BJA FY 21 Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence - Inventory, Tracking, and Reporting | O BJA 2021 04001

Opportunity Information: Apply for O BJA 2021 04001

The BJA FY 21 Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence - Inventory, Tracking, and Reporting (SAFE-ITR) grant is a discretionary funding opportunity from the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, designed to help jurisdictions get a clear, actionable picture of their sexual assault kit (SAK) backlog and improve how those kits are managed from collection through analysis and case progression. The program sits within DOJ priorities that emphasize civil rights, access to justice, victim support, public safety, and strengthening trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. In practical terms, the opportunity focuses on building the foundational infrastructure and processes needed to know what kits exist, where they are, what has been done with them, and what still needs to happen next.

At the core of the program is support for agencies to inventory, track, and report the status of sexual assault kits, especially those that remain unanalyzed. The intent is not just to create a one-time count, but to support a structured workflow view of SAKs across the system so agencies can manage each kit as it moves through custody and decision points. That includes establishing or improving mechanisms for tracking kit status and generating reporting that can inform leadership decisions, interagency coordination, and accountability. The broader value is that better inventory and tracking reduces the risk of evidence being overlooked, lost in handoffs, or delayed without visibility, which can directly affect investigations, prosecutions, and victim confidence in the process.

A key expectation built into SAFE-ITR is prioritization: applicants are expected to identify which kits should be tested first based on time-sensitive legal constraints. Specifically, agencies should identify and prioritize for testing those SAKs where prosecution may soon be barred by the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations. This requirement reflects a practical justice objective: if resources are limited, the program pushes jurisdictions to focus on kits where delays could permanently close the door on accountability. That prioritization also encourages a disciplined review process that weighs legal timelines alongside investigative needs and case factors.

Administratively, the opportunity is offered as a grant with an award ceiling of up to $960,000. BJA anticipated making about five awards under this solicitation. The opportunity was created on May 5, 2021, with an original application closing date of June 7, 2021. The funding opportunity number is O-BJA-2021-04001, and the CFDA number listed is 16.741. Eligibility is described broadly as "Others" with additional clarification referenced in the solicitation's eligibility section, signaling that eligible entities may extend beyond a narrow set of government units depending on the details BJA provided in the full announcement.

Overall, SAFE-ITR is aimed at helping jurisdictions move from uncertainty and fragmented handling of sexual assault evidence to a more transparent, trackable, and reportable system. By funding inventory and tracking work and tying it to prioritization for kits nearing statute-of-limitations deadlines, the program emphasizes both operational improvement and timely access to justice in sexual assault cases.

• The Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance in the affordable care act sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BJA FY 21 Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence - Inventory, Tracking, and Reporting" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.741.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 05, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 07, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $960,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for O BJA 2021 04001

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