FY25 Collaborative Reform Initiative: Organizational Assessment and Critical Response | O COPS 2025 172392

Opportunity Information: Apply for O COPS 2025 172392

The FY25 Collaborative Reform Initiative (CRI): Organizational Assessment and Critical Response opportunity is a discretionary U.S. Department of Justice funding announcement from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office). It will be awarded as a cooperative agreement, meaning the federal government expects to have substantial involvement in the work (for example, through coordination, oversight, or collaboration during project execution). The overall aim of CRI funding is to identify and elevate best practices in law enforcement, support officer safety and wellness, strengthen agencies ability to improve themselves, and promote community policing (also referred to in the materials as "common sense policing") across the country.

This Notice of Funding Opportunity is specifically limited to two CRI program components: Organizational Assessment and Critical Response. Applicants that want consideration for both components must submit two separate applications, one for each program area. The COPS Office also notes that it is not seeking competitive proposals for CRI-TAC in FY25, so applicants should focus only on the two program tracks named in the solicitation.

The funding is intended to support work that helps law enforcement agencies assess and improve internal practices and respond constructively to significant incidents or urgent operational challenges. While the announcement does not lay out the full program design in the text provided, the names of the two tracks generally signal the expected scope: Organizational Assessment centers on structured reviews of policies, practices, and performance to build capacity for continuous improvement, and Critical Response focuses on delivering timely, expert assistance following high-impact events or pressing needs, with an emphasis on identifying lessons learned and recommending reforms aligned with community policing principles.

Eligibility for this FY25 opportunity is limited to for-profit (commercial) organizations, nonprofit organizations, and institutions of higher education (CFDA 16.710). For-profit recipients are allowed to apply, but they must forgo any profit or management fee under the award, which is a notable restriction compared to many other federal funding programs. The COPS Office also allows project teams that involve multiple entities; however, only one organization can be the primary applicant and lead recipient. Any partnering entities that will carry out part of the program work must be disclosed as subrecipients, and the lead applicant is responsible for administering funds, managing the full project, and monitoring compliance for itself and all subrecipients. The notice also emphasizes the compliance distinction between subawards (financial assistance to carry out part of the federal program) and contracts (procurement of goods and services), pointing applicants to 2 CFR 200.331 for guidance on making correct determinations.

The announcement highlights that awards will be implemented in alignment with applicable Executive Orders and Attorney General memoranda tied to the Administrations law-and-order priorities. As described in the notice, those priorities include increasing hiring and retention of state and local sworn officers, improving collaboration with federal task forces, addressing open-air drug use, disrupting fentanyl and other dangerous drug distribution, preventing crime, promoting nuisance abatement strategies, countering human trafficking and child smuggling, and strengthening immigration enforcement and border security. Like most federal grant opportunities, any awards are contingent on the availability of appropriated funds and may be subject to additional legal requirements or updated conditions.

There is also an important compliance note for state and local governmental entities related to 8 USC 1373, which addresses restrictions on information-sharing about citizenship or immigration status with DHS and other government entities. Even though the eligible applicant types listed here focus on for-profit, nonprofit, and higher education organizations, the notice still flags this requirement as part of the broader compliance framework that may be relevant depending on how projects are structured and which entities participate.

Key administrative details from the opportunity listing include the funding opportunity number (O-COPS-2025-172392), an application deadline of June 24, 2025, an award ceiling of up to $1,000,000, and an anticipated total of two awards. Additional program and compliance details are referenced as being available in the appendices of the FY25 Resource Guide for Community Policing Advancement (CPA) Programs, which applicants would likely need to consult for deeper requirements, allowable costs, deliverables, and performance expectations.

• The Community Oriented Policing Services in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY25 Collaborative Reform Initiative: Organizational Assessment and Critical Response" 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 2025-05-14.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-06-24. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for O COPS 2025 172392

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