BJA FY25 Invited to ApplySex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA)

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), part of the Office of Justice Programs within the U.S. Department of Justice, has released a funding opportunity under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), inviting eligible applicants to apply for fiscal year funding. SORNA, enacted as Title I of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, aims to create a uniform national system for registering and notifying the public about convicted sex offenders. The grant supports jurisdictions that have not yet met substantial implementation of SORNA requirements, guiding them toward compliance through reallocation of Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funds. The BJA will administer the awards, with technical assistance from the SMART Office, the designated agency for overseeing SORNA implementation. The purpose of this program is to enhance public safety by protecting communities from sexual violence and exploitation through strengthened registration and notification systems. The opportunity targets state-level jurisdictions that have requested the use of 10% of their JAG funds toward SORNA compliance and have received an official invitation to apply. The grant supports efforts to improve sex offender tracking, law enforcement collaboration, and compliance monitoring, including policies specific to transient and homeless registrants. Applicants are required to align their proposals with a previously approved state reallocation request submitted to OJP’s Assistant Attorney General. These proposals must detail how funds will be used to close implementation gaps based on assessments conducted by the SMART Office. Funds from this program are intended to support eligible State Administering Agencies (SAAs) in developing or enhancing systems that improve sex offender registration practices. Allowable expenditures include equipment purchases (e.g., fingerprint/palm print technology, digital scanners), software for improving database integration and information sharing between local, state, and federal systems, and resources that support SMART Office-provided software solutions. However, the use of funds for administrative costs or indirect costs is prohibited, as is any use that violates federal civil rights laws or impedes federal immigration law enforcement. Additionally, subrecipients and for-profit organizations are barred from profiting or applying management fees under this award. The grant does not require any cost sharing or matching funds from applicants. The anticipated total funding for this opportunity is $3,881,374, with a maximum individual award ceiling of $841,732. Twenty-two awards are expected. The period of performance for funded projects is 24 months, anticipated to begin on October 1, 2025. Applications must be submitted in two steps: the initial SF-424 form through Grants.gov by April 10, 2026, and the full application through JustGrants by April 17, 2026. Entities must maintain active SAM.gov registrations and ensure compliance with required federal disclosures, assurances, and civil rights obligations. Eligible applicants are limited to invited SAAs representing states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico that have not substantially implemented SORNA, as outlined in Appendix A. These jurisdictions must have officially requested to use 10% of their JAG funding toward SORNA compliance and been invited by BJA to apply. Only those on this approved list and with a letter of invitation may proceed. The program is noncompetitive in nature and focuses exclusively on eligible applicants previously identified by the BJA. For assistance, applicants may contact the OJP Response Center via phone at 800-851-3420 or email at [email protected]. Questions related to registration in Grants.gov or JustGrants are handled by their respective support centers, with detailed contact information and operating hours provided in the NOFO. Award notifications will be communicated through JustGrants, and selected applicants will be subject to federal reporting requirements, including quarterly financial reports and semi-annual performance measures. This funding opportunity reflects the Department of Justice’s broader commitment to promoting public safety, protecting victims of crime, and enforcing federal law.

Submit 48 hours early; align fully with SMART-approved state plan; ensure SAA status and invitation letter