FY 2023 COPS Technology and Equipment Program Invitational Solicitation | O COPS 2023 171564

Opportunity Information: Apply for O COPS 2023 171564

The FY 2023 COPS Technology and Equipment Program Invitational Solicitation is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office), designed to help law enforcement and public safety agencies strengthen community policing through targeted investments in technology, equipment, and interoperable communications. The COPS Office is the DOJ component focused on advancing community policing nationwide, and it supports that mission both through grantmaking and by distributing practical information resources on topics like school safety, violent crime reduction, officer safety, and wellness. Over time, Congress has appropriated more than $20 billion to the COPS Office to support community policing, including funding that has helped agencies hire and redeploy large numbers of officers.

This solicitation is rooted in federal law and congressional direction. The underlying statutory authorities include the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (as amended) and the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. The specific funding referenced here comes from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117-328). In that Act and its accompanying explanatory statement, Congress set aside funding for law enforcement technologies, interoperable communications, and related public safety equipment, and it also identified designated projects to be funded under the heading for COPS Technology and Equipment Community Projects (also referred to as COPS Law Enforcement Technology and Equipment). In practical terms, that means this program is not an open competition for any project idea; it is tied to congressionally specified projects and amounts.

Programmatically, the grants support the development and acquisition of equipment and technologies that help agencies prevent and respond to crime while increasing their community policing capacity. A major theme is improving police effectiveness and improving the flow of information, not only among law enforcement agencies, but also between law enforcement, local government service providers, and the communities they serve. A key emphasis is interoperability, meaning tools and systems that allow different agencies and partners to communicate and share information more effectively during day-to-day operations and critical incidents. The solicitation also notes that equipment purchased with these funds should meet applicable requirements from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Office of Law Enforcement Standards, signaling an expectation that purchases align with recognized performance and safety standards where relevant.

Eligibility is limited because this is an invitational program. Only entities specifically identified as eligible invitees (listed in the solicitation materials under the “COPS Other Information” section) may apply. Eligible entity types described at a high level include state, local, tribal, territorial, and other entities, but the deciding factor is whether the applicant is on the invitation list tied to the designated community project funding in the appropriations explanatory statement. Just as important, the COPS Office states it cannot approve changes to the project scope as identified by Congress in that explanatory statement, so applicants are expected to apply for the exact purpose and scope that was designated rather than proposing substitutions or major modifications.

The solicitation reflects broader DOJ and COPS Office priorities beyond equipment procurement. It explicitly frames the program within commitments to promote civil rights and racial equity, increase access to justice, support crime victims and people impacted by the justice system, strengthen community safety in the face of evolving threats, and build trust between law enforcement and the public. While the awards fund technology and equipment, the intended impact is broader: improving service delivery, transparency, safety, and community confidence alongside operational capabilities.

Timing and funding mechanics are also spelled out. The period of performance is set to begin on December 29, 2022, which is the enactment date of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. The solicitation indicates that costs incurred on or after December 29, 2022, but before an award is issued and the project budget is approved by the COPS Office, may be reimbursed; however, applicants take on risk by spending early, because reimbursement is limited to costs that the COPS Office ultimately approves. This creates a narrow window for pre-award costs while making clear that pre-award spending is not guaranteed to be covered.

From the opportunity details provided, the grant is listed under CFDA 16.710 (COPS Office programs), with an opportunity number of O-COPS-2023-171564. It was posted February 22, 2023, and had an original closing date of April 18, 2023. The anticipated number of awards was 196, and the listed award ceiling was $9,000,000 (noting that actual award sizes depend on the congressionally designated project amounts and the specific applicant’s designation). Finally, applicants are directed to the FY23 COPS Technology and Equipment Program Reference Guide, which is incorporated by reference and contains the detailed award terms, conditions, and compliance requirements applicants need to understand before applying.

• The Department of Justice, Community Oriented Policing Services in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2023 COPS Technology and Equipment Program Invitational Solicitation" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.710.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 22, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 18, 2023. (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 $9,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 196 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for O COPS 2023 171564

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