The U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) has released a funding opportunity titled "FY25 Preparing for Active Shooter Situations (PASS) Invitational." This initiative aims to enhance public and law enforcement safety through scenario-based training designed to prepare first responders for active shooter or violent threat situations. The PASS program is aligned with the objectives of the 2016 Protecting Our Lives by Initiating COPS Expansion (POLICE) Act and is intended to strengthen integrated response capabilities among first responders, including law enforcement, fire services, EMS, dispatchers, medical staff, facility security, and emergency managers.
The program offers a cooperative agreement as the funding mechanism, with an estimated total funding of $10.8 million. Only one award is expected to be made, and the maximum funding available for a single applicant is $10.8 million. There is no minimum award amount specified, and no cost sharing or matching requirement is imposed on applicants. The award supports scenario-based training courses that integrate multiple emergency response functions to improve readiness for acts of terrorism or active shooter incidents.
Eligibility for the FY25 PASS Invitational is highly restricted. Only entities that have received a direct invitation from the COPS Office are permitted to apply. While applications involving collaborative efforts between multiple entities are welcome, only one organization may serve as the lead applicant. Any additional entities involved in the project must be identified as subrecipients. The primary applicant is responsible for project execution, administration of funds, and compliance monitoring. Guidance on the differentiation between subawards and procurement contracts is provided in 2 C.F.R. § 200.331.
Applications must be submitted through both Grants.gov and the JustGrants system. Technical assistance is available through multiple channels, including the Grants.gov support hotline and email, as well as the JustGrants Support Center. For programmatic assistance, applicants can contact the COPS Office Response Center. Additionally, applicants are encouraged to provide feedback on the notice of funding opportunity and submission processes.
The opportunity was posted on May 16, 2025, and last updated on June 9, 2025. The application window closes on June 24, 2025. This is not a rolling or recurring grant opportunity; thus, applicants must adhere strictly to the stated deadline. The COPS Office emphasizes compliance with federal mandates and priorities, including law enforcement staffing, drug enforcement, crime prevention, and public safety initiatives.
Applicants should distinguish clearly between subawards and procurement contracts per 2 C.F.R. § 200.331. Feedback on the NOFO is encouraged via the provided email.
