O-BJA-2021-28001: BJA FY 21 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program
Closed
This grant is closed. Who won this program's grants before is below, and similar open grants are at the end of the page. It is in our archive of Bureau of Justice Assistance notices from 2021.
Bureau of Justice Assistance offered grants of up to $4.3 million to colleges and universities and state and local governments. It expected to make about 135 awards worth $89.6 million in total. Applications closed on June 29, 2021.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed July 13, 2021. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award ceiling$4.3 million
- Total funding$89.6 million
- Expected awards135
- Cost sharingRequired
- Funding typeGrant
Key dates
| Posted | May 21, 2021 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | June 29, 2021 |
Who can apply
This opportunity was open to colleges and universities and state and local governments.
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
See Eligibility Section
Is this a realistic fit?
- Past DNA Backlog Reduction Program awards averaged $658,751; this notice allows up to $4.3 million per award.
- Most of the program's money (94% over five years) went to state and local governments.
- The notice requires cost sharing or matching funds, so you must contribute part of the project cost.
What the grant funds
The Department of Justice is committed to advancing work that promotes civil rights, increases access to justice, supports crime victims, protects the public from crime and evolving threats, and builds trust between law enforcement and the community. BJA's FY 2021 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program provides funding to states and units of local government with existing crime laboratories to increase the capacity of publicly funded forensic DNA and DNA database laboratories to process more DNA samples, thereby helping to reduce the number of forensic DNA and DNA database samples awaiting analysis and/or prevent a backlog of forensic and database DNA samples.
Who has won DNA Backlog Reduction Program grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, DNA Backlog Reduction Program (16.741) awarded $381 million across 578 grant awards, an average of $658,751 per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Department of Law Enforcement | Florida | 6 | $14.0 million |
| Texas Department of Public Safety | Texas | 4 | $11.3 million |
| Illinois State Police | Illinois | 4 | $10.5 million |
| Georgia Bureau of Investigation | Georgia | 4 | $10.2 million |
| Department of State Police Michigan | Michigan | 6 | $10.2 million |
Applying now
This notice no longer takes applications. Agencies often post the same opportunity again under a new number, so check the program's notices on Grants.gov and the similar open grants below.
The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.
Questions people ask
Is O-BJA-2021-28001 still open?
No. It closed on June 29, 2021.
Who can apply for BJA FY 21 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program?
Bureau of Justice Assistance accepted applications from colleges and universities and state and local governments. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.
What is the deadline for BJA FY 21 DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program?
Closed June 29, 2021. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.
How much funding is available?
Awards of up to $4.3 million each. About $89.6 million in total across about 135 awards.
Who has won DNA Backlog Reduction Program grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Texas Department of Public Safety, Illinois State Police. The program made 578 awards worth $381 million in that time.