The Department of Justice (DOJ), through the SMART Office, has issued a funding opportunity to support the maintenance and operation of the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) for fiscal year 2025. The NSOPW is a national system enabling the public to conduct nationwide searches for registered sex offenders using data from jurisdictions, including all 50 states, U.S. territories, the District of Columbia, and federally recognized Indian tribes. This system serves as a centralized tool for law enforcement and public safety, ensuring data accuracy and accessibility through web services and additional platforms like mobile applications.
The cooperative agreement also supports the SORNA Exchange Portal, Tribe and Territory Sex Offender Registry System (TTSORS), and Sex Offender Registry Tool (SORT). TTSORS provides a free administrative registry system for U.S. territories and tribes implementing SORNA, enabling data synchronization with the FBI’s National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR). SORT offers similar services to states and territories, enhancing information-sharing and cost-efficiency. Training and technical support for these tools, along with updates for NSOPW’s mobile app and social media outreach, are included in the award.
Applicants may include nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations, and small businesses. There is no cost-sharing requirement. The anticipated funding ceiling is $1,000,000, with a single award expected. Applications must address the program’s requirements, which include maintaining and enhancing the NSOPW and associated systems, facilitating jurisdictional coordination, and improving tribal registry data accuracy. Applicants should consult the Budget Detail Form for allowable costs when preparing their proposals.
The project aims to uphold the integrity and utility of NSOPW and its associated tools, which play critical roles in public safety and law enforcement. It includes maintenance of the NSOPW mobile applications for Android and iOS, which have facilitated over 11 million searches since their launch, and resources for data sharing and training on SORNA compliance.
Proposals must be submitted by February 24, 2025. Applicants are encouraged to consult the full announcement for detailed submission instructions and application content requirements. For further assistance or clarification, applicants can contact the SMART Office at AskSMART@usdoj.gov.
