Pre-Award Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 

for FY 2023 COPS Office School Violence

Prevention Program (SVPP)

Eligibility

Q. What is the purpose of School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) funding?

A. SVPP is a competitive solicitation designed to provide funding to improve security at schools and on 

school grounds in the awardee’s jurisdiction through evidence-based school safety programs. FY 2023 

SVPP funding may be used for the following: 

• “coordination with local law enforcement”; 

• “training for local law enforcement officers to prevent school violence against others and 

self”; 

• “placement and use of metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures”; 

• “acquisition and installation of technology for expedited notification of local law 

enforcement during an emergency”; 

• “any other measure that, in the determination of the director of the COPS Office, may 

provide a significant improvement in security”. 

Q. Who is eligible to apply for funding? 

A. States, units of local government, Indian tribes, and their public agencies are eligible to apply. 

Applications should demonstrate a comprehensive approach to school safety. 

The following entities are eligible to apply under this program:

• States, units of local government, Indian tribes, and their public agencies, including

▪ school districts, including charter school districts and school districts with a single school;

▪ school boards;

▪ law enforcement agencies.

The following entities are ineligible to apply as primary applicants:

• Individual schools

• Nonprofit schools and nonprofit organizations that operate schools

• Private schools, including private charter schools 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q. How long is the award period for SVPP? 

A. SVPP is a three-year (36-month) award program with an opportunity for a no-cost time extension. 

Budget requests must not exceed this three-year period. 

Q. What is meant by evidence-based school safety programs? 

A. The term “evidence-based” means a program, practice, technology, or equipment that meets one of 

the following criteria: 

(A) Demonstrates a statistically significant effect on relevant outcomes based on one of the following: 

i. Strong evidence from not less than 1 well-designed and well-implemented experimental study; 

ii. Moderate evidence from not less than 1 well-designed and well-implemented quasiexperimental study; 

iii. Promising evidence from not less than 1 well-designed and well-implemented correlational 

study with statistical controls for selection bias; 

(B) Demonstrates a rationale based on high-quality research findings or positive evaluation that such 

program, practice, technology, or equipment is likely to improve relevant outcomes and includes 

ongoing efforts to examine the effects of the program, practice, technology, or equipment 

(C) In the case of technology or equipment, demonstrates that use of the technology or equipment is 

i. consistent with best practices for school security, including 

(I) applicable standards for school security established by a Federal or State government 

agency; 

(II) findings and recommendations of public commissions and task forces established to make 

recommendations or set standards for school security; 

ii. compliant with all applicable codes, including building and life safety codes. 

Getting Started 

SVPP applications are a two-part process. Applicants will submit the Standard Applicant Information 

Grants.gov and the full application, including attachments, in JustGrants. For further guidance and 

resources, read the solicitation document carefully, access the DOJ Application Submission Checklist and 

see the JustGrants Application Submission training page. 

Q. What am I required to submit in the application? 

A. See the SVPP solicitation for a complete list of required and optional attachments. 

COPS Office SVPP Pre-Award FAQs FY 2023 

Page | 2 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q. When should I submit my application in JustGrants? 

A. You are urged to begin the application process in Grants.gov as soon as your agency believes it will 

apply for SVPP funding. The Standard Applicant Information must be submitted in Grants.gov by 4:59 

p.m. ET on May 10, 2023. Complete application packages are due by 4:59 p.m. ET on May 17, 2023, in 

JustGrants. Note: Hard copy or emailed applications will not be accepted. 

Allowable Costs under the SVPP 

Q. What may my agency request funding for under the SVPP award program? 

A. Agencies may request funding for costs related to the SVPP project and support one of the authorized 

purpose areas under Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Act of 2018, 

34 U.S.C. § 10551(b)(5)–(9), which may include costs for the following: 

• Coordination. Civilian/Nonsworn Personnel (salaries and benefits). Please note that civilian 

personnel hired under the SVPP must function in a role directly related to the SVPP project 

(examples of allowable personnel may include school safety coordinators, project coordinators, 

project managers, technology managers, emergency management coordinators, or trainers). 

• Equipment. Entry control equipment, school site alarm and protection systems. 

• Technology. Communication technology, emergency alerts, identification technology, laptops, 

maps of schools and bus routes, printers, social media monitoring, tracking systems, and video 

surveillance technology. 

• Supplies. Manuals, paper, pens, and postage. 

• Travel/Training for law enforcement officers to prevent school violence against others and self. 

• Contracts and subawards. 

• Consultants. 

• Other costs. Allowable overtime for civilian personnel that are directly linked to the SVPP project, 

other office supplies not already listed 

Please refer to the SVPP solicitation for a nonexhaustive list of allowable and unallowable costs. All 

budget items are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. 

Q. May we request school resource officer (SRO) positions? 

A. No, school resource officer positions are not an allowable cost under SVPP. Applicants seeking to hire 

school resource officers may apply under the COPS Hiring Program (CHP). 

Q. May we request funding for security officers? 

A. No, security officers are not allowable under SVPP. 

COPS Office SVPP Pre-Award FAQs FY 2023 

Page | 3 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q. Can SVPP funds be used to improve security at institutions of higher learning (community colleges, 

universities, etc.) that provide facilities or services to K–12 students? 

A. Generally, no. SVPP funds are expressly intended to improve security at K–12 schools and on school 

grounds. Requests involving institutions of higher learning may be considered in certain cases where K– 

12 students regularly attend classes in a structure or facility exclusively designated for K–12 students. 

Such requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

Q. What is the maximum amount to be awarded per award? 

A. Each award will be capped at $500,000 in federal funds. 

Q. Is there a match requirement? 

A. Yes, there is a local match requirement of at least 25 percent. The local match must be a cash match 

and must be paid during the award period. 

Q. Am I able to apply for a waiver of the local match under SVPP? 

A. Applicants may request a waiver in the online application. The COPS Office may waive the 25 percent 

local cash match requirement in the case of a recipient with a demonstrated severe financial need. 

During the application process, your agency’s waiver request will be evaluated based on the availability 

of funding, a demonstration of severe financial need as reflected through the fiscal health data section 

of this application, and a comparison of your fiscal health data with that of the overall applicant pool. 

Local match waivers will be limited, so all applicants should plan their budgets with at least a 25 

percent match included. 

Q. What are acceptable sources for the local match? 

A. Matching funds must be a cash match. In-kind contributions are not allowed. Sources for local match 

requirements may include the following: 

• Nonfederal asset forfeitures funds (subject to approval from the state or local oversight 

agency) 

• Funds from state or local governments that are committed to matching funds for your program 

• Funds from federal programs whose statutes specifically authorize their use as matching funds 

• Funds contributed by private sources 

• Federal funds appropriated to tribal agencies or to the Bureau of Indian affairs performing law 

enforcement functions on Indian lands may be used as matching funds 

Q. Is there an MOU (memorandum of understanding) requirement under this program? 

A. We encourage applicants to develop partnerships with key stakeholders for the purposes of the 

application. Letters of support are required from major partners and other significant stakeholders 

when a proposed project involves coordination with another jurisdiction or agency (city, county, law 

enforcement agency, school district, etc.). For example: A law enforcement agency submits a proposal 

COPS Office SVPP Pre-Award FAQs FY 2023 

Page | 4 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

for officer training to prevent violence at local schools. The affected local school district would be 

considered a major partner. The law enforcement agency applicant would be required to submit a 

Letter of Support from the affected school district confirming the district’s planned involvement and 

support of the project. 

Q. May a group of agencies (units of local government and their corresponding school districts) apply as 

a consortium? 

A. Consortia are not eligible to apply. Cities and municipalities are encouraged to partner and work 

together with one single applicant applying as the prime applicant. Units of local government may also 

be listed as subawardees. 

Q. What are the requirements of EO 12372? 

A. Executive Order (EO) 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,” 

(https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SPOC-4-13-20.pdf) requires applicants 

from state and local units of government or other organizations providing services within a state to 

submit a copy of the application to the state single point of contact (SPOC) if one exists and if the 

program has been selected for review. Applicants must contact their state SPOCs to determine whether 

their programs have been selected for state review. The applicant should enter the date that the 

application was sent to the SPOC or the reason such submission is not required in the section of the SF 

424 that refers to EO 12372. 

Preparing Your Application 

Q. Should any documents be printed in preparation to complete the SVPP application? 

A. Applicants may print the solicitation to review the solicitation and required questions and, if applicable, 

the attachments. A PDF version of the solicitation may be found on the SVPP program page. 

See the COPS “How to Apply” page for more information. 

Q. When is a letter of support required? 

A. Letters of support are required from major partners and other significant stakeholders when a 

proposed project involves coordination with another jurisdiction or agency (city, county, law 

enforcement agency, school district, etc.). For example: A law enforcement agency submits a proposal 

for officer training to prevent violence at local schools. The affected local school district would be 

considered a major partner. The law enforcement agency applicant would be required to submit a 

letter of support from the affected school district confirming the district’s planned involvement and 

support of the project. 

COPS Office SVPP Pre-Award FAQs FY 2023 

Page | 5 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q. Are letters of support required only from partner organizations? Can we submit letters from parents, 

teachers, etc. expressing support for the project? 

A. Letters of support are required from partner agencies; when a proposed project involves coordination 

with another jurisdiction or agency (city, county, law enforcement agency, school district, etc.). Support 

letters from other stakeholders may also be uploaded with the application. Please consider limiting the 

number of additional letters to no more than five. 

Q. Can an agency with an existing grant apply again this year for a different project? 

A. SVPP is an open solicitation and previously funded applicants are not restricted from submitting an 

application. 

Budget-Related Questions 

Q. What types of items may be requested? 

A. A list of the allowable costs for SVPP may be found in the SVPP solicitation. 

Q. What are allowable fringe benefits? 

A. In addition to Social Security, Medicare, health insurance, life insurance, vacation (enter value for line 

item only if funds are not included in the base salary listed above), sick leave (enter value for line item 

only if funds are not included in the base salary listed above), retirement, Worker’s Compensation, and 

unemployment insurance, the following are allowable fringe benefits: (1) dental insurance, (2) vision 

insurance, (3) prescription drugs, (4) holiday pay, (5) disability insurance, (6) accidental death and 

disability, (7) 401(k) plan, (8) liability insurance, (9) shift differential payments, (10) accident insurance, 

(11) bonding insurance, (12) Police Trust, (13) state funded retirement system, (14) professional liability 

insurance, (15) Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) tax, and (16) survivor benefit. Other benefits, 

such as severance pay, hazard pay, etc., are not allowed. 

The COPS Office will not pay for any fringe benefits not listed, and if your agency pays those benefits 

for locally funded positions, your agency will be required to do so for SVPP-funded positions with local 

funds. Please note: If sick leave and/or vacation leave costs are already reflected in the base salary 

figure provided, please DO NOT also list these costs individually under fringe benefits. 

Q. Are fringe benefits allowable for requested overtime costs? 

A. Yes, but the only fringe benefits allowable for requested overtime compensation are FICA, Worker’s 

Compensation, and unemployment insurance. The COPS Office will not pay for any other fringe 

benefits for requested overtime costs. If your agency pays for additional benefits for overtime, then 

your agency will be required to do so with local funds. 

Q. How do I determine the health care and fringe benefits costs for my agency? 

A. An agency should contact its Human Resources/Benefits Office to help determine their costs for 

healthcare and fringe benefits. 

COPS Office SVPP Pre-Award FAQs FY 2023 

Page | 6 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Q. Are indirect costs allowable under the SVPP award? 

A. No, indirect costs are not an allowable budget request. 

Q. Are subawards allowed under the SVPP program? 

A. Yes, eligible applicants may use award funds to contract with or make one or more subawards to one or 

more of the following: local educational agencies, nonprofit organizations excluding schools, or units of 

local government or tribal organizations. 

Q. What types of civilian personnel may be requested under SVPP? 

A. Examples of civilian positions that may be hired under SVPP are school safety coordinators, project 

coordinators or project managers, technology managers, emergency management coordinators, and 

trainers. 

Examples of positions that may not be hired or funded under SVPP are teachers, substitute teachers, 

administrators, social workers, and counselors. 

Q. Can the award pay for equipment, technology, or services implemented prior to receiving a grant 

award? 

A. No, the SVPP award funds may only cover costs incurred on or after the award start date. 

Nonsupplanting requirement 

Q. Is there a nonsupplanting requirement for this program? 

A. No, SVPP does not have a nonsupplanting requirement. 

Other Questions 

Q. What is the formula for disbursing SVPP award funds? 

A. SVPP is not a “formula” award program. All applications will be reviewed based on their answers to the 

background information questions, improved security need questions, need for federal assistance 

questions, submitted project and budget narratives, and other relevant factors determined by the COPS 

Office. Awards are made on a competitive basis. 

Q. When will SVPP awards be announced? 

A. The COPS Office notifies all applicants of the status of their application. We anticipate making award 

announcements by the end of the fiscal year. 

COPS Office SVPP Pre-Award FAQs FY 2023 

Page | 7 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partnership with Bureau of Justice Programs (BJA) 

and OJJDP 

The following initiatives are unallowable under the COPS Office School Violence Prevention Program; 

however, funding for these projects may be available through the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA) 

authorized purpose areas under the STOP School Violence Act of 2018, 34 U.S.C. § 10551(b)(1)–(4): 

• Training school personnel and students to prevent student violence against others and self 

• The development and operation of anonymous reporting systems for threats of school 

violence, including mobile telephone applications, hotlines, and Internet websites 

• The development and operation of school threat assessment and intervention teams that may 

include coordination with law enforcement agencies and school personnel 

• Specialized training for school officials in responding to mental health crises 

• Any other measure that, in the determination of the BJA Director, may provide a significant 

improvement in training, threat assessments and reporting, and violence prevention 

Funding may also be available under the OJJDP FY 2023 Enhancing School Capacity to Address Youth 

Violence solicitation. 

NOTE: Under the STOP School Violence Act, COPS Office funds cannot be used for the purchase of budget 

items in the above purpose areas. Applicants interested in the BJA-specific initiatives should see the Bureau 

of Justice Assistance STOP solicitation. Duplicate applications should not be submitted to both COPS and 

BJA or COPS and OJJDP. 

Q. Whom do I contact if I need help? 

A. See the How to Apply page for contact information. 

COPS Office SVPP Pre-Award FAQs FY 2023 

Page | 8