Opportunity Information: Apply for BJA 2019 16290
The BJA FY 19 Student Computer and Digital Forensics Educational Opportunities Program (Funding Opportunity Number BJA 2019 16290) is a discretionary grant offered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), designed to expand and strengthen student training pipelines in computer forensics and digital evidence. The central idea of the program is to partner with an institution of higher education to create or enhance practical, career-oriented learning experiences that combine academic instruction with hands-on exposure to the kinds of tools, procedures, and real-world problems encountered in modern digital investigations. The goal is workforce development: preparing students to step into roles supporting the prevention, investigation, and response to economic crime, cybercrime, and other high-tech offenses across federal, state, local, territorial, and tribal law enforcement environments.
This opportunity supports education and training activities that sit at the intersection of law enforcement and technology, reflecting how much investigative work now depends on digital artifacts such as computer files, mobile device data, network logs, cloud accounts, and other electronically stored information. By emphasizing both “computer forensics” and “digital evidence,” the program signals an interest not only in technical extraction and analysis, but also in the broader evidence lifecycle, including documentation, integrity, and practices consistent with investigative and legal standards. In practice, funded programs would be expected to help students develop job-ready competencies relevant to digital forensic labs and investigative units, positioning graduates to contribute effectively in agencies tasked with high-tech crime response.
The award instrument is a grant, with an award ceiling of $1,000,000, and BJA anticipated making up to two awards under this solicitation. The program’s activity focus spans several categories, including education; employment, labor, and training; information and statistics; law, justice, and legal services; and science and technology research and development. The associated CFDA number is 16.752, which corresponds to Bureau of Justice Assistance funding. The solicitation was created on April 25, 2019, with an original closing date of June 25, 2019, indicating a roughly two-month application window typical for competitive discretionary federal grants.
Eligibility is broad and includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. Even with this wide eligibility, the program description makes clear that BJA’s intent is to establish a partnership with higher education to expand educational opportunities for students, so applicants would generally need to show credible capacity to deliver student-focused training, experiential learning, and curriculum development aligned with law enforcement digital forensics needs. Overall, the solicitation reflects BJA’s emphasis on building a stronger, better-prepared talent pipeline for digital evidence work, acknowledging that cyber and high-tech crime investigations increasingly require specialized technical education paired with practical, operational readiness.Apply for BJA 2019 16290
- The Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance in the education, employment, labor and training, information and statistics, law, justice and legal services, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BJA FY 19 Student Computer and Digital Forensics Educational Opportunities Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.752.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 25, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 25, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the BJA FY 19 Student Computer and Digital Forensics Educational Opportunities Program?
It is a discretionary grant program from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), focused on expanding and strengthening student training pipelines in computer forensics and digital evidence. The program is designed to support practical, career-oriented learning that combines academic instruction with hands-on exposure to tools, procedures, and real-world problems found in modern digital investigations.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this solicitation?
The Funding Opportunity Number is BJA 2019 16290.
What is the main goal of this grant opportunity?
The main goal is workforce development: preparing students to step into roles that support prevention, investigation, and response to economic crime, cybercrime, and other high-tech offenses. The program aims to help students develop job-ready competencies relevant to digital forensic labs and investigative units.
What kinds of activities does the program support?
The solicitation supports education and training activities at the intersection of law enforcement and technology. It emphasizes learning experiences that blend classroom instruction with hands-on training aligned to digital investigations and digital evidence work.
Why does the program emphasize both "computer forensics" and "digital evidence"?
The emphasis signals interest not only in technical extraction and analysis (computer forensics), but also in the broader digital evidence lifecycle. This includes documentation, maintaining integrity, and following practices consistent with investigative and legal standards.
What kinds of digital artifacts are relevant to this program?
The program is aligned with investigative work that depends on digital artifacts such as computer files, mobile device data, network logs, cloud accounts, and other electronically stored information.
Is the program intended to partner with institutions of higher education?
Yes. The central idea is to partner with an institution of higher education to create or enhance practical, career-oriented learning experiences for students in computer forensics and digital evidence.
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligibility includes:
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions)
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
Even with broad eligibility, what type of applicant does BJA appear to be targeting?
Although eligibility is broad, the solicitation description indicates BJA's intent is to establish a partnership with higher education to expand educational opportunities for students. Applicants would generally need to demonstrate credible capacity to deliver student-focused training, experiential learning, and curriculum development aligned with law enforcement digital forensics needs.
What is the award type (award instrument) for this opportunity?
The award instrument is a grant.
What is the maximum amount that can be awarded under this solicitation?
The award ceiling is $1,000,000.
How many awards did BJA anticipate making?
BJA anticipated making up to two awards under this solicitation.
What is the CFDA number associated with this funding?
The associated CFDA number is 16.752, which corresponds to Bureau of Justice Assistance funding.
What are the program's activity focus areas?
The solicitation lists activity focus spanning several categories, including:
- Education
- Employment, labor, and training
- Information and statistics
- Law, justice, and legal services
- Science and technology research and development
When was the solicitation created and when did it close?
The solicitation was created on April 25, 2019, and the original closing date was June 25, 2019.
How long was the application window?
Based on the creation date (April 25, 2019) and the original closing date (June 25, 2019), the application window was roughly two months, which is typical for competitive discretionary federal grants.
What types of crimes or investigative needs does this program relate to?
The program is intended to support capacity for the prevention, investigation, and response to economic crime, cybercrime, and other high-tech offenses that require specialized digital evidence and forensic skills.
What kinds of roles are students expected to be prepared for?
The program is designed to prepare students for roles supporting digital forensic laboratories and investigative units, helping graduates contribute effectively to agencies responsible for high-tech crime response.
Which law enforcement environments does the program aim to support?
The program aims to prepare students for work supporting high-tech offense investigations across federal, state, local, territorial, and tribal law enforcement environments.
What does "hands-on exposure" mean in the context of this program?
Based on the solicitation description, hands-on exposure refers to practical experience with the kinds of tools, procedures, and real-world investigative problems encountered in modern digital investigations, integrated alongside academic instruction.
What is the overarching rationale behind this grant opportunity?
The solicitation reflects BJA's emphasis on building a stronger, better-prepared talent pipeline for digital evidence work, recognizing that cyber and high-tech crime investigations increasingly require specialized technical education paired with practical, operational readiness.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education, Employment, Labor and Training, Information and Statistics, Law, Justice and Legal Services, Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Next opportunity: Strengthening Effective Counter Terrorist Financing Compliance
Previous opportunity: DRL EAP Religious Freedom Solicitation 1: Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, and Indonesia
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for BJA 2019 16290
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "BJA 2019 16290", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.