BJA FY25 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR)- Formula Grants Program | O BJA 2025 172460

Opportunity Information: Apply for O BJA 2025 172460

The BJA FY25 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Formula Grants Program is a Bureau of Justice Assistance grant opportunity designed to help public crime laboratories increase their ability to analyze DNA evidence and DNA database samples and to move more qualifying profiles into the FBI's Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). The central goal is practical and workload-driven: reduce existing backlogs of forensic DNA casework and DNA database samples waiting for analysis, and also prevent new backlogs from building up by expanding sustainable lab capacity.

This program focuses on jurisdictions that already have crime laboratories conducting DNA analysis, and it targets the operational bottlenecks that slow the processing of samples that could be uploaded to CODIS. In other words, it is meant to support both "catch-up" work (processing accumulated, untested samples) and "keep-up" work (building staffing, throughput, and systems so routine intake does not outpace a lab's ability to test and upload). By increasing the number of samples processed and eligible profiles entered into CODIS, the program supports broader criminal justice outcomes such as improved investigative leads, stronger case resolution capacity, and faster turnaround times for laboratories and partner agencies.

The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, and is categorized under Law, Justice and Legal Services (CFDA 16.036). The funding instrument is a grant, and the opportunity is listed as discretionary. The program is open to a wide range of public-sector applicants, including state governments and multiple forms of local government such as counties and city or township governments. It also explicitly recognizes other general-purpose local government subdivisions as eligible, including towns, boroughs, parishes, villages, and similar political subdivisions of a state. In addition, special district governments and public or state-controlled institutions of higher education are included among eligible applicants, along with certain other eligible entities as specified by the notice.

Key administrative details provided in the source include an opportunity number of O-BJA-2025-172460 and an original application closing date of October 22, 2025. The listed award ceiling is $3,500,000, indicating that individual awards can be substantial enough to support meaningful laboratory capacity improvements, backlog-reduction efforts, or both. The notice was created on September 11, 2025, signaling it is part of the FY25 funding cycle and aligned with ongoing federal efforts to strengthen forensic DNA processing and database entry nationwide.

Overall, the program is best understood as targeted support for existing DNA-capable labs to increase throughput and reduce wait times, with CODIS entry as a clear performance focus. It aims to improve the speed and volume of DNA sample processing so labs can reduce the number of untested forensic items and database samples on the shelf, while also putting in place the capacity needed to prevent the backlog from returning.

• The Bureau of Justice Assistance in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BJA FY25 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR)- Formula Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.036.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2025-09-11.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-10-22. (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 $3,500,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Others.

Apply for O BJA 2025 172460

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