OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program Round 8

The OJP Special Attorneys Program: Round 8 is a federal funding opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance. The program is authorized under Public Law 119-21, Section 100055, codified at 34 U.S.C. 61101, and is intended to strengthen investigative and prosecutorial capacity and expand coordination among federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial authorities. The program supports prosecuting agencies that assign or hire qualified prosecutors to serve full-time, or part-time when approved on a case-by-case basis, as Special Attorneys under the direction of the National Fraud Enforcement Division or Criminal Division, or as Special Assistant United States Attorneys within a United States Attorney's Office. These cross-designated prosecutors remain employees of their home agencies while investigating and prosecuting assigned fraud and other crimes committed by aliens within the United States. They may also be assigned cases involving drug or human trafficking committed within the United States. The program has an expected total funding amount of 300000000 dollars. The anticipated number of awards is not predetermined and will depend on the quantity and viability of applications received. Individual award amounts will be based on approved costs requested by applicants rather than a stated minimum or maximum award amount. Awards will be cooperative agreements with an expected award period of 36 months starting June 1, 2026. Funding may pay 100 percent of salary and fringe benefits for assigned Special Attorneys and Special Assistant United States Attorneys. Applicants may request up to 20 percent in additional funding beyond salary and benefits for specified justice system staffing and capacity activities and equipment and technology purchases that support the program's criminal justice, prosecution, enforcement, coordination, and public safety purposes. Applicants must explain in their narrative whether and how they intend to use this additional funding. Cost sharing or matching is not required. Eligible applicants are government entities with the legal, operational, and managerial capacity to employ prosecutors serving in the required cross-designated capacities. Eligible applicant types include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, and federally recognized Native American Tribal governments. Other units of local government include towns, boroughs, parishes, villages, and other general purpose political subdivisions of a state. For this opportunity, state includes every U.S. state as well as the District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Any government entity applying must be willing to enter into and be bound by the terms of an appropriate memorandum of understanding provided by the National Fraud Enforcement Division, Criminal Division, or relevant U.S. Attorney's Office. Applications follow a two-step federal submission process. Step 1 requires submission of the SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance through Grants.gov by September 14, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Step 2 requires the full application through JustGrants by September 16, 2026 at 8:59 p.m. Eastern Time. The Round 8 release date is August 28, 2026. Required application materials include Standard Applicant Information, a Proposal Narrative, Budget, and a statutory or other authority supporting document. Other application components include a proposal abstract, Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire, applicable budget and financial attachments, a letter of support from the National Fraud Enforcement Division, Criminal Division, or a U.S. Attorney's Office, resumes, proof of active bar admission, certificates of good standing, an applicable Tribal Authorizing Resolution, and a project timeline. Applicants must also complete applicable disclosures, assurances, and certifications in JustGrants. The Proposal Narrative may not exceed 15 pages and must address Project Goals and Objectives, Project Design and Implementation, and Capabilities and Competencies. Project Goals and Objectives account for 20 percent of the application score. Project Design and Implementation accounts for 35 percent and must explain proposed activities, federal coordination, case processes, implementation, personnel, beneficiaries, outputs, and other operational elements. Applicants requesting part-time positions must provide a detailed justification. Capabilities and Competencies account for 30 percent and address administrative and technical capacity, relevant criminal investigation and prosecution experience, interagency coordination, key personnel, willingness to coordinate with federal immigration authorities, and required understanding of the pre-appointment adjudication process for participating attorneys. The Budget accounts for the remaining 15 percent and must identify and justify reasonable, allocable, necessary, and allowable costs. The application review incorporates responsiveness review, peer review criteria, risk review, and a deciding official process. The weighted criteria are Project Goals and Objectives at 20 percent, Project Design and Implementation at 35 percent, Capabilities and Competencies at 30 percent, and Budget at 15 percent. Recipients must submit performance measure data and performance reports in JustGrants on a semi-annual basis. Awards will be made on a rolling basis. This NOFO itself is released in multiple rounds, applications are accepted on a rolling basis until funding is no longer available, and additional rounds may be added. Accordingly, Round 8 has fixed submission deadlines while the broader program remains a recurring multi-round opportunity. The OJP Response Center is the primary NOFO contact and can be reached at OJP.ResponseCenter@usdoj.gov or 800-851-3420. The Round 8 release date is August 28, 2026, the Grants.gov deadline is September 14, 2026, and the JustGrants full application deadline is September 16, 2026. Awards are made on a rolling basis. Applicants should anticipate an award condition requiring recipients to enter into an appropriate memorandum of understanding with the National Fraud Enforcement Division, Criminal Division, or relevant U.S. Attorney's Office establishing the parameters and responsibilities of the parties.

OJP.ResponseCenter@usdoj.gov