BJS FY 2026 Annual Surveys of Probation and Parole (ASPP) RY 2026-2030

The Bureau of Justice Statistics, within the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs, is offering the Annual Surveys of Probation and Parole ASPP, 2026-2030 funding opportunity under Assistance Listing 16.734, Special Data Collections and Statistical Studies, and statutory authority 34 U.S.C. 10132. The ASPP consists of the Annual Probation Survey and Annual Parole Survey and represents core BJS data collections describing the size, change, movements, outcomes, and characteristics of community supervision populations at national, federal, and state levels. BJS anticipates making one cooperative agreement for a five-year project covering reference years 2026 through 2030. The purpose of the award is to select a data collection and analysis agent to conduct ASPP collection, processing, analysis, and dissemination activities. The recipient will collect and securely maintain annual ASPP data, improve data quality, timeliness, and reliability, prepare final data files and documentation, support BJS with ad hoc tables and datasets, encourage external research using ASPP data, and expand partnerships and outreach with state and local community corrections networks. Major deliverables include a transferable web-based data collection tool, efficient collection mechanisms, a real-time survey management system, an accurate ASPP respondent frame, timely annual data collection, quality-control processes, annual analytic files and tables, annual collection reviews, assistance with OMB clearance, ad hoc analysis, research supporting future community corrections collections, and recommendations for strengthening BJS partnerships. The expected total funding is $2,250,000, with one anticipated cooperative agreement of up to $2,250,000. The expected award period is 60 months beginning October 1, 2026, with the project scheduled to end September 30, 2031. The notice does not state a required cost share or matching contribution. Budgeted costs must be reasonable, allocable, necessary to implement the project, and allowable under the applicable funding statute and agency requirements. Certain activities are specifically outside program scope or unallowable, including specified activities that violate or impede applicable federal immigration law, activities that violate applicable federal civil rights or nondiscrimination law, and certain legal services for removable aliens or aliens otherwise unlawfully present in the United States, subject to the exceptions described in the notice. Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, federally recognized Native American Tribal governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status other than institutions of higher education, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, and individuals. The notice also defines eligible state government entities and other units of local government. Applicants may submit more than one application when each application proposes a different project. When two or more entities will carry out a project, only one may submit the application, while the other project partners must be proposed as subrecipients rather than co-applicants. Submission occurs in two steps. Applicants must complete the Application for Federal Assistance SF-424 in Grants.gov by September 21, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time and submit the full application in JustGrants by September 28, 2026, at 8:59 PM Eastern Time. Required application elements include the SF-424, Standard Applicant Information, Proposal Narrative, and Budget. Other stated components include a Proposal Abstract, Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire, Agency Funding Priorities Inventory, applicable budget and financial attachments, a Memorandum of Understanding or letter of intent for project partners, Privacy Certification, disclosures, assurances, and certifications. The Proposal Narrative may not exceed 30 pages and should be double-spaced, use a standard 12-point font, have margins of at least one inch, and contain numbered pages. Peer review scoring assigns 5 percent to Description of the Need, 15 percent to Project Goals and Objectives, 35 percent to Project Design and Implementation, 30 percent to Capabilities and Competencies, and 15 percent to the Budget. Applications must also satisfy basic responsiveness requirements, including submission by an eligible applicant, a requested award amount that does not exceed the ceiling, and responsiveness to the scope of the notice. OJP may give priority consideration to projects supporting specified agency funding priorities, but priority consideration does not guarantee an award. The anticipated notification date is by December 1, 2026. The BJS contact is Danielle Kaeble, Statistician, at AskBJS@usdoj.gov or 202-307-0765; email inquiries should include FY26 ASPP in the subject line. The notice was released August 13, 2026. The project is expected to begin October 1, 2026, and continue through September 30, 2031, with each project year running from October 1 through September 30. For the 2026 reference year, the illustrative schedule begins with collection introduction from October through December 2026, followed by data collection and related follow-up and editing from January through May 2027, analysis from May through June, delivery of analytic files from June through July, delivery of report tables and documentation from July through August, and an annual report and lessons learned in September 2027. A BJS-approved Data Management Plan is due no later than 60 days after the award start date. The notice does not state that this funding opportunity itself recurs annually or on another established application cycle.

Keep the proposal narrative within 30 pages, double-spaced with 12-point font and at least 1-inch margins. Align directly to the weighted criteria: need 5%, goals and objectives 15%, design and implementation 35%, capabilities and competencies 30%, and budget 15%. Show a credible plan for annual ASPP collection, secure data management, quality control, timely file delivery, respondent burden reduction, and BJS-ready data products. Ensure the requested amount does not exceed the ceiling and that the application is responsive to the NOFO scope. Address agency funding priorities only when applicable; priority consideration does not guarantee funding.