authorization, unused funds after June 30, 2026 revert to the state, and continuation into a subsequent state fiscal year is contingent on legislative approval. Applicants must complete the FIBRS application questionnaire, the pre-award risk assessment, and the accompanying budget detail worksheet. The application requests the recipient agency name and amount requested; current FIBRS submission capabilities; identification of partnership agencies where applicable; a transition plan containing planned activities, milestones, deliverables, and a timeline; anticipated project constraints and responses to those constraints; and explanations of proposed personnel overtime, equipment, procurement contracts, supplies, training, travel, and other expenditures. Applicants must also acknowledge monthly performance reporting, identify required grant contacts and officials, provide procurement and operating capital outlay information, and complete the pre-award risk assessment. The completed application packet and budget workbook must be emailed to CJISFunding@fdle.state.fl.us. Applications are reviewed and scored after the deadline. The Appendix B scoresheet evaluates basic application completeness, priority factors, overview and problem identification, scope of work, performance reporting acknowledgment, grant contacts and officials, and the budget detail worksheet. Priority points favor applicants not currently submitting FIBRS incident-based data, multi-agency applications, agencies supporting their status in a fiscally constrained county, and applicants that have not previously received funding. Applicants are also evaluated on the clarity of their implementation plan, activities and milestones, deliverable dates within the project period, testing transactions with FDLE, the connection between expenditures and eligible activities, and the spending plan for procurement contract deliverables. All applications were required to be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on October 31, 2025. Awards were to be determined after the application deadline. Recipients must submit performance reports within 15 days after the end of each month and financial reports within 30 days after each month. The final financial report is due July 30, 2026, and final reconciliation and closeout must be completed by both parties within 45 days after the grant period ends. Questions and requests for assistance are directed to the Criminal Justice Information Services Division at CJISFunding@fdle.state.fl.us.

Submit the complete application packet, Risk Assessment, and budget worksheet by the deadline because failure on the General Application completeness criteria places the application in the rejection pool. Ensure the amount requested matches the budget detail worksheet. Clearly describe current incident-based reporting capabilities and the implementation plan, including activities, milestones, deliverable dates within the project period, and testing transactions with FDLE. Tie every budget line item directly to an eligible activity and explain the relevance of each expenditure. Provide a clear spend plan for procurement contract deliverables. Applicants not currently submitting FIBRS data, multi-agency applicants, agencies in fiscally constrained counties, and applicants without previous funding can receive priority points.