OMB No. 1103-0098 

Approval Expires 4/30/2024 

U.S. Department of Justice 

Office of Community Oriented Policing Services 

FY 2023 COPS Hiring Program 

Assistance Listing Number # 16.710 

Grants.gov Opportunity Number: O-COPS-2023-171633 

Solicitation Release Date: March 08, 2023 3:00 PM ET 

Application Grants.gov Deadline: May 04, 2023 4:59 PM ET 

Application JustGrants Deadline: May 11, 2023 4:59 PM ET 

Overview 

The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office, www.cops.usdoj.gov) 

announces a competitive solicitation for applications for the COPS Office FY 2023 COPS Hiring Program (CHP). This program 

furthers the COPS Office’s goal of advancing public safety through community policing by funding additional full- time career law 

enforcement positions to meet law enforcement agencies’ community policing strategies. 

Eligible Applicants: 

City or township governments, County governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), State 

governments, Other 

Other 

Eligible applicants are limited to local, state, and tribal law enforcement agencies that have primary law enforcement authority. 

See additional eligibility details under the Eligibility section of this solicitation. 

To advance Executive Order 13929 Safe Policing for Safe Communities, as of October 28, 2020, the Attorney General 

determined that all state, local, and university or college law enforcement agencies must be certified by an approved 

independent credentialing body or have started the certification process to be allocated FY 2023 DOJ discretionary grant 

funding, either as a recipient or a subrecipient. For detailed information on this new certification requirement, please visit 

https://cops.usdoj.gov/SafePolicingEO. 

Contact Information 

Applications must be submitted through both Grants.gov and the JustGrants system. 

For technical assistance with Grants.gov, call the Grants.gov customer service hotline at 800-518-4726, send questions via 

email to support@Grants.gov, or consult the Grants.gov Organization Applicant User Guide at 

https://www.grants.gov/help/html/help/index.htm. 

For technical support with JustGrants, please contact JustGrants Support via e-mail at: JustGrants.Support@usdoj.gov or by 

phone 833–872–5175. 

For programmatic assistance with the requirements of this program, please call the COPS Office Response Center at 800-421-

6770 or send questions via email to AskCopsRC@usdoj.gov. 

Submission Information 

Registration: To submit an application, all applicants must obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number and register online 

with the System for Award Management (SAM) and Grants.gov. 

Submission: Completing an application is a two-step process: 

Applicants are first required to register via https://www.grants.gov, complete the SF-424 form and the SF-LLL, and submit it 

through the Grants.gov website. 

Once the SF-424 and SF-LLL have been submitted via Grants.gov, the applicant will complete the full application including 

survey questions in JustGrants. 

Page 1 of 34 

O-COPS-2023-171633 
 

 

 

 

 

An application is not considered submitted until both of these steps are completed. For more information about registration and 

submission, see the “How to Apply” section of this solicitation. 

All guidance and the complete application package for this program is contained in this Solicitation and can also be found at 

https://cops.usdoj.gov/. In addition to this Solicitation, the COPS Office “How to Apply” web page provides additional 

resources to help guide applicants through the process. 

Page 2 of 34 

O-COPS-2023-171633 
 

 

Contents 

Overview .......................................................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................................................

1 

Contact Information 1 

Program Description 4 

Federal Award Information...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

5 

Awards, Amounts and Durations 5 

Federal Award Information 5 

Eligibility Information 5 

Application and Submission Information 5 

Content and Form of Application 5 

Completing the Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) and Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) in 

Grants.gov 8 

Standard Applicant Information 8 

Data Requested with Application 8 

Budget and Associated Documentation 9 

Budget Worksheet and Budget Narrative (Web-based Form).......................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................

................................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

.................................................................

........................................................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

.......................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................

9 

Allowable Costs: Fundable requests 9 

Unallowable Costs: Requests will NOT be funded 10 

Federal/Local Share of Cost 10 

Waiver/Local Match (Cost share) 11 

Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and Other Supportive Documents 11 

Letters of Support 11 

Disclosure and Assurances 11 

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities 12 

DOJ Certified Standard Assurances 12 

DOJ Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free 

Workplace Requirements; Law Enforcement and Community Policing 12 

How to Apply 12 

Submission Dates and Time 12 

Applicant Actions with Required Dates/Deadline 13 

Application Review Information ..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................................................

14 

Review Process 14 

Federal Award Administration Information 15 

Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s) 16 

COPS Other Information 16 

Public Reporting Burden-Paper Work Reduction Act Notice 16 

Performance Measures 17 

Table 1. Performance measures 17 

Application Checklist 17 

Survey Questions 17 

Page 3 of 34 

O-COPS-2023-171633 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Program Description 

The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) is the component of the U.S. Department of Justice 

responsible for advancing the practice of community policing by the nation’s state, local, territorial, and tribal law enforcement 

agencies through information and grant resources. The COPS Office has been appropriated more than $20 billion to advance 

community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the 

hiring and redeployment of more than 136,000 officers. COPS Office information resources, covering a wide range of community 

policing topics such as school and campus safety, violent crime, and officer safety and wellness, can be downloaded via the 

COPS Office’s home page, www.cops.usdoj.gov. 

Community policing is a philosophy that promotes organizational strategies that support the systematic use of partnerships and 

problem-solving techniques to proactively address the immediate conditions that give rise to public safety issues such as 

nonviolent crime, violent crime, and fear of crime. 

The goal of the COPS Hiring Program (CHP) is to provide funding directly to law enforcement agencies to hire and/or rehire 

additional career law enforcement officers in an effort to increase their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. 

Anticipated outcomes of CHP awards include engagement in planned community partnerships, implementation of projects to 

analyze and assess problems, implementation of changes to personnel and agency management in support of community 

policing, and increased capacity of agency to engage in community policing activities. 

Applicants will be expected to describe their community policing strategy and request the number of newly hired and/or rehired 

full-time sworn career law enforcement officer positions necessary to support that strategy. COPS Office funding must be used 

to reorient the mission and activities of law enforcement agencies toward the community or enhance their involvement in 

community policing. 

FY 2023 CHP awards will cover up to 75 percent of the entry-level salary and fringe benefits for each approved position for a 

three-year funding period, based on the applicant’s current entry level salary levels for full-time officers. There is a minimum 25 

percent local cash match (cost share) requirement unless a waiver is approved. The maximum federal share per officer position 

is $125,000 over the three-year period, (not $125,00 per year) unless a local match waiver is approved. Any additional costs for 

higher than entry-level salaries and fringe benefits will be the responsibility of the recipient agency. 

Note: the local match requirement may be higher than 25%. For example, if salary and fringe for an entry-level officer totals 

$190,000 over three years, the CHP award will only cover $125,000 and the recipient agency will be responsible for the 

remaining amount: $65,000 or 34% of the $190,000 award, unless a local match waiver is granted. 

Funding under this program will support three years of officer or deputy salaries within a five-year period of performance to 

accommodate time needed for recruitment and hiring. Agencies must retain each CHP-funded position for a minimum of 12 

months following the three years of funding for that position. The additional officer positions should be added to your agency’s 

law enforcement budget with state and/or local funds over and above the number of locally funded officer positions that would 

have existed in the absence of the award. Absorbing CHP-funded positions through attrition (rather than adding the extra 

positions to your budget with additional funding) does not meet the retention requirement. 

The COPS Office will fund as many positions as possible for successful applicants; however, the number of officer positions 

requested by an agency may be reduced based on the availability of funding and other programmatic considerations. 

Funding under this program may be used for the following: 

• Hire new officers, which includes filling existing officer vacancies that are no longer funded in your agency’s budget. These 

positions must be in addition to your current budgeted (funded) level of sworn officer positions, and the officers must be 

hired on or after the official award start date on the notice of award. 

• Rehire officers laid off by any jurisdiction as a result of state, local, or Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) budget reductions. The 

rehired officers must be rehired on or after the official award start date on the notice of award. Documentation must be 

maintained showing the date(s) that the positions were laid off and rehired. 

• Rehire officers who are (at the time of application) currently scheduled to be laid off by your jurisdiction on a specific future 

date as a result of state, local, or BIA budget reductions. Recipients will be required to continue funding the positions with 

local funding until the date(s) of the scheduled layoffs. The dates of the scheduled layoffs and the number of positions 

affected must be identified in the CHP application. The recipient may rehire the officers with CHP funding on or immediately 

after the date of the scheduled layoff. Unless required by a recipient jurisdiction, the agency is not required to formally 

complete the administrative steps associated with the layoff of the individual officers it is seeking to rehire so long as the 

agency can document that a final, approved budget decision was made to lay off those individual officers on the identified 

layoff date. Documentation must be maintained detailing the dates and reason(s) for the layoffs. Furthermore, agencies 

awarded will be required to maintain documentation that demonstrates that the scheduled layoffs are occurring for local 

economic reasons unrelated to the availability of CHP award funds; such documentation may include local council meeting 

minutes, memoranda, notices, or orders discussing the layoffs, budget documents ordering jurisdiction-wide budget 

reductions, and/or notices provided to the individual officers regarding the layoffs. 

Page 4 of 34 

O-COPS-2023-171633 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An applicant may request funding in one or more of the above-referenced hiring categories under CHP. If an application is 

approved for funding, the notice of award will specify the number of positions approved in each category. Once awarded, 

recipient agencies may not move funded positions between the hiring categories without receiving written prior approval from the 

COPS Office. 

An applicant may not reduce its existing current fiscal year budget for sworn officers just to make use of the CHP award. Any 

budget cut must be unrelated to the receipt of CHP award funds to avoid a violation of the COPS Office statutory nonsupplanting requirement. 

The COPS Office is committed to advancing work that promotes civil rights and racial equity, increases access to justice, 

supports crime victims and individuals impacted by the justice system, strengthens community safety and protects the public 

from crime and evolving threats, and builds trust between law enforcement and the community. 

Federal Award Information 

Awards, Amounts and Durations 

Anticipated Number of Awards

225 

Anticipated Maximum Dollar Amountof Awards

6,250,000 

Period ofPerformance Start Date

10/1/23 

Anticipated Total Amount to be Awarded Under Solicitation 

$224,500,000.00 

Period ofPerformance Duration (Months) 

60 

Federal Award Information 

All awards are subject to the availability of appropriated funds and any modifications or additional requirements that may be 

imposed by law. This solicitation is expected to be very competitive. The COPS Office may elect to fund applications submitted 

under this solicitation in future fiscal years, dependent on, among other considerations, the merit of the applications and on the 

availability of funding. 

Eligibility Information 

Local, state, and tribal law enforcement agencies that have primary law enforcement authority are eligible to apply. An agency 

with primary law enforcement authority is defined as the first responder to calls for service for all types of criminal incidents within 

the jurisdiction served. CHP applicants must have a law enforcement agency (ie. Sheriff’s Office, Department, etc.) that is 

operational by the close of this application or receive services through a new or existing contract for law enforcement services 

through an existing contract for law enforcement services or a new contract for law enforcement services that is in place by the 

close of this solicitation. Applicants must also maintain primary law enforcement authority for the population to be served. If 

funds under this program are to be used as part of a written contracting agreement for law enforcement services (e.g., a town 

that contracts with a neighboring sheriff’s department to receive services), the agency wishing to receive law enforcement 

services must be the legal applicant in this application. 

A law enforcement agency is established and operational if the jurisdiction has passed authorizing legislation and it has a current 

operating budget. 

Application and Submission Information 

Content and Form of Application 

The complete application package (this solicitation, including links to additional documents) is available on Grants.gov and on 

the COPS website https://cops.usdoj.gov/. 

Completing an application under this program is a two-step process. Applicants must first register via www.grants.gov and 

complete an SF-424, the government wide standard application form for federal assistance and the SF-LLL Lobbying Disclosure 

Form. The remainder of the application will be completed through the JustGrants System at https://justicegrants.usdoj.gov/. 

See “How to Apply” and “Submission Date and Time” below. 

Page 5 of 34 

O-COPS-2023-171633 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Applicants are strongly recommended to register immediately on www.grants.gov. Any delays in registering with Grants.gov or 

submitting the SF-424 may result in insufficient time for processing your application through JustGrants. For technical assistance 

with submitting the SF-424, please contact the Grants.gov Customer Service Hotline at 800-518-4726, via email at 

support@grants.gov, or consult the Grants.gov Applicant User Guide at https://www.grants.gov/help/html/help/index.htm. 

For any attachments, please use appropriately descriptive file names (e.g., Letter of Support, Memoranda of Understanding). 

Content and Form of Application 

The application in JustGrants consists of a series of questions, as well as a budget worksheet. Below is a summary of the 

questions that applicants will be required to complete. Applicants are encouraged to read through the online application 

questions in advance to ensure sufficient time to prepare answers to the questions. 

• Agency Eligibility: See Eligibility section to ensure that your agency meets eligibility requirements. 

• Law Enforcement Agency Sworn force information: Applicants will enter information regarding budgeted sworn force 

strength and actual sworn force strength employed at the time of application. 

• Civilian Staff: The number of full- and part-time civilian positions funded in your agency’s annual budget. 

• COPS-funded Officer Request: 

 Applicants will be asked to enter the number of newly hired and/or rehired entry-level officer positions necessary to 

support the proposed community policing strategy. CHP awards are subject to the restrictions described in the 

Program Description and the Budget Worksheet section, including but not limited to: $125,000 maximum over three 

years for each awarded position (not $125,000 per year), a minimum 25 percent match requirement (unless waived), 

12-month retention requirement for each officer hired, and non- supplanting requirements. 

 Requests will be capped at 20% of actual sworn force, with a maximum of 50 officers for any agency. For example, 

agencies with an actual sworn force of 30 will be allowed to request up to 6 positions. Agencies with fewer than 10 

officers may request one position. 

 Applicants should base requests on the current needs in the three hiring categories (new hire, rehire of previously laidoff, and rehire of officers scheduled for lay-off), keeping in mind that once awarded, positions cannot be moved 

between the categories without prior written approval from the COPS Office. 

 Although hiring military veterans as new hires is not an award requirement, applicants who commit to hiring or rehiring 

at least one military veteran will receive additional consideration for CHP funding. Under this solicitation, a military 

veteran is defined as a person who has served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or 

released there from under conditions other than dishonorable. The COPS Office recommends that applicants examine 

their internal hiring practices to ensure that an officer funded by a CHP award would meet the veteran requirement. 

• Law Enforcement and Community Policing Strategy: COPS Office funding must be used to reorient the mission and 

activities of law enforcement agencies toward the community or enhance their involvement in community policing. The 

COPS Office definition of community policing emphasizes the primary components of community partnerships, 

organizational transformation, and problem solving: Community policing is a philosophy that promotes organizational 

strategies that support the systematic use of partnerships and problem-solving techniques to proactively address the 

immediate conditions that give rise to public safety issues such as nonviolent crime, violent crime, and fear of crime. The 

COPS Office developed a list of primary sub-elements of community policing. Please refer to the COPS Office Community 

Policing Defined publication (https://cops.usdoj.gov/RIC/ Publications/cops-p157-pub.pdf) for further information regarding 

these sub- elements. 

Through a series of detailed questions requiring a narrative response, CHP applicants are required to describe how hiring 

additional officers will assist the applicant in implementing and/or enhancing community policing strategies. The first set of 

questions will examine the current policies and practices within the agency as they relate to community policing. The 

second set of questions will assess the proposed community policing strategy as it relates to the three primary elements of 

community policing. 

Agencies that do not meet a minimum community policing score will not be considered for funding. The minimum 

community policing score reflects a basic existing commitment to community policing and a strategy to enhance or build 

community policing capacity. 

• Problem Area Selection: Applicants will identify and describe one specific problem/focus area from the list below. 

Selection of certain problem areas will require additional narrative descriptions. Note that selection of some problem focus 

areas may result in additional consideration for funding (see Application Review Information.) Applicants that select those 

funding areas will not be allowed to change the problem areas/focus area of community policing strategies after the award 

is issued. 

Page 6 of 34 

O-COPS-2023-171633 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If awarded CHP funding, your organization should be prepared to demonstrate (1) the community policing activities 

engaged in prior to the award that are detailed in the application, and (2) how the award funds and award-funded officers 

(or an equal number of redeployed experienced officers) were specifically used to enhance or initiate community policing 

activities according to your community policing strategy contained in the question set of this application. 

Community policing needs may change during the life of your award. Minor changes to this strategy may be made without 

prior approval of the COPS Office; however, the recipient will be required to report on progress or changes to the 

community policing strategy (if any) through required performance reports. If your agency’s community policing strategy 

changes significantly, you must submit those changes to the COPS Office for approval. Changes are significant if they 

deviate from the specific crime problems originally identified and approved in the community policing strategy submitted 

with the application. In some cases, in reviewing performance reports, the COPS Office may identify significant changes in 

community policing strategies that require an explanation and request for approval 

 Building Legitimacy and Trust – Applicant will deploy officers to partner and engage community stakeholders 

including residents, businesses, and faith- based organizations to prioritize and collectively strengthen a community’s 

response to crime and criminal activity and focus on enhancing and maintaining community trust and legitimacy 

between law enforcement and the communities they serve – to include building trust in immigrant communities. Efforts 

could include deploying or redeploying officers to support officer recruitment and retention efforts, with an emphasis on 

promoting diversity. Applicants may wish to review the COPS Office web page Building Trust at 

https://cops.usdoj.gov/buildingtrust for ideas on strategies. 

 Violent Crime/Gun Violence – Applicant will employ community policing strategies to address a range of violent crime 

problems. Community-based approaches to combatting gun violence that build trust in underserved communities 

suffering from high incidents of gun crime will receive additional consideration. Applicants requesting additional 

consideration for gun violence issues will be asked to describe their holistic, community-based approach (which could 

include applicable task force participation) and may wish to review the COPS Office web page on Community Violence 

Interventions at https://cops.usdoj.gov/community_violence_intervention for ideas on strategies. 

 Combating Hate and Domestic Extremism – Applicant will focus on community-based strategies that combat biasmotivated acts of violence that divide our communities, intimidate our most vulnerable citizens, and erode trust in the 

rule of law. Applicants may wish to review the COPS Office web page on Combating Hate Crimes at 

https://cops.usdoj.gov/hatecrimeresources for ideas on strategies 

 Police-based Response to Persons in Crisis – Applicant will focus on deploying officers in crisis intervention teams, 

participation in crisis intervention teams, improving response and interaction with persons in crisis – to include efforts 

focused on the education, prevention, and interventions related to the abuse of opioids and other substances in 

communities. 

 Homeland Security – Building strong relationships with the community can prove vital to preventing acts of terror from 

domestic and foreign actors. This effort includes the thoughtful deployment of officers to strengthen relationships 

across the community spectrum as well as practical partnerships and task force participation to protect public 

infrastructure and enhance security at ports of entry. Applicants may wish to review the COPS Office web page on 

Homeland Security at https://cops.usdoj.gov/homelandsecurity for ideas on strategies 

 Other/Innovations in Community Policing – Applicants should describe new and promising approaches in 

community policing that can be advanced through CHP funding. 

• Need for Federal Assistance: All applicants are required to explain their inability to address the needs identified in this 

application without federal assistance. Applicants will answer a series of questions about their service population and fiscal 

health of their area, including operating budget, poverty and unemployment rates, and other indicators of fiscal health. 

• Property/Violent Crime Rates: Applicants will be asked to enter crime data information for the previous two years for the 

population area served by the agency, using Uniform Crime Reporting crime or NIBRS definitions. 

• Continuation of Project after Federal Funding Ends: All applicants are required to affirm that their agency plans to retain 

all officer positions awarded following the three years of federal funding, for at least 12 months, and to identify their planned 

source(s) of retention funding. The retention period may begin during the five-year period of performance of the award and 

may extend beyond the end date of the award. Agencies that do not plan to retain all officer positions under this award 

program at the time of application are ineligible to apply for CHP funding. 

The retention requirement cannot be satisfied through attrition. The retained CHP- funded officer positions should be added 

to your agency’s law enforcement budget with state and/or local funds for at least 12 months over and above the number of 

locally funded officer positions that would have existed in the absence of the award. 

At the conclusion of federal funding, agencies that fail to retain the additional officer positions awarded under the CHP 

award for a period of 12 months may be ineligible to receive future COPS Office awards for a period of one to three years. 

Page 7 of 34 

O-COPS-2023-171633 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Completing the Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) and Disclosure of Lobbying Activities 

(SF-LLL) in Grants.gov 

The applicant’s SF-424 must be submitted online via www.grants.gov using the information provided on that site. 

Note: Intergovernmental Review (SF-424 Question 19): This solicitation is subject to Executive Order (E.O.) 12372, 

Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs. 

Applicants must check the Office of Management and Budget’s website for the names and addresses of Single Points of Contact 

(SPOC) under Intergovernmental Review: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SPOC-4-13-20.pdf. If 

the applicant’s state appears on the SPOC list, the applicant must contact the state SPOC to find out about, and comply with, 

the state’s process under E.O. 12372. In completing the SF-424, such applicant is to make the appropriate selection in response 

to question 19 once the applicant has complied with its state E.O. 12372 process. An applicant whose state does not appear on 

the SPOC list should answer question 19 by selecting the following response: “Program is subject to E.O. 12372 but has not 

been selected by the state for review.” 

Disclosure ofLobbying Activities 

All applicants must complete and submit the Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) form in Grants.gov. Applicants that do 

not expend any funds for lobbying activities should enter “N/A” in the required highlighted fields. Applicants that expend any 

funds for lobbying activities must provide the information requested on the SF-LLL. 

Standard Applicant Information 

Applicants must complete this web-based form in JustGrants, which is pre-populated with the SF-424 data submitted in 

Grants.gov. Applicants are required to confirm the two Authorized Representatives, verify the legal name and address, and enter 

the ZIP code (s) for the areas affected by the project. 

In order for applicant to complete this section, the two Authorized Representatives must have established accounts in 

JustGrants after the Grants.gov portion of the application is submitted. 

The Authorized Representatives are officials who have ultimate and final responsibility for all programmatic and financial 

decisions regarding this COPS Office application as representatives of your agency, as the legal recipient. 

For guidance on who should be assigned as Authorized Representatives, please see below: 

For law enforcement agencies, COPS Office awards require that both the top law enforcement executive (e.g., chief of police, 

sheriff, or equivalent) and the top government executive (e.g., mayor, board chairman, or equivalent) sign the application, and (if 

awarded funding) accept the award package. Both the top law enforcement executive and the top government executive must 

be assigned the role of Authorized Representative in Just Grants. 

For non–law enforcement agencies (institutions of higher education, school districts, private organizations, etc.), COPS Office 

awards require that both the programmatic official (e.g., executive director, chief executive officer, or equivalent) and financial 

official (e.g., chief financial officer, treasurer, or equivalent) sign the application, and (if awarded funding) accept the award 

package. These two officials must have the ultimate signatory authority to sign contracts on behalf of your organization. Both the 

programmatic official and the financial official must be assigned the role of Authorized Representative in Just Grants. 

Please note that nonexecutive positions (e.g., clerks, trustees) are not acceptable Authorized Representatives. 

Data Requested with Application 

Applicants will be required to respond to the questions at the end of the solicitation. 

Please refer to the steps below to help guide you through initiating, completing, modifying, and obtaining the status of solicitation 

surveys in the JustGrants system: 

1. To initiate a survey, please click on the survey title to open. 

2. When you have completed the survey, please click the “Finish” button on the lower right corner of the screen. The 

system will direct you to a review screen displaying your survey responses. 

3. To go back to the main application screen, go to the “Actions” menu at the top right corner of the screen and 

select "Close” to exit the survey review screen. 

4. The survey you just completed will still display an “Open” status. To confirm the completed status of your survey, 

go back to the “Actions” menu and select “Refresh". The status of your completed survey will change to 

“Resolved- Completed.” 

Page 8 of 34 

O-COPS-2023-171633 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. If you would like to verify the survey responses of a completed survey, you may click the survey title to reopen the 

selected survey and view your saved responses. 

6. If you would like to change and/or update the survey responses of a completed survey, you may click the 

“Reopen” option to update your saved responses. 

Budget and Associated Documentation 

Applicants must complete the web-based budget worksheet form in JustGrants. 

No separate budget narrative is required. It is important to enter accurate information in the budget worksheet, as the information 

provided will be used to determine the amount of your CHP award, if awarded. 

Applicants are required to disclose whether they have pending applications for federally funded assistance or active federal 

awards that support the same or similar activities or services for which award funding is being requested under this application. 

As a general rule, COPS Office award funding may not be used for the same item or service funded through another funding 

source. However, leveraging multiple funding sources in a complementary manner to implement comprehensive programs or 

projects is encouraged and is not seen as inappropriate. 

To aid the COPS Office in the prevention of awarding potentially duplicative funding, you will need to indicate in the application 

question survey whether your agency has a pending application and/or an active award with any other federal funding source 

(e.g., direct federal funding or indirect federal funding through state subawarded federal funds) that supports the same or similar 

activities or services as being proposed in this COPS Office application. For each potentially duplicative program, you will be 

asked to provide the name of the name of federal awarding agency, or state agency for subawarded federal funding, award or 

application number, program name, award start and end dates, award or requested amount, items requested, and description of 

how this project differs from the application for COPS office funding. 

Budget Worksheet and Budget Narrative (Web-based Form) 

Budget requests may only be made in the following categories: 

• Sworn Officer Personnel 

• Fringe Benefits 

Recipients may not use COPS Office funding for the same item or service also funded by another U.S. Department of Justice 

award. 

Non-supplanting requirement: Requests may be made only for positions that are not otherwise budgeted with state, local, or BIA 

funds and that would not be funded in the absence of the CHP award. 

See below for non-exhaustive list of allowable and unallowable costs, as well as guidance for completing each budget category. 

Allowable Costs: Fundable requests 

The only allowable costs under CHP are the approved full-time, entry-level salaries and fringe benefits of newly hired or rehired 

sworn career law enforcement officers who are hired or rehired on or after the award start date. A “career law enforcement 

officer” is a person hired on a permanent basis who is authorized by law or by a state, local, or tribal agency to engage in or 

oversee the prevention, detection, or investigation of violations of criminal laws. 34 U.S.C. §10389(1). The State of Alaska, and 

any Indian tribe or tribal organization in that State, may also use hiring funds for village public safety officers defined as “an 

individual employed as a village public safety officer under the program established by the State pursuant to Alaska Statute 

18.65.670. Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010, Pub. L. 111-211, title II, § 247 (a)(2).” 

An agency seeking to rehire officers scheduled to be laid off on a specific future date with CHP funds must continue to fund them 

with local funds through the award date until the date of the scheduled layoff. Officers previously employed by your agency who 

have been (or are currently scheduled to be) laid off as a result of budget reductions may be rehired using CHP award funds, but 

funding requests must be limited to your agency’s entry-level salaries and fringe benefits for full-time officers. Agencies will be 

responsible for paying any costs that exceed entry-level salaries and fringe benefits with local funds. 

NOTE: The only allowable budget categories under the CHP program are Salaries and Fringe Benefits. Do not enter any funding 

requests under any other budget category. 

The local match will calculate automatically once the overall salary and fringe rates are entered. There is a minimum local match 

requirement of 25%. The local match requirement may exceed 25% if the entry-level salary and fringe costs total more than 

$167,000 over three years. 

Sworn Officer Salaries: You will enter the funding request by indicating the number of officers you are requesting, then by 

providing the current entry-level salary and fringe benefits for one full-time sworn officer. The total request will calculate 

automatically. The number of officers you request in the budget must match the number of officers requested in the question 

survey, and may not exceed 20% of actual full-time sworn force, up to 50 officers. CHP awards are subject to the restrictions 

Page 9 of 34 

O-COPS-2023-171633 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

described in the Program Description, including but not limited to: $125,000 maximum over three years and minimum of 25% 

match requirement (unless waived). Applicants budgeting for an increase in salaries and/or fringe benefits over the life of the 

award are required to provide an explanation. Note that the $125,000 in federal funds total for three years, not $125,000 

annually. For applicants with more than one entry level salary and benefit package based on prior education for new officers with 

no prior law enforcement experience, you may average those salaries and benefits to report your entry-level salary and benefits. 

Please note, however, that any higher salaries and benefits that are paid to compensate for prior law enforcement experience 

are not considered entry-level and should not be included in this average or otherwise reported as entry-level. If awarded CHP 

funding an agency must only use CHP funding to pay the actual entry-level officer’s salary and benefits and any CHP funds 

remaining after the 36-month funding period will be de-obligated. 

Fringe Benefits: Fringe benefits typically covered by the applicant agency, as specified in agency personnel and salary policies 

or contractual agreements, and allowable under 2 CFR 200, will be covered. Examples of allowable fringe benefits include 

Social Security, Medicare, insurance (life, health, dental, etc.), shift differential, retirement plans, and holiday pay. 

The following are considered unallowable costs under the CHP program, regardless of whether they are included as salary or 

fringe: overtime costs, training, travel, equipment (e.g., uniforms, weapons, or vehicles), severance pay, and hazard pay. If your 

agency pays those benefits for locally funded officer positions, your agency will be required to use local funds to do so for CHPfunded officer positions. 

For agencies that do not include fringe benefits (e.g., vacation, holiday, shift differential) as part of the base salary costs and 

typically calculate these separately, the allowable expenditures may be included with personnel costs. Any fringe benefits that 

are already included as part of the agency’s base salary should not be repeated in the separate fringe listing. Fringe benefits that 

do not appear in the drop-down budget menu will not be considered. 

Shift differential pay is a premium hourly rate paid for those hours that are not considered normal day work hours as defined by 

your agency. Typically, shift differential pay is for the hours worked outside of normal day work hours, where the majority of 

hours worked are from 3:00 p.m. of one day until 8:00 a.m. of the following day. This would include the evening shift, midnight 

shift, overlap shift or power shift, or any other designated shift between those hours that would qualify for the shift differential pay 

as defined by your agency and/or a contractual or union agreement. Overtime beyond any defined shift work hours is an 

unallowable cost under 2023 CHP. 

Unallowable Costs: Requests will NOT be funded 

All items other than entry-level personnel costs (salaries and fringe benefits) as described in the preceding section are 

considered unallowable under CHP. Therefore, requests for equipment, training, travel, uniforms, vehicles, and indirect costs are 

not permitted under CHP. 

In addition, the following personnel costs are unallowable: 

• Salaries and fringe benefits of existing locally-funded officers, unless those officers are currently scheduled to be laid off on 

a specific future date 

• Salaries and fringe benefits over and above an agency’s entry-level salary and fringe benefits for officers 

• Salaries and fringe benefits for civilian or nonsworn personnel 

• Salaries and fringe benefits for part-time officer positions 

• Salaries and fringe benefits for furloughed officers 

• Salaries and fringe benefits for correctional officers 

• Overtime costs, severance pay, hazard pay 

• Retroactive pay 

This is not an inclusive list, and items not listed above will be reviewed on a case-by- case basis. The COPS Office reserves the 

right to deny funding for items that may not be included on this list. Agencies are expected to request items that show a direct 

link between the requested item(s) and the applicant’s CHP project. All requests must contribute directly to the specific purpose 

of the award project and relate to the appropriations language enacted for FY 2023. 

Federal/Local Share of Cost 

In the budget worksheet, the applicant will be required to indicate the number of officers, and the total salary and fringe benefits 

for the three-year salary period for ONE entry- level officer. The local match will calculate automatically. The minimum local 

match requirement is 25 percent of the total project cost, although it may be higher, and the cap on the amount of federal 

funding that can be requested per officer position is $125,000 over three years (36 months). Any additional costs above the local 

match and officer funding cap will be the responsibility of the recipient agency. Recipients are also required to pay a 

progressively larger share of the cost of the award with local funds over the award period. The applicant will also be asked for a 

projection of the planned federal and local shares of the total project costs over the three years of funding for each position. 

Page 10 of 34 

O-COPS-2023-171633 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While your agency may deviate from these specific projections during the award period, it must still ensure that the federal share 

decreases and the local share increases. 

Budget summary: The budget summary will automatically calculate total project costs based on the figures provided in the 

budget worksheet and the number of officer positions requested in the application. It will also calculate the amount of the local 

match requirement. Ensure that the number of officers requested in the budget matches the number entered in the question 

survey, and is equal to or less than 20% of actual sworn full-time force. 

Waiver/Local Match (Costshare) 

The COPS Office may waive some or all of an applicant’s local match requirement. During the application review process, your 

agency’s waiver request will be evaluated based on the availability of funding, a demonstration of severe fiscal distress as 

supported by the fiscal health data provided in this application, and comparison of your fiscal health data with that of the overall 

CHP applicant pool. If your agency wishes to be considered for a waiver, you must respond to the applicable question. Please 

indicate whether the COPS Office should continue to consider your application if the waiver request is not granted or whether it 

should be removed from consideration if the waiver is not granted. If a full or partial waiver is granted, and your application is 

funded for a reduced number of officer positions, the percentage of local share provided will be applied to the total project cost of 

the awarded officers. 

Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and Other Supportive Documents 

As applicable, applicants will attach any memoranda of understanding or partner agreements in this section. 

School Resource Officer (SRO) MOU (If applicable): Recipients awarded CHP funding to hire and/or deploy SRO into schools 

will be required to submit to the COPS Office a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the law enforcement 

agency and the school partner(s) within 90 days of the date shown on the award letter, and before expending or drawing down 

funds under the award. An MOU is not required at the time of application; however, if the law enforcement agency already has 

an MOU in place that is applicable to the partnership, the MOU can be uploaded as an attachment under the Section in 

JustGrants titled “MOUs and Other Supporting Documents”. 

Agencies selecting SROs should adhere to the guiding principles presented in the SRO Guiding Principles which can be found 

at SUPPORTING SAFE SCHOOLS | COPS OFFICE (usdoj.gov). 

The MOU must contain the following: the purpose of the MOU; clearly defined roles and responsibilities of the school district and 

the law enforcement agency focusing on the officers’ roles on safety, information sharing, supervision responsibility, and chain of 

command for the SRO; and signatures. The MOU is an agreement among parties that defines the roles and responsibilities of 

the individuals and partners involved, including SROs, school administrators, law enforcement and education departments, 

students, and parents. The MOU should explicitly state the proposed programs and daily activities that the SRO will develop 

and/or administer. It should also address the policies and procedures and the extent to which information will be shared between 

the law enforcement agency and school or school district partners throughout the course of the award. The MOU should be 

signed by the law enforcement executive and designated representative for the school or school district who has general 

educational oversight within that jurisdiction. 

Please refer to the MOU fact sheet at https://cops.usdoj.gov/chp for a full description of requirements. 

School Resource Officer Official Partner Contact Information (ifapplicable) 

Applicants requesting funding for SROs should enter in contact information for each school partner where the SROs will be 

deployed, if known at time of application. This information is not required at the time of application, but will be required for any 

agency awarded CHP funding for officers to be deployed as SROs. 

Letters of Support 

As applicable, applicants may attach letters of support, but these are not required. 

The COPS Office strongly recommends that uploaded files be clearly named to indicate the applicant organization name and the 

file contents to ensure that reviewers can easily locate application documents, such as “[Applicant] Letter of Support.” 

Recommended file formats are PDF, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel. The system may reject applications with other 

formats. If an applicant submits multiple versions of the same document, the COPS Office will review only the most recent 

system-validated version submitted. 

Disclosure and Assurances 

The applicant must review, complete, and submit all disclosures, assurances, and certifications as described below. The full text 

of the Certifications is available in the Application Resource Guide. An application may not be funded or, if awarded, a hold may 

be placed on this application if it is deemed that the applicant is not in compliance with federal civil rights laws, is not cooperating 

with an ongoing federal civil rights investigation, or is not cooperating with a U.S. Department of Justice award review or audit. 

Page 11 of 34 

O-COPS-2023-171633 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities 

Important – all applicants must complete the SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities in Grants.gov prior to beginning the 

application process in JustGrants. Applicants that do not expend any funds for lobbying activities should enter “N/A” in the 

required highlighted fields. 

DOJ Certified Standard Assurances 

Applicants must read and acknowledge the DOJ Certified Standard Assurances in JustGrants. Full text of the Certified Standard 

Assurances is available in the Application Resource Guide. 

DOJ Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; 

Drug-Free Workplace Requirements; Law Enforcement and Community Policing 

Applicants must read and acknowledge these DOJ certifications in JustGrants. Full text of the DOJ certifications is available in 

the Application Resource Guide. 

How to Apply 

Applications must be submitted electronically through JustGrants following the submission of the SF-424 and SF-LLL via 

Grants.gov. See Submission Dates and Times below for a list of steps for registering with all required systems and deadlines for 

completing each step. 

Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

Federal regulations require that an applicant for federal funding: (1) be registered in SAM before submitting its application; (2) 

provide a valid unique entity identifier in its application; and (3) continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current 

information at all times during which it has an active federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a federal 

awarding agency. The COPS Office may not make an award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable 

unique entity identifier and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with these requirements by the time the 

COPS Office is ready to make an award, then the COPS office may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive an 

award. See 2 C.F.R. §§ 25.200, 25.205 and the Award Terms and Conditions for further information. 

The Unique Entity ID (SAM) is a 12-character alpha-numeric value and once issued, will not change. Entities that are currently 

registered in SAM.gov already have a Unique Entity ID (SAM) which can be viewed in SAM.gov. 

SAM centralizes information about grant recipients and provides a central location for grant recipients to change organizational 

information. Grants.gov uses SAM to establish roles and IDs for electronic submission of grant applications. 

If the applicant already has an Employer Identification Number (EIN), the SAM registration will take up to two weeks to process. 

If the applicant does not have an EIN, then the applicant should allow two to five weeks for obtaining an EIN from the Internal 

Revenue Service. There is no fee associated with these processes. These processes cannot be expedited. 

The COPS Office strongly discourages applicants from paying a third party to apply or register on their behalf in an attempt to 

expedite these processes. 

To ensure all applicants are able to apply by the deadline for this solicitation, applicants must have registered online with the 

SAM and with Grants.gov well in advance of the JustGrants deadline. 

Submission Dates and Time 

All completed applications must be submitted by the deadline. 

The completed SF-424 and SF-LLL must be submitted in Grants.gov by May 4, 2023 by 4:59 pm EST and applications in 

JustGrants by May 11, 2023 by 4:59 pm EST. 

After applicants register with SAM, or confirm their active registration in SAM they can begin the Grants.gov registration process. 

The applying organization must complete the Grants.gov registration process prior to beginning an application for a federal 

grant. The E- Business Point of Contact (E-Biz POC) must register the applicant organization with Grants.gov. The E-Biz POC 

oversees the applicant’s Grants.gov transactions and assigns the Authorized Representative. The Authorized Organization 

Representative (AOR) submits the application to Grants.gov and must also register with Grants.gov. In some cases, the E-Biz 

POC is also the AOR for the applicant. Complete instructions can be found at www.Grants.gov. 

In JustGrants, each applying entity will have an assigned Entity Administrator who is responsible for managing entity-level 

information and assigning roles in the system. The Entity Administrator is also the E-Biz POC designated in SAM.gov. For more 

information on registering with JustGrants, see https://justicegrants.usdoj.gov/. 

It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the application is complete and submitted by the deadline. Failure to meet the 

submission deadline will result in an application not being considered for funding. Applicants should refer to the list below to 

ensure that all required steps and deadlines are met. 

Page 12 of 34 

O-COPS-2023-171633 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Applicant Actions with Required Dates/Deadline 

1. Register with SAM or confirm applicant’s active registration with SAM Access the SAM online registration through 

the SAM homepage at https://www.sam.gov/SAM and follow the online instructions for new SAM users. If the 

applicant already has the necessary information on hand, the online registration takes approximately 30 minutes 

to complete, depending upon the size and complexity of the business or organization. Organizations must update 

or renew their SAM registration at least once a year to maintain an active status. 

2. Register with Grants.gov. Once the SAM registration is active, the applicant will be able to complete the 

Grants.gov registration. 

3. Download the updated version of Adobe Acrobat before the Grants.gov deadline. Applicants are responsible for 

ensuring that the most up-to-date version of Adobe Acrobat is installed on all computers that may be used to 

download the solicitation and to submit the SF-424 and SF-LLL on Grants.gov. To verify that the Adobe software 

version is compatible with Grants.gov, please visit the following link: 

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html. 

4. Begin application submission process in Grants.gov as early as possible, but no later than 24-48 hours prior to the 

Grants.gov deadline. Applicants may find this funding opportunity on Grants.gov by using the assistance listing 

number, Grants.gov opportunity number, or the title of this solicitation, all of which can be found on the cover 

page. Applicants will submit two forms in Grants.gov (SF-424 and SF-LLL). 

5. The Grants.gov Workspace Status will change from “In Progress” to “Submitted” once the SF-424 and SF-LLL 

have been successfully submitted in Grants.gov. Within 48 hours after submitting the SF-424 in Grants.gov, the 

applicant should receive four (4) notifications from Grants.gov (i.e., submission receipt, validation receipt, grantor 

agency retrieval receipt, and agency tracking number assignment). (Note: It is possible to first receive a message 

indicating that the application is received, and then receive a rejection notice a few minutes or hours later.) 

6. Within 24 hours AFTER receiving a confirmation email from Grants.gov, the Application Submitter will receive an 

email from JustGrants with instructions to complete the rest of the application in JustGrants. If the applicant is a 

new user in JustGrants, the email will include instructions on registering with JustGrants. 

7. Upon receipt of this email, register with JustGrants (if necessary), invite additional users including Authorized 

Representatives, and begin to develop the application. Some of the application components will be entered 

directly into JustGrants, and others will require uploading attached documents. Therefore, applicants will need to 

allow ample time before the JustGrants deadline to prepare each component and to submit the complete 

application package at least 24-48 hours prior to the deadline. Applicants may save their progress in the system 

and revise the application as needed prior to hitting the Submit button at the end of the application in JustGrants. 

8. IMPORTANT: In addition to the Application Submitter, the Entity Administrator and the two Authorized 

Representatives should be standing by to assist with application submission. The Entity Administrator will create 

accounts in JustGrants for the two Authorized Representatives, who must log in to JustGrants to review the 

application prior to submission. 

9. Confirm application receipt: Applicants should closely monitor their email and JustGrants accounts for any 

notifications from Grants.gov or JustGrants about a possible failed submission. The user who is authorized to 

submit applications on behalf of the organization is the one who will receive these notifications. The COPS Office 

does not send out these notifications, nor does the COPS Office receive a copy of these notifications. It is the 

applicant’s responsibility to notify the COPS Office of any problems with the application submission process. 

Submitting the application components at least 48 hours prior to the deadline will enable the applicant to receive 

notice of a failed submission and provide an opportunity to correct the error before the applicable deadline. 

Late Submissions: The COPS Office will review on a case-by-case basis requests for late submission due to unforeseen 

technical issues or extraordinary events such as extreme weather emergencies or mass casualty events. Requests for an 

extension of the Grants.gov deadline must be received prior to the close of the solicitation in Grants.gov. Requests for an 

extension of the JustGrants deadline must be made prior to the close of the solicitation in JustGrants. No late submission 

requests will be considered once the solicitation closes. Extension of deadlines is rare and not guaranteed. 

To be considered for an extension, applicants must contact the COPS Office Response Center via email to 

AskCopsRC@usdoj.gov detailing the technical/extraordinary issues that impact application submission. This must be 

submitted prior to the deadline for which the applicant is requesting an extension. The applicant’s email must include the 

following information: UEI number, organization name, point of contact name and information, application ID, and the nature of 

the issue/disaster and how it affected the applicant’s ability to submit an application on time. The email subject line should read 

“[ Insert Program] Extraordinary Circumstances: UEI number, Agency Name, Application ID”; with your UEI number and 

organization name included in the subject line. 

The COPS Office will respond to each applicant as soon as possible with either an approval and instructions for submission, or a 

rejection. If the technical issues you reported cannot be validated, the application will be rejected. 

Page 13 of 34 

O-COPS-2023-171633 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following conditions are not valid reasons to request an extension: (1) failure to begin the registration process in sufficient 

time; (2) failure to follow instructions on Grants.gov or JustGrants; (3) failure of the two assigned authorized representatives, with 

the proper authority, to activate accounts in JustGrants prior to application submission; (4) failure to follow all of the instructions 

in the solicitation; (5) failure to register or update information on the SAM website; and/or (6) failure to register or complete SF424 or SF- LLL in grants.gov. 

Application Review Information 

The COPS Office is committed to ensuring a fair and open merit review process. Applications that meet eligibility and basic 

minimum requirements will be subject to a merit review and ranking process. The merit review will consist of both a 

programmatic and financial review and will be conducted by COPS Office staff or in collaboration with other subject matter 

experts. The review will also assess whether costs are reasonable, necessary, allowable, and allocable under applicable federal 

cost principles, agency regulations, and the program. 

Prior to award, applications for potential awards will receive a financial integrity review to evaluate the fiscal integrity and 

financial capability of applicants and to examine proposed costs and the extent to which the budget detail worksheet supports 

and explains project costs. This review will also assess whether costs are reasonable, necessary, and allocable under applicable 

federal cost principles and agency regulations. This financial review will be conducted by the COPS Office staff. 

In addition, prior to making an award greater than the simplified acquisition threshold (currently set at $250,000), any information 

about applicants that is in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM will be reviewed and 

considered. 

Applicants may review and comment on any information about them in SAM that a Federal awarding agency previously entered 

in the designated integrity and performance system, and such applicant comments will also be reviewed and considered. 

Past performance on previous awards may be in an indicator in this review process. Financial and programmatic performance 

factors may be included in the past performance review. 

Absent explicit statutory authorization or written delegation of authority to the contrary, all final award decisions will be made by 

the Director of the COPS Office, who may also give consideration to factors including, but not limited to, underserved 

populations, population served, geographic diversity, strategic priorities, past performance, risk, and available funding when 

making awards. 

Review Process 

In the merit review selection process for CHP awards, the COPS Office will make an initial determination, balancing the 

applicant’s need for federal assistance (as measured by economic and fiscal health questions) with crime rates, the applicant’s 

current commitment to community policing, and the strength of their proposed community policing strategy. 

Applications will be scored according to the following weighting methodology: 

• Fiscal need: 33.3 percent 

• Crime: 33.3 percent 

• Community policing: 33.3 percent 

Agencies that do not meet a minimum community policing score, reflecting a basic commitment to community policing and a 

strategy to continue or enhance it, will not be considered for funding. 

Additional consideration will be given to applicants who propose a community-based approach to the following four problem/ 

focus areas. Applicants who choose one of the community policing problems or priority focus areas listed here must devote 

100% of their funded positions to that focus area, and will not be allowed to change their choice once the award has been 

issued. 

• Building Legitimacy and Trust 

• Violent Crime/Gun Violence 

• Combating Hate and Domestic Extremism 

• Police-based Response to Persons in Crisis 

Additional consideration may also be given to applicants that meet any of the following criteria: 

• Executive Order 14074, Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing and Criminal Justice Practices to Enhance 

Public Trust and Public Safety – Applicants that demonstrate or seek to support the policies of the Executive Order. See 

section below titled “Executive Order 14074, Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing and Criminal Justice Practices to 

Enhance Public Trust and Public Safety*. 

• Persistent Poverty – Applicants in an area with persistent poverty 

Page 14 of 34 

O-COPS-2023-171633 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Preventing Radicalization of Personnel – applicants seeking support for screening and counseling programs to identify 

and prevent the radicalization of applicants and personnel who endorse violent and hateful extremist movements 

• Community-based Hires – Applicants that commit to recruiting officers from the community in which they will serve 

• Community-based Officer Relocation – Applicants that commit to recruiting officers who are willing to relocate to areas 

characterized by fragmented relations between police and community residents, or areas of high crime 

• Diversity Training – Agencies that require evidenced-based cultural sensitivity training for officers, including training on 

ethnic and racial bias, racial profiling, gender bias, sexual orientation and gender identity bias, cultural diversity, use of 

force, procedural justice, and law enforcement interaction with people with disabilities, the mentally ill, and English 

Language Learners 

• Safe Harbor – Applicants in states with certain anti-human trafficking laws that treat minors engaged in commercial sex as 

victims (referred to as “safe harbor” laws) and permit individuals to vacate arrest or prosecution records for non- violent 

offenses as a result of being trafficked 

• Catastrophic Incident – Applicants that experienced an unanticipated catastrophic event or Attorney General declared 

area in crime-related crisis 

• Hiring Veterans - Applicants that commit to hiring at least one military veteran 

• Rural Designation - Applicants from rural areas 

• Agency not funded in FY22- Applicants that did not receive a CHP award in FY 2022 

Executive Order 14074, Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing and Criminal Justice Practices to 

Enhance Public Trust and Public Safety 

Executive Order 14074, Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing and Criminal Justice Practices to Enhance Public Trust and 

Public Safety requires the Attorney General, through discretionary grantmaking and training and technical assistance, to 

encourage and support State, Tribal, local, and territorial governments and law enforcement agencies to adopt the policies, best 

practices, and guidelines addressed in the executive order, including, but not limited to: (i) investigating deaths in custody; (ii) 

recruiting and retaining diverse and service-oriented law enforcement professionals; (iii) collecting and reporting use of force and 

misconduct data; (iv) improving community and law enforcement dialogue; (v) responding to individuals in mental health crisis or 

with disabilities; (vi) the proper and responsible use of technology; (vii) restrictions on unannounced entries and certain 

restraints; (viii) addressing implicit bias; (ix) restricting the use of militarized equipment; (x) broader criminal justice reform; and, 

(xi) officer wellness and mental health. 

As such guidance is developed in accordance with the executive order, and where the guidance is applicable to the specific 

solicitation, DOJ will identify specific opportunities for training and technical assistance and priority consideration for applications 

that demonstrate or seek to support the policies of the Executive Order. 

For the purposes of this solicitation, COPS will provide priority consideration for the following items, where appropriate, for which 

the DOJ has already issued policies, guidance, and/or best practices: 

1. participation in the collection and reporting to DOJ of data on law enforcement use of force and deaths in custody; 

2. participation in the collection and reporting to DOJ of data on officer suicides and officers killed and assaulted; 

3. restrictions on unannounced entries and neck/carotid restraints; and, 

4. restrictions on the possession and use of militarized equipment. 

To receive this consideration, COPS Office applicants must respond to questions at the time of application in JustGrants. 

Federal Award Administration Information 

Federal Award Notices 

Award notification will be sent electronically from JustGrants. This award notification will include instruction on enrolling in 

Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP) and accepting the award. Recipients will be required to log into 

JustGrants to review, sign, and accept the award. The notice of award will contain details about the award including start and 

end dates, funding amounts, and the award conditions. The Authorized Representatives must acknowledge having read and 

understood all sections of the award instrument and submit the required declaration and certification to accept the award; these 

steps will be completed electronically in JustGrants before you will be able to draw down funds or begin implementing the 

program. By accepting the award and the COPS Office funding, your agency acknowledges that it will comply with these 

conditions and, if applicable, additional special conditions specific to your agency. 

Page 15 of 34 

O-COPS-2023-171633 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In limited circumstances, your award may be subject to special conditions that prevent your agency from drawing down or 

accessing award funds until the special conditions are satisfied as determined by the COPS Office. Any special conditions will 

be included with your award. 

All applicants should anticipate notification of funding decisions by September 30, 2023. 

Administrative and National Policy Requirements 

If selected for funding, in addition to implementing the funded project consistent with the approved project proposal and budget, 

the recipient must comply with the award terms and conditions, and other legal requirements including, but not limited to, OMB, 

DOJ, or other federal regulations that will be included in the award or incorporated into the award by reference or are otherwise 

applicable to the award. 

The COPS Office strongly encourages applicants to review applicable requirements and terms and conditions prior to submitting 

an application. 

Terms and conditions for COPS Office awards are available on the COPS website in the Application Resource Guide. Terms 

and conditions are subject to change before the award is issued. The Application Resource Guide also contains additional 

requirements which apply to this application and award, including audit requirements, suspension, and termination requirements. 

Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Requirements 

Law enforcement agencies receiving federal funding from the COPS Office will be monitored to ensure compliance with their 

award conditions and other applicable statutes and regulations, and track progress towards achieving the goal of advancement 

of community policing. 

Award monitoring activities conducted by the COPS Office include site visits, office- based grant reviews, alleged noncompliance 

reviews, financial and programmatic reporting, and audit resolution. As a COPS Office award recipient, you agree to cooperate 

with and respond to any requests for information pertaining to your award. This includes all financial records, such as general 

accounting ledgers and all supporting documents. All information pertinent to the implementation of the award is subject to 

agency review throughout the life of the award, during the close-out process and for three-years after the submission of the final 

expenditure report. 

Evaluation: Though a formal assessment is not required, awarded agencies are strongly encouraged to conduct an 

independent assessment of their respective award-funded projects. Project evaluations have proven to be valuable tools in 

helping departments identify areas in need of improvement, providing data of successful processes and reducing vulnerabilities. 

Award funding cannot be used to for evaluations. 

Reporting Requirements: If awarded, recipients will be required to submit quarterly financial and semi-annual performance 

reports. 

• Financial reporting: Recipients will be required to electronically submit a quarterly Federal Financial Report (FFR) using the 

SF-425 form by the 30th day following the end of each calendar quarter, and a final report is due 120 days following the 

award end date. Recipients who do not submit SF-425 reports by the due date will be unable to draw down funds. 

• Performance reporting: Recipients will be required to electronically submit semi- annual performance reports, and a final 

performance report will be due 120 days following the award end date. 

Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s) 

For technical assistance with Grants.gov, call the Grants.gov customer service hotline at 800-518-4726, send questions via 

email to support@Grants.gov, or consult the Grants.gov Organization Applicant User Guide at 

https://www.grants.gov/help/html/help/index.htm. 

For technical support with JustGrants, contact JustGrants Support at JustGrants.Support@usdoj.gov or 833–872–5175. 

For programmatic assistance with the requirements of this program please call the COPS Office Response Center at 800-421-

6770 or send questions via email to AskCopsRC@usdoj.gov. 

COPS Other Information 

Public Reporting Burden-Paper Work Reduction Act Notice 

The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to be up to 11.3 hours per response, depending upon 

the COPS Office program being applied for, which includes time for reviewing instructions. Send comments regarding this 

burden estimate or any other aspects of the collection of this information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the 

Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, U.S. Department of Justice, 145 N Street NE, Washington, DC 20530; and to 

the Public Use Reports Project, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, 

DC 20503. 

Page 16 of 34 

O-COPS-2023-171633 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You are not required to respond to this collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The OMB control 

number for this application is 1103-0098, and the expiration date is 4/30/2024. 

Performance Measures 

To assist in fulfilling the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) responsibilities under the Government Performance and Results 

Modernization Act (GPRAMA) of 2010, P.L. 111-352, recipients who receive funding from the Federal Government must 

measure the results of work that funding supports. GPRAMA specifically requires the COPS Office and other federal agencies to 

set program goals, measure performance against those goals, and publicly report progress in the form of funding spent, 

resources used, activities performed, services delivered, and results achieved. 

Performance measures for this program are as shown in table 1. 

Table 1. Performance measures 

Objective Performance Measures Data recipient provides 

Increase the capacity of law enforcement 

agencies to implement community policing 

strategies that strengthen partnerships for safer 

communities and enhance law enforcement’s 

capacity to prevent, solve, and control crime 

through funding for personnel, technology, 

equipment, and training 

Extent to which COPS Office knowledge resources 

(e.g., publications, podcasts, training, etc.) have 

increased your agency’s community policing 

capacity? 

Extent to which COPS Office award funding (e.g., 

officers, equipment, training, technical assistance, 

etc.) has increased your agency’s community 

policing capacity? 

The number of partnerships established or 

enhanced during the grant period. 

Data will be collected on a 

periodic basis through 

recipient performance 

reports. 

COPS Office awards target increasing recipient capacity to implement community policing strategies within the three primary 

elements of community policing: (1) problem solving; (2) partnerships; and (3) organizational transformation. The COPS Office 

requires all applicants for this program to describe how the personnel requested will assist the applicant in implementing 

community policing strategies. For more information on community policing, please go to the COPS Office website at 

https://cops.usdoj.gov/resources#cptopics. 

As part of the programmatic performance report, recipients will be required to report on their progress toward implementing their 

community policing strategies. Based on the data collected from recipients, the COPS Office may make improvements to the 

program to better meet the program’s objective and law enforcement agency needs. 

Application Checklist 

Please refer to the JustGrants DOJ Application Submission Checklist. 

Survey Questions 

CHP Solicitation FY2023

AGENCY ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION 

1. Type of Agency (select one) 

2. From the list below, please select the type of agency which best describes the applicant. 

(Please specify) 

3. Please indicate if your jurisdiction is primarily considered rural, urban or suburban. 

Instructions: 

We will ask you several questions about your law enforcement agency operations and authority to determine your eligibility to 

apply for a COPS Hiring Program (CHP) award. Please note that CHP applicants must have a law enforcement agency that is 

operational by the close of this solicitation, or receive services through an existing contract for law enforcement services or a 

new contract for law enforcement services that is in place by the close of this solicitation. Applicants must also maintain primary 

law enforcement authority for the population to be served. 

In addition, if funds under this program are to be used as part of a written contracting arrangement for law enforcement services 

(e.g., a town which contracts with a neighboring sheriff’s office to receive services), the government agency wishing to receive 

law enforcement services must be the legal applicant in this application. 

Page 17 of 34 

O-COPS-2023-171633 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A law enforcement agency is established and operational if the jurisdiction has passed authorizing legislation and it has a current 

operating budget. 

4. Is your agency established and currently operational? 

4a. Which of the following best describes your law enforcement agency (check one)? 

4b. Will your law enforcement agency be operational as of the closing date of this solicitation? 

4c. Has your jurisdiction passed legislation which authorizes the creation of a new law enforcement agency? 

5. If awarded, does your agency plan to use funds awarded under this award to establish or supplement a written 

contract for law enforcement services (e.g., a town contracting for services with a nearby sheriff’s office)? 

Instructions: 

A jurisdiction may apply for funds under this program to be used as part of a written contracting arrangement for law 

enforcement services (e.g., a town which contracts with a neighboring sheriff’s office to receive services). However, the 

jurisdiction wishing to receive law enforcement services must be the legal applicant in this application. 

Important Note: Two entities involved in a contracting relationship may not separately apply for funding to support the same 

officer position(s). 

5a. Is the legal applicant listed in this COPS Hiring Program (CHP) application and on the SF-424 the entity that will 

be receiving law enforcement services? 

5b. What is the legal name of the law enforcement agency that will be providing law enforcement services to your 

jurisdiction? 

Instructions: 

An agency with primary law enforcement authority is defined as the first responder to calls for service for all types of criminal 

incidents within its jurisdiction. Agencies are not considered to have primary law enforcement authority if they only: respond to or 

investigate specific type(s) of crime(s), respond to or investigate crimes within a correctional institution, serve warrants, provide 

courthouse security, transport prisoners, have cases referred to them for investigation or investigational support or only some 

combination of these. 

6. Based on the definition above, does your agency have primary law enforcement authority? [Or, if contracting to 

receive services, does the agency that will be providing law enforcement services have primary law enforcement 

authority for the population to be served?] 

7. Please select your U.S. Attorney’s District Office from the below drop-down options. 

EXECUTIVE ANDCONTACT INFORMATION 

Please provide the name and contact information for the highest-ranking Law Enforcement or Program Official and Government 

Executive or Financial Official for your agency or organization, please see instructions below. 

LAW ENFORCEMENT EXECUTIVE/PROGRAM OFFICIAL 

This position will ultimately be responsible for the programmatic management of the award. 

Instructions for Law Enforcement Agencies: 

For law enforcement agencies, the Law Enforcement Executive is the highest ranking official in the jurisdiction (Chief of Police, 

Sheriff, or equivalent). Before this application can be submitted, the Entity Administrator in JustGrants must invite this individual 

to apply for a JustGrants account with the role of Authorized Representative, and this individual must log in to JustGrants to 

review the application. 

Instructions for Non-Law Enforcement Agencies: 

For non-law enforcement agencies (e.g., institutions of higher education, school districts, private organizations, etc.), the 

Program Official is the highest-ranking official in the jurisdiction (e.g., executive director, chief executive officer, or equivalent). 

Please note that information for non-executive positions (e.g., clerks, trustees) is not acceptable. Before this application can be 

submitted, the Entity Administrator in JustGrants must invite this individual to apply for a JustGrants account with the role of 

Authorized Representative, and this individual must log in to JustGrants to review the application. 

8a. Title: 

8b. First Name: 

8c. Last Name: 

Page 18 of 34 

O-COPS-2023-171633 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8d. Phone: 

8e. Email Address: 

GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE/FINANCIAL OFFICIAL 

This position will ultimately be responsible for the financial management of the award. 

Instructions for Government Agencies: 

For law enforcement agencies, this is the highest-ranking government official within your jurisdiction (e.g., Superintendent, 

Mayor, City Administrator, or equivalent). Before this application can be submitted, the Entity Administrator in JustGrants must 

invite this individual to apply for a JustGrants account with the role of Authorized Representative, and this individual must log in 

to JustGrants to review the application. 

Instructions forNon-Government Agencies :

For non-law enforcement agencies, this is the financial official who has the authority to apply for this award on behalf of the 

applicant agency (e.g., Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, or equivalent). Please note that information for non-executive positions 

(e.g., clerks, trustees) is not acceptable. Before this application can be submitted, the Entity Administrator in JustGrants must 

invite this individual to apply for a JustGrants account with the role of Authorized Representative, and this individual must log in 

to JustGrants to review the application. 

9a. Title: 

9b. First Name: 

9c. Last Name: 

9d. Phone: 

9e. Email Address: 

Instructions for Application Submitter Contact: 

Enter the application contact's name and contact information. 

10a. Title: 

10b. First Name: 

10c. Last Name: 

10d. Phone: 

10e. Email Address: 

COPS HIRINGPROGRAM OFFICER REQUEST 

Instructions: 

Please enter the actual number of sworn officers employed by your agency as of the date of this application. Do not include 

funded but currently vacant positions or unpaid positions. 

11a. Full-Time: 

11b. Part-Time: 

Instructions: 

Enter the Budgeted Sworn Force Strength for the date of application (the current fiscal year) below. The budgeted number of 

sworn officer positions is the number of sworn positions funded in your agency’s budget, including funded but frozen positions, 

as well as state, Bureau of Indian Affairs, or locally funded vacancies. Do not include unfunded vacancies or unpaid/reserve 

officers. Do not include non-sworn personnel such as dispatch, court personnel, correctional officers, police technicians. For 

agencies with previous COPS-funded active awards, do not include in your budgeted force strength any COPS-funded officers 

whose salaries are currently being covered by the 36-months of COPS funding. 

Number of budgeted sworn officers as of the date of this application, using instructions above. 

12a. Full-Time: 

12b. Part-Time: 

Page 19 of 34 

O-COPS-2023-171633 
 

Instructions: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of budgeted civilian positions as of the date of this application, using instructions above. 

13a. Full-Time: 

13b. Part-Time: 

Instructions: 

The following section will ask about the “population served” by your jurisdiction. The crime data you will enter in this application 

will be based on crimes occurring among the “actual population served”. Population served counts must not be adjusted upward 

to account for daytime business/shopping visitors, highway traffic passing through a jurisdiction, nor should it include annual 

visitor totals. Parks and transit agencies should report average daily visitors/riders rather than annual totals. 

This may or may not be the same as your census population. For example, a service population may be the census population 

minus incorporated towns and cities that have their own law enforcement agency within your geographic boundaries. An agency 

with primary law enforcement authority is defined as having first responder responsibility to calls for service for all types of 

criminal incidents within its jurisdiction. 

14. What is the actual population your department serves as the primary law enforcement entity? 

15. Enter the total population of the government entity applying for this award using the latest census estimate 

available at https://data.census.gov. If the population of the entity applying for this award is not represented by 

census figures (e.g. colleges, specials agencies, school police departments), please indicate the size of the 

population as of the latest available estimate. 

15a. Please explain why the “population served” differs from the population of the government entity (from census 

figures or other estimates). [Please limit your response to a maximum of 125 words.] 

Instructions: 

Agencies should apply for the number of officer positions necessary to support their proposed community policing strategy. CHP 

awards cover up to 75 percent of the entry- level salary and fringe benefits for each approved position up to a maximum of 

$125,000 total for each position over three years. Note: this is NOT $125,000 per year, it is $125,000 spread over three years for 

each position. There is a minimum 25 percent local cash match (cost share) requirement unless a waiver is approved. Any 

additional costs for higher than entry-level salaries and fringe benefits will be the responsibility of the recipient agency. Please 

keep in mind that there is a 12-month retention requirement for each officer position funded. See solicitation document for full 

details. 

The number of officers you request cannot exceed 20% of your agency’s current actual sworn force, with a maximum of 50 

officers for any agency. Agencies with fewer than 10 officers may request one officer. The COPS Office will fund as many 

positions as possible for successful applicants; however, the number of officer positions requested by an agency may be 

reduced based on the availability of funding and other programmatic considerations. 

16. How many entry-level, full-time officer positions is your agency requesting in this application? 

17. In question 11a, you entered your agency’s actual full-time sworn force levels. Please confirm that you are not 

asking for more than the 20% cap. For example, if you have 1-9 officers on staff, request 1 COPS Office-funded 

officer. If you have 10-14 officers, you may request a maximum of 2 officers. If you have 50 officers, you may 

request a maximum of 10. 

IMPORTANT: Please ensure this number matches the number of sworn positions you requested in the detailed budget section 

of JustGrants. 

18. Referencing the web-based budget in this solicitation, please indicate if there was an increase in sworn officer 

base salary in years 2 and 3. If so, indicate why (check all that apply). 

Instructions: 

IMPORTANT: Next, your agency must allocate the number of positions requested under each of the three hiring categories 

described below based on your agency's current needs at the time of this application. Be mindful of your agency's ability to fill 

and retain the officer positions awarded, while following your agency's established hiring policies and procedures. CHP awards 

will be made for officer positions requested in each of the three hiring categories, and recipients are required to use awarded 

funds for the specific categories awarded. 

Page 20 of 34 

O-COPS-2023-171633 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is imperative that your agency understand that the COPS Office statutory nonsupplanting requirement mandates that award 

funds may only be used to supplement (increase) a recipient’s law enforcement budget for sworn officer positions and may not 

supplant (replace) state, local, or tribal funds that a recipient otherwise would have spent on officer positions if it had not 

received an award. This means that if your agency plans to: 

Hire new officer positions (including filling existing vacancies that are no longer funded in your agency's budget): Your 

agency must hire these new additional positions on or after the official award start date, above its current budgeted (funded) 

level of sworn officer positions, and otherwise comply with the nonsupplanting requirement as described in detail in the 

award owner's manual. 

Rehire officers who have been laid off by any jurisdiction as a result of state, local, or tribal budget reductions: Your agency 

must rehire the officers on or after the official award start date, maintain documentation showing the date(s) that the 

positions were laid off and rehired, and otherwise comply with the nonsupplanting requirement as described in the 

solicitation documents. 

(a) Rehire officers who are (at the time of application) currently scheduled to be laid off (by your jurisdiction) on a specific future 

date as a result of state, local, or tribal budget reductions: Your agency must continue to fund the officers with its own funds from 

the award start date until the date of the scheduled lay-off (for example, if the CHP award start date is September 1 and the layoffs are scheduled for November 1, then the CHP funds may not be used to fund the officers until November 1, the date of the 

scheduled lay-off); identify the number and date(s) of the scheduled lay-off(s) in this application (see below); maintain 

documentation showing the date(s) and reason(s) for the lay-off; and otherwise comply with the nonsupplanting requirement as 

described in detail in the award owner’s manual. [Please note that as long as your agency can document the date that the layoff(s) would occur if CHP funds were not available, it may transfer the officers to the CHP funding on or immediately after the 

date of the lay-off without formally completing the administrative steps associated with a lay-off for each individual officer.] 

Documentation that may be used to prove that the scheduled lay-offs are occurring for local economic reasons that are 

unrelated to the availability of CHP award funds may include (but are not limited to) council or departmental meeting minutes, 

memoranda, notices, or orders discussing the lay-offs; notices provided to the individual officer(s) regarding the date(s) of the 

lay-offs; or budget documents ordering departmental or jurisdiction-wide budget reductions. These records must be maintained 

with your agency’s CHP award records during the award period and for a minimum of three years following the date of the 

submission of the final expenditure report in the event of an audit, monitoring, or other evaluation of your award compliance. 

If your agency's request is funded, your agency will have the opportunity after the award announcement to request an award 

modification to move awarded funding into the category or categories that meet your agency's law enforcement needs at that 

time (including updating the dates of future scheduled lay-offs). 

Category A: New, additional officer positions (including filling existing vacancies no longer funded in your agency's budget). 

19a. Category A Request: 

Category B: Rehire officers laid off (from any jurisdiction) as a result of state or local budget reductions. 

19b. Category B Request: 

Category C: Rehire officers scheduled to be laid off (at the time of the application) on a specific future date as a result of state 

or local budget reductions. 

19c. Category C Request: 

Instructions: 

We also need some information about when the layoff of officers in this category is scheduled to occur. In the space below, 

please indicate when the officer(s) specified in this category are scheduled to be laid off. 

20a. Number of Officers: 

20b. Date these officers are scheduled to be laid off: 

20c. Number of Officers: 

20d. Date these officers are scheduled to be laid off: 

20e. Number of Officers: 

20f. Date these officers are scheduled to be laid off: 

20g. Number of Officers: 

20h. Date these officers are scheduled to be laid off: 

Since your agency plans to use CHP funds to rehire officers who are currently scheduled to be laid off on a future date (under 

Category C above), please certify (by checking the appropriate boxes) to the following Certification: 

Page 21 of 34 

O-COPS-2023-171633 
 

Instructions: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although hiring military veterans as new hires is not an award requirement, applicants who commit to hiring or rehiring at least 

one military veteran will receive additional consideration for CHP funding. 

If your agency checks "yes" to the question below, your agency will be required to maintain documentation that it made every 

effort possible (consistent with your internal procedures and policies) to hire at least one military veteran. Under this solicitation, 

a military veteran is defined as a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or 

released there from under conditions other than dishonorable. 

22. Does your agency commit to hire and/or rehire at least one military veteran as defined above for the officer 

position(s) you have requested? 

22a. If Yes, how many position(s)? 

23. Is your agency requesting that all or some of the officer positions requested be deployed as school resource 

officers (SROs)? 

SRO Instructions: 

If your agency requests officers to be deployed as school resource officers (SRO), please do not request more officer positions 

than your agency can expect to deploy in this capacity. According to the COPS Office statute, a school resource officer is “a 

career law enforcement officer, with sworn authority, deployed in community-oriented policing, and assigned by the employing 

police department or agency to work in collaboration with schools and community-based organizations— (A) to address crime 

and disorder problems, gangs, and drug activities affecting or occurring in or around an elementary or secondary school; (B) to 

develop or expand crime prevention efforts for students; (C) to educate likely school-age victims in crime prevention and safety; 

(D) to develop or expand community justice initiatives for students; (E) to train students in conflict resolution, restorative justice, 

and crime awareness; (F) to assist in the identification of physical changes in the environment that may reduce crime in or 

around the school; and (G) to assist in developing school policy that addresses crime and to recommend procedural changes.” 

34 U,.S.C. 10389(4). 

There must be an increase in the level of community policing activities performed in and around primary or secondary schools in 

the agency’s jurisdiction as a result of the award. The time commitment of the funded officers must be above and beyond the 

amount of time that the agency devoted to the schools before receiving the award. 

The COPS Office recommends that an SRO have a minimum of three years of experience as a police officer. Because COPS 

Office funds must be used for entry level positions, you may deploy experienced police officers to serve as SROs and implement 

the community policing strategy after hiring the additional entry-level officers with COPS Office award funds. The COPS Office 

award funds must be used for the newly hired/ rehired/scheduled to be laid off position and not that of the veteran/experienced 

officer. 

Recipients using CHP funding to hire or deploy SROs into schools must submit to the COPS Office a signed memorandum of 

understanding (MOU) between the law enforcement agency and the school partner(s) before obligating or drawing down funds 

under this award. An MOU is not required at the time of application; however, if the law enforcement agency already has an 

MOU in place that is applicable to the partnership, the MOU can be uploaded as an attachment in the section of the application 

titled “MOUs and other Supporting Documents”. 

The MOU must contain the following: the purpose of the MOU; clearly defined roles and responsibilities of the school district and 

the law enforcement agency focusing officers’ roles on safety, information sharing, supervision responsibility; chain of command 

for the SRO; and signatures. If awarded, a recipient must submit an MOU to the COPS Office within 90 days from the date 

shown on the award congratulatory letter. 

Implementation of the CHP award without submission and acceptance of the required MOU may result in expenditures not being 

reimbursed by the COPS Office and/or award de-obligation. 

23a. If Yes, how many of your requested positions in this application will be deployed as school resource officers 

(SROs)? 

23b. If Yes, has your agency reviewed principles presented in the SRO Guiding Principles document? 

24. For tribal applicants in Alaska only: Check the box below if you are requesting funds for an entry-level career law 

enforcement Village Police Officer or entry-level career law enforcement Tribal Police Officer. 

Instructions: 

The following questions will help Congress and the U.S. Department of Justice identify potential gaps in training, as well as 

eligibility for priority consideration, if applicable. 

Page 22 of 34 

O-COPS-2023-171633 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On average how many hours of IN-SERVICE (non-recruit) training (e.g. FTO, continuing professional education, roll call, 

standard) are required annually for each of your agency’s officers/deputies in the following categories (if none, please indicate 0 

hours)? 

25. Use of force (hours): 

26. De-escalation of conflict (hours): 

27. Evidence-based cultural sensitivity training (hours): 

28. Racial and ethnic bias that includes elements of implicit/unconscious bias (hours): 

29. Gender bias in response to domestic violence and sexual assault (hours): 

30. Bias towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals (hours): 

31. Community engagement (e.g., community policing and problem solving) (hours): 

32. Does your agency administer a police training academy? 

Instructions: 

How many total hours of basic/recruit ACADEMY training are required for each of your agency’s officer/deputy recruits in the 

following categories (if none, please indicate 0 hours)? 

33. Use of force (hours): 

34. De-escalation of conflict (hours): 

35. Evidence-based cultural sensitivity training (hours): 

36. Racial and ethnic bias that includes elements of implicit/unconscious bias (hours): 

37. Gender bias in response to domestic violence and sexual assault (hours): 

38. Bias towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals (hours): 

39. Community engagement (e.g., community policing and problem solving) (hours): 

LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY POLICING STRATEGY SECTION 1

Instructions for Community Policing Strategy: 

COPS Office funding must be used to reorient the mission and activities of law enforcement agencies through initiating 

community policing or enhancing their involvement in community policing with the officers hired under this award program or an 

equal number of experienced officers who have been redeployed to implement this plan after hiring the entry-level COPS Officefunded officers. If awarded funds, your narrative responses in the text boxes below will constitute your agency’s community 

policing strategy under this award. Your organization may be audited or monitored to ensure that it is initiating or enhancing 

community policing in accordance with this strategy. The COPS Office may also use this information to understand the needs of 

the field, and potentially provide for training, technical assistance, problem solving, and community policing implementation tools. 

Please note that the COPS Office recognizes that your COPS Office-funded officer(s) (or an equal number of veteran officers 

who are redeployed after hiring the entry-level COPS Office funded officers) will engage in a variety of community policing 

activities and strategies, including participating in some or all aspects of your identified community policing strategy. Your 

community-policing strategy may be influenced and impacted by others within and outside of your organization, as this is 

considered beneficial to your community policing efforts. 

At any time during your award period, you should be prepared to demonstrate (1) the community policing activities engaged in 

prior to the award that are detailed in this application and (2) how the award funds and award-funded officers (or an equal 

number of redeployed veteran officers) were specifically used to enhance (increase) or initiate community policing activities 

according to your community policing strategy contained in this application. 

Community policing needs may change during the life of your award. Minor changes to this strategy may be made without prior 

approval of the COPS Office; however, the recipient will be required to report on progress or changes to the community policing 

strategy (if any) through the required performance reports. If your agency’s community policing strategy changes significantly, 

you must submit those changes to the COPS Office for approval. Changes are significant if they deviate from the specific crime 

problems originally identified and approved in the community policing strategy submitted with the application. In some cases, in 

reviewing performance reports, the COPS Office may identify significant changes in community policing strategies that require 

explanation and request for approval. 

Applicants that choose problem areas that receive additional priority consideration will not be able to change from these 

problem/focus areas if awarded CHP funding. 

Page 23 of 34 

O-COPS-2023-171633 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following is the COPS Office definition of community policing that emphasizes the primary components of community 

partnerships, organizational transformation, and problem solving. Please refer to the COPS Office web site 

(https://cops.usdoj.gov) for further information regarding this definition. 

Community policing is a philosophy that promotes organizational strategies that support the systematic use of partnerships and 

problem solving techniques to proactively address the immediate conditions that give rise to public safety issues, such as violent 

crime, non-violent crime, and fear of crime. 

The COPS Office has developed the following list of primary sub-elements of community policing. Please refer to the COPS 

Office Community Policing Defined publication for further information regarding these sub-elements. 

Community Partnerships: 

Collaborative partnerships between the law enforcement agency and the individuals and organizations they serve to both 

develop solutions to problems and increase trust in police. 

Other Government Agencies 

Community Members/Groups 

Non-Profits/Service Providers 

Private Businesses 

Media 

Organizational Transformation: 

The alignment of organizational management, structure, personnel, and information systems to support community partnerships 

and proactive problem-solving efforts. 

Agency Management 

Climate and culture 

Leadership 

Labor relations 

Decision-making 

Strategic planning 

Policies 

Organizational evaluations 

Transparency 

Organizational Structure 

Geographic assignment of officers 

Despecialization 

Resources and finances 

Personnel 

Recruitment, hiring and selection 

Personnel supervision/evaluations 

Training 

Information Systems (Technology) 

Communication/access to data 

Quality and accuracy of data 

Page 24 of 34 

O-COPS-2023-171633 
 

Problem Solving: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The process of engaging in the proactive and systematic examination of identified problems to develop effective responses that 

are rigorously evaluated. 

Scanning: Identifying and prioritizing problems Analysis: Analyzing problems 

Response: Responding to problems 

Assessment: Assessing problem-solving initiatives 

Using the Crime Triangle to focus on immediate conditions (Victim/Offender/Location) 

Instructions for Current Organizational Commitment to Community Policing: 

For each of the following statements, please answer in terms of existing agency policies and practices as they relate to 

collaborative partnerships and problem-solving activities. (Check all that apply.) 

40. The agency mission statement, vision, or goals includes references to: 

41. The agency strategic plan includes specific goals or objectives relating to: 

42. The agency recruitment, selection and hiring processes include elements relating to: 

43. Performance evaluations of line officers assess performance in: 

44. Line officers receive regular (at least once every two years) training in: 

45. Which of the following internal management practices does your agency currently employ? (check all that apply) 

46. Which of the following do you count/measure to annually assess your agency’s overall performance? (check all 

that apply) 

47. Through which of the following does your agency routinely share information with community members? (check all 

that apply) 

48. Through which of the following ways does your agency formally involve community members in influencing 

agency practices and operations? (check all that apply) 

Instructions forProposed Community Policing Strategy: Problem Solving and Partnerships 

COPS Office awards must be used to initiate or enhance community policing activities with either the newly hired officers funded 

by this award program or an equivalent number of veteran officers who are redeployed to implement this community policing 

strategy after hiring the additional entry-level officers with COPS Office award funds. In this section, you will be asked to identify 

the crime and disorder problem or a focus area and the partners to be engaged through your requested COPS Office funding. 

Identifying the specific problem/focus area and partnerships that your agency plans to focus on is important to ensure that you 

satisfy the requirements for COPS Office funding under this program and to ensure that ultimately the additional award-funded 

officers (or equivalent number of redeployed veteran officers) will initiate or enhance your agency’s capacity to implement 

community policing strategies and approaches. 

Using the following list, select a problem/focus area that will be addressed by the officer(s) requested in this application. Please 

choose the option that best fits your problem area. You may only select one problem/focus area to address through this 

award funding. 

When identifying a problem, it is important to think about the nature of similar incidents that taken together comprise the problem 

and accordingly describe it in precise, specific terms (e.g. “robbery of retail establishments”, rather than just “robbery”). In 

doing this, it can be helpful to consider all aspects of the problem, including the likely offenders, the suitable targets/victims, and 

how these come together in time and space. 

Additional consideration will be given to applicants who propose a community-based approach to one of the four following 

problem/ focus areas. Applicants who choose one of the community policing problems or priority focus areas listed here must 

devote 100% of their funded positions to that focus area and will not be allowed to change their choice once the award has been 

issued. 

• Building Legitimacy and Trust – Applicant will deploy officers to partner and engage community stakeholders including 

residents, businesses, and faith- based organizations to prioritize and collectively strengthen a community’s response to 

crime and criminal activity, and focus on enhancing and maintaining community trust and legitimacy between law 

enforcement and the communities they serve – to include building trust in immigrant communities. Efforts could include 

deploying or redeploying officers to support officer recruitment and retention efforts, with an emphasis on promoting 

diversity. 

Page 25 of 34 

O-COPS-2023-171633 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Violent Crime/Gun Violence – Applicant will employ community policing strategies to address a range of violent crime 

problems. Community-based approaches to combatting gun violence that build trust in underserved communities suffering 

from high incidents of gun crime will receive additional consideration. Applicants requesting additional consideration for gun 

violence issues will be asked to describe their holistic, community- based approach. Applicants may wish to review the 

COPS Office web page on Community Violence Interventions for ideas on strategies. 

• Combating Hate and Domestic Extremism – Applicant will focus on community-based strategies that combat bias-motivated 

acts of violence that divide our communities, intimidate our most vulnerable citizens, and erode trust in the rule of law. 

• Police-based Response to Persons in Crisis – Applicant will focus on deploying officers in crisis intervention teams, 

participating in crisis intervention teams, improving response and interaction with persons in crisis – to include efforts 

focused on the education, prevention, addiction and interventions related to the abuse of opioids and other substances in 

communities. 

49. Problem/Focus Area 

49a. Describe the problem/focus area you have selected above (i.e. location, severity, type of crime [if applicable], 

impact of issue on community). [Please limit your response to a maximum of 125 words.] 

49b. Please include the number of aggravated assaults with a firearm that occurred in your jurisdiction during the last 

calendar year (2022). 

Please include the number of reported shootings that occurred in your jurisdiction during the last two years (2021 and 2022). 

49c. Number of Reported Shootings (2022): 

49d. Number of Reported Shootings (2021): 

49e. Please also describe how you will address this issue using a holistic, community- based approach that builds trust 

in underserved communities suffering from high incidents of gun crime. Applicants may review the COPS Office 

web page on Community Violence Interventions for ideas on strategies. [Please limit your response to a 

maximum of 250 words.] 

50. Which of the following information sources did you use to prioritize this problem/focus area as a problem/focus 

area to address through this award program (check all that apply): 

51. If awarded funds, my agency will improve our understanding of this problem/focus area by examining (check all 

that apply): 

52. If awarded funds, my agency will use the following information sources to assess our response to this 

problem/focus area to determine whether the response was implemented and achieved the desired outcomes 

(check all that apply): 

53. To the best of your ability at this time, please select from the below list what your primary goals are in responding 

to your selected problem/focus area (select up to 3): 

54. An important part of a comprehensive community policing strategy is the formation of partnerships, such as 

working with other public agencies, private organizations, or participation in regional law enforcement 

partnerships. If awarded funds, will your agency and the award funded officers (or an equivalent number of 

redeployed veteran officers) initiate or enhance a partnership with an external group/organization to develop 

responses to this problem/focus area? 

54a. If yes, how many external groups/organizations will your agency initiate or enhance a partnership with to develop 

responses to this problem/focus area? 

Name the most important external groups/organizations that your agency will initiate or enhance a partnership with to develop 

responses to this problem/focus area (maximum of three partners). Note: you may attach optional letters of this support from any 

or all of these prospective partners in the section titled Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) and Other Supportive Documents. 

You will be limited to listing no more than three partners per public safety problem/focus area. 

55. Partner Name1: 

55a. For this partner, please indicate the statement that best characterizes this partner: 

56. Partner Name2: 

56a. For this partner, please indicate the statement that best characterizes this partner: 

57. Partner Name3: 

57a. For this partner, please indicate the statement that best characterizes this partner: 

Page 26 of 34 

O-COPS-2023-171633 
 

LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY POLICING STRATEGY SECTION 2

Instructions forProposed Community Policing Strategy: Organizational Transformation 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COPS Office awards must be used to initiate or enhance community policing activities. In this section, you will be asked to 

identify the organizational change(s) that your agency plans to focus on through your requested COPS Office funding. Identifying 

the specific organizational change(s) that your agency plans to focus on is important to ensure that you satisfy the requirements 

for COPS Office funding under this program, and to ensure that ultimately the use of these funds will initiate or enhance your 

agency’s capacity to implement community policing approaches. 

If awarded funds, will your agency initiate or enhance any of the following internal changes to personnel management? (Select 

no more than 2 internal changes to personnel management that will be addressed with these award funds.) 

58. Flexibility in officer shift assignments to facilitate addressing specific problems. 

58a. Please explain. 

59. Assignment of officers to specific neighborhoods or areas for longer periods of time to enhance customer service 

and facilitate more contact between police and citizens. 

59a. Please explain. 

60. Recruitment and hiring practices that reflect an orientation towards problem solving and community engagement. 

60a. Please explain. 

61. In-service training for officers on basic and advanced community policing principles. 

61a. Please explain. 

62. Field training officer (FTO) programs that teach and test problem solving, community engagement, and critical 

thinking skills. 

62a. Please explain. 

63. Measure and include non-enforcement proactive community engagement efforts as part of officer performance 

evaluations. 

63a. Please explain. 

64. Provide de-escalation training to sworn personnel and promote de-escalation as an important strategy to diffuse 

potentially volatile situations. 

64a. Please explain. 

65. Early intervention systems that help identify officers who may be showing early signs of stress, personal problems, 

and questionable work conduct. 

65a. Please explain. 

66. Career development and/or promotional processes (i.e. sergeant exams) that reinforce problem solving and 

community engagement. 

66a. Please explain. 

67. Implement specific programs to improve the safety and wellness of personnel throughout your organization. 

67a. Please explain. 

68. None of the above. 

69. If awarded funds, in addition to the internal changes proposed above, will your agency initiate or enhance 

screening and counseling programs to identify and prevent the radicalization of applicants and personnel who 

endorse violent and hateful extremist movements? 

69a. If Yes, please explain. 

If awarded funds, will your agency initiate or enhance any of the following internal changes to agency management? (Select up 

to 2 internal changes to agency management that will be addressed with these award funds.) 

70. Agency strategic plan that outlines the goals and objectives around community policing and other departmental 

priorities. 

70a. Please explain. 

Page 27 of 34 

O-COPS-2023-171633 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

71. Organizational performance measurement systems that include community policing metrics, and conduct annual 

assessments of agency performance. 

71a. Please explain. 

72. Technology systems that provide officers, analysts, and the community better and more timely access to data and 

information. 

72a. Please explain. 

73. Mediation strategies to resolve citizen complaints. 

73a. Please explain. 

74. Collection, analysis, and use of crime data and information in support of problem- solving goals. 

74a. Please explain. 

75. Formal accreditation process. 

75a. Please explain. 

76. System to capture and track problem solving and partnership efforts and activities. 

76a. Please explain. 

77. An organizational assessment of community policing. 

77a. Please explain. 

78. None of the above. 

79. Did your agency consult with any of the following groups/organizations on the development of this community 

policing strategy? (check all that apply) 

80. To what extent are there related governmental and/or community initiatives that complement your agency’s 

proposed community policing strategy? 

81. To what extent is there community support in your jurisdiction for implementing the proposed community policing 

strategy? 

82. If awarded funds, to what extent will the community policing strategy impact the other components of the criminal 

justice system in your jurisdiction? 

COMMUNITY POLICING - PROBLEM AREANARRATIVE 

83. Describe how your agency will use award funds to address the problem/focus area you selected in Section 4, 

Question 49. Describe your approach, including a long-term strategy and detailed implementation plan that 

reflects consultation with community groups and appropriate private and public agencies. Explain how the grant 

will be utilized to reorient your law enforcement agency's mission toward community-oriented policing or enhance 

its involvement in or commitment to community-oriented policing. [ Please limit your response to a maximum of 

500 words.] 

DATA COLLECTION ANDREPORTING 

84. Does your agency collect data on the number of officer suicides in your agency? 

84a. In the past 12 months, how many officer suicides have you recorded in your agency? 

85. Does your agency have a suicide prevention training program? 

86. Does your agency track officers that have been exposed to ‘critical incidents’ such as murder, suicide, and 

domestic violence? 

87. Does your community experience high rates of youth suicide (For the purposes of this question, high is defined as 

10 suicides per 100,000 residents aged 10-19)? 

88. Does your law enforcement agency have a written policy that requires new officers/ deputies to reside within the 

jurisdiction they serve? 

Page 28 of 34 

O-COPS-2023-171633 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

89. Does your law enforcement agency have a written policy that encourages new or existing officers to relocate to 

areas characterized by fragmented relationships between police and residents of the community, or where there 

are high incidents of crime? 

89a. Check all that apply: 

Other 

90. Using UCR crime definitions, does your agency regularly (i.e., daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly) post crime data 

on a publicly accessible website? 

90a. If yes, please provide the website address: 

Instructions: To support Executive Order 14074, Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing and Criminal Justice Practices to 

Enhance Public Trust and Public Safety, the following questions will help the U.S. Department of Justice determine eligibility for 

priority consideration, if applicable, and identify potential gaps in training and technical assistance. 

91. Does your agency collect and report data on law enforcement use of force to the FBI’s National Use-of-Force Data 

Collection (including deaths in custody incident to an official use of force)? 

92. Does your agency collect and report data on officer suicides to the FBI’s Law Enforcement Suicide Data 

Collection? 

93. Does your agency collect and report data on officers killed and assaulted to the FBI’s Law Enforcement Officers 

Killed and Assaulted Data Collection? 

94. Does your agency prohibit the use of chokeholds and carotid restraints except in those situations where the use of 

deadly force is authorized by law? 

95. Does your agency limit the use of unannounced entries, often referred to as “no knock entries,” except where 

knocking and announcing an officer’s presence would create an imminent threat of physical violence to the officer 

and/or another person? 

96. Does your agency possess and use any of the following military equipment obtained via property transfer 

contracts or grants with the Federal government acquired through property transfers or purchases with federal 

funds or from federal agencies or contractors? Applicable military equipment includes: (i) firearms of .50 or greater 

caliber; (ii) ammunition of .50 or greater caliber; (iii) firearm silencers, as defined in 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(24); (iv) 

bayonets; (v) grenade launchers; (vi) grenades (including stun and flash-bang); (vii) explosives (except for 

explosives and percussion actuated non-electric disruptors used for accredited bomb squads and explosive 

detection canine training); (viii) any vehicles that do not have a commercial application, including all tracked and 

armored vehicles (except for vehicles used exclusively for disaster-related emergencies; active shooter scenarios; 

hostage or other search and rescue operations; or anti- terrorism preparedness, protection, prevention, response, 

recovery, or relief); (ix) weaponized drones and weapons systems covered by DOD Directive 3000.09 of 

November 21, 2012, as amended (Autonomy in Weapon Systems); (x) aircraft that are combat-configured or 

combat-coded, have no established commercial flight application, or have no application for disaster-related 

emergencies; active shooter scenarios; hostage or other search and rescue operations; or antiterrorism 

preparedness, protection, prevention, response, recovery, or relief; and (xi) long-range acoustic devices that do 

not have a commercial application. 

DUPLICATION OF FUNDING 

97. Do you have any current, active non-COPS Office award with any other federal funding source (e.g., direct federal 

funding or indirect federal funding through state subawarded federal funds) that supports the same or similar 

activities or services as being proposed in this COPS Office application? 

97a. If Yes, for each potentially duplicative non-COPS Office award, provide the following detailed information: name of 

federal awarding agency, or state agency for subawarded federal funding; award number; program name; award 

start and end dates; award amount; and description of how this project differs from the application for COPS 

Office funding. 

98. Do you have any pending non-COPS Office grant applications with any other federal funding source (e.g., direct 

federal funding or indirect federal funding through state subawarded federal funds) that support the same or 

similar activities or services as being proposed in this COPS Office application? 

98a. If Yes, for each potentially duplicative non-COPS Office grant application, provide the following detailed 

information: application number (if known); program name; project length; total requested amount; items 

requested; and describe how this project differs from the application for COPS Office funding. 

Page 29 of 34 

O-COPS-2023-171633 
 

FISCAL HEALTH AND UCR/NIBRS DATA 

NEED FORFEDERAL ASSISTANCE 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

99. All applicants are required to explain their inability to address the need for this award without federal assistance. 

Please do so in the space below. [Please limit your response to a maximum of 500 words.] 

Please refer to the U.S. Census Bureau’s, Historical County Level Poverty Estimates Tool. This Excel-based tool accesses 

county-level poverty rates from the 1960-2000 Decennial Census as well as estimates from 2010 based on 5-year data from the 

ACS. Please enter your county’s poverty rate for 1990, 2000, and 2010. If your agency does not service counties, please enter 

the state average. All figures must be rounded to the nearest whole percent. 

100. Does your law enforcement agency service a county that has had 20 percent or more of its population living in 

poverty over the past 30 years? 

Please enter your county’s poverty rate for 1990, 2000, and 2010. If your agency does not service counties, please enter the 

state average. All figures must be rounded to the nearest whole percent. 

100a. Poverty Rate (1990): 

100b. Poverty Rate (2000): 

100c. Poverty Rate (2010): 

FISCAL HEALTH 

Instructions: 

Enter your law enforcement agency’s total operating budget for the current AND the previous fiscal year. Note this is the 

operating budget that your locality sets aside specifically for law enforcement and does not include other city/county/state 

services. The operating budget generally includes salaries as well as operations. Please note: All figures must be rounded to the 

nearest whole dollar. 

101. CURRENT FISCAL YEAR: 

102. PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR: 

Instructions: 

The U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) provides multi-year poverty rate estimates for communities. 

Please go to the U.S. Census Bureau (https://data.census.gov) to determine the percentage of individuals in poverty in your 

jurisdiction. For jurisdictions not included in the census (e.g., schools, universities, transit, parks), please check the box for “Not 

Applicable." Please note: All figures must be rounded to the nearest whole percent. 

103. Percentage of individuals in poverty %: 

103a. Not Applicable 

Instructions: 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program provides monthly estimates of 

unemployment for communities. Please go to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ LAUS website (http://www.bls.gov/lau/data.htm) 

to find detailed instructions for looking up your local area's unemployment rate. It may be necessary to select the nearest best 

match to your jurisdiction (for example, a city of fewer than 25,000 people may report their county level rate). For jurisdictions not 

included in the census (e.g., schools, universities, transit, parks), please check the box for “Not Applicable". Please note: All 

figures must be rounded to the nearest whole percent. 

104. Percentage (%) unemployed for October 2022: 

104a. Not Applicable. 

105. Since January 1, 2023, has your agency taken on additional law enforcement duties and responsibilities resulting 

from an agency merger or the disbanding of a neighboring law enforcement agency (which did not result in a new 

or supplemented funded contract to provide these law enforcement services)? 

Instructions: 

If your agency has faced an unanticipated catastrophic event that had a significant impact on the delivery of law enforcement 

services or have experienced an unusually large increase in the number of homicides in the past year, please check the box 

below. Examples of unanticipated catastrophic events includes mass shootings, terrorist attacks, natural disasters, or other 

events leading to mass casualties that would not necessarily be reflected in the UCR/NBIRS crime statistics previously reported. 

Page 30 of 34 

O-COPS-2023-171633 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please note that if your jurisdiction is faced with an unanticipated catastrophic event (e.g., mass shooting, terrorist attack, other 

mass casualty event) after submission of this application, but before the application closing date, you should contact the COPS 

Office immediately at 800-421-6770 to update your application to include this information. 

106. If your agency experienced a major disaster or catastrophic event in the time period from January 1, 2022 to 

present, check this box. 

Please describe the major disaster or catastrophic event and include the following bulleted information. 

• Description of event (including number of casualties) 

• Type of event (major disaster, mass shooting, bombing, etc.) 

• Impact of the event on delivery of law enforcement services 

• Duration of the event (how long will law enforcement services be impacted by the event until recovery) 

• Law enforcement response and recovery efforts 

106a. Please specify: (Please limit your response to a maximum of 125 words) 

CRIME DATA 

Instructions: 

Using UCR/NIBRS crime definitions, enter the actual number of incidents reported to your agency in the previous two calendar 

years (2022 and 2021) for the following crime types. Note that only those incidents for which your agency had primary response 

authority should be provided. Please enter 0 (zero) to indicate no incidents in a particular year/type. Do not enter N/A if no 

incidents were reported -- enter 0 (zero). Do not enter N/A if data is not available – enter an estimate based on historical data. 

107. Criminal Homicide (2022): 

108. Criminal Homicide (2021): 

109. Forcible Rape (2022): 

110. Forcible Rape (2021): 

111. Robbery (2022): 

112. Robbery (2021): 

113. Burglary (2022): 

114. Burglary (2021): 

115. Aggravated Assault (2022): 

116. Aggravated Assault (2021): 

117. Motor Vehicle Theft (2022): 

118. Motor Vehicle Theft (2021): 

119. Larceny (except motor vehicle theft) (2022): 

120. Larceny (except motor vehicle theft) (2021): 

121. If awarded funds, will your agency commit to regularly collecting, analyzing, and reporting incidents of hate crimes 

to the FBI as part of their annual Uniform Crime Reporting/NIBRS reporting? 

Instructions: 

Agency Profile Questions (these questions are for informational purposes only and will not be scored). 

122. Does your agency have a wellness policy or program for officers? 

122a. If yes, which groups does it cover: (check all that apply) 

123. Does your agency report crime data to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS)? 

124. Does your agency utilize the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN)? 

125. Does your agency have a dedicated or specific investigator to investigate reported hate crimes, or a unit dedicated 

to investigating bias-motived incidents/hate crimes? 

Page 31 of 34 

O-COPS-2023-171633 
 

CONTINUATION OF PROJECT AFTER FEDERAL FUNDING ENDS 

Instructions for the Continuation of Project after Federal Funding Ends: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Applicants must plan to retain all sworn officer positions awarded under your COPS Office hiring award for a minimum of 12 

months at the conclusion of 36 months of federal funding for each position. The retained COPS Office-funded positions should 

be added to your agency’s law enforcement budget with state and/or local funds at the end of award funding, over and above the 

number of locally-funded sworn officer positions that would have existed in the absence of the award. These additional 

position(s) must be retained using state, local, or other nonfederal funding only. The retention period may begin during the fiveyear period of performance of the award and may extend beyond the end date of the award. You may not use funds awarded by 

other federal awards to cover the costs of retention. At the time of award application, applicants must affirm that they plan to 

retain the positions and identify the planned source(s) of retention funding. We understand that your agency’s source(s) of 

retention funding may change during the life of the award. Your agency should maintain proper documentation of any changes in 

the event of an audit, monitoring or other evaluation of your award compliance. Please refer to the frequently asked questions on 

retention which can be found here https://cops.usdoj.gov/chp. 

Note: Agencies that do not plan to retain all the positions awarded under this award are ineligible to receive CHP funding. 

126. Will your agency plan to retain any additional positions awarded under this award for a minimum of 12 months at 

the conclusion of federal funding for each position? 

126a. Please identify the source(s) of funding that your agency plans to utilize to cover the costs of retention: (check all 

that apply) 

126b. If other, please provide a brief description of the source(s) of funding. (Please limit your response to a maximum 

of 125 words) 

127. If your agency received CHP funding prior to October 1, 2018, please certify that your agency has or is retaining 

any CHP-funded officers for the required 12 month retention period. 

OFFICIAL PARTNER(S) CONTACT INFORMATION 

Instructions: 

An official “partner” under the award may be a governmental, private, school district, or other applicable entity that has 

established a legal, contractual, or other agreement with the applicant for the purpose of supporting and working together for 

mutual benefits of the award. 

Partner 1 

128a. Title: 

128b. First Name: 

128c. Last Name: 

128d. Name of Partner Agency (e.g., Smithville Community Center): 

128e. Type of Partner Agency (e.g., School District): 

128f. Street1: 

128g. Street2: 

128h. City: 

128i. State: 

128j. Zip/Postal Code: 

128k. Phone: 

128l. Email Address: 

Partner 2 

129a. Title: 

129b. First Name: 

129c. Last Name: 

129d. Name of Partner Agency (e.g., Smithville Community Center): 

Page 32 of 34 

O-COPS-2023-171633 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

129e. Type of Partner Agency (e.g., School District): 

129f. Street1: 

129g. Street2: 

129h. City: 

129i. State: 

129j. Zip/Postal Code: 

129k. Phone: 

129l. Email Address: 

Partner 3 

130a. Title: 

130b. First Name: 

130c. Last Name: 

130d. Name of Partner Agency (e.g., Smithville Community Center): 

130e. Type of Partner Agency (e.g., School District): 

130f. Street1: 

130g. Street2: 

130h. City: 

130i. State: 

130j. Zip/Postal Code: 

130k. Phone: 

130l. Email Address: 

28 CFRPART 23 (CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE) 

REVIEWS AND CERTIFICATIONS 

Certification of Review of 28 C.F.R. Part 23/Criminal Intelligence Systems: 

If your agency is requesting COPS Office funds for equipment or technology that will be used to operate an interjurisdictional 

criminal intelligence system that receives, stores, analyzes, exchanges, or disseminates data regarding ongoing criminal 

activities, you must agree to comply with the operating principles at 28 C.F.R Part 23. 

If you are requesting COPS Office funds to operate a single agency database (or other unrelated forms of technology) and will 

not share criminal intelligence data with other jurisdictions, 28 C.F.R. Part 23 does not apply. 

131. Please check one of the following, as applicable to your agency’s intended use of COPS Office funds: 

CERTIFICATION OFREVIEW AND REPRESENTATION 

132. By checking the box, the applicant indicates he or she understands that the signatures of the Law Enforcement 

Executive /Program Official, Government Executive/ Financial Official, and the Person Submitting this Application 

on the Reviews and Certifications represent to the COPS Office that: 1. the applicant will comply with all legal, 

administrative, and programmatic requirements that govern the applicant for acceptance and use of federal funds 

as outlined in the applicable COPS Office Grant Application Resource Guide, the COPS Office award owner's 

manual, the DOJ Grants Financial Guide, Assurances, Certifications and all other applicable program regulations, 

laws, orders, and circulars; 2. the applicant understands that as a general rule COPS Office funding may not be 

used for the same item or service funded through another funding source? and 3. the applicant and any required 

or identified official partner(s) listed in this application mutually agreed to this partnership prior to submission. 

133. By checking the box, the applicant indicates he or she provide a certification that: 1. the programs to be funded by 

the grant meet all the requirements of the COPS Office statute (34 U.S.C. § 10381, et seq.); 2. all the information 

contained in the application is correct; and 3. the applicant will comply with all provisions of the COPS Office 

statute (34 U.S.C. § 10381, et seq.) and all other applicable Federal laws. 

Page 33 of 34 

O-COPS-2023-171633 
 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OFELECTRONIC SIGNATURE 

 

 

 

134. By checking the box, the applicant indicates that he or she understands that the use of typed names in this 

application and the required forms, including the Assurances, Certifications, and Disclosure of Lobbying Activities 

form, constitute electronic signatures and that the electronic signatures are the legal equivalent of handwritten 

signatures. I understand. 

Page 34 of 34 

O-COPS-2023-171633