Pre-Award Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 

for 2023 COPS Office Collaborative Reform 

Initiative: Organizational Assessment and 

Critical Response Program

Q. Will the COPS Office accept any applications that propose the management of all three programs 

under the Collaborative Reform Initiative (CRI-TAC, Critical Response, and Organizational Assessment) 

under one organization?

A. No. The solicitation does not request applications for CRI-TAC. Furthermore, applicants should know that 

they are unlikely to be awarded for both the Critical Response and Organizational Assessment programs. 

While the programs are designed to be complementary technical assistance services offered by the COPS

Office, they are nonetheless intended to be distinct from each other.

Q. What are the differences between CRI-TAC, Critical Response, and Organizational Assessment?

A. The key differences in the programs center around the qualifications of the technical assistance providers 

supporting them and the scope of technical assistance each offers. 

CRI-TAC is a “by the field, for the field” program that is supported specifically and intentionally by law 

enforcement stakeholder associations. The types of technical assistance offered under this program 

includes training, peer exchanges, limited-scope policy reviews, and assistance on a variety of strategic 

and operational issues. Technical assistance engagements are largely internal to the requesting agency 

and are targeted to be completed within six months.

Critical Response is a technical assistance program intended to assist agencies that are encountering 

challenging circumstances, such as the aftermath of a critical incident, and are in need of an independent 

examination of the incident—for example, through an after-action review or assistance with a specific 

aspect of agency operations. 

The Organizational Assessment program is the most intensive form of technical assistance and involves 

both in-depth assessments and timely implementation of reforms with routine public reporting. This 

program is intended to help agencies address systemic issues that challenge community trust and 

confidence.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q. What does the COPS Office mean by “Ability to ensure independence and objectivity throughout the 

project; the provider must take steps to demonstrate and ensure that they will operate as an 

independent third party in the review of the law enforcement agency and not be subject to undue 

influence by stakeholders who may have an interest in the outcome of the reviews”? 

A. Successful applicants will have a track record of and reputation for being independent and objective 

arbiters of facts through the implementation of rigorous organizational assessments. The public should 

have confidence that the findings and recommendations being provided are not unduly influenced by the 

law enforcement agency under review or other stakeholders. However, successful applicants should also 

have a track record of building successful and sustainable partnerships with law enforcement agencies to 

implement organizational reforms. 

Q. How does the Organizational Assessment program differ from the previous Collaborative Reform 

program established in 2011? 

A. This program builds on the successes of the previous collaborative reform model while making significant 

enhancements. The newly revamped Organizational Assessment program will serve the same purpose: to 

provide participating law enforcement agencies with an individualized blueprint for comprehensive 

reform. However, this program is intended to be more transparent and more collaborative and to 

produce results faster. Rather than producing one large voluminous report of findings and 

recommendations, this revamped program will produce ongoing routine updates on findings and 

recommendations via a website. This ongoing production gives both the agency and the public greater 

awareness of the program and the progress being made toward reforms. It also expedites the reform 

process, as agencies can begin implementing reforms as they are identified. It is also important to note 

that participation in the program will be completely voluntary and only at the request of the interested 

law enforcement agencies. 

Q. Will award recipients be required to establish and maintain a website that documents program 

activity? 

A. No. The website will be administered by the COPS Office. The award recipients for both Critical Response 

and Organizational Assessments will be required to provide timely updates to the COPS Office for 

inclusion on the website. 

Questions? For technical assistance with submitting the full application in JustGrants, contact the JustGrants 

Service Desk at JustGrants.Support@usdoj.gov or 833-872-5175. The JustGrants Service Desk operates 5:00 

a.m. to 9:00 p.m. eastern time (ET) Monday to Friday, and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sunday, and 

federal holidays. 

For programmatic and general assistance with the solicitation requirements, contact the COPS Office 

Response Center at 800-421-6770 or by email at AskCOPSRC@usdoj.gov. The Response Center’s hours of 

operation are Monday–Friday (except U.S. Federal Government holidays; see https://www.opm.gov/policydata-oversight/snow-dismissal-procedures/federal-holidays/) from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET. The Response 

Center will remain open on the solicitation closing date until 4:59 p.m. ET. 

CRI Pre-Award FAQ FY 2023 

Page | 2