BJA FY 25 Invited to Apply - National Ashanti Alert Network Training and Technical Assistance Program

The National Ashanti Alert Network Training and Technical Assistance Program is administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance within the U.S. Department of Justice. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a federal agency that supports law enforcement, courts, corrections, treatment, and community-based organizations through funding, training, and technical assistance. This funding opportunity is part of a continuation initiative aligned with federal legislation known as the National Ashanti Alert Act, which focuses on improving systems that help locate missing adults over the age of 17. The program reflects the federal government’s broader commitment to public safety and coordinated emergency response infrastructure. The primary purpose of this opportunity is to establish, enhance, and modernize alerting systems and processes used to report and locate missing adults. The program emphasizes integration with existing national emergency communication systems, including the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts. Applicants are expected to support coordination among federal, state, and local authorities responsible for maintaining these systems. Activities funded under this program are intended to strengthen operational capabilities, improve communication protocols, and ensure that alert mechanisms function effectively across jurisdictions. Funding is provided through a cooperative agreement, which indicates substantial involvement from the Bureau of Justice Assistance during the project period. The award ceiling for this opportunity is $842,734, and while a minimum award amount is not clearly defined, funding must be used in accordance with federal guidelines and program objectives. The opportunity includes a cost sharing or matching requirement, though the specific match ratio is not detailed in the available information. Funds are expected to support training, technical assistance delivery, system development, and coordination activities necessary to implement the Ashanti Alert framework. Eligibility for this funding opportunity is highly restricted. Only applicants that have received an official invitation letter from the Bureau of Justice Assistance are permitted to apply. Specifically, the Institute for Intergovernmental Research is identified as the sole eligible applicant. This reflects the continuation nature of the program and suggests that the selected organization has prior involvement or demonstrated capacity in delivering national-level training and technical assistance related to alert systems. The application process is limited to invited applicants and is managed through the federal grants system. Applicants must submit their application by May 6, 2026. There are no pre-application requirements such as letters of intent or concept papers indicated in the available information. The opportunity was posted on April 23, 2026, leaving a short application window. Applicants are expected to comply with all federal submission requirements and provide necessary documentation as outlined in the full notice of funding opportunity. Applications will be reviewed by the Bureau of Justice Assistance in alignment with program goals and statutory requirements. While specific evaluation criteria are not detailed in the summary, typical considerations include organizational capacity, technical expertise, proposed approach, and alignment with program objectives. For assistance or questions, applicants may contact the Office of Justice Programs Response Center via email. The performance period and award timeline are not explicitly stated but are expected to follow federal grant cycles associated with continuation programs. This opportunity does not indicate recurring funding cycles and appears to be a single continuation award tied to existing program infrastructure.